Combined knitting

Being a self-taught but rather accomplished knitter (if I do say so myself. I've never knitted a sweater, but I have knitted quite a few daleks. So, you know, I kind of know what I'm doing), I was recently surprised to realize that I purl "wrong."

My first thought was, "Fuck you, whatevah, I do what I want," and kept on doing things as I always have.

But then I was working on a new project (working flat for the first time in a long time. I'd gotten used to doing things in the round) and realized that my knit stitches ended up twisted, and while it didn't look bad, I didn't really like it.

So I kept on doing what I'd been doing and I finished my project, and then I did what I have ALWAYS done when having knitting problems:

I TURNED TO THE INTERNET.

And they told me what I had already known.

I was purling wrong.

*headdesk*

So I looked up the right way to purl, and much to my anger it was exactly as I'd been told by the person who told me that I was doing it wrong, and I did a couple of rows of purling "the right way" and realized that I hated it.

See, I purl by scooping, which makes the stitch oriented differently on the needle. I can work complicated patterns without looking, because I can tell by the feel that my purl stitches are these ones and my knit stitches are those ones.

Purling the proper way means that all of your stitches feel the same and I have to do complicated things like counting and looking, which I'm really not interested in doing while I'm watching television and knitting.

So then I found this page and it was like some glorious message was being sent to my brain.

First of all, I was doing everything totally fine. I wasn't purling wrong at all! I had been using a vintage knitting technique. So to the person who said I was wrong, HA. (I'd been doing Eastern Crossed Knitting and just never known it)

Second of all, I found combined knitting, which is my new favorite.

So, long rambly post about knitting and vintage knitting techniques, and now I leave you with a picture of that thing I'm making:

From Tumblr: Questions not usually asked

These sort of things go around Tumblr a lot, but I don't have enough followers to ask me any of these questions, so I'm just going to answer ALL OF THEM on this blog.

Questions not usually asked:

• 1: Do you sleep with your closet doors open or closed?
  Open.
  
• 2: Do you take the shampoos and conditioner bottles from hotel?
  Always.
  
• 3: Do you sleep with your sheets tucked in or out?
  Out. Usually wrapped around me.
  
• 4: Have you ever stolen a street sign before?
  Depending on your definition of "stole."
  
• 5: Do you like to use post-it notes?
  I use little scraps of paper. I'm too poor for post its.
  
• 6: Do you cut out coupons but then never use them
  Nope. I save them to my computer and never print them.
• 7: Would you rather be attacked by a big bear or a swarm of a bees?
  OH NOT THE BEES OH GOD NOT THE BEES.
  
• 8: Do you have freckles?
  Yep.
  
• 9: Do you always smile for pictures?
  Not always. Most of the time when people take pictures of me, they're taking them of me in costume, and then it's a matter of if it's in character.
  
• 10: What is your biggest pet peeve?
  When someone invites me somewhere and then doesn't take their headphones out the whole time.
  
• 11: Do you ever count your steps when you walk?
  If I'm going up or down stairs.
  
• 12: Have you ever peed in the woods?
  Have some people NOT peed in the woods?
  
• 13: What about pooped in the woods?
  Have you not?
  
• 14: Do you ever dance even if theres no music playing?
  sometiems.
  
• 15: Do you chew your pens and pencils?
  Pens yes, pencils no.
  
• 16: How many people have you slept with this week?
  Big fat zero.
  
• 17: What size is your bed?
  At the dorm it's a twin, at home it's a double.
  
• 18: What is your Song of the week?
  Black Cab by Jens Leckman
  
• 19: Is it okay for guys to wear pink?
  Totally okay.
  
• 20: Do you still watch cartoons?
  Do you NOT?
  
• 21: Whats your least favorite movie?
  I really, really hated Wall-E.
  
• 22: Where would you bury hidden treasure if you had some?
  Lithia Park. Then some random kids would find it and be all o_o
  
• 23: What do you drink with dinner?
  Water, usually.
  
• 24: What do you dip a chicken nugget in?
  Honey mustard, ranch, ketchup, or a combination of the three.
  
• 25: What is your favorite food?
  Mash potato-covered chicken nugget bisciut dipped in barbeque sauce.
  
• 26: What movies could you watch over and over and still love?
  The Princess Bride, Repo.
  
• 27: Last person you kissed/kissed you?
  We're not going into details about this one.
  
• 28: Were you ever a boy/girl scout?
  Nope.
  
• 29: Would you ever strip or pose nude in a magazine?
  How much would I be paid and how many days would I have to diet?
  
• 30: When was the last time you wrote a letter to someone on paper?
  recently, actually.
  
• 31: Can you change the oil on a car?
  Probably.
  
• 32: Ever gotten a speeding ticket?
  Nope. Drive a car that goes a max of 55.
  
• 33: Ever ran out of gas?
  Frequently. It's part of driving my beast.
  
• 34: Favorite kind of sandwich?
  Peanut Butter and Jelly.
  
• 35: Best thing to eat for breakfast?
  Peanut Butter and Jelly.
  
• 36: What is your usual bedtime?
  Peanut Butter and Jelly. Wait. Sorry. About midnight?
  
• 37: Are you lazy?
  Peanut butter and Jelly?
  
• 38: When you were a kid, what did you dress up as for Halloween?
  One time I was a covered wagon. One time I was a tree. Also, I still dress up for Halloween. This year I was an Aperture Science Employee. Two years before that I was a dalek.
  
• 39: What is your Chinese astrological sign?
  Goat?
  
• 40: How many languages can you speak?
  English. Also I can swear fluently in about 5 fictional languages from sci-fi
  
• 41: Do you have any magazine subscriptions?
  I want to subscribe to Photographer's Forum, but not currently.
  
• 42: Which are better legos or lincoln logs?
  L E G O bricks (the correct plural of Lego). They're also more painful to step on.
  
• 43: Are you stubborn?
  Not really.
  
• 44: Who is better...Leno or Letterman?
  Alton Brown.
  
• 45: Ever watch soap operas?
  Nope.
  
• 46: Are you afraid of heights?
  Nope.
  
• 47: Do you sing in the car?
  Do you not?
  
• 48: Do you sing in the shower?
  Do you not?
  
• 49: Do you dance in the car?
  Seriously. Is that not normal?
  
• 50: Ever used a gun?
  Yup.
  
• 51: Last time you got a portrait taken by a photographer?
  SacCon.
  
• 52: Do you think musicals are cheesy?
  Kind of. I like them, but yeah.
  
• 53: Is Christmas stressful?
  Like no other holiday.
  
• 54: Ever eat a pierogi?
  I dont' think so.
  
• 55: Favorite type of fruit pie?
  Peanut butter and jelly.
  
• 56: Occupations you wanted to be when you were a kid?
  Several.
  
• 57: Do you believe in ghosts?
  Yep.
  
• 58: Ever have a Deja-vu feeling?
  Indeed.
  
• 59: Take a vitamin daily?
  Not really.
  
• 60: Wear slippers?
  To class.
  
• 61: Wear a bath robe?
  From the shower.
  
• 62: What do you wear to bed?
  PJ pants and oversize t shirts.
  
• 63: First concert?
  Rockstar Mayhem 2008.
  
• 64: Wal-Mart, Target or Kmart?
  Peanut butter and Jelly.
  
• 65: Nike or Adidas?
  Peanut butter and Jelly.
  
• 66: Cheetos Or Fritos?
  Depending on mood. Fritos if the bag has been opened.
  
• 67: Peanuts or Sunflower seeds?
  Sunflowers.
  
• 68: Ever hear of the group Tres Bien?
  Nope.
  
• 69: Ever take dance lessons?
  Yep.
  
• 70: Is there a profession you picture your future spouse doing?
  Peanut butter and Jelly.
  
• 71: Can you curl your tongue?
  yep.
  
• 72: Ever won a spelling bee?
  Nope. Semifinalist in the 7th grade geography bee.
  
• 73: Have you ever cried because you were so happy?
  yeah
  
• 74: Own any record albums?
  Monty Python.
  
• 75: Own a record player?
  My dad does.
  
• 76: Regularly burn incense?
  When I'm at home because it pisses off my family.
  
• 77: Ever been in love?
  Have you NOT?
  
• 78: Who would you like to see in concert?
  Great Big Sea. I think they'd be amazing live.
  
• 79: What was the last concert you saw?
  VidCon
  
• 80: Hot tea or cold tea?
  Hot
  
• 81: Tea or coffee?
  Tea
  
• 82: Sugar or snickerdoodles?
  Sugar with sprinkles
  
• 83: Can you swim well?
  Yes in that I don't drown, no in that I'm graceless.
  
• 84: Can you hold your breath without holding your nose?
  yep. I can also plug my nose with my upper lip.
  
• 85: Are you patient?
  I WANT TO BE DONE WITH THESE QUESTIONS NOW.
  
• 86: DJ or band, at a wedding?
  DJ
  
• 87: Ever won a contest?
  a Guess How Many Candies in 7th grade.
  
• 88: Ever have plastic surgery?
  nope.
  
• 89: Which are better black or green olives?
  Graber olives
  
• 90: Can you knit or crochet?
  Both, but better at knitting.
  
• 91: Best room for a fireplace?
  The Fireplace Room.
  
• 92: Do you want to get married?
  Not right now, but someday.
  
• 93: If married, how long have you been married?
  Peanut Butter and Jelly.
  
• 94: Who was your HS crush?
  Peanut Butter and Jelly?
  
• 95: Do you cry and throw a fit until you get your own way?
  Not really. If it's worth it, I will argue until everyone gives up, but it's rarely worth it.
  
• 96: Do you have kids?
  Nope.
  
• 97: Do you want kids?
  No kid should have to grow up knowing that I was their parent.
  
• 98: Whats your favorite color?
  I like blue a lot. However, I'm more likely to buy something pink than blue.
  
• 99: Do you miss anyone right now?
  Yes.
  

Okay, so that's 99 random questions about me. So we're done.