Becca Stareyes

I have an account on Ravelry. It's a gallery/social networking site for knitters and hookers crocheters.

if this interests you, take a look. No pictures up yet, but there might be later in the week.

http://www.wwkipday.com/

So, I found this* -- apparently June 14 is World-Wide Knit in Public Day. (Crocheters (hookers? ^_^) and other portable fabric crafts welcome). So, expect me to head out to the Ithaca Commons with a lawn chair, a bottle of water, a big ol' bag of yarn and the afghan I want to finish for my sister.

It's weird how I consider crochet as one of my geeky hobbies, despite the fact it (and cooking) are one of the most traditional, in-gender-role things that I do. (The, again, I'm one of those people who's made Harry Potter House Scarves and FMA slippers for her friends... so maybe crochet is a geeky hobby.)

* Thanks to the CrochetCrochet comm on LJ.

My weekend went well, if you ignore the fact I went way over budget on groceries (I was filling out my spice rack again, and buying some food for the end-of-year barbecue) and slept a bit too much.

My surge protector also blew out -- I think. I noticed that my computer wasn't starting up on Sunday morning*, but everything else seemed to be working. I started to fiddle with the surge protector, when I noticed the power button was lit, but the switch wasn't. I pushed at it, and then the switch fell out, with a spark. Needless to say, I quickly unplugged it and high-tailed it to Best Buy and got a new one. The computer was fine, once I got it plugged in again. I also got some new dishes to replace the bowls and plates I've broken, and a slow-cooker. Yay, more culinary adventures!

* Well, for loose definitions of morning.

I've also been working on a present for my cousin Dylan's baby-to-be (so my first cousin, once removed) -- he and his fiancée are expecting this summer, and are also getting married. Well, technically they are marrying civily, but my cousin doesn't believe in marriage as a religious institution or something, so it's just a civil marriage plus a party. Or something -- he used an unfamiliar term for it. Anyway, the shower is in three weeks, and I'm hoping to have things finished by then. Which means I'm crocheting like a mad woman. I'll post pictures when I'm done.

Never realized that first cousin once removed refers to both my parents' cousins and my cousins' offspring. Probably because I'm not used to thinking of my cousins as having kids, despite the fact that this will be the fifth*.

* I have nine first cousins on that side of the family. I'm the fifth oldest of twelve kids in that generation. And that's ignoring my second cousins. We're a clan.

Because they take forever and it's hard to see progress. I started my second afghan three days ago, and I've done 4 rows (2 inches). On an afghan that is going to be 48". Yeah.

At least the pattern is simple enough that I can do it while I watch TV*. I ought to start bringing it to lunch seminars. Though I'm not sure how well that will go over.

* I think I impressed a few people in anime club by working on Sara's scarf while I watched subtitled anime in a darkened room -- the pattern was simple enough I could work by touch without needing to see what I was doing.

(I am also in love with this icon I made. Not sure why.)

So, I had adventures in crafting today, as I started thinking about Christmas presents.

Part One: The Yarn Store (Yes, there are stores that sell only yarn, and yarn related accessories)
Oooh, pretty. And soft. And also expensive. Darn it, all the measurements are in metric, and my pattern's in English units. ::takes out calculator:: Wow, very expensive. But, still so pretty. Wait, do any of my friends have allergies to wool and/or alpaca? Will they know how to wash wool/alpaca without it felting up? Maybe I better hold off. I'll check the other craft store.

Part Two: The Craft Store With a Sale on Yarn.
Excluding Cheap Acrylic Yarn, this isn't much cheaper. -_- And there's no selection. The craft store at the mall has a better selection. I'll hold off.

Yes, I'm planning on making at least some presents. Which means I needed to start a couple of months ago.