things that do interest me, #1

“I’m sure you’re still interested in some things,” a friend replied to my assertion that I basically am not. And it’s true, in fact, except it’s easy to be tired and mopey about life that even hobbies and interests mean little. So here I am, making an effort. 🙂

I dusted off my knitting recently, and revived a slumbering project. I started this project (way too) long ago, but took very, very long to get past the ribbing, and slightly less long (but still very long) to get past the first, oh, inch of lace. Here we have Sarah Wilson’s Prima Legwarmers, in Madelinetosh Sock Red Robin, from a dye lot that’s probably three years old at this point. These will be for J, and hopefully finished in time for her next birthday. That will make me only one birthday late.

Like I said, it’s been a while.

Yes, I did take a break from my desk in order to go take this photo while there was still light.

The needles for the lace section are Clover Bamboo DPNs in 3.00mm. They come in a set of five and have the size etched into them. This is a terribly underrated feature. And before anyone asks (I’m sure no one will), I like DPNs for small-diameter things! I think they distribute the weight more comfortably than circulars do.

A little over-exposed, but you can see the size on the needles.

The ribbing was done on Hiya Hiya Steel Sock 2.00mm DPNs.

It took ages to get the ribbing right. I had to modify the pattern, so between bad guesses on how much to cast on, miscounting, and poor planning, I think I cast on and unravelled five or six times.

Skills learned: German twisted cast-on (yay), understanding a written lace pattern, not giving up (grr)

On the whole, it’s proving a quick knit (only 81 stitches around). Speaking of written lace patterns, I am not one of the people who prefer them. Charts, please! But it was because of this that I had the interesting experience of having to understand a pattern again. As the pattern has a four-row repeat, I was loathe to keep track of whether I was on round 1 or 3, and consequently, messed up a lot to begin with. But when I started noticing a pattern and doing damage control (ahem, there may or may not be k3togs to fix my mistakes), eventually I settled into what I think is the actual correct pattern; or at least I don’t have extra stitches.

Next challenge: stopping when I have used exactly half my yarn! Out the scales will come.

the voice of Jesus, andrew peterson

I know you’ve been afraid
Don’t know what to do
You’ve been lost in the questions
I don’t know what to say
I’m sure if I were you I’d proceed with some caution

But I want you to know
When the joy that you feel
Leaves a terrible ache in your bones
It’s the voice of Jesus
Calling you back home

I know you’ve got a lot
Spinning in your head
All this emptiness fills you
Maybe you could try Laying in your bed
To ask the silence to still you

And you might hear a beat
On the door of your heart
When you do, let it open up wide
It’s the voice of Jesus
Calling you his bride

Once upon a time there was a little boy
Who wandered the forest, abandoned
And he heard in the leaves
And behind every tree
The sound of a secret companion
Following

So listen, little girl,
Somewhere there’s a King
Who will love you forever
And nothing in the world
Could ever come between You, my love, and this Lover

So when I kiss you at night
And I turn out the light
And I tell you you’re never alone
It’s the voice of Jesus
Calling you
It’s the voice of Jesus
Calling you his own

Everyone needs to hear this some time, and these few days I have been thinking of a few people whom, I think, need it a little more right now.