I have changed the name of this blog from Witty knitting to I want to crochet a perfect world. Let's face it witty knitting was a crap name. And I have spent the last week getting back to my roots in world of crochet hooks and beautiful things.
I suppose it was the kids getting into crochet that has reminded me where my heart lies. I do enjoy knitting. I consider myself a knitter. I like the beautiful things one can make when knitting. But underneath it all, I am a crochet person.
I learned to crochet when I was 8 or so. My mother attended a community class to learn to crochet and she took me with her. I remember liking it, thinking I was pretty cool to be going to this thing with grown-ups, and I liked making things. And yes, I was very proud of those pot holders and hangers that I made as a child in the mid 70s. :-)
I have just made some leg warmers for myself with my sock club yarn for October. (more on legwarmers to come) It is Irish Jig coloured shepherd sock wool from Lorna's Laces. Actually they aren't quite finished. I have finished the crocheting, and have even worn them a bit, but I am going to order a solid colour to knit cuffs. I plan to get around to that at some point in the future. Like everything else in life. :-)
Peace
julie
Monday, 24 November 2008
Sunday, 23 November 2008
Leg Warmers
I am in a bit of a leg warmer phase at the moment, and I can't quite seem to get it right. I don't understand this. Leg warmers are basically long tubes. So why do I find them so disappointing!?
It started with this. I bought this lovely yarn from e bay and was going to make hat, leg warmers and wrist warmers for R. It was to be my first pair of leg warmers, as I wanted to practice using DPNS. I hadn't used DPNS before this and I thought that aran sized ones would be good to get going with. It was a nice theory.
Well, I made the hat for R. Then I got inventive and made one for S. I just sort of made up the pattern, which was a mistake as I used too many stitches for the ribbing. It is a lovely big baggy beret, which looks nice, but just falls off, so she doesn't wear it.
By the time I finished that, I had gone off the idea of doing the leg warmers, so went straight for doing my first pair of socks. I have been in a sock phase for most of 2008. And the lovely aran that I am supposed to be making into leg warmers for R is still sitting there waiting for me to get to it.
Instead I have embarked on several pairs of leg warmers in other yarns. I started with a gorgeous pattern from the Stitch Style Socks book. I read the pattern, and thought about it for days, and then at some point I decided I would go for it. Unfortunately, whatever was in my head doesn't appear to have been the pattern I read.
I found a site that was selling Sirdar Bigga for 99p a ball, and promptly bought 6 balls of each of two different colours. I was planning on doing the leg warmers, and a scarf for each of the teen aged girls I live with. At this point I was ignoring the fact that S(17) didn't actually want me to make them for her. :-) But my optimism was fairly powerful at this point.
I ordered my 10mm DPNS and thought I was ready to go. Then I went back to the book, and reread the pattern. Well, I had only bought the wrong yarn. It was supposed to be Rowan Big Wool. I have no idea why that fact did not linger in my brain. I can only surmise that the 99p balls of Bigga led me astray.
Not to be put off, I went ahead and gave it a try anyway. I read further into the pattern. I got to the cable bit. I got as far as row 14 and saw this "[4stLC, p1] to end".
I did what I always do, I looked on knittinghelp.com. Didn't see it anywhere. I googled it. Found nothing. I even looked through the list of abbreviations in the book, which didn't help. I was about at the point of thinking that stocking stitch is great for legwarmers, when I fell upon the idea of writing to the publishers.
Googled them, but there didn't seem to be a contact for people who don't know how to read the patterns they publish. :-( So I did a search for the designer Tanis Gray. Lo and behold, there she was!
I actually wrote to her and asked, "What does it all mean!" It took a couple of emails for me to figure out that there is probably a difference between UK and US ways of writing cable patterns. Anyway, she got me sorted, and told me about Ravelry for which I will have to have my revenge some day. As if I didn't have enough to do....
Anyway, I went on with my 10 mm DPNS happily making leg warmer number 1. I got up to about 50 rows when R started looking at me funny - wondering why I was seemingly knitting her a pair of stilts. We went away for the weekend to visit best mate Martine, and she very kindly nodded and smiled at my endeavour.
But when I realized that I could actually stand this leg warmer on the floor, DPNS still attached, and it just stayed there, I began to realize that perhaps Bigga needed bigger needles. It was maybe just a wee bit tight.
I checked Yarndex. I was right. It did. I am beginning to think that thoroughly reading patterns before you start a project is a good idea.
So I then ordered a lovely set of River John Birch 12 mm DPNS from Kangaroo. They are my favourites at the moment. They just feel so nice in your hands - they're a good weight, and they're just plain pretty. :-)
I undid the leg warmer, and started again and managed to finish a pair for R. She likes them, although they are very big, and very warm, and they fall down her skinny legs.
But of course, I had to use most of the yarn that I had intended for a scarf, so she doesn't get a scarf, and I am not even going to attempt to do a pair for S. She has skinny legs too.
Next I was beguiled by some Big Softie at my not so LYS. They just had this beautiful display, of a single leg warmer, which was in the light pink, with darker pink trim. It was just a plain stocking stitch tube, with a tie at the top, and the tie had pom poms! It was so tempting and it looked so easy.
Again, my optimistic side took over. Now anybody who knows my sullen nature will be surprised to hear about all of this optimism that I have when beginning a new project. The picture of beautiful things that I can make are so vivid in my head, that the process of getting there is often blurred. But then again, maybe it will help those people to understand that my optimism just gets used up, so that there is none left for real life.
I played around with the Big Softie for a bit, just to get used to the yarn and its gauge, and figure out how many stitches I would need to cast on for a pair of blue leg warmers for M, who is 9. I decided against the tie thing, as I would be the one retying it all the time, and went for a plain K1P1 ribbing, with stocking stitch body, increasing a couple of times on the way up. I even took notes, so as to make the 2nd one just like the first. It wasn't.
I don't understand how, but the 2nd was quite a bit longer, and I ran out of yarn, and had to go back and redo it a couple of times. Oh well. They aren't that bad, and M really likes them.
So I started on a pair for me. I used my Irish Jig Lorna's Laces Shepherd Sock yarn from the sock club at get knitted. And I have just crocheted two tubes. I am going to have to order something to match to add some knitted cuffs I think, although they do look nice, just slouching down my legs at the moment.
I am quiet pleased with them, but again, one is slightly longer than the other, although the photo makes it look worse. I measure gauge, and count rows, but making two things the same does not seem to be a talent that I have. I sometimes manage it with sleeves...
Anyway, not to be deterred, and quite excited about the prospect of having several different pairs of leg warmers to go with my new leggings, I have started again.
This time, for me, using the Bigga that was going to be for S. So I am starting a plain stocking stitch pair in the 99p Bigga wool for me. 99p a ball means that I will love them no matter what happens.
The saga continues...
Peace
Julie
It started with this. I bought this lovely yarn from e bay and was going to make hat, leg warmers and wrist warmers for R. It was to be my first pair of leg warmers, as I wanted to practice using DPNS. I hadn't used DPNS before this and I thought that aran sized ones would be good to get going with. It was a nice theory.
Well, I made the hat for R. Then I got inventive and made one for S. I just sort of made up the pattern, which was a mistake as I used too many stitches for the ribbing. It is a lovely big baggy beret, which looks nice, but just falls off, so she doesn't wear it.
By the time I finished that, I had gone off the idea of doing the leg warmers, so went straight for doing my first pair of socks. I have been in a sock phase for most of 2008. And the lovely aran that I am supposed to be making into leg warmers for R is still sitting there waiting for me to get to it.
Instead I have embarked on several pairs of leg warmers in other yarns. I started with a gorgeous pattern from the Stitch Style Socks book. I read the pattern, and thought about it for days, and then at some point I decided I would go for it. Unfortunately, whatever was in my head doesn't appear to have been the pattern I read.
I found a site that was selling Sirdar Bigga for 99p a ball, and promptly bought 6 balls of each of two different colours. I was planning on doing the leg warmers, and a scarf for each of the teen aged girls I live with. At this point I was ignoring the fact that S(17) didn't actually want me to make them for her. :-) But my optimism was fairly powerful at this point.
I ordered my 10mm DPNS and thought I was ready to go. Then I went back to the book, and reread the pattern. Well, I had only bought the wrong yarn. It was supposed to be Rowan Big Wool. I have no idea why that fact did not linger in my brain. I can only surmise that the 99p balls of Bigga led me astray.
Not to be put off, I went ahead and gave it a try anyway. I read further into the pattern. I got to the cable bit. I got as far as row 14 and saw this "[4stLC, p1] to end".
I did what I always do, I looked on knittinghelp.com. Didn't see it anywhere. I googled it. Found nothing. I even looked through the list of abbreviations in the book, which didn't help. I was about at the point of thinking that stocking stitch is great for legwarmers, when I fell upon the idea of writing to the publishers.
Googled them, but there didn't seem to be a contact for people who don't know how to read the patterns they publish. :-( So I did a search for the designer Tanis Gray. Lo and behold, there she was!
I actually wrote to her and asked, "What does it all mean!" It took a couple of emails for me to figure out that there is probably a difference between UK and US ways of writing cable patterns. Anyway, she got me sorted, and told me about Ravelry for which I will have to have my revenge some day. As if I didn't have enough to do....
Anyway, I went on with my 10 mm DPNS happily making leg warmer number 1. I got up to about 50 rows when R started looking at me funny - wondering why I was seemingly knitting her a pair of stilts. We went away for the weekend to visit best mate Martine, and she very kindly nodded and smiled at my endeavour.
But when I realized that I could actually stand this leg warmer on the floor, DPNS still attached, and it just stayed there, I began to realize that perhaps Bigga needed bigger needles. It was maybe just a wee bit tight.
I checked Yarndex. I was right. It did. I am beginning to think that thoroughly reading patterns before you start a project is a good idea.
So I then ordered a lovely set of River John Birch 12 mm DPNS from Kangaroo. They are my favourites at the moment. They just feel so nice in your hands - they're a good weight, and they're just plain pretty. :-)
I undid the leg warmer, and started again and managed to finish a pair for R. She likes them, although they are very big, and very warm, and they fall down her skinny legs.
But of course, I had to use most of the yarn that I had intended for a scarf, so she doesn't get a scarf, and I am not even going to attempt to do a pair for S. She has skinny legs too.
Next I was beguiled by some Big Softie at my not so LYS. They just had this beautiful display, of a single leg warmer, which was in the light pink, with darker pink trim. It was just a plain stocking stitch tube, with a tie at the top, and the tie had pom poms! It was so tempting and it looked so easy.
Again, my optimistic side took over. Now anybody who knows my sullen nature will be surprised to hear about all of this optimism that I have when beginning a new project. The picture of beautiful things that I can make are so vivid in my head, that the process of getting there is often blurred. But then again, maybe it will help those people to understand that my optimism just gets used up, so that there is none left for real life.
I played around with the Big Softie for a bit, just to get used to the yarn and its gauge, and figure out how many stitches I would need to cast on for a pair of blue leg warmers for M, who is 9. I decided against the tie thing, as I would be the one retying it all the time, and went for a plain K1P1 ribbing, with stocking stitch body, increasing a couple of times on the way up. I even took notes, so as to make the 2nd one just like the first. It wasn't.
I don't understand how, but the 2nd was quite a bit longer, and I ran out of yarn, and had to go back and redo it a couple of times. Oh well. They aren't that bad, and M really likes them.
So I started on a pair for me. I used my Irish Jig Lorna's Laces Shepherd Sock yarn from the sock club at get knitted. And I have just crocheted two tubes. I am going to have to order something to match to add some knitted cuffs I think, although they do look nice, just slouching down my legs at the moment.
I am quiet pleased with them, but again, one is slightly longer than the other, although the photo makes it look worse. I measure gauge, and count rows, but making two things the same does not seem to be a talent that I have. I sometimes manage it with sleeves...
Anyway, not to be deterred, and quite excited about the prospect of having several different pairs of leg warmers to go with my new leggings, I have started again.
This time, for me, using the Bigga that was going to be for S. So I am starting a plain stocking stitch pair in the 99p Bigga wool for me. 99p a ball means that I will love them no matter what happens.
The saga continues...
Peace
Julie
Sunday, 16 November 2008
The Hat
C is very proud of himself. He has finished his baby hat. We found some more of the navy so we could pompoms, which he likes big and floppy. Now he wants to make more stuff. :-)
Saturday, 15 November 2008
Kitchen Table Science
Since we are a home educating family, I reckon there will be a few posts here about our endeavours. Couldn't pass up the opportunity of sharing the current science that A is doing with the kids.
For the record, A works in a laboratory in a clinical setting, so the materials we are discussing were not produced at home!
The kids have been seeing sperm in the microscope. So I suppose I have to confess that the microscope is on the kitchen table. Oh well, we aren't proud.
We are hoping to get a camera that fits onto the microscope so in future we will be able to add photos of what we are actually seeing.
Won't that be fun?!
Peace
Julie
Ninja Knitting (Actually it is crochet, but couldn't think of an appropriate alliterative title.)
C has decided that he wants to crochet as well. Apparently it is contagious.
Here he is, all 12 years old of him, working on a baby hat with some scraps he found. If I had known he was actually going to stick with it, I could have gotten him some nicer yarn, but at least he is enjoying himself. He's even done a stripe. It is going to be a baby hat, crocheted in a rectangle, stitched up the side and top, so the head will fit in the bottom and the top will have two corners to either side, with pom poms on. I just hope we have enough yarn!!!
So here is a photo of him, in his Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles pyjamas, crocheting a baby hat. :-)
Friday, 14 November 2008
Crocheting Child
Here are some photos of R's crochet. She has made a little hat for the baby next door, which we didn't' take a photo of but which is terribly cute with a little pom pom on top. She made this blanket for another baby who is now 1 year old. I am really impressed with her work. Firstly, because this is quite a project for somebody new to crochet, and secondly because her stitches are so even. She has good tension, and by the end was quite confident, noticing things, and being able to recognize different stitches, etc. She was a bit wobbley with the edges at first, adding a stitch or losing one here and there, but she got much better, and did a nice border to cover any wavy bits that weren't meant to be there.
We have been to the wool shop this week as well as she has other projects in mind. I am glad that she is wanting to make things. It is something that we have in common and enjoy. But...it means I have to buy wool for her now...instead of adding to my own stash! (As if I didn't have enough projects on the go!)
Must head off and go for a walk, and do some exercise. The problem with my hobbies is that they are stationary, and I need to be a bit active so that my back and hips don't freeze up. I wonder if I could get a treadmill, and knit while I walk....
Peace
Julie
We have been to the wool shop this week as well as she has other projects in mind. I am glad that she is wanting to make things. It is something that we have in common and enjoy. But...it means I have to buy wool for her now...instead of adding to my own stash! (As if I didn't have enough projects on the go!)
Must head off and go for a walk, and do some exercise. The problem with my hobbies is that they are stationary, and I need to be a bit active so that my back and hips don't freeze up. I wonder if I could get a treadmill, and knit while I walk....
Peace
Julie
Tuesday, 11 November 2008
A Day Out
We are meeting some friends and other home educators for an outing along the Irwell Valley Sculpture Trail today. Part of me is looking forward to it, and part of me is cross that it will take away from knitting time. I think I may have a problem?!
Still working on leg warmers for M. Remaking them, trying to get it right for the yarn I am using.. I am also looking around at all the things on the go. Wish I could spend my life making things, watching my West Wing DVDs and eating Ben and Jerry's.
But I have this family who want me to do things with them. And they don't want to do things wearing wool all the time. How odd.
Peace
Julie
Still working on leg warmers for M. Remaking them, trying to get it right for the yarn I am using.. I am also looking around at all the things on the go. Wish I could spend my life making things, watching my West Wing DVDs and eating Ben and Jerry's.
But I have this family who want me to do things with them. And they don't want to do things wearing wool all the time. How odd.
Peace
Julie
Saturday, 8 November 2008
Finished!
I have been working on this baby cardigan for a friend whose baby is having her first birthday tomorrow and I wasn't sure that I was going to get it finished. But I have. Late last night - all done!
I had started it in the sizing for 1-2 years, but ended up changing my mind and doing it in the 2-3 year old size. She is a big baby, but I think the sizings are a bit small, as my gauge was as it should be. I didn't really like the colours that they had in the shop in the Sirdar Tiny Tots DK, which is what the pattern is for, so I bought some Sirdar Denim Tweed DK.
Now I just have to help R finish the blanket she is crocheting as well. I am quite proud of R these days. She has been making things, and working at things, and volunteering in Oxfam. She is gaining her independence and it makes her a happier person. I think she is doing that growing up thing.... :-)
Peace
Julie
Friday, 7 November 2008
Socks!
I am in a bit of a sock phase at the moment so I thought I would post a few photos of recent pairs. Above is a pair of nice thick socks which I did for my husband. They are made with Violet Green SuperSock Hand-Dyed purple 4ply purchased from www.violetgreen.co.ukI ws experimenting a bit with using two strands of 4 ply and knitting with 4 mm dpns. They came out rather well. I had done a similar pair in a Trekking yarn for myself, but I did that pair with a short rowed heel which didn't work so well. So for these I did a traditional turned heel, and used a free pattern from the Violet Green website. I just followed the sizes for a child and did it bigger.
This pair are mine. They are made with Lorna's Laces Shepherd Sock yarn which I am getting sent to me from the Sock Club at Getknitted.com. It is lovely stuff. I used another pattern from Violet Green for these- the waving not drowning sock pattern. But I did them on 3mm dpns because I wanted to see what would happen to the pattern and also because I have big feet. :-) I don't think I would do it again. They are fine, but just a bit loose, and not as comfy as they could be. I just wanted to play around with the pattern after making the ones below.
This is the fist pair of Waving not Drowning ones that I did for my daughter M. They are in a beautiful hand-dyed yarn from South America I think - I can't remember, but I did buy it at Sew In in Marple. Their website is here www.knitting-and-needlework.co.uk I love Sew In but I usually go to the one in Didsbury.That is all for now. I've just reminded myself that I do finish things sometimes, so better get back to it.
Peace
Julie
Musings...
Well, it occurs to me that the name of this blog means that I will have to be witty. I actually chose the name because I enjoy wit, and intelligent humour, not because I am particularly witty. But I will try. I will perhaps someday, tell the story of my first attempt at a sock, when I misread 45 more rounds as 15 more rounds. I was all excited to complete grafting my toe, only to find I had a sock that would have perfectly fit somebody whose foot consisted only of a heel.
Of course, I would quickly point out that I now know how to undo grafted stitches. :-) So it was a learning experience.
But I am being serious for a minute today. Although I am living in Manchester, I am originally from America. Springfield, IL to be exact. And, like many Americans, I am proud of my country at the moment, because we have elected Barrack Obama to the office of President of the United States. I wrote to friends in the States that I was feeling proud, and one of them rightly pointed out that I hadn't been that impressed with the president elect during his campaign. So I wrote to her to explain some of my feelings and thought I would post them here.
"I think it is the idea, and the history that is being made, rather than the man himself. The reason I am not as excited as others is that I don't know why we should be happy that there is a man who plays the politics game better than anybody else. He had loads of money, and he is a great orator, and he is charismatic. I like that he seems to actually have a brain working behind that facade, that he seems engaged with the issues, but the fact is that he is an ambitious and polished professional politician. We won't know for a while whether or not there is reason for all of the good will. I'm just caught up in it as well. I am proud to be a part of history. I am proud that so many Americans actually became engaged with the campaigns, that there was such high voter turnout, and that the left actually had somebody to vote for. One of the reasons the right keeps winning in America is that there are no substantial left wing candidates. The left maintain the middle road in order to win politically. What many Americans seem to really want, is SOMETHING to vote FOR. And this election proves that. So I am more excited about the ideology than I am about the man.
Research shows that voter turnout is higher when there are big ideological differences between candidates. Countries who have Socialists, and Conservatives, and Nationalists running in their elections have higher political participation. America doesn't have anything for the left to identify with, so there is a huge portion of the electorate who do not participate in politics, who do not even vote because there is nothing worth voting for. This election there was some to vote for. But I do feel that the thing that we were voting for was America's first black president. The "CHANGE" we voted for was a huge change in our history, it was ideological, but not practical. Barrack Obama played the game that professional politicians play. Usually the Republicans are better at it. Usually they have the pithy answers, they have a handle on the mood of the nation, and play with the symbolism of America being great, and patriotism, and try to make people feel good, without actually doing anything practical. Well, what I see is that the Democrats managed that this time.
But, this is a man who is spouting the same fear inspiring rhetoric about the Middle East, and making sure America is Great in the world, and keeping Iran from developing nuclear weapons, and who voted for anti-privacy legislation in the Senate. The irony is that the reason I voted for him in the end was because of some of his domestic policies, but it is his foreign policy which is going to negatively impact on me the most.
What I want to see in American politics is a complete overhaul of the political machine. Political advertising on television and radio should be banned. You should not be able to buy public office. The national networks should be compelled to offer equal amounts of time to candidates of parties with a certain minimum number of members. That would allow a greater voice to alternatives, but still keep the really marginal (and/or comic) groups at bay. What we have here are Party political broadcasts, the main TV channels have to allow a regular 10 or 15 minute slot to each party before a national campaign. I think that is a brilliant idea, and it could be built on. Debates should be more frequent, and less formal and the audience should be allowed to ask questions of the candidates.
America needs a nationalized health system. I don't understand people's fear about this. As if it is Socialism run amok. Actually, it is a really good idea, and it certainly would not do away with private health care. Gasoline needs to be taxed 5 times as much as it is now. And the money from those taxes can go into developing really good transportation links. Electric Trams and buses, coorporate car sharing schemes, community car sharing schemes, etc. The idea that being American means that you have the right to your freedoms no matter how they impinge on others' rights needs to be challenged. Americans do not have the right to cheap gas at the expense of the environment that we share with other nations. Americans do not have the right to cheap consumer goods at the expense of the health of those in developing nations. Americans do not have the right to act as the world's pompous and ideological leader when we don't even take care of our own citizens. Guantanamo Bay, capital punishment, treating children as adults in the courts, the EXPANSION of poverty WITHIN our borders, the erosion of civil liberties,- these things keep my optimism in check.
Why are we optimistic right now? Because we are hoping for change. But who is willing to pay the price for change? Most of us want the status quo to be maintained. Because we all secretely have, at the back of our minds, this idea of the American Dream. Someday we will make it. If a black man can be elected to the oficce of President of the United States, then it really is true. You can accomplish anything in America. Actually, all that does is maintain the ideology, make people think that those at the bottom of the social hierarchy are there because they haven't got what it takes to make it. After all, anybody with $600,000,000 can make it.
Ok, so maybe I am cynical. But it isn't my natural state - it is a learned state. I am still optimistic. I am still hoping for the change we need. And I am still prouc of my fellow countrymen. For now. "
Right, back to the knitting. Pretty yarn helps me not think about the big bad world.
Peace
Julie
Of course, I would quickly point out that I now know how to undo grafted stitches. :-) So it was a learning experience.
But I am being serious for a minute today. Although I am living in Manchester, I am originally from America. Springfield, IL to be exact. And, like many Americans, I am proud of my country at the moment, because we have elected Barrack Obama to the office of President of the United States. I wrote to friends in the States that I was feeling proud, and one of them rightly pointed out that I hadn't been that impressed with the president elect during his campaign. So I wrote to her to explain some of my feelings and thought I would post them here.
"I think it is the idea, and the history that is being made, rather than the man himself. The reason I am not as excited as others is that I don't know why we should be happy that there is a man who plays the politics game better than anybody else. He had loads of money, and he is a great orator, and he is charismatic. I like that he seems to actually have a brain working behind that facade, that he seems engaged with the issues, but the fact is that he is an ambitious and polished professional politician. We won't know for a while whether or not there is reason for all of the good will. I'm just caught up in it as well. I am proud to be a part of history. I am proud that so many Americans actually became engaged with the campaigns, that there was such high voter turnout, and that the left actually had somebody to vote for. One of the reasons the right keeps winning in America is that there are no substantial left wing candidates. The left maintain the middle road in order to win politically. What many Americans seem to really want, is SOMETHING to vote FOR. And this election proves that. So I am more excited about the ideology than I am about the man.
Research shows that voter turnout is higher when there are big ideological differences between candidates. Countries who have Socialists, and Conservatives, and Nationalists running in their elections have higher political participation. America doesn't have anything for the left to identify with, so there is a huge portion of the electorate who do not participate in politics, who do not even vote because there is nothing worth voting for. This election there was some to vote for. But I do feel that the thing that we were voting for was America's first black president. The "CHANGE" we voted for was a huge change in our history, it was ideological, but not practical. Barrack Obama played the game that professional politicians play. Usually the Republicans are better at it. Usually they have the pithy answers, they have a handle on the mood of the nation, and play with the symbolism of America being great, and patriotism, and try to make people feel good, without actually doing anything practical. Well, what I see is that the Democrats managed that this time.
But, this is a man who is spouting the same fear inspiring rhetoric about the Middle East, and making sure America is Great in the world, and keeping Iran from developing nuclear weapons, and who voted for anti-privacy legislation in the Senate. The irony is that the reason I voted for him in the end was because of some of his domestic policies, but it is his foreign policy which is going to negatively impact on me the most.
What I want to see in American politics is a complete overhaul of the political machine. Political advertising on television and radio should be banned. You should not be able to buy public office. The national networks should be compelled to offer equal amounts of time to candidates of parties with a certain minimum number of members. That would allow a greater voice to alternatives, but still keep the really marginal (and/or comic) groups at bay. What we have here are Party political broadcasts, the main TV channels have to allow a regular 10 or 15 minute slot to each party before a national campaign. I think that is a brilliant idea, and it could be built on. Debates should be more frequent, and less formal and the audience should be allowed to ask questions of the candidates.
America needs a nationalized health system. I don't understand people's fear about this. As if it is Socialism run amok. Actually, it is a really good idea, and it certainly would not do away with private health care. Gasoline needs to be taxed 5 times as much as it is now. And the money from those taxes can go into developing really good transportation links. Electric Trams and buses, coorporate car sharing schemes, community car sharing schemes, etc. The idea that being American means that you have the right to your freedoms no matter how they impinge on others' rights needs to be challenged. Americans do not have the right to cheap gas at the expense of the environment that we share with other nations. Americans do not have the right to cheap consumer goods at the expense of the health of those in developing nations. Americans do not have the right to act as the world's pompous and ideological leader when we don't even take care of our own citizens. Guantanamo Bay, capital punishment, treating children as adults in the courts, the EXPANSION of poverty WITHIN our borders, the erosion of civil liberties,- these things keep my optimism in check.
Why are we optimistic right now? Because we are hoping for change. But who is willing to pay the price for change? Most of us want the status quo to be maintained. Because we all secretely have, at the back of our minds, this idea of the American Dream. Someday we will make it. If a black man can be elected to the oficce of President of the United States, then it really is true. You can accomplish anything in America. Actually, all that does is maintain the ideology, make people think that those at the bottom of the social hierarchy are there because they haven't got what it takes to make it. After all, anybody with $600,000,000 can make it.
Ok, so maybe I am cynical. But it isn't my natural state - it is a learned state. I am still optimistic. I am still hoping for the change we need. And I am still prouc of my fellow countrymen. For now. "
Right, back to the knitting. Pretty yarn helps me not think about the big bad world.
Peace
Julie
Thursday, 6 November 2008
My first post
Well, I guess this is a day for firsts. Also for the first time today, I phoned a knitting helpline. The Sirdar one to be exact because I am trying to do a baby cardigan for a friend whose baby is 1 year old this weekend, and I don't have the time to mess about. Usually, if I don't understand something I just go ahead and do something, mess about until I figure it out. But time constraints mean I can't do that this time.
I also think this means I finally think of myself as a knitter. I have been crocheting for all of my life. I learned to knit about 18 years ago when I was pregnant with my daughter S. I knitted a few things and then didn't think about knitting really for quite a few years. The past 3 or 4 years though, I have been crocheting and knitting regularly, and I think I am actually getting good at it. When you feel confident enough to actually phone and ask for help, without worrying that they won't think you are a complete idiot, then you must be getting somewhere.
Anyway, I have started a blog, so I can go on about yarn and things, and what I am making, and be proud of what I do, without boring my friends in the real world. Well, I probably will still bore them. :-)
Things on the go at them moment include the baby cardigan mentioned above, the same pattern in a smaller size for another baby, leg warmers for M, hooded jumper for me, socks for S, and a ragged rug being made out of old T-shirts in Tunisian crochet. I also have the yarn for socks for C, and a couple more pairs of leg warmers, one of which might be for me, seeing as I am getting old and feeling the cold. :-)
Peace
Julie
I also think this means I finally think of myself as a knitter. I have been crocheting for all of my life. I learned to knit about 18 years ago when I was pregnant with my daughter S. I knitted a few things and then didn't think about knitting really for quite a few years. The past 3 or 4 years though, I have been crocheting and knitting regularly, and I think I am actually getting good at it. When you feel confident enough to actually phone and ask for help, without worrying that they won't think you are a complete idiot, then you must be getting somewhere.
Anyway, I have started a blog, so I can go on about yarn and things, and what I am making, and be proud of what I do, without boring my friends in the real world. Well, I probably will still bore them. :-)
Things on the go at them moment include the baby cardigan mentioned above, the same pattern in a smaller size for another baby, leg warmers for M, hooded jumper for me, socks for S, and a ragged rug being made out of old T-shirts in Tunisian crochet. I also have the yarn for socks for C, and a couple more pairs of leg warmers, one of which might be for me, seeing as I am getting old and feeling the cold. :-)
Peace
Julie
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