I never know what to get for my mom on her birthday. It doesn't help much that it's 2 weeks after mother's day.
This year, I asked her exactly what she wanted...



Kinda funny, but so addicting. I don't think of it much as a child's toy either...I don't think I'd spend this much on something a child might use. It's more for a beginning weaver, an adult or a child.

Whenever she gets a new "toy" (just like her spinning wheel), I watch her and I want a turn on it. Maybe when she makes a couple projects, I'll get a turn. She said, maybe if she gets herself a bigger one, I may get this present back.

Anything to do with yarn and wool is so addictive and satisfying...

-g

My knitting is revived!
After Christmas, I fell into a huge knitting rut. Too many projects, in too little time. I made almost all my gifts and started after Thanksgiving. And then that baby blanket just sucked the life out of me. It took me so long to finish that thing.

Over my long weekend, I finished the back of my sweater and am well on my way to completing the front.

I even got inspiration for my next project from chicknits. I love her lavender ribby cardigan! I found this bright green chunky cotton yarn that's perfect for it...

I promise I won't start the new one, without finishing my current project...

So I never loose this entry...A list of free knitting pattern sites because after I found these, I said I'd never buy a pattern again...

I'm a Knitter...I'm an engineer...
In high school, my piano teacher(bless her soul) asked me what I wanted to be when I grew up. I told her that I wanted to be an engineer. "What do you want to be an engineer for? That's a man's job."

Oh how far we've come...

I was at an interview for an engineering position in Fort Worth, Texas. I was schmoozing over lunch with the hiring manager and his second level boss. "So, what do you do for fun? What are your hobbies?" Oh gosh, do I tell these very technical important men that I knit? So I went for it. Being a Filipino American woman, I was already not the kind of engineer they were used to. And then I bring up knitting. All they could say was, "Oh my sister is a quilter." They couldn't relate. So, I told them my theory...

Little boys always get to help their daddies in the garage: fixing the car, building a birdhouse, using tools. Little girls get to do that sometimes, but there's these gender roles in our culture. So little girls get to learn how to knit, how to sew, how to cook. I believe I learned how to think as an engineer from knitting and crocheting. It involves math(Yes, counting is math), thinking spacially, tactile learning, plus building. I also explained to them that quilting actually requires alot of math. Measurement and geometry. To me, it got pretty complicated, especially remembering to add seam allowance.

I feel pretty well rounded with my weird combination in skills. I have a plumb bob, I made in college shop class on a lathe. When I tapped the thread, I hit the measurement perfectly in the middle of the tolerance. I also have a sweater, I made. The arms are too long cause I just kept knitting and didn't want to take it apart. Also, the first sock I made. I was so proud of I wore it while I made its match. My prized possessions

Pretty cool, huh?

Yes, that sweater is going to take awhile. The knitting bloggers were talking about unfinished projects. I could so relate to that.

Here's my very own list:
-a crocheted table cloth, I started 9 years ago.
-a cable knit cardigan(black lambswool), which I didn't buy enough yarn for. I only had one sleeve left

So sad!!!
I try to keep my projects small, so I can finish. I get bored easily.

In Seattle, I frequent two knitting shops.
Acorn Street Yarn...nice cozy(crowded) little spot in Ravena. Pretty good prices, but sometimes not a very good selection of hardware.

Weaving Works...in the U District. This place has everything, which is dangerous, I can spend way too much sometimes. Often you'll find ladies getting free knitting help, knitting at the pattern table.

Must go visit both for some inspiration and maybe pick up a mother's day gift.