no subject

[firecat]

The etiquette I learned in my culture of origin makes me squirm at the LJ custom of posting one's gift wish list to one's journal (which isn't a judgement on people who do it, it's a statement about me) but this is too funny to pass up.

porcinea memes,
If there is someone on your friends list who you would like to have go buy a really nice skein of yarn for you, post this exact same sentence in your journal.

I have the beginnings of a stash of really nice single skeins of yarn and I'm trying to figure out what to do with them. I guess I could produce a weird patchwork garment. Or maybe annoy my cat by making a lot of little sweaters for her.

Comments

[kightp.livejournal.com]

*grin* I like the meme.

What would you think of the idea of a skein swap? Everybody sends in a skein of something interesting they haven't found a use for and receives back a skein somebody else sent in?

I've been contemplating organizing such a thing for a select number of my LJ friends, on the theory that it might jump-start our creativity...

On the "what do I do with all these single skeins front," I've seen some very nice triangular shawls and rectangular wraps that were knit side-to-side in plain old garter stitch, starting from the top and working down, with a new piece of yarn every row; the ends are left loose and tied into fringe. Randomize the yarns you use, and include some novelty yarns with interesting textures, and you wind up with a rather wonderful striping. Color-coordinate or not, as you desire.

[firecat]

I kinda like the idea of a skein swap. And how about a small community devoted to results of same? I like the existing communities for fiber arts on LJ but they're so busy I don't have time to keep up with them.

I have a book that shows how to make a scarf using the technique you describe. Hadn't thought of doing a shawl that way - good idea!

[kightp.livejournal.com]

I'm e-mailing you about the swap idea. (-:

My ruana, which still needs some finishing work (finishing is my downfall!) was made via that technique, although using just three different yarns, and I love the way it turned out. More yarns would be even more fun, and I'm thinking it could be a great way to use up some skein-ends from other projects, too ...

[sistercoyote.livejournal.com]

I think finishing is everyone's downfall. :) I might be interested in this, as well.

[kalmn.livejournal.com]

i want in on the skein swap thing! me me me! uh, i'm busy moving and dealing with the aftermath of same until middecember, but i am sooo excited!

[vito-excalibur.livejournal.com]

-gasp- You said ruana! Nobody but Colombians ever calls them that!

[kightp.livejournal.com]

*laugh*

Colombians, knitters and old hippies, maybe. I've known "ruana" as the term for that particular shaped cape-like garment since the '60s, and one features prominently in Interweave's Folk Shawls pattern book ...

[nex0s.livejournal.com]

do you two (or anyone else for that matter) want to join my skein swap? it's a bit different than kightp's idea. details here (http://www.livejournal.com/users/nex0s/394073.html).

n.

[firecat]

Thanks for the invite - it's more than I want to spend right now, but if it works maybe you'll do a repeat performance sometime I'm not feeling so impecunious...

[supergee.livejournal.com]

First paragraph: I hear you. I am managing to be a subcultural relativist about it

[firecat]

Good for you! I'm trying...

[serenejournal.livejournal.com]

I'm mostly managing it by doing my version of sticking my fingers in my ears and singing "la la la la la".

(The only thing that keeps me from a long, self-righteous post about it (and people who know me will not be surprised that self-righteousness is my impulse) sometimes is the whole "it's rude to tell other people how rude they are" thing that is also an etiquette rule in my culture of origin.)

[firecat]

Exactly.

[kshandra]

The main reason I posted mine (and I'm just saying this to share, not because I'm feeling guilty) was because I had other people on my flist "demanding" people to update their lists. And since I live to make my friends happy.... *crooked grin*

[serenejournal.livejournal.com]

I should say that on an emotional and intellectual level, I think I understand the impulse to do it -- it just twigs training I have had all my life, and it *feels* icky even though I know rationally that that's my deal and I can just go'head and get over myself now. Y'know? People are reallytruly allowed to do stuff that feels outside of stuff I desire to do. My internal judgmental asshole gets told to shut up a lot.

[firecat]

My internal judgmental asshole gets told to shut up a lot.

Ayup. Mine too. (And speaking strictly for myself, I admit that part of my squirminess is envy - I want to post my wish list because I like getting presents, but my personal etiquette rules won't allow it.)

[wordweaverlynn.livejournal.com]

This is what sweeties are for. They publish your wish list.

[firecat]

Hmm, my sweeties must have missed that memo.

[kightp.livejournal.com]

Hell, I posted mine despite feeling exactly the same way about it ... which, come to think of it, may be one reason I posted it.

As far back as childhood I was taught it's just not nice to ask anyone but Santa for gifts, and that when you do receive them, the proper response is "thank you" (no matter if the gift is the godawful ugly fabric your grandmother always sends for your mom to make godawful ugly dresses for you, dammit, grandma sent it because she loves you and it's all she can afford and you don't hurt her feelings by saying, "but grandma, I don't like grey and brown plaid!")

I'm still trying to figure out which part of that training is useful (being grateful for what one gets certainly is) and which part can safely be jettisoned (while I don't want to suggest that anyone should give me a gift, I do have friends who've said they're going to, who have asked me for a list because gift selection stresses them out, and who read my LJ ...).

[firecat]

I guess it wouldn't make me feel squirmy if someone said "This is my wish list, directed specifically at people who have asked."

I've seen people say "This is my wish list, some people have asked, and I don't expect anyone to get me a gift," but that still makes me feel squirmy.

Again, a statement about myself and not a judgement.

[karenkay.livejournal.com]

I find it interesting that people *have* lists.

[firecat]

Yeah. I have an Amazon wish list but it's really for storing stuff I'm not sure yet that I want to buy.

[karenkay.livejournal.com]

Yes--though I liked the list that someone mentioned that included world peace. My list like that includes having my mortgage paid off.

[firecat]

I wouldn't mind having my mortgage paid off...

Be careful what you wish for

[red-frog.livejournal.com]

/Monkey's Paw

:):P

Re: Be careful what you wish for

[firecat]

Yeah, I hear you. I thought about ways that might become possible that I wouldn't want.

[firecat]

That makes sense. :-)

[sistercoyote.livejournal.com]

See, I would never, ever post my "wish list" asking people to gimme stuff - but I have posted it to say, "here's stuff I like - tell me other stuff this list makes you think I would like."

OTOH, I couldn't pass up this meme, because I am such a yarn slut and I trust that no one on my friends' list would think I was truly asking. :)

[firecat]

Recommendations are very cool.

[porcinea.livejournal.com]

I trusted that, too, but am beginning to wonder if I was wrong. Ah, well, if people don't know me by now...

[firecat]

I didn't think you personally were doing so. I just felt I had to add a disclaimer to my posting the meme, so that my inner grandma wouldn't swat me.

[cha.livejournal.com]

I need your address!~!!
chark@rocketbeans.ca

[patgreene.livejournal.com]

I have posted my wish list -- publicly, too -- not because I wanted people on LJ to give me stuff, but because my relatives were bugging me to do so. (They don't have LJs.) Posting worked better than email because I could change it if necessary.

IIRC correctly, the first two things one my list were "world peace" and "Russell Crowe's home phone number."

[firecat]

That makes sense.

I hope you get your first two items!

[patgreene.livejournal.com]

Actually, I went back and checked. Russell Crowe's phone number was fourth on the list, after world peace, an end to hunger and homelessness, and a new president. While the other three were totally unrealistic, I am thoroughly upset I didn't get that last one :)

[firecat]

No kidding.

me too

[arrietty42.livejournal.com]

me too - and great list by the way - i just want to be employed again and only i can give me that. lol