"The musical 'Dr3amgirls' led today's Ac@demy Aw@rds contenders with eight nominations, but was shut out in the best picture category for which it had been considered a potential front-runner."

Stunning. I mean. 8 nominations - but no best pic? I knew it - there is no god. I'm completely shattered.

Even so, I'm not quite as shattered as I was when I read this truly Breaking News-worthy breaking news from Nov 7, 2006. It's possible you fellow Americans might have missed this one because you stepped away from your desk to perform more pressing matters, like to refill your cup of coffee. Or to pee. Or to vote.

"Br!tney Sp3ars files for divorce from her husband...citing irreconcilable differences."

I caught it though. As soon as it happens, I know about it. Thank you cnn.

Here's my own very exciting breaking news: Hatred for knitting by hand convinces handknitter to buy knitting machine.

Slow, torturous progress on my Kooch. I've decided it needs to be a given a more flattering name and will now call it My Albatross.

Waaaah you guys waaah. Finishing this is going to be a huge struggle. I want the coat a million times more than I want to knit it. After knitting with fingering weight yarn for so long, the chunky is doing a number on my hands, not to mention the return of Reynaud's on my ring and pinky fingers making chunky knitting that much more unpleasant. I've been fantasizing about a knitting machine more and more. If I had a knitting machine I'd use it in a heartbeat. If I had a knitting machine I'd have a sweater coat in another heartbeat. No more languishing as a WiP for a year...the whole thing would finally be done.

If I get one though would that be like going over to the knitting darkside? My mom has one and I always poo-poo it. Because isn't the fun of knitting doing the actual knitting? The yarn, the color of the yarn, the feel of the yarn through your fingers, the clicking of needles, the mechanics of it all motivate us more than whatever the outcome will be.

But not in this case! Stockinette stitch to infinity, scratchy yarn, chunky needles...Kooch is officially Not Fun to Knit. I have no tactile motivation; I just really really want to wear it.

This is where the practicality of hand knitting comes into play - as in, it's just not there! So to machine-knit or not to machine-knit...that is the question...

Comments [15]
Filed Under: General Knitting | Rowan | Kooch | WTF

Tuesday, January 23, 2007 6:01:50 PM (Eastern Standard Time, UTC-05:00)

Marnie MacLean of Marnie Talks posted a few times about machine knitting, and at the very least it sounds like the knitting got done a lot faster. But I don't know if it's worth buying a knitting machine for Kooch if you generally prefer hand-knitting and won't use it again.

On the other hand, if patterns for hand-knitted sweaters are relatively easy to convert into machine-knit patterns, then a knitting machine could come in very handy. I'd have a lot more FOs than I currently do!

seedless grape | estherAT NOSPAMartoutoftheframe dot com

Tuesday, January 23, 2007 7:19:17 PM (Eastern Standard Time, UTC-05:00)

I don't understand the shunning of the Dreamgirls...especially since people were all over Chicago like white on rice. Oh well, I guess people don't like brown rice. ; )

Christie | SuperstarraAT NOSPAMgmail dot com

Tuesday, January 23, 2007 7:46:11 PM (Eastern Standard Time, UTC-05:00)

dude, you are SO close. Maybe kooch can be your drunk knitting or something, something to knit when you've lost your focus? Don't give up! You'll be the only person in blogland with this rad coat! (weird I wrote "dude" and "rad" in one comment...) Anyway, I'm not versed in the ways of machine knitting, but I would guess you could see a gauge difference. I say keep on truckin!

kelly | kellyknits79AT NOSPAMyahoo dot com

Tuesday, January 23, 2007 7:53:00 PM (Eastern Standard Time, UTC-05:00)

I look at it like this: You wouldn't say that a person who uses a sewing machine is cheating because they're not sewing everything by hand, so why wouldn't the same argument apply for knitting? Making a successful garment with a knitting machine requires skillz, and you shouldn't feel like you're cheating at all! I say get a machine for your Kooch! (teehee. so wrong.)

Kellie | kellie dot mccoyAT NOSPAMgmail dot com

Tuesday, January 23, 2007 9:28:43 PM (Eastern Standard Time, UTC-05:00)

Oh man, I will totally go to the dark side of knitting machines with you. I have been thinking about them a lot in the last few months. Think of all the sweaters that could be knit! Keep me posted if you do look into them.

Sundara | SundarayarnAT NOSPAMDELETEgmail dot com

Tuesday, January 23, 2007 10:15:38 PM (Eastern Standard Time, UTC-05:00)

I remember when CNN used to take itself seriously and wouldn't post fluff like that.

Bonne Marie of ChicKnits has posted about knitting with a machine-esp. boring stockinette pieces like you posted. So you shouldn't be ashamed of using a machine.

monica | cmnappeAT NOSPAMyahoo dot com

Wednesday, January 24, 2007 12:15:42 AM (Eastern Standard Time, UTC-05:00)

I gotta agree with the other comments, there's no shame in using a machine. Heck, if it gets you through a few miles of mind-numbing stockinette without going nuts and doing bodily harm to a family member, it's worth it.

Twitchy Knitter | allier73AT NOSPAMgmail dot com

Wednesday, January 24, 2007 9:52:33 AM (Eastern Standard Time, UTC-05:00)

Damned Reynaud's. That reminds me I should go turn up the heat unless I want some uncomfortable fingers. Have I mentioned how much I hate mittens!??? Ugh.

Can you use your mom's knitting machine??

Chris | silkAT NOSPAMonvoymail dot com

Wednesday, January 24, 2007 11:52:23 AM (Eastern Standard Time, UTC-05:00)

So how come (and remember, I say this speaking as a knitter) you don't just go to TJ Maxx and buy a sweater coat? If it's not fun to knit, will you really want to wear it anyway? Knit something else, something that makes you say aaaahhhhh. I know you have a list. :)

Bettina | thefinefairyAT NOSPAMyahoo dot com

Wednesday, January 24, 2007 12:00:00 PM (Eastern Standard Time, UTC-05:00)

Wow, who came up with the name Kooch anyway? Were these people drunk when they named the pattern? My Albatross is a much better name :)

And I still haven't knit a sweater, so I haven't felt the agony of just wanting to be done with it. Although, very large lace shawls are starting to give me the same feeling. Too bad you can't machine knit lace. As far as I know...

Adam | achurchAT NOSPAMadamknits dot com

Wednesday, January 24, 2007 12:00:37 PM (Eastern Standard Time, UTC-05:00)

Haha, my husband and I make fun of CNN's "Breaking News" too. They really like to use those banners a lot more than they did in the past. The line between 'tabloid' and 'news' becomes a little thinner every day, I think.

Good luck on Kooch (I mean The Albatross)!

Kristy | oatmeal782AT NOSPAMgmail dot com

Wednesday, January 24, 2007 1:35:05 PM (Eastern Standard Time, UTC-05:00)

I figure we already spend far too much time doing things we don't enjoy, if you want to machine knit, go for it!! Save the hand knitting for the projects you will have fun with... Speaking of which - love the child's first socks - that poppy is a great color. Oh, and Tom Brady...yummers. Brad had the game on all day but you wouldn't have heard me complaining... ;-)

Vicki | knittenknotsAT NOSPAMhotmail dot com

Wednesday, January 24, 2007 4:24:01 PM (Eastern Standard Time, UTC-05:00)

"Slow, torturous progress on my Kooch" - wonder what kind of Google hits you'll get with that!!

brenda in toronto | hugekingfanAT NOSPAMyahoo dot ca

Thursday, January 25, 2007 12:03:44 PM (Eastern Standard Time, UTC-05:00)

I just found you through a google search for the Aimee sweater from Vintage knits. I love your blog and have read quite a bit of your archives already! Simply Marilyn was my first (adult sized) sweater too! Aimee is waiting in the wings for two sleeves to be knit (the last sleeve for two different sweaters!) and then I may knit butterfly too! I also love the apricot jacket....I was glad to find your ideas about the shoulders on Aimee. I am going to do what you suggested- Thanks!

patti | pattimamaAT NOSPAMgmail dot com

Friday, January 26, 2007 3:10:04 PM (Eastern Standard Time, UTC-05:00)

I'm so relieved I'm not the only one having the finger troubles! I just had a blood test for rheumatoid arthritis (here's hoping that little buddy comes back negative), but my fingers look just like yours so I'm hoping it's the Raynaud's. I have it on the ring, middle, and pointer fingers. Hope yours clears up soon!

Sarah | sarahAT NOSPAMbluegarter dot org

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