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Go Ahead, Make My Day

Warning: This is a virtually snark-free entry. I'm sorry, and I plan to return to a much more sarcastic place when I'm done being so, well, happy.

I have a confession. I am that person, the one with the blasted luck who never wins anything and never gets closer than fifth place. Well, I once won a pillow from my chiropractor, but I don't think that really counts because it was ugly and my insurance pretty much paid for it. Other than that, I've never won a thing in my life. I owe it to my laziness laid back nature and a possible gypsy curse.

But this year! This is the year for Kim! I've been given not one, but THREE "You Make My Day" awards from the following lovely people:

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Sara of Bella Knitting
Nina of Knit in Denmark
James of subdue it with a sweater

These bloggers definitely deserve a million YMMD awards of their own, and from what I understand, I am now to spread the love to other bloggers who make my day. I wish I could just cut and paste all the people who take the time out of their day to leave comments here on Yarn Abuse because every. single. comment makes my day, without fail. And all the emails I've received because of this site, even the ones who are like, "I don't understand your pattern instructions," or, "I don't knit but I read your blog anyway." Because everyone (besides the occasional ass-face) has always been extremely sweet and positive. Everyone I've been in contact with through this blog/knitting groups/Ravelry  deserves this award because, for lack of a better word, this has been the most rewarding endeavor I've ever undertaken. /schmoop

Unfortunately, I have that gypsy curse that makes me too lazy to post the thousand or so links to do that, so I will confine my acknowledgements to the following bloggers. These are people that I always look forward to reading, for their excellent writing and fabulous knitting projects. Plus, they seem like really cool people that I could down pitchers of girl-drinks with while gossiping about ugly patterns.

The 21st Century Hostess
haphazard knitter
The Knitting Knot
Micah's Reality Tour
Superstarra
Very Pink
Yarn Ball Boogie
Cashmere Blend
yaiAnn

I think my day has done been made for this quarter, because yesterday I made a trip to Kohl's department store to cash in some gift receipts and I came home with this baby:

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I have absolutely NO idea how to use this, but hey, it's a first step. Also, if this is considered "lightweight," I would hate to try lugging around a normal one.

Dear anyone reading this who has any online resources for, um, instructions:

Please let me know!

Thanking you in advance,

The World's Happiest Yarn Abuser

Posted on 01.27.2008 by Registered CommenterYarn Abuse in | Comments15 Comments

Reader Comments (15)

woo! new toy! have fun with it, sorry i can't suggest a good place for instructions. i have only used my machine a handful of times. oops!
January 27, 2008 | Unregistered Commentermai
Well, keep your eyes peeled for ANOTHER ymmd award (whenever I around to it), because your blog kicks ass, even without the snark!!
January 27, 2008 | Unregistered CommenterHeather
your blog does rock, but I gotta tell you, downing pitchers of drinks with Micah is a lot of fun!
January 27, 2008 | Unregistered CommenterMatt
Ooh! Have fun with the new sewing machine! I remember the first one I ever got (which is about that size) and it was so much fun. :) Looking forward to seeing what you'll make with it.
January 27, 2008 | Unregistered CommenterCourtney
Oh man! I feel so special! I'm a little teary.

I'd like to thank Blogger and yahoo and my neighbor who has awesome interweb service...

I'm the bestat downing the girly drinks. I love Cosmo's and used to drink them nightly in the bathtub untill they became popular and people started making fun of me for being a sissy. We'l all have to go get drinks after MS&W or something.

Hey, god use of the gift returns! I have no advice but I'd start out with some bags and sacks for kniting and stuff.
January 28, 2008 | Unregistered Commentermicah
hi kim!

good to hear you keeping up with the yoga.
i really do enjoy the links to the other blogs
you have. it's my point of reference.
so, thanks for sharing!
January 28, 2008 | Unregistered Commenterbo
yay! i won a prize! i won a new sewing machine !!!

(it did come with a manual, right?) easy peasy. it's like driving a car =)
January 28, 2008 | Unregistered Commentergray la gran
There's a great book by Diana Rupp called SEW: Sew Everything Workshop that I have found utterly indispensable while trying for the past few weeks to learn to use my sewing machine. She knows her shit (in as far as I'd recognize someone knowing her shit, as a sewing newbie myself). Her book comes with some printed patterns built right in, and they are pretty freaking cute. If you'd like, check my blog for my first sewing project (not from the book, but who's counting?), a fancy pants knitting bag, it's the most recent post.
Good luck with it! And enjoy all the ironing!
January 28, 2008 | Unregistered CommenterLisa
Just follow the manual - seriously. I had no idea how to use a sewing machine when I randomly went out and bought one at Sears (yes, big spender) about 7 years ago, and ended up teaching myself using the instructions in the manual.

Go get some random scrap fabric and test it out!
January 28, 2008 | Unregistered CommenterFinnyknits
Just looking at your sewing machine made the button on my pants fall off. I fully expect to be missing at least one sleeve off my shirt by morning.

I have issues with sewing, apparently. (And no, I can't help you with it -- but I wish you luck!)
January 29, 2008 | Unregistered CommenterRabbitch
Awww, shucks! thanks! I too never won anything. Then I discovered knitting blogs. Now I don't win many nlog contests, but I have been touched by some really cool people, which makes me feel like a winner anyway! And I'll down pitchers of girl-drinks with you anytime.
January 29, 2008 | Unregistered CommenterCarol
Hey, best of luck with the sewing machine! Sewing is a blast and extremely gratifying- you'll have fun with it, I just know it!
January 30, 2008 | Unregistered CommenterNonnahs
OH MY! The adventures you'll have with that new toy! =) And thanks for the award! If I could, I'd give you one right back cuz I like your snarkiness!
January 30, 2008 | Unregistered CommenteryaiAnn
Dude! I just bought a brother sewing machine 3 weeks ago. I smell a "sew the crap out of stuff" challenge.
January 31, 2008 | Unregistered CommenterJames
First thing is, learn to thread it until you're comfortable doing it quickly. If you have to mutter under your breath and look for the manual every time you want to change thread colors, or every time the thread breaks, it takes all the fun out of it. When we bought our current machine the woman selling it showed me how to thread it and as part of the last step (putting the thread through the needle) said to put a finger of my other hand behind the needle. I don't know if that makes it easier to see the eye of the needle or what it is -- maybe your kinesthetic sense cuts in when both hands are in on the action -- but it does make it much easier to thread. Also beeswax on the thread, and cutting the end at a diagonal with sharp scissors. (Yes, the cut end of a thread has a shape and it makes a difference!)

Second, study what the manual says about thread tension carefully. If the tension is wrong you can get a huge blob of thread on the bottom of what you're sewing and not make a seam. Try it out of the box first, don't mess with the adjustments if you don't have to.

Another problem I've often had is putting the needle in wrong. If you have to change or replace the needle, check the manual about that too. Be sure the flat at the top of the needle shank and the groove along the length of the needle are facing the right way. You're probably good to go out of the box on this.

Then, what Micah and Finnyknits said -- play with random scrap fabric and then go to rectangular bags (straight seams, much easier than garments where you have to clip curves to keep them from puckering. When you get to a corner, take shorter stitches half an inch before and after the corner. Before you turn the corner right side out, clip diagonally across close to the stitching so you don't have excess fabric in there. Good practice for making collars and patch pocket facings. That's all you need to know to make a bag.)
February 6, 2008 | Unregistered CommenterDeanB

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