Mission Falls and DDT
Last night I was thinking about whether I actually should buy more Mission Falls wool- I really want to, but should I? I recalled reading that some people had done Rogue in Mission Falls. I decided to swatch. I wanted to know if a) cables would show up in the black, and b) I could get 4.5 stitches per inch.
Answers: yes, but not extraordinarily well, and no, I get 4.125 on size 8’s. Further reflection reminded me that I look awful in all black. I don’t look classic or goth, just pasty. So much for that.
Aaaanywho. I saw a few Better Homes and Gardens from the war years – that’s WWII, whippersnappers – and at a buck apiece, I had to pick them up. They were full of gems like the article to the left extolling the virtues of DDT. Yikes!
The main thing I liked about these, though, was the ads. I used to be a promotion producer for a local TV station. An Addy award-winning producer, thank you. And I’m always interested in how people sell. Even now, when I write for Dragonrealms, I find that I enjoy thinking about it from a selling standpoint. I’m selling a room or item to the player, working with in the constraints of a small space, our special style, and technical specifications. Hey, just like TV! Because of this, I’m always interested in how people sell things. And most of the ads in these BH&Gs are using wartime to sell. Take the Windex ad at the right, which you can click on to see in its entirety. Honey, if your man’s coming home from war, let the windows go! I guarantee you he won’t give a hoot.
I also stopped into another shop where they had a 1950’s era Brownie beanie for sale. The guy said it was $8, but everything was half off so that was $4. I put it back, and
I had a good time. We’ll definitely have to do it again.
I love stuff from “olden times” (when I was a kid qualifies now [grin]). I used to read a lot of books written during WWII and earlier, just to get a good feel for our culture back then. It’s so interesting how times change!
What the heck is an “addis in sweater length”?
I love stuff from “olden times” (when I was a kid qualifies now [grin]). I used to read a lot of books written during WWII and earlier, just to get a good feel for our culture back then. It’s so interesting how times change!
What the heck is an “addis in sweater length”?
Oops! I slipped into jargon! Addis are circular needles from a German company, Skacel. They have very nickel-plated brass tips with a very smooth join to the nylon cord between them. They’re the Porsche of knitting needles. They’re called “Addi Turbos” because you can usually knit faster with them. I swear by these things for all but the most slippery yarn (where you want something that’ll grab the fiber more).
Unfortunately, they run about $15 apiece, so you can see that it would be expensive to get them in all the lengths and needle diameters I’d like. Since they were half off, I stocked up!
“Sweater length” means that the cord between them is longer, so that I can fit enough stitches for the body of a sweater on the needle. In this case, I got some with cords that were 32″ long, and I can fit much more than 32″ worth of stitches on the needle since the stitches will be bunched up. This was a great opportunity, and I’ve already got some sweaters planned out, including one for Emily that will be my “practice sweater” before my Dad’s!
Oops! I slipped into jargon! Addis are circular needles from a German company, Skacel. They have very nickel-plated brass tips with a very smooth join to the nylon cord between them. They’re the Porsche of knitting needles. They’re called “Addi Turbos” because you can usually knit faster with them. I swear by these things for all but the most slippery yarn (where you want something that’ll grab the fiber more).
Unfortunately, they run about $15 apiece, so you can see that it would be expensive to get them in all the lengths and needle diameters I’d like. Since they were half off, I stocked up!
“Sweater length” means that the cord between them is longer, so that I can fit enough stitches for the body of a sweater on the needle. In this case, I got some with cords that were 32″ long, and I can fit much more than 32″ worth of stitches on the needle since the stitches will be bunched up. This was a great opportunity, and I’ve already got some sweaters planned out, including one for Emily that will be my “practice sweater” before my Dad’s!
My dad was telling me last night about how the DDT truck used to drive down the street, and he and all the other kids would run behind it, having fun hiding in the CLOUDS OF TOXIC PESTICIDE. I think we’re both lucky to be here.
My dad was telling me last night about how the DDT truck used to drive down the street, and he and all the other kids would run behind it, having fun hiding in the CLOUDS OF TOXIC PESTICIDE. I think we’re both lucky to be here.
My Gramps used to drive the DDT truck. Also not healthy for him and his family, I would expect.
Glad we’re all still here! 🙂
My Gramps used to drive the DDT truck. Also not healthy for him and his family, I would expect.
Glad we’re all still here! 🙂