Today Is My Birthday. Will I Receive Some New Yarn?

31 Days In October

If you want to give your skill level a boost, take a class. You may feel like you are back on the floor again, but hey, the view is really interesting.

Day 24-

Today is my birthday. 

I wonder if I will be gifted some yarn, pens, or notebooks. Writing a novel is like learning to knit in that others know your hobbies and can easily find a gift to match. In writing having a good supply of office materials is called a cache. I do use post it notes to keep track of ideas, notebooks to record my story lines, and it is very fun to have pens of different colors to highlight the important things.

In knitting having a large collection of yarn is called a stash. Without a doubt having too much yarn can be a burden. Buying yarn is addictive. The colors bring momentary  ecstasy which dwindles as the skeins are placed in the box of other yarns.
Right at the beginning of this all month goal of writing every day, I talked about the fun of gathering supplies. Many of you agreed that this aspect of starting something new is the best part. I do need to remember that the joy of creating is not in the acquiring new stuff.

Perhaps the rule of thumb needs to be; use what you have. Let the pens run dry and use up all the yarn balls. 

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Take A Class

31 Days In October 

So what do you do if your book character or your yarn misbehaves? 

Get to know them better. 

Day 23-

Last Spring I made a really good choice to take a writing class from my local arts center. The teacher was a published writer with a MFA in English. We started the class with seven students, the youngest a high school student and the oldest a retired librarian. We were all writing in different genres. Laurel, our instructor, believed that reading our work aloud gave the most specific feedback to the writer and to the listeners. She was correct. When I read aloud from my book I could hear the parts that worked and the parts that didn't work sounded awkward. As a listener I realized how my attention span wavered. Each of us gave critique after the reader finished. Sometimes when it was my turn to comment I realized I couldn't remember what I had heard. Hearing and giving criticism was difficult; most of it was kind and helpful.  I had to focus on my desire to be a better writer and welcome growth.

Within three weeks I felt safe with these new friends. I think I was really lucky to be with these women. Many of us are still together in our bi-monthly group.

So, to be honest I've never taken a live knitting class. I do plan to go to Vogue Live in Seattle in the Spring. That should be invigorating. U-Tube tutorials are a main stay for my instruction. I like Very Pink Knits for her clarity and wide scope of instruction.

If you want to give your skill level a boost, take a class. You may feel like you are back on the floor again, but hey, the view is really interesting.

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When Your Character Misbehaves

31 Days in October

Following people who's work we admire is a common practice with modern internet capability. I am not sure I would introduce myself to these women if I saw them on the street but I am grateful that they share their lives and give me a sample of good creative writing and knitting.

Day 22-

So, I have a main character in Rubato named Reggie Watts. I don't know him as well as I should. When I am writing in his point of view I get muddled and that's when I accuse him of misbehaving. Here is what he would look like if Rubato was made into a movie and Michael Fassbender had the staring role. Ha! Ha!

His new homicide detective partner Stevie (Stephanie) Dangerfield is causing some difficulties for him. 

    Reggie was propped up against the dirty wall of the police precinct, one leg wrapped around the other, anchoring him to the floor in a straight line. He was bothered by the earlier incident at the crime scene. Did Stevie really expect him to take off his shoes at the door of every place they visited? Especially a house that looked like they never cleaned their floors? For God’s sake, she was having a tea party with the neighbor guy instead of asking him a few simple questions and getting out of there. If their partnership was going to work he didn’t need her to get under his skin. And, what  was she doing sitting on the back lawn while he was taking the call from Detective Jeppson? Was she doing some kind of meditation thing? He thought of her thick brown hair like a halo around her head as the afternoon sun was melting behind the trees. 

      Reggie shifted his weight and planted both feet firmly on the floor. Where was she now? Why did she think she needed to stop off at her house before coming into the police station. The door at the end of the hall opened abruptly and Stevie came striding towards him.

    “Took you long enough.” He said with a forced smile. “Horak is in there and he looks agitated. Do you want to take the lead and tell him about his wife?”

    “Sure.” 

     Stevie looked refreshed in a new outfit. The blue of her shirt brought out the color of her eyes. There was pink lipstick on her lips which had not been there earlier. With her hair behind her ears Reggie noticed small pearl earrings. 

     Reggie checked his notes. Had Stevie delivered the news of a dead spouse before? He hoped she could be bold enough to interrogate the husband but still be kind. He turned the doorknob of the interview room and opened the door for Stevie to walk in first.

My challenge is to allow Reggie to reveal what he feels inside, staying true to his nature. 

And so it is with yarn. I know, you were waiting for the comparison. 

Yarns can be made from natural or synthetic materials. They can be smooth or deeply textured. I am working with two strands at the same time right now. One is a very thin fingering weight wool and the other a fuzzy mohair wool. The mohair misbehaves and I often must go back and re-work a stitch to make sure I've grabbed all the fibers. 

So what do you do if your book character or your yarn misbehaves? 
Get to know them better. 

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I Am A Fan

31 Days In October

Without a doubt writing and knitting can be frustrating. But there is also the grace of making something out of nothing which brings deep satisfaction and calm.

Day 21-

As a writer and a knitter, I am a fan. 

Let's start with three mystery writers I always read and who I admire.

Louise Penny

Jacqueline Winspear

Deborah Crombie

Their characters Chief Inspector Gamache, Maisie Dobbs, and Duncan and Gemma are like people I know well. Louise writes about Montreal Canada while Jacqueline and Deborah set their stories in England. I love their story wisdom and also how their characters change and grow.

These women make me want to write a really good mystery with believable characters.

On the knitting scene, there are designers whose patterns I have enjoyed making very much.

Victoria Burgess from Seattle

Joji Locatelli from Buenos Aires, Argentina

Melissa from Montreal, Canada

Two of these ladies have regular U-Tube videos so I see and hear their enthusiastic love of knitting. One is my own daughter and I see her designs while they are still in infancy. 

These women make me want to learn more about knitting and making lovely apparel to wear. They model exactness and creativity.

Following people who's work we admire is a common practice with modern internet capability. I am not sure I would introduce myself to these women if I saw them on the street but I am grateful that they share their lives and give me a sample of good creative writing and knitting.

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Sabbath Calm

31 Days In October

New designs await me but I know I will often go back to the familiar.

Day 20-

Twenty days so far of recording the similarities between learning to knit and writing a novel. 

Today is the Sabbath and I am in need of calm. Some mornings I get up anxious about the day and when that happens I make a cup of camomile tea, clip on my knitting light, and take out my basket of stitches. The repetitive grabbing of the wool and pulling it around a needle lets my body relax.

I can find that calm with writing, as well. Here is a selection from the novel Rubato where I can give words to that feeling.

     Sunday started out rainy and did not improve. The gray enveloped the outline of the trees. Stevie watched the drizzle roll down the window in the music room. The houses across the street were blurry with raindrops. Cars lined both sides of the street indicating that most neighbors were home, not rushing off to work. Stevie smelled cinnamon and butter and wondered if her mother was making sweet rolls. The smell reminded her of days when she was home with her Dad. He made the store bought cinnamon rolls in a paper canister and she loved striking the container on the edge of the counter to hear it pop open. As the rolls baked they would sit up on barstools together and wait for the thirteen minutes to pass. They played Rock, Paper, Scissors to see who would get to spread the rich, white frosting.

    What would her Dad say about her life as a homicide detective? She could almost hear him say that she was not reaping enough dividends. Dividends were important to an investment broker. His dream for her would include security and safety—-so much for Daddy’s dreams.

    Angelika was humming in the kitchen. It would be time to go to church soon. For Stevie and her mother the early church service was renewing both spiritually and physically. She realized that hours had passed without her thinking of Judith’s case. Without her daily meditation, prayer, and church worship there would be little to balance the stark reality of her job. 

  Without a doubt writing and knitting can be frustrating. But there is also the grace of making something out of nothing which brings deep satisfaction and calm.

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Using What You Know

31 Days In October

Just like I eased in some new stitches into my sweater I also eased Yolanda into my story. The new character had an important purpose; the new stitches allow room for the body of the sweater to grow.

Day 19-

When contemplating a scene in my book I knew I wanted to have my characters meet in a restaurant. I chose to use what I know, a restaurant in Seattle which my husband and I frequent often. It is his favorite barbecue place. Going there mentally was easy.

     Reggie drove while Stevie gave him directions to the restaurant. They were in an industrial section of Seattle. Businesses with drab corrugated steel buildings lined each side of the road. The area was attracting newer entrepreneurs. Renovated old factories were turning into offices, providing smaller rent prices than in the middle of the city. Stevie directed him to turn left into a parking lot next to an outdoor eating area with twinkle lights hanging from wooden posts. As they pulled in at Jack’s Barbecue, Reggie smiled a large, wide grin. Jack’s was one of his favorite restaurants. He never would have guessed that two music professors would do lunch here. Stevie and her mother were breaking all the stereotypical images he had of music academics. Maybe if they had barbecue sauce on their hands he would feel less intimidated by their talk of Liszt and music fragments. 

    “Jack’s has the best brisket I’ve ever tasted.” Reggie felt his mouth watering at the prospect of a really excellent lunch.

     “You have been here then?” Stevie asked.

     “More than once.” 

     They looked around for Angelika. She was not there yet. They settled to wait on a large brown couch in the front area. 

     “I am a little surprised at the choice of restaurant.” Reggie said, wondering what Stevie thought.

     “So am I. A vegetarian place seemed more my mother’s liking. But, don’t pre-judge Sydney. She could be a down home southern gal.”

      “Your mother is a vegetarian?”

      “Not really, but she likes to eat light so I hope she finds something here on the menu.” 

       Two middle aged women entered, Reggie recognized Angelika. The other woman taller, had silver hair cut short and on a slant. She looked very stylish as she greeted a thin, bespectacled man at the door.  

      “Jack! How lovely to see you.” She was gushing with enthusiasm. 

      “That is Sydney Cabine,” whispered Stevie.

      “And the man greeting her is the owner.” Reggie whispered back. 

      “You are always welcome here and let me find you the best table.”

 Using something familiar isn't the easy thing as much as it is the way to invite creativity without the challenge of inventing something new.

The Asymmetrical Scarf design is very familiar. I have made three previous items with that design.

Each time I make it I use different yarn, different weight and different colors. Sometimes I add my own spin on the stitches used. The movements are familiar and comforting. 

New designs await me but I know I will often go back to the familiar.

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Casting On Stitches In the Middle Of A Project

31 Days In October 

Joining a group works with writing and knitting and could with so many other activities. It's always bumpy at first in the getting to know you stage but so worth it.

Day 18-

Sometimes in the middle of your work it becomes important to cast on some new stitches. 

I am currently working on a sweater. The pattern told me to divide off the stitches for the sleeves and put them aside on waste yarn.

Now I need to connect the body of the sweater to continue knitting. That requires casting on several new stitches to accommodate the armhole. Where do these cast on stitches come from?

When it comes to writing, adding a new character is similar. In my book Rubato I needed someone who could take on some suspicion. You know, another character who might have murdered the pianist. *Spoiler Alert*

Yolanda was perfect for that job. She appeared on the scene with a bang. When my detectives were locking up the scene of the crime at the end of the day, Yolanda came running down the hill. Where did she come from? Why was she here?

     Reggie locked the front door and followed Stevie outside when they heard loud screaming. A tall, blonde woman with wild, long hair came running down the driveway. 

   “Stop! I need to get in there.” 

    Reggie moved in front of the door to block her way. His arm involuntarily moved across his chest to protect himself. “Excuse me ma’am. This is a crime scene. Step aside.”

    Sobbing now, the woman lost her bravado and looked up pathetically. “You don’t understand. My tools are in this house. I right now need them.”
    “Wait a minute. Who exactly are you?”

    “I am housekeeper here. I heard in town that Judith died,” she blubbered a little.“My job needs my stuff out of there.”

     Reggie saw that Stevie was moving between them. “Please, calm down. Let’s go sit down over there.” She took the woman’s arm and guided her to an area with chairs. Reggie followed, taking out his notebook. Why was Stevie taking over? He felt a momentary irritation but he let it go. The woman had a slight accent to her flawless English. Was it German? 

      “When exactly did you last see Judith?” Reggie’s voice was even but there was an intensity to his question.

       “Tuesday is my day to clean. I got here at 9 o’clock and Judith said that she would not need me and sent me away. She had people coming and told me to leave my stuff.  She gave me hundred dollars and told me she would call me later. But, she did not call me.” The woman’s agitation returned. “I need to get in the house.” 

   “We can’t let you in until the crime scene investigation is complete. How long have you worked for Ms. Whitesides?” Reggie said.

   Abruptly, she bolted out of her chair and ran up the hill. Reggie ran after her but got caught by a branch extending out onto the driveway and lost his balance. He righted himself and resumed the charge. When he reached the top of the road the woman was gone. The street was empty. With hands on his hips he paced back and forth. He heard Stevie behind him, out of breath.

   “What the heck was that all about?” she asked. 

    Reggie was angry at himself for losing his balance. He could have stopped her.

   “Who did she say she was?” Stevie asked.

    “She didn’t say. She only said that she was the housekeeper.”

    Reggie looked down at his notebook, writing a quick paragraph about the interchange. “Did you catch her accent?” he asked.

    “Not really. Do you think she sounded foreign?” Stevie turned without waiting for a reply and started back down the hill. “I’m going to double check that the house is secure and grab the bag of Judith’s papers before we go,” she called out.

   Reggie waited in the car for her. He tapped on the steering wheel with the palms of his hands. Stevie got in and Reggie peppered her with questions. “Who can we talk to next? Anyone close by?”

    Stevie adjusted her seat and took out her phone. “I have an address for a Tony Chavez just north of here. I found his name and address in Judith’s list of piano students on her phone. Let’s find out what he knows about his piano teacher.”

Just like I eased in some new stitches into my sweater I also eased Yolanda into my story. The new character had an important purpose; the new stitches allow room for the body of the sweater to grow. 

Go To The Next Day

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