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Shampoo Saga

A number of things motivated me to make this shampoo from a recipe that, with some critical aforethought, might have had me saying, "whoa, these are some strange ingredients for a shampoo."

One reason is I have made  soap products in the past, bar shampoo being one of them (in the form of 'cookies' and 'muffins'), so am aware of the process, the retention of glycerin in 'homemade' soap, the feedback from friends about the benefits of products without anything harmful or irritating, the satisfaction of DIY.

Another reason is the increasing awareness (scientific scrutiny/ media attention) that what we put on our bodies is as important as what we put in it. This leads to reading labels more intently and boy, the stuff they put in commercial shampoos is alarming.   Which led me to scratch my head after shampooing with a regular shampoo, touch fingernail to tongue, be able to 'taste' the shampoo.  I re-rinsed thoroughly.  Taste tested again with same result. Talk about clingability!  Do I really want stuff sticking to my scalp that has ingredients I can't pronounce.  Beer shampoo came to mind as a soothing choice....aren't hops supposed to be good for us.

Then I came across a recipe for shampoo in Grandma's Amazing Household Hints, a little book I picked up at a thrift store - a church thrift store, which likely gave it extra credence.  The ingredients are: 1 oz olive oil, 1 egg, 1 tbsp lemon juice, 1/2 tsp apple cider vinegar.  I happened to have all the components in the house, my hair needed washing - voila. 

Well - it was an interesting experience.  There was no lather to speak of;  I used two applications and rinsed well in between;  drying was done by brushing over the hot air vent  (I admit I had some fear of curdling the egg if I used the electric dryer);  I am still assessing the result, a day later.

However - main reaction - it feels very good; hair is soft and silky.  However - main concern - my hair looks oily and I like it to look fluffy.

It got me thinking about making another batch of shampoo 'muffins' and 'cookies'. 

Knitting : Moebius Scarf ; Elastic Bands

Knitting a moebius scarf with elastic bands did result in an accessory that seems to have movement on its own.  It's the simple moebius construction where I knit a length and then joined the ends together, first twisting one.

Knitting with elastic bands is an intriguing experience: slow knitting with attention; the 'yarn' seems to co-operate unexpectedly.

Large needles were used here - # 12's, and 6 inch narrow elastics.

It feels nice to wear - not light but also not overly heavy - more of a 'presence' on the shoulders and around the neck.   

Knitting Needles : Gel-filled. Computerized

Knitting Needles :  Gel-filled;  circular, the points firm but the coil soft and filled with a liquidy substance;  a smooth transition from point to coil;  especially worthwhile with large sizes;  soothing to the hands;  possibly warmable.

Computerized;  regular needles,  able to be  pattern - programmed on a computer;   info conveyed to needles on 'screen' on needle.

Victoria BC : Willows Fish and Chips

Within view of the ocean on the corner of Estevan and Dunlevy streets is Willows Fish and Chips, one of Victoria's  'best kept secrets'  which tourists find by word of mouth and where locals tend to take visitors.

The food is superb - clam chowder, fish and chips, burgers etc.  My favourite is the chicken burger done on the grill (breaded is an option, as well) with cheese and tomatoes and lettuce and a smokey barbeque sauce; the chicken is so tender and moist you can cut it with a fork.
It's shown here with a tasty coleslaw and worthwhile fries. 

What I find very special about this place is the  kind thoughtfulness of the three man 'crew'.  They are really nice.

Origami: Freeform

More than thirty years ago Origami became a part of my life.  I don't remember how or why.  I do recall origami paper and origami  books being on the pine box used as a coffee table where each family member  would sit and fold on a regular basis.  Water bombs and cranes and owls and boxes in  abundance;  one of a time intricately constructed dragon, golden beetle, dancing couple, Hindu figure...
Over the years,  a dove flying out from a greeting card, a minimalist elephant,  numerous fortune tellers... have kept the adventure ongoing.   Wondering how an idle  folding would translate into fabric resulted in an Origami dress design.   Hearing that others were exploring an expansion of the boundaries of origami got me ....  playing.....

The paper is chosen (here a piece rough on one side, smooth on the other, torn thoughtfully  from a roll) and then held until something is passed from the paper to the hand and from the hand back to the paper.

Folding occurs.  Gently.  Letting the paper speak.

Turned in on itself.

Reversed. 

Condensed.

Taking on a life of its own;  understood.

Achieving position.

Displayed.

SENIOR'S MOMENT ; Carryall

When I saw blackboard cloth being sold by the yard  in a funky store - Lazy Susan's  1974  Oak Bay Avenue in Victoria - I had to buy some.  What to do with it?  Several ideas came to mind - and a note hat is still 'simmering: I have enough fabric left - but the wish for a larger carryall for Knitting and books and post office'y stuff resulted in this.  The webbing is upholstery strips which  seemed perfect for the blackboard theme and which I happened to have in my stash; the best part is that I found it!  The point, of course, is the need to write things down before we 'forget' them, and........the need to... now... add details........:  the dot on my wrist that would have immediately reminded me of why I had written it a year or so ago now only gets a blank stare unless I have added to the dot extra information.  This bag has more space than my wrist!

MORE 'SHAWL' PINS

The paper string worked just fine: the one on the right, in the Greek braid.  Then for some reason the leftover tops of Wellington boots (cut down into
Pixie Puddlers) came to mind and I cut them thusly.  The flexibility is pleasing - could punch more holes and thread more fibre or use holes themselves as a decorative element.  Could paint on them.  They could be different shapes - maybe figures, human or animal or numerical.    I'm on  the lookout now for black chopsticks. 

KNITTING : BACK AND FORTH ; Garter Stitch!

It isn't hard, for goodness sake, and I have had a brief wonder as to why it has taken me this long to take the time to discover how to do the garter stitch when knitting back and forth - I've been knitting stockingette for ages and ages.  But there you are.  Another one of those things in life that has to do with 'timing' (another fascinating topic for conjecture). 

I'm working on a  narrow part  for around the neck on a scarf here and wanted garter; that was the motivation.  You knit as usual from right to left and then, without changing needles, knit from left to right by simply bringing the wool to front of work, sticking point of left hand-needle from back to front of the stitch on the right hand needle, take yarn from right to left around the poking-through left hand needle (which is where I am at in the picture) and then lift the new stitch through onto the left hand needle, dropping the old one.  I could have knit six stitches in the time it took to describe it! Another opportunity to pay attention, knit slowly, open to energy flow in the piece.

BRAIDING : SHAWL PINS

These shawl (or hat or scarf or sock or vest or whatever needs a fastener) pins were inspired by talk of such items at a recent Knit'N'Cafe : the fact that two of the women taking part in the discussion live on boats may have something to do with the rather 'nautical' outcome: they are all braided and three of them are made from 'rope'.  (The one on the hat is satin cord, the remaining two are wool.)

Old bodkins and chopsticks serve as  'anchors',  but I feel the proportions are wrong; nice knitting needles cut to size are being considered.

One suggestion was to use the actual wool that the shawl or scarf is knit from;  I am wondering if there would be enough of a contrast.  I'd like to experiment with paper string and maybe fabric cut or ripped into strips.

The technique is from Handwoven Clothing,  Felted to Wear by Anita Luvera Mayer; she calls it a Greek braid.  It is simple to do, rhythmic, satisfying and requires only your two hands and nine times the  fibre length of the desired piece.   

Let's see if I can put it into words:  Take a piece of fibre nine times as long as you want the finished braid.  Fold in half and at the mid-point make a slip knot.  Put slip knot very loosely (about two inches deep) about half way along forefinger on left hand with two yarns dangling down.  Now put the 'active' yarn (the one you can slide)  behind the remaining three fingers on the left hand and hold it there and with thumb and second finger hold the  bottom  point of  the slip knot (where the braid is going to descend as it is made).  Hold the other yarn horizontal with the corresponding three fingers on the right hand;  take the right hand forefinger and put it through the slip knot from left to right (the slip knot should be hanging loose enough to be able to do this easily)and scoop up that horizontal yarn going from front to back, bringing the yarn up and through the slip knot and letting it form a loop on the right forefinger now while letting the original loop on the left forefinger slip off.  Pull this tight (the first part of the braid) and now make the loop on the right finger loose.  The active yarn will now be in the right hand; put it behind the three fingers; hold other yarn horizontal with left hand, poke left forefinger through loop from right to left, scoop up horizontal and continue.   Oh, this sounds so long and complicated and if you have followed it and made the braid - well, I am impressed!   I wish I could just show how it is done.   

(The shawl was garter stitch knit on large needles with a handspun (not by me) yarn starting with three stitches and increasing at the start of each row until an agreeable size was achieved.  It is light and airy and breath-ably warm (something to do with heat being trapped in air pockets).  The hat is a hemp and wool blend; I like the look of it and the feel of it but I am not pleased with how it looks on me.  It may be one of those items that a month - or a year - from now will suddenly be suitable, but for now it spends most of its time being decorative and not functional.)

KNITTING : MORE WITH ELASTIC BANDS

That first playing around with elastic bands as yarn a few days ago stretched me into thinking what I could knit with them.  This wrist band resulted.  I like the look and the feel of it and it could be used over loose mittens as a way of anchoring them to the wrist.  The gauge here is :  three 6 inch elastic bands across 8 stitches on # 17mm/US 12 needles will knit one row.  Knowing this will come in handy should I decide to knit a carry bag.  I'm not sure how sturdy it would be, or if it would stretch impractically (I have an image of dragging my library books along the ground in such a bag).   And, as the first time, I really enjoyed knitting with such elastic fiber.  It is Slow Knitting - you pay attention to each stitch and have the chance to really marvel at each and every construction.  Next comes the idea of making a cowl, maybe a moebius where I would knit a length and then join the ends with a twist before the join.  Hmmm - I can imagine that it would rather  'move'  on itself when worn.   I had other things in mind to do now but........