#cig personal

[carlos-in-glasses]

A couple of years ago, my boyfriend was thrifting and happened to find a fabric name tag with Strand on it, and gave it to me.

It turns out he’s been looking for a name tag with Reyes on it ever since. And he found one!

Strand and Reyes, as modelled by Teddy Reyes.

I want to knit myself a jumper and sew these tags to it.

[carlos-in-glasses]

On Saturday, at almost midnight on my bedroom floor, I had a conversation with Rafael Silva! The Dream It convention at Orlando was offering virtual meet and greets, and because I can't go to the one in Paris this year, I took the opportunity to do this instead. I wanted to tell him that although I and other fans can't always make it to these events, Lone Star and its characters remains as important as ever and still moves us. He was so lovely and was very grateful to hear it, and thanked me for connecting. He said he felt lucky to still get to attend the conventions himself 🥺

What I was *not* expecting, though, was for him to have a big reaction to me telling him that I couldn't make it to Paris. I thought he'd just be like "oh fair enough, that's life, no worries" but he was more like "excuse me what is the meaning of this??? I'm so sorry you can't join us???" So, then I had to tell him about my work conference, and that I needed to prioritise it lol. Which he did understand but also clearly thought that sucks for me. Which it does.

He asked me if I was watching 9-1-1 Nashville, which was like pressing a button that makes one of those monkeys with cymbals come alive, because I said an emphatic NO and then found myself banging on about how unfair the cancellation was. He laughed and told me that he'd been asking people if they were watching it, and the overwhelming response was no! I wish I'd thought to say that I'd watch an episode that included Tarlos, but for some reason the bowl of overcooked spaghetti that is my brain couldn't get there. (Perhaps for that reason, when he remembered I was from London, all I could think to say was 'Yes correct. I'm from London. We are having a heatwave. I had to turn my fan off to talk to you.' WHY??) But anyway, interesting that he was asking people. Doing a little ground research...? He did seem to get a kick out of my reaction, even though I feel like I was too ranty in the end.

AND omg out of the blue he declared that my hair is longer than it was at the convention last year. For reasons that totally bewilder me, I agreed!!! Even though I think my hair is shorter!? Then, god help me, I started fluffing it up???? AGAIN. WHY??? And I mumbled something about how maybe I should get it cut. But I have no desire to get it cut!??? I think I was in full-scale panic. Then, the call had to end! So we thanked each other about ten times and said goodbye.

Three minutes flies by when you're having a full-body meltdown while face-timing with Rafael Silva during a huge heatwave and trying not to ramble about hair, so I managed to ask him nothing at all about Tarlos! Should I be allowed to have a conversation ever again, with anybody?? NO! Absolutely not! Do I care? Also no! Because it wasn't really about anything except getting to tell him that even if he can't see us, fans are still there. Lone Star still matters, and the characters that he and the cast worked so hard to bring to life still matter. That was my sole objective and I did it ❤️

Prev Dream It convention write-ups are here (2023) and here (2025).

[carlos-in-glasses]

The Ingrid Sweater - Finished Object!

I can’t believe I’m saying this, but I have finished my Ingrid Sweater! My knitting magnum opus! Details and experience below the cut! (Spoiler alert: I love it!)

Cast On: 10 January 2025; Cast Off: 28 April 2025.

There was a little break before blocking because I went away and then had to wait for it to dry, but as of today…it’s all done! After 141 days! Just in time for hot weather - a big squishy sweater made from...

Materials: Sandes Garn’s Double Sunday in taupe (the recommended yarn) held with a strand of Isagar Eco Line Alpaca 1 in ecru, which I found in a charity shop and wanted to save for something special. Stitch markers, needle point protectors, a measuring tap, scissors and scrap yarn for safety lines were all used.

Needles: I went a bit higher than the recommended needle size and used 5mm for the body and sleeves, 4mm for the collar and cuffs and hem). I used my set of Knit Pro interchangeable needles in metal, which are definitely okay although can unscrew here and there.

Size: S for the body, XS sleeves (so picked up less stitches).

Pattern: The Ingrid Sweater by PetiteKnit linked here. I’ve had my eye on the Ingrid Sweater since before I started knitting. I never believed I could knit, so it was always something I appreciated the beauty of without thinking I’d get to own one. Almost 18 months since I started knitting, I’m completely jazzed to report that I was WRONG! 💃And I’d highly recommend this pattern as a first textured jumper. The pattern itself is written clearly, and it’s supplemented by video tutorials (vital for me!) I consider myself an ambitious/confident beginner rather than intermediate, and the pattern’s ranking suggests it’s for advance knitters, but don’t let that put you off! It took me five months because I couldn’t devote much time to it each day, not because of its difficulty – especially once I’d got through the yoke and was working in the round. This is my first PetiteKnit pattern and I understand the appeal.

Experience and Thoughts and Feelings: The hardest parts ended up being the German short rows because of a miscalculation on my part, and the first time I attempted the diamond section, but if I recall it’s because I’d miscounted the stitches I needed. Both times I had to unravel, and big love to the friends online and irl who had to deal with me when I was going through that...It’s vital to have the correct number of stitches for the diamond part, so my main tip would be to check often, and make sure you add safety lines at appropriate intervals. I was somewhat intimidated by the sleeves because I’d read so many reports of people struggling to get the diamond section perfect, but I think it looks fine! It’s just that one section of the diamonds is wider than the others, but it’s on the part of the sleeve you don’t really see. I was pleasantly surprised by how stress-free the sleeves ended up being, having assumed they’d be insurmountable.  

This is also my first successful attempt at a folded collar! I’d tried previously but knitted my knitting needles into the collar and had to cut them out. Which I’m pretty sure nobody has ever done before in the history of knitting. This time – thanks again to YouTube tutorials – I was able to do it without any issue, and I’m so glad I got back onto the horse that threw me. I was going to try a simple ribbed collar and call it a day, but this looks a lot more polished (by my standards).  

All in all, completing this project is one of the things I’m proudest of in my life. I genuinely thought I was too stupid to knit, but I persisted and proved to myself that I’m capable of things I thought impossible. Would I knit this again? Yes! There’s some other pieces I want to make first (and I want to try colourwork!! Eeek!), but it’s good fun and so motivating to have different sections in the pattern you want to get to. I’m knitting something purely stockinette at the moment, and although it’s nice to have a breather, I miss having the right amount of complexity that keeps it engaging. I’m already dreaming of one of these in pink, held with mohair! So happy!!! I love it!!!

[carlos-in-glasses]

Feeling lost in my worklife, I'm taking a skills assessment quiz on the UK government's careers advice website. I was hoping there may be some enlightening suggestions.

It literally could not have gone worse and I'm crying.

[carlos-in-glasses]

My co-worker gave me this knitting book from 1980. I think we can all agree the cover pattern should be my next project:

[carlos-in-glasses]

I've finished knitting my second jumper! It's the Step-by-Step Sweater by Florence Miller - and is perfect for beginners like me. There's also a YouTube tutorial that runs through the whole process. I absolutely loved working on this and am so pleased with the result. I learned how to knit a jumper in the round, do raglan increases and German short row shaping, which wasn't anywhere near as complex as I thought it would be. The yarn is Sirdar's jewelspun. (Although in the video I helpfully pronounce it as Sidar, which is in fact the name of a restaurant I won a voucher for during a raffle at a wine tasting like a HUGE YUPPIE. But I'm exhausted and making all sorts of weird litttle mistakes.)

Anyway! I can't believe this is a thing that exists! Definitely my favourite thing made so far. I think the next thing I knit will be some knee warmers for my mum, which she has requested in dark green! But I'm excited to knit more jumpers that maybe include some new stitches to learn.

[carlos-in-glasses]

Darling do you have any recent knitting projects you could show us 👀👀

Ooh Andie hello and thank you for asking! Yes I do! I have two larger WIPs and two small finished objects!

The WIPs:

The Lights Up Cardigan by Wool and the Gang. It's a patchwork cardigan, which you knit in panels. I bought the kit for my birthday. I'm doing it in pale earthy tones - eventually I plan to make one in a sort of muted rainbow. (The colour in the first pic is distorted - I was knitting with the white yarn!)

2) The Tolsta Tee by Rebecca Clow. I saw a lass in a yellow t-shirt with elbow length sleeves and decided I need to make one for myself. The pattern doesn't have elbow-length sleeves so I'm modifying.

The Finished Objects:

A yellow chunky beanie by Lauren Aston Designs, modelled by my panda and knitted mostly at the pub.

2. Knee warmers for my mum's Christmas present! I'm very proud of the sort of basket weave stitching that created a dome for the bend of the knee, so it wasn't all ribbing. Modelled by me.

I love knitting!! Thank you for giving me a reason to share these!!! 🥰

[carlos-in-glasses]

Everybody in this fandom is so talented and amazing but I'm behind with where I want to be with reading because of life and I'm worried it's going to get worse. Please know I have nothing but love for you and Tarlos and LS. All I really want to do is read and let you know how brilliant it is. And write fic. And swoon over art and gifsets. And have fun and have a chat and join in with meta posts and spark off those. It all matters to me.