#yarnings

[wearelibrarian]

I just read your wonderful rant about "use it or lose it" applying to libraries, and I have a question about reshelving cart usage. I've always used those for books which I walk away from the shelf with, but it sounds like I'm being too conservative about which books I put on it? Two different cases: pulling books off the shelf to see if I'm interested in the contents, or pulling them off the shelf to check a title which was obscured by the library sticker. Should those go to the cart?

Both of those should, for two reasons.

First, putting something on the cart shows library staff and administration that said item is something at least one patron is interested in. This can influence which items are weeded from the collection, and it can also influence what new items are purchased.

Second, it is important for items to be in the correct order and location on the shelves. While you may be completely confident you’re putting an item back exactly where it was, it’s better to err on the side of caution and allow library staff to reshelve books. Additionally, libraries tend to shelve materials at the very front of the shelf so their spines are easily visible. If you aren’t careful when reshelving, you may accidentally push another item to the back of the shelf, making that item difficult to access.

[knittystitch]

!!! The knit cast on is the one I originally learned to use (I'm stupidly excited to talk about this) and it's definitely my second favorite cast on. The cable cast on is super similar to the knit cast on with the exception of inserting the needle Between Stitches instead of Into The Stitch. I've found when I work the cable cast on my co row comes out tighter and more orderly than when I use the knit cast on, and ends up perfectly mirroring my bind off (with the specification that I need to concentrate on keeping loose tension with my cast on or it will be Way Too Tight To Use). Like the knit cast on is super stretchy but the cable cast on is super tidy and both are great so I choose which one to use based on the project I'm working.

So basically you're not wrong there's just ✨weird nuance✨ that's fun to play with!

[tj-crochets]

Your "explain it to a four-year-old" explanations are so good. I never manage to get as many questions in when I'm explaining.

Thank you! I think I learned how to explain things to kids from how my mom teaches toddlers too young to talk. She just keeps up a one sided conversation with them, like "You see that flower? That flower is red! I like the red flower. Do you see anything else in the room that is red? I see a red ball. Can you see the red ball? The red ball has a green square on it. Do you see anything else that is green?" Pausing after every question in case they want to answer, but not needing an answer to move on

[craftiliciousqueer]

what are your favourite shoes like? and what spices do you always use when cooking?

My favorite shoes are my concert heels- they’re Clark’s, and are leather with a 3in chunky-ish heel. They’re lace up ankle boots I’d say? When you’re standing on a stage that’s usually squished into a church for 2.5-3+ hours, and holding a 3-5 pound book away from your body while also maintaining perfect singing posture and projecting properly and trying to make all of that look easy and breezy your feet are SO important. So they’re my mvp’s. I can look tall and pretty in my gowns and also not destroy my feet/knees while doing a concert program for 3-5 performances. And the compliments I get on them are a plus as well 🤗

Hmmm for spices other than the staples salt/pepper/garlic I love me some paprika!! I usually dash that into whatever I’m working on. I also can’t say no to a little pinch of Cayenne, and lately with my stomach issues I’ve had to cut back so I’ve really been loving the Za’atar spice blend that Penzey Spices sells! When I have to go to my basic rice/fried egg meals to stop an acide reflux attack I’ll mix that in and it makes it SO much easier to eat lol.

Thanks for the asks!!

[unexpectedyarns]

I feel like most of the recipes you reblog are ones you can't eat. Is this like when my mom discovered she had gluten problems, and started getting really interested looking at the stuff she couldn't eat, as that was the only way she got to enjoy it?

Hi

I love food and I feed a LOT of people, some of whom are gluten-free like I am, but most of whom are not.

I have learned how to adapt most recipes to be gluten-free.  For instance, last year I made my own take on green bean casserole by using fresh mushrooms, sauteeing them, making a gravy with gf flour, mixing it with the green beans, and topping it with gluten-free fried onions.

So if I see a recipe that intrigues me and I think will taste good, I queue it for reblog as recipe/reference.  If we decide to make it, I’ll either make it entirely gluten free, or make it to the point where a glutinous ingredient will be added.  Then I set aside a small portion for myself and finish that part out with a gluten-free ingredient substitute (for instance rice or GF pasta instead of pasta), completing the rest of the recipe for the rest of the family.  This is the way I do muffins now, too.

Life and appetite and taste buds don’t die just because a person needs to go gluten-free.  We just adapt and overcome.

[thefrustratedknitter]

Cables aren't actually that hard! Just jump in with both feet and try it! (Do follow a pattern at first, because they affect your tension, but once you're used to it you can just swatch and add them wherever you want.)

idk when you sent this (tumblr hates me and doesn’t do notifications for whatever reason) but thank you for the encouragement!! i’ll take a look at some of my patterns to see if i can fit it in to my next project

[gotham-ruaidh]

Hey Gotham. When Claire goes through the stones the first time, does she wear a cap/otherwise cover her head? I had a memory that she did, but when I did a quick check what I found was Mrs. Fitz giving her a ribbon on that first day. (So obviously bare head then). No mention implies to me that she does, given how big a deal it is. Any thoughts (or quotes)?

Hi @yarnings!

What an interesting question - and in a word, no. She’s wearing her dress (which Black Jack Randall and Dougal’s men and Jamie think is her shift) and her brown loafers. That’s it. 

Consider how vulnerable she is - not just in terms of the weather, but in terms of how she is so utterly unprepared for her new environment. Randall assumes she is a whore because of how she’s dressed. So does Dougal and his men. Immediately they begin making assumptions about her, about her character, about her capabilities.

She comes through with next to nothing. Almost like a rebirth.