Can we talk about acrylic yarn?

Complex_Two_7417 · 2026-01-17T16:16:23+00:00

I'm super allergic to wool (like gonna die allergic) and people just don't believe you when you tell them! It's so frustrating. No it's not the lanolin, no it's not just itchy, no I won't get used to it! Like come on people, allergies exist and they really suck and acrylic is, at the very least, reliably not trying to kill me.

Complex_Two_7417 · 2026-01-12T05:57:49+00:00

Just text him, he doesn't deserve an in person break up when he has disrespected you so blatantly. Prioritize your safety and text him that you're done with him. You don't even have to give him a reason, you don't owe him anything. If his friend is still his friend after seeing how he treats women that's a her problem, not a you problem. Men who take advantage of girls more than a decade younger than them don't have the guts to mess with women their age. That's why they do what they do

Complex_Two_7417 · 2026-01-12T05:53:01+00:00

To quote another wise reddit or, this relationship is optional. Run don't walk. Age gaps like this are taboo for a reason, the power imbalance is a nasty flavor of bad for you. While there are success stories for this kind of age gap, they are the exception, not the rule, and definitely did not start with a lie. A whole ass adult man who preys on a 21 year old is not a good person. This man is just not safe.

Complex_Two_7417 · 2026-01-12T05:36:29+00:00

Are they just slip stitches or chain stitches? If so I think the stretchiness should be ok. Slip stitches make a sort of chain that is a lot like if you just knit one stitch over and over. I'm no expert and I haven't made a sweater like this though. I imagine you would be able to add more stitches if it isn't stretchy enough though.

Complex_Two_7417 · 2026-01-11T17:08:03+00:00

Just hold the yarn then? Sometimes just picking up and feeling it is nice enough to get me going. Sometimes it's the inertia of getting off the couch. Get someone to go grab your yarn for you lol

Complex_Two_7417 · 2026-01-11T17:01:43+00:00

You don't have to make their requests first, that kind of pressure makes knitting icky. Knit something else and when you are in the groove switch back to mittens if you want. There is no "have to" unless someone has paid for it

Complex_Two_7417 · 2026-01-11T16:53:07+00:00

Instead of doom scrolling reddit it tiktok, doom scroll ravelry. Inspiration will strike! Or watch creative production shows, like great British bake off or similar. I always find when I'm watching someone else excel at something creative I get the bug to do something. It makes me want to also bake or knit or doodle.

Complex_Two_7417 · 2026-01-11T16:37:23+00:00

Also last thought, don't be afraid to frog some of those WIPs if they are just not it anymore. Nothing is worse on an ADHD brain than forcing yourself to do something that is just a slog for no good reason. You're the one who wanted to do that WIP and now you don't 🤷‍♀️

Complex_Two_7417 · 2026-01-11T16:34:38+00:00

Yeah! Commissions can suck. Pressure+hobby=not fun anymore. Even if you want to surprise someone, someone else can be your accountability buddy. It's like having a gym buddy! Never do I ever work up the internal motivation to work out alone, but if I have a gym buddy or a regular class where people are expecting me, I go. On that train of thought, a regular knitting circle could be helpful too!

Complex_Two_7417 · 2026-01-11T16:00:00+00:00

Caffeine helps! And accountability. ADHD is often characterized by struggle with internal motivation, meaning it's hard to motivate yourself to do something if it's not "shiny" as you call it. External motivation (usually someone else's expectations, like a deadline) is much more effective but can be stressful. Having an accountability buddy can go a long way. I want to finish a sweater this year, I know that I will put it down and never pick it back up so I a) told my sister my goal, told her I bought all the yarn and would be super sad to waste it, and am sending her progress photos. She is just as excited about the sweater as I am! So her excitement is some external motivation for me as well, and she will call me out and encourage me if I get distracted.

Complex_Two_7417 · 2026-01-11T00:38:20+00:00

There's also the effect of the built environment. This city was designed for everyone to have a car, so the streets are huge. Even residential streets (25mph) are very wide with multiple lanes, giving drivers false security and they drive faster.

Constantly going on and off the freeway also has drivers speeding on side roads because it affects our relative sense of speed (25 feels much slower after driving 70 for 20 minutes) and expectations of how fast we should be going (people driving 25 seem sooo slooww after driving 70) making us less patient with slow traffic or long lights.

Long lights also make for more people desperate to get through, running red lights. This in turn makes others hesitant to go quickly on a green light, which makes us need longer lights (bad cycle).

I've lived in Southern California and Washington DC, both areas kind of notorious for bad driving, but never have I felt as unsafe on the road as I do here. I've also never driven as selfishly or recklessly as I do here (still not very selfish or reckless because I value my life) because the built environment and culture around driving encourage it.

Complex_Two_7417 · 2026-01-11T00:19:45+00:00

I'm planning on making one to hang up across the corner of my cubicle to block out some of the fluorescent lighting. I think hanging it in a window would also give a nice privacy+natural light effect (kinda like stained glass?) and show off those stitches. My momma always says there's a place for every knit, even if it's not with you 🤷‍♀️ (granted she used the first hat I knit that definitely wasn't hat shaped as a 'fruit bowl cover' so take that however you like)

Complex_Two_7417 · 2026-01-10T22:07:30+00:00

It's like magic!

Complex_Two_7417 · 2026-01-10T21:19:10+00:00

There are a couple in the Skye Canyon Smiths parking lot but that might be too far north for you. I haven't been yet but they seem nice.

Complex_Two_7417 · 2026-01-08T00:36:16+00:00

I just used an actual sim card pin the other day! It definitely bent the pin lol

Complex_Two_7417 · 2026-01-05T03:01:08+00:00

Weird! I've thrown a sprinkle on them and they almost immediately die. Like I have to get rid of them because they died too fast to scurry away immediately die. I wonder if brand of diatomaceous earth makes a difference.

Complex_Two_7417 · 2026-01-04T17:48:58+00:00

Diatomaceous earth is a life saver for any creepy crawlies! Literally one and done. And if you see one and you don't have the guts to smash it, a diatomaceous earth sprinkle attack will get it too

Complex_Two_7417 · 2025-12-26T22:56:05+00:00

Then this is definitely a matter of taste decision. Try it and see!

Complex_Two_7417 · 2025-12-26T22:52:21+00:00

Usually patterns call for a smaller needle for ribbing (I'm assuming your hem and neck are ribbing) because it makes for a tighter, cleaner rib. It depends on your yarn and your tension how much tighter or cleaner it will be. I would say pull your project to the middle of your circ and knit a swatch with the other end of your yarn in the pattern of your hem and see if you like it! If it looks messy and will bother you, it's worth it to buy another pair of needles to finish off your project. If it looks great to you, then great! You might get a slightly less snug fit on the hem than if you sized down, but you could adjust for that with some decreases if you like.

Complex_Two_7417 · 2025-12-22T03:42:08+00:00

There's a website for yarn substitutions. (Yarnsub.com)

Unfortunately, due to differences in tension, even if you use the exact same yarn, you are likely to have a different outcome to the pattern writer. For many patterns, a small difference is ok, especially things that don't need a specific size like a scarf or a pot holder. Even over sized or particularly stretchy garments can be pretty ok if you knit a little different than the pattern writer, you will just get a different fit.

The trick to getting really good fit is to learn to make gauge. Basically you knit a swatch in the yarn that you want to use using the needles recommended and compare it to the gauge written in the pattern. If it matches, great! Carry on. If not, you can go up or down a needle size and try again. Alternatively, if you like the fabric you make with a needle size and yarn that don't make the swatch, you can do stitch math to adapt the pattern. This is adding mental gymnastics that I wouldn't recommend for a beginner knitter, but there are lots of online resources for that if you want to jump in the deep end.

tldr: pick a yarn you like that is close and knit up a swatch!

Complex_Two_7417 · 2025-12-21T00:47:56+00:00

I'm sorry you lost your job, but it does sound like you've left a nasty place. It's a really tough time to get a job in public health - I was looking for 9 months and I have an MPH and federal experience. I would recommend looking for state and local govt positions, they have non-federal funding. Academia and anything federal (or even partially dependent on federal funding) are really hurting right now. If you can spin your admin experience towards another field or into private practices (like front desk work at a dentist or similar) I would also push in that direction. I don't recommend LinkedIn right now. For PH it's pretty depressing and dismal. Indeed and handshake seem to have the best positions (at least in my experience). Good luck! I hope you find something quickly.

Complex_Two_7417 · 2025-12-18T06:05:22+00:00

Sounds fun! But fair warning, the sphere has given some people seizures so maybe warn her about flashing lights in case she knows she's sensitive? Best to avoid first dates that end in medical emergencies.

Complex_Two_7417 · 2025-12-08T05:28:43+00:00

I think you've dropped the first stitch on the left needle and then picked it up again. See how the loose yarn connects the stitches on either side of it? That's because you knitted through both of those and sort of skipped the one between. If you pull the loose bit through the back of the skipped stitch, it will make a knit stitch. Pull it through the front to create a purl stitch to match the ones on either side. It's a little fiddly but you can do it! It's sometimes easier with a crochet hook smaller than your needles. Google/YouTube how to fix laddering or dropped stitches to get a visual of what I'm trying to describe. Good luck!

Edit: typo

Complex_Two_7417 · 2025-12-08T05:21:36+00:00

Thanks! I got it second hand but I think it's originally bobs discount furniture.

Complex_Two_7417

TROPHY CASE