iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Status Changed @statuschanged.bsky.social · 3h

*Some of the food vendors and the fire department had AI displays, but they weren't *selling* AI slop, which is an important distinction here. **For some reason, the kids' tables are allowed to sell 3d-slop. There's only 1-2 out of a couple hundred tables, so it's easy to powerwalk past.

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Status Changed @statuschanged.bsky.social · 3h

Is Art on the Avenue the last good art festival in the country? Sometimes it feels like it. No* AI-slop, no** 3d-print slop, just a solid mile of arts. And crafts! Draw the line wherever you like. Also tasty treatos, good food stalls every couple blocks.

artontheavenue.org

About — Art on the Avenue

Art on the Avenue is a multicultural arts festival held in the Del Ray neighborhood of Alexandria, Virginia, celebrating our community’s diversity through the arts.

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Status Changed @statuschanged.bsky.social · 3h

The mysteries of the algorithm! That is a beautiful chicken quilt, and I'm happy I got to see it!

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Status Changed @statuschanged.bsky.social · 8h

Is this how cargo cults work? Ok, I pray to the cargo gods for chickens.

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Status Changed @statuschanged.bsky.social · 8h

I had a genius idea! I posted *one* picture of a quilt and immediately got hooked into quiltsky. I've been trying to get chickens back on my feed for months, to no avail. So here are some chickens from the fair, chickens which I love and would love to see more pictures of:

Brown-and-white chickens in a cage at the fair, doing random chicken things.

Black-and-white speckled chickens in a cage at the fair, doing random chicken things.

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Status Changed @statuschanged.bsky.social · 9h

Not pleased about the tables in the vendor hall - all John Birch Society and ai-garbage. Multiple people aggressively thrust Bibles at us. We did get to pet a horseshoe crab, that was nice.

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Status Changed @statuschanged.bsky.social · 9h

I feel like I do have a solid chance at a ribbon for knitting, but I'd need to strategize a bit. Misc is right out (see knitted piggy above). They really seemed to go for colorwork in socks, so probably also no chance there. Gloves and shawls is where it's at for me.

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Status Changed @statuschanged.bsky.social · 9h

2 Fairs in 2 days is 2 much 4 me but I'm doing it anyway. We picked the hottest possible day for the State Fair, which was bad, but the crowds were small and we managed to have a lot of fun anyway. I love looking at the crafts entries, and the animals, and the giant veggibles.

Jessica Christian's Best-in-Category handknitted pig doll named Petal. With Pear Hat, colorwork dress and cardigan, fairy wings costume, undies, socks, shoes, and a bee on her nose. Absolutely adorable little stuffed toy, amazing skill on display.

An exhibit hall stuffed with handcrafts, and dozens of colorful quilts hanging from the ceiling. I wish we could have seen them more up close, they were beautiful.

A pair of alpaca, one chocolate-brown and one a light fawn color. They are standing just out of petting distance, but unbothered by the crowds.

A display of giant vegetables, including an 1800-lb pumpkin. There was also a nearly 26' tall sunflower, but the picture didn't come out.

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Status Changed @statuschanged.bsky.social · 02/10/2026

That's not an Old Fashioned, it's a Newfangled.

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Status Changed @statuschanged.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

YouTube has been going buckwild recommending me AI videos. Like there's even a little "youtube recommended!" tag on them. If I see an AI thumbnail, even if it's a topic that sounds nominally interesting, I'm not going to watch it because they obviously don't care about their video, why should I?

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Status Changed @statuschanged.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

The other day my eldest said they saw a fish in the street, I said I thought that was pretty normal for Norfolk, and they said, "no, *swimming* down the street". They're getting tide charts with their work schedules now.

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Status Changed @statuschanged.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

My child is being a BAD INFLUENCE on the little doggie. Sent me photographic evidence and everything.

A wide-eyed innocent chihuahua chewing on a piece of nori rolled up to look like a marijuana cigarette.

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Status Changed @statuschanged.bsky.social · 26/09/2026

Man, my kids are so old there are exactly 0 board books I liked reading them that are still for sale. (I found an abridged Hand, Hand, Fingers, Thumb, but that's from Ye Olden Dayes, it doesn't count.)

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Status Changed @statuschanged.bsky.social · 26/09/2026

I didn't learn about dyspraxia until I was 50, it explained my whole life. I'm a good driver, but that's it, everything else is like "here is why you try so hard and fail so much". Mix of relief of knowing, anger nobody mentioned it earlier, and glad that Kids These Days have a chance.

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Status Changed @statuschanged.bsky.social · 26/09/2026

Also, I figured out why it's called a shawl. Clearly meant for a chihuahua. (My dog is very patient with my nonsense.)

A chihuahua, unsure about the situation but willing to go with it, wrapped in a handknit scarf in spring-colred pinks and greens.

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Status Changed @statuschanged.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

If you get one of those easy orchids and you take VERY good care of it, it will be flowers pretty much all the time. I have one that was blooming for years, and I even managed to bring it back once, but I think this last mess up killed it.

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Status Changed @statuschanged.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

I did a smart! I was just about 5 rows short of a 22nd feather, but I thought that might happen so I put in a lifeline (blue wire) after the 21st, so it was an easy fix/finish. Also, I thought the lifeline looked kinda neat with the short rows, so I took a picture. #knitsky #FOFriday🧶

Closeup of the last few feathers of the pincha shawl (https://ravel.me/pincha-shawl) in Bumblebee Acres Farms Bubble Sock, colorway Spring Court, a mix of Springy pinks and greens. The last feather is separated with a blue wire, a lifeline for ripping back.

A finished pincha shawl (https://ravel.me/pincha-shawl) in Bumblebee Acres Farms Bubble Sock, colorway Spring Court, a mix of Springy pinks and greens.

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Status Changed @statuschanged.bsky.social · 24/09/2026

I have to move fast to get a picture before my dog decides I've set out a cozy new bed for him.

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Status Changed @statuschanged.bsky.social · 24/09/2026

I love knitting in orange, I do it because seeing the yarn makes me happy, but I don't want to wear orange, so I was certain I didn't have any autumnal knits. Then I moved one shawl out of the way and remembered I have two that I wear all the time, I just forgot over Summer. #showmeyourknits 🧶

A variegated rusty-orange shawl in a simple triangle pattern and a bright, candy-corn orange scarf folded. Both freehanded with some random acrylics, no details.

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Status Changed @statuschanged.bsky.social · 24/09/2026

My dog would disagree - he ran and hid when I got his tiny sweater out to take a picture in. But I do have one from last year:

A little chihuahua on a walk in the cold, looking annoyed, wearing a red-and-white knitted sweater.

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Status Changed @statuschanged.bsky.social · 24/09/2026

It might be the 70s in me but I love a philodendron, miss me with your newfangled pothos. My husband wanted a plant of his own, so I made this with things we had around the house (including a 3d printer). The cutting is from my desk plant which started the same size and is now bigger than me.

A 6" hanging pot in a window with two tiny plant leaves growing out of it. Background of leaves and city neighborhood.

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Status Changed @statuschanged.bsky.social · 23/09/2026

Why would you bother? Block them first, they're not worth the engagement.

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Status Changed @statuschanged.bsky.social · 23/09/2026

Every morning the child asks me what the weather's going to be and I tell them. This morning, as I'm telling them, their friend texts "Don't forget a sweater!" I'm practically crying, that's so sweet! So thoughtful! Nobody ever called me in the morning to remind me to wear a sweater to school!

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Status Changed @statuschanged.bsky.social · 23/09/2026

Unfortunately Ravelry is also full of ai (but sneakier). At least you can check reviews - I don't even look at patterns that don't have at least a few completed projects with photos. And that absolutely sucks for new designers! How can they ever break in if everyone did what I do?

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Status Changed @statuschanged.bsky.social · 23/09/2026

I just finished one! I used a US1 but I knit loose. Took just under 3 months, but if I didn't have to rip a big chunk back and reknit it would only have been 2. (~12 hrs per week of knitting time.) I love how it looks, will do it again, but not more than once a year.

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Status Changed @statuschanged.bsky.social · 22/09/2026

I was Very Careful about getting the Expanse books in order. I double-checked. HOW did I still manage to read the second one first and not notice until the end? I guess I like it more now, I thought the middle was dragging with stuff about characters who hadn't been introduced.

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Status Changed @statuschanged.bsky.social · 22/09/2026

I just started rewatching all the Columbos again! They're on Tubi, and he's my dog's favorite detective, so there's no reason not to.

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Status Changed @statuschanged.bsky.social · 20/09/2026

There was a girl in my high school who gave a presentation on why Muslim polygamy wasn't what we thought it was, and the "equal house for each wife" was one of the things that a) surprised me and b) made a lot of sense when you thought about it for 1 second.

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Status Changed @statuschanged.bsky.social · 19/09/2026

I think "this really sucks to knit" is important test feedback.

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Status Changed @statuschanged.bsky.social · 19/09/2026

I just finished rereading the Prydain Chronicles for the first time since the movie came out, and sadly they're not nearly as good if you're not 10 anymore. Even watched the movie so now I can dislike it for grownup reasons. I do think Disney could do them, but that last book would be rough.

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Status Changed @statuschanged.bsky.social · 19/09/2026

Variegated yarn is so tricky. I usually try to resist because it never looks as good knitted up as it does in the skein, but this one was so pretty AND so soft I broke. I'm glad I found this pattern for it!

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Status Changed @statuschanged.bsky.social · 19/09/2026

My mom IS an amazing crafter. She doesn't do stained glass any more, unfortunately, but I should post the Tiffany lamp she made, it's beautiful.

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Status Changed @statuschanged.bsky.social · 19/09/2026

You'd have to make the short rows longer, but then the variegation-stripy/pooling thing wouldn't happen, which is the whole point. Also I want a scarf. I just think calling it a shawl is an odd choice, be proud of what you are!

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Status Changed @statuschanged.bsky.social · 18/09/2026

I always think about that one video of him dancing around in front of the mirror with pupils the size of saucers. I think it turned out to be a pretty accurate representation of the celebrity he became.

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Status Changed @statuschanged.bsky.social · 18/09/2026

After that sweater I needed a quick win. I don't know why this is called a shawl, it's very clearly a scarf. Otherwise, it's very nice. Winding it, I realized this yarn wouldn't work for the pattern I had in mind, but I think it's perfect for this! ravel.me/pincha-shawl #knitting #knitsky 🧶

About 1/3 of a https://ravel.me/pincha-shawl in Bumblee Acres Farm Bubble Sock, colorway "Spring Court" (springy pinks/purples/greens)

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Status Changed @statuschanged.bsky.social · 18/09/2026

I need that book. When I was in school Vietnam was too recent to be "history" but too old to be "current events" so we just... kinda skipped it.

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Status Changed @statuschanged.bsky.social · 17/09/2026

They had so much fleece & roving at the Upcycle place! I don't spin and have no intention to ever learn, so I left it for someone who could use it, but those alpaca fleeces were tempting. I did get way more yarn than I should have, but I have plans for it at least.

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Status Changed @statuschanged.bsky.social · 17/09/2026

It is! As someone who drives to work in the dark, I appreciate how much more popular these have become.

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Status Changed @statuschanged.bsky.social · 17/09/2026

I like the bigger one, maybe add like 1 row to make it a hair taller. I also knit a b&w double-knit scarf for my kid! They're very fun. :)

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Status Changed @statuschanged.bsky.social · 16/09/2026

I just posted a couple weeks ago about being mad that a store was playing some generic ai music, but when I searched the lyrics it was Ed Sheeran. Genuinely shocked a real human could make something that nonsensical and simultaneously bland.

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Status Changed @statuschanged.bsky.social · 16/09/2026

Cute! It's going to be so fun to wear this fall!

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Status Changed @statuschanged.bsky.social · 16/09/2026

Just about a week shy of three months. Yeesh!

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Status Changed @statuschanged.bsky.social · 16/09/2026

Finally finished! It blocked out really nice, I love this texture and the cables actually look good. It is exactly the right length and a smidge too wide, and I have 40g of yarn left because I made it for my short-waisted self. ravel.me/atul #knitting #knitsky 🧶

A sweater using https://ravel.me/atul pattern, adjusted to use fingering-weight yarn. Yarn is Miss Babs Katahdin in Mahi-Mahi. Nearly a mile of yarn!

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Status Changed @statuschanged.bsky.social · 16/09/2026

One from my mom this time. She used to knit (before I was born) but switched to crochet because it was faster. Now she's retired to cross-stitch because it takes longer.

A cross-stitched scene from Rothenburg ob der Tauber. 40,000 tiny little stitches!

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Status Changed @statuschanged.bsky.social · 16/09/2026

I have to use an ai tool at work. It's always wrong, so I just log in and type stuff so I'm marked as using it. Unless I'm annoyed about something, then I use what it says and when people complain I say "hey, that's what the tool said, that's our system of normalization now pal".

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Status Changed @statuschanged.bsky.social · 16/09/2026

Then: angry that it wasn't a 1:1 of the book. Now: disappointed in a lot but not all of their adaptation choices, story very generic, that dumb lil goblin guy was pointless. Didn't know what it wanted to be - baby movie or scary. Animation: surprisingly mid for how long this movie took to make.

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Status Changed @statuschanged.bsky.social · 16/09/2026

Watched The Black Cauldron, and it was interesting, because I could see why I didn't like it then and why I don't like it now is different, but it's still Not Good. Can't for the life of me remember why I hated their Gurgi though, I think he's... a fine adaptation for a Disney movie.

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