Sheep-y (review and giveaway)
When I set out to take this picture, it took me several minutes to assemble all the various bits. I knew where the camera was, and I knew where the wee gray basket was (in the pile of photo props on the third shelf of the yarn closet, of course, where else would it be). But one of the tins had moved to the drawer beside the bed. The other was in the kitchen. The third was in the bathroom. And the lip balms were hanging out in my purse and desk drawer. This is actually a very good sign.When [...]
That’ll Do
Well, that's done then.Or, I suppose technically, that's the knitting done. Close observers may note the lingering presence of two needles, indicating that there's still a bit of kitchnering and weaving in of ends to be done. And of course a bit of blocking, photographing, and pattern writing (yes, there will be a pattern...no I'm not sure when...this year would be a good goal but I make no promises). But again, I'm taking the 'celebrate small victories' approach to life these days. Or, failing that, the 'all my other projects are giant and span months if not years...this I can [...]
Grand Indeed
This past weekend found me at the Grand Opening of the Bare Naked Wools Boutique. The marvelous Anne Hanson has been making wonderfully interesting, amazingly knitterly yarns for a while now, and now there is finally a place to visit them all in one place. In addition to all the marvelous yarns, you'll also see lots of samples of Anne's patterns to pet and a few carefully chose buttons, tools, an other goodies to complement your knitting. I may possibly have had a skein or two of the delightful Cabécou Sport follow me home. My gray front porch on this [...]
Knockout Knits (review and giveaway)
I've known the delightful Laura Nelkin for a while now. We first met back when she was the design director for the (dearly departed and much missed) Schaefer Yarn. She was kind enough to ask me to design a pattern in their yarns when I was a very new designer and just barely starting out. We've kept in touch over the years (we tend to show up at a lot of the same fiber events), and I was so excited when I heard she was working on her first book. And now that the book is here, and I've had [...]
Closer
This is rapidly approaching the point where it could actually be considered nearly done. It's not quite there yet, but the second sock is about 75% done, so we're getting close. It really does knit quickly...when I sit down and actually work on it. That is, every time I manage to have a bit of knitting time, I'm surprised by what I've accomplished. I just don't seem to find much time to actually sit and knit lately (you see, there's this other book that's about to come out, and it's taking all of my time). This will likely be the [...]
Now With Bonus Gentleman
Saturday evening found The Boy and I venturing valiantly forth, clad in real live grown up clothes, headed out into the world. The Two Man Gentlemen Band was in town. Earlier this year, we'd headed all the way to Detroit to catch their show, so we weren't going to miss out when they were just downtown. As we pulled into the parking lot, I spied something of interest. Down at the end of a long stretch of buildings (conveniently located next to what I suspect may be A Certain Sort Of Establishment), were the remnants of a bridge. One of [...]
Bare Naked Wools Grand Opening
You know how my normal tendency is to hide at home? Safely tucked away, snuggly in my pajamas, with a cup of tea at the ready? Well, the delightful Anne Hanson, mastermind behind Knit Spot and Bare Naked Wools is one of the very few folks who can tempt me out of my hermit's cave. She's opening her very own yarn store (be still, my beating heart) and she's having a grand opening. I'm going! I'm bringing piles of samples, signing books, and just generally hanging out and talking yarn. If you're free on either the evening of the 26th [...]
The Reference Shelf (review and giveaway)
Remember when you first started knitting? You probably had a ball of yarn, a pair of needles, a pattern, and maybe some sort of basic guide (online or on paper) that walked you through a few simple stitches. Then, once you realized you liked this tying fancy knots thing, you started acquiring stuff. Yarn and needles sure, but also patterns. I'm guessing you eventually got around to having lots and lots and lots of patterns. The next step, at least for me, was to begin acquiring what I always think of as The Reference Shelf (I hear the capital letters [...]
Wrap up
So, the pillow is approaching its end, and I find myself with a question. I began with Judy's Magic Cast On, which let me get all my stitches on the needles and ready to start knitting in a nice, tidy, seamless fashion. If I were working with a sturdier wool (ie, not pencil roving), I would just kitchner the sides together when I was ready to bind off. But, kitchner (where you have to drag your working yarn through each stitch two times) is too taxing for this pencil roving. It won't take the stress of all that tugging. So, [...]
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