Blooming
I generally kill houseplants. Well no, I generally just avoid buying houseplants. I have no good places for them, and I worry the cats will either destroy them or be destroyed by them. The ones I can't resist usually die quickly in protest of my mistreatment of them. But not this time. This time I was unable to resist a cheap orchid at Trader Joes. My thinking was that it didn't cost any more than a bunch of flowers, and that it would probably last at least as long as they would. That was three weeks ago, when this thing [...]
Sample Cards
Have I explained sample cards to you guys? They're rather nifty, and not something I knew about until I started designing. I just got another one in the mail, so I thought I'd take advantage of this shiny new addition to my drawer of goodies and tell you about them. So we all know that hanging out at yarn stores is the best way to find great yarns. You can see exactly the color and the structure, you can pet the yarn, you can even sniff it if that's your thing. But no one yarn store can have every yarn [...]
No Discernible Purpose
Every now and then, I need to knit something... unofficial. Something I have no intention of using in a pattern. Something mindless. Something I can pick up for 5 minutes here and there between other endeavors. This is it. It's Yarn Harlot's One Row Scarf, worked in some (almost) yarn I (sort of) spun from lace caps many moons ago. It's a single ply, and I'm knitting right off the spindle. It is not fancy, it is not hard, it is nothing but colorful loops. And it's just what I need right now. It is, alas, also hard to photograph. [...]
Breaking out the Machine
I saw this over on Design Sponge and fell instantly in love. It's awesome all on it's own, but they even show it filled with yarn. Very thoughtful of them! It's made from paper, and it seems like the perfect excuse to break out the sewing machine. I have a vague feeling I'd need to get a special super sturdy needle for it (like one of the ones for denim), and I might try out the fancy decorative stitches that my machine makes, but I definitely want to play with the idea. Now...to find the paper...anybody think colored tissue paper [...]
To The Gentleman To My Left At The Concert
Dear Sir, You sat to my left at the concert in Toronto on the 14th. I noticed you seemed to be a bit perplexed by me and my actions during the concert. Indeed, perplexed may not be a strong enough word. You appeared downright disturbed. To help allay your concerns, I thought I'd answer some of the questions that seemed to occur to you. So, without further ado: 1) Knitting. 2) Yes, really. 3) A sock. 4) Again, yes, really. 5) Because I like to. Because they are awesome. Because it's my job. Because it helps me respond with more [...]
Updates
Sorry for the radio silence. I'm going over the draft book with highlighters and a variety of colored pens and a stack of post its. So are a host of genius editors and tech editors and other noble and diligent souls. I know it's part of the process, and I'm very glad to be at this stage of the project, but it does cut into knitting time. All of which means that the orange spiky socks are coming along slowly (just past the gusset decreases on the second sock). As soon as they're done, I'll have the pattern up. It's [...]
Esmeralda
You'll have to pardon me. I've been a poor hostess. I've neglected to make the proper introductions. Miss Manners would not be pleased. Knitters, I'd like you to meet Esmeralda. She's a lovely multi-part hat form. Esmeralda, please meet the knitters. They will all appreciate your unique talent for improving the look of jaunty hats of various shapes and sizes. You guys chat amongst yourselves, I'll be over here working on something dashing for our new friend to wear.
So That’s What It Was For?
There was a period in my misguided youth and childhood when I thought I might become an engineer. Perhaps it was a function of the time, but it sort of seemed to be the default assumption for what smart girls who could hold their own in math and science class 'should' do. I had no particular objections, and I didn't have any better ideas, so I just sort of smiled and nodded and went along with it. It meant I took a lot of math classes. I took every single math class my high schools offered, and then toddled off [...]
News Flash
Yeah yeah, two posts in one day, but they're both short. Folks...guess what's printing out in my office right now. That's right, the first draft of the finished book is here from genius book designer Zoë Lonergan. I know it's immodest, but I'm totally smitten. Now pardon me while I go admire the new pretty!
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