Neophyte Knitter

Book Review - KnitKnit:Profiles & Projects from Knitting's New Wave

KnitKnit: Profiles & Projects from Knitting's New Wave by Sabrina Gaschwandter (September 2007)

Wow!  I am constantly amazed by the creativity of people.  I envy those who are truly artistic - their creativity,  unique ideas, and amazing creations.  Even though I knit and create, I don't really consider myself an artist.  I enjoy the process and engineering of knitting and don't feel the urge to create unique pieces. 

This book focuses on artists who use knitting and the creation of projects as their creative outlets. Artists from all over the world and different facets of the industry - designers, dyers, spinners - who use the same medium to translate their visions in so many different ways.  Each profile is a few pages with colorful pictures of the artists, usually in their studios. You will recognize some of the names as the hand-knitting elite and some are artists that I have never heard of.  It's fascinating to read about their lives, experiences, and inspirations as well as to to get a feel for their aesthetic.

Each artist also contributes a knitting pattern.  Patterns that are as varied in composition, color and type as the artists themselves.  Some are functional and some are art.  Some are useful and some are just beautiful.

I particularly like this hat and sweater, both of which have been added to my Ravelry queue.

This is definitely a book I recommend.  It's just so inspirational as well as eye opening and you will see knitting in a different light after perusing this book.

Stemming the Tide

OK. If you are a Ravelry addict and haven't taken time to donate a bit to help Jess & Casey out, now is the time.  Fricknits is hosting a Ravelraiser and the prizes are quite spectacular!!  I donated a bit way back when but considering how much I use the site and the number of projects, amount of stash and other vital details it is organizing for me, Ravelry has definitely earned a bit more of my money!

And since my credit card was already out and it is pay day, I did a bit more Internet shopping.  First stop was Black Phoenix Alchemy Labs for some unique, amazing scents.  I was turned on to this company ages ago by Glampyre and a few months ago made my first purchase of some samples (called "Imp's Ears" by the company).  I fell in love with two of them (Unicorn & Croquet) so it was time to purchase the bigger vials.  I also used as an excuse to get some more samples!

Then it was fiber time.  I am really try to knit from my stash.  Really.  But if I don't add a little something to it now and again, I binge.  Anyway I spent way too much time figuring out what I wanted to knit and what yarn I wanted to use.  I was so excited. Then I tried to order it and discovered it was on back order.  So I have to wait to buy it.  I took this as a sign that my shopping was done for the day.

What I really should spend money on some grooming for my beasts.

 

They are so dirty!  I swear all they do is roll around in dirt all night. I have the photographic evidence above of what they do during the day.  Well its dirt and catching mice.  Yup.  It's spring and in my house that means little animals being killed in the house.  Clou-dee brings them in as offerings, either to me or her brother.  I thought catch them was all she did as I have never seen her commit mayhem but the vet pointed out all the bones in my little huntress stomach on an x-ray a few weeks ago.  She was quite impressed with her apparent prowess.  Gus on the other hand prefers the house as his killing ground, provided he doesn't lose them which he is prone to do.  I can't tell you how many time I have woken up to his wretched cries to find him staking out a piece of furniture that the mouse is huddled behind.  Sadly for him, I have become very proficient at catching them when this happens and setting them free.  My only gripe is that its always at 2am. 

I had one more thing pop up that going to cost some dough - an emergency dentist appointment this afternoon.  Thanks to the power of google, I am pretty sure I have an abcess in one of the teeth I had a root canal on a decade ago.  It's this bump in my mouth that just isn't going away that I have been ignoring because there is no pain.  And after reading all the horrible things that could happen if the infection goes anywhere, I thought maybe its time to get a professional opinion.  Oh joy is me! 

Book Review - Knitting with Beads: Stunning Shawls & Wraps

Knit With Beads: Stunning Shawls & Wraps by Scarlet Taylor (July 2007)

This book focuses on the different techniques of bead knitting demonstrated by simple projects.  The specific knitting techniques are

• Knitting with Beads in Garter Stitch
• Knitting with Beads between Purl Stitches
• Slip-Stitch Beaded Knitting
• Knitting with Beads Through a Stitch
• Knitting and Beads on a Yarn-Over
• Hook Beading
• Stitching Beads to a Knitted Fabric
• Knitting with Sequins

This book is mostly made up of the patterns with each of the different technique being explained clearly on a single page with pictures.  This is nice though in some cases a bit brief.  The patterns that follow utilize the technique and seem well written with schematics and charts.

Overall this book is not one I would recommend.  If you are just starting with beads or want to learn about the many different ways they can be used, I just think there are more comprehensive books out there on the topic.  Also the projects do not appeal to me.  This may be something work looking at if you just want a small taste of beds in knitting or if any of the patterns are to your taste.

Sunny Skies

It's beautiful here in LA today with sunny blue skies.  One of the many reasons I live here.   And I am very much in TGIF mode.  I have just been off this week.  Unable to concentrate on work or get anything substantial done.  So I surfed a bit too much Ravelry and Facebook. 

Add that to the fact that something is up with my left arm.  I have started to get numbness and tingling in it all the way done and including my hand.  I get twinges when I am knitting, when I grab things or just at random.  It's not consistent but it is troublesome none the less.  I have done the requisite web search and it could be a few things including carpal tunnel.  Luckily, I already have a check-up scheduled for next week so I will be sure to bring it up then.  But I really hope it's not the knitting.  Otherwise, I might have to stop creating cool shit like this.

EZ Baby Surprise
Pattern: From Elizabeth Zimmermann
Yarn: Misc Kool-Aid Dyed Wool
Needle: Size 5
Knit: March 13 - 24, 2008
Notes:  Wow!  The construction of this was amazing.  I could not believe the blob was going to become a cardigan but I kept the faith and followed the instructions.  And I could not be more pleased.  Since I was really knitting this for the process, I didn't bother with gauge.  Or buying yarn.  I just went stash diving and came up with ball of generic wool I dyed with kool-aid almost 5 years ago. What a blast from the past!  Then when I ran out of that, I dug some random orange before heading back to a different kool-aid skein to do the button bands.  And the buttons were culled from my vase of buttons.  All in all I think it looks pretty cool.  It was a bit crunchy being vintage wool and kool-aid dyed to boot but I soaked it with some Euclan for a while and it softened up but it's still definitely cold winter wear.  I'll have to save it for a winter New England baby.

Started a new project - a lace scarf.  Actually I started it 5-different times.  This project evolved from a desire to use up some of leftover lace yarn.  I have a pink and a natural.   My design process went something like this.

Decdied to knit with both held together.  Crocheted something.  Didn't like.  Ripped.  Searched Ravelry.  Found a pattern.  Cast-on and did a full repeat.  Didn't like.  Ripped.  Tried it with just the natural.  Still didn't like.  Ripped again.  Searched Ravelry again.  Found two possible patterns, one knit & one crochet.  Cast-on.  Knit.  Rip.  Repeat but with crochet.  Then I started scouring my stitch dictionaries.  Found a lace pattern I liked.  Cast-on.  Liked!  Translated the written directions into a chart.  Knit merrily for 5 repeats (or 60 rows).  Realized I had made a mistake on my chart.  Ripped back and started again.

Now I have about 9-inches done.  It's competing with my Ugly Blanket for TV knitting.  I did a little stash organization last week and found a few oddballs that were too cheap/ugly/weird to sell or even donate.  Into the Ugly Blanket pile they went to add some new stripes.  I finished the first strip (15" x 90") and have started on the next one.  I love how its coming out and the fact that I am using up scraps and random balls.  When it's finally done (probably another year) I will probably have it forever as its got quite a bit of apocalypse proof acrylic in it. Pictures of both soon.

And on the commute and in the random meeting, it's my Blueberry Socks.  I am sooooo loving the Magic Loop method.  It's easy and the lack of less dangly needles is a definite plus. I have no idea why I haven't tried it before now.  And the Trekking is nice too, especially the colors. 

Tomorrow night I am gussying myself up and heading over to the Beverly Hilton as a stand-in for Jon.  He's up for a magic award (the one he won last year) but since he's out of town working(woo-hoo, house to myself!), he gave his complimentary tickets to me.  I'm taking my bff.  We'll be the two hot single gals hitting on the C-List celebs. And if he wins again, I get to bring the wand home.  No speech though.  He got another pal to agree to accept it with some witty words on his behalf and that's a good thing!

Friday Review - Bag Style

It's another of my intermittent reviews.  I just don't have time to do them regularly any more so now they will be surprises!!

Bag Style from Interweave Knits (September 2007)

Bags!  Oh lordy do I love bags.  Quick, small and eminently fashionable.  I own a lot and have made  few.  In fact one of the first projects I ever knit was a little blue bag.  It now serves as a project bag every once in a while.

This is another great book following the set pattern of the previous Interweave Style Books (Wrap Style, Scarf Style and Lace Style with 20 patterns.  We have small and large, simple and intricate, as well as felted and fair isle.  Practically something for everyone. Patterns are nice with great pictures, clear details and easy to copy pages.

Like always, there are more than a few patterns that I love.  The three below were my favorites.  The carpet bag is so classic from Veronik Avery, the crochet purse from Norah Gaughan and the lace shopping bag that is functional and gorgeous.  But my absolute favorite, heading to the top of my queue, is actually the boot bag on the cover.  I love the mix of felt and knit fabric and the beautiful round shape.  The buttons are just the icing on cake.

Like all the Interweave Style books, the design section in the back is as good as the patterns. It discusses bag shapes, the need to think about a third dimension (they have to hold shit), how to make/sew gussets, different handles and straps, closures and the very important linings.  Everything you need to turn your own vision into a reality!

If you like bags this is a must for your shelf.  Amazing projects from some of best designers in the business and a ton of useful information on how to design and construct your own bag creation.  I love this book like I love the whole series and plan to add it to my collection shortly.

Doldrums

So it's been almost 3-weeks since my last confession....ah I mean post.  During that time I have been in the knitting doldrums.  And it's all because of the damn sock I lost in SF. It threw me into a knitting funk.  After casting around for a new project, I just kept coming back to the remaining Noro.  I really wanted socks in this yarn and the ball looked pretty big still. So I decided to tempt the knitting gods and try to make at least footie socks for my Size 10 feet.   

Since I was still funky, I decided it was the perfect time to actually read some books lest I forget how so I started doing that on my commute instead of knitting.  I didn't realize how much I liked being able to zip through a book in half the time it takes to have it read to me mainly because I skip so much.  I still enjoy the story but I find my eye skips over long narratives.  So being read to is good in some ways. 

Knitting on the Noro socks was relegated to the TV and after 2-weeks in purgatory I have emerged back into the light with these!!! 

Noro Ribbed Socks
Pattern: My Own
Yarn: Noro Kureyon Sock
Needle: Size 1 & O
Knit: Start: January 31, 2008; Complete & Lose Sock1 in SF: February 23, 2008
        Sock 1a: February 27 - March 2, 2008; Sock 2: March 3 -16, 2008

Notes:  I made this up as I went. It’s toe-up, the ribbing is k4,p2 and the heel is modified from Knitty’s Widdershins using the work of k2karen who graciously did the math to apply this to different gauges and sock patterns. I think it came out great and I am loving this heel because you don;t have to pick up stitches!!  I went down to Size 0 for the k2,p1 ribbing at the cuff.  All joins were Russian.

As many people have mentioned, this yarn is a bit crunchy and tends to curl around when you knit with it but the colors are beautiful.  I don't know if these will soften up with washing as they will grace my wall for a few months as art.  That's how it works in my house, these stay up until I knit the next pair to take their place.

And with the socks complete, the curse was broken.  A few hours after these, I finished up the Brea Bag I debuted yesterday that had been lingering for almost 6-weeks just needing a handle.  I also cast-on for a new project, EZ's Baby Surprise jacket in some wool I dyed up with kool-aid ages ago!  I'm back baby!! 

Beannachtaí Lá Fhéile Pádraig Daoibh

Or in English as opposed to Gaelic, Blessings of St. Patrick to You!!  And that's about the extent of my St. Paddy's Day merriment this year.  I just don't feel like getting blitzed on green beer to honor my Irish roots. 

Instead I will show you the vision of green loveliness that I finished last night while watching V:The Miniseries, Beowulf and Dan in Real Life (I sat on my couch all day!)

Brea Bag
Pattern: Free on Berroco's Website
Yarn: Lion Brand Suede and Knit Picks Merino Style
Needle: Size 7's and 5's
Knit: December 23, 2007 - March 16, 2008
Notes:  I made few modifications to accommodate my gauge.  I held the LB Suede single through our with the front pieces on size 7s and  size 5’s for the moss-stitch side panel.  I used some leftover stash  wool to crochet all pieces together (held double stranded), both for the ease and solid joins and the cool contrasting.  I was going to use a leather handle but I didn't like the look so instead I did a length of single crochet with the contrasting color and did some edges on the lower part of the handles to bring it all together.  The button from my stash and with a crochet loop.

Overall I am very pleased with it.  It's unstructured but sturdy.  Soft but strong.  It’s very bohemian and hip.  And it's my token green today.  Sláinte!

Best Laid Plans Go Awry

Well I didn't make it to Stitches West after all.  I was going to go on Friday, right after I checked in to the hotel but I was sick.  To be honest, I was hungover.  To be brutally honest, I was probably still a little inebriated on my 8am flight.  I made the mistake of going out Thursday night and getting a little too happy.  To make it worse, I hadn't packed intending to come home by midnight and do it.  So I was a hurting camper when my roommie woke my wrecked ass up at 5:45am.  I threw things in a suitcase and off we went.  So when we got to out hotel in SF at 10:30am, I decided that sleep was my highest priority and slept until late afternoon.  I felt much better after my long nap but missed my opportunity to revel in fibery goodness.

Instead I had to settle for the geeky awesomeness that was WonderCon.  I bought way too many half-priced trades (soft cover collections of multiple issues of comics), saw crazy people in costumes and listened to lots of Hollywood stars talk about their current projects including - James McAvoy, Anne Hathaway, Steve Carell, Summer Glau, Kristen Bell, Mila Kunis, Brendan Fraser, Gillian Anderson and David Duchovony not to mention all the cooler people who write, direct and produce their projects.  Forgetting Sarah Marshall looks to be a hilarious new Apatow project and I am so crushing on Jason Segel.  It was a really great convention.

The only downer was my knitting.  I brought my totally rocking Noro Kureyon sock and I finished my anklet right before the premiere showing of Justice League: The New Frontier (which totally rocks).  My sock was perfect.  I loved the striping and colors and fit (after ripping back and redoing the heel three times).  Notice the past tense.  I lost my newly completed sock somewhere between leaving that Hall and the hotel and didn't notice until the next day.  It totally bummed me out.  Really.  And I think its spun me into a knitting funk.  Now I don't have enough of the yarn to do socks.  And I can't finish my few WIPs without supplies.  And I don't have any idea what to start next.  I haven't knitted in three days!  I had no idea how much it really calms my natural antsiness.  I noticed this on Sunday at panels, at the airport yesterday, watching TV last night, and on the bus this morning. 

I plan on going through my stash this weekend and trying to set aside the next few projects.  Hopefully that will help me get my mojo back.  And the new set of Knit Picks Options needles that came while I was away.

The Queen

I finished my Lady Eleanor!  Last week actually.  I even got it done before my Valentine's Day deadline but since blocking was a two day affair, I was wrapping it up the morning of (at 3am due to body fluke were I woke up and couldn't go back to sleep).  This meant that my FO pictures are crap.  I'm hoping the recipient will snap some of her wearing it for me.

Lady Eleanor
Pattern: Scarf Style
Yarn: Kauni Effektgarn 8/2 in ET (100% Laceweight Wool)
Needle: Size 5
Knit: December 28, 2007 - February 14, 2008
Notes:  I made few modifications to accommodate my gauge.  The rectangles were each 12-stitches and I added one repeat to make it wider.  Which I probably didn't need to do.  It ended up being 30" x 60" after blocking.  I would have loved to make it a bit longer but I had the deadline and getting more fiber would have been a pain in the arse.  The recipient is tiny so i figured the length wouldn't be too bad. 

As for the pattern itself, I think it's gorgeous.  The entrelac is a perfect choice for this striping yarn due to the long repeats.  And I spit-spliced for the first time which was amazing.  It's really like magic. So much so that I had to demonstrate it to my magician roommate.  He was impressed and a bit grossed out when I spit in my hand.  Totally worth it to only have two ends to weave in at the end.  I need to use this joining method more often.

What you might notice me not talk about is the golf club covers.  I didn't finish them.  I decided I will get them done eventually and will mail them to my retired mentor.  He doesn't know they are coming so he won't know they are late!  What I really want to buy is a pom-pom maker so I can make some really good full ones.  Last time I made one with my own rigged apparatus it turned out a bit wimpy.

Instead i picked up the Brea Purse.  It's all done except for a handle, another thing I need to get.

Luckily I think I will have the perfect place to shop to get gadgets/accessories for my current projects and much, much more this weekend!!!  I am heading to San Francisco and on Friday will head to Stitches West just for the market.  Then Saturday and Sunday I will be getting my comic geek on at WonderCon.  Throw in a drink with a friend from my high school I haven't seen since we graduated (almost 14-years!) and a brunch with a college gal pal and it promises to be a fun and very busy weekend!!  Yeah!

It's Hard to See Past Friday Night

Time is flying.  Really.  Work is kicking my butt.  So much to do and not enough time.   And now the Mayor is pushing "voluntary" furloughs as a way to save the City money.  He wants City employees to take 5-days off without pay before July 1st.  Really.  Doesn't he know I have a yarn habit to support.  Not to mention my gambling addiction.  Well not addiction but I do like my Las Vegas trips.  Like this past weekend.  I met up with my Mom and sister for some Sin City fun.  And some girlfriends who also happened to be there.  I do subscribe to the edict "What Happens in Vegas, Stays in Vegas", especially when we went out to LAX at the Luxor on Friday.   Crazy times.  Hooters, fights, State Senators and lots of alcohol.  But fun was had by all and I didn't lose too much money.   And I always love hanging out with my Mom.

The same lack of time goes for knitting projects too.  Besides the flights to and from, Sin City wasn't conducive to knitting.  And my deadline for finishing my gifts is fast approaching (Feb.14th) and I am still knitting furiously.  Lady E is still looking gorgeous, she just seems to take forever!!!

I have some other crafty things to share that I have finished in the last few weeks.  I succeeded in sewing my first ever piece of clothing - a pair of pajama pants.   I took a class at a local Sewing Arts Center which was fabulous.  The only thing was that I had to miss the last class in early December because I headed east to visit the family.  So my almost finished pants languished for over a month.  I finally did the casing and tie and voila!  I am proud but of course they are far from perfect.  Too big.  The tie is way to long and my cuffs are different widths.  But I made it so I am happy.  Next up is another class. The next one teaches you how to make a skirt.  Or maybe I will do an intro quilting class.

Also on the sewing front, I finally put a lining in my Autumn Bag that I finished like over a year ago.  It was beautiful but to floppy to work.  So I took some plastic, covered it in some fabric and sewed it to the bottom for reinforcement.  Now I can finally use it!!

Other than that, I cast on for a sock with the new Noro sock yarn.  It was supposed to be my poker table project but I didn't play that much.  I really want to get these projects done and then finish up the one or two WIP's I have.  I want to clear my plate in anticipation of the projects I plan to start after hitting up the Stitches West market!!!  Yup.  I am going.  Well at least too the market on Friday.  The rest of the time I will be at the comic book convention, WonderCon.  It's my own personal version of nirvana - comics and yarn in the same weekend and in beautiful Northern California!!!  I can't wait!