November 29, 2006 at 8:12 pm
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One of the reasons I love the Savory knitting group is there’s such an enormous collection of experience in one room. There always seems to be answers to any problem or questions (except when I asked, “what do you guys think I should wear for the Knitty Gritty filming?”).
Anyway, last night was particularly lively. Rebecca was there with her spinning wheel, and when I asked for a tip on weaving in very bulky ends (because doing it the normal way, they were adding enough bulk to the fabric to show through no matter how carefully I did it), Rebecca said matter-of-factly, why not strip the fiber down to make it thinner, then weave it in? Perfect. It works beautifully, thanks!
November 28, 2006 at 8:00 am
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Ellie’s right. She says “a knitting pattern for a penguin jumper makes a rubbish Christmas present.” And I have to agree. Making sweaters to keep penguins warm after an oil spill and calling it a good deed seems to be misdirecting people’s charitable energy. Why not get us up in arms about the oil spill in the first place? And if the penguins need warmth after an oil spill, insist the perpetrator’s spend the time and energy to protect them. Don’t waste knitter’s good will. Save the adorable penguin vests for your stuffed dolls.
Ok, back to work now…
[UPDATE John asked if this is a hoax… Snopes says it’s true!
November 27, 2006 at 8:34 am
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I’ve got six days before I fly to Burbank to film an episode of Knitty Gritty. The subject? Math for knitters (!!) On the show, I’ll talk about the calculations used in creating a custom-fit top-down cardigan. My own version is knit in the Blue Sky Bulky shown above. It’s the yummiest bulky yarn I’ve ever used–the resulting garment is a cute fitted jacket–cozy and very warm.
Knitters love math even if they don’t know it. I’ve noticed a frequent intersection between geeky (myself included) types and fiber types. Boing Boing loves crafty stuff, crocheters love to figure out how to crochet a hyperbolic plane, or knitters, a mobius. With the kids I teach, knitting is often a way to quietly insert mathmatical concepts without stressing about it. Girls who say they “hate math” will happily calculate sleeve shaping or design a workable pattern repeat. Even the youngest knitter gets practice counting, adding and subtracting.
I never “hated” math in school, but when I got beyond trig (which I loved because it was visual, I think), I got lost. Math was no longer required in school, so I didn’t take it any more. I did keep with the science classes–I loved chemistry (it’s like cooking), and physics (we had a great teacher who would lie on a bed of nails and let us drop things out of windows–if only he taught calculus, I’m sure I would have understood it).
At any rate–I know I haven’t posted much over the holiday, but this will probably be my last post until I get back from Burbank, next week. I hope to run into some of the amazing designers who are filming at the same time I am–Michael Del Vecchio, Stephanie Pearl McPhee, Stefanie Japel, and many more I’m sure. I’m staying with my friend Cecily (whee!) who is so nice to put me up and help me get around.
I’m sure I’ll have a lot to say about the experience when I get back…
My friend Michael del Vecchio–author of the new book, Knitting with Balls did a signing tonight at the local independent bookstore, Politics and Prose. There were over 50 (!) people in attendance. He said it was his best attended signing yet–since he’s local here I was glad the crowds came out for him.
Michael did a great job–he talked for almost an hour and kept everyone’s attention chatting about the book and it’s projects throwing in funny stories. The book itself, as I’ve mentioned before is great. It’s beautifullly styled. Michael designed all the patterns himself, and they’re things guys would really wear. The book is designed to teach men to knit, but it would be great for anyone who wants to knit for men, too.
I’m going to be interviewing Michael towards the end of the year, here on the blog, and I have one of his books to give away too. Stay tuned!
November 15, 2006 at 9:38 am
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I got an uncorrected proof for Doris Chan’s new book Amazing Crochet Lace: New Fashions Inspired by Old-Fashioned Lace several months ago, and I knew it was going to be great, but yesterday when the actual book arrived, I was blown away. Doris and I both love seamless and top-down construction. Doris takes top-down to new heights incorporating vintage lace in a way that’s anything but old-fashioned.
There are tank tops and shawls, ponchos, and skirts all worked in beautiful stitches in patterns complete with charts and schematics.
The book has unusual photographic styling. The models are in black and white and the garments are in color.
I’m planning on making one of the sleeveless tops as soon as I can catch my breath–I also can’t wait to hear what Doris is up to next!
November 14, 2006 at 7:46 am
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I just received this fun book from Potter Craft. Saturday Night Hat: Quick, Easy Hatmaking for the Downtown Girl by Eugenia Kim. A recent Parsons grad turned star hat maker, she shows us how to make our own hats or customize ones we already have. It’s all about sewing, there’s not a hook or pair of needles to be found… It’s a fun book with over 25 different patterns, clear instructions, templates embellishment ideas. Since I’m not likely to ever make one of these hats, I’d like to award this book to the first commenter who can tell me what cute asian feline becomes a pillbox in the book. Good luck!
November 13, 2006 at 8:24 am
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Check out the work of 14-year old designer Phoenix Bess. She’s got some fun unusual patterns like pirouette socks and very cute leggings! She’s designed for Elann.com and Dreamweaver Yarns, and she has a pattern in an upcoming book produced by the Denise needle company. I love the young real-looking models on her site–it looks like the photography is done by a family member–they did a great job.
Ironically, knitwear designer is not the first career for this young teen. She’s also a “dancer, model and actress.” With such an accelerated work-life, I hope she gets to retire by 35!
November 9, 2006 at 6:57 pm
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In my perpetual struggle to maintain order of the things in my life, I’ve rediscovered Karen Kingston’s book, Clear Your Clutter With Feng Shui . What I had forgotten from the last time I’d looked at it is that she has more than one kind of clutter defined in the book. It will probably take me a lifetime to handle just the physical clutter, but her description of “the clutter of unfinished things” really resonated with me: “Things not dealt with in your home reflect issues not dealt with in your life, and they are a constant drain on your energy. there are the niggly repairs, such as fixing the broken drawer, mending the broken appliance… The larger the scale, the more these things impinge on your ablility to get on with your life.”
Yesterday, I tackled a few things I was procrastinating about, and as usual, it felt great. It is energizing to finish the little things like paying bills or putting the summer clothes away. But the big things can be really draining. Our house in seattle needs new tenants and I had been avoiding beginning that process because it’s daunting. When I listed the house and mentally accepted the work, the calls and emails began to come in immediately. It looks like we already have found new renters. Now, was that so hard?
Somehow having done those little things has given me a burst of creative energy. I’m full of ideas for articles, books, designs, blog posts. I’m rushing to make notes so I have some inspiration when the energy subsides.
I procrastinate in my writing and knitting as well. I usually don’t start a project until the deadline is imminent. But with a big project I have due in the beginning of December (which deserves a post of its own, so I won’t go into detail here), I started as soon as the materials arrived. I’ve tried to manage my time more efficiently, and it does feel better. I’m sure, though, I’ll leave some details to the final moments, as is my habit. Baby steps.
Oh, by the way, instead of my usual plain Amazon link, I’m trying one of their “enhanced” links today–you hover over the link and it give you product information. If you find this really annoying PLEASE let me know, so I can avoid doing it again.
several months ago, and I knew it was going to be great, but yesterday when the actual book arrived, I was blown away. Doris and I both love seamless and top-down construction. Doris takes top-down to new heights incorporating vintage lace in a way that’s anything but old-fashioned. 
. What I had forgotten from the last time I’d looked at it is that she has more than one kind of clutter defined in the book. It will probably take me a lifetime to handle just the physical clutter, but her description of “the clutter of unfinished things” really resonated with me: “Things not dealt with in your home reflect issues not dealt with in your life, and they are a constant drain on your energy. there are the niggly repairs, such as fixing the broken drawer, mending the broken appliance… The larger the scale, the more these things impinge on your ablility to get on with your life.” 