tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-79702058523208558552024-03-13T16:41:43.324-04:00So Little Time, So Much To KnowMostly about knitting and making things. Things hand made. The making of things.
Is music a thing?knittin'bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06687603658554681361noreply@blogger.comBlogger44125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7970205852320855855.post-39085601049877810382012-03-30T12:41:00.015-04:002012-03-30T16:10:33.160-04:00One Knitter's Pleasure is Another Knitter's PoisonA call for all your cast-off bits of Noro Kureyon...<br />Donate or trade or I may even buy it off of you.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipONZW-dDnGyZofZ2ehO2H7WwLUyRx40jwIY5RPbIMJsV0QvyxNEbmeXzNDYPLdTf4g31_-aVRlK5KE-t2I9WfqTwM8WY5oei9qyZ3P49f5gyW8PqfmfqbVgK2z-qH97m9xaWqrmX2HPEM/s1600/3squares.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 445px; height: 211px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipONZW-dDnGyZofZ2ehO2H7WwLUyRx40jwIY5RPbIMJsV0QvyxNEbmeXzNDYPLdTf4g31_-aVRlK5KE-t2I9WfqTwM8WY5oei9qyZ3P49f5gyW8PqfmfqbVgK2z-qH97m9xaWqrmX2HPEM/s400/3squares.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5725783377541047890" border="0" /></a><br />Spring!<br />Spring Cleaning!<br />And again in spite of my best intentions, blogging about ANYTHING fell by the wayside this past year. But I think I have a thought of a way out of my slump...A challenge that I MUST be accountable for!!!<br /><br />In the course of a recent tidy-up in my multiple yarn stashes (sigh), I spent some time going through a bag of bits. I am one of those people who keeps <span style="font-style: italic;">all</span> the end bits of projects, all the half skeins, the wee balls, pretty well anything. I even keep the trimmed ends and use them to stuff cat toys. I keep bits in case a repair needs to happen or because I just like the yarn or the colour so much. If I gave the project away (often the case) those bits help me remember the feel of the work. And may remind me why I never want to work with that yarn ever again. Sometimes there are enough bits of one sort or another to make something coherent and even quite nice. In my case, this usually means a scarf or wrist warmers. But I have been thinking big lately. As I was dredging around for my Noro Kureyon bits to see how much I had accumulated, I had a thought. You know, one of those lightbulbs...<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8R_z9ToX0-Edz-ll_zoDcAooxAD_rXDsl79mqcZSEUuhV7SZmvtuznYKNI4n55ZYBasO3j3EF-txPXKZkiwqjwSok4WaEwMR2Gn8s1D8ElzPakV-5mkpNP1pmvyIG9MBZgj4VvrgRQXOS/s1600/typical+hat.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 362px; height: 285px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8R_z9ToX0-Edz-ll_zoDcAooxAD_rXDsl79mqcZSEUuhV7SZmvtuznYKNI4n55ZYBasO3j3EF-txPXKZkiwqjwSok4WaEwMR2Gn8s1D8ElzPakV-5mkpNP1pmvyIG9MBZgj4VvrgRQXOS/s400/typical+hat.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5725765580930928978" border="0" /></a><br />Now - I love Kureyon. I will happily put up with the occasional knot. I enjoy the texture and un-even-ness and I love to let its colourways unfold. So for me Kureyon is pure pleasure. But I have been to many a knit night or sat around with friends knitting who despair of the appearance of brown or grey or peach or pink or the wrong blue in their Kureyon and they break the yarn and re-attach where it pleases them. This is a fine strategy. But I want those bits of Kureyon THAT YOU DON'T LIKE.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUimUgGYx_7n7ZaTyzHoTxD9J96NTgdrZvOM4rKmBIa8U0zrg5lgxdbVlhdPoluqslzGt0G2xl7hFHNpwg4CoSPe95c45R493MRjE_5bLhJn2qmgqgpbBey6zYym7XiP1NOk6-wmX9729i/s1600/twotone.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 319px; height: 211px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUimUgGYx_7n7ZaTyzHoTxD9J96NTgdrZvOM4rKmBIa8U0zrg5lgxdbVlhdPoluqslzGt0G2xl7hFHNpwg4CoSPe95c45R493MRjE_5bLhJn2qmgqgpbBey6zYym7XiP1NOk6-wmX9729i/s400/twotone.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5725767264793244178" border="0" /></a><br />There are people who embark on a Kureyon project and feel the strong need to make the stripes match and therefore end up with lots of partial balls. I would happily take those end bits off your hands if you've had enough of them.<br /><br />And then there are also a whole group of people who just don't like Kureyon period. They find it scratchy or hard to work with. If you are in that camp and have some distressed balls and bits of Kureyon around that you have tried to love but the relationship just didn't work out, you can send them to me. I will love them.<br /><br />How? What? Why??<br /><br />How? If you have just a few bits of Kureyon and don't mind popping them into the mail<br />Post to:<br />Brenna MacCrimmon<br />62 Riverview Gardens<br />Toronto ON M6S 4E5<br />Tip: get them as flat as possible to keep the postage down.<br />and do please include your email or other contact.<br /><br />If you have just too much to post affordably or if you would like to trade---<br />Let me know at lostkoma at hotmail dot com<br />I will be getting together a list of yarn that has been in my stash for too long and there may be something that suits you and your knitting style. That list will be ready shortly after April 21st (can you tell I have a deadline looming?).<br /><br />I intend to be at the Toronto's Downtown Knit Collective Frolic at the end of April 2012, so that could be a great exchange opportunity. We can set up a time and place. After the 21st of April, I will be more free to drop into Toronto area yarn shops (or cafes or bars) so a meet up can be arranged around a trip to your 'local'.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwmRW2i6EAlALtpUMWPSY8svyi_ruRzdoL6jHEkNKGNNWn6x2-wnZuYJxcap4P2pjoA2kNGs1SidS_di7NzSSfCAcH0q-Fse7mWeRjc_-o4YikEw41Q7TkrsQosxfFkZlP-TFHUrspwF2F/s1600/teacosy.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 283px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwmRW2i6EAlALtpUMWPSY8svyi_ruRzdoL6jHEkNKGNNWn6x2-wnZuYJxcap4P2pjoA2kNGs1SidS_di7NzSSfCAcH0q-Fse7mWeRjc_-o4YikEw41Q7TkrsQosxfFkZlP-TFHUrspwF2F/s400/teacosy.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5725770798166558162" border="0" /></a><br />I know Kureyon while not wildly expensive is also not what you'd call a budget yarn. I know that you may have spent a fair bit on it. I can't afford to buy it from you at retail prices but again if you have quite a bit you wish to unload and can't afford to donate it outright we can possibly work out a deal. email lostkoma at hotmail dot com<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcQ0qd8PN0D2DSlzfg_b90JCGshKBMPrT2biNhvJdOgFIBhpI3khtvBvdDuLHtoLSqjTI5M9op0DCUMWiJy86_5oHmMH9tgfUsaC29GJh5rtFeyNaY8KZZNAdSwjUuX5qs_B591gHPqcdk/s1600/pouch+2.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 197px; height: 210px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcQ0qd8PN0D2DSlzfg_b90JCGshKBMPrT2biNhvJdOgFIBhpI3khtvBvdDuLHtoLSqjTI5M9op0DCUMWiJy86_5oHmMH9tgfUsaC29GJh5rtFeyNaY8KZZNAdSwjUuX5qs_B591gHPqcdk/s400/pouch+2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5725770239721290770" border="0" /></a>What am I going to do with all this? Make something. Possibly quite large. It will all depend on how much yarn I am able to gather. I estimate that I am going to need about 2kgs to start. The palette will be determined by what people give me. You, in other words, will shape this. I will keep a record of all yarn contributors and once underway, I will let you know. Maybe a nice friendly LYS will let me display the finished 'objet' publicly!<br /><br />Why? I am know I am a Noro-holic and I do love working with Kureyon so there is a certain amount of gratification for me in just that. But I am fascinated with what one person likes and what another doesn't - the pleasure and poison aspect. And I really just want to see WHAT happens when I get all the ''poisons'' together and see what sort of ''pleasure'' I can create with them.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjShbApP8bWE2Nqvz8VBO4y3Z2gP_I-x639W59Lg4XidBgOHnsZF_lx021eqCojycAeTLGybZ3eji88iSkPy1URC-V9fBLPlZeEUh3G4ZlQwGU9KV8VZsaCJN9n_IXNuUHFEV76_G_F0SHP/s1600/exturned.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjShbApP8bWE2Nqvz8VBO4y3Z2gP_I-x639W59Lg4XidBgOHnsZF_lx021eqCojycAeTLGybZ3eji88iSkPy1URC-V9fBLPlZeEUh3G4ZlQwGU9KV8VZsaCJN9n_IXNuUHFEV76_G_F0SHP/s400/exturned.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5725762834920244978" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Your contributions greatly appreciated!!<br /><br /><br />Photo Notes:<br />Only the bulbs (or eyes as I like to call them) in the blue and greene piece above are Kureyon . It was about 8 feet long and 20 inches wide...All the other knit bits are 100% Kureyon. The squares at the very top are all made from at least 2 different Kureyon colourways each.knittin'bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06687603658554681361noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7970205852320855855.post-64364193129767732092011-04-10T21:38:00.005-04:002011-04-10T22:23:13.367-04:00RİP - RuhiOh how to say...<br />Anyone who has every had to put down a pet knows that it is awful. No way around it.<br />Ruhi was a rescued Siamese - a lilac point. A handsome dude who liked to bite knitting needles, gnaw on yarn,<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBnRtR201bPX22xuMTIPWokB9cC-k0HndjXx3myUThePhAa_9KEu-fzOipYhprmWhoPKNhyXHr7w-IaezcmsgmB5EIHL0ODPf9bn-dyMXi5JW9-xB4sBQoef6cyIwD9J9DR1-rP8xJHfUA/s1600/ruhi+1.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBnRtR201bPX22xuMTIPWokB9cC-k0HndjXx3myUThePhAa_9KEu-fzOipYhprmWhoPKNhyXHr7w-IaezcmsgmB5EIHL0ODPf9bn-dyMXi5JW9-xB4sBQoef6cyIwD9J9DR1-rP8xJHfUA/s320/ruhi+1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5594138015804487954" border="0" /></a> attack ukulele strings and claw up cardboard. He enjoyed his sun spots<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh23PFw9QTlJbEXGREiuHS5KGH3zU508CxMiErdYyzS2vvNRoTPGxI4-MXDyg4ezH5cToSmVAGiscbkvpM8Ig_I-4iosGB-EXSoTH7aupM4cYpYKq_OdFUte9Eg7SurP88jLyt42GYAHOPL/s1600/ruhi+sun.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh23PFw9QTlJbEXGREiuHS5KGH3zU508CxMiErdYyzS2vvNRoTPGxI4-MXDyg4ezH5cToSmVAGiscbkvpM8Ig_I-4iosGB-EXSoTH7aupM4cYpYKq_OdFUte9Eg7SurP88jLyt42GYAHOPL/s400/ruhi+sun.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5594143091390148786" border="0" /></a> and could never get enough chin scratches. He was the world's messiest cat eater and would frequently ''treat'' us to a postprandial aria.<br />He was getting old. We never knew just how old but he had been on thyroid meds for 3 1/2 years and was suffering from kidney trouble and it was just getting so hard. For everyone.<br /><br />I really miss the little guy and <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_2nZcpw81d-Kwcn3wAqgBRFKjKmrEwwaNP0XwL19s2kKHx_9Z6uLtdiSCX6oynJumq6edIcvmSZSdBuQSp4_tMPck3juapEXE7QTMTlfySgvcQ3GAP-2Y2na5kM0fEqFuhtDZ6SkDnBZo/s1600/lulu+%2526+ruhi.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_2nZcpw81d-Kwcn3wAqgBRFKjKmrEwwaNP0XwL19s2kKHx_9Z6uLtdiSCX6oynJumq6edIcvmSZSdBuQSp4_tMPck3juapEXE7QTMTlfySgvcQ3GAP-2Y2na5kM0fEqFuhtDZ6SkDnBZo/s320/lulu+%2526+ruhi.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5594138009154706482" border="0" /></a>I think LuLu does, too.<br /><br />My vet was wonderful - ever so kind - and she ushered him to the other side of the cat door in the gentlest way possible. And I am so lucky to have had such a great circle of friends who helped me care for him for the past few years.<br /><br />Hey little guy - I hope where ever you are there is plenty of roast beef and loads of lap time.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5tMwT6FxxhCwB_MS6vWcSq4BtCmXqxaKytVHqlt52N8jYJF9o4-5mu0-VA178S_N9TE_tD1AtpcelSptJ_MU5JCEflK1DkoSjoNXR6MoeetllxdCxt9naU_vZYnNcK2qpBwKWoXKDCBjz/s1600/ruhi2.jpg"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5tMwT6FxxhCwB_MS6vWcSq4BtCmXqxaKytVHqlt52N8jYJF9o4-5mu0-VA178S_N9TE_tD1AtpcelSptJ_MU5JCEflK1DkoSjoNXR6MoeetllxdCxt9naU_vZYnNcK2qpBwKWoXKDCBjz/s400/ruhi2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5594145012103231106" border="0" /></a>knittin'bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06687603658554681361noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7970205852320855855.post-90747314010739318082010-04-15T16:56:00.005-04:002010-04-20T10:26:31.762-04:00Stripes and Squiggles - part 1 Karelia<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWmG250f1FYQMc7MdONOF-zl16t0Q1srHIVBzz3xqRoWgmc5M5bSDWw7TxU50PI_j_Puz8TZaV8xfgNXBwI6tuXwmASOVP7GsVyLrTMgcQfT9JXJdnS7oSkfpRqkInxhgy8eUIk6Df6Atb/s1600/7strp.jpg"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWmG250f1FYQMc7MdONOF-zl16t0Q1srHIVBzz3xqRoWgmc5M5bSDWw7TxU50PI_j_Puz8TZaV8xfgNXBwI6tuXwmASOVP7GsVyLrTMgcQfT9JXJdnS7oSkfpRqkInxhgy8eUIk6Df6Atb/s320/7strp.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5460490091700562098" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqlKwh6WFB4iAAcB3KpLasA59rFCcei6DIJwkJmtxTuaSSv9iUlnSKy84tYjUV0JUjvKiCPc9Z_gxacx0Pokv_pCSq-vINtoehwiaRDEtYIyseYaHejse1CEInDKrlB3dvAjAwZZ3wY33A/s1600/6strp.jpg"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqlKwh6WFB4iAAcB3KpLasA59rFCcei6DIJwkJmtxTuaSSv9iUlnSKy84tYjUV0JUjvKiCPc9Z_gxacx0Pokv_pCSq-vINtoehwiaRDEtYIyseYaHejse1CEInDKrlB3dvAjAwZZ3wY33A/s320/6strp.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5460490083017430610" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />I am not sure when stripes started to get a hold of me but I realized that I LOVE stripes.<br />My long suffering friend Linda Turu took me to an Estonian Cultural Bash - gosh when was that?<br />Ages ago - but the stripe-iness from that event lives on in my mind. Hence the next couple of posts.<br /><br />Here are some inspirational stripes...<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8-1rcqnhlYHoo62Sc3dSeRboelzLPup17K0wT4XqAEsAnDd1omNHWyhjTCq8i1MmOrcq4jpAiD7dpVmo9IL-fBTGHj14qAKNiYMOh42TdbD-DXkp3_U76TkBnEnQp1y3T3lTEALkkwq6I/s1600/stripe2.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8-1rcqnhlYHoo62Sc3dSeRboelzLPup17K0wT4XqAEsAnDd1omNHWyhjTCq8i1MmOrcq4jpAiD7dpVmo9IL-fBTGHj14qAKNiYMOh42TdbD-DXkp3_U76TkBnEnQp1y3T3lTEALkkwq6I/s320/stripe2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5460476618157120722" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbuntzrG2lSjn4brchf1WwilyOFTG79VbGcMyarr-aojOTKxl2gat-c9L-vKWqaLfV4cplwzcpMnew_zAWtaX_0j9HnuFcJ0cNjl5iWsAFcUXSHSuvplnqTMd89o8YESgTriya5LcVHEpa/s1600/stripe1.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbuntzrG2lSjn4brchf1WwilyOFTG79VbGcMyarr-aojOTKxl2gat-c9L-vKWqaLfV4cplwzcpMnew_zAWtaX_0j9HnuFcJ0cNjl5iWsAFcUXSHSuvplnqTMd89o8YESgTriya5LcVHEpa/s320/stripe1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5460476610715328066" border="0" /></a><br />These are cuffs from the Ethnographic Museum in Helsinki in 2008. The exhibit was about Karelian culture and history. There were a couple of wonderful sweaters. Well, I'll bet if you are reading this, you'll want to see those, too. I can make that happen. But first these. Wrist warmers are really important in northern climates but if I remember correctly, there were a number of textiles in this exhibit that were made with such care with the yarn. Certain colours especially were hard to get and hardly a centimeter would go to waste. <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEvE45RWB4xWUfE8652wy9y2GGqgDiX2M8kb9NIHu4YDWZqRO2LVSpS-cg1edwo3jLYZTB3sLsnoFxF-WVafcj9puVKi8-Z24Nah7u8DLViwU3AXU3OBl97I_LXqJJguPE0FM2qms2I0tG/s1600/stripe3.jpg"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEvE45RWB4xWUfE8652wy9y2GGqgDiX2M8kb9NIHu4YDWZqRO2LVSpS-cg1edwo3jLYZTB3sLsnoFxF-WVafcj9puVKi8-Z24Nah7u8DLViwU3AXU3OBl97I_LXqJJguPE0FM2qms2I0tG/s320/stripe3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5460481144334579954" border="0" /></a><br />I am trying to remember the story about the woven pieces - somehow they were scraps that were left behind. The history of Karelia is a sad one, and during the Soviet era many people were forced to migrate. Over all this was a touching exhibit and had me thinking hard about how politics and power struggles mess up people's lives. But also how people keep going and persevere with resourcefulness...<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggCSed78q0tqkCRkxA0e0iwJvtyUD9FPK2UBhK-ApDnMSp4y-44Jo0FeetbzyMbU0fb1qHYUhQ6Am2-vMW4N9bErYxjVXXH-JxLK3QTamlx9B7HrD7fkOadbCjcgDIZo916ijfVOoHFY2Y/s1600/3strp.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggCSed78q0tqkCRkxA0e0iwJvtyUD9FPK2UBhK-ApDnMSp4y-44Jo0FeetbzyMbU0fb1qHYUhQ6Am2-vMW4N9bErYxjVXXH-JxLK3QTamlx9B7HrD7fkOadbCjcgDIZo916ijfVOoHFY2Y/s320/3strp.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5460484926712459778" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdyY4GFrPKsTDoJZ5o0MPe8_2q3qnxjoxnxzK4NOCRZh0_cCnERwp-8y4_kkJD2uJeHF6tIDJDYUp7mZoS_nzUb8vxtq6LPWvaZArJ2Cvn74FbAdEuEAFd_u3hhHt3-URqEaXLtv9Zh6cC/s1600/1strp.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdyY4GFrPKsTDoJZ5o0MPe8_2q3qnxjoxnxzK4NOCRZh0_cCnERwp-8y4_kkJD2uJeHF6tIDJDYUp7mZoS_nzUb8vxtq6LPWvaZArJ2Cvn74FbAdEuEAFd_u3hhHt3-URqEaXLtv9Zh6cC/s320/1strp.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5460484914332290546" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5b-gDnQbJRqDL-sjJGfgerX3e0uKOJjtz__iq81bsPAB9tWaINkPkb4P03hY7mS9aV3SoAZNK3cX2fhUxtTt_IHWsQw7D4QzphrcSOXn9hmO_lPOgTVCnHmPzmiFnow4ZVlgko-xBJrF4/s1600/4strp.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5b-gDnQbJRqDL-sjJGfgerX3e0uKOJjtz__iq81bsPAB9tWaINkPkb4P03hY7mS9aV3SoAZNK3cX2fhUxtTt_IHWsQw7D4QzphrcSOXn9hmO_lPOgTVCnHmPzmiFnow4ZVlgko-xBJrF4/s320/4strp.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5460484935859226002" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGFQChe3_i2aEbw9g7CROB_8S6L2Zmy5M_feywr-ir4zzyvLQWXZUyYcVZDpnRSEbS1s9zJ4sBXcCq1H3RAtotBcufncqLHrspL23GBfwxQNENZVzN35pHUqjP_VMARWKbwZiDkssVPyHG/s1600/5strp.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGFQChe3_i2aEbw9g7CROB_8S6L2Zmy5M_feywr-ir4zzyvLQWXZUyYcVZDpnRSEbS1s9zJ4sBXcCq1H3RAtotBcufncqLHrspL23GBfwxQNENZVzN35pHUqjP_VMARWKbwZiDkssVPyHG/s320/5strp.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5460484939598034738" border="0" /></a>knittin'bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06687603658554681361noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7970205852320855855.post-30319073333150345052010-01-01T19:46:00.002-05:002010-01-01T19:55:43.474-05:002009 - the year that got awayWell<br />I knit, I saw, I took pictures but...<br />I had a computer death (by rain) and went back to old technology.<br />I traveled frequently and lived out of bags and suitcases.<br /> And here it is.<br />Another year. Whatever that means.<br />I have more moth (mis) adventures - but <span style="font-weight: bold;">I</span> am winning.<br />I have more yarn.<br />I keep stash busting and enhancing. Travel means finding yarn shops.<br />I still can't get enough Noro, or short rows, or colours.<br />I have 4 ukuleles. I am stopping at 4. Travel means finding ukuleles.<br />I thought about knitting a uke case but decided better of it. Sure, one could - but WHY?<br /><br />Here's to finishing things we start. To learning what we have and how to use it. To keeping an open mind about life, the universe and everything. Here's to bicycles and wool, to friends and cats, to music and art and good books.<br /><br />Cheersknittin'bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06687603658554681361noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7970205852320855855.post-40438766147110887212008-11-10T17:12:00.006-05:002008-11-10T18:05:31.690-05:00Lynn, Lucy & Ataturk<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiocnKZ2yg0XtFQ0nLr0bicAZD2mxKq_DxGq5wqACBCBrHvm_IkjXPOnfjTwyLsfcF3n7xvpTTa4n1cM5cBcsMo-46bOe1EH1BQGahbIxVBK23l3nF3rp7F15r2HUgLhzFkFEb-8JVhWorn/s1600-h/knot1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiocnKZ2yg0XtFQ0nLr0bicAZD2mxKq_DxGq5wqACBCBrHvm_IkjXPOnfjTwyLsfcF3n7xvpTTa4n1cM5cBcsMo-46bOe1EH1BQGahbIxVBK23l3nF3rp7F15r2HUgLhzFkFEb-8JVhWorn/s320/knot1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5267167668844533426" border="0" /></a><br />If my friend Lynn had survived her bout with cancer she would have been 46 today.<br />And it's funny, because in Turkey it marks a very sombre event, the passing of the modern republic's founder Mustafa Kemal Pasa Ataturk.<br /><br />Lynn was staying at my apartment in Istanbul some years ago. It was a typical morning and Lynn being the sort of person that she was, wasn't making a fuss about her birthday and was happily reading the Guardian and drinking tea. Suddenly we heard several great blasts from the ferry boats and ships that ply the Bosforus, echoing from shore to shore and lasting about a minute. It shook the tea glasses! The ships were signalling 9:05 am, the time of the leader's passing. We chuckled at the irony of it.<br /><br />Lynn was an amazing person, one of the smartest and kindest people I have had the privilege of knowing. Even as she grew more and more ill, she was sharp and alert. Some years ago, she had passed onto me a pair of wonderful Ojibwa slippers and she told me at the time the name of the person who made them. Lynn herself had had these slippers for a number of years. I, of course, didn't write it down, and soon forgot. When I was visiting her in hospice I asked her if she remembered them. "Oh yeah," she said, "Why?"<br />"Well do you remember who made them?"<br />"Lucy Knot. You can't forget a name like Lucy Knot. I always remember it because you must have had to tie a lot of knots to make those slippers"<br />That's how I remember it now, too.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgabzrxVZqFo97uNAiwaZ41-Ji5t-Fz5Z0fLo1ifxcXlK4_kHV1pOmUScN5GJUEBBgfQlvSyd_beXzuIavQ6V-E3yPPLic7ssSeWK58ILZBAEhKRcA2rX6jzzvc6cv92CfaBvojn7QmrJ-Q/s1600-h/lucyknotdtl.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgabzrxVZqFo97uNAiwaZ41-Ji5t-Fz5Z0fLo1ifxcXlK4_kHV1pOmUScN5GJUEBBgfQlvSyd_beXzuIavQ6V-E3yPPLic7ssSeWK58ILZBAEhKRcA2rX6jzzvc6cv92CfaBvojn7QmrJ-Q/s320/lucyknotdtl.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5267168185564406162" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Here's to you, Red! Wherever you are!<br /><div style="text-align: center;">Lynn Macfie<br />November 10, 1962 - September 27, 2007<br /></div>knittin'bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06687603658554681361noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7970205852320855855.post-43571643875337857232008-11-05T12:41:00.012-05:002009-02-03T09:13:15.705-05:00me and my chapeaux - 1<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSMLdL8GedfFd2rafYJenS0bwtEx0QRoUlIW8MgzLG2028Qmlowcf-UTKRQFxMfgujdR_z26P7EnKJYW0PaLnor2RT_TJOISRQGEAth5gL8kOHYOtZp8Sz7Z1xKTSJPT105geYzw3L_NEF/s1600-h/IMG_5870.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSMLdL8GedfFd2rafYJenS0bwtEx0QRoUlIW8MgzLG2028Qmlowcf-UTKRQFxMfgujdR_z26P7EnKJYW0PaLnor2RT_TJOISRQGEAth5gL8kOHYOtZp8Sz7Z1xKTSJPT105geYzw3L_NEF/s320/IMG_5870.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5298573904910564962" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Hey - this post got caught in the "drafts". Here it is February, with still a good six weeks of cold weather ahead, so maybe this idea from November will still be of use to someone. Here goes....<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB7zP9Jmlpiwtm4x8pElnDPuEZ-at1YccokiKKK3v34dwfUeoFLaR312xuOSpIYFdu93BcoyU43Q0uZt-cJEzPPmRibYweZCr_hmxripFmFEu9QkF6vo-3DnPErLTWuv0GLuW-K3YPUQCh/s1600-h/IMG_5871.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB7zP9Jmlpiwtm4x8pElnDPuEZ-at1YccokiKKK3v34dwfUeoFLaR312xuOSpIYFdu93BcoyU43Q0uZt-cJEzPPmRibYweZCr_hmxripFmFEu9QkF6vo-3DnPErLTWuv0GLuW-K3YPUQCh/s320/IMG_5871.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5298570484835198738" border="0" /></a>The wind blows chilly, the leaves are swirling in the gutter...<br />Hat making season is upon me as I'm sure it is upon those of you who also like making & wearing hats. And while I do try to vary my repertoire from time to time - I find I go back to my tried and true short row hats because they are fun, easy, look good on a lot of people and it seems that no two are ever exactly alike. Also, for me, they fall into the happily mindless category. Easy to pick up, minimal counting, minimal finishing, loads of instant gratification. Not to mention the stash busting potential and, after some incidents of weakness involving yarn stores on foreign shores the past few months, I do have a lot of that to do!!!<br /><br />So how do you start?<br />Care to roll back a bit and read through the entry "<a href="http://sltsm2k.blogspot.com/2008/07/when-does-hat-become-tea-cozy.html">when does a hat become a tea cozy</a>" ?<br />The basic idea and beginning is really the same.<br />You need to have an decent idea of your gauge, an idea of the measurement of the head you are making it for, and some idea of the basic properties of the yarn you are using.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCrfaUT14y1TbUAt10_nQ4t_eGl0wN6AWH4fvyj_LeXqUkIgqSwIBxolYISiEVuM3imOyppbXouQ6pBOizRtbdf2m03NuzB72j4m6uTqwbJ9R6pEdh9cyqXU06Y5-bwzQIODMG17aDqbxp/s1600-h/IMG_5876.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCrfaUT14y1TbUAt10_nQ4t_eGl0wN6AWH4fvyj_LeXqUkIgqSwIBxolYISiEVuM3imOyppbXouQ6pBOizRtbdf2m03NuzB72j4m6uTqwbJ9R6pEdh9cyqXU06Y5-bwzQIODMG17aDqbxp/s320/IMG_5876.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5298570801802881186" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br />I am going to use my head and some Kureyon for this because I have both of them. Well my head does look like it is attached to my shoulders and I made coffee this morning, so something is working. I do want this hat to fit under my bike helmet, and Kureyon is a decent weight for that.<br />Slightly heavier weights work beautifully and knit up quickly but it can get tight under the hood there, so I am going to use Kureyon. Also I have given all my hats away!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheyttpgD2Ar7EHWC-Mexy4tZwkZ5VaIgAP-v_RK0C1msV40DiUuHdN71eNlgfFatzCw8iGA0Al2ad0-wDeoBvKIvpfqpg2TlywuOwk69NjU_otrblDNAJdk4Er1br11lb8BRF5W3wMHRlp/s1600-h/IMG_5869.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheyttpgD2Ar7EHWC-Mexy4tZwkZ5VaIgAP-v_RK0C1msV40DiUuHdN71eNlgfFatzCw8iGA0Al2ad0-wDeoBvKIvpfqpg2TlywuOwk69NjU_otrblDNAJdk4Er1br11lb8BRF5W3wMHRlp/s320/IMG_5869.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5298570222527368226" border="0" /></a>These three photos show the same hat worn by two different people, my brother and his girlfriend. You can see that the same hat, looks different, the brim stretches and the effect is altered.<br />If you are making for a larger head, in addition to making it a little wider, you also may or may not want to add a few extra rows when you get to the brim. Ultimately it depends on who you are making the hat for, and what they want. Make the first one for yourself - I need one too so let's get started....knittin'bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06687603658554681361noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7970205852320855855.post-51305778589500027822008-09-30T22:05:00.006-04:002008-11-08T16:41:55.687-05:00Mindless Pleasantries<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcsGhZSmqjb0OUcad3ksgryxBUfxBq2vgq9ehOE3yC9ikQ8HfzRcBXcZuRKKVj3mgKE60O2wNtQFYFXVwrIzohzRlZ3bbUZtnUgN4qPyZvmFDJiVx0KxOcWYCv5UG9D7-7tGA6SR1huQ8z/s1600-h/fan2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcsGhZSmqjb0OUcad3ksgryxBUfxBq2vgq9ehOE3yC9ikQ8HfzRcBXcZuRKKVj3mgKE60O2wNtQFYFXVwrIzohzRlZ3bbUZtnUgN4qPyZvmFDJiVx0KxOcWYCv5UG9D7-7tGA6SR1huQ8z/s400/fan2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5266404534898953986" border="0" /></a><br />You know when every thing around you is going too fast?<div>Too much? Too many deadlines?</div><div>Yeah...</div><div>Been like that a lot lately for me. And lots of traveling. </div><div>So for the most part my knitting has reflected that. Or rather been an attempt to balance the hectic with the simple. Soothing, easy and satisfying.</div><div>A Feather and Fan Comfort Shawl from the directions by Sarah Bradley - so I don't have to think!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQuIlVOc9iTfQb0dudvWRDnpj_srzxifmklJj_fwCONWkDqtsmI_sxF3RS2EguiypEcffFF9cCz3xVR3qhXPD8HymHP-SQx5J94_nwWOG-2HtEgylArQ4Y9IjfKBwU7OuCnTuilZSeNYg9/s1600-h/fan.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 117px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQuIlVOc9iTfQb0dudvWRDnpj_srzxifmklJj_fwCONWkDqtsmI_sxF3RS2EguiypEcffFF9cCz3xVR3qhXPD8HymHP-SQx5J94_nwWOG-2HtEgylArQ4Y9IjfKBwU7OuCnTuilZSeNYg9/s200/fan.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5266403117623961698" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1h2UY-RssVTXMW4Ner64LXnc7WZGASSEX2Qm4ahU2b96gK9RASE_o3hGOBd8ckzcDMdqDgDMpx8uT-RAJJ5kW8m2UV3MwzZlEWh0EUCbDzwX9H0_EKMzseIdx3SheAoM0RfeNtjIwA-NY/s1600-h/DSC04643_1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1h2UY-RssVTXMW4Ner64LXnc7WZGASSEX2Qm4ahU2b96gK9RASE_o3hGOBd8ckzcDMdqDgDMpx8uT-RAJJ5kW8m2UV3MwzZlEWh0EUCbDzwX9H0_EKMzseIdx3SheAoM0RfeNtjIwA-NY/s200/DSC04643_1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5266403932679864898" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHUqCjEL9Uo6fjE7t86xgGU2vcQKDx-JfWSxXOk6zs_1WVkfBU7pBiNDZL76EkOYtnlgjmPto6el7-E69eIFBKUV-D6IZ2eOIh-_b6xdXZTgd99dEHG7posZMo7rIyPzsKDXQyxqP9c2fM/s1600-h/IMG_5657.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHUqCjEL9Uo6fjE7t86xgGU2vcQKDx-JfWSxXOk6zs_1WVkfBU7pBiNDZL76EkOYtnlgjmPto6el7-E69eIFBKUV-D6IZ2eOIh-_b6xdXZTgd99dEHG7posZMo7rIyPzsKDXQyxqP9c2fM/s200/IMG_5657.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5266403595337767042" border="0" /></a></div><div>A bias scarf in recycled sari silk and some straw coloured rayon. Just cast on and go! (Modeled by the recipient, Emily)<br /><br /></div><div>Oh, I managed to finally finish the second Debbie Bliss classic cardigan for my wee niece....<br /><br />and I did start a "Mitten of Insanity" which the cool and wet weather that is settling in is sure to encourage me to finish. But earlier this evening, when I had a moment, I picked up more colourful, soothing yarn and cast on for another bias scarf.<br /><br />Mindless, pleasant.</div><div>There are enough challenges in the real world for the moment.<br /><br /></div>knittin'bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06687603658554681361noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7970205852320855855.post-89275157412842483042008-07-09T22:21:00.016-04:002008-07-10T18:46:15.894-04:00When does a hat become a tea cozy?When does a hat become a tea cozy?<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHFWs3qpCp_aXD90VABVaYEi3HwQDobu3gJQzAsNMAhA2f1I8R-1ApIvk0BBxmq15of7-f3SuFp2jPxVQ8pruOoSY657qZoZaWonkif1vbbIOnGFl3TvUwZMPdDQ77vNDvvRapteEad-lS/s1600-h/with+fruit.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHFWs3qpCp_aXD90VABVaYEi3HwQDobu3gJQzAsNMAhA2f1I8R-1ApIvk0BBxmq15of7-f3SuFp2jPxVQ8pruOoSY657qZoZaWonkif1vbbIOnGFl3TvUwZMPdDQ77vNDvvRapteEad-lS/s320/with+fruit.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5221209071696278242" border="0" /></a><br />...and vice versa<br /><br />One day I got an “emergency” phone call from my sister who was working as a prop and wardrobe assistant for a TV show. “We need a tea cozy - do you have any patterns for one in your old knitting book collection?” I got a chuckle out of imagining what it would be like on the set when the need for a vintage tea cozy dawned suddenly and the flurry of phone calls that would ensue...but I told my sister that I’d had have a look as soon as I got home, that I was pretty sure I did have some and that basically she could tell her costume and wardrobe people that in a way, a tea cozy was just a hat with a couple of slits in the right places. All dependent on the style of tea cozy, of course. Some tea cozies have been known to double as hats and hats have been pressed into the duty of keeping the tea hot and a lot of things will do for that besides. But here I share my formula for a tea cozy that is also the basis for a favorite mindless hat....wedges formed by short rows in garter stitch.<br /><br />Garter stitch has a lot of interesting features. When I first started knitting I couldn’t wait to do stocking stitch but over the years I have come to love and appreciate garter stitch for its simplicity, mindless ease, predictable stretchiness, flatness and squareness. Relatively speaking, of course. And some yarns look darn fabulous knit up in garter stitch. I think Noro Kureyon is one of those yarns so, let’s start with a ball (give or take) of Kureyon (or whatever you like along those lines).<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKovIujuQpWVg2Sn_ws0d830bKSBI1eZJ9X31Go-i0-vvFTUh5PFP134_AgeidKeOt04fl3XvC3X8lkI0axumIk6tl9U4a6iPhDCWNVeBs3wvM7siphaKxgTQ8yh_-mgotEBvhA0ke3v1D/s1600-h/naked+tpot.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKovIujuQpWVg2Sn_ws0d830bKSBI1eZJ9X31Go-i0-vvFTUh5PFP134_AgeidKeOt04fl3XvC3X8lkI0axumIk6tl9U4a6iPhDCWNVeBs3wvM7siphaKxgTQ8yh_-mgotEBvhA0ke3v1D/s200/naked+tpot.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5221205525127384754" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Next we need the tea pot in need of a cozy. Have a look at that tea pot and take a few measurements. What is that charming little tea pot’s girth? And what is it’s cup size? How big is it from lid to base? Where is its handle and where is its spout?<br /><br />For this cozy we need some needles (indeed) and as it is knit flat and seamed (seemingly seamlessly later) any needle of the correct size will do. The correct size is whatever needle you need to knit your yarn just a bit firmer than the recommended gauge. In my case I use 3.75 mm bamboos. I have noticed that Kureyon, unless felted, tends to relax over time so you can often knit it a little firmer than you think.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyG3efwCGbcCEkXWn6cMaoCpjmmJDoqbVXEFaEnDvYnEhART58l7UUCSUncMHvQ_bFsqRBo4iJowQ47GHRrklH8aReFRu6Koh6BcM_-WEPE_RRyNVg6pJG-QD1zmNMVa4QoOwDEoqumcUf/s1600-h/cozy+start.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyG3efwCGbcCEkXWn6cMaoCpjmmJDoqbVXEFaEnDvYnEhART58l7UUCSUncMHvQ_bFsqRBo4iJowQ47GHRrklH8aReFRu6Koh6BcM_-WEPE_RRyNVg6pJG-QD1zmNMVa4QoOwDEoqumcUf/s320/cozy+start.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5221205203739149234" border="0" /></a><br />If you’ve used Kureyon a lot you will probably have a pretty good idea of how it knits up - but if you haven’t do a quick gauge swatch. How quick? How about 15 stitches and 6 rows (or 3 ridges). Right about now I can hear the champions of the gauge swatch murmuring and the thunder clouds roiling. For this task, this is enough to give you an idea. Figure out how many stitches per centimeter or inch you are working at. Take that number and multiply it by your tea pot's top to bottom measurement. Now destroy the evidence of your shoddy gauge swatch.<br /><br />My teapot top to bottom was 6 1/2 inches and my gauge is 5 stitches to the inch which means I need to cast on 32.5 stitches, which is hard to do, so I cast on 33 stitches. I tend to cast on by knitting in between the two stitches. Leave 6 - 8 inches of a tail<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKzYPqAbiMfS8ebg8oGBPlQuf9rOScjD7bJ48-Qlx-A8QoZVdnk6pjQFn-a2ecDzJM_6QtNX1Hot-GkRZqdcDVzBNcRfA27iKcdCRE28cfhDDFClhQITDAnTXsNDt8BICAtH4wYhXZpd6L/s1600-h/chain+stitch+edge.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKzYPqAbiMfS8ebg8oGBPlQuf9rOScjD7bJ48-Qlx-A8QoZVdnk6pjQFn-a2ecDzJM_6QtNX1Hot-GkRZqdcDVzBNcRfA27iKcdCRE28cfhDDFClhQITDAnTXsNDt8BICAtH4wYhXZpd6L/s200/chain+stitch+edge.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5221205826266500626" border="0" /></a> for the hanging loop later.<br />Knit across your cast on row. Now you have 33 stitches on one needle; your “tail” is at the top of the cozy. Slip the first stitch of the next row and knit across until one stitch is left. Bring the yarn to the front of the work, slip the last stitch and turn. Next row, you will knit into the back of the first stitch, then continue on as normal. This way of slipping and knitting creates a neat chain stitch edge. See?<br /><br />Knit along until you are 2 stitches from the end of the row (the tail is there to tell you it's the top). Slip the next stitch as if to purl, bring the yarn to the front and transfer the stitch BACK to the left hand needle. There are 2 stitches on the left hand needle and 31 on the right. Turn the work around. The yarn should be in the back now, ready to go. Knit until you are one stitch from the end, yarn to the front, slip, turn (for your chain stitch edge). Start the next row by knitting into the back of the first stitch, knit along as usual to 3 stitches to the end. At the third stitch, slip stitch purl-wise, yarn to front, slip stitch back to the needle. Turn and knit to the end, do your chain stitch hem.<br /><br />This is how to do short rows; the transfer of the stitch back and forth to the left hand needle without knitting it is called wrapping. It is very helpful for when we go to knit those stitches later as it prevent holes from appearing at the turning points.<br />Now just keep going, each time turning a stitch further from the end, so 4, 5, 6, etc. and keeping up your chain stitch hem.<br /><br />We are going to go until we make a wedge. How big a wedge?<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvApTZqOhI9pJLb2CnWIqTlfiEdrLpdOvJivrSCmxicktiCHU3smQ3XXZxwC1-m3RGCBNSFoTvE_k5mehRdr6j6bi2ef18J4Tm_pFAA4JrPstwsOqegGKR5gNDN39t0cbLsO7kWxOOo4im/s1600-h/the+first+wedge.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvApTZqOhI9pJLb2CnWIqTlfiEdrLpdOvJivrSCmxicktiCHU3smQ3XXZxwC1-m3RGCBNSFoTvE_k5mehRdr6j6bi2ef18J4Tm_pFAA4JrPstwsOqegGKR5gNDN39t0cbLsO7kWxOOo4im/s200/the+first+wedge.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5221207815749987730" border="0" /></a><br />Well, take your little teapot’s girth and divide it by 6. My teapot was 18 inches around, so divided by 6 that makes 3, multiply that by my gauge and I get 15. I could do 15 turns and get a wedge that had 15 ridges on it. This will be just fine, but just because I yam what I yam, I do 14 ridges. I know this yarn is going to stretch a bit over time. So that means I will keep wrapping and turning until I have done it 14 times. It looks something like this:<br /><br /><br />After a while you will be able to see and feel which stitches have been wrapped and which ones haven’t. Do work with good light or lighter shades of yarn at first if this technique is new to you. It helps to see what it going on.<br /><br />Now we have a wedge and we need to make more. 6 more to be exact.<br />Starting from your chain stitch hem knit along until you get to the last stitch you wrapped, in my case, #14. Have a look at that stitch and notice how the little yarn that was wrapped around the base of the stitch is lying there. I take my right hand needle and scoop up the wrapped yarn from the bottom then twist the needle and knit into the wrapped stitch. This seems like a lot of words to describe a little movement. Check around online or in your knitting how to books for diagrams. There is more than one way to turn a row. Also some people say with garter stitch you don’t have to pick up the wrap, but I beg to differ. Give it a try at least, it might be a good trick to have in your knitting repertoire later.<br /><br />Okay, back to the wedge.<br />Once you’ve knit to the top again picking up your wrapped (or not) stitches, turn, slip the first stitch, knit to the end, do your chain stitch hem, turn work, knit to 2 stitches to the end, slip, wrap, slip, turn, etcetera until you have another wedge. 2 wedges down, 4 to go!<br />Complete your <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd75UB1o-FlomoDskyrO2YZBjHfcKe67M16fsW-OVWmZFGejQtscT917qBSe5FAFybkolFnKB4dHJeMuvMtxgLgYqHIh_ozncNbjMeRrM0Nydxjj28B4Nqkghx-PGET4EyXwGPgcAwZY-j/s1600-h/making+the+spout.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd75UB1o-FlomoDskyrO2YZBjHfcKe67M16fsW-OVWmZFGejQtscT917qBSe5FAFybkolFnKB4dHJeMuvMtxgLgYqHIh_ozncNbjMeRrM0Nydxjj28B4Nqkghx-PGET4EyXwGPgcAwZY-j/s200/making+the+spout.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5221207353161134050" border="0" /></a>third wedge, but stop when you get to your chain stitch edge, don’t pick up your wrapped stitches, we need to make an opening for the spout. My spout was 2 inches high and 2 inches wide and it was just shy of an inch from the ground. Using my gauge, I know that the opening should be 10 stitches but me being me, I am going to make that 12. I need about an inch below the spout so I knit the first 5 stitches, then I am going to cast off the next 12 stitches and continue knitting to the top, picking up the wrapped stitches as I go. Phew.<br /><br />Next wedge we are going to have to put those stitches back on so. Slip the first stitch at the top, and when you get to the hole, use backward loops to add the 12 stitches to close the gap and continue knitting to the end of the row. It is sort of a giant buttonhole. As you come across those new stitches on the next row, they may need a little coaxing but it should all even out. Now just knit your next 3 wedges the same, and when you get to the end of the last wedge, stay at the chain stitch edging. This is where things can get a little tricky. If you want to try the graft, read on. If not, bind off loosely grabbing your wraps as you go. Sew up leaving an appropriate opening for the handle.<br /><br /><br />Okay for the graft...<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_JSPY5Whp3zOGYxlzOHXz9v5mRFWN-01cXZNm0Ed3-63Si2cPRZrFIoVl5bbaNLhyD-_OrOHp09NT2doBHdANmz7onm8wnTy8d1py1VSGK2lGyOiarySJjU3sBj3X569Yd3ZpS4w8oYvM/s1600-h/pickup+for+seam.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_JSPY5Whp3zOGYxlzOHXz9v5mRFWN-01cXZNm0Ed3-63Si2cPRZrFIoVl5bbaNLhyD-_OrOHp09NT2doBHdANmz7onm8wnTy8d1py1VSGK2lGyOiarySJjU3sBj3X569Yd3ZpS4w8oYvM/s200/pickup+for+seam.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5221208314705929570" border="0" /></a><br />Dig out another knitting needle, finer than the one you are using and, starting from the top, pick up 33 stitches from the cast on edge. Try to be consistent about how you pick up the stitches. Here’s what we are going to do next. We are going to “graft” the live stitches to the cast on edge, except where we need to leave an opening for the handle.<br />And we may be picking up those wrapped stitches as we go (I like to try). If you end up with 32 picked up stitches, you can fudge it when you get to the top, just make sure you have a stitch picked up from close to the chain stitch edge. If you are more than 1 stitch short, try again. Break your yarn leaving a tail about 4 times the length of the seam. Grab your darning needle. If you’ve never grafted before I suggest trolling about online or consulting your knitting how to books for a description. It is also called <a href="http://www.stitchdiva.com/custom.aspx?id=50">Kitchener stitch</a> . For this graft you do the same stitch on both needles. Have your live stitches in front and your picked up stitches at the back.<br /><br />Take the yarn and pass it through the first stitch on the front needle as if to purl, leave the stitch on the needle.<br />Take the yarn to the first stitch on the back needle and pass it through as if to purl & leave it on the needle. This is just for the set up.<br />Go back to the front needle, slip the yarn through as if to knit, lift the stitch off the needle, go into the next stitch on the same needle as if to purl and leave it on the needle.<br />Now go to the back needle, slip the yarn through as if to knit, lift the stitch off the needle, go into the next stitch on the same needle as if to purl and leave it on the needle. To fit my handle, I did this 5 times. That is, I removed 5 stitches from both the front and back needle. Ah, at the 5th stitch on each needle, I ended with a knit and slip off, no following purl. Then I picked up my other 3.75 mm needle and loosely cast off the next 15 stitches from the front needle. I missed the first wrapped stitch actually, and by not grabbing the wrap I did leave a little hole, which I didn’t notice until much later.<br />Now drop the corresponding number of stitches from the back needle, in my case 15.<br />Reattach your darning needles and start the grafting again. Try to catch your wraps. This isn’t easy, I usually do a noodle-y thing and get the wrap with the “purl” part of the sequence. I have tried it by ignoring the wrap on the purl part and picking it up on the knit part. It doesn’t look too bad, actually. As long as you are consistent it will be fine.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFb2ZK66srG49CSbUpMzGrw9E3A5HhqwwdUpuK2YeYSHC6rSYqgoen6D_60hLxmCJ6SJamsoGa-wI645q4k-jr0rjjH9HPC6JpYRjqqiWVCmkLByzcGU1Ie-ks1a_s5H0-Nwsf2IwGlHgh/s1600-h/top.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFb2ZK66srG49CSbUpMzGrw9E3A5HhqwwdUpuK2YeYSHC6rSYqgoen6D_60hLxmCJ6SJamsoGa-wI645q4k-jr0rjjH9HPC6JpYRjqqiWVCmkLByzcGU1Ie-ks1a_s5H0-Nwsf2IwGlHgh/s200/top.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5221210690584455970" border="0" /></a> And remember, if you keep repeating something - it can become a design element!!<br />At the top you will now have two threads. Do with them as you will. I like to braid, twist or otherwise knot them into a loop.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5tGHwmgGH6Lku2ffSIi6A7sdYKyqLb3aiEbUASzkepwTzGLN4gu2Tz3bjDRzGCTb7PqOuqXrcwoLwoxbCNwqIAr1J-RBi9yc_die1zVARQQnGhKRbxCQvsK6E166OUG-dzw_CTUSkZ-67/s1600-h/side.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5tGHwmgGH6Lku2ffSIi6A7sdYKyqLb3aiEbUASzkepwTzGLN4gu2Tz3bjDRzGCTb7PqOuqXrcwoLwoxbCNwqIAr1J-RBi9yc_die1zVARQQnGhKRbxCQvsK6E166OUG-dzw_CTUSkZ-67/s200/side.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5221210050074457778" border="0" /></a> Great if you hang your cozy when not in use.<br /><br />There you have it.<br /><br />If this is completely incomprehensible, please ask.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj63pxgB__MMUtFJi05v8xS1Uc57FHH0p4sdLkE3rkNqgDExUM6yIQ_7S6RAqMgaVB4GiUomMM5rCjWydet5mqc0autpkaEKR9Q17uZROQf2tm_66llYP_CveMWVFiF3OY1efIvMTY5Ruxc/s1600-h/leftover.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj63pxgB__MMUtFJi05v8xS1Uc57FHH0p4sdLkE3rkNqgDExUM6yIQ_7S6RAqMgaVB4GiUomMM5rCjWydet5mqc0autpkaEKR9Q17uZROQf2tm_66llYP_CveMWVFiF3OY1efIvMTY5Ruxc/s200/leftover.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5221206334568812050" border="0" /></a>And this cozy took 40 grams of Kureyon, what am I going to do with the leftover???knittin'bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06687603658554681361noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7970205852320855855.post-86032359774934384672008-07-05T19:09:00.004-04:002008-07-05T20:33:14.583-04:00Going Gracefully<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2o9IYlDtaBc0zbGgik_TrvLnmlmCr54E-q3vphPmVgNFBaHlCNg51K7EuGhxlBf9k_FoUfmngdrHxobO9AV0Hbb6jdvVsRZMVGFI-5QNWGuX4iOXcZtmXm5A10G0KCIaoC9Gl3BSomFh5/s1600-h/conques.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2o9IYlDtaBc0zbGgik_TrvLnmlmCr54E-q3vphPmVgNFBaHlCNg51K7EuGhxlBf9k_FoUfmngdrHxobO9AV0Hbb6jdvVsRZMVGFI-5QNWGuX4iOXcZtmXm5A10G0KCIaoC9Gl3BSomFh5/s320/conques.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5219683564720519458" border="0" /></a><br />Amidst these busy summer days of visits and concerts and guests and events there remains the odd quiet moment to reflect, to pick up the knitting or mending, and let the mind focus in peace while a button gets reattached, a bead gets strung and a few rows of stocking stitch get added to a sleeve. One such moment was thrust upon me the day before yesterday as I waited outside a hospital room while my boyfriend paid his last respects to one of his oldest friends. <a href="http://sltsm2k.blogspot.com/2008/03/oli.html">Oli</a> died quite suddenly, though not unexpectedly as he had been through the wringer to treat his leukemia and the sad reality that there was not going to be a cure was known to all. As I waited I thought and the little stitches hopped from one needle to the next, sometimes with very little help, like sand running through an hourglass.<br /><br />Oli has done many amazing things in his creative life, and has inspired creativity and a sense of musical adventure in the lives of many others. He has nurtured an incredible next generation of musicians already. Knowing that his days where few, he was seized with the desire to do one last show before an audience. In less than 6 weeks the whole event was organized. On June 5th 2008, fighting fatigue that was imperceptible to the audience he gave an absolutely brilliant show with some closest of his musical collaborators. The program had as much new material as familiar and every person in the hall hung on to every note. The joy of the event, the beauty of the music and the intense awareness of all in the room that this concert, this performance was a gift from Oli was palpable. It was a gift from us to Oli, too. The show rapidly sold out the 80o seat hall and the love and appreciation he was showered with I am sure helped to give him an incredible sense of peace, of goodness, of knowing that he is loved and that he has living legacy. That is something few people get to experience - few people in his state of life are able to rise up to the inevitable and continue to create and give and be given. I think Oli recognized that gift to him.<br /><br />He left in a way that was like some of his tunes. At concerts and even on recordings, I often wished he'd repeat the melody - "That was too short, Oli," I'd say in my mind, "Play it again from the top!" While he still had many projects and visions, while much was left undone and while he left us much, much, much too soon, he somehow managed to go like a note hanging off his violin, the strings vibrating after the last powerful draw of the bow. Rather than the cancer take him - small piece by small piece - he went all at once due to a complication. How odd, that a complication in a way simplified the end.<br /><br />But it was his commitment to his creativity, to what gave him joy in life - music - and how his joy became the joy of others that has been the great shining beacon for me and the many around him who were lucky enough to know him. Life goes on until the last moment if we can let ourselves see it that way. I did not feel the least bit morbid or dark, sitting there knitting quietly by the door. Sad, yes indeed, but there I was making a sleeve for my little niece, a kind of commitment to the future, to life, if you will.<br /><br />If you enjoy music that springs from tradition and wanders artfully and playfully in many directions, seek out <a href="http://www.oliverschroer.com/camino.htm">Oli's recordings.</a> I adore Camino. I have listened to it over and over without tiring of it. All his music is good but that one has a special place in my heart. It is beautiful music to just close your eyes to and let your ears paint pictures for you. It is lovely music to inspire you while you fill row after row with stitches and your mind wanders. Thanks, Oli. Godspeed.knittin'bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06687603658554681361noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7970205852320855855.post-73329785578542830532008-05-28T04:35:00.010-04:002008-05-28T19:00:51.531-04:00Double Deutsche Diaper Duty..<div style="text-align: left;">Since last Friday, it's been pretty well all babies, all the time.<br /></div>My little nieces are gorgeous. Of course every auntie is going to think that, but the little imp & pixie are generally so adorable you can forgive them their complaints about tummy gas, teething pain, soggy diapers, hunger, tiredness and just general baby krankiness because they are so cute.<br /><div style="text-align: center;">Here they are:<br />Clara Olive....<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHac-a_mE-Y7V4jGHNf-8jbtnfqjybWQq13hi_3xIWIz1ZPBjzfCaPaHobmdJBTf52bSTmbrbfZ1BzbTVqTvqBisDXfIBqt6kTUtYT__Z7P0Cw-4lYuzDyvKUnIFCQeWxTUB5zhrWn3QdL/s1600-h/clarabear.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHac-a_mE-Y7V4jGHNf-8jbtnfqjybWQq13hi_3xIWIz1ZPBjzfCaPaHobmdJBTf52bSTmbrbfZ1BzbTVqTvqBisDXfIBqt6kTUtYT__Z7P0Cw-4lYuzDyvKUnIFCQeWxTUB5zhrWn3QdL/s320/clarabear.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5205350847493101810" border="0" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">&<br />Josephine Rose.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdSUtnh0TXDlNHwSt-SQfZlG3ckcZunsteuTrGZUAM7jubmsqK_9JcXvG7Z2IA_4D8r_c7tRBSlNkrEqDSK3V2aDoMlAYuTD7yXENDA9ZKjMLNGRX63OmgQg734vdrJ6C0MQprB0ZUSngv/s1600-h/jojoyoyo.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdSUtnh0TXDlNHwSt-SQfZlG3ckcZunsteuTrGZUAM7jubmsqK_9JcXvG7Z2IA_4D8r_c7tRBSlNkrEqDSK3V2aDoMlAYuTD7yXENDA9ZKjMLNGRX63OmgQg734vdrJ6C0MQprB0ZUSngv/s320/jojoyoyo.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5205351650651986178" border="0" /></a><br /><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQHAR2R5nzzkTMncfSMn77iCov4TL8b1mX_aEwL0bv3SknrCY_6_-koo74A5l_L1dQzgCiK4qElPw6lGAm5JP89seO7tvH2wRy5ywFztWz2tzj2ji-W4sCNyIXGEgvUnbQ9zvs_vIJxur1/s1600-h/marimcl.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQHAR2R5nzzkTMncfSMn77iCov4TL8b1mX_aEwL0bv3SknrCY_6_-koo74A5l_L1dQzgCiK4qElPw6lGAm5JP89seO7tvH2wRy5ywFztWz2tzj2ji-W4sCNyIXGEgvUnbQ9zvs_vIJxur1/s200/marimcl.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5205352290602113298" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCySFLMTFX206pZnXyelRjbDXYmBSHs-KiMCUd9fQkhWo0SQ6Nhs8h1MEPGO3mEYo_XCRgKbUYt_sYjBmx8pW3BXN45hezr8Wl91nGYOImm1PUp6GaZm1hy-c0EC8ZthpOUQdoMHuWlD5w/s1600-h/marimjo.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCySFLMTFX206pZnXyelRjbDXYmBSHs-KiMCUd9fQkhWo0SQ6Nhs8h1MEPGO3mEYo_XCRgKbUYt_sYjBmx8pW3BXN45hezr8Wl91nGYOImm1PUp6GaZm1hy-c0EC8ZthpOUQdoMHuWlD5w/s200/marimjo.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5205352732983744802" border="0" /></a>Here are the girls modeling their new bibs Aunt Bee brought them from Helsinki...<br /><br />What a sense of style they have already at the tender age of 6 months!<br /><br />Aunt Bee has hardly had time to finish the Dreaded Debbie Bliss Cardigan #13 because there is just so much burping and dandling and carrying and cuddling to do.<br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">But some progress has been made.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_J8-sHMfcxLRnTV-L2Nzqemyv1usJeIdZInDCMtENU65NbBfDHUxhyphenhyphenjBEG0eCj-CZNVO8Y6YatT6jhRx0HPMaAF36lUNY5CdIDLJyYWk052U94q4fdAUB03s3haNbczBBQ2cmvk6Pz8fr/s1600-h/cardi+sleeve.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_J8-sHMfcxLRnTV-L2Nzqemyv1usJeIdZInDCMtENU65NbBfDHUxhyphenhyphenjBEG0eCj-CZNVO8Y6YatT6jhRx0HPMaAF36lUNY5CdIDLJyYWk052U94q4fdAUB03s3haNbczBBQ2cmvk6Pz8fr/s200/cardi+sleeve.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5205353948459489586" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT8ey3FWyzJt-zMUM_3F7qjUbB7xdRfzTU6J_1zolPc1fb8RqW0OVLc4U5LWKLj6nQb41lZt2HKIS8cgVBkO1haBVTwFKLWQsDogg8KAHAEdiYZLgUzDUNkiNCsPfcmtqmMdm5eU5oa-vL/s1600-h/cardi.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT8ey3FWyzJt-zMUM_3F7qjUbB7xdRfzTU6J_1zolPc1fb8RqW0OVLc4U5LWKLj6nQb41lZt2HKIS8cgVBkO1haBVTwFKLWQsDogg8KAHAEdiYZLgUzDUNkiNCsPfcmtqmMdm5eU5oa-vL/s320/cardi.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5205354429495826754" border="0" /></a>Still unblocked but taking shape. I am going to make a little facing at the chin to make the inside tidy as it tends to turn down and show all the joins. Ugly. I remember why I used to call Vogue Knitting VAGUE Knitting. Some of the directions are a little cryptic. Like "tack down the collar". To what? The pick up line at the neck back?? That makes sense, but what about the front points. We tried it on little Josie because she was awake at the time and with my seamstress sister we were able to figure out where the collar ought to be tacked. But you know, sewing patterns usually have things like the seam allowance, pocket placement and tacking points marked on them, built into the diagrams and numbered. At least knitting patterns could be a little more specific or include clearer diagrams or more photos of salient garment details. If we hadn't tried this on the baby, I don't think we would have figured it out so well.<br /><br />The turned hems at the sleeves were especially popular with my sister. The sweater is the 1-year size and is currently swimming on them. It will be a couple of months before it is really wearable. So now comes the issue of the second sweater. Turned hem at the sleeves - yes. But along the bottom? I'm not sure & I still don't like the button band either. The collar seemed like an awful lot of yarn but then my sister pointed out the with the neck relatively high, it would really keep the baby warm. And it looks awfully cute. So sometime between bottles and bibs and poopy pants, I'll cast on sweater number two.<br /><br />Time for a walk in the park!!!<br /><br /></div>knittin'bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06687603658554681361noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7970205852320855855.post-68176232867087757852008-05-19T12:47:00.010-04:002008-05-19T13:39:40.214-04:00Little Things<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia08ou1aIOSAwTHEBRccYdca6aRhwoT6-qKQz1F5o7rse2NWnDp4p7kHaoagAcMWqRmepK6hpaUwL3TjHWzQBXQtxDjmc8mI2uzmGoGrxXTBOdi0jV-2gLCzkdzO7VsPog74oEt04oNdF1/s1600-h/little+things.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia08ou1aIOSAwTHEBRccYdca6aRhwoT6-qKQz1F5o7rse2NWnDp4p7kHaoagAcMWqRmepK6hpaUwL3TjHWzQBXQtxDjmc8mI2uzmGoGrxXTBOdi0jV-2gLCzkdzO7VsPog74oEt04oNdF1/s400/little+things.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5202131701162104002" border="0" /></a>My thinking exactly. And you can take that statement many ways.<br />There are so many little things in Helsinki.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi11SJukONNlVxP5S3FfUtYH_g3GL4Dlp-5XzXveLn29I_b0I23argbI8fuRxRJGWXyV2QWFm6gn5B6uwjSRUelxHa1a_UOnmeMb_nrrEnDPt_2qAyZUzUUPtY12FTrsg_MZwoQ-1C6Q4l4/s1600-h/lamppost.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi11SJukONNlVxP5S3FfUtYH_g3GL4Dlp-5XzXveLn29I_b0I23argbI8fuRxRJGWXyV2QWFm6gn5B6uwjSRUelxHa1a_UOnmeMb_nrrEnDPt_2qAyZUzUUPtY12FTrsg_MZwoQ-1C6Q4l4/s320/lamppost.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5202132379766936786" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br />There is a lot of symmetry. Often based on threes, or triangles as well as mirror images. In the old town, what they call the Design District, there are wonderful layers of Art Nouveau, Art Deco and things Nordic & Runic.....<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlRth2y8ZZOUQ8u4_hVOngTYxpqjBVjQFR3fKot1MsPKUrfwL8CJwgqCWeOGwHkQLJeftOeiMEgDJbROAMt1f0_eIfVL4UYT0EdnV0zAZs6fo41EV78NtjJQ0NMwJc32aFQufUEYPpQu1w/s1600-h/rats.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlRth2y8ZZOUQ8u4_hVOngTYxpqjBVjQFR3fKot1MsPKUrfwL8CJwgqCWeOGwHkQLJeftOeiMEgDJbROAMt1f0_eIfVL4UYT0EdnV0zAZs6fo41EV78NtjJQ0NMwJc32aFQufUEYPpQu1w/s320/rats.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5202142850897204530" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgV1bqPZIi7CBWLoeQLF89jcaqAnjuM5Mq5iPQpjiWP4JpWrlk7C6d9tycoNzHgkkAKkM_J2Ghp_8Og8cIegbJ6a1MxHIy5ed_Xy62GWW2B9d7sSIq6fhu6EX_iHcStvqQfbn_gXyi9xE_/s1600-h/suomi.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgV1bqPZIi7CBWLoeQLF89jcaqAnjuM5Mq5iPQpjiWP4JpWrlk7C6d9tycoNzHgkkAKkM_J2Ghp_8Og8cIegbJ6a1MxHIy5ed_Xy62GWW2B9d7sSIq6fhu6EX_iHcStvqQfbn_gXyi9xE_/s320/suomi.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5202137344749131010" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtdOK4h9udb4l0noYNrY853dbhNf3i5qloEqos-bOoAoaO931Gn5W78gTC6evRkcRIBKnEi-vtwfI9gM6vMYnAnSINf0MsLtDy7f3cEIw1Vn2SSsbHKXM5nZ8Gn_256UBwqBSUSbrwm5zv/s1600-h/19.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtdOK4h9udb4l0noYNrY853dbhNf3i5qloEqos-bOoAoaO931Gn5W78gTC6evRkcRIBKnEi-vtwfI9gM6vMYnAnSINf0MsLtDy7f3cEIw1Vn2SSsbHKXM5nZ8Gn_256UBwqBSUSbrwm5zv/s320/19.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5202138899527292178" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnlbz1_8kKqMRw7hzSO_OWUb6KkpaY3DfSEc32qS8eOuHUxKdljXdyJHCC-b0a_6wLasf7FCwBgzrLe_jGxajessQ5ztlqf0YvEf49FyPPaXnv2Jx_bEzGXp8pb4E7Qq2Vn60OaRJBkUqy/s1600-h/beautiful+lines.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnlbz1_8kKqMRw7hzSO_OWUb6KkpaY3DfSEc32qS8eOuHUxKdljXdyJHCC-b0a_6wLasf7FCwBgzrLe_jGxajessQ5ztlqf0YvEf49FyPPaXnv2Jx_bEzGXp8pb4E7Qq2Vn60OaRJBkUqy/s320/beautiful+lines.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5202136799288284402" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP8zf9MR2oL4zccLGdLbcBXf7AJX1rUF2_BTatMq9f_upszfrteJHM8_IUqLKoKVF7DWvXKq9ILm6LPlm6Hi9sqaKeUlT_3c_IJBxCOxuwfYizgyp4swq7YJybq8Focl_qxP1bouQJM3vv/s1600-h/spider.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP8zf9MR2oL4zccLGdLbcBXf7AJX1rUF2_BTatMq9f_upszfrteJHM8_IUqLKoKVF7DWvXKq9ILm6LPlm6Hi9sqaKeUlT_3c_IJBxCOxuwfYizgyp4swq7YJybq8Focl_qxP1bouQJM3vv/s320/spider.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5202142322616227106" border="0" /></a>All adding up to a bigger picture.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_Q-HC7tCKfTruZOdPLKed4LcyQu7VsSQm14sDsuGUkAYDxToPcg3LPVV_K0Npm3RNYtqSFPDx4cqnpdrBV-YOLkVwO1yb_epym7RHn9MBEI54ZXgNNOoPfXVdOcZNhznfey-eQs7ZyOnf/s1600-h/bat.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_Q-HC7tCKfTruZOdPLKed4LcyQu7VsSQm14sDsuGUkAYDxToPcg3LPVV_K0Npm3RNYtqSFPDx4cqnpdrBV-YOLkVwO1yb_epym7RHn9MBEI54ZXgNNOoPfXVdOcZNhznfey-eQs7ZyOnf/s320/bat.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5202136537295279330" border="0" /></a>knittin'bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06687603658554681361noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7970205852320855855.post-32749192860139864012008-05-18T18:00:00.001-04:002008-05-18T18:04:26.444-04:00Drink Your Milk<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh14RpiICm94_TfKIclpPFoJlemY6NUNPIzlvre4maIBGhNU_lY-uk_U0SGPY7l54m2rUf8FnX5xQ5TvjpH5c9hmzm-OwUYO_nDrKp6SM9dmyW5YWrzs1-7tc12yJ5nemR3lHom-C3Tp8eq/s1600-h/milk.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh14RpiICm94_TfKIclpPFoJlemY6NUNPIzlvre4maIBGhNU_lY-uk_U0SGPY7l54m2rUf8FnX5xQ5TvjpH5c9hmzm-OwUYO_nDrKp6SM9dmyW5YWrzs1-7tc12yJ5nemR3lHom-C3Tp8eq/s400/milk.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5201842044272694450" border="0" /></a>knittin'bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06687603658554681361noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7970205852320855855.post-76843044448081053382008-05-16T09:29:00.003-04:002008-05-16T09:32:30.353-04:00A reminder to carry in your pocket<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9Uqqfhqs7dhmXIbO2uDnBOGdDKImMr76krNl8WN3HWjvuyXc4yTifuoj395CsplBMkJjjlAgrVqRpoxaBbgrsR-NQfL-8kEtF9_ozqCVgPGKTTHBc3_dsBJGD9tFT5E146KT1s6KO8nWi/s1600-h/pax.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9Uqqfhqs7dhmXIbO2uDnBOGdDKImMr76krNl8WN3HWjvuyXc4yTifuoj395CsplBMkJjjlAgrVqRpoxaBbgrsR-NQfL-8kEtF9_ozqCVgPGKTTHBc3_dsBJGD9tFT5E146KT1s6KO8nWi/s400/pax.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5200967528801686690" border="0" /></a><br />A box of pastilles or lozenges.knittin'bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06687603658554681361noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7970205852320855855.post-70981038152720035092008-05-14T17:30:00.004-04:002008-05-15T04:12:46.585-04:00It's after Midnight in HelsinkiBut only just past 5 in the evening back home. I keep finding myself wide awake when I ought to be falling asleep.<br /><br />I thought compulsively correcting the ghastly hem (gruesome photographic evidence to follow) on the darned ermm I mean DElightful baby sweater that I still need to make TWO of by the end of May, would make me sleepy but it has not.<br /><br />Helsinki is a lovely city. The cast of actors I'm working with at the Svenska Teatern are terrific. They are going to sound wonderful. I've had some really nice walks after the rehearsals.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAvUfd2OMggWns7jeQdzpESXYe6PYjREb-62Z9SDVXghrzZyItoi7aAs6OPiMceRD8VXvkSuxzClUyfeFzZ4WYNfplUfCjpSGqgUl7Y_g6NcGbm-v1Hq_sSamhGvKAOPEYU8t4KkEkaqJb/s1600-h/helsinkicatcls.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAvUfd2OMggWns7jeQdzpESXYe6PYjREb-62Z9SDVXghrzZyItoi7aAs6OPiMceRD8VXvkSuxzClUyfeFzZ4WYNfplUfCjpSGqgUl7Y_g6NcGbm-v1Hq_sSamhGvKAOPEYU8t4KkEkaqJb/s400/helsinkicatcls.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5200351200994710674" border="0" /></a><br />These guys really made me miss my gang (Cats & Boyfriend) (not necessarily in that order).<br />And what did I discover? That a really nice yarn shop (Menita) is less than a block from my apartment.<br />And there is another interesting shop full of Finnish Handicrafts (Taito Shop) that, little did I know, also stocks Finnish wool....<br />Oh Finnish Handicrafts are beautiful. I think our mum, who is a fan of Marimekko fabrics, instilled a love of this sort of thing into me and all my siblings at a very young age. It is going to be hard not let my inner magpie override my bank account......knittin'bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06687603658554681361noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7970205852320855855.post-35623546854488980902008-05-01T10:41:00.012-04:002008-05-02T00:17:24.291-04:00May Bouquet<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0xBRXK9-IwHCySFLgY4Rz8gHh9Wh5R2CM-NfvjUawpFchL7PZupep5kOpeGNT9aOEncp0hg51x4lTCAsHtkdAq5MfajRIapEi44oe-mFyb0BggV9GR3x7iQT67ejywiO-qgE2lbERg54J/s1600-h/alalelile.JPG"> <img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0xBRXK9-IwHCySFLgY4Rz8gHh9Wh5R2CM-NfvjUawpFchL7PZupep5kOpeGNT9aOEncp0hg51x4lTCAsHtkdAq5MfajRIapEi44oe-mFyb0BggV9GR3x7iQT67ejywiO-qgE2lbERg54J/s320/alalelile.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5195558765350204610" border="0" /></a><br /><br />It's the <a href="http://archives.cbc.ca/economy_business/labour_unions/topics/1438/">1st</a> of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beltane">May</a>!<br />I turned the page on my calendar and this is what it wrote:<br /><span style="font-style: italic;">All the </span><span style="font-style: italic;">flowers</span> <span style="font-style: italic;"><br /></span><span style="font-style: italic;">of all the </span><span style="font-style: italic;">tomorrows<br /></span><span style="font-style: italic;">are in the seeds of today</span>.<br />Indian Proverb.<br /><br />Under the influence of spring,<br />which is a pleasant thing to be delirious about,<br />here's the sort of yarn and colours I brought home from the fair last Saturday.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPCr0CBrW-_gPJAhbwls8LCUmo3pm9r0NXm3o7x7HDreVrP6pEF1E60He62540NG-A1oCO9sWEBHUs_FJBbjtERYmt0IrM_qkcJSuHIX2SgvOfyHzr0AjbQMLDtfmafjt4kSRR7VnU8THM/s1600-h/anatural+wool.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPCr0CBrW-_gPJAhbwls8LCUmo3pm9r0NXm3o7x7HDreVrP6pEF1E60He62540NG-A1oCO9sWEBHUs_FJBbjtERYmt0IrM_qkcJSuHIX2SgvOfyHzr0AjbQMLDtfmafjt4kSRR7VnU8THM/s320/anatural+wool.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5195476662755374146" border="0" /></a><br />I have to start with this.<br />I love to smell this yarn. It smells like clean sheep. I would put in next to me at night so I could inhale it in my sleep but I don't think it would go over that well with the Cats & Boyfriend.<br />It was only $3 a skein. I bought 2. True, it is not fancy and full of silk or merino but look at it!<br />Good honest wool.<br />One of the ladies sheared it from her brother's sheep though she didn't spin the fleece herself.<br />It was from the <a href="http://www.therovingspinners.com/">Roving Spinners.</a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnG2lntks2zlAffUg_c_7mZPSrprZ_L5Yqgv9yaKE8GjLbtBmNS8qYypguCrm2WMCUPRrXVGwkM4QjpvTlr_tt5C0nDT4vInxBGFnEsOubkU4I7yJNZJKW4h7tbV-8X1xjbRMlUHQ1FOL7/s1600-h/aheadwatertight.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnG2lntks2zlAffUg_c_7mZPSrprZ_L5Yqgv9yaKE8GjLbtBmNS8qYypguCrm2WMCUPRrXVGwkM4QjpvTlr_tt5C0nDT4vInxBGFnEsOubkU4I7yJNZJKW4h7tbV-8X1xjbRMlUHQ1FOL7/s320/aheadwatertight.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5195476014215312354" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Next up is Diana Latvian yarn from <a href="http://www.headwaterwool.com/">Headwater Wools.</a><br />This is another good solid yarn. Affordable. Not super soft, but soft enough. Chunky weight. I have a bit of this already. It knits up nicely and wears well. More to add to the collection. I think I might have enough to try a <a href="http://www.woollythoughts.com/">Wooly Thoughts</a> Blanket.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br />A little purple silk from <a href="http://www.fiddlesticksknitting.com/">Fiddlesticks</a>. <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvIz2pqP6qcF-z2sbr56gw0ROgHfBvFNwmehGANUIViSkGEnkeEkzDS4m9iuTDJ2vzPvRpH15TKFnCK1rCBFFIKz2vRZ8PXCJ_VCL795pR4vnBmNwfmTRQdB1an0yleUpQ9nw0G6lSwa_I/s1600-h/afiddlesticks.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvIz2pqP6qcF-z2sbr56gw0ROgHfBvFNwmehGANUIViSkGEnkeEkzDS4m9iuTDJ2vzPvRpH15TKFnCK1rCBFFIKz2vRZ8PXCJ_VCL795pR4vnBmNwfmTRQdB1an0yleUpQ9nw0G6lSwa_I/s320/afiddlesticks.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5195475292660806610" border="0" /></a>It was reduced in price a bit. Perhaps I should have got more than one ball, but my intention with this is to strand it with the some silk/mohair blends I already have and do some more wristlets...<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8dOUlsk-2LlIKtiOpIDi8ckwPNyO7Rbev273cVp07Gd0Tjj82tstuSMhpiAteySCjsUDagDpU1hON7lLuT_HA3jrQIzUtwG0E8jPKne191xSzTYaZNsC7oVm3Q7muBY7FuSAEeDSslel9/s1600-h/aprize.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8dOUlsk-2LlIKtiOpIDi8ckwPNyO7Rbev273cVp07Gd0Tjj82tstuSMhpiAteySCjsUDagDpU1hON7lLuT_HA3jrQIzUtwG0E8jPKne191xSzTYaZNsC7oVm3Q7muBY7FuSAEeDSslel9/s200/aprize.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5195603643463480562" border="0" /></a><br /><br />I actually won a raffle prize this year. Some Fleece Artist "Marina". With a pattern for it. "Coco". Not sure if I will go with the pattern, I rarely do. But I like the colours. The blues are wonderful. It is machine washable. I feel a hat coming on.<br /><br /><br /><br />Linda and I strolled around, loosing track of time. Linda had actually brought some patterns she was planning on making up. She had a plan! What a concept. So some of our browsing was focused on particular types and weights. Then we hit the "GoodBuy" yarn stall. They have all <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguHCWXsOJZ6qX3gR4LZXizXB-LxS34Uq3hrw9Z7Hks8FgdiVNKy3Zyjn2rRq7fUHkpg6uLV-iHf2C_AW7qk_-_zRO8trmaj2zqCeeFdBpVVYQjZhHnGksPh5XdBNdt-LhdsU0n4MLOd7vk/s1600-h/atape.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguHCWXsOJZ6qX3gR4LZXizXB-LxS34Uq3hrw9Z7Hks8FgdiVNKy3Zyjn2rRq7fUHkpg6uLV-iHf2C_AW7qk_-_zRO8trmaj2zqCeeFdBpVVYQjZhHnGksPh5XdBNdt-LhdsU0n4MLOd7vk/s200/atape.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5195603604808774882" border="0" /></a>sorts of yarns, ends of lines, discontinued, overstock, last year's shades etc etc. at least25 - 50 % off the original price. And this year they organized their stall by colour. We had too much fun. Linda declared that it was better than Winners. (If you're not near a Winners store, it is an emporium of mostly new clothing, some of it designer, some of it really rather nice and usually half the regular price.)<br />Here's what I dug out of the GoodBuy bins:<br />This lovely shade of blue Rowan Cotton Tape for making some Scribble <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglggGQVY8Ycxgj5cHCuGqVh9aNCtGOCNhVBEsjUq0bexItCg70H4PZyUMPELSVc4_oLCq4TC5NLx356NIZ1RXnvfqBvwSTyVTCQU3MHMLLVDjjgcnhBcWTE1hWRS6JCKA7ryVW8weusH95/s1600-h/anoroiro.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglggGQVY8Ycxgj5cHCuGqVh9aNCtGOCNhVBEsjUq0bexItCg70H4PZyUMPELSVc4_oLCq4TC5NLx356NIZ1RXnvfqBvwSTyVTCQU3MHMLLVDjjgcnhBcWTE1hWRS6JCKA7ryVW8weusH95/s320/anoroiro.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5195476667050341458" border="0" /></a>Lace scarves and shawls with more of that mohair/silk stuff I've accumulated in my collection.<br /><br />How's this. A skein of Noro Iro. I don't care what I do with this eventually. I just like looking at it.<br /><br /><br /><br />I don't think you can really go wrong with Noro yarn. If I ever get to Japan again, I am going to try really hard to visit the workshop. I must see Mr. Noro in action. How do they do it?<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTeLRWsTUZtIlZF2bqCsJeYaL0qLcnKI90aCh5kOthtGM7KQcbP2ztP-D1mGmbdR8i7DVeBTbUIql3-siUYP5cgUQHcpLJt9UA66iyFTIxw0hjRqHUf4xau1X39aC2ah-qgGMwfymwZOjF/s1600-h/aaurora.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTeLRWsTUZtIlZF2bqCsJeYaL0qLcnKI90aCh5kOthtGM7KQcbP2ztP-D1mGmbdR8i7DVeBTbUIql3-siUYP5cgUQHcpLJt9UA66iyFTIxw0hjRqHUf4xau1X39aC2ah-qgGMwfymwZOjF/s320/aaurora.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5195475275480937378" border="0" /></a><br />One ball of Noro Aurora. <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBx8EkkkCVsscz-0eeTBD3GkSlJBObwxGEuP988WRNM-1rAIEzH72g3VvXQzKsF35eGHajFomQzAV_oiD_XvaC-T6lrPcjq5zP9_SiV7mbX2aGitv2l6POHEGvl0esxXpyX3jMLelLCxVn/s1600-h/alululu.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBx8EkkkCVsscz-0eeTBD3GkSlJBObwxGEuP988WRNM-1rAIEzH72g3VvXQzKsF35eGHajFomQzAV_oiD_XvaC-T6lrPcjq5zP9_SiV7mbX2aGitv2l6POHEGvl0esxXpyX3jMLelLCxVn/s320/alululu.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5195476654165439538" border="0" /></a>Yes LuLu, that's right is does pick up the blue in your eye.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />A skein of Cotton Fleece. Terracotta. Just right to highlight some greens and turquoise that I have of the same yarn...<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpyeZCYyiYPMSkJRv8pdRAW25p2DU7yQg5kzfupdbhGtyy7G36WBTLdL1NwlsbzzSV9UbYfH9WsyCUyHJUa4zQ7y2WZLlfsBlx73VSZBeit_Kox8e4neaU8NEb4mN1Owa6mPHGh6oKwhk8/s1600-h/afleece.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpyeZCYyiYPMSkJRv8pdRAW25p2DU7yQg5kzfupdbhGtyy7G36WBTLdL1NwlsbzzSV9UbYfH9WsyCUyHJUa4zQ7y2WZLlfsBlx73VSZBeit_Kox8e4neaU8NEb4mN1Owa6mPHGh6oKwhk8/s200/afleece.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5195603596218840274" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgihk5ILJYr_wBLMYWPKbujM1PQS43gGVhb07y8S0waus60GZmX0Fw0WSRXFxpXTQIk9OaWsLqmTRKm0gcJciBLk2RKfHMtcaNmK5fKht1BVP-Ga8u_LtqgCZOYpnDr2vALz5O1AsVC8d8i/s1600-h/ajoy.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgihk5ILJYr_wBLMYWPKbujM1PQS43gGVhb07y8S0waus60GZmX0Fw0WSRXFxpXTQIk9OaWsLqmTRKm0gcJciBLk2RKfHMtcaNmK5fKht1BVP-Ga8u_LtqgCZOYpnDr2vALz5O1AsVC8d8i/s320/ajoy.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5195476039985116178" border="0" /></a>The variegated green yarn is called Joy, from Needful Yarn. It is pure Merino and looks like it will be good for felting. Actually it looks like it was made for felting.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />As we were paying for our finds, the young lady told us that <a href="http://www.goodbuyyarn.com/">GoodBuy</a> does a big yarn sale every Thursday in July and August at <a href="http://www.villageyarns.com/">Village Yarns.</a><br />I have a sneaking suspicion I know what Linda & I are going to be doing on the odd Thursday in the heat of the summer. We will drag new knitters on tight budgets and let them have a go at all this great stuff. Well, maybe we'll make sure to tell them to come about an hour after we get there....<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuLTrthUlFiI5Yo77fEQYEnHTPVUkdqUt0iih9YOlEWUXudNRKAKyBJH4bCxuvhH9CZfhqSAPjdEG5ZkEkzHF8U4zVYaoqMf9GvipypOBK-XrQAJzqEWeB1TqWFQXopJv_1YF9fs1eyAfa/s1600-h/ashetlandlabel.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuLTrthUlFiI5Yo77fEQYEnHTPVUkdqUt0iih9YOlEWUXudNRKAKyBJH4bCxuvhH9CZfhqSAPjdEG5ZkEkzHF8U4zVYaoqMf9GvipypOBK-XrQAJzqEWeB1TqWFQXopJv_1YF9fs1eyAfa/s320/ashetlandlabel.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5195477852461315218" border="0" /></a><br />This lovely heather fingering has been in my collection for too long. I have 10 skeins of it. I got them all for 10 dollars at a second hand store in Beacon Hill , Boston. 15 Years ago. Never knew what to do with it until I saw this:<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR8l1VxbZwYMjBfscSHGpwUGdIPrFRMx5We38958pkEQLKwMkm1f9mxqgxctT_dgxuP7zpoiY0MM8o3OdL6dnj9PclQ1HwS4anjz0JXpNxyraIUtd3QUxLFFP18FwwjR7Z_JcCYMZELteH/s1600-h/ashetland.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR8l1VxbZwYMjBfscSHGpwUGdIPrFRMx5We38958pkEQLKwMkm1f9mxqgxctT_dgxuP7zpoiY0MM8o3OdL6dnj9PclQ1HwS4anjz0JXpNxyraIUtd3QUxLFFP18FwwjR7Z_JcCYMZELteH/s320/ashetland.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5195477848166347906" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAaQuGzl4SM8TbHZasM3Rsjrzw1-p7IHZVOV-coTa0nPWCLZS73DE67fHWUi0-H2Uc2CoWL3MGWA1e6E2A_E8ZMFHG2LsrU9iA2AxMihz5qJGdNis-RIw_wD28o2kypHKbJVHFsSfenWna/s1600-h/ahetlandpurpbetr.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAaQuGzl4SM8TbHZasM3Rsjrzw1-p7IHZVOV-coTa0nPWCLZS73DE67fHWUi0-H2Uc2CoWL3MGWA1e6E2A_E8ZMFHG2LsrU9iA2AxMihz5qJGdNis-RIw_wD28o2kypHKbJVHFsSfenWna/s320/ahetlandpurpbetr.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5195476031395181554" border="0" /></a>And I think they are rather nice together.<br />Jamieson's Shetland Spindrift from<a href="http://www.camillavalleyfarm.com/"> Camilla Valley Farm</a>. Gee, looks like a nice place to take a drive to or better yet, bicycle to.... hmmm...<br />I have to get over my sweater-phobia one day and do a fair isle type garment. But I think some hats or mitts might be quite nice with this. Or a shawl.<br />Anyway now the purple yarn has some friends and it seems happy. I hope it doesn't have to wait another 15 years before it is knit up. I wonder how old it really is....<br /><br /><br />One final purchase (well there <span style="font-style: italic;">is</span> one more but I'm not ready to expose it yet).<br />A skein of good honest yarn, Cascade 220. Part of which was destined to become my first attempt at a Klein Bottle hat as taught by <a href="http://lacismuseum.org/debbie_new.html">Debbie New</a>.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYVTLR-iSQFXteCKHJQ4HSpMcYaa2QGCAKZ_PztNar_YvNesi4bn6kV-w7o2W8S-gYeIKJ9ITcz9RJQu9Cp11sQct_JRr_6dYHukgpFVBL9ChR8oqIYhnKgLd6rFpZ5f1l6KYG7RCvcguM/s1600-h/acascadecrop.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYVTLR-iSQFXteCKHJQ4HSpMcYaa2QGCAKZ_PztNar_YvNesi4bn6kV-w7o2W8S-gYeIKJ9ITcz9RJQu9Cp11sQct_JRr_6dYHukgpFVBL9ChR8oqIYhnKgLd6rFpZ5f1l6KYG7RCvcguM/s320/acascadecrop.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5195475279775904690" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMt0MtMW_vcd-waOvEBKTr6raBrJK3X71xviX8_BDIBcrDWIpS7uADnSR9fo6iFv43jJHt_jNJWI_eyowM3ZB9hslPAAIMiOHB6LiHo2ijzKHnTzZQEAgCCfPrYlecNJqEW7ewkjITAnNu/s1600-h/aklein.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMt0MtMW_vcd-waOvEBKTr6raBrJK3X71xviX8_BDIBcrDWIpS7uADnSR9fo6iFv43jJHt_jNJWI_eyowM3ZB9hslPAAIMiOHB6LiHo2ijzKHnTzZQEAgCCfPrYlecNJqEW7ewkjITAnNu/s320/aklein.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5195476048575050786" border="0" /></a>Which so far only looks like this<br />and is big enough to make a smashing egg warmer. Debbie New is on a different plane. Multi-dimensional.<br /><br /><br /><br />...What's that LuLu? You think I'm spending too much time out here playing with yarn instead of you? Yes, I suppose the clouds are rolling in, it does look like rain, doesn't it. Fine, we'll go in. Yes, I'll wait until you've finished nibbling your grass...<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm5QE8OzHVaXxVJXRYCJOtdziteuSdmigkJTwirq78wkPk9bHakKQe99TNyFYW2lhszpNb6QrWRFU1X9fae43IYoDU6ZpPVwXoYQgdIr2bTZRPx0MJR9NSoRvwThwmJlkv1FVKyqa2KvUg/s1600-h/acatbum.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm5QE8OzHVaXxVJXRYCJOtdziteuSdmigkJTwirq78wkPk9bHakKQe99TNyFYW2lhszpNb6QrWRFU1X9fae43IYoDU6ZpPVwXoYQgdIr2bTZRPx0MJR9NSoRvwThwmJlkv1FVKyqa2KvUg/s320/acatbum.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5195475288365839298" border="0" /></a><br />I'll admire my bouquet.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP0-3olnYlgRTBCJ1ZOS3cKTk_b4TYIRXPaSuiF8VkpaoRC8fcR0T31brcT0fCqimvaDXbP6a2eEiRacfaWwRyVEiLggsc_J4PDgU_A0tg9dsxT2Op0HkOtwIDhm4YsFI4U3ACvRvokAEK/s1600-h/aalltogether.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP0-3olnYlgRTBCJ1ZOS3cKTk_b4TYIRXPaSuiF8VkpaoRC8fcR0T31brcT0fCqimvaDXbP6a2eEiRacfaWwRyVEiLggsc_J4PDgU_A0tg9dsxT2Op0HkOtwIDhm4YsFI4U3ACvRvokAEK/s200/aalltogether.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5195624877781792002" border="0" /></a>knittin'bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06687603658554681361noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7970205852320855855.post-44180509442726161832008-04-29T13:14:00.009-04:002008-04-30T23:57:31.253-04:00Good Slipper!I feel a little Dorothy with these slippers.<br />Note how the sunlight glints off the faceted beads...<br />(Okay, in the<a href="http://www.loc.gov/exhibits/oz/"> books</a>, Dorothy's slippers were silver)<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYVyQjjji7w3ia9fyWU8_ikQN7g0M-YZYa3hA0MBP9jHQemH6dv5WtnFQ_GuN98fdP-Zf8Y0q6Ky0J4aGsJmQdxyMctP53t5KW49xgkZ9Jb-KsjafDrCug3jw81YHxBtqUMdh8wsXorDJ3/s1600-h/akutslipb.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYVyQjjji7w3ia9fyWU8_ikQN7g0M-YZYa3hA0MBP9jHQemH6dv5WtnFQ_GuN98fdP-Zf8Y0q6Ky0J4aGsJmQdxyMctP53t5KW49xgkZ9Jb-KsjafDrCug3jw81YHxBtqUMdh8wsXorDJ3/s320/akutslipb.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5194720452158534514" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Both pairs are constructed the same way. I think from the ankle opening down in garter stitch with increases across the front of the foot. <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-k-PXYKUmcidhvwlrObzuCqz6qIQYdmpJ1xlwIy300rD8Wa-FC9chjgSOvaa1UAppRF91eV4aqdkU-7upIIMgylo49gNc9ywcdYeDxYMUaKse3Etg6ALCsmyBxc62qBt_aCsXmQDYhW2k/s1600-h/turkslipkute.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-k-PXYKUmcidhvwlrObzuCqz6qIQYdmpJ1xlwIy300rD8Wa-FC9chjgSOvaa1UAppRF91eV4aqdkU-7upIIMgylo49gNc9ywcdYeDxYMUaKse3Etg6ALCsmyBxc62qBt_aCsXmQDYhW2k/s320/turkslipkute.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5194719717719126866" border="0" /></a>Then it looks like the sole is picked up along the center and turned up the back. <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNBinyoWR87gpHsbrCNPZHpAHDIm7kyB-dn5UYWTKNFqzM6rOe6COnd9wucHl55G1cGcY3IX8AVrWJbbc8W7RoTw7V3hr9_RH09ncx7Hbvt6s0SWEjHJTgYkZkq8Atn5hJRWDsfQf_Ce9u/s1600-h/akutslipa.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNBinyoWR87gpHsbrCNPZHpAHDIm7kyB-dn5UYWTKNFqzM6rOe6COnd9wucHl55G1cGcY3IX8AVrWJbbc8W7RoTw7V3hr9_RH09ncx7Hbvt6s0SWEjHJTgYkZkq8Atn5hJRWDsfQf_Ce9u/s320/akutslipa.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5194720443568599906" border="0" /></a>A little crocheted edging is added. Turkish ladies do like to have those finishing touches. I love 'em. Beaded Slippers!<br />Both these pair were given to me by <a href="http://ca.youtube.com/watch?v=j_k3BGyWfcU">Selma Sagbas</a> who is a wonderful singer of Turkish Classical Music (and who is Texas doing concerts as I write!). She got them in<a href="http://www.allaboutturkey.com/kutahya.htm"> Kutahya.</a><br />I made the mistake of admiring them when I visited her in Istanbul last fall. A mistake because when you praise something you'll often find it being given to you. When you try to refuse, it then becomes a point of honour on the part of the donor to make sure you leave with something worthy. Then things can get complicated, because you have to accept <span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">something</span>, and it can keep escalating. "What, you don't like these?? Well perhaps you'll like these! Oh, and how about this? Please you must take this also!" I have learned to try and express interest and appreciation without too much fanfare but every once in a while gasps or giggles escape and I have to accept something or risk either having to carry home a large piece of furniture or insulting my host.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtKadZpNQhIbUjsjBTPf_dG0AI7ho8oA6e5myZBRUY_8-OSNodvkS7OZLv20NUQWCpmdcPYap5g3jxJQDtTY2N1I2t4gdENK6mRbSqYJHWGJMMJWuRecQWJiHXXbs33eAOMhzNBeeE-Xo1/s1600-h/luluslipkut.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtKadZpNQhIbUjsjBTPf_dG0AI7ho8oA6e5myZBRUY_8-OSNodvkS7OZLv20NUQWCpmdcPYap5g3jxJQDtTY2N1I2t4gdENK6mRbSqYJHWGJMMJWuRecQWJiHXXbs33eAOMhzNBeeE-Xo1/s320/luluslipkut.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5194720456453501826" border="0" /></a><br />LuLu shares my delight in these slippers and wishes Selma joy, happiness and success with every step she takes.knittin'bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06687603658554681361noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7970205852320855855.post-73596403134724687182008-04-29T12:53:00.005-04:002008-04-29T13:14:11.519-04:00Bad slipper!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUHNgTzDiRXgbuoL1x70SKnZJU_pSgBrd3GZPzzVAyDLAP98aa6sb74fb0OjeqxCnnSHi5AFG77v4j9_w6biq9Mvc9cBI8uQg5zbRavRRizrK1Bnx4dBFLPXKFGu3s4z28MFjBwLjnqcPI/s1600-h/slipperslug.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUHNgTzDiRXgbuoL1x70SKnZJU_pSgBrd3GZPzzVAyDLAP98aa6sb74fb0OjeqxCnnSHi5AFG77v4j9_w6biq9Mvc9cBI8uQg5zbRavRRizrK1Bnx4dBFLPXKFGu3s4z28MFjBwLjnqcPI/s400/slipperslug.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5194712008252830450" border="0" /></a>Here is my Achilles' Heel.<br />Right now this slipper looks like a <a href="http://ca.youtube.com/watch?v=ZQYDkwGYqDk">slug</a> that crawled over a psychotropic fungi.<br />I did not think as I did this. I just did. And since I've been doing a lot of knitting in garter, I somehow forgot that plain knitting has more rows than stitches. Garter is more or less the same number of rows as stitches.<br />See that silly curl?<br />I could pretend that I wanted the slipper to have the Aladdin look.<br />However, it is not what I want. So these will be ripped back and re-heeled.<br />And I will be taking more stitches from the sides, a ratio of 3:4, as I knit up the heel back.knittin'bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06687603658554681361noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7970205852320855855.post-37886635106441632732008-04-27T18:42:00.002-04:002008-04-27T18:56:02.354-04:00The Swift & WinderIf I could open a bar for knitters, spinners & weavers, it would be called The Swift & Winder.<br />And there would be a wooden table with a good swift and winder set up.<br />No billiards.<br />Good lighting.<br />A bar that serves drinks of quality, with and without alcohol, and a kitchen which serves suitable fare.<br />No cigarettes. Knitting needles and bits of kit as necessary. Perhaps skeins of handspun behind the bar. Like a movable gallery. Or a mutable one. Maybe from time to time a skein that was taken away will come back as a piece of art. And treasured as such.knittin'bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06687603658554681361noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7970205852320855855.post-40539841873700623832008-04-26T23:28:00.005-04:002008-04-27T00:32:13.169-04:00The Much Better WayI think Linda and I are entitled to say that we really went on a<br />Stash Enhancement eXpedition eXtraordinaire.<br />At midnight last night the <a href="http://www.toronto.ca/ttc/index.htm">Toronto Transit Commission</a> went on strike. We were planning to take the TTC up and across town to the site of the <a href="http://www.downtownknitcollective.ca/dkc_frolic.html">Knitters' Frolic</a> today. We had enrolled in "educational" workshops, so we <span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">HAD</span> to go. A cab was out of the question. Way too much money would be spent on taxi fare that could be spent on lovely yarn. So we biked.<br />The weather favoured us, never raining even one forecasted drop. We had a bit of head wind coming home and I suppose knowing that we had to carry all our spoils on bikes might have resulted in some restraint on our parts. Well, Linda did pretty well as far as not getting toooooo much, can't say as I did. But the ride was pretty nice, easily 26 kms there and back, which is not a huge distance at all but there were some hills and for both of us this was probably the longest ride since the fall.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin5QXtc7tucdyYwdHrJzn5YG2mWitjj5vLyuKweuQLpdoQEnQA9ERJ1TPPN2Y6YT6LGZcNb7248hHpq-3IqWn8bp7ZW2LeLnvRDBe7eEm8Ra4Cz_ogea8jIhrWw-uutJG4hXnAxLHYp7Rl/s1600-h/king+fam+cross.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin5QXtc7tucdyYwdHrJzn5YG2mWitjj5vLyuKweuQLpdoQEnQA9ERJ1TPPN2Y6YT6LGZcNb7248hHpq-3IqWn8bp7ZW2LeLnvRDBe7eEm8Ra4Cz_ogea8jIhrWw-uutJG4hXnAxLHYp7Rl/s400/king+fam+cross.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5193772136264479458" border="0" /></a><br />We did a short cut/detour through the <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Mount-Pleasant-Cemetery-Illustrated-Expanded/dp/1550023225">Mount Pleasant Cemetery</a>, stopping to say hello to some of Linda's <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hiiumaa">relatives</a> and<a href="http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/king/index-e.html"> William Lyon Mackenzie King</a>.<br />Taking advantage of the TTC strike, we rode on along the raised street car tracks on St.Clair. It was like a deluxe bike lane. With our lovely new yarns stuffed into bags and strapped to our bikes it was really the Much Better Way.knittin'bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06687603658554681361noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7970205852320855855.post-81230180385980563402008-04-25T23:28:00.004-04:002008-04-27T00:15:12.202-04:00Mr. Edison's EarGot to see a couple of films at the Hot Docs festival today. All of them left an impression. I think documentaries tend to do that. One of the short films was particularly poignant for me. Mr. Edison's Ear was a collage of largely archival footage which somehow managed to convey Edison as a complex being and underscore the impact of emerging technologies at the same time. Technologies that have shaped our lives and world, that seek to capture such essential ephemera as sound and motion. And it did so poetically. The filmmaker, <a href="http://hotdocsaudience.bside.com/2008/films/mredisonsear_hotdocs2008">Francisca Duran</a>, chose a really unsettling sequence to close the film, the execution by electrocution of Topsy a 'dangerous' elephant in 1903. In the Q&A after the screening she explained that Edison chose that event to document because he was trying to prove the superiority of DC current and elephants are big animals. It was dramatic. She chose it because she felt it carried a lot of layers of meaning and one of the main ones was "at what cost all this technology?".knittin'bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06687603658554681361noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7970205852320855855.post-30194249209470743272008-04-24T09:25:00.002-04:002008-04-24T09:59:32.069-04:00Slip-dashFour little slippers from the Aegean coast of Turkey.<br /><br />I got them over a period of many years, starting in 1989!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQvPb0gg-b8DTis7YjQ6ZDmAVN3H6PEHOw2sA4JtByD_qiBUqOx4wZDNYKO1eifrf72YoOHJ9ioa8C-Jydbl5Ra69r7FS8Wgb-vqnNaijXmiG1iBXwNQh-0KVkLeMb5R4cm2JeY_DHlFgS/s1600-h/turkslip1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQvPb0gg-b8DTis7YjQ6ZDmAVN3H6PEHOw2sA4JtByD_qiBUqOx4wZDNYKO1eifrf72YoOHJ9ioa8C-Jydbl5Ra69r7FS8Wgb-vqnNaijXmiG1iBXwNQh-0KVkLeMb5R4cm2JeY_DHlFgS/s320/turkslip1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5192803668383871634" border="0" /></a><br />They all use the same basic construction from toe up. The toe cast on is quite wide and creates a rounder toe than the Sivas socks and slippers. All the detail is at the toe and ball of foot. When divided for the foot opening, the knitters switch to garter stitch. <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrxXcZ_rwit_Mceq9DbcdEg0UI5QKLMuIPvgbY2TP2g9kO1DHl70MvkEypX3go-wD8l_AIxk3TQR_Td9FbO2wTdjqCZ9BZ1gudLwMFq-YhgCc0uUHlygc8vBT1voWRxby0kkd7YYGhzqaK/s1600-h/turkslip2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrxXcZ_rwit_Mceq9DbcdEg0UI5QKLMuIPvgbY2TP2g9kO1DHl70MvkEypX3go-wD8l_AIxk3TQR_Td9FbO2wTdjqCZ9BZ1gudLwMFq-YhgCc0uUHlygc8vBT1voWRxby0kkd7YYGhzqaK/s320/turkslip2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5192803685563740834" border="0" /></a>A simple heel is turned. You can see that they are not very durable. The relatively loose gauge makes them soft. <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwtaS-amaeuBV14qcADMuWZtOpt57BRZFpm40E9BD4a1Q-14Wa2BLTYgefgrvknublyx2Q-uJZZUhM7-5x1L51VSxl337DmGJPa71h39kc23M1UwXb8-20hshafENElmhe-sIE-BsEs_8d/s1600-h/turkslip3.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwtaS-amaeuBV14qcADMuWZtOpt57BRZFpm40E9BD4a1Q-14Wa2BLTYgefgrvknublyx2Q-uJZZUhM7-5x1L51VSxl337DmGJPa71h39kc23M1UwXb8-20hshafENElmhe-sIE-BsEs_8d/s320/turkslip3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5192803698448642738" border="0" /></a>The white yarn is usually a homespun while the coloured yarns are anything, often commercially made and often acrylic. The gauge is around 6 stitches to the inch, depending on the slipper. <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn33tTqg8kYZgryCYqzuwLqPnBTLtXLK1iM8NMoLWt6k6dFvrhnUoWIB_ZNusDjtKNcygexGzkECDBy2E2PY3E8eD2LQYrsJW9WMpjaLs7n-o629Uo8X_QvxoMP_TXR1gAIJanCD5FIt3X/s1600-h/turkslipege1a.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn33tTqg8kYZgryCYqzuwLqPnBTLtXLK1iM8NMoLWt6k6dFvrhnUoWIB_ZNusDjtKNcygexGzkECDBy2E2PY3E8eD2LQYrsJW9WMpjaLs7n-o629Uo8X_QvxoMP_TXR1gAIJanCD5FIt3X/s320/turkslipege1a.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5192803711333544642" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPmlGxkJmm7EKIQBZFHvmx2fN8Csf4W1guieXoTjMFd7cgfLJrmJOc5P00f3Prd24cZT9Dt25HPkmOJnAsJYyZ1koF2GUoik7SxEaVyVvPPKSzflVuuH18mqtgBKasyApgW1KsMy1tK2L_/s1600-h/turkslipege1c.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPmlGxkJmm7EKIQBZFHvmx2fN8Csf4W1guieXoTjMFd7cgfLJrmJOc5P00f3Prd24cZT9Dt25HPkmOJnAsJYyZ1koF2GUoik7SxEaVyVvPPKSzflVuuH18mqtgBKasyApgW1KsMy1tK2L_/s320/turkslipege1c.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5192803724218446546" border="0" /></a>A nice way to use up bits of yarn?<br /><br />Must dash.knittin'bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06687603658554681361noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7970205852320855855.post-37714213601498460692008-04-23T12:26:00.004-04:002008-04-23T15:25:08.057-04:00Flippin' hems<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9C1hfmGPLDgVEdEyQD1A4IdVHVff10LXx2bLQYMEy9a092tJJAyfvgnseKu8Ic2lT1s8qUIFR1ey2fiOGVzGeivb6zXlimSjNiQTsdkSA1WfEjGtqMECgKSw7fI31Wptatddl7AQPz43-/s1600-h/babycardigrnhem.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9C1hfmGPLDgVEdEyQD1A4IdVHVff10LXx2bLQYMEy9a092tJJAyfvgnseKu8Ic2lT1s8qUIFR1ey2fiOGVzGeivb6zXlimSjNiQTsdkSA1WfEjGtqMECgKSw7fI31Wptatddl7AQPz43-/s400/babycardigrnhem.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5192509634922787410" border="0" /></a>I hope three times is the charm, because I am making two Debbie Bliss Classic Baby Cardigans for my wee nieces JoJo & Clara in Potsdam and I hope that what I learn from the first one will make the second one go faster. It's the hem. I didn't really like the way it looked in garter stitch which is what the pattern calls for. So I ripped it up and did a turned hem.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUlkWsqEP3IwgzTQzGE0eOJFwMF0nYB51ln8eAGlVCLn9TqmZzy3-HyU52PEo9suoxKU5_G7W4yFOvA5AzghE4X5DPlOL4e_GNCNPHoxKx18YSm_0gOLI0auqIjo2PNHb5KmxIdHvUwpfo/s1600-h/babycardihemhem.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUlkWsqEP3IwgzTQzGE0eOJFwMF0nYB51ln8eAGlVCLn9TqmZzy3-HyU52PEo9suoxKU5_G7W4yFOvA5AzghE4X5DPlOL4e_GNCNPHoxKx18YSm_0gOLI0auqIjo2PNHb5KmxIdHvUwpfo/s200/babycardihemhem.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5192509338570043970" border="0" /></a><br />I am not happy with this. It flips.<br />I used smaller needles.<br />I did a nice purl row to define the hem.<br />I thought I carefully counted the rows before knitting the hem to the body.<br />I did something wrong.<br />And you know how suddenly you notice something and -boom- it's everywhere. So it is with this hem. <a href="http://www.knittingdaily.com/posts/edgings_insertions/403-1.html">Knitting Daily</a> did a posting on the turned hem. If only it had come out before I cast on. I am going to CUT just above the hem and knit a new one down. I just want to finish the rest of the sweater so I don't run out of the green in an unfortunate spot.<br /><br />Oh well.<br /><br />This is what I have learned.<br />1) Do a swatch. Dr. Knit (Denise Powell from <a href="http://www.downtownknitcollective.ca/">DKC</a>) gently pointed out that this would have saved me a great deal of time. She also suggested casting on 5% fewer stitches to allow for the thickness of the fabric. Thank you, Denise for not laughing at me.<br />2)Use a provisional cast on. I can pick up stitches from a cast on edge with little or no hassle so it did not occur to me to do otherwise. It might have helped.<br />3) Think!!!knittin'bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06687603658554681361noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7970205852320855855.post-55155759968303465132008-04-22T12:06:00.001-04:002008-04-23T10:47:34.803-04:00Manufacturing LandscapesThe<a href="http://www.hotdocs.ca/"> Hot Docs</a> film festival in underway. I think if the weather were rainier I'd be more inclined to see movies in the middle of the day. Today would be the perfect afternoon to while away in a theatre, overcast as it is.<br /><br />Last Sunday I took the Boyfriend to see <a href="http://www.mongrelmedia.com/films/ManufacturedLandscapes.html">Manufactured Landscapes</a>, a film about the work of photographer Ed Burtynsky as he travels to China to capture what he sees. The scale of human endeavour is staggering, as are the implications to human spirit and the environment. There is a sequence in the film where the camera focuses on a woman as she assembles switching boxes by hand. All the parts are pre-made, plastic, metal and what not. Her hands just fly, she says she assembles about 400 a day. Assembled by hand. Is it hand-made? What is the difference between what she does and what we do, with stitches and knots over and over again? Intention, largely. But it left me feeling both extremely fortunate that I can more or less decide what I make and when, and sad that so much of the world, so many humans are locked into a series of repetitious and unrewarding tasks. I wonder if the lady who assembles switches (or the one who wraps wire around a joint, or tests nozzles endlessly) allows her mind to wander. Do songs find her and sing themselves in her head?<br /><br />How many hands made all the parts and pieces that make up my computer, and the electrical & telecommunications systems that supplies it. Staggering.<br /><br />Almost as an antidote (and consumerism is a dangerous drug), I bought some <a href="http://yarndex.com/yarn_by_man.cfm?info_id=48">Cestari </a>yarn. "Manufacured Exclusively by the sheep and shepherds of Chester Farms". It smells like lanolin.knittin'bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06687603658554681361noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7970205852320855855.post-37625417569640255982008-04-22T10:44:00.004-04:002008-04-22T14:55:02.186-04:00Foiled Photos!One beautiful day after another. Lots of knitting in hand and on because it's cooling off at night.<br />Last week I went to visit my new nephew's Mama (today's complicated parental relationships produce equally complex nomenclature for all involved). A beautiful day, like today, and we were going to sit out in Christa's yard and I was going to get her started on knitting. I filled a bag up with various bits of this and that, some acrylic, some wool, some merino & silk, and a selection of old needles so that if Christa's two-year old goes on a rampage of destruction, at least she will just bend up some metal as opposed to snapping wood. I put in my newly finished sweater for my wee nephew Austin, the ends finally darned in. I didn't take a picture of it because I tossed my camera into the bag, too, thinking that with the lovely sunshine AND with my little nephew as model, I'd have a delightful photo op.<br /><br />When I got there, my wee nephew and his older sister were sporting sweaters that I had made for my older nephew Lokesh. His Mama Anne (today's complicated parental relationships continue to produce equally complex nomenclature for all involved) had generously passed them on to Christa for her little ones. You don't how happy it makes a knitter feel to see a child's sweater passed along. A lot of work goes into them, and you just KNOW that the child is going to grow out of it sooner rather than later so to see the garments move through family and friends is a special kind of joy. Rather like planting a tree. (Happy Earth Day, by the way).<br /><br />We got settled in the yard and I pulled out my camera.<br />The batteries were dead.<br />Sigh.<br /><br />Well, there will be other sunny days and the weather is such that the kids will be in sweaters.<br /><br />Later that evening, at the <a href="http://www.downtownknitcollective.ca/">DKC </a>meeting<br />(<a href="http://www.veronikavery.com/blog/">Veronik Avery</a> graced us with her presence - what a fine, fine knitter, designer & artist!)<br />when sitting with Linda & Reet and chatting about what was on our needles,<br />I had my lovely baby cardigans started for the wee nieces in Germany,<br />when Suzanne turned, looked baffled, and wordlessly communicated,<br />"Knitting for babies? but they just grow out of it!"<br />I was able to effuse about the wonders of seeing the little sweaters all over again,<br />scooting around in the grass,<br />dozing in the sun,<br />playing in the park.<br />With the little people in them of course!knittin'bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06687603658554681361noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7970205852320855855.post-17738046813264792862008-04-06T23:27:00.005-04:002008-04-06T23:49:11.748-04:00When all else fails - felt?<span style="text-decoration: underline;"></span>Far from perfect. No where near art. Craft barely applies.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimLgrdDy_bXApDzPxtoC9JqpD-XilUWjAUSkLLTJSIoTd9Bufp2hyphenhyphenX4ZdbMozDsh4b9JfKjqam-938BUo1QsBRnsatAIcXTty-BwJQOws5s7yLQnbusb7d9GsyKkmqZotbsAmwRCw5e3NJ/s1600-h/spensivefelt2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimLgrdDy_bXApDzPxtoC9JqpD-XilUWjAUSkLLTJSIoTd9Bufp2hyphenhyphenX4ZdbMozDsh4b9JfKjqam-938BUo1QsBRnsatAIcXTty-BwJQOws5s7yLQnbusb7d9GsyKkmqZotbsAmwRCw5e3NJ/s200/spensivefelt2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5186340596505809074" border="0" /></a> Yet they are functional.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmaEpSz_-Cq4xEkpUqq4Q6X9J9795gEwPiTHFpd_fPFd9F7uZ0LS3czZvJ05HrI5tG9Z-VCNbLh47kdowvrKRjVMtcr70jG3BIzaPQuL8S4dddQIeX4FLARYMsCfrvb36AZBWhbzcwAaks/s1600-h/spensive+felt1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmaEpSz_-Cq4xEkpUqq4Q6X9J9795gEwPiTHFpd_fPFd9F7uZ0LS3czZvJ05HrI5tG9Z-VCNbLh47kdowvrKRjVMtcr70jG3BIzaPQuL8S4dddQIeX4FLARYMsCfrvb36AZBWhbzcwAaks/s200/spensive+felt1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5186340592210841762" border="0" /></a>ExpenSive Felted $lipper$ !!<br />Shrunk about 30 % in the washer. No dryer - that would have resulted in slippers for the Boyfriend's niece and the colours are no longer bright enough for that. A good lesson in humility. Second pair of slippers, ala turka, from the much maligned Fleece Artist Country Mohair just need finishing touches. Hereby launch this week as knitting finishing touches week.<br /><br />Bit too much Viognier at dinner (but nice work if you can get it!)<br />(erm I mean wine) (and I don't usually get too enthusiastic about white).<br /><br />Had a wonderful thought walk in the woods up on the <a href="http://www.escarpment.org/">Niagara E</a><a href="http://www.escarpment.org/">scarpment</a>. Much melting snow causing chilly swamps but life bursting all over. Waterfalls to set the soul to singing. Little bits of brave green soaking up the warm April sun. Gorgeous ruddy fungi. And closer to home the willows around Grenadier Pond are that harbinger yellow. Spring!<br /><br />Didn't bring my camera so must rely on Boyfriend getting around to downloading his snaps. I will not hold my breath. Neither should you. Breath deep. The frozen earth is releasing the seeds of promise.knittin'bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06687603658554681361noreply@blogger.com0