October 29, 2004
Our Favorite Day . . .
. . . and our favorite holiday just around the corner, too! Let's get our knitting content out of the way, then have links-o-rama and pups!
Knitting Content
WHEN I SAW WHAT THE CROC DID TO MY ARM I THOUGHT OW I'LL NEVER KNIT AGAIN
Knitting Content concluded!
Okay!
Now, and all from the excellent Metafilter:
How To Carve a Pumpkin Like a Pro!
Carve a Pumpkin and then Light it!
Carve and then e-mail to a Pal!
Pups
It's our favorite halloweiner dog, Mikey!
Ho! and Boo! Happy Friday, and have a wonderful weekend! Keep your Hallowig away from candles, right? See you Monday!
October 28, 2004
Splash-Fizz
Sister's Splash-Fizz in #7179-7128 plus this pattern:
Wonderful Idea
Recycled sari silk plied with silk thread, from eBay seller rustrees:
Mood Dachshund
Ruff. Happy Thursday; happy knitting!
October 27, 2004
Squiggle-Fizz
Ever so often, maybe once or twice a year, I want my knitting to be nearly instantly gratifying. With two hours, US15s, and two balls of this grassy-looking yarn:
Plus this free pattern, we have a nearly instant scarf for Sister!
I never wear scarves, so I feel quite lucky to have a sister who wears them all the time. Our recycled glass Pier One head models until Laura can come and get it.
This pup-filled photo is for Latifa:
Yep! I was thinking of calling Laura's new scarf The Astroturflette, but seeing Jack and Apple and Dyna in the green October grass, I think I'll call it the Memories of a Rainy Summer scarf. Won't it be a day-brightener when it is chilly and gray and brown here someday?
Cheers, and happy knitting!
October 26, 2004
Return to Ruffles
It's crunch time at school this week, so my posts will be a bit light on meaningful content until Thursday or so—what a departure from the usual, right? :-)
Monday night is Mystery Monday on BBC America, and this month has been all John Hanna. Yay John Hanna! I mention this because I picked up Laura's curly angora scarf and knit, knit, knit without looking more than once or twice while watching "Amnesia." What a nice change from watching my tapestry crochet! That is the only drawback to tapestry crochet, I think. You have to look at it all the time.
I like this scarf pattern from Scarf Style; it's easy as pie (Pie. Mmmm.) but what an effect—it looks difficult, doesn't it? It's going to be fabulous on my sister.
Pups
Mike, Jack, and Della had their cousins over for a play date Monday evening, and what fun it is to watch Laura's pups romp all over everything and everybody, furry and otherwise. Little Jack just sits and wags his tail while he watches Dyna and Apple race around the yard.
All-righty!
Happy Tuesday!
October 25, 2004
Pretty Little Purse
I finished my version of an Ostrobothnian tapestry crochet purse, and I'm quite pleased with it! It was hard to remain on gauge, but thanks to very helpful comments from Kim and Elaine and Cyndilou, I can change colors left and right!
Well. It's not really gigantic. I guess I could provide some scale. Here's my purse with the contents of my pocket ($2.01, debit card, stitch holder):
Red was the most popular color for these small bags from the mid-19th century, and they had both utilitarian and symbolic uses, according to the authors of Decorative Crocheting (ISBN:9519688846). Because the little purses were used only at celebrations and important events, the examples on display in museums in Finland are in excellent condition.
These little bags were symbols of style, of wealth, of status, and sometimes of relationships—especially between brides and grooms. I wish I had thought to add a date to mine, as many of the originals possess. Mine is made from fingering weight wool, using a size "E" crochet hook. I don't really understand crochet hook sizing, so feel free to enlighten me with metric sizes :-)
And here are a couple of modern Finnish examples. Aren't they splendid?
Tapestry crochet is a nice skill to have, and I'm pleased with my little drawstring bag. One thing about needleart crafts that I love is the connection I feel to the many hands and hearts from many cultures working to create functional and sometimes beautiful items for loved ones. I always feel I'm spanning a fibery bridge to the past; time-traveling with my needle! Are there any other hobbies that evoke such a feeling of kinship to women and men from the past? It's a tiny contribution on my part, but I like thinking that the circle remains unbroken. I also think Färg och flärd med virkat—Koreaa virkkaamalla—Decorative crocheting is a wonderful little book. Mine came from Deb at Nordic Fiber Arts.
Pups
The pups had a busy weekend as per usual.
Little Jack was especially vigilant about keeping up with his beauty sleep. We hope you had plenty of beauty sleep, and that Monday is kind to you. Cheers, and happy knitting (or crocheting)!
October 22, 2004
Fibery Friday
Little Jack sez have a howlin' good Friday and a wonderful weekend!
October 21, 2004
Blipping
You know what is cool about crochet? When you make a mistake, you can rip it out without a lot of bother. It's not at all like ripping knitting, so I think of it as blipping. You pull the working thread and blip! blip! blip! blip! you are back to the point where you made the mistake! The chain-like nature of the work really lends itself to being blipped, I must say, and I've had a lot of practice blipping back. I'm working on a little purse from Decorative Crocheting, and while I've got changing colors down pretty well now, accidental increases and decreases are still a challenging part of tapestry crochet.
The pups are curious about the crochet, because they can tell there is only one small hook at work rather than two slightly dangerous looking pointy things. The only thing more challenging than accidental increases and decreases is trying to make even stitches while three dachshunds try to help :-)
Jack is feeling a lot better today; he had an infection that was getting him down, but he's back on top again.
We hope you are on top of your world today! Happy Thursday, and happy knitting!
October 20, 2004
Just a Note
Hiho, we are running like mad here. It's a school day and a work day and Little Jack is feeling a Little Under the Weather. He's been to the vet, though, and he'll be fine. We're just stopping by to wish you a wonderful Wednesday!
Happy day, and happy knitting!
October 19, 2004
You're Too Kind (and we appreciate it)
Hey! You are a sweet knit-blog audience! Thank you for the tips, links, and encouragement you left in the comments on Monday. I'm emboldened to make one of those fancy little bags next before embarking on the mittens. Tapestry crochet has so many possibilities...very intriguing. I'll be following (to the best of my limited crochet ability) the pattern in the Decorative Crocheting book that I've been raving about for nearly a week now. If you look at The Urban Spinner's blog entry of 21 September, you'll see a gorgeous little purse. Gorgeous! Crocheted! Who knew?
Surprised!
I had the loveliest surprise in the mail Monday afternoon! I love packages! I especially love suprise packages! This package had a two-ounce, 2-ply hank of pure unadulterated Cormo inside, as well as a photo of that charming Calendar Girl Bunny, and boy! Was I surprised! Thank you, Miss Peaches and thank you, Miss Peaches' person! I've never knit with Cormo before; it's so soft! and there's a perfect amount for a pair of softy-soft gloves. Rescue Rabbits Rule!
Why Didn't We Think of This?
Booga Bag and Fuzzy Feet felters! Cynthia the Art Links Goddess of my universe has found something completely indispensible for you. Mille grazi, Cynthia!
Pups
Action Della goes and goes. It's hot here again, so we'll have another series of pups-with-tongues-hanging-out photos. Are we lucky or what?
Happy Tuesday! Today is my nephew's birthday, so I can give him the secret birthday knitting! Happy day, happy knitting!
October 18, 2004
Tapestry Crochet
Ordinarily, I wouldn't show you a really ugly bit of needlework that I had created. But this time, since I was blathering on and on about tapestry crochet last week, I thought I'd share. I'd like to be able to make a Korsnäs sweater from Decorative Crochet, or at least the fabulous red mittens in the book. This weekend I mostly followed the directions in the book Tapestry Crochet, and here is the ugly result blocking on a bottle of water. The instructions are very good, by the way. I just couldn't execute them well.
Those blobby things on top of the triangles are supposed to be llamas, but I didn't understand exactly when I was supposed to change the colors (it's different than knitting), so instead the blobby things look rather like mutant rhinos. Humbling! But, I now know how to do the thing, and how to decrease and increase and shape and work upwards in a sculptural manner. It was a great exercise, even if I was doing it badly :-)
I found it a difficult technique, and I think that tapestry crochet must require a different set of muscles than knitting. My hands were very sore! Also, I had to look at it constantly so that I could carry the not-in-use wool correctly. I almost never look at my knitting anymore except to admire it ;-) so that aspect of tapestry crochet was hard. Maybe if I practice more and more, I'll be able to do it without looking. Staying on gauge, and not accidentally decreasing or increasing on a round was hard. But! I got through it, and I feel as if I could make some Korsnäs mittens now. I think it's worth the difficulty in learning how-to because it is a very interesting technique and a very clever way to add decorative elements to a garment without having floats.
I think that Mihoko-san has tried this method, and also visited the museum in Finland. You can see her work here toward the bottom of the page, and it's beautiful! I was much more ashamed of my initial tapestry crochet attempt after seeing Mihoko-san's cuff! If you look at her lace page, you'll absolutely swoon over her crocheted lace sweater and gloves. Crocheted medallions, lacy bits—really gorgeous work!
Pups
Once again, the little whiners are not ready for it to be Monday. Oh wait, that's me whining, not them. The pups always have their sunny side up.
Monday. Keep your sunny side up!
October 15, 2004
Quick Yellow Fox, Busy Dachshund
Hiho, it's Friday and we are too busy to blog :-) I had planned to spend most of Thursday evening being able to sit and knit but you know how plans are led astray, even the best-laid.
Updates:
—Finished the giant knitted purple birthday present things!
—Worked on Laura's "ruffles" scarf!
—Decided to participate in three knit-alongs concurrently!
—Practiced tapestry crochet with black wool and nearly went blind!
Pups
Everyone is fine, and the weather has been fine. That encourages some dachshunds to race around all over the yard and bark at every falling leaf. Della has been fox hunting this week:
We bet you are glad you are a knitter, rather than a plushy squeaky fox toy! Have a terrific Friday, and enjoy your weekend.
October 14, 2004
Off on a Tangent
We're off on a tapestry crochet tangent while I finish up my secret knitting. You know? I much prefer Wendy's phrase: stealth knitting. Somehow it sounds more elegant.
But back to our tangent. I'm more fascinated than ever after spending a bit more time perusing Decorative Crocheting. Who thought that stuff up? So far, I don't know. It can't have originated simultaneously in Finland and Guatemala, could it? It is an old craft, though.
Wednesday is a long day, because there is so much to squeeze into it—work, school, pups, and then all the stuff I usually forgot to do Tuesday. So on Thursday, we like to have a little eye candy. We're in luck on this particular tangent, because there are several pages of very wonderful tapestry crochet out there. Here you go!
Claudia's Elaine Benfatto's beautiful examples are inspiring. Is there anything that woman can't do? [15 Oct 2004—I don't know why I thought the Urban Spinner was named Claudia . . . my apologies to Elaine, and my thanks to Amber for catching this bungle.]
Dr. Carol Ventura wrote a Tapestry Crochet book (ISBN 0932394159) in 1991 that is very good for explanations. Her website includes instructions and photos for a small tapestry crochet bag and a tapestry crochet vase. Sculptural! In 2003, More Tapestry Crochet (ISBN 0972125302) was published, and if you select this page, you'll see the nice clear photos of the second book's projects. Definitely worth a look. I just gotta get with the multi-talented Cyndilou this Sunday for a tutorial! By the way, Tuesday was her birthday, go make with the birthday wishes!
Back to the tangent-mobile! One more tapestry crochet page; this one details tapestry crochet rugs, crocheted from fabric. These are not the same as crocheted rag rugs; these are much more interesting.
Tapestry crochet is lovely and intriguing. I'm eager to give it a whirl. I'm glad that nowadays, knitters and crocheters are such congenial hobbyists and share knowledge to the degree that they do. Remember the old knit lists, in which people were snobbish to a ludicrous degree and not only despised acrylic yarn (which they spelled ACKrylic), they wouldn't even spell crochet? If the word had to be used, it was spelled like this: cr*ch*t. Hee! Silly knitters! I wonder if crochet lists used to bash knitting? or kn*tt*ng!
Thursday sometimes works out to be a great day to squeeze some knitting in—I hope that's the case for all of us! Have a happy one!
Q: What do you call a dog that hears voices?
A: A Shih-Tzu-Phrenic!
October 13, 2004
Färg och flärd med virkat
Decorative Crocheting (ISBN 951-96888-4-6) is easier to obtain now that Nordic Fiber Arts is importing it, and my copy arrived on Saturday. The book is written in Swedish and English and Finnish, and is 72 pages of traditional Korsnäs sweaters that are simply breathtaking.
Korsnäs is on the western side of Finland, and the people speak Swedish. The sweaters, created by both knitting and crocheting, are unique to any I've ever seen. Here is a photo of the book's cover from the publisher's website:
These types of embellished sweaters have a long history; they were designed so that the wearer would be noticed and recognized as a wealthy and much-loved person. The Korsnäs sweaters at the Ostrobothnian Local Museum's textile collection are the inspiration for these amazing sweaters. The book gives instructions for tapestry crochet, then how to make a Korsnäs sweater, then launches knitters into several sweater designs with dancing girls and flowers. Also included are instructions for tapestry-crocheted mittens (yeah baby!), colorful crocheted small traditional purses, crochet fringe, and wrist bands. I think it's a lovely book, and exactly the type that will be hard to find in a few years. If you are interested in tapestry crochet, or tapestry crochet combined with knitting, I'm very happy to recommend it to you.
I looked around for some modern examples of this almost indescribable sweater-art, and found a place that makes Korsnäs-type knitted and crocheted everything! Select "Collection," then click on the photos for the details in the sweaters, mittens, socks, and hats at this wonderful place. Enjoy!
Pups
Tuesday night is a school night so the pups have to go to bed early. But while the sun is out, they are really enjoying some cooler Texas weather! We hope you are enjoying lovely weather wherever you are.
If your weather isn't great, we highly recommend going over to Terri's and viewing her incredible vacation photos. They really are beautiful, and if you view them in slideshow mode, you'll feel like you're right there with the Big Fella and Terri!
Little Jack reminds you to keep moving! It's Wednesday!
October 12, 2004
Rollin' Rollin' Rollin'
There is still a bit of secret knitting left to do, so no photos of said secret knitting again today. I can show you my Poetry in Stitches kit that arrived Saturday, though. Now I'm ready for Ginny's Poetry-along! Yay Ginny! And, Yay Carrie! The wig is perfectly awesome!
Isn't it a pip! I'm happy to have it.
Yes, we have no current knitting photos. We do have a few questions to answer, so let's begin, shall we?
Kylie asks about the Elizabeth Lavold Angora blend. I'm three balls into the "Ruffles" scarf and have encountered one knot, but that's my only complaint. It's soft, not too fuzzy, and the color doesn't bleed onto my needles or hands. By the way, please go visit Kylie's blog and see the amazing crochet that Australian Penny O'Neill has created.
Cynthia, a dachshund enthusiast and therefore one of our new dearest friends, asks about machine-stitching a crochet steek for security. In my experience, it's completely unnecessary—that crocheted steek is going nowhere! Any other crochet steek stories out there that might help Cynthia? Please leave your steek tales in the comments—we thank you!
Bug News
Did you ever??? It's a phasmid, more commonly known to everyone but me as the Walking Stick. This curious beauty was outside my back door Monday morning. Finding a giant monster science fiction bug outside your door is always a splendid way to begin the new week. We consulted Sister, our personal bug expert, and then, longing for more information, we hunted around until we found Bug Biographies. Read all about it!
Pups
The little furry dears had their energetic cousins over for a visit; it's so much fun to have a sister and a nephew who have two wacky little dogs! Watching five dogs running around like furry maniacs is pretty funny, and anything that is pretty funny helps us out on Mondays.
It's Tuesday! Mikey says "Keep them doggies movin' RAWHIDE!"
(thanks, Kerry!)
October 11, 2004
What, Already?
We're doing some secret birthday knitting here in addition to Laura's scarves, and we also have two knit-alongs coming up fast! How can we cram more knitting and more hours into our days? The laws of physics are against us. But we could knit faster. Improbable, but not impossible: read the The UK Mail and Guardian Online story on the woman who can knit 255 stitches in three minutes.
We hope your weekend was fine and that you got to learn something new. More photos and a longer entry on Tuesday. For now we leave you with the cutest Della in the universe:
Happy Monday! Take deep breaths!
October 08, 2004
Pleasants
When my son was little, he called gifts 'pleasants' instead of 'presents'. I was reminded of the long-ago with him Thursday, because there were many pleasants!
While I wasn't feeling so hot during the day, I was able to rally for the 15% Off Everything! sale at the LYS. Yep. A practically miraculous recovery. I picked up Susan after work, and we headed downtown to stake our claim to future knitting projects. While there, Cyndilou came in, bringing her luscious work-in-progress, her birthday cake. And then Karen arrived, and in getting to see these three, I didn't feel so bad about missing the SnB Tuesday night after all.
Here's Karen and Susan, the smartest and most interesting twins ever:
And here is some of my plunder:
I don't wear scarves, but I'm crazy about that book Scarf Style by Pam Allen! I am lucky to have a sister who will wear nearly anything I knit, and so I get to indulge myself in novelty stuff that I ordinarily wouldn't even think about knitting. It's nice to have a change. I have been happily surprised lately when I get home and find "Fizz," "Splash," "Squiggle," etc., in my shopping bag. I'm glad to have a sister to knit for! Am I lucky or what? Also lucky, for all knitters, is Straw.com's index of free patterns for frivolous yarn!
Crochet
I also indulged myself with a little Habu crochet kit; I'm planning to have Cyndilou, Crochet Maven, teach me enough to do this very cool Habu scarf. Finished, it will be very near to wearable art. And yet more on crochet . . . Cynthia, the hardest-working art-blogger ever, found this and I pass it along: The Museum of Crochet. I really don't know how I got through the days before finding Art for Housewives. I could happily spend hours at that site every day!
Pups
Being furry and happy. They know it is nearly the end of the week, and it's time to start ambling toward the weekend. Plus, the mailperson has been bringing lots of packages this week, and that always makes the dachshund cup of joy run over. Mailpersons are a particularly toothsome dachshund delicacy.
Q: Why did the dachshund bite the mailman's ankle?
A: It was as high as she could reach.
Happy knitting, and happy Thursday!
October 07, 2004
My!
I have knit-blog readers who are wonderful conversationalists! Thanks to all who commented so thoughtfully. Sometimes I read a blog in which the author states that she/he is writing only for herself. I have to admit I write for your comments now. What a nice exchange—thanks! Yesterday was a real jackpot! I should blog more often when I'm feeling lousy!
ka-CHooo.
Knitting
Laura's scarf is about a foot long now, and it's time to add in a new ball of the Elisabeth Lavold "Angora." As you know from reading this blog, I'm a spit-splicer. But I feel quite squeamish about spit-splicing angora. I keep imagining rabbit hair on my tongue.
(Ew. Ack. Gack. Please excuse my highly-sensitive gag reflex.)
I meant to ask Nanette about alternate methods of splicing angora, but in my ragweed-daze, I forgot. Maybe she'll read this. Or maybe you know? If no one speaks up, I'll have to tie the new ball in with a KNOT.
Speaking of squeamish! Here's a new one to me—meat hats. I wonder why. And who. What were they thinking?
Not squeamish at all, but quite adorable, are these three thrifty crafts that Brilliant and Beautiful Cynthia found recently. Grazie!!
Pups
All is well. They are enjoying my being home from work. Sister is sick, too. So it's a dachshund holiday, I guess. Even so, Little Jack declines to be the Celebrity SpokesDachshund today.
Happy Thursday, and happy knitting.
October 06, 2004
Talk Amongst Yourselves
A bit under the weather here from ragweed and a few other minor inconveniences. Please talk amongst yourself today.
What effects do events (time, nationality, physicality) have on knitblogs? Should they be more topical? less topical? This blog tries to stay focused on knitting (and dachshund photos), but should a knitblog be more engaged with the world outside of yarn shops? Discuss.
October 05, 2004
Delightful Diversion
My LYS owner told me that her favorite knitting book of the year was Interweave Press' Scarf Style by Pam Allen (ISBN: 1931499543). I couldn't believe it! How could a knitting book about scarves be anyone's favorite?
Scarves! I scoffed!
Once again, pride goeth before a—well, you know. Upon examining this book, I agree with Suzanne that it's a completely delightful book, bursting with wonderfully creative scarf-y diversions. There are 31 patterns from all of our favorite designers, and they've each taken the very idea of a scarf to new levels. Really different!
I cast on immediately for an intriguing scarf for which Sister picked out the yarn. It's a beautiful peacock blue angora blend from Elizabeth Lavold. There is 60% angora, 20% wool, and 20% polyamide in the mix. I think the polyamide would make this stuff luscious for house socks. I can't say how it will hold up over time, but hey! how long does a scarf have to last? And I cannot say enough nice things about how it feels. Soft, soft, soft! It's not as excessively fluffy as pure angora, or even an 80/20 blend. It's just perfect :-)
Cool! and curly, isn't it! This scarf, which utilizes short rows very cleverly, is called "Ruffles" and it was designed by Amanda Blair Brown. There is a fantastic cabled and stranded color scarf by Mags Kandis that I want to knit, too. In fact, and I blush to say this, there are at least a dozen scarves in this book that I want to knit. Nancy Bush, Nicky Epstein, Shirley Paden, Fiona Ellis, Debbie Bliss, Sasha Kagan, Annie Modesitt, Sally Melville . . . I'd knit one of their scarves any day. Two knitterly thumbs-up.
Pups
Mikey picked out his Halloween costume today, but other than that, the pups kept busy by napping, with brief intervals assigned to barking. What good dogs! They take the business of being dachshunds very seriously.
Tuesday night there is an SnB at Book People here, and I hope to see my favorite genius twins. And, the charming Chelsea is back in town on business, so we'll get to see her again too. If Cyndilou can join us, my knit-joy will be complete. Knitting. What a community-builder. Who knew?
Happy Tuesday! Knit with your pals! Pal around with your knits!
October 04, 2004
I Came I Saw I Katinka-ed
Knitters, we have Katinka-ed. I'm so glad I found the parts to this sweater and then the pattern! The yoke was the most fun. The underarms are grafted/woven together (very neatly, I must say). We have an official page for this Finished Object, but like the wonderful sister she is, Laura thoughtfully provides a Knitty-esque photo for you here:
Wot larks! Isn't she the best sister? The most difficult part was working the blanket stitch around the welt, cuffs, and collar. I have it on good authority that blanket stitch is just about the easiest embroidery you can do, but I found it quite difficult. <Yet another occasion when I wish I lived closer to the WiseNeedle Shepherdess.>
We have enjoyed our Icelandic sweater-tour, and while we await delivery of our next Icelandic yarn pack, we'll listen to some music that is not Bjork. Would you like to knit along to Iceland's National Anthem? Listen to „Ó, guð vors lands“ here. Or, you can listen to Icelandic folk recordings made between 1910 and 1934 on Edison records here. By the way, since we're sort of in the neighborhood, check out Queen Margrethe wearing the most awesome poncho you ever saw in Hello Magazine. Follow the link for the full story and photo, but here is part of the poncho:
Not Icelandic, but the traditional Inuit costume of Greenland—sometimes beaded, sometimes knit. Wild. Can you imagine the weight when worked in beads?
My Lopi yarn-pack should hurry up, because it's almost time for the Poetry-in-Stitches-along over at Ginny's! Yay Ginny! I'm making the cardigan with wristlets on p. 65. Although I admit to being horribly tempted by the gloves on p. 78.
Temptation! Sometimes it's so delicious! The lovely and thoughtful Teresa of One More Row surprised me with some lavender-infused Dagoba chocolate. The chocolate is luscious and organic. And incredibly, it's chocolate with a conscience! Dagoba (the company) believes in organic/sustainable agriculture, ethical trading and eco-friendly manufacturing practices. Yum. It's such amazingly tasty chocolate that I've been trying to be mindful when munching, rather than gobbling it all up. Thanks, T!
Pups
Little D and the Boyz had their usual enjoyable weekend, with barking and snoozing being the primary enthusiasms. Sometimes they even bark in their sleep. Silly pups. They also had a visit from Cousins Dyna and Apple Sunday afternoon. Dyna loves her cousins so much that she wants to kiss them all the time. This photo shows one of the few times Mike was being patient with her. He's been a bit crabby since he was sick. And it's true that Della does seem to be saying "Blech," as she flounces off. Even so, and as ever, a good time was had by all.
Except perhaps Laura, who had to model the unique qualities of Icelandic wool in the form of the completed Katinka in the heat of the afternoon. Isn't she the greatest?
Happy Monday! and happy knitting! Hum that „Ó, guð vors lands“, why doncha?
October 01, 2004
PSA
October 4 is the deadline—you know what to do.
If you don't, check here for the rules in your state.
See you Monday, you gorgeous registered voter, you!