December 10, 2004
Clever!
I'm working on a hat right now that I think is the most darn clever thing ever to do with the tons of self-striping sock yarn that I have — are you as tired of the self-stripers as me? I love watching Nanette's non-striping yarn become beautiful art socks. And I feel overwhelmed when I visit the sock yarn section of the local stash here, because I just bought so much of it when I was finding it irresistable. What to do with it if you don't want one of those sweaters or, heaven forfend, socks?
Ho! Use it all up on Debbi Young's cute double-knit hat! It's a free pattern from Elann designed for use with their in-house line of sock yarn, but hey! I don't think Ann will mind if we use up more yarn. The other great thing about this pattern is that it gives you a chance to practice provisional casting-on. Win-win! I'm making mine in some Socka self-patterning mostly yellow on the inside, and mostly blue self-patterning on the outside, and it is happy mindless no-paying-attention knitting...all stockinette, in fact! It's actually almost exactly like the Swedish Dubbelmössa (scroll down), only with self-patterning yarn. Cool.
Pups
Yesterday afternoon we tried to take advantage of the sunny weather and get some adorable holiday pet photos. Well. The cute pets were having none of it. Here is Della, fleeing the scene:
And here is Little Jack, wishing you would please call the SPCA already:
Even Mikey, our reliably cheerful camera-loving hound, looked quite abject at the possibility of having to be a cute pet:
What's a mother to do? Besides not buy holiday antlers? I guess we can only warn others: dachshunds do not want to pretend to be three tiny reindeer. I don't think that information is in the dachshund owner's manual. But there you have it.
Friday! and a weekend coming! YAY Schmoos!
December 09, 2004
No Knitting Content Today
I know it's the holidays! I don't want to serve as Ms. Bringdown!
but veterans of the Iraq war are already showing up on the streets, and babies, it's cold outside.
You can locate a community-based organization for homeless veterans in your neighborhood here. Just enter your state to search.
You can read about what the National Coalition for the Homeless is working on here.
You can find out what HUD is doing with your tax dollars for Local Homeless Assistance here.
You can write your representative in Washington here.
Thursday. Try a little tenderness. Or get tough. Your call.
December 08, 2004
Another Really Swell Hat
Those of you in harried knitted-holiday-present mode might consider the Snail Hat from E. Zimmermann's Knitting Without Tears. . . it spirals marvelously in a sculptural way, and is my favorite stress-knitting. You can knit one in a couple of hours, and the resulting hat is not only aesthetically pleasing but warm. If you steam block it, it will spiral like the one in the photo inside KWOT. (I was in a hurry and didn't stop for steam.) I just can't wait for that book to arrive, so it is all EZ all the time around here.
Mine goes on the current stack being prepared for delivery tomorrow to the Homeless Task Force in Austin. Thank you again, you extraordinary league of big-hearted knitters who have helped me out.
Some knitters have big hearts, and some have big creativity muscles that they flex in impressive ways. Did you see the very exciting Conceptual Cosies by Rebecca Vaughan at KnitKnit.net? This type of knitting fascinates me. Some day, when all I do is knit, you'll find me in my little dream cottage with all surfaces covered cosily with knitting :-)
The sun came out Tuesday and so the pups quit sulking—it was nice to see Little Jack smiling again after so many rainy days.
Miniature dachshunds and rain; a dreary, damp combination. When I imagine stepping in a waist-deep puddle while standing in a downpour, I cut them some slack and just hope for sooner sunshine.
We hope you are the recipient of sunny smiles today! Stay out of those puddles, keep those needles buzzing! Cheers!
December 07, 2004
A Really Swell Hat
I'm so very excited about the new Elizabeth Zimmermann book (see yesterday's update) being so close to available that Monday night, with only a couple of hours to knit, I decided to start the swell Three-Cornered Hat from Knitter's Almanac. It's a triangular Tam-o-Shanter. Whoa! In Lopi on US 10 needles, it took less than two hours! I put it on our handy recycled glass head to photograph for you.
Is that swell or what? A triangle!
I'm planning to make a couple more, paying more attention and being less sloppy with my increases and decreases. They are paired in EZ's pithy directions, and paired in my hat, too. Just not in the same place every time. Perfectionists, please look away.
It rained here again most of the day Monday, so the pups were bored and boycotted photos and sprawled about following me only with reproachful eyes. As if the rain was my fault or something.
The pups really hate to go out in the rain for any reason, but of course I insist on their going out in the rain for one particular reason. I was thinking that I was a bad dachshund mama until I followed a link on MetaFilter to a blog by a woman with four dachshunds. It's hilarious! And very true to life with dachshunds. They just don't realize they are d-o-g-s.
Cheers! It's Tuesday! We're hoping for more sun and more knitting!
December 06, 2004
We Heart Knitters
From the needles of some busy knitters, we have more hats for the homeless in Austin! Janine and Hope sent these, and they are beauties!
(Hope has a better photo of her diamond-earflap hat here.) Fabulous hats! Fabulous knitters! I'm so grateful! These out-of-state knitters have increased our warmed heads here in Austin by three, so we're up to 15! Knitters are awesome creatures!
I worked on a scarf that I saw in Susan's list of quick projects. You knit this:
and then you have this:
This dorky-looking design charms me completely; on a person, it's quite spiffy looking, and just right in terms of warmth. And it's a true one-skein wonder. This one is in Koigu Kersti no. K118L and it will soon be warming a neck that needs warming in Austin. Aren't knitters the cleverest people? This was fun and fast.
In other knitting, I worked on the long-languishing Ocean Lace Stole from Jill Vosberg, and knit a little coat for one of Sister's pups from Lion Brand Fun Fur and some other pink stuff.
You can find the pup-coat pattern at the Lion Brand website if you'd like one just like it.
Lots of knitting going on everywhere! And it's a good thing. Della is a bit worried that we won't finish everything on time, but I just keep reassuring her that knitting is never really finished. . .there's always something urgent to cast on when you're a knitter.
Hey! It's Monday! Have a happy and productive one! Cheers!
Pre-orders are being taken for the new Elizabeth Zimmermann book!! YAY! From the Schoolhouse Press website:
The book is $30 (hardcover) and if you place a back-order before
1 Jan, you will get free shipping.
The hardcover book has
-83 color photos
-26 b&w
-42 designs
-38 different knitters contributed garments. PLUS
-15 "new" articles and stories from Elizabeth's journals and notebooks.
WooHOO! (By the way, have you seen that cool fox on the gifts page?)