TGIF
No seriously. T.G.I.F.
I feel like this:
The last month and half has kicked my arse. I was NOT made for this work thing.
Among the very boring things I am contemplating:
- Can you run a business without a land line?
- Is it possible to use Headway or Thesis as a sort of ghetto CMS? (With zero coding chops.)
- Do I need my office?
As I said. Boring. But necessary? Maybe.
Anyway. I’m going to have drinks with the newly minted Mrs. Getz-Embleton-Forrest, and flap my tongue with glee. Adieu. I shall return to more regular posting anon.
Finns for the Win
In honour of this long weekend, I celebrate the completely mad choirs of Finland. Enjoy.
Lifelong Learning
I am pretty fearless as a knitter–after a few years of knitting obsessively, not much phases me. I rarely look at a pattern and think–ooo, too hard for me. (I am lazy, so I quite often look at patterns and think, too much work for too little guarantee of results I’ll like. I’m lookin’ at you, Sylvi.)
But, I really don’t seem to like stranded colourwork. I made an Endpaper Mitt, and it went fine. Double fisted knitting? Check. Even tension? Check? Nice stretchy floats? Check. Unholy shoulder pain and palsied digits from holding the needles with a kung-fu grip? Check.
So, the technique I’d like to learn is how to do stranded colourwork without wrecking my upper body. Have y’all seen SpillyJane? And her gnome mitts? Or the Swedish Fish? Totally worth learning to loosen up for.
Click here to see other blogs tagged with knitcroblo4, blogging about this same topic for Knitting and Crochet Blog week.
One (or Two, or Eleventy) Great Knitter(s)
This topic has done my head in a bit. Trying to identify one inspiring knitter is like trying to pick out an individual snowflake in a blizzard. There are so very many people who are spectacularly inspiring, all in their own way.
So, I’ve made some subheads:
Gurus, no longer with us:
Elizabeth Zimmerman. Of course. Her books read like novels. She frees anarchists from the tyranny of the pattern, but provides enough information that you can follow along step by step if you need to.
My particular faves:
The Baby Surprise Jacket
Knit with Koigu KPPM on US 4/3.5mm needles
Mitred Mitts
Knit with Noro Kureyon on US 8/5mm needles
Gurus, still very much with us:
These are people whose work I admire greatly, and who have achieved some sort of demi-god status in the world of knitting. Seriously, people who came here from twitter, there is such as thing as a famous knitter.
Norah Gaughan-O.M.G what a brain. That is all. Wait, no. I am on the brink of buying her 6th pattern book, mostly for this:
I have BAGS of DK cotton. BAGS. and I would wear the living hell out of this.
Diane Soucy-Sometimes, you want a simple, classic pattern that is easy to execute and satisfying.
Evelyn Clark-master of the shawl. Or mistress. Whatever.
Clara Parkes-The Knitter’s Book of Wool is superfantastic. I never would have believed I’d read, willingly, about different sheep breeds. And The Knitters Review is interesting, helpful, funny, and a real community. And it’s been around for 10 years!
Knitters/Designers whom I Don’t Know, Yet Stalk on the Internet:
Maybe they are splendid writers, maybe they are delightful designers, maybe their finished objects make me catch my breath. But I’m always delighted with a new post or pattern from any of these people.
Cookie A
Cat Bordhi
John Brinegar
Snowden Becker
Eskimimi! (organizer of this here blog rodeo, and a hell of a web designer)
Jared Flood
Pamela Wynne
Stephen West
Karen Lykkefanten
The Mason Dixon Gals
The list goes on and on… Bloglines is down, so I know I’m forgetting many, many awesome people. The great thing about being a knitter is that every day, there is a new, fresh opportunity to make, see, or dream something beautiful.
Click here to see other blogs tagged with knitcroblo3, blogging about this same topic for Knitting and Crochet Blog week.
An Inspirational Knit
I have (knitting) nuts of steel. I really do. I’m not afraid of anything. But, when I took Stahman’s Shawls and Scarves out of the library, I scared the pants off myself.
Today’s challenge for KnitCroBlo is to blog about a pattern or project I aspire to. And hoo-boy, do I aspire to knit one of these masterpieces. I love, love, love a Faroese shawl (one with shaping that wraps around the body), but they’re big, and when knit in an all-over pattern, involve some fairly complicated shaping beyond just reading your knitting.
There are OTHER Faroese shawls that are less complicated, and I love with equal passion (Cheryl Oberle’s Stora Dimun comes to mind), but I worry that , like everyone has one good novel in them, I only have one giant shawl in me.
Go ahead. I dare you. Noodle around Ravelry for some favourited shawls from this book. They’ll take your breath away.
Click here to see other blogs tagged with knitcroblo2, blogging about this same topic for Knitting and Crochet Blog week.
The Madness Begins
My mother is the most kick-ass knitter, quilter, seamstress, artist, baker, etc. that I’ve ever met. (She is a sucky crocheter, though. Go figure.) Growing up, making your own stuff seemed both normal and desirable.
She made my high school graduation dress (sewn, not knitted), the quilt that was on the bed of my first apartment (made of old jeans), and a sweater that started out for my father, but, as she never swatches–ever–ended up for me (it was the ’80s, and sweaters to your knees with leggings were the height of fashion), among many other things.
But, for a long time, I just assumed that the stuff my mum did was too hard for me. If I wanted things that were made to my specs, I needed to bug my mum until she cranked out a blanket, hat, scarf, whatever.
So it was providential that she bought Debbie Stoller’s Stitch and Bitch on a sale table in 2004. She bought it because she thought the backpacks were cute. I had been dinking around with garter stitch scarves, so, when I was at her house for dinner one night, I stole it. I still haven’t given it back.
I am a dreadful seamstress, and my art skills are non-existent, but I think at this point I give her a run for her money with the knitting. I think I’m more stubborn, so I’ll stick with something that is driving me nuts, rather than just changing it up as she does; I’m also very lucky that I learned to knit now–in what I’m sure is some sort of knitting renaissance the like of which will never be seen again. My mother learned to knit in school in England, and “innovations” like top-down sweaters were not part of her process until I introduced her to them.
One of the best things about all this knitting is that I’ve got Christmas and birthdays whipped. There is nobody on earth easier to buy a present for than another knitter.
A Potentially Heretical Rant
What the hell happened to Elvis Costello?
I came to the conclusion today that his show would be really great if he wasn’t on it. His guests were Richard Thompson, Nick Lowe, Allen Toussaint, and Levon Helm, and a more ace bunch of guys you could not imagine.
And alongside them, Elvis pissing about with his unbelievably affected speaking style, weird questions, and hyperactive fourth-grader vibe.
Seriously, the man went from being one of the coolest people on the planet to being basically Sting for hipsters.
Evidence. From this:
To this:
And don’t get me started about Elton John.
The Bread Cult
Late to the party as ever, I have joined a cult. As cults go, it’s pretty benign–we make bread, we don’t murder people and steal their money. But, make no mistake, it’s a cult. It has many illustrious members.
Artisan Bread in Five Minutes A Day: Learn it, live it, be it. (Not their slogan, but it totally should be.) The book will show you how to make vast vat of bread dough, then leave it the hell alone until you feel like eating bread. Below is the (slightly) sinister bread dough, lurking in its (plastic dollar-store) vat. (I need to get a proper vat.)
Then, it explains how to rip off a chunk, leave it alone some more, bung it in the oven, and enjoy hot, delicious bread with staggeringly little effort. (Although, book says not to hack into your bread until it is cool. Bah!) How could you not want to eat THIS immediately?:
The other thing? This big vat of dough? Also makes fantastically good pizza crust. I have had fresh pizza at least once a week for two months. I’m not yet tired of it. And another thing? There is a recipe for brioche dough. Which you can use to make THESE:
Flip ‘em over? They look like this:
I have been pondering the possibilities of that brioche dough. I wonder if you could use it to make a base for this cake-like thing?
Anyway more info and two very nice seeming people over here. It’s really easy. You should join the cult too.
Baby Steps
My friend and former client is having a baby. This came as a surprise, as she is pretty much the consummate professional, and we’ve never talked love life, children, or any other really personal stuff. She just called me out of the blue for some advice on who I thought might cover for her while she is on maternity leave.
WHAT?!
Anyway. I think she just decided it’s time. There is no man in her life (as far as I know.) I have not asked her where the sauce came from, and she has not volunteered. Which is fine, as it should be. She’s a fantastically modern woman. So what to do but knit her a fantastically modern baby blanket? As well as some booties that came from a 90-year-old lady. But which look surprisingly modern.
Patterns: Bulky Baby Blankets and Christine’s Stay-On Baby Booties
Yarns: Lion Brand Wool Ease Thick-n-Quick (blanket) and Sandnes Garn Sisu (booties)
Needles: US 10 (6mm) circs, and US 1 (2.5mm) bamboo dpns
Made for: Minna’s new baby. Hooray!
Highly recommend both patterns for last-minute shower gifts that look splendid. The booties were a special request–once she’d told me she was pregnant, pretty much the second thing out of her mouth was, “and you’ll be knitting me some booties.” Happy to oblige.
