closely related to knitting

Regal Knits

2011-03-11T02:20:54Z

This gave me a much-needed laugh today.

I'm not a particular fan of this newspaper, or the royals for that matter, but if you're a fan you can now knit your own!

Small victories

2011-02-23T04:18:08Z

My brother just told me that he's been regularly wearing the hat which I made for him over Christmas. Woo-hoo!

Everything else I've made for my family members has either been lost or put away in some unknown part of the house.

Hi There

2011-02-17T23:26:32Z

Well, hey there, everyone. How are you all doing?
My name is Michael Leach.
I am new to my fascination, with yarn. But, when the desire hit me, it hit hard.
I have decided to keep a blog, for 2 years, chronicling my experience, in learning three different methods, of working with yarn. From June 9, 2010, to June 9, 2012, I will learn how to crochet, loom knit, and knit. I will create numerous projects, using each method.
So...Why two years?
Well, I had a surgery, back in November of 2009. It was a surgery, that would allow me the opportunity, to walk. I have spent a chunk of my life, in a wheelchair, being misdiagnosed with cerebral palsy. My recovery time, I have been told, will go well into 2012. So, I needed something to do...something to occupy my time.
My blog is a blend, of yarn, and recovery. I hope you will check it out.

How bad is it?

2011-01-22T03:27:50Z

So, as knitters....

Is knitting a hat flat and putting a seam up the back considered to be poor/lazy construction technique?

Do you (or anyone that you've knitted for in the past, especially BALD MEN) find a back seam to be uncomfortable? Inquiring minds want to know!

EDIT: Also, I am a beginning-level knitter. Is there a really snazzy way to join a back seam on such a hat?

Not knitting ...

2011-01-10T23:40:46Z

... but there is a sheep involved

The Wool-opod That Ate Tokyo!

2011-01-05T12:00:39Z

Have you guys heard of these new querrilla knitting groups taking Tokyo by storm? One is called Kedako (literally "woolen/hairy octopus") and the other is called Ami Kishu Dan ("Surprise Attack Knitting Group"). Want to join one of these groups! Love the octopi on the streetcar! Want the pattern!

http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/fs20101230a3.html

great huh?

knitting_chat @ 2010-10-31T00:57:00

2010-10-30T23:57:48Z

Do you have a stitch pattern that drives you crazy to knit?

I am doing a lot of 1x1 ribbing today and it is doing my head in! Actually, most ribbing drives me crazy, but 2x2 or more I can cope with slightly better.

Knitted skeleton

2010-10-23T18:56:34Z

Wow.

LOL word of the day today

2010-10-21T21:39:30Z

luddite

PRONUNCIATION:
(LUHD-yt)

MEANING:
noun: One who opposes or avoids the use of new technology.

ETYMOLOGY:
After the Luddites, name taken by textile workers in England during 1811-1816 who destroyed machinery that was displacing them. They took the name after one Ned Ludd, whose identity is not clear. Ned Ludd is said to have destroyed, in a fit of insanity, a knitting frame in 1779. In response to the Luddites, the British parliament passed the Frame Breaking Act which made the destroying of knitting frames punishable by death.

I guess he was more of a needles only kind of guy

Source : A.Word.A.Day

eta: *SIGH* I can't believe I'm defending TECHNOLOGY on the INTERNET. Ironic.

A funny

2010-08-26T20:52:34Z

From Franklin. Warning: somewhat raunchy humor but is SFW.

because we need to think ahead

2010-08-21T23:22:19Z

I realized, just this weekend, that it is only four months until the holidays. Time to get the needles clicking.

Most of the projects I have in mind won't take too long - bulky wool socks for both Dad and step-father, hat and mittens for Mom (the Yvette Entrelac Beret and Mittens kit from Knit Picks in Earth), still unsure about my step-mother, although I'm leaning toward some heavy socks for her, as well. She and Dad have a farm, need to be out tending the animals, so warm feet would be welcome. A few other things - a scarf, mittens, pair of socks - for friends will round out the list. I also need to make a hat, mittens, and scarf for myself, not wanting to freeze this winter, and have three Christmas stockings to knit that I will be paid for.

Ordinarily, I probably wouldn't start until after Labor Day, at least, but joy of all joys, I have been informed that I am to report for Grand Jury Duty in October. That will likely cut into my knitting time, not to mention my writing time for NaNoWriMo (and if I get squeezed out on that, I'll be heartily ticked, but that's a rant for another community at another time). So, have any of you started with the holiday gifts? Or, if they aren't already on needles, have them planned out? What are you going to be making? And, if you're still enjoying these last days of August summer, my apologies for bringing thoughts of winter and the close of they year down on you. ;)

America's Most Wanted

2010-07-12T17:08:51Z

Today I had planned to use my lunch time to frog the cuff of a stocking I am working on. I had tried working the pattern from memory (mistake!) and ended up with too many increases. I figured I could frog it quickly and perhaps even begin it again with the correct number of increases before lunch time was over. I was so proud of myself this morning when I remembered to grab my stocking and knitting bag before leaving the house.

And then I noticed that the ball of yarn was not really with the stocking. I traced the tendril of thread from the stocking and found what used to be my ball of yarn. It was on the floor, under the coffee table. I....I cannot even describe the carnage that met my eyes when I found it. Rarely have I seen yarn so thoroughly mangled.

Who could have committed this heinous crime?? I immediately narrowed my focus down to two subjects: the husband and Piewacket (a cat). As the investigation continued, I found myself leaning more toward Piewacket because he has a history of violence against Yarnian-Americans, particularly those of Wool or Mixed-Wool ethnicity (the victim is of Wool-Acrylic descent). I'm pretty sure Pie will plead temporary insanity and get off lightly.

Anyway, no frogging occurred today, but I am happy to announce that the Yarnian has been completely untangled and rolled into a fresh ball. Later on he's planning to go to the salon and be professionally wound on a ball-winder, but he's stable for now. He was still all in one piece, no immediately apparent permanent damage was done and the Yarnian escaped actual ingestion. Good news for the defendant, who would not enjoy a trip to the vet being stacked on top of his regular sentence.

Online Yarn Stores Shipping Abroad (outside US)

2010-06-07T11:53:03Z

After living in the US for the past 7 years I've been spoiled with plenty of access to yarn stores, both in NYC and on the web.

Now I find myself back in Sweden - and I was wondering if you guys have tips on online stores that will ship abroad. I'd love to hear from those of you who have had good experiences and have recommendations (was the yarn good, were there any problems ordering with a credit card issued in another country than the US, did the delivery stand up to standards etc).

I have a few favorite yarns that I can't seem to get a hold of here, but I'm mostly looking for Koigu or Jitterbug or similar yarns to use for shawls etc.

Thanks!

Wind Powered Knitting machine

2010-05-09T00:00:10Z

Just what the lazy knitter needs, A wind powered knitting machine

NYC

2010-04-07T17:11:41Z

I am a British knitter but in a week and a half, I will be accompanying my American boyfriend back to his homeland for a little visit to New York City. My question is this - are there any especially cool/quirky/luxurious/generally amazing yarn shops that I ought to seek out while I'm there?

Trucker Knitting!!

2010-04-03T22:51:47Z

Link to article about Truckers who knit, quilt & sew during their downtime. I love the tattooed guy knitting a sweater for his wife! :)

online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704896104575139990857438962.html

a silly question

2010-03-25T14:49:15Z

What's the oddest comment/compliment you've ever gotten on your knitting?

fierce demon knitting nana

2010-03-15T17:08:28Z

NANAGEDDON episode of Mighty Boosh

knitting commences @ the two minute mark. I would venture to guess that Nanatoo is partial to metal knitting needles.

Episode summary from TV.com:
n an attempt to impress two goth girls, the boys stage a seance in their front room. Trouble ensues when they summon the most evil demon known to man, an old lady called Nanatoo who does a runner with their flatmate, the Shaman Naboo's, most magic book. Naboo is livid and gets drunk, leaving it up to Howard and Vince to find the demon, retrieve the book and prevent Nanageddon.

Midnight knitter pulls the wool over NJ shore town!

2010-03-11T15:29:12Z

WEST CAPE MAY, N.J. (AP) — Someone is spinning quite a yarn over one New Jersey shore town.

An unknown person dubbed The Midnight Knitter by West Cape May residents is covering tree branches and lamp poles with little sweaters under cover of darkness.

Mayor Pam Kaithern says police are looking into the guerrilla needlework, which technically is against the law because it is being done on public property without permission.

The mayor and many residents admit they're enthralled by the rainbow of colors that has popped up.

story here in a CT local paper

also NPR (with audio)

A little silliness ...

2010-03-11T04:56:01Z

... courtesy of the cast of I'm Sorry I'll Read That Again. This "knitting interview" was originally broadcast by the BBC on May 9, 1966.

De-knitting (aka frog stitch, aka unknitting, aka unraveling....and so on)

2010-01-07T21:20:19Z

I have started this sweater at least 3 times. I thought for sure that the 3rd time would be the charm. I even came up with a method for remembering if I was on an increase or a plain row. But alas, it was not to be. I was almost at the bottom of the yoke, and I decided that I just wasn't happy with the mistakes that I could see. And since they were in the increases that would be in the front, I felt that they would be too visible. So I rip, rip, ripped it out.

What is your limit? How many times have you started and restarted a project before you gave up? What is the furthest that you have gotten in a project when you decided to unravel it? Do you have a special way of doing it that makes you feel better? I watched bad reality TV while I did it. That way I knew that I wasn't the dumbest person in the world. There are plenty dumber than me, and many of them have made their way onto VH1 shows!

knitting_chat @ 2009-12-11T20:21:00

2009-12-12T04:21:43Z

I'm sure that many of you have seen this already, but in case you haven't: knitted (and crocheted) science!

Included: a dissected frog, a periodic table sweater, plankton, a highly detailed brain, neurons, a hyperbolic surface, some corals, and, of course, a mobius scarf.

&@(%#$%#@Q%)!$@$%@)%^$)

2009-12-10T22:45:44Z

Should I EVER even entertain the notion of taking a commission for someone elses Christmas knitting, no matter how good the friend, I will reach up and smack myself upside the head.

I've got one more cabled headband to make out of fingering weight yarn on US 2.5 needles by next Tuesday, plus I have to clean, do some mending/hemming sewing work, and pack for a 14 day trip to my parents.

Even the added cash isn't that great of an incentive (I'm being paid for my time).

*grumble grumble grumble*

Revenge of the Needles!

2009-12-01T17:15:49Z

Okay, I feel like such a doofus I just have to share.

Here's the story: yesterday afternoon, I came home from work early with a migraine, and fell asleep on the couch. Note that we're in the process of packing to move, so our condo is a complete disaster area. So after a while, the phone rang and woke me up, and I stumbled in a sleep- and pain-addled haze off the couch to go find the phone. Unbeknownst to me, one of my projects was on the floor near the couch, and as I attempted to cross the minefield of the living room floor, I somehow managed to impale my foot on one of the DPNs, which then got stuck in my sock and made it even worse, leaving me with an inch-long gash right on the ball of my foot. And not just a little scratch - this sucker was deep enough to do some fairly serious bleeding. (Not stitches or puncture-wound worthy, but enough that I felt compelled to bust out the Neosporin and a large band-aid.)

My beloved fiance, after making sure that I wasn't seriously injured, laughed rather uproariously and told me it was revenge for all the pins and needles he's stepped on in the vicinity of my crafting... ;-)

So of course, I had to share the whole sordid tale here, since I'm sure many of you can relate (though hopefully not TOO much!). C'mon, tell me I'm not alone. What's the worst and/or silliest knitting-related injury YOU've had? :-)

Miss Manners on knitting in company

2009-11-25T17:44:01Z

The "Is is polite to knit in meetings/parties/lectures/social settings" question has been gone over plenty of times, but here's the official stamp from Miss Manners.

Awesome quote: Miss Manners agrees that [needlework and knitting are] generally compatible with full participation. Four years of watching college classmates turn out three-color sweaters while simultaneously mastering Greek and higher mathematics has convinced her of that.