so, i was watching the today show yesterday and they did a story on boys who knit. they were mostly a bunch of dazed and confused boarders who thought it was like totally rad to be able to make their own hats. the interviewer asked one of them about his non-knitting friends' reaction to his new hobby. his monotonally deadpan response:
"my friends are like, 'dude, you're knitting.'
and i'm like, 'yeah, i guess i am.'"
2.25.2005
2.20.2005
six?
from cornelia tuttle hamilton's "transitions." the pattern says it takes just six skeins of araucania nature wool. that is the yarn i purchased. i have knit about two inches of the front and am almost through my first skein. hmmmm...i am dubious to say the least.
2.15.2005
twinkle little star
i love twinkle. her new collection has more knit stuff than you can imagine. chunky knit sweaters. hats that look like you could whip them up in an hour. big scarves.
2.14.2005
my first design--published!
i just got an email from mary-margaret jones, the publisher of spun magazine, a new online knitting zine. the first issue is online...along with my very first design, this victorian fleur choker. what a blast to see it in print!
2.13.2005
from felting virgin to beading virgin
my first beaded item. baby la gran mohair. size 2 needles. better luck here than with felted item. peel the paper off a baggie twist-tie, make a skinny loop, and you have an excellent beading needle.
how not to felt: notes from a felting virgin
1. superwash wool will not felt.
2. objects being felted should be placed inside a pillowcase before placing in washer.
3. the pillowcase should have a zipper or be knotted at the open end.
4. an unfelted, knitted needlecase with gaping holes makes a great dog bed.
2. objects being felted should be placed inside a pillowcase before placing in washer.
3. the pillowcase should have a zipper or be knotted at the open end.
4. an unfelted, knitted needlecase with gaping holes makes a great dog bed.
2.12.2005
the wristlet pattern
what you need:
baby or fingering weight yarn
four size 3 double-pointed needles
small crochet hook, size B
(U.S. sizes given)
what to do:
wristlets are worked in the round. cast on 56 sts and join, being
careful not to twist stitches.
rounds 1-4: *K2, P1, K4, P1, repeat from * around.
round 5: *K2, P1, work 4-stitch cable **, P1, repeat from * around.
rounds 6-10: *K2, P1, K4, P1, repeat from * around.
round 11: *K2, P1, work 4-stitch cable, P1, repeat from * around.
(same as round 5)
repeat rounds 6-11 six times.
work rounds 1-4 again and then cast off loosely.
work second wristlet exactly as first, then work crocheted edging on each of both:
one single crochet between the two stitches of the plain rib; chain 1, 7 double crochets in the center of the cable rib, chain one--repeat around each end of the wristlet. join at end with slip stitch.
** four stitch cable: place 1st two stitches on a cable needle and
hold them in front. knit the second two stitches, then knit the two
stitches off the cable needle.
etc.:
this pattern was adapted by deb pulliam from an incredible collection of victorian handiwork books, published a century ago by weldon's. dover press has reprinted and reissued the entire collection...the original wristlets can be found in weldon's #8, p. 14 of practical knitter, 23rd series.
if you're at all interested in truly vintage stuff, these books are
amazing. you can't believe the stuff those victorians knitted up.
baby or fingering weight yarn
four size 3 double-pointed needles
small crochet hook, size B
(U.S. sizes given)
what to do:
wristlets are worked in the round. cast on 56 sts and join, being
careful not to twist stitches.
rounds 1-4: *K2, P1, K4, P1, repeat from * around.
round 5: *K2, P1, work 4-stitch cable **, P1, repeat from * around.
rounds 6-10: *K2, P1, K4, P1, repeat from * around.
round 11: *K2, P1, work 4-stitch cable, P1, repeat from * around.
(same as round 5)
repeat rounds 6-11 six times.
work rounds 1-4 again and then cast off loosely.
work second wristlet exactly as first, then work crocheted edging on each of both:
one single crochet between the two stitches of the plain rib; chain 1, 7 double crochets in the center of the cable rib, chain one--repeat around each end of the wristlet. join at end with slip stitch.
** four stitch cable: place 1st two stitches on a cable needle and
hold them in front. knit the second two stitches, then knit the two
stitches off the cable needle.
etc.:
this pattern was adapted by deb pulliam from an incredible collection of victorian handiwork books, published a century ago by weldon's. dover press has reprinted and reissued the entire collection...the original wristlets can be found in weldon's #8, p. 14 of practical knitter, 23rd series.
if you're at all interested in truly vintage stuff, these books are
amazing. you can't believe the stuff those victorians knitted up.
2.10.2005
brake condom
i may have crossed a line here. now i am knitting for my car.
in an attempt to design a cozy for my stickshift, i ended up creating a condom for my emergency brake. (let's just say the initial design attempt wasn't quite bulbous enough.)
is this crazy? maybe.
maybe not. it's five below. your car goes dead. you're stuck in a blizzard. you lose a glove. with this handy emergency brake cozy, you're as warm and toasty as a grilled cheese sandwich.
in an attempt to design a cozy for my stickshift, i ended up creating a condom for my emergency brake. (let's just say the initial design attempt wasn't quite bulbous enough.)
is this crazy? maybe.
maybe not. it's five below. your car goes dead. you're stuck in a blizzard. you lose a glove. with this handy emergency brake cozy, you're as warm and toasty as a grilled cheese sandwich.
2.08.2005
let them knit cake
like worsted for chocolate! this amazing concoction is from prudence mapstone, the queen of freeform knitting. some other inspiring items: a medusa hat, leaf sculptures, and intricate evening bags.
2.03.2005
knitting for terrorists
every thursday, i have breakfast at charlies frog pond with a bunch of indie writers, art directors, photogs, and whoever else happens to show up. (stop by. we'd love to have you.) we were talking about the state of the union speech and somehow the topic of knitting came up. chris the limey suggested we teach the terrorists how to knit. our first project: a bomb cozy. stitch 'n bitch for baghdad, baby.
2.02.2005
my spidey sense is tingling
ok, this was fun. colinette mohair that looked like the wig off the kabuki doll in the midtown plaza clock plus lang tosca wool in this orange-red-brown varigation that matched that of the colinette perfectly. like they were made for each other.
2.01.2005
deep-sea knitting
this is a venus flower basket. it is a deep sea sponge that was coveted by the victorians, according to the sunday times. and also by design god bruce mau, who originally caught my eye. (tough to miss the man mountain with the big curly hair.)
but this is an amazing and inspiring artifact, knitting-wise. so lacy and architectural. the cat in the hat meets victoria's secret. sponge bob on steroids.
according to the article, the sponge is a haven for shrimp, which enter it to mate and then get stuck in there as they grow too big to escape. which is okay with the shrimp, which continue to live inside, eating the sponge's food scraps... sponging off the sponge, so to speak.
but this is an amazing and inspiring artifact, knitting-wise. so lacy and architectural. the cat in the hat meets victoria's secret. sponge bob on steroids.
according to the article, the sponge is a haven for shrimp, which enter it to mate and then get stuck in there as they grow too big to escape. which is okay with the shrimp, which continue to live inside, eating the sponge's food scraps... sponging off the sponge, so to speak.
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