‘Knitting’ Archive
Posted on December 23, 2011 at 10:14 pm, by Admin
in Category Knitting | Tags: Gifts,Little
Many thanks to all who entered my little contest for The Knitter’s Book of Socks
! I enjoyed reading the comments and seeing the variety of responses.
The winner of this contest is Judy from Vermont, who had this to say:
I got the sock bug about three years ago and haven’t stopped since. I devour as many books as possible always trying to improve my technique or challenge myself with new patterns. I love Clara Parkes and have her first two books. This would be a nice addition to my collection especially during the long winter nights in Vermont where socks are required!
Judy, may you have lots of fun and very warm feet!
…and don’t forget to add this book to your holiday wishlist 
Psssst… here’s a free pattern for this Stepping Stones pattern by Clara Parkes!
LollyKnitting Around
Posted on December 18, 2011 at 2:19 am, by Admin
in Category Knitting | Tags: Knitting,Rocking,Weekend
When a chair this inviting comes into your life, you just have to rock with it. Little back story: If you follow me on Twitter or Pinterest, you probably know that I have a thing for modern design. Last fall, I started searching for the perfect modern rocking chair. I found one in February at a local furniture studio, but the price was *ahem*, out of range. So, when I received notice that this studio was having a huge sale, we just decided to check it out and see if the rocker was included in the festivity. Just my luck! The stars aligned just right – we got the floor model at a deep discount… the week before my birthday! Walked right out of the store with it. I couldn’t be more excited about rocking (and knitting) away in this thing.
I spent some time breaking it in yesterday while I worked on this cowl that I started last week. It makes for a pretty great knitting chair. The only thing that would make it better? A handknit colorwork pillow, of course! I have some ideas in mind for that, but I probably won’t be casting on until the new year…
The call of the new Madelinetosh Merino Light was strong – and this unique slipped stitch patternreeled me right in. This is the Brick Road Cowl by Madelinetosh (Rav link), and it looks much more complicated than it is. I am closing in on the halfway point, and then I will reverse the colors for yellow bricks with the green/grey background. I chose the Candlewick and Terra Verde colorways for this one – picked them up while visiting my parents in Pennsylvania. It’ll be a stylish reversible neckwarmer for the coming winter.
LollyKnitting Around
Posted on December 14, 2011 at 10:02 pm, by Admin
in Category Knitting | Tags: NaKniSweMo,Wrap
It is official – another addition to the National Knit a Sweater Month archives – I think this is my 5th one? – of sweaters knit within the month of November. I didn’t challenge myself too much in the technique department, but I did introduce a never-before-attempted form: a cardigan with pockets! The coziest of sweaters *always* have pockets!
Terra Cardigan :: reverse stockinette with pockets
Pattern: Rebecca 34 magazine – #13 pattern
Yarn: The Fibre Company Terra in “Nettle” colorway
Needles: Size US 8
As I stated on my Ravlery notebook, all Rebecca patterns need some “hand holding” and this one was no different. The problem with this one was the armholes and the sleeve length. The armholes were very deep in the pattern as written, and I ended up doing some extra seaming to fix this in the end. Also, the sleeves were pretty long to begin with, and got even longer after blocking. This was my 5th Rebecca pattern, so I always go in knowing that I have to rely on common sense and “knitter’s intuition”.
Since I finished this one the week before Thanksgiving, I have worn it nearly everyday. It is perfect to pull on as I head to the mail box or out on a dog walk. I have worked with Terra before (I wrote up that pattern for the Sherbrooke Cowl using it back in 2008) and it is a very nice yarn. It did stretch a lot in blocking, which worked out because I wanted a longer cardigan. However, if you are going for a more form-fitting garment, it is worth noting that when you use this yarn.
LollyKnitting Around
Posted on December 13, 2011 at 8:35 pm, by Admin
in Category Knitting | Tags: #FridayReads,#FriFotos,Hashtags,Power
Over the last few Fridays, I have participated in the Twitter project #FriFotos (if you are not familiar with hashtags, basically it is a mechanism to sort and display every bit of information that includes this word(s) succeeding the # sign). So, anyone anywhere can participate on Twitter by linking to a photograph and then typing #FriFotos into the text. This will display as clickable, and you can see everyone else who has also contributed to the “album” of FriFotos.
For this particular project – geared to photographers and travelers – there is a weekly theme. A few weeks ago, I contributed some photos of DOORS for that week’s theme. Today’s theme is SKYLINE. The theme is usually pretty open to interpretation, so you can go the traditional route of cityscapes and twinkly lights or something more natural. That’s what makes it fun! Here are some of my contributions this week from various travels over the years:
Chicago 2007
San Diego 2009
Juneau, Alaska 2010
Tuolumne Meadows, Yosemite 2011
Hashtags are powerful little tools. They can be quite useful metadata tools, but can be easily manipulated – like so many things on the web – by commercial interests and spambots. If you do participate in social media circles, however, hashtags are a great way to meet new people with similar interests. Using #FriFotos are an example again: I share a photograph from this year’s trip to Yosemite National Park. When I tag it, everyone can see that. PersonX just got back from Yosemite and has a photo to share that is very similar. Shared interest and common bond. Added bonus when I see that PersonX is also into the same kind of music as I am. New acquaintance and new thread in the web of life – all because of a hashtag. From there, it can just keep on going.
Another hashtag that I particularly enjoy and participate in each week is the #FridayReads group on Twitter. While they have been mired in a bit of controversy lately, the fact remains that it is a community of readers who like to talk about books. Each week, I report which book I am reading and attach the #FridayReads hashtag. The moderator (@TheBookMaven) calculates how many people participate just for fun, and when you click on the hashtag, you can see what everyone else is reading. Maybe that book that you have been meaning to pick up? something long forgotten? or an author that you like that has a new piece out?
While the concept sounds so elementary, social media really just comes back to community building and engagement. How do you meet new people? how do you interact? The hashtag for #Socktoberfest on Twitter was really fun this year with several updates and interactions.
As the tweet above suggests, I have been reading up a storm lately… I’m planning a little Reading Year in Review post soon. Stay tuned!
LollyKnitting Around
Posted on December 12, 2011 at 6:29 am, by Admin
in Category Knitting | Tags: House,Moody
I don’t know about you, but this time of year makes me only want to knit hats and mittens. I have four sweaters, all nearly completed, stewing in my progress basket for now, having been utterly and completely abandoned for hats and mittens. Looking back through my archive, it appears I write this same thing year after year. Now that my mind has been thoroughly overrun with medical facts, jargon, and clinical vignettes, perhaps this year’s accessory fever post will read somewhat differently.
The patient, a knitter of 11 years, presents today with a chief complaint of knitted accessory fever of four weeks’ duration. Physical exam is significant for a high grade fever related to stashbusting hats and mittens, general malaise regarding non-accessory knits, and deep somnolence with respect to hand knitted sweaters. The patient reports experiencing similar episodes annually beginning in mid-November, lasting approximately nine weeks, and breaking by late January. Symptoms are exacerbated by Ravelry, pinterest, and Twitter; ameliorated by complete disconnection from the internet. Patient experiences grave lack of focus, and is unable to concentrate on work. She denies fatigue, reports boundless energy, dreams of wool, and urgent desire to knit all the things.
While I come to terms with my mitten frenzy, have a look at my newest accessory designs, the Moody House set. Knitted in The Plucky Knitter’s Primo! Worsted, these are a dream to both knit and wear. Sarah’s dyes are stunning, both in depth and saturation. I cannot wait to plan some more projects with her yarns!
The Moody House hat and mitten patterns are each available on Ravelry for .00, the set containing both patterns is available for .00.
Until this fever breaks, stay tuned for more obsessively knitted winter accessories!
Exercise Before Knitting
