Good Freebies! - Docs & Spreadsheets
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Lana Grossa's "Model" of the Month (is that like a pin-up for knitters?) from Filati Magazine 36, Model 18
here are other models of the months on the Lana Grossa web site
Sunday, October 12, 2008
Thursday, October 09, 2008
Wednesday, October 08, 2008
knitting on the radio
a little bit of historical knitting from 1941:
George Burns & Gracie Allen Show: George goes to the Art Gallery
Friday, October 03, 2008
Posit: Sweaters as Carbon Credits?
Above is a capelet I made for Kim, one of the sales reps over at Scratch. She liked the ones in the show but is currently into purple, so i made one in Amethyst Brown Sheep Burly Spun on 12mm needles, using the smallest size from the Quick Button Capelet pattern. It looks great in the Burly! I thought the texture might look bland but it's great, the stitches are large enough to create al lot of definition and contrast.
So let's talk ..... I was discussing the economy and the crash in the stock markets (don't stop reading, it gets to knitting) with mt family last week. My cousin says to me (please read with dry wit laced with dark humour): "it's a good thing your money is tied up in wool since people will have to wear sweaters this winter when they can't afford to heat their homes or drive their cars." LOL! Don't worry, the economy here is not really as bad as all that, but who wants to spend more money, right?
This morning I received my weekly letter from Berroco (below, or read link). Now I've always been a fan of cardigans and layering, but I never thought of it as an energy saver. And if sweaters help us save energy, then wearing them is kind of a 'green' initiative, isn't it? but I don't think cardigans are the be all end all. there are lots of ways to warm up, what about shawls? capelets? wool socks? lapghans? cardi-wraps? I wonder if I can get carbon credits for outfitting my friends & family in woolies? Do they print them up like food stamps? or maybe they just come in the form of more wool? ;-)
Cardi Mania!
Above is a capelet I made for Kim, one of the sales reps over at Scratch. She liked the ones in the show but is currently into purple, so i made one in Amethyst Brown Sheep Burly Spun on 12mm needles, using the smallest size from the Quick Button Capelet pattern. It looks great in the Burly! I thought the texture might look bland but it's great, the stitches are large enough to create al lot of definition and contrast.
So let's talk ..... I was discussing the economy and the crash in the stock markets (don't stop reading, it gets to knitting) with mt family last week. My cousin says to me (please read with dry wit laced with dark humour): "it's a good thing your money is tied up in wool since people will have to wear sweaters this winter when they can't afford to heat their homes or drive their cars." LOL! Don't worry, the economy here is not really as bad as all that, but who wants to spend more money, right?
This morning I received my weekly letter from Berroco (below, or read link). Now I've always been a fan of cardigans and layering, but I never thought of it as an energy saver. And if sweaters help us save energy, then wearing them is kind of a 'green' initiative, isn't it? but I don't think cardigans are the be all end all. there are lots of ways to warm up, what about shawls? capelets? wool socks? lapghans? cardi-wraps? I wonder if I can get carbon credits for outfitting my friends & family in woolies? Do they print them up like food stamps? or maybe they just come in the form of more wool? ;-)
Cardi Mania!
Keep the Thermostat Down
My autumn knitting queue is full of cardigans. They are fantastic for layering, especially during in-between seasons when weather can be unpredictable (and downright tempestuous here in New England). Cardigans also save money in unexpected ways. President Jimmy Carter famously wore a cardigan during a fireside chat, sending a sartorial message about conservation and practicality. According to the Farmer's Almanac, we're in for a colder than normal winter. With the upward trend of energy costs, President Carter's fashion advice is ringing in my ears.
I'm always torn between making cardigans in sensible neutrals or standout brights. A black or grey cardigan becomes a wardrobe equivilant of a security blanket, but a strong shade like magenta or chartruese will set off more subdued outfits. Scrunch is a clever assymetrical ribbed cardigan knit in Geode™ which comes in a variety of deep base shades with hints of color throughout. Lichen is a study in texture and its uncluttered silouette puts the focus on your favorite shade of Trilogy™. Either way, cardigans are fall's smartest garment.
Thursday, October 02, 2008
what i did on my vacation
it wasn't a real vacadion, just a blog vacation. actually, i was just busy with other store stuff.
1. I made 3 capelets from old T-shirts for the T-shirt show at Scratch Espresso (Gallery) for Art Walk last weekend. i probably should have blogged about them, but they hacen't sold yet and scratch is keeping the t-shirt show up, so you can go see them (of if you want you can buy one too! they are verty affordably priced at $65.
2. at the same time i was working on a pattern for a thick wool cardi-jacket, something fast and easy for fall. i also madeu sure there was as little seaming as possible, especially around the armhole (shoulder and armhole seaming with bulky wools never seem to end with a happy story).
3. then i made a pattern based on the t-shirt buttoned capelet in real yarn. those capelets knitted up so fast and easy and look and feel so good! i wrote up the pattern, printed up copies for sale, loaded it to ravelry and the website for PDF downloads. anyway, the above model was made in Estelle Woolly Bully. I knew the lavender colourway would come out beautiful but it's really a super stunner!
it wasn't a real vacadion, just a blog vacation. actually, i was just busy with other store stuff.
1. I made 3 capelets from old T-shirts for the T-shirt show at Scratch Espresso (Gallery) for Art Walk last weekend. i probably should have blogged about them, but they hacen't sold yet and scratch is keeping the t-shirt show up, so you can go see them (of if you want you can buy one too! they are verty affordably priced at $65.
2. at the same time i was working on a pattern for a thick wool cardi-jacket, something fast and easy for fall. i also madeu sure there was as little seaming as possible, especially around the armhole (shoulder and armhole seaming with bulky wools never seem to end with a happy story).
3. then i made a pattern based on the t-shirt buttoned capelet in real yarn. those capelets knitted up so fast and easy and look and feel so good! i wrote up the pattern, printed up copies for sale, loaded it to ravelry and the website for PDF downloads. anyway, the above model was made in Estelle Woolly Bully. I knew the lavender colourway would come out beautiful but it's really a super stunner!
Sunday, September 07, 2008
I'm so sorry for the late update. Stock has been arriving in store fast and furious and I've been up to my neck merchandising (getting it from box to shelf). Other mundane activities have included short bouts of waterproofing my brother's deck, cutting & laminating schools stuff for my sister in law, helping Lisa move (I hope the paint job in your den is OK, I'm not sure about my painting skills, the coverage is frequently lacking), Ramona's wedding and lots of hot weather that makes me a little dozy. But not to worry, I never stopped knitting & designing!
I got a new yarn in from misti, Suril Alpaca & Silk DK, and it is resplendent! i started a pair of soscks for display (1 skein makes a pair on 3mm needles) and i swear to god it knits like butter! i have it on my 12" addis and i was knitting it lying down with my eyes closed. i kept going until 2:15 in the morning until my hand started to hurt. if john wasn't there i would have brought it to bed with me - just for a little reassurance that i'll be able to work on it again the next day ... and maybe a little snuggling.
While I was helping Lisa move last tuesday i came across some noro kureyon sock she picked up in clagary and was frustrated with. (she wanted to make a clapotis with it, and caveat, it's a terrible yarn for a beginner to work with for a clapotis, i have no idea what they were thinking at that store when they sold it to her. if you want to make a clapotis with sock yarn i recommend something in a merino or a sea silk or a cashmere, something that will not stick to itself when you drop the stitches). Anyway, I had just finished my beret (which looks great but i gave away without a photo but i'll make myself one for a pattern) and i was jonesing for a knit so i asked if i could pick it up and start a sock. now i'm totoally into it! i finished the store kureyon socks liane strted and i don't know, there is a mysterious appeal in that yarn. it isn't all that cashmere mcluxury, but it feels really satisfying knitting with it. the end results are cozy, i washed the store socks in eucalan and they softened up. and you seem to get a lot of sock out of it. maybe the coarseness that makes that yarn stick to itself makes the end product cozier?
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