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Don't get me wrong. I love rats. Even with all of the innards outards. From Craftyhedgehog's site on Etsy.

Gift Giving

My Knitting Goals for 2008

I'm a big believer that gifts should be fun, not useful. You need to be careful around me, because if you mention once that you like something, I make a note in my Palm. And then, when your birthday comes around, I look at that list and find something special to buy. I buy toys, games, luxuries. Things that you want but would never buy for yourself.

Today I did a silly thing. I went to Amazon.com and bought every item on one of my wish lists: Sexy Knitting. I had the list down to five books out of all the recent offerings in the realm of "sexy knitting." Domaknitrix, for example, I had browsed in person and found to be wanting. And without a second thought I purchased them all, new.

It all started with Knitting Fashions of the 40's. My mother kept requesting "fun" and frivolous things to buy for me for Christmas. I asked her to buy this book since I knew I never would - I don't think I'll knit a single pattern in this book, ever 0 but I look to look at the pictures for inspiration. It's a very feminine, Dita Von Teese thing that I love.

Then, I became obsessed. I allowed myself some "grief-shopping" and spent $90 without a though and adopted:

Naughty Needles

Romantic Hand Knits

Knitting Lingerie Style

Sexy Little Knits

Sensual Knits

Now, I find spending money promisculously very arousing, but the really sexy thing is this: I'm going to knit these things. These sexy little things. Because I am a beautiful, sexy, attractive, desirable, adorable being. And I deserve pretty little things. And whoa! How neat! If I make them myself.

So the real fun gift from me to me is not the books but that warm and fuzzy self love.

Hello, 2008!

Knitting in the Spotlight

Check out Ms. Angelina Jolie's over sized knit bag. This is going to cause a fashion feeding-frenzy, no doubt.

Oh yeah, knitting!

After having my boyfriend of four years break up with me and asking me to leave our home... After discovering that he had already moved on and was pursuing another woman... After hearing over and over how he didn't cheat on me just because his "intention" was to be friends with her... After moving myself and the cats back to my parents - again... Well, it's been a rough few weeks. I have decided that I NEED to knit.

The good news is that the heartbreak only lasted... a few weeks. Hmm... Much easier to get over than I thought it would be. Bye bye! Back to knitting!

I have been itching to get a project on the needles for weeks. I am determined to start and finish my first "true love" project: the Gedifra entrelac scarf. It WILL be ready by the time it is seasonally appropriate to wear. I have purchased a moderately expensive chaise lounge for my new apartment with comfortable knitting in mind. When I get to decorate (as opposed to "filling the empty spaces with furniture") I am planning to purchase some kind of handy storage for my current project so that it will be neatly and decoratively at hand. I need to make a plan to acquire the appropriate needles, and then skills, to tackle this moderately challenging project. The yarn is beautiful, and costly, and I want it to turn out well. I don't think this wool wrap will be an appropriate commuting project, however.

Having said that, I will also need to start an appropriate commuting project. Would entrelac socks be 'too much'?? I am in desperate need of some fingerless gloves for my painfully cold office. And I have some beautiful verigated merino yarn in a sock/lace-type weight in a beautiful forest-y color way that I wanted to use for a clapotis, perhaps.

But all of my yarn and needles and other happiness is currently trapped in my old, ex-apartment. Sigh. In desperation, my other-mother gave me a skein of acyclic Caron Super Soft in soft blue and a pair of aluminum size 10 straight needles. What am I going to make?

I am going to loop yarn and make a fabric. This fabric will gain its strength from the interconnectedness of each loop. And I will calmly, quietly, and all by myself follow the rules to make a knit stitch over and over. And if I follow the rules, and if all the loops stay together, well then my fabric will have strength.

And so will I.

The Knittin' Kit

As much as I am drawn to the beautiful knitting needle cases, or even putting my straight needles in a lovely vase, I have to love the utilitarian functionality of the Knittin' Kit.


For $42.85, you can have a sturdy nylon binder with eight custom pages for

• Up to 20 Pairs of Single-Pointed Needles
• Up to 20 Double-Pointed Needle Sets of 4
• Up to 48 Circular Needles
• Up to 20 Crochet Hooks

with room for pattern books and other tools & accessories. Included with each binder is a complete needle and hook conversion chart for metric, U.S., UK & former Canadian sizes.

I need to check it out. Right now, it is sold out on Yarnmarket.

For the record: I hate cutesy spelling of words. It's knittinG, people. America's children already have problems with spoken and written language. No need to make it any more difficult.

Knit skirts, who knew?

I made a joke in an earlier post about knitted skirts being doomed to failure. Apparently, I am wrong. See this beautiful creation of the very same Indigo Ripples skirt I mentioned from Interweave Knits Spring 2007 by Eunny. She loves it. So do I.

My Magazine Subscriptions

As I mentioned in an earlier post, I will usually only subscribe to a magazine when I wish to save each issue for future reference or enjoyment. If I'm only going to read it once, I try to check it out at a library or browse at a bookstore or newsstand prior to purchasing. Magazines are just too expensive to purchase and then give away or recycle after one reading.

As I went through my magazines today, and rebuilt some of my lost internet bookmarks, I realized that I subscribe to a dozen different magazines. And most of them are up for renewal right now. {sob}

Sewing:
Vogue Pattern Magazines, 6 issues, $14.95 (renewal price)
Sew Today Magazine (McCall/Butterick Patterns), 4 issues, $11.95 (renewal price)
Vogue Fashion Fabrics swatch service, 6 issues, $30
I have subscribed to the two magazines and swatch service for several years now. I am now adding a new sewing magazine, from the makers of Threads (Taunton) which is chock full of practical sewing advice geared toward high fashion garments:
Sew Stylish, 4 issues, $19.95

Knitting:
Vogue Knitting, 4 issues, $19
After the spectacular Spring issue, I'm adding:
Interweave Knits, 5 issues for $21

Fashion:
Vogue just auto-renewed for a year, 12 issues at $19.97. I think the same is true for W and Lucky. I'll have to double check that to finalize my magazine budget information. I consider these magazines the basic in fashion reading. W is my favorite for photography, but Lucky is the most useful in showing me trends in fashion.

Dungeons and Dragons:
Alright, I don't want to hear it. The best investment I make each year is my subscription to Dungeon and Dragon magazines. I have been a continuous subscriber for {check bookshelf} six years. Each month, I eagerly await the arrival of the brand new issue. I read each issue cover to cover (ads included) before I am done. I will often save these magazines for a "special reading occasion" such as a Saturday morning in bed. I also read and reread each issue to the point of abuse. Having said that, I need to renew:
Dragon, 12 issues $38.95
Dungeon, 12 issues $38.95
This is also the ONLY magazine I will ever subscribe to for more than one year at a time, even though there is no discount.

Finally, my only general magazine, Every Day Food. Even though it is a Martha Stewart product, I find the magazine to be simple and down to earth. It contains easy recipes using food that is in season. It also offers freeze ahead suggestions, shopping lists, and general cooking information. I just subscribed to this one.

This year, I have decided not to renew my subscription to Selvedge. Even though it is a beautiful magazine full of interesting information, I've decided to change it to a month to month decision. Also, I will not renew a trial subscription to Pink, a magazine for female executives.

Update:
Okay, for sewing magazines it's $76.85 per year, plus whatever I buy at the bookstore. That's approximately $3.84 for 20 issues.

For knitting magazines, it is $40 for nine issues, or about $4.44 each. But I buy lots of other knitting magazines at the bookstore.

For Dungeons and Dragons, I spend $77.90 for a year, or $3.25 an issue. That's a steal for the amount of times I've read these magazines.

Right now, we're looking at a sub-total of $194.75 a year and 53 magazines.

What's so fascinating about entrelac?

What is so fascinating to me about entrelac? I don't know, but it's neat.

Criminy Jickets Garterlac Dishcloth pattern is available for free.
The entrelac socks from Interweave Knits Spring 2007 issue is scrumptious in Koigu. I could be naked and just wear these socks. {drool}Then, there is the original inspiration for my entrelac obsession, and a definite MUST KNIT. From Gedifra Highlights 043, pattern 618.
And, also from Gedifra, the entrelac sweater. And it's shown in a green colorway! Woot!

Knitting Technique: Socks

Why I want to learn how to knit socks:

1) It was what originally drew me to knitting.

2) I love funky, original socks.

3) Sock yarns are gorgeous.

4) It is a very portable project.

5) Socks provide a quick sense of accomplishment.

6) Socks are always practical.

Stitchdiva Pattern: Goddess

I'm undecided on this pattern. It caught (and still catches) my eye as sexy knitting. Plus, the description makes it sound like a good learning experience. I'm just afraid that if this project goes wrong, that it would go very wrong...

Interweave Knits Spring 2007

This issue of Interweave Knits for Spring 2007 has strengthened my desire for a subscription. Available on the bottom of the web page is an offer for 5 issues (a year plus one) for $21 for US subscribers. When I know a magazine is going to be consistently high quality, with issues worth saving to refer to again and again, then I don't mind subscribing.

First, one item I may actually some day be able to knit: entrelac socks. Here in two colors of Koigu. It uses six skeins. I probably can't afford these socks.

Here is the lovely Swan Lake Cardigan by Joan McGowan Micheal from White Lies Designs. The added touch of sewn ruffles at the sleeve and bottom edge makes this item a standout. I would love to have this in my wardrobe to dress up or dress down. Also from a favorite designer. a tank from Wenlan Chia of Twinkle and Twinkle's Big City Knits. Although I am not fond of this tank, I had an opportunity to browse this book at a local bookstore today and found it full of original and exotic ideas. But I'm just not sure I'll be able to knit anything in the book. Another item that caught my eye was a simple skirt with lace border pattern in a denim yarn. Why am I fascinated by knit skirts? Am I just dooming myself to failure? Also, seems good on paper: a knit bandeau.
Finally, file this final pattern under the category of "Wow! I can't believe I knit that!" If I made this capelet with its cables and bobbles and delicate bobble edging, I would force innocent strangers on the street to stop and admire my mad skills.

First FO (knitting) ever!

For my first project that I could actually knit, I chose the The Big Net Oversize Scarf Stole, a free pattern from Crystal Palace. I loved the dramatic size and wonderful texture of the design. Plus, it is a very simple pattern in garter stitch and fringe. While the original was in a monochromatic white, I planned mine in three shades of dark blue. I purchased the three yarns from various sources online including eBay.

Accidentally, however, I purchased Crystal Palace Summer Net yarn in Light Periwinkle Grape instead of Big Net yarn which drastically changed the scale of the project. Also, the three yarns did not go together in real life the same way they did on my monitor. Rather than be disappointed, I knit one scarf with the three skeins of Summer Net with a Crystal Palace Glam Lapis Violet fringe, and a second scarf with the two skeins of Crystal Palace Raggedy Lagoon. Both were knit in garter stitch on size 19 plastic needles purchased for this project. I knit these two scarves while commuting to and from work on New York City public transportation, so I am not certain exactly how long it took for me to complete.

Knitting these scarves kept me sane during a five hour daily commute and miserable (but thankfully short-lived) job. Although the scarf knit with Summer Net is attractive, it is purely decorative and not really to my taste. I'm not sure if I will ever wear it. My friend Carolyn likes it, though - maybe I will give it to her. The scarf knit with Raggedy produced a warm, soft and dense fabric I found to be quite attractive and functional. I wore it with my two blue suits for recent job interviews during the unseasonably cold weather these past three weeks. I can't wait to knit with ribbon or tape yarn again.

pictures of FO will be posted soon

My Knitting Autobiography

I consider myself fortunate to be part of a family of talented, creative people. I myself have dabbled in a few crafts, mostly fiber crafts, since I was a toddler. I failed miserably at crochet as a youngster, and proceeded to convince myself that I could never knit. After all, knitting used TWO needles.

A few years ago, I became intrigued by the notion of crocheting or knitting socks after looking at a Mary Maxim catalog of my mother's. I immediately fell in love with the colorful, self striping sock yarns. It's magic! And I love funky patterns, wild colors, and knee highs. I put "learn to knit / crochet socks" on my someday / maybe list and promptly forgot about it.

Fast forward to 2005. I was working at a mind numbing job and in a wonderful, stable relationship for the first time in my life. And I was bored silly. I would come home from work, cook dinner, clean up and be completely "done" by 6 o'clock. The hours until bedtime seemed to drag. I became so obsessed with housework (Monday is recycling! Tuesday I clean the bathrooms!) that I drove my boyfriend crazy. "Get a hobby!" my boyfriend demanded lovingly. Among other things, I decided to teach myself to knit.

Being the anti-social type, I purchased two books: Stitch and Bitch and Teach Yourself Visually Knitting and Crocheting. I also purchased a random size of bamboo needles (I still don't know what size they are - 3? Smaller than 5, anyway...) and a large skein of practice acrylic Red Heart Super-Saver yarn in Delft Blue. And then with the text from S&B and the beautiful photos from Visually, I taught myself to cast on, knit, and purl. I made a conscious decision to learn continental style, since based on Debbie Stoller's description it seemed more efficient. I made various bright blue, acrylic swatches. My boyfriend asked if I was ever going to knit something. For me, I was just enjoying the act of knitting.

Then, I became bold and decided to order a project. I picked what seemed to be a simple poncho from Mary Maxim. Sadly, before I even received my kit in the mail, Martha Stewart decided to leave prison in what became the infamous "Freedom Poncho". And I realized that I could never, ever wear my poncho in public. Or, at least not for a very long time. So I had 6 skeins of Bernat Solo in Rustic and a pair of Susan Bates size 15 aluminum needles to start my stash.

It was at this time that I became obsessed with all things knitting: mainly knitting blogs, patterns and yarn. Amazing, beautiful yarn in all of its infinite creation. In all of my fiber arts, my favorite part has always been the textiles themselves - the fabric, ribbon, or yarn - and the multitude of creative possibilities that each item possesses.

I started reading a few blogs, good friends, that I still read today (and every day.) Laurie from Crazy Aunt Purl, Stephanie from Yarn Harlot, Kate from Fiber Fever... And I purchased my second project pattern and yarn. A Gedifra entrelac scarf that I still cannot knit.
Pattern: 618 from Gedifra Highlights 042
Yarn: Gedifra Fashion Trend Stripe 4679

Around this time, I decided to go back to college to obtain my Bachelors Degree. I started a program at Berkeley College for Fashion Marketing and Merchandising. Knitting was forced to compete with sleep, cleaning, and seeing my family in little was left of my time. When I picked up knitting again, I found that I could no longer knit continental and started to knit American. But I was determined to pick a project and actually knit something.