Please be patient while I update my old blog to the new WordPress format!
Thanks,
Trish
Category: blog
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And Barry Blows Through…
Today has been a rather blustery day as we experienced the remnants of Tropical Storm Barry. So rather than having a typical knit-by-the-pool summer afternoon, we took the kids to see Shrek the Third. Actually it was their idea to take Daddy to see Shrek for his birthday. Wasn’t that nice of them? 🙂 We’d be lying though if we did not say that we also enjoyed this latest installment from Far, Far Away. In fact, there’s plenty of humor for all age levels, and we enjoyed it a lot!I got a new book this week! It’s Very Easy Circular Knits: Simple Techniques and Step-by-Step Projects for the Well-Rounded Knitter by Betty Barnden. It’s a combination beginning knitting/learn circular knitting book, and a cool project book too. I think even if you’d never knit a stitch before you might be able to pick up this book and start right off as a circular knitter. Call me weird, but that’s what I did! I just love knitting in the round.
Even cooler though is the wide variety of circular projects included in this book. It touches on just about everything, from scarves and hats and bags and socks and pillows and gloves and mittens, and even sweaters. It covers color work, cables, increases and decreases, and shows with very clear pictures different types of cast ons. And that one very important thing about circular knitting that used to elude me when I started, the old “join, being careful not to twist.” There are good pictures in the book that show what this means.
I haven’t knit anything in the book yet so I don’t know if there is anything major wrong with it. The patterns may be too simplistic for some, but I think it’s a really good introduction to a lot of the really cool things that can be done with circular needles. It’s worth a look!
The KnitWiki
So I was listening to a back episode of Cast On with Brenda Dayne when she mentioned that Sarah Bradberry (whose site I adore!) has started a KnitWiki on her website. A knit-what-ee? you ask? A wiki is a community-run encylcopedia. Anyone can join the community and add to the body of knowledge, including patterns, techniques, discussion, history… you name it! With all the knowledge out there about knitting on the Internet, imagine what it would be like if all of that knowledge came together in one place?? Wow. Check it out!
My Own Knitting…
I’m still knitting away on my stripey baby blanket. Progress is slow because the stitches are so tiny! But still, I persevere. I’ll post a photo next time. Bye for now!
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Blankie Update
Well, it’s taken me about a week to come down from The Maryland Sheep and Wool Festival. I wish it could be more than once a year. I scored some really lovely denim blue silk from Tess Yarns, in what I think is enough to knit a top for myself. But before I can even think about conquering my fears of knitting clothing, I must finish the rainbow baby blanket I’ve been working on. As you can see in the photo, I have a looooooooong way to go! I’m thanking goodness that I have a long car trip coming up later this summer. I’m looking forward to the knitting time in the car almost as much or more than I am the vacation itself. Is that crazy, or what? I have my iPod and my knitting…. what else could I want?I’m really enjoying the striped blanket though, it looks random, but it’s not really, and every time I change colors I have a brief feeling of surprise. I think it’s the color changes that are keeping my motivation going. If you’d like to see a description of my method for this project, go to the April 5 entry.
Anyway, that’s what’s going on in my knitting world this week. The pool opens for the season on Saturday, and I’m looking forward to a summer filled with knitting.
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As the Sheep Bleats…AKA Another Fabulous Day at the Maryland Sheep And Wool Festival
Yesterday marked my third visit to the annual Maryland Sheep and Wool Festival. This year was extra special because I got to meet so many new friends! See below for my fabuluos images of an unforgettable day!
Until I can figure out how to embed my image galleries into these blog pages, you can click the link below to see my pictures from my day at MSW ’07:
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My Own Warshrag!
Just had to share! My friend Rhoda came over last Sunday for some quality knit time, and brought with her some dishcloths that she was working on. I admired this one so much that when she cast off she gave it to me! Of course I was attracted to the muted, rainbow-y shades, and I commented that wow, what a lovely pair of socks this colorway would make. Except of course that it’s dishcloth cotton, and not sock cotton. But still, it’s yummy, don’tcha think? thanks, Rhoda!MSW Update
Yay! The Maryland Sheep and Wool Festival is in only 3 days! For all the members of KnitTalk who are planning to attend, we’re having a quick group meet and greet, just inside the main building, at noon on Saturday, May 5. Can’t wait to see you there!
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Pod People
Ok, so the most amazing and wonderful thing happened to me last Saturday. Actually, the story is a bit longer than that.Back in March, I was finally fitted with my new motorized wheelchair. My last one had been my main mode of transport for the last 9 years, so the new one took some getting used to. Specifically, it has this fun little thing on the side which I can only describe as the wheelchair equivalent of a glove compartment, very handy for carrying things such as the cell phone and van keys. Not so great, it turns out, for MP3 players.
I had been the owner of a Creative Jukebox Zen Xtra, the big one with the mondo 60GB hard drive. I love music and literally own hundreds of CD’s, and this early model large hard drive device had been my constant companion for the last three years or so. And no, I’m not exaggerating… I have big ol’ speakers to plug into it at home, really cool speakers on and under my desk at work, and a car adapter, so really, my music is absolutely everywhere with me.
On my first day home alone with my new chair, I clipped the doorway with the glove compartment thingy, which renders my total width almost two inches wider than I had been used to for 9 years. My MP3 player bounced out, and crashed to the floor, and broke. I mean really, how was this possible? I’d dropped it lots of times before, even on the concrete pool deck at the swim club, with no ill effect.
To say I was heartbroken was putting it mildly. For the last several weeks I had been making do with an SD card in my PDA (yep, I’m a gadget geek!), but even with the 2GB card, it just wasn’t the same! I wanted all of my music at my fingertips, and I missed it terribly.
Well, last week, my very good friend Steve (he has to be a good friend to take me to the Sheep and Wool Festival, right?) came into the house carrying a gift bag. This is such a rare thing to happen that at first I actually assumed that his sister Cindy had sent a little something from Illinois! Oh boy. Was I ever surprised when I opened the gifts and found a brand new 80GB iPod Video! I was beyond flabergasted and completely overjoyed. Yes, the gift was extravagant to the point that I truly did not know what to say. But, more than that, m friend truly understood what my MP3 player had meant to me and how much it had played a role in my day-to-day life. My friend Steve is someone who would be there for me, no matter what. He has given so much of himself over the years, and is a true support to me and my family. So yes, I am overwhelmed. He really “got it.” And now, I am happily re-loading my music library and my practically every waking moment is once again filled with music.
So Where’s the Knitting Connection?
I’ve discovered Podcasts! Wow, they’re fun. There are quite a few knitting podcasts listed on iTunes. Right now, my favorite is Cast On, by Brenda Dayne. I also really love Let’s Knit2gether, which is a really cool video podcast. And the best part about podcasts? They’re totally FREE! Where have these BEEN all my life? As you can see in the photo, I can get my daily nerdy news fix, fulfill my travel fantasies, and catch a few laughs and other stuff, too. I think I am addicted to these podcasts, and I currently have more than 80 different episodes of various ones to view and listen to. They’ll keep me busy, for sure. Haha.Thank you so much, Steve!!
From the Newsstand…
Today I stopped by Barnes and Noble and picked up three new knitting magazines: Interweave Knits, Creative Knitting, and Knit Today, which I had actually not seen before but was intrigued. It was bundled with a booklet that had a bunch of patterns for bags in it, so I figured it was worth a look. Haven’t checked it out yet, but when I do, I’ll let you know.
And I am actully considering subscribing to Interweave Knits, because I’m curious to see how Eunny Jang is going to do as their new editor. To be honest, I had never even heard of her before the discussion about her kicked up after the Interweave Knits announcement. The Old Guard wondering what a hip young thing of 24 can do with the magazine. Lots of others saying that she is a brilliant writer and knitter. I have since discovered the latter to be true myself, but as a writer and editor by profession, I cannot imagine having that amount of responsibility on my shoulders at such a young age. Heck, I couldn’t imagine it now. But I am rooting for her and I want her to do well. So, I am anxious to see her debut issue when it comes out in the fall.