June 10, 2006It's a Beautiful Thing!Still in catching up mode, I have to share with you the beautiful new swift that I got a couple of weeks ago. It's handmade by Mike at Dragonfly Turnings, and it is exquisite! Mine is crafted of Brazilian Cherry, and has foldable arms for easy storage. My DH gave me a beautiful wooden umbrella swift Christmas before last. We all know the one. It clamps to a table, and expands and collapses like an umbrella. Seemed like a good idea at the time, especially since I'm the one who specifically asked for it. However, when it arrived I quickly realized that nearly every table I use had an apron on it that prevented the swift from clamping properly, and even more than that, I found the operation of the swift to be a huge challenge for my dexterity. In contrast, this new swift is so easy to use! It is easily and quickly assembled, and it works GREAT for me! Plus the adjustable pegs allow you to do hanks of just about any size. I love it! Plus, the handcrafted aspect and the beautiful wood make me feel good when I'm using it. It really is a beautiful thing. Thanks, Mike! June 9, 2006An Amazing Gift!Tonight I went to my mother's house for dinner with John and the kids and my stepfather's sister Nella joined us for dinner. She surprised me with this! Can you believe it? My favorite color is purple, and it will even fit me, too. Nella learned to knit as a young girl in Italy, and she did this without a pattern and without taking any measurements of me. I am just amazed. She was wearing a similar one to my mother's Easter gathering, and I asked her where she got it. Hers was bright aqua with tan stripes and I fell in love with it. Now, Nella is a lot tinier than I am and I asked her if maybe someday she could make one for me. And she said, "Sure I can. But I don't know when." So imagine my surprise that it was done already, without any measuring or try-ons! How is it that some people just have "the eye" and can do this? I feel so lucky today! June 8, 2006Mega-Bloggy!Ok, so it's been a looong while since you've heard from me. But you see, I've been in computer jail. Windows apparently decided to experience a critical corruption that caused me to have to redo my computer from nearly scratch. Thank goodness most of my files were recovered. No, It's NOT a Postage Stamp!DH has been teasing me about the tiny triangle at the left for a couple of weeks now. I'm attempting to make a Clapotis using KnitPicks Shimmer, which is a lace weight yarn. My goal is to have a summer weight shawl. Problem is that I've never knit with yarn this thin before, and it's tough getting used to. I think I've cast on at least 15 times by now, but I finally think I have the hang of it. It will be yummy when done but to make it wide enough for a shawl, each row will have hundreds of stitches. So, yeah, I guess I'm crazy!! But This Yarn Has a Story...But isn't it lovely? The colorway is called Happy Dance, and it's two shades of pink offset by a sunny yellow. Perfect colorway for a summery wrap. I took this picture using the macro photography setting on my camera... it's amazing how small a ball of fingering weight yarn can actually be! I finally got to meet Lissa, who is on several e-mail groups that I'm on. We've been meaning to meet for months and I'm glad we finally got together, on May 20, at Whitehall Pool. We ate lunch and talked lots, and then she tried to show me how to do long tail cast on. It took me several tries to get it right. And then, of course the minute I tried it on my own, later that night, I couldn't get it right. Oh drat! I guess that means Lissa will just have to come back! :-) Then we wound that aforementioned Shimmer yarn into that teeny ball above. Actually, Lissa did the winding. And I held my arms up and was the "Human Swift". I had so much fun that day! There's so much more to tell about my last month or so of knitting, but it's late and I gotta go to bed! More later... |
Knitting ResourcesAbout Me - If you really GOTTA know who's writing this blog... Got Feedback? Visit the Guestbook Work in Progress: Aran Sampler Rainbow Blankie - Click this page to see all the cool designs that are going into this project! Finished Object Gallery - This page doesn't have a lot on it! I'm notorious for not finishing projects. But check back from time to time as I just might surprise myself! Trish's Knitting Library - This is an assortment of knitting books and related materials that I've enjoyed, so I thought I would share them with you. Trish's Knitting Links - I surf a lot for knitting resources so I thought I'd start compiling my discoveries here. Check back often! The KnitList - This is probably one of the oldest and most comprehensive knitting resources on the Web. There are literally thousands of members, and people are always ready to provide information and help. KnitTalk - and if you're sick of the Knitlist and just want a warm fuzzy place to chat about knitting, try this group on for size. KnitHatsNow - A mailing list devoted to people who love to knit hats! We maintain an always-growing list of free hat patterns available on the web. KnittingScarves - A mailing list devoted to people who love to knit scarves! We maintain an always-growing list of scarf patterns available on the web. Crocheters are welcome, too. Knitty - Very creative online knitting magazine. Great patterns and really great articles. Best of all, it's FREE. Trish's Knitting TipsKnitting Small Round Objects Without Double Pointed Needles (a.k.a., "The Magic Loop") - Learning this technique revolutionized the way I knit! The booklet which describes the technique in detail is published by Fiber Trends and is available through a huge variety of knitting retailers. I also found that I learned the technique on my own pretty well visiting this website: How to Knit Small Circumferences Using One Long Circular Needle.
My Own PatternsCables and Eyelets Scarf -- I put this pattern together and I'm enjoying it a lot so far! Of course, my sample is still in the UFO pile, but the pattern is a lot of fun to knit. Fancy Cabled Braided Scarf -- My first pattern! I love cables, and I love this scarf. I hope you enjoy it, too! Commercial Knitting ResourcesThe Yarn Market - My current favorite yarn store. A wide selection of beautiful and fun yarns. Knitpicks - My other favorite yarn store. This one carries tons of accessories and doo-dads I can't live without! Recently, Knitpicks has begun carrying their own house-brand yarn. The reviews are good and the prices can't be beat! Be sure to check them out. Denise Interchangeable Needles - I love these needles and I use them exclusively. I have two sets! The needle sizes range from 5-15, and the cables can be combined to make almost any length. I find these needles lightweight and easy to work with. Favorite Knitting BlogsWendyKnits - This one is a hoot to read and contains lots of info on really interesting projects! But, Kudos to Wendy's tip on Cabling Without a Cable Needle. I've read many directions before, but this one was the one that caused my "light bulb" to go off. ArchivesVisit My Other Sites!Day Family on The Web - This is our family website; check often for updates on the kids and other news.
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"When I dare to be powerful, to use my strength in the service of my vision, then it becomes less and less important whether I am afraid." --Audre Lorde ©2004 Patricia Day; All Rights Reserved. E-mail Trish: Trish@trishday.com |