Regia Yarn - Cool and Mysterious, Magical

Inca 5499 Each of these photos is from the internet today. Supposed to be of the same thing.
That's my Regia Color. Why on earth did it take an hour of web sluething to find that out?
And, not one of the online photos looks anything like the balls of yarn I have here.
But, I love it anyway. Why do I want to work with yarn that is hard to find, hard to match, hard to figure out?
Because it is soooo cool to get the fun little pattens and stripes without having to strand or weave in a million ends. It's worth it.
Now, I'm toe swatching while the game's on, so gotta go.....

Knitting Cables with out a Cable - Thanks Grumperina

Today, in honor of St Patrick's Day, I cast on a headband / ear warmer. It's Bernat Softee Chunky in Med Sea Green. It's what crawled to the top of the stash when I opened the door. Or, I should say it's the first Green that caught my eye. So, I cast on 13 stitches by chain stitch through the back loop. I'm using a 16" size 8 circular needle, probably too small as the ball band recommends a size 10. But, I like to live dangerously ! The plan is to do a k1, p1 at each edge and then do a 9 stitch braided cable in the middle. So, I started surfing and found the Grumperina Cabling with out a Cable Needle page. This is absolutely the best way to practice this and see if I like it. So far, it's going great. Thanks Grumperina.

Headbands: Is there an age limit? Fashion Police?

Is there an age limit on headbands?
I would love to wear a headband.
I would like to knit a headband.
When, and why, did I stop wearing headbands?
There seem to be a lot of them in the magazines, on TV, out and about. The patterns are everywhere, if a pattern is really needed to knit a headband. Headbands seem to come in every fiber, texture and color. Wide, skinny, slick, chunky........ The store's got a whole row of them in the haircare section, as well as endcaps full of them in each department for female clothes. They've even got them in the dog food aisle for the little doggy darling.
Are they really that popular in real life? A few weeks ago, in the coldest part of winter, I saw an older (than myself) woman wearing a scarf-like headband about 4 inches wide. It was beautiful. But, I couldn't help wondering if she was wearing it to cover up a hair issue: hair loss, needing a dye touch-up, covering the wig line, who knows?
One of my lifelong issues with headbands has been the slide off factor. I don't seem to have enough hair, or maybe the right texture hair for a headband to stay on my head. It has to be pretty elastic, and not too slick, or it'll just slide right off. Maybe it's the shape of my head. Or the size.
Pet peeve alert: Not everyone is the same. Imagine that. Anything that is "one size fits all" will probably not fit most people very well.
And why is it that a headband that is tight enough to stay put will invariably cause a headache? You know; much like that headache from the brand new glasses that squeeze your head 'till the dents behind your ears are permanent. I have always suspected that the reason the glasses stop hurting after a while is because they've killed the nerves. But, I have always had problems with the dime-store plastic headbands because they really hurt to wear.

Then there's the fashion issues. Is it really fashionable? Am I too old for this? Does this headband make my butt look big? Does it make my head look funny?
I have to admit that although I love to knit hats, I have yet to knit one that I like how it looks on me. That hasn't always stopped me from wearing them. Even when my family says "Ohhh, maybe you ought to check the mirror". If Gilda Radner could admit to basing her fashion sense on what doesn't itch, I can base mine on keeping warm and/or cool. And now, my kids tell me that hats aren't allowed a lot of places they go because of "security issues" and "gang overtones". What is that about? And, at where is the line where a headband becomes a hat?

I went through a (non)fashion phase a few years ago where I didn't cut my hair for a long time and wore a headband almost every day. The Goody company made one that I loved, for about 2 years. Now I can't find them anymore. The ones that I had have all broken - the risk of wearing cheap plastic. And - my DD1 got a hairdresser friend to threaten me, cut my hair, and make me swear to quit wearing any "device" on my head that cost less than 99 cents each. They were trying to tell me it wasn't good for my "professional image".
So, what's the Fashion Police say? Can a professional grown up woman wear a headband? And what would it look like if she could? Could it be a hand knit? Well coordinated with the outfit?
Keep in mind that my idea of "doing my hair" is limited to dandruff shampoo no more than 5 times a week. My "hair tools" are limited to A Comb and A Hairbrush. Sometimes, I actually look in a mirror while brushing through the wet hair. While I do own a curling iron and a blow dryer, both have been used by DD2 on her puppy more this winter than ever on my hair. Not counting the shower time, the average daily time spent on my hair probably averages out to less than 3 minutes per day (but only if you add in the time I spend with my "Colorist" (DD2). She likes to "paint in the blank spots where all the color's missing" for me. That's about as good as I can do for girl's night.
So, what's the Fashion Jury verdict? Skinny or Wide? Over the ears, or behind the ears?

Wherefore art thou, Socktopia?

Does't yea know what happened to Socktopia?
I'm getting a "this might be for sale" message when I go there.
I was searching for scale-ish knit stitches, and happened to find a lot of references on other blogs to Socktopia.
I totally missed the Harry Potter series, and am searching high and low for "dragon scale" like knitting patterns. The photos I'm seeing online are absolutely awesome!
How did I miss this? I had a pretty serious LACE phase last year. Maybe it was during all that. I got caught up in Peacock Feather lace, and totally lost track of time and space.
There is just sooooo much cool stuff out there, how is one to keep up with it all?
Let me know if you know where I can catch up to the patterns or Socktopia.
TIA everybody...........
Ruby

Is Bamboo an Earth Friendly or "Green" Yarn?

I'm looking forward to spring. I am really ready for this winter to be over!
Every once in a while, we have a somewhat nice day and I venture outside.
Several years ago, we planted bamboo, and it's getting to the stage where it could be harvested without damaging the planting.
And, I've been reading a lot about Bamboo Yarn. So, I decided to look up what it takes to make bamboo into yarn. Might come in handy if I'm ever on Survivor, right?
Anyway, I found some pretty scary stuff out there when they try to describe the process. And, it seems to be a pretty industrially intensive process. Something requiring some pretty exotic sounding chemicals and some expensive sounding machines. I'll keep looking though.
Let me know if you know how this really happens.

Cast On - a podcast for knitters

How long has this been going on that I missed out on it?

Probably because I was boycotting anything with the word POD in it.
iPod, Podcasting, storage PODS, Pain Of Death, Payable On Death,
P.O.D. is a Grammy-nominated, multi-platinum, Nu metal band from San Diego, California.
And then there's the infamous 1978 Invasion of the Body Snatchers movie:
Pods = scary (Sutherland, Goldblum, & Nimoy are forever linked in the fear zone of my memory)
I never wanted to work in a Pod - a cubicle, a cube farm, a huge office with little spaces and no windows and no view outside, ... Yeah, well, get over it, sometimes a knitter's gotta do what a knitter's gotta do to finance the habits (addictions, obsessions).

Anyway, with the help of my technorati / geekology progeny, I am now seriously addicted to podcasts. This Cast-On podcast is definitely the gateway podcast for knitters. The kids turning me on to this pod cast thing ranks right up there with when my DH emailed me a link to a game site with the Subject: "Check this out, it's addictive".
What was he thinking, and then how dare he complain that I spent too much time playing computer games! If you have an addictive personality, or know someone who has issues with this; do us all a favor: Do Not give them this link.

But, nonetheless, I'm thankful that they did. Bless those little enablers' hearts.

The Knitting Guild Association Forums

I was just over at the TKGA forums. Very nice place, actually. A poster was writing about finding offensive patterns online. How do you feel about that?

When I first started this blog, I was seeking out those kind of things. I was taking the line "You Knit What?" to the limit. And, I was going to be Snarky and critique stuff that people put online. It was going to be fun. I was looking for the funny, "Fuggly", and odd.
There's some bizarre stuff out there. There were people selling knit stuff on eBay that had never even occurred to me. Some of it was funny, but I couldn't put it on a blog that I knew my DD might read. Then, I started finding the sick and twisted. Some of these knitters really need some Dr. Phil. Maybe it's a therapy for them to knit what they can't otherwise talk about. If the examples you listed make you truly sad and disappointed, the other stuff would really get a reaction out of you. Without undue description; in one week, I found pattens to knit: anatomy one doesn't usually see, items you would have to be over 18 to buy legally (or view), alternative definitions of "fantasy items", "toys", "tools", and marital aids, the list goes on. Even with the safe searching features on, I found all kinds of stuff that had deviant meanings for common words. I know that a lot of it is there for the shock value. When I started this, I thought I was a worldly, culturally savvy, tough, grown-up woman. I thought that I wanted to know all about everything out there. How bad could it be?

I was quite overwhelmed in a very short time. And then, I didn't blog at all for a while. I've come to realize that I don't want to know everything that's out there. Sometimes, I want to put my head in the Sand; I want the filtered and sanitized version. Like the newscasters and talk radio people that won't say the Shooter's names when reporting on the recent Killing Sprees; I have decided to not give them publicity. By showing my horror and reacting, aren't I reinforcing their problem behavior?
Not knowing the whole story, but only seeing the photos and reading the blogs, how can a person know when they're egging someone on in their self-destructive spiral? How can we help give others the positive reinforcement they need? But, the actresses that are acting out really don't need the publicity. The Buzz they're getting should be enough.
With everything in the media, is is possible that we are so Jaded by the bizarre? Constantly needing more excitement, more shocking, more unbelievable? Does everything really need to be the MOST ? Biggest, Baddest, Ultimate, Horrific, ? What's next after that?

Ravelry ?

https://www.ravelry.com/account/login
Has anyone out there been using the Ravelry site? I don't even know what it is really, but I signed up for an invitation. About 5 minutes later, I typed in to "check my place in line".

• You signed up on Today
• You are #111471 on the list.
• 5680 people are ahead of you in line.
• 4 people are behind you in line.
• 93% of the list has been invited so far

Then I notice that the title line on the page that gives you this information is "antsy".
Good humored Snarkiness? Right back atcha:
How good must this be? Wow! Is this what one would call a phenomenon?

organize. Organize your projects, stash, needles, and more.

Is this an answer to my prayers? Or what? Man, this is worse than waiting for - what? I don't even know what I'm waiting for.

And then, I notice It's In BETA. So this isn't even the final product yet, and we're all lining up to get it? Man, that's serious HYPE! Or not......... We shall see what the future holds.

Buying Patterns online

Have you ever bought a pattern online? How was it?
Except for one, the only patterns I have downloaded are the free ones from the yarn companies, and Knitty, and other websites that I'll remember later. The one that I paid for, I was never able to successfully download because I didn't have enough bandwidth or a fast enough connection (at the time). The vendor "cheerfully" refunded to my PayPal account.
Anyway, I've been searching for years for a true "wedding ring shawl" pattern. I once found a book listing it on Amazon, for $45. At that time, I wasn't willing to pay that much.
I just don't know if I'm willing to pay from $4 to $25 for one single pattern.
Downloading instantly from the internet would be great though. I might get started sooner and not get sidetracked onto another project if I didn't have to wait for the pattern in the mail. Or, would it just incite me into starting even more UFOs that would go lurking in the attic to haunt me?
I did order a pattern from someone on eBay that was wonderful. They sent it all printed on nice paper with a "real" photograph attached. And it didn't take that long to get it. The first one came out fabulously. Since then, I lost it halfway through knitting it the second time. I think it was Curlicue, or Cirlicue maybe? Oat Coature doesn't seem to sell online anymore, none of my LYSs carry it. One of the many tribulations of being chronically disorganized. Someday.........

Back to Looking for Dragonscale stitch - without holes

So, if the DS wants mitts, he'll get mitts, by Golly! Vibrant Lime Grasshopper Green : that's a Dragon Color isn't it?
Which puts me back to the search for a Dragonscale pattern that isn't lace, and doesn't have vertical lines making stripes. I'll be taking the suggestion of a poster at the TKGA forums (http://tkgamessageboard.groupee.net/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/8291079361/m/1491070303) to use a lace pattern, but use a mk1 instead of a YO. This may lead to SWATCHING! Ohhh Noooo!

It's off to the hunt......... How dangerous can Dragon Scale Hunting be anyway?

But, he doesn't want socks. He wants Mitts

Ok, so I'm all excited about the Cat Bordhi Sock book. I'm seeing some stuff in here thats Manly (in a very RenFest way). Remembering the DS that has not received anything knitted in a long time, the one that started all this knitting obsession with his Harry Potter Scarf. And I've found the best hot green yarn in the stash: Cascade Fixation Cotton - bright lime green. I coral the 12 yo DS to have him pick out one of these cool patterns for Socks. I even knit up the first pair of the practice socks; so some baby in the future will receive a very distinctive pair of camo color socks. DS patiently hmms, and well's his way through the Sock Book and then declares that what he really NEEDS is a pair of MITTS ! This yarn is "begging" him to be mitts. So, now what? I've probably started 10 pairs of mitts in the last 3 years. I do fine with the kind that has NO fingers whatsoever, but this time he wants to have the fingers except the tips. He reminded me about the cheap $1 store gloves that we chopped the fingertips off and flame sealed the frayed ends for Halloween. And then he proceeded to wear them for the rest of the winter. He even reminds me that his hands are only going to get bigger, so now would be the easier time to make them. While his hands are still almost as small as mine. Way to make a Mom feel Old.
Yep, no time like the present. Green Mitts it is.

Why would I think that starting reading a new book...

Why would I think that starting reading a new book would be the right thing to do right now?
Why do I start new things when I'm stressed out?
Why am I even really feeling stressed?

I've had the book for a while, and I was saving it as a reward for ____? For what?
Good Grades? Cleaning my Room? Why do I continue to treat myself as if I'm a child?

Anyway, Cat Bordhi is awesome. Do you think she teaches the way she writes?
If more teachers did, so many more kids would get math.
I always loved math, and geometry, and all that stuff that girls were NOT supposed to be good at.
Oh, well.
But, back to Cat ... Some of her stuff is really goofy, and I just can't see anyone wearing some of it except at the Renaissance Festival. But, man would it be COOL for the RenFest! Lots of her stuff will be very appreciated by my LOTR and D&D crowd. And everything has such Great Names. Quirky just barely begins to describe this.

Got a new book - Cat Bordhi New Pathways for Sock Knitters

Got a new book today! Yeah!
Where to start? What to do first?
Wow! love it, love it.
I'm beginning to think I have a problem though.
I seem to like to read about knitting more than I want to actually knit.
Maybe.
Surely not! It cannot be so! Banish the thought!

Lion Yarn - Felting experiment

Puppy Coats:
To knit a coat for a puppy seems pretty sensible. But, DH and DD want it to not be yarn. We had a scare with this puppy early on with yarn. DD was playing with him, teaching him to "chase" a ball of yarn, holding onto a piece of yarn pulled out of center. Pup got a strand of the yarn wrapped around a tooth, bleeding (and screaming and crying) ensued. So, DH forbids yarn as a toy or clothing for the pup.
DH has always been anti-knit-toy for babies too. On the theory that they could chew loose a piece of the yarn, get a long ravel going, and choke or get hung up in the yarn.
So, wouldn't felting work for that problem too?

Lionbrand Yarn has a Charity Search

Do you use Lion Brand yarn? I've got a ton of it in my stash. Yes, lots of the "real knitters" aka "yarn snobs" will tell you that it's inappropriate for serious knitting. But, let's be real; it's affordable, available, trendy or classic, reliable. Lion has textures and colors that everyone can relate to. They have the traditional basic afghan yarn to the trendy hot colors that come and go faster than a teen changes moods.
Anyway, I never noticed it before, but their website has a whole Charity Search area. You can look up charities several ways. Just type in your location, and how far you're willing to go to send or deliver your craft, and they'll fix you up with a list of what group in your area needs what. Or, you can type in your interest: say "hats", "chemo", "Veterans", "Prison", or "transplant" and it'll search for those words in the name of the organziation and their description and requests lists. In just a couple of minutes, I found seveal nearby ministries that need finished crafts as well as some that are asking for YARN ! So, if you bought tons of Lion yarn when you were first starting out and now you've moved beyond that phase: You could Donate the Yarn. Stash Clearing! What could this do for my OCD-hoarding thing? And now that I'm doing my taxes, I bet it could be a deduction IF I can Document it Properly (Get A Receipt).
Something to think about.
And, while you're there, they have lots of free patterns and even a stitch finder.
Peace - Out........

Warming Families Charity organization

This charity has a really good utube video. Very nice idea for giving tribute to their contributors. This would be a great idea that other volunteer organizations (like my own church) could use to "thank" their donors. The Video Has music (by the Osmonds whom endorse this charity) and everything. Has lots of links to patterns and resources. http://www.warmingfamilies.org/donations_scrapbook.aspx Is a "scrapbook" of photos of the items and sometimes the donors. There's a drop down list "Pattern Menu" with what must be hundreds of links to pattern pages all neatly sorted into categories.
The focus seems to be on helping the homeless and those living in shelters of one sort or another. So, there's links to directories of shelters all across the US. Check it out to see what's in your area.
There seem to be Area Volunteers that you can contact about where to take your donated crafts in your own area.
Which works on one of my conundrums: shipping stuff round and round the world.
It really seems to help out the shipping companies: USPS, UPS, FedEx - but doesn't it dilute the actual aid that the end recipient receives? So, if I don't have to pay so much to ship it to the end user, maybe I can give more, give more frequently, give easier? Right?
What ever happened to the saying "Think globally, act locally"? Maybe I had it wrong. That should be my next investigation, shouldn't it?

Buffalo Down at Buffalo Gold

Buffalo Gold produces Buffalo Down fibers. The statistics on this stuff are awesome. The micron count is supposed to be between 11 and 13 (cashmere is 15 - 16) so it should be even softer!
There's wonderful information on the website about how they started the business, and all kinds of Buffalo (American Bison) facts. Great Photo! If you're squeamish, don't go to the part about how they get the fiber. But, really, they're doing a good thing here; if they weren't there to harvest this fiber it would be wasted. So, get over it. I am still, as always, perplexed by the economics of sending this around the world to have it processed. They list where it's "grown", harvested, skirted, scoured, dehaired, and then spun. Man, how much of the cost of this is just in transportation?
Yarn, roving, kits, batts, etc. Leather, other stuff....
Well, it's not really available directly from them .........
They don't sell online. There is a lengthy list of LYS, and most people should have a shop reasonably nearby. I'm just a little deflated. I was really looking forward to ordering a little fluff online to spin on the (still unnamed) Rick Reeves wheel that I'm learning to use. So, I emailed the "closest" LYS after finding that their website only list two small knitting kits. I'm still not even sure what kind of price range I'm looking at for fiber? The known prices that I have are from a different LYS that is far too far to drive to: $45 for 25 g of Lace Weight or $69 for 50 g of Fingering Weight Yarn with patterns for scarves.
So, in my own little ADHD, OCD, way, I'm waiting to hear back from them and then might figure out how to work in a 4 hour round trip excursion into my evening. Then there's the $12 to $15 in gas that it'll take to get there and back. There's a really good restaurant near the LYS. Maybe I can talk the DH into driving me, and I can knit all the way there and back. So, that'll be another $20 minimum in meal cost. So, we're up to an estimated $80 for a net gain of enough yarn to make one scarf. Hmmmm, going to look at the budget before I get too excited about this.

Knitting Daily Poetry Magnets

What do Knitting, Poetry, and Magnets have in common?

Knitting Daily is a very positive and enlightening email subscription newsletter. I love their patterns and information. Although it does concern me that they've "suddenly" started selling some of the patterns. Pretty smart business move, but I didn't think of it. If I remember right, they're the popular ones out of the magazine that is sold out of back issues. So, I guess having to pay for it is better than not being able to get it at all. (Where have I heard that before? Hmmmm......)

Today's had this link to a really cute idea: They're selling those little magnets with words on them. It seems that they might be a lead in to a poetry contest? Maybe? All the words are knitting (or at least crafts) related. So..... you can write cute little sayings on your Refrigerator or file cabinet at work.

I have to admit though I have some issues with this. I know, these phobias are not reasonable, but here they are anyway:
1) I'm always leary of magnets in the mail. I know, people don't mail floppy disks anymore. But, once my sister's brother-in-law's boss' nephew lost a bunch of important gaming information that way.
2) Don't stick magnets to the computer case / box / thingy. I know they're not very powerful. But, I still freak anytime I see magnets on a CPU. It just can't be good.
3) Can't we make these ourselves? Not that I would, but couldn't we just take a sheet of paper and print words on it, cut them up and use tape? Heaven forbid, maybe even write the words on paper with a pen or pencil. By Hand! Yeah, I know, "How Unprofessional !" But, hey How Cheap!

Yeah, I know, I need to get over it.

In Turkey, a Step to Allow Head Scarves

This headline from the New York Times Europe edition online caught my eye.

The photo is by Lynsey Addario for The New York Times

Captioned: Turkish women demonstrated for the right to wear head scarves in government buildings, including public offices and universities.

Accompanies an article by Sabrina Tavernise - http://topics.nytimes.com/top/reference/timestopics/people/t/sabrina_tavernise/index.html?inline=nyt-per

It had never occurred to me that scarves would be Forbidden. There are so many shades of Covered. The women in this photo certainly don't seem to be unhappy in their scarves. It's a long way from the Burqa or Purdah. Look those up in Wikipedia - awesome descriptions.
I mean, I know I don't really understand the covered women concept. But, there are truely American and Christian versions of the Covered Woman ideal.

In many places in the USA, there are groups of Christian women that practice a form of the Covered Women thing. They wear caps of a type and never go anywhere with their hair down or uncovered. Their age, or their group, seems to determine whether their cap is black, brown, white or otherwise. Some of the younger women have a kind of white net cap that is somewhat translucent. So, through those caps you can see, kind of, what color their hair is, and a hint of what style bun they've got it up in. I have great respect for these women and their faith. But, honestly, some of the older women are still wearing a style that is very Covering. There isn't any veil component, but the cap is a very deep bonnet style that conceals their faces from view in every angle except straight on. I cannot imagine our government telling these women that they are Forbidden to wear their caps.

So, why does it surprise me that there are other women out there in this great world of diversity that want to be modest in their dress? On the one hand, I understand the security issues. There are schools that don't allow hats to be worn inside by the boys to discourage Gang Behavior and who knows what else. I wonder if they have exceptions for Chemo Caps for kids, or teachers, or employees that are fighting cancer? On the other hand, who are we to judge what women choose to do? Isn't the Choice the important factor?

When you are knitting a scarf or hat, or shawl for that matter, do you ever think of these things?
What does your love incarnate in wool "mean" to another culture? What is that string in another context?

Warm Up America

Earlier in this Blog, I had promoted the Caps to the Capitol campaign. They have posted on the Warm Up America site that they have received caps: 281,000 for the Caps to the Capital Campaign. It was an overwhelming success thanks to your generosity. The caps are being distributed to Save the Children's health facilities in Bangladesh and Malawi. For detailed updates at every step in the journey, go to www.warmupamerica.org site. They still have patterns available: Newborn Cap Patterns and Links to Technique Information and encourage you to knit caps for your own local neonatal unit of your local hospital.

If you want to keep on helping through the Warm Up America and be sure that your efforts are going to a good cause: visit their site for "directions" on making 7" x 9" rectangles that you can either put together yourself and send in, or send in the rectangles for their volunteers to put together into afghans.

The Warm Up America group does encourage crafters to donate their work locally. They seem to have lots of resources available so you can find a place near you to give. This seems to make a lot of sense in that it would be better to not spend the resources on shipping knit items around the country any more than necessary. Locally / Globally .....

Which brings me to one of my more persistent conundrums: Shipping: Why can I walk into any local store, and buy an item that comes from half a world away so cheap? How can it make sense to ship fruit here from, say, New Zealand? If energy is so costly (on so many levels), how do we keep this up? The raw materials come from one place, ship to the manufacturer of the base materials, ship to the fabricator, ship to the finisher, ship to the packager, ship to the importer, ship to the warehouse, ship to the distribution center, ship to the distributor, ship to the retailer, then maybe ship to me at home? It's just amazing to me. How many people (or conveyors or robots) handled that little bag of grapes that I bought at the store? Grown in Chile'. Why? How does that make any sense?
OK, I know. Enough already.

Knitting Rules! by Stephanie Pearl-McPhee

Wow, You Rule Stephanie!
I've had this book for quite a while, and had looked up some specific, and very helpful, tips in it.
But, until this weekend, I had not actually tried to read it cover to cover.
I couldn't put it down. Well, except to knit.
My bedmate got pretty peeved over my laughing in bed (at the book). And I'm sure that having to move the knitting needles to get into the bed hadn't exactly set the mood.
I just couldn't help it.
Now I know that I'm not alone.
I'm not the only one that is this obsessed with knitting.
Stephanie Pearl-McPhee know what's in my heart and soul. She writes what I wish I could express to those people that look at me "that way". I wish my significant other would read this and understand. But, Stephanie's right, non-knitters just don't get it.
According to her statistics though, about 15% of the population is a knitter to some degree - so they should "get it". I think a lot of them are just afraid to admit that they wish they were brave enough ( or ADHD enough ) to knit everywhere they go too.

Something to Investigate

I need to investigate this more. Looks pretty interesting. And, I'm posting it here so I don't loose the "code" and I can edit the HTML later. Thank you for your patience.

Musk Ox down - Qiviut from Native Alaskan Co-operative

A cause to support:
"Oomingmak Musk Ox Producers' Co-operative
The Alaskan co-operative that has brought exquisite Qiviut items to you as a unique northern gift since 1969. Qiviut (pronounced "kiv-ee-ute"), the downy-soft underwool from the Arctic musk ox, is shed naturally each year during the spring months. Eight times warmer than wool and extraordinarily lightweight, Qiviut is one of the finest natural fibers known to man. The Co-Operative is owned by approximately 250 Native Alaskan women from remote coastal villages of Alaska who knit each item by hand. Each village has a signature pattern derived from traditional aspects of village life and the Eskimo culture; they may come from an ancient artifact or a beadwork design. "

http://www.muskoxfarm.org/ Has really cute photos and lots of information about the Musk Ox, that aren't Musky, and they aren't related to Oxen. I was so relieved to find out that they don't actually try to shear these critters. It's a great cause.

That said: what's the down side? Outrageously expensive!

You can get a DIY Hat kit with 2 ounces of yarn for $80. They don't sell fiber to spin or bulk yarn, because there's such a limited supply. And, the "value added" part is their real income, if I understand this right. They'll knit their yarn into a scarf or shawl that will sell for hundreds of dollars. And, in very specific designs by their village. Very cool, but very expensive. If I ever make it to Alaska, this is very high on my list of gotta go to places.

I'm sure it's worth it though.

"Companion Cashmere"

The most interesting site I visited today is VIPFibers
Very Interesting. I think we definitely need to do more research on people that wear their pet's fiber.
Of course, that's coming from me, that wants to have an alpaca. Wasn't Mary's Little Lamb a pet? No one would have given her a hard time about wearing a wool sweater. Right?
I've visited alpacas. They're pretty friendly little guys.
And, Angora Rabbits - now that's a cuddly little fiber factory right there, let me tell you.
So, why do we have a problem with Dog Yarn, or Cat Yarn? Haven't I been seeing adds for Yac fiber and even Buffalo?
We will definitely be exploring this more and soon...................

355 Woodview Drive, Morgan Hill, CA 95037
Toll-Free: 1-866-PET-YARN
Specializing in Mail Order Custom Handspun Yarn from Your Very Important Pets!

Why not? Our clever ancestors didn't have a problem with it. As a matter of fact, centuries ago, it was considered that good luck was brought to anyone wearing a garment spun from dog hair. And we all could use a little of that! Home spinners like to refer to their handspun dog yarn as "Chiengora" (pronounced she-an-gora). Chien is French for dog and gora is derived from angora, the soft fur of a rabbit. We, here at VIP Fibers, like to refer our handspun yarn as "Canine Cashmere" or Feline Cashmere" and to cover all basis "Companion Cashmere"

I AM Impressionism

And, it would be interesting to knit in an Impressionistic way. Don't you think?

You Are Impressionism

You think the world is quite beautiful, especially if you look at it in new and interesting ways. You tend to focus on color and movement in art. For you, seeing the big picture is much more important than recording every little detail. You can find inspiration anywhere... especially from nature.

What Art Movement Are You?

Blogthings web personality quizzes

Well, you've really gotta love these online personality quizzes. I couldn't pass this one up...... What Drug is your Personality Like?
I remember the '60's : therefore, I must not have really been there.
So... Where was I then? The mysteries of the universe are compelling.

Your Personality Is Like Acid

A bit wacky, you're very difficult to predict.One moment you're in your own little happy universe...And the next, you're on a bad trip to your own personal hell! At your best: You understand the world completely, and every ordinary experience is sublime. What people like about being around you: You say and do the craziest things. You're very entertaining. What people dislike about being around you: You're unpredictable. Your mood swings are quite intense. How addicted people get to you: They pretty much don't get addicted to you.

http://www.blogthings.com/whatdrugisyourpersonalitylikequiz/">What Drug Is Your Personality Like?

But, you see, I've been told that I have an Addictive Personality. Really, I didn't imagine that. Did I?

Patterns that make you go OOOOhhhhh

One Of A Kind:

Well, it is colorful.

And Interesting.

I'm sure it was a challenge to knit.

Do you think they looked at a picture, or graph, or something first?

Is it like one of those Georgia O'Keeffe anatomy as art things?

Or a Rorschach test?

If I see things in this, do I need counseling?

Tired of Holiday Sweaters? Try a Cruise Sweater....

This Cruise Sweater is available right now on eBay.
Direct to you from Florida. Cruise capital of the world, so they should know cruise fashion. Right?


Black probably wouldn't have been my first choice for Cruise Wear, but what do I know. Maybe it's to take advantage of the slimming effect of black. But, no there's that huge white, and red, horizontal stripe accross the belly.
Maybe the black is because it's a
night-time scene? Then, what's with
all the sunglasses and tanning?
And it comes complete with sexy lounging sunbather knit right into the back ( or should I say butt) of this size Large sweater. Just what I would want on my size L butt, a skinny, almost naked intarsia woman!

Just what you need for that cruise with your "Fat Fighters" weigh in group.
Hey, my Mom would have worn this!
She was that cool kind of little old lady,
after she lost 100 # with her Fat Fighters
(her pet name for her gang, not mine).

And it's 100% Cotton - that'll look good wet. Right?

Proudly knitted, by hand, With TWO Needles, in Uruguay. Wow!

Did the designers give women what they wanted this fall?

Let's look back to the Fall 2007 Fashion week reports: "Designers are still making the case that fall is about chunky knit sweaters, but they have slimmed down the overall silhouette after a few seasons of over-the-top volume."

Do you think that's what we got?

It really sounds great when you read it though, doesn't it?

Carolina Herrera had some great stuff out there.

The Worst Direction

It is time to admit, to my chagrin, that I wasted time reading a book.
Contrary to my nature, I know. Usually, I consider any book that I have read to be a gainful experience on some level. But not this one. I wasted several otherwise lovely evenings reading "The Golden Compass". I don't even know where to start a diatribe against this book, it's writer, and his publisher!
I was really trying to give it the same chance I did with Harry Potter, and a lot of others. But this one goes in the same category with Ayn Rand. What a waste! With all the hazardous toys being recalled, I think this is a hazardous book that should be recalled.
First: It's not even a Compass; it's a glorified Magic 8 Ball.
Second: This is not a book written for children. And I resent that it has been made into a children's movie even more than I resented Gremlins in 1984. I would have been really ticked if I had shelled out the cash to see this in a theater.
Third: I guess the movie is reasonably successful, more's the pity. I thought with Nicole Kidmann, it might be a good movie. I always liked her. But, then I used to like Tom Cruise too, before he took a ride on the hopping couch. So, I guess it shouldn't surprise me that She's turning out to be spiritually flaky also.
Fourth: Any writer that was bashing any other race, creed, or belief would have been censored and politically corrected out of a job, or contract as the case may be, long before this. What were they thinking to publish such rubbish?
My recommendation: spend your money on something more enjoyable, like a root canal. This Gold could lead to Lead Poisoning. My children know that I won't spend my money on Bratz Cr_p, and now they know I won't be spending it on Golden Compass BS either.

Gave away Stash Yarn!

I think I may have started my New Year's Resolutions early!
I sent home a whole bag of yarn with a SIL after Christmas!
If you don't understand what a breakthrough this is, you just don't understand.
And, in the meantime, I have found Clutterer's Anonymous. Or at least their website.
Hi, my name is Ruby and I have a Clutter Problem.
Anyway, I'm not sure how, but giving away a bag of yarn for a church ladies' group that makes prayer shawls has got to get me some kind of points, doesn't it?
And, in the process, I got rid of a box of yarn that was trashed by mice and who knows what else. It was pretty icky. There was a part of me that really wanted to find a way to salvage even that yarn. Dusty, dirty, mouse goop, mouse skeleton, and all. I guess that's one of the ways that I should know that I have a problem. No one in their right mind would have any doubt, and would have torched the whole shebang at first discovery. But no, I'm still agonizing about what I should have been able to save.
But, I did it, with some help and encouragement. And hopefully, I will continue on into the New Year.........

Finished a Hat for a Nephew

I made a hat similar to the hat in a Spin Off magazine for the youngest nephew. He happens to love hats at the age he is right now. I'm sure he will outgrow it though. Right now, he's the only person that will wear my knit hats. I wonder why that is? People used to wear hats. They wear hats on TV. I see other people wearing hats in my geographic area. Just not my family, and no one I know. Hmmmmmm........

The Christmas Gift

Ok, we opened gifts with the MIL. And she seemed to be very pleased with the hand spun hot pad, pot holder, place mat thingy. I have to admit, I was nervous about felting (or fulling) it, and put that off till the last minute. I tossed it in the washer on hot with a bunch of socks. It seemed to shrink up more in the center than on the edges or ends. That will take more research. Anyway, it was fun.

The Harry Potter Scarf that started it all

This is the first Harry Potter scarf that I knit for John, obviously. I think it was in 2004, or may be 2003, or sometime in the haze of time before now but after 2002. It was from the first generation movie. The pattern was a free one from the Wal-mart yarn section. And, yes, it's good old reliable Red Heart yarn. It really has held up pretty well for the use it has had. I know it's been washed (and dried) in the machine several times.
Flaws: The duplicate stitch is atrocious. The color change has a dramatic jog each time.
Highlights: Done on circular needle, it was fast and easy. It was my first circular project.

Spinning Wheel Update

I got the new bobbins for my Reeves spinning wheel! I finally got to ply two together. It was sooooooo cool! The DH has not finished fixing the treadle for me, so it was kindof interesting. He did spend most of a football game sitting with me and spinning the wheel (by hand) for me. It was so cute! It was so much fun.
So now I'm making a hotpad for my MIL out of the first yarn. It's plain unbleached, undyed wool. The plan is that it will felt just enough to be thick, but not so much that the stitch pattern is lost. We'll see. What if I accidently used the "super wash" roving instead of the plain?
Life is an adventure!

The DH Cleans UP!

Wow! My house is looking sooooo gooooood! My DH has been hauling off so much junk.
Take into consideration that it's mostly My junk.
And, with the help of my 12 step program, I can admit it:
I am a Clutter Junkie.
I have had too much stuff for too long.
For years, any time he would start cleaning, and trying to help, I would absolutely have a panic attack.
In this last week, I've only had a couple of melt down moments.
That urge to rescue the bags of stuff from the trash was nearly overwhelming.
But, I didn't do it.
I let it go.
I am letting it go.
There was a point where I near panicked, and spoke some hasty words that I regret.
But, on the whole, it's not going too bad.
The poor DH thinks I'm a real nut job though. He just doesn't get it. Not that anyone else does though either. Why did I ever start this? What part snapped and broke?

Yarn Thickness Chart at Ohio Valley Natural Fiber

I've been to the website for Ohio Valley Natural Fiber.
There's a great Yarn Thickness Chart in downloadable PDF form that I think will be really handy. I'm trying to put together a comprehensive chart or excel file or something that will let me figure out what to do with the yarns that I have. Part of my own 12 step program for OCD Clutterer.
In summary: The yarn weights come from how many Wraps Per Inch or WPI a yarn is. You wrap the yarn in question around something (can be anything from a ruler to a pop sicle stick to a very expensive specialty tool.) You make sure the yarn is not stretched, but not too slack; not over lapping anywhere, but no gaps. Then you count the times it wraps around in one inch of length.

#0 LACE Weight is 20 to 18 WPI
#1 FINGERING Weight is 16 to 14 WPI
#2 SPORT Weight is 12 to 10 WPI
#3 CHUNKY Weight is 9 to 8 WPI
#4 BULKY Weight is 5 to 6 WPI

Which obviously brings up the questions: What is 7 WPI? What about my lumpy handspun that starts out as 4 WPI and the eventually ends up at 24 WPI over the course of about 25 yards? All those questions, and more, will be answered as time goes by.

In search of a solution, or maybe just a definition.

Well, maybe I do need a 12 step program. So i searched online and found Clutterers Anonymous. No meetings anywhere within range of the middle of nowhere where I am. So, I'll be reading their website this evening. Do any of you have any experience with a CA group?
Do any of you think it's possible to do this on my own? Well, I mean I think I will have the support of family and several friends. But, I really don't think any of them really get it. I've tried to explain it to a few very supportive and well meaning friends. Sometimes it just seems so hopeless.
I'm not even sure what my real problem is. I collect things. Stuff that I don't even know why I collect it. Stuff that I should be able to throw away or give away without getting all crazy about it. I buy things I don't need. I keep things I can't use. Why?
So, if I admit it, and if I work on it hard enough, can I get control of it? Can I get past it?

Handmade Pledge: Buy Handmade.org

Wow, I just stumbled on this one today.
And I want to post it before I loose it.
I've been hit extra hard with the "be reasonable this Christmas" philosophy.
In other years, my OCD Hoarding / Shopping problem has gotten me into a LOT of trouble. Last year, I was able to admit that I had a major problem. But not before I had maxed out every financial resource I had. This year, I want to do so much better. I'm already starting with one foot in the hole though. The financial resources are already pretty drained. Why do I still have the urge to open new accounts so I can buy stuff people don't really want? I know that I don't really need anything. I know my kids only want "stuff" because other people and TV tell them they "want" it.

Friday night, I was watching "Numbers" when the guy made a bet that he could last longer without buying anything "unnecessary".
Sunday - wow, that pastor is really hitting home with me every Sunday! It's getting really eerie.
Then Today, I find this "buy hand made" site.
Alright already! I have stash, I know I should use it! I'll get back to work now.

http://www.buyhandmade.org/why-buy-handmade

http://www.flickr.com/search/groups/?q=heartshandmade&w=507018%40N25&m=pool

What part of these projects is hard to make fit?

The Twisted Sisters Knit Sweaters: A Knit-to-Fit Workshop

I've looked through my copy several times now, and I'm just not seeing how hard it is to make these kind of things fit.

The Dolman, batwing sleeve thing kind of fits a pretty broad range of sizes doesn't it?

As far as I can tell, all of the designs in this book are pretty forgiving in fit. I was hoping for hints on how to make things really fit. Not that my figure is worth showing off at this point in time. But, I knit for people that have it and should flaunt it.

Naming the spinning wheel

I have to come up with a name for my spinning wheel.
I inherited it from my DH's Interesting Uncle Joel. He lived in Minnesota. A town with Lake in the name (imagine that!). They were of German descent, not Swedish or Norwegian. He taught History for years. He is sorely missed by all. I don't think he was a spinner, the spinning wheel was a "prop" for his historic lessons.
It's a Cherry Wood Rick Reeves 1977. Seems to be very unique. I'll have to post photos, as soon as I find the camera again. It's beautiful, but had a rough life lying on it's side on top of a pile of other priceless antiques for years after he retired. It's a lot smaller than the wheels that I see for sale now. I've been wondering why. Is it maybe to spin a finer yarn than the newer wheels? This was, after all, made before the 80's BIG WOOL era.
Any suggestions?

Finished the Star of David Baby Afghan

I finished the Star of David baby afghan. After ripping back and rekinitting the center section about 3 times. I think it came out pretty good, in the end. And I really love the yarn: soft and washable. It's a good thing, I went kinda knuts when I thought I might run out before I was finished. Now, I've got a bunch leftover. But, the consensus among all the people that have seen me knitting is that it is "Big Enough Already. You can't always knit 'till you run out of yarn". Especially if you're a yarn-a-holic.

More from 1970

Who outthere remembers when we didn't wear PANTS! But we might wear a Pant Suit if we were very daring. How modern they were. And McCalls was right there on the cutting edge of fashion. Or, you could use those zigzag skills to create a wearable afghan, complete with fringe.

Looking back at 1970

From McCalls 1970

I really think that I've seen the orange poncho in a pattern magazine recently.

Without the skirt, scarf, hat and minus the heavy fringe.

Fur Yarn by Paula Lishman

Now, this is absolute luxury.
Fur That has been made into Yarn yep You read that right.

Fur + Thread = Yarn

They don't make a lot of guarantees about weight or gauge.
It sure looks pretty, comes in a lot of colors, and natural critter colors.
Be forwarned, this is one of those intrest vs committment things. The Chicken has an interest in breakfast and the Pig has a committment in a ham & egg breakfast. Therefore, in this case the sheep or alpaca has an interest in your yarn, whereas the fox or rabbit (in this case) is committed. Other forms of yarn probably require less of the donor animal.

Photo from the FurYarn.com website.

The prices seem to run about $60, Canadian, for a kit to make a Rex Rabbit Collar
$100 for a hat kit.

Maybe not bad, I don't know. It seems like a lot of extra work.
But, isn't that what Luxury is about? Most of us probably don't knit because it's the easiest or cheapest way to clothe our families. Those Canadians sure do know how to stay warm.
You Betcha'.

I'm thinking that anything made out of a $100 ball of yarn is going to make someone feel pretty pampered.

Time to use that fancy scarf technique in Stephanie Pearl-McPhee's book on how to have two matching ends with no waste.