Posting style for photos of Finished Objects

I know you're out there, I can hear you breathing!


I would like your input on photo style for posting on blogs.


Pros and Cons. Compare and Contrast. Plus and Minus.
Risk vs Gain. Problem or Positive?

Is it OK to post photos of children on blogs? Do you want to see their gleaming little eyes and sparkly smiles?

Is it better to obscure the facial features: as shown? Or use a photo that doesn't quite show the face as identifiable? What age people is it OK to show? What age isn't OK? Should only adults be on Blogs in photos? Do you all expect bloggers to use real names? For the blogger, for the stories, for their models?

Is it a security hazard? Does it make people a target for mean people? Is there a risk?

Is your photo on a blog a good thing? does it add to your Popularity Quotient? Will it make you famous, or infamous?

Tell me what you think: I know you're out there! I've gotta know! This could be a national security issue, at least for Link and Zelda.

Stitchin' at the Ball Game

What a great idea! Take your knitting to the ball game. Officially. Encouraged. Wow. I know I for one have knitted my way through many a highschool, middle school, and little league game. As well as movies, dance recitals, band concerts, choir concerts, cantatas, who knows what else?

I honestly don't remember the last time I went anywhere without my knitting. (Well, except to a paying job.)

And I don't plan to ever again. (again, except to the job thing).

The Return of the Can Hat

Joy, oh! Joy!
The Post Carrier Cometh, and I have my new copy of knit.1. And I’m having flash backs again. Remember, if you can remember the ‘60’s, you weren’t really there……….

Retro Alert: Who can tell me what year this must have been?

One of my hyper-crafty aunts used to sing a song about “Everything Old is New Again”. She also showed me how to make “can hats” from Beer Cans. One of my other crafty aunts was absolutely appalled that we were making hats from Used Alcohol Containers! And then she found out where we got most of our cans! And the Women and the Children were wearing them! What a family Discussion that was!
I remember scouring the local dump (yes, it was a Dump, not a Land Fill, or a Transfer Station, or a Recycling Center) for cans. What a memory, the cans had to be “de-gunked” because no-one separated their trash. Yummmmy. We especially liked the “new” aluminum cans. Most of the Beer Cans were Steel, and I don’t remember if pop came in cans at all back then. Coors was THE beer with aluminum cans, but it was rare. Coors had a limited shipping zone from Colorado, and we did most of our camping East of their territory. Believe it or not, there were actually people that would “smuggle” Coors, for a price. The Dads and Uncles were required to help if we were using the steel cans, as they were much more difficult to cut up and punch holes in. They were willing to do it though, for a Can Hat in their favorite brand, and very few Real Men drank Coors.
There was a very much more macho men’s version of the Can Hat, while the ladies and children’s hats had wider brims than this new one shows. The top was a circle of can also. It threw a much larger shadow, and protected more space from the sun’s heat and burns. Remember, this was before Sun Screen really came into play also. We had Sun Tan Lotion that helped you tan faster, not to block the UVs.
But, I digress, again, ….. We crocheted our hats together with spiffy yarn that matched the logo colors on the cans, and I don’t think it occurred to us to mix brands within one hat. All the panels matched each other! We bought our all acrylic yarn from TG&Y, or K-Mart, or maybe one of those New Wal-Marts! (Yep, I shopped at the first WalMart as a kid on vacation in Arkansas!)
One of the best things about these hats was that they could be folded up without ruining them. And, it was easy to wash the fishing bait and goo out of them if they got icked while fishing. The steel ones did sink awfully fast if dropped into the lake though.
I wonder if any have survived in the atic? Dad's was blue Hamm's and mine was brown Schlitz or Fallstaff? I think?

Who comes up with these names? Shivaree?

Do they have any idea what a Shivaree is? I really like this Berroco pattern, but why that name?

shiv·a·ree (shv-r, shv-r) n. Midwestern & Western U.S.
A noisy mock serenade for newlyweds. Also called regionally charivari, belling, horning, serenade.

Hmmm, usually knitting is a fairly quiet sport, isn't it?
Regional Note: Shivaree is the most common American regional form of charivari, a French word meaning "a noisy mock serenade for newlyweds" and probably deriving in turn from a Late Latin word meaning "headache."

Well, it just keeps getting better, doesn't it? How often do we find French words that combine the concepts of "Newlyweds" and "Headaches"? And then: Why would someone want to name a Sweater, a Scarf, and a THROW by that name? Yep, I've been to a real Ozark Shivaree. But the wedding was in June, so this wouldn't even be appropriate for the Shivaree-ers to wear. Maybe if the wedding, or honeymoon was in, say, what? October? Yeah, that's the ticket: When there's a fall wedding, you can wear this special Shivaree outfit to go down to the holler to THROW them A SHIVAREE and make up some racket to really make sure your best friends can really have a good headache for their honeymoon.

Yeah, Git' er done!
And now we know why those elopements are so darn popular.

A Sniff and a Reverant Tear

Today's SNB calendar page is for You Knit What?
www.youknitwhat.blogspot.com

What is there to say? How can you break the news to others that a dear, dear friend has passed on when they never even met them?

From their last posting:

Thursday, August 03, 2006

So long, little fuglings.
As many of you may have guessed, PRK and I have decided to hang up our snark and go back to the outside world.

At least their blog still lives on in their memory. Somewhere, Out there, in that big cruel world, there's a server faithfully preserving their leagacy for future generations of fuglings. Giving us guidance. Leading us away from the murky abys that awaits unwary knitters without such a guide. Encouraging us to open our video blinded eyes to the beauty that can be ours if we only avoid the entrapment of fuggliness. Showing us the way to identify a pattern without hope. Revealing to us the truth of "drastically reduced Sale" fibers that the mega box stores foist on the hapless masses. Weaning us away from the lure of Stash for Stash's sake. Nursing us through the withdrawl symptoms of breaking the addicition of obsession.

Well, they tried at least. I was doing great with the program. Then they left us to persue their "real" lives. And their efforts were not in vain. For a while. Then the Siren Song of the Hobby Lobby broke through the protective fog that I had been veiled in. And ... I .... gave ... in.

The remnants of PRK and KK's teachings still lurk in the back of my mind. I have been consistently finishing UFO's before starting too many new ones. I do look at my Stash with a slightly more critical eye.

It's been a long year, and now

It's time to cast off the dank shadow of mourning and step into the light. Remember the YKW?! teachings. Get back on track.

See ya sooner, rather than later.

Craft Yarn Council Sizing Standards

The Craft Yarn Council has Sizing Standards to use for knitting patterns.

Knitty.com recently reminded all submitters to use these sizes in their patterns.

When I ever get a pattern posted here, I plan on using these.

So, I'm adding a link over there in my list so i don't loose it.

There's also good information on yarns, needles, and levels of difficulty for patterns.

Betsy Johnson and the White Hose

Interesting stuff at the New York fashion week. Betsy Johnson does some interesting Knits.

But, what's with the white hose?

Just in case you didn't know, grown up women should not wear white hose with dark skirts.

Your legs may not look this good. Really. Get a good look in a full length mirror before you go out with white hose.

Especially if you have ever said anything like, "Well, they just don't make boots to fit my muscular calves".

Even if it really IS muscle in those calves, don't do the white hose!

IF you belong to that alternate reality, AND your calves REALLY DO look GOOD in white hose:
1) Get your eyes checked.
2) Get a second opinion from someone that is brutally honest.
3) Get a medical check up and see if you might just be a tad underweight!

And, I think Betsy Johnson might just be on something that the rest of us don't have access to.
Her granddaughter is really cute, but she should have had someone else cut her hair.

Ports 1961? Really? Is it felt?

I think we have spotted FUG: at Ports 1961. Hadn't seen much of their stuff before.

Probably won't spend much time looking for it either.

On the upside, I bet these can be made at home with your own felt. Maybe not so fuggly felt.

I think it might be a great Pre-school project. I bet they could improve on the idea.

Maybe it's just something easy to fix: Colors maybe?

Maybe the scale is just too "Off the Scale"?

Usually when I wear something like this it really makes a statement: "I love my child so much that I am willing to wear this in public." I don't think I love Ports 1961 enough to wear this.

Yep, More ANNA SUI from the New York Fashion Shows

I just can't help it!

I know it's borderline, but it's fun knitting.

These things would be fun to make and a trip to wear.

It's retro, but it's not.

It's easy wear, I could wear this stuff on MY body, and feel snuggly and cute.

We're going to have to do some serious research here.

Sui - I think I might like these!

Very interesting.
Very traditional?
Very knit able?
Very Wearable!

Probably not even requiring an exotic / expensive yarn to accomplish.

Trendy?

Easy to dress up or down.

And I bet I could dance in it.
Mr. Clark, I give it a 90.

Maybe there's an UFO lurking in the Attic that could end up being one of these.........

Byblos does White in Milan

Wow!

Men in White!

For winter 2007 to come!

Hm mm, it does seem to be knit.

Looks like it would be a really fun/challenging knit to keep one happily knitting for a long time.

What's knit and white all over?

Not thinking this Byblos designer will be high on my DH's favorites list.

I'm thinking knitting one of these for a significant other would definitely bring about the "Dreaded Sweater Curse".

Maybe it's just the stark white! Maybe it's just me? I'm not biased against white, really I'm not!

So much depends on your point of view:

From one angle, it looks good. Probably a lot of things look good on her.

But then, it hits ya!

Fuggly right there on the runway.

It would be easy to knit though. And sure hides a multitude of sins.

What would a different bust configuration do to this mega cowl thing?

Roen Men Worn out Before Milan

It seems that this particular sweater was almost worn out before it even got to the show in Milan.

I remember being fascinated by some of the sweaters in the Matrix Trilogy movies. Knit to look as if they'd already been through a lot.

Maybe this is the same idea?

Fugly, or Not Fugly - the sweaters, not the guys

These are from one of the Milan fashion shows a few weeks ago.

This particular designer seems to be going for the "Geek" look. What is it called this year?

I love it, but I know that gets my loved ones in fashion trouble sometimes.

Help me out here.

More Fashion Shows - New York

The looks may appeal to consumers seeking richness in their lives, said Wendy Liebman, president of WSL Strategic Retail consultants.
"As I looked at some things that came to the runway, I kept thinking, 'Is this the reaction to the war, to burning up the planet?"' she said. "We keep looking for some richness and lusciousness. It's looking beyond the ugliness of what we're all living with today."

I know that I have a different vantage point than most, but....

I don't believe we're all living with ugliness.

Now, some of these fashions... Well, they are fugly.

Armani Has lots of Men's sweaters

This is just one of the Armani men's sweaters from the Milan 2007/2008 mens shows.

I can see this workin for some guys.

It would work for me if my guy was wearing it!

Milan Fashion show time again

Maybe these guys just mixed up their hats, and they really aren't that bad?

Votes please: Fugly, or Studly?

Gotta come up with this pattern, but I'm not so sure about the angora / mohair on my guys.

Felting in the Tub?

Felting In the Tub?
Believe it or not, today's suggestion from
SnB land is to do your felting in the bath.
While you are also in the bath.
Bathing, I presume.


Wasn't there a Seinfeld episode where Kramer decided to do everything in the shower? For Efficiency? I remember LOLL & ROT FL. He washed dishes & clothes, and I believe even cooked dinner in the shower. Elaine had a germophobic friend at the time that she had invited over for dinner. . Yeah, really.... You get the idea.



So, when I ripped off yesterday and saw that today is on Felting In the Tub: Combine two of your favorite activities: felting and soaking in the tub.



I can see the interest it might create on a Ship's Project item: My little attached note could include how "I knitted these hats and slippers while lounging in bed each evening. Watching Seinfeld and Friends reruns and thinking of our brave troops. They were hand felted in the bath with my special gentle lavender soap while I soaked my body in honor of your sacrifices. Here's hoping you enjoy them and have the opportunity to bathe in the safety of your home soon too."



Now, while this conjures up some lovely erotic images for some, I'm afraid my situation would probably be in the sitcom category.



The reality of my life would be the Shock and Awe of the Son or Son-in-Law when he opens the Christmas gift: "Gee, Mom, love the felted wallet. Oh, yeah, I see. It was supposed to be a notebook tote. OK. ? And why does it smell like Calgon?"
EEeeewwww!
Nah, if I ever do go there, No - One - should - EVER - know.



Thanks for the suggestion Kate, but maybe not for my lifestyle.

Domiknitrix Mohawk Hat

OK, maybe not for

everyday wear.

Maybe it's Situational Fug? Circumstantial? Occasional? Conditional?

It's Fuggly if worn at the wrong time, or really very appropriate at the proper time and place.

I would knit this for someone if it would keep them from getting a real mohawk cut.

Did I tell you about the groomsman that shaved his head 2 weeks before the wedding? #!%^*

Man, talk about an upset Mother of the Bride!

But, If you've just got to have a Mo for that special evening out, Here it is!

And, by the way, she's got some great photography going on here.

The Knitted Wedding

A Wedding where the goal is to have everything involved with the wedding KNITTED !!! The site has some great pattern links, and this might have worked, if: The knitters should have had a little more direction or coordination as to color, theme or something. Very interesting, and I think parts are great. The Gestalt is just overwhelming though.