Oh dear, I just read on Wikipedia that Eva Zeisel died yesterday.  Since design school, I have been in love with her work and find myself a little choked up at the news of her death.  Yes, she was 105 years old and yes, she lived a varied and (seemingly) exciting life, but still.  One of the world's stars went out yesterday.

Also, yes, I am still alive.  I'm *this* close to finishing the argyle vest and only news of this magnitude could tear me away from it.  Husband's birthday is imminent and I want to have something to offer as a gift.  I shall return with an update shortly.

This gets filed under "You Have GOT To Be Kidding Me"

I was just browsing a clothing store's website and saw a sweater described as:

"Vintage Grunge"

Put a fork in me, folks, 'cause I'm done.

I just officially turned old.

Recipe Dump

Going through my recipes and thought I would post the best ones here, in case you'd like to try them out.

Let me know if you have tried them - I'd love to know if you like them!









Here is one that I pulled from Ravelry. I'm part of a group for Celiacs and people with other food intolerances. A wonderful woman who goes by JerseyPeach62 posted a modified version of a peanut butter cookie recipe that she found years ago. I gave it a whirl and made some and yowza, I'm hooked. I usually add a handful of carob chips to it (as the hubby is intolerant to chocolate - I KNOW, it's a sin!) and sometimes even some pecans. You know, just because I can.

I forgot to talk about the magic loop, didn't I?

...Oh bother.

So much for being organized and all that.

Anyway, what I WAS GOING to say is that magic loop has changed everything for me.  No really, it has.  I went from ABHORRING knitting-in-the-round on circulars to trying to figure out a way to do EVERYTHING like that.

So how does it work, you ask?  Well, I could sit here and a) try to explain it verbally (which would lead to me going cross-eyed) or b) I could just embed some professionally-produced videos for your reference.  How 'bout we stick with option b, eh?



I think it's pretty clear from the video that you can use the magic loop to knit all sorts of objects with a small circumference.  You can even knit two things at once (like socks or sleeves):



You can see how this would become addictive, right?  Second Sock Syndrome: cured.  Forgetting to take notes on modifications for the first mitten when it comes time to knitting the second: not a problem.  Wanting to make sure that the sleeves are EXACTLY the same length: done.

Whoever invented this deserves a Nobel Peace Prize, am I right?

And there's a bunch of peeps on Ravelry are participating in a KAL on a cabled hat, so I thought I'd add this one (though it has nothing to do with magic loop):

So what next?

A week or so ago, Miranda sent me an e-mail, asking for some knitting advice. Her question was about the magic loop (which I'll talk about again in a minute), but it was actually about something else: how to "grow" as a knitter (oh wow, that sounded really cheesy, sorry). And it doesn't only apply to knitters - any hobby or life skill presents this problem.
But really, you know what I mean, right? There are a gadgillion resources out there for beginning knitters. Lots of how-to videos on YouTube, lots of books aimed at helping you master the art of garter stitch, lots of easy projects to test out. So, you watch the videos, read the books, try the garter stitch iPod cases...

Then what? What happens when you've exhausted all of these simple projects? I mean, even if your first project was a sweater, you might still hit that very same wall: where do I go from here?

There is no real definite answer. You are, in a sense, on your own. And so am I.

As I mentioned to Miranda in my reply, I have long since outstripped my mother and grandmother (or any relative, for that matter) in knitting know-how. My obsession with it is a little mystifying to both of them. Slippers and scarves were the projects of choice for them (though Mom did knit Dad a marled grey sweater at one point, and started another - T, do you remember that one? It was navy blue, with a grey, beige, and white yoke sweater...). Neither one has attempted lace or sock knitting. And steeking? Heavens, NO!

So what is a girl (or guy) to do? Well, there are a few things:

1. Know thyself.  If you've knit a few projects, you should be getting a sense of what you like and don't like.  Pay attention to this: it's your first clue.  Are you intrigued by construction (the "architecture" of knitting)?  What about cables and texture - is that your thing?  Or are you more of a colour person?  These details are going to act as your first set of directions.
2. Try new things you aren't sure you'll like.  HA!  I just told you to follow your instincts and now I'm telling you to ignore them and try things you hadn't thought of.  Hahahaha!  Ain't I funny!?!?  No?  Oh well.  But seriously, if you aren't sure yet what you like, you really ought to try stuff that you have never given serious thought to before.  Like lace and sock knitting.  Like colour work (just be warned: intarsia is the devil).
3. Ignore the scare tactics you hear from other knitters.  Like "just be warned: intarsia is the devil".  Try it for yourself.  Then you can be the judge.
4. Pay attention to people like Elizabeth Zimmermann, Meg Swanson, Sally Melville, Alice Starmore, Kate Davies, Jacqueline Fee, Stephanie Pearl-McPhee, Jared Flood, Ysolda Teague, Franklin Habit, Debbie New, Adrian Bizilia, SpillyJane and a host of others.  These are your teachers-in-hiding.  I call them that because they are designers, writers and bloggers, first and foremost.  But their work is peppered with a wealth of knowledge that is just waiting for you to snatch up.  I'm thinking of one in particular that Stephanie (the Yarn Harlot) wrote, called "Knitting Rules!" in which she lists out page after page of knitting tips and tricks that I have no idea where she found (like, did you know you should always knit your ribbing on smaller needles than those used for the rest of the piece?).  My guess is that she has been collecting it by reading the authors I listed above and by asking lots of questions.  You will learn a lot if you adopt her approach.
5. Take notes, take notes, take notes.  You're going to start coming across very interesting little tidbits in your reading and you will tell yourself that you don't need to write it down: something THAT amazing is sure to stick in your memory forever!  Well, sorry to burst your bubble, but you'd be mistaken there, my friend.  So, you remember when I extolled the virtues of the knitting journal?  Well, I hate to beat a dead horse, but...
6. Start thinking about where and when and how you like to knit.  Are you a commuter-knitter?  What about in front of the TV?  At night, as an un-winding activity?  Or first thing in the morning, to focus your thoughts?  Do you travel a lot for work and need something to take your mind off the monotony of yet another hotel room?  Or just whenever you get a moment free of the kids, which you use as an escape-in-the-search-for-sanity (no, I'm not a mother, but I've spent a fair bit of time looking after kids... I know what it's like)?  The answers to those questions will give you yet another clue as to what type of knitting you should be trying out.  Like, if you're escaping to your basement craft room when the kids are napping so that you can remember how to breathe, might I suggest that you stick to simple knits with little shaping and pattern?  Maybe put some soothing music on instead and just let your hands do the work.  But, if you're travelling, you're going to want something more involved.  A five-hour flight with only a garter-stitch scarf to keep you company is likely only going to emphasize the boredom.  So, that's where lace comes in handy.  Plus, lace is a great travel-wardrobe accessory.  Think about it: it crumples up nicely in a suitcase, it acts as both a scarf and a blanket, AND it can zazz up an evening outfit without even batting an eye.
7. Maybe try having more than one project on the go.  That way, when you find yourself getting bored with something or needing to change your pace, you've got something else to turn to, without having to hunt something down.  I've shackled myself monogamously to the intarsia argyle vest for the past few weeks and I'm about to go bat-crap crazy.  This is NOT the way to do things, people.
8. Speaking of beating a dead horse: have you started listening to Kelly Petkun's podcasts, yet?  I am not joking: these podcasts have completely changed my perspective on knitting (in a good way).  Kelly has done a LOT of the legwork here - all you have to do is listen (and take notes - knittingjournal, knittingjournal, knittingjournal).  Plus, it's free.  And not that KnitPicks needs any more endorsements from me, but I also encourage you to check out all of their YouTube videos.  They are the most professionally-produced that I have found.
9. Inspiration may be your biggest challenge, going forward.  There's a reason Ravelry is so popular: get on there and go fishing for inspiration.  Look at stuff that you think you'll never be able to knit and then figure out a way to do it.  Everything you need is floating around here somewhere, I promise.  You just have to figure out a way to find it and use it.

So anyway, my point is that just because you're having a hard time finding the right resources to get haul yourself into the advanced-intermediate (or even just into the intermediate-beginner) territory, don't lose faith.  It's out there: it just isn't as blatantly obvious as the beginner stuff.

I should probably demand a commission

This week, I got a Ravelry message from Ash, who is a member of our Ravelry group (that's Woodcraft Knitters, which was technically started up by Wood, but which I have highjacked and of which I have anointed myself High Chancellor).  It got me wondering: did I ever end up telling you what I think of my new-ish KnitPicks interchangeable needle set (the ones in these photos)?

Well, in case I haven't, here's what I think of them:

I love them.

The end.

 



What?  Oh, you wanted more feedback?  OK FINE.

Seriously, they're fantastic.  This is why I think so:

1. You can not - and will not - beat the price.
2. I am a very loose knitter and I ordered the nickel-plated set (the interchangeables and a slew of the skinnier ones - which can't be manufactured as interchangeables because they're too skinny for the mechanism - in 40" lengths, for magic loop knitting).  The nickel-plated is super slippery and excellent for fast knitting.  My Lace Addi needle got all tarnishy and ugly after the first project (not that their look affects their performance, but you know what I mean), but my KnitPicks needles are still 100% perfectly beautiful after several projects.
3. The tips are sharp (thank you, folks at KnitPicks - you angels, you)
4. The joins are as good as it gets.  The looser the knitting, the more invisible they seem.  Perfect.
5. The cables are so bendy and forgiving, it's kind of freaky.  Seriously, they are even more forgiving than Addi's and that is saying a LOT.
6. The tips are feather-weight.  Awesome.  Just awesome.
7. I now have a pretty complete set of circulars on hand.  I had no idea how liberating that feeling would be until I bought these.  I have a complete set of straights and a mostly-complete set of DPN's, but I think circs are more versatile and wow, it makes a big difference having them all within reach.
8. They fit in a tidy little case (though the case is stiff and awkward and could probably benefit from being made of a different material...except that it is really nice to be able to see through the plastic...oh well, you can't have everything, I guess).
9. The options for the tips.  I mean, how great would it be to have all three types - metal, acrylic and wood?  You could experiment with each one when you're trying out a new yarn.  Different yarns benefit from being knit on different needles, did you know that?  I didn't.  But apparently, it's true.  You can get better results if you play around with your needle types.
10. You can buy a little coupling separately that allows you to join cables together and make one super long cable.  Afghan knitting, anyone?
11. Have you ever heard of lifelines, in knitting?  Well, they work like this: when you're knitting something that is a little involved, like a lace shawl or a cabled sweater, there is a possibility that you might make a mistake at some point (what?? me, make a mistake???  NEVER!) and you'll have to rip some knitting back.  The thought of having to rip back lace is enough to give a person a migraine (I don't recommend it to anyone), so this is what you do: at the end of a round of particularly complex knitting, you will thread a yarn needle with some scrap yarn and feed it through your loops, thus securing them and providing you with a safe harbour in the storm.  Well, with the KnitPicks interchangeables, it's even easier to do than that.  The tips are tightened onto the cables using a little pin.  You twist the tip onto the cable, insert the pin into a small hole near the needle's socket, and you use the pin as leverage to really torque the needle and cable together.  Here's the secret: that little pin hole is the PERFECT size for dental floss.  You thread the dental floss into the hole, tie a little knot to keep it there, knit your next row just like you normally would (with your regular yarn - the floss is just going along for the ride), but when you're done, you snip the knot in the dental floss and leave it in your work.  BAM: instant lifeline.  Plus, it's minty fresh.  And lifelines need not be limited to complex work.  They're good for keeping travel knitting safe from tangles.  Or just preventing your toddler from setting you back hours and hours and hours in your work by gleefully making away with your needle from your project, which was sitting peacefully on the sofa before you turned your back a moment ago.
12. They also have these little tags that you can buy separately that are GENIUS!  Why, you ask?  Well, imagine this totally probable scenario: you start a project like...I don't know...a sweater.  Yeah, you're starting a sweater.  You're knitting up the body when you realize that you were supposed to start on the sleeves first, for whatever reason.  No biggie.  You unscrew the needle tips from the cable and use the little purple caps that came with your kit to secure the knitting onto the cable.  It will now act as a stitch holder (goodbye scrap yarn method!) and will keep the body safe until you're ready to graft the arms on.  Except WAIT.  What happens if you start the sleeve and then decide that you have to knit an emergency scarf with that size of needle (what? scarf emergencies happen, yo) and so you abandon the sleeve idea and all of the sudden, you come back to them later and you have no idea what size needles you were using for the sweater (because, though I've told you to, you haven't started a knitting journal yet and you're working blind).  SO WHAT THEN?  You're up the creek without a paddle, my friend.  Unless...

What if you slipped one of these little puppies onto the cable before you capped it at each end when you stopped knitting the sweater body?  A built-in method of documenting your needle sizes for on-going projects.

See?  Genius, I tell you.  Simply genius.

So, do I think you should invest in a set of these?  Yes, I do.  I DESPISED circular needles for years and I knit almost exclusively on these, now.  My knitting-in-the-round has improved tenfold (no more ladders and unevenness).  Magic loop is my answer to everything.  Two-at-a-time socks are my new modus operandi.  Heck, two-at-a-time sleeves are next.

What I would suggest is this: KnitPicks make a set of interchangeables that include a pair of each type of tips (wood, metal and acrylic - I inserted a photo of this set at the top of this post) so you can try them out.  I would give that a shot.  The Holidays are coming - put them on your list.  I really don't think you'll regret it.

Oh, and one more thing: if you haven't been listening to Kelly Petkun's podcasts, you really ought to remedy that.  Holy cow, have I learned a lot from this woman.  Excellent commuting soundtrack (I even listen to them while I'm doing housework and baking).  Just remember to keep a little notebook handy (or maybe your NEW KNITTING JOURNAL, HINT HINT) so that you can take notes.  'Cause I guarantee that you'll want to.

Why learn a lesson the easy way?

I have learned a very valuable lesson this week:

When you are undertaking a new pattern for the first time, it pays to take the time and re-write the damn thing in your own words.

Particularly if this pattern was written by a designer that is unknown to you.  Particularly if this designer seems a little Old School (they did things differently in the Olden Days of knitting... you know, like 10 years ago).  Particularly if you're not accustomed to following patterns in the first place and usually prefer to wing it, as Elizabeth Zimmermann-ites such as myself are wont to do.

Now, I already knew this.  I preached this.  I smirked a little as I witnessed others refusing to do this very thing, thus finding themselves up a creek without a paddle.

Oh, would I could properly convey to you the taste of humble pie, my friends.

When I left you last, I was performing some rather heart-wrenching surgery on my husband's argyle vest.  I managed to remain fairly positive throughout the process (you know, once the vile cursing and temper tantrum subsided, that is).

At one point, just as I was ripping back 3 hours worth of work (by the way, it took me 1.5 hours to undo 3 hours of work...that thought gives me heartburn), I thought to myself (cue ominous music) that I really should sneak a lifeline into this thing, JUST IN CASE something went wrong again.

Once I got it all back on track, I squared my shoulders and put my mind to the task of starting the arm shaping over again.  I was a little tired, but determined.  I took a deep yogic (and very zen, I like to think) breath.  But did I remember to put in a lifeline?  Nooooooooo, of course not.  Did I go back and re-re-re-read the instructions.  Well, yes.  Naturally.

At least I thought I had.

Are you getting a sense of foreboding, here?  A little foreshadowing, perhaps?

Yeah, so, um, well.... I screwed up again.  I am halfway between the arm shaping and the shoulder seam on one side of the front and I just realized that I have to rip back to the armhole shaping (a good 4" of work).  And not a lifeline in sight. 

Now, I am not above ignoring mistakes and making do.  I can't stand perfectionism and like to refer to myself as a "good-enough-ist".  Mistakes just emphasize our human-ness, I prefer to think.  However, this mistake is bad enough that it makes me question whether or not it will dramatically change the way this thing fits.  I'm just not sure enough of myself and I want this vest to be something my husband will love and wear forever.  If it languishes in a drawer, I'll be extremely frustrated.  Especially if it languishes because I was too lazy to rip a mistake out and fix it when I had the chance.  Pardon the expression, but that would just chap my ass.

Is it too early in the day for alcohol?