2011 December • The Knitting Vortex

Girl Scouts Take Manhattan

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Dec 242011

It’s holiday time, and the troop is down to four dedicated girls; how can we not make a trip into New York City to do touristy things?

Our well-connected leader got us onto Mike’s Fashion Tour, which brought back memories for me personally. I’m familiar with the Fashion District from working production there for many years, but the industry is ever changing, and Mike gave a nice history of the area. Two things I did not know: 1)Â a hundred years ago, this was the former theatre district, before it moved a few blocks uptown beyond Times Square, and 2) Times Square was formerly named Longacre Square, before the NYTimes moved into a building there and lobbied for the name change, seeking compatible footing with the NYHerald which had Herald Square.

Mike took us around to some important buildings and interesting sites, while giving insider’s tidbits. The Fashion Center Business Improvement District has done alot to clean up the area in the last decade, including art installations like the sewing statue below. Our little group then took a retail turn as we walked up Broadway, and through Times Square.

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Lunch was at Ellen’s Stardust Diner, where the struggling-actor waitstaff is in constant performance mode. It was loud, but I had a great corned beef on rye, and even I sang along when a little waitress with a very big voice did her rendition of Queen’s “Somebody To Love.” The girls were more motivated by Adele.

We of course went to Rockefeller Center to see the tree, and then Saks Fifth Avenue for the windows and a little prayer at St. Patrick’s Cathedral. Covering all the bases here.

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The city at night is enthralling, and anything can happen. While we were lounging around Times Square, there was a Star Wars flash mob, complete with red light sabres! The girls were more enthralled by the three floors of shopping at Forever21 which they discovered. Exhausted by the spectacle, we finished with a coffee and ended the day, replete with holiday spirit. I’m pretty sure this can somehow go towards a badge.

Merry Christmas!

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Ring of Velvet Sapphire – free!

Accessories, FOs, Free, New Release, Patterns, Random Thoughts 4 Responses »

Dec 122011

Ring of Velvet Sapphire The Knitting Vortex

Who doesn’t need a big, scrooshy seed stitch infinity cowl? I certainly, suddenly, do. This one is cast on using the brilliant moebius cast on as demonstrated by the incomparable Cat Bordhi in her moebius cast on tutorial video. It allows you to knit in the round, from the cast-on middle of the ring to the long outer edge, following the infinity moebius shape. And there’s not much more to it than that!

Techniques & Skills Used: moebius CO, knit/purl, knitting in the round; this pattern includes written instructions.
Size: 9” height and 60” circumference.
Yarn: Loops & Threads Cozy Wool (50% Acrylic, 50% Wool; 90 yards/127g); shown in Velvet; 3 skeins or 270 yards of superbulky yarn. The sample used all of the yardage, but size can be easily customized.
Other Materials: US 13 (9mm) 60” circular needle, or size to match gauge; Stitch marker (1); Yarn needle or size K/6.5mm crochet hook for weaving ends.
Gauge: 7 stitches and 16 rows/4” in seed stitch, after gentle blocking.Gauge is not critical for this project, however a different gauge may result in a smaller or larger finished loop, and different yardage requirements.

Pattern

Using the moebius cast on method, CO 100 st; pm and join to work in the round. 200 st.
Seed Stitch Center:
Round 1: [K1, P1] to end of round.
Round 2: [P1, K1] to end of round.
Repeat these 2 rounds 7 more times, or until about one-third of your yarn remains.
Rib Edging:
Round 1: [K1, P1] to end of round.
Repeat this round 6 more times, or until only enough yardage remains for the final BO round.
BO loosely in pattern.
Finishing:
Weave in ends and block gently, if needed.

You can also see Ring of Velvet Sapphire on Ravelry, to download a free pdf. download now

Crimp it up – WIP Wednesday

FOs, WIPs 1 Response »

Dec 072011

Well, not exactly a WIP in terms of the knitting, but then that’s the easy part. These need to be sized and then organized for test knitting, which takes more focus.

I’m still loving that tuck stitch, and it’s been turning up in other places too, so it feels like the zeitgeist is right. And with winter setting in, some textural ribbing and ruckling will bring a bit of warmth with interest.

Also, maybe it’s the season, but I cant get enough of rich, dark red lately; not my usual type of thing at all, but so engaging. It looks purpley here, but that’s my lighting, trying to get a good shot of the variegation. Malabrigo Rios in Cumparsita, by the way.