Random Thoughts • The Knitting Vortex • Page 2

Crafting Balance 3KCBWDAY7

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Apr 292012

I’m a knitter, and I dont see that changing much anytime soon. I can crochet, if it’s simple, like chaining, or even sc or dc if I brush up with a quick tutorial. But for me, knitting is the main craft mode, and simple crochet is something I see as a technique available to enhance the knitted object, much like I-cord or grafting. I’m a project, as opposed to a process knitter; I want the FO. For me, knitting offers more possibilities in what can be made; you can shape garments, make intricate colorwork, employ endlessly variable textures. I’ve done a few crochet beanies, and even a shrug, but my indispensable hook is most often used to pick up stitches or place beads on my knitting. That being said, I love making these beaded crochet necklaces – so easy, and they look like chain if you use metallic thread. It’s enough to make me consider myself poly-craftual Are you a knitter or a crocheter, or are you a bit of both? If you are . . .

Improving Your Skillset 3KCBWDAY6

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Apr 282012

Although the sign is really just an example of Chinglish – the misuse of “steek” for “shut” in this case – the advice would be well suited for knitting. I’ve done alot of techniques, including short rows, fair isle, mosaic knitting, all kinds of sweater construction, and knitting back backwards.But steeking makes me nervous. Scissors? To cut my knitting? I’ve read plenty of tutorials, including Eunny Jang’s great Steeking Chronicles, but . . . yeah. It keeps coming back to: cutting my knitting?! My nervousness is abetted by the fact that I dont do much colorwork, for which steeking is ideal. But one day, I will make a fair isle cardi, probably with a round yoke, and use this technique. You betcha. How far down the road to learning your craft do you believe yourself to be? Are you comfortable with what you know or are you always striving to learn new skills and add to your knowledge base? Take a look at a few knitting or crochet books and have a look at . . .

Something A Bit Different 3KCBWDAY5

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Apr 272012

Yarn Haiku This is an experimental blogging day to try and push your creativity in blogging to the same level that you perhaps push your creativity in the items you create.There are no rules of a topic to blog about but this post should look at a different way to present content on your blog.

A Knitter or Crocheter For All Seasons? 3KCBWDAY4

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Apr 262012

A Knitter or Crocheter For All Seasons? 3KCBWDAY4

As spring is in the air in the northern hemisphere and those in the southern hemisphere start setting their sights for the arrival of winter, a lot of crocheters and knitters find that their crafting changes along with their wardrobe. Have a look through your finished projects and explain the seasonality of your craft to your readers. Do you make warm woollens the whole year through in preparation for the colder months, or do you live somewhere that never feels the chill and so invest your time in beautiful homewares and delicate lace items. How does your local seasonal weather affect your craft? Where I live it’s the beginning of real spring, meaning no longer in the bare-branches-and-daffodils phase, but light green leaves and buds everywhere. Knitwise, that’s bittersweet, because I’m really a sweater knitter and this year my design goal is more garments and less distraction with accessories. HOWEVER, the urge to put away thick & heavy things also leads to reinvestigation of all those light & lovely yarns like single skeins of sock, . . .

Your Knitting or Crochet Hero 3KCBWDAY3

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Apr 252012

Blog about someone in the fibre crafts who truly inspires you. There are not too many guidelines for this, it’s really about introducing your readers to someone who they might not know who is an inspiration to you. It might be a family member or friend, a specific designer or writer, indie dyer or another blogger. If you are writing about a knitting designer and you have knitted some of their designs, don’t forget to show them off. Elizabeth Zimmerman, knitterly godmother to us all, was described by one of my friends as “the Julia Child of knitting.” She made knitting more accessible by encouraging thought outside the box, which to me is what creativity is all about. Not afraid of unusual techniques or shapes, EZ was an advocate of trying new ideas, and a proponent of self confidence and discovery. I own many of her books, of which the seminal Knitting Without Tears is my favorite. Her self described pithy style suits me, particularly because I read her for inspiration and solace, more so . . .

Photography Challenge 3KCBWDAY2

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Apr 242012

Photography Challenge Day! Today challenges you to be creative with your photography, and get yourself in with the chance to win the photography prize. Taking interesting photographs in this instance isn’t about flashy cameras or a great deal of technical know-how, it’s about setting up a story or scene in a photograph and capturing something imaginative. Your photograph(s) should feature something related to your craft, so that might be either a knitted or crocheted item, yarn, or one of your craft tools.

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 . . .

Ring of Velvet Sapphire – free!

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

Dec 122011

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, . . .

I Love Yarn!

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Oct 142011

The Craft Yarn Council has declared October 14 I Love Yarn day! Not one to miss a celebration, especially one involving yarn, today’s post is in honor of fibery goodness. My yarn of the day is Madelinetosh 80/10/10 Lace, a luscious Merino Cashmere Nylon laceweight, in what is probably my all-time favorite colorway, Composition Book Grey. Light and airy, yet with an element of luxury; and at 650 yards, just the thing for a laceweight Lumina. The Craft Yarn Council suggests: Show it off, tag with it, carry it, gather with friends. Declare your LOVE! Get involved. Create an I Love Day Yarn badge Teach someone to knit or crochet Do something for charity Wear a knitted or crocheted item Give a gift of yarn Take your yarn to work day Host a yarn-a-bration party Knit, crochet and craft in public Although they dont mention “Buy Yarn,” that’s exactly what I intend to do tomorrow at Rhinebeck, thus extending my own personal celebration. Yarn – what’s not to love? Happy I Love Yarn Day!

Stockpile Sale!

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Sep 272011

It’s no secret that I’m a Malabrigo Junkie; I love the yarns, and I love the community in the Junkies group on Ravelry. When October rolls around, we celebrate fall knitting with a month-long frenzy of stockpiling handmade holiday gifts. We stash, organize, CO (and finish!) our FOs, while cheering each other on. There are even contests and prizes! In the spirit of Stockpile I’m having a sale from September 15th to end of day October 15th, for 25% off all patterns in my Ravelry store with coupon code Stockpile 2011. Pile it on!

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