Sunday, May 30, 2010

Plumbing can be fun

Especially when it is planned. This adventure wasn't planned. Thanks to PhotoSteve for his help. It worked out fine after three trips to the hardware store.  The last trip was to see if I could find a different size connection so I didn't have too many connections as part of the plumbing. I do know that the more the connections, the more likely a weak point in the line.


The scarf I finished was made using Kidsilk Haze, size 13 16" needles. Cast-on 50 sts and go until enough yarn to bind-off is left.  Photos later.




Sorry about the reverb in the sound.  I'm not sure what happened. This is a short vlog update.

Saturday, May 29, 2010

Teal'atron


Citron
Originally uploaded by knittingbrow
This is the Citron Scarf from Knitty that has been knit using a beautiful mystery yarn. I think tw yarn is merino. It is a beautiful teal color. I added two more repeats to the pattern.

The recipient was pleased with the shawl.

Here is my Ravelry link to the (limited) project details.

Fun Movie Pairings

I love it when I get together with friends and an idea takes off and becomes a lot of fun. We talked about movie pairings at knitting tonight. This is something that I've done before with Songferret and it took on a life of it's own last night.  Some of these ideas were from people on plurk. That's another social networking site, similar to twitter.  Go here to find out more. Here is the link to the plurk and everyone's comments.

I hope you laugh when you hear these. We all did!



If you have a pairing that you think would be a perfect fit, please leave a comment!

Monday, May 17, 2010

KnitAmy (un)knits her first socks

Ever wonder what it's like to knit with us on a Monday night?  This is just a slice of the fun.  All comments are made with good intentions. 



Yarmando was very kind and showed Amy how to cast on for toe-up socks using his Evil Genius Pattern. 

Sunday, May 16, 2010

Serpent Mound

knitSB and I traveled to Serpent Mound on Sunday for a nice day together. The mound was enjoyable, the weather pleasant and the company wonderful.
The video sound is low, so you'll need to turn it up a bit.  Sorry about that.  :)




Flamingo Garden long view


Flamingo Garden long view
Originally uploaded by knittingbrow
I worked on clearing out the day lilies from this flower bed yesterday. I opted to plant some of the annuals I bought last week. I'm looking forward to seeing this grow during the summer.

We planted some sunflower seeds close to the fence. We also planted pansies, Diathus, salvia & another ground cover plant that I can't remember what it is called.

I moved some hostas under the magnolia tree and planted the Lily of the Valley near them. I hope the LOTV grows quickly this year.

knitSB finally put up the flamingos I got him for his birthday 2 years ago!

I finished a cotton baby hat yesterday. It is a simple 2X2 rib hat that will keep a newborn's head warm. I've started a big sister hat to go along with the hat. I think it will be a nice pair. I just need to find out how large big sister's head is.

Thursday, May 13, 2010

Were the World Mine

I had a really good day on Wednesday.
I had a nice chat with a great co-worker after we provided some training. Thanks Kim! She likes to read the end of books to make sure there is a happy ending. This reminded me of my reaction as I watched the movie Were the World Mine.  Have you seen it?  Here's the trailer.


The story is based on A Midsummer Night's Dream by William Shakespeare. I enjoyed the movie. It kept me engaged and interested without leaving me to wander off in thoughts or my knitting.  At the end of the movie, I kept saying "give me the ending I want, give me the ending I want, give me the ending I want."  And I got the ending I wanted.  It was nice to watch a movie with a gay them that doesn't end with someone killing themselves, spending years in therapy because of self hatred or a great amount of hurt/sorrow.

I don't expect this movie to change your world. It didn't change mine. It gave me another movie to add to my list of "I need a lift" films.  I'm always looking for those types of films with gay characters or story lines.

I got about 3 inches knit on a baby hat. It's a simple K2P2 rib hat out of denim cotton.

Monday, May 10, 2010

Treats


Treats
Originally uploaded by knittingbrow
tiramisu and a pastery that is raspberry, ground nuts and chocolate layered together. Judy the neighbor invited us over after we did yard work. There are the best neighbors in this 'hood. People gather in the street chatting and laughing. They visit and drink tea. It is quite nice.

This doesn't happen in our neighborhod. I think it might eventually, but there is still work to do.

3 skid compost bins


3 skid compost bins
Originally uploaded by knittingbrow
While visiting the M's this weekend, she needed help on how to make compost bins out of skids. I remember seeing that information in The Tightwad Gazette and made one for my house about 12 years ago. This one will work so much better. They are out in the open and the compost will be moved to the next bin as it needs turned.

It worked out well once I set it up. Te only problem I experienced was trying to drill the skids together. Some of the wood is very hard. I was able to get enough pieces attached to each other that I used zip ties to secure the ready to the fence.

My own composting bins are black garbage cans with holes drilled into them. I'll start being serious about composting this year as
I work on keeping the yard weeded. Honestly, it would get done if we has a gardener. We don't. *sigh*

Saturday, May 8, 2010

Memorial Thoughts

I had the honor of attending a memorial service for David Atwater Goldthwait, M.D. on Saturday. I was there to support the M's who worked for "Goldie" and his wife Prillfor the last 7 years in various capacities. Goldie was a charming man who hasan adventuresome spirit about him. The stories today confirmed this.

One story the M's told me was when they were clearing out their residence to move into the assisted living part of the Judson House. Goldie was a scientist. A really good scientist who did some important things in the field of microbiology. Don't ask me what those things are but they have something to do with understanding cancer.

The M's were helping him go through his clothes and they came across his lab coat. They also came across his tuxedo. M's asked him what should be donated and what should be kept. He said to donate the lab coat. "Keep the tuxedo because you just never know." **insert eye twinkle here**. He has a big grin on his face telling the M's this. I really want to have this attitude when I'm his age.

On a more personal note...my memorial service announcement will include the statement "knitting is expected."

Crepe from Shaker Square Farmers Market

This morning I visited the Shaker Square Famers Market in Cleveland with the M's Swift. It was rather windy but everyone seemed to take it in stride.

M's usually stop and get a crepe. I thought I should too :). I got Nutella and banana on mine. M's got Nutella, banana & strawberries.

I picked up an organic summer sausage to snack on next week They had lots of plants and I bought some lily-of-the-valley to plant in our back yard. I remember that we had a lot of lily in the old homestead when I was growing up. I hope it is as invasive as people say. I want this stuff to really spread.

(knitting content alert) Hmmm, I could knit a lily-of-the-valley shawl that I have in the Lace Style Book. I've been thinking about knitting that pattern.

Friday, May 7, 2010

Thinking about classes

I've been thinking about classes that might be interesting to teach at my LYS. The trouble for me right now is that I don't have a lot of time to create a new curriculum. Thoughts?



Jeremy suggested his Shadow Knit Greek Key Scarf.   It's a nice scarf and would be a nice one day class.  He's given permission to use the pattern. 

The Leaf Lace Shawl and Swallowtail Shawl are high on the list. Of course, I have to review the copyright for these patterns. I really want to find a pattern that I could get the students to purchase and have good options for yarns.  I'm trying to use up my sock stash yarn.  I also don't want a class to go on for too long. 

I've been really enjoying listening to Hoxton Handmade Podcast. Have you heard it? I'm enjoying the essays and humor of the magazine reviews.  I'll vlog about my love affair on this a bit later. 

Tuesday, May 4, 2010

Summer 2010 Interweave Knits Review

This is a rant.
I didn't like the IK Summer 2010. You can find the preview here.
I've been frustrated for several years about the lack of man's patterns that are available in knitting magazines.  I've been noticing the increase of online magazines over the last several years and how print magazines are quickly making patterns available for individual purchases just about a year after they showed up in the magazine.  I find this a bit annoying.  Over the last year I've like only a few patterns from IK.

Notice the Singalong Sweater. Which boy wants 3/4" sleeves? Really?! The sweater looks like it doesn't fit.  Poor kid.

Kudos to Kenny for having another pattern available in IK.  He blogs here.

I'm glad to be finished.  I'll be taking my business to the designers that can be found on Ravelry, knitty and TwistCollective



Bye IK. I don't see myself in your magazine.
I need your help. What online resources do you use?

A message from KnitAmy to Jeremy

A quick video from a knitting friend to another knitting friend. Can you feel the love? Last night's knitting was great fun. Much laughter, good food and Yarmando finished on of his mother's day gift socks.