I do read the articles!

My thoughts on knitting magazines.

• Cast On Magazine is the official publication of TGKA. I think this magazine has a lot of good resource material on knitting and knitting techniques. I get the magazine as part of my membership to TGKA. I read it for the articles. There are very few men's patterns.
  
• Vogue Knitting is a very "vogue" magazine in style and photography. I enjoy this artistic and fashion forward approach to knitting. The few men patterns see to be vests or drop shoulder sweaters. I have enjoyed the designed by Brandon and Kaffe. One article I regularly read is by Meg Swansen from Schoolhouse Press.
• Knitters Magazine is not a magazine that I enjoy. I do not subscribe and probably won't. The patterns tend to be over-the-top on last years fashion trends knit in colors that are too loud and scary. The photography is quite nice but doesn't highlight the sweater. I don't think it's too much to ask to have the knitted garment be the focus of the photo instead of the building behind the model. The Perri Klass articles are my favorite section of the magazine.
  
• Spin-Off has my attention recently because of their good articles and exciting knitting patterns. This might be a magazine that gets a subscription from me. No wonder I like the magazine, it's an Interweave Press product!
• Interweave Knits is my knitting magazine of choice. I subscribe. Great articles and well written patterns. I can see the knitted garments pretty well. Franklin Habit's blog can be found here. Contact me Franklin so I can be one of your 1,000 Knitters! Clara Parkes writes Knitter's Review and spoke at Knitters Connection in June 2008.
• Piecework is a magazine that's an unexpected find for knitting magazines.

Thanks for watching. My goal is to not have a video that runs more than 3 minutes. After this post, if I can't say it in under 3 minutes, I should say it.

umm, UFOs

Hey, this turned out to be straight-forward on my MacBook Pro. I like to talk so I thought I would use a video to start blogging again.

UFOs are "unfinished objects" when related to knitting. I discovered this as my stash was being moved around as we were clearing up areas of the house. I got distracted and started to "shop from stash" and discovered some amazingly wonderful yarns. Before I cast-on another project, I want to complete some projects. The UFOs.

1. d'zined yarn. This sock was cast-on during the fun of the Magician's Nephew that took place in March/April. I just cast-on and started knitting. The feel of the sock is comfortable so it has merit to be finished. I think it's more of a fall and winter sock because of the tight gauge.
2. the "Lopi Sock." I learned to knit socks using this pattern and Lamb's Pride Bulky. These knit up fast on size 10 or 10.5 needles. I've knit 9 pairs of these socks. They are wonderful to wear around cold houses to keep your feet warm. A fast knit and short so they don't go up far on the leg, so it's a slipper sock. This one has a twisted cable pattern. I'm using ends of the Lamb's Pride Bulky so the colors are mis-matched, bright and cheery! I will finish this. Now, who should get this pair?
3. Elbac Scarf. This pattern from knitty. I'm using Nashua Handknits Creative Focus Worsted yarn in a blue color. I'm halfway through the scarf, almost. I found the knitting a bit too detailed to be "mindless" and I've had to keep track of rows and st repeats and such. bleech. Nice sound effect, eh? Who will get this scarf? The ribbing scarf does have some stretch to it so it will get a bit wider. This one might be in the "finish" pile.
   
4. The Placerville vest. It's LOFTY LOU'S YARN SHOP in Placerville, CA. Lou spun the yarn herself and I like that I purchased a handspun yarn that no one else would ever have. I got creative by introducing a purple yarn to make the vest. I'm using the EPS system to create this vest to fit me. I will finish this. What I need to do is determine how I'm going to decrease the v-neck of the vest. I've got three steeks going (two for sleeves, one for neck). The lighting doesn't show the colors well at all. (n2s: better lighting)
   
5. the Prayer Shawl. the M's gave me lots of acryllic yarn which is good for a prayer shawl because it's washable. The colors remind me of peonies that my grandmother gave to my Mom. Those huge pink blooms with a dark green framing and slight bits of dark pink. Wonderful memory for me. This one is knit length-wise with fringe, not tassels. It's knitting up fast and I'm only knitting on it around friends and people who love me. Nothing better to go into a Prayer Shawl than love and support. I'm giving this to my mother who will donate it to her church.
6. Maryland Sheep and Wool Sock out of the claudia (I think). One sock is finished. I got lost in the middle of the second heel using Don's toe-up sock pattern from two years ago. If I ask, I wonder if Don could actually tell me where I am in the pattern. I'd like to finish this second sock. I mean, I'm so close and the sock has great memories of my first trip to MS&W.
7. Scallop Scarf my own variation out of Jitterbug. I like my pattern a bit better because the color shows up a bit better. I've got about 1/2 of this scarf done. The thing that is tough is that I knit three other complete scarves for a class that I taught. That explains the "time-out" for the scarf. It wouldn't take much to finish the scarf and it's reversible and won't curl. Thoughts on this? I mean, the yarn could turn into socks, right?
   
8. Baby Surprise Jacket out of Cascade 220. I used this as a class sample for the BSJ class I tought. I need to seem this BSJ with some interesting i-cord trim. I'm hesitating a bit because I've not done this technique before. Finishing this will be time consuming and buttons. This one is in the finish pile.
   
9. Gale Shawl out of Grandma's Blessing from Briar Rose Fibers. Love the pattern. Love the Yarn. Love the recipient. Absolutely to be finished. Will I take it on the "fishing trip?" I've not decided. "wooster" Guess who walked in on the recording of this? See him in the back? He's like...what are you doing?
   
10. Yoke Sweater using Lopi Yarns. The blog history of this error can be found in the archives by clicking here. The colors are my own combination. I've got to tick back to correct the error. Really, all that is left is the fair isle knitting on the yoke. I'm more than half way done. I wish I had pulled out the error before I put the sweater in hibernation. If I take this on the fishing trip, I need to be ready to knit on it. It's not car knitting for me.
    

What you didn't see are the 6 other projects sitting on the side table. Now, these are UFOs and not the "promised projects." That's a completely different post.

Thanks for watching and reading. Please leave a comment to let me know if you enjoy the new format and why. BTW: I went with youtube because I couldn't stop talking after 90 seconds. Flickr limits to 90 seconds.

videoblog entry

This entry is from youtube.com. I'm exploring options.

Did you like this?
Which was better to watch, Flickr or Youtube? Youtube is just above. The Flickr is the entry below

videoblog20080715

videoblog20080715
Originally uploaded by knittingbrow

Hi, I thought I would try something slightly different. Please let me know if you want me to video blog some more. This entry is from flickr.com

bring back memories?

So, knitSB has been enjoying the DVR. So much that he's been able to record shows that he's wanted to see. The most recent obsession is Dr. Who.

That brought me to remembering this song. Do you remember this? I remember dancing with trixiethebear back in the day. A fun song. Enjoy

I've been tagged by Paul

Paul tagged me and I give you my answers.

“The rules of the game get posted at the beginning. Each player answers the questions about themselves. At the end of the post, the player then tags 5-6 people and posts their names, then goes to their blogs and leaves them a comment, letting them know they’ve been tagged and asking them to read your blog. Let the person who tagged you know when you’ve posted your answer.”

1. What was I doing 10 years ago?
That would be 1998, right? I was working in Human Resources and taking classes at my alma mater in Fashion Design. I had completed the first of the fashion design classes and was working on my second one. I was also working on my first fashion construction class. I was having a grand time taking these classes. I was on year 10 of my first LTR that ended 4 years later. Creatively, I was in my element. I've moved from fabric to fiber and still enjoying myself!

2. What are 5 things on my to-do list for today (not in any particular order):
Move plants outside
Grocery shop
Cook dinner
Blog
Volunteer
I got these all finished. :) Now on to read additional work related materials for a meeting on Wednesday.

3. Snacks I enjoy:
I'm a fan of BBQ chips and chocolate ice cream. I enjoy sweet as well as salty. Yum. Currently I'm enjoying fruits more often.

4. Things I would do if I were a billionaire:
Set up a foundation that would ensure longevity of the money. Live debt-free and ensure that my family and friends also had opportunities to have fun and adventures. I would enjoy exploring the Louvre for an extended period of time. You know, just not a quick visit but be able to site and sketch the artwork that would surround me. Completely renovate our house (and several others around ours.) Visit all 50 states. Create a foundation that would foster creativity in schools. It would need to start small and make sure that we'd get things done right and focus on the first 7 years of life and ages 13-19. Important things happen...like learning to read and explore the world and applying what you've learned and acting and speaking in your own voice. I don't have to travel a lot, but I do want lots of experiences that I can share with my friends.

5. Places I have lived:
Dayton
Columbus
on Livingston Ave
on Douglass Ave
on Gay St

6. Peeps I want to know more about:
Cat
knitSB
Trixie
Michelle

All the Yarn

Songferret, knitSB and I attended the Great Lakes Fiber Show last weekend. We had a great time, overall. Got to see some people that I meet during 2007's Knitter's Connection. I purchased a great deal of yarn and enjoyed every last skein of it! I'll be sharing some details and pictures over the next couple of days.

I was very thrilled to see Briar Rose Fibers there! I noticed the name because of they are a sponsor of Cast-on podcast. I made sure that I told her I noticed the name because the sponsorship. Cool to meet someone that helps to bring a good thing into existence. I got some lace-weight yarn and two skeins of a sport weight yarn. One skein of Grandma's Blessing in a dark colorway that has deep blues with browns and reds. It will turn into something wonderful designed by Knitspot. There is massive yardage in this skein! 1200 yards! I'll be able knit quite a bit with this yarn.

BTW: I had a rock star moment with knitspot. I was searching for her patterns because I saw that Francis had one I didn't see. So I was searching in a book, bought 3 patterns and was walking to a different shop when....there she was Anne...aka knitspot! I squeed and pointed at her and said as I pointed "you're knitspot!" Sure enough. And she's nice. I only regret that I didn't snap a picture.

Back to the yarn. I also bought a skein of Legend that is 1500 yarns of deep rich browns and khaki to deep olive green. Nice, huh? It will be made into a Twinings Stole by knitspot.

The lace weight is Angel Face in 100% alpaca! An amazing 2500 yards of handpainted yarn. This stuff is great and very affordable. Briar Rose provides a rather nice yarn, handpainted with a brown undertone. I've been looking for some yarn that could turn into a "manly" type of lace or shawl. I think I found my source for the yarn. Briar Rose will be at KC in a couple of weeks. I plan to say "hi" while I consider some additional yarns. Stop by and see these great yarns.

Road Trip Anyone?

Great Lakes Fiber Show is in a couple of weeks. Yarmando mentioned wanting to go. Anyone up for a road trip? Carpooling will save gas money.

Just Finished Listening to

Getting Unstuck: Breaking Your Habitual Patterns & Encountering Naked Reality by Pema Chodron.

She discussed "shenpa." I think of this as following the "shiny objects" that prevent getting things accomplished.

Sheep Art

I like this.