Archive for 2005

knitting grafitti

Thursday, December 15th, 2005

Have you heard about the work of knitta, please in Montrose, TX? You have to see it to believe it.

My partner sent me the link to Wooster Collective, a site celebrating street and epemeral art. An article was published today in the Houston Press.

Color me inspired! Rock on, sisters.

template completed

Saturday, December 3rd, 2005

late late late friday night/saturday morning.

I’m putting the header to bed. next on the agenda is picking up entries from MWK and shoving them in here.

time will bring another header and static pages…. do I need project galleries?

still here

Thursday, December 1st, 2005

just playing around with the backend. reading the codex.

submissive

Monday, October 31st, 2005

Who knew submission could feel so good?

This past summer, when the men’s issue of Knitty was announced, I considered throwing my hat in the ring. Procrastination and other knitted distractions never got the sketches and swatches made into a completed item. However, my jaw droppd when I saw a very similar pattern that did get published. I still believed in my pattern, specifically, one innovative element.

Then, the good fellows at MenKnit were getting ready to publish their inaugural issue. Some hasty knitting, a flurry of emails, and a fast-approaching deadline saw the birth of my dream, save some felting. The next thing I knew, I was in Poland and Eastern Europe for three weeks, and there was no way I could felt across the ocean.

That leads us to today, the deadline for MenKnit volume 2. No rushing around this time. I sleep deeply last night, nary a worry on my mind. I tweaked, edited and finessed the pattern all weekend (words are hard!) and spent yesterday over a washing machine felting the crap out of the item. After two months of just sitting around, all loose and baggy (it’s knit on 17s), my little project has evolved into its durable, dense self.

Just the process of creating one’s own pieces and the excitement of submitting it to a publisher has been worth it. No photos until after publication (if I’m so lucky), however if you see me in person, bug me about it.

 But there’s no rest for the weary. I still have a couple of sweater designs to turn in, a sweater for myself to finish, and a pom-pom to attach then send the hat off to Prague.

first foray into freeform

Friday, October 7th, 2005

It’s been a long, long time since I’ve been on here. I’ve been out of the country for the past three weeks, but that’s not to say I didn’t get any knitting done!

Since I was travelling, I didn’t want to bring a big project (like the aran that’s begging to be finished) or something complex (another self-designed piece).

DominikaSo, I grabbed a bunch of different yarns, one set of circular needles and assumed that I’d find some downtime to whip out some hats.

Five hats later, here’s pictures of three of them and the happy recipients.

First, we have Dominika the intern:

The cream yarn was a bit small for the 13s I brought. And I was a little overzealous in my casting on. It will make a soft and warm place to tuck her hair up into during the Polish winters.

 

MonikaNext, there’s Monika, the H4H Gdansk staffer.  I was pleasantly surprised by the cacophonous harmony of the colors and textures. It’s a nice contrast to her hard, engineer, stern exterior.

 

I guess I should explain that I was working on a house for Habitat for Humanity. Construction worker/drywaller extraordinaire by day, fervent knitter by night. 

 

Andy's Birthday Hat (back)The last hat for today (I am awaiting photos for the other two) was made on during a train ride to Krakow, just in time for Andy’s birthday the next day. He’ll be wearing this with pride (no, not that kind) back in Syracuse. Probably my favorite of the bunch. Let’s hear it for caring multiple pieces of yarn together… it was dense. 

Who needs a pattern? I started knitting just a year ago with a hat, on the very needles I brought to Poland. It was a fitting way to end my first year.

an arm-full

Monday, July 11th, 2005

second sleevea very productive week, indeed. since my last post, I’m twenty rows shy of finishing the second sleeve.

now that I’m back into the swing of things, it’s time to get a-designing. knitty.com’s men’s issue was a disappointment, as far as number of male designers. I know we’re out there, but I recognize my own lack of a contribution.

I tip my hat off to those of you who submitted, whether or not you were published. thank you for representing our gender. I also tip my hat to those who’ve engaged knitty’s editor.

hopefully I can get off my ass and get something to menknit.net‘s online magazine!

three months later…

Tuesday, July 5th, 2005

my home-buying excuse for not knitting is wearing thin. I’m all moved in, the house is functional and the yarn’s been stashed. it was high time that I start up again. and, yes, I was even dreaming about it.

I was antsy to buy a new book for inspiration (Teva Durham or Debbie New?), but I forced myself to consult one I already owned. I hadn’t spent much time with it, so I decided to crack open Anna Zilboorg’s Knitting for Anarachists.

I wasn’t ready to start swatching out new designs, so I decided start sleeve2 of my aran sweater. there’s so much to be learned from the classics. besides, inspiration always comes quickly when bored by tedium.

aransleeveSun

Sunday night: I started the ribbing of the cuff. it felt wonderful to be using my hands again. but then bedtime called.

aransleeveMon

Monday afternoon: after the patriotic festivities (shrimp and basil pasta, corn on the cob and banana cream pudding), out came the knitting bag during our conversation. as you can see, quite a bit more got done.

I’m travelling in two weeks, and I’m not sure what I want to bring with me. Finish this sweater or start something new? once that trip (swim competition) is over, I’ll return to my favorite knitting night at 3DB.

I missed you, sweet wool.

projects past, present and future

Tuesday, April 19th, 2005

beckscarf2

At long last a picture of the simple scarf made for my sister…

I still have to sew in the zipper of the cycling aran and photograph that.

I’m one sleeve into a traditional aran, but have promised tea cozies to the boss’ wife.

To make matters worse (or more exciting), or my knitting less focused, a dear friend has asked me to design some simple men’s sweater patterns.

Any thoughts?

red sweaters

Thursday, March 17th, 2005

If you want to be part of some activism and art via knitting, read on. Forwarded from a friend:

Nina Rosenberg shaped the electrons to say:

i'm making an art installation, and i'm enlisting the help of every knitter i know! ... can you please ask the knitters you know to participate? we're going to knit over 1500 small sweaters and hang them in a tree. you can find out all about it at www.redsweaters.org

lemme know if you're into it. i'm hoping you'll tell all your knitting friends about the project 🙂

thanks!@#!
-nina

I personally don’t know Nina, but plan on contributing a few sweaters.

whoa, Nellie!

Tuesday, March 8th, 2005

damn you, eBay, and your wiley, economically-priced yarns! I must stop bidding on you. (not to mention other things like selvage jeans, stupid premium denim.) so, I didn’t get the Noro Kureyon… but I keep going back to the "Buy It Now" chunky Rowanspun.

I have more than enough yarn as is. plenty of stuff given to me by the aforementioned dear friend. lots of leftovers from past projects. a whole sweater’s-worth once I’m finished the current cardigan, not to mention the first sweater that I’ve resigned myself to rip out. then, there’s that fleece to be spun for a yet unnamed project. and, this weekend’s outlet mall purchase of a XXL handknit sweater to rip for many balls-worth.

there will never be enough time or money to knit everything that my little heart desires. eventually, I’ll have to prioritize my newfound interests with the classics I want to knit up on. just because a coworker/friend gushes about a certain Japanese beautifully-dyed yarn, doesn’t mean I need to seek it out immediately. I have yet to earn the right to knit cashmere.

I need to go on a yarn diet. no more purchasing, online or off. no requesting freebies. then, I’ll create a schedule for future projects and the stash I have. once that’s done, there’s reading to do (how many knitting books do I own and have never cracked???) and judicious selection of more projects.

how do people maintain jobs, or social lives with knitting? when is it appropriate for an intervention? can one tackle big projects like home-buying, starting a business or writing a book and balance those lovely little sticks and fiber?

maybe I should just start up a second project to feel more productive…