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August 25, 2006

How time flies

Just a quick note to tell you that Tadpole and I have left on a trip to see friends and family. We're in Boston right now. We went and stayed with Julia and her lovely family for a day. Last night I was lucky enough to meet Kellee and Maryse at Circles, which is great and you should all go there and talk to Alison and spend lots of money. More details and photos later.

Posted by kate at 09:34 AM | Comments (9)

August 17, 2006

What I'm up to and into right now

Up to:
Felting - I'm not a big felter. I figure if I spend loads of time making pretty stitches, I may as well be able to actually see those pretty stitches. But I'm doing it anyway. Know what I hate about felting? I hate not knowing what size things will really come out. Yeah, I know. Swatch, measure, felt, measure, plan accordingly, blah blah blah. I still want to know with my very own eyes if what I'm making is the size I want it before I wash it and it is irreparably the wrong size. Anyhoo, I was surprised to find I had size 13 needles. Who would have guessed it?

Feeling the chill - It's getting colder. I'm getting freaked out. Tadpole's sweater is still lacking a neck and one sleeve (not to mention the whole steeking bit). And Tadpole is still a peanut, but a much bigger one than she was when I started the sweater. Can I panic yet?

Into:
Finding brilliant solutions* - I am a swatcher. Well, for work knitting I am. For me? Not so much. Anyway, when I knit my swatches, I often try out several sizes of needles and different types of needles to figure out what I like. I'm always convinced I'll know which swatch is which. After I've finished, I toss the swatches onto the table next to my couch, where they fall on the floor, then eventually end up chucked into one of my workbaskets. Without fail, I end up needing to look at and measure the swatch later. If I even manage to find it, I no longer know what needles I used. Hello solution!

Am I the only one who sees the numbers? They're there. I see them. There's "6" on the green and "8" on the blue, if you don't. And as long as I can find the swatches, I'll know what size needles I used. Hurrah!

* I use the word "brilliant" loosely. I could keep better track of my swatches if I labeled them with little tags and kept them in a knitting journal that would be neatly put away on my shelf. Now THAT would be brilliant. It would also require having tags, a pen and a journal and knowing where they were because I put them where they belong. My solution only requires the thing I'm already swatching.

Posted by kate at 12:36 AM | Comments (32)

August 04, 2006

Started

Gosh. I had no idea that so many of you out there were librarians. It makes me curious what else you do.

I've started the knit quilt. I've done more than you see in the photo. I'm just too lazy to rephotograph it. I'm working with 20 different shades of Brown Sheep Cotton Fleece. I keep messing around with where the colors are and I can't make a decision, but I've started anyway. Square number 1 of 12 is almost done.

I really should finish Tadpole's sweater one of these days, shouldn't I.

Posted by kate at 09:57 AM | Comments (35)

August 02, 2006

Guess what?

Guess where I'm typing this post? The library!
Guess what I'm in love with? The library! (even though 3 of the books I wanted were not on the shelves where the computer insisted they were)

I was going to drop off some CDs I had taken out and then head over to knitting tonight. Instead, I got a little weak in the knees when I saw all the books and the computerized card catalogue (or whatever you call it) and I stuck around. How can you NOT love free books and free CDs and free DVDs?!? Now they're going to kick me out. I have to go check out my books now, but I had to share my love of the library with you. Better post later, I promise.

Posted by kate at 09:34 PM | Comments (18)

August 01, 2006

Help me have class

Please.

I'm going to start giving some knitting classes. I'd love to hear what you all have liked/hated/wanted in knitting classes you've taken/wanted to take/dreamed about. If you were to take a class with me, what kind of class would you want? This is assuming you would want to take a class with me. Or in a beginning knitting class, what sort of project would you want to do? Or what's your ideal class?

I'm both excited and panicked. Help, please?

Posted by kate at 12:45 PM | Comments (57)