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November 28, 2006
Happy birthday, Tadpole
Posted by kate at 07:20 AM | Comments (91)
November 22, 2006
I-cord, therefore I am
Hello. It's 11:30 pm and I'm sitting on the floor of the bathroom* (on cushions that I had the foresight to bring with me, thankfully) knitting i-cords and contemplating the string of projects and deadlines and late nights that my life has become. For a knitting blog, Needles on Fire is painfully devoid of knitting. And blogging, now that I think of it. Contrary to what one would think, reading this blog, I have actually gotten more done in the last couple months than I ever have in such a short period of time. I thought maybe I'd give you some little looks at stuff I've finished or am working on.
You've already seen this
And everyone has seen this a thousand times. It's getting to be too small for my big girl. And yes, I am the type to make to-do lists that include things I've already done just so I can check them off, which is why you've already re-seen projects. So sue me.
Then there was this
Hooooo-weee! That's some exciting stockinette there, no?
and now I'm working on this, which is not what you would think. This is a test piece.
*I'm in the bathroom because Tadpole's asleep in her room, Frog's in our room and my parents are in the family room, so that leaves the bathroom.
Posted by kate at 11:34 PM | Comments (15)
November 13, 2006
Katie Yarnyseed
I'm the Johnny Appleseed of knitting lately. And by "lately" I mean the last few months. I'm that slow about posting.
Knitter Growth Experiment #1
Subject Name: Joseph
Relation: Sister
Previous Craft Experience: Baker and cookie-maker extraordinaire. Has little experience in the fiber arts.
Other Notes: Uses the words "weird" and "intervention" when talking about my knitting and stashing habits.
Expected Outcome: This soil does not look very fertile for yarn and knit-loving growth.
Day 1:
Katie Yarnyseed: Joseph, I'm going to be giving knitting classes soon and I haven't taught anyone to knit in a long time. Would you let me teach you so I could get some practice?
Joseph: Eh. Ok. I guess so.
KY: Excellent [taps fingers together like Mr. Burns]
Subject was instructed on how to do the knit stitch
J: [while knitting] I guess I can see why people like this. But I don't think I would want to do it all the time.
J: OK. That's enough. I'm going to bed.
Day 2:
J:[while waiting to leave for the airport] I'm bored. Where's my knitting?
J:[20 minutes later] Just one more row.
J:[2 minutes later] Just one more!
J:[2 minutes later] One more!
Final (?) results:
J:[one week later] I keep showing everyone my knitting!
Since then, I have tried to convince the subject to buy yarn and needles at her LYS. I even sent her into a yarn store to pick something up for me. She left only with what I needed and has told me several times recently that I should knit her a clapotis. Further experimentation is needed.
Knitter Growth Experiment #2
Subject Name: Mrs. Smoke
Relation: Playgroup Mom
Previous Craft Experience: You name it, she's done it. She's even done fiber arts that I couldn't identify. Mother is a knitter.
Expected Outcome: This has got to work.
Results:
Subject caught on quickly. Learned the knit stitch (continental) from me, then taught herself to purl from a book. Took yarn from my stash. Quickly went to a yarn store to create her own stash. Began knitting a hat for her son, then decided to make it more interesting by knitting a fair isle pattern (self taught). Has started other projects since then and stalked a woman (and her scarf) in the park. Mrs. Smoke's enthusiasm has caused a knitting outbreak in the playgroup. Two moms are taking classes with me. Another is interested. Success!
Posted by kate at 11:11 PM | Comments (35)
November 12, 2006
Last Friday in Montreal
this knitter (I don't have to link or to even tell you who it is, do I?)
Here are me and Tadpole mingling with the knit and famous. She held my sock.
and here's Kate, aka Miss Ewe, who drove in from Kingston. Notice her clapotis. Yes, I know that you all are sick of seeing clapotis, but I was in France when the whole clapotis explosion happened. It's new to me.
Stephanie was lovely. The Montreal knitters were lovely. Kate was lovely. It was lovely to see all of the Montreal Knits women (I'm too lazy to link to them all right now) and meet a couple McGill knitting women and other lovely women too. The book representative guy amused Tadpole and was lovely. Frog was lovely for taking Tadpole home so I could hang out with the knitters.
Posted by kate at 05:30 PM | Comments (25)
November 02, 2006
Empty handed?
So I told you about the whirlwind that is Rhinebeck, but I didn't really tell you what I came home with. I was trying to pretend I came home empty handed. I had too much work to do to be tempted by exciting, new (not to mention non-paying) projects. I got my newest knits out in the mail the other day so even though I still have some writing to clean up, I took a little break and spun. On my very own wheel.
A little peek at my wheel
A gift that came with the wheel
What I'm spinning (silk/wool dyed with cochineal and indigo from Handspun by Stephania) and what it does to my fingers
Merino top from Pleasant Home Woolen Co.
A pound of lovely redness (the color's not so accurate) from The Spinner's Hill
Cashmere and Tussah Silk from Foxefire. Frog thinks it feels like Tadpole's hair. The lady selling it touched her head and agreed.
Grafton Fibers
Indigo moon that will hopefully become a sweater for Tadpole.
The only yarn I bought and it's Noro. Silly, no? Frog said he liked it and wanted me to make him something with it. He has never wanted me to make him anything and never liked a yarn for him. I had to buy it.
By buying a wheel, I blew my budget to smithereens, but if I had had an unlimited budget, I would have bought a lovely spindle and I wish I had hit a couple of booths earlier on. And I wish I had bought more of the red stuff. And there was some yarn at Saska Designs that I really wanted but didn't get because the last thing I need is more yarn that I won't have time to knit. And I would have liked to get some other sorts of fibers to spin. And I would have liked more undyed fibers. And that Hanne Falkenberg Mermaid sweater kit that Irene bought. I'd like one of those too. Greedy, I know. Oh! And one of the last barns I went to had these needle organizers. I really should have bought one. That was dumb of me. Does anybody know what company that was? I didn't even take a card.
Posted by kate at 09:08 AM | Comments (44)
