resources
TIDBITS
When I assumed the duties of emailing the bi-weekly knitting circle reminders for our little group at work, I got into the habit of including knitting-related announcements, tidbits, and other items of potential interest to the yarnophiles on our mailing list. This is an archive of those announcements, omitting any now defunct or out-of-date entries. The most recent entries appear at the top of the list.
2 0 0 4 - 1 0 - 2 9It seemed only appropriate to devote this week's announcements to knitting the humble sock (you can even make `em red, too)...
Socks 101
Never made a pair of socks before? Here's a
nicely illustrated demonstration to guide you through your first pair...
From the toe...
You've made socks from the top down, but there are definite benefits to knitting them from
the toe up (you can try them on as you go being the big one).
This article appeared
in the Winter 2002 issue of Knitty and illustrates several different "toes" to choose from.
Fuzzy Feet
What could be better than a pair of warm, snuggly slipper socks on a chilly fall evening?
Well, several things probably, but warm, snuggly slipper socks are still pretty wonderful.
Here's a free pattern for ya.
Operation Toasty Toes
OK, now that you've got a pair or two under your belt, now you're ready to make some for others.
Our soldiers overseas would be delighted by a gift of hand made socks, and
Operation Toasty Toes
makes it easy to participate. If some of you want to knit a pair for the cause, I'd be happy
to collect them and send them on!
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Scottish Speed Knitting
This woman is
en
fuego!
The other yarn art.
I know, I know--it's all about the knitting. Knitting's hot, celebrities knit,
blah blah blah... Well, it looks like now crocheting is emerging from the realm
of toilet paper cosies and craft bazaar into cell phone cosies and craftster.org.
Right.
Well, anyway, the knitting circle isn't just about knitting. Yes, it's about
lunching and about chatting, but it's also about crocheting. Here's a link to
a brand new on-line crocheting magazine,
Crochet Me: "The magazine that's
bringing crochet into the modern era." So there ya go.
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Exploding Needle, Part II
OK, now it's gotten big: the
Feds
are getting involved...
Knitting Tip #247
Save your knitting, use a safety line!
When knitting a complicated pattern, use a safety line right before starting a
section. Simply thread a sewing needle with ravel cord and run it through the
stitches on your needle. Once you're sure the section is knit correctly, simply
pull the ravel cord out. If its not knit correctly,pick up the stitches from the
row with the ravel cord and unravel back.
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Political Knitters
An interesting posting from a recent Stitch'n'Bitch list:
Hi. I'm a knitter in South LA. I handknit with the ladies at the Jefferson Park
Library on Thursdays, a very raucous bunch! and I also belong to a machine knitting
group which meets in various homes, mostly in the valley. I know this is a knitting
group and not a PAC, so I apologize in advance if I'm offending anyone with the
following political information.
I want to let folks know about my new
blog--KnittersforKerry.com.
The blog tells of my trials and tribulations with the knitting machine, and shows
some of what I've been making so far. I just started this site and this project.
My goals are to get knitters involved in the election by knitting things with the
names of their favorite candidate on them. (I will be posting patterns soon...),
to make politically themed garments so supporters can strut around town in
something more serious than a t-shirt, and to sell these items to raise money
in support of the Democratic party and other independent political groups. If
anyone is interested in getting involved with knittersforkerry.com, I would love
to hear from you! So far the site is just a blog, but I would like for it to be
more than that. I would like many more knitters. I would love to have a Knit for
Kerry event or fundraiser. I am also looking for people who might want to get
involved on the business end of things- PR and such.
Thanks in advance for your support! And again, I apologize if I've offended anyone
out there. As far as I can tell, Knittersforbush.com is still available....
Knit on!
Lisa
Knit Magic Redux
For those of you pining for one of those old Barbie KNIT MAGIC kiddie knitting
machines but unable to find one on Ebay, here's a
NEW product from NSI (the
same people who brought you Glitter Sand Art and the Sticker Factory...)
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X-TREME KNITTING
yeah, and you thought knittin' was for grannies... it's
DANGEROUS,
baby! (and you thought the worst that could happen was repetetive strain injury...)
Here's a shorter story with a few more pictures
and here's the original post the woman made on an MSN group.
:-O
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Chat Skeins
A few weeks ago, I sent a link to a site by a woman who described how she spins
her dogs' hair into yarn. Well, here's giving felines equal time:
Spinning Kitties
Sex in the Knitty
Yowza--the new Summer issue of Knitty is out and sizzlin'!
While they don't feature patterns that are strictly bikinis, some can certainly
be adapted for this purpose ;-) :
Knitty
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Knitting Circle on the Web
Scroll thru to see what this great group of knitters and crocheters are
creating. Just makes you wanna go an knit something, doesn't it?
Rosie's Yarn Cellar
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The Art Of Knitting DVD
"The Art Of Knitting is the first DVD to swing open the doors to this
wonderful art form with a searchable, surfable, non-linear encyclopedia
of knitting, with one-on-one instruction from the world's top experts,
and even a "knitting circle on demand" for the knitting enthusiast. From
the ancient mythology to the state-of-the-art, from the shearing to the
spinning, the dyeing to the patterns, the organic process of knitting is
re-discovered in this definitive Collectors Edition DVD. This clear,
visual, chaptered DVD demonstration of the intricacies of knitting is
far more effective than any text-based presentation in a book, magazine,
or internet. In a highly entertaining way, The Art Of Knitting presents
the history, the basics, the experts, the fun, the creativity, along
with music-to-knit-by."
One of its special features is a workshop on color theory by Getty Museum
Gallery Teacher Zhenya Gershman! It's available at Jennifer Knits in
Brentwood, and probably a score of other places. Check out the
DVD website
for more info and sample video clips.
Jumping Jack Flash
New to knitting? Trying to help someone learn to knit? Here
are some rhymes and sayings--old and new!--to help you remember
how to navigate your knits and purls...
for Knitting
|
In through the front door Around the back Out through the window And off jumps jack. --Waldorf School |
Go in the front door, throw on a scarf, then take it outside before the cat barfs. --Debbie Stoller |
|
A horse goes into the corral, is roped, and is let out to ride. --?? |
The mother bird swoops down to the branch, picks up the baby bird, gives it a worm then hops off the branch. --?? |
|
In the house, Around the house, Through the house, Out of the house --helpinghandsprogram.org |
In the front door, Pick up your coat, Out the front door, Hop off the step. --helpinghandsprogram.org |
for Purling
|
Under the fence Catch the sheep Back we come Off we leap. --Waldorf School, Falick |
In the back door, Pick up your shoes, Out the back door, Hop off the step. --helpinghandsprogram.org |
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Shootin' Lefty
For anyone who knits left and struggles with translating knit
patterns: I recently came across this
link to a listing of common stitch patterns translated just for
lefty-knitters.
My Clone
Creating clothing items for yourself (or others who are similarly
shaped)? I came across
these
knifty
ideas
for creating your own body double--and for cheap! Don't need it
as a sizing tool? It makes a lovely objet d'art...
From the Goofy Knit Stuff Department
I really have no comment about
this.
Just thought you might enjoy seeing it...
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Loose Knit
A play by Theresa Rebeck
Set in New York, in the backdrop of a women's knitting
group that gets together weekly to share life's pitfalls and hopes.
We meet seven women and men, searching for the perfect something
or someone. The characters are ALL emblematic of someone we know
or are perhaps even a slice of our own selves. And, if you've been
exposed to the "knitting" rage, you'll appreciate their own woes
on "decreasing" the wrong way and "binding off." Anyone who has
ever held a pair of knitting needles will sympathize and enjoy.
What kind of needles are you?
On the heels of last issue's yarn quiz,
this
should come as no surprise... (I am bamboo)
American Red Cross Knits
Try your hand at their selection of World War II era knitting
patterns from their archives and knit
your bit.
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What kind of yarn are you?
Take this small
(silly) quiz
Knitted shoes
Last spring, Interweave
Knits asked readers to try their hand at knitting
shoes. They featured a couple of the entries in the Winter `03 magazine,
but all the entries may be viewed on their Web site.
Check
`em out!