Yahoo Pipes Linky Experiment

I’ve been playing with Yahoo Pipes and I made an RSS feed of other knitting blogs and linked to it from the sidebar. Fellow knitting circle members: if you have any blogs with RSS that you’d like me to add, or any design-y things you want me to change, just let me know. I hope to make one that has a Yahoo map of all the NYC knitting stores.

 

Holiday crafting, or, why I finally decided to post

I have all of these great photos of my Halloween costume, that I never got to wear to the parade because I had a crazy dry/infected eye that just didn’t go with the mermaid theme. I did wear it to a party and I think our table was the only one where the women’s costumes didn’t all look like strippers. Not that there’s anything wrong with that, but a little creativity, people, how many naughty nurses can one bar handle? (rhetorical question). I’m also posting the eggnog cupcakes (from Bittersweet) that we had for Thanksgiving at Cassandra and Owen’s that were decidedly not eggnog-like, but still really damn good. And, to bring us up to the current holiday, the soaps that I made with characters on them that supposedly say things like: love, tranquility, energy, but that probably actually say something completely different. And, the iPod holder that I made for Kate. It was super-easy and one of the many cute things in Vogue’s Knit 101 book.

 

Inadvertent scribble lace

I finally finished the scarf to go with my spaghetti strap dress, just in time for Kate’s niece’s bat mitzvah. Cassandra commented that it looked like scribble lace, which was unintentional. I finished it on our roof, before it got too cold and where I could escape from Mel for awhile. I also made some rosewater pistachio cupcakes as a test run that knitting circle has not had a chance to try yet. They have cardamom and a wonderful tea taste that is a little like licking someone’s grandmother, but in the nicest possible way.

 

Spin Out 2007 Is Coming!!

So I still don’t know how to spin, but darn it, I’m setting a deadline so that I can participate in this year’s spin out in Central Park. Ladies if you are up for it, it is on September 29th. I’m sure you can go even if you don’t know how, there will be great fiber mojo!

Cara over at January One had a logo contest this year and I submitted some ideas (click for bigger):

Hope to see you there!

 

Knitty Kitty ER

A sewing needle went missing Sunday night during knitting circle and Mister Miel, the yarn ingesting cat, had a guilty look on his face. The circle made a mad dash to the Animal Medical Center on 62nd and York, and, after an overnight stay, we got one very sleepy cat back. A few days later, they mailed us the x-rays and the really gnarly needle and thread.

 

25 days ’til mom’s Mother’s Day throw-down

That’s right people. I HAVE A PROJECT. Not to go overboard on the puns, but it is the MOTHER of all projects.

My mom asked me to make her a “summery” throw, as the one I made a few years ago is lovely but rather dark. It is made up of various shades of dark red. This one will be lighter sage-y colors plus some variegated Manos for that “pop.” It should be good. Check back here again soon for a progress report.

I don’t think it will be done by mother’s day (the last one took me the entire length of Twin Peaks to finish, however many hours that is) but it’s the thought that counts.

Clockwise from 10 o’clock:
Galler Yarns FLORE II Mohair/Wool/Nylon #104
Debbie Bliss cashmerino aran Merino/Microfibre/Cashmere #300502
Manos Cotton Stria #204
Lamb’s Pride Bulky Wool/Mohair Avocado
Frog Tree Merino #46
Manos del Uruguay #109

 

Not Quite Flower Basket(case)

Sorry, click for larger pics. I’m having issues posting today.

After some major frogging and some more minor frogging episodes I am 2 repeats and a border away from finished! This is a pretty simple lace pattern. I’d definitely recommend it for first time lace makers, but have some coffee before delving in. I’m now blaming caffeine deprivation for my shawl folly.

I think I’d like to add a little more color for the border. Just a small amount of ‘pop’. Maybe this:

-Cassandra

 

Quite the steamy little birthday present!

Sometimes tying one on before knitting can lead to unfortunate decisions.

Case in point: bottle of Shiraz-Cabernet blend plus brand spanking new (to me) flower basket shawl pattern equals major frogging episode of ridiculous proportions.

Cast on… knit… 70 ROWS later realize, “huh, I am reading the left half of this pattern backwards and am definately making this much harder than it needs to be, and what if the border won’t work with the backwardness? so maybe I should stop…” Did I mention I’m blond?

Anyway, my man (an awesome specimen of humanity) got me a fabulous birthday gift.

See my sad crinkly Koigu yarn ‘before’ picture?

‘After’ the steamy action!

Smooth, smooth smooth! I can not tell you how happy I am to have a hand held Steamer. It may be sad, but I’m totally digging it. Some knitters recommend the “hang your frogged bits in the bathroom while you shower” to release the kinks, but that has never worked for me (my shower is not uber toasty) so this is a great alternative.

-Cassandra

 

Church Of The Everlasting Skein

One of my favorite things to do in addition to knitting is converting the public. Which includes, friends, family, and strangers. I’ve personally only taught 2 people to knit but I like to think I’ve had a hand in a few of my friends ‘fiber awakenings’. Truth be told, I’m pretty evangelical about knitting (I like it. So you might too). I want to step up the conversion. Yesterday a woman on the subway asked me where to get yarn and needles like mine, and I only had one yarn store business card on me. (for shame!) That store was in Brooklyn. Brooklyn is nice, sure, but that lady was in Midtown Manhattan. So I’m thinking of creating a pocket guide to city knits. It would divide up the city into yarn. oooo

Do you have any favorite stores that feed your addiction?

In order to bolster this little guide I’m going to put together a yarn crawl. It’s spring time and I’m feeling like finding something fresh in the city…

also, the Sea Silk Moss yarn made it to its intended target. At 4oo meters (that’s 437.45 yards for my fellow Americans) it does go on & on.

check it out in the Berry Colorway:

 

The only thing worse than running out of yarn…

is running out of inspiration.

I’ve been in a virtual knit desert. Everything the same. Colorless and sweaty. Until today.

Guess what came in the mail? Hand Maiden’s Sea Silk in the Berry colorway. It is luscious. Soft and supple. I bury my face in it and sigh, inhaling deeply a delicate scent of seaweed. Yes I’m still talking about yarn! Get your minds out of the gutter. This yarn is destined to become the Melon Shawl from “Victorian Lace Today.”

I’m worried about being a project whore. Currently, my needles are churning out the “Flower Basket Shawl” and with some diligence it’ll be done before my trip to Louisiana. But I really want to start working with sea silk!!

One interesting note about the sea silk colorways: I also picked up Moss and both colors are very rich but Berry has a range of pinks and reds throughout the skein and Moss is more of a solid tone. Subtle series indeed! Moss is going to Martine, she’s suffering from wedding planning overload and needs some knitty goodness.

Photos to come, it’s too dark now for decent pics. But here is Zoe, the sweetest knitty kitty.