1.30.2006

Knitcast Rocks!

I just finished reading an article in the Winter '05/06 issue of Vogue Knitting. (Yes, yes, I'm a little behind on my reading.) Anyway, this article brought to my attention a fabulous site: Knitcast, "a podcast dedicated to the art and artists of knitting," as coined in Vogue. Marie Irshad interviews celebrities from the knitting community, such as Lily Chin and Debbie Bliss, and future guests include Debbie Stoller of Stitch 'N Bitch and Bonne Marie Burns of Chic Knits. What a great find this is!

1.29.2006

Swatch It To Me!

As I've grown as a knitter, I've grown to appreciate the act of swatching. I, too, used to be one of those knitters who hated to swatch. "Swatch! I want to start on my project now!"

But, all those things they say about swatching is true:

- If you're using a pattern, you must know if you're knitting to gauge. I've made one too many hats that are big enough to fit a two-headed circus freak (which I am not). Plus, if you substitute yarn (which I often do to accommodate my budget), a swatch is the true test to see if it's really up to the substituting challenge.

- If you're designing your own pattern, then swatching is a definite requirement. How else would I know how many stitches to cast on to make the cute sweater I'm envisioning?

Which brings me to the swatches I recently knitted up for my new wrap sweater. I've been picturing this boucle wrap sweater for many moons, and I've finally decided to bring it to fruition.



The large swatch is a brown tweedy boucle yarn (Bernat Soft Boucle) I'm using for the body and sleeves of my sweater, and the little swatch is a chocolate brown chunky yarn (Lion Brand Wool Ease Chunky) I'm using for the ribbing around my sleeves and ribbed shawl collar.

I've started on the back tonight . . . and I better get crackin'. It's almost the end of January, and spring will be here before we know it! (Here in Chicago, we call that wishful thinking.)

1.16.2006

I thought I was the Ultimate Sweater Machine!

I took the plunge and bought myself the Ultimate Sweater Machine. I was a little skeptical about how well it would work, especially with yarn other than worsted weight, but after a few posts to knitlist, and reassuring emails from some of the experienced USMers, I dove in and bought it.

Boy, am I glad I did. I made three hats this weekend. Nothing fancy, just a basic Stockinette stitch with a rolled brim. Each hat took me about two hours from start to finish. And, you think that's speedy?! The USM boasts that it can knit 600 stitches a minute. And I thought I was the ultimate sweater machine!

1.08.2006

Diorama-rama!



This weekend I rolled up my sleeves and got crafty with my son for his 3rd grade reading project. We had to create a diorama depicting a scene from the book, "Stuart Little." I really miss doing these crafty little projects for school. They were always so much fun!

As for knitting, I haven't done much with my sticks, although I'm working on the schematics for a boucle wrap sweater. The design has been floating around in my mind for quite awhile, and on a whim of inspiration I've decided to run with it. To be continued...

1.05.2006

Go Glam!



This scarf is a recently finished project. I think it has a sort of punky glam thing going for it. The yarn is Playful by Yarn Bee.

1.02.2006

I've created this blog in order to document my successes and failures as a knitter, designer, and crafty girl trying to make it in today's world. My job suppresses my creativity to the utmost and usually leaves me feeling drained and bitchy. I find that when I utilize my creativity, even in the most miniscule way, it leaves me with a sense of wellbeing. This blog is a glimpse at my attempt to balance my right-brained career with my left-brained tendencies.