Every knitter has a story

I started reading a book today, called The Knitting Circle,  by Ann Hood. I like a book that makes me think, and within the first 3 chapters (that's as far as I have gotten) I was asking myself a wonderful, deep thinking question.

What is it that makes each knitter, or crocheter, pick up the needles, or hooks, and yarn?

Every fiber worker has her, or his, story.

A grandmother spends lazy afternoons teaching a young child to knit, and they lost that Grandmother was laid to rest a few year later, they remember their Gran by knitting.

A mother of two picked up the craft when she was pregnant as a way to unwind, or a woman picks it up as a distraction, while trying to quit drinking, smoking or drugs... it busies their hands.

I picked it up because my sister had brain cancer. I learned to loom knit, and I told my sister that I would knit her a "real knit" hat, "like in the movies"...I promised to teach myself after Thanksgiving 2009. She passed away October 23, 2009. I kept my promise, and taught myself to knit that fall. I made hats and donated them to the children's ward at the local hospital, knitting until my fingers blistered and callused.

I picked up crochet because my Grandmother did it. I always loved the blankets and pillows in awful 70's colors with cheap acrylic yarn that she used to snuggle me up in. After Grandpa passed, she moved in with her daughter, and I never heard or saw her again.

She passed away a week ago. And while she didn't get to see me grow up, and I hadn't talk to her in years, I found myself picking up the hook, and just working each stitch and thinking of her voice as she taught me the stitches.

"Like building blocks in your life, the chain you create here will be the foundation of your project!"

What's your story?
 

Hometown Proud, but hometown cold.

Last year, at the time of the census, in my hometown, 24.5% of the population was under 18, of that, 10.5% of all of the population was living UNDER poverty levels. If you figure that is a population of 71,892 People, that is 17,614 children, and 1850 of those children are living under Poverty..... I think we should see what we can do to help these children.

I have asked my friends and family to knit, crochet, sew, or purchase as many kids hats as they can, to donate to the Family Access network in our area.. I can only hope to make their lives a little bit warmer!
 

Fall Fashionista!

Oh, did you think I was referring to myself as the fashionista? I can hardly be considered a fashionista... Although, all through high school, I would wear my own style of clothes, and then that summer I'd move on, and that fall, never failing, my style from the previous year was "hip"...go figure. Anyways, I am going to try to do it again... Legwarmers were popular before I was even aware of fashion... I am a LATE 80's baby, spring of '89, so I dont think that had ANY bearing on my fashion sense when it comes to Legwarmers...

I have however developed a few specifics when it comes to these lovelies:

Fall Fashionista! by echo-mayernik featuring pink tops

NEVER EVER should they be worn with brightly colored pants, OR with exercise clothes, with the exception of yoga pants... but never with a unitard, I am glad that fad never tried to come back... some people should not be allowed in spandex!

I do NOT like legwarmers that are thigh high, if you need leg warmers that go that high, wear a longer skirt/shorts or find some damn PANTS!

Also, leg warmers that only cover your ankle. What are you doing, trying to protect your joints from localized hypothermia?!?!?!?!?!?

I also hate it when people try wearing them without leggings or stockings, or pants... if you are wearing leg warmers, you should wear SOMETHING that helps keep them up!

My favorite look? a tunic style shirt, skinny jeans or leggings tucked into low heel boots, and a set of legwarmers OVER the boots.

I love legwarmers that reach just below your knee, like a reverse capri cut. I love stripes, but HATE bobbles. I am a sucker for knit, and I love corsetting or buttons.


I am making a set with some super bulky acrylic in a brown tweed.

Since my needles are in use that I need for this project, I shall find my old friend, KK Loom. When they are done, they will look like these:

In Lion Brand Hometown USA Santa Fe Tweed. I will do a strand of green ribbon around eyelets in the top few rows, that will tie above my calf just to keep them in place, I don't like the look of slouchy leg warmers, mostly because the ones I had last year froze to my boots, and got ruined because they slouched too much... I was a sad panda!

Book Review: Needles and Pearls

A few days ago, I posted a review for Beach Street Knitting Society and Yarn Club by Gil McNeil. Today, I am sharing with you my review of the sequel, Needles and Pearls.

You start out the read with all the same characters as you met and grew to love in Beach Street, but you find out more and more about them as this novel moves along. Some you grow to hate, some you grow to love even more. You get to watch the development of new babies, and the beginning of new romances, and new life. 

It's hard to do a review without giving away key plot points, and I usually don't like spoilers, especially not from books, so I'll cut this down. Read it, after you read Beach Street. It's a great Knit Lit, and will most definitely be added to my permanent book shelf.

 

Web stumbling yields simple, mindless treasure knitting

I was ravlery surfing... when I stumbled across this:

And I got to thinking, I get to spend the whole day with my family... who tend to get loud, rambuncious, and sorta redneck... so I think it goes without saying, I need a simple non intense project to work on while we enjoy a classy family get together...

I have a bit of spare wool from last summer Saturday Market is a great deep ocean blue with sparkle. I think this will make a darling new born slipper for ... I don't who for.. but for someone.

By the way, here is the link to the site, and the ravlery page. You may want to pull up google translate, because it is in French.
 

Book Review: The Beach Street Knitting Society and Yarn Club by Gil McNeil

This book is a fun read. Easy, and very speech orientated. By that I mean it is written as the author might talk.

There is a bit of British language that you must wade through, but as it is based in the UK and written by an English woman, it is understandable.

Strong characters, that hold their own were a pleasure to read into. There is a considerable number of structural similarities to the "cast" of Friday Night Knitting Club but enough difference for it to be safely assumed that there was just a great bit of inspiration.

This holds a great story of a woman starting over, fresh, after tragedy. 

The book descriptor reads:

"Jo Mackenzie needs a fresh start. Newly widowed with two young sons, she leave London to take over her grandmother's wool shop, and finds unexpected friendships and romance. The Beach Street Knitting Society and Yarn Club is a warm and witty novel about the way one woman learns to deal with whatever life throws at her."

I was laughing by page 6, and had to reread several bits out loud to my husband who joined me in a good chuckle.

I look forward to reading through the sequel: Needles and Pearls by Gil McNeil

 

Great sweater deconstruction: Take 2

About this time last year, I took an old olive toned shetland wool sweater and tore it apart. I over-dyed the skeins I got from it giving me 2 skeins of the original olive tone, 1 skein of a deep rich forest green, and 1 skein of a rustic brick tone.

These skeins of yarn have been picked up here or there to make everything from tea pockets to coffee mug wraps, but always small projects.

I wanna try again. This time I have a sweater that has wonderful color, and soft texture, but not such great execution. I can't ever see myself wearing this color as a major part of my wardrobe. maybe a headband, or a flower brooch, but not as a sweater...

But, you know what I could see this being? A baby blanket.

And so! I want to turn this:

into this:

What do you think?