Here's a link to a fashion trend that, rightly so, will not catch on. BUT if it does, we knitters will be ready. . . .
Click here.
Saturday, May 15, 2010
Monday, May 10, 2010
Amtrak Knitting Circle
Another weekend. Another train ride on Amtrak.
This time, hubster and I went upstate to Albany, NY for a dinner. Since the train follows the Hudson River, this ride is exceptionally scenic. Here's one sight: (Photo was taken through a tinted window on a moving train. It's really much prettier than this.)
On the left side of the photo, notice the island. That's Pollepel Island. If you click on the photo to make larger--you'll see what looks like a ruined castle. That's Bannerman Castle. It was built around 1900 to store munitions.
On our return trip to NYC, there was a couple sitting in front of us. I was knitting my secret project, listening to an audiobook, enjoying the scenery when I saw the woman raise her hand above her head and in her hand was. . . YARN!
I looked at her reflection in the train's window and saw
Do you see what I see? A knitting bag, hands and dpns!
I scrunched over to the side so I could get a better look and the woman was knitting a sock!
I called out to her and held up my knitting. I asked and, yes, she's a member of Ravelry and so suddenly two strangers on a train became knitting buddies! Through the opening between our seats and window we had a fun conversation about yarn, needles, alpacas, NYC and upstate yarn stores, the 2009 NYC Yarn Crawl, Stitches East, Rhinebeck.
She held up her sock so I could take a photo --the yarn is Heritage. Very nice!
The train ride can be bumpy at times and I was quite impressed that the knitter didn't drop a needle or a stitch!
Amtrak being Amtrak, our trip was delayed by an hour. I can't say I welcomed this extra hour of knitting since I really wanted to get home. But knitting helped ease my anxiety about the delay. And, though I didn't ask, I'm sure the other knitter felt the same way. This is something that knitters just know.
This time, hubster and I went upstate to Albany, NY for a dinner. Since the train follows the Hudson River, this ride is exceptionally scenic. Here's one sight: (Photo was taken through a tinted window on a moving train. It's really much prettier than this.)
On the left side of the photo, notice the island. That's Pollepel Island. If you click on the photo to make larger--you'll see what looks like a ruined castle. That's Bannerman Castle. It was built around 1900 to store munitions.
On our return trip to NYC, there was a couple sitting in front of us. I was knitting my secret project, listening to an audiobook, enjoying the scenery when I saw the woman raise her hand above her head and in her hand was. . . YARN!
I looked at her reflection in the train's window and saw
Do you see what I see? A knitting bag, hands and dpns!
I scrunched over to the side so I could get a better look and the woman was knitting a sock!
I called out to her and held up my knitting. I asked and, yes, she's a member of Ravelry and so suddenly two strangers on a train became knitting buddies! Through the opening between our seats and window we had a fun conversation about yarn, needles, alpacas, NYC and upstate yarn stores, the 2009 NYC Yarn Crawl, Stitches East, Rhinebeck.
She held up her sock so I could take a photo --the yarn is Heritage. Very nice!
The train ride can be bumpy at times and I was quite impressed that the knitter didn't drop a needle or a stitch!
Amtrak being Amtrak, our trip was delayed by an hour. I can't say I welcomed this extra hour of knitting since I really wanted to get home. But knitting helped ease my anxiety about the delay. And, though I didn't ask, I'm sure the other knitter felt the same way. This is something that knitters just know.
Friday, May 7, 2010
Knitting Odds and Ends
Am I still knitting these days? There's a secret project on the needles. Sorry, can't talk about it right now.
I'm also working on the sweater--but not too much. I'm trying to do at least two rows a day. Maybe one morning I'll pull it out and discover I have the entire back finished. Not yet, though.
I'm using a Signature circular needle and love it! The tip is pointy and swivels and the join is perfect. Despite my two rows a day, they make me feel like a speedy knitter.
Signature Needle Arts had some difficulty with the second generation circulars--the joins weren't smooth and that causes the knitting to snag. The secret project is on a set of those. I've read that Signature has excellent customer service and so I may be returning that needle for a third generation needle. It probably wouldn't be bothering me if I didn't have this perfect circular.
The secret project is being knit on a size 7 needle. I swatched it on size 6 and size 8 circlon needles. Unfortunately, I don't have a size 7 circlon. I think for a future knitting project, I'll have to use a circlon--they felt unbelievably good!
And that's all I have to report!
I'm also working on the sweater--but not too much. I'm trying to do at least two rows a day. Maybe one morning I'll pull it out and discover I have the entire back finished. Not yet, though.
I'm using a Signature circular needle and love it! The tip is pointy and swivels and the join is perfect. Despite my two rows a day, they make me feel like a speedy knitter.
Signature Needle Arts had some difficulty with the second generation circulars--the joins weren't smooth and that causes the knitting to snag. The secret project is on a set of those. I've read that Signature has excellent customer service and so I may be returning that needle for a third generation needle. It probably wouldn't be bothering me if I didn't have this perfect circular.
The secret project is being knit on a size 7 needle. I swatched it on size 6 and size 8 circlon needles. Unfortunately, I don't have a size 7 circlon. I think for a future knitting project, I'll have to use a circlon--they felt unbelievably good!
And that's all I have to report!
Sunday, May 2, 2010
Déjà Vu Stalker
Hubster and I took the train down to Washington, DC on Saturday for the White House Correspondents Dinner.
More Amtrak adventures, more secret knitting, more audiobook listening.
The entertainer at the dinner this year was Jay Leno. The last time he did the dinner, hubster and I also attended. This was in 2004.
At that time, while hubster was checking us into the hotel and I was off to the side with the luggage, Jay Leno walked in the front door. Being a New Yorker, we tend to be blasé about these things. Remember how I turned my back on Kevin Bacon?
This year, once again hubster was checking us into the same hotel and once again I was off to the side with the luggage and--wouldn't you know it-- once again Jay Leno walks into the hotel! As Yogi would say, "It's déjà vu all over again."
However, this time my inner-old-lady-who-speaks-her-mind yelled, "This so weird!" And I beckoned Jay Leno to come over. He did so and I told him how freaky it was that this exact same thing happened a few years ago. We briefly chatted and, with my mind thinking that this would be a good story for the blog, I took his picture.
Leno then goes on his way. Meanwhile, hubster had been at the hotel check-in the whole time. He finished and we went up to the room. But the room wasn't what we had booked and so we returned to the lobby. However, as we get into the elevator, there's Jay Leno. He looked at me and said, "This is weird." Hey, Jay, stop stalking me!
I don't think there will ever be a next time for this scenario to be played again because Leno really stunk at the dinner. Old jokes that weren't funny the first time. I doubt he'll be invited back.
More Amtrak adventures, more secret knitting, more audiobook listening.
The entertainer at the dinner this year was Jay Leno. The last time he did the dinner, hubster and I also attended. This was in 2004.
At that time, while hubster was checking us into the hotel and I was off to the side with the luggage, Jay Leno walked in the front door. Being a New Yorker, we tend to be blasé about these things. Remember how I turned my back on Kevin Bacon?
This year, once again hubster was checking us into the same hotel and once again I was off to the side with the luggage and--wouldn't you know it-- once again Jay Leno walks into the hotel! As Yogi would say, "It's déjà vu all over again."
However, this time my inner-old-lady-who-speaks-her-mind yelled, "This so weird!" And I beckoned Jay Leno to come over. He did so and I told him how freaky it was that this exact same thing happened a few years ago. We briefly chatted and, with my mind thinking that this would be a good story for the blog, I took his picture.
Leno then goes on his way. Meanwhile, hubster had been at the hotel check-in the whole time. He finished and we went up to the room. But the room wasn't what we had booked and so we returned to the lobby. However, as we get into the elevator, there's Jay Leno. He looked at me and said, "This is weird." Hey, Jay, stop stalking me!
I don't think there will ever be a next time for this scenario to be played again because Leno really stunk at the dinner. Old jokes that weren't funny the first time. I doubt he'll be invited back.
Thursday, April 29, 2010
Seen in NYC
I was in the garden section of Home Depot yesterday and I spotted the following needlecrafter. She graciously allowed me to take her photo and we chatted.
She told me that she knit her sweater from leftover scraps and that she didn't use a pattern. If you click on and enlarge the photo, you'll see there's cables and ribs. I just love the Spring colors! And, remembering Brandon Mably's class, I noted how that yellow stripe makes the other colors pop.
Since yesterday was a chilly, windy day, the needlecrafter had thrown a shawl over her head and shoulders. This was crocheted in the pineapple pattern. She opened it and showed me how large it was and, when asked, she again told me that no pattern was followed.
What a talented lady!
She told me that she knit her sweater from leftover scraps and that she didn't use a pattern. If you click on and enlarge the photo, you'll see there's cables and ribs. I just love the Spring colors! And, remembering Brandon Mably's class, I noted how that yellow stripe makes the other colors pop.
Since yesterday was a chilly, windy day, the needlecrafter had thrown a shawl over her head and shoulders. This was crocheted in the pineapple pattern. She opened it and showed me how large it was and, when asked, she again told me that no pattern was followed.
What a talented lady!
Wednesday, April 28, 2010
Sheep and Wool Festival
Yesterday I took Amtrak to Philadelphia. It's such a short trip--90 minutes--only completed five rows on my secret project, didn't read much on the Kindle and was only able to take a quick glimpse through the newspaper.
Arriving at the 30th St. Station, I noticed this sculpture
But what really caught my eye was the lower left corner
Sheep! SInce I was in Philadelphia to meet up with two New Jersey knitting friends, it seemed only right to be greeted by sheep.
Our destination
Loop! What a terrific yarn store! Look at all this wooly (and cashmere and alpaca and cotton and bamboo and linen and silk and angora) yumminess--
We walked around. Fondled all the yarn. Pulled skeins out, put them back, pulled them out again. Checked patterns. Noticed yarn we hadn't seen before. And I ended up with
Zara Chine--I can't resist black and white tweed, wear-like-iron Trekking Maxima, and Oh my gosh--I love this yarn--CashSock
I also can't praise the owner of Loop, Craig, and the staff enough. (I'm so sorry I didn't get their names.) We were helped not only with the yarn--but they also made a wonderful lunch recommendation.
After a tasty lunch, we returned to Loop. One friend needed an extra skein of yarn. I was just going to sit at their comfy table and wait. But you know that feeling. Ooooooh---pretty yarn---must have now!
I never knit with this type of yarn--but won't it make a couple of fun, cute scarves?
And with that, we said good-bye to Philadelphia and Loop--but we'll be back!
Many thanks to the lovely women at Loop who made our visit to Loop so enjoyable!
Arriving at the 30th St. Station, I noticed this sculpture
But what really caught my eye was the lower left corner
Sheep! SInce I was in Philadelphia to meet up with two New Jersey knitting friends, it seemed only right to be greeted by sheep.
Our destination
Loop! What a terrific yarn store! Look at all this wooly (and cashmere and alpaca and cotton and bamboo and linen and silk and angora) yumminess--
We walked around. Fondled all the yarn. Pulled skeins out, put them back, pulled them out again. Checked patterns. Noticed yarn we hadn't seen before. And I ended up with
Zara Chine--I can't resist black and white tweed, wear-like-iron Trekking Maxima, and Oh my gosh--I love this yarn--CashSock
I also can't praise the owner of Loop, Craig, and the staff enough. (I'm so sorry I didn't get their names.) We were helped not only with the yarn--but they also made a wonderful lunch recommendation.
After a tasty lunch, we returned to Loop. One friend needed an extra skein of yarn. I was just going to sit at their comfy table and wait. But you know that feeling. Ooooooh---pretty yarn---must have now!
I never knit with this type of yarn--but won't it make a couple of fun, cute scarves?
And with that, we said good-bye to Philadelphia and Loop--but we'll be back!
Many thanks to the lovely women at Loop who made our visit to Loop so enjoyable!
Friday, April 23, 2010
Necessity is the Mother of Invention
Long story about a secret knitting project and travel knitting. I needed to add stitch markers and had a pile of loose ones. Knew I'd be adding the markers while in the car. Time was running very short to get the travel knitting ready.
Went looking for something to contain the stitch markers. I have plenty of little tins, bags, fortune-cookie-looking things that are perfect to hold stitch markers. But couldn't find a single one. Looked in the pantry for a snack-sized ziplock bag. Nope. Only had the gallon size. (And I happen to like using plastic stitch markers! Little rings of yarn don't work for me.)
I was resigned to dumping the stitch markers in the bag with the yarn and needles and had visions of stitch markers bouncing all over the car. Then I saw it! On the coffee table, next to the stitch markers was an Eileen Fisher sweater pin. Perfect!
Went looking for something to contain the stitch markers. I have plenty of little tins, bags, fortune-cookie-looking things that are perfect to hold stitch markers. But couldn't find a single one. Looked in the pantry for a snack-sized ziplock bag. Nope. Only had the gallon size. (And I happen to like using plastic stitch markers! Little rings of yarn don't work for me.)
I was resigned to dumping the stitch markers in the bag with the yarn and needles and had visions of stitch markers bouncing all over the car. Then I saw it! On the coffee table, next to the stitch markers was an Eileen Fisher sweater pin. Perfect!
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