Tuesday, November 21, 2006

Where do I get my Knitting Books?

Today I am going to give you a money-saving tip.

I purchased the $24.95 book Sensational Knitted Socks by Charlene Schurch for $9.95.

I also purchased the $35.00 hardcover book Inspired Cable Knits by Fiona Ellis for $9.95.

I've missed a couple that I really wished I had bought, and ended up paying full price for them.

But I figure I ought to let you in on my secret ... after all, don't you deserve something for reading my blog?

Zooba.

I have no idea if they ship out of the country. Since shipping is free, I can't imagine that they do. But you never can tell until you try.

Good luck.

I'm gonna go make sure I get my copy of Mason Dixon Knitting by Kay Gardiner & Ann Shayne before you get there, though!

Monday, November 13, 2006

November Calendar Photos

I decided to post my November Calendar images and add myself to Chappy's contest. Unlike all the other photos on this blog, I took these with my phone instead of my camera.

This is the one on the wall at work. I got it free at ShopRite.



This is the one on the wall in the kitchen. I bought it clearance after the holidays.



This is the one not on the wall in the office. I got this one free at Stop & Shop.



Happy November!

Sunday, November 12, 2006

Tesla Coils and Hats

We saw this yesterday. Although we sat near the front, I must tell you there wasn't a bad seat in the house. I'm sure the back row got a great show. Plus, they got the satisfaction of knowing that the rest of us would've died first if anything had gone wrong! It was spectacular, entertaining and educational. If this show ever comes to a theater near you, please go see it. I promise you'll learn something and have fun, too. (A glowing pickle, a contortionist, insight into human behavior, two real-live Tesla coils, and some really good jokes, just to ruin the surprise!)

I went with my sweetheart and two friends. For the purposes of this story, I'm going to split us between the guys and the girls. Please note, I do not think that I am describing a difference between the sexes. I am merely telling a funny story about four people being observant in different ways in two different situations.

During the show, Richard Wiseman showed a little film clip before which he gave specific instructions to the audience. After the clip, he asked us if we had noticed something during the clip which was entirely unrelated to what we had been asked to do before the clip was shown. A few people saw it, but most of us did not. Both of the guys in my party noticed it, while neither of the women did.

Later in the evening, while the four of us waited to be seated for dinner, somebody left the restaurant obviously dressed in a costume. It was a white suit made of something like polyester, with glittery red fringe at the ankles, some red splash of color near the shoulder and a stylized crown in colors such as red, yellow, white, and orange. I can't remember exactly what it looked like other than the red and the shape. Both of the girls in my party noticed him. Neither of the guys did.

Well, I sure felt better after that.



That's the first hat I ever knit. I gave it to my mother shortly after I knit it because the day after my father looked at it on my head and said, "That's the kind of hat your mother should be wearing," my mother saw it and liked it so much that I gave it to her right off my head.

The pattern is the Quaker Ribbed Bottom Hat from the Frugal Knitting Haus.

The next hat I knit was their Double Knit Hat. I've knit a couple of them and then I moved on to another pattern.



Another hat for my mother, this one is based on the London Beanie pattern. It looks funny at the top because I've got to try it on Mom before I finish it. This is the second time I've knit it, because the first time I made it too short for her. I think this is long enough, but I don't want to cut the yarn until I'm sure. The yarn is some sort of cotton-angora blend I picked up on clearance and I've only got this one skein!

And finally, I've got another pair of socks on the needles.



I suppose the amazing thing about this is that I've managed to restrain myself to only one pair at a time. It's not easy. The yarn came from my Pal from Secret Pal 8. No, I can't say I like the colors of the yarn. Even so, I like the way the pair is turning out and I've got a whole lot of ideas for the next chevron-stripe socks I make! I've never worked with Lana Grossa Meilenweit, and I must say I'm enjoying knitting with this yarn. If I were going to be picky, I'd whine that I would have preferred one of the bluer colorways. On the other hand, I must admit that I'm a lot more likely to try something outlandish pattern-wise if I'm not happy with the yarn colors in the first place. Remember these? Ok, the photo wasn't very good, but I had fun with those socks, even though I really hated the colors. And I wear them. And I'm the one who bought that yarn that I didn't like.

I'm a real piece of work, eh?

Sunday, November 05, 2006

Not gonna happen

pomatomus in Regia bamboo

This is the last time anyone will see this here. I love the yarn. I love the pattern. The two are not getting along together for me.

Actually, it's possible that I may never do a Pomatomus. That's a lot of knitting through the back loop and I really don't enjoy that so much. I usually put up with it long enough to do the cuff and then move on to something more comfortable.

Meanwhile, I've actually blocked something and given it away. I couldn't give it away without blocking it, and I couldn't block it with pins.

clapotis on blocking wires

The yarn was a lovely silk from the Motomo gallery bought on eBay and the pattern was the classic Clapotis modified to be a scarf size. I ended up purchasing the blocking wires from KnitPicks and couldn't be happier with the results.