This is the Wendy Knits Summer Shawelette, or at least up to the current clue. There is one more clue to go.
This is sort of an odd one for me, because it’s the first one I’ve done without paper. I haven’t printed a single clue. Instead, I’ve been downloading them to the iPad and using Good Reader to read and mark up the PDFs. On the plus side, I can un-cross off a row when I need to tink back. I don’t lose the pattern (I have a tendancy of losing patterns, then needed to figure out which row I’ve just knit). It’s one less thing to carry around (since I need to carry around the iPad for a bunch of other purposes anyway). On the minus side, I keep getting distracted playing Smurf Village (kind of Smurfs meet Farmville with a few mini-games — way too addicting). I’d have finished this portion much quicker if I didn’t spend quite so much time playing Greedy Smurf’s Baking Game.
You can click to enlarge the photo, but I’m sure hoping blocking enlarges the shawl, because right now it’s about the right size for a pre-Kindergarten girl. Here it is with the iPad for size comparison.
May 31st, 2011
I’ve had this startitis thing where I’ve wanted to knit something blue recently. I couldn’t figure out why, and with so much already on the needles, I didn’t want to start another project. I even have a few blue things going, but I wanted to be a nice, monogamous knitter (it’s the only thing that works for me over time) and get stuff finished.
I had a February Lady Sweater.
Note the tense of the verb. Somehow I managed to make the left sleeve sit properly, but the right sleeve started just about an inch from the neck. Since I have normal, human shoulders, rather than an arm sticking out from the side of my throat, that wasn’t going to work. It now looks like
I’ll make another try in September.
There is also the Wendy Knits summer mystery shawlette. This one is a lot of fun, and if you haven’t started and want to, there is time to jump in. You just download the pattern from her site and go. An average knitter could catch up in two days.
See a color theme? So I’m staring at pink yarn, pink yarn, and more pink yarn. No wonder the urge for a cool color like blue. After the Febrary Lady spent some time in the frog pond, I decided to grab the only truly quick and tiny project I have going, because after frogging more than half a sweater, I needed some near instant gratification.
It’s a blanket square for the ongoing Unique Sheep crochet block club. It’s the April kit. I’m a little behind.
Is it possible to be stalked by a color?
May 24th, 2011
Jen B is the winner of the CSI: Criminal Sock Investigations contest. I’ve e-mailed her already about her prize. Congratulations!
May 21st, 2011
I was tagged for this meme by Cricket.
If you could go back in time and relive one moment, what would it be?
I’m a creature of pure ego. It would be when I got the e-mail that Keith Publishing wanted to buy Overthrowing Sebau. I’d happily relive that moment over and over again.
If you could go back in time and change one thing, what would it be?
I’m not sure I would. Oh, there are some large things (see the next question regarding murdering certain pseudo-relatives) and tiny things (I should never have bought that netbook from Dell) but overall, I think life is a progression. We learn from our pasts. We transform because of our pasts. To change it, particularly to change critical points of it, is to lose what we’ve learned, how we’ve grown.
What movie/TV character do you most resemble in personality?
I’m cheating here and going with a book character–Marianne Dashwood. It’s fair. There has to have been at least on Sense and Sensibility movie at some point. She’s passionate. She can get quite caught up in her own world. She is terribly unable to see what’s going on with the people around her. She loves deeply, and though she’s abyssmal at showing it, she cares for and treasures all the good the people in her life. She’s flighty and prone to extreme swings (her self-betterment plan at the end of the book would be an example) and she has a natural, built-in, book radar.
If you could push one person off a cliff and get away with it, who would it be?
I think everyone who knows me, expects I’ll say my step-father, and he truly deserves to be thrown off a cliff, onto some nice, jagged rocks, not so low that there is a chance of survival, but not so high that it would be a quick death. I’m going to go with a different answer though. I’m going to say Alexander the great, and close to the end of his career. Imagine how history would record the person who managed to kill the greatest conquerer and military genius who ever lived. Actually, I’d like him to know that I could have pushed him off the cliff, and did not push him off the cliff, and as a boon I’d ask him to let me interview him, because darn that would be one heck of an article.
Name one habit you want to change in yourself.
I tend to be negative and flighty. Mostly, I want to change being flighty. Negative can just be a New York vibe.
Describe yourself in one word.
Yenta. I always want to be in everyone’s business.
Describe the person who named you in this meme in one word.
Creative. Go check her blog. You’ll see.
Why do you blog? Answer in one sentence.
I’m an egomaniac (see question 1).
Name at least 3 people to send this meme to, and then inform them.
Pandosnarky, digitalnami, and Lobug.
May 17th, 2011
Today, I’m pleased to have Heather Zoppetti, author of Crafty Detour CSI: Most Wanted, as a guest blogger. CSI (Criminal Sock Investigations) is a colletion of the top ten most wanted sock criminals. As a special bonus, if you leave a comment on this blog post, by midnight EST May 20, you’ll be automatically entered to win a copy of the ebook featuring all ten patterns. Winner will be announced May 21.
Can you tell me a little about yourself?
I’m a knitter, designer, spinner, crocheter…in other words, I’m obsessed with the fiber arts! Formally, I have a degree in Computer Science and have spent many years as a web developer. At the moment I am working part time at the best yarn shop: Flying Fibers (http://flyingfibers.com) and part time at the best yarn company: The Alpaca Yarn Company (http://thealpacayarnco.com). All free time is spent designing.
What got you started knitting?
I taught myself to knit during college when my roommate was learning to crochet. My mom tried to teach me crochet several times with no luck, so I decided to pick up one of those “I can’t believe I’m knitting” kits at Wal-Mart and got started.
What are you knitting now?
Currently I’m working on two super secret projects. A helpful answer, yes? 
What would you say to a knitter whose knitting mojo has taken a vacation?
Don’t force it. Try something else for a bit; go out and play in the garden, take long walks, read a book. The need for yarn and needles will come back, it always does.
What gave you the idea for such an unusual club?
Ida and I were throwing around a couple of ideas. We wanted a theme containing many “personalities” that could be embodied within a pattern. It’s not a typical club as we don’t mail anything; I guess it was more like a subscription. Part of the motivation for doing this type of installment based book was the fact that I we didn’t have to get everything together all at once. The whole thing has been going on for almost an entire year! Ravelry made it possible by allowing us to set up an e-book and add new patterns over time.
Which is your favorite sock and why?
My favorite was Mae Finch. Mainly because it was the first and I got to play with the layout of the patterns. But also because this design came and went several times before it was published as a criminal sock. Something about seeing it finally grow up into a real pattern makes it extra special.
Who would you call your favorite, or most inspiring designers? Which of their patterns do you like best?
I have many favorite designers but lately I have been in love with Connie Chang Chinchio. I love that her designs are clean, classic, and modern all at the same time. I don’t think I could pick a favorite, but one of her beautiful sweater patterns is going to be first on my needles once I get some free time to knit for myself.
Why do you like knitting socks? What do you think the draw is that makes socks so popular?
Socks are the perfect portable project. Their small canvas makes them ideal for playing with stitch patterns without making a huge commitment. Also, the variety of construction techniques can make every pattern something new and exciting. These reasons are partly why I think socks are so very popular now days. Another reason is the yarn. It is so easy to buy sock yarn. Typically, one skein makes a pair. It’s easier to rationalize buying one skein versus ten for a sweater.
This caught my attention. “Bobbie Strow — A top down sock conspiring to persuade all gauge swatches…to lie”. It’s a beautiful ankle sock, but can you explain the lying gauge swatch part?
We all know that gauge swatches lie; now we know why. Bobbie Strow has been conspiring with swatches from all over the globe to lie, causing frustration and mayhem for all knitters. Each pattern in the collection has a detailed case file telling the story of that sock criminal and why they are wanted.
Mae Finch also has me curious. Most twisted stitch or cabled patterns don’t stretch well, but these are very stretchy. What’s the magic behind that?
Magic? I’m not sure if there is any real magic. I think it helps that the twisted stitches are incorporated into a rib as well as constrained within narrow columns instead of an all over pattern.
You have toe-ups, top downs, dpns, magic loop, two circs, lace, colorwork, cables–you’ve got it all covered. What’s your favorite technique for knitting socks?
I love knitting socks cuff down on dpns. Cuff down because I love a heel flap, and on dpns because they are totally bad-ass. Nothing impresses the non-knitters more than four or five needles seemingly being used at once.
Overall, what level of experience would you say these patterns call for?
For every pattern in the collection, we assume that the knitter has knit socks before. There are no explanations or tutorials for basic sock construction. However, I feel confident that even a novice sock knitter should be able to follow the instructions successfully.
So what’s next? Any plans for another knitting club?
Right now there are no immediate plans for another club. I have a few ideas bouncing around, but nothing concrete yet. Keep an eye on craftydetour.com <http://craftydetour.com> for any future announcements!
Also, at this time the book is $20 and each pattern individually is $3. However, mid June prices will go up to $28 for the book and $4 per individual pattern. You can find the book on Ravelry (http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/sources/crafty-detour-csi-most-wanted) or on Crafty Detour (http://craftydetour.com/pattern-store/).
Where can people find out more about you and your designs?
You can find all my designs on my Ravelry page: http://www.ravelry.com/designers/heather-zoppetti
I also blog at http://digitalnabi.com/blog and of course at http://craftydetour.com
May 16th, 2011
I found this over by The LadyBug Reads. The challenge is to read a certain number of books in ebook form by the end of the year. There are four levels.
Curious — Read 3 books
Fascinated — Read 6 books
Addicted — Read 12 books
Obsessed — Read 20 books
I’m shooting for obsessed, which will be challenging because I do book reviews, which come in print or audiobook for the most part, and I have a large print TBR list to get through. So far I have five books selected. Veronika Decides to Die
, which I should have read in December for a different reading group on Ravelry, but which I haven’t even started yet; War and Peace
, which is the January/February book for that same Rav group; The Boys Upstairs
, which I grant is more novella than novel, but I think War and Peace is long enough to balance out the difference; Frankenstein
and How to Read Novels Like a Professor
. The rest I’ll decide as I go.
January 2nd, 2011
My roommate gave me a bookbinding kit for kids for Hannukah. It made these three books
These are mini books of 8 pages each. They are cute, and good for poetry.
I prefer testing the waters on a new hobby with kits designed for children for two reasons. One, they’re relatively inexpensive, so it’s less of an investment to get a basic sense of the craft. Two, the instructions are far more detailed.
After playing with this, I fell in love. I tried my hand at a 100 page flat spine book.
This is a very easy hobby to get into. You can have as much or as little pre-made for you as you like. Hollander’s has kits where the text block is pre-swen, you just need to add the covers, kits where the papers are pre-cut but you need to sew the text block and add the covers, and assorted supplies if you want to do the whole thing yourself.
December 9th, 2010
I’d lost it for a while, so no knitting got done, and now, it’s back.
I finished Tappen Zee in Silky Wool.
This was all the yarn left over at the end. This one needs some fiber insurance.
A coworker kind of sort of hinted that he would like a pair of fingerless gloves, so I knocked off a pair of Dashing in Encore. These are very stretchy, so they should fit him well.
And I’m determined to get my crochet skills back (there are two crochet clubs coming up that I want to join) so I did these slippers, also in Encore, in preparation. Apparently, I’ve forgotten how to crochet in the round because I kept adding stitches or removing them. I’m going to try a hat soon.
December 7th, 2010
I heard you’re coming to my neighborhood on Monday. Welcome. In this economy, we certainly appreciate the added commerce. As you’re certainly having lunch in the area, may I suggest the Mirage Diner on Kings Highway and East 7th streets? It’s not far out of your way, the food is excellent, and they’re good at accommodating large groups. Try the eggplant parmigiana.
As to the purpose of your visits, I have to admit to a little confusion. It seems you think we killed your god. Of course you have my sympathies for your loss. I can’t imagine how devastating it must be to have one’s god killed. Ours is immortal, and we’re happy to share. Ask at any synagogue. We’ll get you set up.
That said, didn’t your god die close on 2,000 years ago? Now I know it’s hard to believe seeing some of the yentas at the beauty parlor, but none of us are quite that old. You’re going to have a hard time finding your culprit, but if you think he’s in the area, you’ll want to notify the 70th precinct or dial 911. Under no circumstances should you try to apprehend a god-killer on your own.
I must admire your courage. If I thought someone killed a god — I mean we’re talking a few billion steps up from Superman here — I wouldn’t stand up to them. I mean, strong enough to kill a god? Thanks, no. I’ll be…anywhere else. I wouldn’t try to take on a god either. It’s just that, you know, most gods can drop a pillar of fire on folk that piss them off. Not a safe idea.
Good luck with your investigation. I hope you find your culprit, and are able to apprehend him before he can turn his centuries old god-slaying powers on you.
October 8th, 2010
My head is spinning at how fast this is all happening. In late May/early June I sold Overthrowing Sebau to Keith Publishing. Days later I was assigned an editor, Louisa Bacio, who spent much of the summer carefully marking up the manuscript. She found an embarrassing amount of things that needed fixing, but hey, that’s what great editors do, right?
In early August I got back the manuscript and things started to fly. I started the work of editing it, then proofed it one last time and sent it back for another round. I was also asked fill out a bunch of forms on author bio and cover art and all that sort of thing. At the same time, Delilah Stephans (or Delilah the Great as I’ve started calling her — she truly is amazing) was assigned to do the cover art for the book, a fact for which I will be forever grateful. I got to see the cover yesterday, and I can’t wait to have the final version in my hands so I can share it with you. She captured the spirit of the book’s world perfectly.
Today I get to start promoting the book series, starting with a blog post on Keith’s site. You can find it at http://keithpublications.com/blog/2010/09/29/ivy-reisner/#idc-container and if you like a humorous recitation of a segment of the war between Set and Horus, you might want to check it out.
September 30th, 2010
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