Wednesday, November 16, 2016

Recap: KnitFit in Seattle Adventure

My friend Malia and I attended the Knit Fit event this last weekend, in Seattle, and have created a video to share a little of our experience with you. There is a website, KnitFitSeattle.com, they also have a Facebook page, Twitter and Instagram.



Here are links to Sivia Harding, Lorilee Beltman, Andrea RangelBlissful Knits, Bumble Birch, Farm Girl, Hazel Knits, Knerd String, as well as all the the vendors we didn't mention, which include the folks, Veronika and Danny of YOTH, the only photograph I posted in Instagram, and then forgot to mention we we were being chatty....

This was not the first adventure Malia and I have been on together, we've attended the Seattle Mariner's Stitch and Pitch, the first time I ever went to see a live game, EVER, was just us two.

You can find me in Ravelry as wearingpurple, in Twitter as wearingpurple1 and I have a public group in Facebook called Pursuit of Happy Knits. Also, I'm also in Instagram account and in Pinterest.

Friday, November 11, 2016

Adventures in Planned Pooling, crochet technique

Thought I might share my adventures in Planned Pooling, which is a crochet technique that is all over the internet right now. In fact, I would encourage you to search for #PlannedPooling and see all the amazing and helpful videos and posts there are out there!



Links to the dyers where I obtained the yarn, in order, KnitCircus, Dizzy Blonde and Blue Moon Fiber.  My opinion is unsolicited, these are skeins I purchased at various events or with online opportunities as I could.

Here are the links to Marly Bird's videos that are very recent at this point, first shares the how-tos to get started and the second is 10 Secrets to Perfect Planned Pooling. Her YouTube channel is sponsored by Red Heart Yarns, so if you saw a particularly sweet colorway she used, and you'd like to give it a try, check out their website.

You can find me in Ravelry as wearingpurple, in Twitter as wearingpurple1 and I have a public group in Facebook called Pursuit of Happy Knits. Also, I'm also in Instagram account and in Pinterest.

Tuesday, November 1, 2016

Recap: Columbia Gorge Fiber Festival, 2016

I attended the Columbia Gorge Fiber Festival this last weekend and have created a video to share a little of my experience with you. The event was put together by Knot Another Hat, located in Hood River, Oregon, and held in nearby, The Dalles.



Here are links to Lo-lo by Bar-Maids, Loosely Knit Purls (where I got the pin to wind yarn), Alpha B yarns, Rock & More Accents (the magnetic flourite stone shawl pin) is by Spinning Designs and she is on FacebookRecrochetions (Laurinda Reddig, Author of Reversible Crochet book, website)

For any regular viewers, I am not wearing any make-up in this, I have been recovering. I'm not sick, just got over-fatigued from the weekend, talked too much and lost my voice. I had considered NOT posting this because I don't look or sound like myself, but after I shared the video in Facebook and was encouraged by others whose opinions I value, and with my worry that I miss repeating any of what I said in this one, I've decided to go ahead and post it anyway. Apologies for the repeat if you've seen it multiple times. 

You can find me in Ravelry as wearingpurple, in Twitter as wearingpurple1 and I have a public group in Facebook called Pursuit of Happy Knits. Also, I'm also in Instagram account and in Pinterest.

Sunday, September 25, 2016

Video Book Review of Urban Knit Collection by Kyle Kunnecke

Thank you for accepting my invitation to view this new post.

Today, I have a brief Book Review of Urban Knit Collection: 18 City Inspired Patterns for the Modern Wardrobe,  by Kyle Kunnecke, published by Interweave as of this month. Link is to view the patterns in the book through Ravelry

.

This is an unusually long 20+ minutes because I also received a package from Dizzy Blonde Studios as well. This was consisting of goodies I ordered to celebrate their Knit Dizzney 2016 event, held every year the Sunday AFTER Labor Day weekend (this year was September 11th). Dizzy Blonde makes things available for those who attend and those of us who wish we were there. This year's items (based on the yarny theme 'HOOK') was a t-shirt, yarn and project bag. Check it out ~ I talked like a Pirate for a couple of days, with all of the booty that came in this package!

This is what happened at my desk with the package from
Dizzy Blonde Studios arrived. 

This is an unsolicited opinion, mine, of a new book. You can find me in Ravelry as wearingpurple, in Twitter as wearingpurple1 and I have a public group in Facebook called Pursuit of Happy Knits. Also, I'm also in Instagram account and in Pinterest.


Happy Sunday!


This is actually as we were starting out, from the boat launch area.
I love the lily pads to the right there, I can't recall having seen
that before we moved here. 


Monday, September 12, 2016

Video book review of Ultima Thule by Denise Bell of Lost City Knits

Thank you for accepting my invitation to view this new post.

Today, I have a brief Book Review of Ultima Thule -- Patterns inspired by the Shetland Islands,  by Denise Bell and Chris Dykes, published by Lost City Knits as of March 2016. Link is to purchase the book through the Lost City Knits Yarn website and an e-book is available through Ravelry.



This is an unsolicited opinion, mine, of a new book. You can find me in Ravelry as wearingpurple, in Twitter as wearingpurple1 and I have a public group in Facebook called Pursuit of Happy Knits. Also, I'm also in Instagram account and in Pinterest.


Thursday, August 25, 2016

Video book review of I Dream of Yarn by Franklin Habit and recap Stitches Midwest

Thank you for accepting my invitation to view this new post.

Today, I have a brief Book Review of I Dream of Yarn by Franklin Habit, published by Get Creative 6: an Imprint of Mixed Media Resources as of June 7th. Link is to purchase the book in Amazon.


Also, this is a share of what I came home with from Stitches Midwest, so I am showing off yarns from Buffalo Wool Co, Modeknit, The Yarn Guys and Wooly Wonka, Three Irish Girls and a gift from A Hundred Ravens. StevenBe and Halos of Hope are also mentioned.

This is an unsolicited opinion, mine, of a new book. You can find me in Ravelry as wearingpurple, in Twitter as wearingpurple1 and I have a public group in Facebook called Pursuit of Happy Knits. Also, I'm also in Instagram account and in Pinterest.

Sunday, July 24, 2016

Video Book Review of Rugged Knits by Andrea Rangel

Thank you for accepting my invitation to view this new post.

Today, I have a brief Book Review of Rugged Knits by Andrea Rangel, published by Interweave as of July 5th. Both of these links are to Ravelry pages.



This is an unsolicited opinion, mine, of a new book. You can find me in Ravelry as wearingpurple, in Twitter as wearingpurple1 and I have a public group in Facebook called Pursuit of Happy Knits. Also, I'm also in Instagram account and in Pinterest.

Sunday, July 10, 2016

Video Book Review of Customize Your Knitting by Margaret Hubert

Thank you for accepting my invitation to view this new post.

Today, I have a brief Book Review of Customize Your Knitting,  by Margaret Hubert, published by Interweave as of June 1st.


Here is the link to the crochet companion, reviewed last fall, Customize Your Crochet, also by Margaret Hubert.

This is an unsolicited opinion, mine, of a new book. You can find me in Ravelry as wearingpurple, in Twitter as wearingpurple1 and I have a public group in Facebook called Pursuit of Happy Knits. Also, I'm also in Instagram account and in Pinterest.

Sunday, July 3, 2016

Video book review of New Heights in Lace Knitting

Thank you for accepting my invitation to view this new post.

Today, I have a brief Book Review of New Heights in Lace Knitting, by Andrea Jurgrau, published by Interweave as of June 24th. Here is the link in Ravelry, please check out the patterns there as well.


This is an unsolicited opinion, mine, of a new book. You can find me in Ravelry as wearingpurple, in Twitter as wearingpurple1 and I have a public group in Facebook called Pursuit of Happy Knits. Also, I'm also in Instagram account and in Pinterest.

Sunday, June 26, 2016

Video review of Knitty.com First Fall 2016

Thank you for accepting my invitation to view this new post.

Today, I have a brief Book Review of Knitty.com First Fall 2016 Edition. This is a bit of a different review for me, hope you enjoy! Here is their website: Knitty.com and  the link in Ravelry, please check out the patterns there as well.



Because the last few posts, I've been sharing ideas for what we can work on in summer, mostly the smaller items like Mittens, Gloves, Socks, Baby Things, Hats, I began with sharing some chemo hats I've been making for Halos of Hope, to take to Stitches Midwest to donate. 

This is an unsolicited opinion, mine, of a new book. You can find me in Ravelry as wearingpurple, in Twitter as wearingpurple1 and I have a public group in Facebook called Pursuit of Happy Knits. Also, I'm also in Instagram account and in Pinterest.

Sunday, June 19, 2016

Video Book Review of 25 Stylish Knitted Slippers

Thank you for accepting my invitation to view this new post.

Today, I have a brief Book Review of 25 Stylish Knitted Slippers, by Rae Blackledge, published by Stackpole as of last November. Here is the link in Ravelry, please check out the patterns there as well.


Because the last few posts, I've been sharing ideas for what we can work on in summer, mostly the smaller items like Mittens, Gloves, Socks, Baby Things, Hats, I began with sharing some chemo hats I've been making for Halos of Hope, to take to Stitches Midwest to donate. 

This is an unsolicited opinion, mine, of a new book. You can find me in Ravelry as wearingpurple, in Twitter as wearingpurple1 and I have a public group in Facebook called Pursuit of Happy Knits. Also, I'm also in Instagram account and in Pinterest.

Sunday, June 12, 2016

Video Book Review of Modern Baby Crochet

Thank you for accepting my invitation to view this new post.

Today, I have a brief Book Review of Modern Baby Crochet, by Sharon Zientara, published by Interweave as of last month. Here is the link in Ravelry, please check out the patterns there as well.



I reviewed Sharon's earlier book, Quick Crocheted Accessories (also Ravelry Link) CLICK HERE for the earlier review. Look for these book in the craft section of your bookstore, request them at your local libraries, or go to Interweave.com to obtain them for yourself in either paperback or e-book form.

This is an unsolicited opinion, mine, of a new book. You can find me in Ravelry as wearingpurple, in Twitter as wearingpurple1 and I have a public group in Facebook called Pursuit of Happy Knits. Also, I'm also in Instagram account and in Pinterest.

Sunday, June 5, 2016

Video book review of 21 Crocheted Tanks & Tunics

Thank you for accepting my invitation to view this new post.

Today, I have a brief Book Review of 21 Crocheted Tanks & Tunics, by Sandi Rosner, published by Stackpole as of April 2016. Here is the link in Ravelry, please check out the patterns there as well.


This is an unsolicited opinion, mine, of a new book. You can find me in Ravelry as wearingpurple, in Twitter as wearingpurple1 and I have a public group in Facebook called Pursuit of Happy Knits. Also, I'm also in Instagram account and in Pinterest.

Saturday, May 28, 2016

Video Book Review of Refined Knits

Thank you for accepting my invitation to view this new post.

Today, I have a brief Book Review of Refined Knits, by Jennifer Wood, published by Interweave as of this month. Here is the link in Ravelry, please check out the patterns there as well.


This is an unsolicited opinion, mine, of a new book. You can find me in Ravelry as wearingpurple, in Twitter as wearingpurple1 and I have a public group in Facebook called Pursuit of Happy Knits. Also, I'm also in Instagram account and in Pinterest.

Sunday, May 22, 2016

Video Book Review of Bead Making Lab by Heather Powers

Today, I have a brief Book Review Bead Making Lab by Heather Powers, published by Quartos, as of this month. Here is the link to purchase this book through Amazon. Heather has a blog at this link, and a website: www.HumbleBeads.com



If you need more ideas as to why a knitter would be interested in beads, Marly Bird has posted recently a video creating stitch markers on her Facebook page (part of her behind the scenes videos she's been posting as she podcasts). Marly also recommends her friend Jill Wiseman's YouTube channel

This is an unsolicited opinion, mine, of a new book. You can find me in Ravelry as wearingpurple, in Twitter as wearingpurple1, also I am in Instagram and Pinterest and I have a public group in Facebook called Pursuit of Happy Knits.

Saturday, May 14, 2016

Video Book Review of Cozy Stash-Busting Knits by Jen Lucas

Today, I have a brief Book Review Cozy Stash-Busting Knits by Jen Lucas, published by Martingale, as of this month. Here is the link to view designs in Ravelry, from there you can find links to purchase by your favorite method.



This is an unsolicited opinion, mine, of a new book. You can find me in Ravelry as wearingpurple, in Twitter as wearingpurple1, also I am in Instagram and Pinterest and I have a public group in Facebook called Pursuit of Happy Knits.

Sunday, May 8, 2016

Video Book Review of Fine Things for Plain Occasions

THIS IS MY 200th post on my blog, thank you for those who've followed me for ANY length of time.

Today, I have a brief Book Review Fine Things for Plain Occasions: Patterns inspired by Vintage Etiquette Guides by Hunter Hammersern, published by Pantsville Press (www.pantsvillepress.com), as of November, 2015. Here is the link to view designs in Ravelry, from there you can find links to purchase by your favorite method.



I didn't share this in the video, but Hunter graciously acknowledges the help of folks I'm familiar with Anna Kuo (I know her as Anna Kuo Lukito, she may have gotten married since this was published), Heather Ordover (Host of Craftlit podcast, I've been a fan of for a couple of years) and Cat Bordhi's Visionary Authors group. 

This is an unsolicited opinion, mine, of a new book. You can find me in Ravelry as wearingpurple, in Twitter as wearingpurple1, also I am in Instagram and Pinterest and I have a public group in Facebook called Pursuit of Happy Knits.

Sunday, May 1, 2016

Video Book Review of Vintage Modern Crochet by Robyn Chachula

Today, I have a brief Book Review Vintage Modern Crochet: Classic Crochet Lace Techniques for Contemporary Style by Robyn Chachula, published by Interweave, as of May 6th, this year. Here is the link to view designs in Ravelry, from there you can find links to purchase by your favorite method.



This book includes patterns from Rebecca Velasquez, Kristin Omdahl, Brenda KB Anderson, Laurinda Reddig, many others and, of course Robyn Chachula. The patterns included are divided into sections that cover, Pineapple Lace, Bruges Lace, Filet Lace, Irish Lace and Tunisian Crochet.

This is an unsolicited opinion, mine, of a new book. You can find me in Ravelry as wearingpurple, in Twitter as wearingpurple1, also I am in Instagram and Pinterest and I have a public group in Facebook called Pursuit of Happy Knits.

Wednesday, April 27, 2016

Middle of the week post ~ Erin.Lane Bags

I'm not sure where this story begins. Seriously, do I start with loving to knit socks and in fact, there are pictures of me strolling around Sock Summit 2009 working on a pair for my nephew in the army...

Or perhaps with recently finding myself at 3am with a ticket for 6:30 to fly to Stitches West, digging through my stash looking for sock yarn and needles compatible with each other to work on as I traveled. I can't remember ever being so frustrated with travel packing, I actually gave up and took four other larger projects. (And Yes, they were all worked on and I worked on a project with Marly very late into that one night I stayed. LOTS of variety!)

This is knitting socks on the plane, with a Erin.Lane Marly Bird bag
Kollage square needles (which I briefly considered using on the passenger
in front of me who whapped me in the face a few times with his jacket)
and Deborah Norville Serenity Sock yarn. From 2014.
So, when I got to the Erin.Lane bags booth, even though it was something I resisted before, I picked up a needle roll.

New to me, needle roll.
This is Not my first purchase from Lindsey Martin, who's been making the bags for a few years, beginning the business with her mother, she has now retired from teaching and sewing these thoughtfully produced bags and other accessories out of her home, often accompanied to the various knitting events by her wonderful, superhero husband, David.

I have actually lost count of the number of Erin.Lane project bags I have. Some of them are souvenirs, some were gifts from Marly Bird (incidentally, Marly was a bit shocked with me because she gave me even more project bags when I met up with her at Stitches, and I shared the wealth with her lovely room mate, who we'd kept up the night before. She may bop me over the head when she realizes one of the first two bags she gave me, ALSO the first Erin.Lane bags I've owned, I gifted to another faithful fan of Marly's, just to spread the love around) some came to me as part of a bag club Lindsey did last year and some as part of a boxed set elsewhere. I have Marly Bird bags, Kristin Omdahl bags, Buffalo Wool Company bags, and although I have been thwarted (because of not being able to attend) in collecting all of them, I have a Stitches commemorative bag. Or two....

To try to label them: Top Left, the bag that carries my chemo hats
for Halos of Hope, with Happy Yarn fabric, (Purple Minion attached),
My FAV Purple Sheep Bag, white Marly Bag 'I shook my Tail Feathers',
'Cowgirl Up' Buffalo Wool Co, in the center is Pink Marly Bird Sock Bag,
in front, Stitches West 2016 bag, Kristin Omdahl bag, and a Sheeple.
I have to say, even without knowing the number I own, it may not be enough. The bags are well thought out. I often hear that they are pet proof. I can't comment on that, although I recognize that with the materials used, the drawstrings do not come open until they are undone by me. The project bags are helpfully lined with white fabric. NO SEARCHING THE BLACK ABYSS for your lost stitch marker! They have helpful snap tabs so you can secure them in a larger carrying apparatus or attach them to a purse handle. They can be washed in the washer and dryer, although I may treat my like royalty and air dry a couple of them. The only missing element that has ever occurred to me is hooks on the drawstrings to attach to my belt loops. Probably not a feasible option for most of Erin.Lane customers, but as I do often tend to stroll with mindless knitting in my hands so as to not always be sitting and knitting, it seemed a good idea to me at the time.

There is usually an Erin.Lane bag near by when I'm listening to podcasts.
This was last summer, I discovered the drawstrings are long enough
to dangle the bag from the knobs under my laptop.
Somehow, Lindsey finds fun fabrics or has fabrics created that you would want to use. I honestly think a couple of these bags were intended for me, which couldn't possibly be. My favorite one is a purple print with white sheep on it. The sheep are balls of yarn on closer inspection but you'd have to be close-up and observant about that. The one I carry around most just speaks HAPPY to me, it's a green background with smiling balls of yarn of various colors. knitting needles and crochet hooks floating along together. This is the one my chemo hats for Halos of Hope are created from.

So, I was brave and decided on that needle roll, that Sunday in the market place at Stitches, recalling how much my blood boiled with not being able to put a suitable sock project together but knowing how much I loved my project bags. I have since filled it with several sets of Chia Goo double pointed needles that I might use depending on the yarn, and have room for others that will I free up from other projects, my favorites being the Addi Flipstix (for their beautiful rainbow colors, the ability to choose the point by simply turning the needle around and lightweightness that is not a strain on my overworked hands), and for when I'm knitting dangerously, the Kollage Squares with their lethally sharp points. The needle roll has a magnetic strap, so when it's rolled up, it's tucks smoothly away without the laces to get caught otherwise.

New for me, the embroidered Bucket Bag: The Yarn Speaks to Me. 
The other purchase I made that day was an Embroidered Bucket Tote. Again, it's a white lined bag, this one is complete with snap tabs and a pocket big enough to hold essentials like a tool kit perhaps. Mine is currently holding tissues, as I anticipate tears of joy with all the finished socks to come out of that bag. It's exterior is black, heavier fabric than the project bags, similar to twill or cotton canvas duck. The handles are short enough, like a satchel to rest in the crook of an elbow or carry to knit night by hand. The really fun part is the beautiful graphic she's embroidered on it. Of course, I chose the design because it's purple, not one shade of it either, but at least three and reads 'The Yarn Speaks to Me'.

It does, certainly, speak to me. All the yarn in my stash is claiming to be sock yarn and wants to reside in that bag.

PS. Just for your benefit, I have found the original episode of the Fiber Hooligans podcast where I first became aware of Erin.Lane Bags. and a couple of episodes from the Yarn Thing podcast with Marly Bird that Lindsey has since become a sponsor of, from 2013, from January 2015, and from October 2015.

You can find me in Ravelry as wearingpurple, in Twitter as wearingpurple1, also I am in Instagram and Pinterest and I have a public group in Facebook called Pursuit of Happy Knits.

Sunday, April 24, 2016

Video Book Review, Crocheted Abode A La Mode by Twinkie Chan

Today, I have a brief Book Review Crocheted Abode A La Mode by Twinkie Chan, published by Quartos Publishing (you can use that link to purchase, I don't get commission or anything), as of April 1st, this year. Here is the link to view designs in Ravelry, from there you can find links to purchase by your favorite method.




This is an unsolicited opinion, mine, of a new book. You can find me in Ravelry as wearingpurple, in Twitter as wearingpurple1, also I am in Instagram and Pinterest and I have a public group in Facebook called Pursuit of Happy Knits.

Sunday, April 10, 2016

Video book review of Knit My Skirt by Candace Eisner Strick

Today, I have a brief Book Review Knit My Skirt by Candace Eisner Strick, published by XRX Books (you can use that link to purchase, I don't get commission or anything), publisher of Knitter's Magazine and host of the Stitches Events, as of April 1st, this year. Here is the link to view designs in Ravelry, from there you can find links to purchase by your favorite method.



If you can be at Stitches Midwest in Chicago, there will be a special presentation by Candace so you can hear even more about this wonderful book. CLICK HERE for more information. If there isn't anyway possible for you to be there, you may wish to here Candance Eisner Strick share her book with Marly Bird...

This is an unsolicited opinion, mine, of a new book. You can find me in Ravelry as wearingpurple, in Twitter as wearingpurple1 and I have a public group in Facebook called Pursuit of Happy Knits.

Sunday, April 3, 2016

Video Book Review of New Directions in Sock Knitting by Ann Budd

Today, I have a brief Book Review New Directions in Sock Knitting: 18 Innovative Designs Knitted Every Which Way by Ann Budd, published by Interweave as of February 1st, this year. Here is the link to view designs in Ravelry, from there you can find links to purchase by your favorite method.


This is an unsolicited opinion, mine, of a new book. You can find me in Ravelry as wearingpurple, in Twitter as wearingpurple1 and I have a public group in Facebook called Pursuit of Happy Knits.

Sunday, March 20, 2016

Just Knitting, a Video Book review of Knitlandia by Clara Parkes

Today, I have a brief Book Review KNITLANDIA: A Knitter Sees the World by Clara Parkes, published by Stewart, Tabouri and Chang as of last month. Here is the link to purchase in Amazon.



SPECIAL NOTE ~ Story of my copy:

I purchased this book at Stitches West 2016: the shop A Verb for Keeping Warm invited Clara to do a book signing on Sunday at the event. I knew she would be there as I had been following her in social media and I knew she'd been at Powell's Books the night before and in Seattle the night before that.

I went to Stitches West on my own this year, and took a class with Marly Bird in the afternoon of Sunday, the only day I could afford to go. When I couldn't get into the booth to get to get even a teeny glimpse of Clara before class, I asked permission during a break and RAN to get to the market to see if she was still there. She was not when I got there and my heart broke. The few people that were in that aisleway seemed expectant, so when I glanced down the aisle and saw her strolling back, in her 'Clara-be-calm' way (which seems a lot like Elizabeth Zimmerman's sentiment 'it's just yarn') I grabbed a book and dug into my wallet for a card that would still work, so I could have her sign it.

Before she wrote on that page, it read,
KNITLANDIA:
A Knitter Sees the World
XXX
CLARA PARKES
STC Craft/New York.
Clara's handwritten: To Tammy,
Here's to World Domination! Clara Parkes.
I expected also for her to be too tired after all of her adventures to take a selfie, but she agreed to that too.


This week, she was also on the Yarn Thing podcast with Marly Bird (yep, the one I help with a little) and she read a chapter, the one about filming a class with Craftsy. So very cool, please listen.

This is an unsolicited opinion, mine, of a new book. You can find me in Ravelry as wearingpurple, in Twitter as wearingpurple1 and I have a public group in Facebook called Pursuit of Happy Knits.

Monday, March 14, 2016

Just Knitting Video Book Review of Kristin Omdahl's, Continuous Crochet

Today, I have a brief Book Review Continuous Crochet: Create Seamless Sweaters, Shrugs, Shawls and More -- with Minimal Finishing by Kristin Omdahl, published by Interweave as of this month.
Here is the earlier review I did of another of Kristin's last book Crochet So Lovely, just in case you can't get enough of them, missed that one or recall almost and need a reminder.

This is an unsolicited opinion, mine, of a new book. You can find me in Ravelry as wearingpurple, in Twitter as wearingpurple1 and I have a public group in Facebook called Pursuit of Happy Knits.

Sunday, March 6, 2016

Just Knitting Video Book Review of Crochet Geometry by Shannon Mullett-Bowlsby

Today, I have a brief Book Review Crochet Geometry by Shannon Mullett-Bowlsby, published by Lark Crafts as of this month.
Here is the earlier review I did of another of Shannon's last book, just in case you can't get enough of them, missed that one or recall almost and need a reminder.

This is an unsolicited opinion, mine, of a new book. You can find me in Ravelry as wearingpurple, in Twitter as wearingpurple1 and I have a public group in Facebook called Pursuit of Happy Knits.

Sunday, February 28, 2016

Just Knitting Video Book Review of 10 Granny Squares by Margaret Hubert

Today, I have a brief Book Review of 2 books, 10 Granny Squares 30 Bags and 10 Granny Squares 30 Blankets, both by Margaret Hubert, published by Quarto Publishing. Blankets was published in December and Bags as of this month.



Here is the earlier review I did of another of Margaret's books, just in case you can't get enough of her, missed that one or recall almost and need a reminder.

This is an unsolicited opinion, mine, of a new book. You can find me in Ravelry as wearingpurple, in Twitter as wearingpurple1 and I have a public group in Facebook called Pursuit of Happy Knits

Tuesday, January 26, 2016

Being Social Medusa

I'm filling in for Marly today on her podcast, the Yarn Thing podcast with Marly Bird.

If you care to stop by while it's live, this airs at 10am MDT on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Hopefully, this is just today and not again for a few months...

Here's the link for today: http://www.blogtalkradio.com/yarnthing/2016/01/26/social-medusa-takeover-1-2016 or you can call in while it's live: (347) 539-5589

Most recent picture of us, Marly Bird and I, taken by her (she is
awesome at selfies) at Stitches West 2015.

Wednesday, January 13, 2016

Recent knitting: Every project has a story

I have recently finished some gift knitting. In order to keep this post shorter, than longer (because everyone knows I can make a short story take forever) I am just going to include the last couple.

One of my customers, his name is Paden, young man but clearly a good man, was hiking last summer with his girlfriend and his three dogs. This was toward the end of summer, the water levels in a lot of rivers was down as at the end of a season, if what snow is still remaining hasn't melted it may not. Their adventure was planned around hot springs, natural geyser boiling pools of water that is usually cooled with nearby river water. Usually.

As they approached a particular pool, two of his dogs, being water breeds, break away from their pack and jump in. Paden realized immediately that the water is too hot and jumps in after them to help them out.

I will skip most of the next part, because it hurts me to think of the screams of his beloved fur babies as they are basically boiled alive. Paden sustained burns over 50% of his body and had to be life-flighted to Seattle where he underwent skin grafting surgeries, during one of which his heart stopped. The fight to bring him back, electric shocks to revive his heart, caused 'bed sores' on his feet that are so deep, that when he showed them to me, I feel I have seen the bones, specifically heel bones, in his feet. It wasn't until much later that he was told his dogs had died.

It was in December that he was standing at my counter giving me his account of what happened to him after what was reported in the news. I was so surprised to see him, because by all accounts it would be a very long time before he was healed enough to leave the hospital or nursing/reha facilities. But here he was, with a huge smile on his face telling me what he's learned and experienced about his fellow humans since his .... What do I call this? It began as an adventure, a tragic accident that became a fight for survival. Trial? Experience?

And what did he learn? There are a lot of people in the world who must voice an opinion. Anymore, not a lot of people care to wait for an appropriate time to say what they think. It is incredible to think after all he went through that someone would approach him to question why he would jump in after DOGS? (Read this as "DOGS are animals, it's a fairy tale to think them capable of returning your affection.") He very kindly limited telling me what he was asked in that area, and clearly it was the opposite reactions that bolstered his spirit. He heard from people everywhere who sent him clippings from their local newspapers, some with money, some with notes saying they would have done the same thing for their dogs. Here is the link from an article I found from the UK! They were gifted a black lab pup to replace one of their dogs... Not that a dog can be replaced because they each have their own personalities, but a new pup to get up and get outside for. There was a crowd-fund set up to cover their hospital bills, his job was held for him until he can go back.

As we visited, I noticed his hat was a well-used, to the point of rattyness, Seattle Seahawks beanie. So the next knit night I consulted with Britt, my LYS owner, and mother of boys and fans of the NFL on the correct colors and made him a couple of hats, a beanie and an ear flap hat. Here is a picture: I will replace it with a picture of him in one or both of the hats, if I can.



The other project is about continuing kindnesses, I suppose.

For a couple of years, I have been spending my run-around time knitting chemo hats for Halos of Hope. By that I mean, when my husband and I leave the house, he always drives and I knit. Sometimes when we get to our destination, I take my knitting in with me. Well, honestly, most of the time. In restaurants, while we wait for our food, if I finish before Superman, which happens a lot as I don't seem to have the appetite he does, I can get a few rows done. Sometimes I knit as we walk around collecting what we need at the grocery store, always at the movie theater. At this point, I have my system down to a hat or so every weekend.

At first, I used up the acrylic yarns that I had single skeins of. If I had more than a skein, I can make bigger projects, but single skeins don't accomplish much. After more than a year, I had not many single skeins left. Marly Bird sent me a couple of gift bags of Red Heart yarns which do not have yarns available in my local craft stores, these are newer yarn lines that have glitter or a strand of tinsel in it.

At this point I should probably say that I would prefer to see a person battling cancer without anything on their head. I would prefer to see them with their head held high, bald and beautiful. However, not having fought that battle myself, I can understand the need for comfort....

I have fallen in love HARD for chemo hats with sparkle. I'm hoping it comes off as glamour or magic dust for a cancer patient's spirit. There are two Red Heart Yarns, Sparkle and Shimmer, containing a teeny bit of tinsel in the strand, and from each skein I can get two beanie-type hats. However, in my area, you can't find them at any local craft store. Someday, but not yet.

So, having just worked through the yarn that Marly had sent me, I was online trying to figure out, budget, penny-pinch to afford an order large enough of this yarn worthy of delivery charges. I shared what I was working on with a tenant who always wants to know what's on my needles. That tenant wrote me a check for large enough to order yarn for myself to knit about 40 hats and yarn for a co-worker who's been helping me create hats for Halos.

My husband and I began consulting on a way to repay the kindness of this tenant, and I found some yarn that is mostly alpaca in my stash and a half pi shawl pattern, Vernal Equinox, that I thought would make this a special project. Also I ordered gloves from Buffalo Wool Co for the husband that are my husband's favorites. Here is a picture of the finished shawl, I hope to replace it with one of her in it. She fell recently, and has been laid up and stuck at home, so really hope to see her soon.


Anyway, this is what I've knitted lately. Hope you are Happy Knitting!

You can find me in Ravelry as wearingpurple, in Twitter as wearingpurple1 and I have a public group in Facebook called Pursuit of Happy Knits