Unlike my previous knitting adventures that I've shared here, I have no pictures.
I got a new phone, of the 'Smart' variety. I found out today, after I was home from the adventure for a day, that when we purchased it, the fellow was supposed to set it up on the internet for me, which we did not know and it did not happen.
So....
I can TELL you what it was like. There was a large market place, larger than the one at Sock Summit, if you were there, I think by twice the size. I was in a booth right at the front door, which was awesome for me, because I saw a lot of people as they came in the door about to start shopping so they were plenty excited and most were adorned in a recently finished project. I saw a lot of shawls, sweaters, hats, scarves, skirts...
I have met 5 people who were there before I went. I think I may have met a few thousand there easily. I met teachers, students, designers, yarn company reps, other market lurkers like me. I attended events: There was a fashion show, another fashion show for students, a pajama party, a podcaster meet-up, I shared adult beverages in the bar while knitting before I headed upstairs to the hotel to bed.
I realize I have a lot of work to do, now, to get better at what I want to do. I knew I would be inspired, I was HOPING for inspiration and I was not disappointed. I know now that with a little effort I can go so much further. There are lots of people paving my direction, because what I had hoped for was to encourage and motivate others toward the craft I love and because that is my priority, others are offering to show me my options, for which there are many.
And so, I've come home Grateful, Humbled, and Flying.
(If I have more to add to this, I will, but for now, this is the simple version.)
Tuesday, February 25, 2014
Tuesday, February 4, 2014
February 4th
February 4th has been my traditionally bad day of the year.
There are some good things about it. My Uncle and Aunts anniversary was February 4th. It is Sweet Malia's birthday, so that's nice.
Some young people I know lost their momma to Cancer on February 4th, one of them was only 5 1/2 months old. That was awful.
Tuesday, February 4th, 39 years ago, was the last time I spoke with my father. I saw him once later, but we didn't speak. He never sent a letter, or a card, or his child support payment until I was old enough he didn't have to pay for me anymore. He never apologized.
He continues to do damage. My siblings don't speak to me, and treat my mother with disrespect, because all they can see is that they were separated from their 'daddy'. I still feel his shadow behind me and look over my shoulder expecting the worst.
Next year, February 4th will be 40 years since the last time we spoke as I handed him his lunch that my mother made and he drove away to work. But it won't be Tuesday.
There are some good things about it. My Uncle and Aunts anniversary was February 4th. It is Sweet Malia's birthday, so that's nice.
Some young people I know lost their momma to Cancer on February 4th, one of them was only 5 1/2 months old. That was awful.
Tuesday, February 4th, 39 years ago, was the last time I spoke with my father. I saw him once later, but we didn't speak. He never sent a letter, or a card, or his child support payment until I was old enough he didn't have to pay for me anymore. He never apologized.
He continues to do damage. My siblings don't speak to me, and treat my mother with disrespect, because all they can see is that they were separated from their 'daddy'. I still feel his shadow behind me and look over my shoulder expecting the worst.
Next year, February 4th will be 40 years since the last time we spoke as I handed him his lunch that my mother made and he drove away to work. But it won't be Tuesday.
Saturday, February 1, 2014
About Wendy Bernard, for Marly Bird
I've been helping Marly Bird with her Facebook/Twitter and Ravelry pages for a few weeks now. One of the things she's gearing up to do is a Crochet & Knit -a-long (yes, Knitters and Crocheters can participate) with another talented designer. Marly asked me to write a blog post about her friend and I'm duplicating it here as well. Find Marly at www.marlybird.com
Hello, crafty folk! It's Tammy, Marly's social media helper. I'm excited, as I'm sure you are, about the first Yarn Thing with Marly Bird's FIRST Crochet and Knit -a-long. It was revealed in the first newsletter, Marly Bird, A Little 'Bird' Told Me, that her partner is this adventure will be the lovely
Wendy Bernard, of Knit and Tonic ( www.knitandtonic.net )
As you can see from our posts on Facebook, Twitter and Ravelry, Marly is a little swamped so she asked if I could put together some information about Wendy.
First, I listened to Marly's interview of Wendy from January, almost two years ago. You may want to catch that if you didn't hear it the first time, or if you heard it and after two years, a refresher is a good thing ... http://www.blogtalkradio.com/yarnthing/2012/01/31/custom-knits-2-wendy-bernard
Then, assuming that Wendy is busy too, I sent her an e-mail with a few questions we would like to know. I appreciated her responses so much that, rather than edit what she said, I will just let you read it as I received it.
Tammy: Do you prefer Knit or Crochet? It sounds like a stupid question, and I'm assuming Knit because your designs are all knitting but do you ever crochet? You mentioned you were doing some sewing at that time when you were on Yarn Thing, how is that going?
Wendy: I do prefer to knit although I do crochet for fun sometimes. I also sew and embroider like crazy. Crochet, sewing, embroidery, Temari are all relaxing activities for me. Unless I'm knitting something like socks or a cap (which I feel can be relaxing), I don't knit for relaxation, probably because I consider knitting and designing knitting patterns is what I do for a living.
(Note: I didn't know what Temari was so I've had to look it up. Here is the wikipedia page (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Temari_(toy)) but basically it is an oriental ball that is wrapped in silk trimmings or embroidered -- and they are beautiful!)
Tammy: You mentioned that your grandmother taught you. Did you have any other training or work in fashion? You mentioned you have a publishing background and also that you started designing because you were altering other patterns. What gave you the thought of altering a pattern before you started researching those methods? Was it simply knitting for your child that pushed you over this designing edge?
Wendy: My grandmother did teach me to knit around age 10, I think. I didn't knit again except maybe a scarf for a boyfriend in high school (it rolled!). When I was pregnant, I picked up knitting again and my first project was one of those little hats that looks like a strawberry. I did start out in publishing and was a marketing executive for many years and had no background at all in fashion or design--although I had always sewed my own clothes. Since my daughter was so premature, I decided to quit my job to be at home with her. I started a blog and talked about what I was knitting. I would alter patterns for the usual reasons: shortening sleeves, changing the shape, etc., and my readers would encourage me to make up my own patterns. So, I did. One day, I received an email from a literary agent, who asked me if I wanted to write a book, and I said "why not?"
Tammy: I personally love a couple of your designs, one is 'Jordan' which is a beautiful lace tunic, and the other is 'Hana Hou'. I'm sure you've been asked a million times about your inspiration, but between this FEMININE tunic and a FUN felted Ukulele bag, I've got know. What makes you get stoked about a design? Do you wait to be excited about a yarn you're asked to design with, or is it a theme? You've mentioned that Elizabeth Zimmerman inspires you, as she does us all. Is there other designers' works that get your creative juices flowing?
Wendy: This is the hardest question for me to answer. Basically, I knit things that I would want to wear or use. It's as simple as that. If I see something on the street that inspires me, I'll go home and sketch. After that, I'll find the appropriate materials. It's harder for me when someone sends me yarn and says "design something." I prefer to want to make a particular looking item and after that find the yarn. Does that make sense? As far as other designers' work that inspires me, there are quite a handful, but not necessarily knitwear designers. I like to look at magazines like Vogue (not the knitting one) and InStyle and I like going to Malibu or to Los Angeles and people watch. It's fun to see what the younger set is wearing on the streets. Because of the climate, it's a little harder for me to focus on items that are meant to keep one warm!
Tammy: With Marly Bird you are doing a Crochet and Knit -a-Long. There haven't been any details yet even as far as what type of project are we knitting, as in Clothing item or Accessory. Besides getting to work together with Marly (smile) is there something about this particular project that tickles you?
Wendy: What tickles me is that I never did entrelac before! (Folks -- I think that was a BIG CLUE about what we will be creating in the C/KAL!) I didn't even WANT to do entrelac as I didn't like the idea of turning my work every row or round. Also, I hadn't really ever seen an entrelac item that "spoke" to me enough to make me want to learn the technique. But when Marly brought up the subject of doing a K/CAL, I thought "why not?" I had this great ombre lace on hand and, well, why not? I took a craftsy class and figured out how to do some basic entrelac and knit backwards and now I'm addicted to entrelac! It is so much fun!
Tammy: Do you teach? Are you going to STITCHES West or any other events coming up?
Wendy: I do teach locally, but that's about it right now. I don't travel that much because I have a young daughter and my husband often works weekends. I also have no local family to help out. Once my daughter gets a little older I might consider traveling more often, but for now, I do teach locally and go to TNNA for book signings when new books come out.
Wendy Bernard currently has 141 designs listed in Ravelry, so after you check out her website www.knitandtonic.net I would head over there to her designer page (http://www.ravelry.com/designers/wendy-bernard). I'm sure there are lots more goodies to come while we work on our Crochet or Knit -a-Long together.
Hello, crafty folk! It's Tammy, Marly's social media helper. I'm excited, as I'm sure you are, about the first Yarn Thing with Marly Bird's FIRST Crochet and Knit -a-long. It was revealed in the first newsletter, Marly Bird, A Little 'Bird' Told Me, that her partner is this adventure will be the lovely
Wendy Bernard, of Knit and Tonic ( www.knitandtonic.net )
As you can see from our posts on Facebook, Twitter and Ravelry, Marly is a little swamped so she asked if I could put together some information about Wendy.
First, I listened to Marly's interview of Wendy from January, almost two years ago. You may want to catch that if you didn't hear it the first time, or if you heard it and after two years, a refresher is a good thing ... http://www.blogtalkradio.com/yarnthing/2012/01/31/custom-knits-2-wendy-bernard
Then, assuming that Wendy is busy too, I sent her an e-mail with a few questions we would like to know. I appreciated her responses so much that, rather than edit what she said, I will just let you read it as I received it.
Tammy: Do you prefer Knit or Crochet? It sounds like a stupid question, and I'm assuming Knit because your designs are all knitting but do you ever crochet? You mentioned you were doing some sewing at that time when you were on Yarn Thing, how is that going?
Wendy: I do prefer to knit although I do crochet for fun sometimes. I also sew and embroider like crazy. Crochet, sewing, embroidery, Temari are all relaxing activities for me. Unless I'm knitting something like socks or a cap (which I feel can be relaxing), I don't knit for relaxation, probably because I consider knitting and designing knitting patterns is what I do for a living.
(Note: I didn't know what Temari was so I've had to look it up. Here is the wikipedia page (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Temari_(toy)) but basically it is an oriental ball that is wrapped in silk trimmings or embroidered -- and they are beautiful!)
Tammy: You mentioned that your grandmother taught you. Did you have any other training or work in fashion? You mentioned you have a publishing background and also that you started designing because you were altering other patterns. What gave you the thought of altering a pattern before you started researching those methods? Was it simply knitting for your child that pushed you over this designing edge?
Wendy: My grandmother did teach me to knit around age 10, I think. I didn't knit again except maybe a scarf for a boyfriend in high school (it rolled!). When I was pregnant, I picked up knitting again and my first project was one of those little hats that looks like a strawberry. I did start out in publishing and was a marketing executive for many years and had no background at all in fashion or design--although I had always sewed my own clothes. Since my daughter was so premature, I decided to quit my job to be at home with her. I started a blog and talked about what I was knitting. I would alter patterns for the usual reasons: shortening sleeves, changing the shape, etc., and my readers would encourage me to make up my own patterns. So, I did. One day, I received an email from a literary agent, who asked me if I wanted to write a book, and I said "why not?"
Tammy: I personally love a couple of your designs, one is 'Jordan' which is a beautiful lace tunic, and the other is 'Hana Hou'. I'm sure you've been asked a million times about your inspiration, but between this FEMININE tunic and a FUN felted Ukulele bag, I've got know. What makes you get stoked about a design? Do you wait to be excited about a yarn you're asked to design with, or is it a theme? You've mentioned that Elizabeth Zimmerman inspires you, as she does us all. Is there other designers' works that get your creative juices flowing?
Wendy: This is the hardest question for me to answer. Basically, I knit things that I would want to wear or use. It's as simple as that. If I see something on the street that inspires me, I'll go home and sketch. After that, I'll find the appropriate materials. It's harder for me when someone sends me yarn and says "design something." I prefer to want to make a particular looking item and after that find the yarn. Does that make sense? As far as other designers' work that inspires me, there are quite a handful, but not necessarily knitwear designers. I like to look at magazines like Vogue (not the knitting one) and InStyle and I like going to Malibu or to Los Angeles and people watch. It's fun to see what the younger set is wearing on the streets. Because of the climate, it's a little harder for me to focus on items that are meant to keep one warm!
Tammy: With Marly Bird you are doing a Crochet and Knit -a-Long. There haven't been any details yet even as far as what type of project are we knitting, as in Clothing item or Accessory. Besides getting to work together with Marly (smile) is there something about this particular project that tickles you?
Wendy: What tickles me is that I never did entrelac before! (Folks -- I think that was a BIG CLUE about what we will be creating in the C/KAL!) I didn't even WANT to do entrelac as I didn't like the idea of turning my work every row or round. Also, I hadn't really ever seen an entrelac item that "spoke" to me enough to make me want to learn the technique. But when Marly brought up the subject of doing a K/CAL, I thought "why not?" I had this great ombre lace on hand and, well, why not? I took a craftsy class and figured out how to do some basic entrelac and knit backwards and now I'm addicted to entrelac! It is so much fun!
Tammy: Do you teach? Are you going to STITCHES West or any other events coming up?
Wendy: I do teach locally, but that's about it right now. I don't travel that much because I have a young daughter and my husband often works weekends. I also have no local family to help out. Once my daughter gets a little older I might consider traveling more often, but for now, I do teach locally and go to TNNA for book signings when new books come out.
Wendy Bernard currently has 141 designs listed in Ravelry, so after you check out her website www.knitandtonic.net I would head over there to her designer page (http://www.ravelry.com/designers/wendy-bernard). I'm sure there are lots more goodies to come while we work on our Crochet or Knit -a-Long together.
Thursday, January 23, 2014
Knit vs Crochet (first post in 2014)
You know, I wish there wasn't this bitterness between crafters who knit and those who crochet. I seriously don't think personal preferences should make the conflicts that it does. There's nothing wrong with either, both have advantages.
I might have learned to crochet as a child, there was so much else going on, that I really can't remember. My mom crocheted and I have proof ~ it has lain on my bed every night for the last 40+ years. My mom was the (mostly single-) parent to 5 children with only 6 years age difference from oldest to youngest. I believe she crocheted because if a disaster happened to her project while she wasn't working on it, it couldn't be completely ruined and require ripping it out entirely. There is a picture of my brother in a knitted argyle sweater taken when we would have been preschoolers, I don't remember her making it, and I know there were knitting needles in her stash (more about that later) but I don't recall ever seeing her knit.
We spent summers very actively. My mother didn't drive but we didn't stay home much. We walked everywhere. Looking back, that was probably smart on her part, a way to wear us out so she had quiet time to crochet at night! One of the walks we did about once a week was to a thrift store, I believe it was a Salvation Army. My mom would find bags of yarn, unfinished projects or otherwise unloved knitted objects. We would cart home these bags, either carrying them or piling them in the red wagon and cushion the baby brother and sister for the ride home. Once home, we would unravel all this stuff. We became great problem/puzzle solvers. One year, she divided all of this into 5 laundry baskets of theme colors and each of us got an afghan in our color. That's where that afghan I mentioned earlier came from ~ those of you that know me can already guess it's purple.
I don't remember her teaching me, but my brother made a granny square that just kept growing and growing, until it probably could cover a full- to queen-sized bed, and finally he complained to our mom in a panic 'I can't make it stop!'
I've said it before, when I was in junior high school, I stole the green plastic knitting needles from her stash with some yarn and a how to book and learned to knit.
Here's the thing: That book didn't say how to hold the yarn, it only said how to make the stitches. How to cast-on, how to put the point in the center of the stitch and pull a new loop through and pull the old one off, but I must have held the yarn with my left hand because when she made all those afghans, my mother held the yarn in her left hand.
I prefer crochet for lots of things. An afghan has real warmth if it's crocheted, you can feel it's warmth when you need it. It does many things in a wonderful way. There is another picture of me in my mother's photo collection ~ I'm sitting cross-legged on the floor of my room (and it was clean! which is probably why she was taking the picture) next to the stereo with an 8-track player, crocheting an elephant. What else do you do with a little grey yarn at 14-years-old? In a few years, when friends and family were having babies, I crocheted lots of afghans. I hand-sewed dresses and things, too, but usually new babies got afghans from something very soft that I found at whatever local store I could get to by walking, biking or taking the bus.
I know there's lots of other really great things to crochet. At that time, 'other things' were decorative, and I personally wasn't a 'decorative' crafter. My concern was warmth. It was a personal mission to comfort with my crafting.
Later, when I was married and my daughter was small, I was still crocheting blankets. In her cousins' new house, they had bedrooms in the basement built by their father. I made these really heavy afghans one each for them, double-stranded with worsted weight acrylic yarn. They worked up quick because I was stuck at home with pneumonia the whole winter. Started with those three cousins and, not to leave anyone out, made for the last two and for my daughter to match.
I made sweaters, too. Knitted for newborns and usually a second sweater for when they started kindergarten. I always found patterns at the library, because I rarely could afford to buy books or magazines on top of purchasing yarn, or enough to complete a project. After a few years of these kinds of projects, I found that what I was gifting (and I never kept anything I made, it was ALWAYS for someone else) was not being appreciated and store-bought was preferred. So I began to study the books and magazines I brought home from the library for instructions on better assembly, cast-ons and bind-offs that resembled store-bought. I began to have preferred methods for different types of projects. I rarely used anything but acrylic yarn so I became very choosy in what I was churning out. Never would I consider a pull-over made of acrylic yarn unless it's for a teddy bear or a doll.
During that time, I sewed, also, all my daughters clothes, dresses and t-shirts for myself, a coat for her dad of crushed corduroy, fully lined and custom shoulder pads (lots of hand sewing) that made him look taller and thinner, was entered in the state fair. I recycled lots of clothes as well. If I cut off jeans to make shorts for myself, I could make jeans for my daughter with the cut off legs.
It wasn't until recent years, that I was given wool yarns: my first cashmere came in a swap, I've knit with alpaca and merino/silk blends because I was asked to design with it, but I couldn't have purchased it, generally. I typically knit with it and my designs are knit. For me, it goes a little further, crochet fabric is 2 to 3 times denser than knitted. I'm not opposed to it, I just haven't acclimated to using it that way, I'm still trying to get more yardage from the gift I've received of getting to use some of this nicer stuff. When it's gone, I will have to go burn through the acrylic in my stash that's waiting for me. I will probably crochet with it if there's a lot of something.
Lots of charity crafting asks for acrylic. The Linus Blanket project (in my area it is mostly quilts that are created and donated) asks for acrylic afghans as it donates to children in hospitals for long-term stays. Some provide blankets, quilts and afghans to foster kids, still as far as afghans it asks for acrylic because it is easier to clean. Humane animal shelters ask for donations of blankets and sweaters of acrylic for the same reasons, so much easier for them to keep a chilled lap-pup or kitty clean in a blanket that doesn't require special care.
Acrylic has it's place and is highly desired for certain projects. Wool is great as well, since it keeps a body warm even when it's been wet by rain (or worse) and Hoo-Ray if you are not in a third-world country and have access to it if you can afford it. Crochet is awesome for blankets or lace projects, I admit to crocheting curtains or lace-edgings often enough. Knitting is precise and comfortable on a foot in a sock, or in a sweater on a body, in wool it's breathable.
I've said this before, too. I find knitting easier. It's one stitch, you learn it frontwards (knit) and backwards (purl), you change colors, you change the order of the stitches, you change the directions but it's still one stitch. Crocheting stitches include the chain, single crochet, double, half-double, triple, treble, around the post in front, in back, through both loops, through the front loop, through the back.... get it? It offers a great variety, which is awesome but I gotta say, I'm a little surprised charts aren't more popular. Seriously, charts have been reserved like the answer key at the back of the teachers' textbook that the student never sees.
It all works, somehow, with some thought. There is no 'right' fiber, there is no 'right' craft anymore than there is a wrong one. If you can't find the pattern to do what you want to do, with how you want to do it, I have a recommendation for you: Obviously, you have found a need and you are probably also smart enough. I suggest you get busy and design it.
Just keep at it. Keep making for comfort, warmth, sentiment, decoration.... what ever makes you or your receiver happy and JUST BECAUSE YOU CAN!
I might have learned to crochet as a child, there was so much else going on, that I really can't remember. My mom crocheted and I have proof ~ it has lain on my bed every night for the last 40+ years. My mom was the (mostly single-) parent to 5 children with only 6 years age difference from oldest to youngest. I believe she crocheted because if a disaster happened to her project while she wasn't working on it, it couldn't be completely ruined and require ripping it out entirely. There is a picture of my brother in a knitted argyle sweater taken when we would have been preschoolers, I don't remember her making it, and I know there were knitting needles in her stash (more about that later) but I don't recall ever seeing her knit.
We spent summers very actively. My mother didn't drive but we didn't stay home much. We walked everywhere. Looking back, that was probably smart on her part, a way to wear us out so she had quiet time to crochet at night! One of the walks we did about once a week was to a thrift store, I believe it was a Salvation Army. My mom would find bags of yarn, unfinished projects or otherwise unloved knitted objects. We would cart home these bags, either carrying them or piling them in the red wagon and cushion the baby brother and sister for the ride home. Once home, we would unravel all this stuff. We became great problem/puzzle solvers. One year, she divided all of this into 5 laundry baskets of theme colors and each of us got an afghan in our color. That's where that afghan I mentioned earlier came from ~ those of you that know me can already guess it's purple.
I don't remember her teaching me, but my brother made a granny square that just kept growing and growing, until it probably could cover a full- to queen-sized bed, and finally he complained to our mom in a panic 'I can't make it stop!'
I've said it before, when I was in junior high school, I stole the green plastic knitting needles from her stash with some yarn and a how to book and learned to knit.
Here's the thing: That book didn't say how to hold the yarn, it only said how to make the stitches. How to cast-on, how to put the point in the center of the stitch and pull a new loop through and pull the old one off, but I must have held the yarn with my left hand because when she made all those afghans, my mother held the yarn in her left hand.
I prefer crochet for lots of things. An afghan has real warmth if it's crocheted, you can feel it's warmth when you need it. It does many things in a wonderful way. There is another picture of me in my mother's photo collection ~ I'm sitting cross-legged on the floor of my room (and it was clean! which is probably why she was taking the picture) next to the stereo with an 8-track player, crocheting an elephant. What else do you do with a little grey yarn at 14-years-old? In a few years, when friends and family were having babies, I crocheted lots of afghans. I hand-sewed dresses and things, too, but usually new babies got afghans from something very soft that I found at whatever local store I could get to by walking, biking or taking the bus.
I know there's lots of other really great things to crochet. At that time, 'other things' were decorative, and I personally wasn't a 'decorative' crafter. My concern was warmth. It was a personal mission to comfort with my crafting.
Later, when I was married and my daughter was small, I was still crocheting blankets. In her cousins' new house, they had bedrooms in the basement built by their father. I made these really heavy afghans one each for them, double-stranded with worsted weight acrylic yarn. They worked up quick because I was stuck at home with pneumonia the whole winter. Started with those three cousins and, not to leave anyone out, made for the last two and for my daughter to match.
I made sweaters, too. Knitted for newborns and usually a second sweater for when they started kindergarten. I always found patterns at the library, because I rarely could afford to buy books or magazines on top of purchasing yarn, or enough to complete a project. After a few years of these kinds of projects, I found that what I was gifting (and I never kept anything I made, it was ALWAYS for someone else) was not being appreciated and store-bought was preferred. So I began to study the books and magazines I brought home from the library for instructions on better assembly, cast-ons and bind-offs that resembled store-bought. I began to have preferred methods for different types of projects. I rarely used anything but acrylic yarn so I became very choosy in what I was churning out. Never would I consider a pull-over made of acrylic yarn unless it's for a teddy bear or a doll.
During that time, I sewed, also, all my daughters clothes, dresses and t-shirts for myself, a coat for her dad of crushed corduroy, fully lined and custom shoulder pads (lots of hand sewing) that made him look taller and thinner, was entered in the state fair. I recycled lots of clothes as well. If I cut off jeans to make shorts for myself, I could make jeans for my daughter with the cut off legs.
It wasn't until recent years, that I was given wool yarns: my first cashmere came in a swap, I've knit with alpaca and merino/silk blends because I was asked to design with it, but I couldn't have purchased it, generally. I typically knit with it and my designs are knit. For me, it goes a little further, crochet fabric is 2 to 3 times denser than knitted. I'm not opposed to it, I just haven't acclimated to using it that way, I'm still trying to get more yardage from the gift I've received of getting to use some of this nicer stuff. When it's gone, I will have to go burn through the acrylic in my stash that's waiting for me. I will probably crochet with it if there's a lot of something.
Lots of charity crafting asks for acrylic. The Linus Blanket project (in my area it is mostly quilts that are created and donated) asks for acrylic afghans as it donates to children in hospitals for long-term stays. Some provide blankets, quilts and afghans to foster kids, still as far as afghans it asks for acrylic because it is easier to clean. Humane animal shelters ask for donations of blankets and sweaters of acrylic for the same reasons, so much easier for them to keep a chilled lap-pup or kitty clean in a blanket that doesn't require special care.
Acrylic has it's place and is highly desired for certain projects. Wool is great as well, since it keeps a body warm even when it's been wet by rain (or worse) and Hoo-Ray if you are not in a third-world country and have access to it if you can afford it. Crochet is awesome for blankets or lace projects, I admit to crocheting curtains or lace-edgings often enough. Knitting is precise and comfortable on a foot in a sock, or in a sweater on a body, in wool it's breathable.
I've said this before, too. I find knitting easier. It's one stitch, you learn it frontwards (knit) and backwards (purl), you change colors, you change the order of the stitches, you change the directions but it's still one stitch. Crocheting stitches include the chain, single crochet, double, half-double, triple, treble, around the post in front, in back, through both loops, through the front loop, through the back.... get it? It offers a great variety, which is awesome but I gotta say, I'm a little surprised charts aren't more popular. Seriously, charts have been reserved like the answer key at the back of the teachers' textbook that the student never sees.
It all works, somehow, with some thought. There is no 'right' fiber, there is no 'right' craft anymore than there is a wrong one. If you can't find the pattern to do what you want to do, with how you want to do it, I have a recommendation for you: Obviously, you have found a need and you are probably also smart enough. I suggest you get busy and design it.
Just keep at it. Keep making for comfort, warmth, sentiment, decoration.... what ever makes you or your receiver happy and JUST BECAUSE YOU CAN!
Monday, December 16, 2013
Heartfelt (Knitting and) Gifting
A woman in one of my online knitting groups complains 'I made an afghan for someone and have yet to receive a thank you. Should I worry?'
This kind of knitting and gifting insecurity is common. If you're the kind of knitter that hears about someone with a special event coming up that needs a gift, and think it would be special to receive something crafted by hand and immediately start making plans, cast-on and knit frantically until it's done, you know the anxiety this woman is describing. Every knit/crochet/craft blogger will discuss it. There's just as many conversations about crafting for the worthy, knitting for the knitworthy.
Here's what I know.
I know what knitting does for me. I know that when my hands are busy, I'm trying to do something heroic one stitch at a time. I'm trying to keep the receiver warm, I'm trying to tell them they are beautiful, I'm trying to tell them they are loved. Is it unreasonable to expect that from every stitch? I don't think so. I've knit that stitch based on the thoughtful planning I gave for that person before I ever cast the first stitch. I've considered carefully the colors they look good in, especially the ones they seem to be wearing when they are their happiest, if they've not told me directly their favorites. I've given a lot of thought to their body shape and what they wear and how it fits. I've looked through the patterns I have in my possession, spent hours online, looked at my stash of yarn usually determining it's inadequacy, and then spent further hours online determining the availability of the materials I need do I need to order or can I stop in a local store and if there room on my credit card.
With every stitch, I recount all of our happy memories, I see their smiles and think of what they've meant to me. I think of what they will be doing when they wear or use my knitting gift, their pride when they show it off to their family, friends, co-workers, their world. With baby gifts, if it's before the baby is born, I will imagine them doing all the things I did with my daughter as a baby and other babies in our family that are cherished memories.
And then you present them with the gift. If I can give it to them in person, I can tell them why it's that color, what it's made of, why I thought they could use this personally, unique-crafted thing. Then watch their eyes. You can tell if it was too much or if it's just right.
As a crafter gets older, you're better able to determine the heart of a person and how they will receive something. This summer I made a scarf/shawl for a friend of ours. It was for someone who was going through some medical issues on top of some really personal dramas, too. We were impressed with how she coped with this stuff which was always with laughter. Together, my husband and I looked for yarns that reminded us of her. When it was handed to her, at that moment, she was having an especially bad day. When I was able to let her know what this was and why, she melted. I couldn't take a picture of her during her awful day, but asked that she take one when it got cold enough to need to use it, which she did. At the time I gave it to her and when she sent the picture, she described what she loved about it and how it made her feel.
Knitting for kids is a pretty awesome experience. A baby afghan for a newborn, becomes a nap blankie for a toddler and an adventure tent in play. Sometimes garments are saved as mementos or passed down to younger siblings. One of my favorite garments to make a child is for starting school. If you make it in their favorite color and with special details like pockets (POCKETS!) they are ready to do school, like Superman donning his red cape.
But here's where knitting for someone else is like paving a path through a blissful garden. Halos of Hope was founded by Pam Haschke after she fought cancer and beat it. During that awful time she was given a hat. When she'd lost her hair, this hat gave her a joy she hadn't expected. (I haven't met Pam yet, I've heard her tell the story, but I imagine it gave her a lot more than that.) I've heard her say, time and again, she started this charity because she wanted to share the comfort of a soft hat with others still battling. If you go to the website www.halosofhope.org and look at the notes under Stories of Hope, there are stories of gifts well received. The notes are mostly from the cancer centers where the hats were sent and it's because the writers of the notes were there when a hat was given and received, because the experience is so beautiful the note writing must be done. These people can't take credit, but pass the messages of thanks back to where it belongs, to the ones that thought they would like to, took the time and made the effort to make a soft hat, organized donation efforts and sent the hats out.
Sometimes when you make something for someone else, you don't get the thanks you needed to hear. You can't let it stop your generosity because you didn't get a thank you card. You have to remember the joy you had in making it, just know that there is more good in the universe because you did and then do it again.
________
If you are interested in creating hats for Halos of Hope, there is a big effort to achieve a high number of hats by the Stitches West event at Santa Clara, California in February. Several of the podcasters I mentioned a couple of weeks back are participating in a Podcasters Throwdown (challenge amongst themselves). You'll find at the website above the requirements are pretty relaxed, it has to be a new hat, of soft yarn, for a child or adult, male or female. There's even some great patterns that have been donated. Hats take no time to make, unlike a sweater or an afghan. When you're done with one, you won't believe that one hat can make a difference.
“Not all of us can do great things. But we can do small things with great love.” ― Mother Teresa
This kind of knitting and gifting insecurity is common. If you're the kind of knitter that hears about someone with a special event coming up that needs a gift, and think it would be special to receive something crafted by hand and immediately start making plans, cast-on and knit frantically until it's done, you know the anxiety this woman is describing. Every knit/crochet/craft blogger will discuss it. There's just as many conversations about crafting for the worthy, knitting for the knitworthy.
Here's what I know.
I know what knitting does for me. I know that when my hands are busy, I'm trying to do something heroic one stitch at a time. I'm trying to keep the receiver warm, I'm trying to tell them they are beautiful, I'm trying to tell them they are loved. Is it unreasonable to expect that from every stitch? I don't think so. I've knit that stitch based on the thoughtful planning I gave for that person before I ever cast the first stitch. I've considered carefully the colors they look good in, especially the ones they seem to be wearing when they are their happiest, if they've not told me directly their favorites. I've given a lot of thought to their body shape and what they wear and how it fits. I've looked through the patterns I have in my possession, spent hours online, looked at my stash of yarn usually determining it's inadequacy, and then spent further hours online determining the availability of the materials I need do I need to order or can I stop in a local store and if there room on my credit card.
With every stitch, I recount all of our happy memories, I see their smiles and think of what they've meant to me. I think of what they will be doing when they wear or use my knitting gift, their pride when they show it off to their family, friends, co-workers, their world. With baby gifts, if it's before the baby is born, I will imagine them doing all the things I did with my daughter as a baby and other babies in our family that are cherished memories.
And then you present them with the gift. If I can give it to them in person, I can tell them why it's that color, what it's made of, why I thought they could use this personally, unique-crafted thing. Then watch their eyes. You can tell if it was too much or if it's just right.
As a crafter gets older, you're better able to determine the heart of a person and how they will receive something. This summer I made a scarf/shawl for a friend of ours. It was for someone who was going through some medical issues on top of some really personal dramas, too. We were impressed with how she coped with this stuff which was always with laughter. Together, my husband and I looked for yarns that reminded us of her. When it was handed to her, at that moment, she was having an especially bad day. When I was able to let her know what this was and why, she melted. I couldn't take a picture of her during her awful day, but asked that she take one when it got cold enough to need to use it, which she did. At the time I gave it to her and when she sent the picture, she described what she loved about it and how it made her feel.
Knitting for kids is a pretty awesome experience. A baby afghan for a newborn, becomes a nap blankie for a toddler and an adventure tent in play. Sometimes garments are saved as mementos or passed down to younger siblings. One of my favorite garments to make a child is for starting school. If you make it in their favorite color and with special details like pockets (POCKETS!) they are ready to do school, like Superman donning his red cape.
But here's where knitting for someone else is like paving a path through a blissful garden. Halos of Hope was founded by Pam Haschke after she fought cancer and beat it. During that awful time she was given a hat. When she'd lost her hair, this hat gave her a joy she hadn't expected. (I haven't met Pam yet, I've heard her tell the story, but I imagine it gave her a lot more than that.) I've heard her say, time and again, she started this charity because she wanted to share the comfort of a soft hat with others still battling. If you go to the website www.halosofhope.org and look at the notes under Stories of Hope, there are stories of gifts well received. The notes are mostly from the cancer centers where the hats were sent and it's because the writers of the notes were there when a hat was given and received, because the experience is so beautiful the note writing must be done. These people can't take credit, but pass the messages of thanks back to where it belongs, to the ones that thought they would like to, took the time and made the effort to make a soft hat, organized donation efforts and sent the hats out.
Sometimes when you make something for someone else, you don't get the thanks you needed to hear. You can't let it stop your generosity because you didn't get a thank you card. You have to remember the joy you had in making it, just know that there is more good in the universe because you did and then do it again.
________
If you are interested in creating hats for Halos of Hope, there is a big effort to achieve a high number of hats by the Stitches West event at Santa Clara, California in February. Several of the podcasters I mentioned a couple of weeks back are participating in a Podcasters Throwdown (challenge amongst themselves). You'll find at the website above the requirements are pretty relaxed, it has to be a new hat, of soft yarn, for a child or adult, male or female. There's even some great patterns that have been donated. Hats take no time to make, unlike a sweater or an afghan. When you're done with one, you won't believe that one hat can make a difference.
“Not all of us can do great things. But we can do small things with great love.” ― Mother Teresa
Saturday, December 14, 2013
More Knitting Books (from the library)
I've had three more books from the library!
- Amy Herzog's Knit to Flatter (Published by STC Craft/A Melanie Falick Book, NY 2013) requested this when I heard she would be a guest on Fiber Hooligan and I had been wanting to read it for some time. ( http://www.blogtalkradio.com/fiberhooligan/2013/12/09/amy-herzog) The book didn't come in for me to pick up until after that episode, but I had heard her on the Yarn Thing Podcast with Marly Bird which made my anxiety to get the book between these two events a bit ... necessary. Amy and her husband have put together a great website that incorporates the basic elements she's written about in her book and further personalizing a pattern to fit. ( https://customfit.makewearlove.com ) She candidly discusses the difference between Ms. Average fit and everyone else without using the words 'Figure Flaws', using pictures and candid description of body types, all beautiful just different. Having a book in hand with it's written messages of inspiration (including this one in the introduction 'You are gorgeous, readers. Let's help you knit sweaters that make you feel that way, too.') should be candy for any knitter who's been at all frustrated with the outcome of a finished garment for herself.
- Melissa Leapman Knitting the Perfect Fit (Published by Potter Craft, NY 2012) Totally a fluke that these two books came at the same time and I hope not to compare them... Lots of great advice about knitting, reading charts and making swatches that should help encourage a knitter, especially one not much experienced with sweaters. I requested the book for the pattern named 'Angie', which I am disappointed to say, turns out not to be for my body type, being one that an A-line is NOT flattering on. There are many cute designs in the book, I liked the 'Weekender', 'Merino Magic' and 'Jen'. I didn't care for the close-up pictures of the knitted pieces themselves which appear to me to be very poorly finished.
- Edelgard Janssen and Ute Eismann Sock Art (Published in US by Trafalgar Square Books 2013, originally in German as Sockenhunst im Jacquard-look, 2010) This was on the NEW book as I walked in, so grabbed it and ran. There is no introductions or explanations in the front of the book and the end concludes with techniques for toes and heels explained. Is that a German thing? The patterns are a pretty mix of florals and critters, done in bright stripes of intarsia. There is one paragraph that says Kaffe Fasset was an inspiration, that much is clear.
Tuesday, December 10, 2013
This American (Knitter's) Life
I've been on The Fiber Hooligan podcast for a few weeks now. Monday was my seventh appearance. I've featured lots of things from books, day long televised knitting events, Dr. Who...
Are you surprised this is happening to me? I am!
Here's the thing: It's been completely voluntary. Perhaps someday when it's time, I will pursue something further involved that takes me on more adventures in knitting but for the moment, I'm stretching my little world and it's boundaries. That feels pretty good for the time being.
One thing that has been a little bit frustrating is the promotion end of it. (I know this is a first-world problem and not really important in the universal scheme of things... I hope you can hear that this isn't concern for myself.) I'm not the only one experiencing this frustration. I have been trying to help another knitting program producer who started a very involved knitting/fiber education video program which needs sponsors and/or subscribers. How can anyone hear or know about how great this creation of his if I can't make anyone hear me tell them about it?
And another podcast has recently asked for my help. I also spent a lot of the last month promoting a fiber event several states away from me, without the help of those I was trying to promote, except for the coordinators.
I often feel inadequate because my internet 'voice' is so small. I can only promote these thing so many times in so many places before people get fatigued of me. For instance, on Twitter I have less than 200 hundred followers. That is NOT advertising. That's standing in my corner of the world and humming a little melody, in the chaos of the cacophony...
I'm recording this frustration here because I hope to come back to it and see that there have been results. For the moment it just feels like spinning my tires, or being restrained.
Are you surprised this is happening to me? I am!
Here's the thing: It's been completely voluntary. Perhaps someday when it's time, I will pursue something further involved that takes me on more adventures in knitting but for the moment, I'm stretching my little world and it's boundaries. That feels pretty good for the time being.
One thing that has been a little bit frustrating is the promotion end of it. (I know this is a first-world problem and not really important in the universal scheme of things... I hope you can hear that this isn't concern for myself.) I'm not the only one experiencing this frustration. I have been trying to help another knitting program producer who started a very involved knitting/fiber education video program which needs sponsors and/or subscribers. How can anyone hear or know about how great this creation of his if I can't make anyone hear me tell them about it?
And another podcast has recently asked for my help. I also spent a lot of the last month promoting a fiber event several states away from me, without the help of those I was trying to promote, except for the coordinators.
I often feel inadequate because my internet 'voice' is so small. I can only promote these thing so many times in so many places before people get fatigued of me. For instance, on Twitter I have less than 200 hundred followers. That is NOT advertising. That's standing in my corner of the world and humming a little melody, in the chaos of the cacophony...
I'm recording this frustration here because I hope to come back to it and see that there have been results. For the moment it just feels like spinning my tires, or being restrained.
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