Book Review: Stephanie Pearl-McPhee Casts Off

I recently finished the Yarn Harlot's latest effort, Stephanie Pearl-McPhee Casts Off. Much like the other books that she has written, this one is filled with humor and insight into the mind of a knitter. While her last book, Knitting Rules, dealt with stories about techniques and methods for knitting, this book explores the culture of the land of Knitting. The Yarn Harlot uses her wit and wisdom to explain who knitters are and why they do what they do. She explores the complexity of stash, the different personalities of knitters (those who start projects, and those who finish to name a few), and the cultures of various knitting destinations (yarn shops). I thoroughly enjoyed her newest book and would recommend it to knitters and those who love them. I can always measure how well her humor transfers by how much my DF laughs when I read him excerpts. She has a wonderful way of encapsulating our neuroses as knitters, and making us laugh at ourselves.

-B

Damn you, Martha!

I had noticed a few weeks ago that the local Michael's was restructuring the stationery section. Now, I'm not a scrapbooker. We take a few vacations, but not enough that I've been compelled to start yet another crafting addiction. I also can't say that I have been swayed by the fluorescent and glitter styles that seem part and parcel with most scrapbooking accoutrements. However, that may have changed today. While trolling through Michael's looking for mini-baseball bat holders (wedding related, we're huge baseball nuts), and purchasing my crochet needs to start my lessons over at Crafty Daisies, I happened upon the paper section.

Oh, and what a paper section Michael's has. I had been speaking with S last night, and we were discussing how I had just maxed out my thank you card pile, and am in need of some new ones. I found $2 a box ones with ten in a box at the clearance section of Staples today, by the way, but have been tossing around the idea of creating my own. So, I snuck over to look at the blank cards to see if any of the companies make them of recycled paper (no luck thus far). I was impressed by the opportunities that may be out there for making my own cards. I noticed that there was a lot less glitter and fluorescentness than I had originally thought there was, and was leaving the store very energized by the possibilities.

As I turned toward the checkout counter, some subtle colors, streamlined designs, and a familiar name caught my eye. I oohed and ahhed over the new section that had been part of the restructuring. Perfection, thy name is Martha. Damn her and her cleverness. Damn her, and her staff for creating such beautiful papers, ribbons, stamps, punches, and storage boxes. I stayed strong though, and did not purchase anything. I kept repeating must buy a house first, must buy a house first, in my mind in order to get out of the store without blowing the whole paycheck. But, I shall return to the aisle that is Martha Stewart Crafts. The link prior will take you to the newest potential addiction for me.

P.S. RIP Unicorn Dishcloth. You tried to make it through your first ride in the washing machine, but to no avail. I shall frog you and try another style of dishcloth so that you my have a second chance of happiness in this house.

-B

Rehersal Dinner Bags

Hey all you bloggers,

I'm looking for a little help making a decision. I have been trying to find a bag to carry to B's rehersal dinner without any luck, as E can attest to. So as any good knitter would do, I headed to the local yarn store again to get yarn for a new project. In this case it was enough for two small projects (this unfortunately is not the first time I have fallen off the wagon for the stash along, I tried, but failed). So here are the two projects that I have been working on for the last couple of weeks. Neither is completely finished. I've been waiting on the lining fabric for both of the bags and the handles for the chip bag just arrived yesterday. But without further ado, here are the two projects.

Chip Bag

Yarn: Laines Du Nord - Cleo (29)

Needles: Clover 7

Started: May 26, 2007

Finished: Sometime in early June, other than handles and lining.

This pattern represented my first attempt to read a chart. Which was quite interesting and only resulted in a few moments of profanity when I hadn't been paying complete attention to the chart. The pattern came free with the yarn purchase and took me just barely into a second ball of yarn.

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Second bag represents my first attempt at not really following a pattern of any way shape or form. Just me sort of trying to get something I like.

Moss Stitch Clutch

Yarn: Laines Du Nord - Cleo (29)
Needles: Clover 7

Started: June 3, 2007

Finished: June 8, 2007

Still needs the lining, which I'm hoping will help it stand up a bit more. I may try some things to make it stand up a bit more on its own. This represented not only my first attempt at creating my own pattern, but also my first success with moss stitch...it always had large holes in it before.

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So here's your chance to vote (unfortunately it'll have to be in the comments section, I couldn't figure out how to embed a poll). Anyway...will it be a finished Chip Bag or Moss Stitch Clutch that I carry at B's rehersal dinner?

S

Check out a fellow blogger's contest

Check out the contest that Pheelya is having over on her blog. It's her birthday this week. If you visit because you read it on this blog, be sure to mention that you saw it on our blog. Enjoy!!

http://pheelya.blogspot.com/2007/06/contest-for-my-birthday.html

More Dishcloths and Stashbusting

I haven't finished anything major lately, just three more dishcloths from the Monthly Dishcloth KAL and the Rachel's Knitting Room group that I joined last month. We currently don't have any air-conditioning on the downstairs part of our house, so the idea of knitting hasn't been foremost in my mind. But, work has wound down and I am exctied about the projects that I have planned for the summer. I'll be posting in the next few days about my first crocheting efforts, and a new book review of the Yarn Harlot's newest hilarious book about knitting. So, for now, three dishcloths and their details:


Pattern: Stepping Stones Dishcloth - Mid-May 2007 KAL
Yarn: Sugar 'n Cream
Started: end of May
Ended: end of May
For: Home Use


Pattern: Tweety Bird Pattern - May KAL from Rachel's Knitting Room
Yarn: Reynolds Saucy in Color #130
Started: end of May
Ended: start of June
For: DF's sister, a big Tweety fan


Pattern: Unicorn Pattern from June KAL on Monthly Dishcloths
Yarn: Reynolds Saucy in Bright Plum
Started: June 3rd
Ended: June 5th
For: Home Use

World Wide Knit in Public Day

It's that time of year again! The three bloggers for Knitting Harvest were actually able to knit together in public in NYC (in between visitng quite a few NYC yarn shops) last year.

http://www.wwkipday.com/

So get out those knitting needles on Saturday and find some place to knit in public!

S

finished scribbling and home made knitting needles

so I finished the red scribbling shawl. The pictures don't come out very well, I tired to take a close up of it so that you can see the beading in the Tillie Thomas yarn. working with the Tillie yarn was a bit more of a pain, since the beading would get caught on the mohair yarn every now and than, otherwise it wasn't too different than othe black one I made.

Pattern: Scribbling Shawl (Mason-Dixon)
Yarn: Tillie Thomas - Rock Star and Rowan - kidsilk spray
needle: see picture and story below


After making the first scribbling shawl, I complained that the circular needles made it hard to kep the loops the same size and was looking for a nice pair of big double points. However, I could never find anything bigger than size 13, so I decided I would try to make my own. Since scribbling doesn't really require any specific size, this was perfect. With the help of S. we stopped at the lowes in Va and bought a dowl that they cut into thirds for me, though they did split one of the ends. We picked up some sand paper and a pencil sharpener (one of those with the extra large size for kids pencils) and with a little work. I got my knitting needles. They are not quite the same length becuase of the split end, and a bit rough, but that smoothed out after a little bit, and I think you can spend more time sanding it get the smoothness, but I was too lazy.

will try to finsih the hollywood knits sweater next.

- E