Category Archives: Knit

TNNA inspiration

Posted on January 17, 2011 | 10 comments

Last Saturday and Sunday I walked the floor at TNNA. Lots of yarn and needles and bags and designs and more to see. I don’t have a ton of photos from the floor, because cameras are technically not allowed, but here’s a rainbow from Bergere de France. (I had met Vincent the night before, so wasn’t shy about asking for a photo!)

The Lantern Moon booth was beautiful, as planned, and the butterflies all stayed in their places (hooray).

The Pico Accuardi booth had a woodland theme, complete with its own pixie.

BTW, his sweet hat is a felted creation by Sarah at Attitude Hats.

I took a few mini-session classes. The first was on social networking, led by Erin Slonaker, editor-in-chief of Yarn Market News. One thing that she told us about that I’d never heard of: Pinterest. It’s like bookmarking, but publicly, and it’s very visual. You can make beautiful pages of things that interest you, and share them. Erin talked about things going viral via Pinterest. Go look! Here’s Erin with the YMN cake at Soho Publishing’s Sunday reception. You may know her as the designer of the Leyburn Socks on her Pepperknit blog.

I also took a class on blogging/social media with Benjamin Levisay (CEO) and Kimberly Reynolds (social media director) of XRX, Inc. Their point? Do it! But don’t stress about it. They said that a company should have four things in the social networking world: blog, Facebook, Twitter, and a Ravelry page. We’re getting there…I need more hours in a day.

I had two mini-sessions with Trisha Malcolm, editor of Vogue Knitting. One was on teaching, and one was a color forecast for spring/summer. I’ll tell you about the colors later, when I can take a picture of the color card. So gray here in PDX this weekend, and I haven’t been home during the day.

Lantern Moon had a champagne punch reception to celebrate their 10th anniversary TNNA show.

The team from Soho Publishing brought us a cake!

Jess, Casey, Sarah, and Mary-Heather from Ravelry helped us celebrate.

I love Mary-Heather’s shawl, and I can’t remember what it is. I tried looking at her gallery on Ravelry, but couldn’t find it. Do you recognize it?

Kristin Omdahl (far right) came by to showcase her new book, A Knitting Wrapsody. She had some friends model samples of a few of the designs. They are really lovely. The book comes out next month, and it looks great. Best feature: it comes with a dvd to demonstrate less familiar techniques. What a great idea.

You can see how I was wearing many hats at TNNA last weekend: blogger, LM blogger, designer, LYS teacher! One last cool thing: Unicorn Books had a book signing/giveaway almost every hour. It took me a while to figure that out, so I just ended up with two. I’ll tell you about them later, after I can take a picture or two, and maybe even get a chance to sit down and look at them!

This weekend? The Day Old Pastries played at a MLK Workday and Celebration for the Portland Backpack Lunch Program. It was a fun gig, and that’s another hat for me!

10 Comments

Posted in Blogging, Knit

Tagged TNNA

SEA-PDX yarn train 2011

Posted on January 16, 2011 | 18 comments

We interrupt this TNNA blog-fest with a report on the Seattle to Portland Yarn Train Yarn Crawl.

I started my day at Urban Fiber Arts, Cindy Abernethy’s shop. It was full of happy knitters. Susan Stambaugh of Abstract Fiber was there, and she brought spinning fiber in a new colorway, Urban Joy, in honor of Cindy’s fairly new shop. Gorgeous!

The PDXKnitBloggers/PDXSpinnerati were out in force, too: Karen’s mom, Karen, Judy, Bobbie.

I met Kathee of Kathee Nelson Art Yarns, and she showed me some of her pretty fiber.

I ignored the siren song of the cupcakes at Cupcake Jones (a coupon!) and went over to Knit/Purl next. There were lots of happy knitters there, too. I actually ran into my across the street neighbor who teaches there, too. Hi, Judy! And I saw Jared Flood’s yarn, Shelter, for the first time. The colors were deep and luscious.

After Knit/Purl, I went to Starbucks across the street, and found more PDXKnitBloggers: Camille, Kathy (also a Turkish Delight spindler), Angela, Rachel, Tami. Please note that Tami’s shirt and shawl are raspberry, not pink.

We were discussing where to go next, and talking to the yarnies at the next table, who wanted to know how to get to Yarn Garden. I offered to drive them, and I assured them that I was not an ax murderer. Norma, Sandi and Anna trusted me, and we went to Yarn Garden, where they had a good time.

We also went to Happy Knits, and Twisted, because Sandy wanted to see Blue Moon Fiber Arts yarn, up close and personal. She got her wish! And she definitely got some yarn, too…

OT: Interweave Knits is offering a free download of 7 hat patterns here.

18 Comments

Posted in Blogging, Knit, spinning

Tagged SEA-PDX Yarn Train

More Friday at TNNA

Posted on January 14, 2011 | 7 comments

I went through the pictures on my camera, and realized that I didn’t quite finish Friday. You can see the Lantern Moon part of it over at the Lantern Moon blog. And here’s the rest of *my* Friday story.

After set-up, there’s a frenzy known as Sample It. Vendors can sell special samples at this one hour event. And it goes fast! There was lots of fun stuff to look at. I didn’t buy any yarn. It was close a couple times, but I kept thinking of all the yarn that was waiting for me at home. And you know I don’t stash…much.

Our friends at Pico Accuardi Dyeworks and Knitted Wit were there with Baby O.

And so was Carrie of Irishgirlieknits! She designed the cowl she’s wearing, and you can see it in the poster in the upper left corner, too. She was in the Kollage booth; they were using her pattern to promote their new Recycled Blue Jeans yarn.

Later on Friday evening, there’s a fashion show. Joel introduced the fashion show, wearing the cutest accessory ever. By the end of the evening, Baby O had his own fan club.

Here are a few of the thing that caught my eye in the fashion show.

This is the Birgitta shell, designed by Marly Bird in Lhasa Wilderness by Bijou Basin, a 75/25 Yak/Bamboo blend. Very soft. Bijou Basin Ranch raises yaks to sell premium yak fiber products. I fell in love with their Mahika Beanie kit by Anne Lukito at Sample It, too. And they’re really nice people.

Look at this dress! This is Brompton, designed by Kim Dolce in Universal Sensational. I love the lines and colors of this piece. Doesn’t it look fun to wear?

I think the cardi on the left is Manana by Kim Barnette in Classic Elite Sprout. I think. Simple, with a nice border.

These pieces are from Great Adirondack Yarn Co. They have much more color than I usually wear, but I love how the color highlights the geometric action on these three pieces.

Lantern Moon’s Bali Weekender bag was in the show, too. I really want one of these; it’s even prettier in real life.

And this was my favorite piece in the show. It’s the Warren 2-Way Jacket designed by Irina Poludnenko in Tahki Ripple. This yarn knits up into a really interesting fabric; it’s kind of crisp and kind of stretchy at the same time. It’s thick/thin, and very textural. It must be new, because I don’t see it on the Tahki website yet. The jacket can be worn this way, long, or flipped upside down and the fabric that gave it length becomes a big shawl collar, and the previous collar becomes a short jacket. I saw it at the Tahki Stacy Charles booth, and even tried it on.

I love the little fishtail at the center back.

I’m not sure I like it as much short, but it would really depend on what to wear with it.

And that was Friday. More to come…

7 Comments

Posted in Knit

Tagged TNNA

The yarn train is coming!

Posted on January 14, 2011 | Comments Off

Just a quick note: The STP (Seattle to Portland) yarn train is coming Saturday, January 15. Portland knitters, come meet and greet the Seattle knitters! Check the links on the yarn train page for a brochure and coupons to local yarn shops. Here’s what happened last year.

There will be lots of knitters swarming the local yarn shops, especially the downtown ones that are easily accessible from the train station. Hope to see you around!

And I haven’t forgotten…I’m working on TNNA posts, right now.

Comments Off on The yarn train is coming!

Posted in Knit

Tagged yarn train

Friday TNNA report: The fun begins

Posted on January 12, 2011 | 7 comments

I went to the TNNA trade show with Lantern Moon, and it was busy, fun, mind-blowing…the list goes on. I went wearing four hats: LM blogger, PDXKnitterati blogger, designer, yarn shop teacher. I was inspired in all of these aspects of my fiber life! We went down to Long Beach on Thursday, and landed during a gorgeous sunset.

The Lantern Moonies (10 of us) all stayed in this house across the street from the beach. It was much more congenial than staying in a hotel. And you really get to know your fellow Moonies when they’re also your fellow roomies!

On Friday I helped set up the LM booth.

I visited my friend Lorajean and her baby O. Pico Accuardi Dyeworks was there, and they were also distributing her yarn line, Knitted Wit.

And at the end of the day, it was time to kick back with some knitting!

There were some knitting lessons for two new knitters…more on that later.

7 Comments

Posted in Knit, travel

Tagged TNNA

Almanacs

Posted on January 6, 2011 | 6 comments

I have had a copy of Elizabeth Zimmermann’s Knitter’s Almanac forever. It’s an inexpensive little thing; I think it cost $6.95.

There’s a new commemorative edition, with writings by the Yarn Harlot and, oh, I don’t know who else because I haven’t had a chance to open the book yet! I’m on my way to TNNA with Lantern Moon. I’ll update from there…

Seeya!

6 Comments

Posted in book review, Knit

Tempus fugit

Posted on December 30, 2010 | 7 comments

Time flies!

DH and I escaped the pre-Christmas bustle and spent a week on Maui. It was warm, and mostly sunny. Perhaps not the most knitterly weather, but I managed, somehow. Here’s the view with and without knitting.

It was a perfectly relaxing week, which was just what we needed. The guidebooks all say that you should go up Haleakala (the volcano) to see the sunrise. You’d have to leave at 3 a.m. to make this happen, and drive a long winding road. In the dark. We decided that the only way we’d see the sun rise over Haleakala would be from our front porch. The sky was glorious just before sunrise.

And the sun itself wasn’t half bad looking, either.

We did go up Haleakala one afternoon, and it was beautiful in the crater. There are so many colors of sand and rock! We hiked down a bit; coming back up was a lot more work. We started at 9700 ft., but I forgot to check my iPhone altimeter to see how far down we had gone. (Yes, there’s an app for that.)

On the drive back down, the clouds had come in and the sun was shining on the water in a most hazily glorious way. I couldn’t tell where the horizon was because of the clouds. I wasn’t quite sure what I was looking at, because it was so bright, so I just took pictures and hoped for the best.

Here’s my other favorite sunset of the week, down in Wailea.

New needles

Posted on December 17, 2010 | 15 comments

If you read my other blog at LanternMoon.com, you know that the new ebony and rosewood interchangeable needle sets have come in to the warehouse. I’ve been knitting with a prototype of these needles. The joins are really smooth. My yarn doesn’t catch on them, and I haven’t had any come apart while knitting with them. (This used to happen to me with other my Boye aluminum interchangeable needles, a long time ago. I’ve become a wooden needle convert since then.)

The needle tips I’m knitting with are the new Featherlight wood, which is certified as sustainable by the Forest Stewardship Council. The interchangeables won’t be in this wood, at least not for now. I just happen to have gotten lucky and borrowed these to play with. Check them out.

I knit my Mini Mochi fingering weight Infinity Entrelac Infinity Scarf with the size 4 tips.

And I’m now knitting another Noro DK weight version with the size 7 tips.

I like them a lot. They’re not quite as slick as my ebony needles, but I like the slate gray color and slight texture on them. I haven’t been knitting too much this week; the view is a distraction.

Stay warm!

15 Comments

Posted in Knit

Tagged Knit, lantern moon, needles

Infinity winners: Winfinity?

Posted on December 8, 2010 | 5 comments

Midnight! Time to consult random.org for the winning numbers:

Commenter #4 is the first winner, and Alexandra (bloepper) would like to knit the Mini Mochi version. Congratulations! Check out Alexandra’s yarn bombing activities at her blog, Strickbombe. She’s in Germany!

The second winner is Commenter #11, Courtney. Courtney said yes to either, so she gets the Noro Silk Garden Lite. Congratulations! I’ve met Courtney in real life; she took my Christmas stocking class last year. Courtney, this scarf is even easier than the stocking. The yarn does all the colorwork for you.

Thanks to all for your nice comments. I’m glad you like Infinity!

Knit on…

5 Comments

Posted in Knit

Tagged entrelac, infinity scarf

It’s beginning to smell a lot like brisket…

Posted on December 6, 2010 | 11 comments

Sorry, but that always sings in my head when I’m cooking for Hanukkah dinner. We had it on Saturday, and it was a lovely gathering. Mmmm, brisket and latkes.

We celebrate Hanukkah and Christmas at our house, so there’s a little of everything going on. I haven’t had a big Christmas tree in several years. DH and the kids don’t care if we have one, so we don’t! I like my little music tree on top of the piano; I put up my favorite ornaments and I’m done. I guess I’m a minimalist at heart.

The stockings are up in their usual knitterly glory.

I like streamlining my decorating so I have more time for fun with friends and family, and for knitting. But not gift knitting; I abhor deadlines. That doesn’t mean there are no knitted gifts, just no gifts on deadline! The first knitted gift has gone out in the mail…(a Pippi hat, if you must know).

Yesterday I had a discussion group for new parents about keeping and making holiday traditions. I started with a story about CollegeGrad. He was 3 or 4 when we started talking about the Christmas story. One day he came to me, talking about how much he loved Little Baby Jesus. Yesss! He understood the Christmas story! Well, maybe yes, and maybe no. He was actually talking about little baby cheeses, which were one of his favorite things to eat. Indeed. I brought some of this cheese to class as a prop and a snack. Becky (fellow Day Old Pastry) decided she would use the wax wrappers to make a real Baby Cheeses creche.