PDXKnitterati

Knitting a blanket…for a bridge

Posted on April 8, 2013 | 5 comments

I’m knitting part of a blanket…for a bridge.

Wait, I can explain! Portland’s Broadway Bridge turns 100 this year, and Tyler Mackie wants to celebrate by installing four handknit banners on the bridge in August. Each banner will be 18 x 21 feet. When the celebration is over, the banners will be deconstructed into 6 x 6 foot blankets for Portland’s homeless. The yarn is Cascade 220 Superwash, a practical easy care choice.

I’m knitting several 12 inch squares for this project. Check the Facebook page if you’d like to help knit. Check out the indiegogo funding page for more information on the project. And I’m especially happy the finished project will be made into something useful. Recycling is so very Portland!

I knit my way across the country this weekend. This is Ponce Inlet Lighthouse, Daytona Beach, Florida, and my first stripey blanket square.

203 steps to the top! I love circular staircases.

The Fresnel lenses themselves are a thing of beauty, created to magnify the beam out to sea.

We had a great visit with Kiddo! A little cool at the beach, but a lovely day.

5 Comments

Posted in Knit, travel

Tagged Bridge for Blankets, lighthouse, orlando, ponce inlet

Feedly’s a winner! and 5 years of PDXKnitterati means you could be, too

Posted on April 1, 2013 | 42 comments

I’ve posted about my angst over Google’s impending shutdown of Reader. I’ve tried several alternatives, and really just wanted something as quick as Google Reader’s titles view for skimming through blogs. Feedly was pretty good, but only offered a titles view in a browser, and I do most of my reading on an iPad. They asked for feedback from Reader refugees, and it sounds a lot of us were looking for this option.

As of this morning, Feedly’s iPhone and iPad apps now have a Title Only view. Talk about responsive! It’s not an April Fool’s joke. I’ve updated my apps and I. Love. It. I’ve played around with it, and it does what I want. I think it may be even better than Reader; I haven’t figured out all the shortcuts yet. You may have issues with Feedly on a computer, because it requires an extension on your browser, but the extension issue doesn’t bother me. Feedly is working on cloning Google Reader’s API, and says that the transition will be seamless when Reader shuts down on July 1. Sounds good to me. Done!

Hmmm, knitting content. I can’t show you what I’m knitting right now. Sometimes design work means nothing to show, for months and months! But it’s spring, I have a new blog reader, and I just realized that I’ve been blogging for five years as of March 17. That went by in a flash! To celebrate, I’d like to share some yarn with you, because that’s what knitters do.

This is Knitted Wit Silky ‘n’ Single, worsted weight, 60% Merino/40% Silk, 220 yards, 100g. I don’t know if this color has a name, I got it from Lorajean’s Community Supported Yarn club last year. It hasn’t told me what it wants to be, but maybe it will tell you!

And this is Three Fates Yarn Eponymous Sock, 2 ply 100% superwash merino, 400 yards, 100g, color Mulch. I chose this rich brown yarn at Oregon Flock and Fiber Festival last fall because I had a brown project in mind, but I ended up using a different yarn. I can’t show you that project, either, until later this year, but it turned out just right. But I digress.

Hmmm. Tell me what you think each yarn wants to be, and I’ll do two random drawings to choose the lucky winners. I’ll take comments through next week Monday, April 8. Good luck!

42 Comments

Posted in Blogging, Knit, yarn

Tagged blogs, feedly, giveaway, google reader, yarn

Sometimes, ya just gotta…

Posted on March 31, 2013 | Comments Off

We don’t have a big Easter celebration at our house, but I was going to a friend’s house this afternoon, and then we’re having a Game of Thrones watch party at our house this evening. What could be more appropriate than beheading…a Peep?

My friend Carole and I put these together this afternoon, using these instructions and then just winging the rest. Cute, huh?

I also made lemon bars and chocolate chip shortbread, so it wasn’t all fun and games.

Happy Easter to those who celebrate it, and happy spring to the rest of the northern hemisphere!

And for those of you down under, it’s time to start knitting woolies. Everybody wins!

Comments Off on Sometimes, ya just gotta…

Posted in foodies!

Tagged peeps, spring

Treasures(?) in the attic, 70’s edition

Posted on March 28, 2013 | 7 comments

I went over to Mom’s house the other day, and on a whim we started looking through her books. I came home with a small box of curiosities.

Knitting Techniques and Projects from Sunset Books came out in 1976. We’re not sure why Mom owns it, since she never knitted, as far as I remember. The techniques section is a good basic tutorial on how to get started. But did we ever really dress like this?

And did anyone ever knit herself a bikini? One can only imagine what happens when that knitting hits the water…

I wonder if today’s fashions will look this dated to us in 40 years. On the other hand, there are classics like these two pillows. The gnarly cabled one is by Elizabeth Zimmermann (I’m guessing it’s her, although the credit spells it Zimmerman), and the striped one is by Mary Walker Phillips.

And these hats by Barbara Walker would be very current today, in a different color palette.

Are you diggin’ it? I think the book’s a keeper! The other thing I found was this:

Remember K-tel? And Ronco? Oh, yeah, as seen on TV. Let’s get a closer look at that outfit on the box:

Hot pants! And this outfit is also featured on the box:

I checked out the instructions, and it looks like it’s just glorified crocheting, except you don’t have to control the yarn separately. I’m not sure why you wouldn’t just use a crochet hook. But there you have it.

What’s in your attic? Time for a treasure hunt!

7 Comments

Posted in book review, Knit

Tagged 70's, old stuff

Knitters helping knitters

Posted on March 27, 2013 | 6 comments

My knit group buddy Cathy put up the knitters’ Bat Signal last week, asking for help on a project. Her young friend Jack, age 9, is in treatment for cancer. His family’s community in Ashland is having a benefit concert, raffle, and silent auction to raise funds to help with his medical expenses. Cathy is knitting hats for the silent auction, and hopes many knitters will knit along.

My friend Trish Dorr was my son Brendan’s all time favorite teacher. I adore her! She has two beautiful children, Jack and Alex. Right now, Jack is fighting cancer and he needs our help. I decided one way to help was to enlist the help of the most generous and loving people I know, knitters!!!! So grab your needles & some yarn and let’s get busy.

Any knit (or crochet) hat is welcome. Cathy has obtained permission from Purl Bee to use their Thank You Hats pattern, if you would like a pattern to follow.

Cathy will take them to Ashland, and Jack’s label (designed by Jack) will be added for Jackapalooza.

Please send your completed hat by April 15 to:
Cathy Woodcock
c/o Lantern Moon
7911 NE 33rd Drive Suite 140
Portland, OR 97211

If you can’t knit a hat, but would like to donate, you can do so here.

We had knit nite here on Monday, and are slowly amassing a pile of hats. Jack’s mom Trish is in town with Jack and she came to knit nite, too. She is a lovely and gracious person, and she is knitting hats, too. Hats knit up very quickly; I’m almost done with my second one. Won’t you join us?

6 Comments

Posted in Knit

Tagged jackapalooza, knitters' bat signal

Things I’ve learned about lace knitting

Posted on March 24, 2013 | 9 comments

(Swatches for 4 shawls I want to knit. Right now.)

Swatching lace patterns is fun and addicting, and I like fussing with them to get the effect I want. Combine, alter, chart, swatch, refine, repeat.

Swatching in practice yarn is way better than repeatedly frogging and reknitting your “real” yarn. I switched to some light worsted yarn I had on hand. (White swatches in the picture.)

Swatching lace with heavier yarn will tell you a lot, but not everything. Swatching with leftover sock yarn is better, if fingering weight yarn is your goal. I wised up and bought a 50g skein of Louet Gems for swatching, because I needed a light color for a design submission. It’s the green ball in the picture, and it’s lovely to work with. I may have to get some more, to knit for reals.

Beads add lovely weight, drape, and bling to lace. I’m hooked (hah!) on the crochet hook method of adding beads.

Blocking is magic. (We already knew that, but it’s been reaffirmed, and can’t be said enough.)

An old black velvet dress makes a great background for a pale lace swatch photo. (No pic, it’s for a design submission.)

This elastic bind off is way better than the usual chain bind off, for lace that is going to be blocked: K2, * slip left needle into fronts of the 2 worked stitches on right needle and knit them off together through the back loop (like an ssk), K1, repeat from *.

And last of all: I’m a little obsessive.

PS: I blame Sivia Harding for this trip down the lace rabbit hole. I took her workshop last Sunday, and can’t stop playing with ideas. You can take her class at Twisted next Saturday, March 30. It’s from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. But don’t say I didn’t warn you about possible obsession!

9 Comments

Posted in Knit, pattern design, yarn

Tagged Knit, lace, sivia harding, swatching

New pattern: Starwood Cowl and Cuffs

Posted on March 23, 2013 | 5 comments

It’s barely spring, but it’s still chilly around here. And I know that a lot of you are still having snow, so it’s not too late for a little warmth.

This is Starwood, a cowl and cuff set. They’re knit in the round using a simple slip stitch pattern to create a colorful tweedy look. It only looks complicated; just one color is used per round. The pattern is easily adjusted for length and width. I knit this set with Knit Picks City Tweed DK, a blend of 55% Merino wool, 25% Superfine alpaca, 20% Donegal tweed. It’s not too heavy, but it has a wonderful drape. Just warm enough for early spring!

This pattern is available now, and will also be available through the Knit Picks IDP (Independent Design Program). See the pattern page for details.

And! Knit Picks is having a 40% off sale on selected colors of all their alpaca yarns, including City Tweed DK, through Wednesday, March 27. Pick three colors and cast on!

5 Comments

Posted in Knit, pattern design

Tagged alpaca, starwood cowl

Farewell, Google Reader; Hello…who?

Posted on March 21, 2013 | 16 comments

I love to read knitting and food blogs. I’m subscribed to hundreds of blogs, and usually I just skim using Google Reader. I’ve particularly enjoyed using Google Reader Next on my laptop, where one click brings up the next blog in all its glory, instead of just titles/text on Reader. But alas, Google is retiring Reader as of July 1. Horrors! How will I keep up with all those blogs?

I’ve been poking around the interwebs looking for alternatives. Feedly looks pretty good, and I love their titles view for computers. I’m hoping they’ll make it available for mobile devices, too; I don’t need a magazine format or lots of pictures. Yes, I love blogs for pictures, but not when I’m skimming. I like being able to choose when to go to the site to see them.

I’ve also heard good things about The Old Reader, and Bloglovin. I’ll probably end up with Feedly, but I’m holding out for that titles view on my iPad and iPhone. For now, I’ll wait and see how things shake out by mid-June.

Do you use a blog reader? If it’s Google Reader, what are you planning to use next?

Also, I keep forgetting to mention: You can follow PDXKnitterati on Facebook and Twitter, if that’s how you keep track of blogs. I usually link to blog posts on both of those, and there’s also light chatter and news going on. Stop by and say howdy.

I’ve updated my blogroll with my current favorites on the sidebar. What are your favorite knitting blogs? I’m always looking for more, more, more!

And! Every post needs a picture, so here’s what’s almost blooming here. It’s a magnolia. The cherry trees are all out in full force, too. And it’s sunny/windy/rainy/cloudy/raining/hailing/sunny. Happy spring!

16 Comments

Posted in Blogging

Tagged facebook, feedly, google reader, twitter

Have some class(es)!

Posted on March 19, 2013 | 3 comments

I spent all day Sunday learning about Sideways Lace Shawl Design in an inspiring workshop with designer Sivia Harding. She’s a perfect teacher, patient and full of great tips. This particular crescent shawl construction is new to me. It’s nice to have more options. I loved the class, and have fallen down the rabbit hole with many, many ideas. How to choose just one?

(Some of my stitch dictionaries. Sivia has more than I do…)

Swatch! I know, the S word. But after frogging the same bit of yarn 3 times, I realized that I should really swatch on something other than the good stuff. Now I’m playing with swatch #5, in a dk weight yarn and size 7 needles. I’m saving my lovely Knitted Wit Cashy Lite for the real thing.

I love taking classes. It’s so much fun to learn something new with a group of people who love the same thing you do. I’ve done this with piano (camp), and do this with knitting. Books and videos are great, but they will only take you so far. Sometimes you just need to see it live in front of you, and discuss it with your friends! Have you taken knitting workshops? What do you think?

I’d like to take this opportunity to put in another plug for the Columbia Gorge Fiber Festival, April 19-21. There are some great classes available, but they can only happen if enough people sign up for them. Yvonne, the organizer, needs to know by April 1 whether there are enough students to make a lot of these classes happen. I’m scheduled to teach two classes, the Thrill of the Thrum (thrummed slippers), and Tink Drop Frog (finding and fixing mistakes), an expanded version of the class I teach at Twisted, with more tips and tricks. I’ve taken classes from instructors Mary Scott Huff (steeking) and Deb Accuardi (drop spindling) before, and enjoyed them both. You can see a full list of classes and instructors here.

Besides the classes, there is a wonderful marketplace loaded with fiber goodies, and a treasure hunt based on Chrissy Gardiner’s fabulous book, Indie Socks. Entry to the marketplace is free.

Now if you’ll excuse me, my stitch dictionaries are calling! As is the S word. And really, swatching is pretty fun when you’re playing with design ideas. It’s not like knitting a gauge swatch at all…

3 Comments

Posted in Knit

Tagged classes, columbia gorge fiber festival, Knit, swatching

Spring has sprung/Columbia Gorge Fiber Festival is coming!

Posted on March 13, 2013 | 9 comments

Ah, the first blush of spring. It made me think of this yarn, which has been waiting ever so patiently for inspiration. I’ve known forever that I want this to be long armwarmers, with a ruffled cuff, but just couldn’t see it yet.

I don’t remember when it came to me. It’s from the now defunct Pico Accuardi Dyeworks, Francino, which is a lusciously soft 50% merino/25% bamboo/25% nylon blend. 100 grams/459 yards. The color is nude, and it reminds me of a maiden’s blush. I think Stevanie Pico hand painted this one. I’ve started playing with ideas for it. Wish me luck! Especially knitting the second one…

This makes me think of spring, too.

It’s my March CSY yarn from Knitted Wit. It’s Bling, in Fuchsia Basket. I was at her house the other day to help her label yarn, and I named this one. There are four shades in this month’s CSY, all different percentages of the same dye, so they’re gradations of the same color. Sakura, Plum Blossom, Carnation Nation, and Fuchsia Basket, in order of intensity. Is one coming to you? I love the bling in Bling; it’s hard to see it in this size picture, but it sparkles in the full size pic on my iPad. You need to get some and see for yourself!

These colors also remind me that cherry blossom time is coming, along with the Columbia Gorge Fiber Festival in Hood River, April 19-21. It’s the third year for this festival, organized by Yvonne Ellsworth of Lavender Sheep. There is an enticing market which is open to the public, and admission is free. There are also great classes. I learned to steek last year in Mary Scott Huff’s class. Now I’m scheduled to teach two classes there, an expanded version of Tink Drop Frog (fixing mistakes, and more tips and tricks), and the Thrill of the Thrum, which will be a guided tour through my Thrumbelina slipper pattern, as well as a history of thrumming, practice thrumming, and lots of ideas on how else to use it.

I hope you can come to the festival! Please sign up for workshops; they can’t happen unless we have a minimum number of students for each one.

But now, just a little more winter before we get into full on spring. I went cross country skiing with friends on Sunday at Teacup Lake on Mt. Hood. It rained at the end, but it was a fun outing.