Yarn Is My Métier » knitters

Change can be good. No, really.

Karen B. — Sat, 13 Feb 2010 16:09:10 +0000

Knitters as the superior species

Glad to see you found your way here!

I’ve been meaning to do this for quite some time and now, circumstances have conspired to push me out of the increasingly uncomfortable Blogger nest. No more publishing via FTP unless I host with you? No easy template control unless I change my blog to your approved format? Since I’ve become too expensive for Blogger, I’m building a new spot on WordPress.

Before any misunderstanding lands me in hot water, let me explain “too expensive.” In the email sent out to those of us publishing via FTP, Blogger said the cost of supporting what they say is a tiny minority of users is a drain on their resources. Or something like that:

“FTP remains a significant drain on our ability to improve Blogger: only .5% of active blogs are published via FTP — yet the percentage of our engineering resources devoted to supporting FTP vastly exceeds that.”

I’ve been working out the kinks for the past few days, spending way too much time on the how-to bits and bobs. I think I’ve finally fine-tuned my layout (but not the comment functionality), which is why I figure it’s almost time for the big reveal. You’ll find a similar layout to the old site, with Search, Archives and Patterns on the right sidebar. I’m pretty sure all previous posts and comments made it over the wall too.

Although I’ve spent a lot of time on this revamp, I haven’t stopped with knitterly activities. I spent last Friday night knitting with my friend Lisa at her studio. This was after I walked around documenting the “Now You See It, Now You Don’t” exhibit at the Flatiron building in Chicago’s Wicker Park. Each artist did a temporary piece that reflected his or her permanent work. Lisa’s a textile and fiber artist (and knitter), hence her painting of “Knitters as the superior species.”

Enough said.

Come Hither, My Lovelies

Karen B. — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 13:36:00 +0000

Have I been trapped in a black hole? A time warp? A malfunctioning TARDIS? Who knows. What I can say is that I was absolutely astounded to see that I had not posted for over 2 months. In that time, The Poetry Society’s Knit a Poem project was completed, my home got a new look and I stopped in to see some crafty friends at Chicago’s annual YarnCon.

First up is the Knit a Poem project. It took over 1200 knitted and crocheted letters to spell out the then-secret work of Dylan Thomas’s ‘In my Craft or Sullen Art.’ How appropriate that the medium was the message in a way, as these letters and words connected in a 43 x 28 foot display at London’s British Library, highlighting the Society’s centennial year.

A coat or two of paint, a bit of caulk and new frames, fixtures and faucets equal a fresh perspective in five rooms of my humble hereabouts. I admit to unfettered, aww-gosh admiration for the results. Even while performing the most mundane of tasks (like brushing my teeth) I look up at the espresso-colored frame of the mirror and think, “That’s so cool!”

Dark wood frame and oil rubbed bronze fixtures

Even a humble office deserves a facelift

Crisp white towels and new pewter towel bars

YarnCon began in 2007 ago as a way to, “promote, sell, and celebrate the yarny arts.” I made it to historic Pulaski Park Fieldhouse that first year but in the two years hence had fallen off the Chicago creative grid. Turns out I missed my peeps, so I got myself together and headed over to the event.

Top: Natalia, co-founder of YarnCon; Lisa, the space and fade dye queen;
Bottom: Jen and Nate of Piddleloop; Lucky Penny Handmades.

After dropping some coin on home front upgrades, I had no intention of buying one darn thing. It had, after all, been months since neither yarn nor patterns nor hooks, books or needles had been purchased. I puffed out my chest, finally immune from the lure. Or so I thought.

Let’s start on the left with Lisa M’s purple to berry goodness, yards of her special fade-dye (or is it space-dye?) blend of merino and tussah silk. Most cuddle-worthy and color intense. Moving to the bottom of the tableau you’ll find Vera’s handspun and marigold-dyed alpaca. Petting this pale yellow fiber and planting your nose in its midst tells the tale of the close-to-nature, low process yarn from a neighboring farm. Purely delicious.

I picked up Samantha Lyon’s feather and fan scarf pattern, Blink (Ravelry link) which would do justice to one of the many sock yarn skeins I already own. It has a flavor of LMKG Chevron but knits up pleasingly on the diagonal.

Could it be that big things do come in small packages? Witness the latest edition of Knitcircus magazine. I’d heard of, but never seen, Knitcircus in person. What drew me to it? Simple. I like the jacket on the cover. The Pinot Noir Bolero by Jaala Spiro looks like something that could be worn quite comfortably. The Ysolda Teague interview is another plus. The editor sat down with Ms. Teague during her recent swing through the Midwest. I’ll try to do an expanded review of the 11 patterns in the fall edition a bit later.

So does this mean I’m back? Dunno. Still one day at a time, friends. I admit to missing the vibe, the fiber and thou. This could be a good sign.

Running with Knitters!

Karen B. — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 06:46:00 +0000

I’ve been a busy woman lately! Between starting occupational therapy and hobnobbing with the knitterati, I haven’t had a moment to myself.

Ha. Who am I kidding? The truth is that I’m slowly trying to get back in the game, reconnecting with friends of the yarnish persuasion and making a few small things, like a baby hat and one (yes, one) toddler-sized fingerless mitt from some yummy fingering weight leftovers. No pattern, just rib, gusset and go.

I did finally meet Colleen, aka Subway Knitter, in recent weeks. We gabbed like fiends over the Sunday buffet at India House. Smart lady with a beautiful smile. I wish that we’d had more time but planes to catch, etc.

The Book Report
Hot off the presses, we have Kay Gardiner and Ann Shayne of Mason-Dixon fame “Knitting Outside the Lines“. The cross-country book tour hit Chicago this weekend, and I caught up with the FO show and tell at Loopy Yarns. Just one pass through the latest hardcover tome and I’ve got at least 5 patterns marked. Big plus? They signed one just for me. And the other people standing in line. OK, I may not be special but I do declare (in my best Southern belle imitation), this sophomore effort is worth your time.

Patterns in the book shown here include the Stephen Colbert socks, Dotty, Kiki Mariko.

Also spotted in the crowded two-story store were Mary Neal Meador, Bonne Marie Burns (ChicKnits) and Franklin Habit (The Panopticon) with the first copy of his new baby, “It Itches“.

Franklin, beaming like a proud papa, lovingly passed around the new book, delivered late last week after months of intense labor. “It Itches” will be officially launched later this month in upstate New York at Rhinebeck. More tour dates are available here.

This last bit is kinda cool and I rate it as my favorite scene of the night. Here we have Ann Shayne, on her break from the book signing upstairs, shyly asking Franklin for his autograph on the special Loopy Yarn bags he designed.

I do love my knitters! They welcomed me despite my long absences from their midst. I’m just bummed I couldn’t make it to YarnCon this year though, on second thought, my wallet is probably grateful.