‘Twas the Night Before Knitmas…

 Posted by on December 24, 2012 at 10:53 am
Dec 242012
 

And all through the house, Vanessa’s sniffles could be heard disturbing the peace. Yes, once again, I’ve been gifted with my annual Christmas cold. Huzzah! Right now, I probably look just like Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer.

Amigurumi Rudolph Made By Magnetic Mary

If, like me, you are planning on spending the next few days taking it easy, or if you’re working madly away at last minute preparations you’ll need some company. And what better way than to listen to some good (and free!) podcasts?

First, Heather Ordover over at CraftLit has lovingly provided three episodes of Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol. The reader she chose is wonderful and her explanations of the time and place in Dickens’ life makes the story stand out more as an important work rather than just a traditional if meaningless piece.

Secondly, the Electric Sheep podcast has up another funny Christmas pantomime. It’s a delightful and cheeky send up of the Cinderella story complete with a fairy god-sheep. The SGT and I had a good time listening to this and giggling.

Thirdly, Julie over at Forgotten Classics, offers up her reading O. Henry’s The Gift of the Magi. We all know the story (husband and wife give up their prized possessions to gift the other a present, realize what happened and learn the true meaning of Christmas) but really listening to O. Henry’s words make it less saccharine and more touching than what we can recall.

If your hands are busy cooking, cleaning or wrapping presents, put on a book to listen. It sure beats hearing the same commercials on the TV over and over again. So Merry Christmas, one and all!

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Miss Marple Knits

 Posted by on December 3, 2012 at 3:37 pm
Dec 032012
 

December 3, 1926 mystery writer (and one of my favorite authors) Agatha Christie disappeared. Both Stuff You Missed in History Class and Doctor Who have done episodes on this interesting period in the author’s life, though Doctor Who got the timing all wrong.

As you may know, one of Ms Christie’s popular characters is Miss Marple, the little old lady who can turn the heel of a sock and solve a mystery at the same time without having to frog said heel. I know she’s fiction, but I’m always impressed.

Joan Hickson as Miss Marple (c) AgathaChristie.com

Miss Marple’s knitting has inspired a few patterns. There are the cool looking Agatha C. socks by Emma Grundy Haigh. She even based it off of Miss Marple’s gauge, 26 stitches and 21 rows.

If color knitting is more of your thing, there’s Star Athena’s Miss Marple socks. These aren’t stranded socks, they’re mosaic meaning you don’t carry the second color. It’s a good introduction to two color knitting.

Finally, if you’re not a sock knitter but love shawls, in 1930 Weldon’s Practical Needlework published a What Would Miss Marple Knit? shawl. It was republished in the September/October 2010 issue of my favorite historical knitting magazine, Piecework.

(c) A2Seamster

It’s practical, simple but not boring. Much like Miss Marple herself! There are a bunch of literary knit anniversaries coming up so stay tuned!

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Knitter’s Review: Veronik Avery’s “Knitting 24/7″

 Posted by on October 8, 2012 at 4:35 pm
Oct 082012
 

I received a review copy of several knitting ebooks. This is part of that series of reviews. The opinions expressed in this post are my own and are 100% honest. Other than a copy to keep, I get no other compensation for doing this review.

Unlike Knit 2 Together, I am absolutely in love with Veronik Avery’s Knitting 24/7. (N.B.: These links go to my Amazon affiliate account.) I’ve seen some of Ms. Avery’s patterns but I have yet to cast on. I’m so glad I have this book because I know I will. Her lines are simple and clean, which I adore.

I also adore the way the book is broken up. There are three sections: AM, PM, and Weekend. Each section has a different level of how complex (or mindless!) the patterns are. Some are beginner friendly but this is not one geared towards first timers. Ms Avery’s goal for the book was to, “be portable and to make use of our “extra” time — those nooks and crannies in our lives when we are busy, yet our hands are free to practice our craft.” As such, the stitch patterns are easily memorized or easily put down with out puzzling over where we left off. And these are small knits which make them a little faster to do. Personally, I don’t consider knee highs to be a quick knit, but that’s because a pair of socks takes me six months or more to make! ;)

Now, there are a few patterns that I just don’t like. The Fir Cone Shrug is not my thing and I also don’t “get” knitted skirts. I do really like the way her Olive Heather skirt looks; it’s very classy and I can see it easily fitting into my wardrobe. I’m not quite sure that I would want something that will pill and felt around my butt. I question the choice of using Cascade 220 Heathers. I love Cascade yarns– especially their 220 line but it felts so easily and thickly. Which is nice if you want that, but around high friction areas like your butt and thighs? Not a flattering look. If a friend asked what sort of yarn she should use to make this, I would advise using a yarn that has either a bit of acrylic or nylon. Nothing slubby and certainly not a single ply.

As an ebook, I have some words of warning and a suggestion to publishers out there. First, the warning. I read this first (and Knit 2 Together) on my Kindle Touch and it was awful. The Touch display, unlike the Kindle Fire or the iPad, is in black and white using their e-ink technology. I love it when I’m reading novels but not so much in a picture heavy book like this. Here’s an example:

See the difference? The iPad display on the left is much easier to read and get a feel for the patterns than the Kindle Touch display on the right.
The lace charts come out squashed and hard to read and the color work charts? Impossible to distinguish between the two different shades of grey. Luckily, I have a first gen iPad (as an aside, it was great to have while in hospital) and it was so much easier and better to read the charts and directions in. Since the iPad display is in color, I was able to really appreciate the crisp photography of each project. I love how the photos are clear shots of the designs but also gives me a better sense of how to work them into my clothing. So if you don’t have a tablet of some sort, I would avoid buying pattern ebooks. I do love reading The Principles of Knitting on my Touch, however.

What I would have liked to see is a hyperlinked table of contents and one that has links to each pattern. It was annoying having to “flip” between pages to find the pattern I wanted to see. Unlike a paper copy where it’s easier to go between pages, I had to wait for the pages to load before seeing if it was the page I was looking for. If publishers want to make either knitting or crochet ebooks a big hit, they need to include more hyperlinked texts. In the back there’s the usual section that explains the techniques and terms used. That also should be linked! If I want to remember how to do a M1R, I should be able to just touch that word and then be taken to the corresponding “how to” part. The book mark ability can do that, but it can be fussy and it’s not as intuitive. If I’m using my tablet, I really don’t want to have to work or think to hard about where I left off. In the hard copy version, I can easily slip a book mark (like the one that Ms Avery shows you how to make!) and go back and forth.

On the whole, if you’re looking for some simple, clean, and feminine knits this is a great book. I can’t wait to cast on for one of these.

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Knitter’s Review: Knit 2 Together by Tracey Ullman and Mel Clark

 Posted by on October 1, 2012 at 2:11 pm
Oct 012012
 

Happy October everyone! For me, today kicks off the holiday season with Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas (and Hanukkah) and then New Year’s all right around the corner. In preparation for that, I’ve been kindly asked to review some knitting ebooks. I’m going to spread out these reviews since the individual books are geared towards different types of knitters.

Knit 2 Together by Tracey Ullman and Mel Clark is aimed towards new knitters. Tracey Ullman starts off the book with how she learned to knit garter stitch scarves and nothing else. Fear kept her from asking for more help and eventually she stopped knitting. Cue the knitting revolution of the 2000s and she plucks up the courage to learn how to purl and go beyond the garter square.

Mel Clark was a knitting designer and eventually opened up her own shop in Los Angeles. Tracey comes in to her shop, they hit it off and after some time decided to write a book featuring Tracey’s unique take on life and Mel’s beginner friendly designs.

The designs are okay. Honestly, I didn’t quite find them to be my cup of tea in general but perhaps it’s because I’ve gone beyond the basics? I also don’t understand the appeal of knitted skirts. And really? Knitted sweat pants? That being said, some of my favorites come into the later half of the book. Like the mouse family (too cute!), the house slippers and the lace hug me tight. I’m most likely to make the felted house slippers. They look so cozy! The instructions are clear and there are useful “purls of wisdom” peppered through out. For example, one bit of advice is to put live stitches on waste yarn so you can try things on.

I was really looking forward to reading more from Tracey Ullman. I enjoyed “Tracey Takes On” as a kid even though most of the jokes went over my 10-year-old head. Her humor is just my style even if she can be a bit obnoxious at times. At the end of her essays, I was left wanting more and feeling rather disappointed. I think I would have preferred a book from Tracey’s perspective about life and knitting rather than a “how to” book with some funny bits thrown in there.

Perhaps I’m no longer the “Right Person” for this type of book? I know how to ssk, yo, k2tog. The terminology has been demystified so I don’t need someone to hold my hand any more. And I don’t think I would recommend this book to a new knitter. It’s more of a pattern book than a reference book and quite frankly, it isn’t full of patterns that excite me. Bottom line: if you’re thinking of picking this up for a friend that wants to learn how to knit, skip it.

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Book Review: Running For Mortals

 Posted by on July 30, 2012 at 3:26 pm
Jul 302012
 

Yes, I’m still in the boot and unable to run. So to make myself feel better, I’ve been rereading John Bingham and Jenny Hatfield’s Running for Mortals.

This book should be subtitled, “Running for the un-athletic.” I was the slowest kid in school and in high school I would get Cs in gym class for not changing. Senior year, I wised up and got an A in gym all because I just changed into the stupid uniform. I liked some of my gym teachers, I just didn’t like how slow I was and how obnoxious my classmates were about the in class volleyball games. Here I am now at a young 27, a cancer survivor to boot, and I’m trying to relearn how to run.

John Bingham would laugh at me.

He decided pick up running at the age of 43. And 75lbs overweight. And a smoker. And a bit of a drinker and lover of junk food. It was awful and he failed. But he kept at it and used a walk-run program (it’s outlined in the book). He’s now preaches about what he calls the “slow running” movement. He regularly runs marathons using his run-walk program.

These are the books core strengths. The authors weren’t Olympians nor were they gym rats since childhood. They’re normal people who had to work hard to get (and STAY!) in shape and wrote a book about it. If they can do it, so can you is their mantra.

The other strength is their learn how to run/eat/train program in the middle of the book. The running program is similar to Couch to 5k in that it recommends you walk for a bit, run for a bit, walk some more. Lather, rinse and repeat. Next week you walk a bit less and run a bit longer. Unlike C25k, they have three different programs. Level 1 is for someone who does not work out ever. Level 2 is recommended for the person who does some form of exercise once or twice a week. And Level 3 is for gym rats who hate to do cardio. Pick your level and away you go!

There’s also a sensible guide to learning how to eat well. What I like is that it isn’t confusing to me, there aren’t a whole lot of calculations one has to do (I really don’t want to spend most of my mealtime doing arithmetic to find out of I can even eat!) and it’s not a rigid plan. This is a lifestyle you’re adopting and your eating needs to change for the long term. Think diet as a noun, not a verb!

Lastly, there are very clear pictures of what to do the days you don’t run. They cover both weight lifting (it’s good for your bones!), other cardio (helpful when injured) and how to stretch (good for your tendons). And all of their info is distilled into bullet points at the end of each chapter.

I miss running (shocking!) and I can’t wait to get back to it. This book has been the gentle reminder that it’s okay to go slow. It’s okay to not love it at first. “The miracle isn’t that I finished, the miracle is that I had the courage to start at all.”

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New Year’s Book Resolution Finished!

 Posted by on July 6, 2012 at 2:09 pm
Jul 062012
 

I usually make a few goals for the new year and I am very happy to announce that I can check off the (second) most important goal. I have read 30 books this year! Wahoo! My list is below with links to Amazon. I’ve marked the ones I particularly enjoyed with an asterisk. Last year’s book list can be read here.

As you can see, I tend to read a lot of “classic” books and non fiction. While I can’t say I dislike modern novels, I just find that most of the adult fiction published recently (as in the last ten years) is repetitive and dull. Ditto with fantasy, it seems like the Harry Potter rip offs have died down but now the Twilight rip offs are popular. I don’t mind werewolves and vampires (the evil kind) but I don’t want to read about how they’re so tortured and only the love of a human woman can save them blah blah blah. And most “beach reads” that are aimed at women my age, I find rather insulting. I really don’t want to read about a woman who has a spending problem, wants OMG! SO BAD! Like to lose 5 lbs and then she’ll be PERFECT and keeps falling for Mr Wrong until Mr Right finally puts up with her mind games.

I realize that I am harshly critical about what I read but I feel like my English degree has granted me that right. However, I understand that other people like the types of books that I can’t get into and that’s fine. Just leave me with my molding classics and I’ll be happy.

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WIP Wednesday: Seagrass Socks

 Posted by on March 21, 2012 at 1:15 pm
Mar 212012
 

A while back I frogged my Frivolous socks. It was with a very heavy heart since I had so much done in the pattern, but alas! They would be far too big for my feet. I love the Koigu yarn too much so I’ve recast on a different pair.

Orange Grass Socks

Orange Grass Socks

The pattern is called Seagrass socks and it’s from the book Toe-Up 2-at-a-Time Socks by Melissa Morgan-Oakes . The book is nicely made since it’s spiral bound so it lays flat. Plus her instructions and photos are super clear. I’m hoping to churn out a few pairs of socks this summer in time for the winter. We’ll see how far along I get, though! Work has stalled on these in favor for my Featherweight cardigan. More on that next week!

For more WIPs, join the party at Tami’s blog.

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GIVEAWAY!

 Posted by on January 23, 2012 at 3:51 pm
Jan 232012
 

EDIT: Winner has been announced! Keep reading for future giveaways.

That’s right, folks. I’m giving away some pretty cool stuff! Before I show you the goods, I’d like to bore you with why I’m doing this. You see, Friday January 27 marks one year that I left the hospital and all treatments behind. Chemo was done and I weathered the worst nutropenic fever. I was home free and didn’t need to see my oncologist for another two months.

So to celebrate the end of all cancer related treatments, I’m having a giveaway! Here are the goods that could be going home to you:

Candy Skein Yarn

Candy Skein Yarn!

A skein of Tempting Sock from the wonderful Candy Skein yarns. The colorway is lemon-lime since lime green is the awareness color for Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. (Note: Hodgkin’s Lymphoma is violet. They are two different cancers.) It’s a fingering weight yarn and it’s made of 80% wool, 10% cashmere and 10% nylon.

Also! You’ll receive a set of cute candy beads also from Tami:

Beads

Candy beads

There are 7 beads in all, not just the four pictured above. I think they’re super cute. But wait, there’s more. You’ll also win a copy of Lion Brand Yarn: Just Hats: Favorite Patterns to Knit and Crochet.

EDIT: Here’s a photo of the book. Photo courtesy of Amazon
Just Hats

To enter, you simply just have to leave a comment to this post. If you want to follow me on Twitter, or subscribe via RSS or become a fan on Facebook, that’s great but no need. This giveaway is open to everyone around the world as well. So please, help spread the word. EDIT: Limit one comment per person. Oh the details, they escape me sometimes.

The winner will be chosen via random number generator on Friday January 27th in celebration at 10am Central time. Good luck to everyone and thanks for being a reader.

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WIP Wednesday: Adventure Time Hat (again!)

 Posted by on January 11, 2012 at 3:57 pm
Jan 112012
 

I finally finished sample knit of doom (okay, it wasn’t that bad. Just long!) and I’m now focusing my attention on the Adventure Time hat I blogged about before.

Adventure Time

My...hat....is...AWESOME!

Okay, so it doesn’t look like much but I’m working on the body of the hat so it keeps rolling. I’ve got two more inches and then I start the crown shaping. Once that’s done it’s onto the ears and the flaps. I’m hoping to have this done by Friday and I think it’s within my ability.

I’m also currently reading two different books. One is The Professor by Charlotte Bronte. It’s good but not quite as engaging as Villette  or as Agnes Grey by little sister Anne Bronte. And the other is The Murder of the Century: The Gilded Age Crime That Scandalized A City & Sparked the Tabloid Wars. That one is less about the gruesome crime and more about the ensuing headline race between William Randolph Hearst and Joseph Pulitzer. What’s been most fun is to read about locations in New York City that I know fairly well. Though admittedly, in my time Little Italy is a very small area compared to Chinatown and the whole Lower East Side is a very posh neighborhood. But a hundred years ago, that wasn’t the case. I’m enjoying both so far but I should probably stick to one instead of switching back and forth.

For more works in progress, check out Tami’s blog and Yarn Along.

PS! Thanks for the kind words about looking bald. I actually quite enjoyed having no hair once my eyebrows and eyelashes came in. I would get many compliments from strangers about it.

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Christmas Wrap Up

 Posted by on December 26, 2011 at 5:26 pm
Dec 262011
 

Christmas this year was great, especially compared to last year when I was on chemo. The bar for making this a great Christmas wasn’t too  since all I wanted was to not be sick. And I wasn’t!

Husband outdid himself with the gifts, again. I got many pairs of pyjamas and socks. Getting excited over clothing is a sign that I’m officially an old person and no longer a child. But the best two gifts were on opposite ends of the cost spectrum: a tea strainer and a Kindle Touch.

How cute is this tea strainer?

It floats! Quack!

He knew that out of all the things he got me, this was going to make me the happiest. And he’s right! I love the little stand he comes in and that he floats around in my tea! I’ve named him George.

The other super cool thing is the Kindle Touch. I love my Kindle 2nd generation and it was a real life saver in the hospital. But I was ready for an upgrade to one that’s a wee bit faster.

The best part was that Husband did not gift me any yarn so I’m going to be able to stick to my yarn diet. I hope everyone had a wonderful holiday season and will have a great new year.

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