Now Isn't That Just Ducky

Raining outside today and kind of raw weather wise...I miss the sun.
But at least it's not snowing instead as we would have had some
accumulation. I know I should love the snow, but last winter here in
Massachusetts was a particularly long and rough one...so once it starts
to snow it just keeps up for many months.
All this rain reminds me of ducks, as they actually like it.
One of my early futile attempts at intarsia was the little ducky hat.





I actually did this in a stranding style aka fair isle when I didn't have
a clue how to do it right. Thank goodness the little ducky is such a
tiny motif or I would have majorly screwed up on my floats (a knitting term
for non knitters [as have a few that read my blog], floats are carrying yarn
across the back of work...floats or yarn trails should lay smoothly,
but the tendency is too pull work tight
as you knit so it looks good on front part).
~Long story short...Duckie sits pretty good on hat as he is a lone ducky...had
he had buddies going around sides of hat...they would have looked all squished
up, and squished up ducks is just not a good look to go for.
The pattern for the ducky hat can be found in Creature Comforts by Amy Bahrt
This hat did go to charity.

Addendum: I have since learned to do proper fair isle and intarsia. It is rather
amazing when done right. I liked how they wrote the pattern on this one
to have ducky's little wing be 3-D, and if ducky were smart he would have flown
right off this first intarsia attempt hat, but a good learning experience.

I love to look at blogs. One of my all time favorite designers is Kristin Nicholas.
I have been lucky enough to take classes with her and have all her books. Her blog
is such an inspiration and there are always new things going on there.
It's called: Getting Stitched on the Farm and can be found at:
http://www.kristinnicholas.com/

Moi Pooch Wears A Beret

Hello, it's 10:45pm and I am finally home from my day...so if you thought
yesterday was a short post, this will have to be shorter...
I plan to stay home one of these days and post properly.

Today's hat was tonight's hat...I had just made a hat for a special
friend. I saw her in my cooking group I attended tonight and was able
to present it to her. I think this is my favorite type of knitting of all now,
where I make a gift for a special specific person and try to create something
unique for them.
This is again another one of my wishes hats where I wish into my knitting for all things healthy and happy and things to go well for the person that the
hat is intended for.







This jaunty little number is called the

Super-simple fast
and easy chunky hand-knit beret!

by none other than
Crazy Aunt Purl (Laurie Perry) and the free pattern
can be found here:
http://www.crazyauntpurl.com/archives/2008/01/supersimple_fas_1.php

I included three photos, top view, person wearing hat but showing back of head,
as said person did not want to be photographed, but agreed to back of head shot,
and my favorite shot, moi pooch, my ShiPoo dog modeling hat....he is a cross
between shitzu and peek-a-poo, only a medium sized doggie. Oh and his name
is Wags...it's a tail thing again...most of my pets over the years have been named
because of their tail action. yup strange...but then the man that I married
had a beagle as a child named Tippy, which also was a tail thing...go figure.
Just means we are well suited for one another.
I used exactly one skein of fall shades colored yarn Patons Shetland Chunky
for this hat, which is a bulky yarn.

The blog of the day, one which I peek in on from time to time is:
http://blog.craftzine.com/
There are some strange things going on over at that blog, pretty much all of
the time...but loads of interesting ideas...had never heard of a bacon shawl
perhaps it's to wear to brunches...but there is always something fun going on.
As I have 3 cookie swaps this year, I particularly like their posting on how
to create your very own cookie cutters...take a peek, some interesting things,
more crafty, not just knitting things.

Short But Sweet

Today's hat is the Lydia Hat from Hip Knit Hats by Cathy Carron.
This is a felted brim hat. I used two skeins of yarn held together thruout...
Baby Alpaca Grande and Reynold's Lopi wool, two different shades of teal green. They felt so nicely...I then added a flower
that I made from scraps of wool with a beaded center on flower.
I placed flower on top of a lace doily.





My blogging will seem a bit skimpy this week, but as many of my friends follow
my blogs, they undoubtedly will know I am on a full plate schedule this week. I am back blogging finally after 10pm after a late night at my second
guild meeting of the week...I actually have 3 guild meetings this week, 2 knitting
group meetings and one recipe club meeting...most of these meet only once a month
and this is the week they all meet...so blitzed...plus I work days.

I hope to talk more in depth about guilds hopefully by Monday, as I have a lot
of interesting things to share.

Have several interesting blogs to share...but as I just came from one of my
knitting guilds, I think I will share a blog I like to follow of a fellow
guildmate...who knits really cool stuff....and in particular funky kid's hats.
Her name is Kate and she is minisoup on Ravelry.
You can find her blog at http://minisoup.blogspot.com/

Feeling guilty blog is so short tonight and very very hungry...so sharing cookie
pics...such a sweet ending!

By the Sea, By the Beautiful Sea

Blog peek of the day is Knitting by the Sea
This looked so interesting to me. She has many ideas for knitting that she
has seen on other sites...particularly cute are the little christmas stockings
she plans to knit...great to put on little packages...so take a peek.
I too posted the u-tube video of the Last Knit...if you haven't seen it, check
her blog as she has it up and ready to view...It's a hoot!

It can be found at:
http://www.morecambesands.com/knitting_by_the_sea/

My hat of the day is another guild request for a men's hat...actually
went to a lovely knitting friend of mine for one of her family members. I was
listening to one of Yarn Harlot's books recorded onto cd by Stephanie herself,
a great way to knit and read at the same time.
On this tape she discussed about special knits for people that are sick or
ill in anyway and how as we knit the item for a specific person, our thoughts
and wishes for them to have a healthy recovery or less pain and suffering go
into our knitting. So I send this hat with all of my best wishes and
prayers that they may recover from their illness and be pain free.





I believe this is the Classic Ribbed Hat by Frugal Knitting Haus
and is a free pattern. It's being modeled by a knitting group friend.
I am unsure of yarn I believe it may have been Encore, definitely a worsted
weight.

Actual Pattern can be found here:
http://web.archive.org/web/20060127052904/www.frugalhaus.com/scripts/ribbed.asp

What Kind of Yarn Are You?

In all the excitement of my weekend classes, I believe I forgot blog of the day yesterday and there are so many, many inspiring blogs out there....this is one
I've personally been haunting recently as I am now completely obsessed with fair isle. Kathleen Taylor's Dakota Dreams blog...I first ran into Kathleen's
knitting on Ravelry and am blown away with her designs. She also is blogging daily, so perhaps is participating in NaBloPoMo also. Her blog can be found at:
http://kathleen-dakotadreams.blogspot.com

Hat of the day (before this gets too past Halloween) is the following hat I knit
for another one of my special little children I take care of...the whole child
wearing the hat is really, really sweet and he is all dressed up in matching
outfit, but as this is my only photo, and need to protect identity, will sadly
have to show mostly just the hat.



This is my go to baby hat pattern for all of my preemie hats and will show up
from time to time in my many hats, with a revised version by me of same
original hat...
They fit all my babies beautifully and it's a well-written, simple to knit
pattern.
This pattern is called the Sweet and Simple Baby Hat by Debbie Bodmer.
http://www.knitfoundry.com/patterns/SweetSimpleBabyHats.pdf

Take the What kind of yarn are you? quiz. Created by bisybackson on 05/07/2008

1. What is your favorite season?

Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter
Who cares what season it is?
My world is climate controlled.

2. If you could only choose one, which type of pet would you own?

Cat
Dog
Rabbit
Sheep
Fish
I have terrible allergies that prevent me from having pets.
I abhor pets, too dirty!

3. Your perfect day would feature:

A roaring fire, hot tea, and a cozy blanket.
A raging party, a hot hook-up, and a cozy cocktail.
A long walk by the shore.
A hard day's work in the kitchen.
A shopping spree on 5th Avenue.
A brisk walk through the countryside.
A long snuggle with my honey.
Whatever you want to do!

4. How would you cheer up a friend in her time of need?

Buy her a fabulous gift, diamonds are a girl's best friend you know!
Take her out on the town, I can get in anywhere!
Cook her a delicious meal, chicken soup soothes the soul.
Ask her what she wants me to do for her, I aim to please!
Listen to her problems, maybe just talking will help.
Do I look like a shrink? I can't stand needy people.
Take her to the beach, that always cheers me up!
Take her to a movie, that'll get her mind off things.

5. What is your favorite Christian Slater movie?

Heathers
Gleaming the Cube
Pump Up the Volume
Untamed Heart
Bed of Roses
Christian Slater is a no-talent hack.
I love all Christian Slater movies so much, I can't pick just one.
Who is Christian Slater?

6. Pick a motto:

All's well that ends well.
Anything worth doing is worth doing well.
What up, Yo?!
Can't you see I'm busy?
Just do it.
I didn't do it!
Money solves all ills.
Can't we all just get along?

7. Which apple dessert would you choose?

Apple pie
Apple crumb cheesecake
Caramel apple
Apple flambe
Apple-flavored sour candy.
Depends, how many carbs are there in an apple?
I'll just have whatever you're having.
Ick, I hate apples.

8. Which of these topics are you most likely to discuss?

What hot new clubs we are going to hit tonight!
How to roast a chicken.
How the world is going to hell in a handbasket.
The basketball standings.
How I am never wrong. Oh, and world peace.
My super-duper kids/grandkids!
Stories about my volunteer work with stray animals.
My new Jimmy Choos.

9. Ideally, where would you live?

NYC, is there anywhere else that matters?
L.A., I'm going to be the next big thing!
The Hamptons or Martha's Vineyard in the summer, my villa on my own tropical island in the winter.
Montana, where there are still wide open spaces.
I dunno, Omaha maybe?
The Florida Keys, twelve months of summer, baby!
The Carolinas, its so picturesque!
San Francisco, I like that scene.

Okay the questions were kind of bizarre in spots...but oh so lighthearted and
quirky fun...go to site below and plug in answers and have fun!

http://www.quizilla.com/quizzes/281864/what-kind-of-yarn-are-you

~Type in above address or copy and paste and put in your browser to see
what kind of yarn you are and be sure and share if you want when done...I think
I turned out being a cotton yarn...Yikes...was at least going for angora!

Are Your Stitches Happy?

It's Sunday and I spent day no. 2 at the restored Slater Mill and brought
my camera and got a few mill photos....

Today's class with Annie was all about how to knit lace....so today's
hat must therefore be a lace hat...naturally

I made this hat for one of my very special pediatric patients...
and of course each of them are all special....and many of them
are getting custom made hats from me.

Let's back up, I am a pediatric nurse...I take care of mostly preemies
in their homes...children that require RN care. Most have more than just
oxygen, and some are even on ventilators...enough said...this hat was made
specially for an adorable little girl patient of mine who needed something
warm but not too heavy (for indoor use) that framed her face in an
exact way....
This pattern is called the:
"Garter Lace Diamond" Baby Bonnet by Knittin Kiti



I used size 6 needles and only a fraction of some oh so very soft pink yarn
which I bought just for this pattern....pattern calls for worsted weight yarn,
but I instead used Softee Baby Solid Yarn Baby Pink Marl. It comes in skeins of
455 yards each and is actually a dk weight acrylic yarn. I only used about
2 oz. for this pattern.





The stitch pattern looks complicated for some but works up very quickly.
The pattern is free and can be located at the following link:
http://people.delphiforums.com/knit_chat/knitchat/patterns/babybonnet.htm

Now back to the Heretic...aka Annie Modesitt



If you are lucky enough to take a class in the future, be prepared to have
your knitting world shook up, actually turned upside down.
After yesterday's class, I was wondering how she could top herself with
today's class...I am not new to lace, but very open to any new ways of
doing things...I could write a five page blog on just these two Annie
classes alone...Let's just leave it with:

1. One of Annie's major mottos. ~Your stitches must always be happy.
2. That Red Carpet emmy gown she knit her friend is incredible. see blog.
3. I am so going to knit one of Annie's patterns right away.
4. There are 16 different ways to make a knit stitch.
5. If your stitch is on the needle backwards (leaning wrong direction),
knit into back of it if neccessary, don't force the stitch...see #1
6. Offering prayers and best wishes for Annie's family as they struggle
through the difficult times of husband's diagnosis of M.M., see blog.
7. Annie especially likes Oreos.
8. Annie is a huge movie buff and does excellent
Katherine Hepburn impressions.
9. When doing a right or left decrease, the direction the knitting needle
points,is the decrease you need to do
10. If you have the opportunity ever to meet her, she is a do not miss.

Of course Annie's Website is at: http://www.anniemodesitt.com/patterns/rcc.html
and her blog can be found here: http://www.modeknit.com/

The Green Shrub or Perhaps It's a Hat

Well now that you've viewed today's hat...you may well ask....is it a
shrub, or simply say to yourself just what is that green bushy thing?
also of note...this is an early photo of a knitting project...back
when I had no imagination whatsoever and actually posed this knitted piece
on top of a lampshade...hmmm now that was interesting!

This is actually my very first chemo hat...so long ago...unsure of pattern
but was a very common one at time...It was a knitting guild request...I belong
to several guilds and there is always a charity request from each guild or
perhaps a few throughout the year. The yarn was of all things fun fur...
I can say now it's interesting...If you knit, you could not tell, if you purled
you could not tell, if you make a mistake you could not tell....you get the
picture...but if you dropped a stitch, yes you were completely doomed...

I do remember this went to one of the hospitals in Boston and was slated for
a child, as they preferred the wild colors and fun fur most mimicked actual
hair. or at least that's the way I remembered it being explained at the time.

While we are on Guild Charity requests....and impossible to knit items...
I will share a non hat item...this item actually got shipped to my Crochet
Guild this week....they provided the yarn....and I knit the Baby Yeti jacket
http://www.berroco.com/exclusives/baby_yeti/baby_yeti.html
with it...it was knit all in separate pieces...and of course needed to be
seamed together...
Using a high definition microscope and a bottle of Advil later....
actually not...but was almost as much a blast to sew up as was the green bush
hat....my next charity piece will most likely be out of Cascade 220 yarn for sure...a harmless little skein and oh so easy to knit with.



I live in New England, the north east most corner of the United States...
the states here are relatively small and tucked close together,
so I can easily get to say Boston, MA or Providence, RI in an hour
or less (traffic depending) from my home....fortunate for me,
many of these bigger cities often host famous knitting personalities...
so there seems to be a steady flow of them to meet (Franklin Habit),
hear speak (Yarn Harlot) and take classes from (Kristen Nicholas).
I am unbelievably fortunate to live in such a part of the country
that enriches our current fiber know how and entertains us in a such a
lovely yarnalicious way!

So today's blog I picked out is... my next teacher of a class that I am signed
up for tomorrow morning. I am taking a combination knitting class with
none other than Annie Modesitt. Her blog is the Knitting Heretic at
http://www.modeknit.com/

I will be sure and bring my camera and share annedotal yarny stories
and if Saturday were not enough...I am also taking a lace class with
her on Sunday.
By the way, these classes are sponsored by Slater Mill, one of my guilds....
Will elaborate more about guilds in next week's blogs as I am attending two
other of my guild meetings next week and plan to elaborate on the goings on
of what happens at a guild.


Okay go ahead and add #11 to list of why I knit and post about hats...
they can be entertaining and are known to crack me or others up...

The Night of the Living Tiny Hats

Today was exhausting...so will be a brief posting...drove from Massachusetts
down to Slater Mill in Pawtucket, Rhode Island this morning (see photo)
for Annie's combination knitting class...thinking it would be a
two-handed two color type of technique....well
it was nothing at all what I expected...
It basically is a whole new way to both knit and purl...and it takes some
getting used to...but I love it...creates a much denser knitting.
she also taught us to long tail cast on, without prefiguring out how long
to make tail and how never to run out of yarn when doing so...
how to increase a stitch without creating a raised bump...as you would
normally do example...
by knitting front and back of same stitch...
and how to do cables without a cable needle....
If you ever see a class with Annie Modesitt as the teacher,
run don't walk and sign right up....she is funny, warm, and you learn far
more than you ever sign up for...
Tomorrow am is lace with Annie and hear we have a full class! cannot wait.
no photos today, as too much on my agenda for today...will hopefully tomorrow....
the antique looms in the mill itself are worth a photo at the very least...

After leaving Rhode Island, I then drove into Boston, MA...another almost
one hour trip with a friend to go to the annual Christmas Craft Festival...
Bought lots of family xmas gifts...love to start early and get them done.
Here are some photos from this year's gingerbread competition from today:







Today's hat is a cute little baby hat, one of my personal favorites...
I know it was made out of sport weight soft white wool/acrylic blend and had
small crocheted flowers added on with white pearl beading on flowers.
It was a basic beanie pattern...most likely the Sweet and Simple
Baby Hat pattern. This hat ended up going to one of the charities.



blog of day: I chose the Mason Dixon Knitting Blog
unusual knitting and switching up the crafts appeals to me...this twosome is
always pushing the boundary and giving me new inspiration....
If you visit their blog and scroll down to the:
"The Night Of the Living Tiny Hats"
I am especially loving the smallness and detail of so many little tiny
hats...inspiring...for a hat lover such as myself!
http://www.masondixonknitting.com/

Does Your Paperboy Look Like This?

Yes the hat of the day...may just possibly be a flashback to an
earlier blog, but as there are a lot
of new blog viewers...thought I'd bring this oh so special
photo back...I have 3 cats.
(The calico...is called Tic Toc her name is to do with a tail kind of thing.

The next cat is Piper an orange cat.



Final cat is Crespo, also orange and brother of Piper...
named after soccer player by my middle son.




I know this pattern is from an Alan Dart doll pattern...
and was supposed to be knit on smaller weight yarn with
tiny needles probably 2's, but instead knit it
in worsted weight with 8's probably...which is a fun option
for hat patterns.
You can go up and down in size by just changing up the gauge...
the yarn for this project amazingly was scrap yarn from JCA from
last year's sale... Is there a pattern going on here....hmmm...JCA again
loved the neutral color and have used it in lots of
small craft items such as these tiny hats.

You may ask am I knitting anything else but hats these days.....
and the answer is yes I sneak in an occasional thing or two
absolutely love fall things (actually all things seasonal)
...so made up a basket of small pumpkins....





of course the idea was from Ravelry first, but oh so cute
and fun to do. They are supposed to all be felted pumpkins...but
one turned out to not be feltable wool, but think it's just as cute
unfelted.

Pattern is the Miniature Felted Pumpkin by Tracy Batchelder
Pattern can be found here:
http://woolwindings.blogspot.com/2006/09/pumpkin-patch.html

In keeping with the tongue in cheek humor today's highly recommended
blog is none other than

CRAZY AUNT PURL


and can be found at:
http://crazyauntpurl.com/
Yes she does knit...but she writes a lot about not knitting...please run
don't walk to her blog if you have never seen it...bring kleenex...as you
will be rolling on the floor laughing and crying your eyes out....
She is absolutely hysterical!

Day 4 in which you find me knitting up some of my stash

It's Day #4 and am still happily blogging away...
Hat #4 is actually my very first ever knitted gift for an extended family
member...(i.e. not one of my sons). I can happily post pics and
write about it and it will still be a surprise...as most of my
family a. does not acknowledge my knitting as anything useful, simply
something to keep me busy. b. do not blog or know what a blog even is
and c. would never even guess there was such a thing as a knitting blog
or just why someone would want to do something like that....

so other than my son, Tim in Ohio (who does read my blog so would not post any projects for him here....and if you are reading there is nothing in the works right now)
send photos or suggestions if you want anything (Tim only...otherwise will
get mile long wish list from Rae and other friends). lol....

Ahem...so anyway... this is my first attempt at giving a knitting gift at Christmas time.
My father in law is an avid snowmobiler...and I saw the perfect hat on
Ravelry.....The Helmet Liner
this pattern is by Bonnie Long and was recently also published in the
September 2008 issue of Family Circle magazine....
This same pattern is an official pattern acceptable for the troops overseas.
If interested, be sure and check the yarn requirements first.

It was an easy knit and should be very warm for under a snowmobile helmet.
He often goes to northern Vermont and NH and I believe Canada too...so this
should be a welcome gift for those cold rides ahead.



I actually used some all wool yarn (washable, as he does his own wash) and we
don't need him felting or shrinking it....the color was navy and I purchased 3 skeins of Reynold's Dover Washable Wool at the JCA annual warehouse sale in Townsend, Massachusetts. Dover is an aran weight yarn with 87 yards in each skein and is now a discontinued yarn.
I actually purchased this bag with 3 skeins in it for an
unbelievable $4. a bag for the three skeins.
The hat actually only needed 2 skeins... I put a contrast
burgundy yarn (from stash) around the border to break up all
the navy and add a small splash of "mannish" color. I know it was
most likely Encore, so should make it completely washable.

Pattern can be found at following 2 websites:
http://www.geocities.com/helmetliner/
http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/helmet-liner (Ravelry)
This hat has been made 214 times so far (at least posted on Ravelry as such) as of today's date...amazing! It was an easy hat to knit and a well-written pattern.

Regarding JCA/Reynold's...for those living in New England and many of you know
of this already....JCA opens its Warehouse each fall (September) for one time only a year to the public for 2 days Friday and Saturday and also by special invite only on Thursday to a select few....

This annual event (which has been compared to on Ravelry as "akin to the Filene's Basement Wedding Gown maddness" and this comment;
"When I went last year at door-opening time, it was a madhouse! Lines to pay were so long."

There is a huge selection of Brands you know:
Reynolds, Jo Sharp, Artful Yarns, Final Closeout of Adrienne Vittandini
Hand Knitting Yarns, Needlework Kits and Yarns
Finished goods:
hand stitched needlework, hand knit sweaters, Xmas stockings, pillows
as well as...
Miscellaneous: Frames, Mat Boards, Material, Lace, Cording, Beads,
Miniatures & More…………..
Prices are 50%-80% off retail. There are some silk, cashmere,
and merino yarns, too.

Major bargains can be had. You do have to dog paddle hard your way thru the constant swarm of yarn shoppers, but I always find the hunt worth my time and effort. Most people go for the large prepacked bags of 10 skeins of yarn,
which cannot be broken up...but then that's what knitting buddies are for....
Here are some pics of some of the lovelies and best bargains I came away with...there was actually more (purchased) but it gives you
an idea of the kinds of bargains to be had.









As you can see. the cartoon yarn was $10. bag of 10 skeins each in a bag.
and the Dover yarn was also marked $4. for the 3 skeins, and the two bags
full of Saucy yarn great for gift bibs, washcloths, and such were
$4. and $2. a bag ~
Unbelievable!

I also scored some lovely Lopi singles in the bargain
section for a really good
deal....this was my second year, and for me it's a not to
miss event. and with photos and comments you get the picture....
only wish I had bought some of the bags of Jo Sharp Silkroad Ultra
at $40. bag of ten skeins....sigh....but then I was on a Rhinebeck
budget at the time....

Oops nearly forgot the blog of the day....
http://knittingasfastasican.com/

I'm Knitting as Fast as I Can by Susan Pierce Lawrence. Susan used to live in the Boston area but now lives in Utah.
I think I probably first discovered her thru her free hat pattern I admired on
Ravelry the Amber hat

This has been knit by 26 people on Ravelry already and is in my queue to knit one
of these days...
I was also impressed with her Nantucket Basket knitting pattern as well as to
follow what she is currently working on. She is probably most known for her patterns such as the "Branching Out Scarf Pattern" and the "Lombard Street Socks" and "Forest Canopy Shawl" which have knit a longs of their own. As well as their own private groups...aka Forest Canopy Shawl KAL group on Ravelry with over 100 members strong. I especially love to follow great knitting designer blogs just to see what they are knitting now and what may be in the works for the future.

A Pitable Attempt at Intarsia

Day 3 of hats finds the "Baby Car Hat" from the book,
Creature Comforts: Cozy Knits for Wee Ones by Amy Bahrt.



This was one of my ealier hats where I attempted to do
intarsia, but by stranding such as in fair isle...
I had no idea about floats (tiny individual wrapped
sections of colored yarn) and as I wildly carried
my colors across each other...I pulled along to
keep it nice and straight on the row....so of course
when finished...I had a fairly squashed up car...
kind of like they had crashed into each other
driving around the hat...with an unusually large amount
of agressive blocking...it looked moderately passable.
Since this time, I have signed up for classes in intarsia
and color work when I found them available and
was amazed that a. it was nothing like the way I had
attempted it and b. it really wasn't so difficult when
someone showed you how to do it the right way.




Look closely and you can still see some fairly pulled stitches...aka car wreck/squished car syndrome. I believe this hat went to charity.
I do however love the tires...you cannot go wrong with cute little black buttons!

*Today's blog review would have to be the Panopticon by Franklin Habbit

http://the-panopticon.blogspot.com/

known primarily for his wildly popular Delores the sheep satire.
Of course, Delores is in the thick of politics...even though a sheep (see cartoon).
Why I chose his blog, a. I love sheep, b. love humerous blogs, c. he (Franklin) and Delores
are concentrating heavily on election right now
(and of course today is big day!)

DID YOU VOTE???????????????????????

oh and finally d. Some of my knitting friends
who happen to read my blog have not heard
of Franklin.



I recently got to meet Franklin in person....my knitting guild
in Boston sponsored him and he came to speak about his new project
1000 knitters project http://the-panopticon.blogspot.com/2008/01/1000-knitters-at-purl-diva.html

He did an incredible slide show presenting how he went about
selecting knitters and the various interviews he had. He had many,
many famous and infamous knitters
such as Meg Swanson and the Yarn Harlot to name just two of the 1000.
It was such a fun night (Thank You Guido and the Common Cod Fiber Knitting
Guild) and Franklin himself is both very humble and personable behind
the podium (and away from his blog)...what a treat to meet him!









Photos are of Franklin taking his token camera shot (aka the
Yarn Harlot does this
at each of her public group speaking engagements).
Franklin with Jess of Ravelry.
Franklin showing slides of famous knitters from his 1000 knitter project
Franklin with the actual knitted scarf mostly rolled back up at this point.
It was GNORMOUS and fascinating. Knitters were able to put their
own stamp on their portion of the knitted piece. ....and they did!