Ok crafty ladies. I’ve heard that Lewiscraft is closing down. All of them. Out of business. This means they are having huge sales! Get down to your local Lewiscraft today! (and pick me up some Patons Classic Merino, will ya? lol I don’t know when I’ll get to go! But enjoy!

Check out CraftiBlog, the adventures of a Mother/Daughter team. I love it. Awesome patterns and ideas.

Well, surprise! Starsky, I hope to wrapped up in you soon. What a divine creation!

The other night I laid in bed looking up at the stars and I thought to myself,
"Where the heck is the roof?"

The book we’ve all been waiting for is now  available! (sort of) Debbie Stoller’s Stitch ‘n Bitch Crochet: Happy Hooker is now available at Chapters . No stores near me have it, but I can order it and it ships within 24 hours.

Amazon.ca, it still states that this book ‘usually ships in 4 to 6 weeks’.

If you want a sneaky peak, you can check out the thread on Craftster. Thanks to MK Carroll for the head's up! Can't wait to see your contribution!

Except with all that snow and freezing rain out there, I don't feel so guilty about staying in bed in my jammies all day. I have to tell you, day time TV is the SH$%^&s. I am over Infomercialized, people. Enough. And Worldvision might have more impact if they weren't on every time I turn on the TV. I'm sore, cranky, coughy, tired and I'm going back to bed! I'll post some pics - maybe tomorrow of a couple of things I've been up to :)

Ok, Melissa Mall’s Pieces of My Heart from CrochetMe got me thinking – I could make a Star Pillow using the same techniques:

crochet a pentagon x2

crochet 5 triangles x2

sew 5 triangles onto pentagon x2

crochet sides

How it will all look when it’s done?? I have no idea. But won’t it be fun trying? I definitely need stars for my celestial-themed bedroom!

Last night, my darling spouse brought home presents for me! Chocolates, 2 puppies (don't get excited like I did, they were cards with puppies on the front)(one was a get well card), and...drumroll please.... Vogue Knitting Winter 2005/2006!

There is an article on Copyright and Knitting and an article about Marie Irshad's Knitcast. (Pod-casts about Knitting) This BBC journalist interviews the likes of our Stephanie Pearl-McPhee, Amy Singer, Wendy Johnson... I haven't listened to her yet, but this article has me wanting to.

Learn some new techniques like yarn sculpting and other fun techniques to add to your knitted or crocheted pieces. This magazine is chock-full of cables! You can preview the fashions. I want to make "Frosty" the skirt.

Vogue Knitting also brings us Knit Simple Magazine.

If you're into cables (as I am) and love a challenge, this is for you! Cables, bobbles, braids, mosaic knitting, mitred squares, lace and more.

Wow! Preview the Knit.1 Spring 2006 issue. After being in the US Virgin Islands, I am definitely into anything about Pirates! ARGH! I love the “Mile High Club” knits: passport cover, neck pillow, and wrap. “Off the Beaten Path” section has a delicious sweater and some funky knee-high socks!

You’ll find an article by Kim Werker, editor of Crochetme.com. And we all loooove Crochetme.com, now don’t we? I’m excited! I don’t like every issue of Knit.1. Some of the stuff is a little too “out-there” for me – too funky or wild for an old “broad” like me. This little preview has caught my attention, Ahar there, Matey! 

Check out Yarn Magazine. It’s a new Australian mag. You’ll even find some free patterns in the Pattern Archive and Sample Issue. I love it. 

Check out Cat Bordhi’s Magical Moebius Needle Quiver (.pdf file). I definitely want to make myself that! What a fabulous gift too!

I just love these Flame Socks! She used the Hot Tamale skirt chart from Knitty. I think they’re spectacular!

The Anticraft Imbolc Issue has been up for a few days, but I’ve been sick and haven’t felt like blogging. There is a message from the editrices about why the issue is out late this time. They lost someone they cared about to cancer and one pattern reflects their anger and grief. The other pattern (there are just 2 this time around) is for socks to keep a loved one warm through chemo. I do feel that knitting is a great form of therapy and hopefully these ladies will pick up their sticks, pick up a ball of something warm and cozy and knit themselves some comfort. There is also a recipe for some Comfort Cuban soup. Mmmmm

By the way, did Knitty forget our surprise? Surprise there is none? Not that I feel like knitting anyway. I am finished sleeve # 1 and have done my tubular cast on for sleeve 2, plus done the ribbing for the cuff and increased sts. Now the cabling begins. I still have the hood, the placket at the neckline, some ribbing around the pockets and the sewing and weaving in all those ends. Still a ways to go, but I’m feeling the end is near.

I’m too sick to knit! Now that IS sick.

I have an idea for Tina’s Star Trek Badge. So cool! Check out the Sock Monkey Lady’s site. Scroll down to # 129.

Have you ever knit or crocheted an item that took a long time, an item that was very intricate in design, an item that was complex and required deep concentration? Have you ever created or worked a piece as a gift that you were very, very proud of? Well I have. On quite a few occasions actually. Sometimes, its as simple as baby booties, a hat and mitts with your own spin on them that makes them so special to you, the creator - the innovator - the most cleverest of all knitters or crocheters in the land… Have you waited expectantly, your heart pounding with anticipation for that lucky recipient to open their gift that you so lovingly created just especially for them? And have you ever felt that stab of disappointment as you look over the piles of the torn-to-shreds gift wrap and gift boxes looking frantically for that treasured gift and asking everyone in the room if it had been forgotten.. only to hear “Oh  yeah, I got that. Thanks. It’s great.” That great big bubble of excitement that has been building for months explodes in a huge popping sound inside of you and disappointment rains down over you. You expected to hear cheers and oohs and aahs and bells or …something. But it doesn’t come. And the gift gets tossed aside with the store-bought socks and books and gadgets in order to get to the next gift….

I tend to get a little angry with the recipient as my disappointment weighs heavy in my heart and brings me down. I feel underwhelmed. I feel like the recipient should know how momentous this occasion is and should share my feelings of joy, excitement and accomplishment. They should  understand the many hours spent working on this project and the 200 times I had to rip it out and start over, or the little extra touches that I added on my own.

I read an article in Knitty today that spoke of those feelings of disappointment and I kept saying, “EXACTLY!” as I read it. She believes that to achieve the reaction you seek, it’s all in the presentation. If you’ve ever eaten a fancy dinner at our house, you’ll know that hubby puts his all into the presentation of his dishes. He recognizes that this is the key and he often gets the oohs and aahs and recognition he rightly deserves. Cooking is hubby’s creative outlet. Now if I apply his theory to my own craft, might I also receive the recognition I am craving?

Thanks Tara Kimura for shedding light on this and letting me know that I need to approach presentation of these hand-made treasures with the thoughtfulness and care they deserve. Tara has shared some wonderful wrapping techniques to get the cheering and the fireworks you deserve!

Not my grandmother’s knitting? crocheting? Lately this is all we hear. An article was printed recently in my local newspaper. These terms make me grit me teeth. They make me angry. They belittle the craft that I so love and the traditions that have been passed down through all the generations. You don’t hear First Nation’s people saying, “This is not your ancestors’ <fill in the blank>” No, they are proud of their heritage, traditions and rituals and respect them. It is with great pride that these traditions are passed down.

So why it is so negative, distasteful and abhorrent to some for me to want to carry on a tradition of working with my hands, of creating a gift of love, of creating a treasured family heirloom? Honestly, I feel that “this is not your grandmother’s crochet” is disrespectful. You might as well say, “Grandma, all those things you worked and created with your own hands out of love for me… suck. But hey, look what I can do!”

The things that I value, that are important to me and speak of who I am as an individual are that I value traditions and family traditions more specifically. I value heritage and history. When I knit or crochet I think about the many women before me over a hundred years ago crocheting collars for chemises and making their own clothes. I think of beautifully handworked purses and gloves and knitted lace. I would love to be able to travel in time and learn more about these crafts. When I cross stitch, I think of my great great great great great Grandmother (yes, 5 greats) Sarah Musgrave who at the age of 7 worked a cross stitch sampler in 1775 (which is professionally framed and hangs in my Grandmother’s bedroom). I am the only one in our family to carry on that particular craft and I feel connected in a way. My grandmother does needlepoint and she has made some really beautiful pieces that are framed and on display.

This post has been building within me for a long time. Over the Christmas holidays, I was sick and spent a lot of time on the couch knitting my sweater and working the cables. Miami Ink was on – I think there was a marathon on that day. The guys travelled to Hawaii and met with Keone Nunes a tattoo artist who returned to his Hawaiian roots and learned the ancient Hawaiian traditions: Kakau. And this quote from Frank Kawiakapuokalani Hewett is so beautiful and true and it resonates with me and how I feel about and connect with my knitting, my crochet, my cross stitch:

“I had this yearning, this desire, to be like my ancestors — to connect. But I wanted to kind of do it in the traditional style. Not one exactly as my ancestors but one that I thought was close enough because in truth I don't know. So I created.”

It was this episode of Miami Ink that I watched as I sat and knitted and cabled and carried on another ancient tradition - another ancient art. Unfortunately, the guarded secrets of kakau died along with the kahuna who applied the designs. Isn’t that sad? Something so beautiful and meaningful - lost. Wouldn’t it be sad if we lost the traditions of our own ancentors? If we let go of the traditions and they are lost and forgotten, aren’t we losing a piece of ourselves? Aren’t we losing touch with where we came from? Please don’t forget all those women who came before us and helped create this new, diverse, free culture that we live in where we can sit on a streetcar and knit in public without an escort!

I understand that we are trying to tap into new generations and get them knitting and crocheting, but I don’t believe it is necessary to belittle and simplify the craft by having them do garter stitch scarves. It is so much more fulfilling to work 10 or so cables in a row and continue them without flaw for 20 inches or so! lol I am nowhere near grandmotherhood at the age of 35 and I am comfortable and confident enough in myself and my craft to be ok with doing some grandmotherly knitting. Have some self-esteem and confidence people. We all do age :) It’s how you handle it - With grace? Or by belittling those that do?

Let these historical links inspire and move you..

History of Knitting

Historical Knitting Images

Knitting History

Knitted Stocking Pattern (inspired from a pair of black knit silk stockings received by Queen Elizabeth in 1560 as a new year’s gift) This is really well written with great historical facts.

The Vintage Connection’s Guide to Victorian Knitting

“Home Work” 1891 from Sarah Bradberry

Painting: The Little Knitters (warning: this is a potential  tear-jerker)

Painting: A Little Girl Knitting

Knitty: Top 10 men in knitting

A History Lesson

Wikipedia: Knitting

 

I'll be posting using the *stick post* feature so that they don't move and get archived and lost. How smart am I? Yes, I think I'll do a knit and a crochet area. Seems to make sense. Any ideas? I'll move my pattern links over and hopefully get some of this mess cleaned up. It's been bugging me and I think this is the solution. Denver is here to tell me she agrees. Any ideas on what to knit or crochet for my darling furry friend?

This Kid Merino Lacy Shrug is no shrugging matter and has me itching to go buy some yarn and knit this up. I’m transfixed, mesmerized…my heart is pounding in my chest, my palms are sweaty…. I think I hear music…. could it be? Am I? Am I in love  with this pattern?

Speaking of being in love, how could I possibly have forgotten this divine beauty - the I Do shrug? Hmmm. Right. I wanted to knit that in the summer, didn’t I? Yeah, I think I did.

Have  you laughed today? Check out the Martha Stewart ‘Coming Home’ Pooch Poncho. My absolute favourite pattern. ha ha ha ha

Knitting for Boozehags has the most lovely little Sheila Cape.

I’m liking this Aran Weight Top Down Raglan Shrug. Definitely in another colour, but I do like it.

This Aran Weight Lace Cropped Cardigan has topped them all for me. It’s stunning. Speaking of stunning, lately The Charmed Ones have been sporting some spectacular knitted shrugs. I’m dying to find some other Charmed Ones Fans who are also knitters. I’m betting someone has already whipped up a couple. Please share. I love this show. It’s my fav. Who doesn’t love Piper, I ask you? But Phoebe, now she gets the best of the best in the wardrobe dept. If anyone stumbles across anything, let me know, k?

Quote of the day:

A wonderful bird is the pelican.
Its beak can hold more than its belly can.
It can hold in its beak
Enough food for a week.
I m darned if I know how the hell he can.

The was a young lady from Speen
Who grew so abnormally lean
And flat and compressed
That her back touched her chest
And sideways she couldn't be seen. (hey, only I can laugh at this one! Got it?)

 

Ok, now I need PC Stitch.Check out the free stuff on Buzz Tools.