New York City Tour, 2008

Guess where I was this past Saturday? In Brooklyn visiting Stacey Joy of Red Lipstick and purchasing some fabulous things from her boutique, including stretch cotton leggings that look exactly like sprayed-on skinny jeans as long as the crotchal area is covered. Seriously. Come "casual Friday" this week I'll have some photos. See here for photographic evidence of my visit.

Yes, I am always that ridiculous.

Here we are, in our striped outfits:


There was knitting, but it's all presents for people who read this. It may seem like I don't make anything lately, but that's not the case, really. For now, ANIMAL EYES!!! I purchased these glass eyes at a store called Evolution in Soho, and we all tried them on while drinking beer yesterday afternoon:

Chris:

Amy:
Me:

New, Free, and in the Grellow Family

My new pattern, that is. Check out Metapostmodernknitting's Fall/Winter 2008 issue for my Double Gloves pattern and other very, very cool stuff. By the way, Grellow is forecasted to be big. But we knew that, didn't we?

The Coolest Stuff from Other People

Since I can't show any of my current knitting, here are a few of my favorite things from Other People this week. First is photophilic Jen's version of my Neiman pattern, only with SPACE INVADERS. I can't get over it... the fact that only one arm is patterned, the intricacy of the little guys, the fact that it's made in the same colors as the original but makes a very different impression. WOW.


Two other favorite sweaters, both of which have patterns available now:

Oh, Grellow. I hope I find the time to make one of these for myself this fall.

Whoa. I actually got the yarn for this one. I wonder when I will find the time to knit it.

And something else: New Tattoos! Chad at Fat Ram's Pumpkin Tattoo is the artist. I got some color done this past weekend and it's really coming together... a first look:


Side and front view... one of those little yellow stars was my very first tattoo, gotten one day after I turned 18.

Side and back view... the tattoo on the far left is the name of the Sumerian goddess Inanna, goddess of love and war, gotten during my Assyriologist days. So far so good!

Pounds of Vacation Knitting: Installation One

Here are a few things I knit while in Michigan, during all the time I had away from New Job. Now it's nose to grindstone and all that, which is fine, but knitting has slowed considerably.


First, I made 2/3 of a Haven, from the Kim Hargreaves book "Heartfelt." I've wanted to use Rowan Cocoon for some time, in this creamy color, and this pattern struck me as a perfect match for the yarn. Plus, I saw all the finished Havens on Ravelry and read the glowing comments about its cosiness and knew I needed one. It's been a great companion during the Olympics because it's nearly impossible to err, the pattern is THAT EASY.


Next, a second square for my blanket (this group participation is catchy), designed by chaimama. This one is made of Cascade 220. Hey, check out how well the Cascade 220 has maintained the fold lines from my suitcase! That's one crisp yarn. Anyway, this is soaking in the sink as I write.

The biggest accomplishment, however, is still a secret... I'm waiting for the yarn from Little Knits that will let me finish it, hopefully in time for a rapidly approaching deadline. It's a new yarn for me that I think will be new to just about everyone else, too, and I can't wait to show it off.

Have you been watching the Olympics? Chris drew some inspiration from men's gymnastics for this shot I took during one of our hikes in Michigan.

What were YOU knitting in 1996?

Sorry for the blog silence... I've been in Michigan on vacation since the 8th and decided to just stay away from the computer. I did produce a few pounds of knitting (seriously, watching the Olympics makes the knitting just fly off the needles, I've found... that and not having to go to New Job), which I'll post next.


For now, however, here's a little something saved from my New York University Art Major days, one of many "guys" I knit freeform, in one piece, and stuffed with polyfill. This got rave reviews from professors, but I'll let you all draw your own conclusions.

Sometimes it's nice to be part of a group. But other times a lonely mitten is appropriate.

I don't tend to do well with knitalongs and knit nights and such; anything that requires a schedule is accompanied by a queasy "work" feeling. However, I've successfully taken part in a group knitting project in the Yarnplayers group on Ravelry! Great success! The project was to design a 13" by 13" square for a blanket and write out the pattern, so that others in the group could make your square and, in the end, have a stash blanket with squares designed by a number of people.

So even though it's not July (was supposed to have this done by end of July), here's my square!

And here's how you make it. Mine used Malabrigo in a dark blue color, about 1/3 of a skein, for the Main Color, and Lorna's Laces Shepherd Worsted in Fir (just a bit) for the Contrasting Color. Note: YOU NEVER KNIT WITH THE CC. You just weave it through your knitting. It's pretty cool.

Using Size 9 US needles and MC, CO 54 stitches. Work in garter stitch for 2.5".

Begin Woven Pattern:
Row 1: Knit 1 row with MC.
Row 2: With MC, k the first stitch of the row, p until the last stitch, k the last stitch.
Row 3: With CC, slip 1 with yarn in back (sl1wyb), slip 1 with yarn in front (sl1wyf), repeat this sequence to the end of the row.
Row 4: p the first stitch, then sl1wyb, sl1wyf, repeat to end of row.
Rows 5 and 6: Repeat rows 1 and 2.
Row 7: With CC, sl1wyf, sl1wyb, repeat to end of row.
Row 8: p the first stitch, then sl1wyf, sl1wyb, repeat to end of row.

Repeat these 8 rows 3.75 times (I ended after finishing row 6 to get 7 woven stripes, because I like prime numbers) or more, if you like.

Change back to garter stitch and work in MC until piece measures 10" from beginning.

Change to CC and work in garter stitch until piece measures 13" from beginning. Cast off loosely.

TA DA! Add this to blocks of your own design, or other Yarnplayers' blocks, and soon you'll have a blanket that is knit is pieces you can carry with you.

I also made a single mitten for a commission:


From Mostly Mittens, design #13, I believe. Noro Silk Garden Light and something called "Tove" that's sport-weight wool.

Designs are coming along. At least one of them will be up... for free! this fall.

Inspiration

It may seem quiet here at the blog, but it's not for lack of progress. I have several different designs in various stages of completion, some of which are classic pieces with interesting twists, others of which have an edgier point of view. I know that finding myself in a more casual workplace has brought me back to some of the clothes and styles from dare I say 10 or, yes, even more years ago. I find myself drawn to layered looks, menswear details and shapes (back then I was wearing men's stuff from thrift stores; now I find or create adaptations of these styles that actually flatter my figure), and androgyny, which has appealed to me ever since I learned to accept my body type, is the most excellent concept out there for me right now.

For one of the designs, I'm going to be working with custom-dyed yarn from Knitterman. His site just blew me away, so I trusted him to make a color based on the description of the finished item I'd like to make and the ideas behind it.

Finding inspiration in things like this. I don't know why this photo has stayed in my mind, but I'd like to capture something like this attitude in my upcoming designs. Tall order. I'll see what I can do. Of course, there are also inspirations like this:


The sulfides at the Harvard Natural History Museum. Indeed.

Also looking for a new city bike. Cannot think of anything sexier than the Pista, but Chris, ever the pragmatist, has pointed out that it does not have a brake or a flip-flop rear wheel, meaning, basically, I'm going to end up plastering myself all over the road whenever I take it out. I will be one big scab, probably. I've tried the Red Line 925, which is a great ride. To be determined.