SistahCraft

Meditating Upon Completion––It's The Dog's Turn

The Empress's New Clothes

(Della, the "it" bull, in her new sweater; all pics enlarge)

First, I want to thank my friend and new subscriber, the creative and astutely sagacious Veronica Mitchell, for helping me re-discover the practice of meditation, to actualize my flights from chimera into reality; my UFO shelf is almost empty! Here's the latest.

Della's two-piece sweater (underside not shown), is from one of my all time favorites, "Dogs In Knits" by Judith L. Swartz. The yarn, Cascade 220,  is from my stash. I used two skeins of color 9404, and one skein each of 8010, and 9471. The slip stitch stripe, what I call the lazy man's fair-isle, is from "A Second Treasury of Knitting Patterns" by Barbara G. Walker. 

 A Dog––The Knitter's Best Friend

Do the sweaters you knit for your mate, lie at the back of the closet, while he/she claims they are worn, it's just that you're not around to see? Does your choice of yarns and styles consistently spark protests from your loved ones? Here's a suggestion. Get a dog. In particular, a short haired one.

I love to knit for Della. She wears my sweaters with enthusiasm. I can try out new yarns and patterns, and she doesn't complain. Sometimes, it's not easy. She's not small. Her chest is 32" in diameter (about the size of a ten year-old's), she's 23" from base of neck to butt, and her neck itself is a good 16" (her hind section does narrow to 17", giving her a beautiful frame in standing profile; she's a sexy beast). But I don't have to worry about sleeves, and her outre´ fashion sense, is great for stash-busting. Another plus––unlike some of my neighbor's children, Della senses when she's wearing something nice, and doesn't wallow in mud or other detritus. She becomes the neighborhood fashionista, accepting compliments with an outstretched paw. Good girl.

My attraction to the aforementioned book, was the author's statement that "dogs do have a sense of dignity." You're so right Judith, they know when they're wearing something silly. Her designs are sophisticated, photographed on a variety of breeds. There's instructions for measuring your dog (great for larger canines), and a basic sweater pattern to start, both in knit and crochet. In Della's case, I limited myself to using four colors, selected with my eyes closed. I then had to make the combination work. We're both pleased with the outcome, and even Mr. K feels he can walk her without looking foolish (read un-masculine).

(Her mistress's voice; underside view)

Big Dogs Need Sweaters Too

If you own a large dog and haven't knitted or crocheted for it yet, consider this. It's bad enough the majority of sweaters sold, are for dogs from 8" to 20". But why do folks think certain breeds––Pit bulls, Rottweilers, and Cane Corsos, to name a few, don't need a coat because of their supposed toughness? Are you kidding? I've seen way too many leashed outside in the cold freezing, while the owners are in a heated store leisurely doing whatever–––it's irresponsible!  Sweaters for large dogs aren't wussy––they're necessary. Remember, in their natural environment, they'd be in a den, if they weren't hunting.

A nice hand-knit sweater, can turn your big dog, into a big deal––they'll love it, and you too.

 

At Some Point, We're All Going To Dye

A Friendly Guide, to The Next Step

Whenever I bring up the subject of dyeing to my friends, I generally get the same response.

"Girl, I'm scared. It can get messy."

"You can't control the outcome."

"It's expensive, if you wanna do it right."

"How's my family gonna' deal with this?"

Along our journey as yarn enthusiasts, dyeing is something we'll all eventually come to grips with. And it's scary. You've certainly heard of others who've attempted this––and reaped disastrous results. As a product of the RIT® generation (remember your first tie-dye?), I wanted to dye easily and at home with a minimum of fuss. But I thought real dyeing entailed a separate kitchen, lot of equipment, and, if you dyed naturally––a beautiful house by a stream. Well, the only folks I knew who had that were fiber people––read wealthy hippies, so my palette and money, was essentially confined to what was commercially available.

In 1984 "I'd Rather Dye Laughing" by Jean M. Neel (Graphicom Inc.) a wonderful little booklet, now enjoying a comeback among collectors of esoteric fiber manuals, was an introduction to casserole and microwave dyeing. Ahead of its time, it redefined the relationship a lot of us had with our stoves. But then came the sudden explosion of the contemporary yarn market with its burst of color and texture, and home dyeing was once again placed on the back burner, relegated to a world of crones with large cooking pots, selfishly not used for food.

Linda's book from Potter Craft, out this month, puts dyeing back into the homes of the masses. I love it. She shows you there's an easy way for everyone to dye, and guess what? You don't have to be a "fiber person." You can re-dye that ill-fitting sweater you received from your aunt, to re-gift for the office grab bag! And parents, you can dye with your kids. Kool-Aid® is safer than RIT (for dyeing; I don't drink the stuff.)

Ms. LaBelle has done her due diligence. She starts with a complete overview regarding safety, materials, dyes and techniques. In subsequent chapters, an easy to use brand is explained, complete with a project you can make up, or you can dye a knit or skein you already have––no more ugly yarn! The lavish photographs aren't for their own sake; they bring life to the instructions and positive reinforcement for what you can achieve, apropos for a book about color. Now, the large amount of equipment called for in the beginning may seem off putting, but some ot the techniques, such as dyeing with food coloring, don't require a major outlay; dyeing doesn't have to be costly.

For a glimpse into the other side, Linda has interviewed seven major professionals that we all want to know and who've lived to talk about it, including, yes! the women of Koigu. Not only do I now have a deeper appreciation for the love and effort that goes into hand dyed yarn, but the inspiration has given me the courage to take the next step––becoming the hit of the office grab bag. Just kidding, auntie.

Linda La Belle, the wonderful owner of The Yarn Tree in Brooklyn, New York, is a former costume designer who worked with Matthew Barney's Cremaster Cycle and costumed several sculptures for Keith Edmier, one of which ("Beverly Edmier") is in the permanent collection at the Tate, in London. Her first book signing is November 16th at Habu Textiles, New York. The following two book signings will be at The Yarn Tree.

 

I Have A Knitting Date With A Famous Author

Lady P.D. James Is Helping Me Finish My Shell

Unfortunately, she cannot travel to my house in person; I did the next best thing, by downloading the audio version of her book into my iPod.

I'm big fan, although I must say for me, her books are better to listen to than to read––they unfold, as opposed to starting out as page grippers. It is the voice of award-winning narrators, such as Davina Porter (An Unsuitable Job For A Woman), that converts her books to ear grippers. This current tome, is narrated by the British actor Charles Keating.

My Own Finger-Gripper (all pics enlarge)

A couple of posts back, I had knitted and blocked my johnny-collared (Italian collar is another name) shell. Here is current knit-up.

The collar made me nervous. On woven or cut and sew knits, the collar is placed according to the style desired, so there didn't seem to be a specific measurement for its placement. I did find a suitable placement measure in one of my knitting machine guides, Brothers Ribbing Techniques Guide.

The proper placement for the start of the collar, is halfway between the top of the ribbing edge, and the top of the ribbing at the highest point of the shoulder. In other words, knit the number of rib rows you need for the v-neck (in this case, 7 rows), measure along the top of the ribbing to the top of the shoulder, then put a stitch marker at the half way point (see arrow).

For the bind off method I use for bulky yarns, and all pullover necklines, go to  KnittingHelp.com; scroll down to Knit One Purl One bind off, for a remarkable two part video. I like it, because it's stretchy, and looks professional.  I knitted an overlapping V, which in retrospect, doesn't look as neat (yet; wait till I fudge it) as a double-decreased V would've, but I wanted to make sure the V would lay flat against my full bust, and not have a cleavage gap. I want men to look at me, and not into me.

I'm On The Mend…

…Although this head cold is still making it hard to work on concentrative projects; ribbing is the best I can do. But, as I've now enlisted Ms. James' help, I should be finished tonight. I want to wear it for the Sit N' Knit NY's gathering at Madison Square Park, for Charles Mingus's 85th birthday concert featuring his legacy band, Mingus Dynasty, this Wednesday.

Books: Runway Knits

  Run Away With These

Upon first glance, the cover looked disconcerting. The perfection of the model's skin, her clear, glassy eyes, perfectly painted lips, and feathered hat, gave the impression of a store mannequin. Additionally, the dress––initially not impressive––didn't help. I thought, uh oh. I was relived when I turned the book over, and saw ten beautiful garmets on young women a bit more human. Whew, that's better.

Runway Knits, By Berta Karapetyan (Potter Craft, New York $32.50US) is a collection of knits, that combines New York style, with European sophistication. The author's claim of inspiration taken from the fashion runways is apparent, but there is nothing in this book that is frivolous or strange––like Aran knitted shorts in bulky yarn. Berta, instead references the designers she was blessed to work for as a technical knitwear developer: Donna Karan, Calvin Klein, Ralph Lauren, and Club Monaco, among others. The work showcases her signature detailing, with a large dose of creativity thrown in. This is a knitting book you can literally build your wardrobe around. It's division into four sections, cover every aspect of your personality, or lifestyle. In other words, if you made one garment from each section, your clothing needs would be covered from day to evening. The photographs are clear and bright, and the and the classic styling shows off the knits to their advantage, without the use of weird lighting and action poses. The book's charm, is in its distinctly euro feel. Incidentally, my impression of the cover changed, when I saw this little black dress in the book––it and the model, are beautiful.

Berta's pattern instructions and schematics are proof of her technical mastery. She knows her construction methods can be unconventional, so you're given row by row directions, including the number of stitches. What you're not given are charts, even for lace patterns; there are only two charted outfits in the book. Now, don't become perplexed or huffy; the reasoning is very clear. In sweaters that have unique shaping or proceed in a peculiar direction, a chart isn't helpful. Berta's instructions are so precise, if you follow them exactly, you will obtain the intended result. That said, this is not lazy time knitting; these garments are designed to be interesting to knit and beautiful to wear––what more could you want?

Perhaps for them to be larger. And cheaper. Sizing is small––41" maximum, including ease for most garments. Its' a shame too, for many of the silhouettes are figure flattering. The cost to knit, speaks investment––possibly a factor in the sizing. Again, as a credit to Berta's considerateness, she includes a yarn substitution list in the back of the book. Of course, you won't get the same effect––Karabella Yarns are fantastic––but if you chose wisely, you can sport some fabulous outfits.

And trust me, there isn't a bad one in the bunch, for all skill levels, a common complaint with knitting books. Beginners, without giving anything away, the opening project is a shawl using an ingenuous combination of yarn overs, drop stitches, and knit stitches, giving the effect of a plaid-type woven. It looks major, but you can do this.

So, if your book budget is limited, Runway Knits is worth it for the sheer number of looks alone––thirty, for all seasons. That should last you quite a while.

Book Review: Martha Ann's Quilt for Queen Victoria

(This book may be directly ordered from the Black Threads site, so there's no excuse).

Back in December, I accepted a children's book to review, the second book written by Kyra E. Hicks, a nationally known and respected quilter, lecturer, and the author of a most resourceful site, Black Threads.  When the book arrived, my curiosity was stoked. It was a true, but little-known story I thought would be great to review during Black History Month.

Martha Ann's Quilt for Queen Victoria (Brown Books Publishing Group, $16.95) tells the story of Martha Ann, a former slave who, made a quilt as a gift to Queen Victoria, out of gratitude for the protection of the people in her new home-land of Liberia, against their kidnapping and sale into slavery. She saved her money for 50 years, to make the voyage to England to present it.

As a storyteller's book, it's fabulous. Enhanced with illustrations, realistically portrayed by Lee Edward Fodi, It's the kind of book you'd want to read-aloud to your young children crumpled around you on the bed, or, during the children's story hour at the library.

Older, and more worldly kids reading on their own, may find the narrative less interesting. It reads a bit flat, but remember––picture books do not need the amount of adjectives necessary, to form the sharper mental images for greater engagement. Additionally, Martha Ann goes from childhood to elderly woman  in only thirty-six pages, so there are some pretty big gaps––which will raise as many questions as it answers. Don't fret. These are questions that have answers, for the most part. Do the research with your kids, since you probably never heard of Martha Ann, either. Besides, discovery is fun.

The events that precede the gaps, may seem more exciting to kids, than the heroine saving money. For instance, during a time after Martha Ann's family re-settles in Liberia, the majority of them, with the exception of her older and younger brother, are wiped out by "African Fever" (Wow! What's African Fever?). But then, she grows up and gets married (what happened between then?). In another episode, the mission where she and her husband resides, are attacked by 300 tribesmen, led by their chief, Gotorah (Gee! Why don't they like each other. Isn't everybody the same?). All the while, she is still saving money, towards her visit (yeah).

Do you see what I mean?

Kyra Hick's book fulfills its purpose of bringing to life a true story of persistence and keeping a dream alive. It will be energizing to young children––of all races––still filled with wonder about what must have been a huge undertaking (when I was six, I thought ten years was a long time, and five dollars big money). Other kids, may find the spaces between the gaps more interesting. A young friend of mine, about nine, read the book. While she enjoyed the story (it was different), it was hard for her to understand saving money for fifty years ("what did Martha Ann do for work? My mom gets paid every week"). Ah, kids today.

She was more curious, about the country in which Martha Ann's family re-settled (the British Navy patrol boats, the fighting, and Queen Victoria). Cool! The history of Liberia and its subsequent drama, is a subject of major interest for me, and is not often covered in Black History Month classroom teaching; which is shameful as it contains some very relevant info for kids today. My friend was shocked to find out that Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf is that country's president, and the first female elected head of state on the continent. It was more shocking to find out that the sister made it, despite being beaten and jailed (the odds).

"Do you think it could happen here? A black woman president?"

"Why not?" you could do it. And it may be easier for you, too."

She grinned.

Now that's relevant. Thanks, Kyra.

She Was Born, With A Silk Shoe On Her Foot

Taking the First Step

I come from three generations of talented bespoke dressmakers, particularly my two aunts. But they could never get the sweaters right. I hated the futuristic practicality of their thinking (in other words, everything was too big). And their yarn choices––even for back then––were the worst.
In contrast, what they made for themselves was fabulous. So why get cheap on me, when I took even less yarn?

I wasn't stupid. I vowed, that when I grew up I was gonna do right by my friend's kids.

So, while it may be cool for a parent to knit or crochet practical wear-ables for their precious ones, relatives and friends should make the most  extravagant items they can! I mean gee, it's really not that much now, is it? And the point, should not be how long the child is going to wear it. Make something that's going to last long enough to be handed down, for goodness sake.  

That said, these booties, knitted in one day from one skein of 100% hand-dyed Maju silk (Jade Sapphire Yarns, available at Knitty City), are my gift to herald the arrival on our planet, of the beautiful Elation Hayes, daughter of my sistafriend and bountifully talented knitter, Zahara Rahman. The pattern is from the book 50 Baby Booties to Knit, by Zoe Mellor (Trafalgar Square Publishing).

Now, I'm gonna say it––I envy that little girl already. You know why? Because she's gonna grow up, having the knitted wardrobe of DOOM. Do you know how well and beautifully, her mother knits? I can't stand it!
There, I feel better. Kisses to you both!

                                                                                          

                                     

Musing About Mistakes–A Conversation With Lisa Kartus

"A correct answer is like an affectionate kiss." Johann Wolfgang von Goethe 1749 - 1832

Does This Image Make You Feel Uncomfortable?

Yesterday, I had a conversation with Lisa Kartus, the author of Knit Fix (see previous post for the book review). We talked about problem solving, knitters attitudes towards their errors, empowerment through correction, and my own personal bugaboo. Hey! Just because I didn't have a mistake to present for fixing, doesn't mean I'm immune––there's always one lurking around the corner. Oops!

Lisa, tell me about your inspiration for writing this book. Did it arise from your experiences as a sweater doctor and teacher? Did your own frustration with obtaining answers come into play?
This is the book I wanted and needed, first earlier in my knitting career, then as a teacher. Since I was a full-time journalist when I took up knitting again as an adult, I was pretty good at asking questions. But I do have this tendency to knit in the wee small hours of the morning, so problem-solving became part of my knitting.  Later on, my knitting students would ask for a book that they could take home to remind them what I'd shown them. Now they have one.

What did you do when your cousin was not around?
The simple fact that she was reachable allowed me to take risks with my knitting, to try to figure out stuff for myself.  I rarely surprised Shirley with what I'd invented, but every time I invented my own fix, she was pleased.  Nothing like approval.

Indeed! My own problem solving abilities were nurtured by parents whose mantra a lot of the time was, 'figure it out.'  This played out in my knitting by painstakingly unraveling, following the path of the loops made, until I was able to figure out what happened, and correct it. I quickly learned to knit slowly and deliberately, using every row counter and stitch marker available, in order to minimize the margin for error. Boy, was it a headache though, sometimes.

Speaking of headaches, when knitters come to you for help, what is the general state of anxiety, or exasperation––if there is one?
The knitters who are going to turn into good or great knitters come in looking for a solution to the mystery on their needles. They want to do the fix themselves -- I'll talk them through it. We all get exasperated sometimes, but it doesn't pay off.

And how do you respond to their distress?
A few years ago one of my students was making a top out of that slippery railroad yarn, and managed to drop a few stitches. If you ever worked with that stuff, you know that one dropped stitch immediately led to an avalanche of dropped stitches. She was in a panic. "We'll fix it," I told her. "I'll tell you when to panic.  And it's not now." We fixed it, sitting on the carpeted floor (carpet holds knitting stitches like Velcro).

And what is their response to your advice? Especially if it is of the extreme fix type?
Sometimes we practice deep breathing.

Tee hee––sorry. : )
But once you've fixed something successfully, you have such a sense of accomplishment. The more extreme the fix, the bigger the rush. However, it sure helps to know what went wrong and how to avoid it next time––that's why there's the "Test-driving" section in Knit Fix.

Oh my goodness––carpet! I didn't know that. I'm working on a lace evening wrap right now, and the yarn has sections of rayon in it. Unraveling a mistake makes me feel like I'm de-activating a bomb. Thanks so much for that!

So sorry for the interruption. I get happy when I find out something new. Anyway, do you feel that a number of the fiasco's you encounter, are the result of a poor foundation in the basics?
Most new knitters don't know how to read their stitches, which I regard as a basic. But that's easily remedied, since there are really only two knit stitches; everything else is a variation on those two. The biggest lack I see has to do with holding tension.

Wow. Tension was a big issue I had to deal with when I was a volunteer at the Harlem Knitting Circle.
There's a reason why I refer to tension in my book as the "too-often-unexplained mystery of knitting."  In my view, tension should be taught either with or immediately following the knit stitch. Think how much easier it is to pick up that new stitch through the old one when you're holding tension.

You know, as a result of the "knitting boom", I had to help a lot of the knitters unlearn bad habits. I also had to do a lot of damage control. Many shops here were giving rather hasty lessons, to get their potential customers started. Beginners bought yarn, needles, and learned the Garter stitch.

One young lady who was stuck, thought that doing Garter stitch WAS knitting! She never learned Stockinette, because the shop didn't want to discourage her, with the perceived difficulty of learning how to purl.
Do you know, I can actually think of two students who I had to surprise into even trying the purl stitch.  There's a comfort level to garter stitch––repeating the same hand motions over and again. It's almost hypnotic. For some people, that's what knitting is and what they want from it.
   
Remember, too, that so much of knitting involves muscle memory. It's hard to unlearn bad habits that your hands are doing apparently on their own. However––and this is a big however––good shops have good teachers. And good teachers get their students to push themselves to the next level. There's always something new to try in knitting.

Your book opens with a tone of forgiveness and comfort. What have you observed about the attitude of knitters you've encountered, towards their mistakes?
Sometimes they feel silly to have made a mistake. Or they're angry at themselves for messing up.  Some students regard mistakes as someone else's fault. 

Yeah, I've heard that too. I always wonder who.
But once they learn that to err is human and, best yet, knitting errors are fixable, it tends to change those attitudes.  At least towards their knitting.

You tell the reader that there are mistakes they are going to fix, again and again. In our "one-shot-deal, perfection oriented, winner-take-all society, this must be quite a message. I mean, a lot of folks knit because they feel it is something that they can have control over.
Knitting is a process. Every process has its own errors. Take control of the errors and you take control of the process. In your own knitting, Sahara, how often do you unknit? Stop to pick up a stitch that you just dropped?

Tee hee, with this darn wrap, it seems like all the time.
That's part of knitting for all of us. Especially since 9/11, knitting has become a comfort zone for more and more of us, a break not only from the winner-take-all attitude but also from the sense of lost control.

While volunteering, I observed a lot of the women's attitude toward their mistakes and their knitting in general, had a direct correlation with their self-esteem. The higher the self-esteem, the more willing they were to do what was necessary to mend the project. A mistake suddenly didn't become a metaphor for everything else that was wrong in their lives.

I also found a difference between the knitters who were willing to forgive, move on, and deal with the solution––and those who would consistently just settle, even when shown better way to do something. How did you help knitters like this, if you came across them?
But are they just settling? Or have they figured out where knitting fits in their life, and are enjoying it? That's what I want to know.

Hmmm, I didn't think of that. Honest contentment.
That's why the book's chapter on "Your Knitting Philosophy" is the first chapter. However, it is true that our attitude towards life is reflected in our knitting. I have seen knitters who found that by taking control of their knitting they were taking control of a part of their life, and that control seeped into other parts.

The best for me, was to see women gain confidence through the ability to correct their mistakes. As such, their projects became more challenging, enabling them to gain skills, and have something beautiful to be proud of, in the end. This same blossoming of confidence brought them out, too. Shyness, self-doubt, reserve––would start to diminish.

Yes, yes, yes, yes!

By the way Lisa, I gotta say––your text reads as if you're sitting next to me. I notice however, that although you deal with lace charts, you don't have solutions for lace mistakes or mention a "life line." Is lace a particularly difficult technique to fix, in place?
Every book has space considerations. Check out my website for a lace mistake fix, with more laces fixes to come. I'd say to fix lace, you must know what you're looking at on the needle. You must be able to trace the pattern down from the stitches on the needle. If there's anything that makes it difficult to fix, it's because of shaping, which changes the balance of increases and decreases.

Is it easier then, to just unravel back to the correct row?
If you catch the problem in time, it's best to unknit. When it comes to lace knitting, count your stitches. Make sure that the yarn-overs are where they're supposed to be as well as the compensating decreases. If you get off count and don't catch it for inches and inches, then yes (sigh) it's time to unravel.

My personal bugaboo was Cables Crossed Incorrectly. This photograph produced an instant tightening in my neck, at the memory of a sweater I almost finished from a wonderful mohair; it is long disintegrated, in the Staten Island Landfill. There were two mis-crossed cables in the front. The solution I found, was a complicated process, marked by cutting and unraveling. It scared the daylights out of me. Your fix, is sooo easy. Where did it come from? For me, that alone was worth the book. I think everyone who buys Knit Fix, will find the one mistake that's worth the book.

You're very kind. The cable fix came about one afternoon when a lovely student of mine brought in the back of a sweater knit in fine-gauge yarn. This sweater had a cabled ribbing that moved diagonally, and a mistake in one of those cables. We sat there for an hour or so, and I dreamed up the fix for her. Neither of us is ever going to be able to bring about world peace, but that afternoon we managed to solve a problem and enjoy the process and create our own little zone of peace.

Knitting fixes are like that, aren't they? So gratifying. Finally, are you ready for the Knit Out, in New York next Sunday?
It sounds wonderful.

I definitely look forward to meeting you on Saturday, at Knitty City.
Ditto. Are you coming to the workshop?

Yes. It'll be cool to cover to it, and give knitters the reassurance that––help is on the way!
Lisa, thanks so much!

Finally! A Balm For Your Blunders

"There are no mistakes, no coincidences. All events are blessings given to us to learn from."
Elizabeth Kubler-Ross, July 8, 1926 - August 24, 2004

Count Your Blessings

When I started hand knitting 20 years ago, there were no instructional books that I can think of, devoted solely to the correction of mistakes.The ones I came across assumed––at least to me––that you were only going to make maybe two or three: to drop a stitch, knit or purl it the wrong way, or to increase/decrease surreptitiously; so that's all they included. And the solution to these problems, were to learn to either pick up the dropped stitch, or rip back to the offending stitch or row. Other books were more stringent in their discipline; if you did what they said, you wouldn't make these mistakes in the first place. It mirrored the sound of my mother.

Stumbling through the dark, my path to 'near perfection' was an arduous one. Yes, I have become extremely good at correcting my mistakes; but, the amount of energy I spent not to make any in the first place––was painful. I encourage all you novice knitters, the fearful, folks who are picking up the needles on the redux, perfectionists, knitters with self-esteem issues, those not blessed with anyone to help them, and especially my students and friends who I have forbidden to call me late at night––to buy this book. It will make your own path easier.

"Mistakes are the portals of discovery."
James Joyce, Author 1882 - 1941

Lisa speaks to you. Her philosophy is one of forgiveness and empowerment, through her you-can-do-this introduction. And a sense of calm is purveyed throughout the rest of the text.

You'll need to remain calm, when faced with page after page of enlarged color photos of knitting mistakes, ranging from the subtle, to the ones you imagine could be seen halfway across a room. But these pictures bear witness without inducing shame. And the solutions or fixes, are comfortingly spelled out step by step, enhanced by color coded illustrations.

As a given, there are chapters on the basics of knitting, fiber information, etc––but check the gems.
Troubleshooting: you learn to slow down your eyes and look––in order to diagnose what is wrong. In a nod towards prevention, Solving Problems Before They Grow, addresses those bugaboos that sprout immediately, for the sole purpose of discouraging your efforts. Test Driving, is devoted to all of you who like to completely ignore directions, plunging headlong into disaster. Her advice on proper planning, should encourage you to look into the pool, to see if there is water first.

As part of the blog tour for Knit Fix, Lisa Kartus and I are having a conversation about the parallels between fixing knitting mistakes and finding solutions in life, which I will post this Sunday, September 10th. You can check out the details of, and follow her tour by going to her site, Knitmaven.

"It's always helpful to learn from your mistakes, because then your mistakes seem worthwhile."
Gary Marshall, 'Wake Me When It's Funny' 

Debbie Does The Bookstore

It is said that God takes care of fools, drunks and babies. I would like to add the intrepid knitters and crocheters to this group, who withstood the 1010 WINS “real feel” temperature of 110º last  Wednesday, to attend Debbie Stoller’s presentation and book signing, featuring the latest of the Stitch ‘N Bitch series––Stitch 'N Bitch Crochet: The Happy Hooker, published earlier this year.

On the brief walk to Coliseum Books, (I knew it’s be too hot to hold the event in Bryant Park), I wondered who, besides myself (with my sweaty ego telling me “’it’s for your blog readers’”) was going to leave their air-conditioned office––possibly forgoing food, for an hour––in exchange for some inspiration and a book, or two?

Honestly? I'm a fan of Bust Magazine, not her books. I found the pop culture references a bit too cutesy for a how-to-knit book, but that’s my age. Bust, is a 'zine for young, "alternative chicks" (Debbie's term), who enjoy activities other than shopping and celeb watching, and I wanted to meet the "queen" (my term) of alternative chicks. The other motivating factor, was an issue I wanted to get clarity on. Upon the arrival of the third S 'N B book, the response of my crocheting friends was––yeah, uh-huh, and? Why is she interested in us, all of a sudden? Well, I wanted to find out.

My first set of questions were answered upon arrival to the cafe in the bookstore. Seated, was a fairly large assembly of women, hanging (or rather) hooking, onto Debbie’s every word. Interestingly enough though, they weren’t hooking any yarn.

Usually, at knitting events, members of the audience are knitting. this group was content for the most part, to keep their hands to themselves.

And, once again, I was one of two women of color in attendance. Yo, what’s up with my sistahs? Y’all don’t work in the midtown area? I see plenty of us out at lunch hour. I guess y’all don’t knit or crochet, huh? I wonder what would happen if the Men of the Jet Brothers 2006 Calendar were out there…

It was certainly not a boring hour. Ms. Stoller, extolled the virtues of crochet, punctuated by her jocular wit. Concurrently, she passed around some articles from her book. I have to say, some of the wear-ables were inspiring, even to my jaded, over-fashionated senses. Particularly cute, was her “bikini-in-a-bag.” It was an itty bitty, teeny weeny, too. Her comment on using the drawstring bag for the man’s bathing suit, drew giggles and more than a few red-faced titters from the ladies in the audience.

Then, she dropped some bombs. First, she mentioned projects in the book made with acrylic yarn,
giving a nod towards affordability. Shocking indeed! (Although when I asked her if there was a particular brand of acrylic she liked, she was vague; she really preferred cotton. She did hip me to some (what I thought) rather tongue and cheek advice: if the ball squeaks when you squeeze it, give it a miss. Squeaks?! Do any of y’all have experience with this? Holla!

The second bomb, addressed the “hook vs the needle” issue, during the question and answer period (no, someone else asked). She claimed, she was initially not aware of the debate. 

During her first book tour, she says she was often approached by crocheters, who admired the projects; they wanted to know why there was nothing offered in their medium. She advised them (right, Chante?) to learn to knit. To their merit however, the crocheters were steadfast in their preference (“I do not knit. I crochet.”).

Hearing this message loud and clear, she produced the current book. I did wince though, when she likened the hook vs the needle debate to the "east coast/west coast" rivalry, and stated it was unnecessary. Of course it's unnecessary. But, unlike the east coast/west coast drama, the prejudice against crocheters has gone on much longer, and is historically rooted in class––as in Irish vs English––and has a present manifestation in race––more women of color crochet,––prejudice. Fortunately, given the younger generation's renewed interest in all things old––particularly the 60's, when crochet was in vogue––this prejudice hopefully, is dying!

Speaking of the younger generation––I broke down and bought Debbie's The Knitting Handbook, which she happily signed for me. Hey, I give credit where credit is due. Despite the pop culture refs, it was the pattern for the "Wonder Woman" bikini bottom in this book, that saved my ass––excuse the pun––when I had to knit one in a hurry, for a photo shoot. Besides, as a knitting instructor, the bikini patterns are a much more fun way to teach my youthful students about increasing and decreasing. Why should I allow my age and dislikes to keep me out of the loop? The cowboy hat, that Debbie is pictured wearing above, is featured in her latest book.

It's a perfect crown for the "No. 1 alternative chick" herself.

Now, Where Were We?

Playing Catch Up…

(Here's Della, the "IT" bull, in the Signature Sweater I machine knitted for Posh Paws of Manhattan, which officially opened last Saturday).

Hey There!

Gosh, so much has happened during the past coupla weeks, in the knitting and non-knitting world. I'ma try and pack it all in, so here we go!

I want to thank you all for your thoughtful comments regarding the  honesty and consciousness that goes into the planning of your knitting. I received a few emails from those thinking I disliked variegated yarns, so I'll say this, then I won't say no more. I don't hate them. In my opinion––the key word here––is that when dyed well, you don't have funny color pooling, as Shaun mentions, and the shades, when knitted, have a nice transition, and are coherent-looking from a distance.

Now, check this out. Cotton should not hurt your hands. If you have  arthritis, are sensitive, or even have reservations about knitting or crocheting with this delightful warm weather fiber, go for an 80/20 wool-cotton mix; Cascade's Sierra is wonderful and inexpensive, with generous yardage. Another nice yarn is Berroco's Cotton Twist. This yarn is gotta touch it soft; it'll pill slightly though, so don't love it too strongly.

For the purists––Classic Elite's Provence. I'm currently knitting a lace shell of my own design for the store, and on Addi-Turbo needles, she is flying through my fingers. Here's a hint––do a lace, yarn over, or drop stitch pattern; something that doesn't require a lot of finger manipulation. Slip stitches are good too. Try it, and lemme know how it goes.

Don't Buy All of the Tickets, Or I Won't Win…Just Kidding!

This in from my girl Michelle Bishop, of the Harlem Girls Quilting Circle

The HGQC convenes monthly in sisterhood and fellowship to explore the techniques and artistry of quilting in the African and African-American Diaspora. Over the pass year, HGQC has gained notoriety through the media, most recently featured in The Quilter Magazine, and in Quilts Japan. Again, we have been selected to display our quilts at The Cork Gallery, Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts – June 30 to July 10, 2006 – This year's theme is Syncopated Threads––Feel the Rhythm, See the Music. HGQC is selling raffles to underwrite the production costs of an exhibit of this stature.

Yo, the photos, don't do justice to these authentically utilitarian beauties. Please email me, for her snail mail, to purchase a raffle. The Cork Gallery is a non-profit org. that provides groups with a highly visible venue to show their works; however, artists must foot the expense to mount their exhibition. The tickets are $5US, per raffle. The drawing takes place July 1, 2006 at the artists reception, and the winner need not be present. Thanks y'all and good luck!

What Else is New?

Smiley's, purveyors of the cheapest, decent yarn on the planet, is having an internet sale. The yarn I'm recommending?––Panda Woolbale! This 100% wool Australian sport is excellent, I tell ya! I'm knitting Bonne Marie's Twist Cardigan with it. Normally $3.99US per ball, it is $1.99US! Holy S**T! The colors are close to the screen. Trust me, you can't go wrong.

As the Mac Turns…

Go over to Ambrosia's blog and say congratulations to her! She graduated from college over the Mother's day weekend. If you want to give her a present, you know yarn would be nice, right sis?…this is as arresting as a traffic accident, but if you are a knitter who is faint-hearted, leave this link alone––from my dear Margie, of Inconsolable Memory, an art blog, from Sydney, Australia…If you are faint-hearted, the Knitting Room Project, from Tasmania, may be much more your speed; it's submitted by one of the sweetest people on earth, Victoria Harbutt, also from Sydney––thanks for that, their skill is amazing!