SistahCraft

The Aliens Have Returned Me!

Where I Was Seen Last During The Summer…

 

(I only got up for a moment; The Silver Spinner, my Ashford Kiwi wheel, custom painted and tricked out to be portable, by the handsome Dave Paul of The Merlin Tree. All pics enlarge.)

Hey there everybody!!!

I want to thank all of you who expressed concern for me. And since I do care about your feelings, I'm not gonna lie––I was not a candidate for the visitors; I was right here on earth.

Honestly? I just didn't have the time to spend online, so I had to take a break. Fall/winter became very busy, between work at the magazine, and my work in knit product development. With the hours I had left, I directed my energies to living, because I am not under the self-help book inspired illusion that one can have or do it all––that's for the deities. And maybe the aliens.

I finished some intense design commitments, then acquired skill in a new medium––hand spinning––in order to refocus my eyes, and find new inspiration. I'm now feeling renewed and refreshed,  just in time for the return of spring! 

But, as the daffodils are moving up, some things have moved on. Here are two announcements, so you won't be unpleasantly surprised when you visit NYC.

Last Stitches

The start of this year has seen the closing of two yarn shops. The first, Yarn Connection (218 Madison Avenue at 36th Street), was a favorite haunt of mine for over 20 years. Arriving at the top of the stairs to Jane Young's jewel box of a shop on the second floor, you were often greeted by boxes of the latest yarns stacked in the hallway; my heart would immediately start to palpitate with cupidity. Her staff was the nicest, both patient and helpful to everyone, and they had the best sale bins for designer yarn in the city. Yes folks, this was where a frugal gal could look good. I admit I didn't go to the final sale. I would've started to cry, embarrassing everyone. For a last look at the shop, go to Heidi Cohen's  Knitted Yarns. Jane, I wish you  the best!

The second to cast off, was Stitches East (55 East 52nd Street, lobby 3). This elusive but spacious boutique, discretely called bitches east by disgruntled patrons, catered to well dressed, advanced knitters and needle pointers who lunched. Indeed, on the rare occasion I stopped in, I was actually treated decently––probably owing to wearing a not-too-vintage designer suit, and running off to meet friends for a sweet lunch at that venerated New York institution, Serendipity.  But, regardless of the mixed reviews, it's still a loss for midtown center––where will the swells stitch now? Perhaps Knitting 321 (321 East 75th Street), will pick up the ball. It's expensive, caters to knitches (from what I've heard), and you can lunch at Swifty's!

Yes y'all, the knitting magpie is back!!

A Knitter Who Cooks, A Chef Who Knits, and A Gastronomic Tour In the Bronx

First, A Few Quick Notes...

Here is a picture of my progress on the front of the soon-to-be vest, since my previous post. Nick, the cast on is called a Cable Cast On. It is one of my favorite cast on's, and the one I most frequently use for garments. I like its look, and strength (all pics enlarge),

I had written about my decision to use a Horseshoe Cable. Now, you can see the practicality of this at the armhole. The bottom arrow points to the decrease and subsequent 2 x1 cable crossing. The second arrow and third arrows, are pointing to the subsequent decreases  and the narrowing of the cable to a left twist.

Here's a close-up pic of the Pigtail, which is made up of right and left twists.

Ah, such illusion! I tell ya.'  Insert a coupla these into your pieces to replace either stripes or ribs, and folks will think it took all day, tee hee. It's just a four row repeat.

To my friend Nick: this front did not take very long to knit. Remember, the braids are twist stitches and the outside cables cross every six rows. I only had to concentrate on the central cable motif. (I also knit in the Continental Style).

The client's fitting is this Saturday, and I'm very excited.

Now, it's time to eat..

 

IT'S MY BIRTHDAY, AND THE SOLSTICE IS IN EFFECT!

After Today, It Only Gets Better

Mr. K took this picture of me in my birthday suit, just to be scandalous! It is pure happy madness that has consumed me since the winter solstice began at 10:35 a.m. GMT. The piece of knitting that is keeping me decent (stop snickering), is a swatch of a part of the Aran style vest, that I now have a three day extension on (it's due in a week, but I don't knit on my birthday). The plain stockinette back was completed Monday night, in four hours.

My gathering of the people, has been temporarily rain-checked due to the strike by the Transport Workers Union, who I'm entirely supportive of.  Last night, at the Tuesday night men's party at the Lenox Lounge, (a big shout out to the very tony Tony Ndogo; when in New York, stay at his place), I was able to hear the details from my friends who work for Transit. While I'm not going to use this post as a political platform, I will say this to all you current New Yorkers: Deal with it. This is the third transit strike I've lived through (and the only clue you'll get about my age). And, guess what? They're walking too.

Having a job, is not a privilege that you should be grateful for, it is a contract between you and your employer.

That said, remember that you too are a worker, not just a consumer. The former stands up for their rights, while the latter just b****es about not having enough money to buy more s**t. And if you have a problem with the amount of money TWU workers make, then maybe you should ask for more money at your job. Or, take the Transit test. Hopefully, you can become a token booth clerk at a station, where you're not alone at night, and your nearest bathroom isn't a block away, at a fast food joint. Ladies, take note.

Cheers!
                                                                                                                                

Okay, my rant is over and I am officially here, in this world. Again! Go and grab a glass and join me!
HERE'S TO BEING HAPPY, AS OPPOSED TO JUST APPROPRIATE!

Mr. K and I are taking the Metro North commuter train into the city. Tonight's hijinks's include going to a business acquaintance of his for drinks, then a late dinner at EN Japanese Brasserie (this is a hot link!), and finally winding up the evening with a nightcap at P.J.'s with my friend, the most fabulous Tom Martin, bartender of the moment. Whew!

And to think, Christmas is this weekend!

Yours In Yarn,

Keep On Keepin' On

Compassion (Noun), A feeling of deep sympathy and sorrow for another's suffering or misfortune, accompanied by a desire to alleviate the pain or remove its cause.

I am impressed with the rapid galvanization of our brothers and sisters to help our extended "families," affected for the long term by Katrina's wrath. From Rap celebrities–some of Master P's  relatives are still missing–to our churches, which have once again become the rock which bore us from slavery, through re-construction, Jim Crow and beyond; we are banning together without regard to the government that regarded us as redundant once we were free. Lord! it's about time.

Fingers, Don't Fail Me Now

I am not going to be redundant by listing all of the craft links that are contributing to the relief effort, however. Part of my contribution to the benefit happening this Thursday at the Canal Room (see previous post), will be washcloths from cotton in my stash. If any of y'all out there are looking for a durable INEXPENSIVE COTTON, go to Smiley's; they have an Internet sale, starting at $.77 US. That's right, seventy-seven cents a ball! Purchase the light colors (they don't run), please leave me some, and get started.

After receiving your supplies–get on over to the Copper Stitch Gathering which meets this Saturday, September 10Th at Barnes & Noble Booksellers; Camp Creek Market Place 3685 Market Place Blvd, East Point, GA 30344 (404-349-0359). The time will be from 12 noon until you leave. Knit-Hop Re-Mix is back in effect!

If you're knitting at home, hey! One of the sensual pleasures I enjoy in life, that enables me to knit speedily through major commitments–births, birthdays, support and now, relief–is a good audio-book and a glass of good wine.

It was at PJ's about two weeks ago when I met Victoria Meghdir, and her son, Laoufi of, Meghdir & Sons, a family-owned vineyard in Algeria. I'm going to keep this short, but sweet. Their wines were simultaneously, some of most sophisticated and intuitively enjoyable I've tasted. The flavor imparts a sensual enjoyment, downgrading the–unnecessary for the most part–complexity that spawns verbose analysis. Especially after a few glasses.

That said, they are linked to my site. Do inquire, as you can drink this wine with or without needlework. I'm already considering knit/tastings, during the season, since they are currently available at a few fine wine shops in New York. Bring them to your area.

I'm signing off to thank the ancestors for the compassion I've witnessed over the weekend. You're welcome to join in.

Later,

SB