Bob the Chatterbox

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Arts, Crafts, Fiber art, Knit in Public, Knitting, Knitting and Crochet, Knitting needle

I arrived at work 2 hours early one day last week, and I had decided to knit while I waited to clock in. I had just set up a little knitting zone for myself (complete with snacks), when a coworker of mine popped his head in to say hello. We’ll call him Bob.

Now, I like Bob. Bob is a nice guy. But Bob likes to talk. A LOT. Bob is never quiet. And, while he is very friendly, Bob never really has anything poignant to say. He just chatters.

I had to follow two different cable charts to knit the afghan I had brought, and seeing Bob made me nervous that these precious two knitting hours were about to be commandeered by empty speech. I bristled at the thought of putting down my knitting, so instead I decided to continue following the charts and just give a polite nod, or one word response occasionally in Bob’s direction.

First Bob tells me he is very tired because he got up really early today and he was actually planning on sleeping on the bench across from me until his shift started. I thought this was an excellent idea and immediately agreed that he looked tired and should take a nap.

Bob shakes his head. He tells me this is not possible because he can only sleep after everyone around him is asleep. He can’t sleep around other people. I am getting a headache but I am not ready to give into Bob yet. I keep knitting.

Bob and I sat like this for a while, Bob stretched out on the bench chattering away and me knitting and politely nodding.

Bob tells me about his girlfriend, who is a yoga instructor.  (That’s exactly how he says it. My girlfriend, the yoga instructor. I find this amusing because I cannot imagine Richard ever referring to me in conversation as “my girlfriend, the knitter”. It would be really cool if he did though…)

Bob tells me a gruesome story about his police buddy that beat up a suspect because he attacked another cop. (I am sure I had a disturbed look on my face during this story, but he just kept going anyway.)

Bob tells me about the hog hunting trip he is taking in February. (Clearly, Bob and I have loads in common.)

And then, suddenly, he was quiet.

About a minute later, he started snoring, ever so softly.

I am gleeful. We sat there; me  knitting and reading my charts while Bob softly snored. It was wonderful!

Other people began arriving at work and passing by and I would signal to them to be quiet so Bob could sleep. I was giddy over the work I was completing on my afghan and as I basked in my relaxed progress, it hit me:

My knitting doesn’t just relax ME; my knitting relaxes OTHER PEOPLE too! Watching me leisurely click away on my project had relaxed Bob into a gentle slumber. Bob, who cannot sleep in front of people. Bob, who never stops talking. His snoring made my mini-epiphany all the more significant.

I won. And it’s because I was knitting. 🙂

Knit Love – Robots!

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Arts, Crafts, Fiber art, Knitting, Knitting and Crochet, Knitting needle, Pattern, Robots

I am starting a new feature for the blog this month. Every Thursday I will pick a theme and post all the knit-related things I love within that theme. We’ll call the series of posts “Knit Love” and I think you will find this is a fun way to feature some fun knit-related stuff.

This week’s theme is: ROBOTS!

I LOVE this pattern: Rainy Day Robot by Mari Campbell.

 

I LOVE these ROBOMITTS by SpillyJane:

This Embroidered Bucket Knitting Tote by Erin Lane:

These 2 Pattern Keepers in Robot by gomonkeydesign:

This Red and Blue Robot Pixel Mash-up Tank by elf518:

Umm. Wow. That is some pretty incredible fair isle.

That wraps up this week’s Knit Love. Have a great day!

 

Free Pattern Friday – Winter Wonder Mittens by Amy Loberg

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Arts, Crafts, Fiber art, Free Pattern, Glove, Knit Mitten, Knitting, Knitting and Crochet, Pattern, Snowflakes, Yarn

After a long haul of knitting for others over the holidays, take the time to knit yourself a little something special!

This week’s Free Pattern Friday is Winter Wonder Mittens by Amy Loberg:

Amy Loberg owns a knitting shop called Fiber Wild in Galena, IL. If you are in the area, you should stop in!

The One That Got Away

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Arts, Crafts, Fiber art, Knitting, Knitting and Crochet, Knitting Pattern, Pattern, Snowflake Blanket, United States, Yarn

Every Knitter, at one time or another, will come across a pattern that absolutely takes their breath away. You’ll see it and then you will just know that it must be yours. You want to cast it on immediately and you know that it will be A-MAZ-ING when you are done.

There’s just one problem. The pattern is not in English and a translation cannot be found anywhere.

This pattern, is THAT pattern for me:

This is Coeurs et Flocons by La Droguerie (roughly translated, it’s called Hearts and Snowflakes). It’s a pattern that I will dream about for years to come, but I will never be able to knit. I cannot read French knitting patterns and I can’t even imagine how French Knitting Language most likely differs a great deal from American knitting.

For me, this pattern will never BE. But that does not mean I can’t stare at it for hours each winter anyway. 😉

Do you have a Pattern That Got Away? Feel free to share in the comments.

The Saga of the Rogue Tapestry Needle

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Arts, Crafts, Fiber art, Knitting, Knitting and Crochet, Knitting needle, Supplies, Tapestry Needle

I got to work early one day last week and decided a little crafting would help the time pass. I sat down, whipped out my knitting, and started clicking away at this afghan I’m working on. I sat in our office and some of my coworkers would occasionally pop their heads in and ask what I’m knitting or comment about how they want me to knit something for them. All pretty typical comments whenever I knit in public. About 5 minutes before I was supposed to clock in, I finished up my row, packed everything up, and went about my work day.

About 2 hours later, I ran into a coworker in our office (let’s call her Sally) and we’re chatting about work stuff, and suddenly she says, “Oh, you lost your needle. I found it on the floor and I put it right here.” She points at the counter.

I am shocked. How did I loose a needle? I am very careful to pack everything up when I am done knitting. As I make my way over to the counter, I am thinking about what a nice coworker I have. She’s so great  for taking the time to rescue my needle.

When we get to the counter, it’s empty. There is no needle. I crouch down and study the counter very closely, but to no avail. Sally is also surprised. She says something to the effect of “Someone must have moved it. I’m sorry.”

I start to quiz Sally. I ask her what the needle looked like. She says it’s a silver needle with a rounded tip. I laugh, because this describes many of my knitting needles. I ask her how big it is and she holds her hands up about 2 inches apart.

I realize we are now searching for a tapestry needle and I start to panic.  Tapestry needles are a special nemesis of mine. I MUST own at least 30 tapestry needles, but the most I can ever locate at any time is one tapestry needle. Whenever I lose that one needle the search for it reduces me to pathetic tears and delusions that maybe the knitting store is open past midnight. Sally knows none of this, but I can tell she is starting to get the sense that THIS IS BAD.

And then it happened. I got down on my hands and knees in the middle of my office and started frantically combing the carpet for my missing needle. At this point, most of my coworkers are looking at me as if I am a mental patient, but I don’t care. I just keep searching. Ten minutes of searching yields no needle and only the shreds of what is left of my dignity. I am defeated.

I trudged out of the office and continued my work. This was, I should mention, a particularly difficult work day because virtually every customer we had contact with that day was angry. I spent 4 hours getting yelled at, and another 3 hours cleaning up and helping another manager close out the day. As we are writing our final report for the day, drowning our sorrows in Aqua Panna, I am sitting on the floor and I start to wonder again where the heck that needle went. I manage to keep my composure and NOT embark on a second search while we sit there.

After we finish our report, we start to stand up, and suddenly, I spot my rogue needle. I had actually just been sitting on it (see how the needle mocks me???). I grabbed it off the ground, raised it in the air, and started yelling in victory. This has probably confirmed any suspicions that I am a crazy knitter, but I don’t care. I won.

Boo-yeah needle. Victory is mine.

Free Pattern Friday – Coach Legacy Striped Scarf

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Arts, Coach, Coach Scarf, Crafts, Fiber art, Free Pattern, Knit Scarf, Knitting, Knitting and Crochet, Scarf, Shopping, Supplies

This week’s Free Pattern Friday comes from Jeanna Quinones of GirlieQ Knits:

Coach Legacy Striped Scarf

As someone who has always loved EVERYTHING Coach, I squealed in delight when I came across this pattern! I own a few of their handbags and accessories, but cannot currently afford to buy anymore. This scarf is just the thing I need to get my fix. 🙂

Jeanna’s blog has a couple other scarf patterns (all fabulous) and they’re all reversible. You should check her out!

 

Happy Knitting!

Review: Vintage Knits for Modern Babies

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Arts, Book Review, Crafts, Fiber art, Hadley Fierlinger, Knitting, Knitting and Crochet, Knitting Pattern Book, Pattern, Vintage Knits for Modern Babies

Today’s review is on a book that I was not expecting to find, but am happy I did: Vintage Knits for Modern Babies by Hadley Fierlinger.

This book is a delight. The patterns are simply classic and beautiful. It stays true to it’s name; most of the 25 patterns in this book have a vintage feel. I wanted to knit the majority of the patterns inside, which is a rarity in knitting books these days and a testament to the quality Hadley Fierlinger has provided in her patterns. The photography is gorgeous and I think a lot of these patterns will become repeat knits for years to come. 🙂 Here are a few of my favorite patterns in the book:

Modern Baby Bonnet

Organic Heirloom Blanket

Nana’s Bunnies

Ruby Slippers

Tiny Trousers

As you can see, the patterns are divine. I want to knit them all!

Free Pattern Friday – Flamingo

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Art, Crafts, Fiber art, Flamingo, Free Pattern, Knit Animal, Knitting, Knitting and Crochet, Pattern, Susan B Anderson

I am a HUGE fan of Susan B Anderson, so it should come as no surprise that I am featuring one of her patterns for Free Pattern Friday this week: Flamingo.

How precious is this toy? I have added it to my knitting queue. I don’t know who I will give it to, but one day the right person will come along and the rest will be history.

Happy Knitting!

Review: French Girl Knits

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Arts, Clothing, Crafts, Fiber art, French Girl Knits, Knitting, Knitting and Crochet, Knitting Pattern Book, Pattern, Shopping

I went to the library this week and I was delighted to come across a whole selection of knitting books at the Chinatown branch which were not there a couple weeks before. I did not order them and they are not new releases which has led me to suspect that there is another knitter in Chinatown.

Every time I realize I might be in the vicinity of a fellow knitter I become giddy with excitement and this is no exception. Now, whenever I go to the library, I rush to the knitting section and pop around the corner of the aisle in the hopes that I will run into this mystery knitter. This, of course, has not worked out so far, but the idea that I might meet this other knitter (who has fabulous taste in knitting books) remains an exciting one.

While I was in the knitting section, I picked up French Girl Knits by Kristeen Griffin-Grimes.

It was a delightful treat! This book has 18 inspiring, beautiful and flattering patterns.

The first thing that struck me when I flipped through the patterns was the shapes of the garments are curve friendly and there are a lot of empire waists. The garments are fitted and flattering on most women.

Upon further investigation, I realized the book features a lot of seamless construction and the patterns are full of unusual stitch patterns and knitting details, which I loved.

What is most wonderful about this book is the way the patterns inspire you.The unique garments in this book make you want to capture the French “Je ne sais quoi” in your knitting and in your daily wardrobe. They are truly romantic and refreshing.

The patterns range from Lace to Bulky weight yarn, so there is a project for everyone and they are really striking to behold. Some of these garments would stop traffic, they are so beautiful (if the people in traffic were mostly knitters), and others are casual and versatile enough to wear to a nice dinner or to the grocery store.

Here are a few of my favorite patterns from French Girl Knits:

Wrenna

Celeste

Louisa

Viola

These are beautiful, flattering, French-inspired knits. I want to knit them all!

Fall 2010 Knit Fashions

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Arts, Crafts, D&G, Fall 2010, Fiber art, Knit Fashion, Knit Trends, Knitting, Knitting and Crochet, Knitting needle, M Missoni, Oscar de la Renta, Scarf, Shopping

It is 90 degrees in my apartment right now and I have multiple fans pointed at me to create some semblance of a “cross-breeze.” The A/C has been broken for two weeks. We take refuge from the heat at work, in movie theaters, and frequent trips to Haagen-Dazs, but for the most part we’re melting over here. And yet, here I sit, knitting away and reading new fall knitting magazines. Even as I sweat it out, I can’t help but think of the accessories, baby items, sweaters and afghans I am hoping to create this year. I am dreaming of loved ones dressed head-to-toe in cozy hand knits and long evenings spent knitting in my favorite leather chair. I am even still knitting. I am halfway through a lace stole, despite my urges to cast on an afghan, in the interest of preventing heat stroke.

All these thoughts of fall knits turned my attention to the latest fashions we are seeing flow into stores right now. The Fall 2010 Collections have been released and they are gorgeous! Here are a few of my favorites:

From M Missoni, a beautiful Cashmere Knit Vest in Black and White. I would wear this EVERY DAY!

This Cashmere Knit Top is Oscar de la Renta. I saw this and immediately tried to figure out how to knit it. I love the design, with it’s classic lines and interesting lace panels, and it could be worn anywhere.

 

Below is more of the Fall 2010 D&G Collection. DIVINE INTARSIA!

 

This M Missoni Zig Zag Skirt is super cute! It looks like it would be a quick knit too…

So that’s just a taste of all the lovely pieces we’ll be seeing this fall. These breath-taking and inspiring knits are feeding my knitter soul. And now, commence dreaming of that afghan…