22 May 2009 · 1 Comment
Embonpoint: \äⁿ-bōⁿ-ˈpwaⁿ\ adjective
-sufficiently fat so as to have a pleasing fullness of figure
Allow me to present my newest creation, Embonpoint!
The name is perfect on several counts. First, this is the most luciously fat sock yarn I’ve ever seen. It is thick enough that the socks work up quickly, but still thin enough to fit inside of most shoes. It has a nice tight twist, making the strands marvelously plump and firm. The name works for the pattern too. There is a lovely round little faux cable. It’s great fun to make, doesn’t take a cable needle, and makes adorable little circles. Finally, the cuff of the sock is made on straight needles and then joined up for working in the round in such a way that it absolutely will not bother you if you’re having a puffy ankle sort of day.
Also, it’s just a damn nifty word. If you want to hear the official dictionary droid pronounce it for you, just go here. It’s great fun to say.
22 May 2009 · No Comments
The charming (enviably athletic, and astonishingly coordinated) Claudia is raising money for the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. She’s riding in the MS Bike Tour and asking knitters to sponsor her. The cause is a good one, and supporting it should be reward enough, but Claudia has arranged for some marvelous prizes to sweeten the pot. Prizes include yarn (lots of yarn), knitted items, books, patterns, kits, and all sorts of other knitterly goodness. I’m happy to do my part, and have offered up a couple of bundles of my patterns to add to the pile of goodies.
Every ten dollar donation gets you one entry into the prize drawing, which will be held on June 29, 2009. Last year Claudia raised over thirty thousand dollars. She has been the number one fundraiser for two years running. Lets see if we can make it three!
