23 December 2011 · 9 Comments
Last one…next post I promise actual wool. But today is my birthday and I’m going to be exactly as lazy as I want to be (hint: very). That means a short blog post, a breakfast featuring chocolate chip waffles made by someone else, some ridiculously simple yet oddly entrancing knitting, an awful lot of board games, and absolutely no chance of getting out of my pajamas.
Oh, it also means that there’s a wee tiny sale. Today and tomorrow (through 11:59pm eastern time December 24th), buy one pattern get one free (everything except the books). To take advantage:
1) Visit my ravelry store, find 2 patterns you like, and put them in your ravelry cart (you have to use the ‘add to cart’ option, not the ‘buy it now’ option).
2) Once both patterns are in your cart, go to the checkout.
3) Hit the ‘use a coupon code’ button, type ‘Birthday!’ in the little box, and hit ‘apply.’ The total will immediately update…if it doesn’t something has gone wrong…try again.
4) Hit ‘checkout now,’ go through the payment process, and enjoy your new patterns.
And yes, you can use the coupon more than once. Just start over at step 1 and pick 2 more patterns. Rinse and repeat until you’re set!
22 December 2011 · No Comments
I’m still being a totally lazy blogger and taking advantage of the cleverness of someone in the past to prevent the dreaded holiday silence. I am getting a bit of knitting done, but I can’t show you. I’m swatching for something I want to submit somewhere (how’s that for specific), and it must remain hush hush for now. But the spiky sock is also making progress and should be up for testing soon.
21 December 2011 · 1 Comment
You’ll pardon me if I use the next few days to share some charming vintage images I stumbled across. And also use them to nap. And pet kittens. And perhaps nap a bit more. And cook and eat tasty things. And otherwise laze about shamelessly. As usual, click to embiggen.
20 December 2011 · 3 Comments
So that inexplicable urge I mentioned the other day? It’s run its course and I can now tell you about it. There was a point in my misspent youth and childhood where I had a bit of a paper fetish. I was totally the kid folding her exam paper into some sort of unexpected sculpture while I waited for class to be over.
So the other day I became absolutely convinced that the world would be a better place if it contained a Christmas tree covered in origami figures of fiber animals. And really, it would. Think of it. Sheep. Rabbits. Goats. Even the odd llama (they say it’s a horse…they are wrong) or camel.
This plan fell down on several fronts–1) I don’t do a Christmas tree. 2) I don’t actually like to fold the same thing more than a few times, which makes it hard to fill a tree. 3) I have no time to do this and no longer have a stack of appropriate paper tucked away in the closet. But someone out there reading this likely does. And someone out there reading this likely should make a bunch of these and adorn their tree. I tried to link to fairly easy instructions. All you need is thin paper…even wrapping paper would work. Can you imagine this in a yarn store? Or just on your tree at home? You could even fold some socks or mittens. You know you want to…give in. And then take pictures so I can live through you.
And the socks and mittens are totally getting added to my list of things I can fold without the diagrams so I can make them when the urge strikes. Because they’re so flipping cute I could die. And because I’m easily entertained.
18 December 2011 · 4 Comments
Many moons ago, and mostly on a lark, I filled out a little form on the Maker’s Mark website. It said it would add you to their ambassador’s club. I think I likely found it when looking for address labels or something like that. It’s since been a source of a surprising amount of amusement. The address labels came, but so did other things. For you see, every winter they send out some sort of special little package. One year it was an ice cube tray that made baseball sized ice spheres. One year it was wrapping paper and gift bags with snowflake images made of bottles all over them (used it to wrap a four year old’s birthday present, merriment was felt by all). This year…this year it was a tiny sweater. A tiny sweater with snowflakes and prancing reindeer and the word “Maker’s” emblazoned across the chest. The idea was that you adorn your bottle with suitable holiday cheer.
This was not what happened at our house.
At our house, I first turned it inside out to see how it was put together (kind of funky actually…I may have to ask someone who knows more about colorwork just what’s going on there). Then I danced it around and showed it to the boy and pondered various amusing puppet shows. Then I set it on the counter and walked away. A short while later I heard the sounds of restrained mirth coming from the living room. Sure enough, The Boy had begun the process of introducing Douglas to the sweater. I…I’m apparently more or less resigned to the blog thing because I dashed off to grab the camera. I managed a few quick shots, none stellar. But hopefully this one is enough to convey the sense of utter disdain in which Douglas now holds us. If you hear that I’ve been found dead of mysterious causes, question the kitten. He’s certainly had appropriate provocation.
And please don’t worry, he was out of it within about 30 seconds and seems to have suffered no harm from this affront to his dignity.
16 December 2011 · 1 Comment
I’ve found myself caught in the grip of a totally random and inexplicable urge. It is fiber related, but only ever so slightly so. All things considered, it’s more of a paper-based obsession, with more than a hint of (unexpected) holiday overlay. I’ll report back shortly on the outcome and see if perhaps I can’t spread the sickness to you while there’s still time to act upon it. Apologies in advance for any lost productivity that may result.
15 December 2011 · 11 Comments
I’m rather taken with these. I worried at first that the yarn would be too busy for the pattern, but I think it’s working out. The stitch pattern is sort of magical…super stretchy (looks much better once it’s on a leg and under a bit more tension), works up quickly, and easy to just read your knitting and see what comes next. Now…would someone like to come finish them up for me so I can hurry up and wear them?
