The Great Wall o' Yarn

I got an email the other day asking me (and the other PKDG members) to knit swatches for the "Great Wall of Yarn" at the TNNA show this summer. Essentially, I'm going to get some brand-new, not-in-the-store-yet yarn to swatch up, however fancily, which will be displayed at the show for buyers to see how the yarn looks knitted up, etc. I'm totally excited. I can't wait for the mysterious yarns to arrive!

The Baby Surprise is almost done-- I just need to sew the seams. I think I'm going to put some kind of trim on the edges too, but I haven't decided what. This week I also got a few more rows done on the Aran, which is weird because I don't usually find much time to knit during the week. I guess I'm REALLY ignoring my responsibilities now!

As for the "Eveningwear of Mystery"-- I am working out a design for an top to wear to the Stitches banquet. All I know so far is that I'm making it out of pink Glace. I ordered the yarn from Patternworks and when it comes I'll start swatching and see what it wants me to do with it.

And here's where we are with the Level 3 Aran. I've got the ribbing and 9 rows of cabling-planning to get another inch or so tonight. It is really slow work! I'm using Knit Picks Wool of the Andes.

Almost done with the Baby Surprise...behold! I'm using Dale of Norway Baby Ull.

Friday night was my tap performance... can you guess which is me? (Hint- I'm one of the poodle-wearers.)

Thursday night Emma gave her presentation on mummies (yes of course we helped her with the board, she's only 5!)

Today, seriously

Since it's SNOWING (which is completely disgusting, given that earlier in the week it was in the 80's) I think I'm going to hole up in my knitting room and actually work on my Level III aran. It's still just a strip of ribbing, and that's so sad. I may also finish the Baby Surprise, depending on how much housework I can successfully avoid. (When it gets bad my husband finally notices and does some of it himself--yes, I exploit this to increase my always insufficient knitting time.)

I'm in!

Today I got a letter from the Professional Knitwear Designers Guild letting me know I've been accepted as an Associate Member. How nice! I applied a few weeks ago--you have to send in a pattern you have written along with a large swatch, photo of the finished item, and a resume. You then have 2 years to work on becoming eligible for Professional membership, which basically entails having at least 3 designs published in at least 2 different commercial publications. This is totally what I want to be doing, and since they offer support, contacts, and mentorship along the way I thought I would apply.

Knitted (and Crocheted) Chamber of Horrors: An Homage to Stitchy McYarnpants (with apologies to the designers and models)

I love Stitchy's MOKS, and thought I'd pay tribute with a few terror-inducing items of my own. The theme for today is... pants optional. Enjoy!

Ooooh...hot pants!

Who knew a poncho was an outfit all by itself?

Avert your eyes!

Going to Stitches Midwest!

For as long as I have been knitting, I have wanted to go to a Stitches event, but somehow they are never at times I can get away. A few days ago I got the brochure for Stitches Midwest, and lo and behold it is one week earlier than last year, meaning it doesn't conflict with my school's staff retreat (which ended up getting moved to earlier in the summer anyway...) I was so excited I already registered, got a room in the hotel connected to the convention center, and booked an airline ticket (yes, I am too lazy to drive from Detroit to Chicago, and the place is 5 minutes from the airport.) There's even an all-day class on Bohus Stickning, which is my absolute favorite. Being a teacher, I don't usually look forward to August, but for once I will.

Bizarre...yet strangely appealing

Looking around today I noticed that several boards out in computer-land were discussing the TKGA Master Knitting program, and mentioned my article in the new Knitty. Kind of like overhearing conversations about yourself, but nice all the same. I didn't have the room to go into the kind of detail some would like, plus leaving room for the whole tongue-in-cheek thing (I'm not nearly that obsessed with awards in real life!) If there's anyone out there who would like to know anything more specific, let me know and I'll be happy to oblige. At this point I have only my Aran to finish, though the mindless ease of the Baby Surprise is very distracting!

Big day!

Well this is totally non-knitting related (though I did get a few inches done on the Baby Surprise last night in lieu of what I should have been doing), but 15 years ago today was my husband's and my first date. I'll go feel old now.

The Saga of Bunny

One may wonder who Bunny is, and indeed his life was a fascinating one. He was given to my daughter Emma on the occasion of her birth in January 2000. She ignored him at first, choosing to love instead a finger puppet known as "Town Mouse." At approximately 9 months of age, Emma discarded Town Mouse and took up with the love of her young life, Bunny. Emma and Bunny were inseparable for years, and as Bunny decayed Emma only loved him more. In the summer of 2004, Emma requested that I knit Bunny a sweater (of Noro Kureyon) "to keep his puff in" and also a prosthetic arm (of Lang Jawoll), as one of his had disappeared (see title picture.) Unfortunately, Bunny's life was cut short when he was lost somewhere in Detroit Metro Airport. His memory will be with us always.

Town Mouse, Emma's first love

Bunny as a young man (with Emma, circa 2000)

Bunny in his declining years

It's important to be informed

34 Things to Know About Me

I have been knitting since 2000 and am a reformed crocheter.
When I am not knitting I teach first and second grade gifted students.
I have a daughter and 2 cats.
I use a lot of Simpsons phrases in my everyday speech.
Hello Kitty and I are the same age.
I tap dance and sew my own costumes.
I was once known as Juanita Pinecone.
Juanita Pinecone did poetry readings of tasteless limericks and free verse.
I compulsively buy knitting books.
My favorite weather is sunny and 70 degrees, which is pretty rare in Michigan.
My favorite author is Kurt Vonnegut.
My favorite artists are Van Gogh, Chagall, Matisse, and Picasso.
I am a certified knitting teacher.
I am almost a Master Knitter.
My musical tastes (80’s/early 90’s “alternative” rock) have not changed much since high school.
I watch Seinfeld reruns to a compulsive degree.
I hate knitting lace.
My favorite fast food is Taco Bell.
My favorite meal is prime rib, baked potato with sour cream, and a really good salad.
I met my husband in 10th grade.
I have a huge collection of Grace Ennis sock and necktie patterns.
My favorite socks have a hot dog stabbed on a big fork on them.
I also like the poodle necktie and the flaming devil socks.
I love Bohus sweaters and the book I got about them.
Even though I really don’t need any more, I still buy knitting needles.
I procrastinate frequently.
I love checking the mail.
I do not like any foods in the “whipped” or “congealed” groups.
I like buying bags and purses more than clothes.
I despise saltines.
I am very organized.
I skinny-dipped in Lake Michigan, which was bad because it was cold.
I once did something inappropriate at Temple Square in Salt Lake City.
I am not an enigma wrapped in a riddle, wrapped in a vest.

Ribbit (sigh)

Let me preface this by saying I have never designed an Aran sweater before, and believe me, it's damn difficult! I had it all figured out (I thought, at least) but when I actually tried to make the planned increases after the ribbing it took two rippings-out to get it to be correct AND look nice. Grr... Anyway, I did finally get past the ribbing, and have started on the sweater back itself. It's fancy and ambitious, and I got all the way to row...2.

Saturday!

Well it's Saturday, and that means it's finally time to get some knitting done. My "boys" Rosalie (yes, I know, my daughter named him) and Pinecone II (named after Pinecone I, who is also black) will no doubt want to help me more than I would like--they are unusually affectionate and settle for the cat bed in my knitting room when they would rather have my lap.

Rosalie and Pinecone II

Spring Knitty is Up! Hooray!

It's been hard to wait, but it's finally here- the Spring issue of Knitty! I always look forward to it, but this time more than usual, since I get to see my article. It's about the TKGA Master Knitting program and the CYCA Certified Instructor program, and it's here. Go see!

Not getting much done...

But at least my bag is cute! I got a sushi print one from www.boogybags.com and I absolutely love it. Although I have only finished a few more rows of ribbing on my Aran, and everything else is untouched so far this week, everything is looking attractive sitting in the bag. Besides that, I'm waiting VERY impatiently for the new Knitty to come out-- I have an article in it!

Behold!

Here it is! My Kaleidoscope tam. The pattern is available at www.chiagu.com. I designed it for my TKGA Level III Master Hand Knitting submission (which is getting closer to being finished every day- I finished designing my Aran sweater and have started knitting it- one whole inch of ribbing done so far.)

Here we go!

I've been resisting this for a while, but I've finally given in to the whole blog thing. The name, incidentally, is from my favorite French verb frotter "to rub"-- which also explains my yarn shop behavior. I've used it here as a command-so do as I say!