stitch marker

eden larissa rhubarb and a pink pink sweater

Photo by Sarah Gilbert.

Yes, you have seen this sweater before. But I love this photo and wanted to show you. At our farmers market there's a place called Cafe Velo that custom drips Stumptown single origin coffees in ceramic cones. I had ordered some sort of coffee that had "eden" in the name, but I was knitting the sweater for the daughter of my good friend Eden and so asked Sarah to photograph the cup and sweater together.

I haven't seen enough of either friend, Eden or Sarah. I'm sad about that, or, more wistful. There should be more friends together time. I miss people, I miss my dog, I miss my family from traveling, even for a single night.

But Berkeley was lots of fun! I had a wonderful interview with Mike from YKnit (you must click here because we are toooo cute,) and visited Mrs. Dalloway's Books where they were so kind to me. Aurora works there and is someone who knitted pieces for our book.

When I returned I found out my previous trip to Denver continues to pay off. Our book is on the Denver Post bestseller list this week! This is really amazing to me. I didn't imagine a knitting book could do that. I'm thrilled.

Have a cup of coffee with me?

ready to go

A late night photo of the ready-to-go dishcloths.

They'll be in the show starting this weekend, at the Long Beach Island Foundation. Here is how they look in a stack. They'll be shown in a stack, with a book that includes a photograph of every cloth, in the order I received them, with handwritten info about the person who made the cloth and where they're from. It's called archive. I think my sister will take photos for us all to see.

And I'm not ready to go, but need to be in the next hour or so. I leave for Denver very early in the morning and speak tomorrow night at Tattered Cover book store. I'm really looking forward to the flight and time in Denver, but I really dislike packing and getting to the "or-port."

Someone who may or may not be ready to go is Ellie. I've explained to Sebastian she needs to go somewhere and will not be able to come back. Sometimes she looks so great and jumps for tennis balls and runs for 20 or more minutes with me. Other times it looks like she can barely breathe. We think she rallies for fun stuff and food, but really she is in very poor shape. She's had all the treatment they will give her, and she's survived longer than expected on the last dose. But she breathes very fast and shallowly when resting, and she's acting dumber or more on instinct - barking a lot even when it's us coming in the door, stealing food from the garbage and people's hands. She has never been like this. We'll know more this weekend.

Sebastian says:

At thirteen o'clock we can go to the strawberry train and get some strawberries. And we can eat them on the way home. On the people coach of the strawberry train.

All aboard.

good morning sunshine

Wow.

That's all I can write about  Clara's review of our book over at Knitter's Review. I am awed to see our work written up on her pages, and could not have imaged a more thoughtful or positive critique.

Just when things get so tough and unrelenting and...noisy...that you think you need to go for a month to a special ranch, all of sudden a whole bunch of people are nice all in a row and it makes you feel good to be alive.

First, Martin very suddenly sent me for a night at the Grand Lodge.  A lovely, lonely getaway that I could reach by TriMet bus and luxuriate in for a mere $50 for my queen room, so it was guilt free. We've been there a few times before, primarily for the fabulous soaking pool and frisbee golf course. Except, don't go there, because it was so nice being in that pool alone. ;-) Right above my head, in a fir tree that was intermixed with a blooming magnolia, two birds were making a nest. Hot tub plus nesting was super relaxing.

Then on the way home I found out about Clara's review when our book went to #1 in knitting on amazon.com! And I needed a ride to Tigard for the Tigard Knitting Guild meeting and was escorted totally happily by my friend's husband. Andres was a star, carrying crates of books, moving heavy tables, charming the ladies, and even commenting thoughtfully on all the show-and-tell finished objects.

The Tigard meeting was lovely, and I just hope I did not bore them to tears. There were about 50 people there - a very well organized and well attended guild. And they bring snacks! We did a flower technique together, from the Eden Scarf, and I think a few people really liked it.

Now for a little home cooking and cleaning. Our own little nest needs some mending. It's sort of out of hand. Yesterday Martin edited the toy box (hero!) and today I think I will get the kitchen completely good for a moment, before it starts going downhill again.

Maybe I'll even make wiggly noodles. (Super simple recipe here.)

a spoonful of sugar

Makes the shameless self-promotion go down.

Larissa will be signing books and leading a Knitter's Magic Yarn Ball project - perfect to give as a Mother’s Day Gift. You can buy the yarn and all the little gifts to go inside at Twisted. Designer and photographer Sarah Gilbert, who has one pattern and many photos in the book, will join me.

Dads and significant others, this is your opportunity to get a great knittin’ gift for mom, a signed book and a Magic Yarn Ball! Bring your credit cards and children.

At Twisted on NE Broadway, Portland, Oregon. May 8. 6 pm.

p.s. I hope the pretty picture absolves me for this promotional but oh-so-informative post.

come knit with me?

Photo (c) Michael Crouser.

I’m teaching a class/workshop to make the Eden Scarf on April 16 and April 30, 6:30-8 each night, 2 sessions, at Abundant Yarn in Portland.

This pretty little project covers provisional cast-on, i-cord, increasing, decreasing, picking up stitches, a brand-new innovative blossom-making technique, 2 methods of blocking, and finishing. I’d love to meet you and make the scarf together. I have to tell you, I have no idea whether the class could possibly sell out or whether anyone has signed up at all. But I really hope I'm not alone on those two nights. (Loser!)

Here is the link to sign up.

coffee achiever*

pretty photo thanks to NotHip.


Hey there Coffee,

Thanks for yesterday. You had my back. I had an awful cold and dreadful fatigue, and needed to get through a long day with Sebastian. I strategized, making you, coffee, in the machine rather than french press, so I could afford a steady stream rather than a stiff but all-too-early shot.

And you came through. You bounced me along as we lived through a 6:30 waking, a trip to OMSI, and a long afternoon of walking, cooking, watching Reading Rainbow again and again, playing as the day slipped into night and Sebastian's playfulness turned to overtired screeching and then, finally, quiet snoring.

You are powerful. Even as you lift me up you give me a sinking, drained feeling that can only lead me to more of you. (Sometimes in the morning I wake up grateful that a new day is starting and that I can have more because the previous day, er, I reached some kind of limit even for me.)

After all those years in college (let's leave it at that, ok?), and all those mornings in New York when I struggled through the crowds on the PATH train with my little blue Greek deli cup ("regular," meaning cream and sugar) I thought I came to understand your power.

But while I was writing our knitting book I became newly impressed and amazed at the color you impart to yarn.  So full of caramel and life. So rich. (It sure makes me wonder about the  possible handpainted nature of my esophagus.)

I remember when I first got the coffee yarn for the French Press Cozy design. I was going to design something cabley and reminiscent of steam. But when I saw the color you, coffee, made with the yarn it totally changed my direction.

my own crummy picture.

Your yarn looked like paneling, like wood, which made me invent a sort of mod, uneven ribbing design.  Later, the steamy image came through in the faintly racy i-cord lacing. And besides being a knitter's delight - with pretty yarn and a satisfying knitted-on edging - I'm happy to say the cozy really works to keep you hot.

How do you like it?

Thanks again, coffee, my old friend.

Write back!

Larissa

* Post Title: Martin loves to talk about the coffee achievers, and how David Bowie was one of them.
** Pattern: French Press Cozy from my book Knitalong. Also on ravelry.
***Yarn: Kona Superwash dyed with Stumptown coffee grounds. Available in a kit with enough yarn for 2 cozies or 1 cozy and another small item, exclusively at Abundant Yarn who is happy to ship. Call Stevanie or Rodger and get yourself some! It is so good.

a few dates

And a lovely springlike square from our knitalong long ago. These are a few places Martin or I will be. More to come.

April 10 - Portland Knitting Guild, Portland, OR

April 14, 7 pm - Third Place Books, Seattle, WA

May 15 - Tigard Knitting Guild, Tigard, OR

May 22 - Tattered Cover Book Store, Denver, CO

day two, no knititng

After our amazing party we let slip a premature sigh of relief. It felt like we had finished something, but we haven't really. Because the book has just ventured out by its little self, and like Sebastian declaring "No help!" it really is not able to go without us.

Yesterday morning, Martin and I talked about promotions. Blog tours, actual corporeal tours, free pattern promotions on ravelry, op ed pieces and essays placed here and there,  book copies to be shipped hither and yon and even as far as Canada. And it came to light that I had been dropping the stitches, letting things run. I'd been so busy with other work and with...stuff...that I had not followed through on important notes to bloggers, potential book reviewers, project makers, and more. The more we do right now, the more this book might take off in a way that lasts for years to come, and during this critical time I'm not jumping in with my head far enough under the water. (I have to laugh because as I write this I'm at a cafe surrounded by Obama workers who are the absolute definition of 110%. They are charming.)

Now, don't get the idea I don't love our book and work on it every single day. There were a couple particular emails that made Martin feel all this, that I had not answered. He's totally right about those two emails. I said I just did not have enough time in the week to answer everything, and then. Then. Martin laid down the shocking truth. "You spend time knitting every day. You've recently finished, like, five things."

Well, at least he's been paying attention to my FOs.

He's mentioned before that I knit a lot, which I know. He's asked, sometimes, whether I really like it or whether I'm doing it out of habit (both), and whether it really relaxes me or just makes me nervous (both). I've wondered...sure...sort of like a caffeine addict wonders what it might be like to be one of those serene tea drinkers.

So this time since promotions are on the line, I have made a big decision. I am not knitting this week. I'm on day two. And I miss it, but like a drunk turning to Larks I have picked up an absolutely enthralling book that is taking up my time so I guess the entire test isn't really fair or probably very net productive. But I do miss it. I miss stacking those stitches on top of each other and watching the colors change, feeling the slight drag right before the new bit of wool pops from the center pull ball, dreaming I'll have something good at the end of this labor, enjoying doing something that has no screen or volume.

We'll see. Maybe I'll focus so much the book will be a NYT bestseller.

don't even tell me if knitalong is spelled wrong

n x nw

I feel like this blog post should come with a table of contents. Or a map. I'm all over the place. No pretty writing, no nod to the beginning-middle-end thing. I apologize for my brain today.

A little business, first. I've changed my checkout service to e-junkie (no longer payloadz). If you happen to attempt to buy one of my scarf patterns and you get sent to payloadz, or you have any kind of problem, please email me at dumbmail AT larissabrown DOT net.

Also, if you are anywhere near Portland and are interested in the Book Release Party, please save the date of March 15. We'll be celebrating with cocktails, food, prizes, knitalongs, etc., at Abundant Yarn in Sellwood. I'm trying to devise some kind of online party, perhaps at ravelry, for those who are not in the area.

And then lots of knitting. I've working on both sleeves of the Waist Cincher Top at once, and they look dreadful. They're actually fine, it's just that I have so many strings hanging from the needles at once, it's sort of gross. I haven't been moved at all to take a picture of it. I've also made a lovely swatch of the Sweetheart Socks by Chrissy, and started a 70s hot dog ski hat for Martin.

In reality I have probably a dozen or more projects that were cast on at some point with great hope and enthusiasm. I'm starting to think of some of them as big old swatches. Others as very very slow projects that I still love. And myself as a bit spasmodic right now, starting things every day, knitting crazily on them for a couple hours, then setting them down to start something else.

How about some nice breathing? Ahhhhh.

I cleaned my yarn room a little, so I have a tiny space where I can see the table. (I'm not just a pig, the room is seriously tiny and I have too much stuff for anyone to keep neat in there.)

And hey, I got a couple of Make My Day Awards! This gives me the opportunity to think about 10 blogs that make my day. ("No, you rock! And you know that!" A little Cars joke for the parents out there.) Anyway, I may not be thinking in a good strong line today. Here are a few that make my day. Maybe not 10.

Christy at Neither Hip Nor Funky. I got to meet her the other night, and I was utterly boring and weird. I've gotta get over that phenomenon.

Alicia at Posie Gets Cozy. Alicia and I have become friends in real life, and I love visiting her every day since we don't really get to do that.

Heather at The ADD Knitter.
Siri at Knitting Iris.
Leslie, A Friend to Knit With.
Adrian, Hello Yarn.

My mind is full now. And probably you're nearly asleep or have started wandering your living rooms and work cubes, those who've joined me on this mini-epic and directionless journey. Thanks, and have a nice day.

or there and back again

Martin & I just got back from TNNA. It was exhausting and relaxing at the same time, so much fun, and so wildly huge I could not have fathomed it without being there.

Let's see...

First off, I got to spend time with Melanie and with the STC people. It was so rewarding to finally have a toast of accomplishment with Melanie, Martin, and me all in the same room! We did it!

The wonderful people I got to meet and spend time with, besides the STC people, included Cat Bordhi, Clara Parkes, Robin Melanson, Jess & Casey of ravelry, Cookie A, Sara Lucas, Joan McGowan-Michael, Shannon Okey. I spotted Annie Modesitt but did not meet her; she had a small nebula of fans swirling around her. I had a momentary conversation with Tobias from Malabrigo. Debbie Stoller got a little lost at our booth and asked me which way she had been walking (?).

Martin & I were interviewed for a PBS TV show called Knitting & Crochet Today, and so we crossed paths incredibly briefly with Kaffe Fassett, but I did not talk to him at all. Just saw what he looked like as I grabbed my stuff from the green room.                                         

Chrissy threw a lovely party for the Association of Knitwear Designers, and had her patterns for sale at a TNNA booth for the first time. Heather and Stevanie of Abundant Yarn let me tag along with them for a while, and ordered some extra yarn for me (whee!). There was a funny snafu where Heather asked me, with regards to some lush dark blue Road to China, whether I wanted one or two. I said two. I learned later she meant bags. Bags, people. I have 20 skeins coming my way. I only hope I can a. afford them when the time comes, and b. do justice to this luscious yarn with a good idea for a pattern to use.

Oh, the yarns were so good to see in person. The whole Malabrigo color range. Companies totally new to me like Zaol. Shibui's new bulky wool, so light despite its size, and in their usual deep colors. And so many “green” yarns, which turns me off as a fad to no end, but the yarns themselves are really lovely. The organic cottons are so super crisp and the colors are all pale but not pastel.

It was wonderful to see new books. I got a copy of Wenlan Chia’s new one, and I’m already wondering when I can get my hands on the yarn for a Cloudburst Cardigan (hee hee, sorry 'bout that link. It's just soooo silly and I'm soooo tired today.) I also got my hands on Knitting Lingerie Style, which Joan kindly signed for me, and Last Minute Patchwork Gifts. Some of the other publishers were totally classy and nice to us even though we had STC badges, and others treated us tremendously strangely. One refused to let Martin have a free giveaway book!

Speaking of giveaways, our book was promoted heartily with tote bags and decals and all manner of swag. Laura from STC must have asked 600 people to join the Knitalong Campaign for LYS owners, and I think about 500 said yes! It's weird, people, very weird to be in the spotlight. But I like it so far.

Finally, I think one of the best things about the trip was the sun. It was warm. Oh, I could feel my body absorbing the Vitamin D. I sat outside whenever I got a chance and I met some other Portland people out there doing the same. We all looked like fish dropped momentarily back into water, gasping for sun. Sitting on the ground outside the convention center I met a shop owner, Jamie of Knitting Bee, who lives near me, and I spent time on the way home talking with her.

Now I'm back in my usual cafe, doing the Same Old Sandwich. Actually, I'm sitting face to face one table away from Cari, but I'm not bothering her while she works. I swear. :-)

wonderhorse in snow

Crazy times, this week, in a good way. A wonderful friend is having a baby girl tomorrow and I've been visiting her in Boston. I have work and work and other work to finish. And Martin and I leave for TNNA in one more day.

I'm going to try to post about TNNA tonight. For now, if you have any interest, you can see the online interactive map of the death star exhibitor floor. We're going to be in booth #757 on Friday at 4.

cover

Woohoo! And it can be pre-ordered here!

So I'm afraid that is my November post for talking about the book. (Remember, I'm trying to limit myself and not bore everyone/you.)

But there are so many other exciting things. For one, the Raven series of Blue Moon yarns. I'm working on a design for them. And I'm working on a design for a cutie-patootie little gift scarf that I'll have up here later this week when I can properly finish and photograph it. In time for making for someone who can rock such a cute thing. Plus, I sent off a design idea to knitscene last week - my first submission to a magazine. (Thanks, Chrissy, for helping me.)

When I get in this mode of designing things I get a lot of ideas at once. I draw them all out, and even can imagine them in some dream magazine. Then I try to make them, and some of them, um, simply suck. Others I try to make and they actually work. I think I'm having a few of those working ideas right now so that's exciting. It's all a flurry. Then I won't do that for a long, long time.

Also, I have that very long scarf to finish for my sister, and a second fetching to go with it. Knit, knit, knit. I'm at about 75 inches out of 100 on the scarf. Can I finish it this week? I know, the suspense...

you may already be a winner!

Oiyi
Julie
Kathleen
and
Christy

Somehow my random generator process thingy picked four, which is at least three so I went with it. You will receive your patterns by email. Thanks everyone! I'm slowly gathering up the blogs you suggested and putting them into a list on the right called New Inspiration. There are so many wonderful ones that are new to me. I really love hearing about them.

ok, i'm back, and i go on and on and on...

Photo by Michael Crouser for the book Knitalong.

So, it took me far longer than I thought to get back to the topic of choosing photographs for our book. That's what it's like with a little kid around. But I didn't forget, and I apparently have a lot to say if you're interested.

The first thing I have to share about the process of choosing photos is that I did not have too much to do with it. I was welcome to give input at all times, but since the editor, Melanie, and I were on different coasts, we did not sit down with a slew of photos and a pot of tea to talk through them.

I did my best (which, in a few cases was woefully not good enough) to work with the awesome photographer, Michael, to get enough usable shots of each project for Melanie to choose from. She made the choices, and then Martin and I saw them when we received our "passes" of the book to review and proof.

During the photo shoot, our agenda was to get two shots of each project, one full-on so the knitter could see the entire thing, be it a big blanket or tiny felted nest, and one detail shot. If you read my blog often, you may know I'm all about the detail shots. I can hardly get too close to a ball of yarn or a knitted item, and I much prefer the odd and arty angle on something than not. I like little props and romantic junk, and piles of art making materials and cups of coffee. So... often I failed to work with Michael enough to get the needed "allover" shot so the knitter who might one day use our book would have a reference for what the entire finished object looks like. As the only knitter on our 3-person team (Michael and Martin don't knit), I was the one with the job of standing in for the future knitter. Sometimes I did great and sometimes not so well. A few projects had to be reshot in New York later, which I was not part of.

Also, Michael's camera showed us the typical sort of 5 x 7 layout - one dimension longer than the other - whereas our book is in squarish format, and so he would remind me of that very often and hold his hand over the camera screen to hide part of the photo as we viewed possible shots. But at least one photo in the book suffers from my not quite realizing what the effect would be of this squaring-off. *

Finally, two projects suffered from me just not being properly prepared with models and samples. I was just completely, utterly floored by the photo shoot process (which was just 4 days long), and I was not 100% ready. I let some things take more time than they should have, and then had nothing left for a few items. *

(* All was remedied with the later reshoot.)

In all, I learned so much I feel like just now I'm really really ready to do my next photo shoot. It was amazing, but I think now I could do a thousand times better. I guess it's always like that with first times.

So, with that behind us we began to see what photos Melanie was choosing. And in many cases we were very, very excited because they were our favorites. In other cases, we realized she chose excellent, perfect photos that just weren't the ones we envisioned.

In the case of the Felted Nests, I'm pretty sure the photo in this post is the one in the book. And it's one we're quite excited about. Martin had the idea of putting the nest in a real tree, and while we wondered if readers would get confused and think it was intended to be made as a real bird's nest, we decided that it was cool. And I made sure the text with the pattern described the Nests as something that could be used on a mantel or a bookshelf. Anyway, a few of us  at the shoot agreed that if you put one outside it would get adopted by a real bird.

So we found a gorgeous, weird tree in the park near our house, where we were also shooting a few other things, and lo, this shot was one of the quickest to come out just right. I think it has a fairy tale quality that is rich and engaging. The other photo, in the last post, shows the shape of the nest against the white curtain, and it also shows a peek of the plain brown version behind the green nest, but it is somehow dead looking as compared to this shot in the twisted, lichen-encrusted tree.

This experience has taught me to look at knitting photos in magazines and books in a whole new way. There are a million details that go into each shot, and each shot has to achieve several things in one photo. It needs to create a strong mood that inspires the reader while also providing a good clear look at shape, construction, and more. I have both more sympathy, and a whole lot less, when I see a shoddy job done on knitting photos. Where a model has an unfortunate pole sticking out of her head, or the very thing you want to see - say, the torso of the sweater - is blurry.

Finally, we did not find out until later, but our  book is so packed with chapters, projects, et al, that at least half of the projects got only one photo included. So the choice had to go in favor of clarity of the knitted item in many cases, and very cool detail shots we got could not be used. Or due to space some projects have a half-page photo, when a full page would have evoked a whole lot more of the intended mood, but surroundings have been cropped out.

Beyond what I wrote here, I'm sure there are even more considerations that I have no idea about. Melanie has started a blog in which she recently wrote about choosing a cover photo for another book, a whole different process because of the role the cover plays in promotion and sales. I can't even begin to think what goes into that decision.

But I do have more book ideas for the future, and if any of them get made I know I'll be 1000% better equipped to do a great photo shoot. I'm so excited for that possibility someday.

tell me, little birds

Photo by Michael Crouser for the book Knitalong.
Bird embellishment designed by Elizabeth New.

It was really fall here yesterday. As I sat in the cafe that was once Mabel's Knittery (and is now a lovely cafe with a great little toddler play area, but is no longer a Knittery) I could see one brilliant red tree across the way. Tons of yellow leaves fell down and skittered on the ground, and rain and sun took turns in the sky. It was so lovely. And I got to talk to Liz, who works there. She designed the bird embellishment on this little felted nest for our book.

Fall gets me all kinds of excited about holidays and coziness, and I've been working on my own nest with new curtains and new wine glasses. So I thought this would be a fun project to show you.

As you may know, the book Martin & I wrote is coming out in March. That's just sooooo long for me to wait to show you things. And so many of you, readers, have been knitters for the book, that you have seen many of the patterns already. So I decided that to keep myself from exploding with the waiting, and to keep you involved but not overloaded or bored, that I would write once per month about the book until February.

Today it's photo choices, and a little contest.

OK, the contest first? Leave a comment on this post with three or more links to knitting blogs that you love to read and that are not already on my list (see on the right). Anyone who successfully does by Monday October 15 at noon PST will be entered in a random drawing, and 3 people will win the Felted Nest pattern to make the little nests you see above. You'll win just the pattern, not the nests themselves. K?

And on to photo choices. Which, oops, I'm going to have to write in a few hours because Sebastian is starting to jump like a nut on the couch, the temporary effect of Clifford having worn off. Talk to you in a few!

have you seen enough potty?

I know I have.

I'd rather look at this luscious photo that was taken by our extraordinary book photographer Michael Crouser (he has a book out right now that culminates his dozen+ years photographing bullfights; and also this book by Wenlan Chia is his photography; he is awesome).

So, the photo. It shows a detail of the Barn Raising Quilt, and the pink Socks 101, both patterns with which many of you are familiar. This is one of my favorite shots of all the hundreds (thousands?) Michael took (well, in truth I have dozens of "favorites"), because it really shows the color palette I was going for, it showcases one of the most community-driven projects in the book, it has someone knitting, and it has my little brown coffee cup and Sea Creatures book.

This photo has a sense of coziness that I've been wanting in my own home and not quite achieving. I've been thinking about that, and finally realizing that duh, it's because I have a kid who dismantles nearly everything I might put together to make a place cozy. But I can gaze at this, and wait for a couple years....

Speaking of waiting a long time, we have some news!

• Our book release date is March 15, 2008. We may not have liftoff, but at least we k now when it will be!
• We are working on some concepts for a huge kickoff party either in Pioneer Square or another public location that's near the MAX and near a LYS for the after-party.
• Pre-orders on amazon will begin far, far sooner than that. Some time in the next couple months.
• And I'm slowly adding some of the promotional "beauty shots" of the projects to my flickr and ravelry pages.
• The meathead hats that many of you very graciously loaned us are on their way back to you. They were packaged last night and are going to the PO today.
• All except for Julie S. Is there a Julie S. here? We do not have your address!

As always with this project, things come and go in spasms of activity. I can almost forget about the book for a few days, then have a conference call with the promotions staff at STC and get all wound up again and get re-loaded with anxious inability to wait until freaking MARCH. That is too long. I want my cake now.

Stare at the pretty pictures....knit some socks and a little vest for Sebastian to wear to my brother's wedding...I have my usual 7 or 8 works in progress, and about 20 planned projects that could keep me busy well past next March. Occupy my mind!

the list of knitters and photographers getting ready to go in the book, just looked so cool. thanks. thanks. thanks.

Accordion Chick, Adrian Bizilia, Adrienne Hickey, aija, Aimee Noel La Voie, Ali, Alice, Alicia Paulson, Alison Chambers, allison bienenfeld, Allison Porter, Allison Tilley, Ally Bjornson, Alysha Stephenson, Alyson, Amanda, Amanda Allen, Amanda Goshey, Amanda Jenkins, Amanda Woodward, Amber, amber_cake, amsmaria, Amy, Amy, Amy, Amy B., Amy Monticello, Amy Pattillo, amykatherine, Andrea, Andrea Jones, Angela Grant, Angela Tong, Ann, Ann Gaspari, Ann Hartley, Ann Maszaros, Anne, Anne Margaret White, Anne Wilkens, Annette Gilbert, Annette Sheringo, Annri, April Smith, Audrey Turnbull, Aurora Crosetti, aurora fox, Austen, Autumn Burley, Babbleabble, Barbara Katzin, Barbara Moore, Barpier, Bebu Nu, Becky, Becky Clark, Bekka, Belle, BellyStitch, Bet, Beth, Beth Bartlett, Beth Braun, Beth Cole, beth o'shea, Bethany Benoit, Betsy Hart, Betty Bond, Bev, Bev Watts, beverly13, bkleathers, BLUECLOUDS, Bobbie Wallace, boxkikker, Brandy Smith, Brittany, Bronwyn, cancoi, Cara Davis Conomos, Carin Glick, Carissa Marie, Carla, Carla, Carla Robinson, Carly, caro, CaroleKnits, Carri Ray, CarrieScribe, Carrie Cape, Carrie Miranda, Carrie Ohnstad, Carrie Schwarz, Carrie Workman, casey mazzio, Cassandra Dominicis , Catherine, Catherine Kerth, Catherine Ryan, Cathy, Cathy Ngo, CD Cooper, Cece, Cecilia, Chante, Chauntel, Chawne Kimber, Chelee, Cheryl Burke, Cheryl Killingsworth, Cheryl McWilliams, Chris, Chris O'Brien, Chris Radcliff, Christa z. Jago, Christelle Lachapelle, Christie, Christina Haugen, Christina McCollum, Christina Schiffman, Christine McCann, Christy Santos, Christyn Johnson, Chuckanutcats, CindiC, Cindra T, Cindy, Cindy Abernethy, Cindy Ericsson, cj hodges, Clare Crawford, claudia, Colleen, Connie Leonard, conniecornell, Cordelia, cosymakes, Courtney, Courtney, cowleye, craftykate, Cristina Shiffman, crowmich, Cruz Sundquist, Cynthia, Cynthia, Dana Marie Dini, danielle, Danielle, Danielle Hui, Daphne, Daryl, Daryl Hairston, Dave Hogg, dawn, Dawn, Dawn Sidney, dawn sutton, DawnsRays, Deb Girotti, Deb Kuron, Debby Scheinholtz, Deborah, Dee, Denise, denise forster, denise hunley, Deva Brockett, Diane, Diane D., Diane Fouts, Diane Hope, dkidd2020, Donna Holmes, Donna Patterson, Donna S., donnaea, Doug, dukern74, Eileen Walsh, Elise, Eliza, Elizabeth, ELIZABETH AIRHART, Elizabeth Durand, Elizabeth Genco, Elizabetha, Ellen, ELLEN BERGGREN, Ellen Jones, ellen soppet, Elyse Meltz, Emidy Ritchie, Emily, Emily, Emily, Emily Kelton, Emily Parson, Emily Simnitt, Emily Tripp, EmilyHarris, Emma C., Emmy, Erika Varga, Erin Coscio, Erin McKinne, evonne, evonnewee, Florence Ward, Francesca, Francie, Francie Owens, Francie Owens, Francine Ferrara, Froukje de Ruiter, Gail, gail brown, gibsongrrl, Gillian Bidgood, Gina Russell, Grace, Grant Neufeld, grasshopper, Gretl Kramer, Gwen, gwynetho, gwynne lomen, Haley Parge, Hannah Condry, hazelpagoda, Heather, Heather, Heather, Heather James, Heather J., Heather Vering, Heidi, Heidi Butler, Heidi Ericson, Helen Hayes, Hila, Hillary, Hope, hpny knits, Illanna, isahaahs, Isela, Ive, ivywindow, J B, Jacey, Jackie Brown, Jaime, Jaime Robinson, Jaimie, Jan W, Jane, jane heldmann, Janet, Janet Gallagher, Janet Gattenby, Janet Killips, Janet Russell, JanetK, Janice Stenger, Janine, Janita James, Jason Meredith, Jazz Grady, jcasplund, Jen, Jen, Jen, Jen Kim, Jen Lushbough, Jenn_tx, Jenna Nicole Baker, Jennifer Bloxham, Jennifer Church, Jennifer Fay, Jennifer Halm, Jennifer Kogut, Jennifer Lindberg, Jennifer Manheim, Jennifer McBride, Jennifer MW, Jennifer Raab, Jennifer Sonnenberg, jennifmay, Jenny Boully, Jenny DeVasher, jennyoh, Jeremy Corona, Jess, Jessica, jessica Cheney, Jessica MacGregor, Jessica MF, Jessica Morris, Jessica Rose, jillz, jj heldmann, jmdp71, jo, jo strong, Joanna Ratcliffe, Jocelyn, Jocelyn_, Jodee DeBates, jodi, Jodi, Jody Scofield, John Collier, Joni Miles, joyce, Joyce, Joyce Greenfield, jrp1229, Jude, Jude, judy, Judy Boddy, Judy Ford, Julia, Julia Sprague, Julia Trice, Julie, julie every, Julie Kundhi, JulieFrick, jun, jupupedu, Kabira Kirby, kamsarmer, Kandy, Kara, kara paintner, Kara Walz, Karen, Karen Barbera, Karen Graffeo, Karen Heathcote, karen hesler, Karen Rapier, karrie Weaver, Kate Beesley, Kate Wilbanks, Katherine Allred, Kathleen, Kathleen Campbell, Kathleen Walton, Kathryn Kienholz, Kathy, Kathy, Kathy B., Kathy H, Kathy Hossner, Kathy Yurman, Katie, Katie, Katie, Katie Boyd, Katie E., Katy Murphy, Kayten Kraft, Kellc, Kelly, Kelly, Kelly Bergstrom, Kelly Brandt, Kelly Chambers, Kelly Sue, kellymo, Kellyn Marshall, kelp, kelsey, kenglish2, Keira Ly, Keppy Boone, Kerri Parkinson, Kerry Ballance, kfennelly, Kiki, kim, Kimber Voutour, KimberlyV, kimr, kirstyb, klb4041, kmfindley, knilli, Knit and Run, knit.fink, knit4charity, knitcro, knitigator, Knitizen, Knitting Reader, Knitting Therapy, KnitWit_Momma, Krista, Kristen, Kristen, Kristen Wilkinson, Kristin Buel, Kristin Shields, krysten, KT Eisler, Kym, La Verna, LaDonna, Lana, Larissa Timper, Laura, Laura Dye, Laura Folos, Laura Tarantowski, laurel johnson, Laurenn McCubbin, Laurie CdeBaca, LawSchoolMom, LC, Lesley Bates, leslie friend, LG, Lia Harris, Liane Maxwell, lianne thomson, Libby Wilson, Linda, Linda Jines, Linda Miller, linda rose, Lindar, Lindsey, lindy719, Ling, linh, Lisa, Lisa, Lisa, Lisa Enger, Lisa Pritchard, Lisa Stout, Lisbeth White, Lise, littlepeeps, Liz, Liz Faria, Liz K, Lizzie, ljwarrenesser, LL, Lola, lorajean, Lorajean Kelley, loralei, Lori Bean, loriwat, Lorna Tanner, Luise, Lynda Coakley, Lynda Lambert, Lyndsey, Lynette, M R, Macoco, Mags, Makaela, Mal, malisa, Manda B, Mandy Olson, Margery Manheim, Marianne Jørgensen, Marianne Whitlow, Marie E, Marisol Molina, Marissa Harris, mariyarn, Mark Williams, Marlana, Marsha Finney, Marti Dodge, Mary Ann Mann, Mary Beth, Mary Kennedy, Mary McDowell, Mary R, Mary Sullivan, Maryanne Schuessler, Maryrose, Maureen O'Grady, Max Daniels, Meg, Megan, Megan, Megan Tingle, mel, Mel, Melanie, Melanie Main, Melanie S., Melinda Misuraca, Melissa, Melissa, Melissa, Melissa Shaw, mellielynn, mereteveian, Merralin, Michele, Michele Ritan, Michelle, Michelle, Michelle, Michelle Gragg, michelle herzel-walker, Michelle Ossiander, Michelle Russell, Michelle Schwengel-Regala, Michelle T., Michiele Elliott, Miki Ballard, mims, Mindym, Miss Scarlett, missyjoon, Mobrien670, Moira, Molly Scott, monsteryarn, MorganCain, Morna Childers, MSBEADER, mtn knitter, mwasacz, myancientsword, Nadia Prigoda, Nancy Haeg, Nancy Harrington, Nancy Mitchell, Nancy Nurmi, Nancy Smith, Nanette, Narelle Trottman, Natalia Wilson, Natalie Strong, Navi, Nicole, Nilda Andrade, Nina Rosenberg, Nina Pope, Nora, noreen brahim, Nubiancraftster, Olivia Bogdan, omly, Pam Huang, pamela wynne, Patty, Patty Manders, paula, Paula Marques, Paulette Dal Porto, Peggy, Peggy, Peggypat1127, Pequenita, Philippa Tinsley, pinkstockings, pinky, Pooch, Pru, queenbee, Rachael, Rachell, rae, Rae, ravenflame3, rebecca, Rebecca, Rebecca, Rebecca B., Rebecca Kreisher, reddyknit, ReeBecki, Regina Stancill, reloaly, renee phillips, Rhonda Monarque, Richelle, Ringer, robin avila, Robin Ferrell, Robin Orewiler, robngord, Rochelle McConnell, Rosa, roudier, rovamicina, runfastermama, Ruth Smith, sabine wirths, sadhita, Sally Anderson, sallyb, SamanthaDeGroot, Sandra Fauconnier, Sandy, Sandy, Sandy Tanaka, sandykp, Sara, Sara miller, Sarah, Sarah, Sarah, Sarah Earle, sarah gilbert, schimblo, scm200, Shanna, Shari, Sharon Helms, Sharon Hoefelmeyer, Shasta, Shayla, Sheila Sakraida, Sheilah Reidburn, Shell, shelleysears, Sheri Newberger, Sherie, Sherry Hennecke, Sheryl Adam, Sheree O'Brien, shetha n, Shilo Weir, sigh, Siri L., sister1, skridragon, slhjones, Sooz, Soozy, Soren, sparkly, splindarella, Squacco, Stacey, Staceyjoy, Stacy, stariel, Steph Cooper, Stephanie, Stephanie, Stephanie, Stephanie, Stephanie Yun, strawberry, sue gifford, Susan Bartolini, Susan Bastian, Susan Carlson, Susanna Smith, Suzanne, SuzanneB, Suzie Racho, Tammie, Tammy Deloach, Tammy S., Tana Pageler, Tara, Tara Lynchard, Taunia Mann, Tayloe Rogers, techsan81, tenizmom, Tessa, TexasPurlGurl, tezzcan, The ADD Knitter, the.garnetfox, thelivingroom, Theresa, Thuy, Tiffanie Dyer, Tiffany Kapri, Tokyo Knitter, Tracy Canham, Treesa Parker, Trudy Gongora, tumbletell, twoloops, Twominions, utahdove, Valerie Wallis, Vickey Milligan, Vicki, Victoria, VJ, vyra, Wakana, WaterAid, wenders, Wendy, westieluvr, Whitney, woolyvines, Xtimu, yarnlet, z&a's momma.

sneak peek

Thank you for all your kind wishes about the book proofing. It's going really well. The book is jam packed with information, patterns, pictures. I have to say, it's the most knitting book per page I've ever seen. Fifteen essays about the social phenomenon of knitting together through time, from firesides to blogs. Twenty projects, including three with massive charts. A DIY chapter on running your own knitalong. An introduction about me and my grandmother. Hundreds of photos from people around the world.

So the proofing is, while not hard, just a heck of alot. There is a vast amount of room for error, and in that great wide open space there are errors. Not too many, actually, but catching them requires looking everywhere just in case. Like checking every inch of a meadow for one bunny. We have our backs hunched over, bunny hunting.

The meadow itself is gorgeous. It has green grass and flowers of darkest pink, rust, and cream.

It's a crowded meadow. There's simply not enough room in the book for some of things I always thought would be there. A couple of project elements had to be cut. We lost some pictures of people I love. There isn't room for the map of the knitted quilt squares, showing who made which square and where they all traveled from. The dedication is so small I'm not sure I should include it. (But these gems will move, instead, to knitalong.net when the time comes, and the site will act as a companion to the book).

This is the thing that's saddest but most powerful about making a book, cutting that which you've cared about, while also realizing that without the act of judiciously cutting the book would not only require a forklift but would also suck. That by cutting you are really making the book good.

Argh.

Anyway! In answer to your many sweet questions, I don't really know when the book will be officiallly published, in stores, or available for preorder on amazon. Believe me: I. Will. Tell. You. You think I'll let that pass by? Haaaahahahaha. I can say it's a "Spring 2008" book, and the copyrights inside the book say 2008, so January seems the earliest possible. It seems like other Spring 2008 knitting books are coming out anywhere from January through April (here are some by publication date order).

BTW:  It seems like the themed knitting books for spring are leaning toward "home," "I love felting!," and "men." I have no opinion on that, just noticing. And also, the new Wenlan Chia book which is also photographed by our awesome photographer, Michael Crouser, is now on preorder status.

whee

An exciting thing is happening right now, for me anyway. Our book proof is making its way to our house by tomorrow afternoon.

I'm excited and also very nervous.  Sort of in the way of a nervous bride. No, in the way it might feel to walk down a long hallway where you know your lover is waiting and you haven't seen him in a long time and you've missed him and you're now going to really see him.

Its impending delivery has brought back a lot of my initial ideas and dreams about writing a knitting book. Part of what I've appreciated about this book being a "knitalong" book - and thus not as secret as most books in progress - is that I've been able to share the experience so much with so many of you. (Thank goodness I'm not under the Potter Craft dome of silence. That would so not suit my blabbermouth nature).

So I'm thinking I'll keep doing that.

I want to tell you how, like life, like that lover at the end of the long hall, like anything, the book's not going to be perfect, and I already know that even though the proof is not proofed. I'm not complaining and I'm not regretting (well maybe a couple things, but not at a beating of the breast kind of level). I just thought it was a part of the process I wanted to remember, to write about, to share with you. (Not perfect is hard for me, ironically since nearly nothing is perfect in my crazy life. I once had a psychiatrist tell me, gently like you'd tell a crazy person, "When you do have children someday, it is not going to be perfect." And I've referred to that kind allowance many times in my mind these past two years).

There are some things in the book that are not the way I saw them in the pretty perfect book in my head. And there are some things that are better, but only because they are not the way I envisioned them. That's okay. That's good.

Some unexpected things:   The deliberate effort it took to keep steering this book toward an intermediate knitter/reader instead of a beginner, who is somehow easier to fall into writing toward, but is ironically oh so much harder to write for. The way that, with just a couple weeks and three projects to go, I realized the entire book was in wool. The colors that were not exactly what I meant them to be, and yet have propagated into the whole design of the book like gorgeous flowers from a new planet that's not where I pointed my little ship but what the hay!

I could have been more demanding, and had a couple little fits along the way. But I felt shy about that. I probably should have had a stronger hand sometimes - whipped my book into shape the way you would with a wayward sweater - but I didn't know since this was my first time.

The reality is that this book is a really good work of art, and I'm so proud of it. I can't wait to see it tomorrow, and to show it to you later. But like any work of art it's imperfect, and that is what makes it human - and about the best of what it means to be human. (This humanity does not extend to pattern mistakes; those should be avoided and I'm working hard with the technical editor but that process is too fascinating and constitutes a whole "nuvven" subject for a "nuvven" day, as Sebastian would say).

Also, that's what drives us (as in us the human race, but probably not specifically Martin and a knitting book) for there to be a next time. I hope there will be. I already have my idea for a nuvven knitting book...and perfect pretty colors and pictures in my head.

thanks to mary

Mary is someone who test knitted for our book, and I got to know her through email. Her blog is now missing (Mary? Are you there?) But I got the most outrageous birthday package from her. You see, Mary made a square for the Barn Raising Quilt for the book. And Mary's square was my two favorite colors together, brown and green. I loved it, and I put it right in the middle of the blanket.

Mary wrote to me and said that it was meaningful to her that I'd put her square in there, and so we conversed a bit. And then months went by, and she sent me this amazing skein of Yarn Pirate sock yarn in the same Shamrock colorway that she used for the blanket. I immediately wanted to knit with it,  but then realized I have, oh, more than a dozen projects already. Must. Wait. Think. First.

Thank you, Mary, wherever you have gone. I love the whole package, which also has some delicious soap and a knitting gauge check of a sort I've never seen before and chocolate that's quickly been devoured. But more than that I love that you thought enough of a virtual stranger to do such a nice thing for my birthday. And I love the yarn best of all, which has become a river for my dollar store metal cow.

Thank you.

book away!

At 10:33 pm on May 1, 2007, and thanks to very last second participation by Julia and Caro (and no small thanks to some hockey game that went into overtime, which somehow helped in some way that's unclear to me but that I love it for), the book has been sent to the publisher in all its loveliness and vastness. It's gone. Whee!

get the credit you deserve

Did you knit a square for the square-along? Or socks for the Socks 101 KAL? If so, please take a minute to update your "how you want credit in the book" info.

A few key  things: we are going to "suck" your first and last name out of the testalong user profile, and we are considering listing blogs in the book. Also, there is a note from the legal department about permissions for photographs.

Please, go here to see what to do.

There is very little time left to make any changes to the book, and Martin is creating all the credits tonight and tomorrow. Ack! Thank you....thank you....thank you....

back to my fitted knit turtleneck....and you to your beautiful what have yous.

the oregon vortex

That's my friend Eden helping on the photo shoot a while ago. I just thought that picture was perfect for today, a day for the absurd details of finishing a knitting book.

• weighing knitted cherry blossoms and reporting on the grams to an editor halfway around the world
• measuring my vintage knitting needles with calipers to make sure I'm using a standard size to get my gauges
• poring over color cards on yarndex to "confirm" my color numbers (ha ha ha, some of this stuff is from old stash and its paperwork has been, um, lost in the shifting sands of time)
• begging designers to remeasure their swatches (we're going to assume they made some)
• trying on multiple meathead hats, exclaiming once again, as I do every time but today will have to be the last time because we're very near the tech editing deadline now, about how they are all at different gauges and yet all fit, and how can this be, it must be an anomoly in my living room

Yes, that's it. An anomoly in my living room.

a hat in the rain

I was walking last night with Sebastian in the "buggy" and Ellie by our side, and the park was quiet. Still except for the gentle sloshing of the reservoir water, which was tinged purple and blue with streaks from the antique lights that hang over it. It was too cold for the clothes I'd worn, and I had no hat. It started raining, a soft Portland mist that somehow has intention, and you know even though it's a mere spray that it's going to get worse. Sebastian was cozy inside his chariot, but I was getting frozen and wetter by the second. I didn't want to give up our walk, but oh the cold.

I reached in to the stroller and found...a hat. A wool hat, very pretty. The one you see above on Sebastian in fact. It's sized for a 2-year old and barely fits him, but I was desperate. I tugged it onto my head as hard as I could and it just about made it down to the tops of my ears.

And it was waaaaarmmmmmmm. It felt delicious. I could keep walking and survive. In fact, I could stand still and watch the water shift around in the deepening dark while Ellie nosed the grass. As I stood there I had a shock of realization that it was Kyrie's knitting on my head. Her stitches, that she made with her hands, were keeping me warm and letting me go on. It was so fundamental. I was so grateful.

I had this feeling many times when I opened squares for the group afghan. That is Siri's knitting, right there! People I'd known only online had sent the work of their very hands to me. It was deeply moving.

I don't get too much room to capture all this in the book. But I do talk about it a bit, because I think it's really important to remember that knitting is special. It's not quick. It's not funky. It's not easy peasey. It's work, often hard work, loving work that we do for one another.

"Making something for another person is a profound act. In a world where we often get obsessed with 'quick gifts' and piling up FOs, it's too easy to forget what a fundamental and meaningful thing it is to create a knitted object and give that creation away."

That's our first book excerpt ever. Read it and weep? Hmmm, I think I need to make it more emotional. In a good way.

do you really want to know?

There's much being said about negativity on the knitting blogs these days. I won't restate all the excellent points everyone is making in the dialogue here. It all seems pretty mysterious when people write about mean stuff because they never want to link to it, so you're left to imagine hell knows what.

(In following up on the subject and basically surfing around, I found one reference to something that The Knitting Curmudgeon calls "Knitting R Me." While she does not define it completely that I can find, I think we can figure out some of what it means.)

I've had my bouts with flat-out meanness and rudeness on my blog, and I've survived. I don't get much actual criticism of my knitting, but I would welcome it as much as I could take and in a reasonable manner.

But I will say that I'm particularly sensitive to one kind of criticism right now, and want to figure out how I feel about it. And that is what Wendy talks about here on her blog - bloggers who are writing books. Wendy is writing a book for the same editor that I am, although our books will likely be worlds different just because of our knitting interests and skills (She knows how to design clothes, people! Stylish clothes!)

Bloggers who write books.* We are...egotistical? Lucky (hee hee, wanna come over and finish my book for me)? Undeserving? We have boring blogs? I don't really know, because I don't know how to find the criticism out there on the Internet, but I will say this. I don't want my blog to be boring. I like people coming to visit and writing me little notes. I like it to be pretty here, even if it is all about what I find beautiful. There's a chance you might get inspired by it. Maybe you just take a peek and don't agree, but I like that you came by.

I give authors like Stephanie, who is going through a writing endurance ritual spanning several years of her life, a grace period for talking about book stuff on their blogs. If I get tired of it, I don't look anymore for a while.

If a blog of a book author became ultimately too much about the book and no more about the subject, for example knitting, then maybe other people wouldn't look anymore either. In that sense, blogs are self-weeding. The really boring ones will ultimately not have a thousand readers a day, and that's part of the world of blogging and what you want out of it.

Me, I want to have a pretty spot for you to stop by and peek in. I was discussing this with Alicia a while back and realized that is all I want out of it. My blog is not about politics or teaching difficult knitting techniques. It's just my attempt to make a clean, sweet space to keep my stuff, and for show-and-tell.

So today I was thinking, does anyone want to see that? Does anyone give a rip what I'm knitting?

I thought about whether I gave a rip what anybody else was knitting, and I decided Hell Yes! I love seeing what people are knitting, even if that's all they talk about. I want to see it (photographed clearly, please, I'm gettin' old here). So for now I'm going to continue to show it, in kind, and try to pepper it with some stories for those who want to read a bit, too.

Check in soon for my take on funky chunky super easy knitting that even a 5-year old can do. I know...fascinating.

* Mason Dixon Knitting is, in my opinion, one of the best knitting books on the market today, and I am glad there are bloggers like them who write books.

farming the fantasy

The photo shoot has come and gone through my home and my family like a sweet summer storm. It was so wonderfully serious and funny and ironic and strange. The photographer could not have been more perfect.

One night after shooting we found ourselves at a bar talking about fantasy. (As Michael joked at one point about intimacy, "I've been to a lot of knitalongs, and it always gets like this." I imagine photo shoots also always get that way. End up with nights in bars talking about fantasy). Anyway, fantasy in fashion and in knitting books. My feeling is that there's a fashion fantasy aspect to most knitting books, but that also (and sometimes more so) there's a knitting fantasy, which includes time to knit, a cozy place to knit, perfectly luscious FOs, beautiful materials.

Martin and I were discussing this later, and he said that we knitting bloggers are the farmers of that fantasy. We tend it, grow it, swap seeds.

The photo shoot was exactly that. We were farming the fantasy. Behind the scenes was ridiculous, dirty, messy, A-clamps holding scarves to shirts just so, models gazing lovingly at piles of dog crap in the park. All the fertilizer remained just outside the frame, and all the farmers were wonderful and the pictures are pure magic. I wish I could share them all with you right now. But we wait for this particular crop to come in next spring.

a blanket

Just at the moment I thought I could not finish this book and had given up all hope*, this blanket came together. I'm going to write more about it later, because it was such an amazing community effort. But I have to run Right. Now.

Please click the photo to see whose squares are being used in the book sample, as opposed to the additional charity blankets to come next. And also please check out knitalong.net to plant your little flag on the knitalong map!

* See Alicia? I was at 95% and I started to cry as usual!

the very last stitch of the last knitting for the book

Whew.

Just in time. The photo shoot starts Wednesday.

too many spoons in the pot

My little Drive Thru sweater is almost complete, and will fit Sebastian for about 2 weeks. But a cute 2 weeks!

I often have too many things going on, creatively, physically, every which way. I've been like this so long, it's almost a joke. My husband makes signs with slogans like "No New Ideas!" and posts them around the house.

But with the first draft of our book due in a couple days, and with just so many many things I love being interested in and tapped into, I've hit a soft and unmoving wall.  The tempurpedic version of the wall.  When I sit to create something -- written or knitted -- half the time my mind responds with a dull no.  I love all the work I'm doing so much, my baby, my book, my house.  It's all exactly what I want out of life.  It's less rebellion, more drowning in marshmallows.

Mom said it well the other night. She meant to say something about too many cooks and something about too many irons in a fire, but it came out "too many spoons in the pot."  For me that's totally, totally it. 

I'm keeping keeping on until April. I used to think March was going to be the great time when a lot was done and I'd have fewer spoons in this pot. But now it's April.  Come on, April.  We can make it.

happy valentine's day

Tina at Blue Moon Fiber Arts has made my year.

She made this colorway with inspiration from the palette for Knitalong.* I'm having trouble finding a word to describe how that feels. To get a colorway designed with your book in mind. When I visited Blue Moon for the first time I thought that was more than a person could ever hope for. To see so much of their yarn in its natural habitat. To meet the people who make this wonderful stuff. Then a colorway for my book! Then, then....! Tina wrote and said there were more colorways, a series. I haven't seen them yet and I'm dying to (no pun intended, actually).

All you knitalongers have made my year, too. We're nearing the end of our little rainbow here, with the book nearly drafted. Happy Valentine's Day to all of you.

And ggrlogan, smileshiner72, aka Jan-Knit, and Jennifer MW?  That yarn up there is yours. I randomly chose one person from each of the book knitalongs to give this to.** And there's one more skein to give away, after the Recycle Along ends. So please submit some recycled sweater photos.

* It's called Tide Pool. Here are several more shots of it up close.

**If you're reading this, please email me at dumbmail AT larissabrown DOT net with your mailing address to get your yarn!

recycled sweater things to admire

Well, you don't have to admire the ones I made. But I think you ought to admire all the others. Just click anywhere on the pictures to go to a flickr page with all the individual links, so you can visit every one of these photos and artists.

Just to be utterly clear, these are not all entered into the recycle along (yet?). They are simply some recycled things I found around flickr and enjoyed looking at, as I sit here thinking about redeploying old sweaters. Just gorgeous.

For me, what I really want to make is something like this anthropologie blanket.

This may be the only noble use for the bags full of  tangled yarn ends, and stacks of project beginnings and middles, that I have stored in my craft room. Well, or maybe felted doggie beds for strays. But one of these blankets for me, too.

regrand opening

For years there was a Kleenin' Korner laundromat in our neighborhood that had a rather crusty banner reading "REGRAND OPENING. (some date way in the past) Free Soap!" I've always loved how confidently wrong REGRAND OPENING seemed. It seemed to sing out its wrongness, instead of just chirping, oh, say, GRAND REOPENING? And the free soap? That was just the icing on the cake.

That place is gone now. I was just reminded of it, thinking about a title for today's recycling post. And so here we are at the last knitalong of the book! And it takes no knitting whatsoever! A recycle along! 

The idea is to make something, anything at all, out of a previously knitted item. It can be previously handknit or previously machine knit, by you or not by you (for example, from Goodwill). The little shrug above is one of my recent recycled crafts - my first attempt at blanket stitch. It combines an old Gap sweater with some Blue Moon Fiber Arts yarn in the Neptunite colorway, an oddly perfect match. The bird is just hanging out for interest.

If you're interested in joining, I'm posting all the details over on knitalong.net.

And I think I'll send some free soap to a randomly-chosen winner :-)

you win!

This post is really a big thank you to every one of you who knitted squares. They came from England, Canada, Portugal, and from across the US, everywhere from Alaska to Brooklyn. We laid them out yesterday (my crack squares team and I) and it's confirmed that we have enough to make at least two blankets. Whew! So one will be saved for book purposes and one more will go to Warm Up America.

And so, to thank everyone properly and really celebrate how fast a bunch of knitters can put together two awesome blankets, the prizes have been drawn. (How fast I can sew those squares together is another question entirely). But anyway, the prizes are as follows:

C, also known as Muscadine Hill, you've won this incredible sock yarn dyed by Adrian at Hello Yarn!

Cindy of Knit for Joy, you have won two skeins of Berroco Ultra Alpaca, a new yarn that's included in our book, along with a sweetly scented candle donated by Tracy from England.

Rhonda M., you've won two skeins of yarn - KnitPicks Shimmer in Grape Hyacinth and Cascade 220 in a pink shade - donated by Celaine. (It all comes around, right? Aren't you the same as C. above?)

Aurora, I did get your amazing square, and you've won yarn buttons and magnets from Girl on the Rocks.

Katie B. who made the Hawaii-colored square, without a blog(!), you have won a set of gorgeous stitch markers from Knitwit Momma.

JJ, you've won a very cool clay needlecase donated by the artist, Francie O. The prize one is green and salmon pink toned squares. (It'll go nicely with your "detail oriented" baggie system for storing your circs, JJ. Which I really admire)

And of course Froukje has won the two skeins of sock yarn from Funknits! And Froukje, you win it yourself. No giving away prizes until after you receive them (then I can't stop you). :-)

Thank you everyone. More news soon...

i can tell you this

It's so late for me, I'm sort of turning into a pumpkin as I write this. Or at least, I'm degrading to  the reading-and-writing-at-grade-level of a pumpkin. So I do not have a total square count for today, deadline in the mailbox day.

But I can tell you that the winner of the coveted and harder-to-win-than-expected Prize for Most Squares* goes to Froukje. The mysterious Froukje who lives right here in my town but has no blog and so I do not know anything. Anything! It's driving me mad. Froukje, who are you? Your squares are gorgeous. And blocked like my Uncle Les's hospital corners. I used two of yours (on top there) to practice sewing up today and they lined up so perfectly it was eerie.

Thank you. And raise your hand and tell us about yourself. :-)

More winners will be announced on Saturday, after I make sure all the names are entered and I find an adorable child or two at Mama n Me Knitting @ Sydney's to draw winners. There are more wonderful prizes than you know.

* The Prize for Most Squares, donated by the pattern designer herself, Shelley Mackie, is two balls of sock yarn from her online shop Funknits. Froukje, I'll contact you with details.

cave woman progress

I think it was Ursula LeGuin, but I'm really not sure and can't find a source, who wrote that it was easy for cavemen to tell exciting stories about the hunt, but that it wasn't so easy for the cave women who did repetitive work to tell stories about wrestling berry, after berry, after berry from the bush.

That's how I feel about any knitting I might show you tonight. It's good, I did it, and it's likely dull as hell to look at. If you're really curious, it's 5" of All Seasons Cotton in stockinette stitch on the little man's Drive Thru sweater.

Some more exciting things came to pass, though. M learned to knit! He's been threatening to do so for many, many months. I guess he thought with the book due in a few weeks this was as good a time as any. He went to Abundant Yarn's drop-in class tonight and Pat got him to make this. "It was going to be a washcloth...It's a bookmark."



And in the mail today, we got 4 more squares! I have to admit that I was a bit surprised at the fewness of them. That brings us to 27 total in hand, and we have about 400 people signed up who are ostensibly making them, with just 2 days left to get them here. I'm thinking either we're going to have a very high non-completion rate, or the UPS store is going to be reeling tomorrow.

However, even though they were few they were mighty. Very very pretty squares and all four went together and matched my coffee cup. Thank you Dana, Jenn, Michelle, and Beth.

p.s. Despite the truly wretched nighttime photos in this post, I do think I have a couple sources of photo tips and one or two of my own amateur insights to share about taking knitting photos for blogging. I'll write a post about that to answer a question or two I've gotten about photos. But please note, a lot of the good photos I use are credited to Sarah, who takes gorgeous photos and shares them all with me because she's a generous and kind person. She wrote here about her film camera, and about not taking digital shots. She takes no digital photos. None.