What Can't I Knit? Good Fer You!: September 2007

I can't believe that it is the middle of September and I haven't blogged since August! Where has the time gone? I know where I've gone. Well Loopy of course, which we'll get to in a minute. But the other places I've been since my last blog was a trip to Seattle and Vancouver for a week Beautiful!!! We saw ferry boats - in fact we rode on ferry boats. Darn McDreamy was right - Ferry Boats are Cool!! Cute and Right. Sigh.... We actually went to the building that Grey's Anatomy uses as this "hospital" - in fact, it's a news station right across the street from the space needle. I know, I was shocked too. I hate to break it to you, but it's just a TV show and there isn't an actual Seattle Grace's Hospital. Sigh....I know, I know...but don't worry the season premiere is just around the corner, we'll make it. I know we will... Oh, Just to prove that I am not just using Seattle and Vancouver trip as an excuse of why I couldn't write (as so many do. Right?). Here's a picture of one of the ferry boats that we rode:

Then a week trip to Flin Flon, Manitoba, otherwise known as knitting central. This is where it all started for me, the knitting I mean. So it's no wonder that this last time made me a little loopy. My MIL took me on a whirlwind tour of Flin Flon's needle crafts. And they are awesome! I can't get over all the talent!! I've already shown you the scarves and mitts that my MIL makes - which she is ramping up again to sell at the Toad. She took me into Factor's, which is a crafter's paradise. This is where I purchased a Loopa kit (along with a fabulous red jacket that I just love and have warn to work, where I've received several compliments on how cute it is. If you live in Flin Flon and want to see it, just ask my MIL because she bought one just like it!).

What is a Loopa - you ask? It's a whole loopa fun - that's what it is!
I know you've seen the loopy scarves sold at craft sales (at least I have - I don't know where you've been - but snap to it girl friend!). Basically you wrap the yarn around this U shaped plastic to form the loops, and then you crochet up the center of the loops so that they don't unravel (an unraveled, no loop scarf would just be a mess after all). It could be made with any yarn - but the stuff that it came with is super fluffy and soft. I think it'll make good Christmas gifts....But you be the judge - Take a look:

It even looks good on the door. Loopy Christmas garland - perhaps? Hmmmm....the loopy possibilities are endless, if you ask me.

Then we went to Jane's house. Now Jane is a knitting-maniac. She can knit anything. She had at least six projects going all at the same time! Cables, Fishermen Sweaters, Fair Isle, you name it she can make it!! When we got there and she had knitting activities lined up for us. In fact, in the first five minutes that we were there, we were dying wool. There are two methods to dying wool - one involves my MIL standing over a hot stove mixing wool in water with dye for an hour (This method only works when your MIL says she'll stand and stir stinky wet wool over a hot stove for an hour. I liked this method since I wasn't the one that had to do the mixing, but other than that - it seemed a little manual and hot!). The other, the kinder (but more deadly method) involves the microwave. We used the microwave method to dye variegated colors because there is less mixing involved. I mention that this method is more deadly, as I just read on the internet about how saran wrap (which was used) in the microwave gives off toxic fumes. Over all, I'd say that it's definately cheaper to dye your own wool - but is safer and more fun to to search out the right color of yarn at the yarn store of your choice. Looking is half the fun in my book anyway. It was really kewl to see how it is done - but at least for now I think I am a consumer and not a producer of colored yarn!

Jane taught me so much - the largest of which was 3 methods to cast on and when to use each method. Can you name them? Do-do-dodo-do-do-do (please sing the "do's" to the Jeopardy theme song. I'm waiting......OK) .

Now I knew two already -
1. Like regular knitting but you put twist and put the yarn on the needle.
2. The Long tail method
- and the third method she showed me - keeps the knitting at the exact tension as the rest of the knitting so isn't too tight or loose compared to the rest of the sweater - so is great for sleeves and bottoms. Are you ready?
3. You cast on like you are regular knitting and twisting and putting the knitting on the needle - except you put the needle between the stitches on your needle instead of through the loop. Shear genius! Now if you are saying to yourself - well I knew that - then WHY DIDN'T YOU TELL ME?!! WHY AM I ALWAYS THE LAST TO KNOW. LOL. I am making a sweater for my girlfriend's daughter and I used this method and darn if it doesn't work wonderfully!

The other biggy that she showed me was how to knit Fair Isle holding two different colors - one in each hand. Now I said show - because although I know how it is supposed to be done - I am not smarter than a Fifth Grader - because darn it's tough. The sweater that I'm making has a bit of Fair Isle in it... and I did it - but I am also slower than a fifth grader! But it looks good and that's what matters!

Then we went to Dar's house and she can do needle point like no one I have ever seen. Her pictures look like they've been painted. On top of everything - she gave my Hubby and myself a wedding gift of a picture that she made. It is gorgeous! I put it up the same day we got home and it looks fabulous!! Take a look for yourself:

Now I think that this is a famous picture... please tell me that I'm right (and not just because it's famous because it's in my blog) and let me know who painted it and if it has a title. You know those famous guys always name their masterpieces. Wait, a minute - now that is a good idea! I think from now on I too will name my masterpieces! So because I received these pictures today of a sweater set that I knit for my old boss's daughter, I will name them. Here we go:

I'll call this one - "THANK GOD THERE IS AIR CONDITIONING IN NORTH CAROLINA OR I COULD NEVER STAND TO WEAR THIS FOR LONG SWEATER SET!"

and then there's this one: