tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-74383088642106280012024-02-20T13:53:02.510-08:00Sheila O'Keefe DesignsSheilahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05914235239005944502noreply@blogger.comBlogger52125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7438308864210628001.post-88148890854874849232015-04-07T10:45:00.001-07:002015-04-08T09:38:10.557-07:00Ten on Tuesday: 10 Last Books You Have ReadLong ago I signed up for the <a href="http://caroleknits.net/tot/">Ten on Tuesday</a> emails. Sometimes the topics are interesting, sometimes they don't appeal to me, but either way I never get around to writing a Ten on Tuesday post. Remember yesterday, I said blogging sounds great in the abstract? I often think of great topics to write about, but then never get around to it? Yeah, the 10 on Tuesday topics tend to fall into that category. The post gets written, but only in my head. Not this week. For one day anyway, I'm going to keep my resolution to participate more in online communities.<br />
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Today's Ten on Tuesday topic is the last 10 books you've read. I read a lot and track what I read (and want to read) on <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/1912613-sheila">Goodreads</a>. Two of my favorite Ravelry groups are book related, <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/groups/audiobook-knitters">Audiobook Knitters</a> and <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/groups/52-books-in-52-weeks">52 Books in 52 Weeks</a> (a lot of us read way more than 52 books a year, some way less, it's just a personal challenge). Both groups are fantastic for recommendations, although be warned, your to-read list will grow exponentially, to match that SABLE yarn stash (Stash Acquired Beyond Life Expectancy). The good thing is that with audiobooks, you can knit and read at the same time.<br />
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The last 10 books I've read:<br />
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1) <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/22112268-california">California</a> by Edan Lepucki - audiobook (Audible), 2 stars<br />
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I got this free from the Goodreads <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/139977-ford-audiobook-club">Ford Audiobook Club</a>. Sponsored by the auto manufacturer, this group offered a few free audiobooks last year but seems to have gone dormant. I really didn't enjoy this book. It's set in a near-future semi-dystopia. No zombies or pandemic, just a continuation of current negative trends (crazy weather, extreme income inequality, political dysfunction). I normally like dystopian novels, but the characters have to be well-written and these weren't. A lot of the drama was manufactured because characters didn't talk to each other. I didn't much care for the narrator, Emma Galvin. Her voice sounds whiny to me, making me dislike the main character. She also narrated the Divergent series, and I thought Tris was whiny too. Maybe I would have liked California better on paper.<br />
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2) <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/15737884-14">14</a> by Peter Clines -audiobook (on CD from my library), 4 stars<br />
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A classic-style mystery/horror story. Nate moves into a new apartment in a strange building. As he and his fellow tenants investigate, things get continually weirder and scarier. A really enjoyable listen.<br />
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3) <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17674856-kiss-of-steel">Kiss of Steel</a> by Bec Mcmaster - audiobook (Audible), 3 stars<br />
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A good paranormal/adventure/romance/steampunk novel. Set in an alternate London, sort of Victorian Era, with vampire-like creatures. I enjoyed the story and cared what happened to the characters, although it is pretty much fluff. The narrator was good, but I think I would have liked it better on paper. Be forewarned: there's explicit sex. A lot of it. That goes on. And on. And on. I don't think I'm a prude and I don't object to sex scenes that fit well into the plot. But here I just wanted to get back to the story. In paper I would have skimmed ahead through some of it, not so easy to skim in audio form.<br />
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4) <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17667009-half-off-ragnarok">Half-Off Ragnarok</a> by Seanan McGuire - paperback (library), 4 stars<br />
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Third in the Incryptid series. Set in the modern world, except all sorts of cryptid creatures are real. The series follows the adventures of the Prices, a family of cryptozoologists. Lots of fun. Escapist, light-hearted fluff, but really well-done escapist, light-hearted fluff. I want my own Aeslin mice.<br />
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5) <span style="background-color: white; color: #382110; font-family: inherit; line-height: 1.1;"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/5561590-roseanna">Roseanna</a></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #382110; font-family: inherit; line-height: 1.1;"> </span><span class="by smallText" style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit; line-height: 14px;">by</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: inherit; line-height: 18px;"> </span><span itemprop="author" itemscope="" itemtype="http://schema.org/Person" style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: inherit; line-height: 18px;"><a class="authorName" href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6547.Maj_Sj_wall" itemprop="url" style="color: #666600; line-height: 19.7999992370605px; text-decoration: none;"><span itemprop="name">Maj Sjöwall</span></a>, <span itemprop="name" style="color: #666600; line-height: 19.7999992370605px; text-decoration: none;"><a class="authorName" href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6546.Per_Wahl_" itemprop="url" style="color: #666600; line-height: 19.7999992370605px; text-decoration: none;">Per Wahlöö</a> - audiobook (OverDrive), 3 stars</span></span><br />
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First in the classic Martin Beck series about a police inspector in Stockholm, Sweden. <span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.8000001907349px; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;">I didn't really enjoy this book, but I think that was largely due to the poor narration of the audiobook. The story itself is okay, although the writing, attitudes and style are a bit dated. It was written in the early 1960s. I think it's in that in-between territory, too recent to read as a period classic, but too long ago to read as modern.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.8000001907349px; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;">6) <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18188605-code-name-verity">Code Name Verity</a> by Elizabeth Wein - audiobook (SYNC), 4 stars</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.8000001907349px; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;">I got this book from <a href="http://www.audiobooksync.com/">SYNC</a>, </span>a great YA program that gives away two complete audiobook downloads each week during the summer - a current Young Adult title paired thematically with a Classic or Required Summer Reading title. This year starts May 7. The books are each only available for a week, so grab them while they're there. Code Name Verity is a fantastic WWII spy story, very well narrated. I'm very much looking forward to the second in this series, which is one of this summer's SYNC books.<br />
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7) <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18693750-queen-of-hearts">Queen of Hearts</a> by Rhys Bowen - hardcover (library), 4 stars<br />
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Eighth in the Her Royal Spyness series. Fun spy/mysteries set in the 1930s. Silly, light-hearted, often laugh-out-loud funny.<br />
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8) <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/22249746-hush">Hush</a> by Laura Lippman - audiobook (Overdrive), 3 stars<br />
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Twelfth in the Tess Monaghan series about a Baltimore PI. I used to really love this series, but the last couple entries haven't been as good as the early ones. In this one, Tess is juggling being a detective with raising her toddler. I think the author may have recently had a child in real life, because the story often gets side-tracked by motherhood. If you have a toddler, you may enjoy this. If you're looking for a good mystery, not so much.<br />
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9) <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/22112477-the-narrow-road-to-the-deep-north">The Narrow Road to the Deep North</a> by Richard Flanagan - audiobook (on CD from my library), 3 stars<br />
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The story of an Australian survivor of a WWII Japanese POW camp in the jungles of Thailand. The book jumps around in time and it took me quite a while to get involved or care about the characters. Parts of the book are really good, parts aren't. Parts come across as a bit sexist or misogynistic - not badly so, but definitely a male viewpoint book. And be forewarned, there's graphic violence and torture. The conditions in the POW camp are atrocious and described in great detail. I might have liked this better on paper where I could more easily have skimmed past the goriest parts.<br />
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10) <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6023061-cocaine-blues">Cocaine Blues</a> by Kerry Greenwood - audiobook (on CD from my library), 4 stars<br />
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First in the Phryne Fisher mystery series about a woman PI in 1920s Melbourne, Australia. There's <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Miss-Fishers-Murder-Mysteries-1/dp/B00A27O5AW/ref=sr_1_1?s=movies-tv&ie=UTF8&qid=1428427163&sr=1-1&keywords=phryne+fisher+dvd">a tv show</a> based on this series with fantastic fashions. I've watched the first season and a bit of the second and would recommend it. This was my first venture into the novels. I enjoyed it, nothing fantastic, but a pleasant listen while doing household chores. Didn't leave me desperate for the next installment, but I expect I'll read it sooner or later.<br />
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That's the 10 last books I've read. What are you reading? And don't forget to check out what everyone else is reading in the links from <a href="http://caroleknits.net/2015/04/07/13739/">Carole's blog</a>,<br />
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<br />Sheilahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05914235239005944502noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7438308864210628001.post-45280089097237374482015-04-06T22:37:00.000-07:002015-04-06T22:37:41.696-07:00Love Your Blog Challenge: Interactions and Community<div align="center">
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<a href="http://www.aplayfulday.com/the-love-your-blog-challenge" target="_blank" title="A Playful Day"><img alt="A Playful Day" src="http://i1142.photobucket.com/albums/n608/aplayfulday/love%20your%20blog%20creativity%20challenge%20with%20A%20Playful%20Day%201.jpg" style="border: medium none;" /></a></div>
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Kate of <a href="http://www.aplayfulday.com/" target="_blank">A Playful Day </a>(AKA GreenTriangleGirl on Ravelry) has issued a "love your blog" challenge for the month of April. Every week she's going to post a prompt for us all to blog about, with the goal of making us fall back in love with our blogs. Or, for me, maybe the goal should be falling in love with my blog in the first place, since I'm afraid I've never really shown this blog much love.<br />
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Blogging in the abstract always sounds like a fantastic idea. Throughout the day I think of great topics to blog about, lots of things I want to say, pictures I want to post. But I rarely get around to actually blogging. I've committed to the Love Your Blog Challenge to try to change that.<br />
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The prompt for this week is Interactions and Community. I've been thinking about this for the last few days, trying to decide how I interact both on and off line. In real life I'm a bit of an introvert. That seems to translate to being a bit of a lurker online. I follow quite a few blogs and read quite a few Ravelry forums, but I don't comment a lot. I think part of that is my natural introvert tendencies, and part is my inner critic/perfectionist thinking no one would be interested in what I have to say. Outside of Ravelry, I've never really gotten into any social media, although I do have twitter and pinterest accounts.<br />
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In thinking about my real life interactions and community, I realized I enjoy socializing with a few people or attending small group events like knit night. I'm also comfortable speaking to large groups. But I loathe the in-between size, especially casual mixing with people I don't know well, like during meeting breaks or at parties. I feel awkward trying to join a conversation and have no idea what to say. I fail at small talk. And it seems a lot of social media are the online equivalent of small talk. I know on twitter I always feel like I've walked into the middle of a conversation and I have no idea how to join in without feeling like I've barged in.<br />
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So, any other introverts/lurkers out there? Silly question really, because if you're like me, you'll be reading but you won't comment. I'm going to challenge myself to comment more - mainly because I do enjoy getting comments. Presumably other people like getting comments too, so I'll start by picking one blog post each day to comment on. And I'm challenging myself to participate a little more in online communities, starting with this "Love Your Blog" Challenge. Wish me luck.<br />
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<br />Sheilahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06949121417267449682noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7438308864210628001.post-56090410382361871992014-10-01T18:25:00.001-07:002014-10-01T18:25:30.686-07:00Oregon Flock and Fiber FestivalWow, I've been ignoring this poor blog for over a year. I'm planning to start posting regularly this fall, but I've made plans like that before, so don't hold your breath.<br />
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This past weekend I had the treat of going to the <a href="http://www.flockandfiberfestival.com/" target="_blank">Oregon Flock and Fiber Festival</a> in Canby, about an hour and a half north of Corvallis. After last year's hurricane, the weather was perfect this year, mostly sunny with highs in the 70s. My friend Amy picked me up early Saturday morning. We were at the festival with our tents set up not much after 9am. <br />
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There were alpacas<br />
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and sheep (I think these are Shetland)<br />
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lots of sheep<br />
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The Clackamas county fairgrounds used to have a really old, falling apart barn where the sheep would be during OFFF. Last winter we had some really bad snowstorms in Oregon that were the final straw for that old barn. It partially collapsed and had to be torn down, so this year the sheep were in a great big tent. It seemed a lot nicer, airier and no smell of decades of animal inhabitation.<br />
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Saturday afternoon we went to an interesting talk by Jeanne Carver of <a href="http://imperialstockranch.com/" target="_blank">Imperial Stock Ranch</a>. I love their yarns and enjoyed hearing the story of the ranch and its history, tho I wish the acoustics in the upstairs of the main pavilion building had been a bit better. Jeanne didn't have any of their yarn with her but had a lot of samples of clothing (including the Ralph Lauren USA Olympic sweater) and some beautiful blankets produced from their wool.<br />
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OFFF has started a Focus on Fiber series. I think they plan to focus on a different breed each year. This year was Shetland. I hope they do offer this on other breeds in future years - a short workshop and 4 sample balls of Shetland yarn for $3 was a really good deal. Amy went to the first hour on spinning with Shetland. Since I don't spin, I spent that hour checking out the vendors, then joined in for the second hour on knitting with Shetland wool.<br />
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I'm afraid I didn't get the name of the woman presenting, but she did a great job sharing info about differently spun Shetland yarn including how to match yarn and project. Best of all there were lots of samples to pet and admire. The only Shetland I've ever knit with is the now-discontinued Alice Starmore Scottish Campion, which was produced by Jamieson & Smith and I think is very comparable to their 2-ply Jumper Weight Shetland yarn. I've therefore always considered Shetland a fairly scratchy, stiff yarn. The presenter pointed out how much sproingier handspun Shetland can be, and wow, was she right. Some of the samples of handspun Shetland and shawls knit with handspun were so much softer and squishier than I would have ever expected. The comparison in feel with a sample she had knit from commercial Shetland was really eye-opening. I may need to keep my out for some handspun to buy. Or I joked about buying a fleece and making Amy spin it for me :^) <br />
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Sunday there are spinning competitions which Amy participated in, including spinning blind-folded<br />
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and spinning with rubber gloves<br />
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While Amy spun, I helped out Scarlet of Huckleberry Knits in her booth and then participated in the last competition, team spinning. One person treadles and the other spins the yarn while walking backwards. First team to the finish line, about 50 feet back, wins. I treadled while Amy spun and we came in 4th out of 6 teams. Well, at least we weren't last, and everyone gets prizes, so I even won some yarn. Then I helped Scarlet tear down her booth and another OFFF was over.<br />
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I was pretty restrained in my spending at OFFF - here's the haul I came home with<br />
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From left to right, that's the four balls of grey and brown Shetland samples, a 1000yd skein of <a href="http://www.dicentradesigns.net/" target="_blank">Dicentra</a> Alpaca lace weight yarn in lovely shades of blue, a skein of natural cream sport weight Corriedale from <a href="http://sinceresheep.com/" target="_blank">Sincere Sheep</a> (a team spinning prize), a brownish skein of Navajo Churro yarn from Shaggy Bear Farms (another team spinning prize), and a lovely purple skein of Cascara Lace from <a href="https://www.etsy.com/shop/huckleberryknits" target="_blank">Huckleberry Knits</a>. That photo really doesn't do justice to the amazing shades of purple in that Huckleberry yarn. I really need to work on my photography skills, or maybe just break down and buy a better camera.<br />
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<br />Sheilahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06949121417267449682noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7438308864210628001.post-2781447513065825762013-09-06T19:48:00.000-07:002013-09-06T19:51:14.599-07:00I got lucky!I follow a lot of knitting blogs. I mean a <b>LOT.</b> Google's discontinuation of Reader last spring left me panic stricken. What would I do when they took away my "Next" button for paging thru all those blogs? I procrastinated, in denial that Google would actually be so heartless. After all, isn't their motto "Do no evil"? And taking away Reader was definitely evil.<br />
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As the July 1 execution date approached, I faced facts that there wasn't going to be a last minute reprieve for Reader. So I did some research, and finally migrated over to <a href="http://feedly.com/" target="_blank">Feedly</a>. Surprisingly, after all that angst, I've adapted well and am actually fairly happy with Feedly.<br />
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I've continued to follow way too many knitting blogs.I might listen to/watch a lot of knitting podcasts too. A lot of these blogs and podcasts do giveaways, and yes, I shamelessly enter all the giveaways. Well, not all. I don't spin, so I usually pass on the fiber giveaways. Though sometimes I enter those too because spinners occasionally appear on my gift list. My luck seems to come in spurts. I won't win anything for ages and then, bam, I win several things.<br />
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This held true a couple weeks ago. I was feeling like I never win anything (not true, but reality isn't always a big influence on my feelings). I've been playing with dyeing yarn and had dyed a skein of yarn for the summer dye-along of <a href="http://gynx.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">The Dyer's Notebook</a> video podcast. This is a wonderful podcast from Laura of <a href="https://www.etsy.com/shop/gynx" target="_blank">Gynx Yarns</a>. You should definitely check it out. My skein came out lovely and really was it's own reward.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5gI0sgFpqyzinhKm4rWHe70-r0bBVVjDatG4x4AJIWP32cvPrJ47vPEMKAOsLS_YyyqpIw3xZPedpdq-daCZ-O9gJP38ennzUjvq31BlEP71YVOhsXp9w_xdwFdOqQ9rYLiZf8Fflfag/s512/IMG_5225.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="492" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5gI0sgFpqyzinhKm4rWHe70-r0bBVVjDatG4x4AJIWP32cvPrJ47vPEMKAOsLS_YyyqpIw3xZPedpdq-daCZ-O9gJP38ennzUjvq31BlEP71YVOhsXp9w_xdwFdOqQ9rYLiZf8Fflfag/s640/IMG_5225.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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But Laura had lots of prizes for the dye-along, including some yarn I was really hoping to win. The odds of winning something were like 1 in 4, so I was hopeful. I watched the episode where she announced the winners late one evening and didn't win anything. I went to bed with a "Hrumph. I never win anything". So not true. I had already started knitting a pair of socks with the yarn I'd dyed.The pattern I'd chosen was <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/the-uncanny" target="_blank">The Uncanny</a> from <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/designers/teresa-gregorio">Teresa Gregorio</a>'s <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/sources/ghosts-historiographies-cultural-manifestations-and-the-knits-theyve-inspired" target="_blank">Ghosts</a> ebook. Which I'd won a year or so earlier from the <a href="http://herrlichkeiten.net/" target="_blank">herrlichkeiten</a> blog, so yeah, never win anything. It's a lovely pattern - I''ve finished the first sock.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtzh5b9ul9W7zSKh3xcN_6BOLvFcLdUldEiivC63JZpd1xVHHDqN4IzXJMxCQbAfgqCmoJSx_6zjCMvzqbQKfKLQCzTp_VX8h9ZZpHpPXeYxtYNk9v6qYXeEhI5orwQtf-fXm3wWpHY7c/s512/IMG_5235.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtzh5b9ul9W7zSKh3xcN_6BOLvFcLdUldEiivC63JZpd1xVHHDqN4IzXJMxCQbAfgqCmoJSx_6zjCMvzqbQKfKLQCzTp_VX8h9ZZpHpPXeYxtYNk9v6qYXeEhI5orwQtf-fXm3wWpHY7c/s640/IMG_5235.JPG" width="489" /></a></div>
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So I wake up the next morning, check my email and my luck had changed. I had won two blog contests! Knitting The Uncanny must have given me good karma, because the first was from Teresa Gregorio's <a href="http://www.canaryknits.com/" target="_blank">Canary Knits</a> blog. I won a gorgeous skein of Bijou Basin's <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/yarns/library/bijou-spun-by-bijou-basin-ranch-tibetan-dream-sock" target="_blank">Tibetan Dream sock yarn</a>, 85% yak and 15% nylon. It's oh so squishy and soft and such lovely colors.<br />
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It came with a nice sock pattern too, <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/woven-socks" target="_blank">Woven Socks</a> by <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/designers/jill-wright">Jill Wright</a>. Though this yarn might be too lovely to become socks. I might have to use a plainer yarn to make the socks and use the yarn for a shawl or cowl. It's one of those skeins that's almost too wonderful to actually knit with. I think I'll admire it as a skein for a while until it tells me what it wants to be. (What, your yarn doesn't talk to you? Mine does.)<br />
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The second contest I won was from <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/designers/stephannie-tallent">Stephannie Tallent</a>'s <a href="http://www.sunsetcat.com/" target="_blank">Sunset Cat</a> blog. She has a pattern, the <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/arrows-mitts" target="_blank">Arrows mitts</a> and <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/arrows-hat" target="_blank">hat</a>, in KnitPicks' <a href="http://www.knitpicks.com/books/wool-of-the-andes-collection.html" target="_blank">Wool of the Andes 2013 Collection</a>. I won a copy of the book and 4 skeins of Wool of the Andes to make the hat and mitts. I chose the Spruce and Haze Heather colors. Wool of the Andes comes in so many nice colors, it was hard to choose, but I think I picked well. Purple and green, pretty much my favorite color combination.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7Iqkwg1yDoTHNYXv4IeajVg3UvHXN2if3ySb5tbryCH2VAY5iYpzSxEQ8FEB5NGlOevnya_DqDcQZHAD91afKkaFBySU_9gRSPuC7AtDk647js7RjhlGIMBzoACr0-gTmBgbVq5UDe84/s512/IMG_5247.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="420" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7Iqkwg1yDoTHNYXv4IeajVg3UvHXN2if3ySb5tbryCH2VAY5iYpzSxEQ8FEB5NGlOevnya_DqDcQZHAD91afKkaFBySU_9gRSPuC7AtDk647js7RjhlGIMBzoACr0-gTmBgbVq5UDe84/s640/IMG_5247.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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I can't wait to knit these. I'm not sure if I'm going to make them for myself or maybe give them as a Christmas gift. There are a couple people on my Christmas list who might really like those mitts. There are a couple other patterns in the collection I'm tempted to knit too, particularly the <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/insulate" target="_blank">Insulate cardigan</a> by <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/designers/christina-harris">Christina Harris</a>.<br />
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That was a really lucky day for me. I haven't won anything since, but I'll keep shamelessly entering all those contests. I'm bound to have another lucky day sometime...<br />
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Joining in on Fiber Arts Fridays over at <a href="http://wonderwhyalpacafarm.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Wisdom Begins in Wonder</a>.<br />
<br />Sheilahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06949121417267449682noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7438308864210628001.post-59268754197406873842013-07-31T21:40:00.001-07:002013-07-31T21:40:57.521-07:00WIP WednesdayI'm knitting <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/grace-43">Grace</a> by Jane Richmond out of Kollage Riveting cotton in a lovely teal color.<br />
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The sweater is knit top-down seamlessly. The first part was challenging, getting the lace pattern right while including the raglan increases. I had to rip partway back a few times. Now I'm into the endless stockinette body, although it is nice to have something mindless to work on like earlier this evening at Stitch Night at my LYS.</div>
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If you want to see more Work-In-Progress posts, check out <a href="http://tamisamis.blogspot.com/">Tami’s Ami’s Blog</a></div>
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<a href="http://www.freshstitches.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/tami_wip.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a><a href="http://www.freshstitches.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/tami_wip.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="146" src="http://www.freshstitches.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/tami_wip.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
Sheilahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05914235239005944502noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7438308864210628001.post-82446486927700026512013-05-01T17:51:00.000-07:002013-05-01T17:51:12.140-07:00WIP Wednesday<br />
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Last fall I knit these fingerless mitts out of Shibui Sock in the periwinkle color.<br />
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I liked them and wore them a fair bit this winter, but I never wrote up the design. I just wasn't happy with the way my i-cord bind-off curled under. It's hard to stop reverse stockinette from curling under like these do. I played with the i-cord bind-off and think I have a version that won't curl.<br />
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I also wanted the pattern to include versions with a longer cuff and with fingers (you can't really see in the above photo, but that cuff ends pretty much right inside my jacket). Over the winter I knit this version out of some lovely Knitted Wit Rambouillet fingering in the thistle color.<br />
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Now I'm working on an updated version of the short sample with no fingers, again in Shibui Sock, this time in the Kiwi color.<br />
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Joining in with <a href="http://tamisamis.blogspot.com/2013/05/work-in-progress-wednesday-142.html" target="_blank">Tami's Amis</a> for WIP Wednesday.<br />
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<a href="http://tamisamis.blogspot.com/2013/05/work-in-progress-wednesday-142.html" target="_blank"><img alt="Join us!" height="103" id="Image1_img" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWIuZ0FSi6r1mjmLaTxLki-0jKV42TMcRAp9QCDErLvvi9uJBkDxIbTq4uw2-zEmfAaOv2RwMvd34Vc4hQLHX5JXM2UcFEqgx4Ha52GWzXWJcrwfSZrLnckroaSq9xM3iHi-rhXkv2xGUt/s170/tami_wip.jpg" style="visibility: visible;" width="140" /></a><br />
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What are you working on?<br />
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<br />Sheilahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06949121417267449682noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7438308864210628001.post-43675126164517458822013-04-22T11:32:00.000-07:002013-04-22T11:32:08.219-07:004KCBWDAY1 The House CupIt's Knitting and Crochet Blog Week again!<br />
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<blockquote class="tr_bq">
A bit like Harry Potter, but not quite, this year’s Knitting &
Crochet Blog Week is split into 4 houses. Don your favourite knitted or
crocheted hat and let it guide you to which house you will be in.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSAI0ZhHFJjYeDT-myDCgeuuCRheCYhvl4OPLe14qwHljIdc9xbV9mu6PMWU9mMYld-OA5yyNFZozUvQUrFElozFq2kB2Z7C3WuMy7al9zqEl0ugi6fbPvgE_wKsO00_OKR7KNryl5Idk/s1600/houses.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSAI0ZhHFJjYeDT-myDCgeuuCRheCYhvl4OPLe14qwHljIdc9xbV9mu6PMWU9mMYld-OA5yyNFZozUvQUrFElozFq2kB2Z7C3WuMy7al9zqEl0ugi6fbPvgE_wKsO00_OKR7KNryl5Idk/s1600/houses.jpg" width="440px" /></a></div>
The House of Bee: Bees are busy and industrious, but can flit from one
interesting project to the next as bright and shiny things capture their
interest.<br />
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The House of Manatee: Manatees are gentle, calm and cuddly. Relaxed and
unflashy they represent the comfort and soft side of knitting and
crochet.<br />
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The House of Monkey: Intelligent and with a fun loving side, Monkeys
like to be challenged with every project presenting them with something
new and interesting.<br />
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The House of Peacock: Peacocks take something good and make it
brilliant. Buttons, embellishments and a bit of sparkle prove that
perfection lies in the details – like a Peacock's Tail.</blockquote>
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Which house am I? Aspects of the House of Bee fit me. I sometimes flit from one interesting project to the next. Without necessarily seeing a project through to the finish. Like all those designs I haven't written up the pattern for yet, like these shawls:<br />
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The House of Manatee isn't a bad fit either. I like traditional, oversized, comfy sweaters like my Irish Fisherman's Sweater.<br />
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But the pictures above show which house I fit best in: The House of Monkey. "Monkeys
like to be challenged with every project presenting them with something
new and interesting." That's me. There's no such thing as too many cables in a first knitting project:<br />
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Complicated lace: bring it on.<br />
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And don't forget that finicky picot cast-on. <br />
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Fair Isle: a pattern that repeats would just be too easy:<br />
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Yup, that's me, always wanting to try a new technique. The more complicated, the better.<br />
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<br />Sheilahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06949121417267449682noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7438308864210628001.post-61947144222575999972013-04-19T14:24:00.000-07:002013-04-19T14:24:20.600-07:00RIP Tuft<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Tuft</div>
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February 14, 1996 to April 12, 2013</div>
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He was a good cat and I miss him terribly. He'd been in decline for the last year, not eating enough and a bit wobbly on his feet. His vet hadn't been able to find anything specific wrong with him, he was just old. Last week it reached the point where he was miserable so I had to say goodbye to him. It was a really hard, but I know I made the right choice, not prolonging his misery.</div>
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The last week has been rough. My apartment seems so empty without him, I find myself looking for him when I come home. And I keep running into his adorable face all over the internet. See, I'd used the picture above as my avatar on all sorts of sites: Ravelry, Craftsy, Twitter, Google+, Goodreads, I keep logging in somewhere I haven't been and his little face breaks my heart all over again. It seemed like a good idea, having a single picture that would identify me across various platforms, but in the last week I've been regretting it. I'm replacing Tuft's photo with various photos of my knitting designs, because I just can't take seeing him everywhere.</div>
Sheilahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06949121417267449682noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7438308864210628001.post-80648747134528544182013-03-22T17:35:00.000-07:002013-03-22T17:35:35.770-07:00Favorite Things Friday #1 and #2The last couple of weeks I've noticed Alex Tinsley posting Favorite Things Friday on her blogs, <a href="http://www.dull-roar.com/2013/03/favorite-things-friday.html" target="_blank">Dull Roar</a> and <a href="http://www.cafblog.com/2013/03/favorite-things-friday-2.html" target="_blank">Classy as F***</a>. Vivian of <a href="http://spindleshanksknits.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Spindleshanks</a> recently started Favorite Things Friday with Star of <a href="http://keeponknittinginthefreeworld.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Keep on Knitting in the Free World</a> and Lee of<a href="http://leemeredith.tumblr.com/" target="_blank"> talkin' under water</a> also joining in. I really liked today's categories, Favorite Modern Convenience and Favorite Discovery. Alex said on her blog to email her if you want to join in, so I did. Now I've got a whole long list of categories in which to find favorite things for future Fridays. Today I'm catching up with last week's, favorite animal and favorite superhero/superpower, and this week's, favorite historical discovery and favorite modern convenience.<br />
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Favorite Animal</h3>
Without a doubt, the sea turtle is my favorite animal.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/tropicalsnorkeling/4323144645/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="Snorkeling Sea Turtle by TropicalSnorkeling.com, on Flickr"><img alt="Snorkeling Sea Turtle" height="461" src="http://farm5.staticflickr.com/4051/4323144645_c83846a666.jpg" width="500" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b id="yui_3_7_3_1_1363992605690_332">Photo by: <a href="http://www.tropicalsnorkeling.com/" id="yui_3_7_3_1_1363992605690_331" rel="nofollow">www.tropicalsnorkeling.com</a> </b></td></tr>
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They're so graceful in the water. They get to live on coral reefs and bask in the sun. If I believed in reincarnation I'd want to come back as a sea turtle. Presuming, of course, that we don't drive them to extinction before I die. Hmmm... maybe a donation to the <a href="http://www.conserveturtles.org/" target="_blank">Sea Turtle Conservancy</a> is in order.<br />
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Favorite Superhero/superpower</h3>
This category is a bit harder for me. Comics superheroes like Batman and Superman have never really interested me. I like tv shows and novels with supernatural elements though, so maybe I'll go that way. Let's see. It'd be nice to be immortal like a vampire. Oh, but there's that slight problem that I have been known to faint at the sight of blood. And I get to craving the sunshine during Oregon's gloomy winters. Perhaps vampire isn't that good a fit for me.<br />
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How about magic? One of my favorite book series is <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/search?utf8=%E2%9C%93&query=dresden+files" target="_blank">The Dresden Files</a> by Jim Butcher, especially the audiobooks read by James Marsters (aka Spike on Buffy/Angel). The hero of the books, Harry Dresden, is a wizard in Chicago. One of his oft-used spells is fire. Wouldn't it be fun to be able to shout "Fuego" and throw fire from your hand? Though I hope I'd use my power more for starting campfires rather than for taking out enemies like Harry does.<br />
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Favorite Historical Discovery</h3>
There's a lot of contenders in this category. This is, after all, a knitting blog, so I could pick knitting, but that'd be a bit trite, wouldn't it?<br />
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I feel obligated to go for at least a little originality or I'd copy Alex's <a href="http://www.cafblog.com/2013/03/favorite-things-friday-2.html" target="_blank">pick of natural selection</a>, which is what made me decide I needed to play along with the Favorite Things Friday meme. One of my favorite tumblrs is <a href="http://wtfevolution.tumblr.com/" target="_blank">WTF, Evolution</a>, which describes itself as "Honoring natural selection's most baffling creations. Go home, evolution, you are drunk." <br />
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“Do you ever think that maybe there’s something more out there?”<br />
“What do you mean, evolution?”<br />
“I don’t know, like, that there’s some greater purpose for all these
animals I’m making, other than just eating and pooping and having little
animals.”<br />
“I guess I hadn’t really thought about it.”<br />
“I just wonder what the point is sometimes. What’s stopping me from
going off the rails and making this sage grouse look completely absurd?
Why don’t I just give it demon eyes and ridiculous inflatable chest
balloons? Who cares? What difference does it make?”<br />
“Aw, come on, don’t talk like that.”<br />
“Why not? Seriously, I’m going to do it. See if anyone stops me. Bet you they won’t.”<br />
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<a href="http://wtfevolution.tumblr.com/post/44300689667/do-you-ever-think-that-maybe-theres-something" target="_blank">from WTF, Evolution </a></div>
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Over on <a href="http://keeponknittinginthefreeworld.blogspot.com/2013/03/favorite-things-friday-part-2.html" target="_blank">Keep on Knitting in the Free World</a>, Star chose cave painting as her favorite discovery, and boy, could I second that, though I'd go for the petroglyphs. I do love petroglyphs and have even knit them, like my <a href="http://sheilaokeefedesigns.blogspot.com/2011/12/hawaiian-petroglyph-sweater.html" target="_blank">Hawaiian petroglyph sweater. </a><br />
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Cave painting and petroglyphs got me thinking of basic discoveries, and suddenly I knew what my favorite discovery is - written language! Imagine a world without writing. Communication would be so hard. No novels, no newspapers, no blogs, no Ravelry. It doesn't bare thinking about.<br />
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Favorite Modern Convenience</h3>
This one's a no-brainer. Contact lenses. I can't imagine living without them. I haven't been able to see at a distance without glasses since I was a small child and these days I can't read or knit either. I wear these multifocals.<br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">I even sleep in them so I only need to remember I can't see naturally once a week or so. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Except when I read or watch a time travel show like <a href="http://www.bbcamerica.com/primeval/" target="_blank">Primeval</a> or read a post- apocalypse novel like <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13330761-the-dog-stars" target="_blank">The Dog Stars</a><span style="font-size: small;">. Then </span>I realize I'd be worthless in these situations. Within no time I'd be blind as a bat. Seriously, why isn't anyone on <a href="http://www.amctv.com/shows/the-walking-dead" target="_blank">The Walking Dead</a> the walking blind?</span></span><br />
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The Twilight Zone at least got it.<br />
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And those are a few of my favorite things.<br />
<br />Sheilahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06949121417267449682noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7438308864210628001.post-19021873356690309982013-02-06T23:41:00.001-08:002013-02-07T00:03:53.123-08:00WIP WednesdayIt's still Wednesday here in Oregon for another hour, so I'm gonna sneak in a late-day WIP Wednesday post.<br />
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I'm working on some fingerless mitts:<br />
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I designed these with an i-cord cast on and twisted stitches. I'm knitting my sample out of <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/KnittedWit" target="_blank">Knitted Wit</a>'s Rambouillet fingering. It's a lovely soft yarn which I highly recommend, although I'm a little worried how well it will hold up to the hard use I give gloves. It seems like a delicate yarn and may have a tendency to pill. (What, me, knit, frog, and reknit a design-in-progress a bajillion times? Never, I say. Well, okay, almost always. And definitely this time). I'll have to keep an eye on how the mitts wear and maybe reserve them for Sunday best.<br />
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I also have a double-knit wrister in progress. I'm taking Alasdair Post-Quinn's Craftsy class Adventures in Double-Knitting (Full disclosure: I was given free access to the class to review it). So far I've only had time to watch the first few lessons, but I'm really enjoying it. I've done a little double-knitting before, so these first lessons have been more review for me rather than learning new skills.<br />
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The first class project is a little swatch:<br />
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I made mine out of some Lion Brand Fisherman's wool I had in my stash.</div>
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The next class project is a wrister I'm making out of some Kid-n-Ewe from stash. This is an old discontinued worsted weight yarn that I made myself a sweater out of back in the nineties.</div>
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I actually took this photo this afternoon and finished the wrister this evening, but there's no light now to take a new photo. Maybe I'll give it a bath and do a FO Friday post :^)</div>
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The next few lessons cover increases and decreases, cables, and other more advanced techniques. I've only ever done straight double-knitting without even any increases or decreases, so I expect I'll learn a lot. I'll post a full review of the class once I've finished.</div>
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You can get the class for $19.99 (50% off the usual $39.99) <a href="http://www.craftsy.com/doubleknit" target="_blank">here</a>. Alisdair Post-Quinn is the author of the book <a href="http://www.double-knitting.com/books.html" target="_blank">Extreme Double-Knitting</a> and is very much the expert on this technique, so it's a great opportunity to learn from someone who knows his stuff. Check out his website at <a href="http://www.double-knitting.com/">http://www.double-knitting.com</a>.</div>
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Linking this post up with Tami's Ami's WIP Wednesday.</div>
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<a href="http://tamisamis.blogspot.com/2013/02/work-in-progress-wednesday-130.html" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj72aUKj4oprlS7dD1kMxP3xwvBAKDpM1x-A9UCej8D7BK2NC_eOVPBtNDTYvY1QdOh3Hwn2SC2Semyew6YrJw5sYzoAikM7eWdDZMWO8aP_Mc4Pe58z1zS14v2fyn1f7ZSpq8f7QAiqf8/s1600/tami_wip.jpg" /></a></div>
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Sheilahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06949121417267449682noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7438308864210628001.post-43897223000957795152013-01-01T17:35:00.000-08:002013-01-02T08:52:46.185-08:00Happy New Year!I hope everyone's year is off to a good start. I'm not quite sure about mine. I was reading <a href="http://www.yarnharlot.ca/blog/archives/2013/01/01/happy_new_year.html">The Yarn Harlot</a> earlier today. She talks about including in your New Year's Day the things you'd like the next year to hold. I'd like to get outside and walk/hike more than I have in the recent past. Oregon put on a sunny face today, after<a href="http://www.gazettetimes.com/news/local/rain-made-it-th-wettest-year/article_a75b9db8-53d8-11e2-a9f1-001a4bcf887a.html"> 2012 was our 4th wettest year ever</a>, so I went for a walk at my neighborhood wetland.<br />
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So far so good. As is common at this time of year, sunny = cold in Oregon.<br />
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Yup, so cold there was ice. That boardwalk? Fine in the sun. Not so fine in the shade. In fact, very icy and slippery in the shade. My feet slid out from under me at one point and I landed on my butt. I do hope that doesn't mean my year is going to include a lot of falling, because I've always been way too prone to tripping on a flat sidewalk.<br />
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Outside of the fall, it was a nice walk. Oregon's furry trees are at there best on a sunny winter's day. No leaves to hide the fur and the sunshine brings out the green tint to the fur.<br />
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Hope you are having as nice a day, minus the slip-sliding on ice!Sheilahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05914235239005944502noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7438308864210628001.post-7788322267023056022012-11-07T22:18:00.000-08:002012-11-07T22:18:35.084-08:00WIP WednesdayToday I've been knitting on a stuffed dog I'm designing.<br />
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Can you guess what his name might be when he's done?<br />
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<a href="http://tamisamis.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj72aUKj4oprlS7dD1kMxP3xwvBAKDpM1x-A9UCej8D7BK2NC_eOVPBtNDTYvY1QdOh3Hwn2SC2Semyew6YrJw5sYzoAikM7eWdDZMWO8aP_Mc4Pe58z1zS14v2fyn1f7ZSpq8f7QAiqf8/s1600/tami_wip.jpg" /></a></div>
To see more WIPs, head on over to<a href="http://tamisamis.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"> Tami's Amis</a>. And that's day 7 of NaBloPoMo.<br />
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<br />Sheilahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06949121417267449682noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7438308864210628001.post-89339746952686955772012-11-06T22:36:00.000-08:002012-11-06T22:36:36.819-08:00Wahoo!!!Tomorrow I promise to return to my regularly scheduled knitting content - no more politics. Tonight I'm celebrating.<br />
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And that's day 6 of NaBloPoMo.<br />
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Sheilahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06949121417267449682noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7438308864210628001.post-67292466989786704072012-11-05T22:17:00.000-08:002012-11-05T22:17:16.183-08:00Election ObservingIn yesterday's post I mentioned I'm the Benton County Coordinator for the Democratic Party of Oregon's Protect the Vote program. My day today started when I was awoken by the phone at 7:15am. The volunteer who was scheduled for 8am to noon today had just arrived at the courthouse where our election office is located and realized he'd forgotten the letter he was supposed to have with him saying he was the designated Democratic observer. He lives in Philomath, one town over from Corvallis, and wouldn't have time to drive home to get his letter. Luckily I had an extra at home. So I threw on yesterday's clothes and drove the 10 minutes to the courthouse to give him the copy. In heavy fog with no coffee in my system. Not an ideal start to the day. But I got there, handed the letter to him, and headed back home to start up my coffee maker.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Benton County Courthouse, built in 1868</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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I was the scheduled observing volunteer for this afternoon, so around 11:30 I headed back down to the courthouse and signed in for my shift. It's interesting to see how they process the ballots in a vote-by-mail election.<br />
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The first step is sorting. The ballots, still in their sealed envelopes, are sorted into mail trays by precinct. Each precinct can have different candidates and thus a different ballot style.<br />
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The next step is signature verification. The election worker sits at a computer and scans the bar code on the ballot. The corresponding signature from the voter's registration card pops up on the screen. The worker compares the two signatures. If there's any doubt, they can click on "full image" and get a display that shows all the registration signatures on file for that voter, so if you've reregistered because you've moved or changed party affiliation, they can see how your signature has evolved over time. They also see the signatures of any other voters in the household. This helps them detect cases where a husband and wife sign each other's ballots, maybe by mistake. If the worker judges the signature to be valid, the ballot is marked accepted and moves on. If not, the voter is contacted to come in and resolve the problem.<br />
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Then ballots move on to the processing station. Ballots are processed by teams of three workers. The first worker removes the secrecy envelope from the outer signed envelope. After this point there is nothing to identify the ballot as belonging to a particular voter, maintaining the secrecy of the ballot. The second worker removes the ballot from the secrecy envelope. The third worker unfolds the ballot and inspects it for stray marks that might confuse the counting machine or votes that aren't complete enough for the counting machine to see. If there are marks to be removed or more completely filled in, the third worker consults with the second worker and only if they agree are alterations made to the ballot. These workers must have different political party affiliations to prevent collusion in favor of any candidate or measure.<br />
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Then the stacks of ballots go on to the counting room. Today was the first day ballots were counted. The ballots are fed through the optical scanners and counted. This is done by teams of two workers, again with differing political affiliation. They had some problems with the feeder mechanisms early today and had a rep from the machine company out to fine tune the feeders. Things seemed to go more smoothly after that.<br />
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If the machine detects two votes for the same office (an overvote), it rejects the ballot. The two workers then inspect the ballot. If they agree the voter's intent to vote for a particular candidate is clear, they use white tape or a stamp to amend the ballot so the machine can read it. If the voter deliberately voted for two candidates, or their intent can't be determined, the ballot is set aside to be counted later with the overvote rejection mode turned off. Thus all the votes for other races on that ballot will still be counted.<br />
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The machines are set in "no report" mode, so no one knows what the counts are. Only after the 8pm deadline tomorrow will the report button be pushed, generating the election results. This "precounting" allows Benton County to release results ten or fifteen minutes after the 8pm deadline that will include most of the ballots. Only ballots that come in late tomorrow will remain to be counted later in the evening. Unless it's a really close race, by 8:15pm, we know who won in Benton County.<br />
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Of course, if it's close it can be days before we know for sure. In Oregon a ballot is valid if it's placed in any ballot box anywhere in the state by 8pm Tuesday. Someone who lives in Corvallis but is up in Portland this week might put their ballot in a box there tomorrow evening. It can take a few days for all the ballots to find their way from the county they were deposited to the county that needs to count them. It happened a few years ago that the Corvallis mayoral race was so close that we had to wait for all those ballots to arrive before we knew who our next mayor was to be.<br />
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It was interesting to observe all this going on this afternoon, but it was a little dull too. Benton County Elections has a camera system with a video camera in each room. I sat at a desk in the hallway watching a computer monitor with the camera feeds displayed. I could display the screen divided into 9 sections (6 cameras were in operation), or expand one to see more detail. By 2pm or so they had processed all the ballots from the weekend and sent the processing table workers home. They continued with signature verification of ballots that came in this afternoon and with the counting, since that only started today and was a bit behind because of the feeder problems. Most of the afternoon I had the counting room on full screen. I sat and knit and watched them feed ballots into the machines.<br />
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Hey, we got to actual knitting content on my knitting blog. What was I knitting? I'm starting a new version of the fingerless mitts I showed on <a href="http://sheilaokeefedesigns.blogspot.com/2012/11/fo-friday-fingerless-mitts.html" target="_blank">FO Friday</a>. I thought a nice variation to include in the pattern would be for longer cuffs. I started another set, this time from <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/yarns/library/knitted-wit-feather-weight" target="_blank">Knitted Wit Feather Weight</a> 100% Rambouillet in the Thistle colorway. It's a gorgeous bright purple. I'll post pictures soon.<br />
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And there's day 5 of NaBloPoMo. Come back tomorrow to see if I make it through day 6. And if you're a US citizen, make sure you vote (if you haven't already). <br />
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Sheilahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06949121417267449682noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7438308864210628001.post-17469629775415749002012-11-04T21:13:00.000-08:002012-11-04T21:13:59.649-08:00Getting out the voteThis is really a knitting blog so I don't want to get too political. It is that time in the US though - just a few more days until we pick our next president. Whatever your political views, make sure you get out and vote.<br />
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Today I went knocking on doors for the Obama campaign. It was a beautiful, sunny fall day.<br />
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A lot of our trees here in Oregon are evergreen, some of the others have lost their leaves already. Others are beautiful colors.<br />
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It was a nice day for a walk around town.<br />
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This was my first time canvassing this fall. From May to October a friend and I did voter registration at the <a href="http://locallygrown.org/home/" target="_blank">Corvallis Farmers Marke</a>t every Wednesday and Saturday.<br />
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The band isn't with us, they just set up next to us. After the registration deadline passed on October 16, it felt nice to take a bit of a break from politics.<br />
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Plus I'm the Benton County Coordinator for the Democratic Party of Oregon Protect the Vote program, so I had to recruit and train volunteers to watch our elections office handle the ballots as they come in. Last Monday I got to watch the pre-election certification of the machines that count the ballots. Benton County ballots are the "fill in the dot" type and they use optical scanners to count the ballots.<br />
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Today I knocked on 38 doors, most of whom weren't home. I talked to 12 voters and collected two ballots. Here in Oregon we do entirely vote-by-mail, so everyone received their ballot in the mail a couple of weeks ago. Ballots can be mailed back or put in any of the ballot boxes around town. Postmarks don't count so it's too late to mail them now - they need to be put in a ballot box.<br />
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I dropped mine in the box at the public library on Friday and it already shows as received. Anyone in Oregon can check if their ballot has been received at <a href="http://oregonvotes.gov/">oregonvotes.gov</a>. A lot of other people have also already voted. <a href="http://www.co.benton.or.us/elections/turnout-general.php" target="_blank">Benton County elections</a> currently shows:<br />
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<b><span class="style4">47.99%</span></b></div>
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When knocking on doors, we can accept ballots from voters. While the campaign sets up canvassers with ballot receipts<b>,</b> I still can't imagine giving my ballot to some stranger who knocks on my door. But people do it all the time. I was very careful with the two ballots entrusted to me and put them in the ballot box on 5th Street by the police station. </div>
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It was a rewarding afternoon, but I'm beat. The area I was in is near campus (Oregon State University) so there are quite a few student apartments. I swear, almost all the doors in my turf were on the second or third floor. I climbed a lot of stairs today!</div>
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And there's day four of NaBloMoPo. Will I make it through day 5? Come back tomorrow to find out!</div>
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Sheilahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06949121417267449682noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7438308864210628001.post-68273592642852646932012-11-03T20:50:00.000-07:002012-11-03T20:52:19.952-07:00Feegle GlovesSo here it is, only the third day of NaBloPoMo, and I was pretty much at a loss what to write about today.<br />
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Was I doomed to fail this early out of the gate? </div>
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Then I realized that there was an upside to not having blogged most of the summer. I have a lot of completed projects that I haven't written about yet. </div>
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One of those projects is my Feegle gloves.</div>
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These are a basic glove knit out of some self-patterning Opal sock yarn that has been in my stash forever. They used about half the 100g skein. Someday I'll have to think up something to do with the other half.</div>
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They're 2x2 ribbing for the cuff with the rest just stockinette. I gave the right hand a flip-top thumb and index finger so I can use my iPod while wearing them.</div>
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I call them my Feegle gloves because I was looking for a Discworld tie-in to enter them in a Nerd Wars challenge. The Feegles (full name the Nac Mac Feegles) are small leprechaun-like creatures who like to drink and steal sheep. They are covered in tattoos, making their skin look blue. Hence my blue gloves became Feegle gloves.</div>
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The particular challenge was Tips of the Trade - we were supposed to craft something that showed off a tip we had. My two tips were:</div>
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Tip One: When working on doublepoint needles, it’s easy to get
inconsistent tension where you switch from one needle to the next. To
avoid this, when I reach the end of a needle, I always knit two stitches
from the next needle onto the one I’ve been knitting on, before
starting the new needle. If I’m doing a pattern like socks that gives
instructions from the start of the 3 or 4 needles, I just place markers
to indicate the start of each “needle” for pattern purposes.<br />
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Tip Two: When making gloves it’s hard to avoid little holes at the
bottom of the fingers where you pick up stitches. If you’re a
perfectionist like me, this will bug you, even though no one else will
notice. To minimize holes, when picking up the first stitch of the
three, I pick up the first cast-on stitch and the stitch to the right in
the row beneath and knit the two together. On the last stitch of the
three, I pick up the third cast-on stitch and the stitch to the left in
the row beneath and knit the two together. This makes the holes
practically invisible.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsXusGCfnbL77xutOS9tF-kZUD_HXdM-mMT8qduc9-wyi5S1OfIV-3NfpR3D1K1rT2HoJbfO_O1I9FvnFjS-tkB-8-j_LsanX-s1Q8Md2zW9KhISWwYViRhSmg8qpDQYF3wO62aMOthK4/s512/IMG_3696.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsXusGCfnbL77xutOS9tF-kZUD_HXdM-mMT8qduc9-wyi5S1OfIV-3NfpR3D1K1rT2HoJbfO_O1I9FvnFjS-tkB-8-j_LsanX-s1Q8Md2zW9KhISWwYViRhSmg8qpDQYF3wO62aMOthK4/s320/IMG_3696.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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Phew, made it through day 3 of NaBloPoMo. Come back tomorrow to see how long I can last... <br />
<br />Sheilahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06949121417267449682noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7438308864210628001.post-23525504491106142012-11-02T19:53:00.000-07:002012-11-02T19:53:51.681-07:00FO Friday: Fingerless MittsI've been working on these fingerless mitts for a while. I should have had them done to enter in round 1 of this tournament of Nerd Wars. But this is where they were at the end of the round at 9pm Oct. 28 (midnight EDT).<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj79FKxKZRrmkRa6WqtWarkA-RjUbzpPhAXAEbRTJV-14-zcBr4o09Rb37GCgCs27KzQV8waexsLXvtvX3hQC0o0ViOfhBjDCNbKxDmW6_QLrsQjqch8gvv0yrcKJBeQaV28Ql0llIFtCw/s576/IMG_4505.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="256" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj79FKxKZRrmkRa6WqtWarkA-RjUbzpPhAXAEbRTJV-14-zcBr4o09Rb37GCgCs27KzQV8waexsLXvtvX3hQC0o0ViOfhBjDCNbKxDmW6_QLrsQjqch8gvv0yrcKJBeQaV28Ql0llIFtCw/s320/IMG_4505.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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One mitt done, just a cuff on the second one. And no ends woven in. I did finally finish them this week.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWS40hvMwdMxMrEuMipm7Ytp9aRxcFIfKtp1PoDR6RbiFULT7i12IWEd13siqkiwpmEfcJO9DNb3nmP7K9r7MH8sL2jFPx17q8UsBKRWW4JIEjnl-lplOwaNRmpcwTbRtHEByWF3iQWsc/s640/IMG_4508.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="236" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWS40hvMwdMxMrEuMipm7Ytp9aRxcFIfKtp1PoDR6RbiFULT7i12IWEd13siqkiwpmEfcJO9DNb3nmP7K9r7MH8sL2jFPx17q8UsBKRWW4JIEjnl-lplOwaNRmpcwTbRtHEByWF3iQWsc/s320/IMG_4508.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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There's a second one, honest, but it's hard to take a picture of both your hands :^)<br />
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I'm pretty happy with how these came out. They're knit from Shibui Sock 100% superwash merino in the Periwinkle colorway. I'm in the process of writing up the pattern, so it'll be available soon. I haven't thought of a name yet. Any ideas?<br />
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If you're near Corvallis, Oregon, I'll be teaching a class on twisted stitches using these as the project on Sunday November 11 at my LYS, <a href="http://www.stashlocal.com/" target="_blank">Stash</a>.<br />
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I had one more FO earlier today, but I didn't photograph it. I filled out my ballot and dropped it in the library ballot box this afternoon. Now I can proudly where my "I already voted for Obama" button all weekend. Monday afternoon I'll be the Democratic volunteer election observer at the courthouse, so maybe I'll even see my own ballot processed.<br />
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There, I made it two days into NaBloPoMo.<br />
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<a href="http://www.nablopomo.com/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="NaBloPoMo November 2012" height="150" src="https://www.blogher.com/files/NaBloPoMo_teaser.jpg" width="175" /> </a></div>
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If you want to see more finished objects, check out <a href="http://tamisamis.blogspot.com/2012/11/fo-friday-111.html" target="_blank">Tami's Amis blog</a></div>
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<a href="http://tamisamis.blogspot.com/2012/11/fo-friday-111.html" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="231" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiciaw5wHYUIOCiA5EPaZQDR-ibkM0PhBY59XFTfltbGcRjqzCU5Ad6UmlAxPI7lpHp9ipggfp4D6hYoOBwkyLlHnfMPeTaFwJ23f-uH97jFGZrojPl2XjwzK1CAQhrbIXB4huiW8PsDSc/s320/FOfriday.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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And don't forget to come back tomorrow and see if I can post three days in a row...</div>
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Sheilahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06949121417267449682noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7438308864210628001.post-24286994492944830252012-11-01T22:56:00.002-07:002012-11-01T22:56:52.414-07:00NaBloPoMoWhich is short for National Blog Posting Month. The idea is to post every day during the month of November. I stumbled on it last night and for some silly reason decided to sign up.<br />
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<a href="http://www.nablopomo.com/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="NaBloPoMo November 2012" height="150" src="https://www.blogher.com/files/NaBloPoMo_teaser.jpg" width="175" /></a></div>
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I've been pretty bad about posting in the last few months. Maybe this will get me to actually post regularly? At least it sounds easier than NaNoWriMo (write a novel in a month? you wouldn't want to read it if I did) or even NaNoSweMo (knitting a sweater in a month sounds more doable than a novel, especially if you use bulky yarn, but still....)<br />
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So what have I been up to lately that I haven't blogged about? Two weeks ago I released a new pattern, the Transit of Venus hat.<br />
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<a href="http://www.blogger.com/%3Ca%20href=%22http://www.ravelry.com/purchase/sheila-okeefe-designs/122476%22%3Ebuy%20now%3C/a%3E" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="296" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCYAV41g7y6OwZPNMaiAYe0PGdxTBPuSXQcWXku2VTQAIIIQVLkhABtcOhk7x20u9PgIYBDUjAiyD5oGcWASz1iJf8CYm2pmkXZW96aBsLVlE9XSVm_OH7MupPcv2qGY52f0kkGjzD1FCM/s320/IMG_4389.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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This is a slouchy hat done using mosaic colorwork using a heavy worsted or aran weight yarn. <br />
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<a href="http://www.blogger.com/%3Ca%20href=%22http://www.ravelry.com/purchase/sheila-okeefe-designs/122476%22%3Ebuy%20now%3C/a%3E" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="293" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTmriK8qEpBgGRbs3wf7h-wkiO-bLVaFE1ldMwNzh91BUMMYiM9D9712aQ2rnqMPTJ9tRCp9hw49P9jfWxUCGch4FCdAlb0B-mUpBq9uiEhR-y2IwKim4hK7f02ka2Rn2-jwix-RoBXrOO/s320/IMG_4406.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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This sample was made using Imperial Ranch Columbia in the Teal Heather and Natural colors.<br />
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The name of the hat comes from the first version I made last June for a Nerd War challenge to make something inspired by June's transit of Venus. <br />
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<a href="http://www.blogger.com/%3Ca%20href=%22http://www.ravelry.com/purchase/sheila-okeefe-designs/122476%22%3Ebuy%20now%3C/a%3E" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="287" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FCSVj9bE53I/T9qAlCR4yLI/AAAAAAAABko/aih4MHjIJIc/s320/IMG_3645.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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The boxes represent the sun with rays emanating outwards. The dot in the middle is Venus transiting across the sun.<br />
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<a href="http://www.blogger.com/%3Ca%20href=%22http://www.ravelry.com/purchase/sheila-okeefe-designs/122476%22%3Ebuy%20now%3C/a%3E" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMKyRqtCX3kwougZW2KSpT3P70OVpX3IaCt4p6l3t8MSffTQOp5tkHWwADpDCOfwmwOKAdwYLerw-lOuidAoDWpx56aG3yhymJes0fpHMwbu49ybaHBgaoOsQ7IFDAIeYDmSLUlzRR2GI/s320/IMG_3592-001.JPG" width="291" /></a></div>
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This first hat was made using Lion Brand Fishermen's wool in brown and natural and was a donation to <a href="http://cephalopodyarns.com/" target="_blank">Cephalopod Yarns</a>' <a href="http://cephalopodyarns.com/blogs/news/6051006-afghans-for-afghans-or-how-to-score-free-yarn" target="_blank">Afghan for Afghans charity drive</a>.<br />
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Transit of Venus is a quick knit and would make a fun holiday gift!<br />
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<a href="http://www.ravelry.com/purchase/sheila-okeefe-designs/122476" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.ravelry.com/images/shopping/buy-now.gif" /></a></div>
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Come back tomorrow to see how long I can stick to blogging every day....Sheilahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06949121417267449682noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7438308864210628001.post-32693785701758622802012-08-07T21:35:00.001-07:002012-08-07T21:49:22.066-07:00Blue Moon Fiber Arts Barn Sale and Dye PartyLast week I coordinated the Benton County Democrats' booth at the County Fair. It was fun and successful, but a lot of work. Tuesday booth setup took from 10am until 8pm. Then Wednesday through Saturday was the fair. I had to run in and out to get set up in the mornings, get more water cups, get more button making supplies, pick up the cash at night, and so on. It was a lot of work, and to top it off, Saturday hit 102 degrees. I was in need of some yarn therapy.<br />
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Blue Moon Fiber Arts to the rescue. They're located in Scappoose, about two and a half hours from where I live in Corvallis, Oregon, and this past weekend was the <a href="http://blog.bluemoonfiberarts.com/site/entry/barn_sale_and_dye_party/" target="_blank">Blue Moon Fiber Arts Barn Sale and Dye Party</a>. My friend Amy and I drove up there Sunday morning. We only got slightly lost once, when we somehow got off Hwy 30, but once we were close it was very well marked.<br />
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We drove up their lovely driveway.<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-WleWMVthCD8/UCHVHNx-Z6I/AAAAAAAACDA/I_W-JxiYrSs/s640/IMG_3920.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="291" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-WleWMVthCD8/UCHVHNx-Z6I/AAAAAAAACDA/I_W-JxiYrSs/s400/IMG_3920.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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And there was the barn with storage pods in front.<br />
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Blue Moon is located in a lovely spot and it was a gorgeous sunny day. Warm, but not Saturday's 100+ degrees.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIONriIS2FdPoFO9uhB_eKnUNtCTO-mhmdehBQutLtqmofvxQFiXxEXNO__eu_zz-wI34MyWH4AeBktkW-TAFzBQjywK9gJZHss1_kz1WotKJ8lY8SOEybpVeHMsDnLs11iTe6FW6Jff0/s512/IMG_3924.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="395" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIONriIS2FdPoFO9uhB_eKnUNtCTO-mhmdehBQutLtqmofvxQFiXxEXNO__eu_zz-wI34MyWH4AeBktkW-TAFzBQjywK9gJZHss1_kz1WotKJ8lY8SOEybpVeHMsDnLs11iTe6FW6Jff0/s400/IMG_3924.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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Never mind the view, inside the barn there was YARN!!!<br />
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And more yarn!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTMhxVc-c-WDniiUFycBTiVGB0DCFP5QkBrWklSKDSDARJdydFQe6F8umKuQ7LdUwlUMYuPxEfrqGy6C3hJuGaqFDEoHpyp0iP6vkO5JYY9TvoDq-h4gIum-T2gbpNHuIx2cwdRuRq-g8/s640/IMG_3932.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTMhxVc-c-WDniiUFycBTiVGB0DCFP5QkBrWklSKDSDARJdydFQe6F8umKuQ7LdUwlUMYuPxEfrqGy6C3hJuGaqFDEoHpyp0iP6vkO5JYY9TvoDq-h4gIum-T2gbpNHuIx2cwdRuRq-g8/s400/IMG_3932.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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So much yarn my vision started to blur.<br />
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Everywhere you looked more yarn.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim4LyhAcrNFdmdtTIfiXGbQ50shd-6PJLyapcwvMR7vV_8B5e41et8UixOXaZ1EsM-ummpggCtqL-4a9ZebmomW4_26LzWC1-4Mb-1M2h6RuAUrRetqPlyFLTigXCFcK41ltjndKKqXgo/s640/IMG_3931.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim4LyhAcrNFdmdtTIfiXGbQ50shd-6PJLyapcwvMR7vV_8B5e41et8UixOXaZ1EsM-ummpggCtqL-4a9ZebmomW4_26LzWC1-4Mb-1M2h6RuAUrRetqPlyFLTigXCFcK41ltjndKKqXgo/s400/IMG_3931.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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Yarn by the handful (that's Amy).<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Jm7opAJZvUU/UCHVLC9KUwI/AAAAAAAACD4/54PxcqEaVlU/s512/IMG_3925.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Jm7opAJZvUU/UCHVLC9KUwI/AAAAAAAACD4/54PxcqEaVlU/s400/IMG_3925.JPG" width="291" /></a></div>
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We were momentarily distracted by the pretties, but we came here<br />
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Blue Moon had their base yarns and fibers available for purchase bare and many colors of dyes to choose among.<br />
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Amy picked some merino/silk roving while I chose 2 skeins of the BFL sport (Blue Faced Leicester). They soaked your choice while you wandered among the yarn (the BFL sport required an extra step of washing to remove the oil in it).<br />
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Then they set you up on one of the steel dye tables.</div>
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And you had at it. I dyed my first skein teal, shading from darker to lighter, while Amy dyed her roving. We were both too busy dying to get pictures of each other at work. But when I moved on to my second skein, Amy was finished and she got some action shots.<br />
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This is the scary part, that lovely creamy skein of yarn. What if my first squirt of dye is all wrong and ruins it?<br />
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But I worked up my courage and started. This skein was going to be magenta at the ends, shading to purple in the middle, so I started with magenta dye at each end.<br />
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In between additions of dye, I'd wrap it in the plastic and moosh the excess dye in toward the center of the skein.<br />
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I had to stop and admire my work sometimes.<br />
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The purple came from adding blue dye to the magenta dye. I used a paper towel scrap to test the color. <br />
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Okay, that might be the official mad-scientist-at-work photo.<br />
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Wrapping it again to moosh the dye towards the center. Almost done.<br />
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Once the yarn was all dyed and securely wrapped in plastic, it went into the steam bath and cooked for 20 minutes or half an hour.<br />
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Amy and I sat in the shade behind the barn and had lunch while our fiber and yarn cooked. There was also an indigo bath in the back. Yarns were soaked in a mordant solution first. Some people were dying bare yarn with indigo while others were overdying already-dyed yarn.<br />
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After soaking, the yarn got dipped in the indigo bath.<br />
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Most of the Blue Moon helpers had hands like that - they didn't bother with gloves like I had, they just got blue hands.<br />
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Sometimes she'd dip the yarn several times to get the desired darkness. Then the skeins were hung on the fence to dry.<br />
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By the time Amy and I had finished our lunch, our yarn and fiber had come out of the steam bath and cooled.<br />
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Then it was packed in plastic carrier bags.<br />
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Tired but happy, it was time for us to head home.<br />
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When I got home I rinsed my yarn and nervously hung it to dry. Would it dry as lovely as I was anticipating?<br />
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Ooh, I like it. It's really a little more teal, a little less blue than those photos.</div>
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I'm pretty happy with how the magenta/purple came out.</div>
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I think they go nicely together. I might try to do some colorwork with these.</div>
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Amy emailed me a photo of her roving drying and I think it came out lovely.</div>
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I can't wait to see the yarn she spins out of this. </div>
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As well the yarn I dyed, I might have gone a bit over-budget buying some lovely sale items.</div>
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I just love Blue Moon's BFL sport yarn, it's such a wonderful soft, sproingy yarn, and they had some mill ends cheap ($10 for ~660 yds of yummy yarn?!?). I got two, one golden:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWofYkzVxfbQRowC_8NhSxoz36MO-QqbFuo4qcvLLOgDX0Z3ON02bD-9tYCF0NEWUWKsmTHK-J3mXV8toh1b5c4FTYb3E6Kz8NfwHJ3kp4rT5Aspe_SI8JDq9CSUBs8UsXkb2yCkohcy8/s512/IMG_3968.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="390" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWofYkzVxfbQRowC_8NhSxoz36MO-QqbFuo4qcvLLOgDX0Z3ON02bD-9tYCF0NEWUWKsmTHK-J3mXV8toh1b5c4FTYb3E6Kz8NfwHJ3kp4rT5Aspe_SI8JDq9CSUBs8UsXkb2yCkohcy8/s400/IMG_3968.JPG" width="400" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg67UbkL8b6mNBK5E9-fBLSlgIbcn1oIb3ga4d9QLzeLw3MJThUhQ4I0zDdplW00bDvgV2bkrOf19pfWY-DufA_Pjybr6WpmIrF5jf0bQGpaN6Nl_oXBqeKQk48k8ojzkV3kdxup30EFr4/s512/IMG_3966.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg67UbkL8b6mNBK5E9-fBLSlgIbcn1oIb3ga4d9QLzeLw3MJThUhQ4I0zDdplW00bDvgV2bkrOf19pfWY-DufA_Pjybr6WpmIrF5jf0bQGpaN6Nl_oXBqeKQk48k8ojzkV3kdxup30EFr4/s400/IMG_3966.JPG" width="391" /></a></div>
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and one purple:</div>
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They also had Socks That Rock mill ends, and at $12 a piece, I couldn't resist.</div>
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Those two are destined to become a two-color shawl, as are the the ones below.</div>
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I'm not sure what this one will be, but I just loved the cheerful, summery green.</div>
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Then there were the free bins. Seriously, Blue Moon knows how to throw a party. Everything set up for dying, lots of discounted yarns. <i>And freebies?!?</i> Yup!</div>
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There was a bin of Kid Mo, a 90% mohair, 10% nylon discontinued yarn. Free for the taking. I got two colorways. Three 200 yd skeins of Highway 30:</div>
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And four skeins of Pisgah:</div>
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There were some boxes of notecards and Sock Summit paraphenalia too. I got a couple of Sock Summit notions boxes, a lanyard/name tag holder, some lovely yarn notecards, and a fun sticker.</div>
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I feel like it was Christmas in August. What a fun day and what a haul! Thank you, Tina and everyone at Blue Moon Fiber Arts. I had a fantastic time and will be keeping an eye on your blog to see when you do this again. Everyone else, if you ever get the chance to go to a Blue Moon Barn Sale, go. It might even be worth flying to Portland if you're not lucky enough to live in Oregon.</div>
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<br /></div>Sheilahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06949121417267449682noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7438308864210628001.post-24641955776509168942012-07-08T19:25:00.000-07:002012-07-08T19:32:24.262-07:00Mergoum Shawlette PatternI released a new pattern Friday, the Mergoum Shawlette.<br />
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<a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/mergoum"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-22uUXwgPqqI/T_deJ3aG6CI/AAAAAAAABtc/Ksh5lDS91FI/s400/IMG_3771.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
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FINISHED SIZE <br />
51 in (130cm) wide (tip to tip) <br />
17.5in (45cm) deep (neck to point in back)</div>
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400 - 450 yards (366 - 411 m) fingering </div>
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$5.00</div>
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Mergoum is a one-skein (about 400 yds), fingering weight shawlette, knit from side to side. I knit the sample out of <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/KnittedWit">Knitted Wit</a> superwash merino fingering in the Azurite color. This is wonderful yarn! A beautiful color with gentle gradations in the darkness of the blue, oh so soft, and just a pleasure to knit with.</div>
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<a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/mergoum"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3iCU02aXXVrmTPctGO9M-J0YwUhH1xvRNKxcnFJt1ku0Yu_B-hslIWb-MD6_NazUeiXpfPHybyxuJ_lwgzuU4kVP0grKLSH50rfFhXUYUqLpPyES8_rKExgTIuaMZJnFmo26HVMBTyNg/s400/IMG_3748.JPG" width="251" /></a></div>
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The pattern is suitable for the beginning lace knitter and includes both charted and written instructions. </div>
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The name Mergoum comes from my inspiration for this shawlette. Last Wednesday I <a href="http://sheilaokeefedesigns.blogspot.com/2012/07/wip-wednesday.html">posted about my WIP</a>, a lace shawl inspired by the geometric motifs in this carpet:</div>
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Mergoum is a term for this type of woven carpet. </div>
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I love my complicated shawl with lace all over, but realized not all knitters share my love for continually referring to charts and counting stitches. The Mergoum is a simpler version, using the same diamond motif along the edges but with a stockinette interior.</div>
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<a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/mergoum"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4MsIdSOeDCU/T_dgmB8ocqI/AAAAAAAABwA/c6W8ue9dPXw/s400/IMG_3731.JPG" width="268" /></a></div>
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Between the stockinette interior and the purl rest rows, it's a fairly easy knit. </div>
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I'm really happy with the way this came out, and, luckily, others seem to share my opinion. It's getting lots of favorites and queueings on Ravelry. It's fallen way down now, but yesterday it even made Ravelry's "Hot Right Now" list. Did you hear my squee of excitement when I saw this?</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzKcJt1DYAsDPHxxYo1TKP_OLoajdUw06kJ6cbZgOMX4FsewjLOSHyMW9-L2oEAFLsI2bTSucwu_H_6rtggiskqM61kWO7fIfqjta_gi6Mc0YjohSBrdekr8fi4py8n_obm5KFN1SO8Tc/s1600/Fullscreen+capture+772012+50500+PM.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="356" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzKcJt1DYAsDPHxxYo1TKP_OLoajdUw06kJ6cbZgOMX4FsewjLOSHyMW9-L2oEAFLsI2bTSucwu_H_6rtggiskqM61kWO7fIfqjta_gi6Mc0YjohSBrdekr8fi4py8n_obm5KFN1SO8Tc/s640/Fullscreen+capture+772012+50500+PM.bmp" width="640" /></a></div>
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Yesterday was also the first day of an Introduction to Lace class I'm teaching at my LYS, <a href="http://stashlocal.com/">Stash</a>. I'm using this pattern in the class. Yesterday we covered the stitches required: k2tog, ssk, lldd (left-leaning double decrease), rldd (right-leaning double decrease), and cdd(centered double decrease). The students' homework this week is to practice the stitches and do a gauge swatch. Next week they'll start their shawlettes. </div>
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This is the first time in a long time I've tried to teach anything and I enjoyed it. I'd forgotten that I like to teach. I used to do a lot of it in the high tech industry and I liked teaching as a change from my hardware design work. It was a chance to spend more time with people, as opposed to sitting at a terminal in my cubicle. My students generally said I was really good at it.</div>
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Most of my knitting teaching has been informal, teaching friends how to knit. I think I'd like to try teaching more knitting classes. If the rest of the class goes well I'll have to propose a few more class ideas to my LYS.</div>
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<br /></div>Sheilahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05914235239005944502noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7438308864210628001.post-45624011237005500772012-07-04T16:22:00.001-07:002012-07-04T16:22:35.615-07:00WIP Wednesday<br />
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<a href="http://tamisamis.blogspot.com/">Tami's Amis WIP Wednesday</a></td></tr>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9dPTzwM6g-g/T_TJ7cPs5PI/AAAAAAAABoA/wlFwu8QntaI/s1600/IMG_3713.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9dPTzwM6g-g/T_TJ7cPs5PI/AAAAAAAABoA/wlFwu8QntaI/s400/IMG_3713.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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I'm currently knitting this lace shawl from Huckleberry Knits BFL lace in the colorway Colleen. I love this yarn - it's soft and just the most vibrant tonal shades of green, much better in person than this not-so-great photo. The shawl is my dissertation for Nerd Wars Tournament 5. It's going to be similar to this worsted weight one I knit from Brown Sheep Naturespun last winter:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXfQMPjrpjXwuQ1KYPEC8ZKhIQtgoN8iMaVWzp8blJmhUSjtcd4CySKCQd2sYvmL-YwSxIollAP0PWP_34madwgKkfcqbtUUo5I0-_l2mLvmr-EkPWLCQ2y6Lu6kqbzNmtFZvDI1aPXvE/s1600/IMG_3157.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXfQMPjrpjXwuQ1KYPEC8ZKhIQtgoN8iMaVWzp8blJmhUSjtcd4CySKCQd2sYvmL-YwSxIollAP0PWP_34madwgKkfcqbtUUo5I0-_l2mLvmr-EkPWLCQ2y6Lu6kqbzNmtFZvDI1aPXvE/s320/IMG_3157.JPG" width="213" /></a></div>
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I'd hoped to make a bigger shawl then, but ran out of yarn. I was sure I had a second skein of the Nature Spun, but I didn't. Both were inspired by this rug I bought in Tunisia while visiting my brother who was living there.</div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-FpcANzEkJZs/T061UofO7YI/AAAAAAAABX0/WkyO0diXI9k/s1600/IMG_3177.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-FpcANzEkJZs/T061UofO7YI/AAAAAAAABX0/WkyO0diXI9k/s320/IMG_3177.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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I just love the geometric designs and hope they make as lovely a shawl as they do a rug.</div>
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<br /></div>Sheilahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05914235239005944502noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7438308864210628001.post-17800207840915428252012-06-25T21:14:00.000-07:002012-06-25T21:22:45.991-07:00Book Review - Beyond Toes: Knitting Adventures with Judy's Magic Cast-On<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Beyond-Toes-Knitting-Adventures-Cast-On/dp/0984461906/"><img border="0" height="272" src="http://images4.ravelrycache.com/uploads/JudyBecker/73987108/bt-front-cover-rgb_small_best_fit.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;">by </span><span style="background-color: white;">Judy Becker, photography by Vivian Aubrey</span></div>
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2011 Indigo Frog Press</div>
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This book gives five ways to use Judy's Magic Cast-On (JMCO) besides toe-up socks. That's an idea I like. First, because I hate knitting things in pieces and then having to seam them. Second, because it's an idea I've already used. The brim of my <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/diamond-cap">Diamond Cap</a> starts with JMCO.<br />
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<a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/diamond-cap"><img border="0" height="262" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kyjnB_NAzqM/TnOeqR3IyMI/AAAAAAAAAUk/yx76iPu9WFQ/s320/IMG_2284.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Great minds think alike. One of the patterns in the book is <span style="background-color: white;"><a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/laurel-janes-cap">Laurel Jane's Cap</a> </span><span style="background-color: white;">by</span><span style="background-color: white;"> </span><a href="http://www.ravelry.com/designers/deb-barnhill" style="background-color: white; color: #666666;">Deb Barnhill</a>.<br />
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That's a very similar hat! I published my pattern in September 2011, which is when Ravelry says the book was published - which rules out any chance either of us influenced the other. Phew! I'd hate for another designer to think I copied them.<br />
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Once I got over the "OMG that's my hat" reaction, I took a closer look at the book. I like it a lot. There's a nice introduction where Judy gives a brief history of her knitting adventures. This is followed by a clear techniques section showing you how to do JMCO and the five new ways to use it. The book has a cute "treasure map" with the five ways on it: Provisional Bay, Tubular Reef, I-cord Island, Magic Bridge, and Double Straits.<br />
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Provisional Bay is the use I made of JMCO in my hat. It's also the traditional sock toe use. It enables you to knit in two directions from the cast-on point. The book expands the use to substitute for any provisional cast-on. I think I'll try it next time I need a provisional cast-on. I think it might be easier. And no waste yarn required!<br />
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Tubular Reef uses JMCO to substitute for a tubular cast-on, which is an easy extension of Provisional Bay in my mind. I've always started a tubular cast-on with a provisional cast-on.<br />
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I-cord Island uses JMCO to start a two-directional i-cord. A neat idea, even if the uses may be limited. The book has an absolutely adorable use, the tail for <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/pippa-4" style="background-color: white;">Pippa</a> <span style="background-color: white;">by </span><a href="http://www.ravelry.com/designers/deb-barnhill" style="background-color: white; color: #666666;">Deb Barnhill</a><br />
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I can see using this to start i-cord straps for bags.<br />
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Magic Bridge is a great idea, using JMCO to add stitches in the middle of a project. The book uses it for a really interesting sock construction that starts with knitting the heel, <span style="background-color: white;"><a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/three-point-socks">Three-Point Socks</a> </span><span style="background-color: white;">by</span><span style="background-color: white;"> </span><a href="http://www.ravelry.com/designers/jeny-staiman" style="background-color: white; color: #666666;">Jeny Staiman</a>.<br />
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Looking at how the Magic Bridge works, I think it might be a great idea for adding the stitches in between the fingers for gloves. What do you call that point on your gloves? There was an interesting <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/discuss/designers/2177239">discussion of this topic</a> in the designers group on Ravelry a couple of weeks ago. The terms thumb armpit and thumb crotch were mentioned.<br />
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Double Straits uses JMCO to start double-knitting. I have an idea in mind for a double-knit design and think I may try using JMCO when I get to developing that design.<br />
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The book includes <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/sources/beyond-toes-knitting-adventures-with-judys-magic-cast-on/patterns">23 patterns</a> making use of JMCO. I haven't knit any of them, but in a glance thru they look clearly written and nicely photographed, with charts and schematics as appropriate. A few that caught my eye:<br />
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<a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/charlies-creature-cap" style="font-weight: normal;">Charlie's Creature Cap</a> by <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/designers/cat-bordhi" style="color: #666666;">Cat Bordhi</a><br />
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<span style="font-weight: normal;"><a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/magic-cowl--wristlet">Magic Cowl & Wristlet</a> </span>by <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/designers/sivia-harding" style="color: #666666;">Sivia Harding</a><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/swept-off-my-feet">Swept Off My Feet</a> </span><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 1.1em;">by</span><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 1.1em;"> </span><a href="http://www.ravelry.com/designers/judy-becker" style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-size: 1.1em;">Judy Becker</a> is just too fun! I'm not sure I'd ever knit it, much less wear it, but it sure did make me smile!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/swept-off-my-feet" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="289" src="http://images4.ravelrycache.com/uploads/JudyBecker/70729087/swept-off-feet-1a_medium.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Verdana, 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'Lucida Grande', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px;">© Vivian Aubrey</span>
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I highly recommend this book. It's a great reference for how to do Judy's Magic Cast-on and all the many ways you can use this wonderful cast-on. My public library is insisting I return their copy tomorrow, so the book has been added to my Amazon wishlist.<br />
<br />Sheilahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06949121417267449682noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7438308864210628001.post-32907305209980617022012-06-08T09:27:00.002-07:002012-06-10T11:22:48.415-07:00this moment<br />
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<em>{this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.</em></div>
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<em style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Verdana, sans-serif;">If you're inspired to do the same,</em><span style="background-color: white;"><em style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Verdana, sans-serif;"> </em><em style="border: 0px; color: #292929; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> </em></span><em style="border: 0px; color: #292929; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">vi</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">sit <a href="http://www.soulemama.com/soulemama/2012/05/this-moment-1.html" style="border: 0px; color: #706752; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Soule Mama</a> and leave a link to your ‘moment’ in the comments for all to see.</span></em></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitF0133lgXifff-Qgj8Lvj3fU0n2Uil5e0TWDWv68yOceMCiFajQ5qdTaIo4H675bh5wJKoFAZbU5bXIcgMfYyP6kFebdBnIEy5tweL5_X3UEMjvdO6EK4dUJliDoMlNUmeBeWF4npQJU_/s1600/IMG_3586.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitF0133lgXifff-Qgj8Lvj3fU0n2Uil5e0TWDWv68yOceMCiFajQ5qdTaIo4H675bh5wJKoFAZbU5bXIcgMfYyP6kFebdBnIEy5tweL5_X3UEMjvdO6EK4dUJliDoMlNUmeBeWF4npQJU_/s320/IMG_3586.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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<em style="border: 0px; color: #292929; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></em></div>Sheilahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06949121417267449682noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7438308864210628001.post-10050003066390374832012-06-06T13:51:00.000-07:002012-06-10T11:23:12.416-07:00WIP Wednesday<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="Join us!" height="146" id="Image1_img" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWIuZ0FSi6r1mjmLaTxLki-0jKV42TMcRAp9QCDErLvvi9uJBkDxIbTq4uw2-zEmfAaOv2RwMvd34Vc4hQLHX5JXM2UcFEqgx4Ha52GWzXWJcrwfSZrLnckroaSq9xM3iHi-rhXkv2xGUt/s170/tami_wip.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; visibility: visible;" width="200" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://tamisamis.blogspot.com/">Tami's Amis WIP Wednesday</a></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Transit of Venus Hat</td></tr>
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I'm playing Nerd Wars again on Ravelry. The Scientific Challenge this round is to make something inspired by the motions of the planets. I'm designing this hat using mosaic colorwork.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sun motif</td></tr>
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The main motif is the sun, with rays coming out the top, bottom, and sides. The white dot in the middle represents Venus transiting across the sun.<br />
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I'm knitting this out of Lion Brand Fishermen's wool in the natural and nature's brown colors. I'm really liking the way this is coming out and will definitely write the pattern up for sale.<br />
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I still haven't figured out what my Discworld tie-in will be for the Nerd Wars challenge, but I'm sure my teammates will help me come up with something.<br />
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<br />Sheilahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05914235239005944502noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7438308864210628001.post-58859636916764799902012-04-25T18:32:00.000-07:002012-06-10T11:23:41.201-07:003KCBWDAY3 Knitting and Crochet Blog Week Day 3<div style="text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-size: large; font-weight: normal;">My Knitting Hero(es)</span></h3>
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I couldn't possibly narrow it down to only one knitting hero. There are just so many knitters and designers whom I really admire.<br />
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Authors of books I can't imagine living without:</span></h3>
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<b>Barbara Walker</b>: Her Treasuries of knitting patterns are just amazing. I'm so glad they're back in print. I use them all the time to find different stitch patterns. When I have a new yarn and I'm not sure what it wants to be, I sometimes just cast on and start swatching random patterns from the Treasuries. I love watching the different stitch patterns grow off of my needles.<br />
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<b>Susanna E. Lewis</b>: I taught myself to knit lace from her Knitting Lace book. I did the swatching thing again and still have the cotton swatches I made. I love the history of the 19th century sampler she reverse engineered the stitch patterns from and all the information she includes on lace techniques. This book is a must-have for lace knitters.<br />
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The Best of the bloggers:</span></span></h3>
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I've learned so much from reading the blogs of so many knitters and designers. I did a knitting blog dump in a post last December (see it <a href="http://sheilaokeefedesigns.blogspot.com/2011/12/knitting-blogs.html">here</a>). The list in my RSS reader has only grown since then and I think I'd be embarrassed to post it. A few I find particularly helpful and/or interesting:</div>
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<b>Techknitter</b> of <a href="http://techknitting.blogspot.com/">http://techknitting.blogspot.com/</a> posts the most comprehensive tutorials and comparative studies of different techniques.<br />
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<b>Marnie MacLean</b> has some great tutorials on using spreadsheets in designing. Her <a href="http://marniemaclean.com/words/">blog</a> is a great resource for beginning designers. Oh, she publishes some really nice designs too. Not to mention the adorable dogs.<a href="http://www.blogger.com/"></a><br />
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<b>Katie Davis</b> designs great patterns and writes a wonderful blog, <a href="http://katedaviesdesigns.com/">needled</a>. <a href="http://www.hoxtonhandmade.com/2012/04/25/day-3-your-knitting-hero/">Hoxton Handmade</a> said it much better than I could, so just follow the link to her write-up and consider it seconded.<br />
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<b>Anna Hrachovec</b> of <a href="http://mochimochiland.com/about/">Mochimochi Land</a> posts the most imaginative photos of adorable knitted creatures. Guaranteed to bring a smile to your face. And make you want to knit little cuties.<br />
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My favorite podcasters</span>:</span></h3>
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I learn a lot from the knitting podcasts I listen to and watch. They're especially great for reviews of the latest books and yarns, plus it's reassuring to hear other knitters confess to the same mistakes and struggles we all have. I did <a href="http://sheilaokeefedesigns.blogspot.com/2011/12/knitting-podcasts.html">a post</a> on podcasts back in December. I'll mention just a few of my very favorite ones here. The links go to their web pages, but all are available on iTunes too.<br />
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Audio:</span></h3>
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<b><a href="http://www.voxpopnj.com/category/podcast/">Blog Like It's the End of the World</a>:</b> Knitting, vegan cooking and books. Very entertaining.<br />
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<b><a href="http://cast-on.com/">Cast On:</a></b> Interesting ruminations on life and knitting from an American living in Wales<br />
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<a href="http://www.hoxtonhandmade.com/"><b>The Electric Sheep</b>:</a> The podcast from Hoxton Handmade, often just laugh-out-loud funny, particularly when the sheep goes on a gin-fueled rampage.<br />
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<b><a href="http://knitknitcafe.blogspot.com/">Knit Knit Cafe:</a> </b>Great knitting content from a mother/son pair.<br />
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Video:</span></h3>
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<b><a href="http://www.knitmehappy.com/">Knit Me Happy:</a> </b>Great knitting content and the most adorable menagerie of cats and dogs.<br />
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<b><a href="http://www.theknitgirllls.com/wordpress/">The Knit Girllls:</a> </b>Lots of knitting content, great knitting book reviews, always entertaining.<br />
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One last pair of heroes</span></span></h3>
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<b><a href="http://ravelry.com/">Jess and Casey of Ravelry</a></b>: They saw a need and filled it. Seriously, how did we survive as knitters in the days before Ravelry? </div>
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And now I'm afraid to hit publish on this post because I'm sure I've forgotten someone and I don't want anyone to feel neglected. There are so many wonderful knitters out there, my list could go on forever. I've read a few other people's posts on their knitting heroes and am looking forward to reading as many as I can. Why do I have this sinking feeling that my RSS reader list is going to grow horribly today?</div>
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<br />Sheilahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06949121417267449682noreply@blogger.com0