Old Kids on the Block

Most of the time Kim and I only work together. We have fun, and we're friends at work. But it's mostly work.

Every once in a great while, however, we get to do something together that's not tax deductible.

About two months ago, Kim was saying that she'd sure like to go to the New Kids on the Block concert coming up, because she used to live near Boston, and she used to have friends who dated the New Kids and their body guards. Kim was sad as she said this. She was sure no one would go with her.

*****

The concert was tonight. Kim and I left right after work, ready in our 1980s-style clothes. You can see here how happy and excited we were!


(I had been to the hairdresser not a few hours before, and she done her best to puff up my hair.)

I was in college when the New Kids were popular, so they were a bit out of my age bracket. Right before we left, Kim gave me a 30-second lesson on who everyone was. There was no way to remember all 5 of them, so I picked one. He looked sort of tough, and his beard reminded me of my brother who lives in Colorado. I liked that about him. (I suspect that my Colorado brother would probably rather die than be compared in any way to a New Kid on the Block, given that my D. C. brother flatly said he would rather poke his eyes out with sticks than go to one of their concerts.)

"What's that one's name?" I asked Kim.

"Donnie," she said.

"How do you spell it?" I asked.

"d.o.n.n.i.e."

"Okay then," I said. "He's my favorite!"

So we went to the concert. On the way there, I was toying with getting a Donnie t-shirt because he was my favorite. But when we go there, they were $40, and I just couldn't bear to spend $40 on a t-shirt for someone who in my mind was the equivalent of a first date.

Along with t-shirts, they had $10 buttons of each of the boys. I decided to get one of those. "I would like a 'Donnie' button," I said to the girl at the counter when it was my turn in line.

She beamed. "He's my favorite too!" she said to me.

*****

The Donnie Button was huge--roughly the size of a dinner plate.


I cannot tell you how strange it is to walk around with a button that covers half your chest.

*****

Now, I didn't tell Kim this part of my story until just now, as she reads this along with you.

After I had told her I would go to this concert, I went home and tried to remember what on earth the New Kids even sang. I pulled up some of their videos on Youtube.

And as soon as I did that, I remembered them. I remembered fully. I had hated all their songs.

So I figured that when we got the tickets, I would be a good sport for the fun of being with Kim.

But it turned out that something happened to them over the past 20 years: They got better.

Kevin and I have noticed this with a lot of musicians after they've played for 20 years. They improve their stage presence, they become better at singing, and their technique gets better. And believe it or not, despite a few weird things here or there (the weirdest being when one of the boys stood on a platform, opened up his white shirt, and they blew wind at him so that the white shirt ruffled behind him), I loved the concert. I got into the spirit of it, and even put my fist in the air when they told us, "Everyone! Put your fists in the air!"


At the risk of sounding old, the thing I liked about them was this: They sang a lot of songs that had good melodies.

See, they were singing 5-part harmony. In order to do that, you need to have some kind of melody. I come from a family of barbershoppers, and I love harmonies like that. I loved the concert.

So did Kim.


And it turned out that my favorite really was my favorite. First of all, he knew the word "flummoxed" and used it properly in a sentence. And then, I loved the solo he did during this picture: My dear Donnie, all in white, so ethereal:


Okay, please, do me a favor. Just focus on the lone white Donnie figure with the fabulous lighting.

Ignore the part where you can see his giant, white hat on the big screen.







(Read Kim's take on the concert here.)

The Blue Sweater

I started a "Zimmermania" class this year. It is based all around the patterns of the greatest knitter of all time, Elizabeth Zimmermann. The first night, I asked everyone to rate which projects they wanted to do. To my surprise, one of the top three was a yoked sweater. I have to confess that this made me happy. I had been wanting to do one of those myself.

I have 25 people in the class. Think about the pressure of making sure that 25 people have a good sweater. Think of what would happen if the project turned into a train wreck. Think of 25 angry people all in one room, all of whom carry pointy sticks. I decided that I'd better hunker down and make the whole sweater first, to be sure it worked.

I was motivated.

So for the past month, I have been knitting on the Blue Sweater every day, and I have taken it with me everywhere I have gone. This included Disney. I worked on it on the way down to Florida. After we got there, I was grateful for every hour-long wait in line. Between those waits and my "Yarn Buddy" knitting pouch, I was able to work on that Blue Sweater a lot:

(Isn't it amazing that Security didn't haul me away with my threatening t-shirt? Do you see what I mean about angry knitters and their pointy sticks?)

I worked on the Blue Sweater as we drove home. And when we got home, I kept knitting. I had a week left to do the yoke.

Kevin was patient as I ignored him and everything around me. His quilter-mother operates exactly like this, and so he understands the culture of the insane project with a deadline.

I knitted and knitted. Finally, this morning, the morning of the class, the Blue Sweater was finished. And, I have to say, all that work was worth it:


I can't wait to share it with 25 people. I think we're going to have some good sweaters in that class.

Finishes and Starts

I have been finishing things.

Project 1: This little scarf just needs fringe. I made it from Silk Garden Chunky, which is now gone from our store, but any Noro yarn will do--try Iro if you want it fast, or Kureyon or Yuzen or Silk Garden or or or.... whatever you like. Anything you choose will be great. This scarf trend, started by Brooklyn Tweed, is all over the Internet, and I have yet to see a bad one.


Cast on an even number of stitches, and K1P1, changing back and forth between two balls of two different colors every second row. Do not worry about exactly how many stitches to cast on or hyperventilate about how long it should be. It works no matter what. Good luck making just one. I've already started a second.

Project 2: I finished a Magnum Opus, my shadow-knitting sweater:


This is a great pattern. The Harrisville Shetland drapes well. (Note to self: Think about serious Fair Isle. Or maybe Fake Isle with Kureyon sock and this yarn.) The shadows are interesting: shadow knitting is made for movement, and you really can't appreciate it fully until you see someone walk around in it.

It's done on size 2 needles, so you do need persistence and patience--but if you've got those, then go ahead and make one of Vivian Hoxbro's sweaters from her gorgeous book. You won't regret it.

Project 3: I finished a pink vest. It's not so horrible that I'm embarrassed to wear it in public. But I think I'm going to rip it, maybe as soon as tomorrow, because it is so very much not my style. At any rate, here is the evidence that I finished it:


Kim says that in this picture, I look as if I hate this vest.

She knows me pretty well.

I think that it would look great on someone else. As for me, I'm going to turn it into something else. I totally love the yarn, which is Debbie Bliss's Luxury Tweed, and I love the color--so I am actually am looking foward to a new project in it. Ripping is part of knitting. I suspect I'm going to make a cabled vest that is in the same booklet as this vest. Still mulling.

So since all those projects are finished, I need to start new ones.

Before I show you what I'm about to do, let me say that in my World View, finishing the shadow knitting sweater alone is worth about 8-10 new projects, so what you are about to see could realistically be described as moderation. In my World View.

First, I'm making a Fair-Isle Yoke sweater, designed by Elizabeth Zimmerman, using the EPS. I am loving, loving this project so far. I know it doesn't look like much.....


But I'm liking the idea of using percentages to figure out fit. I'm going to teach this to my Zimmermania class next month. My plan is to finish it before they start it so that I can make sure that the percentages get us what I think they should.

I have also made ....


.... a serious commitment:


Rolling a ball of yarn (like this Fisherman wool from Lorna's Laces) means you have to use it. In this case, I'm going to make the Elizabeth Zimmerman Butterfly vest. It is kind of like her Rib Warmer. But I've made two Rib Warmers, so I want to try out the Butterfly Vest, which is similar. I wear my Kureyon Rib Warmer so much that it's embarrassing.

I'm continuing to work on my new wrap this year. I cannot say enough good things about Noro Yuzen. I love working with it, and love the colors:


I'm also about to start on this Fiber Trends shrug, and I think I'm going to make it RED, with Nature Wool Chunky:


And finally, I'm going to make a little neck warmer from Iro, using Kate Lemmer's pattern that we just got in:


So that's me. What about you? What are you just about to finish? What new projects are you starting?

New Patterns are on Their Way

This past weekend, Kim and I went to the Pittsburgh Knit and Crochet festival as vendors. One thing I always do when I go to shows is look for new patterns just for you. (Well, and maybe for me, too.) Of course it's good to have plenty of yarn, but patterns (and of course knitting needles) allow you to actually do something with that yarn.

At the Pittsburgh Knit and Crochet show, I found two new pattern companies that were willing to sell to shops, and so I ordered from them.

The first is from a woman named Kate Lemmers. Kate has two designs in the Winter 2008 Knitter's Magazine, and she has worked in the yarn industry for ... well, oh dear ... to tell you the truth, I'm not sure how long. But I have been running into her about once a year at various shows ever since we started the shop, so I know she's been in the industry at least 5 years. Now she is launching her own patterns. Kate lives near Allentown, so I'm trying to talk her into teaching a class or two for us at some point soon. You will love her as much as I do.

Anyway, I am the first shop ever to buy her patterns from the new pattern company she is launching. I feel good about that! So that I could get the word out to you immediately, I photographed her work at the show. (By the way, everyone shown gave me permission to take photos of their work.) The first is a cute little neck scarf. I like it because it's not only attractive, but quick to make:



Next is a cabled sweater I fell in love with. I think I might have to make it. The secret ribbing at the side is designed to provide shaping. Clever:


And I also loved this sweet little baby sweater:

I hope we'll be seeing much more of Kate's work. (Don't worry, Kate! I'm going to nag you incessently to keep designing new things!)

The second company I chose patterns from was a place called Ewe and I, which was run by Kathy Disantis and Dianne Rodabaugh. I had never met them before, but they were so sweet. And I loved, loved, loved this sweater that they designed:

It's a sampler sweater. Some sampler sweater designs look incoherent, but the patterning in this one hung together. You can either make it in one color, or use intarsia to make it more of a patchwork. I also liked how the neck just folds back: Minimal finishing. I ordered a bunch of those patterns. I think I see a class coming.

This is another little sampler sweater pattern that I bought. It would look great in Noro yarns:



Here is another cute sampler pattern, for those of you who prefer knitting scarves:


And finally, this is for my group of customers who all wanted a sweater pattern just like a sweater that our knitting teacher Lynn was wearing one day and everyone wanted me to figure out how to design it. I haven't had time, and I haven't been able to figure out a good stitch pattern for it. Fortunately, Ewe and I did all the work for me, and they gave a vest option too!


Thank you, Ewe and I! You have just saved me hours of time!

These patterns should all be in the shop soon. Let us know if you want us to hold one for you.

Almost Getting There

I'm in the middle of a bunch of projects right now. I keep thinking that I'll have them finished to share, and then they take just a little longer than I expect. Kim would say that this is always true of anything I do. I admit I'm a little too optimistic at times.

I'll show them to you now, and then later, if they turn out okay, I'll model them. How's that for a deal?

The first one is this ribbed vest. Right now, I admit I am a bit concerned about its resemblance to a halter top:


But it's not finished yet. I have just about an inch to knit on the back, and then I have the finishing to do. I will give you a full assessment after trying on, but only if it looks good.

*****

Does this look endless to you?


It sure felt that way to me. But I am finally done with the knitting for this shadow-knitting sweater and have started in on the finishing. This is one sleeve. I knit it on size 1 needles.

Yes, it was as bad as you think.

The worst part is, I should have used a 2. I have been called the gauge witch. I had done a swatch, and it was to gauge. So it couldn't have been a gauge issue. But for some reason, the sweater shrank a bit as I worked on it. So. The sleeves were too short. The body was too short and too skinny.

I have some fixes in mind. Full report later--if they work. If not... well, forget you ever saw this picture. And don't mention my red-rimmed eyes. It isn't just that I knit this sweater on size 1 needle. It is that I actually started it again after a Big Error. (Scroll down to the second entry from the bottom, where you can see the first draft of this sweater turned into a pillow.) So you have to be extra nice to me about it, no matter what happens and no matter how it looks. Thank you.

*****

I'm in an Elizabeth Zimmerman kick that has been lasting about a year so far, so much so that I started a Zimmermania class this year. (Sorry, it is full, full, full, but look for individual EZ projects in our newsletter this year if you want to join in on the fun.) The first project we started was the pi shawl. I'm enjoying it out of Kureyon Sock yarn:


It's a shawl, so I feel certain that it will fit and look good. Shawls do not provide the level of risk and adventure that sweaters and vests do.

I'm also working on a new wrap for our wrap class this year. So far I have Block 1 finished:


I love Yuzen, the yarn I am usin'.

*****

And, ahead of schedule, the block for February is ready:


But not the directions for the block. Those will happen... sometime soon.

In the meantime, as I write, it is your job to get ready to come in and get some good stuff during our Super Sale this Sunday! We'll be open 10-4. I hear we've got some snow coming in next week, so you'll need a project for both the game and the Big Storm. Me, I'm going to be finishing at least a sweater and a vest, so I can start something new. There's a rule, you know: Two projects done, four begun.

Color Play

I just finished making the first block for this year's block of the month. I'm making blocks that look three dimensional, and I am getting a kick out of the project. The first block I call "folding arrows." (Show it to a guy. I guarantee he will think the three-dimensional thing is cool.)

I originally designed the block of the month to be on a plum background, but after a few people wrinkled their noses about plum (you need a thick skin in this job to survive all the nose wrinkling), I decided to try it out on different backgrounds. I'm still making mine on plum, but make it your own; other colors look good too. Today I got out the camera and played around to show you.

Let's start with the original plum idea:


And then my post-seeing-nose-wrinkling ideas of green....


.... and cream:


For this block, the cream would have worked better if there had been a purple or plum border around the block. We'll do other blocks later that would work fine with no border.

Purple also works for this block, which is no surprise (but it made the camera think that all the purple is blue):


But blue itself? Doesn't work at all, even though blue is one of my favorite colors:

If you use turquoise, it gets even worse:


Probably someone out there just said, "But I like that!" Well, nose-wrinkle comin' back atch-ya.

And here, full circle, is plum again.


To me, it's easier to breathe with that color behind the block. Ahhhhhhh....

Ready or not, the new year is rolling. Block of the month starts in a few weeks, and it's going to be a fun one this year. Sign up anytime! We have planned a year of fun, prizes, and .... cool blocks!

Today is a New Day

I'm feeling so much better today than yesterday.

Maybe you think that my brother's quilt is done? Not so. It is no further than the pictures you saw. I knew even as I was writing about it that there was no way to finish it within schedule. And there was also no way to finish up the Christmas cards.

But I'm done and ready.

I give Kevin the credit for my peace of mind. He said (and I may be misquoting, but this is the gist), "Give him the quilt next year."

I said, "Hey! That's a good idea! I can just box up the pieces! That will amuse him!" (Yes indeed, I was in a full exclamation-mark state of mind.)

Kevin said, "No. Don't do that. Just let it go."

You know how you get a whack on the side of the head sometimes when you need it? That was mine for the week.

And so I let it all go. I know this: My brother will still love me. (Besides, he's already gotten a quilt this year.) My friends will get their cards later, and they will have more time to read them then. (I love to write Christmas newsletters that are ..... well, they're .... extremely long.) It all works.

I no longer have even a flicker of concern. And with letting go, it turns out that I was completely correct yesterday about having enough time. Thus, I say, as a free person:

Have a happy holiday, everyone!

And if you're not done with something and it's causing you undue stress and making the people around you miserable? You have my permission to let it go and be healthier.

Remember, this is supposed to be fun.