Annie's Blog

I’m trying to extricate myself from doing the local guild newsletter (actually, I’m extricating myself from the guild itself), and so far I’ve gotten four requests for the e-mail distribution list that I’ve compiled and maintained…and no clear successor for the newsletter has stepped up to the plate yet.

Some of you will recognize right away why this bothers me…basically, I’m being asked to give something that I’ve created and treated with dignity and respect away with no further control…not that anyone who’s asked for the distribution list would use it for commercial gain, but one mistake (putting the list in a “to” or “cc” field instead of a “bcc” field, for instance) and the whole list is out there for anyone. I just don’t like the idea that in some way I would be partially responsible for that, since I created the list in the first place.

Am I control freak? Nah, not really. Well…maybe.

In other news, I’ve bought a book about Seattle….COTFU may be relocating. A friend last night at the SBSTT pointed out, however, that it doesn’t matter a wit where the COTFU actually is, since she is in fact the CENTER of the fiber UNIVERSE. Very reassuring, that.

BTW, does anyone know a nice non-profit in Seattle looking for a PR person….??

Last night I spoke to a new spinner/knitter I’d met a few months ago at a Friendship Spinners meeting–she’s younger, with a two year old and a husband. She wants to learn to spin and knit, and so she’ll be coming to the Louisville SBSTT to learn more. I’m glad she’s coming–it’s exciting to be part of bringing someone new to the joys of fiber…

I cast on last night for a simple raglan sweater for the Paperweight…just in Wool-Ease, mostly because I want to be able to wash it in a machine when I need to. Luke’s a doll, but give the kid a lollipop and he’s a one-toddler disaster area. It’s a pretty blue, and should pick up the blue in his eyes nicely.

I’m trying something different with this sweater as well. Since the back and front are virtually identical (Anita, don’t pick on me for not knitting this in the round…my gauge is bad enough!), I’m knitting both pieces on a circular needle at the same time (with two different balls of yarn). Anita does this all the time with sleeves, but I figured I’d try it for the body since the front and back are so similar. So far it seems to be going well, albeit a little more slowly. I’ll keep you posted on how it comes.

Just got a call from the Paperweight’s daycare–they want to move him “up” from the Peach room to the Yellow room. Hmm. Wonder what comes next???

Big announcement coming before Feb 20. Stay tuned…

Survived the long weekend, and even managed to get a uniquely crafted handknit item finished–a toe-warmer for the mother of a friend who fell and broke her ankle, and who now has a cast on her foot…with just her poor little toes poking out.

So I started by casting on 40 stitches of Lambs Pride bulky (10, 10 and 20) and knit about two inches of K2P2 ribbing. Then switched to stockinette for about four inches, then, starting with the 20-stitch needle, k1, k2tog, k to last three stitches, k2tog TBL (through back loops), k1. On the next needle, k1, k2tog, k across. On the third needle, k across to last three stitches, k2tog TBL, k1. Knit a round plain, repeat previous row until you’re down to 20 stitches. Then just work the decrease round until you have 12 stitches left. Kitchener these twelve stitches, and voila! You have a nifty, warm toe-cover. I used size 8 needles, b/c I wanted a very dense, firm fabric.

Depending on the material of the cast, you might consider painting some non-skid stuff on the inside of the ribbing to “grab” at the plaster.

Her cast was about 14″ around at the toe, and about 15″ around the arch portion of her foot. You can adjust the number of stitches to increase the measurements.

And that’s today’s clever project of the day.