tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-172291942024-09-09T03:39:08.455-04:00Allison shares her introverted life experiences as retailer, crafter, designer, community hostess, programmer gamer, mom, erstwhile musician. All of which she has loved except for the part where she had to be persistently good at sales and marketing to have any kind of sustainable business in a capitalist economy. Add to that that she lives with a chronic illness and you have a recipe for plenty of failures to mull over. Years and years of mulling. Still no fine wine. ;-)Una Spenserhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15267349464421386669noreply@blogger.comBlogger55125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17229194.post-56775358973854182772009-06-15T00:08:00.000-04:002009-06-15T00:08:28.718-04:00

Wow, it's been a long time. So, what's up with Circles? We've had a steady and gentle winter and spring. Our class offerings were filling up before we could announce them because people keep signing up for more. Which is lovely and we've had such a nice time watching our students go from being worried that making a knit stitch required the cognitive skills of a rocket scientist and the dexterity

Una Spenserhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15267349464421386669noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17229194.post-62670022216216443662008-11-25T16:27:00.003-05:002008-11-25T16:33:01.696-05:00

See a difference in the description of this blog? Yes, I'm opening it up to become a Circles community blog. The first new blogger to join is Jackie (formerly of The Knitting Room.) We'll be inviting those who teach, participate in the Design Collaborative or the Inventory Building Project to post their experiences here, as well. As other people join, we'll edit the descriptor even further.I

Una Spenserhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15267349464421386669noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17229194.post-12999142049281733222008-11-15T10:15:00.002-05:002008-11-16T02:09:42.116-05:00

I woke up from a dream this morning thinking, "That was my biggest failure." It took me a bit of contemplation to see how this was related to the dream, so I won't go into the dream here. I will simply explain the thought. In the 15 months since transforming Circles into more of a studio than a full-sized retail operation, I've had to grieve what was, work through a lot of emotions, assess the

Una Spenserhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15267349464421386669noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17229194.post-61297207107075306822008-10-30T13:18:00.000-04:002008-10-30T14:14:18.367-04:00

I've been doing a lot of writing lately, but not about knitting. Or even about Circles. I'm emotionally disheartened by my health and my hands have been hurting too much to knit for more than five or ten minutes at a time. So, what's been going on with Circles? The Design Collaborative, for one thing. I'm testing a pattern by Rebecca, Rebecca is testing a pattern by Francesca, Lyssa is testing a

Una Spenserhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15267349464421386669noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17229194.post-1262382501198865342008-09-18T14:04:00.000-04:002008-09-18T14:25:38.797-04:00

it's all about connection Circles really began before the shop opened in 2003. I was already co-hosting a Sunday circle and offering knitting therapy to private clients. For me, Circles has always been about recognizing knitting as a tool for different ways to bring creativity and generative thought into our lives. We know inherently that there is something relaxing about knitting. Clearly, we

Una Spenserhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15267349464421386669noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17229194.post-24248892986647547302008-08-25T09:00:00.001-04:002008-08-26T19:05:12.771-04:00

When I started Circles one piece of the mission was to help connect knitters to the sources of their materials. In case you haven't noticed, connection is a big theme with me. Healing, generative activity, creativity, and compassion are all rooted in connection. In the case of knitters and yarn, I have seen how profoundly people are affected when they meet the person who dyed their yarn. Even

Una Spenserhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15267349464421386669noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17229194.post-8543806913187503532008-07-18T15:22:00.004-04:002008-09-03T10:09:02.561-04:00

I remember knittng my first sock. I had purchased yarn at the Ross Farm in Nova Scotia. I found a Briggs and Little pattern. I was on vacation with my Aunt and I was a fairly new knitter. I struggled a bit with casting on to 4 double-pointed needles so I cheated and knit back and forth a few rows before connecting to knit in the round. I'm not sure I had even knit in the round before. I happily

Una Spenserhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15267349464421386669noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17229194.post-67143960588679450072008-07-14T15:52:00.006-04:002008-07-14T17:10:23.286-04:00

I know. It's just a sock. It is called the Swirling Dervish, though. I finished this one yesterday. It uses a lot of traditional Turkish techniques. Turkey being the home of the original Whirling Dervish himself, Rumi.I've enjoyed designing this sock. I'm not a very experienced sock knitter. I've knit some, but I've always been more enthusiastic about sweaters. Yet, I've had fun coming up with

Una Spenserhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15267349464421386669noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17229194.post-36818616304185962202008-07-07T00:50:00.002-04:002008-07-07T01:10:06.942-04:00

Well, yes. Not much to show for it at the moment. (Though may finish knitting the Swirling Dervish tomorrow. All the design work is done, the toe, foot heel are knitted and there are about 5 more rounds of the leg to knit before finishing the cuff.)Other progress: the Design Circle is going strong. We have 7 of us (soon to be 8, and welcoming anyone who's interested.) It's a real working circle

Una Spenserhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15267349464421386669noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17229194.post-11066946417362409882008-05-23T14:24:00.002-04:002008-05-23T14:41:13.847-04:00

Rebecca recently introduced me to a lovely blog called Superhero Journal. I find this woman's work and writing very inspiring. It feeds into my growing sense that I must get back to my inner mission - using knitting as a healing tool. It's simply not enough for me to knit for the sake of selling yarns or patterns. Or even just to have finished products.a swatch I knit years ago, just because...

Una Spenserhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15267349464421386669noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17229194.post-51115638587753585702008-05-13T17:41:00.004-04:002008-05-13T18:20:45.659-04:00

I've been working on the Swirling Dervish sock. All the detailing is in the beginning, so I think I'm through most of the work. I've also written out most of the pattern, including the charting. This thing has charts within charts, so I've been concerned about how to present that clearly. After showing what I was working on to a couple of people I think I've worked out how to do that best. I'll

Una Spenserhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15267349464421386669noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17229194.post-89126042244007842592008-04-16T13:32:00.005-04:002008-04-16T14:36:13.814-04:00

The deep pattern dive has been delayed. As if there weren't enough travails with my health, one of my dogs (the yellow one, Morgaine) has been diagnosed with cancer. She's need a lot of care if she's to actuate her slim chance of survival. Morgaine and her sister (Pachamama) have been with our family since they were 8 weeks old. They're 10 years old now. They've been together since the womb. I

Una Spenserhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15267349464421386669noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17229194.post-68666273176105148452008-04-07T12:40:00.004-04:002008-04-07T13:13:19.460-04:00

It may not look like much, but that, my friends, is a bound off edge. That's right. I completed the knitting on the Siberian Collared Cardi. What started as a little off-the-cuff dyeing of a random skein of wool with Easter Egg dye last spring, has finally resulted in a finished sweater. Well, once the finishing's done that is.I'll block it tonight, weave in ends and put on buttons tomorrow and

Una Spenserhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15267349464421386669noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17229194.post-75822584886902709082008-04-05T13:01:00.004-04:002008-04-05T18:03:17.126-04:00

A few years ago now, I met a creative knitter who displayed a great bit of knitting wisdom. From the moment I recognized what she was doing and she explained why, I appreciated this wisdom. It is such a simple way to avoid some major time consuming headaches that I feel that everyone could benefit from employing this little tactic. I've told many a knitter since then about it. So, you'd think I

Una Spenserhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15267349464421386669noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17229194.post-53735483427128895852008-03-21T09:30:00.001-04:002008-03-21T11:55:45.878-04:00

Is it a whimple? A smoke ring? A snood?This was the result of trying to figure out what to do with 225 yards of an exotic, handspun skein of yarn. It's clearly a nod to the Rosemary Hill's Ice Queen pattern seen in Knitty recently. I simply didn't want to knit feather and fan, yet again. It's a lovely and simply lace pattern, but I wanted something more uncommon. When I saw a stitch pattern for "

Una Spenserhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15267349464421386669noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17229194.post-18243865981419832422008-03-20T15:30:00.003-04:002008-03-20T16:06:47.948-04:00

and a few buttons and weaving in of ends. But, really, almost done!Believe me, there have been a lot of obstacles, both within the project and from without. So, it is especially sweet to see this baby heading into FO-land. Who ever knew I'd be so happy to get rid of a "U"?!So, here she is. Esther doesn't really do her justice. Without arms you can't see how the bodice really fits.Plus, she has

Una Spenserhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15267349464421386669noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17229194.post-85194180213697643682008-01-29T23:49:00.000-05:002008-01-30T00:03:59.087-05:00

Through Ravelry, I started reading Kent's blog entry for today. It begins: "I think I'm trying to escape my knitting. projects..." I think I'm trying to escape my blogging a bit longer. So here goes what I think is my first meme. (I didn't go back and look, but I have a vague recollection that I might have done one before?....)Before the meme, I will say that I have been knitting. Am about to

Una Spenserhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15267349464421386669noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17229194.post-57843477888538314682007-12-20T19:12:00.000-05:002007-12-20T19:52:57.566-05:00

I never get as much knitting as I would like done. Designing will do that to you. On my Siberian Collared Cardi, I was slowed down by the need to get more yarn and then the fact that new lot of Natural Dark Gray did not at all match. After some hemming and hawing, I have worked out a solution. I now have two complete sleeves! Yay! But I had to pull out the peplum so the sleeves could match. That

Una Spenserhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15267349464421386669noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17229194.post-20501339331635233112007-11-15T13:39:00.000-05:002007-11-15T14:55:25.853-05:00

Void. I've been in a void. Technologically, knitologically, and physiologically.I'm on someone else's computer right now as my 2 computers are both out of commission. Yes, 2. And, here, I'm going to rant at Apple. I became an Apple convert in the early '90s. I had been a programmer (the use of the word dates me, doesn't it?) It was sheer joy to discover a computer that allowed you to be simply a

Una Spenserhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15267349464421386669noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17229194.post-32866271037339205032007-10-19T23:53:00.000-04:002007-10-22T23:28:23.486-04:00

I've had a lot of design ideas where the pieces are long and flowing and might be worn in layers. A very long sleeveless piece over a fitted "undershirt" with flared sleeves, for instance. Two pieces on the needles are hinting at a design phase or something, but I hadn't really had a concrete sense of that until I saw the film "Hero" again. It's a kung fu art piece made in Hong Kong and starring

Una Spenserhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15267349464421386669noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17229194.post-165024584999594512007-10-19T22:51:00.000-04:002007-10-20T01:11:47.966-04:00

I was trying to be focused. Stay on one project. Work it through. Finish something. Really, I was committed. And look what we have:It's a sleeve! A finished sleeve. This is design attempt #4, wherein I finally employed the oldest design rule ever: simplify. I actually like this sleeve. It's a good sleeve. I like it so much I thought I'd make another one. I was so excited that I was ready to push

Una Spenserhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15267349464421386669noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17229194.post-25697187161445498482007-10-10T23:38:00.000-04:002007-10-11T00:34:13.179-04:00

How do you define progress? It certainly doesn't always mean seeing more end results. When running a business it can mean gaining clarity in vision. Seeing what really serves you and what doesn't. When sick, it can simply mean eliminating possibilities. Learning that one treatment doesn't work and you have to move on the next. And when you're knitting from scratch? Well, maybe it's the same thing

Una Spenserhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15267349464421386669noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17229194.post-6832143648890968702007-10-03T12:40:00.000-04:002007-10-03T22:00:30.833-04:00

I'm calling this piece - which is clearly still in progress - "Up and Over". She's started at the mid-back. Then you knit up the shoulders and down the front, connecting the two parts above the waist and continuing in the round. This top continues my exploration of: 1) different construction options for fit control, knitting ease and just plain fun; 2) front and back proportions.Have you ever

Una Spenserhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15267349464421386669noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17229194.post-48693695946420125922007-09-26T01:02:00.000-04:002007-09-26T03:05:32.230-04:00

anybody out there know anything about site feeds? Mine doesn't seem to work properly.I publish via ftp from blogger. (they don't offer great support to those of us who publish on our own web site and it is a risky file loss proposition to switch modes.)When I created this blog, I burned it at feedburner. But when you use the feed button on the site, it feeds you a very old version of Circles Knit

Una Spenserhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15267349464421386669noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17229194.post-11419117045149067422007-09-25T16:21:00.000-04:002007-09-26T00:59:28.576-04:00

I have three active projects on the needles right now. Active being the operative word, as I'd be afraid to count how many are hibernating.First is a sock design for the Circles sock club. We are unforgivably behind on this. Once we've completed 6 designs, I will restructure this to fit with life realities. Anyway, I have two designs in the works simultaneously, as the first design was an

Una Spenserhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15267349464421386669noreply@blogger.com0