Knitlark

Olympic Inspiration Sabotages Knitting

noreply@blogger.com (Knitlark) — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 16:55:00 +0000

I was not going to watch the Olympics this year. But that was a foolhardy thought.

I am Knitlark, and I am an Olympics Junkie. I need help. And sleep.

There is something about the Olympics that sucks me in every time. I like sports, but I do not follow these winters sports as a rule. But here I am --glued to the set-- watching curling and short track and nordic combined.

As I watch, I think about how hard these athletes had to work to get to the point where they could even be considered for the Olympics, never mind win a medal. Think of all the hours of practice over years and years! And because the Olympics happen once ever four years, for many it is now or never.

In the old days when athletes could not accept any sponsor money whatsoever, it was one-and-done for most of them. Who knows what The Great Eric Heiden might have accomplished if he had been able to have sponsors and return for three Olympics a la Apollo Ohno? (Eric Heiden was not able to earn any money from skating sponsors because of the strict rules at the time. He participated in one Olympic Games and then went to medical school)

SO since I am watching so much of the Olympics, I should be getting lots of knitting done, right? WRONG! I might miss a Triple Lutz or a Double Salchow or something equally as thrilling while I am passing a slip stitch over. When I said I was a junkie, I meant it.

But I shall trade in the hockey sticks for the pointy sticks soon. Closing ceremonies are looming. And I can knit during March Madness with no trouble at all.

Time for a KNITTING JOKE

noreply@blogger.com (Knitlark) — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 18:46:00 +0000

We all need some laughter in our lives --

So a California highway patrolman pulled alongside a speeding car on the crowded freeway...

Glancing at the car, the officer was astounded to see that the young woman behind the wheel was knitting!

She was oblivious to his flashing lights and siren.

Upset at her lack of respect, the trooper pulled up in the next lane, cranked down his window, turned on his bullhorn and yelled,
PULL OVER! PULL OVER!

NO, the woman yelled back. (wait for it.... ) IT'S A SCARF!

Don't forget to check out the
Knitlark Lane Podcast
Good Lit While U Knit
A Novel
A Fairytale
And Moonlight Medley
http://knitlarklane.libsyn.com

Knitting for Comfort and Solace

noreply@blogger.com (Knitlark) — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 19:20:00 +0000

Something bad happened to a good friend of mine this week.
He is hurting, and I am hurting for him.

Our knitting can be a great comfort to us when we are troubled.
I needed the help of knitting this week and, as usual, it came through for me.

I decided to work on something soft that was not too difficult. My mind and heart were troubled enough without taxing either one with something too complicated.

I chose my twisted rib scarf pattern made from Sylph yarn that I got from Art Fibers. It is part 76% silk, 19% kid mohair and 5% wool. Very soft.

Here is a picture from the Art Fibers site. This shows the yarn -- not the pattern. It is just about this color, too.

There is something in knitting that helps us get through difficult times.
Maybe it is the repetition of the stitches, caressing the soft fiber, or looking at the pretty color.
Or perhaps it is the fact that we have some control what is happening beneath our fingers when the world seems to be spinning out of control.
Whatever it is, something in the process is healing.

Another wonderful thing about knitting is that if you make a bad mistake, you get a do-over. This is not always so in life.

My friend is beating himself up for not reacting faster when his home burned down so that he could have saved his beloved two cats. No matter what we say to him, he is in anguish, and he cannot go back and redo it.

Most of the time knitting lets us fix even our bad mistakes. We can TINK (knit backwards) or FROG (rip it, rip it). Knitting gives us solace because we know that at least we can go back and redo that part of our life if we want to.

I am going to knit my friend something warm and cozy for when he gets his new home. I know I will find some peace as I work on this.
I hope and pray that it will give the same kind of comfort and solace to him.

Check out Knitlark Lane Podcast
http://knitlarklane.libsyn.com
Reading the Classics
Check out the Fairy Tales
Talking about Books, Knitting and Other Stuff

Slug City -- On the Outskirts

noreply@blogger.com (Knitlark) — Mon, 18 Jan 2010 20:26:00 +0000

Knitting Mojo - Got it back. All it took was being inspired by my Knit Nite buddies. Thanks, guys. You all are doing such gorgeous things.

I know what happened when I Lost that Lovin' Feeling for my knitting. I knit a hat from Noro Silk Garden to match the scarf I made. I used the generic hat pattern in Knitting Rules by Stephanie Pearl McPhee (the Yarn Harlot). I SWEAR I checked gauge, but something went wrong.

I blocked the hat right before we left for London. It was even a little damp when I put it in the suitcase. I was so excited to take it out and put it on with my scarf as we headed out of the hotel for Green Park. Yikes. WAAAAAAY too big. Even too big for darling hub's head. I don't know what went wrong. My knitting buddies think that Noro may just stretch too much.

So I frogged it. Yuck. Now I am trying a hat called Sea Urchin (free pattern on Ravelry). It is specifically for Noro Yarn, so I will let you know what happens.

I started The Enchanted Wood Lace Shawl Knit Along. It is a stretch for my skills, but I like that I can ask in the Ravelry group if I have a question about things. I have a beautiful very light green yarn from Unique Sheep called Sage. It is gorgeous.

Mindless Knitting - still working on the Twisted Rib Scarf from the Sylph Yarn I bought at Art Fibers in San Fran right before the brick and mortar shop closed (The shop is still online -- check it out). The pattern is easy, (I bought the pattern at the shop) and the yarn is lovely and soft.

Fitness Mojo
We all know what we are supposed to do here: Be mindful of what you eat and how much of it you are shoving in your mouth AND remember to exercise.
Right now I am working on developing better habits.
We all have been developing habits for (Fill in how old you are) years so this is not easy and does not happen overnight.
In the next post, I will write about some things that have worked for me.
So far.

Please check out the KNITLARK LANE podcast.
Good lit while you knit.
A - Fairy Tales
B- A novel: The Hunchback of Notre Dame
C- Moonlight Medley (knitting, books, travel and other stuff)
http//:knitlarklane.libsyn.com
You can listen on your computer at the link above or download from Itunes.
Always free with no advertisements.

Leaving Slug City

noreply@blogger.com (Knitlark) — Wed, 13 Jan 2010 18:44:00 +0000

Ok. I have been a slug. It happens. Holidays. Work wildness. Intestinal bugs (ick). Travel (yum).

But I am nowhere near being the sock jock I wannabe. Or any other kind of jock, for that matter. I have not kept up with the blog (though I did keep up with the podcast, after a fashion)

Time to get out of Slug City.

I did complete a scarf -- called the Labrynth -- for a friend for Christmas in a pretty turquoise. I will be putting pics on my Ravelry page. I also completed another scarf -- simple k1p1 seed stitch -- for a friend I don't see who lives in Oklahoma. (She is Emmalemma on Ravelry). I found a Noro yarn that included a powder blue that was just the shade of a coat she has (and her eyes). I knitted the scarf and sent it as a surprise. She was happy, and that made me happy.

But, to be honest, the knitting mojo has been hibernating. But I am working on finding it again.

I also lost the fitness mojo. I got back on that wagon yesterday. I went to the gym and got on the treadmill. I only did one mile -- paltry -- but it was a start. I am going to walk at lunch today. Tomorrow I am going to get to the gym again. I am going to lose some weight ... five pounds at a time. Join me if you wish. I am listening to the podcast called Podcaster Intervals while I am on the treadmill. Check it out.

Join me finding my way out of Slug City. Any suggestions, cheers (or even jeers) welcome.

Check out Knitlark Lane Podcast
Reading the French Literature -
Reading Fairy Tales
Talking about Books, Knitting and Other Stuff
FREE at link below or on Itunes
http://knitlarklane.libsyn.com

Cheater, Cheater, Pumpkin Eater

noreply@blogger.com (Knitlark) — Sat, 19 Sep 2009 13:43:00 +0000

I am weak. I am a ---

Cheater Cheater Pumpkin Eater

Yes, I should have been a monogamous knitter to get this baby gift done. I tried to be a good little knitter, but I am a CHEATER.
It is one cast on for the CONCERTO SCARF. That doesn't count, does it?

Here is my cheating paramour:

I cast on for the Concerto scarf -- pattern available free from Ravely, but you have to join a Yahoo group. De De from Ohio is hosting a Knit Along (KAL) for this free lace scarf or shawl pattern. She is also offering free tutorials.

I need all the help I can get knitting lace (actually, with everything) so I happily signed up.

I am knitting it on size 8 with Miss Babs Yummy in Light Turquoise. You can see that I wound it up the traditional way (not center pull). So shoot me. Or please post and tell me why I need to do center pull and why it is better. Here it is:

You can also see that this was not a MEANINGFUL CHEAT, as all I did was wind the yarn and cast on. I may have a tryst tonight though.

Also daydreaming about that sock. Does that count?

Knitlark Lane Podcast
Starting with Episodes #20
A = Old-fashioned Fairy Tales
B = The Hunchback of Notre Dame
C = Moonlight Madness (medley of knitting, travel, books and Life Flavor -- What is Life Flavor?
You have to listen to find out. This month it is BUTTERSCOTCH.)

I Need to Knit Like the Wind

noreply@blogger.com (Knitlark) — Sat, 19 Sep 2009 13:38:00 +0000

What am I Needling?

I love that term. My niece used to ask me that instead of asking What are you knitting?

I am working on a Baby Afghan -- Basketweave Pattern from Our Best Knit Baby Afghans by Leisure Arts. This is for a dear couple who are over the moon expecting their first grandchild. I am doing it in acrylic (so it is easy to wash) Loops and Threads Seaside Ombre colorway worsted on size 11 needles.

First I was going to knit a cupcake hat from the Itty Bitty Nursery book ... Pink cupcake, white frosting, cherry on top. Found out it is a boy. Ok. Next idea: Yellow cupcake, brown frosting, cherry.
Then I remembered kid-to-be lives in Florida. Probably not too many hats -- cupcake or otherwise -- in his future.

Have lots of fabric from quilting days. Why not a baby quilt? Cut out some squares, but I was not NOT FEELING IT. I wanted to knit. I found this book and pattern at Michael's (used my coupons) and off I went. I have to KNIT LIKE THE WIND, as Baby Conner is due next week.

Here is a picture of it about 3/4 of the way through.

I have to CONCENTRATE only on this project. No more sidetracks to other things. Sure.

Knitlark Lane Podcast
Starting with Episodes #20
A = Old-fashioned Fairy Tales
B = The Hunchback of Notre Dame
C = Moonlight Madness (medley of knitting, travel, books and Life Flavor -- What is Life Flavor?
You have to listen to find out. This month it is BUTTERSCOTCH.)

Secrets of a Sock Jock Wannabe - Part 1

noreply@blogger.com (Knitlark) — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 16:17:00 +0000

This episode adds to Knitlark Lane Podcast Number 20C, but you don't need to listen to the podcast to read the blog. See the link on the right of this page if you decide you cannot go any longer without hearing my voice.

And NOW... what you have all been waiting for ...

SECRETS OF A SOCK JOCK WANNABE

For all the time I have been knitting (not sure what that adds up to, but it is a better beginnining than Once Upon a Time --- see my fairy tale podcast reading for that) I have not been interested in knitting socks.

Why, you ask? Because I am a philistine. Yes, I admit it. I did not see the point of knitting socks that I could buy for 2 bucks.

Plus it looked really hard --
Four or even five (!) needles at once?
Gussets?
Turning a heel?
Eyes of partridges?
Yikes.

But, holy mackerel! The knitting world is in SOCK FRENZY! Sock podcasts, sock blogs, sock patterns, sock books and then Sock Summit, the ultimate sock dreamland con(ference). (I learned that word con from the Brass Needles Podcast -- check her out)

Other knitters say you will start and get addicted. Did I need an(other) addiction? Hardly.
But was I missing out on the best thing since circular needles?

My downfall was when I started looking at the sock yarn. It wouldn't hurt, right? I could always make a scarf or mitt with it. And it is SO GORGEOUS, espeicially the indie (independent) dyers.
So I started collecting. Every trip I went on, I stopped at a shop and picked up some cool sock yarn. I have a luscious stash now. (more on that in a later podcast)

The yarn was the gateway. I was falling fast. I started printing and reading patterns. I loved the names ... Monkey Socks by Cookie A; Cabletini by Wendy Johnson.

Then -- I hate to admit this -- I started knitting socks virtually. That is, when I had to attend a boring meeting, I would knit a sock in my head. (Does anyone else do this? Please post and make me feel better). The advantage to this is that they all come out great. And it is cheap.

You should also understand that knitting in my head was all I can do at these things. Really. If I EVER decided to knit in public there, I would probably be BURNED AS A WITCH.

Time to do it for real. I took a class. Not the Basic Sock Class that I should have taken. No, not for me. I took a Toe-up-MagicLoop- Weird Heel-No Pattern class. We were supposed to increase at the toe until "it fit." I had nice yarn -- Claudia Hand Painted in the Sharks colorway. I cast on ok using Judy's Magic Cast-on (easy to find if you Google it). But the socks were icky. my toes looked like I had bunions the size of golf (or tennis) balls on both sides. And I had a hole at the gusset that my cat could poke a paw through.

See?

I frogged it.

By I was bowed, but not beaten. I bought Ann Budd's book Getting Started Knitting Socks.
Good pictures and explanations. I started again from the cuff down. I found a youtube video by Charlene Schurch on how not to have a hole at gusset. (google Charlene Schurch gusset hole to find this or email me at Knitlark@gmail.com and I will send you the link).

I am now at Gusset Decreases on Sock #1 Redo.

I am not yet a Sock Jock. I am only a poser wannabe. But I am strong. I am invincible. I will prevail.

Please post or email me if you are a sock jock already or if you are a wannabe like me. I would love to hear your stories. I will put them on the podcast, too, if you give permission.

More to come. Stay tuned.

Knitlark Lane Podcast
Starting with Episodes #20
A = Old-fashioned Fairy Tales
B = The Hunchback of Notre Dame
C = Moonlight Madness (medley of knitting, travel, books and Life Flavor -- What is Life Flavor?
You have to listen to find out. This month it is BUTTERSCOTCH.)

Some Pictures to Accompany Podcast 20B

noreply@blogger.com (Knitlark) — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 01:48:00 +0000

In the reading from The Hunchback of Notre Dame in Podcast 20B (see link on this page) author Victor Hugo talks about some scenes of Paris.

This is a view from the top of the Notre Dame Cathedral:

This is the Bourse (the stock exchange) that Hugo discusses sarcastically in the chapter.

Knitlark Lane Podcast:
After Number 20:
A Episodes = Old-fashioned Fairy Tales
B Episodes = The Hunchback of Notre Dame by Victor Hugo
C Episodes = Moonlight Medley (books, travel, knitting, and other stuff)

Pictures for Podcast 20A - Princess Mayblossom

noreply@blogger.com (Knitlark) — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 13:21:00 +0000

Here are some pictures to go with Knitlark Lane Podcast Episode 20A. You can click on them to make them bigger.

The 20 A podcast was a reading of a Fairy Tale called Princess Mayblossom from The Red Fairy Book.
20B will be a reading from the novel The Hunchback of Notre Dame (Notre Dame de Paris) and 20C will be called Moonlight Medley (it may be about books, or crafts, or travel ... and may include both mystery and mischief).
So now--after number 20 -- you can "pick your poison" -- cafeteria style -- from A, B or C.

Here are the pictures from this week's Fairy Tale.
The first show the Princess Mayblossom and her lover Fanfaronade on the way to Squirrel Island:

The one is where Ambassador Fanfaronade goes over the cliff:

But there is a Happy Ending. Hooray!

Pictures of Ireland For the Irish Fairy Tale

noreply@blogger.com (Knitlark) — Thu, 13 Aug 2009 17:23:00 +0000

Episode 19A of the Knitlark Lane Podcast is an Irish Fairy Tale. Here are some pictures from a recent trip to Ireland. I hope that blog readers and podcast listeners enjoy them. You can click on them to make them bigger.

Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris: A Symphony in Stone

noreply@blogger.com (Knitlark) — Mon, 27 Jul 2009 02:22:00 +0000

In the Knitlark Lane Podcast Episode 19 reading of The Hunchback of Notre Dame we read a chapter that tells us a great deal about the novel's author, Victor Hugo, as well as about the Notre Dame Cathedral. He calls it a Symphony in Stone, a majestic and sublime edifice. It is indeed.

The 1902 Edition of Notre Dame de Paris (The Hunchback) by Victor Hugo

noreply@blogger.com (Knitlark) — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 01:24:00 +0000

Part of the Knitlark Lane Podcast is reading from the novel Notre Dame de Paris by Victor Hugo.

I am reading from a book with a copyright 1902. It is part of a series called The French Classical Romances. There are about 15 books that my mom bought at an auction years ago.

The books include The Nabob by Daudet, The Black Tulip by Dumas (pere), Memoirs of Young Brides by Balzac and Madame Bovary by Flaubert. Here is a picture of the title page of the book I am reading in the podcast.

You can click on the pictures and make them bigger.
Here is the link to the podcast if you would like to listen to the novel http://knitlarklane.libsyn.com/ It is also available (free) on Itunes.

This is the spine of the book -- along with the feet of my cat, Sugar.

Across from the title page, there is a picture of the book's author, Victor Hugo.

Let me know if you are interested in more pictures. It is interesting, isn't it?

Needlepoint in Paris and Oliver the Cat

noreply@blogger.com (Knitlark) — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 02:36:00 +0000

In the Walk With Me section of the Knitlark Lane Podcast Number 17 http://tinyurl.com/pm2wpm
I talked about going with my friend Georgette -- it was her first trip to Paris -- to a wonderful needlepoint shop on rue des Moulins, near the Opera Garnier.

Here is the link to the shop http://www.anniebouquet.tapisseriedefrance.com/index.fr.htm
and a picture of the front.

This is a picture of the canvas my friend Georgette bought. It is really lovely.

Here are some pictures of some ribbons from La Droguerie, the yarn, ribbon, bead and button shop that I talked about in Podcast #16 and wrote about in the last blog.

(I am working on my picture-taking skills -- I know what I did wrong here -- sorry if it is not the best it could be).

Coming up next is the really EXPENSIVE ribbon I told you about. Both the right side with the dots and the wrong side.

Since my cat Oliver seems to want to be a part of my podcasts (I know you have heard him howling in the background) I thought you might like to see a picture of him. Here he is:

La Drouguerie and Jacques Callot

noreply@blogger.com (Knitlark) — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 01:40:00 +0000

In Episode 16 of Knitlark Lane Podcast, I talk about my visit to the wonderful Yarn, Button, Ribbon and Bead shop in Paris called La Drouguerie. Here is a picture of the front of the shop. I also tried to take a pic of the inside, but they did not allow photos. This was the best I could do from a distance.

It was a fantastic shop. You look around and make your choices, then have a lovely salesperson help you and cut your ribbon, bring out buttons, and show you beads. Very nice service here.
Let me know if you are visiting Paris, and I can give you directions. They also have a smaller shop in Le Bon Marche department store.

Also in the podcast (where the novel The Hunchback of Notre Dame one week and a Fairy Tale or Folk Tale the next) the Hunchback of Notre Dame author Victor Hugo tells us that Gringoire the poet had a big come down in his surroundings from that of Michael Angelo to Callot. This was when Gringoire's adventure took him from directing his play in the Palace of Justice to being captured by the King of Thieves. We all know about M's wonderful paintings that touched the highest spirit known to mankind. Callot did not try to paint God. His subjects were a bit more commonplace. Here are a couple of examples of the work of Jacques Callot.

Fairy Tale Photo for Knitlark Lane Podcast

noreply@blogger.com (Knitlark) — Tue, 19 May 2009 02:47:00 +0000

Here are some photos to go with Knitlark Lane Podcast Bonus Episode 14A.

Another French Fairy Tale
Prince Hyacinth and the Dear Little Princess

By Madame LePrince de Beaumont

My Yummy New Yarn

noreply@blogger.com (Knitlark) — Sun, 10 May 2009 02:25:00 +0000

This post has pics that add to Episode 13 of Knitlark Lane Podcast http://knitlarklane.libysn.com

I had a great time at Stitches South, and here are pics of the yarn that I decided needed to be mine.

This first one is the one my DH picked out for his socks. It is hand-dyed Classic Merino Super sock (superwash) from Knitting Notions in Nashville, Tennessee. www.knittingnotionsonline.com It is called Stormy Seas.

The next one is also from Knitting Notions -- hand-dyed Classic Merino Bamboo. 65% merino 35% rayon of Bamboo. It is called Atlantic.

The next three are from the wonderful Miss Babs from Mountain City, Tennessee. www.missbabs.com

First "Bamboo Baby: Superwash Sock and Baby Yar 60% merino, 30% bamboo, 10% nylon
No color or number listed for this. It was called a "dye table special" and was on sale.

Next from Miss Babs --"YummY" Monochrome Sock and Baby Yarn 2-ply Superwash 100% merino Light Turquoise.

And last but not least, another "Bamboo Baby" Dye Table special (as above) in a delciious-looking purple.

I plan on having lots of fun deciding what to knit and working with this lovely stuff.

Sugar Reprise and Stitches South

noreply@blogger.com (Knitlark) — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 20:23:00 +0000

Pictures to supplement Knitlark Lane Podcast #12 http:knitlarklane.libsyn.com (also on I-tunes).

From SUGAR THE CAT:

"The picture of me in the last blog post does not show my best side, as I was trying to get my head under her hand while she did something else beside pet me (I really do not like it when the focus is not on me, and I must protest)"

"Now you can see what I really look like -- A Fantastic Feline Fashionista at the top of her game."

STITCHES SOUTH
Stitches South was a KNITTING EXTRAVAGANZA. Here are some pics. I will talk about the yarn I bought in the next cast and post some pictures here in the next blog posting.

Art History Mystery With Cat

noreply@blogger.com (Knitlark) — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 04:05:00 +0000

In Knitlark Lane Podcast Episode #11 http://knitlarklane.libsyn.com I mentioned the book The Raphael Affair by Iain Pears in the Need to Read Segment.

If you love learning about art and visiting art museums like I do, you might enjoy this one. I am a big fan of the mystery genre, and I enjoy books where the author assumes that the reader is intellectually curious.

An English art scholar, Jonathan Argyll, gets involved in a fast-paced adventure while searching for a long-lost Raphael. He and Flavia de Stephano from the Italian National Art Theft Squad are led on a merry chase as they investigate the events surrounding the discovery of the painting. The plot is complex, and there are wonderful passages about the city of Rome that make you want to visit The Eternal City on the next available plane. It is an engaging read that kept me interested throughout. Let me know what you think.

This is the first of a series, so if you like this one, there are more to enjoy.

As I was taking some pictures for this blog post, my cat Sugar insisted that I pet her instead of take the pictures. I finally just let her get in the pictures -- she was relentless.

Tulips Cause Market Disaster

noreply@blogger.com (Knitlark) — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 03:50:00 +0000

Blog to go with Episode 10 of Knitlark Lane Podcast knitlarklane.libsyn.com

I walked by these lovely tulips not far from my house. I just had to share them with you.

Yes, tulips caused a HUGE market crash in Holland. Tulips came to Europe in the 1590s from Turkey. They became very popular, and a person's tulip collection was a sign of their social status and good taste. The market went out of control. Tulip prices rose 100% each week. Some bulbs sold for what would amount to $100,000 in today's money!

People started speculating -- buying tulips to "flip" them. (Sound familiar?) Tulips would be sold many, many times before they even left the ground.

But, of course, the market corrected itself. It fell hard, and those who had not cashed in lost everything as tulip value sunk to 1% of its former price.

What a history behind that lovely flower!

Avoiding the Dreaded One Sock Syndrome?

noreply@blogger.com (Knitlark) — Fri, 10 Apr 2009 03:08:00 +0000

Some more thoughts to go with Episode 9 of Knitlark Lane Podcast http://knitlarklane.libsyn.com

SOCK IT TO ME

I have finished my very first sock. It was really fun to knit, and it feels wonderful on my foot.

I got a bit carried away with the increases in the toe, but it will come in handy if I ever get bunions. Over all, though, am very happy with it for a first sock attempt.

NOW I have to avoid the dreaded FIRST SOCK SYNDROME -- where you knit one sock and never finish the other.

KNITTER WITH CRITTERS

I think I am on the right track with the second sock. My inspiration for finishing projects is the podcast Knitter With Critters. http://knitterwithcritters.podbean.com /feed/ or http://knitterwithcritters.blogspot.com.

Knitter With Critters is the subject of the Podcast Pilgrim section of Episode 9 of the Knitlark Lane podcast. Jackie started her very first podcast by saying she was going to focus her podcasts on the progress she was making in finishing up her Unfinished Objects (UFOs). She has been chronicling her journey in her podcast. Episode 9 dedicates the scarf shown in the blog from March 25 (below) to Knitter With Critters. And I have already cast on for the second sock.

I have many UFOs that I hope to finish in the next months, as I follow along with Jackie and her projects. She is a much more experienced knitter than I am, but I still can follow her lead. I have a list of my UFOs (some of them are knitting projects; some of them are quilting projects). I am trying to work on one of them every week. When I finish one, I get to reward myself (new yarn or new cast on). I'll keep you posted, and check out Jackie, too. (She also has four cats ... the critters).

READING ALOUD: THE HUNCHBACK of NOTRE DAME

If you are following along with the novel in the podcast, you know that we met Quasimodo, the Hunchback, this week. It is going to be most interesting to see how Hugo, writing in 1830, treats this character, and we can compare it to what it might be like for someone like Quasimodo today.

You can catch up with the past episodes of the novel at the link for the website, or leave a comment here, and I will try to get them to you.

First Socks and Life Replay

noreply@blogger.com (Knitlark) — Wed, 01 Apr 2009 02:41:00 +0000

Hi there. Here is some more information to go along with Episode 8 of the Knitlark Lane Podcast.

Knitting Tales

This is a picture of the socks I talked about in the podcast. I am an "advanced beginner" knitter, and this is my first sock. I am knitting the socks toe-up (I guess that is obvious from the picture :) ) and I'm learning magic loop and the short-row garter stitch heel by Lucy Neatby. My knitting friends say I am biting off a big chunk here but hey, I say "Go big, or don't go at all."
The class is great with Teacher Melanie and Fellow Knitters Nancy and Lilah. We laugh alot about life, love and our knitting adventures.

The yarn is lovely. It is fingering weight 100% merino by Claudia Hand Painted Yarns, Claudia & Co., 40 W Washington St, Harrisonburg, VA 22802 -- ClaudiaCo.com. The colorway is called Sharks, and I love the way the blues and grays complement each other.

Need to Read

Below is a picture of the cover of the book I recommended in the Need to Read Segment of the podcast, Replay by Ken Grimwood. Here is a link to one web review. http://americanfiction.suite101.com/article.cfm/replay_by_ken_grimwood_review
It has also been part of the "You Must Read This" series on NPR's All Things Considered.

The book tells the story of Jeff Winston. He dies on the very first page, and then he begins replaying his life again. It has some themes from the film Groundhog Day (which I loved), but it goes deeper into the idea of second chances and adds some different twists.

I have heard that there is an option for a film version with Julia Roberts and Brad Pitt, so I suggest you try to read it before it gets the Hollywood treatment. It will be a hard one to film and get the right tone, I think. The book is a page-turner, and it stays with you when you finish. Let me know what you think.

Take Out the U from the UFO -- I've FINISHED Something

noreply@blogger.com (Knitlark) — Thu, 26 Mar 2009 02:17:00 +0000

Hooray! I have finished my first knitted object since my college days when I knit a blue vest (probably out of acrylic yarn) for my then-boyfriend. I worked really hard on that vest. When he opened up the package that I had wrapped so carefully, he made that face that people make when you give them something and they hate it. To be fair, I did not know about gauge then, so it was probably off in size. But still, my heart was in the right place. Anyway, I ditched him not too long after that. Hear more about it in Episode 2 of my podcast, Knitlark Lane, knitlarklane.libsyn.com.

If you get a chance, leave a comment to tell me about someone who was not appreciative of your gift that was knitted or crocheted with love.

But now I have finished my Noro Seed Stitch Scarf. I started with something I could Knit With No Mind . . . in the car . . . anywhere. I also tried to pick something that would not be overwhelming for an Advanced Beginner knitter like me. So, it was (Cast on 21, k1,p1 to end, Repeat. )
My big question is SHOULD I BLOCK THIS? and IF SO, HOW DO I DO THAT?

Here are some pictures. I am SO proud!

Walk With Me to see the City of Ghent, Narcissus Being Himself, and A Host of Golden Daffodils

noreply@blogger.com (Knitlark) — Mon, 23 Mar 2009 04:53:00 +0000

Pictures to go with the Knitlark Lane Podcast Episode 7
http://knitlarklane.libsyn.com

Pictures of the City of Ghent, Belgium

Narcissus sees his reflection and cannot bear to leave it -- I think I dated his brother once.

A host of golden daffodils . . . how can you look at them and not smile?

Need to Read: The Doomsday Book

noreply@blogger.com (Knitlark) — Thu, 19 Feb 2009 12:37:00 +0000

Picture to go with Knitlark Lane Podcast Episode 4
http://knitlarklane.libsyn.com

NEED TO READ

This is the book that I mentioned in the Need to Read segment of Episode 4 of the podcast. It is a time travel book that is set in Oxford in the modern day and in the middle ages. It grabbed me almost from the beginning, and everyone I have recommended it to has really liked it. I think it has some unforgettable characters.

If you read it (or have read it), please let me know what you think.