Archive for April, 2006

• Take me out to a surprise!

  Date: 2006.04.14 | Category: Knitting Without Needles | Response: 1

  Brian called yesterday afternoon and said that I should feed the kids and have them dressed and ready to go by 5:45 and he would kidnap us for the evening.

  So I did.He suprised us with a trip to a ball game. The hometown team the Akron Aeros were playing the Harrisburg Senators.

  I did a little KIP..

  

  I think I am getting the hang of this new sock loom.

  The kids had fun! Azia and Caleb won collectable bobble wobble figures.

  Caleb was introduced to cotton candy, and wasn’t impressed. But Julian liked it!

  

  Caleb really liked the wave!

  

  (click on the pic to see the real hard core fans!)

  All in all it was a good time.. even though our team lost! Boy.. the Senators have gotten their act together this year!

   

• Hey Honey, Can we take a road trip?..to Maine…

  Date: 2006.04.14 | Category: Knitting Without Needles | Response: 2

  Come on! It’s a once in a lifetime opportunity!They have this interactive exhibit there and.. it’s a knitting loom!! Here is the little inset article from the Times Record:

   

  

  Lend a hand at Spindleworks – Nancy Scott, left, and Diane Black, artists at Spindleworks in Brunswick, work on a project that the public is invited to participate in — what they hope will be the largest piece of fiber art ever created at the Lincoln Street center. (Paul Cunningham / The Times Record)

  OkTHAT is one big knitting loom!!!

  And here is what their website says about it!

  CONVERSATIONS IN FIBER: an interactive installation
  When: April 1-30, 2006
  Hours: Monday – Friday 9-4
  Where: Whatnot gallery, Spindleworks , 7 Lincoln street, BrunswickIn April, the artists of Spindleworks take their love of fiber to the next level. The public is invited to come weave and knit on a gigantic “knitting noddy” and floor to ceiling loom, made especially for this exhibit. The fiber artists of Spindleworks can give you a quick lesson and you will be on your way to helping us create the biggest fiber piece Spindleworks has ever produced!!! Spindleworks is a non-profit art center in Brunswick, Maine. As a program of the Independence Association, Spindleworks provides supplies, studio and gallery space to over 35 artists with disabilities. Artists range in age from 20-80 and work in a wide range of mediums including: painting, drawing, weaving, fiber and fabric arts, wood, sculpture, ceramics, poetry, music, acting, and jewelry. The Spindleworks artists have shown locally, nationally and internationally, and work regularly on commissions throughout the year.
  

  Hey come on.. I’ll pack and you call the Greys.. I bet no one has the cabin reserved this week!!

• A Trek to the Wilds of Pennsylvania…

  Date: 2006.04.13 | Category: Knitting Without Needles | Response: 3

  Today we follow the tale of Crystal and her intrepid sherpa the wild Lily as they brave the wilds in search of an elusive prey..  the knitting loom book…

  They have heard that this precious book might be found in the crafting wild lands of AC Moore .. so they quicky proceeded to the location.

  

  With caution they walk the aisles in search of their quarry. Then they spot it, there in it’s enclosure up on the wall. They bravely venture in for a closer look and are taken by surprise when the crafty creature tries to loose itself from it’s bonds and jump into their shopping cart..

   

  
   

   

   

  Non-plussed Crystal escaped un harmed and book is left to fend for itself in the wilds.. (as Crystal had already ordered it online so she will get hers another day soon)

  And what shall be the reward for our heroic heroine? ( you all recall the safari contest?) She will have her choice of one of the new Knifty Knitter looms.. as of yet unreleased into the wilds..I will lay out her choices later.. and let ya know what she got!

  Bravo brave Crystal and her super sherpa…

  

   

   

• Get out and vote!!

  Date: 2006.04.12 | Category: Knitting Without Needles | Response: 4

  Isela is having a name that loom contest for this new funky loom!

  

  So get over there and vote!!

  And leave her a comment while you are there!!

  Hey.. are you still here?.. go on.. go and vote!! you only have till midnight!! And she means it!!

• It’s Ease-y

  Date: 2006.04.12 | Category: Knitting Without Needles | Response: 2

  Monday, Linda asked: “What size extra fine loom did you get? My foot measured 8.5, so I went with the 9?. Not sure I did the right thing, and it will be off in the mail probably tomorrow. Just so confused about sizing and don’t feel I’ve gotten a definite answer on it. Any insight now that you have your EF sock loom?”

  This brings up an important issue in knitting your own garments. Ease.. now I am not talking about how easy it is to knit the thing.. what ease refers to is ease of movement..that little bit of extra elbow room you have in your knitted garment so your don’t find yourself writhing on the floor trying to wrangle yourself out of your sweater!

  I’ll talk socks here but if you want info on other garments in general I suggest you click on this link for a great explaination of ease..

  Go Knit in Your Hat

  So back to the question at hand. Socks, and size..

  Generally speaking you don’t want baggy loose fitting socks. They will tend to bunch up in your shoes and are unfomfortable. But on the other hand you don’t want them too tight fitting or stretched or it will limit their life span due to the stress on the fibers and your toes will be a lovely shade of blue! (although as Stephanie is quick to point out in her book: socks WILL wear out eventually so sock knitting is the ultimate expression of love)

  Ok.. sorry I digress.. Back to Linda’s dilemna.. Now Linda and I both measure at 8.5 inches around the largest part of our foot. I bought an 8 inch sock loom and she originally ordered the 9 inch. I fear that Linda (had she gotten that 9 inch loom) would have found that her socks were a little loose an bunchy. I made a swatch on my 8 inch loom and tried it out and it fits just fine (though I havn’t washed it and it will probably shrink up just a bit.. but I can tell you there is a little room for that) So rest assured that the 8 inch loom should work fine for you Linda!

  

   

   

   So in the end if you are looking at these new super extra fine gauge sock looms that Sam has created.. and you are a ‘tweener’ up to 3/4 inches above a given size offered go for the smaller size. So anyone who has a foot that measures 8-8 3/4″ I would say go for the 8 inch loom, or if your foot measures 9-9 3/4″ go for the 9 incher and so on.  

  In fact ‘experts’ say that you can have negative ease up to an inch in socks and not have much trouble, but I wouldn’t reccomend this as you will want to allow a little ‘ease’ for yarn shrinkage!

  I hope this answers Linda’s question.. (I know it a little late!) and I hope this helps as others of you think about what loom to purchace for your projects!

• Out my front door!

  Date: 2006.04.11 | Category: Knitting Without Needles | Response: 1

  Hey check it out! This just flew by..

  

   

  I thought it was a perfect opportunity for a sky shot for Sandy!

  Now this is not entirely unusual.. as we don’t live too far from Goodyear’s main hanger. But this particular blimp is on a test flight.. yep it’s the brand new one.. it doesn’t even have a name yet!!

  So If you can think of a good name for it.. go here and enter..

   Name the Blimp

  and if you win the  blimp for a day then please.. remember I told ya!! I would love a ride!