Inspiration at Knotty Knits

I've felted my share of slippers, but never mittens - probably because it's generally rather warm here.  But aren't these great?

http://tracykm.blogspot.com/2014/03/more-mittens.html

More Inspiration at Marzipan Knits

I just love these...

http://marzipanknits.blogspot.com/2014/01/machine-knit-baby-mittens.html

Speedy Charity Hats at Marzipan Knits

Here's a set of excellent instructions for making a "string of hats" for charity:

http://marzipanknits.blogspot.com/2014/03/lightening-fast-baby-hats-for.html

This will really save you time!

Back when Knit Natters did bunches of hats for charity, my friend Barbara would make another "string of hats" pattern with the hats going the other way. 

If you don't mind a gathered top, you could make your strings of hats using circular knitting.

Wisdom at The Panopticon

Great thoughts on finishing...

http://the-panopticon.blogspot.com/2014/03/miniature-entry-intern.html

Inspiration at Marzipan Knits

Here's a don't-miss post:

http://marzipanknits.blogspot.com/2014/02/tuck-baby-blanket.html

Inspiration at Tom - Knitting Machine Guy

Tom's got some great articles up right now.  Check out this one showing his Knit Leader diagram for a vest:

http://tommachineknittingguy.blogspot.com/2014/03/v-neck-button-down-vest-knit-leader-way.html

And another good one - placing fair isle letters into your design:

http://tommachineknittingguy.blogspot.com/2014/03/knitting-words.html

I have hopes of seeing Tom again in Anaheim!  He's an utter delight.

It happens...

I wanted the next blanket for the book knitted up in something vivid.  People are buying brighter colors for babies than they used to, using lots of funky fun colors.  I picked out a fairly intense candy pink and a variegated that goes with it.

Then, I sat down to knit the next blanket idea, and I knew from making swatches that I would not like it with my yarn.  Swatching really does save me a lot of heartache - it's so much better to find out before I do all the work! 

This variegated is changing colors constantly and has a very stripe-y look.  After that I tried another idea, and another idea, and another, none of which I liked with my yarn.

I think I finally have a winner - I'll keep you posted. 

At the same time, John and I are preparing for Spring Fling at Newton's Knits in Anaheim, California.  I am so excited!

Another Baby Blanket

This one's a simple tuck, but uses lots of baby colors.  I alternated white with different colors from partial cones.  It takes a little patience to keep threading up different colors, but I enjoyed working on it, and just love the finished results. 

Note how different the knit and purl sides are, and notice the fold-over edging (which I machine sewed to one side, then hand sewed down on the other side):

After doing so many pastel blankets, the next baby blanket is a change.  I purchased louder colors!

Inspiration at Tom Machine Knitting Guy - and a few notes

Check out the great-looking socks at Tom's blog:

http://tommachineknittingguy.blogspot.com/2014/02/im-knittingstress-away.html

Socks are my go-to project for anti-stress knitting, too.  I love small projects!  (Lately, I've been feeling like doing more clothing projects, but too many other things in the finish-me hopper before I get to start a new project group.)

Next item:  Comments - If you're a real knitter and want to comment, I love to see your comments and I'll put them up.  For many machine knitters, the online community is the only available knitting guild, and I often hear how knitters enjoy seeing what other people think and are knitting.

My comments are moderated, that is, I approve them before they go up.  So, if someone's trying to use my blog to post links to non-knitting websites or even bad places, nope, I'll delete a comment like that.  It's probably not a good idea to click on links in comments, anyway, unless you know the commenter.

And finally - A reader clued me in that I didn't have a link to the fingerless mitts in the free project videos on the left-hand side of the blog.  I've added them, and a couple other projects, too.

February's Video - Faster! Flatter! Mattress Stitch

I had quite a few videos already finished and edited that I could have chosen for February, but I decided that I most wanted to show this shortcut mattress stitch.  You will like this for situations where you need to work quickly, and for situations where you're trying to eliminate bulk - for instance, with thick yarn.

I have, for the first time, tried captioning this video to see if it can be more helpful to the hearing impaired.  YouTube says it will be a while before the captions are up, because their system is synchronizing the captions to the video's timing.  I did not use a voice recognition program but typed the words out myself, so any errors are on me.  I am very curious as to how well this will work, hoping it reads to put the needle down into the loop when I'm actually putting the needle downward, not upward!  It's an experiment...we'll see how it goes.



I hope y'all had an awesome Valentine's Day!  My husband gave me the cutest card - very appropriate for a knitter.  On the face, it says, "I was lost until I found you," and it has two white socks, one with a green stripe at the top and one with a pink stripe.  Inside, it says, "We're a perfectly matched pair!"  Oh gosh, knitting is permeating every part of our lives...

This video is my little, belated Valentine to you.  I hope you'll try it - I haven't seen many knitters use this seam, and don't you just love a new shortcut?

Quick Updates

Nope, I haven't dropped off the face of the earth!  Just busy...

Seminars:  I am teaching at Newton's Knits in March!  Also this spring, I'll be at the Spring Fling at the Knit Knack Shop in Indiana and Purls of Joy in Minnesota.  I have fresh curriculum written, and we're going to have a fabulous spring seminar season.  I'm really excited about doing different demos and going to some amazing seminars.  It's hard to describe the excitement of a really big seminar with multiple teachers...try it, you'll be amazed.  Besides, I've reached the point where I get to see people the second or third time as I travel around, and knitters are the best, most awesome people. 

In the fall I'm teaching at Fingerlakes MK seminar in upstate New York.  I haven't been there before, but it sounds like another fantastic larger seminar.

Knit Club:  Here in Central Texas, the Knit Natters are meeting Saturday.  If you are driving distance, why not come see us?  I plan to demonstrate one of my new baby blankets (not sure which one).  John is coming to replace some Passap console batteries for my friend.  Our newest knitter (I mean just learning to MK, not new to the area), Denise, is coming, and she has already worked through the beginner lessons! 

This Poor, Neglected Blog:  There are several blog posts I need to put together, a couple of them terrific ideas and projects from readers.  I haven't forgotten...

Projects in the Hopper:  I'm in a crazed-creative state.  I have lists and lists of MK ideas and am doing some knitting when I get in from work in the evenings (work is desperately busy just now).  A pile of baby blankets has formed on the couch...I had the right sort of yarns and my club is doing them, so off I went with that list of ideas.  I had other projects I ought to have worked on first, but I couldn't stop myself - it was like a maddening itch.  There's another idea underway on my machine right now, and I got a panel knitted tonight.  One panel to go, then some sewing on that one.

Okay - some photos of the blankets I've been doing.  Note I have several ripply things, including a scrappy one, but eventually I settled on one ripply stitch that I liked, which is in the blue/white samples. There's also a honeycomb stitch one in lavender, but I think it's too plain and plan to make it again with some color interest.

Try Some Tuck Lace

Head over to Machine Knitting Fun and take a look at this tuck lace - an often neglected stitch technique, so fancy-looking but so easy to do on the knitting machine:

http://machineknittingfun.blogspot.com/2014/01/gossamer-tuck-lace-and-learning-curve.html

A Treat from Marzipan Knits

Adorable, beautifully finished, baby mitts from an expert MKer (I do admire your work, Mar) - and the pattern!

http://marzipanknits.blogspot.com/2014/01/machine-knit-baby-mittens.html

Inspiration - Do some color work!

Over at Rhythm of the Needles, she's planning a beautiful Rowan Yarns sweater with glorious color work.  Sure, it's hand knitted, but our machines do this so incredibly well and so easily, it makes me want to do some fair isle!

http://www.rhythmoftheneedles.net/2014/01/anatolia-beginning.html

Inspiration at Knotty Knits & Naughty Kids

Is Christmas over?  It's never over; knitters knit for Christmas all year long!

Check out the very clever Santa hat using fun fur for the cuff:

http://tracykm.blogspot.com/2014/01/santa-turban.html

And check out the baby Santa turban, too!

http://tracykm.blogspot.com/2014/01/santa-turban.html

Inspiration at the Panopticon

Of course I follow Franklin's blog!  He's funny and I'm nuts for hand knitting (and especially lace) myself.

Check out the very pretty hand knitted lace scarf he's just posted, and the jokes, too:

http://the-panopticon.blogspot.com/2014/01/yo-mama.html

Does anybody know what a Brother 9000 is?

Over at Vanda's blog, she says she's looking for a Brother 9000 manual.  There's a picture there of a machine that looks about like a 940 to me and is labeled "Defendi 9000."  Since Vanda's in Italy, maybe it's the way an importer relabels a common Brother model.

I am just curious and can't help asking - Does anybody know which model is relabeled a Defendi 9000?

Thought-Provoking But Not Knitting Related

Here's an interesting little essay on marriage and economics from Megan McArdle.  I liked reading and thinking about it, because I have some background in economics and because I hate to see young folks giving up on the concept of marriage. 

I have a terrific husband, and we've been together 39 years as of last month.  I recognize how fortunate we are and I realize that marriage isn't for everyone.

On the other hand, I see Ms. McArdle's idea, and her commenters ideas about how marriage partners can benefit each other so very much in life.  Marriage has quite a few possible clear benefits, and I see them in my life and the lives of my friends and loved ones:

• If you're tired, discouraged, or just not feeling well, it's quite likely your partner isn't having a rotten day at the same time.  You can help each other through the difficulties of life, and share the high points. 
• You can specialize, like Megan describes, and receive significant economic benefit.  My husband enjoys fixing things, which saves us money on repairs.  I am quite happy to cook nutritious food every day, which saves us money on our food bills.  Without John, I'd have to spend time trying to fix things and trying to decide whether to pay for expensive repairs when it was too difficult; without me, he'd be eating out or forced to spend his time learning to cook and cooking. 
• You pool your money, your housing, your skills, your family support, your creativity, even your educational background.  John has taught me quite a bit about keeping my knitting machines maintained and working. We feed each other ideas all the time.
• In a great marriage, you can bring the best out of each other.  I can think of so many examples of my husband encouraging me to try something or do something!  For instance, John is the one who told me to put up YouTube videos to teach knitting to people who have no local lessons available.  John always thinks I can do things, and because of that, I try a lot of things that I wouldn't attempt otherwise.

January's New Video - Good Looking Tapestry Needle Bind-Off

Have you ever wanted to do a bind-off at the end of the work that is stretchy and looks JUST LIKE your e-wrap cast-on?  Here it is, and thanks very much to Jane in San Diego!

Something to think about...Inspiration from Lizzie Velasquez

It's a video, a inspirational Ted Talk, about making the most of the life you have!

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/01/07/lizzie-velasquez_n_4550829.html?utm_hp_ref=mostpopular