Great video, and I considered it a must-watch, since I'm not a Studio (Silver Reed) knitter:
Wednesday, July 7, 2010
Tuesday, July 6, 2010
Cooks.com - Recipe - Geo's Bbq Shrimp
We ate this at my MIL's house last weekend:
Laura (John's sister) and I had been hunting recipes, trying to replicate a flavor she remembers from New Orleans street vendors' shrimp. This version was tasty, unusual, easy to do, and cooks in only a few minutes in the broiler. We also liked this recipe's common, readily-available ingredients.
The sauce is spicy and sweet. Watch out - if you let it sit a while, the shrimp get spicier.
Monday, July 5, 2010
Inspiration The Shetland Trader: A Tiny Tea Leaves...
The Shetland Trader: A Tiny Tea Leaves...
As I've been shopping, I noticed a lot of "little" sweaters, intended to go over summer dresses. I didn't buy one, because all I could find in my size was black, and I don't have black summer dresses! I've been thinking about knitting one ever since.
Isn't this cute? Just love a round neckline with cables!
As I've been shopping, I noticed a lot of "little" sweaters, intended to go over summer dresses. I didn't buy one, because all I could find in my size was black, and I don't have black summer dresses! I've been thinking about knitting one ever since.
Isn't this cute? Just love a round neckline with cables!
Many Assorted Updates
We're back in Austin! We crawled into our bed at about 2 a.m. We had a flight that went from Ontario, California to Las Vegas, and to our surprise, the plane went from almost empty to completely filled (and a volunteer recruited for a later flight) even though it was the 4th of July! We saw a lot of fireworks as we landed in Austin, professional fireworks shows in many locations around the area, but from the air, even the most impressive show is amazingly miniaturized.
While we were in California, our son Steven packed and mailed all the orders so nobody would have to wait unduly. Our policy is to mail every weekday, if we have an order. Steve is a smart and careful young man, followed detailed instructions, and didn't want any of my customers disappointed. If anyone had the least problem with an order this week, please let me know.
I want you all to know that I have a new eBay ID. John and I have an ID, "jsulliva" for many, many years and many transactions, and you can check our feedback on that ID, but it was just too confusing to have any of my knitting transactions, which have to be recorded in my bookkeeping, mixed in with personal transactions, so now I have some eBay things under diana_natters. I would prefer dianaknits, but somebody else has that one. I also have a sales site, www.dianaknits.com, which is my own domain name and has my products free of eBay and its various positive and negative attributes.
Also, please know that I greatly appreciate international orders, charge a low shipping fee, and send them USPS first class mail. Unfortunately, they do take up to three weeks to arrive. The international priority mail is quite costly. If anyone wants to pay for that, email me and I'll do it. I'm too cheap, myself, and when I buy from overseas I go with ordinary mail and wait...and wait.
While we were in California, we visited John's mom, who had her 85th birthday, and her daughter. We saw my niece Heidi, her husband Chris, and baby Riley, who just had her first birthday. We visited other friends in our old town. Then we visited my sister Karen, her husband Jeff and gorgeous children Branden and Anna. Next, we visited my sister Sharon, husband Maynard, grown daughter Christine (the real Legally Blonde), Christine's friend James, Sharon's son Thomas and Thomas' friend Lisa. We went to Huntington Beach and met our tenant and her son - really nice people - and I had my first look at our new-to-us property there. Then we went to the TSCPA annual meeting for two days and hung out with my lovely CPA buds, and finally back to John's mom's house. Whew. I hardly know what hit me! We did all this in a little over a week, visiting San Bernardino, Highland, Moreno Valley, Simi Valley, Huntington Beach, Sunset Beach, Costa Mesa, and San Diego. Whew.
We had spectacular, cool weather in California. I hear it rained here.
And, in the middle of all that, I woke up one day with a sick tooth and visited a dentist and then an endodontist. I need dental work once I get through the antibiotics, but I felt better quickly.
We certainly ate a lot. Now that I'm home it's back to counting Weight Watcher points for me! It's much too important not to regain the weight I've lost.
I didn't work on "Enchanted Edgings" too much, but John and I went over it and decided to move the silly fairy tale that was an into to the end and keep the beginning completely knitting-related. I still have one chart to add, the table of contents, and some serious video editing. Everything takes me forever; I certainly hope the time I took is reflected in the quality of the product.
When we finally had access to the internet, how painful it was to hear of the end of Knit Words magazine! I have been a huge fan from almost the beginning, and I really am grieving. If you can get some back issues, please do; Mary Anne included such wonderful instructions in each edition that her magazines represented a wonderful opportunity to improve knitting skills. I wish her the very best in her future endeavors, whatever they may be; and I fully expect her to achieve every success, knowing what a talented person she is and what quality work she does.
While we were in California, our son Steven packed and mailed all the orders so nobody would have to wait unduly. Our policy is to mail every weekday, if we have an order. Steve is a smart and careful young man, followed detailed instructions, and didn't want any of my customers disappointed. If anyone had the least problem with an order this week, please let me know.
I want you all to know that I have a new eBay ID. John and I have an ID, "jsulliva" for many, many years and many transactions, and you can check our feedback on that ID, but it was just too confusing to have any of my knitting transactions, which have to be recorded in my bookkeeping, mixed in with personal transactions, so now I have some eBay things under diana_natters. I would prefer dianaknits, but somebody else has that one. I also have a sales site, www.dianaknits.com, which is my own domain name and has my products free of eBay and its various positive and negative attributes.
Also, please know that I greatly appreciate international orders, charge a low shipping fee, and send them USPS first class mail. Unfortunately, they do take up to three weeks to arrive. The international priority mail is quite costly. If anyone wants to pay for that, email me and I'll do it. I'm too cheap, myself, and when I buy from overseas I go with ordinary mail and wait...and wait.
While we were in California, we visited John's mom, who had her 85th birthday, and her daughter. We saw my niece Heidi, her husband Chris, and baby Riley, who just had her first birthday. We visited other friends in our old town. Then we visited my sister Karen, her husband Jeff and gorgeous children Branden and Anna. Next, we visited my sister Sharon, husband Maynard, grown daughter Christine (the real Legally Blonde), Christine's friend James, Sharon's son Thomas and Thomas' friend Lisa. We went to Huntington Beach and met our tenant and her son - really nice people - and I had my first look at our new-to-us property there. Then we went to the TSCPA annual meeting for two days and hung out with my lovely CPA buds, and finally back to John's mom's house. Whew. I hardly know what hit me! We did all this in a little over a week, visiting San Bernardino, Highland, Moreno Valley, Simi Valley, Huntington Beach, Sunset Beach, Costa Mesa, and San Diego. Whew.
We had spectacular, cool weather in California. I hear it rained here.
And, in the middle of all that, I woke up one day with a sick tooth and visited a dentist and then an endodontist. I need dental work once I get through the antibiotics, but I felt better quickly.
We certainly ate a lot. Now that I'm home it's back to counting Weight Watcher points for me! It's much too important not to regain the weight I've lost.
I didn't work on "Enchanted Edgings" too much, but John and I went over it and decided to move the silly fairy tale that was an into to the end and keep the beginning completely knitting-related. I still have one chart to add, the table of contents, and some serious video editing. Everything takes me forever; I certainly hope the time I took is reflected in the quality of the product.
When we finally had access to the internet, how painful it was to hear of the end of Knit Words magazine! I have been a huge fan from almost the beginning, and I really am grieving. If you can get some back issues, please do; Mary Anne included such wonderful instructions in each edition that her magazines represented a wonderful opportunity to improve knitting skills. I wish her the very best in her future endeavors, whatever they may be; and I fully expect her to achieve every success, knowing what a talented person she is and what quality work she does.
Friday, July 2, 2010
Thursday, July 1, 2010
Huntington Beach
We're in HB today! We spent the night at Best Western just down the street from my awesome sister Sharon's house (she is the printing expert owns Print Experience). We had supper with her family. She cooked for us, and John has declared her lasagna the best he's had in years, if not ever. He says it's so long since I've cooked any that he can't remember if mine is any good!
We went and saw our condo today. John and I bought a condo that I had never seen! He did the research and shopping. I was very pleased. It's small place by Texas standards, but it's a rough life with incredible, gorgeous weather, you smell the ocean, and you can walk down to your own private boat slip. We have it rented to a nice family; the son likes to jog to the beach and back.
Yesterday we had been in Simi Valley visiting the other sister, and I woke up with a swollen face after a rough night with a sick tooth. Sharon suggested I see Dr. Daniel Chung in Costa Mesa, who fit me in. He's great; if/when we retire here, I've got my dentist staked out. I'm taking a prescription to get it all calmed down and when I return to Texas, I should be ready to see my dentist and get down to root causes (groan).
Simi Valley is gorgeous, like a big garden. The jacarandas are in bloom. Karen ("baby" sister) says there was enough moisture for a beautiful spring.
Tomorrow, we head for San Diego, where I'm attending the Texas Society of CPAs annual meeting.
Our son Steven is keeping the home fires burning, spoiling the dog a little more rotten, and filling some orders for me, too.
We went and saw our condo today. John and I bought a condo that I had never seen! He did the research and shopping. I was very pleased. It's small place by Texas standards, but it's a rough life with incredible, gorgeous weather, you smell the ocean, and you can walk down to your own private boat slip. We have it rented to a nice family; the son likes to jog to the beach and back.
Yesterday we had been in Simi Valley visiting the other sister, and I woke up with a swollen face after a rough night with a sick tooth. Sharon suggested I see Dr. Daniel Chung in Costa Mesa, who fit me in. He's great; if/when we retire here, I've got my dentist staked out. I'm taking a prescription to get it all calmed down and when I return to Texas, I should be ready to see my dentist and get down to root causes (groan).
Simi Valley is gorgeous, like a big garden. The jacarandas are in bloom. Karen ("baby" sister) says there was enough moisture for a beautiful spring.
Tomorrow, we head for San Diego, where I'm attending the Texas Society of CPAs annual meeting.
Our son Steven is keeping the home fires burning, spoiling the dog a little more rotten, and filling some orders for me, too.
Finn Comfort Shoes
These are expensive, but super sturdy, comfy, padded shoes with excellent support in insoles. The guy at the shop added a metatarsal pad for me, and I've been wearing them and not needing my orthotics! They are great for my old feet - which I admit are wide.
Sound Off: Do Free Beginner Videos Help or Hurt Machine Knitting?
Really hate that Knit Words won't be published any more.
But tell me the truth: do the freebies like my free patterns and YouTube video lessons, hurt or help the machine knitting craft? Are all these beginners turning into customers who buy machines, yarn, books, and magazines?
Let me have it, if I deserve it. But know this: I did this enormous amount of work to help keep MK alive, to help our craft. Hardly anyone was teaching beginners, and no beginners means it will all be over soon.
But tell me the truth: do the freebies like my free patterns and YouTube video lessons, hurt or help the machine knitting craft? Are all these beginners turning into customers who buy machines, yarn, books, and magazines?
Let me have it, if I deserve it. But know this: I did this enormous amount of work to help keep MK alive, to help our craft. Hardly anyone was teaching beginners, and no beginners means it will all be over soon.
Wednesday, June 23, 2010
Space City Knitters Seminar
I'm doing a seminar in Houston in August! And, yes, I'm still doing one near Dallas-Ft. Worth airport in November.
I don't have all the details yet, but watch this space for more information. The Space City Knitters are polling to see what they which of my demonstrations they want me to do. It's two days, a Friday and a Saturday, and you don't have to belong to Space City Knitters to register.
I don't have all the details yet, but watch this space for more information. The Space City Knitters are polling to see what they which of my demonstrations they want me to do. It's two days, a Friday and a Saturday, and you don't have to belong to Space City Knitters to register.
Inspiration over at My Brother and I
Wow, look at the pictures and read the story on this beautiful sweater's very nice neckband! Some sweater serendipity here.
Tuesday, June 22, 2010
Inspiration Over at Knit Flix - Baby Sweater
Very interesting hand knit baby sweater over at Knit Flix. I've done something like this using a ribber to knit the L-shaped rows...
Monday, June 21, 2010
Inspiration over at Trico y Maquina
Really cute baby hat and socks over at Trico y Maquina. I love Irma's blog, and between the excellent photography and charts and Google Translate (it's in Portugese), it's a joy to follow.
So, I'd love to see the "recipe," (isn't it funny what Google translate does with knitting words?) but I can't get the link to go.
Update: Sylvia, thanks! Here's the link to the "recipe." I like the hat seams even better with these photos to look at.
So, I'd love to see the "recipe," (isn't it funny what Google translate does with knitting words?) but I can't get the link to go.
Update: Sylvia, thanks! Here's the link to the "recipe." I like the hat seams even better with these photos to look at.
Inspiration - Lovely Shawl at Smoking Hot Needles
Lovely Shawl over at Smoking Hot Needles. Click the link to see the picture - you don't want to miss this!
Sunday, June 20, 2010
Enchanted Forest Lace Scarf
For the upcoming lace book, I wanted to put in one larger electronic pattern, both to spark the imagination and add value to the book. I decided to modify my scalloped edge lace scarf to make it wider for a lace-weight yarn.
This very lightweight alpaca blend from Webs, in a rich forest green, was easy to machine knit. It comes coned. The hand is marvelous. I adapted a lace pattern from Stitch World to do the automatic edge decreases for a scallop (instead of the tedious add and take-away method).
You could do this one either way. If you want automatic edges, though, you're going to need a special pattern for exactly the right width. I would have to alter the stitch pattern if I wanted it wider or narrower.
The scarf is 6 feet long and only 5-1/2 ounces; so very delicate. I knitted on tension 6 for 675 rows, and kept moving weights up. It's just a little harder to knit the very thin yarn through after lace transfers, and weights help. This multiple transfer lace takes up to eight passes with the lace carriage before the main carriage, so by doing about 100 rows in a session, it took a few days.
This very lightweight alpaca blend from Webs, in a rich forest green, was easy to machine knit. It comes coned. The hand is marvelous. I adapted a lace pattern from Stitch World to do the automatic edge decreases for a scallop (instead of the tedious add and take-away method).You could do this one either way. If you want automatic edges, though, you're going to need a special pattern for exactly the right width. I would have to alter the stitch pattern if I wanted it wider or narrower.
The scarf is 6 feet long and only 5-1/2 ounces; so very delicate. I knitted on tension 6 for 675 rows, and kept moving weights up. It's just a little harder to knit the very thin yarn through after lace transfers, and weights help. This multiple transfer lace takes up to eight passes with the lace carriage before the main carriage, so by doing about 100 rows in a session, it took a few days.
The finished scarf looks pretty good after just a steaming, but I might pin it out damp for more pronounced edges.
Saturday, June 19, 2010
Machine Knit Lace Enchanted Edgings
This Enchanted Edging, Magic Spell, has automatic gathers.
It is so stretchy that you can steam it into a tight curve or a slow curve. I blocked this sample into a tight curve, and when it's stretched out, it makes a round ruffle.
I love round ruffles - they have less bulk at the gathered side and they drape gracefully.
Imagine this one at the bottom of a sleeve, or a skirt, or even as a lace collar or yoke.
Friday, June 18, 2010
Machine Knitted Enchanted Edging - Unicorn's Bridle
This one is my pet unicorn's fave. She's bugging me for a rainbow-colored one to go with her mane.
Thursday, June 17, 2010
Machine Knitted Enchanted Edgings - Tiara
I named this one Tiara.
You can use the beading row along the straight edge to do gathers. Run a ribbon or an i-cord through it.
Wednesday, June 16, 2010
Machine Knitted Enchanged Edging - Sea Serpent
Do you think my edging names are lame? Please send suggestions....
Both edges on this one are rolled, but the rolling reduces the scallop on the fancy edge.
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