Fantastic video showing how data can be brought to life with graphics:
Saturday, December 11, 2010
YouTube - Hans Rosling's 200 Countries, 200 Years, 4 Minutes - The Joy of Stats - BBC Four
Day 3 of Christmas Prep Staycation
My Christmas prep yesterday was mainly to wrap presents.
I did get to knit! I knitted two cast-on rags and filmed the second - the first idea had pockets instead of a regular hem, and it didn't work out for a video. I was going to put the pockets in place using sew-as-you-go, but it was difficult on the USM, whose needles won't stay in upper working position, and even though I got it done, I decided it would have been much easier to just sew up pockets. So think about that - you knit a square with a finished cast-on and bind-off, and you fold up the bottom and make a few seams for pockets. The pockets are to hold weights.
I was really happy with the video, because I got a chance to demo ravel cord, hems, and another cast-off. This is a good one if you're a USM beginner.
I also knitted the beautiful orange and white yarn I found at Tuesday morning into a scarf.
I have a shortage of yarn for something, and am being "creative," making a triangle shawl and then I'm going to try fun fur to go all the way around and make it bigger with velvety edges. I hope this turns out; and if it does, it'll be a pattern. But I didn't film the work because it's black and not all figured out. Triangle shawls are problematic on the knitting machine since they generally need to be bigger in some dimension than the width of the needles. Y'all would be shocked at how many attempts are invested in my pattern ideas before I think something is good enough for you.
Got ready for the Knit Natters annual Christmas party later today. We always have a gift exchange, and I made that item. Can't say more yet.. So I did that, and picked out some simple friend gifts to take along. I am leaning toward bringing a veggie tray since I know there'll be sweets.
I helped hubby John fix the couch. It's one of those reclining ones with the footrests, and it broke - I bent a part - when I was leaning it back.. John acquired a part for it, but he set it aside and bent it straight, which actually lasted until this week, when I bent it again (It's on my spot, you see). So I helped him tip it over and he took it apart. There was our couch, upside-down in pieces looking like rubble, and he removed these evil steel things that looked like torture instruments. My job was to hold these awkward gizmos while he took out the old ones and put in the new ones. Good as new!
At the end of the day I thought I should have gotten more done, but to actually knit and film a video in the same day is very unusual, and I got to knit, so this was another good one. I am definitely glad I am using my precious vacation time in this way.
I did get to knit! I knitted two cast-on rags and filmed the second - the first idea had pockets instead of a regular hem, and it didn't work out for a video. I was going to put the pockets in place using sew-as-you-go, but it was difficult on the USM, whose needles won't stay in upper working position, and even though I got it done, I decided it would have been much easier to just sew up pockets. So think about that - you knit a square with a finished cast-on and bind-off, and you fold up the bottom and make a few seams for pockets. The pockets are to hold weights.
I was really happy with the video, because I got a chance to demo ravel cord, hems, and another cast-off. This is a good one if you're a USM beginner.
I also knitted the beautiful orange and white yarn I found at Tuesday morning into a scarf.
I have a shortage of yarn for something, and am being "creative," making a triangle shawl and then I'm going to try fun fur to go all the way around and make it bigger with velvety edges. I hope this turns out; and if it does, it'll be a pattern. But I didn't film the work because it's black and not all figured out. Triangle shawls are problematic on the knitting machine since they generally need to be bigger in some dimension than the width of the needles. Y'all would be shocked at how many attempts are invested in my pattern ideas before I think something is good enough for you.
Got ready for the Knit Natters annual Christmas party later today. We always have a gift exchange, and I made that item. Can't say more yet.. So I did that, and picked out some simple friend gifts to take along. I am leaning toward bringing a veggie tray since I know there'll be sweets.
I helped hubby John fix the couch. It's one of those reclining ones with the footrests, and it broke - I bent a part - when I was leaning it back.. John acquired a part for it, but he set it aside and bent it straight, which actually lasted until this week, when I bent it again (It's on my spot, you see). So I helped him tip it over and he took it apart. There was our couch, upside-down in pieces looking like rubble, and he removed these evil steel things that looked like torture instruments. My job was to hold these awkward gizmos while he took out the old ones and put in the new ones. Good as new!
At the end of the day I thought I should have gotten more done, but to actually knit and film a video in the same day is very unusual, and I got to knit, so this was another good one. I am definitely glad I am using my precious vacation time in this way.
Friday, December 10, 2010
Score! Pretty Yarn at Tuesday Morning
Among the things we found at Tuesday morning were two skeins of Turkish yarn, about half superwash wool and about half nylon. This is dreamy-soft, feel-to-appreciate fiber, but definitely a novelty yarn, bumpy and fussy. I knitted a scarf out of it on the USM. Since I only had two skeins, it's not a super long scarf, but a 5-footer using only 38 stitches and keyplate 2. It's actually orange and white, even though on my monitor it looks like red and white:
New Video - Make a Cast-On Rag for Your Ultimate Sweater Machine
Admittedly, this video isn't very glamorous, but it shows how to do a hem, how to use ravel cord, and how to do a different cast-off. The main point of the video is to give you another option to use when casting on just a few stitches.
When I use theit USM it always seems like I need some cast-on options other than the long cast-on cuff. Yes, you can buy a short cast-on cuff, but why not knit a cast-on rag? It doesn't take very long, and since I've included a hem at the bottom, you can use that hem to put in just the right amount of weight for whatever you'd like to knit.
You can stuff rolls of pennies in that hem, or fishing weights, or sewing weights, or metal bars, or you can just use the cast-on rag to hang other knitting machine weights. Once you make the rag, you can use it over and over. I use cast-on rags sometimes on the other machines, as well.
Most knitting machines come with ravel cord and explain ravel cord's uses, but if you're a USM user, you might not have used this method, and it really is a very good time-saver. By buying Omega nylon cord at Hobby Lobby, you can have a pretty much endless supply of very good ravel cord (for your other machines, too). I noticed it is on sale this week. I use this stuff, rayon yarn, or even whatever waste yarn I'm working with, for ravel cord all the time. If you can't get rayon or nylon cord, well, crochet cotton isn't a bad alternative - just not as good as the slippery rayon or nylon.
When I use theit USM it always seems like I need some cast-on options other than the long cast-on cuff. Yes, you can buy a short cast-on cuff, but why not knit a cast-on rag? It doesn't take very long, and since I've included a hem at the bottom, you can use that hem to put in just the right amount of weight for whatever you'd like to knit.
You can stuff rolls of pennies in that hem, or fishing weights, or sewing weights, or metal bars, or you can just use the cast-on rag to hang other knitting machine weights. Once you make the rag, you can use it over and over. I use cast-on rags sometimes on the other machines, as well.
Most knitting machines come with ravel cord and explain ravel cord's uses, but if you're a USM user, you might not have used this method, and it really is a very good time-saver. By buying Omega nylon cord at Hobby Lobby, you can have a pretty much endless supply of very good ravel cord (for your other machines, too). I noticed it is on sale this week. I use this stuff, rayon yarn, or even whatever waste yarn I'm working with, for ravel cord all the time. If you can't get rayon or nylon cord, well, crochet cotton isn't a bad alternative - just not as good as the slippery rayon or nylon.
Day 2 of Holiday Prep Staycation
We headed to the post office with a couple orders and our pile of Christmas cards to mail, then shopped together. At Tuesday Morning, I found sock yarn! It's a 75/25 blend of wool and nylon, which I prefer, in good colors, and at a nice price. I was amazed at how much electronic gadgetry there was for John to browse through in that store. We also purchased some assorted gifts.
Next, we went to our favorite restaurant, Reale's, for lunch, where we feasted - and they serve such large portions that we brought half the Italian food home for dinner. We also bought John mint plants and some more yarn for knit demos. What I did not find was yarn to knit another drop lace shawl for a certain person...I'd really hoped to find a worsted-weight black mohair-look yarn, but I only saw bulky yarn, and not nearly fluffy enough. About then, the "Italian valium" hit, and we had to have a nap. Ah, the slower pace of a few days off!
Next, we cranked up Christmas music on the stereo and decorated the house. We didn't need to buy anything, just bring all the boxes in out of the garage. We put up the tree, the lights and garland on the staircase, hung the stockings, hung a wreath my niece made us, assembled the reindeer my brother made, put out two nativity sets (one of which is a miniature porcelain set that my girlfriend made for me, and goes in the window over the kitchen sink. We put Santa hats on the grandfather clocks. Our tree is old-fashioned and all-mixed up, with plenty of stories and memories to go with the ornaments.
No knitting happened, but there was yarn shopping, which is always good. I intend to do some knitting today!
Next, we went to our favorite restaurant, Reale's, for lunch, where we feasted - and they serve such large portions that we brought half the Italian food home for dinner. We also bought John mint plants and some more yarn for knit demos. What I did not find was yarn to knit another drop lace shawl for a certain person...I'd really hoped to find a worsted-weight black mohair-look yarn, but I only saw bulky yarn, and not nearly fluffy enough. About then, the "Italian valium" hit, and we had to have a nap. Ah, the slower pace of a few days off!
Next, we cranked up Christmas music on the stereo and decorated the house. We didn't need to buy anything, just bring all the boxes in out of the garage. We put up the tree, the lights and garland on the staircase, hung the stockings, hung a wreath my niece made us, assembled the reindeer my brother made, put out two nativity sets (one of which is a miniature porcelain set that my girlfriend made for me, and goes in the window over the kitchen sink. We put Santa hats on the grandfather clocks. Our tree is old-fashioned and all-mixed up, with plenty of stories and memories to go with the ornaments.
No knitting happened, but there was yarn shopping, which is always good. I intend to do some knitting today!
Thursday, December 9, 2010
Diana Gift Shopping
Nobody in my family reads my blog, since they think knitting is boring. This means I can share some of my shopping adventures with all of y'all and even get your suggestions. If someone catches on, well, they can't tell from this what I purchased for whom.
I'm taking a few days off work to get ready for Christmas. I have a tendency to be ridiculously busy - there were three parties last week - and this time off is something I haven't treated myself to before. It's fantastic! John and I knocked out the Christmas cards and most of the out-of-state family gifts yesterday, and still had time for a long phone call with one of the sons and dinner and a movie (D&M at home - homemade enchiladas and "Crazy Heart" with Jeff Bridges).
I decided, a few years ago, with so many to mail, so little time, and the cost of postage, to buy almost all of that online and let the companies mail it for us. I went with Amazon this year because they have such cheap shipping and there are lots of great prices. Another reason to use Amazon is the ease of finding and reading reviews of products. There's a big difference between choosing based on how something looks versus reading what other people experienced actually using the item.
Another Sullivan family "tradition" - I buy tamales, which we put in the freezer for quick meals during extra-busy holiday preparations. Tamales are traditional Christmas fare here in the Southwest, yummy. Some Hispanic families will get together and make dozens and dozens of them, assembly-line style, as a holiday tradition, but I've never participated in one of those marathons.
Here are some cool things I found:
A cookbook, Chewy Gooey Crispy Crunch Melt In Your Mouth Cookies I was sold by the title and reviews.
A tool (good for knitters), 'Flood Light' head lamp We love these things; of course John and I are always tinkering away, and our eyes aren't getting any younger. They are also outstanding when you have a storm and lose power.
Nibbles, Ghiradelli Chocolate Gifts
For folks to love to grill, Omaha Steak selections. I've got a couple people I know are hoping I'll do this one again.
For those who have an assortment of ages in the family, this board game I haven't played it yet, but wow, read the reviews!
For a musician, a pickup transducer that you put on your acoustic instrument and feed into an amplifier.
We have some Christmas "traditions" in our little family... the adult sons will get some sort of goofy toy to play with on Christmas day; we did it one year on a whim and they asked us to keep doing it. Of course we join in! Last year, it was potato guns. Cheap but effective - had to have some potatoes on hand for ammo. The year before, it was tiny remote control helicopters. As a matter of fact, we've tried about four different kinds of little helicopters over the past few years, and the manufacturers have gotten really good at these - at first, they were awful, but now the guys fly 'em all over the house. I'm puttering in the kitchen, and there's a insect-like lighted helicopter hovering near my face... Before that, we had the flying saucer set. Wow, I see that one has gone up in price - we still have ours, still works, same company, but probably not the same model. The guys had to be careful, though, since it's big enough to be an outside activity, not to lose it in the trees. The trees here are so tall that you're probably not getting that baby back.
I'm undecided this year. I am thinking about marshmallow guns, marshmallow crossbows (yes, I was envious of the Cub Scouts who earned these by selling popcorn. They are awesome.), a flying toy from that company that makes such good flying saucers, and my guys all like paper airplane kits. Any other suggestions? Action-packed and silly, I hope?
Another Sullivan custom - since grandparents and relatives, many out of state, send the kids money to shop, and since there are such lovely after-Christmas sales on clothing, they hit the stores together. My boys have a really good time shopping together. They'll shop together right before the holiday and pick up gifts, then hit the sales afterwards.
My son is serious about a lovely young lady. Gift ideas, anyone? I know she wants another drop stitch shawl. She's tall, and it's a generous-sized, easy-to-knit project. I'll have to go find appropriate yarn.
Today I hope to decorate the tree, which is sitting there naked, and do some knitting.
Wednesday, December 8, 2010
Closing Sock Toes
A recent discussion on the circular sock knitting machine list brought out the fact that your hostess here is OPINIONATED about how best to close a toe! Let's have a smooth toe and invisible seam, most un-lumpy, put together with Kitchener stitch. It's so easy, and the results are so terrific, I really must draw you in to the Kitchener toe fan club.
So, I thought, why not do a video on how to do it? Well, I already did one. This final video in the flat bed sock series shows how to do it, beginning at 7:27...just pull the slider over to 7 minutes and 37 seconds and watch how to close the toe. You haven't learned until you practice, so close a couple toes right away.
Note to flatbed knitters: I do have a sock knitting book and DVD with 12 sizes of socks - baby to big guy - for sale.
So, I thought, why not do a video on how to do it? Well, I already did one. This final video in the flat bed sock series shows how to do it, beginning at 7:27...just pull the slider over to 7 minutes and 37 seconds and watch how to close the toe. You haven't learned until you practice, so close a couple toes right away.
Note to flatbed knitters: I do have a sock knitting book and DVD with 12 sizes of socks - baby to big guy - for sale.
Tuesday, December 7, 2010
Monday, December 6, 2010
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