PH, Knit Your Ass Off this Winter!

Hey mixergirl, no these are not classes. It's a knitting circle for people who already knit, including beginners. And if you are a beginner it's actually a good way to learn more through observation (English, German, Greek, left-handed, right-handed) and asking a few questions (closing a hat, binding-off).

Knit-a-Way on Atlantic and Stitch Therapy on Lincoln both have knitting classes and paid learning circles. The later is cheaper. You can also go to KnittingHelp.com's Basic Techniques page for how-to videos:
http://www.knittinghelp.com/knitting/basic_techniques/.

Subject: Projects?

Hello knitting kninjas,

According to our Meetup.com scheduler Knit PH at Maha's is full, with 7 "yes" and 4 "maybe". Bring your yarn people.

I got a few e-mails asking for starter project suggestions. Quit smoking, or at least try. A scarf is a good warm-up project. Just think of it as a very long expensive pot holder. Here's a handsome tweed stitch scarf I found on Knitty.com. Check out Henry by Mareike Sattler.


http://knitty.com/ISSUEfall07/PATThenry.htmll

Knitty.com has more patterns in their Fall '07 Issue:
http://knitty.com/ISSUEfall07/index.html

We often hear that we live in uncetain times, check out your fall forecast on Knit.1's Knitstrology.
http://knit1mag.com/knitstrology.php

Subject: Gail Rothschild

You know who rocks? Local fine artists and avid rock climber Gail Rothschild. Her work focuses on the knitted fabric. These works are not drawn from life. Instead Gail collects and studies swatches and then composes each loop and stitch. These vary in size from small studies and large wall-size pieces.


The Difficult Synthesis of Indigo
Arches paper, watercolor, gouache. 40" x 26"
http://www.gailrothschild.com/

Gail also teaches rock climbing at Chelsea Piers. In her studio she has a sculpted practice-section mounted over her doorway. She demonstrated it for me hanging by her finger tips for a minute or two. She does this between drawing and painting, otherwise she'd climb a wall.

Subject: The Beeton Path

What in the Victorian hell is this?

Long before Martha, there was Isabella Beeton, A Victorian era Domestic maven. Her books and publications such as “Mrs. Beeton's Book of Household Management” and “The English Woman’s Domestic Magazine” made every British woman the Queen of her household. She advised women that “as with the commander of an army, or the leader of any enterprise, so it is with the mistress of a house.” She kicked Victorian ass and rocked the anitmacassar!

But as with Martha, that silver lining had a tarnished edge. Beeton had a brilliantly celebrated life, but after a series of miscarriages her life ended abruptly. In the PBS production Kathryn Hughes' "The Short Life and Long Times of Mrs. Beeton" she speculates that the reason for Beeton’s disastrous obstetric history might have been due to syphilis, contracted from her wandering husband, Sam. Sadly she died at the age of 28 at childbirth. Now That’s Vitctorian! Project Gutenberg has made her life’s work available online. For antimacassers, face veils, tobacco bags, knee braces and other unearthed knitting arcana check out “BEETON'S BOOK OF NEEDLEWORK” on Gutenberg.org:
http://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/1/5/1/4/15147/15147-h/15147-h.htm#page_289

Speaking of the knitting arcana, Knit PH at Freddy's still has lots of room this Sunday, October 21, so far we have 8 people signed in via Meetup.com. This month we meet from 6:30 until 8:30 or until some band shows up and kicks us out. To make the small crochet flower basket above, follow these arcane instructions.239.--Small Crochet Basket.Materials: 2 balls of closely-covered white and silver, and 1 ball of pink and silver twine; a crochet needle.For the bottom: Make a chain of 4 stitches and unite it, work 3 long, 3 chain, and repeat three times more.2nd round:Work 3 long into the 1st 3 chain, make 3 chain, work 3 long [200] into the next 3 chain, make 3 chain, work 3 long into the same place, make 3 chain, and repeat.3rd round: 3 long, 3 chain, working twice into the 3 chain of last round.4th round: 3 long, 3 chain, increasing in every other 3rd chain by working twice into it.5th round: Increasing in every 3rd chain, repeat.For the leaves: Make a chain of 32 stitches, then work a row of 1 long stitch and 1 chain stitch with the silver twine.2nd round: Work 1 long stitch into each chain stitch in 1st row, make 1 chain stitch, repeat. (At the point, make 4 long, with a chain stitch between each), repeat on the other side of the chain, 1 long stitch and 1 chain stitch alternately.3rd round: With pink: Work over a wire in double crochet 1 stitch into each loop, work 15 more leaves in the same way, join each leaf half way, then sew it to the centre, work a row of double crochet 1 yard in length, and twist it for the handle. This should also be crocheted over wire.

Subject: Ah, the knittting

The smell of wet wool is the smell of victory. Well, it feels like fall and the big-ass non denominational Holidays are just around the corner. I hope you're all feeling a bit Unitarian.

Knit Ph at Maha's is pretty much filled for this Wednesday evening, November 7. You snooze, you lose. But cheer up, there's still room for Knit PH at at Prospect Perk, next Thursday, November 15, 2007, 7:00 PM. and Knit Ph at Freddy's Sunday, November 18. Come on people get busy.


For all you fan's of Sunny's in Redhook, Tracey Balzano has started Redhook's first bar-based Stitch 'n' Bitch. Read more:

Beginning on October 17, there will be an informal knitting group meeting at Sunny's Bar in Red Hook.

The group will meet every Wednesday from 8:30-11:00 PM. The group will continue until December 19. We know that reason says don't mix imbibing with knitting but we do throw a bit of caution to the wind. Instruction will be available early in the evening so beginners are welcome. You will need to bring your own supplies.

Sunny’s Bar is located at 253 Conover Street (between Beard and Reed streets) around the corner from Fairway.

If you have questions you may contact Tracy Balzano at [email protected]

Subject: Worst, Worster, Worsted

Worst, Worster, Worsted

In the US the ounce is both a unit of meausure for volume and weight. The rest of the world uses units of liter and gram. The American Standard ounce is differentiated as "fl. oz." for liquid volume, and "oz." for weight.

If that's not confusing enough, the word "worsted" is used to describe a type of yarn and a unit of measure. The word comes from the town of Worsthead, England, which produced a stiff smooth yarn with a tight twist. It is combed and spun from the straighter wool fibers. Single ply worsted yarns are ideal for weaving gabradine and other thick fabrics.

Worsted Weight Yarns vary in thickness depending on the brand and material. It falls into the "medium weight" category. They can be made of 3 to 6 plies of yarn, or spun from one large highly twisted strand refered to as a "Worsted Yarn".

Worsted Yarns are made from the longer, straight strands of wool that have been combed and twisted tightly. They are not as warm or soft as merino yarns, but they are more durable and they tend not to felt. Brown Sheep and Lopi are typical brands of worsted yarn.

Subject: What's wrong with this picture?

What's wrong with this picture?

Here's some knitting inspiration for you: the movie "Ordinary People" (1980). Say hello to the Jarret family, from left to right: Beth (Mary Tyler Moore), Conrad (Timothy Hutton), and Calvin (Donald Sutherland) — not pictured, Bud. The movie was based on the book by Judith Guest and was directed by Robert Redford. Fabulous cashmere casuals cover fragile human flaws in this fall-wear flick. It introduced America to words such as "grief counseler", "disfunctional", "enabler", "crew neck", "yoke collar" and "cardigan". Look at the family portrait above, you can drive a car between Beth and Conrad. Poor Calvin, he doesn't realize that camel doesn't go with everything and his family is falling apart!

After your done watching this DVD, you'll want to make a sweater or settle family issues.

Ordinary Sweaters
Speaking of stricken families, Knit PH has knitting all laid out for December, so get your garne in gear. There's still time for a gift hat.

- Knit at Maha's: Wednesday, Dec 5, 7:00 PM
- Knit at Perk: Thursday, Dec 13, 7:00 PM
- Knit at Freddy's: Sunday, Dec 16, 7:00 PM

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