kitty: Boye Electric Ball Winder: To buy or not to buy is the question?

Boye Electric Yarn Winder

Boye Electric Yarn Ball Winder White Manufactured by Boye Price: 89.99 found on Ebay for 23.99 New Description: BOYE-Electric Yarn Ball Winder. This machine is convenient and quick: eliminate tedious hand winding and easily wind hanks of yarn into center-pull skeins. This machine winds all sizes and weights of yarn. The Yarn Ball Winder features a suction cup to securely attach it to work surfaces; adjustable speed; labor-saving motor that means less stress on your arms hands and wrists; create flat bottom balls that stack neatly; rewind messy partial skeins into tidy center-pull skeins and wind thin yarns together to create custom sizes or colors; machine is light weight and compact so transport and storage are easy. The instructions include details for use and care. Machine measures 5x10x7in. UL listed (E215890): Input of 100-240V; 50/60Hz; 0.6A and Output of 12V; 2.0A. Imported (Found on Amazon)

One of the things that I hate to do most in knitting is wind a ball of yarn. I can not tell you how many times I have found myself cursing about how much I hate the task. I know some people love it and find it therapeutic, but I am not in that camp. So when I first heard about the Boye Electric Yarn Winder I was really excited about the concept. I had seen the more expensive electric yarn winders but I had not wanted to invest the money in one to be honest. A couple of months ago I lost my manual yarn winder someplace in my office. I looked and looked and couldn't find it. (I found it the day I ordered the electric one.)So I couldn't bear it any longer, I started to look on ebay for a new one. I ran across Ritz Camera liquidation company who was selling the Boye Electric at a highly reduced price. So I figured it was worth a shot. So the good.... Well I don't have to hand crank to wind the ball of yarn. Oh... It is an electrical gadget, and I am a gadget girl. The Bad... The motor just isn't strong enough for the task and I was expecting any second for that all to familiar smell of burned out motors. It is not capable of pulling the yarn off of my swift without manual intervention. I had to stand there and pull at the same rate that the yarn was winding to get it to form its very loose ball. I then thought, well maybe it wasn't designed for this task. So I decided to have it rewind a hand wound ball. That probed to be disastrous. It first pulled off a chunk that got knotted only to be followed by me setting there manually pulling off the yarn to be would from the ball. (This is not a task to be preformed with 2 helpful cats) The next problem is the ball that it produces, though neat if very loosely wound. I have to wonder if it will be able to hold its shape while knitting a project.. As a whole, though I have only used this twice now, I would not recommend buying this device. Even though I had read a lot of very good reviews, bottom line I found myself spending more time winding then I did before on a task I hate.

Habu Item XS-32, 20/18 bamboo, colour 5

kitty: Mia's Christmas Scarf

Mia's Christmas Scarf item #: Textured Shawl Recipe Pattern: Orlane - Ravelry Link Fiber: Plucky Knitter 55/45 Cashmere Silk 2ply Colour: Upsy Daisy

So I am pretty late in getting this to Mia, but with all the nightmare weather and deadlines galore I can finally get to the PO today. So I thought it was safe to post photos of it. It isn't much of a surprise since Mia has known about her Christmas gift even before I left for London. So here are pictures of the finished scarf. And obviously I love the concept of this textured shawl recipe since this is my third version of the shawl. Indigo Hand Spun - Textured Shawl - Habu Textile A-1B Kakishibu Tsumugi Silk

kitty: looking forward to knitting for fall 2010

Squeal... Have you been following all the amazing knitwear for Fall 2010 that has been hitting the runway? As you can tell from this post, the Prada Socks have really caught my eye. Something about the very chunky cables running up the front of the socks really intrigues me. Particularly with the leather skirts and simple shirts. Looks Like fall is going to be really exciting for knitters this year. Prada D&G Pringle of Scotland Missoni Salvatore Ferragamo Y-3

All photos were taken from Style.com from there coverage of the Prada Fall 2010 Runway show.

Kitty: Day 17 of Knitting Olympics

2010 Knitting Olympics - Day 17 IT's done It's done It's done.... Through many trials and tribulation, I somehow got it done with out a lot of crazy knitting at the end. I don't plan on ever doing a marathon knit again!

Kitty: Day 15 of Knitting Olympics

MG working away at her entry for the 2010 Knitting Olympics

2010 Knitting Olympics - Day 15 Well as a dear knitting friend wrote in a comment, it just isn't worth hurting myself over knitting this sweater. So on day 14 I put down the knitting needles and gave my wrist a break. If it gets done before the close great, but if it doesn't it will still be a cool sweater after the olympics as well. MG came over and brought bento boxes for lunch and we had a little knitting party this afternoon.(Thanks MG) She is on track to finish her colourwork vest before closing ceremony. I am so proud of her, it is absolutely beautiful and so exciting. An entire colourwork sweater. :) YEAH YEAH YEAH MG GO GO GO MG

Kitty: Day 13 of Knitting Olympics

2010 Knitting Olympics - Day 13

So what is left: 8 RAFFINIERT - Lila Pulli im Look von Vivienne Westwood Pattern from Fur Sie (Free pattern) (A special thanks to O for translating the pattern for me at Christmas time when she had so much on her.) Yarn: Shambala 50% wool & 50% Cotton

Day 14 - 7 inch Day 15 - Raglan Cast off of the Sleeve Day 16 - 2 inches - Turns out that I bound off to soon for the front and need to go and rip out and continue. Day 17 - Steam and Seam (Feb 28, 2010) Can I do it?????

Kitty: Day 10,11,& 12 of Knitting Olympics

2010 Knitting Olympics - Day 10, 11, & 12 3.75 balls of yarn. The chopstick are there to denote how much knitting was done on each day. Since I forgot to take photos of Day 10's knitting.

The sleeves for this sweater may end & squash my 2010 Knitting Olympics. My hands and wrist are just killing me. The half English brioche stitch is just so hard on my hands. So we will see how it goes from now to the end. I really want to make my goal.

2010 Knitting Olympics - Day 10 & 11

Kitty: Review - Worthpoint.com "Today, I reveal my big secretes on how I actually decide what to pay for items at auction houses and ebay."

Screen Capture from the homepage of Worthpoint - Discover Your Hidden Wealth

How many times have you been on an auction site looking at a vintage button, sewing good, or vintage textiles and found yourself wondering are you about to put in some foolish outrages bid that though will make the seller's day you are going to be taken to the cleaners on. In the old days I was a full believer in the price guidebooks. I would set for days memorizing the prices of some of my favorite categories of antiques & collectibles. I wanted to know if I saw an amazing deal on a button, memorial jewelry or a hat that if I ever wanted to sell it I could make a profit. I have been known to buy those large lots of buttons on ebay for just one button that I glimpse in the stash of 1000's. As time has passed though I am really not sure how practical and useful the price guides are anymore. By the time they are actually published (& more likely if) most of the data is out of date. I was really happy to discover that Worthpoint has basically designed an online community that will now allow you to search for descriptions, photos, and prices (for members) of your favorite collectible. There are some great details and photos of objects that have sold in the last couple of years to help guide your decisions on what bid to actually place when your heart is running on a rampage. One of the strangest experiences was the day I did a search for one of the search fields (Chinese Juvenile Sports) I collect for gifts for my mom and I found several items I had purchased. Though I have never actually used it they even have a feature that would allow you to ask a Worthologist a question to help you identify your collectible and even would gives you an estimate on value. Though I have to wonder on some of the weird obscure sewing tools if they would have any better idea than the textile museums or Pieceworks magazine. So today I revel one of my big secretes on how I actually decide what to pay for items at auction houses and ebay. Though with any antique and collectible site I would love to see more articles that deal with textile and clothing there are a few blog post on Worthpoint that I thought were pretty valuable: Caring For Your Vintage and Antique Linens and Textiles—Part One Caring for Vintage Linens and Textiles – Part Two Though not in the article itself the Worthologist goes into the technique of crofting (reply #5) in the comments. Though I have never been brave enough to lay white linens on the grass in the sun, back when I worked in the historical textile collection at OSU we use to place white linens on the English Boxwoods all the time. I really enjoy these articles since it went over subjects, that though our mothers and grandmothers thought of as common sense we are not really taught today. And bottom line, you really can get a lot of stains out through just common sense and old fashion laundry techniques. How to Clean Antique Table Linen They go through a 7 step processes for cleaning table linen in the article. Some tricks that I have always used is to remember that table linens really can be soaked for several days in the tub (Sorry M, I really know you hate when I do this.) and most importantly never ever put them into a washing machine. Another valuable trick if you have small rust spots a little lemon juice and salt may take it out. There is a product called Wink on the market for removing rust stains, but I really wouldn't use it. The chemicals are just too strong in my opinion for fragile textiles.

A few others that I really enjoyed: Vintage Clothing: To Buy or Not to Buy, That is the Question! The Exquisite Needlework of Appenzell Embroidery Marghab Linens—The Finest Embroidery Ever Made Whimsical Tammis Keefe Handkerchiefs Iroquois Purses Preserving the Worth of Your Antique Carpets Hat Pins, A Deadly Weapon? Collectible Handbags and Purses

Kitty: Day 9 of Knitting Olympics

2010 Knitting Olympics - Day 9 Ok some redemption, yesterday I was able to finish the rest of the front and the back 1/4. So I am feeling a little better about my progress on my sweater. Now I am ready to cast on for the sleeves. Hope I haven't slacked to much.

Kitty: Day 8 of Knitting Olympics

2010 Knitting Olympics - Day 8 Can I distract you with Orchids or maybe a cute snail that there was no knitting on Day 8? :)

Kitty: Day 7 of Knitting Olympics

2010 Knitting Olympics - Day 7 Nothing to report, no time for knitting. :( Though I did get to see MG and her 2010 Knitting Olympics entry yesterday.

Kitty: Day 6 of Knitting Olympics

2010 Knitting Olympics - Day 6 8 balls and counting.