kitty: first FO for 2007

The Specs: Pattern: Mia's Lace Sampler Scarf (My Own Pattern) Yarn: Handspun - Roving from Spunky Electric Almost Solid in Redwood

I know I eluded to it earlier, that I had an FO to show but I hadn't made it to the mail box yet to send it to its recipient. It finally reached Mia this morning so I can finally post photos of the sampler scarf that I knit her in my handspun yarn. Click Here - Click Here I am really getting into the theme of Victorian Lace Sampler scarves and shawls. As I have done more and more research on them I am finding that they were just about as popular for young girls to knit as cross stitch samplers for there needlework studies. I think I have just fallen in love with the concept of lots of stitches place together as a study in one piece. And the bonus is if it is a hard pattern you know there are just a few dozen rows and you are done. I personally find myself just staring at the Victorian ones in aw of the different characteristics of the stitches.

PS: Don't forget to go check Mia out wearing the scarf on her site. It just made me so very happy to see her wrap it around her neck. (I love your green sweater by the way, Mia.) I just thought it looked way to cool to see it on her. She has a couple of other photos of the scarf. Merry Very Belated Christmas Mia... Lets see how long it takes for Happy Belated Birthday... I know I am so bad. Sorry.

kitty: my shawl doth grow, said the little mouse to the cat!

My fancy lace shawl is coming along nicely. I just finished the first hank of the yarn and estimation after blocking is 2 hanks will = 102 inches give or take. So my constant fears of not having enough yarn to be able to do a frilly Shetland style border looks to be in vain. I think 102 inches will make a shawl that is long enough to do what ever I want it to do, and not be skimpy and leave me sad. I am really happy with how it is growing. I have been trying to take a couple of hours each night in front of the fireplace just to enjoy life. Life is to short to be at a constant breaking point 24 hours a day in one's life. Yes, work has been bad these last couple of weeks. So I am really trying to de-stress a little each day. So far there are 12 major lace patterns and I my goal is 25: Two serve as a border - Simple diamond stitch and then an inner 4-stitch faggot stitch Then there is also a 10-row pattern, that separates all of the patterns within the body to cut down on diagonal tendencies of lace. This was a trick that I learned in the class I took with Maggie Jackson. The other 9 make up the body of the shawl

kitty: new lace project

VvS 2ply Merino in Black Knight

After I finished the scarf for Mia there really hasn't been any knitting going on. (No, I still am a bum and haven't sent it to her yet since I was waiting on the rest of her Christmas present from Pick Up Sticks in Canada. Ah the joy of international shipping, sorry Mia.) During this time though I have really been trying to think of a good lace project to knit. I was really tempted to join the Victorian Lace KAL, but something about the patterns just weren't clicking for me. Some because I didn't have enough yardage for what they called for, some because I was having trouble reading the charts backwards and didn't like how my stitches were looking in the patterns I tried. I also figured if it wasn't clicking at the get-go that really I need to rethink that much lace knitting. The book is absolutely beautiful don't get me wrong I have spent many a night just reading the patterns. So I decided to come up with my own pattern. I really like the concept of the Victorian Sampler patterns where it is a wide variety of stitches. Something about these patterns helps keep me from getting board with the designs since you know there is always a new stitch coming up. Also I have been collecting every knitting lace book I can get my hands on and checking out the others from the library when I can find them. So I sat down and charted out a pattern, we will see how it goes. Here is a little sneak peak of the design.

kitty: weave, weave, weave

I signed up to take another weaving class this quarter. I am absolutely loving the class. Though I have run into a lot of problems with the loom I am using. I look at it this way, I am certainly learning a lot with people there who can help me vs. at home where I would just be crying. Lesson one that I learned the hard way, was make sure you wrap your back bar with heavy cardboard so that the tension isn't messed up by the strings that hold the bar to your threads. Or you will get to a point where you are unwinding and you loose all tension on your threads. Nothing like starting over mid project.

I ended up having to take off my first yard of fabric off the loom. Yes there are lots of imperfections and problems, but I love it. Dry Spun Linen with Tsumugi Silk. I have enough of the linen to do probably another 3 yards which is the plan. Lets hope the next yards don't have the tension problems I am running into with the first yard.

The magic of that first row for any new craft. My first couple of rows ever weaving with scrap yarns to get the hang of it.

kitty: Little Angels Korean National Folk Ballet

"The Drum Dance," each girl dances while playing 6 drums, definitely our favorite set.

I often make comments about the fact that I wish I lived in a real city, but then there are times when good old Columbus, Oh surprises you. M and I went to see Little Angels Korean National Folk Ballet last night at the Southern Theatre. It is kind of amazing that there three USA cities they performed were, Detroit, Chicago, and Columbus, Oh. M and I were so happy that we actually went. Normally it would be one of those things that we would just sit and talk about, but wouldn't get around to buying tickets. You can check out M's flicker area to see other pictures. And before you wonder all the photos were taken with his cell phone (w810i) and without flash. The event was not posted as no cameras allowed.

"Farmers are the root of Society"

http://www.littleangels.or.kr/ English site http://www.koreaangels.com/ PS. Thanks Anonymous for posting, I wish you had left your email address, but I hope you see the url above. Hope you get to see them again. It was really amazing.

kitty: some lessons will never be learned

Side A

No, I probably will never learn. . . Right before the holidays I decided that I would knit a lace tablecloth that had a lovely snowflake in the center. I was going to block it and then photograph it on top of some bright colour for my personal holiday cards. I quickly went through my stash and found the finest white yarn I could find (Habu merino) and sat down to start quickly knitting a vintage pattern. I figured if nothing else I could get the snowflake done. Well, best laid plans the project became my Chinese New Years Card idea instead. So over the weekend when I was failing at concentration I screwed up three rows back in my tablecloth. Yesterday, I carefully took it off the needles put it on string so I could easily run my guide thread to begin ripping and noticed something really off. It is my gauge and there is no way this will ever block flat. Side A and Side B are both the "knit side" of the tablecloth. Side A alone could be blocked flat without even touching Side B stitches for the desired shape. So, instead of what I thought was going to be 3 rows of ripping I guess my harsh lesson will be 118 rows of lace ripping. Yes, I am off to cry now......... It would have been a pretty tablecloth.

Side B

kitty: yep, i'm sick

The funny things you do when you are feeling really under the weather and your body hurts to much to sleep, but you have no concentration to knit, work, or breathe. Yep, you guessed it I organized all my Japanese craft books and realized that I hadn't posted about a lot of them. So I am trying to catch up my postings. I have also been eating a lot of salted ramen inspired by a new cooking show I am watching from Japan, Dotch. Hailed as the new Iron Chef successor.

kitty: Japanese Craft books - 4895113825

Japanese Craft Books - Amazon Jp -

Setsuko Torii Hand Knit Works 143 pages - 2006/09 ISBN-10: 4895113825

Felicia at Sweet Georgia posted about Avril a couple of months ago after she got back from JP. She linked to there site where they had posted about a 15th Anniversary book - Setsuko Torri Hand knit Works. If you are in love or obsessed with the kits at Habu, you will absolutely love this title. It features a lot of the yarns that Habu carries as well as obviously ones you can only dream of. Contents: Shippo tail tanktop, Chinese style pullover, Tsumugi gradation circular cardigan, Tsumugi Graduation coat jacket, Patchwork skirt, Mohair tube Suit, Washi Moire and silk vest, Washi Moire silk Jacket, Gear Linen Tunic, Picot Tunic, Fufu Fufu Cardigan, Wahi and Tsumugi Coat, Tsumugi Reversible Jacket, Cotton and Linen Tailored Jacket, Tsumugi Gradation Coat Jacket, Silk Stainless Cardigan, Tsumugi Gradation Bottle Collar Vest, Tsumugi Gradation Circular Cardigan, Tsumugi Gradation Skirt, Warp Yarn Bolero, Washi Ring Cardigan, Lamb Linen Short Pullover, Cashmere Colorful Cardigan, Cashmere Border Pullover, Bat wing Bolero, PomPom Moire Pullover, Knit Felt Coat, Knit Felt Shawl, Seaweed Necklace, Zabuton Bag, Kinchaku Bag, Section on Avril Yarns, Knitting, and Patterns

kitty: Japanese craft book-4579111125

Japanese Craft Books - Amazon Jp -

From an actual knitting classroom 103 pages - 2006/09 ISBN-10: 4579111125

To be honest this book is way above my comprehension level. I was at the local Japanese gift store and an a Japanese woman was looking at knitting books in the craft area and I picked up the same title that she was flipping through. One thing lead to another and she told me about this wonderful book she had just gotten that had really changed her skills in knitting. She latter sent me the isbn and I added it to my wish list to order the next time I ordered from Amazon JP. I can honestly understand what she is talking about. Even with my limited ability to read the book goes into painstaking details in teaching you about the construction of the stitch, design, how different lace patterns need to be altered to do decreases for fitted garments, how to alter elements, how decreases look different one side to another and how to make alterations. It is definately a book about taking knitting in a classroom to learn about construction. The book is a wealth of information, but I think one needs to be fluent to really grasp the full content of the book unfortunately. For me this is going on the shelf for when my comprehension improves. Contents: Classic designs - turtleneck, cowneck, lace cardigan, peplum lace cardigan, vest, patterned cardigan, men's vest

kitty: Japanese craft books - 4529011054

Japanese Craft Books - Amazon Jp - Used Hana Gifts Cols,OH

Notations 81 pages - 1986/04 ISBN-10: 4529011054

Ever wonder what those seemingly strange notations are in Jp patterns for the stitches that are used or transitions that are used. Here is the rare treasure that I found in a used book bin. Over 125 different stitch notations that have 4-8 sketches that clearly outline the steps needed to complete the stitches. Some of which I had not been able to find in the other JP stitch books. The book is printed on just a little heaver paper than news print and the copy I found has really yellowed on some of the page. Still a treasure anyway you look at it. The prince of knitting books are starting to make sense. Knitting

kitty: Japanese craft book - 4529043037

Japanese Craft Books - Amazon Jp

Marche Fall/Winter Vol2 112 pages - 2006/09 ISBN-10: 4529043037

The book seems to be a new magazine series they have come out with, this being volume 2. I have already read a review for volume 3. A collection of small projects for the home, some softies, trendy clothing, tons of adds for craft supplies we will never see in the states. Mainly crochet, sewing. and knitting Contents: His and Her scarves, bags, and hats, Over tee shirt tank tops, bags, place mats, tea cozy, coasters, curtains, blankets, softies, Mother and daughter hats, scarves, toys, blankets, Hip scarves, aprons,leg warmers, pillows, hand warmers, adorable socklets - footies, pins, and needle cases

Remember the super cute purse kits that Super Buzzy brought back from Japan on there recent trip. Here is an add for the kits.

kitty: Japanese Craft Book -4579111184

Japanese Craft Books - Amazon Jp

Northern European Wonders - Beginning techniques 71 pages - 2006/10 ISBN-10: 4579111184

The book is adorable, really simple projects for each of the techniques; 2 from Finland - Tapestry Crochet in Korsnas and Fur Tape, 2 Denmark - Domino Strikke and I cord, 1 Sweden - Naverstrickning, 2 Estonia - Kihnu Vits and Estonian Spiral, 3 Norway - Crown, Tubular Stitch, and Bead Knitting. The book is broken down by photo of project, step by step photo how to, then all the real instructions are in the back half of the book. Contents: Tapersty Crochet in Korsnas - purse, tea cozy, egg cozy Fur Tape - Purse, arm warmers, pillow Domino Strikke - Coasters, footies I cord - bracelets, scarf Naverstrickning - wrist cuffs Kihnu Vits - wrist cuffs Estonian Spiral - wrist cuffs, foot warmers Crown - crown Tubular Stitch - Purse, Hat Beading knitting - wrist cuffs, beaded bag

kitty: Bauhaus Textiles: Women Artists and the Weaving Workshop

American-UK Weaving book - Sorry MG it is out of print and I can only find it here to link to. Amazon

Bauhaus Textiles: Women Artists and the Weaving Workshop (Paperback) by Sigrid Weltge-Wortmann, Sigrid Weltge 208 pages - 1998/04 Publisher: Thames & Hudson; New Ed edition ISBN-10: 0500280347

No matter what your interest in textiles, the fact that you were a woman entering into the Bauhaus school of art in the 20's meant you were shuffled off to the the textile area. I am only about half way through reading the book that Santa Elf MG got me for Christmas. It is taking me awhile to finish since I keep getting side tracked looking at the colour plates. I am frankly really impressed with the frankness of the Author setting the record straight that even though there was a claim of equality at Bauhaus, obviously all these years my reading have been wrong. The book is really giving me a new perspective on Eileen Gray's work and the obvious fight she must have encountered to study lacquer. Thank you so much MG, it is an awesome gift and I will cherish it always. :) Contents: beginnings, the weimar years, the gender issue, gunta stolzl, the questions of identity, the weaving workshops and johannes itten, georg muche and the 1923 bauhaus exhibition, the dessau years, dessau a new direction, from craft to industry, bauhaus fabrics, the purgem the legacy, the new frontier, the style

Silk tablecloth to Walter and Ise Gropius P 39

Ruth Hollos's weaving in viscose from 1927 p67

Margot Rolf a Student of Greten Neter-Kahler and Kitty can der Mikll Dekker 1974 p160

Book Reviews: Sigrid Wortmann Weltge Professor Emerita History of Art and Design Philadelphia University School of Textiles and Materials Technology. Top 8 Books on Women and Textiles in History Analysis of Anni Albers 3-Ply Tapestry

kitty: japanese craft book - 4529043169

Japanese Craft Books - Amazon Jp -

Winter 2006 vol 132 185 pages - 2006/10 ISBN-10:4529043169

Printed by Nihon Vogue-2006 I really wished we were getting this quality of knitting patterns here in the states. Wow is all I can say! The book is laid out with pictures in the front, patterns center, section on men's patterns in the middle, patterns behind that, and a few other craft projects in the back like a great felted pot holder. Content: An amazing white knit section, sweaters, skirts, cardigans, hats Women's - Sweaters, cardigans, dresses, vest, skirts Men's - Sweaters, vest, scarf, hats History section on lace