kitty: Local event at Temptations, Dublin

	Sadly I forgot my camera yesterday, so no real photos to share of the Michelle Hunter of Knit Purl Hunter event at Temptations. Temptations held an event for the launch of Michelle's Knit along with Addi needles and Trekking yarn. Trekking yarn is celebrating there 20th aniversay with a schedul of KAL. The first one Is for a Top down sock using: Trekking XXL color "Susanne" Each of the skein sold of the limited edition colour, Skacel will donate $10.00 to the MArsha Rivkin Center for Ovarian Cancer Research. and Karen at Temptations will donate another $2.50 to the research center.
Add for Skacel 20 years of Zitron Trekking Sock Yarn Buy a ball of addi Trekking XXL from Temptations Click Here
Not sure I will knit the KAL socks since they are toe up, but I picked up a ball of the yarn to suppor the cause. I am always leary of products for X cancer research, but atleast for this one a lot of the money seems to be going to research. Michelle also has some pretty nice video's of techniques on her BLOG... Knit Purl Hunter!

kitty: loving the fabric....

Name:  Designer:  Pattern : Garter Stitch Fiber: Lorna's Lace Needle: 2.25mm This yarn was in my destash box that I have been meaning to list since before the holidays. Colourwise it really isn't me at this point of my life, but I really love the fabric that it created on 2.25mm needles. Not being a big fan of garter stitch this really surprised me.

kitty: Blackthorn Needles - review

Over the last couple of months there seems to have been a lot of buzz going on about the Blackthorn Needles. I picked up a pair in November since as we all know I cannot resist new brands of DPN's or vintage ones that I haven't tried before. The fact that they are made out of Carbon really intrigued me. Though I have to admit the first time I read that I was wondering if the carbon would rub off on the yarn (It doesn't of course.) The needles are interesting to say the least. The points are amazing. The shafts are very sturdy, even with my tight grip I don't feel like I am going to snap them in half. Did I mention the points? Ok.. I digress on that one. My problem with them too be honest is that they feel sticky and have to much grip for me. Since I am a thrower and slider by nature I found it really bothersome to physically have to stop and move my stitches up. I could see this as a big benefit if I was working with a really slick yarn that falls off the needle, but not for a merino wool as pictured above. They are also available in teeny tiny sizes and small sizes. 0000 - 4 US and 4,6, and 8 inches long. Being available in such small sizes is something that will get me to buy another pair even with the grippyness dislike. I just wish they were available in 0000 circulars with a Holtz & Stein type join.

Blackthorn Needles Teeny Tiny Sizes 0000, 000, 00, 0 0 US Small Sizes 1,2,3,4 - US Website Ravelry Group

kitty: How to read a Japanese Knitting Pattern?

Hi Monika and Peppermint Mocha Mama, Since you both asked the same question I decided to just do a quick post about how to read a Japanese Craft Book and how to order from Amazon JP. Ordering from Amazon.co.jp these days really couldn't be easier. There are a couple of things that will make your life easier though: 1) Install Google Chrome : Google Chrome will identify that the page is in Japanese and will give you the option to automatically translate the page into English. Now it will still be broken English but you can figure it out pretty easily. 2) Amazon is also pretty smart as well, right above the wish list area there is a link that says "In English". This seems to internally trigger at least some of the text on the pages to be English. Bottom line though if you are a regular US Amazon customer just use muscle memory to place your order. The links are exactly the same and with Google Chrome most of the text is in English. 3) Once you have a couple of ISBN's of books that you are interested in, use the "Customers Who Bought this item also bought section" to look for other titles you might be interested in. Then you can do the look inside feature to see what the book is like inside. There is also always the option of ordering from YesAsia if you don't want to fool with ordering from Amazon JP. -- Http://www.yesasia.com

So now the more pressing issue. How do you read a Japanese Knitting or Crochet Book? Over the years a few people have asked me this question, I guess bottom line are you the type of knitter that would like written instructions for each row or are you comfortable kind of winging it with basic instructions? I am a full believer that anyone can learn to do anything they put there mind to. Japanese patterns are basically all on one page and very concise. 1) They will tell you how many stitches to cast on 2) Knit a certain number of rows 3) Then you will start to see information about how to increase or decrease the numbers of rows. (0-1-1) Increase 1st on both sides on the next row(double sided arrow) (8-1-6) Knit 8 Rows, Increase 1 st on both sides 6 times (double sided arrow) (5-3-4) Knit 5 rows, Decrease 3 stitches on the side with the arrow 4 times (-3) 1# is the number of rows to knit 2# is the number of stitches to increase or decrease 3# is the number of repeats for the first and second number (4) is the number of stitches to decrease If the pattern does contain a specific stitch pattern there is always a clear chart drawn up and with Japanese Standard Stitch Patterns. For Crochet Patterns you are on your own for if they are easy to read or not. Crochet still is so daunting for me. I really do not understand the concepts. There are so many crochet patterns that really interest me, but alas I am left wishing I had paid more attention to when my mother was trying to teach me. She on the other hand is an amazing crocheter, but she only does it from written text not charts.

Here are some Resources to help and guide you: 1) A JP Craft Book to learn about Japanese Knitting Symbols -- Fluffbuff よくわかる編目記号ブック―棒針あみ120 Clear and Simple Knitting Symbols 74 pages Published 1993 ISBN 452902413X / 9784529024136 This is a great book to teach you the meaning of the most common symbols. The book shows you the symbol and then walks you through the steps to make the stitch. There are a few other books in the series that I have written about. Crochet Motifs - Crocheting and Joining 66pages - 1992/11 ISBN-10: 4529022927 Amazon JP Knit Buddies Post The Very Basics of Crocheting 74 pages - 1993/04 ISBN-13:9784529023498 Amazon JP Knit Buddies Post Some of my favorite Stitch Books: 2) ABC of Knitting -- By Tata & Tatao of the ABC's of Knitting Site One of the most useful sites that I have found for learning how to read Japanese Knitting Patterns. The Basics of Japanese Knitting Japanese - English Knitting Dictionary - Priceless How to read Japanese Charts 3) How to read a Japanese Crochet Pattern -- by Purlyshells Blog She shares her experiences on her trials and tribulations of reading a Japanese crochet pattern for the first time. She takes you through step by step of the first row and some of the symbols.   4) Japanese Knitting Patterns - My adventures with Japanese Knitting Patterns and Japanese Knitting Books In 2008 she did a Japanese Cable Vest Kal and wrote about how to translate the pattern. An Excellent resource.

kitty:Hipity Hopity New Years

Hipity Hopity New Years..... Hope the year of the Rabbit will be a great one for you and yours!