and knitting

an awesome Olympics

"The results don't always match the preparation in this sport."

So yeah, like some other people, I won't get a gold medal this year. The Knitting Olympics were a fun idea, and I've made quite a bit of progress with my sweater, but I've never been very good at meeting arbitrary deadlines. It probably would have ended differently if I had chosen a more suitable project.

I've still had an awesome Olympics. My tiara is on, and I'm knitting a few more inches today while eagerly anticipating tonight's broadcast of the closing ceremonies (though I'm a bit concerned about the reports of thousands of clown noses). See you in Vancouver!

Technorati tag: knitting olympics

Project #34: Aspen Neck Cowl

I've been on a bit of a yarn shopping spree lately. During one of my online shopping expeditions I was lucky enough to be one of the first people to test out a new online yarn store called pureknits. You guys are going to like this shop (opening soon! It is now open, so go there and buy something!). Just three days later I received a gorgeous little bundle of pink and brown tissue paper containing a yarn I've been really interested in trying, Fable Handknit Pure Baby Alpaca. Alpaca [pdf link] is incredible! I don't believe I've ever touched a yarn so soft.

It's a well established fact that I have no self control when it comes to starting new knitting projects, so I cast on last night for the Aspen Neck Cowl, a pattern designed by the yarn line's founder, Andrea Tung.

(The pic below looks a little different than what is shown in the pattern because I'm knitting it inside out.)

The Project: Aspen Neck Cowl
The Yarn: Fable Handknit Pure Baby Alpaca in Sweet Pink purchased from pureknits
The Needles: 3.75mm 16" circular
Started: February 23 2006

Various and Sundry Links - February 24 2006

- I am addicted to Curling so had to get up to watch Team Fenson take on Great Britain Scotland early this AM. Congratulations on your bronze medal, Team USA! I would much rather have that sort of jewelry than this [via].

- Project Runway's Nick Verreos is going to be dissecting the Ladies Figure Skating outfits on today's episode of Olympic Ice. I hope Sasha Cohen doesn't do anything drastic. Perhaps she could aspire to be the next figure skater to go topless.

- Anti-Factory [via & via] - Clothing handmade from vintage recycled wool, angora, cashmere, jersey, and other fibers. I really love the belted urchin sweater.

- A Hallowig look-a-like ends up on the runway at Prada.

- All-out civil war in Iraq: Could it be a good thing?

- Will 2006 see lots of little Bodes, Sashas, or Renas?

- Because this is a knit blog I am contractually required to link to something cat-related at least once per year [via].

- What's inside your handbag - circa 1945

- Dapper brings you fashion industry news from many different sources. We automatically build a personalized style section for each reader (the Flickresque missing E in the URL means they are web 2.0).

- Guadaloopy

Knitting Pretty

The March 2006 W has an interesting article about the women who knit and crochet for knitwear designers. As far as I can tell it's not available online, so pick up a copy at your local bookstore.

When you're looking for a fashion tip: Grandma knows best. Just ask a new generation of cutting-edge European knitwear designers who are employing a far-flung network of grannies. Equipped with skillful fingers and age-old knitting know-how, these venerable ladies are tackling designs that exude more contemporary cool than tea-cozy appeal.

Take actress-cum-novice crochet designer Anat Fritz, 32, from Berlin. She used to sell so many of her handmade "Oliver Twist-meets-hip hop" hats to strangers right off her own head that she decided to go into production – of a sort. "I put ads in the paper and found a bunch of old ladies who had been crocheting all of their lives," says the Romanian-born Fritz.

It's nice to see these artisans get a bit of recognition, though I must admit to a bit of discomfort with one part of the article.

But if there's one common thread linking today's knitwear pioneers, it's an ethical, or as Fritz says, "fair trade," relationship with their employees. Fritz says she pays her knitters anywhere from $7 to $12 to make a hat that retails for about $110 in wool and $280 in cashmere. They receive $120 for more involved items like a swimsuit, which can take up to 15 hours to knit, and which retails for about $365.

$120 for 15 hours of knitting comes to $8/hour. This seems a little low for hand knitting.

The issue also features an article about TSE designer Tess Giberson. I wish the line would come out with a hand knitting kit designed by Giberson (rather like Paco Rabanne's disc dress kits).

technorati tag: fashion

Santino in Context

I love watching the Winter Olympics even when my less favored events like Ice Dancing are playing. However, it just doesn't seem to be as athletic as the other events (and I say this as a former synchronized swimmer - another much maligned Olympics event). There's also the matter of that annoying move called the Twizzle. I'm glad that Dick Button seemed to share my distaste for that element.

That said, last night's spectacle was hilarious – the falls, the bitchy glares, the ridiculous costumes.

The spangled outfits brought to mind Project Runway contestant Santino's design for Sasha Cohen. When you put his design in context of last night's Ice Dancing freak show, his turkey-themed costume seems a little less bizarro.

What do you think?

Various and Sundry Links - February 20 2006 - Special Torino Edition

- Woo hoo -- Onodera! Japan women shock Canada

- Chad Hedrick isn't the only prick in the Games of the XXVIII Olympiad. We also have Dale Begg-Smith, a gold medal winning spyware mogul.

- Free condoms in the village

- A little communism can spice up Olympics

- They're not like the Dallas Cowboy cheerleaders — they're fully clothed.

- Passion for broomwork inspires sexy side of men's team

- ...sort of like telling Dostoevsky that you really like his novels, except for the depressing parts

- Not watching the Olympics? Too bad for you.

- No 'stealth' ads allowed in Olympics. That giant casino banner I saw last night during last night's speed skating was rather unfortunate.

Technorati tags: olympics

Knitting Police find nothing in doping raid

KNITTING BLOGOSPHERE (AKP) -- Knitting authorities searching for banned substances found no evidence of doping in an overnight raid on the residence of Team First Sweater's And Knitting at The Knitting Olympic Games.

While the knit police were searching the residences early Sunday morning, the International Knitting Olympic Committee also conducted unannounced, out-of-competition drug tests on one Team Sweater athlete.

"We were concerned something might be going on with And Knitting after we found empty bottles near knitting needles and swatches'' authorities said. A spokesman said later Sunday morning that "...at the moment, nothing of significance has emerged, as the bottles appeared to have contained only performance dehancing substances like prosecco and beer, and that no one had been placed under investigation".

"I am very angry,'' said And Knitting's Amy. "While I admit to knitting while drinking in the past, I've never consumed performance enhancing substances like some other knitters whose names I'll leave unsaid. Right now, if you want to cheat, you can. You do what all those guys do".

The Knitting Olympics feature the most rigorous drug testing in competitive knitting history. Earlier in the week, a suspiciously productive knitlete was expelled from the Olympics after testing positive for an illegal stimulant.

Various and Sundry Links - February 19 2006

- Woo hoo -- Shani Davis! Confidential to Chad Hedrick: You are a dick.

- The Knitting Olympics Drinking Game with commentary

- Halloween on Ice [via]

- Why can't we see all of the Olympics on the Web? [via]

- Important publishing news

- Kathy's Beauty Nook

- passenger’s asses fitting into my personal space like a pornographic jig-saw puzzle - Letter from Continental Airlines Seat 29E

- food landscape [via]

- Another way to get your required daily allowance of Guinness

- Beautiful paintings of an abandoned shopping mall

- Here I Am Taking My Own Picture - Angry Knitter makes it to the New York Times

- You decide: "Midwest Heroes" or "Political Pawns"?

knitting olympics

project #33: performance enhancing sweater

Amy decides to 'suck up' pain for Knitting Olympics

SAN BLOGOSPHERE, Interweb (Reuters) -- And Knitting's Amy raced through the pain barrier in Wednesday's Team First Sweater event.

Discharged from her angsty ways only the previous day, the 33-year-old American knitter returned to the comfortable sofa where she failed so agonisingly in Sunday's training run.

Remarkably, she's finished 11 raglan increases and is just a few inches adrift of her personal progress best.

"The only thing that would have stopped me was if I physically couldn't do it," Amy told reporters. "Pain was something that I was going to take, no matter what. It was just a matter of whether my body could physically withstand the forces of my knitting."

Amy had no regrets, falling back on her inner strength to confound medical experts and ignore the complaints from a bruised ego and aching wrist.

The Project: Performance Enhancing Sweater for Team First Sweater (my own "design", using instructions in Knitting from the Top)
The Yarn: Rowan Classic Cashsoft DK in black purchased from Cucumberpatch UK
The Needles: 2.75 and 3.75mm
Started: February 12 2006

Various and Sundry Links - February 15 2006

- For the seafood lover in you - Santino goes to Red Lobster

- Go Onodera!

- Full motion speed skating stamps

- A belated Valenswine's Day to you

- Anna Wintour is lovin' it

- Budgie Voted Young Cross-Stitcher of the Year [via]

- We grew up in a world where our classrooms were filled with Jennifers and Stephanies and Amys...

- Cowboys Are Frequently Secretly Fond of Each Other

- For now, my critics can eat it. I heart Johnny Weir!

- Tim Gunn is a hot, fashionable Yoda [via]

- It was an atypical heart attack. He had no pain, Rove said.

- Bid on the gown that Nick designed for Brenda Strong

knitting olympics

and knitting's Amy may drop out of Knitting Olympics

And Knitting's Amy listened to her body, and it told her no.

Amy, 33, said she was "a little stiff" when she took to the needles, which she attributed to having spent too many hours at work on her laptop prior to the start of the Knitting Olympics' opening ceremony. And if her sore wrist continues to hamper her as much as it did yesterday, when she was driven to the verge of tears before cutting short her first Olympics knitting session, Amy said she would consider withdrawing from the Knitting Olympics.

"Dropping out is not something I want to do, but I have to listen to what my feelings are," Amy - a relative newcomer to the world of knitting - said after botching two cast on attempts. The only stitch she performed cleanly was a k3 p2 rib.

"That's what's so frustrating about having an injury," she added. "It's not something that just goes away.

"Physically, if I'm not able to knit, I would give my spot up."

(I'm mostly being silly, but we'll see how this week goes.)

knitting olympics

Pre-Olympics Status Report

It seemed like a good idea to do a quick status update on my current knitting projects before the hoopla of the Knitting Olympics begins.

My nemesis, the frilled sweater from Rebecca, is now in the finishing stages. This was one of the first knitting projects I started. So nearly two years later, it is good to finally be so close to completing it. I've also picked up the chevron scarf once again. This project hasn't received the attention it deserves, but I'm sure I'll be able to wrap it up once the Olympics knitting frenzy is over.

In Knitting Olympics news, I'm still finalizing my sweater pattern. I may have to ceremoniously cast on one stitch tonight, and then really work at it tomorrow.

knitting olympics

Twinkle - Fall 2006

If you have a chance, take a look at the video from the Twinkle show that took place during New York Fashion Week. This favorite of Vogue Knitting is one to watch if you need inspiration for future knitting projects.

As usual, Twinkle designer Wenlan Chia's knits were on the chunky side. My favorite was a short sleeved, scoop necked sweater with a ribbed empire waist. It seems a bit more wearable than the giant, bobble-y turtleneck.

She used a lot of interesting prints and often featured them with a cardie or a big loopy scarf. Many of these were also paired with those cute and ubiquitous mini leggings. I really loved the jewelry too.

I wonder if any of the knit designs will make it to the pattern pages of Vogue Knitting. I actually liked the striped tunic from last year that ended up on the cover of VK, but I know it was not exactly a favored pattern in the knit blog world.

The images here came from the Olympus Fashion Week site, and there are a lot more at Getty Images (backstage shots too).

In more personal knitting news, I swatched for my Knitting Olympics project last night. That went well, but Aimee reminded me that I'm still not signed up with any team. Which team is going to have the best opening ceremony outfits?

Various and Sundry Links - February 7 2006

- I don't really want to understand why someone would want a tattoo of Maddox Jolie.

- The Stitch 'n Bitch trademark fight has now hit the mainstream media in a pretty lazy article that leaves out a few of the important details. You do get to read how SFSE owner Elissa Meyrich "feels hurt by the heat she is taking from the knitting community". Oh that poor, poor dear.

- Project Runway's Diana Eng showed off her mathematical knits as part of the Seamless show at MIT. Her blog (If you are reading this Diana, please add an RSS feed) gives a bit more detail about her pieces. There's more about the show at Coquette.

- Woo hoo, a diet potato.

- Per Alberto Gonzalez, "President Washington, President Lincoln, President Wilson, President Roosevelt have all authorized electronic surveillance on a far broader scale".

- A crafty tour of NYC

- The cupholderification of the United States now extends to churches [via].

- The State of the Union Address (spliced and diced)

- What Your Drink Says About You - Make mine a gimlet, though I'm not sure how classy or cerebral I am after a couple of these.

knitting olympics

Project #32: hat DUH lux is finished (and this time it fits)

The Project: hat DUH lux - following instructions in Knitting from the Top
The Yarn: Rowan Soft Lux in Sable purchased from Knit Happens online
The Needles: 4.5mm Crystal Palace DPNs and 4.5mm 16" Clover circular
Started: January 22 2006 (restarted January 29 2006)
Finished: February 4 2006

It always feels a bit anticlimactic to finish a project that I had previously completed and ripped out. This time around, I reduced the number of increases I did per row and was more diligent about trying it on as I went. I was going for a fit similar to the Elizabethtown hat and am happy with how it turned out.

Now I need to start training for the Knitting Olympics. I'll be working on a sweater of my own design (let's not get into that argument about design vs. pattern making).

Various and Sundry Links - February 5 2006

- I've long wished for a way to keep track of where I've left comments, so was pleased to find out about coComment [via]. I'm looking forward to playing around with it.

- The Twinkle Fall 2006 show is this afternoon. I'm especially looking forward to her knitwear designs. Video Highlights will likely be posted on MSN later today (IE only, unfortunately). A couple of the fashion blogs have been liveblogging and podcasting from the tents. They even ran into Jay McCarroll. I've enjoyed their reportage, though I don't quite get why they are hooked up with that mainly right wing blogging consortium, Pajamas Media.

- Stephen Colbert thanks all Americans for voting against their own interests.

- Stop Look Listen

Each weekday in February, the Magazine [BBC] is featuring a classic public information film from the past 60 years, concluding with a vote on your favourite of all the films.

- It's always good to have 24-year-old journalism grads tell NASA's top scientists what to publish [via].

- "...but 1 hour and 10 minutes after taking the drug, with 1 man climbing a tree to feed the birds, the troop commander gave up." [via]