and knitting

There were rumors he was into field hockey players

Every knitter is a snob about something. In my case, I turn up my nose to patterns for things that should not be knit. For example, the bow tie pictured with this post. Why oh why would someone think this is a good idea? One can easily purchase far more attractive and functional bow ties from a men’s clothier. I can just picture some knitter inflicting this bow tie on his or her poor unsuspecting fiancé and expecting him to wear it at their wedding.

Resist the urge, knitters!

Various and Sundry Links - June 15 2007
Special abbreviated internet flaking out (Comcast -- It's Craptastic!) edition.

- When I saw a text ad for Life Gems, Diamonds created from carbon of your loved one as a precious memorial I had to click. My morbid curiosity paid off when I saw this testimonial in their Tributes section.

Hi Rusty!

I wanted to let you know that 'Ma' has arrived here safe and sound! You were right.....she IS a beauty!!

Today is her 1 year anniversary and it has given me an untold sense of peace to have her home and in such sparkely condition!

I want to thank you and your company for allowing me to have something so beautiful created in memory of my mother.

- For no particular reason, here is My Little Pony in German!

- If you subscribe to Blueprint magazine, expect to find your mailbox fill up with direct marketing offers targeted to you, the 25-40 year-old woman, who has a household income of $65,000/year.

- I can't decide if this little ukulele player is cute or annoying [via].

- i blog, therefore i am - Interesting comments on the craftblogging boom and its effect on personal creativity.

Knitting News Links - June 11 2007

Top prize for knitting Nick
BBC - June 11 2007

A Kingswood student has won a major fashion prize for his designer knitwear. Nick Thomas, who studied at the University of the West of England, has won the top prize at River Island Graduate Fashion Week.

...Nick’s collection is aimed at the high-end market. “My inspiration comes from all things British like hounds tooth patterns, wool, paisley and Fairisle. A visit to Tyntesfield this year also informed my palette choice of Farrow and Ball looking colours,” said Nick.

Nick's collection includes tailored wool trousers with unusual sock extensions and knitwear designs featuring floral patterns based on agapanthus, circles, stripes and an adaptation of tradition paisley and Fairisle patterns decorated with accessories including fabric buttons. [more]

Talk of the book town Fans flock to Yarn Harlot
The Oregonian - June 11 2007

By 6:45 p.m., seats were in such short supply for the 7:30 p.m. reading that the Powell's City of Books staff asked whether anyone could give up a folding chair for a couple of people with medical conditions who needed to sit.

...But no matter the close quarters and heat that had built up in the room: The Yarn Harlot did not disappoint. Pearl-McPhee, author of four books of knitting humor and a popular blog (www.yarnharlot.ca), has a comedic shtick that entertains while also giving attention to knitters, a group whose members often feel undervalued.

She started out taking a photo of the crowd. "I take those photos for my mother," she said. "She didn't think this knitting thing could really work out."

Wrong. Pearl-McPhee's books are hugely popular, and she's been drawing crowds of hundreds on the stops for her new book, "Casts Off: The Yarn Harlot's Guide to the Land of Knitting." [more]

Paying their penance with piecework
StarTribune - June 10 2007

As a 17-year-old, Isiah Thomas of St. Paul has had to make his way in the hard world of St. Cloud prison. How's he managing?

By quilting, among other things.

"Me, personally, I never did nothing like it," he said from behind the gray concrete walls where he's serving 33 months for witness tampering, auto theft and attempted burglary.

"But I enjoy it. It's quiet, it's mellow, and the stuff is donated to some people who need it."

Thomas is one of dozens of inmates in at least three Minnesota men's prisons who are passing time quilting and knitting. [more]

Knitting News Link - June 10 2007

The life-size fairy tale house made of millions of stitches
Daily Mail - June 8 2007

A unique knitted wonder-house will go on show for the first time with the aim of raising thousands of pounds for charity.

The millions of stitches in the multi-coloured woollen 140 square foot dwelling have been knitted by hundreds of women across the world over thousands of hours. [more]

It's a Great Big Beautiful Tomorrow

Even the shyest among us like to talk about ourselves, so I’m delurking to post in response to Marjorie’s tag.

7 Totally Random Facts/Habits
I’ll try to divulge different information than already embarrassingly posted in the 5 things about me meme I answered a while back.

1. I spend way too much time on my laptop. It’s practically the first thing I turn on in the morning and the last I shut off at night. I like to get up earlier in the morning than I need to so that I can spend some time drinking coffee and reading the internets. It makes me a bit out of sorts when I don’t have time to do this. I practically had an anxiety attack when my Dell craptop displayed a terminal blue screen of death (one of the many horrifying examples is pictured with this post) a couple of week’s back. Luckily, I was able to remedy that by purchasing a new notebook computer the next day.

2. I love to plan imaginary vacations. It’s so fun to go to a travel booking site, choose among the many options and dream about an imaginary holiday. I also order free travel DVDs when I find the offers. My favorites are for the Poconos (champagne towers!), cruise lines and Disney.

3. My favorite pizza topping is celery. I know it sounds a bit bizarre, but you should try it.

4. It's silly, but birds scare me. My friend Kim can attest to this after she saw me scream and run wildly through her apartment, when her cute little parakeet (R.I.P. Mr. Mott) tried to land on my shoulder.

5. I have a rather encyclopedic memory. This means I kick ass at Trivial Pursuit, but can sometimes tread dangerously close to Cliff Clavin territory.

6. I’ll be old enough to run for president during the next election. Details coming soon at Amy2008.com.

7. It’s been more than a month since I’ve knit anything. I don’t feel guilty about it, but I'll likely pick it up again soon.

I'm shamefully out of touch with most of the blogs in my feeds, so I don't know who has already posted this meme. If you haven't participated in this one yet, consider yourself tagged!