This is so cool. I found it when I was out looking for something to make recharting the Celtic Dreams pattern easier, and of course I will also have to produce some charts for both the Cabling Without a Cable Needle and Fair Isle Classes.

Want! Alas, it's $189US, so it won't be anytime soon. But I have a demo, which is fun. I just hope it doesn't run out before I have a chance to really play with it. That's what happened to me with MasterWriter a few months ago. :(

I'm afraid this really is going to get a bit technical. But the picture is kinda pretty, even if it's nowhere near finished yet.

( Click to see what I've done with my day so far! )

...Which brings me to my next topic, Sari Silk! Some of you know I committed to buying a bunch of this when we were in Singapore, then ended up having to pay more because of a shipping debacle. And it's been sitting in my house for nearly three years, since we got back from Singapore. I've tried knitting with it, but it tears my hands up and it's so heavy.

Thursday night, I went down to IKL just to hang out and knit (my class had no takers), and the subject of a yarn swap at somebody's house in North London came up. I mentioned that I had all this sari silk I couldn't do a thing with, and the woman across from me suggested the following method to soften it up to usability:

1. While it's in the hank, wash it in a very light solution of mild soap and water. Use your bathtub.
   
2. Rinse it, then let it soak in a mild solution of hair conditioner and war water. Let it soak for awhile.
   
3. Rinse again. When it dries, silk gets hard and stiff. When the sari silk begins to dry, beat it against the side of your bathtub. Once it's completely dry, you'll have soft, manageable silk.

Has anybody out there tried something like this? Did it work for you? I may crosspost this to knitting or advanced_knit at some point.

ETA: Geeky extra: It's taking me about 15 minutes to knit a row of this thing, as I flip back and forth between pattern and chart. 15 minutes for 102 stitches. Not my fastest work. ;-)

I mentioned before that at least I already had the wool for this one. I hadn't remembered what a great purple it is, though: it's from Blackwater Abbey Yarns. The shop I worked in before I moved to the UK had a trunk sale for Blackwater Abbey, and even though they weren't offering much of a discount, I was quite taken with the Celtic Dreams pattern. Blackwater Abbey feature Beth Brown-Reinsel's patterns, so it seemed logical to go ahead and buy the pattern and wool right then, and keep it for when I was ready to knit it.

( Photo and some technical bits behind the cut )

Just wanted to say that I've found (and ordered) a copy of the fabulous 1992 Vogue/Donna KaranEnchanted Forest Cardigan pattern online at SewDirect for £1.95! Free shipping as well; I hope they'll just slap it in an envelope today and it'll make it through my letterbox! (For a better photo go here, direct to VK.)

So.... I've been wanting to make this for a long, long time. You'll see why if you click on any picture or do a google search on it. It's a legend. I remember when the pattern first came out; I was on the internet's first KnitList back in those days (the knitlist is really really huge and impossible now), and it was all people talked about for *months*. Copies of the pattern were pored over, passed around, bitched about, and probably exchanged for enough good-quality aran yarn to knit the thing. It still creates a buzz whenever people see, it, and Vogue has reprinted the pattern twice: once in the VK 25th anniversary edition, and once in a book called Vogue Knitting Designer Knits, still in stock at AmazonDotWhatevers all over the world. I doubt seriously I'll want to make enough of the patterns in this book to pay £9.60 for it, so why not get the original pattern for £2 from SewDirect? I understand the 25th anniversary version of the pattern has been reshaped a bit, or maybe just re-edited, as the VK KAL poster notes in the second link to a photo of this cardigan.

At the time the pattern first came out, I was not confident enough as a knitter to tackle it. It would have been started (wrong) and never finished, probably. Now, the only thing I worry about is sizing. I do not remember what the original sizing was for this pattern, but I doubt seriously if it's sized for fat people. But we'll see. Maybe I'll make this my present to myself for the weight loss work (no real diet talk, just a goal discussion, I promise!). I'm sure I have enough of something in my stash to knit this with: I could start it now, tomorrow, whenever, and by the time it is finished (yeah, right-- at this stage of the game, I knit pretty fast ;>), I'd be able to wear it. If not, I could always give it to someone who would truly appreciate it. Like my sister. Or weirdsister. Then again, if I gave even one of these to anybody I'd feel obligated to make a couple more. And somehow that just seems like serious amounts of work.

I'm thinking of doing it in a neutral colour, but I don't want the original 'cream aran' type colour because I think I don't look good in that colour, plus it is a bitch to keep clean. The grey the model in VK is wearing is a good choice. You'll find photos in various colours all over the net if you go digging. What colour would you like to see it in?

Also-- KnitALong, anybody? Somebody out there will have wanted to knit this cardigan for a long time, too, eh? (Even if you are only seeing it for the first time today!)

ETA, because I am a complete idiot and you guys know I am an idiot... I'd been going through my small stash of knitting mags for another purpose. I remembered having a black market photocopy of this pattern and thought maybe I'd put the envelope in there. And what do you know? I have a copy of the Fall 1992 Vogue Knitters in which this pattern first appeared. I thought that cover photo on the VK site looked familiar. Right. Have cancelled order for £1.95 pattern. Will be happy to pursue KAL action if you're into it. The pattern is one size for body, only sleeve size changes. Chest measurement is 58 1/2 inches, though, so it really should fit most. Changing this garment would be a bitch, but could be done.

FETA: The other fabulous jumper I want to knit this year is Beth Brown-Reinsel's Celtic Dreams, a top-down aran jumper with saddle shoulders and a really long skirt. I've had the pattern and wool for this since before I left the US.

Question: Why, now that summer is really here in the UK, do I suddenly want to knit jumpers and cardigans???

As part of the ongoing Saturday Morning Music Workshops at Cecil Sharp House, EFDSS are sponsoring a series of lectures on first and third Saturdays at Cecil Sharp House. Here are the dates and titles of upcoming lectures.

All lectures begin at 1pm, and the cost to attend is £5 on the door.

MAY 17 -- DOC ROWE
This land of custom: Same time, same place, next year
(The May Fete is also occurring on this date.)

JUNE 7 -- Archive films from the VWML collection

JUNE 21 -- SHIRLEY COLLINS
Songs and stories of southern country gypsies

JULY 5 -- VIC GAMMON
Sex, drink and death in English folk song

JULY 19 -- JOHN HOWSON
Stepping out in East Anglia: Keeping it alive

What the Folk? Seminars in the Folk Arts
Explore the breadth, depth and wealth of folk culture.

I now live in a country that has a socialised healthcare system, something I've believed in for a number of years. I had an experience today with this system that I'd like to tell you about, because I believe in rewarding excellence where I find it.

There's a lot of complaining here in the UK about this system. And it's hardly surprising: complaining is what we humans like to do, and I have heard that the English are champion complainers. To be honest, I haven't noticed English people complaining more than anybody else I've ever known: in the US, people complain about the government and the cities and the traffic and anything else that's available to be complained about. I experienced the same phenomenon in Singapore. People complain. That's what people do.

( But, as somebody with firsthand experience of major and minor healthcare as a permanent or temporary resident in three different countries, let me tell you what I think. (potentially triggery story below, among other things) )

Here we have the latest photo and some technical bits about my most recent finished sock! Off the needles about half an hour ago, it was really a joy to knit. It turned out to want to be quite a bit longer than most other socks I've knitted, probably because the wool felt stretch enough to deal with my calves. As recently as yesterday, before I started the heel-turn preparation, I was convinced I'd probably rip it out until it was just above ankle length, but I really like it the way it is now. I'll wait 'til tomorrow to start the second sock, though. This sock has taken a week to knit, but I'm also knitting the second corrugations and cables sock, so I've had more than one thing to concentrate on.

( Photos behind cut. )

Upcoming Classes

Thursday 8 May, 6:30pm, Knitting Techniques, £15 (90 minutes)
This is an intermediate class that will cover stitch mounts, differences between English and Continental knitting, that method in the middle that we call "combination", and whether (and when!) to mix the techniques. Knitters should bring a 20-stitch stocking stitch swatch on needles, as we will be looking at everyone's individual knitting styles throughout the class and it's helpful to have an example before we start.

Thursdays 22 and 29 May, 6:30pm, Fair Isle Knitting, £40 (two two-hour sessions)
An evening class that runs over two consecutive Thursday evenings, giving the basics of stranded knitting technique, also called Fair Isle Knitting, because of the distinctive garments from that part of the world that are knitted in that fashion. Covered: knitting with both hands, stranding with one hand, weaving in floats, reading charts, changing colours. Knitters should come to class with a 20-40 stitch stocking stitch swatch on needles. I will be teaching both flat and circular methods, so students should bring whatever they're comfortable with-- or both! Bring at least two colours of wool, since we'll be changing colours a lot. I will provide detailed handouts and a couple of simple patterns, and we'll talk about getting started with your firstt colour stranding project, the easiest way to work. We will touch on steeking, although a steek sample is beyond the scope of this class. The first class will be a technique class, and the second class will cover additional techniques and fixing mistakes and anomalies in the work students have done in the week between classes.

Saturday 24 May, 12:00pm, Cabling Without a Cable Needle, £15 (90 minutes)
Learn to handle cables on the fly, not just read and follow but understand cable charts and construction, and how to twist your stitches without the aid of a third needle. Knitters should bring a 20-stitch stocking stich swatch. Wooden or bamboo needles are preferable for learning this technique as there is less slippage, but bring whatever you are comfortable with.

Some Questions:

Anything else I ought to cover? I'm swiftly becoming known as "that person who knows all those weird little techniques", so if there's anything you've ever longed to know, don't hesitate to sing out! If I know it, I'll try to find a way to teach it to you and as many of your friends and other interested parties as want to show up!

After every four-hour beginning knitting class I've taught, everyone always wants to know when the intermediate class will be. I haven't scheduled one yet, but I would like to know what you think ought to be on the syllabus for an intermediate class. I'm sure I should cover various increases and decreases, the magic of stitch markers, and provisional and alternate cast-ons maybe, but in trying to come up with a list, I'm a bit stumped. I can't teach specific sock techniques, as they already have a sock teacher. I can't teach magic loop because said sock teacher is already wanting to offer a class in that. I don't want the class to feel like a stitch pattern dictionary reading or a "fixing problems" class (I'll be teaching one of those eventually anyway), though I think I should include reading knit-purl stitch pattern charts and how to pick up a dropped stitch even from several rows above.

Any other ideas?

Here's what's on my needles, or recently off them in a couple of cases. ;-)

( Six pictures below the cut tag )

Hi, folks--

I just spoke with Gerard at iKnit London, and it turns out we don't have many students at all for my Norwegian Purl class this Saturday at 4:30pm at iKnit London.

If you're interested in learning this fascinating technique from somebody who's been using it regularly for years, please consider ringing the shop and signing up! It's £10 for the class, which should run about an hour and no more than 90 minutes, and you get to spend time at iKnit London, the only knitting store in the UK that's also a licensed bar. :-) (They also have great wool, a great space, and friendly and personable shopkeepers.)

The owners were away over the weekend, and their newsletter didn't get out for this week, so here is the blurb for the class, in case you're interested:

Saturday 26 April
Hermetic Secrets of the Norweigian Purl Stitch -- Are you a continental knitter? Do you hate to purl? Here's a purl stitch you can make that won't break your rhythm.

Norwegian Purl students should be comfortable with all the basics: knitting, purling, casting on and casting off, and there will be detailed handouts to show all the steps. I will also provide links to online videos if folks would like to see examples of people going through the technique after the fact. While a swatch is not technically necessary for this class, it wouldn't hurt for folks to bring some knitting already on needles.

I'd love to see some of you there!

We can always learn something new about the people we love. Sometimes, these lessons are painful.

This morning, while I was explaining reasons why my style and another person's style are incompatible, I mentioned that this other person does not use the serial comma (also known as the Oxford or Harvard comma).

filceolaire said, "I hate the Oxford comma!"

Oh, my friends, I was distressed. I may need to re-evaluate my relationship status. At least he liked The Princess Bride, which is another one of my criteria for marriage. I guess I should have had this 'oxford comma' discussion sooner, eh?

While there are places where I might not use the serial comma, I find that I use it in almost all the places I might. I think it makes written language more like spoken language, and I believe that it makes a lot of potentially ambiguous things, well, less potentially ambiguous. Now, I am generally against the overuse of commas, and I can't stand when people use a comma when they need a full stop or a semicolon, but I am generally an Oxford Comma Fan.

How about you? Answer the poll! :) I welcome discussion on this topic.

Poll #1176247 Oxford Comma Poll
Open to: All, results viewable to: All

How do you feel about the serial comma?

Poll Goodness

ETA: I have made this poll public, because I'm curious to see what people not on my friends list might have to say. :-)

A couple of days ago, I posted this entry about Cat Bordhi's book New Pathways for Sock Knitters.

I did the two teaching socks, finished one of KSB's socks (photo of that tonight if I have time), started her second sock, and of course then moved on to the coolest pattern in the book (from my point of view) so I could have something on needles that was for me, me, me!

When I chose that pattern, I didn't realise that I was also preparing for two of the knitting classes I'll be teaching at iKnit London in the next few weeks.

( Photos below the cut tag, and some technical knitting bits. )

I think the last knitting book I had a small fit over was Victorian Lace Today, which I picked up in the States last year. But some of you may remember that I posted a very early birthday present with list back in March. In that post, I mentioned this book (it's the top one on the page). khaosworks, who is often the Book Fairy, mentioned that it was mine, and so when the amazon.com package arrived (in a stupidly huge box, I should say), I knew what was in it, and I couldn't keep myself from opening the package itself. Itw as a great early birthday present, and the book actually does what it says it's going to do: "turn the sock-knitting world on its heel."

Yeah. Seriously.

( OK, this is going to get a bit technical. )

khaosworks, thank you so much for this gift. I love love love it. :) I'm sorry I opened it early, but it's given me enough joy to last for at least the next three weeks before my birthday.

....and of course, you can find anything on YouTube. Well, almost anything.

She blowed up reeeeal good!

Now, if anybody can find a video of Lenny Tang's Express Elevator to Hell ("Das' too bad fo' you, mah friend!"), I'll be happy. Well, for a couple of minutes, anyway. ;-)

....I can link to the knitted adipose pattern. ;-)

Everybody should have a couple!

EFDSS ANNOUNCES SATURDAY MORNING MUSIC WORKSHOPS

The English Folk Dance and Song Society is proud to announce a series of Saturday workshops at Cecil Sharp House. The workshops are set to begin on 19 April 2008. Sessions are geared toward beginners, although students of all levels of experience are welcome. Classes will occur on the first and third Saturdays of the month, from 10.30-12.30 at Cecil Sharp House in Camden Town. The series will feature widely renowned teachers, lecturers, and workshop leaders. Instruction will be offered in banjo, piano accordion, and voice . Each day will include both classes and lectures, with classes in the morning and lectures following. Please see the EFDSS web page for more information.

Classes will run for two terms. The first term will begin on 19 April and end on 19 July, and the second will begin 6 September and run through 12 December. Instructors include Ed Hicks (banjo), Paul Hutchinson (Accordion), Sam Lee (voice), and Tim van Eyken (voice). Lecturers include Malcolm Taylor, Vic Gammon , Doc Rowe, Shirley Collins, John Howson, and Reg Hall.

Places in the workshops are limited, so advance booking is recommended. Some instruments may be available for students who do not have their own; please call Cecil Sharp House on 0208 485 2206 to enquire about instruments or to book a place.

Cecil Sharp House is located at 2 Regents Park Road, Camden Town, NW1 7AY. For directions, please visit www.efdss.org . The Vaughan Williams Memorial Library will be open on Saturday workshop days.

( Lecture series details behind cut tag )