For Christmas my husband got me my very own website to write down my musings on knitting. . . mostly.
So here’s my first attempt at blogging. . .
Members of my extended family joined us for the holidays this week. My mother-in-law in her past life was a professional knitter and being around her is what prompted me to experiment with fiber and pointy sticks 10 years ago. Her visit this holiday introduced me to two new things: a word and a machine.
Apparently all that ripping out I’m so fond of has a name. Frogging! … rip it, rip it, rip it. Here’s an article on Knitty by Theresa Vinson Stenersen about better ways to rip out your hours of well spent knitting. [article on frogging]
[Jess and Nancy setting up the machine (left) closeup of the carriage (right).]
The new machine in my life is actually two classic knitting machines from the 1980’s (a Bond and Brother/Studio Model 328 pictured above) that my mother-in-law used to use. They are in fabulous working order. She and I had a fabulous time together setting one up and for her, getting reacquainted. I have been so excited about the expansion to my repertoire that I was dreaming about how to do a K2tog YO with the machine. This morning I figured out how to do it manually and was thrilled to see a piece of fabric resembling fishnet. This is really going to speed up the task of knitting about 4ft. of a mesh long nightgown found in the book, Sexy Little Knits by Ashley Paige. That’s one experience I don’t need to have by hand.
As a few guys I know have said when I showed them this book, “Finally, a good excuse for my wife’s/girlfriend’s obsessive knitting!” While I disagree that this book and others like it serve to validate our obsession with knitting, I do appreciate their enthusiasm. . . with a smirk.
Back to figuring out the tension on the machine. I’ll post progress on this project and others.
Your mom told us about your site. Fun and cute. Do you have that hat pattern? My daughter loves hats with brims. Thanks
Left by Katie Feldstein on January 8th, 2008