You know how instructions for knitting in the round always say, "Join, being careful not to twist"? Well, these instructions are not just for joining cast on edges! Take a look at this little piece of genius:
The wonky arrow is pointing to the very spot where I joined the shoulders without making sure that I had them lined up correctly. So now you know why it takes me so long to finish anything....
But now and then something works out: While setting out yarn to play with at last week's Open House, I had a brainstorm:
Introducing the Yarn Playpen! I plan to sew fabric "bumpers," but for now the blue painter's tape is working perfectly to corral these jumpy critters. Sometimes you're the windshiled and sometimes you're the bug...
I enjoyed the last Open House and look forward to many more. My goal is to re-create the Feral Knitters group that I started in Seattle many years ago--that group, which met twice a month, became a very important part of my life and it has continued meet long after I moved away. (The name, by the way, resulted from a non-knitting friend listening to me arranging the initial meetings--she misunderstood the words "Fair Isle knitting.")
Open House Schedule changes
The Open House scheduled for July 1 has been cancelled; the next open houses will be July 15th and 22nd, from 4 to 8 PM.
Oakland Fiber Festival
Yesterday was the first Oakland Fiber Festival. There was a great selection of vendors and lots of enthusiastic volunteers who were teaching knitting, crocheting, weaving and spinning. I was a wonderful drum carder attached to a bicycle frame--no more bursitis from turning the crank with your arm! Lovely author Yarn-a-Go-Go Rachael Herron was there, signing her books:
Rachael has just signed a contract for a collection of essays about knitting, to be published by Chronicle Press next year. Yay!
YAY! It was soooo good seeing you. xoxo
Posted by: Rachael | June 29, 2010 at 02:10 AM
Oh no....I felt for you when I saw the twisted join. Been there ...felt that frustration....It always happens to me when I just lose concentration for that critical second... The sweater looks absolutely gorgeous though - can't wait to see the finished result!
Posted by: Helen in Switzerland | June 29, 2010 at 04:17 AM
It does help one to not feel so foolish about things like joining without twisting when others share their faux pa(w)s (giggle) Love your yarn playpen!
Posted by: Nancy | June 29, 2010 at 10:41 AM
That is a gorgeous sweater, even if it has a wonky neck-sleeve-thing.
Posted by: gail | June 29, 2010 at 07:18 PM
I want a yarn playpen too!!!
Posted by: Linda | July 02, 2010 at 05:56 PM
Argh! I hate when that happens but it's nice to see things like that don't just happen to me! (Notice how they happen to me, as if I'm an unwitting bystander. Well, I've got the unwitting covered. ;)
Excellent! Might I join you on the 15th?
Posted by: Carrie K | July 08, 2010 at 06:40 PM