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Good Taste

It’s finally chilly enough in Austin to bring out the wool again, which means that Ike has been reacquainted with his favorite thing in the world.

No polar fleece, machine-washable dog blankets for this gentleman. This is a full-on Aran fisherman-style afghan, knit by yours truly. Ike gets seriously excited whenever I pull it out of the trunk, and he makes a beeline for it. Everyone in the house knows that this is HIS blanket, even though that was not my intention when I spent dozens of hours knitting it.

What can I say. He’s got good taste. And he’s willing to share a corner of it if I sit right next to him.

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Tunisian Crochet

Tunisian crochet is an awesome technique that my family has used for generations, but I have found that there is little known about it with fiber people nowadays. In my family, we have always called it “the afghan stitch”. It works up like a cross between knitting and crochet. Tunisian crochet hooks are long (10” or more), and stitches are held on the hook much like a knitting needle. To compare it further to knitting, it is sort of like picking up and binding-off stitches every row.

I created this video to help with a pattern I released earlier this year – Lone Star Baby Crib Blanket.

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Blooper

I’m lucky to have Parker editing my videos, because he makes it look as if I never stumble over words, or run my tongue over my front teeth right before I start talking. In this video, he exposes me.

In my defense, YOU try saying “wash and block your swatch, of course”.

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Sneaky Peek

I’m taking the month of September to carry out an idea I’ve had for a few years – to put together a collection of patterns with a theme. The working title is “Baby Shower Knits”, and the patterns are arranged by the amount of time you have to knit a gift before the baby shower. The working title is boring, but I’m excited about the collection.

Need to crank out something awesome before a baby shower next week? Got a few weeks before your bff’s party? Three months before your niece or nephew is due? Gotcha covered.

I’ve been working on the more time-intense designs first, and I’m just so glad that the creative juice faucet hasn’t clogged. Here are some sneak-peek photos of a few of the designs:

(That last one there is still just a swatch, but I love the way the cables are showing up with this yarn, so I took a photo.)

Bonus – they’re all machine-washable, and there will be free videos to guide knitters through the trickier parts of the designs.

Working about 14 hours a day by myself has it’s drawbacks, and now you get to listen to me whine a tiny bit. MY WRIST HURTS. I NEED TO STOP WORKING AND SHOWER. MY FINGERNAILS LOOK LIKE SHIT. I SERIOUSLY NEED TO VACUUM. I HAVE FORGOTTEN HOW TO COMMUNICATE WITH OTHER HUMANS.

Ha. No, really, I’m fine. Those things are all true, but I’m loving every minute of what I’m doing. Just don’t stop by my house without calling first.

I haven’t totally fallen off the face of the earth…I’m still teaching private lessons and I have a couple of classes coming up at Gauge Knits this month. Drop me a note or call Gauge if you want us to hold you a spot.

I know three bad dogs who are very happy with the opium den of beds I’ve set up for them in my office, and the amount of time I’ve been spending at home.

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