From my Stitch and Bitch calendar on Thanksgiving:
A Stitch in Time:
Several 14-century Italian paintings depict the Virgin Mary knitting, with Jesus Christ on her lap or by her side. Around this time, both art and literature took up the theme of the human and personal aspects of the life of Christ; the knitting Madonna evokes a tender scene, representing a more intimate portrayal of the holy family's domestic life. In these representations, she knits in the round with three or four needles and carries the yarn in her right hands.
So we know that Mary didn't like seaming (who does?) but I think we've all figured out the real question here: If circular needles had been invented, would the Virgin Mary still prefer her dpns? Discuss.
:)
Friday, November 23, 2007
Thursday, November 15, 2007
Revving up the Engine
Here we go again! I'm going to try super-hard to keep this blog updated and somewhat current. The good news is I will be in possession of a new (working!) digital camera by month's end, so I hope to increase my picture posting. Of course now that the holiday's are approaching, a large amount of my knitting is Top Secret 100% Confidential, but those pics can go up in January.
What have I been doing since my last post in August? Well, I wrote a spec screenplay for the best show on television, "Supernatural." And I did it in three weeks. Whew! And then I wrapped the show I was working on, which is exhausting. And then I flew home for two and a half weeks. So as you can imagine, there was very little knitting going on for quite some time. I finally got back in the swing of things with my Swatch of Many Colors (pics and a story someday!) and the amazing, incredible, Santa Cruz hat. I knit one of these babies in three days, and it inspired me so much that I knit another, in a different yarn and gauge. And then another! I've knit three so far, with two destined to be Christmas presents. For some reason, this pattern really jump started my creativity, and now I'm back in the saddle.
I've completely overhauled my Christmas knitting agenda, for the better. Last year I handknit almost 90% of the gifts I gave. Translation: from August to December, knitting was work, rarely enjoyed, and frequently procrastinated. (Annie, you had it right all along!) This year I'm knitting a few choice gifts for certain people, and a lot of smaller and more homogenized gifts. Since I have friends on two coasts, I can knit the same thing twice and two different colors and no one will ever know! Shh! And I'm knitting more for myself, which is selfish and awful but it helps give me the momentum to keep going.
Knitting is a process of discovery, an almost magical revealing of the pattern as you work. That's why right now I'm in knitter's heaven. I'm working on a Christmas gift for my boss, so it had to be *perfect*. I knew what I wanted - something red, classy, and super-soft. Ta-da! Knitty's Argosy scarf fit the bill. But now for the yarn. Hmm...so I poked around in a few LYS' and found nothing, until I checked out That Yarn Store in Eagle Rock. And I hit paydirt! (Geez, what's with the colloquialisms I'm trotting out for this entry?) Plymouth Yarns Royal Bamboo in a deep red (color #13 on the color card). I've heard a lot about bamboo yarns, but I've never tried them, so this will be fun. I'm already noticing that it's super slippery and pretty splitty but you know what? I don't care! You know why? Because it is so amazingly soft and cushy and wonderful that I just want to rub it on my face and scrunch it up in my hands like a baby blanket. I find myself absently petting the skien while I watch TV - it's that bad! I have no idea how durable it'll be, but right now I literally look forward to my knitting time every night because it's so much fun watching this pattern emerge in this beautiful yarn. Darn it. I just remembered I have to give it away once I'm done with it. Boo.
And, if you're in the mood for some jaw dropping knitting, check out this site: Bug Knits
It's enough to make my brain, eyes, and hands hurt - she knits to-scale garments using thread and wires the thickness of fishing line! Oww! Here's the ones I think are craziest: The Aran Series. Can you imagine CABLING with fishing line?? My head hurts.
Oh! And last night I had a dream that I was spinning! With a drop spindle and amazing golden fleece. And no, I haven't been watching Hercules lately. But I was spinning, and I was really good at it (unlike in real life) and then I ran out of wool and the people around me said I couldn't have any more because they had given me enough to begin with. Silly fiber dreams :)
What have I been doing since my last post in August? Well, I wrote a spec screenplay for the best show on television, "Supernatural." And I did it in three weeks. Whew! And then I wrapped the show I was working on, which is exhausting. And then I flew home for two and a half weeks. So as you can imagine, there was very little knitting going on for quite some time. I finally got back in the swing of things with my Swatch of Many Colors (pics and a story someday!) and the amazing, incredible, Santa Cruz hat. I knit one of these babies in three days, and it inspired me so much that I knit another, in a different yarn and gauge. And then another! I've knit three so far, with two destined to be Christmas presents. For some reason, this pattern really jump started my creativity, and now I'm back in the saddle.
I've completely overhauled my Christmas knitting agenda, for the better. Last year I handknit almost 90% of the gifts I gave. Translation: from August to December, knitting was work, rarely enjoyed, and frequently procrastinated. (Annie, you had it right all along!) This year I'm knitting a few choice gifts for certain people, and a lot of smaller and more homogenized gifts. Since I have friends on two coasts, I can knit the same thing twice and two different colors and no one will ever know! Shh! And I'm knitting more for myself, which is selfish and awful but it helps give me the momentum to keep going.
Knitting is a process of discovery, an almost magical revealing of the pattern as you work. That's why right now I'm in knitter's heaven. I'm working on a Christmas gift for my boss, so it had to be *perfect*. I knew what I wanted - something red, classy, and super-soft. Ta-da! Knitty's Argosy scarf fit the bill. But now for the yarn. Hmm...so I poked around in a few LYS' and found nothing, until I checked out That Yarn Store in Eagle Rock. And I hit paydirt! (Geez, what's with the colloquialisms I'm trotting out for this entry?) Plymouth Yarns Royal Bamboo in a deep red (color #13 on the color card). I've heard a lot about bamboo yarns, but I've never tried them, so this will be fun. I'm already noticing that it's super slippery and pretty splitty but you know what? I don't care! You know why? Because it is so amazingly soft and cushy and wonderful that I just want to rub it on my face and scrunch it up in my hands like a baby blanket. I find myself absently petting the skien while I watch TV - it's that bad! I have no idea how durable it'll be, but right now I literally look forward to my knitting time every night because it's so much fun watching this pattern emerge in this beautiful yarn. Darn it. I just remembered I have to give it away once I'm done with it. Boo.
And, if you're in the mood for some jaw dropping knitting, check out this site: Bug Knits
It's enough to make my brain, eyes, and hands hurt - she knits to-scale garments using thread and wires the thickness of fishing line! Oww! Here's the ones I think are craziest: The Aran Series. Can you imagine CABLING with fishing line?? My head hurts.
Oh! And last night I had a dream that I was spinning! With a drop spindle and amazing golden fleece. And no, I haven't been watching Hercules lately. But I was spinning, and I was really good at it (unlike in real life) and then I ran out of wool and the people around me said I couldn't have any more because they had given me enough to begin with. Silly fiber dreams :)
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