Home > Knittin' Kitten
Cat Nips: Alabama Studio Style
Alabama Studio Style: More Projects, Recipes, & Stories Celebrating Sustainable Fashion & Living
Natalie Chanin, STC Craft/A Melanie Falick Book 2010
The design: Simple, country chic. Soft colors, basic fonts and pretty photos.
The projects: Stuff for the home, stuff to eat, stuff to wear.
The materials: Cloth and thread - and eggs, paprika and chicken. It’s a
Who it’s for: Surprisingly, not just crunchy types. The projects are casual yet sophisticated and the recipes are, too.
Paws up, paws down: Paws up. There’s something to appeal to every creative person in this book, from sewing to cooking, and the focus on sustainable living is appealing.
Permalink | Comments (0) | Post your comment
Charity event in Austin
Do you like unique, handmade jewelry? Do you want to help earthquake survivors in Haiti? Do you still need to get your sweetie something for Valentin’e Day? I’ve got the event for you: Friday (Feb. 12) at Frank (4th and Colorado downtown) local jewelry-makers are selling their wares (just in time for Valentine’s Day) with 20% of the profits going to charities helping Haiti. Cool!
- thanks, Alberto, for the info!
Permalink | Comments (0) | Post your comment Categories: Events
Cat Nips: Make! and Totally Twisted
Two new books found their way to Knittin’ Kitten headquarters this week. They’re not yarny yarns, but I thought you might be interested in some fun new reads.
Make!: Over 40 Fantastic Projects with 16 Exclusive Designs Cath Kidston; 2010 St. Martin’s Griffin
The projects: Embellishments, embellishments, embellishments. Kidston provides templates for fabric and felt patches, then shows you how and where to apply them.
The design: Light and fresh with fun colors.
The materials: You’ll need finished items - like sweaters, tote bags and berets - for these projects. You’ll also need felt, embroidery thread and other fabric treatments to make your embellishments.
Who it’s for: People who love, love, love to personalize their look. I like the embellishments, but, much as I felt with Crafty Chica’s Fabu-Low-Sew Projects for the Everyday Crafter, I found myself wishing for full-on sewing projects using.
Paws up, paws down: Paws up. There are some fantastic, fun projects in here, like the Racing Car Blanket for kids and the Rose Knitting Bag for adults.
Totally Twisted: Innovative Wirework & Art Glass Jewelry Kerry Bogert; 2010 Interweave Press
The projects: Necklaces, bracelets and earrings made with unique beads in fun colors and textures.
The design: Clean, modern fonts and colors that work beautifully with the pieces featured.
The materials: Wire, glass beads, pliers to bend the wire.
Who it’s for: People who love unique jewelry and are eager to learn to make it themselves.
Paws up, paws down: Paws up. The step-by-step directions and great photography make this a good choice for all ability levels.
Permalink | Comments (2) | Post your comment
Project FAIL
I’m not a big fan of frogging. In fact, this past week was the first time I’ve completely given up on a project. Oh, sure, I’ll rip back a couple of rows to fix a problem if needed, but as far as wholesale quitting goes, I’m a newbie.
I saw a cute pattern on the Lion Brand Yarns site. It looked simple and quick. So I ordered the supplies and eagerly awaited making mine.
I spent a couple of hours working on the top last week. When it was completed, I was disappointed. Too big, too heavy, shapeless. It’s a cute top, for sure, but not in my size. So I spent three hours frogging, unknotting and rewinding 4 skeins’ worth of Thick n Quick.
Top, the completed vest. Bottom, the pile of yarn left after I frogged the project.
Here’s the problem. The top is made holding 2 strands of super bulky yarn together. So if you make anything larger than a small (I made a large), the finished product weighs a lot and is too warm to wear in Texas.
So what am I going to do with that yarn? Most likely I’ll make a blanket and donate it to charity. Wouldn’t want all that warm yarn to go to waste.
Permalink | Comments (1) | Post your comment
The end of the neverending scarf
Finally finished! The neverending scarf is conpleted. The reversible cable took forever, but I’m quite pleased with the results. So pleased that I want one of my own!
Permalink | Comments (2) | Post your comment Categories: Knitting
Renegade Craft Fair coming!
This arrived in my inbox this week - sounds pretty cool!
Renegade Craft Fair Now Holding Open Applications for their 1st Ever Showcase of Indie Craft, Art + Design in Austin, Texas!
One of the nation’s first free-to-attend, large-scale events to exclusively showcase the handmade work of indie craftspeople, artists and designers, the Renegade Craft Fair will be holding their first show in Austin, Texas, on May 15 + 16, 2010, at the Palmer Events Center! Applications to participate as a vendor in the Fair are currently open and run until February 5 on the Renegade Craft Fair website: renegadecraft.com/austin-apply
Currently in its 8th year, The Renegade Craft Fair began in Chicago’s Wicker Park and quickly drew the attention of indie craft makers + enthusiasts from all over the nation that primarily sold and shopped works online. Jewelry + housewares designer Sue Daly (Timber!) initiated the Renegade Craft Fair as a venue for emerging makers of affordable crafts, fashion, accessories and artworks upon the realization that no other craft + art festival adequately represented the creativity of the burgeoning DIY movement. The event now draws thousands of shoppers and occurs in 5 cities annually from coast to coast; Chicago (IL), Brooklyn (NY), San Francisco (CA), Los Angeles (CA), and, beginning in 2010, Austin (TX).
Renegade Craft Fair selected Austin as its newest location for the city’s incredible alternative art + design scenes, appreciation for vintage + folk culture, and Do-It-Yourself, entrepreneurial energy! Austin is clearly a destination for independent artisans of all kinds, from musicians to filmmakers and artists, with a local population that supports small businesses.
Each Renegade Craft Fair is individually juried and features upwards of 200 local + traveling vendors at a time, always showcasing an eclectic mix of items: clothing + jewelry, art + illustrations, knits + plush, rock-posters + zines, ceramics + housewares, papergoods + more! Other features of the event include craft workshops + demonstrations, free raffles + giveaways, live music (most frequently rock’n’roll marching bands), food + drink, and book-signings.
The New York Times has called The Renegade Craft Fair ‘the Alt-design equivalent of the Venice Biennale,’ the New York Post hailed the event as ‘Craft-a-palooza!’, and Flavorpill: San Francisco named the event ‘one of the biggest and best-attended craft-shopping spectacles in the country.’
Permalink | Comments (1) | Post your comment Categories: Events
The neverending scarf - or, a lesson in reversible cables
I’ve made dozens of scarves in my knit and crochet career. Most have been simple garter stitch affairs, though in the past couple of years I’ve expanded to basic cable, drop-stitch and more complex crochet patterns. While an added level of complexity always adds a bit of time to a project’s completion, nothing could’ve prepared me for The Neverending Scarf.
It’s my first foray into reversible cables - using alternated knit and purl stitches in each row to make the front and back side of the knit look identical. The scarf pattern is from Son of Stitch ‘n’ Bitch. I’m knitting it in deliciously soft Malabrigo worsted, colorway Pagoda.
The scarf is a (very very) late Christmas present for the fiance’s brother. Yes, I’ve been working on it for a month. It hasn’t been my only project in that time, mind you. The pattern hasn’t caused me any problems, though I bought the yarn before I’d decided on the pattern, so I ran out and spent the better part of a couple of days hunting all around Austin for another skein (fortunately the Malabrigo has both lovely texture and color variations, so matching dye lots wasn’t important).
As I type, I’m about halfway through the second skein, which means I could be done by the end of my weekend. Then it’s on to a lovely shawl for myself using a pattern I got from Susan at Yarnorama.
Permalink | Comments (0) | Post your comment Categories: Knitting
New year, new skills?
First, let’s tie up some loose ends:
A couple of weeks ago, reader Tzipora mentioned Yarnbow in a comment on this blog. I asked if it was new; after visiting the store’s Web site I know better. I have yet to visit the physical store, but it’s on my list of shops to explore in 2010.
To new reader Elizabeth Hernandez: Knittin’ Kitten started in May 2009 as a place for Austinites to talk about crafts. Though the name mentions knitting, I also write about crochet and occasionally sewing, as those are both hobbies of mine.
Now that it’s 2010, I don’t plan to start any new crafts. But I do have some goals for the year. In 2008, I learned basic cable knitting. In 2009, the focus was more on sewing than knits, though I did work on reversible cables (extra work but so much prettier).
This year, it’s about color. By the time 2010 passes, I’d like to say I’ve gotten the hang of intarsia knitting. I made a couple of stabs at it last fall, but poor yarn choices and a lack of focus derailed my efforts. Now I have a better idea of what yarns to use and am looking forward to spending some quality time with them and with my copy of Picture-Perfect Knits to get a grasp on it. I already have yarn to make the snowflake shrug sweater featured in that book.
What are your crafting goals for the year? Learning something new? Finally getting your stash under control?
Permalink | Comments (2) | Post your comment
New year, new hobby?
Whew. It’s 2010. Now that the holidays are over, it’s time to think about fulfilling your resolutions. Maybe yours included trying out a new hobby, like knitting or crocheting.
But where do you start? There are dozens of books, thousands of yarns, dizzying numbers of Web sites about crafts. I’ll try to help you sort it out.
The Internet is a great place to start looking for ideas and instructions. Try knitty.com for great advice and patterns, updated quarterly. Oregon.com’s knit blog ran patterns over the holidays for one skein projects; these are a great place to start when you’re first knitting or crocheting. Joining Ravelry is a great way to network, get advice and find project recommendations.
Try your LYS. In Austin, Gauge Knits, Knitting Nest and Hill Country Weavers offer classes and good selections of yarn and supplies for beginners. Willing to drive a few more miles? Check out Yarnorama in Paige.
At the bookstore, there are oodles of choices. Some beginners prefer to learn the basics, practicing with simple scarves and other rectangles to get the feel of the craft. Other folks want to jump right in and make something bigger. There’s no right or wrong way. Choose a book that appeals to you, with designs you want to make. You can always select another as a resource if you find your first choice doesn’t have the details you need. Good starter books include Stich ‘n’ Bitch, Knitting Pretty and One Skein. For crochet, try the Happy Hooker.
Local yarn stores also have places where you can sit and work and friendly folks to answer those questions that just can’t be solved by reading a 2-D book. Happy crafting!
Permalink | Comments (4) | Post your comment
Cat Nips: Sew Liberated
Sew Liberated: 20 stylish projects for the modern sewist Meg McElwee; Interweave Press
The design: Muted, earthy colors and quirky but clear fonts work together with the patterns for a visually appealing book.
The patterns: Range from skirts and shirts to laptop bags, quilts and clocks (yes, clocks). Items are all embellished somehow, using applique, contrasting fabric, ribbon borders and other techniques (which are taught in the book).
The materials: Clothing fabrics, along with ribbon, thread, scrap fibers and buttons.
Who it’s for: Sewists who want to take their basic garments to a quirky, unique level. Techniques used in the book could easily be adapted to commercial patterns (so you could embellish your TNT shirt pretty easily).
Paws up, paws down: Paws up. A desire for uniqueness is one reason people choose to sew for themselves, and this book encourages creativity and teaches readers the skills they need to make it happen.
Permalink | Comments (3) | Post your comment
Craft crossroads
Friends, I’ve reached a crossroads in my crafting life. I’ve been knitting for 5 years, crocheting for 2 and sewing since 7th grade. For the most part, I work small, quick to complete projects.
The epiphany I had last week is that it’s time to move on to bigger, more complicated items as my primary projects. A girl in Texas only needs so many (one) wool hats and scarves. My mother has at least 3 hats I’ve made for her. Tim has that many, too.
It’s not as though I’ve never worked on projects that take more than a few hours. I’ve knit myself a couple of sweaters, and I recently sewed a wool coat. So it’s not beyond the scope of my capabilities.
A few things I need to work on: Patience. Attention to detail. Not being afraid to frog or rip out a seam if it means the garment will look better.
And I don’t plan to cut out the small items entirely. Cancer caps will continue to come from my needles and hooks, and I’ll still make small gifts for my friends and family who still don’t have hats and scarves.
And for myself? There’s some baby alpaca yarn and a cute sweater pattern I’m planning to make for myself as a birthday gift.
Permalink | Comments (0) | Post your comment
Quick holiday ideas - with one skein!
I was clicking around the Internet tonight when I stumbled upon this great thread on the Oregonian’s knit blog: One-skein of the day 2009. There are some really fun ideas here, like the Felted Yoda Hat. And all of them take just one skein. There are links to free patterns and lots of photos, too. You’re sure to find last-minute ideas for everyone, plus ideas to save for other occasions.
Permalink | Comments (0) | Post your comment Categories: Knitting
Tonight - Yarnorama good times!
Hey yarn lovers! Yarnorama’s holiday festivities are going on now. Schedule of events from their Web site:
5pm - deadline for ornament and chemo hat delivery
5:30-7pm - voting for people’s choice holiday ornament
6-7pm - drawings for some holiday prizes
7pmish - holiday ornament contest winners announced
7pmish - white elephant washcloth exchange (bring 2 unwrapped handmade washcloths for exchange if you wish to participate in this)
8pmish - Movie time! We will have a big screen to watch movies until midnight while we graze on leftovers, knit and make memories.
I was out there earlier today to drop off your donated hats - thank you again, Austin! - and owner Susan was getting things set for good times. Head on out, be merry and meet the angora rabbits!
Permalink | Comments (0) | Post your comment Categories: Events, Stores
Final hat push, holidays and openings
Yarnorama’s holding its annual holiday party on Saturday; that is also the deadline for chemo caps and scarves. I plan to head out to Paige this week, so if you have anything to donate feel free to drop it off at Statesman offices.
How are your holiday gift projects coming? I’ve been working a bit of a stash bust with my gifts this year; so far, I have two ponchos done and numerous scarves and hats that I can use as stocking stuffers.
StitchLab’s gearing up to celebrate its new South First Street space; founder Leslie Bonnell is planning a two-day grand opening Dec. 19-20 from noon - 8 p.m., with a sale featuring local designers, local bakers and discounts on fabrics. Check out http://www.glitzkrieg.biz/glee/index.html for more info.
Permalink | Comments (0) | Post your comment Categories: Charities, Events, Stores
Cat Nips: Itty-Bitty Toys
Itty-Bitty Toys: How to Knit Animals, Dolls, and Other Playthings for Kids
Susan B. Anderson; Artisan Books 2009
This is the latest book in Anderson’s Itty-Bitty series, which also includes Itty-Bitty Hats and Itty-Bitty Nursery.
The design: Spiral-bound (read: handy!), with good use of colors, photos, type and white space. An initial chapter on techniques is followed by chapters with specific projects.
The patterns: There are chapters on Quick and Easy projects (a penguin, for example), Sock-Yarn Toys, Take-Action Toys, Classic Toys and even Reversible Toys. Lots of choices for every possible recipient!
The materials: Just about every type of yarn imaginable, plus knitting needles of various sizes. Items use yarn for eyes, so there won’t be bits to break off.
Who it’s for: Knitters who love whimsical projects, whether to give as gifts or keep for themselves. The variety of projects means everyone from a beginner to an expert can find something to suit their knitting fancy.
Paws up, paws down: Paws up. I don’t have kids, but some of these little critters and toys are fun enough to be gifts for adult friends, too.
Permalink | Comments (1) | Post your comment
Happy Thanksgiving, and responses to questions
Hope y’all had a nice Thanksgiving. I cooked, stuffed myself and worked on some knit gifts for Christmas. Speaking of making your own gifts, I hope you saw my stories in Thursday’s Statesman - Craft book gift guide and Gifts you can make.
In response to Jinger: Your scarves could be used by the American Cancer Society. I plan to drop off a load of hats and scarves to Yarnorama in Paige for that purpose the second week of December, as their drive this year ends Dec. 12. You may leave your scarves at the Statesman, 305 S. Congress Ave., if you’d like to add to the contribution and don’t feel like driving out there yourself.
In response to Tammy: The Cat-Ears Hat is copyrighted and in a book called Kitty Knits: Projects for Cats and Their People, so I can’t publish the pattern here. A pattern for similar style can be found at KittyVille.com
Happy crafting!
Permalink | Comments (1) | Post your comment
The three-hour hat: Knits under pressure
I have a story coming up on gifts for the crafty folks in your life, with a little side piece on quick-to-make projects you can try, too. The night before the photo shoot, I realized there was no Umbilical Cord Hat completed in my current stash of FOs. Egad! Could I make one in the 4 hours between when I woke and when I had to be at work?
The answer: Yes! It took about 3 hours to complete the hat. At the very top, though, I got sloppy and dropped a couple of stitches. Fortunately I was able to repair it, and on quick glance you’d never know the difference. This is a TNT pattern, for sure. Parents always love it! It’s from the first SnB and doesn’t require a lot of yarn (or time). I’m thinking of working up an adult-size version, too.
Permalink | Comments (1) | Post your comment
To my anonymous hat donor …
Thursday is my Monday, which means coming to work can feel like a drag. But a reader who chose to remain anonymous left a package for me that made my day: a grocery sack full of hats for the cancer cap drive. Thank you, whoever you are, for your kind donation. It warmed my heart — and made me wish i could spend the night cranking out a few more hats myself!
Permalink | Comments (0) | Post your comment Categories: Charities
Holiday hat update - and Cat-Ears Hat update
The latest word on the Yarnorama hat drive: They’re taking donations until Dec. 12 (also the date of their holiday party). The hope is to get 250 MORE hats by then to send off. I’ll be taking a drive out to Paige that week - likely Dec. 8 or 9 - so if you have hats or scarves to donate, please drop them off at the Statesman.
Cat-Ears Hat, redux: I completed version 2 of this last night, and something still seems amiss. The gauge is better, and the diameter is perfect for my head, but it seems too tall. I think next time - because there WILL be a next time - I’m going to knit only 11 inches instead of 13 and see if that gives me the look I want. You’ll remember I had to increase my needle size dramatically to get the right gauge. That helped a lot, but it still looks out of proportion to me. What do y’all think? My version is the top photo, the book’s version is the bottom.
Permalink | Comments (3) | Post your comment
Cat Nips: Color Your Cloth
Color Your Cloth: A Quilter’s Guide to Dyeing and Patterning Fabric
Malka Dubrawsky; 2009 Lark Books
The design: Bright, colorful and chock-full of photos showing techniques and results.
The patterns: The first 2/3 of the book are devoted to techniques and directions for making your fabric; the last chapter features projects like quilts, pillows and totes that use it.
The materials: Dyes, wax, fabric and everything from stamps made of vegetables to wood blocks for creating designs.
Who it’s for: Quilters, for sure, but also other sewers who want a unique look for their projects and aren’t afraid to do a little work to get them.
Paws up, paws down: Two enthusiastic paws up. I don’t quilt, but I love the idea of making my own patterned fabric.
Permalink | Comments (0) | Post your comment
Try, try again
I started my second attempt at the Cat-Eared Hat today. But first, I made that gauge swatch.
The book called for using No. 8 and No. 10 needles, and that’s what I used the first time around to no success. For the swatch, I tried my No. 13s. Success! So to get the hat the size and shape I want, I had to make quite a significant change in the size of the tools I was using. The first few inches of the hat look much better this time - wider and more in proportion.
Lesson learned. Gauge swatches are for me, after all.
Permalink | Comments (0) | Post your comment Categories: Knitting
Latest comments
you have a wonderful site!
... read the full comment by insifymit | Comment on Cat Nips: Sew Liberated Read Cat Nips: Sew Liberated
Can you provide any information on the effectiveness and value of a product called “Easywater” I’ve found info on what it supposedly does but not if it is of any value.
... read the full comment by Dick Dickerson | Comment on Cat Nips: Make! and Totally Twisted Read Cat Nips: Make! and Totally Twisted
Crickets chirping…………
... read the full comment by Grasshopper | Comment on Cat Nips: Make! and Totally Twisted Read Cat Nips: Make! and Totally Twisted
Go to www.meetup.com, and look for the knitting and crafting groups. There are several in the area.
... read the full comment by Scott | Comment on New year, new skills? Read New year, new skills?
See more recent comments