New Magknits

http://www.magknits.com/

Much better than usual. Feels more like the old Magknits.

Work Wardrobe

Google Book Search

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m7s8q9nTQh4

Stash Inhancement

See sometimes a girl has to buy some alpaca when it matches her nail polish. The alpaca is Misti Alpaca, bulky, three skeins for the Red Scarf Project.

Also, you'll notice that two things: one, that I am on a major tweed kick, and two, I'm on a major vintage yarn kick, especially when it is tweed and CHEAP. I bought all of it, since I know that I'll never match those dye lots again. There is no yardage on the vintage yarn, but it says it is 50 grams a ball of virgin wool, on a size ten needle. Is there any way to determine yardage from that?

That's right.

"I'm a big baller baby, when I'm callin' you."

Yarn baller that is.

Pictures to follow. Tomorrow. Promise.

Is there something like this in LA?

http://www.east-bay-depot.org/

Vogue Knitting Anniversary

I was looking through the massive silver issue of Vogue Knitting the other day (no, I didn't buy it, the patterns were hideous) and I started to read the interview with the "old guard" designers. When they got to the part about patterns today, and how Internet patterns are not the same as the pattern that a yarn company puts out (not proof-read, super cheap, etc) one of the designers mentioned that people who have copied patterns from her book in the library have then mailed her 4 dollars with a note saying, "I copied pattern X and here is payment for it."

I found that somewhat astounding, because I had never thought of doing that, and with a library, there is a certain about of fair use, but I'm throwing out the question, should we be mailing payment like that? I mean, from the designer's point of view, if someone just copied a pattern from a library, and doesn't buy the book itself, then they are losing revenue ... I'm not sure, overall, since I have my old weird internal justification system, where, if I like more than three patterns, I buy the book, and if not, I photocopy them from the library's copy of the book. I also buy patterns books, including the new norah gaughan for berroco (backordered for a month!) and I've bought some of the RYC Rowan books, AND subscribe to Interweave and should probably start subscribing to Knitscene since I buy it so often. So overall, I would say that, not counting yarn, a lot of my dollar does go towards the designers themselves ... but should knitters go that extra effort to send those 4 dollars in the mail ?

SHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!

I bought yarn... lots of yarn.

And a ball winder.

That sound? That sound was me falling off the wagon. Hard.

100 Tutorial Websites

It is nice to have one site with links to all the other DIY sites.

Rent game

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=5112728

The DOBAG project

http://www.returntotradition.com/html/dobag_project.html

Farmer's Market Fun

The hubby and I went to go check out the new Farmer's Market near our apartment. It was pretty small, but since it is a month old, I'm hoping it will grow with time. They had a DJ from a local station playing some tunes, and we were rocking out to Prince while sampling some berries.

We got some amazing fruit. White peaches, blue berries, black berries, ruby red grapefruit, avocados and strawberries. For produce, we got four different types of lettuce, some okra, and a pound of heirloom tomatoes.

Then we hit up the supermarket for some ground turkey, and also some sliced deli meats for sandwiches. If we could find an independent butcher nearby, we'd totally go.

Hubby was remarking that the fruit was pretty expensive (in some cases) compared to the supermarket prices. However, you don't get fruit picked yesterday at the supermarket, and the taste is just so much better. He agreed.

I guess if the supermarkets do go on strike again, we'll have the farmer's market to rely on.

All in all, a good day.

and the plastic bag crafting continues

http://www.craftzine.com/pub/nl/62

cool craft challenge

too bad all the entries are due tomorrow!
http://www.craftster.org/forum/index.php?topic=180658.0

here are the entries themselves:
http://www.craftster.org/forum/index.php?board=371.0

It is a reusable bag challenge on craftster. More and more I've been thinking that reusable bags are a good idea. The Knitty surprise was a knitted hemp shopping bag. I guess San Fran is getting rid of plastic bags as well? I've been going around the apartment collecting all the canvas bags that I've accumulated over the years. We get about six bags of stuff when we go grocery shopping, so with the three canvas bags I have, I could make another three and then just keep them in the trunk. A new farmer's market is opening this Sunday by our apartment, so I'm looking forward to shopping locally and using reusable bags!