Men Who Knit Promoting and inspiring the art of knitting amongst men.

attached photos of the Irish Hiking Scarf - finished; as I said before it was suppossed to be a Christmas 2005 gift; the second item is a a jo sharp mohair 'Indulgence' and KidSilk Haze scarf - which was suppossed to be another 2005 Christmas present. The mohair one doesn't have to be shipped though - the recipent took it about 30 seconds after I took the photo.

while most of my friends are already quite willing to tell you I am insane - I'm afraid this project will prove them right.

I've cast on for Eunny Jang's Bayerische Socks - done toe-up as kilt hose.

Wish me luck! I have a feeling I'm going to need it.

In addition to the twisted rib, cables, etc, I'm converting the pattern to toe-up, converting it to kilt hose, and changing the size.

AND - (and this may be the worst part) if I am successful - the intent is to wear the hose with a kilt. I scored enough black watch tartan in an auction last fall to make a great kilt.

We share the house with a 5 foot bear - 'Blackie' is handy to have around as he does like to model knitted items - however, he tends to lounge around the house in a kimono (He's home all day - the least he could do is clean up a little or occasionally have dinner ready)

and he also insists on his constitutional right to arm bears.

see attached photo.

(sorry for the duplicates)

"Cables Untangled: An Exploration of Cable Knitting "
by Melissa Leapman

anyone own it? Seen it? used it?

opinions?

I'm looking for a "cable library" and this came up in a search -

any reccomendations?

I've mentioned my dragon shaped knitting bag in a couple posts - so have attached a photo of him. He has a large zippered pocket in his back (currently holding two skeins of knitpicks superwash "bare" yarn in fingering weight) and a zippered pocket in each haunch. I wish they had included another in his tail, but he can swallow an incredible amount of stuff as it is.

Also atttached is my first project of 2007 - an Irish Hiking Scarf in Jo Sharp Silk Road dk Tweed - colour 'Emerald'. It was suppossed to be nephew-by-marriage Christmas present two years ago - so about time I started it.

Frequently I see people complaining about garter stitch lace; especially when they are knitting lace shawls in the round. The very thought of purling entire rows seems to make a lot of people blanch. Likewise many people complain about the long purl back rows when doing stockinette knit back and forth.

Now I don't mind purling that much; well, not unless I'm doing a 1 x 1 rib and then more because I can't count. But I've also learned to knit backwards (or purl backwards - depending on how one looks at it)- which means a number of things:

a) when knitting flat I don't turn my work, I just purl back/knit back backwards. It's faster and more convenient then turning and purling, partially because when I "purl" backwards I'm scooping yarn rather then throwing.

b) in the round, I can TURN my work and knit backwards/purl backwards for garter stitch - again faster.

C) when knitting on edges - I don't have to turn the work after each of thsose short rows.

d) it confuses the heck out of people watching my knitting! (added bonus)

you've been warned.

okay - this isn't a full head of steam screaming rant - more of an "I don't understand the world I'm living in and think I may be crazy" rant.

Let me say first that I'm no expert; I am also aware I am much more "fly by the seat of my pants" in style then many people; and I try to take the advice of my acting coach (Dare to Suck!) to heart in life as well as on-stage;

But just how detailed do people expect directions to be ??? ! ???

For example - There is a circular shawl pattern out there that starts with:

Cast on 8 stitches; knit one round; double the number of stitches on the next round (16 stitches).

I can think of several ways to accomplish the above - most of which would not make much difference at all in the final product. We are talking a total of 32 stitches in an item with many thousands of stitches. The three most miniscule rows in a shawl with almost 200 rounds.

Would you believe over ***THREE WEEKS*** of discussion on how to cast on and what method to double the stitches? and wether or not they should join the stitches into a round at the caston, on the first round, or after doubling.

Am I the crazy one or is the above taking obsessive to an extreme? Good God, if you can't decide which way - an hour or so of experimenting could give you multiple examples to choose from and you could then proceed!

I'm giving you one link and one attachment this time.

This is a shawl I test knit for someone - and is NOT blocked - merely washed and laid out to dry. Even so it opened up a lot. Here is is, modeled by our resident bear, Blackie.

and the attached photo is laid on the couch.

since I'll be taking off for 1842 shortly - and doubt I'll be around much before tuesday....

Drat! the mp3 file can't be attached. Oh well.

Never mind. I was gonna sing you all a Christmas carol - but the forum won't let me.

So - instead - I give you Toast for the New Year

Enjoy!

finally got around to taking some pictures - these have actually been done a while.

It's a good thing though, that I knit better then I take photos.

Christmas Stocking - Wool of the Andes (Knitpick) - on size US 10 needles - felted.

Tricorn Hat - likewise felted - Lopi