Montana Made Trading Post ~Fiber Fanatics Unite

John Mellencamp, Bob Dylan and Knitting

Thu, 12 Aug 2010 08:28:05 -0700

I'm here knitting on my Moss Mansion sock and rocking out

I went to the John Mellencamp, Bob Dylan concert at our local ball park where I've gone for Stitch and Pitch before. I'm sitting on grass knitting a very traditional looking sock--the Moss Mansion sock-- through a very good concert by John Mellenkamp. Band change overs never went as well. Then it was dark and Bob Dylan and no knitting. But lots of fun.

Noro Designing patterns has its own limitations and opportunities

Wed, 11 Aug 2010 09:14:42 -0700

Noro Sekku version of Almost Lace. Publishing knitting patterns is very rewarding although it takes an amazing amount of time doing not so fun stuff. The conceptualizing and the knitting are great. The writing, arranging test knitters, getting the pattern cover graphic design done, finding mistakes, printing and publishing on website. This stuff is WORK.

Another limitation is that I have to use commercially available yarns (that won't be discontinued soon) to submit to magazines and also they make my patterns sell better. This is big trouble for me is that I like to dye and/or spin my own yarn.

But I bought this very lightweight Noro Sekku so that I could have a version on display at Wild Purls, my lys, which sells my patterns. The trouble is that I like it so much that I wear it all the time and don't want to take it to the store. It works well with my wardrobe of casual clothes and it is so light that it is perfect for airconditioning on these hot days.

One last whine from me is that some publishers don't want you to have shown pictures of your designs in Ravelry or on your blog. So this delays me from blogging which I already had enough trouble getting done even before I misplaced my camera.

Linda

Knitting Software

Sat, 10 Jul 2010 23:01:00 -0700

I follow a few blogs including http://knittingincolor.blogspot.com She published recently some good links including a link to another blog which talked about new knitting software out there that only cost $44. To date I have used Excel for my charts since I know Excel fairly well and didn't want to invest gobs into a program that would take me quite a while to learn. After reading the reviews of this program and looking at the user group on Ravelry, I sprung for the $44 and am quite happy.

The program is called Intwined and seems to work well with a lot of options especially for the money. I can chart quickly with it which is much better than I could do before. A new fun toy. www.intwinedstudio.com

Xenocryst my versions

Sat, 10 Jul 2010 19:08:37 -0700

I'm a beginner at submitting knitting designs, just starting to submit my designs last fall. I was amazed when Knitscene contacted me and had lots of fun knitting the hat and sending it off to them.

Prior to submitting the hat I had knit this version in a Cascade 220 I had handdyed with Sabrasett dye. After blocking the yarn I thought the cable wasn't predominant enough, so when I submitted my swatch to Knitscene I decreased the number of purl background stitches. Meanwhile I started wearing this version, but almost immediately lost it. Perhaps it will come up in some obscure sack of knitting or fiber sometime, but I think it is gone.

While the submission was off, I knit two versions of the hat and had it tested by two friends Shirley and Irene with the idea I would still self-publish the pattern myself if it was not accepted. For my first version, I handdyed a skein of 220 with left over black tea bags from morning brew.

On my self-published patterns, I always include versions in several different yarn weights.

I went to Wild Purls and picked out a wool/bamboo blend Classic Elite Yarns Wool Bam Boo. Then I knit up the next version. I like both of the hats. Then I heard from Lisa Shroyer, editor of Knitscene, and I was so excited. She had Cascade yarns send me the yarn to knit up the version for Knitscene. This is the only time in my life that I willingly knit 4 versions of the same thing. What great fun I had.

Today I received a copy of the actual magazine from Knitscene and the check. It is official. I showed it to my Dad and step-mom and my dh. Earlier this week, I had shown the on-line pictures to my 23 year old son who was quite impressed if I say so myself. My dh takes wonderful pictures for me, but there is nothing like professional photography and models. Today I linked to the Knitscene on Ravelry. All in all a great time.

My pattern in Knitscene!

Fri, 2 Jul 2010 16:31:07 -0700

For many months I have known that I had my braided hat pattern accepted by Knitscene. I just have lived in fear that my hat would be left on the cutting room floor. Last week--I had the thrill of receiving Knitting Daily's preview of the fall Knitscene and there it was--well photographed on a great model. Interweave named it Xenocryst Hat. http://www.knitscene.com/issue/Fall-2010-projects.asp#xenocryst-hat

What does Xenocryst mean? It didn't hit my Websters, but I found this explanation on line A xenocryst is an individual foreign crystal included within an igneous body. Examples of xenocrysts are quartz crystals in a silica-deficient lava and diamonds within kimberlite diatremes. I like the name, I like the model, I like the photography--I'm just happy.

I'll be excited when the magazine hits the newsstands July 20. Linda

MAWS conference MSU-B NEXT WEEK

Thu, 27 May 2010 10:48:56 -0700

I haven't blogged for a while, but it is not because I'm lazy. The Montana Association of Weavers Conference has dominated my life for the last 6 months and the last few weeks have been filled with dyeing roving and yarn and all the details of being a conference chair. MAWS sponsors a conference every 2 years, but only every 12 years does it come to Billings. The conference, held at MSU-B Student Union Building, has 44 classes and 21 instructors. They range from internationally known Nancy Bush, Kathryn Alexander, Robyn Spady, and Jane Fournier to regional instructors. In addition we have 25 vendors who are open to public Thurs. June 3 4-8 p.m.; Fri. June 4 11:30 to 6, Sat. June 5 11:30 to 6; and Sunday 8:30 to 1. There are also shows open to the public too.

We are having a particularly special opening at 6:45 p.m. at the Moss Mansion of the MAWS Living Treasures Show which has 40 pieces. Since 1992 MAWS has honored members who have demonstrated a lifelong contribution to the development of fiber arts including excellent craftsmanship, inspiration to others, sharing their knowledge and working to develop fiber arts on a state, regional or national level. This show contains representative fiber art pieces of from each of these honorees. There are 4 local "Treasures" Berta Morrison, Em Kolstad, Betty Alexander, and Jay Sire who have works in the show.

This conference is very inspirational. There are still openings in some classes. You can contact me at lindas5252@yahoo.com for a registration form. Classes cost $35 for ½ day and $70 for all day. Classes with openings are

Thurs. 10-4 Bobbie Brown-Beginning Spinning

Friday 9-4 Carolyn Wostenberg-Memory Book

Friday 9-4 Judie OverbeekColor Happens in Spinning

Friday 9-12 Jan Nordwick-Expand Skills in Knitting

Friday 9-12 K. Johnson-In Search of Golden Fleece

Friday 9-12 Kathryn Alexander-Making Art Wearable

Friday 9-12 Robyn Spady-Fab Four

Friday 9-12 Toni Little-Introduction to Crochet

Friday 1-4 Cheri Shelp-Surface Design

Friday 1-4 Denise Johnson-Knitted socks toe up

Friday 1-4 Jan Nordwick-Learn to Tatt

Friday 1-4 Kathryn Alexander-oodads in knitting

Friday 1-4 R. Spady-Jewelry from thrums & leftovers

Sat 9-4 Joanne Setzer-patterns for Handwovens

Sat 9-4 Kathryn Alexander-Spinning Energized Yarn

Sat 9-4 Nancy Bush-Knitting Triangle Lace

Sat 9-12 Judie Overbeek-Sample Fleece in a Flash

Sat 9-11 Kyle Foreman-Posture, Movement, Stretches

Sat 9-12 Sandy Vellin-Brazillian Embroidery

Sat 9-12 R. Spady-Putting Together Novelty Act

Sat 2-5 Bob Garritson-Stone Age Cordage and Tools

Sat 2-5 Denise Jackson-Judging Handspun

Sat 2-5 Jane Fournier-Fiber Blending with Handcards

Sat 2-5 Judie Overbeek-Care of your Spinning Wheel

Sat 2-5 Robyn Spady-Less is More

Sat 2-5 Toni Little-Crocheted Embellishment

Mon 9-4 Jane Fournier-Spinning Flax

Tues 9-4 Jane Fournier-Spinning Short Fibers

Mon 9-4 Kathryn Alexander-Knitting Energized

Tues 9-4 Kathryn Alexander-Entrelac

I am excited about the conference, but I want to have more time dyeing, knitting and weaving when its done. Being around all the artists for this conference has really inspired me to get going. I hope it does the same for others. Linda

Color dominance and Stranded Knitting

Sun, 18 Apr 2010 18:45:45 -0700

I predict complete recovery from a cold virus that has had me down for about 2 weeks. Until a couple of days ago, I wasn't sure but I'm getting my voice back, skipped a nap today, and generally feel like I'm on the mend.

I have to admit that although I enjoy stranded knitting (such as Fair Isle or Scandanavian knitting) I just have dabbled in that area with a few projects. I knit them with one color in each hand. I have taken workshops from Beth Brown Reisel and others and had them explain and demonstrate yarn dominance and take for granted that this is an issue. To keep it simple for me I make a decision which color goes in which hand and stick with it. I write it down on the directions. There is an excellent discussion of this on http://knittingincolor.blogspot.com/2010/04/mysteries-of-yarn-dominance.html This blog is great about stranded knitting. She also posted a few days ago that two Dale of Norway pattern books are available for free download. She seemed to be saying that other of their patterns might be available later. I love the Dale of Norway patterns so quickly downloaded them. http://allegroyarns.com/dale/dale_patterns/olympic_patterns.htm

There is so much wonderful knitting information out there and thanks to bloggers, Ravelry etc. you could spend all your time learning.

Sometimes I get a bit intimidated by others work, but then I press onward learning, experimenting, and making techniques my own. Linda

A new shawl-shawlette pattern

Thu, 8 Apr 2010 23:01:00 -0700

I have a new shawlette pattern in the works for several months. Although one version is done and the other 90 percent done, I'm not ready to post the picture yet. I plan to submit the design to a couple places and have to keep it under wraps until then. But I will tell you about 2 yarns I'm using for this easy triangle shawlette knit from the top down.

I'm biased. I hate casting on a lot of stitches and I'm never sure I'll have the right amount of yarn so I prefer to start shawls from the neck and work down and that way I can finish the shawl when I'm out of yarn or sooner. I'm thrifty when it comes to buying yarn. I have lusted after some Mountain Colors cashmere but have held out. Then last fall Wild Purls got in some Ecco Cashmere that was 354 yards for $30 I bought it. It is a wonderful lace weight cashmere that feels beautiful in the shawlette. I have worn it quite a bit and it doesn't seem pilly or shedding (two very technical terms)

I have another version of this shawl in a yummy yellow green Classic Elite Fresco. This yarn is 60% wool, 20% baby alpaca and 10%angora. It is a sport weight yarn. I'm worried a bit about angora shedding but the yarn and shawl is so warm and cozy.

I'll soon be on to finalizing the directions and sending this shawlette off to test knitters. I can't figure out a name which makes it tough. I might have to start naming them after my grandkids if I'm not careful. Linda

Accounting leading to Ravelry?

Thu, 8 Apr 2010 10:32:20 -0700

I am playing hookie from my accounting work and I have no good excuse. Okay I admit I don't like to do real work any better than anyone else. But this is my worst winter yet for getting accounting done. It must be the carpenters' fault. I had carpenters here for two months remodeling my non-functional master bath. My studio/office is directly under this area and in fact showering with water running on my desk determined that we had to start this much overdue project.

First I had to move everything off my desk so that the carpenters could crawl up into the drop ceiling and move all the plumbing. I got the computer and most things off my desk and into the very dark and dreary family room. As was sure to happen, the carpenters did cause a leak on some papers however. After running around buying the stuff, making design decisions and working on stuff for Dad I would begrudgingly get back to accounting in the dim dark area. So of course all the tax returns are late and extensions are my name right now.

But yesterday I moved the desk back into the nice light office area which I never had the sense to give proper credit before. I have crocuses blooming outside. So am I madly accounting away, well sort of, I started entering some of my fiber art receipts and then inspired by Kelly Petkin's podcast on using Ravelry as a sorting mechanism I started entering the yarn I purchased in the last 12 months. This does not count all the yarn I dyed, or spun, or the pounds and pounds of yarn I have from before. For some people my purchases would seem small, but it is helpful for me to know the exact yardage, colorway etc. when I submit designs to magazines and I write my patterns. I enjoy creating patterns so much and I had had to accept that they sell better when I use commercial yarns readily available at my lys. I have been slow to accept this since I'd rather work with yarns I handdyed or spun. But at least I have an excuse to buy yarn--that can't be all bad.

For instance I have never bought Noro before. Strange but true since I spent years teaching how to spin and dye your own self-striping yarns. But I'm now knitting with Noro's new lace weight Sekku. It is a single ply silk, wool, cotton, nylon combo. It has the short comings of a single including twisting and skewing, but I think it will be okay in the open shawlette I'm knitting. I'm not normally a fan of singles (and am still not), but this has been an interesting experience which has opened my eyes a bit to some of the charm Kathryn Alexander sees.

So I have a good excuse to be looking on Ravelry instead of accounting one week from my big deadline of the year. Right? Linda

Books, Books, Books

Wed, 17 Mar 2010 10:49:25 -0700

My knitting cruise to Scandanavia, Estonia, and Russia awoke an interest in me that is always there, but goes a bit dormant now and then as I emerse myself in fiber arts. In fact it is even cutting down on my basketball watching time. It is reading history.

Right now I'm reading Tears in the Darkness--The Bataan Death March and its Aftermath. This book is based on local artist Ben Steele's ordeal in the Phillipines during WWII. It was on the New York Times best sellers list and I received it for Christmas. I have visited the Phillipines several times on business so I can visualize the scene. I'm glad I'm reading the Hardcover book because it is full of Ben's drawings. The Kindle isn't the place for reading picture intensive books.

I almost dreaded starting this book because of the seriousness of the topic. So far the book is fascinating as it flips back and forth between, Ben's story as he is growing up in the Bull Mountains, Ben in retreat with on the Phillipines, and Japanese soldier's accounts.

I'm also reading on my Kindle which I love, love, love. In fact the print on the regular books isn't near as friendly to my eyes as the Kindle. I finished Ike, an American Hero by Michael Korda, No Ordinary Time: Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt by Doris Kearns Goodwin. Keeping with my World War II theme I started the Victors Eisenhower and His Boys by Stephen Ambrose.

But I made the mistake of starting The Forever War by Dexter Filkins. This book is a wonderful account of the author's experience as a was journalist in Afganistan and Iraq. This book reads really fast.

Now if I could just perfect reading and spinning like Judith McKenzie McCuin or reading and knitting like my friend Joanne, I'd be set. Linda