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Spill Guts Here. It's gotta go somewhere, know what I mean? Can you stand it? 
Design Process Series:  Spitcurl  I Heart B.G.  Headigan 
TECHKnitting
Geek Knitting
West Indian Parade
West Indian Parade
Dog/Cat Wrestling
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1.04.2009
Funny Red Meat.
Please note: The Brooklyn shop will be closed Monday, Jan. 5th through Thursday, Jan. 8th...we'll re-open Friday the 9th. I thought things would slow down after New Years, but of course they haven't. We will be deep cleaning and maybe rearranging the shop a bit, there's not much room in here, so we can't really do too much. I also want to go shopping myself, in some other stores! Shocking! My apartment looks like a clothing and yarn bomb went off in there, must clean it, and laundry, etc. Facial and massage. Oh boy. Lots to take care of. Might knit a bit, too, uninterrupted. Thinking about Spring knits and embroidery. Oh, also, RedLipstick is having our annual New Year sale, starting the 9th till the end of the month. Spring clothing has already started coming in! 1.03.2009
Oh this is a stunning piece of video and an incredible story:
Longer version, such crappy music though: 12.26.2008
Nice! My boutique got a mention and a picture in New York Metromix! Many thanks! BTW, the Cat Hat pattern is not available yet...soon, perhaps! {Click through to the last picture for text...}
I wish you all Happy New Year, People! I'm taking a blogging break till next year, it's likely that sometime in January, I'll be back. Some amusements for you till I return: Alarm Dance. Very funny. Cloth Physics simulation. Well done! 12.25.2008
The Louche Cap Pattern now has a permanent page.
A shot from yesterday...This adorable child slept straight through much laughter and talking for about an hour while her mom tried on different outfits. At various times, she had jackets on her lap. She never made a peep! So freaking cute! :-D I'll be just like this by the time this month ends.  12.18.2008
 CUI haven't posted a free pattern in a long time...Want to make your own slouchy Louche Cap? It's a fast and easy knit. It's a longie type watchcap, with extra room at the top. I wanted the shaping of a gathered top, but I really don't like all gathered, it's just too much fabric, so this is half decreased, half gathered, and made on one circular needle. It's adult sized, and works on both men and women. You can make it child size by reducing needle/yarn size. I'll make a permanent page for this soon, but in the meantime: Needle: 10.5 US 16" circular Gauge: 3 stitches and 4 rows per 1" Yarn: About 100 grams of worsted weight, and not a yard less! I used one end of Jojoland Rhythm and one end industrial worsted weight cashmere/merino held together. SO: two 50 gram balls of worsted, at 110 yards per 50 grams, or comparable. One yarn needle. The Pattern: Please note: This is knit on one size needle. I deliberately knit the cabled rib tightly, and purposefully knit the body of the cap looser. You may knit the rib on a size 10, if you like, then switch to a 10.5 for the body, if you don't care to control the tension this way.. Cast on 61 stitches, pass first stitch over to the left needle, then knit the first two stitches together for a clean join, and proceed: Set-up Row: *k2, p2 TBL, k2, p2* to end of round. The twisting helps tighten the edge just a bit to prevent looseness. Row 1: *cable 1x1 in direction of your choice, p2* to end of round Rows 2 & 3: *k2, p2* to end of round Row 4: As Row 1 Row 5 & 6: As Row 2 Row 7: As Row 1 Row 8 & 9: As Row 2 Row 10: As Row 1 Body Starts Here: Knit 25 Rounds, slightly looser than the rib was knit, but not ridiculously so. Just ease up a bit. Top Shaping: Row 36: *SSK, k8* to end of round Row 37: *SSK, k7* to end of round Row 38: *SSK, k6* to end of round Row 39: *SSK, k5* to end of round Row 40: *SSK, k4* to end of round Row 41: *SSK, k3* to end of round At this point, you'll hardly be able to knit anymore on the circular, it's about as tight as it gets. Cut about a 10" tail, and run the end through the remaining live stitches using a yarn needle. Pull tightly. Tuck in the other end, hand wash, air dry and wear. 12.16.2008
David Brooks wrote an EXCELLENT review of Malcolm Gladwells book "Outliers" in the NYTimes. I found the comments interesting as well.
Sorry I didn't write my own comprehensive review, but one of my flaws is almost complete inability to regurgitate verbally what I see. Mr. Brooks does not suffer from this.
I forced my ass out of the knitting machine seat today, and went into the city to pick up a bunch of gorgeous Jane Diaz gold and silver jewelry for the shop. It started snowing giant flakes, and it wasn't that cold, so I really wanted to get the hell out for a while. I am so glad I did, it was fun. Jane is a dear friend, we knew each other a very long time ago in the East Village, and I don't get to see her that often these days. Visiting her studio is a tremendous inspiration, and her work is one of the very few things I re-stock over and over through the years.
I decided to walk up Broadway and go to Uniqlo, a favorite for classic clothing from Japan. I have to say, during this walk that my day stopped being fun, and started being shocking. MANY of the stores are simply going out of business on lower Broadway and Soho! Stores that have been there since I was 20 years old, and before. Places I've shopped in for decades, 70% off, and gone. We are not suffering as much {so far, knock on wood} here in Brooklyn, my store is doing more than ok, so I didn't realize how bad it was out there. I was just shocked and saddened. The rents in Manhattan can easily reach into the five digits, and these places just can't pay it. Simple as that. It's a shitshow. It was a tremendous wake-up call to me as to just how bad the trickle down economy bullshit is, especially for retail. I've been very poor in my life before, and if it should happen to me, I'll still be fine. I've even had a bit of a brainstorm recently, and am actually starting a new business enterprise with my friend Alexandra early next year, my first partner. I know how to survive pretty well. But, it broke my heart a bit to see these places going under...next year is going to be very tough for so many people. I'll shoot some pictures tomorrow of some interesting things I got today, like Japanese chocolates, {from Sunrise Mart in the East Village}. Upset a bit still tonight. Take care, everyone. Please Shop Local! Keep your favorite stores from going under! 12.15.2008
I just got a glimpse of what I'll be like when I'm 82: Helen and Margaret.
12.14.2008
I finished Malcolm Gladwells "Outliers" in one sitting tonight. I loved it, it's an interesting read, wished it were twice as long. I always want more detail, more examples, more analysis.
I've officially arrived at that time of the year where I am producing way too much to photograph every single thing and lovingly post it here and on Flickr. Will make the effort to post new variations or completely new patterns. Knitting in high gear, and I love that, especially when I can see the light at the end of the tunnel. Still laughing at Scared of Santa pictures, and thinking about why he scares small children so much. My own memories involve alcohol breath and BO, although I know I never cried, I vaguely remember feeling skeeved. Must go to sleep now. 12.12.2008
Yeah! I got my tickets in the mail today for this...every year I miss it because by the time I find out about it, they're sold out. But... I got them this time! This year, in addition to Philip Glass, Patti Smith will be performing. I am so excited!
 CU
If you're reading this blog, chances are you might be interested in this.
My DNA genetics results came in tonight at 23andme, and they are fascinating, to say the least. I am a quick metabolizer of caffeine {I would say a Pro, if there was such a thing. :->}, and am best suited to be a sprinter rather than marathoner. There was no bad health news, to my relief. If you're a close friend of mine, I'll likely tell you a lot more about this, but suffice to say here it's very interesting and detailed reading, not completed in one evening, it's 2am, and I have to go to bed.... The big surprise is that my genotype is 1% Asian! What the hell! Which one of my distant ancestors slept with an Asian? Is that why I love sushi so much? Of course I'm kidding, but that's a terrifically weird thing to know about oneself.
12.10.2008
Oh no! Sorry kids...this collection is extremely funny!: Scared of Santa
 And here's my sweet Mr. Murphy Bed, getting ready to panic a few years ago..he FLEW off Santas lap after this shot!:  CU12.09.2008
The first two pieces from the new yarn shipment...I was feeling the ultra fine gauge yesterday, and made three scarves...one has dropped stitches, so I'll keep that one, these two worked out, and will be in the Brooklyn shop tomorrow, also the Etsy shop update... Tuck stitch patterns from my archive make these textured, then they were piece dyed in Indian Yellow acid dye, then dip dyed in Rose Bengal. 50% Silk, 50% Merino Lambswool...oh so soft and delicate, with a little crisp. As usual, click for close-ups.
Each one of these is about 900 rows. My arms are getting an intense workout from running the carriage back and forth on my machine. Huh!  CU CU CU CU
Exactitudes. Fascinating.
12.08.2008
I made the gauge swatches for my production yarn that arrived this am...it's unbelievably great. I had to wash out the spinning oil, and so had no idea what to expect. I am pleasantly surprised at how soft and wonderful these yarns are...The yak/merino on the far left is perfect for giant sweaters, soft but with a small bite. The merino lambswool in the center is incredibly soft, it'll soon be winter undershirts, and the merino/silk on the right is fine but with a strong twist, perfect for very fine textures. I am so happy with these yarns! Now on to designing something with them, and dyeing the results {sometimes}:
 CU12.07.2008
Yes, finally an article in defense of teasing. I grew up in a constantly teasing family, and it was a huge surprise to me after I became an adult and found out that some people simply would NOT be teased. Stiffs! It still makes me sad that many people can't tolerate it. I'm not talking about meanness.
12.06.2008
My un-dyed coned kgs of yarn arrived today! Yak/merino, merino/silk, and all merino. The soonest I can swatch it is Sunday night. It's all lace weight, has spinning oil still in, so I can't tell how they'll wash out.
Oh please get better soon, Bettie, don't leave this earth! I emulated her hairdo for so many years, and she was a real inspiration to me in so many ways, ways that won't necessarily be detailed here at any point. :-D Those East Village days were a bit wild... hehe. Love you, Bettie...sending mental strength and positive energy your way...
12.05.2008
I delivered my yearly batch of knitted goods to the famous Park Slope shop Cog & Pearl last night, and it's dangerous, because I canNOT leave there without some of their incredibly beautiful objects. This porcelain two headed lamb ended up coming home with me, and she/he/they now lives on the mantle in my knitting studio. I love her/them/it!
 CU12.04.2008
My new neighbors are getting their shop together next door, sooo convenient for me bicycle-wise. :-> They matched the color scheme of my storefront, a black ground with red and white {we're in the same building}. It looks great next to each other, I am so happy...When they're done, I'll take a picture of the whole thing. In the meantime: the stencil on the floor inside Brians shop, and the new sign they installed today...
 CU CU
Machine update: a bunch of broken crap, except for one ribber, which I need. Waiting for a partial refund from the clueless sellers, who are apologetic. The Corona came, in perfect condition, though. It's pretty interesting, it uses a different pull down method, which I'd never seen before. No more Ebay machines, I don't have time for this.
Obsessed with listening to Nico right now. I LOVE the way she says "clown". 12.03.2008
I have so much going on right now I feel like vomiting discreetly in my pocket. I will, however, refrain, and just keep plowing ahead...
The huge batch of knitting machines and other equipment I "won" on Ebay arrived today...I hauled it all to my studio building, and will unwrap everything tonight after I close the shop to check the machines, and the condition they're in. This could end up with me thrilled beyond belief, or ready to kick a hole in the wall {someone elses!}. I may take pictures so you can share the excitement with me. :-D I have one more coming, a Corona, hopefully later in the week. Knitting on my bulky gauge this am...here's a closer look at knit-weave, and how I mix yarns to get depth.  CUThere's a bit more detail, if you click on the pix:  CU12.02.2008
Taking a break from napping and working in the studio with a bad cold, I stumbled onto how to make mathematical visualization animation HAIRY! Yes, Mohair! This is a major breakthrough for me! It started with covering a Hopf Linked Tori in fishnet, then I exaggerated some parameters...and see for yourself:
I can't really play with or focus on this until at least January. But I can sneak in some experiments now and then. 11.29.2008
New batch of mitts in situ:
 CUI'm about halfway done with my Etsy update...here are some new ones, with the seam on the outside:  11.28.2008
A quick shot of another stitch pattern from my archives, this one is a scarf:
 CUToo much to do today...gotta run... 11.26.2008
I hope you have much to be thankful for. I do.
PLEASE NOTE: The Brooklyn shop will be open as usual today, Wednesday the 26th, then we are CLOSED for Thanksgiving...and open as usual Friday the 28th, and through the weekend. Thanks! Hope to see you then! I knit a total of 12 pairs of new mitts so far this week, mostly shorties...all different in color and pattern. Here's the first four, drying:  CUThe next Etsy shop update will be on Friday, November 28th, probably late in the day. It's the soonest I can shoot these on Sydney...I'm getting tired of finishing work, and I have a ton of it to do now. I am very, very good at making work for myself. :-> Sweaters coming up in the next round of production..waiting for my undyed wool to arrive. I want to do an undyed series of undershirts, then some garment dyed..on and on..too many ideas, as usual... OMG...I just bought another knitting machine on Ebay...a group of two bulkys and ribbers and accessories, all in excellent shape, for a song {relatively}. Although I am happy to not have an "addictive personality", I can usually take or leave just about anything...knitting machinery is a terrible weakness...it's almost embarrassing. I can make back the money I just spent on this quickly, that's not the issue..it's how many I now own. The number is closing in on twenty or so..I'm going to have to start sleeping on them soon...oh crap..still, pretty excited about it. :-> One of the machines is a KH230..a bulky without automatic patterning capability. I am going to sell this one, after I make sure it's in good working shape. If you're interested, let me know. I have to draw the line somewhere...sigh. 11.24.2008
Taking a break to eat some yogurt and cereal..today is a studio day. I'm knitting pieces on my machines, embroidering more labels, hand washing what's finished, etc.
I ordered some fine gauge, coned and undyed yak/wool, geelong wool and silk/wool from Hong Kong today, 5kg worth...I can't wait to get it! Finishing work commences tonight. I'm so happy to have a working electronic..oh so happy...  CU11.21.2008
 New Mitts, long and short, posted up on Etsy. I made Sydney pose today in front of the shop in mitts and a tanktop, we then started drinking wine around 4:45 to counteract the cold. :-> Next, believe it or not, I'm finishing the Shroom Beret Pattern, which is one more sample, and some computer work away from completion. There will be two easy, and one cabled variation. 11.20.2008
It got really cold, really fast, here, and I'm having trouble taking it. Getting suited up with about 4 layers tonight for the ride home from the shop:
 CUThese Shorties have been posted to Etsy:  CU
The first pair of mitts is up on Etsy. More pairs by the weekend, they're drying on chicken wire as I type this.:->
The first pieces in a series of Shortie Mitts, using a faux cable stitch pattern...I love fake knitting made with real knitting...ha! Trying to get a bunch of mitts done by tomorrow to shoot on Sydney, who owns a pair of excellent, long arms.
 CU11.19.2008
OH FUCK ME! These are disgusting!
Some results of yesterdays exertion:
 CUShorties:  CUMitts will be available in my Brooklyn shop/Etsy, after they've been washed and blocked and shot on a human. I want to make more than accessories this season, but garments take a great deal of time, and are somewhat expensive. Debating what to do...if I want to spare the time...if the economy will support it. I have no idea. Small goods until I decide. UPDATE: Oh fuck it, I want to make some giant sweaters. Screw the economy. I think I have to stop reading the news. 11.18.2008
Eschewing all errands and housecleaning for a while {it's breaking my heart, believe me...}, working on a series of opera length fingerless Fairisle mitts in baby alpaca and cashmere instead, on the 7g. I designed this small stitch pattern a long time ago, specifically for menswear. I'm very into my small stitch patterns now, they're almost like a flat texture, if that makes any sense. Knitting more in different colorways today, commencing with finishing, washing and blocking tonight.
 CUThe three colorways so far: each one is a mixture of three different shades against an off white baby alpaca ground.  CUI had a freelance gig in my twenties as a finisher for James Galanos knitwear, and I learned couture finishing techniques using a tiny crochet hook, which I still employ. "The inside must be as beautiful as the outside"... yes, I remember, Linda! {thank you!}". This will look even better after it's been washed and blocked.  CU11.16.2008
R.I.P. Mitch Mitchell. Along with John Bonham, a tremendous drumming influence for me during my band years. An incredible talent.
Posted some new knitwear on Etsy today:  11.13.2008
Two of the new batch of 5g machine knitted cashmere/merino scarves. They have side scallops formed simply by a change in stitch, there is no increasing or decreasing going on. It's a very extreme example of stitch structure differences. My idea of fun. :->
 CU11.12.2008
The result of feeling "knit punchy": a knitted pom pom experiment:
 CUTrying to get the same effect, with less yarn waste-age, my main complaint regarding pom poms. This one is sort of on a "stick". Made with one size needle, BTW:->. It's also stuffed a bit with yarn ends. I REALLY hate to waste yarn. :-> I started thinking about it during knitting the body..and...uh oh...here it is:  Knit up a quick slouchie beret {not blocked yet}. The decrease is a combination of decrease and cabling for extra swirl action, and there is a twisted loop on top:  CUShooting 5 cashmere/merino giant, textured scarves later, mixtures of 4 very thin colors, they came out well...should be dry later this afternoon. Obviously in high knitting gear, resent interruptions like crazy now. Love it. Have more ideas than I can get out. 11.11.2008
Another eyelet cap in progress, this time with two strands of BFL I dyed last year, and a single strand of kid mohair. These are blocking out very nicely. I hope to shoot them on Tiffany later in the week, at which point they will be posted on Etsy. Yes, the eyelet pattern is a bit different each time...otherwise I get very bored.
 CU11.10.2008
Hand-knitting-wise, currently alternating lace rib caps with cabled berets, everything below is unblocked:
 CUObviously, I'm feeling the number seven right now. :> These berets are on a size reduced version on my Roses and Thorns print pattern.  CUHat pictures on a model later in the week. 11.08.2008
My young client requested big Pom Poms on her Cat Hat, so she will get them! These were fun to make, but damn, they use up so much yarn...
 CU11.05.2008
Please note: The Brooklyn shop will be closed today, November 5th for rest and celebration. Open tomorrow, November 6th, as usual. thanks!
11.04.2008
Finally, my furnace is working, and yesterday was super-productive. This morning I was so relieved to finally vote..the line was short, and my polling place only a block away. Studio time this afternoon, glued to the tv tonight.
11.01.2008
Now waiting for National Grid again...supposed to come between 12-6 today to light the pilot light...it's now 3:03...come on, you jerks. My life is at a standstill until this is resolved. Every day they miss the appointment, and say they'll come before midnight! Not holding my breath. Want to get back to living a normal life. :-<
UPDATE: 7:02 pm. Now they say I have to wait until midnight again. I'm filing a complaint with the Public Service Commission first thing Monday. This is beyond outrageous. This the fourth day I've been waiting from 8am till 12 midnight for them to show up and take 10 minutes to light the pilot light on our furnace. I hate National Grid with a passion, it's the height of corporate incompetence. 10.31.2008
Oh my fucking god...I just got a phone call from National Grid saying they will "try" to come today! FFFFUUUUUCCCCKKKK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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