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Okay, more cool stuff from the internet today! I joined a Twibe (Knitting, natch!), and wandered through the other members, looking for Cool Blogs to Follow, and discovered something possibly even COOLER -Let's Knit2Gether Podcasts!! They're free. You can see them through the link there, or download 'em free through iTunes and watch them anywhere. Portable knitting TV! I mean, really. It doesn't get much more fun than that!!
I started by downloading the first podcast through the end of 2007. The topics included "Maryland Sheep & Wool, Parts 1 and 2"; "The Yarn Harlot in NYC to Represent"; "Stitches East 2006"; "If You Block It, Will It Fit?" and a bunch more about Actual Knitting. Since the 'casts are done through donations & sponsorships, if you like them, there's several ways to donate to keep them coming. (This seems to be a cool trend: the idea of shareware expanding to "sharecasts".)
Episodes vary in length, usually around 5-10 minutes, sometimes longer, and there are almost fifty of them now. (I grabbed the first two dozen.)
I should note: There's a Ravelry group, you can get DVDs of the podcasts if you don't have another way to watch them, and, of course, there are . . .
TOTEBAGS!!!! For Sale!! Clicky!!! Yeah, okay, I have a slight totebag problem.
. . . mostly that four of my bins that are supposed to hold yarn are full of totebags. ANYway, if you have an iPod and the cables that connect your iPod to your TV, then you don't even have to worry about "hold iPod and watch OR knit". You can do both!!
ETA: Squeeeee! CAT from the Let'sKnit2Gether Podcast commented!! Squeeee!!
Coolest Thing EVAH!!!
The Cable Chart Generator at sweaterproject.org!! Go!! Try it!! (Donate!!)
Ahem. Okay, having pointed everyone there, let's get back to MY stuff. To wit, Swatch #5 from Lesson 3 of TKGA's Basics, Basics, Basics course. This is the cable swatch, and this is where my first ball of Trendsetter Yarns "Merino VI" (color 7800-ecru - formerly "01", dye lot 17) ran out:
This yarn is OMG SQUEE soft and pretty, and a joy to work with. It isn't, however, worsted-weight - I think it's just DK. The Trendsetter site says it's:
MERINO
100% Wool - 50 grams/skein -
Motto-6ply 136 yards/skein,
5.5sts=1" #6
Thus, if DK - light worsted (per the Standard Yarn Weight System) recommends needle size 5-7, and gets 21-24 st per inch - yep, this is DK. Now I vaguely remember someone I was reading re: the Masters Program saying that DK was okay. I'm hoping this is the case; if not, I'm going to have a cute little ecru lace shrug to wear when it's not-quite-cold-but-chilly over the summer.
Boy, I'm glad I got two balls of the stuff on Saturday, since one ball didn't make my five swatches. I'll get to see how good I *really* am at weaving in ends this time!!
PS, everyone should go download the FREE pdf file of the Yarn Standards. It's a really, REALLY useful reference!!
Wovenflame (aka Marlene, up in BC) has what's probably the best "okay, what going for the Masters in Hand Knits is really like" wrapped up nicely up in eleven every-Monday blog posts. By following her journey, I got an idea of the sorts of things I'll be doing, the sorts of things the reviewers look for (that I hadn't even know existed!), and an idea that yes, it is scary, but it is possible. Her journey begins here, and then continues over the next few months.
Monday 2 | Monday 3 | Monday 4 | Monday 5 | Monday 6 | Monday 7 | Monday 8 | Monday 9 | Monday 10 | TBC....
If you're thinking of going for Level I, it's worth checking out Marlene's chronicle.
Since I'm half a swatch away (and the Extra Credit) away from submitting Lesson #3 for the Basics, Basics, Basics course, I've decided that, yep, I'm going to do the Masters Program. I got my yarn for Level I (well, everything but the color-work) on Sunday:
It's some lovely Trendsetter Merino. All the same dye lot (that appears to be important), soft, nonscratchy, and works well with my needles (since I've almost finished Lesson #3 in it). Even if I have to resubmit for Lesson #3, I'm gona go for it! Yay!!
Anyone know the story behind this one?
ETA: Evidently, socks are necessary for bicycle theft. Thanks to Max for tracking down the answer!
No time to actually update today - I'm the only secretary here today, and despite me having everything done for *my* lawyers so I can blow out at 1pm to see "Wolverine" up the street, I'm betting the 8 that aren't mine are going to want something. Dammit!
