wendyhoo's pre-posterous

My space for random thoughts

Knitting for Knit CamBRIDGE

On Monday, I had the pleasure of spending the day with Sue Sturdy ~and company~ at the Cambridge Centre for the Arts. What a busy and inspiring space!  We were busy organizing the knitting into different sizes, rolling long strips of knitting into manageable logs, and stacking them onto Sue's office windowsills - some of my favourite images are of these knitting "logs".  

Hope you enjoy these photos I took on Monday. The knitting that is coming in is fantastic. I shouldn't just say knitting because I saw one bad-@ss crochet project: colourful skulls & crossbones.  And, there are many other crochet works that have been generously donated.  

Tonight, as usual on Wednesday evenings, we're gathering to knit and chat. We'll be at the Hespeler Library by the fireplace in the big comfy chairs from 6:30 - 8:30.  There are rumblings of moving our gathering to a local coffee shop that has recently re-opened but we can decide that later. Today, we're at the library. :) 


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Cold day in ... May? Greg knits!

Okay, so it isn't actually a cold day in July. Regardless, a rather momentous and highly remarkable event has recently occurred.  

This actually happened: Greg says to Wendy, "I should learn how to knit." 

The background? We were sitting at Melville Cafe, gazing over the Grand River and the Main Street bridge, whilst sipping coffee.  The Knit CamBRIDGE basket was nearby so I picked up the ongoing knitting. Nothing unusual here. But then, Greg reminded me about the Guinness Record Attempt on June 19.  "I should learn how to knit." I nearly fell off my chair. 

So, I showed him what to do. He was, I might add, a rather adroit student or I'm a really good teacher. Another, more likely possibility is that knitting really isn't that difficult. Anyone can knit ... if they want to.  

I'm attaching proof of Greg's first foray into the fibre arts. There's also a lovely photo of yours truly with the Main Street Bridge in the background. It's looking all cold and bland: definitely needs a warm bridge cozy. The final photo is completely random: Greg took it today when we were walking along the Grand River below the flood walls. I love the textures and subtle colours.

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Knit CamBridge: the ultimate graffiti knitting project?

I'm sitting at the Melville Cafe in the U of W School of Architecture building.  It over-looks the Grand River and historic downtown Galt: Galt being one of the three towns that make up modern day Cambridge, Ontario.  

This is a small town. Traditionally, the economies in Galt and Hespeler were based on textile mills. Preston was more based on their large grain mill which still operates to this day.  Unfortunately, most of the textile industry is gone.  What industry still exists is mostly assembly work (sewing together) of fabric made over-seas.

Sue Sturdy, artist in residence at the Cambridge Centre for the Arts, wants to bring fibre back into the minds and hearts of modern residents.  

Her plan is audacious!  

(photo credit: The Record)

The four concrete arches of Galt's historic bridge will be covered in the ultimate graffiti knitting project (albeit sanctioned by the City of Cambridge).  Scattered around town, you can find baskets of yarn and knitting on the needle.  If you see one, pick up the needles and knit.  It doesn't need to be pretty!

By the time Sue sews all the pieces together and covers the bridge with said knitting, it will be a piece of art!  

This morning, Sue and I sat down over coffee, to discuss the project.  I'm happy to say that my involvement will be to help her reach more people through social media. Not to mention the fact that some of my knitting will be on the bridge this September!  

Take a look at the Knit CamBridge website: www.knitcambridge.com. It will be growing throughout the months to come so check back frequently. Share this link with your friends and help spread the word!             

Images below include one hi-jacked basket of knitting for photo-op, and my view of the Grand River from Melville Cafe. Sweet.

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Adventures at the KW Knitters Guild meeting

I'm just home from the KW Knitters' Guild meeting where I always have great conversations & learn good things: tonight @Knittydotcom (aka Amy Singer - yes, THE Amy Singer) was our guest speaker.  

Opening (yes, OPENING) for Amy, was acclaimed ukelele performer and singer: @Ukulelezo (aka Zoe).  Zoe strummed and charmed her way into out knitters' hearts. By the time she finished, we were like unspun roving in her hands.  Oh, and Ukulelezo / Zoe is in a contest that closes tonight so if you read this in time, vote for her here - though the site seems a bit fussy and I'm not sure it recorded my vote or not. 

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At any rate, tonight I learned more about knitty.com than I had ever known before.  Mind you, I was always only one step away from the fame of knitty publishing as an old friend ACTUALLY has her Winecozy pattern published in knitty. OMG! Someday, someday, I hope my star may shine so bright ... :)  
knitty.com is a ground breaking, oft-times back breaking, enterprise.  It proudly offers FREE patterns to 100s of 1000s of knitters from all around the world. All that  knitty.com asks in return is that you click on the advertising on the site.  Simple.  And, if you find a supplier that rocks your world, tell them that you learned about them from knitty.com.  All patterns are carefully edited and any pattern corrections are made to the live site and will show up as PINK.  Magic: no errata pages required! 

Also, whilst sitting & listening to Amy Singer, I was working on MY FIRST SOCK and I TURNED my first HEEL FLAP.  This is without a pattern, thank you very much. I must give credit to my hero, and knitty-published author, @yarnharlot, aka Stephanie Pearl-McPhee - what? does everyone have an alias these days???  At any rate, this being my first pair of socks, I'm using the heel flap method as suggested in Knitting Rules! I  requested, and gratefully received, coaching from a Guild member beside me - we're friendly that way. But, I did it.  I TURNED my first heel whilst listening to Amy Singer. Zowie! ;)

-- 
www.twitter.com/wendyhoomo
~ "wendyhoo" on Ravelry

My visit to the Galt Farmers' Market:

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I always enjoy visiting the Cambridge - or, as I think of it - the Galt Farmer's Market.  It's located square in the middle of downtown Galt.  Nearby, is the Main Street bridge which will be covered in knitting later this year.  I love it! :)

At the market, I purchased the following goodies: 
  • bees wax candles (a "must have" after reading Secret Life of Bees) 
  • real marrow bones (one of which my dog is currently enjoying in the back porch, while the others will be used to make beef stock)
  • fresh cheese curds (mmm...)
  • garlic bulb (grown in California these days...)
  • cup of coffee (what can I say, it's a necessity!)
  • and cookies from my friend Krista at the Grand Bakery (she also makes sweet, sweet cupcakes for any occasion ;p)

My Noro striped scarf

I am in love with colour and didn't understand that part of myself before knitting this scarf, but that's all there is to it!  The stitch is so simple, repetitive and, one might say, monotonous.  That usually wears me out when knitting.  Not this one!  Ribbed with knit one purl one throughout and I'm more intrigued than when I started. The colours keep changing and playing together.  

For the original inspiration, check out Jared Flood's blog: brooklyntweed.blogspot.com/2007/04/noro-scarf.html.  

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My Zimmermann stars

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I love these stars: they're so easy!  One star has been knit every other row - you can tell that one because the points are less pointy.  The other two are decreased every row.  One star, with the most distinct points was "aggressively" blocked.  The other star has not yet been blocked and would be all curled up except it's being held down by the scanner lid. 

 
A string of these stars would be lovely and fairly quick.  Except for casting on the 55 stitches on the 1 mm needles, the 5 rows (10 if you're knitting between decrease rows) knit up in a flash!

I want to also knit these stars in a worsted or bulky weight with big needles.  

If you want the pattern it's in Elizabeth Zimmermann's Knitters Almanac: $10.75 at Chapters.  A bargain price considering her wonderful writing style makes it a good read and a very helpful resource for knitters. 

Elizabeth Zimmermanns Knitters Almanac

Memories of the Woodstock Fleece Festival

Okay, so my flash didn't go off!  Here are the pictures that I could take whilst at this past weekend's Fleece Festival in Woodstock Ontario.  My verdict: a wonderful, woolly, first-time event!  I will happily go back next year.  Congrats to the organizers and volunteers.  Oh, and the food was fabulous and well-priced.  Thanks for all your hard work... :)

Almost forgot to mention, the picture of the sock knitting machine?  Well that machine is an Autoknitter from 1925.  The owner is The Bear's Den and if you have any questions, please contact them at 905-827-5988.  I purchased a pair of socks from The Bear's Den.  I was told one pair of socks can be made in 90 minutes (that's a dream of most hand-knitters!).  Lovely people too.  Along with making socks, I believe The Bear's Den also sell antique sock knitting machines and give lessons on how to actually use them.  

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