Tag Archives: knitting

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Head Tube

I did it. It only took me a month, but it felt like forever.

head tube as a hat

I finished the hat/muffler/head tube I started on a whim last month when I was overtaken by the knitting bug. This certainly cured it. It wasn’t an unpleasant project to knit. I likened it to a sudoko puzzle: not difficult, but work. An inexplicable something you just have to do. I would curse my hat/muffler/head tube and Dan would suggest I just give up on it. My response, “Why would I do that? I’m having fun.”

knit pic

So after you have spent a month of your life knitting something, and you knit the final knit and put it on your head with excitement, turn to your spouse and ask, “How does it look?” What do you do when they say, “Well, it’s not really your style.”

Translation: “That thing is super ugly.”

There are many correct answers, of course. If you threw the head tube in his face, I’d say that is acceptable. I told him that actually, it was OK because I made it for him. And I hope he wears it everyday. Like this:

head tube

And of course he will.

Ps, ravelry notes here.

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Knit Works In Progress

First, a big thank you! to everyone who took my survey! I’ve enjoyed reading your comments, and next week I promise to reply to some of the questions you posed. I’ll keep collecting responses for a little while so if haven’t yet taken it but would still like to, you can find the survey post here. Thanks again!

I ran to the craft shop this week for some lining fabric (I am making the new Sewaholic Hollyburn skirt) and instead of lining I left with yarn, new knitting needles, and a distraction.

a distraction

This was completely an impulse buy. I’m not sure what came over me. I wasn’t thinking about price or the time it will take to finish, only about how I have always wanted to knit with this type of yarn, and poof, before I knew it I was telling the cashier it was a gift. For myself.

Opal sock yarn

I often ogle sock yarn because I love the way patterns emerge from a random crazy mess of colors. I realize this is not at all random or crazy to people who understand how weaving works, but to me it is magical. A few years back some mean-spirited circular needles broke my heart and since then I have only knit square or rectangular things. The thought of handmade wool socks is enticing, but they are round and tiny and violate all my rules of knitting.

circular needles, you better play nice

a sock yarn muffler

I guess I had a change of heart. This tube-muffler-that-flips-into-a-hat pattern requires 40 cm size 3 circular needles and two 100g balls of Opal sock yarn. The needles are much smaller than I have used before so there is potential for disaster, though right now things are going well. It is fun to watch my sock-yarn muffler grow, never knowing what pattern or stripe might emerge.

I’ll let you know how it goes. Maybe I’ll finish it in time to wear while the weather is still chilly.

knit stats

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That’s a Wrap!

Sometimes bad wordplay is too good to avoid.

I completed my chunky scarf, and took it out for a walk on the warmest day we have had in Tokyo in the past few weeks. The scarf turned out exactly how I wanted it to. I’m delighted. And overheated.

Also, the Japan Times gets credit for breaking this story since my photo appeared on their website today along with a little article. You can check it out here.

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Action Craft – Final Round!

The last shipment of blankets for Action Craft arrived a while back, and with all the excitement over our blog/japanniversaries, the photos got buried on the camera.  (oops.)  So, without further ado!

From Anne and Michelle in Maryland, USA

These baby blankets are so incredibly sweet.

Maybe it is my love affair with stripes, but I adore these blankets.  Thanks ladies!!