tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-46687431879167219352024-03-13T03:03:07.264-07:00Knots and KneedlesMy mind unraveledAllie Pillatschhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05674812107494367421noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4668743187916721935.post-25828069491847320692013-03-19T11:21:00.001-07:002013-03-19T11:21:29.269-07:00Rip-it Rip-it... Stop it!<b>frog </b>[frawg] <i>verb</i><br />
1. to rip out worked rows of stitches, often due to locating mistake, or <b>simply giving up</b> after investing hours into a project.<br />
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<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">In Japan, the kajika goes kerokero.
In Spain the rana sings cruá-cruá.
A beka would say bre-ke-ke in Hungary. Here in
Norway, frosker sier kvakk<span style="font-size: x-small;">. </span>In the knitting world, however,
frogs say "rip it, rip it." - <a href="http://www.knitty.com/ISSUEwinter03/FEATwin03TT.html">Techniques with Theresa</a></span></i><br />
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Blame it on my constant need for perfection, or complete lack of patience- I am the ultimate frog-er. I hate to admit it, but it is true. Sometimes, I'd like to extend this verb out from the world of knitting, and use it to describe my actions in everyday life. <b>Case and point: </b><i>This blog. </i><br />
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I have an abundance of grand ideas and plans, and a total lack of follow-through. So it's been 2 months and 9 days since my last post. What got me off track this time? The list is endless. It started with the kneedles though. I was on a roll! I knit the cutest pair of mittens (my first!), and made amazing progress on the Fiance Hoodie v4.0. Then I put the kneedles down for a minute (or five), and moved. And while I could definitely be settled into the new digs and knitting in my craft room by now... I decided to pick up yet another addiction: <a href="http://www.riograndegames.com/games.html?id=278">Dominion</a>. Watch out, a board-gaming blog may be next. Really. I'm a nerd. So, in an effort to perform a self-intervention, I decided I needed to put any further game related purchases on hold, and get back to the kneedles.<br />
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So, it is with great pleasure, and intense fear, that I announce my official enrollment in: <br />
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<a href="http://www.tkga.com/?page=HandKnittingProgram">The Knitting Guild Association's Masters Program</a><br />
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Wish me luck, that's all I have to say. At least this venture doesn't have a time limit. And with 16 swatches to (perfectly) knit at each of the three levels... I have a feeling I'll be hearing a lot of frogs in my future. <br />
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...rip-it ...rip-it ...rip-itAllie Pillatschhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05674812107494367421noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4668743187916721935.post-81371286679651101812013-01-10T19:47:00.000-08:002013-01-10T19:47:03.836-08:00Tubby Little Chubby All Stuffed With Fluff<i>Deep in the Hundred Skeins of Yarn where all I do is craft...</i><br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-V_r9CkfeX1Q/UO8or3gyRjI/AAAAAAAAAMQ/Ynum89pH5no/s1600/Gregory+Peck.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-V_r9CkfeX1Q/UO8or3gyRjI/AAAAAAAAAMQ/Ynum89pH5no/s320/Gregory+Peck.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mr. Gregory Peck </td></tr>
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Meet Gregory Peck, the second project I ever knit <span style="font-size: x-small;">(to completion that is)</span>. What happened while knitting him I began to think would never happened again <span style="font-size: x-small;">(until Alec Baldwin of course)</span>. I felt such a sense of accomplishment, not only upon his completion, but every step along the way. One arm here, a stuffed belly there. There is something <b>magical </b>about stuffed animals. And if you gave me all day, I could go on and on about past times with some of my favorite fluffy friends. Maybe that's why watching this little guy <b>come to life </b>was so exciting... give a pillow two eyes and a mouth, and just like that he has a soul. <br />
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After stitching up the last little pieces of Gregory, and placing him proudly on my shelf, I knew making stuffed animals was my calling. I wanted to just keep knitting, and not stop <span style="font-size: small;">until my bed was filled with hundreds of my little friends all named and lined up just like when I was a kid<span style="font-size: small;"> <span style="font-size: x-small;">(I know I wasn't the only one)</span></span></span>. Of course, as with all things in my life, I got frustrated when my next project didn't quite turn out. And thanks to <a href="http://ravelry.com/">Ravelry</a>, I had plenty more project ideas to distract me. And so... Gregory sat there. On my shelf. All alone. For two years<span style="font-size: x-small;"> (awwwww)</span>. <br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">Then one magical day, the fire was lit again<span style="font-size: small;">.</span> <span style="font-size: small;">A</span>nd, as evidenced by the little critters I've already shared with you<span style="font-size: small;">,</span> </span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;">it hasn't burn</span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;">ed out yet</span></span></span>. That feeling I got two years ago. That calling. It was right. Call it destiny, call it obsession, call it whatever you'd like, me and stuffed animals were meant to be. <br />
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And so I leave you with Gregory's newest, and oh so adorable, neighbors...<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-jCxHtK0a9UE/UO8z5BsH8MI/AAAAAAAAAMg/jD1_5M_4hdE/s1600/2013-01-09_19.33.29.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-jCxHtK0a9UE/UO8z5BsH8MI/AAAAAAAAAMg/jD1_5M_4hdE/s320/2013-01-09_19.33.29.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Good Ol' Pals, Truman and Ralph</td></tr>
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Warning: That bed full of stuffed animals might not be too far off... I may even have to invest in one of those rainbow colored stuffed animal nets you proudly hung in the corner of your room in 1991... Don't try and deny it.Allie Pillatschhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05674812107494367421noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4668743187916721935.post-70298487194756517682012-12-29T14:22:00.002-08:002012-12-29T14:22:42.793-08:00Ask Me About My KneedlesHey, will you look at this! My first post <b>not</b> from my desk at work. <i><span style="font-size: x-small;"> (I swear your tax dollars go to employ wonderful, hard-working people, and <b>most</b> of the time I am one of them)</span></i>. Where am I blogging from this snowy afternoon, you ask? My newly reorganized craft room! <span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>(My fiance got me a wonderful book <a href="http://books.google.com/books/about/Craft_Inc.html?id=IVA5w8-osYkC">Craft, Inc.</a> for Christmas last year , which I finally decided to crack open and read. It gave me just the boost of inspiration I needed to get it done).</i></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-zStgUbtxUUw/UN9jgc18N0I/AAAAAAAAALs/D-GXaYuGGtY/s1600/2012-12-29+15.06.36.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="318" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-zStgUbtxUUw/UN9jgc18N0I/AAAAAAAAALs/D-GXaYuGGtY/s320/2012-12-29+15.06.36.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Step 1: An Inspired Workspace</td></tr>
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Speaking of Christmas and inspiration, I made a trip to JoAnn's yesterday to purchase some goodies with my stack of gift cards. So my question is this, do I have a sign <b>permanently attached</b> to my back which reads "Hey you, got a question about yarn and needles, ask me!"? Seriously, I <b>do not</b> work for JoAnn's, or Michael's for that matter. But without fail, <b>Every. Single. Time.</b> I am in the yarn aisle at a craft store, I get asked (and then followed around) by <b>at least</b> one weary customer. <div>
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Last week at Michael's it was a girl with a month off school asking me which yarn craft to take up with her new found free time. I had to convince this girl that 1. Knitting <b>most definitely</b> trumps Crochet, and 2. Don't <b>wimp out</b> and start loom knitting. In this same visit, I was approached by a frantic mom searching for the perfect gift for her 11 year old daughter who took it upon herself to get on YouTube and start knitting pot holders on chopsticks <i><span style="font-size: x-small;">(seriously, way to go kid)</span></i>. She wanted to know 1. If there was actually a difference between Crochet and Knitting <i><span style="font-size: x-small;">(probably the number one question I get asked)</span></i>, and 2.What a girl would need to get started on a scarf. I picked her out the same book that got me started, made a suggestion for the size of needles she should start on, and explained how to determine which yarn goes with what size needles. I felt like I had performed my civic craft duty for the day, and went home feeling quite accomplished. But yesterday, at JoAnn's, just when I thought I was going to make it out of the yarn aisle and into the fabric section <i><span style="font-size: x-small;">(where, thank goodness, no one approached me)</span></i>, this woman came up to me with 5 skeins of yarn in her hands and asked my opinion about which would make the most expensive looking cowl. When I made my selections, she demanded a supporting explanation. I told her how much I hated working with one of the yarns she had chosen, and for the next 20 minutes she hunted me down in every aisle with <b>another 5 skeins</b>, always holding at least one of skein of said <b>devil yarn</b>. Really lady, is it that hard to read the label? When I said Lion Brand Homespun drives me nuts, I didn't mean that just the blue colorway was horrible, or just the red for that that matter. I meant <b>every single skein</b> labeled Homespun frays exactly the same way, and you would be tearing out your hair by the end of that cowl if you went home with it. She finally left with an assortment of skeins and was sure to thank me on her way out. Goodness gracious. I love talking needles and yarn. But really, give me a break sometimes. </div>
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In the end, my trip to JoAnn's was quite successful. I spent a whopping 6 bucks of my own money, and still have $45 left to spend! I was quite pleased with my selections of yarn, notions, buttons, and fabric too! So I will leave you with a sneak peek at what I think will become my first sale item:</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-C6px9GFs9Tg/UN9riED3jOI/AAAAAAAAAMA/9XvGw81rt3U/s1600/2012-12-29+15.13.22.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-C6px9GFs9Tg/UN9riED3jOI/AAAAAAAAAMA/9XvGw81rt3U/s320/2012-12-29+15.13.22.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Puppy Ears Anyone?</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Disclaimer: I love you Lion Brand, I really do, and I will continue to support your yarn, and suggest it to the million more people sure to stop me at the store in the future, but Homespun... not happening.</span></div>
Allie Pillatschhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05674812107494367421noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4668743187916721935.post-13434179153378161992012-12-26T08:07:00.000-08:002012-12-26T12:52:00.650-08:00In the Knick of TimeI officially made it through the Holidays! And the best part? I actually <b>completed</b> every gift I set out to make! <i style="font-size: small;">(Okay, okay so there <b>was one </b>I didn't finish...the perpetually<b> frogged</b> <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/projects/knitcrysis/emilien"><strike>Boyfriend</strike> Fiance Sweater, henceforth known as Samurai 2.0</a>.. but we'll get to that later) </i>It was a close one! <br />
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I was nearly knitting my future-brother-in-law's gift while walking out the door on my way, to Christmas #1.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-V1Zd5dkntI4/UNsdjV3tvcI/AAAAAAAAAKg/cxM3A1FUNnA/s1600/2012-12-23+20.05.16.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-V1Zd5dkntI4/UNsdjV3tvcI/AAAAAAAAAKg/cxM3A1FUNnA/s320/2012-12-23+20.05.16.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Meric the Patriot Monster</span></td></tr>
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I was on top of it for Christmas #2 and 3's gifts<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-d8-ar2AgmSs/UNsx4qLVOTI/AAAAAAAAAK4/H1Pz4HQb_CY/s1600/bag.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="179" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-d8-ar2AgmSs/UNsx4qLVOTI/AAAAAAAAAK4/H1Pz4HQb_CY/s320/bag.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Winter Survival Bag (Tissues, Cider and Chapstick)</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-bYt5QCEPwxw/UNtjFBsGHlI/AAAAAAAAALI/mIqGTvVncr4/s1600/DSC_0345.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="245" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-bYt5QCEPwxw/UNtjFBsGHlI/AAAAAAAAALI/mIqGTvVncr4/s320/DSC_0345.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A very happy girl and her new Comfy Cable Blanket</td></tr>
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...but I actually had to set an alarm to <b>cast-on, bind-off, and wrap up</b> Christmas #4. <br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-yntcAaWvVck/UNsd55i6JKI/AAAAAAAAAKo/Yb8bdSEJHjM/s1600/2012-12-25+15.39.50.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-yntcAaWvVck/UNsd55i6JKI/AAAAAAAAAKo/Yb8bdSEJHjM/s320/2012-12-25+15.39.50.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">The Triplets of Belle<strike>vue</strike>meade</span></div>
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All in all I would say Christmas 2012 was a <b>great success</b>!!! And I would tell you that I'll get a head start on next year's <b>ventures into the art of handmade gifts</b>, but... let's get real. <br />
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Allie Pillatschhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05674812107494367421noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4668743187916721935.post-16919703496978708682012-12-20T09:11:00.001-08:002012-12-20T10:00:09.181-08:00Casting On<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I guess this blog has been blank long enough. I have to start somewhere, right? The problem is, I get started </span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b>every</b></span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">where. So how exactly, did I get here? </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Sure, I've always been crafty, but I never really had a </span><b style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">craft</b><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">. I've always been determined to change that. So for years I scrambled up and down the aisles of the craft store searching for<i> </i>the <b>one</b>. I think I was expecting it to just jump and bite me. But it never did. And so, week after week, year after year, I'd stock up on a plethora of new supplies, sit down in my room, and crack open the latest crafting how-to. And... two or three craft intensive weeks later, I'd give up, shove the new supplies in my overflowing craft trunk, and walk away. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Then one day I found it... the <b>yarn</b> aisle! I had dabbled in crochet, when my friend's little sister taught me to crochet a granny square. But the hook just wasn't for me. And... apparently I didn't get the memo that you were supposed to pull from the middle of the skein. Talk about a tangled mess of madness! Between that and getting my hook stuck in the middle of the yarn, I was over it. So I knew if yarn was going to be my thing, I'd have to find a new angle. I grabbed a little book and starter kit, dove in head first,and <a href="http://www.simplicity.com/p-3052-beginners-teach-yourself-knitting-set.aspx" style="font-weight: bold;">I Taught Myself Knitting</a>. I was tempted to quit a few times. I mean I can hardly use chopsticks, hand-eye coordination was never my strong suit, and patience... forget it. But one thing I have mastered... <b>obsession</b>. And once those needles started working for me, that was it! Watching those stitches stack up row after row, in those neat-little-oh-so-gratifying v's... I couldn't get enough. I was <b>hooked </b>(on needles).</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">We've had our ups and downs, those needles and me. We broke up for a little while, and I found another love (we'll talk about the lovely hum of my sewing machine later), but time after time they always found their way back into my hands, and back into my heart. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">And so here we are. And we are ready. And I know it won't be easy, love never is. But we're gonna to do it! We are <b>tying the kno</b>t, and <b>casting on</b>, for all the world to see!</span>Allie Pillatschhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05674812107494367421noreply@blogger.com4