App Review --- Yarn -U

I must first apologize to the creator of this app. She approached me almost 3 weeks ago asking for this review, and it's not that her app is difficult to use, it's that I have lacked the "g" key on my home laptop. I thought it would be great to blog on the ipad, but that's no fun at all. so I had to find time at work to sneak in a blog post, so here I am. WHEW!!!!

So I was approached to review an app, and I was pretty psyched about that. I review books, yarns, patterns, why not an app?

the App is called Yarn U and is available on I tunes for $2.99. If you are the type of person that needs your yarn information at your fingertips, and finds searching Ravelry on your smart phone to be a bit of a challenge, this app is well worth the cost.


This App allows you to search yarns by weight, name, or brand. It seems that they have just about all of the yarns accounted for, though my eye could have missed some.

Once you find the yarn you are looking for, you can get more information on that particular yarn. It gives you some history, then the basics (Brand, Weight, Stitch Gauge, fiber content, and yardage). It also does a good job of listing pros and cons. This is important because not every yarn is perfect. there is also a comment section where you can see other peoples feedback on the yarn.

What would I wish of this App? I'm probably asking alot, but i'll give it a shop. So I know that I would likely be using this app while I am out yarn shopping. If I am doing online shopping, I wouldn't be picking up my phone, I would be going online to Ravelry. That being said, I would like this app to have a "locate me" feature, so that if you are looking up a yarn you could see Local Yarn stores that carry the yarn. Right now, it only lists websites. It also lists online prices (ie: yarn.com which is typically lower priced than the LYS)

I know, this is probably a dream, but wouldn't it be awesometo look up "Brooklyn tweeds shelter" and see that "YAY it's at the shop that's two miles away!!!! instead of. . . oh, 3 days for shipping, what do I cast on in the meantime.

All in all, I can totally see the value of this app, and I am sure I will put it to good use on my phone.

Yarn Along 11/11

From small things

~ Two of my favorite things are knitting and reading, and the evidence of this often shows up in my photographs. I love seeing what other people are knitting and reading as well. So, what are you knitting or crocheting right now? What are you reading? Take a photo and share it either on your blog or on Flickr. Leave a link below to share your photo with the rest of us! ~

I Just acquired a Kindle, an couldn't be happier. I just finished Reading "In Leah's Wake." I had high hopes for this book. the story was great. I wasn't loving the writing style, but stuck out hte book because I liked the story. the ending was a little to "neat" for my liking. But it kept my attention, and I never put it down, so I guess that is saying a lot.

 

As for the project, Koolhaas. This is one of my favorite patterns. I have made it a number of times (I think this could be my 4th. I am working on this one for a co-workers of my Step mothers that is going through Chemo. I LOVE this hat. It is a great pattern and just perfection. 

Why We kit Wednesday - Liz

Thank you again for indulging my little sociology project. This weeks Why We knit comes to us from Liz. 

Why do I knit? Hmm. I think that answer has changed over the years. When my kids were small and I was a SAH mom, knitting saved my sanity. I needed something to keep my brain working. Now, knitting means friends, getting together. It's the best way for me to use my creative instincts and create something useful and beautiful.

Well, let's break this one down. .

First things first, I have an amazing admiration for Stay at Home mom's. I don't know how you do it. I don't have children of my own, I am a proud aunt who enjoys spending time with my nephew, introducing him to new music (he's a big Ben Folds Fan and calls Josh Groban "Uncle Josh"). But when I am done,I give him back to his happily waiting mom. I am so glad that knitting can provide some sense of sanity to stay at home moms.

Friends: I would like to tell you how I met Liz. It was my first time at Rhinebeck and nutmegknitter and I had driven up to New York, and we went to the Ravelry Party.(Remember the party where they called the cops? Yup, that one). We had parked the car and were walking towards the crowd of crazy crafters. We met Liz. Neither Becca or I are ones to randomly walk up to a stranger and start a conversation, but through knitting we immediately knew that we had something in common. Now when I see another knitter or crocheter I immediately have something to say. I can ask about the yarn, the project, or in general we know something about each-other. It is a fabulous ice breaker.

Making pretty things: I can lose myself on the internet finding beautiful patterns to knit. I love how a ball of string can turn into something beautiful. The photos in this blog post are some of the beautiful things that Liz has created. Thanks Liz for taking part in this project.

So tell me. . . .

Why do you knit? 

Cooking

Along with knittign I really enjoy cooking. I have recently discovered canning. It was a nasty weather day (Snow in October, seriously!!!)

Today I decided to make Cranberry Mustard.The recipe is from. Aside from screwing up the order of the recipe, I thik it came out really great.

AFI Top 100 Films

I have been determined to get through the AFI top 100 films for SUCH a long time. I will keep track of my progress here.

Here is the list: I have crossed off films that I have already see in the past. I may watch them again, but let's try to make this easier.

1	CITIZEN KANE FYI . . . it's a sled	1941
2	THE GODFATHER	1972
3	CASABLANCA	1942
4	RAGING BULL	1980
5	SINGIN' IN THE RAIN DUH, of course I have seen this one.	1952
6	GONE WITH THE WIND	1939
7	LAWRENCE OF ARABIA	1962
8	SCHINDLER'S LIST Saw it in the theatre	1993
9	VERTIGO	1958
10	THE WIZARD OF OZ Step mom's Favorite	1939
11	CITY LIGHTS	1931
12	THE SEARCHERS	1956
13	STAR WARS	1977
14	PSYCHO	1960
15	2001: A SPACE ODYSSEY	1968
16	SUNSET BLVD.	1950
17	THE GRADUATE	1967
18	THE GENERAL	1927
19	ON THE WATERFRONT	1954
20	IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE Moms Fave	1946
21	CHINATOWN	1974
22	SOME LIKE IT HOT	1959
23	THE GRAPES OF WRATH	1940
24	E.T. THE EXTRA-TERRESTRIAL	1982
25	TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD	1962
26	MR. SMITH GOES TO WASHINGTON	1939
27	HIGH NOON	1952
28	ALL ABOUT EVE This movie has such amazing one liners.	1950
29	DOUBLE INDEMNITY	1944
30	APOCALYPSE NOW	1979
31	THE MALTESE FALCON	1941
32	THE GODFATHER PART II	1974
33	ONE FLEW OVER THE CUCKOO'S NEST	1975
34	SNOW WHITE AND THE SEVEN DWARFS	1937
35	ANNIE HALL	1977
36	THE BRIDGE ON THE RIVER KWAI	1957
37	THE BEST YEARS OF OUR LIVES	1946
38	THE TREASURE OF THE SIERRA MADRE	1948
39	DR. STRANGELOVE	1964
40	THE SOUND OF MUSIC So many family memories of this movie.	1965
41	KING KONG	1933
42	BONNIE AND CLYDE	1967
43	MIDNIGHT COWBOY	1969
44	THE PHILADELPHIA STORY	1940
45	SHANE	1953
46	IT HAPPENED ONE NIGHT	1934
47	A STREETCAR NAMED DESIRE	1951
48	REAR WINDOW	1954
49	INTOLERANCE	1916
50	THE LORD OF THE RINGS: THE FELLOWSHIP OF THE RING fairly confident that i saw this on opening night.	2001
51	WEST SIDE STORY	1961
52	TAXI DRIVER	1976
53	THE DEER HUNTER	1978
54	M*A*S*H	1970
55	NORTH BY NORTHWEST	1959
56	JAWS	1975
57	ROCKY	1976
58	THE GOLD RUSH	1925
59	NASHVILLE	1975
60	DUCK SOUP	1933
61	SULLIVAN'S TRAVELS	1941
62	AMERICAN GRAFFITI	1973
63	CABARET	1972
64	NETWORK	1976
65	THE AFRICAN QUEEN	1951
66	RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK	1981
67	WHO'S AFRAID OF VIRGINIA WOOLF?	1966
68	UNFORGIVEN	1992
69	TOOTSIE	1982
70	A CLOCKWORK ORANGE	1971
71	SAVING PRIVATE RYAN  Saw is in the theatre. I was amazed by the opening sequence. I never thought you could hear underwater. the sounds were incredible.	1998
72	THE SHAWSHANK REDEMPTION  I LOVE this movie. I can't watch it enough.	1994
73	BUTCH CASSIDY AND THE SUNDANCE KID	1969
74	THE SILENCE OF THE LAMBS I know most lines i this movie, and it still freaks me out. I love it.	1991
75	IN THE HEAT OF THE NIGHT	1967
76	FORREST GUMP I remember seeing this movie in the theatre, and I still love it.	1994
77	ALL THE PRESIDENT'S MEN	1976
78	MODERN TIMES	1936
79	THE WILD BUNCH	1969
80	THE APARTMENT	1960
81	SPARTACUS	1960
82	SUNRISE	1927
83	TITANIC	1997
84	EASY RIDER	1969
85	A NIGHT AT THE OPERA	1935
86	PLATOON	1986
87	12 ANGRY MEN	1957
88	BRINGING UP BABY	1938
89	THE SIXTH SENSE creepy...........	1999
90	SWING TIME	1936
91	SOPHIE'S CHOICE	1982
92	GOODFELLAS	1990
93	THE FRENCH CONNECTION	1971
94	PULP FICTION	1994
95	THE LAST PICTURE SHOW	1971
96	DO THE RIGHT THING	1989
97	BLADE RUNNER	1982
98	YANKEE DOODLE DANDY	1942
99	TOY STORY  love it., love it, love it. and I feel all three films should tie for this umber because the trilogy is just perfect.	1995
100	BEN-HUR	1959

Weekend WIP : The Circus tent hat. . (AKA the Joy of Short Rows)

I discovered the joy of short row knitting when I made my first multidirectional scarf  I Love this pattern, and if you have never tried short row knitting, this is the perfect start. I have re knit this pattern multiple times, and have loved it every time.

I went on Ravelry to find some interesting hat patterns so that I could challenge myself a bit while working on Pat Pat's hats . I came across the Short Row Sideways Hat on Ravelry. This pattern was designed by Kristi Porter at the Domesticsphere. Be sure to check out her patterns, they really are great. So now I give you the
Circus Tent Hat.

 

I have had this particular skein of yarn for so long. I remember when nutmegknitter and I were at her house and she was being incredibly generous with her stash. She got this yarn from the All Raveled up Sock Club from Blue Hands Fibers on Etsy. We were both amazed how this particular yarn wound up into the cake. It was PLAID!!! Sure enough, it was just as fun to knit. I love how the playful colors made a joyful hat. I had to give it a fun name. 

I stuck with the pattern for this hat, and I got a great preemie hat with just a little bit of sock yarn. If you are new to my blog you will discover that while I LOVE sock yarn, I am not a sock knitter. This sock yarn made an adorable preemie hat, and it is even soft enough to wear. I can't wait to donate it. 

Why We Knit Wednesday-- Nutmegknitter

Thank you all for your kind comments on my post last week, it was a wonderful homecoming to my blog. I am intrigued by this question, because as we all know you can buy socks at walmart, sweaters at Old Navy, and hats at Target. . . Why knit?

I hope to have visitors to my Blog with their responses to this questions. We will start with Nutmegknitter. She is not only a fantastic knitter, she is also a fabulous mom and most importantly to me a wonderful friend. In her house, I am known as "aunt Betsy, your knitting friend" I don't know if I am allowed another catagory, but I'll take it.


Why do you knit? 
It makes me slow down and focus, one St at a time. It is relaxing and quiets my brain.

Couldn't have said it better myself. She is a great one for finding just the right thing to say. I have a large and sometimes overwhelming family. When I am without my knitting, or a spindle, I feel awkward and I never really know what to say with them. With my knitting, I am relaxed, the chaos around me doesn't seem so bad. No matter how fast  you knit, and some people are pretty speedy, knitting takes individual stitches that must be crafted individually. Each one must be in the right place, or the pattern is lost.

Thank you Becca for being the guinea pig at this project, so now I ask you. . .


Why do you knit?

Work/train knitting

I openly admit to my knitting addiction. I have knitting with me all of the time, I get nervous when I don't have knitting, I think about knitting, I eye patterns when on the train and think "I wonder if I could figure out that pattern?".

I typically have multiple patterns on the needles. I tend to have something challenging (maybe involving lace, cables, or (GASP) the need to keep a proper Gauge. I always have a work.train project. I am fortunate that I can knit, and sometimes spin, at work. This is a huge bonus, I am aware of this. I work in software support and I spend a lot of time on the phone. That means I can easily pick up my knitting and work on a project. Train/work knitting should be carefully planned. It shouldn't involve counting, it should be easily picked up and started, and just as easily put down.

Thankfully, I LOVE knitting hats!!! Hats are my travel knitting. Many people have socks, I always have a hat.Apologies for the crappy photo quality.

I was able to complete the hat pictures in one night. (While meeting the yarn harlot, more on that later as she deserves her own post).

This hat, and the one in progress, will be donated to Pat Pat's hats. I find hats to be wonderful travel knitting. They are easy, fun, versatile, and can be knit with almost every yarn. I enjoy adding little patterns to make them more interesting. Hats also give me a chance to try out my own pattern ideas.

Yarn: Farmhouse Yarns I'm Allergic to Wool. I've always enjoyed this yarn. It is soft, has great texture, and makes awesome hats!

Weekend WIP: Epiphany Ishbel

I decided to take a break from hats, and get started on some Holiday knitting. I don't know that I have ever knit something for my Step mom, so I decided to make her an Ishbel. I Love this pattern, I have made it before and I love mine.

I am making the scarf out of Cascade Epiphany. This yarn is Heavenly, that's all I can say. I just love it.

The only problem, I've become too much of a perfectionist, and I can't seem to get it in my head to keep track of my stitch count. So here I am, after frogging the lace for the third time, working on the Ishbel. I am finding this pattern much more challenging than the last time I worked on it. Maybe I need this knitting challenge, but seriously? it's holiday knitting season folks, I need my knitting brain back! Not more autopilot knitting.

I purchases the Yarn at Minds Eye Yarn in Cambridge, MA. I cannot say enough wonderful things about Lucy at Minds Eye. When I started my spinning wheel shopping (Yes, I got one) I went to visit Lucy. She sat with me for almost 2 hours. I didn't end up buying my wheel from her (some day I will have a bigger place and I will get my Ashford Traditional, which was SO much fun to knit with).

Anyway, if you are visiting Boston, check out this spot. It's wonderful. I really love it and don't get there often enough. It is directly off the red line in porter square. A great spot to visit for knitters andNon-Knitters alike.

FO friday: Irish Hiking Cowl

The Irish Hiking scarf is one of my favorite patterns, I have always thought it was simply perfect. I wanted to make a cowl for my sister for Christmas, so I decided to modify this pattern into a cowl. I couldn't have been more thrilled with the outcome of this project. from the color, to the fit, to the yarn. I was so pleased.

Yarn: madelinetish Baltic

Purchased at: either webs or Windsor button (multiple skeins, multiple shops)

Buttons: purchased at seed stitch a fine yarn in Salem, Ma

Knit for: my sister Jennifer

Introducing Pat Pats Hats!!

Introducing Pat Pats Hats!!!!!

Okay, so in yesterdays post I mentioned knitting when I found out my nephew was sick. Well, here it goes. . .

On Aug. 30th my nephew was brought to Yale New Haven Children's Hospital Emergency Room. For a few days he had been complaining of a "boo boo " on his head and he was vomiting. The Doctor told my sister that it was likely a stomach bug when the symptoms presented, unfortunately, he wasn't getting better. The doctor told my sister to take him to the ER.

The Doctors int he ER were amazing, and immediately took Patrick into an MRI (he will never be an astronaut, he now hates space ships). The MRI revealed a mass on the back of Patrick's brain.

The next day, Patrick went into surgery to remove 3 brain tumors. We were informed that these tumors were malignant, and Patrick had Medulloblastoma.

We know that Patrick, after everything, will be okay. He will be enduring 6 months of Chemo to ensure that there are no lingering cancer cells, but in the end this little man is going to grow up and hopefully never remember this experience.

As a knitter, the first thing that I did when I found out about Patrick's impending surgery, I knit a hat. Then i found out about chemo, I knit another one. What else was I supposed to do, I'm a knitter and my nephew is bald. It's the PERFECT excuse to stash dive and cast on.

I decided that rather than only knitting for Patrick,I could knit for others (also, the stress of the situation made me forget just how big Patrick has gotten in his almost 3 years, and one of the hats was CLEARLY meant for a preemie). This got me thinking. . . . What if I asked people to donate hats to the hospital?

Thus Pat Pat's Hats was born

On January 6th 2012 (a few weeks after Patrick's 3rd birthday) we will be donating hats to Yale New Haven Children's Hospital. I am looking for hats of all shapes and sizes. . the softer the better. These hats will be donated to the hospital so that the children receiving treatment can take a hat home if they need one.

How much does it take to knit one hat? barely a skein?maybe a day or two?I know that you can do it, and these kids are sure to appreciate it.

I need to personally thank nutmegknitter and the yarn harlot who have helped spread the word about this project.

I hope to be able to donate hats every year, so keep those needles and hooks moving!!!

if you would like more details about the project you can check out our facebook page, or you can email me at
patpats.hats at gmail.com

Also, the Ravelry Group has been created
http://www.ravelry.com/groups/pat-pats-hats

Why We Knit Wednesday

photo.jpg, a photo by theatreknitter on Flickr.

I can't believe that I have been gone from my blog for so long. Last night I had a fabulous experience and realized that I have been gone for too long. This could be what is missing from my life. So I am back. More on Last night in another Post, tonight I am thinking about a question. . .

Why do we knit?
Clearly there are easier ways to get a scarf, a hat, a pair of socks, a sweater, some lace. . . So why do we do it. I asked this question on Plurk and Twitter, and I will ask it to you. .

Why do you knit?

Why do I knit? To Cope.

I can personally remember the fist day I purchased needles. Nope, I really can. It was Sat. Sept 8th 2001. I remember this because I returned home from Michael's Crafts in High Point North Carolina with a pair of needles and a skein of yarn. I'm fairly certain it was pink. Right when I got home I was informed that my Boppie was dying in CT. I went through the next couple of days, I wandered around hoping that I would get home in time to see him, and learning how to knit. Then on Tuesday Sept 11, 2011. . . well we all know what happened that day.. . but I wandered through that day trying to figure out how to get home, because my Boppie had mere days to live.

For my early knitting projects I remember a pink scarf, I remember a hat, I remember a Christmas stocking. But I will always remember the day I purchased my first set of needles, and where I was.

Throughout the years, knitting ultimately became something that I always had with me, and over the past year it has helped me cope with terribly stressful situations.
This past year. . . . well. . . It has been awful. I won't beat around the bush about that.


When my aunt was passing away last October I was working on some blankets. The intention was for them to be given to my cousin and her new twins. unfortunately I don't knit very well when incredibly stressed. I have those blankets still, and I am reminded of the love that was surrounding my aunt during her last moments of life.

Sadly I don't remember what I was knitting while my Grandmother was passing in January, but I do have the February Lady Sweater that I knit for her as an 80th birthday gift. I loved knitting that sweater, and I think she enjoyed having it. Well, at least I hope she did. I wear the sweater with pride now. It doesn't quite fit, and it's a bit pilled, but I don't care.

This year, in early August, I received a call that my father fell off a cliff. . . no really he did. . . he fell 15 feet into a ravine. He broke multiple bones, but is alive and walking. When I was taking the train to meet him. . . . I had knitting.

And when I found out that my nephew was having brain cancer, I knit a hat (see more about that project in another post.

So why do I knit. To cope. sometimes it's stress, sometimes it's family situations, sometimes it's death, sometimes it's coping after a bad day.

Why do I knit?

to Cope

Why do you knit?