Tag: knitcity

Knit City Update

Posted on Posted in knitting, life, yarnTagged 10 Comments

This post is an update to my post yesterday.

I am really loving my classes at KnitCity. In addition to Fair Isle Techniques with MJ Mucklestone yesterday, I took Combining Creativity and Culture with Francoise Danoy from Aroha Knits. I enjoyed learning about Maori culture and her design process. I asked her about cultural appropriation. She said she only shares Maori symbols that are okay for anyone to wear, and since she is of Maori descent, she feels supporting her with a purchase of her designs that feature Maori motifs is cultural appreciation, not appropriation, I appreciated her response to that, as it is a topic that comes up a lot in fair trade. I also fell in love with her Ocean Pathways Cowl (Ravelry link) which I’m going to add to my queue.

The happy hour with The Grocery Girls, GG Made It, and La Bien Aimee had over 500 participants! It was a lot of fun, and I think they did a good job trying to make sure everyone felt welcome and had a good time.

My Hansel Hap colors, although I’m using the russet color in J&S not Devonia which is a different fiber content. Except for the fawn katmoget Shetland hanks which I purchased from Ramsey Farms for Shave’Em to Save’Em, this is yarn from my stash and turned out to be perfect together.

Yesterday was Sheep School with Anna Hunter and Shetland Hap Overview with Gudrun Johnson. I learned a lot in both classes. I’m going to start my Hansel Hap soon, and maybe start my farm life in a year or two with chickens, which Anna calls “the gateway animal”. I also took a natural dye garden class with Caitlin Ffrench, and I learned I can use apple tree bark for pink – which I didn’t know – and our black walnut hulls and leaves in dyeing, which I knew but haven’t started collecting. These will be fun things to try that are already growing here. We’ve got a lot of work ahead already just clearing the woods and getting the garden ready for planting.

Today my classes are 5 Steps in Choosing Colors in Fair Isle Knitting with MJ Mucklestone and Wool Traceability with Anna Hunter. I’m sure they will be great. I’ve been really impressed with this event, the teachers, the content, and the professionalism of the event organizers and platform. Maybe some day I’ll be able to attend a Knit City in person!

Note to future Alissa: maybe take less classes next time? They are great but I’m feeling a little overwhelmed. Today I may attend in PJs with the camera off.

One of these Things

Posted on Posted in knitting, sweaters, Works in Progress (WIPs)Tagged , , 17 Comments

Is not like the others. Are you singing the song? Can you guess which thing is not like the others?

I’m sitting on the fence. Should I frog it and reknit it correctly? Will I notice? It doesn’t matter if others will notice. But if I will, there’s a chance I might not wear it. It’s not even conscious. I will be giving this sweater the side eye.

Or can I embrace it? Can I say, “Yep! I’m not perfect! Look at these misplaced increases!” (Points over shoulder.) “But what a beautiful blue. And it’s so warm and cozy!”

My biggest fear is that I will frog it, and then make some other dumb mistake. Why risk it?

At least I know what happened. I dropped a couple of stitches at the beginning of the round, as one will do, and clearly misplaced the beginning of round marker. I won’t be making that mistake again. No sirree. You won’t catch me doing that twice.

I’m going to call it my 2020 sweater. That explains everything. The year, and the hindsight.

What are you working on?

I signed up for classes at the Knit City Virtual Event today. I’m so excited!