Our Very Own Celebrity

Posted on July 12, 2009 by Heather

Okay, I will admit that the other day I said we needed a celebrity to help promote cross stitch.  But, I wasn’t exactly thinking of Frank Bielec (Trading Spaces and Mosey ‘n Me)  when I said that.  I was thinking, you know, if it was a man, someone like Brad Pitt or whoever is hot this week.

Anyway, Hoffman Distributing and Frank Bielec have a new promotion that involves a free chart, supplies and cross stitch lessons.  Just take a look:

For more information, you can go to the Hoffman site.  The chart is also avaliable for download there.

I think I will stitch this up myself, just to see what it looks like finished.  And maybe it will encourage all my knitting-only readers to give it a go too!  Let me know if you give it a try.

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White Roses and Snow Lace

Posted on July 11, 2009 by Heather

I’m sorry about the lack of posts this week.  No, I haven’t been buried in a pile of garbage, although the husband and I are thinking about heading downtown tonight for dinner and goodness knows what the situation is like there now. And to quickly answer some of the questions about the strike all we know is that the union says the strike will go on all summer because they won’t back down.  And yes, they did strike a few years ago but they were legislated back to work partly because the Pope was coming.  All we have this year is Beyonce and Lil’ Wayne.  Yeah…

So, what have I been up to then?  Well, taking Baby Man to the park (where he has some trouble holding his own against the older kids), reading (I highly recommend The Idle Parent by Tom Hodgkinson), knitting, and cross stitching.

On my knitting needles right now is Ribbed Lace Bolero from Kelly at 10 feet high.  I’m knitting it using Lion Brand’s Cotton-Ease in colour Snow, which is a really nice cotton/acrylic blend.  I would most likely use it again if I came across a project it would work for.  Here’s where I am on the project so far, just three more rows of lace left and then the finally 3″ of ribbing.  I’m planning on wearing this to a wedding in two weeks, so I am ahead of schedule.

ribbedlace-july11,2009

I also finally finished up my latest crochet project, Market Tote from the Spring/Summer 2009 issue of Knit 1.  I used Universal Yarn’s Summer Linen in colour Sky Blue, a cotton/linen blend.  Again, this is a nice yarn. I think I would use it again for a light summer tank.  As for the bag… well, it is much smaller than I expected and looks a little home-made, and not really in a good way.  Maybe it will look better with use.

Market Bag, folded, July 2009Market Bag folded into bottom

Market Bag, July 2009Market Bag unfolded

As for cross stitch, I haven’t been working on Baby Man’s stocking.  But, I have still been working on one of my July goals: his birth sampler.  I’ve made some good progress on Victoria Sampler’s Heirloom Birth Sampler over the past couple of days.  I’m using the ribbon thread kit, DMC perle cotton and floss and 32ct Platinum Belfast. (The fabric was originally intended for Ink Circle’s Growth Rings, but this was more important.  And I’ve just reassigned Growth Rings to the fabric that was for Quaker Seasons from TGOS and that has been reassigned to some random unlabelled fabric.  So, it all works out.  Am I the only one who does this?)

birthsampler-july11,2009

In the original version of the piece, those three sided stitches at the bottom are pulled very tightly.  I decided that I didn’t want to do that.  I was also a little free in the placement of my leaves and beads, but I was very careful about where the roses when since I knew they would provide me with a base to work from.

I hope to finish up the bolero this weekend and maybe get a couple more rows done on the birth sampler.  One thing I am upset about, though, is that the strike caused the HazMat pick-up scheduled at our building for today to be cancelled.  And they were going to be giving out Air Miles points!  Now the strike really has hit home!

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The Garbage, She Overflows

Posted on July 8, 2009 by Heather

As you may (or probably not) know, Toronto city workers are on strike.  That means public pools and daycares are closed.  As are the city archives, city golf courses, and city-run museums and art galleries (not the ROM and AGO though), and a whole lot more.  Worst of all, there is no garbage collection.  (Except out here in Etobicoke, where residential garbage pickup is contracted out.  And yes, I live in another city, but it is still part of Toronto.  Don’t ask me to explain amalgamation.  I don’t understand it myself.)  So, we have a situation where we have a lovely scene like this:

mimicocreek

a block and a half away from a scene like this:

lotsogarbage

Disgusting, isn’t it?  Thankfully the weather has been unseasonably cool, so it only smells bad rather then stinks.  But, with the temperature set to jump this weekend, I can only imagine how awful it is going to be.

Now, the city was trying to be smart about the garbage sitution at the start of the strike.  Below is a picture taken by Danielle Scott from the Toronto Strike Flickr stream.

3655175967_1b3feeaf17

The sign reads “Temporarily out of service.  Please do not litter.”  Guess how long they lasted?

I’m not going to vent about the strike or share my feelings about union/management negotiations.  All I will say is that everyone who has a job right now should be thankful.  And I’m thankful that the smelly garbage situation gives me an excuse to stay inside and stitch.

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Green Blob

Posted on July 7, 2009 by Heather

The green blob Baby Surprise Jacket is done!  Take a look:

Baby Surprise Jacket - unfolded

And with a bit of a folding it turns into this:

Baby Surprise Jacket - folded

Crazy and amazing, isn’t it?  Even if you don’t care for knitting, you have to appreciate the genius of the design.

For those who know this pattern, I did make a couple of changes.  I added two rows of eyelets (yo, k2tog) and made bobble buttons.  I knit it using Mary Maxim’s Baby’s Best yarn in colour Mint, and it took me just under 2 skeins.  My gauge is 6 stitches per inch, and this looks like it will fit a baby up to about 6 months, assuming they aren’t too pudgy!  I just need to seam up the sleeves, which I will do after I ask a couple questions at my knitting finishing class tomorrow evening.

It was a quick and easy knit, just knitting every row with decreases and increases where necessary.  I used the new line by line pattern that Schoolhouse Press released a little while back, rather than Elizabeth Zimmermann’s original “pithy” directions.  I’m still too much of a novice to try to decipher what she is trying to say.

I haven’t been cross stitching much.  Well, that isn’t true.  Yesterday afternoon I spent a couple of hours out on the balcony stitching on Baby Man’s stocking.  I was making good progress until I was chased inside by a couple of bees.  I’m terrified of them.  So much so that I will abandon my stitching to get away.  I wonder, does anyone know a pretty and free bee cross stitch pattern?  Maybe if I stitch one I won’t be so afraid.  But don’t get me started on wasps! 😛  I think I will never get over my fear of them.

You stitchers out there might be interested in this: Volarium is having a contest for Cross Stitch Letters Bible by Valerie Lejeune. It is a 712 page book with patterns for over 800 alphabets!  Isn’t that fabulous?  I’ve been looking for a great alphabet book for ages, something that isn’t all children’s theme stuff, and it looks like this book is it!  If you are interested, head over to their blog for more information–Volarium: Contest and summer vacation

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Constructing Santa

Posted on July 5, 2009 by Heather

If you follow my Twitter feed (@silverlotus152 or posted in my sidebar), you’ll know that I’ve been working on Baby Man’s Christmas stocking.  I’ve made fair progress on it so far, aided by the fact that Dimensions likes to use a lot of half stitches in their designs.  Yes, I’m doing a Dimensions kit.  They do tend to drive me crazy with their use of all full stitches, but I’m soldiering on this time and not worrying about trying to adjust them like I usually do.  I want to make sure I get it done in time for Christmas this year.

stocking-july5,2009

It is Dimensions’  Naughty or Nice Stocking, but I have changed the fabric to a 28ct lugana.  I’m not sure what I will do with the Aida the kit came with.  I so rarely use it any more–mainly when I want sturdy fabric, like for Lynne Nicoletti’s fortune tellers or for simple kits that are mainly done to pass the time.  I might, though, use Aida to do the Wheel of the Year pillow that is in the new Joan Elliot book since I want that to be sturdy too.  But I digress.

I’ve also mentioned on my Twitter feed that I’ve been knitting Elizabeth Zimmermann’s iconic Baby Surprise Jacket.  Here’s my progress so far, done in Mary Maxim’s Baby’s Best in colour Mint.

bsj-july5,2009

Yes, it really that will be a baby jacket.  Amazing, eh?  Elizabeth Zimmermann was a genius.  (To those who know the pattern, I added an eyelet row just to jazz it up.  I might add another one on the back 90 stitching.)

I did finally get that first pink sock bound off.  I went up two needle sizes to a 3.25mm to do it, and truthfully, it is still a bit of a squeeze to get it over my heel.  Maybe toe-up socks aren’t for me.  I’ve never run into this sort of problem with top-down.  I’ve cast on the second sock and made a bit of headway with it.  I really want to get these done so I can get started on these Lily of the Valley Socks.

toeup-july5,2009

For those who don’t remember, the pattern is Toe-up Socks with a Difference by Wendy Knits in Mary Maxim Bamboo Soft Stripes in colourway Hibiscus.  The colour is just a little bit off, but they are very pink.

And, to go back to stitching, I have made a little bit of progress on Part 3 of Castles in the Air.  I might work on it more this week, since I feel that I have good progress with the stocking.  Ultimately, it depends how the spirit moves me.

cita-july5,2009

And a couple pieces of news.  First, it looks like Lynne Nicoletti is feeling better and designing again!  Her new Baby Booties design is adorable!  I can’t wait to see her next paper doll.

Also, check out this post by Stitch Bitch: Crafta-tista-liscious-ness.  While I would love to see more young people stitching, I have to agree with what she is saying.  Those “hipsters” who have turned to stitching aren’t really all that hip and are just a little annoying.  Yeah, I can be a bit hypocritical sometimes.  I don’t only want people to stitch the things I like, but I do want people to take the time to learn the craft and have respect for it.  And it would be nice if they released that nekkid people have been done to death.  They aren’t shocking and cool. 😛

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Cross Stitchers’ Public Awareness League

Posted on July 3, 2009 by Heather

I’m sure we are all aware that knitting is undergoing a huge resurgence.  Even crochet, knitting’s often under-appreciated and much maligned  cousin, is seeing a surge in interest.  On the other hand, it seems like interest in cross stitch, needlepoint and related crafts (obsessions?) is wanning.  I’ve been thinking about this and I wonder if it doesn’t have something to do with one of societies other obsessions: celebrity.

In the knitting world there are a few levels of celebrity: famous people who knit (Julia Roberts, Meryl Streep); designers (Norah Gaughan, Cookie A.); and knitters who stand out for some reason, usually writing (Stephanie Pearl-McPhee the Yarn Harlot).  There is also a whole host of well-loved knitting authors of the past who’s work is still considered required reading for any knitter worth her yarn (Elizabeth Zimmermann).

(As an aside, I was tickled to find out that the fabulous Barbara Walker of knitting fame is the same Barbara Walker who has published books on women’s spirituality and Tarot.  I so wish I could go see her speak at the Sock Summit.)

In the cross stitch world we don’t really seem to have this phenomenon.  There are many well-loved and prolific designers, but where are the celebrity stitchers or the writers who regularly have standing-room-only book tours?

Toronto has four yarns shops that I know of, but no needlework shops.  And when was the last time you saw a character on TV or in a movie do any needlework?  Knitting, though, isn’t unusual to see.  And quilting, well, that seems to be a great favourite of Hollywood.

I do love to knit.  It is quick, fairly easy, and provides me with a garment or decor item when I’m done.  Cross stitch, though, is my favourite handicraft.  The result may “only” give me a decor item, but it is always something of great beauty well worth the long hours spent creating it.

I don’t think that cross stitch will ever see the heights of popularity that knitting has.  It is too time consuming for our instant gratification society.  And, really, it can be fairly expensive even at the most simple levels.  Compare $1.69 for a ball of kitchen cotton to $10 for a small cross stitch kit.  (Although, it is true that a large sweater with fancy yarn can run into the hundreds, but so can a Châtelaine cross stitch design.)   I would love to see more cross stitch celebrities of all stripes, though.  Imagine if Angelina said she loves stitching Teresa Wentzler designs, or if we had our own Floss Harlot to sign the praise of making little Xs over and over again.  What we really need is a Cross Stitch Public Awareness League.

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Happy 142nd Birthday, Canada!

Posted on July 1, 2009 by Heather

Today is Canada Day up here in the Great White North.  Take some time to give your favourite Canadian a little bit of love, and remember that there are more of us around then you think…  (Jim Carrey, Sum 41, Pamela Anderson, Hayden Christensen, Ryan Gosling, and many, many more)

happycanadaday

A little fun bit of Canadian patriotism for you.

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