Knitting & Crochet

Posted by Renee Blixt

I love fishnet stockings.



Let me rephrase. I love wearing fishnet stockings. Okay, actually that was awhile back. In an attempt to be considerate of others, I don’t wear them anymore. No one wants to see that.



I never did like nylons. They itch. They’re unbearably hot. They’re not machine- washable. They cost $24.00 per pair and get runs in them within 15 minutes of putting them on. They give legs an unnatural tan. They bag with wear and contribute to elephant calves. They are extremely difficult to maneuver in the ladies’ room. They add a filmy, scratchy layer of skin to their wearer. And, truth be told, unless you get the expensive ones, they just look funny.



So, because of the aforementioned issues, I was drawn to fishnets—not necessarily because of how they looked, but because of how easy they were to wear. They’re comfortable as well as a bit sturdier. They breathe.



I’m not talking solely about the type that most of us are familiar with (black with holes about the size of a quarter.) Fishnets are now available with smaller netting in all the colors imaginable. Contrary to popular belief, they don’t have to look “cheap.” A light beige pair made up of smaller holes can look perfectly business-like; gray stockings of the like are timelessly elegant.



Recently, I came across a lovely crochet book, and I featured it in an article. It’s got all types of wonderful patterns, but one in particular caught my eye. You guessed it—crochet stockings. These are NOT socks; they are feminine fishnets. They’re pretty, they’re practical, and they’re gorgeous enough to make me think about wearing them again.



Relax--it was just a thought. *smile*

Posted by Renee Blixt

How many of us learned how to knit or crochet (or both!) from our mothers or grandmothers?



My grandma taught me how to cross-stitch when I was 8 years old. My very first project was a tote bag made to carry all my hoops and threads. She thought so very much of it.



I found that bag a couple of days ago. It really wasn’t very good, but I sure do think a lot of her for not saying so and thereby encouraging me to keep going.



This Mother’s Day, I encourage all knitters, crocheters, embroiderers, seamstresses, and crafters to recognize the teacher in their mothers. They were the ones who taught us so many “firsts.”



If you yourself are a mother, take this Mother’s Day to teach your daughters or sons the craft you most love. It’s most definitely a win-win situation.



Happy Mother’s Day to all you moms, moms-to-be, and to those women who are like moms to others. Thanks for all you do!

Posted by Renee Blixt

Greetings Dear Readers,



I’ve just completed the Physical Therapy Program I started weeks ago. It was…very…intense. Wow. I must admit that I’m glad it’s over, but I did meet a bunch of fantastic people that I won’t soon forget. They made me laugh when we should probably have been crying, and I know that they kept me sane at times. Yes, it was very, very tough. But I wouldn’t trade the experience or my new friendships away.



In addition to making so many new friends, I learned a lot about myself, as well as my injury. I needed to learn to cope with it, to manage it, and to live with it.



So, I suppose the question may be—Have I? Have I learned how?



Well, I certainly was taught skills that will allow me to be proactive against the injury I sustained a while back. And, I’ve established some lifestyle changes that will be of great assistance. I am also more educated than ever before about dealing with pain.



But, most importantly, I met people that were inspirational in the way they lived their lives. If I can do things the way they do, and have the terrific attitude that is displayed by them all the time, then I’ll be okay.



Yes, I have learned how.



Thanks everyone! And now, back to our regularly scheduled programming… :o)

Posted by Renee Blixt

Hello Dear Readers,

This week, I started an intensive physical therapy program to address an old injury that refuses to be ignored any longer. While I've been able to take my knitting with me, I haven't been able to keep in touch with you--hence, the purpose of this blog.

My writing has slowed considerably for now, but I'm not going anywhere. I want to thank all of you for your patience and for your warm wishes. This is the hardest thing I've ever personally taken on...well, maybe it's not fair isle, but you get the picture.

The response I get when I take knitting out of my bag is absolutely amazing--on the rare occassion at therapy where I'm not lying broken on the floor or crying. :o) There are SO MANY knitters and crocheters EVERYWHERE! It's an instant bonding moment when they come on over to talk about yarn, as well as everything else under the sun.

Lesson learned? Sure thing. No matter where I go or what I do, knitters and crocheters are there for me. Thank you for that.

Posted by Renee Blixt

I've mentioned before how much I love one of the perks of writing--meeting people in the industry. It never gets old. Not even when it happens twice in one week.



This week, I not only got introduced to a fun new game and a whole new product in the crafting industry, but I got to meet its creator—Hannah Braun-Ellen.



Hannah, who is a very gracious and sincerely nice person, sent me her “Bead Trade” game. My friends and I played it last weekend, and we had a blast.



We played it “poker-style,” because that’s the type of game this particular gang likes. Although I lost, it was worth it because we had so much fun.

This is just a little thank you note to her. It's also an invitation to visit Hannah’s site.



Thanks, Hannah! It was so very nice meeting you!

Posted by Renee Blixt

I've mentioned before how much I love one of the perks of writing--meeting people in the industry. This week, I not only got to know one of my favorite websites very, very well, but I had an excellent tour guide. Her name is Angela Modzelewski.

I contacted her at KnitPicks.com to get permission to review their website and some of their products. She was very gracious and made sure that I had what I needed to complete a good review.

This is just a little thank you note to her. It's also an invitation to visit Knit Picks, and in particular, Angela.

Thanks, Angela! It was nice meeting you.

Posted by Renee Blixt

I found my husband today scratching his head looking in our closet. He had a question for me.



“Why does the closet look like exploded Teletubbies?”



Okay, so, I haven’t looked in on my “insulated closet” recently. I peered over his shoulder.



It does resemble a Muppet junkyard.



For all NT’s (Normal Types) who may be reading, most yarners have what is sometimes referred to as an insulated closet. Some call it stash, and some call it stuff. But, it’s all the same—it’s where we keep our yarn. And, there’s usually a lot of it.



“I’ll help you clear it out.”



Huh.



I requested that he sit down for just a bit.



I asked my dear, sweet husband to please realize that he is about to enter sacred terrain. This area is holy and good. It is spiritual to fiber enthusiasts. It is muted and soft; it is visually soothing, and tactically therapeutic.



I explained that like the oracle of Delphi, yarners go to their altars of yarn and listen. We sit near it, and it reveals to us what it should be made into.



I informed him that Michelangelo, the sculptor, would receive a piece of marble, study it, touch it, and listen to it. He said each block of marble already knew what it wanted to be, and needed to be, and that he would do what should be. We yarners are not unlike Michelangelo. We love yarn, and we love what it can become.



I told him I was simply waiting. To hear. The yarn.



I’d get to it. Really, you can’t rush these things.



He slowly stood up, tucked in a couple of loose strands, and wisely closed the door.



He’s not so bad for an NT.

Posted by Renee Blixt

A few weeks ago, I asked my readers to tell me what men want in a sweater. Teaming those results with those from Knitting Daily’s poll, we know now what men want when it comes to sweaters.



Knitting Daily, a knitting e-zine, released their results to the question, “What do men want in a sweater?” on January 11, 2008. My findings were very similar.



“The Perfect Men's Sweater is a long-sleeved pullover (80%), without a hood (64%). It is dark in color (90%), preferably solid blue (82%). It has minimal texture (68%), although something subtle, such as a bit of ribbing, is acceptable (58%).



“Cables were a popular second option (46%). Second choice color was black (76%), followed by brown (72%). Charcoal grey was a big write-in winner. Heathers and tweeds had very respectable followings, as did forest green. Camouflage and sports team colors were also mentioned a number of times, as were puce, lime green, and pastel pink.”



I’ve also talked to the men in my life about this, and they confirmed the findings. Maybe not the puce.

(I'm also wondering about the lime green and pastel pink. But puce?)



So, there it is. What men want has been revealed—well, at least what they want in knit and crochet.



Now, if we could only get them to pick up the needles themselves…life would be complete. Oh, wait—that and picking up their underwear off the floor. :)

Posted by Renee Blixt

Recently, I read in a scientific magazine that there is a theory that states that small black holes exist in addition to the better-known large ones in space. The theory states that these holes are powerful vacuums as well as doorways to other times and places.

I subscribe to this theory.

I subscribe to this theory because I have one somewhere on my couch. It has to be there, because that’s where I do much of my fiber work, and consequently, that’s where a lot of my hooks and needles disappear. Coincidence? I think not.

I have no other explanation as to how this happens, than to believe the scientists that claim these small black holes could lead to parallel universes.

Here’s what I’m thinking. There is a parallel universe that connects to my couch, and the doorway to it is one of those newfangled tiny black holes. That parallel place is a happy place—a land of plenty—where hooks, needles, stitch markers, and buttons are abundant.

I’m not just some crazy yarn lady who should take up doctor-supervised basket weaving. The scientists back me up.

It's liberating; I see things differently now. I sat on a needle today, and surprisingly, I wasn’t upset. It didn’t bother me that I had to extract it from my nether regions. In fact, I was quite happy, as I’ve been looking for that needle for weeks.

Now that I think about it, perhaps there are several of these tiny black holes in my home. I’m missing a few socks in the laundry, and I see no reason as to why this theory wouldn’t apply.

I urge all of you to explore this possibility in your own homes.

I’m going to go check the couch for my car keys.

Posted by Renee Blixt

There are certainly perks to writing for a living—working at home, living creatively, knitting at work…;o) But, my favorite is meeting people I’ve admired for a long time.

Needless to say, it’s thrilling.

A couple of weeks ago, I met (via email) a person I’ve admired for a while—Lisa Gentry. She’s been on several needle-work shows and is a successful designer. I wrote an article about her a few weeks ago, and lo and behold—she contacted me!

Lisa is a soft-spoken, classy, and modest woman. She’s a fabulous designer, in addition to being the race-car star of the yarn arts.

Needless to say, I was thrilled.

Lisa informed me that she was going to try to obtain the Guinness Book of World’s Records’ “fastest knitter” title; she already holds the “fastest crocheter in the world” title. She gave it a shot Monday and succeeded. However, there was a slight glitch with the video camera, and it won’t be officially recognized.

I’m not worried. She’ll try it again in late February. And she’ll succeed. She’s a great person, and she deserves it. I wish the best for Lisa, and truly hope she pulls it off once more.

Needless to say, I’ll be thrilled. Again.