Happpiness via The Royal Mail

What a treat! Included in an order from one of my oldest and dearest "imaginary friends", Julia aka Miss Frugality a special patchwork brooch as a gift. Thank You Julia, I'd like to knit a hat to match it. Visit her etsy shop, materialised and try to guess what I chose for a present.

....Not that Julia is really imaginary, but for some people, it is the easiest explanation of cyber-pals. I did have an imaginary friend in kindergarten, Janet Heikenin, (Kristine's sister) told all kinds of stories about her a-la Miss Tollipop...kept it up for months...the family believed...odd how she never came over to play...

Oh yes, before I forget, if you're in the Handmade gift mood, KriKri is having her annual sale on December Sixth, even online this year. Sparkling, shiny, colorful dishes to die for.

Exciting Update! Miss Tollipop is having a give-away! Visit!

The Time Has Come

It's that time again.... procrastination time... I really want to knit a bus cosy. Right now. No time to waste. Or at least a telephone pole cozy. I know just the one I want to hit first. I think we need to start a Yarnbombing crew, right here in Midcoast Maine. Sign up now!

For inspiration:

International Fiber Collective's Knitted Gas Station

Deputy Dog has a post I can't match.

For the nature oriented Knitted Landscape

Their friends the label-makers Knitwit

Lauren Marsden who knits street signs

The Godmothers of it all: Knitta Please

Yarnbombing Documents it all.

Update: Watch Magda Sayeg sew the final bit of the Bus Cosy in Mexico City HERE

Secret Knitting

You recognize my ever present cure for cold hands, one Frill mitt, but see also there's Secret Knitting plus the cute printed cotton bag I got as a party favor for extending my subscription to Selvedge...my indulgence...worth every penny...enough pennies to fill that sweet little cotton bag. The bag is by Swedish designer Gudrun Sjoden, who invents lovely unexpected color combinations for garments and accessories. I carry my double pointed needles in this bag.

The hidden knitting uses Manos del Uruguay Silk Blends Semi Solids, 70% Merino Wool and 30% silk, which gives it a lustrous sheen. I'm using the color Dove, which ranges from Olive green-grey to palest pink, almost white. I am not as a rule fond of variegated yarns, and had my doubts about this one, but deadlines being what they are, out of necessity I embraced the randomness of the color, ever-changing with the garment shaping. As the work progressed I grew to like the odd, accidental nature of the color placement, giving an effect which reminds me of antique moire silk fabric. Unexpected, and that's nice.

The Newest Member of My Family

Isn't she beautiful? She is a 1957 size 10, which makes her about a size 4 in today's world of sizes. Very pointy, 1957 was most definitely a year for molding and restraining undergarments.
I think her name is Betsy, but I'm not quite sure. She has a tattoo on her back that looks like B and P combined, + C....What do you think?

It's 1957.....Betsy, Penny,+ Carol?

Today's Papers

See more front pages HERE at the Newseum.org

Seen in the Neighborhood