elmer fudd hats, e-mail problems..grrr...sweater progress and.....

For any of you out there reading this wondering why I haven't replied to your e-mails, it is because my damned system is "experiencing technical difficulties". I have spent a lot of this day on the phone with tech support trying to resolve the problem but as of this writing---no luck! Now I know I should be philosophical about such matters but right now I am having a hard time with the philosophical approach....grrrrr, grrrrr... and more grrr.......

But on to happier topics. The famous Elmer Fudds have been on display at Sweet Adelines and Tammy and knit-one-one would have made a fortune if we had been willing to sell them. Pointing out to people that they could take the class---coming this weekend---just sometimes does not cut it---especially with the instant gratification crowd! At the suggestion of Jennifer---thank you Jennifer----we made sure to attach the Elmers to the display heads---cunningly of course. People are so "mad for the hats"---Erik's phrase---that they might have ripped them right off and away if it weren't for that cunningly concealed nylon wire.

The Brigitta watch: My sweater is in the process of being sewn together---yeay---are you listening Julie, Susan M, Susan G, Carmen, Kevin,Laura, Theresa--I do so love competitive knitting. But back to the sweater---the sides of the sleeves are finishing nicely but the very tippy top looks bulky no matter what I do----boo hoo

knit-one-one welcomes Sonya Philip this weekend

Here are knit-one-one we are very excited to be hosting a class by KnitSonya herself. This is a first for knit-one-one.

Some of you may remember Sonya from classes at Article Pract and at Imagiknit. Others might remember her for her stirrup cozies.( I think if my ob/gyn doctor had these stirrups, I would actually look forward to my appointments with her.) And some of you know her from the fact this year she is making her teaching debut at Stitches West in 2008. And, may I be the first to point out, she is teaching Sassy Softies at that illustrious venue. If the Sassy Softies name seems familiar to you, yes this is the very same class that Ms Sonya is teaching here at knit-one-one---yes you read it here first!
Ms kimchi Elaine, who always has her ear to the ground, was the one to point this out to me. Imagine yourself at Stitches mentioning nonchalantly that you had already taken the Sassy Softies from KnitSonya---not that you would want to seem to be bragging or anything but isn't it nice to be on the cutting edge and to be the first to do something!

the incredible world of knitters

last week at Rudy's we had 19 people show up---all wonderful people, all working on interesting projects, all engaged and engaging people. I heart knitters! And we had 3 mother- daughter combos: Project a day Kate and Robbie, Kim and her mother Morgan, Celia and her daughter Eva. Randi, the honchita from Bay Area Poodle Rescue also showed up for the first time. We joke at knit-one--one that we do knitting, outings, events and poodles!

I am doing well on the Brigitta---the sweater by the brilliant
Ms Cocoknits.

I want to get it finished quickly because I absoulutely want to try my hand at a
Sassy Softy. The class begins next weekend so I had better keep those fingers flying. This class is being taught by Sonya of KnitSonya, another brilliant designer.

Sonya and Julie are very similar in that fabulous knitting ideas keep spilling out of their minds a mile a minute. When I talk to them, I always have my notebook and pen in my hand so that I can jot down the amazing musings flying out of their brains!

Back to KnitSonya. The green monster has been part of the Sweet Adeline installation and children and adults alike really love it. And of course loads of people want to make that exact Sassy Softy (me too, I should confess!) But Sonya's idea for the class is for people to create their own creatures. However, she knows knitters really well and understands how knitters are drawn to a pattern because of the sample---especially when the sample is so endearing and whimsical. So her solution is: well people can make their own variation of the green guy----sighs of relief all round! (If you see Maggie Monster at Sweet A's, I added a little cumerbund with a pearl fastening---very fetching!)

snowflake stocking, kofi, photographing socks

Some of you commented that Kofi had not made an appearance on the blog for a while so here he is.

The purple something is the snowflake stocking that Ms Kate is going to be teaching next week at knit-one-one. (I am thinking of renaming her Project an hour Kate---she claims that that color work sweater only took a w/e----right!)

But back to Kofi and taking photos of socks
It is really difficult to take a good pic of a sock. In real life the Sophisticated Snowflake Sock is a wonderful item but I have to say in these pics..........well it just doesn't look its best.Emily took the photos on the site and really they are fine but........
I thought that stuffing the sock with Kofi's toys would help but as you can see it is only marginally successful. However, Kofi looks cute, doesn't he?

Which brings me to another issue. Some of you have asked how I can get Kofi to sit still for his pics---in particular the great photos thatChris S took of the knit-one-one studio . The answer dear people is "Treats". (if you don't like dog talk, stop reading now) I buy those big rolls of Natural Balance and cut them up and Mr Kofi is the most well trained, biddable dog when those treats are in my hands. I have also had to train Mr Kofi to go to his bed on command. The reason? Well he has the notion that any man who walks into the house has only one reason to be there-----to play with him. He rushes to his toys, pulls out his rope, rushes over to the poor unsuspecting man and drops it. If the guy doesn't get the hint, Kofi gives a polite little yip. The yip becomes a little bark, then a high pitched bark until Kofi gets his way. Of course not all male guests want to play with him, hence my having to institute the "go to your bed" routine with the previously mentioned treats.

Oh and I forgot to mention that Kate whipped up the
Snowflake Stocking
not for her parents, family, or friends, but for....yes you guessed it Mr Sammie himself. I am sure that Sammie being the discriminating schnoodle that he is requested the color purple---one of the IT colors this season don't you know!

color magic, sweaters, bags

This was a great weekend at knit-one-one. We had the first of our 4 sweater classes with the incomparable Julie W. She was in fine fettle and delighted at the launch of cocoknits. If you haven't already checked it out, hustle on over there. Her patterns are fabulous (but you knew that, right?) and the knitters blocks are flying off the shelf! I mentioned in the class description that Julie is a virago about fit (mind you a lovely virago but a virago nonetheless). So she measured and re-measured our gauge swatches, punched in numbers on her calculator, made squiggles on her paper. Then more measuring, more punching, more squiggles and finally we received the magic words....OK now you can cast on! We had a great time and I will make sure to post pics when I have something to show.

Then we had a magical color class with Ms Punkrawkpurl . First I should mention that Tammy arrived with her stash----bags and bags of yarn. She even had to "hire" Elaine as a pack horse! But back to the class.....

Tammy began by giving a brief, very brief, run-down of color theory and then put everyone to work. The first project was to pick out your LEAST favorite color and then to choose other colors that might go with it. Needless to remark there was a bit of grumbling about this, but then everyone really got into making the least favorite color work with other colors and groups came up with fabulous combinations. There were lots of different activities involving playing with yarns but Tammy finished by getting everyone to actually plan their next project or two.

Elaine planned the colors she is going to use for the
Honeycomb Hex Bag ---the class is starting next Sunday. Janice planned a log cabin blanket, Carrie a baby boy sweater, Cathy a shawl, Peggy a Temescal Bag, Anita also a new bag. When the planning was over we all wanted to rush out and buy yarn for the projects. If you want to see another example of the Honeycomg Hex bag, one is on display at Sweet Adeline's

Cocoknits has launched

Check out Julie Weisenberger's new venture, cocoknits ---see post below for more info. Congratulations Julie!

sumptuous sweater: the brigitta by julie weisenberger

In a few days the cocoknits site will finally launch. Cocoknits is the brainchild of our very own Julie Weisenberger----a fabulously talented designer and teacher. I will make sure that you get notice the very second you can log on----you will see for yourself how marvellous the Julie creations are. And on this Saturday, October 6 she will be teaching
the sumptuous sweater class here at knit-one-one. The men's sweater is the great number from Last Minute Knitted Gifts. The women's sweater is an original cocoknits design----Brigitta. It is knit in super bulky yarn but because of Julie's terrific design, I don't look like a line backer with it on----or at least I don't think I do! Look closely at those gussets on the sides. They make the Brigitta flare out slightly in a most becoming manner. I wore the sample all day yesterday and I cannot tell you how many compliments I got. That is me wearing the sample Julie knit---the sample is a teeny bit small for me but is very smartly comfortable nonetheless. I will start my very own Brigitta under Julie's tutealage in Saturday's class. Kate has also knit the Brigitta----in a lovely grey color and it looks great on her ---boo hoo I forgot to take a pic--sorry.

knit-one-one votes for Rachael our very own yarn-a-go-go

Ok there are loads of knit-one-oners who are fans of Rachael's and she needs our help. Our help I tell you.

In addition to being a fabulous knitter, a great teacher, a wonderful all-round person---our Rachael is also a writer. Now this is where you come in, so read carefully.

Rachael is inches away from having her recently completed novel read by Simon and Schuster. Yes, people she is in a competition----the American Idol of romance writing (I made that up)

She needs your votes. This is what you do:
1
Log on to:
the SECOND chapter of her book

2
Read/scan/skim the chapter----your choice

3
VOTE----give the chapter a 10----anything else doesn't count

4 Note: They make you register but do NOT send you spam or otherwise bug you----I know because I registered for the first chapter.

5
Start cheering----Rachael will hear you because she has magic powers you know!