Category Archives: About the Blog

And The Winner Is…

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Woo!  Hello new folks!  And hello not-so-new folks!  Thanks for entering the  drawing for a copy of “Cute, Cuter, Cutest: Knit Toys to Love in 3 Sizes.”  I loved reading about your favorite childhood toys.  Such sweet stories and lovely memories!  If you haven’t read everyone’s comments on last Friday’s post, you should definitely take a look.

But, enough sentimentality!  You’re all here for the giveaway!32673[1]More than fifty people entered, but only one can win.  I wrote down everyone’s names, and picked one at random.

*Drum roll*

And, Jan!  You’re the big winner!  Congratulations!  I’ll be emailing you later this afternoon.

32673101[1]And, if you’re not Jan, you still want the book, right? (Of course you do.  Because it’s stupidly cute.)  Head on over to Knit Picks and pick up a copy for yourself.

350 (yards)

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It’s my 350th post!  That means I’ve written almost enough posts for you to read one every day for a year (if you wanted to go back and re-read them, I suppose.  Though why would you?).  I’ve got some awesome things planned for the next few months, and I can’t wait to show them to you (hopefully I’ll have time to realize all my ideas.  That’s always the problem.  Too many ideas and not enough time).

I’ve even got three free patterns churning around in various stages of not-quite-finished yet.  In the meantime, here are three awesome patterns from Ravelry that use about 350 yards of yarn (See what I did there?).

In the next couple weeks, I should have a very cool shawl/scarf pattern (not this one) finished up.  I just need to take some pictures and do some formatting on the final pattern.

TGV (High Speed Knitting) by Susan Ashcroft

rainbow_10_medium2[1]I’m working on baby sweater for a friend that’s expecting.  Once she gets her present, I’ll be posting the pattern I designed for her.  It’s not as fancy as this one, but still pretty cute.  (And, sorry to be vague.  I think she reads the blog.)

Latte Baby Coat by Lisa Chemery

DSC_0414_medium2[1]And, this one you know about.  We’re getting dangerously close to casting on our Design Series Socks.  I can’t wait!  (But, I suppose these are cute, too.)

Simple Garter Stitch Slippers by handepande

DSC_6605_medium2[1]Thanks for being patient!  I am excited about these upcoming projects (and other ideas bouncing through my head.  Soon, guys!  Soon!

(And don’t forget to enter your name into the drawing for a copy of Cute, Cuter, Cutest! I’ll be picking a winner on Friday!)

Introducing: Ollie

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OK, this has nothing to do with knitting, but I’m too excited not to write a post about it.

Everyone, meet Ollie!

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERAOllie is our new puppy!  He’s a six-month-old Tibetan terrier (which is not actually a type of terrier-just a weird quirk of etymology).  His favorite activities are sleeping, snoozing, and taking naps.  He also likes sniffing things in the back yard and watching cars drive by the house.  (And, luckily, he has no interest in my yarn or knitting.  Thank goodness!)

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERANeither of us have ever had a dog before, so this is all new and exciting!  We’ve been having a lot of fun with the little guy, and are very happy he’s in our family.

Idea Day

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Hi everyone!

Happy Idea Day!  It’s the most magical day of the year!

What’s that? You haven’t heard of Idea Day?   It’s the best holiday ever (that I just made up)!

How do you celebrate Idea Day?  First you drink the traditional Idea Coffee and eat the traditional Idea Chocolates while wearing the traditional Idea Slippers.coffee-chocolate_00379544[1]After coffee, we’ll trim the traditional Idea Tree, and sing the traditional Idea Carols.

simple-tree-hi[1]Then, you send me your ideas for topics for me to cover!  Interested in a specific technique?  Have a favorite yarn-loving TV character that I’ve ignored?  Having trouble reading a pattern?  Let me know, and we can celebrate Idea Day together by writing blog posts!

Or, do you have a story, tutorial, or essay that you want to write yourself?  Let me know, and we can give Guest Posting a try!

I’d love to see your Ideas!

Happy Idea Day!

Winner, Winner, Chicken Dinner

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Today’s the day! Today’s the day!  I get to give away two copies of the most fabulous Knit Picks Spring 2015 Accessories Collection!

Let’s just say, the response to this giveaway has been fairly crazy (Hello, new readers!  Welcome!).  The traffic on the blog has jumped by several hundred hits the last couple days, and over 80 people put their names in the hat for the giveaway!

That’s amaze-balls.  (It’s a technical term.)

I typed out everyone’s names, printed them out, cut them up into little slips, and folded up each one.  I pulled out my favorite ceramic yarn bowl (isn’t it pretty?)  and mixed them up.

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERAI closed my eyes and pulled out two names.  (Drum roll, please!)

First- to win the physical book:

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERACongratulations Linda!  Soon you’ll be able to flip through this awesome book and knit whatever you want!

And, the second draw, for the ebook:

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERACongratulations, Denise!  You get a copy of the ebook- all the pretty pictures and beautiful patterns, but without having to worry about it taking up space on your bookshelf!

Congrats, ladies!  I’ve sent you emails, but if you don’t get them, let me know, and we’ll get it worked out.

If you didn’t win (sorry!  I wish I could afford to give away books to everyone, but alas, I am not a millionaire), you can still get a copy of the Spring 2015 Accessories Collection here.

(And, I’ve got something else awesome (and free!) coming on Friday!)

Happy Blog-Day To Me

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OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERAOn The Needles is two!  It’s going to start throwing temper tantrums soon.  (Or whatever it is that two-year-olds do.)

It’s been fun, you guys.  I really didn’t expect this blog to go very far, and two years later, I’m still writing it three times a week (I think I’ve only missed one day, but I’m not even sure about that), and I’m getting hundreds of visitors every day.  It’s kind of amazing.

I’m actually turning this whole knitting thing into a semi-legitimate job, too, which is something I didn’t expect, even in my wildest dreams.  I never thought I would do anything knitting-related in my professional life, yet here I am.  How awesome is that?

And, you guys, I have so much more awesome stuff coming up, you don’t even know! I can’t say what it is yet, but you should totally be sure to come back on Wednesday.  I have a really exciting announcement and a super cool giveaway! (I know, right?  A real, actual giveaway!)  You’re totally going to want to get in on this.

So, keep reading, and I’ll keep writing, and together, we’ll keep knitting.

Chung Chung

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That’s the Law and Order sound. Why? Because last night Casa de la On the Needles was the site of real-life crime. I came home from work and our house had been broken into. Luckily, no one was home and we’re all safe, but needless to say, it sucks big balls (of yarn).

My computer (and my set of interchangable needles!) were among the casualties, unfortunately, so I’m posting this from my phone, which is less than ideal. So, I’ll keep it short today.

Want to help? Post a picture of something awesome in the comments to make me feel better! And hopefully, I’ll be back to my regular schedule soon.

On Pins and Needles

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Do you Pin?  (Is that even what you’re supposed to say?)  I just started.  I’m a pinning machine.

Actually I have no idea what I’m doing.

thCAYBVE3RAs part of my New Year’s resolution to get better at social media, I resurrected the Pinterest account that I signed up for back when I began this blog.  I think I originally pinned about three things, and then forgot about it.

It’s very cool, to see everyone’s interesting, beautiful, and inspiring projects.  I love finding new stitch patterns, too.  (I gotta say, though, Pinterest is making me feel a little bit inferior about my photography skills.  I’ve got to improve on that.)

Anyway, follow me on Pinterest, and I’ll follow you back.  We can share projects and ideas and gape in awe at some of the crazy, cool things that people make.

300!

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300[1]Do you guys remember this movie?  300?  It’s about a bunch of Spartans back in ye-olde-times, running around in way too little armor and being bad-ass fighters?  I really liked it when it first came out back in college.  I just saw it again, and, sad to say, it doesn’t hold up.  Like, at all.  Oh well.  (Also, it is sadly lacking in the knitting department.)

Anyway, this is all a round-about way of saying that this is my 300th post!  Awesome, right?  To be honest, I never expected to get to this point.  But that’s pretty great.

Since starting this blog, I’ve learned a lot about writing, knitting, and the fact that I watch way too much TV.  I learned how to tweet (follow me @on_the_needles), or at least I’m learning how.  Sometimes writing to a deadline is a little stressful (even a self-imposed one), but I like having a structure that I need to follow.  It keeps my mind busy while I wallow through acres of stockinette.   And, it just tickles me pink that I get to talk about my favorite subject to hundreds of like-minded people.  I couldn’t be happier!

Thanks again for following me, and reading my yarn-induced ramblings!

My Backwards New Year’s Resolution

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I always like New Year’s resolutions.  It’s easy to be cynical about them, but there’s something really nice about everyone trying to improve their lives all together.  Trying to get healthy, eat better, read more, or watch less TV, it doesn’t matter, as long as you have something to work on.

I feel pretty healthy.  I eat fairly well.  I read a lot (although, I suppose I could always read more).  And there’s no way I’m watching less TV (as I said the other day, I just started another watch-through of the X Files.  So that ain’t happening.)

But one thing I’ve been meaning to do for the blog is increase my “social media presence.”  Which is a phrase that makes me kind of want to gag.  As a big introvert, being constantly in contact with other people makes me a little nervous.  And, frankly, I can’t imagine who would want to hear me mumble about the knots in my yarn and complain when I accidentally spill my tea over the shawl I’m working on.

twitter-logo[1]But, I’ve been told that Twitter is important these days, so I figure I’ll make a go of it.

So, follow me on Twitter @on_the_needles.  And I’ll try to be funny?  Or something.  It’s all very mysterious, how the whole thing works.  (And can someone explain how hashtags and stuff work?  I’m basically an 80-year-old woman when it comes to technology… so bear with me.)

I’ll give it the old college try for a couple months, and we’ll see how it goes.  Do you guys use Twitter?  If so, what do you use it for?  I’m still not clear on how it works (again, because I’m 80).

Do you have any other interesting (or non-interesting) resolutions this year?  I’d love to hear about them!