Category Archives: About the Blog

I’ve been a busy little bee

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But I also have to be an enigmatic little bee.  (Sorry!)

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERAWhat with Christmas, traveling, and work deadlines,  it’s been a hectic month.  I’ve been working my little fingers to their nubs on a super secret surprise project, that I can’t tell you about…  yet.  But let me just say, it’s going to be AWESOME!  Or, at least I think it will be.

So, thanks for sticking with me, and the moment I can tell you about my project, I totally will.  And, I’ll get back to my regularly scheduled updates on my projects, knitting tutorials and patterns this month.  But, in the meantime, can I appease you with a picture of a really adorable little lamb? (You can’t be angry with me if you’re too busy going “Awww!”)

cute-lamb-wallpaper[1]

 

 

Hello, Everyone!

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Holy moly, you guys!  When I started this blog (almost) two years ago, I never really thought it would take off.  I might get a couple readers, but mostly I thought I’d be just yelling out into the void of the internet.  But, now I just saw that I got my 150th follower!

150[1]I don’t even think I know 150 people in real life!  (OK, maybe I do, but they certainly don’t all want to hear me yammer on about yarn and my weird TV shows.)

I just wanted to say “Thank you” to all of you for reading my ramblings, even when they veer into the incoherent.  I love reading your responses to my posts, and seeing your projects on Ravelry.

So, tell your friends!  They’re all invited to the knitting party.  (And if one of you wanted to make me a ‘150’ cake, I wouldn’t complain. :D)

NaNoWriMo 2014

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It’s November, again!  And you know what that means: it’s NaNoWriMo time!

nanowrimo-crest[1]Last year, I did NaNoWriMo for the first time, and it was so much fun!  I never finished my story (because plotting is hard.  My main characters kept ending up in jail.  And it’s difficult to save Chicago from a jail cell).  But, I more than passed my 50,000 word goal for the month.  I learned a lot about my writing style, and how to maximize my productivity.  (I know it’s weird, but it turns out that I am most productive when I work in my car.  Something about not being able to access the internet, combined with a not too comfortable seat.  Who knew?)

This year, I’m  feeling pretty good about my prospects.  I am taking a creative writing class about writing a novel, and while some of the information is pretty obvious, I’ve learned some things that will really come in handy.

I’m working on a small-town murder mystery, this time around, and my goal is to actually finish the story, not just make it to the 50,000 words.  So keep your fingers crossed for me!

But what that means for you, dear readers, is that I’m going to be busy writing away on my novel, and might be a little slow to respond to comments, emails and other shout-outs.  I haven’t forgotten you, and the posts will still come, although they might be a little shorter than usual,

Wish me luck!  I’ll see you all in December!

My Mind is a Blank Canvas… Ugh.

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canvas[1]Yup.  I have come to the end of my ideas, or at least the list of ideas I keep on my computer.

I have a spreadsheet where I keep notes about the blog, and a schedule of what I’ve been writing about.  I try to keep the posts pretty balanced between techniques, tips, patterns, and “Cool stuff I found online.”

And, well, the “Cool stuff I found online” category seems to have been winning lately.

That, and my list of topic ideas has gotten frighteningly short.  So, instead of drinking a lot of coffee and putting in the actual work of coming up with new ideas, I shall extend an invitation to you guys:  What do you want to see more of?  What do you want to see less of?  Is there a topic you’re dying to learn more about?  Should I talk more about the projects I’m knitting on, or could you care less?  Do you want to learn about finishing techniques?  Or are you interested in varieties of yarn?   Did you see a pattern for a hat that you love, but can’t decipher?  Or do you want my super secret recipe for blackberry pie?  (Well, tough!  You can’t have it.  It’s secret.)

Let me know what you want to see, and we’ll get the ball (of yarn) rolling on some awesome new posts and exciting new projects, and hopefully, another 250 (mostly pretty good) posts.

250

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Ahoy, me hearties!  It be a happy day indeed, for we do be arrived upon the shore of the 250th post!

Also, a hearty “Ahoy” and “Avast” to our new shipmates from allfreeknitting.com.  Be ye welcome, me hearties, and partake in our grog and good cheer upon the good ship On the Needles.

As we be upon the 250th post of our voyage, let us share the bounty of projects requiring naught but 250 yards of wool.

Jamaica Pouch by Sandra Clockedile:  She be a grand place to store your booty, plundered during our voyage.

3759785656_6a08451879_z[1]Ridge Washcloth by Hannah Maier: A fine tool for scrubbing the decks, ye bilge rat!

20140105_0016_medium2[1]Rye / Ruista ranteeseen by Hanne Katajamäki:  For those cold, foggy nights keepin’ watch from the crow’s nest.neulotut_ka_cc_88mmenikka_cc_88a_cc_88t_medium2[1](Also, happy Talk Like a Pirate Day!)

What’s On Your Needles?

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The blog’s been a little thin lately, unfortunately.  I’ve been working on some really cool patterns for you guys, but unfortunately, I can’t share them with you yet.  (Actually, I signed a contract that said I have to keep them secret.  I’m really excited about this, but I realize it makes me sound a little like a tool.)  Soon enough, you’ll get to see what I’m working on.

But what I can show you is my progress on my Persistence is Key sweater.  Remember, I accidentally-on-purpose ended up with a box full of camel-colored wool, and needed a sweater pattern?IMG_2928_medium2[1]

Well, I’ve been knitting away, between other projects, getting a few rows done every day, and the sweater is growing.  It’s a top-down sweater, and I’ve gotten the shoulders and body done down to right around the belly-button.  It’s an extremely detailed pattern, a little more complicated than I usually pick out, but the sweater is coming along marvelously.

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERAI’m absolutely in love with the cable that runs down the back of the sweater (even though it’s a huge pain in the butt).  And the yarn I’m using (Knit Picks Wool of the Andes Superwash) is doing a fantastic job of showing the cable at its best.

(Oh my god!  Just now, looking at the two photographs, I realized that I did the surrounding cables wrong!  See how the two surrounding cables on the yellow sweater twist in different directions?  Mine both twist in the same direction.  Shoot!  I guess I’ve got some thinking to do.  Should I let it go, and just live with the cables the way they are, or should I pull out the cable, and reknit it the other direction?  What do you think?)

So, that’s what’s on my needles.  What are you working on?  I’d love to hear about your projects.  And, if you want to send me a photo (knittingontheneedles@gmail.com), I’d love to share your knitting with everybody  else on the blog.

Excuses, Excuses…

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It drives me nuts when people make excuses to me about things that they have committed to.  If you say you’re going to do something, do it, or don’t, but don’t give me a sob story about how your dog is sick, you and your landlord are having a feud, and aliens abducted you.  I don’t want to hear it (unless it’s about aliens… that one sounds interesting).

That said, I’m now going to look like the biggest hypocrite in the world.  Sorry.

My job just jumped from being a part-time, afternoons-only gig to a full-time job.  Which is great!  I love my job (teaching sewing and other arts and crafts to kids).  But, it’s seriously cutting into my knitting time.  And, my freelance pattern-writing is picking up, too.  (I can’t give you any details, but I can say that I have some pretty cool things coming up.)

I have worked up a bit of a buffer, so I should be OK.  But, if ever a Monday, Wednesday or Friday goes by without a post, I just wanted you to know that I haven’t died.  I might be laying on my floor, exhausted after running around after 7-year-olds all day, but I haven’t abandoned you.

Keep on knitting, and send me happy knitting mojo.  I’ll need it.

Ladies’ (and Gents’) Choice

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Question MarkThat’s right, Ladies and Gents.  It’s time, once again, for me to ask if you have any requests for topics for me to cover.  Want more patterns?  More tutorials?  More inspiration posts?  Is there a topic you’re curious about, or a technique you want to try?  Have you been struggling with a new stitch pattern, and need a hand?  Or are you curious about casting-on?

I’m more than happy bumbling along my way, chatting with you about whatever I happen to be thinking about, but I’d rather give you information you were actually interested in.

Feel free to send your requests to knittingontheneedles@gmail.com, or leave a comment at the bottom of this post!

It’s a Party!

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tumblr_n5u7t31xLD1rhtzjdo1_250[1]And I have 105 guests!

OK, actually I have 105 followers for On the Needles.  (Hi, followers!)  I somehow missed the 100th follower, which probably happened last week or so.  Whoops!

Anyway, I just wanted to say that I appreciate every one of you.  Each time I see the the little orange star pop up in the corner of my browser, I get a little squee of excitement.

Let’s keep the party going!

200!

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Just a quick little post today!

This is the 200th post on On the Needles! Woo Hoo!

200It’s been an awesome year and a half (ish)!  I love sharing my ideas, thoughts, and the things that inspire me.  And, I appreciate everyone who responds!  Hearing feedback is the best part of writing this blog.

So, to those of you who have been keeping up with On the Needles since the beginning:  Thank you!  And, to those of you who have just found my little corner of the internet: Welcome!

Here’s to 200 more posts!