The Cobbler Has No Shoe's

All right here it is, I have not yet knitted me a pair of sock and I think there is 20 pairs of them out there walking around that I have made for others. Also, I can't tell you how many of them finger less mitt's that I have made. This pair I plan on keeping for me and only me if they fit. I have already finished the leg, done the heel flap, turned the heel and started working on the gusset.  I would of taken a picture of it for you but today I am just feeling to dam lazy to even think about it. As soon as I am done here typing this all out I am going to put some sit com rerun on and sit here on my bed and knit the hell out of the rest of this sock and get one finished so I can start on the other and get that done so I can wear these suckers around town and show them off. All is well otherwise thanks!

Like Puttin On New Underpants



I had this great idea the other day and here it is all done and ready to but put up and a shelf. I always wanted to do something that was more on the fine art side but still has weaving involved. I like fibers and being a fiber artist but deep down rugs don't fill that void. Sure I do them well but I am ready to move to the next plain. This is a step for me in that direction. I am hoping I have come out of my creative black hole with this one. I am starting an new one today. Ava and I are going out and looking for some new sticks. She is all excited.

So, Why Isn't The Right Side Of My Head Allot Bigger?

OK so abut 3 or 4 months ago I had this great idea for a tattoo for myself. I never really wanted one but this was the perfect way to let people know who I am. So on Valentines day I finally did it. I was so proud of this and showed it off to everybody around me. Then on Thursday I found out that the word skein was spelled wrong. I spent the next day in a fog thinking what an ass I am. This always happens to me and I felt stupid for walking showing people basically how stupid I am. I wined to some friends (they all know who they are and I am sorry) until Saturday I got this text "Here are some famously terrible spellers: Faulkner, Hemingway, F. Scott Fitzgerald, Jane Austin, Mark Twain, Agatha Christie, Edgar Allen Poe, Those are the famous ones, anyway. I know other lousy spellers, too. Point is, they didn't let it get in the way of creating- they just left the proof reading to the more analytical left-brain types. So your tattoo is basically a testament to the right side of your brain, and confirmation that it rules the left." All I could say is WOW! I will never claim to be any of those people, but I do look up to some and never knew this. I have been told that my spelling problem comes from the fact that I am creative. I have been told that over and over, in fact one person thought it was sexy. (need more of those people in my life.) So I am not going to have this fixed because what started out to be a self portrate ended up to be even more of one than I hoped. I AM A CREATIVE PERSON AND I AM PROUD OF THE FACT THIS WHO I AM AND ALWAYS WILL BE! I will have my friend Wendy proof read my nex ttattoo if there is one. Doesn't that ball of yarn look evil?

Not Fit To Be Plyed

Last week my friend Claire, Ava and I met at the studio for a day of rag ripping and wine drinking. Well the wine drinking started after Ava had been picked up. I brought in what seemed like twenty flannel sheets from my stash hidden in a secret vault somewhere in Lancaster County. Not sure Claire knew what she was getting into but a ripping we did do. There was single rippen and then there was team rippen, slow and fast rippin, long and short rippen. Then I went for burritos for sheets. After all was sed and done there was this huge pile of ripped up sheets lying lifeless on the floor. For the last week on and off I have slowly spinning the heck out of the rags. My plans are to spin the whole pile in a hit or miss pattern and ply them all and make some bags. I am thinking that it is going to take me longer than I thought and I think I wore the heck out of Claire. I am thinking that she thinks that I am a little crazy but she is a nice person and I don't blame here for thinking that because I may just be and am enjoying the conversations I have with those people that talk to me in the dark when know one else is around.

As of noon 'O'clock today this is what I have done so far. I really wish that I would have more than this done but you know if you stop and play your guitar or mandolin good things happen but rag balls don't. Hey if we work all the time and don't stop and pluck some strings now and then you don't have music to bring joy to your life. I heard that listening to music helps grow more brain cells. I sure hope they are right? Aren't these the cutes little rag balls you ever did see? You should see the pile of rag laying not 5 feet away. I didn't want to show you them because then you don't know how much I have to do yet and I could say tomorrow that I am all done and you would have to believe me because you have know other proof. OFF YOU GO!

The Internet Dating Song (Yes I Knit)

The Internet Dating Song (Yes I Knit)

It is a sad situation

my dating relations

this being on the Internet

I can't write a profile

to make anyone smile

and say hey, he's the one

 

 

Have not much in common

with most of the women

who are casting out there nets

I'm not into pro sports

or walking on beaches

or staring at a pretty sunset

 

 

I am more about music

and playing my guitar

or staring at art on the walls

I keep my hand busy

with things not viewed manly

but I am proud of it all

 

 

men they like pool halls

and riding there cycles

and in front of the tube some sit

while others like football

and going to strip shows

but me, I like to knit

 

 

I received not an answer

to any my emails

I feel I'm viewed as a freak

for having true feelings

and putting the seat down

after I have taken a leak

 

 

Its all in my story but

yet I can't tell you

what I can do with my hands

like playing with yarn balls

and picking up stitches

for this I am know less of a man

 

 

Some men build bridges

and others climb mountains

I am sick of hearing all this

I am a nice guy

and no I'm not perfect

and yes I like to knit

 

 

men they like pool halls

and riding there cycles

and in front of the tube some sit

while others like football

and going to strip shows

but me,I like to knit

Pickin Up Some Stiches

If you want to pick up some knitters in a singles knitting bar I have come up with some pick up lines that are sure to get there attention.

1. Nice set of DPN's!
2. I bet your prefer it continental style?
3. Can I help you cast that off?
4. You should see my swift!
5. Try to guess what my gage is?
6. I'll count your rows if you count mine?
7. Want to see my stash, it's huge!

That Guy Knits Funny!

I like to go sit in coffee houses to knit. I think it is the company of people I don't know or just the fact that there are people around me. I can sit at home and knit but I will pick up my guitar or draw something or even polish of a six pack. I get distracted real easy like. I have found that I get way more done if I am away from home. I go to some shop, find a nice table, get something hot and sweet, plug my brain into folkalley via me computer and ear buds and knit me ass off. I got these 2 setts of mitts done in one week. I do get the occasional "I was wondering what you were knitting" from a stranger. I fact I was in the Coffee Co. this week and a really nice German lady came up to me and said "I have never seen anyone who knits like me" (I knit in the Continental fashion). You see when I asked my Nana to show me how to knit she said "I will teach you the right way, the German way". So that is the only way I have ever knitted. She has also told me "if the kitchen is clean know weaving is getting done" and "if it is yellow let it mellow and if it is brown flush it down" I love that women! Remember to make sure your fly is always zipped! I your feeling a draft you are in trouble.

Pair Number 2

I got the second pair of mitts done today. I took them to music night and there was only 3 of us there. Me, John who has the first pair and Bob who is not a glove wearing kinda guy. I will have to wait till next week to get ride of the second pair. If know one wants this pair I will stop knitting and I just may have a raffle or something. I am off to bed because I need my sleep because I am starting to see fish swimming through my windows and out the door. Not sure what that means? Goodnight and listen to more music!

BAD HAIR DAY!

So I went to the studio today to work on the new warp and got started and really screwed it up putting it on the lease sticks at the cross. I don't really don't feel like explaining it but know this, it is to help keep all in order and that is what I messed up. I would think if you were listening you would of heard me screaming. I don't know what I was thinking but I have done this a million times or so. The above photo is of how messed up I got this. I worked for about a half hour and went to have a beer. This was 9 am so don't yell.

This is a picture of what it should look like and I did all this after the 9 am libation. So again don't yell at me it worked...well until later any way.

Well, after I had sleighed the reed and threaded the headles this it what it looks like before I tie it to the warp beam. This is not as bad as of a mess as it looks. I have each inch tied off so that all my hard work doesn't come undone and I didn't want to have to scream and go get another beer. Well I did go get another any way. Makes the day go better.

This is a photo of the side I worked on first....see it is like your hair in the morning and I had to comb it all out as I wound it on the warp beam. THIS IS NOT THE TEXTBOOK WAY OF DOING IT!

So here it is all wound up on the beam, tied to the breast beam and the warp spread. I got the header wove and got out some rags just to see what the heck it looks like. I am happy, how about you?

LIFE IS SO MUCH EASIER WITH BEER!

Warm Hands, Warm Heart

Here is the first pair of mitts I am knitting the the fellows in the Wringers. As I said earlier it is cold in the studio. The sound in the big room is worth the cold so we always play there because we are purists and put up with it. So, the other night at practice I had my mitts on and the others were looking at me like they were going to attack me and take that which keeps my hands warm. Me being quick at thought said "I will knit you all a pair". This is a big task at hand but I know I can do it. Not sure if they will need them in the summer or not but that is when I may get all 7 pairs done. There is always next year. I gave this pair to John in hopes he won't notice I didn't pay rent yet. OH, don't worry I wrote a check tonight and put it in my wallet and I will put it in the cigar box tomorrow. Anybody else out there to put on the list?

The First Warp Of The New Year!

I spent today, New Years Day in the studio working on a commission that I got right before  Christmas. I planned it all out and wound out the warp. The whole time I was thinking that this is the first year that I didn't make or even eat pork and kraut. What am I going to do? Well I will have to just pretend that I had it. I have to look at it this way, I will look better without it. If you have left overs send them my way please.

I riped up some cloth that I bought for this project and spun it with a little carpet warp for the filler of the runner I am working on. I wasn't sure about all the threads that stick out after I ripped it up but after I spun it they disappeared. I am really liking spinning rags. I can't wait to see what happens next. Each time I get more excited than the last. I sometimes jump up and down and pee my pants but don't tell anybody. I am hopping that I will be able to stay at the studio all day tomorrow and get this done because I have a bag warp on the other loom that I really need to get going on. I posted the warp way back before Thanksgiving but had rugs ans runners to make for those who ordered them.

         I am hopping that this year will be better than the last because it really blew eggs. Think Positive!

I Have Seen The Light!

Sometimes when the sun is shinning in the window of the studio my loom just lights up and I always have to stop and take it all in. This time I took some photos so I can share it with you. I am sure it is not like actually being there but here is little bits of happiness that I go through as I am working the web. I often stop for snacks or beer also but you don't want to see photos of that anyway. I hope it moves you like it moves me.

The Race For The Runner

The day after Christmas I found myself finishing the table runner I had promised for before the big day. Here I am spinning off some rags for the weft of the runner. As you can see it was really cold in the studio. You see it costs us somewhere around $400. a month to heat the place and us being the poor starving artist we are, we put on sweaters and wear gloves and scarves to keep us toasty. I love the smell of good wool so I don't mind being cold and in fact the more I work the warmer I get. Am I hot or what? Well at least warm...

Here is the runner on the loom about to be finished and cut off. I really like the way this one came out. I am making a mental note of this pattern for I have not done anything such as this before. I am not a big fan of using the same color weft but once in a while you have to throw what it is you want out the window to achieve something else. I throw my shoes out the window right after because they were starting to smell bad. I singed and finished the ends and delivered it to the person that is was meant for later that night. She was a happy camper. Never sure if they will like it or not when done, this time it all work out.