Etsy

Week 13 = Knitting Art
Day 6 = March 31, 2014

     Etsy.com is a beautiful place. On Etsy you can buy and sell all things handmade, vintage, supplies and more. It is a modern day online version of the old neighborhood markets.

Baby Girl, Nursery Decor Baby, Knitting Art, Mouse Art

Beatrix Potter Print (Beautifully Matted to Fit 8x10 Frames)

    

CloudNinePrints in Centerville, Massachusetts

Etsy Link

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Drowning In Yarn Original Painting 8 x 10

Knitting Art

CampbellJane in United States

Etsy Link

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Dances With Wools - Sheep Incognito

Print, Knitting Art with Yarn

SheepIncognito in United States

Etsy Link

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Knitting Girl Art Print. Knitter Gift.

Knitting Is Love Cute Reproduction Print Of Big Eyed Painting.

Yarn Illustration. Craft Room Décor

thedreamygiraffe in United States

Etsy Link

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Black cat watercolor art print,

Sneak Attack on the Alien Yarn Ball, knitting kitten

4x6 matted to 8x10

MarthaKuperBrinson in United States

Etsy Link

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Spinning and Knitting - Sheep and Bunny

Signed Art Print

toadbriar in Winchendon, Massachusetts

Etsy Link

     There are so many talented people on Etsy. Plus you can find so many cute things related to any interest you have.

Question of the day

What is your favorite Etsy item?

Etsy Knitting,

Victoria

Pictures of famous people knitting

Week 13 = Knitting Art
Day 5 = March 30, 2014

 

     Earlier this week I posted about knitting in photography. Well today I thought I would take a different look at Knitting Art. How about people that are famous and photographed knitting? Have fun and see how many of these people that you can name.

 

Joan Crawford

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Sarah Jessica Parker

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Audrey Hepburn

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Tim Daly

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Franklin Delano Roosevelt and Eleanor Roosevelt

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Rosalind Russell

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     There are quite a few websites that list famous knitters. Here are just a few:

• http://www.kersti.com/2011/09/more-famous-knitters/
• http://www.allaboutyou.com/craft/knitting/meet-the-stars-who-love-knitting
• http://www.pinterest.com/vintage53rose/famous-knitters-others-kip/
• http://magazine.foxnews.com/celebrity/kate-middleton-and-other-celebs-known-knit
• http://www.examiner.com/article/celebrities-that-knit
• http://famousknitters.tumblr.com/

Question of the day

If you could go back in time, who would you love to knit with?

Famously Knitting,


Victoria

Knitting Graphics/Clipart

Week 13 = Knitting Art
Day 4 = March 29, 2014


     Knitting graphics/clipart are a gracious plenty and so darn cute. There is not much to explain about them. They speak for themselves. I will post a link for each graphic so that you can see where it came from.

     Swatches, balls of yarn and knitting needles... What more could you ask for?

    

© Photographer: Ratselmeister | Agency: Dreamstime.com

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     More yarn and needles, I think that I have gone to heaven.

Knitting needles and scissors

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     This is just so cute. I can picture either of my girls with their ponytails knitting when they get a little bit older.

http://www.pinterest.com/rosamariato/graphics-knit/

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     Who hasn't had their cat attack their yarn, run off with their knitting project or pull their knitting off the needles. We still love the little and sometimes big fur balls no matter what. Plus I can guarantee a piece of my cats fur is in ever item I knit. Bonus!

http://imake.gg/2012/08/30/things-i-like-thursday-cool-clip-art/

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     I need to get a knitting chair like this lady has. A comfy, supportive, pretty chair where I can knit the days away and think of new designs.

http://classroomclipart.com/clipart/Clipart/Family.htm

Question of the day

Which one best represents you as a knitter?

Knitting Peace,


Victoria

Photographs of Knitting

Week 13 = Knitting Art
Day 3 = March 28, 2014


     I love photography, I just do not have the patience for photography. Which if you think about it, is funny because I KNIT. Interesting!

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     This woman looks like she is having a gay ol' time. I can imagine her sitting next to her best friend on her front porch and looking over with interest to see what her friend is knitting. You can almost see her hands moving even though she is not looking at what she is doing.

Anna Maria Williams, seated in a chair knitting.
Napier, Hawke's Bay, c. 1920
National Library of New Zealand

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     This picture is explained as a surreal knitting picture. It looks like a seamstress is frantically trying to finish a wedding dress for the bride. I love the piles and cones of yarn spread around the floor.

The Bride

by Daniela Edburg

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     Young boys knitting for World War I, impressive. They are even conferring with each other about what they are knitting.

BF Day Students in Seattle knitting
Photo credit: www.historylink.org 

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     The combination of the white knitting and the black hair and dress make for an astonishing photograph. You can tell that she knows what she is doing and that she would be happier to be left alone with her knitting.

Grace Coolidge

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     As I mentioned yesterday, I love when knitting is put in the spotlight. Here it is in the spotlight in an extraordinary way. Sojourner Truth knitting. WOW!

Photo Sojourner Truth Anti-slavery Activist Knitting

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     These are only a few photographs of the many that I found. Just type in "photographs of knitting" or "knitting photographs" in any search engine and enjoy.

Question of the day

Which photograph would you like to have in your home?

Photographic Knitter,


Victoria

Black and White Drawings of Knitting

Week 13 = Knitting Art
Day 2 = March 27, 2014


     We continue knitting-themed art tonight with black and white drawings. All of the drawings have a link below the picture to the blog or website where I found them. Enjoy.

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     I have seen this several times on Facebook and love it every time. If the picture is not distorted for you and you can read all the little comments, it is well worth it.

Anatomy of a Knitter

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     I like the words going down the center so that the drawing can show a before and after. The little girl sitting on the door step is absolutely adorable.

Drawing of Little Girl Knitting

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     I love when you catch a character on a TV show or commercial is knitting. It makes me feel giddy. I want to jump up and say, "I can do that, too." Minnie Mouse is such an iconic character this just makes me smile.

Minnie Knitting Coloring Page

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     I love pandas and I love knitting! The expression on this panda's face is the cutest and makes me think of how I must look when I am knitting something tough or when I am just frustrated with my knitting.

Panda Knitting

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     The man standing behind the woman knitting makes me think of my husband. My husband has made it clear that he does not understand my love of knitting. The woman in the picture is like me, content even though my husband is not understanding of my passion.

Drawing of Lady Knitting

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Question of the day

Which drawing is your favorite?

Knitting Drawings,

Victoria

Knitting Art

Week 13 = Knitting Art
Day 1 = March 26, 2014

     Over the past few weeks I have noticed how much knitting themed artwork there is, either painting, drawings, animation and so on. So this week I want to explore the world of Knitting themed artwork.

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     One of the things I love about this painting is the use of the mirror which helps us see both perspectives of the knitter and what she is doing. I also love the use of the 2 shades of red, a rich vibrant one in the dress and a more pale one in the yarn.

Autumns Mood
by Victoria Kharchenko

Medium: Painting - Oil on canvas

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     I find this painting mesmerizing. The hair looks like it is literally just about to fall into her eyes. Also the contentment that shows on her face just makes me smile and sigh. The shading on her collarbone and neck are quite impressive.

Girl Knitting
by Olivia Yang

Medium: Paint - Watercolor

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     Everyone knows this painter! The monotone colors in this painting are amazing. The blue apron stands out, yet when you look at the wall behind her, it sort of blends in. The black of her dress stands out and still when you look at the floor it starts to blend in.

Young Scheveningen Women Knitting Facing Right 

by Vincent Van Gough

Medium: Painting - Watercolor and Gouache on paper 

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     This painting makes me think of Summerville Knitters, my Sunday knitting group. We are a rag-tag bunch of ladies with a love of knitting that brings us together every week. The colors are electric and lively, just like my friends.

Chicks with Sticks

by Anne Schreivogl

Medium: Painting on canvas

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     How relaxing does this look? Sitting in a field just out of town, with some furry four-legged friends and my knitting. I can handle that. Even though most of the painting is taken up with the grass, my eye is continually drawn to her hands and the yarn that she is knitting with.

A Girl Knitting

Giovanni Segantini

Medium: Painting - Oil on Canvas

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     All the paintings chosen for today's post were found on Fine Art America, with a specific search of Knitting Paintings. Here is the link.

Question of the day

What is your favorite painting of the day?

Paint Knitting,

Victoria

Flowertown Knitting Guild

Week 12 = Catching Up
Day 7 = March 25, 2014

 

Image from AOL image search

     I love Flowertown Knitting Guild. It is full of smart, talented and beautiful women. As of tonight's meeting we have a membership of 22 lovely ladies. I am so excited about what this year will hold for our group.

 

     After only one year we have had to move our meetings to a bigger location (Bethany United Methodist Church, thank you). We also have the whole year's schedule already planned out and even might be adding in some weekend classes to be able to do longer and more intensive projects. We will be trying to reach out and do more community work and charity knitting. So, if you know of a community event that we could participate in or a charity that we could knit for, please feel free to leave a comment on this blog or email me at saveryknitting@outlook.com and I will be happy to pass it on. Here is a link to our current charity projects.

 

     This is the year's schedule of classes. Pretty fabulous if I do say so myself.

• January 28: Cancelled due to an ice storm
• February 25: Knitted Flower taught by Angela Cline.
• March 25: How To Magic Loop taught by Lynn Dukes.
• April 22: Make a Reversible Cable Bookmark taught by Victoria Williams.
• May 27: Beaded Knitting with a Crochet Hook taught by Eileen Cahall.
• June 24: Make a Beaded Bracelet using Prestrung Beads taught by Victoria Williams.
• July 22: Bag Dye a Silk Scarf taught by Pat Lorenz.
• August 26: Felted Soap taught by Lynn Dukes.
• September 23: Knitted Christmas Balls taught by Joyce Stebbins.
• October 23: Dyeing Yarn taught by Angela Cline and Jessica Higdon.

     All the classes except July will be taught by members of our Guild. See, I wasn't embellishing when I said we have some talented women in our guild.

Question of the day

Which class above would be your #1 pick?

Guild Knitting,

Victoria


P.S. Thank you to all who faithfully read my blog every day even you, Anne Dyal (I couldn't want for a finer blog stalker). I have been reminded that it is not the easiest thing to leave a post on these blogs. So here is a reminder how it goes.

1. If there are no posts, you will see "No Comment" at the bottom of the post, click on that. If there are other posts, you will see for example, "2 Comments" on the bottom of the post, click on that.
2. Enter your comment in the box and do not forget to sign your name.
3. From the drop down box next to "Comment as:" pick "Anonymous".
4. Click "Publish".

There you have it. You have now posted a comment. Give it a try, Lynn Dukes.

First paid knitting class... yipee!!!!

Week 12 = Catching Up
Day 6 = March 24, 2014

     On March 15th, I taught my first knitting class with paying students. Well, 1 student actually, my 2nd student had the wrong day in her planner. So, on March 16th I had my 2nd paying student. YIPEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE! You can not imagine how jazzed I feel even now, just talking about it.

     The class was part 1 of 2 for my original grocery bag pattern. It was completely different writing a pattern while keeping in mind teaching students as opposed to individual use. Even after 6+ hours editing (with my fabulous editor aka Mom), I left the class with more notes and changes that I wanted to communicate to anyone who would potentially knit the pattern.

     As I have told you before, I have to also do the knitting work for the grocery bag to readily be able to show my students what is going on. So here is a picture of my grocery bag in progress which I also posted as a WiP on Thursday's blog.

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     I realized that I forgot to show you some yarns yesterday so I have a few more for you tonight. BONUS! First I have a beautiful Knit Pick's Chroma, Luau. You saw this picture on Saturday's blog when I posted about new knitting needles. The yarn has an awesome halo that makes the sock look so luxurious.

     The yarn gods must have known I was going to forget a few yarns because I got 4 skeins in the mail today from a company in England. On Facebook there was this quiz to find out what yarn you are and I was Hayfield Bonus DK. As it turns out, I needed to get some DK yarn for one of my conference classes and I loved the colors available... So, I got a few skeins. I am excited to see how the colors turn out. I got Classic Red, Grouse, Silver Grey and Orchid Pink.

     The other skeins of yarn are also for 2 of my conference classes in May. The classes required wool or wool blend yarn in worsted weight. So I went to my faithful KnitPicks.com and got Wool of the Andes in colors Mink Heather and Dove Heather.

Question of the day

Which of the yarn colors above do you like best?

Knitting for Class,

Victoria

Yarn is glorious!

Week 12 = Catching Up
Day 5 = March 23, 2014

     Yarn is your friend. Being a knitter, we sometimes can get carried away with our, "friends" and just buy more because they are all so pretty. Well I have started to hone my "friend" buying excursions, to only buy yarn for which I have a project in mind. This is great because now I know what I am going to knit. However my cabinets are getting full of bags of project yarn... But who cares? Here are some of my recent project yarn purchases.

     First, we have a fun combo of Lion Brand's Fun Fur and Red Heart's Boutique Unforgettable. The Fun Fur the colors flamingo and grape. The Unforgettable color is Winery. These yarns are intended for knitting matching capes for a 9 year old and her American Girls doll cape, for a friends daughter's birthday next month. The daughter was afraid to ask me to make her doll a cape so she asked her mom to ask me. So cute!

     Next, I have some super bulky Lion Brand's Hometown USA and Homespun Thick and Quick. The Hometown color is Denver Rocky Mountain and the Homespun color is Greystone Stripes. I am going to use this yarn to refresh my memory for the arm knitting class that I will be teaching in a few weeks. I made a scarf using the arm knitting technique last October with 1 strand of bulky yarn and 2 strands of worsted yarn. So, needless to say, it is a very loose and airy scarf. I wanted to be able to give my students a view of how different size yarns would look.

     Gifted yarn is the best. My friend, Lynn, got this Premier Yarn's Starbella in color Autumn at a conference as a welcome gift. She had no use for it and offered it up at one of our weekly knitting groups. At the time I received it, I had intended to use it for ruffle scarves which I am not fond of, but apparently they sell well. Then literally the day after I got the yarn from Lynn, I saw a women in Joann's with the cutest purse that used the ruffle yarn as an accent. It was a crochet pattern and I am now determined figure out how to knit it.

     My final buy was this Bernat's Mosaic in color Medusa. The name itself is scary delicious. My Mom found a pattern from Red Heart, Cuff to Cuff Sweater. I loved the design and the way the sweater is knit. The only thing that I didn't like was the color options for the suggested Red Heart's Boutique Treasure yarn. Not willing to let this stop me, I searched until I found this yarn and instantly fell in love with the burnt, fiery colors.

     As I begin these projects, I will be sure to keep you up to date and we will see if they are as fabulous in my mind as they are once actually knitted.

Question of the day

What yarn have you bought for a project recently?

Knitting with Purpose,

Victoria

Knitting Needles

Week 12 = Catching Up
Day 4 = March 22, 2014

     I have learned that when I knit with nicer knitting needles, I feel like I am knitting a nicer item no matter what it is that I am actually knitting. When I first started knitting again about 5 years ago, I had a few straight and circular aluminum needles. I kept trying new projects and decided to "splurge" and get a full set of Bamboo needles, from China no less. I think that I paid $35.00 for a full set of 40" circulars from size 0-15.

     For a starting knitter this was the best thing to do because now I could try any size yarn and I had the needles. Over time and repetitive use I have had to replace those needles because they are unreliable and quite a few have fallen apart with only moderate use. So, I have been trying different brands of knitting needles like Clover, Hiya Hiya, Knit Picks and Knitter's Pride, Dreamz.
 
     The ones that I have to show you today are all new, purchased from Knit Picks. First we have 3 pictures of the 6" Caspian Double Pointed Needle Set which contains 6 needles each of sizes 2.00mm, 2.25mm, 2.50mm, 2.75mm, 3.00mm and 3.25mm. I have been knitting a sock, pictured below, for a friend (who will remain nameless, since she reads this blog) using these needles and I am in love. The needles are so smooth, the weight of them is perfect and the layering of the colored wood is beautiful.

     I also got the Caspian 16" circular needles in size 7US, 8US and 9US. I have not tried these yet.

     The final new circular needles that I got are also a 16" circular size 7US in Harmony Wood.

     There is a "Cadillac" of knitting needles and they are the Signature Knitting Needles. The picture below is from the Signature Needle Arts website. These needles below are $34 a set. Drooooooool!

Question of the day

What is your favorite brand of Knitting Needles?

 

Knitting Needle Happy,

 

Victoria

Completed Projects

Week 12 = Catching Up
Day 3 = March 21, 2014

     I have finished several projects in the past few weeks and here they are.

     This is the scarf from the Hello Kitty Kit that I mentioned last night. I bought this kit for Joanna, my 4-year old, knowing full well that I would be doing 99% of the work. I just loved the idea of "her helping me knit" a project that was special to her. What I did not expect was to be able to make 2 cowls, from the kit, one for each girl. If I had used all the yarn on Joanna's cowl, it would have reached the floor. I love the Hello Kitty Patch!

     Flowertown Knitting Guild's February class was Knitted Flowers, taught by Angela Cline. Angela provided cute little kits with all the yarn that we needed to make this flower. The pattern called for only the 4 petals of  blue. I had the pink yarn too and could not let it go to waste. So, as is my nature, I modified the pattern and made as many petals as I could with the pink yarn. I love my flower!

     This reversible cable bookmark is such a mind blowingly (if that is even a word) simple concept that you will endlessly say to yourself, "Why didn't I think of that." I am presenting this class/pattern to Flowertown Knitting Guild in April and needed to remind myself of the pattern.  I also ttaught it to Eileen, my best friend, so that I have an assistant for the class.

Question of the day

What is your most recently finished project?

Knitting Hello Kitty,

Victoria