tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-82554598010156024462011-07-08T09:04:34.509-07:00Robot Knitter: A blog about a quest to design knitted robots. Plus other knitting and various geekery.robotknitterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10569439385076768338noreply@blogger.comBlogger421100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8255459801015602446.post-69489115266794967372010-02-05T19:01:00.000-08:002010-02-05T21:04:46.666-08:00

The hubby and I were lucky tonight to get to two fabulous events, the Cabin Fever Indie Gift Show in Boston's SoWa art district and I...You...We...ROBOT: A Visual Homage To Our Inner Geek! at Space 242 nearby on East Berkeley Street.We arrived in the South End a little too early (doors at the craft show opened at 6) so we walked around to a few of the studios open for First Friday to stay warm,

robotknitterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10569439385076768338noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8255459801015602446.post-5620408482579408122010-02-03T08:20:00.000-08:002010-02-03T09:08:12.262-08:00

The 2009 holidays were busy, with smaller gift projects flying off my needles at a rapid rate. Hard to post anything about those efforts, as the intended recipients might see!Looking back, here is the result of the past 2 months work: 5 hats (okay, 2 were for me...) 1 baby pod (pictured above) 2 robot brooches 8 coffee/tea cozies 1 new Proto RobotNext year, I need to do a little more advance

robotknitterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10569439385076768338noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8255459801015602446.post-42621540906459422222009-10-27T18:10:00.000-07:002009-10-28T20:16:18.279-07:00

Sometimes things all fall into place. I wanted to make a dress for my niece's third birthday. When the Knitty summer issue came out, I thought the Elenka dress was just the ticket - but was not sure if my niece would like it. Val, her mother, liked it, and so I quickly knitted up the dress to be ready for their visit to the East coast in July - the first time I would see my niece in a

robotknitterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10569439385076768338noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8255459801015602446.post-40613857274550233562009-09-30T16:28:00.000-07:002009-09-30T18:58:30.794-07:00

For fun, I recorded how I knit on a wrong side row of the Lace Scarf I've been working on. This got me to thinking about a comment the Yarn Harlot made about how she is fascinated by watching other people knit. Wouldn't you know it, a search on YouTube turned up lots of examples. Here is my video and a few of my favorites. Enjoy!Sorry about the pause at the beginning. I was waiting for hubby to

robotknitterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10569439385076768338noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8255459801015602446.post-78001546049336914772009-09-27T11:36:00.003-07:002009-10-01T05:32:50.115-07:00

There are those who can love only one project at a time. They are the monogamous knitters. They don't have huge stashes of projects begun but not yet done.Not me. I am a knitting polygamist. Did you ever wonder why there are so many different sized needles? The monogamist knitter would say that this is to allow for the possibilities of knitting in different gauges. The polygamist knitter knows

robotknitterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10569439385076768338noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8255459801015602446.post-81245649012005426352009-08-16T06:58:00.001-07:002009-08-18T15:07:30.880-07:00

We had a wonderful visit to Brooklyn in July. Some of the high points:Got to see brother Bill in a production of Hamlet in J.J. Byrne park in front of The Old Stone House. It was a perfect summer night, and the performance was very enjoyable despite the tragic plot. There are so many familiar quotes from that play - I'd forgotten where they came from.Did you know there are fireflies in the city?

robotknitterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10569439385076768338noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8255459801015602446.post-32544504797519383902009-07-25T11:53:00.000-07:002009-07-25T12:17:36.164-07:00

So no good deed goes unpunished, right? I loaned my sweet Avenue A | Razorfish USB flash drive out to a co-worker. Long story short, co-worker departed with the drive and says they mailed it back. A week ago.Excuse to go shopping? You betcha!Reason departed, and BOTH of these sweet mimobots will be mine! Let the Empire beware...

robotknitterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10569439385076768338noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8255459801015602446.post-58896000189585795302009-07-11T19:27:00.000-07:002009-07-25T12:19:02.208-07:00

Way back in April, I submitted one of my Proto the Robo brooches to the TNNA/Piecework Magazine brooch contest. While I did not win any of the fabulous prizes, my brooch did make the group selected for display in a special exhibit - and is pictured in this month's Piecework Magazine.Super-wohoo!Little proto can be spotted with his 52 new friends at the Embroiderer's Guild of America Museum in

robotknitterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10569439385076768338noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8255459801015602446.post-71728087755146284542009-07-03T05:37:00.001-07:002009-07-03T06:21:07.763-07:00

I have a small addiction. I've been collecting series 5 Dunnies. The lure of the blind box. The quest for the rare Dunny. I only buy one. Here and there. The problem is that most of them are really so, well, ugly. And the object of my desire is so very rare...Surely going to the source - the Kidrobot store in NYC - would bring me luck? No soap. Drat and double drat. A duplicate Dunny!Oh Mecha

robotknitterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10569439385076768338noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8255459801015602446.post-72599826664136031612009-06-28T20:27:00.000-07:002009-06-28T20:43:01.528-07:00

Finally done after sewing in 8 million ends.Nuff said.

robotknitterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10569439385076768338noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8255459801015602446.post-53988992941911991582009-06-20T08:57:00.000-07:002009-06-20T06:22:45.352-07:00

Wish I could have made it out to RoboGames 2009 in San Francisco June 12-14 this year. Looks like it was a lot of geeky fun! Now that's an Olympics I could compete in! (maybe...)Take a peek at this documentary from the RoboGames site. Best quote "Anytime you get geeks thinking in mass, you get societal benefits from that."

robotknitterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10569439385076768338noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8255459801015602446.post-68219737630266626912009-06-06T07:41:00.000-07:002009-06-06T09:13:55.988-07:00

Finished the kerchief. Not sure I love how it looks on me, but it does keep the hair out of my face. I ended up knitting "between" sizes, and it came out a bit too big. So, I single crocheted through two layers of the band to tighten it up.Want to try it again with a more springy yarn than the Debbie Bliss Cotton Cashmere I used. Overall, a fun, fast pattern.Have the tab button jacket all sewn

robotknitterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10569439385076768338noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8255459801015602446.post-39575759011654272152009-05-26T15:24:00.000-07:002009-05-26T16:35:47.255-07:00

Do you like how you look in a baseball cap? Not me. And yet one needs some means of hair concealment for those feeling-less-than glamorous days. Enter the kerchief.Mom made one recently from a pattern called Kitschy Kerchief in Stitch N' Bitch, and it got me to thinking about adding a kerchief to my wardrobe du hair.Though I like the pattern Mom used, I r-e-a-l-l-y like the free Lacy Crochet

robotknitterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10569439385076768338noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8255459801015602446.post-85993526442949912662009-05-14T18:47:00.000-07:002009-05-18T17:34:04.014-07:00

I received an order from central command to add a robotic pooch to the robot line - and "poof" here he is, "Cyber Bow-wow".Thanks for the idea CB.Now should there be a Cyber Puss? Somehow, the idea of a cat behaving in a human-serving manner does not compute. Much as the cat-haters out there would love the idea, I'm thinking not.

robotknitterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10569439385076768338noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8255459801015602446.post-86663685444777364992009-05-05T19:07:00.000-07:002009-05-05T19:30:34.575-07:00

This weekend, Jeff and I were in the Vermont studio (aka my parent's house). Luckily, this usually means lots of knitting time with Mom. Time that was sorely needed for finishing the latest robotknitter invention. Here are some photos of my first attempt at "Avatar" - a knitted version of my online other-self as envisioned by Jason Pym.Thanks again, Jace! And thanks Jeff for taking her out into

robotknitterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10569439385076768338noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8255459801015602446.post-85914923795410337562009-04-26T14:12:00.000-07:002009-04-26T18:27:48.315-07:00

Angora bunnies from Evergreen FarmYesterday, we went to the annual Sheep Shearing Festival at Gore Place. We could only stay for an hour-and-a-half before departing for our cider bottling adventures, so we had to run through instead of meandering around as usual.Alpaca couple posing for the cameraYou know that first really nice day of warm weather after a cold New England winter? The one where

robotknitterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10569439385076768338noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8255459801015602446.post-67276170804979305102009-04-20T15:39:00.000-07:002009-04-20T16:00:37.524-07:00

I saw a small item in the new Vogue Knitting magazine on British chickens in need of some TLC. Who knew that there were chickens in the world in need of sweaters! What a great idea to help the little hens out. But I have a better idea. Stop the jerks who are doing this to the chickens in the first place.One more reason to buy eggs from the chicken man (known to the rest of the world as the

robotknitterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10569439385076768338noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8255459801015602446.post-87802830155745111782009-04-06T15:17:00.000-07:002009-04-20T15:59:37.906-07:00

Here is the Proto Robot Brooch as it looks "on". Flogging Molly t-shirt not included.I do have one for sale on Etsy, if anyone is interested.Speaking of which, does anyone have a good online source for brooch pin fasteners? I want to make a bunch more of the little guys and I want to spend my time knitting, not driving, parking, getting parking tickets, paying parking tickets.... yes, donnez-moi

robotknitterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10569439385076768338noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8255459801015602446.post-20430067757146465642009-04-01T18:13:00.001-07:002009-04-01T18:45:16.824-07:00

New from the robotknitter development labs comes the Proto the Robo Brooch.PieceWork Magazine is running a contest for needle art brooches. I heard about it from InterweaveNews on Twitter. (Who says Twitter is not a useful tool?)So, of course I had to come up with a wearable robot. A robo-buddy who can go with you everywhere. Hoo-ha!Wish me luck!Meanwhile, need to get back to the labs and start

robotknitterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10569439385076768338noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8255459801015602446.post-41117133256245874732009-03-25T17:06:00.000-07:002009-03-27T05:49:00.161-07:00

Well, here goes nothing... I have been obsessively knitting up proto robots in various shades and hues and have started putting them up for sale on Etsy. I have more to go as soon as my in-house photographer takes some photos - and he is waiting on the sun. Could be a while here in still-wintry New England.....Know anyone who would want to take one home?http://robotknitter.etsy.com

robotknitterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10569439385076768338noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8255459801015602446.post-70904148391170622362009-03-09T19:00:00.001-07:002009-03-09T19:15:41.991-07:00

Still struggling to get the mittens for Cindy done before spring. Could it be because of all the little side projects? For Grandmot's birthday I knit her a flower brooch from a variety of pretty yarns in my stash. This is a take on the basic flower from Nicky Epstein's book, Knitted Flowers. Thoughts of spring, and a flower for your lapel (and a bit more yarn out of the stash). Cast one on now!

robotknitterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10569439385076768338noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8255459801015602446.post-58714574036508095322009-02-27T18:07:00.000-08:002009-03-09T19:18:37.739-07:00

I finally got around to typing up the instructions to my proto robot pattern. You can download it from my new website robotknitter.com.Please give it a try and let me know how it goes. Send me links to your completed robots so I can share them here. If you are a ravelry member, be sure to link to the pattern too!Happy knitting.

robotknitterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10569439385076768338noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8255459801015602446.post-21359074670280695472009-02-23T18:48:00.000-08:002009-02-23T19:17:44.501-08:00

I happened to actually read one of the emails Boing Boing sends me the other day, and noticed a wonderful piece of robot art painted by Brian Despain.It was love at first sight, alas the $300 price tag for a limited edition print would cut too deeply into the yarn budget. For those with the moola, there are 7 left as of this posting here.For those with less cash to spend, you can buy a skin for

robotknitterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10569439385076768338noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8255459801015602446.post-89711099083859766122009-02-13T17:47:00.000-08:002009-03-09T19:09:08.188-07:00

On a recent trip to the MFA store, I picked up a new knitting book called Knitalong. I could not resist the pattern of the felted origami crane. In between the knitting patterns, the book is about knitting traditions, and the thread of crafting together as it has spun out over time - from quilting bees to crafting get-togethers.The book also describes the emergence of a relatively new

robotknitterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10569439385076768338noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8255459801015602446.post-86100289540248465602009-01-04T15:42:00.000-08:002009-03-09T19:18:37.741-07:00

The end of 2008 was a 'challenge', but as we are in the new year, let's leave all that behind and hope for something better in 2009.Now that the holidays are over with, I can post some fun photos of some of what kept me busy and prevented me from working on my WIPs over the last two months.Here is a photo of some of the Jayne hat recipients from this holiday knitting mania.Thanks for sharing your

robotknitterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10569439385076768338noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8255459801015602446.post-38125609168905194122008-10-18T13:14:00.000-07:002009-03-09T19:15:41.995-07:00

Finished! Hubby has put in a vote for no felting... so guess I will have to knit another for the great felting experiment. Yay!

robotknitterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10569439385076768338noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8255459801015602446.post-88175828911847553022008-10-15T07:20:00.000-07:002008-10-15T07:31:53.778-07:00

Finally, a new robot design! This little guy has been floating around in my head for the last 6 months.Thinking I am going to felt him and see what happens... after I sew on the other arm, of course.Before I go into the fiery furnace that will forge my strength, shall I contemplate the color blue?

robotknitterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10569439385076768338noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8255459801015602446.post-11578507718840214332008-10-05T18:31:00.000-07:002009-03-09T19:19:57.379-07:00

Sleeve #1 is done, and #2 is well on its way. Watching the Red Sox and trying to get this summer sweater done. Just in time for the winter.Also, stopped into the Vermont Yarn Co. and picked up another kitting project (bad, bad, bad). An adorable felted purse from Cabin Fever - will be making it with a soy-based blended yarn (first time knitting with soy) and using a Sandra Lance handmade

robotknitterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10569439385076768338noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8255459801015602446.post-63705581374494407622008-08-24T17:52:00.000-07:002009-07-25T12:19:24.195-07:00

The Beijing Olympics have come to a close, and so too have the Ravelympics. Though I did not complete all the 'events' I signed up for, participating was a lot of fun. Or at least it was fun to have an excuse for knitting in some odd-ball situations, including while having a pedicure, and while attending a friend's band's gig (love out to One Happy Island)Here is the project I did finish -- a

robotknitterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10569439385076768338noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8255459801015602446.post-28982490855375293752008-08-06T17:22:00.000-07:002008-08-06T17:24:26.112-07:00

Finished the second front section, now on to the sleeves. 4 skeins of yarn left, so I think I'll be fine (fingers still crossed). :-)

robotknitterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10569439385076768338noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8255459801015602446.post-12016051678630915772008-07-15T16:35:00.000-07:002008-07-19T06:36:52.744-07:00

Just got my hands on a Japanese Revoltech action figure - an Eva from Neon Genesis Evangelion. These are seriously cool and ultra-posable, as promised.Eva in the box. Too bad I can't read Japanese...Sprung free of cardboard and plastic trappings.Rrrrr.Ready to save Tokyo from the Angels (disguised as rogue Totoros...)!

robotknitterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10569439385076768338noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8255459801015602446.post-73148843507654412462008-07-08T20:16:00.000-07:002009-03-09T19:20:37.043-07:00

In another recent diversion from the sweater-finishing and robot-knitting imperatives, I made a wee little rabbit for a freind from the oh-so-adorable "The Cute Book" by Aranzi Aronzo.What did said friend do? She took little Remy to Paris and England with her. And took pictures (lovely pictures). And posted them on the web (cursed web!). Do you hear that sound? It is the sound of my flip-flops,

robotknitterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10569439385076768338noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8255459801015602446.post-57154567530594551322008-06-14T18:20:00.000-07:002009-03-09T19:15:41.996-07:00

So, I finished the left front panel of the Tab Button Jacket and decided to reward myself by knitting up a quick headband to keep my new short haircut out of my eyes. Did not realize I had it on wrong-side-up for the photo. Doh!The Molly's Headband pattern is free from Interweave Knits, and can be found with some other lace projects as part of a free .PDF here.I made it with leftover lightweight

robotknitterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10569439385076768338noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8255459801015602446.post-23122858384842128192008-05-27T19:09:00.000-07:002009-03-09T19:14:09.663-07:00

I cast on this lovely project almost 2 years ago now. Certainly not the oldest WIP (that's work-in-progress) in my stash, but when you start measuring a project in years, it gets a bit embarrassing.So, I am taking a break from all things robots until I get this jacket d-o-n-e. I'm knitting it in a lovely sea-foam green and have completed the back and most of one front panel - bets on when I

robotknitterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10569439385076768338noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8255459801015602446.post-80075954376719382942008-05-11T04:48:00.000-07:002009-03-09T19:15:41.997-07:00

Welcome Number Three!!!The world can be a cold hard place for a robot. We think you have a pretty sweet deal though. At least you joined the world on a beautiful day!Thanks! It's really great to be here.

robotknitterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10569439385076768338noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8255459801015602446.post-81470452636877565202008-05-09T19:00:00.000-07:002008-05-11T04:48:38.100-07:00

Get your credit card ready. She's coming this summer. I wonder if I can program her to knit?Check out the write-up on robotsrule.com

robotknitterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10569439385076768338noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8255459801015602446.post-20240674133264961242008-05-05T17:03:00.000-07:002008-05-11T04:48:38.101-07:00

Almost done with robot number 3. Jeff hasn't named him. Yet.

robotknitterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10569439385076768338noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8255459801015602446.post-59899482918625729172008-05-03T12:57:00.000-07:002009-03-09T19:19:57.380-07:00

Gore Place on the Watertown/Waltham line has a sheep shearing festival every April. It poured rain on the last one I went to a couple of years ago. Not so this year. Last Saturday (April 26th) was beautifully clear, if a bit on the cool side.Sheep waiting to be relieved of their fuzzy burdens.Some sheep got the electric treatment, some were shorn old school.But the festival was not just about

robotknitterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10569439385076768338noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8255459801015602446.post-81677592464990048102008-04-26T20:41:00.000-07:002008-05-11T04:47:50.087-07:00

I was lucky enough to be able to attend the Web 2.0 Expo in San Francisco this past week. One of the coolest things there was a laser etching machine, brought by folks from a DIY website: Instructables.Who could resist having a robot laser-etched onto their iphone? Not me.It was a slightly frightening yet amazing process. Here's a video of someone else etching their iPhone.Here's my phone

robotknitterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10569439385076768338noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8255459801015602446.post-78764505797137216612008-04-24T11:56:00.001-07:002009-03-09T19:18:37.743-07:00

I found this great pattern for a knitted Marvin the paranoid android (from the movie Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy) written by a knitter named 'miss-cute-boots'Wow. Too cool."Freeze? I'm a robot. I'm not a refrigerator. "

robotknitterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10569439385076768338noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8255459801015602446.post-22859993564444813602008-04-24T08:06:00.000-07:002009-03-09T19:13:39.742-07:00

It all started when I stumbled upon Craft Magazine this past December. I picked up issue #5 from my favorite bookstore (Brookline Booksmith) and saw an ad for a boxed set of the first four issues which I had missed. I was struggling with what to knit for my husband's cousin's newborn baby. And then I saw it. A knitted robot on the cover of issue one. So hip. So cool! I immediately ordered the

robotknitterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10569439385076768338noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8255459801015602446.post-62338947804823127962008-04-18T17:39:00.000-07:002009-03-09T19:13:39.743-07:00

Knitting.... blogging.... robots. I am on a quest. A quest to learn how to blog. A quest to design knitted robots. The world needs more knitted robots. People need knitted robots. Cats need knitted robots with a little string dangling off the end. And maybe a bell.This blog is dedicated to my mother who taught me how to knit oh so many years ago. Plus she is likely the only one who will read

robotknitterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10569439385076768338noreply@blogger.com0