Posted my first free pattern!

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.

Robots to Love

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 your laptop, iphone or [insert name of technology object here] on the GelaSkins site. You can also download free desktop art there as well. So cool!!!

Knitting Cafe

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 phenomenon - the knitting cafe.

So on a recent visit to NYC, I sought out and visited a knitting cafe called Knit New York. The sign out front contained one of the most evil marketing messages I have ever seen: "Knit for Free". Wow. Yes, knitting is free, but the yarn, the needles, the bags, the stitch counters, tape measures, and on and on, are not. Joy!

Inside, they have cute little tables with flowers on them. They have these fabulous yarn storage shelves - look like something from Imelda Marcos's closet of dreams.


The staff was very friendly, but there was something about the place that did not tempt me to linger -- not what I expected to find. Also, the espresso machine definitely had the look of something that has been unused for quite a while.

I guess I had my hopes up after reading Knitalong. Does anyone have any good knitting cafe's to recommend?

New Year Relief

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 photo, Jason, CC and Joseph - looks too warm there in Dali, China for them, alas! Jealous here in chilly Boston....


And here is the belated holiday gift still on my needles for my sister - should be great if I ever get them done!


Can you guess what this will be?

Robot Finished!

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

To felt or not to felt, that is the question...

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?

Rounding third base, headed for home

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 porcelain button as an embelishment. Yummy.