Twisted Knitter

Oct 05

Wooly app

Don’t let my blog absence fool you — there’s a lot going on behind the scenes; it’s just that most of it isn’t knitting blog fodder. But all is well! I’m interacting more heavily on Twitter right now because I’m away from my computer more than usual — follow me on Twitter if you wish!

I hardly remember the last time I was able to knit a few stitches — it’s probably been weeks! But when I need a reminder of what I have on the needles (when the inevitable urge to start something new strikes), or what I want to knit (my queue), or take a quick peek at my stash (or to “shop” my stash), I use one of my favorite apps: Wooly.

Some of what I’ll share is redundant, because other knitters have reviewed Wooly. However, Wooly’s creators are listening to feedback and incorporating our suggestions, and some features might have been enhanced since you last checked it out.

Wooly accesses your Ravelry notebook, so you will have to be a member of Ravelry to use the app. And while you won’t have all the queue editing capabilities within Wooly, you’ll be able to access your projects, queue, and stash.

When I want to show my projects to somebody, the Wooly app is my favorite way to do that — all my project photos are there:

Screenshot for one of my projects; you can click the image to view more photos (if there’s more than one)

As for the stash feature — I think this is one of my favorite uses of Wooly. Even though I have yet to finish adding all of my stash, the most robust feature of Wooly (in my opinion) is this one.

I can sort by weight, yarn company, color family, or the default (which appears to be the order in which you added items to your Ravelry stash — the yarn you’ve had the longest is what appears first).

Of course, I love sorting by color:

My stash sorted by color

. . . and by yarn company:

Wooly App - Stash sorted by yarn company

My stash sorted by yarn company
(I need to knit some of that Malabrigo)!

The one feature I don’t use very often is the “Friends” feature. It lists all my Ravelry friends alphabetically by Ravelry ID. On an iPhone, the corresponding alphabet letters on the right are super tiny and I can’t usually target the right letter – just the general vicinity. Here’s what happened when I tried to hit “S”:

It’s super difficult to hit the correct letter on an iPhone!

A recently-added feature is the ability to update some fields of existing projects, including notes related to the project, so I try to add a lot of information to my project page in order to access that information later. But if all else fails, a great place to put information is the “notes” portion of your project page in Wooly.

A recent rumor is that there’s another update coming . . . I can’t wait!

Next up: another indispensable iPhone app to use with Ravelry.

6 comments Posted in Apps Wooly

Sep 07

Mavericks *

Lonestar Montgomery - path to Building F

The path to Building F

The first two weeks of classes are under my belt and I’m feeling a little less overwhelmed. Texas History is incredibly interesting and spans the time period from the earliest arrival of humans in Texas (about 10,000 – 12,000 years ago from Siberia via the Bering Strait land bridge to the area in the Texas panhandle near the Canadian and Red River) through present-day Texas. The textbook is excellent — I highly recommend it for anybody interested in Texas history.

There’s a ton of reading in this class and I’m glad the subject matter and supplemental reading is interesting because it’s challenging to carve out the time for all of it.

Early arrival to Texas History

As for Creative Writing, while it’s gotten better each day, it’s far from easy for me! For somebody who only writes creatively when the mood or the moment strikes, to be assigned something that requires creativity ON THE SPOT (we write something EVERY time we meet) is a much bigger challenge than I anticipated. I do see the value in it and I’m participating and keeping up, but if your perception was like mine — that it would be fun and self-indulgent — that’s only part of the bigger picture. It’s work. We can choose to explore the direction the writing assignment takes us, but it’s still an assignment. The reward is in the doing and in developing the writing (and editing and revising) habit. And by the end of the course, I’ll have a full portfolio of “finished” writing. I’m hoping to be brave enough to share my writing in this space.

But today? I’m just extremely glad it’s Friday and I have a weekend ahead of me.

* Lone Star College‘s official mascot is the Maverick.

14 comments Posted in Choice 2012, Lonestar Montgomery Lone Star College - Montgomery Lonestar Montgomery LSC Montgomery

Aug 29

Clark Cable

Soakbox

The Instagram shot doesn’t do justice to the red yarn, but it’s stunning (Lorna’s Laces Shepherd Sport – 200 yards). Included is a Fiona Ellis pattern for fingerless mitts in an interesting cable and diamond pattern. The nail color is “Poor Lil Rich Girl.” I can’t find a good swatch photo online, but it’s a classic plummy red.

My first day of school went well yesterday — only a mild amount of stress and difficulty (confusion regarding which of the published classroom numbers was correct). I had a great non-Starbucks latte (read: less expensive) and had time to enjoy it. Last week, I was feeling a little cowardly for having taken just one class last semester and only two this semester. But I’m now convinced that it was a wise move to continue with the slow transition. It will be challenging to keep up with all the writing requirements in both classes and keep up with my non-collegiate life.

Creative Writing (Speculative Fiction & Screenwriting) will definitely be my more challenging class. It’s been years since I’ve practiced writing fiction with any regularity or purpose and we’ll be writing (and sharing – eeep!) in class every time we meet. While I love speculative fiction as a reader, I’m a little timid about sharing what I write. Among other learning outcomes, we are expected to produce, share, and revise a body of original work and demonstrate an ability to prepare and format work for publication. (3 short stories, 1 screenplay adaptation, 1 original screenplay).

Texas History – a survey of political, social, economic, cultural, and intellectual history of Texas from the pre-Columbian era to the present. I’m very excited about this class and have completed some of the required reading already (Empire of the Summer Moon, Quanah Parker and the Rise and Fall of the Comanches, the Most Powerful Indian Tribe in American History). It’s a brilliant book. There’s a LOT more to Texas than this former Oklahoman realized, and Quanah Parker figures prominently in the history of both states.

Knitting-wise, I’m trying to finish (or frog) some lingering WIPs. I have at least four projects close to completion and that will be my weekend focus for the next couple of months. I’ll also reward myself with knitting during my self-imposed study breaks.

13 comments Posted in Beauty Products, Choice 2012, Knitting, Lonestar Montgomery, Twisted Yarns Clark Cable Lorna's Laces Shepherd Sport SoakBox

Aug 25

Nail Color of the Week: RBL Santa Fe

GOMM: Santa Fe & Shibui sock yarn in Pagoda

RBL GOMM Nail Lacquer in “Santa Fe” and Shibui sock yarn in Pagoda

I had the chance to try what’s going to be my newest addition to Top Five Favorite Nail Colors. It’s Rescue Beauty Lounge’s (RBL’s) Santa Fe from the GOMM collection. One clue that it’s going to be a favorite color is finding a complementary yarn in a similar shade. I haven’t bought the Shibui yarn yet, but isn’t it pretty?

I’m not changing my nail color anywhere close to once a week (when I wear polish at all), but I’m still a nail polish fan! In less than 72 hours, I’ll be back in class (Texas History and Creative Writing this semester), and I’m catching up on some of my overdue blogging in anticipation of being even more preoccupied (offline) than usual. So you can probably expect my nail color blog entries to be infrequent through the end of the semester.

4 comments Posted in Knitting, Nail Color of the Week, Top Five Favorite Nail Colors "Rescue Beauty Lounge" Pagoda RBL Santa Fe Shibui Top Five Favorite Nail Colors

Aug 24

Starting is easy

Magic Loop and Noro Taiyo sock

I bought this yarn last year intending to knit a scarf, but quickly learned it wasn’t going to work out the way I envisioned. It was a little unwieldy working from the center of the skein, so I decided to wind it into a looser ball/cake and stashed it away in my sock yarn bin. I came across it the other day when I was evaluating my stash for potential weaving yarns and decided to swatch the Noro Taiyo as a sock (since it *is* sock yarn after all). I opted for Magic Loop since the Taiyo is single-ply and I was fearful of breaking the yarn if I tugged too hard.

Did you notice how my “swatch” turned in to a sock-in-progress?

It never fails that when I start knitting with a self-striping sock yarn, I can’t stop. I’m eager to watch the colors transition — it’s so satisfying. The added plus is that it’s a little bit of anticipation that enhances what would otherwise be a “plain” sock. And while I love knitting with double-pointed needles, I think that this yarn (and other Noro sock yarns) calls for Magic Loop.

I learned Magic Loop very recently, after trying unsuccessfully to teach myself. My friend Gayle proposed a coffee/knitting session in order to learn it and I eagerly accepted, and it turned out that my former trouble with Magic Loop was in getting started (imagine that) so after getting everything situated, Magic Loop is just like knitting in the round on two circulars. If you’re a sock knitter, I hope you try it. But if you don’t have a local yarn shop where you can take a Magic Loop class, I recommend Very Pink’s pattern and video.

Didn’t you feel like starting something today?

10 comments Posted in Knitting Magic Loop Noro Startitis Taiyo

Aug 23

Doing things right

First Warp on the New 15″ Cricket

The second time I tried to warp a Cricket loom on my own, I warped it backwards — and it’s pretty hopeless if you do that. When I got my own loom (which, incidentally, does require assembly, and in my opinion is the best way to get to know your loom and all the parts), I made sure to re-read the instructions that come with the loom *and* watch the Craftsy video. Make your mistakes early and often.

When the loom arrived, we were in the midst of 5 stomach viruses and a washing machine that stopped working during the worst of it. I was lucky to find time to assemble my loom, and even luckier to get to warp (correctly). But for over two weeks, my daily concern was how I was going to wash our clothes. I took many trips to the laundromat (“washateria” here) and also used my neighbor’s machine one weekend. The drama with the warranty company was ongoing and the date kept getting pushed farther out. I was losing hope! Finally, rather than continue to deal with that and the other peripheral dramas popping up, we bought a new washer and dryer. It’s amazing how solving ONE problem can make it easier to deal with all the rest.

I’m proud of my warp and I look at it every day. I just need to start weaving.

6 comments Posted in Weaving Brown Sheep Nature Spun Worsted Craftsy Cricket Loom Rigid Heddle Loom

Aug 03

Cricket

Step 1: Indulge your impulse and take a rigid heddle weaving class at your local yarn shop
Step 2: Take the loom home to finish your project (so fast!) and start another one, and accidentally warp the loom backwards. Console yourself that others far smarter than you have done this!
Step 3: Take a Craftsy class and watch it over and over again. A hands-on class is ideal, but this is a close second.
Step 4: Finally decide which size loom to purchase — it helps to acknowledge that this will just be your FIRST loom.
Step 5: Wait for your 15″ Cricket to arrive and read a lot of books, deal with life, and . . . “Oh look! A drop spindle!”

11 comments Posted in Weaving Craftsy Cricket Loom Rigid Heddle weaving Weaving Class

Jul 27

Mindfulness and Weaving

I have a few thoughts to share before my Cricket 15″ loom arrives and this blog entry is as much for myself as it is for my readers.

You know I love knitting, right? I’ve been doing it since 2003 and I have no intention of stopping. It’s my therapy, entertainment, escape, and sometimes — my pure joy. However, I also believe that there is something about working with my hands, with good tools and fiber, that fulfills something I can only identify as genetic memory. I thought I was alone in feeling this until I saw this video. Ancient literature confirms we are meant to — even destined — to work with our hands, with materials found in nature. Knitting has been my way of slowing down and balancing out emotions and impulses. It’s impossible to be impulsive if we’re doing something that engages our hands and minds. It’s difficult to cause trouble or even fall into it while we’re engaged in handwork.

But before there can be knitting, there has to be fiber; and fiber creation is also ancient.

Here are videos featuring a Tibetan spinner and Navajo Weaver Clara Sherman.

I think weaving and spinning keep the practitioner rooted in the present — they are both incredibly mindful pursuits. Knitting and crochet can certainly be that way as well, but in following a pattern for a garment (for example) the knitter has to be aware of what happened before and what is going to happen next. Weavers and spinners prepare warp and fiber but are rooted in the present as they actively make fabric or yarn. This process of “making” is both meditation and practice, as well as production.

These aren’t new concepts at all — I’m just realizing why weaving is so appealing to me right now, when I need it the most. I don’t know if my loom can get here fast enough.

6 comments Posted in Weaving Cricket Loom

Jun 27

Little Leaves : Baby Sweater

On Ravelry: Little Leaves Baby Sweater

You saw a glimpse of the baby sweater yesterday — unblocked, sans buttons, and not yet seamed. But now that it’s on the first leg of its journey to the intended recipient, I can share the finished photo. So that’s one less thing to speculate about.

I highly recommend this pattern (if you know that a baby girl is on the way). I wish I could remember whose project page to credit for my discovery of the pattern, but I can’t remember! If you want to try it, you’ll need this book: