Archive for August, 2009
Win a Knitted Doodad!
Posted by springviolet in Contests on August 31st, 2009
Posted by: springviolet
Over on Twitter we’ve mentioned our need for bumpers. You know, those little recorded bits that divide sections of the podcast from one another. They also usually tell you what you’re listening to.
Out of all our assorted Twitter followers, our friend KC was the only one to take on the challenge. Yeah, that’s right, he’s better than you. Have a listen: Press 1.
Here’s the thing, we need more.
Sadly, it looks like you guys need a little more coaxing than the occasional sad tweet from us. So how does this sound? The first 5 people to record a bumper on our feedback line will receive a little knitted thing. We can’t promise what the little knitted thing will be but it will be cool. Cross our hearts, it will be cool.
Got that? Call our feedback line, 215.839.6373 (215.839.NERD), leave us a bumper-like message, include your name and contact information, and we’ll get in touch with you about receiving a super cool knitted doodad. Easy!
Download this episode, or listen online
A Very Special Interview with Terrycloth Green
Posted by freakapotimus in Bloopers and Extras on August 31st, 2009
Posted by: freakapotimus
On Friday, 14 August 2009, my friend Jonathan and I found ourselves at Otto’s Shrunken Head for tiki drinks and a very intense rock show of awesome featuring Uncle Monsterface and Ruffian Arms.
So. Much. Epic.
However, the epic didn’t end when the music stopped! Outside on the streets of New York City, I cornered Terrycloth Green and demanded an interview for our podcast, the audio of which can be heard on Episode 1: Nerdy Knitting.
But behold! Posted below is the full video version of Andrea’s interview with superstar internet celebrity sock puppet of greatness Terrycloth Green: Social Knitworking hits hard with the tough questions; TCG does not talk about girls’ butts; Andrea makes out with a sock puppet.
Episode 1: Nerdy Knitting
Posted by freakapotimus in Podcast Episodes on August 31st, 2009
Posted by: freakapotimus
Welcome to the official first episode of the Social Knitworking podcast!
August’s theme is Nerdy Knitting, so fire up your Firefly DVDs and roll out your dice. In this episode, we discuss fandom knits (including Whedonverse, Warcraft, Doctor Who, and Harry Potter) and knitting for nerds and geeks; Joanna reports from the Gencon floor; Andrea interviews Terrycloth Green; we steal the “Stick It in Your Queue” segment from the sadly defunct Dharmalars podcast.
Episode playlist
- “Engines Make Me Hot (Kaylee’s Song)”, Lauren Fairweather
- “Roll the Dice”, Sinister Six
- “The Gary Gygax Song”, Uncle Monsterface
- “Game Store Girl”, Beefy
- “Nerd Lust”, Schaffer the Darklord
A mostly complete list of show notes and links can be found at Show Notes!
If you’ve got any comments or questions for the podcast, call our feedback line! The number again is 215.839.6373 (215.839.NERD), or use the handy little Google Voice widget we’ve installed on the blog.
Download this episode, or listen online
Double-Thick Reversible Dice Bag
Posted by springviolet in Original Patterns on August 30th, 2009
Posted by: springviolet
Double knitting creates a reversible bag, with the inside being a negative image of the outside. The bag is knit at a tighter gauge than is usually called for in worsted weight yarn. This is for die security.
As you work it may be helpful to think in terms of “inside” and “outside”. Throughout the pattern all knit stitches make up the outside of the bag, while all purl stitches make up the inside of the bag.
Additional instructions on double knitting can be found online. KnittingHelp.com has a nice one that includes a pattern and video.
If you have any questions or comments, please feel free to email the designer at joanna@socialknitworking.org. She can also be found on Ravelry as springviolet.
Click to download this pattern as a PDF.
Queue this pattern on Ravelry
Materials
- worsted weight yarn in two contrasting colors
- one US 3 (3.25mm) 16″ circular and five double-pointed in the same size
- one cable needle
- one darning needle
Boobs and Booze! – August 2009
Posted by ConsterMonster in Boobs and Booze! on August 27th, 2009
Posted by: ConsterMonster
One day, Connie was thinking of what her monthly contribution to the Social Knitworking blog could be. Connie said, “Monthly alcoholic beverages!” And then it was. Boobs and Booze! Rock! Each month I am going to experiment with drinks I have never tried and present to you my favorite.
This month Joanna discovered a delectable delight that she shared with me. Domaine de Canton. The drink comes in this sexy bottle that Joanna found in an aisle next to the Absinthe. It comes with a neat booklet that describes Domaine de Canton as “A handcrafted infusion of eaux-de-vie and baby ginger enhanced with VSOP Cognac…the world’s first super-premium ginger…made by hand in Tarnac, France from the finest all-natural ingredients”. The booklet also lists some delicious drink recipes one of which involved Limonata and was hit amongst the TSR’s Tuesday night. Yum!
So this months drink I like to call Ginger Loves Mary Ann. Aren’t I witty? Don’t answer that.
Ginger Loves Mary Ann
1 part Domaine de Canton
3 parts Cream Soda
Ice
The hint of ginger with the creaminess of the soda is a dangerously delicious blend. Try it and let me know what you think.
Also, if you have a suggestion or a favorite alcoholic beverage to share, call the feedback line at 215-839-NERD (6373) or use the handy Google Talk button on the right. OR you can send me an email at Connie@socialknitworking.org.
P.S. I feel it neccesary to include the banter that happened while writing this post:
Joanna: “[Knitting] is the thread that binds us [TSR]. Like the Force, Connie!”
Connie: “But isn’t the force just Midichlorians?”
Joanna: (Waving hand as in a Jedi Mind Trick) “There are no Midichlorians, Connie.”
Social Knitworking Nugget 003: Meet Connie!
Posted by freakapotimus in Mini Vidcasts on August 26th, 2009
Posted by: freakapotimus
In this installment of Social Knitworking Nuggets: Andrea, Jenn, and Joanna welcome Connie back to Philadelphia and introduce her to the podcast viewers.
Who knits in Florida?!
Posted by ConsterMonster in Things We Do on August 25th, 2009
Posted by: ConsterMonster
I recently ventured into the depths of South Florida to visit family and friends this past month. While there I found myself teaching a friend to knit. We started easy and visited a local Michael’s where we purchased some yarn and needles. A few weeks have passed and she has now completed her first project, the Potato Chip Scarf. I also got her started on the glorious “Blankie“.
Now, FL Friend would like to work on other projects. But as we all know, Michael’s is quite limited in their selection of yarns. Especially in South Florida. I suggested she use online sites like KnitPicks and Yarn.com being that there are virtually NO YARN STORES in her immediate area. Another question we have is, what can one really knit for FL weather? The heat rules out many favorite patterns of mine. Does anyone have a favorite yarn, or project that you think is appropriate for FL? Feel free to leave comments here or on the feedback line: 215.839.6373 (215.839.NERD), or use the Google Voice widget we’ve installed on the blog.
Social Knitworking Goes To New Hampshire
Posted by springviolet in Store Reviews, Things We Do on August 25th, 2009
Posted by: springviolet
Last week I was at a week-long family reunion in New Hampshire. I was staying in a rental cottage not too far from a lake, the weather was lovely and I reconnected with my aunt, uncles and cousins. ‘Twas a beautiful thing.
But of course I made time for some Social Knitworking. :)
My mom knits. As a matter of fact, she taught me when I was little. And she always has some sort of craft project under construction. She was my partner in crime for an impromptu yarn crawl of the surrounding area.
Our first stop was New London, New Hampshire. It’s a pretty little town with shops along a main thoroughfare. That’s where we visited Knit New London, http://www.knitnewlondon.com.
Knit New London follows the typical LYS layout and stock. There are lots of the imported yarns I’m used to seeing, Manos being very strongly represented. The first floor is a little cramped with shelves of yarn, books and samples. However it is all presented nicely – I do love walking into a shop filled with color. A stairway at the back of the shop takes you to a second floor public workspace. I’m all about the social part of crafting, so seeing a dedicated space away from the shopping area is always a wonderful thing to me.
All in all, I found the store to be very pleasant to visit.
Our second stop was near Newport, New Hampshire. The area is a bit more industrial than New London, what with the mill and all, but nestled in a ridiculously scenic area. Yeah, New Hampshire is very pretty. :) Anyway, that’s where we visited The Dorr Mill Store, http://dorrmillstore.com.
The Dorr Mill Store is a large first floor showroom. I would estimate a third of the space is clothes and blankets. They carry much of the Pendleton line. Very nice quality.
Then there is the crafts area of the showroom. ZOMG! This was fiber craft heaven if you do anything BUT knit. There is fabric for quilting and applique, fiber for needle felting, supplies for punch embroidery, rug hooking supplies, a wide selection of acid dyes for fiber and fabrics and kits and books for most of the crafts represented. Additionally, there are dozens of beautiful finished examples of the crafts and kits.
My mom and I roamed the aisles for quite a while, oohing an ahing over the samples and various supplies. We both ended up purchasing a rug hooking kit. I sense a new fiber obsession on the horizon.
If you are a fan of fiber arts in general, this is is a fantastic place to visit.
Social Knitworking Nugget 002: Boobs (for serious!)
Posted by freakapotimus in Mini Vidcasts on August 20th, 2009
Posted by: freakapotimus
In this installment of Social Knitworking Nuggets: Andrea and Jenn, with the help of several TSRs and Other Joanna, discuss boobs. Would you like to knit some?
- The Knitted Knockers Program
- Tit Bits pattern from Knitty, Fall 2005
Nysssa Goes To The Movies – District 9 – minor spoilers
Posted by Nysssa in Things We Do on August 15th, 2009
Posted by: Nysssa
I’m not a movie theater kind of gal – mostly because I like being tucked under a blanket with my dog next to me sipping wine and getting up to pee when I want kind of movie watcher. Today I went to the movies with my husband and my parents to celebrate my husband’s birthday. He picked “District 9″ and I thought I’d share my impressions here.
Before I begin though – my current movie theater knitting project is the Windmill Bag – I soared through about 7 or 8 inches of garter stitch during the movie today – 21 stitches wide on size 6 needles using worsted weight yarn..
Ok, the movie…
If you’re the kind of person who shows up to a movie late – this movie is perfect for it. I spent the first 30 or so minutes wondering why the movie theater had so many people in it. It was extremely documentary-esque but didn’t seem to have a point and was gory and I couldn’t wait for something to finally HAPPEN.
When things finally started happening, the movie went from hmm to HMM to Oh, ok – there is a plot. It was predictable, but not in a bad way. There was a lot of splattering bodies – but by the end there were bodies being splattered that you were glad to see go. There was a lot of eating catfood – and some eating of alien flesh – not really my thing. There were parts I just didn’t watch – peeling off fingernails, vomiting black goo, chopping off offending body parts. I saw some people with small children in the theater, probably not something I’d want a small child to see – but I don’t have to get up in the middle of the night with them when they have nightmares that they are slowly turning into an alien.
My favorite character was the son – you’ll see why.
The main character didn’t have enough character – I’m not sure if it was the actor’s fault or the writer’s, but he went from wishy-washy to hero and then back to wishy-washer.
They did manage to leave us hanging at the end – please I don’t want them to make a sequel – it was interesting but not enough for another one.
This was definitely not a ‘have to see it on the big screen with the big sound system’ kind of movie. Catch a matinee so you have money left for popcorn to get your through the beginning of the movie – or just wait for it to come out on DVD.