Author Archive

Spam attack!

Posted by: freakapotimus

We were recently hit with a rash of spam users signing up for the blog, and I mass deleted a whole bunch of them. We love when you guys sign up to post comments and connect with the community, but if I accidentally deleted your account, please let me know!

This may happen occasionally—the risks of being on the internet, sadly—so if you ever find yourself locked out of the site, don’t take it personally. Shoot us an email or call the hotline, and we’ll fix you up right good.

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Episode 3: Back to School

Posted by: freakapotimus

Welcome to the third episode of the Social Knitworking podcast!

In this episode, recorded unfortunately too close to the speaker at our local coffee shop, we discuss going back to school, taking classes, knitting during lectures, and the sexiness of professors.

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

 

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Photographing the evidence

Posted by: freakapotimus

Even though Tuesday is our designated knit night, and I’ve been doing this just about every week for almost three years, yesterday I forgot my knitting. In my rush to make sure I had not only my lunch but also my umbrella, I left my knitting bag—and Connie’s!—at my front door. Undeterred, I made my way down to our regular coffee shop as soon as I’d left work last night.

But what happens at knit night when you’ve got no knitting? Me, I take photos.

Texting

I am such an amatuer photographer that I wonder if amatuer is even too strong a word for what I do. I love taking photos, but I know nothing of composition, aperture, level settings. I take pictures because I like having something interesting to look at long after the moment’s passed.

Chair and lamp

I get a little silly sometimes. I pretend that I’m a great photographer, and attempt to get really artsy shots with my simple point-and-shoot camera, a Kodak EasyShare M530. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn’t. But it’s a fun camera and I’ve taken over 500 shots in one weekend before.

Cup and book

I’d like to go back and take better photos of my finished knitting, but many of those items have already been gifted to their intended recipients. (I tend to do mostly gift knitting.) My plan is to make this DIY photo studio, so my FO photos look much better than this.

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Episode 2: Hot Summer is Hot

Posted by: freakapotimus

Welcome to the second episode of the Social Knitworking podcast!

In this short but lovely episode, recorded in Andrea’s swanky new apartment, we discuss summer weather, moving, our busy lives, and Christmas knitting.

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

 

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A challenge for me

Posted by: freakapotimus

For a while I debated entering a project or two into the knitting Olympics, but Jenn encouraging us to join up with teamunwhined on Ravelry pushed my month-long “meh” into an enthusiastic ” all right!” And, earlier this evening while the Olympic torch was lit in Vancouver BC, I was at a friend’s apartment knitting a pair of gloves for Matt.

Pele convertible mittens

My first project is Pele (link to pattern), a Berroco pattern for a pair of convertible mittens. Flip back the mitt, and viola!! Fingerless gloves. I’ve never knit gloves before—oh sure, I’ve knit mittens and wristers and fingerless mitts, but never anything where fingers were involved. Since I’ve been telling Matt for at least a month now that I would knit him gloves, I figure this would be the perfect challenge.

I am also a meticulously slow knitter, and projects tend to sit on my needles for quite some time. I mean, how long have I been working on Aquaphobia? While someone else may be able to whip up these gloves in a few hours of watching Law & Order on one of the many cable channels, I know I will need a deadline to turn the yarn into something wearable.

I’ve got at least two other patterns on my must-knit list for the Olympics, and a few more in the queue if I really feel up to it, but the point is to be realistic while still being challenging. I think three projects in 17 days is challenging enough for me. But who knows? Maybe I’ll catch the Olympic spirit and push myself to try knitting even more awesome stuff.

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Vibrator Cozy

Posted by: freakapotimus

What’s a more fun gift than something to keep your fun safe?

Discreet enough to keep on your nightstand or dresser, large enough to hold Chloe or G-Swirl, or anything in between. (Please note, those links are probably NSFW!)

Materials

  • 1 skein Artful Yarns Candy Sweet Tart
  • 1 skein Lion Brand Yarn Fun Fur Violet (optional)
  • 1 set US size 8 double-pointed knitting needles

Sizing

Gauge: 20 sts + 32 rows = 4″ on size 8 needles
Dimensions: 4″ x 10″ without fun fur

Directions

CO 42 st, divide evenly across 3 DPN (14 sts on each).

Rnd 1: P
Rnd 2: K
Rnd 3: P
Rnd 4: K
Rnd 5: K

Rnd 6: [K5 YO K2Tog] to end

Knit next 70 rounds.

Begin decrease

Rnd 1: [K4 SSK K2 K2Tog K4] to end
Rnd 2: [K3 SSK K2 K2Tog K3] to end
Rnd 3: [K2 SSK K2 K2Tog K2] to end
Rnd 4: [K1 SSK K2 K2Tog K1] to end
Rnd 5: [SSK K2 K2Tog] to end
Rnd 6: K2Tog to end

Finishing

Pull yarn through remaining stitches. Turn inside-out and weave in ends. Turn right-side-out and thread a ribbon through the YOs.

To add fun fur, pick up all stitches on the cast-on edge. K 1 round, BO and weave in ends.

This pattern originally posted on my personal blog, freakapotimus.com.

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Social Knitworking Nugget 008: Benders

Posted by: freakapotimus

In this installment of Social Knitworking Nuggets: Andrea, Joanna, and Jenn are appropriately sheepish about their September bender.

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Social Knitworking Nugget 007: Elbow to the Taint

Posted by: freakapotimus

In this installment of Social Knitworking Nuggets: the SK ladies come up with a new shot; Joanna elbows some taint.

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Social Knitworking Nugget 006: Owly bits and boobs

Posted by: freakapotimus

In this installment of Social Knitworking Nuggets: Joanna shows off her finished sweater; Connie and Jenn show off their (and Joanna’s!) boobs.

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What’s a bumper?

Posted by: freakapotimus

While recording our August podcast, Jenn asked a very important question: what’s a bumper?

Even though this clip didn’t make it into the official podcast, we thought it would be educational to post it here in the Extras section.

And if you are thinking of recording a bumper for our podcast, you should also be aware of the contest we’re running! It’s open until we fill all five available spots.

Download this episode, or listen online

 

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