Joy and excitement as The Economist calendar arrived from the States this morning. An illustrated look at the year ahead – written and illustrated by the cartooning legend that is Kevin KAL Kallaugher.

I wrote about it briefly before, but at the time I hadn’t actually seen more than the little previews on KAL’s website. I’ve finally had a chance to look at all 12 months up close, and it’s fantastic!
The main illustration every month refers to about a dozen wildly different current and historical events, all put together in miraculously coherent scene.
In addition there are other little relevant drawings sprinkled around the written part of the calendar.

KAL himself also features on every page of this calendar – in good “Where’s Wally?” style – usually reading a copy of the Economist.

It’s a terrific piece of work, and really I can’t recommend it enough.
A brilliant gift for anyone interested in cartoons!

……………vom Forums-Geburtstags-KAL sind fertig.

So sieht meiner inzwischen aus und ich freue mich echt, das soviele mitstricken

Fertig geworden ist auch mein WaveOfColor nach einer Anleitung von Birgit Freyer. Ein Möbius, der richtig Spaß gemacht hat.

Ja und dann gab es da noch Pimpelliese, die sich prima nebenbei stricken lies.

Das war’s dann erstmal wieder, aber später gibt es mehr von mir.

Ich wünsche allen einen schönen Mittwoch

That’s the goal for my Garter Yoke Cardigan, and it looks like I might make it!

I’m leaning towards a bracelet sleeve length — longer than three quarter, but not so long that the cuff will get in the way of knitting and working. Also, there’s something about a slightly shorter sleeve on me that at least makes me feel like I’m a bit more put together (even if it is only in my head.)

When I tried on the sweater before starting the sleeves, I was concerned that the sleeves were going to be a bit baggy. The pattern calls for knitting the sleeves straight to the cuff — no shaping — so I decided that instead of playing with decreases, I’d just go down a size and use size 6 dpns. (It didn’t hurt that I could actually reach these needles from where I was curled up on the couch at the time…)

I’m really happy with how the first sleeve is fitting, and I think it is time to start digging around for buttons!

I might not post again before heading home for Thanksgiving, so I hope your holiday is filled with people you love and food you enjoy! (And maybe some time to rest and knit.)

This post is written by guest blogger, Bairbre, a regular knitter at the Wednesday morning and Saturday afternoon Knit in the City groups

Every November for the past eight years myself and my sister Eithne have
taught a week-end knitting workshop in the ICA Education Centre at An
Grianan, Termonfeckin, County Louth. In the early years we advertised the
workshop in yarn-shops around the country but pretty soon we had a core
bunch of between 16 and 20 people who turned up year after year and we gave up advertising.

Each workshop we concentrate on something different eg
knitting from the top down, mitred knitting, shadow knitting, lace knitting.
This year the group requested sock knitting so that¹s what we did.

It was hugely successful and all the participants went away happy. By Sunday lunchtime the majority of people had at least 1 sock completed, a couple even had both done and were ready to start a second pair!

Ansa och skölja 300 g brysselkål. Koka upp 4 dl vatten med 1 tsk salt. Lägg i brysselkålen när vattnet kokar ordentligt. Koka försiktigt under lock i några minuter och sedan utan lock tills kålen nästan är klar! Kyl ned dem med lite kallt vatten, halvera kålen och lägg dem i en skål. Häll över en blandning av 2 msk vit balsamvinäger, 2 msk vatten och 2 msk olivolja. Smula över grovt salt, nymalen peppar och lite färsk timjan. en varning för LCHF

…………….hab’ ich mal versucht zu stricken.

Rausgekommen sind diese beiden, aber so ganz zufrieden bin ich damit noch nicht. Da muss ich noch a bisserl dran tüpftel.

Heute werde ich mal wieder a bisserl an meinem KAL werkeln, damit er auch pünktlich am Samstag gestartet werden kann.

Wenn es soweit ist, setzte ich hier noch einen passenden Link für eventuell interessierte Mitstrickerinnen.

Das war’s erstmal wieder für heute. Allen noch einen schönen Mittwoch wünscht

Strange combo.

But I needed to say a bit about both today.

First, please go read the comments on my last post about THE MOST IMPORTANT.

Go ahead, I’ll wait.

*

While I”m waiting, I’ll let you know about a sock knitalong I’m starting on December 1. I’ll post the     pattern next Friday (The 27th), and then the knitalong will be posted every 3 days, with a few    rows each post, until we’re done. (Which will probably be in 2 years, if we go how slow I go…) So –wanna join me? Please let me know in the comments section.

Have you read the comments yet? Yes?  Good. Here goes.

I’ll go ahead and say AMEN to Shannon and Cindy, yes yes yes! I was referring to men who are appointed by men in a random, yet organized fashion, to represent and proclaim the words of God on this earth today, and to be the sole prophet.

In 1 Corinthians 12:27-29:

Now you are Christ’s body, and individually members of it.

And God has appointed in the church, first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, administrations, various kinds of tongues.  All are not apostles, are they? All are not prophets, are they? All are not teachers, are they? All are not workers of miracles, are they?

There isn’t just one. There are many in the Body of Christ. They speak the words of God, they proclaim the words of God and they are anointed with that gifting.

My only caveat is that all of what they say and speak must be able to be verified and proven in the Word.

There isn’t continuous revelation and new words of God. His Word is sufficient, ample, authentic, enduring, enough, forthright, lasting, real, reliable, infallible, timeless, trustworthy, true, and Truth-telling, authentic, and enduring.  He speaks His words through those He has appointed. And their words will always be His Words, given once for all time in Jesus Christ (Hebrews 1).

So, think on that, and go ahead. Sign up for the knitalong. It’s not like the holidays are coming up and you have stuff to do.

I had to completely rearrange my fridge to get this bunch of tat soi inside. Isn’t it beautiful? I’ve been buried under a pile of grading this week (one more paper to grade before I head to campus), and while I do most of my reading on the couch and writing at my desk at the computer, I grade at my kitchen table. I have devised a strategy to help keep me on track, and (big surprise here) it involves food! Having something in the oven — granola, applesauce bread, squash roasting, etc. gives me something to occasionally check on AND a way to peg my progress to a more specific timeline without getting out the timer for each paper. Plus, there is something delicious for break-time.

I made a big pot of carrot soup and let it simmer away while I graded on Tuesday, and I’ve been enjoying the leftovers all week. I followed this recipe!

I also roasted some butternut squash this week while working through my grading pile. Yum!

And here’s a knitting shot. Here lies my garter yoke cardigan. It seemed appropriate to leave it in a big pile, as I’ve really only been able to knit half a row here and there this week, but I am so close to finishing the body. (Like, 4 rows away!) I decided not to use handspun for the bottom edge, as I like the simpler look of the brown Cascade 220. I can’t wait to wear this!

Alright, I think there is enough coffee in my system to warrant the last of the grading. Back to it!

Aachen – Eine Familie in Aachen lebt in Angst vor einer Neonazi-Schlägerbande. „Wir machen dich kalt KAL“, sprayten Neonazis in deren Nachbarschaft und nannten dabei auch den Namen des 17-jährigen Sohnes der Familie. „KAL“ steht dabei für „Kameradschaft Aachener Land“ – eine Neonazigruppe mit Mitgliedern, die teilweise schon durch Gewalttaten und Bedrohungen aufgefallen sind. Die Aachener Zeitung berichtet:

http://www.az-web.de/news/topnews-detail-az/1119050?_g=Familie-lebt-in-Angst-vor-Neonazi-Schlaegerbande

Die Socken sind ja jetzt schon länger fertig, aber irgendwie hab ich sie nie fotografiert. Ich möchte sie euch natürlich nicht vorenthalten. Das Einstricken der Perlen hat Spaß gemacht, war bestimmt nicht das letzte Mal. Aber die nächsten Perlen sind dann eventuell ne Nummer größer, diese sind schon recht winzig und verrutschen auch schon mal nach innen. Da hab ich dann wohl nicht fest genug gestrickt, obwohl ich den Faden immer nochmal nachgezogen habe.

Ah the mystery sock. How you’ve taken over my knitting life. After each row I get more excited to see what happens next.

Clue #1 done.

Half-way through Clue #2

Yarns: Socks that Rock in Roctober.  Knit Picks Essential/Stroll in Kettle Dyed Soot.

Needle: US 2   Size: Medium.   Pattern: Miss Marple Mystery Sock for November at Sock Knitters Anonymous at Ravelry.com

I hate November.   (apologizes to Sir Bob Geldof)

Well, I really don’t hate November. It’s just that I pile a ton of fun stuff on myself to where I’m just short of miserable.

First up – NaNoWriMo.  I do it to myself every year and I “fail” every year. This year looks promising. I’m almost at 15,000 words – a new record for me.

Next a mystery sock-a-long.  We’re given clues every so often to make this mosaic sock. I wasn’t going to play, but the quick knitters who posted their progress pictures sucked me in. I had no idea what I was going to do with the Socks That Rock in Rocktober. I paired it with Knit Picks Essential in Kettle Dyed Soot (aka black) and have a really nice stained glass effect going. I’ll post some pictures in a little while.  I’m also learning I really like Socks that Rock. A lot. This isn’t a good revelation.

Murray’s hand things. He wanted fingerless mittens like mine out of my handspun. So I got part way through one of them, after I figured out how to upsize, and well…the mystery sock has taken over my soul.

Sewing has taken a back burner to NaNo and Mystery Sock. I really, really, really need to get some more pants made for Shark Tooth, not to mention I want my pirate top.

Then I went to a new to me yarn shop in Vegas and signed up for a knitting class. The only technique in knitting I have not managed to teach myself is Portuguese knitting. Guess what the class is in? Yep, I’m going to get someone to show me how in the world to do this. I’m super excited, yet terrified. I’ve never taken a knitting class in my life.

Portuguese knitting, you wrap the yarn either around your neck or use a little hook to pin to your shirt as your tensioner. Then you just flick the working yarn around the needles with your left thumb. There’s some super secret motion I’m missing out in understanding to get it to happen. Since my hand problems are intermittent to good days to I’m going to have to give up knitting at any nanosecond… rumor has it Portuguese knitting solves a lot of hand problems, and it a lot quicker than any other knitting method.

Finally that little thing called Thanksgiving.  The grocery had a turkey sale at 37 cents a pound. In this area, that’s close to free. Problem is the only size they had was 20 pounds. I have enough turkey to feed 25 people and there is only 2 of us. I offered to cook the turkey and give half to the neighbor who is having surgery a week before so her family didn’t have to worry about it. They declined.  Everyone we’ve invited either can’t make it because they live too far away or has made other plans.  I’m already tired of turkey just thinking about it.

Next November? Well… I’ll try to think back on all the fun I’m having and smile.

Looking forward to this…

“As Love Would Have It”, forthcoming from Lost in Vision

Ett litet blomkålshuvud i skivor

25 g eller 2 msk smör

1-2 dl vispgrädde

2 msk filadelfiaost eller riven vanlig hårdost

salt & muskotnöt

Smält smöret i en kastrull och lägg i blomkål och vispgrädde. Låt koka kraftigt under lock i cirka 10 minuter och rör om sporadiskt så det inte bränns vid. Ta av locket och fortsätt koka för att möjligen få bort lite mer vätska. Ta av från spisen, tillsätt osten och mixa till en jämn eller lite grövre smet efter behag och tillfälle. Smaksätt med salt och möjligen två drag muskotnöt på rivjärnet.

While i was hunting around for the rest of my costume for Hallowe’en, I saw sweaters at the thrift shop .. pretty nice shades of green that I liked .. and I thought .. I bet I could frog this and re-use this yarn for something that **I** like instead of someone’s cast off .. (blinding nova light moment .. ) Well geeze why can’t I?? so the mental plotting began .. but I didn’t want to do this alone … this seems like the perfect thing to do with your friends .. thrift shop shopping, frogging and knitting!! Yeah i was a wee bit pumped on it

I want to invite anyone that wants to recycle yarn for a knitted / crocheted project are more than welcome to join us .. we are all on ravelry, so it makes sense to do it there with postings to our blogs, web albums, etc etc etc .. Or if we opt not to do a ravelry group, we can use my blog here for links or even create a new one .. plenty of options to choose from!

To read more of this idea and what’s needed .. click …

Kristin did the finger weaving that transformed this ugly cart that I was going to give away into Kal’s new favorite toy. He loved yanking it all around his room this evening, and I only left him out of the picture because he was moving so quickly that all of the shots I took were blurry!

Do you have the The X-Factor???  Join the DKC X-Factor Challenge, no auditions required, only a passion to knit.

 Do you have what it takes to design or find a pattern to knit any one of  these items? 

• The Louis Walshcloth
• The Simon Cowl
• The Cheryl Colesy (as in teacosy, coffee cup cosy, hotwater bottle cosy,etc.)
• The Danni Mi Toque (it is what the Canadians call a hat)
• The DerMitten O’Leary

Make  your entry an instant gratification project (make it a quick knit)  or as complex and complicated as you can. 

Details:

1.  Competition is open to members of the Dublin Knit Collective Ravelry forum group.
2.  Post your picture of the finished project by midnight (Dublin time) December 4th on the DKC forum (Link will be provided closer to the posting date)
3. The winners are chosen by YOU;  the voting Ravelry  public.  Click the LOVE button from December 5^th until December 11^th. 

Did we mention prizes*?  Yes, thank you to our prize sponsors:

chicwithstix

gaietygirl.etsy.com

kneehigh

lhogan.etsy.com

swannandsmerlin.etsy.com

theconstantknitter.ie

The Yarn Room

This is Knit

*prize list to tba

Kal is starting to take his first steps. There is a lot of falling and he is happier cruising or holding something as he toddles along, but the walking is coming. Soon.
Kal now has three teeth. I was wrong about number two; he has his right front, then a gap where the left should be (but it is right under the skin), and then his left eye tooth. He also has the eye tooth next to his right front. The bottom two are threatening to break out at any time as well. There are so many coming in at once that he’s pretty unhappy, especially at night. He’s drooling like crazy, has been more finicky about eating (even ignoring cheese and oatmeal!) and has the classic new-teeth runny nose.

KAL = Knit-along;  ILL = Inter-library Loan.  No, we’re not sick (hurray!  Thank you, Lord).

The Schoolhouse Press knitalong (link here) has moved from Iceland to the Faroe Islands, and from lace scarf to footlets.  I began with a 2-color version, but switched over to solids to be quicker.

I have finished the blue footlet, edging it with gray, and began a gray foot to edge with blue (DS’s school colors).  I also plan to embroider an owl (mascot) on each toe.

His feet are bigger than mine. . . .

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I love to borrow knitting books!  When my libray doesn’t own a particular title, I can place an inter-library loan request for free.  If they can find it, and the other library agrees, they get it for me.   Recent titles include Hip Knit Hats by Cathy Carron, and Iris Schreier’s Reversible Knits.  From the former, I knit this “rose” embellishment (about palm-size).

From the latter, I hope to try some cables.

Here’s another top-down cap, this time in Wisdom Yarn’s “Skye” bulky and using Judy’s Magic Cast-on.  The yarn color-changes even look good inside out!

Most of my other knitting has been swatching for submissions to Cast On for next summer.

(I don’t want to show those yet.)

Sometimes this process is exhilarating, sometimes it’s plain frantic.  It can be rewarding! Level II of the Master Knitter program prepared me for this quite well, I’m finding.

Next is a pair of toddler hats for our friends who are adopting.

Oh, and the sweater I designed for my friend Bess to knit for our pastor is done, in time for the cold weather.  The yarn is a bit busy, so I only added a little cabling.  Simultaneous set-in sleeves — fun!!

(Sorry, the photos are both a bit blurry.)

I don’t usually do these kind of posts because I don’t usually have much to show. Happily, that is not the case this week!

Here is my Socktober Mystery Sock thus far. (sorry it’s blurry)

Yes, I know. October and therefore Socktoberfest is over BUT we have until the end of November to post our Mystery Socks for the contest so…I will carry on.

Bravely, I might add since I learned this morning, via Turtlegirl, that I am making a version of the Mystery Sock and not the actual pattern. Ah me.

I have begun my NaKniSweMo project – the Transitions Yoke Cardigan. Purchasing the yarn and casting on this Sunday – kind of a gift to myself – that I hope works out!

I thought I was making quick progress until I raveled about it. Whoo those knitters are speed freaks! Some of them are approaching the halfway mark on their sweaters!

I’ll be content with what I can – after all, it took 11.5 months to complete my last sweater. Sheesh. Anything’s progress compared to that. Unless I take longer this year…

För två personer:

1/2 kg grovt strimlat vitkål

5 dl grönsaksbuljong eller buljongingredienser

1 tsk vitvinsvinäger

lite kajennepeppar eller 1/4 tsk sambal olek

5-6 knaperstekta skivor bacon i bitar

8-10 basilikablad

en nypa salt

1 dl vispgrädde eller några matskedar créme fraich

Koka vitkålen i buljongen i 6-8 minuter. Tillsätt kryddorna, vinägern och lite basilika. Mixa soppan så den blir slät, blanda i grädden och lite extra basilika. Lägg baconet på lite hushållspapper och strö över vid serveringen.

6 dl fint strimlat vitkålshuvud

1 tunt skivad morot

1/4-1/2 skivad rödlök

1 msk majonäs

3 matskedar turkisk yoghurt eller creme fraiche

2 tsk dijonsenap

salt & peppar och en knivsudd gurkmeja.

&

Blanda om!

]]> http://originalpurity.wordpress.com/2009/11/02/a-return-a-statement-of-intent/ Mon, 02 Nov 2009 16:40:54 +0000 originalpurity http://originalpurity.wordpress.com/2009/11/02/a-return-a-statement-of-intent/ http://poldraw.wordpress.com/2009/11/02/2010-kalendar/ Mon, 02 Nov 2009 10:08:18 +0000 Morten http://poldraw.wordpress.com/2009/11/02/2010-kalendar/

Cartoonist for the Economist Kevin KAL Kallaugher has done what looks like an inspired cartoon calendar for 2010. Not just 12 seasonal pictures, but a fully illustrated “journey through the world’s most celebrated (and occasionally obscure) global events, milestones and holidays” sprinkled with KAL’s characteristically amusing drawings and written by the great man himself.
Or as the blurb puts it: “Each of the 12 monthly spreads provides a visual feast of original, hand-drawn artwork that brings to life the events of the current month and combines them into a hilarious interconnected story.”

Looks terrific.