Comfort

Meeting Brenda was everything I hoped it would be!


The class was great - Advanced Top Down Raglan with a Difference.  I don't have much experience with sweaters, but how could I not take a sweater class from the Lady that tells us about 'Today's Sweater'?


The class was composed of 15 people, some of which had never heard of Brenda until they signed up for the class, very strange to me. Most seemed happy to take the class, any time you can get help making something as big aas a sweater that is such an investment for good yarns, you should take it. 


I say Most purposefully. There were Babara Walker readers in the class that were a little vocal, "How is this different from Babara Walker?" I don't know, neither did Brenda. But I can pretty much guarantee that Babara Walker does not have my body. 


What I appreciate is the help with measurements and the personalization! I can now, almost confidently, measure my target and adjust other patterns, or create my own, to fit ME!  We talked a little in class about signs of an ill fit: bat wings, extra flaps in the arm pits, making changes for your bust if it is significantly different from your back measure.  I know this will make a difference. 


Brenda has made TONS of sweaters, following other peoples patterns, and knows first hand when and why the knitter ends up dissatisfied with the end product.


Thank You Brenda Dayne.

A Verb for Brenda

OK, I've done it. I've signed up for a class. With Brenda Dayne! I have to admit I'm VERY nervous about this.


Brenda is from Cast-On, the original it started everything for knitting and fiber knit-casts that everyone else followed. At least for me that is how it went, and to some degree, still goes. 


Anyway, it isn't the sweater class itself that makes me nervous. I am close enough to making my first sweater, for my daughter, so this part seems okay.  It is the personal side that scares me. I'm sure Brenda is a big enough girl to respect when someone has a difference of opinion, and I'm a big enough girl to know how to keep my opinions to myself when I needed.  


But this still bothers me. Should it? Both the venue, a shop in the San Francisco Bay Area, and Brenda are female friendly, very much so.  It sounds odd, but I'm hoping the fact that I have a wonderful family doesn't detract from my experience there and with the class.  Don't misunderstand. I'm anti-tradition for traditions sake, and I'm pro-woman, just not a bra burner or anything like it. 


Brenda spoke on her latest podcast about sending in "knit lady-parts" to congressmen, and I just don't lean that way.  I know many in the knitting community are following suit, but when I look at the message and at the action, to me, they just don't fit.  


I knit to connect with history and self-sufficiency and because I like it. 

New Years Resolution

Normally I don't make a resolution, and if I did they would usually sound like everyone else's. So this year let's try something a little different:

Louisa beret for me: Finished in January :)
Hermione's scarf for Bit
Dark Mark scarf for Joe
Skittles scarf for Gi

Now for the harder ones:

Bits hoodie
Gi's hoodie
Beach ombré cardigan hoodie for me
Joes socks

And the stretch goals:

Finish spinning the silk
Spin the purple mystery roving into something decent.
Attend one class this year
Catalog what I have in Ravelry

NYR - Revisited

Two Weeks in and my knitting resolutions already look overwhelming.
The Louisa beret was for a knit-along, that was due Dec 23rd. That has obviously gone by. This was supposed to be the 'fast way to start checking off my list.'

However, I'm on the decreases and it is beautiful! A friend today said it looked like snow.

It has only taken about half the ball, I'll have to use the scale to find out what I have left. I've been stalking other similar weight yarns that the silver may be a good accent for.

Getting the Kinks Out

As I'm learning about Blogger, I will keep the knit & spin talk over here. 


The kinks are simply how I'm learning Blogger, hands on, without a tutor. Brilliant.  On my other topic there is no need to add photos or links for the most part, so this will help me learn the rest of putting up a beginner blog.


But maybe in the knitting is where it all comes together. Just like one piece of art or craft can't really show all of you, it can summarize or represent, but not show your accomplishments in total.