Kung Fu Knitting

"Momo looks like she's picking her nose" A new meme! And pretty cute. Consider yourself tagged. Go to Google and write "yourname looks like" and pick the best result from the first page to post. Miriam worked out a little nicer: "Miriam looks like she's channeling Snow White"

So let me just start out by saying that I didn't win my match at the Syracuse Golden Gloves, but I did have a good time, a good fight and learned a great deal. We left Ithaca before noon on friday. There were 11 fighters plus coaches riding up together in a van from GIAC. It was crowded, but fun. The guys and gals from my gym are good natured and easy going so sitting hip to hip was not uncomfortable at all. When we arrived at the fairgrounds in Syracuse, we were able to weigh in right away. After the numbers were recorded the organizers looked to find matches in your weight and experience class (coaches kind of RSVP their fighters). It turned out that I didn't have one which really bummed me out, but with the weigh ins over there was something really important to catch up on: Eating. We all went out to lunch and then came back to the fairgrounds. If you were matched up, you had to see the doctor. It turned out that while I was gone someone my weight had registered. So I was se...

Welcome to "I Spy Handknits" on Kung Fu Knitting. I love seeing people walking around in their hand knits and thought this would be a good space to document it. My real intention is to get pictures and stories from random people in my community, but let me tell you, sometimes I feel a little bit freaky walking up to complete strangers and asking them about their sweaters and such. So my first featured hand knit comes from someone that I know. Meet the talented husband of one of my lovely coworkers. Not only was this garter stitch scarf handknit, but it's also handspun! How cool is that? And check out the great jacket! You should also check out his site, King Turtle . Oliver is a talented Ukulele artiste who was recently featured on NPR's Whad'ya Know show. He is also one of four finalists in their Whad'ya Idol contest! Good luck!

For a long time now I have been wanting for make something to match the fingerless mitts I made with Cayli's gorgeous home-grown, hand-dyed, handspun that she gifted me with the holiday season before last . I had some left over still but wasn't sure about the yardage. However, I had a vision of making a head band, as I find them cute and convenient for a gal that wears her hair up in the winter. And they hardly take any yarn. Originally I wanted to make a headband like the cabled panta I made before, but the gauge was all wrong. So I improvised something late the Saturday night. And here it is: I love the subtle blue striping and the feel is OMG soft. Cayli's yarn is truly amazing and was such a pleasure to knit up. Ice Princess Panta Yarn: Heavy worsted Handspun Needles: US 8 and a cable needle or DPN Gauge: not critical, but a row gauge of 5 rows/inch with make a nice fitting panta 18 inches in circumfrence. Special Stitches: FC (front cross) = Slip 2 stitches from ...

I found my old knitting notebook! Hurray! I thought I had lost it, lost it and not just misplaced it, lost it. This is the first hat I ever knit. Can you believe that although I was queen of socks, I was very intimidated by hat-land. I knew I had to get it over quickly so I found a hat pattern with a bulky gauge. I knit it partway up and I couldn't finish because it was so unspeakably ugly. So I was stuck with these ginormously, large DPN's. what's a gal to do? I decided to knit my own hat based upon my sock experience and this is what I came up with. It's simple, right? Rolled brim, stockinette, standard crown shaping. But it's economical, ever so warm, and stays on super well. And it knits up in a flash! Your Everyday Winter Hat by Miriam Mack Yarn: Lamb's Pride Bulky Needles: Size 11 and 13 DPNs Gauge: 2.5 st/inch Cast on 51 Stitches on size 13 DPNs. Join in the round without twisting and knit first 4 rounds with size 11 DPNS (stay with 13's if your head...

All of a sudden I am knitting! Knitting like I used to knit. And I am not sure why. There are several things going on in my life right now that might be facilitating more knitting getting done. One is that I have been quite sick lately and have set aside some time to myself, to use all to myself; no training, no school work, no dieting. And second, one of my lovely friends brought over a bunch of television for me to watch: Lost, Reno 911, Weeds. So for the last couple of days, I have had time to knit and television to watch. That's a fabulous combination for me knitting-wise. But there is another idea that I have. It's a bit more psychological. I haven't written much personal stuff on my blog lately, but there has been a lot of destruction in my life lately. There have also been some (hopefully!) final endings, and some space given to people who need to give more rather than take more in a friendship with me. So, amidst all this tearing down, perhaps I have a need to buil...

After I sewed up my Droplet hat from Knitting Nature (Why didn't I knit it in the round?), I decided that what it needed were some earflaps. You see, to make a hat truly functionable for our lovely winter weather here in Ithaca, the ears must be protected. And eventhough I have a pea-sized head, my row gauge was a little smaller than the pattern called for and I felt that the hat was just too short. So this is how it turned out: Overall, I have to say that knitting this hat was pretty fun once I got past that first bobble row that seemed to go on forever. The no-turn bobble technique that Nora Gaughan introduced in this pattern is quite handy, if you don't mind slipping stitches. I especially liked the way she did the decreases on the crown as they are invisible and preserve the overall pattern so nicely. Earflap Modifications : The earflaps are centered below the 6th bobble on the bottom bobble row from either side of the back seam. (If this placement seems odd for you I woul...