This is so not knitting related, but has caused quite a stir here at Casa Stro! May I present to you, for your viewing enjoyment, Funny Drummer Dude:

OKC: On the needles, a shawlette for my daughter’s best friend’s birthday!

The ever-gracious, and seriously talented Ms. Bogie Bogie of Bobaknit fame (in addition to her fame as a designer!) shared her mad socks skillz with the Guild tonight. Her designs are so brilliant that she may yet make a sock-knitting convert out of this self-professed big needle knitter!

I know I sound like I’m laying it on thick, but to be in her presence and see he work is to feel as though you are in the room with sheer genius, and I am truly humbled.

Gleaned & adapted from Jasmin’s blog:

Bold for stuff you’ve done, italics for stuff you plan to do one day, and normal for stuff you’re not planning on doing.

Afghan
I-cord
Garter stitch
Knitting with metal wire
Shawl
Stockinette stitch
Socks: top-down
Socks: toe-up (I learned the technique at Guild, I’ve yet to complete one but want to)
Knitting with camel yarn
Mittens: Cuff-up
Mittens: Tip-down
Hat
Knitting with silk
Moebius band knitting
Participating in a KAL
Sweater
Drop stitch patterns
Knitting with recycled/secondhand yarn
Knitting with banana fiber yarn
Domino/modular knitting
Shadow/illusion knitting
Twisted stitch patterns
Knitting with bamboo yarn
Two end knitting
Charity knitting
Knitting with soy yarn
Cardigan
Toy/doll clothing
Knitting with circular needles
Baby items
Knitting with your own handspun yarn
Knitting with your own hand-dyed yarn
Slippers
Graffiti knitting
Continental knitting
Designing knitted garments
Cable/aran stitch patterns
Lace patterns
Publishing a knitting book
Scarf
Teaching a child to knit/crochet
American/English style knitting (throwing)
Continental style knitting
Knitting to make money
Buttonholes
Knitting with alpaca
Fair Isle knitting
Norwegian knitting
Dyeing with plant colors
Knitting items for a wedding
Household items (dishcloths, washcloths, tea cozies…)
Knitting socks (or other small tubular items) on one or two circulars
Knitting with someone else’s handspun yarn
Knitting with dpns
Holiday related knitting (I’ve done knitting for holidays, but nothing holiday-themed)
Teaching a male how to knit – my hubby and both of my sons!
Bobbles
Knitting for a living
Knitting with cotton
Knitting smocking
Dyeing yarn
Steeks
Knitting art
Knitting two socks on two circulars simultaneously
Felting/fulling
Knitting with wool
Textured knitting
Kitchener stitch
Purses/bags
Knitting with beads
Swatching
Long Tail CO (Think Men on Film: Haaaaated it)
Entrelac
Knitting and purling backwards
Machine knitting
Knitting with self patterning/self striping/variegated yarn
Stuffed toys
Baby items
Knitting with cashmere
Darning
Jewelry
Knitting with synthetic yarn
Writing a pattern
Gloves
Cuffs/fingerless mitts/armwarmers
Intarsia
Knitting with linen
Knitting for preemies
Tubular CO
Freeform knitting
Short rows
Pillows
Knitting a pattern from an online knitting magazine
Rug
Knitting on a loom
Thrummed knitting
Knitting a gift
Knitting for pets
Shrug/bolero/poncho
Knitting with dog/cat hair
Hair accessories
Knitting in public
Met knitterati/famous knitters

Last night at Guild, VP Pam de-mystified steeking! Here’s a peek at my steek:

OK, so most of you know I’m an idiot! Those who don’t…now you know! Most of you have your coveted Ravelry invite…except Moi, who, as most of you know, couldn’t get it together enough to type my own stinking e-mail correctly (and yes, I have Mozilla, so what’s up with that? Did I keep typing over the pop up thing-y? Do I have so many e-mail accounts it had no idea which one I wanted it to fill in?). And, yes, I wrote them…I haven’t heard anything back yet (like they aren’t busy enough sending out thousands of invites per day without a goof-bucket like me pestering them for a screw-up I made!). And the anal in me had to go and check to see if they sent my invite (to the wrong addy), and here’s what I got:

Your invitation was sent on October 14, 2007. We just sent you a new copy of the email (from invitations@ravelry.com) in case it was lost or eaten by a spam filter.

ARRRGGGHHH!!! Couldn’t you just die????

When I do get my invite (I’m 4-something thousandth on the list now), just look me up under OneStupidMama!!!

Nikko has 94 scarves! This is amazing! Yet, despite this awesome achievement, he’s so heartbreakingly close to his goal of 100. I know a few of you sent in a scarf you committed to on his behalf directly to the Red Scarf Project….if you did, would you please let me know in the comments so that I can count your scarf in his tally? Thanks! And thanks so much for the outpouring of love…not only for my little guy, but for the kids who deserve the honor so much: The former foster children now benefiting from the love sent through the Red Scarf Project!

Extra! Extra! Read all about it! Techno-Hubby finished his scarf for the Red Scarf Project!

Those of you who know me well, know I’m a major Jane-ite. I have a knitting blog, so, duh!, it’s a good bet I enjoy knitting. I also love a good cup of tea! What if there was a place that combined all three of my loves? Well, now there is!

One of my favorite all-time online haunts is the Republic of Pemberley (ROP). I love the idea of applying to become a citizen of the Republic, and how polite and civil discussions there are. However, by nature, the group is heavily focused on discussing JA, and not nearly enough knitting goes on! Therefore, in anticipation of the new Masterpiece Theatre productions of all six of JA’s works, I’ve created the Jane Austen Knitting and Tea Society. A gentle society where discussion of all things knitting, JA, or tea-related are welcome! When PBS airs the new productions, I’m hoping for group viewings, reading, and discussing. If this sounds like your “cup of tea” click on & come over!

Click to join JA-KATS

Which Jane Austen Character are You? (For Females) Long Quiz!!! created with QuizFarm.com

You scored as Emma Woodhouse Emma is possibly one of the most loyal characters of Austen, always wanting better for those around her and doing all she possibly can to make it happen. Her motives sometimes get in the way of her good intentions and her own opinions can end up ruling her actions, but she has a good heart. She loves to be social and is welcoming to most, unless they are too silly to tolerate. While she sometimes changes her behavior to make others feel comfortable, she knows who she is and is always bettering herself. Emma Woodhouse 75% Elizabeth Bennet 66% Marianne Dashwood 66% Elinor Dashwood 59% Lady Catherine 56% Jane Bennet 53% Charlotte Lucas 28%

A little friend of ours turns three this weekend and looky, looky, looky what he’s getting! And….drum roll, please….I actually did Knitting Math! Yes, this ADD girl, who has severe mathophobia, converted this flat pattern to circs – and it was easy, peasy, lemon-squeezy! Woo hooooooo! Plus, I changed the cables so that they were mirrored cables (both front and back, thank you very much)! Additionally, I fiddled with the decreases on both the armhole edge and neck edge, so that they were mirrored as well.

Specs:

Pattern (not sure if this link will allow you to go there without registering, but hey, I’ll try!):
Cable Vest

Yarn: Luna by Cascade: MC #715; CC #730

Needles: US #7