Time to Think About Holiday Gifts

Now that Halloween is almost here, it will be time for many of us to start thinking about holiday knitting projects. I love giving hand knit items to family and friends for gifts. Unless I started knitting on December 26th, I will never have time to knit sweaters for everyone on my list. So I am always on the look out for quick knit items to give as gifts. And something unique is always appreciated. I've already given the scarf, hat, mitten, etc. The hunt for ideas begins!

Corinne

How much yarn for this?

One of The Daily Knitter readers emailed us the link below to a clever cartoon that appeared in the Washington Post last month. It's a comment on high energy costs where a woman has knit a sweater for her house. How much yarn would that take???

http://www.uclick.com/client/wpc/cl/2005/09/30/index.html

Soy Silk Yarn

I noticed the post on the Daily Knitter message boards regarding Soy Silk. What is it?

Soy Silk yarn is an evironmentally friendly fiber made from the soybean residue obtained during tofu manufacturing. Soy protein is liquefied and then processed into long, continuous fibers to be cut and dyed just like other natural fibers such as cotton, linen and flax. The yarn is soft and shiny, plus takes dyes beautifully.

Ask your local knitting shop to carry the yarn, if they don't already.

Anne

Knitting and Blogging in the News

Here's a link to a nice article about knitting blogs. The author says there are more than 900 out there.

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2005/10/07/tech/main925764.shtml

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Swatch Me

I visited a new yarn shop while out of town this past week, a favorite past time of mine. This yarn shop had a small swatch knitted up for each and every yarn they have in stock. No exception. And a tag on the swatch indicated the gauge and needle size. Plus, for a few of the yarns they even had a felted swatch with the before and after measurements. How wonderful!

All yarn shops should do this. I think it would really help their sales. In my opinion, there are some yarns that are very ugly in a ball, but knit up beautifully.

Abby

An Elbow in the Side

I went to see the new Wallace and Gromit movie last night and during the opening received a quick elbow in the side from my friend. (My friend is not a knitter) Gromit is an avid knitter and the opening is a series of photos which include Gromit knitting a vest for Wallace and him wearing it. How cute! And in the middle of the movie while they are searching for the Were-Rabbit, Gromit starts knitting in the car while waiting for Wallce. Another elbow...

And this morning she sent me a link to the figurine below. I have a feeling my birthday gift has already been ordered. : )