This you GOTTA see!

An AUTOMATED knitting machine from Legos! If only I did Legos!

http://homepage.mac.com/aklego/iMovieTheater23.html

I'm alive, honest

I've been knitting. Doing a lot of swearing too. Seems the last, oh, 6 commercial patterns I've tried to knit have ALL had major errors in them. Some even this experienced knitter couldn't figure out a way around.
On one there were corrections, on a tiny slip of paper that had to fall out of the pattern book for me to notice. *Whew* As this was for a special project.
Do beware of KnitPicks patterns, the 3 I've looked at all had errors. The free baby sweater has at least 3, most of them a semi-experienced knitter can figure out. If you start off with an odd number and decrease 10 stitches you do NOT end up with an even number. Things like that.
Does no one proof knit these things any more?

Re. Knit Picks
Seems they have put up a revised Baby sweater with at least one of the major errors corrected (I haven't had time to search my memory for the others.) I applaud them for correcting things.

Ah well, off to knit some lace.

More Template whining

"You just follow the directions as to where to put what and where on the template."

Ok, guess I wasn't clear, as much HTML as I know, I cannot find these mysterious directions or where the heck in the template I'm supposed to edit. Since I can't SEE the entire lines of html code it's very difficult for me to read and understand it. My attempts to edit the &*^$%*^^% template outside of the Blogger interface and then drop it back in have been quite unsuccessful.

Help?

Template editing help

Ok folks, I need some help. I keep seeing these wonderful templates folks have and how easily people put things like buttons and other info into their blogs.

Personally, as a web page designer, I find the template creating/editing tool in Blogger to be impossible to understand/use.

HOW do you all do it so easily?!?!?! Is there some magic software out there that I've missed? Some easy to understand tutorial that will suddenly make me a Blogger Wizard? Or are you all faking the ease and it really IS a pain in the butt to make simple changes like putting a Secret Pal Button in my blog?

Thanks for listening to the rant....

Secret Pal 7

Well, I joined up and now I get to put all this revealing information out on my Blog. Enjoy all you lurkers!

Guess I'll have to keep my blog more up-to-date than I have been. :-)

1. Are you a yarn snob (do you prefer higher quality and/or natural fibers)? Do you avoid Red Heart and Lion Brand?

Definitely. I will use high quality acrylics for babies, and Lion brand does have a few yarns I like.

2. Do you spin? Crochet?

Yup to both. I also weave and do beadwork

3. What do you use to store your needles/hooks in?

An old silverware chest of drawers I inherited from my Grandmother

4. How long have you been knitting? Would you consider your skill level to be beginner, intermediate or advanced?

Avidly since 1992. I’d consider myself pretty advanced.

5. Do you have an Amazon or other online wish list?

Not at the present

6. What's your favorite scent? (for candles, bath products etc.)

Anything floral, but not too heavy

7. Do you have a sweet tooth? Favorite candy?

Yup. Good quality dark chocolate covered orange peel, preferably hand dipped. But I’ll eat most anything.

8. What other crafts or Do-It-Yourself things do you like to do?

Beadwork is a passion, as are weaving and spinning. I’ve done pretty much everything else except stuff with hot glass.

9. What kind of music do you like? Can your computer/stereo play MP3s? (if your buddy wants to make you a CD)

Pretty much anything that isn’t country, rap, or heavy metal. I do like New Age and Classical. I can play pretty much any format put on a cd except MAC software. :-)

10. What's your favorite color? Or--do you have a color family/season/palette you prefer? Any colors you just can't stand?

Purple. I’m a blue/green/purple person. I stay away from most autumn colors.

11. What is your family situation? Do you have any pets?

3 cats (two very elderly) and one boyfriend. (Do note the order there ;-) )

12. Do you wear scarves, hats, mittens or ponchos?

Yup to all

13. What is/are your favorite yarn/s to knit with?

Brownsheep and most superwash wools. I also knit socks like a fiend

14. What fibers do you absolutely *not* like?

Most cheap acrylics that squeak. Also, most 100% cottons are too hard on my hands to knit with comfortably

15. What is/are your current knitting obsession/s?

Lace and socks. And thing for my brother’s baby due in March.

16. What is/are your favorite item/s to knit?

Socks, hands down.

17. What are you knitting right now?

Uhmm…. I’ll keep it to the top 5 current projects
1. Bear ‘rug’ for my brother’s baby
2. Christening gown for said baby
3. Scarf for myself
4. Socks for the boyfriend
5. Socks for me

18. Do you like to receive handmade gifts?

Definitely

19. Do you prefer straight or circular needles?

Circulars

20. Bamboo, aluminum, plastic?

Addi Turbos then Denises (I have 3 sets)

21. Do you own a yarn winder and/or swift?

A few of both

22. How did you learn to knit?

First time when I was 7 by my mom, last time by a friend from Iceland

23. How old is your oldest UFO?

Non-knitting – about 7 years younger than me, knitting – Probably something I started in 1993, I tend have "start-itis".

24. What is your favorite animated character or a favorite animal/bird?

Cats and parrots, I like Lady and the Tramp from Disney

25. What is your favorite holiday?

Dunno that I really have one

26. Is there anything that you collect?

Stoneware pottery

27. What knitting magazine subscriptions do you have?

Interweave and Knitters

28. Any books, yarns, needles or patterns out there you are dying to get your hands on?

Not that I can think of, I tend to buy them when I see them

29. Are there any new techniques you'd like to learn?

Dyeing yarns. I’ll be taking a class in January.

30. Are you a sock knitter? What are your foot measurements?

Very much so. 8 ½ size shoe, ankle – 11, foot circ – 9 ½, top of sock to heel bottom – 7, length - 9

31. When is your birthday? (mm/dd)

November 25

Ugh

SAD sucks, btw. And Pittsburgh's perpetual greyness in winter has me about ready to jump on a plane to anywhere sunny.

Sorry I've not posted much.

If anyone has ideas on how to fight SAD, let me know. I'm already on an anti-depressant and I've been using a Light Box for a week or so.

Thanks for reading!