nonaKnits

Summer Schedule

nona's in the height of her hectic summer, trying to prepare for a 3 week vacation.  For the next few weeks, I'll be posting and reading email only once or twice a week.  I'll return to regular postings the week of August 22nd.  Over the next few weeks I'll be knitting lots (hopefully) and will be thinking of all my on line knitting friends -- Knit On!

Under Control

We have so much stuff in our lives -- even my yarn stash can feel overwhelming at times!  Thank goodness Hold Everything is having a sale on their sturdy, fabric covered boxes in my favorite color, orange.  I bought two today and may return for a few more -- they are the perfect size for holding stash yarn or yarn ear marked for the pipeline.

You must know by now how to open the boxes!?
Left: Sock yarn stash Right: Yarn for my pipeline projects

Why is nona back in organization mode?  Could it have something to do with this!?  The nona-boys and I are simultaneously horrified and fascinated by this woman's life situation.  Nona-son-the-younger can barely look at the photos and has reported, "That woman must have had a scaring event in her life, she needs therapy".  He's been listening to Dr. Drew recently, cannot you tell?  Seriously, if you know this woman -- or someone like her -- help them!  And lets all keep our yarn stashes under control and well organized.

HTML Fun

Dear nona,

Sometimes, when I'm tired of reading all those words, I come over to your blog and play with your photos.  Are you willing to part with one of your photo trick recipes?

Sincerely,
HTMLless in Hermosa Beach

Dear HTMLless,

I do love to throw in a few cheap photo tricks now and then -- nona's a simple gal with simple pleasures.  My favorite "recipe" is the changing photo.  When you move your mouse over the photo it changes to a second photo and then changes back to the original photo when you move your mouse out of the photo.  Here's an example from an old post, "nona's been busted":

Okay, let's see how it's done...

First, the HTML I used for my cheap trick -- you should be able to copy and paste this to your blog:

<IMG
width="75"
height="100"
border="0"
src="http://nonaknits.typepad.com/image1.jpg"
onmouseover="this.src='http://nonaknits.typepad.com/image2.jpg'  "
onmouseout="this.src='http://nonaknits.typepad.com/image1.jpg' " />

Want to give it a try?  Here's how:

1. Write your blog entry.  At the spot where you want to add your photo trick, simply type "Photo Trick Here".

2. Decide what 2 photos you want to use, crop them to the same size, and upload them to your blog.

3. Edit the HTML for your blog entry.  In TypePad this is very easy to do, simply click the "Edit HTML" tab.  Hopefully your blog authoring tool also has an easy way to edit your HTML.

4. Find the "Photo Trick Here" text that you added in Step 1 and replace it with the <IMG ... /> HTML I've given you above -- good old copy and paste should do just fine.

5. Tweak this copied HTML based on your photos.  You'll need to change:

• width - replace my width, 75, with the width of your photos

• height - replace my height, 100, with the height of your photos

• src - replace my URL, http://nonaknits.typepad.com/image1.jpg, with the URL for your first photo.  This is the photo you'll see when your entry is initially displayed.

• onmouseover - replace my URL, http://nonaknits.typepad.com/image2.jpg, with the URL for your second photo.  When your mouse moves over the image, the image will change to this photo.  Important:  be sure to keep the "this.src=' before the URL and ' " after the URL.

• onmouseout - replace my URL, http://nonaknits.typepad.com/image1.jpg, with the URL for your original, first photo.  When your mouse moves out of the image, the image will change back to this photo.  Important:  be sure to keep the "this.src=' before the URL and ' " after the URL.

That should do it!  I look forward to seeing your photo tricks...

What's Going On

So, what's going on with the NBaT knit along?  First, congratulations are in order for two more t-shirt finishers:

Lynette looks fresh and cheery -- even in the hot weather -- in her finished NBaT.  She already has plans for a second one.

Mary-Heather has finished her "Knit Cafe" t-shirt for her store's model, Ivy.  Definitely check out the embroidery she added to her T.

In other news:

Beth is looking for some advice and help with her hem, can you help her?

Leica is oh, so close to finishing her T-shirt -- let's go over and cheer her on to the finish line.

Linda has set in her first sleeve and is seaming like a pro.  She's been fortunate enough to knit her t-shirt while taking an intermediate knitting class taught by the NBaT designer, Alison.  nona's jealous!

Rachael (scroll down) has added her motif to the front of her t-shirt and is counting down the days to the birth of her third child -- 18 days.  Which will come first?  A finished NBaT or a baby?

In nona news:

I was walking down 24th street in San Francisco today wearing my Loopy and Lucious Shawl over my Tivoli T-shirt and this homeless guy said, "I like your scarf lady, it's neato".  Thanks homeless guy!  You never know who will appreciate your hand knits -- all I know is, it sure feels neato to get a compliment!

What's going on with you?

In the Pipeline

With my Tivoli T-Shirt completed, Purly's Wimbledon socks sent and my adopted pal's Sockapalooza socks nearing their final toe grafting, it's time to consider the pipeline.  All self respecting knitters should develop their knitting pipeline, keeping it filled with interesting, enticing projects ready to jump on their needles at a moment's notice.  Several months ago I learned this life lesson the hard way, finding myself without a project and resorting to the age old advice, "when in doubt, knit a sock".

Priming the Pipeline

So what's in nona's pipeline?  As a result of some sweater stalking in the grocery store -- a wonderful raglan top featuring ribbed capped sleeves -- a peaked interest in top down knitting, and some delicious bamboo yarn magically appearing on my doorstep, the first project in my pipeline is a variation on the Tivoli T-Shirt.  I have a vision for the design in my head, have begun my swatching, and have pulled out Barbara Walker's classic, Knitting from the Top.  nona's priming her pipeline!

Thank You Purly Whites!

nona is speechless -- hey, stop cheering -- and is loving her Wimbledon Socks knit by Purly Whites.  I love everything about these fabulous footlets: the colors, the fit, the toe -- I especially love the toe --  the ruffle, Purly's original design, the yarn, ... I cannot quite bring myself to actually take the socks off!  Thank you Purly Whites for sock exchanging with me.  It was a pleasure sitting on my butt, watching Wimbledon, knitting your socks, and receiving mine.

Click the photo for some alternative snaps...

Are you an avid sock knitter?  If so, find a blogging buddy and have your own private sock exchange -- it's a kick and a great way to get to know a fellow knit blogger!

Game, Set, Match

nona's finished her "sit on your butt and watch Wimbledon" sock exchange socks for Purly Whites.  They are officially in the mail and due to arrive at Purly's house tomorrow at noon, which means I get to open my socks.  You see, fair playing reader, I received my socks from Purly 2 days ago, but have used all of my willpower to not open the package -- I just didn't think it was fair to open my socks before I finished knitting hers.  So tomorrow is the big sock day -- at least for the two of us!

Socks for Purly Whites -- notice the "purly white" toe tips.

nona's socks from Purly  -- I'll open the package tomorrow!

Wonder and Wander

"I've often thought about the meaning of life", she said, "Is there a purpose?  Is there something I'm meant to do?"  "But now", she continued, "it's enough simply to wonder and wander".

There are many obvious reasons why I love to knit, but it's suddenly clear that knitting also provides ample opportunities to wonder and wander.  Along the way socializing, listening, creating, puzzling, teaching, loving, and seeing beauty.  Isn't this enough?

NBaT Update

The last few weeks have seen the NBaT knit along come full circle.  While more and more of you knit alongers are finishing you t-shirts, there are also several new knit alongers just starting in on the fun.  Here's the action I've seen recently:

Alana's NBaT is nearly complete, all done except for the embroidery she plans to add.

Carina has finished her "Dream" t-shirt, the first sweater she's knit in 15 years. Unfortunately the weather is too hot to even think about wearing knits -- hopefully it will cool down soon!

Deb is not only new to the knit along, but her NBaT is finished already!

Dena is also new to the knit along and is in the midst of sorting out her Calmer gauge -- it can be tricky yarn to gauge!

Leica has both sleeves and the back completed, now onto the front.

Linda's NBaT features a creative "yarn tattoo" honoring her dear hubby.

Lisette and her friend Stephanie are both new to the knit along.  On a lark, they decided to knit their NBaTs on a recent trip to Tahoe -- luckily the local yarn store had the yarn and an Internet connection to print the pattern.  Stephanie is a little behind her friend Lisette due to some wine sipping and subsequent ripping -- what nona calls a knitting hangover!

Lynette has a pile of beautiful pieces waiting to be sewn together.

Ma finished her NBaT on July 2nd, which means that Teri won her "when will my t-shirt be finished" contest.  Darn, my guess just missed by 2 days!

Mary Heather has a finished garment, but is still working on her embroidered word.  Once her NBaT is finished, she'll display it on one of the "creepy models" in the store window of Knit Cafe.

Rachael is another new knit alonger -- pop over and say hi.

Sandy has finished her back and is making quick progress on her front.

ShelbyD is a new knit alonger.  You can track her progress on her NBaT forum.

Suzanne finished her NBaT several weeks ago -- it was a gift for her sister.  She recently sent me a photo of her sister wearing her special gift!

Tania is in the home stretch, weaving in ends and sewing seams.

What other NBaT gossip or news is out there?  For you knit alongers without a blog, please feel free to email me any photos or stories you may have and I'll post them for you.  In the words of the LA note leaver, "Knit On"!

Diggin The T

Let me lay it on the line -- nona's diggin her Tivoli T.  I'll even take it one step further -- this is my favorite summer knit top, ever.  What a simple pleasure to complete a project, pop it on, and love the results!  Can you say MCS?   Many thanks to Grumperina for her inspiring, fun to knit pattern.

Best of all, this linen yarn is machine washable and dryable!
What more can a gal ask for?

Nona, what did you like about this project?

There were many things I liked -- okay loved -- about this project.  Let me narrow it down to three:  Fit, Fabric, and Fun 

• Fit - What can I say, this t-shirt fits!  The raglan, cap sleeves provide near perfect coverage for that little bit of extra armhole flesh that seems to appear on your 40th birthday -- you over 40s know what nona's talking about!  The waist shaping -- worked in symmetrical darts -- provides a nice, flattering fit and is a fashionable alternative to side shaping.  Click here for a detail of the waist shaping.
  

• Fabric - Although the wet spun linen yarn was a bit harsh to knit with, once it was washed and dried the resulting fabric draped beautifully -- heavy and flowy.  I will use this yarn again.

• Fun - Top down, circular knitting -- Yum. I've always loved the addictive, hypnotic quality of circular knitting.  Paired with the no seam, top down design just pushed me over the edge.  What a kick to bind off, weave in a few ends, and be done!

Nona, what would you do differently next time?

There's nothing I'd change about this T-shirt.  I am, however, curious to knit a variation on the Tivoli T-shirt -- one with long sleeves and a shaped neckline -- all from the top down.  What can I say, nona likes trying new things.

Have you knit a Tivoli T-shirt?  No?  I highly recommend that you do!  For other Tivoli T-shirts, check out Grumperina's gallery.