Every once in awhile it happens. Right place, right time, right? This time it was the very special occasion of AMERICAN IDIOT being in town at the Oriental Theater, my fabulous friend D taking me for my b-day treat (OMG! Thank you!) and moi having to find something to wear in a flash!
Digging in my closet, I found a pullover from long ago with a silly message on it.
It’s a little something I made in 2004, with the letters duplicate stitched on it (but of course, in my favorite color). Actually, I was going through a duplicate stitch fever phase and remember excitedly trying it out on lots of stuff and finding all sorts of alphabets and decorations all over the place.
And, even though the Oriental is a rather fancy-schmancy destination, this musical, being the off-center, explosive celebration of punk rock that it is, was sure to forgive, nay, might even hug a little rebel-rebel…
So I threw it on over a dark T and ran off to see one of the most energetic paeans to Youthful Angst ever. Being a big Green Day fan, it was thrilling!
Here’s a snippet of the last show in New York, but what also happened last night in Chicago, (sans Billy Joe). During the encore, the entire cast took up guitars and good-byed the audience with a little musical love…
Help me celebrate this week’s cavalcade of special days and fun! There’s a copy of the new release of PRINCIPLES OF KNITTING waiting to wing its way to a special knitter here at le Chic.
Now if you love knitting, this book just might blow you away! The sections on shaping and short rows alone made my heart go pitty-pat!
Duplicate stitch is in Chapter 14: Surface Decorations(!) and if you’d like to enter a draw for this book, leave a comment below and tell us what thing you’d most like to learn. (We’ll random draw next TGIF and announce…)
I think I would like to see how I could do short rows better. I’ve done them before, but they have not become stuck in my memory like grafting.
I have heard of this book and sure could use one in my library. Thanks for offering ….
I need to improve my knowledge of short rows and dofferent ways to cast on. Thank you for such a wonderful opportuinity.
I would like to learn how to do proper bust shaping on a sweater. Thanks for the great contest offer!
I would love to learn how to get sweaters to fit better without having to rewind and reknit!
I would love to learn short rows for bust shaping. Carol
I’m having the time of my life learning to knit
There’s always something fun and new to learn when your a knitter but one thing I really enjoy is hearing someone’s story about how they came to love knitting…..I have heard some really neat stories over the years. I’ve also heard some neat stories about how knitting has really been a blessing and help to many peoples lives. Let me just share the latest that has touched my life. Last spring my son got engaged and at the request of his fiancé I began to teach her how to knit. Well, they were married in July and a week after she found a lump on her neck, thinking it was a swollen gland we didnt worry too much, until it didn’t go away. About two months after being married she was starting chemotherapy treatments to combat the cancer she had been diagnosed with. She has one more treatment in march (2012) and she’ll be finished with the chemo. Now, backing up to her starting her treatments…..each treatment took around 3 hours of sitting in a recliner this was a great time to knit. One afternoon I was at their apartment knitting and the two of them were sitting by me, at first I didn’t notice but then they started kind off laughing and I looked over to see my son knitting. She had taught him how to knit during her chemo treatments. I have to say that he was really good and then realized that he grew up watching the motion of knitting so it came to him much quicker. (she had made the comment that he picked it up so quick). Last month I got a set of three dishcloths from them for my birthday…..yes, it was such a wonderful gift. We enjoyed talking about the first dishcloth she had made (she called it her ugly duckling) compared to the beautiful ones I was given. When she started her treatments, they moved about 3hours away from us to go to school……she started to go to a knitting group at the local knitting shop and I really appreciate the kindness of the ladies who shared with her their life stories and love for knitting. She would come home from those meetings all excited and it was fun for her to have something she enjoyed and a group of women that she could connect with. Just to let you know, she has one more treatment of chemo in a couple weeks and has been told they can’t detect any cancer……yeah, we are so grateful. It will be fun to see her doing the things she loves to do….yoga, rock climbing, hiking. I’m sure she will also continue to knit because as you know, once you get knitting in your blood, it’s there to stay.
Now that I’ve got the hang of stranded knitting I want to learn how to knit intarsia.
I know several different ways of casting on, but would like to know which method would be best for different situations – I think this book would help with that.
I would like to study up on short rows.
I’d love to learn how to make well fitted clothes. I get close but not as good as I’d like.
Seaming. It doesn’t matter how well you knit if you can’t put it together properly.
Although I don’t have anything specific in mind that I’d like to learn, I think having such a book of knowledge would be a treasure on my bookshelf! Thanks for this opportunity!
I’d love to learn entrelac. It just looks so cool. One of these days!
The Principles of Knitting!! Just what i needed to become an expert at short rows. TGIF
I do pretty well with most things I try in knitting, but I still need a lot of work on Fair Isle colorwork. Hopefully this book would help me!
Different CO’s, short rows, etc.
It sounds like a good book to have in my knitting library. Thanks for the giveaway. I want to try the duplicate stitch and need more practice on short rows.
Wow! So many techniques I always need to reference to help me remember and those I’d love to learn. Short rows that I tend to always need to refresh myself with, and I have never tried intarsia or stranded knitting with various colors because I’m a little overwhelmed. Thanks for the opportunity to have a great reference book at home!
I am so excited about this book! I think I would most like to learn more cast-ons. I currently only know one!
I have lots to learn but what I most need to learn is how to finish projects with the attention and care they deserve (not the hope this is good enough I currently give them) Would love this book on my shelf and am sure I would use it LOTS
I’d love a copy. I need to quit shying away from sweater knitting by improving my skills in picking up stitches around necklines and armholes.
I would love this book to learn new techniques. And with your recommendation i know it has to be awesome.
I would like to improve a lot of techniques,like buttonholes and spacing, make one stitches without getting a hole, sleeve caps, the list goes on and on…
I would love to learn Kitchener Stitch.
I would love to learn how to carefully finish a garment. I am so psyched to finish after the knitting is done that I don’t give it the care it deserves.The skill I most need is that of evenly knitting the button bands and neckline so they don’t look pulled in and homemade. I can tell from your patterns that you are absolutely meticulous. Thanks for listening!
I just saw this book at a local bookstore. It is awesome.
better seaming techniques are always great. :)
I would love to learn to use short row shaping. How fantastic to be able to make custom fitted sweaters for my daughters.
I need to learn brioche stitch and would love to win the book!
So glad this book is being reissued, I need to add it to my collection. I’d love to learn to knit intarsia
I took a class from her at Stitches about 10 years ago and got a preview chapter on fitting a pattern to your measurements. I’ve been waiting for the rest of the book since then!
One thing I still have to try is to knit pockets on a sweater.
I’d love to learn how to do fitting before the garment is finished (and then it’s too late to change anything).
There is much I have yet to learn about knitting techniques. Does this wonderful book include how to control a growing pile of WIPs?
Would be great to actually be able to make a sweater that fits correctly.
Oooh! I need to learn more professional finishing techniques. Thanks for sharing.
I need to learn short rows! I am a little intimidated by them
Steeks! It’s the techniques I’ve put off learning the most. And tubular cast-on, love how it looks on the bottom of sweaters.
I would love to learn more about entrlac and different types of cast-ons!
It’s intarsia that is my achilles Heel…want to learn it. thanks, mary in Cincinnati
I have repeatedly experimented with different short-row methods, but need some better instructions!
The book looks wonderful… My LYS has it in and I’m drooling over it. Maybe next month when my yarn allowance resets….
I’d like to learn how to do better short rows for shaping. And learn tips for color work. And everything else that I don’t already feel comfortable with.
I would love to be able to do steeks without fear. Pick me, please.
I just found out this book is back in print! I need tips for short rows, plus some day I want to try to steek.
Design my own and knit to fit!
I would love to learn about short rows! Thank you!
I would lkie to get a better fit to my knits
The thing I love about knitting is that no matter how long you’ve been knittng (38 years for me) there are always new things to learn. All the different types of colour work you can do, shaping, different stitches, cast on, cast offs.
I would like to learn everything I possible can about knitting for as long as I can.