September 19: Atlanta Georgia

Oh yes, the Yarn Harlot is coming to Atlanta! I think I must attend..........Hmmm.....now how do I rope my husband into going with me??? It shouldn't be hard, he knows how hilarious she is. PLUS he will learn tips for the website and stuff.........right??? Just say yes.

Increasing in Ribbing

Sounds simple, right? Well that's what I thought but until you actually sit down to do it you don't necessarily realize what a challenge it is until you figure it out. Now, I have increased before ribbing, I have increased after ribbing and I have increased around ribbing - no problem. But I had yet to increase IN ribbing until yesterday.

I decided to sit down and start this cute little baby sweater that is all knit in 3x3 ribbing. Now, even though I realize that the sweater is not a square, it didn't really dawn on me that I would be increasing IN the ribbing (believe me I see the irony in just telling you that the WHOLE thing is in 3x3 ribbing). I knew I was in trouble when I got to row 5 and had to rip out. So, I thought, no problem. I'll just go look it up. Well lemme tell you something - not ONE single person in ANY of the knitting books that I have (and I have many) discuss how to increase in ribbing!!! Now what the hell is wrong with that??? These people are supposed to be teaching me! So, fine. I went to look it up online. I'm not kidding you when I say that the most helpful thing I read was "It's not hard, just keep knitting your pattern and add in the increases". Please explain to me HOW you keep a 3x3 ribbing pattern AND increase 2 stitches in your row. Oh, and like most knitters, I don't increase on the ends.

I thought, really I am smart. I have a bachelor's degree and 2 master's degrees, surely I can figure this out. So, I thought and I thought (while husband quickly recognized 'the look' and brought wine - he really is so wonderful) and this is what I came up with. I don't know if this is the "correct" way but it is working so see what you think and PLEASE let me know if you have any light to shed on this process.

The pattern says 3x3 ribbing throughout - increase one stitch on each end every 4 rows 13 times. So I did this, if the row started out k3, p3 I did this: p1, k1, m1, k1, p3 then k3, p3 to the last 3 stitches then I did k1, m1, k1, p1. So basically I just change the 1st and last stitch of the row to the opposite of what it was. Does that make sense? Anyone else out there do it this way??

Now, on the other side of the sweater I will be DECREASING the sleeve.......hmmmmmmm.......I'm taking bids now for how to "correctly" do this. Anyway, here's the sleeve so far - it's in the latest issue of Knit Simple. Minty don't ya think?

Holy Cow...............

OK so as most of you know I have put a new page on my site for charities that accept knitted/crocheted donations. Now, why am I doing that? Because I want to do something NICE for these charities and give them some needed exposure. I figure any little thing I can do to add exposure for them is helpful, right?? After all, these organizations do great work. I am especially fond of those organizations that do for animals as pets are so near and dear to my heart. I was a veterinary technician for 10 years before I went to nursing school. I love working with animals, unfortunately, the pay just ain't that great. Anyway, I digress.........

So, I sent emails to ALL of the charities that I wanted to put on the site just introducing myself, asking their permission to link to their site and making sure that their program is still up and running and accepting donations. Everyone has been SO gracious thanking me for linking to their site and letting me know what kind of work they do. Well, everyone except for ONE particular organization who shall remain nameless............

They sent me an email back asking me to read their "terms of use" policy for linking to them and sending me to the page that housed all of their icons that I must use one of for display. Fine. It states that I can't alter them in any way. Fine. It states that I can't speak about them in any disparaging way on my website at all. Fine - ummm....why do you even need to put that in there anyway, right??????

So fine. We did all of that no problem. Cut and pasted their HTML text exactly as it is on their site. Well, this morning I get an email from them telling me that I have modified their image and that it looks "mushy" and I must remove the image and replace it with an unmodified version IMMEDIATELY. OK - so by now you can see that I am pissed. Then they went on to proceed to tell me how I could fix some things on my website so they would look better.

I am trying to do something NICE and they are being total bitches, right? So, you better believe that darn icon was for sure removed IMMEDIATELY never to return. This is the email that I sent back to them (who shall remain nameless):

No, we didn't modify the image at all and used your text that you had directly on your website. We were just trying to do you a favor and offer some exposure to your organization. We wanted to do something nice to expose some charities that do good for animals. I'm sorry that we haven't met your standards and your image has been removed since it does not meet your high standards. We will find another organization that meets our criteria. Thank you.

I'm trying to be somewhat nice while politely letting them know they are being nasty. I mean REALLY!!!! This is a charity and I'm trying to HELP!!!!

Ugh........people.

Anyone have any charity organizations that accept knitting (and that are NICE and APPRECIATIVE) that would like some added exposure on my site???

~ Knit Witch whose cauldron is boiling..........

Question........

OK - anyone out there read the Yarn Harlot's blog? Can someone please explain to me HOW in the hell she has time to knit so much AND do all of the crazy stuff that she does? It just took me 2 weeks to finish a man thong, ok. I think I need to quit my job so I have more time to knit and shoot videos.

I need to post a picture of the man thong. Coming soon I promise..............

Remember that last blog entry I posted about the weenie warmer? Well, the woman who wrote me the email made a weenie warmer for her husband and sent me the picture! Great!!! Another husband willing to model risque knitting projects! I love it! Knitters out there - knit your man a weenie warmer and then send me the picture!! I should start an "adults only" section on my website! Hahaha.......