Yesterday the husband referred me to this SNL clip with everyone’s favorite SNL host that aired last April. Not sure why I hadn’t seen it until now, but it is hilarious and cute.
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Loop of Magic
I’ve found myself using the “magic loop” method of circular knitting for my latest project.
The circumference of the project is probably big enough to use a small circular, but I’d never used magic loop before and I thought it was about time to give it a try. I found that after casting on and figuring out what I’m doing, it was very easy, and it seems handy for avoiding gaps in your knitting if that’s a problem for you with dpns.
I have to thank Lesley at Knit New London for getting me started with it. You can see a video on how to knit with the “loop of magic” on knittinghelp.com.
Ronald and the Twins Wish You a Happy Monday
Anyone who has passed through Terminal C at Laguardia Airport since who knows how long ago is surely familiar with this masterpiece by “Franco the Great.” Who has a website, and lots of press, as it turns out!
This is an image that has just belonged on my blog for so long, so I’m happy to finally get it up there after many trips to the airport.
Sweet Memories
I was browsing through iTunes the other day and came across a mention of Matthew Sweet’s 1995 album 100% Fun, which happened to be one of the first CDs I bought as a teenager. To my frustration, I no longer seemed to have the album anywhere, but I really wanted to hear it again, so I broke down and bought the digital copy after a few days of vacillating. It’s so great!
The “power pop” sound of this album didn’t really fit in with the alterna-grunge vibe of the mid-’90s, and that might be one reason that I didn’t give it the credit it deserved at the time, and it didn’t make the cut of CDs to take with me when I went to college a few years later. But the classic, super-catchy tunes of 100% Fun are even better than I remember as I listen to them 13 years later, even though I’m finding again that this album doesn’t really fit in with the music that fills most of my life (this time, indies, experimental rock, folk, and other oddities). The first track, “Sick of Myself,” has quickly become a rediscovered favorite, for its bittersweet lyrics over a memorable melody.
It makes me a little sad to think about how Matthew Sweet has never became a huge name, even though his sound is perfectly suited for mainstream mega-hits. At the same time, there’s no way that he’ll ever go away. (And I hear that “Girlfriend,” from his earlier breakout album, is on Guitar Hero II, so there’s that.)
Mochimochi Elves Are Here!
While we’re stuffing our turkeys and tofurkeys this week, I bet many of us are trying to come up with the ultimate holiday gift. Well, some assistants have just been added to the Mochimochi Shop…
These holiday helpers think they have come up with the ultimate gift: little knitted elves!
Techniques for this simple pattern include knitting in the round on double-pointed needles and mattress stitch.
You can buy the pattern as a PDF download for just $5 here.
Plus, visit the shop by the end of the year and you can download a free sheet of funny Mochimochi Elves gift tags!
Click here for the download page. Then download, print, cut, and tag!
Update: Thank you to Craft for posting the Mochimochi Elves on their blog!
Luv-able and Hug-able at gallery hanahou
Luv-able and Hug-able, our holiday plush show coming up at gallery hanahou in NYC, is just around the corner, opening December 4th! If you’re in the area, I hope you’ll join us, or stop by sometime while the show is up through January 7th. (Full show info is at the bottom of the post.)
As promised, here are some photos of the amazing plush toys artists have created for the show.
Sardines by Nicole Gastonguay
We love fashion! by Kup Kup Land
Tweed Bear by Yuko Hara
Beheadable Anne Boleyn by Katie Park
Large Rag Doll by Christina Gordon
Beast by Blythe Church (I bought one by her last year and I love it!)
Luv-able and Hug-able
December 4 – January 7
Opening party: December 4, 6-9 pm RSVP info@galleryhanahou.com
gallery hanahou
611 Broadway, Suite 730, NYC
[7th floor of the Cable Building, NW corner of Broadway + Houston]
Hours: Mon-Sat 12-6 pm
Also don’t forget about Jenny Harada’s workshop on the 13th!
Make an Elf Chum with Jenny Harada!
Plush queen Jenny Harada will be teaching a workshop at gallery hanahou in NYC on Saturday, December 13th, at 1-3 pm. She’ll show the group how to use hand-sewing techniques to make an adorable ornament-size Elf Chum, like these!
or these!
(I am very taken with the furry brown ones, myself.)
The workshop is just $20, which includes all the supplies you need. Space is very limited, so email info@galleryhanahou.com now to sign up!
amineko no iru seikatsu
I don’t buy so many craft books but I picked this one up earlier this year and it’s become a new favorite.
Not sure if it’s been discussed much among Western crafters, but amineko no iru seikatsu (Life with Amugurumi Cat, I believe) deserves some love. The book contains only one amigurumi pattern, plus a few sewing patterns for small accessories for your amineko, but the highlight of the book are the wonderful photos of amigurumi cats doing various activities like eating, reading, and sleeping in various objects. In almost wordless, comic-strip-style vignettes, we see the simple crocheted cats come to life with distinct personalities and moods.
I got my copy at Kinokuniya, but you can also find it on Amazon Japan.