Machine Knitting Trip Part 2: Knitting

The 2 day intensive machine knitting course at the Textile Arts Center in Carroll Gardens was incredibly informative.The instructor, Mandy Kordal, Really knew her stuff, using a combination of demos and one on one instruction to make sure everyone was able to grasp the basics.

Machine Knitting Trip Part 1: Shopping

Last weekend, I took a very sudden vacation to New York City to take a machine knitting class at the Textile Arts Center in Brooklyn.

A while ago a generous person gave me a knitting machine to use, but after a year of improperly installed sponge bars and jammed carriages, I knew that I needed help. I found a knitting machine class on tumblr and found that it was relatively easy to get to. Immediately, I found that my mother wanted to share a hotel room to reduce the commute time and so we made plans.

Spring Break

The week after.

Blended Experiments

Gradual change of color, gradual change of scale.

What I did over winter break...

Here it is, my post-post-modern masterpiece of a sweater. The original pattern is adapted from the 1987 holiday issue of vogue knitting and the chart is based on the Carlton shelf designed by Ettore Sottsass in 1981.

I do not know what Ettore would say about this, but underneath the picture of Carlton in Barbara Radice's 1984 book about Memphis it says this:

"... 'My idea,' -said Keawe- 'is to have a beautiful house and garden on the Kona Coast, where I was born, the sun shining in at the door, flowers in the garden, glass in the windows, pictures on the walls and toys and fine carpets on the tables, for all the world like the house I was in this day - only a storey higher, and with balconies all about like the king's palace; and to live there without care and make merry with my friends and relatives.' ... " 

I hope that was enlightening.

Anyway, below is the stitch chart in case anyone is interested in making a Carlton sweater of their own, but I doubt that there are many knitting designerds out there that enjoy Memphis that much.

Have fun with this chart- it would make a nice pillow or something...

The Hamptons: A place for beaching

I was invited to go to the Hamptons for the weekend by a friend. Though I am not at all fond of beaches, sand, and mosquitoes, he assured me that a weekend in East Hampton is the most relaxing experience that I will ever have.

I do not like beaches, saltwater, Architectural Digest, or "relaxing."

1. Beaches

• Beaches are full of sand, and sand gets everywhere. Contrary to popular belief, the Sandwich was not named after an earl. It was renamed for the small fairies that live along the coastline ruining every beach-goer's  lunch with grit.
• Beaches are very pretty, if you like looking at stock photos for travel agency brochures. Generally they all look pretty (similar).
• Beaches are a great place to watch people cover themselves in oil, sand, and salt then turn colors. Some people turn pink and peely, some turn brown and scaly.

2. Saltwater

• Saltwater makes you sticky.
• Saltwater makes your hair stand up at all angles. 
• Saltwater burns when it touches your blistered feet.

3. Architectural  Digest

• Architectural digest is a very conservative and banal representation of stylish interior design.
• Architectural digest still has a lot of images of dark, Victorian rooms cluttered with artifacts which serve no purpose. This is OK in print, but in real life, it is hard to decorate a room this way. Irrelevant objects end up mixed in with the decoration and dusting becomes difficult.
• Architectural Digest seems to appeal to people who are staged, stiff and approachable like the interiors in the magazine.

4. Relaxing

• Relaxing is a lot like just being bored.

There was only one picture that was worth taking. The girliest/most narcissistic graffiti that I have ever seen:

It looks like it should be written in lipstick on a mirror. It is the artistic expression of narcissism which makes the Hamptons better then the Jersey shore. It is what people who talk about their Hampton houses are begging you to do.

Oops!!

Apparently people actually read this blog sometimes. Although I am pretty sure none of them are really following what I do, I promise myself to post weekly and try to do something decent this semester.

Ok, so on that note, I have been busy making felt jewelry all vacation. I plan on getting some rest during the first week of school.