never mine

The santa fe style thick and thin bulky handspun yarn I’d bought from Colorado Sandstone Ranch confounded me for two years. An enticing mix of colors in a wool that wasn’t as soft as merino but was squeezy and fun, this yarn was one of my first purchases as a knitter. I didn’t have a project in mind, just “want!”. And I tried to use it a few times, but frogged it every time, because, let’s be honest, what can you REALLY do with about 130 yards of thick and thin wool?

Until urchin.

And then I was completely inspired. And whipped this up. I love how it stripes vertically! Very cool.

Picasso loved it. Maybe a little bit. Tiny bit.

He’s obscenely cute. I might have taken something like 60 pictures of him lolling on the hat.

The hat ended up too big for me (I knew that, the whole time, but I wanted to make the biggest size to see how much too big it would be, I like hats with some ease). Guess who adopted it all on her own and pretty much said THIS IS MY HAT without, you know, me offering it or anything like that?

Yeah. She loves it.

knitty surprise

CROPPED CARDIGAN WITH LEAF TIES

Tiphanie: Mmm. I like it. Would omit the leaf ties or skip the leaves. At least they’re not dangling from my sleeves.
Frarochvia: By Stefanie Japel? I’m surprised you liked it. The cardi is so…cropped.
Tiphanie: It’s perfect with a dress. You can pair this with a summer dress.
Frarochvia: True. I did like the sleeves. I’d lengthen it some I think. Leaves a cute idea, but no.
Tiphanie: I wouldn’t wear this with jeans and a skimpy tee. I would wear it with a dress.
Frarochvia: I’d prefer a frog closure. No! Blech- a skimpy tee. But a dress, yeah.
Tiphanie: I like it. It’s a small cardigan and it will cover the bare area that a shrug wouldn’t cover.
Frarochvia: Yeah. Something different. And it’s worsted. 4 balls of Cascade 220, basically. Not bad. I like it a fuck of a lot better than Ester.
Tiphanie: *laugh* I totally forgot about Ester. Oh well. Can’t knit everything.
Frarochvia: No. (Secretly: hooray!!! She forgot!)

ARIETTA

Tiphanie: Um. It’s okay. I think I didn’t like because of colors. It’s nice yes.
Frarochvia: I like it. It’s different. I don’t know that I’d knit it, and definetly not in these colors, but it’s different.
Tiphanie: I’m lukewarm as I wouldn’t normally graviate toward this type of design or motifs. It’s nice yes but it’s not calling me.
Frarochvia: The colors are too washed out in my opinion. But I do think it’s cool.
Tiphanie: Yeah. If you see this in black, white and red- wow! drastic!
Frarochvia: Yeah…It’d be cool.
Tiphanie: So, need to look past the colors- but yeah, not interested.
Frarochvia: (Internal monologue: black white pink?)
Tiphanie: And you’re probably thinking black white pink, yes?
Frarochvia: (damn Tiphanie)
Tiphanie: I like how she shaped it as it’s less boxy. So it’s doable.
Frarochvia: I did like it. It looked like something I might try some day. Yeah. I might do this for a bag. Hey, it’s has been a while since I had a bag frenzy. I’m seeing brown lavender red. Brown to go with my sweater. Lavender to go with my coat. Red…because…

VANILLA SPICE

Frarochvia: I like that it’s a cheap yarn, and definitely spring/summer friendly. Nix the pockets. But I’m not going ooo.
Tiphanie: Ugh. A Wal-Mart cardigan. Looks like something my aunt would buy off a rack at Wal-Mart. And it will sag within a week.Then it will gap between the buttons. Booo. Booo. And pockets! They will sag and droop! Double Boo.
Frarochvia: You don’t like it, I’m guessing. LOL.
Tiphanie: No way will any one approach the person and ask, did you knit that? Naw. If I wanted one I would go to Wal-Mart thank you very much.
Tiphanie: I react to it the same way people react to knitted socks.Ohh, you can buy three pairs for five bucks!
Frarochvia: It’s just boring, I guess. That’s the biggest problem.

VICTORIA

Frarochvia: I’ll keep silent for you to talk about the next project.
Tiphanie: I like it! Not for rainy days for sure haha.
Frarochvia: Useless!
Tiphanie: Picnic! Oh yes! This will be useful during summer!
Frarochvia: You’re crazy.
Tiphanie: Seriously - especially if it’s a sorcher. Then you can use it to shade yourself.
Frarochvia: I keep forgetting you’re crazy. Would you KNIT ONE?
Tiphanie: It’s not odd. I see umbrellas everywhere where I live - on sunny days.
Frarochvia: Well okay. But I’m not knitting you one.
Tiphanie: Hey, perfect for a picnic. You can nap in the shade [of Victoria]. Lovely!
Frarochvia: Note to self: Tiphanie is crazy.
Frarochvia: It’s pretty but I guess…goofy. Maybe it’d be good for making me feel pretty. But how is it better than an umbrella?
Tiphanie: No, it’s useful if you need to keep out of sun or want to avoid a tan. It would be great for other people who are sensitive to sun due to chemo. And second, you can knit one to match your coat!
Frarochvia: My umbrellas are PINK thank you very much.
Tiphanie: Ha ha. It’s okay. You’re not interested in this. You’re not interested in a knitted toilet cover. Some people dosn’t see the point of knitted/felted vases. And you’re the one knitting a damn lampshade. I would prefer Victoria to a knitted lampshade.
Frarochvia: *mumbling to herself* Tiphanie is nuts, Tiphanie is nuts…I don’t get her…

spring knitty

BMP

Tiphanie: I would so knit them for my husband and my brother-in-law. But at the same time I don’t wanna. I would hate to KNIT THEM and then they never wear them. People who doesn’t appreciate handknit gifts suck. Maybe I should knit one pair for myself but eh. I wanna knit 40 pairs first.
Frarochvia: Me too. It’s crazy cool and awesome and unique and stuff but making it? I don’t know.
Tiphanie: Well, you could make a pair of Matrix socks.
Frarochvia: I would probably knit Cookie’s Herringbone before this.
Tiphanie: Yeah. I’m more likely to try something from Sensational Knitted Socks or Favorite Socks. But this is cute.
Frarochvia: It really is! And I don’t want to make Matrix socks okay! Heh.
Tiphanie: Maybe I should knit this. Just for a scream, I can actually knit my husband’s high score. We actually have that game.

CAROLYN

Tiphanie: I’m not nuts about it. Looks like a sweater you would purchase from Ross.
Frarochvia: I don’t hate this.
Tiphanie: Only thing I’m gonna say about this is that you can customize this for your body. Shorten it, lengthen it. Adjust sleeve lengths. Then it’s where I go sweaters wonderful sweaters wonderfuL.
Frarochvia: Aside from thinking the collar is ass. I probably will use this as a reference for my next striped sweater. But I find myself thinking eh- if I wanna a cardigan I can design my own.
Tiphanie: Yeah. Not nuts about the collar. But you change the collar, it’s no longer Carolyn.
Frarochvia: As I was saying, I will probably refer to Carolyn for my next striped sweater I make. Except for the effing collar.

TAHOE

Tiphanie: Um. It looks like a pajama top. Looks comfortable but too comfy.
Frarochvia: And it’s at sock gauge! Gah! I do like the color. Oh my bad, it’s not sock gauge, but it has sock yarn contrast trim. It’s pretty and comfortable. Not groundbreaking.
Tiphanie: Sock yarn. who cares. I’m the one who want to knit a sweater with thin yarn. anyway, I like the touch of handpainted yarn for detailing.
Tiphanie: Mm. I like this as a pajama top. I’m sorry but this looks like a pajama top. Maybe it’s because of the sleeves. Looks too damn comfortable.
Frarorchvia: It does. Too uh, flaccid.
Tiphanie: Flaccid hehehe.
Frarochvia: Well, it’s not droopy or stretched out. It’s just uh..flaccid.

RIBENA

Tiphanie: Retro! I love retro! Retro. Retro. Retro.
Frarochvia: Retro. And I love this. The armies, not so much.
Tiphanie: Yeah. I’m gonna skip the arms. I like the ribbing on the bottom. Delicious!
Frarochvia: Definitely.
Tiphanie: I would probably add an inch to sleeves for me. I got fat arms. Grin
Frarochvia: Grin.
Tiphanie: But I like! Maybe I’ll order one more batch of Knitpicks Andean silk for that.
Frarochvia: I like it too.
Tiphanie: Tiphanie APPROVED!

TORQUE

Frarochvia: APPROVED!
Tiphanie: I am so gonna knit this.
Frarochvia: Appppppppproved.
Tiphanie: Not right now. Need to finish two tops I got lined up.
Frarochvia: Loooooooooooooove.
Frarochvia: Shorter arms for sure. But that’s about it.
Tiphanie: Will def swatch for it in July or August. So I can cast in September or October.
Frarochvia: Love the collar love the cable love the split neck and bottom.
Tiphanie: Good thing about this pattern is that it’s mostly stockinette.
Frarochvia: But the noonstockinette portions are spectacular.
Tiphanie: So it should be a reasonably quick knit.
Frarochvia: I’m in love with it all over again. Hey this could be knit with TLC cotton plus. I’d have to think about what I would use for mine. I have some jadeite minty Lion Brand Cotton Ease I could use.

ISABELLA

Frarochvia: I want to like Isabella, but really? I really don’t.
Tiphanie: Yeah. It’s a sweet top but eh- not what I want. I love leaves detailing but I think it’s not bra-proof. Peek a boo! Nah.
Frarochvia: Very sweet. The design is great. The lace is lovely. But yeah. Bra stretching the v-neck, the eyelets on the trunk, gah.
Tiphanie: Airy top!
Frarochvia: And the picot on the armholes, nonononono. But other than that, it’s lovely. *laugh* and also I don’t like the color. Shallow!
Tiphanie: You’re shallow after you preached about looking past colors geez.

ESTER

Tiphanie: I don’t care what you think. I want it. I love it.
Frarochvia: *mumbles something about hating it*
Tiphanie: I shall disregard your opinion. I really love this. I need a wrap and hey I need an excuse to buy a cute flower pin. AnywayI love it and you don’t.
Frarochvia: *mumbles something about Tiphanie having no taste*
Tiphanie: I shall tune you out!

MORE STRIPES
Tiphanie: I don’t like it. More Stripes- for what? I don’t get it.
Frarochvia: It’s a steeked V-neck top. It’s a use for Noro silk garden.
Tiphanie: Blah. I don’t care and I don’t like it.
Frarochvia: I like the striping. I’m allowed to say that…
Tiphanie: Blah. Blah. Blah. Blah.
Frarochvia: Hahaha.
Tiphanie: Like that Designer from the Incredibles. Mode? Blah. Blah. Blah. All talk!
Frarochvia: E!
Tiphanie: And I don’t care. Stripes neat. You can get the stripes on the top to line up. But I still don’t like it. Blah. Blah. Blah.
Frarochvia: Her name was E!
Tiphanie: Edna. I suck.
Frarochvia: No. You’re crappy.
Tiphanie: Her last name- Moda. Edna Moda.
Frarochvia: Can’t believe you didn’t remember her name.
Tiphanie: You suck too. Let me google.
Tiphanie: It’s Edna Mode! So I’m was close. It’s MODE! And you’re like NO NO It’s E! E! Geez.
Frarochvia: Blah. Blah. Blah. *hand flapping open-close*
Tiphanie: Anyway. Stripes cool if you want to do the stripes perfectly. But me? Would I wear it? Yeah right.
Frarochvia: Blah. Blah. Blah.

MONICA

Frarochvia: Monica, I love. Especially the shot with the tulle skirt.
Tiphanie: It’s cute-cute. Love designs for kids.
Frarochvia: Makes me want to wear a tulle skirt.

BRAIR ROSE

Tiphanie: It’s cute.
Frarochvia: Brair Rose is designed by the same woman who does Black Bunny Fibers.
Tiphanie: It’s a lovely piece. I think it’s neat. Two colors. Two designs. I like the picot cuffs.
Frarochvia: Yeah. Definitely not too childish. Picot hem. Cute. I like. Could see doing this for me.
Tiphanie: Picot hem for sleeves- why not?

HEY MICKEY

Frarochvia: The picture is great, and I love the tights. But that skirt is way too effing short.

VESTEE

Tiphanie: It’s cute. I like the babies too. The neck’s large enough for a baby’s head. Very important yes.
Frarochvia: And Vestee is cuuuute.
Tiphanie: And four options! Short. Long. Hooded. Unhooded.
Frarochvia: Big neck, no buttons, easy to put on and wear.

PALETTE

Tiphanie: Okay. It’s beautiful yes. But…it’s one stitch pattern. You have to buy a certain yarn to recreate the scarf.
Frarochvia: I don’t really like it.  No, you can’t buy this.  It’s a spun yarn.
Tiphanie: That was my point. You can’t recreate it.
Frarochvia: Okay. We’re on same page now.
Tiphanie: I just like the idea of uh trying a lace pattern with striped, varied, etc. Rather than knitting a garter scarf. Stockinette. Blah blah.
Frarochvia: The pattern I guess… my problems with it are: 1) it’s stitch pattern from somebody else, and 2) argosy is much more spiffy.
Tiphanie: One thing I worry about knitting with lace. Will the scarf stay blocked or will it end up in a crumpled heap around your neck?
Frarochvia: I’m just bothered by the fact that it’s a stitch pattern. I understand a lot of scarves are like that, I get it. But it bugs me. Argosy is unique, and it was invented. Wavy, ditto. Stuff like that I like.

DASHING

Tiphanie: Lovely but *sigh*
Frarochvia: I know. You’re bitter.
Tiphanie: I still wanna knit fletching but may be with sock yarns.Yeah. Me bitter-bitter.
Frarochvia: Maybe you need sport weight.
Tiphanie: It’s lovely. Unisex!
Frarochvia: Definitely. I’d wear it.

PAPER BAG

Tiphanie: Intringuing. But I think- would it get dirty fast?
Frarochvia: Definitely intriguing. Inspring. Would I make it? Probably not.
Tiphanie: I just think that it’s neat.
Frarochvia: But I like it a lot. I can see it being sold for an exhorbiant amount of money in a twee stop.
Tiphanie: Hehe. So knit one and then sell. Get rich.
Frarochvia: I’ll pass.

BAUBLE

Tiphanie: I like it- not the actual bracelet. But I like the idea. Now I need to go and buy some wires and beads.
Frarochvia: I would love it. It’s unusual. This is what I definely like.
Tiphanie: Yeah.
Frarochvia: Silvered and czech glass. Yes.

QUEEN OF CUPS

Frarochvia: I love it. I’m considering that or Baudelaire for my pink Cherry Tree Hill.
Tiphanie: I’m the queen so I shall knit this.
Frarochvia: Should I knit that or Baudelaire?
Tiphanie: I don’t care. You’ll knit both eventually. I say Baudelaire first. You probably examined the pattern 30x.
Frarochvia: Well, yeah. But I only have one Cherry Tree Hill skein. Snerk.
Tiphanie: So knit it. So what?
Frarochvia: Baudelaire it is.
Tiphanie: Not the last skein in the world. And besides you need to examine Queen of Cups at least twenty times before you permit yourself to knit it.
Frarochvia: Hahahahahaha. Good plan.

QUILL LACE
Tiphanie: Eh. It’s boring.
Frarochvia: I don’t like it.
Tiphanie: I’m frayed! NEXT!

CLESSIDRA

Frarochvia: Clessidra is thebomb.com. Yum. Yum.
Tiphanie: Cherry bomb da. It shall be a rich shade. Red-purple. Violet Plum. Something. Deep rose pink. But it’s gonna be mine.
Frarochvia: Mmmm.
Tiphanie: Mmmmm. mmmmm. Your thoughts?
Frarochvia: I love it. Deep red. I know, it’s the picture, but deep red. Or lavender. Or grey?
Tiphanie: I love the pattern. Very lovely. I don’t mind the seed stitch.
Frarochvia: The seed front is maybe the only thing I have reservations about. But it is lovely.

Winter Knitty

*the blog minion is back!!! Yay!!! with a few posts to do!  Some may be backdated… for meaningfulness… *  :) 

CENTER SQUARE

Tiphanie:   Eh.  It’s okay.  I don’t like the hat.
Frarochvia:  I like the bottom motifs.
Tiphanie:  I know you do.  You got a thing for circles and it’s even pink.   Circles and pink!
Frarochvia:  I would do it in a bag maybe.
Tiphanie:  You’re obsessed with bags.   Knit a damn sweater for a change!
Frarochvia:  Yes ma’am! The top of it has room for improvement.  But I like the basic idea.
Tiphanie:  It’s really easy- to do Fair Isle.  You can even do circles.  You used to whine about how you wanted to knit circles so you had to take up crocheting.   Circles!
Frarochvia:  Circles in stand alone shapes, silly girl.  But mmmm circles.

CALORIMETRY

Tiphanie:   Calorimetry- maybe.  I may try one for myself.
Frarochvia:  I hate Calorimetry.   I don’t see the point.
Tiphanie:  You got short hair that’s why.  If you put your hair up in a bun, or in a ponytail, it’s hard to find a hat to keep your head warm.   I like buns and French twists.  You don’t do ponytails.
Frarochvia:  You look good in them unlike me.
Tiphanie:  Yep.  You hate it because you don’t see the point.  Me, I’ll try one.
Frarochvia:  Your hair is uh, coarser.   And that means it holds hairdos better.
Tiphanie:  Now you’re fugging my hair.
Frarochvia:  I’m not fugging! I’m saying!
Tiphanie:  Hehe.  I find myself wondering about that button/clasp.  I don’t want to wear anything that would catch on my hair.  Sometimes I have trouble with sweaters with a button in the back.  Even a necklace.
Frarochvia:  Why can’t it be a tube?
Tiphanie:  Because she wanted to unbutton it without dragging it over her nice hairdo.
Frarochvia:  Ah yes.

HEXED

Tiphanie:   I don’t like Hexed.   It looks like a rhino’s foot.  With purple toenails.    It’s perfect for Flattop [from Dick Tracy].
Frarochvia:  I like the pattern head on but don’t like the hat.  If that makes sense.
Tiphanie:  If she wanted a hexed hat, why not do hexagons and half hexes?
Frarochvia:  Half hexes, good idea.  Maybe I’ll try it myself.

ANTIFREEZE

Tiphanie:  Just don’t wear it in dangerous areas or you would be shot by a cop.  Black- bad idea.
Frarochvia:  Hehehehe.  The thought passed my mind that it was extremely practical.
Tiphanie:  Why not do a pink version.  A thief won’t wear a pink ski mask you know.
Frarochvia:  Realistically I would prefer a neckwarmer/scarf/hat/uberscarf combination.   I wonder about my glasses fogging up.   If I were skiing I’d definitely make it.   But uh since the odds of that is only slightly less than the odds of me winning the lottery, I might not.
Tiphanie:  You should knit it anyway.
Frarochvia:  Hmmm.
Tiphanie:  If you hate it, you can frog it.  Or save it as a gift for a friend who ski.
Frarochvia:  Maybe I should.   It’s a good cold weather thing.  IN PINK DAMMIT.   This is one item that really would benefit from pink. Pink with grey trim.

BINARY

Tiphanie:   It’s nice for a computer geek but not for me.  You got a thing for Matrix.  Knit it.
Frarochvia:  Letters, not binary.
Tiphanie:  So? Just replace numbers with letters.
Frarochvia:  Maybe I should see if anyone has a chart for Matrix.  If not, maybe *gulp* I should make that a project.
Tiphanie:   Buy some chart papers and chart yourself.

ARGOSY

Tiphanie:  Argosy I like.   Say the word, Noro, and I’m yours.
Frarochvia:  I like it a lot.
Tiphanie:  I like it but not enough to entice me to knit another scarf.   It’s on my list of potential projects but not A MUST KNIT project.
Frarochvia:  You’re scarved out? Oh come on, you know you wanna.  Noro Silk Garden Lite!
Tiphanie:  Maybe.  I’m picky about scarf patterns/color choices.  I want a scarf to show off its colors.   It’s different- something different, Not a simple garter scarf.
Frarochvia:  Yes.   This is a big winner for me.

CORAZON

Tiphanie:  Eh.  I’ll pass.  Sorry.
Frarochvia:   Eunny’s are much better.
Tiphanie:  I doubt that I would even want to knit a pair of mittens. If I want to do a pair, I’ll probably go with Eunny’s Amemoi.
Frarochvia:  Hers are so unusual I’d enjoy the knit.
Tiphanie:  So what makes this pair [Corazon] different from others?
Frarochvia: One other problem is the colors are so washed out.  Hard to see the pattern.

TIFFANY

Tiphanie:  I don’t like Tiffany.
Frarochvia:  I actually like the Fair Isle in the main pattern but the colors are wrong.
Tiphanie:  Colors easy to change.
Frarochvia:  Maybe for a bag or a hat.  Definitely a bag.
Tiphanie: *sigh* You and your bag fetish.
Frarochvia:  I would do this whole thing into a bag, flipped around with the thick band on top. I know.  I’m sorry I have a fetish.  *hangs head* (blog minion: but but… she has a sock fetish TOO!!  hehe)
Tiphanie:  You’re talking about turning everything into a bag.  You may as well as send me all of your lace yarns and your sock yarns.
Frarochvia: Nooooooooooo!

LEGWARMER SOCKS

Tiphanie:  Legwarmer socks??
Frarochvia:  I did kind of like that. *shrinks from shame* but because then I could have no cold air.   I see it as something practical, but then wouldn’t a knee high work just as well? (blog minion: seee seee!!! proves my point, she’s got a sock fetish TOO!!)
Tiphanie:  Yeah.  Can see you loving them.  Socks with free toes.
Frarochvia:  Yeah.  Because I get hot in bed with encased toes.  So it just seems practical, wearing with flip flops against the cold floor.

ROLLING THUNDER

Tiphanie:  I wouldn’t mind a pair but not really a priority or a must for me.
Frarochvia:  The garter rib is what caught my eye not the motif. Can’t really see the motif.  I like this.  Not a must, but I like.

MONKEY

Frarochvia:  I love the monkey socks.  Cookie’s socks are always so great.   She did Hedera, Herringbone, Pomatomus, and now this.
Tiphanie:  She should charge for her patterns.  I would buy her patterns.
Frarochvia:  I know!  She would be rich.  She’s for socks what Bonne Marie is for sweaters and Mim is for shawls.

EIFFEL

Tiphanie:  I’m okay with the body but the arms blah.
Frarochvia:  I like it without the patterned sleeves.  If the sleeves stopped at the ribbons, it’d be a great spring sweater.
Tiphanie: It’s cute   I may wear it over a long sleeved tee.
Frarochvia:  I’d wear it with a tank top.  I have a really nice one that has built in underwire bra.  I like the idea of the close fitting slightly long short sleeves.

LAUREN

Tiphanie:  Aiee.  Lauren’s ugly.  Chunky handspun.  I don’t like.
Frarochvia:  Hate it.
Tiphanie:  Why is the back longer than the front?
Frarochvia:  Shapeless.
Tiphanie:  To hide your underwear? When you sit down with your hip huggers?
Frarochvia:  butt flap.  Like how shirts are made.  I don’t like it.
Tiphanie:  Using handspun for trimming, I’m fine with - but this looks terrible.
Frarochvia:  I like the idea of fusion.
Tiphanie:  A butt flap and a collar?  Is it a sailor collar? Or a shawl on your shoulders? I mean, if she’s going to do a butt flap, why not do it on the front?  What’s up with that butt flap?
Frarochvia:  Because your bum isn’t on the front.   I would use handspun on wrists.  Or on the collar.  But not down the front like that.
Tiphanie:  Why the butt flap?  You sit on that handspun.  To prevent sitting on stinky school seats?
Frarochvia:  Or maybe yes down the front, but it’s not the way it should be.
Tiphanie: I hate the wrist slits.  And I hate the collar.  It’s a HUGE collar.  Collar.  Butt flap. Slit wrists.  Oh this is painful.    A big collar that wraps the shoulder.  Wide front panels.  Split belled cuffs. And a bum flap.  Terrible. Terrible.
Frarochvia:  I need brain bleach or I *will* slit my wrists.
Tiphanie: This would be a better sweater if she used handspun only for wrists and for the collar.  No bum flaps!

EMERALD

Frarochvia:  I think the Emerald is a much better idea for what an at-home sweater should look like.  I like emerald.  I probably would omit the button and knit one size larger.
Tiphanie:  I don’t like the huge button but it’s easily remedied. Looks pretty comfy.  I probably won’t knit but if I see someone wearing it I will admire it.
Frarochvia:  I like it for an at home sweater.  Not at the top of my list but I like it.
Tiphanie:  What’s even important- it’s butt flap free.  What’s the purpose of a butt flap?  I want to know why a butt flap exists.    I shall research!
Frarochvia:  Ask Sally Melville.  So many things she makes have butt flaps.  Including the asymmetrical stuff that made you claw your eyes
out.

TWINKLETOES

Tiphanie:  Cute but um.  No way am I going to put them on every night. Laces would cut in my legs.  Why not do ribbons?
Frarochvia:  Twinkletoes.  It would quickly become a cat toy in the Frarochvia household.   Hate them.
Tiphanie:  Can see doing them for a wee lass.  But on me?  Nah.
Frarochvia:  Ah she added uh, the square thick things on the soles?
Tiphanie: If I needed a last minute gift for a girl, I’ll just run to a bookstore and get a book.
Frarochvia:  Can see it for a ballerina wannabe little girl.  I’d make it only only if it was greatly wanted.  And even then, wouldn’t a store bought with leather soles be safer?
Tiphanie:  Probably twenty bucks or so.  Used to take ballet classes.
Frarochvia:  Used to be a modern dancer.  I used to have a pair with leather soles.

SPANISH DANCER

Tiphanie:  It’s beautiful.   I would do it.
Frarochvia:  Yes.  I think it’s actually a great use of a variegated yarn.
Tiphanie:  Seven skeins of Claudia hand painted yarns.  Pricey so I’ll probably go with something else.
Frarochvia:  Perfect travel shawl.   Memories would be perfect.  Stretches? So what.   Thin and light but warm.
Tiphanie:  1204 yds total.
Frarochvia:  It’s not “lace” but I like it a lot.  I got a catalog somewhere lemme check. 7 hanks of memories.  $28. Sold!

SLINGSHOT

Tiphanie:  it’s cute.
Frarochvia:  Slingshot is cute but at the same time I go um wtf.
Tiphanie:  you don’t drink coffee while dashing around.  I do! And yeow!  Useful when you need to carry a lot of stuff.  I like it but I may not knit it.
Frarochvia:  Wouldn’t it tilt and risk spilling?
Tiphanie:  It’s to carry HOT coffee and I would prefer for it to spill on the ground rather than on my hand.  You don’t have to get a wad of napkins to hold the cup. (blog minion: I’ve wanted one of these for a long time, well, two, actually.  One for holding hot drinks.  One for holding VERY cold pints of ice cream.  *G* I’d want mine without a strap, because I’d be sitting here or in bed munching/drinking and reading.)

BABE

Tiphanie:   I don’t care for hockey so who cares.  But I wonder- will the blades cut thru the felted pieces?  I suppose that she can knit more.
Frarochvia:  I was thinking about the cutting factor.

VENEZIA

Tiphanie:  Oh napkin rings.  Cute and it’s cover but I think that I may prefer to get Modesitt’s book.
Frarochvia:  Venezia is great. But you’ll be doing all the metal knitting.
Tiphanie:  Yeah.  I wouldn’t mind trying knitting with wire.

BROWN BAG

Frarochvia:  I love Brown Bag, just for the quirkiness.
Tiphanie: I would probably throw it out by accident.
Frarochvia:  Brown Bag makes me laugh.
Tiphanie:  Now that’s what I like about quirky designs.  Approved!
Frarochvia:  This is what I like too.  It’s something you don’t notice on first glance.  It’s not trying too hard to be cool.
Tiphanie:  Yeah.  It’s a clever twist.
Frarochvia:  It’s something I hadn’t thought of doing but now I see it? Love it.  The button thing is good too.

STARSKY JR.

Tiphanie:  It’s cute.
Tiphanie & Frarochvia:  [talking about the Starsky Sr. version for the
next 30 minutes]

BLENDED HUES

Frarochvia:  It’s cute but I wouldn’t make it.  It’s an effect that relies more on the yarn than anything.
Tiphanie:  Yeah.  You would have to buy actual yarns to recreate this but it’s cute.
Frarochvia:  Yeah it is.  I just feel it limits creativity.  Or rather, you’d really have to swatch a lot for a similarly good result.

PIGGLE

Tiphanie: *giggle* Cute for a little girl.
Frarochvia:  It is cute.   But I’m not knitting one for you.

NORBERTA

Frarochvia:  I love Norberta.  It just cracks me up.
Tiphanie:  I would knit it! And then keep it for myself!
Frarochvia:  Norberta.  The name is soo funny.  And then the dragon itself.
Tiphanie:  Norberta-   Harry Potter.  Norbert.
Frarochvia:  Aaaa!  Love.

SHELDON

Frarochvia:  Sheldon looks wrongly proportioned.  Huge head.  Tiny legs.  The shell looks smaller.
Tiphanie:  Deformed.   Chemicals in sea.    A poor deformed turtle with no tail.   I like the turtle and the removable shell.   Is the shell a choking hazard?
Frarochvia:  Sheldon The Turtle  OMG.  I love the angry angry catchen picture.
Tiphanie:  I guess that the size of the head depends on the knitter. Overzealous in stuffing the head or not.
Frarochvia:  They’re still all deformed.

BOOK OF KNITTY

Tiphanie:  Heh.  Good way of using up swatches.
Frarochvia:  *dies laughing* You were supposed to rant about that one. That was the worst one blech.
Tiphanie:  Nah.  I like it.
Frarochvia:  *shudder*
Tiphanie:  Good way of using up swatches!  Probably a good way of keeping a baby out of knitter’s stash.   And if the baby ruins a project, the knitter can just add the project to the book.
Frarochvia:  It still sucks.

fall knitty

VIVEKA

Frarochvia: I love the sleeves. The belled sleeves thing I like.

Tiphanie: Maybe it’s me but does it look like it’s a maternity sweater? The stomach area looks pretty baggy.

Frarochvia: A lot of people have mentioned that.

Tiphanie: How wide are the sleeves? I like bell sleeves but the sleeves are too wide. On me, I would just roll the sleeves up. I don’t like the sleeves, since the ribbing starts middle of the upper arm. The sleeves look a little strange to me. The sweater looks comfortable but I don’t get the ribbing.

Frarochvia: In my opinion, it’s a nice Saturday sweater. But I would knit this in a tiny size. I definely want a lot more form fitting than it is on her. I think that I could make a very nice sweater out of Viveka more benefitting me. A sweater with a fitted upper sleeve isgood to me, then a loose lower sleeve. But that’s me.

LUCIE:

Frarochvia: Lucie is a nice sweater. I hate everything about it, but it’s nice.

Tiphanie: I don’t like it because of the collar. I’m not crazy about collared sweaters.

Frarochvia: I’m not too hot on collared sweater period. Fits well on the model but I don’t like it. Don’t like the collar at all. Lovely color. I liked the U in the neckine.

Tiphanie: Agreed about the lovely colorway. Lovely body, sleeves- but collar blah. However I love the detailing on the collar, hem, and sleeves. There’s a close up picture and it’s crocheted edging. I guess that I should take up crocheting, eh?

CACTUS FLOWER:

Tiphanie: I like Cactus a lot. Never thought about combining cotton with mohair.

Frarochvia: The idea is interesting. But I can’t help but think “itchy.” It looks good, yeah. Never thought about the combination either. Rowan kidsilk haze is delicious. I can see doing this with pink and red.

Tiphanie: I would do this in dark orange with pink. Would love this as a weekend sweater.

Frarochvia: This would make a great cowly sweater on a coool day.

IVY:

Frarochvia: In all truth I will never ever knit this. The ribbing looks nice. But it’s not going to be flattering to us at all.

Tiphanie: I dunno. I guess that I have seen too many sweaters and wraps. I see one, I go nice sweater. I see one, I seen all.

Frarochvia: You’ve seen them all.

Tiphanie: Yes, I would love a wrap sweater but this pattern is not enough to uh- compel me to knit one. I’m becoming jaded.

SERRANO:

Tiphanie: Lovely pattern but it CLOSES UP with eighteen itty bitty hooks? I counted!

Frarochvia: No hooks. No. Nonono. It does look very cool, very pretty. But the hooks, doublefuck! I guess I’d sub with a single toggle or something. Maybe a delicate zipper or crocheted button loops.

Tiphanie: It’s very pretty. Very lovely sweater and I can see many people knitting this. I may even KNIT this.

AVAST:

Tiphanie: Ooo. I love this. I want to knit this for my husband!

Frarochvia: I liked it for me! I like the raglan shoulders, the hem cables. The high collar would be nice for an athletic stroll. This would work fine with Cascade 220.

Tiphanie: You planning a hot pink one?

Frarochvia: Grey or hot pink…I’m predictable.

SHERWOOD:

Tiphanie: Cute kid and cute sweater. Love the cable pattern. I want to adapt the pattern for a scarf made in the round.

Frarochvia: I love the pattern. That’s what I would do too. Knit a scarf with cotton fleece. The sweater is not my style, but I would definitely consider it for a beeb.

Tiphanie: I’m impressed with the designer. The sweater looks great- looks like it could have been purchased from an upscale retailer.

Frarochvia: I like the crisp look of the stitches with the cotton fleece.

INTOLERABLE CRUELTY:

Tiphanie: Umm. Looks like a sex toy and what’s up with ribbons the the ass? The skirt looks like something you would buy at Frederick’s.

Frarochvia: The skirt is horrible. Looks like a corset.

Tiphanie: Yeah. The skirt will definely turn heads and I can see people going, “what’s up with ribbons on her ass?” Um. Um. I’m no prude but this is a bit too sexy even for me and too fetish-ish. It’s a very sexy skirt.

Frarochvia: If there were no ribbons the skirt would be a heavy skirt that’d lose shape. Because it’s bamboo yarn. I think if anyone has the grumption to knit this and more important, WEAR it, go them.

LITTLE SLIP OF A THING:

Tiphanie: This looks very similiar to a booga bag?

Frarochvia: I’ve got the yarn for this. And yes, it does. It does look very similiar but I think the slip stitch is an interesting idea.

Tiphanie: I liked how the designer included the instructions in how to change the dimensions.

Frarochvia: I can see doing a multicolored square thing. So even though it’s not an innovative shape the idea is a winner in my opinion.

LIZARD RIDGE

Tiphanie: Oh! Oo ooo ooo ooo. Minemineminemine. I LOVE LIZARD RIDGE!

Frarochvia: I love it too! I definitely can see doing one square at a time. Buy one, knit one, eventually you have a house-sized blanky. Only $20 a month would get you a blanket in 10 months.

Tiphanie: Kissfist big time! I love this. I have been thinking about knitting an afghan but I hadn’t seen a design that I loved until I saw Lizard Ridge.

Frarochvia: Big time kissfist! And maybe two for pillow covers?

Tiphanie: Damn. Now I want to DRIVE TO A DAMN YARN STORE. Girl, restrain me. Let’s review the next pattern or we will continue to salivate over this blanket and then forced to break our hearts when tallying up the costs of yarns.

HERRINGBONE:

Tiphanie: It’s a sock, right? Why is it being served on a tray with a toothpick?

Frarochvia: *thinking Tiphanie needs a course in how to appreciate art* Because it’s artistic. I like the sock. I can see doing this for cold weather.

Tiphanie: It’s cute. I’ll need to remember this. Never did an afterthought heel but I’ll learn. If I can knit a sock, I can do this.

CABLE NET:

Tiphanie: It’s cute. I may try this pattern. There’s so many sock patterns out there that I may forget about this while thinking about what to knit next.

Frarochvia: I guess for cabled socks I’m more thinking of like, Nancy Bush socks. Very pretty. I like it. I just doubt I’d ever knit it.

SOX ON 2 STIX:

Frarochvia: Very interesting. Very unlikely to happen.

Tiphanie: Yeah. We’re not afraid of socks anymore.

DIAMANTE:

Frarochvia: Love this. Toe up pattern! I think this is a winner, for our heel flap education.

Tiphanie: Yeah. I want to learn how to flap.

AYLA:

Tiphanie: It’s cute. It’s your thing. It’s PINK! It got a FLOWER! SMALL SIZED! STRIPES! It screams Frarochvia! You and your bag fetish. Pink fetish. Stripes fetish. Flower fetish! You and your felting addiction.

Frarochvia: Piiiiink fetish. The bag is very very cute. I have hardly any pink Cascade 220. It’s tragic.

SUGAR ON SNOW:

Tiphanie: One interesting concept. Hat and a neck warmer.

Frarochvia: Very interesting concept. And yes I have experienced that problem, cold then warm. Don’t like the contrasting green leaves tie. I’d prefer a simple i-cord. We should add this to our planned travel knit arsenal.

Tiphanie: This looks better than some knitted dickies. And if you’re desparate you can use this as an eye mask.

Frarochvia: Good point. I’ll knit this. Got plane rides to thinkabout…

TAMARAH:

Frarochvia: I like the construction, and I think it’s a very neat idea. I’d maybe do this with several different colors to make the construction obvious. If you see the diagram, you could do this with two different colors. I want to try modular knitting once so that’s why
I would consider this.

Tiphanie: It’s pretty but I want to see this in person so I can get the feel of how it’s constructed.

TWIGGY TWEED:

Frarochvia: Hate it. Just generically hate it. It’s ugly. It’s not felted. Where’s the structure?

Tiphanie: The handle looks horrible. It’s a stockinette band. Why didn’t the designer do an i-cord. Can knit a band with 9 stitches and then close up the gap with a crochet hook?

Frarochvia: Because she didn’t like i-cords.

BACK TO SCHOOL:

Tiphanie: Very cute. Very retro. Love the concept.

Frarochvia: Good gift idea. Just promise me you won’t knit this for me.