Margie's Hemlock

Somebody once said that they had quit reading knitting blogs. When asked why, the person said, "They just make me feel bad about myself." And everybody sitting and knitting around the table shrugged and nodded because we'd all been there. It's like flipping through a Martha Stewart magazine can make you feel bad about your garden. Except at least in the case of Martha, we can reassure ourselves that she has a staff of double digits or more helping her, so of course her roses look better.

But then you read Brooklyn Tweed and see that he's made a gorgeous vest in a weekend, and he doesn't have a staff helping him knit, and it's easy to look down at the sock you've been knitting and unknitting for a month and feel like quitting.

Margie felt like quitting. She started her Hemlock Ring Blanket in Debbie Bliss Stella (light blue, of course), and the triple and quadruple increases were a nightmare and the pattern was vague, and each row took an eternity. But she plugged away.

And here it is.

It's blocked and beautiful, worthy of the best knitting blog. So next time the internet makes you feel like throwing your needles away (or at least unplugging your computer), take the Hemlock. Not like Socrates, but like Margie.

(And thanks to Holly for the pictures! The blog looks great!)

Yoda the Baby Sweater

First of all, apologies to everyone for abandoning the blog. My home computer died, so I've been at a loss on how to get pictures from the camera to the blog. (And a blog post without a picture is no fun.) Thanks to Leslie (for knitting the sweater) and Ruth (for taking and sending me the picture) for getting me back on track!

So, what do you knit for the Star Wars-obsessed new parent? Why a Yoda hoodie of coarse! Check out the gray fun fur in the ears. A wrinkly little baby face can only add to the effect. Great idea, Leslie! And because I haven't really resolved the photo issue, please send me pictures of your knitting escapades. I'll post them on the blog!