My Afternoon With Diana & John Sullivan

Today I had the pleasure of having lunch with Diana and her husband John.  It was a wonderful afternoon.

We spoke of so many things and not much about knitting.  One would expect two machine knitters and bloggers knitting would be our main topic of conversation.  Not at all.

We had a nice lunch and talked for hours.  Diana is a wonderful lady with an infectious laugh and her husband equally nice.

When the time came for us to go it felt as if we were only together 30 minutes not the almost 5 hours we were.

They are on their way home tonight, escaping the HOT Las Vegas weather of 121 degrees (I noted on my cars thermostat as I drove home).

Las Vegas Heat & Diana Sullivan

It's hot here, VERY hot.  As I write this at 9:30 p.m. it is still 110 deg F (43 C)!  Today it was 120 deg F or 48.9 C!  Not much we can do but stay indoors in the air conditioning.   Every home and building has air conditioning here.  We are the #2 city in the US for most days per year over 100 deg F (37.7 C), Phoenix, Arizona  is # 1.

After all these years of knowing Diana Sullivan we finally meet!   Diana is in Las Vegas as she attended a CPA Seminar here.  She  invited me to have a "good meal" with her and her great husband John.  We initially planned dinner for today but, with the high heat my days at work were extended so we had to make it a lunch date for tomorrow.

Diana and I have become friends over time and have shared many personal things and of course sharing a lot of machine knitting info.  Diana filmed and posted (on YouTube) my no sew circular hat design (2 years ago).  I helped Diana with her "Wear Your Diamonds & Footnotes Books" test knitting and sending her my input (some of my photos are in her Footnotes book).  Diana recently asked for my help with her latest project, a large book,  "100 Ways To Improve Your Machine Knitting."  This is going to be an awesome book, full of lots of clear direction, suggestions and techniques.  Her latest video on the knit leader will get you using yours like a pro.

I am looking forward to tomorrow as I am sure it will be wonderful.

Charity Knitting

My friend Helen and her friend Norma knit over 40 sweaters for a Ukraine Orphanage.

She sent me this photo of "some" of the sweaters they did and being modeled by the children.

Its a wonderful thing to help people, especially children.

Great job Helen & Norma!

Are Your Combs Tearing Your Lace?

Thank you Brian!  Brian wrote me with his fix for weights when knitting lace; here is his solution:

I have been trying to knit fine lace scarves with not much success. The combs keep distorting the stitches and/or breaking the yarn. I have a solution that has worked well for me and only uses items you may have around your house! This is a cheap solution that is working well for me: 

A pant-hanger that has the open/close assembly & a wooden dowel. 

Then I put the dowel behind the knitting and push it and the knitting into the jaws of the pant hanger. Then clamp the hanger closed. Hang weights either on the ends as shown, or onto the hanger that would normally be hung on your closet rod. 

It’s an easy & cheap solution! One other idea is to purchase those round tubes for a bird cage that has some sandpaper on them so the birds keep their nails filed. Then insert over dowel and you will find the knitting sticks and it’s easier to position on the dowel.

If you are on Ravelry, you can find his post here: 
http://www.ravelry.com/discuss/superba-knittingtm/topics/2593822

Bellinky Linker & Latest Project

Working on a polo shirt a little at a time.  This photo was taken just after I attached the FNR collar.  At the moment there are no sleeves yet and the front keyhole bands need to be stitched down.  It is a Knit Leader project having traced on the mylar from a well fitting shirt I wear often.

Note The Yarn Ends I Need To Weave In

Also, finally received the combs for my Bellinky linker.  Similar to the Hauge linker as it attaches the two knitted pieces with a neat chain stitch.  Takes a bit of getting used to but the time spent is well worth it.

Like New Linker