the new math

The “I Will Impress You With My Math Prowess” Badge - The recipient is a whiz at substituting yarns and calculating gauge, can space increases and decreases evenly and is fully comfortable with the basic math encountered in all knitting projects.

I am confidently accepting this on the strength of my gauge swatch making and on the fact that I regularly spread that information. If you don't cringe when the idea of swatching is suggested, if stitches per inch times the inches you want to create just makes sense to you, then you should also award yourself this badge. Of course, my intense opinion about how easy gauge is leads me to tomorrow's badge acceptance.

Wanna giggle at the sticker follower? In case you cannot read it, the stickers says "Place Sticker on Forehead. Smile. (tm)" What the heck they trademarked a childhood activity that I feel certain I originated...do you think that I have a chance for legal action?

My Next Knitting Badge

The “MacGyver” Badge (Level One) - The recipient must demonstrate clever use of a non-knitting tool in a knitting-related scenario. For instance, recipient has used paper clips as stitch markers, or successfully whittled and then utilized bamboo skewers.
I am actually accepting this badge on behalf of a good friend and a great knitter, Seema. She turned me onto the coolest and cheapest (non waste yarn) stitch markers: she came in one day with those little plastic ponytail bands scattered through her row. You know the ones that are meant for tiny braids and some times come in such tiny diameters that you wonder how anyone can get two fingers in there to wrap around the end of even the finest itty bitty braid. You can get about a gazillion at the 99cents store, in many colors or in all black. She was lucky enough to find some that look like they were meant for #8 and smaller, while I found larger ones that are better for #11 and up but still do all the jobs that I have called 'em out to do thus far.

I have used plenty of non-knitting items as knitting tools, but I cannot think of anything that was originally my idea. I am often the first person to enlighten new knitters of using sandwich bags to contain unruly balls of yarn - but that is akin to a knitting colloquism - we all do it and who knows where it started. I have begun to collect plastic bread closure tabs to save my cast on ends a-la Lily Chin. One of my favorites is using hinged clothespins as bobbins for such tasks as intarsia , still not an original.

I am more famed for making one tool do as many tasks as possible (like Alton Brown in the kitchen). For example, I see no use for a cable needle - I replaced that tool with any double pointed needle that I might get my hands on. Then, I moved into the Annie Modesitt camp and cable needle free. I say fooey on stitch holders when you could use waste yarn. I like to think that Macgyver (whom I have loved since the age of four) worked in that spirit - using what was handy but traveling light (hmmmm....Macgyver wondering around in nothing but a smile and his red Swiss Army Knife...or was the Swiss Army Knife belonging to Magnum P.I.?...even better....).

How do you like my refreshing Ikea glass of Ikea ice water? (Ikea glasses were actually purchased by the man at 99cents store...he didn't notice that they were Ikea until about a week ago.)

Return of the Knitting Jedi

I suppose that it is a little presumtious to call myself a knitting Jedi, but I am going to run with it. Some days I feel like I might be on the concil but might not be promoted from Padawan.

Anyway, not only have I been fighting a fever known as blog/podcast fade, but I have also been struggling with listening fatigue. I am really behind on all of my favorite casters current episodes. So, I was slow to learn of Brenda Dayne's Knitting Scouts. (I was actually directed to it from another source - The AntiCaft. I think that I am worthy of quite few of them already - and to get back into the blogging spirit I am going to proceed to spend a few entries explaining why I deserve each one. These badge opportunities are very exciting to me as I never participated in any scouting organizations as a child (but I knew that I would marry an Eagle Scout since I was 15 - a strange thing that came true).

The “Proselytize Knitting” Badge - As a knitting instructor, I believe that I have well earned this first badge. I started spreading the knit professionally many years ago at Simply Knitting in Santa Clarita. It was a couple of years later before I picked up the role of instructor again at Yarn Garden/Pink Porch in Studio City. I am now in the process of moving on to Anacapa Fine Yarns in Ventura.

I would like to share my current schedule of Proselytizing:

Design A Sweater
Four Sessions-Mondays, September 10, 17, October 1 and 8, 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. $75, supplies not included. Skill Level: Advanced Beginner, able to knit and purl confidently. Instructor: Anne Lecrivain-Cozzoli
If you can make a scarf and have done so once or a couple of times, then you are more than ready to progress to a sweater. In this workshop, we will work out the pattern for a sweater that will fulfill all of your sweater dreams. Once we have completed the dream planning and conquered any of your fears about sweater knitting, we will cast on and work through your masterpieces.

Stitch Sampler Hat
Two Sessions-Saturdays, Sept 15 and 22, 12:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. $40, supplies not included. Skill Level: Advanced Beginner, able to knit and purl confidently. Instructor: Anne Lecrivain-Cozzoli
Want to see what the stitching world holds beyond garter stitch and stockinette? Are you ready to be the master of moving simple purls and knits into deceivingly simple and impressive designs? Come and learn how easily to combine cables and seed stitch into an attractive hat design.

Baby Hat & Booties
Two Sessions-Tuesdays, October 9 and 16, 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.; $40, supplies not included. Skill Level: Know how to knit confidently, no purls necessary. Instructor: Anne Lecrivain-Cozzoli
Adorn an already adorable baby with a cute hat and bootie set. For the girls, we will make a hat linedwith flower petals. For the boys, we will frame their boyish charms in a star. The booties are worked in coordinating colors - cute and functional for sweet little piggies.

Baby Sweater
Two Sessions-Tuesdays, October 30 and November 13, 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.; $50, supplies not included. Skill Level: Students must have mastered the basics – able to knit and purl confidently. Instructor: Anne Lecrivain-Cozzoli
Join us as we create a sweet and easy baby sweater to wrap a precious child in stitches of love. This project is a great way to make a memorable gift for someone dear or an heirloom for your own family.

Top Down Shrug
Two Sessions-Mondays, November 5 and 12, 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.; $40, supplies not included. Skill Level: Know how to knit and purl confidently. Instructor: Anne Lecrivain-Cozzoli
This shrug is just the thing to cut the chill as the weather changes and to take some of your favorite summer clothes along through the winter. Worked in the easy-to-master top-down raglan style, this project requires the bare minimum in finishing and can be quickly worked up in many styles of yarn to top off your wardrobe.

You can call to sign up ;). (805) 654-9500

If it doesn't work for your schedule and you like something, you can also ge the pattern at AFY or, someday, when I figure out how to sell things that you download, I will have them here.