It's been a while

It's been a while since I've posted!  I've moved to Texas, gotten a Master's degree, and am working on my PhD. in hospitality management.  But. . . the exciting part is that I've started some great new knitting projects!  Come back soon for new pictures and patterns from Pokémon Go!  And better yet, I have some snazzy designs that transform!

See you soon!

Knitting in the Movies

Today, I was watching Mr. Lucky, the 1943 comedy-drama starring Cary Grant and Larriane Day.  In this film, Grant is a professional gambler who is trying to run a con at a War Relief company.  Larriane Day wants Cary Grant to learn how to knit to aid the war effort.  Then the fabulous Florence Bates (the selfish employer in Rebecca and the kind writer in I Remember Mama), attempts to teach Cary Grant how to knit and purl!  I won't call this continental knitting, but it is a great scene.

Watch and enjoy!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fqexrsr1twc

Are you a Busy Beaver?

Once of the great things about being a crafter is getting to explore craft stores when you travel.  A couple of weeks ago, I was in Dayton, Ohio while my husband was presenting a paper at a conference.  The day before he presented, I spent my time exploring the city and found a fantastic store.

The Busy Beaver Arts and Crafts, 3444 Dayton Xenia Road Beavercreek, Ohio, is a fun and fascinating craft store.  Not only does it carry some insteresting yarn, but it has supplies for all sorts of arts and crafts.  I am learning tatting, and this store has the most tatting books I have seen yet, easily 50 or so.  There are books and patterns for quilting, crocheting, knitting, and needlework.  There are supplies for wood working, doll making, clocks, and making stained glass windows! 

This free standing store is large and a bit cluttered, but a great find.  If you are in western Ohio and are looking for a great craft store, this is it.  You will find your time and money part easily from you at this gem.

I purchased the following yarns and used them to make an Adam Smith teddy bear:

-          Reynolds Frisky White Lot 001 38

-          Plymouth Yarn Company Coffee Beenz Cream

-          Decco Ribbon Black and White

Brand new teddy bears!

Looking for some great knitted teddy bears but don't have time to knit them yourself?  Check out my etsy site and see if something strikes your fancyhttp://www.etsy.com/shop/amandabelarmino?ref=si_shop

Here is a sample below:

Bear Angel

Sock Yarn

Pumpkin Bear

Charles Dickens and the use of Knitting in his fiction

On my recent trip to Montana, I took a copy of David Copperfield along with me to read on the plane .  Much to my surprise, I came across some discussion of my favorite past time.  In this work, David's cruel step aunt (the sister of his abusive step father), is often seen knitting in the parlor.  By contrast, his beloved nurse Peggoty is darning socks or working on needlework.  This reminded me of reading A Tale of Two Cities in high school, where the revolutionary Madame Defarge is shown knitting the names of those to be executed.  This made me curious about the use of knitting in Dicken's fiction.  What was the symbolism? 

Let us begin with the more lethal knitting in A Tale of Two Cities. Chapter 15 is entitled Knitting and Chapter 16 is entitled Still Knitting as the Degarges use Madame's knitted list to hunt down their counter revolutionary targets.  To quote from the source,

Therefore, when Sunday came, the mender of roads was not enchanted (though he said he was) to fine that madame was to accompany monsieur and himself to Versailles.    It was additionally disconcerting to have madame knitting all the way there, in a public conveyance; it was additionally disconcerting yet, to have madame in the crowd in the afternoon, still with her knitting in her hands as the crowd waited to see the carriage of the king and queen.
"You work hard, madame," said a man near her.
"Yes," answered Madame Defarge; "I have a good deal to do."
"What do you make, madame?"
"Many things"
"For instance-"
"For instance," returned Madame Defarge, composedly, "shrouds."

Spark notes states (http://www.sparknotes.com/lit/twocities/themes.html) that knitting has two meanings in this piece.  First of all, while Madame Defarge may appear to be harmlessly knitting just at the French peasants appeared to be harmlessly living their poverty stricken lives, she is just as likely to cut royal throats.  Then, they mention that in the Greek mythology knitting or weaving is tied to vengeance, like the fates spinning the thread of your life, weaving it, and finally cutting it off.

Knitting, however, did play an actual role in the French Revolution.  The historian Thomas Carlye discussed this in his work, The French Revolution, where he stated:

In the Jacobin Society, therefore, the decided Patriot complains that here are men who with their private ambitions and animosities, will ruin Liberty, Equality, and Brotherhood, all three: they check the spirit of Patriotism, throw stumbling-blocks in its way; and instead of pushing on, all shoulders at the wheel, will stand idle there, spitefully clamouring what foul ruts there are, what rude jolts we give! To which the Jacobin Society answers with angry roar;–with angry shriek, for there are Citoyennes too, thick crowded in the galleries here. Citoyennes who bring their seam with them, or their knitting-needles; and shriek or knit as the case needs; famed Tricoteuses, Patriot Knitters;–Mere Duchesse, or the like Deborah and Mother of the Faubourgs, giving the keynote. It is a changed Jacobin Society; and a still changing. Where Mother Duchess now sits, authentic Duchesses have sat. High-rouged dames went once in jewels and spangles; now, instead of jewels, you may take the knitting-needles and leave the rouge: the rouge will gradually give place to natural brown, clean washed or even unwashed; and Demoiselle Theroigne herself get scandalously fustigated.  (http://www2.hn.psu.edu/faculty/jmanis/carlyle/tc_fr_3.pdf)

As knitting was the work of  peasants, it was considered patriotic for the women of the revolution to knit for the soldiers, a tradition that can be found in almost every war (including the American Revolution where Martha Washington would knit socks for her husband and other soldiers).  However, Dickens focuses on the more sinister side of knitting in this work.

In David Copperfield, published serially 1849-1850 (ten years before A Tale of Two Cities), has fewer allusions to knitting, however they are also sinister.  Jane Murdstone is shown knitting, and I think the firmness of the needles is supposed to symbolize the firmness of her soul. 

When David visits Mr. Peggoty's home, his widowed sister Mrs. Gummidge is portrayed as knitting and worrying about her brother.  She is knitting and mourning her dead husband.  Again, not a  positive knitting image.

Mrs. Heep, mother of the slimy clerk Uriah, is also seen knitting, and  I quote:

Mrs. Heep, with a prodigious sniff, resumed her knitting. She never left off or left us for a moment.  I had arrived early in the day, and we had still three or four hours before dinner: but she sat there, plying her knitting-needles as monotonously as an hour-glass might have poured out its sand. . . What the knitting was, I don't know, not being learned in that art; but it looked like a net; and she worked away with those Chinese chopsticks of knitting needles, she showed in the firelight like an ill-looking enchantress. . .

That is quite an image.  Let us contrast it with Clara Peggoty.  Apparently, Peggoty is the name for a knitting loom.  Therefore, Peggoty is a positive image associated with knitting, although she is not initially shown knitting during David's halcyon childhood days.

What are we to make of Dicken's and the way he looks at knitting?  Could he be he was confused by a knitting pattern and thought of k2tog, yo, p3 as a sort of mysterious language engaged in by women about which he knew nothing?  Or perhaps his mother knitted, and he had long standing anger with his mother for not helping  to rescue him from child labor.  Whatever his association, Dickens certainly created some of the most lasting literary images of knitting in fiction.

New Free Pattern - Finally

Almost a month later, I finally have my pattern ready.  My husband and I recently moved across town, doing much of the work ourselves while I continued to work full time.  We did find time to squezze in a trip to Bozeman, Montana for a friend's weeding, and my journey to a yarn shop there will be coming soon.

So, without further ado, here is the pattern for the Soft Brown Teddy Bear:

Soft Brown Teddy Bear

This teddy bear is made in flat knitting and is for the beginning knitter.  It uses two kinds of yarn and one set of needles.  It just uses knit and purl stitches, as well as decreasing with knitting 2 together (k2tog).  This is a great one to knit up for a quick present.  It took me about 18 hours to complete.

Materials

-          Lion’s Brand Jiffy Camel Spray 403 Acrylic Yarn

-          Vanna’s Choice Brown Yarn

-          Size 8 Metal Needles

-          Tapestry Needle

-          Acrylic stuffing

Pattern

Body

-          Cast on 30 stitches.

-          Row 2 – knit

-          Row 3 – purl

-          Repeat knit and purl 10 times.

-          Row 24 – knit 5, k2tog, repeat to end, end knit 2

-          Row 25 – purl

-          Row 26 – knit

-          Row 27 – purl

-          Row 28 – knit

-          Row 29 – purl

-          Row 30 – knit

-          Row 31 – purl

-          Row 32 – knit

-          Row 33 – purl

-          Row 34 – knit 4, k2tog, end knit 1

-          Row 35 – knit

-          Row 36 – knit

-          Bind off.

-          Cut the yarn and leave a 12 inch tail.

-          Thread the tail into a tapestry needle.

-          Sew together the seams of the body. 

-          Cut the yarn.  Tie a knot into the bottom of the yarn.  Sew the bottom together. 

-          Pull the body inside out.

-          Stuff with acrylic stuffing.

     

Head

-          Using the main yarn, cast on 30 stitches.

-          Row 2 – knit.

-          Row 3 – purl.

-          Repeat Rows 2-3, 12 times.

-          Row 27 – knit 3, k2tog, repeat to end, k2tog

-          Row 28 – purl

-          Row 29 – knit

-          Row 30 – purl

-          Row 31 – knit

-          Row 32 – purl

-          Row 33 – knit

-          Row 34 – purl

-          Row 35 – knit

-          Row 36 – purl

-          Row 37 – k2tog, knit 3, repeat to end, knit 2

-          Row 38 - purl

-          Row 39 - knit

-          Row 40 – purl

-          Cut the yarn and tie on the brown yarn.

-          Row 41 – knit

-          Row 42 – purl

-          Row 43- knit

-          Row 44 – purl

-          Row 45 – knit

-          Row 46 – purl

-          Row 47 – knit 3, k2tog, repeat to end, knit 1.

-          Row 48 – purl

-          Row 49 – knit

-          Row 50 – purl

-          Row 51 – knit 3, k2tog, repeat to end, end knit 1.

-          Row 52- purl

-          Row 53 – knit 2, k2tog, repeat to end, knit 1.

-          Row 54 – knit

-          Row 55 – bind off

-          Cut the yarn and leave a 14 inch tail.

-          Thread a tapestry needle.

-          Fold the head together.

-          Sew the head together along the length of the head.

-          Cut the yarn.

-          Two inches above the start of the nose to the right, sew five horizontal stitches with the brown yarn.

-          For the second eye, measure 2 inches to the left.

-          Sew five horizontal stitches with the brown yarn.

-          Stuff.

Ears

-          Cast on 5 stitches.

-          Rows 2-7, knit.

-          Row 8: knit 2, k2tog, knit 1

-          Rows 9-12, knit.

-          Bind off.

-          Repeat for the second ear.

-          Thread a tapestry needle with the main yarn.

-          Sew onto the head 1 inch above the left eye.

-          Repeat for the right ear.

Back of the Head

-          With one of the needles, pick up 4 stitches at the bottom seam of the back of the head.

-          Row 2-3, knit.

-          Row 4: pick up one stitch from the edge to make 5 stitches and knit.

-          Row 5: pick up one stitch from the edge to make 6 stitches and knit.

-          Row 6: pick up one stitch from the edge to make 7 stitches and knit.

-          Row 7: pick up one stitch from the edge to make 8 stitches and knit.

-          Row 8: pick up one stitch from the edge to make 9 stitches and knit.

-          Row 9: pick up one stitch from the edge to make 10 stitches and knit.

-          Row 10: pick up one stitch from the edge, knit 5, k2tog, knit to end.

-          Repeat row 10 until you are ½ inch from the end of the head.

-          Pick up 1 stitch, knit 3, k2tog, knit 3, k2tog, knit 2.

-          Pick up 1 stitch, knit 2,  k2tog, knit 1,  k2tog

-          Pick up 1 stitch, knit 2, k2tog, knit 2, k2tog, knit 1.

-          Pick up 1 stitch, knit 1, k2tog, knit 1, k2tog, knit 2.

-          Knit.

-          Bind off.

-          Cut a 6 inch tail.

-          Thread it through a tapestry needle.

-          Sew to the edge of the back of the head.

-          Secure, checking the edges for any gaps from the picked up stitches.

Completing the Head

-          With the knitting needles,

Legs

-          Using the primary yarn, cast on 15 stitches.

-          Rows 2-26, knit.

-          Bind off.

-          Cut yarn and leave a 14 inch tail.

-          Thread the tapestry needle. 

-          Sew together the leg along the length of the leg. 

-          Sew together at the end. 

-          Pull inside out.

-          Stuff with acrylic stuffing.

Feet

-          Using the knitting needle, pick up 6 stitches. 

-          Rows 2-7, knit.

-          Bind off.

-          Cut a 10 inch tail and thread in a tapestry needle.

-          Sew the foot to the end of the leg. 

-          Sew the leg to the bottom of the body, starting at the edge of the body and securing it completely.

-          Repeat for the second leg.

Arms

-          Using the primary yarn, cast on 12 stitches.

-          Rows 2-21, knit.

-          Bind off.

-          Cut a 10 inch piece of yarn and thread in a tapestry needle.

-          Sew together along the length of the arm.

-          Sew together at the end. 

-          Pull inside out and stuff.

-          Repeat to make the second arm.

Hands

-          With one of the number 8 needles pick up 5 stitches and tie on the main yarn.

-          Rows 2-6, knit.

-          Bind off.

-          Cut the yarn and sew the hand to the arm.

-          Repeat for the second arm.

Finishing

-          Thread a tapestry needle with the main yarn.

-          Place the head on the center of the body.

-          Sew the head into place, taking care to secure the head completely to the body.

Soft Brown Teddy Bear

It's finished and I'm working on the pattern!  This is super simple with two kinds of yarn and one set of needles.  Again, this is a flat knitted piece, so if you're not good at circular knitting, this is a great teddy bear for you.