Alternative Knitting

A l t e r n a t i v e K n i t t i n g what's this about? alternative knitting blog journal knitting in public commentary philosophy yarns triumphs freedom inspirations socks patterns yarnstash NLP misuse exposed ATPNI discorde initiative guerilla knitting wools chat books yakyakyak knitting deities psycho-neuro-immunology knitting activism cats underground knitting triumphs intelligent knitters

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Knitting Bookstore
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Anne's s*t*a*s*h! (blush)

52 or 79 things I have discovered about me, life and knitting. Or fewer. Or more. Currently 84

What Anne does for a living

Work on needles

Socks for Chris in autumnal colours

Unexpected knitting in greens

Anne's finished projects 2006

Asymmetric Reds jacket
Lime cashcotton sweater for Rache
Baby socks for Sue's newly adopted baby
Banana fibre scarf
Amethyst cashcotton sweater
Lacy hemp shawl
2005 2004 2003 2002

Online yarn stores and resources

Knitty
Threadbear
Ozeyarn
Martina for sock yarn
Kangaroo
House of Hemp
Ford Barton
Laughing Hens
Hip Knits

Secret knittery
I have in mind a fine-knit 3/4 shaped coat of many close, luminous colours, either in the reds or, even better, the deep turquoises range (to bring out the exquisite deepest blue of her eyes) - but it's not secret. It's been discussed and planned and I have taken measurements from a favourite jacket. So not secret at all. I may hide it until it's done. She likes my designs. [happy sigh]

Bodywork and other training
I've done a shed-load of training in the last few years, some in new areas, some pretty advanced. These are the training establishments I recommend for outstanding integrity, professionalism and allround excellence:

Trauma Healing - Somatic Experiencing

Brain Gym

Jean-Pierre Barral
Visceral Osteopathy

John F Barnes
Myofascial Release

Human Givens
A new approach to emotional health and clear thinking

Upledger Institute
Craniosacral Therapy

Jing Advanced Massage
Advanced Clinical Bodywork
Remedial Massage
Myofascial Release
(I also teach with these guys)

Pilates Training Solutions

October 18th
|
Action-packed October
It's been a busy month! I've done some training in a rather bizarre adaptation of Trager (which is sublime), a rhythmical, movement based bodywork modality, not unlike Rebounding. It was a good weekend and I picked up some neat ideas, but I don't think the chap teaching it has the depth of understanding or experience in other bodywork modalities to make it really interesting. And his posture and stance were *dreadful* which made his touch mediocre at best. Then we were at ExCel, the London Docklands exhibition and show centre, for the CAM training show. Two days of full-on demos, voice-overs, workshop teaching and general sales and marketing. We were, totally fortuitously, situated just opposite... Trager UK! Having got to know them in intensive circumstances over the two days, I may well investigate further.

Mice in action
D's illustrious puss, Emmy, has honoured me by accepting a catnip mouse in noro wool colours that set off her fur beautifully, don't you think?

New life at the homestead
DS1 Chris has been considering getting a lurcher pup for some time now, and one came up from very reputable parents, good looker, very laid back. So 'Pickle' has arrived and is at this very moment whinging because she wants to play with the cats and can't quite see that they are not impressed. They are all in the kitchen, cats on high, Pickle on the floor. We've left them to it, hoping that one of the pusses will give Pickle a good swipe and then everyone will know the correct hierarchy for four-legged wild-life. Pickle's nose is lengthening by the minute. She'll end up rather grey-houndish.

October 3rd
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Knitting - What am I doing?!?!?
This is so bizarre. I started the Cream and Golds, as you can see in my last September post. All fine and dandy, looking a fine shape. It did cross my mind parenthetically that the nipping in to the waist bit seemd a little longer than on the Asymmetric Reds jacket, but I put that down to different yarns, the reds having been sewn up, etc, etc. So I made my way to the first front, following only slightly adapted A Reds pattern for the Creams. And then I noticed it. Decreasing in to the waist whould have been every 3 rows. I had done it every 5 rows on the back. No wonder it was looking longer than the Reds. But wait! "Decrease every five rows" was a mantra in my head! I looked again at the Reds. There. Evidence of insanity, or a knitting brain that knows exactly what it wants and overrules the cognitive brain with impunity. There on the Reds had I not only decreased every 5 rows on the back, but on the fronts as well, without noticing that the pattern I had written myself (what is going on here?) specified every 3 rows. Truly bizarre. Anyway, I have now amended the pattern to read the way it should, i.e. the way I am knitting, not the way I think I ought to knit.