02.28.06
Casting-On: Another “My Guy” Knitted Hat
I love starting a new project!
Last night I swatched for my guy’s new hat, got the right gauge right away, and cast-on. I am using my circular Addi’s (#7) for this hat, and I haven’t used them in a while. I forgot how goood these knitting needles are. They feel comfortable in my hand, pack well for travel, and the yarn slips off so easily. (The other types of knitting needles I am devoted to are bamboo - either Clover or Crystal Palace.) I took this hat for subway knitting this morning - a perfect project for the daily commute. Helps me relax after the morning crush and exasperation with my fellow humans.
I am still on the hunt for Kool-Aid. I looked up my Kool-Aid dying notes and found I can also use food coloring. I am going to look at food coloring after work at the baking supplies store in Chelsea. I think this is the place - New York Cake & Baking Distributors, Inc., 56 West 22nd Street off of 6th Avenue.
Nine hours later . . .
Yup, that was it — I bought the N.Y. Cake & Baking Distributors food coloring dyes in the 2.3 ounce squeeze bottles. I have seven warm colors in the red/orange/golden yellow/fuschia family. I am still going to look for Kool-Aid. I’ll be at the parents this weekend and since they live in the suburbs of Virginia, I am hoping one of those big grocery stores out there may have it. A fiber-friend also mentioned Key Food and K-mart so I plan to check-out those stores too. (Did I mention my Key Food closed while I was away in L.A.? What the hell is that!!! How can a neighborhood have no neighborhood grocery store!! The only thing that would make up for that is if a yarn store opened there - but that is just a fantasy . . . )
Bonne Marie said,
February 28, 2006 at 5:06 pm
I love dyeing with Kool-Aid - I took a class from a woman a couple of winter’s ago. She graduated with a degree in Fine Arts from the School of the Art Institute here and they were her favorites too, even though she’d used all sort of other dyes.
I’ve been experimenting with Lanaset/Sabraset dyes on wool and good ole Jacquard on cottons - it is so much fun! I would’ve loved to go to Smiley’s with you and roamed about - good on you for making what you need. That’s how I started dyeing too - just could’nt find the colors I wanted to use…
delipics said,
March 1, 2006 at 1:57 pm
Thank you for the encouraging words Bonnie Marie!
Now that I’ve got the dyes, I have to get ready to do the work. Hope to get to your level one day. I’ve also used Earth Hues, but it was in a workshop so someone told how to do everything. I’ll post photographic results of this project, as soon as my digital camera gets mailed back to me!
Diana said,
March 2, 2006 at 11:03 am
Ok Deli, I truly feel like an infant who is trying to talk when I read your blog. I’m still on the same dang stitch with crochet and trying to think of a knitting project that isn’t too challenging. Here you are, in my newbie mind, growing by leaps and bounds in your creativity. Good for you! I’m still working with my local yarn stores who don’t seem to have as much yarn as I would hope and Herrschnerr’s. It really isn’t the same as how you depict Smiley’s. That sounds like the local yarn store when I was a wee babe who accompanied my mom for yarn and crochet thread. Those were the good ‘ol days, when they needed the rolling ladder to reach the yarn which was set up from floor to ceiling. I miss that store! At the time, I didn’t really comprehend what a gem that store was, being a wee babe and all.
delipics said,
March 2, 2006 at 1:04 pm
Thanks for the compliments! What was the name of the yarn store? Remember Woolworth’s? That was a great crafty store that is no more.
Diana said,
March 3, 2006 at 9:36 am
I don’t remember. I wish I did. It was a really bright and cheerful place that felt like a big hug when you walked in. The staff were friendly and attentive but not in a way that felt like they were stalking you. My mom went there alot and it’s funny how I never picked up on crochet or knitting until about two years ago. My mom would have been proud I believe, of how I’ve taken to the fiber arts. I do remember that the bag had the shops name on it and there was a ball of yarn with knitting needles sticking through the ball. The bag was white. The name escapes me. If it ever comes back to me I’ll let you know. I do remember Woolworth’s, the good ‘ol five and dime. There was a similar store that I loved even more that was called Kress. It was on Fordham Road when that used the be the Fifth Ave of the Bronx. That was definitely quite a while ago.