I’m catching up on reader mail and other various computer business tonight. This new computer
makes it oh-so-much easier to get some of the stuff that I’ve been putting off done since I can do it while watching a DVD from the couch. I have to apologize if, after tonight I haven’t responded to something you think I should have. I am a scatterbrained mama sometimes, and nowhere near perfect. Please contact me again with a reminder.
Anyway, the first thing I want to point out is the new link way down on the righthand side to my previous post – it’s about Jo-Anne and her bears. She’s given me permission to publish her pattern, so if you didn’t read the last post and want the bear pattern, there you go.
Secondly, I want to share a picture from another reader/friend Cindy. Remember when I had several whole skeins of sock yarn that people had sent in when I was collecting scraps and wanted to give them away to be knit into socks? Cindy was one of the people to whom I sent it. Cindy’s daughter Karly got a pair of Koigu socks in part thanks to all the generous people who sent me their sock yarn bits. Cindy, thanks for sharing the photo!
Now, I’d like to direct your attention back over to the right hand column. I’ve updated my blogroll. It’s a little embarrassing, actually, how many blogs I read on a regular basis. To be totally honest, this isn’t a complete list, but it is most of the blogs I think my readers might be interested in. And oops I just realize that I didn’t include any of the blogs from my “local knitters” folder – will have to do that another night. There are a lot of awesome knitbloggers there, most of them ones that everyone and their dog has already been reading forever, but a few that might be new to you. If I’ve linked to you and/or you find a problem with one of the links, let me know.
After loading up all my blog listings to Google, I realized that suddenly I might have a slightly larger capacity for following knitblogs, and I’ve always felt like I must be missing out on some awesome ones that everyone else is reading, or just some really cool knitters. Which leads me to the contest. I wanted to do a contest this month since it is my birthday month, and it’s just as fun to give as it is to receive. I’ve got a couple of prizes to offer, and the entry is easy. Post a link in the comments to a blog you think I’ll like so much I want to read it every day and add it to my blogroll. This link can be your own blog or just one you really like. Try not to submit one that’s already on the list. I like awesome knitters, especially if they are moms, are liberal, and like to cook. But I also subscribe to blogs that meet none of those criteria so go crazy with it.
Now, for the prizes. First, I’ve been making some note cards – I think I may have mentioned them once or twice before.
Prize number one will be a dozen of these notecards.
Prize number two will be a skein of Euroflax in a cream color. It’s enough to make about three
wash cloths. The wash cloths are lovely, and if you can stand to knit with the linen, I will be happy to pass it along. If I happen to select someone for this prize who doesn’t want the linen, I’ll give them the choice of note cards instead and give the prize to a third person.
I’m going to come up with one or two more prizes, and at least one will involve some awesome chocolate.
The drawing and prize announcement will be held at the end of the month – you have till January 25 to submit entries. Please feel free to invite your friends to submit, and make sure you leave an e-mail address or some way I can contact you if you win. A comment with a link constitutes an entry – one entry per person. I’ll draw prizes randomly from all the entries whether the link makes my blogroll in the end or not.
This is my first time doing this, so if you have any questions or I’ve missed something, be kind but feel free to ask.
Now, I’m off to knit one more square on the blankie before bed.
Hi Shelly, I have got 2 for you!
1) Crazy Aunt Purl, she’s awesome and hilarious. Everyone loves her!www.crazyauntpurl.com
2)HouseArrest, this woman is really cool. Her and her husband are finally pregnant with twins after having to go through fertitlity issues.
http://www.ashidome.typepad.com
I am sure you will love Purl (aka Laurie), and there is something about Liz (House Arrest) that keeps me interested.
I’m with melanie on the recommendation for Crazy Aunt Purl, but my all-time favorite blogger is Magazine Man of Somewhere on the Masthead. He’s not a woman, he doesn’t knit and his gourmet cooking would likely be corndogs, but I love it. Due to a recent visit from the in-laws and expecting a third child, his blogging has been a bit light the past few weeks, but you will not be at all sorry if you review the especially popular ones in the archive (titled “The Ones Everyone Asks About”). I hope you enjoy it!
http://masthead.blogspot.com/
How about Criminy Jickets or Brooklyn Tweed? Great knitting and/or entertaining posts are involved.
knittinmom.blogspot.com
is a favorite. She’s an AP mom and knitwear designer.
For non knitting but beautiful crafting and mothering, try Soulemama.com
Well, I’m a liberal mama who knits and likes to cook! (madtownmama.blogspot.com) I also started a separate knitting blog (madtownmamaknits.blogspot.com) b/c I think most of my readers (all 12 of them…) are non-knitters and I don’t want to bore them with yarn talk.
And just b/c I feel a little funny about the above self-promo, here are a couple knit blogs I like. They’re not famous, I don’t think, but the writing is always good, if not terribly frequent:
thornyknits.blogspot.com (liberal knitting mama of TWINS!)
socknitter.blogspot.com (married couple, and both of them knit-how cool is that?)
Okay, I meant:
http://soulemama.typepad.com/soulemama/
Also, you’re not the only one with “too many blogs.” I just hit 200 on my Blogroll. There is just so much good information out there, and while it seems like a lot, if I read each one once a week, it’s kind of like reading one knitting/sewing/mothering book a week. Only blogs are easier, since mothering two little ones usually doesn’t give me much time to sit down with actual books. But, I can read a few posts while nursing the babe.
Sorry- I noticed an error, so I am re-posting this comment.
Well, I would think you might enjoy my blog- as I enjoy yours… The Wee Sheep or http://www.juliaswart.com, but here’s some more “famous” ones for you:
Dogs Steal Yarn
http://dogsstealyarn.com/
Pink Lemon Twist
http://pinklemontwist.blogspot.com/
Shelly,
Two blogs for you – one for the adult section: http://lickmysticks.com/
and one not so naughty: http://knitflix.blogspot.com/
Also, if you still have extra sock yarn, the Minnesota Knitters’ Guild website has a pattern for preemie thumbless mittens. Send them to Children’s Hospital (or any other) where they are used for babies in the intensive care unit. The mittens keep them from pulling out the tubes.
I only read a few blogs, often weeding out ones that don’t hold my attention so I’m not overwhelmed. My favourites are Wendy Knits, Knitting on an Island and Knitting Iris. Wendy is such a prolific knitter, she posts regularly, and she has tons of stuff on her site, a lot of which she designed herself. I learned toe-up socks from her.
I’m all for humor in my fiber arts, so I’ll suggest 2:
1. Threadbared: http://www.threadbared.com/
and
2. Stitchy McYarnpants:
http://www.stitchymcyarnpants.com/
WaiterRant
Stumbled across another knitter that linked to him. Quite funny, and interesting to see life from a TOTALLY different perspective.
I’ll definitely second (or third or fourth or whatever) Crazy Aunt Purl!!!
Here’s some others you might enjoy.
What Housework?
http://whathousework.typepad.com/what_housework/
Bron’s Blog
http://bronsfiberstuff.typepad.com/brons_blog_ii/
Coffee Crochet
http://coffeecrochet.blogspot.com/
Mambocat’s Knitting Assylum
http://mambocats.blogspot.com/
Monster Crochet
http://monstercrochet.blogspot.com/
Cute Stories About My Cats
http://wingsrising.livejournal.com/
Daphne Blue
http://daphneblue.squarespace.com/imported-data/
And another blog I’m part of: Travels With Swatchy
http://travellingswatch.blogspot.com/
Well, my favorite is WendyKnits at wendyknits.net, but some others are Phyl of Got Gauge! at phyl.typepad.com and Gail, my guild’s president, at fingerless-glove.blogspot.com.
I read quite a few each day too, and am really happy I found bloglines, as I don’t have to check each one every single day, just the ones that have new content!
Thanks! Jan
Oops, forgot my email. vtcjan@yahoo.com
I love those bears — I’ve made one, will make more, and will be sending Jo-Anne some yarn when I can get my act together.
One of my favorites is
DancesWithWool at
http://lenealve.blogspot.com/
She is in Finland north of the Arctic Circle and her posts are a delight to read. She writes of knitting and her life.
Tkat
I like Sharbean’s blog – http://www.sharbean.ca.
I can recommend Tania’s blog:
http://chocolateachuva.blogspot.com/
It’s not just knitting (more fabric crafts) but I just love her photos.
Or, Kim’s site is just full of great knitting information:
http://www.wiseneedle.com/string-or-nothing/
For a non-knitting blog, I’m addicted to http://www.postsecret.com. They post new secrets every Sunday.
For a knitting blog, I’m a big fan of Sheep in the City. http://www.sheepinthecity.prettyposies.com/
Let’s see knitting, mom, food, funny, may I recommend:
Sarah’s “Behold My Brilliance” Blog
http://beholdmybrilliance.blogspot.com/
Kathy’s “Old Lady Pen Pal’s Dirt” Blog
http://oldladypenpal.wordpress.com/
Bezzie’s “Random Meanderings” Blog
http://rkbezzie.blogspot.com/
then, there’s me!
Carmen’s “Sweet Knittilicious Spot” Blog
http://dulcedosa.blogspot.com/
Hi Shelly,
Harriet failed to tout her own horn so I will mention her myself:
Lime Dragon
I don’t know how to link, but Jean Miles has a lovely blog and is not just a mom but a grandmom, lives in Scotland and knits quite creatively (and posts daily when she is at home). First person I read every morning, since she has in effect written overnight for me.
rosesmama
I really like Curls and Purls
http://www.curlsandpurls.prettyposies.com/
Having watched baby Jamie come over from China and grow so much has been wonderful
-Saff saffirejewl@hotmail.com
I like Heges Hobbykrok in Norway (http://blogg.hobbyboden.com/heges/). She was my Hot Socks Swap pal a while back and I’ve really enjoyed visiting her blog to hear tell of her adorable children and the beautiful things she knits for them.
well, besides my own http://sophiekatknits.blogspot.com
lol
i love wendy knits. my 16 month old loves it too because she posts pictures of her kitty.
Hey Shelly-
I saw you at the Yarnery a couple of weeks ago, but you were deep in conversation and I didn’t want to interrupt.
I think you’d like my blog, co-written with a friend who used to live in MN as well. We’re both liberal (though she lives in Alabama, so that’s harder now), and alhtough neither of us are moms, we both love to cook.
http://www.emphaticknitting.blogspot.com
Are you a member of the Knitters Guild? I’ve been looking over my Yarnover early registration and trying to decide what to take.
Hey! I left a comment earlier, but blogger seems to have eaten it.
Since many of my favorites have already been mentioned, I’ll give leave you with my own:
http://gretchenknits.blogspot.com
Liberal, knitting mom of seven. Some knitting content and life with a bunch of kids. My youngest is about the same age as Sophie and I think I found your blog right around the time that they were born.
Not a knitter, but a fun read:
Ask Moxie
http://moxie.blogs.com/askmoxie/
Definately seconding the Dances With Wool suggestion
http://lenealve.blogspot.com/index.html
and add Dogs Steal Yarn http://dogsstealyarn.com/. And you could always check out mine!
Hi Shelly, I love reading your blog! I really like your true to life look a mother hood.
You might like my blog http://blueturtleknits.blogspot.com
I am liberal and I am a cook so maybe you will enjoy reading my stuff!
I also love several of the previous recommended bloggers. I love http://twoleftneedles.com/ and you can check my site: knittingthrough.blogspot.com or my stash site knittingthroughstash.blogspot.com for some yarn p*rn
Not knitting related but tons of fun.
http://www.thesneeze.com
http://www.cockeyed.com
You might like Step Into My Thimble. She writes about parenting her nine-month-old, thrift-shop bargain-hunting, cooking (including things like making marmalade), sewing, knitting… truly a little bit of everything, presented in a very low-key style.
Many of my favorites are already mentioned, Crazy Aunt Purl being the one that makes me laugh out loud, thus betraying to my boss that I’m reading blogs at work.
Here are some that I didn’t see on your list or in the comments, sorry if any are a repeat:
http://amputeehee.blogspot.com/index.html
http://annypurls.blogspot.com/
http://earthchicknits.blogspot.com/index.html
And here’s mine. Not sure if it really qualifies as worthy–I just started it, but I’m a knitting liberal mom, so I guess I’m with ya there!
http://www.janellefine.com/bioengiknitter/
http://mylittlemochi.typepad.com/
cuteness!