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What I'm writing in YEAR OF THE DOG

I just finished writing Year of the Dog ! It had a massive plot hole that I had to fix which turned out to be more work than I expected. Here’s a snippet: “Hey, Auntie Nell.” He wrapped his arms around her, bussing her on the cheek and breathing in pikake flowers and shortbread cookies. And suddenly he was nine years old again, and her solid presence had made his chaotic world stable once more. “What are you doing here?” He usually took her to dinner on Wednesday nights, but today was Tuesday. The edges of her smile faltered a little before brightening right back up again. “What, I can’t visit my nephew?” She angled around him to enter his home. “Is this your new house? Looks lovely.” Which was a blatant lie, because the fixer-upper was barely livable, much less acceptable to a neat-freak like his aunt. She also left four matching pink and purple floral suitcases on the stoop behind her. Only then did Ashwin notice the cab driver standing slightly to the side of the walkway. “Can ...
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Knitting videos

Captain’s Log, Stardate 02.21.2007

The beginning knitter’s gold mine

Knowing little about knitting, except fuzzy memories of what my mom taught me when I was a kid, I searched the web and found this FABULOUS site:

http://www.knittinghelp.com/

The web editor is a videographer, and she’s got tons of videos on how to knit. Even better, she shows each knitting technique in both the American knitting method and Continental (German) knitting method.

I only knew the American method, but after watching the videos of the Continental method, I switched to that instead. It’s so much faster and easier.

The way you hold the yarn in the Continental method is also very similar to crocheting, so I recommended it to my auntie, who’s great at crocheting and wanted to learn how to knit.

The website goes into all the things a beginning knitter would need to know, such as casting on, joining yarn, binding off, etc.

For this novice knitter, this site is priceless. I’ve been using it for a few weeks now, and thought I might give it some link love.

A few other sites that are helpful are:
Knitty.com
Knitter’s Review
Lion Brand Yarn “Learn to Knit”

Any other knitters want to chime in with favorite websites?
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Comments

Anonymous said…
I knit Continental style. I learned with I was in the Army and visited my Danish penpal (that I'd had since I was 12!). I've started knitting socks recently. I don't really have any favorite sites, but I do run across knitting blog now and then. They're kinda fun!
Wed Feb 21, 12:10:00 PM 2007
auntien said…
I'm a knitting fiend. I'm mostly self-taught with the exception of some lessons with my grandmother at age 5, but I retaught myself when I was in my late twenties. It appears that I taught myself the continental method just because it feels more natural for me. Anyway, I just wanted to say thanks for posting this great link. I learned a few new techniques from it :)
Thanks!
Nicole
Wed Feb 21, 07:19:00 PM 2007
Anonymous said…
My wife's website: www.theknittingsite.com
also has a lot of videos, plus she's offering a DVD to teach basic techniques.
Fri Feb 23, 11:34:00 PM 2007
Tiffany said…
Thank you for sharing that site! After watching several of her videos, I've decided to go buy a set of knitting needles and hot pink yarn tomorrow :D
Mon Feb 26, 08:50:00 AM 2007
Rachel Leigh Smith said…
I knit Continental too. I was taught by a German lady, and it was very easy for me to pick up since I already knew how to crochet.

I like reading The Yarn Harlot's blog. She's hilarious!
Wed Mar 28, 07:40:00 PM 2007
Anonymous said…
I'm new to knitting and can't wait to look up all of these sites! One of my favorite websites also has a few basic how to videos that give great tips on knitting.
Wed Jul 16, 12:08:00 PM 2008
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