I did not sign up for Nerd Wars T9 but I just can't keep away so I will probably ninja some WIPs for the Flexible Schedule challenges and get something done at least.  Nerd Wars is a motivator.  This entire month of September had me doing very little crocheting or knitting even though I thought I would finish some socks,  Just meandered along and did a few rows at a time which for sock knitting looks like nothing.

OK,  I've checked out the ninja thread.  One of the competitors is a guy in Australia who designs men friendly items.  Score for Christmas presents for my sons and I will figure out how to scale it down for my grandson.   The pattern is Enchanted Cowl by David on Ravelry.

Chart reading success!

Chart and diagram reading usually escapes me.  I can kind of read simple knitting charts but the thing is the symbols seem to change from one designer to another.  And crochet,  (pshht),  totally could not get! Until I found a pattern that I would like to modify the width to make a prayer shawl.   It is by Annette Patavy and it is http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/echarpe-pointes-violettes-violet-points-scarf on Ravelry.    I understand the easy chart!!

State Fair Musing

It's officially the end of summer.  I went to the State Fair yesterday.  I knew the cooling was coming but was amazed at the speed.  Last week it was 90+ F every day.  Yesterday I wore a jacket to stay warm and lots were complaining because they were not dressed for the weather.

Anyroad, this is a blog about knit and crochet.  The Craft Building did not disappoint.  I was very pleased to see that two of the SWEEPSTAKES winners were crochet.  I'm not the best crocheter but I have a huge admiration for people who are really good.   Those top winners were a fine lace tablecloth in ecru color and a Tunisian crochet tapestry of dinosaurs.  Unlike many Tunisian tapestry work,  this was not done in cross stitch over TSS.   The person used colorwork in TSS to make the dinosaurs.  Unfortunately,  I used an old school camera and had run out of film by the time I found these treasures. There were some really nice lace crocheted shawls also.  The downside was one ignoramus loudly declaring "I don't like crochet" as she was pulled into the section.

None of the knitwear stood out for me sorry to say.  There was some spectacular weaving work though.

My style as an older woman is simple and practical.  I tend to wear a-lines, jumper dresses and flat Mary Jane shoes.  In fact, I have two jumpers which I wear to the karate dojo and people don't even have to see my face to know it's me.  Sadly when I did a search on Ravelry for seamless jumper dresses,  most were for children.  When I narrowed the field to adult,  I got young style short tunics.  There were only a few that caught my interest.  Unfortunately,  the one pattern that stood out as perfect for me is only in German.  Someone suggested the group "Excuse Me?" as the group in which to seek translations.  The process is afoot and I will probably have a translation soon for Vamplakleid. by Utlinde.

T8 is over and I succeeded in knitting and crocheting a total of 30 baby hits for Click for Babies as my dissertation.