I was finally able to view MenKnit, the second issue. For whatever reason, my Mac at home doesn’t see some of the fonts. That’s why I’m thankful for my office and this here computer…

One thing was surprising… the photo of Mark (of MarQ1) looks a lot like me (one year ago).

Mark, I’m so sorry they put that photo there. While, I often shave my head, currently, I’m much hair-ier (see photo).

The next time I’m in NYC, let’s knit and see if it’s like looking in a mirror, in a wacky, gay Parent Trap kind of way (the 1961 version).

As far as the almanac-along that Tricky and Franklin are doing, there are no men (that I can tell) on the participants list. I’d like to throw my jockstrap into the ring.

Wait, that’s a great January idea, aran undergarments. Unvent that, EZ! I just ordered my copy of her Knitter’s Almanac . And a copy of Knitting Workshop for good measure. One can never have too many books, eh?

I just finished an aran in December, so I may simply swatch some honeycomb for January. I don’t consider myself the joining type, as I’ve never knit-a-long with anyone. But, I like the anarcho generousity those guys have invoked. I’m a big fan of
learning from the greats, so this Almanacalong is right up my alley.

(I had to add the gratuitous button, so you understand the depth of my commitment.)

wait, haven’t I read that post somewhere before?

yes, you have. many of the posts that are on here originated at MenWhoKnit.com. MWK is my favorite knitting website ever-ever in the whole wide world. it was launched around the time I started knitting by Darrel, a fellow (at that time) neo-knitter. he also just happened to be local and we quickly hit up an IM friendship which evolved into stalking various knitting nights around San Francisco.

I just imported my past MWK entries to here. I always dreamt of having an URL of my own (as much as I love various web-based blogging softwear) since I started typing stuff into these little boxes for all the world to see back in 2000. as a professional blogger, well, online marketing manager that oversees a multi-author corporate blog (no, I won’t tell you where), it’s high time I got my own space.

how did this come about? good ol’ Darrel, once again. he has a business that does drupal and wordpress hosting and he hooked me up with my own site… easy peasy!

never you worry. I’m not leaving MenWhoKnit. I’ll probably cross-post regularly, but plan on dumping some more personal stuff into this site. if all goes well, hizknits.com will evolve in the spirit of my crafty friend Lisa’s site.

cross your needles and hope for the best.

At long last, MenKnit’s second issue is out. Which means my felted (bike) tubular messenger bag pattern is free for all to see!

So this is what it feels like to be published! I encourage everyone to consider submitting to future issues. We need more patterns by men out there. Thank you, Tricky and Dan!

Nice work, to everyone involved!

Have you heard about the work of knitta, please in Montrose, TX? You have to see it to believe it.

My partner sent me the link to Wooster Collective, a site celebrating street and epemeral art. An article was published today in the Houston Press.

Color me inspired! Rock on, sisters.

late late late friday night/saturday morning.

I’m putting the header to bed. next on the agenda is picking up entries from MWK and shoving them in here.

time will bring another header and static pages…. do I need project galleries?

just playing around with the backend. reading the codex.

Who knew submission could feel so good?

This past summer, when the men’s issue of Knitty was announced, I considered throwing my hat in the ring. Procrastination and other knitted distractions never got the sketches and swatches made into a completed item. However, my jaw droppd when I saw a very similar pattern that did get published. I still believed in my pattern, specifically, one innovative element.

Then, the good fellows at MenKnit were getting ready to publish their inaugural issue. Some hasty knitting, a flurry of emails, and a fast-approaching deadline saw the birth of my dream, save some felting. The next thing I knew, I was in Poland and Eastern Europe for three weeks, and there was no way I could felt across the ocean.

That leads us to today, the deadline for MenKnit volume 2. No rushing around this time. I sleep deeply last night, nary a worry on my mind. I tweaked, edited and finessed the pattern all weekend (words are hard!) and spent yesterday over a washing machine felting the crap out of the item. After two months of just sitting around, all loose and baggy (it’s knit on 17s), my little project has evolved into its durable, dense self.

Just the process of creating one’s own pieces and the excitement of submitting it to a publisher has been worth it. No photos until after publication (if I’m so lucky), however if you see me in person, bug me about it.

 But there’s no rest for the weary. I still have a couple of sweater designs to turn in, a sweater for myself to finish, and a pom-pom to attach then send the hat off to Prague.

It’s been a long, long time since I’ve been on here. I’ve been out of the country for the past three weeks, but that’s not to say I didn’t get any knitting done!

Since I was travelling, I didn’t want to bring a big project (like the aran that’s begging to be finished) or something complex (another self-designed piece).

So, I grabbed a bunch of different yarns, one set of circular needles and assumed that I’d find some downtime to whip out some hats.

Five hats later, here’s pictures of three of them and the happy recipients.

First, we have Dominika the intern:

The cream yarn was a bit small for the 13s I brought. And I was a little overzealous in my casting on. It will make a soft and warm place to tuck her hair up into during the Polish winters.

Next, there’s Monika, the H4H Gdansk staffer.  I was pleasantly surprised by the cacophonous harmony of the colors and textures. It’s a nice contrast to her hard, engineer, stern exterior.

I guess I should explain that I was working on a house for Habitat for Humanity. Construction worker/drywaller extraordinaire by day, fervent knitter by night. 

The last hat for today (I am awaiting photos for the other two) was made on during a train ride to Krakow, just in time for Andy’s birthday the next day. He’ll be wearing this with pride (no, not that kind) back in Syracuse. Probably my favorite of the bunch. Let’s hear it for caring multiple pieces of yarn together… it was dense. 

Who needs a pattern? I started knitting just a year ago with a hat, on the very needles I brought to Poland. It was a fitting way to end my first year.

a very productive week, indeed. since my last post, I’m twenty rows shy of finishing the second sleeve.

now that I’m back into the swing of things, it’s time to get a-designing. knitty.com’s men’s issue was a disappointment, as far as number of male designers. I know we’re out there, but I recognize my own lack of a contribution.

I tip my hat off to those of you who submitted, whether or not you were published. thank you for representing our gender. I also tip my hat to those who’ve engaged knitty’s editor.

hopefully I can get off my ass and get something to menknit.net‘s online magazine!