KnitChix

Thursday, August 25, 2005

Check this bad mofo out!

An automated stitch counter..... Bless little Rebecca's heart!

Image hosted by Photobucket.com

From the Iconoculture newsletter:


KEY INSIGHT
KnitWit smart needles track the number of stitches a knitter has stitched. Needles are wired with movement sensors and stream info back to a base station that calculates the number of stitches.


CONSUMER CONNECTION
Simple gadgets that help crafters concentrate on the soothing motion (rather than the counting) keep the activity focused on relaxation.


Knit one, purl … wha?! It’s so easy to lose track. But KnitWit smart needles track the number of stitches a knitter has stitched. Needles are wired with movement sensors and stream info back to a base station that calculates the number of stitches. Manual counters that track the number of rows knitted are available. But most require the user to press a button to reset the counter at the end of a row, so they’re still susceptible to a knitter’s forgetfulness (CNN 8.3.05). Lightweight, battery-operated, and small, KnitWit (which isn’t yet for sale) is portable enough to use even on a commute. Whether they’re creating Aran sweaters or iPod cozies, GenX knitters, “knit” boys, protest knitters, and anyone who’s into the resurgence of crafting appreciate tools that reduce anxiety. Simple gadgets that help crafters forget about the counting for a while keep the activity focused on relaxation.

RESOURCE
KnitWit, not yet in commercial production, was Rebecca Spender’s senior project at London’s Brunel University.

GENERATIONS
General Market: Gen Xers, Boomers

CATEGORIES
Leisure, Technology

Monday, August 08, 2005

Casting on

Image hosted by Photobucket.com

Finally back to it. Cast on for the sleeve of Tempting. Used the medium measurement and the sleeve came out huge - since it's going to be a full length sleeve, I didn't want a wrist measurement that's as wide as an upper arm. So I recast on for the small size (52) and checked stretchiness against my arm. (Hopefully I won't get to the top of the sleeve and decide I don't like it!)

I just love this yarn - I wish I had stocked up on more during The Yarn Lady clearance sale - they had it by the bag in all sorts of colors.