2008: Year In Review

Here we are at the end of 2008. It has been an interesting year with much heartache and little fun :D. Here is a list of the boring bits:

• I lost my job March 31th, as the project was closed down by the federal government.  I had been looking for a new job since January, when news of the closure was delivered


• I spent the first five months of the year writing resumes and cover letters, it was a learning experience, one that I did not enjoy at all!! I am not a boaster by nature, so writing about my acheivements felt very strange!


• I got my first interview in May, which went very badly. I did not like the interviewers and had also realized that is was the first formal interview I had ever done in my life! Most of my past jobs were acquired by networking and friends


• Two of my siblings lost their jobs (and have yet to find work). My poor sister came back from the UK to live here with the family, and has been looking for work since her return in January. The poor thing has had just one interview all year!

and a list of the fun bits:

• Finally got the job at Trinity college in August, and started there on the 11th


• My parents went back home to Calcutta after 19 years of living in Canada. It was a wonderful trip for them, and we siblings lived vicariously through their trip. We haven't gone home in a long time, which is very sad. Our city is very important to us and we also have family there, whom we miss very much! Our lives in Canada can sometimes be very lonely without them


• I got 3 new-to-me knitting machines, all at bargain prices, however, don't have much knitting to show for it as yet. Although over this holiday season, I have been knitting quite a bit.  I have also learnt so much more about various machines, how they work and how to fix them


• I sold my table loom, and bought myself a used floor loom, which is awaiting upgrades and additions

I never make resolutions for the new year, I am just not that kind of person, however, a little planning ahead of events, projects etc. might be something I need to teach myself.
I want to purchase the newest, cutest rigid heddle loom, the Schact Cricket loom! Both my sister and myself have been hankering after one ever since we found out about them. I know there are lots of cute little RH looms out there, but... I also want to learn how to spin next year, will have to do some hunting about for a spinning class.

I will take this opportunity to wish all my fibre friends, visitors to my blog and all my near and very dear ones, a very happy New Year.  I hope all of your dreams, plans and desires come true.  I wish much peace and happiness upon this world.
We need to change the way we live before we destroy ourselves into oblivion!
As my greatest teacher of all, the Mahatma says: We must be the change we want to see in the world.  Have a blessed one!

My Improved Space!

I had a go at cleaning and re-organizing my work space, and I think it looks quite nice. I don't feel so crammed in now :D, I re-arranged the machines etc. I am so happy, I wanted to share it with you. Here is a mini video I took.

E-wrap Cast-on For Knittax Machine

A friend is having trouble casting on, on her Knittax machine, so I decided to do a video on how I cast-on. I don't like the cast-on given in the manual, it's an e-wrap method that leaves a loopy edge which then has to be slip crocheted after the piece is knitted.

Shown here on the video is the "normal" e-wrap we use on other machines. The video is not that great, it was taken with my camera, and it's hard to run a carriage while filming! I hope this helps somewhat.

Running PMB Under Linux

I love using Linux! It's my favorite operating system and I use it for 90% of my work. However, since most of the sewing and knitting software I use are Windows based, I had to keep switching between the OS's which can drive one crazy.
I finally downloaded the trial version of CrossOver Linux, which is a packaged WINE program. So far I am very impressed with it, easy to install and easy to use. I am currently running DBweave, WeaveDesign, Knitware and part of Pattern Master Boutique. I say partly because not all of the components of PMB will run, I have successfully been able to run PE (Pattern Editor) but can't make the rest of it work. For me, this is okay for now, since I use PE most of the time.
It runs just fine, in fact it's much faster under WINE than Vista! Here is a screen shot of what it looks like running under WINE. Of course the ideal situation would be if these software companies wrote programs to run natively under Linux, but alas that won't be happening anytime soon, unless of course, the number of home users of Linux grows.

Holidays & The Artisan 70 Machine

At last the holidays are here and I am as pleased as punch! The college officially closed today but I have been off since Monday, I took my overtime as time off. This week has been restful and quite fruitful. I bought a used Artisan GE63-70 Mid-gauge machine from my dealer. It's one of the very first Artisan machines that were made a few years ago, it was her demo model.

It came on Tuesday, I of course immediately set it up, and had a go at it. Well, it knits BEAUTIFULLY! It's a true fixed double bed machine with a 7mm gauge, it's completely manual, but can do all the usual stitches; tuck, slip, fairisle, plaiting, knitweave. The ribber and knitter can both do tuck stitches. It comes with it's own stand to which the machine is bolted, it's one heavy duty, sturdy stand! I have already knitted two scarves on it, one is a 1x1 rib and other a circular 1x1, one in a sport weight Alpaca yarn, and the other a heavy weight worsted acrylic yarn. Both turned out very nicely.
Be warned, the aesthetics are not pleasing! The plastic is rough and unfinished, it looks cheap but it is strong. It's not the best looking of machines and has turned off lots of people because of it, however, it is one great knitting machine. It does the job and does it well which is more important.

Having said this, the new and latest 70D Plus is much better in quality and it has built-in intarsia, and a few other changes from the the original. I plan on buying a new machine in the New Year then both my sister and myself will have a machine each.
All I can say is I am very impressed with this machine, if you want a mid-gauge for all those handknitting yarns this is a great choice. It comes with everything, no extras to buy, at a very affordable and attractive price. The importer is DKnits in the US.

It's too bad there is such little information about them on the web. There is a Yahoo Group for it, the members of which are very helpful and kind.