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Question for Marilyn about painting of Grandmother/Needlepaints

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Prinncess

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Aug 18, 2001, 12:24:37 AM8/18/01
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Hello Marilyn!

I have been an avid browser of rctn for a while, and through this I
have developed an interest in your work. I went to your web site a
while back, and saw the painting you did of your Grandmother. What a
beautiful woman! As a painter myself, I thought the color choices you
made were very vibrant, and I thought how wonderful it would translate
in a cross stitch pattern. So, that brings me to one of my questions:
do you have any plans for a rendition of this lovely painting?
I am also curious to know if Needlepaints will be offered in a line.
As a bit of a thread junkie, I am always looking for new, quality
collections to, well, collect!

Thank you for your work!

Walk in love,
Stacey aka 'Prinncess'

Marilyn Leavitt-Imblum

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Aug 19, 2001, 1:11:01 AM8/19/01
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Since you asked.....my Needlepaints are strictly and only for the colors
we can't get anywhere else. My plan is for only three color ranges at
first. Lavender/blueish/blueberry (the ones in AOMII) and then the
Orchid/red/plums and then the Robin Egg Blues
The Orchid one has 5 shades and the two others have 6 shades each.
That's 17 skeins of color.....I'm deciding on the tags now!

As for my dearest Grandmother Nora Marie I have no plans to turn her
into cross stitch but I do have three amish paintings that I am thinking
about having someone scan them into a pattern (only one is shown on the
site) I also have some great little drawings of the mish that are very
realistic that I may do again in a real life way.

That's my plans......After painting my young Grandmother...I went on to
do large flowers and I love them the best.

I also do small watercolors of flowers...I use to sell them at craft
shows in the early 80's for $10 a piece.

I sew and I knit....I have a great hat pattern that I was thinking of
putting online...how many knitters do we have in the group?

In my spare time I read a ton of books and answer a pile of fanmail a
day! LOL

I love it all!

Marilyn


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Linda D.

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Aug 19, 2001, 1:57:41 AM8/19/01
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On Sun, 19 Aug 2001 01:11:01 -0400, Marilyn Leavitt-Imblum
<mar...@tiag.com> wrote:
><snipped>

>I sew and I knit....I have a great hat pattern that I was thinking of
>putting online...how many knitters do we have in the group?
>
>In my spare time I read a ton of books and answer a pile of fanmail a
>day! LOL
>
>I love it all!
>
>Marilyn

Hi Marilyn,

Would love to see your hat pattern... I'm a knitter and I bet
there are lots more out there.

take care, Linda :)
Vancouver Island, bc.ca :) (remove 'nospam' to reply)

CLPINKHAM

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Aug 19, 2001, 10:09:35 AM8/19/01
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<<Marilyn mentioned, "I sew and I knit....I have a great hat pattern that I was

thinking of
putting online...how many knitters do we have in the group?>>

I am a knitter and would love to see your hat pattern.

Cindy (Maine)

Alison Hendon

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Aug 19, 2001, 10:44:43 AM8/19/01
to
On Sun, 19 Aug 2001 01:11:01 -0400, Marilyn Leavitt-Imblum
<mar...@tiag.com> wrote:
<snip>
>
>That's my plans......After painting my young Grandmother...I went on to
>do large flowers and I love them the best.
>
>I also do small watercolors of flowers...I use to sell them at craft
>shows in the early 80's for $10 a piece.

I would love to have more flowers from you! I have the patterns that
are done with the tea-dying (Tea Garden??) and they're so lovely. I
have yet to stitch a person (the closest would be my biker cat) but I
love flowers!!!

Alison

Golf pair

unread,
Aug 20, 2001, 6:47:06 AM8/20/01
to
>I sew and I knit....I have a great hat pattern that I was thinking of
>putting online...how many knitters do we have in the group?

Marilyn, I knit and I would love to see your hat pattern.

Pat

Bea

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Aug 20, 2001, 9:36:58 AM8/20/01
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Hi Marilyn,
I just knitted an outrageous rolled brim felt hat for my DD. I would love
to have your knitted hat pattern.

Bea

Marilyn Leavitt-Imblum

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Aug 20, 2001, 9:36:49 PM8/20/01
to
Dear Knitters,

For years I have been building my pile of directions for sweaters and
hats and funny little things. All with the thought of having them
printed in a book. One of the problems for me is that I write the
directions different from all of the directions I have ever seen.
They are simple...I speak in my voice....I don't know how to do all of
the math to have 8 sizes of anything.

So if you really want to have this Nutty Hat pattern I will post it?

NUTTY HAT PATTERN

First off go find five colors of shetland weight wool, some can be
worsted but not all. I prefer Rowan wools in DK. 50 grams or less, if
less add another color. Playing with these colors is the most important
part so have fun and try many combinations.

Then grab some US 6 needles. Knit tight for a small hat and use a larger
needle for a larger hat. (I told you it wouldn't be too technical!)
Now cast on 100 or so stitches (multiples of 4 work best)
I'll be right back with the rest.......

Marilyn

Mirjam Bruck-Cohen

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Aug 20, 2001, 11:27:23 PM8/20/01
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This looks very interesting ... but may I point out to you as a
knitter that changing Needle sizes Does not change the hat size it
will only change the DENSITY of the knitted material , thus what you
called smaller sized hats will look more like a plank , and the ones
you call Bigger sized will look [ and feel] like a Net ,
I am sure you have neat ideas about hats , But if you do not bother to
make at least some calcualtions , no warning will help , the people
who are going to waste money and time ,on your idea,wil not get wanted
results
Why not call in aprofessional knitter to help you make some swatches
and calculate the proper measurements , stich numbers etc..
Good Knitting needs guagues
mirjam

Marilyn Leavitt-Imblum

unread,
Aug 21, 2001, 1:59:54 PM8/21/01
to
I'm back..I realized I shouldn't just give you the directions from
memory and I should have some order to it. So here goes!

NUTTY HAT PATTERN

First off, go find five colors of medium weight wool, some can be


worsted but not all. I prefer Rowan wools in DK. 50 grams or less, if

less add another color. Playing with these scrap colors is the most
important part so have fun and try many combinations. Bits and pieces of
many left over yarns may be used...it is yours to create as you go
along. I am only giving you the basic shape.

Then grab some US 6 needles. Knit tight for a small hat and use a larger

needle (US size 7)for a larger hat. (I told you it wouldn't be too
technical!) This is a funny multicolored hat-no rights and no wrongs.

Gauge is 6 st. per inch and 7-8 rows per inch.

This hat is for a large family...since once it is finished you will have
to try it on several people until you find the one it fits. The 4 year
old may look charming peeking out from under the brim or the teen may
grab it for that vampish look(they like a lot of black in it)! Adults
may find the close fitted colorful hat great for skiing. Last weekend
one was finished and everyone wanted it!

Cast on 100 stitches or more (keeping to multiples of 4 works best.
Stockinette stitch (K one row Purl one row) for the first 6 rows with a
thicker yarn. This creates the "roll" 6st. (reverse stockinette stitch)
By looking at the purl side you will know which side of the hat is the
outside.

Next I switch colors and do 7 rows of K2 P2 ribbing.
The aim is to stitch for 5 inches in any pattern that you decide upon.
There is no right or no wrong. Change colors, do a pattern for an inch,
add another "roll" Have fun! I mostly do a stockinette stitch with a
"roll" 4 rows (reverse stockinette stitch) every inch or so. Checker
board a part by carrying two colors acrossed the rows or alternate two
colors. Whatever, you decide! If you look back and see that an earlier
part was too dark then you can duplicate stitch a bright color over it.

Once you get to a loose 5 inches...don't stretch it.
Then do one last "roll" 4 rows (reverse stockinette stitch)

After that keeping in stockinette stitch decrease every 8th stitch on
the right side by knitting two stitches together. Every other row do 7
then 6 then 5th stitch. Keep the colors changing. This part will look
like a kaleidoscope as the colors reach the middle point.

Keep decreasing until you think it is time(very close to the center) to
knit two together across the rows and gather the yarn and tie it tight.
Hat is done except for all of those strings that must be woven together
inside of the seam.

Now go around the family and find out who loves the hat the best. If
they all do then you'll have to keep making them forever.

Have a great time!
Marilyn Leavitt-Imblum
Copyright 2000
May be reprinted but
keep my name attached.

I have been a knitter for 40 years and it has been a plan of mine to do
a booklet of my patterns someday. There are many patterns in my
collection and they are all for the most part sweaters. I like to keep
the instructions in plain english with a hint of humor since some of the
more complicated patterns can be quite daunting. These instructions were
written for my knitting daughters to follow. The creativity of the
knitter as they are involved with the plan makes the finished piece more
unique. Since this is a hat made of scraps there should be no cost of
buying new yarn. I'll check online and answer any questions anyone has.

Dr. Brat

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Aug 21, 2001, 5:39:29 PM8/21/01
to

Mirjam Bruck-Cohen wrote:
>
> This looks very interesting ... but may I point out to you as a
> knitter that changing Needle sizes Does not change the hat size it
> will only change the DENSITY of the knitted material , thus what you
> called smaller sized hats will look more like a plank , and the ones
> you call Bigger sized will look [ and feel] like a Net ,

Changing needle size changes density AND size of the finished
material. If I have 50 stitches to an inch on one needle and
25 stitches to the inch on another needle, then 100 stitches
will be 2 inches long on the first set and 4 inches long on the
second.

Elizabeth in Salem, MA
--
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
The most important thing one woman can do for another is to illuminate
and expand her sense of actual possibilities. -Adrienne Rich
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~the best revenge is living well~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Sonya Cirillo

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Aug 21, 2001, 5:59:52 PM8/21/01
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Interesting - except, by reading the instructions I can't tell whether
you do it on circular/dpn (than there wouldn't be a seam), skipped the
part of sewing up the seam or something else :)

Personally I'd do it on a double pointed needles since I detest sewing
up the seams for some reason.

Thanks for the pattern!!!!!

Sonya

Dianne Lewandowski

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Aug 21, 2001, 7:56:08 PM8/21/01
to
Yes, Elizabeth - changing needle sizes definitely does both - change
density and size. But I believe it also has to do with the size of the
yarn, as well. For instance, using sport-weight on number 3 needles
will give you a dense pattern; with worsted weight will not only give
you a dense pattern, but it will be larger overall because the thread is
larger and takes up more room.

Dianne

Marilyn Leavitt-Imblum

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Aug 21, 2001, 9:21:13 PM8/21/01
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Dear Sonya,

Instructions are for two needles.....I also hate sewing up the seams but
making the hat is so much fun that sewing the seam feels like a
balance...an impatient balance. One idea that might help is to carry
some of the colors up the side. It might help take away some of the
fringe!

Marilyn

Mary M. Riedel

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Aug 21, 2001, 10:29:45 PM8/21/01
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Super, I love to knit! Thanks.

Mary

Pat Porter

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Aug 22, 2001, 5:13:14 AM8/22/01
to
Since there has been some mention of size problems, as a life-long machine
and hand knitter, I suggest you first knit a test square (30 stitches by 30)
then you can measure it and calculate how many stitches and rows are needed
for whatever size head you`re knitting for! Sorry to differ with Mirjam,
but the size of the knitting needles DOES change the size of the result, by
the way - as of course does the tension you knit at!

Pat P.

East Anglian Xstitch Designs
http://homepages.tesco.net/~porter
Old village scenes.

"Sonya Cirillo" <scir...@dsl-173-k.resnet.purdue.edu> wrote in message
news:3B82D9D8...@dsl-173-k.resnet.purdue.edu...

Mirjam Bruck-Cohen

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Aug 22, 2001, 5:51:26 AM8/22/01
to
Hallo Dianne and Elizabeth
I still insist that changing needle size is not a size changing factor
it affects mostly the density , and if you want a looser or stiffer
material that would be a good way , but threads have characters ,
usually we want a WOOLEN cloth for it softness , it`s insulating
ability , it`s strechability , thus having the right size needle is
the first step , and having the right size of stiches per inch is also
inportant , otherwise that hat [ in this case] , will become Floppier
with greater sizes and stiffer with samller sizer , I assume of course
that the designer , had some Form in her mind when designing the hat ,
which will get lost By changing ONLY needle sizes.
Swatching and adjusting Stich quantity , might surprise you , and
allow you Knit less stiches with smaller sizes [ and use less wool] ,
while it will need some more stiches with bigger sizes.
mirjam

Lollee Roberts

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Aug 22, 2001, 8:13:31 AM8/22/01
to
In article <3b831d54...@news.actcom.co.il>, mir...@actcom.co.il (Mirjam
Bruck-Cohen) writes:

>Hallo Dianne and Elizabeth
>I still insist that changing needle size is not a size changing factor
>it affects mostly the density , and if you want a looser or stiffer
>material that would be a good way

In crochet, changing the hook size definitely will change the size of the
finished product. This only makes sense. 20 larger, less dense stitches will
take up more space than 20 smaller, more dense stitches. That's the whole point
of gauge. Otherwise you could do something with size 00 needles and then with
size 10 needles and the only difference would be the density if you kept
everything else the same? I don't think so. (Granted, that's an extreme
example. But if the yarn, number of stitches and pattern is the same, a larger
needle will produce a larger, slightly less dense product.) IF you still don't
believe it, try a couple of test swatches, using two sizes far enough apart
that unconscious changes in tension won't influence the results. Use some
worsted weight yarn and some size 6 and size 10 needles...that should be enough
of a difference, while within some sensible limit for the yarn. Do a 20 by 20
swatch of stockinette stitch with both needles. The size 10 swatch should be
noticeably larger.
Lollee

Patricia Rogers

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Aug 22, 2001, 9:43:28 AM8/22/01
to
"Cast on 100 stitches or more (keeping to multiples of 4 works best.
Stockinette stitch (K one row Purl one row) for the first 6 rows with a
thicker yarn. This creates the "roll" 6st. (reverse stockinette stitch)
By looking at the purl side you will know which side of the hat is the
outside."

I understand the first two sentences but the one starting "This creates the
"roll" 6st...." loses me completely. Is something missing here or am I
dense or what?

Thanks!

Pat in Rock Island IL


Sonya Cirillo

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Aug 22, 2001, 10:06:15 AM8/22/01
to
You're both right - really Mirjam, changing the size of needles will
change the size of the piece . .

if you knit a swatch with worsted on #6 and than use #8 than the #8
will be bigger and the density won't be changed enough for most to
tell a difference. If you go on up to #10 than not only will it
be bigger but most people will be able to tell a difference in
the density. . .

This is where as an artist and/or designer you can use this to create
certain looks. As someone knitting up a design by someone else this
can be used to advantage - ie. if a sweater was designed with little
ease - to be form fitting - the knitter can give a little more ease
without affecting the overall design too much by going up a needle
size (presuming they are matching the given gauge - else it's another
story altogether).

In a hat tho' I agree that usually it would be better to cast on more
stitches as you *want* the end product to be dense (so that winter
'breeze' can't get in to your ears!).

Sonya

Kim Brown

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Aug 22, 2001, 10:46:39 AM8/22/01
to
Pat Porter wrote:
>
> Since there has been some mention of size problems, as a life-long machine
> and hand knitter, I suggest you first knit a test square (30 stitches by 30)
> then you can measure it and calculate how many stitches and rows are needed
> for whatever size head you`re knitting for! Sorry to differ with Mirjam,
> but the size of the knitting needles DOES change the size of the result, by
> the way - as of course does the tension you knit at!
>
> Pat P.


Yes. I often wonder about that. DS knits like a miser: he *will* not
allow for any space or give between the yarn and his needles! Mum has
tried to take up his left-off knitting and can't get a needle into it!
Needless(!) to say, DS' knitting is very dense! He makes a lot of those
Jane Thingummyjig knitted toys and his lovely, firm knitting is just
right for that. I'm *trying* to help him branch out and try something
new, but it's hard getting a perseverative autistic person to change
direction! LOL! When DS first learned to knit (off Mum when he was
eight), he sat down and knat what we christened 'long and useless strips
of knitting'. They were everywhere: lo-oo-ong thin strips of
multicoloured stocking stitch tucked away 'for later'! ROTFLMAO!!! A few
times, I tried to convince DS to let me stitch them together and make a
rug! 'Noooooooo! He howled, 'That's my *knitting*!!!!!!' When that
engaging little obsession wore off, DS allowed me to use them for
polishing horses!

Recently, he set out to knit DD a cardigan. We had to sit for *hours*
working out the number of stitches and the size of the needles we would
need to get a cardigan that would be flexible enough to fit DD's form,
yet not be too small for her! We finally decided on 12 ply wool with
size seven and a half needles (ie size of a pair of javelins!) and
Matt's lethal tension. It seems to be working! The only problem is, the
garment may be a tad longer than we had bargained for. That's fine,
though, as it will keep the dainty bum of DD warm in the cold wind! DS
is currently knitting up the left sleeve and will then stitch it all
together. Fingers crossed, please everyone!
--
Trish {|:OI}
Newcastle, NSW, Australia

Bea

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Aug 22, 2001, 7:17:32 PM8/22/01
to
Hi Patricia,
I found when knitting in stockinette, without any ribbing at the beginning, the
knitting will roll up on itself. I've done 2 sweaters with no ribbing at the
sleeves and bottom of the sweater and it causes the bottoms to roll up some.
Hope this helps.

Bea (delete the hi to reply)

Marilyn Leavitt-Imblum

unread,
Aug 22, 2001, 8:41:19 PM8/22/01
to
Dear Pat,

No you aren't dense at all....I invented the term "Roll" It is what
happens when you are doing stockinette stitch and then you switch to a
reverse stockinette stitch for 4 rows. It sort of creates a "roll" Like
a big rib on the hat. This creates texture and the way you play with the
colors creates the interesting playfulness of the hat. The begining has
a 6 row "roll" because it gives the hat the finished edge that it needs
to cling to your face.

It depends on how each knitter casts on her stitches. Some do it so that
there is already a first row of stitches and others cast on so there is
just loops. At the begining you will K a row and then purl P a row and
do this for 6 rows. Depending on how you cast on you might atart with a
Purl row and then a knit row. The purl side starts to "roll" curling
around the knitted stitches. This is the outside of the hat. It starts
with this first "roll" of reverse stockinette stitches.

As the hat grows you can purl a row here and there or do a 4 row "roll"
of reverse stockinette stitch. Changing colors and mixing up the
patterns so it looks very complicated but it isn't.

My mother ordered one in Pinks and Greys (she is 88)
Nora knitted hers in black and Khaki and purples
Little Sarah has one with red and blues and greens and Yellows with some
orange tucked in. They stretch and grow and are all different.
I'll be here for any questions.

This gives me a very good idea of how to write these different patterns
but of course if you could see a picture of the hat it would be best!
I'll beg the ones who play with the cameras to take a picture for the
website.

Marilyn

Marilyn Leavitt-Imblum

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Aug 22, 2001, 9:44:23 PM8/22/01
to
(sigh)
Dear Mirjam,

You jumped on my pattern before I even posted it. Once the pattern was
fully posted it only suggests a one size needle increase. This being
for a hat that will fit a four year old to an adult. I saw no need to
ask the knitters to do a swatch that would be 4 X 4 inches when the
hat is only a couple of times bigger. I do give a guage. I am a
professional knitter. I can write in the professional way and had
thought of doing it that way for some but I decided to keep the hat
fun...fun....scraps of wonderful threads all woven together without a
right or a wrong! Something fun, creative, unique and unstructured.
Something without controversy....something to break the icy darkness
of criticism.

Marilyn

mir...@actcom.co.il (Mirjam Bruck-Cohen) wrote in message news:<3b831d54...@news.actcom.co.il>...

Dr. Brat

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Aug 22, 2001, 10:16:46 PM8/22/01
to

Mirjam Bruck-Cohen wrote:

> Swatching and adjusting Stich quantity , might surprise you , and
> allow you Knit less stiches with smaller sizes [ and use less wool] ,
> while it will need some more stiches with bigger sizes.

It might surprise me, but I doubt it, since I've been knitting for
20+ years. You can insist all you want, I'll still disagree with
you because my own experience tells me that you are wrong on this
issue. Number of stiches matters, thickness and texture of the
yarn matters, but needle size also matters in determining the


size of the finished product.

Elizabeth in Salem, MA

Mirjam Bruck-Cohen

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Aug 23, 2001, 12:45:26 AM8/23/01
to
Thank you Elizabeth !
I believe you that your Methods of working are different than mine .
And so we reach our `end results` in different ways.
I am happy with my results, Some of my sweaters are over 30 years old
and still as soft and nice to wear as the day I made them, And I
believe it is mainly due to proper guaging , { By the way if My
mother and me wanted to get that same density we should have worked in
A mm difference, One of my pupils got a good knit , by using different
needle size for her knit rows than for he purl rows] . Beside the
Common Historical , classical knowledge we collect over the years , we
all Finally `find` our own method to get the Best results, and this
what is important.
>ears. You can insist all you want, I'll still disagree with
>you because my own experience tells me that you are wrong on this
>issue. Number of stiches matters, thickness and texture of the
>yarn matters, but needle size also matters in determining the
>size of the finished product.
Basicly You did not say something diferent from what I said you just
have a different priority .
I am happy that At least once you agreed with me when I praised your
city , in another letter.
mirjam

mirjam

Mirjam Bruck-Cohen

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Aug 23, 2001, 12:45:29 AM8/23/01
to
Hallo Marilyn !
Thank you for the personal answer.
I read your first instructions very carefully and I felt as an
experrienced knitter that I missed this information and I tried to be
helpful, In fact I saw that you have revised your 2nd instructions a
bit. And I was quite impressed with the bettered instructions.
I always think that when somebody { you or other] prints a pattern for
public use it should be mainly clear for those needing it = those
with less experience [ with time the more experienced knitters get the
hang of how to adjust sizes, each by his/ her own preffered method].
I was not jumping I was trying to help.
As an ardent knitter , who never stopped researching the possibilties
of this wonderful technique , I never tire of reading new ideas, and
welcome anyone who tries to show and share the fun in it.

> I saw no need to
>ask the knitters to do a swatch that would be 4 X 4 inches when the
>hat is only a couple of times bigger. I do give a guage. I am a
>professional knitter. I can write in the professional way and had
Nobody is daubting your professional knowledge, but sometimes this
Overqualification , makes one forget that out there are many people
who do not Know all You know, and who might need just this `little
guague thing` to help them make the best from your professional
pattern. Since I was more engaged in teaching knitting, and wanted to
give my pupils all the possible oportunities, I taught them the
importance of guague . Another important point I have to make is that
once you write on the net , you reader , isn`t only an American , not
even a born English speaker. I have learned this experience the hard
way , not All of my ways were suited to teach All other cultural
groups. and one has to try and make patterns plain for all. I have had
times when I taught the same design idea in three different ways, thus
all pupils will benefit to the fullest from my class.
And will never forget the time I was asked to teach knitting to
a lady , from another Asiatic country, a professor of English
literature , thus I first explained the knitting instructions to her
as I would to others, But I realized we had a culltural barrier, she
could not grasp the idea of a k stich being a p on it`s other side.
Thus had problems with knitting every second row ,, thus we sat down
and worked a special method for her to understand ,,, ps she still
knits 25 years later !!!
Many times I meet in the wool shops , experienced knitters who are all
lost because their variating guague from the given one in the mag
makes it impossible for them , to get the Fine result they hoped for.
>onderful threads all woven together without a
I understand you wanted to say knitted together , or did I miss some
weaving instructions in the hat ???
If the hat is supposed to be so free constructed why give more than
General instructions , Nobody is criticising you , we all like to be
sharing.
Also no criticism meant , but in your letter to mrs PP , you claim to
have invented the term roll!!!I would be a bit carefull with such
claims rolled hat edges were done by our mothers
in the 50s , and other kinds of rolls , appeared &disappeared with
trends over the years.
I must Congratulate You , that you are indeed a very Smart marketer,
Until now I have not read any knitting instructions by you , nore saw
a hint about it.But You probably are aware about the renaissance of
knitting, while xst is slowly loosing quantity of sales , and this
shows your remarkable marketing abilities, Have you ever thought of
teaching Marketting.?
all the best luck to your new adventure , mirjam

Jamie Quiroga

unread,
Aug 23, 2001, 1:30:36 AM8/23/01
to
Trish, I'm a "tense" knitter too. I have to cast on to needles two sizes
larger than my actual gauge-size to be able to knit the first row. My dad
used to joke that I knit armour. My crochet could also stand up to arrows
and swords.

Well, now I kinda have knit "armour." One semester I took a
jewelry/metalworking class (wanting to eventually cast my own sterling lace
bobbins. Since I completely incinerated every piece of metal I tried to
solder, that didn't work.) For my class final piece, I wound up knitting
soft copper and silver wire into a gorgeous neck scarf/necklace. (Only way I
could work metal without fire.)

-Jamie

"Kim Brown" <kawb...@ozemail.com.au> wrote in message
news:3B83C5CF...@ozemail.com.au...

Louise Cliff

unread,
Aug 23, 2001, 5:33:45 AM8/23/01
to
On Sun, 19 Aug 2001 01:11:01 -0400, Marilyn Leavitt-Imblum
<mar...@tiag.com> wrote:


>
>I sew and I knit....I have a great hat pattern that I was thinking of
>putting online...how many knitters do we have in the group?
>

Hi Marilyn
I knit, love wearing hats (and making them) and would love to see your
hat pattern. Just what I need - another hat for my collection!!!!
Lx

Pat Porter

unread,
Aug 23, 2001, 7:43:51 AM8/23/01
to
Using the same yarn and knitting test squares with the same number of
stitches (30 by 30 is always recommended) *always* results in different
sized squares, however long your experience. ( As long as it`s the same
person knitting both test squares of course!). We weren`t speaking of
different methods of working, or different yarns, or if we were, it wasn`t
made clear.

Assuming the aforementioned parameters - same person, same grade of wool,
same stitch pattern, same tension, it`s impossible to produce identically
sized test *squares* (they won`t actually be square) using different sized
needles for each square.

I started knitting at four years old - and I`m 66 now, and used to knit Aran
sweaters to order for the local wool shops, not to mention the whole of the
drum corps of the Royal Marines band, after my son kindly volunteered me
when he went back off leave wearing one I`d made for him!

Pat P.

"Mirjam Bruck-Cohen" <mir...@actcom.co.il> wrote in message
news:3b8473a5...@news.actcom.co.il...

Louise Cliff

unread,
Aug 23, 2001, 11:54:59 AM8/23/01
to
Obviously, I'm way behind on reading posts and now have Marilyn's
pattern.
Apologies folks
Lx

RadioStmpr

unread,
Aug 23, 2001, 12:07:00 PM8/23/01
to
Could someone please post this? My computer ate it before I could print it!

Many thanks,
Mandy (who doesn't yet know how to knit, but I know I want this!)

Marilyn Leavitt-Imblum

unread,
Aug 23, 2001, 3:46:35 PM8/23/01
to
Dear Mirjam,

When I first started to post the pattern I was doing it from memory and
then I stopped and realized I might forget something if I just did it
from the top so I said I would be right back and I then posted the best
possible but unconstructed method for stitching this fun hat.

The posting of the pattern does include the gauge???????
Since I recommend many weights of yarn this one is the middle..... an
approximate gauge......it's an approximate hat!

The weaving instructions are optional and were mentioned when I said
that if you saw an already stitched area that looked to dark in
retrospect you could double knit/weave a lighter color on top of the
section.

I never said I had invented the stitching method to create a "roll" I
said that I just call these curled events a "roll" I have never seen
anyone else refer to them as a "roll" It is not just the edge that has
the rolled edge...it happens inside of the hat too.

My collection of Knitting Patterns has been growing for 25 years and it
still grows by another hat or sweater a year. It is not my intention to
release a book or single knitting patterns. My cross stitch designs are
doing well and it provides an income for my family while allowing me to
do what I love to do. Many times before I have mentioned Quilting, Oil
Painting, Watercolors, knitting and Crewel Work as other art forms I do
besides the cross stitch.

It's really too bad that you can't access my website because then you
would learn more about me. I am self taught and the last thing in the
world I ever wanted to do was be a business person. My studio is in my
home and the business is 30 minutes away from me. I only go in once a
month or so. Sitting in my studio with my daughter designing is what I
enjoy more than anything on this earth.

Nora my oldest daughter who does the Mirabelia designs was visiting last
weekend and she saw the hats and fell in love with them and so she had
to knit one up...which she did in a day. On Sunday we passed her hat
around the room and Grandma said she wanted hers in pink and gray. Ian
the 4 year old pronounced it was his "hat" and his mother pulled it
close down into her eyes and said "This is fabulous" My son in law was
wearing it for part of the afternoon...it was 80 degrees mind you!

With this event in mind as I rejoined the group....the thought of
sharing it with my friends online came into my head. Not the mastermind
of marketing but the normal "here's an idea you might like" that any
other trusting person might do with people she enjoyed being around.

It's as simple as that.....just a shared idea...no money no scheming
just friends with friends....too hard to believe for you?

Marilyn

Nathalie

unread,
Aug 23, 2001, 4:06:18 PM8/23/01
to
Marilyn Leavitt-Imblum <mar...@tiag.com> wrote in message
news:3B855D9B...@tiag.com...

> It's really too bad that you can't access my website because then you
> would learn more about me. I am self taught and the last thing in the
> world I ever wanted to do was be a business person. My studio is in my
> home and the business is 30 minutes away from me. I only go in once a
> month or so. Sitting in my studio with my daughter designing is what I
> enjoy more than anything on this earth.

How I would love to see a photo of you sitting in your studio, designing the
hours away... :-))))))

--
Nathalie Forster - Needlework Designer & Web Developer
http://www.craft-searcher.com/nathaliesdesigns/index.html
Commercial Information at http://www.ndmdc.com
Visit Craft-Searcher today! http://www.craft-searcher.com


Sarra Wright

unread,
Aug 23, 2001, 9:22:53 PM8/23/01
to

"Mirjam Bruck-Cohen" <mir...@actcom.co.il> wrote in message
news:3b8480f...@news.actcom.co.il...

> I was not jumping I was trying to help.
> As an ardent knitter , who never stopped researching the possibilties> of
this wonderful technique , I never tire of reading new ideas, and> welcome
anyone who tries to show and share the fun in it.

You say you weren't jumping on Marilyn but the following quote taken
directly from your posting sure sounds like it. In another thread, you said
that you wanted to talk about the creative process and how people design
their works, but then when someone does post a pattern that falls into the
creative process arena (Marilyn clearly stated that it wasn't written in a
professional knitting book manner and that it was different) you jump all
over it. You weren't sharing in the fun, and your posting didn't sound
welcoming at all. Then at the bottom of your next posting you accuse her of
marketing to the knitters to survive the death of the cross stitch fad.

Is it something you have against Marilyn personally, or is it that you just
hate professional designers as a whole?

Mirjam Bruck-Cohen" <mir...@actcom.co.il> wrote in message

news:3b81d205...@news.actcom.co.il...


> This looks very interesting ... but may I point out to you as a> knitter >

I am sure you have neat ideas about hats , But if you do not bother to> make
at least some calcualtions , no warning will help , the people> who are
going to waste money and time ,on your idea,wil not get wanted
> results> Why not call in aprofessional knitter to help you make some
swatches> and calculate the proper measurements , stich numbers etc.. > Good
Knitting needs guagues
>

Sarra


Mirjam Bruck-Cohen

unread,
Aug 24, 2001, 1:40:07 AM8/24/01
to
Good morning Marilyn .
Thank you for an elaborate answer.
>en I first started to post the pattern I was doing it from memory and
So if that was the case why not delete the less clear post and start
with one new Full instruction ??, [ sorry just a thought that occured
to me ?] anyway I am happy you printed the it in full.
>The weaving instructions are optional and were mentioned when I said
thank you for clarifying that.
>I never said I had invented the stitching method to create a "roll" I
in your letter to Mrs PP ... you wrote :" I invented the term "Roll"
And I am sorry but I have seen this term on and off in knitting mag,
you used the term ok !! but invented ... ????

>said that I just call these curled events a "roll" I have never seen
>anyone else refer to them as a "roll"
I am sure that I have seen it in American magazines as well ...
>My collection of Knitting Patternsstill grows by another hat or sweater a year.
Do you mean you design one new knitted item every year ???
>Painting, Watercolors, knitting and Crewel Work as other art forms I do
>besides the cross stitch.
Oh I happened to read some of it , but somehow it did not leave me
with the impression that you actually design everything you do.

>It's really too bad that you can't access my website because then you
>would learn more about me.
Actually several people were quite busy and sent several snipets from
your website, But I think the discussion here is not about You , or
you abilities or how you developed them, As a person, I think I have
more than enough info, from what you tell about yourself on line.
And why should I want to learn more about you ??? we sit here in this
Worldly Plaza, meet nod to each other , realize that since we
settelled near the Needleworker`s corner , that this is probably our
mutual interest !! and thus can assume that we can share info,
feelings impressions about Needlework. If an info needs to be
strengthened by you [ or my]sllipping home and bringing the relevant
book , ok! But why care that I do not know More about You ??? I know
and read here How you write and speak, I do not have to know , that
you didn`t want this career , I met you on line , because of this
career , not because of the path you did not take !!!

>world I ever wanted to do was be a business person. My studio is in my
If you design in the studio , things that you later sell, isn`t that
part of the business as well ??? [ just a curious question??]
I am happy for you that you have a supportive family .
>sharing it with my friends online came into my head. Not the mastermind
>of marketing but the normal "here's an idea you might like" that any
>other trusting person might do with people she enjoyed being around.
I am a very trusting person , still it looked strange , the last
Flame over your Markrting methods has not died , and here you are
offering something !!!!!

>It's as simple as that.....just a shared idea...no money no scheming
>just friends with friends....too hard to believe for you?
If you Say so I should believe you !!! but the timing looked quite
strange,
Ps I never said scheming!on the contrary I said you should Teach
marketing systems, I think you are a genius in this field.
mirjam

Mirjam Bruck-Cohen

unread,
Aug 24, 2001, 1:40:16 AM8/24/01
to
Sara , when somebody , reads former posts to proove a point, that is
very good. but now since we know you did it , we can also see How
selective you are , in Remembering only the facts that proove Your
Opinion of me, I never said Any personal word against Marilyn , but I
pointed out that some of her methods of KEEPING in the spot light ,
are marketting in [ very thin] disguise.
As to your [how shall I call it?] question if i hate designers ,,,, I
have posted many atime that I educated handcraft instructors, who will
probably educate a generation of people who will the Buyers of ready
made kits or patterns as they have learned the love to work with their
hands, and will need it. Thus I manufactured Clients for the
designers.":>:>:>:>

>that you wanted to talk about the creative process and how people design
Sara, I did not jump , I pointed out a lack of info that would prevent
many to use it better , or prevent others from disappointment .

>accuse her of
>marketing to the knitters to survive the death of the cross stitch fad.
I did not ACCUSE , I pointed out something that looked obvious to me.
>hate professional designers as a whole?
As a whole i like Professionlaism in every field that needs it ,
mirjam

Linda D.

unread,
Aug 24, 2001, 10:19:11 AM8/24/01
to
On Fri, 24 Aug 2001 05:40:07 GMT, mir...@actcom.co.il (Mirjam
Bruck-Cohen) wrote:
>Good morning Marilyn . Thank you for an elaborate answer.
><snipped>

>Oh I happened to read some of it , but somehow it did not leave me
>with the impression that you actually design everything you do.
><snipped> As a person, I think I have

>more than enough info, from what you tell about yourself on line.
>And why should I want to learn more about you ???

Good grief Mirjam, what *is* your problem??? How you would
ever get the impression that Marilyn doesn't do her own designing is
beyond me! And, if you have read all of Marilyn's posts over the
years you would know she is a kind, gentle and generous person.

>Flame over your Markrting methods has not died , and here you are
>offering something !!!!!

><snipped>


>Ps I never said scheming!on the contrary I said you should Teach
>marketing systems, I think you are a genius in this field.
>mirjam

So now you want to stir things up again...what a shame! How
sad that a person offers something for free and yet *some* still
thinks she has ulterior motives....so sad.

take care, Linda :)
Vancouver Island, bc.ca :) (remove 'nospam' to reply)

Marilyn Leavitt-Imblum

unread,
Aug 24, 2001, 3:19:36 PM8/24/01
to
What's so hard about designing a knitting pattern? It's soon to be
Autumn here in the States and as the leaves turn color knitters turn to
the needles. We unpack all of those baskets of mittens and hats. We turn
the air-conditioner up if we want to start early. We search for the one
matchless mitten.

So I make up what I want to stitch. A hat can be stretched out for a
week or done in a day....I just write the instructions down as I go.
Last years sweater took 6 months because I didn't work at it everyday.
15 years ago I collected the scraps of paper and rewrote them by hand
into a book so that my daughters could knit the patterns if they wanted
to. I even tied a bit of the yarn through a scissors punched hole in the
page.

There are some art forms that take the place of another. It's as if that
part of the brain gets consumed totally by another. Such as knitting and
designing cross stitch don't work well together or quilting and oil
painting is a choice. So I go from one activity to another. My studio
for cross stitch designing is upstairs over my garage and my studio for
my other arts is downstairs.

I have the studio downstairs set up so that all of the materials go
around a large table. The theory being that I will have the table free
to work on whatever I decide to do. The biggest space problem (bags of
yarn) was solved by "checking in" the yarn as it is bought. I take one
skein and write the number of skeins I have of it on the label. The rest
is stored in large boxes with strings hanging out of them. So In one
wooden closet I have three shelves of one skein of every kind and color
of yarn that is away hiding. It's amazing how small your yarn stash will
look if done this way. Almost a cause to go buy more!

Everything I do is of my own creation.....it's just easier for me to
make it up than to follow anothers instructions. Depending on how I feel
I have a project going for that restriction. Are all of the sweaters
completed? No Are all of the paintings completed? Yes Do I stitch?
Yes Do I stitch my designs? No (I did in the beginning and it took too
much of my time that could be better spent designing cross stitch)

Only one grandchild is late for their quilt which I hand piece. Since a
new baby is coming I will move those quilts to the top of the list.
Once long ago I gave myself a break and decided that I didn't have to
finish a project before moving on to another. Now in one month I may
finish a quilt, a sweater, a design and a couple of more projects.
People will say "Wow..isn't she amazing!" Well some of those projects
have been years in the making, it just so happens they hit the finish
line at the same time.

I'm anxious to hear about anyone in progress on the hat or if anyone has
completed it. There are such stunning yarns available that most of my
sweaters are the Irish Fisherman or Guernsey type or Aran style....I
love making all of the patterns work out and weave the knots and
baubles....this shows off the yarn while keeping the knitting
interesting. I have done this on grid paper for so long I can't
remember. Now they show it mostly with the grid so that a knitter can
see how the patterns fit together. I think it helps so much.

Marilyn

Will I read anymore of Mirjams posts? No
Will I see anymore of Mirjams posts? No

Nathalie

unread,
Aug 24, 2001, 3:22:48 PM8/24/01
to
Marilyn Leavitt-Imblum <mar...@tiag.com> wrote in message
news:3B86A8C8...@tiag.com...

> I have the studio downstairs set up so that all of the materials go
> around a large table. The theory being that I will have the table free
> to work on whatever I decide to do. The biggest space problem (bags of
> yarn) was solved by "checking in" the yarn as it is bought. I take one
> skein and write the number of skeins I have of it on the label. The rest
> is stored in large boxes with strings hanging out of them. So In one
> wooden closet I have three shelves of one skein of every kind and color
> of yarn that is away hiding. It's amazing how small your yarn stash will
> look if done this way. Almost a cause to go buy more!

This is really funny... I just had to look and look again at my drawings of
my ideal studio when I get it, and amazingly I got the same sort of set up
in mind... How fluky can one get????? Actually the only difference is the
"coat hooks" I will have to place cones of DMC, Anchor and Needlepaints on
one end of the office... and also a floor to sealing, wall to wall window
overlooking a south facing garden... I am planning to have the studio next
to our house... And then have a office in the centre of town as well for
admin and so on...

It is good to know that my ideas are a proven formula... :-))))))))))))

Marilyn Leavitt-Imblum

unread,
Aug 24, 2001, 4:43:13 PM8/24/01
to
Dear Nathalie,

Please note I said "The theory being that I will have the table free to
work on....." It's the plan but in most cases the table is stacked high
with many projects waiting to be put away or in progress.

The neighborhood children love to come and play at our house because I
let them use the best materials to paint with or to sew. I call them my
little princesses. Yesterday I let them wear the beads from Tibet that
are gloriously bittersweet red and handstrung....I was told they were
bridal beads. I hang them over the neck of my body form for sewing my
size(lots of room). This is usually "dressed" in my painting aprons.

One year I made light denim aprons and another year I made aprons that
you pin to the bodice. Aprons are a very important part of our mothers
world and I have started to collect them. If you have a very old apron
you would like to sell please e-mail me. My mother has been "schlepping"
home the aprons of her friends and neighbors. Some are hysterical! But I
buy them anyway! The ones that go over the neck are my favorite.

Since we bought this huge house two years ago....the best place to paint
is the "lobby" which I call that space where the ceilings are so high by
the front door. It has wonderful north light!

We have added some character to the neighborhood....the children are the
most open to my stash house from floor to ceiling! We took out the
shrubs and have the begining of a great perrenial garden. Even Nora says
it looks like we live here now!

Marilyn
ps. Nathalie...use movable bookcases!
It's wonderful for changing the spaces around.
And they go with you when you move to a new studio!

Nathalie

unread,
Aug 24, 2001, 5:17:16 PM8/24/01
to
victoria <ani...@animaux.net0> wrote in message
news:qcddotoemv8bmbtop...@4ax.com...
> What, no pond with Koi in the studio? :)

Haven't decided that far ahead... first need to get the place.... If plans
go the way I want them to go, that will be next year... LOL...

(But I do wonder what my pooch will wonder of the Koi... she'd think they
are playmates and jump in to play with them... LOL)

Nathalie

unread,
Aug 24, 2001, 5:28:10 PM8/24/01
to
Marilyn Leavitt-Imblum <mar...@tiag.com> wrote in message
news:3B86BC61...@tiag.com...

> Please note I said "The theory being that I will have the table free to
> work on....." It's the plan but in most cases the table is stacked high
> with many projects waiting to be put away or in progress.

Then I must be already be living by the theory... My little desk and the
surrounding shelving are packed to overflowing with notes, floss, some
fabric, books, computer (for designing on) and projects in progress...
LOL...

(Does that sound like I am on track to having a similar studio like you??)

And when I get my big one, I will still be having exact same thing
happening... LOL

> Since we bought this huge house two years ago....the best place to paint
> is the "lobby" which I call that space where the ceilings are so high by
> the front door. It has wonderful north light!

Oh I have not even mentioned my painting studio I want, as well as the
sewing studio I want.... LOL

(I don't think it will be house... more a studio we live in... and DH likes
the idea of that...)

> We have added some character to the neighborhood....the children are the
> most open to my stash house from floor to ceiling! We took out the
> shrubs and have the begining of a great perrenial garden. Even Nora says
> it looks like we live here now!

I would love to have a lovely garden... lots to photograph then as well
material for patterns...

> ps. Nathalie...use movable bookcases!

DH says he will build me a few bookcases on wheels... and some bookcases
without the shelves but instead with the "coat hooks" for the cones of
floss...

> It's wonderful for changing the spaces around.
> And they go with you when you move to a new studio!

Hmm.... our plan is to buy a house we can live in for a long time in....
like the rest of our lives... and we are buying it next year...

Sarra Wright

unread,
Aug 24, 2001, 7:43:51 PM8/24/01
to

"Mirjam Bruck-Cohen" <mir...@actcom.co.il> wrote in message
news:3b85e8b...@news.actcom.co.il...
> Sara ,

It is polite to spell a person's name correctly when replying to them. My
name is Sarra with two r's not Sara with one

when somebody , reads former posts to proove a point, that is > very good.
but now since we know you did it , we can also see How > selective you are ,
in Remembering only the facts that proove Your > Opinion of me,

I don't remember saying anything about my opinion of you, and I could have
chosen any paragraph or statement from your posting and gotten the same
results. I was asking what you had against Marilyn, since nothing she posts
seems to make you happy. You rail on and on about how you want to talk
about the creative process, but when someone does you pick it to death. And
you did again in your lastest response to her. Obviously you are the one
with the personal problem, but you refuse to see it, instead claiming that
everyone else is wrong.

I never said Any personal word against Marilyn , but I
> pointed out that some of her methods of KEEPING in the spot light , > are
marketting in [ very thin] disguise.

I think you are looking too hard to find what you consider marketing.
Everyone else here seems to have seen it differently, but I guess you must
be right, since you know what is inside everyone's head so much better than
they do themselves. Marketing, that must be it. Not the joy of talking to
other people who share the same interests.

You get mad at her when she talks about cross stitch because she must be
selling something as that is her vocation, but when she switches to her
avocation, it must be because she has something to sell. Perhaps you should
kill file her or judiciously use your delete key since her conversation
disturbs you so much.


Thus I manufactured Clients for the
> designers.":>:>:>:>

And, that still does not answer the question. What is it that you have
against professional designers? Is it that they sell their ideas? Do you
feel that they are selling out their creative process because they are
making money? Or are you jealous that you aren't sharing the same success?

> I did not ACCUSE , I pointed out something that looked >obvious to me.

Since the dictionary definition of accuse is to declare one guilty of a
fault, actually you did. But that's splitting hairs. Instead of asking
about the perceived missing information, or waiting for the next posting,
which she clearly stated was coming you jumped on her.


> >hate professional designers as a whole?
> As a whole i like Professionlaism in every field that needs it ,

Does this mean that you don't feel that needlework needs professionalism?

Sarra

Pat Porter

unread,
Aug 24, 2001, 8:06:44 PM8/24/01
to
Not EVERYONE else here sees it differently, please don`t generalise.

Pat P.

"Sarra Wright"

wrote in message >

Mirjam wrote >snipped<

> I never said Any personal word against Marilyn , but I
> > pointed out that some of her methods of KEEPING in the spot light , >
are
> marketting in [ very thin] disguise.
>
> I think you are looking too hard to find what you consider marketing.
> Everyone else here seems to have seen it differently>

Sarra
>
>
>


Linda D.

unread,
Aug 24, 2001, 9:29:32 PM8/24/01
to
On Fri, 24 Aug 2001 15:19:36 -0400, Marilyn Leavitt-Imblum
<mar...@tiag.com> wrote:

> My studio for cross stitch designing is upstairs over my garage and my studio for
>my other arts is downstairs.

><snipped>


>I have the studio downstairs set up so that all of the materials go
>around a large table.

><snipped>
>Marilyn

Sounds good to me!!! Okay, now I have a question for all of
you who have a room to keep your stash. Does your family tease you
about how untidy it is? I am somewhat of a neat-nick *except* for my
sewing room where I keep my stash. So, of course when I nag my
youngest son about his untidy room he says, "But look at your sewing
room!" So then my DH and older son chime in, "Yeah, Mom, what about
your sewing room???" LOL!!! I just shrug it off and laugh and
suggest they stay the heck out of my sewing room or the pins will get
them!

Linda D.

unread,
Aug 24, 2001, 9:39:38 PM8/24/01
to
On Fri, 24 Aug 2001 16:43:13 -0400, Marilyn Leavitt-Imblum
<mar...@tiag.com> wrote:

>Dear Nathalie,
>
>Please note I said "The theory being that I will have the table free to
>work on....." It's the plan but in most cases the table is stacked high
>with many projects waiting to be put away or in progress.
>
>The neighborhood children love to come and play at our house because I
>let them use the best materials to paint with or to sew. I call them my
>little princesses.

><snipped>
>Marilyn

Hi there...

Speaking of princesses... At work today we saw a young lady
with a t-shirt that said, "To heck with being a princess, I want to be
a Queen!" LOL!!!

Nathalie

unread,
Aug 24, 2001, 9:51:17 PM8/24/01
to
Linda D. <deu...@nospamhome.com> wrote in message
news:3b86fd74.1122364@news...

> Sounds good to me!!! Okay, now I have a question for all of
> you who have a room to keep your stash. Does your family tease you
> about how untidy it is? I am somewhat of a neat-nick *except* for my
> sewing room where I keep my stash. So, of course when I nag my

Oh yes!!!!!!!!

One day my DH came home from work to find the dog banned to the bedroom
where she lay sulking and me on the floor with a hundred or so of my skeins
on top of a clean bed sheet taking up the whole living room...

He drew in air audibly and remarked "we certainly need to fix the lack of
your own work space then and make sure you keep in good nick as well"...

(Oh and then that evening he had the cheek to say I could do all the model
stitching of all my patterns myself... Lets just say he did not hear the end
of it for days and that I won that argument... HA!!!!!!)

^Linda^

unread,
Aug 24, 2001, 10:15:13 PM8/24/01
to
Here you are, Mandy!!!!!
--

Linda
Jacksonville, FL
http://community.webshots.com/user/sunfire57
list owner MegaStitches lists!!!!!
new owner of www.estitch.com


"Marilyn Leavitt-Imblum" <mar...@tiag.com> wrote in message

news:3B81BB31...@tiag.com...
Dear Knitters,

For years I have been building my pile of directions for sweaters and
hats and funny little things. All with the thought of having them
printed in a book. One of the problems for me is that I write the
directions different from all of the directions I have ever seen.
They are simple...I speak in my voice....I don't know how to do all of
the math to have 8 sizes of anything.

So if you really want to have this Nutty Hat pattern I will post it?

NUTTY HAT PATTERN

First off go find five colors of shetland weight wool, some can be
worsted but not all. I prefer Rowan wools in DK. 50 grams or less, if
less add another color. Playing with these colors is the most important
part so have fun and try many combinations.

Then grab some US 6 needles. Knit tight for a small hat and use a larger
needle for a larger hat. (I told you it wouldn't be too technical!)
Now cast on 100 or so stitches (multiples of 4 work best)
I'll be right back with the rest.......

Marilyn

Bea wrote:
>
> Hi Marilyn,
> I just knitted an outrageous rolled brim felt hat for my DD. I would love
> to have your knitted hat pattern.
>
> Bea
>
> Marilyn Leavitt-Imblum wrote:
>
> > Since you asked.....my Needlepaints are strictly and only for the colors
> > we can't get anywhere else. My plan is for only three color ranges at
> > first. Lavender/blueish/blueberry (the ones in AOMII) and then the
> > Orchid/red/plums and then the Robin Egg Blues
> > The Orchid one has 5 shades and the two others have 6 shades each.
> > That's 17 skeins of color.....I'm deciding on the tags now!
> >
> > As for my dearest Grandmother Nora Marie I have no plans to turn her
> > into cross stitch but I do have three amish paintings that I am thinking
> > about having someone scan them into a pattern (only one is shown on the
> > site) I also have some great little drawings of the mish that are very
> > realistic that I may do again in a real life way.
> >
> > That's my plans......After painting my young Grandmother...I went on to
> > do large flowers and I love them the best.
> >
> > I also do small watercolors of flowers...I use to sell them at craft
> > shows in the early 80's for $10 a piece.


> >
> > I sew and I knit....I have a great hat pattern that I was thinking of
> > putting online...how many knitters do we have in the group?
> >

> > In my spare time I read a ton of books and answer a pile of fanmail a
> > day! LOL
> >
> > I love it all!
> >
> > Marilyn
> >
> > Prinncess wrote:
> > >
> > > Hello Marilyn!
> > >
> > > I have been an avid browser of rctn for a while, and through this I
> > > have developed an interest in your work. I went to your web site a
> > > while back, and saw the painting you did of your Grandmother. What a
> > > beautiful woman! As a painter myself, I thought the color choices you
> > > made were very vibrant, and I thought how wonderful it would translate
> > > in a cross stitch pattern. So, that brings me to one of my questions:
> > > do you have any plans for a rendition of this lovely painting?
> > > I am also curious to know if Needlepaints will be offered in a line.
> > > As a bit of a thread junkie, I am always looking for new, quality
> > > collections to, well, collect!
> > >
> > > Thank you for your work!
> > >
> > > Walk in love,
> > > Stacey aka 'Prinncess'


> >
> > -----= Posted via Newsfeeds.Com, Uncensored Usenet News =-----
> > http://www.newsfeeds.com - The #1 Newsgroup Service in the World!
> > -----== Over 80,000 Newsgroups - 16 Different Servers! =-----


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Version: 6.0.700 / Virus Database: 131 - Release Date: 6/6/2001


rhianonmat

unread,
Aug 25, 2001, 1:26:52 AM8/25/01
to

"Marilyn Leavitt-Imblum" <mar...@tiag.com> wrote in message
news:3B86BC61...@tiag.com...
>... One year I made light denim aprons and another year I made aprons that

> you pin to the bodice. Aprons are a very important part of our mothers
> world and I have started to collect them. If you have a very old apron...
>

Marilyn,
I thought I was the only one who felt this way about aprons ;*) I have two
of my grandmother's aprons and one of her bonnets that I cherish. My best
memories of her are in the kitchen and learning embroidery. She started
teaching me when I was 4 or 5. She taught me to sew on her treadle sewing
machine...
Such wonderful memories...

Lisa


Joyce_in_RSA

unread,
Aug 25, 2001, 6:02:51 AM8/25/01
to
To all the flame-throwers:

We often have misunderstandings between people of different languages, but
usually a question is asked to clarify the meaning before retorts are made.
Unfortunately, Mirjam, your grasp of idiomatic English, although good, is
not as good as you think it is, and you often misunderstand what is meant.
For someone as creative as you, you seem to have a very literal mind, at
least in English, and often miss the real meaning behind what is said.
Please take the best meaning you can from what is said, and don't answer in
the heat of the moment.

The same applies to everyone else, of course. Please take the best meaning
from what Mirjam (and others) say, and don't imagine criticism where none is
intended. Please hold back your posts until you have reread them before
sending - it's amazing how often you might delete them!

Who died and made me arbiter? No one, but I cringe when I see flaming where
it isn't necessary or desirable, and where it makes everyone feel just a
little worse for reading it, instead of better.

Off soapbox now, and donning flameproof undies! Joyce in RSA.

Kim Brown

unread,
Aug 25, 2001, 8:43:48 AM8/25/01
to
Joyce_in_RSA wrote:
>
> To all the flame-throwers:

<snipped Joyce's excellent post for brevity>


>
> Off soapbox now, and donning flameproof undies! Joyce in RSA.

Joyce, I *have* to ask: are your undies composed of asbestos or
fibreglass? Or is it, perhaps, some esoteric evenweave fibre that we
haven't heard of yet here at rctn? I wish you would share this info with
us, as it could lead to a whole new line in XS flameproof lingerie!

Pat Porter

unread,
Aug 25, 2001, 9:13:31 AM8/25/01
to
Bound to be itchy though, whatever it is!

Pat P.
.
"Kim Brown" wrote

Joyce_in_RSA wrote:

To all the flame-throwers:

Trish {|:OI}
Newcastle, NSW, Australia


PaulaB

unread,
Aug 25, 2001, 10:57:09 AM8/25/01
to
>
> Sounds good to me!!! Okay, now I have a question for all of
> you who have a room to keep your stash. Does your family tease you
> about how untidy it is? I am somewhat of a neat-nick *except* for my
> sewing room where I keep my stash. So, of course when I nag my
> youngest son about his untidy room he says, "But look at your sewing
> room!" So then my DH and older son chime in, "Yeah, Mom, what about
> your sewing room???" LOL!!! I just shrug it off and laugh and
> suggest they stay the heck out of my sewing room or the pins will get
> them!
>

My stash is in our bedroom, but it is the neatest, most organized
place in the house. I have 8 DMC cabinets from a shop that went out
of business, 2 small bookshelves, and a small trunk for fabrics and
upcoming projects. The rest of it is in Rubbermaid containers stacked
up in my closet. Everyone knows that to meddle with my stuff is cause
for alarm and consternation on everyone's part, as I show no mercy
whatsoever!
There's also a good news/bad news situation...two years ago we bought
this roomy, comfy, five bedroom house. DS is 18, senior in HS.
That's the good news. The bad news is that we live in a college town
and I don't think he's going anywhere anytime soon! So I may have to
wait a few more years for my very own stash room. (Sigh.) (But I'm
glad the kid wants to stick around, most days! He's an asset, not a
liability!) Paula B.

Joyce_in_RSA

unread,
Aug 25, 2001, 10:56:23 AM8/25/01
to
I have them specially made from the same stuff they use for kids' nighties!!
<G>

Joyce in RSA.

Kim Brown <kawb...@ozemail.com.au> wrote in message
news:3B879D84...@ozemail.com.au...

Joyce_in_RSA

unread,
Aug 25, 2001, 11:00:31 AM8/25/01
to
Asbestos or fibreglass would be, definitely. Btw, I wonder what happens to
asbestos now that it's illegal everywhere to mine it? Even in the ground it
must cause trouble! A whole new OT thought! Joyce in RSA.


Pat Porter <pat.p...@ntlworld.com> wrote in message
news:9uNh7.15962$_71.7...@news6-win.server.ntlworld.com...

Joan

unread,
Aug 25, 2001, 11:58:22 AM8/25/01
to
Tara D wrote:
> Sleeves are less of a problem, as I stitch them both at the
> same time.
What a great idea! Gonna put that one in with my next project!
Why couldn't *I* have thought of that years ago?!?! Thanks!
Joan

Dawne Peterson

unread,
Aug 25, 2001, 12:28:51 PM8/25/01
to

"Kim Brown" wrote:
> <snipped Joyce's excellent post for brevity>
I also think Joyce's post deserves a profound YES!!!

> > Off soapbox now, and donning flameproof undies! >>Joyce in RSA.
> Joyce, I *have* to ask: are your undies composed of >asbestos or
fibreglass? Or is it, perhaps, some esoteric >evenweave fibre that we
haven't heard of yet here at >rctn? I wish you would share this info with
> us, as it could lead to a whole new line in XS >flameproof lingerie!
XS underwear?? Surely, given all that is going on, we will have knitted
ones too (I have some lovely knitting books from the 30s which have "Ladies'
Step-ins and Combinations" ).
Dawne

Nathalie

unread,
Aug 25, 2001, 12:44:05 PM8/25/01
to
Joyce_in_RSA <joy...@global.co.za> wrote in message
news:9m849n$7hr$2...@ctb-nnrp2.saix.net...

> Off soapbox now, and donning flameproof undies! Joyce in RSA.

Of course the undies with the embroidery on them... LOL LOL LOL

Lauren Kuik

unread,
Aug 25, 2001, 1:08:32 PM8/25/01
to
I never have been able to knit and wish now that I did because your hat
pattern sounds like fun. I find that my stitches are so tight when I knit
that after a row or two I can't even get the needle in to make another
stitch (yikes)! I don't have a similar tension problem with crochet or
needlework so I don't know what the deal is with knitting?!?!
I would be interested to hear, too, if anyone is trying this out. Of course
if I decide to learn to knit I'll have to make the hats for our kids up
north. Don't think they would do us too much good down here ; )
Lauren
St. Pete, FL

"Marilyn Leavitt-Imblum" <mar...@tiag.com> wrote in message

news:3B86A8C8...@tiag.com...

Lauren Kuik

unread,
Aug 25, 2001, 1:19:22 PM8/25/01
to
Apparently being queen is something you can grow into (ha!ha!) - at least in
our experience. Our oldest daughter was raised as a "princess" and never let
anyone forget it! It seems that at about the time that she left home to go
out on her own she became a "queen" and expected to be treated as such. We,
her loyal subjects, complied.

When her sister planned her bridal shower earlier this year she did the
invites in the form of a royal decree with words to the effect of "you are
summoned to the occasion for the queen and soon-to-be king. This is to be a
surprise so if you breathe a word of it, off with your head." Her friends,
who well understand the whole princess/queen thing thought it was a riot.

Decorations, of course, were crowns and king/queen playing cards, etc. We
had a good time teasing suture SIL about becoming a king through marriage.
To our surprise we found out he had already been bestowed the honor. He was
homecoming king in high school ; )

The queen and her king are now happily ensconced in their beautiful new home
in New Jersey.

Lauren
St. Pete, FL

"Linda D." <deu...@nospamhome.com> wrote in message

news:3b870047.1844896@news...

PaulaB

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Aug 25, 2001, 2:25:56 PM8/25/01
to
"rhianonmat" <rhian...@hot.rr.com> wrote in message news:<wGGh7.500089$lq1.98...@typhoon.austin.rr.com>...

I love my Grandma's aprons, too...I have maybe a couple dozen of them
that we found in her house after she died. She loved to sew and used
up all kinds of fabric scraps on them, which led to unusual color
combinations and contrasting pockets and strings, for instance. Last
year for a few months I had several hung up in my kitchen with twine
clotheslines and miniature wooden clothespins...they were very cute
with all the old kitchen stuff of hers and her vintage Fiesta dishes!
We found one apron on the nail in the broom closet at her house with a
hankie still in the pocket and it still smelled like her cologne. She
was so sweet! :-))) Paula B.

Mirjam Bruck-Cohen

unread,
Aug 25, 2001, 4:20:58 PM8/25/01
to
Oh Joan That was the way I was taught to knit ,
Both sleeves side by side [ this way they are the same size , as one
does all decreases and increases at the same level]
Both sides , Mirorwise of a front that opens,
knit till raglan ,, put all on one round needle and knit all raglan at
once ,, I never knew how to knit one sleeve at a time , until I
started knitting in the round ,, mirjam

Kim Brown

unread,
Aug 25, 2001, 5:40:32 PM8/25/01
to
Dawne Peterson wrote:

<snip>

> XS underwear?? Surely, given all that is going on, we will have knitted
> ones too (I have some lovely knitting books from the 30s which have "Ladies'
> Step-ins and Combinations" ).
> Dawne

Gee! I remember step-ins! What we called step-ins was an elastic girdle.
It measured roughly a quarter of one's circumference and the object was
to insert oneself into in and pull it up to approximately waist-level.
This involved a great deal of huffing, puffing and hopping, occasionally
interspersed with periods of lying on the bed 'getting one's breath
back' (which was, paradoxically, quite impossible, because these
bloomin' things didn't *permit* breath!)

Once one had 'stepped in', so to speak, one *then* had to *bend over*
and put on one's stockings! Hah! LOL! This device had already crammed
one's viscera into a cylinder so small that it assumed the consistency
of marble: just imagine the total and permanent damage we all did to our
guts! So one heaved and exhaled and did a lot of additional cursory
commentary while pulling up the offending stockings.

These were not, I hasten to add, *pantyhose*! Oh no! I mean *stockings*
with wide tops that hooked to devilish little devices that hung from the
bottoms of the step-ins. When one sat down, these little devices pinched
tiny increments of one's flesh and caused one to shoot forward from
one's seat with an excruciated and highly surprised expression on one's
face. It was the chief cause of Nuns saying 'Sit *down*, girls!' at our
school!

When it was time to take *off* of the step-ins, one had, perforce, to
make a conscious effort of will, inhale deeply and *hoick* the thing
downward with all the force one could muster. The concomitant escape of
one's *self* as it was freed from the confines of the step-ins was one
of the truly worthwhile moments of one's youth! Today, even a
pantygirdle doesn't hold the revulsion that a pair of step-ins did! It
is truly a miracle that womankind even survived them! I shall close with
an anthem (or should that be 'anathema'?) which I have remembered from
my youth. It was the Berlei ad for their wondrous new invention, the
'double sarong' step-in.

'It isn't a single sarong, you're wrong!
It's a double sarong and a double sarong
Does *twice* the work that a single sarong
Can do!'


--
Trish {|:OI}
Newcastle, NSW, Australia

NB. THe double sarong was merely half the circumference of a single
sarong and hence (by deduction) confined the guts of the young
woman-in-the-street to a fraction (haven't got time to figure it out -
on my way to Mass) of the previous sarong. How fervently glad we all
were that some Berlei Boffin never came up with a triple or quadruple
sarong!!!!

PS. The *height* of chagrin could be reached when one had yanked up
one's stockings (while still encased in the double sarong, mind) and
found one had put a finger through one! Start all over again, girls!

Pat Porter

unread,
Aug 25, 2001, 7:15:52 PM8/25/01
to
Good God Trish, you must have lied to me about your age! You must be older
than ME! (I`m 66!) Even I never suffered those instruments of torture,
although I recall my already slim (Auburn haired like you) Mum complaining
about them!

Pat P.

Trish Brown" wrote

Kim Brown

unread,
Aug 25, 2001, 8:58:11 PM8/25/01
to
Pat Porter wrote:
>
> Good God Trish, you must have lied to me about your age! You must be older
> than ME! (I`m 66!) Even I never suffered those instruments of torture,
> although I recall my already slim (Auburn haired like you) Mum complaining
> about them!
>
> Pat P.


Ahhh! I'm back from Mass and I can barely type! My lefthand fingertips
are *killing* me! I've played my guitar at not one, but *two* Masses
this weekend and while my halo might've jacked up a few millimetres, it
hasn't done a thing for my poor, throbbing little fingies! It *really*
hurts when I type 'a', as the pinky is the sorest! (All messages of
sympathy will be gratefully received! I rang Mum for some, but her
line's engaged. Probably the Ugly Sister, up to no good!)

Anyway, this anomaly (ie the time difference in experience of step-ins)
is probably due to the significant lag experienced by Australia in
receiving our fashions from Great Britain. When you think about it, the
buggers took nearly three years to send out any stuff for the First
Settlers to live on, so it stands to reason that they'd take their sweet
time about sending upgrades for the double sarong!

FWIW, we wore the blessed things to school, summer and winter and they
were absolutely torturous during the Oz summer! We used to sit in a row
along a certain wall which was the only shaded one also invisible from
the street. We'd flap up the skirts of our tunics and wave them, trying
to ventilate the purpling and moribund flesh of our upper leggies. I've
often heard it mentioned about the cruelty of corsets, but IMHO, the
step-in was *far* worse! I bet there's actually a death-rate from them!

Sonya Cirillo

unread,
Aug 25, 2001, 9:27:21 PM8/25/01
to
A little sympathy from me and a finger wagging. If you would
just entertain your family on a regular basis - your callouses
would be in place and it wouldn't be so painful.

Sonya


Kim Brown wrote:
>

> Ahhh! I'm back from Mass and I can barely type! My lefthand fingertips
> are *killing* me! I've played my guitar at not one, but *two* Masses
> this weekend and while my halo might've jacked up a few millimetres, it
> hasn't done a thing for my poor, throbbing little fingies! It *really*
> hurts when I type 'a', as the pinky is the sorest! (All messages of
> sympathy will be gratefully received! I rang Mum for some, but her
> line's engaged. Probably the Ugly Sister, up to no good!)

<snip>

Tia Mary-remove nekoluvr to reply

unread,
Aug 25, 2001, 9:41:15 PM8/25/01
to
>From: "Pat Porter"

>Good God Trish, you must have lied to me about your age! You must be older
>than ME! (I`m 66!) Even I never suffered those instruments of torture,
>although I recall my already slim (Auburn haired like you) Mum complaining
>about them!

I don't kknw about OZ or the UK but I am younger than you Pat (not by a
whole lot) and I distincly remember having to wear those horrid things -- we
call them girdles! I *hated* them and the nasty "nylons" that went with them
:-((((. I have long legs and only hosiery I could find was almost always too
short for me. I would adjust those *$*%^% garters as long as possible and
usually ended up with a hole in the top of my nylon stocking -- right at the
garter -- by the end og the day. I didn't know that nylons could stretch that
much -- LOL! And any extra padding one might have on their thighs (NOT my best
feature) would sort of ooze out over the top of those tightly streached nylons.
Not only did the garters, etc., pinch but when you sat down, those garters in
the back wanted to sort of scooch around to the sides of the body -- OOOOO they
were nasty, horrid inventions of some demented man I just know it!
I remember getting my first long legged "panty girdle". It was a great and
glorious day. The old girdles were nothing more than a human sausage casing --
open at the top and open at the bottom. The panty girdle was just that -- had
a crotch in it and the leg parts went down your leg a ways. The dreaded garter
thingie was attached to the inside of the leg and when I would finally get the
top of my nylons attached, I could roll down the leg of the girdle and my
thighs didn't have a hope of oozing out the tops :-))). In that respect, the
long legged panty girdle was more comfortable -- sort of -- LOL!
Why, I even had one of those double layered, super dooper, tighter than tick
models that had a zipper up the side. Once I got it on my body, I HAD to lay
down so that I could get the blasted thing zipped up. And I wasn't heavy when
I was young either -- the girdles were just THAT tight!!
I went to Catholic High School and we were required to wear either nylons or
bobby socks to schoo. Couldn't wear sandals or open toed shoes or even ones
with a sling back. We also weren't allowed to wear regular dresses -- had to
wear skirts and blouses. I did my best to wear bobby socks as often as
possible but for church on Sundays, it was the dreaded girdle every time :-(((.
CiaoMeow >^;;^<
.
PAX, Tia Mary >^;;^<
Angels can't show their wings on earth but nothing was ever said about their
WHISKERS!!
Nothing is complete without a few cat hairs!
Visit my albums @ http://www.picturetrail.com Username is tiamary (no caps,
no spaces)

Feathersby

unread,
Aug 25, 2001, 9:56:20 PM8/25/01
to
> I don't kknw about OZ or the UK but I am younger than you Pat (not by a
>whole lot) and I distincly remember having to wear those horrid things --

Me too! We were required to wear them during nurses' training, and when they
became available panty girdles were discourages after a couple of students go
blood clots in their legs. Actually, I remember being adverse to the idea of
panty hose for 2 reasons, the expense, and the fact that we _still_ had to
wear the girdle! If we were ever caught without it we were sent back to our
rooms to put it on. (yes, they spot checked us for girdles and _full_
slips--no half slips allowed either!)
I had the opposite problewm with the nylons, they were always too long for
this no legged person! In the military I had to wear tall uniforms to get the
length in the bodice, but I took at least a foot off the hem!
I sure am glad that times have changed!
Marialyce

Angelia Sparrow

unread,
Aug 25, 2001, 11:05:46 PM8/25/01
to
I have a stash room about 6 wide and 12 fet long. It's an addition on the
back of our bedroom. It contains everything from my magic books to old Star
Wars comics to fabric, books, yarn, needles, beads and erotica.

The family just calls it "Mom's Sanctum." (Or the Sanctum Sanctorum) I can
lay my hand on any item I need in less than 5 minutes, presuming of course
the kids haven't raided it.

It's the most organized room we have.

--
Angel

My idea of a threesome is me and Ben & Jerry's.
--Guy Noir

Home; http://www.geocities.com/valarltd
Stories: http://www.geocities.com/lady_aethelynde
"


Mirjam Bruck-Cohen

unread,
Aug 25, 2001, 11:25:24 PM8/25/01
to
SARRA , I apologize for misspelling your name , Being so traditionaly
Used to SARA , it sort of slipt from my eyes.
And A double RR changes the meaning so much. thus sorry about that .
As to therest of your letter , I do not know where you found half of
your ideas , I never had anything against Designers ,,,,
Be happy mirjam

Mirjam Bruck-Cohen

unread,
Aug 26, 2001, 12:14:26 AM8/26/01
to
Thank you Joyce for your interesting insight !!!
Would you be kind enough and explain this curious opinion
>For someone as creative as you, you seem to have a very literal mind, at
>least in English,
may be I am a new Grandma Moses ???
You see I manage the take the best of every word.

>from what Mirjam (and others) say, and don't imagine criticism where none is
>intended.
Thank you for This as well .
>flameproof undies! Joyce in RSA.
Would you call this a good example of idiomatic English ??
mirjam

Marny F

unread,
Aug 26, 2001, 6:32:28 AM8/26/01
to
Thank you, Marilyn!!!

Now I have a knitting pattern (of yours) that I won't do unless I live to be
about 4000 years old!!!

Remember: You don't have to own anything unless it's yours.

Gentle as you go,
Marny


"Marilyn Leavitt-Imblum" <mar...@tiag.com> wrote in message

news:3B82A19A...@tiag.com...
> I'm back..I realized I shouldn't just give you the directions from
> memory and I should have some order to it. So here goes!
>
> NUTTY HAT PATTERN
>
> First off, go find five colors of medium weight wool, some can be


> worsted but not all. I prefer Rowan wools in DK. 50 grams or less, if

> less add another color. Playing with these scrap colors is the most
> important part so have fun and try many combinations. Bits and pieces of
> many left over yarns may be used...it is yours to create as you go
> along. I am only giving you the basic shape.


>
> Then grab some US 6 needles. Knit tight for a small hat and use a larger

> needle (US size 7)for a larger hat. (I told you it wouldn't be too
> technical!) This is a funny multicolored hat-no rights and no wrongs.
>
> Gauge is 6 st. per inch and 7-8 rows per inch.
>
> This hat is for a large family...since once it is finished you will have
> to try it on several people until you find the one it fits. The 4 year
> old may look charming peeking out from under the brim or the teen may
> grab it for that vampish look(they like a lot of black in it)! Adults
> may find the close fitted colorful hat great for skiing. Last weekend
> one was finished and everyone wanted it!
>
> Cast on 100 stitches or more (keeping to multiples of 4 works best.
> Stockinette stitch (K one row Purl one row) for the first 6 rows with a
> thicker yarn. This creates the "roll" 6st. (reverse stockinette stitch)
> By looking at the purl side you will know which side of the hat is the
> outside.
>
> Next I switch colors and do 7 rows of K2 P2 ribbing.
> The aim is to stitch for 5 inches in any pattern that you decide upon.
> There is no right or no wrong. Change colors, do a pattern for an inch,
> add another "roll" Have fun! I mostly do a stockinette stitch with a
> "roll" 4 rows (reverse stockinette stitch) every inch or so. Checker
> board a part by carrying two colors acrossed the rows or alternate two
> colors. Whatever, you decide! If you look back and see that an earlier
> part was too dark then you can duplicate stitch a bright color over it.
>
> Once you get to a loose 5 inches...don't stretch it.
> Then do one last "roll" 4 rows (reverse stockinette stitch)
>
> After that keeping in stockinette stitch decrease every 8th stitch on
> the right side by knitting two stitches together. Every other row do 7
> then 6 then 5th stitch. Keep the colors changing. This part will look
> like a kaleidoscope as the colors reach the middle point.
>
> Keep decreasing until you think it is time(very close to the center) to
> knit two together across the rows and gather the yarn and tie it tight.
> Hat is done except for all of those strings that must be woven together
> inside of the seam.
>
> Now go around the family and find out who loves the hat the best. If
> they all do then you'll have to keep making them forever.
>
> Have a great time!
> Marilyn Leavitt-Imblum
> Copyright 2000
> May be reprinted but
> keep my name attached.
>
> I have been a knitter for 40 years and it has been a plan of mine to do
> a booklet of my patterns someday. There are many patterns in my
> collection and they are all for the most part sweaters. I like to keep
> the instructions in plain english with a hint of humor since some of the
> more complicated patterns can be quite daunting. These instructions were
> written for my knitting daughters to follow. The creativity of the
> knitter as they are involved with the plan makes the finished piece more
> unique. Since this is a hat made of scraps there should be no cost of
> buying new yarn. I'll check online and answer any questions anyone has.


Pat Porter

unread,
Aug 26, 2001, 7:45:50 AM8/26/01
to
Oh we (most of us) only had nice little narrow suspender belts. Then I was
very slim, with very long slim legs, so didn`t over-stress the stockings!
(Our suspenders are for keeping stocking up, not men`s socks!) What a pain
trying to get you seams straight though - thank goodness for tights.

Of course, during the war, it was hard to get stockings, so our the girls
used to colour their legs with gravy browning, and get their mum/sister/best
friend to draw a straight "seam" with an eyebrow pencil (those lucky enough
to poseess one!) Boy, weren`t the G.I.`s popular when they arrived - they
kept half the country in nylons. There were several theories about what
they took in exchange though! LOL!

Little boys used to go up to the G.I.s asking "have you got any gum, chum?"
as we had such a meagre ration of sweets, (or anything else for that
matter!) gum was a wonderful treat! Ah, memories.

I was at a convent school, until I passed the exam for the Grammar school.
When small we had these wierd garments for winter called "liberty bodices"
of thick fleecy lined cotton worn over our vests, which had buttons attached
so we could attach our suspenders and stockings. Awful ugly thingd, but you
needed them when all you had for heating was a tiny coal fire in the
livingroom - unless you were in bed with measles or something. I loved
being ill, so I could lie in bed watching the pictures in the fire in my
bedroom. It was so cold and so hard to get blankets (because of rationing)
I used to have a couple of coats on my bed for extra warmth - and they were
just handy to grab during an air-raid, when we had to dash downstairs to the
shop below the flat (apartment) where the shelter was. I also had a "stone"
(very heavy pottery) hotwater-bottle - it used to scare me to death when it
fell on the floor at night. No carpets in those days - just a large square
of it in the parlour, which we only used at Christmas and when we had
visitors Mum wanted to impress. We had a dartboard in there, and I remember
Mum spending ages treating her sideboard for woodworm (I was a pretty bad
shot with the darts!) It wasn`t until I was well into my forties that I
confessed what had caused the holes!!!

Pat P.

East Anglian Xstitch Designs
http://homepages.tesco.net/~porter
Old village scenes.

"Tia Mary-remove nekoluvr to reply " <catwo...@aol.comnekoluvr> wrote in
message news:20010825214115...@mb-df.aol.com...

Tia Mary-remove nekoluvr to reply

unread,
Aug 26, 2001, 7:55:04 AM8/26/01
to
>From: "Pat Porter"

> nice little narrow suspender belts.

This side of the pond those are called "garter belts" and are still available.
Of course, they aren't worn as part of a woman's daily wear. They are usually
made out of black satin and used for -- ummmm -- shall we say more intimate
forms of entertainment :-))).

>What a pain
>trying to get you seams straight though

Seamed hosiery is still available this side of the pond. Again -- used
with the garter belt for attracting "special attention" shall we say!!


>Of course, during the war, it was hard to get stockings, so our the girls
>used to colour their legs with gravy browning, and get their mum/sister/best
>friend to draw a straight "seam" with an eyebrow pencil (those lucky enough to
poseess one!)

My mom used to tell me stories about that! This side of the pond,
hosiery was also difficult to come by -- I think they were making parachutes or
something similar instead of women's hosiery. anyway, Mom said she would get
special leg makeup when she had the $$$ and one of her sisters would do the
"seam" up the back of her leg. Problem was, when she went dancing and started
to sweat, the *$*%&%& makeup would run and her legs would look all splotchy --
LOL! CiaoMeow >^;;^<

Joyce_in_RSA

unread,
Aug 26, 2001, 6:45:31 AM8/26/01
to
Mirjam,

People have mentioned the translation facilities available on the internet,
but it has been shown that the literal translation of the words often gives
a completely different meaning from what was intended. So many things we
say actually have a different meaning from what the words say. I simply
mean that that is what often happens when you read a post - you read the
words but not the real meaning. I don't mean you alone, I often read a
retort to a post, and say out loud "But that is not what she meant!" My
husband must think I'm crazy sometimes! A literal mind usually lacks
imagination, whereas a creative person must have imagination.

The talk about "flame-proof undies" is an illustration of one aspect of
this. Trish and Pat posted (tongue in cheek), as though they thought I
actually had such things, and I answered in kind. It is actually only
something we write when we know there could be someone ready to criticise
what we've said, and start a "flamewar". I doubt if anyone who doesn't read
rctn regularly would have any idea of what we mean by the reference to
flame-proof undies!

I hope this clarifies what I said. I am really not being critical; I admire
those who manage so well in a language which is not their own, having only a
smattering of other languages myself.

Joyce in RSA.

Mirjam Bruck-Cohen <mir...@actcom.co.il> wrote in message
news:3b88756c...@news.actcom.co.il...

Joyce_in_RSA

unread,
Aug 26, 2001, 9:53:29 AM8/26/01
to
Oh, Pat, what memories you conjour up! I remember liberty bodices, (I
wonder how they got that name?), gravy browning legs, etc., and at 3 years
older than you also didn't have to worry about nylons. We had to wear
scratchy black stockings for school. It was also the first time we'd ever
seen black men!

I didn't have a coal fire in the bedroom, but remember an occasion when the
oil heater was put in it. I fell asleep, and woke up to find myself, my bed
and the whole room black with greasy soot!! For some reason the heater had
started smoking, and what a mess! I was evacuated most of the war, because
we lived near Camell Lairds shipyards, which were a prime target.

We were very lucky with rationing, though. I never heard of anyone not
being able to get their rations, and it was adequate to live on, eked out
with the unrationed staples and vegetables. When you think of what they
went through in Europe!

Joyce in RSA.

Pat Porter <pat.p...@ntlworld.com> wrote in message

news:1d5i7.24887$_71.1...@news6-win.server.ntlworld.com...

Shirley Shone

unread,
Aug 26, 2001, 10:37:37 AM8/26/01
to
Pat this brings back memories.


>Oh we (most of us) only had nice little narrow suspender belts. Then I was
>very slim, with very long slim legs, so didn`t over-stress the stockings!
>(Our suspenders are for keeping stocking up, not men`s socks!) What a pain
>trying to get you seams straight though - thank goodness for tights.
>
>Of course, during the war, it was hard to get stockings, so our the girls
>used to colour their legs with gravy browning,

In my neck of the woods it was builders sand that was used to brown the
legs. Sand was mixed with water to a sloppy mess. Then it was rubbed
over the legs and allowed to dry. When it was dry it was rubbed off
which left a tan colour on the legs. Heaven help you if it rained
because it streaked.

> and get their mum/sister/best
>friend to draw a straight "seam" with an eyebrow pencil (those lucky enough
>to poseess one!) Boy, weren`t the G.I.`s popular when they arrived - they
>kept half the country in nylons. There were several theories about what
>they took in exchange though! LOL!
>
>Little boys used to go up to the G.I.s asking "have you got any gum, chum?"
>as we had such a meagre ration of sweets, (or anything else for that
>matter!) gum was a wonderful treat! Ah, memories.

GI's were few and far between where I lived in the country.


>
>I was at a convent school, until I passed the exam for the Grammar school.
>When small we had these wierd garments for winter called "liberty bodices"
>of thick fleecy lined cotton worn over our vests, which had buttons attached
>so we could attach our suspenders and stockings.

I remember those too and the red flannel vests.

> Awful ugly thingd, but you
>needed them when all you had for heating was a tiny coal fire in the
>livingroom - unless you were in bed with measles or something. I loved
>being ill, so I could lie in bed watching the pictures in the fire in my
>bedroom. It was so cold and so hard to get blankets (because of rationing)
>I used to have a couple of coats on my bed for extra warmth - and they were
>just handy to grab during an air-raid, when we had to dash downstairs to the
>shop below the flat (apartment) where the shelter was. I also had a "stone"
>(very heavy pottery) hotwater-bottle

We used to take the solid iron shelf out of the oven wrapped in a piece
of old blanket or the old flat irons.

We had to shelter in the pantry when the air raids were on.

>- it used to scare me to death when it
>fell on the floor at night. No carpets in those days - just a large square
>of it in the parlour, which we only used at Christmas and when we had
>visitors Mum wanted to impress. We had a dartboard in there, and I remember
>Mum spending ages treating her sideboard for woodworm (I was a pretty bad
>shot with the darts!) It wasn`t until I was well into my forties that I
>confessed what had caused the holes!!!

We also had a dart board and there were a good many holes round the door
were it hung. Dad put a low hook on the door because I was only 3 when
the war broke out.

One could go on all day telling of life in those times.
Shirley Shone

F.James Cripwell

unread,
Aug 26, 2001, 11:10:52 AM8/26/01
to
"Joyce_in_RSA" (joy...@global.co.za) writes:
> Oh, Pat, what memories you conjour up! I remember liberty bodices, (I
> wonder how they got that name?)
>(snip)
> Joyce in RSA.

IIRC, compared with what women wore *before*, liberty bodices were,
indeed, what the expression describes.
--
Jim Cripwell.
Thoughts from a confused philosopher.
If a husband speaks in a forest and his wife does not hear him,
is he still wrong?

Gill Murray

unread,
Aug 26, 2001, 11:31:59 AM8/26/01
to
Oh, my lord, Pat.
Those ghastly liberty bodices! How could one forget them? We didn't have
washers and dryers in those days, so they went into the copper, got boiled
for a while, then through the mangle, and onto the line to dry! They took
forever to dry, because they were bulky. Then do you remember coms?
Combinations, they were. And I do remember helping hook my grandmother into
her corsets. A huge row of teeny hooks and eyes. And buttinhooks to do up
our shoes
As I type, the washer and dryer are doiung the wash, and I am thinking how
much more comfy clothes are in this day and age. Of course, being your age,
I don't have to get dogged up for work, and residing in Florida, just live
every day in shorts and blouse!
Gillian
Central Florida.

"Pat Porter" <pat.p...@ntlworld.com> wrote in message
news:1d5i7.24887$_71.1...@news6-win.server.ntlworld.com...

Jenn Ridley

unread,
Aug 26, 2001, 12:25:21 PM8/26/01
to
Tia Mary wrote:

>>From: "Pat Porter"
>
>> nice little narrow suspender belts.
>
>This side of the pond those are called "garter belts" and are still available.
> Of course, they aren't worn as part of a woman's daily wear.

Sez you. I prefer garter and stockings to pantyhose (and I'm in my
30's). It is hard to find plain garter belts w/o lots of ruffled
lace, but I've got a couple of them. ( I hate, hate, hate pantyhose
*and* tights)

jenn
--
Jenn Ridley
jri...@chartermi.net
WIP: back to school clothes, Betsy Stinner's Elizabethan sampler, Noah's Journey, Glory, ANG's Emperor's Coat
Most recently Finished: Late Victorian dresses, Scary Scraps, Edwardian Dresses, LK Joy

Joan

unread,
Aug 26, 2001, 4:00:46 PM8/26/01
to
Lauren Kuik wrote:
>
> I find that my stitches are so tight when I knit
> that after a row or two I can't even get the needle in to make another
> stitch (yikes)! I don't have a similar tension problem with crochet or
> needlework so I don't know what the deal is with knitting?!?!
>
Lauren, I knit just like I crochet, holding the thread/yarn the
same way and everything. I think that knitting like this is called
"picking" rather than "throwing" the yarn over. There is an ever-so-
slight difference in the look of the stitches--only an expert knitter
could tell--but this may work for you. If you need a better
explanation,
email me and I'll try to describe it.
HTH!
Joan

Cynthia

unread,
Aug 26, 2001, 4:22:10 PM8/26/01
to
Good post Joyce. And spelling can make a BIG difference in translation. In one
of my technical newsgroups, folks regularly type "there" instead of "their",
"hear" instead of "here" just to name a couple. This can *greatly* change the
meaning of the sentence. And as you mentioned, we also use slang terms like
"undies" for underwear. It is a wonder that non-English speaking folks can get
anything at all out of a post.

Cynthia


"Joyce_in_RSA" <joy...@global.co.za> wrote in message

news:9maobs$dc4$2...@ctb-nnrp2.saix.net...

Louise Sugar

unread,
Aug 26, 2001, 7:58:10 PM8/26/01
to
Oh, Linda.....I just had to laugh...I saw that same tee shirt on two young
men over in NYC a couple of weeks ago :D


"Linda D." <deu...@nospamhome.com> wrote in message
news:3b870047.1844896@news...
> >

Meredith Dill

unread,
Aug 27, 2001, 12:18:13 AM8/27/01
to
Thanks for telling us about this! I'm 23 and I love to hear such
stories... To put this into perspective, I've had a computer in the
house since I was 9!

Meredith

Pat Porter

unread,
Aug 27, 2001, 9:44:31 AM8/27/01
to
Terrible times - and also great times! Everyone pulled together, and the
sense of humour was terrific - and mostly what kept us going! Odften, when
in the cinema, the words would come on the screen "An air-raid warning has
sounded". Most of us just sat it out to see the end of the film. At least
you couldn`t hear the bombs and gunfire quite so clearly! I often wonder how
many of today`s youth would stand up to it all. Probably they`d surprise us
and blossom with having something worth struggling for! I`d like to think
so, anyway!

I`m trying to imagine a present day computer being thrust into those times.
It would probably have been regarded as something diabolical, when you think
that when we first had bananas after the war, very few children knew what to
do with them!

I can still hear (in my mind`s ear!) the peculiarly different note of the
German planes flying over! And the day the sky was filled with planes all
day taking the paratroopers over - and tanks going through the town centre
to embark on ships for the Normandy landings. It still seems funny to me
that children are learning about all that in history. History? That wasn`t
history, surely - it was just part of our very ordinary lives! We, as
children, were hardly conscious of living in hardship - we were more intent
on finding that bit of parachute, or piece of shrapnel etc.! A Mars Bar was
carefully cut up into tiny slices and had to last at least a week! I was
quite a lot older before I stopped being surprised at seeing someone eat a
whole one all at once! As for television - I was at least seventeen before I
even SAW one!

Pat P.
--


East Anglian Xstitch Designs
http://homepages.tesco.net/~porter
Old village scenes.

"Meredith Dill" <Meri...@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:3B89CA05...@yahoo.com...

Joyce_in_RSA

unread,
Aug 27, 2001, 8:27:02 AM8/27/01
to
Yes, Jim, but only children wore liberty bodices. Women wore suspender
belts, or corsets or corselets with suspenders! "Stepins" also had
suspenders attached, when they more-or-less took over from corsets. They
were supposed to be more comfortable, but didn't do much good to keep the
tummy under control unless they were tight.

"Garters", to us, were circles of elastic worn around the thighs to keep the
stockings up and cut off the circulation! Boys also wore garters to keep
their knee-socks up. They always had red raw knees in winter - no long
pants until they were about 14yrs old!

Joyce in RSA.

F.James Cripwell <bf...@FreeNet.Carleton.CA> wrote in message
news:9mb3hs$rd$1...@freenet9.carleton.ca...

Di Messina

unread,
Aug 27, 2001, 10:56:44 AM8/27/01
to
My mom knits like that. Just picks up some yarn and starts knitting.
In a few days she's got a lovely sweater! Want something special?? Tell her
what and she'll either do it from memory or figure out a way to do it.

Di

Tara D <Mand...@echo-on.net> wrote in message
news:ns6eotsrfj8h2fgsr...@4ax.com...
> On Fri, 24 Aug 2001 15:19:36 -0400, Marilyn Leavitt-Imblum
> <mar...@tiag.com> wrote:
>
> >So I make up what I want to stitch. A hat can be stretched out for a
> >week or done in a day....I just write the instructions down as I go.
>
> You do better than I do then. Fortunately for me, I can read the
> previous stitching and finish a piece, even months or years later.
>
> Write it down! There's an idea that would prevent the need to count
> the number of stitches to make the front of a sweater several months
> later. Sleeves are less of a problem, as I stitch them both at the
> same time.
>
> Drives my mother nuts that I can pick up an intricate pattern from
> sight (yes, I can read directions too...though I find letting the
> previous row dictate what to knit much more logical than following a
> pattern).
>
> Tara
> Selfishness is not living as one wishes to live, it is asking others to
live as one wishes to live.
> Oscar Wilde
>


Lauren Kuik

unread,
Aug 27, 2001, 2:14:51 PM8/27/01
to
I think this has been a great thread and have really enjoyed hearing the
many stories. My parents are of the generation who fought in WW II and I am
of the generation of baby boomers.

One of the things that I think our children today lack is "heroes". I agree
with Pat that today's generation would very likely arise to the occasion if
they were set upon with hardship but there don't seem to be many role models
to emulate.

My generation saw the likes of JFK, RFK, MLK fight for civil rights and the
betterment of our world only to lose them to the assassins bullets. But
while they lived the provided great examples (in general - womanizing was
not one of the good examples : 0). There were also sports stars like Mickey
Mantle and, at the time, even OJ!

These days some of our world leaders are not even good role models. And some
rap musicians create confusion about what is acceptable behavior for our
young people.
Watching "Politically Incorrect" with Bill Mahr the other night, he said
that even such words as the terrible "n" word for black people is acceptable
now because it is now a part of society with its regular use in music! Ye
gods!!

So who do you and your families view as heroes and/or role models in today's
world? I'm sure there are a lot of them all over the world and it wouldn't
hurt to hear about them.

I'll start with Tiger Woods as a good role model for our youth. He is
dedicated to his profession and seems to be quite level headed under
pressure. That was witnessed with his composure through 7 rounds (yes 7!) of
extra play before he won the NEC Invitational yesterday. Kudos also to the
guy who came in 2nd (Kyrsek sp?). It had to be heartbreaking for him to lose
but he sure put up a good fight!

Lauren
St. Pete, FL

"Pat Porter" <pat.p...@ntlworld.com> wrote in message

news:j2si7.14300$3f.33...@news2-win.server.ntlworld.com...

Anne Tuchscherer

unread,
Aug 27, 2001, 3:39:20 PM8/27/01
to
If I had to pick a sports person as a role model for a younger person I would
probably pick Cal Ripken Jr. He is the epitomy of hardwork. For all his
accomplishments and fame he has never been the subject of scandal (ie drugs,
dwi, disturbing the peace). And he doesn't mind poking fun at himself. He has
been doing milk and Eskay hotdog commercial (TV and radio) for years that must
have been a riot when they were taping.

Anne (in Ellicott City, MD)

emerald

unread,
Aug 27, 2001, 4:27:48 PM8/27/01
to
My choice would be Jody Williams, who won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1997 for
her work with the International Campaign to Ban Landmines AND the people
who, each and every day, risk their lives trying to rid the world of this
scourge, mine by individual deadly mine.

emerald (pretty much fed up with the adulation bestowed on those who are
paid ridiculous amounts of money for whacking little balls around! JMO, of
course)


JennyWren

unread,
Aug 27, 2001, 4:43:16 PM8/27/01
to

Lauren Kuik wrote:

> One of the things that I think our children today lack is "heroes". I agree
> with Pat that today's generation would very likely arise to the occasion if
> they were set upon with hardship but there don't seem to be many role models
> to emulate.
>
> My generation saw the likes of JFK, RFK, MLK fight for civil rights and the
> betterment of our world only to lose them to the assassins bullets. But
> while they lived the provided great examples (in general - womanizing was
> not one of the good examples : 0). There were also sports stars like Mickey
> Mantle and, at the time, even OJ!
>

I think that part of this phenonenon is due to our society's need or interest in
digging out all the skeletons in any prominent person's closet. Even people who
were considered perfect heroes in years past have been shown to have flaws. I
don't know whether this change is a good thing or a bad thing, but it exists.
There are two sides to the issue:
1) Our children are taught that it is OK to make mistakes and not be perfect,
but
2) they are also given limits on their aspirations earlier in life.

I am not sure what it will mean in the future.

The Wren


fuba...@yahoo.com

unread,
Aug 27, 2001, 5:19:56 PM8/27/01
to

I'm the only girl & youngest child of six, my uncle (who has eight
daughters and no sons) quickly bestowed the nickname "Precious" to me,
Over the years, my cousins morphed it into "Princess Precious". A few
years back, my Dad bought my mom and me matching Mary Engelbright
T-shirts, Mom's said, "Queen of Everything" and mine said "Princess of
Quite a Lot"!

--Joann


On Sat, 25 Aug 2001 13:19:22 -0400, "Lauren Kuik"
<kucu...@ix.netcom.com> wrote:

>Apparently being queen is something you can grow into (ha!ha!) - at least in
>our experience. Our oldest daughter was raised as a "princess" and never let
>anyone forget it! It seems that at about the time that she left home to go
>out on her own she became a "queen" and expected to be treated as such. We,
>her loyal subjects, complied.
>
>When her sister planned her bridal shower earlier this year she did the
>invites in the form of a royal decree with words to the effect of "you are
>summoned to the occasion for the queen and soon-to-be king. This is to be a
>surprise so if you breathe a word of it, off with your head." Her friends,
>who well understand the whole princess/queen thing thought it was a riot.
>
>Decorations, of course, were crowns and king/queen playing cards, etc. We
>had a good time teasing suture SIL about becoming a king through marriage.
>To our surprise we found out he had already been bestowed the honor. He was
>homecoming king in high school ; )
>
>The queen and her king are now happily ensconced in their beautiful new home
>in New Jersey.
>
>Lauren
>St. Pete, FL
>


Cynthia

unread,
Aug 27, 2001, 6:56:10 PM8/27/01
to
I can remember my dad telling me stories about bananas. The Chiquita banana
song instructed people how to store them because no one had a clue what to do
with them (the song said not to put them in the refrigerator). The personal
computer has been around less than 20 years (about 1985 was when they started
getting popular). Amazing how quickly things become common place in life.

Cynthia

"Pat Porter" <pat.p...@ntlworld.com> wrote in message
>

> I`m trying to imagine a present day computer being thrust into those times.
> It would probably have been regarded as something diabolical, when you think
> that when we first had bananas after the war, very few children knew what to
> do with them!
>

> Pat P.

Cynthia

unread,
Aug 27, 2001, 7:01:14 PM8/27/01
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One good thing that has come out of the recent political scandals (Clinton and
Condit), is they help show kids that lying about something usually gets you into
even more trouble. When the Clinton scandal was going on, I was talking with a
friend's teenagers. I commented that if he had just said "Yes, I did it, it was
wrong, Hilary made me sleep on the couch for a week and I sincerely apologized
to her" at the very beginning, it probably would have died out in a short amount
of time. And they agreed with me (not that it probably had any effect on THEIR
behavior, the "can't happen to me" syndrome). <GRIN>

Cynthia

"JennyWren" <vand...@agecon.purdue.edutwist> wrote in message >

Kim Brown

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Aug 27, 2001, 8:10:51 PM8/27/01
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Lauren Kuik wrote:

<snip>

> So who do you and your families view as heroes and/or role models in today's
> world? I'm sure there are a lot of them all over the world and it wouldn't
> hurt to hear about them.
>
> I'll start with Tiger Woods as a good role model for our youth. He is
> dedicated to his profession and seems to be quite level headed under
> pressure. That was witnessed with his composure through 7 rounds (yes 7!) of
> extra play before he won the NEC Invitational yesterday. Kudos also to the
> guy who came in 2nd (Kyrsek sp?). It had to be heartbreaking for him to lose
> but he sure put up a good fight!
>
> Lauren
> St. Pete, FL

Hmmm... A good question, Lauren!

For myself, I don't see sporting figures as heroes. I think good
sportsmanship ought to be taken for granted and anyone who is the
fastest, strongest, bestest is clever, but not of heroic status (IMHO).
My heroes are usually little people who mostly go unnoticed.

I guess my Mum and Dad are my biggest heroes. Mum is a rock! She nursed
Dad through seven indescribable years of throat cancer and emphysema.
She did everything in her power to make his life as bearable and as easy
as she could and she spent many long hours, frozen with fear, grieving
for the eventual loss of the love of her life. When Dad finally died,
something of Mum went with him. I'm glad about that, because my Dad was
also a hero and he loved my Mum more than anything!

My Dadda was the biggest, strongest, funniest bloke in the whole world!
His hands were the size of a leg of pork and they were hard on your
backside when they struck! LOL! Dad rarely ever felt the need to
discipline us, but if he did it was Serious! The one thing Dad would not
tolerate in us, himself or anyone else was dishonesty. If he caught you
in a lie, then you got very short shrift indeed! Needless to say, the
Ugly Sister and I learned very early in life not to play with the truth!

Dad was also a joker of the first water and he spent many a long hour
setting up elaborate practical jokes. Once, he floated half a dozen
wooden ducks (decoys) on our swimming pool and then sat down to wait for
me to come home. When I finally knocked on the front door, he met me
there, shushing and whispering: 'Quick! Come and see what's here! We
have to catch them! Quick! Quick!'

It never occurred to me to wonder why any sensible person would want to
snatch a duck off the surface of a swimming pool, but I was totally
sucked in by Dad's urgency! He gestured that we should circle the pool
in opposite directions and then reach in to grab the nearest duck (all
of which were obediently bobbing near the edge in the half-light of
dusk). I followed Dad's lead and splashingly seized a duck as he did the
same. None of the other ducks made any attempt to fly away and I
realised I was left standing, holding a cork decoy!

Mum and the Ugly Sister were busting their stupid sides with ridiculous
laughter and I thought Dad was going to topple into the pool himself as
he stood there cuddling his own decoy to his bosom in evil glee! Dad had
got the decoys from his mate, Cyril Schofield, who enjoyed shooting
ducks and, I imagine, would also have enjoyed the story of this little
spectacle! It seems Dad got *great* mileage out of it down at the
Bowling Club, where grown men spend their leisure hours figuring out
ever more convoluted ways of embarrassing their daughters!

Mum brings this tale out every Christmas and she and Ugly *still* go off
into gales of unnatural laughter (it has something to do with the
expression I'd had on my face...) these thirty-odd years later!

Anyway, growing up with parents such as these has led me to believe that
the very *best* heroes *are* the unsung ones!

--
Trish {|:OI}
Newcastle, NSW, Australia

Di Messina

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Aug 28, 2001, 10:45:22 AM8/28/01
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I agree about the ridiculous amounts of money for sports figures.
What's even worse is that because of the ridiculous amounts of money and the
adulation everyone looks the other way when they commit crimes, whether it's
dui, substance abuse, spouse abuse, disorderly conduct, etc. I know I have
no hope in hell, but I would like to see laws enacted that prohibit playing
of professional sports by anyone convicted of either 3 misdemeanors or a
felony. Can you imagine the thinning of the professional football ranks??

Di

emerald <ejk...@hotmail.com> wrote in message
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Di Messina

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Aug 28, 2001, 10:56:03 AM8/28/01
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My DD has a shirt with a crown on it that says "It's not easy being a
princess"

Di

<fuba...@yahoo.com> wrote in message
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Karen C - California

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Aug 28, 2001, 11:08:16 AM8/28/01
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>My mom knits like that. Just picks up some yarn and starts knitting.

Give me a couple basic measurements, and I can do the same thing. It's
actually fairly simple. Want me to teach you?

What I still can't understand is showing DGM a picture of a dress in a
catalogue, and she'd sew up "the same thing, only I want blue" without a
pattern.
--
Finished 8/16/01 - July & August gemstone Dragons
WIP: Angel of Autumn, Calif Sampler, Holiday Snowglobe, Guide the Hands,
condolence gift

Paralegal - Editor - Researcher
http://www.craft-searcher.com/kmc/index.html

Di Messina

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Aug 28, 2001, 11:13:40 AM8/28/01
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Karen,
My mom needed a pattern for sewing but she could adjust anything from
there: different neck line, drop sleeve, adjustments to size, whatever.
She was a professional seamstress for most of her life. She actually had
her own company for a while. She made uniforms for restaurants, bars, our
high school marching band, etc.
As for teaching me how to do it. I've knitted exactly one thing in my
life. I made a scarf last year! Straight knitting (no pearls). I'm
considering attempting another one this year. But I think I'll leave the
sweaters for those with a little more experience. I really appreciate the
offer though.
By the way, how are you feeling? I haven't seen many posts from you
lately. Does that mean you're feeling better and spending more time
working? Or do you feel so lousy you can't even bother to get on-line. I
hope it's the former!

Do

Karen C - California <kmc...@aol.com> wrote in message
news:20010828110816...@mb-fp.aol.com...


> >My mom knits like that. Just picks up some yarn and starts knitting.
>

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