THE ELECTRONIC CAMEL
Newsletter of the Oasis Knitting Guild in Israel
Vol. 2, no. 3 (Mar. 2001)
Editor: Avital Pinnick
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Contents:
ARTICLES:
PATTERN: CABLED ARROWS VEST, by Marian Poller
PATTERN: TATTED STAR OF DAVID MEDALLION, by Katharine Wade
THE FIBERNET STORY, by Ron Parker (guest writer)
Oddly enough, I was born in an Adventist hospital in Los Angeles in
1932, odd because my parents were singularly undevoted to religion. My mother was a graduate of a top art school who instructed a while at UC Berkeley before moving on to a career in the public schools. My father was a would-be writer who moved from job to job in the movie industry, and for some time in the 40s was a highly titled, if poorly paid, executive reporting directly to Walt Disney as the overall story editor for the whole joint.
I was the only child--standard for depression-era kids--of a couple of artsy/literary parents, so naturally I headed straight to sciences and technology. However there was no escaping the social gatherings of arts people. In other words, there were weavers and writers and other generally suspect people surrounding me in my everyday life--even as I tried to figure out the physical world such as rocks and chemistry, and household things such as radios and telephones Out of all the crowd I most liked the weavers. The authors and film people were OK, but weavers and other fiber people were more interesting to the boy scientist. I went on to Berkeley to eventually get a Ph.D. in geology, and then on to become a full professor at the University of Wyoming--a very small university, but one where the geology department was distinguished, ranked nationally, and also hands-down the best department on campus. I had it made.
What did I do? I resigned a lifetime tenure position and moved to a farm in Minnesota to raise wool sheep. My then-wife, Teresa, was a spinner, knitter, and beginning weaver. We learned about sheep raising, building construction, and more other things than I want to discuss.
The point of all the above prattle is how did FiberNet get started. Why computer communication?
I got hooked on serious computer communications in the tourist town of Ketchum, Idaho in the early 1980s where I went as a speaker at a meeting of the National Wool Growers Association in adjacent Sun Valley. On the way I had picked up my son at a Russian language camp in Minnesota. He had 100 percent dirty (like fragrant) clothes after a long camp session of recycling the same clothes.
Our first night in Ketchum was emergency laundromat time. While waiting, I walked outside the laundromat, and looked at a middle-aged man clicking away on a keyboard in a little office next door. He had a break, and said hello. I asked what he was doing. He said that he was trying to get a connection working among some Idaho banks, by using telephone computer links. I never looked back. I had a computer for writing and could connect to other places, but I wanted to do more than that. I wanted to build something from scratch and make it work.
It didn't take long for me to get a FiberNet mailing list set up at a provider in California, and FiberNet more or less as if is today was on line. On August 5, 1996 Janet Szabo, by design of course to repeat history, posted the first email to FiberNet mailing list.
FiberNet has had to change providers a couple of times, but with no effects that were noticeable to the subscribers. The hosting moved to Utah for a while and is now back in Silicon Valley. Meanwhile I don't run FiberNet from Minnesota anymore, but from Sweden, Being the Internet, it matters not where the list or its owner are physically located, and I often take care of chores from friend's homes, public terminals, and computer cafes while traveling.
FiberNet is all about sharing. There is no charge to anyone, although some users make some freewill donations to cover my out of pocket costs. The web subscribing page is at a site run by knitter Lois Baker. My web pages at http://www.rbparker.com include a workshop FAQ maintained by Mary Vivit in Utah. The is a list of fiber processors started by processor Gail White in Missouri. I try to keep up a list of fiber-related mailing lists. There are links to other free services.
There may be some changes coming up. I live in a big apartment building in a Stockholm suburb, and we recently got an ethernet connection right into our apartment that connects me full time to the 'net at T1 speeds (like 1,500K instead of 64K), so I may be moving some service to my own computers if it seems desirable.
The number of active subscribers has stayed within a few percent of
900 for years now. 900 seems to be a magic number for FiberNet. So give it a try. The web way is at:
http://www.rbparker.com/ and choose FiberNet Helper
Otherwise email to:
fibernet-request@imagicomm.com with the message subscribe or fibernet-digest-request@imagicomm.com with the message subscribe
If you have a smart provider, you can just click on the appropriate line below mailto:fibernet-request@imagicomm.com?body=subscribe or mailto:fibernet-digest-request@imagicomm.com?body=subscribe
I also am owner of Tabletweaving mailing list that I run as a favor to the tabletweaving group TWIST. It is hosted (for free) by Carol Wang in BC, Canada. You can get info at my web pages.
Best wishes, Ron
ron@rbparker.com
owner-fibernet@imagicomm.com
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LINDA MEISINGER AND THE DOLPHIN SONG, by Avital Pinnick
Linda Meisinger is the owner of "The Dolphin Song," a family-run store that combines environmental consciousness, social renewal, and a strong interest in the applied arts. "The Dolphin Song" opened for business on Earth Day, April, 1993. Located in Gardner, Kansas (population less than 10,000), about thirty miles southwest of Kansas City, Mo., its customer base is broad, attracting people from all over the country. Above the store is a community center that holds classes in yoga, eurythmy, Feldenkreis, and Waldorf education, as well as a family coffee house, puppet shows, and other events. The store sells wooden and natural fiber toys, pottery (Linda's son is the resident potter), gifts, homeopathy supplies, flower essences, aromatherapy oils, yarns, craft kits, felting supplies, books, and has an organic and natural food-buying club.
Linda herself lives on a small, developing organic farm, with a wildlife and wetlands habitat. Currently, its residents include goats, horses, cows, ducks, geese, rabbits, cats, dogs, a swan, and a llama. In the fall she plans to add two young sheep so that she can follow the fiber process from the beginning. She says that it would be wonderful if all farms could be self-sufficient, although she admits that hers is not.
Linda noticed that visitors to the store sometimes feel as though they are surrounded by "art," and that they doubt that they have the ability to create for themselves. Her answer is that we all have this ability--we just haven't found it yet. In an applied arts course, she is learning to work without patterns and finds the process very satisfying: "To take away the limitations and boundaries of a pattern and create something out of yourself brings nourishment to the soul."
Fiber arts are represented at "The Dolphin Song," including knitting classes for children and adults. For a limited time, the store is exhibiting the work of paper sculptor Debra Volkand. Linda set up her floor loom in the store to arouse people's curiosity. She is weaving rag rugs for herself, but in the future she may set up a warp so that visitors can give it a try. This summer she will make fleece rugs with children and enlist her grandchildren to help.
Linda sells small quantities of organic yarn. At present, there is not much demand for organic yarn, but she hopes that the demand will increase as more people become interested in organic cotton and other natural fibers. Her interest in organic yarn is a natural outgrowth of her concern about the environment. "My definition of environment is all that is around me, in me and through me ... my thoughts, the air I breath, food I eat, clothes I wear, ground I walk on--how I take care of where I have been and where I am going," she writes. "To live my lives in as organic way as possible ... that brings reverence within my life.... To tread softly in consideration of mother earth and to consider those that will follow after me. These are not necessarily easy goals, especially in our fast-paced throw-away society today, but I can make a difference when I strive for them. So organic means (as does food growing) we do it without all the chemicals and contrived ideas of our society to make money in a quick way at the expense of the environment and everything that lives in it."
The Dolphin Song, 102 South Elm Street, Gardner, Kansas 66030.
Phone: 913-856-7513.
Web site under construction: www.thedolphinsong.comTOP
MARCH 2001 MEETING REPORT, by Donna
The last Oasis Guild meeting was held at Jennifer's home on Tuesday, March 20th at 1:00 pm. Jerusalem was represented by Donna and Ethel-Sherry . Ellen, Sivia, and Yael were the Sharon area representatives. Yael brought an adorable metalic yarn crocheted mini-bag. She purchased the yarn in the Herzliya local shop. Ellen was working on her absolutely gorgeous Missoni yarn sweater. Sivia shared her stories about Switzerland and Swiss yarn shopping. Ethel-Sherry brought a mini baby surprise sweater for the preemie project. She has tips for how to square the body for those of us who find it more rectangular than we like. Jen was working on a pair of toe-up socks in DK weight, which worked up in a lovely striped pattern. Donna brought her Margaret Peel shawl and the sample card. Wonderful books and magazines were passed around. Ellen has grandmother fever and has a wonderful selection of books and patterns for those of us who are similarly afflicted or already blessed.
We all seem to be in a Guild slump. The meeting was scheduled for later in the day with hopes that more of us would be able to attend. I know that many of us are going through personal crises that are interfering with our participation. At the same time, it does seem like we need to give ourselves a jolt to rejuvenate. This is a plea for feedback on what each of you think can be done. I have a feeling that I am in the minority in finding the oampany and pleasure of being with other knitters adequate nourishment.
Hugs to all and warm wishes for a happy and kosher Passover,
DonnaTOP
MEMBER PROFILE: ALTHEA KATZ
1. Althea's colorful past...
I'm NY born and bred--Queens when I was single, Boro Park corner Flatbush after I got married. My husband's family is originally from here, though, so it was always a plan to move to Israel. Over a two year period three of our friends were murdered in NY, and our search for a suitable school for our son didn't come to anything, so we decided the time was right. We (my husband Benjy, our two oldest kids, and I) came to Israel on July 13, 1990 and went straight from the airport to a settlement called Neve Tzuf (Halamish).
The ulpan had some trouble getting started--there were never more than six families, and we had levels of Hebrew ranging from none at all to Jewish day school graduates, so Benjy and I started looking for work. He's an industrial arts teacher and there is no such thing in Israel, so instead he realized a life-long dream and trained to become a sofer (ritual scribe). (His website is www.torahscribe.com.) Meanwhile I was hired to write a travel guide, Israel's Ten Best (G.A.D. Publishing, 1991). Unfortunately, it hit the stores January 14, 1991, the day before the Gulf War--good thing I was paid a flat rate and not a percentage of sales.
Meanwhile, we were waiting for housing to become available in the settlement where we now live, Bracha (about 100 m. outside Shechem). We moved here in July of 1991, and in September our youngest girl was born.
In the past 9 years I've had a rather varied career, to put it nicely. I translated a book on Torah codes, CompuTorah (Talkah Publishing, 1995), become Israel's first Orthodox woman to get a gun instructor's license, taught pistol and rifle shooting at the National Olympic Range in Herzliya, done child care, and taught classes in computer usage. For the past three years I've been working mainly as a translator and editor, focusing on issues relating to the State and religion. I've also edited a number of articles on astronomy and the Jewish calendar.
2. Althea and her knitting
My sister taught me to crochet when I was five, and like a good Beis Yaacov girl, I spent my high school years crocheting kippot in class. Though my father owned a coat factory, I didn't learn to sew until I taught myself after my son was born. I learned to knit recently--about six years ago. I was looking for a sweater I wanted and could find nothing like it in the stores, but a Chasida yarn booklet which I found at a kiosk had a sweater close enough. I taught myself, based on the pictures in the booklet, and it took me several years to figure out English knitting terms. It wasn't until I went on line and met Avital and Jennifer that I learned I wasn't exactly knitting the conventional way....
I'm a very selfish crafter--I work mainly on practical things, and mostly for myself. I'm firmly into that multiple WIP reality--I just sewed Purim costumes for my two daughters, am crocheting a kippah base for my son, working on the dugma on my husband's kippah, and making a hat for myself. Then I have to get some waffle socks onto the needles for my mother-in-law (someone who appreciates my knitting!) and have my son pick out patterns for his dorm socks for next year.
3. Althea and the Oasis Guild
You know, I honestly don't remember how I found the Guild. I met Marian through a mystery email list, so I assume she's the one who told me about the Knitlist and the Guild, but I wouldn't bet my gun on it. I do know that the first guild meeting I went to was at Marian's--she thought, based on my Knitlist and Dorothy-L posts, that I would be some Althea-the-hun, and was kind of shocked when I walked in with my gun belt, cell phone, lycra dress and platform heels.... Unfortunately, due to the current security situation, I haven't been able to get to Guild meetings in the past six months.TOP
POLL - Who taught you to knit?
It's been rather quiet on the knitting front (not, alas, on the security front) and Kesam suggested that we liven things up with a poll. Strictly voluntary, of course! Answers will be posted in the next issue.
So question #1 is, Who taught you to knit? (Before you start yawning and rolling eyes, be assured that I will try to come up with some off-the-wall questions as well, if there is enough interest!)
SHORT NOTES
Jennifer contributed this URL, http://www.librarycompany.org/HookBook/hook-index.htm, a very fine "virtual tour" of an exhibit on needlework in the Victorian period. It is well worth a look.
TOP
PATTERN: CABLED ARROWS VEST, by Marian Poller
Note: this sweater is knit in one piece to the underarms with a purl stitch at each side and the shoulders are kitchenered so that there is no obvious join at the top.
Experience level: beginner
Finished measurement: 42"
Length to underarm: 13"
Finished length: 23"
Materials: Worsted wt yarn 400 grams (8 balls x 50 grams)
Needles: 3.5mm and 4.5mm or size to obtain gauge using circular needles
Gauge: 4 sts= 1", 13 rows = 2"
Pattern Stitch from "Harmony Guide to Knitted Stitches," vol 2, p. 48 but altered for circular knitting.
Worked over 14 sts on a background of reverse st. st.
1st row: (right side); k4, p2, k2, p2, k4
Rep this row 7 times more
9th row: C4F, p2, k2, p2, C4B
10th row: as 1st row
11th row: k2, C4F, k2, C4B, k2
12th row: knit
13th row: k4, p1, T2F, T2B, p1, k4
14th-16th row: as first row.
Rep these 16 rows
Abbrev:
C4B or C4F = (Cable 4 back or Cable 4 front). Slip next 2 sts onto cable needle and hold at back (or front) of work, knit next 2 sts from left-hand needle, then knit sts from cable needle.
T2F (Twist 2 front)= slip next st onto cable needle and hold at front of work, purl next st from left-hand needle, then knit st from cable needle
T2B (Twist 2 back)= slip next st onto cable needle and hold at back of work, knit next st from left-hand needle, then purl st from cable needle.
Body:
Cast on 176 sts with smaller needles and rib k1,p1 for 4 cms (1 3/4"). On right side, change to larger needles and beg patt. K35 sts, k cable patt (14 sts), k35 sts, p1, k90 sts, p1. Work until you have done Row 14 on the 5th cable repeat.
Shape armholes: Fronts
Dec first 7 sts and work next 35 sts. With new ball working each half separately, knit next 42 sts.
Next row: Turn and dec first 7 sts. Working both sides of front dec every 6 rows at neck edge one stitch for a total dec of 12 sts. Work until you have reached 10" above the armhole with 23 sts on each side. Leave these sts on a separate holder.
Shape armholes: Back
Dec first 8 sts (includes the first st which is a purl). Next row: cast off first 8 sts. Work in st. st for 9.75" or 2 rows less than fronts. Next row: work 23 sts, place next 28 sts on a holder, work next 23 sts. Next row: purl 23 sts on each side and place on holders.
Shoulder join:
Use invisible kitchener join. You will be weaving the sts together. Do each shoulder separately. Put 23 sts on needle for front and 23 sts on second needle for back. With tapestry needle and long length of yarn start weaving. Purl 1st st in front needle but leave on needle and knit 1st stitch in back needle leaving on the needle.* Now knit that first stitch on front needle and drop it and purl the next stitch and leave it. Then you purl the first stitch on back needle and drop it off and knit the next stitch and leave it.* Work from * to * until all 23 sts have been joined. Do the other shoulder in same way.
Neckband:
With smaller needles and RS facing, pick up and k 48 sts along left front neck edging. Pick up and mark next stitch. Pick up 77 sts incl 28 on back neck holder. Rib for 7 rows and then cast off. Keep the center st in knit and dec on each side of this st every other row by p2 tog.
Armholes:
Pick up along the edge 96 sts and k1, p1 for 7 rows. Cast off on next row.
Copyright 2001, Marian Poller. All rights reserved.TOP
PATTERN: TATTED STAR OF DAVID MEDALLION, by Katharine Wade
Coats & Clarks cotton (size 70).
Mill Hill glass seed beads #00161.
Medallion:
Make two of these:
(R of 3 ds, p, 3 ds, cl rw
Ch of 12 ds) 3 times
Hint: make all ds of the chain except for the last half stitch. Push the stitches up tight until just before they start to arch. Make the final half stitch without "flipping the knot," so that the length of the chain is a fixed length and can't change. This will also help with the last chain, as it doesn't get tied until after it has been manipulated.
Weave the two together as shown in the picture. Tie and cut.
Rnd 2:
Thread 6 beads on the shuttle thread.
R of 3 ds, p, 3 ds, p, 3 ds, join to picot of Star of David, 3 ds, p, 3 ds, p, 3 ds. cl rw
Ch 4 ds, 3 p sep by 4 ds, 4 ds. rw
R of 4 ds, join to last picot of last ring, 4 ds. cl
Push up one bead
R of 4 ds, p, 4 ds. cl rw
Ch of 4 ds, 3 p sep by 4 ds, 4 ds. rw
R of 3 ds, join to last picot of last ring, 3 ds, p, join to next picot of Star of David, 3 ds, p, 3 ds, p, 3 ds. cl rw
Continue around.
Rnd 3:
R of 2 ds, p, 2 ds, j to p of previous rnd as shown in the photo, 2 ds, j to next p, 2 ds, p, 2 ds. cl rw
Ch 4 ds, 3 p sep by 4 ds, 4 ds. rw
Continue around.
Abbreviations:
ch - chain
cl - close ring
ds - double stitch
j - join
p - picot
r - ring
rw - reverse work
Copyright 2001, Katharine Wade. All rights reserved.TOP
© The Oasis Knitting Guild, 2001. All rights reserved (Past issues are available at http://msnhomepages.talkcity.com/HobbyCt/oasis_isr/). "The Electronic Camel" is edited and distributed by Avital Pinnick to members of the Oasis Knitting Guild at the end of each month. In order to include your stories and announcements, please try to submit them to mspinnik@mscc.huji.ac.il no later than the 25th of each month (civil calendar).
