HDTenEightyP/NetNews huggingface dataset:
From: jill@super.org (Amelia J. Scott-Piner)
Subject: Re: Knitted Acrylic Baby Afghan
Organization: Supercomputing Research Center (Bowie, MD)
Date: Mon, 11 Jan 1993 22:57:55 GMT

In article <1993Jan9.105754.2864@drycas.club.cc.cmu.edu> dancer@drycas.club.cc.cmu.edu writes:
>In article <30600011@hplvec.LVLD.HP.COM>, lisa@hplvec.LVLD.HP.COM (Lisa Kent) 
>writes:
>> I'm wondering if I need to bother finishing the baby afghan I started
>> knitting about 3 years ago.  I began it shortly after I taught myself
>> how to knit, and I chose inexpensive acrylic yarn.  I've since fallen
>> in love with wool and cotton and have a hard time going back to the
>> acrylic.  I'm almost half done with it.
>
>Acrylic sucks. It's basically plastic. It wears poorly and is not worth your
>time and effort.

I have to agree that if you're not happy with the materials, don't torture
yourself by trying to force the finish.  I have to make a small defense for
acrylic yarn here--very small, I don't really care for it.  With baby blankets
I do usually pick a nice acrylic rather than a washable wool if I haven't seen
the baby yet.  A couple of years ago I spent a *lot* of time, money, and 
energy making a woven baby blanket for an unborn out of washable wool.  The 
child turned out to be allergic to wool when it was born.  Now, if I'm going
to weave a baby blanket for an unborn, I choose one of the high grade acrylic
yarns like Hayfield.  Cheap acrylic isn't worth your time.  It's horrible to 
work with because it has a bad 'hand' (the feel of the yarn) and it starts to 
unravel and pill almost immediately.  
	I'd count your afghan as a learning piece and leave it at that.  Don't
feel bad about it or obsess about the time and money you spent on it.  I just 
ruthlessly chopped a fabric sample off of my loom that I hated.  My time is too
valuable to waste on something that I don't like.  Just think that the time you
spent making that afghan helped to improve your skill in knitting, so you've 
not wasted that time and energy that you put into it previously. 
	
			Hope this helps..
					jill@super.org
 
-- 
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Amelia Jill Scott-Piner   	|  Anything that I say has nothing   
jill@super.org         		|  to do with my company.
Bowie, Maryland  USA 		-----------------------------------
Xref: sparky rec.crafts.textiles:2535 alt.sewing:3743
From: close@lunch.wpd.sgi.com (Diane Barlow Close)
Newsgroups: rec.crafts.textiles,alt.sewing
Subject: Couture by Roberta Carr?
Date: 12 Jan 1993 00:27:12 GMT
Organization: Self employed, eh.
Distribution: na
NNTP-Posting-Host: lunch.wpd.sgi.com

Has anyone seen/previewed Roberta Carr's _Couture: Art of Fine Sewing_
book?  It was supposed to be available in October of last year, but so
far I haven't seen it anywhere (except a picture in Clotilde's
catalog).  I expected it to show up in some of the better sewing
stores in this area (San Francisco Bay), but so far nothing!  Can
anyone tell me what the book is like?
-- 
Diane Barlow Close
	close@lunch.wpd.sgi.com 
	I'm at lunch today.  :-)
From: edg@netcom.com (Ed Greenberg)
Newsgroups: rec.crafts.textiles
Subject: I Hate Kits...
Date: 12 Jan 93 19:36:54 GMT
Article-I.D.: netcom.1993Jan12.193654.2195
Organization: Netcom Online Communications Services (408-241-9760 login: guest)

...  I don't even look at them in the store, although there are some
lovely offerings that come in catalogs.

I will gladly pay a reasonable compensation for somebody's intellectual
property (the design) but PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE let me pick the floss
from DMC and the fabric from Charles Craft.  At between .19 and .50 per
skein, it's not too expensive to get whatever floss I need by the skein.
As for the fabric, I prefer to pick that too.  Besides, I need to
support local shops with that kind of business, even when they can't
provide the pattern.

Grump and Groan.

Now, here's an issue of intellectual property:  If I buy a pattern, it
implies a right to copy a (possibly) copyrighted design, i.e. original
artwork.  I realize I cannot photocopy the pattern for somebody else,
but:  Once I finish the project, can I resell the pattern?  Can I give
it (the original purchased documents) away?  Be that pattern purchased
solo or part of a kit?


I say yes. What does the collective wisdom of the net think?
-- 
Edward W. Greenberg  | Home: +1 408 283 0511 | edg@netcom.com
1600 Stokes St. #24  | Work: +1 408 764 5305 | DoD#: 0357
San Jose, CA  95126  | Fax:  +1 408 764 5003 | KM6CG (ex WB2GOH) 
Newsgroups: rec.crafts.textiles
From: ilaine@panix.com (Liz Stokes)
Subject: Re: FNEWS -> Threads
Organization: Panix Public Access Internet & Unix, NYC
Date: Fri, 8 Jan 1993 12:08:52 GMT

In article <24656@hacgate.SCG.HAC.COM> deeds@solaria.hac.com writes:
>VICKIE STARBUCK (TS0058@ohstmvsa.acs.ohio-state.edu) wrote:
>: 
>: Anyway, I have found that for my purposes Spin-Off is currently 
>: a better magazine for me than threads. 
>
>May I ask if anyone has subscription information to Spin-Off
>and/or Handwoven ?  (Is it in the faq?)
	Interweave Press - (303) 669 7672
		Handwoven is $21 a year
		Spin Off is $18 a year

	I *love* spin off, I've had a subscription since '86 and it's been 
such a hge help - it's worth it for the advertisements. Besides project
articles there are articles like how to give a spinning demo at a craft fair
and recreating medieval dye recipies. The winter issue had everything you
need to know to knit socks - and general enough directions that you can use
handspun yarn (in no guage known to man) - which is the point after all. No
other magazine for knitters or weavers or whatever deals with the issues that
handspinners need particular help with. The photography is fantastic - it
will blow your mind to see what 'just ordinary folks' are doing with handspun
yarn.
							-Liz

	


-- 
Liz Stokes         | 	Ilaine's E-Z Garb Workshop
Ilaine de Cameron  | 	We're going to try an experiment now. Instead of using
                   | 	a loom, we're going to wind all the yarn into balls
ilaine@panix.com   |    and adopt an infinite number of kittens...
Newsgroups: rec.crafts.textiles
From: jill@super.org (Amelia J. Scott-Piner)
Subject: Re: Xstitch, metallic thread, celtic patterns
Organization: Supercomputing Research Center (Bowie, MD)
Date: Wed, 6 Jan 1993 21:10:21 GMT

In article <C0454K.5sw@world.std.com> knighton@world.std.com (Gwen Knighton) writes:
>Oops. My file didn't include . . . 
>
>I'm about to start a project which includes some metallic thread work.
>I've never worked with metallics before, and the thread I have is much
>more brittle than regular embroidery floss. Any tips from the experts
>on making it easier to work with? Also, this thread is 4-ply, and I
>expect it will be difficult to separate. What's the best way to separate
>metallic thread without resorting to violence :-( ?
 
I've never used a 4-ply metallic before, but it shouldn't be too awful to 
separate as long as you are *very*, *very* patient.  To separate strands of 
floss, I measure out an arm's length of floss since I figure that that's 
all I can handle without severe tangles.  Once you cut the length, smooth 
out the piece.  I do this by allowing one end to drop towards the floor while
I hold the top and smooth the thread downwards with the other hand.  Once it's
pretty straight, I grab the strands that I want from the group in one hand and 
the rest of the strands in the other and pull them slowly apart.  The threads 
will start to twist, the free end will help this somewhat, but eventually the 
thread will begin to kink.  At this point, I put the floss ends that I'm       
separating out between my teeth to hold it, while I use the just freed hand to 
gently pull down on the strand and unkink any kinked areas.  Then I just continue
to separate the threads out as before. 
	The biggest difference between separating floss and separating metallic
thread is that metallic thread is a lot more brittle.  I'd cut a length of the
thread that is shorter than you normally work with while you learn to control
tension with the stuff and to defeat tangles.  Just *DON'T* pull on any tangle
that it may snag up with.  9 times out of 10 you can undo any tangle with your
needle point, a steady hand, and a good eye.  If you pull at any knot in this 
stuff its brittle character will cause the thread to snap and you'll probably 
have to unstitch a lot to tuck in your snapped end.  
	Don't give up if you get annoyed, just put it away for a while.  I've 
been stitching for ~20 years and I still get frustrated with it if I'm not in 
a patient mood.  It's worth the pain for the breathtaking effects that you 
can get.    Good luck.       

			jill@super.org
-- 
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Amelia Jill Scott-Piner   	|  Anything that I say has nothing   
jill@super.org         		|  to do with my company.
Bowie, Maryland  USA 		-----------------------------------
From: vlb@Apple.COM (Vicki Brown)
Newsgroups: rec.crafts.textiles
Subject: Re: Cross-stitch Program
Date: 11 Jan 93 20:40:52 GMT
Organization: Apple Computer Inc, Cupertino, CA

So far, both cross-stitch design programs that have been mentioned here seem to
be for IBM PCs & equivalent.  So I thought I'd even the field for any other
Mac users out there :-)

There is a shareware program called Needlework, for the Macintosh.  The
graphing area is 90x90 with a choice of 28 symbols.  Each symbol can have a
color attached, to be printed as a key.  You can also draw lines for
backstitching and enter instructions.  The version I have (2.2) won't read in
an existing picture and chart it, and it is b&w only.  Maybe the author will
improve it.  If you send the author $20 you'll get the newest version
personalized for you.

The program is available on disk # 3458 (Crafts) from EduCorp (a company
specializing in Mac freeware and shareware diskettes).  Call 800-843-9497 for
a catalog.  Or, I could probably mail a copy (binhex'd) to anyone who asked as
long as that doesn't get to be too many people :-)

Also, no one has specifically stated shareware or freeware only, but no one has
mentioned the commercial packages that are out there.  If you've got money to
spend, there are several:
	Compucrafts (508) 263-8007:
	   Stitch Crafts for the Mac, $150
	   Stitch Grapher for the IBM-PC and Apple II  $90
	"change symbols, copy, rotate, choose from 360 color DMC palette,
	up to 50 symbols (Mac) or 30 symbols (PC)"
	Stitch Crafts will create charts & legends automatically from color
	pictures.

	Davis Computer Services (800) 231-3480:
	   Easy Grapher for IBM-PCs (price not given)
	"cut & paste, rotate, create libraries of design elements"

	M&R Enterprises  (800) 800-8517
	   PC-Stitch $45
	"save patterns for reuse, move design, automatic centering,full mouse
	support, VGA/EGA, CGA, Hercules, 200x140 sitches, 16 symbols"
	
These are advertised every month in the back of Just Cross Stitch magazine.
-- 
Vicki Brown
vlb@apple.com   vlb@cfcl.com
From: lisa@hplvec.LVLD.HP.COM (Lisa Kent)
Date: Sat, 9 Jan 1993 00:42:42 GMT
Subject: Knitted Acrylic Baby Afghan
Organization: Hewlett-Packard Co., Loveland, CO
Newsgroups: rec.crafts.textiles

I'm wondering if I need to bother finishing the baby afghan I started
knitting about 3 years ago.  I began it shortly after I taught myself
how to knit, and I chose inexpensive acrylic yarn.  I've since fallen
in love with wool and cotton and have a hard time going back to the
acrylic.  I'm almost half done with it.

I'm curious if there's any specific reason why I should continue this
project, like maybe acrylic is more flame retardant than the natural 
yarns, more washable, etc.  I'm feeling an aversion to continuing this
project, but if there are good reasons to do so, I may be able to
convince myself. ;^)

Thanks for your advice,
Lisa Kent
Newsgroups: rec.crafts.textiles
From: zkym02@orl.amoco.com (Keerthi Y. McIntosh)
Newsgroups: rec.crafts.textiles
Subject: Re: knitting newsgroup
Date: 4 Jan 93 21:06:29 GMT
Reply-To: zkym02@hou.amoco.com
Organization: Amoco

Libby Amann writes:

 > Knitting is my major textile hobby, but I like the chance to see all the other
 > things that people are interested in in the textile world.

Me too!  Except that I don't knit as much as I would like to because I live in the
south and find it difficult to stay motivated in the hot weather.  I have learned
tidbits about weaving and spinning (not hobbies of mines) that make me better 
appreciate them.   

I would rather see everything in one place.  As it is I read too many groups.


My two cents.

Keerthi McIntosh
Newsgroups: rec.crafts.textiles
From: shannah@netcom.com (Teri Miller)
Subject: Re: Knitted Acrylic Baby Afghan
Organization: Netcom Online Communications Services (408-241-9760 login: guest)
Date: Mon, 11 Jan 1993 04:33:41 GMT

In article <726620454.AA00000@blkcat.UUCP> Holly.Doyne@f172.n109.z1.fidonet.org (Holly Doyne) writes:
>In a msg on <Jan 09 00:42>, Lisa Kent of 1:109/401 writes:
>
> LK> have a hard time going back to the acrylic.  I'm almost half 
> LK> done with it.
>
> LK> I'm curious if there's any specific reason why I should continue 
> LK> this project, like maybe acrylic is more flame retardant than 
> LK> the natural yarns, more washable, etc.  I'm feeling an 
> LK> aversion to continuing this project, but if there are good 
> LK> reasons to do so, I may be able to convince myself. ;^)
>
>Finish it, IF you have a friend who might use it and never would put the care
>that wool or cotton would need.  Don't use fuzzy cotton ever for a baby afgan -
>it is extremely flamable.  Washable wool is what I prefer.
>
<sigh> Why is the assumption that acrylic is for the careless?  I am
getting really bummed out reading this group - people are so incredibly
elitest!  I mean, why in the world would anyone use anything but one of
the *natural* fibers, right, except if they are too lazy to take care of
it?

C'mon folks.  I realize it's the fashionable thing nowadays to use the
natural fibers, but has anyone stopped to consider that there might be
those of us with *allergies*?  I mean, of course, I would never even 
hint that I might be tasteless enough to actually like the soft feel of
acrylic yarn.  Who could possibly like the ease of washing it?  Everyone
knows it's lousy to work with, right?  Never mind that someone might 
actually like the way it feels against their skin.  

I can care for any fabric that you can buy, weave, spin, knit, whatever,
but I am also allergic to wool, and for things like sweaters, sorry, but
yes, I am tasteless enough to like acrylic knits.  Were you to give me
a baby afghan out of one of the "nice" yarns (washable wool, right?) I
would never use it on my baby, preferring the tacky acrylic offering I
made myself, because I wouldn't have to worry about the baby breaking out
in hives!

I guess that just leaves more of the good yarn for the rest of you. 8-\

-- 
*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*
Teri Miller                    tmiller@cisco.com -or- shannah@netcom.com
*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*--*
Newsgroups: rec.crafts.textiles
From: Libby Amann <lamann1@cc.swarthmore.edu
Subject: Re: knitting newsgroup
Organization: Swarthmore College
Date: Mon, 4 Jan 1993 19:11:41 GMT

Knitting is my major textile hobby, but I like the chance to see all the other
things that people are interested in in the textile world. My husband is
beginning to spin and weave and I take some of the news items home to him. I
find there is a great deal of overlap among the various craft newsgroups to
which I subscribe. So if people insist on having a separate knitting group I
would have to subscribe, but I would continue to read this textile one, also.

	Libby Amann
From: deeds@oracle (Deanna J. Deeds)
Newsgroups: rec.crafts.textiles
Subject: Re: FNEWS -> Threads
Date: 8 Jan 93 00:34:03 GMT
Reply-To: deeds@solaria.hac.com
X-Newsreader: TIN [version 1.1 PL6]

VICKIE STARBUCK (TS0058@ohstmvsa.acs.ohio-state.edu) wrote:
: 
: Anyway, I have found that for my purposes Spin-Off is currently 
: a better magazine for me than threads. 

May I ask if anyone has subscription information to Spin-Off
and/or Handwoven ?  (Is it in the faq?)


- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Deanna J. Deeds                                        deeds@solaria.hac.com
Newsgroups: rec.crafts.textiles
From: hanner@sol1.sps.mot.com (Cynthia J. Hanner)
Subject: Re: Cross-stitch Program
Organization: Motorola Inc. MMTG Oakhill Austin Texas
Date: Mon, 11 Jan 1993 17:38:56 GMT

In article <1iqq6lINNemo@gap.caltech.edu> mberteig@cco.caltech.edu (Michelle Berteig) writes:
>Hi!
>
>I have been reading with great interest about the cross-stitch programs
>on CompuServe.  From posts I have read here, I understand there are two of
>them.  Has anyone found out if they will be made available to ftp somewhere?
>I would love to try these out, and wait anxiously for a reply...
>
>An avid cross-stitcher,
>Michelle
>
>mberteig@cco.caltech.edu
>
>

Me too!!!
Cindy

hanner@sol1.sps.mot.com

Newsgroups: rec.crafts.textiles
From: del@cbnewsb.cb.att.com (denise.e.long)
Subject: Re: silk
Organization: AT&T
Date: Tue, 5 Jan 1993 19:00:03 GMT

I tried sending this to martini@ccwf.cc.utexas.edu but it failed.
Sorry to have to post this.

I read that you were looking for silk.  I'm not sure if you want just 
silk fabric or silk that is already made into scarves, ties, clothes,
etc. I have been ordering silk and supplies from the Dharma Trading Company.
They are located in California, phone 1-800-542-5227. They are a Fiber Arts
Supply House, and have all kinds of great stuff. 
 
For us silk people they have 
about 14 kinds of silk fabrics, sold by the yard and ready to dye. They
also carry scarves in 3 grades of silk, hankies, neckties, silk covered
earrings, camisoles, tank tops, pants, skirts, etc, etc, etc. All their stuff
is white, ready to dye or paint.
 
They also carry a huge line of ready to paint sweats, hats, t-shirts,
denim jackets, dyes and other supplies for dying/painting silk or whatever.
There is no minimum order and they give quantity discounts.  The people that
take your order are friendly and knowledgable, and can answer a lot of 
your questions about what to order. Their prices are good too. 
 
 
I hope this helps!
 
Denise Long
AT&T Bell Laboratories


Newsgroups: rec.crafts.textiles
From: jill@cray.com (Jill McAllister)
Subject: Re: Knitted Acrylic Baby Yarn
Organization: Cray Research, Inc.
Distribution: na
Date: 11 Jan 93 10:14:36 CST

In article <1993Jan11.144434.5746@mintaka.lcs.mit.edu> dmiller@theory.lcs.mit.edu (Dick and Jill Miller) writes:
>
>I think this comes from the fact that there are acrylics and there are 
>acrylics.  CHEAP acrylics are the pits, they feel like water-ski rope.  
>GOOD acrylics can have a very nice feel and they do have that all important 
>advantage for those of us who are allergic to wool, they don't cause hives!
>
I think Jill is right.  My fiance's family are ALL allergic to wool, and
the first grandchild just arrived, so I knit her a sweater out of this
really beautiful and soft acrylic imported from England called Sirdar.
Nice acrylic can be very nice indeed.


Jill McAllister
                    *******************************************************
*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*PRACTICE RANDOM KINDNESS AND SENSELESS ACTS OF BEAUTY*
Programmer/Analyst  *******************************************************
Cray Research, Inc.     (612) 683-5866
Eagan, Minnesota        e-mail: jill@cray.com
Newsgroups: rec.crafts.textiles
From: jill@cray.com (Jill McAllister)
Subject: knitting gauge swatch
Organization: Cray Research, Inc.
Date: 12 Jan 93 13:28:54 CST

I knit the swatch last night for my new vest.  I'm using five skeins of
Pingouin file' de laine, plus three skeins of another yarn (50% llama,
50% wool), so I knit the swatch with the file'.  File' de laine is not
only variegated in color, but the thickness changes wildly--all the way
from bulky weight to fingering weight.  This made getting a gauge very
tricky.  It's supposed to be 8 1/2 stitches to 2 inches.  Oh, yes, the
pattern calls for worsted weight, and my llama yarn is bulky, and the
file' spends more of its time being bulky than being skinny.  So I
went up one needle size (7 to 8).  My gauge changes, naturally, depending
on where I measure the 2 inches.  Finally, in frustration, I measured
the whole swatch (24 stitches, 5 3/4 inches) and set up a ratio to see
how many stitches in 2 inches.  (Answer is 8.34.)  So is this close
enough?  And what would others of you do to get your gauge when knitting
with yarn that changes its diameter so much?


Jill McAllister
                    *******************************************************
*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*PRACTICE RANDOM KINDNESS AND SENSELESS ACTS OF BEAUTY*
Programmer/Analyst  *******************************************************
Cray Research, Inc.     (612) 683-5866
Eagan, Minnesota        e-mail: jill@cray.com
Newsgroups: rec.crafts.textiles,alt.sewing
From: lah@Cadence.COM (Lin A. Hendrix)
Subject: Re: Patterns: How to Find Other Styles?
Keywords: pattern, drafting, sewing
Reply-To: lah@cadence.com
Organization: Cadence Design Systems, Inc.
Distribution: na
Date: Thu, 7 Jan 1993 18:16:19 GMT

	Why not take a flat or draped pattern drafting class 
and make your own?  Most big cities have at least one fashion
design school.  I've even seen pattern drafting textbooks 
in the advertising section of Vogue Patterns.  It is not 
difficult to do, especially for one used to commercial patterns
and sewing.   I find the most accurate fitting is achieved 
using the draped method (you do need a good dress form though).

	I still buy patterns for a "tutorial" on wierd shapes or a 
new silhouette that is difficult to figure out (like ruffles on 
an evening dress or ease on baggy trousers). 

	You'll get a real power kick once you're free of the 
pattern companies' dictates!

--lin

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
+++++ Your friendly midnite, manic, textile artist, lin hendrix +++++
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Newsgroups: rec.crafts.textiles
From: jill@cray.com (Jill McAllister)
Subject: Re: Threads
Organization: Cray Research, Inc.
Date: 7 Jan 93 13:52:14 CST

In article <1ifmj8INNt0b@fido.asd.sgi.com> close@lunch.wpd.sgi.com (Diane Barlow Close) writes:
>(There is
>also a knitting specialty magazine, but I can't recall the exact name.

The absolutely wonderful knitting magazine's name is "Knitter's" and is
published by Golden Fleece Publications, 824 West 10th Street, Sioux 
Falls, South Dakota, 57104-3518.  It's a quarterly publications, and
to subscribe you actually send your money to P.O. Box 1525, Sioux
Falls, South Dakota, 57101-1525.  I don't know the current subscription
rate because the copy I have here at work is from 1990.  Their toll free
number is 1-800-232-KNIT.  They have truly beautiful patterns, plus
they do articles on knits from other parts of the world.  The fall 1990
issue I have with me is called "South American Odyssey" and shows lots
of sweaters and vests knit in alpaca, and also ones featuring South
American motifs.  There's also an article on the knitters of Peru
which has charts for Peruvian motifs plus pictures of the knit articles
of mourning costumes (very colorful).  I'm getting ready to start the
vest from this issue.  It's in alpaca, but I'm using Pinguoin wool
and a 50-50 blend of llama and wool from some other manufacturer.


Jill McAllister
                    *******************************************************
*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*PRACTICE RANDOM KINDNESS AND SENSELESS ACTS OF BEAUTY*
Programmer/Analyst  *******************************************************
Cray Research, Inc.     (612) 683-5866
Eagan, Minnesota        e-mail: jill@cray.com
Newsgroups: rec.crafts.textiles