opal | 
05 18th, 2006| 
So who’s going to KIP on June 10th?
May
17
(begin transcription part 2)
Katie Counter: Welcome back to team interviews for the Amazing Lace 2006. We have with us today the stole Moon Dance. Moon, I hear that your not only a teammate for the Amazing Lace but also a part of the knit-along Knit The Classics. Do you feel any extra pressure to perform with both events?
Moon Dance: Not at all, Katie. I’m confident that Opal can not only pull off Knit The Classics, but the Amazing Lace with me. We work really well together and so far we haven’t had any major errors.
Katie Counter: There have been rumours of an altercation between you and your teammate, Frost Flowers & Leaves. Is it true that Opal tends to favor you over FFL?
Moon Dance: No, there’s no favouritism here. I think FFL just needs to realize that we both have different roles here. I’m right there when Opal watches her favourite shows and I know she doesn’t need to concentrate as much when I’m around. With that said, FFL needs to realize that she fits a very good niche. She’s the one that challenges Opal to do more with he skills.
Katie Counter: Would you say that FFL is a high maintenance project?
Moon Dance: Well I think that might be a suitable label, but FFL needs to know that it’s not a bad thing. We’re just completely different projects and there’s nothing wrong with it. In fact we complement each other with our different levels of difficulty.
Katie Counter: That was well said and that was about all we have time for. Thank you for joining me, Moon Dance and I wish you well with the competition.
(end transcription part 2)
Unfortunately, FFL declined to be interviewed at this time, because her team is in a crucial pattern repeat.
May
16
(begin transcription)
Katie Counter: Ladies and Gentleman, welcome to the Amazing Lace 2006. I’m Katie Counter and I’ll be your host for this evening. Tonight we’ll be interviewing members of a team in tropical Honolulu, Hawaii. Heading this team is Opal, a.k.a. the Akamai Knitter. Opal, I think your moniker is just so interesting. Exactly what does akamai mean?
the Akamai Knitter: Well Katie, akamai basically means to use your brains and think. I thought it was an appropriate moniker as I need to use more brains then most people when I knit lace. Most people have an easy grasp of counting, but that has never been the case for me.
Katie Counter: It’s so nice to see you so up front about your limitations. Where did you learn how to knit?
the Akamai Knitter: When I was younger my family moved to Korea for a few years. I wa around 7 when a classmate of mine from the school on the military base showed me what knitting was. I was absolutely fascinated and eventually I had a neighbor give me lessons. My neighbor was from the Phillipines and she had an unusual knitting technique, I’ve only seen that particular style on the Internet. It’s called Combine Knitting. I eventually learned to knit Continental style.
Katie Counter: How long have you been knitting lace?
the Akamai Knitter: I started dabbling in lace a few years ago. Unfortunatley I didn’t finish many projects. I’ve always been in love with lace. I love the way it’s constructed and how it looks. I used to crochet a lot of doilies, but I’ve found I like the more intricate construction of knitted lace.
Katie Counter: Is there any partiuclar project that you’re proud of?
the Akamai Knitter: Yes! I just finished the Peacock Feathers from Fiddlesticks Knitting. That has been the most intricate lace I’ve knitted so far.
Katie Counter: I heard that you’ve decided to do 2 projects for this year’s Amazing Lace. Which ones are you doing?
the Akamai Knitter: The first lace project I have today is the Moon Dance Stole from Pink Lemon Twist. She’s being knit with Jaggerspun Zephyr in Steel. She’s a steady pattern that can be knit while the television is on.
Katie Counter: I see that you’ve already done a few repeats on this particular project. How do you like the pattern so far?
the Akamai Knitter: This is a pattern that is really easy to get into the rhythm of. She will eventually have a home with my mother and I think Moon Dance is really looking forward to being that special gift.
Katie Counter: How sweet.
the Akamai Counter: My second project is the hugely popular Frost Flowes & Leaves from the book Gathering Of Lace. I am absolutely in love with the way FFL looks when it’s finished, but I have to tell you that this pattern is really challenging my skills with charts.
Katie Counter: You know Opal, a lot of people dont’ believe in having multiple projects. Can you tell me why you thought you could pull off 2 projects at the same time?
the Akamai Knitter: I like to have 2 projects going on, because there are times when I want to just knit and watch tv. Then there are times when I like to really have a pattern that absorbs all of my concentration. So these two really work well with those needs.
Katie Counter: Now I heard that there were some problems between your two teammates. How are they getting along?
the Akamai Knitter: There were some disagreements earlier, but you know, we’re a team and we worked through those challenges because that’s what teammates do.
Katie Counter: I’m glad to hear that and that’s all the time we have for tonight. Next on Amazing Lace we get a chance to talk to the projects themselves to hear about the challenges they faced and how they worktd through it.
(end transcription part 1)
Stay tuned for an exclusive interview with Moon Dance. How well is this team really getting along?
May
15
Onyx would just like to thank everyone for their kind words and thoughts. She’s eating a lot better right now. I think she just doesn’t like her kibbles anymore.
She had 3 servings of wet food today and she’s been eating a lot better in the past week. She might have even gained a pound! Her bones don’t stick out nearly as much as they used to.
I also wanted to let everyone know that the vet ran a full battery of blood tests and nothing showed up. So I really think she was just trying to tell me to feed her different food. Too bad it took me so long to listen!
May
12
I was so inspird by Eunny’s Fire Flowers and Leaves that I bought a cone of Zephyr in Ruby. Here it is all lovely and scrumptous and just waiting to bounce on the needles.
I will definitely do a swatch of this one as I’ve seen such a range of needles used for it. I hope to swatch over the weekend, but I also started Melanie’s Moondance in Charcoal Zephyr. I am enamored of her easy to read charts. It’s amazing how a badly done chart can ruin the enjoyment of the pattern.
Both of these shawls are for the Amazing Lace KAL. I just need to finish the Flower Basket Shawl and then I’ll be free to concentrate on these other two projects! 
