One Crazy Fiber Lady

Updated: 10/4 – Knit Counter is now LIVE in the Android Market.  QR code in the sidebar.

I know I owe you a real knitting related posting, but sadly, there hasn’t been much of that recently, well except for the bits done on the train to Adrift.  I’ve done a minimal amount of spinning, though there was 20z of some lovely pink falkland stuff from Leann that I picked up at WOOL.  No pictures of it yet, but I have a spinning post brewing for later in the week.

What have I been up to you ask?  Well I’m glad you mentioned it.  I’ve been absorbed in writing my first Android app.  While there are tons of knitting related apps for the iPhone, the Android marketplace is lacking in that arena.  I tried to get a decent counter, but the best I could find was a number placed at the center of the screen which incremented if you touched the screen anywhere.  Ugh.  No capabilities to add a second counter for those times (which I was about to hit with Adrift) where you needs to do something every X rows, Y times.  So, I figured that would be a good first project.  I started the puppy (KnitCounter) on Sept16th or so and have the basic functionality working.  There are a number of features I need to implement yet, like a configurable number of counters per project and a way to edit the counter value directly (for say you choose to count down) but its working.  I’m using it with Adrift

Here are some screen shots:

This is the main menu where you can either open an existing project or add a new one.  Yup, I’ve written it so you can associate counters with multiple projects so you can have one for say Socks and another for a Sweater or a Shawl, etc.

This is the current screen to add a new project.  It will change as I implement the functionality to increase (or decrease) the number of counters per project.  But for right now, all projects get two configurable counters which you can set the label for.  The values here are the default ones.

Once you’ve created a project, you can access it via the listing of existing projects.  This too will have some functionality added when I next sit down with the code.  I’ll add a context menu with options to delete or edit.

This is the actual project view with both counters and a space for notes.  It is my actual Adrift project on my Droid.  I hooked it to the computer this morning for the screenshots.. and yet, I have email notifications

Finally we have the context menu if you long press one of the counters (for the non-droid users, the long press is the equivalent of a right click on a PC).  Here you can reset or delete.  Well you can select the delete but you get a charming message that says:  “This feature has not been implemented yet:P”.  It is serving placeholder duty.  Also to be added to this menu is the option to edit a counter – ie change direction, set a value, label update, etc.  I also think I’m going to change the app background from that lovely blue to a picture of knit fabric.

So there you have it, my first app child.  I have to say, I’m really enjoying sitting in front of the computer at home again playing with this.  Unfortunately the side effect has been reduced amount of weekend sleep.  I was hacking around on Saturday until 1am to get both the counter click and long press menu to both work.

So whatcha think?

Craft on!

Wow.  Been busy as usual, but what else is new?    I’m waiting for the train so I figured that this would be a good time for an update.

As you know, the kids started school two weeks ago now.   I guess it really has been a while since I posted last!  School is going well.  The monkeys are enjoying being in different classes.  I get a regular email update from Kat’s teacher.   Last week I attended my first PTA meeting.  I might even go back for another one.

This past weekend the monkeys and I went to the GSSB where.  Its the only festival I’ll bring them to right now.   Its small enough.  No way are they going to Rhinebeck.   Speaking of Rhinebeck,  Tina invited me to join her Sheep to Shawl team.  I accepted.   Now to figure out which wheel to use

I’ve really come to love my Droid.  The battery is far superior to the Incredible that it replaced and/or the antenna is better requiring less juice overall.   Whichever it is I am happy   I’ve decided what the first app will be:  a knitting counter.  There are excellent ones available for the i,  but no really good one for the android platform. So that’s what on going to write.  After that I might start a ravelry app,  will need to see where Casey is in the API process.

Oh yeah, I still knit too.  I started boy ‘s fall sweater.  Details to be added to ravelry soon

Craft on!

We’ve hit yet another mile marker in the development of my youngins.  They finally entered public school!

I can’t believe my babies are now first graders.  They looked so small standing with their new classmates this morning outside the elementary school.  The school is, incidentally, where I went K-6.  It was odd being back at that place.  

Beyond being in public school (can I get a YAY for no more weekly checks to Tutor Time!), they are in separate classes for the very first time.  They are quite happy about it.  Their KG teacher was also very supportive of the decision (which the school made for me) to split them as they’ve been bickering in her class.  Logistically it is a bit tougher but no more so than two other siblings in different classes.  At least they’ll both be at the same building!  Will make Back-To-School night a tad difficult.  I’ll probably have to draft the grandparents to attend as well.  Will be a bit of a flashback for them   Alex’s teacher is someone *I* went to school with!

Oh yeah, I’ve been knitting and spinning   Hopefully a post on that stuff soon.

Craft on!