October 2009

So, I think this was a busy knitting month, we'll see as I start to write.  (my memory goes more and more each day, doing too much or getting old, hmmm....)

We'll start with what was on the needles last month.  Remember, a sock.  One is done.  This is made from Mini Moochi.  It's very pretty. The 2nd sock (my downfall) is on the needles....soon!

I had also started a Sweater that was a smocked baby doll style.  Done!  It has a picot edge and a smocked top.  It is made from AslanTrends Invernal.  Invernal is a wool and angora blend and it has a nice "bloom" when knit up.  I wore it to the Yarn and Chocolate Tasting, it was comfy to wear.

Now, what else?  I started and finished a Vest for my son from the Noro Men's Book (excellent book, by the way.  My son wants 3 sweaters and my husband one).  This is made with Noro's Yuzen and  Dale of Norway's Heilo.  I am going to give it to him this weekend.  I think he'll like it.  The other 2 (maybe just one) will be for Christmas.

I almost forgot, I knit a shrug for the Yarn and Chocolate Tasting so those attending could see the yarn knit up.  This is Plymouth Expression.  It is a chunky quick knit.  The shrug is really cute and knit up in just a few days. Sharon modeled it and looked adorable.  She said if felt very cozy and warm.

Next a sales rep came out last week (showing me spring yarn, if you can believe it) and we will soon be getting a Lace weight Cashmere from Araucaria.  It will arrive in time for holiday knitting and he gave me a sample skein, so I got to work and knit a pretty lace scarf  so I'd have a sample ready when the yarn arrives. It feels sooooo.. good.

I also knit a quick scard out of Katia's Nepal.  A quick knit and fun colors.

Now, on the needles, of course the sock, we talked about that before.  And the Lace Stole I was working on last month.  Wait.. I have an excuse for that... It is a very portable project so I am saving it for vacation in November.  (You heard about that bridge for sale too....) 

Also on the needles, we just got an interesting Short row scarf pattern in from Ann Norling and I have started a sample.  I am working with Noro's Silk Garden Sock yarn.  It's fun to do and is really going to look interesting when it is done.

This mess is going to be a small pouch purse.  It is knit with Katia's Venecia, a ribbon yarn.  I am making it to take on vacation with me, I like to have something small to carry stuff in without lugging around a big purse.  So, it will be done soon.

I also started the next sweater for my son.  Not very far along, but you have to start somewhere...

So, I think that's it for October.  Swim season starts this weekend, so I am looking forward to lots of car knitting. Hope you have lots of time to enjoy your kniiting this month.  Happy Knitting, Nancy 

September 2009

September, another busy month and fall is here (especially today, brrr). Well, I think I got more done than last month.

I finished my Beaded Lace Cardigan knit with Ella Rae's Lace Merino (love this yarn!!) and I have even worn it!

We have a Yarn and Chocolate Tasting coming up at the shop this month, you know (it's lots of fun, we'd love to have you join us!) and I made a sample sweater for one of the yarns we will be taasting from Plymouth's Trabajos Del Peru. I made a jacket using two colors in vertical garter ridges. I was pleased with the results.

We recent got a new yarn in and I've been dying to knit with it. Lanalux from Lang. It is a Merino Wool with Metallic and is surprisingly soft. So, I knit the pretty sweater on the back cover of their booklet. All I need now is a special occasion to wear it to. In the meantime, you can see it on display at the shop.

A big Thank You to everyone who voted for my Ruffled Shawl, which was selected as a semi finalist in the Berroco Sock Yarn Contest. I just got an email, minutes ago. I am one of the winners. Yea! It was knit with Ultra Alpaca Fine and though I knit it last month, I couldn’t post the picture, so here it is. Again, a big thank you to everyone for their support and votes.

Now, on my needles, first a sock, I know, another sock who’da thought? This one is Mini Mochi from Crystal Palace. It is beautiful sock yarn and we have been knitting lots of beautiful shawls with it, but I thought I’d try it for it’s intended purpose as well. I still love. The colors are just beautiful and it is so soft. Keep cheering me on so the 2nd sock gets done.

Also on needles is the beginning of a sweater from AslandTrends Invernal . The sweater will be a baby doll style with two color smock on the top. (Good thing I told you, because you’d never know from this picture) The yarn is a wool/angora blend. It is soft and lovely with a light halo form the angora.

And finally, a group of friends that I knit with decided to do lace project, Here is the start of mine. It is from the book, Victorian Lace and is being knit with Mountain Colors Winter Lace, a Silk and Wool blend. I chose this colorway because it is called Crazy Woman (enough said!)

And that is my month. I will finish what’s on my needles (at least 1 sock) and have plans in the works for new projects. I hope you are having a good fall knitting season. Happy Knitting, Nancy

August 2009

August, another crazy month. I knit, a little. Instead of knitting I moved 3 people. My daughter from New Paltz to Ithaca for Grad school, my son back to college and my Mom to Castle Gardens. Time to breathe.... and KNIT!!

So this month, I did finish the beautiful Cape out of Debbie Bliss' Luxury Tweed Chunky. The picture doesn't do it justice, it looks really nice on. I think I will get a lot of use out of, (as soon as I take it out of the shop).

I also finished the shawl for the contest that I told you about last month. No picture though, they said it can't be published anywhere so I was afraid to put up a picture. But what happens is... Berroco will select 20 entries and put them in their enewsletter KnitBits. They will ask subscribers to vote and 8 entries will be selected and published in a booklet. This is where you come in, if I am lucky enough to be one of the 20 selected, I am going to ask you to vote. I'll let you know more soon, they said the 20 will be selected in September. Fingers crossed!!

I also squeezed in a little finishing for customers, so no pictures there either.

We are doing somehting fun this month at Spin A Yarn (at least I hope you think it's fun). A Kids Sweater Kontest. You use the pattern provided and do whatever you want to it. Add color, texture, embellishments, etc... You could win a gift certificate to Spin A Yarn. Follow the link above to find out the details. So, I knit a sample of the sweater, from the Kontest pattern. It's a very basic sweater, the fun stuff is up to you, but I really liked the yarn I used (though you can use any yarn we carry for the kontest). I used SWTC's Vespera, a kettle dyed merino.

Some progress is being made on the Beaded Lace Merino Cardigan. I am on the sleeves. This is a slow knit; fingering yarn, size 3 needles and beads. This month - done!! (I hope).

I also started another sweater, using two colors of Plymouth's

Trabajos Del Peru. It is going to be a jacket. As you can see I haven't gotten very far, but again I am hoping to finish this month. I have to, my list is getting longer by the minute...

And that's it for August. I am tired, but don't feel like I was very productive (at least knitting wise). More to come in September. Happy knitting to you!! Nancy

July 2009

July.... life has been a little crazy, so I have to think back. I don't think July was a very productive month knitting wise. I caught a bug at the beginning of the month and it lasted 3 weeks, so I didn't feel well for a lot of the month and a still trying to get caught up.
I feel like I started things (with all the best intentions), then got side tracked on to other things and so not much got done. Ever have one of those months?
So, here's what I did and am doing.

I finished my beautiful pink sweater made with Superior, the Cashmere and Silk yarn from Filatura di Crosa. I really love it and can't wait for a special occasion to wear it. In the meantime it is at the shop, so you can see it.

I also made a funny little earflap hat with a new yarn that we got in from Berroco, Sundae. It uses 4 different colors and different stitches. It is cute and fun. I think teenagers would love it.

Sadly, I also had to make a couple of Chemo Caps that I gave away, and forgot to take pictures first. They were sent off with love and prayers to the recipients.

I think that's it for actual accomplishments.
I worked on my beaded sweater and made some progress (I am ready to break for the armholes), then new yarn came in and I thought I should make a sample....

So, I started a Cape made with Debbie Bliss' new yarn Luxury Tweed Chunky. Of course you can't tell from the brown glob on the left, but it will soon look like the beautiful cape on the right. Soon... As soon as I get back to it.

I read that Berroco was having a contest featuring their sock yarns, but not necessarily for socks. So, I decided to enter. They will pick the top 20 entries and have their customers (you) vote for the top 8. They will publish the booklet this spring with the winning designs. The dead line to submit is August 31. So, that is where this mess of sock yarn fits in. I am frantically knitting to get my shawl knit and pattern written to submit for the contest. Fingers crossed, it is selected and I will ask you all to vote for me (if you like it,of course).

So, that was my month, a month of getting started and getting distracted.

June 2009

Well, June was a busy month, but not necessarily for knitting. I didn't accomplish as much as I usually do.

We were on family vacation for the 2 weeks in the beginning of June and though I took lots of knitting with me I only knit on the way there and the way back. So I guess I took a vacation from knitting too.

But, I did accomplish a few things and probably added a few more to my list.

I showed you the Curilcue Coverlet that I wanted to turn into a shawl. Well, I did and I am very pleased with the results. I used Mini Mochi, a sock yarn from Crystal Palace. It is a fingering weight yarn and I knit the shawl on 7's to give it more drape. This really turned out pretty and it's fun to do. I am going to offer it in a class this fall and you can make either the coverlet or the shawl.

When I got back to the shop we had gotten in a new book from Noro, Mini Knits Two and there is an adorable baby sweater in it made with Silk Garden Sock. I had a sample vest that the company had sent me and I never really liked it or thought it made a good sample, so I ripped it out and made this cute little sweater.

Also awaiting me was a new yarn from Lang, Mille Colori Big. Big. It is a big ball of big yarn it great colors and there is a scarf pattern on the label. One "big" ball makes a beautiful scarf. The only thing I did differently from the pattern on the label was the needle size. I used and 10.5 instead of a 10. I think the 10 would have made it too tight nad I think the yarn could even handle an 11. The colors are very pretty. It was had to choose which one to make.

Now, on my needles....

I am making progress in the sweater out of Ella Rae's Lace Merino, that was just a swatch last month. I have about 8" done and I don't know if you can see it but there is a bead in the center of each little lace pattern. It will be a cardigan, someday soon.

I also started a sweater out of Superior from Filatura di Crosa . It is a silk and cashmere blend and it doesn't get much better than that. About 5" and counting so far. It is a pullover, has a bottom ruffle and a cabled top. Next month you will see the finished sweater. It is light, airy and like a dream. (yes, you see two balls of yarn attached. I have two different dye lots and I am alternating them every 2 rows, so you'll never know, unless you read this of course.)

And in my head, (well not much, somedays), but knittingwise, still the argyle vest for my son and a few other ideas swirling around. And then the new Berroco books and yarn came in for fall..... I need more time!!!

Happy Knitting, hope to see you soon. Until next month, Nancy

May 2009

Another month has flown by...

It was a busy month, my daughter graduated from college and my son finished his freshman year at college. I couldn't be prouder of both of them. So it was a big month for all of us, Graduation ceremony and moving out of the dorm. But of course, in between, I got a little knitting done.

I finished up my started projects from last month.

The Kudo sweater turned out really pretty. I love the colors (and so does everyone else, I am now waiting for the back order to show up). It is a self striping cotton/rayon/silk blend. No wool and very nice to work with.

Yesterday was our last class for the Seville Jacket and I wore mine to class. The yarn is Cosmos and the border is Soft Twist. I think it turned out cute. Hopefully there will be picture soon in the customer gallery as the rest of the class finishes their sweater. I love to see the same sweater in different yarns, It is so much fun to see all of the possibilities.

I also finished my black sweater out of Crystal Palace's Panda Silk DK. It is a Merino/Bamboo/Silk blend and a dream to work with. It is hard to see in the big picture, but the top is cabled giving the bottom fullness. I needed a black sweater to wear with everything and I saw a few in patterns that I liked, so I combined elements of each of them and got my sweater. I am very pleased with it.

I also knit a sweater from Sally Melville's book, The Knit Stitch. It is called Caddy's Sweater. It is all garter stitch, but the bottom is done on size 5 needles making it opaque and the top on 10.5's making it sheer. A very nice effect. I made it from Araucania Ruca. It is made from sugar cane (yes, sugar) and comes in lucsious colors and I have been dying to work with it.

I also made a sample for the shop from a new yarn, Nepal from Katia. It is a Super Chunky that self stripes, is machine washable and knits very quick. It is a little swing jacket and pointy hat. Fun colors.

I also finished up one of a few Christmas presents, shhhh... and have another on my needles. You'll have to wait until January to hear more about that. And on my needles (or in my head)...

We just got a new yarn in, Crystal Palace's Mini Mochi, so cool. Another self striping sock yarn, but really pretty colors and very soft. Of course it's not screaming socks to me (it will to many, but not me), but it has been saying it wants to be a shawl. So, what shawl, I looked at patterns on line and while it makes up beautifully in a lace pattern (check out http://straw.com/cpy/free_pattern_yarnssort.html#Mmochi for lots of free patterns with it) I wanted something else. So while walking one day, I remembered that when I was done making the Curlicue Coverlet last month, I thought it would also make a great shawl. It works so well with self striping yarns that I decided Mini Mochi would be perfect. It's not very far along yet, but I love it. The colors are great and it feels good. Even though it is a fingering weight yarn I am knitting it on a 7 and think the drape will be good for a shawl. Stay tuned...

Almost on my needles, is a sweater out of Ella Rae's Lace Merino. This has been sitting on my desk looking at me. I made a pair of socks out of it (yes, I did) and loved the yarn, so of course I wanted a sweater too. So I've been playing with patterns and what to do with it and the other day I found a bag of beads I had set aside, they were the perfect accent and so I swatched. I am pretty sure it will be a cardigan. I seem to have a thing going on with fingering yarns, I need more time!!

I have also worked a few more rows on the Alice Starmore makeover sweater that has been mentioned in months past.

And last, but not least, an argyle vest. This has not yet reached my needles and is still mostly in my head. But my son said he would wear a vest if I made one and he likes argyle, so a vest is in the works. I have charted the argyle and we picked out a yarn (Berroco's Comfort, machine washable, he's a college student) and colors. So, hopefully it will end up on needles soon.

So, that was May. I wish all you a happy summer of knitting! Till next month, Nancy

April 2009

It's spring and the flowers are blooming and though gardening sounds tempting (not really), I'd rather knit. So here goes:

Finishing up from last month - Afghan squares. I'm not sure how many you've seen but here are 3 more. There are 5 in all and the class is doing well. This week we will learn about putting them together. I was thinking, I'll just make these square for class and call it a day, but they really are pretty and now I'm starting to think about making more and an afghan.... maybe later.

Next, The Einstein Coat - done and I love it.






Then the sweater in Berroco's Seduce from Norah Gaughan, vol. 4 called Frond. It is very pretty yarn and the sweater is cute with ruffles down the front.



So that's it for finishing up last month's projects , this month I knit the Curves and Columns Vest from Knit One Below by Elise Duvekot. I used Soft Twist from Berroco and Merino Worsted from Malibrigo. I love this one too. It was fun to knit and I think it is a really cute vest. We are offering a class to make the vest. The knit one below technique is really fun and not too difficult once you get used to it.

Our knitting guild project for the month was Elizabeth Zimmerman's Baby Surprise sweater. We did them in sock yarn so we could dress teddy bears and send them to children who need a bear hug. I made mine out of Plymouth's Happy Feet.

This is why it is called a "Surprise" sweater, because you knit this blob and when you are done and fold it into shape, Surprise! you have a sweater.

I also started and finished the Curlicue Coverlet from Oat Couture. I have been fascinated by this pattern for years and decided it was time to make it. I used Jojoland's Rhythm, a self striping worsted weight wool. It can also be made with a DK weight. It is knit using short rows to give you the swirl effect. It was really fun to knit and is so pretty. It looking at this before I sewed the only seam, I thought, hmmm.... wouldn't that be a beautiful shawl, and... what other yarns would be fun to work with... so many yarns and patterns, so little time.....

Now on my needles: The Seville Jacket. I am teaching a class this month on Knitting a Sweater My Way. That means taking a pattern and changing a few things to make it easier to do (at least I think so) and to improve the results (again, at least I think so) and we are making the Seville Jacket from Oat Couture. I am working a week ahead of the class and they start tomorrow, so my sweater is done to the shoulders (week 2).

I am also making a short sleeve sweater out of Plymouth's Kudo, a cotton, rayon and silk blend, which self stripes. It is using a Cheveron Stitch pattern. This will be done soon.

Also, I got started on my black Panda Silk DK sweater. It is a combination of about 3 patterns that I liked and will be a cardigan. I am hoping to get in done for vacation (30 days and counting....). I still have a long way to go! Argh..

And as long as we are talking about my knitting journey, I just returned from a Knitting Weekend sponsored by out Knitting Guild. Lily Chin was our quest teacher and it was wonderful. She taught us about reversible color knitting and custom fitting. We learned alot and ate too much, but had lots of fun.
And so my journey ends for another month, see you again in May for more knitting.
Until then, Nancy