This was another busy month. Not sure how much knitting I accomplished, but we'll see. I was away for a week on vacation and I knit going there and back on the plane, but not a stitch while I was there. I always take it with me, a security blanket of sorts, but I seem to read when I am on vacation and not knit. I guess considering what I do for a living, that makes it a vacation. So I feel like I missed a week of knitting. Mostly I did small projects this month... So here we go.....
From my needles last month, I finished my ribbon purse. I took this with me, it is great for carrying around the few things you need, chapstick, glasses, etc..
I was also working on a short row scarf. I finished that and guess I got carried away, because I did 2 others too. They are great fun and can use any yarn. The scarf will be our February
Knit and Knibble project, The 1st one is done with Noro's
Silk Garden Sock yarn and size 5 needles.
The next was with Sirdar's
Escape on size 7 needles. This one would be very nice for a man as well as a woman.
And the last one was knit with Noro's
Niji and size 10 needles. As you can see, self striping yarns are perfect for this and they are sort of addicting, (or maybe that's just me...)
I have been working on samples for the Knit and Knibble and classes, so that's why all the small projects. The March the Knit and Knibble will be an Entrelac Tam. Of course there are two samples. The first knit with Berroco's Pure Merino and Debbie Bliss'
Luxury Tweed. I was really happy with how this turned out. The 2nd was knit with Berroco's
Jasper. Also very pretty.
And January's Knit and Knibble is a vest. Sharon has been excited about this ever since she saw a customer make one. So, we got the pattern and it is very cute. It is knit with Plymouth's
Baby Alpaca Grande and it is SO easy. I started it on Thanksgiving and wore it to work on Saturday. 2 days! Sharon knit hers with Araucania's
Azapa (an Alpaca/Silk blend). I am showing you a couple different pictures because I want you to see how it works. You actually knit a long strip with 2 different types of ribbing. You sew two seams and it forms the circle (with armholes) shown above. When you put it on, it has a pretty shawl collar and is attactive from the back as well as the front. I think the pattern needs something with a fiber like alpaca in it because of the drape. I don't think it would lay as nicely in something stiffer.
I almost forgot, August's Knit and Knibble is a small felted purse (nothing like working ahead). So, I made two... One with Noro's Kochoran and the other with Araucania's Panguipulli. I thought the results were interesting. Exact same pattern and number of stitches, but Kochoran has angora in it, so it is soft and fuzzy and larger than the one with Panguipulli, because that is all wool and felted very well. I like them both!
Next sample... I am going to offer a class for a sweater knit from the top down, so I knit another one. I had a sample knit with Encore, but wanted another, so I knit one with Noro's Tayio, a cotton blend. I love the results. The colors are fun!
One more quick scarf, in Lang's
Lanalux. A sparkley, quick scarf for the holidays.
I am almost done, really!!. I didn't realize who much I did, but they are all small, so it doesn't count. I feel like I need to knit a sweater to feel like I accomplished something. Anyway there are still a few things on my needles and making progress.
My lace stole is growing.. I really love this and I work on it a little bit at a time.
And the second sock in Mini Mochi is started.... hopefully it will be finished someday soon...
I also have a sweater started for Tyler, my son for Christmas (hopefully). It is being knit with Noro's Silk Garden. It's getting longer, but I better get working on it if I want to get it done in time.
And so, that was my November. I am not sure what is in store for December after finishing my projects. I'll probably get distracted by something else I want to knit before I get them all done.
I would like to take a moment and thank all of you for your support of me and Spin A Yarn for the last 16 years (I can't believe it's been that long). I have made friends and gotten to know a lot of wonderful people by having this shop. I would like to thank each and everyone of you for enriching my life and making coming to work every day one of my favoriate things to do. Whatever holiday you celebrate this season, I hope it is filled with joy, happiness and good health (and maybe some knitting). Till next year..... Happy Holidays! Nancy
So, December. I am not sure I was too productive. It is always a busy month, Christmas cookies, shopping, cards, cooking, all getting in the way of my knitting.
I also snuck in a small felted purse as a Christmas gift for my Mom. It is knit with Araucaria's Nature Wool Chunky. She needed a little purse to carry her keys to dinner. She liked it and the colors.
And my big project, Tyler's sweater, which for some reason kept getting bumped from the line up. Ok, I'll fess up, it was wrapped on the needles and finished 2 days after Christmas. This is from the Noro Men's Book (a really good book of men's patterns) and it is knit with Araucaria's Toconao and Noro's Silk Garden. Men's sweaters take forever. 17" to the armhole, monkey arms and a hood! Then a 28" zipper, arghhhh. Putting zippers in is not my favorite thing to do, but I will say I tried something new this time and was very pleased with the results. Instead of pinning the zipper in, I basted it in first and then sewed it in (by hand, they only way to put a zipper in knitting). The basting took some extra time, but really was the key to getting the zipper in place properly before sewing. So, that is my tale of woe, the sweater is done and he really likes it!!
