November 2010

November has definately been gift knitting month. Not quite sure why I waited until now to knit a bunch of gifts for Christmas, but, I did and here it goes.

First I'll start with a finished project from last month. I was knitting the Comfy Cardi with Noro's Shirakba. Since the pattern is written for multi gauges, I wanted a sample in a heavier yarn than the original. I am very happy with the results and you'll be surprised to hear I like the color, haha.  I added a shawl pin (they are new at the shop) and tried it closed.  I like that too!


Now, gifts.  I am working on a couple of gifts that I can't talk about here, but I will take pictures and share them at the end of December.  I don't want to spoil any surprises.  But I can talk about a few things for people who won't see this.

I just finished up a Bag for a birthday gift actually.  It uses the Paper Bag pattern but is knit with Arucania's Pehuen.

Inspired by the handknit ties I saw in Italy, I wanted to knit my son a tie.  He liked the ones with triangles.  So, the search began.  The yarn for the ties I saw looked like a medium weight cotton.  Hmmm... I worry about cotton stretching in a tie and looking sloppy and medium weight seems heavy when it is tied. I really want to do fingering weight and more of a wool.  I look again at the picture and the tie has 3 colors.  Looking at my sock yarn I see three colors that will look good together, but 3 100gm skeins of sock yarn for 1 tie?  I won't even talk about how much this tie would have cost.  How can I get a similar effect with out 3 skeins of yarn.  I wandered around the shop for a while and spotted the popular multi directional scarf - hmmm, what it I use a self striping yarn and turn this into a tie?  - Done!  The pattern adjustments are available as a free download on Ravelry or at the shop.

I also decided a family member needs a sweater for Christmas (I won't mention who, just in case).  The very popular Kimono sweater would be nice.  And I decided to use Berroco's Lustra.  I was going to do it in brown and decided, just for the heck of it, I'll look at Ravelry and see what others have down with the sweater.  I have made one in a multi color, which turned out pretty, but I saw one there in two tones.  Why didn't I think of that?  Love the idea (and the sweater!)





A friend that I meet for coffee once a week was wearing this cute necklace one morning.  I complimented her and she showed it to me.  It was many strands of a ladder type yarn (such as Eros or Nocheros) chained and looped.  I can do that!!  So I did.  Super easy and another free pattern download on Ravelry or at the shop.




I almost forgot.  I have this very cute Snowball yarn from Sirdar at the shop and I finally got a sample knit up with it.  Too cute!!  Baby Snowball is combined with Baby Bamboo to make this adorable set.


Now I'd like to say I am almost done my Holiday knitting, but nope! 
My daughter requested a sweater.  So she will get one.  Knit with Berroco's Soft Twist, I am doing a V-neck variation on the Comfy Cardi.

And I am determined to finish the Socks I've been showing you glacial progress on forever.  They are still being knit with Berroco's Ultra Alpaca Fine and progress is being made!  My husband will enjoy them (or else!) because they feel amazing.

And one more... another sweater (I hope) I haven't started yet and I can't tell you who or what, but I will later.

I decided that at Spin A Yarn we should declare January "Me Month".  The gift are knitted, they have been worn and cherished by the recipient and now it time to knit something for you!  So, start thinking about what you want to knit next (I already have a few ideas in mind).  It will make the gift knitting go quicker and you will have something wonderful to look forward to knitting in the new year.

So, to each and everyone of you, I wish you a wonderful holiday season.  May you finish all your projects, enjoy your friends and family and take the time to sit back, if even for a minute and enjoy the love that surrounds you.  Happy, Happy Holidays (and Knitting), Nancy

October 2010

Whew, October blew by. The first two weeks I was busy knitting and the second two weeks I was busy traveling. (a little more about that later, I'll even try to relate it to knitting)

First the knitting and a few finished projects.  I finished the two sweaters started last month.  First a Swing Sweater made from Noro's Yuzen.  It think it's really cute.  It's hanging in the shop right now, but I am looking forward to wearing it. 

Next, I finished the double breasted cardigan from Twilley's Spirit.  I really like the way this turned out too.  The yarn is  DK weight wool and very nice to knit with.

Then a few other projects, I knit a quick scarf in School Colors for a friend who took a job with Kings College. This is knit with 2 strands of Berroco's Comfort. 

I decided I needed a small bag for my trip.  There is an adorable bag in the new book Entree to Entrelac. (as well as about 5 other projects that I'd like to knit.  You'll see more on that coming up soon, after the holiday knitting is done)  So, I reached into my stash (and the shop) and made this purse.  Isn't it cute?  I lined it and put a magnet in it to keep it closed.  It is made with Berroco's Suede and Sensuwool and Plymouth's Superwash Merino.  I know you are surprised at the color!

I also decided to remake a sweater I wasn't completely happy with before I left.  I remade it using the Comfy Cardi pattern and smaller needles.  The yarn is Flirt from Sirdar.  A wool and bamboo blend.  Now I'm happy.  I finished it the night before we left.  This is me wearing it on the top of the Domo in Florence, Italy.

Before I left I started another Comfy Cardi for the shop in a different yarn.  The pattern is written for different gauges and I thought another sample would be good.  Besides, I've been wanting to knit with this yarn  It is Shirakba by Noro.  It is mostly Cotton and Silk with a little wool.  I am not too far, but hopefully it will be done before long. 

I also took with me a few Christmas gifts to work on while I traveled.  Shhhhsh...  I will take pictures and show you in January.

Now, the traveling part of the month.  My son is in Italy for a semester and we went to visit him.  We also took a 7 day cruise while we were there to celebrate our 28th Anniversary.  We had a wonderful time and while we were wandering around Rome with my son, I saw a few knitting related sites I thought you might enjoy seeing.  I also have a few pictures of myself wearing some of my sweaters. (just to prove I really do wear them, they just don't hang in the shop.)

 

A Yarn Shop! (and bras)  Love her door handle.

 

Another yarn shop (and hosiery)  Is there a trend? Actually, when Lily Chin was here teaching for a guild weekend, she said all the yarn shops in Greece were in Lingerie stores.  Must be a European thing.

We walked past this window display - Handknit ties - Cool!  All in garter stitch. My son might be ordering a few.  I'll have to enlarge the picture to figure out what to do.

 Knits everywhere!

 

And finally, me wearing the Sweater knit with Superior to dinner and the Drawstring Top knit with Lonco for a day of touring. 

And that's it for October, on to November and some holiday knitting to get under control.  Until next month, Happy Knitting , Nancy