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