I have not been writing lately.  Time slips away and I guess I would rather be knitting!  I admired a shawl that a dear friend wore to my knitting meetup.  The next day she came to my house to deliver the pattern and yarn to make it!  She won’t let me pay for the yarn as she said it was just sitting in her stash collecting dust.  So within less than a week, I had it finished.  I have already worn it many times and every time I wear it I get a lot of compliments.  I had so much fun making such a quick project that I am now making it in black:

The pattern is Ribbon Triangles from Knit One Crochet Two and the yarn used for both was Colinette’s Giotto  My friend gave me too much yarn.  So to repay her kind gift,  I used  the extra yarn and made her a scarf:

I wanted to add a little extra to the scarf and since I know she loves beads, I added the beads to the fringe:

So thanks Dana!  Now about that jewelry you were wearing . . . . .

Hello,  I was asked the following question in an email:

Do you have a video for shortening a scarf in the middle of the pattern.  I was using left over yarn to knit a scarf and after many rows past a  particular yarn, I decided I did not like, I want to remove this particular yarn and reattach the scarf.  I have both on needles and need help.

Here was my answer:

Hello: If you have not already done so, you would have to cut the fabric where you have ended the yarn that you don’t like. It is shown in this video.  You will then have your stitches from where you like your yarn.  Now rip out the “offending” yarn.    Once you have those stitches live on another needle, then you will have to join them together.  I have two ideas for you to use to join them:   a 3 needle bind off.  it is shown here: http://bit.ly/zz04BE but will give you a small seam.  You could use this as a decorative element, maybe by using a different color to bind off.  or graft the pieces together using the kitchner stitch:   http://bit.ly/xw0FKE  This will not give a seam, but some people including myself find it a bit trickier to do.  Good luck.  Send a picture!

Do any of you readers have another suggestion?  Happy Knitting!

SO I have finished another project!

This is actually a sock I designed and made last year.  I was using up the varigeated yarn that I had left over from another sock.  I liked the stitch as it was easy to follow.  I didn’t have enough to make a whole pair using the yarn, so I added the white.  Both yarns are Lorn’as laces.  So once again I found that I had enough of a Lorna’s Laces color left over to make something with but not enough for a whole pair of socks so I decided to use the pattern again.  Instead of the cuff as shown, I used this for a ribbing:  Knit 1 with color A,, P1 one with contrast color.  Use an even number of stitches.

Here is the pattern stitch, multiple of 2:

With main color:  Rows 1 -4  Knit.

Row 5:  with CC:  *slip 1, in next stitch: K1,yo,K1 (2 stitch increase)* repeat around.

Row 6:  with CC:  *slip 1, K3 tog* repeat around.

In the pattern, I did not specify whether you were to slip the stitch with the yarn in front or the back.  I worked the stitch both ways and it does make a difference.  You can decide yourself which one you want to use.

Here is the slipped stich with yarn in front:
Here is the pattern with the yarn held in back when the stitch is slipped:

I am not sure which one I like the best.  So I made a sock of each!

Remember when I asked you for ideas on what I classes I should teach?  I got some good ideas from my readers.  I am happy to say that I have been selected to teach.  I am not sure yet exactly what classes I will be teaching, but details will follow as soon as I hear from them.   Mean while save the dates and meet me at the fair!

when:  June 22-24, 2012
where: Lake County Fairgrounds, Grayslake, IL
(YES – it is air conditioned!)
times:  Fri & Sat: 10am-6pm; Sun: 10am-4pm
admission: $10/day or 3/$25.

So it is February 1st, and I have been busy finishing projects.  Last week I finished 4!  I have already posted the scarf that I made for my daughter’s birthday.  Here is another project that I have finished.  It is made from one of the yarns from my collection:  Through Thick and Thin:  If you can make a scarf, you can knit this.  It is just a rectangle.  It was made from 3 skeins of color # 4.  If you want to make it longer than you will need one more.  I accented it with an antique button from my collection.  I have buttons that belonged to my grandmother, my aunt and my mother.  A friend’s aunt passed away and he gave me her collection as well.  I love it when I am able to find ways to use them.  The funny thing is now that this is finished the weather here in Chicago has become very warm for this time of year!  Don’t worry, I won’t pack it away.  I know winter in Chicago is not over yet!  But I am ready when it returns.
 You can ready more about the yarn under my shopping section.

Remember it is always a heavenly day to knit.

I just finished a project using one of the new yarns from my collection:  Heartfelt.  It is a soft yarn with beautiful color gradations.  It has very good yardage: 153 yards.   

This yarn would also be great for a felting project.

Doesn’t it seem like we just put away the Christmas decorations?  Now it is time for Valentine’s Day.  I still have my Christmas lights out on the balcony.  I do not have them turned on anymore but am not too interested in standing out there in the Chicago cold to take them down either.

My daughter will be 21 on Valentine’s day so this has become an extra special day for me.  She was and still is the best valentine that I ever received!

This is a sock that I designed for her last year:

This year she is getting a scarf.  Hand delivered to her school apartment by me.  She is at the University of Iowa and of course I will actually go up the day after as I know she does not want to spend her actual 21st birthday with her mom.

Don’t worry.  My post won’t ruin her surprise.  Believe me my 21 year old daughter has better things to do than read her mom’s knitting blog!!  And besides she was with me when I opened the big boxes that I had posted her previously.  She right away grabbed a skein of yarn that caught her eye and said, “Mom, I love the colors in this yarn.  Please make me a scarf out of this!”  I think it turned out pretty.

I used the Heartfelt yarn which is from my new collection.  As you can see it knits up in pretty blocks of color.  I used a simple multiple of 4, K2, P2 for 2 rows and then I just P2, K2 for 2 rows.  Very simple and it doesn’t roll and it looks the same on both sides.  I used 3 skeins but she wanted it very long. So it is 7” wide and 80” long.  And I had a lot left over so 2 skeins would work.  If I get my act together before my visit I will knit her mittens to go along with it.

Under the shopping tab, check out the other pretty colors it comes in.

Do you use any knitting aps?  I have one that I have downloaded, but don’t really like it.  Can you recommend one that you like?

Thanks.

It is always a perfectly heavenly day to knit.  

I have been busy unpacking more yarn.  They are so pretty.  Next I will work up some swatches and post those.  I am also working on a couple of projects to use with the yarn.   If you want to order a skein to play around with, when you check out, in the coupon code write Sample and the shipping will be waived.