Knitting Guild Night With Guest Kathleen Dames
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Knitting Guild Night With Guest Kathleen Dames

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Tonight’s guild meeting had a special guest. Knitwear designer and magazine editor Kathleen Dames. She is the editor, along with Ann Podlesak, of Filament magazine. It’s a quarterly publication loaded with patterns. She’s an excellent speaker and very knowledgeable on the teachings of Elizabeth Zimmermann. Our guild is spending a year with EZ, so we were all interested in her talk about Pi shawls. She had beautiful sample knits to show and I drooled over a pullover with colorwork on the bottom. 

It was a good night. She tells a good story and welcomes questions from the audience. I immediately subscribed to her podcast, The Sweater with Kathleen Dames. I am also looking forward to taking her class this fall at Altman’s Needlearts in Mattituck, NY. 

Her website is www.kathleendames.com

I also got my copy of the Knitting Workshop. I am so anxious to start working from it. Our guild has challenged us to be ready to knit a sweater by September. And I am up for it!

Kathleen Dames at the Eastern Long Island Knitting Guild.
The Sweater podcast
 

Its Fair Isle Friday
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Its Fair Isle Friday

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This is my third fair isle project. However, it’s my first fair isle sock and it certainly is challenging. Two things, the sock weight yarn and the colors I chose. Knitting with two hands is awkward enough. Throw in knitting English style, with thin yarn and this continental knitter really struggles. 

I wanted to use my yellow Knit Picks stroll yarn. I love yellow and white.  Although, I think it may be a bit too subtle. I’m having a difficult time telling the yellow from the white. My next may be blue and white. 

Happy Cinco de Mayo

This photo if from Candice Dewitt’s Ravelry page.

The pattern is fair isle flower sock by Candice Dewitt. 

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Kara Gott Warner And The Stitchucation Challenge

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2 shawl babies
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Shawl baby with trellis openwork, garter and stockinette.

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I got turned on to Kara through the Power Purls Podcast. Her podcast introduced me to designers, yarn companies and many other useful and educational things I didn’t know I needed to know. She was also the executive editor of Creative Knitting Magazine. So, when she announced she was holding a five day Stitchucation Shawl challenge, my ears (and hands) perked up.

I have never been a fan of shawls. No particular reason, just not a big fan. However, at almost 60 yrs old, I feel I need to wear something pretty around my neck for reasons all of us women know. And a shawl can also be worn as a neckerchief!

I am so happy I participated. I learned two different ways to start a shawl, the single knit and the garter tab. I also learned to make “shawl babies” which are swatches in the shape of a shawl. These shawl babies allowed me to try different cast ons, yarn weights and needle sizes. There were no rules. You were free to use whatever you wanted. She provided the template and I was off and running.

I learned that a shawl requires a stretchy bind off. If you use the standard bind off, when you wrap it around your neck, the bottom edge rolls and doesn’t lay flat. That brings me to the applied edging. Yes, I learned that too!

The creativity really started to flow! I could mix garter stitch with stockinette stitch or I could use an openwork pattern bordered by stockinette. The possibilities are endless and…there is no pattern needed! Follow the template, choose your yarn(s), your needles and plot it out or design as you go. Very, very exciting!

Many thanks to Kara Gott Warner for this challenge. She has a Shawl Workshop beginning May 1st. Enrollment ends today April 17 at 11:59 pm. It’s a 5 week challenge at cost of $5.00. I won’t be able to participate in this one because of the Master Hand Knitter program. That’s my first priority at the moment.

Check out the Power Purls Podcast and also KaraGottWarner.com

Happy St. Patrick’s Day!
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Happy St. Patrick’s Day!

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My third pair of socks this year will be a new technique for me. Last night at an impromptu knitting circle, one of the women taught me how to knit with two circular needles.

The plan is to start the toe with two circs, increase to sixty stitches total, then switch to my nine inch circs for the rest of the sock. I’m not sure which heel I will use. I’m thinking I may go with a gusset and German short row heel.

The yarns I intend to use are Knit Picks Stroll, Manos Del Uruguy AlegriaIMG_1365 ( just luscious) and Holda fiber by a local dyer.

The Knit Picks stroll is 75%superwash merino and 25% nylon. The Manos Alegria is 75% superwash merino and 25% polyamide. I no longer have the label for the Holda yarn. I believe it is also 75% superwash merino and 25% nylon

Enjoy the weekend and knit, knit, knit.

TKGA Master Hand Knitting Program
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TKGA Master Hand Knitting Program

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This is my second year as a member of the TKGA. I joined at the suggestion of my local guild and I am so glad I did

For a $25.00 yearly membership fee, you receive access to a plethora of fun and technical information. Cast On is the name of their monthly magazine. They also offer correspondence and mini courses.

I finally registered for the Master Hand Knitter Program. The MHK program is a correspondence course with three levels. Once each level is completed, it will be evaluated by the MHK committee. Only after the evaluation may you proceed to the next level.

The course teaches knitting techniques, traditions, the care of knit wear, the history of knitting and so much more. There are projects to turn in , papers to write and books to read and review.

If anyone is interested in joining me, the cost of level one is $105.00.

For more information visit The Knitting Guild Association. image.jpg

Hand knit socks · knitting

My First Pair Of Socks in 2017

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My second pair in progress

This is my first pair of socks for 2017. My goal is to knit at least 17 pairs in 2017. I also want to learn to knit socks cuff down and to learn two additional heel patterns. The fish lips kiss (I love the sound of that) and the sweet tomato heel.

The yarn I used for this project is Debbie Macomber Blossom Street in the Plum colorway. I love this yarn. Wool, angora and nylon. Ahhh, ❤💙💚

The pattern is Lamaisonrililie’s toe up version of Hermione’s Everyday Sock.

Hermione’s Everyday Sock 
Hand knit socks · knitting

Hermione’s Everyday Sock 

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This pattern has become my favorite for solid color yarn. It’s a free pattern by Erica Lueder. The pattern is written cuff down and too bad, so sad for me, I have only knit socks toe up. I found a pattern by Lamaisonrilie that uses the same stitch pattern and is constructed toe up. I made one pair and am now on my second. It’s a pretty pattern with a lot of texture. The four stitch pattern is easy to memorize. Listed below are the links to both patterns. Enjoy!

Hermione’s Everyday

Lamaisonrililie

Find the Sock blockers

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Photo from Ravelry.com
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My second pair in progress
My first pair. Sock blockers from Yarn. com

 

Help! I’ve Fallen Down The Crochet Rabbit Hole. 
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Help! I’ve Fallen Down The Crochet Rabbit Hole. 

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Photos from Attic24

I don’t  really need help. I am loving my return to crochet. I’ve been seeing the Grannystripe hashtag on Instagram for a minute now. Last night, I asked Hipppiemommy ( a knitter I follow) if there was a pattern for this #grannystripe blanket. She directed me to Attic24 for the free pattern.

And.. that did it. The first thing I see is the Moorland Blanket Crochet Along (CAL) There is a photo of a beautiful landscape and another of a beautiful blanket. Did I say beautiful enough? I came for the grannystripe blanket, move along.

I clicked on the grannystripe link and the bright, beautiful colors of crochet dragged me down the rabbit hole. The warmth of familiarity gave me the tingles. My Mother taught my sisters and I to crochet as children. She made doilies with crochet thread and teeny, tiny steel needles. I watched in awe. I thought everything my Mother did was wonderful. As for me, I loved making tams for the kids (boys) in my elementary school.

I returned to crochet about 5 years ago. Then I was bitten by the knitting bug. I still love to crochet and I am particularly partial to granny squares. Go for a stroll and visit Attic24. I bet you will not be able to resist. Happy knitting and crocheting. Find the patterns below.

Grannystripe  blanket

Moorland blanketimg_1270img_1272

 

About.Com for Knitting Information And Resources
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About.Com for Knitting Information And Resources

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Photo taken at LI Livestock, Yaphank NY Happy knitting!

One of my very first sock patterns was from About.com. I visited the site today and realized how much there is to read there. Here are a few links that I found interesting. Please take a look if you already haven’t. I hope you find it as useful and informative as I have.

Everything you need to know about learning how to knit

Easy knitting patterns perfect for beginners

How to read a lace knitting chart

Learn how to master the little pearls knitting stitch

A complete guide to knitting your first sweater

And my favorite

Where to find good, free knitting patterns