What's on my needles (week 40)

At The Knitting Garage

I am working on the "Sophie Bag" which is a felted bag.
I am using Cascade 220 which is a nice yarn for felting and also some Noro Kureyon for an accent stripe.

If you want to start your own Sophie Bag, think about taking the class on November 22 or December 3rd.  The class fee includes a copy of the pattern.

At Home

Chevron Tank Top

After returning from my road trip I finished the Tank Top very quickly, but still have to knit the I-cord edge.  I have played around with it some on US#3, and #5 and with and without the YO; I finally decided to knit it on US#3 without the YO, much like JaneEyre9 on ravelry.  It is always so nice to connect with other knitters who can give you some input :)

finished knitting!!!

Trying to decide how to work the i-cord edge

 My husband's socks

I am picking up and knitting my husband's socks more than the tank top because it is a nice and easy to breeze through project and he is always so appreciative.  I finished the FLK heel on one sock and should have the other one done by the end of tonight's TV watching.
I am using exclusively the FLK heel on Tony's socks as he says they fit him best.

One heel done, one more to go

Classes at The Knitting Garage in Fall 2014

Learn How to knit SOCKS

I decided to use the classic sock knitting pattern by "Churchmouse" for a beginners' sock knitting class. There will be a total of four sessions to cover all the different sections. Once you have learned to knit socks, there may be no stopping you to make pair after pair.

1) Nov.1. 1-3pm Learn to knit on double pointed needles and cast on your socks

2) Nov.15. 1-2:30pm Start the heel flap

3) Nov.22. 1-3:30pm Turn the heel and start the gussets

4) Dec 6. 1-3pm Toe decreases and Kitchener stitch

The fee of $120 is for all four sessions and includes the pattern.  I also offer the sessions individually at $35 each session.

Individual Projects

This is the Season when you want to think about starting small projects for gift giving.  The classes are held Saturday mornings and on the following Wednesday mornings (except on the Wednesday before Thanksgiving).

In my classes I will set you up with various projects.  All classes will be held from 10am-12 noon at a $40 fee which includes any patterns. 

Here is the list for the next four weeks:

Nov. 1. , Nov. 5. Simple Hat (Beginner Class, you need to know basic cast-on and knit stitch)

                You will learn how to choose yarn, the purl stitch and decreases.  This hat is knitted flat, and then seamed.

Nov. 8. , Nov. 12. Faux Cable Leg Warmers

              (For the Intermediate Beginner, you need to know knitting basics)

                You will learn how to knit in the round and the faux cable stitch; this pattern is sized from child to adult.

Nov. 15. , Nov. 19.  Simple Fingerless Mitts

              (Beginner Class, no previous experience needed)

                        You will learn a simple cast-on, knit and purl stitches.  This mitt is worked flat, and then seamed.

Sat. Nov. 22. , Dec.3. Sophie Bag

               (For the Intermediate Beginner, you need to know the knitting basics)

            You will learn how to choose yarn for felting, knit in the round and how to knit an i-cord.

 

Last weekend in Rhinebeck (week 39)

With the Annual Sheep and Wool Festival taking place last weekend, there was a lot of hustle and bustle in town

 

Some 40,000 people were expected to attend this year's Sheep and Wool Festival in Rhinebeck.  I have not heard yet how many did attend in the end, but I am guessing more rather than less.
It seems that with each year this event is getting a bigger attendance.
And then there are all the vendors and designers and teachers not only from around the US, but also from overseas.  We were lucky to meet some at The Knitting Garage from beginning of the week on.

Here is just a quick "by the way" thought: 
If you attended and added that beautiful skein of yarn to your stash, but don't know yet what to use it for, let us help you at The Knitting Garage to find just the perfect pattern for it.

Speaking of the Knitting Garage:  This year Leah launched our own blend of yarn (Romney, Corriedale and Merino; SO SQUISHY!).  It went down so well with folks that we sold out of three of the four colors during the first two days by Saturday afternoon!!! 

And at The Knitting Garage we held our third annual Yarn and Wine Tasting event on Friday evening.  This was limited to a small group of attendees and sold out very quickly and I must add that it was a lot of fun.

Yummy food, delicious wines and delectable yarns were the perfect recipe for fun!
And everyone walked home with a hand sewn "project/ goodie-bag" filled with surprises.










Unfortunately not all of our regular attendees to this event were able to come this year, but our friends from Maryland did stop by on Sunday :) 

Meanwhile Leah was busy at the fair with her Mom representing not only The Knitting Garage, but also Go Monkey Design and Pig & Company.  I stopped by on Saturday morning and visited their booth and thought to myself "if there was a price to be won for the most creative booth display, Leah and Barbara would win it for sure".  But don't take my word for it, look at these pictures:

 And if you missed stopping at their booth, we still have some sheep at The Knitting Garage which are looking for a permanent home as well as a few project bags.

What's on my needles (week 38)

More about my road-trip

Some of you may have noticed that I did post a little bit about my week in North Carolina :) and the beautiful beaches and yarn shops there.  After that we spent some time in Georgia (the Golden Coast; St Mary, Jekyll Island etc) where I could not find a single yarn shop!  Nonetheless the area is very beautiful and the weather could not have been better.  
On our drive back to NY we did stop again on the Outer Banks and my favorite yarn shop there.
Normally Jeanne keeps "The Knitting Addiction" in Kitty Hawk closed on Mondays, but she could relate to my need to see her and met me at the shop.

Waiting for Jeanne I noticed my shawl matched her chairs:

It was nice to see Purl (or Pearl ; I am not sure of the spelling), the resident cat, and of course Jeanne again.

 

I will do a show and tell of the yarns I bought in a later post as this is a very busy week with the Sheep and Wool Festival coming up in Rhinebeck NY this weekend.

The Knitting Garage

Which brings me to making sure that you know that The Knitting Garage carries their own line of yarn now!  Check out this and all the other great yarns we carry.  This weekend promises to be a great opportunity to meet with other knitters from all over the world.  Yesterday we already had customers from Pennsylvania, Atlanta, Australia, New Zealand and Norway!

Projects I worked on during my trip

I took a bit of a break from knitting during my trip and read and listened to audio books instead.
I spent some time knitting my husband's socks:

 

I finished his hat:

 It looks good on both of us! :)

And I finished my son's scarf/hat/pocket "All-In-One"

Please note that you can click on the links for more detailed information about each one of these knitting projects such as which pattern or which yarn I used :)

 

Greetings from North Carolina (week 37)

Hello y'all,

Carolina beaches are beautiful!

And so are the yarn shops in the area.
We have been staying in New Bern for the last week and I was happy to find a great yarn shop right in the historic district of the town across from Tryon Palace.  The Weaver's Webb is a store which has something for everyone.  Marilyn's shop is not only stocked with yarns for your knitting and crochet needs, but also everything you need for weaving and cross stitching and needlepoint.
The second time I walked into the store I heard a lot of laughter and fun going on during a class Marilyn was giving upstairs.

Well, knitters always have such an immediate connection with each other, right?!  I felt that with Peggy, the owner of The Salty Sheep and wish her shop wasn't quite so far away or she could come to the NY State Sheep and Wool Festival (perhaps one day ?!).
Peggy sells a wide variation of yarns in her shop including a yarn from the Hudson Valley by Jill Draper. It's a small world, isn't it?!

 I realize how lucky I am to be living in the Rhinebeck area, not only close to The Knitting Garage and Leah, but even working there and able to go to the country's biggest Sheep and Wool Festival!  :)

Now, what I bought at these stores and what I will be making, will be a story for another time.