What's on my needles (week 54)

At The Knitting Garage

We had a fun Monday Night Knit Night.  Think about joining us next week.

Candle Flame Shawl

I have to knit just one more repeat and then block the shawl. 
My next project for the shop will be one of the Building Blocks.  Think about joining us in the knit along and the seam together party in May.

At Home

The Aurita shawl looks lovely after re-blocking the middle.

Tony's birthday socks are almost finished and his birthday is only middle of April.  At this rate I may make him a second pair.

What's on my needles (week 53)

At The Knitting Garage

Candle Flame Shawl

I am about two thirds done with the Candle Flame Shawl.  After careful monitoring the weight of the yarn,  I knitted six increase sections, then row 1-12 of the increase section and rows 13-24 of the section B (no increase, no decrease), another 1-24 and 1-12 of section B and then I started to decrease on row 13. One fun fact:  While working on this, a customer came in who is also making this shawl. She is using the same yarn in grey (Nuna Fina) which she had purchased at The Knitting Garage and beads.  I am looking forward to see her finished shawl which she is making for her Mom.

Classes and ongoing private instructions

During this past week I met a couple of new knitters who took a lesson from me and to me it is the greatest joy and feeling of accomplishment to see them go home equipped with the knowledge of how to carry on on their own.  A new knitter is born and I think of all the fun they are going to have because they took this first step of learning (shouldn't there be a bell ringing or something every time a new knitter is born?!).  Not to blow my own horn, but here is part of a letter I received from Ellen:  "... I'm very excited about the knitting.  You teach in a way that is patient and calm (just what I need) and encouraging. It's such a nice atmosphere too."
Here is a little video of fixing one mistake she was doing at first.  She didn't pull the yarn completely through the stitch on the purl side, but it was easily fixed in the next knit row:)

And Sylvia's finished very first project.  She used my pattern "The simplest fingerless mitts you'll ever make" which is available on ravelry: http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/the-simplest-fingerless-mitts-youll-ever-make

SOOO PRETTY!!!

Kay, too, is now knitting solo at home.  She just has to remember that there are four steps to working one stitch:
1. insert
2. wrap
3. pull through
4. pull off
It is almost like dancing the waltz with your knitting needles.  And if you get muddled then it is best to re-position yourself to step one.

At Home

I finished the Aurita Shawl

Almost done, just a few more decreases

layered double and blocking :)

a close up of the lace sections with the pretty beads

and the finished shawl

Since I doubled the shawl when I blocked it (because I did not have enough space) there is a bit of an edge to the middle and I will re-block that section, but otherwise I am very pleased :) <3

blocking the middle again for a softer curve

Birthday Socks

With the shawl done I started a pair of socks for my husband's birthday.  This is yarn I had bough at Knitting Addiction on the Outer Banks last October, but we have very similar yarn (if not nicer!!!) at The Knitting Garage.  I have made several pairs of socks with this yarn and love how it makes up a nice pattern as you go along.
I am knitting these two at the time toe-up (my favorite way to go).
I thought I started both socks at the same color sequence repeat, but soon realized that that was not so.  I cut one section of yarn out from one of the balls and rejoined the yarn using the "magic knot (double knot join)":  http://youtu.be/-nq_7EXTWHE
 Now I am back on track making two identical socks (except for the toes).

cutting out some yarn from one of the balls

back on track to have the socks look the same

What's on my needles (week 52)

At The Knitting Garage

After making a Valentine's garland for my home, I made another one for The Knitting Garage; you are showered with love as you enter :)

Here is a link to the pattern I used for the hearts:  Love Rocks pattern by Vickie Howell

Candle Flame Shawl

After increasing for 6 pattern repeats I weighted how much yarn I had left which was 32 gram. 

After that I worked section A (increase section) for another half repeat then I worked section B of the pattern (no increase; no decrease) for the last 12 rows of that pattern repeat. Since I am now left with 29 gram I see that I have enough to knit 1 1/2 pattern repeats in section B, then I will do 6 1/2 pattern repeats in section C which is the decrease section.

On March 11th and March 14th I will be giving a class on how to knit up this shawl in any amount of yarn and any weight.

At Home

I have made a lot of progress on the Aurita Shawl.  I only have to knit another 10 decrease sections and am done.  I like how both the beads and the yarn have different shadings.

Knitting Classes February and March 2015

Class Schedule at the Knitting Garage February and March 2015

                                                                                                                                         

Let’s spring forward together and work on some new shawls and other fun projects to wear this Season.

Individual Projects:

These classes are held twice once on Wednesday morning 11am to 1pm and then on the following Saturday from 10am to 12noon (dates are indicated).  The cost of $40 per class includes the pattern and any additional help needed to finish the project.  Prior sign-up is necessary for the class during the week on Wednesday and recommended for the Saturday classes, but additional walk-ins are welcome Saturdays with a maximum number of four students per class.

February 18^th and 21^st     Susie Rodger’s Reading Mitts (for the intermediate Beginner)

You will learn how to knit on DPN’s, a picot seam and thumb gussets. I made a pair of these as a gift and they were very well received J





 

February 25^th and 28^th    Pembroke Shawl (for the intermediate Beginner)

If you have never knitted Lace before, this is a great pattern to learn.  The shawl is knitted up in bulky yarn and has only a few lace rows.  You will learn how to start a tri-angular shawl, the basic lace stitches and how to read a chart.


 

March 4^th and 7^th           Learn to crochet (for those new to crochet; no previous knowledge needed)

We will be using a simple fingerless mitts crochet pattern and learn the basics of crocheting.  You will need a heavy worsted/ aran weight yarn such as Cascade Aran or Heikoo Simpliworsted.

March 11^th and 14^th   Candle Flame Shawl (for the intermediate to advanced Beginner)

This is one of my own patterns.

You will be able to knit this shawl in any weight yarn you choose.  This shawl is worked sideways with only a 24 row lace repeat.

March 18^th and 21^st          Lean to Knit (for the new knitter; no previous knowledge needed)

This is one of my own patterns.  I use it often to teach the basics and in no time you will be wearing your own hand-made fingerless mitts.  You will learn:  how to cast-on, knit stitch, purl stitch and bind off.

March 25^th and 28^th          Hugs from the Heart Prayer Shawl (for the knitter who knows the basics and has a lot of stash)

  This is a rectangular shawl.  You will be using any left-over yarn you have; any weight, any color.

                                                The shawl makes a great gift for anyone who needs an extra hug.

Please note that I will not be giving any classes in April as I will be away during the better part of the month.  I will resume giving classes in May.  As always do check out Julie’s classes at The Knitting Garage, too.

What's on my needles (week 51)

At The Knitting Garage

The door handle cover on our front door made quite a splash; even non-knitters commented and especially those who opened the door without gloves or mittens were happily surprised.

The front door of AL Stickle in Rhinebeck

I am now back to knitting the Candle Flame Shawl.  I love working with the Nuna Fina :)

At Home

 

Valentine's Garland

 

 I finished making a total of 21 hearts and strung them up with clear fishing line (there is plenty of that around my house). 
I think it came out really sweet:)
Check out the free pattern on ravelry by clicking on the link above (you will need to be logged into ravelry to get to the pattern).

 

 

Aurita

I am trying to be more disciplined with my knitting this year and made a list of projects I want to work on.  I have a bin full of ready-to-go projects with the yarns and patterns matched in zip-lock bags.  I allow myself one project at a time for myself out of that bin and one for someone else. I also have three projects I am working on which have been promised for a long time and I am making myself work one hour a day on those before knitting anything else...

My bin of ready-to-work-on projects

The shawl "Aurita"  has been on my list for a while. 
I like crescent shaped shawls and the first such shawl I made was a Susanna IC design: Annis.

Annis

The pattern for the "Aurita" is easy to remember and I would even say this is a good project to take with you if it wasn't for the beads, but it is the beads which make it special.  Luckily I have plenty of beads from my beading days ;) and I found just the right ones to go with the beautiful Malabrigo Sock yarn I had found in the Clearance bin at Stickles (I tend to grab anything green, my favorite color).  If I had not found that yarn, I would most definitely buy a skein of Madeline Tosh Light or Sock for this project.

Aurita