What I have been up to knitwise

You can now find me on Facebook !

It seems ages since my last post, so let's catch up :)

Last month I knitted up a storm at home getting some gifts ready.
     I finished knitting a pair of socks for my husband (Toe-up Socks by Anne Berk),

knitted a pair of socks for my son Gerry (with the nice yarn I got at the OBX) I combined two patterns: Basic socks a la Jeanne and afterthought heel, a hat for his wife (Kilter by Alexandra Tinsley), a golf-club cover for Richard loosely based on the pattern Pointy Elf Hat by Joelle Hoverson, a moebius cowl for his friend, and flip top mitts for Matthew combining two patterns : Simply ribbed fingerless mitts and Flip Flop Flip Top mittens . You can click on any of the links for more information on the projects.

 

At The Knitting Garage in Rhinebeck I also knitted in-between customers, lessons and classes.

I knitted a Christmas Stocking and a beautiful cowl , Cite by Anne Hanson out of a cashmere/ silk blend yarn (You only need one skein).

Since then I crocheted another cowl , Crocheted Moebius Cowl by Churchmouse for the store to show off this beautiful glittery yarn and I started on a scarf/ cowl, "Verse" by Alexandra Tinsley.  This is  a simple knit which can be worn in many ways, very clever.

And I have not been idle at home.  I finally used up a sock yarn I received years ago as a gift knitting a beautiful crescent shaped shawl, Wedgewood by Jen Lucas. I made mittens , Warmest Mittens by Kris Percival for myself and I almost finished a buttery soft shawl by Josephine Scimeca using a beautiful hand-spun Cashmere Yarn we sell at The Knitting Garage and which my husband surprised me with :).

I hope that you, too, are busy with your knitting, letting beautiful yarns glide through your fingers. I hope that you may have gained some inspiration from my post.  
For those of you who live close by and are eagerly awaiting a new class schedule:
Classes will start at the end of this month and I will post a schedule shortly.

Keep warm.

Happy Holidays

Happy Holidays from me to you.

I hope you will have time to relax and knit and most of all enjoy your families.

My best wishes for a wonderful 2014.

To your Health

This Holiday Season give the gift of health

It occurs to me that on this blog I can write about any topic close to my heart.
I always think it is important to nourish both body and soul.  You have knitting to nourish your soul and I want to let you know how I am keeping my body in good health.

Since the last 2+ years I have been taking a health drink instead of a concoction of vitamin supplements.  I drink 2oz of Vemma every morning and have noticed a difference.  My energy level is up, I feel overall stronger and better balanced, I seem to be fighting colds much, much (!) better.

Vemma has been tested in independent clinical testings.  The studies which were published in the Journal of Medicinal Food and Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, confirmed Vemma showed significant improvements in immune markers, superior antioxidant absorption and a lowering of C-reactive protein (CRP), which points to its beneficial effects on overall health and wellness.

You can read up on it for yourself and perhaps give it a trial run for a couple of months (it took me about three months to notice the difference). Click on this link to go to the website.
http://dformby.vemma.com/

Oh, and last but not least:  It tastes delicious.
And if you try it:  Thank you for ordering through my account :)

To your health!  May you enjoy many more years of knitting and finish many beautiful projects.
Remember if you get stuck with your knitting I am here to help!

Happy Thanksgiving

 Thank you! 

I want to thank all of you for spending time with me either knitting or reading my blog or both.  I hope you enjoyed yourselves; I know I most certainly did and am looking forward to more time spend with you..

I wish you a Thanksgiving filled with love, laughter and knitting.

I wish you happiness always especially during the upcoming Holiday Season.

Remember to pick up your needles and knit something simple when things get too stressful.

Road Trip to the Carolinas

Checking out knitting shops in North and South Carolina

My husband and I just got back from a lovely road trip which took us to The Outer Banks (NC) and to Pawleys Island (SC near Myrtle Beach).

Outer Banks
I had been to "Knitting Addiction" (click on the link to get to the store's website) on North Croatan Hwy in Kitty Hawk a few years back and was happy to see Jeanne again and to marvel at the new bigger location.  Jeanne has a wonderful selection of yarns and her store is spacious and light.  She is very helpful with suggestions and knitting tips and techniques, but also lets you browse at your hearts content.
I ended up buying more of the Knitcol trends sock yarn by art,kn.  I had used it for my very first pair of socks (using a pattern which was written by Jeanne ) and am looking forward to use it again now that I know a little more about knitting socks :)
Jeanne also carries knitpicks needle tips in various sizes and I was able to get US #15's to work on the Kilter Hat by Alexandra Tinsley.

Myrtle Beach
Our next stop was Pawleys Island near Myrtle Beach.  A friend of mine had suggested which yarn shop to seek out. The first day we tried, the shop had just closed but luckily we were persistent and I was rewarded with an excellent experience. "Island Knits" (click on the link to get to the store's website) is a lovely shop in a quaint corner of a shopping area called "The Island Shops" on Ocean Highway in Pawleys Island.  Just walking up to the shop past a pond with ducks makes you feel relaxed.  The owner, Susan, has a good selection of yarns and offers instructions which then entitle you to a discount on the yarn you need to work on your project. Susan is knowledgeable when it comes to yarn and patterns and she is easy to talk with; we certainly covered a wide range of topics :)  She makes you feel right at home.
I was attracted to a specific turquoise/ aqua color and ended up buying the Berroco Weekend yarn to knit yet another shawl, Summer Flies by Donna Griffin.

While on the road I worked on the "Pendulum" by Amy Miller .  I call it "Time fades in Tidal waves".
 (click on the link for more information on the project ).

 

Holiday Class Schedule at The Knitting Garage at A L Stickle

Holiday Class Schedule 2013

You may have attended the NY Sheep and Wool Festival and are now all inspired to get started on your Holiday knitting.

Go with the momentum and sign up for a class (or two) at your friendly neighborhood knitting store.

Sock knitting class

Two-at-the-time cuff down 

You will need to have basic knitting skills for this class.  Other than that this class is for the beginning sock knitter.  You will knit two socks at a time cuff down using either the magic loop or two circular needles.

Materials needed:  200 yards of worsted weight yarn and a size US 7 needle either one needle with at least 32 inch cable or one needle with 16 inch cable plus one needle with a 24 inch cable.

The class is limited to 4 participants

Cost:   $100/each (one participant)

             $90/each  (two participants)

            $70/each  (three  or four participants)

We will meet every Tuesdays 1pm-2pm starting Nov 12^th and finishing December 3^rd.

There will be homework J

Quick projects

These are individual classes held every Saturday morning and afternoon to get you started on different quick knit projects. 

The morning sessions are from 10:30am-11:30am and are geared to the beginning knitter with basic knowledge.

The afternoon sessions are from 2pm-3pm and are geared to the intermediate knitter.

Saturday 11.16  am class:  Fingerless mitts knitted flat

                                pm class:  Countess Mitts

Saturday 11.23.  am class:  Basic hat in bulky weight yarn

                                 pm class: Foggy Hat

Saturday 11.30  am class: leggings

                                pm class : leggings in two colors

Saturday 12.7.  am class:  Mittens

                                Pm class:  Mittens in two colors

Saturday 12.14  am class: Finish your “knot your average shrug”

                                                This will be a 1 ½ hour session to help you finish your shrug.  You will need to have finished all of                                                 the knitting and I will show you just how it is sewn together.      

 All Saturday classes are $30 for the instructions for one or two participants, $25 for three or four participants.

Materials are extra and you are advised to come ½ early to purchase them.

Classes are limited to four participants.

Please e-mail me to sign up and also with special requests for classes you would like to see offered.

Private lessons

The  cost for private lessons at The Knitting Garage at AL Stickle is $35/ hour.

 For private lessons held at your convenience call or e-mail to schedule an appointment.

Knitting classes and Private Instructions at A.L.Stickles

In Rhinebeck

Doris Formby
http://knitwithdoris.blogspot.com/

http://www.ravelry.com/people/Strickliese

phone: (845) 430-7619

e-mail: formbyd8@gmail.com

Just in time for the NY Sheep and Wool Festival

Here is my latest pattern design for a shrug (or is it a vest or a shoulder cozy?).
The name may just be a hint:" Knot Your Average Shrug".
You can buy the pattern now just before the Sheep and Wool Festival.

You may want to get the pattern and then choose the yarn this weekend while attending the Rhinebeck Sheep and Wool Festival. You may even want to get a closer look at the prototype displayed at A.L. Stickle in Rhinebeck and get the yarn there.

The pattern gives you clear and detailed step by step instructions
and is available for download here (just click on the link) and on ravelry. 

This pattern is available for $ 5.00 USD.   Buy Now