Sending love

I hope you are all keeping well.
Over the weekend I was reminded that not everyone uses Facebook and thus misses my frequent posts on my page.  I want to apologize to those of you who have not heard from me for quite a while.
Especially now at this time of social distancing , a new and approved, even encouraged way of interacting or rather not interacting, it is so important to reach out in other ways.
I came across these comforting and loving thoughts:

So sweetly said, so well put.

But especially we knitters and other fiber artists are all in all more tactile people who need the touch.

I am sending out my love to each of you, find some comfort in the knowledge that even though it may feel like it at times, you are not alone, there is a big community of fiber artists, yarn goddesses and gods and we will get through this time together.

Meanwhile touch that yummy soft hank of cashmere, be inspired by the feel of that silky smooth yarn perfect for a summer shawl. 

I came across this thought, too, which is funny and true.

But with all of this ,even if you do have to go through quarantine, don’t isolate yourself.

Stay in touch, do fun things and always dream of tomorrow when we can meet in person, show off to each other our new creations, hug and forge forward together into a future of one world of love.

Meanwhile there is one more thought I want to bring on the table.  If you are restraining from going outside, consider to continue supporting your small community.  The small family owned businesses hurt with the rapid decrease of foot traffic into their shops.  

I myself am working in one such shop, a local Five and Dime shop which has an amazing yarn selection with some hand dyed yarns by Leah Stickle herself.  AL Stickle variety shop in Rhinebeck has been run by the same family since 1946.

Presently it is run by the original owner’s grandson Matt Stickle and his wife Leah.

They are expanding their presence to the cyber world.  Every day you can find new items on their website.  Many of these are not sold in the shop. So, try it out today and check out their website before going to one of the resale giants like Amazon and in doing so you may make your community just a little more wholesome.  I am not speaking out against Amazon, but just want to make you aware that there are alternatives which may help the small business owners in your community.  Al Stickle is just one of them.https://alsticklevariety.com/

Let us do our part to heal this world of ours in more ways than one, one stitch at a time.

Let’s have some knitting fun

Simplest mitts

Log Cabin Mitts

U-Turn Mitts

I am offering three classes this Winter.

I choose three different patterns for fingerless mitts, one each for the beginner, intermediate and advanced knitter.
All of these are knitted flat ( the last one in a very unique way).
I like fingerless mitts, because they are fun to wear and fairly quick to make.
The fee for the classes is $80 for the beginner and advanced class ( three sessions each ) and $60 for the intermediate class ( two sessions) plus material.  The patterns are all free.

I decided to start the classes the weekend following Martin Luther King Day.
Location:  The classes will be held at AL Stickles in Rhinebeck.

Beginner knitter/ Learn how to knit
The Simplest Fingerless Mitts by Doris Formby

Session 1 Sun 1.26.  12:30-2pm. Cast on and knit stitch
Session 2 Sun  2.2.   12: 30-2pm Review and purl Stitch
Session 3 Sun  2.9.   12:30-2pm  Bind off and mattress stitch
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Intermediate knitter ( needs to know cast on, knit and purl Stitch)
Log Cabin Mitts by Karen Templer

Session 1 Sun 1.26.  2:30-4pm  Choose your yarns, understand the construction, knit , pick up sts.
Session 2  Sun 2.2.   2:30-4pm. Check work and finish first mitt
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Advanced knitter ( needs to be comfortable with increases, bonus if you are familiar with Judy’s Magic cast on)
U-Turn Mitts by Sybil R.

Session 1 Sun 2.9.  2:30-4pm cast on, Part 1 of pattern
Session 2 Sun 2.16. 2:30-4pm  three-needle bind off and part 2 ( the triangle)
Session 3 Sun 2.23. 2:30-4pm the thumb and finishing your first mitt

My favorite yarn store in Liverpool, England

When my husband and I visited family in England, we took the train into Liverpool one of the days.
Some sightseeing and shopping ( at the LFC) was done in time to also take the chance to visit my favorite wool shop on Stafford Street, Abakhan.

The bombed out church and 

Christmas truce football statue

And Liverpool cathedral

View from Liverpool cathedral, river Mersey

More sightseeing

Liverpool Library 

And shopping

I love that Slogan ⚽️

You have two floors of wool, notions, fabric, anything you can possibly think of!  They also give classes.  I am thinking to check them out during one of my next visits.

Thousands of different buttons

I choose some gifts

And some yarn 

And this is what I knitted from the yarn.  This is an incredible pattern for fingerless mitts written by Sylil Ra .  It is a free pattern on ravelry, called U-Turn mitts.  It is done all in one piece, with twists and turns.  I just finished one mitt today 😍

♥️ Pattern:  U-Turn mitts

Fiber Arts in Fall

Fall is my favorite time of year and not just because the weather is still mild and without the humidity and not only because the leaves are turning the most beautiful colors, especially here in the Hudson Valley, but also there is a little chill in the air, just enough to get out your sweaters and keep warm with all that woolen loveliness.

The area where I live is most famous among knitters and other fiber artists for its annual Sheep and Wool Festival in Rhinebeck, NY, often referred to simply as RHINEBECK.

This year one local library, the Morton Memorial Library in Rhinecliff (right on the Hudson) organized an early kick-off to get into the swing of things with a Fiber Arts Show with knitted, crocheted, woven, quilted , felted, embroidered, cross stitched,...you name it, it's there....pieces from library patrons.  

Yours truly dropped off a shawl.

So, hurry on over to get inspired.  the show will last until the end of the month.

For those of you who are not living in or planning to visit this area, I also started a seven day challenge of sharing your creations on-line on my facebook page.  I started by sharing a different sweater and shawl each day and I hope others will join in with the fun and share any fiber creation.

Dropping off a shawl with Sandy at the Morton Memorial Library in Rhinecliff

Someone else dropping off a beautiful sweater

You are greeted by two felted cats at the library

Check out my facebook page Knit With Doris/ Discover Your Inner Knitter and join in the fun of sharing your creations.

My ( almost) Rhinebeck Sweater

It all started so well:  

• I fell in love with this pattern, Helenium by Amanda Scheuzger, and bought the yarn, Kenzie by Hikoo Skacel, which just happened to be in the clearance bin at the yarn shop where I work, The Knitting Garage in Rhinebeck.

And it got better:  

• There was not enough yarn in the color I liked best from what was there, but I was able to buy more yarn off a fellow knitter on ravelry ( Juliemustknit).  And it turned out that the yarn I bought from her although bought in North Carolina rather than NY is the EXACT SAME dye lot!!!  What were the chances of that??

I started the sweater on January 16, 2019  and had so much fun that I finished the sleeves and body all the way to the point when I start knitting the brioche yoke by February 9.

I was looking forward to come back from a two week vacation in Costa Rica and finish the sweater.

BUT I broke my wrist while away and was not able to continue until a little 

over four months later, July 17, at which point I very gingerly knitted a little bit at a time

August 13, almost a month later, I finished and absolutely love this sweater.

It fits well and who knew that orange looks so good on me?!

I am really looking forward to the cooler weather when I will start wearing it.  There have been a few cool mornings already and I enjoy slipping into this sweater.

Now you may wonder why I said “almost Rhinebeck sweater”.

That’s simple :  it turns out that I will be away this year during the New York Sheep and Wool Festival.  I will be visiting family in England, but I will be sure to wear my Helenium pullover there...

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