I always feel so lucky to be working in the local knitting shop, The Knitting Garage at Stickles, especially during the Sheep and Wool Festival.
My favorite thing about the festival is seeing so many people dressed in their hand-knits. Which better place to be than in the shop when there is a literal parade of fiber-enthusiasts coming through and showing off their work.
Here are a few of my favorites I took pictures of before it got too busy :)
I am sorry I don’t have details on all of the garments, but here are the details on my ensemble:
We also had a trunk show right in the shop! I could not resist this
kit from the Tre Liz .
Two strands of sock yarn knitted up into a "blanket" and then dyed; perfect for my two at
the time socks ; socks will be guaranteed the same color sequence. BTW: Have you signed up for my class yet? Classes start next week.
The designer, Susanne or Sybilra on ravelry, is using short rows and intarsia to come up with the image of a lovely Ammonite.
Right off I could see that quite a bit of math was used here and this is what Sybilra said in a pm " Ja, diese Anleitung ist mathematisch/algorithmisch. Ich war kurz
davor, die Anleitung auch noch in einer Art Programmiersprache
(“Pseudo-Code”) zu schreiben - habe es aber dann doch nicht getan, weil
es eher verwirrt … " Translation: " Yes, the instruction is very mathematical/ algorism. I intended to write the instructions in a sort of program code (pseudo-Code)- but didn't in the end, because it would have been too confusing.."
Not to worry, her patterns and blog are mostly in English.
She has a blog " Knitting and so on" which I checked out and which is a treasure trove of unusual designs; and except for a few they are free! They go from potholders to fingerless mitts to sweaters. You can get lost checking out everything and from what I can tell, the patterns are written out clearly and easy to follow. Here is a link to her ravelry store with its 132 (!) designs: Sybilra's ravelry store One bonus to me: She lives not far from my hometown, Duesseldorf in Germany. Next time I go over there, we may just get together for a cup of coffee and some knitting.
So, naturally I was attracted to Bristol Ivy's Tealeaf Sweater. I liked the idea of lace sections in a heavier cozy garment. Lace is usually associated with light and airy shawls or Summer tops, so this was a novel idea I jumped at.
I signed up for her KAL and started (finally) in January as I was busy with Holiday knitting before then.
Then came my surgery less than four weeks into knitting and I was not able to pick this project up again until after Easter , but then finished it within two and a half weeks.
It has a lot of details AND POCKETS! and I feel very cozy wearing it :)
Please note that there are so many beautiful yarns which give you the correct gauge; the options are almost endless :)
Thank you to everyone who got together with me during the past two weeks.
I truly love giving you any and all of my expertise to help you make knitting that new project just a little easier or at least clearer. I also love it that everyone I have met with (ranging from 5 to 80 years old) is working on something different. That certainly keeps me on my toes.
Kyra learned to master the Brioche stitch on this lovely hat ( a free pattern on ravelry). I also decided to knit up a baby-sized hat in this pattern for a friend's newborn :)
Sandra knitted up her very first sock during a one week stay in the area. We decided on using DK yarn on #4 needles. working the toes two at a time and then concentrating on just one sock which Sandra finished using Jenni's stretchy bind off. Hurray!
Cathlyn learned how to attach a lace boarder on her garter stitch shawl. The border on this shawl is attached to the edge of the shawl row by row ; a little cumbersome but well worth it.
Marianne has made some head start on her first fitted sweater. She is an accomplished knitter already, but this is her first sweater. I suggested "Brick" in Brooklyn Tweed Shelter. This is a simple sweater with raglan sleeve construction, top down. This way it can be tried on as you go along to make sure the fit is right (every person's body shape is different). I like it so much that I started knitting a sweater for myself.
Ciel and Lumi are learning various new stitches by continuing to work on their pillow covers. They are my cutest students :) and eager to learn new stitches.
Anni Last, but not least, I am meeting with Anni today to go over how to work Entrelac. Anni has been telling me for years that she wants to learn entrelac. I am so happy that she is finally taking the plunge. I think she will be happy to see that it is not as scary as it seems. In preparation to the lesson I knitted up the beginnings of a simple entrelac square.
I am thankful to each one for enriching my days by taken me away from routine and exploring new things together.
My own knitting has taken off again, too, and I picked up the Tealeaf Sweater which had been in hibernation since end of January. I am happy to say that I finished the sleeves. I am now working on the lace collar and after that it is just a few little steps -including blocking- before I can wear it.
I am presently not knitting.
Why you may ask (although some of you know).
I had a small surgery on my right thumb three weeks ago. It seems to take longer to heal than anticipated. Well, I thought I would have full range of motion after a couple of days...and in any case even one day is one day too many for any knitter.
Knitters are usually patient people except when it comes to not being able to knit the things we like which in my case is lace, socks ...small intricate things...
But I have spent my time looking at patterns and found one I am truly intrigued by. It is made up of simple squares. The possibilities of how to arrange the squares into a pattern are seemingly endless (click on the link below the picture to see the free pattern on ravelry):
I am also very close to finish knitting Bristol Ivy's "Tealeaf Sweater". I even got up extra early the day of surgery to finish the lace sections on the sleeves. All I have to do now is finish the sleeves and pick up stitches and knit the collar.
For additional PT I have knitted a simple washcloth on #9 needles, a couple of rows at a time.
Well, now you know why you have not heard from me for a bit.
I am healing and will check back middle of March.
Until then I am leaving for a trip to warmer climates, perhaps sun and relaxation can speed things up. :)
For more reading, here are some diary entries:
Day of Surgery
I knew I wouldn't be able to knit for a
bit following a small surgery on my right thumb (nothing too serious).
So I made sure to getup extra early (6am) to finish the lace sections on the sleeves of my Tealeaf Sweater.
Day One of Not Knitting
I
cannot help to at least be THINKING about knitting, so I post about the
Knitting Garage Birds of a Feather KAL on my blog and Facebook page.
I also add a frame to my Facebook page profile picture.
Day Three of Not Knitting
I
browse Knitting Sites and Pages on Facebook and see that my favorite
yarn shop in NC , The Salty Sheep in Swansboro, has its 10th Anniversary
and text Peggy (the owner) to find out if I can order their adorable
Anniversary kit (project bag, yarn and pattern). .
Day Four of Not Knitting
I
browse patterns and find this amazing Blanket pattern, Pathways, and
post on Facebook. Dreaming about making that one. Perhaps as a take on
the road project as a change from Sock knitting. You only knit small
squares in an easy to remember pattern for this blanket. The real fun
starts when you seam them all together...the possible variations seem
infinite.
Day Five of Not Knitting
Put
in my order for the Anniversary kit from The Salty Sheep treating
myself to the kit, perhaps someone else to the finished shawl; we'll
see.
Even when I am not knitting myself, I can
appreciate someone else's knitting. The KAL at the Knitting Garage is
coming along nicely and I am itching to re-join it. I share Leah's
progress picture of the Birds of a Feather KAL.She is ready to start section 4, lace, whichis my favorite type of knitting...oooohhhh, lace......
Day Seven of Not Knitting
My other queued shawl, Take it All needs one more Unicorn Tail color.
I
order the missing color, Edison Bulb, from a fellow raveller's stash.
Two other colors were in my stash already and I bought five at The
Knitting Garage a week ago.Now I can start with this as soon as I feel up to knitting again.
Also getting bandages removed! Yeah!!
Day Nine of Not Knitting
Starting
my own PT in addition the the exercises given to me and start knitting a
simple washcloth on #9 needles to get my fingers nimble. It seems
harder than it should be; I will need to exercise patience with myself.
Day Ten of Not Knitting
Both
packages of yarn arrive. The kit from The Salty Sheep as well as the
Unicorn Tail. Breathing in the yarn and making plans, dreaming of
knitting.
Day Eleven of Not Knitting
Finished the washcloth, but not starting anything else for now.
Day Twelve of Not Knitting
Giving
a Class to a group of young beginner knitters and keep the hands-on to a
minimum. Making plans for classes starting mid-March.
Day Fourteen of Not Knitting
Giving one private lesson to a dear friend. But that one hour is it for today.
I just love it, when things all come together, when I suddenly realize that there is a common theme in different areas of my life. It makes me feel all wrapped up in harmony.
First : While being on vacation my niece just finished a book and gave it to me because it sparked my interest. The book is called "Indigo" by Catherine E. McKinley and gives an interesting account of the author's search for the original and true color indigo. I was intrigued to read about dying cloth and by the meaning and symbolism of different cloth designs. I am glad to have a little background understanding about dying from when I attended a workshop on "natural dying" some years back at "The White Sheep Barn" in New Paltz, NY. Click this link to read that post : Natural Yarn Dying
Then: The new PomPom magazine came out and I was drawn to the stitch pattern used in the sweater "Elibelinde". At first I thought to just use that stitch in my next pair of socks.
But then I remembered the yarn I had bought last September and put aside for a sweater. My plan then was to knit a practice sweater for myself before knitting up the one I made for our son. And ,wouldn't you know it, that yarn, a four-ply fingering, is the perfect yarn for this sweater.
And so I started; intrigued, too, by the symbolism of the pattern. As the name of the sweater says it all : "Elibelinde" "Elibelinde (Turkish for “hands on hips”) is a motif of a
hands-on-hips female figure. It is widely used on kilims (flat
tapestry-woven carpets) and occurs in many variations. The arms of the
figure are represented by two inward-facing hooks, while the body of the
woman is represented by a triangle or diamond. The head is typically
represented by a diamond. The Elibelinde is a symbol of fertility and
motherhood. It is one of many kilim motifs commonly woven into Turkish
flatweave rugs.”
And: The same niece who lend me the book, took a lovely photo in New York city with the fearless girl by the charging bull in the financial district. Hands on hips.... It just seems I have come full circle.
Claire in New York City
.
The pattern is very straight forward and easy to follow. There are some minor errata which anyone who knitted a sweater before would pick out (I even think this may be typos and not erratas from the designer). Read my notes on ravelry for more information on that: Strickliese's Elibelinde.
The length is right
Looks like it will be the perfect fit!!
But: When everything DOES NOT line up: So, the Chart B cable in the front section of the sweater does not line up with Chart A as it should (see my ravelry notes for more detail on this).
My question now: Can I live with it or do I want to rip everything back to the armhole divide and re-knit....?
Uh, oh, something does not look right
Meanwhile: A sermon was lingering in my memory (nagging me)..."when you are lost, go back". Yes, I certainly did get lost as that specific detail in the sweater did not look the way it should. So, I unraveled to the front/ back divide and am in the process of re-knitting. I rather loose a few days worth of knitting than feeling regret every time I feel like wearing the sweater.
And yes, this is a bigger errata, but I still very much like the pattern. My advise to you is when you divide the front and back be very careful that you have symmetry and an even number of repeats in the front!
Also, if you wait a little, the designer Ellinor Siljeström
will most likely publish a new version or errata.
Much better!
I am hoping this re-knitting does not set me back too much and I will be able to start on the sleeves soon, but then again, to me knitting is not a competitive sport when you have to race to the finish line. To me it is about the act of knitting and figuring things out when they don't look right and getting things just the way you had envisioned them sometimes with fearless determination, with your hands on hips.
Still, at times I wish I had nothing else to do,
but to knit this sweater ( I almost feel a little possessed by it). One
thing which helped me to speed up the knitting, was to work the cables
without a cable needle and I made a little video of that.
I will be working the sleeves two at a time on two circular needles. There should be no problem to be able to wear this during this year's Sheep and Wool Festival in Rhinebeck :) I still have five weeks till then and I am very much looking forward to wearing the sweater :)
I have been knitting some washcloths for charity as well as gifts.
As you may know, I am always happy to figure out a way to eliminate a step especially in the final finishing instructions.
Let me show you how I combine the last two steps ( binding off and
seaming) in one when I knit "The Almost Lost Washcloth" by Julie Tarsha.
Click here for the pattern: http://www.simplynotable.com/…/the-almost-lost-washcloth-p…/
