SOCKS, SOX and more SOCKS :)

Look what we have done!

(What's on my needles week 111)

Remember my sock knitting class?  Everyone's socks are finished!!! 

I hope that seeing these will give you inspiration to take my next sock knitting class in September.
By the way: Everybody used different yarn; isn't that cool?! You just have to check out all the pretty sock yarn available at The Knitting Garage in Rhinebeck, NY.

Here they are alphabetically by name:

ANNIE:

from this...

...to this

 BETTY:

from this...

...to this

 DALE:

from this...

...to this

 DORIS:

from this...

...to this

 and

from this...

...to this

 ELYSE:

from this...

...to this

 GERRIE:

from this...

...to this

 KYRA:

from this...

...to this

 TONY (knitted by Doris):

from this...

 

...to this

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY

<3 Best wishes to all of you for a very happy Mother's Day <3

What's on (or not on) my needles (week 110)

I hope everyone is having a lovely Spring and is looking forward to this weekend. 

My sons are planning a BBQ for me which  may have to be taken indoors depending on the weather. So much rain!

I am planning to let them organize while I knit. I like to schedule in some time for knitting  whether for myself or for a loved one, handmade gifts bring joy not only to the person who receives, but also to the one who makes it.

Presently I am trying to get started on a cozy afghan for my sister (for her 70th this summer). So far I have picked the yarn:  Cascade 128 which is super-soft and the color #893 (Ruby), which is my sister's favorite, but I am experimenting with various ideas and stitches.  I actually started yesterday, but unraveled it after 4 inches, because it just did not fit my vision for the blanket.
So, it is back to the "drawing board".  Next, I am thinking to knit double-stranded on a big needle for a thick and lofty look.

OH, THE POSSIBILITIES!! ... <3

I am sure we have all been there one time or the other.  Sometimes it helps to bounce off ideas with friends or the knitting staff at your friendly LYS ;)  and I know that eventually it all comes together.

So, I am wishing you especially for this weekend much inspiration and much joy. 

Stretchy Bind- Offs

Stretchy Bind Offs

Stretchy Bind Offs most suited for socks:

• ·         Lace Bind Off, aka Russian, Purl Two Together

• ·         Elastic Bind Off

• ·         Jeny’s Surprisingly Stretchy Bind Off 

This is my favorite and the one I am teaching in the Class.

Other Stretchy Bind Offs:

• ·         Yarnover Bind Off

• ·         Suspended Bind Off

• ·         Icelandic Bind Off

You may find youtubes  videos for all these bind offs.

Here are step by step instructions for Jeny’s Surprisingly Stretchy Bind Off:

To work this bind off, you will first process each stitch and then bind off in the traditional manner.

Processing a Knit Stitch:

1.       Work a reverse yarnover.

2.       Knit one stitch.

3.       Pull the YO over the knit stitch.

Processing a Purl Stitch:

1.       Work a yarnover ending with the yarn in the front.

2.       Purl one stitch.

3.       Pull the YO over the purl stitch.

Binding off:

Process each of the first two stitches then pull the first stitch over the second stitch.

Process the next stitch and again pull the first stitch on your right hand needle over the second one as in a traditional bind off.  Continue this last step until all stitches are bound off.

NOTE:  In order not to get a jug between the last stitch and the first stitch when binding off in the round, pull your last loop to a length of about 3” (6” total) and cut in the center of this loop.  You will have the tail of the working yarn come through the center of the last stitch.  Thread your darning needle with this yarn tail and go under the two legs of the first stitch bound off and then back through the center of the last stitch.  This bridges the gap between the last and first bound off stitch.  Last  weave in the end.

This handout is part of a Sock Knitting Class by Doris Formby.

For more information on this or other classes contact me at  formbyd8@gmail.com

Spruce up your home

With Coasters!!!

What's on my needles (week 109) 

I wanted a quick and fun project and thought about how to improve one of our every day household items.

• We use coasters all the time and have very pretty ones; even a set of coasters with scenes from Formby, UK.   BUT so often they stick to the wet underside of the cup, then fall off.

•  So, I thought to myself:  what better way to improve life than knitting a set of coasters.

 I decided on using Lily Sugar 'n Cream cotton in the colors Ecru, Country Green and Guacamole.  The last one is a multi color yarn.  
And I decided on using a different pattern for each coaster.  Some are knitted and some are crochet and none take longer than a few hours max. (Instant gratification!!!)

I found the first pattern in the latest issue of Interweave Knits (Spring 2016), I found others on ravelry and others still are actually dishcloth patterns which I adjusted to a smaller size.  All coasters are approximately 5" in diameter.  Find the link to my ravelry notes and from there to the pattern underneath each picture.

Let me know if you have a favorite dishcloth or coaster pattern.  I am looking to expand my collection to be ready for a larger gathering :)
 

Park Lane Coaster

Super Fast Coaster

The almost Lost Coaster

Spring Flower Dishcloth

I-Cord Coaster

Yet Another Coaster

 

1/2 foot of snow in April! What to do?

Knitting, of course (and keeping calm and drinking tea).

What's on my needles week 108

I cannot say that I was not warned that snow would be coming.  Even last Friday my local library director asked me if I was ready for Winter.  Winter in April?  And then we had 1/2 foot of snow, yes, that's not much considering how much we usually get in Upstate New York, but after such a mild Winter and since it is April and the daffodils and forsythias are out and Friday the temperatures were in the upper 70's...

 

Well, it took me by surprise, but not unprepared.  I am never unprepared when it comes to the chance of staying home :  There is always knitting!

Sunday I managed to finally finish my cardigan.  After the designer was so kind and updated the pattern there was not much more to do to finish it and it came out really nice.

The pattern:  Tullamore Cardigan by Emily Ringelman   It is knitted in pieces and then seamed which gives it a nice fit.  I am surprised that not more people have knitted this one. So far only 11 projects were posted on ravelry.  The pattern is available on ravelry for $6.50

The yarn:  I used Elsebeth Lavolt Silky Wool which was in the Stickles Clearance bin last Fall (there are some good finds in there).

My pattern notes: You can find my pattern notes following this link: http://ravel.me/Strickliese/tc

 And finally the pictures:  

Tullamore Cardigan

Tullamore Cardigan

Monday's snow was a little more unexpected, but I started a new project, the Hitofude Cardigan, which has been on my "to-do list" since a while.  I will make a few changes in the upper body and no sleeves (more like a summer vest), but will definitely keep the flow and increases of the lower body.

I am using the Shibui Linen Yarn.  I had used it a few years back for the "Liesel" which is a store sample at The Knitting Garage.  Since then I have been thinking  what I could make out of the yarn for myself.  I like the weight of the linen, the crisp feel and drape.

humble beginnngs

 

Sunset over Rhinebeck

A picture is worth a thousand words

What's on my needles (week 107) 

So, THIS is the shawl everybody is talking about :)

 

The pattern:  "Pebble Beach Shawl" by Helen Stewart 

                   This pattern is written for three sizes SMALL 55"x 15", MEDIUM 71"x 18" and LARGE 79"x 20".  The shawl in these pictures is the small size with just one skein of yarn 437 yards.

The yarn: Cascade Heritage Wave  This yarn has a beautiful long color run with gradient color changes.  It comes in many great colors.  Featured shawl used the color 502 "solar".

Needles:  US# 6 needles

And since there seems so much interest, I am offering a class to help you get started:

SHAWL CLASS:

 

I will be giving a one hour class Saturday April 2nd, 9th and 16th (the next three Saturdays).  You can choose between a morning or afternoon session.  

Morning sessions 10:30-11:30am, Afternoon Sessions 2:30-3:30pm.  

I will assist you to cast on , read the pattern, show you how to do the picot edging and explain how to block your finished shawl.  Cost for the 1 hour class: $20.   

The yarn ($14 per skein) and pattern ($5) are extra.

No prior sign-up needed, but classes are limited to a maximum of three. 

This is a beginners class suited for those who have never knitted lace before. 

Easter musings

  What's on my needles (week 106)

Happy Easter, Happy Spring!

I hope everyone is enjoying the warmer weather and pretty Spring flowers which are coming up everywhere.

I was so happy to see a patch of daffodils under my kitchen window already. It made my heart "sing".

I had another experience during the past week which made me very happy. I realized (not for the first time) how lucky I am to be part of a community of knitters.

In my experience (for the most part) knitters look beyond themselves and simply help each other to get the project done. It does not seem to matter where they are from.  I have sought help through ravelry from knitters from many other countries, countries I may never travel to in person but to whose citizens I share a common bond by our shared love for a craft and desire to create something beautiful in an otherwise unstable world. Especially looking at recent World events, it is important to know that within this world lies another in which people do look beyond nationality, race and religion. Small side-note:  Duesseldorf where I grew up is only 120 miles from Brussels...to me events literally hit close to home...

Even on a smaller scale (as I experienced in several jobs) competition which in itself is not bad, is often used in greed and misuse of control.  But that is not my experience with other knitters.

As Spring is full of promise of new beginnings, I feel that I want to try and be better at sharing and helping. Perhaps we can make this world a better place one baby-step at a time.

But enough of my philosophical musings and on to my actual experiences.
Remember the cardigan "Tullamore" I am working on? I was stuck when I got to the front-panels' arm and neck decreases. I was supposed to be left with 18 sts for the shoulders, but the math did not work out. Luckily I did the math before knitting and ended up writing to the designer Emily Ringelman. She was incredibly gracious about it and corrected the pattern. Here is some of the correspondence:

• Ok, I figured it out. You are totally right- there will be 18 sts left when all shaping is complete. Somehow, I uploaded the incorrectly tech-edited version of the pattern to Ravelry. I have no idea how no one has pointed this out to me before. I’ve corrected the pattern and am about to upload the proper version now. You’ll get an email from Ravelry that the pattern has been updated and is available for download.
  So sorry… I try very hard to make sure my patterns are error-free, but as humans, that’s not always what happens.
  I hope you love your cardigan when it’s finished!
  Emily
  The pattern is beautiful. Check it out for yourself here: Tullamore Cardigan I am hoping to finish this over the weekend; so looking forward to be wearing it! 
  
  
  
  
  The other pattern I had found some minor errors in is the "Ethereal Wrap" by Evelyn A. Clark. This is a free pattern by Skacel and I had knitted the wrap in Cascade Heritage Wave. I never even contacted the designer, but received this lovely text: 
  
  • Hello! I wanted to thank you for the notes that you made on your pattern. We are currently fixing the mistakes and will a new version will be attached to the link next week. So sorry for any confusion that the pattern has caused but again, thank you.
  Happy Knitting.
  -Brooke @ Skacel
   The pattern can be found here: Ethereal Wrap 

 

Let us work together to make this world a better place one step (stitch) at a time.