Friday, June 24, 2005
New Addiction!
Oh yeah, baby! I've discovered a new addiction! I really, really wanted to make a special throw. But I didn't want it to be just any throw, so I thought I'd take the opportunity to do something I had never really done before. I looked at entrelac (not reversible, alas), woven strips...lotsa, lotsa stuff. And like that old saying, "You always find what you're looking for in the last place you look!" I found my muse in the most unexpected place. I think it was the Hip Knits book...It's a geometric purse pattern. I totally fell in love with the concept, but the pattern needed re-working. So, I learned something new & dabbled in (:::horrors:::) ...The Dreaded Knitting Math!
I was going to do it in Cotton Stria by Manos...I fell in love with the black, cream & rust combo. But the yarn isn't substantial enough for the kind of throw I envisioned (and it's all about bringing the vision to life!). My second choice was Blue Sky Cotton (its housed next to the Stria, so not a big leap of faith, there!) I chose a pretty wild combo, but I love it nonetheless!
I was going to do it in Cotton Stria by Manos...I fell in love with the black, cream & rust combo. But the yarn isn't substantial enough for the kind of throw I envisioned (and it's all about bringing the vision to life!). My second choice was Blue Sky Cotton (its housed next to the Stria, so not a big leap of faith, there!) I chose a pretty wild combo, but I love it nonetheless!
Sunday, June 12, 2005
I'm Dye-ing!
Had a staff in-service in between church services today. The shop closed a little early, and staff got a hands on (literally) lesson in hand dyed yarns. We got to color two types of yarns to see how color takes to different fibers. It was really interesting and a lot of fun. Hubby was preaching at church tonight for evening services, so I had to leave the fiber workshop a little early, but it was still very informative. We hope to present the workshop to our shop customers later in the summer. I think they will really get a lot out of it!
Saturday, June 11, 2005
Picture!
Okay, so I didn't win the camera on eBay...but my current camera, low-end resolution though it is, finally did come through! I think the lighting here does do the scarf justice & the colors are fairly accurate. I used Trendsetter Sunshine in color #133 (burnt orange) and Trensetter Cubetti in color #0984 (olive, eggplant & burnt orange).
Here is the Sunshine/Cubetti Diagonal Garter Stitch Scarf (along with the LYS I work at as a backdrop!)
Finito!
Well, I finished the Sunshine/Cubetti scarf! I love it & it only took one skein of each (I wanted a shorter, skinnier, neckwarmer-type scarf). But I am so frustrated! I finished it Thursday & wanted to post a picture right away. Well, first I had trouble with my digital camera software...then the (extremely cheap!) camera itself! UGH! Grrrrr! But, I should be thankful I even have a camera at all (::::slapping my hand::::)!
I have a class this morning at the shop It's part two of the mother/daughter (excuse me, parent/child!) learn to knit class I teach monthly. Either I will take another picture in the shop with better lighting (then you can envy me working in yarn heaven!), or else the bid I just placed on a new digital camera on eBay will come through and I can take a real picture with a real camera (albeit later next week)!
I'm excited about the class. I love working with kids and will be teaching our kids & teen summer camps at the shop. The kids had a great time with part one of the class. The youngest is 6 and the oldest is 9. Part one covered casting on & knitting; part two covers purling & binding off.
I have a class this morning at the shop It's part two of the mother/daughter (excuse me, parent/child!) learn to knit class I teach monthly. Either I will take another picture in the shop with better lighting (then you can envy me working in yarn heaven!), or else the bid I just placed on a new digital camera on eBay will come through and I can take a real picture with a real camera (albeit later next week)!
I'm excited about the class. I love working with kids and will be teaching our kids & teen summer camps at the shop. The kids had a great time with part one of the class. The youngest is 6 and the oldest is 9. Part one covered casting on & knitting; part two covers purling & binding off.
Tuesday, June 07, 2005
Scarves, Scarves, Scarves!
So I signed up for another project at work...why? ::::Thwakking forehead::: I have seventy-zillion in progress...but I can't resist...it's an addiction! I'm surrounded by yummy yarn all day, what dan I do?
Fortunately these should both go quickly. I'm about 1/4 way through both scarves. One is the Mesh Stitch Pattern (substitute the knits with purls) using Prism's Kid Slique in color Mozambique (I love saying that...Mozambique...Mozambique...Mozambique!). Mozambique is a forresty-green mohair with a shiny varigated cord running throughout with pinks, yellow, lime, purple...very, very pretty!
The other is using a burnt orange shade of Trendsetter Sunshine and Trendsetter Cubetti (a new yarn!). It's a diagonal garter stitch scarf....very cool looking so far. I am holding both strands together, then dropping the Cubetti for four rows to create a striping effect.
My co-manager will be teaching a dye workshop as a staff in-service this weekend, so we are off to buy supplies today!
Fortunately these should both go quickly. I'm about 1/4 way through both scarves. One is the Mesh Stitch Pattern (substitute the knits with purls) using Prism's Kid Slique in color Mozambique (I love saying that...Mozambique...Mozambique...Mozambique!). Mozambique is a forresty-green mohair with a shiny varigated cord running throughout with pinks, yellow, lime, purple...very, very pretty!
The other is using a burnt orange shade of Trendsetter Sunshine and Trendsetter Cubetti (a new yarn!). It's a diagonal garter stitch scarf....very cool looking so far. I am holding both strands together, then dropping the Cubetti for four rows to create a striping effect.
My co-manager will be teaching a dye workshop as a staff in-service this weekend, so we are off to buy supplies today!
Friday, June 03, 2005
It's Offical...I'm Out of Control!
OK, so if I have more WIPS than is right for any human to be allowed, why, oh, why did I get more yarn today to start a new project? Granted it is for the shop to display and promote my Simple Tank Tops class...but still, I have to find the time to knit the thing!!!
I got some Tahki Classic Cotton for the yarn...combining a deep olive for the top portion, a thin stripe of fuschia, then an eggplant purple for the bottom. I also picked up some of the same yarn in a gorgeous deep teal (with seafoam for contrast!) for a simple t-shirt with no shaping. The pattern is from a class the owner of my shop teaches, and I've palyed around with several yarns to make it (I came very, very close to making it in my "signature color"...a deep blood red (blue undertone, not orange...yuck!) in Berocco's Glace #2529)
So I'm thinking about trying my hand at a picot cast on...Never tried it before, but I think it might lend itself well to this tank top/shell. I'll keep you posted (after I get back from the rubber room they are sure to stick me in for chossing yet another project!)
I got some Tahki Classic Cotton for the yarn...combining a deep olive for the top portion, a thin stripe of fuschia, then an eggplant purple for the bottom. I also picked up some of the same yarn in a gorgeous deep teal (with seafoam for contrast!) for a simple t-shirt with no shaping. The pattern is from a class the owner of my shop teaches, and I've palyed around with several yarns to make it (I came very, very close to making it in my "signature color"...a deep blood red (blue undertone, not orange...yuck!) in Berocco's Glace #2529)
So I'm thinking about trying my hand at a picot cast on...Never tried it before, but I think it might lend itself well to this tank top/shell. I'll keep you posted (after I get back from the rubber room they are sure to stick me in for chossing yet another project!)
