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Archive for April, 2010

How to Twist Stitches – A Berroco “How To” Video

Posted in knitting, knitting techniques, tagged , , , , , on April 16, 2010| Leave a Comment »

For those of you who may not be receiving email info from Berroco, I would like to share this morning’s “How To Video“. It’s a good video on how to work right and left twisted stitches. The method has been updated to include Barbara Walker’s method from Barbara Walker’s 2nd Treasury, it is quite tidy and is one of Norah Gaughan’s favorites. The video shows the results of the stitches being worked in a slant line. This particular twisted stitch is one of my favorite in column form. We used it recently to create darts in Shari’s sweater.

Thank you Berroco for this video.

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The Flashback Shell

Posted in knitting, tagged , , on April 15, 2010| Leave a Comment »

Anyone looking for a shell that has lots to offer….great style, classy, sexy, unique! Well, recently Katie modeled the knit shell that her mother Sara has just completed for a friend. The work, the design, and the fiber were stunning. Details follow photos. (And if you didn’t want to be quite so revealing, you could always make the seam longer!)

The design, The Flashback Shell by Roxane Seabright, can be found at Art Fibers Pattern Store. The yarn used, TANTRA tussah silk, is available from Art Fibers. Great design Rox!

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Nan Rohan’s Shop

Posted in Wheat weavings, tagged , , on April 14, 2010| Leave a Comment »

Celtic Knot Web

I’ve always been attracted to wheat weaving designs…could it be that country part of me?  More than a couple of months ago I was at a church function and saw that one of the donations for the raffle was a beautiful wheat straw design that looked something like this. Nan is a wheat straw weaver and her work is stunning! Thus,I want to share the beauty of her work with you. She has a store on Etsy – Nan Rohan’s Shop. I asked her more about her designs and works – here’s what she had to say.

“Since there are not that many of my pieces on Etsy, I’m attaching photos of a few other wheat weavings. On Etsy, if you search for Wheat Weavings or Straw Weavings, besides my few offerings, you will see the work of my fellow straw artist Kathy Reid-Ready from Trinidad, California.
 
I donated the piece that they raffled last night back in December for the Christmas boutique but it didn’t sell. Judy asked me if it was OK if they raffled it last night. The problem is that I don’t remember exactly what the piece looked like. I do different things all the time, and sometimes I don’t repeat designs so they are one of a kind. So I am attaching a few of my other pieces (mostly given away as gifts so they never got on Etsy). The crucifix was a commission that I did a year ago, and the Mother & Child piece I made for the California State Fair a few years ago (I’ve only made one of those). So forgive me if I give you more than you wanted. You can probably tell the smaller ornament-sized weavings. The Celtic Knot is done on a 10″ brass ring. That and the Mariee de Moisson (Bride of the Harvest) are my favorite wedding pieces to do. I also love to do straw brooches, an example of which I’ve attached. Feel free to use these photos if you like. Thanks for your complimentary words today! Best, Nan”

Nan…thank you for letting me share your work. Here are some of those photos!

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Two finished UFO’s

Posted in Uncategorized, tagged , , , , , on April 13, 2010| Leave a Comment »

Boy….am I excited. I am now knitting on my own projects. All the baby gifts are done and while there are gift items pending, I am focused on my own knitting for now. I pulled out a gray(color #155) top-downsweater jacket, from TOP DOWN Sweaters by Doreen L. Marquart and knit in Queensland’s Collection Kathmandu. I working on the sleeves and I will be wearing this sweater jacket soon. A design note here: it felt like the sleeves were oversized and with some group knitting counsel I am now adding shaping on the top of the sleeve…another design feature!

Self-striping Sock

Self-striping Sock

Yep! A pair!

Yep! A pair!

On Sunday my knitting (completed) wardrobe grew to include a pair of self-striping socks and a stole knit with MaggiKnits Linen…the pattern was inspired by Fiber Trends Bathing Beauties designed by Evelyn Clark. A while back I was inspired by this pattern as Kimberly was knitting one of the face clothes…..and I thought that pattern would be lovely in a stole. And it is! I remember having the wild idea that it would be fun to show Maggi Knits Linen in a different pattern at Stitches West last year…like Maggi really needs help! But the goal was to show a more conservative style for her yarn. I can hardly wait to see what this stole feels like after it is washed.

The Edge of the Stole

The Edge of the Stole

Bathing Beauties Stole
Bathing Beauties Stole

I will save the baby gift for my nephew Carson until he has arrived at his home with his sisters. It goes in the mail tomorrow.

All yarns and patterns are available through Skein Lane Studios

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Memory Lane

Posted in knitting, tagged , , on April 13, 2010| Leave a Comment »

Penny

Penny has been knitting since high school

A few weeks ago an old friend (from high school) and I reconnected through that amazing social network – Facebook. After inquiring about where we both live, etc. Penny says, “your knitting thing made me think that it was you that taught me how to knit.” And I think I did!

She also said, “I don’t do a lot of knitting but some. I have been making  hooded sweaters for babies that I give away. I will send pictures and the pattern if you would like it. The sweaters that I make are for people that don’t have anything or girls whose families won’t help them.” 

I asked Penny if she had a specific charity that she gives to. ” Yes they go to the hospital in the area.” She lives in Nebraska.

I, of course, am thrilled that my love of knitting has led me to teach many to knit and share in the creativity and pleasure of this craft.

Penny did share the pattern…complimentary for charity work…and she will send photos soon of her recent creations.

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