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Archive for the ‘Friendship’ Category

The Saturday morning group had their second celebration on Dec 19th….the first one was a joint birthday celebration which was followed up with this  ‘tis the season gathering.

There were so many wonderful happenings. Susanne came down from Chico (she and her husband retired there last year). The cooking theme was desserts….there were many wonderful choices. Maurie couldn’t join us because she was sick but she still sent her GF (gluten-free) cookies. We had so much on the table including champagne, cookies (many made by Diane and Maurie), cakes, egg dishes, baked brie with homemade cranberry sauce, cheeses, and fruit….I fear I may have missed some of the dishes.  Here are two recipes from the dishes on the table. The  Biscotti was made by PJ using her friend’s recipe which is posted on Channeling Nonna’s blog.  I loved this cookie and will be making it soon. Another dish (also prepared by PJ) that many of us “loved” was the Bacon Onion Marmalade.

We even found time to knit when we weren’t eating. The latest showings were worn by PJ and Susanne. PJ’s stunning red cowl was inspired by the pattern for Oliva Cowl from Swan Islands…the yarn was of the same name.

Susanne’s Wallaby Hoody Sweater (pattern from Vogue Knitting) was a beautifully knit garment and fit her perfectly. You may recall my posting from a while back when the sweater was in its infancy stage.

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Not only did FMKG knit this past week, but we continued to celebrate the season with champagne, Chocolate and Almond Cake made by Debra (recipe from Nigella Lawson) topped with raspberries and whip cream , and David Lebovitz’s Recipe for Blueberry-Lemon Cake made by  Jan. To top this off Karen H shared some her latest creations which included a felted pillow, a nuno felted scarf and a knitted cowl.

The Infinity Scarf (cowl) is designed by Anita Closic and knit with Plymouth’s Baby Alpaca Yarn. Karen found this combo at Stitches West. She knit a shorter version for a smaller woman….42 inches long and it fits around the head twice, but close to the neck. For those who don’t like cowls that close to the neck, one could just knit longer.

Karen says, “The felted pillow and nuno felted scarf I did at Raina’s Textile House. Kim, the shop owner, gives classes and I have taken three classes there over the past six months. I used fiber that I bought at Stitches West, collected over the past few years and mostly bought  from Opulent Fibers in Oregon and Wonderland Dyeworks in Oakland.  I also found the pieces of Chiffon at Stitches and got the silk hankie at Stitches. Kim does have fiber and silk hankies at her shop and you can buy it there as well.”
Aren’t all of these new pieces from Karen stunning?!

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The Saturday Knitting Workshop Group just celebrated the first of two December celebrations. This one was to “shout out” birthday greetings this weekend’s gals – Diane, Maurie and Carole – as well as all those we may missed during last few months. Several of us in this group like to cook and others bring the complimentary foods – fruits, dips, cheese, cracker, chips, candy and drinks. We often want to share recipes so a new tab “Food Recipes” was begun yesterday on this blog site…..we will be adding more recipes as soon I hear back from the group.

New week we will celebrate ’tis the Season!

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We have been together as a knitting group (Friday Morning Knit Group – thus FMKG) and friends for years! We began this year’s celebration with the “white elephant” gift exchange….you know the one where each person takes a number……then the person can either select from the unwrapped gift or bump someone who has unopened their gift. We put a limit of 2 on how many times a gift could bumped/stolen. What do you think is best…..2xs, 3 xs or unlimited?

In the midst of gifts, eats and champagne some knitting was accomplished. At noon we took our celebration to Skates on the Bay.

 

Now photos from Skates!

Karen H was so kind as to take “mug” shots…..and thanks to Jan for the above table photos.

 

 

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A happy thanksgiving greeting for you…..and the sharing of some memories of friendship and creativity!

 

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This garter stitch scarf was such a fun project. I initially blogged about this on Oct 12 when I first felt this lovely yarn Acadia at Avenue Yarns. My instant reaction was “Oh, what can I knit with this?!” It quickly came to me that I would knit my version of Margot’s scarf. My version was a finer weight yarn – DK rather than worsted. I wanted a change in fiber both in texture and color for the ruffle. Yes, if you look close enough at the ruffle you will see that there is a slight variation in the color and the weight. As soon it came off the needles and I tried it on…..I was even more pleased with the results. It will be another “go to” scarf for me. My current “go to” is the hitchhiker scarf that I finished early last year (2014).

Here are the details of my version……

Body of scarf was knit (size 6 ndl) with 2 skeins (145 yds ea)  of DK weight Acadia – 60% Merino Wool, 20% Baby Alpaca, 20% Silk. The ruffle was knit (size 5 ndl) with Malibrigo Superwash sock weight yarn.

Instructions  – Body of Scarf

  • Cast on 5 sts.
  • Increase section – This is a 4-row repeat (used in many rounded scarf patterns).
    • Rows 1 & 3 (RS): Knit
    • Rows 2 (WS): Bring yarn forward, slip first 2 sts (purlwise) to right hand needle, bring yarn to the back, knit to end.
      • This is the beginning of the applied I-cord which is created every other row.  If you want a wider I-cord, consider slipping 3 stitches.
    • Row 4 (WS) Bring yarn forward, slip first 2 sts (purlwise) to right hand needle, bring yarn to the back, k to last stitch, M1, K last stitch.
      • This row (which happens on every 4th row) creates the curve on the edge where ruffle will be added/attached.
  • Repeat the above 4-row repeat until the scarf is as deep and 1/2 wide as you would like. In my case, it was 8″ deep (from I-cord edge to the edge for ruffle) and then knit 8″ more to center of scarf with rows 1 and 2 of the 4-row repeat. (Remember row 4 has the increase for the curve and you are not curving right now.) One skein was used for this first half of scarf. Join 2nd skein and knit 8″ more.
  • Decrease section – This is another 4-row repeat.
    • Rows 1 & 3 (RS): Knit
    • Rows 2 (WS): Bring yarn forward, slip first 2 sts (purlwise) to right hand needle, bring yarn to the back, knit to end.
      • This is the continuation of the applied I-cord which is created every other row.
    • Row 4 (WS) Bring yarn forward, slip first 2 sts (purlwise) to right hand needle, bring yarn to the back, k to last stitch 2 stitches, K2tog.
      • This row (which happens on every 4th row) creates the decrease shaping of the curve on the edge where ruffle will be added/attached.
      • Continue until 5 sts remain.
  • Bind off.

Instructions  – Ruffle  Note: the design possibilities are endless – dare to be creative.

  • With circular needle (size 5 in my version), with right side facing you pickup 2 stitches on bind-off edge, 1 stitch in each ridge stitch valley, 2 stitches on cast-on edge.
  • Row 1 (WS)- Knit
  • Row 2 (RS) – Increase for ruffle. For a slight ruffle, you can either increase in each stitch by Knit in front and back of stitch or you could make 1 between each stitch. I wanted a slightly fuller ruffle so I made 3 stitches out of one by Knit in the front, Knit in the back, Knit in the front.
  • Knit 7 rows or desired number for depth of ruffle.
    •  On row 5 I added an eyelet detail.
      • *K2tog, YO*, repeat to end.
      • Knit
      • I used P2 tog bind off which creates a beautiful “elastic” garter finish.

ps….later today I will fine tune this with a legend for the knitting terms.

 

 

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More Halloween greetings await you here!

Wanting to share the latest on my needles – The Ruffled Scarf. I mentioned the yarn purchase of Acadia yarn in the post On the Knitting Trails Again”.  I was inspired by Margot’s scarf…..and as I most often do I modified the pattern. Here’s what is different with mine….slightly smaller gauge, longer and I will add the ruffle in a different yarn – Madelinetosh Pashmina Tart Red.

One skein of Acadia down and one to go…..then on to the ruffle! By the way I use to play in ceramics moons ago. This is one of my renditions that I cleaned, painted and had fired. This probably qualifies as one of my relics now.

Happy Halloween!

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Oh where has the time gone? With that prelude…note that the next several posts will be what’s currently happening as well as catching up on what has quickly gone before us.

As so many of you know yesterday was an exciting day for our knitting community….Avenue Yarns opened for their first day of business. I was there a couple hours after opening and was so happy for Karen and her team that the store was bustling! I did not need but I did buy!

As it relates to Avenue Yarns and my own retailing experience with Skein Lane’s store front I want to share what I posted on Face Book this past week…….Reflecting on retailing…..think it was in my blood early on….pre-school years my sister and I use to play grocery store by stocking Dad’s shelf in the garage with empty cereal boxes…..fast forward….one of my first jobs was both as a “soda jerk” and retailing in our small town drugstore. Many years later I had my own retail store Skein Lane…..I drew on many of my early retail experiences and my love of yarn and the crafting of it. Today I got to “dip” back into the retail world ever so briefly to be one of many helping hands to Karen as she and her team were readying for tomorrow’s opening of Avenue Yarns in Albany. Tomorrow will be a fun day for all!

AcadiaI know I also posted on FB that I did not need yarn…..but want and need are two entirely different things. While I was helping Avenue Yarns for a very short time with tagging  on Friday….I fell for one of the yarns. Two skeins of Adacia from The Fibre Company are now on my knitting table waiting to be wound into balls. Acadia is a hand wash yarn with the fiber content being 60% Merino Wool, 20% Alpaca and 20% Silk. This yarn is a perfect match for the pattern that I want to mimic from Margot’s recently finished Ruffled Scarf pattern. This yarn will be on my needles tomorrow.

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Before Susanne and her husband moved to Chico, they use to live in Pinole. She was a “regular” at Saturday morning knitting. We were blessed with a visit from her this past Saturday. Not only did we do some of the familiar….walk, knit, eat and yarn shop….Susanne shared her latest project. She said it is her most challenging…she has used life lines to stay on track. She so often knits patterns/designs that have challenge and the results are always beautiful. I asked her to send photos….here they are. I can hardly wait to see this when done. It was so good to see Susanne. We are going to have a knitting weekend in Chico during May….thank you Susanne!

Oh….here is the info re: project….Vogue Spring/summer 2014. Yarn Joyland Tonic 85 Acrylic / 15
Wool, color Gingerbread

Lucy - first day home

Lucy – first day home….May 2009

BTW….my Lucy dog was more than a little happy to see Susanne. She drove with me to Manteca area to pick up Lucy to bring her home….that was almost 6 years ago. Lucy turned six today!

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It was another knitting gathering of celebration of three birthdays….Patricia, Sheri and Karen. We also celebrated (show & tell)  our recent additions to our stashes….some from Madrona and some from Stitches West. I personally said I wasn’t going to purchase a thing….that was before the three new projects and one book became mine. More about that in next post.

We also celebrated Jean’s recent finished project….you can see her “show & tell” photo below.

Sheri gave a review of her Knitting Ergonomics Class at Madrona….great knitting tips to keep us healthy (free from pain in wrists, arms, backs, etc) as we knit. One that really stands out for me is …. knit for no more than 20 mins; then give yourself a break. Move those hands, wrists and arms around. Think the tips work for iPad and computer use as well. I find myself bent over both for way too long when I am not knitting.

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