Feeds:
Posts
Comments

Archive for the ‘knitting’ Category

Yesterday I awoke thinking of the 12 days of Christmas (even humming and that is a stretch for me). I thought momentarily that I would use it as the theme for sharing all the creativity and memories that have been twirling around in my brain since before Thanksgiving…..but that lovely theme is used by many including my dear friend of Kimberly’s Daily Craftini.  So my theme for this season is Memories of the Season along with the creativity and joy that I see so often in our circle of knitting and friendships.

Betty and Carolyn

Betty and Carolyn

A childhood memory: My sister Betty and I are young. She’s enough younger than me that her memory is vague about this, but she does recall singing How Much is that Little Doggie in the Window (she was asked to sing many times when she was young because she had pitch perfect voice).  Mom was driving with her two girls down Mt Diablo Blvd in Lafayette, CA. We see the store windows aglow with Christmas lights; we are full of glee as we are singing (this is before I knew I shouldn’t blast out my voice which didn’t carry a tune ). I remember singing The First Noel, Rudolph the Red-nose Reindeer, O Little Town of Bethlehem, and How Much is that Little Doggie in the Window as Mom was driving a “new” Pontiac with a 2-yr old in the front seat and a “bossy” 5-yr old in the back seat. 


Today’s memories: The knitters/crafters, as always, have been prolific. Here comes a random collection! p.s. if you aren’t in these photos you will be sometime in Memories of the Season!

Read Full Post »

My collection shows a sampling of Kimberly and Janie's works!

My collection shows a sampling of Kimberly and Janie’s works!

On the 27th I shouted out about the Gift Boutique featuring Kimberly’s Craftini and Janie Rose’s Jewelry. I intended to post photo of my collection later that evening…instead it’s early evening two days later. Hope to see you tomorrow!

Read Full Post »

A shout out for a lovely event- Jewelry Boutique – happening at Skein Lane Studio this coming Saturday, Nov 30 – noon until 5pm. This is a great chance to stay out of the crowds and shop this event for your jewelry gifts. Kimberly Ligocki and Janie Rose will be featuring new jewelry. You can visit their Etsy stores – Kimberly’s Craftini  and Janie Rose Jewelry to get a sense of the beauty they create….you can also see a couple things that now live in my jewelry collection.  P.S. more than a couple are in my collection….will post more later today.

Join us…..it will be fun! Need the address? 208 Carmel Ave, El Cerrito, CA …. Phone 510.525.9276

Read Full Post »

Greenwood Fibers

Gold Dust by Greenwood Fiberworks

How much fun….I went shopping via text message from Cameron and Kimberly.  I was in a meeting when the text came…..did I want…and which one??

Well who could pick just one? Now both of these lovely skeins are in my collection….and have joined my long list of projects. I will keep you posted about what these beauties become. For now here are the details:  Gold Dust from Greenwood Fiberworks – a hand-painted yarn – 75% Superwash Merino, 25% Nylon, 5% Stellina (a non-metal glittery yarn)…100 grams…438 yards  – colors Earthen Hues, Grapevine.

Oh….I have “startist”!! I am sure I will get one skein underway this week.

Read Full Post »

A couple days ago I “shouted out” about my finished purple poncho shawl.  Now here is the blocking method I used. I washed it on the gentle cycle in the washing machine. I then dried it on the air fluff cycle moving it up to ultra care towards the end. The end did not mean dry…just damp. As I laid it out on the drying table, I wasn’t pleased with the way it was going to dry. There were would be lines that I didn’t want. The solution was the dress form….it has dried/blocked beautifully! I also washed/blocked the original version.

I was asked about the pattern…here are some more details. The yarn used was MaggiKnits cotton linen, the 4-row mini-mock cable  pattern came from Weekend Knits, and the sizing was 18″ x 54″. You can choose your yarn and stitch pattern, i.e. mini-mock cable pattern. Once you have knit this long piece you bring a cast on or cast off edge over to a selvdage edge and sew the edges together. In fact, the detailed instructions  for  assembly are posted on the Skein Lane site. Scroll to Poncho Fever and you will be set!

Read Full Post »

Some things to share!

Oh no…..I’ve been off candy for weeks now and I just succumbed to a Snickers. I don’t know why I thought I would see a trick-or-treater here. They usually don’t arrive before I play Halloween hostess at Bill’s front door.

It's done!!!

It’s done!!!

This knit poncho shawl was meant to be a quick knit….one of those that I would pick up and knit mindlessly and be done quickly. Where did the time go?!

I started this project, knit in MaggiKnits cotton/linen, in Oct 2012. No trick or treat here! It’s done. I am driven to post this today to celebrate Halloween and the completion of this simple knit. I have been involved in many knitting projects and I must confess that my trusty friend, the iPad, has consumed some of my time as I reconnect with friends and family…as well as do family research. Last week my Thursday knitting workshop group helped me pick out decorative buttons for accent to this knit. But, the more I thought I about it I realized that I want to accent this piece with brooches, pins, etc. The last one I knit about 6 years ago is embellished with ribbon. I’ll post that photo later for comparative design purposes.

For now I am on a mission to share this completed project with you and to wish you a Happy Halloween…..and then off to dinner with Bill and then a farewell drink with my cousin Dana, from Hawaii, who has been in the Bay Area this week for a health compliance conference. We played last Sunday but now it’s time for a farewell.

So….Happy Halloween!!!!

Of course….stay tuned! There is much to share and I am almost “back” to the sharing….so many of you do such creative and lovely work.

Read Full Post »

The Sweater - and the bride and groom

The Sweater – and the bride and groom

Do you recall the recent post about the sweater knit for the bride? This morning the bride’s mother – the knitter – sent a photo of the bride wearing her lovely sweater.  In Alice’s words….”Thanks for your help, Carolyn. The fit was perfect and Kristina was so happy with the sweater. It was just what she had hoped for with the modifications that were made. ”

Alice, she indeed looked beautiful and how fun for me to be able to chat/work with you re: this lovely project which is truly a work of art. Thanks so much for sharing. Congratulations to the bride and groom!

Read Full Post »

Good morning!

Just in case you didn’t see last night’s announcement, Skein Lane Studio now has a “store” on Etsy. The first offerings are some knit kits from MaggiKnits. Check it out!

Read Full Post »

A wedding in our midst

The Finished Shrug

The Finished Shrug

This message was posted on Facebook by longtime Skein Lane customer and  friend Alice Varga. Her daughter was married this past weekend.

“O, yesterday was truly the best day ever with Kristina Kenney and Jason Holt getting married. There was just so much love in that room! It was incredible and a fantastic way for them to begin their journey through life with such a wonderful commitment with family and friends to share their joy!  Their ceremony and vows were beautiful!”

Alice and I met a couple times this past summer to consult over the sweater/shrug design she and her daughter chose for Alice to knit for this happy event.

Alice and I met on August 24....she came to me with pattern, vision, and measurements.  With the following information....the knitting journey began. 
  • Bust = 44.5 
  • Lower edge = 40 
  • Armhole to waist = 6 
  • Stitch pattern = 12 + 1 
  • Gauge = 5 
  • CO 108 +1 

Read Full Post »

Well….we did knit for a bit. Tonight was scattered…many of us were traveling or had other commitments. One of us, Marsha, had a commitment  to hear Robert Hanna, the great, great grandson of John Muir, speak at REI.  Along with my knitting I joined Marsha for the presentation. I knit but only until the lights went out…I was on a design row and I couldn’t proceed without the lights. The truth of the matter is that the speaker and his presentation were so great that he captivated his audience of 50 people or so for an hour and a half. We “traveled” through John Muir’s biographical timeline. It was meaningful from a historical perspective as well learning more about his love of Yosemite and the outdoors. I was one of those who did not know about his very creative mind for invention in his early years.  And John Muir walked many miles in his youth. Did you know that he walked through Wisconsin, Iowa, Illinois and Canada on one walk? Another one of his walks took him from Wisconsin to Florida traveling though country that been wounded by the Civil War. When he arrived in San Francisco in 1868 he was over come with the density of population and immediately asked for directions to Yosemite. Along the way – he walked – he worked at ranches.

As a family historian of my family, I so enjoyed the family history style presentation…..photos through the generations and the life works of John Muir. I can hardly believe I’ve lived all these years in the Bay Area and have not seen the historic Muir Mansion in Martinez. Guess what I will be doing soon?

Many thanks to Marsha for mentioning her plans for the evening. Now I need to make those needles click. I realized a couple of days ago how long my purple poncho/shawl has been on the needles!

Read Full Post »

« Newer Posts - Older Posts »