This link is a lot of fun….and inspiring particularly since I “fell” off the blogging perch last year. I am now back as you have been witnessing. So….check this out. One of our knitting circle is front page of this page. Thanks to WordPress for providing the tools to enhance what we blog. Keep on knitting! You are all such an inspiration!
Archive for the ‘knitting’ Category
Crunching the Numbers
Posted in knitting on January 25, 2012| Leave a Comment »
Mary and her Tomten
Posted in knitting, knitting techniques, tagged Brown Sheep Lambspride Superwash, Elizabeth Zimmerman, I-Cord, Tomten Jacket on January 25, 2012| 4 Comments »
Mary and her Tomten Jacket
Mary is happy…happy! It was a happy evening recently at knitting workshop…she completed the knitting journey of the Tomten Jacket, a Elizabeth Zimmerman design.
She knit this garter-stitch design in Brown Sheep Lambspride Superwash. She began this sweater for her granddaughter…..time slipped away…and now her neighbors have been gifted with this lovely sweater for their newly adopted child. As you can see Mary was overjoyed to complete this project….she stuck with it and you can see the results.
The Tomten Jacket
The detailing that makes this Tomten unique is that Mary rolled the edging back and tacked it all around. She also created an I-cord loop for the toggle button.
Yeah Mary!
The “Wonkie” Neck Ribbing Fix
Posted in knitting, knitting techniques, tagged Gathering, Knitting Tips, Ribbing, Smocking on January 20, 2012| Leave a Comment »
Just in from knitting friend Cathy…..
“I’m so excited because I figured out the practical benefit of ‘smocking’ when a neck ribbing was wonkie…it stuck out. The yarn was chunky-ish…..I’m also perfecting my knitting terminology! The ribbing pulled together perfectly and looks wonderful. Same with the button band!
This is what I was working on (before and after photos) …. the rib ends up looking more tidy.
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- Before Photo
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- After Photo
The method is perhaps called “gather” knitting? I looked it up on line…about “smocking” …. and found “gather.” I had knit the collar ribbing and then the button bands….. and I casted off. I took a carpet needle with yarn…and went from back to front and then front to back thru each rib…at its outer edge. I then gently pulled the thread to gather the rib more tightly.
Does that make sense? Without “gathering” the ribbed stitches, I would have had a ruffle!!”
I think Cathy also said that she used the same size needle for all of the garment (body and bands) and she picked up more stitches than needed for the front band. Sounds and looks like “gathering” was a perfect solution for the “wonkie” neck.
I’m thinking 1,000 yards!
Posted in knitting, MaggiKnits, tagged Bathing Beauties, Maggi Knits Linen, Mock Cable Stitch, Spring Promotion on January 19, 2012| 3 Comments »
….hmmm, would that be 10 football fields, 1 running back with a 1,000 yards, or 10 running backs with 100 yards?
No, it would be 1,000 yards of MaggiKnits linen….knitted up in a stole or poncho…all set for spring! Join us in this spring (yes, spring – time to start now to be ready with spring wardrobe) promotion.
1,000 yds (8 skeins @ 125 yds). Regular Price (8 skeins) $63.60
1,000 Yards Spring Promotion Price (8 skeins) $50.00
Includes complimentary pattern stitch designs and suggested sizes for 1,000 yards
Promotion Code: 1000
Good thru Wednesday, January 25, 2012
Mock Cable Stitch Design
Bathing Beauties Stole
Available colors
33 Red Orange
14 Turquoise
31 Green
10 Red
07 Cream
11 Dusty Pink
Want to change the length?? Snip! Snip!
Posted in knitting, knitting techniques, tagged Change length of knitted fabric, Knitting Instructions, Norwegian Sweaters, Snip Snip on January 14, 2012| Leave a Comment »
The Sweater Pattern Photo
One of Grethe’s latest knitting endeavours was this Norwegian sweater for her adult daughter. While it was in process her daughter got to try it on for size…the pieces that is. She thought the sleeves should be longer…so longer they were knit. The sweater was assembled, tried on, and the sleeves were too long. Grethe asked me for advise on what to do.
Grethe's Version
As advised she picked up each stitch (one side of the knitted stitch) on the row close to where she wanted to shorten the sleeve. Keep in mind that this point is determined by whether this will be the “finish” line or whether a cuff will need to be added. Proceeding….she picked up the stitches on her circular needle….she, without hesitation – usually I do this for folks because they are too nervous – cut the extra length off. She then picked out the extra threads that might be lingering….made sure all the stitches on the needle belonged to the same row and she knit the cuff. Note there will a visible line where the knitted fabric is knit back in the the opposite direction; however, that can be made almost invisible when creating a design on the line, i.e. starting the cuff in a different stitch design.
The Reworked Sleeve
You might ask why she just didn’t unravel back to the desired point. Here’s the knitting rule….you can unravel back the way you knit, i.e. taking rows out; but you cannot unravel from the cast on edge….thus Snip, Snip! It’s a great trick that I learned in an early issue of Knitter’s Magazine…more than 20 years ago.
I like to snip!
Handy Notions
Posted in Cats, knitting, tagged knitting, Resources, Stitch markers on January 12, 2012| 2 Comments »
Snap Rings and O rings
We stitchers are so often in need of stitch markers ….they can be found most often in knitting shops. However, knitter and long-time friend Kevin was recently at the local hardware store on a plumbing mission …he stopped short when he saw o-rings and snap rings….how about knitting markers?!
What a great idea and the price is right. I think I’ll be shopping for these “new” stitch markers while looking for tack nails to fix the weather stripping that the boy cats have decided to pull back from the floor by the back door. What were they thinking? Early spring maybe.
Anyway, I am adding a page to this blog…all about resources… this post is the first addition. Stay tuned as I link resources from the Skein Lane website and from other sites. There is so much out there to share to enhance our skills.
It’s the late1800’s
Posted in Family, knitting, tagged 1845-1929, Family History, knitting on January 9, 2012| Leave a Comment »
Great-great grandma Miles (1845 - 1929)
I was working on family history this evening and read again…
……..”Mary did all the sewing and knitting for the family and in those days most all the clothing had to be homemade.”
Mary was my grandma’s grandmother “Grandma Miles”. My grandma’s photo of her grandmother Miles use to hang over her bed. It has been in my home for some 25 years now….it was willed to me because I asked for it when I was 16. I love this photo and of course feel a kindred spirit for Grandma Miles….a fellow knitter.
More about Summer Flies Shawl
Posted in knitting, MaggiKnits, tagged Lace Knitting, Summer Flies Shawl on January 8, 2012| Leave a Comment »
It’s January…another sunny day…..and here I am finishing up posts about a summer shawl…well, it could be worn throughout the year…and apparently here in the greater San Francisco Bay Area. Other than there being a few cold days…who would know that it is winter. One could have been basking in the sun these past few days and maybe I should have been but I was driven by knitting to its many paths.
Here are some of the renditions of the Summer Flies Shawl knitters in the Skein Lane Community. Many colors…many fibers…and some with beads. Thank you to Kimberly for seeing this pattern and enticing so many of us to knit it. I invite you to share your versions…I know some of you have several…send your photos and I will post here. You can also check out the many versions on Ravelry. Enjoy the slideshow!
Time to post about the Summer Flies Shawl
Posted in knitting, tagged MaggiKnits Linen, Summer Flies Shawl on January 7, 2012| 3 Comments »
At Saturday Morning Knitting Workshop today Janie asked me how I changed the ruffle on my version of the ever-popular Summer Flies Shawl….I went to the Skein Lane blog only to remind myself once again that I still had not posted photos. Here goes!
Several of us in the local knitting communities embarked on this shawl…early in 2011 Kimberly saw someone wearing it and she “jumped’ right on the pattern and offered classes in the making of this shawl. I jumped on it as the shawl to knit my nephew’s girlfriend Carly….I had one in mind that I started last Christmas… it just didn’t seem like the right one for her. I was determined to knit one quickly…which turned out not to be quickly because I kept side-tracking on other knitting projects. However, I was determined to get done before the next Christmas… I did…how’s August for a delivery date? I knit my version – Carly’s version – with MaggiKnits linen, a ribbon yarn, and Crystal Palace’s Waikiki.
I had been “warned” about one of the stitch patterns being fiddly. ( K3, YO, K4, (K1, YO, SL1, K2TOG, PSSO, YO, K3) 15 times, K2, YO, K3). I love “plain old” Susan Bates circulars but they weren’t working for this project with the 3 plies of MaggiKnits linen. Kimberly suggested that I consider a needle…name starts with a C…and darn if I kept the label or can remember the name….maybe Kimberly can help us out here. Anyway, what a difference…a sharp point and my knitting once again became a pleasure.
Tomorrow I will post the other renditions of this great shawl…dreaming about one for me!
The Gifts Have Arrived
Posted in knitting, MaggiKnits, tagged Cowl Scarf, MaggiKnits Chunky Yarn on January 3, 2012| 1 Comment »
Time to post the photos of the cowl scarves knit in MaggiKnits chunky yarn that I knit for my sister LaBerta and her young girls. The package arrived in Idaho….I got a phone call this afternoon….they weren’t quite sure how to wear….should have included the photos that you are about to see. The boys….young Carson and his dad Dustin got ear flap hats….I know we see them all soon “dressed” to the gills…or is that in wool!!
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- LaBerta’s Cowl
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- Isabella’s Cowl
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- Jade’s Cowl
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- Abby’s Cowl
Skein Lane - IN THE LOOP 