Posted in knitting, tagged Barbara, Halloween, Jan, knitting, Sheri on October 31, 2009| Leave a Comment »
Oh….that Friday knitting group….what a hoot they are (in so many ways I might add).
First Barbara arrives donned in jester hat and mask….then I remember it’s Halloween! Barbara is followed by Jan who arrives with a boa and her cat glasses…..she brought the boa for the Purl girl Kimberly.
And along came the handy”man”.
Trick or treat to all!
Posted in knitting on October 25, 2009| Leave a Comment »
We began checking in around 3pm….headed to our rooms, some of us found lounge chairs overlooking Tomales Bay, we sat, and we knit…and we then came together for our first meal.
Think I really indulged on Friday evening. Had fish and barbecued ribs….both of which were delicious!
After dinner we headed off to Buck Hall, the main conference meeting room, where we had several events….a “dog and pony” better described as wool and sheep show by Marlee of Black Mountain Weavers and Mimi of Windrush Farms. We surprised both Marlee and Mimi with a fashion show of what we had knit with previous purchases from them. Those photos will follow in the very next post.
Posted in knitting, Uncategorized, tagged Nancy Bush, Sally Melville, Skein Lane Retreat on October 20, 2009| 2 Comments »
Nancy and Sally are the best! They are terrific instructors……and a joy that they are good friends. Here they are!
Nancy Bush and Sally Melville
Photo compliments of Bonnie Baskin…thank you Bonnie!
Posted in knitting, tagged Retreat 2009 on October 18, 2009| Leave a Comment »
We’ve just returned from our Skein Lane knitting retreat weekend at Marconi Conference Center just north of Pt Reyes Station. Earlier this morning as we knitting retreaters gathered for our concluding session with our instructors – Sally Melville and Nancy Bush, I had energy that I thought would continue through the evening….imagine me thinking I could do a full report of the retreat this evening! But I can say it was such a wonderful weekend of learning with Nancy and Sally as well as the coming together of old and new friendships. Here we are saying our fond and silly good byes. There will be many photos to share throughout this coming week. And stay tuned for upcoming news about what’s in store for next year’s retreat….we are already in the planning stages.
Farewell
Posted in knitting, Mason-Dixon Knitting, tagged Debbie, Laura, Margaret, Terry on September 2, 2009| Leave a Comment »
Well….who would have thought more than a week would go by….like many of us I am lamenting not enough time. The weather has been both a blessing – more gardening – and also a cause to be inside – way too hot for me. And I have been immersed in getting for our October knitting retreat at Marconi conference Center just north of Pt Reyes. Sally Melville and Nancy Bush are our featured instructors. I have also been more than a little over the top this last week with my family blog…a historical memoir of my grandparents on the plains of Eastern Colorado. And then there is my animal farm..Stan, Ollie, and Lucy. Oh….and I have been working at my day job.
Of course, knitting is always the underlying driving force. Everyone in the knitting workshops continue to be so creative. Let’s check out some of the knitting workshop inspirations.
Posted in knitting, Mason-Dixon Knitting, tagged Diane, Elliot, Margo, Marsha, Maurie, Natash, Nina, Sock Summit on August 23, 2009| Leave a Comment »
Natasha Marsha Elliot and Nina
What an excitement loaded morning….designs, sharing, laughter and baby Elliot came with his mother Natasha. Once again….you’d think we’d never seen a baby….so many oohs and aahs! And he really is a lovely baby and so glad that Natasha can be with us. Some of the other highlights: Eleanor shared her Sock Summit experience (you might also want to check the Yarn Harlot’s blog), Terry shared another one of her creations, Cathy – a truly left-handed continental knitter – shared her latest translation of cable instructions as well as a baby sweater for her grandchild, Rebecca just completed a hat, Maurie is working on her adult surprise sweater, Susanne is finishing a cape stole, Diane has finished her Moderne Baby Blanket and is now working on the completion of her top-down sweater, Marsha is working on an adult Moderne Blanket, and yes…Natasha can still knit – she is working on an Feather Ripple Afghan using deep rich red and rust colors, Katie is knitting away with her gift scarves, Nina is on her rendition of MaggiKnits La Alhambra design, and Margo is making progress on her blue sweater…a lace design.
Margo was having a problem reading which row she should be on as she shapes the curves on the neckline. She thought she was on row 9 and I finally discerned that she wass on row 11….and that the first shaping on the right side of the neck was off….but I said “It’s not obvious so I might let it go.” Where upon Margo says looking at the rest of the group, “If she doesn’t care, then I don’t! (She usually does!) Let’s move on.” It’s hard to express Margo’s wonderful delivery of words and expression…but it is great and she makes us all laugh.
And a knitting tip from Cathy…as you are trying to remember names…use word association. This came up because Terry was trying to remember the name of the stitch pattern…you know the one where you just keep knitting…well it was garter. And here is Cathy’s tip: Gunsmoke – Miss Kitty wore garters! Another round of laughter.
One more tip from Eleanor which came from Charlene Schurch, instructor at Socks Summit and author of Sensational Knitted Socks….when you are swatching and changing needles in the same swatch (which is what I recommend that you do rather than casting off and starting a new swatch..simply change needles) use yo’s as separation between needle size swatches….this will control the tension between the different needle sizes used within the same swatch.
And now some more photos! Enjoy!
Coming next: works from Tues, Thurs and Friday.
Posted in knitting, MaggiKnits, Uncategorized on August 22, 2009| 2 Comments »
Karen is an enthusiatic knitter and a part of the Friday knitting workshop group. She fell in love with this MaggiKnits design, The Alaca Stole, at this past Stitches West. And now Karen has just finished knitting this design. The Alaca Stole pattern is from MaggiKnts Book #11, Squares and Frills and Karen made the smaller version – same number of squares…just smaller. The stole is knit with MaggiKnits Linen – a 3-ply yarn made up of 52% Cotton and 48% Linen. The color she chose was Natural. Karen sent these wonderful photos.You will also be able to see more photos at Kimberly’s Craftini soon
Don’t both Karen and the stole look stunning!
Posted in knitting, Uncategorized, tagged chellie Pingree, North Island Designs on August 13, 2009| Leave a Comment »
As I was reading Kimberly’s Craftini this morning I saw the post re: The Colbert Report…knitting…and Chellie Pingree….and North Island Designs. What a coincidence that just this past week one of the knitting group brought Maine Island Classics by Chellie Pingree for show and tell. And I reminded myself that I have one or two of her books in my knitting archives. I chose these books many moons ago because of the warmth of the designs, the writing, the historical background, and the ease of knitting. I have a real love of the country and the designs in Maine Island Classics have great appeal for me…intarsia of sheep, chickens (my whole kitchen is dedicated to chickens and roosters), sailboats, trees, and sailboats. This is complimented with some aran designs. I’m reminded that I still want to knit one of the designs. The question remains…will I live long enough to finish all that my knitting fingers desire. I’m working on it!
Posted in knitting, Uncategorized, tagged Natasha and baby Elliot on August 10, 2009| 1 Comment »
You would think we’d never seen a baby before….we were all so excited to see Natasha with 2 1/2 week old Elliot…a beautiful baby with beaming mother and grandmother. Here’s Elliot!
Posted in knitting on August 9, 2009| Leave a Comment »
The socks - yeah they are done!
Now I’ve knit several pairs of socks in my knitting life…and who would think it would take four trys to get the round toe knit correctly on the second sock of this pair. Clearly…or maybe not clearly….I was fog- headed as I approached those last few rows…either the toe was too long… or I dropped stitches…you name it. And finally there was success. That’s really good because these socks almost bit the dust before I finished that last sock yesterday. By the way, I really do love the round toe technique for toe shaping instead of the decrease toe shaping on each side of the foot that finishes with kitchner stitch. No kitchner in the round toe technique.
Coming next: photos from this last week’s knitting workshops including a visit from Natasha and her baby.
Skein Lane - IN THE LOOP 