Posted in Uncategorized on January 26, 2012| Leave a Comment »
The WordPress.com stats helper monkeys prepared a 2011 annual report for this blog.
Here’s an excerpt ( a better view than my previous post). Enjoy!
A New York City subway train holds 1,200 people. This blog was viewed about 4,600 times in 2011. If it were a NYC subway train, it would take about 4 trips to carry that many people.
Posted in Uncategorized, tagged coupon code, Lucy, season promotion, Skein Lane, tis the season, yarn on December 15, 2011| Leave a Comment »
Diane's cowl
Thought I better get a quick post out that Skein Lane is offering a ’tis the Season promotion. This is a chance to get yarn and/or patterns for that last minute gift…..remember the cowl that so many of us have been making…so quick and so lovely. It’s also an opportunity to put that last gift kit together for your favorite knitter.
So….from now through Dec 19, you have the chance to enjoy 25% savings at the online Skein Lane store…your coupon code is…lucy.
Lucy Girl
Who better than Lucy Girl to promote the season.
Posted in Uncategorized on July 28, 2011| Leave a Comment »
Yes….we of the Skein Lane community have been knitting away this summer…..but we’ve also been gardening, traveling and enjoying the brief spurts of warm weather….so we’re back now and what better way to “jump start” posting again by sharing this link – Young Knitter with a Flair.
And have you all seen the contest that Brown Sheep is having? You can participate either by sending photos of your Brown Sheep completed projects as well as vote for your favorite. I will be sending in photos of “Skein Lane” Brown Sheep projects….it will be a late night tonight!
Knitting Cheers….and more to come over this weekend.
Posted in Uncategorized on June 3, 2011| 2 Comments »
Afghan for Betsy
Who knew it would take a year to complete this project?!
I started an afghan for my grand-niece Betsy shortly after she graduated from high school – May 2010 – her graduation present. We chose the kit of colors that we thought we both liked. I started it…put it aside because I wasn’t having a “love affair” with the yarn and then Betsy’s mom (my niece) and I decided that the colors weren’t quite right… I also decided to knit the twirly skirts for my three very young nieces of the first generation….that was going to be for Christmas and I think those became a late Valentine’s present…looking back I now see it was April. My dreams of what I can accomplish are greater than the number of hours in the day. However, I will continue to strive to “feed” my knitting dreams!!
I think I knit a hat or two along the way…and helped my knitting clients with some of their knitting dilemas.
My goal in choosing yarns for Betsy’s afghan was not only color but fiber that would be pleasing to touch and easy care. Most of the yarn in this project was Brown Sheep’s Cotton Fleece and MaggiKnit’s Cotton (both available online at Skein Lane’s on-line store). Two other yarns were used – one a hand-dyed cotton from Black Mountain Artisans and the other an “unknown” ribbon yarn. This was a very fun project and I think I should start now for Betsy’s college graduation present!
In the meantime there are three other special family events during Betsy’s college years….Chloe graduates in two weeks (I don’t think I’m ready!), Daniel and Shelby graduate in the next couple years….and Sam isn’t far behind! I’m clicking those needles….oh do I hear the steps of the younger children not far behind….Isabella, Jade, Abygail, and Carson…..oh click those needles!
I am reminding myself of all the quilts my grandmother Alta quilted for so many of us. Stay tuned for more of Grandma Alta’s quilts.
Posted in Uncategorized on December 25, 2010| Leave a Comment »
Christmas is here…blessings and greetings to all.
We’ll be back with Skein Lane updates right after we celebrate Christmas. Much to share!
Posted in Uncategorized on August 13, 2010| Leave a Comment »
Oh…..the battery won’t stay in and the power button won’t work….oh when did the camera get dropped??!!!
Off to Staples in the morning (where I bought it….but think the service/warranty contract is over!) Ugh!
How did we get along without digital cameras! Luckily I have a bunch of photos waiting to be posted…so stay tuned!
Posted in Uncategorized, tagged Bathing Beauties, Evelyn Clark, Fiber Trends, Kathmandu Yarn, Knitted Lace, MaggiKnits Linen 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
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
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
Posted in Uncategorized, tagged Betsy, Sally, Tabitha on March 25, 2010| 3 Comments »
During this last week I’ve heard from a couple of our Skein Lane Knitting Retreat friends, Betsy and Shirley, that their very good friend Sally passed away.
It was so good to see Sally at retreat last fall….she had been ill earlier in the year and she was determined to join her friends at the knitting retreat. Sally and her buddies had been coming to our retreats for two or three years….or maybe even more….you know how the years just slip by.
Betsy tells us that a few months ago Sally’s health took a turn for the worst and then she didn’t survive emergency surgery.
I know her family and friends will miss her….and we will certainly miss her smiling face and spirit come next retreat.
Sally, Tabitha, and Betsy
Posted in knitting, Uncategorized, tagged New Zealand, PJ on February 12, 2010| Leave a Comment »
A shot of PJ holding Elliot before leaving for NZ
PJ is part of our Saturday kntting workshop group…she knits and she shares wonderful thoughts.
Before she and her husband left for New Zealand she sent the following email which was much enjoyed.
“Hi Carolyn and the Saturday morning knitters,
I am so sorry to have missed the get together for the new year. Marty needed to make another trip to New Jersey so I was on airport shuttle duty.
In knitting solidarity, I finished the world’s largest socks and reknit a cowl that has been sitting in my frog basket for several years. I am pleased with both and it is nice to have a few small things accomplished in light of the fact that I have recently frogged two full sweaters. Here are the Ravelry links if anyone wants to see.
http://www.ravelry.com/projects/PJKnitsUFOs/gentlemans-sock-with-lozenge-pattern
http://www.ravelry.com/projects/PJKnitsUFOs/cashmere-fool
When will we meet again? Hard to say. We return from New Zealand to house guests. I am hoping it will be the 13th. Before any of you start to feel envious, keep in mind that Air New Zealand doesn’t allow knitting needles of any kind so I will have 26 hours of potential knitting time down the drain. I will, however, take along a small project of some sort. Perhaps Wisp.
Until then, stay well, be happy and keep on knitting.
Regards,
PJ
And now that she is in New Zealand she sends this message.
“Hi Carolyn,
As you know there are many little towns in the middle of nowhere in New Zealand and yesterday we took a rest stop at one of them called Reefton (which is rightly proud of the fact that it was the first town in the southern hemisphere to be electrified). Anyway, displayed in the window of one little gift store was an article that had just been awarded “Best of Show” in the local fair. It was a neon blue “fun fur” shawl. So… the yarn we love to hate is now making waves on this island. Couldn’t help but think of you.
All goes well – beautiful weather, great hiking, sore knees.
Regards,
PJ”
Posted in knitting, Uncategorized, tagged Ann Norling, Crystal Palace, Jean, Manos del Uruguay, Merino 5, Pinstripe Sweater, Sarah on January 18, 2010| Leave a Comment »
This past week plus has been one of celebration of a birthday and one of many finished projects. Let’s start with Kimberly’s BD….would like to share a lot of photos about this gathering for drinks and some of us stayed for dinner. She was so excited with her new I-phone that she was taking photos left and right. I tried to get one of her but apparently I was having too much fun myself! Apparently, I thought it was not a good photo…it’s gone! So just trust me….she was having a good time!
The following Friday we gathered at our ususal knitting workshop time and as usual many items on the needles…come done…and some in process. Here are just a few of those items.
Jean used Crystal Palace’s Merino 5 (which she purchased at K2tog in Albany) and she used Ann Norling’s Kid’s Basic pullover pattern. The animal faces were from Interweave’s “Knitted Gifts… a great book says Jean!
Jean and Sarah showing Jean's "twin" sweaters
Sarah was wearing a sweater that she made some ago….and we were all enthralled. Sarah tells us, “The pattern is from a Manos del Uruguay booklet – the Design Source Collection # 1. This one is called The Pinstripe Jacket”. She looked lovely in this lovely (yes…I know it’s a play on words) design. Notice her face is not showing…she did say she doesn’t like to photo pose…but the design is so great that we must show. And here’s Sarah!
The back of the "Pinstripe" Sweater Jacket
Sarah in her "Pinstripe" sweater jacket
Skein Lane - IN THE LOOP 