Skein Lane

Just Off The Needles

October 19, 2014 by Carolyn

Young Jacob, Bill’s great grandson, was born June 8…..and we, Bill and I, delivered, Jacob’s knitted vest (just finished and wash blocked last night) today while we were at family anniversary celebration . I had another idea in mind for Jacob’s gift, but Bill wanted a “vanilla” blue vest with red accents in the neckline and ribbing….so that’s what it is. Of course, I used Brown Sheep’s Cotton Fleece (80% cotton and 20% wool).

The most engaging part of this knit was the neckline….I pulled the pattern from Michelle Wyman’s baby pullover sweater. Michelle was the master of truly “finished” center V-neckline.

Now onto the gift for Grace…..born into my extended family a couple of weeks ago. Grace’s grandfather and I are 2nd cousins. I already have one gift for Grace….but she was born early and is tiny…so I want to knit a gift that is a little more fitting for her when she comes home from the hospital next month. Her early arrival is being celebrated this coming Sunday….so I really need to click those needles!!

Posted in knitting | Tagged Brown Sheep Cotton Fleece, family, Gift, knitting | Leave a Comment »

Mark your Calendar – Kimberly and Janie Jewelery Boutique – Dec 6.

October 18, 2014 by Carolyn

untitled (4) Announcing the lovely (now annual) event- Jewelry Boutique featuring Kimberly Ligocki and Janie Rose – at Skein Lane Studio -Saturday, December 6th from 1:00 pm to 5:00 pm

This is a great chance to stay out of the crowds and shop this event for your jewelry gifts. Kimberly and Janie 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. I am a huge fan of their jewelry and several pieces are now in my collection! ♥♥♥

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

Posted in Christmas, Events, Friendship, Holiday, Jewelry, Shopping, Treasures | Tagged Christmas, Event, Gifts, Holiday, Janie Rose, Jewelry Boutique, Kimberly's Craftini | 1 Comment »

Gifted…..

October 7, 2014 by Carolyn

A belated shout out for my September birthday celebration…..within these bountiful gifts were some hand-crafted items as well as “bubbly” to enjoy while having another read of the wonderful cards! The most recent gifts were homemade potato soup (delicious) and purple flowers (my favorite color) and a handcrafted pillow. Notice the embroidery on the cat. Many heartfelt thanks to the wonderful friends of the Friday Morning Knitters!

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A New Treasure

October 4, 2014 by Carolyn

Sunnyside, Springfield, Smelker, Oriska, Solid Center, Union, Blakeman, First Central, Ashview, Tuttle, Ketcher, Boden, Green Knoll, Hansen, Midway, Grandview, Nuttbrook, Hansen…..are some of the Stratton rural country schools (Colorado) that appear on my Stratton schools quilt.

It’s probably been seven or eight years ago that my cousin Delmar’s wife Avril commissioned a Stratton schools quilt to be made for Del’s birthday. The chosen quilt maker, Benay, of Stratton is the daughter-in-law of my life-long friend Chris and Denny…..Benay has been making quilts for the Stratton annual homecoming raffles for years. Well….I had been dreaming of having a quilt like Del’s for a long while. So, last year Avril and Benay picked out fabric for me at Benay’s fabric sale. While I gave them an idea of colors, I did not know what had been chosen until last weekend when I was in my hometown for a “big” high school class reunion. I couldn’t be more pleased with the color and fabric choices along with the photo choices of the old and “new” schools. The name of each school has been machine embroidered onto the quilt. One photo includes my dad, his brothers and cousins standing on the steps of their country school Sunnyside in the early 1930’s. Another photo is that of Tuttle school….my grandma Alta and her sister Ruth attended that school. Our school mascot was and still is the Eagle…..thus, the Eagle in the middle of the quilt.

I rolled this quilt up like a sleeping bag so that I could carry it home on the plane last Sunday. Now….where will it “live”? My friend Mary suggested I would have to build another room on my house….but I think I can settle for rearranging furniture for this new treasure.

I am pointing to the picture of my dad, his brothers and their cousins!

The Stratton Schools Quilt

Stratton Schools Quilt

Dad, his brothers and their cousins attended Sunnyside school in the early 1930’s.

Grandma Alta and Aunt Ruth attended Tuttle School

I attended Jr High and my first few months of High School here. My dad graduated from this school in 1941.

The bell from our old high school now “lives” in the park.

Posted in knitting | 3 Comments »

We celebrate Debra…

August 23, 2014 by Carolyn

Back to the keyboard with a post celebrating Debra’s birthday…..it was spontaneous meaning she’s just returned from a family vacation in Hawaii and she just might not be here next week which is closer to her birthday. However, without any planning, Connie brought snacks and I had champagne on ice….yeah!

Between sips and tasting we did find time to knit.

Whoops…..thought I had photos of both sides of the table…..it was a full house!

The Birthday Girl

FMKG knits

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Let’s “talk” baby stuff

July 14, 2014 by Carolyn

This photo clearly does not do Debra’s work justice…envision!!

Several baby items popped up this week. Debra finished her Textured Interweave Baby Blanket (actual name of pattern)….the subtle color variegated choice with the detailed stitching pattern was perfect. She did labor a bit over some mis-knit stitches…but not to worry she was able to get back on track with either my help or her own. I love this design and I think I have to knit it….I know there are babies on the horizon in this family. You can find the pattern at Ravelry….it’s a free download. A shout out to the designer for a lovely design!

This past Saturday PJ came with two delights….well really four. There were socks and booties knit from her leftover sock yarn. They are so darn sweet and evoked many noises of delight! Then she showed her reversible baby hat knit from left over sock yarn. I think I have to take this idea and knit this for my Idaho nephew for Christmas…..well maybe even my Iowa nephew. They both live in spots where it gets darn cold in the winter.

Booties off PJ’s needles

Posted in knitting | Tagged Baby Blankets, Booties, hats, Socks | 2 Comments »

We’re back….we knit…we celebrate Jean

July 12, 2014 by Carolyn

Happy birthday to Jean!! A couple weeks ago the FMKG (Friday Morning Knit Group) was pondering whose birthday was up next. Jean was at this session…but not a word heard from Jean…I went to the birthday list and shouted out “It’s Jean’s birthday coming up!” Her special day happens between knit work shop sessions….we couldn’t decide this past Friday or the next one….so it’s both. This past Friday was the 1st celebration. Many of us could be there….Kimberly was back from her month in Nantucket….Cameron, Ellen, Patricia, and Rachell were otherwise committed….so some 14 of us gathered to celebrate wonderful Jean. And we knit too! Watch for posting about Debra’s finished baby afghan/blanket.

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Ellen’s Graduation Party

June 11, 2014 by Carolyn

We knit…..and we celebrate much. This past Saturday evening 16 of the 17 of us (1 was traveling) FMKG (Friday Morning Knit Group) came together to celebrate Ellen’s recent accomplishments. She has accomplished much in the last 5 years….she became a nurse….she continued on and just graduated with her Masters in Nursing. This post is all about Ellen……she is an inspiration to us all!……these photos come to us from Karen H.

The Hostess and the Grad

A lesson from Cameron on how to make the best margueritas!

Rachelle and Sarah

Jean and Debra

Carolyn and Jean

Ellen and Patricia

Jean and Karen H

Our wonderful bartenders!

Celebrating Ellen

Posted in Events, Friendship, knitting | Tagged celebrations, friendship, knitting, Nursing | Leave a Comment »

The Everchanging Scarf Shawl

May 13, 2014 by Carolyn

This wrap, knit in Simply Fine yarn from Green Mountain Spinnery, started out to be the Gillette Wrap. I saw the pattern and wrap at Stitches West 2013….loved the yarn and thought I liked the pattern. But……after casting on the needed 277 stitches and doing the short row shaping and starting the lace section, I realized this was not the design for me. First off, I read the short row W&T (wrap and turn) too literally…..I short rowed but didn’t wrap. I know better! I was past the garter design and into the lace pattern when I decided that I had to start again. Not only was I fussing about the W&T’s , I now thought the original lace section was too froo froo for me.

There was no way I wanted to cast on 277 stitches again so I “frogged” to within a couple rows of the cast on. As long as I was that far back I could add another design element; thus eyelet was incorporated along the edge. Already I was liking the design better. I kept the short row part the same except I knit the wraps from the W&T’s as I knit across all of them. The results were much better. As long I was changing the pattern I kept dreaming….probably more fair to say obsessing about each “next” section.

I poured over Melissa Leapman’s new book “The Knit Stitch” and chose “Slip Stitch Bands (page 230). Then on to more garter with clear beads added with the crochet hook method. I poured over my books again for the last two sections of this wrap which are the Indian Cross Stitch, Garter, Eyelet and Picot Bind Off Edging. Done…….. with just a little yarn to spare. Now to the blocking board.

Posted in Crafting, knitting, knitting techniques, Knitting Videos | Tagged Carolyn's Wrap, Gillette Wrap, Green Mountain Spinnery, Melissa Leapman, Simply Fine Yarn, The Knit Stitch | Leave a Comment »

French Seam Pillow Case

May 9, 2014 by Carolyn

Whoohoo! Another pillow case gifted…a “just because” gift for niece Betsy who is at Fresno State. She is in finals this week. With this one I learned a different technique to add the pillow case cuff and to finish it off with a French seam…..which is so much easier than one could imagine. Karen Larsen pointed me to this video which gave perfect step-by-step directions. As I was sewing the French Seam, I remembered that Grandma Elizabeth in her youth sewed French Seams by hand.