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So much to say…so little time! Let’s talk about Beth.

October 26, 2011 by Carolyn

Many thoughts have been on my mind these least few weeks…one of which is I don’t sit down as often as I would like to write about…the comments…the garments…thoughts…but here we go again. (Be sure to read to the end so that you can read about Beth.)

First…as you many of you know I recently had cataract surgery on my “good” eye (my not so good eye can get me by but it has comprised vision due to eye disease in my early 20’s). I share this with you because this recent surgery was a “big deal” that made me worry….but it was successful…and now it’s a new lease on vision…and I’m back on track…wanting to knit more and chat!

Many stories to share…but I want to start with Beth. Early in the summer Beth called and wanted to reconnect with Skein Lane. She had been a customer of the retail store front.  She has joined our Saturday knitting group and is knitting away. You might wonder what is so special about that! Beth is 97….she is one of the most pleasant people I have ever met … my cousin Diane might qualify for the same  spot. Beth knits, she volunteers, she drives, she lives by herself. Just recently she looked over at another knitter who was knitting socks and she said in her wonderful voice, “I haven’t knit socks since WWII!”

Just have to say…so glad Beth is part of our world!

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Fall is here and the knitting madness begins

October 15, 2011 by Carolyn

Gardening and reorganization continued to claim time from blogging and sharing this summer. We’re back once again! Fall is here and the needles are clicking!

This morning as I was surfing through my emails I stopped to read the latest from Berroco…their knitting tidbits this morning included some unique videos featuring…what else but knitting, yarn and textures. One of the videos is of the knitter  Last Knit who kept clicking….this was went around a few years ago. Enjoy….the Last Knit

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This is a fun link…check out this young kntter!

July 28, 2011 by Carolyn

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.

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Betsy’s Afghan is finished!

June 3, 2011 by Carolyn

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.

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A weekend of blessings!

May 1, 2011 by Carolyn

An Irish Blessing

This morning in church I found  I was obsessed with multi-tasking…listening to the homily  and analyzing a  sweater design worn by another parishioner. A few minutes later this parishioner came to me with a gift…Linda whispered, “I’ve just returned from Ireland and Sister Margaret has sent you this gift.”  The gift – a fridge magnet with an old Irish blessing.

May you have all the happiness and luck that life can hold.

And at the end of all of your rainbows may you find a pot gold.

I was moved almost to tears. Sister Margaret was a customer of Skein Lane before the retail store closed. When she retired from St Jerome’s in El Cerrito  a couple of years ago I gave her a gift of yarn to take with her journey back to her homeland of Ireland.  What a thoughtful gift….thank you Sister Margaret.

Linda in her beautiful Irish knit sweater.

Another thank you – to Linda for bringing the gift to me and then for letting me oogle her sweater. She purchased this beautiful Aran knit while in Ireland. She mentioned Quills – the source of good Irish-knit Aran sweaters. The sweater is a lovely blue with the body of the sweater knit from bottom to armhole and then attached to a knitted piece for bodice (a cable design going in an opposite direction from the body. I see an Aran Sweater design class coming up in the fall.

Speaking of sweater design….a new class started yesterday…and it’s so exciting. Each partcipant is designing their own sweater specific to their own body measurements. Some of us are creating our own pattern…while others are learning to use their pattern as a road map on the way to customizing for their body measurements. We are ambitious in this group and I think we will be showing you results of our efforts very soon.

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Close up on the skirts

April 10, 2011 by Carolyn

This morning I “found” some close-ups of the twirly skirts that were taken just before popping in the mail. I was inspired to “paint” with yarn on this stockinette design knit with Brown Sheep’s Cotton Fleece….great fun to add more color with each skirt being unique for each unique niece.

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Tic-tock!

April 8, 2011 by Carolyn

Tic-tock…that’s the beat that has been playing in my head since December…I’ll post soon – tic-tock it’s Christmas…tic-tock it’s New Year’s….tic-tock it’s Valentine’s Day…tic-tock it’s Ground Hog’s Day….tic-tock it’s St Patrick’s Day….tic-tock Easter is almost here!

So where has Skein Lane Studio been? Personally, I fell into the family history hole…in my other life I am a family historian. I was contacted before Christmas by Michelle – another  great-granddaughter of Kate. She was seeking information about her great-grandmother….her name being Kate. The very short version is that my maternal grandmother Elizabeth never knew her mother. For reasons that weren’t clear for years and still aren’t so clear, we – the family,  knew that my grandmother was born in England and her mother’s name was Ellen Kate. We didn’t know why her Austrian father took her and her brother from England to this country. I have been interested in this story since I was a young child 8 years old when I first heard the story. I have learned so much since then….it’s been a wonderful journey. I have created a blog that is all about Kate and her story.

The Four

In the meantime I’ve been knitting like crazy….as have so many of the Skein Lane Studio knitting workshop knitters. Where to begin?! For today I will share the photos of the twirly skirts….inspired by Skein Lane knitting workshopper Janie’s twirly skirt knit …. that I made for my sister’s three  girls…great fun knitting and great rewards when I heard their response. I knit these skirts with Brown Sheep’s Cotton Fleece….one of my favorite yarns. My niece Honara told me that the sweater that I knit (in Brown Sheep) for her 1st son was one her favorites and it lasted through two sons!

Tomorrow I will begin sharing the photos of so many wonderful knitting projects from our wonderful knitters…I will also post the upcoming classes.

Okay….we’re back!  Knit on as Elizabeth Zimmerman would say!

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Merry Christmas

December 25, 2010 by Carolyn

Christmas is here…blessings and greetings to all.

We’ll be back with Skein Lane updates right after we celebrate Christmas. Much to share!

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The “Vested” Tomten Jacket

November 4, 2010 by Carolyn

Marsha

More creativity from Marsha!

She has been working on a Tomten Jacket (design by Elizabeth Zimmerman)…..one of my favorite children designs (which can also be knit in adult sizes). It’s simple, practical, and elegant…all at the same time. In this case, Marsha was worried about enough yarn…she was using a sock yarn that was also taking a lot of knitting time. So….in the interest of time and yarn she decided to knit the sleeves “short” to fit so that sleeves fit right into the armhole but were only long enough to line up with the body of the sweater. Remember that this design has the sleeves “set” into the body.

This design also has a hood, but Marsha chose to convert that into a collar by leaving the hood off. This version can either be a stand-up collar or roll back. Isn’t it great to be so inspired by a pattern design that you can add your own touches?

Marsha did a beautiful job of the I-cord trim. She is now looking for the right closure. Will it be a frog that she creates from I-cord or will it be a shopping trip to  Stone Mountain and Daughter Fabrics in Berkeley for the best closure. Stay tuned!

Oh…and remember the Tomten is a modular jacket…any size yarn can be used…just need to get the propotions right…..1/4 of total stitches = back; 1/2 of total stitches = 2 armholes; and 1/4 stitches = 2 fronts. This pattern is available through School House Press.

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Rabbit Stick

November 2, 2010 by Carolyn

  I was so excited recently!  Marsha returned from vacation at Rabbit Stick…..she came to knitting workshop full of such excitement and enthusiam and rightly so! I caught her enthusiam.

She had spent several days in Idaho at a creative native craft experience. She felted fabric from old sweaters and made boots. She crafted (pounded) blanket pins (cowboy pins) out of copper wire..looked like shawl pins to me.

She estimated that 300 + people were in attendance….Rabbit Stick was celebrating its 25th anniversary….Marsha has been going for years….I’m thinking it would be a wonderful experience!

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