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It’s Halloween and then some

October 31, 2010 by Carolyn

In   The    Loop   


           

Well….it seems that I fell “asleep” with the sheep, cats and dogs…and the goblins. I had this promo all set to go out this morning and at the end of the day I realized there was glitch….so the “treat” has been extended through Wednesday at midnight….it’s a chance to enjoy 30% savings at Skein Lane’s  online store.

                                           your code is Treat
        
                                                                                                      
Another exciting announcement….Karen King is teaching a mobius class for us…so for those of you who have not had this knitting experience or you are wanting to refresh your skills….Saturday – November 13 is the day for you. Join Karen for an afternoon ( 2-4 pm) of knitting fun. You can sign up on line or call us at 510.525.9276.
More knitting workshops, classes and product are on their way for you!
Check our website for more of the latest. 
 
 
 
 
 

 

 

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What’s on the needles?

October 30, 2010 by Carolyn

Wicked Eyelet Rib Vest

A section “What’s on the needles?” has just been added to Skein Lane’s website.  The featured item is the Wicked Eyelet Rib Vest based on the pattern from Classic Elite  featured in early 2008 on Classic Elite Yarn web newsletter – section free patterns.

It’s been on my needles for awhile…and put aside to make way for all the afghans and/or projects of this past year.

A note about inspiration….it’s hard for me to knit a pattern without making a change to it…and to true to form I changed this one. I carried the rib design up along the eyelet so as to set the eyelet off a little more as well as I’ve “scooped” the neck – both front and back – a little deeper than the pattern.  The yarn I chose to use was Elsbeth Lavold’s Silky wool (5 skeins)…the same yarn that I used for the Rebozo Shawl. I really love this yarn!

A short post today…more coming….the knitting workshop folks continue to be creative!

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Lots to chat about!

October 24, 2010 by Carolyn

Once again….can so much time have passed?! What’s been going on here? Project after project! As this weekend comes to an end I have a couple of announcements and then will be back quickly for some “on and off the needle” stories and photos.  The most pressing project has been getting the Skein Lane online store up and running…and that it is now. Have “wordsmithed” the layout ….. more products will added throughout the upcoming days and weeks.

Announcing that the Friday Morning knitting group has launched an Etsy store. It is the Friday Morning Knitting Collective (FMKC).  This might be just the perfect shopping spot for those in your circle who will not be crafting for gifts but love the idea of handcrafted gifts. This Etsy store has some great creations. Be sure to check it out.

I’ve jumped into another project that is not knitting related…and found that it consumed my day today….and that is a speaking engagement to a SAR (Sons of the American Revolution) group that I committed to for early December. One might think that it’s a little early but I have some research to complete so that I can prepare a PowerPoint presentation. This project is a presentation of a great 5x’s grandfather that I just “discovered (with the help of a couple of cousins)” served in the Amercan Revolution and that he was a person of importance in the political circle of his community. It’s another fascinating find in this journey of family history.

Can it really be Sunday night? Time to run and get back later! Lots of customer projects and travels to share.

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Creativity abounds!

October 3, 2010 by Carolyn

 

The CAL bag

All around the table the needles were clicking and the conversations were animated, as always at the Friday morning knitting group, and two FO’s got captured on the camera. Patricia has embarked upon making the most lovely project-style  fully-lined bags…they are so stylish and so functional. One of her most recent is the bag she made with Cal-motif  fabric for our Friday morning Cal Supporter – Jean.

Jean and Patricia

I purchased one from her recently…and surprise of surpises…the motif design on mine is dog-related. We can look forward to more of Patricia’s bag designs soon.

The Twirly Skirt

Janie showed the Twirly Skirt that she just finished knitting for her 4-yr old granddaughter. It is so darn cute. The name of the yarn escapes me but it is a “tutti-fruity” kind of style – yarn flecked with color.

I am quite taken with the knitted Twirly Skirt  as  Christmas gifts for my very young nieces. So, I’ve just placed a call to my sister and forwarded the link to her…so I can get the “approval”. She’s always appreciative…but I know the girls are starting to form their opinions – ages 8, 6, & 4 (I think) – and just want to be sure they will think it as cute as I do!

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Look at Terry go!

September 20, 2010 by Carolyn

Terry and her Feather and Fan Afghan

Does Fire Captain Terry ever sleep?? Her needles have been clicking away and her Feather and Fan Afghan has almost doubled in size since our last post. She was only stopped briefly this past Saturday….she needed more yarn and she wanted to share her afghan.

For those of you wondering what to do with those odd balls of yarn….this might just be the answer.
I’m about half done weaving in their yarns on my gift afghan….and yeah because I am eager to get it in the mail.
Check back for more photos of afghans, a view of projects from last Saturday workshop, and the Prayer Shawl gift to Carol.

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The Feather and Fan Afghan Knitalong

September 16, 2010 by Carolyn

Terry's Feather and Fan Afghan

Well….we kicked the knitalong off with showing my afghan which is almost done…I still have to weave in the threads from the color joins. Terry, Marsha, and Diane picked out their colors from Skein Lane Studio to complete their stash for their Feather and Fan Afghan. Progress since Saturday is all over the map!

Diane picked up her chosen yarn on Tuesday…reviewed the instructions w/worksheet and she is off getting her colors in order. (She had to go out of town for a few days so her afghan probably won’t get a start until the next week or so.)

Marsha has most likely started hers…and then she’s off traveling for a bit.

Terry got “possessed” and she just sent a photo of her work today…my response, “OMG, it’s beautiful!” We can all be inspired to put colors together to create our own unique hand-crafted product. Here’s what Terry had to say when I asked if I could post her work in progress….

“You bet. I got a little too far to follow the design in the pattern so I made my own. It’s the rebel in me!  T”

 Note: check out this slide show which includes several Feather and Fan Afghans.

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Feather & Fan Knitalong, Top-Down Socks

September 10, 2010 by Carolyn

New and returning knitalongs and classes are back…short notice here but tomorrow at noon we will embark upon the first of our two endeavors. !

  • Create your Feather and Fan Afghan from your stash and new yarns…a chance to experiement in colors.  Join us from noon – 2pm
  • Socks from the top-down….learn the basics as well as customization. Join us at 2 for the first of 3 sessions for this class

.
Class/knitalong details will be on the website later today.

And be sure to check out the first stages of our online shopping

Best and knit on!
Carolyn

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A Special Project

September 1, 2010 by Carolyn

I write this prematurely knowing that the receipient of the gift on the knitting needles won’t read this post…she is not computer connected. About 3 weeks ago we learned that Carol’s daughter died in childbirth…as did the baby. We have been grieving for her and her loss….and one of the knitting group came up with the idea of a knitted gift that she could wrap around and snuggle away from the world. So….there are 10 or so knitters working on this special project…we began last Saturday….and I think we’ll be done by next Saturday. Amazing what a group of knitters can accomplish. For now….I will say no more…just in case there is some magic that would Carol to a computer…don’t think so…but just in case! The photos and the story behind the “knit” will surface in the next few days.

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Maurie – heart afghans

August 28, 2010 by Carolyn

Maurie and the Rose Heart Afghan

Maurie is one of several Skein Lane knitters who have knit a heart design afghan inspired by the Fiber Trend Pattern CH-24. She started with a rose colored Cotton Fleece that she recently finished. She has now embarked on a blue heart afghan inspired by the Fiber Trend Pattern (CH-24)…she decided to do a garter stitch blanket embellished on the edges with hearts. She just cracked us up this morning with her description of her two-year journey to knit the rose-colored afghan…..”with the first blanket I marched through the knitting wilderness as I mastered that pattern.”

The Rose Heart Afghan

The pattern is simply one that requires a little time to get “married” to rhythm of it….Maure was going through lots of changes when she started this blanket…and kudos to her for sticking with mastering the pattern. The blanket is beautiful and I’m delighted that she is inspired to do a modified version. Go Maurie!

Heart Afghan inspired by "Rose Heart" Afghan

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More knitting – imagine that!

August 27, 2010 by Carolyn

I’m beginning realize that the knitters in the Skein Lane knitting workshops are knitting faster than I can post. At tonight’s, Thursday knitting workshop, there were several beauties. To share a few of them – Phyllis was just finishing up a caplet for her daughter, Laura showed two intarsia hats, Debbie showed a cable sweater in progress, Diane showed her blanket/afghan, Jean is working on an eggplant hat for a neighbor child, Linda is working on a sweater vest for her son…..and I am now 36 rows away from being done with my afghan – the heat got in the way.

Fire Captain Terry also showed her latest and we were able to capture that on camera.

Two items – sweater sleeves and socks

 

Notice the sock laying on one of sleeves…it is a self-striping watermelon design from knitpurlgirl.com

The sleeves are for the sweater Lava designed by  Jane Slicer-Smith and featured in  Swing Swagger Drape.  A knitting tip here: remember gauge is all important. Terry chose four brilliant colors of a lovely yarn. Tonight she mentioned that the sleeves were too long.
Note: the rows to the inch is critical to this pattern with its different intarsia depths. The gauge of the yarn that Terry had chosen did not match the yarn called for. She needed 7.25 rows to the inch and she was getting 6.9 or so. One might ask, “What’s the big deal?” This difference in row length for an intarsia design caused the sweater to be at least 2 inches longer than it should have been. Well….Terry is the ever adventuresome knitter…and she says no problem, I will select a new yarn. Stay tuned for what her sleeves look like next week…she will be using Cascade 220 for this design.

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