As I was google searching for the link to Mason-Dixon knitting for the prior post, I saw the latest post on the Mason-Dixon blog…it’s hysterical!
Enjoy!
Photos from our Saturday knitting work shop….you can also check out this slide show!
Some highlights of their projects. Susanne is knitting her Moderne Blanket from Mason Dixon in Brown Sheep’s Cotton Fleece and she is knitting the adult version. After she started she learned that her son purchased a Queen-size bed. Her decision – continue knitting the original adult size and let this afthan be a throw for the Queen-size bed.
Diane had two projects to share. The first was the crochet blanket for her son Aaron which had been in process for 3 years. Her plan was to give this gift to her son on Saturday evening. I am remembering that I started a crochet blanket/afghan for my nephew when he was born and I presented it to him when he was 26. I am not quite sure what my hold-up was.
Diane’s second project is a blanket knit with Lion Brand yarn. I know it’s a gift…but I’ve forgotten who gets this lovely afghan.
And we have another baby blanket. Shari is knitting with Debbie Bliss Baby Cashmerino. She loves the yarn…and is not excited about seed stitch. Now that she is nearing completion of this project, she thinks it’s wonderful…but a couple of weeks ago she described the project….”If I believed in heaven and hell, I would say that I am in knitting hell!” This brought rounds of laughter.
In addition to the above projects there were many process – Cathy is using her yarn remmants to knit the most beautiful socks; Eleanor is working on socks for her husband Nick; Carol is knitting a scarf; Maggie is reworking her sweater – gauge was off (I’ll talk more about this in a future post).
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- Our walk includes a view in FS Bay
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- A hint of Spring – cherry blossoms!
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- Susanne and the adult Moderne Blanket – a gift for her son
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- Diane is knitting this gift in Lion Brand’s yarn
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- Diane has finished the blanket for his son Aaron
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- Shari and her baby blanket
Posted in knitting, Knittng slide shows, Mason-Dixon Knitting | Tagged Brown Sheep Cotton Fleece, Debbie Bliss Baby Cashmerino, Mason-Dixon Knitting | 1 Comment »
Last Saturday our knitting workshop was already pretty animated when Natasha and Elliot arrived. Now you might remember that Natasha had a baby a few months ago…and we were all so excited for her. Natasha, an avid knitter, was able to knit for a few minutes while we all took turns holding her lovely baby boy. I might add that I had too much fun holding him…before I “handed” him off to other knitting “Aunties”.
All babies are a special joy…Elliot feels extra special because his parents waited a long time for him. He is really lovely…his smile for his mother makes your heart melt.
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- Such joy!
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- Elliot and “Auntie PJ”
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- Elliot and “Auntie PJ”
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- “Auntie Cathy” and Elliot
We will teach Elliot how to knit soon…just as soon as he has his walking shoes on.
Posted in knitting | Tagged Cathy, Natasha, PJ | Leave a Comment »
Marsha in her self-designed sweater
Doesn’t Marsha (from Tuesday knitting workshop group) look great in her self-designed sweater?
She knew that she wanted a simple sweater…and we designed it together. She chose Elsbeth Lavold’s Silky Wool. We took her body measurements….added the ease…she knit her gauge swatch. She then used this information to calculate how many stitches to cast on….she cast on and she was off knitting in the round.
It all went smoothly…trying on every so often to be sure that our math was working. Every step of the way the sweater looked great on Marsha.
And then there was the neck….it was too tight! Back up…. we decided that she needed more depth on the collar and a different cast off – P2tog…a wonderfully elastic cast off!
Here’s the cast off: P2 tog, *slip resulting stitch back to left needle, purl it together with the next stitch”, repeat until 1 stitch left on right needle. Cut yarn with 6in length. Thread yarn through last stitch and pull tight.
Posted in knitting | Tagged Marsha, P2Tog cast off, self-designed sweater, Silky Wool | 3 Comments »
Posting today was a little fussy! The pictures didn’t want to set up right…so called it a day around 5pm and came back to it just now. There are a couple more photos from Friday that I want to share. Patricia has been knitting on felted slippers but this Friday she returned to her scarf. She will be sending the info (yarn and pattern stats) shortly. In the meantime, here are the photos. Be sure to click through on the photos so you can see a full shot…particularly the one of Patricia.
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- Jean wearing her window pane steeked vest
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- Patricia with her almost finished scar
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- While not a knit, this Christmas present “top” got rave reviews
Jean was wearing a window-pane patterned vest that she made some time ago. She is describing the “steek” for us.
The next photo is me in a non-knit…but wearing a Christmas gift from my nieice and it got rave reviews from the Friday group. Thanks a bunch.
And I am excited to report that I have completed two projects this past week…a basic black scarf for 15-year old nephew Dan and a slouch hat for soon-to-be 12 yr old Sam. The photos will follow in the next few days! Yeah…I can hardly wait to pick up the needles of another UFO.
Posted in knitting | Tagged Carolyn, Friday Knitting Workshop, Jean, Patricia, Steek | 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
Posted in knitting, Uncategorized | Tagged Ann Norling, Crystal Palace, Jean, Manos del Uruguay, Merino 5, Pinstripe Sweater, Sarah | Leave a Comment »
”Isn’t he adorable? ” asks his great-aunt Jan. Ditto from me.
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- Jan’s great-nephew!
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- The beginning
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- Kimberly and Jan “modeling” the blanket and hat!
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- It’s finished!
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- Jan’s great-nephew snuggled up in hat and blanket!
The pattern is adapted from “Baby Afghan” – project #2 in the “Knitting Basics” book by Betty Barnden (Quarto 2002). The yarn is worsted, machine washable Berroco Pure Merino(the color is “Glacier” but that may be discontinued now – the closest is “Bluebell”). Note: Pure Merino available through Skein Lane Studio.
Posted in knitting | Tagged baby blanket and hat, Berroco Pure Merino, Jan, Knitting Basics | Leave a Comment »
….to another year of knitting and wonderful friendships!
Posted in knitting | Tagged Happy New Year | Leave a Comment »
This year I decided that my young nieces are young adults and forming their own tastes…and I don’t always keep up with those latest likes and dislikes. My solution…a gift basket of scarves that I had as models for my retail store…and I’m pleased to report the basket was success. Chloe and Shelby got to pick first because I celebrated Christmas with them at the family/friend ice-skating gathering in Dublin. Their mother, Sundee, got to pick too. Betsy got to pick on Christmas Day as did her mother and grandmother. The boys – Dan and Sam – got a “gift certificate” to go book shopping in a couple of weeks. It was great to see all the kids….and a joy to see what lovely people they have grown to be.
The Gift Basket
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Saturday morning had the last of the celebrations. Brunch which consisted of yet more great food and, in particular, Maurie and Diane outdid themselves with gluten-free desserts – brownies, gingerbread, and biscotti – delicious! Marsha brought an unusual fruit combo – pomegranite seeds, avocados, and grapefruit sections. I think we can look forward to a Skein Lane Holiday cook book with recipes from all of our gatherings. No modesty here – we are as good as any TV food station. “Twas” a great time.
Not only did we eat…but we celebrated some knitting projects. Shari just finished her self-designed sweater. She was inspired by a Margaret O’Leary design that she had in her closet and loved. She used a different yarn…added some tucks in the mid-section to create shaping in the waist. This shaping was done with left and right twists.
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- Shari and her first sweater!
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- Terry and her new knit!
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- Detail of Terry’s knit
Terry sent along this info re: her newly finished shell. “The stitch is called Cartridge Belt Rib. I got it in my Encyclopedia of Knitting. It is a two-row pattern that calls for multiples of 4 plus 3. I added selvage stitches on both ends. The first row (RS) is shown as knit 3, slip 1 with yarn in front, K 3. The second row is knit 1, slip one with yarn in front, K3, slip one with yarn in front, K 1. The slip stitches happen on the middle stitch of the K3 on the other row. It is a reversible pattern. The yarn is Cheesecake (silk and merino) from Art Fiber in Pinole.
Posted in knitting | Tagged Art Fibers, Cartridge Belt Rib, Cheesecake yarn, Shari, Terry | Leave a Comment »
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