I’ve been busy. Selling my home of 30 years, downsizing, and downsizing some more. There is still a storage locker so there will be more downsizing to come. But I am still knitting.
Borealis Mitts for a November Class.
It has been a tumultuous couple of years, both personally and in the world at large. Not sure where it is all going. How about you? How has your life been progressing? Life never stops. But I am still knitting.
Did you know that I am officially retired. Not from working – though I do work less – I am retired by the definition that being retired means I get to do what I love! As I am doing what I love I am retired and still getting paid – how great is that. So I am still knitting, creating, teaching and hopefully bringing other knitters along with me.
Ocean Legend – a fall class and a new sweater for me. I am still knitting. I hope that you are too!
New projects, more plans, life goes forward. I have many plans but no resolutions, I seldom keep a resolution, but plans can be changed and adapted to fit the moment. How about you? Do you make or keep resolutions?
I have finished knitting the Moebius and I am very happy with the result. I love a fringe bind-off. It takes an extra long time, but the effort is so worth it. I wore the Moebius to work on Thursday. It looked great, the feedback supported my thoughts on the matter, and felt good. I did not block it as I really wanted to keep it deeply textural.
I will need to reknit the moebius with a different yarn for the workshop in March. Gathering Yarns Popcorn is not currently available, so I am going to use Fleece Artist Slubby Mix.
Slubby Mix is a Merino/BFL blend, thick and thin single ply, and it will give me the texture that I really loved about the Popcorn. The pattern I designed I think will look good in a smooth yarn as the pattern is a very simple knit and purl texture. But it looks fabulous in a textured yarn that adds extra depth to the textural pattern.
This full day workshop will run March 22, 10:00am to 4:00.
The Year of Hats, a series of 4 hour workshops, will start in a couple of weeks. Each hat will focus on different techniques. Some will be easy, some will be more challenging. There will be homework to do before each workshop. The ribbing or band will need to be completed before the workshop so that the class time will focus on the technique being featured in each hat.
Jan CapFeb Cap – BeretMarch Cap – fair-isle beanie
It will start with the Jan Cap, something a little simple to set us up for success as we work our way through the possibilities. This cap is a little slouchy with a seed stitch body, a slip st detail and is finished with a jaunty tassel. This workshop will run this January 25th from 11:00am to 3:00pm with a 4 hour workshop.
The Feb Cap is a classic Beret. This Beret has a little bit of stranding for detail and a little I-cord loop as a final flourish. This workshop runs February 22nd from 11:00am to 3:00pm.
The March Cap is a fair-isle beanie, the Sea Star Beanie. A 3 colour fair-isle band is topped with a textural knit and purl sea star crown. This workshop runs March 29th from 11:00am to 3:00 pm.
Any curling fans out there? I will be going to Kelowna to watch the Brier, at the end of February. While in Kelowna I will be teaching a couple of classes at Kelowna Yarn and Needle Crafts.
If you live in the area and want to take a class, or are coming to the Brier and want to add on something a little different, check out the information below and/or contact Kelowna Yarn. I usually bring a few extra samples to touch and wear so if there is something that you want to see…. maybe I can accommodate.
I am designing a new double knit pattern for the workshop. Winter Florals, knit with Ancient Arts Superwash Merino DK in the Cranberry and Mineral colourways. I am very pleased with the way the pattern is knitting up.
If I have time I will finish a pair of gloves that I have already started for myself. They feature a beautiful beaded cuff. The beaded pattern looks simple but is very effective. The beads are pre-strung and then knit in as the cuff progresses. The remainder of the gloves will be plain stockinette.
This year I will be focusing on finishing some projects already started and hopefully expanding my designing skills. There are still so many things to share! I know you must have something that you want to make or learn how to make. Let me know and maybe a new class can be created.
Around the house we have gone back to “normal”. The Christmas decorations are down and there is a pot of pea soup simmering on the stove. I don’t have any baking planned today. We are kind of taking a small break from sweets. I ate waay to much over Christmas and New Years.
We do have a very big plan this year for ourselves! We are downsizing! Heaven help me! How will I fit all of my yarn into a smaller place!? That is a future problem that will take all of the next few months to figure out!
This the beginning of the Christmas Season for many of us. Especially those of us in retail. As I work at my LYS I need to get my Christmas Mojo in place and be ready to help those who need my help, either with gifting ideas or help in sorting out problems with finishing those special things.
I love this time of the year. It doesn’t matter what you celebrate or how you celebrate, most cultures celebrate the Winter Solstice in some way. Christmas, Hanukah, Kwanza, Soltice or Saturnalia, they are celebrations of joy and sharing! And an acknowledgement that the longest night of the year has come and gone. So every year I like to share a pattern through Ravelry or here on the blog (now that I know how! LOL!) So here is my gift to you free for the month of December and running through early January!
I was thinking about this and realizing that for the Southern hemisphere this will the shortest night of the year! Still any excuse to celebrate is a good one!
I thing that Cyclone is a good basic hat pattern. Not too fussy, will look effective in alsomost any colour and it notes the kind of year that many of us have had! Chaotic and cyclonic. So I made it my Christmas pattern. It will be free for the month of December and going into early January.
The stitch pattern is a fairly straight forward mosaic stitch. I love mosaic stitching because you are never working more than one colour at a time! No carries! Because of the size of the mosaic pattern there is really only one size, but notes are included to adjust the size a little up or down to accommodate larger or smaller adult/teen size heads.
Just to be different there will be a couple of free patterns this year. I turn sixty-five this month as well. So I am going to celebrate that too! And no, retirement is not part of my plans. After all, I am already working at what I love. So, I would like offer up another pattern for free for the month!
Cozy Bells is a tea-cozy designed to celebrate Christmas every day of the Year. The bells will jingle softly as the tea is poured and your tea will remain warm for quite a white! I recommend printing this pattern in colour as there are many how to pictures to go along with the embellishing.
Life has been rough for the bulk of the year so I am seizing this moment to share some joy! I hope that you like the patterns and will take this opportunity to try them out.
On a sad note, Sophie, our beautiful beagle passed away last week. She was thirteen and had lived a good life. She was always happy, tail wagging at every greeting and never, ever, passed up a treat that came her way. She was loved by all who knew her and never met anyone she didn’t like. She is missed every day.
At work we are starting to organize our ideas for next years classes. And I am going to offer up a “Year of Hats”. A series of workshops, each one about a hat, or headgear of some type. There will be different weights, different techniques and yarns to work with. Quite a few are already done. There will be a blog post, maybe next weekend, all about this project.
I am really excited about the turquoise item below – the technique is colourwork slip stitching! You a never working with more than one colour! I am working with several colours of Patagonia Organic Merino. Wouldn’t it look great with the drops done in a hand-dyed yarn? What do you think?
I am also going to resurrect a few of my older projects. Things that I really want to finish – either patterns or projects. A mixture of both! You can see that I am setting up my New Years’ resolutions as I work my way through this!
Squared Away Blanket – I umm started it before Logan was born, 9 years ago. Maybe next year….And I really want to get back to my Dress.https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/knit-a-dress-with-meAnd these gloves – there are so many patterns I need to finish!A Sweater for me…A new use for reinforcing yarn…
I am playing with a new yarn – Cedre, by Waxwing Yarn Co.. This is an all Canadian endeavor. The yarns are sourced and scoured in Ontario. Then they are spun in Quebec.
Cedre is a woolen spun single, I would call it a solid 4-ply in weight. It has a lovely roundness to it and is very springy. I am putting it through its paces while working this mini poncho. I started with a 2.75mm and have settled on a 3.75mm for the body. The stitch definition is crisp, even at this needle size and I can hardly wait to finish this project. I want to see how it reacts to blocking.
OK, life here has been a bit chaotic! How about where you are at? Here are a few Sunday ramblings to share.
I have been productive though. Jingle Gnome Chapeau and Mittens is up on Ravelry. One of my students, Christine, brought in her finished Chapeau! I love her colour choices!
And this morning I added the Turbulence Beanie to Ravelry. Use the code Turbulence to download the pattern for half price! The code is good until midnight October 31/24.
It started as I was rummaging through my stash and stumbled upon this lone skein of Ancient ArtsSuperwash DK Merino, in the Water Lily Colourway! Apparently I needed to knit this skein, like right away! Because I could see the finished beanie, before I even started! I am really loving the results.
I know that it is a bit early to start thinking about Christmas. But a great many knitters I know think about Christmas ALL year long! What we are going to knit and who we are going to knit for! So here I am knitting something for Christmas.
Though it certainly doesn’t look much like Christmas right now. The skies are grey and the rain is pouring down. I have a beef soup stock simmering on the stove and I am thinking about making some shortbread cookies… So maybe it doesn’t need to look like Christmas to think Christmas thoughts!
I working on a Christmas Tea Cozy for my last class before Christmas! I have just started the basic body. I think that it is going to be so cute! I can see it with a poinsettia and holly and berries, maybe some small ornaments on the top….
Have you started thinking about Christmas?
Are you a tea drinker? Maybe you need a new cozy? Maybe a Christmas Cozy? Or even a Dancer Cozy? That pattern will be coming soon! It is almost complete!
Be Well, Knit Happy, Winter is on its way! With many knitting opportunities just starting to show on the horizon!
Now that the class has started there has been a request for a mitten pattern to co-ordinate with the hat! So…
I am knitting a pair. The first mitten is complete and the second it started! There will be two sizes of mittens, small/medium (for me) and a medium/large. I am knitting the small/medium as the sample pair. UPDATE – the second mitten is finished! They practically knit themselves!
I decided to knit the loopy cuff with two colours, grey and white. I knew that there wasn’t enough grey for a solid cuff on both mittens, and I am still not sure that even with mixing the colours that I will have enough grey to finish the mittens. I am loving the colour mix, sometimes need is the best teacher! We will see if I have saved enough of the grey to finish the mitten without purchasing more yarn.
The pattern for both hat and mittens is basically complete – it just needs some pictures and a photo tutorial for the afterthought thumb – my favourite thumb for most colourwork mittens. This thumb is easy to knit and does not interfere with the colourwork pattern.
The inserted sts. The guideline for the thumb placementUsing two dpn’s pick-up 1 arm of each st above and below the inserted waste yarn.Starting at the center arefully cut and remove the waste yarn.Waste yarn is removed and the sts are ready to be knit.First round has been created.Mitten with completed thumb.
Ok, even writing this is procrastination. I know it, but sometimes it helps to procrastinate, I am mulling over stuff in the back of my brain as I do other things. Things that are not necessarily the things I am supposed to do!
But I did accomplish quite a few objectives as I procrastinated.
I wove in the ends of my Sunrise Sweater and then steam blocked it! I love my new steamer. It is hand held and is made by Rowenta and works like a hot damn. Much better than wet blocking for sweaters and small swatches.
I did all of the finishing work on the Jingle Gnome Chapeau. And blogged about it.
I replaced a cuff on one of my oldest sweaters. And blogged about it.
I am about the half way point of my Clapotis shawl. I work on it in the evenings when I am too tired for anything that requires concentration.
I am crap at leather work – there is a lot I need to learn before I can actually sew the leather wrist bindings to my sweater.
What am I procrastinating. My GreenMan Shawl, another sweater for myself, more class projects and samples and dealing with life in general. So maybe it is not so much procrastination as it is keeping myself too busy to concentrate on everything I have set for myself, or everything that I am trying to deal with emotionally. As I list them I am realizing that most of these things are self imposed, not really have to do – just expectation that I will do. Why? Because I always have. It is how I cope. I cope by being busy.
I once told my boss that I knit my emotions into my projects. It has been a hard year, lots of emotions, and apparently lots of projects. Hence many opportunities for procrastination.
I have always been a procrastinator. I work best with that little bit of pressure of time and deadlines. While at University I would do lots of research for projects, notes, cards, organizational lines of inquiry and lots of reading. Then I would stop, put away the work until about a week before the due date and then start writing. And it would always work, the ideas had coalesced while I “procrastinated” and worked on other projects.
It does not always work so well on tangible things, that can have tangible issues that require lots of time to fix. Though as a designer for Vogue Knitting, with their tight deadlines and sometimes challenging ideas… it worked. I loved working under that kind of pressure and producing things that I wasn’t quite sure (at first) that I could do. No time there for procrastination. I put what learned working for Vogue into practice when I designed for other companies, Buffalo Wool co. and Juniper Moon Farm for example.
Buffalo Wool Co.Vogue KnittingVogue KnittingVogue Knitting Anniversary Editionvogue KnittingVK Winter 2011 photographed by Rose Callahan at Alina’s loft, Brooklyn, on Oct 18-19, 2011Roamin’ for Kate Davies DesignsVogue Knitting Magic of Mohair Competition, Rose Callahan PhotographerBuffalo Wool Co
So sometimes I feel the need to create that kind of pressure for myself, to push that time barrier into working as a creative pressure. So procrastination in and of itself is not necessarily a bad thing, though it can be if practiced improperly.
When procrastination is used as a tool to improve an outcome by first, recognizing the weakness, and then utilizing the weakness, making it work for you, not against you. Is that a form of justification? Probably. But we all have justifications for our actions, especially when they can be self destructive if practiced improperly!
Thoughts? Opinions? Are you procrastination by reading this? If so, I won’t tell! I am procrastinating myself! LOL!
Sometimes when you spend a lot of time designing “serious” knits, you know, practical but attractive, maybe someone will think that they could knit and wear it items, sometimes you just need to break out of the mold and play!
I love Christmas – I love Gnomes – so here is a little nod to both!
Meet the Jingle Gnome Chapeau, designed for warmth, but with a little “fun” added! This is a sample for a class happening at Mad About Ewe Fine Yarns. It starts next week, Tues Oct 8 and runs over the next couple of weeks. Three classes in total.
Class # 1 – How to knit loops – link to video – did you know that the loops can be cut and brushed to make a really soft “fur”?
Class # 2 – Basic Stranding – simpler than fair-isle, much more repetitive, but great practice.
Class #3 – How to make the perfect pompom, and some basic finishing – how to deal with ends.
Jingle is knit with Eco Shetland Worsted, which is a light worsted, almost a dk, but I have knit it a few time at the worsted gauge and been very happy with the results. It has great yardage, 1 skein of each colour is all that is necessary. Plus a few jingle bells and the regular notions!
How about that pompom, surrounded by bells? Isn’t just a dream of a finish?
I know you want one!
Happy Gnome “ing”
Lynette
PS. The pattern will be available in about 3 weeks and will include a mitten pattern to go with the Chapeau!
I woke up to the most glorious sunrise. The living room was glowing orange as the light poured in the windows. When I went out onto the deck – the run was rising in front of me and there was a rainbow forming behind me. So awe inspiring.
The Mini Rose also produced a new bloom this morning that is absolutely perfect. The Hibiscus plant has several new buds, so many beautiful flowers. Just an amazing start to the day.
Knitting et al.
The GreenMan Shawl is progressing nicely. I am about 20% into the Oakleaf and Acorn insert and I am very pleased with the effect of the beads on the knitting.
I have started another shawl for myself. I didn’t really intend on this one. I am not even designing it. If you are old enough you will remember or will have knit a Clapotis shawl. I am more than old enough.
Clapotis can be considered one of the first viral patterns on Ravelry and has over 24000 projects listed. It was designed to be knit with some of the glorious hand dyed yarns that were appearing at that time. It has just been re-released on Ravelry as Clapotis 24. There is an accompanying KAL that features lots of yarny prizes.
I didn’t knit it the first time around, so I am giving it a go with some yarn from my stash. Not hand dyed, but striping and lively, and I was not having any luck designing a sweater for myself with it. I had already ripped back a couple of attempts. The yarn is Lang Cloud Tweed.
Clapotis is designed for a worsted/aran weight yarn (I keep seeing it in some Rios), but is very easy to adjust for almost any weight! The knitting is basic, stockinette on a diagonal, but the addition of the dropped line of stitches keeps it interesting.
Have you knit a Clapotis?
I am also working on another class project. Remember the loopy st? Meet the Jingle Gnome Chapeau. Still under construction, but already looking like a little bit of rustic “happy”! The class will feature the loop stitch, basic stranded knitting and how to make the perfect pompom! I am working with the Eco Shetland Worsted by Estelle. It is yarn that I really like to work with and gives me great results.
Boho CozyBoho MittsBoho Crown
I hope that you have a wonderful day. Mine is off to a great start!
Have you noticed that we knitters, and almost all crafters, start thinking of Christmas a lot earlier Than other people? I think that we need to as most of our gifts take time, sometimes a lot of time to create.
So today I am sharing a fun technique – Loop Knitting – a little playful technique to add to your skills for the upcoming knitting blitz!
Loop knitting is basically making a series of knotted loops on the right side of the knitting. These loops can be made and left as loops, my current thought, or they can be made, cut open and brushed up to look like fur, a thought under consideration! Loops are not a quick technique, but the results are worth the effort.
Bring your yarn through the stitch on the needle as if to knit, but do not drop the stitch from the LH needleBring your yarn forward and over your left thumbWrap the yarn tightly around your thumb and take it back between the needlesInsert the RH needle tip into the loop on the LH needle as if to knit the stitchKnit the stitch and remove from LH needle, remove thumb from the loopPull the loop to set in place (don’t pull too tightly), bring working yarn forward and over the needleWith the LH needle tip, pick up the two “stitches” from making the loop and lift them over the yarn sitting on the needleThe knot is closed and a new stitch is created from the three loops on the needle
Loops need to made on the RS of the knitting surface. If you are knitting back and forth the loops can be make every other row. When working in the round as I am, the loops can be worked on every round. I want a fairly thick, loopy surface.
The loops can be made in every stitch for a very full look. I am making my loops every other stitch and off setting them on every other row, for a medium thick appearance.
Loop knitting is playful and offers some interesting options for hatbands and mitten cuffs. Right now I am working on a hatband. I am planning to knit a swatch and cut and brush out the loops – I am really intrigued by the concept of being able to create the look of “faux fur”!
When starting loop knitting the going will be slow at first. It may take a round or two to develop a rhythm, but each successive round gets quicker than the one before!
I know that this technique would work well for toy knitting. Remember Lamb Chop? I have made a few things over the years with loops on the edges. I think I will try a few more.
Koigu Entrelac gloves from 2016
I hope that you feel inspired to give loop knitting a try!
Really it is still Summer, but the evenings have a little chill and it gets dark just that much earlier, letting us know that Summer is on the way out! So I am working on stuff for the Fall, both personally and professionally!
Part of my job description is teaching. I teach people how to knit, how to knit better, how to execute specific skills that you, the student, may want to add to your repertoire. It is one of the more challenging aspects of my job. Just figuring out what to teach and how to present the goals.
Professional Projects
This fall has started with a successful Thrumming class and a not successful cables class. Perhaps the project wasn’t interesting enough or perhaps those who wanted to learn were looking for something more traditionally shaped. I will still write up the pattern later in the fall as I really do like it a lot! The thrumming headband will be out later this week.
This one didn’t work.
Right now I am working on a 3 part series on finishing for knits. This is loosely based on a Fear of Finishing Workshop that we at Mad About Ewe Fine Yarns ran for years. It was our most popular workshop – Tons of information presented in a six hour workshop. Everyone went home dazed and confused. So this time, it is three, four hour workshops, with time in between so there is time for everything to sink in!
Part 1 – Button Holes and Button Bands. This will be an in depth look at how to pick-up stitches to create button bands. We will look at ratios and gauge, at button holes large and small, how to sew on buttons, and we will start to look at I-cord. This class is already more than half full and I think that the new format is going to work really well.
Part 2 – Seams – I think that says it all. We will look at ratios – ratios are very important to all aspects of finishing. There will be 8 seams built off of the swatches. Seams will include; grafting, 3 styles of mattress stitch, 2 styles of 3-needle bind-off. One unique seam and I am still looking for the last option. There may be some finishing techniques as well.
Part 3 – Everything Else! You know, how to lengthen or shorten our knits. How to add anything after your knitting is finished. Ie Heels to tubes, afterthought pockets. Maybe some dimensional embellishments. Things to consider before we start knitting as well. Swatches, how to make and use them before we start knitting. The best place to work shaping. How to work a short-rows. All of those extra things. Which really aren’t that extra.
Every workshop will include homework beforehand of some kind. Mostly some swatches, something to practice all of the new techniques on!
Personal Projects
Yesterday I cut out a blouse and a pair of pants for myself. Though apparently I made the blouse for my daughter. I missed a couple of key measures. I am really thrilled with the finishing. French seams and fine finishing on a napped wool flannel fabric. My daughter is thrilled.
I hope that the pants turn out a little better as I know I am the only one who will want to wear them!
Italian wool woven fabric. I am planning pleats in the front and maybe a button fly instead of a zipper. Those colours!
When I was much younger I collected coins. Old Canadian and English pennies and coins from when we went to Malaysia. When I was a teenager my father gave me his coin collection. I
As a collection it was very informal. It consisted of an old plastic tub of coins most of them from Panama and Peru. Most from the late 1950’s, from when he was in the Navy and his ship cruised those waters. I had put away my coin collection by then and wasn’t actively collecting, so I put the tub with my collection and proceeded to spend the next 50 years carrying the collection around with me.
A few months after my father passed away I hauled out that old tub and looked again at those coins. In the collection were about 30 old silver coins, all the same size and all from the Republic De Panama. I started to think of what those coins could become. I wanted to use them as embellishments on a shawl, So, I took the coins to my Silversmith friend Joan and left it with her.
I think that this will be an interesting way of creating a unique piece of knitting while honouring my memories of my father.
Remember this one? Well it was put on hold while I waited for the book and then it arrived and needed to be examined for new ideas. Which I really couldn’t find. I was in an odd headspace I think. I was looking at my knitting, on the 1.75mm US #00 needles, and thinking it was too loose. I had to get my head around that. So, yesterday I also ripped out my little bit of knitting and put away the the 1.75mm needles and pulled out the 1.0mm US #00000 needles and cringed. I have never, ever, knit with anything that small. So sometime in the next week I will be casting on a new project.
Still trying to get my head around that as well. Do I order more yarn, or do I design a smaller project. Still thinking on it!
This one has been on hiatus for a while, but I am planning on picking it up at the end of the month. I am not far off the waist and I am hoping to reach the shoulders around Christmas.
There are other projects in the background and more classes to share, but that can be for another day!
