tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-59147883144693483622024-03-05T04:39:50.663-08:00Tales from the RiverOr Purls from the Frogpond--what it means to be a knitterFolks at River Knitshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09048276651236372620noreply@blogger.comBlogger160125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5914788314469348362.post-33497571394901971922010-08-09T06:35:00.001-07:002010-08-09T06:38:17.360-07:00Waves of Grain Lacy Baktus<div style="float: right; margin-left: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/13145048@N03/4875065005/" title="photo sharing"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4096/4875065005_a9bc8f2cc2_m.jpg" alt="" style="border: solid 2px #000000;" /></a><br /><span style="font-size: 0.9em; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/13145048@N03/4875065005/">Lacy Baktus</a><br />Originally uploaded by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/13145048@N03/">RiverKnits</a></span></div>Everyone has been making these little shawlettes, so I had to try one too. I liked the effect of a strand of lace weight mohair with a strand of sock yarn so I chose one of each for mine. <br /><br /> I used <a href="http://www.cascadeyarns.com/cascade-HeritagePaints.asp">Cascade Heritage Paints</a> color 9906 with <a href="http://www.fezayarns.com/yarns-gallery/category/55-kid-melange.html">Feza Kid Melange</a> 194. At first I wasn't sure if the colors were very exciting. But as the scarf grew Sheryl said it looked like a wheat field and I think she was right. I liked the subtle shades of color. <br /><br />I wasn't sure whether to do the original <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/norwayneedles/2963651011/">Baktus</a>, which is simply garter stitch, or whether I should try the <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/83952633@N00/3646583926/">Lacy Baktus</a> for a little more interest. I'm glad I opted for the Lacy Baktus. I'm not a big fan of scarf knitting; they sometimes fail to hold my attention. Having the lacy repeat rows helped keep a fairly simple project interesting as it went along.<br /><br />Of course I shouldn't knit apparently simple things at charity knitting. I was supposed to be doing the decreases but I started increasing again. Back to the frog pond... Oh well. It was worth it. I really like the end result.<br clear="all" />Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00209399075258595008noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5914788314469348362.post-71263509078078019162010-08-02T07:17:00.000-07:002010-08-02T07:21:27.639-07:00Abracadabra?Want to see a magic trick?<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEQnJzyU0Yy1b5nIqNP0AeZfx9h6iszFUI7byZMYMpkFQr8cvnFO33kHmnwEcGHIsK9sIWtCwvV3uHdHloGKf_GdaEL-96oSQHUNJ7RZC6b93PMet7BUSudO3DKtz_AbV0CM2w-BT0McAt/s1600/couch.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEQnJzyU0Yy1b5nIqNP0AeZfx9h6iszFUI7byZMYMpkFQr8cvnFO33kHmnwEcGHIsK9sIWtCwvV3uHdHloGKf_GdaEL-96oSQHUNJ7RZC6b93PMet7BUSudO3DKtz_AbV0CM2w-BT0McAt/s400/couch.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5500816936178792178" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPySYg633n6YtaurFojVG3ltqw8c7_zOZ1KQ0UMhn03Gy1hkzIWZfeKUosHh7MHCwK9-jaQUo9FBi9E_IxY3EwgnkbVJ90icnCZ0E0HPy_vewoabHTXacD35Z0rsfb_VF6UymNWIsT4nSE/s1600/closet.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPySYg633n6YtaurFojVG3ltqw8c7_zOZ1KQ0UMhn03Gy1hkzIWZfeKUosHh7MHCwK9-jaQUo9FBi9E_IxY3EwgnkbVJ90icnCZ0E0HPy_vewoabHTXacD35Z0rsfb_VF6UymNWIsT4nSE/s400/closet.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5500816884241574594" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpBkt6hrrBX0F8CdcoMRy_5WutjkngQoTJHMItnab6mm7BNQV8J-QVLL3UzKFNp3Aa8BPMZ-mtfqI3zLmhb0V7E6Z_vxSPtlMAlStSc03LSJDf5jzBVNlSzaE9qNKI031et1v0gT6Ubsmq/s1600/books.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpBkt6hrrBX0F8CdcoMRy_5WutjkngQoTJHMItnab6mm7BNQV8J-QVLL3UzKFNp3Aa8BPMZ-mtfqI3zLmhb0V7E6Z_vxSPtlMAlStSc03LSJDf5jzBVNlSzaE9qNKI031et1v0gT6Ubsmq/s400/books.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5500816808945602482" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFAVLz7XbVuZMEHnmJhq5ZUX8043eOOYmJa5MDfzL8CgpvewXCA7kQ6uzA08-mFAuTztKYRitVpPU0g1HEpFDlbaaHoGEPFXDPdX-h7sAevgTP76Sqdi7QJLHAPza7hzYD6myJ9de2k77B/s1600/bags.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFAVLz7XbVuZMEHnmJhq5ZUX8043eOOYmJa5MDfzL8CgpvewXCA7kQ6uzA08-mFAuTztKYRitVpPU0g1HEpFDlbaaHoGEPFXDPdX-h7sAevgTP76Sqdi7QJLHAPza7hzYD6myJ9de2k77B/s400/bags.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5500816736712873442" border="0" /></a>So do I. I've been waiting and waiting for my Fairy Yarnmother to come and organize the yarn room. No luck.Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05180727539728565225noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5914788314469348362.post-86333430605239138482010-07-16T11:10:00.001-07:002010-07-16T11:25:12.269-07:00Baby Surprise BlobI've finally done it! I knit Elizabeth Zimmermann's Baby Surprise Jacket. Actually, I knit two of them.<br /><br />I've wanted to try this pattern for a long time. I love Elizabeth Zimmermann's stories and her attitude. I want to knit lots of her patterns. But they require thinking...and thinking, sometimes, is not my strong suit. At least not thinking that involves numbers.<br /><br />I made up my mind when I found out my friend Sara was having twins that these were the babies who needed Baby Surprise Jackets. Iowa winters, love their mom, etc, etc. All kinds of reasons these babies deserve these jackets.<br /><br />Sara makes small babies, if her first baby is any indication. And twins tend to be small babies, because while God has a sense of humor, he is also kind and just. So I wanted to make preemie sizes. And I wanted to make the jackets using EZ's own lovely and terse instructions. (Dictionary.com says terse means "neatly or effectively concise; brief and pithy". That's EZ.) I did NOT want to stoop to using the newly released, newly written out step by mysterious step, pattern.<br /><br />Ha. Remember God's sense of humor? And Elizabeth Zimmermann's pith? I used the new instructions, line by line. And even then, unpithed, I could not make preemie BSJ's. So Sara better cook a couple big twins or Iowa better have an extended winter this year..<br /><br />Here's what I ended up with after all the knitting and row-following:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibwdxt7Gt8zLBwoKR2RmgWL6fKmxV1oZGxD1HxF9ZyR_xPAsIJrX__MK7FV8s5WJHyAFDqmKlS8dY9AZ1Ga2zNAy_5WTat2xe9hy1PRDKn5kBTXtl3aI7-uUBAZXdQKXQWSYDWJBwxg5wn/s1600/baby+surprise+blob.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5494568574903732738" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibwdxt7Gt8zLBwoKR2RmgWL6fKmxV1oZGxD1HxF9ZyR_xPAsIJrX__MK7FV8s5WJHyAFDqmKlS8dY9AZ1Ga2zNAy_5WTat2xe9hy1PRDKn5kBTXtl3aI7-uUBAZXdQKXQWSYDWJBwxg5wn/s400/baby+surprise+blob.jpg" border="0" /></a> Joe and I marvelled at it. We folded it and unfolded it, in awe of the genius who once thought to herself, "Hey. I could knit this shapeless thing, and then stitch it up in two places. And it will be a sweater." I wondered how on earth that could happen to a person. Joe decided she must have taken a made sweater and deconstructed it, then worked backwards. To test his theory, he cut up a t-shirt.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhElcH9s_atGessNnwBtS0ZpQ6YQ7CPOGHB4kdpKscBP8kaL7CADWt2jIDErChpK7JDJqd0i7p43zgT4Jh3il4sOpCF8-s8ZnNT6WLu44tyOASUtT5oS_fiANmZ5MsR4A-MOitZ2tIYGiVQ/s1600/deconstruction.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5494568503414784866" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhElcH9s_atGessNnwBtS0ZpQ6YQ7CPOGHB4kdpKscBP8kaL7CADWt2jIDErChpK7JDJqd0i7p43zgT4Jh3il4sOpCF8-s8ZnNT6WLu44tyOASUtT5oS_fiANmZ5MsR4A-MOitZ2tIYGiVQ/s400/deconstruction.jpg" border="0" /></a> Sort of looked like my blob. Here's what the blobs turned in to....<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf9eM9JrGuCYBVod-8yq1ljgSX-LGYKumlZYc9wOwaVS-OoxSqq1G5zKGGzJcInnORBh0YzGotcour8RRT8ddrLbJxBaZ0OUB0BwPLmscR34MxGJbEqrpsxz5F6Woqma3k5h0-y81pmEwV/s1600/2+sweaters.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5494568339361364210" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf9eM9JrGuCYBVod-8yq1ljgSX-LGYKumlZYc9wOwaVS-OoxSqq1G5zKGGzJcInnORBh0YzGotcour8RRT8ddrLbJxBaZ0OUB0BwPLmscR34MxGJbEqrpsxz5F6Woqma3k5h0-y81pmEwV/s400/2+sweaters.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />And won't these babies look great in those sweaters?<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNEWOlm_N07fkVsbfRkLlAjdtri1tDGvz8vrAu1YsFuhAn7_KmJVn8P_BNzpjMqsUdYvPY61HaTxC9h2ZofMRHr7SsKSBHvEJTvbnYYrERDlOhaIJ2sX0ggqsl1VZKXlkzahd2frROcqqp/s1600/twins.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5494568255563892066" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNEWOlm_N07fkVsbfRkLlAjdtri1tDGvz8vrAu1YsFuhAn7_KmJVn8P_BNzpjMqsUdYvPY61HaTxC9h2ZofMRHr7SsKSBHvEJTvbnYYrERDlOhaIJ2sX0ggqsl1VZKXlkzahd2frROcqqp/s400/twins.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div></div></div></div>Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05180727539728565225noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5914788314469348362.post-58987686650916565032010-07-13T07:52:00.000-07:002010-07-13T08:08:58.460-07:00Stranded at the Clinton County Fair (or, Sometimes Teenagers Know What They're Talking About)A TEXT EXCHANGE REGARDING MY ZOMBIE BARBECUE SOCK....<br /><br /><br /><div>Heather: How long are my feet?<br /><br />Elizabeth: If you don’t know I’m kinda worried.<br /><br />Heather: I’m at the Clinton County Fairgrounds with a sock almost to toe time but no tape measure. And no memory.<br /><br />Elizabeth: Colleen says as long as your forearm.<br /><br />Heather: I think she may be wrong this time.<br /><br />Elizabeth: Oh, you think not….<br /><br />Elizabeth: 9.5” but Colleen’s method should work better.<br /><br />Elizabeth: Inside of elbow to wrist is length of my foot…that’ll mess with your brain…do you have 7” dpns with you?<br /><br />Heather: Nope. 6”.<br /><br />Elizabeth: Colleen wondered if you had any butter…but then she remembered those are tbsp not inches. J<br /><br />Elizabeth: Do you have anything that is 1” long? Aren’t any of those dumb booths giving away rulers or yardsticks?<br /><br />Heather: I sent Joe around on a tape measure search…no luck. I’ll figure something out. Guess I do need that ruler tattoo. Surely one of these farmers will have a measuring tape buckled on their belt. </div><br /><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5493404857755633154" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA_hUlRAfh3m1hkRtqm5h0VFNG9gxzo8s1dCYrZcI2QD5u-zPtyGNieYAHGLpeHI8XgP0n7xq2rXPo6p3sgIJteYm5zs1hFpWHpRu8HSzhhPrzXwECweh6q-Xv7aBjkpFHxFlfhSNvPUqC/s400/Booths.jpg" border="0" /><br />Elizabeth: Now she says maybe your glasses have markings that tell how long the ear pieces are. </div><div><br />Heather: Left ‘em at home.<br /><br />Elizabeth:…or European clothing measured in cm and she’ll look up the conversion for you.<br /><br />Heather: Between my elbow, wrist and thumb I think I’ve got it figured out. </div><br /><div><br /></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5493404462778493522" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh134H8FQnrWWpxmc3lMQ659Xk8yyZrzIq4XRnnvTlbiECVTf-av7H3ZSoIS1fwkSlRIseKXAFVZ5scbk5D61FzLuYox1zCKt7c6Lqiei0Xi7NhO24cuKfw_SoJ2Bld0rvHbLt2rtjpsdwb/s400/Elbow+to+Wrist.jpg" border="0" /><br />Elizabeth: Colleen suggests a tattoo of a ruler…but for now she suggests trying them on since your feet are nearby.<br /><br />Heather: They are nearby, but they are sweaty.Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05180727539728565225noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5914788314469348362.post-29117078734942374992010-06-14T08:07:00.000-07:002010-06-14T09:08:03.978-07:00TNNAAmanda & I had a great time at TNNA! <br /><br />I took a class on <a href="http://www.chrisbylsmadesigns.com/patterns.html">Chris Bylsma's</a> Crayon Jacket, where I learned about mixing some of my favorite classic stand by yarns like Lamb's Pride Worsted with "dessert yarns" like handpaints and dare I say even novelties to achieve a pleasing overall design. <br /><br />While I was in that class Amanda took a class on teaching the <a href="http://www.schaeferyarn.com/yrn_pattern_popup.taf?_function=photo&ge_id=267">Undulating Waves</a> scarf in a fingering cotton from Schaefer yarns called Susan. I kept hearing things like "so soft" and "so wonderful" from Amanda. And about a COTTON. Can you believe it?! <br /><br />That night we got to enjoy seeing 99 new designs in a runway style fashion show. It will all be posted on YouTube eventually but it's not up yet... Then we were off to an ice cream social hosted by Ravelry. <br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUzW0KtwkrYBbuyrk7zUd8D8wYSfcaOoKFFthGvBJFEXyRk8T7r69hyphenhyphenDdIFwwwFpiMVOtCQtcLj34ojQRjBNrq4dJ_ylMHgcP1APFTT4w83PrxsrtEHXtNcHOC5pIdX3FP5ZlAZWrH8d0/s1600/amandaravelry.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUzW0KtwkrYBbuyrk7zUd8D8wYSfcaOoKFFthGvBJFEXyRk8T7r69hyphenhyphenDdIFwwwFpiMVOtCQtcLj34ojQRjBNrq4dJ_ylMHgcP1APFTT4w83PrxsrtEHXtNcHOC5pIdX3FP5ZlAZWrH8d0/s320/amandaravelry.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5482650157713540370" /></a> We never did get any ice cream because there were hoards of people and, well at least speaking for myself, I am old and like to actually sleep at night. So after a wonderfully refreshing drink suggested by Amanda (I think it was an Amaretto Sour) and after scoring free t-shirts, we found our hotel and called it a night.<br /><br />Next day we were up bright and early for our classes. Amanda went to Colorful Cables with Melissa Leapman and I took a really fun class on hand dyeing with Rachael Blackledge. It was FUN, FUN, FUN! We dyed a skein of sock yarn<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7wloB_oOfPE0erwZ0sgig48Zhr9MezOFevhaZtdFDEsgX6xuZJLeKUmxOgO4wJtKURBfO-N1Yfwdw9AkHr_-VYr5m9Wlte5rt2vA7DSKqGMi_Y1mObjbIyjkh1uAsN_gLxvriEtJE574/s1600/handdye1.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7wloB_oOfPE0erwZ0sgig48Zhr9MezOFevhaZtdFDEsgX6xuZJLeKUmxOgO4wJtKURBfO-N1Yfwdw9AkHr_-VYr5m9Wlte5rt2vA7DSKqGMi_Y1mObjbIyjkh1uAsN_gLxvriEtJE574/s320/handdye1.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5482652742739659170" /></a><br /><br />then we painted a sock blank<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0h4jJZQ5VaX9GUkHsLh-PF2ehc112LZHn2R42g5_DeVRtWXSbP-RRI-AxdrvqFX54aUvZUa11qopcSofkWBPjiiQ-IAsbs2LpwmlxivGhX_SvRBi8tM3hOBm0NyZMn_luxo8aRnJF_bg/s1600/sockblank.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 201px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0h4jJZQ5VaX9GUkHsLh-PF2ehc112LZHn2R42g5_DeVRtWXSbP-RRI-AxdrvqFX54aUvZUa11qopcSofkWBPjiiQ-IAsbs2LpwmlxivGhX_SvRBi8tM3hOBm0NyZMn_luxo8aRnJF_bg/s320/sockblank.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5482653005842956658" /></a><br />The sock blank is a double strand, so once I unravel it, I'll have 2 matching balls of yarn. How neat is that?! Can I say again, it was really, really fun?!<br /><br />Then we spent Saturday walking the floor of the show looking at everything all the companies had to show us, thinking about what you might like to see at River Knits! We ordered all kinds of things and found out about other things to keep in mind for the future. <br /><br />We ordered every color of a lovely new laceweight <a href="http://www.brownsheep.com/lace.htm">Legacy Lace</a> from Brown Sheep company as well as a very elegant beaded shawl pattern that was featured in the fashion show. <br /><br />We processed everything we had seen Saturday over dinner that night with my friend Nanci from <a href="http://www.knit-on.com/">KnitOn!</a> It was fun to hear about what yarns she had seen that day, hear about her trip to <a href="http://www.mittensforakkol.com/">Kazakhstan</a> and of course to polish off not only some Bahama Mamas but most especially a <a href="http://www.schmidthaus.com/">Schmidt's</a> Cream Puff! <br /><br />I was really excited about a new yarn from Classic Elite called Woodland. It isn't even on their website yet. But it is a is a very interesting animal/plant mix with 65% wool and 35% nettle fiber. Amanda said, "Don't nettles sting you?" Well, they can if you walk in the middle of them in your shorts. But nettles is also a wonderful plant that can be used for fiber as well as for salads, tea and infusions and even for making a rinse for making your hair shine. When I saw the yarn, I had to have some! There is a nice supporting pattern booklet as well, with a tunic type vest that I also fell in love with. I think someone decided to make this yarn just for me!<br /><br />We also decided to grab 2 new yarns from Berroco; Blackstone Tweed CHUNKY, which as you would guess is a heavier version of the worsted that many of you have already come to love, and a new yarn called <a href="http://www.berroco.com/shade_cards/remix_sh.html">Remix</a>. I am rarely drawn to non-animal fiber yarns but know that many of you want them. Maybe you have allergies or sensitivities, maybe you are knitting for someone who thinks that wool is itchy (even if we beg to differ...). But when we felt this one we thought, "Hey! THIS is a great mix that might really be great to knit with EVEN for people who don't want wool! Heck, even people who LIKE wool might like this sometimes. I would even like it!" The pattern booklet for Blackstone Tweed Chunky, Remix AND Norah Gaughn 7 (ooooh, you're gonna love it) are all going to be headed to a yarn shop near you. <br /><br />What else? Well we were on a roll with chunky yarns because we snagged some Malabrigo Chunky too. I'll be sure to send out an email whenever I see that box. I know you'll all be really excited. Malabrigo never fails to excite. And there will be several bags of lace in that shipment as well. <br /><br />Oh and if that's not enough we also decided that you probably would love Namaste's new <a href="http://www.namasteinc.com/products/">Monroe</a> bag so expect to see those sometime too! And we couldn't resist the cute little magnetic buddy case. I think you'll see why when they come in.<br /><br />Plus we ordered new patterns from various designers and picked up lots of literature from many other companies that I will probably want to add some items from as we move towards Fall. As much as I might have wanted to I can't order it all at once! But that will give us more to look forward to.Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00209399075258595008noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5914788314469348362.post-835775840527126242010-05-10T05:23:00.000-07:002010-05-10T13:27:08.494-07:00Thank You...And so, it was Mother's Day again. It's not usually a big day in our house...because I'm not really a "celebrate me" kind of gal. But it's a nice day. My husband and kids tell me they love me and wish me a happy day. This year I got texts all day long from a string of teenagers who don't belong to me biologically but allow me to be Mama Wenig to them. It was a nice day.<br /><br />In church, the pastor asked us to reflect on important women in our lives and to share what they had given us. While I didn't share out loud at that moment, I did reflect. And as I was knitting a sock at the time, my thoughts tended toward how the women in my life had shared craft with me.<br /><br />It starts with my Grandma Alvy, the grandmother for whom my daughter Josie is named. I spent a lot of time in the summers with my Grandma Alvy. She would get up early and cram all her farm chores and household chores into a few hours so that the afternoons were ours. While she was working and it was still cool outside, I would be running free and playing on the farm. But when afternoon hit, Grandma and I were inside. And a lot of that inside time was crafting time. Grandma taught me first how to make potholders. She had an old metal loom, much different from the plastic looms we find now at Hobby Lobby....this was old, green, sturdy metal. My dad eventually secured it to a piece of wood and covered the bottom of the wood with carpet to make it a little more comfortable to use. I spent hours making those not-so-useful potholders. When I ran out of the colorful loops of nylon Grandma had for me, she'd cut up Grandpa's dress socks and I made potholders out of those. (I guess that's Grandpa's contribution to craft....). After potholders came embroidery. I remember vividly making the trip "in to town" to visit the Ben Franklin store and choose my preprinted embroidery fabric and choose the colored floss I would use. I think the first piece I finished was a squirrel under a tree. I remember struggling with French Knots and loving the stitch that looked like a flower petal. When I was done, Grandma made it into a pillow for me. The next summer I moved from embroidery to latch hook. I was in love with horses that year, and Grandma found a latch hook kit of a horse's head. I finished it quickly and again she made a pillow for me. Grandma was a wonderful seamstress (she's going to be 98 years old this summer, and was able to embroider me a set ot tea towels a few years ago, and up until two years ago, was still repairing her great grandchildren's jeans).<br /><br />I was eleven when I stopped spending time at Grandma's farm. I took a break from craft when I was no longer able to sit at Grandma's side and learn it from her. When I was 12, I discovered Little Women and read it and reread it and reread it. Does this count in my "women in my craft live" inventory? It should. They were very real to me. The idea of Beth knitting mittens and dropping them out the window to passing children touched me. The picture of the March girls sitting together, with their workboxes at hand, stitching a set of sheets charmed me. I wanted craft in my life. I needed a guide.<br /><br />When I was 19, I married into a wonderful family. My mother in law is a kind and talented woman and from her I learned cross stitch. She was generous with her materials, letting me raid her stash of patterns, fabric and floss. She showed me how to get started....I was so confused when there was no picture printed on the fabric for me to follow. The materials she gave me were a gift. The skill she shared with me was a gift. Mae moved on from cross stitch to crochet. I didn't take advantage of her crochet skills at the time she was making afghans and dishcloths and baby sweaters. (That's not true....I did take advantage of her skills in that I was the recipient of a beautiful baby sweater/bonnet set when Josie was born.) A few months later, we moved to Indiana, 800 miles from home. That's when I decided I wanted to learn crochet. I bought a book and yarn and needles and proceeded to frustrate myself. That crazy chain would not stay still to be worked into! I called my mother in law, frustrated and frantic. Her response? "I'm not sure what I can do for you from 800 miles away." :)<br /><br />I eventually got it and crocheted afghans and dishcloths for anyone I could think to give them to. And then....I discovered knitting.<br /><br />I didn't know any knitters when I decided that was the next craft for me. I learned again from a book (with some help from my husband, who is better at looking at pictures to learn how to do things than I am). But after I learned to knit....I met the Knitters. I have a whole new group of women from whom I can gain inspiration and knowledge as I continue my life in craft. And I am grateful. So thank you to all of you who have come into my life through knitting. And thank you to Grandma Alvy and Louisa May Alcott.Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05180727539728565225noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5914788314469348362.post-52912384002693209782010-04-01T12:37:00.001-07:002010-04-01T12:39:50.057-07:00Touch of Haze Scarf<div style="float: right; margin-left: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/13145048@N03/4481780581/" title="photo sharing"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2703/4481780581_330abe69a5_m.jpg" alt="" style="border: solid 2px #000000;" /></a><br /><span style="font-size: 0.9em; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/13145048@N03/4481780581/">TouchofHazeScarf</a><br />Originally uploaded by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/13145048@N03/">RiverKnits</a></span></div>I saw this pattern from Theresa Gaffey and thought it looked fun. I can't resist anything that uses sock yarn. Although I really like using sock yarn FOR socks, sometimes it is fun to find other ways to put something so addictive to use. <br /><br />This is a simple K2,P2 rib with garter stitch borders on the ends. So the knitting is simple but not as boring as all garter stitch or all stockinette. It's the kind of project that is an especially nice time to use that set of "fancy" needles that you probably have. I used a set of ebony #10's although I think the pattern calls for #10.5's. I like that set and I figured I knit loosely anyway.<br /><br />I picked Classic Elite's <a href="http://www.classiceliteyarns.com/product_page_detail.php?category_id=1&item_id=28">Alpaca Sox</a> because I had never knit with it and I was drawn to its softness. Then I found a teal-y color of K1C2's <a href="http://www.knitonecrochettoo.com/douceur.htm">Douceur et Soie</a> that looked like it would be pretty together. Then I watched <span style="font-style:italic;">Pollyanna</span> with Heather (and probably a few other programs) and Voila! The Touch of Haze Scarf is done! <br /><br />Mine is at River Knits for the time being. But I think it will make a wonderful present some time. If I were ambitious enough to do a "basket of scarves" for Christmas, this would definitely be included. <br />Oh, and there's a hat in the same two yarns; I couldn't stop with just the scarf! They're both at the shop if you want to see them up close.<br clear="all" />Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00209399075258595008noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5914788314469348362.post-29257022327874186212010-01-07T11:58:00.000-08:002010-01-07T12:52:41.529-08:00Nordic Knitting Club - Funtimes at RK & Upcoming Knitting Olympics.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfvK_kZVElUrRobgVjttLaL5t4nYCYm0unjZXKzprkxgt1qTxU6TwxmGtvxYzLsOmkjpytzpdzPJTSLGpTvbwa6LSDd2ytSPeo7jdJyO7bKJfR7_Kug1-iGNG3x5OzUrBL2yu87rCRjw/s1600-h/Marcia's+hat+12-09.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5424093029290083490" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfvK_kZVElUrRobgVjttLaL5t4nYCYm0unjZXKzprkxgt1qTxU6TwxmGtvxYzLsOmkjpytzpdzPJTSLGpTvbwa6LSDd2ytSPeo7jdJyO7bKJfR7_Kug1-iGNG3x5OzUrBL2yu87rCRjw/s320/Marcia's+hat+12-09.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpRfH5udgxy3qdIxGg63fF-VP89Y04-s_ynl5P9h39xIEm6T4u4lkEuzb7DHa0deGaXvuW2SiGSQR4P5itsTte4w4RSFKZDEv7Jgzr9VC394zWoB-ttkTqskEcTH1riY1DE3xYzfWQww/s1600-h/nordic+11-09+024.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5424093026422159554" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpRfH5udgxy3qdIxGg63fF-VP89Y04-s_ynl5P9h39xIEm6T4u4lkEuzb7DHa0deGaXvuW2SiGSQR4P5itsTte4w4RSFKZDEv7Jgzr9VC394zWoB-ttkTqskEcTH1riY1DE3xYzfWQww/s320/nordic+11-09+024.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div>Nordic Knitting Club has had two great meetings in November and December as you can see from these projects. Marcia and Shirley have finished two beautiful hats (upper left and left respectively) and Laurel finished a Dale of Norway (DON) sweater (below) using yarn from Mission Falls (136). The top hat is silk garden and lower hat is a DON pattern made with Falk - soft, hard wearing and machine washable. All are beautiful colors and very nice looking, just in time for snow weather.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjyK4WEwQstYJMOPnI8-2k-fKGpE_aUT-1lqMa838RRMqbp-OhkCfjGaqNpaDwypacV51fXmmoVDveO9YeA06DK21rAfCm_AKQLqFMh3tfLeYYfI8lLY6CdKCF-XG8Uz2phYsLbjtftg/s1600-h/nordic+11-09+022.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5424093021942250306" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjyK4WEwQstYJMOPnI8-2k-fKGpE_aUT-1lqMa838RRMqbp-OhkCfjGaqNpaDwypacV51fXmmoVDveO9YeA06DK21rAfCm_AKQLqFMh3tfLeYYfI8lLY6CdKCF-XG8Uz2phYsLbjtftg/s320/nordic+11-09+022.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-oF_bE3R6WUHlOpkFeIwkCfwW71mSwYzTmCW7Qf3omylONWlZGPzft6JxsElHhoEycngkhOurPxEsJxue7y12ejY4K-QkVCgNwRtTIkDFeLFhFACiBWZJEz7TbAl11-kKq-htafwV-Q/s1600-h/Nordic+12-09+sweaters.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5424093012731079778" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-oF_bE3R6WUHlOpkFeIwkCfwW71mSwYzTmCW7Qf3omylONWlZGPzft6JxsElHhoEycngkhOurPxEsJxue7y12ejY4K-QkVCgNwRtTIkDFeLFhFACiBWZJEz7TbAl11-kKq-htafwV-Q/s320/Nordic+12-09+sweaters.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><div>At the December Holiday Bash, Prella (center left) showed up in her new DON sweater which she had finished just in time for the holidays. She looks very happy, and the sweater is beautiful! Heather helped her finish the crocheted edge at a RK help session. Ann was also wearing her newly finished Rowan fairisle (center right), while Karen (left) and Beth (right) were wearing Norah Gaughn and DON sweaters that they had finished a while ago. It was a great time with new sweaters, good cheer, and the requisite cookies and candies to put us all in the holiday spirit.</div><div>The next meeting of the Nordic Knitting group will be on January 20th, 7-9 pm at River Knits. Everyone is welcome who wants to knit nordically (see description in the class list on the website). Bring your projects or start a new one. You can buy patterns and/or yarn that evening if you want. We always are eager to help you pick out new projects (we are an enabling group). In addition, those who are interested can sign up for the knitting olympics. If you can't make it to the meeting, contact me by email and I will put you on the Olympic Team. </div><div><strong></strong></div><div><strong>Rules for Knitting Olympics</strong> are as follows: Pick a project and yarn and let Sheryl (me) know what you are knitting before the olympic games start; cast on during the opening ceremonies; finish the item before or during the closing ceremonies; send a picture to me if possible when you are finished, or at least email me how you fared with your personal olympic challenge. You may swatch and make all pattern decisions before the opening ceremonies, but the casting on can't be done before the opening ceremonies starts on TV. You need to have seams done and ends worked in before the end of the closing ceremonies, but you can block the garment later and add buttons or other closures. That is it. Pretty simple - you pick your challenge project, any level, any size.</div><div>There will be some fun prizes for those who finish their project. We will probably have at least one meeting during the olympics, to see how everyone is doing. </div><div></div><div>It is snowing like crazy outside, so time to go and do some knitting in a nordic style. See you on January 20th. </div></div></div></div>Sherylhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09808845283450297026noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5914788314469348362.post-76055671563197983102009-11-17T07:03:00.000-08:002009-11-17T07:22:17.918-08:00The Thrill of Victory!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYiWkeNEOU5EELIGcm4YGetIIWIsvy4o1u5E48MQhyphenhyphenliZKub1ok4e0onI8AimZZHGL_ojJephOGfCFGFHW4b1l6WYaoi89Hjq71cZAzGjoDZdGY_d08x-2UKJY11oe2leDj-bTkI7UwGQ/s1600/heatherhoodie_0100.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 210px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYiWkeNEOU5EELIGcm4YGetIIWIsvy4o1u5E48MQhyphenhyphenliZKub1ok4e0onI8AimZZHGL_ojJephOGfCFGFHW4b1l6WYaoi89Hjq71cZAzGjoDZdGY_d08x-2UKJY11oe2leDj-bTkI7UwGQ/s320/heatherhoodie_0100.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5405092763298507922" /></a><br /><br />You have seen the agony of defeat; or at least the agony of stumbling blocks along the way; in the previous two posts. So it is even more exciting to finally be able to show you the thrill of victory in this one! <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOhBDzo6DCdz_AaUr2rEl_B1l-WVjoOiZ74hXPOsEvNSTOikT74CAQ_miQ8iwDIJL1gd4tWlz8Ev7GSL8GZ-zfnj9QXeBTLmJi11GluQhjoaYmZv4G4swiAM1DE3J-ZVcdGZwbFx9rueI/s1600/heatherhoodie_0094.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOhBDzo6DCdz_AaUr2rEl_B1l-WVjoOiZ74hXPOsEvNSTOikT74CAQ_miQ8iwDIJL1gd4tWlz8Ev7GSL8GZ-zfnj9QXeBTLmJi11GluQhjoaYmZv4G4swiAM1DE3J-ZVcdGZwbFx9rueI/s320/heatherhoodie_0094.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5405091233651781618" border="0" /></a> <br /><br />Knitting is such a process--a lot like life. One step forward; two steps back. And so on. Sometimes we think we ought to be a little further along and yet both life, and knitting, seem to tell us it's the journey, not the final destination, that really matters. And yet, when the final destination turns out to be wonderful too, then we feel truly that the journey was worth the trip. SOMETIMES it is!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJZ39uIdeZn47BimgxX8_owV3nLHANfSOYqNddIo8iVu-c6yShaIaS8yLBUmdJCSaIA-4Eigt_1OEDj4PltHFeOBmUfCVhUqnJOlpP6gkTmnqtX9ZmU2_q9h0uY7eFlauK4ek_tRjHDJI/s1600/heatherhoodie_0096.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 201px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJZ39uIdeZn47BimgxX8_owV3nLHANfSOYqNddIo8iVu-c6yShaIaS8yLBUmdJCSaIA-4Eigt_1OEDj4PltHFeOBmUfCVhUqnJOlpP6gkTmnqtX9ZmU2_q9h0uY7eFlauK4ek_tRjHDJI/s320/heatherhoodie_0096.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5405089773528072722" border="0" /></a><br /><br />When our knitted creations also give us the option of becoming a Jawa, well then it's even better.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyPMybtufUA6WEPqd0ffk2NG94XRUjERIiNCaJnOPUgFrKRx_J96l5DisTOBZVL7XsKzev9gx5LJStSw9vJXxbPm_0S4cQa8fqGCxeLxGE0ngCDeiNbR87AL9mNku3iXI09HjBQWV0sn0/s1600/heatherhoodie_0098.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyPMybtufUA6WEPqd0ffk2NG94XRUjERIiNCaJnOPUgFrKRx_J96l5DisTOBZVL7XsKzev9gx5LJStSw9vJXxbPm_0S4cQa8fqGCxeLxGE0ngCDeiNbR87AL9mNku3iXI09HjBQWV0sn0/s320/heatherhoodie_0098.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5405092107289825666" /></a>Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00209399075258595008noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5914788314469348362.post-42290101708664802292009-10-26T09:46:00.000-07:002009-10-26T10:04:05.037-07:00Motivation MattersI think perhaps it was just the specter of having to watch <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Winged-Migration-Philippe-Labro/dp/B000BI5KUQ/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=dvd&qid=1256575654&sr=8-1">this movie</a> , but regardless, the Heather Hoodie front has been ripped, re-knit and the pieces are blocking.<br /><br />Why would the possibility of a documentary on <span style="font-style: italic;">Winged Migration</span> be so motivating? After my last post a <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/people/RacineDKringle">creative reader</a> decided to give me just what I asked for: a boring documentary. While I do generally enjoy a certain amount of Nature cinematography, I was warned that this particular documentary was not only boring but depressing. Hmm...what to do?<br /><br />I sat down with the offending piece of knitting and put on a favorite <a href="http://www.morehipthanhippie.com/">podcast</a>. It really didn't take me long once I was over the mental block of even looking at it. I told myself that if I couldn't knit and listen to Dori and Val, then <span style="font-style: italic;">Winged Migration</span> it would be. Much to my surprise and enjoyment, I was able to do something I enjoy AND fix the problem!<br /><br />BUT if you find yourself in a similar situation, and find that pure boredom is the only kind of auditory stimulation you can stand while knitting through a troubling piece, please let me know. You too can join the Sisterhood of the Traveling Documentary. Just say the word and I'll pass it on to you.<br /><br />You can then be perfectly content. Just like these two.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIn8RMS39DNURPG_Nq7EZEPPz0SS6SCMW9Zpfu7QORAwd04sEe6pJ7sdp48MtuICUqtaGnYm46PwFxwZxyo781yCACKQS4NkYpue3yG9VavlmrOgqq46T_XIGhg95pPhhBQzVahNM5E4Q/s1600-h/Peaches&Pears.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 193px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIn8RMS39DNURPG_Nq7EZEPPz0SS6SCMW9Zpfu7QORAwd04sEe6pJ7sdp48MtuICUqtaGnYm46PwFxwZxyo781yCACKQS4NkYpue3yG9VavlmrOgqq46T_XIGhg95pPhhBQzVahNM5E4Q/s320/Peaches&Pears.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5396954570811129346" border="0" /></a>Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00209399075258595008noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5914788314469348362.post-88034862867089856022009-10-22T12:03:00.000-07:002009-10-22T12:19:24.059-07:00Heather Hoodie Progress Report(Or "Why You Shouldn't Knit Cables with Decreases While Watching <span style="font-style: italic;">Flash Forward</span>")<br /><br />As you may or may not know, I am knitting the <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/16875542@N07/3739425122">Heather Hoodie</a> from the Fall <span style="font-style: italic;">Knit Scene</span>. This is a bulky cable knit hooded cardigan vest in Lamb's Pride Bulky. It should be going along pretty quickly. The back is done and resting quietly at home waiting, impatiently, for the front halves.<br /><br />With a somewhat uncharacteristic bit of determination I pledged to myself to knit nothing else until it was finished. I got one half done pretty quickly. They really are very narrow pieces and #10 needles are plenty big. This just shouldn't be taking so long. One side done! Good.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifj5VSnSVKjg98Cn14Q6xbUqEoZgXBJJgqQDQD-w17WB8CNhPCIsjceco1YVcaqYsaY5RWjgxkHLVu3yuJcnqOAWdG2Sp-ErX9ZUhS7R7pbKKnqa4QQCtbC8XIp5RUDlufD5s8iDJej4I/s1600-h/HHoodiegod.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifj5VSnSVKjg98Cn14Q6xbUqEoZgXBJJgqQDQD-w17WB8CNhPCIsjceco1YVcaqYsaY5RWjgxkHLVu3yuJcnqOAWdG2Sp-ErX9ZUhS7R7pbKKnqa4QQCtbC8XIp5RUDlufD5s8iDJej4I/s320/HHoodiegod.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5395503553649170210" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Then my youngest daughter came home from school explaining to us in minute detail about a new series on tv that her English teacher was telling them about (a wonderful teachable moment to illustrate the meaning of the vocabulary word "eerie"). She was eager to watch it. So we hooked my laptop up to the tv and watched the episodes to date on Hulu. She show was GOOD. The knitting; not so good.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy1dKoJ-qj4T2Fmpq-AJ5wdXACCCPWdrHGsDzBWLJnEJcjuEGtQPp9CEn4zTm72i7PEvc0qU8ox9EtOfi_B8_NpJHLQd4o_3J57QVH_r5q2vEGun-dTmLLlcMIMLz5JzsQci8vJWf2Pe4/s1600-h/HHoodienotsogood.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy1dKoJ-qj4T2Fmpq-AJ5wdXACCCPWdrHGsDzBWLJnEJcjuEGtQPp9CEn4zTm72i7PEvc0qU8ox9EtOfi_B8_NpJHLQd4o_3J57QVH_r5q2vEGun-dTmLLlcMIMLz5JzsQci8vJWf2Pe4/s320/HHoodienotsogood.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5395504660822768962" border="0" /></a><br />Clearly I need to watch more boring television!<br /><br />How did I do this? I looked only at my notes and never got out a tape measure or the other half of the sweater. My notes said I began decreasing on row 14 of the cable pattern. But with the excitement of the tv program I was in a rush to get to the good part and failed to notice that I needed one more full pattern repeat before decreasing on row 14. *sigh*<br /><br />A little trip to the frog pond will be in order soon...<br /><br />But for now, I'm soothing my knitting nerves with the <a href="http://www.spunkyeclectic.com/pattern_fakeisle.htm">Fake Isle Hat Pattern</a>. Maybe with a minor success under my belt I can face the re-knitting of the right front of the Heather Hoodie!Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00209399075258595008noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5914788314469348362.post-21301173837949265302009-09-07T07:56:00.000-07:002009-09-07T08:45:27.442-07:00Goodbye to Two Members, and Hello To a New One<div><div><div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2L76VVVSX9srzlAwL9oenh9rDIcqmkRkEYX0jgTprqX__rhpFcP66rii2aZU-sDP9DiPY3ZjTiXqUYdL0lPcBUz1-KJh_3xlBtXUxMsrhZrFiyLbigi6GvhNhsuyHkjTsD6l8Qki58Q/s1600-h/Nordic+etc+7-09+023.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5378745655220317202" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2L76VVVSX9srzlAwL9oenh9rDIcqmkRkEYX0jgTprqX__rhpFcP66rii2aZU-sDP9DiPY3ZjTiXqUYdL0lPcBUz1-KJh_3xlBtXUxMsrhZrFiyLbigi6GvhNhsuyHkjTsD6l8Qki58Q/s320/Nordic+etc+7-09+023.jpg" border="0" /></a> The River Knits Nordic Knitting Club will meet on Wed. Sept. 9th from 7-9 at RK to get the new year rolling. We have lots of exciting projects going and I'm sure we will see some finished ones from the summer. Everyone is invited who is interested in patterned knitting in the Nordic tradition. This is a club, so you should have the skills for knitting with at least two colors. Any projects are welcome if the materials were purchased from RK, or we will help you pick a new project. We are great at giving advice! I was looking at the new Wool Gathering newsletter from Schoolhouse press and there is a stunning Swedish sweater on the cover. That is just one of the new ideas pouring in to the shop in the new pattern books for club members to consider. The first book from Jared even has a Norwegian pattern and 2 Fair Isle sweaters in addition to several Nordic tams and touques. It seems like Nordic is in.<br /><br />Our last meeting in July was really fun, although a little bittersweet as we wished two of our regular members good luck in their new lives. Laura is married now and moved to Bloomington where she is probably knitting everyday, and getting settled into her new house. We hope she comes to one of our meetings to show us how her fairisle sweater turned out. The last time we saw it, she had cut the steeks and picked up the neck and front. In the picture below, she is showing off her new wash and face clothes, given to her at our last meeting.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlsGX759kyFZQbLxBx-KvcfhkgbXeRbWL9hBlmqTN6qMe4tPRwR4jP7P-bhrUetzjNsU0hH2EHjeC-WpOr5jXr_ZxbyCZknY7xvqlUJyPaPDRCLqP4XUVMONcXkkCjAZrHwfFNku8AZA/s1600-h/Nordic+etc+7-09+028.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5378745957122476178" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlsGX759kyFZQbLxBx-KvcfhkgbXeRbWL9hBlmqTN6qMe4tPRwR4jP7P-bhrUetzjNsU0hH2EHjeC-WpOr5jXr_ZxbyCZknY7xvqlUJyPaPDRCLqP4XUVMONcXkkCjAZrHwfFNku8AZA/s320/Nordic+etc+7-09+028.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><div></div><br /><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div>Kerry moved to Alaska and by now is in Juneau, in her new log home. Her husband got a job with the University of Alaska and we can't wait to hear how that is going. She says she will keep us updated on face book. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTGLrM-kjRb3osiSTgpedVARNUP-Sqzkg5nWq3M0TRNaMwMcyyVah9zvt-xsCLUhSHiReGfRPM7LlSsXII1OGYkkMUcWgZC7xkigum5N4_xMJ0HtjJooFTuYPm82R7DswIbjlTKSKxZg/s1600-h/Nordic+etc+7-09+029.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5378745964716230386" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTGLrM-kjRb3osiSTgpedVARNUP-Sqzkg5nWq3M0TRNaMwMcyyVah9zvt-xsCLUhSHiReGfRPM7LlSsXII1OGYkkMUcWgZC7xkigum5N4_xMJ0HtjJooFTuYPm82R7DswIbjlTKSKxZg/s320/Nordic+etc+7-09+029.jpg" border="0" /></a>She also got wash clothes from her friends in Lafayette.</div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div>We greeted a new member - Julia - who is now a couple of months old and was introduced to the group by Mignon, her mother. She has been the recipient of some cute knitted items. She was an inspiration and was in a good mood while we had a going away party/shower for Laura and Kerry. Everyone brought some goodie to eat including Nordic design gingerbread gloves! We all had a great time, and hardly remembered they were leaving. Good luck to both.</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdGTzlN_TUwTgRdCOU6YI-CRhE-JogTBsj7B2TW87J6jqmy9MvMbf1Y3q9zTJq8TyhC4OcU1H2whM6djq56mQ3IiWv276lsvalr69iZM6-hdSDHaChy5mjJizbgBSvB5OJU7jn7cAegg/s1600-h/Nordic+etc+7-09+026.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5378746851349344898" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdGTzlN_TUwTgRdCOU6YI-CRhE-JogTBsj7B2TW87J6jqmy9MvMbf1Y3q9zTJq8TyhC4OcU1H2whM6djq56mQ3IiWv276lsvalr69iZM6-hdSDHaChy5mjJizbgBSvB5OJU7jn7cAegg/s320/Nordic+etc+7-09+026.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKovI8uta1c9YY-mC6B-kPQyyGjBjHylacR1sqrcYzae7adDcD3IEqjCw35l5oCNaug9lvRuXKXGqr5AAZYVCd58BbE3nNY668rSGr083MGyhaotNc_C_HFHoQbU4HGzfkQYaeMWaFSg/s1600-h/Nordic+etc+7-09+030.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5378747052225508786" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 256px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 178px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKovI8uta1c9YY-mC6B-kPQyyGjBjHylacR1sqrcYzae7adDcD3IEqjCw35l5oCNaug9lvRuXKXGqr5AAZYVCd58BbE3nNY668rSGr083MGyhaotNc_C_HFHoQbU4HGzfkQYaeMWaFSg/s320/Nordic+etc+7-09+030.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><br /><br />As a final note, anyone who is interested in a design contest for Dale of Norway should let me or Elizabeth know so that we can give you the rules and entry form. The contest has 3 categories including baby, adult and accessories. There are 13 prizes of $1,500 down to $250 in yarn. The deadline for entries is November 30th. I will have the information at the meeting. Looking forward to seeing everyone on Wednesday!<br /><div></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCRZvftuXP29DtzVvaF-axa9kYetNQwGHQmSpJqZ88dV86HHRMeiqbFvOupkMGvk-wdcBYpPaX9o3vRmrrpeyeZ6EQbHFp1QagACvdkaGe23BEmam0oEMMyW6yQTqD4wYwfjzYEhgXTw/s1600-h/Nordic+etc+7-09+028.jpg"></a></div></div></div></div></div>Sherylhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09808845283450297026noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5914788314469348362.post-21407927695966603642009-08-24T07:12:00.001-07:002009-08-24T07:12:50.952-07:00One Great Design; Two Great Awards!Everyone who see's Amanda's lovely Claire's Shawl on display at River Knits admires its intricacy and beauty.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.gaea-creations.com/Pictures/bothflat.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 600px; height: 450px;" src="http://www.gaea-creations.com/Pictures/bothflat.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />They are even more impressed when I tell them it was designed by one of our teachers for a River Knits class. (And if they are <a href="http://www.dianagabaldon.com/">Diana Gabaldon</a> fans, from whence comes the inspiration for the name of this design, we talk a bit about how we are not sure we'll make it even 28 more days until the new <span style="font-style: italic;">Outlander</span> book comes out. But I digress...)<br /><br />Now I can also tell them that this design won not only one but TWO prizes in two separate fairs this season!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNp0gzkOLyMlgfNV-Xe3SkGi2Q0mXLe1KIhQMYY7DZG93L-99h8sB1UGe3nKSfJcGDTmkcBAmuvLgocKRyg7LNHnRK4HUSUYgGOFwds0WOYoqBfuigZTmUHAn0yk157zoCzgm5qeEtERGu/s1600-h/sherylclaire'sshawl.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 142px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNp0gzkOLyMlgfNV-Xe3SkGi2Q0mXLe1KIhQMYY7DZG93L-99h8sB1UGe3nKSfJcGDTmkcBAmuvLgocKRyg7LNHnRK4HUSUYgGOFwds0WOYoqBfuigZTmUHAn0yk157zoCzgm5qeEtERGu/s320/sherylclaire'sshawl.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5373529421033631570" border="0" /></a><br />Sheryl Krohne entered two pieces in the Tippecanoe County fair and won prizes for both. Her Claire's Shawl won a Blue Ribbon in its own category and also got the Sweepstakes Award, in the entire hand knitting group, which means it got the award for "best of the best" in hand knitting. Way to go, Sheryl!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDbCpX7uqJwUVwQ6N1UjA72lmdc05cDJ6RM8fELJwaEpEPlHw81TsYA1GAqLdYmAfQWvOVEWasb9Rg-nN_5bzTqzHXAvmKKKPfCqN9gdJJHbpxRpTyrFsp2ZccoFemynpsKuCOhxxLZ39A/s1600-h/sherylclaire's2.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 236px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDbCpX7uqJwUVwQ6N1UjA72lmdc05cDJ6RM8fELJwaEpEPlHw81TsYA1GAqLdYmAfQWvOVEWasb9Rg-nN_5bzTqzHXAvmKKKPfCqN9gdJJHbpxRpTyrFsp2ZccoFemynpsKuCOhxxLZ39A/s320/sherylclaire's2.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5373529611773523266" border="0" /></a><br />Peggy Favorite also entered 4 items in the State Fair in Indianapolis. All four pieces won ribbons!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihvUBWdHZNt29gymQ_K_EuM4lJHJALIFvAO93Ye2QrLHxLUKGYseEJgz8lueeK6o68p_G1ojOrMR4h5C_AKHXwXzQVWZiMVF8tW3fc6Rx5dPHOlKcnQmZsuMvVKNv1k7y8fl4jQmLLi0Ai/s1600-h/Peggyclaire'sdetail.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihvUBWdHZNt29gymQ_K_EuM4lJHJALIFvAO93Ye2QrLHxLUKGYseEJgz8lueeK6o68p_G1ojOrMR4h5C_AKHXwXzQVWZiMVF8tW3fc6Rx5dPHOlKcnQmZsuMvVKNv1k7y8fl4jQmLLi0Ai/s320/Peggyclaire'sdetail.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5373530690311537906" border="0" /></a><br />Her Claire's Shawl received an "Honorable Mention in Lace, Knitting" and I believe was displayed in a special case for fair goers' admiration. Congratulations, Peggy!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYpwEWwzJHWjCBnQrv20X_U84aajOKA958fw-aktlKiT1Pl1Kib3JNKxex2Y5g12GXXRctp17JbhxSv_QsWmMofSHClP7eq2ptaOrBLToVY1gtiprz1T-RU4IL_6PEKT72nd2J93sUVW4C/s1600-h/Peggyclaire's.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 217px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYpwEWwzJHWjCBnQrv20X_U84aajOKA958fw-aktlKiT1Pl1Kib3JNKxex2Y5g12GXXRctp17JbhxSv_QsWmMofSHClP7eq2ptaOrBLToVY1gtiprz1T-RU4IL_6PEKT72nd2J93sUVW4C/s320/Peggyclaire's.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5373530907617337314" border="0" /></a><br />And big congratulations to Amanda for creating this lovely design that has been so well received in many venues!<br /><br />We can all be so proud of everyone who is so nicely spreading the joy of knitting by sharing their talent in this way.Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00209399075258595008noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5914788314469348362.post-17544216016989728792009-08-13T09:37:00.000-07:002009-08-13T10:21:06.864-07:00Visitation from Beyond?Yesterday I happened to look through the caller i.d. list on my home phone. Imagine my surprise when I saw that I had just missed a call from<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">E. Zimmerman</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9Q-Zp5tu5twbtova6Jozj6wky_gTRVYp5NF4SVmTvQsjFIQj9AVy_YXZAmXq__YrHywkS63L0v0r8MTmtyqYiH9RQvXPhB12mNg2_x4iD5qXy46waIcCgOuF4laQdW3D_Ot8NDP223_g/s1600-h/EZonphone.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 298px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9Q-Zp5tu5twbtova6Jozj6wky_gTRVYp5NF4SVmTvQsjFIQj9AVy_YXZAmXq__YrHywkS63L0v0r8MTmtyqYiH9RQvXPhB12mNg2_x4iD5qXy46waIcCgOuF4laQdW3D_Ot8NDP223_g/s320/EZonphone.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5369499127755679650" /></a><br /><br />Oh my goodness! Was Elizabeth Zimmermann making a truly long distance call from beyond? Perhaps she had heard my recent plea to be adopted and wanted to tell me that I had been accepted?!<br /><br />Perhaps she just wanted to say "It's about time!" in response to the fact that I finally made a Baby Surprise Jacket.<br /><br />Or maybe she wanted to tell me that if I'd read the "thinking knitter's" instructions on the Ganomey hat I wouldn't have had to rip half of it out. <br /><br />Imagine how you would feel to be getting not only a call from a greatly admired person but also from another dimension! <br /><br />Alas, the call was really from a realtor named "Elaine" Zimmerman. So my temporary joy at being contacted from the other world was replaced with more mundane concerns about home ownership and making sound financial decisions. But it was fun to think, just for a moment, that maybe it was a brush with something really, really big!Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00209399075258595008noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5914788314469348362.post-24725775461075086752009-08-10T06:54:00.000-07:002009-08-10T07:27:16.771-07:00Oldies but GoodiesWhen the new shipment of Asland Trends Kettle Dyed Collection came in, I was shuffling lots of yarn around at River Knits! While I was rearranging & making room for the <a href="http://www.aslantrends.com/los_andes.html">Los Andes</a> (super bulky merino) I came across a shop model that I made the first year River Knits was in the old house. I was tempted to just throw it in a heap int he back room because it was looking kind of forlorn and shop worn. But I took it home and gave it a long soak in some Lavender wool mix, set it out on my deck to dry in the sunshine, <br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwJ5XFjeUeobXoRiGWijIdyN1-ppzM9_DLLqLshvTuqXD68q6kMK_kEC0q8JBQHedSULLc9vZ_jl2IKj9TnCiJuSxtro7zLZtO2qEkLYXmycgFXxTS7gdkQ21tj5Dy6EE8JIxN4olvPo8/s1600-h/oldiebutgoodie.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 106px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwJ5XFjeUeobXoRiGWijIdyN1-ppzM9_DLLqLshvTuqXD68q6kMK_kEC0q8JBQHedSULLc9vZ_jl2IKj9TnCiJuSxtro7zLZtO2qEkLYXmycgFXxTS7gdkQ21tj5Dy6EE8JIxN4olvPo8/s320/oldiebutgoodie.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5368336124156205602" /></a><br />and now it is back at River Knits good as new! <br /><br />This is a QUICK pattern but not boring with the chunky cable running right up the scarf. The prototype is done in one skein of Brown Sheep Co.'s <a href="http://brownsheep.com/bs.htm">Burlyspun</a>. If you've never done cables but want to try, this might be a great way to start. Or if you just need a quick gift, this is a great project to keep in mind. River Knits has many superbulky yarns that you might choose, including the original Burlyspun as well as the new Los Andes from Aslan Trends, as well as several other choices. The pattern is a <a href="http://www.riverknitsyarns.com/Patterns/scarfpattern.htm">freebie</a> on the River Knits website. <br /><br />I also had the fun of experiening another "oldie but goodie" for the first time. I just finished my very first <a href="http://www.knitting-and.com/wiki/Baby_Surprise_Jacket">Baby Surprise Jacket</a>. I'm not sure how this much time has elapsed before adding this unique creation to my life list. But I'm glad I finally tried it so I could see what all the fuss was about. It is hard to have faith in a strangely shaped piece of knitting that looks for all the world like a misshapen dishcloth. But if you press on it really does become a jaunty little jacket.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV6jIFSc-3nY6sExQeZ0qJoAh3LIUL46LskomlBDAOf3zi2ezvHZ8UexRaXpy8_6BvxupiD27gzBJ7TW7cfUYUZLI-sexmi7fQLpj7uZlzo8nHB1dVmi8D4HWT7HQxR_jVp9oW3lrJ6zE/s1600-h/bsj.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 223px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV6jIFSc-3nY6sExQeZ0qJoAh3LIUL46LskomlBDAOf3zi2ezvHZ8UexRaXpy8_6BvxupiD27gzBJ7TW7cfUYUZLI-sexmi7fQLpj7uZlzo8nHB1dVmi8D4HWT7HQxR_jVp9oW3lrJ6zE/s320/bsj.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5368338322932706034" /></a> <br /><br />This really could start a trend if I'm not careful; I already have a growing list of yarns in mind. This particular one was knit in Mirasol <a href="http://www.knittingfever.com/c/yarn/mirasol-chirapa/">Chirapa</a> and some leftover 220 Superwash that I had in my stash. <br /><br />I also started Elizabeth Zimmermann's "Ganomey Hat" from the current issue of <span style="font-style:italic;">Vogue Knitting</span>, but I am clearly not "perspicacious" enough to be adopted by the Swansen/Zimmermann family as I was my recent longing. I'm not sure why but my numbers ended up all wonky and my sections were not equal. I will have to rip back to the section right above the garter stitch edging and become a thinking knitter indeed.Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00209399075258595008noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5914788314469348362.post-48090303822428131852009-07-06T11:51:00.000-07:002009-07-10T09:11:49.228-07:00Is Summer Really Just for Washcloths?I hope not! :-) But darn if I don't seem to knit one every summer. It's like I can't help it. Laura got married last weekend and it seemed like a nice thing to tuck one in with her present so that's what started it. Then I had more yarn leftover and it was so easy to just <a href="http://www.elmore-pisgah.com/Ballband%20Dishcloth.htm">cast on for another</a> one <br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaDtuXzeZjfzUnvLsUto9npHfAphRY9ZGXZE54Wzbuv4s7ThDCO7EqKl4Ut72qDzTTflRtgZf5Kr-68zYZpt7sJD-EU39SjLdKWAOJ3T1Jwxbtdo8uqNMwDe9Uji3u73771Nr114NPw8Y/s1600-h/034.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaDtuXzeZjfzUnvLsUto9npHfAphRY9ZGXZE54Wzbuv4s7ThDCO7EqKl4Ut72qDzTTflRtgZf5Kr-68zYZpt7sJD-EU39SjLdKWAOJ3T1Jwxbtdo8uqNMwDe9Uji3u73771Nr114NPw8Y/s320/034.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5356862548618362402" /></a><br />because as much as I love stash I really don't want a dishcloth cotton stash. So it begins...I hope it doesn't lead to anything serious. <br /><br /><br />Knit Night Monday<br />Don't forget that Monday, July 13 is Knit Night. Hardly seems possible that it is only the 2nd monday when the month will be nearly half done but so it is. Hope to see you there! <br /><br />Beautiful Gaia Shoulder Hug on Display<br />Margie knit the beautiful <a href="http://www.wildwestwoolies.com/files/Gaia_1_.pdf">Gaia Shoulder Hug</a> in 3 1/2 balls of <a href="http://www.straw.com/cpy/yarns/mini-mochi-balls2.html">Mini Mochi</a>. It is on display at River Knits and I know you'll adore it! Margie added a border using the one found on p. 134 of <span style="font-style:italic;">Victorian Lace Today</span>. The effect is beautiful and I know that if you are a lace lover or a shawl fan, you'll probably want to try one of these. I hope you can stop by and see it soon! Crystal Palace also has a similar shawl pattern on their website using only 2 balls; it is the <a href="http://www.straw.com/cpy/patterns2/accessories/MMochi-Shawlette.html">Mini Mochi Shawlette</a>. <br /><br />Lanaloft, new from Brown Sheep Co.<br />We are trying out a new yarn from Brown Sheep Company called <a href="http://www.brownsheep.com/la.htm">Lanaloft</a>. There are 5 new colors of it here for you to try out and tell me what you think. It is a single ply worsted a lot like Lamb's Pride but it is 100% wool, with no mohair. From just touching it in the ball I think it feels like a great wooly yarn. If you try some please let me know how you like it!<br /><br />Namaste's Newest Offering<br />I would love to place a Namaste order because they have a really awesome new bag called Hermosa. I saw it at the TNNA trade show and it is very attractive, like all the <a href="http://www.namasteinc.com">Namaste bags</a>. I decided I would ask you before ordering though to make sure that we get the colors that everyone wants! So, if you would like to preorder a Hermosa bag (or any other Namaste product) please <a href="mail to: elizabeth@riverknitsyarns.com">contact me</a> and let me know which color and style you would like. The Hermosa bags will sell for $75.00, email me for prices on other styles. I can invoice you via PayPal for a 50% down payment or for the total price of the bag as you wish. (Or of course we take cash, check or charge in person at River Knits.) As always, special orders are not returnable, but I know you'll love these bags, so I doubt if you'll be interested in returning one! <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVq36qvKliEYTkVdua_taF6o4kHq_BnCIlZZo9Nwa0D6d3TKYva6HWf1MIk1s5s4DK9Oq6FvMMA9SkEXvr2EOQClZU8_pesQW4GLbUDaBEHC5hCxFjYy3xy3obZYjjQpl7q0yHPa-6sz4/s1600-h/photo1.gif"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 173px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVq36qvKliEYTkVdua_taF6o4kHq_BnCIlZZo9Nwa0D6d3TKYva6HWf1MIk1s5s4DK9Oq6FvMMA9SkEXvr2EOQClZU8_pesQW4GLbUDaBEHC5hCxFjYy3xy3obZYjjQpl7q0yHPa-6sz4/s320/photo1.gif" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5355424824461404434" /></a><br /><br />Addi Click - New components available to pre-order<br /><br />Individual tips and cords/extension packs will be available soon. Here's the full listing of what will be available.<br /><br />The tips are available in US 4, US 5, US 6, US 7, US 8, US 9, US 10, US 10. 5, US 10. 75, US 11, US 13, and US 15.<br />The suggested retail per pack* on US 4 through US 8, is $13. 95<br />The suggested retail per pack* on US 9 through US 10. 75, is $15. 95<br />The suggested retail per pack* on US 11 through US 15, is $19. 95<br /><br />The extra cord/extension packs feature three cords and one extra connector. The cord sizes are 24", 32" and 40". These are the same sizes which come with the full set. The suggested retail price per pack, is $29. 95<br /><br />I will take preorders for these piece parts and might eventually stock them in the shop. They will be primarily of interest to people who want to expand their existing Click sets. (Btw, we do have some Click sets available!) I would like to place a Skacel Order by Wednesday, July 15th, so please place all preorders for Click Parts before then. <br /><br />The discerning reader has already noticed that the sizes NOT included in the complete click kit are now available: US 5 size (3. 75mm) and the US 10. 5 (6. 5mm)to be precise! <br /><br />Clarification: *a PACK is two tips in the same size. That is all that is included in the pack. <br /><br /><br /><br />Ashford Hookless flyers - last call to preorder<br />I am also about to place an order with my Ashford spinning products supplier. If you would like one of the hookless flyers mentioned in my last post, please <a href="mail to:elizabeth@riverknitsyarns.com">email me</a> asap! <br /><br />Sock Club July 25th<br />Michelle wants to let you know that she is unable to attend the Sock Club on July 25th due to a conflict at work. The July meeting is supposed to be covering the first part of a pattern from Cookie A's book <span style="font-style:italic;">Sock Innovation</span>. You can see a sample at the shop. Heather will be working at the shop during the July sock club and has tackled quite a few Cookie A sock patterns, so can probably be a great resource for you during the first session. All sockies come hang out together in July and put your heads together to help each other along. Michelle will be back in August & will be available to clear up any questions you might have about this pattern. <br /><br />While you are at sock club you could consider entering a submission for Berroco's <a href="http://www.berroco.com/knitbits/html/KB300.html">Sock Star</a> Competition. At present River Knits has some Ultra Alpaca Fine which is an acceptable yarn to use in the competition. If someone is dying for one of the other Berroco sock yarns that are qualified please let me know--I know where we can get some!<br /><br />Other July Classes<br />There is room in the upcoming Help Session, July 18th. Please register ahead of time so we know how many to expect. Knowing what you need help with is helpful too! <br /><br />We also need some adventurous students who want to join the Learn to Crochet class on July 21st. You can see the whole description on the <a href="http://www.riverknitsyarns.com/Classes/index.htm">website</a>. <br /><br />Other neat patterns<br />As long as we're looking at shawls, Margie shared this lovely pattern in <a href="http://www.straw.com/cpy/patterns2/accessories/PSilkDKShawl.html">Panda Silk dk</a>.<br /><br />And yet another great pattern using Cascade's Ecowool (I love that yarn!) is <a href="http://chiknitterguy.blogspot.com/2009/06/basket-weave-scarf.html">Todd's Basketweave Scarf</a>. <br /><br />And on a funny note, I can't remember if I showed you the <a href="http://www.knitty.com/ISSUEwinter08/PATTfishy.php">Dead Fish Hat</a>? Don't you think someone you know needs one?<br /><br />Knit on!<br />ElizabethElizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00209399075258595008noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5914788314469348362.post-5462879542796387422009-06-29T14:45:00.000-07:002009-06-29T16:07:00.633-07:00How much Panda Silk Does it take......to make a pair of <a href="http://www.riverknitsyarns.com/Patterns/index.htm">Mock Cable Footies</a>?<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRh7iOPKSQYHi0gHGLtlBhvrs1xHk6Uu94AavmBY6TEaLAk8Ag_W8Hb24WrvXq5Y1UtEnuQNePDb7uTcjDTMRR99Jo7HGaMZ-t9_NunYWLC7z8yZuxD-mrkHpKrd_SDBVRePAvODAPMxs/s1600-h/pandasilkleftover.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 235px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRh7iOPKSQYHi0gHGLtlBhvrs1xHk6Uu94AavmBY6TEaLAk8Ag_W8Hb24WrvXq5Y1UtEnuQNePDb7uTcjDTMRR99Jo7HGaMZ-t9_NunYWLC7z8yZuxD-mrkHpKrd_SDBVRePAvODAPMxs/s320/pandasilkleftover.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5352872552733113762" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Just one ball! At least if you have a sort of average size woman's foot and knit at my gauge. (And no, I really don't know what my gauge was on these socks; don't tell!) What you see is what I had left when I finished my pair.<br /><br />I had just one ball of <a href="http://www.straw.com/cpy/yarns/pandasilk-card.html">"denim tones" Panda Silk</a> and it was calling my name. I harassed Michelle for the pattern even before she had it written up. Now that it has been officially available for about a month, I finally got mine done! I love them!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXN4NagJntL3XP0dvQDwBe_oBPMuvxar4310b1bK0Oed2Qq_z7KFF_7FuGuFkTxYtt9yO3dOpsV6vUdDthBHrkCoGv22MOu-2hNyNlPe5ou3qrrY-WktEEaYRqCuCLi7rQO3PwJD5hEL4/s1600-h/mockcablefooties.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 242px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXN4NagJntL3XP0dvQDwBe_oBPMuvxar4310b1bK0Oed2Qq_z7KFF_7FuGuFkTxYtt9yO3dOpsV6vUdDthBHrkCoGv22MOu-2hNyNlPe5ou3qrrY-WktEEaYRqCuCLi7rQO3PwJD5hEL4/s320/mockcablefooties.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5352872556938377090" border="0" /></a><br /><br />But what's new at River Knits?<br />Well we are keeping the UPS man busier & busier these days as new goodies from TNNA begin to arrive!<br /><br />I wanted to find something with a little sparkle while at TNNA but I wasn't looking for something over the top. What I found were two lovely yarns from <a href="http://www.kraemeryarns.com/aboutus/">Kraemer</a> , a company that still spins its own yarn in Nazareth, Pennsylvania. <br /><br />The first new Kraemer yarn is <a href="http://www.kraemeryarns.com/yarn/fountainhill.asp">Fountain Hill</a>, a lofty acrylic/mohair blend that comes in both sparkly and matte versions. Would make a lovely wrap in many gauges.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrAr8XeyIjtqZdAmHXwamtZRiXRalZfzRrs63yzGR4hc395Yi6dB6fwk49cCC4Y2rlO9IQ6HBzDyDwW6_1D_Q0QSQSjIW2FYyzrdxFgQ11XbH80ABUH7M0F3q_M8tqfg0E_GtQk6LTCBc/s1600-h/fountainfill.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 284px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrAr8XeyIjtqZdAmHXwamtZRiXRalZfzRrs63yzGR4hc395Yi6dB6fwk49cCC4Y2rlO9IQ6HBzDyDwW6_1D_Q0QSQSjIW2FYyzrdxFgQ11XbH80ABUH7M0F3q_M8tqfg0E_GtQk6LTCBc/s320/fountainfill.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5352872560271041794" border="0" /></a><br /><br />The other new Kraemer yarn at River Knits is Sterling Silk & Silver, a very elegant fingering weight yarn that actually includes little bits of silver to give it very posh look. This <a href="http://www.kraemeryarns.com/patterns/pdfs/beadedscarffingerlessgloves.pdf">beaded scarf and fingerless gloves set</a> would look beautiful in Sterling.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG4SBgoSq6E8lN7ZHW8ExxPIQcjtLcqOVtKJ4pVEeg6OWtxIyQedoDVuVEEHRoEWd5APuzfHkDCRmmG6KBf9dto4AtnLGvGq3DYOSj4g6WZrauBvQa-N-6x-ZHD-m7D9PXL09Iy_S9Csw/s1600-h/sterling.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG4SBgoSq6E8lN7ZHW8ExxPIQcjtLcqOVtKJ4pVEeg6OWtxIyQedoDVuVEEHRoEWd5APuzfHkDCRmmG6KBf9dto4AtnLGvGq3DYOSj4g6WZrauBvQa-N-6x-ZHD-m7D9PXL09Iy_S9Csw/s320/sterling.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5352872561314615570" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Additionally we received several new pattern booklets from Berroco.<br /><a href="http://www.berroco.com/ng5/ng5_photoview_pv.html">Norah Gaughn vol 5</a>, <a href="http://www.berroco.com/ng_men/ng_men_photoview_pv.html">Norah Gaughn Men</a>, <a href="http://www.berroco.com/287.291/291/291_photoview_pv.html">Comfort Book for Girls</a>, and <a href="http://berroco.com/282.286/284/284_photoview_pv.html">Family Comfort</a>. <br /><br />Spinners will be delighted to learn that Ashford is now producing a <a href="http://www.ashford.co.nz/spinning/Sliding-Hook_LG.jpg">Sliding Hook Flyer</a>, that eliminates the need to move your yarn from hook to hook as the bobbin fills. Update your Ashford Traditional, Traveller and Elizabeth spinning wheels.<br />The flyer is available in natural or lacquer and includes one bobbin. <br />Prices are as follows:<br />Natural<br />single drive: 62.50<br />double drive: 75.00<br />jumbo single drive: 75.50<br />jumbo double drive: 89.00<br /><br />Lacquered<br />single drive: 78.00<br />double drive: 93.50<br />jumbo single drive: 89.00<br />jumbo double drive: 105.00<br /><br />I will take orders for these if any spinners would like to update their flyers on their Ashford wheels. Please <a href="mailto: elizabeth@riverknitsyarns.com">email me</a> or call the shop if you would like to order a sliding hook flyer. <br /><br />Did you see the <a href="http://www.knitty.com/ISSUEsummer09/PATTentomology.php">Entomology Shawl</a> in Knitty? It uses one or two skeins of Schaefer Anne (or probably any of the other sock weight Schaefer yarns). <br /><br />Don't forget that Knit Night is kind of late this month since the 2nd Monday doesn't roll around until July 13th! Hope to see you there. <br /><br />Knit on!<br /><br />ElizabethElizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00209399075258595008noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5914788314469348362.post-45544438051461494402009-06-21T15:23:00.000-07:002009-06-22T07:31:14.768-07:00Summer Needle Arts Market Show<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7t9E-sAy7ReJ8g10W_AwkuzrUNZeg-mdBqNAGtxYOzHN3eueCV2V7CeWvJClDkbVuwfJBLXhKnbyMgt9ODjVwu9-XXmRxxOZzN96YGewGktxNjadSy5d_4tHYE0i_oxdTDPKaAqIs60Fl/s1600-h/TNNA_showfloor.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5350158481724792546" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7t9E-sAy7ReJ8g10W_AwkuzrUNZeg-mdBqNAGtxYOzHN3eueCV2V7CeWvJClDkbVuwfJBLXhKnbyMgt9ODjVwu9-XXmRxxOZzN96YGewGktxNjadSy5d_4tHYE0i_oxdTDPKaAqIs60Fl/s320/TNNA_showfloor.jpg" border="0" /></a> Beth and I recently journeyed to Columbus, Ohio on a business trip for River Knits. This was my inaugural <a href="http://www.tnna.org/TradeShows/tabid/97/Default.aspx">Needle Arts Market</a> put on by The National NeedleArts Association. This is THE place to see the newest yarns, gadgets, books,and supplies for the industry. First of all, I am Beth's husband, and any trip with her is fun. Second of all, I'm the "behind the scenes" guy at River Knits...recycling the large boxes that the new yarns are shipped in to the shop, taking out the trash, putting up shelves, designing and managing the oft neglected <a href="http://riverknitsyarns.com/">River Knits Website</a>. I actually can knit a bit. I've done several pairs of socks, a few fingerless mitts, part of a sockcap, and a water bottle cooler. With River Knits nearing six years in business, and my job at Purdue on the ropes, I thought it might just be a really good time to better understand the knitting business, and help Beth out however I can.<br /><br />After a quick drive over to Columbus, Ohio...a city almost the same size as Indianapolis, we entered the show just in time for the retailers luncheon. The keynote speaker, Jim Dion, was actually quite good and talked about how to thrive in the current economic times. They did door prize drawings and to our surprise we both won...then they chose my ticket again (some people were looking at me suspicously)! After this, we each attended a class. Mine was all about Web stuff that I won't go into here. Following the two hour class we walked to the vendor floor. I was simply not prepared for the army of yarn and needle arts companies displaying their wares. The vast sea of yarns stretched further than my eye could see...those of every color and fiber called out to be seen and touched and talked about. My role was to help Beth in thinking about the selections of winter yarns for the coming season. We did a quick run through to prepare for the Saturday onslaught, then sauntered over to the <a href="http://www.northmarket.com/">North Market </a>where yummy cuisine and local foods and products could be tasted.<br /><br />After an early morning Saturday class, we hit the vendor floor with map and strategy in hand to see the best of the best. Saturday evening we invited Nancy, the owner of <a href="http://www.knit-on.com/">Knit On!</a> near Bellevue, KY to come to dinner with us at <a href="http://www.schmidthaus.com/restaurant.htm">Schmidt Haus</a> in the German Village. Because we had such a long wait, we walked five blocks to a unique bookstore known as <a href="http://www.bookloft.com/">The Book Loft</a>. It has 32 rooms of books. Pretty cool place. Back at Schmidt's, the food was excellent, the beer even better, and the company was superb.<br /><br />Sunday was D-day, and we headed back to the convention center for another class on marketing, and to the floor to select new yarns to bring to River Knits. Below are just two selections:<br />AslanTrends Hand-dyed and a sample project out of Jared's new book "<a href="http://brooklyntweed.blogspot.com/">Made in Brooklyn</a>". There will be some very cool, and warm, fun yarns and surprises coming to the shop later this summer! Stay tuned for updates on the new arrivals.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3vPKk3pFBfwfZcu-Gc7-nDe2kgsT40hwwQRpPCcbM3CUFBVbq8P-lqAhjZLkKmhWtdGQX4pQxXFvZnCuScvu-svYD-BNrH4Ne1mBUhmozhmq2NUbRYrUflAjHeSmENBhBxaKCzUYnwMMe/s1600-h/DSC00846.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5349948069516179698" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 214px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3vPKk3pFBfwfZcu-Gc7-nDe2kgsT40hwwQRpPCcbM3CUFBVbq8P-lqAhjZLkKmhWtdGQX4pQxXFvZnCuScvu-svYD-BNrH4Ne1mBUhmozhmq2NUbRYrUflAjHeSmENBhBxaKCzUYnwMMe/s320/DSC00846.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2t7RvnzuootS-20_Bd3e3M2bFwh-IJmU6J2I1wLfYaUrSBFB3tAa5KvSCGw8jUBwwB0XO8BCMZUnEYutNH8py5-7B4s1gA38dTYVe0ph6M1cd_5UFa1HHAARoj59taG4t7p768yRjX0s4/s1600-h/DSC00847.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5349948073457917490" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 214px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2t7RvnzuootS-20_Bd3e3M2bFwh-IJmU6J2I1wLfYaUrSBFB3tAa5KvSCGw8jUBwwB0XO8BCMZUnEYutNH8py5-7B4s1gA38dTYVe0ph6M1cd_5UFa1HHAARoj59taG4t7p768yRjX0s4/s320/DSC00847.JPG" border="0" /></a>Brenthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01281740844008904155noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5914788314469348362.post-43290620575197051872009-06-10T14:00:00.000-07:002009-06-10T14:55:36.080-07:00A Good Time to Knit Hats and Mittens<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDSF7zxMumWN1zuSCK71zV51EF3uJSiicSPmjpmNbvtwIlzpXIK_d3WiDzOKImB_iL8E4qIyZh6JnWlSpWx_w3N7nhFgHP3Ho4H2u_MShF93YrcmBEx_YW_2YMeRwrIOS-oE4liJ8_mQ/s1600-h/Nordic+etc+6-09+008.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5345814567337708514" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDSF7zxMumWN1zuSCK71zV51EF3uJSiicSPmjpmNbvtwIlzpXIK_d3WiDzOKImB_iL8E4qIyZh6JnWlSpWx_w3N7nhFgHP3Ho4H2u_MShF93YrcmBEx_YW_2YMeRwrIOS-oE4liJ8_mQ/s200/Nordic+etc+6-09+008.jpg" border="0" /></a> <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5345812598899680802" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKo10q86_bAA2EGSOngC0yjHTDi96c0rrBLtdMbrY_gqhbV2qAwAQovKEB-ivi2OGW5OWHw4cvoVxwUY96yQx0cfvNHB7JqXaCcgC1G-hRLGq_NTef82QXhF8CumTSfnMtw6XKljN1Gg/s200/Nordic+etc+6-09+009.jpg" border="0" /> <div><div><div align="left"> Nordic Knitting Club is going to meet through the summer this year, and members of the group are making some great mittens, wrist warmers and hats. These are the perfect projects for summer because they are small, the yarn is light (not too hot to knit with) and they are very portable. They are really great projects to knit in the car while on vacation trips (as long as you aren't the driver!), if you don't have to take part in thoughtful conversations or navigate. That seems to be too much for me to do, while working on complicated patterns. Pictures here include "The thumb trick" from Elizabeth Zimmerman, worked and modeled by Peggy. The thumb is closed up now, but there is waste yarn in the stitches that will opened up to add the thumb later. Stay tuned to see how this works! Ann is shown below left with the start to the mittens to match her hat shown in the blog in January.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5UnAYztjr9mB81gcfIY1JGSpo3figDlXZS7NgUhRAr0TelVPbZyhJsXNQxQmpqoq1h0wJTUsdig1bhcpo1KsfXeyvd7-K-T-WR5zJCwYa0iAawrzQei0xK0doo01BBOUjbi8UV-pBIA/s1600-h/Nordic+etc+6-09+011.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5345818443028682818" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5UnAYztjr9mB81gcfIY1JGSpo3figDlXZS7NgUhRAr0TelVPbZyhJsXNQxQmpqoq1h0wJTUsdig1bhcpo1KsfXeyvd7-K-T-WR5zJCwYa0iAawrzQei0xK0doo01BBOUjbi8UV-pBIA/s200/Nordic+etc+6-09+011.jpg" border="0" /></a><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5345812604284954450" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm0s1FLuSr_dx8wKNe6vU5JkoxAwvV69CYGahvLi5gGz__6rXiqvUhVKj7M0RDuPZBrfGhI_1UVbdFJssKtV8JBXWvp7mH5f6uDQGzod1Dr3Dmcbs8BO3apXFcxcGw9s-XTBkR3PicZg/s200/Nordic+etc+6-09+014.jpg" border="0" /> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpO5zL_hEMvM4y7P_0Wbzy_dt5kYm14AQPoAsrCW8JtMW7uoD9DmcrjBff3bDD3AenjW44Ipq70uFV8uEH6o0WIaE-e77SjbhieyolY6fmAIL-5G5KWtAindkmdGiGIQTkDrumpxJc5g/s1600-h/knitting+11-08+Shirley+Olson+working+on+hat.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5345818435403652882" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpO5zL_hEMvM4y7P_0Wbzy_dt5kYm14AQPoAsrCW8JtMW7uoD9DmcrjBff3bDD3AenjW44Ipq70uFV8uEH6o0WIaE-e77SjbhieyolY6fmAIL-5G5KWtAindkmdGiGIQTkDrumpxJc5g/s200/knitting+11-08+Shirley+Olson+working+on+hat.jpg" border="0" /></a>Prella is on the right, holding up the sweater she is working on and she has just joined the sleeves to the body to start the yoke. It was an exciting meeting last week! The last picture shows Shirley working on a hat, which is much further along now, I just didn't have a more recent picture of it. It is really a beautiful Norwegian pattern with blues, reds, oranges and gold.</div><br />We hope to see anyone interested in Nordic Knitting at our next meeting - July 1 from 7-9 pm at River Knits. Other knitters in the group are also working on sweaters, both large and small. If you aren't sure what to work on, come to the meeting and we will help you get started. Happy Summer and Vacation Knitting!</div></div>Sherylhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09808845283450297026noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5914788314469348362.post-77065563969802150192009-03-24T14:39:00.001-07:002009-03-24T14:40:14.523-07:00Just Right<div style="float: right; margin-left: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/13145048@N03/3383444666/" title="photo sharing"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3076/3383444666_5e5062b4cc_m.jpg" alt="" style="border: solid 2px #000000;" /></a><br /><span style="font-size: 0.9em; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/13145048@N03/3383444666/">Brent's Sweater</a><br />Originally uploaded by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/13145048@N03/">RiverKnits</a></span></div>I feel a little like Goldilocks. You remember the story of the Three Bears? <br /><br />First I knit Brent a sweater that was TOO SMALL. (It's on the wall at River Knits - it's is lovely in every way with the perfect color of colonial blue and oatmeal with detailed stranded colorwork - except that it doesn't fit my husband.)<br /><br />Then I knit Brent a sweater that was TOO BIG. It has cables that cross and meander all over the seed stitch textured background. It took at least 3 years of my life. I am not sure what happened. The gauge was ok, but when I blocked the pieces and put it all together, you could've put two Brent's in that sweater. All I could do was fall to the floor and try to stop laughing.<br /><br />Last year I combined forces with Margie to make a sweater for <a href="http://www.mittensforakkol.com/">charity</a>. It turned out nicely and Brent said, "Could I have one like that?" He must be the eternal optimist. Or maybe he just picked the perfect sweater.<br /><br />Finally, I have knit Brent a sweater that is JUST RIGHT.<br clear="all" /><br clear="all" />Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00209399075258595008noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5914788314469348362.post-70813274360659093992009-03-18T06:38:00.000-07:002009-03-18T06:46:01.816-07:00Tally and the Teaching SockI've been thinking for a year or so that I needed to knit a "Teaching Sock"...a sock where each separate piece of the construction was a clearly distinct color. I wanted to be able to help beginning sock knitters to visualize what piece of the sock each section of the pattern instructions would create. I don't know why it took me so long, but it's finally done. I'm sort of sorry I made it in a size too small to wear...wouldn't this be a wild pair of socks to wear among the muggles?<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoPEXP_IG4lKQWxin693Z7VzWVY6UoLNlP1Fpwf5pRAouv7UtxDJv2R9_LT9k7-wJr32v5JWqKJGP7Wtq-BOfxiV2jTc8hOuKTKPkuao9jonQOV_kmtK9DMk5UyfrhPV9Ayc3qkfkq7x_w/s1600-h/teaching+sock+004.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5314521983659282850" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoPEXP_IG4lKQWxin693Z7VzWVY6UoLNlP1Fpwf5pRAouv7UtxDJv2R9_LT9k7-wJr32v5JWqKJGP7Wtq-BOfxiV2jTc8hOuKTKPkuao9jonQOV_kmtK9DMk5UyfrhPV9Ayc3qkfkq7x_w/s400/teaching+sock+004.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />And if you look closely at the picture, you might see some white cat hair...because Tally loves to cuddle up with wet wool.<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTp4SrnrsKDXL34fUiTmgPzLNGnNqPy0c5QoVuwtNhy6TcFD8E2qcGo3rQtY4gbz7a_INi6pzEZNG56aXqRKkLS_I_Q1UIjPnz-KjtBHHP-KZ_0OnJ4a36LR7EsYtrB4MgLf5P95FfEaJZ/s1600-h/Tally.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5314521885362362690" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTp4SrnrsKDXL34fUiTmgPzLNGnNqPy0c5QoVuwtNhy6TcFD8E2qcGo3rQtY4gbz7a_INi6pzEZNG56aXqRKkLS_I_Q1UIjPnz-KjtBHHP-KZ_0OnJ4a36LR7EsYtrB4MgLf5P95FfEaJZ/s400/Tally.jpg" border="0" /></a> Have you been thinking you'd like to join the ranks of Sock Knitters? Have you been wishing you could join Sock Club, but haven't met the "completed one pair of socks" requirement? Join us for our Beginning Sock Knitting class! The class starts April 8 and is a four session class. Call or stop in at River Knits for more information!<br /><br /><div></div>Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05180727539728565225noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5914788314469348362.post-12735538426882557392009-03-04T13:01:00.000-08:002009-03-04T15:09:19.688-08:00Headed to Akkol...14 boxes from River Knits! <br /><br />But what is <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Akkol">Akkol</a>? It is a place in <a href="http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/5487.htm">Kazakhstan</a>. And there happen to be about 240 kids in the orphanage there. Several of us have been knitting for them for a while now through the group <a href="http://www.mittensforakkol.com/">Mittens for Akkol</a>. Usually the founder of that group, an adoptive mom and fellow YSO from Kentucky, hand carries the knitted items there herself. That method is costly and allows us only to focus on the most needed of items: wool socks and mittens, sweaters and vests. It gets bitterly cold in Kaz and the wool clothing really helps provide needed warmth to the kids in the orphanage. Even more so, the handknits send a deeper message of care to some kids who could really use a boost. The group also supports kids in the orphanage in the nearby town of Urupinka. <br /><br />But we are always wishing we could do more... <br /><br />About a month ago Nanci, the founder of Mittens for Akkol, announced that we could send boxes on a shipping container being sent from Indiana to Kazakhstan.<br /><br />Now we had the chance to send the things that would be greatly appreciated but usually too costly to ship: toys (the kids just don't have access to toys because they aren't available), pants and shoes, art supplies like crayons, paints and colored pencils, personal care items like toothpaste and shampoo. All I had to do was put out the word...<br /><br />The amazing folks at <a href="http://www.riverknitsyarns.com/">River Knits</a> did the rest! Bags and boxes started filling up the classroom and eventually I couldn't walk through the back storage room. Today some of the charity knitters took a break from knitting to box and organize the donations. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDRlGkFvTNI_x8fMCDG73Depr_s9CHs1O52oYqJj99Iw4W9sYDH54dtBSYpuQA_6_WuRiM0HV4jLe41Z9Sso9tKO61Qbo0E45DIyrJKnMudxycXasF_ofcYxtqTZfoLPU3-6v5-e_ZrVc/s1600-h/loadingboxes.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 223px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDRlGkFvTNI_x8fMCDG73Depr_s9CHs1O52oYqJj99Iw4W9sYDH54dtBSYpuQA_6_WuRiM0HV4jLe41Z9Sso9tKO61Qbo0E45DIyrJKnMudxycXasF_ofcYxtqTZfoLPU3-6v5-e_ZrVc/s320/loadingboxes.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5309441213484180898" /></a><br /><br />In addition to knitted hats, mittens, sweaters & vests, there were jeans and sweatpants, shirts and jackets, LOTS of underwear and socks, as well as the art supplies, toys and personal care items mentioned above. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8gfj7KqUtkMdrdKIV7zbOMZuI-uDbpCMJ4qdYJ_leaLaHi5TQibvUqe4mpMNEuJBib_KeLACCBhjEVQuFivAWASItixMFI0P7LnJqeiiEtPrcTFkB4yfF7x4yQIzI1Utxe7BHpcf9J9g/s1600-h/loadingboxes2.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8gfj7KqUtkMdrdKIV7zbOMZuI-uDbpCMJ4qdYJ_leaLaHi5TQibvUqe4mpMNEuJBib_KeLACCBhjEVQuFivAWASItixMFI0P7LnJqeiiEtPrcTFkB4yfF7x4yQIzI1Utxe7BHpcf9J9g/s320/loadingboxes2.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5309441219444675762" /></a><br /><br />In all River Knits is sending 14 boxes FULL of wonderful things. Margie's car is loaded down with about 287 pounds of donations, including 191 toys! <br />Tomorrow these donations will join the ones that are coming in from around the country to Muncie, Indiana, where they will begin their journey to the kids in Kazakhstan.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN-vCRRmnW0Vc4QdI_qgy05WDqCXZ9r4mxOniICw1No6TFBdA8Elg9lx5_fu0QW7znPDK3iCl0xM4ZDFQAHqdcwq6Y-Ot_1F9TNo5aQHpgu67FqQiqT-RErQXOEwpuEMS3ROROgbXy5n4/s1600-h/fullcar.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 227px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN-vCRRmnW0Vc4QdI_qgy05WDqCXZ9r4mxOniICw1No6TFBdA8Elg9lx5_fu0QW7znPDK3iCl0xM4ZDFQAHqdcwq6Y-Ot_1F9TNo5aQHpgu67FqQiqT-RErQXOEwpuEMS3ROROgbXy5n4/s320/fullcar.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5309441223117117026" /></a><br /><br />Thanks to everyone in the River Knits community for your abundant generosity. It's wonderful to be a part of such a great group of people!Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00209399075258595008noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5914788314469348362.post-5959380816094264302009-03-03T15:56:00.000-08:002009-03-03T16:13:45.760-08:00A New Favorite Thing (Should be titled "True Confessions")A friend of mine once told me about a relative who grew up on a farm where they raised beef cows. You would think that he would have had steaks and roasts every day. But no, they sold the beef and only had pork themselves. At my house this has come to be an inside joke when we need a reminder that we need to enjoy life a bit and let ourselves have something nice. <br /><br />Being a beef farmer that only eats pork would be like being a yarn shop owner who only knits with Red Heart; well or maybe Wool Ease. (Pork isn't THAT bad!) Not wanting to be that farmer, I decided to treat myself to one of these:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5-tUHoljXQhmpswZFZ8JBwzCNhNUyH2QFxq0ARpAV8lP0CGKmmPH300AQY81VYcKWWhLS0ZW50erOahjC318ce6WZHexM3BQxd1smWrggR33VJnkCzQ5tt8VtAC_guBgvzHmn6MIty6w/s1600-h/Denise+Needles+005.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 274px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5-tUHoljXQhmpswZFZ8JBwzCNhNUyH2QFxq0ARpAV8lP0CGKmmPH300AQY81VYcKWWhLS0ZW50erOahjC318ce6WZHexM3BQxd1smWrggR33VJnkCzQ5tt8VtAC_guBgvzHmn6MIty6w/s320/Denise+Needles+005.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5309115195187307394" border="0" /></a><br />It's a Denise Interchangeable Needle Case. <br /><br />I know, you might be thinking, "They already come in a case; what's the big deal anyway?"<br /><br />That's where the true confessions part comes in... <br /><br />The plastic case that the set comes in is perfectly adequate; IF you only have one set. <br /><br />I did have one set. In 1994. I ordered it from a yarn shop in Maine when I lived here and didn't know where else to find good knitting supplies. I fell in love with my trusty Denise set and loved having nearly everything I would ever need in one box.<br /><br />But then I opened River Knits and they started making Denise needles again. That's when it really all started. Eventually my one little set in the trusty powder blue case grew to look like this:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8QYY-LQzK17ZfsEljNfsnhSjmr_M5XQUEqpb-86yTR_D4tmTUjmyiymqOf0McgRmk4Mh_g0M5qU59R2FW3ctUbTUD4xzaC-V4rCcZCNZmqjcFZHxx-FCGkVdf129P1X8vhxpgV4iwA8E/s1600-h/Denise3sets.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 168px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8QYY-LQzK17ZfsEljNfsnhSjmr_M5XQUEqpb-86yTR_D4tmTUjmyiymqOf0McgRmk4Mh_g0M5qU59R2FW3ctUbTUD4xzaC-V4rCcZCNZmqjcFZHxx-FCGkVdf129P1X8vhxpgV4iwA8E/s320/Denise3sets.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5309115194635221794" border="0" /></a><br /><br />I told myself I needed a set to use at the shop at first; I didn't really even need an excuse when the third set joined my life. But I found out that it was a lot harder to keep track of the needle tips and especially the end buttons on three sets. I had discovered the joys of multiple projects and all the commonly used parts were always somewhere else. And when I did finish a project I invariably had the wrong little plastic case at hand and there wans't an opening in the right spot to store the recently liberated parts. <br /><br />Imagine my joy when everything you see in the 3 cases above, plus an extra 40" cord, my extra 7mm needle tips (as yet unused), and my secret cache of end buttons, was transformed into this:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpqFQUDumWViCYkyaf56y4icIBHznlpW-_M5HVmPzc64i4LBSNH2pYbQ4oT48jDMey7ihyphenhyphenjzNW9IKc-z68ce5SAIvnne8V4pqlWtbOLKLeRz7Q504-H0sjxhgxLSsO3OoTu9ZAeHl40fs/s1600-h/Denisecaseinside.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 289px; height: 206px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpqFQUDumWViCYkyaf56y4icIBHznlpW-_M5HVmPzc64i4LBSNH2pYbQ4oT48jDMey7ihyphenhyphenjzNW9IKc-z68ce5SAIvnne8V4pqlWtbOLKLeRz7Q504-H0sjxhgxLSsO3OoTu9ZAeHl40fs/s320/Denisecaseinside.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5309115202390614002" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeBDExa_bxC9WjCR7JLcOVGZLWpkCheKIPZfz1RzNcVVihOvQ7pwHIII9ahrS9o9j2Ts8EyeRGNAVB0Tj1YDSnXH9KlDMG8G1Jo9Byx9F3xx6SQT8IFUrWv9cJkAkZNWy5g3vUImkfU5Y/s1600-h/Denisecaseback.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 234px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeBDExa_bxC9WjCR7JLcOVGZLWpkCheKIPZfz1RzNcVVihOvQ7pwHIII9ahrS9o9j2Ts8EyeRGNAVB0Tj1YDSnXH9KlDMG8G1Jo9Byx9F3xx6SQT8IFUrWv9cJkAkZNWy5g3vUImkfU5Y/s320/Denisecaseback.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5309115199464574130" border="0" /></a><br /><br />I feel like it's Christmas and my birthday all rolled into one! I love it! No more beef farmer eating pork! I am happy to have this one just for me!Elizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00209399075258595008noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5914788314469348362.post-80726555948173305142009-02-04T12:10:00.000-08:002009-02-10T10:05:18.044-08:00So Much Fun...We're Going to Do It Again! (NOTE NEW DATES FOR THIS FUN CLASS!)Once upon a time, a group of knitters got together to play with wool. We called it a Felted Clog Knitalong, and this was our goal:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPHmBXjJYsGOgGtzSW5k41iPWSz2FayzPP5odHYbOq0k3qsjyByoAY32wichhsQIkb95kD6vaKUPgUVBQA3171nqO0xS8cUJ5pmJDRRISU3-HnF3b8CseSnlFdrl602-7nr3mnYu-csPW0/s1600-h/Felting+-+MbS+Clogs+small.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5299039090729145762" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 400px; height: 304px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPHmBXjJYsGOgGtzSW5k41iPWSz2FayzPP5odHYbOq0k3qsjyByoAY32wichhsQIkb95kD6vaKUPgUVBQA3171nqO0xS8cUJ5pmJDRRISU3-HnF3b8CseSnlFdrl602-7nr3mnYu-csPW0/s400/Felting+-+MbS+Clogs+small.JPG" border="0" /></a> (Didn't Maribeth do a good job?)<br /><br />While it was a lot of fun to sit in the classroom at River Knits and knit together, Maribeth thought it would be even more fun to sit in her basement and felt together. So we did.<br /><br />There was a washing machine....<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx6rQ3JdEkOj0Ui2bCWypnSSwGNz0Y5Z20BjYgkRBjpevS3-uW_fGGWiL09feYUCZXZztPI9iijQfb18SkiUqg3w01qfu4Wna_IdaN69e91aDdrUSvcFM728a45POU3ZRrJS38RZeIAGg0/s1600-h/Felting+-+Lynn+Holland+small.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5299038493120499122" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 361px; height: 400px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx6rQ3JdEkOj0Ui2bCWypnSSwGNz0Y5Z20BjYgkRBjpevS3-uW_fGGWiL09feYUCZXZztPI9iijQfb18SkiUqg3w01qfu4Wna_IdaN69e91aDdrUSvcFM728a45POU3ZRrJS38RZeIAGg0/s400/Felting+-+Lynn+Holland+small.JPG" border="0" /></a> There was food and storytelling...<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhexsCLT2Awjckmlk2kY7odYxeMVaj4ji4yjMMm7XFjjuJ4Sd01kCS7u_3T6qmSoM648Z3McvNQaDS_O7nsYV1t11k6YOLy-3iIGLFn9ekXuUyJ163OhwWemDDpgwDKYXpqYdiBf16IT6IO/s1600-h/Felting+-+Heather++Jane+small.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5299038367972508738" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 400px; height: 300px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhexsCLT2Awjckmlk2kY7odYxeMVaj4ji4yjMMm7XFjjuJ4Sd01kCS7u_3T6qmSoM648Z3McvNQaDS_O7nsYV1t11k6YOLy-3iIGLFn9ekXuUyJ163OhwWemDDpgwDKYXpqYdiBf16IT6IO/s400/Felting+-+Heather++Jane+small.JPG" border="0" /></a> And it was a good thing.</div><div> </div><div> </div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div>So...we're going to do it again. (This time, sadly, without Maribeth.) Beginning Wednesday, February 18, we will spend two nights knitting together (2/18 and 2/25). The third night we will go to Heather's house (if you haven't heard, it's a freakin' sweet house...) to felt together. </div><div> </div><div> </div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div>And when we are done, we will have one of these: My Little Companion. Want to join us? Check out the <a href="http://www.riverknitsyarns.com/Classes/index.htm">River Knits class schedule</a> for more information!<br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_EVdcs-xrxpUKYxiRTGdS6f-NpGrIyvCGk5RWrUXrHrD7sQTiR4WO-MUokEN4kYZ1Vz2t1jQC45xzyRWxVaWGkYV9ij7MwCV9moamdsoxhuzw49eGPsKRLABB3Pm5T9I7mE3ncpwJyfC3/s1600-h/My+Little+Companion.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5299037525613614626" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 300px; height: 400px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_EVdcs-xrxpUKYxiRTGdS6f-NpGrIyvCGk5RWrUXrHrD7sQTiR4WO-MUokEN4kYZ1Vz2t1jQC45xzyRWxVaWGkYV9ij7MwCV9moamdsoxhuzw49eGPsKRLABB3Pm5T9I7mE3ncpwJyfC3/s400/My+Little+Companion.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div></div>Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05180727539728565225noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5914788314469348362.post-25251376498421408482009-01-27T12:54:00.000-08:002009-01-27T13:51:22.104-08:00Hats, Hands, and Two Sweaters<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmuGfjMNqFBJFu42Nc3-19-sooGn_Z0hY7QSwjLFYjxSQxmO_DvVm8VVWH52Smq0zZgIKHUHm9I2r5IpDwD2Fz6aWmjwygF_bUmVRgoG5GaMMCK5TVhl0_glIWGMIHBofAvjCMw4-PNg/s1600-h/Nordic+etc+1-09+017.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5296080938218250722" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmuGfjMNqFBJFu42Nc3-19-sooGn_Z0hY7QSwjLFYjxSQxmO_DvVm8VVWH52Smq0zZgIKHUHm9I2r5IpDwD2Fz6aWmjwygF_bUmVRgoG5GaMMCK5TVhl0_glIWGMIHBofAvjCMw4-PNg/s200/Nordic+etc+1-09+017.jpg" border="0" /></a>Ann started this beautiful hat at the November meeting of the Nordic Knitting Club (see the picture where she is trying to count her cast on while we talk!). It is from a Dale of Norway pattern and knit with Baby Uhl. The stranding on the inside is perfect.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZrlSetKwR5fi0uRszmIg3YxO9AUh0yrtn3erIyFq1Q4MdxwKMtSVqhzj3pkyqxE2GyuCyqfEruDBzGp0e2WcAvLry0Mxp71PSlpYmIegDlPYTHuMbDOYQpFcewQvdzrYA1I8MbrGrWA/s1600-h/Nordic+knitting+12-08+009.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5296080933777691122" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZrlSetKwR5fi0uRszmIg3YxO9AUh0yrtn3erIyFq1Q4MdxwKMtSVqhzj3pkyqxE2GyuCyqfEruDBzGp0e2WcAvLry0Mxp71PSlpYmIegDlPYTHuMbDOYQpFcewQvdzrYA1I8MbrGrWA/s200/Nordic+knitting+12-08+009.jpg" border="0" /></a> Shirley and several others are also working on hats that we hope to show next month. <div><div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUGpn0ptttjWTJMSIi2QH72GiiijboX1_4pMVX6ooGRUiUy6zm3rySBN1mGGMPRbFZzCw5q-BKcIbwrmKIaDdGDyfC2-VmedBBfoZyX989a6p8_ZTCns6PvNMWzsvcbeQ49r02RU4Img/s1600-h/knitting+11-08+004.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5296080923394360034" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUGpn0ptttjWTJMSIi2QH72GiiijboX1_4pMVX6ooGRUiUy6zm3rySBN1mGGMPRbFZzCw5q-BKcIbwrmKIaDdGDyfC2-VmedBBfoZyX989a6p8_ZTCns6PvNMWzsvcbeQ49r02RU4Img/s200/knitting+11-08+004.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><br /><br /><div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></div><div>Gloves, mittens <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA-sCCbydLfq7nWBlymMOJ_fSPNydwx2eVOcZsf7Q6XcILOGuxER2Ju57fn6aQFYSP_qcKT4W28FteDK3OAFHD39rtIupZpQSa7OEFSanZOXAW9alauCJqbbdlLj5wgZYvWawtTZmRtw/s1600-h/Nordic+etc+1-09+023.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5296082686324142226" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA-sCCbydLfq7nWBlymMOJ_fSPNydwx2eVOcZsf7Q6XcILOGuxER2Ju57fn6aQFYSP_qcKT4W28FteDK3OAFHD39rtIupZpQSa7OEFSanZOXAW9alauCJqbbdlLj5wgZYvWawtTZmRtw/s200/Nordic+etc+1-09+023.jpg" border="0" /></a>and wrist warmers are also proving to be very popular choices this winter for club members. Be sure and look at some of the beautiful finished pairs from our last meeting in the previous post.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg0ttJ5cFcYfmMNlCL_lp-bsXnq13bLxkrTfsuOU55JfH2sHLsSNmS9AoUmuc1l2Ptcmg403cz1pEtEAwYTGIY9gsA3-lMD7f_Mp1EPZd7WBSikp6UmD57b1ffDW4boIees64GfOUZ5Q/s1600-h/Nordic+knitting+12-08+012.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5296082457520071106" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg0ttJ5cFcYfmMNlCL_lp-bsXnq13bLxkrTfsuOU55JfH2sHLsSNmS9AoUmuc1l2Ptcmg403cz1pEtEAwYTGIY9gsA3-lMD7f_Mp1EPZd7WBSikp6UmD57b1ffDW4boIees64GfOUZ5Q/s200/Nordic+knitting+12-08+012.jpg" border="0" /><br /><br /></a></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5296083025399883666" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK1Iqm6nAy21EhZYYj_tmEcIDpPGim21xk5YFm9-TJohOFY-St4D6Lsr7JhmaJLfNHN6OfQXI35NgsrFA4Rc8b1dqVzBiKZbzNtx9XrgsI9vyvqfS7iWB0m6jjaqd3iXgKxEgjbLPjlA/s320/Nordic+etc+1-09+021.jpg" border="0" /> Sweaters are being made by the most intrepid of the group. Laura is making an incredible Fair-Isle design using different ends of a long color repeat yarn from Denmark. It is sock-weight yarn, and so is taking awhile to finish, but is beautiful, as you can see from the picture. A beautiful child's Fana sweater is in the works from Kristin, and I hope to have a picture next month of that one.</div><div>Dawn is making a small Norwegian design for an 18" doll (see below). For Dawn and Laura - it will be their first garments made with steeking and cutting. The next installment should show the successful outcome of their adventure with scissors and wool!<br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5296083033654474002" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8ccejpAZ5vwCIImPWtVyChh6rqHxI3P13pTFSfWQW8eOAf5-0MkMJcOg5AsgT5N5OIaOwzMe-nJzlcNSaL4eQb2Uq-k6zgO2L7x5Kpo57DbIKZZ8M7NCmMqU-V5-AaM9_d2JmQM4Zmg/s320/Nordic+etc+1-09+027.jpg" border="0" /> <div>Nordic Knitting Club meets the last Monday of the month, at River Knits from 7-9, and all knitters who would like to do any type of Nordic knitting are welcome. I will also try to publish updates, at least monthly, on the blog so that you can follow our progress virtually. Nordically yours, Sheryl</div><div>(PS - Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow!!)</div></div></div></div></div>Sherylhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09808845283450297026noreply@blogger.com0