Farewell to the Knitting Garden {deep breath, sigh...}

The Knitting Garden in Westlake, OH - where I have spent the last two years teaching classes and helping people with their knitting - has closed. I will miss the camaraderie of many wonderful women (Christine, Jackie, Dawn, Robin, Debbie D., and Debbie G, Joan, just to mention a few). We have promised each other that we would meet on a regular basis to knit together.

I am still sad for the loss but there is some good news - I still get to do what I love the most... help people with their knitting. I am now with River Colors Studio in Rocky River, OH (just down the road). I got to meet lots of nice knitters this week and Erica Gadomski, the owner, a talented artist, is great with color and a very nice person.

Gathering Intentions, kind of....

I just love cable sweaters, especially cardigans because they can be opened to let in a little air. I had some Cascade 220 in color 4002,a dark charcoal color that looks good with everything. I chose the Gathering Intentions pattern by Fiona Ellis in her book, Inspired Cable Knits







I decided to add a zipper down the front and because the yarn was a different gauge (because I used a US7 to get a firmer fabric) I had to add extra cables here and there.

My desire to wear this is overriding my true knit-yearnings. I am choosing this project over the others just so I can get it done AND WEAR IT.
The back and one sleeve is finished so I may have a FO to post soon.

My summer project for the Knitting Garden

"Cozy Carriage Cover" designed by Edie Eckman for Alpaca with a Twist, a luxurious knitting experience indeed! Using their new yarn, "Highlander" a worsted wt. alpaca/merino blend and Addi Turbo needles, this project gave me several hours of knitting pleasure. Truly blessed is the baby that gets wrapped in this incredibly soft blanket!

The Open Waters Wrap designed by Ilga Leja done using 3 skeins of Colinette Wigwam in colorway Mediterraneum (worn by Zoe).

This is a well written pattern with lots of good information. Remember to block your gauge swatch well.

The Bucket Bag

I don't know why I so desired to knit this, especially since I don't like the pictures in the magazine (Knitter's Spring 2007). Using Cascade 220, it takes 1 skein of each color, held double. I had the extra dpns but you could also use 2 circs or the magic loop method and markers. With all the Cascade colors available the possiblilities are endless. I think I will make a "watermelon" bag next (green and pink).

Jack's Aran Sweater

This pattern is from Best of Knitter's Arans and Celtics. I made it for my first grand nephew, Jack, who lives in Seattle.

I used Encore.

Little Goodie Bag

Christine asked me to design a project using one skein of Blue Sky Alpaca Sportweight and this is what I came up with. It can be a gift bag, sachet, jewelry container and if you turn it upside down: a cute infant hat! We had our guild Christmas Party at the Knitting Garden and each attendant received a gift of this pattern and a skein of the yarn.

Braided Scarf

Another heavenly Cashmerino Superchunky scarf - your neck will love you! Again, my lovely model, Zoe. (My other lovely model, Taylor, is working her hiney off with 19 (engineering) hours this quarter then off to WDW for 5 months to do the Disney College Program. More on that later.)

The Knotted Cable Scarf

...for lack of a better name. This is a luxurious scarf made with Debbie Bliss Cashmerino Superchunky or Baby Alpaca Grande! It was inspired by a Nicky Epstein design and is self-fringing. Daughter Zoe and good friend Laura are the models.

The Top Down Funnel Neck Sweater

Pattern writing is a lot of work! I started on this design last July and just yesterday (1/12/07) delivered the pattern to the Knitting Garden for sale. It is 4 pages long with lots of good tips included. I also teach a class on it. I hope to be able to sell patterns from this website someday but until then, if anyone really wants this pattern they can email me and I will mail it out.

Bunny Egg Cozy Pattern

Bunny Egg Cozy
SUPPLIES:
Yarn: any leftover, smooth worsted wt yarn
Needles: US size 6 and tapestry needle for sewing up.

DIRECTIONS:
Cast on 37 sts. leaving a tail for sewing up. Wind tail into a yarn butterfly to keep it out of the way.
Rows 1 and 3: *K1 P1* to last st. , K1.
Row 2: P1, *K1,P1*
Rows 4-11: Knit in garter stitch (garter: knit every row)
(note: 8 rows = 4 ridges)

Shape edges and under chin:
Row 12: K1, K2tog, K 10, (K2tog) 2X, K3, (SSK) 2X, K10, SSK, K1
(31 sts.)
Row 13, 15, 17-19: K1, K2tog, K to last 3 sts., SSK, K1
Row 14: K1, K2tog, K9, inc. in the next 5 sts., K9, SSK, K1 (32 sts.)
Row 16: K1, K2tog, K10, (Knit in front and back) 4X,K10, SSK, K1.
Row 20-21: Bind off 5 sts. at the beginning of each row.
Rows 22-24: Knit. (16 sts.)
Row 25: K6, inc. in next 4 sts., K6.
Row 26: Knit 6, Bind off 8 center sts., K6.
Row 27: Bind off each side separately.

EARS- make 2
Cast on 4 sts.
Rows 1 and all odd rows – Purl
Rows 2,4,6 and 8 – Knit
Row 10: K1, K2tog, K1
Row 12: Slip one as if to knit, K2tog, pass slipped st. over the k2tog.
Sew up body, rt sides together, attach ears. Make a pom-pom for the tail. Whiskers optional.

This was fun!

After knitting several pairs of socks at 8-9 sts. per inch I finally said to myself, "I'm not doing this any more!" These $%@# things just go on and on and on and on and on...
But, of course, making socks is an important rite of passage for all knitters and the time has arrived for me to give a sock class at the shop, The Knitting Garden, Westlake, OH.
So when Robin, always full of life, suggested I pick a worsted wt. pattern to teach I was all for it. They don't make the Jacquard print yarn in worsted wt. as far as I know and I didn't want a solid color - I wanted something fun and Silk Garden was just right for the job. It was so addictive watching the striping unfold that I am actually looking forward to making the mate!

She wanted a beaded shawl of her own and I couldn't say no...

Linen Stitch Wrap Finished!

It's finally done and on display at the Knitting Garden in Westlake, Ohio. I will be teaching classes on this beautiful garment in January and March, 2006 (sign up now).
This looks woven instead of knitted. It is a simple slip stitch pattern, all knitting - no purling and, as an added bonus, no finishing! Done in the Blue Sky Alpaca Sport Weight it is luxuriously soft!
Using this yarn, the wrap blocked to about 54" in width. If you want to make it wider remember to buy more yarn because, at this width, it was cutting it close. A shawl pin will hold it together nicely.
Sally Melville's latest book, The Knitting Experience, Book 3 Color, is not just a book of good patterns but also contains a wealth of knitting knowledge with clear illustrations, well worth the investment.

Linen Stitch Wrap

This wrap is reversible and the picture in the book is showing this side but this is not the side you will see when you are knitting, so don't think you are doing something wrong - you're not.

Progress on the Linen Stitch Wrap

This is the side you will see in front of you as you are knitting.

Rowan Big Wool Scarf

This Rowan Big Wool in the variegated color makes up nicely in seed stitch. This will keep DD Taylor warm at OSU this winter.

Linen Stitch Wrap

I have been waiting 2 years for Sally Melville's new book, Color, to come out so that I could make the Linen Stitch Wrap and it is finally here! Sally taught my guild (Crooked River Knitters) a class in November of 2003 and brought the wrap to give us a preview of the book. I am using Blue Sky Alpaca and hope to cast on tonight...can't wait!