On the needles--too much

This is from my top down class. I've done most of the short rows for the bustline. The quasi-sweetheart neckline is a new one for me. I simply increase two sts every other row instead of one. I wanted a slightly higher neckline so my necklace would not get lost.

The center is created by alternating the center st with navy and lavendar. Neck edging is crab stitch (backwards single crochet). I added the edging as soon as I finished the neckline so I could prevent it from stretching as I threw in in bag after bag to cart it around.
This is a sock. The third attempt at the Cat Bordhi Riverbed architecture. Turtlegirl76 is mentoring me through this. Problem is, I don't seek her help until I've gotten in too far.
This is the increase for the ankle/gusset area. I know I could have kept it in pattern (the big deal about this design is the ability to knit the whole thing in a pattern), but I really want to clearly see how this shaping works. Hold your breath that this one works. It's in Sockotta by Plymouth.
My skirt!!!! This is Louet Euroflax and I am adapting the Sasha skirt pattern. I've figured out a way to chain stitch through the fabric to create a row of stitches which will allow me to knit my ruffles as assymetrical, sloped lace pieces. Anything to avoid horizontal lines on this body.

Also knitting another Curvaceous scarf, a new lace scarf pattern. Enjoying all.

On the Needles

Estonian Button Stitch socks (pattern on ravelry and jpknits.com) in Plymouth Sockotta that I found in the attic. These are public knitting and are for me. Next socks will be more adventurous.
This is the sweater I'm creating as I teach the Top Down Custom Fit Shell class. I'm using 1824 Cotton (Mission Falls) from the stash. It knits at 4.25 per inch and I wanted something that would knit up fast. Can't fall behind in my homework.

I'm really pleased with how the navy and the lavendar play off each other. More as I go.


The shrug I mentioned last week (Here) seems to be working out nicely. I even like it so far on me, and I don't wear shrugs. More words to eat. I will definitely offer it as a free pattern as soon as the bugs are worked out.

Stitches South is this weekend and I can't wait to meet up with knit friends from across the country. I plan to make some serious knitting plans as I look at the yarn companies new things for this coming year. Yeah, I might buy some yarn.

OTN

A new sweater--top down of course--in process. I have stopped here to make a decision on where it goes. Definitely empire line, but what will be the bottom? Katia Bombay, 100% mercerized cotton. Has some bounce. I may publish the pattern.
Please note the crochet on the edge of the neck. Big important tip!!! Use a row of single crochet or a running basting stitch along the edge of necklines and armholes to prevent over stretching them while you are knitting the rest of the garment. When you complete the garment, you can remove them or use them. I like options.
Regia sock yarn in a Kaffe Fassett colorway. This was souvenir yarn from a beach trip with the gang. Way back when I bought it, I had not yet seen this available in Charlotte. Now Charlotte Yarn stocks it regularly. The colors are too beautiful.
However-----I have to break up the strip somewhere, somehow. Tune in later.

V-Day and New on Needles

Valentine's Day and a gorgeous bouquet from Steve. Lily, gerber daisy, other daisy, roses, chrysanthemum--all favorites of mine. Just so sweet. He was clearly proud of his choices, and I am so grateful--I love fresh flowers.

NEW ON NEEDLES

A brioche stitch shawl knit lengthwise with a steek so I can mindlessly work on it. I will cut the steek, pull out the stitches and have fringe--or weave in the ends and have a different end treatment.


Noro Yuzen, Wool, silk, mohair. Color 1; black, charcoal, grey, teal, yellow-green from Charlotte Yarn.
Brooks Farm Primero--100% mohair. Green ombre from SAFF, 2007.

Size 8 US Kollage SQUARE needles with the softest circular cable you could ever imagine. Ordered from yarnmarket.com.

I'm guessing I'll use about 500 yards of each yarn for a finished shawl about 77 inches long and 18 wide.



I'm knitting it lengthwise so I will have vertical stripes on my back when I wear it. Always thinking vertical as in "vertically challenged."

Brioche stitch--it bears repeating--is so rhythmic and fun to knit. Zen like. And I'm not alone in my opinion. See earlier comment.

New Patterns on Ravelry, jpknits, and Charlotte Yarn

Encircle is a one skein project and perfect for jazzing up a Tshirt.
Top Cat is a sassy little hat which knits up quickly.

Both are available for download through ravelry or through jpknits. Remi has hardcopies for sale at Charlotte Yarn.



On my needles today are a pair of socks for DH. I taught a socks on magic loop class--Hey, guys!--and had to do the homework I assigned, so I took a deep breath and started some new socks with the Shelridge Farm So Soft Sock yarn I bought in Canada. Steve picked out a different pattern, but this one from Barbara Walker looked like more fun.

The traveling stitches carve out a ribbonesque design and there are diamonds of seed st at the curves. It's a 36 row pattern, 12-14 st repeat. You do have to refer to the chart most rounds, but you aren't glued to it.

31 more days until the Charlotte Knitting Guild Retreat kicks off. There are still a few openings and the price is great. Check the website for more details. Hope to see you there.

Happy New Year to All

It's January 1 and Steve and I are caulking the den pre-painting. It's never ending excitement at this house.

Just read Dani's blog about not doing resolutions. My only resolution is to try to make good choices. Not a bad life philosophy actually. I always taught that life was a series of decisions you make (That's why your homework wasn't done on time.) and you have to take the consequences.

I'm working hard on pattern writing. It's hard to divorce the teacher from the designer and left alone all my patterns would be 50 pages----and therefore never finished for publication. Curvaceous has done so well that I have Follow-up-itis about anything that comes out next. Top Cat, a silk collar, and the beaded handwarmers should come out in a week or so. This has so strangled my brain that I haven't even really published my class lists.

Deciding on classes hasn't been easy either. The smart business woman would just teach what people request. But I always THINK that what they request is not really what they need to grow as a knitter.

I still want to do a rather lengthy Knit to Fit workshop series. There is so much to know and none of it hard in order to custom fit your projects. It is so sad to see someone work so hard on a project and then never wear it because it doesn't quite fit. I've frogged quite a few in my time and it isn't pleasant. I've worked out an outline and may try teaching it as individual classes.

OTN
I'm still working on my version of Nicki Epstein's Matador Jacket. Also the jacket with the mitered squares lapels. I've added a top down raglan cardi for Meghan. No socks; burned out. Need to knit DGS#2 a sweater and DGS#! a Transformer hat.

Have several lace projects in my head and have done some swatching. I'm just bouncing all over the place.

Oh, I've lost 14 lbs. Thank you, Katherine.

Still meeting lots of former students on Facebook which is great fun. One I thought was dead turned up healthy and happy. Now that was a present.

Best wishes to everyone and thanks in advance for all the things you guys will teach me this year.

Works in Progress

The Mitered Something progresses. I sort of see these as the front panels of a vest or jacket. I have several sketches, but I don't really have to commit yet. The jewel tone colors are drop dead gorgeous--a mix of Fleece Artist, Cherry Tree Hill, and oddball leftovers.
In November, I teach a class on Lace Sampler scarves and this is my prototype. I like knitting a pattern for 5 or 6 inches and then changing. Appeals to my short attention span. Patterns come from Barbara Walker's books, magazines, and sites online. I'll put together a complete list when the scarf if finished and blocked.
The mittens Beth sent me are moving along a few rows at a time. Note the dropped stitch held by the marker. In this dark wool, it can't be seen, so I will tack it to the back with yarn after I finish. I really like the Jamieson Wool. This is my first project with it.

Also knitting some family gifts which will remain secret. One of my girls actually reads my blog occasionally.

The stitches are out of my knee and I walk pretty well. Still some healing to do. Again a big thank you to all of you who nursed me through this.

SAFF is this weekend and half of Charlotte will be there. I'm staying home and allowing others to buy all that beautiful yarn. Makes me feel noble.

On the needles

These are a gift from Beth in Boston. She had started these and became disenchanted. The yarn is Jamieson's and the pattern is from the cover of the last Vogue. The green ones.

I'm enjoying these, but may morph them into fingerless gloves which is more suited to my environment. Can't wait to wash them and feel the wool softened.
I call this LacePlay. It's a scarf sampler of various lace patterns knit in Malabrigo Lace, color Verde. I'm using a size 4 needle. I started this because I wanted to watch various lace patterns at the pattern-shift point. I'm discovering some patterns that I like to knit enough to do a larger project and some that I'd like to combine into the elusive perfect shawl pattern.

The yarn rocks. So soft and easy to manipulate.

It's another experiment. It's beautiful, but I still don't know what it wants to be. Goal is to make mitered garments shaped for human bodies--which are rounded! More to come as I figure it out.

What I'm working on.

For the Ravelympics--5 pair of clogs. (Fibertrends pattern; Paton's Classic Wool) I've done 2.5 pair. That's not even Bronze, but at least some of the Christmas knitting is done.
Brithday sock for DD1 finished. Did I show you this already? They went to her this weekend, and she loved them. Original pattern, Crystal Palace Maizy (corn) and Panda Cotton for the heel and toe. Nice transitional weight pair.

I'm also working on more shawls--learning to shape. I've got a Cookie A. sock I want to start and I've finished the Beaded Handwarmer pattern editing. I'm working on a gift pair in CTH sock yarn and want to start one in some handspun I did some months ago.

My Posy shell is at a stop for the Olympic knitting, but I hope to finish it before vacation in September. Rowan pattern in Mission Falls Cotton. I'm putting the flower on both the front and the back.

The Central Park Vest is still a vest. I have no clue.

This is Maureen Mason-Jamison's Whimsey pattern available from her website. The yarn is a new one to me, Zaol, which I bought at Close Knits in Gastonia.

Here are my two boys in what they think are their chairs.