Someone blogged about my twined hat

http://stringplay.blogspot.com/

All be damned....by mere accident like everything else in my life, I fell upon a blog...and the blog happens to touch upon my twined hat, clear across the country.  Now I know that everyone today blogs, so eventually, we all will end up blogging about one another in due time.  Nonetheless, it's exciting to think that someone actually thinks your pattern is interesting enough to blog about.

Thank you Stringplay for making me smile!

Another great Madrona class

My class on Sunday with Margaret Radcliffe, author of my newest favorite book:  The Essential Guide to Color Knitting Techniques was another great class.  Funny thing is that I bought this book and wrote about it in my top 6 favorites of 2009 - not realizing that I had signed up to take a class from her!  I guess I need to start paying attention to the instructors and book authors!  I  didn't know much about Helix knitting and it appears that most people don't - other than it's a jogless technique.  It was beyond jogless...it was thinking outside the box in working with color.  As soon as I finish this deadline of mine, I plan on diving into a helix hat using my favorite all time bulky yarn - Mirasol Sulka which happens to be the yarn used in my class projects above.  I also plan on doing up some fingerless gloves the "helix" way, using up 4 partial skeins as a great way to reduce my stash. 

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Mitred socks class

My close friend Sherri and I took a knitting class today at Madrona Fiber Arts in Tacoma.  When I signed up for it, I had no idea that the instructor was Jane Slicer-Smith - author of the Swing Swagger Drape book.  In fact, I knew little about the class other than we were going to knit mitred socks.  Well - it wasn't exactly mitred socks as I had envisioned but it was a good class just the same.  I wouldn't say that the teacher was a spectacular instructor either since we basically just followed the pattern and she came around to help as needed.  What I did get from the class however, is a better sense of how to integrate mitred knitting into purses/booties/shawls and sweaters.  Mitred knitting is quite simple but understanding the foundation to this technique and how to apply it is really what I gained from this class.  I have flipped through the pages of this book before but to see the actual garments in person and have people model them is a totally different story.  The jackets were far more stunning and flattering on and the workmanship and construction were incredible.  The jackets are truly a work of art.  I have such an appreciation for this book now and for the designer behind the book.  Wow - am I ever excited now for my class tomorrow with Margret Radcliffe - a name I do recognize!

go to:  http://www.sigknit.com/ for more mitred knitting patterns and photos.

Need to do inventory of my knitting supplies

Being addicted to knitting, you would think that I have every knitting accessory known to mankind.  I must have everything- afterall, I worked in yarn shops with discounts for years, I have a walk in closet nearly dedicated to knitting and an office shared with my husband that displays the rest.  So now that I have a super tight deadline - I now realize that I don't have stitch markers for size #13 needles and beyond nor do I have US13 double pointed needles!  I have 11's and 15's - but I guess my many hat projects never used size 13 needles.  So until I can get to a yarn shop and search for large enough st markers - my great aunt's wedding ring will have to do.  I actually need 2 more stitch markers - but I'm afraid to use my wedding ring and sweet 16 ring in fear of losing this knitting bag!  So - I have decided that I need to write down a knitting list - just like my grocery list that I keep in my purse so the next time I head into a yarn shop, I can pull out my handy dandy list and actually buy what I need and not what I will stash for another decade. 

Knitting with Frog Tree yarn

Finally, a moment to sit down and swatch some Frog Tree Picoboo yarn.  It's a pima cotton amd bamboo blend.  The Picoboo yarn has some sheen to it which I am drawn to and comes in these rich hues that are undescribable.  I've sketched a spring shell and I've swatched it.  I'm swaying back and forth as to which colorwork I want to incorporate into the shell.  This design will premier at TNNA, Columbus.  If you haven't heard of Frog Tree yarns, go to the link below.  It's a non-profit organization that supports the Bolivian women who hand knit the sample sweaters seen in yarn shops and dye the yarns.  It's a fabulous foundation and one that I will be donating 10% of my pattern proceeds to.

http://www.frogtreeyarns.com/AboutUs/tabid/57/Default.aspx

Knitting Favorites of 2009

I thought I better reflect on what I liked in the world of knitting for 2009.  I wish I had thought of this sooner as anything I liked last January has totally escaped my pee brain.  So here's my top

6 favorites for 2009:

1 - favorite yarn:  Zealana "Tui" for it's buttery feel when knitting  (http://www.theyarnsisters.com/)
Though I have many favorite yarns for various reasons, Tui made the top of my list based on 3 critical points:  the feel when knitting, the rich colors of the yarn and the chunky weight of the yarn.

2 - favorite variegated yarn:  Crown Mountain handspun hand dyed sock yarn (http://www.crownmountainfarms.com/)
Since knitting with Crown Mountains handspun yarn, I've gained an appreciation for the handspun yarns.  When you feel like treating yourself to something new, try a hank of handspun yarn - it's worth the price.  It almost makes me want to learn how to spin!

3- favorite knitting gadgets comes from my close friend, Sherri - (http://www.simazenthings.com/).  Her sock journals and stitch markers are my favorite and her sisters tote bag is a knitters staple.

4- favorite knitting teacher - Cat Bordhi (http://www.catbordhi.com/).  Although I have had some incredible knitting instructors this past year (Sally Melville is my runner up), Cat was the most generous and gifted of the instructors.  Very approachable, very down to earth and full of energy.  As for my 2nd runner up - Sally Melville, well, she just made me look at sweater construction and design in a whole new light.

5- favorite book - The Essentail guide to Color knitting techniques by Margaret Radcliffe.  There are  few books that convince me to fork out $30.  This book did.  It's a fabulous book and it should be a staple for all knitters.

6- favorite events - TNNA (http://www.tnna.org/) and Madrona Fiber Arts (http://www.madronafiberarts.com/).  TNNA is a wonderful event - excellent classes, the newest publications, designs, yarns and great networking.  It's where I have met some amazing people.  The energy in the air is exhilerating and it's truly a knitters vacation!  Madrona comes in as runner up because they too have the best of classes and instructors and a huge yarn market to satisfy all knitters and spinners alike.  It's truly a first class event.

So that sums up 2009 for me.  As for my least favorite part of 2009 .....learning, relearning and still not understanding Dreamweaver and maintaining my website.  It's so true that you can't teach old dogs new tricks!  I'll continue to try and I can only hope that next years 2010 favorites might just be "maintaining my website".

Wardrobe Favorites book now on sale

Oh my gosh - here's what you can find inside "Wardrobe Favorites". I absolutely love how Leisure Arts combines my sweaters with the perfect attire, accessories, pose and model to make me say "wow" to my own sweaters! I feel funny "wowing" my own work but I tell you - it's all in the presentation. I'm mystified at how I got to this point, grateful for those who nudged me in the right direction and hopeful that my designs are well received.