Keeping Warm

Coolness in Sonoma.   It's hard to understand unless you've been here, have seen it or felt it, but contrary to popular opinion California weather can be cold!!!  Now I grew up and spent the majority of my life on the East Coast, even 4 years in the depths of winter in Syracuse NY, and there have been days in Sonoma when I felt more cold and chilled then in New York.  Hard to figure,  I attribute it to the insulation in the homes…perhaps less  or maybe it's the fog that rolls in.  Do you know that it's very common to see people in Down Jackets in downtown San Francisco in the middle of Summer!!!!  My solution to the problem was to make a cowl wrap that covers my shoulders.    This is one version.

Baby Knits

So many babies over the last year.   I have two friends that are getting close to double digits when it comes to the number of grandkids they have.   My niece and nephew just had a beautiful baby girl.   They live in Hawaii so the question is.. "What can I knit?   I found this pattern but decided that best to crochet it in cotton.    So Cute a baby Turban!!   http://thismamamakesstuff.com/crochet-baby-turban-pattern-tutorial/

baby Turban

A cute quick 

Baby Shrug.   Here's a pattern I just found on Ravelry that is similar to it   Baby Shrug
There is even a YouTube video of how it make it.  

OMG  It's been almost 2 Years since my last post……Shame on me!!!!

Time Flies….

Never thought that time would fly by so quickly and that it's been almost a year since my last post…It's not like I haven't been knitting.  Well I did take a brake after that knitting injury.   You know what I mean… when you have that huge project to finish and the stitches are bunched on the needles and your hands are so tight because you are trying to not let the little stitches fall off the needles, even though you switched to circulars (2 sets of 60"'s) and it's too late cause your thumb muscles are frozen…well you get the picture.  I didn't pick up a needle for 4 months.

Even with "the injury", I have had a very productive knitting year and have been frugal also.  Only splurged at Stitches West.   Oh yeah, I did visit ImagKnit in San Francisco, but that was a daughter day and she picked a pattern and yarn, so it doesn't count (right??)
Glad to be back.. I promise I will post the events of the past year and also new stuff for this year.

Knit One, Knit All

Brimmed Hat- Horizontal

Knit in Patons Shetland Chunky

The one thing I have learned in knitting Elizabeth Zimmerman style is that the directions seem so simple, and I need to just read them and not try to figure out where she is going.  JUST GO WITH IT.



TOP SECTION- knit in three sections (triangles) by picking up the side of each triangle



RIBBING WORKED IN THE ROUND



At this point it's time for the brim to be knit.   Elizabeth asks you to increase 1 stitch for each stitch on the needle.  She also instructs you to work back and forth, and stitch together in the end.   I'd rather not sew so I decided to wrap and turn, on alternating end stitches at the end of each round so that there was no seam.  It worked

I cord trim (wonder what it would look like with a differant color yarn)

The Package

The package came in the mail yesterday and I actually let it sit without opening for about 3 hours.  Could have been the need to savour the contents at the quiet time, no rush.   This was really a treat.  Since I need to block a large piece (the Knit, Swirl #1) it seemed the right thing to do..ordering blocking mats from Knit Picks.  They had a special sale on books...  well even though I hardly have room for the books I own..The Opinionated Knitter was on the list..could not pass it up and it is lovely.   Absolutely Lovely.   I love the way she thinks.

2011 knitting completed

2011--Some my own design, some not 

Some I have no photos   Socks, scarfs, etc 

I know the shows on the needles but it is complete,   My daughter is wearing it as I type ..yarn from String in Manhattan,   bulky Italian Cashmere, the most wonderful feeling yarn I have ever knit!!!

Also completed  Vogue Caplet  in Debbie Bliss Wool    

Stash busting!!

 I joined a site that is stash busting and here is the link, you may be interested in doing the same.
The Destash Challenge

Last year I decided to knit every pattern in Knit One, Knit All by Elizabeth Zimmerman using all stash yarns (see previous posts) and  although Holiday gift knitting postponed that project, I am back on track.

Another use of my stash----A few weeks ago I just happened to stop at one of the local yarn shops, Sonoma Yarn and a guest author was presenting a trunk show that afternoon..so happy about this show, but had to wait a while.  So it was off to lunch at The Hacienda for my favorite fish taco..then back for the show.

The author is Sandra McIver and she is absolutely a genius..her book knit, swirl is beautiful and the designs are lovely.   The most amazing thing is that one size sweater fit perfectly on women of various sizes!! One young lady, who had to be a size 2, tried on a swirl and then another woman put the exact same swirl on (she was at least 6 inches taller and many sizes larger) and the sweater hung and draped perfectly on her also!!! It was just amazing.   I don't think I would have believed how gorgeous the sweaters looked if I hadn't seen it with my own eyes.    Take a look at the designs.   knit, swirl
After much swatching  and combining yarns, I choose to use Melody by JOJOland (purchased at the Adventures in Knitting event in Provincetown Mass in 2010)  and a silk and merino yarn from A Touch of Twist (purchased in Rhinebeck 2009)    At this point I have about 5 welts done, mind you I cast on over 650 stitches!!!

Loving Rhinebeck

NYS sheep and Wool festival, what a wonderful weekend. The company, Donna, and the weather was perfect. we packed alot into a short period of time, cooking demo, watching the chopsticks fastest knitter contest, sheep shearing, dog fresbie players, and of course yarn browsing.