Knitting is in Vogue

At one time knitting was considered out of touch, old fashioned and passé.   That didn't stop me from knitting..but it wasn't easy to find yarns of interest and I guess I did knit a little less.   The knitting world has changed over the years, and there is a renewed energy.    Blogs, podcasts, on-line videos and classes, knitting groups, conventions and world wide travel excursions, have brought thousands of knitters together.   The variety of  yarns only slightly surpasses the variety of knitters representing all ages, backgrounds, lifestyles, origins and personalities.....knitting,crochet,spinning and weaving is for everyone..   I had a wonderful time at #vogue knitting live Chicago.   Sharing time with friends and family.

A long time friendship... I met my friend in 7th grade.    Marj is  sweet, kind and giving.  She enjoys her life, family and friendships with joy and happiness... She is also a knitter  and one day she asked me what she could knit for me....boy that was so nice.  You know as a knitter, we rarely get hand knit gifts from others.  She had just learned how to make a moebius and I said that a rich, dark wine color would be great.     I love my cowl............ Thanks M

Moebius Cowl 

She is a peach, and she collects pears.  

So here you go,  knit it in shades of Malabrigo, multi strands.  Think I found the pattern on Ravelry

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Another reason why I live here:  


 Sheep grazing in the vineyard.....

Throw Back to 2014:   Keeping toes warm--December 2014

My friend Chris needs to keep his toes warm, so I thought I'd give this pattern (in the book below) a go.   The yarn is "Love"(exterior) and the lining is crocheted with this delightfully soft, fun yarn (which I purchased for another project---to be posted soon) It's Bernat Tizzy.    Chris loves his new slipper/shoe.

Throw Back to 2014:  The Quake

We all have projects waiting in the wings...well my wings got a lot shaken in August when the 6.0 earthquake bounced me around a bit.   I'd like to say it got me out of bed, but the truth is in my attempt to run (who knows where I think I was going?) that shaking pushed my right back in bed.   Living only 6 miles from the epicenter of the quake, I was surprised and thankful, how little was damaged.

I guess living is such a beautiful place is the trade-off for the possibility of disaster.   Even as I sit here typing,  the house did a little creak, my heart jumped, but I wouldn't think it's time to leave.  For a few days after the quake, I went into a state of heighten alertness, cautious and everything seemed to slow down.    I drove over to Napa and saw the real damage a quake can cause.  Again thankful that everyone I know is OK...........and asked myself "what are you waiting for?"    There is so much you want and have to do.


I went into overdrive.   All those projects, all that yarn (and fabric), all the time....must not go to waste.  I finished the quilt top and took it to Broadway Quilts to have in quilted.   Next I took a  look in my stash to prioritize projects.

I pulled out cotton yarn I purchased at Blue Bird Yarns in Sausalito about 4 years ago.  This is a crocheted market bag.....just the prefect bag for my daughter's trips to the Farmer's Market.

I crochet the square together

 What do you do with a whole lot of Silk Garden?

You know how it is when you are a knitter.   You go to a knitting event and there are just so many beautiful, colorful, delicious and touchable yarns.  

And then you go ahead against your better judgement and buy that bag of yarn, cuss the price is just too good to let go.

So then years later you find bags of the stuff in your stash..Multiple colors and also weights.

So I said to myself "Why Not an afghan in Entrelac?"

And so it begins........more to follow

beginning the entrelac

 

New thing for me.  Feldenkrais classes.   I wasn't totally sure  what this was all about but the description was attractive to me...slow movement and comfort from pain..    I thoroughly enjoyed the class.   Really slow movements and a meditative (hypnotic) state.  Right up my alley.  I actually felt a shift, pop release in my side and total comfort.  Wonderful

 Of course I needed a yoga mat and of course that mat needed a bag. There are a few patterns to choose from on Ravelry.

  Have you used the magic circle to begin your circular crochet?

Real Men Wear Pink Donation

So hard to believe this is something I knit 6 months ago.   Knit for a wonderful cause.

Envolve Winery's function "Real Men Wear Pink".
   A fundraiser for women in the Sonoma
community who need assistance in getting Mammograms.


This is a pattern I created.  It's a moebius, 2 X 2 rib, knit in Wool-ease Thick and Quick. The body is knit in a charcoal shade and on the last two rows I added a thinner light grey yarn.   Next to last row was a mix of charcoal and lt. grey.  Last row and bind off is done in a double strand of the thinner grey yarn.




Pattern is available on Ravelry.
ElizSCknits

Socks, Socks and more Socks.

This is getting addicting.  Finished the socks....so fast with Cascade 220 and number 1 needles. 

I used the Toe up method , two at one time and the Cat Bordhi's Tomato heel.

Mailed them off this morning..... Enjoy Kids.  

Thing 1 and Thing 2

These sweaters and hats are sooo... Cute.   A friend contacted me and said she wanted to make these sweaters and asked for a suggestion on the hat pattern.   She was using my "At the Game" pattern for the sweaters and I found a the Magic Coffee Hat on Ravalry......Just got this photo of the finished work.    Can't wait to see the babies in these outfits.     Great job.   Deb

Note:  At the Game (on Ravalry--ElizcsKnits)  work in stripes and it's so easy when you knit in the round and top down.  

Magic Coffee Hat (on Ravalry) just at the end do not end at the top of hat, use 5-6 stitches and create an I cord.  

The Tomato Heel

Cat Bordhi's tomato heel, have you tried it yet?   I have been meaning to for quite a while and finally took the plunge...so happy I did.   Love the ease of constructing it and the way it looks.

Chunky yarn

Although I knit all my socks toe up, I find once I get to the heel I will knit one at a time and use one circular.   You can always revert back to the two circulars once you complete both heels.  

Go Ohio State!!!

 I really like a thicker sock...... using a worsted weight makes the project go much faster.  

Cascade 220- one Skein does it

2014 in review:    

October in Chicago at Vogue Knitting

What a wonderful experience, my first visit to Vogue knitting and the best part my daughter was there too!!  She found a few things she liked at the market place.  

The classes were outstanding:  

Amy Herzog all about finishing,  Entrelac with Rosemary Drysdale and machine knitting too!

The Hotel  Palmer House was a lovely place, comfortable and right in the middle of down town. The perfect place to sit and knit with hundreds of other knitters and just a few steps for the most beautiful park and museum.      Definitely planning on another trip.  

Looking back at all the projects of 2014 in no particular order-
Every once in a while I'll take a look back at 2014--I was so surprised to see the number of projects I had completed.

Knit Swirl-

Swirl in the beginning:  I began this project in March of 2013 and it was completed (after 12 months of rest) in September 2014.   Just in time for Vogue Knitting.

I was afraid I didn't have enough yarn.  When I returned to Stitches to pick up more they had discontinued the line...off the find something else to add to the mix.  I did find a lovely variegated wool, but as it turned out I had enough of the original yarns....now what shall I knit with all that variegated wool?  

Swirl complete:  so warm and cozy