It's a Holiday!

Happy 4th of July

I hope you get to have great summer food, wonderful company and lots of knitting.

Wandering around in pattern world

After I finished the Hemlock Ring I thought for sure I'd start a pattern that I had really had planed to do for a long time. But, NNNNOOOOO. Found out that I wasn't in the mood for it. Have you been at that place before? So I spent days going through Ravelry. Every pattern, everything I had in favorites, etc. Finally I thought ok, I just need to knit something, I don't care what it is. (not like I don't have a few things on the needles right now, but they didn't interest me either) So I started a Moebius scarf. Check out this really cool moebius pattern. It turned out really well. I will be making a lot of these for gift giving. The picture is about 2 rounds before I did the bind off.



So that filled the knitting appetite a little, but I was still hungry. So back to the search. A search that I was beginning to believe would not end. And to be honest, though I have picked up another project, it isn't the project that is taking care of the "one" project. The best that I can compare this to, it's like having a craving for your favorite food, and not getting it for a few weeks. You eat things that you like, but it isn't THE thing you crave. So in the mean time while I am searching the THE project I started the first block on a Barn Raising Quilt
by Shelley Mackie & Larissa Brown. You can find it here.




But check out this website. If you would like to participate in something and feel the need to give of yourself. This is the site for you. This knitalong is for you. Click here. For a short time the pattern will be available for free. This is a picture of SenoraFuerte’s version.



It's a wonderful pattern to cut your stash down to a manageable size. I'm using all my leftover sock yarns. This pattern can be done EVERYWHERE. I love it. Here is the start of my first block.

So while I wander around for THE pattern I will work block by block, sock by sock.

Hemlock Ring Blanket FINISHED!!!

I'm really excited about finishing this blanket. You know how there are some patterns that you just "click" with? Well this is one of them for me. With that said, I have to say that I am not that happy with how it blocked, but that is because I used an inexpensive yarn instead anything close to what it called for. The person who is getting this, needed something that can be washed a lot and durable for a little rough handling. Using expensive yarn was not an option. Anyway, it looks wonderful, she will love it. (I'm just picky, or at least I've been told that. :-) )

Last night I took a few pictures of it. The lighting in the room was horrible so the colors are not true, but you can get the jest of it. The center is a buttercup color, then a light blue, (kind of like NC's blue) and then white.

If you are interested in the pattern here is a link. Brooklyn Tweed, also, there is a Group on Yahoo. There you can find an extended version of the chart to give you another few rounds.

Ok, now for the pictures....

One more thing, about this blanket. When I was 4 rows away from finishing. I messed up on the count and didn't catch it until I was done with 600 stitches. The whole row needed to come out. My heart dropped. I was on a roll and then I got in a hurry and messed up. The thoughts of taking those stitches out brought a wave and frustration and PO at myself. I put the blanket down and didn't even look at it until the next morning. When I picked it up, I knew that I needed to slow down, take my time and get back into the zone I had created. This blanket and I had a relationship. So I got a cup of coffee, sat at the table and started, stitch by stitch. I found the mistake about 3 inches from the beginning of that row. By changing my attitude, I actually enjoyed the silence of the house, that calm rhythm I had going and my coffee. Taking those stitches out became relaxing and then knitting the row correctly was no problem. Everything to that point had been so smooth. Now I have a story when I look at that blanket. Something more to remember it by, a personal experience between us. It was a blessing for me.

Blessed Be

For the love of knitting

Lately I have been doing a lot of knitting for friends that are going through some rough times. Even though my life isn't easy right now, these ladies are facing some terrible obstacles. I know they are strong and will make it through no matter what, but they will be changed and I pray for the better when all is said and done. No matter we have going on, we have so much to be grateful for. While you knit today, think about all the things you have to be thankful for. It will make your day so much better.

Everyone knows that I love Entrelac knitting. And I was fortunate to find on Ravelry this great pattern. Triangle Entrelac Shawls by Diane Conroy . This was the perfect shawl to make for my friend Suzan. She's a tiny lady and needed something big, snugly and warm. This is a wonderful pattern, easy to knit up and Diane also has some other Entrelac patterns that you might be interested in.

Update: 4/14

My friend sent me a picture of her and the prayer shawl/blanket. She looks great with it.

Once I finished the Triangle Entrelac Shawl, I started Jared Flood's Hemlock Ring. This is also a gift for someone. I have done a lot more work on it, and I love how it's coming together. I have made the inside a light yellow, and then change out to a pale blue. It's coming out really well. You can find the pattern info not only on his blog but on Ravelry.

I'll be posting more pictures soon.

Blessed be

Pictures from Stitches South 2009 Atlanta

STITCHES South 2009 Atlanta

We had such a great time. We saw some beautiful yarn and talked to so many people. My daughter and one of my knitting students went with me and since it was our first time to Stitches we oogled over everything. LOL. I don't think that they had ever seen so much yarn in one place. ;-)

Well let me take you through the pictures.

This is a closeup of Tradewinds by Creataively Dyed Yarn. Color: Java. it's 100% superwash merino. 500 yards of beauty. You can find her on Ravelry also. Her user name is Creative, and she has a group. Here is her link. http://www.ravelry.com/groups/creatively-dyed.

Here's the full hank picture. I got the ball winder out this morning and while I had my morning coffee I got this all ready. Now I have to find the perfect pattern.

This is called Rick Rack by Interlacements. It's 1200 yards and hand dyed by Judy L. Ditmore. It's 100% Rayon which I've not used before, but they had a shawl made up in this and it was breath taking. So this is shawl bound.

This is the full shot of the yarn.

Break time with the goodies. Just behind were we were sitting was The Knit Witch's booth. I had a great time there.

On the way out Victoria wanted a picture by the socks. Though we got in a little trouble for it, we still got the shot. LOL. OOOOOPPPPPS!

This is my daughter Sara and me leaving. I didn't want to go. But my feet and wallet insisted. They just didn't seem to have a sense of humor.

And here are the "girls" Victoria and Sara. They had a ball. I am so glad that I had a little part in opening up more of the knitting world to them. They are great knitters and great women.

So that was our Market Day together.

Stitches 2009 and Ravelry

OMG, what a great time I had today at Stitches 2009 Atlanta. I had my daughter and one of my knitting students with me. It was great. I hope they enjoyed it as much as I did.

Not only did we see some of the most beautiful yarn, I got to talk to some of the ladies I know from different Ravelry groups I'm in. One of the fun things was watching the demo of the Knit One Below knitting. I got to meet the author, Elise Duvekot, and got her to sign my book. I am really excited about making the socks out of this book. I mentioned that I was a knitting teacher and she handed me a stack of the free patterns for the Knit One Below Scarf, to share with my students. She was extremely nice.

So right now I am working on pictures of the goodies I got, very soon I'll have them posted. Right now, my feet are up and I'm requesting a margarita.

Stitches 2009 in Atlanta

I am so EXCITED!!!!

My schedule is cleared and I can go at least to the Market.

I wasn't sure if it was going to work out but it did. Very cool. The thoughts of it being about 20 minutes from where I live and not being able to go was driving me nuts. ;-)

This weekend is the Georgia Renaissance Festival and the next Stitches. It's going to be a great month.