Row Counter

I love gadgets! Found this at Needlework Unlimited in Minneapolis. The "bracelet has two different bead types. Choose one to represent a count of one (A). The other color will represent a count of ten (B). There is a large bead at the end to hold the wires together, this is the stable bead. As you complete a row, slide a bead "A" through the elastic holder towards the stable bead. When you have completed 10 rows, move all "A" beads back through the elastic away from the stable bead. Move a "B" bead towards the stable end to represent a count of ten." The picture shows a row count of 12. They are made by Moonlight Knitter, http://moonlightknitter.blogspirit.com

Saturday Sky November 24, 2007

This morning was so gray and dark I didn't think I would be able to take a sky picture, but the sky gradually cleared into this. Temperature was up in the 40's so was a beautiful day in MN.

Two Socks on Two Circulars

Finished! And both socks are identical in size! That is my only positive comment on knitting both socks on two circulars. This is my personal feeling, I just do not like making socks on two circs-I just don't like all those needles hanging around. Since I've make socks on double point needles forever, I am more comfortable with doing them that way. (I was very happy starting a new sock last night on dpns especially since the needles are KnitPicks new Harmony needles and I just love them!)

Pattern: My generic sock with a Knit 3, Purl 1 rib down the sock, down the heel, and down the instep. The heel is Gerdine Strong's heel from Knitter's, Fall 2003 and was developed by her to give a larger heel area to use for patterns. I like the way it looks with self striping yarn as the stripes continue down the entire heel rather than being interrupted for the heel flap. On the Strong heel there is no heel flap and no picking up stitches for the gusset.

Yarn: Regia Designer Series with this colorway by Kaffe Fassett. My socks are fraternal twins as I did not try to match the stripes.

Needles: Size 2. 2-24 inch circular

Entrelac Suki Bag

Finished! The bag is for a class I'm teaching at Arnhild's Knitting Camp in Ames, Iowa in February. ( www.arnhild.com ) It will be felted after the class.

Pattern: Entrelac Suki Bag. Original available at http://freefriends.org/~mare/pattern/ I decreased the width by one rectangle and the length by two triangles and made only one 5 stitch I-cord handle. Also eliminated the eyelash fun yarn at the top.
Yarn: Rauma Varmsegarn 4 skeins, 1 each of 4 colors.
Needles: Size 7 -24 inch circular and double point

Saturday Sky November 17, 2007

The weather was very variable today. Snow flurries this morning, cloudy all day, but the sun peaked through late this afternoon resulting in this beautiful sky. Cold and windy today.

Amazing Threads Retreat

Saturday Sky November 10, 2007

Grandview Lodge in Nisswa, MN for Amazing Threads Retreat. Mostly cloudy with periods of sun. Beauiful day.

Necklace

For many years, Betsy made cute little decorations for our nametags at MN Knitters' Days-things like miniature mittens, hats, shawl, stitch markers. This year she made a necklace for each of us. This is the one I made similar to hers.

Yarn: Cosmos

Needle: Size 2, 15 inch circular.

For this size I cast on 120 sts on the circular needle, put the bead on the needle, joined the knitting, knit one row sliding the bead along, and cast off. Done!

Spring Blossom Shawl

The shawl is done! Here it is unblocked.

And here it is blocked! What a difference!

I've talked before about the pads I'm using for blocking. They are called "Connect-a-Mat" available at Target. They are rubber mats, shaped like puzzle pieces which fit together like a puzzle, and have number cut outs in each mat. Obviously, they're made for a child, but they work perfectly for blocking. I can block out my shawl on my kitchen counter so I don't have to crawl around on the floor and being rubber I can stick the pins right in. I did use blocking wires for this shawl. When it is pinned out, I can lift the whole thing-carefully-and put it on the floor out of the way.

Pattern: Fiber Trends. Spring Blossoms Shawl by Eugen K. Bugler

Yarn: Gems by Pearl distributed by Louet. 100% Wool

Needles: Circular size 4.

I discovered the KnitPicks Harmony needles and used those to complete the shawl. I just love them! I ordered only one tip and one set of cables, started knitting on this shawl and before I'd finished the round I was on the computer ordering the complete set of interchangeable needles. (There were close to 700 stitches on the needle.)The points are sharp and nicely tapered and the wood very smooth so the stitches slide beautifully. I did have some difficulty with 2 of the cables-one wouldn't screw tight into the needle and the other one had a nick in it which caught on the yarn. Also had trouble with one of the tips-it didn't screw together tightly, leaving a small gap between the tip and cable. I notified KnitPicks and they replaced them for me.

Entrelac Suki Bag

This is the start of an entrelac bag I think I'm going to be using to teach a class at Arnhild's Knitting Camp in Ames, Iowa in February. (www.arnhild.com ) We are in the midst of discussing whether to cut the size from a tote bag to a purse size or to offer both options. The pattern is written for tote size, but it will be easy to cut it down to a smaller size.

Pattern: Available free at http://freefriends.org/~Mare/pattern

Yarn: Rauma Vamse-garn

Needle: #8 circular and will need double points to complete the bottom.

Saturday Sky November 3, 2007

I should have taken the beautiful blue sky early this morning, as it got progressively cloudier all day, so is pretty gray at 4:30PM. Temperature was up in the 50's though, not bad for MN.

More New Books

I love to buy new books! Just happened to find these in the book store a few days ago. Obviously I can't read the books I buy as fast as I buy them. (Sounds like my knitting projects.)Not Tonight Darling, I'm Knitting by Betsy Hosegood is a hodgpodge-in a good way-of knitting. It talks about history, important people in knitting world, yarns, fibers,knitting in the 21st century, and care of knits, among other things. Knit One, Haiku Too by Maria Fire is poems, stories and stitches, inspirational.