Pattern Tamers and New Books

My Pattern Tamers arrived today and I love them! The set comes with 3 different lengths (the top three) and has many patterns available. The bottom shows what they are-2 magnets on a length of fabric which grasp together on both sides of the pattern so it is very secure. I've always used Post-It Notes but find the sticky looses its stickiness and they fall off.They are available at www.patterntamers.comSeveral new books are out. Retro Knits, edited by Kari Cornell and Jean Lampe is a book of vintage patterns for men, women and children from the 1900s through the 1970s. It is fun to page through and see the original pictures-several I have had. Several patterns are included which have been updated with schematics, sizing and yarn and needle recommendations.

Kari was at the MN Knitters Guild meeting this month and autographed books.

Sorry, Blogger turned this picture on its side and I don't know how to rotate it. Knitalong, Celebrating the Tradition of Knitting Together is by Larissa Brown and Martin John Brown. Knitalong is defined as any organized event where people knit together for a common purpose or goal and talks about Knitting Cafes, Knitting Circles and Meet-Ups, Knit-ins, Knitting in War and Peace, Online Knitalongs, Knitting Blogs, Competing at the State Fair, Challenge Knitalong, Swaps and Giving to Friends, Giving to the Earth and Giving to People in Need. Each chapter includes a pattern.

Knitting Through It, Inspiring Stories for Times of Trouble edited by Lela Nargi. The book tells stories of knitting through adversity from war and poverty to imprisonments and political anxiety. Also included are black-and-white photographs from the Library of Congress archives as well as some patterns.

Saturday Sky May 24, 2008

The day was beautiful! Not only weather-wise, but emotionally. This weekend was my 50th college reunion of my St Olaf Graduation. (At least they insist it is-it surely doesn't feel that way.) The day was partly cloudy with temperatures probably in the 60's and of course, being on "the hill" it was windy. The picture is of the new chime tower. There is a wind chime in the tower for each student who has died during their student days. Very solemn and meaningful! In the background is the Chapel which has so many wonderful memories.

These are special people! We are some of the nurses from the class of 1958. We went through a lot together and have such memories and friendships. The other students envy us the closeness we have. (Do we look like we graduated from college 50 years ago? We don't think so!)

I like my water fresh, please

Jasmine, my grand-kitty, is the closest I'll get to my dream of having a rabbit. Her fur and her brothers, who is bigger, might spin up quite nicely. I'll see, someday. Jasmine sits by the sink and meows until someone lifts her up and turns on the water.

Project Little Lamb

Project Little Lamb is asking for knitters, crocheters and quilters to make children size afghans before August 1, 2008 for use by Cornerstone clients. Cornerstone is a Minnesota-based nonprofit dedicated to the prevention of domestic violence. www.cornerstonemn.org Both Amazing Threads and Minnesota Knitters' Guild are collecting completed afghans.

Pattern: Elegantly Simple Baby Blanket by Jackie Erickson-Schweitzer. The pattern is a free download with the stipulation the blanket be made for charity. www.heartstringsfiberarts.com

Yarn: Red Heart Pound of Love

Needles: Size 10

The pattern is written for baby yarn but mine is worsted. I just increased the recommended needle size and did fewer repeats of the pattern.

Spring?

My rhubarb is ready to be picked. I've got a recipe for strawberry rhubarb bars I'm anxious to try.

The dandelions are blooming. Today finally feels like a nice spring day. Maybe the cold weather is over.

Wallaby Cardigan Finished

Wonderful Wallaby Cardigan is finished! This was knit to test the new pattern for Cottage Creations, probably will be out in the fall. The last step was to hand sew in the zipper.

This is it.

See posts of April 25 and March 15 for details.

Saturday Sky May 17, 2008

A beautiful spring day-the leaves are out and the temperature should be in the 60's.

Reverser Hat

A fun hat to knit! It is knit side to side by starting with a provisional cast on, shaping with short rows and grafting the end and cast on together. I did not knit it to qauge as I wanted a smaller hat to fit a child to donate to charity.

Pattern: Reverser by Woolly Wormhead in book Going Straight. She also has some free patterns on her website, www.woollywormhead.com

Yarn: Encore

Needles: Size 7

Saturday Sky May 10, 2008, Shepherd's Harvest

Saturday Sky at Shepherd's Harvest in Lake Elmo, MN. This picture was supposed to have a dog herding sheep in the foreground, but I forgot that when I use the digital zoom on the camera, what I see in the viewfinder is not what the camera takes. And for some reason, I didn't look at the picture after I took it. Anyway, it was a fun day, especially since I was there before the rain started. It was cloudy and windy in the morning and then rained the rest of the day with the temperature barely reaching 50.
In addition to the sheep and dogs, there were beautiful angora rabbits on display and for sale. I've decided I want one, but did refrain from buying one until : 1) I study the different breeds, 2) Figure out where I would keep one, 3) Prepare my husband. In my head I know I should not get one as I do travel a lot and my husband who is not an animal lover would have to take care of it. Oh well, it is a dream. Maybe I'll even get my spinning wheel out of hibernation.

Alpacas and llamas. I've even thought of having one in my back yard, but I suppose the city of Brooklyn Park and our town house association would frown on that.

Sheep shearing.

And many spinners.

And of course, lots of yarn. This was my only purchase-corn fiber.

I is for Incomplete

I is for Incomplete. These are my "active" incomplete projects: 1) Mitered Square Sock Blanky, 2) Children's afghan for Project Little Lambs, 3) Wonderful Wallaby Cardigan (test knitting), 4) Monkey Socks, 5) Bleeding Hearts Shawl. Photographing all my UFO's would not fit in one picture!

Checkered Dishcloth

This is for a class I'll be teaching at Amazing Threads designed to teach new knitters to combine knit and purl stitches.
Pattern: Checkered Dishcloth from Dishcloth Botique
Yarn: Color Spun Cotton by Kertzer
Needle: Size 7

New Book

Things I Learned from Knitting..whether I wanted to or not by Stephanie Pearl-McPhee is another fun read. Among her list of 45 things are: Beginning is easy, continuing is hard (this is so me!); You can't win them all; Look before you leap; Idle hands are the devil's workshop; if at first you don't succeed, try, try again. Scattered throughout the book are lists of things "Knitting is still trying to teach me" and random lists like, "5 things I'd rather do than swatch for my new project" with things like, "get a spinal tap". Love her humor!

Saturday Sky May 3, 2008

A beautiful blue sky, but cold and windy with temperature only reaching the high 40's. At least it is not snowing or raining.

Winter Study

Winter Study by Nevada Barr was an exciting read, more so for me as my cousin is actually a character in the book. It is centered around the wolf/moose study on Isle Royle which my cousin, Rolf Peterson, has directed for 50 years. I laughed out loud when one of the characters talked about keeping another member of the team from falling asleep after an overdose of drugs/alcohol and states she learned a lot from her questioning including that Rolf Peterson had great legs. I'll have to check that one out!

Argyle Socks

First one finished. I'll do the second one along with the class when I teach it at Amazing Threads.

Pattern: Socknitters.com. Argyle tutorial by Edie Eckman

Yarn: Comfort Sport

Needles: Size 4

JayWalker Socks

This is the project I worked on during my vacation. A fun knit.
Pattern: Jaywalker by Grumpperina from MagKnits. www.magknits.com/Sept05
Yarn: Austermann Step
Needles: Size 1 1/2 double points

Saturday Sky April 19 and 26

Boy, I have been bad posting on my blog. Seems Ravelry is taking up a lot of my time! The sky looked gray and cloudy for both of these weekends, but on the 26th we woke up to a covering of snow.