MN Knitters' Days

Over the weekend I was at the annual MN Knitters' Days in Fontenac, MN at the Villa Maria Retreat Center. Our teacher this year was Candace Eisner-Strick and the topic was based on her new book, Strickly Socks. (Sorry-again-that the pictures are on the side. I know the reason, but not how to correct it. If I turn my camera when I take the picture, Blogger will turn it to its original position, even if I've turned it when I downloaded it.)

She is such a fun and good instructor, very descriptive and agile in her explanations.

Candice with Sheryl Hill, the organizer of MN Knitters' Days. Sheryl has made some of the most amazing sweaters! (I've had this same one on needles for several years.)

This is the beginning of our classwork. Candace's socks start with a provisional cast on at the top of the foot, just before the top shaping. It is then knit back and forth for the top of the foot, working the decreases. When all the decreases are done, you work down the bottom of the foot, working back and forth and picking up stitches from the top piece making the increases. When the increases are done, the provisional cast on is removed and the rest of the sock is make in the round as usual. The heel is made just like the toe. I didn't work that as I figured I knew how. (I'm always a rebel to some degree.)

Candace brought sock yarn donated to us and we got to choose our color. I seemed to be on a purple streak this weekend.

Candace was selling her lace weight yarn which she used for her cascading colors kits so I bought 4-300 yard skeins of that. It's 100% merino wool.

Blackberry Ridge had some of their yarn there and I grabbed this up as soon as I saw it! 100% silk.

This year we visited an alpaca farm not far from where we were staying, but I'll do a separate post for that because I took many, many pictures.