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12/21/2007 10:20:05 AM
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Do I feel clever, or what??
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It`s old knitting patterns for baby things that I get given for Dorcas. I don`t photocopy published or posted patterns unless I have permission, so they just kept piling up. When I reached 17 copies of the same pattern amongst the 100s I had, I realized that if I just inserted the printed pattern into the kit, I`m not violating any laws or anyone`s rights - not reproduction just reusing - so I`ve reduced the stash considerably. Don`t know why it took the lightbulb so long to click on. Now the problem is that not too many of the knitters like working with 7-8 stitches per inch. Somehow when the pattern is knitted in worsted weight instead of baby with the same stitch count, the result is a little odd looking.
Yarn, I can always use for Dorcas.
Alice
Salt Spring Island
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12/22/2007 11:10:34 AM
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Just noticed this pattern
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Really like `Lillie`. Maybe in a dark tweed HW? Or black alpaca?
Alice
Salt Spring Island
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12/22/2007 11:16:30 AM
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Last munute gifts - who`s knitting them?
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Les, knit the regular 2x2 rib toque - cast on 72 stitches worsted yarn and keep going for about 8 inches, then decrease for the top piece - I posted this in more detail a while back. Takes about 2 TV programmes to knit up and stretches or shrinks to fit any size/shape head. Varigated yarn is very good. Don`t fuss about anything fancy - everyone loves these as they do fit and stay on.
Alice
Salt Spring Island.
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12/23/2007 9:37:10 AM
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Lisa, you better get to froggin`
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Interesting how our Wren collars all turned out differently. I knit the second one smaller (fewer rows) to be different, but CBM knew instantly that it was a Wren when we met in Sidney.
Alice
Salt Spring Island.
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12/23/2007 9:38:40 AM
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Last munute gifts - who`s knitting them?
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Thanks, Benne.
Alice
Salt Spring Island
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12/27/2007 12:19:34 PM
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HELP - HP Sweater
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Further to Libby, you can take off the ribbing in one piece, remove the extra length and graft (Kitchener stitch) the ribbing back on. Or, try reattaching it with 3-needle bind-off. Do a couple of inches and see what it looks like before you make a final decision.
Alice
Salt Spring Island
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12/27/2007 12:45:06 PM
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A manly sweater!
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Really great sweater. Similar to the saddle shouldered cardi I did for my version for the Scotland samples - we both read the same part of EZ! I short-rowed beneath the yokes to give the shoulders a bit of slope. Did the side ribbing on Erin`s modified drop shoulder version, to be sure that it would fit hin in a flattering manner.
Suzanne S has termed my pattern making style `organic knitting`. Sounds good!
Alice
Salt Spring Island
Must get some some of these patterns in a form to post. I knitted 2 of the saddle shoulders one and Naomi finished her version.
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12/27/2007 12:47:02 PM
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Just me and my turkey!
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That`s too early to be up! Merry Christmas!
Alice
Salt Spring Island
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12/27/2007 8:51:02 PM
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Oh yay, Christmas knitting in the sidebar
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Mark couldn`t get his feet in the photo and take it, too. His are red, fuschia, and orange stripes.
Cooperative feet, I like that!
Alice
Salt Spring Island
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12/29/2007 12:03:50 PM
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Salt Spring Island Retreats in June
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Hi Everyone!
I`ve prepared the e-flyer for the June retreats. Theme this year is `modular knitting` with squares, triangles, hexagons, stripes, bias, etc, etc. Knit lots of samples and several small or one large project. Learn how to incorporate just a few shapes to liven-up a project. As usual, all-inclusive at the farmhouse. Same course is given twice in June. E-mail me at truemana@telus.net if you would like me to zap you a flyer.
Alice
Salt Spring Island
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1/1/2008 10:59:05 AM
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New Year, new knitting?
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Hi Bets
Would you like to sample my pattern? It`s top-down, saddle shoulders,back yoke with short-row shaping below the saddle in front and below the yoke in the back,set-in sleeves, knitted all in one piece. Cast-on in middle of back yoke and knit in both directions, then when you start the sleeves, you knit from right front, across right sleeve (shaping as you go), across the back, left sleeve, and left front.
It`s fun to knit. I`ve knitted two, one in something Irish from stash, and the second in elann Sierra as my knit-along during the retreat in Scotland. The second one has cabling across the back yoke and down the sleeves. Naomi finished hers from Scotland with some modifications. I need someone to try out the pattern without my being right there. If you are interested in knitting it in something from Elann, we could post it in free-patterns after polishing. It`s definitely what Suzanne calls `organic knitting`. It can be knitted to fit in any size, any yarn, any gauge. At present, it`s still in workshop form, so needs a serious knitter.
Let me know.
Alice
Salt Spring Island
Salt Spring Island
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1/1/2008 2:07:26 PM
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New Year, new knitting?
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Great!
We`re away from Friday until the end of the month. My daughter will monitor my e-mail and answer knitting retreat questions, confirm reservations, etc, but not give too much advice about the pattern as she probably hasn`t seen it (she was teaching in Singapore the year of that retreat).
Would you like me to e-mail you the pattern before I go or after I get back?
Alice
Salt Spring Island
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1/1/2008 3:26:27 PM
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Composition or color--let`s talk
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You`re right, Bets, the colours and the tints and shades vary with the nationality of the yarn`s origin. I hadn`t thought about colours before in that sense. I just went through some of companies on `Search` and had a good look at the colours. Being of the traditional British colouring, I do much better with blue based colours rather than yellow/orange base - like many of the Italian and Mediterranean choices. Also, colours need to be clear, too, not muddied up.
To answer your question - I gave up long ago knitting for me in colours I didn`t like: I just never finished, no matter how great the yarn, so there was no point. Of course, you can always overdye.
Alice
Salt Spring Island
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1/1/2008 10:27:06 PM
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AAARRRWWWWRRRRRR
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Follow the good advice and try not to worry. DD refused to take a bottle, I would nurse her at 6am and then she would stoically wait until I got home from school at 4:30pm. That was when she was 7-8 weeks old. Doctor told me not to worry about a baby that round and rolly-polly getting enough to eat. Watch for food allergies. Just don`t feel guilty.
Just knit some more.
Alice
Salt Spring Island
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1/3/2008 10:15:02 AM
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The Knitting Way by Skolnik & MacDaniels
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Look at the pictures, that`s what they are there for! The Yarn Harlot`sbooks are really funny (she is in person too), EZ is straight-forward and practical, but most other `talky` knitting books seem to operate on a different plane from me. Knitting is a craft based in practicality - even the most complicated lace-weight shawl has a purpose and will keep you warm - so why try to move it into a `different dimension`? As I rarely follow a pattern exactly, I like pictures!
Alice
Salt Spring Island
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1/3/2008 10:29:39 AM
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More "Lady or the Tiger" knitting
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Try putting in a little waist shaping, some short rows for bust darts, and angle the shoulders with short rows. If you use modified drop sleeves, the top will look more elegant. At armhole height, cast off about two inches of each side of back and front, and then knit straight up. Pick-up stitches on the straight parts for the sleeves, knit two inches straight [to reach the side seams] and then start decreasing. Practise short rows in the pattern in a swatch and I think you`ll be surprised at how little they show.
The pattern is probably written in pillowcase shape to make it fit the `intermediate` category whereas short rows and lace would push it into `advanced` or `super-advanced`. It`s still knitting one stitch at a time, not difficult, just more to keep track of.
Give it a try.
Alice
Salt Spring Island
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1/3/2008 3:49:48 PM
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2008 Fibrefest International - Abbotsford, BC
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If you cross at Sumas, Abbotsford is very close. If you go up the I-5 and cross at Blain or the Truck Crossing, it`ll probably take you an hour after the actual crossing to find the place. You do not have to go into Vancouver.
Alice
Salt Spring Island
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1/4/2008 9:43:29 AM
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Off to Mexico
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We`re off today to Merida and then to a house on the beach. Internet connection is apparently with a card like a phone card, so will try to check in from time to time.
DD is monitoring my e-mail and will answer questions about the retreats in June, accept bookings, etc. So if you get a message from Dani and not me, that`s why. The second retreat is already about full - if you are part of the group with Les and Benne, you`re in. Lots of room in the earlier one - June 12th - 19th - singles and the loft. So if you go on to truemana@telus.net, you`ll get Dani.
I`ll think of you all in cold places. Knit lots.
Alice
Salt Spring Island
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1/28/2008 10:59:55 AM
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Hi from Mexico
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Blue skies, warm sunshine, rolling waves, and swimming pool - that´s winter in the Yucatan. Life Long Learning course about the history of Merida is great. Back on Friday - more later.
Alice
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2/2/2008 4:04:49 PM
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48" LeClerc counter balance loom
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Give it a good home, quickly. Just think of all the stash you can use up making one-of-a-kind cushion covers, wall-hangings, piano runners, pieces for vests, etc. Weave panels for jackets. Get someone to help you put on a long warp in basic colours, and then you can play!
Alice
Salt Spring Island
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