You Gotta See What's On My Needles!

I recently taught a class on Fair Isle knitting for members and others of the North Georgia Knitting Guild.  The class project was designed by Patti Henry and used with her permission. It is a free pattern on Ravelry called the Dots and Stripes Purse. Several participants are on their way to finishing this lovely bag.  Here is a finished purse by Amy:

 

I think a majority of the students used yarn from their stash leftover from other projects.

The Fair Isle technique along with using leftover stash yarn gave me the idea for the project that is currently on my needles.  I purchased a new denim jacket.  I removed the sleeves and I am using the sleeves as a pattern for the knitted sleeves that will take the place of the denim sleeves. 

 

I am working the sleeves two at a time on two circular needles to be sure that my sleeves will be identical.  I had a large stash of Knit Picks Palette yarn in so many different colors.  The motifs are totally random.  Some from a book, some made up. Most likely the sleeves will be sewn in by machine after careful basting.  Stay tuned to see the finished project. If you are not up for a sleeve project, why not add a simple square pocket to your jacket using fair isle or even your favorite stitch pattern.  Let me see what you come up with!!! What are your ideas?

 



Technique Tip Tuesday!!!! Buttonholes and Blocking

 Picture this!  You've knitted the perfect buttonholes on your sweater.
You block your sweater and your buttonholes turn into huge holes.

Solution: Using a contrasting color of yarn, "sew" your buttonhole together so that while you are blocking your buttonhole remains closed.
 



Music Monday!!! "Pardon Me, I Didn't Knit That For You" Sung by Kay Gardiner and Ann Shayne.

Today's Music Monday is a song uploaded onto youtube in 2008.  The song describes the phenomenon of the "sweater curse", the belief that if a knitter gives a hand-knit sweater to a significant other, it will lead to the recipient breaking up with the knitter.
Kay and Ann can be found on Mason Dixon Knitting where they have been blogging about knitting since 2003. 

Watch the Video here!

These Guys Crack Me Up!!

I was so fortunate to have collided with the Stephen & Steven Tour 2014 while I was in Manchester, NH at the Knit and Crochet Show!  Although there were many great things to do and see at the show, this had to be my favorite!
What a Hoot!!  These two men are so creative and so contagious! They are obviously passionknit about what they do.   I attended their class called "Dynamic Duo".  It was a kind of free-form anything goes kinda class.  A "rules go out the window" kinda class. 
StephenBe is a designer and business owner in Minneapolis with a career worth reading about.
Steven West is a designer, teacher, and author living in Amsterdam, but originally from Tulsa, OK. His designs are very eye-catching and artistic.
 If  you really want to keep up with what is going on and exciting in the knitting world these days, I highly recommend that you check these two guys out.  Fun for sure!!
A picture is worth a thousand words!  Wish I hadn't taken blurry photos!!  Anyway, I think you get the idea.

   Steven West in his knitted shorts.

  Steven West modeling some of his own pieces.

Me and the Ste(ph)(v)ens.  Selfie

The Knit and Crochet Show

Well today I am packing for my business trip.  I am heading to Manchester, NH for the Knit & Crochet Show to meet up with some old friends, make new friends, take classes, and get inspired.  I know that I'll be excited to show you what I saw and what I learned.  I will be taking a free-form crochet class with Margaret Hubert.  Free-form is so much fun!!

I will also be taking a class with StevenBe and Stephen West called Dynamic Duo.  This is the class I am most excited about! The class is billed as: "Stephen and Steven will lead this opened ended free form workshop to set you free. Class will be set up in teams of two. Basic guidelines will be given to class and each team will have a rough goal established. Spin the design wheel and see what is the next direction. The duo team will exchange projects back and forth with frequent direction from the Dynamic Duo of Stephen and Steven. No one will know the outcome of the final project until all revealed. Ravelry contest will be set up on line. We will have a best of promotion. A grand prize will be awarded in the fall. It is our version of a project runway challenge."
I am not really sure what I'm in for on this one but it sounds exciting.

Stay tuned for my review of the entire show when I return!

Tips for Handmade Gifts

I often wonder what becomes of some of the hand knit and crochet gifts that I give.  I often mention laundering recommendations, but who will remember that?  Here is an easy and personal way to do laundry tags and personalized identity tags for your hand made gifts.

I use Fabric Quick Fuse which is a fabric sheet that can go in your printer! You can even print photographs for t-shirts or quilts. I bought mine at Michael's.

 

I use the Avery Template # 5167, the return address template to prepare my tags.

Copy and paste the laundry symbols from the Laundry Guide.

                                                  

 

Use the symbols that correspond to your yarn ball band. 

You can even add the Laundry guide link right on the label if you like.  That way the receiver always knows where to find the meanings of the symbols.





Here are examples of the tags that I made.  Cut them to size.

These are iron-on sheets.  I recommend using the mini iron.  Follow the ironing instructions on the fabric sheet package for attaching the labels.

 

You don't even have to put it at the neck.  Put it wherever you want!  How about on the bottom rib in the back or side?

 

Tell me YOUR ideas by commenting on the post.

Better yet, Join my blog by email so you won't miss a single post!

Alice Starmore's Book of Fair Isle Knitting- A book review.

I have to confess that I have had this book in my library for quite some time and there it sat unread.  A glimpse inside made me wish I had read it sooner.  This is a book for beginning fair isle knitters as well as advanced.
Starmore begins the book with a fascinating brief history of Shetland and the Fair Isle. She guides you through the daily lives of the people, the trade industry and the war history. 
She gives historical examples of pieces that were knit in the area and the why of what was knit.
Starmore's book also guides you through a pictoral presentation of the fair isle technique, the history of the "symbols" and how to create your own color pattern. 
The book includes a stitchionary of peeries, borders, Large Fair Isle patterns, allover patterns, Norwegian star patterns, and seeding patterns. And if you don't want to design your own pieces the book also contains patterns for sweaters, hats, and mittens for men, women, and children using the fair isle technique. 

Finding A New Coloring Box

I often hear people claiming to be color-challenged.  And we all tend to gravitate towards our favorite colors.  Well it's time to step outside your coloring box!!  Whether you are choosing colors for your next fiber project or decorating a room or putting together an outfit - I have a color tool for you!

I am a picture taker and now that I can take as many as I want to without worry of having to get film developed I do just that- take as many as I want.  I take pictures for inspiration on my new designs.  Here are a few of my recent Bermuda Cruise that may show up in some upcoming designs in some form or another.

 

 

 

So what makes a great photo? One element of a great photo has to do with color. You can use those photos to create a color palette for your next project.  Take a look at the combinations of colors that were extracted from these photos that I took on various vacations, photos of artwork, and photos of everyday items.

A building in Venice Italy.

 

-------------------------------------------------------------

 

 

 

A garden in Toronto Canada.

 

--------------------------------------------------------------

 

 

Venice, Italy

----------------------------------------------------------------

 

 

 

A skirt that caught my eye.

-------------------------------------------------------------

 

 

 

The Atlanta Skyline.

----------------------------------------------------------

 

 

 

Artwork on a wall in Toronto.

 

---------------------------------------------------------------

 

 

 

A Bermuda Beach. 

-------------------------------------------------------------

 

 

 

Toronto Canada

 

--------------------------------------------------------------------

 

 

With Adobe Kruler you can create your color inspiration too.  Your new coloring box is just a click away.



Go on.  Play.  Have Fun!  You're welcome!

Because I "FELT" Like it!

My inspiration today came from a question from a friend who had knitted and felted a yoga mat tote. Her problem was that the bag came out a little bigger than she had hoped.  The tips I have for you today can be used with any felted item that needs tweeking.  First off, since this was her first knitted and felted item she was terrified at the thought of cutting the felted piece without having it unravel. 

 

 

 

A knitted (or crocheted) felted piece acts very similar to the felt fabric that you would buy in the store except that it is thicker.

You CAN cut your felted piece without the fear that it will unravel.

The edge achieved is very clean.  You can choose to leave the edge "raw" or you can do some embellishments.

In the case of the yoga mat, my friend wanted to add some bling.  My suggestion was to do a crocheted embellishment on the "raw" edge with beads.

You can poke through the felt with a crochet hook without the fear of tearing the fabric.  You could also use a knitting needle or other sharp object to pre-poke the holes to be sure that your holes are uniform in spacing.

 

 

Add the beads for a more decorative finish.

 

Now the next problem!! How do you get those little beads threaded onto the yarn?!

I use dental floss threaders.

You can buy dental floss threaders in any drug store.  The threader will replace your needle.

 

 

Thread your yarn into the "eye" of the threader as you would with a needle.

Use the tip of the threader to add the beads.

 

 

Slide the beads over the "eye" and onto the yarn.

Much easier than using a needle.

 

Check out these other adventures using felt and beads using a needle felting technique!