I raved about the Girasole Throw by Jared Flood in my e-mail today.  The link doesn’t seem to be working.  This one should work.

I’m thinking about doing something like it.  Do you have any suggestions?

Happy Tuesday!  I’m in Virginia visiting family, and am sharing something fun and easy.  If you’ve not made this yet, give it a try.

I made my mom a gorgeous scarf out of the red Trendsetter Cha Cha yarn.  She showed it to her neighbor, who thought it was fabulous and fascinated at how it was made.  I taught this neighbor to knit, so later today or tomorrow, I’ll bring her the skein I bought for her and teach her how to make it.

So easy — take one skein of the Trensetter ChaCha yarn in your favorite color.  I recommend balling it by hand carefully so you don’t twist the fat ribbon.

Don’t overthink knitting this one up.  Thanks to Staci who showed me that I was making it harder for myself!  Take size 10 or 10.5 US straight needles, and weave the needle in and out of the boxes on top of the yarn so you have 10-12 threads on top of your needle.  You may want to have every other box, or every 3 boxes so it looks like your needle is laying on top of San Francisco’s Lombard Street.  This sets up the ruffle.  When you knit the first row, don’t freak.  Just slide your right hand needle into the first thread laying across the top of the needle, through the open box of yarn.  Be careful how you “wrap” the yarn — don’t twist the yarn and skip a couple of boxes (whatever number you choose, stick with it) to create the ruffle.  You slide the open box over the needle with one thread laying on top, then slide the “old” thread over the top.  You’re really just knitting those boxes, not the entire yarn.

Keep going until the end of the row.  Turn the needle and keep going.

Binding off may seem a little strange, but you do it just like any other project, but just sticking to using the boxes in the top of the ribbon yarn as your working yarn.

When I finished knitting the scarf, I took a yarn needle, threaded it with the ribbon, and carefully worked it through the spaces left by the boxes at the top of the ribbon.  I tried to make it look somewhat like the inside of a rose — that layered look.

I’m sorry I don’t have a good camera with me to show you the finer details of how this works.  There are some great videos on the web of how to knit with this, but I didn’t find any about how to finish it (weaving in ends).  Try my suggestion and I hope you’ll enjoy it.

What did I enjoy about this project?  It was fast and while I was afraid it would look cheesy when finished, it didn’t. I was a little frustrated at first because it didn’t start out quickly, but once I got the hang of the technique of working with the boxes and not the entire yarn, it flew.

And with one skein, it’s not a lot of yarn to get you hot with summer knitting!

Enjoy!

HI there! Haven’t fallen off of the planet, but this summer has been much busier than expected! I’m off on another trip soon — to the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia.

In the meantime, here’s some knitting suggestions to add to your queue or sideswipe your current projects:

*Adrift is an accessory — it’s a vest with long, swishy points in a good way. It’s done up in Malabrigo Lace (pitter-patter my heart), and when Beth first shared this wtih me, I was wondering how I could adapt Candace Eisner Strick’s Merging Colors technique to this. It comes in size 30-54 inches and you can probably fudge a little on both ends. Wonderful for the movies when you want just a little something.
*Staci made a lucious ski jacket from Brown Sheep Bulky (which is in stock!) — this is a divine Véronik Avery pattern from Knitting Classic Style. Finished measurements are 33.75 -52.25 inches. If you’re going to a cooler clime or you are not dealing with hot flashes, go ahead and cast on. Or just stock up on the yarn now… not that I’ve ever been known to do this!
*and in honor of our troops, consider knitting up a Helmet Liner or Wooly Pulley. It’s a fast knit and if you’ll mail it to Citizen SAM or probably even one of the local bases, it’ll get to a soldier who can use it.

I hope each of you had a safe and joyous July 4th. I really enjoyed hearing the Declaration of Independence read on NPR Friday morning. It wouldn’t hurt any of us to re-read it at least once a year!

This week’s Mid-Day Madness will get started on Thursday at noon, and will end on Friday at noon. The yarns featured in the sale will be 50% off their original price, and you can get 60% off if you buy all of one color.

Last week we shared some information about the featured yarns. Having had the chance to swatch them all, I can tell you that you really should stop in and check them out for yourself. My favorites are Berroco’s Ultra Silk, and Queensland Collection Llama Seta.

Ultra Silk gives great stitch definition for cables and textured stitch patterns. This is an easy yarn to work with if you are just starting to work with cables, as its construction makes it nearly impossible to split a stitch. With this yarn, even a beginner’s cable will look stunning, popping clearly off the background stitches.

If you are a fan of alpaca yarns, Llama Seta is definitely worth stopping in for. It is incredibly soft, and available in soft pastel colors. Consider this yarn for cabled scarves, soft fingerless mitts, or indulge yourself with a sweater. The price is unbeatable, with the sale, and the yarn is fabulous to work with.

Be sure to stop and check out these two yarns, as well as the other surprise items. Each yarn will have a swatch for you to check out, and samples are available, if you’d like to check out how something feels to knit.

We hope to see you this week!

There’s a new yarn in town, Fiesta’s Baby Boom.  While it’s steamy outside, it’s never too early to think about fall and winter knitting.  Anne Hanson’s Sprössling is a lovely cardigan with a subtle pattern that won’t be negatively affected by Baby Boom’s handpainted colors.  This pattern comes in sizes XS (28.75″)-3X (56.75″).

Now, if you’re not up for a cardigan, consider this lovely lace stole by Shui Kuen Kozinski and Benne Ferrell called Dancing Cranes Stole.  Measuring 14.5″ x 80″, it’s a free pattern from Elann.  You could try Louet’s KidLin for this, Rowan’s Kidsilk Haze, Malabrigo Lace, or Skacel’s Merino Lace.  Think about this for a summer wedding on a cool-ish evening, or at the movies or the museum.

ENJOY!

We’ve got a big load of yarn coming for fall and we have got to make room for it.  So, what are we to do, but have a sale.

Each week we will feature a different group of yarns.  The sale runs from noon on Thursday to noon on Friday.  50% off the yarns and 60% off if you purchase all the balls of a color.

In addition there will be a SECOND SURPRISE each week.  These will be unannounced bargains.  Great finds.

We have some pattern ideas for each yarn as well as a knitted swatch to share with you.  Here’s the lineup.  (I’ve been sitting at too many baseball games this summer – haha)

Mid-Day Madness – June 17^th, 2010

Adrienne Vittadini Lucinda is a braided ribbon style yarn, made from 70% Nylon and 30% Acrylic. It is solid in color, but has a shiny component, which would give a finished garment a luxurious appearance.   For a quick project consider a lacy market bag, or a simple tank like the Feather and Tee from CEY Beach.

Bettina (45% Viscose, 35% Nylon, 20% Linen) is a great fit for Sprout Tank from CEY Beach, or a Summer Open Cardigan from Knitting Pure and Simple.

Mira Mira is a 98% wool, 2 % metal which is ideal for felting projects including purses, holiday items, and anything that needs a little extra sparkle.   Check out our Noni Pattern book for some great felted bag and felted flower patterns.

Noro’s Lily is a wonderfully soft 70% Cotton, 30% silk solid color yarn that is ideal for a Cabled Halter top (pattern 6602), or Peltigera or Cerrena from Norah Gaughan Volume 6.

Mid-Day Madness – June 24^th, 2010

Molash is a novelty yarn which would be an ideal complement to worsted weight wool yarn for a blanket.   A simple stitch pattern, such as feather and fan lace, in basic yarn, paired with Molash in stripes would create an elegant afghan.

Balino (65% Acrylic, 35% Nylon) is an Aran weight colorful yarn which would be great for baby and children’s knits, such as a Knitting Pure & Simple’s Children’s Neck Down Pullover, or a Hooded Baby Tunic, also from Knitting Pure & Simple.

An 80% Alpaca, 20% Silk blend, Llama Seta is an Aran weight yarn, available in several pastel colors, which would be perfect for getting a head-start on fall weather.  Some patterns that would work well with Llama Seta would be Twisty Turns (Wrap Style), Shawl of Cables (Vogue Knitting Fall 2009), Calvert Cardigan (Norah Gaughan Volume 3), or Linear Cardigan (Norah Gaughan Volume 3).

Berocco’s Ultra Silk is a tape/ribbon style yarn made from 20% Silk, 40% Rayon, and 40% Nylon.  Ultra Silk gives great stitch definition, making it perfect for cables and textured stitches.   The yarn would make a great Solstice Double Tie Cardigan (CEY Farmer’s Market), or a Cabled Gilet (Debbie Bliss Spring/Summer 2010).

Who ever heard of early fall on June 1?  Sorta struck me by surprise today when we got the new Vogue Knitting Magazine.  I think they are exploring a “between issue” – sorta like we saw with Interweave Knits.

It is packed with 30 designs.  The first collection is called Purl Gray.  It is confident, sophisticated and timeless.  Knitwear as a way of life.  It is texture and cable and nice gauges.  And everything is knit in a gray yarn.

The next collection is called Make me blush.  You guessed it… everything is pink.  It is feminine with peplums and pleats, texture and lace.

The third collection is Urban Cowgirls – How the west was knit.  It really is an equestrian collection with mostly vests – in a longer version to have a duster feel, but not really past the knees.

Then we have the Weekenders.  It has only 4 pieces but they are good – all cardigans with texture and lace.

Not finished yet!  Sun Salutation is a group of yellow pullovers.  Nice designs with texture and lace again.

The final collection is A Fine Romance.  All pieces are lavender/purple and all are lace.  Sorta feels like they ran out of steam for this section.  2 pieces are just OK.

See for yourself – Vogue Knitting Early Fall 2010

Pick out your project, get your magazine and we’ll help you select the perfect yarn.  See you soon.

It’s Memorial Day, or Decoration Day as it was formerly known.  I’m the daughter of a veteran, and on this day I remember not only my father’s service during the Korean War, but that of my uncles, including Uncle Bill, who died in France in WWII.

We have troops serving now, even without a mandatory draft.  Whether or not you agree with the politics behind the various wars, our men and women are still serving us, still defending us.

Our soldiers serve in a variety of climates.  Here’s a pattern for “Soldier’s Glomitts,” a free pattern for fingerless mittens with a mitten cap.  It uses worsted weight wool (350 yards), and size 5US needles.  Cascade 220 Superwash in a dark or sand color would work well. It’s just the right kind of wool knitting to remember our troops and our veterans this Memorial Day.

I gave in and turned on the A/C yesterday.  As a woman who’s experienced hot flashes since my mid-30s, I don’t mess around when it comes to humid and warm weather.

Sunday’s humid weather reminded me of the need for something cooler to wear to work.  Something that would dry pretty quickly and not hold the dampness near my plush self.  I LOVE linen.  LOVE it.  Love hemp.  I don’t love knitting it, but I love the fabric I knit up from it.  This Louet pattern, Tori, has cap sleeves, some easy cables, and would make up well in Louet Euroflax, but I think Berroco’s NaturLin (40% linen, 60% rayon), and AllHemp6 from Hemp for Knitting (DK not sport weight, though!  gauge accordingly!!!) would work.

The pattern is for bust sizes 33.75-66.5 inches.  Note that some of the cap sleeves on the Ravelry photos seem to almost be small wings.  If you’ve worked with linen or hemp, you know that it has quite a bit of body, but after it’s been washed and dried several times, it softens up and has a lovely drape.  If you’re a little nervous about what might happen, buy a skein, knit a swatch — a washcloth pattern or a stitch pattern out of a stitch dictionary is great — then wash and dry it quite a few times.  For fun, knit two, and only wash/dry one of them to see and feel the difference!

I hear raindrops… yeah, lots of rain this weekend.  We’ve had a sleepy weekend, and I’ve alternated between reading (The Organist Wore Orange by Mark Schweitzer — it’s the most recent in a fun series — oriented to musicians who love puns) and playing Plants vs. Zombies on my iTouch (addictive.  too.).

I check the pattern page on Ravelry to see what patterns are hot, and Not a Drop from Arlene’s World of Lace caught my attention, just by the title– note these links go to a German website.  Don’t fret, she’s got an English language version of the pattern available.  The title alone intrigued me in part because of the recent rains.  But look!  This is created without drop stitches!  AND it’s reversible!

What’s cool, beside being reversible lace?  It’s a great way to use up some sock yarn, especially if you’ve got between 400-1500 yards of the same colorway– and from the projects page, looks like solid colors or tonal variegation looks best.  The pattern author is German, and she’s had a number of people proofread her translation, so be aware that you need to download the English version.  The price is in Euros, which is more or less equivalent to US dollars, give or take $.25.

This pattern suggests an experienced skill level, probably because of the uncommon stitches noted on the pattern page.

It won’t ward off the rain drops, but this is a very cool looking technique — and a great way to use up some sock yarn!