The disappearing week

I missed blogging last week. I don't even know where the week went. But I have been doing lots of knitting and got a few things done.

More Stash Buster Socks finished. Yay. Add them to the Christmas pile.

I worked on my class for the Yarn Over Sleep Over Retreat in April. Seems like it's so far away but it will be here before we know it. One of my classes is Shaping Lace so I made up a scarf where you have to decrease away on the sides of the lace pattern and then increase. This gives practise for when you need to shape armholes and necklines in a lace pattern. This is what we'll get started on and then the knitters can continue to work the scarf (or not). Maybe I could call it Waving Leaves. Do you have a better name?

I'm also working on a scarf with triangles. They are my obsession at the moment. This scarf starts at one end and works to the other, attaching each new triangle to the next. The triangles get bigger and bigger to the centre and then get smaller. I was trying for an exact depth in the centre. It took a couple of tries. It turns out that that's quite a bit of knitting on a 3.5mm/US3 needle. But I really enjoyed it. And might just start another one.
I tried knitting a new scarf off the old scarf. Not a good idea. The garter stitch really puts permanent kinks in the wool that knit up unevenly. I know this, I was just so excited to keep going. I ended up ripping back the old scarf, dumping it in water and waiting impatiently for it to dry. Hovering over the wool and checking every 5 minutes does not quicken the process. Now there is much less wiggle in the strands.

I guess that answers the question of where my week went.
Deb

Retreat Mittens

Last weekend was another Retreat weekend. Yes, it's a hard life but someone (this time that would be me) has to do it. I was at the Eastern Ontario Needlers Retreat in Gananaque, ON teaching Gauge-Free mittens. Mittens you can knit to any size with any yarn. Here are some of the many results.

Thanks to Devon, Norma, Christine (who added stripes) and Nancy (who did 2 pairs). Great mittens. A lovely weekend with knitters.
-Deb

Cowl with different sides

Our Cabin Fever Retreat was a great success. We knit a fabulous cowl with lots of join-as-you-go techniques.

Once it's joined together using a 3-needle bind off, it makes a cowl that looks different every time you put it on depending on which side is showing on the front. Cool, eh?

This cowl was designed by Elizabeth Fallone and the pattern will be posted soon in fingering weight yarn with gradient shaded colours. This cowl keeps you busy all the way through.

Off now to Gananoque to the Eastern Needlers Retreat to introduce them to Gauge-Free Mittens. Lots of fun.
-Deb

Cowl and Scarf back to the Yukon

It's snowing. Yeah!! I love the first snow. The air is so crisp and clear. I don't think it's going to last so whoo, hoo another cheer.

I mentioned that in the summer I knit a chimney cowl for my friend Jo in lace weight wool.

 Did I tell you the story? At the Sticks, String and Stewardship Retreat I won a special draw prize of hand painted wool which Jo brought from the Yukon where she lives. All the wool was from Yukon dyers. I thought some of this wool should go back to the Yukon so I knit Jo a cowl and a scarf.

There it is. She's worn the Chimney Cowl several times already. YAY.

And the Graduated Triangle Scarf has been worn too. She is obviously a knitworthy friend.
-Deb

Retreating Soon

One more week before the Cabin Fever Retreat. I'm working on the project every day. Our focus this year is join-as-you-go. We think we have a wonderful cowl for our attendees to knit. Here are some highlights:
Steps with Stripes

Or Steps horizontally

Mitred Corners

Triangles

All joined together all the time. The knitters will be choosing which they use where so all the cowls should come out slightly different. Should be lots of fun.

Deb

Yes, they're plastic

Do you find yourself apologizing for your knitting? "It's only a dishcloth." "It's only a plain sweater." "I'm only a beginner."

I do this with my sock needles. I'm working on my latest (3rd) pair of StashBuster Socks and my double pointed needles are plastic. I like them. A lot! They are the cheapest needles I can buy but I really, really like them. They're bendy and I'm hard on my double pointed needles that way. They're warm in my hands while I'm using them. They are slightly tacky so the stitches stay put.

OK, this is the kicker, they're coloured! My current set of dpn's are blue. I have a set of larger needles that are yellow and red. How cheerful is that.

They are not the slickest, fastest, most super duper pointed needles. But they're blue! I rest my case.
Deb

Playing with Mosaics

I did a Mosaic Workshop in Port Hope today. Great day. I love doing workshops with knitting guilds. There is always a great feel in the room. People know each other and are willing to help and encourage their neighbour. Just lovely.

The class project was a hat with this pattern on it. It's a garter stitch mosaic pattern.

I know that Yvonne had already taken the Mosaic class from me before so I was thinking about what I could give her to advance her mosaic skills. It occured to me that you could mix garter stitch and stockinette stitch mosaic to get a different affect.

She very willingly took the challenge. It is tricky to work. You have to keep your wits about you. I got the high sign so I think this pattern has legs. It may become a "real hat".
Deb