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Thursday, April 22, 2010

Top 10 Things to KNIT While Drinking Wine on Warm Spring/Summer Evenings

After a long day it feels really good to kick back, pour yourself a wee nip of sumpthin' and chill with a light and brain-friendly knitting project. Every year I get older I learn to appreciate those quiet times more and more.

Here are some fun and easy things to knit (that are NOT afghans) well into the warm season...

Drum roll please...

Number 10

Dish clothes. Ok, they're not the sexiest thing on the list--that's why they're number 10! But they're handy around the house and make super gifts. I look forward to my knitted dishcloths every year for Christmas from my mother-in-law. Except she forgot this year.

Here's a web site with hundreds of dish cloth patterns for you to peruse. CLICK

Number 9

An Iris Monster from Lorna's Laces. The colour I chose is called Zombie BBQ. Teehee. These are cute and easy and washable. And they really make you giggle.

Number 8

A linen neck scarf. These are breezy and pretty. I have one in icy blue but I LOVE the hot pink too! (Thanks for the loaner Chelsea!) Haha! I look ridiculous in this picture...totally Sears.

Number 7

A mobius necklace made with "Sea Three" from Hand Maiden. So fun to make and looks great with any outfit! Look how pretty the pinks are on Fiona's nearly translucent skin! She's so white. giggle.

Number 6

A funky cotton shrug! Throw this over your shoulders before you head out for an evening stroll. Just enough of a cuddle. Using 15mm needles, cast on 35 sts. Knit for 50 inches. Sew up sleeve approx 8 inches on either side.

Number 5

A quick little last minute baby sweater. Organic cotton. Simple Simple Simple. Even after 2 wee nips of sumpthin', sumpthin'. The 'shorts' are actually leggings knit short. Here's the free pattern for the leggings...

Number 4

A pretty little sock made out of light summer fabric like stretchy cotton, or soy silk! Portable and light, socks are great for summer knitting. This is a free pattern, by the way.

Number 3

A light linen jacket! Wear this over your fancy dresses for all your events this summer....and, again, ANOTHER FREE pattern.

Number 2

A triangular shawl! Ok this one takes a little more brain power but you can do it! The pattern is called 198 Yards of Heaven--FREE!

Do it out of Sea Silk... 1 ball!

Out of Sea Three...1 ball!

Out of Noro Sekku...1 ball!

Out of Casbah sock yarn...1 ball!

The choice is yours! And if you're feeling a little nervous about this pattern, join us for a class!

And the Number 1 thing to knit while sipping wine on a warm spring/summer evening is.....

The Kayla Shrug! This is such a great piece. It looks good on everyone, feels great on and is the kinda knitting you can do without much of your brain working at all! That's my favourite kind of knitting!

AND on a final note....SUMMER INTERWEAVE KNITS is here....

See you soon, my knitting friends!

Wendy

Thursday, April 8, 2010

Psst . . . Can I whisper something in your ear? I've been knitting! . . . shhhhh

I know it's hard to believe, given the source, but its TRUE! How can I help myself with the yarn that's just come in.

We all fell in love with Hand Maiden's Sea Silk years ago. Her Sea Three is three times as heavy and pure joy. It's ropey, silky, liquidy, touchable stuff that is a pleasure to knit with. I actually heard an operatic choir in the distance as I was casting on...not a word of a lie.

Here's a pictures of shiny stitches, etc. And wait til you see what we've done with it....

So, I know we're a little late on the mobius train, but I never really got the mobius thing, you know? But I came across a cute little mobius pattern that just drapes around your neck like a necklace.

If you've ever wanted to drape a skein of yarn around your neck just because it was THAT pretty (and I know you have) this is the pattern for you.

Ok, so the mobius cast on is a bit of a trick, right? Well, we're running classes all summer.

Oh ya! My classes for the summer are up. Go take a looksie.

We have some WILD ones happening. Like the "Portuguese Knitted Lace Cowl" for one. "2 Socks at the Same Time on STRAIGHT Needles", for two. (Ahem, Margaret? Could you check the class schedule, pretty please? Love you!)

And knit-a-longs too!

But I digress...

I will be teaching this Mobius technique and I'd like a chance to practice. So, I'm asking for some guinea pigs!

The first 4 people who email me and are available Friday April 23rd from 10-12pm will be invited to join me for a practice run though this cast on technique! I'll show you how to do it and you give me feedback--deal? And then you can make this fun little piece of yarn jewelry....

Before I forget....I have a FABULOUS Crochet Class coming up next week!

Thursday April 15th and 22nd, 6-8pm. For $50 you get a hook, yarn and Monika (crocheter EXTRA-ORDINAIRE) for 4 hours! And at the end of it all you'll have lovely little dishcloth--always a handy thing.

(Just a quick note about Monika--she knows her stuff. If you want to learn crochet PROPERLY you need to meet Monika. She'll explain the anatomy of the stitches, how to count them, shape them, join them, how to read a crochet pattern and so on and so on. She's simply a wealth of crochet knowledge. Email me if you want a ticket into the world of crochet....)

Here's a cute version of the Baby Surprise Jacket Cathy did for us out of the Ruca--made of Sugar! We call this the Sugar Surprise! 2 balls of the Ruca make the jacket, the booties and a little hat with flaps over the ears! (hat and booties are free patterns)

So, yesterday I got the best box of yarn that I've gotten in a long time....Surly Knits Sock yarn!

My good buddie Ruth (who many of you know) ran away with her husband to Nova Scotia. When she got there she not only landed herself a job at FLEECE ARTIST for heaven's sake, but started to dye this gorgeous stuff!! Fun spring colours, perfect for lacy little sockies.

Come in and check them out while they last. Because truthfully, Ruth, I don't think you're new employer is going to allow this to go on for long. Just thinkin.

We got such a pretty linen sample from Jacqueline this week made out of my new favourite yarn--Firefly! Imagine this over your summer dress at all those wedding you have to go to this year... only 6 balls of Firefly linen on 6mm needles.

And look at the one in a million shot I got of Jacqueline!! Haha! Look how much fun you can have in this long and light cover up! You go girl! FREE PATTERN!

Here's a few shots of samples we have that I've dressed up a little and think are awesome....bamboo shrug, linen shawl, kayla shrug.

**SPOTLIGHT on YOU**

I had a lovely visit with Debra-lee yesterday and she brought in the cutest poncho she had made out of the Spud and Chloe! It's a really cool pattern written by a local designer, Elizabeth Fallone. You knit each colour section separately but join the seams as you go. No sewing! The fun colours of the Spud and Chloe Sweater yarn works perfectly!

Thanks Debra-lee!

If any of you are interested in appearing in my newsletter
bring in what you've knit out of my yarn.
I'll take pictures and show it off for you!
We all love to get ideas from each other,
to see what our yarn can do -- so share with us!
I love show and tell....so bring it!

Ok party people! See you on the flip side...

Wendy

PS: If you want to see what our lovely Jacqueline is up to, take a look at her exceptional blog! Very impressive.