Project Roundup

Its time for another edition of what's on the needles!

Since the last time we did this, I finished my legwarmers (and started on pointe!) and I love how they turned out. Long, and warm, and colorful. Perfect.

I started the next batch of wedding favors- this one is R2D2! (He's so cute!) and obviously, he still needs another leg.

I started something for my dad too, but since he reads this... that's all you get. No hints, dad.

My veil has grown considerably since the last photo of it, I'm about 2/3 done with the pattern rows now, but as the number of stitches keeps increasing I think I'm actually around halfway done.

Lastly, Kriselle's dress is done the waistband and top, and I've picked up for the skirt. There were some major issues with the pattern for the chest, that slowed me down a lot as I tried to figure out what the designer acutally intended, but I sorted things out and the skirt should be easy and quick.

February Classes

February's series of classes are introductions to a variety of techniques and skills to take your knitting in new directions. Sign up at Sheepskate in Dedham or by calling 781-320-9276.

Feb 1- Textured Stitches
Learn about stitches made up of knits and purls- Such as ribbing, seed stitch, and basketweave.

Feb 8- Cables
Get an introduction to cabled stitches- learn how they work, and get suggestions to start a cable project.

Feb 15- Lace
Demystify lace knitting by working with worsted weight yarn and big needles, and learn how lace knitting works so that you can translate your new skill into a project.

Feb 22- Colorwork
Do you love the colorful patterns of Norwegian sweaters? Learn about Fair Isle and Intarsia colorwork techniques and you'll be ready to tackle your own colorwork project.

Feb 29- Double Knitting
Learn to make reversible, double thick, colorful fabric that is perfect for scarves, hats, bags, and more.

Kid's Classes during Boston schools' February break. Eileen will be offering knit, crochet, and other craft classes every day of the break. These are the classes I will be teaching.

Feb 21- Needlepoint
Learn the basic needlepoint stitch and make fun colorful patterns of your own design! Complete a bookmark or an ornament.

Feb 22- Duck Tape
There's more to duck tape than taping things! Learn how to work with this material and make a cool & colorful wallet or belt! 

Ignite Craft & Fiber Camp

Last weekend was the Common Cod Fiber Guild's Ignite Craft event. It was a fun evening full of presentations on everything from the many uses of egg cartons to honeybee genetics and lots about fiber- all presentations were 5 minutes long and supported by automatically changing slides. Here is Lucy Lee, owner of Mind's Eye Yarns, talking about her other passion- perfect pie. There's also a photo of the group snacking and mingling at intermission, and a photo of one of the wildest and most creative fiber uses I've ever seen! Before Ignite, I got a chance to check out the rooms the guild will be using for Fiber Camp this year (2nd weekend of March)- last year this was an incredibly inspiration event- (my posts from Sat and Sun) and this year's space is MUCH better- I can't wait! Right now there's a discounted early bird rate, so sign up and come to Fiber Camp!

Vintage Knitting & Needlefelt Fiber

http://etsy.me/wto4vf

http://etsy.me/xhNCy6

I'm finally doing another shop update! I've added lots of new needlefelting fiber- both in kits that include several colors, and in create your own packages where you can choose from 50 colors! Many times when needlefelting scenes, animals, or other details, you'll need small amounts of colors- so these kits are the perfect way to get small amounts of the colors you need at a reasonable price!

http://etsy.me/wTlV7a

http://etsy.me/whvyYt

I've also listed a LOT of vintage knitting & crochet books and patterns! Children's clothing, adult sweaters (including many men's sweaters), coats, ponchos, a dress, and hand puppets.

http://etsy.me/lUo9ZU

Startitis is catching!

I caught a wicked case of startitis last week after I organized all my tools and needles (always a dangerous thing to do) So I started a whole bunch of new projects.

I started a pair of simple ribbed legwarmers- I've been wanting these since last winter, both for dance, and for wearing outside when its cold and I need to dress up- easy to pull off over my shoes and stuff in a pocket when I arrive wherever I'm going!

I also started the Tulip dress for my niece for her first birthday, its a wrap dress, which is perfect because it means she'll be able to wear it as she grows for quite awhile. I'm doing it in cotton, so it should be a nice comfy dress for the summer (her birthday is in May).

I finally started one of the cross stitch projects I got the supplies for in Rhode Island almost a year ago, and I was instantly reminded of how addictive cross stitch can be.

Lastly, I started (finally) the practice belt that was pre-warped for me at the Tinkuy in Peru. Its been sitting around because its not a project I'm enormously excited about, but I figure I can use the practice and I should either make it, or get rid of it and make room for something else!

I haven't JUST been working on new projects- I've been making progress on some, and I'm hoping to revisit some that have been hibernating.

I've finally done a bit more spinning, and I'm hoping to keep that up this year. Last year I hardly spun at all, which is a shame because I have soooo much yummy fiber just waiting in the closet! I'm making progress on my 100% bison yarn right now.

I've completed a few more yodas, and I'm almost done *yay* there's only so many times I can make the exact same thing before I get a little bored!

Due to the holiday knitting and then the startitis, I haven't really been working on hexipuffs, so there's only 3 new ones.

I have been working on my train socks a lot though, they've been my take along project lately. I decided to add some simple cables and eyelets to the top of the foot to make them more interesting.

Resolutions

Most of my New Year's resolutions are very mundane:

Floss my teeth everyday
Eat my vegetables
Workout 2-3x a week and stretch every day
Sleep 8 hours every night

And, like most mundane New Year's resolutions, I've already slipped on every single one of them. (Not that I've given up!)

Far more interesting are crafty resolutions! I resolve to complete the following this year:
1. a cross stitch project
2. my 2 in progress weaving projects
3. at least 2 spinning projects
4. A Double-Knit project. Probably one from Extreme Double Knitting. (because why start off easy?)
5. A Brioche stitch project. Probably from Knitting Brioche.
6. A project involving beads. Possibly these gloves.
7. I will steek something. Possibly just a swatch.
8. A project using mosaic knitting.
9. At least 2 of my sewing projects
10. I will catch up my scrapbooks.

I'm looking forward to exploring some of these techniques that I know little about! And I realize, I'm hopelessly over committed, especially since I have lots of things I want to work on that fit into none of those categories, and lots of design projects that I want to work on, but its good to have goals!

New Year, New Classes: Learn a new skill!

Is it your new year's resolution to improve your knitting skills or learn a new technique? I'm teaching a number of classes that will help you achieve just that!

January is a series of classes all about brushing up and improving the skills you already have to improve all of your knitting!

Jan 4- Measure to Fit
Learn how to measure yourself correctly, and then how to use those measurements and your gauge to make your knitting fit perfectly- whether its a sweater, a hat, mittens, or anything else.

Jan 11- Short Row Shaping
Give clothing that extra perfect fit with short rows- make the back of a collar stand a little higher than the front, or the seat of a sweater a little longer than the front, with this simple technique.

Jan 18- Finishing Skills
Learn to finish your knitting with a professional touch- sew neat and invisible seams, weave your ends in invisibly and securely, and block perfectly.

Jan 25- Anatomy of a Stitch (taught by Eileen)
Get the hang of "reading" your knitting, and learn to recognize and fix many common mistakes including dropped stitches.

February's series of classes are introductions to a variety of techniques and skills to take your knitting in new directions.

Feb 1- Cables
Get an introduction to cabled stitches- learn how they work, and get suggestions to start a cable project.

Feb 8- Lace
Demystify lace knitting by working with worsted weight yarn and big needles, and learn how lace knitting works so that you can translate your new skill into a project.

Feb 15- Colorwork
Do you love the colorful patterns of Norwegian sweaters? Learn about Fair Isle and Intarsia colorwork techniques and you'll be ready to tackle your own colorwork project.

Feb 22- Double Knitting
Learn to make reversible, double thick, colorful fabric that is perfect for scarves, hats, bags, and more.

Feb 29- Knitting with Beads
Want to add a little more sparkle to your knitting? Learn a few different methods of adding beads to your knitting and add something special to your next project.

You can sign up for just one class or a whole series- contact Sheepskate at 549 High St, Dedham, MA by calling 781-320-9276 to sign up.

Gratuitous Holiday Knitting

Because this week has been vacation for me, I don't want to bore you with shopping or sales- I just want to share some of the adorably creative holiday knitting out there on the internet!

From Mochimochi Land- 

From the Handknit Holidays-along-

From Ravelry- these adorable coasters!

And for the nerdy among you- a snow covered TARDIS.

And lastly, in case you're still rushing around shopping for a knitter (or other stitcher) on your list, the Yarn Harlot has been posting fantastic ideas for gifts all month! 

On the Needles

While I've been procrastinating on my holiday knitting, I have actually been knitting quite a lot- and so we have an update on four of my projects!

First up, the army of Yoda I hinted at last time- see those? Aren't they cute? I'm actually up to 5 now. Those are destined, along with a bunch of other amigurimi I have yet to make, to be wedding favors. So needless to say, between now and August, I'll be crocheting up a storm!

The other wedding project is also coming along, I'm now halfway through the pattern! And its beautiful, I can't wait to finish it.

I haven't touched my travel socks in awhile, in favor of the addictive hexipuffs, but I did finish the toe before I put them aside. Still exciting to be knitting on my own yarn finally!

Lastly, the hexipuffs, oh, the hexipuffs! I'm up to 21 total now, here are all the new ones since my last update- I've been having a lot of fun with little bits of my handspun yarn and some sock yarns I haven't used before from the mini-skein kits Sheepskate has.

Holiday Knitting

Are you slacking on holiday knitting as much as I am this year?

I gave up on trying to knit for everyone on my list years ago, but this year I still have a couple of small special things in mind- 2 to be precise. And I haven't started either one. I know, I know.

If you're not done with your holiday knitting either, join me this Wednesday night for fun and knitting, wine and snacks, and any help you might need with figuring out your projects! All the fun is at Sheepskate, 549 High St, Dedham, MA Wednesday Dec 7 from 6:30-9. Its a $10 drop in, or call 781-320-9276 ahead to reserve your spot!

So what am I doing instead of knitting my gifts? Well, I have been working on my veil and my hexipuffs, and an army of Yodas (more on all of that later this week). Instead I've been cooking! The last few weeks have been filled with frustrations as I had a series of failures with yeast breads. Yesterday I finally decided to give it another go, and tried a new recipe for pasta dough, and it worked! Rolled out easily, and I made a delicious butternut and ricotta ravioli with a pesto cream sauce. I realize pasta isn't yeasty, but my recent attempts at that have been sticky, too dry, and extremely thick, respectively.

Today, heartened by that success, I decided to give bread another go- and today I made an "American Sandwich Bread" a simple white bread with milk and honey- and it rose (!) and baked (!) and now I'm just waiting for it to cool to give it the real test- eating! There's a grilled cheese sandwich in my near future!