Work, Work, Work

I'm being surprisingly productive today considering that I got up at 6am (and traveled West, so its as if I've been up since 4am local time) for a "vacation".

I intended to knit in the airport waiting for the plane...

...I answered email and piddled on ravelry.

I intended to knit on the 5 hour flight...

...I read an entire dive magazine, did a bunch of editing of stuff for sale in my shop that I've been putting off for ages, re-wrote my sock instructions in preparation for my next sock class in a week, prepared a big batch of photos to upload to facebook, and, this the really shocking bit, managed not to pass out for the entire flight. (And for those of you who took my last sock class, I'll leave extra copies of the revised instructions with Eileen next week- I've expanded on some of the instructions that were confusing before)

I really must be sleep deprived when I'm choosing work over knitting! And not the fun work, the grubby paperwork-buried-on-the-computer work.

I did get to see an interesting perspective on Boston harbor, as we took off in a direction I haven't seen from the air before, and there were lots of sailboats out on the water. I also got to see the finger lakes in New York, and having just recently discovered the region's excellent wines, I was wishing for Scotty to beam me up a few bottles to share with everyone here.

The photo is looking South toward Boston- if you click the photo to see it larger, you can see the cluster of skyscrapers in downtown Boston, with Cambridge just across the Charles River in front and the harbor islands to the left. That big flat featureless patch just left of center is the airport. Now imagine the airport underwater, the Charles twice as wide, and the skyscrapers being on a little bubble barely connected to anything- that's Boston's natural coastline!

Knitolution in the Real World

I'm excited to announce that now you can see some of my yarn and patterns live, in person, in the real world. Eileen at Sheep Skate has graciously offered to showcase and sell some of my handspun yarns and vintage patterns in her shop in Dedham! You can visit her shop at 533 High St, Dedham, MA- besides my stuff, she's got a great selection of yarn, patterns, and notions, and knitting space inside and out, and classes. Also, did I mention that Eileen is great? She knows her stuff, she's got a sense of humor, and she's what we all look for in a knit shop owner- she's someone you'd enjoy sitting down and knitting with. So go browse my stuff at Sheepskate, and everything else she's got- support 2 local small businesses with one stone!

September Classes!

Sign up for any of these or Eileen's other classes by September 1st for $10 off! You can also view these in calendar form by clicking the Classes tab above. In October I'll be teaching holiday oriented project classes- if you have something you'd like to learn to make, let me or Eileen know!

• Toe up two at a time socks- this class is 4 nights.  You can sign up for all 4 or just the part you need.  The series is $80.00 and an individual is $30.00.  Please purchase supplies in the days before class begins. The first week will go over starting the toe- cast on, and working with 2 socks on 2 circular needles. Then you will have a week off to have time to finish the foot of your socks. The next week will be 2 classes covering the short row heel and the leg, and the cast off will be demonstrated. (Sept 6, 7, 20, 21)

• Spindle Spinning- Have you ever wanted to spin your own yarn without purchasing all the expensive equipment?  Here it is.  Jen will provide you with two 2 hour classes.  The cost is $80 including supplies (drop spindle and 4oz Shetland wool).  You will go home with a great skill and an original skein of yarn! We will begin with staple length, drafting, spinning with the spindle supported, and gradually put it all together. While you practice, we'll talk about technique and different types of preparation. In the second class, we'll ply your singles and talk about "normal" and "navajo" plying. We'll also talk about different sheep breeds and other types of fiber, and the benefits of different types of spinning and plying. After you finish plying, you will wash your skein and take it home! (Sept 14, 28)

• Back Strap Weaving-  No special tools needed.  4 hour class, including supplies $50.00 

The Sky is the limit with Back Strap Loom. The basic weaving skills can be applied to any kind of loom, and you can make just about anything with a back strap loom. In the class, you'll make a belt using 9 different patterns, and learn the basics of weaving in the same way Peruvian children have learned for hundreds of years. In addition, weaving on a backstrap loom doesn't require any special equipment! (Sept 17)

Eileen offers a number of other classes as well, please visit her website to see the rest of her options! www.sheepskate.com I also offer private lessons, both at Sheep Skate in Dedham, and in Cambridge. Please email me if you want to set something up! knitolution@gmail.com

All classes are pre-registration and pre-pay.  Refunds will be given if classes are cancelled due to low participation.  Each class has a minimum of 3 and max of 8.  Please register as early as possible so that we can prepare for each student.  Call 781-320-9276 or emailEileen@sheepskate.com to register.

Easy Breezy Hat- A FREE Pattern!

Easy Breezy Hat
A simple, basic, classic hat- perfect for beginning knitters’ first hats, and perfect for advanced knitters to embellish!

Size: Adult, one size. Approx. 23” circumference unstretched.
Yarn: 150 yds DK or 120 yds worsted weight yarn
Needles: 6 or size needed for gauge
Gauge: In stockinette- 20 st/4 inches

Abbreviations:
K: knit
P: purl
K1f&b: knit one front and back- knit one stitch, but before removing the stitch just knit from the lefthand needle, insert the right needle into the back of that stitch, and knit- creating 2 stitches in one.
K2tog: knit two together- put the right needle through 2 stitches on the left needle, and knit them together as one stitch.

Pattern by: Jen Stone-Gerardy Copyright Knitolution Designs, LLC 2010, All Rights Reserved
Questions or comments about this design? Knitolution@gmail.com - www.knitolution.com

PATTERN- Knit flat and seamed.
Cast on: 90 stitches
Knit 1, Purl 1 rib for 1-2 inches.
Increase Row: K1f&b every 9th stitch, for a total of 10 increases. You now have 100 stitches.
Work even in stockinette stitch (knit one row, purl the next row) for 6-8 inches from cast on
edge. End by working a purl row.
Decrease Rows:
Row 1: k8, k2tog, repeat across
Row 2 and all even # rows: purl across
Row 3: k7, k2tog, repeat across
Row 5: k6, k2tog, repeat across
Row 7: k5, k2tog, repeat across
Row 9: k4, k2tog, repeat across
Row 11: k3, k2tog, repeat across
Row 13: k2, k2tog, repeat across
Row 15: k1, k2tog, repeat across
Row 17: k2tog across, you now have 10 stitches.
DO NOT BIND OFF! Instead, cut your yarn leaving a very long tail. Using a darning needle,
thread the tail through the remaining 10 stitches. Remove the knitting needle, cinch the
stitches tightly, and use the tail of yarn to sew your hat closed.

PATTERN- Knit in the round.
Cast on: 90 stitches.
Place a stitch marker to mark end of round and join, being sure not to twist stitches.
Knit 1, Purl 1 rib for 1-2 inches.
Increase Row: K1f&b every 9th stitch, for a total of 10 increases. You now have 100 stitches.
Work even in stockinette stitch (knit all rounds) for 6-8 inches from cast on edge.
Decrease Rows:
Round 1: k8, k2tog, repeat around
Round 2 and all even # rows: knit around
Round 3: k7, k2tog, repeat around
Round 5: k6, k2tog, repeat around
Round 7: k5, k2tog, repeat around
Round 9: k4, k2tog, repeat around
Round 11: k3, k2tog, repeat around
Round 13: k2, k2tog, repeat around
Round 15: k1, k2tog, repeat around
Round 17: k2tog around, you now have 10 stitches.
DO NOT BIND OFF! Instead, cut your yarn leaving a very long tail. Using a darning needle,
thread the tail through the remaining 10 stitches. Remove the knitting needle, cinch the
stitches tightly, and weave the tail in securely.

Finally, something OFF the needles!

It feels like lately I've just had too many different projects going, and so everything takes way too long to get finished. But this weekend, I finally got one off the needles! And just in time too- less than 24 hours before the wedding at which it was a gift. It was one of those weddings that perfectly reflects the couple, and it was a lot of fun. I wish them many happy years of curling up under this blanket!

After the wedding I spent the next two days enjoying the beach and working on my "brainless" knitting- this sweater, which is coming along nicely. I'm almost up to the armpits, and getting ready to figure out the adjustments for raglan sleeves instead of set in. I love the yarn, the color, and the pattern. It almost makes me eager for winter so I can wear it!

That's it, none of my other projects have made significant progress lately.

A winner, shop updates, and TDF recap!

To begin with, the moment I know you've been waiting for- the announcement of the winner of my prize drawing! Toridanielle- congrats on winning an ounce of hand combed Merino top! Everyone else- thanks for entering, and I do have more prizes planned in the future so keep watching the blog.

I also have brand new fiber in the shop- 5 gorgeous alpaca fleeces, washed and ready for your spinning pleasure! In addition to the new fleeces, I have a lot of sale and clearance items in nearly every category in the shop, particularly vintage patterns. Also, all yarn is on clearance, 40% off- that's all the hand spun and hand painted yarns, silk, alpaca, wool, sock yarn, you name it- 40% off!

Finally, I wanted to recap Tour de Fleece... I did manage to spin every day of the tour except the rest days, which was quite an accomplishment considering how busy my month was! But, that bison down takes FOREVER to spin.. $#@% short staple length... So, I didn't even finish the bison, much less the cashmere and wool I wanted to finish! I did make good progress though, and I'll try to keep up spinning a little every day and eventually I'll have some beautiful bison yarn. I did get to spin in some interesting places though, including the banks of the Charles River on the 4th of July, in front of the Manhattan skyline, and while waiting to watch Book of Mormon on Broadway. How was your tour de fleece? Did you meet your goals?

Tour de Fleece Giveaway!

Yes, you read that right! One lucky reader will get something of their choice from my shop, free. FREE!

For everyone else, I still have 15% off everything in the shop with coupon code TDF11- enter it during checkout, sale ends when the Tour ends (July 24)

How to enter the giveaway:
1- You must either be a fan on facebook or following me on twitter to be eligible, so go do that first!
2- Check out my shop, and figure out what you'd like to win!
3- Comment on this post, telling me what you'd like to win and what you would make with it, or why you love it. (Before 11:59 EST on July 24th, 2011)
4- Invite your friends to comment- if I get more than 100 responses, I'll draw a second name!
5- When the tour ends, I will randomly select a winner, and you'll receive the prize you wanted! Check back to www.knitolution.com to see the announcement of the winner.

Rules:
One comment per person. If you comment more than once, only your first comment will be entered in the drawing.
If the item you have requested sells out before the contest ends (and you win) you will be contacted to choose a new prize.
If I cannot contact the winner to get shipping information within one week, I will draw a new winner.

Tour de Fleece 2011

Well, to begin with, I finally got several spinning fiber options posted to the shop! Many things, from Merino to llama, to flax, to Churro...

And, I have 5 alpaca fleeces coming this weekend! I'm really excited about this, they are gorgeous colors, very very soft, and very clean fleeces, which means I should be able to wash them quickly and get them available to you! Pictured are locks from all 5 fleeces, I'll have photos of the animals themselves soon.

Now, on to the Tour de Fleece! If you don't know what that is, the best place to go is the Tour de Fleece group on ravelry. Basically, its a fun challenge to spin along with the bikers "spinning" in the Tour de France! This year it runs July 2-24.

I have a shop promo to go along with the Tour- use shop code TDF11 during checkout for 15% off anything you buy, now until the end of the Tour. Happy Spinning!


Last year, I hopelessly over committed myself during the tour, and as a result I pretty much gave up after the first few days. So this year, I'm trying to keep it somewhat more reasonable- I want to finish the 3 spinning projects I have going right now, and IF I do, then I want to work on spinning and Navajo plying something hand painted. I have several somethings hand-painted, I'm not going to pick which to spin until I get that far.

What I have in progress- Bison down and Cashmere, both to be spun as finely as I can on drop spindles, haven't decided how to ply yet. The 3rd project is some Peruvian wool on a Peruvian drop spindle, from which I'm theoretically learning Andean drafting. Trust me, its much harder than it sounds. I'll post periodic updates here, as I (hopefully) make progress with all this spinning!

The infamous infinity dress

Yep, you heard it first here folks, I've joined the ranks of homemade infinity dress wearers! (Otherwise known as "convertible dress" or "many ways dress" "4 in 1 dress" etc) It all came about because I saw some super cute bridesmaid dresses that could be worn many different ways. Well, they claimed to be bridesmaid dresses, but really they could be any cocktail dress. So I thought oooh me likey! But, as we all know, anything intended for a wedding must double its price... so, no dress for me. $300 is a little steep for 4 yards of jersey fabric! After much perusing of the internet, I found several tutorials for making this style of dress. I primarily used this blog, but I found this other blog had some helpful tips, and I used the instructions for the straps from this blog.

Rather than commit to making a whole new dress, I decided first to try to fix this cocktail dress I made a year or so ago. I love love love the funky print, but... well... Let's start with the bust. I did an absolutely atrocious job on that bust. I won't even go into detail on all the reasons that bust isn't fit to be seen in public. The other major problem was the size. I made the skirt the smallest size that would fit over me without a zipper... but that isn't quite tight enough to fit properly at the bust and waist. And I loath zippers, but alas, there was nothing else for it but to suck it up and put in a zipper.

First, I made my straps. I used the tube method from the 3rd blog above because I didn't want to mess about with hemming all the way along the straps. As it turns out, the fabric I chose would probably be fine without a hem, but if you choose not to hem your straps, cut them very very carefully as any wonky spots will be very obvious. The upside to the tube is that the straps look clean and polished and cover everything better than a single layer of fabric. The downside is that its twice as thick, and after you've wrapped the straps 4 or 5 times, you have 8-10 layers of fabric over you! Which may not be the most flattering amount of bulk. It also means that you have to be careful when wrapping to keep the seam hidden. Next time, I probably won't double up my straps.

But, I love the improvements to my polka dot cocktail dress! I can't wait to have an occasion to actually wear it! I do still want to make a full dress from the patterns above, but I don't think the fabric actually needs to be stretch fabric, other than to avoid the sewing in of zippers. When I went for my strap fabric, I saw some gorgeous printed silks that just flowed like water... I might do that. Or I might try another in inexpensive jersey that's a more casual dress first, to get my skills down before shelling out for silk. I might volunteer to make them for my bridesmaids... who knows, I might even decide to make one for my wedding dress! Stay tuned, to watch my closet explode in an infinite number of infinity dresses!

So many vintage patterns!

16 of over 60 new vintage patterns in my etsy shop in the last week! There are lots of sweaters for men, women, and children, and also some toys, blankets, hats, coats, ponchos, and even a 3 piece suit! Pictured are just 16 of them, the rest are all in my etsy shop. All of the patterns are from Mary Maxim, a Canadian company, and most don't have a date printed on them but appear to be 1950s-1970s. I also have several pattern books in the shop right now, from the 1940s-1980s, with lots of vintage styles that are coming back into fashion right now. Oh, and my first for-sale batches of hand painted yarn are in the shop as well!

There are also a lot of vintage accessories and linens on sale 20-40% off in the sale section of the shop- but most of those listings expire June 8-the end of the month... so get them before they're gone!

As always, shop at http://www.etsy.com/shop/knitolution Thanks :-)