The Knaughty Knitter

Here is what I did last night

It is made from Berroco Peruvia Quick, a chunky wool that seems not soft at first and as it works seems to get softer.  It was lovely to do on 10.5 needles in this stitch pattern.  I love doing these little neck scarves cause they are good for trying out new stitch patterns.

It is hard to get the stitch detail here, but it looks sort of woven.  It is a slip stitch pattern that works up quickly & is a bit thicker than it would be otherwise.  Now there's some handspun fingering weight that needs to be a lacey little scarf.  I bought the batt at the festival this weekend and it demanded to be spun immediately. I'll be working on that in group tonight.
 
 

Did you know today was National Cat Day?

Actually I googled that and there are several days that claim to be National Cat Day.  I think I will go with today.  Not telling my kitties though - they think every day is their day.  I suppose that is okay - I think every day is National Yarn Appreciation Day.......

Here's my latest creation.  I had a ball of very yummy wool that I got in Italy and had not used and then I gathered up some things I thought would go with it and some beads and started knitting. 

The thing I like about this, besides the warm patternless squishyness of it, is how versatile it is.  I can just wear it looped around my neck or down over my shoulders or up over my head to cover ears and neck and all if it is COLD.
So grab some size 10 needles, 40" cast on 120 stitches and start knitting, knitting and purling or doing whatever stitch you want.  Change yarns every few rows, randomness is important here,get a crazy yarn and beads to add in.  Some yarns are thicker, some are lace weight, it is all good.  Hey may this is my yarn appreciation cowl....and the kitties can't have it.

Whew, what a festival

It is so much fun, but a bit overwhelming.  There was so much fiber and I barely had a chance to see any.  It was very busy and I love that, but there are people I only see at the festival and never seem to have enough time to talk to everyone.  I hope everyone enjoyed it as much as I did.

The first Friday gift ideas class is this week.  It is that lovely cabled lace alpaca cowl.  I have been wearing the thing a lot since I finished it.  I will have the pattern available but it can be complicated without help so the class is a good idea.   

And I just met with a very nice new yarn rep from a new yarn company - Zaol Yarns.  There is some lovely yarn coming - a bulky cashmere and cotton blend that I fell for the minute I touched it,  a tweedy and sweet baby camel and wool blend too.  All are pretty reasonably priced  so I though I'd give 'em a try.

Saturday Fiber Festival

means no knitting group on Friday night.  I have so much to do.......Saturday is going to be cold but otherwise the festival should be great.  I am doing a needle felting demo at 11 or so.  Spinning Circle will be at 3pm.  We'll try to set that up near the booth, but Parks and Recreation changed a lot of things and we can't be in our usual spot.  We are across from it though, so still easy to find.  The Festival is in Cannosnburgh, 10-5.  If you haven't been before, it is also the Fall Festival and there is music, vendors, food, usually an antique car show (which is probably where the little grandson will head), the fiber part has a few sheep hanging out, usually shearing demos, lots of other things going on for the non fiber addicts too.

Here's my Faux Isle

Of course I changed the pattern some....I added some bits of extra faux at the top and some stripes too.  

Coiled Basket Class

That was Saturday and there were ten people who all had fun and learned how to make them.

And that is Stacie there in her February Lady Sweater too. 

And By The Way.....there's some new colors of Baby Alpaca in and more Encore and Fantasy Naturale.  I have also added Oceanside Organic Cotton - a dk weight organic cotton from Plymouth.  And there is a bit of Dye for Me from them too, including a baby llama with sparkles in it......
 

Just a Reminder

We will be closed on Sunday for a family event. 

Oh and I have added to the schedule a Knit It Now! class - this is the quick, gotta learn how right now and the 101 class is full kind of class.  It is no substitute for Stacie's class but I wanted to offer something since her class is full, full, full...  So if you know someone who has been wanting to learnbut can't commit to 4 classes right now, or is just wanting to make scarves for the holidays, let 'em know. (Cause they'll be making a scarf in class)  Classes are Tuesday Nov 3rd at 11am or Friday Nov 13 at 4pm.

New Mags and Knitting Group Lovelies

The new Knitter's is in and I think they have begun to have their turn at the really good patterns again.  It seems to rotate between the magazines, one goes downhill, another gets really great stuff.  The new Knitter's is really good - Okay there is one hideous pattern, but everything else is definitely on my "wanna do it" list.  The Holiday Interweave Knits is in too. It is jumbo sized and packed with holiday gift ideas. 

The Lovely Ladies of Thursday morning Knitting Group had some cool stuff too.  Sally left me a sample scarf from the new Millefiori yarn.  It's very soft and quick too, but doesn't photograph well - so come in and see it.  Lisa did this great hat out of cotton.  She does Fair Isle like it is nothing, just whips these things out when she is in the mood...

And this little neck scarf is by Tammy.  The pattern is free on ravelry - Flower Scarf - I think we are all doing one this week.

Another free ravelry pattern is the Faux Isle Hat and a couple of us are doing that.  We could have a knitalong....if anyone is interested we can meet tomorrow around 4.  If you haven't done Fair Isle knitting before this is a good way to start.  When you get your yarns here I will help you get started tomorrow.

OOHHH, I'm cold

It is cold. And we are open today.

 To keep warm I am moving things around, well...and weaving and sorting stuff.  I found a box of vintage patterns and made myself give up most of them.  Okay, I kept one with an Elizabeth Zimmermann pattern and some Kaffe Fassett interviews and other cool stuff like that.  And the Cat Afghan pattern, really I only took a dozen home. The rest are on a shelf for a $1.00 a piece....There's some pretty good stuff in there, although there is hideous too. 

I've been neglectful, here's why

I haven't written in a few days.  I've been knitting like crazy and there has been so much new yarn to deal with.

This shrug is really a knitted rectangle with edges.  The pattern should be done by next week.  I used some of the new Ironstone yarn - "Mesa" and "Madrid" and made a striped rectangle then added the edges with just Mesa.  Then there is this....

Made with Blue Sky Sport weight alpaca on size 6s.  It's lace and cables and just warm & cozy.  This is the "Luxurious Cowl" we'll be doing in the first Friday classes on October 30th at 11:30 - 1:00.  So the pattern will be available then.  Here's a close up, but the color is so dark it is hard to see the cable.