The Knaughty Knitter

Naalbinding

Nålebinding (Danish: literally "binding with a needle" or "needle-binding", also naalbinding, nålbinding or naalebinding) is a fabric creation technique predating both knitting and crochet. Also known in English as "knotless netting," "knotless knitting," ^[1] or "single needle knitting," the technique is distinct from crochet in that it involves passing the full length of the working thread through each loop, unlike crochet where the work is formed only of loops, never involving the free end. It also differs from knitting in that lengths must be pieced together during the process of nålebinding, rather than a continuous strand of yarn that can easily be pulled out. Archaeological specimens of fabric made by nålebinding can be difficult to distinguish from knitted fabric.

Nålebinding is still practiced by women of the Nanti tribe, an indigenous people of the Camisea region of Peru. They use it to make bracelets. Nålebinding is also popular still in the Scandinavian countries.

Here's a miniature sample of the mitten we'd be making in class (Sunday Jan 10th).  Laura whipped this up in a few minutes while sitting here.  The class ought to be good, but needs more people to happen.  So if you are interested, please sign up by than January 5th.

Well...that lovely yarn in not the same size as called for in the cute handwarmer pattern. It's chunky, the pattern calls for DK. Had to make a choice between the cute handwarmers (they call for beads too) and the super soft yarn. I picked the yarn and am making a simple pair of ribbed handwarmers (no pattern, just knitting) cause the yarn is just so darn nice.
We went to the movie last night (Sherlock Holmes) so I only got about half of one done. By the way - the movie was AWESOME, not relaxing in any way but really really good acting, bits of funny along with the realistically depressing background for everything - boy would I hate to have lived in a city during those times. Everything was so grey - covered in coal ash probably. It seemed dreary and difficult and life would have been all about trying to scratch out a living unless you were one of the privileged. We are so lucky now even when things are difficult. At least there is plumbing and so many conveniences we take for granted. Okay, that's enough of that. Except getting yarn would have harder too.

Apparently I am easily bribed

I came in this morning and one of the yarn companies -The Yarn Sisters - had sent a present

The sock monkey card is very cute, but the Zealana wool/cashmere blend yarn is even better.  I think this is my next project, starting tonight...These are same folks who make the possum yarn we just got in and is so lovely to knit with, not to mention very warm.

I only knitted on UFOs while I was off , and sewed all the things that were piled up waiting to be finished or repaired, finished a weaving and made it into pillows and made the grandbaby (not so small any more) a napping blanket with big trucks on it.  This helped the clutter in my yarn room enormously.  So even though I spent all of Thursday in my PJs and relaxed I got a feeling of accomplishment and I can see large parts of the work table in the yarn room.  I have been working on an afghan in strips that I just got back to.  There was a knitting book from the 40s that was reprinted a while back and I have been going through that and using lots of my leftovers and single balls of yarn to do strips of swatches of the stitch patterns.  I get to learn new stitches and get to try them out and eventually someone gets an afghan. It is all good.  The knewsletter will be going out this week too, watch for it.

Happy Christmas to you all

Since we are closed until Saturday (after today) I hope you all have a wonderful holiday time. 

Here is what I hope to finish over the next day or so.  It will be a cowl.  But the interesting part is that you can get the fun striping effect with hand painted yarns so easily.  I have knit in the stitch below  every other stitch on this one.  The yarn is Farmhouse Yarns Andy's Merino in a purply blue I have been coveting since it arrived. Since I tend to covet every yarn that arrives I try to leave them a few weeks to see if I still feel that way.  This one kept grabbing me so I grabbed it.  It is a little different yarn - really is felted, single ply and very sort of spongey feeling - resulting in nice softness, but still with some substance to it.  

Only 6 more knitting days til Christmas.  Only 4 more Knaughty Knitter shopping days (my way of reminding you we are closed Wednesday and Thursday and Friday this week). 

Still time to make a stuffed bear or two.  The Blue Sky Alpaca Bobbi Bear pattern just was restocked and it is so adorable.  Made from organic cotton it is perfect for a new baby or anyone else too.
And this is the most fun present I have seen yet.  Stacie is making little Lego people for her boys.  There are all these parts to knit and they fit together.

Addi Clicks are back

The ultimate interchangeable is back in. 

They are really silver, but the way the light was they came out gold...or maybe it is just cause they are so awesome.

The new Knitter's is in and has some cute stuff in it.  I think the cover sweater will be on my list of stuff to do, out of a natural tan alpaca I think....I can't keep white white, ever.

Possum Hats anyone?

This hat is made from the new possum/wool yarn.  I have to say that even though the 8 inches of 2x2 ribbing seemed endless the yarn is very nice to knit with.  The hat is from Fall 09 Vogue Knitting and was done top down with the ribbing section doubled.  It takes two skeins of possum yarn and it will be the warmest hat I have.

Two Quick Gifts

Here is a neck scarf that I made one night last week and another I did Saturday night.  They are pretty quick and feel wonderful.  The purple one is this great textured stitch - the pattern in available at the store and you could do it with a ruffle as well.  I doubled Vittadini Natasha  for this one.

And the green scarf is Drops Eskimo but could be done in any chunky and I think it would be awesome in Asland Trends Del Sur.  It works up in no time in size 17 or 19 needles.  Simply cast on an uneven number of stitches - I did 17) and for each row, *k2tog, yo, repeat from* across row to last stitch, k1.  This one has not been blocked cause I could not wait to wear it.  It has that loose soft quality that makes scarves look really interesting and feels cuddly.

 

Anyone want a fair isle knit along?

 
I am proposing a Fair Isle Mitten Knit Along for January.  I love my pair we did a couple of years ago from Finland but there are more and I want more.  I have several patterns at the store to choose from - here are a couple of examples.....

There are more at the store.  They require fingering weight yarn and Size 1 or 2 needles (depending on how you knit and gauge).  But even with the small yarn and needles they don't take that long and are beautiful and very warm because of the double stranding.
 We'll start on New Year's Day and everyone should be able to finish at least one by the end of the month to gather for a finishing picture at the end (Sunday January 31st at 3:00) If you can't come that day, just send one to me and I'll incorporate it into the blog that day.
 

This yarn is from Maine. We visited the farm where the alpacas are raised and the processing and dyeing takes place. There is wool in it too from Maine farmers as well. You can't tell from the picture but there are subtle variations in the colors of the fiber that are really beautiful.
I asked them to just pick out some colors for me and they sent these and some roving too. The roving is dyed alpaca and wool - dyed alpaca is a bit harder to come by. I spun some of this after our trip and it was the easiest, stuff to spin I have ever had on my wheel. Just a real joy. So it is here now too.