The Knaughty Knitter

My Spring Scarf

pattern is now up in the Free Patterns section.

And I am about to post the socks class starting in March. I attempted to reach everone I could on the waiting list, but if you haven't called me back about the class already to register, do it soon. Register for socks as soon as you can, it fills up quickly.

Here's what February for Finishing is looking like at this end of the month

 

I was reviewing the list and it doesn't look like I did much, but it sure felt like I did

The Malachite vest - I didn't get to it
Koigu vest -  I have done a few squares and looking at it I realize I still have a lot of squares to go whether it is is a shawl or a vest, so I will keep slogging along on it
A black shawl from Folk Shawls….maybe work on it though I am not very far and could rip it so that I could work in a yarn I can actually see. hummmm…. ripped
A “Crazy Lace” scarf - this has to wait for inspiration cause I got bored - so maybe later in the month - ripped 
The Dragon Mittens - I only need to finish half a mitten - now just need to finish a half a mitten
Lopi Sweater -maybe it'll be done - I have the yoke to do, and steeking and finishing stuff,
I found the beginnings of a hat out of handspun - to match handwarmers I did last year - I finished it in an evening, wrote the pattern up and it’lll be out next week. I may make another one though, out of store yarn - does this really count as starting something new?
Socks - 3 half pairs that need finishing up  - I finished them and found an excuse to start another pair.  Didn't cure any sock urges at all.
There’s a Noro sock yarn shawl - I’ll get around to that too I hope.
Starting today: a hat for Doyle  and a Hippie Sock Monkey……. The hat is done, the sock monkey is at the same point.

The handwarmers I found started out of cashmere - I finished those too

I forgot to list a little shawl which I have also finished - out of some of my hand painted yarn.

Here's what that looks like and the pattern will follow next week.  It's my Spring Scarf, little & warm, and reminds me spring is coming on a  dreary day

 
There are bunches of new books at the store.  I got time to read one - Lynn Vogel's Twisted Sisters Sock Book is an oldie but goodie that I had not gotten round to reading until now.  She talks a lot about dyeing and spinning in it and now there are hand spun socks on my to do list for March.  And I am hoping for a warm day soon so I can dye some fiber.  I am pretty hopeless.  I went into the yarn room to clean up a bit - I like it better when I can actually walk in there.  I saw a sack of material on the floor and went "Oh, fabric"  and "I can get to the sewing machine now" and so made these (so much for cleaning).

 
They are perfect for socks or small projects, a pocket inside, but they are also completely reversible.  There was another but it went home with Sally about an hour ago.

More Spinning and Sock books came in, Lace and Learn to Knit Afghan books....It was a lot, the poor UPS guy.

And Finally.....I finally got round spinning the silk to ply with for this yarn - It is alpaca and mohair that I dyed with cake dyes then plied with the silk. 

 Don't know what it is going to be yet.

Happy President's Day

Did anybody knit anything interesting today? I've been working on the pattern for March's Secret Scarf Club.  The clue this month is "Think Irish".  There is still some room in the March class, but it is going fast, don't delay.  Meeting dates are Monday Mar 7 at 5 and Sat Mar 12 at 2:30.

I succumbed

I found away around my vow not to start anything new....I had a pattern idea and decided that If I write it up as I go it constituted "store knitting" and that was the exception...

 I found Schaefer Nichole in the stash and it spoke to me, said "Knit me Now, Right Now!"  so I started a sock.  I used a different toe cast on than usual and like it better.  But I love this yran despite the pooling of colors.  It feels really nice and is a tiny bit thicker than the usual fingering so I can knit on 2s, could maybe get away with 3s even.

Cleaning Lady, New Socks, & Oh, Spinning This Saturday

I had one of those mornings where you take your time cause your running early for a change....Then it hits you - the cleaning lady is coming and you're NOT ready!  so there's a frantic 10 minutes of washing & putting the dishes away, cleaning up the yarn that is everywhere and then realizing you forgot to put makeup on as you pull in the driveway at work...At least I had these to make up for it.  They languished in the UFO pile for  2 years or so and now are very comfy socks that are making me want to knit more socks.....

 They are made of Fiesta Baby Boom  and are springy and soft.  Also a faster knit (if you do it all at once) cause it can be done on #3s.

Lace socks will be cast on on Mar 1st, along with a couple of scarves and cowls in handspun yarn - the list is growing  - which kind of defeats the purpose of February being for Finishing. 

Oh, there is spinning circle this Saturday from 12-3 - Jan says she will bring a DVD on spinning for us to watch, while we are spinning.

 

Knitting 101

starts on Thursday - There's still room and this will probably be the last one for this winter, so get in now. 

Saturday's Secret Scarf Club went well and I am looking forward to the one tomorrow night.  Secret Scarf Club is now open for March and will be $25.  The dates are Monday March 7th (5pm), and Saturday March 12th (2:30pm).  There is a clue - "Think Irish" but that's all you can get out of me.  

Spinning Circle is Saturday Feb 19th, 12-3.

This is such lovely weather.  I resisted the urge to plant peas yesterday but did put in some kale and Daikon seeds in the square foot garden.  They do fine in the cold, but Doyle was "amused" shall we say at me doing this so early.  Hmmph...we'll be eating kale early - then he'll be glad I did. 

I found out about this last week and when Lisa went she said it was a blast.  Every 2nd & 3rd Wednesday from February through May there's a "Needle Arts Come & Go" at the Sam Davis Home.  It is an all day thing - 9 - 4.  I am hoping to make it out there to a couple of them too.  Lorraine says bring your lunch and come join them.

We are Here and Open

The roads in town are a little slick in spots but generally okay and it seems to be melting.  Our driveway is a little slick so be careful walking up it.  There will be crochet class tonight as it stands right now.  I'll post any changes here.

 

Woohoo

There are lots of little things coming in.  For us spinners & felters there is a selection of Angelina (the sparkly stuff), and rosewood needles came in and there are #8 needles back in stock.   The new Interweave Knits Knitting Traditions is in along with a couple of pretty cool books on various things - knitting, felting, crochet.  I am calling to order from Plymouth on Thursday, so if there is something you are wanting from their let me know by noon.  Which reminds me....sadly the last order from them contained a lot of Baby Alpaca DK in a light brown color.  I am thinking someone asked me to get it, but am not sure who.  So if you asked for it, please let me know.  (I write things like that on little pieces of paper and sometimes I never see them again - I really need to get a book to keep those kind of notes in)

Okay if you have not seen Yarn Harlot lately, go look.  She has way more needles than I do - I am feeling deprived even.  Way more than have even been in the store inventory in the past year I am pretty sure.  Really a lot.  So I don't want to hear anymore of "I have too many needles" cause unless you have that many, it just isn't so.

We've started carrying Knit Picks accessories and needles. Normally the price on both the swifts and ballwinders were so high, but Knit Picks had them for less and I couldn't pass it up.  I got a big box in late Saturday and it had Swifts and Ball Winders and Other Stuff.  This week I am putting the Knit Picks Swifts and Ball Winders on Special for Valentine's Day.  Buy one and get 10% off - buy both and get 15% off.  This deal is good for as long as the current shipment lasts or until next Monday (whichever is sooner/no rainchecks/not good with other offers).

There is February is for Finishing UFO group tonight from 5 to 6 - come in with your UFO, finish it here and get applause and admiration and then get 10% off your next project - regularly priced yarn, needles and pattern. 

Secret Scarf Club is closed for February.  Doyle has been busy winding yarn for you all. 

I am almost finished with his birthday socks - just heels left to do.  (It's Mountain Colors - lovely yarn but I think the color is off in this photo - its a bit darker)

 

And here is a hat I made him

 
I took a lot of little bits of handspun yarn - mostly alpaca - from the stash and made this for Doyle. It has random places of garter stitch that reminded me of a tree trunk that has sat around in the woods for a while and has lots of texture and color to it that make it beautiful. Kinda like Doyle….He turns 80 this all week I am doing gifts or events for him. Though he doesn’t celebrate birthdays so much and is not very enthused. But he does like the hat (for walking around out in the woods).