It's been a while but I'm still knitting.

It's been quite some time since I posted on my blog.  Life happens but now I'm back.  I'm still knitting with my BKF's (Best Knitting Buddies)  and another group at my local Senior Center.  The group at the Senior Center is a new group for me.  I really enjoy it.  The levels of ability range from beginner to advanced.  A new women just join us and she is a potter who makes beautiful buttons.  She is going to share her talent with us.  I'm excited to learn how to make buttons.

I've done a little traveling over the last few months and of course I visited Yarn Shops along the way. I share that information and more in upcoming posts.  Stay Tune

Completing Projects - Vogue 2014 Magazine Checks Wrap

I started this shawl and ripped it out several times. I finally was able to get the squares lined up. The yarn is dyed so it forms squares and you have to have your gauge just right for the squares to fall in place. You'll notice on my sample there are strands hanging where the new square patterns begin. You leave half of the yarn color from your last square pattern and half of the yarn color from your new square pattern hanging. This is how you change patters. This will get woven in later. 

Prism Yarn - A Merino - Cashmere - Silk Blend. 

This shawl takes 7 skeins 170 yds. The color is Sage. 

Lazy Days of Summer Shawl Knitalong with Artyarns

Well I have added a new project to my long list.  I tried very hard to resist the sequin, beaded silk yarn from Artyarns but I couldn't.  You can see the shawl on Ravelry.  This is a knitalong that starts on April 10th.  I have never participated in one online before but I'll give it a chance.  I used my free time today to wind my yarn.  I took a page from my BKF Kate and used my knees to wind the yarn.  

If anyone has participated in an online knit along let me know.

Finished Yoga Socks.

I happy I finally finished my Yoga Socks.  I made a lot of changes which I mentioned in my previous post.  I will make another pair eventually but I will try a different pattern and yarn.  Now on to complete a couple of unfinished projects.

Craftsy Yoga Socks

I've been working on Yoga Socks from a kit that Craftsy had on sale.  My BKF, Donna, suggested we try making them and as knitters you know it doesn't take much effort to get another project going. So Kate, Donna and I embarked on this project.  Kate is always the good knitter and makes her swatch to check the gauge.  Donna and I are not good about that.  It turns out that instead of the
#3 needles the pattern calls for, we ended up using #1 needs.  If you use #3 the socks are very slouchy and we did not like that.  My other issues is the yarn, Patons Kroy Socks.  I find it to be itchy and I like very soft yarn so if I was to make another pair it would have to be with another yarn.  I would also try a different pattern.  Have any of you made Yoga Socks?





 

A Fun Day With BKF's (Best Knitting Friends). Starting A New Project.

I had a fun Saturday when my BKF's came to my house for a few hours of knitting and laughing.  I decided to make some Bread Pudding and the house was filled with good smells.  Kate and I are both working on Craftsy Yoga Sock.  Our friend Donna is also making them, and is the one who saw this kit on sale.  Unfortunately, she could not join us but we all started together on the project.  I will comment in my next post and on Ravelry about the adjustments on this project.  Michelle was able to join us on Saturday and is working on a hat to give as a gift to someone who has been helpful to her at her new job.  It is so nice to be able to give someone a gift that you took time to make.  It gives both the giver and receiver a good feeling.  It is even nicer when you see the receiver of the gift wearing and enjoying the gift.  Gari is a new coming to our group.  I met her at church and we clicked.  She used to knit and a couple of hours at my house on a Saturday after going out to breakfast, and she was back on her way. 

I have posted a picture of my Yoga Sock that I started at our get together.  More to come about it in my next post.        

 

I

Exciting Project!

This is a new project that I just couldn't resist.  I saw it on Facebook. I was scrolling along and the Kitterly page came up.  I saw this and had to get it.  I ordered the kit but haven't received it yet.  I did download the pattern and it is in three pieces and twisted together.  Another project Ill keep you posted on and comment on the directions and quality of the yarn.

What are you working on?

Yoga Socks

I'm excited to start knitting Yoga socks with my knitting buddies Kate and Donna.  It's all Donna's fault that I am undertaking yet another project when I have several already to complete.  LOL.  As knitters you know the feeling.  The kit was on sale on Craftsy.  It kept calling Donna's name.  It looks fairly simple so we will start together and do our best to knock it out quickly.  I'll keep you posted on our progress and any comments on the pattern.  I have grown fond of making socks. 









Patrons Sweet Stripes
166 yds 75% wool 25% nylon

Some Helpful Tips! Organizing My Yarn

As you read in the last post, I finally finished the shawl I didn't like making.  It taught me a valuable lesson.  I will never agree to make something I don't enjoy making.  It was sheer agony and I am glad it is done.  I did find putting the ball of yarn in a box kept me from seeing how much I still had to knit.  Any little trick to get me through. I'm excited to get back to knitting things I like and thought I would organize my projects and yarn before I started. 

I thought I would share with you how I keep my projects easily visible and away from my cats.  I had a light bulb moment when I was opening some new sheets.  I immediately stopped what I was doing and found a project that was going to do eventually and put the yarn and the pattern in the plastic package the sheets came in and zipped it up.  The perfect way to store yarn and projects that allows you to see what you have.  Of course, as most knitters I have to much yarn to store it all in bags like this so I keep scraps and random yarn in a three drawer dresser in my sewing room. 

Share how you store your cherished yarn..

The shawl I can't wait to finish

Have you ever got stuck making something that you really didn't like.  Well I made the shawl pictured below for a 97 year old woman's birthday.  It was my pleasure to make it but along the way it became very boring.  The woman's niece saw it and her husband asked me to make her one for her birthday.  Ugh!!! I'm plugging along and my goal is to finish by Sunday.  Wish me luck!

A Beautiful Gift

These beautiful booties were made by my friend Kate as a gift for a relatives new baby girl.  The petals around the top just make them so special.  She said they were very easy to do.  The pattern is Daffodil Booties by Kathie Poplin.  The yarn she used is Dale Baby Ull.  It's 100% Merino Wool made in Norway.

An Interview Part 3. Kate Hops Into Her Socks!

My BKF Kate and I danced into this sock adventure together.  She is going to share what the experience was like as only Kate can.  We spent time laughing and snarling as we moved forward.  This is Kate's Sock Tale!

 

I had never made socks until my BKF told me it was time.  That was last Spring.  We picked out some yarn at our favorite store and I found a book with some directions from the library called "Basic Socks."  I later regretted both actions.  Neither the yarn nor the directions were very good.  I actually forget the name of the yarn (Claudia Handpainted Yarn-Addition Fingering) but I wouldn't buy it again.  I had too many breaks.  No matter.  We were so excited to start a new project.  I didn't really use the toe part of the pattern from the book.  I started researching about socks and I learned there are different ways to make toes and heels.  That's all that really matters-the toes and the heels.  The rest is just filler.  I found a Youtube Video by VeryPink Lady.  At first I thought she was great.  She really was very helpful, but after I watched her over and over again, I was pulling my hair out!  (Try that, BKF.!) An inside joke, I'm bald.  Anyway, she advocated the toe-up method so no yard is wasted.  Being naturally cheap, I went for the suggestion.  She also recommended German Short Rows.  Sounded good at the time until I  reknitted those toes every day for a week.  I finally got the hang of it and I do think I will use that method again because there is no seam at the end of the sock and that just seems stronger and also more comfortable.  I made a simple gusset heel from the book and that was relatively easy. 

The socks turned out fine and I have worn them a few times.  There are some things I would change on my next pair. 

1.  I would make them shorter between the toe and the heel so they feel more snug.  Instead of measuring my foot, I would measure an old sock that fits well.

2.  I would knit in cables or some kind of pattern,  It got boring using only knit stitch in the round all the way up the calf and it made my hands hurt.

3.  I would try another type of heel just to compare.

I definitely will make more socks.  I was admiring so many beautiful ones from a book called "the Knitters Book of Socks" by Clara Parkes and I would really like to try them

 Thank you Kate.  Please add comments/questions in the comments section.    

Kate's finished project.

An Interview Part 2. Donna Socks It to Us With Her Sock Expierience..

As mention in An Interview Part 1 my BKF's Kate and Donna shared their experiences knitting socks. I asked the following questions and Donna shared her experience.





Was this your first time making socks?
I just completed my second pair of socks.

What pattern and yarn did you choose?
I made my first pair using the Yankee Knitter Classic Socks Pattern and Berroco Vintage Worsted
Weight Yarn. (Pink)
I made my second pair of socks using The Churchmouse Basic Socks pattern. This time I used
Schoppel-Wolle Ambiente Sport Weight Yarn. (Multi)

What method did you use?
I used the Magic Loop method for both socks. I took a class to learn how to use the Magic Loop and
I purchased a booklet on the Magic Loop so that I would have something to refer back to.

Was it difficult getting started? If so why?
I wouldn’t say that it was difficult but it was challenging. I was learning a new method, the Magic Loop,as well as learning the anatomy of a sock at the same time. I had no idea that socks could be made toe up or top down, that there are multiple toe styles and heel/gusset styles and that there are endless patterns for the leg of the sock. I also had to learn the Kitchener Stitch for a seamless toe.

Did you encounter any other difficulties as you continued to knit?
In a word - GUSSETS! I think the most challenging part of knitting socks. Most sock patterns that I
have come across are written for DPNs. Since I don't like DPNs and want to use the Magic Loop for my socks, I am going to have to learn how to "convert" patterns to the Magic Loop method. I have been told that this is not difficult and that it will become easier the more that I do it.

What tips, advise, etc would you give people knitting socks for the first time?
I was advised to start by using heavier weight yarn for my first pair of socks. This allows you to see the different sections of the sock more easily and it makes the stitches easier to pick up. It also helps when learning the Kitchener Stitch. Everything is easier to see in bigger/heavier yarn. Using a lighter
colored yarn is also helpful. The heavier weight yarn also allows you to complete the sock much
faster and move on to the second sock without developing "second sock syndrome" (which means
never completing the second sock!). My second pair of socks was in sport weight so I will be ready for fingering next! I already have the yarn - Schachenmayr Regia

What is your next project?
I am going back to the Campside Shawl that I started before I started making socks. Then it will be
the Bianca Wrap (poncho) from Blue sky Alpaca.


Donna thank you so much for sharing your experience knitting socks and I look forward to interviewing you again. If any readers have questions/comments for Donna or want to share your experience's please do so in the comment section.

Donna's First Pair of Socks

Donna's Second Pair of Socks

          

 

An Interview With My Two BKF (Best Knitting Friends) About Their First Attempts At Knitting Socks Part 1

I thought it might be good to share with people my friends experiences learning to knit socks.  Donna and Kate are my good friends and partners in knitting crimes; which includes buying yarn even when we don't need it.  Shocking!!  I think their insights will help people new to knitting and attempting socks and may bring back good/frustrating memories for those of you who took the plunge.  It also gives insight into different styles, yarns and things they would do differently on their next go around with socks.  So I hope you will enjoy the next couple of posts and feel free to add your comments about your experiences knitting socks.  Happy Knitting.

The Socks Have It

I thought I would post about one of my new favorite things to knit.  Socks! At first it was my least favorite thing.  My BKF (best knitting friend - made a new phrase), Kate, and I decided we were going to knit socks from the toe up.  It seems that way  you can make them as long as you want without worrying about running out of yarn.  Of course, Kate did all the math work.

The first hurdle was the yarn and we chose Claudia Handpainted Yarn - Addiction (Fingering).  This yarn is so soft.  My color choice was Electric Kool Aid.  I lean toward all things purple.  One note about this yarn.  Mine had two knots and Kate's had at least five.  I expect no knots but more then one is not acceptable.  The next hurdle was learning how to do German Short Rows.  There is a very helpful youtube Video by VeryPink Knits.com and after watching it countless times we embarked on making socks.  I'll post a picture of our finished socks and Donna's finished pair.  She worked top down and used the Kitchener method.  I'm currently working on my second pair.  Also an interesting book Donna told us about is Sensational Knitted Socks by Charlene Schurch.

Let me know your experience with socks.

Kate's

Donna's

My socks

The art of juggling several projects at once.

I'm sure if you're a knitter you have more then one project in the works. I have a shawl, oops two shawls, gloves and socks in the works. One shawl I don't like, it's boring, but I was asked by a man to make it for his wife's birthday. I made this shawl for another friends 97 year old aunt and that's where this women saw it and wanted one. It was a simple pattern I made up and boring because at the time my wrist was broken and I needed something easy to do. I can't wait to finish. The other shawl is a beautiful gray and white check made with cashmere silk blend yarn. It was in one of Vogue's 2015 magazines.  I love it. I'm also making fingerless gloves and socks. 

I'll mention different people in my post who are knitting buddies in most cases. Kate is my good knitting buddy. Kate and I retired together and have been knitting together ever since. When we retired we decided to take a class and learn how to make a cardigan sweater from the top down. It was all one piece. We decided we didn't need to pay for a class between the two of us we could figure out a pattern. We mastered an interesting fingerless glove pattern with a cable design. This year we tackled socks from the toe up using German Short Rows. An adventure. I'm going to post some info about that in my next post. Stay tuned. 

Adventure at The Vogue Live Knitting Event Part 3....Pictures of NewYork

So many billboards.

I wonder if there is any knitting in there?

Never make eye contact with the cartoon characters.

A protest rally as we take a cab to the train

These large balls of yarn were in the hall at the show.

As always New York has so much to see.

Yarn purchased during my New York adventure.

Woolfolk Far - Ultimate Mernno
50 g. 142 yards 

Hand Dyed Merino - 4 oz 200 yds

Saxon Merino Wool -Grown in New York State

Stand Only Heather 1 ply 2oz 125 yds

Hand Dyed Sock Weight Merino
550 yards - Fingering Weight

80% Merino Sock Weight - 20% Nylon
50 g. 194 yds

Adventures at The Vogue Live Knitting Event Part 2

The Marketplace was housed on Levels 5 & 6 of the Marriott.  There were booths selling yarn, clothing items, bags, even knitted fruit.  I looked for a booth selling knitted fruit flies but couldn't find it.  lol  You could also go to lectures, classes, demonstrations and more.  I saw a demonstration of Extreme Knitting.  It was new to me.  The needles were so large two people were holding them.  I'll post a picture.  My friends and I had patterns and particular  needs when it came to yarn.

I was in search of Chunky Alpaca for a cowl and worsted weight yarn for Gully Gloves (fingerless) by Kelly McClure found on Ravelry.  Kate likes to make sweaters and was looking for yarn for a multi colored sweater.  Michelle was in search of the perfect yarn for hats and scarfs.  Donna had a scarf pattern, Lovely Leaf Lace Scarf- Worsted Version, also found on Ravelry.  It took us about 21/2 hours to wander around both floors.  Michelle had a page full of notes on booths for us to revisit and we were starving.  We headed for the Crossroads Restaurant bypassing the cafe with prepackaged sandwiches.  As we ate the great food from the buffet, we reviewed the yarn we thought might work for our projects and decided which booths to revisit.

Donna found yarn that was so soft by Woolfolk for her scarf and I ended up getting some for my cowl.  The vender's were so helpful in making calculations to allow for the difference in the yarn choice I made. Michelle and I both liked the yarn at the booth called Artful.  I got some yarn for a hat, called Cocktail.  The couple who ran the booth were so nice. Their shop is in Canada. I later discovered on the inside of the yarn label cocktail recipes and yes a hat was not on my list. Kate found beautiful yarn for her sweaters.  I forgot to mention she was dressed from head to toe in items she knitted.  She purchases the yard for her sweater when we went on our first knitting adventure to Connecticut at The Stitches Convention.  The yarn was made from recycled jeans.  I'll try to remember to post a picture in the future. We each purchased a couple more things.  I am into making socks now since Kate and I mastered German Short Rows, so I bought two skeins for socks.  It was after three o'clock and we were ready to head home.

We walked to the Marriott from the train, but a cab was what we needed.  Michelle said in the front with the cab driver who talked to himself or was he trying to talk to Michelle. lol We encountered a protest and it took us a little longer to get to Penn Station. It was snowing and cold but we were happy knitters.  It had been a great day and one we all agreed to do again.  Next, maybe a Knitting Crawl.

I'm going to post some pictures of the city.  Enjoy and look forward to my next post.  

Adventures at The Vogue Live Knitting Event Part 1.

Yesterday was a fun filled day. I spent it with friends who have the same love for knitting as I do at The Vogue Live Knitting Event.  My plan was to post last night but I was exhausted. (15,550 steps for Fitbit users) Kate described it perfectly, "happy exhaustion." I will make several post about the adventure and give you as much detail about the event as possible in case you attend this one or a similar event in the future. Everything from the layout, types of yarn, strategies to keep from being overwhelmed and food choices. So follow my post and take the trip with us. 

 We met very early because we wanted to be at the Vogue Marketplace when it opened.  We had a long ride into New York and an equally long walk to the Marriott once we arrived. As expected there was plenty to see during our walk and I will post pictures. We arrived on time and we were pleased to find there was a coat check ($4 for coats) which meant we didn't have to carry winter coats around all day. 

We had decided to have patterns in mind that we were going to buy yarn for so we wouldn't be buying yarn that we would have to find a pattern for down the road. We also brought tote bags to carry our treasures home. The Marketplace was on two floors and every inch was covered with booths and venders selling yarn or things associated with yarn. It seemed overwhelming, a word used by Donna many times. The perfect word at first but with our strategy it was not as overwhelming. We decided to go up and down each isle and Michelle had a fab idea. She had a notebook and wrote down the booth number, who found yarn there and for what pattern so we could return later. This was a great idea because we agreed not to make any purchases until we had made one complete sweep of the Marketplace. With these strategies in mind we took our first steps into wonderland. Yarn endless yarn. Stay tune for part 2.  

The quest for yarn begins.

I'm excited it's yarn day. I met my knitting buddies, Kate, Donna and Michelle and we're off to the Vogue Knitting Live event. We each picked a couple of patterns that we want to buy yarn for but I'm afraid the sight of so much yarn will lead to us buying everything we see. Yikes!  I'll post about our crazy day later. We're on the train, Donna's heating her protein bar under her leg, Michelle's meditating and Kate is being Kate. Kate is buying a pattern.

It's just the beginning.....

It's the beginning of what I hope will be a fun time with you, my blog readers. As you already know from my intro, I am retired and love to knit. About three years before retirement, my friend Kate invited me to be a co-advisor for a group of high school students who liked to knit. I accepted even though I hadn't picked up needles in decades. Kate's statement, and I use it now too when I teach or reintroduce people to knitting, "once the fingers learn to knit they never forget."

My fingers first trip down memory lane was knitting squares and hats for an orphanage in Kenya. (Knit-a-square.com). Kate was right, my fingers did remember and my quest to knit as much as possible began. Our knitting group grew and co-workers joined us. Some knew how to knit and some had to learn. 

When Kate and I decided to retired, we needed more time to knit, our co-workers wanted to keep the knitting groups going. Two years later with two additions to our group, we still meet every week. Our new additions are baby girls, 9 months old, who join us knitting with their moms every week. One baby enjoys unraveling her skein of orange yarn. 

Enough for now.  I'll be back with more and some completed and in progress projects. Also info about an upcoming adventure.