Saturday's Yarn Tasting Class

Saturday, there will be a yarn tasting class.  I will be featuring five novelty yarns, what can be done with them, and how to use them. These are the yarns and projects I plan to feature.

Premier Starbella yarn

Red Heart Boutique Chic yarn

Loops & Threads Pompom yarn

Loops & Threads Poodle Yarn

Red Heart Boutique Sashay yarn

Patterns and how-to's for each project will be in class.  Come check out the newest yarns and how to use them.

My Mother's in law hooded scarf present ~ Christmas 2011

Last year, I gave my mother in law a hooded, pocketed scarf.  It was done in red wool/acrylic blend.  Red was chosen because it favors her well.  It was a fairly quick knit on size 13 needles and with a super bulky yarn.  The area inside the pockets is stockinette.  The body of the scarf is 3 stitches of seed stitch and a plait cable in the center with 3 stitches in reverse stockinette.  I will have to see my Mother iu law about getting good pictures of her with her scarf and the scarf alone.  The pictures I took with my cell phone and camera are less than acceptable.  Pictures and I are uneasy friends.  Maybe I should invest in a photography class for beginners.

Mom's Scarf

I used 6 skeins Cozy Wool and size 13 US needles.

Stitches used are Seed Stitch, Reverse Stockinette Stitch, and Plait Cable.

CO 11 sts.
Row 1,3:  K 5, m1, K to end.
Rows 2, 4:  P 5, m1p-wise, P to end.
Row 5:  k 1, p1, k1, p 2, k3, m1, k2, p2, k 1, p1, k1.
Row 6:  k1, p1, k3, p3, m1 p-wise, p3, k3, p1, k1
Row 7:  k1, p1, k1, p2, k3, m1, k4, p2, k1, p1, k1
Row 8:  k1, p1, k3, p4, m1 p-wise, p4, k3, p1, k1
Row 9:  k1, p1, k1, p2, k9, p2, k1, p1, k1
Row 10:  k1, p1, k3, p9, k3, p1, k1

You should have 19 sts on R 10.

Now start the plait cable

Row 11:  k1, p1, k1, p2, k9, p2, k1, p1, k1
Row 12:  k1, p1, k3, p9, k3, p1, k1
Row 13:  k1, p1, k1, p2, FC6, k3, p2, k1, p1, k1
Row 14:  k1, p1, k3, p9, k3, p1, k1
Row 15:  k1, p1, k1, p2, k9, p2, k1, p1, k1
Row 16:  k1, p1, k3, p9, k3, p1, k1
Row 17:  k1, p1, k1, p2, k3, BC 6, p2, k1, p1, k1
Row 18:   k1, p1, k3, p9, k3, p1, k1

Rep R 11 - 18 until you have 6ft of scarf.  Start doing reverse shaping from R 10 - 1, using k2 tog in place of m1 and p2tog in place of m1 p-wise.

To make pockets (Make 2)

CO 11

Row 1,3, 5, 7, 9:  K 5, m1, K to end.
Rows 2, 4, 6, 8, 10:  P 5, m1p-wise, P to end.


Work 2 inches in k1, p1 rib.  Bind off in pattern.

Mattress Stitch to Scarf ends.

To do the hood portion

Fold scarf in half and on center 36 inches pick up 2 sts for every 3 rows.  Work 3 sts at each edge in seed stitch and working in to center, 1 stitch Rev Stockinette, a 6 stitch plait cable, 1 stitch Rev Stockinette, and the bulk of the hood is stockinette.  Work in this manner for 15 inches.  Graft edges together for a seamless look.

Christmas in July continuation

Sorry it's been a bit since I posted anything.  My church had its annual carnival and I co-chair the whole thing.  We got rained out a day and a half and had a day and a half of good weather.  Better luck next year.  This is why my mind has not been on knitting or crocheting.  On the up side, I had my yearly review at Michaels today and found some interesting new yarns to play with.

I picked out Loops & Threads Poodle and Pompom and Flaunt yarns, Red Heart's Boutique series Chic, and Premier Yarns' Starbella.  I then headed over to Ravelry after checking out the patterns available for these yarns on the company sites.  As much as I hate to admit it, some of these yarns are very popular in scarves.    They take the work out of projects and allow you to use simple stitches to complete a scarf in a small amount of time.  The finished items look stunning and you can get all the glory.  Sounds like a win-win situation to me.

I have also seen some interesting and unique ideas for some of these yarns, shawls, purses, hair scrunchies, adornments like flowers for other items, purses/clutches, pillows, blankets, cuffs and mitts, and strangely tea cozies.  For as much as I like a nice cup of tea when it's cold out, I never really thought about these for tea cozies but they are there.  And they look really interesting.

And now since a tornado watch is in effect for my location, I must get off the computer and shut things down.  This weather system arrived earlier than expected.  At least I don't have to go out right now for a class and I'm home from my day job.

Time to start thinking about Christmas

It's time to start thinking about what gifts you are going to make for family and friends.  Does Mom need a new pair of fingerless mitts?  Maybe Dad or Husband needs a new hat to stay warm while working on snow removal.  Warm socks would find a welcome home with anyone on your gift list.  Does someone need an afghan in a drafty house?  Classes that teach the techniques for these ideas and more are going to be starting up in August.

What is your knitting or crocheting gift list looking like?  Are you doing anything for coworkers?  Do you create for charity?  Let the me know in a comment.

Are there techniques you would like to learn that I have not offered?    Let me know of interests you have.  I'm always interested in what others might want to learn.

Do you have a wish to see matching hand crafted stockings to hang by your fireplace?  A Granny pentagon or an elongated sock design can both help fulfill this wish.

How about a knit tree skirt?  Crocheted snowflakes or icicles?  A nice crocheted popcorn garland to wrap around the tree?

Have you had a desire to knit a sweater for a gift?  Pattern ideas will be coming in the future.  Check with yarn companies for patterns for a start.

         www.lionbrand.com  www.caron.com    http://www.patonsyarns.com/       www.redheart.com
           http://www.michaels.com/Yarn-Needle-Crafts/projects-yarnandneedlecrafts,default,sc.html