Sunday, June 10, 2012
Friday, June 8, 2012
Sale on Classes!!!
Take note!!! Classes are on sale again!
By the end of the weekend, paperwork for the rest of the year will be in the book at the Lebanon store.
Tuesday, June 5, 2012
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
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
How dependent on Electric we are
Well, Sunday night brought a turn of events no one expected. It was raining and a little breezy and suddenly as I was finishing cooking supper (I'm happy for gas that I can light with a lighter) all the electric from pockets of town was gone. (Transformers were taken out. Some by trees and others by the wind that we didn't seem to have.) We were in one of those pockets. I have learned the difficulties faced by 19th century and earlier peoples in doing things by candlelight. It was too chill for the doors to be open but too hot from all the candles to be completely closed up, which was needed to keep the candles lit. I had to stop work on my ripple swatch in baby yarn. I could not continue on the Granny Square Baby Cardigan which was also done with baby yarn. I could and did work on a popcorn swatch and kept a neighbor from being stir crazy with worsted weight yarn and a crochet hook and she said she would work some granny squares for Warm Up America for me.
Warm Up America blocks are a great hot weather project as there is no great mass of yarn in your lap. They work up quickly. The blocks give you ample opportunity to practice different stitches. A 7 x 9 inch block is a great swatch size to test drive.
Warm Up America blocks are a great hot weather project as there is no great mass of yarn in your lap. They work up quickly. The blocks give you ample opportunity to practice different stitches. A 7 x 9 inch block is a great swatch size to test drive.
Saturday, June 2, 2012
Granny Square Baby Cardigan
I have had several requests for one of the baby sweaters I use in my classes. Here is the pattern. The basic granny square pattern is not mine. It is one of those things that is out there that everyone seems to know. I would welcome everyone to make one to check the directions I have here. Please let me know of mistakes or things that are not clear. Please send pictures of yours. I'd love to see them. This pattern as written will fit a newborn under 10lbs.
Materials needed:
2 colors baby yarn or sock yarn, 6 oz each A and B
size 7 steel hook (or size needed to obtain gauge)
yarn or tapestry needle
Gauge: Finished Granny square should be 2 inches.
Stitches used in project: Chain, Slip Stitch, Single Crochet, Double Crochet, Half Double Crochet, Decrease
Abbreviations: Dc = double crochet, R = Row, Rd = Round, Sc = Single Crochet, Sl St = Slip Stitch, Ch = Chain, Prev = previous, Rep = Repeat, Dec = decrease, Sk = Skip, St = Stitch
Granny Square (Make 64)
With A: Ch 4, join with sl st to form a ring.
R1: Ch 3, 2 dc in ring, ch 1, * 3dc in ring, ch 1. Rep from * 2 more times. 3 dc, ch 1 and sl st in top of ch 3. Fasten off.
R 2: With B, join in any ch 1 sp. (Ch 3, 2 dc, ch 1, 3 dc, ch 1) in same ch 1 sp as join, * 3 dc, ch 1, 3 dc, ch 1. Rep from * around. Fasten off.
R 3: With A, join in any corner sp. (Ch 3, 2 dc, ch 1, 3 dc, ch 1) in same ch 1 sp as join, * 3 dc, ch 1, (3 dc, ch 1, 3 dc, ch 1). Rep from * around, end 3 dc, ch 1 in final side ch 1 sp and sl st in top of ch 3. Fasten off.
Half Square Triangle Granny (Make 4)
With A, Ch 4, join with a sl st to form a ring.
R1: Ch 4 (counts as 1 dc and ch 1), 3 dc in ring, ch 1, 3 dc in ring, ch 1, dc in ring. Fasten off.
R2: With B, join yarn around the ch 4 of prev rd, (ch 3, 2 dc, ch 1) in same sp. (3 dc, ch 1, 3 dc, ch 1) in next ch 1 sp (corner), 3 dc in last ch 1 sp. Fasten off.
R3: With A, join yarn in sp between ch 3 and dc of prev rd. Ch 3, 2 dc in the same sp, (ch 1, 3 dc, ch 1) in ch 1 sp of prev rd, (3 dc, ch 1, 3 dc, ch 1) in corner ch 1 sp, (3 dc, ch 1) in last ch 1 sp, 3 dc in sp bet 2nd and 3rd dc of prev rd. Fasten off.
Assembly
Join the squares with a whip stitch or overcast stitch, making sure all the squares are showing right side up (whichever side you decide is right). Use the yarn that you used for the last round of granny squares (A)
Make a panel that is 4 blocks tall by 5 blocks wide. Now add for the shoulder and neck shaping. At the top left corner sew across the top 1 whole block, a half block to make a slide from the top of the block just added to the row below, skip the next block, a half block in mirror image of the first and finally a whole block. See the pictures for help. (22 whole squares and 2 half square granny triangles) Now add the sleeves. Make two panels 2 blocks high and 3 blocks wide (6 whole squares for each sleeve back) and sew on each side starting at the shoulder.
To make the sweater fronts
Each front is 2 blocks wide and 5 blocks high with one exception. The other half square granny triangles are placed to open the neck up in a V shape (9 whole blocks and 1 half square granny triangle for each side). The sleeves are 2 blocks high and 3 blocks (6 whole squares for each sleeve front) long. Sew them to the fronts at the top on the opposite side as the half square granny. See the pictures for help. Place the sweater back wrong side up, put the fronts over the back, properly aligning the sleeves and the sides.
Join the squares with a whip stitch or overcast stitch, making sure all the squares are showing right side up (whichever side you decide is right). Seam along the top of the sleeve/shoulder on both sides and bottom edge of sleeve and side seam. Leave the bottom square on sides unseamed for a vent feature.
Finishing into a cardigan
Note: The button bands will fill in the space between the fronts.
R 1: With B, join at the bottom left corner of cardigan, ch 2, hdc in each stitch up the front center, around the neck (work 2 hdc dec in each corner at the back neck) and down the other side of front center. Turn.
R 2: Ch 3, work dc in each st as the prev row, keeping the dec in line. Turn.
R 3: Rep R 2. Turn.
R 4: Dc in each st on button side of the cardigan and around the neck and along the V neck on both sides. Tr in each st on the button hole side and evenly space 4 buttonholes (ch 1, sk the next st) along the left side for boys and right side for girls. Work the button holes at the same level as the seams. Option: Work a button hole 3 sts from the bottom edge if desired.
R 5: Working along bottom edge of cardigan, sc in each st and 2 sc in each dc or ch 3 along the fronts. Fasten off. Weave in all ends.
Sleeves: Sc in each st along edge with B. Fasten off, weave in ends.
Sew 4 buttons on the opposite side to match the buttonholes. As of 6/12/12 I have no buttons on this sweater. You can just make out the buttonholes as dark spots on the left front at the edge.
I'm updating this pattern to include this chart for seaming for added clarity.
Materials needed:
2 colors baby yarn or sock yarn, 6 oz each A and B
size 7 steel hook (or size needed to obtain gauge)
yarn or tapestry needle
Gauge: Finished Granny square should be 2 inches.
Stitches used in project: Chain, Slip Stitch, Single Crochet, Double Crochet, Half Double Crochet, Decrease
Abbreviations: Dc = double crochet, R = Row, Rd = Round, Sc = Single Crochet, Sl St = Slip Stitch, Ch = Chain, Prev = previous, Rep = Repeat, Dec = decrease, Sk = Skip, St = Stitch
Granny Square (Make 64)
With A: Ch 4, join with sl st to form a ring.
R1: Ch 3, 2 dc in ring, ch 1, * 3dc in ring, ch 1. Rep from * 2 more times. 3 dc, ch 1 and sl st in top of ch 3. Fasten off.
R 2: With B, join in any ch 1 sp. (Ch 3, 2 dc, ch 1, 3 dc, ch 1) in same ch 1 sp as join, * 3 dc, ch 1, 3 dc, ch 1. Rep from * around. Fasten off.
R 3: With A, join in any corner sp. (Ch 3, 2 dc, ch 1, 3 dc, ch 1) in same ch 1 sp as join, * 3 dc, ch 1, (3 dc, ch 1, 3 dc, ch 1). Rep from * around, end 3 dc, ch 1 in final side ch 1 sp and sl st in top of ch 3. Fasten off.
Half Square Triangle Granny (Make 4)
With A, Ch 4, join with a sl st to form a ring.
R1: Ch 4 (counts as 1 dc and ch 1), 3 dc in ring, ch 1, 3 dc in ring, ch 1, dc in ring. Fasten off.
R2: With B, join yarn around the ch 4 of prev rd, (ch 3, 2 dc, ch 1) in same sp. (3 dc, ch 1, 3 dc, ch 1) in next ch 1 sp (corner), 3 dc in last ch 1 sp. Fasten off.
R3: With A, join yarn in sp between ch 3 and dc of prev rd. Ch 3, 2 dc in the same sp, (ch 1, 3 dc, ch 1) in ch 1 sp of prev rd, (3 dc, ch 1, 3 dc, ch 1) in corner ch 1 sp, (3 dc, ch 1) in last ch 1 sp, 3 dc in sp bet 2nd and 3rd dc of prev rd. Fasten off.
Assembly
Join the squares with a whip stitch or overcast stitch, making sure all the squares are showing right side up (whichever side you decide is right). Use the yarn that you used for the last round of granny squares (A)
Make a panel that is 4 blocks tall by 5 blocks wide. Now add for the shoulder and neck shaping. At the top left corner sew across the top 1 whole block, a half block to make a slide from the top of the block just added to the row below, skip the next block, a half block in mirror image of the first and finally a whole block. See the pictures for help. (22 whole squares and 2 half square granny triangles) Now add the sleeves. Make two panels 2 blocks high and 3 blocks wide (6 whole squares for each sleeve back) and sew on each side starting at the shoulder.
To make the sweater fronts
Each front is 2 blocks wide and 5 blocks high with one exception. The other half square granny triangles are placed to open the neck up in a V shape (9 whole blocks and 1 half square granny triangle for each side). The sleeves are 2 blocks high and 3 blocks (6 whole squares for each sleeve front) long. Sew them to the fronts at the top on the opposite side as the half square granny. See the pictures for help. Place the sweater back wrong side up, put the fronts over the back, properly aligning the sleeves and the sides.
Join the squares with a whip stitch or overcast stitch, making sure all the squares are showing right side up (whichever side you decide is right). Seam along the top of the sleeve/shoulder on both sides and bottom edge of sleeve and side seam. Leave the bottom square on sides unseamed for a vent feature.
Finishing into a cardigan
Note: The button bands will fill in the space between the fronts.
R 1: With B, join at the bottom left corner of cardigan, ch 2, hdc in each stitch up the front center, around the neck (work 2 hdc dec in each corner at the back neck) and down the other side of front center. Turn.
R 2: Ch 3, work dc in each st as the prev row, keeping the dec in line. Turn.
R 3: Rep R 2. Turn.
R 4: Dc in each st on button side of the cardigan and around the neck and along the V neck on both sides. Tr in each st on the button hole side and evenly space 4 buttonholes (ch 1, sk the next st) along the left side for boys and right side for girls. Work the button holes at the same level as the seams. Option: Work a button hole 3 sts from the bottom edge if desired.
R 5: Working along bottom edge of cardigan, sc in each st and 2 sc in each dc or ch 3 along the fronts. Fasten off. Weave in all ends.
Sleeves: Sc in each st along edge with B. Fasten off, weave in ends.
Sew 4 buttons on the opposite side to match the buttonholes. As of 6/12/12 I have no buttons on this sweater. You can just make out the buttonholes as dark spots on the left front at the edge.
I'm updating this pattern to include this chart for seaming for added clarity.
| *** | *** | *** | *** | |||||||||||||||||
| > | < > | < | ||||||||||||||||||
| > | < > | < | ||||||||||||||||||
| } | { } | { | ||||||||||||||||||
| } | { } | { | ||||||||||||||||||
| Sleeve | } | { } | { | |||||||||||||||||
| Fold in half | ||||||||||||||||||||
| across the center | Left Front | Right Front | Back <> show sleeve | |||||||||||||||||
| Make 2 | placement | |||||||||||||||||||
| {} show side seam | * show shoulder seaming | |||||||||||||||||||
Wednesday, May 9, 2012
New Classes Scheduled
Well, Lent and Easter are over. I hope everyone had a nice holiday vacation. I know I did. Even though I cooked for the family like I do every year, I got to spend a lot of time with my husband and son that I don't normally have due to work conflicts.
Festival season will be starting soon. I co-chair my church's festival each year. During that time for set up, festival week, and clean up, I will not be running classes. You will notice a gap in the class line up from the middle of June until the end of July. This is why there is a gap. I look forward to doing more blogging in the future.
Here is a schedule of my beginner knit classes. Below you can find the advanced knit classes and both beginner and advanced crochet classes. I look forward to each one of these classes.
Discover Knit Stitch Class
May 24 6 – 8:30 pm
July 26 6 – 8:30 pm
August 23 6 – 8:30 pm
Discover Purl Stitch Class
May 31 6 – 8:30 pm
August 2 6 – 8:30 pm
August 30 6 – 8:30 pm
Discover Pattern Stitches Class
May 10 6 – 8:30 pm
June 7 6 – 8:30 pm
August 9 6 – 8:30 pm
Discover Cables Class
June 14 6 – 8:30 pm
August 16 6 – 8:30 pm
Discover Single Crochet
May 21 6 – 8:30 pm
July 23 6 – 8:30 pm
August 20 6 – 8:30 pm
Discover the Tall Stitches of Crochet
May 29 6 – 8:30 pm
July 30 6 – 8:30 pm
August 27 6 – 8:30 pm
Discover Textured Stitches
June 4 6 – 8:30 pm
August 6 6 – 8:30 pm
Discover Granny Squares
June 11 6 – 8:30 pm
August 27 6 – 8:30 pm
Discover Baby Knits Class
May 25 6 – 8:30 pm
July 31 6 – 8:30 pm
Discover Mitered Knitting Class
June 1 6 – 8:30 pm
July 27 6 – 8:30 pm
Discover Fair Isle Class
June 8 6 – 8:30 pm
Discover Advanced Knitting Classes
May 11 6-8:30 pm Intarsia
June 15 6-8:30 pm Beaded Knitting
August 3 6 – 8:30 pm Socks Pt. 1 – Example sock
August 10 6 – 8:30 pm Socks Pt. 2 – Cuff, Leg and Heel
August 17 6 – 8:30 pm Socks Pt. 3 – Foot, Toe and Graft of Toe
Discover Baby Crochet Class
May 23 6 – 8:30 pm
July 25 6 – 8:30 pm
August 22 6 – 8:30 pm
Discover Throws and Wraps in Crochet Class
May 30 6 – 8:30 pm
August 29 6 – 8:30 pm
Discover Crochet Gifts Class
June 6 6 – 8:30 pm
Discover Advanced Crochet Classes
June 13 6-8:30 pm Beaded Crochet
Friday, February 24, 2012
Getting Ready for Open House!
Open House is a little more than a week away. I'm getting things ready to show off and hopefully inspire people to create and maybe even want to take some lessons.
In response to a class I recently taught on granny squares, I have been adding to that portion of my curriculum. I have added advanced granny squares and now a sweater of grannies. All I have left on the sweater is button bands, collar and cuffs. Baby clothes are a wonderful way to play with techniques and patterns to see if you will get the desired effect before committing to a lot of time and money in yarn if you won't like the finished article.
I have also been working on my samples for classes. There are some really interesting things in the advanced beginner classes. The baby rattle is my favorite so far.
Pictures will be forthcoming of finished items. I just have to find my camera cords. They disappeared at Christmastime and have not resurfaced. I could use my cell phone's camera feature, but the pictures from there are not the best quality for seeing detail.
Remember to tell a friend, classes are all on sale on March 3. Wilton's classes are a different percentage off than the rest. Knit, Crochet, Bead, Knack, Scrapbooking, and the fine painting are off 25%. Class schedules should be available and paperwork in the book. Come join us for the fun!
March's Discover Time for Crochet class will be Tunisian Crochet. I will be starting off with learning the basic afghan stitch and moving forward from there. April's Class will be Hairpin Lace. There is more to this lace pattern than meets the eye.
March's Discover Time for Knit class will be double knitting. This is a wonderful technique that can have so many applications. April's Class will be all about learning some of the more advanced techniques that you use in knitting that don't get explained too well in written instructions. These techniques also have many uses, some of which I will go over. None of these techniques are involved enough to need an entire class but are still worth learning. Some covered will be short rows, Kitchener, and i-cord.
In response to a class I recently taught on granny squares, I have been adding to that portion of my curriculum. I have added advanced granny squares and now a sweater of grannies. All I have left on the sweater is button bands, collar and cuffs. Baby clothes are a wonderful way to play with techniques and patterns to see if you will get the desired effect before committing to a lot of time and money in yarn if you won't like the finished article.
I have also been working on my samples for classes. There are some really interesting things in the advanced beginner classes. The baby rattle is my favorite so far.
Pictures will be forthcoming of finished items. I just have to find my camera cords. They disappeared at Christmastime and have not resurfaced. I could use my cell phone's camera feature, but the pictures from there are not the best quality for seeing detail.
Remember to tell a friend, classes are all on sale on March 3. Wilton's classes are a different percentage off than the rest. Knit, Crochet, Bead, Knack, Scrapbooking, and the fine painting are off 25%. Class schedules should be available and paperwork in the book. Come join us for the fun!
March's Discover Time for Crochet class will be Tunisian Crochet. I will be starting off with learning the basic afghan stitch and moving forward from there. April's Class will be Hairpin Lace. There is more to this lace pattern than meets the eye.
March's Discover Time for Knit class will be double knitting. This is a wonderful technique that can have so many applications. April's Class will be all about learning some of the more advanced techniques that you use in knitting that don't get explained too well in written instructions. These techniques also have many uses, some of which I will go over. None of these techniques are involved enough to need an entire class but are still worth learning. Some covered will be short rows, Kitchener, and i-cord.
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