I finally have it....

And what is IT???  My mother's-in-law Christmas Hooded Scarf present.  You had the pattern.  Find the pattern here.   Now have the pictures.  

I was recently at my mother's-in-law house and actually remembered to ask her for a picture of her with her hooded scarf.   She loaned it to me instead.  She has worn it many times she says and it kept her warm and dry.  It looks great, letting me know the yarn (Loops & Threads Cozy Wool) holds up well in use.

When I designed it, I had in mind to style it as a deep hood that slouched down the back a la "The Chronicles of Narnia" movies.  My mother-in-law wears it pulled front and folded back the front edge for a framed look.  The scarf part could be worn long and have hands in pockets.  The scarf part could be worn wrapped around the neck and if stretched a bit, hands will still make it comfortably into the pockets.  The pockets are also convenient for keys and a little cash for a shopping adventure or tissues for those cold walks in the snow.  Lucky for her we don't get deep snow and this is a fun activity complete with hot chocolate/coffee/tea/mulled wine afterwards.  This post was written mostly before and during the Christmas holidays.  I'm editing it to add the pictures and fill in a few gaps I have found at the end of February.  Our current weather service count is 50 inches more or less of snow since the first week of January.  It has not all fallen at the same time, but it didn't melt before more fell.  Yes, my mother in law has had her scarf back before all this fell.

The pictures are with my daughter in law modeling.  She shows both the flipped back brim and the deeper look.  I also have a black and white photo that shows the details better than the red.  Sadly, I'm not sure what the setting on the camera was that got this for me.  I would learn more if I took more pictures, I guess.

The hottest new technique in knitting

What is the hottest new technique in knitting?  Arm knitting!

This technique has made headlines all over the country in newspapers and tv.  Have you seen it?  Have you tried it?  Do you want to know more about it???  

These are just 2 of the new patterns I have to offer for this new technique.  New classes are being planned for this.  Stay tuned for the dates and times.  There is also a demo planned for March 16 for this technique.

     

This is the Loops & Threads Cozy Wool Cowl.


  
This is a Shawl made from Vanna's Choice yarn from LionBrand.

A Snowy Day and a New Pattern

Today started with a surprise.  We had been told on the radio and by the different internet weather services that we should expect a rain and snow mix and not a lot. We got more than expected and I got an afternoon off work.  Not too bad.  I got to work on the Tunisian Crochet Stocking I'm designing for my prayer shawl group.  Win-Win all around.

The pattern will follow.

I checked the weather again and discovered more to come for Tuesday and Saturday.  Fun for some, not so much for others.  But I know I will be getting in more design time and finish some projects.

Tunisian Christmas Stocking  Part 1

Materials needed:

8 oz worsted weight yarn (either one skein 8 oz. or 2 4 oz skeins in different colors)
2 oz worsted weight yarn for heel and toe, optional
Size US H hook, double ended Tunisian or cro hook
Leg:

Ch 60.  Join with a sl st in first ch.  Be careful not to twist before joining.

R1a:  Working in the back loop of the chain, pick up a loop for each ch. You will only get part way around.

R1b:  Join either the other end or the other color.  With the other end of the hook, ch 1 through the end loop.  Now wrap the yarn around the hook and draw through the horizontal loop just created and the next vertical bar.  repeat this step until there are 3 or 4 loops on the hook and go back to R1a.

Continue in this manner around until the leg is 10 - 12 inches long from the beginning.  Stay tuned for the next installment.

Works in progress and nurturing new knitters

At a recent Christmas party, I had the great joy of helping a grand niece learn to use her knitting machine.  It's an updated version of one I received when I was about her age. Hers has more capabilities than mine did. My only complaint is it came with eyelash yarn.  This young lady let me know what I knew but didn't voice. This yarn in not easy for a beginner to learn with.  My solution? To give her yarn that I know I won't be using for whatever reason.  My problem? I could not find it anywhere. I just knew it was in certain storage containers. It took me three weeks and a nasty bout of stomach flu to find it. It was exactly where I put it. I had consolidated most of my stash in the way that makes sense to me.

Unfortunately the finding of stash coincided with some really cold (definitely Arctic) weather and our heat was lost. The air intake and exhaust were blocked by ice. No way was I going to pack yarn in 30* temps in my basement.  Now we have heat back and a new problem. But I can pack the yarn in relative warmth.   She will be getting a nice big box of assorted yarns and colors.

My new issue? We had a leak that is threatening our bedroom ceiling. My task is to clean out all the things I can so we can move the furniture out to replace the ceiling.  I'm finding projects I forgot about, projects I started and put aside, projects for classes, charity afghans for warm up America.

I decided to make two lists.  One of each UFO and who it is for, when it was started, when it is needed by.  The other list is who is on the gift list and three ideas for each.  Where I can I will be matching up these two lists.  So far I have almost twenty UFO s.

I also have an opportunity to put each project in its own bag. This will make it easier to grab something on my way out the door or as I sit down and relax.  When the list is finished, I will post it.  This might be better for holding me accountable and get things finished.

Merry Christmas all

Merry Christmas to everyone.  

I hope that you all had as wonderful holiday as I did.  Both my sons and our we daughter-in-law spent the holidays with us.  We've enjoyed every minute so far.  Gifts were given and received but the best was having them here.

New Schedules for 2014

Here are the new classes for the first half of the year.  If there is something you would like to see and it isn't listed, let me know.  I will see what I can do to add that to the schedule.  If you know someone who might be interested in a class, please share the schedule with them.

Please note, Michaels now requires 2 students for a class to be held, with the exception of Wilton Cake Decorating. All classes are 2.5 hours long and are $25 each.  Exception to this is the Kid's Crochet classes, they are 1.5 hours and $15 each.  These are for kids 6 and older.  Great idea for the grandkids. 

Also classes make great gifts for someone who wants to learn a new skill or enhance a skill they already have.

All Classes are Mondays 6pm – 8:30pm

Crochet Beginner 1 – Skinny Scarf or Phone Cover

November 11  January 6       March 3        April 28         June 16

Crochet Beginner 2 – Pillow or Scarf

November 18     January 20     March 17    May 12     June 18

Crochet Advanced Beginner – Granny Square Scarf or Market Bag

December 2 February 3    March 31    May 27 (Tuesday after Memorial Day)

Crochet Advanced Beginner – Cloche or Scarf

December 9        February 17          April 14       June 9

Please see a store associate for details about any classes or sign up online at www.michaels.com under classes for this store 1127 Quentin Rd. Leb.

Yarn Nights are times for you to get a question answered about a stitch, yarn or pattern question that doesn’t require a full class.  You can also sit and stitch with me at this time

December 14   January 11   January 25   February 8   February 22   March 8   March 22   

April 5   April 19   May 3   May 17   June 14    June 21

Warm Up America Joining Parties are times to help join afghans blocks to help the homeless here in Lebanon with the donation of warm afghans.

November 17   January 12   January 26   February 9   February 23   March 9   March 23   April 6   May 4

  

All Classes are Wednesdays 6pm – 8:30pm

Crochet Advanced Beginner – Hooded Baby Blanket

November 13   January 8   March 5   April 30

Crochet Advanced Beginner – Granny Throw or Lace Wrap

1 Piece Granny November 20  1 Piece Granny January 22   Lace Wrap March 19   

1 Piece Granny May 14

  Crochet Intermediate – Tote Bag

December 4   February 5   April 2   May 28

Discover Time to Crochet Classes

Hairpin Lace December 11   Broomstick Lace February 19   Crochet Cables April 16

   Crocodile Stitch June 11

All Classes are Thursdays 6 – 8:30 pm

Knit Beginner 1 – Hat or Wristwarmers 

November 14   January 9   March 6   May 1    June 19

Knit Beginner 2 – Neckwarmer or Tassel Hat

November 21   January 23   March 20   May 15   June 20

Knit Advanced Beginner – Hat or Legwarmers  

December 5   February 6   April 3   May 29

Knit Advanced Beginner – Cable Scarf or Fingerless Gloves

December 12   February 20   April 17   June 12

All Classes are Fridays 6 – 8:30 pm

Knit Advanced Beginner – Baby Blanket/Booties or Baby Kimono

Kimono November 16  Blanket/Bootie January 10   Kimono March 7   Blanket/Bootie May 2

Knit Intermediate – Patchwork Blanket

November 22  January 24  March 21  May 16

Knit Intermediate – Fair Isle Cowl

December 6   February 7   April 4   May 30

Discover Time to Knit Classes   

I Cord December 13    Entrelac February 21   Sock Class April 18   Intarsia June 13

Discover Kids Classes

All Classes are Saturday mornings 9:30 – 11 am unless noted

Discover Kids Crochet 1 (Necklace and Bracelet) 

December 7 January 11  February 22  April 5

Discover Kids Crochet 2 (Zipper Pull)

December 14  January 25   March 8   April 19

Discover Kids Crochet 3 (Monsters)

December 15  February 8   March 22   May 3

 

Color Inspiration

What inspires you to choose the colors you do for your projects?

 I know what inspires me is usually first who am I making something for?  I'm usually not going to make something in neutrals for a person who loves bright, bold colors.  Under this will also come the question of how will it be used?  I don't do slippers in white since dirt tends to get ground into the soles.  I don't dress babies in really dark colors.

Second, my personal preferences.  I can't knit or crochet with colors I hate.  I can't knit or crochet with colors I can't see (black comes to mind at this stage of life).  I can usually bend my choices to the recipient's likes and dislikes.

Third, season of the year is a big part of my color selection.  In winter, I feel a need to work with blacks, grays, whites, blues of an icy nature and red.  

Lots of gray, white and cold blues here

In spring, I'm going to gravitate to spring colors of not only the pastels, but deep purple of crocus, deep greens and yellow-y greens of the leaves.  

The red maple has pinky purple leaves in the background and the tri color beech is pink

Here are the saturated colors of spring

Summer brings all colors of the rainbow in fruits and vegetables and flowers.  There are very few color pairings from this selection I don't like.  I'm even happy about the beige that reminds me of sand and I usually can't stand beige of any kind.  I will usually separate my palettes by what I consider beach-y, garden-y, floral, camping type colors and so on.  I don't mix my palettes either.

A favorite

In perpetual summertime

The gardens in this Mission are amazing

Flowers and weeds, like bushes and trees can have many color facets

This being autumn, I really gravitate to plummy purples, cranberry reds, pumpkin oranges, yellows of most vibrant hues, dark pine-y greens, dirty looking browns and the two colors of blue I associate with autumn, either the gray blue of wind clouds/rain clouds or the vibrant blue of an October sky.  I have been known to pair many of these colors together.  After all, if Mother Nature can, why can't I?

Autumn harvests and thanksgiving are 2 favorites of mine for color

I find this very inspirational

Holidays will also inspire me and summer brings a host of red, white and blue to my work.  I am a traditionalist with most of my other holiday hues as well.

So I ask again, what inspires your color choices?