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Twisted Stitches: The Proverbial Cap

This class takes 3 sessions:  Tuesdays:  10/12, 10/19, 11/9;  6:30-8:30 p.m.  

Instructor: Georgia

$60,  yarn included

This traditional technique from Bavaria & Austria produces gorgeous designs. Meg Swansen’s The Proverbial Cap from Interweave Knits Fall 2010 issue is a great introduction to this technique and will work up quickly.  We’ll also learn a traditional cast on method for an extra dash of fun.

Please note: The shop closes at 4:30 and reopens 15 minutes before class for students only.

Magic Loop Socks – One Sock at a Time                                                                  

This class takes 3 sessions:  Mondays:  10/4, 10/25, 11/1;  6:30-8:30 p.m.  

Instructor: Kathy W.                                     $55 + materials, pattern included

This technique for knitting socks with one circular needle is for anyone who wants an alternative to double-pointed needles.  This is our most popular class, so don’t wait to sign up.

Please note: The shop is closed on Mondays, but will open 15 minutes before class for students only.

To sign up for a class, call or come by the shop.  Class fees are due at time of enrollment, and material lists will be provided at that time or by request before enrollment.  Class size is always limited, so don’t delay!

Here’s a correction/improvement to the pattern we gave out during the yarn crawl: Comin’ Round the Mountain Socks:
Spiral Pattern #1: The note on Row 16 should read:
Before beginning round, slip first stitch of round to previous needle. Then work Row 16, redistributing stitches as necessary.

Spiral Pattern #2: The note on Row 16 should read:
Before beginning round, slip last stitch of previous round to left needle. Then work Row 16, redistributing stitches as necessary.

Hope everyone finds this helpful!

Now that I’ve caught up with everything that piled up while I was on vacation I can catch  you up on my travel knitting.

Socks are always my favorite car project.  I can knit, talk, and watch the scenery all at the same time.  On this trip I learned that I can also babysit the GPS while working on a pair of socks.  [By the way, the GPS has been named “Shirley” because my husband kept saying, “Surely, she’s crazy!”]

The pattern is a simple 8-stitch repeat that I could keep just by watching the results.  It spirals around the foot like the Blue Ridge Parkway curls through the mountains.  When it was time for the foot, the pattern decided that it needed to use switchbacks to climb from the toe to the ankle.

We were on the way home while I was knitting the second sock, so it had to spiral the opposite direction.  After all, balance is the keep to a happy existence, right?

P.S.  The yarn is Crazyfoot from Mountain Colors, and the design will be available the last week in July.

The “Traveling Socks” are coming along great.  I’m currently working on the second sock which is a mirror image of Sock 1.  I should have pics this weekend, maybe I’ll even be finished!

Also hope to have pics of the Shapely Shawlette from Judy Pascale’s pattern that was also travel knitting.  I’m trying to work out how to bead the bind off.

Have a safe & fun holiday weekend!

I’ve been playing the new Crazyfoot sock yarn from Mountain Colors, and it knits up beautifully.  The twist is great for pattern work.  The colorway is “Chinook” and this swirly design looks like it’s been blown around in a high wind.  The pattern will become a whirlwind when it reaches the foot, and the other sock will twist in the opposite direction.  I’m having a lot of fun with this so far.  What do you think of it?

Magic Loop Socks - One Sock at a Time

Tuesdays:  9/22, 11/3, 11/10;  6:30-8:30 p.m.

Instructor: Georgia      –       $50 + materials       

This technique for knitting socks with one circular needle is for anyone who wants an alternative to double-pointed needles.  This is our most popular class, so don’t wait to sign up.

Slip a Color Hat

Tuesdays:  9/29, 10/6, 10/27;  6:30-8:00 p.m. 

Instructor: Georgia       –      $40 + materials

Learn how easy it is to knit in the round and to work a two-color slip stitch pattern.  These make great Christmas gifts and can be great stash-busters for worsted weight yarns.  Besides - they’re fun!

Toe-Up Magic Loop Socks

Tuesdays:  10/13, 12/1, 12/8;  6:30-8:30 p.m.

Instructor: Georgia         –       $50 + materials

Toe-up construction is an excellent technique to have in your repertoire.  It=s a choice option when yardage is short or when you want to try on the socks as you knit or want the color pattern to match perfectly on the toes.

Knit 1 Below Scarf

Tuesdays:  10/20, 11/17;  6:30-8:00 p.m.

Instructor: Georgia     –     $35 + materials

This technique is enjoying a lot of popularity these days.  Learn how easy it can be and what a great look it creates.  This scarf will be your first of many!

To sign up for a class, call or come by the shop.  Class fees are due at time of enrollment, and material lists will be provided at that time.  Class size is always limited, so don’t delay!

Saturday I finished my “Sox Appeal” presentation to the Greater St. Louis Knitters’ Guild.  Thanks to everyone who attended, and I really appreciated your support and your generous comments after the meeting.  Wish I could attend more often!

This weekend I’m working on our fall class offerings.  I’m having a difficult time deciding what to offer this time.  We always have requests for Magic Loop sock classes, but there are other ideas and techniques I want to cover as well: knit 1 below, berets, Furry Flats (I’ll blog about them in a day or two. Stay tuned!).  I’m considering a regular class schedule for the sock classes and mini workshops for the knit 1 below, Furry Flats, and such.   Hmmm…..

For the first time in ages, both the projects I have on the needles are for ME!

The bigger project is a cardigan: Vanda from Knitters’ Magazine Summer ‘08 and the yarn is Mountain Color’s Merino Ribbon in the Alpine colorway.  The gauge is not the same, but that seldom stops me; I just fire up my calculator and have at it.  My version is longer with a more swing-jacket outline which I achieved by knitting the bottom pattern two needle sizes larger - then 3″ on the next size - then to the final size.  It’s really turning out great.  With the longer silhouette I decided on 3 buttons instead of just one.  The yarn is beautiful and provides a fabric that reminds me a little bit of chenille.  Sort of hard to describe, but really cool!

The smaller project is a pair of socks out of Sock Donegal (HPKY) in Turandot.  Pretty wild, huh?  The pattern I’m using is Herringbone Rib Socks from Interweave Knits Winter ‘08.  It was excerpted from the book Knitting Socks with Handpainted Yarn.   It took a few rounds to get the hang of the pattern stitch and then it was off to the races.  I’m really enjoying this sock, and the design does wonders for blending the colors.  I think that’s what I find the most fascinating about knitting this pair.  If you plan to knit this, be aware that the stitch pattern has a taut gauge and your socks will require more stitches than you usually use (8 more for me).  The large size in the pattern will fit my “healthy” ankles just fine.  I turned the heel on the first sock last night, and I can’t wait to wear them.

Time to go knit.  Now which project shall I pick up first?

Hope all of you had happy holidays!  Our Christmas was lovely and full of family, food, and fun.  That’s what counts.

I’m happy to report that all the Christmas socks fit and were received with joy.  Hopefully they’re warming toes already.

Happy New Year!

I was experimenting with SIL’s socks for Christmas.  He likes a “cushy” sock so I worked the soles in Eye of the Partridge stitch for extra padding.  It turned out great for the padded factor, but overall it was a disaster.  Because the row gauge was so much shorter on the sole than on the instep, the sock was laughably misshapen.

Next time through I tried alternating a row of Eye of the Partridge with a row of stockinette.  It was still pretty cushy but you could feel the slipped stitches very plainly.  Definitely not fun to walk on with sensitive feet!

With Christmas coming far too rapidly and more gifts and shop models to knit, I decided to stop experimenting and go with my standard sock pattern.  Sorry, SIL dear, but I really did try!