the knitting buzz

best friend lace scarf

Happy Thanksgiving

 I love Thanksgiving..... it's my favorite holiday.  I love that it is  a time to be deliberate about are gratitude.  I have so much to be grateful for that I could go on all day.

I am so grateful for my my readers who endure my unending prose on knitting or related topics and even sometimes unrelated topics. Thank you. I am grateful for my many friends and family who both share my passion of knitting. And for those who don't understand what all the fuss is about when it comes to my knitting, that they at least enjoy or perhapas tolerate receiving hand knit items.

To express my gratitude to my readers....... I would like to share the pattern for my Best Friend Lace Scarf.

This lace scarf came about because my very best friend, who NEVER wears much in the way of accessories, not to mention a lacey scarf......shared a story with me that she wore one of my "cast-off" (my words, not hers) lace scarves to a work and got raves and tons of compliments.  She even went so far to say, that she liked it too.

What knitter needs more encouragement than that. Right?  Well around the same time she saw me working with a self-striping yarn (a scarf for Xander) that she also commented that she liked.

Soooo..... I put two and two together and knew I had some Jojoland Melody (color MS18) in my stash and thought she might like it.......resulting in my Best Friend Lace Scarf.

This pattern can be done with ANY weight yarn, adjusting the needle sizes accordingly.

Materials:  I used a 440 yards of fingering weight on US #6 needle.

Finished Size: 7" x 86" (length is your preference of course or determined about the amout of yarn you have.) 

Abbreviations: pm = place marker, k = knit, p = purl, yo = yarnover, k2tog = knit two stitches together as one, k2togtbl = knit two stitches together as one thru the back loops, sk2p = slip 1 stitch knitwise to right-hand needle, k2tog, pass slip stitch over just knit stitch.

Best Friend Lace Scarf Pattern 

The pattern has a 3 stitch garter edge on each side of the knitted pattern.  These stitches are not included in the pattern, except to pm (place markers) on the Set Up row.

Cast on 37 stitches. Knit 6 rows (Garter stitch).

Set up row: k3, pm, purl to last 3 stitches, pm, k3

Row 1: k1, *yo, k2togtbl, k1, k2tog yo, k1....... rep from * to pm

Row 2 and all EVEN rows: Purl

Row 3:  k1, *yo, k1, sk2p, k1, yo, k1.....rep from * to pm

Row 5: k1, *k2tog, yo, k1, yo, k2togtbl, k1......rep from * to pm

Row 7: k2tog, * k1, (yo, k1)2x, sk2p,......to last 5 stitches, k1, (yo, k1)2x, k2togtbl

Repeat rows 1 - 8 until desired length. Ending on Row 8. Knit 7 rows and bind off loosely as follows:

*p2tog, return this stitch from right hand needle to left hand needle ......repeat from * until all stitches have been bound off one at a time.

Weave in ends and block lightly.

 

Wishing you a Happy Thanksgiving......................and Thanks again!

 

31 Knitting Days till Christmas...........

Gifts Completed:  4

are you ready for some football?

The start of the 2011 NFL Football Season is less than a week away. 

Its time to get your knitting/crochet projects ready for your Sunday & Monday night routine (and sometimes Thursday).  If you are lucky enough to live in a fanatic football household you know better than anyone that this can be some SERIOUS (sometimes uninterrupted) knitting time. 

 
If you don't consider your self lucky enough..... you may just not be looking at it from your knitting vantage point.

 

I believe there are THREE Styles of Football Knitting.  

The first style is the ADVOCATE.  This is the individual that love and lives for football, but still has the sensibility that its time that can also be productive for their other love.....knitting.  The Advocates choose projects that do not require them to look up. Self patterning yarn or hand-dyed yarns are favorites. Garter stitch scarves and stockinette socks are both good project choices.

Then there are the CONTENDERS.  This is the person that enjoys spending time with friends and family watching their favorite teams. They may not watch all day, but they are able to intermittently knit and watch, watch and knit. The Contenders choose projects that are moderately challenging to enable them to enjoy both the knitting and football experience. Many times the Contender will take this opportunity to work on projects in their teams colors.

And lastly, there are the PRETENDERS. You will know them when you see them. This is the person that only looks at football season as a time to knit without interruption.  They are happy to hang out with the Advocates because it means free knitting time from 11am till 9pm. The Pretenders choose more complicated projects like intricate lace, cables, fairile or gansey's. 

 

So it all starts this Thursday night, September 8th. Are you ready for some Football.....(knitting)?????

 

What will you be working on...... a  garter stitch scarf, or a ribbed hat in your teams colors, or a sweater or a lace shawl?

Happy Knitting and enjoy the game.

 

 
 How's that for random?  =-) 

 

royal wedding

Do you have Royal Wedding fever? Many do, but I am not one of them. 

However, I can't help but be enamoured by this book found on Amazon.com "Knit your own Royal Wedding" by Fiona Goble.

 
 Thats right, you can knit the entire Royal Family, including the Queen's pet Corgi's. How funny is that!  The Book even includes a backdrop for family pictures...... really...you just can't make this stuff up.

 
 

 

chicago blizzard 2011

Luckily for me, I have spent most of the blizzard indoors, snug and cozy.  I have some pictures to share as the storm progressed from last night to this morning.

This is the beginning of the storm around 3pm, yesterday afternoon.  Traffic is already rather lean for the Loop.

 

Before going to bed, I noticed that the snow was accumulating & drifting on my balcony.  This became the measure shot for the rest of the pictures.  Check out the chair on the edge of the balcony. There had been a lot of lightening and thunder that seemed quite close, (the news called it thunder snow).   Doesn't the night sky has an eerie cast to it?  Normally, I can easily see the Sears, I mean Willis Tower from my living room.....but not tonight, everything was white. And oh... did I mention the 54 mph winds....it was quite a night!

 

 

At 6:30am, the morning sky still has the eerie cast to it and noticibly more snow and it was still snowing.

 
Still snowing......

 
 

 

 

 

 

It just around lunchtime and guess what......its still snowing......

It was a great morning to get some knitting time in, played some wii and had some yummy oatmeal.  

More later.....

 

football is almost over

Football is a big deal at my house.

I mean a really big deal. Sunday afternoon & night, Monday night and sometimes on Thursday's;  we live and breath football......and knitting, (of course). 

That's right is the perfect excuse to have an entire afternoon and evening dedicated to knitting.  Don't get me wrong...... over time I have learned to enjoy the game.  But love the uninterrupted knitting time even more, without regrets or apologies.

Once upon a time ago, when we would join some friends weekly for Monday Night Football, my knitting projects were frowned upon and nearly schunned.  But I persisted and over time, and wearing them down...... I am pleased to say that now my knitting is not only accepted, but expected.  Once, I forgot my knitting, which was tragic in its own right.....but found myself showered with concern, "what would I do?"  That was the week that I learned more about the game and now thoroughly enjoy it myself.

Soooo.....next week is the last of the playoff games. Then there is the Pro Bowl. And then the Super Bowl.  Football will be over....sniff...sniff...sniff. Until September.

Enjoy the games and the knitting....

GO BEARS!!!!!!!

happy thanksgiving

Thanksgiving is truly my favorite holiday.  There is no other holiday where we can dedicate some time to be thankful for our friends, our family and all our riches....even if our riches are that we are rich in spirit.

Of course, I also love giving thanks symbolized by "the feast". I know everyone has their favorites and their own traditions.....whether its the stuffing, the pumpkin pie, the cranberry relish or all of it together. Even though the menu doesn't change much from year to year, I look forward to it all the same.

I love the parade and the welcoming of the Christmas season and of course Santa Claus. I love having another day of football, because its the perfect time to .....dare I say, knit!

So I want to take this moment to say THANK YOU to all my wonderful friends, my supportive family, my dedicated readers and the many many knitters who have purchased my designs for making every day, in every way, better and better.

Lastly, I want to share a poem that I have always loved about family, friends & those that touch our lives.

We are a part of a tree.

Which began as a seed

And grew tall and strong

There are many branches,

Each receiving strength from the roots

There are many leaves

Each full and green .... offering shade

Some day we will blossom

Each in our own time

In our own way

And though the wind may shake us

We will remain a part of the tree

Ever growing

Ever blossoming

Evergreen

 

Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours!

Plaid - WSJ. Magazine - WSJ

Plaid

From Scottish clansmen to modern runways, traditional tartan gets turned on its head this season

• Article
• Slideshow
• Comments

WSJ. Magazine HOME PAGE »

By Jenny Studenroth

MENThe beginning:Cloth patterned with interlocking stripes in multiple colors and thicknesses, or “tartan,” is famously connected to the Scots, who, from the 1600s forward, wore the fabric, most notably to signify clanship, but its origins can be traced to ancient Celtic populations in 400 B.C. In 1822, King George IV of England attended a Scottish tartan celebration and brought the trend home. Americans were crazy for the pattern by the 1850s—and rechristened it plaid. The print hit a high note in the 1970s when Scottish pop sensation the Bay City Rollers added tartan edging—plaid is strictly a North American term—to their
wide-leg pants.
The look:Dapper, down-home or punk. The “Mad Men” of the ’60s stylishly wore three-piece plaid suits. Since the ’80s, Bruce Springsteen has celebrated the American working class in his plaid flannel shirts. Nirvana’s Kurt Cobain inspired scores of youths to pair plaid with everything—especially if torn or dirty.
The news:Michael Bastian combined a bow tie, a vest and trousers, varying the check’s widths and colors. Banana Republic was all about muted gray plaids on heavy peacoats, classic cardigans and V-neck sweaters. Duckie Brown pushed the envelope, putting contrasting plaids on cropped pants with combat boots.
How to wear it:On a belted fall coat in blac

via magazine.wsj.com

Don't you just love autumn? Have fun and get your plaid on!

fall fashions

I love the Fall and I especially love Fall Fashions.  All the knitwear, the beautiful plaids, the gorgeous wools, did I mention the knitwear. 

And this year is no exception.... Plaid, Argyle, Checks, Houndstooths are all back!

 
Plaids just make me happy. Could it be ingrained from parochial schooling (that may be a whole other story) ..... I don't want to think about that!

OR is it just a sign of the fresh crisp days of autumn.....the time for sweaters, wool socks, pumpkin spice latte and plaid.

So I couldn't resist and knit a fun cowl that is kind of plaid in nature. I call it my Argyle Check Cowl and it is made out of beautiful Malabrigo Twist.

And yes, if you've been paying attention, one of those projects that I promised to set aside during the Great Blanket Race had found its way out of my knitting basket and onto my knitting needles.  Oops =) ...... just couldn't resist.... again.

The pattern for the Argyle Check Cowl will be available on Ravelry soon. 

 

A Gripping Yarn - WSJ. Magazine - WSJ

A Gripping Yarn

As craftmaking finds respect in even the most rarefied design circles, knitting makes a high-concept comeback. Warm, fuzzy feeling still included

• Article
• Comments

WSJ. Magazine HOME PAGE »

• Email
• Print
• Permalink
• • Twitter

    

  • Digg

    
  • + More

  close

via magazine.wsj.com

Can knitting go too far? Never!

Couldn't wait to share this article with you from the Wall Street Journal.

sweet

I love going to the Farmers Market and lucky for me there is one just a block and a half away from where I live. I love getting the freshly picked fruits and vegetables from local growers. Baked goods are also available and I'm a sucker for the wide selection of breads, rolls, muffins and scones.

However, on this day a discovery was made. That's right, a discovery..... perhaps its not new, but its new to me. Ok, ok, enough. The discovery is that there is a special corn that can be eaten raw just like a fruit. It can also be grilled, boiled or microwaved BUT it can be eaten raw. The corn hybrid  is called Mirai Sweet Corn from Twin Gardens Farms in Harvard, IL

 Well the grower was brilliant to husk the corn and break off a sample for us. It was simply incredible and SWEET.  Xander loved it too. 

 
  And 12 ears later, I couldn't be happier. I will definitely get more next week.....oh know, what if he's not there......he better be, I'm hooked. I wonder if I can freeze it.....I will ask Farmer Twin Gardens next time. Crazy, right?
 
 

midwest fiber and folk fair

Journeys of the traveling sock.....

 

This weekend was theMidwest Fiber and Folk Fairin Greyslake IL.  Meg, Audrey and I rented a car and whisked ourselves out of the city and into the county. This was my first Fiber Fair and it was truly a treat.

There were 134 exhibitors showing beautiful  fiber (Megs favorite), spinning wheels (Audrey wants one), weaving supplies (Meg is totally into it) and YARN (my personal obsession), especially some of the amazing hand dyed ones, as well as, the sheer beauty  of the spun fiber in its natural color.

 
   

While Audrey was taking a test drive on some spinning wheels.

I had the extreme pleasure of meeting Kimber from Fiber Optics and instantly fell in love with her fiber, sock and lace yarn. Her dye work is breathtaking.

I wasn't expecting to see any animals, but had the pleasure of seeing a couple of darling alpacas and one giant angora rabbit.

It was a perfect day with a perfect ending, check out this sunset..... with the promise of a beautiful tomorrow...... "red sky by night, sailors delight....."

  

 

 

 .

do you remember

Do you remember when we were saying its just too cold (brr-rr) to go outside? And do you remember how we relished the fact of sitting near the fire and spending one of the unbearably cold days knitting. Me too.

But now, its just too HOT to go outside. Its sweltering out there. But I'm game for having the same rules apply.... substituting the fireplace for the AC cranked up with a cold icy beverage on the side, perhaps something with a kick =), making it once again..... a perfect time to knit. 

Admit it.... you knew that one was coming.  Happy Knitting.....what is your icy beverage of choice?

fall 2010 color forecast

Compliments of VOGUE Knitting and Tahki Stacy Charles, Inc. I want to share the forecasted color trends for Fall 2010. 

I find this palette to be incredibly refreshing, offering some crisp alternatives.  I love how it opens up knitting with fine yarns to create light layering pieces. I think many of the colors work great together but the color you will see most is Gray, it as well as the Chocolate Truffle will be the new Black.

I love every color on the palette but my all time fav is Chocolate Truffle. Its a rich purpley brown, that would look good on everyone.  I have already scooped up some gorgeous Mini Maiden yarn, a silk & merino blend, from Handmaiden to knit some delectable treat.... I envision a sumptuous wrap...  = )

 

Unfortunately my photo does not show it at its best. But I call it Chocolate Truffle Surprise.

 

an action packed fun filled day

Starting early and ending late was the hallmark of this first day of market. We actually didn't go to the market, but

• attended 5 classes,
• attended a retailers meeting and luncheon, 
• listened to a speaker on customer service, 
• got to take some sneak peeks at new products,
• ate vietnamese food,
• met some designers at a cocktail party,
• attended the TNNA awards,
• the Fall 2010 Fashion show
• and bailed on the ice cream social.

Overall most of the classes were great.  My favorites were learning how to Tunisian crochet and the Vogue Fall 2010 Color and Trend forecast.

Pretty cool, huh?

The retailers luncheon was tasty, the speaker had some good things to say but overall kind of lame. Did I mention the luncheon was yummy?

See what I mean. Tasty!

Next are some of the pre - market previews that are set up to tease us and build up anticipation for the Saturday kick off. The pictures below are in no particular order and just a sampling of some of the things we previewed.

 

This is OMG Yarn , its 40% Sugar (rayon from sugar cane) 60% Merino

 Retractable circulars....wow wee

Vicki messing up the vendors displays....can't take her anywhere... ha ha ha

The evening was filled with awards and Fashion Show.  I only got a few picks of some of the gorgeous garments out of the 98 garments in the show.

That's it for hot off the presses from beautiful downtown Columbus Ohio.

Saturday is the kick off of the market, BUT camera's are not permitted on the show floor...boohoo...so thats it for the pics.

Have a great weekend.

Cheers.