KNITTING WITH JACKIE

Hiya! For sometime, I have been working on The Knitting Guild of America's, Level 3 program.  A part of the requirements are two original designs - hat and sweater.  One is worked in traditional Aran style and the other in either Fair Isle or Scandinavian style.  For my hat design, I chose to do a stranded Fair Isle design.   Although I love the look of colorwork and have followed several designers who are famous for it, knitting in this technique has seemed daunting to me. I have delayed this submission for quite a while because I did not feel that I could not do it.    I took a few courses and even one-on-one instruction to get some confidence.   Which I did…. this hat is a combination of resolve and fear. I am immensely proud of this design and the knitting.  This is a basic seven-point Fair Isle tam using 8-colors of Jamieson’s Shetland Spindrift yarn.   However, there is still progress that I feel could be made.   Fo...

Hiya! It has been some time since my last Blog.  Like everyone in the world, my family and I were dealing with COVID19.  Although, we haven't suffered much personally, but, we felt it as friends, co-workers and the rest of mankind deal with illness and loss. Although, during the past year, my local yarn shop closed, I am fortunate enough to have several shops in my area.  I was provided the  opportunity to work at another shop, Purls of Wisdom .   In addition to group knitting, I am able to teach.   Thus far, I have taught classes on Short-Rows (Introduction), Raverly 101 and Stranded Knitting - Fair Isle Hat. This class is the first stranded knitting class that I have been able to teach.  At the point of registering for the class, each student was give a list of materials and homework.  The pattern is the  Basic Norwegian Star Hat  by Cara Jo Knit.  This is a free pattern on Raverly.   It is a quick knit fo...

  Hiya, As I have mentioned in my previous post, my daughter wanted jackets for her daughter - my only grandchild. For this request, I choose, " Little Buds " by Karen Borrell.  It is knitted top-down and in garter stitch.   Four little leaves give a nice flare shape and add a little girly touch – with 3/4 sleeves and neat I-cord edges. I am again knitting with Conshohocken Cotton - 100% Wool Yarn.  This yarn has been in my stash for more than 30 years.  Although this manufacturer was known for producing cotton, its factory outline carried various types of yarn.  I had nine (9) skeins of yarn to use up - which was more than enough.  I knitted a hat to match designed by Olivia Craftox. Again, I will need to soften the wool.  I found several methods by Megan Goodacre , Tricksy Knitter, that I will select.  After washing, I will, again, use a conditioner with lanolin; however, this time, I will place the garment in a plastic bag for 20 minu...

 Hiya, Recently, my daughter stated that Elena, her daughter, and my granddaughter, need a jacket.  So, I began a search on Ravelry for patterns that I thought she would like.  The only requirement was it needed to be button-down for closure.  I found several options and my daughter selected the following: Cissi Coat by MillaMia Sweden is a wonderful swing coat.  The built-in scarf is a useful twist to normal design - a benefit that children won't lose it.  It is knitted in pieces and sewed together.  The size range is perfect so that I can knit different colors up from 1 to 7 years of age.  I went into my stash and found some very old Conshohocken Cotton 100% wool yarn.  It has been in my stash so long that I needle to replenish the lanolin. I used a technique of adding hair moisturizer to the washing.  I allow it to soak for about 30 minutes.  It softens the wool greatly. I added wooden bottoms.  I deliberately alternat...

Hiya,   Since the quarantine started, I have ventured into the world of the "Knit-A-Long".  A knitalong (KAL) is when many knitters work on their own version of the same pattern at the same time.  My first KAL was with Marie Green.  Knitting along with a group from my LYS, we worked together with the pattern as it was broken down into steps.  The pace kept me on track so that I was able to finish the sweater while before the deadline. So, I decided to join another one!!  This time with one of my favorite designers - Joji Locatelli.  I have a number of her designs on my "things to knit" list.  Note:  My "things to knit" list are projects with the pattern and yarn already purchased - another "knit from stash project"  YEAH!!! Spector is a faded circular yoke pullover.  There are some decorated textured patterns.  Most of the sweater is knitted in a ribbed pattern.  I am using 4 different color yarns.  This will be ...

Hiya, Another sweater that was on my list of things to knit comes from Vogue Knitting's Spring/Summer 2008 editions.  This unique summer cardigan by Nora Gaughn.  It is knitted multi-directional with lace and a zigzag pattern. I decided to use yarn that has been in my stash for more than 20 years.  Marina by Katia is 84% cotton and 16% nylon.  I knew that I didn't have enough to knit the entire sweater in this specific yarn.  Since it has been discontinued for some time, it might be difficult to a matching color or fiber. I got lucky with Berroco Comfort, 9750; however, it is 50% nylon and 50% Acrylic. I thought using it for the lace, top portion only, of the sweater. Thus, far, I have gotten the back completed and I think it looks pretty good. I completed both fronts and realized that I failed to cast on the correct number of stitches.  I modified the pattern to accommodate my gauge. I reknitted the two fronts and I had enough of the Katia to finis...

 Hi Everyone, I know it has been quite a while since I blogged.   Like everyone else in the world, I am dealing with the shutdown, reopening, and adjusting to the new normal.  Having knitting projects has kept me calm and relaxed.  I am appreciative and grateful for the stash that I have accumulated over the years.  Although stores have reopened in the area of the United States that I live in, I have not ventured too far from home. As a result, I participated in my first Knit-A-Long over the 4th of July weekend.  It was Marie Green's Annual 4-Day KAL.  Typically, the sweater is knitted over 4-8 days; however, this year, the KAL has 4X more days.  I can't imagine completed an entire sweater in just 4-8 days; but, I was sure that I could do it over 16-32 days. The sweater is knitted top-down and the colorwork is actually slipped stitches. Participating in the KAL was fun.  Not only because a few of the ladies from my local yarn shop was kn...