NEW PROJECTS!

Knitters, the weather is getting nicer . Strangely enough the kids and I were out on our roof on Easter afternoon....Since we all have many things to keep us busy( and who wants to get on the roof and freeze their butt off) this is the first chance we have had to take down our Christmas lights...I guess you could say that we are somewhat Okie! But in a good way..haha! At least we don't leave them up year round. It was sooo nice up there we didn't want to come down. The shingles were so warm I had to sit on my coat to keep from...well you get the idea...I love warm weather, spring and summer is my favorite time of the year...I love the beach and have been known to sit there knitting wool mittens! Do you knit more or less during warm weather? I like to knit through the summer so when the cool weather gets here I can actually wear the items I have made..Since it seems to take me sooo long to finish something it works well for me to start it a few seasons before I want to use it...
Now its SHOW & TELL TIME: below is Carole she made this super cute ribbed hat with the same yarn ( Johanna) that the kids knitted slippers were made out of...She loved working with it and it turned out real cute! Say cheese!

This Carol (below in the lime green shirt) is making a summer dress for her daughter...The pattern is in Knitter's magazine Summer 2007 Pg. 54 It's called Flip-flops and frills...She is doing a great job! It's sooo cute!

Do You recoganize anyone in these picture's? This is JoAnne's class (Wednesdays from 6:30-8:30) In the picture on the right is JoAnne's mother Jane working hard and fast on her baby hat's she donates to the hospital. Below is a scarf that Pat Walker (Tues. 1-3 & Sat. 1-3)made. It's called Judy,s scarf and its beautiful...Its made with wool and silk that is spun with beads....If you look real close you can just barley see them glitter..

Don't forget about the cables bag we will be doing sometime in April...I will give you a concrete date as soon as I know....Last but not least, I hope you have noticed a few different things on the sidebar of the blog....There is a poll that you can take and I will post the results, there is a slideshow...Hopefully nothing creepy will show up there because the pictures arent mine...I just borrowed them from the web....so If you see something offensive please let me know...I will be adding our pictures to it asap.....Also there is a youtube video link...I have added some videos from the web on knitting and crochet...I hope its helpful and again at some point in the near future I will be adding our own videos...Have a great week Knitter's! Donna

UNRECOGNIZABLE!

I hope everyone is having a great week. We have another new member to add to our knitting family. Steph had her baby yesterday at around 10:30 am. I can't wait to see cute little Jackson. I will post a picture here asap. Momma and baby are doing fine and so is dad! My camera is deciding not to cooperate this week. My computer says it can't recognize it sooo picture's will have to wait till next time... The apartment upstairs is coming together, two rooms are done and its looking nicer each day...It's unrecognizable also......The lucky person who rents it will have a whole new house and it's even above a yarn shop! I have to say I'm not sure I would be able to pay my bills if I lived above a yarn shop..HA! Yarn Yarn Yarn everywhere!


Just a reminder: JoAnne's class on Wednesday nights will be making this cute bag in April. We can't wait! I will give you an exact date when it gets closer.


Below is a free pattern I love. I can't get the picture to stay here for some reason..(Computers can drive ya nuts!!) I will post the picture in your email though and I'm sure you will like it too.

TODDLER FELT HAT
The following pattern will make a hat that has about a 17" circumference depending on how much you felt it.

Materials: 1-4oz. skein of Steadfast Fibers Wonderful Wool or any other worsted
weight yarn.
Needles: US# 8 16” round and set of four US #8 double pointed or size to meet
gauge
Gauge: 4 stitches per inch

Cast on 90 st on 16” round needles. Place marker and join making sure there are no twists in the row. Knit around until the piece measures 7” or desired length. In the next row, *knit 8 st then knit two stitches together * and repeat the section between the stars until you have finished the row. Knit the next row around. The next row *knit 7 st then knit two together* repeat around. Knit the next row. *Knit 6 st, knit two together* around. Knit next row. You get the idea. Continue reducing rows of K5, K2 tog, K4, K2 tog, K3, K2 tog with each reducing row divided by a row of regular knitting. Change to double pointed needles when necessary. Continue reducing every row with no row in between until you have knit two together all the way around. Break the yarn, draw the end through the remaining stitches and tie it off. Weave in the ends and you’re ready to felt!

Felting!

Get the hat soaking wet and place in a dyer set on high with either soaking wet old towels (no fresh linty ones) or soaking wet blue jeans. Heat and mechanical action felt wool. Let the cycle run for about 15 minutes, then open and check on progress. When the hat is the size you want (but still damp) remove from the dryer, otherwise, keep the dryer going and check every 3-5 minutes (less time the closer the hat gets to size).

Hat should still be damp! Do not allow the hat to actually get dry. Roll brim of hat upwards to shape, then set on flat surface to dry undisturbed. After about a ½ day, check on dryness. Turn hat over (brim in the air) to dry the inside.

Curly cues are in two of Nicky Epstein’s books, Knitted Embellishments and Knitting on the Edge.



You can google knitted curly cues and find a pattern online for them... I hope you all have a great weekend (and Easter) and I hope to see you soon...Donna

Hi everyone, we are back from our crazy weekend with the cheerleaders....We had a great time and the girls did to. I have to say I am lucky that my daughter is on a squad with so many nice and caring parents. I had such a great time this weekend that I think I need to do that more often....Like once every three months.and maybe leave the kiddies home....that's not to much to ask is it? We all should take a few days to relax...Although we didn't relax..HEHE!. We were up at 5:30 am and didn't sleep much but it was ok because it was the people I was with that made it fun! The picture to the right Is several of the squads waiting on the mats to hear what place they came in and the picture to the right is of the two GREAT coaches....Vicki and Shelly. If it wasn't for them we would not have had the fun weekend!

Ok onto knitterly things, below is a bag that made you can get the free pattern from here http://www.straw.com/cpy/patterns/bags/EnglishGarden-felt.html

One of Linda's students on Tuesday night finished her shawl....It came out great! As you can see from below we had a visitor, Wendy brought her little cutie to visit....He is adorable and he makes the blueberry hat even cuter..

Here is a picture of a cabled bag that JoAnne's class is going to make. We all love it and cant wait to get started!



Hmmm, I had to separate the baby from the FINGER....HA! This is my "rejected from a knitting magazine badge...Hopefully I haven't offended anyone with this obscene gesture..
And last but not least here is a picture of this weeks free pattern...It's a sock made with Berroco's Love It!
Have a great week everyone and thanks for all the concern about the upstairs Uhhh...mishap.....Its coming together nicley! Hopefully I have great tenents lined up...and she has been knitting for ages! Donna

Apartment trouble!

Hi everyone,

Just a quick blog this time and I promise I will post all pictures and news next week.....I know that some of you know what happened here last weekend and I appreciate all the kind words. I am trying to get my act together again and promise that next week the blog will be better. I thought I would throw in a few pictures of how disgusting and destructive people can actually be. Just keep in mind as you look at these pictures that when these people moved in, the place was freshly painted and had new carpets. All the wood work was beautiful. It makes me sad that they might get away with this disaster and move onto the next apt. to ruin! I am trying to contact the DA and hopefully the Police will do SOMETHING! We shall see.

Hopefully you all had a better week then I did and I appreciate all of you! JoAnne brought this to my attention and I thought it was great. I am going to attach a link to this weeks free pattern. (we are cheatin a little) It's from Berroco. http://www.berroco.com/exclusives/lyre/lyre.html

Check it out, I think you will like it too. It's different. Donna