Which came first the purl or the knit?

I don't know if I can do our last meeting justice. It was very active. (I'll have the rest of the pictures up in a day or so, the internet was slow to upload and I got impatient.)

Michelle is knitting this purple sweater for her daughter-in-law, it's knit in Crystal Palace Puffin yarn. A wonderful fleece yarn. I only wish it came in more adult colors! Michelle is knitting a raglan sleeve sweater with a front pocket like a hooded sweatshirt. So it looks like a hoodie without the hood. The top picture is where the front, top of sleeve, and back meet. After sewing in the other sleeve Michelle will be picking up stitches to knit the collar.

I don't know if I can do our last meeting justice. It was very active. (I'll have the rest of the pictures up in a day or so, the internet was slow to upload and I got impatient.)

Michelle is knitting this purple sweater for her daughter-in-law, it's knit in Crystal Palace Puffin yarn. A wonderful fleece yarn. I only wish it came in more adult colors! Michelle is knitting a raglan sleeve sweater with a front pocket like a hooded sweatshirt. So it looks like a hoodie without the hood. The top picture is where the front, top of sleeve, and back meet. After sewing in the other sleeve Michelle will be picking up stitches to knit the collar.

We were so happy to have Michelle back. We also worked on a gauge for the "On the go" shawl from Knitting Central. She and I are both knitting the in Tahki Torino bulky yarn. I am loving working with this yarn. I green lighted her gauge and off she knit.

The beginning of the shawl is knit in seed stitch and we got the differences of how you work the stitches/rows between ribbing and seed stitch. Simply put, with seed, you knit your purls and purl your knits, in a ribbing you knit your knits and purl your purls. This of course led to a philosophical discussion of which came first the knit or the purl. We did not come to any conclusions.

Mary continues to make great progress in her Miter-Meter Maid sweater (aka crayon box jacket). We worked out how to give it more length. I'll have you know Mary, that my sister started the Modern Quilt Wrap that I made which is knit in striped mitered squares. She's now calling in miter-meter squares!

Robin made great progress in her Be Sweet Shawl knit in Kid Silk Haze. Her goal between this week and next is to have it nearly done so we can check the length before binding it off to do the crocheted border and fringe. You will make the gift deadline, Robin.

Here is a picture of a toddler cardigan Robin is knitting in Cascade Ecological Wool.

Bettina brought in a beautiful poncho knit in white Debbie Bliss alpaca and silk. The collar came out too tight so I took it back two rows and bound off loosely on a larger needle. She's also working on blankets for her daughters knit in Berroco Lullaby and trimmed in Plush. She'll finish it with a ribbon.

Shelly finished the heel flap and began turning the heel on her first sock and began her second sock.  We look forward to seeing the finished socks!  The socks are knit in "knitcol" yarn.

Towards the end of the chat Mary brought out two blanket patterns we'd been talking about. One is a pattern from the Design Source "Seasons" Booklet and the second is from Lion Brand. Michelle got all excited about both of them and had Mary jumping back and forth trying to explain the differences between each blanket. The Lion Brand Spiral blanket begins on double pointed needles and Mary, in trying to explain this shouted out "chopsticks! we have to start on chopsticks!" I think in the end we're going to start the Design Source Blanket. Mary is going to knit hers in a collection of soft cottons, solid and variegated. I'm going to make mine in Manos. This will be the next knit-a-long. (Elizabeth, you are in no way committed to another blanket. You are exempt from all blankets for as long as you choose).

Sorry, No pix today!

We talked about blocking today.  Claudia and Danielle have to block the baby sweaters they knit before they can sew them up.  Laying the sweater on a towel or ironing board, placing a towel over it and lightly running the iron (set at the appropriate setting for the fiber) over the edges of the garment so that the seams will lay flat.

Danielle learned how to pick up stitches.  It's kind of like crocheting a row of slip stitches, the way you insert the knitting needle.  She finished all the knitting while at the chat.  The sweater is quite a hit among the group. I'm rooting for you to finish this weekend and I look forward to a picture!  It caught Elizabeth's eye immediately for style as well as the yarn (Zara) and the color, a wonderful heathered gray.

Claudia learned how to do the raglan increases by "m1 or making one".  While we were together she divided for the armhole.  She's working on the Blue Sky Cropped Cardigan.

Robin wore her scarf knit out of Ghost print yarn, which everyone admired for it's funky texture!  She's nearly halfway done with the mohair wrap and then she'll be able to learn how to do the crocheted edge and add the fringe.  

Mary is really getting the hang of the mitered squares.  Her color/fiber combinations are inspired! There would be a great picture now if I had my camera!

She had us really laughing when she brought out a crochet magazine that she has a subscription to, when she doesn't crochet!!!  She must have ended up with it after a school magazine promotion, those offers are kind of limited and a little off the beaten path.

We talked about how if Mary learned to crochet she would be "bilingual" in the language of knit and crochet!  She wants to crochet a skirt.  Me too!!!

Welcome back, Elizabeth, we missed you last week!  Elizabeth is working on a really interesting Berroco sweater, knit in their yarn called Jasper.  She's also working on a sock for her son.  The gauge was getting a little complicated so I taught her how to do a mock circular gauge.  The socks are being knit on size 0, so gauge better be good, I don't see her going to 00.

P.S.  I found my camera today in the bottom of a black bag that I searched 3 times, I just couldn't see it in it's black case.  Next week I'm picking up a hot pink camera case.

I fell a little bit behind - this post is a two for one - last Friday and this Wednesday

Last Friday I was joined by Danielle, Robin, and Bettina.

Danielle started a child's sweater in Tahki Zara yarn, the color is a grey heather.  The sweater resembles a "J. Crew" sweater with a roll neck and roll hem.  

It'd be a great sweater for any age. The pattern comes from Debbie Bliss' Quick Baby Knits. This book is making the rounds in our group, lots of great patterns.

Robin picked out a pattern from Lorna's Laces called "Bulky Cardigan for children"  She has to knit a gauge in a ridge stitch, she was not a happy camper.  I sang the praises and importance of gauge; it didn't help!  Here's a picture of a great beginning.

She'a also working on a wrap in Rowan Kid Silk Haze for a friend.

Bettina joined us today.  We know each other from the "Knit Together" days.  She decided to bring some blankets out of hibernation and finish them.  It was easy to get her back on track, we just needed to figure out where she left off and review the pattern.

She has a really interesting business; she and her partner make custom "goody" bags for parties (and not just kid's parties).  They cater the bags to the request of the customer.  Check out their website The Goodie Bag Girls . My description does not do them justice!

One of the ladies in the class shared with us the way she remembers whether she's facing a knit or purl stitch:  A purl wears a scarf and a knit wears a v-neck.  I love these kinds of interpretations that help us  remember.

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And know for Wednesday's update.  I feel like Chevy Chase with the Weekend News from Saturday Night Live.  It's early, I haven't had enough coffee yet!

We had a full group today and it was a lot of fun.

Claudia came in with the baby wrap sweater done.  It called for sewing on a ribbon for the wrap.  Logistically we really weren't sure what they were asking.  We waited for Mary who is one of our sewing experts (Elizabeth being the other).  Mary and Claudia worked out a more efficient and appealing way to sew on the ribbon.  Claudia, please bring it in when you've sewn the ribbon!

I took a picture of the green baby sweater (knit in Blue Sky Organic Cotton)  with the buttons. It is soooo cute and the buttons are perfect.  This gift is being mailed to a friend in Peru!

Next she's going to knit a gauge for a sweater for herself.  We also continued our discussion about the next KAL being an afghan from the Design Source Collection and we'll use either Manos de Uruguay or Blue Sky Organic Cotton.  We'll be able to learn many different stitches.

Danielle finished the back of the baby sweater and was up to the neckline on the front.  We talked about ssk (decreases that slant left) and k2tog (decreases that slant right).  She might be up to sewing by the next time we meet.

We talked about what would be a good substitute for Caron Simply Soft Baby Yarn for a baby hat.  I looked it up and it's a medium weight:  92 yards per skein, 4.5 stitches to the inch.  Let me know if you need more information.  The Blue Sky Organic Cotton would be fine for it, you would only need 1 skein (the cotton has 150 yards per skein).

Michelle came back after a bit of a hiatus.  She's been asked to knit 5 (I think) pairs of my Weekend Fingerless Gloves. She's in the home stretch and figured out that she can knit a glove a day.  I finally knit myself a pair and I love the headband.

She found a really cute knitting book set for knitting for little dogs. The Pampered Pooch by Edie Weinberg.

Mary came in with her mitered creation, she was asked if it was a scarf :). It will be a vest when it grows up and Mary definitely has the hang of the mitered squares.  You can make a lot of interesting things with it.

Robin brought in the baby sweater she's working on and the Rowan Kid Silk Haze scarf/shawl she's making as a gift.  It can be a little tricky to knit, it's going to make a lovely gift.  We were talking about socks and Robin told us that socks are the worst.  Mary and I pointed out that she's never made socks!!!  I gave it my best shot, Robin, and you're right, the book The Ordeal of Elizabeth Marsh is not available on book tape.

I showed one of the gloves I designed for my daughter and they asked if there was a pattern yet. I explained that it has to be "knit-edited" and that Michelle had done this for me with my Weekend Fingerless Gloves.  
Mary and Robin offered to edit it for me and that it would by a "learning impaired knit-edit", kind of a comic relief of editing I think.  Thanks for the offer ladies, don't be surprised if one day I ask you to do just that!

Robin, please let us know about that juice fast.  It could give whole new meaning to a KAL.

Oh!  I promised to find a picture of the blanket for the pattern that Mary brought in.  It's from Lionbrand and it's called a "Knit Centerpiece".  Here's a picture of a finished blanket. 

The reason it starts on double point needles is because you start in the center (the white square) on just a few stitches and increase every round, and change colors.  It's not long before you switch to a circular needle.

Mary was asked about the Jane Elliott bag she and I began last year.  She told us that was in in the long-term parking lot and she was on a big trip!  (parking lot is code for a hibernating project in our group!).  Too many bobbles, different yarns, and different stitches.  We'll take it out of the lot down the road, maybe!

Shelley brought the sock she's knitting.  She had some trouble with adding stitches accidentally.  We figured out that when she switched needles, her yarn wasn't in the right position and that was causing her to think she had another stitch to knit.  She got back on track and began the heel flap before we were done for the day.

Meter/Miter Maid

Mary brought in her Crayon Box Jacket/Vest.  The sweater is done in individual mitered squares, one square knit off the last.  It's a great technique to learn. 

 

Claudia finished the green baby sweater during the chat session.  She had to finish the neckband and pick up and knit the front bands (including buttonholes).  She learned how to make a buttonhole and before we knew it, the sweater was done!  It is so cute!!!

She also made great progress on another baby sweater...

Claudia, since you'll probably have the blue sweater done within a week, it's time to plan the next project(s)!

Danielle brought in her finished booties that complete the set she made (blanket,hat, booties). This pattern is making the "chat" rounds, it's a quick pattern and comes out so cute.
Next up, the bag. (I saw Michelle and she gave me your book).  

We talked about a baby mobile from a book with one skein projects, Danielle, do you remember where you saw it?  Oh, and the baby book that Danielle was using was called Quick Baby Knits: Over 25 Quick and Easy Designs for 0-3 year olds by Debbie Bliss.

Shelley joined us today.  Shelley and I know each other from the "Knit Together" days.  A couple of months ago, Shelley came to a Border's Event a couple of months ago where Liz and I gave a presentation on socks.  She really enjoyed the talk, bought a book on socks and came to chat ready to go.  

She came prepared with sock yarn and a gauge, unfortunately it wasn't a "mock circular" gauge so she had a little more knitting to do on her gauge.  While knitting her gauge, she asked if knitting was as forgiving as crocheting was.  Mary just chuckled softly and shook her head no.

At any rate, when she was done with her gauge, I showed her how to measure it.  She made an interesting observation (I always enjoy the different ways people interpret different facets of knitting).  I was explaining that she count the "v's"  she asked if the v was like a mountaintop or a valley!  I love that.  We went with the valleys.  We found a pattern in her sock book, got her joined in the round on two circulars and she was off.  She really took to it and was halfway into her ribbing by the end of the chat.

Quiz - What Fiber Are You

Click this link to take a short quiz

Ssh, I'm counting

I think this was one of the quietest "chat" sessions yet.  Everyone was working on projects that involved their best concentration.  Which of course translates into little or no conversation!  

Elizabeth and I started off trying to decipher a pattern chart for a cabled headband she found on the Internet.  Now, the author of the pattern did put a disclaimer on it, that if you needed more information than she provided, seek it elsewhere. Well, she did, we put our heads together and the chart was too ambiguous.  After a good 30-45 minutes Elizabeth decided she would be spending more time writing out the chart than simply designing her own pattern.  She came up with a very clean pattern that could easily be accomplished in a day.  Whew!

Elizabeth wore the green sweater she just finished.  She did an interesting adjustment to the pattern.  The fronts of the cardigan were designed to kind roll, there are no buttons.  Elizabeth knew that wasn't going to sit well with her so she knit a facing into the back of the cardigan fronts and along the neck.  It took a few tries but the end result was outstanding.  It looks great!

Lastly, Elizabeth brought in a purse she finished from the book we've been using for the KAL.  This bag was an easy knit with smocking details when it was done.  She also added a gusset for the sides and bottom.  Elizabeth, when you have a chance, please write up how you handled the smocking and the gusset you added?  Thanks.

Mary brought in the beginnings of her Chris Bylsma Crayon Box Jacket.  We reviewed it, got reacquainted and then got going.  Instead of a Jacket, she's going to make it into a vest.  That's what I did and I get a lot of use out of it.  Again, this project required serious counting and attention.  Here's a picture of her KAL bag, it is absolutely fabulous; the yarn, the handles, the button.  Mary you out did yourself.  It really is a work of art.  Love it!

Ines joined us today with a cotton sweater she started a while back and got stuck at the neck shaping instructions.  That combined with it hibernating a while, well, we needed to do some "forensic" knitting and figure out where she left off and where she was going.  In the end she finished the back and could easily begin the front and get back on track.  Yeah!

Danielle finished her beautiful baby blanket in Blue Sky Organic Cotton, and was well into the baby bootie she's working on that will coordinate with the baby blanket and roll brim hat.

Fishzilla!

Claudia came in with several projects in various stages of progress.  Her KAL bag is nearly done.  

I taught her how to do a three-needle bind-off for grafting the shoulders together.  When we finished on shoulder and I showed her the right side and the grafted shoulders, she was so excited.  I love that!!!  She finished the other shoulder on her own.  While together at stitch and chat, she finished sewing on the sleeves and picked up the stitches around the neck, this sweater is very nearly done!

The blue sweater is going to be another baby sweater gift.

Mary thought the KAL bag was supposed to be done by today and she finished all the knitting for her bag.  The colors are so intense.  She just has to sew it and felt it.  Stay tuned!!!  And Mary, I was going to put up the fishzilla thing, but when I turned on youtube (there were videos about it) I got grossed out and couldn't do it. :)

Danielle learned how to single crochet and half double crochet.  It was hard going for a while there and well worth the effort.  The crocheted border in the contrast color looks so fresh.  We'll get a picture of it on Friday.

Robin realized that the color she chose for her KAL bag wasn't the color she meant to use and is going to skip this KAL.  No worries.  Catch the next one.  The second baby booties is well underway and we kicked around some ideas to the rest of the skein - maybe a matching hat.

Get Ready to be "Pom-Pom"ed

This is a baby mobile made out of different shaped and colored pom-poms which were then affixed to two hangers covered in the same yarn! It's amazing what you can do with a little string and creativity.

Everyone seems to be zipping through their projects!

Claudia has her KAL bag 2/3 done. She's onto the sleeves of her first baby cardigan (knit in Blue Sky Dyed Organic Cotton yarn) and she's already planning her next baby gift knit.

Danielle finished the roll brim baby hat while at the chat and is nearly done with the blanket (both knit in Blue Sky Dyed Organic Cotton). No pix till it's done! Next up she'll learn how to crochet a border on the blanket in a contrast color.
Elizabeth brought her famous blanket. Now she's able to get back to her green sweater (which is virtually done) and begin leg warmers. She gauged socks, sorry about having to bring you down to 1 (or was it 0)?

Unofficial Project of the Year

Elizabeth's Dog Afghan was a huge success. Her husband loved it. This afghan is a work of art.

She finished the Zara scarf for one of her daughters.