Stitch and Chat: May the knitting angel smile upon you.

Calann wants to get all her knitting "ducks" in a row before going on vacation. First, we addressed Azel Poncho. Last week she must've swatched on a #17 that was disguised as a #15; it happens - the identifying numbers on the needle wear off. Today she swatched on a #13, her gauge was slightly tighter. She went up to a #15 and it was just right.

She wanted to confirm she was on the right row of her Cabled Poncho.

Interweave Store

I showed her how to count her cable rows over a decrease. Click here for a good article by Eunny Jang on cables on Interweave Store.

Her Poncho Air Lux knit with Air Lux (Fingering: 70% Rayon, 30% Wool, 328 yards) is in a good place.

Jane swatched for Snowbird with Anzula For Better or Worsted (Worsted: 80% Merino, 10% Cashmere goat, 10% Nylon, 200 yards) on a #7 and was getting 20 stitches/3.5". The pattern calls for 20 stitches/4". She began swatching on a #8 and only went a few rows before deciding that it wasn't the right yarn for the project. She put both yarn and pattern away to await different dance partners.

She highly recommended the book, Black Widow by Daniel Silva.

Cindy finished her Artyarns Merino Cloud Gradient Cowl with Artyarns Merino Cloud Gradients (Fingering: 80% Merino, 20% Cashmere, 540 yards).

Cornelia finished the pieces of her Customfit and its going off to the finisher!

Allison was working on her 2 Ply Cashmere Jacket in Artyarns Merino Cloud (Fingering: 80% Merino, 20% Cashmere, 436 yards). She knit 20 rows, looked at directions, thought she was doing it wrong. The she ripped it out began knitting again, only to realize she was right the first time. Can we take a moment to emphasize? I have done this myself. Selective reading, this is what I was talking about in my last blog post.

She related a story to us about a blocking mishap. She had washed and blocked out her Easy Folded Poncho. It was pinned to a towel.

Her son had washed the dog and was looking for a towel to dry her off with when he saw one. The fact that her poncho was pinned to the particular towel did not get in his way. He literally shook out the towel (imagine pins and the poncho flying off in all directions) and dried the dog. Allison found the poncho curled up on the floor.

At first she was concerned that she would have to re-block it. We gave it the once over and decided that it was fine. The most it would need is a little steam. It didn't look any worse for the experience.

Allison's poncho was knit with Anzula Cricket (DK: 80% Merino, 10% Nylon, 10% Cashmere, 250 yards). When Jane heard that it was knit with Anzula, she got excited that she could knit it with the For Better or Worsted (that was put time out a few paragraphs ago. The Easy folded poncho calls for a gauge of 5.5 stitches/1". I adjusted the stitch count to accommodate her gauge, she has more than enough yarn.

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On Wednesday...

Eileen has been very busy since I last saw her. She had ALOT of show and tell.

She's back on track with her Artyarns Lazy Days of Summer KAL in Artyarns Beaded Silk & Sequins Light and Artyarns Merino Cloud.

She began L'Enveloppe in Misti Alpaca Qolla Worsted (Worsted: 80% Wool, 20% Alpaca, 218 yards). The pattern begins with a crocheted cast on and Eileen loved it. She will probably apply this cast on to future projects.

While traveling, she came upon some Ellyn Cooper Yarn Sonnets: Kid Mohair (Cobweb: 95% Mohair, 5% Nylon, 435 yards) and Let's Twist (Worsted: 100% Wool, 200 yards). She bought both in the Rose Collage colorway and is knitting a lengthwise scarf alternating the yarn. It's really cool looking.

She found Manos Cotton Stria (Worsted: 100% Cotton, 116 yards). She is going to knit the Building Blocks Afghan with it the way Mary has.

Eileen gave her (5 year old) granddaughter the choice of a Fringed Top (on the cover of Knit Simple Spring/Summer) or a backpack. She (her granddaughter) picked out the backpack.

Her granddaughter declared that grandmothers make backpacks for their grand kids. (She was sure that a Grandmother made the backpack for girl in picture).

Eileen found this bookmark that her mother made for her when she was a child. Somehow this stood the test of time. She wanted to find the pattern. I was hot on the trail. I love a challenge.

Insert a few minutes (searching time) here.

Crocheted Bookworm Bookmark. Tada!

Mary began the sleeve on her customfit sweater (tunic). She is lamenting the choice of a tunic due to the amount of knitting. Yarn: Classic Elite Yarns Seedling (Aran: 100# Cotton, 110 yards).

She got turned around on the last square of her Building Blocks Afghan. Somehow she switched her right side and wrong side rows. Mary is finding this last block to be a really challenge.

The knitting angel smiled upon her. I knit her block while we were together and put in a life line.

Here is how one of the squares looks with one round of single crochet in white.

Michelle has started her Poncho Air Lux knit with Air Lux (Fingering: 70% Rayon, 30% Wool, 328 yards). Although her color is dark, you can still see the beauty of this yarn in the stitch pattern.

Her swatch in Royal Alpaca (Worsted: 100% Alpaca, 220 yards) for the Llama ll Sweater did not come out to gauge. She will have to either double her yarn or pick a different pattern.