Have you learned something new today?

Calann sent the Azel Poncho off to the finisher Azel Poncho; it's for her 5 year old granddaughter.

She learned a lace bind off for her Poncho Air Lux. Lace bind offs are stretchier and allow for better blocking. Here's a link for directions for this particular lace bind off on Knitting Daily.

Trammi wanted to measure her progress of her knitted shirt then check the instructions for fronts.  She is considering knitting them at the same time. The sweater looks magnificent in Anzula Cricket (DK: 80% Merino, 10% Nylon, 10% Cashmere, 250 yards).

Cindy is finishing her Flat Foot Floogie knit with Cascade 128 (Bulky, 100% Superwash wool, 128 yards).

© 2015 Stephen Jessup

Today was a big learning day for Eileen. She started out with the intention of knitting Isadora . She began estimating yards of yarn for a long-tail cast on.  Instead, I taught her how to cast on using either two balls of yarn or a strand from the beginning and end of a skein. Click here to view a tutorial.

She is knitting with Louisa Harding Trenzar (Aran: 35% Wool - Merino, 30% Tencel,

23% Alpaca,12% Acrylic, 174 yards) and Amitola Grande (Aran: 80% Wool, 20% Silk, 273 yards).

Once she was done casting on, we talked about how to avoid that little blip you get when you join in the round.  It's called a jogless join.  You can either:

1. swap the first and last stitches cast on, place a marker on the right hand needle and join or

2. cast on an extra stitch, transfer it from the right needle to the left, place a marker on the right hand needle, then join, working the first two stitches together.

© 2015 Island Yarn Company

During this process someone showed her our Big Fat Stratus sample.  She decided to switch to this project because it is a "mindless knit" with the exception of the provisional cast on in the beginning and grafting it together when it's done. So she learned a provisional cast on and can look forward to learning how to graft (a/k/a the Kitchener stitch).

Allison was smitten with the Big Fat Stratus cowl as well and cast on. 

Eleanor is knitting the Emerald Isle Child's Pullover in Plymouth Select Superwash (DK: 100% Merino, 130 yards).

 

 

She picked colors for the Big Fat Stratus too.

Cornelia finished her Customfit sweater, off to the finisher. Yarn:  Mushishi (Worsted: 95% Wool, 5% Silk, 491 yards).

She knit a textbook swatch in Rasta (Super Bulky: 100% Merino, 90 yards) the for Azel Poncho for her granddaughter.  This is her first time using circular needles to knit flat.  She is a "straight needles only" knitter.  We have convinced her that this heavy poncho will be easier to knit on a long circular. 

She is not convinced yet. 

On Wednesday....

Lois had me check length of the front to see if measures the same as the other front; she's nearly done with her Beech Hill Vest. I counted the garter ridges on each side to see how many rows she had on the completed side versus how many garter ridges she had on the front in progress.

 She was off pattern on a scarf she's had on the needles for a while.

Mary was ready to work the raglan increases on her Sock Yarn Sweater; she's learning to work make one increases.

Michelle was having issues with her Two Color (Cotton) Cowl that she's knitting with Juniper Moon Farms Stargazer (Sport: 75% Llama, 25% Silk, 218 yards). There were several random white stitches in the red columns. I was able to sort it out by unraveling the stitches and recreating the fisherman's rib in the right progression.  At one point I thought I was going to lose Michelle when I took the stitch and let it unravel. We had her take calming breaths.

In fact we should all remember to take calming breathes...

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