Learn how to Spin!

In March I am going to offer a class that I have never done before! Spinning!

This class is perfect for anyone who has ever been interested in spinning and has always wanted to give it a try. I will bring the wool that you will be using and we will be practicing on my spinning wheel. You will learn how to treadle, draft, spin, and ply your yarn. You will be so excited to take home your newly created hand spun skein!

These will be private lessons so I will be booking appointments Saturday, March 8th all day.

$15 for one hour, $25 for two hours.

Call 805-466-YARN to schedule an appointment.

Needle Felting Class

Needle Felting Workshop

It turned out to be really fun! I brought all of the rovings and wool yarns and the students brought felt pieces to practice on. Everyone did a great job and no fingers got pricked! We definitely had some true artists there.

If this class interests you, all of the needle felting supplies that you will need are available at The Scarlet Skein. The cost is $15 for a 2 hour workshop. In the class I teach how to use the tools and give you design ideas. Needle felting is very easy and is a great way to embellish felted items. It's a perfect follow up to the Felted Clogs class.

I will be offering the class again in March so keep an eye on the schedule.

Smock Coat progress and a half naked stand mixer

I've been working on my Debbie Bliss Smock Coat exclusively since my last post and I've made some progress but oh boy is it slow going! I am determined to finish it before my self inflicted knitting deadline of February 1st! I'm going to be so extremely excited to finish this thing up!

I've now finished the two sleeves, two fronts, and a good portion of the back.
It stopped pouring long enough for me to take a quick photo of the work in progress.

Unfortunately due to all of this fantastic Smock Coat progress I've really neglected this stand mixer cover that I am making for a customer. I was doing so well knitting 2 rounds a day slowly but surely getting it done, but then I went on a Smock Coat rampage and the poor stand mixer cover has got no attention whatsoever.

Im about halfway there though...

(I am copying a knitted tea cozy that she has already.)

In other knitting news I made a hat a few weeks ago and forgot to say anything about it. I made it for a ski trip and it was so nice and warm.

The pattern name is Cosima from the book Hip Knit Hats. It was made from Tahki Bunny. I used 2 skeins and size 9 needles. It knit up really fast! I completed it in 1 day!

I think that Ava should be my hat model from now on, because I think that hats don't look very flattering on me!

Oh yes.... and I started another new project a few weeks back!

I know, I know, but this is different ok! It is a basic sock (using the formula off of this blog) that I don't have to look at to knit. I'm keeping it in the car to knit (when Im a passenger of course), and at the movie theatre. I've done pretty good on it so far, only 2 minor yarn splitting mistakes! Pretty good for knitting in the dark!

I'm knitting it out of Twisted Sisters sock yarn. I cant remember the name exactly, I cant find the label. I believe its called Zazu in fingering weight. I am using size 0 needles.

News from Knitty

Well, Knitty.com did not accept my pattern. I am really proud of myself though for giving it a good try. I had only a week to do all of this, and I honestly tried my best. When I try again for the summer issue, I will have way more time and hopefully that will make a difference. I'm trying not to be discouraged. Im just going to press on! I will now offer "Legwarmies" (which is the pattern I submitted) for free on the blog. Enjoy!

Legwarmies

Legwarmies
by Alana Dakos

These are the perfect cool weather accessory for the "little legs" in your life. I love to put my 2 year old in those cute short skirts and dresses for spring, but I worry about her little legs being too cold. These are great for chilly mornings because they are so easy to slip off when the sun comes out. She also wears them over tights for added warmth on an extra cool day.
Legwarmies are practical and a fun and funky fashion statement. You can knit them to match all your favorite outfits. They make great last minute gifts because it only takes a weekend to whip up a pair. Legwarmies stretch to fit most children from about 3 months to 3 years old. This yarn is wonderfully soft and warm against your little ones skin and, guess what moms, you can even machine wash them!

FINISHED MEASUREMENTS
Cuff Circumference: 5 inches unstretched, 10 inches stretched
Length: 9 inches (This measurement can be adjusted by lengthening or shortening St st panel.)

MATERIALS
Version A (Solid Color): Debbie Bliss baby cashmerino [55% Merino wool, 33% Microfibre, 12% Cashmere; 137yd/125m per 50g skein]; color: #600, Dusty Pink; 1 skein
Version B (Thin Stripe): [MC] Debbie Bliss baby cashmerino [55% Merino wool, 33% Microfibre, 12% Cashmere; 137yd/125m per 50g skein]; color: #503, Apple Green; 1 skein [CC] Debbie Bliss baby cashmerino color: #013, Grape; 1 skein
Version C (Wide Stripe): [MC] Debbie Bliss baby cashmerino [55% Merino wool, 33% Microfibre, 12% Cashmere; 137yd/125m per 50g skein]; color: #007, Magenta; 1 skein [CC] Debbie Bliss baby cashmerino color: #101, Off White; 1 skein
#1 set US #3/3.25mm double-point needles
Stitch Marker
Tapestry Needle

GAUGE
28 sts/36 rows = 4" in stockinette stitch

PATTERN NOTES
2x2 Rib (Worked over a multiple of 4 sts)
Round 1: [K2, p2] to end.
Every round is the same.

Elizabeth Zimmerman's Sewn Cast off:
(This produces a nice stretchy cuff that won't be too tight and cut off circulation!)
Cut yarn, leaving a long tail. Thread tail onto tapestry needle. Insert needle purlwise into first stitch then move it to be the last stitch on the final needle. It will then become the final stitch to be cast off. This gives a neater finish to the end of the round. Continue with the following instructions:
*Sew purlwise (right to left) through 2 stitches, leave the stitches on the needle. Sew knitwise (left to right) through the first stitch and then remove stitch from the needle. Repeat from * for the entire circumference. You will have one stitch remaining. Insert needle purlwise into last stitch and remove from the needle.

PATTERN
With [MC] loosely cast on 44 stitches. Divide stitches evenly between 3 double pointed needles. (15 stitches on needles 1 and 2, 14 stitches on needle 3.) Join into a round being careful not to twist your stitches. Mark first stitch for beginning of round. Work 6 rounds in 2x2 Rib.
Version A (Solid Color): Switch to St st and work until piece measures 8 inches from cast on edge. Work 6 more rounds in 2x2 Rib. Loosely cast off using Elizabeth Zimmerman's Sewn Cast off method.
Version B (Thin Stripe): *Drop [MC] switch to [CC] and work 2 rounds in St st. Drop [CC], pick up [MC] and work 2 rounds in St st. Repeat from * continuing in this manner until you have 35 stripes total ending with a [CC] stripe. Cut [CC] leaving a long tail to weave in the end. Pick up [MC]. Knit one round. Work 6 rounds in 2x2 Rib. Loosely cast off using Elizabeth Zimmerman's Sewn Cast off method.
Version C (Wide Stripe): *Drop [MC] switch to [CC] and work 4 rounds in St st. Drop [CC] pick up [MC] and work 4 rounds in St st. Repeat from * continuing in this manner until you have 17 stripes total ending with a [CC] stripe. Cut [CC] leaving a long tail to weave in end. Pick up [MC] Knit one round. Work 6 rounds in 2x2 Rib. Loosely cast off using Elizabeth Zimmerman's Sewn Cast off method.


FINISHING
Weave in ends using a tapestry needle. Block lightly.

By the way, my daughter has been wearing these a lot lately and they look super duper cute on her and everyone comments on them!

I'm happy to report that Legwarmies is also available in French and Hungarian!

2 Socks on 2 Circulars Show and Tell!

I thought I'd just share a few pictures

I took of socks worked on in my "2 Socks on 2 Circulars"class.

The last class went very well. In fact 2 women came who had never even knit socks before! I was so impressed by their perseverance and sock knitting bravery!

Since everyone just made sample socks to learn the technique I didn't make anyone swatch. That is why the socks differ so much in size.

See readers!!!

This is proof why you always need to swatch for sweaters!

If this class proves to be too advanced for the student it's easy to just switch to learning one sock at a time.

Great job everyone!

Miles and Miles of Seed Stitch

Now that the Knitty.com submission is out of the way, I've been able to spend some quality time with Ava's Smock Coat. (The name "Smock Coat" isn't very inspiring now is it, Debbie Bliss?) Here's a picture or two of the progress made.

Two sleeves and most of the left front...

Miles and miles and miles of Seed Stitch...

Now this may not look like alot of knitting, but I assure you it is. Its done all in seed stitch on size 4 needles. But of course you switch to size three's later on in the pattern! I've found it very time consuming as well as a bit boring. But now that I can kind of see the thing take shape I've found renewed interest. I really really want to get it done fast. Im tired of seed stitch! Also I desperately want to see little Ava in her cute red coat. I'm thinking about giving myself a bit of a deadline. I know it is strange how I torture myself with knitting but I do well with deadlines. For instance, I knit all the samples, took and edited the pictures and wrote the pattern for Knitty.com in a little over a week. When I set my mind to something, I can get it done.

So, for Smock Coat, I'm saying February 1st. It's not so crazy that I will have to stay up all night every night until that time, but it is a little push to keep me on track.

Also, I still have the worst project ever on the needles right now. It's a stand mixer cover I'm knitting for a customer. Its 222 stitches per round made out of *gasp* Red Heart Acrylic. oops, I think I just threw up a little. It is by no stretch of the imagination fun to work on. I'm making myself knit 2 rounds per day to get it finished. That's what happens when knitting is your job. It's not always fun!