Stitches West 2008

We just got back from Stitches. It was quite an experience! It was so completely overwhelming. There was soooo sooo much to look at and so many people. I thought that I'd want to be there all day for two days but after a few hours I found myself dizzy, tired and ready to go!

There were so many fun and beautiful yarns to look at and I bought my share of them....

"Yay...Sale yarn!"

There is like a trillion pictures of me here... sorry....

I was really expecting to see some knitters wearing Tilted Dusters because I know how popular the pattern is. I wanted to take a picture with one of them or something. I did end up seeing one the second day but of course by then I wasn't wearing mine. I did, however, see a ton of people wearing the Clapotis shawl. I also saw several several booths that had Clapotis knitted up as samples. I was really proud to wear my Tilted Duster though. I was so pleased by how it turned out!

Well...you don't see that sorta knitting every day!! Check out the size of those needles!

I love yarn....

Pretty view outside our hotel room..

New Stuff

1,000 yards of Dream in Color "Classy" I have this in mind for the Forecast sweater but I'm not sure if it will work with a variegated color...

This yarn I bought on sale. A whole bag of Elsebeth Lavold Angora. I know that you might think that this is the most disgusting color manufactured but I happen to love it..

I think that this would be perfect for the Lush and Lacy Cardigan.

These buttons are actually dyed nut slices. Cool huh? I thought maybe I could use them for the Angora sweater or Dream in Color sweater.

I also purchased two lace weights. A 100% silk in cream, and silk/wool blend in green. It appears that I like the color green.

I have plans for someday knitting some of the shawls I like out of "Victorian Lace Today".

This is Malabrigo Lace yarn that I got as a sample. Isn't it pretty?

I am sooo excited about these Stitch Diva patterns! I want to cast on for the Giselle Knitted Blouse immediately!!! But I really shouldn't.

On My Way to Stitches!

The Tilted Duster is done! I am leaving for Stitches right now. I am SOOO excited!

Pictures at Stitches West and the "official Tilted Duster photo shoot" soon to come!

Tilted Duster Frenzy

I have been doing a lot of knitting lately. This month I have so far seamed a sweater, made a pair of Felt Clogs, worked on the dreaded stand mixer cover, knit the heel of my sock, made two samples of the new pattern I am submitting to Knitty.com, started a Clapotis, and knitted a whole bunch on this Tilted Duster! I have been knitting crazy fast on this because I have this little fantasy of wearing it this weekend when I go to Stitches! This will be my first time attending and I guess that I just want to look "cool" wearing a hand knit sweater, and a new one at that. I think that I can finish it by Friday night if I knit like a crazy person.

On the way to Stitches in the car and while I am there I am planning to complete at least one more sample for my new Knitty submission. I have to turn that in by March 1st. So many deadlines!! If I finish that up with time to spare I HAVE GOT TO finish that stand mixer cover!!! I have of course neglected it again to get all of these um... important (?) knitting projects done.

By the way I am a little sick of always referring to it as the stand mixer cover. The name makes it even seem more boring. Can anyone think of a cool name for it?

Not Another Clapotis!

Yes, I too am knitting the Clapotis shawl by Kate Gilbert. As of today, Ravelry.com says that 4,539 people have knit the Clapotis and 2,557 plan to. And that is just the knitters on Ravelry....

I just had to see what all the fuss was about!! I've actually been planning this project for awhile but am just now getting around to it. I am using the yarn called for in the pattern (Lorna's Laces Lion and Lamb) in the Gold Hill colorway. I really like how it is knitting up. The colors are really beautiful!

I'd like to offer a Clapotis class in April. That is if I get it finished before then!

Things just keep coming up!

Good thing I have Ava working on it as we speak..

Ava says,"Look Mama, I ninning!"

Father in Law's Fabulous Felt Clogs

I am one of those knitters that enjoys knitting for others. In fact it was just in 2007 that I started to actually keep any knitted items for myself. For years I gave away or sold every single item I made.

I especially love it if I can knit something for someone that they really need or want. About a month ago now my Father-in-law was complaining that he went slipper shopping and could not find any slippers to fit his gargantuan size 14 feet. So you can understand how I knew right then and there what I needed to do.

He needed some Felt Clogs.

The great thing about this pattern is that you can make all sizes of slippers. Even huge ones. In fact these slippers are even a tad too big! But the reason why is a whole other story....

I went to my parents to felt these suckers because it was the only top loading washer available to me at the time. It is a brand new super high efficiency washer. These slippers under the right felting conditions should take 10-15 minutes to felt down. My slippers were in the washer for *gasp* 3 hours!!!! The hot cycle was truly not hot at all so I had to manually load the washer with hot water from the sink. I also kept having to restart the agitation cycle a million times because it only lasted about 10 minutes, not to mention the agitator barely agitated! So 3 hours into it I knew they were a little bigger than I had hoped for but was too frustrated to care.

I guess I'll have to go to the laundromat next time.

I also sewed these great 2-piece slipper bottoms from Fiber Trends on there so that he wont slip and break anything. I sewed them on the others I made too. I think that they are especially necessary for little ones because they can be extremely accident prone.

So to make a long story shorter... my father-in-law likes them alot and I was really glad I was able to make him something that he will enjoy and use.

For these clogs I used Lamb's Pride worsted. My last clogs were made from Cascade 220. The Lamb's Pride made a fuzzier texture and worked just as well so I would say that these two yarns are both a great choice for this pattern.

I am still teaching classes on these clogs so go to the website to find out more information or call me at the shop.

(805) 466-Yarn

Sea Silk Contest

Remember this?

I purchased this beautiful skein of Sea Silk when I went to Santa Barbara last. Read more about that trip here. I am having a hard time finding the perfect pattern to make with this one skein.

I need your help, so I am going to offer a Sea Silk Contest! If you know of a great pattern using fingering weight yarn please leave a comment with the pattern name (so that I can look it up) or the web address that the pattern can be found.

Be sure to leave your email address or blog address so that I can contact you if you are the winner!

Contest Guidelines:

-All pattern ideas must be submitted by March 1st.

-I am looking for something wearable that will show off this yarn beautifully.
(Ideally I'd like to make a lacy shell or shrug.)

-The pattern must be able to be made with only 400 meters because that is all I have.

-The pattern must contain a picture of the finished item.

-Most importantly there will be a prize for the best suggestion. I will contact you if you are the winner and I will give you a choice between prizes.

I look forward to receiving all of your comments!

The Smock Coat Photoshoot

Here are a few...well several pictures of Ava wearing her new Smock Coat by Debbie Bliss.

I found out that it can be quite challenging to get a toddler to cooperate with picture taking. Do you notice that she won't look at the camera? She was too distracted...probably by her coat's gorgeousness... :)

This is the Smock Coat pattern out of the book Simply Baby. I made the 18-24 month size which fits Ava perfectly! It used 10 skeins of Debbie Bliss Cotton Cashmere in red. Is it just me or does that seem like a lot of yarn for a baby sweater? It must be because I used sizes 3 and 4 needles knitting needles. It is knit so tightly!

I just am in love with this baby coat. It is so elegant looking to me. Would I ever make it again? NO!!! Knitting cotton at that small of a gauge did a number on my hands and just was not enjoyable! I am however so happy that I stuck with it. I love the finished project!

This is the fourth sweater I have knit from the book Simply Baby. It's full of super cute baby patterns. Here are pictures of the other sweaters I knit in 2007. (Before the blog...)

Baby Shrug

Striped Sweater

Hooded Jacket

To sum up...Debbie Bliss rocks. I'm thinking about making the beret next to go with the coat.

Who am I kidding? I have so much knitting to do..

Its Finally Finished!!!

The Debbie Bliss Smock Coat is now completed!!! I just couldn't be happier about it. It is so cute and it fits Ava perfectly!! This picture does not do it justice but it was the best I could do without natural lighting. Tomorrow I hope to get a proper photo shoot with Ava modeling her new coat. I was so excited I just couldn't wait to share it with you.

Here are some pictures of the coat earlier before it was completely seamed.

I dont want to see any seed stitch or red fabric for awhile...