New Techniques Week 9

Hi. It was the last class before Spring Break, and a lovely group met for fun, fellowship, and knitting. Please see photos below. Linda also brought us magazines to take home if we wanted and the drill to make handles which was fun. She also asked us to do a favor for her advanced art students who entered a logo contest for the Sierra Nevada Conservancy. It would mean a lot to her if you would please log onto www.sierralogo.org and vote for one of the following entry numbers: 535, 533, 529, 527, or 525.

Reminder: There is no class next week for Spring Break. After break, there will be three more sessions: 4/12, 19, and 26. The extension class will begin on May 3. Linda will bring the registration form to class; the fee is still unknown, but it will be a reduced price.For the next class, please bring the supplies for mosaic knitting which is listed in Week 8. Linda suggested adding an index card, magnetic board, or something to mark your place while reading the pattern for this project.

We continued our Andean purses, and Candi suggested using the pattern to make a hat. Terri blessed us with a special gift for each person. She made us all two beautiful beaded stitch markers. We were all thrilled.

My spring break starts the week after, so I may miss the first day of mosaic knitting. Hopefully not. Have a wonderful week and a Happy Easter.

Photos, March 29

Using the drill to make the fantastic cord for a handle.

Here's the double-sized tote that Bea made. There were puckers on the bottom so Linda suggested that she cut the middle out. It shrunk to the size below and the pucker went away.

Terri made these stitch markers for the class. Thank you for a lovely gift.

The finished kool aid dyed yarn.

Photos, March 22

The knitty knotty (naughty?)

Yarn after the kool aid dye.

Yarn in the pot for dying.

New Techniques Week 8

Show ‘n Tell was fantastic as usual; there were tote bags, Andean purses, and felted boxes. For those of you who were absent, you have not missed the showing of Bea’s large tote bag yet – perhaps next week. Linda showed us a knitty knotty (or naughty ?), which is a yarn holder, and demonstrated dying yarn with kool aid. She also taught us how to line up the bottom of our Andean purse before the 3-needle bind off so the colors and pattern will line up. By the way, she will bring her drill for anyone who would like to make a twisted cord for their project; bring 3 times the amount of yarn to make the length of your choice.

Regarding the Andean purse, there is a correction on the instruction for Purse #2. Cast on 58 should read cast on 56. Linda gave us a tip in preventing the purse from flaring out on top: use needles 2 sizes smaller when knitting the top portion, then switch needles for the rest.

Continue working on your project for next week. Many are on the Andean purses. Regarding lining up the yarn on the bottom to line up, one stitch from each end should be transferred to the other knitting needle so the pattern and colors match.

Supply List for Mosaic Knitting
Mosaic knitting will start after Spring Break. You may want to start gathering supplies.
Different sizes of straight needles: 5-8. Circular needles can be used as straight needles.
Yarn: odds and ends. Do not buy anything; use what you have stashed away. Bring different colors and contrasts, different textures and weight, but predominantly worsted weight. You may include cotton, linen, chenille, boucle, but no fun fur or chinchilla. Yarn can have a lot of texture or no texture, some bulky okay.

Announcements
Spring Break – no class on April 5.

There will be an extension to this class starting in May. Linda will bring us the registration slip. Our class is first in line, but it will be advertised to the public so make sure you register when it is time. Fee will be announced later.

Frog Pond is closing for family reasons. Items are on sale. It is located in Citrus Heights at 8215 Auburn Blvd, #C, near I-80 right after Twin Oaks Avenue.

Fibers in Grass Valley carry Denise Needles and will give a 10% discount to students who are currently enrolled in class. Class registration slip must be shown at time of purchase. It is located on Mills Street.

Babetta’s will start to carry square knitting needles that is supposed to help ease tendonitis.

I am reading a delightful book called, "Knitting Rules!" by Stephanie Pearl-McPhee. Every page is very funny. A few of the features are a little quiz to find out what type of knitter you are, recommendations to the type of programs to watch on tv when knitting, and the top 10 reasons for or not carrying a knitting bag, knitting a sweater, hat, socks, or scarf.

Have a wonderful week!

New Techniques Week 7

Hi. Thanks to Linda L. who came to my rescue and took notes for me since I was late to class. This week we saw beautiful finished totes by Candi, Julie, Ruth, Teri, and Vickie. Bea showed us just how big the double size one is before felting; it is huge -- can't wait to see it felted. Teri already finished a felted box, and either Barbara or Jan (I'm still trying to memorize everyone's name) brought three cute knitted purses for show 'n tell. I'm sorry I didn't have a camera tonight; I really want to get photos to display here since your projects are inspiring me to finish.

Linda, our instructor, finished her Bolsita de Monedera from Argentina, a small bag with smaller outside bags attached. A drawing of the pattern was handed out, and she explained the pattern in class. She is starting the #1 bag with bright colors of variegated purple and lime green, which she used to demonstrate the fair isle technique. She plans to use a 3-needle bind off for the bottom of the bag to make all colors match at the seam.

There are two more sessions before Spring Break which is the first week of April. At the March 29 class, Linda will have information and a supply list for mosaic knitting which will start after break.

Class Extension
There seems to be enough students interested in having an extension to the class in May (5/3, 17, 24, and 31). We need at least 12 students.

New Knitting Term
Steeks = extra stitches added in Fair Isle knitting. (In case you run across this word in some instructions.)

Gem Show
If you like gems, jewelry, fossils, or polished stones, there is a local gem show for all ages coming up at the Placer County Fairground in Roseville the weekend of March 24 sponsored by the Rock 'n Roller Gem and Mineral Society. Get information from Vickie who will be working in the snack area. I've been going for years to pick up gifts and small things for myself.

Have a great week knitting and embellishing your projects. We are having way too much fun!

New Techniques Week 6

Hi. There were two beautiful felted tote bags for show ‘n tell, and I regret not taking pictures. Katie made a lovely blue tote, and Julie’s tote is a cheerful red. Linda demonstrated how three of her knitting “toys” work. One measures the amount of scrap yarn you have in feet ($50 from patternworks), another one winds it into a ball, and the third is an old-fashion cord twister. The twisted cord is in Linda's hand in the photo; it is neat and tight. Also take a look at the beautiful totes in progress in the foreground.

Handouts
Seven pages of handouts were distributed this week: one pattern for the little felted box, five patterns for the Andean purses, and one instruction for fair isle technique. Also, everyone present received the class phone number list, so we can help each other during the week.

Ideas for Handles
Linda mentioned three ways to make a handle: icord, crochet, and using the cord twister. Vickie showed us the handle she is making; she is making three icords per handle to match her tote and then braiding them together.

Next Week
Students who are finished with their tote by next week will begin either the felted box or the Andean purse. Some of us will still be working on the tote, which is okay. Knit at your own pace.

Future Projects
We love learning new techniques, and after break we will start mosaic knitting.

Announcement
It was mentioned that a new craft store is starting up in Auburn; it is by the Monkey Cat (?) restaurant.

Have a great week!

This Week's Photos

Take a close look at the details in Teri's tea cozy bag; she added buttons, lining, and a zipper too.

Beverly and her daughter had a weekend knitting madness. In one weekend, she embellished her tea cozy, felted a knit cushion, and learned to needle felt. The craft tote bag is becoming popular with this class. The bag is seen from different sides. See Week 4 for information.

New Techniques Week 5

Tonight Linda showed us her entrelac tote bag before felting. She gave us two tips:
1. Steam the bag before felting.
2. Finish the ends a little each time so you won't have a lot to finish later.

Homework
Do what you can. Go at your own speed. Don't compare yourself to others.

Future Projects
1. Peruvian bags (fair isle)
Linda chose four different bags of various levels for us to choose from. The book was passed around to show us the different small bags for us to decide on later. Size 3-4 needles are used with worsted weight yarn (scraps are okay).
Level 1 is the easiest, a two-color bag, circular needles can be used, page 97.
Level 2 is a colorful bag using double point needles, page 125.
Level 3 is a larger bag, circular needles can be used, page 69.
Level 4 is the most challenging fair isle project, page 41.

2. Mosaic Knitting (to be done towards the end of class).

3. Mobias Easter Baskets
The easiest type is the coil basket using felted icord.
The second type is a little square box using scrap yarn.
The most difficult is a mobias basket using circular needles with a 48-60 inch cable. The hardest part is learning the mobias cast on.

The class was asked to vote on the next project. Most of the students voted to work on the mobias Easter baskets before the Peruvian bags; however, several wanted to start on the Peruvian bag before Spring Break. Linda decided to let us work on either one first. By the way, the subject of what to put in the easter baskets came up; we found out that Linda likes Jelly Bellies in her Easter basket but no licorice (hint, hint). Tonight the class made her blush a deep shade of red several times; one student called her a "stud" for taking on the most difficult knitting projects. She's a stud!

Spring Break
There is no class on April 5 during Spring Break.

I took pictures tonight, but I am having a hard time loading them on the blog. That's the reason the photos are listed separately most of the time. Have fun knitting.