New Techniques Week 12

Julie added a circular bottom using the entrelac pattern from the tote bag to the Andean purse pattern. It turned out beautiful. Diana finished her tote bag using lovely warm colors. Aren't the handles great? She used two colors of yarn.

Last class of the New Techniques class--the 12 weeks went by fast. Linda thanked everyone for a great semester stating, “It was really fun.”

Next week is the beginning of the extension class. Bring extremely long 47”or 60” circular needles (size 10 ½ ), the mobias book, and yarn such as a silk blend that will drape nicely and not be stiff (2 skeins, just in case 1 isn’t enough). Linda strongly recommends that we start with the scarf.

Sale
Candi mentioned that Auburn Needleworks has a 40% discount on Crystal Palace knitting needles right now. It’s a good buy.

Frog Pond (Citrus Heights)
Monday, April 30, is the last day Frog Pond will be open. Everything is on sale for 40% off, and some yarn are on sale for 50 to 60% off. Bea and I walked out of the store with our arms full and smiles on our faces.

Congratulations to Linda’s Student
One of Linda’s advanced art student from Foresthill High School won second place in the logo contest!

For those of you who will not be coming for the extension, we will miss you and we hope to see you in the Fall class. Please attend the potluck/show n’ tell party on May 31.

New Techniques Week 11

This is my fifth knitting class with Linda and, ladies, you have surpassed and outshined all others in finishing the most beautiful, creative projects in the shortest amount of time. Tonight we continued mosaic knitting and will wrap it up next week. I was surprised to find how easy mosaic knitting is. A new pattern was given to us called, Mosaic Straight Needle Case. Linda L. retyped our phone and email list. She would like us to check it for accuracy and vote or submit a name for our group.

Books
Bea is taking orders for the following knitting books which she plans to place this weekend:
The Treasury of Magic Knitting (Mobias I or II), $17.79 each
Mosaic Knitting, $32.00
Slip Stitch, $17.12
Knit Fix It, $13.57
Knitter’s Companion, $13.57
Knitters Book of Finishing Techniques, $15.67

Registration for the Extension Class
One more week to go before the extension class begins on May 3 for four weeks (no class May 10). The cost is $32 for students under 55 years of age and $10 for students over 55. Twelve to fourteen students are needed for the class. You will need to buy extremely long 47” or 60” cable needles for mobias knitting. If you own Denise Needles, you can order cables online at www.knitdenise.com.

Party
Our knitting party will be held on May 31 for all students. Put it on your calendar: potluck and photo op of all our projects! Linda L. brought the best guacamole dip last time; the recipe is in my blog somewhere.

Another Store
It was announced that there is a sewing store in Newcastle that carries knitting supplies; it is called the Tin Thimble on Taylor Road, right after the tunnel.

Also we heard that Knit Picks sells a handy magnetic chart keeper that folds and stands for $9.99.

Clover Needles
Once again Linda announced that the following stores will special order the discontinuing Clover mini circulars [22 cm (8”) or 30 cm (12”) in needle sizes 6, 8, and 10] for you: Fibers in Grass Valley, $5.00 (no discounts); Rumplestilskin in Sacramento, $4.10; and Auburn Needleworks, no information given but they plan to order soon.

See photos from this week below. Happy knitting!

Photos, April 19

Inside Terri's needle case.

Nora's dpn needle holder

Nora's sweater, golf club cover, and dpn cover. Candi's beaded necklace.

Beautiful colors.

Vicki dyed the yarns with kool aid, then knitted, and felted her bag.

New Techniques Week 10

We had a wonderful time this week. Everyone was so happy to see each other and share their beautiful finished projects. There are just two more classes to go before the extension classes begin.

Registration for the Extension Class
Linda brought registration forms for the extension that starts on May 3 for four weeks. The cost is $32 for students under 55 years of age and $10 for students over 55. Twelve to fourteen students are needed for the class, and we will learn moebius knitting. Linda would like us to order one of the moebius books by Cat Bordhi, so one of the students is looking into getting a group order online for anyone interested. More details next week. (Judith stopped at Beverly's in Rocklin on Friday evening and found the Moebius knitting book, A Second Treasury of Magical Knitting, by Cat Bordhi. She used a 40% off coupon and got the book for a little more than 17 dollars. There were 3 more books in the store. One book was on the bookshelf by the front window; the others were on the bookshelf with most of the knitting books. )

Clover Needles
Linda announced that Clover Needles has discontinued the mini circular needles; however, the following stores will special order it for you: Fibers in Grass Valley, $5.00 (no discounts); Rumpelstiltskin in Sacramento, $4.10; and Auburn Needleworks, no information given but they plan to order soon. I think the sizes were 6, 8, and 10 inches.

Julie mentioned that the $1.25 store near Raley’s at the Foresthill exit carries a variety of knitting supplies such as yarn, needles, stitch holders, crochet hooks. The needles are heavier than usual, but it may be just right for having supplies around for your children or grandchildren.

Mosaic Knitting
Tonight we went over mosaic knitting which is “another way to use color in your knitting” and started a little sampler. This type of knitting is good for an all over pattern and not just a band design such as Fair Isle, and you use only one yarn at a time instead of knitting with two colors on two hands. Linda showed us two books that she used for the 10- page packet she gave us: “Mosaic Knitting” by Barbara Walker and “Slip Stitch Knitting” by Roxanna Bartlett. Below are some of the tips that were mentioned in class, but they may not make sense to you if you were absent. I am visual so I needed to watch someone try this before I understood it.

Tips:
Cast on with only one color, and knit for 1-3 rows before starting pattern.
Start with the lighter color first.
Knit with the same color for two rows, and then switch to the other color for two rows.
The color not used is slipped purl wise. You cannot slip more than 3 stitches of the same color.
You will have stranding in the back.
You can use garter or stockinette stitch or combine the two in your pattern.

Homework
Practice on the sampler for mosaic knitting or finish the projects you have started. If you are starting on mosaic knitting, Linda suggested trying the crown or basketweave first since they are easier than the other patterns. Her packet included directions for making different needle holders.

Have a great week.