Color Techniques II Wk 4

It is nice to be back after a fast trip to Texas and back.

This week Linda reviewed shadow knitting and gave us more shadow knitting patterns. She also taught us how to gauge it since it is different from regular gauging.

Karen taught the class how to fuse lining on knitted projects. She was well prepared, and we enjoyed learning how to do this. Vickie was ready to try it.


Next Week
I think we are going over both Heliz and twine knitting next week. For the Helix knitting, you will need a minimum of four colors of yarn plus size 8, 9 inch long circulars (11 inch is okay too; you will need to CO more sts). Linda recommends the Hiya Hiya brand. For twine knitting, you will need two different colors of yarn. The photo below shows the Heliz sample on the left and the twine (back side) sample on the right. (Updated 1/30/11: On second thought, I think Linda will start with twine knitting first, so we have time to buy our needles. Cynthia sent an email this weekend that she will place a group order for about $10 each. Please contact her at willow.74@hotmail.com if interested.)


Stitches West
The checks for the bus trip will be cashed on Feb 1. Please turn in your payment if you have not done so. Prize donations are still being accepted. There are some nice prizes donated. Supplies for the bus project and a website for the $2 off coupon can be found under "Pages" in the lefthand column of this blog.

Show N Tell
Teri made this awesome pendant out of knitting needles. Linda announced that she is selling them too!

Vickie's shadow sample and vest.

Sandy's sample and plarn bag.

Kelley's sample and gloves. She also made a dog bone pattern for shadow knitting.

Karen's gloves.

Rosemary is finishing this afghan for a friend.

Linda L made two scarves. This one is made out of angora, alpaca, and mohair yarn from Lambtown USA with beads trimming the edges.

And, she made this alligator scarf.

Knit on, everyone!

Color Techniques II Wk 3

A big thank you to Linda L. for taking the following class notes below in Irene's absence.

Welcome to Linda Martinez, a new student!

Show & Tell
We had lots of knitting projects to share & hopefully will be brought back for photos for the blog when Irene returns.

Flower Cards
Linda suggested that we might want to check on making up note cards from our knitted flowers challenge project for ourselves and to sell.

Shadow Knitting
Linda demonstrated the technique of shadow knitting. Pat shared a book on SHADOW KNITTING by Vivian Hoxbro.

Next week Karen, Teri, & Vicki will give a demo on fusing fabric to our knitting projects to create a lining.

Linda will check on the possibility of ordering sz 8 circular needles in 11” for the Helix knitting.

Stitches West
Bus trip: There are about 2 spaces left on the bus. Everyone must pay the $45 by next week. Linda is taking donations for door prizes for the bus ride. Some nice things have been donated.

For the knitting project on the bus trip, you will need 1 skein of ww yarn and size 8 double point needles in solid or variegated, but no novelty yarn. Also, you will need a stitch marker, a tape measure, & a row counter.

Reminder
Nola’s ugly hats project is due 1st session in March.

Happy knitting!

Color Techniques II Wk 2

Welcome to our newest member, Pat! She just moved from the Colfax area to nearby, so she couldn't attend class last week. Pat has been knitting about 10 years. She attended Stitches West last year for the first time and was overwhelmed. We have two Pats now.

Linda had to attend an open house this week, so Diana delightfully started the class and led Show n Tell. Here she is showing us the scarf for Ernie, our Stitches West bus driver, that Karen completed.

Louise presented Karen and Vickie a gift of appreciation for their generous offer in putting together the outfits for our charity project and Jake's comforter.

A $5 materials fee was collected in class, and we continued the Knit One Below technique. Linda showed us two different bind offs for this project.

Next Week: Shadow Knitting
Here are photos of Linda's sample swatches for next week's lesson. The first two photos are the right side of the work from the front and side view.


This is the wrong side.

Linda suggested using two highly contrasting colors for shadow knitting, so you can really see the pattern. Worsted weight yarn using size 8 needles is good, but no novelty or variegated yarn. If you do not have a magnetic chart holder, bring post it notes to help with chart reading.

Finger Puppet Challenge
A reminder: the finger weight yarn is available if you want to get started.

Stitches West Bus Trip
We still need 8 people to make this trip a go on Feb 19. The cost is $45. Irene will post an announcement on ravelry.com under Auburn Knit Nights and Stitches West to get the word out. Door prizes are being accepted.

Show N Tell
Penny's bright variegated scarf

Bekah bought this beautiful sequence yarn at Auburn Needleworks.

Rosemary is almost finished with her Knit One Below scarf.

Pat used yarn that her husband bought for her to make this scarf.

Karen made a cowl with baby alpaca yarn.

Cheryl knitted a scarf this week. (I love the way that Lynette is right there looking at the show n tell.)

Here is an Adult Surprise Jacket that Cheryl knitted last year.

Happy knitting!

Color Techniques II Wk 1

Welcome back to class! There was a huge attendance inspite of the fog. It was nice to have new students, Kelly and Barbara, join us and to see Cynthia back from student teaching. Several ladies said when signing up for class, there was a note that said class was full. They called ARD and were able to sign up. Happy Birthday January purls!

Knit One Below
Linda went over this technique which is on our syllabus demonstrating the special cast on and how to k1b (knit one below) and p1b (purl 1 below). The special CO is a backwards loop cast on. She will show us the special bind off next week.


This technique is similar to mosaic knitting but no stitches are slipped. The advantages of K1b are the following:
You knit on one side and purl on the wrong side.
It is a stable fabric.
It does not curl up.
You can knit on the round.
It is a wider stitch than regular stockinette stitch.
You can combine different weights of yarn such as bulky with fingering wt, or ww with dk weight yarn.
You can stitch the first stitch to get a candy cane effect.
Both the right and wrong sides make a nice design.

Tips for this technique are:
Do it slowly.
Be on the alert: sometimes you are turning and sometimes you are sliding the work.
You must use dpns or circular needles; you cannot use straight needles.
Do not drop a stitch; it is very difficult to fix.
You will see the pattern after row 8.
Try not to put down your knitting until you finish an entire pattern (4 rows).
We worked on the Inside Out Scarf pattern in class. Linda feels that the Chroma yarn in the Knit Picks catalog is perfect for K1b. A K1b vest pattern was handed out. With this pattern, you do not have to worry about increasing or decreasing. We will work on this technique for a couple of weeks before going on to shadow knitting.

A $5 material fee will be taken next week.

Stitches West Bus Trip
There are 10 spaces that need to be filled for the minimum amount of passengers from Auburn to Santa Clara. The trip will take place on Sat, Feb 19, and the cost is $45. Checks will be cashed on Feb 1.

Yarn for Finger Puppets
Yarn is available to work on the finger puppet challenge. It is due on May 1.

Debi knitted and felted this morning glory scarf. She got the idea from the Cornish Fair. She made a couple of morning glories and a black roses scarf.

Vicky and Roni made Moebius scarves over the holidays. Roni is wearing hers.

Laurie feels like a real knitter now. She made this vest!

Nancy made a tweed scarf over the holidays.

Cynthia made an infant Baby Surprise Jacket that she saw at Stitches West last year.

She also knitted 3 pairs of socks; two are shown here.

Bonnie made a scarf out of Marble yarn. It is in her knitting bag.

Rosemary made this flame design hat.

Karen is knitting a scarf that was made for a Hallmark movie. It was designed by the editor of Knitter's Magazine.

Happy Knitting!