tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2779186369183516032024-03-20T19:24:45.753-07:00String and Beans Knitted Treasures & RepairsKatherine C.http://www.blogger.com/profile/15547166292353434938noreply@blogger.comBlogger27125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-277918636918351603.post-69716728068425008372016-04-13T14:56:00.002-07:002016-04-13T14:58:08.457-07:00Preparing Sweater for Its Second Life...My nephew has a favourite sweater he's had for years. My niece (his younger sister) has her eye on it for as soon as he outgrows it! It is a beautiful Canada wool sweater with a fleece lining.<br />
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Unfortunately, the elbow on one of the arms snagged and caused a hole. Knowing that its his favourite, and little sister wants it, my very smart sister-in-law considered different ways to fix this before the hole got bigger! <br />
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1) Sewing the hole shut. My comment - it won't be invisible and I'd worry about the thread cutting the yarn faster over time. Pilling of sweaters occurs from the fibers rubbing against each other, add in a nylon thread and it'll cut.<br />
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2) Elbow Patch. This would be a cool feature, but probably not what the niece wants for 'style'<br />
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3) Patterned Darning. This would be an equally cool feature, but probably not what the nephew wants for style.<br />
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4) Invisible Mending - and that is what I did.<br />
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<a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BEJtNN8S0_n/" style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none; word-wrap: break-word;" target="_blank">1-Hole in sweater elbow, 2-after depilling area for clarity, 3-hole mended</a></div>
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A photo posted by Katherine Caughran (@stringandbeans) on <time datetime="2016-04-13T19:10:00+00:00" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px;">Apr 13, 2016 at 12:10pm PDT</time></div>
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Now, with this being fleece lined, using existing yarn from the sweater (side seams) wasn't an easy task for such a small fix; however I did have a matching yarn in a slightly heavier weight. Steps I took to fix it were:<br />
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<li>I thinned the new yarn a bit so it wouldn't create a thicker area in that spot; </li>
<li>shaved the pilling around the hole so I could see the stitches clearly, </li>
<li>sewed a 'grid' with white cotton sock yarn to guide me and </li>
<li>swiss darned the hole which was 3 rows by 2 stiches </li>
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Depilling helps renew the look of the sweater, and prevents future 'snags'. Plus it gives the sweater new life...<i>My photos don't do it justice!</i><br />
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A photo posted by Katherine Caughran (@stringandbeans) on <time datetime="2016-04-13T19:04:13+00:00" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px;">Apr 13, 2016 at 12:04pm PDT</time></div>
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<b>Nephew will be happy, but I'm sure my niece is going to drool over this renewal..."Hurry up and grow big brother!!!" </b><br />
<br />Katherine C.http://www.blogger.com/profile/15547166292353434938noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-277918636918351603.post-40924622758626580202016-04-01T15:19:00.000-07:002016-04-01T15:19:00.156-07:00Sweater: 25 years & looking brand new!As the weather warms up, it's actually the BEST time to care for our favourite sweaters so they are clean & moth-free for the summer storage. My favourite sweater is over 25 years old (I can't quite recall when I got it, but I know it was a gift from my parents). I wear this sweater to nearly every hockey game and hockey practice, so the sweater is well-worn! It just doesn't need to look that way:<br />
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Any sweater with pills will snag more easily and collect dirt more easily - dirt also attracts moths...so any sweater going into 'storage' needs to be clean to avoid surprise moth holes in the fall. In this case, first step is de-pill the sweater! I did one side using a dull razor from my husband, it was quick, but with the amount of pilling, became far too dull before I could complete the sweater.<br />
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I purchased a small battery operated sweater shaver, which took me a total of 3 hours to completely clean off this sweater. Had the pilling not been so bad, it wouldn't have taken as long, and its definitely better for preventative maintenance, but for something this drastic, the shaver kept snagging - yarn would spin in the middle and catch on the sweater:<br />
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<img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHDyCDhgw4AJE28LoGod7Sl1pNIIc36nwqOviE9eH-xT1KGERfxUt6Y6_DqukTp1p4Y3hzJ-dhRNwVbUQC33FS6Av5l4RuioqwXplIHF5zVU1ooVrC9Hlrv5FqsmO6u1ePscoEfDXRMmaZ/s200/IMG_1683.jpg" width="150" />You can see it sticking out on the shaver, as the shaver spun it would catch on the sweater and build up inside the shaver</div>
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I hope to try out another technique in the coming weeks as I order in some other de-pillers :)<br />
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But, sweater looks brand-new, and after a wash & dry, I'll store this one in my closet with some lavender - because I still love this sweater for nights when camping plus I'll be visiting arenas again in August.<br />
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<br />Katherine C.http://www.blogger.com/profile/15547166292353434938noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-277918636918351603.post-22241794175088669242016-03-31T06:30:00.000-07:002016-03-31T12:24:23.479-07:00Sock Fix: Swiss DarningMy mending pile now remains filled with MY items...always the last to be looked after...what is it they say about the cobbler's shoes?<br />
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My first pair of socks that I knit for myself are from 2007, and although its held up quite well, the heels were getting 'weak' so they needed some boosting before I actually created holes. It's much easier to mend weak stitches than recreate something that is no longer there (ie mending a hole).<br />
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If you look up darning socks on Pinterest and the like, you'll see a number of methods of knitting or patching over top of the holes. Reknitting or swiss darning are my preferred methods of mending knitwear. My interpretation of swiss darning is basically doing a duplicate stitch over the weaker stitches. I didn't think of taking better photos for the blog until after the socks were already fixed. I had luckily taken photos of the before shot to show family members (read: my husband) when they should be providing me their knitwear for mending, not after they create a huge hole. But I digress...<br />
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A photo posted by Katherine Caughran (@stringandbeans) on <time datetime="2016-03-31T18:56:13+00:00" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px;">Mar 31, 2016 at 11:56am PDT</time></div>
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I no longer had the matching yarn, but this is on the bottom of my foot, so I really didn't worry about matching the yarn, besides it's easier to show the mend when its a different colour :)<br />
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<br />Katherine C.http://www.blogger.com/profile/15547166292353434938noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-277918636918351603.post-1003902754686778932016-03-29T11:43:00.000-07:002016-03-31T11:46:35.221-07:00Sock Fix: Skinny legs, Long(er) FeetTo further my spring cleaning of the mending pile, I took a pair of Kman's outgrown navy socks (barely used) and ripped out the toes to make them longer.<br />
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Background: Kman goes to a Montessori school and wears a uniform consisting of navy or white socks, navy pants and a white or red golf shirt. He prefers navy socks and each year asks me to knit him a new pair of navy socks. Last year his shoe size grew so FAST he hardly had a chance to wear the socks that I had knit him. But his ankles and legs are still the same circumference.<br />
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So, rather than knit new socks, I thought I'd save some time and rip back the toes and reknit to lengthen. I have lots of navy sock yarn purchased just for him! After I reknit the first sock and had him try it on, he did say the band was a bit tight. So in addition to lengthening the socks, I ripped out the top of the sock band and cast off using <a href="http://www.knitty.com/ISSUEfall09/FEATjssbo.php" target="_blank">Jeny's Super Stretchy Cast Off. </a><br />
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The photo might not show it well enough, but you should see the original sock length on top of the new sock length - I added over an inch in length!<br />
Katherine C.http://www.blogger.com/profile/15547166292353434938noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-277918636918351603.post-91552806160996945072016-03-26T16:05:00.000-07:002016-03-31T11:47:48.822-07:00Spring CleaningFollowing up to my business idea of fixing sweaters, socks and the like...I had a pile of socks with wear that I needed to get caught up on...<br />
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The first, a sock I had knit for my dad, which was confiscated by my mother as her bed socks...unfortunately she caught the toe on something, and it needed major surgery...<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIMKoBWMvg2B1pK0AcEaGclPUOZy87Fo7-xnZ67NH2VHxgfeXRT2HmT2yTS4IdlRXkyhWyceMDSobooP8Fez3aidTiu9z2t3N_AgPfMbAn4-GN80Y4iNMNP1h-49AeoEKHzsiLSBaYs1MJ/s1600/IMG_1672.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIMKoBWMvg2B1pK0AcEaGclPUOZy87Fo7-xnZ67NH2VHxgfeXRT2HmT2yTS4IdlRXkyhWyceMDSobooP8Fez3aidTiu9z2t3N_AgPfMbAn4-GN80Y4iNMNP1h-49AeoEKHzsiLSBaYs1MJ/s200/IMG_1672.jpg" width="150" /></a>I started with picking up the ladder with my crochet hook, to determine how much I may need to stitch, but that showed me that there were two different places the yarn was cut (not just one), so instead of doing swiss darning, I tore back the toe and reknit it using a russian join to reconnect the broken strands.<br />
My mother is happy to have socks again (although had she given me both socks, I probably would have reknit both toes and resized the socks to her feet, since they were originally intended for my father)...<br />
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Katherine C.http://www.blogger.com/profile/15547166292353434938noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-277918636918351603.post-54614467065491735722016-03-16T10:42:00.000-07:002016-03-31T11:47:26.935-07:00New Plan!Before the holidays, I was asked to fix someone's sweater. I looked high and low to find matching colours for the wool sweater. It had 6 safety pins to hold various holes in place, and had previous iterations of patching done by the owner's mother.<br />
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It took me longer than I care to admit, but I finally found colours that could match as best they could, and fixed up the holes along with a number of weak spots that threatened to break with wear. Lo and behold the sweater was wearable again...and the owner was ecstatic...because he's had this sweater for 35 years and its his favourite.<br />
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Which led me to my new plan - repairing favourite sweaters, socks, kilt hose...something that I enjoy and will keep handknits, cashmere sweaters, and the like still in circulation :)<br />
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<br />Katherine C.http://www.blogger.com/profile/15547166292353434938noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-277918636918351603.post-46714361753881605842016-02-27T15:44:00.000-08:002016-03-31T11:48:22.109-07:00Upside down and backwardsIt's been years of me saying I'll knit myself a new christmas stocking, since mine is so much smaller than hubby & child's...(yes I'm glossng over the fact its been years since I last posted here).<br />
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Each year, I'm usually too busy with gift knits to get around to my stocking, so this year, I started the stocking after Christmas, so it'll be ready for next year. I'm following this <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/falling-snow-stocking" target="_blank">Falling Snowflake pattern</a> and after starting off great, realized I needed my name added.<br />
<br />
Now, when knitting a sweater or blanket, you just chart and go...but this stocking is in the round and top down...so I could chart my name using excel, but needed it to be upside down.<br />
<br />
I tried a couple of things:<br />
<br />
1) I searched Ravelry for upside down alphabet charts - didn't find one<br />
2) I googled upside down alphabet charts - didn't get results I needed.<br />
3) I charted name as per usual in Excel then knit it backwards from what I'd usually do with a chart.<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>I set my column widths to .74cm so it would look like the graph chart in use by the stocking pattern</li>
<li>I chose to have the letters in the same height as the 2nd snowflake band of the pattern so only 10 rows high</li>
<li>My letters were 'narrow' but I still had to add an extra repeat of the snowflake pattern (ie cast on an extra 32 stitches) in order to fit my whole name.</li>
</ul>
And now I have my own 'larger' stocking, albeit still smaller than the other two<br />
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<br />Katherine C.http://www.blogger.com/profile/15547166292353434938noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-277918636918351603.post-52265507737707427882013-01-01T21:27:00.001-08:002013-01-01T21:27:41.526-08:00Happy New Year & SKM<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container zemanta-img" style="float: right; margin-right: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://commons.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:McCutcheonNY1905.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: clear:right;"><img alt="Cartoon showing baby representing New Year 190..." border="0" class="zemanta-img-inserted" height="344" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/09/McCutcheonNY1905.jpg/300px-McCutcheonNY1905.jpg" style="border: none; font-size: 0.8em;" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption zemanta-img-attribution" style="text-align: center; width: 300px;">Cartoon showing baby representing New Year 1905 chasing old man 1904 into history. (Photo credit: <a href="http://commons.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:McCutcheonNY1905.jpg" target="_blank">Wikipedia</a>)</td></tr>
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All the best to everyone in the New Year!<br />
<br />
As is a 'new' tradition (new to me since 2012), apparently January is Selfish Knitting Month. I did follow through on that <a href="http://knitcaboose.blogspot.ca/2012/01/yummy-mummy-knit-long.html" target="_blank">last year</a>, although it was very difficult to NOT give away the knitting :) I have yarn & pattern selected for my 'gift' this month, however...<br />
<br />
I have not finished the IOU gift yet. For the 2nd year in a row, my brother takes one for the team, and is left with no gift but instead was given a bag with balls of yarn & a pattern for socks within it. I've finished ONE sock so far, but life (read: novice hockey tournament) got in the way, and I've only just cast on the 2nd sock....<br />
<br />
Yes, I can whip up a pair of lovely socks in a weekend (like the socks I finished in 2 days for my husband this year - <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/projects/stringnbeans/heirloom-socks" target="_blank">finished by 11pm Christmas Eve</a>). But, these socks, are <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/socks-for-soldiers-original-pattern" target="_blank">Socks for Soldiers</a>, with specific instructions and 12 inch long legs....I might as well have knit my brother his kilt socks (which are still owing to him by the way)...<br />
<br />
I will finish the socks by the weekend, then will cast-on my personal, selfish project....<br />
<br />
In the meantime, I have already figured out 2 of next years knitmas gifts...and once I finish my selfish knitting...I'll start early on 2013 knitmas and avoid the IOU gifts.... (famous last words...)<br />
<br />
How about you? Did you finish all the knitmas/handmade gifts you had originally planned?<br />
<br />
<br />
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Katherine C.http://www.blogger.com/profile/15547166292353434938noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-277918636918351603.post-22497446507479227962012-11-21T20:14:00.001-08:002012-11-21T20:14:22.388-08:0033 Knitting Days...<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container zemanta-img" style="float: right; margin-right: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/35590362@N02/4227287914" imageanchor="1" style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: clear:right;"><img alt="Holiday break" border="0" class="zemanta-img-inserted" height="159" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4014/4227287914_c04e0a25d4_m.jpg" style="border: none; font-size: 0.8em;" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption zemanta-img-attribution" style="text-align: center; width: 240px;">Holiday break (Photo credit: <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/35590362@N02/4227287914" target="_blank">César Poyatos</a>)</td></tr>
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Holiday knitting is in full-swing: I have tons of projects on the needles, yarn strewn about the attic...<br />
<br />
I will actually ramp up even further when the <strike>panic</strike> realization strikes that I don't have enough 'free time' to knit all the projects I have planned, let alone bake goodies, go shopping and prepare for the holidays...<br />
<br />
So, to release any tension associated with the holiday knitting crunch, I hunted down the holiday tv specials:<br />
<br />
Canadian Schedules:<br />
CBC - http://www.cbc.ca/holiday/schedule.html<br />
CTV - http://www.ctv.ca/2012HolidayProgrammingGuide/Schedule.aspx<br />
YTV - not published yet<br />
<br />
US Networks:<br />
http://www.jsonline.com/entertainment/tvradio/2012-holiday-tv-schedule-t47j74i-180227721.html<br />
<br />
I enjoy knitting in front of my holiday favs...<br />
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Katherine C.http://www.blogger.com/profile/15547166292353434938noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-277918636918351603.post-50846979344837449062012-09-22T15:57:00.001-07:002012-09-22T15:57:36.194-07:00Weaving Word Association: Selvedge...TempleI've been sick the last week, so didn't get much further on the weaving, so no photos of progress to date :) However, the weaving is coming along. I wasn't happy with my <a class="zem_slink" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Selvage" rel="wikipedia" target="_blank" title="Selvage">selvedge</a> edges so Google'd "weaving selvedges" and had some links come up referring to "Temples". After I checked a few sites out, ran across one that made their own, which led me to others (read: I was lost down the rabbit hole)...<br />
<br />
...much later I was trying out a binder clip with yarn & a washer tied to it to hold the edges taught...worked like a charm!<br />
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Katherine C.http://www.blogger.com/profile/15547166292353434938noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-277918636918351603.post-10207016179270016042012-09-12T13:38:00.003-07:002012-09-12T13:38:45.408-07:00Finally Warped, Two Years Later...I have a lovely used LeClerc table <a class="zem_slink" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Loom" rel="wikipedia" target="_blank" title="Loom">loom</a>, purchased through usedvictoria.com about two years ago. The woman I bought it from had never really touched it - told me the previous owner set it up for her, and started her with a couple of inches of weaving.<br />
<br />
For the last two years, that is how the loom sat in my attic/craft room. Periodically I would go up there and throw the shuttle back & forth a few times; my son would take a couple of tries; I'd read the "<a href="http://www.amazon.ca/Learning-Weave-Debbie-Redding/dp/0934026157" target="_blank">Learning to Weave</a>" book and try a couple of things. I took the practice <a class="zem_slink" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Warp_%28weaving%29" rel="wikipedia" target="_blank" title="Warp (weaving)">warp</a> off, but couldn't figure out a way to put one back on without a warping board.<br />
<br />
This past spring, I sent photos of various warpboard "how-to's" to my brother, and voila, had a warping board...it just took me 3+ months to actually use it... but that's not as bad as the fact it has taken me two years to warp my own loom!!<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHxm3BJnnY_9iQrLbATzDu9SEKEZ66MgPHV3fCIzh8Sa2lxJYSl_WonPYQeUb-HeOAWQpln4BivqiQjenmcpKUEq0WHivyCXGRr3Bt6yOECyUccqs7JyPsOgmA4s6EDFcnhhErQ423upxo/s1600/IMG_0508.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHxm3BJnnY_9iQrLbATzDu9SEKEZ66MgPHV3fCIzh8Sa2lxJYSl_WonPYQeUb-HeOAWQpln4BivqiQjenmcpKUEq0WHivyCXGRr3Bt6yOECyUccqs7JyPsOgmA4s6EDFcnhhErQ423upxo/s320/IMG_0508.jpg" width="240" /></a><br />
I'm following the book's instructions to do a sample piece, so I'm using sock yarn, hoping I can get a washable placemat for the lil guy to use at school.<br />
<br />
Instructions called for 2 colours of 60 ends each, so I managed to use the warp board twice in one day!!!<br />
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<br />
I didn't have a sley hook for sleying the reed, but instead used a plastic stitch marker from my knitting kit it took me a good couple of hours to do this with 120 threads into teeny tiny spaces (Note to self: need to buy a sley hook)<br />
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<br />
Threading the heddle was just as tiresome (120 threads through moving targets) & I could not get comfortable (Note to self: bring kitchen stool upstairs next time!)<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn1ClPd-Xyu8zhhVecNu7CKF_B3WC09s23_f1uJ_V5Gb05V1com36uQHp1O1lOpe-5ZuHCuf0st3kdj67CPWsDc4SbtyshOlaxBE8IjEFG8H8vwkveZUzSA0YugBXDzD61TJyJtTVb_C8E/s1600/IMG_0511.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn1ClPd-Xyu8zhhVecNu7CKF_B3WC09s23_f1uJ_V5Gb05V1com36uQHp1O1lOpe-5ZuHCuf0st3kdj67CPWsDc4SbtyshOlaxBE8IjEFG8H8vwkveZUzSA0YugBXDzD61TJyJtTVb_C8E/s320/IMG_0511.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
After a few inches of weaving, I'm thinking using this practice piece as a lunch placemat might embarrass the 7yr old, maybe it'll be a timeout or blackmail mat instead...<br />
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Katherine C.http://www.blogger.com/profile/15547166292353434938noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-277918636918351603.post-77768147199041650592012-09-10T12:32:00.000-07:002012-09-10T12:32:11.734-07:00Issue Solved...tearing out too short Cast-On<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://0.tqn.com/d/knitting/1/0/P/S/-/-/cast-on2strand.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://0.tqn.com/d/knitting/1/0/P/S/-/-/cast-on2strand.JPG" height="229" width="320" /></a></div>
As soon as I read today's <a href="http://bit.ly/U4WtL6" target="_blank">About.com/Knitting article</a>, I exclaimed "BRILLIANT"!<br />
<br />
<br />
My favourite cast-on technique is the <a href="http://www.knittingatknoon.com/longtail.html" target="_blank">long-tail cast-on</a>, but, as any knitter can attest, if you don't estimate your yardage correctly, you inevitably end up miscalculating and every so often have a too short tail and have to rip back and redo the caston to get the number of stitches you need...casting on 80 stitches on teeny tiny double point needles for socks, this can be rather frustrating.<br />
<br />
So later today, I'm trying the long-tail with 2 strands (guess that means I need to cast on a pair of socks) :)<br />
<br />Katherine C.http://www.blogger.com/profile/15547166292353434938noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-277918636918351603.post-91007691028492650492012-09-09T10:36:00.001-07:002012-09-09T10:36:10.459-07:00106 Knitting Days....<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container zemanta-img" style="float: right; margin-right: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/28396605@N00/2133772938" imageanchor="1" style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: clear:right;"><img alt="christmas 2007" border="0" class="zemanta-img-inserted" height="180" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2279/2133772938_fd62cf0e23_m.jpg" style="border: none; font-size: 0.8em;" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption zemanta-img-attribution" style="text-align: center; width: 240px;"> (Photo credit: <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/28396605@N00/2133772938" target="_blank">paparutzi</a>)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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I love Christmas. I have been known to sing Jingle Bells year round. My husband refers to me as a HOLIDORK. People complain "its too early to think about Christmas...<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);">But me, I think of old traditions, handmade gifts, people being consciously friendly for the season (when I really wish people would be consciously friendly year-round).</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);">It also helped that I used to do craft shows and needed to have my Christmas items ready before August for judging and build up my inventory before the fall shows started!</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);">For many years, I have a little competition with myself as to how many gifts I can make each year vs how little I buy. I also build up a small inventory of knitted items for my son's school "Children's Craft Sale". On Ravelry there's a group that shares the trials & tribulations of gift knitting: Some preplan a year in advance, while others leave it to the last minute to knit into the wee hours of Christmas morning...I've done both</span><br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);">I'm quite sure my sister-in-law will be 'peeking' but here's a sampling of what I'll be working on this fall:</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);">1) <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/hitchhiker" target="_blank">The Hitchiker Scarf</a> - This is great in a self-striping or variegated sock yarn to display more prominently than as socks on the feet!</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);">2) <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/bandana-cowl" target="_blank">The Bandana Cowl</a> - Bulky yarn, quick knits are a must for holiday knitting!!! Plus, I may just knit this for myself..</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);">3) <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/baktus-scarf" target="_blank">The Baktus Scarf</a> - do you sense a theme here??</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);">4) <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/cute-cabled-iphone-sock" target="_blank">iPhone Sock</a> - quick knit, leftover yarn, most people own one of these things, perfect for the school craft sale!</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);">5) <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/dobby-style-sockmark" target="_blank">Dobby Booksock</a> - what avid young reader wouldn't know what this is?? Again, quick knit, leftover yarn :)</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);">I'll share more later...happy knitting!</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);"><br /></span>
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Katherine C.http://www.blogger.com/profile/15547166292353434938noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-277918636918351603.post-67045207443052032262012-09-07T13:51:00.000-07:002012-09-07T13:51:01.783-07:00The #yyjstitchers increasing momentum...<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container zemanta-img" style="float: right; margin-right: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.crunchbase.com/company/meetup" imageanchor="1" style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: clear:right;"><img alt="Image representing Meetup as depicted in Crunc..." border="0" class="zemanta-img-inserted" height="113" src="http://www.crunchbase.com/assets/images/resized/0001/3896/13896v1-max-450x450.png" style="border: none; font-size: 0.8em;" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption zemanta-img-attribution" style="text-align: center; width: 150px;">Image via <a href="http://www.crunchbase.com/" target="_blank">CrunchBase</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
As of May 24th, 2012, the #yyjstitchers met as a group at the lovely Cabin 12. We setup a <a href="http://www.meetup.com/yyjstitchers/" target="_blank">Meetup group</a> , notified knitters on Twitter (the reason for the #), as well as posting on <a class="zem_slink" href="http://www.ravelry.com/" rel="homepage" target="_blank" title="Ravelry">Ravelry</a> forums for Vancouver Island Fibre Lovers.<br />
<br />
I'd like to say we are a non-denominational fibre loving group - we aren't just knitters, we have crocheters in the mix...something I have found lacking in many Stitch N Bitch groups in the area (might not be in other cities, but I find so few crocheters out to the groups). Matter of fact, we even had 2 people drop spindling at our July meetup!<br />
<br />
Some of the people came from Ravelry, some from Twitter, some through Meetup, and others from word of mouth...we are a community from various sources as well (again, the nondenominational theme). We are now up to 64 Meetup members, and average 17 'stitchers' attending our monthly meetups.<br />
<br />
We are now increasing the frequency of our meetings :) The lovely people at Cabin12 have agreed to let us <strike>take over the world</strike> knit/crochet/spin peacefully in their lounge on the 2nd and 4th Thursday of each month at Cabin 12. They have been great hosts for us and we not only get to take over a comfy space with couches, chairs, coffee tables, we also are '<a class="zem_slink" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yarn_bombing" rel="wikipedia" target="_blank" title="Yarn bombing">yarnbombing</a>' the place ;)<br />
<br />
Hope to see you there! <br />
<br />
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Katherine C.http://www.blogger.com/profile/15547166292353434938noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-277918636918351603.post-79798066556664223162012-07-26T15:22:00.001-07:002012-07-26T15:22:12.787-07:00Less than 24 hrs before MASS CAST ON!!The Ravellenic 2012 Games are nearly upon us! <br />
<br />
From what *I* remember, this "knitting olympics" originally started as a winter only event in <a href="http://www.yarnharlot.ca/blog/olympics2006.html" target="_blank">2006 by YarnHarlot.</a> After <a class="zem_slink" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ravelry" rel="wikipedia" target="_blank" title="Ravelry">Ravelry</a> was born, they ran the Summer games in 2008, and again for winter 2010.<br />
<br />
Personally, I've only participated in the 2010 Ravelympics (that WAS its name then - not any longer due to a nasty letter about us knitters denigrating the games...when in reality a nice 'please note Olympics is trademarked and you are infringing, please change your name' would have been fine). <br />
But I digress...<br />
<br />
There are various teams, but again for 2012, I'll be competing with Team Canada. It was great to share & chat online with fellow hockey fans ;), while we knitted & cheered. This year Team Camada outdid themselves with compiling a list of Canadian Designers AND Canadian Yarns if you really want to challenge yourself. We're also trying to have groups of knitters meet for the MASS CAST ON & post photos of their cities to share with other Team Canada Knitters. <a href="http://www.cabin12.ca/" target="_blank">We'll be knitting at Cabin 12, 1pm Pacific time :)</a><br />
<br />
Not on Ravelry? Get yourself signed up - knitters, crocheters, weavers, spinners ALL have events. <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/groups/ravellenic-games-2012/pages/The-Basic-RULES" target="_blank">Info is here</a> if you have a sign in, otherwise here's a brief overview (get yourself signed up & Join Team Canada).<br />
<div style="color: blue;">
<br /></div>
<div id="group_header" style="color: blue;">
<a class="badge_link" href="http://www.ravelry.com/groups/ravellenic-games-2012" title="Ravellenic Games 2012 London: 27 July - 12 August
"><img class="group_badge" src="http://assets3.ravelrycache.com/assets/110484815/Ravellenic_Badge_100_x_60.jpg" /></a>
<div class="summary">
<h1>
The Basic RULES
</h1>
</div>
</div>
<div class="markdown" style="color: blue;">
<em>Pertinent bits of info as collated by the International Ravellenic Games Committee</em><br />
<strong>Ravellenics 2012</strong><br />
<strong>Dates</strong> <br />July 27 - Aug 12, 2012<br />
<strong>The One Rule To Rule Them All</strong>: <br />Challenge yourself by starting and finishing one or more projects during the 2012 Summer Olympics.<br />
What will be a stretch for you? It could be a new technique, that
first sweater or pair of socks, something massive, something delicate,
or maybe finishing that monster in the closet. The goal of the
Ravellenics is to support you in expanding your knitting/crocheting
horizons.<br />
<hr />
<strong>When do we start?</strong> <br />We have a firm start time with
a Mass Cast On during the Opening Ceremonies. When the Olympic games
kick off in London (2100 BST) that’ll be your start time, whatever time
that is in your timezone.<br />
<strong>Events</strong> There
are 32 events this year. Some have firm rules, some are open to
interpretation. You decide which event(s) you’d like to enter. Each
event has a unique tag and each project must be tagged to get counted in
the tallies. <em>the tagging tool will launch closer to start of the Games</em><br />
<hr />
<strong>HOW TO COMPETE</strong><br />
Pick an event, create project page with special tags, and cast on with thousands to compete. That’s it in a nutshell.<br />
</div>
<div class="markdown" style="color: blue;">
Just remember the one rule: Challenge yourself and have fun!<br />
That’s it!<br />
</div>
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</div>
<div class="zemanta-pixie" style="height: 15px; margin-top: 10px;">
<a class="zemanta-pixie-a" href="http://www.zemanta.com/?px" title="Enhanced by Zemanta"><img alt="Enhanced by Zemanta" class="zemanta-pixie-img" src="http://img.zemanta.com/zemified_e.png?x-id=d7bfd941-2c96-4202-9597-e2ca92cb6a58" style="border: none; float: right;" /></a></div>Katherine C.http://www.blogger.com/profile/15547166292353434938noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-277918636918351603.post-43150100390778196322012-01-14T11:07:00.000-08:002012-01-14T11:30:42.181-08:00January Goal: Spinning on a SpindleHappy Belated New Year everyone! Hope you are enjoying 2012 so far. I didn't get myself into any resolution-making, but every January I review the<a href="http://knitcaboose.blogspot.com/2009/11/knitters-bucket-list.html"> knitters' bucket list</a> to see how many items I've "checked-off" - I'm still afraid to try steeking ;)<br /><br />Over the month of December, we stayed close to home (hubby was recovering from surgery), and I spent a great deal of time in my 'studio' (aka our finished attic space). I inventoried the 'equipment' - 3+ knitting machines, table loom, cowichan spinner, & 2 spindles. I've decided that I should actually start learning the skills to use those items...<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkTEoyVuFsee0a3HTn8j7HexYKxLDBLuUPqzmnMJ3OVsQkcTOo_mGGI4s4352pHyL39TYI-SuxRqHsOjNuDhO93iKvXLhN153ItdDNvCfBERAOM74Ar6NFZOvrKkeVvQygdBGnzGFAYL0T/s1600/IMG_0063.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkTEoyVuFsee0a3HTn8j7HexYKxLDBLuUPqzmnMJ3OVsQkcTOo_mGGI4s4352pHyL39TYI-SuxRqHsOjNuDhO93iKvXLhN153ItdDNvCfBERAOM74Ar6NFZOvrKkeVvQygdBGnzGFAYL0T/s200/IMG_0063.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5697570159133450914" border="0" /></a><br />So, this month, I'm trying spinning on a spindle - motivated by the lovely conversation & photo sharing on twitter by a few spinners/<a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/tldudenhoeffer?section_id=10900877">spindle makers</a>. I've moved from a "thick/thin bulky yarn" (photo at right) to a "inconsistent thread w a few small nubs". My goal is to spin on the spindle 15minutes per day (as per the instructions from <a href="http://youtu.be/LlwvnxtxLDU">Respect the Spindle</a>")<br /><br />I'll keep you posted - do you have Fibre-related goals this year? Please share them!<br /><br /><div class="zemanta-related"><h6 class="zemanta-related-title" style="font-size:1em;margin:1em 0 0 0;">Related articles</h6><ul class="zemanta-article-ul"><li class="zemanta-article-ul-li"><a href="http://www.joyofhandspinning.com/spindle-types.shtml">Types of Drop Spindles</a> (joyofhandspinning.com)</li><li class="zemanta-article-ul-li"><a href="http://www.ispindle.com/dict/dict2.htm">Spindling & Other Fibre Terms</a> (IcanSpin.com)<br /></li><li class="zemanta-article-ul-li"><a href="http://victoriaknittersguild.blogspot.com/2010/09/about-vkg.html">About the VKG</a> (victoriaknittersguild.blogspot.com)</li></ul></div> <div style="margin-top: 10px; height: 15px;" class="zemanta-pixie"><a class="zemanta-pixie-a" href="http://www.zemanta.com/" title="Enhanced by Zemanta"><img style="border: medium none; float: right;" class="zemanta-pixie-img" src="http://img.zemanta.com/zemified_e.png?x-id=65467943-c687-43d0-b6b7-3470bdf14644" alt="Enhanced by Zemanta" /></a></div>Katherine C.http://www.blogger.com/profile/15547166292353434938noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-277918636918351603.post-34170873156508573412011-10-02T20:58:00.000-07:002012-08-25T09:15:24.375-07:00Twin Rib Baby Cap<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_nbQYf6dVhujQR6_fWi-ItREe3FfscaeplS2oSve9aSVuyMbRHaH71Y4urIBjFtUiwe89mPMy_CN24BpjYOu4keKwsbudnc2uY66eip8F-VmULO0hnkWYqf3tehjY88LZURxh0j9uSRdv/s1600/IMG00130-20111002-1150.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_nbQYf6dVhujQR6_fWi-ItREe3FfscaeplS2oSve9aSVuyMbRHaH71Y4urIBjFtUiwe89mPMy_CN24BpjYOu4keKwsbudnc2uY66eip8F-VmULO0hnkWYqf3tehjY88LZURxh0j9uSRdv/s200/IMG00130-20111002-1150.jpg" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5659114424206441442" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; float: right; height: 150px; margin: 0 0 10px 10px; width: 200px;" /></a>As mentioned, earlier today, I'm knitting purple baby caps (to see why look <a href="http://www.clickforbabies.org/bc/">here</a>). So, to add some variety, I came up with a pattern :)<br />
<br />
I love the twin rib stitch pattern because it is very stretchy, yet looks wonderful even if the stretch isn't needed. The top crown is decreased to create a ribbed star pattern on the top but I'm still playing around with it to have it decrease 'in pattern' since I prefer a universal look to a hat, rather than a slanted or plain crown.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFadPwS1JPdweDqgEVcjYIKZMjMeSq-cetSHrrDoc_6hAlG4eD-wseA4d-2CTD6akHFJjdHTYrrJ8TwvRgU2XHIgF3hoYyinPywvXth1gJ9AplLzUPJapyiMFjnG_qte6el52XjWdMJRhG/s1600/IMG00131-20111002-1150.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFadPwS1JPdweDqgEVcjYIKZMjMeSq-cetSHrrDoc_6hAlG4eD-wseA4d-2CTD6akHFJjdHTYrrJ8TwvRgU2XHIgF3hoYyinPywvXth1gJ9AplLzUPJapyiMFjnG_qte6el52XjWdMJRhG/s200/IMG00131-20111002-1150.jpg" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5659114630600657794" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; float: right; height: 150px; margin: 0 0 10px 10px; width: 200px;" /></a> I'm likely going to update the pattern with child sizes (skull caps)<br />
NOTE: Aug 25, 2012 - edited to add Gauge/Finished size - oops! Sorry about forgetting that...<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.ravelry.com/badges/redirect?p=twin-rib-baby-cap"><img src="http://api.ravelry.com/badges/projects?p=twin-rib-baby-cap&t=.gif" style="border: none;" /></a><br />
<br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;">Yarn:</span> Loops & Threads Snuggly Wuggly Baby Sport<br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;">Needles:</span> size 3mm dpns<br />
<b>GAUGE</b>: 30st to 4" in pattern <i>flat - ie unstretched</i><br />
<br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;">Size</span> for newborn<br />
Finished size: 5" wide <i>flat - ie unstretched</i> by 5+" high <br />
<br />
<span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">Twin Rib Pattern:</span><br />
row 1: k3, p3 to end of row<br />
row 2: k1, p1 to end of row<br />
<br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;">Abbreviations:</span><br />
K = knit<br />
p = purl<br />
Sl2k = slip two stitches as if to knit together<br />
Sl2p = slip two stitches purlwise<br />
psso = pass slipped stitches over stitch just worked<br />
<br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;">Pattern:</span><br />
Cast on 72 stitches<br />
Join in round (careful not to twist!!)<br />
K3, P3 for 6 rows<br />
<br />
Follow Twin Rib Pattern for 4" (27 rows) ending with a row 1<br />
<br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;">Decreases for Crown:</span>row 1: (K3, sl2p, p1, psso) repeat to end of round<br />
row 2: k1, p1 to end of round<br />
row 3: k3, p1 to end of round<br />
row 4: (sl2k, k1, psso, p1) repeat to end of round<span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span>row 5: k1, p1 to end of round<br />
row 6: (sl2k, k1, psso) to end of round<span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span><br />
Break off yarn, thread through remaining stitches, draw to a close & weave in ends.<span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span>Katherine C.http://www.blogger.com/profile/15547166292353434938noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-277918636918351603.post-20932990600452527512011-10-02T11:52:00.000-07:002011-10-02T12:16:25.479-07:00Purple baby hatsOur local children's bookstore (<a href="http://talltalesbooks.ca/">Tall Tales Books</a>) hosted a <a href="http://talltalesbooks.ca/?page_id=53">Knit-In</a> on Saturday for anyone to drop in, have tea, and knit or crochet purple newborn hats in support of <a href="http://www.clickforbabies.org/bc/">Preventing Shaken Baby Syndrome - the Period of Purple Crying</a>. In the month of November, babies born in BC hospitals will receive a purple baby hat in an annual campaign to educate new parents that babies will cry during this period...a lot...<br /><br />There will be another Knit In on Saturday Oct 15th, but if you can't make the Knit-In, you can help by knitting (or crocheting) hats and dropping them off at the store anytime before Oct 19th. If you aren't in Victoria (or even in BC), there are other locations listed on the <a href="http://www.clickforbabies.org/">National website</a><br /><br />I've already knit a few of these patterns below, including a pamphlet I received from the Welcome Wagon baby shower 6 years ago...<br /><br /><a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/basic-newborn-hat">http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/basic-newborn-hat</a><br /><a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/little-cables-hat">http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/little-cables-hat</a><br /><br />Need more ideas?<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFLgqvZO9O-Drc5uQhgd-tHrdpMx_IbwDd_Be4D7yS6N5xcIOkJvmtHb9ZKuMmFPLnGRG3MND_aBqyqaGKzszVlA3jS5yY2cF3vn33LHIxX2k0koz4LwOlzq5YfxZTqzH0wo-h1yFgpuDw/s1600/IMG00130-20111002-1150.jpg"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFLgqvZO9O-Drc5uQhgd-tHrdpMx_IbwDd_Be4D7yS6N5xcIOkJvmtHb9ZKuMmFPLnGRG3MND_aBqyqaGKzszVlA3jS5yY2cF3vn33LHIxX2k0koz4LwOlzq5YfxZTqzH0wo-h1yFgpuDw/s200/IMG00130-20111002-1150.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5658975480638373778" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Yeah, I got bored knitting the same hats over & over....so I came up with this - I'll post the pattern later this week<br /><br /><br /> <div style="margin-top:10px;height:15px" class="zemanta-pixie"><a class="zemanta-pixie-a" href="http://www.zemanta.com/" title="Enhanced by Zemanta"><img style="border:none;float:right" class="zemanta-pixie-img" src="http://img.zemanta.com/zemified_e.png?x-id=a268e448-99b3-43ac-a6fb-599160a7f1f7" alt="Enhanced by Zemanta" /></a></div>Katherine C.http://www.blogger.com/profile/15547166292353434938noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-277918636918351603.post-40391328818558871542011-06-10T10:25:00.001-07:002011-06-10T10:40:43.950-07:00FInishing Thoughts<span class="zemanta-img separator" style="clear: right;"><a href="http://commons.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:BlockedLaceScarf.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; display: block; float: right; clear: right;"><img src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/0d/BlockedLaceScarf.JPG/300px-BlockedLaceScarf.JPG" alt="A lace scarf in the process of being blocked." style="font-size: 0.8em; border: medium none;" height="606" width="300" /></a><span class="zemanta-img-attribution" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; clear: both; float: right; width: 300px;">Image via <a href="http://commons.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:BlockedLaceScarf.JPG">Wikipedia</a></span></span>Last evening was the twitter <a href="http://hashtags.org/knitchat">#knitchat</a>, and the topic was regarding Finishing - (<a href="http://natknits.wordpress.com/2011/06/07/69-knitchat-the-art-of-finishing/">You can see the topic questions here</a>) Soon the list of tips will be posted by <a href="http://twitter.com/#%21/cloudynatknit/">@cloudynatknits</a> so watch for them :)<br /><br />Being a 140 character chat in only one hour with a dozen or so knitters - we could venture off into any number of side topics, following thorugh on all the issues like weaving in ends, button holes, blocking, sewing, etc...but we did do a fair job of sharing tips with one another.<br /><br />So to that end, I give you a couple of selected tips I've learned over the years that I teach in my beginners classes<br /><br />1) Seams<br />There are various techniques for seaming, depending upon the location of the seam – invisible seams are best for hats. Shoulder seams need more ‘stability’ so are seamed differently (if not done as a three-needle bind-off – something for a different class!) The most recommended option I hear is Mattress Stitch, however, I do like the Bickford Seam if you want a less bulky seam.<br /><br />2) Weaving in Ends<br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Weaving</span> – on the wrong side of the item, put the thread through the backs of stitches – (generally purl bumps), you can go diagonally up and back or across a row<br /><br /><a style="font-style: italic;" href="http://knitty.com/ISSUEfall04/FEATfall04TT.html">Duplicate stitch method</a> - (my personal favourite) basically follow the path of the yarn with the needle so it’s almost ‘knitted’ into the item.<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Knitting in</span> – some people will knit the loose piece(s) when they are knitting through the back of the stitches to avoid weaving later – this sometimes shows ‘through’ the knitting but does save time later.<br /><br />3) Joins<br />To avoid having to weave ends in later each time you add a ball of yarn, try an invisible join - my personal favourites are Spit Splicing (if using feltable wool), or the Russian Join.<br /><br />4) Blocking<br />For Hats - use a dinner plate for berets; balloon or upside down planter (of correct size) for touques.<br />For larger items - I use my bed :) BUT, I find the children's foam floor puzzles are great for blocking boards, plus being puzzle pieces - you can create any size board you want without taking up valuable storage space.<br /><br />Lots more tips to come in future - but these were the 'starter tips' I gave my budding new knitters :)<br /><br />If you're on twitter - join us on Thursdays for #knitchat!<br /><br /><div class="zemanta-related"><h6 class="zemanta-related-title" style="font-size:1em;margin:1em 0 0 0;">Related articles</h6><ul class="zemanta-article-ul"><li class="zemanta-article-ul-li"><a href="http://knitcaboose.blogspot.com/2007/08/russian-join.html">Russian Join (Love)</a> (my jubilation with the join)<br /></li></ul></div> <div style="margin-top: 10px; height: 15px;" class="zemanta-pixie"><a class="zemanta-pixie-a" href="http://www.zemanta.com/" title="Enhanced by Zemanta"><img style="border: medium none; float: right;" class="zemanta-pixie-img" src="http://img.zemanta.com/zemified_e.png?x-id=f99863ea-07f9-460a-b33c-9d3a5f586b32" alt="Enhanced by Zemanta" /></a></div>Katherine C.http://www.blogger.com/profile/15547166292353434938noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-277918636918351603.post-15794521661425187292011-05-04T12:19:00.000-07:002011-05-04T12:26:45.531-07:00I AM REGISTERED!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.socksummit.com/"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 160px; height: 169px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMXICVt3dD8EIIzMwfWL59PaWUUDVVTTLCbCLL9BNFLw13nx2bkBGz1VFZyiaJWUxBe30SSxb5Jz9kUL6uEaggOagG_5NR6ymX4kS3qXT26_sPdiVfpenIzKIEn1QYpYODNYc_S_U7gz4f/s320/SS2011_button.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5602944240699792114" border="0" /></a><br />I did it, I registered for Sock Summit 2011 - and I'm feeling on top of the world. I may register for more classes (if any are still open later), but for now, I got the one I really, REALLY wanted - <a href="http://www.socksummit.com/classes/kilt_hose/">Kilt by Association</a> as I'm dying to knit kilt hose - I even have a design or two in my head that I should get down onto paper so I can test knit them :)<br /><br />Regardless, I just needed to do a 'happy dance' on the blog - I'm going to Sock Summit, I'm going to Sock Summit...<br /><br /> <div style="margin-top: 10px; height: 15px;" class="zemanta-pixie"><a class="zemanta-pixie-a" href="http://www.zemanta.com/" title="Enhanced by Zemanta"><img style="border: medium none; float: right;" class="zemanta-pixie-img" src="http://img.zemanta.com/zemified_e.png?x-id=3bd960a1-859d-4e48-b2c4-d90338098326" alt="Enhanced by Zemanta" /></a><span class="zem-script more-related pretty-attribution"><script type="text/javascript" src="http://static.zemanta.com/readside/loader.js" defer="defer"></script></span></div>Katherine C.http://www.blogger.com/profile/15547166292353434938noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-277918636918351603.post-44573658497913836662011-04-22T07:08:00.000-07:002011-04-22T07:23:35.036-07:00Buy or Lease...The Latest Dilemma<span class="zemanta-img separator" style="clear: right;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/11847943@N02/3088785880" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; display: block; float: right; clear: right;"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3290/3088785880_4b0da5d867_m.jpg" alt="Numark Gallery | Sale or Lease" style="font-size: 0.8em; border: medium none;" width="240" height="159" /></a><span class="zemanta-img-attribution" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; clear: both; float: right; width: 240px;">Image by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/11847943@N02/3088785880">DavidSC78</a> via Flickr</span></span>My 'other life' is that of a professional 'purchaser' - actually the term changes with the wind, buyer, purchaser, procurement specialist, supply chain manager... Regardless, those skills are extremely helpful to a <a class="zem_slink" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Small_business" title="Small business" rel="wikipedia">small business</a> - I've done business planning, supply chain planning (getting the goods here), contract negotiations - hopefully that means great prices on yarn :)<br /><br />As of Wednesday, my doctor put me on a week's 'rest'...so what do I do? I'm contemplating whether I should buy or lease a retail space for the yarn store. For the last year, I was looking at buying, just so I controlled the monthly costs (ie mortgage), and built equity into 'my space' over time. Unfortunately in the area I'm looking, nothing 'for sale' has been a good space for yarn & coffee. Then someone suggested that it may be worth considering a multi-unit small building that is for sale or even building one <gulp>.<br /><br />However, there is a lot to be said about leasing too. Many successful yarn stores wish to only pay rent rather than own. They manage startup cashflow in that they don't have a downpayment to make, and leasehold improvements (fixing up the space) can be negotiated into the monthly rent over the course of the lease (ie pay it back over 3-5yrs). My issue with this option is the changing numbers on an annual basis - you negotiate the lease (going rate varies $10-$15/sq foot), then each year the operating/management fees change - another monthly cost...<br /><br />Many variables. Ownership involves sacrifices with the biggest payback. Renting frees up the cash for a better startup.<br /><br />Different strokes for different folks.<br /> <div style="margin-top: 10px; height: 15px;" class="zemanta-pixie"><a class="zemanta-pixie-a" href="http://www.zemanta.com/" title="Enhanced by Zemanta"><img style="border: medium none; float: right;" class="zemanta-pixie-img" src="http://img.zemanta.com/zemified_e.png?x-id=f463e911-f18d-4711-9bee-050c9becbc27" alt="Enhanced by Zemanta" /></a><span class="zem-script more-related pretty-attribution"><script type="text/javascript" src="http://static.zemanta.com/readside/loader.js" defer="defer"></script></span></div></gulp>Katherine C.http://www.blogger.com/profile/15547166292353434938noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-277918636918351603.post-26955731788901218502011-04-18T14:09:00.000-07:002011-05-31T08:11:08.243-07:00Stitcher Nights in #yyj<span class="zemanta-img separator" style="clear: right;"><a href="http://commons.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Flower-basket-victoria-BC.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; display: block; float: right; clear: right;"><img src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/8f/Flower-basket-victoria-BC.JPG/300px-Flower-basket-victoria-BC.JPG" alt="A hanging flower basket on the street in Victo..." style="font-size: 0.8em; border: medium none;" height="384" width="300" /></a><span class="zemanta-img-attribution" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; clear: both; float: right; width: 300px;">Image via <a href="http://commons.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Flower-basket-victoria-BC.JPG">Wikipedia</a></span></span>Another list from my <a href="http://www.jdfrecreation.com/">JDF Recreation</a> knitting classes - I hate to set my beginner knitters free without some support. The first week of class I give them links to videos, how-to websites in case they need some extra help until the next class. But, when we are nearing the end of classes, of course I encourage them to join a weekly <a class="zem_slink" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stitch_%27n_Bitch" title="Stitch 'n Bitch" rel="wikipedia">Stitch N Bitch</a> or the like!<br /><br />So, I give you the 'current as of January 2011' list of knitting groups in <a class="zem_slink" href="http://maps.google.com/maps?ll=48.4286111111,-123.365555556&spn=0.1,0.1&q=48.4286111111,-123.365555556%20%28Victoria%2C%20British%20Columbia%29&t=h" title="Victoria, British Columbia" rel="geolocation">Victoria, BC</a> - note these groups keep moving around, not all are listed in one single place...so I will have to keep updating this list! As I always advise the beginners, 'call to confirm/don't make a special trip' just in case the group folded/moved.<br /><br /> <style>@font-face { font-family: "Times"; }@font-face { font-family: "Cambria"; }p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal { margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman"; }p { margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Times New Roman"; }span.style14 { }span.style25 { }p.style141, li.style141, div.style141 { margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Times New Roman"; }div.Section1 { page: Section1; }</style> <p style="margin: 0.1pt 0cm;"><span class="style14"><b style=""><u>SUNDAY</u></b></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.1pt 0cm;"><span class="style14">Afternoon Stitch 'N' Bitch</span><br /><span class="style14">Union Pacific Cafe on Herald Street</span><br /><br /></p> <p style="margin: 0.1pt 0cm;"><b style=""><u>MONDAY</u></b></p> <p style="margin: 0.1pt 0cm;"><span class="style25">Coffee & Chat</span><br /><span class="style14"><a href="http://www.koffihouse.com/">Koffi</a> at Haultain & Belmont in Fernwood </span><br /><span class="style14">Monday 2-4 p.m.</span></p><p style="margin: 0.1pt 0cm;"><span class="style14"><br /></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.1pt 0cm;"> </p> <p style="margin: 0.1pt 0cm;"><b style=""><u>TUESDAY</u></b></p> <p style="margin: 0.1pt 0cm;"><a href="http://bitchybees.livejournal.com/"><span class="style25">Bitchy Bees</span></a><br /><span class="style14">Cornerstone Cafe at Gladstone/Fernwood </span><br /><span class="style14">Tuesday Evening 6-8 pm</span><br /><br /><span class="style25"></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.1pt 0cm;"><span class="style25"><b style=""><u>WEDNESDAY</u></b></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.1pt 0cm;"><a href="http://www.victoriaknittersguild.info/"><span class="style25">Victoria Knitters' Guild</span><br /></a> <span class="style25"><i style="">First and Third Wednesday mornings</i> 9:30-11:30</span><br /><span class="style25">St. Aidan's Church Hall</span><br /><br /><span class="style25"></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.1pt 0cm;"><span class="style25">Arts and Crafts Night</span><br /><span class="style14">Logan's Pub at Cook and Caledonia</span><br /><span class="style14">Wednesday Evening (note some evenings are ‘special events’, so check first)</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.1pt 0cm;"><span class="style25"> </span></p> <p style="margin: 0.1pt 0cm;"><br /></p><p style="margin: 0.1pt 0cm;">6 - 8pm Savoury, coffee shop at 1841 Oak Bay Ave. </p><p style="margin: 0.1pt 0cm;"><br />7 - 9pm Starbucks at Gorge and Tillicum (beside Rogers and the Liquor store) </p><p style="margin: 0.1pt 0cm;"><a href="http://www.victoriaknittersguild.info/"><span class="style25"><br /></span></a></p><p style="margin: 0.1pt 0cm;"><a href="http://www.victoriaknittersguild.info/"><span class="style25">Victoria Knitters’ Guild</span></a></p> <p style="margin: 0.1pt 0cm;"><span class="style25"><i style="">2<sup>nd</sup> & 4<sup>th</sup> Wed Evening</i> 7:00-9:00pm</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.1pt 0cm;"><span class="style25">Saanich Commonwealth Place – Douglas Fir Room</span></p> <span class="style25"><b style=""><u><span style=";font-family:Times;font-size:10pt;" ><br /></span></u></b></span> <p style="margin: 0.1pt 0cm; font-style: italic;"><span class="style25"><b style=""><u>THURSDAY</u></b></span></p> <p class="style141" style="margin: 0.1pt 0cm; font-style: italic;"><span class="style25"><span style="">Stitchers Night</span></span><span style=""> <span style="font-weight: bold;">ON HIATUS</span><br /><a href="http://www.coastcollective.ca/contacts.html"><span class="style25">Coast Collective</span><br /></a> <span class="style25">7:00 – 8:30 p.m.</span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.1pt 0cm;"><span class="style25"><span style=""><span style="font-style: italic;">email stringandbeans @ telus . net if interested in knowing when we restart</span><br /></span></span></p><p style="margin: 0.1pt 0cm;"><span class="style25"><span style=""><br /></span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.1pt 0cm;"><span class="style25"><b style=""><u>FRIDAY</u></b></span></p> <p class="style141" style="margin: 0.1pt 0cm;"><span class="style25"><span style="">Knit 'N Cafe</span></span><span style=""><br /><span class="style25">Serious Coffee in the Cook Street Village</span><br /><span class="style25">Friday 1-4:00 p.m.</span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.1pt 0cm;"><span class="style25"><span style=""> </span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.1pt 0cm;"><span class="style25"><a href="http://www.beehivewoolshop.com/contact.html"><br /></a></span></p><p style="margin: 0.1pt 0cm;"><span class="style25"><a href="http://www.beehivewoolshop.com/contact.html">Beehive Wool Shop</a> "Friday Night Knitting"</span><br /><span class="style14">1700 Douglas Street</span><br /><span class="style14">5:00-7:30 pm on Friday evening</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.1pt 0cm;"><span class="style25"> </span></p> <p style="margin: 0.1pt 0cm;"><a href="http://bitchybees.livejournal.com/"><span class="style25"><br /></span></a></p><p style="margin: 0.1pt 0cm;"><a href="http://bitchybees.livejournal.com/"><span class="style25">Bitchy Bees</span></a><br /><span class="style14">Serious Coffee at Cook/Oxford</span><br /><span class="style14">Friday Evening 6-8 pm </span></p> <p style="margin: 0.1pt 0cm;"><br /><i style="">ONCE A MONTH</i></p> <p style="margin: 0.1pt 0cm;">Fibre Fun Social Nights</p> <p style="margin: 0.1pt 0cm;">Knotty By Nature Fibre Arts </p> <p style="margin: 0.1pt 0cm;">6-9pm (3<sup>rd</sup> Friday of the month)</p><p style="margin: 0.1pt 0cm;"><br /></p><p style="margin: 0.1pt 0cm;"><span style="font-style: italic;">edited Apr 23 to add 2 more listings for Wed evenings</span></p><p style="margin: 0.1pt 0cm;"><span style="font-style: italic;">edited May 31 to update Thurs nights (on Hiatus)</span><br /></p><div style="margin-top: 10px; height: 15px;" class="zemanta-pixie"><a class="zemanta-pixie-a" href="http://www.zemanta.com/" title="Enhanced by Zemanta"><img style="border: medium none; float: right;" class="zemanta-pixie-img" src="http://img.zemanta.com/zemified_e.png?x-id=3d613163-facc-435b-bb30-1a55836caadc" alt="Enhanced by Zemanta" /></a><span class="zem-script more-related pretty-attribution"><script type="text/javascript" src="http://static.zemanta.com/readside/loader.js" defer="defer"></script></span></div>Katherine C.http://www.blogger.com/profile/15547166292353434938noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-277918636918351603.post-44371412706338504492011-04-15T20:09:00.000-07:002011-04-15T21:57:21.809-07:00#yyj Knitters: Knitting for Others<span class="zemanta-img separator" style="clear: right;"><a href="http://commons.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Knitting.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; display: block; float: right; clear: right;"><img src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/ee/Knitting.jpg/300px-Knitting.jpg" alt="Description: Photo of knitted hat, yarn, and k..." style="font-size: 0.8em; border: medium none;" width="300" height="225" /></a><span class="zemanta-img-attribution" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; clear: both; float: right; width: 300px;">Image via <a href="http://commons.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Knitting.jpg">Wikipedia</a></span></span> <style>@font-face { font-family: "Times"; }@font-face { font-family: "Cambria"; }p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal { margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman"; }div.Section1 { page: Section1; }</style> <style>@font-face { font-family: "Arial"; }@font-face { font-family: "Courier New"; }@font-face { font-family: "Times"; }@font-face { font-family: "Wingdings"; }@font-face { font-family: "Cambria"; }p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal { margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman"; }p.MsoFooter, li.MsoFooter, div.MsoFooter { margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman"; }a:link, span.MsoHyperlink { color: blue; text-decoration: underline; }a:visited, span.MsoHyperlinkFollowed { color: purple; text-decoration: underline; }p.MsoListParagraph, li.MsoListParagraph, div.MsoListParagraph { margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt 36pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman"; }p.MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst, li.MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst, div.MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst { margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt 36pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman"; }p.MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle, li.MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle, div.MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle { margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt 36pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman"; }p.MsoListParagraphCxSpLast, li.MsoListParagraphCxSpLast, div.MsoListParagraphCxSpLast { margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt 36pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman"; }span.FooterChar { }span.style14 { }div.Section1 { page: Section1; }ol { margin-bottom: 0cm; }ul { margin-bottom: 0cm; }</style> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6pt;"><span style="font-family:Times;"><a class="zem_slink" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Knitting" title="Knitting" rel="wikipedia"><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(102, 102, 102);font-family:times new roman;" >Considering this is the last day of National Volunteer Week, I thought I'd post a piece from my Beginner's Knitting Class handouts on Knitting for others.</span><br /></a></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6pt;"><span style="font-family:Times;"><a class="zem_slink" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Knitting" title="Knitting" rel="wikipedia">Knitting</a> for charities is a great way to practice on small projects, and the charities are very appreciative of your efforts.<span style=""> </span>Some groups even provide wool, needles and patterns in exchange for your knitting time!</span></p> <p style="font-weight: bold;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Times;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Facecloths</span> </span></p> <p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="font-family:Times;"><span style="">–<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family:Times;">James Bay Child Care Society – daycare centre<br /></span></p> <p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="font-family:Times;"><span style="">–<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family:Times;">Our Place – for showers<br /></span></p> <p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="font-family:Times;"><span style="">–<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family:Times;">Canada Comforts – for Haiti</span></p> <p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 6pt 35.7pt; text-indent: -17.85pt;"><span style="font-family:Times;"><span style="">–<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family:Times;">Socks for Soldiers – for overseas soldier care packages</span></p> <p style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;" class="MsoNormal">Baby Hats</p> <p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="font-family:Times;"><span style="">–<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span>Victoria General Hospital</p> <p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 6pt 35.7pt; text-indent: -17.85pt;"><span style="font-family:Times;"><span style="">–<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span>Welcome Wagon</p> <p style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;" class="MsoNormal">Knit Slippers</p> <p class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 6pt 35.7pt; text-indent: -17.85pt;"><span class="style14"><span style=""><span style="">-<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span></span>Royal Jubilee Hospital <span class="style14"></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6pt;"><span class="style14"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6pt;"><span class="style14"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Community Knitters</span> – Marilyn Guille has a group/listing of charities across Canada, and also coordinates pickup/dropoffs via Knotty by Nature Fibre Arts - </span><a href="http://www.communityknitters.com/">http://www.communityknitters.com/</a></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6pt;"><span style="font-family:Times;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6pt;"><span style="font-family:Times;">Below are some organizations for which the <a href="http://www.victoriaknittersguild.info/">Victoria Knitter’s Guild</a> coordinates pickup/dropoffs:</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6pt;"><b><span style="font-family:Times;">Afghansforafghans.org<span style=""> </span></span></b><span style="font-family:Times;">Woolen items as requested at website. </span><span style="font-family:Times;"></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6pt;"><b><span style="font-family:Times;">Canada Comforts </span></b><span style="font-family:Times;">Baby/children’s sweaters, hats blankets, any fibre. </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6pt;"><b><span style="font-family:Times;">Blankets for Canada </span></b><span style="font-family:Times;"><span style=""> </span>8”X8” washable squares; help assembling too. </span><a href="http://www.blankets4canada.ca/"><span style="font-family:Times;">http://www.blankets4canada.ca/</span></a><span style="font-family:Times;"> </span><span class="style14"><span style="font-family:Times;"></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style=""><b><span style="font-family:Times;">Mex Tit Bits<span style=""> </span></span></b><span style="font-family:Times;">These are breast prostheses for women in Mexico who have had mastectomies.<span style=""> </span>More information below from the coordinator of this project. In the meantime, you can knit some tit bits from this Knitty pattern if you are interested.<a href="http://www.knitty.com/ISSUEfall05/PATTbits.html"><span style=""> </span></a></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style=""><span style="font-family:Times;"><a href="http://www.knitty.com/ISSUEfall05/PATTbits.html">http://www.knitty.com/ISSUEfall05/PATTbits.html</a><span style=""> </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style=""><span style="font-family:Times;">Or you can take a look at some ideas here: </span><span style="font-family:Times;"></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6pt;"><a href="http://www.titbits.ca/v1/tb_shop.html"><span style="font-family:Times;">http://www.titbits.ca/v1/tb_shop.html</span></a><span style="font-family:Times;"></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6pt;"><b><span style="font-family:Times;">Royal Jubilee Hospital Gift Shop<span style=""> </span></span></b><span style="font-family:Times;">Slippers, baby and children’s sweaters,<span style=""> </span>just about any lovely knitting, except plain toques for children; they have plenty of these plain hats right now.<span style=""> </span>Other stylish hats, any size, would also be welcome.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6pt;"><b><span style="font-family:Times;">VGH Mother-Babe Unit</span></b><span style="font-family:Times;"> Hats for newborns.<span style=""> </span></span><span class="style14"></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="style14"></span></p> <div style="margin-top: 10px; height: 15px;" class="zemanta-pixie"><a class="zemanta-pixie-a" href="http://www.zemanta.com/" title="Enhanced by Zemanta"><img style="border: medium none; float: right;" class="zemanta-pixie-img" src="http://img.zemanta.com/zemified_e.png?x-id=584253d1-32a8-4a4b-8220-e137a5f91a3e" alt="Enhanced by Zemanta" /></a><span class="zem-script more-related pretty-attribution"><script type="text/javascript" src="http://static.zemanta.com/readside/loader.js" defer="defer"></script></span></div>Katherine C.http://www.blogger.com/profile/15547166292353434938noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-277918636918351603.post-49863333117892034542011-01-26T06:58:00.000-08:002011-01-26T06:59:22.559-08:00The Westshore gets a knit night!<div class="post-header"> </div> <span class="zemanta-img separator" style="clear: right; position: relative;"><a href="http://commons.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Knitting_cathi_2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; display: block; float: right; clear: right;"><img src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/0c/Knitting_cathi_2.jpg/300px-Knitting_cathi_2.jpg" alt="This woman is knitting at a coffee shop; altho..." style="font-size: 0.8em; border: medium none;" height="225" width="300" /></a><span class="zemanta-img-attribution" style="margin: 0px; clear: both; float: right; width: 290px; display: none; position: absolute; z-index: 10; left: 619.5px; bottom: -473px; background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.85); color: rgb(238, 238, 238); font-size: 11px; font-style: italic; font-family: Georga,serif; padding: 0pt 5px; line-height: 1.5; letter-spacing: 0px;">Image via <a style="color: rgb(85, 136, 170); text-decoration: none; border: 0px none;" href="http://commons.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Knitting_cathi_2.jpg">Wikipedia</a></span></span>We finally managed it! After teaching beginner and sock knitting classes through Westshore Parks & Recreation, there is a demand for a social knit night out here in the Westshore of Victoria. One of my beginner class knitters is an artist with the <a href="http://www.coastcollective.ca/">Coast Collective in Metchosin</a>, and has asked on our behalf if we could use the classroom on Thursday evenings.<br /><br />So, starting February 3rd, 2011, Thursday evenings 7:00pm ~8:30pm, we'll be knitting at the Coast Collective 3221 Heatherbell Rd - http://www.coastcollective.ca/contacts.html<br /><br />Hope to see you there! <div style="margin-top: 10px; height: 15px;" class="zemanta-pixie"><a class="zemanta-pixie-a" href="http://www.zemanta.com/" title="Enhanced by Zemanta"><img style="border: medium none; float: right;" class="zemanta-pixie-img" src="http://img.zemanta.com/zemified_e.png?x-id=f3e103fa-a80c-4bc5-8ac6-374f2501d8ab" alt="Enhanced by Zemanta" /></a><span class="zem-script more-related pretty-attribution"><script type="text/javascript" src="http://static.zemanta.com/readside/loader.js" defer="defer"></script></span></div>Katherine C.http://www.blogger.com/profile/15547166292353434938noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-277918636918351603.post-38133003201099072272010-05-16T14:45:00.000-07:002010-05-16T14:47:39.824-07:00Wee Kilty Socks RevisedSo the original socks were a little 'loose' for an active 5yr old. They kept sliding down the leg (even with the reduction under the cuff). I had made 2 versions for him, and the size that 'didn't' slide, actually stayed put...so I'm reposting the pattern for that size, the original one would actually work for a larger size shoe (with longer length in the foot).<br /><br />Revisions coming...Katherine C.http://www.blogger.com/profile/15547166292353434938noreply@blogger.com0