Playing with sticks and string

Anyone that knows me knows I love color.  I bought some Ella Rae worsted wool and have had some fun knitting small projects.  Just to keep it interesting I also whipped out the Kureyon Kozy.

Tablet Cozy--a good pattern for learning how to do stranded knitting.
Pattern by Kristin Nicholas

The perfect project for that stray skein of Noro Kureyon (Kureyon Kozy).

Both projects are upcoming classes!

Seeing double!

The current WIP is a double-knit hot pad.  The pattern called for cotton, but I have lots of Ella Rae wool in lovely colors.  Double knitting is knitting two sides at the same time.  My scarf was the first project worked in the technique.  The project is not large, however, when working double knitting it is good to remember that one is working two projects.  The talented designer of the pattern is Wendy from Running Jack Knits.

This photo shows the right side of the knitting (looking at the chart rows are knitted left to right).  Forty cast-on stitches are doubled to 80.  Each stitch on the chart is read as two stitches--knit on one side and purl on the other side.  I hold my yarns as I do for stranded/Fair Isle knitting, continental (pick) in my left hand and English (throw) in my right hand.  Yarns can be held in one hand, also.  Either way the yarn is held the knitter must be mindful of not twisting the yarns (except on the first stitch of each row).  

Shown is the opposite side.  The chart is read from right to left.  Once the pattern begins to show, reading the chart becomes easier.  

Looking closely at the fabric, the purl stitches show in between the knit stitches.

I have a class coming up very soon November 18 and 25, using this pattern.  I hope you will give double knitting a try.  This would be a nice hostess gift for the holidays.  Perhaps design a different motif...happy knitting!

Card Sweater

I finally got this little project finished and Joanne is checking it over for me.  The flap was a challenge to get it exactly the way I wanted it and I liked my last one for the sample and even re-knitted the flap by itself to make sure the decreases, stitch numbers, and buttonhole placement were correct.  The pattern should be on Ravelry soon.

This is a nice companion to the Starry Java Jacket. 

I made a card for the sample.

Spin and twist!

Yesterday I did a spinning demo at Share Fest.  It is always fun to see friends and share my love of spinning with others.  One little fellow, five years old, was so cute.  He explained to me how my wheel worked (very accurately, too) and then helped me spin my spindle.  Later a little girl came by and enjoyed how the spindle was spinning and proceeded to show me how she could spin also.  I noticed her shoes lit up when she walked and I told her it would be nice for my spindle to light up when it spins.  She agreed.

Lyppa is unspun Lopi and I finished the first package of 120 grams.  The Icelandic birch spindle I bought in Þingborg is wonderful easily holds 60 grams.  I was able to spin the mórauður (reddish brown) wool.  This was exciting, as the singles were just perfect.  The first hank is blocked and the second part is still on the spindle.  I looked up the color name online and found the definition here.

mórauður (Icelandic)

Origin & history:  From mór ("peat") + rauður ("red").

Pronunciation:  IPA: /ˈmouːrøyːðʏr/

Adjective:  reddish brown, peat-coloured (especially of sheep, wool and dogs)

A lovely name for reddish brown in my opinion.  The roving was delicate and wispy to spin but very strong and stable after spinning.  Drafting was smooth and easy.  Up to now I avoided spinning singles and will be anxious to see how many yards I have between the gray and the reddish brown.  It is between the thickness of Einband and Lett Lopi.  My fingertips are soft, too.  The wool has a slightly sheepy smell, which is not bad--clean sheep smell no vinegar.

Just enough twist to hold together and very little over twist.  

About 60 grams in this hank.  

The spindle was getting a little heavy, but I was able to fill it with the rest of the wool.

Project Ariana

This is the latest sweater sample for the shop.  I bought the pattern from the Ewetopia booth at Shepherd's Harvest this year and it is a lovely top (Ariana Shell).  I want it to fit like a vest, so I'm working on the 38".  I have to block the lace and I want to see how long it is before picking up the stitches for the body.  I substituted Rowan Felted Tweed DK for the original yarn.  The lace was a breeze to knit even though the instructions are written, normally I prefer charts.

The lace yoke is a 16-row lace pattern.

Rowan Felted Tweed DK in charcoal is the perfect yarn choice for the project.