Kid #4 Conquers Knitting over Thanksgiving Weekend

These two items, a scarf and a hot pad, were created by my 8 year old over Thanksgiving weekend.

My mom taught her to knit this summer. She has made a few scarves for her American Doll, however, when she dug into my recently added "ribbon yarn" and found some size 15 needles, she was unstoppable!

The heavy yarn and the larger needles were all she needed to whip up a scarf in one sitting. She decided to give it to her Grandy as a gift for Thanksgiving. At 10:00 pm she wanted to start a gift for her Papa. Nope, stop until the morning please! This was so hard for her. I think she could have knit all night!

So on Thanksgiving morning she completed the hot pad for Papa. The whole process of casting on, knitting, and casting off was much more manageable with this yarn. And the look of satisfaction on her face for a job well done was priceless!

The larger, stiffer yarn gave her the opportunity to practice keeping the same amount of stitches on the needle for each row. If the count was off it was easy for her, and me, to figure out how to resolve the issue.

I knit a sock!

Over the weekend I was able to finish my sock!

I'm still not sure how I know I will have enough for sock number 2, but onward and upward is the only way to go!!

The sock went much faster than I though it would. The whole project was a bit overwhelming, somehow socks just seemed more daunting to knit than they really are! I am getting better at reading patterns, but still need the call to mom once in a while to decode the pattern.

I want to make a baby hat for a friend having baby #6 soon. I just love the self patterning yarn for a cute baby hat. I have some left from the hat and booties I made for my cute little neighbor A, who is already 6 weeks old!!

More Weavers Guild of Minnesota

There was so much to see and the Weavers Guild of Minnesota I just had to take one more post to do it justice.

There were many members on hand and they all enthusiastically recommended the TRY IT classes. They are "One-day classes for beginners or the curious". The TRY IT classes cover Dyeing, Beginning Floor Loom, Rag Weaving, Frame Loom, Tapestry, Off Loom, and spinning.

Really, if you ever have had any curiosity about weaving, etc. this would be a great place to TRY IT. The variety of works that I saw were incredible, which leads to me to believe that the Weavers Guild of Minnesota is great place to get creative. No cookie cutter thinking here!

You can explore for yourself at www. weaversguildmn.org.

A Visit to the Weavers Guild of Minnesota

I had a great time exploring the Weavers Guild of Minnesota. They did have the promised 50 exhibitors. What a great variety of craft. There were many weavings, knitted items, and more.

I also spent a few moments talking with Frances Iverson who wrote a book called The Weaving Adventures of Edgar and Rita. It is a great children's story about Edgar the dog and Rita. After going on their outdoor adventures they return home, bringing the colors of nature into the weavings created by Rita.

Then I went to explore the rest of building. There is an awesome library, a weaving room for classes, a small shop that sells threads for weaving, books, and supplies. Also, they have a great gift shop with really unique knitted, woven, and beaded/jewelry.

Once again I had a "learning about me" moment. I found a great pair of clay bead earrings. They were calling my name and yet I chose to go home and see if I decided later I just had to have them. In the next room was the "bargain bin" of yarn and I had no compulsion to stop. I found some great treasures...

Starting at the top, at 12:00. is two great skeins of my favorite hat yarn, Lopi. Then at 3:00 we have the purple glow in the dark yarn. Kid #5 is so excited for me to make her a hat that will glow!! And at 8:00 is some yarn that was intriguing to me, although I am not sure what I will do with it. It immediately brought me back to being an 8 year old in the 70's, with two pony tails, one above each ear, and wrapped with ribbons. This yarn is that ribbon. Did any else sport the yarn ribbons as a kid?

35th Annual Weavers Guild of Minnesota Fiber Fair

Today I am making time to go to the 35th Annual Weavers Guild of Minnesta Fiber Fair. That is a long name for an event. I am not sure what to expect. It says there will be over 50 fiber artist. Perhaps I can find out what exactly a fiber artist is...am I one? Not sure!

I should have a lot to report upon my return!!

My first knitted Sock..Almost

Here is my first sock masterpiece. I carefully picked out an unusual yarn, this one is from Japan, and spent $20.00 on them! Yes, I want them to last and feel great! I think I am becoming a yarn snob. I'll have to try the $6.00 yarns next to compare the comfort level.

So, back to the sock. I knit the ribbing, knit down to the gusset (heel) and went to my mom for help to decifer the pattern. We spent a lovely morning chatting and decifering and I made it completely around the heel as you can see, It was at this piont I realized that I would not have enough yarn to complete sock number 2.

Not wanting to spend another $20.00 for sock number 2 I decided that I had spent some great quaility time with mom, had great hands on practice making the heel, and then ripped out all my work. Now I am back to creating the ribbing in a smaller size. Once the socks are done I will determine whose feet will be perfect for the new socks.

It is finished!!

I did it! I managed to keep the remainder of the Prayer Shawl away from the dog.

Once I casted off I realized I probably could have made it even skinnier and thus longer. But really, February is coming and W needs this more that I need perfection!

I really wish there was a touch feature on my blog. This yarn is so soft. It feels like a soft, fluffy flannel.

OK, off to girls weekend. I have yarn for socks (yes I started them, but after getting half way done with the heel I realized I will not have enough yarn for two socks, and the yarn was $20.00, and I'm not paying $40.00 for a first pair of socks, and...more for another day) and yarn for dish cloths. My sister M will help me make the pretty edges.

Prayer Shawl Part 3

This weekend I restarted the prayer shawl. Since my goal is to give my friend a soft "blankie" to hold on to while she is pregnant, I am glad the baby is not due until February. It's coming W really it is!!

I went from 63 to 48 stitches. Hoping this would make more of a rectangle than a square shape. Then I started to K3, P3, K3, P3 (knit 3, purl 3). This has been a great project for gaining confidence in my knitting speed!

Then somehow, when I wasn't looking the dog got my knitting and tangled the ball of yarn terribly!!

My sweat Corgi puppy Stella looks peaceful here, but...but oh does she love the feel of yarn in her mouth!!

Here is the mess, piled up. I just couldn't take it. After a weekend of knitting a making great progress I was not up for untangling the yarn.

So, I went in search of supplies for a pair of socks...