Help protect the earth. . knit a shopping tote!

Knitting
Linen & cotton fabric hand knit tote
Linen & cotton fabric hand knit tote

Using Geneva worsted weight linen and 1″ wide cotton fabric strips. These are soooo fun to knit.

To check the pattern I had my two moms each knit one. . .they knit theirs using Plymouth cotton instead of linen and they turned out beautiful as well. (and were about 1/4 the cost)

It is a bit tricky learning to knit with the strips but once you get used to it you can just zip along. I tried 1/2 inch strips (because the fabric folds and you end up knitting 1/2 inch wide strips anyway) but the 1 inch wide strips work best. . .the 1/2 inch strips just roll up and look really messy.

The strap is knit in only the fabric, keeping all the knots on one side (I left them on the purl side, hanging out).

It does take a bit of sewing skill to attach them to the tote. . . but if I can do it, anyone can!

Hand knit tote in linen and coton fabric
Hand knit tote in linen and coton fabric
hand knit linen and cotton fabric tote
hand knit linen and cotton fabric tote

3purses

Happy knitting

Shawn

Mom’s Scarf

Knitting, ,

Well, I was a busy girl knitting for this holiday season! One of the special items was a scarf for my mom.
momscarf1

She took a class last May at Shepherd’s Harvest and then gave me the tiny bits of yarn she dyed.

Tuesday before Christmas I decided to knit a scarf for her using those bits. . . yes, two days before Christmas. . . I steamed what I had done before leaving the house, finished the knitting after dinner, and gave it to her all in the same day.

Can you see the stitches?
Can you see the stitches?

I knit this on size 6 needles, 31 stitches. Three stitches on each side are worked in I-cord.

The scarf is reversible. I used a 5-stitch wide 2-stitch traveling cable. So one side has 3 cable panels and the other side has two. I really like the way it turned out and Mom loved it, which is after all the most important part!

I”ll try to post more pics soon!
Shawn

Want to learn how to knit cables?

Knitting, Needle Felting, ,

In a few weeks, I’m teaching a cable class for first time cablers at this Knitters’ Retreat .

Isn't this the cutest?!
Learn to knit cables AND this cute purse

I’ll be covering cable techniques and also how to knit an I-cord and cover how to do good looking seams.

I’m also offering a needlefelting workshop and bringing my hats, clutches and scarves. It is sure to be a fun time.

The retreat is in Medina, MN and looks like it will be lots of fun. There is a full menu of morning and afternoon classes, hiking, lunch, dinner, and an evening of knitting! It is so close you can even drive home if you just must sleep in your own bed!

At the site linked above you can download a pdf of all class listings and photos.

To see more photos of what others have done at my needlefelting workshops, check out “needlefelting” under my categories pull down menu.

If you live in MN, hope you can make it to this retreat!

Shawn

Oh my achin’ thumb!

free form knitting, Knitting, ,

I haven’t been able to hand knit or crochet for almost a month.

I am about to lose my mind.

It’s amazing how clean my house has become since knitting hasn’t been distracting me.

I was part of Ravelympics on Ravelry and thought I could finish a freeform knit/crochet sweater in 2 weeks. Silly me! The sweater isn’t finished.

I fell in love with these little bobbles and crocheted circles. . . then spent 4 hours crocheting. My first mistake! I have knit for 4 hours with no physical repercussions other than a bit of a stiff neck (and numb bum). But my poor little thumbs and fingers aren’t used to such small crochet movements. After this round of crochet I woke up unable to stretch out my left thumb or turn my wrist.

Okay, fine I thought. I can still knit. Ignoring the twinging, I to knit for about 1 hour. Not a good idea.

I pulled out the ice and ace bandage and ibuprophen. I was very good for two days; no hand work.

Then I went to an outdoor music festival and played fiddle for 2 days in the cool weather. Also not a good idea! More ice, bandaging and drugs!

Finally, today, my thumb and wrist don’t hurt. . . but I’ve got a good idea! I’m still going to hold off on the hand work for another day. (even though things don’t hurt today, they are still a bit stiff).

Maybe I’ve finally learned to listen to my body! (after 49 years, its about time!)

Day 4 of ravelympics

Knitting

It is just a tiny bit difficult to knit while watching women’s gymnastics. . . however, the network TV channel I”m watching helps out in this regard by playing soooo many commercials that I can actually get some knitting done. Why is it that there are women gymnasts performing in a huge arena and we are stuck watching the Amercians stand around?!?!? If only I ruled the world:)

Here is what I did last night. I’m not sure I like it all that much. . . it looks like I was influenced by some of the goofy olympic costumes. Either that or maybe star treck uniforms? I’m just not sure the design looks like champagne flutes. But maybe after I add some strawberries and raspberries into the mix it will look better.

Champagne anyone?
Champagne anyone?

Ravelympics: going strong

free form knitting, Knitting, On My Needles, , , ,

Knitting with such a strong intent to finish feels different.

Sunday I watched swimming, beach volley ball and gymnatics. . . but the event that allowed me to get the most knitting done was the women’s bike racing. I could actually look away from the screen at my work.

Slowly filling in the sweater
Slowly filling in the sweater

I got another row of champagne flutes done on the first sleeve on Sunday morning. They don’t look exactly as I imagined, and I still don’t know if I like it or not. hmmm.

Sleeve photo 2
Sleeve photo 2

Then last night, (Monday) I watched swimming, men’s gymnastic finals and volleyball. How is a person supposed to get any knitting done with that kind of excitement?

Ready to be embellished
Ready to be embellished

Can’t wait to see what tonight will bring!

Shawn

Freeform Ravelympics

Knitting

I decided to join a challenge on Ravelry, “Ravelympics” and knit a freeform sweater. . . yes, call me crazy. I may not finish but I will get a good start.

During the last two days, here is what I have accomplished:

Freeform Knitting
Freeform Knitting

I was looking through a book of crochet stitches and fell in love with the little circles. I went to bed that night wondering how I could use them. . . I woke up thinking about champagne. Strange isn’t it?

Original hand knit sleeve
Original hand knit sleeve

I know I won’t be able to finish the sweater if I knit the entire thing in decorated swatches so I thought I would knit a champagne shape into the sleeves, alternating right side up and up side down. They sort of look like champagne flutes:)

Back to the olympics and knitting.

Shawn

Back after a busy summer with new freeform coat

free form knitting, Knitting, My original hand knitting patterns

I haven’t written for so long! I’ve been busy knitting though!!
I have two sweaters to share with you. One is my freeform “Spring Garden Coat”. My favorite knitting is doing freeform or collage type knitting. Here are pictures of my 4th freeform sweater and my favorite so far!

Spring Garden Coat front
Spring Garden Coat

FINALLY DONE AND PHOTOGRAPHED!!
I really love how this one turned out.
Each swatch in the coat has an embroidered or crocheted flower. I used mostly single crochet and crab stitch pieces in the assembly. The sleeves were knit in one piece (Plymouth Alpaca) from shoulder to cuff and then I cast on some sts (forgot how many already) and worked garter stitch back and forth in different yarns to knit the cuff. When the sleeves were done I embroidered the flowers on them too, and then ran the ends from the different yarns on the cuff up the sleeve in slip stitch crochet.
I didn’t even know I was so “in vogue” but I bought the tagua nut buttons at a local fabric store, and then low and behold they are advertised in the latest issue of Vogue Knitting. Hope you enjoy the photos.

The other item I’ve finished is my “Spoke Yoke Sweater”. I wrote the pattern and it is available on my etsy site.

I worked this up in yarn from Gale Woods. The yellow sweater is one my mom knit as she was testing my pattern. It is the smallest of 7 sizes and she knit hers in Galway Yarn from Plymouth.

My favorite new every day winter sweater!

Ain't this sweet!
Ain't this sweet!

Well, I’ve had enough fun for the morning, chatting. I need to get to work!

Red wing freeform blanket

free form knitting, Knitting, , ,

What does one do with a sweater that you just don’t have enough yarn for!?!?

About 10 years ago someone gave me a half knit sweater. . . which I frogged and then reknit into a raglan cardigan. . . however, I was about 2 inches short of one sleeve top. Oh what to do?? I just loved the look of the natural colored bulky wool and the way it fit together and couldn’t bring myself to add different color rib or stripes or any of that fun stuff that would have “stretched” my yarn. So, the easy solution was to put it in the closet.

This sweater followed me as I moved 3 times, entered and left significant relationships, and became a better knitter. . . then. . . I found it again.

I also realized I had some great one ply bulky that matched the weight of the sweater. Great colors and fast to knit wool from South Dakota Natural Color Wool. I turned the sweater into a blanket. . .

Here are photos of the result

You can also see on the left hand side, which sleeve came up short of yarn.

If you would like to see this blanket in person come and see me at The Creative Drive Art Show. I will be at John Onkka’s place.

Happy Spring!!

Shawn

Winter in April – no foolin’

Knitting,

Just had to post these photos taken from my back door. A world of white. Fun to walk around this morning but by this afternoon I’m sure the dog park will once again be a muddy mess.

april1stsnoow.jpgrosebush.jpg

Our poor rose bush and mini willow are holding up a lot of weight today.

Last evening while the blizzard was raging, I watched two robins in the tree. Tried to take a picture of their beautiful orange bellies in the white snow but they ended up just looking like dots in blizzard. . . imagine that.

Off to work!

Shawn