Babies Got Blankets

Spring has brought two baby blankets across my needles.

The first was a communal project of the Knit Night gals at MFA for our friend, gypsyknitter, aka Tabitha. Amazing squares were knit, and it was my job to knit them together:



And knit up:



You can go here to see read more about the party and fun we had, and here for some great photos!


The other blanket is for Afghans for Afghans, and it has not been completed in time for the May 19th deadline:



Yes, that is Isadora with the enquiring look. It's finally sewn together, and now I have to find some TV time to sew the ends together.

The Knitterly Teacher

I have taught a lot of things in my life. I can remember teaching dancing, Bible stuff (duh), flute, math, reading, etc. I've lead plenary session at large events. Most recently, I've started to teach water aerobics at the YMCA nearby.

Last Saturday I taught my first knitting class. Now, I've taught or helped folks one-on-one with knitting issues, because if you've knit as long as I have, it's hard not to do so.

Teaching a class on a pre-determined topic for which people have paid is a whole new kind of teaching. The basics are the same as any teaching. What are my goals for the students in the class? How can I help them along in their learning? What resources can I leave with them or lead them to so that the learning does not end with the Session?

The class? Intro to Lace Knitting.

First, a digression.I am silly enough to, when my college roommate Lolly retaught me to knit continental style (thanks, Lolly!), decided to make my first sweater a long-sleeved sweater on size 1 and 2 needles, in an all-over lace pattern. The only good thing was that I didn't choose cotton yarn - instead, it's some kind of itchy mohair/wool blend that I can't wear next to my skin. Yes, I am crazy.

But I did finish it. And altered the length of the body and sleeves to my petite frame. This was a sign of my future knitting determination.

So, going back now to look at what I wanted to know when I first tried lace knitting I realized several things:

-- Charts are cool. I'm a visual learner, and what a chart would have done for me I simply cannot express.
-- The person who invented the lifeline should win the equivalent of the Nobel Peace prize for knitting.
-- Stitch markers are not for small minds. They are for any mind that can wander for even a nanosecond.
-- Fixing lace mistakes comes with the territory - you are not stupid or dumb if you make them - we all do.

And you know what? I don't think any of my students thought I was new to teaching knitting...

It Fits!

Whew, I took the Flutter Sleeve Cardigan to my cousin Allison and here is what it looks like:



And another view also looks great:



In other knittings news, I am finally trying some BMFA Socks That Rock "lightweight" yarn that I bought at Purlesence Yarns a while back. I'm finally knitting a fairly vanilla sock,and I'm absolutely loving it, I have to say:



The colorway is Pebble Beach. My friend Judy thinks that the weight was mislabeled, because I'm knitting on Zero's and coming out at 7 stitches to the inch. So maybe it's really mediumweight, which would be fine by me!

The Flutter Sleeve Cardigan

Fluttersleeve2
Originally uploaded by skatfantoo

I finished a sweater for my little (!) cousin Allison's birthday, the Flutter Sleeve Cardigan from Interweave Knits Spring 2008.

Because it is a gift, it was a bit of a harrowing knit -- I couldn't try it on to see if it fit because we are are very different shapes and heights. Thank goodness for Ravelry to see what adjustments that folks made.

It is now done and looks fine laid out:

But will it fit and look good on her? I'll find out on Sunday!

Earth Day is Now a Season

Maybe you haven't heard, but this year there is a movement for an Earth "season" going from today until Mother's Day. I think this is a good thing, because it will be like other seasons and give us all time to think about the things we want to do that will change the impact on the earth.

I'm going to focus on greening my cleaning products (ha - that is, when I actually clean). I already use vingear and hydrogen peroxide, buy low impact dishwashing and laughry soaps, and have given up and am much happier without those fabric softener drying sheets. Don't have a place to put out the laundry, and with bad allergies, I think it would be a bad idea right now.

So, the focus will be on personal cleaning stuff for the most part.

and on the knitter's front, it will be my "knitting from stash season" -- yes, I know it's a pretty short time, and I just fell off the wagon on Saturday at the Marin Fiber Arts extravaganza, but you gotta start somewhere. I did buy some wonderful naturally dyed fiber and yarn on Saturday, so I've even begun the green front that way.

What will you do to go greener?

Loving the Lace

Well, I've finally finished the Hanami Stole. I have to say, this was a fun pattern and an addictive knit for me. Here it is:



I used some seed beads that I had on hand that I thought went well -- and used some for the ruffle as well as the initial cast-on.


And this is a bit more ruffly than the pattern calls for -- I decided to add some fullness into based on the photos that I'd seen. I think it works fine.



And the yarn?



I LOVE the malabrigo lace yarn. And I have a whole skein left for some other project!

Basketful of Love

Now it can be revealed. Here's the basket:



Here are the hearts (well, at least most of them):







and here is everything all together:





The heart pattern is wonderful free one by Anna Hrachovec at MochiMohchiland. We had a great time knitting them (in all weights and kinds of yarn, as you can tell), with beads or not, felted or not, stuffed or not.

And we hope that it makes Judy, our friend, walk just a little lighter in the coming weeks and months.