30 October 2009

Yesterday we got in the NEW Addi Turbo 8" circular needles.

I only ordered a few but can get more quickly. If you want to see these you need to get to the shop. They feel good to knit with just like we've come to expect from Addi.

This may be the answer to sock knitting on circular needles - no more loops, no more using two circular needles.

You can see the needles on Skacel website. They have a very funny You Tube video on their site. It's worth a couple of minutes to watch - you should get a chuckle out of it.

I'm looking forward to the porch party tomorrow. Sitting and knitting with folks just can't make a day any better.

28 October 2009

I set out the Middleburg Humane Society Christmas Tree today. It has been decorated with several customers' donations. I hope the tree will be filled with ornaments to donate to the humane society.

We are accepting knitted and needlepoint ornaments but be creative if you wish. The sale of the ornaments benefits the humane society so have fun. Someone will love the time and thoughtfulness that you placed in your ornament.

27 October 2009

There is nothing better than taking a break from chores, on a rainy day, and knitting.

25 October 2009

I just got finished teaching a class on Entrelac. Everyone was taught how to knit "Continental Style" holding the yarn in the right-hand.

This makes knitting Entrelac very easy because you never have to purl any of the stitches. The right side will always be facing you. No more knit stitches, turn, purl stitches, turn!

Everyone agreed that the class was worth taking just to learn this technique.

24 October 2009

Today’s knitting lesson at the shop was socks. Turning the heel has always been a problem because folks get lost on which row they’re on. There is a simple solution to this problem.

After following the instructions for the first two rows of heel turn you only need to look for the “gaps” caused by the decrease and knit one more. When working across the row, decrease the two stitches that cause the “gap”, and then knit one more.

Continue repeating this back and forth across the heel turn and when there are no more “gaps” you’re done. No more counting the rows and getting lost!

23 October 2009

First thing today a customer came in looking for a yarn for a scarf. She saw our Frivola yarn model and just couldn't resist.

The yarn is soft and cuddly and knits on a US 13 needle. There are only four stitches to cast-on and you knit every row (garter stitch). It takes about an hour and a half to knit a scarf almost five feet long with two balls of yarn.

A very unique gift for a very small price. And, quick to knit!

Hello

(22 October 2009)

Well, it's time that you start thinking about (sigh, yes, I know) Christmas gifts. Scarves are useful and quick gifts and anyone in a cold weather climate welcomes them - even guys. At the shop we have a free pattern that we hand out that is just a two row pattern that looks good on both sides. I call it:

"Bob's Never Fail Scarf"

Cast-on an odd number of stitches.
Row 1: Knit all stitches.
Row 2: K1, P1 across row.

You can use any type of yarn but whatever you choose, your needle size should be at least two sizes larger than is recommended for the yarn.

Hint: If you have trouble telling one side from another when you are starting out, use a twist tie.

Make the tie into a "U". Push the tie through your knitting from the row two side to the row one side so that you have the tops of the "U" facing you and you are looking at the row one side. Press each side of the "U" down so they lie flat. This marker will not move through the knitting to the other side.

Now, when you see the flattened ends of the tie you know that this is row one.