Classes

I have spent a lot of time over the last week getting a new class up and running, "Hairpin Lace Connecting Up".
It is the next class after you learn to make hairpin strips. I did a lot of research on different ways to put together the strips. After making all the samples I spent Friday night writing all the instructions up. This is my favorite join so far.





I had a lot of people in this class and they were all very excited about doing hairpin lace and moving on to bigger projects. We are talking about doing the Stitch Diva Hairpin skirt as a KAL, we'll see.

One of the students found these encredible antique hairpin laces using the thinest thread and real hairpins to make the strips on.







Can you imagine actually doing this? I sure cann't.
But what a treasure, and she gave them to me so I can show them when I teach this class. Thanks Camille!!

Almost done with the cheveron scarf.

I love this thing. I think it is one of my most favorite items that I have made in a while. It just makes me happy to knit with this yarn (koigu) and these colors.

The simple joys are the best, don't you think?

What to Knit

I have been knitting a lot for the store and class samples over the last few months. I am trying to figure out what I really want to be knitting now. I am looking at a sweater for my mom for christmas. It will be fun since I am starting it so early and there is no pressure. But it is more obligation knitting.

I am not even sure what I really want to be knitting.

But while I am trying to figure that out here are some of my FO's.




Flower Hat Pattern in Itty-Bitty Hat book
yarn- rowan hand knit cotton for the hat and Tahki cotton classic for the flowers.

I followed the pattern straight out of the book. I did stitch the flower together on the sides once I had them sewn onto the hat. It seemed to help them lay better. I also did not go all the way around the back for the smallest hat. I felt that the babies would not like laying on the flowers. For the toddler size I would do the flowers all the way around.

Crochet Hat
I used RYC cashsoft which is just wonderful to work with.

This is a felted stash bag I put together with a lot of leftover yarns. Super simple and fun. I lined the bags and put a cardboard bottom on it so it is really sturdy. I used leather handles from Trendsetter that just clip on the bag. I love the handles, there is no sewing and they are really sturdy.



This is a great little crochet bag. I made it with Rowan Tapastry yarn. I don't like the handle too much. I will change it next time.





Last but not least I finished a pair of socks for myself!!
Pattern: From Sensational Socks the slip-stitch rib pattern
Yarn: Socks that Rock Fairground color
Needles: 2 circulars #2
Modifications: None.

So what is next??

007 A Dozen days

Unwindknitting is having a picture project for the year that sounded fun and should get me out with my camera at least once a month just to take pictures.

January in Southeren California










January at Hermosa Beach in Southern California. I love the beach in the winter. No people but the locals and often it is sunny, peaceful and quiet. Only people that really love the beach go there in the winter. Even if it is cold it is good!!

I will post pics of my current projects and TNNA in the next few days.

January Quiet

I don't make resolutions for the New Year. It is such a set up for failure.
I do stop eating so much sugar. But that is because I am actually sick of it right now.

What happens to me this time of year is the overwhelming need to
de-clutter Everything!!

Right now it is a compulsion. Yes I have many compulsions, not just Knitting.

First I have to take down Christmas which I have so enjoyed over the last few weeks.







Yet it has worn out it's welcome and it is time for the feeling of space that resides in my living room when it has all been packed away. .

I am itching to get to the basement and clean it out so that there will be open space for items as I de-clutter the rest of the rooms and closets.





I couldn't wait to start this process (I told you it was a compulsion) so I spent New Years watching USC WIN!!! And going through all my knitting magazine and patterns.



See, lots of room for all the magazines and patterns of 2007!


But alas I have only two days before I am away for 10 days (for fun, family, snow, TNNA classes, and an overwhelming amount of Fondeling Yarn). I sure hope this feeling stays with me and the motivation will still be here when I get home on the 15th.

Farewell to a Wonderful Season and Welcome to January 2007 and the quiet and space this month always brings.

Lots of New Toys

Since no one comes to our house for Halloween (we live on the wrong side of the tracks here in So Pas. All the fun is to be had on the other side of Fair Oaks), we went out and Looked at New Cars, New TV's, and had some food. Best of all, I bought a New Camera!!! Yeah!!!

Now I have no excuse for not blogging, and if you believe that...

I received some fun things in the mail over the last few days and with my new Canon Powershot A540 (the best deal is at Target of all places) here are pics of what I got.

I ordered a small Project Bag from piddleloop.com.
Jillian(the enabler that she is) was going on about how much she liked hers and so of course I had to go check it out and I had to buy one for myself.



I love it. It is just the right size, has places for needles and one of the best things is the hole for the yarn to come through!



They even send freebies with the package.



The other package that came the same day was the new "Socks that Rock" club yarn.



It matches the bag perfectly! I even put their little emergency skein that comes with the yarn on my new bag.



So there you go, new play toys all around. Doing the Happy Dance!!

Halloween Fun!

Here are some pics of my Halloween decoration. Thanks to Mary I was able to get pics off my phone onto my blog. Wow, that is a lot of technology for one day, at least I had a lot of knitting time to balance it out!

My Ghosties



From my Waldorf School Days I have a Nature Table. It has lots of witches, pumpkins, and spiders. You don't get it all with this phone camera, But it is better then nothing.

Table View 1


Table View 2

The Joy of Fall!!

Well I still don't have a camera. So I am going to write some things so that I feel like I am doing something with this blog.

Marie had this one her blog so I did the quiz.

You Belong in Fall

Intelligent, introspective, and quite expressive at times... You appreciate the changes in color, climate, and mood that fall brings Whether you're carving wacky pumpkins or taking long drives, autumn is a favorite time of year for you

What Season Are You?

Now this comes as no surprise to me. My street is full of sugar maple trees and the leaves are turning. I do a happy dance when the first leaves fall on my lawn and then sit on my front porch just marveling at the wonderful colors.

As I write this I am in my livingroom with my Halloween decoration up, candles burning, Nora Jones on the ipod, enjoying the cooler weather.

Of course with fall comes the real comfort of knitting. I knit all year long but with the change of weather knitting takes on extra comfort.

So here's to Fall and Funky Pumpkins, Witches, football games, hot soup, candles and toes that stay toasty with the socks that were knitted over the summer.