Classes and yarn stores

I am so excited--I just listened to episode 110 of the Ready Set Knits podcast from Webs, and found out that Lucy Neatby will be teaching there this spring. I've long wanted to take one of her classes, so I dashed off to the computer, to find out exactly what she would be teaching (though, to be honest, she probably could have been teaching bricklaying and I would have signed up). She's teaching a full day class on circular knitting and steeking, and two half-day classes, one on buttonholes and one on grafting (called "Hallelujah Grafting"). I know, from Lucy's DVDs (I am the proud owner of 7 of them), that I can learn even from what would seem to be basic lessons. Indeed, in her recent interview on the Knit Picks podcast (#77), she makes this very same point. I've only steeked one garment, but I have done lots of circular knitting. I've also done a fair number of button holes, but I'm not sure I've ever been completely happy with them. As for grafting, I thought I was severely Kitchener stitch-challenged until, in a class with Joan Schrouder this past July at TKGA, I found out that left-handed people can start the grafting on the left! Eureka! I can now graft. But I haven't done much of it, so of course there is a ton for me to learn. So I ended up signing up for the two half-day classes. I am just keeping my fingers crossed that there won't be a massive snow storm to keep me from getting to Webs on April 1--given the date, I am almost expecting this to happen! And since my route takes me over the Berkshire Mountains...

Speaking of classes, I am working on the Ski Lodge Scoop vest from Twelve Months of Knitting, and the shoulders are worked with traditional stair-step bind-offs. In a class taught by Margaret Fisher, we were taught the use of short rows for shoulders, and I thought I'd give it a try. I've just finished the back, and it looks fine. We'll see when I get to doing the three needle bind-off on the shoulders (another benefit of the short rows--live stitches so I can do this). I normally never give myself deadlines for projects, but since Ravelry prompted me when I put this in my queue, I entered Dec. 31. So I am working hard on it to get it done.

On the day after Christmas, my husband and I took a day trip, aiming for used bookstores, yarn stores, and a favorite restaurant. One of the yarn shops was new to me, Needleworks in Greenwich, NY. It is housed in a lovely space, and was filled with delights. I saw a yarn from Norway that I'm not familiar with, what seemed to be an older yarn from Reynolds, and there was quite a variety of nice yarns from Rowan, Jo Sharp, Dale, and others. I picked up three colors of a Brown Sheep yarn that I'd never seen before, Lanaloft sports weight. It is to make the pretty stranded Inga hat. Luckily, my husband had scored a number of purchases in the first bookstore, so he was happy to sit and read while I browsed. And browsed. And browsed.

Other than working hard on the vest, I finished up the Faux Fair Isle Fairy Socks from Nicky Epstien's Knitting on Top of the World.

Gotta run--my vest is calling!

Amanda is finished!

I've been working on the Amanda cardigan, on and off, since September, and I am delighted that it is now finished. The pattern is from A Fine Fleece by Lisa Lloyd, and it is just the first of several patterns I plan to make from the book. I used Louet Riverstone worsted in a rather sharp yellow green color (officially called Willow) that has not received the approval of my husband, but it is a nice change from the colors of most of my cardigans, and I think it will look good with jeans and black pants. When Webs first put Riverstone on sale, I went a bit crazy buying colors, so this is now the second sweater I've made of it. It seems to soften a good bit once washed, though I don't know if I'd wear it next to my skin.

One of the projects that kept me from the cardigan during part of the intervening months was a pair of cat mittens that absolutely captivated me! The pattern is very well written, though a knit and purl row seems to be reversed. The designer, Jorid Linvik, included red vertical grid lines in the chart that I'd not seen before, but that were a wonderful help in keeping my place. I made these out of Knit Picks Palette, in Garnet Heather and Tan. These will definitely be entered into the Altamont Fair this summer!

Right now I am working on a pair of Fair Isle socks from Nicky Epstein's Knitting on Top of the World. This book fascinates me--there are some lovely patterns, but also quite a few that are way beyond anything I'd consider wearing! The back of the Fair Isle capelet is gorgeous, but have you seen the front? Oh my! (If you haven't seen it, check out page 103 in the book.) The Tyorolean Leg Warmers are stunning! Not that I've ever worn leg warmers, but this would be the pair to start with. Anyway, back to the socks. They are made out of K1P2 Soxx Appeal, a lovely stretchy yarn, and I am hopeful they will fit! This is the first pair of socks I've made in some time, and I am quite enjoying it (well, I am only on the first sock, let's see what I say when I get to the second!). This picture is from a few days ago (I am now well along into the foot), but gives an idea.