Arsenic and Old Lace KAL — new free pattern

And so, our journey is nearly over.  After this week there are just five more weeks to go!  It makes me sad.  If there is something you would like to do next or for me to design next, please send a comment or email.  I absolutely live for design challenges!  That said:  here is some beautiful lace that knits up quick and is quite enjoyable.  When I have a few more hours in the day I will write the scarf pattern out for you using this stitch pattern!

Here is a photo of a swatch I did to turn this into a lovely scarf:

Really, all I did was add an edge at each side of the insertion so that the pattern read:  Seed 5, K1, YO, K2tog…pattern row on RS…SSK, YO, K1, Seed 5 for all right side rows, and all wrong side rows would read:  Seed 5, purl to last 5 sts, end seed 5.  The cast on for this scarf would be 37 stitches.

a dishcloth I turned into a cute square for a baby blanket or to use as a motif in just about anything.

I have been hard at work creating samples to show the incredible versatility of Pediboo yarn by Frog Tree Yarns.  The above square is often knit by local ladies as a washcloth.  They were kind enough to share the pattern with me because at first I thought I would like to do this in intarsia.  However, I think it looks adorable with the twist stitch used for the sheep’s fleece!  Here are some other things I have come up with using Pediboo:

close up of the sheep

Traditional crocheted Pineapple Square using a 3.50mm hook

Amy is hard at work on a pair of slippers using Magic Loop technique which she learned in microseconds!

and your daily dose of my beloved Nikkers:

Mommy, it is time for NO MORE COMPUTER!

My friend Lisa and I registered for Sock Summit 2011 today.  And we were side by side on two computers and lucky to get the classes we did.  We were right there the minute registration opened with classes closing right and left in front of us.  I don’t know how we got so lucky, but we got most of the classes we were looking for…good thing since we are flying all the way out to the west coast for this.  Can you imagine all that money for airfare and maybe not getting any classes!  That would have scorched me!  Anyway, so incredibly excited may be up most of the night from the adrenaline rush!  I have classes with Cookie A, Cat Bordhi, Franklin Habit and my much loved Clara Parkes!  Hooray!

Take care, must get back to work!  with loads of love, light and laughter always,  Mary Ellen and Summit Yarn

 

Arsenic & Old Lace Afghan/Scarf KAL — Square #4

 

Ewenice still keeping watch over Summit Yarn

This week the square is a knit/purl textured square to keep a balance between the lace openess and the solidity of the textured squares.  The next strip of squares will begin with a knit/purl square, then lace, then knit/purl…and so on.  Each strip of squares in this afghan alternates this way for the weight and pattern balance I spoke of in the first sentence.  

Interestingly, Knitting Daily had a post about the featured stitch in this week’s square:  Double Seed or Moss Stitch.  Seed stitch, moss and their relatives are variants of the same thought and are small versions of larger stitches we call basketweave stitches.  The center of this square is framed on the top and bottom with a garter ridge and at the sides with an elongated knit stitch (accomplished by slipping this stitch every right side row).

Square Number Four on my needles

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clean socks hung up to dry this morning

Moss Stitch Square

I ran a load of laundry late last night and hung up the socks this morning.  These are just the socks I wore last week.  I love handknit socks and have to confess that I have selfishly knit myself an obscene number of pairs of them.  One pair in that photo is about ten years old.  Another, the yarn is from Purl Soho.  The yellow pair, Donna A. and I knit that pattern at the same time not too long ago.  The bright ones all the way at the other end are called:  FIRE ON THE MOUNTAIN and may be my favorite color ever.  Today, Barb Stauffer came in with her completed pair in Schaefer’s Anne:

completed socks for Barb's grandson!

Here is a close up view of two socks showing the grafting at the toes.  One pair almost looks like there is a ridge and the other looks continuous.  The ridge is a result of pulling the yarn too snug while grafting (or doing the “Kitchener Stitch)…the moral:  keep it loose!

two grafted toes

I only have about three pattern repeats left on the foot of my January sock club sock and then the toe decreases.  Here is a photo from yesterday, but they are closer to done than this:

Cookie A.'s Monkey Sock Pattern

Rose is making wonderful progress on her afghan on the hardest of the strips (she has to make two):

That’s all for today.  Have fun with the new square and please leave comments.  Here is a photo of the Queen of Everything — she was not too pleased with me arranging the bunnies around her!xox TheHumanLoom and Summit Yarn

 

COMPUHELL

Tuesday is the day I get to visit with my friend Lisa at the studio if she is free and I look forward to our visits very much.  After today, she may not feel the same.  She wanted to sign up for something on the internet and I offered to do the grunt work while she worked on the project and techniques I was teaching her this week (magic loop two at a time mittens).  She did great with the mittens and I went to Dante’s seventh circle of CompuHell.  It all worked out in the end.  She is now signed up with all her info intact.  I am sure she will never ask for help with anything other than knitting again!

Ewenice is looking lovely and James Mitchell, her creator is putting her up an even higher pedestal.  We are hoping he will be able to carve her out of wood at a later point this year!  Keep your eyes open because he will be at the studio during the day sometime this week to give her a little face lift!  I can hardly wait to see him at his Art!

I turned the heel on the second January sock today and now am in the home stretch.  Chris is very nearly done.  Donna is close as is Jamie.  I love Cookie A’s Monkey pattern and plan to try it all in stockinette stitch…I heard it is just as beautiful this way!

Take care and get ready…tomorrow is new square day!  We are all hoping Miriam’s yarn arrived from France.  Corina is kindly translating the pattern into Dutch.  And I am hoping to figure out how to put a translation button on this site to make it more user friendly.  Don’t hold your breath…it may take some tears and gnashing of teeth…but I will get it done!  loads of love and light,  Mary Ellen aka TheHumanLoom and Summit Yarn Studio

 

Re-entry after being away for two days

Today was a warm, wonderful return to the knitting studio at Summit Yarn.  There were lots of visitors, lots of funny stories and belly-jiggling laughter.  I seem to have a way of getting myself into situations; situations which I share only with a very few people…who listen patiently, laugh, remind me to check the baggage and watch it go away on the conveyor belt of karma and then they pat me on the back and nod Knowingly.  God Bless those friends…they are the reason for any sanity I still possess.

That said,  Martha was first through the door with her dog, Jaddu.  Interestingly, she had completed a hat using an Estonian stitch related to the Faux Entrelac stitch I learned at Vogue Knitting LIVE.  The stitch gives a really great look to handpainted yarn, is stretchy and the edge is very interesting.  Here are two photos:

Martha's Spiral Hat

close-up view of the hat and stitch

Next through the door, because we had a date to contemplate Chanel Jackets, was Suzy.  We got to look at a few but there’s still more before this design idea will gel.  Here are photos of out favorite:

Real Chanel Jacket for sale on ebay

Notice how much more flattering the jacket is ON a figure than just laying flat. This is characteristic of authentic Chanel clothing because of the couture techniques used in the production of this clothing.

Close up of stitch detail: this is the same stitch Robin Domenico uses in her Tricolor Stitch Scarf (published in an earlier post).

Meanwhile, three members of the January Summit Sock Club came in with all their projects and their socks-in-process.  Donna Arnold has completed two pattern repeats on her High Seas lace stole, designed by Kieran Foley, and it is lovely.  Have a look:

close up view of the small wave motifs

the Bigger Picture of High Seas

Kathy is most of the way through the first square of the Arsenic & Old Lace Afghan.  I love how this looks in winter white 100% wool.  This is so classic and fits with just about any decor.  It also makes a wonderful wedding gift.

Square #1: Shell Stitch

Donna and Jamie have both finished the first sock of a pair in Cookie A.’s “Monkey”.

Donna's Sock in green Blue Moon STR and Jamie's Sock in Great Adirondack Smoochie

I have been working on a multitude of things, among them a sample using the new Marion Foale yarn in her pattern for the Luch scarf.  I also got the Lucy Shawl on needles today — but that is just for me.  I am using Blue Moon Fiber Arts Blue Faced Leicester Sport in two colors:  Blackbird and Deep Unrelenting Grey.  Here are pics:

Lucy Scarf in Marion Foale's 3 ply Wool

Beginning edge of Lucy Shawl in Blue Moon yarn

While we were all happily knitting and chatting, my son, brave soul that he is decided to take it upon himself to teach my husband how to ski.  I did not see or hear from them until 6pm.  It was nice to sit in the studio after hours and do what I please for awhile, but also worrisome.  My husband has a tendency to crash…and burn.  Well, all things went well and they had a great time!  Here is a photo of my dear son looking like a ski-ninja:

Brian in his ski-wear on the Mountain

Take care and thanks again for your readership!  This blog is doing very well and we have had already over 7000 views this month.  Please spread the word AND let me know your own reactions and stories.  I love to hear from you, whever you may be in this world!  Sincerely and with loads of love,  Mary Ellen/aka TheHumanLoom and Summit Yarn Studio

 

MERIKE SAARNIIT and Vogue Knitting Live

Today was Day One of Vogue Knitting Live!  Someone asked me why it was called by this title.  I didn’t know at first.  Upon reading the brochure, (always a good idea) I discovered the intent was to make this a live experience of the magazine…instead of a reading experience.  I can honestly say, this venue has lived up to my hopes and expectations.  The only magazine I carry at Summit Yarn is Vogue Knitting.  There is a reason.  There is more than one reason.  I like to use it as a thank you gift for wonderful customers.  It is the only magazine that keeps its eye on the pulse of the fashion industry.  The clothes in it are just that…fashion for those of us who don’t want to look like we are wearing something that would otherwise belong girding the back of a porcelain throne.

Past Meets Present in Fashion at the entrance to the Knitting Yarn Market today.

We were all up and at it early this morning, with breakfast at 7:30 and classes beginning at 8:30 a.m. in rooms all around the hotel.  I took “Patent Stitches — The Estonian Approach”  with Merike Saarniit and I loved every single minute of this class.  While this stitch, which translates “special stitch” and means “paired stitch” (a stitch paired with a yarnover ON THAT STITCH), is similar in anatomy to the K1Below technique, it has a far greater range and infinitely more possibilities…as I learned today without doubt.  The syllabus was well-written and the directions were clear and easy to follow.  We were encouraged to work at our own pace and yet no student was left behind…Merike was more than adept at the multitasking necessary to keep a class of 14 students moving forward together.  And I am always a major stinker…I worked all the way through the handouts, so that at the end Merike was putting swatches in front of me to see if I could get there too.  Also playing along in this game was…YSOLDA TEAGUE!  Talk about a talented knitter…Ms. Teague was able to figure out a stitch called:  Double Net, a reversible brioche stitch…not only did she figure this stitch out but she also figured out how to do this in two colors.  Wicked Awesome!!!  After class some people reported being tired…I can’t imagine why; I was completely jazzed and ready for more.  Bring it on!  So, I signed up for one more class tomorrow morning!  Yay!  Tomorrow, I will learn some new Estonian stitches not covered today…with Merike Saarniit.

Left = K1Below; Right = Patent Stitch (bigger, more elastic stitches with dozens of incredible uses INCLUDING Cable technique!).

What really boggles my mind is this:  Patent Stitch Technique is clearly something we knitters need to add to our stitch repertoire; whether a little or a lot, one stitch or a few, this is a technique that can only improve a knitter’s skill.  One thing I liked about this technique was that is made the knitters in the class want to be able to “read” the stitches in their knitting better.  Being able to see what the stitches are doing in your knitting is an indispensable skill.  WHY THEN DOES XRX HAVE A COMPLETED BOOK BY MERIKE SAARNIIT ABOUT THIS TECHNIQUE IN FULL WHICH REMAINS UNPUBLISHED…AFTER FIVE (5) YEARS?  PLEASE ENLIGHTEN ME.

a sample of Merike Saarniit's knitting -- Patent Stitch

After class, the yarn market opened at 5 p.m. and encompassed two levels.  The knitterati were out in full:  I met Cookie A and Ann Hanson, visited with Carol Sulcoski and Franklin Habit, saw Nicky Epstein, chatted with Maggie Jackson (who still hasn’t forgotten the morning my husband in boxers had to rescue Maggie from our loving but large labrador), and yes, I completely succumbed to the yarn in the Blue Moon Fiber Arts Booth…I am a yarn-whore.  I should rename this blog:  Confessions of a Yarn…oh, wait, Stephanie Pearl-McPhee already covered that, didn’t she?

Poster of Vintage Vogue Knitting Magazines

If for some reason you have time and the ability to take a class or two, there are still classes with space (including one on Sunday Morning and one on Sunday Afternoon about Estonian Elongated Stitch) — then get yourself online and register!  Make time for this special event…you will thank me later!

Nikkers and Durga looking for their Mama. See you tomorrow guys!xox

Take care, write to XRX and ask them for this book by Merike Saarniit, and come see me at the studio this Sunday so I can show you all the goodies and stitches from Vogue Knitting Live 2011!  May your life be free from all drama and full of time to knit, laugh, live fully and love the people with whom you share Life.

loads of love,  Mary Ellen Langieri and Summit Yarn Studio