Monday, August 19, 2013

Inspiration at Knit Flix

Really gorgeous Estonian lace shawl at Knit Flix (hand knit):

http://knitflix.blogspot.com/2013/08/hkf-wind-on-wheat-field.html

Sunday, August 18, 2013

Sneak Peek

My video for September will show how to make these inset cables:

It's another way to add more color and texture to your knits.  I used it to join panels in a blanket, but wouldn't it be nice on a sweater?

Our knit club is doing laprobes in October, and I was playing around with fun ways to join panels. When I came up with this easy little technique, I thought it was demonstration-worthy, and managed to film it on my new camera, then get the video edited.

The project itself is a baby blanket.  This was the old "use the stuff that's already in the house" sort of project.  I knew a blanket out of the variegated yarn would be skimpy, so I added one ball of pink yarn to make the joining stripes and the edgings.

Here's a shot of the whole blanket, which can be knitted on a non-patterning midgauge, or change the yarn and calculations for a different machine.

I had one big skein of Bernat Softee baby yarn, which is a sport weight, group 3.  I made a gauge swatch that was 30 stitches by 33 rows, which is about a thousand stitches, then weighed it on a gram scale to see how far my yarn would go.  I calculated how many stitches that big ball of yarn would make, and then made 5 panels, each 240 rows by 34 stitches. I felt it would be a little skimpy without the joining cables, but they add 4" in width (about 1" each), and then the edging (a 4-stitch, 10 row worm) adds a little width, as well.   The finished blanket is a nice size.





Friday, August 16, 2013

How to Contact Me

It is always best NOT to ask questions as comments on my blog posts.  I do try to answer them, but how will you find the answers?  I guess the answers might help someone else, if my answers were any good.  :)

The best way to contact me is to email me.  I do not type my email address into blog posts, because that will expose me to even more spammers than have me now.   There's an email link on the left-hand side of this blog, though, which looks like an envelope, and it's down below the "About Me" section.

I do answer emails daily.  I answer questions, when I can; I'll also let you know if I don't understand the question or I have no idea how to solve the problem.

Thursday, August 15, 2013

Karen Saunders and I talked again today.  We are firming up plans for a very nice one-day seminar in Ohio.  If you can go to Ohio, and want to try out attending a knitting seminar, this one will be good!  I'd love to see you there!

Here's the information about the seminar again:

Mahoning Valley Machine Knitters

September Seminar

Diana Sullivan is planning to teach some of her favorite machine knitting shortcuts, great garter bar techniques, some of her most popular bulky projects, two gorgeous scalloped lace techniques, ribber tricks, and several great bonus patterns and techniques are included in the handouts.
   



Come and attend our seminar!
 

     Where:  Rotary Community Building at 320 Oak Street in Canfield, OH 44406 

     When:  Saturday, September 21, 2013  

     Time:  9:00 – 4:00 with registration from 8:00 a.m. -9:00 a.m. 

     Cost: $35.00 and this includes a wonderful hot lunch! 

 

    
Questions or concerns:  Please leave a message for Judy Locklear at 330.679.2432 or Karen         Saunders at 330.301.0662 or Betty Leskovac at bleskova@zoominternet.net 
 



Please return the bottom portion with payment. *************************************************************************************

 Mail registration by Sept. 13, 2013 and a $35.00 check c/o:

 Louise May      550 Ohio Ave., Apt. 101 McDonald, OH  44437-1857 

   
    Name:

    Phone number:

    E-mail:                                              

    Phone: 

    E-mail address:

    Amount due:  $35.00
 
 

Wednesday, August 14, 2013

Very Cute Slouch Hat at Rett Og Vrang

I like Quaker Stitch (and yes, we can do it on the knitting machine, using a garter bar).  Check out the very pretty, bright red slouch hat at Rett Og Vrang!

http://rettogvrangstrikk.blogspot.com/2013/08/plisse-knit.html

Sunday, August 11, 2013

New Video Today - Floatless, Vertical Fair Isle

In keeping with my goal of getting a new technique video put up each month, this month I have a video showing how to do floatless vertical Fair Isle knitting.

This is easy, pretty, and gives you some fun options for adding color - including multiple colors and novelty yarns - to your knitting!


Saturday, August 3, 2013

Machine Knitters in Central Texas

Today, I gave my friend Barbara a call, and she told me a little about what's going on at Knit Natters, our Austin, Texas machine knitting guild.

She says there's a knit-in for our October meeting, Saturday, October 12.  She said the group hasn't decided yet what we're knitting that day, and I suggested shrugs.

This month's meeting is August 10.  I told Barbara I'd be happy to demonstrate how to do a vertical dart (like the one at the top of a skirt or slacks) and a waistband.  I put a note on ourYahoo Group email list, just to see if other people would like to see that demo.

We meet at Crystal Lake Baptist Church in Leander, on the corner of Crystal Falls and Lakeline, at 1:00 p.m., and visitors are welcome.