I was on vacation last week, doing a HUGE basement repair project, which means hardly any knitting happened. Every time I sat down for more than 10 minutes, I fell asleep! Also, what I’m knitting on is kind of secret. I can at least tell you that it is our Bare Essential yarn, which Alison dyed using Jacquard Acid dyes in purple, emerald and sky blue, but that’s about it. For now, enjoy the stripes!
I always bring my knitting to work because it’s perfectly acceptable here to knit during meetings, but I especially look forward to Fridays because I am guaranteed to have half an hour of knitting time while I proof Kelley’s podcast. Her interview with one of my favorite designers, Kathleen Taylor, will go up later today. …

The Bad News: the kettle dyed versions of Stroll and Shadow are being discontinued.
The Good News: they’re being replaced with a new tonal hand dyed yarn that I find incredibly beautiful.
More Good News: Shadow Kettle Dyed Lace Yarn is on sale!

I had some Shadow Kettle Dyed in Bordeaux in my stash, and I wanted a quick knit for a flight I was taking. The free Citron shawlette pattern by Hilary Smith Callis (who also has a beautiful cardigan pattern in our Independent Designer Partnership Program) had been showing up in my Ravelry friends activity feed, so I downloaded it and got to work!

It’s a clever little pattern, and each ruched stripe is created by knitting a series of M1 increases, knitting plain for a few rows, then decreasing across the row. I like how it broke up …

This week’s podcast featured Nina talking with Kelley about hems. Nina was kind enough to allow me to film her explaining three different hem types that you can use on your knitted sweaters. Also, I love her scarf. 🙂
(If you’re interested in knitting any of these sweaters, check out our Design Your First Sweater kit. You just choose your color, and then you get to make all sorts of design decisions – hem type, neckline, all sorts of details that allow you to make a custom sweater.) <

Well, this is going to be embarrassing! 🙂 You can listen to the details on my podcast – Episode 108.
Let’s start with the Daisy Muir bags.

Avi Wasserman spindle, Viking Santa spindle laying against Fiber Optics Pencil Roving.

Then there are the yarns. With so many independent dyers, it was a joy to find colors that spoke to my heart.
Influenced by the Hizsocks class I took from Stephen Houghton (Hizknits in Ravelry) I was on the lookout for yarns to use for socks for Bob.
Alchemy Yarn from the Simply Socks booth.

If all goes well, Bob will receive a second pair knit in the Windser Denim and Chocolate colorway from The Royale Hare.

I am planning to knit a pair of socks for myself in the Anderson Marsh colorway from …

A “net friend” is coming to Portland for the Sock Summit in August. She has breast cancer and has been undergoing chemo therapy. I wanted to knit something quick for her as a Welcome gift.
In Knitting To Share by Gerard Allt I found a pattern for an Angel of Beauty scarf for Bad Hair Days. Well, I think it would also work well for No Hair Days or Hair Growing Back Days.
The thing to keep in mind when knitting a chemo hat or scarf is that the treatment makes the scalp very sensitive. You need to use super soft yarn. I decided to double strand Shimmer – Shallows. I double checked with my friend and wasn’t surprised that she thought the color would look good on her.
The other issue is the style of the hat or scarf. When you are sick you are not …

I confess that I have not ever been happy with short row heels on socks. I love the concept but the execution left a lot to be desired. Well, it left a row of tiny holes going up the heel no matter how carefully I wrapped.
Thanks to my podcast interview of Cookie A. and reading through her book, Sock Innovation, I have been intrigued by her mathematical mind. I suspected that her designs would be things of analytical beauty. Thanks to the Sock Innovation KAL, I’m happily exploring Cookie’s sock patterns.
I finished the short-row heel on my Lindsay Sock and it is absolutely fantastic!!! So easy! I am back to loving this heel style. No issues of picking up heel flap stitches and shaping a gusset.
Isn’t it a lovely thing? …

I only took yarn and instructions for the Lindsay sock on vacation this last week. We had family with us so I didn’t think there would be much time for knitting. The airplane trips to and from Mexico provided lots of focused time. While we were in Mexico I became quite fond of the Quiver I bought at the Aurora Fiber Festival the weekend before we left. I could easily knit and watch grandson, Fritz, crawl around.
During the flight from San Diego to Portland I began the garter stitch short row heel. I love the stitch design so much that I decided to make the socks knee high. That means a bit more knitting but it is worth it. It took just a few rounds for me to memorize the lace pattern and feel comfortable toting the sock around with me. As usual, it came along when we went out …