Rochdale

Another project finished!!

Pattern: Rochdale from Rowan magazine #46

Yarn: Rowan Big Wool

I started this in 2009 so it's about time. :)

I think it sat for so long because I hated the collar. Today when I put it on I realized that it needs to fold down to the first button and now I really like it.

This is the pile of ends to prove that I actually sewed them in. Notice that there are buttons. Kind of cheating though. They are the new buttons from Jul. No sewing required. They are screwed on.

Today I am wearing Kilcar for the first time. I went back through my posts and in March of 2007 I started the second sleeve so I probably started knitting it sometime in 2006. I actually finished it Tuesday, April 11, 2007. That didn't take very long to get it blocked.

Have you ever noticed that when you are watching TV the commercials are louder than the TV show? I'm watching CNN and they just said a law has been passed that TV stations can't do that anymore. Right on!!

It's 9:30 and Beth and I just got home from doing some running around. There was a TV emergency this afternoon in the store. I dropped the converter to the satellite. The converter is at least 10 years old and decided that it didn't want to work anymore. We went to Best Buy to get a new one. The first one we saw was $65. Seriously? Maybe for our house but not the store. Then we found one for $15. It is going to take a lot of reading to get it configured but for $50 I will try. I also bought a DVD player (thanks to gift certificates from friends) for our living room. DVD players are pretty cheap now. I remember when they were hundreds of dollars and now they are $50 to $100. If you need to go to Best Buy for Christmas shopping I suggest going around 6pm. The store was empty.

I need to sign off and concentrate on the football game. Beth and I are in the playoffs of our fantasy football. We won last week and are in the semi-finals. It's nail biting time. I WANT TO WIN!!! There won't be any knitting on Jack but I think I can get some rows done on Groovy before bed.

Blocking

This morning I've been playing 'accountant'. My accounting is currently on my old lap top. Every time I want to write a cheque I need to get the computer out, boot it up (it's old and slow) and then open my accounting. I'm trying something new-an online host that I can use from my MacBook. It is kind of fun to be playing with numbers again. Unfortunately I can't snap my fingers and have everything move. I need to do some entering of numbers and today wasn't the day for that.

It is 12 hours later and I'm finally getting back to my post.

Yesterday was spent blocking.

This is Kilcar from Debbie Bliss knit in her tweed. It is on my bed in this picture and very wet after a bath in Soak. I knit this but never wore it because I didn't like the fit. After many towel changes it is drying but not as fast as I would like. I just tried it on (still very damp) and the fit is much better. Except for the sleeves. They are at least 4" too long. I'm not ripping them out so I will have cuffs on my jacket.

This is the picture that I have on Ravelry for the jacket so that you can get a better look at it.

Rochdale from Rowan #46

This is a jacket in Rowan Big Wool that has been finished except for the ends for over a year. It is currently lying on my bathroom floor. I didn't want to totally wet it for fear that the Big Wool could stretch way too much so I laid it out and used the wet towels from Kilcar. Very resourceful of me. :)

I got 30 rows knit on Jack yesterday in between blocking, cleaning and watching football.

If you haven't watched the Amazing Race finale then please stop reading.

Beth is telling me to hurry because there is a new game show with Howie Mandel taped. I also need to get some knitting done.

Rochdale from the magazine. I'm undecided on the pockets. Well, right now I'm decided that they aren't going on but there is yarn left over so I can add them in the future.

The Amazing Race. I'm not sure what to say. When I saw the final challenge I knew the Josh and Brent were going to win. It was one of those challenges where you needed some patience and luck. After they crossed the finish line Beth turned it off because she was so upset that James and Jaymes didn't win. Thankfully they won cars earlier in the evening.

I might be sewing in ends tomorrow. All the Shades of Truth is ready as is Rochdale. I really need to hire a 'sew in the ends fairy'.

Another finished project-part 4

Kilcar is done-well the sewing is done. I still have a few ends to put in but that can wait until tomorrow. The pattern calls for buttonholes but I left these out and decided to use a shawl pin instead.

I now know why I start so many projects and never finish them-I hate finishing. The knitting is fun but after that...

Here is the back of the Kimono Jacket. Both fronts are done and are on stitch holders. The pattern calls for shoulder shaping but I might eliminate the shaping and do a 3 needle bind off. I know that I can do short rows and then the 3 needle bind off but my short rows are never neat enough-I am very picky.

My Wednesday night class starts again tonight. I hope to kick them out a bit early because the NHL playoffs start tonight.

New kits and finishing

We received a shipment from Handmaiden yesterday. This is the yarn for the Maid Marian vest. The name Handmaiden might not be familiar to you but Fleece Artist probably is. Kathryn owns Fleece Artist and her daughter owns Handmaiden.

Some of you have been asking about the Addi Lace knitting needles. They arrived today. These have sharper points making it easier for knitting lace.

I worked on Kilcar in the store today. In this picture one half of the collar is sewn down and one sleeve is sewn in. I got the other half of the collar done after the picture. If I had three wishes, one would be for a finishing fairy!!! The sewing together isn't hard but after all that knitting you just want it to be done.

Another finished project-part 3

Here is Tempest-completed with all the ends sewn in. I am getting very good at the ends. If Sarah was going to knit it for herself she would have to do the smaller size.

Rhonda used to do all my finishing but she lives too far away to keep coming and picking up my projects. She is going to do the lining of the Lattice Bag for me though. I don't have time to pull out my sewing machine and she likes to sew. The bag handles should arrive this week and then she can get the bag finished for the Knitter's Frolic.

For some reason the Masters didn't come on TV until 4pm yesterday. Since I had time to kill I blocked Kilcar. It is amazing what a difference the blocking makes. I have a large piece of Styrofoam (you can get one at The Home Depot) and pin the sweater down. It is much easier to block before you sew (should have thought about this before I stitched up Tempest). I have a clothing steamer and just run it over the sweater. Doesn't get much easier but I usually don't do it out of laziness.

I have started to sew the collar on Kilcar-maybe it will be done tonight.

Mom and dad came home from Myrtle yesterday. They weren't happy about leaving sunny and warm for cold and snow.

Rainy Day

It is just gross here this morning. Thunder, lightening and rain-can I go back to bed?

I finished Kilcar yesterday. The collar is done and the front bands are one. I finished the first front band and it was wavy (too many stitches) so I took it out and did it again. They look great now. I started to sew together but the yarn keeps breaking on me. I will get something in the store today.

I picked up the Kimono Jacket to keep my hands busy last night while watching The Amazing Race, Deal or No Deal and The Apprentice. I am almost finished the second front of it.

Long Message today-lots of pictures too!!

Here are a couple of Lattice Bags from my class. Joy's is felted and Stephanie still needs to felt. Karen wasn't at class on Tuesday night-she used hot pink and orange. My bag is still drying-double stranding the yarn and working cables makes a very thick bag. Bag handles arrived from the US yesterday but the ones that I wanted for my bag weren't in the shipment.


Here is the new Ruffles scarf finished. I used 5 stitches (the last one was 4) so the scarf is much shorter. I used 2 balls for both to show the difference in length but if I was going to knit for myself I would use 3 balls and get a nice long scarf

I have finished the second front of Kilcar. I am working on the collar (102 stitches and 20 rows) and might start sewing on the weekend. I used the 3 needle bind off for the shoulders-makes it so much easier.

I have been busy unpacking more boxes.

From Nashua we received some of their new Ecologie Cotton. They don't have shade cards up yet but here is their description of the yarn. Natural Focus ™ Ecologie Cotton is a 100% cotton dyed with natural plant dyes. This soft matte cotton is perfect for any spring style – lace, cable, texture – creating timeless designs.

Another shipment of Jordana Paige bags arrived. We now have the Messenger Bag in Camel/Brown.











More colours of the Rowan Bamboo arrived. I am having a hard time deciding between the orchid (mauve/pink) and lolly (mint green) for myself. This yarn will knit to an Aran tension. Not everyone likes the patterns that Rowan did so you can use anything Aran-I am looking at a Debbie Bliss design called Keira from her new Pure Cotton magazine. Once Kilcar is done I get to start a new project!!!

New colours of Blue Sky Alpacas Alpaca Silk arrived (129, 130, 131, 120). I am not sure why I didn't order them in the beginning-they are great. There is also a new pattern from them for a hoodie with crocheted trim.

It's Felted

This is my Lattice Bag drying in the bathtub. The lighting near the bathtub is poor because the ceiling over it is sloped and the lights are at the other end of the room. You get the idea though. I threw it in the washing machine while watching the Amazing Race-it could have used a few less minutes in the machine but I think when it is dry with handles it will look great.

I am almost at the armhole on the second front of Kilcar-I might get there during the Apprentice.

Last night we watched The Departed. After sitting for 2.5 hours I would have liked it to end differently-won't say anymore in case you haven't watched it yet.

Roko and Melo

Mom-the floor is still ugly!!!

Here are the angels. Okay, they are both sleeping which makes them good. Roko has decided that he needs to sleep touching Melo. It is also imperative to sleep with toys near by.

I finished the first front of Kilcar and attached it to the back-gotta love the 3 needle bind off. I am about 30 rows up the second front.

It was a very sad weekend in our house. My parents very close friend Rick was diagnosed with cancer over 2 years ago. It looked like he beat it and then a year later it resurfaced again. Again, it looked like he beat it. Two weeks ago he was diagnosed with brain cancer and passed away early Sunday morning. The blessing is that he went quickly-brain cancer can be very ugly but that doesn't make it any easier. Mom and dad are coming home tomorrow and then returning back to Myrtle on Saturday.

I have decided to take part in the Knitter's Frolic which is put on by the Downtown Knit Collective. The show is Saturday, April 28. Take a look at their website-they are offering some great workshops.

This one is for Mom

My mom called me from Myrtle Beach last night to tell me that she had already read what was on the blog and to post something new.

Friday night I taught my finishing course. The students are totally amazed the first time they do the mattress stitch. They all came away with many tricks for finishing as well as things to do while knitting that makes sewing together so much easier.

Sarah had Saturday off to move so I was in the store by myself. A former student, Rhona, was having some problems with a vest she is knitting and has made a few visits over the past couple of weeks. She came in Saturday afternoon for some more help and brought me a fresh loaf of bread that she had baked. Thanks Rhona-it was great.

I did accomplish some knitting in the last few days. The second sleeve of Kilcar is finished and I am at the neck shaping on the first front. There is no sense adding a picture because it will just look like the last one that I posted.

I did not get my bag felted. This will get done this week. I went to throw it in the washing machine Sunday afternoon and realized that I hadn't sewn in the ends. That would have made a big mess!!!

Yesterday morning I had my hair cut and then met Bev for lunch. On the way home I stopped at a suppliers in Toronto and picked up the new Elsebeth Lavold books and yarn. This is called Brooke and is knit out of the new yarn called Cotton Frappe. More of the Louisa Harding yarn arrived-sorry Cindy, the colours you ordered weren't in the shipment.

I had better get moving and get ready to open the store. It is unbelievably cold here today-thank goodness I have lots of sweaters to choose from.

Visiting an old friend

I pulled out Kilcar over the weekend and started the second sleeve. A customer just finished it and told me that it is amazing. She said I needed it done and hanging in the store. I am going to work on this as my upstairs knitting and work on the Asymmetrical jacket in the store. One half of the jacket is almost done-should be finished tomorrow. Maybe I can get them both done before summer gets here. LOL!!!

I mentioned all the yarns and books that came in on Monday. After going through them all it is really tough deciding which to make. You will all be proud of me-I haven't started anything yet. I am going to finish what is on the needles-okay not everything because that will never happen.


I am sending my knitter Ann the yarn to knit Appledore. I want to knit this for myself but she can get a sample done for the store much quicker. I chose the colour Sail Cloth because it will look good on Bev when she wears this at the Gone Stitchin' Weekend. I know that you have seen this picture before but I love it so much that I like to keep looking at it. If Wannietta would hurry up with her Blue Sky Alpacas shrug then she could have some fun new yarn as well!!!

I have a funny story for you. My friend, Sam (not her real name but I promised not to embarrass her) has a husband who is a computer genius and wanted to learn how to knit. Sam taught him and occasionally he likes to have a go at something. When he saw the lingerie in the new Interweave he decided to knit her a thong. The only yarn she had in the house was Nashua's Creative Focus Worsted-a blend of wool and alpaca. Can you imagine how comfortable that would be? When he got it done he made her 'drop trou' and try it on. Because he was so impressed with himself he wanted to do another so this one is in Super 10 cotton.

This week is busy with classes. Last night was the second week of the Lattice Bag. I did not get mine felted on the weekend-I promise to do it this weekend. My class has finished the bottom of their bags and got the stitches picked up to work the body last night. Now they are on their way with the cables.

Tonight was my 'advanced' class. It should really be called the class I can't get rid of. Some of them have been with me for 15 years. They spent the first hour going through the new books. I think a few of them got some knitting accomplished-mostly just talking.

Tomorrow's class has been with me for about 3 years. Again, the first hour will be spent going through books and gossiping. Kelley brought cookies and milk last week and Lise has promised to make short breads this week. Can't beat a class like this.

Friday night I am teaching a finishing class. My biggest pet peeve is someone who knits a beautiful sweater and then they do a terrible job sewing it together.

I just looked at the clock and it is 1:20-time for bed!!!