Feel the Pretty....

I have a number of projects coming up.  All of which involve fabulous yarn. Here's the info on the two I haven't started yet.

For the Leaf Lace Washcloth to be used as a class sample for my upcoming intro to lace class - Universal Yarn Cotton Supreme.

It has a great texture and sheen, I'm super excited to work with it and see how it works up.

Sock's & Beer Cozy for the Husband

I've been making good headway on the socks for my hubby.  There were several attempts before I settled on this pattern.  I found it difficult to find a pattern that would work well for men's socks.  Plus my husband isn't really one for cables or other details.  So I settled on a ribbed sock.  The yarn is Dragonfly Fibers Djinni Sock in a limited edition color way.

Annnd, I'm back!

Wow, what a hectic few months it has been!

I won't go into the details, but my husband and I are finally settled into our new house with months of every-other-weekend travel behind us.  In the midst of all this I have managed to accomplish some work. 

First, the snowflake scarf is complete.  This project was a lot of fun and my first adventure in color work.  I certainly will keep to working colorwork in the round in the future.  

The Addison Hat is also complete and the class taught.  This knit was super fun and worked up quickly.  I used it to teach an intro to colorwork and double-point needle class.  All of the participants had a great time and loved the project.  

The transition to double-points.  

The top is closing in. 

The finished product!

The interior of the bottom checkerboard colorwork.

Coming up next in the blog, work on socks and a coordinating beer coozy for my husband!

Starting the Addison Hat

I've volunteered to teach a color work class at my LYS.  After plenty of browsing on the web, I settled on the Addison Hat.  I think it incorporates a number of techniques for knitters who are ready to move on from beginning scarves and washcloths.

Techniques start out right away with knitting in the round and making sure you don't get a twist at the join!  The ribbed bottom is optional.  I decided to go for it so students get the most for their money and we pick up that technique too.

 

The meat and potatoes of what this class is about starts up pretty quick when we introduce stranded color work. I have to admit I wasn't in love with the colors for the class sample when I first started, but they started to grow on me as I worked.  This hat is being worked in Classic Elite Colors by Kirstin and Dragonfly Fibers Traveller.  

The stranding portion of the color work on the inside is coming along great.  I'm really liking how the strands give the hat an interior layer for extra warmth.  Stay tuned as this projects continues!

Sometimes my dog gets jealous.

Both halves of the Snowflake Scarf are complete!  Which required me to learn a new technique to graft them together.  I had never done a project that required grafting before and was pretty excited to learn.  A number of fellow knitters at my LYS were practically lining up to teach me the Kitchener Stitch.  I think I'm doing pretty well for a first time!

And I continue to work with my LYS to line up new classes for me to teach.  I'm rapidly evolving into one of their regular instructors.  January will be the first month I'm teaching two courses and my first knitting class.  My regular class is beginning crochet.  For my knitting class, it will be color work and I'll be making a class sample of the Addison Hat.  I will be working mine in Color by Kristen in Mushroom paired with Dragonfly Fibers Traveller in Admiral Benbow.

 Stephanie's Wrap continues to make headway.  I just keep telling myself that slow and steady wins the race with this one.  I will be very happy to get to the point where its all just working with one color instead of changing colors every 2 rows.  

While I was photographing my work today my little dog decided she was jealous of the camera.  She laid down right on my drop cloth and actually posed for a picture.  It's a sure sign a dog is craving attention when she actually holds still for a photo.   Here she is being as silly and adorable as ever.