A League of Her Own

When I taught Katie to knit, I had fuzzy-edged dreams of the piles of hats, sweaters, scarves, mittens, etc., we would make together.  I had images of her poring over patterns and carefully choosing and meticulously following one, taking quiet joy in perfectly reproducing something someone else had designed for eager knitters just like her.
I [...]

Beast to Blanket, Week 3

Today’s class was in 3 parts: dyeing, judging the finger knitting contest, and learning the knit stitch. 
Some of the kids really put a huge effort into their finger knitting!  The winners got a package of candy and (what else?) a skein of yarn.
It is always very rewarding for me to help children learn how to [...]

Stick a Fork in Me

I’m done:

This time the Hat Attacked early, taking me out of the running.  It’s a lovely hat, though, so it’s hard to feel too put out. 
My demise has allowed me to temporarily retire from the “hat out of sock needles” business and focus on a few projects that need work:

This Dream Swatch Head Scarf is [...]

Spring Socks at the end of Summer

These very Spring-like socks are for a friend of mine, knit with some of my own handspun. I’m really happy with how they turned out.  I used size 1 needles and my own reliable plain Jane sock pattern. They have explicit instructions to avoid slouching.  I hope they obey.

Beast to Blanket, Week 2

Today my co op students finished sanding and oiling their wooden knitting needles and they glued on the Sculpey ends.  We spent the rest of the time learning finger knitting.  It was a lot of fun.  Here’s a picture of Andy and his cousin, Carter, getting the hang of things:

If this is bringing back happy, [...]

Locked and loaded

Here’s my completed pasta weapon.  In order for me to get gauge on this, I had to use size 2 sock needles.  I don’t understand the mathy aspect of this pattern, but it’s a well-written one and I like the finished product.
And no, the kids are not really into Hat Attack…

…why do you ask? [...]

Sounds like pasta

Hat Attack 2’s weapon in the making: Fibonacci Frequency Hat.
I have quite a way to go.

Don’t worry…

…if I seem preoccupied for the next few days. Hat Attack 2 officially begins tomorrow, with the pattern being released at some mysterious time.  I still have to knit a swatch!  Ack!  Last time was great fun, and I have no expectations of making it as long as I did then, but the competitive beast [...]

Beast to Blanket, Week 1

Our children participate in a home school co-op in the Fall and Spring, and this Fall I’m teaching a class called “Beast to Blanket” for some of the older elementary and junior high aged children.  It’s going to be 10 weeks of “how do we get from sheep (or other material) to knitted item?”  I’m [...]

Zip, Zip, Zoom

Some days, regardless of how much stuff there really is to get done, it seems I can hardly put together 15 minutes to sit down and knit. Then there are days like yesterday, when we got a lot accomplished, and yet I still managed to have a productive day in fiber land.  I worked on [...]