"EZ's" A-B-C-SJ Class Begins

Good Afternoon,

What a fantastic day so far today.  First I watched the boys, JT and Mason this morning.  JT had "his" knitting box, but was lamenting about how few markers he had and so in no uncertain terms, said, "Nanny, you need to give me more markers....please."  He was totally serious.  So, I gave him four more markers for his collection.

Next, JT proceeds to take my knitting, holding up the end of the CN, and begins sliding his markers on to the needle and claimed he was knitting.  Too cute!

The first class of "EZ's" A-B-C-SJ began today at The Perfect Blend Yarn Shop in Saugerties, NY., http://yarnandteashop.com.  There were two students this afternoon, and so began the task of a gauge swatch, both were doing the baby version.  Then came the explanation of How?  What?  Really?

 Photo above courtesy of Schoolhouse Press Pattern #5

It really is confusing if you don't know how this sweater goes together.  So in terms of choosing yarn and placing color, as in the above sweater, how did the lavender stripe do that?  I want a solid at the cuff.  Do I knit some stitches in solid and some stitches in the color mix?  After a few simple explanations as to how the knitting process goes, it became much clearer to them. 

Then began the casting on and the marking of the stitches, not just sliding the markers on the needle.  The next question was about slipping the first stitch, which was a new technique, and then came the decreases.  Explaining there are four decreases in one row, it was thought directional decreases on either side of the marked stitch.  However, since this is an "upright" decrease, hence, the Sl 1, K2 toge, PSSO, or slip the first stitch, knit the next two together, then pass the slipped stitch over the stitch formed by  knitting two stitches together.  Phew!

Quite a handful to chew on and execute.  I think that they were clear on what direction they were working in and how the progress looks in terms of the pattern vs. the completed garment.  Always a good thing to remind students not to panic, follow the rows along carefully, and you should be OK.

There will be another class on Saturday this week as  well, so that was a plus.   No need to wait a full week.  Also, the Perfect Blend shop owner, Mary, will coach them if they can't wait until Saturday. 

What a Perfect day at The Perfect Blend Yarn and Tea Shop.  Happy Knitting!



Scribble Lace Pashmina Cowl

Good Morning!

Hot and humid day today as across most of the USA. 

I just finished a Pashmina Cashmere Cowl.  It was knit in a free form lace style that I found in the Interweave Knits Magazine, Summer, 2011.  The sweater is titled, Coral Cardigan by Nancy Eiseman (page 26).  I love this sweater, but was a bit unsure of the lace.  I read the pattern just to study the lace construction before attempting the sweater. 

What captured my attention was the free form type of stitch, you can make it your very own and use the pattern for the shaping and the rest of the schematic numbers.  However, I would, as a knitting teacher, advise to swatch carefully to aquire your gauge. (My students really don't like to hear me harp on gauge, but....I do anyway).

The "lace" is formed by stringing together increases, decreases, and  plain knit stitches every other row/round.  For my cowl, I used some graph paper and charted out the stitches.  Once complete, I added a total of 14 rounds.  I wanted to use a repeat instead of charting out the entire round for the cowl.  It worked perfectly when I swatched.  I really wasn't worried about gauge at this point, but needle size.  What needle size would really make this work? 

I did tweek the chart some just to make the "lace" meander just a little bit more, but all in all, most of it remained as I originally charted.  So, I cast on and began.  I did an edging the first few rounds, expecting some type of curl to happen.  Then I began the "lace".  Every other round was plain knit for the 14 round total.

I knit until I reached eight inches in width and then bound off, using a very stretchy bind off so that it would be slightly wider than the cast on.  The wider side would now lay more smoothly at the shoulder line. 

I am going to get my Cowl from the sink, it's soaking right now, and lay it out to dry.  I can't wait to see it pinned out and dry.  If anyone is interested, will be posting it on Etsy.  Drop a comment in the box below or email me at dee@youandmeknit.com.  The first 10 people to respond will get the pattern FREE as soon as it is printed. 

Have a great day and stay cool.  Turn up the A/C and knit away!