So Much Knitting News!

Good Afternoon,

The first week of "EZ's" A-B-C-SJ, went quite well.  Still have more sign ups to accommodate.  The yarn choices were wonderful, colorful, and a host of other "ful ending words".  There were 2 students last Wednesday and 4 on Saturday. 

Now for the other exciting news!  I just came back from the Post Office and mailed off my submission to Interweave Knits Sockupied 2013.   I spent an hour or so getting together the paper work, filling out the form, and typing up the submission.  I did knit a full size sock instead of just a swatch. 

The sock design is a sport type sock (short) like you would wear with gym or running shoes.  The sock features 2 X 2 ribs, a small short row section after the ribbing that elevates the back of the heel slightly which helps prevent that "slide down into your shoe syndrome".  The heel shaping is short rows as well.  Then, down the foot to the beginning of the toe box.  I like to leave this a little wider than many socks allow for.  The reason being, there is plenty of room to wiggle those piggies inside your shoe.

The best part is the yarn.  I used Cascade "Fixation" which is 98.3% Cotton and 1.7% Elastic.  This is a wonderful material to use especially for my targeted market for Interweave.  The submission is for the Diabetic community as well as for those who have difficulty with edema in the lower extremities.  The yarn having elastic, will stretch without cutting into the circulatory system of the lower legs.  The wider toe box, as mentioned above, is roomy and will not pinch or irritate sensitive toes.  And as all you knitters know, the toes are completed with Kitchener Stitch.  No seams.  When I was wearing commercial socks, I would have to turn them inside out to put the seam on the outside and away from  my skin.  This seaming technique does away with this problem. 

I had to do a sketch.  I do not sketch....very bad.  So I did my best and then wrote all the dimensions for the finished sock.  I wish that I could draw better, but one of my daughters has that talent, not me.
I'm keeping my fingers crossed that it isn't an automatic disqualify. 

Sorry I didn't have a blog post yesterday, but was just to tired and  I was afraid it would be gibberish.  I only had an hour of sleep Sunday before going to work at 12:00 am Monday morning.  I beg forgiveness.

I had to watch the boys this morning, and my daughter was telling me that they had their first "slap boxing episode" recently. They stood facing each other and in little boy aggression, they were open hand slapping at each other (32 months and 15 months).  I had all I could do to not chuckle the visual in my mind's eye was so funny.  Tis only the beginning.

Have a wonderful rest of the day and Happy Knitting!

P.S.  My You And Me Knit Fan Page is up, though not completed.  Take a moment to stop by and "Like" my page.  Thanks!

"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!