Monday Night Knitting Group

The temperatures are finally making it feel like Fall!! Good thing all the 'Monday Night Knitters' have been busy!!




Lizzy's husband will have a warm head.

(I just hope he isn't shoveling the same amount of snow we got last year when he is wearing it!!)

Margaret is working on her afghan . . . even though it's not done, she'll stay warm with it sitting in her lap while she is knitting away! 
















Peggy, aka 'the human knitting machine', finished this gorgeous cabled shawl. It's a donation for a cancer support group . . .it will keep someone who needs an extra hug warm . . . I bet it will warm their heart too.

'The Human Knitting Machine' has also finished all these adorable sweater sets for the many future moms-to-be that she knows. 


Did I mention that she also works?? How DOES she do it??













Pat will stay warm with this Norwegian hat.

It makes me want to start a two-color project! 

We even talked about steeks . . . I freely admit that I am a chicken. The thought of cutting my knitting. I know, I know . . . it's done all the time . . . but . . . gasp!

Linda is making a 'football' scarf . . . or is it a cowl? 

It's a pretty cool concept. You start it at the beginning of the season using your team colors and knit while you watch the games. For every touchdown you knit a certain amount of rows . . . using one color for the home team and the other for the opposition. If there is a touchback (and other footballish terms) you knit a certain amount of rows, etc. When the game is over you knit a white stripe. . . then pick it up again the next week. At the end of the season you will have a creation that will keep any football fan warm!






Joan is working on Christmas Tree ornaments. 

I think she has the patience of a saint to be doing these!!













Martha is using this awesome yarn that . . . yes, she spun herself!! (I think that makes her kind of awesome too!).

I wish you could feel how soft it is.














Speaking of spinning . . . Dinah's fleece is a blend of greens and purples and it's pretty much just to die for. (Or is that to 'dye' for?!)

Carol's fleece is gray . . . also really nice!!

Monica is making an I-cord with a pretty nifty device. Makes me think of a great way to edge a sweater!!








So much talent . . . so many warm items!


Until next time, keep your nose in a book or your fingers in fiber.

New Beginnings

FINALLY . . . I have finished my peach sweater! While it sits in my closet awaiting the cool weather, I had the quandary of what to start next. I decided on a Sally Melville pattern - L'Envelope. Got out the yarn I'll use, got out the needles and worked a swatch. I also decided I would be a good girl and since the directions cautioned to not only work a swatch,  but to also launder it as you would the sweater . . . well, I always have dirty clothes so in to the laundry it went.

The swatch came out with perfect gauge . . . so I'm all set to go. I check the directions again to see how many stitches to cast on and the directions recommend using a crochet cast-on. What?! I always use the long-tail or the cable cast-ons. EEEK!! . . . Am I going to have to learn something??!! 

I did some research and here it is . . . and . . . it couldn't be easier.

Start with a slip knot on a crochet hook.


(Pick a crochet hook size that will correspond to your knitting needle size.)






Then pick up one of your needles and holding the yarn in your left hand, place it under the needle.


Try and anchor the tail between your ring finger and baby fingers.






Reach over the needle with your crochet hook and pick up the yarn.


Bring it across the needle and through the slip knot on your crochet hook.











Then use your left index finger to bring the yarn back under the needle.













Repeat . . . bringing the yarn across the needle and through your crochet hook.












When you have the correct number of stitches . . . 
minus one . . .on your needle, place the one on your crochet hook on the needle.


Pretty easy, huh?









Here they are . . . .all lined up.













Here's the edge after I worked a few rows.










The pattern also calls to slip the first stitch purl-wise.



I can see why Sally recommends this cast-on . . . it blends in nicely with the edge.





I think I like this cast-on. A definite advantage is that similar to the cable cast-on, you just use the working yarn . . . no estimating needed . . . unlike the long-tail cast-on. How many times have I called it too short with the long-tail and had to start all over again!!

In fact, this makes me want to try a few other different cast-ons.  I'll keep you posted on which ones I try.

Just goes to show ya . . . you can teach an old dog new tricks!  

Until next time, keep your nose in a book or your fingers in fiber.