Bragging Rights

I've been doing a lot of teaching the past two weeks and my students have been quite industrious. Let me do some bragging...

Twisty Star Paper Piecing class

Here are the students from my Piece by Numbers Paper Piecing class. 

Left: blocks from all the students.
Right: Janet's Twisty Star.  

Each student finished at least one quarter block of the Twisty Star pattern in class. Within a few days, several of them had finished the block, sewn the borders, and even attached the binding.

Mary finished piecing and attached the borders (left).
Wanda finished her Twisty Star table topper.

My Knitting II students worked on my Sweet Louise Fingerless Mitts pattern. There are a lot of techniques packed into this class: ribbing, cables, a thumb gusset and an invisible seam, to name a few. Look how well they did!

Fingerless Mitts--knitting class starts Tuesday

My Beginning Knitting I students learned a lot and are ready to tackle a real project. Registration is now open at Chattanooga State for Knitting II—Fingerless Mitts. Call 697-3100 to register.

Let's have fun with two sticks and some yarn! The class starts Tuesday, February 21.

Fingerless Mitts knitting class.

Knitting Classes start Jan. 31

Beginning Knitting Classes start January 31.

Spend a few evenings and learn to knit. Join me and see what you can do with two sticks and some yarn. It's creative. It's relaxing. It's fun! Bring along a friend.

Contact Chattanooga State at 697-3100 to register.
The first class meeting is Tuesday, January 31, at 5:30 pm.

Mitts are a Hit!

Even though the weather has been in the 90s this week, my knitting students braved the heat (in the air conditioned classroom) to work on their fingerless mitts project in my Knitting II class. Here are their completed projects.

Fingerless Mitts knitting class, Spring 2011

In the Fingerless Mitts class, students learn how to make cables, a gusset, work with the mattress stitch for an invisible seam and a few other things. The fingerless mitts are a fun, quick project and we discuss in the class how they can be customized with a variety of knitting and embellishing details.

Knitting in the Round class: Retro Cloche

My Knitting in the Round class ended last week. Students embellished their Retro Cloche with a 2-color knitted rosette. There are lots of great techniques to learn with this project as well. But, as one student voiced her preference for knitting in the round, there are no seams to finish when you knit in the round!

Knit up some Mitts

My Fingerless Mitts—Knitting II class starts next Monday, May 23 at Chattanooga State. It's a 2-session class. (The second session will be determined by the class as the school is closed May 30 for Memorial Day.)

Registration closes at noon on Thursday, May 19.
Call 697-3100 or register on line at Chattanooga State.

The thermometer has dipped into the 50s the past couple of days. Wouldn't you like a pair of hand-knit fingerless gloves for the morning drive to work or a brisk walk with the dog?

Kitchener stitch variations

Grafting and the Kitchener Stitch was the topic of the demonstration and discussion in my Lace Knitting sampler class this week. The story goes that the Kitchener Stitch is named after a British field marshal, Lord Kitchener of Khartoum, who, through the Red Cross, promoted the knitting of socks and other items for WWII soldiers. He requested socks constructed without a bulky seam or ridge at the toe which would cause discomfort to a soldier's feet. A sock pattern with a grafted toe was [supposedly] designed by and thus named after him. Whether true or not, it's a quaint little tale.

Lace Knitting students with their lace sampler scarves.

What came out of the class discussion about this grafting technique, however, was an excellent question on the difference between grafting in stockinette vs. garter. I checked my copy of "The Knitting Answer Book," and lo and behold, the information was there. There is a slight variation to the sequence of steps (and for reverse stockinette as well) among these patterns for an invisible join that blends with the surrounding pattern. For those familiar with the technique, here is a cheat sheet.

Stockinette set-up: Purl front leave. Knit back leave.
Sequence: Knit front drop. Purl front leave. Purl back drop. Knit back leave.
End: Knit. Purl.

Reverse Stockinette set-up: Knit front leave. Purl back leave.
Sequence: Purl front drop. Knit front leave. Knit back drop. Purl back leave.
End: Purl. Knit.

Garter set-up: Purl front leave. Purl back leave.
Sequence: Knit front drop. Purl front leave. Knit back drop. Purl back leave.
End: Knit. Knit.

So, whether it's socks, shoulders, or fingertips, here's a salute to Lord Kitchener for a seamless ending. Happy Knitting!

Fingerless Mitts Success

They did it! Ribbing, cables, a gusset and mattress stitch... all combined in a pair fingerless mitts. Do these women look excited, or what???

The students in my Knitting II class at Chattanooga State added several techniques to their knitting repertoire in this class. There was a lot of info packed into this two-session class, and they all a did great job. Working on cables while increasing for the thumb gusset is akin to patting one's head and rubbing one's tummy.

Several students completed one or more mitts, but what I am most proud of is their ability to "read their work" (this is major!!) and identify and quite often fix mistakes or missed stitches. Well done, knitters!

I'm looking forward to the Lace Knitting class coming up on March 28.

Sharing the Yarn Love on Valentines Day

Mug Rugs made with stash yarns in garter stitch on size 10 needles.

The last session of my Beginning Knitting class was Valentines Day evening. It was an appropriate day to share the Yarn Love—with a little chocolate thrown in. My beginning students are becoming very good knitters and were diligent in practicing between classes.

One of the topics I cover in this class is ideas and projects for beginning knitters. A myriad of items can be made from simple squares and rectangles: think about bags, belts, collars, shrugs, ponchos and blankets. For garment inspiration, look to weaving books as weavers naturally work with big rectangles of fabric. With garter, stockinette and reverse stockinette stitches along with knit/purl patterns, the possibilities are also endless. Here is an example of a cute short cardi, "Nimbus" by Berroco, made using only stockinette and garter stitches. Pattern skill level = Easy.

My yarn was self-striping, so I chose to knit the body in the round as opposed to individual back, left and right front pieces as prescribed in the pattern. The pattern has an easy (but very cool) technique for making the fold-over collar. Check it out and get some practice casting on additional stitches to your work-in-progress.

Other fun patterns suitable for beginners are Julie Weisenberger's (CocoKnits.com)  "Fear of Commitment Cowl" and the "Bohemian Hat and Scarf" set from Universal Yarn.

Beginning Knitting students.

Get your needles humming and Spread the Yarn Love!

What can you do with rectangles?

My Beginning Knitting students are making great progress! The last class meeting is next week and I'll be including inspiration and ideas for projects a beginner knitter can accomplish. Here is a project that I just completed using Cathy Payson's Colorful Cropped Overlay pattern, that I think an enthusiastic beginner could do. I'd call this piece a "Mailbox Wrap"— something you could throw on during these cold winter months when you have to run out to the mailbox.

I had several balls of self-striping Rozetti Tempest (by Universal Yarn) in spicy reds that would be warm, snugly— and spicy— for this wrap. As the pattern called for a chunky yarn (10 sts = 4"), I married the #4 worsted weight, thick/thin, fuzzy Tempest with assorted smoother red wool blends from my stash.

 I "moderately" followed the pattern with these variations:

• changed the seed stitch pattern on the lower section to a 2-row modified rib (Row 1: knit. Row 2: p1, k1.) The effort put forth using the seed stitch pattern would have been lost with the textured Tempest yarn.
• added additional RS knit rows to the ribbed section on the top.
• shortened the collar. Also knitted it in the round.
• sewed the sides closed with 2 buttons to create the arm holes. These are non-working buttons but they help me distinguish, at-a-glance, the front of the garment from the back. (The buttons show on the front.)
• left long yarn tails from the button ties to create a design detail.

This pattern is basically two big rectangles with a collar that could be knit by picking up stitches (per the pattern) or knit separatley as another rectangle and sewn on.

I have a few balls (50g/120yd) of Tempest remaining. Maybe a slouchy red hat to match??? What do you think?

Knitting Classes begin January 31

The holidays are over, a new year has begun, and it's time to find a new, creative outlet. Now is the perfect time to learn to knit!

I'll be teaching three knitting classes at Chattanooga State this semester.

• In my Beginning Knitting class starting January 31, we'll cover all the basics to get your needles going. 
• In Knitting II starting February 28, we'll move on to ribbing, cables, and seams while making a fun pair of Fingerless Mitts. 
• We've added a new Lace Knitting class starting March 28. Students will create a beautiful lace scarf.

If you've always wanted to learn this timeless, yet contemporary art form, register today at 397-3100 or on-line at http://www.chattanoogastate.edu. Make new friends and learn a new, creative skill!

New knitters and upcoming classes

Please welcome these new knitters to the wonderful world of yarn and fiber arts! These talented women were in my 3-week Beginning Knitting class at Chattanooga State which concluded last night. They were excellent students and successfully passed the course with flying colors!

New "Knitting Graduates" from the Beginning Knitting class.

From the first class, these knitting students had plans for projects and were full of questions and ideas—an ascot with a button hole detail, a doggie sweater, afghans, scarves and home dec items. The conversation was lively and stimulating. 

Beginning Knitting II class—Fingerless Mitts

The next class in the knitting series is Beginning Knitting II (see page 4 of the Chattanooga State course catalog). The techniques covered include making cables, ribbing, a gusset and seaming. We'll be making a pair of fingerless mitts—a perfect take-along project and a great holiday gift! The class meets November 1 and 8 from 5:30 to 8:30 pm.

Call 697-3100 to register now, before the class fills.

At the request of the current graduating class, a Lace Knitting class has been proposed to the Chattanooga State Continuing Education program. Proposed class dates for this 6-hour class are November 29 and December 6.
Stay tuned...