Knit Inn 2k18

Every year I am so grateful for the SC Knitting Guild's annual knitting weekend. I get to see old friends, I get to make new ones, I get to TEACH! Plus there is knitting, wine, and fun. This year I taught my Sandy Scarf, named for my friend Sandy at last year's Knit Inn (Her: "What are you calling that new design you're working on?" Me: "I don't have a name yet." Her: "You should name it after me." [laughs] Me: "Ok I will!"). It's a fun pattern to teach and I'm glad to be able to honor Sandy with a pattern, since if it weren't for her, I might never have sold The Reversible Cable Wrap or the Carousel Hat to Red Heart. Y'all need friends like that your life, trust me!

Huge shout out to all the hard-working organizers who put this event on every year. 

And to whomever set off the fire alarm at 2am...why?? lol

Need Knitting Instruction?

It's a very sad thing that the Charleston area isn't currently served by an LYS. The good news is that the lovely Stephanie at SLO Yarns is working on providing a local alternative to the craft stores and online ordering. Super excited!!

Classes, though, are just as readily available as they always were--through yours truly! I am available to teach to your group as well as for individual private instruction. If you would like to learn something that I've never taught, just ask. When one of my sweet students asked to learn Brioche, it kicked off a 3 month journey of stitch techniques that netted 3 different classes and won some new converts to this fun stitch pattern. 

Click on the banner at the top of the page for more info about current class offerings, or go to our FB events page. 

Fixing Mistakes Class: Behind the Madness

One of the most frequent requests I receive is from frustrated knitters who just don't know HOW they made the mistakes they have and HOW they are supposed to fix them.  The corollary question is WHEN will I finally arrive, and be that knitter who doesn't make mistakes??

I happily answer these queries because I get it. I was once that knitter who mucked up her stitches almost every time she worked on a project, no matter who simple. I was also once that knitter who thought that ONE day she would never make another mistake. I always tell them I have good news and bad news. The good news is that yes, we can figure out how you made the mistake and learn how to fix it. The bad news is you won't arrive. Well, ok, you MIGHT arrive, but I don't know anyone, no matter their length of time knitting, who doesn't make a mistake now and then. And are you ready for honesty? That includes me.

I really do knit with my tail, drop stitches and the last time I cast on a Coosaw Cowl (the long one) I twisted when joining in the round. Twice. TWICE!

So, good people of Knitland, join me the next time I offer a Fixing Mistakes Class. We will cover the most common mistakes, practice fixing them and even learn a thing or two about how to read your knitting. Or listen to it when it screams at you, "Hey wait! You picked it up backwards and are working in the wrong direction! There's gonna be a HOLE!"

I will have spent, in preparation for the class, many hours learning from my own screw-ups (some of which have epic, embarrassing proportions, like the simple 2-line pattern lace shrug that never ever came out the same number of stitches at the end of the row!) and much effort creating mistakes just for you to work on in class.  Fixing Mistakes is one of the few classes to which you need to bring nothing other than a willingness to learn. You can, of course, bring a project with a mistake for us to remedy, but it isn't required.

Summer Knitting: Drop Stitch Garter 2

Everyone loves this technique. I can't take credit for it--it's just a way of knitting an easy bit of lace into whatever garter stitch your making--but everyone who tries it with this pattern loves it. 

I wrote this down years ago. In fact, it might be the first one I wrote down and distributed because I couldn't find one already written and my students wanted it. This adds a sense of nostalgia which I only increased by using a very avocado green cotton yarn to knit a new one for my kitchen. 

This version of my Drop Stitch Garter dishcloth uses a larger needle size and smaller cast on and I'm very happy with the way it turned out. Try it and let me know if you love it, too. Find the pattern here on Ravelry.

Oh, and this pic from my custom-made (by my awesome daughter) apron is what I use as color inspiration for my kitchen. The walls are a very pale blue and I have some red accent pieces. I love it!