Fiber and Friends

Like is to be fortified by many friendships.
To love and to be loved is the greatest happiness of existence.

~ Sydney Smith

This week at the Wednesday night knitting class, there was plethora of wonderful personalities. With such a mixture of contagious laughter and smiles that could melt the heart of the Abominable Snowman himself. Don't worry Mr. Abominable, we have knitting needles at the ready to knit you a cozy for every extremity.

Coming into the Knitting Class this Wednesday, I could really sense the feelings of friendship that were as warmly woven as the knitting garments beget by a cacophony of clicking needles. There were garments that were a year in the making and finally revealed, adorned by a lovely pin and a satisfyingly proud smile.

Hats, scarves and booties were being started by loving family members for little ones at home. While others talked about projects and frustrations only to be met with an experienced eye to help them. With much encouragement and joy being so freely given, it was hard not to just stop and allow it to sink into your heart while knitting. So, when sitting here at the group, amidst old friends and new acquaintances, every stitch made is infused with the warmth and caring of those around you.

This week there were some new yarns in.

Kertzer
Tweed Montage

This yarn creates a unique color striping effect with rich luxurious tweed look.

56% wool/40% acrylic/4% viscose blend bulky weight yarn.
5.25 oz/150g/247yd/226m ball.
Hand wash.
Knit gauge in stockinette stitch, size 10½ (6.5mm)
needles: 14½ sts and 20 rows - 4"

A sample sweater knit in the tweedy yarn...


A close up of the stitch pattern using the yarn..




This weeks Featured Pattern...

The Ozark Hat Pattern.

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Materials:

One size, fit average size adult head

Colors:

A: Schulana Taiga or similar sherpa yarn (1 skein has 32 yds)

B: Ozark Opulent hand spun (1 skein has 50 yds)

Knitting Needles:

US: #13, 16" circular

US: #13 double pointed needles

Earflaps: (make 2)

Using A, cast on 3 sts.

Rnd 1: using A, knit. Work in garter st, inc 1 st at beginning of every row until there are 7 sts.

Work 4 more rows in garter stitch. (total 11 rows) Break yarn and leave sts on a holder.

Make 2nd earflap, do not break yarn.

Main Section:

Continuing on from earflap just finished, cast on 8 sts, then knit across 1st earflap,

then cast on 14 sts, knit across 7 sts of second earflap. Total 36 sts, join to work in round. Still using A, knit 6 rounds in garter st (purl 1 row, knit the next)

Change to B, work 8 more rounds in stockinette st. (knit only). Add 2 more rows for deeper hat.

Shape Crown:

Rnd 1: *k6 k2 tog, rep from * , k last 4 st. 32 sts.

Rnd 2 and all other even rounds, knit.

Rnd 3: *k5, k2 tog, rep from * to last st, k4. 28sts

Rnd 5: *k4, k2 tog, rep from * to last st, k4, 24sts

Rnd 7: *k3 k2tog, rep from * to last sts, k4. 20 sts

Rnd 9: *k2, k2 tog, rep from * to last st, k4. 15 sts

Rnd 11: *kl k2 tog, rep from * to last st, k1. 10 sts

Rnd 13: *k2 tog all around, rep from * to last st, k1. 5sts

Break yarn and thread through remaining 5 sts. Pull up fight and fasten off securely.

Add pigtail ties with crochet hook by chaining or braiding off end of each earflap.

Teaching the Mobius at Wilde Roast

Steven, The Glitter Knitter, teaches the Urban Knitters the popular "Mobius Technique". We meet every other Sunday. Be in tune with the latest and most creatve ideas in Fiber Art.

Knit-Out 2009

Come see Steven, The Glitter Knitter!!

October 4, 2009

12-4 P.M.

Southdale Mall at Macy's Court
(Edina, MN)

Sponsored by the Minnesota Knitters Guild.
For more information visit www.knitters.org
or
call the Minnesota Knitters Guild at the Textile Center,
(612-435-0464)

If you have:

*Never knitted in your life,
*haven't picked up your knitting bag in a long time, or
*never put down your needles...

You must attend the 6th Annual Twin Cities Knit Out!

*Door Prizes *Free Knitting Lessons *Hourly Fashion Shows
*Fastest Knitter Competition *Community Service Knitting Projects
*Knitting Experts to answer all of your knitting questions
*Local yarn shops displying the latest in yarns, patterns and tools

So Please, Mark the Date!

Friday Night on the Gallery Tour

I took Friday night off to spend a special evening with Buck Holzemer and Patti Petrich at the The Weinstein Gallery  908 W. 46th Street Mpls, MN 55419.

Bucks photo's of the Children of Guatemala are amazing and  please take moment to visit the Gallery. You even have the opportunity to sponsor one of these beautiful children. http://www.commonhope.org/

  I can't express in words the emotions the photo's evoke...smiles, tears and a genuine sense of reality.

We are so blessed.

This amazing duo are the creative ones I purchased my new Firehouse at 3448 Chicago from. We have established a special relationship that I am sure does not normally occur in a real estate transaction. They have made the future StevenBe possible. Check out the new home page http://stevenbe.com/

Cast On 110 Stitches and Knit!

This week we had a wonderful guest at the Yarn Garage. Please meet her loveliness, Maureen, or as she's known in our parts of the fiber world, Sparkle Farkle! Ms. Farkle is what we deem a nomadic Floridian. In the summer, she's bitten by a glittery travel bug and hops a plane to us here in Minnesota. She's also been knitting for 57 years (starting at the age of 9) so that makes her 29 years old with 37 years experience. The Yarn Garage and all it's fibery glory has become a pilgrimage for her.

Ms. Farkle has an interesting story I'd like to share with you here. You see, it seems she's in possession of such a mass of yarny goodness that it's creeping from her wall to the depths underneath her bed (that's dust bunny territory my dear). Now, she has an interesting thing she does with this collection. It seems that when she's got the urge to do some creative knitting, she dons her scuba gear and jumps feet first into her stash to come up with a handful of yarns that catch her eye.

Now, from the balls of yarn she gathers from these deep fiber dives she pulls out lengths of yarns from each. Not sure how long, she just eyeballs it...she has her creative license in her purse by the way. She's not sure how her pieces will turn out but she simply says with a youthful shrug of her shoulders and a smile as sparkly as her name, "I won't know until I cast on 110 stitches and knit!" The scarves she makes are a sumptuous piece of work in of themselves, made of collections of ribbon, eyelash and wool yarns.

Ms. Farkle, you are a near and dear friend to us here and the yarn garage. So, when you decide to migrate north, we'll be waiting here with our garage doors open. Till then we'll simply watch the skies for the Sparkle Farkle.

(Steven doing a Rod Stewart impression wearing a Sparkle Farkle Creation.)

Also to note, one of our knitters made the mermaid shawl. This is made of out 100% cotton. Steven is showing off how it can be casually thrown over the shoulder as an add on to any ensemble. (He makes it look so easy.)



Now for this weeks featured pattern. Our lovely Melissa and fellow yarnaholic designed a pattern that will soon be release here. Check it out here...

...The Diva Bag

It's large and comfortable to wear. Made from Louisa Harding Yarns, it's a simple and easy to knit pattern. It's also lined with fabric to ensure that your goodies stay inside and don't poke through the bag.

A close up of the lining. Melissa's mother, who is also a knitter, had sewn the interior. When remarking on how professional a job the sewing looks, she simply cocked an experienced eyebrow and looked at me over the rim of her glasses and said, "That's because I am a professional semstress my dear." And how it shows! That's a mock envelope pocket with a purple bead from it. Oh the details!


When asking how it was done, she said that it was simply taking the measurements of the finished bag and sewing it by machine. The pocket was made from a fat quarter and simply sewn into an envelope. Here's a close up of the beads sewn to the edge.


Also, some of you were interested in the Market Bag pattern designed by Linda Skinlo. If your interested in printing this off, click here for the Let's Go Shopping Market Bag.

A new product at the Yarn Garage.

GoKnit Pouch!

Made for knitting on the go. It comes in three different sizes. The largest with straps for wearing it slung over the shoulder. The smallest size is great for sock, hat, and mitten knitting. Both the middle and small sizes are made to be snapped onto a belt loop, wrist, purse, or anything else you can find that will be willing to hold your yarn bag.


It comes in a variety of colors so pick one for every project. It also has a draw string closure so no snags or catches in the yarn. It's also made of a slippery fabric that won't damage even the most delicate fibers.

Knit Glamorous

If you're ever in the mood for a little home away from home the Yarn Garage has a little space for you to set your basket down and click your needles together. But if you ever want to be surrounded by people of like mind who enjoy the same melodious tune that comes from mixing their fiber and creativity, then Wednesday nights is your flare.

There's never a dull moment when sharing the floor with the Glitter Knitter. This Wednesday we revisited the beautiful Be Sweet Convertible Cowl, allowing for this sumptuous piece to share yet more admirers. Being a quick knit it makes for a great last minute gift giving. Made with a mohair boucle with fluffy recycled nubs it's luxurious and adds visual interest.














It can be worn as a cowl or as a wrap. Here's Jesse modeling it as a cowl with Steven himself adorning it as a wrap. It's a free pattern with purchase of Fluffy Nubby Yarn by Be Sweet.

NAMASTE!

Hermosa Bag in Peacock, it's the largest bag in the Namaste collection. Made with animal friendly faux leather this bag is roomy and chic! (18" W X 14" H X 7" L) Large enough to carry your most cumbersome projects with ease while looking glorious on your shoulder or by your side. Exterior pouches with 2 separate compartments, large pocket in the rear for your patterns, water bottle storage, extra side pocket. Three pockets on the inside (1 zippered pocket and 2 open-top pockets). This is a must have for knitters on the go!

The Mermaid Shawl.

This is a wonderful light and airy shawl knit in Hand Painted Tilli Tomas Yarn. This shawl requires two skeins to complete. This is a free pattern offered to you.

Tilli Tomas Hand Painted Silk Sea Cell blend

70% silk/30% sea cell
50 g/ 290 Yards

Mermaid Shawl Pattern

2 skeins Tilli Tomas,

Voile de la Mer 70% Silk, 30% Seaweed, 290 yds 50 gms

#9 US knitting needles

Size 24” x 105 “ approximate

Cast on 60 stitches.

Knit 6 rows.

Row 1: K2, *Yo, k2tog*, Repeat between *s to last 2 stitches, Knit.

Row 2: Knit 2, Purl center stitches, Knit last 2 stitches.

Repeat these two rows to desired length.

Knit 6 rows.

Bind off.

Block and tie in loose ends.

Jessie France

Jessie France shows some new yarn to some of the folks at The Glitter Jam at the Rosemount Starbucks. She is one of the new Glitter Knitter Divas you can meet at the Yarn Garage.

Mobius Cast On

For you fans, click here.

We are doing it at the Starbuck's Glitter Knitter Jam, outside, samples by Starbucks and knitting by the Glitter Knitter and Christa, the Senior Glitter Knitter and Sherri France - The Glitter Knitter Diva.