Tulips Two Needles

Kim, Lori, Mimi, Peggy, Nancy

I went to Seattle with my knitting friends. Lori is from Seattle and the last time she went for a visit she raved about Churchmouse Yarns and Teas on Bainbridge Island. The four of us decided to take a visit. Lori's fabulous parents, Hal and Mimi generously offered their lovely home, this afforded us more funds for yarn shopping!

Before we move on to the yarn shop. These are the tulip fields that we visited. The view was spectacular. If you ever have a chance to travel to the Seattle area in April. do NOT miss this glorious sight with acres and acres of tulips!

Another day, a car ride on the ferry to Bainbridge Island.

Lori, Nancy, Kim, Peggy

Nancy, Lori, Kim, Peggy

We visited this shop twice in 24 hours. As you can see we found lots of goodies to buy. I have to say that of all the shops I have been to....and there have been many....this is by far my favorite. The staff is warm and knowledgeable. The decor and layout of the store is impeccable. Think Anthropology as a yarn shop.  A few pictures are worth more than any words I can offer.

Lots of art and inspiration

So pretty

Can you see me in this picture?

the Classroom

Jarod Flood aka Brooklyn Tweed yarn display 

so..a few knitters look like grandma.

Churchmouse has it's own line of patterns and are beautifully photographed by Jarod Flood.  Visit their web site to get a little taste of their fabulousness.

I would love to make this an annual event. The tulips fields and Churchmouse are alone worth the trip.

What makes a wonderful vacation is the company. I have been knitting with these pals for years and it was so fun to get away and take and adventure with them. Knitting in our pajamas, finding enough outlets for all of our ipad/telephones, laughing like girls, eating and shopping. An ideal getaway I highly recommend it!

Lori, (Nancy is the photographer) Peggy, Kim

Santa Baby!

I have finished making Santa Stockings for a customer. Plus, I made a stocking for myself. Really, it's so I can write a pattern for it. I think it's the cutest...don't you?

The stocking is basically a big ol' sock with an intarsia Santa face knit into it.


There is Santa without his jolly face. To make the beard you need to make fringe. I did it by cutting a 4" strip along the long side of a page of card stock. Then, folded the paper in half and gently wrapped the yarn around it a whole bunch of times. I slipped my sharp Fiscars in between the folded paper and cut the along the two edges to make a boat load of fringe. Making fringe takes me back to my childhood. I've been doing it since I was...maybe...8.



Here's how I apply the fringe. So simple, just use a crochet hook to pull a 4" piece if yarn (folded in half) under a stitch and thread the cut end through the loop.

On to writing the pattern!

Intarsia in full bloom

Here is my little Intarsia flower. An advertising visual for my class. A couple of things to note:

• Most charts have squares yet a knit stitch is really wider than it is tall. Can you see the difference?
  
• This swatch is still a hot mess. It will look better once I weave in the tails which will take away those holes you see.

Yep, hot mess

A little drench in water and look at how fabulous it is! Getting knitting wet is a way of making the stitches sing Kumbaya, getting together to make your project look crisp and beautiful!

The only thing more fabulous than this spring flower is...

the back! I have found a needle that is perfect for weaving in tails. It is called a chenille needle. It's big enough to use with yarn with a very sharp point that allows you to split the ply and bury your tails for a perfect finish!

Spring flower

I'm going to teach a class on Intarsia in May. Since Spring is all sprongy around here I thought we'd all make a flower. In a couple of days I'll knit this pretty poesy up and show ya'll.

Parade of Santas!

In December a nice lady came into the shop asking if I could reproduce (without a pattern) the Christmas stockings that her Grandma made. I told her I'd be happy to do it after the holidays. On the left are the two I made for her. I love the cute bearded Santa! Now all I have to do is knit one up for myself and write the pattern so others can make this cutie.

Santa's face is done in intarsia. Most people shy away from it because it's, as I like to say, annoying. But, on this project the intarsia is just a small portion of the stocking and well worth the trouble.

The beard is just fringe...I'd like to see it in a fuzzy angora. How about you?

Making adjustments

I change the settings to allow all to comment. I'm thinking about having a give away contest once I know that a few people are reading my blog. I shall go stash diving to find a little enticement!

come back to see more soon!

First post

Hello!

This is the blog for Knit-University. I will show you what I'm knitting and talk about the classes and events I'm planning.

I would really like feedback about what classes you think you'd like to take.

That's it for now....come back for more!

Attend a retreat it's a knitter's best weekend!