20 Friday Dec 2024
Christmas joy comes in stocking-sized packages
Snow is falling this morning in Indiana. It is as dark as dawn in my sun room where I hang all of the Christmas stockings. The one in the photo is the newest and fanciest that I’ve ever knit. It is for my grandson’s bride. It has lace, glass beads, satin ribbons and golden bells.
28 Monday Oct 2024
Posted in Free Pattern, Knitting, teaching classes, Thoughts
Make your heart like a lake
with a calm, still surface and
great depths of kindness.”
[Lao Tzu]
Lake Huron at sunrise.
I just returned from a speaking engagement at a knitting retreat on the shore of Lake Huron, just north of Port Huron. For me, it was delightful, enriching and encouraging.
The Woolgatherers’ Knitting Guild in Ann Arbor, MI sponsors their annual retreat in Burtchville, MI at the Lake Huron Retreat Center. The facility not only offers comfortable accommodations and nice meals, but also has ample meeting rooms for classes.
The next post down shows a photo of the Lake Huron mitten from the Great Lakes Chill Chaser Collection. We spent Saturday creating mittens. The knitters found several errors in the pattern and I realized I’d accidentally printed a version for handouts that was an earlier iteration of the final version. I have uploaded a correct version in the mitten post so the knitters among you can try it out.
The other class was an exploration of the technique called Ladder-back Jacquard. This is a commercial machine knitting technique that has been adapted to hand knitting. You may download the swatch handout that we used at this LINK. There are many how-to YouTube videos that demonstrate a variety of interpretations of this technique.
Look at the horizon in the middle of the sunrise photo. You can just see a cargo ship steaming its way south to Lake St. Claire and points east. It put me in mind of the Edmond Fitzgerald.
15 Friday Jan 2021
O, it sets my heart a clickin’ like the tickin’ of a clock,
when the frost is on the punkin and the fodder’s in the shock.
[James Whitcomb Riley]
It was 6 AM and my ears were cold. I was on my morning walk with my buddy, Louie, and I just wanted to get home where I could warm up. As we walked, I dreamed of a hat that I could quickly knit in one piece out of one 200-yard ball of yarn. When we got home, Louie got a treat and I knit the Hoosier Hood.
Here is the pattern (select the following link to download the PDF file): Hoosier Hood. I hope you enjoy it as much as my warm ears have.
Note: James Whitcomb Riley was a poet who wrote in hoosier dialect. Most of his poems appealed to children and the children’s hospital was named to honor him.
08 Tuesday Dec 2020
Posted in Free Pattern, Knitting, Thoughts
When we were children
we were grateful
to those who filled our stockings
at Christmas time.
Why are we not grateful to God
for filling our stockings with legs?
[G.K. Chesterton]
Last summer, I wrote a brief article for the Call of the Wool, the Dayton Knitting Guild newsletter. It was about the Christmas stocking tradition among the knitters in my family and included this new pattern as a ‘thank you’ for the encouragement and support I’ve received from the members of the guild. Here it is for you, my much appreciated blog readers, at no charge. Download a printable PDF by selecting this link.
While I knit, I listen to audio books. Some are checked out of our local library using the Libby app, and some are purchased. About a third of them are non-fiction history books—mostly about the American Civil War and World War One. Code Breakers are an interest of mine. I enjoy the books of specific historical writers such as David McCullough, Barbara Tuchman, Shelby Foote, and James McPherson.
I often listen again to a number of fiction books—especially if a favorite author is about to publish a new book in a series. I recently re-listened to Jacqueline Winspear’s Masie Dobbs series.
My furry buddy, Louie, and I walk every morning at six. Now that it is dark and chilly, I carry a flash light in my pocket. Lately, Christmas lights brighten our December walks and make it a happy exercise.
Another joy is having my grandson arrive every morning for school in my sunroom. He connects with his classes by WiFi on a laptop loaned to him by the school. I feed him breakfast, and serve him hot tea. PE has been reduced to exercises but I don’t think this will set him back. I wish I could have attended seventh grade in my grandma’s sunroom.
26 Wednesday Jun 2019
Posted in Free Pattern, Knitting
Three Pines is a state of mind.
When we choose tolerance over hate,
kindness over cruelty,
goodness over bullying,
when we choose to be hopeful not cynical,
then we live in Three Pines.
[Louise Penny]
Louise Penny, a mystery writer from Québec, Canada, is one of my favorite authors. Three Pines is the imaginary village that is home to many of the characters in her enthralling stories.
As the unofficial Christmas stocking knitter in my extended family, an honor I inherited from my mama, I usually knit colorful designs. I’ve long dreamed of doing one in a cream color with the pattern in texture stitches instead of color. Here it is. This is my tribute to Louise Penny, her books, and her imaginary village.
The pattern [DOWNLOAD PDF HERE] includes written directions for shaping and charts for the texture design.
Gauge: 8 Rows/inch (2.5 cm) and 6 Stitches/inch (2.5 cm). The sock can be enlarged or reduces in size by selecting heavier or lighter weight yarn and needles.
Yarn: Aran or cream colored worsted weight such as Brown Sheep Nature Spun or Cascade 220, 100 grams.
Needles: Double-pointed sock set or short circular in a size to render the gauge—about US #4 (3.5 mm) or #5 (3.75 mm).
Select these links for further information about Louise Penny and her books.
Louise Penny Website
Gamache Book Series
Brome Lake Books
01 Wednesday Feb 2017
Posted in Knitting, Knitting Sites
Knit on with confidence and hope
through all crises.
[Elizabeth Zimmermann]
I’ve activated my new website: atimetoknit.com. One of the many good things about publishing online is that a Website is endlessly expandable. Currently, the site only offers free patterns, premium patterns and my two books, but I have plans.
I have a list of seventy three designs that are in varying stages of development. My main challenge in getting these ready to sell is doing the math. In order to offer sweater patterns in at least three sizes, I need to calculate.
The patterns that excite me the most are my Great Lakes Chill Chaser Collection. These patterns will be my focus for the rest of the year. The premium patterns are currently sold through Ravelry.com. Although it is a membership site, non-members can access the pattern store. These are also sold through participating yarn shops.
I’ve taught a number of classes and workshops over the years. This is an activity that brings me as much joy as knitting. A number of the seventy three patterns I mentioned were developed to enable knitters to hone skills. I plan to add a section to the Website that will describe each class I offer with photos of the class projects.
It has long been a dream of mine to offer simple videos that show how to execute various knitting techniques. I want the videos to be clear, concise and easy to replay.
Starting this month, I’ll compile a list of my favorite knitting links.
Those plans should keep me out of trouble for awhile. Of course, I’ll have to take knitting breaks. For some folks, comfort congers up a vision of favorite food or an easy chair. For me, I maintain my mental health with a set of knitting needles and a lovely ball of fiber. It also helps that I have no TV or cell phone.
10 Wednesday Feb 2016
Posted in Free Pattern, Knitting
I once danced with a cowboy.
I fell in love with the sound of his boots
tapping out the rhythm of a Texas Two Step.
The cowboy rode into the sunset, but
I’ve owned a pair of cowboy boots ever since.
In my 2016 business plan, I listed “publishing a minimum of ten patterns” as one of my goals. I am offering this first pattern free especially for folks who aren’t familiar with my patterns. I feel like buying a PDF pattern online is similar to buying a pig in a poke (southern slang for buying something without seeing what it is actually like). These cuffs take less than a ball of yarn. The pattern is both charted and written out and, as you work on it, you will surely think of other ways it can be used: scarf, mitts, etc.
This pattern is given to you complements of
Katherine Misegades, A Time To Knit Publications, LLC.
You are welcome to reprint it and, if you wish,
use it as a resource for teaching a workshop.
Thank you Mary Shue for helping me proof this pattern.
29 Friday Jan 2016
I used to think that music was like lace upon a garment,
nice to have but not necessary.
I have come to believe that music is
absolutely essential to our community life.
[George Eastman]
Hot off the needles. This lace caplet is knit using a wool/silk blend fine yarn. I added glass beads to each point on the border. When my niece was visiting for Christmas, she saw this and loved it, so I gave it to her. The pattern is available on ravelry.com.
25 Sunday Oct 2015
Posted in Knitting, Knitting Sites
Children reinvent your world for you.
[Susan Sarandon]
I’m delighted that my blog is a whistle stop on an extensive blog tour for this new knitting-pattern book. Story Publishing sent me a copy of the book and I could easily see why the One-Skein Wonders series is so popular. Who doesn’t have a skein left of one thing or another? This book is an answer to the question, what can I do with this yarn?
I also saw the book for sale at Atkinson Farm Yarns in Vincennes, IN. Fifteen knitters passed it from person to person, each making positive comments about the designs and clever use of yarn. My personal favorite thing about the book is that it contains three patterns by my friend, Andrea Wong.
Meaghan Weeden, Publicity and Marketing Assistant at Storey Publishing sent the following information about this book:
Adorable Designs Knit with Just One Skein
There is nothing more adorable than children’s clothes. Those soft, cozy hats, tiny jackets, and “blankies” kids can’t live without are treasures when knitted by someone who loves them. With One-Skein Wonders for Babies, an irresistibly cute collection of 101 knitting projects for outfitting infants and toddlers using one skein of yarn, knitters can make those precious items easily, sometimes even in one day!
In this welcome addition to the six-volume best-selling One-Skein Wonders series, editor Judith Durant, has gathered 101 of the sweetest designs from top knitwear designers to offer every level of knitter an inviting variety of styles, including practical leg warmers, huggable stuffed animals, baby bootees, and more.
Filled with colorful photos and helpful charts, the one-skein approach offers projects for all skill levels and yarn types. Perfect designs for gifts!
One-Skein Wonders for Babies is the seventh book in the One-Skein Wonders series. One-Skein Wonders, 101 Designer One-Skein Wonders, Luxury Yarn One-Skein Wonders, Sock Yarn One-Skein Wonders, Crochet One-Skein Wonders, and Lace One-Skein Wonders together have over 500,000 copies in print.
Judith Durant is editor of the best-selling One-Skein Wonders series, which currently includes six volumes; author of Increase, Decrease and Knit One, Bead Too; and co-author of Knitting Know-How. Durant has been knitting for more than 50 years and writing and editing for more than 30 years. She lives in Lowell, Massachusetts.
16 Wednesday Sep 2015
Posted in Favorite Things, Knitting, Knitting Sites, Ravelry, Thoughts
Tags
Artesian, Ballerina jacket, Cookie A., Copper Corgi, Decapo jacket, Hanne Falkenberg, Knitting, Monkey socks, Ravelry, Rosemary Hill, summer
A perfect summer day is when the sun is shining,
the breeze is blowing,
the birds are singing,
and the lawn mower is broken.
[James Dent]
I spent the summer knitting other people’s designs (something I rarely do) and I enjoyed every minute of it. This was restful, relaxing and healing. Here are snap shots of the projects I’ve completed since June.
The Decapo jacket [top left], pattern by Danish designer a Hanne Falkenberg, was knit using yarn that was a “Get Well” gift from a friend of mine. (Madelinetosh sock yarn from Simply Socks Yarn Company). What a perfectly delightful way to recover. Here is a link to the first Decapo I knit with Shetland yarn from a Falkenberg kit.
The Ballerina jacket [top right] was knit from a Hanne Falkenberg kit using Shetland yarn. This was one of the most interesting patterns I’ve ever knit. I have one more of her kits to knit—Profil. This designer is amazing.
The Monkey socks were knit from a 2006 Knitty pattern by Cookie A. I used a silk blend from Simply Socks and these feel better than any socks I’ve worn.
The shawl was designed by Rosemary (Romi) Hill, and I bought her pattern on Ravelry. The shawl is named, Artesian (like the water that bubbles up in a natural well). I used Copper Corgi marino in Stormy Marsh color. I bought the yarn at a shop in downtown Savanna, Georgia, but the link here goes to The Copper Corgi Etsy shop. The shawl turned out very “Savannah” so it is a fond memory of my trip.
I consider myself recovered so now I will embark upon publishing more of my own designs on Revelry. I’m working on a collection of texture knits—mostly sweaters.
Knitting, writing and other joys 