Spring Break ~ And Much More

 Another successful transformation from a ball of yarn to a wearable bit of couture.  One down, one to go!  Congratulations.   As the sock came down to the toe decreases the last step was to preform the surgery known as the Kitchener Stitch which locks the top and bottom stitches together to close up the toe.  Detailed images and directions are at the end of this blog.

 With much anticipation we are awaiting this little Red Number to come to completion - none of us know what this scarf pattern looks like, but you know its gonna be HOT!  Baby brushed aplaca! 

 Oh look who is happy, happy, happy!  She turned her heel!  Well, its not all that hard, but those gussets will be more exciting - promise! 

 Another of the fabulous blocks finished for the Heirloom Afghan.  I think this is Lattice pattern.  If not it sure looks like lattice!  Proud Ripley holding her students finished work!
April Block directions at the end of the blog.

 So much concentration, shopping and ball  winding.  Its not spring break in the shop.  Who heard of such a thing, us yarnaholics have never heard of it!

 Fast Sally's Passion Nette from Plymouth Yarn.   The shop has gotten in some of the wildest yarns and cotton's.  This is one of the wild ones, I can't resist a good challenge.  Its an open mesh cotton/acrylic made in Italy, from Plymouth Yarn. Its knitted up like the previous scarves we all have done.  This just makes me want to spend time on the beach.  Ripley has a hank of this in progress too.

Oh we are going to be so sorry to see you moving away, especially after we have nicknamed you SockAndreti.  Last week you cruised across the needles from the start of your sock to the heel turned, and now approaching the toe!    Remember that you can always keep in touch of our activities via the blog!






OK - April is fast approaching - time to Start Your Needles for April Block.  Go ahead and print off your pattern for your notebook, gather your wits and jump in for an exciting new block. 
Cheers:  Fast Sally

Afghan Block of the Month  April  2013

Lattice Stitch

Cast on 61 stitches

________  Row 1:                Right Side:  K4, P5, (K7, P5) 4 times, K4

________  Row 2:   P4, K5, (P7, K5) 4 times, P4

________  Row 3:   K3, P3, K1, P3, (K5, P3, K1, P3) 4 times , K3

________  Row 4:   P3, K3, P1, K3, (P5, K3, P1, K3) 4 times, P3

________  Row 5:   K2, P3, (K3, P3) 9 times, K2

________  Row 6    P2, K3 (P3, K3) 9 times, P2

________  Row 7:   K1 (P3, K5, P3, K1) 5 times

________  Row 8:   P1, (K3, P5, K3, P1) 5 times

________  Row 9:   P3, K7, (P5, K7) 4 times P3

________  Row 10   K3, P7, (K5, P7) 4 times, K3

________  Row 11:  P2, K9, (P3, K9) 4 times P2

________  Row 12   K2, P9, (K3, P9) 4 times K2

________  Row 13:                P3, K7 (P5, K7) 4 times P3

________  Row 14: K3, P7, (K5, P7) 4 times, K3

________  Row 15:  K1 (P3, K5, P3, K1) 5 times

________  Row 16:  P1, (K3, P5, K3, P1) 5 times

________  Row 17:  K2, P3, (K3, P3) 9 times, K2

________  Row 18   P2, K3 (P3, K3) 9 times, P2

________  Row 19:  K3, P3, K1, P3, (K5, P3, K1, P3) 4 times , K3

________  Row 20:  P3, K3, P1, K3, (P5, K3, P1, K3) 4 times, P3

________  Row 21:  K4, P5, (K7, P5) 4 times, K4

________  Row 22   P4, K5, (P7, K5) 4 times, P4

________  Row 23:  K5, P3, (K9, P3) 4 times, K5

________  Row 24   P5, K3 (P9, K3) 4 times, P5.

Repeat rows 1-24 until square measures approximately 12 inches form cast on edge, ending  by working on right side row.  Bind off all stitches leaving last loop on needle. 

Edging:  Drop loop from needle, insert crochet hook in loop. Do not turn; work 3 single crochet in each corner and 48 single crochet evenly spaced across each side.  Join with slip stitch to first single crochet.  Finish off. 

 KITCHENER STITCH TUTORIAL

STEP BY STEP
Hold the two pieces of knitting parallel to one another with the wrong sides facing. Thread the working yarn with a yarn needle. Note: If the working yarn is not hanging near the needle tips you can use a separate length of coordinating yarn.
*Insert the yarn needle knitwise into the first stitch on the front knitting needle.
Draw through the stitch and slip the stitch off of the front needle.
Insert the yarn needle purlwise into the next stitch on the front knitting needle. Draw through the stitch. Leave the stitch on the needle.
Insert the yarn needle purlwise into the first stitch on the back knitting needle.
Draw through the stitch and slip the stitch off of the back needle.
Insert the yarn needle knitwise into the next stitch on the back knitting needle. Draw through the stitch. Leave the stitch on the needle.
Repeat these steps beginning at the * until all of your stitches have been grafted together. Even out the sewing and weave in the ends.
Garter stitch grafting is performed in a similar fashion. You will begin in the same manner as stockinette by inserting the sewing needle knitwise into the first stich, slipping it off of the front needle and then inserting the sewing needle purlwise into the next stitch (shown in photos 1-4). You will then repeat these steps exactly on the back needle. Continue to repeat these steps, alternating between the front and back knitting needle until all stitches are joined. Even out the sewing and weave in the ends.

Down to Business - March BOM

OK knitters, here is your image of the March Heirloom block and the pattern will be at the bottom of this little chat.

I have a link that you might enjoy so check it out and keep growing those brain cells as you add more techniques to your yarn basket.
Knitting Tips - this link was not working earlier please try here. http://www.knittinghelp.com/videos/knitting-tips

Remember to also check out Ravelry and join.  Tons of free patterns, people log on and share the same projects, its a nice opportunity to see one pattern in so many different color ways.  Raverly

Sampler Afghan Block of the Month

March  2013

Six Stitch Cable

Cast on 78 stitches

________  Row 1:  P1, (K2, P6, K2, P1) across rest of stitches

________  Row 2:               (Right side) K1, (P2, K6, P2, K1) across

________  Row 3:   P1, (K2, P6, K2, P1) across rest of stitches

________  Row 4:   K1, (P2, K6, P2, K1) across

________  Row 5:   P1, (K2, P6, K2, P1) across rest of stitches

________  Row 6    K1 * P2, slip 3 sts onto cable needle and hold in back of work,

                            K3, K3 from cable needle, P2, K1; repeat from * across.

________  Row 7:   (P1, (K2, P6, K2, P1) across rest of stitches

________  Row 8:   K1, (P2, K6, P2, K1) across rest of stitches

________  Row 9:   P1, (K2, P6, K2, P1) across rest of stitches

________  Row 10   K1, (P2, K6, P2, K1) across

________  Row 11:  P1, (K2, P6, K2, P1) across rest of stitches

________  Row 12   K1 * P2, slip 3 sts onto cable needle and hold in back of work,

                            K3, K3 from cable needle, P2, K1; repeat from * across.

Repeat rows 1-12 until square measures approximately 12 inches from cast on edge, ending with a wrong side row.  Bind off all stitches leaving last loop on needle. 

Edging:  Drop loop from needle, insert crochet hook in loop. Do not turn; work 3 single crochet in each corner and 48 single crochet evenly spaced across each side.  Join with slip stitch to first single crochet.  Finish off.

Feburary 19th

The group had a great gathering Tues evening at the quilt shop.  We filled up the long tables, laughed till it hurt and enjoyed so many projects.   I saw new faces and old faces, fresh projects and old projects.  And of course there was no knitting without fudge and chocolate!

It looks like Sally is knitting dogs again - OK, I am taking a break from socks!

 Our long table was filled up from end to end.  I think we were 20 strong last night!

 Part of the Heirloom block of the month - Sara has started her February block.

Everyone is doing their blocks in different colors and yarns - its most interesting!

 Rebecca has finished her February block which she has done in the luxurious Brushed Baby Alpaca - talk about a warm afghan to cuddle up under.

 Is this not the most lovely mascot - Always watching for those dropped stitches and mistakes.   The shop has two mascots, the other is a calico girl.  

 This is a Fair Isle sock which is about half way done.  It was really fun to talk to its knitter on challenges of this pattern.   Several of us have these wonderful pattern holders with the magnetic back that holds your pattern in place and folds over like a book when not in use - the shop has these in two sizes!   Its a MUST!!!  Why did I wait so long to get myself one - Oh, I remember I wanted yarn!

 This is a cute pair - yarn and chocolate!  When spring comes and we are all toxic from to much chocolate I wonder if we will see vegie trays at knit night instead!   Nah, couldn't happen, nothing says knitting fun like chocolate.

 This is a little sample of Vicki's March block.  I will post the directions on the blog in the next few days for you to print out.   This is the lovely cable stitch, its so much fun and once you do one you will fall in love with how easy it is and how difficult it appears to those who don't know how to do it!   Vicki is knitting her Heirloom Afghan in creams like Aran style afghan.   Love how the cream shows off the pattern so well.

 NO its not done yet!   I can tell they are addicted, they are still smiling!

Now this is really fun to watch!   The very first sock has started to get underway.   By the evenings end she was almost ready to start the heel flap!   She may become the new sock teacher!


It was a really fun night at Hearts & Twined Quilt Shop - Rebecca has some new pattern books in that had us drooling, new yarns are appearing and little wonderful knitting accessories.   Hope you can come join us each Tues night 5:30 - 7 PM over on Main Street - Where Everybody Knows Your Skein.