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.

Its A Wrap - See Ya Next Year

 In anticipation of  January's sock class and the scary use of multiple needles I thought I would put your minds at rest. Here is what your needles will look like as you begin your first cast on.  Remember to go back to one of the older posts and get the link to your pattern for Easy Peasy Socks!   This is important for you to have when you start your sock. 

 Once you have your stitches on your
needles you can now just create a little triangle with your needles and you can see what it should look like.  Below are more images of how the work will progress to connect your first round. 

I know some of you will be wanting to experiment and go forward - GO FOR IT!!!   Play around and have fun. 

Back at the shop and our last gathering for the year, our knitting bags are full of items we are sharing - projects started and projects finished!   

 Vicki has started her Shrug - love her colors <G>, and the cool thing about these shrugs she and I are making is they are out of odds and ends of yarn stash.   So darn simple too - knit a ribbing for the arm, make a couple rows of increases and then just knit back and forth in rows of yarns and whatever stitches you want till you have the length you want.   Oh yeah, I see some of these on the table for next year coming out of your bags.

 Red, red, red  I love red and the scarf yarns come in so many great colors like this GREAT RED!  She makes it look so hard with all the concentration, but its a snap and will be done in no time.

 Did I hear someone say I thought we were goining to party - where's the chocolate!   Oh yeah, there was chocolate, and hot chocolate, cookies, fudge, I'm just saying - eating is just part of what we do!

 OK, so we actually do work on things and figure out patterns.  I guess more chocolate is needed!

 Lets see, Knit One, Purl One,,,No no, its Make One!  

 We had 20 people at the shop for our last get together.  We are all over the place, shopping, visiting, eating and just having a great time.  

We could not do this without our great shop owner Rebecca of HNT (Hearts Entwined) who keeps the shop open for us to come play - keeping the staff on, keeping the lights running and taking time from her schedule for the Odd Balls to thrive and play.  Merry Christmas and prosperous New Year.

 Oh, almost forgot, I finished my shrug!  I figured I would waltz in wearing it last night but the weather being 70 degrees at 5PM in the middle of winter sorta took the thrill out of the idea, so I just brought it along with me like an old friend tucked in my yarn bag. 

I have decided to put a crochet edge on it.  With all the different yarns in the rows it's given it a rather uneven effect (not that that is a bad thing!), but I think it could use a bit of finishing touches.

Remember Vicki is starting Jan with her block of the month, Her January pattern is toward the beginning of the blog posts for you to print out if you want to make it.   Till next year, keep your needles sharp!

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays
FS AKA: Fast Sally

Print Your Card, Spread The Word

Help everyone find us at the Quilt Shop.   Right click the photo and you can print out your own little card to hand out when you find a yarnie or odd ball who would love to join us.  You can also email me and I will send you an attachment of the card.  Feel free to put your name and email address on your cards when you hand them out - stay connected to all odd ball activities even if you miss out on some Tuesday fun by visiting the blog often or sign up for class patterns and updates.

See ya Tues!