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.

They Say Its Your Birthday! Feb's BOM

 Our fun loving leader celebrated her milestone birthday at Hearts N Twined Quilt shop with the OddBalls on Tues evening even with a big storm and rain raging outside!  Happy birthday Vickie with your tiara, you hauled in the big loot, cake, flowers and bags of  little gifties...Now you do know you do not get to do "60" again!  There is no do over!

 Rebecca had a pretty bouquet with some really great cake we all devoured, more food arrived all evening.  Pretty soon we will be known as the eating odd balls instead of the knitting odd balls.

 Are these not the most fun accessories for knitters - tiara and Elton John Glasses - He would love this, Little Dancer!

 OK back to business - January's blocks are coming along so pretty, and the blocks are all so different in colors and yet they are all knitting up perfect!  Its really fun to see them as they are finished. 

This is a picture of Feb's block of the month.   Its a Daisy Stitch.  There might be a little boo boo in the directions, please check with Vicki on this but as I recal from last night one of the rows has a little correction:  Here is your pattern!  

Sampler Afghan Block of the Month

February 2013

Daisy Stitch

Cast on 55 stitches

________  Row 1:  Knit (k) all stitches (sts)

________  Row 2:   Purl (p) all (sts)

________  Row 3:   k all sts

________  Row 4:   p all sts

________  Row 5:   k all sts

________  Row 6    p all sts

Work Daisy St as follows:   Insert right needle in st 3 rows below second st on left needle and pull up loop.  Knit 2 pull up a loop in same st as first loop twice

________  Row 7:              (Right side):  (K6, work Daisy St) 5 times, K5 

________  Row 8:              *P5, P2 tog, (P1, P2 tog) twice;  repeat from * 4 more times, P5

________  Row 9:   k all sts

________  Row 10   p all sts

________  Row 11:  k all sts

________  Row 12   p all sts

________  Row 13   k all sts

________  Row 14   p all sts

________  Row 15:  K11, work Daisy St, (k6, work Daisy St) 3 times, K10

________  Row 16   P 10, P2 tog ( P1, P2 tog) twice,*P5, P2 tog, (P1, P2 tog) twice:

                            repeat from *2 more times, P 10.

Repeat rows 1-16 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.

Hooray Its Knitting Day

 Holy cow, the rain sure didn't keep any of the Odd Balls away!  It was like we never missed a beat and I am guessing two weeks away from the shop over holidays really got the juices flowing.  I was going to take a count of how many started socks and I think there were 10 at least!   I am so excited so many took the plunge into insanity.  The biggest challenge was met, casting onto 4 needles and then connecting that first stitch to create your first round.

Well played!  By the time my hour was up and it was time for Vicki to start her block of the month Heritage Afghan, everyone had gotten at least 2-3 rounds knitted on their first sock.  Next week, we start the heel flap!

After sock hour the long needles came out and I am sorry my images did not come out good enough to post, but there was quite an array of colors for those blocks.   In comparison to the sock challenge the afghan block should seem like a cake walk!

Out came the long needles, fresh balls of yarn, and another project started.   When Vicki showed off her finished sample block she reminded everyone that later in the course of time she will also teach us how to block our work so those blocks are nice and square and beautiful!  

See ya next Tuesday, where everyone knows your skein, and we are all glad you came!

A Word On Socks

See ya Tues evening!   Vicki has a pretty straight forward Heirloom block to start on the afghan Block Of The Month, but the socks need some discussion.

I know I have eyed some of the cool bulky yarns thinking how lovey they would be in socks.   Let me just say NO do not try this.  First off the bulky appears it will have enough yarn in a skein but one ball will just give you one sock..you would need two skeins for a pair!   Here is an example I did and I did not make the second.  This one was MORE work than you can imagine.  Its gianormous and I could not keep the stitches on my needles it became so big when adding the gussett!   You need to use the recommended worsted weight - the shop has lots to choose from where ONE skein will make a pair.   Remember these are your first socks, and you want to like and wear them even if they are not perfect!

I did manage to finish a pair over the holidays -

Till Tues!

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

Get Ready for Christmas

 Lady's start your needles for the beginning of the Easy Peasy Sock class in January.  Here is a link for the pattern, just go and click on the down load and print it out...Not only fun to read but a nice introduction to your lovely finished socks to come. EasyPeasySocks  Let me also say something about these little darlings - the best yarns for these should have some wool in them so they get nice and soft, when washed. You need to choose a good worsted weight, the shop has lots to choose from, and you need wood needles (not metal!)...when you finish your first pair you can then drool over all the many sock yarns and try something with a finer yarn and smaller needle.  No Fear...The world is your Skein!

Each time I visit the shop there is newly decorated displays - a cradle of yarn,  Please bring this to my house for Christmas!  Please!!!

 One of the really odd skeins of yarn that has popped up is this dread lock type roving single ply - its soft and luscious and makes the most amazing scarf!

Also in January Vicki will start the Block of the Month!  Afghan style, and if you check down on one of the earlier posts you will find the directions and information to get started...   As is true with all fiber addicts, we must have more than one project going at all times.  Maybe 3 or 4!

  A bit of Decoration and baskets under the tree to entice..new colors of yarn, new types of yarn...

 Oh horray a sock admirer!   I know I can read her expression - I could never do this!  Well, I never thought I could either but the little ball of yarn I used here is self patterning and knits up like fair isle!   Its a wool yarn knit on 1.5  DP needles.

 These scarves have been the rave!  Another accomplished Odd Ball, Kim is enjoying her beautiful scarf in black's and whites...Its really dressy and beautiful!  These yarn balls come in so many colors, we are all fascinated with them.

 This group has had more fun with the joking around - we need wine to fix our tension when we knit - so its become a monthly thing - great snacks, sweets and our little box of wine - notice the fancy dixie cups- Oh yeah, we rock!

 Ho Ho Ho Laughing all the way!  More of these really amazing dread lock scarfs!

 Our long tables are filled with people starting out, beginning projects and contemplating what to do next.  Don't you love candid shots!

Oh Jill, what a fun scarf!  It almost has a life of its own...Love your wood needles, they are SO much better than the metal ones that slide out of your work.

So till next Tuesday - as a reminder this will be our last get together till after xmas - you will have 2 weeks to get ready for January and then let the fun begin.