Friday, January 20, 2006

Koigu and Modular Knitting

A few weeks ago we got in the Modular Knits book, by Iris Schreier. It's a really nice book that has a number of great projects - pillows, shawls, hats, scarves, wraps, vests, even fun things like an eyeglass case and a purse.

Barb decided to make the Diamond Panel Vest out of Koigu Kersti. It was really fun to make, and it's such a flattering fit! Not to mention, the color she chose goes with just about everything!

I also used Kersti to make the Sheer One-Piece Shawl, although I did not block it out as much as I could have. I wasn't going for such a sheer look. Nothing like a little nail biting at the end... it took every bit of 5 skeins. I only had about 2 yards left after I bound off.

India recently finished her Koigu shawl. She is a big sock knitter and blended a number of her leftovers all together in a gorgeous garter stitch rectangular shawl. She is also using Koigu to make an afghan - a modular one, with squares of different colors. She brought it in the other day but we will wait to photograph it until it grows in size.

A number of new spring yarns are on the shelves, and should be online by next week. And don't miss the sale section - still some really great deals on some really great yarns.

Wednesday, January 04, 2006

Not much knitting has been done

...but I have been painting and crocheting quite a bit. Let me explain. Before the holidays, I was on a painting binge. Painting is great therapy for me. Not quite as much therapy as knitting, but there is such satisfaction for me in completely transforming a room with just two coats of paint. So, between Thanksgiving and Christmas, I painted my living room, family room, eating area, front hall and dining room. What's left? Just the kitchen, as I painted the entire upstairs this summer.

And then one night, while relaxing in my knitting chair I started looking around at the furniture. It was screaming out for something colorful. Like...a...new...throw! To keep things interesting, I decided to crochet one. I grabbed 7 colors of Mission Falls 1824 Wool and started a simple Tunisian double crochet afghan in random stripes. I'll do three to four strips and them sew them together. The colors are great and work perfectly with my rug and furniture. And oh, maybe three quarters of the way through the first strip, I glanced up and realized, I have no pillows on my couches! So I picked up a copy of 200 Crochet Blocks (my favorite new book!) and grabbed some more 1824 Wool and started crocheting squares, which I will make into pillowcases. I am having so much fun that I find it very difficult to pick up the modular shawl I'm knitting with Koigu Kersti. It's a beautiful shawl, but the crochet squares are so much fun, because with each square I am learning new crochet stitches, and getting even better at understanding crochet directions.

And I get faster with each square, so maybe I will get back to knitting in the next few days? We'll see.

Tuesday, January 03, 2006

It's About Time!!!

We placed a huge Mountain Colors order back in September - lots of Bearfoot and 4/8's Wool that was supposed to be here in plenty of time for the holidays. Well, the holidays have come and gone, but at least the yarn is here and it's gorgeous. Check it out!