Knitting Displays for Yarnhouse Knits

I'm still at work on the handknitted items that will be displayed at Yarnhouse Knits.

Almost finished with the French Scarf:


And I've started the Marabou Felted Purse:


This Saturday, I'll be spending the day at Yarnhouse Knits, to deliver the market bag and felted purse, and finish up the French Scarf. (I ran out of one of the yarns for that project.) I've heard that the Charlotte Purls knitting group will be there that day as well, so it should be fun!

Knitting Students Learning Well!

I'm SO proud of my knitting students. They are quickly learning, and making projects to keep and share. So far, they have made napkin rings, a bracelet, an anklet, sachets, hula doll puppets, dishcloths, and hair scrunchies. Now, two of my students are learning to knit drop-stitch scarves as well!

This past week, I taught two of my students basic crochet stitches, and they did their best to understand. I think they are better at knitting, which is a surprise to me!

I taught my two older students how to dye yarn with Kool-Aid. They did much better than I did with their dyeing! In this photo, you can see the four skeins we completed. They did the first two, and I did the two on the right.



Abby used blue and pink Kool-Aid, Melissa used blue and yellow for hers. I used orange Kool-Aid on the stovetop for the solid orange yarn, and used blue, red, and yellow for the variegated skein. We had fun!

We used this tutorial for our Kool-Aid dyeing:
http://www.thepiper.com/fiberart/koolaid/dyeingwithkoolaid.pdf

Knitting for Yarnhouse

Lately, I've been working on some handknitted projects to be displayed at Yarnhouse Knits in the NoDa district of Charlotte.

I offered my services to the yarnshop owner about a month ago, telling him that my summers are usually slow. He gave me five projects to work on, asking me to finish them as soon as possible.

Little did I know that my piano and knitting students would not slow down that much this summer! Ha! So, now, I'm trying to juggle lessons and knitting all at the same time.

So far, I've finishing knitting a Market Bag, using Cascade Ultra Pima cotton yarn. So soft!


And now, I'm knitting a dreamy, frothy, beautiful French Scarf, using two different mohair yarns. "La Salute" by Louisa Harding, and "Curly Mohair" by Universal Yarn.

First Knitting Lessons Went Well :)

Today, I taught two knitting students, and it went very well!

One thing took me by surprise: One of the students is left-handed! I've never tried left-handed knitting before, but we figured it out. It took a LOT of thought for me to understand it and show the correct steps.

When the lesson was over, they both knew how to cast on, do the knit stitch, and how to bind off. We made a tiny napkin ring for them to keep, and got started making Hula Hand Puppets. I gave them enough yarn to finish the hand puppets this week. I was happy to hear the left-handed student tell her mom that I was a good teacher. Yay!

This afternoon, I spent a couple hours looking for left-handed knitting videos online. I found some great ones!

Cast on and Knit: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v00r6CJs48o

Cast on and Knit Continental: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VxWtcFuQGHI

Purl: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XHQg0kGZU7I

Purl Continental: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CmdEhuveBqo

Drop Stitch Scarf: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_pK54VjHTwM


So, now I am practicing knitting left-handed. I've cast on and knit 3 rows so far, and now my brain feels different! I'm an old dog, but I'm learning new tricks now. :)

Teaching Kids to Knit

This week, I'll be teaching knitting lessons to some smart girls I know. They are excited, and so am I! For the past few months, I've been reading books, watching videos, and searching online for everything about teaching kids to knit. I've also been gathering all the supplies and yarn I'll need, and printing out copies of free beginner knitting patterns. Now, I'm knitting samples of some of the designs, so my students will see what the finished items should look like.


All of my research was worth it. I found LOTS of knitting patterns that are perfect for beginning knitters. Here are the patterns I'll be sharing for the first lesson. We won't be making all of them, of course. But, I will give them copies of the printed out patterns, because they will have all the skills they need to make any of them after just one lesson! :)


Beginner Knitting Patterns:

Ponytail Scrunchie

Headband

Bean Bag

Simple Ball

Can Cozy

Hula Hand Puppet

Thick Washcloth



And if any of my students learn simple shaping and the purl stitch, I'll share these designs with them as well:

Cosmetic Bag

Seed Stitch Headband

Quick Knit Potholder


I hope the class goes well!

Reversible Baby Hat

This month, I needed to make a fast baby gift. So, I looked on the Bernat website, and found a free pattern called "Cottontots Bear Hat". I had some Cottontots yarn in my stash, so I got to work.

After just a few hours, I was halfway finished.


The next day, I added the blue yarn, and all my knitting was complete.


Now, I have TWO hats in one! (I decided to leave off the bear ears.)




Next up on the Bernat Blog, I'm making the Satin Lace Edge Cardigan.

I'm really having fun knitting things for Bernat yarn. :)

Marabou Trim Yarn

Marabou Trim Yarn
Originally uploaded by Shandeh

Take a look at this lovely marabou trim. It's included in the Sweaterkits Marabou Felted Purse kit. You can buy the kit at Yarnhouse Knits in Charlotte, NC.

I just love the way the marabou trim moves with the slightest breeze.