Awesome Possum

While the camera was out of commission, we had a new member attend our Stitch and Bitch. This is Junebug. Despite her apprehensions, Nicole is holding her. It must be that maternal instinct kicking in.

Suzanne, our crochet teacher, rescued her (notice the crocheted leash the possum is sporting?). Junebug was near death, having been licked to near oblivion by a very enthusiastic dog. There has been discussion about using her soft baby fur in future spinning endeavors, but for now, Junebug is content being nestled in a baby hat made out of Blue Sky Dyed Cotton. (PS- the hat is marked $20, not the animal.)

Thanks to Whitney for documenting this event!

May has flown by...

I apologize that it's been so long since I last posted. The digital camera has been on the fritz, but besides that May has just flown by and boy have we been busy! Since I don't have any pictures to post, I will borrow some from Liz, of Knit and Coffee blog fame. She bought some Katia Jamaica to continue her miter square blanket and it is absolutely gorgeous. I'm also adding her blog to our list (I can't believe we overlooked you, Liz!).

Yarn Swaps, Maryhurst, and Derby Hats

Last Thursday, we hosted our first yarn swap at the Knit Nook, proving that one person's stash is another's treasure. We had a great turn out. Paulette even made some delicious homemade Derby pie!



And at the end of the night, we collected all of this yarn for the girls at Maryhurst. If you would like to donate yarn or other knitting and crochet supplies, please bring them to the Knit Nook. We go every Wednesday, so if you're interested in volunteering, let us know!

In other news, Miriam finished her hat! Just in time to lend it out for Derby!

It's crocheted out of wire and thread. Miriam actually learned how to crochet so she could make this hat, and she did! It was hard going, but third time's the charm!

The Persistence of Knitters

I will never complain about having to knit a second mitten ever again. Check this out.

Stuffed Animal Class

We've added some new knitting classes to the summer schedule, particularly for beginners. The Roll Brim Hat, Baby Kimono, and Felted Bag classes are fantastic projects that don't require any purling. The Cable Purse, Fitted Tank, and Sock Workshop offer great opportunities for beginning knitters to gain confidence and skills. And then there's the Stuffed Animal class.


Check out the fish.
Made out of Rowan Handknit Cotton, this fish is colorful, washable, and easy! Put a rattle inside, and you've got a wonderful baby gift.

Plus, this project is a great way to learn shaping and seaming techniques.

The class meets Wednesday May 30, June 6, 13, and 20, 6-8 pm. The price is $80, materials (yarn, needles, and pattern) included.

Doesn't the Louisa Harding Flotsam look an awful lot like water?

Free Pattern: Daisy Fly Dress

Daisy Fly Dress
Pattern by Kristin

This is a simple pattern that really showcases a very unique yarn that has been described on this blog as daisies and gingham, Katia Margarita. Shaping of the dress is achieved by changing needle sizes rather than by decreasing stitches. The dress is made wide and loose, making it ideal for growing babies. If the armholes are made longer, this dress could even be a cute toddler tank.

Materials
2 skeins of Katia Margarita (skirt)
1 skein of Katia Mississippi 3 (bodice)
16 inch circular needle in the following sizes: US 10.5, US 10, US 9, US 8, and US 4
Tapestry needle
US E/4 crochet hook

Gauge:
3 st/in using Katia Margarita and US 10.5
5 st/in using Katia Mississippi 3 and US 4

Finished size:
Bottom of the skirt: 28 inches circumference
Bodice: 18 inches circumference

This is approximately 3-6 month size. By making the armholes wider, this could fit as a tank top up to 3 years.

Directions

Skirt
With US 10.5 and Katia Margarita, cast on 100 sts; place marker and join in the round.
Knit 2.5 inches.
Change to US 10; knit 2.5 inches.
Change to US 9; knit 2.5 inches.
Change to US 8; knit 2.5 inches.
Skirt should be approximately 10 inches at this point, but continue with US 8 for desired length.
(For a shorter dress, knit only 2 inches with each needle size. Skirt will approximately be 8 inches long.)

Bodice
Change to US 4 circular needles and Katia Mississippi 3. Knit 1 inch.
Next round: Slip marker, Bind off 2 sts, Knit 48 sts, Bind off 2 sts, knit remaining 48 sts. Place first group of 48 sts on extra circular needle and work back and forth on second group of sts.
Purl back across sts.
Decrease row: Knit 1 st, Knit 2 tog, Knit to last 3 sts, Knit 2 tog, K 1 st.
Work decrease round next row and every following 4th row, continuing in stockinette stitch.
When bodice measures 2.5 inches, on RS row, bind off center sts as follows: Knit 14 sts (if on decrease row, K 2 tog counts as 1 st), bind off center 16 sts, knit last 14 sts.

Work each shoulder strap separately as follows:
Decrease each RS neck edge while continuing armhole decreases every 4th row until you have 7 sts left. Continue until strap is 2 inches from neck bind off (if needed) and put sts on extra circular needle.

Reconnect yarn to held 48 sts and work exactly the same.

Join shoulder seams with 3 needle bind off.

With crochet hook, work one row of single crochet along each armhole edge and neck edge.

Weave in loose ends, block if needed.

Yarn Harlot was in Lexington!

I realize that it would have been nice to inform you all that the Yarn Harlot is coming to Lexington (future tense) rather than the Yarn Harlot was in Lexington (past tense); and I'm sorry that I forgot to call you, Whitney, to see if you wanted to go; and I'm sorry that I forgot to announce my plans of going at Stitch and Bitch, Thursday or Sunday, to see if anybody wanted to go; but I wasn't sure I was going myself until I went, so there!

I went with Tonya. We were very excited that we not only found our way there without a hitch, but that we only had to circle the parking lot for five minutes to find a parking space. People must sense that she's pregnant and probably has to pee.

Tonya was also the brilliant one who actually read the paper that they gave to us at the door, and upon discovering that it was a schedule of events, realized that the Yarn Harlot, Stephanie Pearl-McPhee herself, was signing books that very minute.

So we got in line.
And I was really excited. (Notice my Mission Falls sweater--designed it myself, totally forgot what I did, will re-knit it one of these days and write down the pattern. Meanwhile, it continues to be the only sweater I have every made that I wear on a regular basis. And I have made a lot of sweaters.)
Oh, I digress--it's her, the Yarn Harlot! And she's signing my book!

And she's holding my sock!

And she's signing Tonya's book and will hold her sock presently (sorry, forgot to take a picture of that). Before we left, we gave the Yarn Harlot a Knit Nook t-shirt (one of the ones tied-dyed by the KY Bantu Fiberworks). It seemed weird not to leave a present.

And right next door, there was Stefanie Japel, of Glampyre and Fitted Knits fame. I am very much in awe of her. Seriously, I've been lurking on this girl's website way longer than on the Harlot's.
And here are the lovely ladies of Magpie Yarns who helped organize this event and even hosted a knit-in after the Yarn Harlot's speech. If you haven't been to their shop, you should really check it out. It's absolutely beautiful.

But before we saw the Harlot's speech, we attended a panel where Itty-Bitty Hats author Susan Anderson, The Knitting Circle and fiction author in general Ann Hood, and Stefanie Japel discussed their views of knitting, writing about knitting, how they got into knitting, and so on.

And then the Harlot gave her speech. Look at all of us! We're all knitters!

And here's Holly (again, I apologize about being secretive about going to Lexington so I didn't give others a ride down). Anyway, the important thing is that we went, we saw the Harlot, she was hilarious, we got some books signed, and we were home in time to gloat about it at the yarn store and watch the fireworks. I liked to think about them being in honor of the Yarn Harlot's visit to the Bluegrass, but somebody reminded me about the whole Derby Festival thing.


And finally, a picture of our Harlot socks, covered in the mojo of many knitters. Tonya thinks it's funny to make her sock look like a monster that's eating mine, but she's just jealous because the colors of my Cascade Fixation are so amazing. (It's the Broadripple sock.)