The classes I'm teaching.

The sock class went really well, I don't know who had more fun the students or I. We knit socks and I learned so much putting this class together it was very rewarding and fun. Some of the time I wondered why am I doing this? So much work, lots of knitting, writing patterns oh my is that tedious. But now that it's put together I can teach this class with ease.

We knit socks on 9" circular needle, goes fast and easy knit.

Now the next class:

Design Your Own Top Down Sweater

Whether you're a first-time sweater knitter or an experienced knitter who wants to expand their skills, this class with award-winning knitter Ana Petrova is for you. You'll learn to create your own sweater knit from the top down using any yarn at any gauge. The beauty of the top down sweater is that you can try it on as you go so it fits perfectly. Students taking this class must know how to knit & purl, cast on and bind off. Also there is homework between classes that you are expected to complete before the next scheduled class.
Dates: Thursdays, September 11, 18 & 25 with a followup class to be determined.
Time: 6pm-8pm
Cost: $65 + materials

A Mano Yarn Center
12808 Venice Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90066
310.397.7170

"This cabin contains a Knitter"

I was just organizing some of my "knitting" stuff and I ran across this sign that Patricia put up on the SeaSocks 08 trip to Alaska. Each cabin door that had knitters had one of these clever signs. There was 130 of us on board so there was lots of knitting going on during the cruise.

This cabin contains a Knitter...

Knitters are uniquely wonderful folks. They have been known to travel in packs, seeking out other Knitters as if they have radar. Often Knitters can be identified in the wild by the way they notice all the hand-knits around them. Leave a hand-knit unattended and Knitters will gather not to find the owner, but to examine the seams and the stitch work.

You should approach a Knitter with care. First, be sure the Knitter is not counting (note the small motions of the Knitter's mouth). Next, do not instantly reach for the project or any yarn near the Knitter. Ask permission to touch and gush accordingly.

Do not ask about commercially available alternatives to the knitted item. No Knitter knits because it is economical. They knit for relaxation, addiction, love, drive, or other reasons too numerous to list. Ask any knitter and they will tell you why they knit, and the answers are as diverse as the Knitter.

Be warned -- asking about a Knitter's craft may result in needles and yarn thrust into your hands.

Knitting is addictive.

I thought I would include a picture of this sign hanging on the door of the cabins but.... I could not find a one. I thought I took a picture of it goodness knows we took pictures of everything. You can imagine 130 knitters with digital cameras, lots of blogging about it and there are 3,826 pictures posted up on flickr.

But what fun I had looking for the picture, it took me back to the trip. I feel refreshed like I just took a little mini trip. I love the internet, we are all able to post our pictures so we could see each others photos.

The "Pedicure" sock....

One of the little luxuries in life for me is having my nails done, not so much my finger nails groomed but my pedicures...... oh it is so relaxing ..... oh it is so makes me feel like a queen even if it's just for an hour.

I like to wear red nail polish on my toe nails and in the winter time wearing my "crocs" my feet get cold and I don't want to wait patiently till the polish dries besides the polish never really dries for hours.

I designed the "Pedicure Sock"

"This little piggy went to ...... have her nails done"

Yarn I used is Universal, Deluxe Chunky LP 100% wool.
The pattern is improvised.
Cuff top, "banana short row heel" crochet "toes".

Summer Knitting part "deux"... will it wash well?

I'm always hesitant laundering a knitted garment, I never know how it's going to hold it's shape and drape and over all look. Will it come out looking like a dishrag or will it be as "good as new"?

After spending $80 dollars on the yarn and all that work what will happen when I wash it? Should I take it to the dry cleaners? Oh no not the "dry" cleaners! That just means a lot of chemicals and now a days $..... I think last time I had something at the dry cleaners it cost me $7 dollars and quite frankly I was not crazy about the way they "pressed" it. The cleaners I go to is very very good, I've tested them out over the years so it's not them it's just that a knitted garment is a delicate operation to clean.

So it's always with trepidation when it comes to washing a knitted project for the first time. Because I've been wearing "Marsh" almost every day for about a week it was time for a bath. Mind you some days I only wore it a couple of hours and some days even less I did not feel it was all that dirty but I just did not want to start smelling like some of the people wondering around here in Venice. But I digress.

Because I work at home and often in my pajamas I only get "dressed" when I have to leave the house and I confess I sometimes go out in my pajamas but around here nobody knows the difference. Some days I take a shower and put on a clean pair of pajamas à la Hugh Hefner, pajamas are the most comfy wear for me and yes right now as I write this I am in my pajamas. But again I digress, back to the big test will it wash or not?

I'm using cold water and "Eucolan" soap. It is recommended for all natural fibers, according to their label and I've had good success with it before. I rinse it out some of the time depending on the garment oh yes sometimes I do not rinse!

Saves time and labor. Just soak your wool garment and squeeze out the moisture; no need to rinse or use a softener. Recommended for all natural fibers, cotton baby diapers and for laundering sheep skins. Contains fiber-restoring lanolin and moth-inhibiting eucalyptus or lavender scent. Try it - you will not want to use anything else. Available in Eucalyptus and Lavender.

Oh the water is starting to turn dark! Not a good sign! No I was not gardening or digging ditches it must be the dye coming out. Oh I just hope this works I love this top and if it does not wash well all that expense and work out the window. I let it soak then give it a rinse till the water is clear and carefully squeeze out the water and wrap it up in a towel as if it was a baby.

Then I laid it out flat and crossed my fingers. And ..... Wait.... it's a nice summer day and it dried in a few hours.

Yes! It passed the test the top is as good as new! The color looks the same the shine is there and the drape is actually a bit better. So success!

Summer Knitting

The other day when I was having my nails done and was actually sitting still without knitting one of the ladies who knows me remarked that I must not be knitting because it's summer time. Not at all my nails were wet, I didn't want to mess up the bright red nail polish I sometimes wear.

Yes I knit during the summer, maybe not a wool sweater or a lap blanket but certainly summer things like this top I made for comfort and cool. The cotton and rayon content of this Blue Heron yarn has a very nice feel to it and the boucle adds a particular shine to the fabric.

It took 2 skeins about $80 bucks, no knitting is not cheap, but so much fun to make and then to wear. Exactly to my size and exact length and comfort. Oh the pattern well I made that up, it's not rocket science.

- Marsh -

Cotton and Rayon Boucle