Month: November 2013

Same Pattern Different Yarn

How many times do you find a knitting pattern and want to substitute the yarn suggested with another?  Hsiao-in, one of the Fallenleaf Knitsters, has successfully accomplished the task.  Upon meeting Hsiao-in, she was wearing a coat from Jane Slicer-Smith’s, Knit The Colors of Australia, Swing, Swagger and Drape.  I was fascinated with her creative choices and the pattern.  Hsiao-in offered to quickly walk home and return with her other completed projects from the book.  She graciously let me take pictures of her modeling the same pattern knit with different yarn.

Hsiao-in’s work inspired me to order the out-of-print book.  Many times, patterns are enhanced when an individual adds their own creative personality to the piece.  Thank you for sharing your creative personality with me.

Same Pattern Different Yarn 2013 #2Same Pattern Different Yarn #3Same Pattern Different Yarn 2013

Beads Galore

Last Thursday, I met a wonderful group of women with an eclectic mix of experiences and talents.  I was invited to join the Knitsters for their monthly knitogether and discuss knitting with beads.  The afternoon began with a tasty lunch of salad, freshly baked bread and dessert.IMG_2102

Even though we spent the afternoon knitting with beads, our conversations covered a multitude of subjects.  Planting succulents in hollowed-out squash, a memory study at UCSF, spinning and local community activisim.

Thank you Susanne, Elaine, Karen, Phyllis, Hsiao-in, Rene, Kathryn, Moni and Nancy C. for a wonderful afternoon.

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Knitting With Beads

I’ve been asked to be a guest at one of our local knitting groups in Los Gatos, CA.  Our attention will focus on knitting with beads.  While sifting through the stacks at my local library, I  discovered a wonderful resource entitled, “Knit One Bead Too,” expertly written by Judith Durant.  The visual instructions are well-documented and the written instructions are understandable.  “The “Knitter’s Palette,” a workbook of color, explained by Kate Haxell offers an interesting section on adding color with beads, pgs. 60-61.  Last, but definitely not least, “Betsy Beads,” confessions of a left-brained knitter, Betsy Hershberg.  A book full of inspiration which pushes the limits of knitting with beads.

Here are a couple of samples I’m working on for the class on Thursday.

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