How can I describe why I like to knit? Is it the tactile experience of the yarn running through my fingers, color unfolding on my needles, texture created by stitches or sharing a common interest with others?
I realized why I like to knit. Today, I watched Kate try on her completed sweater for the first time. With a sense of pride, she marveled at her silhouette in the mirror and called me her fairy godmother for making her “knitting wish come true.” Thanks Kate!
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.
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.
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.
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.
Recently, I’ve been visiting my local thrift stores searching for vintage knitting magazines. The Coats & Clark’s Books along with Woman’s Day and Today’s Woman Knit-It, to name a few, offer an archival of knitting history. A record of fashion, yarn and knitting stitches with no name. Stitches described only by the relationship between the knitter, needles and yarn necessary to achieve the stitch. Is it necessary to assign a “name” to people, place or things? Is the stitch any less important without a name? For me, it’s about the visual appearance and integrity of the stitch.
I’m looking forward to my adventures on twitter. If you tweet, I look forward to following you. https://twitter.com/sticksagogo
It’s no secret that I’m more about letting yarn do what it’s supposed to do. What do I mean? Mohair added to any fiber, man-made or natural
creates a beautiful subtle halo of color and softness, but combining novelty yarns together “knit as one” or with a natural fiber does not interest me. Yarns have their own fiber content, color and texture waiting to be transformed. Knit as individuals, different gauges and fiber content used in the same project creates a juxtaposition of weight and appearance which produces an interesting sculptural quality. In my personal opinion, combining yarns “knit as one” does not allow the individual yarn to speak for itself. Knit and crochet stitches translate for the yarn a language for all to see.
A sampler of textures expressed in the following images were knitted using Alchemy Yarns, and Habu (top left) and Habu and SMC Select (bottom two images). Using a size 10 US (6mm) needle, the stitches in the pieces were stockinette stitch, garter stitch, K1, P1 rib, K2, P1 rib, (RS) K1, P1 and purl back on the WS, seed stitch and Polperro Laughing Boy stitch. Kits for the scarf pictured below are available from lena@veryknitshop.com.
I’ve finished adding a crocheted edge to Neck Candy. Knitting and crochet are perfect pairs in the world of stitches. The edge was crocheted using Noro’s Taiyo Sock Yarn. The ruffling effect added an interesting dimensionality. The edge frames and supports the knitted stitches which balances the appearance resulting in a finished look.
This year, for my husband’s birthday, I planned a getaway to Carmel, CA where I took pictures 
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We enjoyed the beautiful landscape walking along the edge of crashing waves watching the shore birds, while we looked for beach treasures.
As the sun was beginning to set, it was time to get ready for dinner at our favorite restaurant in Carmel.
A trip to Carmel would not be complete without a visit to Knitting By The Sea. Pleasantly, I found four hanks of Mongolian Cashmere.
We had a wonderful time and look forward to our trip next year to celebrate my husband’s birthday in Prague.
What happens when you design a pattern and use two different types of yarn, which can be worn three different ways?
The neck adornment shown on the left displays two different gauges of Noro yarn consisting of silk, wool and a small amount of nylon. I decided to use a heavier gauge yarn from Katia because it coordinates well with the color and texture of the Noro yarn.
The lower image shows Cool Stuff by Prism Yarn. Prism Yarn known for its “glitz and glam” creates an ornate and opulent appearance by adding glitzy, novelty and textured yarns all in one hank of color. Each yarn is tied together forming one continuous yarn of surprises. I mixed Cool Stuff with a variety of other glitzy yarns, and marvel at the luxurious combination of sparkle and texture. Both neck adornments were knit using garter stitch. I plan on adding a crocheted edge to both.
Neck Candy may also be worn as a shawl.
The chevron sweater is finished!
The design for the chevron sweater appears in Erika Knight’s Glamour Knits pages 55-57. This book contains “15 sensuous designs inspired by Hollywood sirens.”
The directions are pretty straight forward with a twist when attaching the sleeves to the yoke. I truly enjoyed knitting this sweater, and look forward to wearing it with my favorite pair of jeans.
Sticks-a-GoGo 
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