Merry Christmas

Things are very quiet in my house here in the pre-dawn hours of Christmas Eve morning. Just the dog and I are up, puttering around quietly in the kitchen. Husband, children, grandparents, (even the birds) are still blissfully asleep, still in the midst of their own sugarplum dreams...

All the knitting is done!!! Fingerless gloves, spa cloths, socks, socks, and more socks, and even a hat or two, are finished, wrapped, and ready for the excitement of Christmas. This morning brings no holiday pressure beyond the pleasant task of making the traditional holiday gingerbread with the girls. Yesterday's baking was all about loaves and loaves and LOAVES of aromatic banana bread which we delivered to our friends and neighbors as we serenaded them with Christmas carols, and an occasional silly holiday song (another family tradition made all the more comical this year as we all sported Santa hats and reindeer antlers courtesy of Grannie!!) Okay, "serenaded" might be a bit of a stretch, but we certainly do sing our hearts out!

It's unlikely, but possible, that I might find a quiet half hour later today to work on some personal knitting before we head off to the Children's Mass at Mercyhurst College: a lovely, candlelit, musical service made even a little exciting by the distraction of wondering if this will be the year little Christopher manages to ignite someone's coat or hair in the pew in front of him as he precariously balances his candle...

And finally we'll slip into bed after a wonderful dinner with friends and family, and tired but fulfilled, we'll fall asleep listening for the sound of Santa's sleighbells.

Merry Christmas,
Claire

Knitted Teddy Bears

The new schedule of classes will be mailed out in a few weeks, and here's a peek at one of the projects you can sign up for. These teddy bears are as cuddly as anything you can buy, and what a fun project to help get yourself out of the winter doldrums!

Sue knit one of these bears and the other was made by Laura, who will be teaching the class. Bob, Laura's husband wanted me to point out his contribution to Laura's charming bear: the very colorful red tie! If you're ever lucky enough to stop by Cultured Purl when Bob's there with Laura, sit down for a chat and you'll find yourself thoroughly entertained by one of the most engaging, conversational non-knitters I've ever seen in the shop!! Bob has lived quite a life, and has lots to say about all kinds of topics (including knitting) and there's no telling what unexpected and compelling discussion you'll end up in the middle of!

So look for the newsletter next month, stop in and check out the bears, and sign up for some classes!

Yours in knitting,
Claire

Just in Time For Santa!!

Our friend Barb just finished these cute Ann Norling Stockings for her grandchildren. I love the different toes.

Santa will be able to fit lots of goodies in these sizable stocking.
She has inspired me to make some for my family for next Christmas... It is never to early to get started :)
~Shirani

Sock update...

For those of you who followed along as I went through the knitting-socks-for-my-husband's-birthday saga...I'd like to share the happy news that the socks were FINALLY WORN OUT OF THE HOUSE!!!! Here we were yesterday, out at Walker's Christmas Tree Farm discussing (quite heatedly I might add) the worthiness of this particular tree. My husband, saw in hand, is wearing his one and only pair of handknit socks. Prior to this monumental day, he had only puttered around the house in them claiming that he "didn't want to wreck them." They survived our annual pilgrimage to the bitterly cold, snow-covered, deep Northwest Pennsylvania woods and yes, he found them extremely warm and cozy...

I'm off now to round up the troops so we can decorate our beautiful Douglas Fir,

Yours in yarn,
Claire

Looking for a quick-to-knit Holiday Gift?

How about a spa cloth? (what we like to call a fancy face cloth, handknit with VERY nice yarn!!)

I have been knitting these all week. This is about the time when I realize that my original plan for knitted gifts is not realistic for ANYONE, let alone me-with 3 kids, endless PTA responsibilities, and waaaayyyyyy too many projects, such as the 99 handmade Christmas cards that I have only JUST begun to work on...

And yes, I realize this picture is posted sideways. For some reason it looks correct on my computer, but it keeps uploading rotated...

I have knit these in the absolutely scrumptious Blue Sky Organic Cotton. One skein will make 2 cloths. I recommend using a size 8 or 9 needle- unless, like me, you're a loose knitter. In that case, I used a 7.

Here's the pattern:
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BROKEN RIB SPA CLOTH: (8" square)

Cast on 4 stitches.
Knit one row.
Next row: K2, yo, knit to end of row.
Repeat this row until there are 9 sts on the needle.
Begin broken rib pattern:
Row 1 (WS): K2, yo,*k1, p1; repeat from * to last 3 sts, k3.
Row 2: K2, yo, knit to end of row.
Row 3: K2, yo, *p1, k1; repeat from * to last 3 sts, k3.
Row 4: repeat row 2.

Repeat these 4 rows until the sides measure 8 inches, or until there are approximately 48 stitches on the needle. (You can adjust this to whatever dimension you'd like your cloth to be.)

Begin decrease:

Continue in established rib pattern, except replace k2,yo at the beginning of each row, with: k1, k2tog, yo, k2tog, continue in established broken rib pattern to end of row.

Continue decreasing at the beginning of every row, until there are 8 sts remaining on needle.
Next row: k1, k2tog, yo, k2tog, knit to end of row.
Repeat this row until there are 4 sts remaining.
Bind off. Weave in ends. Block lightly.
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That's all there is to it! Shirani has lots of the Organic Cotton in stock. It comes in several natural colors as well as some beautiful pastels.

Yours in knitting,
Claire

What's in Your Knitting Bag?

Next to "How long have you been knitting," the question I am asked most frequently asked when teaching a class is "What do you keep in your knitting bag?" I think knitters are a lot like watercolorists in the sense that we are gadget lovers. We like lots of little 'do-hickeys' to make the job easier. Our paint totes and knitting bags are stuffed full of all kinds of neat, unique, tools we find stacked by the cash registers when we check out. So here's a list of what I can't do without. How does it compare to yours?

First of all, I keep my supplies organized, clean, and visible, in a clear plastic Cultured Purl zippered toiletry bag. (Alright, I'll admit it here-I keep two identical bags going at all times, because I'm usually working on more than one project at the same time. However, I realize this leans toward the obsessive...) Anyhow- I highly recommend Cultured Purl's bags.

So here's the list, in no particular order, although I've marked the criticals with "**":

**yarn needles - I prefer Clover's CHIBI needles. They're gold-toned, with a slight bend at the tip. I use them for weaving in tails, kitchener seams, and some bind-offs.

** crochet hooks - for fixing a dropped stitch; picking up stitches at a cranky neckline; provisional cast-ons; and adding a crocheted edge. I keep 2 or 3 in my bag at all times - different sizes to match my project needles.

** measuring tape - anything will work, but the retractable fuzzy sheep tapes that Cultured Purl sells are the cutest things ever!

needle gauge- mine is the 5-inch wide, metal, Susan Bates "Knit Chek" which has holes to check needle diameter, as well as a window for measuring stitch & row gauge. Although it's not one of my criticals, I do use it all the time.

**stitch markers - I keep an assortment: a few of the circle variety, either plastic rings or pretty beads on wire; as well as the safety pin type which can be opened to clip onto actual stitches.

stitch holders - I keep several sizes and use them for holding stitches that will be worked later. They also come in handy when the unthinkable happen: you've just finished the most challenging part of a project, it looks like it's error free, then you sit on your needle, it snaps in half, and all your work falls off... I didn't mark these as critical because a length of yarn tied in a knot will work in a pinch. At the very least though, throw in a big safety pin or two.

** scissors - I use the little embroidery type. Cultured Purl sells cute scissor toppers to keep them from poking through the bag or stabbing you when you reach in for something.

Knitter's Little Helper - A hand balm that Cultured Purl sells. It's a quick absorbing moisturizer with lavender and other soothing natural ingredients which keeps hands smooth. Dry hands can catch and pull fine yarns. Makes a really nice stocking-stuffer...

small circular or double pointed needle - This can come in handy if you have to rip back. I carry a size 2 (US) 16 inch circular needle and I have found it to be incredibly useful.

**pencil - for taking notes on projects

nail file, tissues, and 1 Band-aid - nothing will wreck your project faster than a jagged torn nail or a bloody hang-nail... The file can also smooth a rough wooden needle in an emergency! (rub some Knitter's Helper on first.)
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These next items are project specific so they're only in my bag if the project warrants:

cable needles - (never use a size larger than your project needles)

T-pins - or any pin with a very large head, Cultured Purl sells several styles. For pinning seams and blocking.

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Well that's a first look at my gadget bag.


I'll edit this later if I find something important that slipped my mind this morning!! In the meantime, take a look at these cool new knitting bags that Shirani just got in:



Yours in knitting,
Claire