Wildly Beautiful Socks
Wednesday, January 28th, 2009Everyone stop reading this right now and look at Joy Janotti’s entrelac socks several posts below this post. Aren’t they wild and gorgeous? This Sunday we’re doing a class in entrelac – look where it can lead. Socks are little engineering wonders to begin with – who the heck figured out how to turn a heel in the first place? Add entrelac and a multi-colored self-striping yarn, and you get organized chaos.
If you did what I said, you also saw the latest of David Ritz’s creations, a black and white Norwegian sweater. I love that motif, very geometric and modern but with reference to traditional designs. And you saw Pegi Convry’s doglet wearing Pegi’s swatch from the Just the Facts class. The uses for a piece of knitting is limited only by your imagination.
The weather is icky today and I don’t think we’ll be opening. I don’t want to seem like a woossie, yet I hate to waste time at the store if no one will come in and don’t think people should needlessly run around on dangerous roads. Check it out before you come – call 610-373-1622. If we’re closed, you’ll hear it on our message.
I have some really nice projects to show you – none of them mine, unfortunately, but I’m trying not to have project envy. I really do get things done, but sometimes they get to the store without a photo being taken, sometimes I’m not ready to show them yet for whatever reason, and sometimes I don’t block things if it’s too early to display them in the store and since first impressions are important, I want them to look as good as they can.
Anyhoo, here’s a cute Debby Andrews in her cute mohair hat. This is a very warm hat, with a lining done in a smooth wool and outer layers done in wool plus mohair. It’s nice because the mohair is not against your face but you get the benefit of the warmth.
Debby loves hats and wears them with great style!
Ann Kennedy brought two stunning projects in for us to see. The first is a felted bag made from Manos del Uruguay wool, with wonderful felted flowers and a beautiful lining. This, believe it or not, is Ann’s first felting project. I think it has been knit for quite some time, but it took a while to get the courage to actually throw it in the washer.
It really turned out well. Do you love those bobbles or what?
And here is Ann’s terrific scarf made from 7 different colors of Koigu KPPPM. Soft, colorful, beautiful:
Wow!
I have to say, though, as wonderful as those projects are, my vote for belle of the blog this week is Donna Guthrie’s finished Great American Afghan. This is an absolute masterpiece!
Donna made her afghan from a combination of Paton’s Classic Wool that she had been saving for some time, and added colors of Galway in heathered green and gold. Donna’s knitting is lovely and expert – she’s teaching the class in this afghan and puts her heart and soul and a lot of time into knitting the blocks and making notes to help her students achieve success.
Here is Donna, hiding behind her afghan. In this photo, you can see the entrelac block. I think we have a theme going here:
And here is the completed afghan laid out in full. The beautiful border, with bobbles at the corners, was designed by Donna herself. I hope she’s as proud of this as we are to have her teaching here!
I hope we’ll have this on display for a week or so after the class next Saturday. And Donna will be starting the Great North American Afghan classes in just a couple months, so keep an eye out (what a weird saying) for the spring schedule.
Speaking of classes, there are still a couple spots open for Magic Loop Mitts, Fair Isle Cardigan, and Inside/Outside scarf, which begin soon. Take a look at the Class page if you’re interested.
And meanwhile, stay home, be safe and cozy, and use up some of that stash I keep hearing about. And it’s always in an accusatory tone, too, as if it’s my fault you all buy so much yarn! If I didn’t have the same disease, my shop wouldn’t be so darn full of yarn, with more on the way for spring. Oh, goody, new yarn! Can’t wait!
See you soon…
Trish
