Picots On The Sides

Picot Cloth

I love picots, and was thrilled to learn the picot bind off a couple of years ago.  And even more thrilled when I learned the picot cast on.  Imagine my surprise when I discovered I could add picots to the sides as well, to create a picot border!  It's the small things in life, isn't it?

The method of adding picots to the sides is the same idea as the cast on or bind off - you simply cast on a few extra stitches and then immediately bind them off.  Easy peasy lemon squeezy!  I have knit a dish cloth or wash cloth with a lovely picot border and am sharing the pattern.  Below is also a video on making the side picots.  If you don't know how to do the cast on or bind off, I have videos for those as well over on my YouTube channel.

Picot Cloth
All you need is some Lily Sugar'n Cream cotton yarn, and US size 7 needles.
I used the color Natural Stripes

Cast on 46 stitches using the picot cast on method.
Row 1: Knit all stitches
Row 2: Make a picot, knit to end

Repeat Row 2 to desired length - I just knit until I was almost out of yarn.  Then bind off using the picot bind off method.

And here is the video demonstrating picots on the side :

This cloth is my own design.  You are free to use the pattern to knit cloths for yourself and friends/family; if you would like to share the pattern with others via your own blog, please link back to me.

Interweave Knits - Fall 2011

It's here!  One of my favorites, as they all are.  

On the Cover:

1. Fall into place - 22 classics to knit right now
2. Discover and Create - Ethereal Lace, Chunky Cables, Rustic Colorwork
3. Courtney Kelley and Kate Osborn - Get to know fiber life
4. More Double Knitting Explained

On the Inside:

1. Cardigan Bay Jacket by Carol Feller knit with Rowan Big Wool
2. Honeycomb Jacket by Laura Grutzeck knit with Jo Sharp Silkroad DK Tweed
3. Dahlia Cardigan by Heather Zoppetti knit with Manos del Uruguay Serena
4. Fern Lace Stole by Mareike Sattler knit with Filatura di Crosa Superior
5. Varsity Stole by Annie Modesitt knit with Louet North America Eastport

Sapphires-N-Purls Podcast: Episode 12

I have decided to post this episode on YouTube, because once again I have run out of space on my Podbean account, and another upgrade just isn't in the budget right now.  (For those who may be new to the blog, the pod cast started out just as a show to listen to; recently I decided to switch to a video pod cast.  You can find all prior episodes of the show on my Pod Bean Page.  For now, until I find a better solution, the show will be posted to YouTube.)

In this Episode:

I show you the progress I am making on the cable afghan I have been working on using Araucania Azapa. It's coming along pretty well, although slow.  I am just picking a color and knitting until I run out, and then starting a new color.  So far I have green, and just added a new skein of purple.  I really like how the cables are turning out!

I show you the yarns that I got recently at a shop called Bloomin Yarns, which is located in McMurry Pennsylvania.

Also, Patons Lace yarn from Joann's.  I can't seem to find the Patons pattern booklet for this yarn, or the beads I talk about on their website.

As always, I have magazines!  You can find links for the magazines in the Magazine Tab at the top of the blog:
Knit'n Style
Simply Knitting
Let's Knit
Knit Today!
Verena
Knitting
Knit
Knit Scene

Lucy Neatby's DVDs:
Knitting Gems 1
Knitting Gems 2
Knitting Gems 3
Knitting Gems 4
Knitting Venus 1
Knitting Venus 2
Double Knitting Delight 1

That about wraps it up for this episode.  I hope to have the next stitch pattern up this evening for The Weekly Stitch, along with the video.  Hope you enjoy the show - thanks for taking the time to watch.  Please come back for the next episode!

This and That

Interweave Knits is kind of getting on my nerves.  A while back, they sent me a DVD - Secrets for Successful Knitting: Intro to Fair Isle: The Ivy League Vest with Eunny Jang.  I watched maybe the first 10 minutes, and then forgot about it.  Now, I did not order this thing, and the paper they sent with the DVD clearly states that since I didn't order the DVD, I was not obligated to participate or send the DVD back, and could consider it a free gift.   They have now sent me 3 "reminders" to either pay for or send back the DVD.  However if I may also keep it as a free gift since I did not request it.

Please.  Stop sending me these reminders.  I really wish I knew what I did with the damn thing so I could send it back.

Today is a cranky day.

Without Internet service!

Once again I am having service issues. The wonderful folks at Comcast can't send a tech out til Tuesday. Fabulous. So. I will be spending a good portion of the next few days knitting, as there will be nothing else to occupy me. At least I have my phone to keep me in contact with the world.

Knit the Knits, Purl the Purls

Perhaps you have come across this phrase in your knitting, maybe not.  These instructions used to confuse me to no end. The first time I saw this was in a cable stitch pattern.  It was the first time I was attempting a cable, which can be daunting enough for a new knitter.  This was before I had discovered the wealth of information available on the internet, so although unsure of what I was supposed to do, I forged ahead in the manner I thought was correct.  I thought I was supposed to knit the stitches that had been knit on the previous row, and purl the stitches I had purled.

The first attempt was not good; I ended up with an ugly, lumpy thing on my fabric that did not look anything like the beautiful, winding cable in the picture.  I decided to try again.  I had not yet learned to recognize how each stitch looks, so I copied down the previous row on a piece of paper so I could mark off each stitch as I came to it, to make sure I got it right this time, and started again.  Of course, I got another lumpy mess of yarn instead of cable.  I was beginning to get frustrated at this point, and after a couple more attempts, I just gave up.  It didn't dawn on me to do anything different; I just thought I somehow kept making a mistake with only one stitch, which was causing errors in the rest of the row.  Having nobody to ask for clarification, I avoided all stitches and patterns that contained this phrase for a long time.

I can't remember what made the light bulb go off in my head, but one day it just hit me.  And now I understand what it means when the pattern says to knit the knits and purl the purls, or work each stitch as it appears.  So, if you also are confused by this, here is a video and picture that will hopefully help the light bulb go off for you.

If you are to knit the knits and purl the purls in this row, the stitches that are marked with blue arrows would be purled, and the stitches marked with red arrows would be knit.

Bloomin Yarns

**AS OF 11-10-2012, BLOOMIN YARNS IS CLOSED**

As if I haven't bought enough yarn lately (if you follow me on Face Book, you know what I mean), I discovered a lovely little yarn shop today!!   It is Bloomin Yarns in McMurray PA.   Small but well organized and packed with lots and lots of gorgeous fiber to feed your addiction.  Of course I couldn't leave without buying anything, so I got 4 hanks of Jojoland Cashmere and 2 of Asland Trends Class.  I have no immediate plans for this gorgeous fiber yet, so it's just going to hang out in my stash for now. And of course I really should finish a few of my UFO's that are hanging around begging me to pick them up and finish them.  Like..... the sweater I have been working on for a few years now.
Now, I could swear the girl in the shop told me her name, but now I simply cannot remember.  I do have the link to her blog - Have Projects, Will Travel, so check it out.

I was also at Jo-Ann's today, where they cruelly made me buy some more yarn... and beads for that tutorial I am planning.  Anyhow, they had the Sensations Boucle on sale.  Not that I need any more, but I went ahead and got two skeins -- but with a purpose.  My very first YouTube video was me working on a double knit triangle shawl.  It wasn't really instructive, I just wanted to see what would happen if I put up a video on the WWW.  I have had a number of requests for the pattern for the shawl; unfortunately I don't have a pattern.  I was just doing it from my head.  Scary, huh?  Also, I got bored with the project and actually frogged the whole thing.  Looking back, I wish I had finished it.  So the purpose for purchasing more of the Sensations Boucle (which I was using for the ill fated shawl) was so that I could start over, write up the pattern, and share it with anyone interested.

 I hope to get the next podcast recorded tomorrow and posted by next weekend; I have a ton of new books and yarn to share!  I also need to get my needles in gear and work on the next stitch for The Weekly Stitch - that should be up by tomorrow evening.

Well, I think I have blabbered on enough for now.  Here is a picture of the yarn I got from Bloomin Yarns today, as well as a few shots of the shop.  Enjoy!

Zimmermania

Did you know there is a blog called Zimmermania?  This is a blog dedicated to all of the 'unventings' of Elizabeth Zimmermann, or EZ.

The latest post is regarding the new book, Knit One Knit All, which is full of Elizabeth's garter stitch designs.  I love the hat on the cover, the Chambered Nautilus Tam.  That is the first project from this book that I am going to be knitting!  There are lots of other great patterns; if you are an EZ fan, I recommend adding this book to your knitting library!

Knit Simple Fall 2011

Hot off the press!  The latest issue just came today!

Lots of stuff to win with this issue.  To name a couple, you can win a cover kit, which is some Shepherd Bulky from Lorna's Laces to knit the beanie designed by Faith Hale.

Win some Kool-Aid, a skein of yarn and some Eucalan wash along with a neck warmer pattern to dye your own yarn!  I absolutely love dying yarn with Kool-Aid!  I have done this a number of times; it's so much fun, and you don't have to worry about any hazardous chemicals while dying.

You can also win Tulip's Carry C interchangeable needle set. The set has eleven pairs of bamboo needle tips (US sizes 3-13) with the cables.

Q and A with Jil Eaton - Instructions on how to knit a stitch in the row below.  Her answer contains instructions for knitting the Bee Stitch, which is a very lovely stitch.

Lots of gorgeous patterns, including:

• Turtleneck Cowl designed by  Lori Steinberg and knit with Artyarns' Supermerino
• Hooded Cardigan for a college bound (or not!)  girl, designed by John Brinegar and knit with Montana by Tahki Yarns/Tahki Stacy Charles
• Men's Hoodie for the college bound (or not) guy, designed by Dorcas Sokolow and knit with Berroco's Vintage Chunky

There are also some patterns that combine crochet and knit, such as  a beret designed by Patty Nance and knit with Northampton by Valley Yarns  (I have some of this in my stash to make a cabled blanket designed by Melissa Leapman, and it's very nice yarn!)

If you are interested in dying yarn with Kool-Aid, here is a video demonstrating the process:

If you would like to learn the Bee Stitch, you can find the written pattern HERE, and below is a video demonstrating this stitch