In January, I made my first Colormatic (from the free pattern designed by Michelle Hunter) as a shop sample in less than two weeks. Ann at Gosh Yarn It! takes the best photos.
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I taught the one-session class on February 1, and I made my Colormatic 2 for my lovely daughter as a teaching-project-in-the-works. I have a difficult time with indoor photos after dark, but this one is actually better than others that I have attempted.
Each cowl was made with four different colored skeins of "Kenzie" (50% New Zealand merino, 25% nylon, 10% angora, 10% alpaca, 5% silk) from the HiKoo by Skacel Collection, Inc. A lovely, beautifully balanced yarn, and very easy to work with. The class was well attended and great fun!
And then there were socks! I do love teaching from my own patterns. In March, I taught a three-session class in making a basic toe-up sock from my TATU Try A Toe Up) patterns: TATU Sock and Fingeringweight TATU Sock. The class created a perfect opportunity for me to both start and finish a pair of socks for Mr K (whose 'Sad Socks' are still quite that).
The yarn that I used was Cascade Yarns Heritage 150 Paints (75% merino, 25% nylon). The fantastic 492-yards allowed me to make the tallest socks ever(!) I rolled the skein into two equal-weight balls, and I knit the sock cuffs until I thought that they should not be any taller. You can see that there was a decent amount of unused yarn in the remaining two balls (How opposite is that from those sad socks?)
I also made a second child's sock. This photo shows a blocked and unblocked sock. The blocked one was a part of the pattern photography. The unblocked one a class sample.
I had a total of three in-the-works socks as I taught the three classes which focused on (1) the toe cast-on, foot and gusset, (2) short rows, and completing the reinforced heel, (3) my favorite toe-up sock bind-off (the Kitchener Stitch Bind-Off) along with alternate bind-off possibilities.
The sock knitters were a smaller but very enthusiastic group! I hope to offer a couple more classes before summer.
You do motivate me to try socks! I am always either in sandals or sneakers with white socks. I think that knitting them for me would be a waste. But, I can think of a few people who would be happy recipients!
ReplyDeleteLOL Your footwear description is exactly what I wear through most of the year. But during those weeks that you might be in Florida, I might be wearing my boots, and hand knit wool socks are the best for keeping warm.
DeleteSome people (Mr K is one) do appreciate hand knit socks more than others, and might even wear them in warmer weather. Thanks for your comment, Tracy!
Lovely cozy cowl that looks so great on your beautiful daughter!
DeleteLong socks are so comfy. Although I had my doubts, socks are so much fun to knit; I especially like turning the heel.
Thanks for your comment and compliment, Dixie! I remember telling my Mom after I knit my first sock that turning the heel was "like riding a roller coaster". (No one but a knitter would understand :-)
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