Good Friends Coming Together and New Knitters Formed

This past Sunday saw the coming together of good friends, great coffee and spectacular projects! We stitched and we bitched and we entertained one another and livened up our local coffee shop with laughter and good times.

Our numbers are steadily increasing. Even with the playing of the Grey Cup, several of us braved the flurries and came together at McKenzie Coles Coffee. Jeanette was there dedicating her stitching time to progressing on the second mitt of her Mousy Mitt pair. With each session, her stitches are becoming more uniform and the pattern reading less confusing. She seems to be suffering a minor intrusion of SMS (Second Mitt Syndrome) but is able to overcome it with each sip of her coffee. More and more, this new knitter is becoming expert at knitting and pearling and asks for help less and less.

Kristen has returned with projects in tow. She has taken a break from knitterly pursuits in favour of crochet. Even though us die hard knitters have some issues with crochet, we all agree it has its place. With Kristen's creative flair, she has come up with a beautiful hat pattern that will surely delight and amaze the people they adorn. She assured us all that she hasn't given up on knitting but does find the process of crochet a bit simpler. These hats are stitched with a single crochet and finished with a pretty shell edging. The varigated yarns (by Red Heart) add a touch of interest that will surely add a touch of prettiness to any ensemble. Here's hoping that you come back to the Land of Knitting soon, Kristen!


Show and tell took on a new meaning when Alison brought her recently completed themed hat. Knit in a simple stockinette, this hat brought to the fore a message that has been on many of our minds at one time or another. Alison is an expert at graphing and creating hats with a number of infamous sayings upon and has enough to display her precise mood at any given moment. Alison's playful and slightly twisted sense of humour lends a level of ease to the creation of these themed hats that had our group envying her expertise.




Socks were once again upon the needles. Both Gale and myself brought our current sock projects. I made it to the heel of my second sock. Gale found the heel of hers displaying a bit of an attitude. She threw it aside in favour of a purple seed stitch scarf. She completed the black one fated for her brother-in-law's Christmas gift and has decided to knit up one for herself. The keyhole design makes this the perfect warm wooly for any temperature.






This past weekend was a busy one in our household as we had visitors from Regina. Lisa, Shelby and Morgan Schwager spent the weekend with us. As any good ambassador of the Land of Knitting will tell, we tend to promote our ways on any unsuspected knitter in waiting. This weekend was no different. Mine and Jeanette's enthusiasm bubbled over and infected the Schwagers. I began both Shelby and Morgan on knitting up their own garter stitch scarves. Morgan took to the craft immediately and, I'm sure, will be an expert in no time. Shelby busied herself remembering the process and stitches (as I taught her when she was around 5 years old the basics of the process). Both spent every free moment stitching and even got their Mom involved. Although Lisa attempted to wrap her mind and fingers about the craft of knitting, she decided that crochet might be easier. However, once she got involved in the formation of stitches, the difficulties of chaining evenly and other mishaps she quickly discovered that it is not "easier" but merely different. She plans to work away on a blanket to keep her cozy on the couch while watching television. Join me in wishing all three gals well and a speedy completion of their chosen projects.

Success was had by all this weekend. Our meeting was wonderful. Even Gale's friend Pam has rediscovered a love of stitching and this time worked on a knitted scarf rather than a cross stitch. Alison showed off her shrunken head purse (picture to come in coming weeks). Jeanette progressed on the Mousy Mittens. Bonnie and Gale moved ever closer to completing their latest pairs of socks. Jan began another hat for her grand son. Kristen showed off her quickly developing expertise in crochet. AND...we have even brought into our fold, new stitchers (who would have joined us if not for wanting to beat the flurries back to Regina).

Morgan (10 years) and Shelby Schwager (14 years) on my couch stitching up their scarves! - Notice the hand knits gifts (touques and monkey bag backpack)

Until next week my friends...

McKenzie Coles Coffee Corner of Gray Avenue and Central Avenue Saskatoon, SK 2 pm Sunday December 1, 2007

S&B

I hope the past couple weeks have seen much success in attaining your knitterly goals. As you know last week was sparse in attendance, due to Thanksgiving celebrations (we can be forgiven for this one digression). However, the needles will be hard at work this Sunday October 14th.

McKenzie Coles Coffee (Gray and Central in Sunny Saskatoon) will be our venue and it is my hope that we fill the joint with the sounds of clicking, laughter and give their regulars something to stare at once again. Grown women finding amusement with 2 pointy sticks and some string! Who would have thought?

Currently on my needles is a sweater for my daughter who has complained about being cold at school (those darn drafty halls of academia!) What better excuse to pick up some new yarn and a new pattern? With the help of my trusty knitting machine (to accomplish the miles of stockinette stitch that makes up the back of the cardigan) I hope to have the beast finished by Xmas. It is accented with cables on either side of the zipper and the hood as well as extra long cuffs to roll up for that added fashionable accent. I've chosen a demure purple wool blend (by Patons).

The hats are done! Whew! The slipper socks are done (double whew! whew!) with the help of the knitting machine. I was able to knit up 3 pairs today. (picture forthcoming and the picture of the hats needs updating as well, but you get the picture!) This means that the Christmas giving list is getting shorter and shorter and I just might avoid the "IT" process this season. (Yeah right! Okay! I chose this denial state as there is still 70+ days until the fateful day).

I missed you guys last week as the non-knitters thought it prudent that I attend family celebrations out of town (go figure!). It still astounds me that many people on this planet still do not fully appreciate the benefits of fibre and refuse to give the soft fluffy "kitties" the proper respect!

So until Sunday October 14 at 2 pm I wish you all happy knitting!!!!

OTN (On the Needles)!

Greetings to all! It would seem our little group is growing as we welcomed a few new stitchers into our ranks. Mothers, Daughters and Friends joined in the fun as the Saskatoon Knitting Circle met once again this past Sunday! OTN (on the needles) were several hats, mittens, scarves and a dishcloth. Progress was made amidst the laughter and copious amounts of coffee were drunk. Most importantly, fun was had by all.

My own knitterly adventures have been been ripe with enjoyment, challenges, unexpected jewels and much clicking as the needles and digits never rest. Amidst cries of "I'm hungry," "Are there any clean clothes," and "What about me's?", the members of TAKE (Those Against Knitting Enjoyment) have been active and well in my home. BUT, I'm smarter than they and trickier too! Through all their efforts, I've still maintained steady progress in working through projects on the ever expanding Christmas list.

Currently OTN:

Another Hermeione inspired toque...(So far a purple and red version have been completed).

My Afghan that incorporates someone special's favourite colours is almost complete but awaits patiently rolled up in my knitting corner for the addition of more rows. Crocheted in a 1/2 double stitch on a size 4mm hook it is growing far faster than I can supply yarn to it. Who was it who noted that crochet uses up 3 x the amount of yarn than knitting? As a saged crocheter / knitter, I must agree. It has already eaten several super saver red heart skeins and now needs more. Although if the recipient was shorter, I probably could bind off now and save myself the efforts by creating a lap throw. Alas, this crocheter is not so lucky. On the upside, Oliver, our resident Knitterly Familiar, enjoys the progress thus far.

Other recently completed projects include a passel of toques to keep the heads of my loved ones warm throughout our long and chilly winters. I've recently rediscovered my love for Faire Isle. My current Fair Ilse hat jag has brought me a newfound love for the building of a pattern based upon stitching two colours together in sequence. Although, the technique is not new to me, it was made much easier by the inclusion of Continental (European or left handed) knitting. I have become quite proficient and comfortable with carrying my secondary colour in my left hand. This ultimately avoids the pitfalls of twisted yarns and the challenges in keeping the colours from mixing up and makes the reading of the chart all that much easier in that each colour resides on a separte side with the pattern cradled comfortably in my lap. Why didn't I ever teach myself to knit left-handed before?

My most recently finished toque incorporates this technique in a traditional motif built with burgandy and orange. What little guy in the midst of a Canadian would not love to show off this piece of art?

His sister will be equally as warm and stylish in this charming pink/peach coloured traditional Mediterranean/Arab motif.





Other completed projects have been discussed and described in earlier blogs. However, you might enjoy viewing my passel of toques completed thus far. As each one receives the final touches, my list seems to grow. Requests for Harry Potter inspired adornations and warm woolies keep coming in. My fingers remain ever vigilant to the quest of someday reaching the end of the list. Each year I start my Christmas creations earlier and earlier and each year the list grows longer and longer. This year, though, I have a secret weapon...I have taught my teenager to knit too and surely she'll help her Mom in completing the quest!

Happy Stitching!

Next Knit & Knatter:
Sunday October 7, 2007
McKenzie Coles Coffee
Saskatoon, SK
2 pm

Sept 16 Knitterly Meet Up

Today's meet up was a great success! Although our numbers were few, we felt the comradeship that stitching in public affords us. We bonded with a new member, accomplished some much needed progress on our projects and infused our systems with caffeinated fuel that allowed our fingers to fly.

Our group has grown. Jan, a knitterly friend, who is well accomplished in many stitching adventures, met with us for the first time. She has known the joy of knitting socks to keep her families tootsies toasty. She has infused many a sweater with love that wraps her receivers in the warmth and joy from her heart. She has crocheted, beaded and quilted many a miracle. Welcome...Jan and we hope to see you back very soon.

As always, onlookers watched us intently and we suspect that we saw a few knitters in hiding as our row counts grew. We were visited by a friend or two who took away amazement at our accomplishment. By the end of our session, we were proud of ourselves. A Rider themed Afghan, warm and cozy socks and baby ensembles adorned our needles as we filled the coffee house with laughter, fun and clicking.

Some of our group were busy living outside of the land of knitting. Teaching, learning and family obligations kept many of you from joining us today. But, and I have it on good authority, that you plan to return. (We haven't scared any of you off yet!). We missed your senses of humour and creative spirits today.

Those of you who missed today...we look forward to getting together with you next week! Don't forget to tell your friends to join us as well (we are not above kidnapping, as Rai is so fond of reminding us). Help our numbers grow, for as a group we will bond over the love of stitching.

Our next meeting is scheduled for:

Sunday September 23, 2007
McKenzie Coles Coffee
Corner of Gray Ave. and Central Ave.
Saskatoon, SK

See you all there!!!!!