Let's go, Indigo!

Back in the old days (really old, we're talking 1740's here) a clever woman named Eliza Lucas Pinckney found success and riches when she developed a way to grow and process indigo in South Carolina.  Back then, it was used to dye cloth and yarn.  (Coincidentally, it is still used to dye cloth and yarn today.)

In our age of instant everything and fast free shipping and shopping malls, acquiring clothing or yarn that has been dyed is, frankly, no big deal.

So why bother? Why risk getting permanent dye on your good shoes when you don't have to?  If you're asking that question, you have never experienced the joy of dyeing.  To go from a bland natural color wool to a multitude of shades of blue is nothing short of addictive.

Dyeing with indigo is a wonderful introduction to the world of color.  Let's face it--blue goes with everything, and if you own a pair of denim jeans, you already have something that was probably dyed with indigo.

Using dyes requires chemicals (even the natural dyes need mordants) and mess and know-how.  Indigo requires no mordant and if you're lucky enough to use pre-reduced indigo, you can skip the chemical equations, too.  And if you find someone fun to show you the ropes, it's sure to be a great experience!

How to tell if you've always been curious about dyeing your own yarn or cloth:

1) You've asked yourself, Why bother?

2) You've noticed yarns for sale with amazing hues and thought, 

Hmm, yet another "hand dyed" yarn??

3) You have shopped for a certain color of cloth or yarn and 

not been able to find the exact shade you'd envisioned.

If any of this sounds familiar, you should call or email The Charleston Museum and reserve your spot in their upcoming Indigo Dyeing Workshop, taught by me.  Come see, no, come experience what all the fuss is about.

But do plan to wear old shoes :)

A honey of a knit

The longer version, worn doubled.

Because knitting is so full of possibilities, a knitter should never say never.

Case in point, the Honey Cowl.  I had seen this pattern show up several times on Kay Gardiner's social media posts and with her track record for knitting great patterns, I gave it a second look.   I did not immediately cast on,  however.  I mean, a cowl???  I've knit cowls, designed cowls, taught cowls, but never successfully worn a cowl, much less loved one.

The Honey Cowl was a total game changer.  The pattern accommodates multiple sizes and lengths, so I thought, what if?  What if the longer version is as sumptuous and stylish on me as it is the models?  What if this a cowl I actually like?  What if this is a cowl I actually wear?

The answer to "what if" is simple: this cowl is amazing.  I loved knitting it, I love wearing it--the drape of it, the length of it, the versatility of it.  When I wore it to church Sunday, I got 3 compliments, and this from a rather cautious bunch who've been forced to appreciate my knitting for years.  I am sorely tempted to leave behind the knitting of regular oblong scarves as a vestige of my early knitting ignorance.  Scarves need constant maintenance and retying, but this cowl always looks good.

The longer version, slightly over-lit.

Unable to procure the Madeline Tosh yarn that the pattern was written for, I opted for a yummy merino blend by Plymouth Yarn Co., Happy Feet DK.  Having worn my finished cowl all weekend, it is now taking all my willpower to not go back to my LYS and buy all of the Happy Feet DK they have on the shelf.  And knit more Honey Cowls.

I also made a shorter one with a very nice acrylic, but the longer cowl is something I will most likely wear everyday this week.  (My teen is already hanging her head and plotting a fashion intervention. "Variety, Mom. Variety!")

 

The shorter cowl--short and sweet :)

I will be teaching this cowl as a class at the Village Knittery on Thursday, March 7 from 10am till noon.  If you've never made a cowl that you loved, but suspected that you were missing something---THIS is what you've been missing! 

Knit Inn 2013

Teaching at the Knit Inn--Awesome students!!

    Today I find myself still recovering from my wonderful weekend at the SC Knitting Guild's Knit Inn.  So much fun, food, friends, knitting, and more knitting, packed into 3 days!  I was delighted to get to teach the Vintage Winter Shawl to a great group of knitters.  I joked that next year I want to see all their finished shawls and we can take a Class Reunion photo.  Frankly I would LOVE that!

Among the things I learned this year were Russian grafting (so cool!), ways to improve my Magic Loop (AHA!!), how to knit a sweater from the top down, and that so far I don't much like knitting with silk.  There were also some great recommendations for great knitting books, favorite yarns, entertaining BBC programming, and a knock-your-socks-off Show and Tell time that makes me wish I had more time to knit!

If you get the chance to attend a knitting conference of some sort, I recommend that you do.  There is always something new to learn, in or out of class, and new friends to make as well as old ones to catch up with.  

I'll be spending the next year looking forward to the next Knit Inn and hopefully adding other workshops/events as well (SAFF, Stitches, etc).  I may not be an "old dog" but I do love learning "new tricks!"

FYI:

Coming up in May here in South Carolina, Knitting instructor and author,  Margaret Radcliffe will be in Lexington for two days of classes, sponsored by the Palmetto Purlers Knitting Guild.  More info at their website.

What I taught--Vintage Winter Shawl

 

Flowertown Knitting Guild

Do I look a little overwhelmed?

Sunday, January 13 was a big day for me.  A dream that had become a goal became a reality.

Twenty (!) knitters showed up (technically one was a crocheter, but she was so nice we let her stay) for the initial organizational meeting of the Flowertown Knitting Guild. I knew this thing would come together one day and I felt sure a couple of people would show up for this meeting and we could grow from there.  I'm OK with starting off small and patiently working to build something. 

What happened Sunday was way beyond what I expected.  The numbers alone staggered me (20!!), so when everyone was:
a) eager
b) supportive
c) offering to help
d) accepting offices
e) taking notes
f) sharing ideas
g) promising to come back

well, let's just call it gobsmacked until we come up with a suitable American word!

Awesome group of knitters, banding together to form a GUILD!

In no time at all we had board members and folks working on membership and website and Ravelry presence and ideas for future meetings.  This amazing group of women knocked my socks off with their willingness and excitement--beyond anything I could have dreamed up.

I can't wait for February!

Happy Face--a guild!!

Exciting things happen when you knit.

THE sweater.  If I had included his handsome face, there'd be more likes ;)

Sometimes I look at where I am on my knitting journey and wonder how in the world I got there. It seems like just yesterday I was struggling to learn how to hold the needles and yet, here I am, a Certified Instructor, getting comments on Ravelry projects from the designers of the patterns.  Maybe some of you think I was born knitting (hahaha. No.) or that I've always been buddy-buddy with big names in knitting (not even...yet...) but it still makes my day to hear from a designer or knitting book author or knitting world superstar.  Heck, I'm just a simple gal from the Texas suburbs, so I'll always be right tickled when I get to rub elbows with the knitting elite.  OK, truthfully?  I'll always be thrilled to rub elbows with knitters of all makes and models.  I'm just that kinda gal.

Today's big excitement came when I received a nice comment on a project by the designer/book author.  The project, pictured above, is a simple sweater that fits my 12yo quite nicely.   It's not just any project, though, and maybe that's part of the reason I am, as the teens say "smh" (shaking my head) at the connectedness of it all...

**This sweater was my final project for my Instructor's Certification Course, and it was reviewed in person by the late legendary Evie Rosen. She deemed it, "good work," and declared that I passed, while encouraging me to continue teaching. To say I treasure the memory of that conversation is an understatement.

**The designer/book author is Ann Budd, whose book The Knitter's Handy Book of Patterns helped me immensely as I knit the sweater and recently as I knit my first pair of mittens.  She also has an awesome website and many more patterns/books available.  I highly recommend her!

**The book came from a dear knitting friend of mine (whom I met at knitting group), who may not have known how much I wanted to own it, but then again, maybe she did :)

My point? Do I need one??

The journey of knitting can take you places you didn't expect and introduce you to people you'd never thought you'd meet. Sure, other hobbies might broaden your world, too, but with knitting you enjoy it more. Why? Because you'll probably be wearing a great scarf that you made with your own two hands.

Happy New Year!

I've said it before and I'll say it again:

The people I am privileged to meet on my knitting journey are some of the best people on the planet!

As we start a new year filled with new possibilities (and of course, new knitting projects!) I want to express my gratitude for all the lovely folks I get to talk to, teach, work with, knit with, plan with, play with, and learn from in this business.  You inspire, amuse, inform and bless me throughout the year in ways you may never comprehend.  I am honored to know you.

To my students, to the folks at the Charleston Museum, the Village Knittery, LCHEA, the guilds, the readers of the blogs, the followers on Facebook, Twitter, Ravelry, Instagram & Pinterest, to my non-knitting friends who encourage me (and endure me!) and of course to my sweet family who support my passion for teaching people to knit, I say

THANK YOU!

I am excited about 2013 and all the fun we'll have together.  I couldn't do it without YOU!

Knitting Guild--Coming in 2013

I am forever on the lookout for ways to get knitters together.  Let's face it: knitting can be a lonely craft.  You could knit alone, shop for yarn, needles and patterns alone, and end up a lonely, yarn-covered, sad little person.  Trust me, you don't want this!


Instead, wouldn't it be nice to belong to a group of knitters which is connected to the largest knitting association in America?  An environment where we can further our knowledge of knitting, join forces to knit for charity, and encourage other knitters in their craft?

If this sounds as good to you as it does to me, please join us for our initial organizational meeting of the North Charleston/Summerville chapter of the The Knitting Guild Association of America.

Meeting details:

Sunday, January 13, 2013

2-3pm

Panera Bread, 1311 Main Street, Summerville, SC

Come be a founding member.  

Bring your ideas (and your knitting!)

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On taking chances and trying new things

So this year I finally took some advice I'd heard several times and entered something in the local fair. Despite our good intentions to go visit the item in question in its temporary home on display with a gazillion other cool items in the Creative Arts building, we never made it to the Fair this year.  Imagine my surprise then, when I went today during the designated pick-up-your-stuff time, they gave me not just a knitted hat, but a blue ribbon as well!

I don't know if there were fifty other entries in my category or zero, but the fact of the matter is this: I GOT A BLUE RIBBON! I'm pretty sure it's my first, and certainly I hope it won't be the last, because knitting has once again taught me that sometimes you just have to try something new: enter something in the fair, attempt a new technique, branch out in a different direction.

In knitting, as in life, if you don't take a chance on losing you'll never have the chance to win.

New pattern! -or- Look out, Mr. Franklin!

I think I might be an overachiever, but I'm too busy to find out for sure!  I've always been an admirer of Ben Franklin's ability to do many things and it seems as though some days, I share that ability in some small way. Today feels like one of those days.

In addition to knitting, teaching knitting, and being a wife and a busy homeschool mom, I like to write down patterns with the thought that "some day" I'll get them published or blogged or Ravelry-ed.  This side of things tends to get put on the back burner (on another stove in a different house!) most of the time.

But I am thrilled to bring you a link to a pattern that finally saw the light of day (or the web, whatever).

(Mostly) Ridge Rib Socks!

 

It's free! It's fabulous! And hopefully error free as well--the perfectionist in me is cringing at the possibility.  So please, enjoy and let me know what you think!

And thank you, Brooks Jones, wherever you are, for making my sock knitting possible!!

Charity Knitting Update, or Hope you're almost finished with your Red Scarf!!

Red Scarf Project red scarves.  Yes, I like to say that :)

There are SO many charities for which to knit.  It really is hard to pick just one or two and still not feel as though you are neglecting some great cause or need.  This year, the KnitOasis knitting group (aka, anyone who wants to contribute!) has been knitting for 3 charities:

1. The Red Scarf Project--Red Scarves for college students who have been in foster care
2. Warm Up America -- Afghan blocks which will be sewn together to make a blanket, then donated (ideally to the Ronald McDonald House in Charleston)
3. TriCounty Family Ministries -- Hats and scarves for the less fortunate

 I put The Red Scarf Project first because the time to mail them off is fast approaching. Last year we sent 6 beautiful scarves to Foster Care to Success and received this lovely note of thanks in reply:
Good Afternoon Tamara - Thank you so much for your generous scarf donations.  We are delighted that so many talented knitters and crocheters chose to participate in the program.  Each year we continue to be amazed at the generosity and creativity of the needle arts community.

If you do not mind, I will keep your email address and definitely keep you updated on the Red Scarf Project.  Please email me if you have any questions.

Please know that the scarves really mean a lot to the students that receive them.  For many it will be the first item they have ever received that is handmade just for them!

I also left a comment on your blog.  If you have any questions feel free to email me - Thanks again!

Lynn Davis

Director, Community Partnerships

Foster Care to Success

(formerly Orphan Foundation of America)

America's College Fund for Foster Youth

So if you've been thinking about knitting (or crocheting) a Red Scarf this year, do it NOW!
I'll be sending this year's box on November 30. 

Donations to TriCounty Family Ministries is ongoing, and the cooler morning temps here in Charleston remind us that it will get chilly this winter and there are those without adequate heat or shelter who could use a warm scarf or hat or mittens this winter.

Warm Up America blanket blocks are also coming in weekly.  We need 49 blocks, 7" x 9", to sew together for a full afghan.  These can be knitted or crocheted, in any pattern or design or color, preferably in an easy care acrylic yarn.  I'm offering two more classes this year featuring patterns for blanket blocks, on November 29 and December 13.  Check KnitOasis Classes & Events  for details!

Thank you to all my knitting (and crocheting) friends who have contributed to our charity knitting projects this year!  Keep 'em coming!!