KNews at Knitting Today

Lorna Miser, knitwear designer and author and former owner of Lorna’s Laces, is in Indiana right now and is available to teach a special class at Knitting Today this Saturday, November 1, from 1-4. It is going to be a class I had to leave out of the retreat offerings: Design for Baby, Knit for Baby. But don’t let the title fool you as the project can server as a sampler for a larger sweater too. Lorna will be talking about using inspiration and ideas for the design from “found” items such as scrapbook paper. Working from a generic cardigan shape sweater for baby through toddler, and your choice of yarn, you can start knitting right in class as well as have many ideas for future projects. Cost is $30 for the 3 hours session, a bargain considering that the same class goes for $80 at Stitches which is where she’s headed. Lorna also has designs and inspiration for the Stitches classes and if time allows, we’ll have show/tell. Please reply or call immediately if you are able to attend as class size is limited to 8.

I read in a DIY magazine this morning, that if you lower your heat thermostat by 2 degrees Fahrenheit that you could save $180 a year.  Many of you know we’ve been remodeling our house in order to quit heating with electric ceiling coil heat from 1968 supplemented by a woodstove from the 1970s and have moved to gas forced-air and along with it A/C [which I am soooo thankful to have!].  In connection with this remodel, we’ve had to tear down ceilings, redo walls, and live in general messy disarray for about a year.  Well, Wednesday of this week the downstairs came back together.  A lovely Bryson Canyon colorway on the wall [think sunset], the furniture and television center back in place and a new open path to the backdoor.  But, while sitting downstairs watching television, we all feel slightly chilly (this is a tri-level, so part of it is insulated cement block).  When I read this article this morning, I had a quick vision of Mr. Rogers walking in and changing his shoes and coat for indoor shoes and a cardigan.  Isn’t that wierd?  What I saw was a rack with decorative knobs and hooks screwed to the wall by the back door downstairs.  On that rack were cardigan sweaters with nice matching zipper pulls, one for each of us, all in the new Shepherd’s Wool.  I saw this movie in my mind playing itself out, everyone coming in the house, slipping off their shoes and putting them in their cubby by the front door, putting on their Felted Clogs from the Fiber Trends pattern, meandering downstairs and slipping into their cozy cardigan.  Now, it might have to be zippered hoodies for my girls but right now I’m personally into cardigans — on again/off again, you know.  I’m not sure about the boys, will have to ask them.  I have a couple of designs in mind that I’ll need to track down, one of Mary Anne Oger’s from a few issues back in Knitwords and a button-down from the Purl Stitch book (which I think I could interpret to the machine).  And I really like the Iain cable hoodie sweater from Figheadh which I need to get ordered and do a knitalong with.  Getting off the subject, saving money by reducing heat costs . . . what do you think?  Have you done it and how have you used your savings?  Did you buy yarn with it?  I can get four really nice-quality wool sweaters for $180 out of the Shepherds Wool.  Should that be on my next top ten list?   
– Lea-Ann

that I would never be one of those crazy women with a “stash” of yarn just sitting around.  I know…. how absurd to even think it possible.  I was reminded of this comment this weekend when my son snapped at me “Why is there more yarn on my dresser?  Can’t you put it somewhere else?”.  In my defense, his dresser is in the dining room because we are remodeling the entire upstairs (it is completely gutted at the moment) so it’s not like I ventured into his private chamber to plop my yarn onto his dresser.  It was the closest flat surface when I unloaded the bag.  To answer his question- No, there isn’t anywhere else to put my yarn.  I had already covered his sister’s dresser with a bag and a tub; the extra dining room chair has a bin of Cascade 220 and fun fur waiting to be turned into Alpine Boots - not to mention the several bags of already started projects strewn about the house.  What to do with all this yarn that is turning my children against me?  Well, I had a brainstorm while packing up the summer clothes in one of those giant Space Bags.  I admit that I have some yarn that I have no idea, at this point in time, what it will someday become so why not throw it in with the clothes and vacuum seal it?  Yep, that’s what I did.   Won’t it be fun next spring to open up that “box” of clothes to find that delicious yarn just waiting for me?   And as a bonus my son can stop whining at me.

Susan

Okay, here’s the scoop.  I have decided that I absolutely must have a felted door mitten for the winter season.  I’ve liked this project since it came in and now that we have the Shepherd’s Wool I can’t stop thinking about it.  I pull in my driveway and I picture it on my door… I dream about it… I must have it.  So, what’s the problem?  I cannot decide on a color!  I’ll walk out and pick up the skeins and squeeze them; bury my nose and inhale (they all smell the same, in case you’re wondering); turn them over in my hands. But still, no decision.  Those of you who know me know how anal I can be so what comes next will probably surprise you because….

This is where you all come in.  I have narrowed it down to three colors (Hunter Green, Garnet, and Royal Blue- see below, but note that the colors are a bit darker and deeper than what you will see) and I will let all of you pick for me.  Here’s what you do: post a comment telling me which color you like best.  I will go with the color that gets the most votes and then post the finished project here.   The nominees for Felted Door Mitten are:
 

A bit of background:  My house is buttercream yellow with an oak front door.  I have a white porch and no shutters or anything else that may argue with the mitten color. 

So, there you have it.  Post a comment and let’s get the ball rolling.  Pun intended.

Susan