Tag Archives: Knitting Community

Flooding In

Well it is Winter on the West Coast – which means that it is raining!  Right now it is the soft gentle rain, constant and sort of soothing.  Which is how I like life to be, soft, easy and no major ups and downs!

Nanaimo River in the Fog this morning.

Last Sunday the rain came down in torrents and that was after a few days of heavy rain!

(please note here – difference between heavy rains and torrential rains – heavy rains, water runs in ditches and torrential rains, WATER RUNS IN BASEMENTS)

We woke up Monday morning to 3/4 inches of ground water in my basement;  we have been living with huge fans running ever since!  Out came the brooms and dust pans, every swept water up onto a dust pan?  Interesting activity!  Followed by the much more efficient wet/dry shop vac!

On the up side, my basement will get new flooring and the outside of the house will acquire new drainage ditches!

Not sure of the time line as to when all this will happen as quite a few houses were flooded that had never been flooded before and the restoration guys are running around trying to rent equipment to handle more jobs at once than they had ever seen!

To go with the weather I have a few things coming down my creative pipes, ideas overflowing with possibilities and flooding onto my computer screen and on to my needles!

To begin with, a little while ago I started a Facebook Group – LeTissier Design – Pump up your Knitting.  Something where I could create a bit of a community, focused around knitting and friends.  Run a few KAL’s (Knit Alongs), creating small things that will focus on skill building.

All you need – yarn – appox 200 yds heavy lace or fingering weight – sample is Koigu Lace, 2.0mm US 0’s straights, circs or I use 2 dnps’s, approx. 800 to 900 size 8/0 beads and a dental floss threader (usually found by the tooth brushes at your local drug store)!

I am planning my first KAL – Beaded Fingerless Mittens

  • Knitting Skills required – only the ability to knit Garter St!
  • skills learned – threading beads and then working with pre-strung beads

The pattern is an older one of mine – Beaded Pulse Warmers or Fingerless Mittens – I have used it many times to teach this style of knitting with beads.  We can all knit garter stitch – that leaves the mind free to focus on learning how to handle the beads!

If you wish to participate in the KAL, use the code “First”  to purchase the pattern for $2.50 US.

 

mits
Koigu Lace, Miyuki 8/0 bead and some Zings – how could I resist purchasing the needles – they matched my colours beautifully!

 

And then Stash Dive to find the perfect yarn and beads!  You can use a heavier Laceweight – I am starting a new pair in Koigu Lace, or any fingering weight yarn, one of my favourite yarns for these mittens is Drops Alpaca.  You will need about 800 to 900  8/0 beads for the project – maybe less depending on the chart you choose!  The pattern offers a few options!

The KAL will start Feb 9th and run until approx. March 9th.  The code for the pattern is good until the end of the Olympics Feb 25th.  I am hoping to get my pulse warmers knit by the end of the Olympics – I know how life does like to interfere!  So I gave us all a little extra time!

Isn’t this pretty?

Not into beads and garter stitch, how about some beautiful lace?  A friend of mine is also starting a KAL February 9th.  Selena Miskin of Wayfaring Yarns has a new pattern with kits available.  Check out the KAL for her Frostflowers Shawl.

Coming down the Pipes – the Retreat – Fingerless Mittens embellished with Inlay or Rooistud – the weekend of February 16, 17 and 18.  And one week later – two new patterns for the Buffalo Wool Co!

Happy Knitting

Lynette

 

 

 

Stitches South – Nashville – 2015

The Buffalo Wool Co's Miss Betsy - a travelling store.
The Buffalo Wool Co’s Miss Betsy – a travelling store.  You can see the Rose of Texas Shawl by the door.
Shaker Boxes - all sizes all hand made.  I wanted to bring them all home!
Shaker Boxes – all sizes all hand made. I wanted to bring them all home!
Glass needle tips - works of art, in Pyrex and dichromatic glass.
Glass needle tips – works of art, in Pyrex and dichromatic glass.

This was my first Stitches event.  It was a blast!

I met the Miskins, Ron and Theresa of the Buffalo Wool Co.  It is amazing that we could work together for 2 years and never meet until now – the wonders of the internet.

I saw Rhiannon’s Cloak, on stage and under lights, exactly what it was designed for!  And it was incredible.

Friday night was the Fashion Show and it was why I was there.  Rhiannon’s Cloak was making it’s debut under the lights and I just had to see it and thanks to the Buffalo Wool Co – I did.  All the work and worry was worth it!IMG_0830

I walked the floor at Stitches and saw so many wonderful things; yarns, tools and fibre.  Something for everybody and every interest.

Lost City Knits Booth
Lost City Knits Booth

There are so many talented yarn people out there.  Small indie dyers and large companies were represented.  From Plucky Knitter and Verdant Gryphon, Lost City Knits , Dragonfly Fibers, and Adirondack Yarns, and Prism – the selection was amazing – special colourways dyed just for the show, one-offs and sweater quantities – there enough yarn for every need or interest.

Ron Miskin of the BWC.
Ron Miskin of the BWC.

I don’t need any yarn – seriously I don’t – I work in a yarn store and I design for the Buffalo Wool Co.  I have enough yarn.  Really…. I do.  But that didn’t stop me from purchasing some yarn – but you will have to wait to see it!  It is being sent with the other items I purchased.  I didn’t have room in the suitcase.

What yarn tempted me?  Well it is a 100% silk laceweight, undyed, with a glitter thread through it.  I saw it at the Swan Hollow Studio Booth.  I bought 2 hanks for a shawl for painting.  I also found a hand made glass button from Sheila and Michael Ernst.

Swans Hollow Booth
Swans Hollow Booth

Colours in the shawl will come from that button!  I just can’t stop thinking about it and I can hardly wait for it to arrive here.

It was the tools that got me.  Hand made glass needles, beautiful hand made shaker boxes – I could have just spent every penny there – but how to get them home?  Sock blockers and yarn bowls, swifts and knitting bags were all there.  I was in awe and on a budget!

More boxes!
More boxes!

My other big purchase came at the Saw Dust Co. (sorry, couldn’t find a link to his website that worked) Booth.  Three little perfect Shaker Boxes – perfect for my stitch markers or perhaps other small tools.  I could have purchased everything in his booth.  I went back several times over the 3 days I was there.  Form, function and beauty – I was hooked.

I have more to share about this trip – but it will take a little time to put it all together.

Happy Viewing

Lynette