A lot!
But shaving a sweater to remove pills is a satisfying task.
A short video of the process.
https://youtube.com/shorts/8wi9EJ8wuFU?si=ry5EUkYlG4H-3Nb6
Matthew asked if it will be less warm. Hmmmmm.
This Yarn Can Pill
Tag: handknit
Bringing Joy
A little handmade gift is especially appreciated by someone who makes handmade gifts. You know what they put into it! ❤️
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And sometimes you get totally surprised by a generous spirit, thank you dear Carrie,who created and sent an Advent box, opening a new little package of yarn each day . Just look at the colors! –
And Maine surprises-chocolate lobsters, Moose Poop and maple syrup.
I’m going to knit a Simple Stripes sweater, a fingering weight pattern.
Knitter Extraordinaire Celebrates a Special Birthday
Happy Birthday Bonnie. May your special birthday be the beginning of a happy new year. March 24th is the day!
When Bonnie was preschool age, her mother gave her fabric and a needle to work alongside her while she sewed. Various aunts and relatives taught her to crochet and then later to knit. being a crocheter first, she knits Continental, holding the yarn in her left hand. Her skill is exemplary.
Last week I photographed Bonnie and many of her lovely knitted things- I met Bonnie a couple of years ago at an in-person Sunday Afternoon Stitch Group held at McWalker Yarns store in Millvale Pennsylvania. This past year during the Pandemic we have “met” online a couple times a week on the Zoom Sit and Stitch groups sponsored by McWalker. Some of you from the Pittsburgh area may have shopped for yarn more than a decade ago in her former store – Bonnie Knits in Monroeville. She has a vast knowledge and experience and is always willing to answer questions or help another knitter decipher pattern directions. Need a little math assistance to figure out gauge? Ask Bonnie.
I haven’t been inside anyone’s home for a long time. We spent a couple of happy hours together and she gave me a peek into her knitting life and home. There are drawers, bins and closets filled with beautifully hand knitted sweaters, skirts, dresses,socks shawls, mittens , gloves and hats Handmade rugs from her mother and a gorgeous quilt made by her great grandmother were heirlooms to admire.
Knit in Rowan Felted Tweed.
Heart Leaf Boxy Jumper by Dee Hardwicke
An Oslo Hat by PetiteKnit -Fibernymphs Grant Avenue colorway Bedazzled Yarn paired with Rowan Kidsilk Haze Mohair from McWalker Yarns
Y-680 Ladies Jacket by Eisaku Noro & Co.,Ltd knit in 2different color-ways of Noro Kuryeon
Pattern
Macaulay Cardigan by Katie Green
Pattern
#02 Short Sleeve Pullover by Rosemary Drysdale
Check out the crocheted buttons 
Pattern
#33 Shawl-Collared Motif Cardi by Mari Lynn Patrick
A Tea Wallet
One birthday, my friend Donna mailed me a teabag in a little fabric envelope. Here’s how I learned about another Tea Wallet.
Last week at the NY Public Library, my sister found a murder mystery with knitting on the cover and thought of me. (Yarned and Dangerous by Sadie Hartwell) see cover image below
In the back of the book she said there was a knitting pattern for a Tea Wallet. I found another Tea Wallet pattern for one by Diane Trap on Ravelry. I knit one for my friend Vincie because I knew she carries her own tea bags in her purse. In a little plastic baggie. Not any more!
I made a modification on the front flap and made it a triangle shape, decreasing at each side.
The quilted knitting motion bag serving as a pretty backdrop for the photo shoot was stitched by my Woolswap partner, Catherine, in New Zealand.
Knit with scraps of organic cotton yarn –Made in America Yarns, the Wildflowers Collection . from Philadelphia
(Modified the front envelope flap- shortened it by half and made a triangle by knitting 2 together on edges while in one row BO 3 then next row CO 3 to create a button hole.)
McWalker Yarns Sweater Challenge Fashion Show
Saturday afternoon McWalker Yarns in Millvale PA hosted the November Sweater Challenge (NaKniSweMo) Fashion Show.
All of the sweaters were made with yarn from McW Y, had at least 50,000 stitches and were knit between 12:01 on 11/1 and midnight 11/30.
Knitters were to wear their sweaters if they knit them for themselves.
One sweater knitter had to be at work today and was unable to attend the fashion show but we’ll try to add a photo.
Margaret “Maggie” Toth brought her husband Chris who was modeling the sweater she knit for him – Berocco Man’s Sweater free pattern “Dan”.
She used Cascade ECO yarn– colorway Shire.
Here’s Lauren Eicher modeling Jamestown Sweater knitty.com by Amy Christoffers
Yarn Malabrigo Rios “Archangel”
Christine’s niece Rebecca baked Gingerbread Men cookies sporting Holiday Sweaters 
And here is Christine modeling her Free Range Kimono Corner to Corner Crochet
Pattern by Jess Coppom Yarn Cascade Wave “Nightshade”
Christine standing by the display showing yarn she used for her Free Range Kimono
Meet Barb McAbe modeling her Sideways sweater designed by Joji Locatelli in Laine Magazine #6 Autumn/Winter 2018 Wow, look at those cables!
She used Shepard’s Wool in the Mint Colorway
Here is Denise Kaliowski wearing her Kimono Cardigan by Linda DeRuiter
Yarn is Painted Mist in Misty Rainbow (6 skeins) She made notes that it is very drapey and soft and she loves the colors. We did too.
Amy McCall (owner of McWalker Yarns) knit Selenity by Annie Rowden Laine Magazine #6 Yarn Scout Colorway Blue Heather
How about this detail?
Here I am sporting Humulus Sweater designed by Isabell Kraemer
Photographed by Amy McCall
Yarn- Lore by The Fibre Company (Earthy colorway) and Sunflower Heather is by Scout
Aimee Benswanger cheered us all on as we modeled our sweaters and here she is with her Entrelac Scarf http://www.frecklesandpurls.com Berocco Remix Colorway Pool
Denise is working a baby hat
Already onto the next sweater. Amy McCall inspired us to complete our November sweaters. We had a fun afternoon. The challenge produced a lot of creativity and camaraderie. Amy gave us all a sheet of Temporary Knitting Tattoos for participating.
There was a grand prize drawing for a $50 store credit and the ticket was drawn by a Sock Club member. I was fortunate to win so am planning my next sweater to start AFTER Christmas.
Wooley Mama’s on Apple Street- Omak, Washington
Meet Laura Hayner. And Shadow. What a sweet doggie. She follows Laura everywhere.
She is spinning fleece of some local sheep.
Here’s a skein of some of her handspun yarn from a spinning workshop. It was a grab bag of different fibers and has a really cool and varied look to it.
Spoiler Alert for Christmas Gifts- Made in the U.S.A.- World’s Warmest Socks for Winter. I’m sure she’d be happy to send you some. They are thick and cushy. Perfect in a big boot or to wear around a drafty house.
Thanks Laura for welcoming us to your lovely shop. Love the name of your store.
Thanks for showing us your logo. My sister likes the buttons she bought, too.
I enjoyed seeing your spinning and will enjoy knitting all the yarn I bought and shipped to myself. It’s great you get your fiber from local ranches and farms- 4R Ranch in Tonasket and Good Farms in Okanogan for two.
The Satisfaction of Completing a Lengthy Project
A few months ago, I was knitting a little baby blanket which called for 4 skeins of yarn. My granddaughter Anna loved how the blanket felt to her touch.
She asked if I could make her a blanket. A big one. Certainly.
Eleven skeins later (and a lot of time sitting in the knitting bag, not being knit) summer break from school and a few long swim meets ( I perfected knitting a toasty blanket in 90 degree weather by draping it on an adjacent chair) the handknit blanket got finished!
I was returning home today (Tuesday) and completed the final stitch at yesterday’s swim meet. Phew! Anna would ask me how her blanket was coming along. I promised myself, I wouldn’t start another new project until this one was complete.
When we got home, Anna put it in the washing machine and sat and watched it for awhile. She set it for “quick wash” and then it had to be dried. it’s 100% man- made polyester (I know some knitters will disapprove it’ s not made with natural fibers )
But she said she didn’t like it, she LOVES it!
What else could a grandmother wish?
Monday night at the washing machine. Watching the time.
Tuesday morning. Piano practice.
The blanket reminds me of a chenille bedspread from the 1950’s. It is soft and squishy. Because the yarn is variegated, the color falls in random splotches.
And yes I moved my position to capture her profile with the backlighting from the open front door.
Bernat Pipsqueak Yarn, Color Sittin’ Pretty
Pattern is the old basic dishcloth. Knit on the diagonal
Cast on 4 stitches.
K 2, YO, Knit to end. Repeat until half your yarn is used.
Then to decrease. K 1, K2 together, YO, K2 together, knit rest of row. Repeat until last four stitches then bind off.