Some of the highlights:
First up is Linda W. with a jacket that incorporates ribbon yarn. (Joyce is graciously assisting Linda.) Ribbon yarns can be fun and interesting, but sometimes they aren't well suited to an entire project. Sometimes they are expensive, further discouragement from knitting a whole garment from ribbon yarn. Linda has shown us a lovely way to incorporate ribbon yarn as stripes. This doesn't require a lot of extra calculations. It is a lovely way to jazz up a fairly plain pattern and also economize with an expensive material. Linda is well-known in our group for the knitting she does for her grandchildren. You can see the stack of new child garments on the podium.
This beautiful shawl by Joyce is here presented by Joyce, Marjorie, and Linda as Marie looks on. It turns out this is a stash project. Joyce used a variety of yarns that were in similar colorways. A beautiful and successful project that reminds us sometimes all we have to do is open our closets and look around.
First up is Tiina, who is well-known in our group for being a lightning-fast knitter. Wow! In this case, Tiina designed socks with a traveling stitch. And she mirrored the traveling pattern, so that they go left on one sock and right on the other. Stylish!
Glad to see Marsha at a meeting! She's a long-time member who has been scare recently. Marsha showed off a baby blanket with a beautiful diamond lace pattern. Then she got out the matching cap, booties, and a not-quite-finished baby sweater. The whole ensemble will be a gift for the person who mows her lawn. Makes you want to go mow Marsha's lawn, doesn't it?
Ellen shared both her lace shawl and her fabulous dry sense of wit. This beautiful cashmere shawl was part of a lace knit-along. Ellen shared that this wasn't the most fun to knit. But the result is breathtaking!
Andrea had lots to show, including a sweater and some hand mitts. In true creative knitterly form, she looked at a fingerless mitt and realized it would make a very good teddy bear dress. Hence, Andrea's hand mitt teddy bear dress. Notice in the back view, the thumb opening works very well for the tail. We all know that teddy bears can become a bit crabby when their tales are crunched up in uncomfortable clothing.
Debra worked up this lovely baby set. The yarn is Lorna's Laces Shepherd Worsted, 2 skeins of Rainbow from Twisted Skeins in Clarkesville. The pattern is a free pattern from Jimmy Bean's website with Debra's own minor alterations (of course).
And Jeanel showed off this beautiful jacket. This was an old yarn from Needle Nook, a hand-dyed alpaca from her stash. And she says it isn't too warm over a light shirt or blouse, allowing her to wear it through three seasons.
In honor of our speaker's interest in baby outfits, or perhaps just because Linda's grandchildren are amongst the best-dressed in the area, Linda brought several baby outfits to show and tell. This one is the classic baby surprise jacket worked in blocks of three colors. More proof that it is impossible to make an ugly BSJ. So, if you have three partial balls, knit with the first color, then knit with the second color, then finish off with the third color. In blocks or stripes, it still works!
Whit showed off this very colorful shawl made from Koigu yarn. (Koigu was the yarn for the January yarn tasting.) This shawl pattern was designed by last year's membership chair, Lou. Thank you, Lou, for giving us an excuse to play with Koigu.
This final photo is Debra's rather well-dressed bunny rabbit. In addition to an adorable skirt, this high-fashion furry wears a Faroese shawl. Debra took Jackie Erickson-Schweitzer's doll-sized Faroese shawl workshop in January. This is the shawl she made in that class.
And Donna showed off this gorgeous Jojoland entrelac shawl. She did mention that she had a little trouble with the ruffled edge and had to re-knit it, but the final result is clearly worth the effort. And for those of you who like color but don't feel comfortable wearing bright or strong colors, this yarn is a wonderful way to indulge. There is enough color to be interesting and to make the project coordinate with a variety of outfits in your wardrobe. The final result is colorful and lovely without being garish.
Elizabeth showed off an organic cotton baby blanket that will be a gift. All the subtle colors in this blanket are natural to the fiber -- no dyes involved! The pattern is the classic log cabin pattern from Mason Dixon Knitting.
Lois made a lovely one skein lace shawl from Mountain Colors wool crepe. And when she says one skein she means the whole skein. She had just enough yarn to bind off.
Debra modeled this beautiful jacket from a Knitter's magazine design. She mentioned getting the sleeves set-in properly and how much importance Rick places on that. Rick then got up and using his new AKG magnifying card, proceeded to inspect the shoulder and sleeve seams on Debra's garment. She passed!
Some members really took the suggestion to heart that you should bring items made from Knitter's magazine patterns. Margaret brought five sweaters, including three knit from the same issue. She definitely wins the prize for impressing our guests. In this image, you see her holding her finished sweater and comparing it to the example in the magazine.
XRX has also published a wonderful series of afghan pattern books. This wonderful example is worked in five different colors, each representing a different element. This type of project is a great way to experiment with new stitches and techniques. And if you don't like something, you only have to work one square of it and then you can move on to something else. A great way to enhance your knitting skills and keep warm!
Lou never ceases to amaze with his talent. In this case, he has knit an entrelac sweater for himself. This appears to be self-striping sock yarn. No one is going to lose Lou in a crowd while he is wearing this fabulous garment.
At left we have Tina displaying her charity knitting. She is wearing a wool helmet liner for the troops, a cotton stoma cover at her neck, and she is holding a preemie baby hat. The stoma covers and baby hats are great quick knits and a good way to use up leftovers.
Lastly, we have Nancy and LaVonne holding up Becky's peacock lace. This is another project that spent a considerable period in time out. It was the Ravelympics that inspired Becky to pick it back up and finish it.
If you were at the August meeting, then you saw Donna showing off this beautiful layette set as a work in progress. It is finished! Donna started off with the cute bonnet. Then she thought maybe she ought to work up those adorable little booties as well. And somehow she found herself casting on for the dress. This is for her granddaughter Elizabeth who should be coming into the world around 2 September. The outfit will likely be worn for Elizabeth’s dedication.
Donna was kind enough to supply some technical details. The book is Leisure Arts LA-75012. Donna used size #2 needles with Phildar Coton D’Egypte Sport. She made a slip with cotton fabric. And apparently she hasn't yet tired of this 4-row lace pattern, because she is now working on a knitted bib with the same design for the trim.
Linda & Elizabeth hold up Pat's Fisherman's Wife shawl.