Charlotte Observer Article

For those of you that don't get the paper or don't get the Neighbors of Lake Norman section here is the article that came out on Sunday March 29th.
Join us on the 3rd Sat and 4th Thurs of the month!

On to knitting; the 'Grass Skirt' has been knit and I decided that it needed beads to weight down the fringe. So off to Michael's I went. I picked up 3 differnt kinds and I will work on them as soon as I am done here. I also will be crocheting and knitting flowers.

On to Pictures; none taken. And the clouds have rolled back in today and they may stay around for several more days. We will see if I can take a decent indoor pic.

Knit on,
Maria

Fog

I feel like we live in the Pacific North West. Fog, rain, cool. It is enough to make you slip into a coma. I might never get to take pictures if the weather doesn't let up.
Tony update: He made it thru surgery just fine. He had a hard time waking up but he is cruising now. He slept good. I didn't. My dreams have had me running marathons, going out to dinner with my parents, caring for sick kids and buying my sister a porcelain elephant. I was busy last night. The night before all I could dream about was scrapbooking.

Now on to knitting...
Several of us met at the Lowe's YMCA last night. Tommy brought his frog check out his blog here. Everyone was knitting foot wear. I felt kind of left out but since I don't knit socks I didn't take it personal. I did not stay long because my in-laws came by to stay with Tony but I did get to show off my grass skirt. Which I started in the waiting room. WOW I love the Berocco Comfort yarn! A soft easy to work with Acrylic Nylon blend. A solid fabric is created when knit with needles suggested and a nice drape when knit on a larger needle. Comfort is just nice to knit with, Berocco also have Comfort DK, Baby, Chunky and Sox. I see me placing an order soon! I will also use Comfort when I begin 'All Smiles', a new pattern.
Tonja called to let us know that she has finished the baby blanket and Frosty is no longer with us. Well only part of him remains. See March 16th post. All she needs to do is weave ends and it will be ready for the shower on Saturday.

Grass Skirt

I am embarking on a Parrothead adventure! With the up-coming Jimmy Buffett concert I must knit something. And if you noticed the title of this evenings blog it will be a grass skirt. Berroco Comfort worsted weight is the yarn of choice in color 9752. I would call the color deep green. I will be adding flowers to add additional color They will hang from the 'grass'. I will be taking photos as soon as the clouds and rain drift away.
Don't forget tomorrow Lowe's YMCA knitting.
Knit On.

March 24th

We celebrated a wonderful anniversary yesterday and Anthony's birthday! I see the years passing quicker and quicker. Tony suggested that each year on the boys birthday that we sit down and look at their albums I have scrapbooked for them. I think this will be a wonderful new family tradition! The night before their birthday chatting and enjoying the past and writing about the present and future for Mom to scrapbook! I am thinking that I will begin a yearly knitting for the boys. I am not sure if I should limit what I knit them for their birthday or if every year I should just make sure that I knit them something. Toys? Amigurumi? Bookmarks? Scarfs? How much fun will it be in 30 years when they can look back on all the knitting that I did. Laugh at me. See how the fiber trends change. Colors change. Think back to fond memories of watching Mom knit 'their' item, or be surprised by what they get! Yes, two more traditions for the Campagna family.
I took pictures that I will have to post later. The camera is in the car right now!!!

Spring

Arrived at 7:44 am! I am glad to see mother nature doing exactly what we expect her to do. Sunshine in the spring. Today is not as warm as yesterday but still it is beautiful.
I have a quote for all to enjoy today.

'Adopt the pace of nature, her secret is patience.' -Emerson

This same sentiment was expressed in yoga this morning.

I doubt I will be writing too much this weekend. I am scrapbooking all day on Saturday and Sunday we are meeting with family to have a birthday lunch for Anthony.

Beware the Ides of March

The Ides hit yesterday when several friends met for a 'quick' knit session. Five hours of fun and frolic! Yarn was a flying. We discovered things about each other, ourselves and random people that sat around us. For example one man and his two children and his girlfriend.... Don't stay together. The girlfriend hates your kids. We all noticed that. The girlfriend didn't even try to act like she cared about the kids, so cut your loses. For everyone's sake. Think about it. They were only in Panera for 30 minutes or less and we figured it out!!!!

People look at you like you are an alien when a group knits in public places. I heared more people talking 'amongst themselves' yet loud enough for us to hear, saying things like "they are 'yarning'". What exactly is Yarning? The act of yarn? Let's see what the experts have to say about yarn.

(Thanks to www.m-w.com for the following)
Pronunciation:\ˈyärn\
Function: noun
Etymology: Middle English, from Old English gearn; akin to Old High German garn yarn, Greek chordē string, Latin hernia rupture, Sanskrit hira band
Date: before 12th century
1 a: a continuous often plied strand composed of either natural or man-made fibers or filaments and used in weaving and knitting to form cloth b: a similar strand of another material (as metal, glass, or plastic)
2: a narrative of adventures ; especially : a tall tale (a roaring good yarn)

Yes, in fact we were yarning. We were yarning and knitting.
"'Frosty the Fiberman' became a yarn told for generations past from mother to child in a time honored tradition at coffee shops around the world."

We saw the happy accident when a lap blanket goes bad.











We also saw what happens to a baby blanket that gets frogged. Boy do people stare at you then! Frogging worries others. They could just not let that go by without direct questions. "why are you doing that to all of your hard work?" they questioned. Not truly wanting the answer. 'Well let's see. This is a baby blanket that got out of control by the addition of hundreds of extra stitches.'
Let's just call him Frosty the Fiberman. With the addition of Kyla's sock-in-progress as a hat he looks perfect!


One thing we know for sure is that Dena finished M's hat! It looks great on T. I just think her head is too big.


Thanks for the laughter!
Knit on

Loopy Ascot Pattern

Yarn Requirements for Ascot:
140 m of any Boucle type yarn, worsted or bulky weight
Needles: Use needle size recommended for yarn. One set of straight and one double pointed.

Yarn Requirements for Scarf:
350 m of any boucle type yarn, worsted or bulky weight yarn.
Needles: Use needle size recommended for yarn. One set of straight and one double pointed.

Example yarns:
Bernat Super Stripes 100g, 166m
Bernat Masala 100g, 141m
Berroco Trilogy 50g, 74m
Debbie Bliss Cashmerino Astrakhan 50g, 70m
Alchemy Pagoda 40g, 167m

Loop Stitch

Right side row: * K1 but do not drop st from left needle, bring yarn between needles to front of work, take it twice around left thumb and back between needles, Knit in same st, allow st to drop off left needle, on the right needle lift the first st over the second st as if to bind off. Repeat from * until all stitches are complete.

Loopy Ascot

Pattern Notes: There are two methods to making the keyhole loop at the end of the ascot. The three needle bind off method is described below or you may decide to bind off all stitches and sew bound off end wrong side allowing enough room for the Loopy end to pass thru. The choice is yours.

Cast on 15 Stitches
Row 1: Loop stitch to end.
Row 2: Knit
Repeat Row 1 & 2, 7 times
Row 17: Knit Loop stitch but only wrapping yarn once around thumb.
Row 18: Knit
Row 19 (decrease row): Slip stitch knitwise, ssk, knit until last 3 sts, K2tog, k1.
Repeat row 18 & 19 once again (11 sts)
Knit all rows (slipping first stitch knitwise) until 25 inches from beginning of decrease or desired length.
To make keyhole:
Go back 6 1/2 inches into scarf, on the wrong side, pick up 11 stitches with dpn. Don’t get worried, just pick them up! Use 3 needle bind off method with the 11 stitches picked up on the dpn and 11 live sts to make keyhole loop.
Weave ends. Wear.

Loopy Scarf

Pattern Notes: Loopy Scarf is just an extension of Loopy Ascot.

Cast on 15 Stitches
Row 1: Loop stitch to end.
Row 2: Knit
Repeat Row 1 & 2, 7 times
Row 17: Knit Loop stitch but only wrapping yarn once around thumb.
Row 18: Knit
Row 19 (decrease row): Slip stitch knitwise, ssk, knit until last 3 sts, K2tog, k1.
Repeat row 18 & 19 once again (11 sts)
Knit all rows (slipping first stitch knitwise) until 44 inches from beginning of decrease or desired length ending with wrong side row (remember that you need to add the other Loop Stitch section).

Loop Stitch and Increase Section:
Increase row: K1, Ktfb, knit to last two stitches, Ktfb, K1.
Next row (WS): Knit all stitches.
Repeat last two rows twice.
Next Row: Knit Loop stitch but only wrapping yarn once around thumb.
Next Row: Knit all stitches.
Loop stitch section: Loop stitch to end.
Next row: Knit all stitches.
Repeat last two rows 7 times.
Bind off. Weave ends. Wear.


All rights reserved
Cables Yarn © - Maria Campagna
Copyright laws apply.
Reproduction in whole or part is prohibited if used for distribution. (You can copy if you need to enlarge or if you need to write on it.) Cables Yarn©- Maria Campagna designs are not to be knit for resale, give all you want. Yarn requirements are approximates and may need to be adjusted.
Maria’s Designs assume that you know basis knit and crochet techniques as well as basic abbreviations. Please me at via email at mvcampagna@yahoo.com for questions or contact your local yarn shop. Buy from your LYS. Buying their yarn allows the owner to provide you with support! What a wonderful relationship!

Trying to work out the kinks

My kinks today lie within the computer world. PDF files. Http links. I have little idea what all this means but I am attempting to have my blog more 'user friendly'. If it does not accomplish this I am sorry. I have spent hours working and learning.
Let's see if this links to a pdf file. Loopy Ascot.
OK. Breathe. I swear I could scream! I need to link a pdf file and I have no clue how. It should be easy click on a link and a pdf file pops up. Crap. HELP!!!

The snow is almost gone

I have pictures of our snow day!

Look at the beautiful handknit hat and sweater keeping me warm. I didn't want to overdo the knit look so I added the fleece scarf.

My boys riding on their Grandfather's sled! They didn't have to go far to have fun either. Over forty years of fun on one sled! I guess sledding is one of the forever favorites. I have no idea why it looks like we are playing in the dark it is 8am! I am glad we got the snow. I have been saying for months that we would. I even bought the boys snow boot. They work great. Gotta love Lands End!

It should not be too much longer and it all will be gone. As I type I can hear the runoff in the downspouts.

I can't write about knitting right now because what I am working on is to be submitted for publication and that means no talking about the piece. And everything else just is in the back of my mind. Maybe I work on my sweater tonight. Actually my MIL took my boys for the afternoon, I will work on it now.