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.

Vote for WWKIP

I have added a poll! Please give your opinion. I have time to decide but I want the word out by May. We need to get Knitters and Crocheters alike to come together. If you have another suggestion please feel free to comment to this post. Make sure your suggestion is a location where we would have indoor and outdoor access, in case it rains. Also we need to have access to bathrooms! And coffee helps---maybe just caffeine.

Another shipment .....

Of caps leave to Duke University!
I know these are a lot of photos but so many people helped and I wanted to make sure everyone's work is seen. Thanks to everyone!!!

I want to say a special thank you to Mary Jane for a donation toward postage.












Don't forget....
Tonight is knitting at Lowe's YMCA at 6pm. Join us!


I also want to give a special thanks to our models. I know the photo shoot in a difficult location!
















That is a table full of hats?