Kathleen's KAL

THE OFFICIAL FRESCO FAIR ISLE MITTS KAL POST (the puppy post!)

Kathleen Cubley — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 18:48:45 GMT

Hello KALers!

More than 4000 of you voted, and the winning pattern for our next KAL is Fresco Fair Isle Mitts. I'll be using Classic Elite Fresco, in the colors shown in the pattern.

As for the schedule for this KAL, since it's a shorter project than the Central Park Hoodie (I'm almost done with both sleeves!), how about we give ourselves until December 18? Perfect timing for gift-giving, whether to a loved one or to ourselves!

This is the official post for all KAL comments, so please post your comments/questions as a reply to this post or to someone else's post in this thread. I'm calling it the "puppy post," because of the puppy icon!

Questions? Let me know!

Knit on,

Kathleen

Moebius or twisted scarf

kathy warren — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 15:44:10 GMT

I have never done this before. I watched the video and I did not hear her mention how many of the stitches were supposed to be twisted. Can you help me with that?

Thank you

Kathy Warren

THE OFFICIAL CENTRAL PARK HOODIE KAL POST!

Kathleen Cubley — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 15:47:47 GMT

Hello KALers! Welcome to the new project, the Central Park Hoodie (now called the CPH). If you don't have your pattern, buy it here, and let's get started.

One housekeeping item--from now on, please reply to this post only so we can look at one string and see everyone's progress, and thoughts about the project.

I'm going to start swatching this weekend!

Kathleen

friend knits for pleasant to give to cancer

Diane@9 — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 23:19:33 GMT

Jo O'Donall loves to knit and crochet then she has a fashion show where she lives in North Port ,Fla then she gives all her money to cancer she was a nurse before retiring to enjoy her crafts

A friend

Diane

friend knits for pleasant to give to cancer

Diane@9 — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 23:19:28 GMT

Jo O'Donall loves to knit and crochet then she has a fashion show where she lives in North Port ,Fla then she gives all her money to cancer she was a nurse before retiring to enjoy her crafts

A friend

Diane

Classic Elite Fresco fiber content and gauge is different than the Fair Isle Mitt pattern says

llamalover22 — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 23:50:47 GMT

I was ready to order the yarn for these mitts and discovered that on the Classic Elite site, they give these numbers for Fresco: 60% wool, 30% baby alpaca, and 10% angora. The gauge is 6.5 sts/inch on US 5 needles. In the directions for the pattern in the Fall, 2008 issue, the author gives the gauge as 31 sts/4 in and size 2 needles. This seems to be quite a discrepancy. Can you explain this please?

Thanks.

fresco fair isle mitts-yarn substitute

deborah garner — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 23:08:38 GMT

knitpicks has "telemark wool sport yarn" for $1.99 /50 gr. in nice colors. Same guage.

Needle-felted rose

Ahhhhhh — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 19:40:59 GMT

In the September 14 newsletter Kathleen posted a picture of a cute felted rose constructed from a number of heart-shaped cut-outs of felt. I make small knitted-felted purses and would love to know how to make such roses to embellish my purses. I'd be grateful if I could get directions for making these roses.

crochet along?

dpadgett — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 16:23:19 GMT

I am so bummed I missed the KAL! do they send a notice via email? I've also been trying to find the CAL, but no luck! Would appreciate any help!

Thanks! DPadgett!

Blocking a sweater

bratbrat — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 16:16:49 GMT

Do you block a sweater before each piece is sewn together, or when it is completely sewn together?

Nervous about the upcoming KAL

KatherineB@3 — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 16:28:16 GMT

Dear knitters,

I would really like to take part in the next Fair Isle KAL, but am slightly confused by the forum. Will there be a seperate area for the next project like what happened with the CPH? I did not do that KAL, but wanted to see if I can decipher what is going on, and I am having trouble.

My bottomline questions are:

1. Will a schedule be posted?

2. Has the pattern been chosen already?

I am just afraid that I will miss the boat. Also, I have no idea about Fair Isle... Yikes!

Kat

Next KAL-Fair Isle?

twistedpretty — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 12:55:57 GMT

Kathleen was writing about Fair Isle today. I've been dying to learn/master Fair Isle for sometime now and will be taking a Fair Isle class at Stitches East. I've also ordered the Fair Isle vest DVD. A Fair Isle KAL would be GREAT!

knitting cables without a cable needle

Jbug — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 15:48:55 GMT

Just wanted to thank you for the video of cabling w/o a needle--how wonderful!! Although it took me a little while to get the hang of it, it is incredible. One common problem that maybe this can alleviate: at first I did not drop the working yarn I was carrying in my right hand while taking the slipped and just completed knit stitches off the right needle. As a result, in my concern to catch the two live stitches I would inadvertently pull on the yarn in my right hand which made the newly formed knit stitches pull out or get too small to use--frustrating. Then I looked very closely at your video and saw you dropped the working yarn before attempting to pick up the new stitches. THIS works! I am making a cashmere scarf on size 2 needles with lots of cabling and this definitely helps. I practiced on a swatch which I will give as a bookmark in someone's stocking--excessive, I know;)

Thanks you again, Knittingbug

sock yarn for gloves

SharonM@13 — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 01:42:58 GMT

Hi - I love to knit gloves - they are just as easy as mittens really and look so much harder! The green yarn looks a tiny bit too thick and, although I love Malbrigo, it tends to felt very easily! Enjoy your glove making! Sharon

OFFICIAL KAL PHOTOGRAPHY LESSON

Kathleen Cubley — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 19:33:37 GMT

Hi KALers!

Here's how you upload photos:

1. Click on the little green filmstrip icon (near the yellow smily-face icon) above the text area. This will bring up a box labeled "Insert Media." There are three tabs on top; stay on the "From Computer" tab (unless you're uploading a photo from a website or something).

2. Click the "browse" button on the right side of the box. Choose your photo file from your computer and double click on it.

3. Click the "insert" button and, like magic, your photo will appear.

Questions? Please reply to this post.

Kathleen

Knitting both sleeves at once

feathersby — Sat, 17 Oct 2009 16:55:25 GMT

Here's a hint to prevent yarn tangles if you choose to knit both sleeves at the same time.

Take a gallon size ziploc bag and cut a small piece off both lower corners, leaving a hole just large enough to fit a strand of yarn through. Take each ball of yarn and thread the beginning through one of the holes, and seal both balls in the bag. Now you can knit with no tangles!

If you prefer, Hobby Lobbty has a clear plastic thingy with a hole on both ends and a zipper closure for $10 that does the same thing.

k1tbl

SueJ — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 00:17:39 GMT

In today.s knitting daily, there is a link to some patterns for ornaments. I particularly like the cabled one. However, it has an abbreviation I don't understand, and no key. What is k1tbl?

Thanks!

Sue

Noodle Pattern

KarenK@75 — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 15:14:50 GMT

Where can i get the pattern mentioned in today's email? It's a preemie baby hat. My sisters daughter gave birth to a preemie a few weeks ago and i would like to make her this hat. Thanks!

blocking silk

CarolynM@4 — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 14:06:26 GMT

Kathleen, what is the best way to block the Alchemy "silk purse" !00% silk scarf that I just completed??

Magical Magic Loop

VickiN — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 01:21:04 GMT

Thanks for the lesson today regarding the Magic Loop. Can we also see how you knit two socks at one time on the Magic Loop? Thanks, Vicki

Two sleeves at once.

juanita@19 — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 14:02:22 GMT

Kathleen, Hi! Have been reading your knit-along and posts for awhile now. I noticed today that you were going to knit two sleeves at once. Have you tried taking two sandwich bags (zip lock kind) cut a hole in the bottom corner of each, thread the yarn for one sleeve through each bag, and there you have it. It's so much easier than trying to keep the yarn separated the other way. I learned this trick when I learned to knit two socks at once. You probably already know this trick, but it really works for me. Right now I'm working on a merino wool color block sweater for ether my 7 year old g'daughter, or 6 yr old g'son; whoever it fits when I'm finally finished! Enjoying reading everyone's posts and enjoy knitting daily; just wish we could get it on PBS here in Georgia.

Question

LindaR@3 — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 22:15:38 GMT

I keep seeing the Week-end edition of the Interweave Mag. If we have a subscription will we get that issue.

I am still working on my CPH. This week will be less of a mess so I am hoping to get it done.

Linda

Free Download of Vicky Square's Market Bag

Maida M.@2 — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 15:21:24 GMT

I love this bag and want to make it BUT IT WON'T DOWNLOAD !!! Boy, is this frustrating!! BTW, my computer is w orking perfectly. Any suggestions?

- Maida

central park hoodie (with out the hood)

alysia — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 13:41:15 GMT

I'm looking to start the CPH soon and would like to not put the hood on. Just a ribbed collar of some sort. Does anyone have an estimate as to how much yarn the hood portion takes? Trying to figure out how much less yarn to buy. Thanks for any suggestions! :-)

Knitting on the run

MaryE@10 — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 17:19:27 GMT

My family teases me (4 married children and a hubbie) because I bring my knititing everywhere; I suppose they think I'm obsessive or a fanatic, but .... oh welll! I am reading a book about the Dakota frontier in the late 1800's and these women that immigrated from Norway knitted every time they sat down unless they had a baby in their lap. I say we carry on the tradition!