Knit With Me

I have sent the Knit With Me participants an email today and hope to post photographs of their progress of their Afghan knitting tomorrow....

I knitted my first Afghan in silk and am now 2/3 finished on the second Afghan which I knitted in the Venne 70/2.

The silk was slightly thicker than the Venne and I am looking forward to comparing the size difference having used the same amount of stitches and rows.

Please note the dirty line on the second Afghan, this was because I was knitting while waiting in a queue in the early hours of Friday morning.

It was the launch of the Apple IPad 3 in South Africa, I had been waiting a while to get me one of those.....It was also fun chatting to all the youngsters in the queue.

I'm happy to say that it is a delightful gadget and I can read patterns which are in PDF format perfectly, so no laptop needed anymore while traveling.

My children sounded rather pleased that the mother can also do crazy things......The next step is my new IPhone next week then I will be sorted!!!!

Knit With Me

After a few questions regarding which cast on method I use,
 I decided the quickest way to explain was to search

 You Tube's Videos'....There is was.......

It is called the cable cast on method. 

I would like all the Rose Evan Afghan knitters to use this method if they can

It is simple enough and I like the edge it produces.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XFkYejFGwsI&feature=related

I use this method for 99% of my designs!

Thanks for looking

Sharon

1:12th Scale Minitures

Patty asked if I would show how I display my collection, I initially collected and made large porcelain dolls and bears, after seeing an Eight inch Hilda in a shop on Pier 39 in San Francisco.

I did not buy the doll on the first stop, the ship carried on to Vancouver in Canada.

meanwhile I fretted the whole time that when I got back she would have been sold...

I was so lucky, she was still sitting on the shelf waiting for me. You can see her sitting on her Willow Twig bed in the cabinet...

I love her.

 These days I no longer have my large dolls having given them away.

The only doll I have kept is my Hilda antique reproduction and packed away in a cupboard is a large "Mein Liebling" which is my second best loved doll.

She still needs her wig and eyes.

Over the years I found I then needed toys for my dolls. 

1:12th miniatures 

were always the perfect size for this purpose. 

So the collection began!

I was sorting the cupboard especially for the photograph when I realized I don't actually have much of 

my miniature knitting on display.

I find I work with the garments all the time, reassessing, measuring and deciding on how a new design will develop before the stitches are cast on.

When they form part of the display 

the whole scene is constantly in a muddle and goes to pot.

My collection is housed in an antique display cabinet 

originally made as a shop fitting.

Sooooo

 I have a baby boutique in progress.....as it turns out it will have to be a department store far too much to display.

Also I would like to make the special fittings I have in mind, myself... so am now the proud owner of a new soldering iron......it does scare me ever so slightly!

 

 

Enjoy

Sharon

1:12th Scale Miniatures

For many years I wanted a miniature silver mug to place on a  highchair that I have.

Monica Roberts of Hither Thither and Yon was kind enough to buy a book on Ebay for me as the seller would not ship to South Africa

So we arranged a swap....

I knitted her some goodies and Monica arranged the purchase of the 2 books and the silver mug....

ONE BIG PROBLEM

The little mug is not placed on the highchair ....

WHY

Well as you can see the wrapping an presentation was simply so beautiful ......

I was loath to remove the mug and spoon from the card.

So the card sits happily in my cupboard amongst my baby things looking beautiful!

Enjoy

Sharon

Knit With Me

I need to answer a few questions regarding our 

Knit With Me Adventure!

Ladies please remember there are NO stupid questions

I was asked if I thought questions were dumb NEVER!!!!

I don't believe there is ever a dumb question, you may ask it while others are thinking it and are too shy to ask.

You do everyone a favour by asking questions.

Now if the question has been asked and answered ....

I'm smiling now of course!

Simply because I will have to come up with 

another way of explaining it won't I.

Q.     Where does one get the 1mm and 0.7mm knitting needles.

A.     Brownberry Yarns in the UK

Q.     Can I use the Venne silk I have in my stash.

A.     Yes , if you have done miniature knitting before, 

        if not I would prefer you to start on Venne Colcotton 70/2

Q.     Where can we get the thread you suggest.

A.     Thread availability - 

                     Jeannette Fishwick in Australia

                     Helena Bleeker in the UK, Helena ships worldwide!

There is a minimum of 3 reels per order -  so think about 2 other colours you favour for a future project I have the next Afghan all lined up for you!

                     Finding out who are the suppliers in Holland

Q.    Does anyone know of other suppliers?

A.    Please tell us if you know some names, thank you!

Q.     Can my existing customers get a copy of the Afghan pattern?

A.     Yes of course it is available in English and Dutch 

           Email me at      knitwithme@chrystalsdesigns.com

Q.     Many of you have had a problem posting a comment on

        the blog and some who have joined do not have

        contact details on their profiles, so if you have not

        had a copy of the pattern as yet

A.     Contact me at the above email address, thank you                                      

Q.     Are there any deadlines regarding the knitting project

A.     Yes, one needs to knit minimum 2 rows a day, it is all 

        about practice, practice! If you don't do a little each day 

        you won't build up the hand/fingers memory....

Each day ones tension can be different believe me I know!

Q.    Can I join a thread in a middle of a row

A.    For this design we will join a new thread at the side, of the 

       Afghan but not the edge. Five stitches in from the edge

       of your border. You can see this on the picture.

This is the wrong side of the afghan and will be larger 

once it has been blocked.

If you join on the very edge this will not be neat enough.

Remember to WASH YOUR HANDS you can see where I have unpicked the row.

Threads do knot occasionally as the thread twists off the reel.  Sometimes we simply cannot undo the knot and you will need to cut your thread.

These are the tips I want you to learn as we knit. Remember You are also slipping the first stitch so one does not want to disturb this very neat edge.

Lets enjoy the process

Sharon