WIPs and a Fun Announcement

Well, I’ve certainly been MIA for a while, and I apologize! Lest you think I’ve been neglecting my various projects as well as my blog, let me show you a few of the things I’ve been working on:

Knitting: Entrelac Pillow Class

I’m teaching a class tonight over at the Red Purl on the Entrelac technique. The project is really just a square swatch, but I always get discouraged knitting something that has no obvious purpose, so I turned it into a pillow to make myself feel better. It’s a quick and easy project, a good introduction to the technique, and I figured I’d post the photos and handout info up here in case those of you who are more adventurous with new things wanted to give it a try.

Knitting: A Simple Lace Scarf With a Notable Tendency to Turn Into a Sausage

A few weeks before Christmas (ok, it took me a while to get this one posted, so sue me) the lovely Sonja came to visit, and while here she expressed a desire to learn how to knit. So, off we went to the Red Purl to pick out yarn and decide on a pattern. Those of you who know either (or, god help you, both) of us will not be surprised to learn that the pattern we settled on was a nice lace scarf.

Simple, sure, but lace is hardly a beginner’s project.

Entrelac: Am I Crazy?

In the past few weeks, I’ve taken on a bit of a challenge. Well, at least, I’ve taken on what I originally thought was a bit of a challenge. I decided to take the plunge and tackle the Entrelac technique. I found some instructions online, bought a great, helpful book, and knitted up a few swatches until I felt I had the hang of it. However, when I presented my project to my friend Amy, also known as the owner of the lovely Red Purl Knit Shop, and she asked me to teach a class on the technique because she’s not familiar with it, my confidence took a bit of a drop.

Had I bitten off more than I could chew?

Knitting: So many cowls!

Recently, my wonderful local yarn shop (Red Purl in Niles, MI) held a cowl exchange. (Think white elephant gift exchange, but with lovely handknit goods instead of widgets.) It was loads of fun! I was nervous going into it, having never made a cowl before – I was just certain that my contribution would end up being the poor, sad cowl that nobody wanted.