Knit-Alongs

We seem to be going through a phase of Knit Alongs at Once A Sheep, having never participated in one before, I now find myself involved in three!

The Ishbelalong (Ishbel, Ravelry link) is coming to an end, I have photographed just some of the beautiful finished shawls but am waiting to get final shots of them all for one big collage. Here's what we have so far!

You can see how totally different each one turned out with variations in the chosen yarn, needle size and pattern repeats.

After my first I was asked to do one for my daughter Rhona in a Gothic purple which I love. I then cast on a third for myself in Cream Kidsilk Haze which I am beading to give it weight. (This is as yet unfinished but is due to go away on holiday with me in two weeks so I really should get the beads sourced soon!)

The second KAL came about because Moira brought in a lovely short sleeved shrug knit in a chunky yarn (Kaya on Ravelry). I had conincidentally just taken delivery of some undyed chunky yarn in a lovely blend of 70% merino, 20% alpaca, 10% silk which I thought would be perfect for the pattern. I think we have 7 knit alongers for the Kaya which has turned out to be an exceedingly quick knit with my own Kaya turned out in just 2 days! The beauty of this yarn is that whilst it is lovely in its own right, it is also ideal for dyeing and once the shrugs are all knit up it'll be fun to see if anyone personalises theirs in colour! This is mine, a collage of all the FOs will follow.

And the third KAL just launched for July is a toe-up sock challenge. Whilst I think we all have at least one sock on the go at any given time, many of us have not mastered the toe up and so a KAL seemed a great way to get us all experienced in Judy's Magic Cast On. I have chosen Firestarter (Ravelry pattern) which I added to my "must knit" list a long time ago but was put off because it was toe up. Now all I need to do is choose my yarn, whatever I choose though it will definitely be red! (Did I mention I love red.)

What's New at Once A Sheep?

Magazines
All the new editions are in including Designer Knitting, Crochet Today and The Knitter

Books
Swing, Swagger, Drape by Jane Slicer-Smith
Knitting Green by Ann Budd
Get Spun by Symeon North
Beginner's Guide to Crochet by Pauline Turner
Hats Gloves Scarves by Louisa Harding
Knitting Little Luxuries by Louisa Harding
Really Wild Tea Cosies by Loani Prior
Easy Knitted Socks by Jeanette Trotman
Think Outside The Sox 60+ Winning Designs from The Knitter's Magazine Contest
Pet Heaven by Sally Muir and Joanna Osborne

Notions
Clover pom pom makers in small, large and heart shaped
Clover Yarn Threaders
Clover Knitting Registers (traditional "on needle" style)


Yarns
Lorna's Laces Shepherd Sock in Ysolda Red, Blackberry and other assorted solid/semi solid shades (57g)
Camus Natural Wools, Undyed Hebridean from a small pedigree flock in Duror of Appin, Argyll. Available in Aran (50g/100g) and DK (100g).
Undyed Chunky 70% merino, 20% alpaca, 10% silk (100g/67m)
Breagha hand dyed in Laceweight, Sockweight/4ply and Chunky

Ishbelalong progress!

 I finished my very first Ishbel (Ravelry Link) on May 12. Everyone likes to do their own version of this incredibly popular pattern and I'm no exception. Here's the details:

Knit in Regia Galaxy Colour Sock Yarn (a very lovely gift from Eileen) 
Small stocking stitch section knit on 4mm needles
Large lace section knit on 5mm needles (pattern repeat. A,B,A.B,A,C,D,D,E)
I really like the extra D section, I think it adds balance to the A,B section.

I enjoyed this pattern so much that I have cast on 2 more Ishbels, one for my daughter in gothic purple Fyberspates Unicorn yarn and one in Cream Kidsilk Haze. 

And why is the post called Ishbelalong Progress? Because 12 of us cast on simultaneously for an Ishbel knitalong! Some are now finished others are a good way into the project. Once they are all complete look out for a 12 Ishbel photo lineup! 


As many of you know, the first Saturday of the month is Spin Saturday, an opportunity for wheel and spindle spinners to get together and spread fibre all over the shop floor (and do some spinning!). Unfortunately due to a lack of brain, I double booked a workshop for Saturday 5th June so there will be no Spin Saturday this weekend. Sorry, hopefully my brain will return to full power after my daughter's dancing shows are all over and finished for another year!

Just a quick reminder there is still one place left for this weekend's Creative Crochet Workshop with Janet Renouf-Miller.

Creative Crochet 5th June 2010 (Janet Renouf-Miller)
• The workshop runs from 10:30 to 3:30
• We will learn how to create amazing effects using different stitches to get texture in the surface of a crocheted fabric
• We will work with colour and different textures of yarns together to produce visually pleasing effects and to add to the texture and look at how to use these different elements in designing crocheted items
• All materials provided
• Cost: £45.00

 Two further workshops are planned before we take a break for the summer months.

Begin to Crochet June 12th 2010 (Janet Renouf-Miller)
• The workshop runs from 10:30 to 3:30
• A course for those who have never crocheted before
• We will learn the basic stitches and principles, how to use different yarns to get pleasing effects, and look at how you can crochet without the need for a pattern, which is often easier!
• All materials are provided
• cost: £45.00

Improve Your Spinning 19th June 2010 (Janet Renouf-Miller)
• The workshop runs from 10:30 to 3:30
• A course for anyone who can spin, even if not very well but also suitable for those who are competent at basic techniques and want to improve their repertoire
• We will look at how to spin different thicknesses of yarn, how to produce different types of yarns and how to use different fibres to best effect, and have the chance to try some of them out and learn how best to use them
• We will have some fun with plying techniques and learn to make 3 ply yarns and use plying to get different effects
• Bring your own wheel or borrow one from Once A Sheep
• Cost: £45.00 

Don't forget you are always welcome to come in and join me for a knit and a cup of tea any time, but especially on Wednesday mornings and Thursday Evenings for our regular Stitch n Bitch groups.