Holli Yeoh Knits

This coming weekend I’m teaching four knitting workshops at BC’s Creative Expo at Canada Place in Vancouver. It’s being billed as a consumer education trade show and in addition to classes, seminars and stage shows, there will be a vendor’s mall with 45 exhibitors. Many of the crafts are represented such as scrap booking, quilting, rubber stamping and of course knitting.

On Friday, I’ll be teaching …

… how to knit a lacey beaded scarf with prestrung beads and my favourite, Strategies for Knitting with Self-Patterning Sock Yarns. This class explores stitch patterns that work and those that don’t work with self-patterning yarns as well as the pros and cons of working with them.

On Saturday, I’ll be teaching …

… a cabling class in the morning which is for advanced beginners who would like to know how to cross their stitches. Later in the day I’m teaching the t4echniques for knitting a glove and how to get it to fit. Both thumb gusset and fingers will be addressed and by the end of the class you’ll have the skills you’ll need to make your own glove that fits. The basics for this class are based on my Guess Who? glove pattern. 

For more information on my classes and how to register go to this link.

I’m still working on the second sock of Cat Bordhi’s pattern, Bartholomew’s Tantalizing Socks. The first sock was completed along with several other single socks for my workshop last weekend where I taught the sky sock architecture from Cat’s book, New Pathways for Sock Knitters.

I really enjoy teaching because it gives me an opportunity to meet other knitters and discover how they knit, how they read instructions, what they find challenging, what comes easy. It’s always eye opening and I learn so much.

Back to the sock–I was working on it today at the skating arena while Devan had his lesson and I was being very careful not to drop one of my dpns. I didn’t want it to fall underneath the bleachers. I was concentrating so hard on the needles, that instead, I dropped the ball of yarn. It was gone. Needless to say, there was no more knitting for the rest of the lesson. When all the parents got up to get their children, I was able to drop my knitting under the bleachers too (since it was attached to the yarn) and then go under to retreave the whole lot. All sorts of things were stuck to my project including dust, lint, dried grass, dog hair and a whole bunch of grey hair. Yuck.

Don’t you just love the effect of the linen stitch with the hand-painted yarn? The striping is very narrow with this yarn–just one round of black alternating with one round of pink–and the linen stitch is outstanding. The top part of the sample was knit back and forth and then the round is joined and the bottom half of the linen stitch section is knit in the round. Note the difference in the look of the linen stitch. It appears to be much more even when knit back and forth. I may have to experiment to see of that’s the case, or if it’s simply a matter of the striping in the yarn affecting the look.

Cat leads and interesting journey into her brilliant sock construction. I have followed her footsteps (in stocking feet, no less) up to the sky and immersed myself in her sky sock architecture. All of this in preparation for one of the classes I’m teaching tomorrow at Wool and Wicker based on Cat Bordhi’s New Pathways for Sock Knitters book.

Going counter-clockwise and starting with the large black and pink sock:

• Bartholomew’s Tantalizing Socks using Fleece Artist Merino 2/6 sock yarn (I’m currently working on the second one)
• Robin Hood’s Fireside Boots with the elf toe variation using Patons Classic Wool
• Little Sky Sock in a KnitPicks yarn from my stash (label is long gone)
• Another Little Sky Sock in Patons Classic Wool
• Charlie’s Seeded Heart Sock using Schoeller & Stahl’s self-patterning Klassik
• Another Charlie’s Seeded Heart Sock in a Pinguoin yarn from my stash that was purchased when I was a preteen
• The last sock is an experiment of mine. I worked the instep–within the arch expansion increases right down to the toe–in reverse stocking stitch. I found the seed stitch on Charlie’s sock so difficult to see and I wanted to make the arch expansion stand out a little more for my sock class. I’m moderately happy with it. A simpler yarn would be better either in a solid or semi-solid.

When did that happen? I just blinked and when I opened my eyes, the leaves were changing colour and falling on the ground. This is the rather pretty view down my street.

Now, it’s barely fall and I found egg nog at the grocery store. Isn’t that a Christmas drink? Although I’m obviously in denial that Christmas is coming, I did make myself an egg nog latté this morning–the first of the season!

I’m working on samples for an upcoming workshop I’m teaching at Wool & Wicker in Steveston. With Cat Bordhi’s permission I’m teaching one of her unique sock architectures from her most recent New Pathways for Sock Knitters book. I’ve barely started this sock but the linen stitch is looking pretty wonderful with the Fleece Artist hand painted that I’m using.

I’m also teaching a mittens workshop based on my Annie’s Mittens pattern. In addition to learning mitten basics, participants have an opportunity to experiment with holding two strands of self-patterning yarn together while knitting the mitten. One of the great things about this technique is that the mitten knits up quickly because it’s a much larger gauge than most projects using sock yarn. 

I’m on Cloud Nine! I’ve been working long and hard to have Susanna Hansson come to Vancouver to give a workshop to our Guild. First we had challenges over the venue and we found a really affordable location at the Canadian School of Natural Nutrition. Then we weren’t sure if enough people would sign up for the workshops–they were sold out! Then an affordable hotel proved to be a challenge until Nigel and my Dad stepped forward and offered their apartment while they are traveling around Spain. Every problem was met with a wonderful solution and the weekend went off without a hitch.

Susanna is lovely and I really enjoyed our visiting outside of workshop time. As far as a workshop teacher and lecturer, Susanna is beyond wonderful. She’s fully prepared for every workshop and lecture. She provides historical context and really researches her subject thoroughly. We were treated to a lecture on Knitting in Norway: Past and Present. I was surprised to learn that the Norwegian knitting with which we are so familiar is actually a very recent tradition.

On Saturday, Susanna presented us with a Bohus Stickning workshop where we used lovely angora blend yarns to knit wrist warmers. My gauge was pitifully loose, so mine has gone to the frog pond. Once I acquire some finer needles, I’ll tackle it again. 

On Sunday, we learned about a unique technique used in the Rovaniemi region of Finland. The multi-coloured zigzag motif is accomplished in a way that doesn’t get tangled and is intarsia-like, without the twists and the holes. I already have some design ideas I would like to try out with this technique. 

As another workshop participant put it, many bloggers have so eloquently written about Susanna’s workshops that it seems redundant to repeat what they’ve said. You can read reviews from Sivia, Stephanie, Denise and Marya. The days were a perfect mixture of knitting, demonstration, Power Point presentation and humour. I wasn’t ready for the weekend to end.  

The summer has flown by and school has already started. It’s time to write my summer vacation report. Besides working on the new website design and logo I actually had some time to have a little fun too.

In July we drove down the Oregon coast for our summer vacation. I had grand plans to do a lot of knitting and brought a lot of yarn with me. But, for the most part, the roads were too twisty for me to knit in the car, our days were filled with fun and my evenings were spent with my computer in my lap working on the website. I did complete one project and it was mostly out of necessity! You can see me knitting in the background while Devan plays bingo.

While we had sunny skies most of the time on the coast, the weather was decidedly chilly and very windy. I was cold and I needed a scarf! I knit up a Handmaiden scarf kit using two strands held together. One is a silk boucle and the other is a laceweight kid mohair. Nice flash of colour at the neck and it did the job keeping me warm.

I also started a toe-up knee-high sock design I’ve been playing with. Most of the knitting occurred on the last day in the car because we were on a nice straight road. I knit well into the night until I dropped a stitch and couldn’t see to fix it.

We visited many beaches, looked in tidal pools, saw whales and many other sites.

The Oregon Coast Aquarium in Newport was a real treat. The brochure featured a knitting crab working on her sixth toe-up sock. I searched high and low for her at the aquarium, but no luck. We did see jelly fish and other amazing creatures.

In August Devan and I went to visit my parents in Edmonton. We had glorious sunny days. We went rented paddle boats in Hawrelak Park and I managed to get in a bit of knitting while Devan and his GranDad chased ducks.

The Fringe Theatre Festival was going on while we were in Edmonton and we saw some fabulous plays. I managed to knit quite a bit on my knee-sock in the dark. The street performers provided great entertainment and Devan was thrilled with his balloon sword.

All in all, we had a great summer! 

Last weekend I attended a knitting event at the Surrey Museum called Pic-Knit. What a great event! It was their first year hosting this knitting get together and I would say it was a success. There were many vendors including yours truly. They also had knitting demonstrations and a short film on Cowichan knitting in their theatre. Linda, the organizer asked me if I would be interested in perhaps teaching a workshop at next year’s event. Yes!

I had such fun meeting many new knitters and putting faces to names I’ve only known on the internet. Audrey, it was great to finally meet you! Your name has been on my email list for so long and you were the first to sign up for the new email list on my new website. You’ve been more than kind in your emails to me in the past and I think you’ll probably recognize your words in a couple of the quotes that appear on my website.

Carol, I just had to snoop in your knitting bag when you said that you have a Ruby on the needles. Thank you for sharing! What a great colourway.

Karen, what a thrill it was to hear someone say, “Oh! I saw this in Vogue Knitting!” Yes, indeed the fall Vogue Knitting has hit the newsstands and I have proof. My Mum went all over Edmonton looking for the issue on August 5th, the day it was supposed to be available. Her LYS, River City Yarns had already sold out, but the local magazine store and Chapters didn’t have it out yet. I found it at my local London Drugs in Vancouver and we’ve since seen it at Chapters in Edmonton. It’s out there now! Of course, I have yet to receive my subscription issue. That will take some time yet based on past experience.

The last week of school went by in a blur. There were lots of school activities in the last week or so. Devan’s school had a crazy hair day and you know, I’ve always wanted to give him a mohawk, so I pulled out the clippers and buzzed the sides of his head.

His mohawk was still standing when I picked him up at the end of the day. (Devan’s striking his Guitar Hero pose here.) The next day, the kids kept asking him why he still had a mohawk. They didn’t seem to understand that his hair was cut that way. We’ve since been to the barber for Devan’s very short summer haircut.

I went into D’s class one afternoon in the last week of school to show the kids how to felt wool. We had fun making little felted balls. I was really pleased with how interested and eager they were. Mind you, it could have been because they had fun making a very soapy mess in one corner of the classroom. At least the desks and floor were quite clean by the time we mopped it all up. I’ll definitely talk to the teacher next year about doing more fibre related projects in the classroom.

The last day D’s school had a B-B-Q scheduled and it was freezing! “This is June people - time for some summer weather,” is what I was thinking. Well, by the weekend it was lovely - beach weather, in fact. We are so lucky to have a number of beaches right in the centre of the city.

Yesterday I went to Granville Island for a visit with my good friend Carmen who was one of the artisans in the Public Market that day. Our visiting was sporadic which was good for Carmen - that means there were lots of interested customers …

… like devilish Danny in his new Devil hat.  How cute is he?!

While I was waiting for Carmen I managed to finish off a pair of socks. Project specs later when I get a picture of them on my feet - and yes, they’re for me!

I love the walk to Granville Island. There’s a community garden along the old railway tracks and at this time of year it’s just beautiful with all sorts of flowers.

Carmen wrote a list of her favourite things about Granville Island in a recent blog post. Let’s see if I can come up with 10 things too, in no particular order:

• the inspiration I derive from all the great artisans selling in the Public Market and on the island

• gloriously fresh produce - especially all my summer favourites (berries, cherries, peaches, nectarines, …)
• Maiwa now carries yarn! (although it doesn’t appear to be available on their website yet)
• creative and thoughtful fine craft at Crafthouse (where I used to sell my jewellery when I was a jeweller) run by the Crafts Association of British Columbia
• the ball machine commissioned by Ocean Concrete

• watching Devan play at the waterpark (this photo was taken when he was two)
• the great programming at the False Creek Community Centre
• the Indian food at Curry 2 U in the Public Market

• meeting friends (especially Beth and Lucy) for a visit and play
• the Granville Island ferry rides

Upon rereading Carmen’s list, I see we enjoy many of the same things. What do you enjoy about Granville Island?

I was so busy assembling kits, dealing with last minute details (like buying a second-hand tent) and knitting furiously before the Victoria Knit-Out that I didn’t have a chance to share with you the final specs on some of the samples I finished (and didn’t finish ;-)) for the weekend. As they appear from top to bottom of the pile …

I started this Avery pullover ages ago and managed to finish up the corrugated ribbing for the neckline and shoulder placket. The blues in this colourway will look wonderful with a pair of jeans.

Project Stats
Pattern: Avery by me - pattern available from Holli Yeoh or ask at your LYS.
Yarn: Opal Petticoat (1293) and Opal Uni Dark Blue (1269)

I showed this sweater to you earlier. Chloë is a sweet little cardigan with interesting visual texture in the reverse stocking stitch ridges. In this design, I let the yarn dictate what stitch pattern to use next. It’s fun to swatch with a new self-patterning yarn and see what you come up with.

Kieran is one of my favourite sweaters I designed for my son. I loved seeing him wear this design when he was younger. I just might have to upsize it for this coming winter. Maybe I’ll even make it in this colourway - I love the golden highlights and the hint of mauve in some of the striping.

Project Stats
Pattern: Kieran by me and available for purchase at Holli Yeoh or ask for it at your LYS.
Yarn: Opal Elements 1073 and Opal Uni Mocha (1416)

I cheated a bit with this Lucy cardigan. My Mum knit it for me. (Thanks Mum!) It looks just great in these bright orange colours and received a lot of attention at the Knit-Out. I first chose this colourway to knit a pair of the Guess Who? gloves for Devan. Once I saw it knit up, I knew it would look great as a sweater too.

Project Stats
Pattern: Lucy by me and available for purchase at Holli Yeoh or ask for it at your LYS.
Yarn: Opal Hundertwasser (1430) with Opal Uni Orange (6) and Red (10).

Even though I didn’t get a chance to finish this JoJo cardigan, the colourway is so wonderful that it helped me sell it anyways. I had my work in progress sitting out on the table and it received more attention than many of the finished samples. I just love the strong jewel tones paired with black. Someone said it was like a stained glass window.

All of these are available as kits. Email or leave a comment if you’re interested. They will make their way to the website sooner or later if I don’t sell them first.