Holli Yeoh Knits

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. 

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.

Last weekend I attended the Victoria Fibre Festival and Knit-Out. Nigel and I took the ferry to Victoria and had a lovely weekend of knitting and fibre-related events. I arrived in time to drop off a couple of samples for the fashion show on Friday evening. The mocha one is Kieran which I managed to finish by sewing on the buttons at the last minute. The orange one is a recently completed Lucy, knit by my Mum.

Saturday I taught an eager group of knitters out at Boutique to Laine in Oak Bay. I had never been out there before. They have an intimate little shop and then a great big classroom around the back with shelves of sale items. It was very distracting (in a good kind of way) seeing all the yarn on the shelves looking for a good home!

Saturday evening we attended a talk given by Sivia Harding. I first met Sivia about four or five years ago at a Guild meeting. We’re lucky to live in the same neighbourhood in Vancouver and sometimes when our schedules permit, we get a chance to catch up over a coffee. Sivia showed us many of her lovely lace and beaded shawls. I had the honour of modeling her Phoenix Rising Shawl designed for Make One Yarn Studio ’s Year of Lace 2008. 

Sunday dawned nice and sunny. We made our way out to Saxe Point Park in Esquimalt to discover that it was going to be a windy day. After a mad scramble the day before we left for Victoria and much thanks to Nigel, I was able to lay my hands on a second-hand tent for the event. Here’s a very windswept shot of my little tent. Just look at the rakish angle of those little sweaters on display.

Met lots of friendly knitters and had a great day enjoying the sunshine and talking knitting. Many people entered my draw for a free kit and once I process all those little slips of paper and try to read all that handwriting, I’ll get Devan to close his eyes and select a winner.

The little kidlets in Devan’s class are really enjoying the spool knitting. They have been eager to have a knitting bee of their own to take home, so I took orders. Almost everyone in the class bought one!  Another trip to the store and 20 knitting bees (plus yarn) later we have a bunch of kids enthusiastic about knitting. How good does it get?

We started off with 13 knitting spools for Devan’s class and yesterday I had to go back to the store for more. The project is a hit with the kids.

Today when I arrived in the classroom to knit with them, they all shouted out my name and cheered. I felt like a rock star!

Devan’s teacher has asked me to teach his class how to knit. Since the children are 6 and 7 year olds, I decided to teach them spool knitting. I found these cute “knitting bees” at Dressew for a great price along with some very inexpensive yarn. Large $2 balls I was able to rewind into six little 25 g balls so there is plenty to go around.

I already taught Devan how to use the knitting spool and I know there are a couple of girls in the class who have done it before. Let’s see how it goes!

It’s a grey day today, so I’m wearing my new socks from Nigel. I can’t believe how cushy and soft they are!