Monday, April 28, 2008

Inside LisCat

LisCat opened up in March, but this is my second day going to the shop (since FRIDAY....April 25)...!!! It is a flurry of bright colors, shelves filled with bright lovely shades of yarn and bright purses, bags and more goodies! The Chairs have knitted covers on top, in bright colors of yarn which add to the coziness of the shop! It greets you with so much warmth and comfort that you want to sit and knit! This is the main table in the center of the shop, and to the left of the store in the 'back' area, there are couches for knitting, looking through magazines, and even sneaking lunch!

I didn't want to take a picture of it since there were 2 ladies eating back there...lol

Below is my yarn...yes, it is knitted. It is from a company called FLAT FEET which I had a link in the blog post earlier....It is knitted and then dyed...and you unravel it to knit whatever you like!

I am making an attempt at knitting socks..so I came to the store already in this condition. I was ready to start the heel. I thought I might as well get to the point where I didn't know where to go....I had a pattern, but I got another one, and I think it is easier. I am making anklets, so with this 'skein', I should be able to make 2 pairs....isn't that cool? Karen and I might trade off so I can have a pair of my yarn, and one of hers too......

I came in with this much, and worked the back of the heel. (I didn't take a photo yet). After I got to the end of the heel, I now need to go back to the shop to get more instructions. I have to pick up the sides of the heel and then read the pattern....(I did it at home, but ....gee..without someone to really show you how to go from that point...how do you learn??)


This is Karen's piece, and she's always wearing Pink..(almost always..) so it fits that she would have socks to match it!



Busy working in the shop, ....you can see how lovely the chairs are, and the bright array of colors...



Karen's piece after our first class ....





Closer up....below

Go Visit the shop!!
It also has a Seamstress in it, as well as a Flower shop!
and don't forget about the Used Book shop across the street...!

Friday, April 25, 2008

Alisons Ankle Socks



Today, I went to LIS CAT's Yarn shop! They were in Long Beach on 2nd Street in Naples, and then closed down for a short time, but re-opened last month...(have not been keeping up with them)...after a long period of almost 8 months of being closed! I love their new place! It is quite large and roomy, and finally looks like a FULL FLEDGED Knitting shop! They are in the Village area, near Bellflower and Carson St, near Cirvellos and Once Read Books (a great used book store, if you haven't ever tried a 2nd hand book store, you gotta check them out!)

LisCat
5423 Village Rd Long Beach 90808 562-627-YARN

I am going to be taking a sock class...and in the meantime, this is something I would like to knit..anklets... :)
I got FLAT FEET yarn which is a new funky style hand dyed yarn, which is knitted flat and then dyed. You unravel it to knit, and it will create it's new pattern as you knit! There are other things you can knit, but know that the yarn will be different in each section as you knit!
Karen and I will be 'starting' it on Monday...so after I go to the gym (*heh heh) I will go to my 'class'!








happy sock knitting!alison's ankle socks (and short-row tutorial)

Lightweight, ankle socks with or without pom poms. Summer fun for your feet!Since I don't really like using fingering weight on teeny tiny needles, this pattern is written at a slightly larger gauge to be knit on US3's. I think that's as large as I could go for ankle socks meant to be worn in warmer weather. I wanted these socks to be snug and hug your feet (who needs extra bulk in their shoe in the summer??), so I've chosen to use short-rows on the heel. Be sure to check out the links below for details on exactly how to work the backwards yarnovers and wraps needed to make short rows. If you haven't done short-row heels and toes before, this is a great time to try it out!![MC]: 1 skein Rowan Cashsoft 4ply in white (approx 175m of similar weight yarn, like Koigu or Rowan 4ply soft)[CC]: 1 skein Rowan Cashsoft 4ply in green (small amount of similar weight yarn will do)1 skein Koigu color #200Sizing/Yardage Info: This was plenty of yarn to make anklets for my feet, which are about average width for a woman's foot and 10 inches long. You should be able to make your socks shorter and wider and still have enough yarn.Gauge: 26 st/ 4in.Needles: 3.25mm / US3
Instructions:Cast on 52st. (This is how many stitches I'm thinking an average woman's foot needs. If you've got a wider foot or want to adjust this for a child's size, you can increase or decrease this number. A multiple of four would be good, so your ribbing will work out. The heels and toes are done over half of the stitches, so you can adjust that number easily.) Work in 2x2 rib for 3 rounds. If you want a true footie style sock, begin heel here. If you'd like an ankle sock, work a few rounds of stockinette stitch (knit every round) before beginning the heel. (In the pom pom socks above, I worked 8 rounds. For the Koigu sock, I worked 3.) Before beginning the heel, I would recommend redistributing your stitches so that you have 13 stitches on each of four needles.
To make the heel, you'll be working on the next 26 stitches only using your preferred method of short-rowing (such as the traditional wrap and turn method, described here, or Priscilla Gibson-Roberts' yarn-over method, described here). I like PG-R's method, so this pattern is written as a sort of tutorial in that method, but if you're using the wrap method, just substitute all the "turn and work backwards yarnover" with "wrap next stitch and turn" and see Wendy's tutorial (link above) for step by step instructions and pictures.
Begin heel by knitting across next 25 sts. Turn and work backward yarnover. Purl across next row until only one stitch remains on the left needle and turn and work backward yarnover again. Knit across next row up to (not including) the first stitch with yarnover, then turn and work backwards yarnover. Continue in this manner, working one less stitch each row, always working a backwards yarnover after turning, until only 8 stitches remain without yarnovers. click for the entire picture tutorial
With RS facing, knit to the first stitch with a yarnover. Knit the stitch normally, correct the twist in the yarnover and knit the yarnover together with the next stitch. By connecting the yarnover with the following stitch, you're closing up any gap made by doing a short row. Turn and work backwards yarnover (yes, now there are two yarnovers right next to each other). Purl across WS to first stitch with yarnover. Purl that stitch normally, then purl it's yarnover together with the following stitch. (When working stitches together on the WS, I prefer to slip stitches knitwise onto right needle, move them in this position back to left needle and purl them together through the back loops. I think it gives them a cleaner look. Thanks to Michelle for this tip!) Turn and work backwards yarnover. click for the entire picture tutorial
*Knit to first stitch with yarnover. Knit that stitch normally, then correct the twist in the following two yarnovers and knit them together with the next stitch. (Yup, that's a knit 3 together!) Turn and work backwards yarnover. Purl to first stitch with yarnover and purl it normally. Purl the following 2 yarnovers together with the next stitch through the back loop. Turn and work backwards yarnover.* Repeat from * to * until all stitches have been reincorporated into the heel. You're almost there! click for the entire picture tutorial
Once you finish the last RS row of the heel, begin knitting in the round again. You can knit the last yarnover on the RS together with the first stitch on the next needle. Then when you have almost finished the instep stitches, knit the last remaining yarnover (it's still on your needle with your heel stitches) together with the last stitch of the instep. This will help close up any holes in that area. Keep knitting around to about two inches less than desired foot length.
Work the toe just like the heel, doing short-rows over the same 26 stitches that you worked for the heel. When you are done with the toe, you can rearrange all the toe stitches on one needle and all the instep stitches on another and kitchener stitch them together.
Finishing:- for pom pom socks:With a crochet hook and [CC], add a single crochet edging to the sock. Begin at the back of the heel, *take hook into bottom row of first purl rib and make a single crochet stitch. Next take hook into top row (by cast on edge) of knit rib, directly between the two knit stitches, and make a single crochet stitch.* Repeat from * to * around the entire cuff. Be careful not to make the crochet edge too tight as it will make it difficult to get the sock on. Make a one inch pom pom with [CC] and secure to back heel.
- for both socks:Weave in all ends. Make second sock and have the cutest feet on the block!
Pattern was from Alison's Socks
I found more free patterns

Wednesday, April 23, 2008

Dodgers Stich n Pitch

Los Angeles DODGERS•

For individual ticket orders go online to:
http://www.dodgers.com/stitchnpitch Password: STITCH.• Groups of 25 or more tickets call Dietrich Jache at 323-224-1520 or dietrichj@ladodgers.com.•

Local needlearts stores selling tickets:
1. Jennifer Knits , Brentwood, 310-471-8733, http://www.jenniferknits.com.
2. Unwind, Burbank, 818-840-0800, http://www.unwindyarn.com
3. Alamitos Yarn Company, Long Beach, 562-799-8484, http://www.yarncompany.com
4. A Mano Yarn Center, Venice, 310-397-7170, http://www.amanoyarncenter.com
5. The Knitter’s Studio, West Hollywood, 323-655-6487, http://www.theknitters-studio.com
6. Abuelita's Knitting & Needlepoint, South Pasadena, 626-799-0355, http://www.abuelitasknittingandneedlepoint.com

Favorites on Etsy - not made by me, but you gotta check it out!!!