norahsknits

The WGSL Spinners & Knitters Study Group meeting on Sept. 1st was an introduction to hand-dyeing yarn. Very fun. I started with a skein of hand-spun wool yarn purchased at a WGSL meeting - looked like the one the right below. The one on the left is the product of the meeting. I'm picturing a big, puffy cowl knit out of this yarn, perhaps with the natural color yarn in stripes or on the edges. Some folks dyed fiber for spinning and others dyed yarn. More info on WGSL study groups here:   weaversguildstl.org The next WGSL meeting is on Friday evening, September 18, at the Brentwood Community Center. Go to website for details.

I'm submitting a few items for the Weavers Guild of St. Louis' October 1 Fiber Confluence Fashion Show. More info here: http://www.weaversguildstl.org/fiber-confluence---art-to-wear-fashion-show.html Here is a photo of one item I submitted (excuse the mess on the desk, please). The yarn is a lace-weight yarn from Noro called Kirameki, which is a very fine single-ply thread-like yarn with some puffy slubs. The design is my own, of course.

She bought the yarn, I'm knitting it. Almost finished, just adding a row of half-double crochet around the edge. The yarn is 2 balls of Artful Yarns Olympic, rayon, cotton & acrylic.

I was elected President of the Weavers Guild of St. Louis in May of this year. I have been participating in the WG sale for about 6 years.  The sale is held in the fall of the year, and will be October 23 and 24 this year, at the Webster Groves Congregational Church. WG members are fiber enthusiasts of all kinds, including felters, spinners, knitters, crocheters, basketweavers, bead weavers and jewelry makers, and doll makers in addition to weavers. Purchasing a small rigid heddle loom has moved up on my priority list. Here is a link to the WG website:    http://www.weaversguildstl.org/    and here is a link to our Facebook page:   Weavers Guild of St. Louis FB page Pam de Groot lecture. The WG is sponsoring a lecture on Sunday, August 2nd at The Foundry in St. Charles, 1 to 3 pm. The Foundry Art Centre is located at 520 North Main Center, St. Charles 63301. Pam de Groot is an Australian felt maker who will be speaking about her work. The lecture ...

I finished this yesterday evening: The stitch pattern is a crocheted version of the Old Shale ripple pattern. This wrap used about 450 yards of yarn, about 25 yards per row, 17 rows total, plus fringe. The yarns used are various fibers and weights, with some lace weight mohair used double or as a carry-along with a lighter yarn. Leaving an 8 inch length (will be part of the fringe), loosely chain 206 stitches. You can chain a few extra and undo them at the end of the first row after checking your stitch count. Row 1:  Double crochet ("DC") in each stitch. Row 2:  DC in first 4 stitches, * DC two stitches together 3 times; chain 1, DC in next stitch 6 times; DC two stitches together 3 times *.  Repeat across the row, DC 4 stitches at the end of the row. Repeat Rows 1 and 2 until 13 rows are worked. For the final row, omit the chain 1 and work 2 DC in each stitch instead. Turn the work and work one row into the starting chain, reversing the shaping and us...

For the last few months, I have been working on developing written patterns for my knitting and crochet designs. Before the patterns are ready to launch, I will need to figure out a sales mechanism. I'm not sure if this will be a shopping cart on my site, an Etsy shop, or submitting patterns to patternfish.com or another site. Here are photos of a few things I have been working on: Ribbed Fingerless Glove, worked on straight needles, almost finished. Back view of Sideways Shawl Close up of edging on Sideways Shawl I bought the equipment to take studio photos and am working on figuring out how to use it!

40+ vendors of hand-crafted and vintage items, in various storefronts clustered around North 14th Street and Montgomery. A Map of the vendors will be available. Also, Food Trucks, Photos with Santa, and more.   Link to more info:   https://www.facebook.com/ HolidaysInOldNorth