Yarn Store Naples near Herculaneum

While visiting Herculaneum by train from Naples, passed this yarn store.  It's on the left hand side when you walk from Ercolano Scavi train station to the site.  Looks like RedHeart or similar yarn and not the fancy Italian stuff.

Moebius Hat Pattern for Sweet Georgia Yarns

I love Moebius strips, probably because I am a geeky engineer.  Several of my patterns have Moebius-like construction, not exactly Moebius because of extra attachments points.

Here is a pullover for Interweave Knits.                                         

A wrap also for Interweave.

And the Sweet Georgia Yarns hat.

Book with my pattern in Dubai

The Dubai mall is famous for its fountain show, twice the size of Bellagio's but it also has the best bookstore in the world, Kinokuniya. The books are all in English unfortunately, I was looking for Japanese knitting books.  I noticed that prices are higher than the U.S.   but it has two bookcases full of knitting books alone, including one with my Tied in Knots pattern in it.  Makes me famous- worldwide.

Yarn Bombing

Finished my piece for the post in front of the yarn store.  Within an hour I had someone coming by to take pictures because they heard about it.  Great way to advertise.

Video of how space dyed yarn is made

Really cool video.  I noticed the knitting machine with a motor, looking like a Silver Reed (Studio) that I have.

Yarn Bombing The Yarn Store

I suggested to the store owner that I yarn bomb the store because the location is new and I was inspired by the Lisbon yarn store that I saw a couple of years ago (see earlier blog).  I just did the door handles since there isn't much spare time during work hours.  Will work on bigger pieces outside as time permits.

Backwards purling

 Someone came to the shop to knit with a friend and she's making this 10 stitch twist blanket.  It was getting pretty big and turning it around every 10 stitch row was cumbersome.  So I showed her how to purl backwards (your can also knit backwards and purl normally).  Either way you get garter stitch. This technique is really handy for entrelac.

My First Day Working at a Yarn Shop

I thought it would be fun to work at a yarn shop since I love hanging around knitters and yarn.  First day on the job: rang up sales, try to find patterns for yarns that knitters liked using Ravelry, showing client how to use Ravelry search filters,  help a customer who increased an extra stitch, gave advice on closures on a baby surprise jacket.  All in all a good day of using knitting knowledge to help others.

Looking forward to teaching class.

New to Me MK-70 Knitting machine

This one is special and one of the few that I don't have  and always wanted.   It folds up to the size of a sewing machine and is the only mid-gauge punch card machine (except for its twin HK-160 that doesn't fold up.)   I bought one last year but it broke in shipping (sad, it was in beautiful condition and even with insurance I had to pay for the shipping that broke it).  But 3 members of my knitting guild emailed me on Sunday and told me there is one on ebay.   So I couldn't resist.  It works - for stockinette at least.  I haven't tried other functions yet.  Needs a real good cleaning too.

My Kid's Cable Cardigan is now in a free e-book

This cardigan is now available in a Red Heart free Baby Hugs e-book.

An Interview by Robin Hunter

I am pleased to be included in Robin's list of knitwear desginer interviewees.  You can find the interview here.

Stitches West 2016

This year in addition to working at our MKGSFBA (Machine Knitting Guild San Francisco Bay Area) booth I was at the Shalimar yarns booth Friday afternoon and Saturday morning.  The yarn colors are beautiful, have to design something using it.

I didn't see TKGA or Redheart there.  TKGA wasn't there last year either, I usually renew my  Cast On subscription during Stitches because they give you a free past issue and I try to get one with my design in it for my mother.  But they weren't there last year either.  And I usually stop by Redheart because they sometimes display my designs.

However, the number of vendors seem to be the same, the hall is full as usual.

A/C Moore posted my pattern for Boutique Midnight® Zigzag Cardi

The pattern is available on their website, Zigzag Cardi.

Two Designs in Interweave Knits Spring 2016

Although both are pentagon designs, Phi Cowl(below) is knitted flat and each pentagon seamed.   You can buy it here.   Phi comes from the book I was reading at the time, The Golden Ratio, by Mario Livio about the golden ratio(phi) and it's geometric relationships to pentagons and other figures.  Photos by  Harper Point Photography, courtesy of Interweave Knits.  

The Deanery Street Centerpiece is knitted from the outside and ends as a single stitch at the center of each pentagon and you can buy it here.

Finally got my copy of 60 Quick Cowls

Although the book was published on Nov. 17, 2015, I just got my contributor's copy today.

This is my design  from the book.  Simply a knotted ribbed circle.

ICE Yarn Angora Classic and Royal Baby Alpaca Flamme

I ordered some ICE yarn from Turkey and the shipping was very quick, only took about 3 days, but the shipping cost is about the same as the yarn.

I got the Angora Classic (below)  and it is 70% angora and 30% acrylic.  It's rougher than other angora yarn, hope it softens up with washing.

I also bought Royal Baby Alpaca Flamme it's 110 yards for 50 grams and seems thinner than most worsted but very soft.  The thickness of the yarn is slightly uneven and very fluffy.  This would be good for for next to skin use.