My New Friends From Kenya

I met two women from Kenya, Tinda and Lucy . They are knitters and they are visiting here in the US. I spent an evening at my friend Sheri's house with my new friends. They are part of a group of women in Kenya who are learning to grow cotton and spin it into yarn. I was given the gift of 3 skeins of handspun yarn and I will be making a project and sending it back to the women who spun the yarn. Each skein is labeled with the name of the woman that spun the yarn and the tribe they belong to.




It was wonderful to spend the evening with these amazing ladies. They told us stories of living and knitting in Kenya. It sounds like a beautiful place and these women are so friendly and inviting you can't help but love them right away.

Spinning Dog Hair

This may sound a little weird to non dog lovers but I sent brushings from our dogs Maggie and Mary to a woman, Christine O'Hara, who will spin the dog hair into yarn. Her website is http://spinningstrawintogold.com/ Now you don't have to mix in any wool if you don't want to but I wanted to make the yarn softer and stronger. The woman was so helpful and knowledgable. I just can't decide what I will make once I receive the doggie yarn.

Finished Yarn: beautiful!

Word of the Day: Perseverance

I finally finished the green vest. It turned out to the the best garment I have made so far. I think my husband will like it. I wanted to give up many times but I just put it aside for a few days and came back with new determination and finally finished it.

I was able to spend time with my sweet nephew, Tyson. At 14 months he is a bundle of energy. It was difficult to keep up with him. We were at my moms and her home is not exactly set up to let a little one run wild. We all had a fantastic time. Tyson's cousins Gavin and Brody came to visit. They all played together so well.

Tyson finally took a nap and I was able to get a picture of him modeling his Christmas present, the lil'devil hat. I wanted to make sure it will fit him. In the picture he looks a little grumpy but once he fully woke up he was back to laughing, dancing running around the house.

Plaza Sweater

Plaza Sweater

Sizes: one size Finished Piece 57" x 28"
Gauge: 18 stitches = 4 inches (Linen/Worsted) Yarn: Claudia Hand Paint Linen Sport weight 1350 yards : 5 hanks
Needles: Size US 9/5.5 mm


Plaza can be knitted side to side, in one piece, armholes created by casting off and casting on select stitches. Or can be knitted from bottom to top, in 3 pieces, armholes created when sewing side seams. The sample shown was knitted in 3 pieces, sport weight yarn, on size 9 needles and without any garter or rib to control rolling, you may choose to do so

Plaza
One Size. 6 gauges. 5 pieces, bottom to top as shown in cover photo
Lace (Fingering, Sport, DK, Linen/Worsted, Chunky)


Left Front - Cast on 212 (187,162,137,112, 88) stitches, knit in stocking stitch 12". With right side facing, leave a marker on the right side to mark for armhole/side seam assembly. Work 9 more inches, leave marker on same side for top ofarmhole. Con­tinue 7 more inches. Cast off.


Back - Cast on 144 (127, no, 93, 76, 60) stitches, knit in stocking stitch 12". Place marker on both sides. Work 9 more inches, place marker on both sides again, continue 7 more inches. Cast off.


Right Front—Cast on 127 (112, 98, 82, 68,52) stitches, knit in stocking stitch 12". With right side facing, leave a marker on the left side to mark for armhole/side seam assembly. Work 9 more inches, leave marker on same side for top ofarmhole. Con­tinue 7 more inches. Cast off.


Sleeves: Cast on 156 (138,120,102, 84, 66) work 16 inches, cast off.




Plaza
One size, 6 gauges, one piece, side to side, shown below
Lace (Fingering, Sport, DK, Linen/Worsted, Chunky)


Body: Cast on 238 (210,182,154,126, 98) stitches, work 15 inches, *ending with wrong side row.



Next row, knit 59 (52, 46,38,32,24), then cast off the next 76 (68,58,50, 40,32) stitches, knit to end. Fol­lowing row, purl 102 (90, 78, 66,54, 42) stitches, then cast on 76 (68, 58,50, 40,32) stitches, purl to end. * Knit 17 inches (this is the back of your sweater). Repeat ** Knit 25 inches, cast off.


Sleeves: Cast on 156 (138,120,102, 84, 66) work 16 inches, cast off.

Cape May 08 knit, knit, knit

We just spent a beautiful week in Cape May. All I did was knit. I was a little obsessed. I am working on the Plaza Sweater and I just couldn't stop knitting. All of the non-knitters thought it was funny and commented on it regularly. I just felt so free to have the time to pick up my project and knit until I wanted to stop, not until I had something else that I had to do. My mom was also working on the same sweater and she had the bug as well. We enjoyed hours on the beach and on our front porch knitting away.