Wisconsin Sheep and Wool Festival 2017

This year was the 16th Annual Wisconsin Sheep and Wool Festival, and it was as wonderful as always.  There's something for everyone who loves fiber arts, fiber animals, and fiber:  lots of classes, vendors, competitions, sheepdog trials, sheep, and more.

The festival is held at the Jefferson fairgrounds, and the weather was perfect this year.  Before the festival, we stopped in at Bon Ton Bakery for donuts.  Bon Ton is celebrating their 100th year in business.  Jefferson is surrounded by other small towns where you can find lots of nice shops and restaurants.  The town gets into the spirit with yarn displays around lots of trees in the center of town.

A display of old time tractors is featured near the entrance to the festival.

I took a Celtic Cables class from Melissa Leapman, a well-known New York designer and author.  We focused on knitting cables that can be inserted anywhere in a garment, so they weren't like a typical vertical cable.  Melissa wore a beautiful sweater she made which featured a Celtic Cable on the back.

                                                         Melissa's Celtic Cable Sweater

We learned to increase a lot at the base of the cable and to decrease back down to 1 stitch at the top of the cable.  So, we increased from 1 stitch to 7 stitches for the cable.  This ensures that the cable won't pull in so the garment will be the correct width.  We worked on 2 samples in class, and I finished the 3rd large cable motif at home.  I learned so much about reading a cable chart also.
 

                                          Samples 1 and 2 at the lower edge; sample 3 on top

                                                                Sample 3 Finished
I also really enjoyed Nancy Shroyer's band weaving class using a rigid heddle.  Nancy brought a beautiful paddle loom (knee loom) to show us made by Jonathan Seidel.  Paddle looms were commonly used in Colonial America.  She also brought an antique rigid heddle.

                                                                      Paddle Loom

                                                                 Antique Rigid Heddle

We worked on a simple plain band and a pick-up band.  The rigid heddle is from Schacht and is like the segments of their variable heddle.  It has 8 slots/holes per inch.

                                                                       Plain Band

                                                                       Pick-up Band

And of course, there were lots and lots of sheep. 

Unfortunately there weren't any lambs born at the festival this year.  Most years, there are lots of newborn lambs.  But, there was a month-old Shetland lamb.

The Sheep Shearer, David, was busy shearing lots of sheep during the festival and explaining his method of shearing to the crowd.

The festival is put on by over 100 volunteers, and they did a great job.  It's a wonderful festival.

Guild Program: Stitch Markers!

Stitch markers are fun and easy to make.  We'll be working on stitch markers for our Sept. program at our fiberarts guild.  We'll make beaded stitch markers and add small charms, and we'll also make some stitch markers with letter beads.

                                                          My Stitch Markers

If you make stitch markers, you'll need chain nose pliers, round nose pliers, and flush wire cutters to cut the wire or head pins.  I also have a pliers to open split rings, which makes it so easy to open them.  When I use jewelry wire for stitch markers, I use size 20 gauge wire from Michael's.  If I use head pins, I use 3" head pins because the longer length makes it easier to make a wire-wrapped loop.

I bought the crystal and silver beads and charms at Michael's for the beaded stitch markers.   I used 20 gauge wire and made a small loop at one end of the wire and attached the charm using the jump ring.  I made a wire-wrapped loop at the top and added a split ring.  You can use various size split rings depending on the size of your knitting needles, but I used size 9 mm split rings. 

                                                 Crystal Beads and Charms Stitch Markers

You can use wire or head pins to make the letter stitch markers.  I used a size 6 seed bead before and after the letters to add some color, and it also makes sure the letters won't slip off a head pin. 

                                                              Letter Stitch Markers

Stitch markers can sometimes get accidentally knitted into your project.  To keep this from happening, always have the stitch marker facing the side you are knitting.  Then they will be much less likely to get caught into your stitch.  This will be a fun guild program!

Guild Program: Shawl Pins

I'm helping with programs for our fiberarts guild this year, and last month we made shawl pins.  We had a great time.  Using 12 gauge copper wire, we made shawl pins by using PVC pipe for mandrels and jewelry pliers to form the wire into pins.  We then hammered the pins to add strength to the wire and to hold the wire into place.  This tempers the wire, and you can add texture to the wire, too.

We made both a spiral shawl pin and a penannular pin.  The spiral pin holds a knitted, woven, or crocheted shawl together simply by the wearer rotating the pin into place.  It holds very well. 

                                                                        Spiral Pin

The penannular pin, or brooch, is a pin that was used long ago to hold clothing together from the Roman period.  It is also known as a Celtic brooch since it was used in Scotland and Ireland to hold cloaks and clothing together.  "Penannular" means incomplete circle.

                                                                       Penannular Pin
The ring is turned to hold the pin in place. 

This was a really fun program.

Narrow Latvian Flower Band

This is a simpler Latvian Flower Band than the one I posted last year (Feb. 2016).  This was the first inkle band I had made, and the pattern was from a Ravelry Winter Belt WAL (Weave along) in the Knit Like a Latvian group.  The pattern is in the book Latviesu Jostas.

                                                                    Latvian Flower Band

This band has a single flower in the center, so it's easy to weave.  The colors should be red, green, blue, and yellow.  I didn't have red, so I used purple.  I used Sugar 'n Cream.  At the time, I didn't have any weaving threads.  I like using size 3/2 weaving cotton now for inkle bands, and I think the pattern would look clearer.  The yellow is so light, too--I would use a darker yellow.

I used purple for my shuttle thread (weft thread), but it should be red.  Whatever you use for your weft thread will be the center color of the flower.  If you look above, the flower is the horizontal purple line surrounded by the yellow petals. 

There are 23 threads, and you warp the band as usual: heddled, open, heddled, open, etc.  But, where you have a "doubled" thread, you can either use a heavier thread, or Two threads as One Thread.  Make sure to heddle doubled threads together as one or leave them open together as one thread.

Here is the color order for warping: 2 red, 2 green, 2 yellow, 2 blue, 2 yellow, 1 doubled green, 1 yellow (this is center of band), 1 doubled green, 2 yellow, 2 blue, 2 yellow, 2 green, and 2 red.

So, you warp it like this: 1 red heddled, 1 red unheddled, 1 green heddled, 1 green unheddled, etc.  You can start with a heddled thread or an open thread; it doesn't matter.

Weave several shots of plain weave--just as you weave a regular inkle band to begin the pattern.

Then for the pattern, you weave the band as usual except for the doubled threads.

*So, when you open the first shed for the pattern, if the green doubled threads are in the "down shed" pick them Up to the top and pass the shuttle through the shed.  Then weave 2 shots of plain weave as usual.

Then open the next shed and the doubled green threads should be "up".  Push them Down to the down shed and pass the shuttle through.  Then weave 2 more shots of plain weave as usual.*

Repeat from * to * over and over for the length of the band.  End with some rows of plain weave.

If you open your first shed for the pattern, and the green doubled threads are UP, then push them down and pass the shuttle through.  Follow with 2 rows of plain weave.  Then for the next row, open the shed and the green doubled threads should be Down.  Pick them up and pass the shuttle through.  Then follow with 2 rows of plain weave.

Repeat by either pushing down or pulling up the doubled green threads and passing the shuttle through and then do 2 rows of plain weave.  And Repeat.

Azzu's Shawl

The Fiber Arts Guild that I belong to is having a KAL (knit along).  We're knitting Azzu's Shawl by Emma Fassio, which is free on Ravelry.  It's a long shawl that can be twisted around the neck and knotted in front. 

                                                                        Azzu's Shawl

I used Berocco Ultra Alpaca Light, which is a sport weight yarn.  I had 3 skeins (432 yards), and I used most of it.  I used a size 7 needle.  Gauge was 5 stitches/inch in stockinette.  The pattern calls for fingering weight yarn, but this will be a bit warmer.

The shawl increases in width because every row increases at least 2 stitches on both the right side rows and the wrong side rows.  I added 5 rows to the end of the shawl, which added two extra eyelet rows: Row 5, star row, row 5, star row, row 5. 

I blocked the shawl on play mats with pins.  It blocked out to 72 inches wide.

I used the Russian bind off, which is also called Knitted Lace Bind off.  This is a stretchy bind off, which allows you to block the shawl out easily.

You knit the first 2 stitches, then place the LH needle into the front of the 2 stitches and knit them together from that position (K2togBL).  *Knit 1 stitch, place LH needle in the front of the two stitches, and knit them together from that position (knit 2 tog through back loop).  Repeat across from *.  Take the tail through the last stitch on the needle and then weave the tail in. 

The worksheet that is available with the pattern is very helpful for checking off rows as you work them.  It also provides stitch counts so you know you're on track. 

I did a garter stitch tab to begin the shawl so it looks similar to the garter stitch edging around the edges of the shawl.  Work 4 (or 5*) rows of garter stitch (Knit every row).  Turn your knitting sideways and pick up and knit 2 stitches (one stitch per garter row).  Turn sideways again and pick up and knit 2 stitches in the cast on edge.  6 stitches total.  Begin on row 3.  * Some directions say to knit 1 additional row before turning sideways.  This makes it easier to turn sideways and pick up and knit the stitches in the garter stitch rows.

This was a fun Knit along!

Flower Garden CAL (Crochet Along)

The Knitting Network website recently hosted a CAL for a really pretty crochet afghan.  The pattern is called Flower Garden CAL.  The pattern was released in 4 parts: 3 different crochet blocks, and part 4 is assembly and borders.

The afghan squares are a beautiful Flower Square in the center surrounded by Circle in a Square blocks, which are then surrounded by Sunburst Granny Squares.

I love the flower blocks, and I haven't seen another crochet flower exactly like it.  

                                                                         Flower Squares

Part 2 is the Circle in a Square Block.

I'm using a variety of yarn colors from Michael's new yarn brand called Colorwheel.  It comes in lots of colors in small balls of 90 yards (1.75 oz.) each.  It's acrylic worsted weight.

Part 3 is the Sunburst Granny square, which I'm working on now.  This square has puff stitches and cluster stitches, which make it really pretty.

I think it will be a really colorful pretty afghan for my granddaughter when it's finished.

My notes:
For the white, I’m using the larger balls of Michael’s Loops and Threads yarn in cream color.
The colors I’m using are these: mid pink, bright gold, deep purple, pool blue, lavender, purple, turquoise, fuchsia, and mid green.
I think I will make 6 flower blocks, 14 circle in squares blocks, and 22 sunburst squares to make the afghan longer. So, it will be about 45.5 x 51 inches instead of 42 inches wide and long. My squares are 5.5” long and wide. Flower squares will be 2 per row with 3 rows in the center of the afghan.
   Block 3 (Sunburst Granny) 4th round: Slip stitch in any chain space. Chain 3 (1 hdc) and 1 hdc in that space (2 hdc)
   Next space: 3 DC, chain 3, 3 DC in this space for corner. Next space 2 hdc. 1 sc in top of next cluster, 1 sc in next chain space, 1 sc in top of next cluster. 2 hdc in next chain space.
  Then next will be the corner again, and repeat around. It ends with the sc in the top of the next cluster and slip stitch into the 2nd chain of the first hdc.
This is more symmetrical than the original pattern directions.

Patriotic Bracelets

I love making Kumihimo  bracelets for my granddaughters.  I finished 2 more Patriotic bracelets.

                                                                  Patriotic Bracelets

The smaller bracelet on the left was made for a smaller girl, so I used size 8 seed beads for hers, and size 6 seed beads for the one on the right.  I used size #18 S-lon cord (#210).  The Kumihimo pattern is Stars and Stripes by Gerry Dahm.

The bracelet on the right was started with the button loop using 4 strands of thread.  After making the loop, the lower threads are taken to the top and placed in the slots to continue the braid (folding the button loop in half).  The only thing I don't like about this method is tying on the button, which can be messy since it's tied on with 8 threads.  The thread ends are then burned, or you can touch them with glue. 

For the other method, I started weaving with no beads next to the button for 1/4".  Jamie North teaches this method in some of her Kumihimo kits.  I made the loop about 2 1/4"long at the end for the button loop (button is 3/4") and used some of the cords for tying the button loop together, and some for tassels.  Sally Bead Jewelry has a tutorial online and a video that shows how to make a basic button loop for Kumihimo.  Make sure to leave about 1/4" unbeaded cord next to the beads before the actual loop for wrapping.

My notes: A's wrist 6", bracelet about 6 1/4" for beaded section of bracelet, 1" for button closure, so finished about 7 1/4".  Closed button adds about 1".  A: 16 red/white beads per strand. 3/8" unbeaded at button, 1/4" unbeaded at loop.

N: 5 1/4" wrist, size 8 beads, 14 red/white, 16 blue/white.  5" long for beaded section , (2 1/2" + 2 1/2".)  Button 3/4".  Thread: 4 strands 60" long through button loop.  Tie half knot at button at center.  1/4" without beads next to button.  8 beads on each tassel.   Finished bracelet 6" long when buttoned.

Keep strands in order when adding the blue and white beads, and know where you ended after red/white beads so you know where to begin again.