Food tours/parties at the studio and....I am too tired to think

Sile and her brother Frank who was visiting from Ireland

Eoin and Kofi celebrate on Eoin's birthdaay

I started teaching at UC this week. And I know all the teachers out there will relate when I say I am exhausted. But it is so fun to be with all of the many colleagues with whom I have taught for years ---we really are like family to one another. And my students---from Italy, Russia, Japan, Korea, China, Taiwan, Thailand, Holland---are super smart, very engaging and so excited about being in Berkeley for the summer. And we used the studio for pre-program meeting last week. Imagine---the studio works well for meetings that are not "craft" in nature!

Family of another sort.......

Nora and Ainate arrived yesterday---Nora being my daughter and Ainate her girlfriend. Today after our knit-out they and I went on a food tour of Berkeley so we are quite sated right this moment. We kept bumping into our friends
Chris Stark and Steve---Chris is my photographer friend who took all those great pics of the studio. It turns out that they were on this side of the bay pretty much doing the same thing. (In case you are wondering---here is our intinerary---The Berkeley Farmers' Market, Sweet Adeline Bakeshop, The Cheese Board, The Cheeseboard Pizza, Masses' Bakery, Peet's.) We got a fabulous little fruit pie at Masses' but the opera cake we got tasted stale---or to clarify--- the cake part tasted stale. So after much talking, we decided to return to the bakery with our 3/4 eaten opera cake. (All 3 of us had tasted to make sure) When we voiced our concerns to the baker/owner ---sotto voce--we didn't want the other patrons to hear---the owner started arguing with us and saying that the cake was meant to be eaten at room temp---it was!----or that the butter cream might have been too cold for us----it wasn't! etc. The Cake was just STALE. They did refund our money-----$4. 75----but I have to say that the exchange left a bad taste in our mouths---OK Ok I know---a bad pun.

Oh but this is supposed to be about knitting! Tomorrow knit-one-one is hosting
a baby shower
knitting party after the Diamond Back Class--can't wait to see how far the great knitters in the class have gone. Back to the party. WE are expecting 15 people including the 2 pregnant guests of honor. There are about 9 non- knitters in the group so Kate and Zoe G will cast on for them before the party and teach and hold their hands during the party. The beginners will knit one square but the more experienced knitters will knit 2 or 3 squares--we are guessing and hoping on that last number After the party we finish the blankets and send them to the guests of honor. If I remember, I will post pics next week

Scout was at k11

WonderMike and Hizknits get ready to interview Scout

Scout puts out some of her yarn

Scout starts class

The table during class



Scout of Scout's Swag
fame gave a 2 day workshop this past w/e at the knit-one-one studio---and it was fabulous. She not only dyes some luscious yummy yarn but she is also a dynamic inspirational teacher. She was helped by Mike and Stephen of YKnit YknitT fame who togged themselves out in scouting regalia for the occasion. Let me tell you----if you are ever looking for helpers, these are your men. They were terrific.

In the lulls between the action I persuaded people to read

great blurb about knit-one-one in the East Bay Express Best Of edition!

And while all the hoopla was going on at the studio Ms Emily was busy uploading the new classes. I am tired just writing about all of this hububb.

So I am taking off to Sea Ranch for a few days to swim, knit, read, eat, swim...........!

WWKIP--60 people showed up

WWKIP day June 14---outside the k11 studio on Adeline Street


MMKP Friday the 13th Color Work

Knitta East Bay @ work

Yknit @ work--

WWKIP Day---hard at work!

WWKIP day---more knitters having a good time

WWKIP day---concentrating on knitting

WWKIP Day---Sweet Adeline Jennifer says hello


A very busy weekend inside and outside the k11 studio.

On Friday we had our MMKP color work event------see the pics of the skulls and crossbones. Kate and I had a rollicking good time with Amy G, Anita, Ramona, Colleen, Janice O and Sarah.

Saturday was World Wide KNit in PUblic Day. It started off in a quiet foggy haze with just Myrrhia and me knitting quietly in the studio. And then the clouds parted and a tsunami of knitters hit! There were 60 of us and we had a fabulous time. Thanks a million to all of you who came.

World Wide Knit in Public Day and other stuff

Elaine and her Kool Aid dyeing class

Susan and Kate having fun

Helen's hat from beginning knitting

Brooke and beginning spinners at work

Squid cell phone cosies---april Magical Mystery Knitting Party

at work in the studio

Elaine at Kimchi Crafts popped into the k11 studio a few weeks ago and asked if we would be interested in co-hosting a World Wide Knit in Public day and I know you know what my answer was.

We are planning on hauling out the chairs from the studio----we have 18---and setting them up outside on the sidewalk. Inside the studio we will be brewing multiple pots of coffee. Thanks to Janice O the word "pot" can have an "s" on it! (We don't have 18 cups, so bring your own if you want to make sure to have one) Sweet Adeline has lots of yummy treats so don't worry about going hungry. If a pang hits, you can just pop in, ogle the goodies and make a purchase. Our intrepid Elaine wants to lead an expedition to the HERE/THERE signs opposite the studio----the passing motorists will be gob smacked by the sight no doubt! For more info, click here and scroll down.

Emily J--she of the website fame (yes, she has been sighted recently now that school is out)--- and I--- are planning a top secret knitting project for the morning---think Knitta Please . If you are interested in our project, please come armed with the biggest needles in your arsenal and the fattest yarn in your stash!

After she has been KIPing, knitSonya will be teaching a needle felting class in the studio ----just as well for you that there is free parking outside the studio since you will be there all day. Look at her blog to see some of her needle felted wonders

knitting with the dogs!

I am going to NYC to see Nora and Ainate---am very excited.

While I am away, the studio will be in the capable hands of Carrie, Kate, Susan M and Brooke. And Carrie and Kate are going to knit with the dogs on Saturday, the first of lots of knit-one-one outings and events in June---yes I know Saturday is May 31st but it is close enough!

A few weeks ago Carrie, Kate and I met and they suggested loads of things for knit-one-one. Since I always listen to them, I scheduled all of their suggestions. And knitting with the dogs is one of their brilliant ideas. You all know how much we love dogs at knit-one-one so of course this is a natural outing for us. (I will be doing my own knitting with dogs in NYC---a fabulous dog gazing territory I should add) So on Saturday afternoon, please join them to dog-gaze, knit, chat, drink coffee---what ever! Click here to get the details.

I am off to gussy Kofi up for the event!

And finally please send warm thoughts to yarn-a-go-go Rachael , her mother, Janette Heron, and her family. Her mother is very ill.

The issue of gauge---knitting gauge that is

At every knit-one-one class the teachers talk about gauge. Even in the beginning knitting class Kate emphasizes its importance and makes the fledgling knitters do a gauge swatch. Kira, Kate and Julie always ask me to mention to students that they should bring a gauge swatch to class---which I do---good Sile! Kira even wants me to have a phrase on the studio walls about the importance of the gauge swatch---which I will---in time.

If you remain unconvinced of the importance of THE GAUGE SWATCH,---just look at the 2 pics above. Next weekend Kate will be teaching this adorable little hoody and a few weeks ago she knit up the blue and red cutie. Then she liked it so much that she knit up the other using yarn from her stash. (She doesn't have the nickname Speedy Needle Freeman for nothing!) She used the same pattern, cast on the same number of stitches but.....different yarn and different needles. And just look at the variation in sizes. One is for a little baby and the other is for a far older, chunkier child. So gauge does matter---really it does.

A few weeks ago at a knit-out, one of our knitters--- who will remain nameless---was not getting the correct gauge for a sweater she was going to knit-- she thought it didn't really matter. We quickly disabused her of this notion---but of course--- and convinced her to go down a needle size. We hope she remembers us when her sweater is finished and actually fits her!

Doing the Magic Loop VS Double Pointed Needles

In my time running the studio I have come to realise that there are certain dividing lines between the various kinds of knitters. There are those who hate double pointed needles (Susan M for example) and would much prefer to use the Magic Loop. And there are those who hate the Magic Loop (Kevin W) and would much prefer to use the dreaded double pointed needles---you can see which side of the equation I am on!) And then there are those who hate DPN's but actually don't know how to do the Magic Loop and so avoid projects like those pictured above altogether. For the avoidance group,

knit-one-one

is having a workshop this Sunday May 18. Ms Punkrawkpurl, who is true magic looper, will have you doing the loop in no time at all. Then you will be tackling cuffs, socks, bag bottoms, hat tops,gloves, mitts and goodness knows what all. There will be no stopping you.

All of the above pics were done or could have been done, using the Magic Loop Technique.

PS For the double pointed crowd, Noe Knit is having a workshop on that topic!