More Mason Dixon Christmas socks!

I am so excited to tell you all that Ann one of the authors of Mason Dixon's Knitting Outside The Lines wrote me this morning and has included me in her website. http://www.masondixonknitting.com/ She was so pleased to see all of the different varieties of colored stockings, she said that it made her smile! That is so awesome. She should be smiling because the book that she wrote with her friend Kay is excellent! It is a lot of fun and I love all of their comments that they wrote in it. I especially love their swiff mop cover and the comment about the dog being flipped over and earning his keep. My boys and I laughed hysterically when I read that to them while we were looking through the book together. They are 5 and 7 years old.

I finally finished my stockings and made my loops at the top picking up 5 stitches evenly on the stocking just on the side and knitted an I-cord by using a double pointed needle and knitting the stitches and rather than turning them around move the needle to your left hand and pulling the first stitch tight knit them again always on the same needle, never turning it. I did this for 4 inches then picked up the beginning of my cast on stitches and knit those casting off as I went.

Here are my boys Christmas stockings, done just in time. My boys love them too! I just hope that Santa's bringing lots of Oranges to stuff these, they are a very generous size. Of course I did use size 5 needles rather than 3's like the pattern states originally. Thanks for stopping by and I hope you all have a very merry holiday!

Happy Knitting,
Abby

Mason Dixon knitted Christmas Stockings!

I just finished up my last class teaching Mason Dixon's Christmas Stockings. It was a class that lasted 8 weeks it was one of my many classes that I teach adult education at our local high school. This last class was a riot! I couldn't stop laughing the girls and I had such a blast. I can't wait until our next one!

Couple things about this pattern that I wanted to mention. In the book Mason Dixon Knitting outside the lines, they have you knitting the stockings with two circular needles. I know that it is a new thing for us to be doing socks that way and some people even like it. Maybe I am a bit old fashioned though. I have done socks for so long with double pointed needles in the round. I decided to give my class a choice of either double pointed needles or to use a size 5 rather than 3 in a 16" circular(which is what I decided to use with the exception of the heel and toe of course). One very important thing that I learned about these stockings which may help you if you are wanted to make them is that you can not do intarsia in the round for the argyle bit. You can only do it flat. If you can figure out some way of converting the pattern for yourself until the argyle part is finished to work it flat then go for it. You'll only have more ends to weave in when your finished with your knitting part. Also check out Abby's Kitchener's stitch for the closing of the toe. Some of my students decide to close their's early instead of waiting for the 6 stitches on each side of them some of them waiting until there where 12 or 10 on each side, that gave it a more rounded looking toe.

One of my students decided to put bells and bows on the front of her stocking which I thought was a really clever idea. Another student decided with her first sock(which was for her) she would put colored beads in between the striped in her sock, another really clever idea that I had not thought of before. Thank you ladies for all your ideas, love and support. You all teach me a lot! 

I was missing three students the last class for the stockings mainly due to the icy road conditions. So I still had seven. Those seven students I had model their stockings for me to share with you all. So here they are! 

Mason Dixon Knitted Christmas stockings!

Next class I will be teaching the Wisteria Shawl Collar Pullover from Lion Brand Yarn Co. It is a free pattern that you can find on there website. http://cache.lionbrand.com/printablePatterns/L0033AD.pdf I decided to teach this one next because I fell in love with the shawl collar pullover. This pattern can be done in their new Amazing color changing yarn which has a beautiful selection of colors or in any solid worsted weight. Just check the pattern to see which size you want to make and multiply the skeins of Amazing times what ever they have in each skein and that is how much you will need in yards to substitute in another worsted weight yarn. I think this pullover looks very flattering on women no matter what there size or shape is. This class will begin at the end of January and will run for 8 weeks. 

Mason Dixon Knitting Outside the Lines!

Kitchener Stitch

This is a great trick for finishing toes on socks or Christmas stockings!

Abby’s Kitchener Stitch:

With tapestry needle in hand and an equal number of stitches facing each other on two double pointed needles start as follows:

Step One: Pull tapestry needle and yarn through the first stitch on your front needle as if to purl, leave on the needle.

Step Two: Pull tapestry needle and yarn through the first stitch on your back needle as if to knit, leave on the needle.

Step Three: Pull tapestry needle and yarn through the first stitch again on your front needle this time as if to knit and take this stitch off your needle. Pull tapestry needle and yarn through your next stitch on your front needle as if to purl and leave on your knitting needle.

Step Four: Pull tapestry needle and yarn through the first stitch again through the back this time as if to purl and take this stitch off your needle. Pull tapestry needle and yarn through your next stitch on your back needle as if to knit and leave on your knitting needle.

Repeat steps 3 and 4 until all stitches have been used up. Fasten off and weave in all your ends.

Now doesn't that look swell!

I taught an adult ed class these past 8 weeks on making a Christmas stocking. The pattern chosen for this class came from a book called Mason-Dixon Knitting outside the lines. I highly recommend this book to anyone that can appreciate a good challenge from the most basic to the Experienced knitter there is something in here for everyone. I also loved reading the articles that go along with everyone of the projects. They make us all feel that we are not alone. That is an important emotion to feel especially when knitting! Enjoy!!:) 

Happy Knitting, 

Abby

Honoring Veterans Today!

Today I want to take a moment to honor all veterans! We thank you all for your time and service to help us to feel safe and secure when we rest in our beds at night. Here is a poem written by Ashley Persyn Called Freedom is not free. 

Freedom is not Free 

by Ashley Persyn 

There is a price we pay for freedom 

For it is not truly free 

But rather paid for by the contributions of veterans 

To buy our liberty 

As their blood drains from their body and runs like a river through the grass 

Over the years it's forgotten, war is placed in our past 

I don't think we all realize the importance veterans play

as they voluntarily serve America each and every day 

We should honor the veterans for they act like a shield

Protecting us from danger, keeping America healed. 

So if you would take a second to commemorate 

You will instantly see 

We owe veterans our gratitude 

For they are the reason we are free 

Here are a few of photos in honor of my favorite Veteran! Happy Veterans Day Honey! To the world's best father, husband, teacher and Vet!

Beautiful! Top of Mt. Fuji!

He does stuff like this all the time. He lives for adventure!

 Now I know where our boys get it from. Thank you honey for having such a great adventurous spirit!

 This is a great Black and white photo. He is the one in the back row on the farthest left side.

 I guess no one else was brave enough to face the vicious monster But my Marine!

My favorite photo of my favorite Vet! 

Lori's Textile Hat

I am so excited to present to you my latest pattern. It was designed for my best friend Lori. It is now officially published and available online for purchase for just $3.00 as a pdf(pattern downloadable file)! It took me two days to write and edit it. It took me three to four days to publish it. Please leave a comment and let me know what you think of it!

Thank you so much for all your support everyone! Abby

New Photos, new items

These are some photos of a new item that I am introducing to my etsy store as well as new photos of items that are already in the store. First ones are of some hand spun yarn made of Corridale wool fiber. I loved playing with this one. It's a 2 ply yarn with the weight of DK or light weight worsted. To knit with would require size U.S. 4-6 or Euro 3.5-4.25mm. I love these colors always have and always will, since I have been a very young child. Teal or Turquoise.

These other photos are of some baby booties that I made. I took new photos hoping that it would help sales a little bit more. I know its hard right now with the economy the way that it is. I try to keep all my cost down very low for that reason alone. I thought that I would make baby booties for my online etsy store because it seems like I am always hearing about someone who is having a baby. It's a fun and unique gift to give that is very special for the receiver. I hope you enjoy looking at the photos and if you are interested in my products feel free to stop by the shop sometime. http://www.etsy.com/shop/Abbyknits1997

Have a wonderful week everyone!

Photo shoot with my sisters!

I was so excited to get together and have a photo shot with my sisters. I didn't realize just how much fun that it was going to be for us all. We had a blast! As we took the photos, my youngest sister laughed so hard I couldn't believe that she could even continue with it. I started to model and I became extremely goofy. It was a contagious feeling of happiness and much laughter. So here are the result of the shoot. This was for my etsy store by the way. These are not on any other website. Just here to share with my Re*New fans! So you can see just how silly and goofy that I can get. http://www.etsy.com/shop/Abbyknits1997

This is of me and my sisters which my sisters son took(he is only 4 years old)!

 Me trying to show the size of the crystal necklace that was extracted from Crystal Park near Polaris, Montana. You can find this and other jewelry on my sisters etsy site: http://www.etsy.com/shop/ruthwhitehair Soon to be added to her store so be looking for it. She also has an amazing bracelet all made from these Crystals. I think they are so cool!

 Yep, having a bit of trouble getting this one on. No, I am not drunk. Well maybe with much laughter!

 A bit to far down on my head I think. What do you think?

 Preciously funny!

 This one made my sons and I nearly pee our pants off!

 This one too!

 Cat Woman or something, I don't really know what I was trying to do here, except to be really silly!

 There I go again puckering my lips! Seems to be a common thing for me!

 This is what I call my ridem' Cowboy stance! Way to goofy for me. I can't believe that I did that. That one almost made me pee my pants with laughter. I didn't even know that my sister took this one.

Little Miss Pris! I call this one my delicate petite pose. I am not really sure that this is me, but it was fun to pose for it at any rate!