Between Class Knitting

I have been helping out at school a lot lately. So I haven't had much time to knit or crochet or anything like clean home, working on the last one today. I have been trying to teach myself lace in knitting and cables. I have only been doing this for a few days so not much progress. This is size 10 cotton thread on size one needles that I have been caring in my bag. I have a small book that has about 30 or so different designs for knitted stitches in it. I am making a sample so to speak.

I work in a pattern for either 1 to 2 repeats of the pattern or 14 rows which ever gives me the best idea of what the stitch will look like. Some one asked if I was making a spring scarf do to the weight of the thread and it being cotton and all. I said no I am making nothing just swatches but a spring scarf would be a cute use for this when it is done so it may become that or may not. If it does I will have to put an edging on it to straighten the edges out as different stitches pull differently and it looks like there are more then less stitches than 50 when actually it is a constant number. I cast on 50 stitches at the beginning. The patterns have different stitch counts I just make sure I always have 50 that means sometimes I have a few extra stitches that I divide between the two sides and add an extra knit or 2 or 3 to the ends to make it work correctly if there is such a thing as correct with this type of thing.

Sculpty polymer beads

I have been helping out at school a lot lately that is why I have not been posting much lately. I have been helping in the high school art classes. They are using Sculpty polymer clay I was showing them how to make canes to make beads and buttons and what ever else they want. I was also showing them how to use molds ( the face beads top right). I will be helping in there a lot in the near future. It is great fun and I enjoy being around the students. Does anyone know if fimo clay is similar or harder than sculpty I have yet to use Fimo so I was wondering. All the beads you see in this I made super quick so they aren't the best but they aren't the worst either. Some I made into beads some buttons all were made during the 50 min. class as I did the demo. They have since been fired and are ready for use. Because I made the beads so fast they are a little smusshed from cutting. If you let the canes sit for a while after making them before cutting (like a day or two) they firm up a ton and are better when cut.

Help for Sister-in-law

A letter from My sister- in-law Becca:

"As many of you know I am studying photography. For one of my classes this semester I am suppose to make a blog. Part of my grade depends on how many people follow my blog. Please check out my new blog, and if you would like offered your support, it would be wonderful to have you followed it (you do that by pushing the "follow" button on my blog). Also, if you know anyone else who might be interested, please pass the word along. Artist depend a lot on networking and word of mouth. I really appreciate it everyone!!!!
Also, for those of you who don't know,
have a great day! :)"
I have artists pages on facebook and a old and new blog the new blog is the one I need followers to.

• new blog: http://beccaharbaugh.blogspot.com/
• old blog: http://photosbybeccajoy.blogspot.com/
  
• on face book: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Rebecca-Harbaugh-Commerical-Photography/214590756884

If any one wants to help her earn a good grade she would appreciate it . Please check out her blog

Fall Star minus the star

I started the Icelandic Star sweater. I am calling it the Fall star minus the star as I think I am going to leave out that embroidery as I have lengthened the section that would have held the embroidery the pattern asked for. That isn't to say I will never embroider the sweater just not with the star the pattern calls for as it would now look silly. Maybe it will end up with some wool crewel embroidery on it or not either way I am fine .

I started this yesterday I think it is working up fast. Currently have about 12 inches on the body section for the size that is supposed to fit me I am supposed to make this section 14 inches long but I think I am going to make is 15 1/2 inches long as I don't like wear it hit right at the jean waist line sort of odd to look at for me. This is the sweater that I am making out of the thrifted yarn I posted about.

Like I said not my favorite colors but will still be a nice fall sweater to wear at Thanksgiving time or any time I am wear neutral colors which isn't too often. This sweater reminds me of Charlie Brown's shirt in Peanuts even though the colors and stripe are all wrong I can't seem to get that image out of my head it will probably leave once I get the rest of the bands on it around the neck and the sleeves. The sleeves will not have quite such a wide strip of the darkest color just a square like two of the other colors.

This picture came out pretty well I took about 30 photos to get 1 that would show that there are four colors in this sweater it was hard to read in photos.

I don't know what the term is I am calling it reverse knitting. During this project I taught my self how to work backwards on the needle so I am always looking at the front of the pieces and never the back makes doing the purl stitches a thousand times easier and I don't have to knit in the round and cut eh sweater for the opening so many pluses with that one. So I just while posting this decided to look on You tube to see if this is a real technique I have found it called reverse knitting and backwards knitting. The person in the video is a thrower I am not even though I did teach myself that it is just slower so I don't do it. It is much faster if you are not a thrower. I figured it out on my own I started to purl a row inserted needle and cast yarn over it then turned it to the front so I could see what my stitch looked like. This made it so I could see what to do from the front ok nothing like reinventing the wheel in reverse that someone already did but I still figured it out with out help and that makes me happy.