Posts by cathymacknits
Meeting an Idol
I was so excited to meet Ysolda Teague at our knitting store a couple of weeks ago! She is as charming and lovely as you would expect. She gave a talk about how she got started as a knitting designer and about her current projects, including choosing colors for Scrumptious yarns by Lantern Moon used…
Read MoreIsn't Knitting a Dying Art?
I have been knitting and crocheting since I was 14 years old. How many times have I heard as I sat working on my project, “My grandmother knits/crochets.” There I was, 21 years old, working on my filet crochet project, happy as I could be, and fielding yet another assault on the assumption that only…
Read MoreDyeing for the First Time
I finally did something I’ve been wanting to do for years – dye yarn! With the easy-to-use indigo dye kit I bought from Knit Picks, it was fairly simple to dye t-shirts and then yarn with my friend, Judie. I admit, I was excited but nervous. I was more worried once I started the process.…
Read MoreStitches West – Wow!
Are you thinking about going to Stitches? You should do it! After many years of wondering if I should go and wishing I could go, I finally went! It was even better than I expected. I took three classes – Celtic Cables with Melissa Leapman; Fair Isle with Sandi Rosner; and Designing Your Dream Sweater…
Read MoreIncreasing Discovery
Working at the knitting store has given me the opportunity to help people every day with their knitting projects. Often the problem is dropped stitches or “something seems wrong.” My favorite problems are pattern confusion. I enjoy puzzling out what the pattern instructions are trying to tell us. I read through the pattern and imagine…
Read MoreWinter Class Schedule
When I’m not working at Knit Happens, I’ve been busily knitting up samples for the Winter Class Schedule. The socks on two circular needles are knit using Cat Bordhi’s book, Socks Soar on Two Circular Needles. This book taught me how to knit socks and I’ve been enjoying making pair after pair ever since. You…
Read MoreTrying Something New
This Brambles Beret is the latest item that I have knit with cabling and charts. I have used a very simple chart before when working a cabling pattern but always feel intimidated when I look at charts for lace. The chart for this beret was so easy to follow, I had no trouble at all.…
Read More"Find something you're passionate about and keep tremendously interested in it." — Julia Child
I knit all the time. Practically all day long, if I can. That seems excessive somehow but I love to knit. I always have several projects going at once and usually something that NEEDS to be knitted. Maybe for a class or for a gift. It seems like I always need a Project Linus blanket…
Read MoreTeaching
It has been so much fun for me to teach classes at Knit Happens in Scottsdale, AZ. I have met some lovely ladies and I hope I have helped them expand their knitting skills. At the end of February, I began working Tuesday nights at the store. This involves some shelf organizing and moving yarn…
Read MoreIn The Beginning
When did I learn to knit? Honestly, I don’t remember anyone teaching me. As far as I know, I learned to knit from the Reader’s Digest Guide to Needlework. And I know I’m not the only one! What’s a bit unusual though is that I never made very many mistakes. Why? I think I have…
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