Radicchio - Ready For Next Summer

My off-white,  top-down Radicchio,  although a speedy knit, won't be ready for late summer wearing this year.  It will be next summer's go to piece.

The body is finished.

 

I ended it with the same trim as the top - 2x2 rib.  Most of the trim -  I worked with a slightly smaller needle -  3.75mm versus the 4.5mm used in the body.  But I switched back to the 4.5 for the cast off.

The cast off was done in pattern with an extra stitch made and cast off  every once in a while - A- La Jenny's Surprisingly Stretchy Bind Off.   No use going to all the trouble of inserting 'fit my hips' increases then having a trim too tight to meet in the middle.

Hopefully my strategy works.

But if not, it's top down.  Easy to Fix.  On to the sleeves.

A Much Improved Knitters Fair

Christmas In September or   Christmas For Knitters is the way knitters often describe the Kitchener Waterloo Knitters Fair.    Saturday was fair day and my Meaford Group took 2 cars and 6 knitters down to smell the yarn fumes.  We were anxious to see what the KW Guild was offering for 2014 as last year, the first year in 'The Aud' as the grand old arena is called,  was such a disappointment.

Accustomed as we knitters were to the  ballrooms, carpeted halls and fancy washrooms at the previous location, we all found the arena to be a let down.  Crowded.  Poor food. No seating.   Cement floor.  Arena washrooms. 

Of course, nothing could be done about the washrooms or the floors, but otherwise the Guild had made changes to make the day a much more positive one.  Two venue spaces versus one eliminated the crowding. 

 

Large areas with tables and tablecloths set aside for lunch and sore feet.

A spa where knitters could get their nails polished and take a class in chair yoga. 

 Those are my nails, calling out for a manicure.  The little squiggle painted on the index and middle finger is a ball of unwinding yarn. 



 Fashion shows and speakers on the same floor as the show.  All in all, well done, Kitchener.  Our group certainly enjoyed our day.


Were there purchases?  Oh Yes.  And my purchases  were exaactly opposite to what I normally buy.  Normally I say the Fair is not for bargains.  Rather it is for great, unusual product not seen every day in every yarn store and all under one roof.

But this year.  I got bargains. 

One skein Americo Cotton Flamme.  $10. Half price.  To be used for ???   -  probably a scarf, shawl or wrap.   One skein Super 10 cotton.  $5.  Same colour, same yarn  as I purchased locally last week for $15.  To be used in a summer skirt I have planned. One ball of Sock yarn.  100 G $8. Half price.   

Two great books. 

One an impulse buy, but the Barbara Walker book has been on my list FOREVER!

I ran into a far-away friend  - Laurie M of London

and saw her purchases.

A bit of star gazing as we were greeted at the door by Sally Melville!  Always fun.

Good friends to share the drive and the day.

  All in all a great day. 

Thursdays Are For Knit Group

I would say weird and wonderful things were shown at knit group today except that would be wrong.  They were not weird.  At all.  But beautiful. 

Sandy arrived with a finished outfit for the new grand daughter to be born within the next two weeks.

All pink and cute.  That ultra sound better be right, Sandy said.  Sandy has the best suggestion for knitted baby garments.  Buy  matching pieces to complete the outfit.  She says the Mom is much more likely to put the hand knit pieces on the baby if there are bottoms to match.  Great idea sandy.

Nicki, who we haven't seen much this summer, came to knitting with a crocheted piece she started a long time ago.  Decades ago she said.  Crocheted with gossamer thin thread and  very small needle.  Take a look.

This is the type of work, I would never even think about doing.  Well done, Nicki.

Sandy's sister Sue, bag lady Sue as we call her, has discovered a source of great knitting bags - Graces Cases -  and had one made for Sandy.  You give your wants/needs to the seamstress, choose your colours and she creates a fantastic, one of a kind bag. 

 Pinks for Sandy.

 Grooves for needles and pockets, pockets, pockets.  All these things zipper out so you can carry them separately if you want.  'Silly expensive' for a knitting bag, said Sandy.  Not considering the detailed work.

And the excited talk today was of the Knitters Christmas  Fair in Kitchener this Saturday.  Two cars of us head down this year.  Before I came home I went to the bank.  Got my cash, got my list.  I'm ready.