Vera Bear KAL for June

Oh honey!  Let me tell you that I barely got this blog posted in time.  The June KAL is going to be Vera Bear by Annita Wilschut.  This pattern is by the same designer from our April KAL, Jacobus the Monkey.  Purchase your pattern on Ravelry, then purchase your knitting supplies at KT and join us Thursday evenings from 6-8:00pm beginning June 7th.

Knit me, knit me, knit me ...

Vera is very teddy-bearish looking and is fun, fun, fun to knit!  If you are up for an extreme challenge while you knit this bear, you can download your pattern in Dutch.  But don't expect any help from me going forward.

Happy Knitting and hope to see you for the KAL

Renee

My Whirlwind Weekend

My oldest daughter Elizabeth moved to Gunnison,Colorado a month ago and we made a quick trip out this past weekend to deliver more of her things.  Gunnison is near Crested Butte which is near . . . nothing.  Look on the map at southwest Colorado.  Look for a large area labeled 'middle of nowhere'.  That should give you a pretty good idea of where Gunnison is.  A mere 13 hours away.  We left Saturday afternoon at 4:30 p.m. and drove straight through, arriving around 8:00 a.m. Sunday.  I know what you're thinking:  Renee is really bad at math because that is a little more than 13 hours.  Yessiree, I have a story for you.  

My husband, the steering wheel control freak' drove, I was shotgun and my second-born favorite daughter, Traci, was trapped in the back with the ever-whining wiener dog.  Jim:  I can drive the whole way.  I took a nap this morning and I am fresh as a daisy and ready to go.  Traci:  Good because I stayed out waaay too late last night and had one too many beverages and I am far from fresh as a daisy.  Me:  Perfect.  I have two headlamps in the car and I can knit on the June Knitted Together KAL 'til my fingers fall off.  Wiener Dog:  Did anyone bring the Beggin' Strips??? 

We drove through Iowa sprinkles as I watched gently rolling hills starting to turn green.  Once we hit Nebraska (could it be any flatter?) we drove through a spectacular lightening show and listened to the radio blare out tornado warning alerts through the middle of all the good songs.  I looked at Jim.  He looked at me.  Jim:  I've got this.  Me:  That last shot of lightening was so close that I don't think I'll have to highlight my hair again for the next three years.  We hit eastern Colorado and I got the answer to my 'could Nebraska be any flatter' question - yes it could be flatter and here it is.  Once we got to Denver the freezing rain kicked in and we drove for an hour at 20 mph.  The only other vehicles on the highway were snowplows and the cars in the ditches.  Three hours later we are zipping along when Jim looks at me.  I look at Jim.  Jim:  I can't make it any further.  You're going to have to spell me.  Me:  Sure!  Me thinking:  ARE YOU KIDDING ME?  THE MOUNTAIN PASS IS COMING UP!! YOU WANT ME TO DRIVE THROUGH THE MOUNTAIN PASS??!!  Jim:  You will be fine.  The weather is great.  Fifteen minutes later we hit the flashing sign indicating we are now driving through Monarch Mountain Pass - Travel Not Recommended.  I look at Jim sleeping.  I look at Traci pretending to sleep.  I look at wiener dog and see this thought cross her little mind:  Did you seriously forget to pack the Beggin' Strips?  I was on my own, flying solo.  So I put the death grip on the steering wheel, squared my shoulders and crawled through the pass.  On-coming drivers waved.  I waved back but was internally screaming, "STOP LOOKING AT ME!!"  Once we got to our destination, Elizabeth asked how the pass was.  Before I could even open my mouth Jim and Traci gave a weather report that sounded like we had just traveled through paradise.  What really happened is that I drove through a blizzard!  It was THE worst blizzard on record!!  Well, that's my story and I'm sticking to it.  

We spent Sunday with Elizabeth and the boyfriend, henceforth referred to as Christopher.  Monday morning we got up, said our goodbyes and headed to the Gunnison Coffee Company for the best cup of coffee on the face of the earth.  When we explained why we were in Gunni, our server asked how long we would be staying while delivering 'stuff' to our daughter.  Server:  Wow!  That must be some pretty important stuff!  Me:  Not really.  As a matter of fact it was mostly hand-me-down furniture.  Me thinking:  But it was sure great to see my first-born working somewhere that makes her happy, in a place that makes her happy and living with her love, Christopher, who makes her happy.  I'm not going to look over my shoulder at the mirror to check, but I'm pretty sure my behind is in the shape of a car seat.  And I would do it all over again for my first-born favorite daughter.  Just not this next weekend . . . 

Renee

Customer Profile - Sara Fritzsche

Say hello to Sara Fritzche, lovingly referred to as 'Sara One' here at KT. By day Sara is a Financial Analyst/Accountant. Aside from knitting and crocheting, in her spare time she enjoys photography, traveling and reading. Sara is not a pet owner at the moment but may find herself with a cuddly something or another one day if she continues to look at pictures on the ARL website.

Sara learned to knit and crochet in college. Her old friend, Maddie Boyer who lived down the hall taught her to knit. Her friend and then roommate, Colleen Hinka, taught her to crochet.

Sara's favorite yarn is Rowan Lima. Or Purelife Cotton by Rowan. Well, most yarns by Rowan are her favorite. She just loves the colors and textures. It wasn't love at first sight for Sara and Lima, but after feeling and knitting with it she fell 'head over heels' in love. Her favorite knitting project is the Lima sweater she has been knitting on for the past three years. She promises to finish it. Someday. Sara's class wish at KT would be for remedial seaming - for people who avoid piecing sweaters together because they were bad at sewing class in junior high.

Sara's favorite thing about Knitted Together is . . . everything! She loves the friendly, helpful staff and the colors and textures that fill such an inviting space by drawing you in and making you feel at home. She also loves the caring friends who are always sitting on the couch and are good for a story or a pick-me-up on a bad day. Knitted Together is truly her home away from home.

So next time you are at KT and you see Sara, be sure to say hello!

 

 Happy Knitting!

Renee

April KAL - Don't Laugh But I'm Doing This

OK. I have always wanted to knit a sock monkey and I think I have finally found the perfect pattern. It's Jacobus by Annita Wilschut.  

Jacobus a.k.a. Mitch (skinny and flat) mid-knit!

Now he's feeling full and satisfied.

And very relaxed and and happy!

I've knitted my Jacobus (just call him Mitch) from Cascade 220 Superwash Paints in the Beach Grass colorway for Mitch's body and Cascade 220 Superwash in Banana (Get it?  BANANA!!) Cream. My next one (oh yes, there will be many) is, I think, going to be: Body by Malabrigo in Azul Profundo and Face by Malabrigo in Lettuce. OR something else. Who knows what I will choose by April 5th? I'm notorious for changing my mind 9 or 11 times.  

One of the cool things about this pattern is that you can use any weight yarn. Plus Annita's pattern has lots of photos to show you what Jacobus should look like as you are working on him.  A couple of our Thursday friends, Stacy and Patti, have already purchased their Jacobus yarns.  They opted for bodies in Malabrigo and decided to share a skein of Cascade 220 for the face, hands and feet.

The KAL is set to begin Thursday, April 5 from 6-8:00 p.m. and will continue through Thursday evenings in April. Come and 'monkey around' with us. It will be a blast! Join us and be prepared for some taste-tempting treats of the monkey variety!

Happy Knitting!

Renee

The Feline Abyss

Now looking at these two, I know what you're thinking. That they have neither the ambition nor the shadiness to be the culprits of the shenanigans to follow, however, let me set you straight.  The other day I was struck by a rare burst of spring cleaning. So I moved all the furniture in the living room to give the carpeting a little extra TLC with the vacuum. Under one chair I found the following: a Christmas tree ornament (so I don't vacuum under the furniture all that often. Big deal, I have other redeeming qualities. I know I do. Don't I?); numerous stitch markers; a toothbrush (NOT MINE! I brush my teeth frequently enough that I would know if my toothbrush was missing.); my pineapple charm necklace I got in Hawaii (now I can quit silently blaming my girls for cobbing my necklace); and a thimble. A thimble? I don't even sew! I got a D+ in sewing in junior high! But I'm not bitter about that grade. I actually use it to my advantage when my husband tells me he has a button that needs sewn back onto a shirt. I just tell him, "No can do-ski. Got a D+ in sewing and I would hate to disappoint 'Old Lady Sturms' with my less-than-stellar sewing skills. Just throw it away and buy a new shirt." And these were just a few of the treasures I found under the chair. And it's as if these two knew I'd found their stash! They shot over to the area like a couple of greased pigs out of a cannon. Hoarders. Mecca for Kitties. Also known as The Feline Abyss. Oh - did I mention I'm not bitter about that D+ in junior high sewing . . .

Happy Knitting!

Renee

Eat Like It's Spring Already!

I don't mean to tempt fate or anything but it certainly seems to me as if spring has sprung.  Days in the upper 70's with crisp, clear nights make me think of crisp, crunchy, fresh salads.  So I raided my recipe box and pulled out one of my favorites.  I'm sure many of you have seen the recipe before and I don't have a name for it - I just call it Jan's Salad  - easy enough - I got the recipe from my friend Jan!  Anyway, I'd like to share and hope you enjoy.

Jan's Salad

• Mix together for dressing: 1 cup oil, 1 cup sugar, 1/2 cup red wine vinegar, and 2 T soy sauce
• Brown in 2 T butter 'til toasty: 2 pkg Ramen noodles (discard seasoning packets), 1/2 cup pine nuts, 1/2 cup sunflower seeds, and 1/2 cup slivered almonds
• I use the following greens: Red and green leaf lettuces, Chinese cabbage, and scallions 

I suppose you could add a grilled chicken breast and call it a meal.  That's what I do to my husband, anyway.

Happy Knitting!

Renee

Daybreak KAL

We had a fantastic time last night starting the Daybreak shawlette/scarf by Stephen West. Our first KAL of 2012!  It started off by most of us getting to KT just in time to see Suzanne E. finish up her very first knitting project.  It was the Noro Striped Scarf and she did an amazing job considering she just finished Nancy's Beginning Knitting Class on December 10th! Then everyone pulled their color choices out and we spent some time helping each other decide which color to start with.  We all cast on and were able to get our 'Make One's' under control by evening's end. 

I brought a couple bottles of wine and a new recipe called Robert's Corn Dip featured in Where Women Cook magazine.

Robert's Corn Dip (Makes about 6 cups)

• 3 (11-oz) cans sweet corn & diced peppers, drained
• 1 (7-oz) can chopped green chilies
• 1 (6-oz) can chopped jalapenos, drained & liquid added to taste
• 1/2 cup chopped green onion
• 1 cup mayonnaise
• 1 cup sour cream
• 1 tsp pepper
• 1/2 tsp garlic powder
• 1 (16 oz) pkg shredded sharp cheddar cheese
• Scoop-style corn chips

Mix all ingredients except corn chips together and refrigerate. Serve with corn chips.

It's not too late to join us for the Daybreak KAL  - Tuesdays in January from 6:00-8:00 p.m.  Most, but not all of us are using two skeins of tosh sock - many beautiful and vibrant colors are left to choose from.

Renee

Customer Profile: Irene Erker (Ravelry name: Knitting4Sweetie)

This month my eyes are on Irene who is a fantastic and talented lady I have gotten to know through open knit times here at Knitted Together.

Irene is a first generation American who learned to crochet from her Yugoslavian grandmother.  Thirty years later, Irene's mother taught her to knit with just a minor drawback - all the knitting terms Irene learned were in Hungarian because her mother didn't know the English terminology!  When Irene returned to Iowa she walked into Knitted Together, put her hand out to Nancy and said, "Hi, I'm Irene and I'm new to knitting."  Irene said that Nancy was so kind and helpful that first day that she was truly bitten by the knitting bug and hasn't put her needles down since.  Irene knits with the "Friday Afternoon Sparklers" - a wonderful group of gals who meet at open knit time at KT.  Irene is currently working on Embossed Leaves by Teva Durham and is using Artyarns Silk Rhapsody.  Check out more of her projects on Ravelry.

She is married to a wonderful man who loves it when she knits (he says it keeps her yelling to a minimum) and they have three children who also reap the benefits from more knitting and less yelling.  While living in San Diego, Irene was a formulation/method development chemist for a pharmaceutical company.  She has since replaced her lab career with cooking (Irene indicates she loves to cook, cook, cook!) and would like to share one of her favorite recipes with her KT friends.

Cherry Scones

•  2 cups flour 
• 1/3 cup sugar
• 2 tsp baking powder 
• 1/4 tsp salt 
• 1/3 cup chilled butter (cut into pieces) 
• 1 egg 
• 2/3 cup whipping cream (can sub low-fat milk) 
• 1 cup dried cherries (add chocolate chips, if desired) 
• 1 tsp almond or vanilla extract 
• egg wash (1 egg, 1 tsp water)

Preheat over to 375 degrees.  Combine dry ingredients in food processor.  Pulse.  Add butter pieces.  Pulse.  Add wet ingredients.  Pulse until dough is formed.  Spoon-drop dough onto greased baking sheet.  Brush top with egg wash.  Bake 15-18 minutes.  ENJOY!!

If you or someone you know would like to be in the Customer Profile, please contact Renee at Knitted Together (515-222-9276), by email:  reneepetrie@live.com or send me a pm on Ravelry (BobIsMyCat).  I would love to hear from you!  This could be one of those cases where it's better to volunteer before I volunteer you :)  Mwahahahahahahaha!!!!

Happy Knitting!
Renee 

Customer Profile: Renee Petrie

Note: You may have been directed here from our September Newsletter. It was written by Renee as the first of her monthly Customer Profiles for our newsletter. Stay tuned each month for another profile!

Profile of Renee (Ravelry name: BobIsMyCat) Petrie

Things I want you to know about me: I am married to a wonderful and patient man named Jim. We have two daughters, Elizabeth and Traci, two cats named Bob and Arthur and one wiener dog named Wiener Dog (we like to simplify things at our house). My grandmother taught me to knit when I was in high school. She tried to teach me to crochet but that didn't work out so well for either of us. I like to read. I like to go for walks. I like to travel. I like Post-Its. I like wine --- red --- and in large quantities. I like free kittens (NO! THIS IS NOT AN INVITATION TO DROP YOUR CATS OFF AT MY DOOR!). I like to laugh. Laughs that make me snort out loud. Laughs that make my stomach hurt and even make me pee a little.

What I like best in my life is to walk through my door and be greeted by my family with smiles on their faces that indicate they are genuinely glad to see me, or at least if that ever happens for me I imagine I would like that... And I like to look over in the corner and see my old friends waiting for me. Those old friends with the sharp pointy tips resting contentedly in a ball of yarn.

Current projects I am working on are the Pleated Arm Warmers from Modern Top-Down Knitting by Kristina McGowan. I'm using a beautiful gray in Mirasol Nuna. I'm also itching to get started on the Kilter Hat by Alexander Tinsley. That will be done in Araucania Yelcho, a gorgeous, gorgeous yarn.

See you next month. And I will be bringing a new Knitted Together friend with me.

Oh! And P.S. I like jelly beans.

Sock Maniac

I'm doing a guest blog for Nancy so she can continue to knit. Sometimes it's hard for her to stop knitting long enough to write a blog entry. This is my first time blogging!

Who am I? I'm known by many names. I'm most frequently known as Rose, Rosie by my family, or Grandma Rose by my granddaughters.

I'm RosieL on Ravelry. And, for anyone who has made my basic sock pattern, I am RosieL of RosieL’s Socks, the basic sock pattern that I wrote. There are now three versions of my pattern (56-stitch, 64-stitch and 72-stitch), plus Nancy has adapted my pattern for Magic-Loop instruction. It's a good basic pattern, and you can always do your own thing on the cuff as long as the pattern you use is a 4- or 8-stitch repeat. To get my sock pattern, you either need to buy some sock yarn at Knitted Together or take my beginner sock class. So I guess another name for me is “sock teacher.” I've been teaching the beginning sock class on a monthly basis at Knitted Together ever since the store opened. To take the sock class, you need to be experienced enough to be able to knit and purl (as in ribbing), increase, and decrease. I teach the basics with my mini-sock pattern on double-point needles (which I prefer). After you learn the basics, you can try other methods of making socks. Magic loop is very popular, and Nancy can teach you how to move on to that method. I personally prefer working on double-point needles.

I just got back from Stitches Midwest in Schaumburg, IL where I purchased my very first pair of Signature Needles. I haven’t yet, but I’ll soon be casting on my first pair of socks with my new needles and can give you a full report. They're on the pricey side but I have heard rave reviews and really wanted to give them a try. Due to the high price, my husband thought they were possibly battery operated or even knit the project for you, but what would the fun be in that?!

I'm also known as “chief volunteer” at Knitted Together. Nancy and I met through knitting at our church in late 2000 and we have been great friends ever since. I was so excited when Nancy and Tim decided to open Knitted Together. I live less than a mile from the shop and I'm frequently at the shop knitting. When Nancy gets busy with customers, I’ll pitch in to wind yarn and help customers. I eventually learned how to work the cash register so if you're in the shop and someone is checking you out that's not the most proficient on the register, it’s probably me (hey, a little grace, please!).

I most recently became known as “sock maniac” when I attended Stitches Midwest with five of my knitting friends. My friend, Marsha's fancy phone actually announces the caller, so while at Stitches, Marsha changed my name in her phone so it would say “sock maniac” when I called. This was my tenth time to attend Stitches, and as usual I loved it. It's the most fabulous get away for a knitter. This year almost all of my "market" purchases were sock related. I think it's my duty to try new sock yarns, especially since I have also been called the “sock maven”. I love socks for their portability, and of course, all the fabulous sock yarns that are on the market. I have a sock bag that I always take with me wherever I go that contains a basic sock in progress. I knit other things than socks though. I'm currently working on a man’s sweater for a friend, a baby blanket for my niece, a bag, three other sweaters for myself, and more WIPs than I dare mention.

This year we started the “KT-Socker Club” at Knitted Together where we are knitting patterned socks. If you're curious, ask Nancy about it or check the Knitted Together Events Page (listed as K-tog #2 on Tuesdays each month). Maybe I’ll save details for that in another guest blog spot if Nancy invites me to blog again.

Nancy frequently closes her blog with a recipe. I’m going to share my favorite cookie recipe. I have made this recipe for years. They are simply delicious cookies as the name implies and the recipe makes more than enough to share! I make them for my boss (of 30 years) for his birthday ever year.

Delicious Cookies (Note: recipe was corrected at 1:05 PM on 9/19/09)

• 1 cup brown sugar
• 1 cup white sugar
• 1 cup margarine
• 1 cup oil
• 1 egg
• 2 tsp. vanilla
• 1 tsp. soda
• 1 tsp. salt
• 1 tsp. cream of tarter
• 4 cups flour
• 1 cup oats
• 1 cup Rice Krispies
• 16 ounces chocolate chips

Cream sugars and shortening. Add egg, vanilla, salt, soda and cream of tarter. Mix well. Add flour. Blend in oats, Rice Krispies, and chocolate chips. Drop by teaspoon onto cookie sheet. Bake at 350 degrees for 12-15 minutes.

Enjoy!
Rose, RosieL, etc.