French Knitting

Hi All,

This week I am away from my studio.  I am on grandma duty helping out with my two-year old granddaughter while her mom and dad await the birth of their second daughter. 

Of course, I packed up a few crafts to take along for the moments I have free.  I packed some knitting and, so far, I have finished a mini-blanket for the car seat.  And, I've also been knitting with something new to me - a type of spool knitter called a  French Knitter.  The nice people from Clover Needlecraft gave me one at the last Craft and Hobby Show, and I have been happily trying it out with all sorts of fibers and beads.  I can't believe that I have never used one of these.   And, soon, I hope to be able to show you some of the designs that I have developed with this great new gadget.  Actually, it's only new to me.  After doing a little research on the web, I discovered that spool knitting has been around a long time.  You can even make a spool knitter with a cardboard tube; I can't wait to try that with my children's group!

I hope you are trying some new craft this summer.  And, if you need some great ideas, click on the big blue blinkie at the left of this post and see what the other designers in the Designer Crafts Connection are crafting this month.  I know there will be lots of fun crafts for Father's Day and picnics. 

Happy Crafting,
Grammy Terry

A new project

Hi crafters!

I'm always up for a new craft challenge. And, I'm so proud of my progress on this new project that I just had to show and tell!

I'm making a knitted headband for my granddaughter. It has yarnovers and slipped stitches. And, it's on #3 needles! Now, that's progress for me in relearning and expanding my knitting skills. It's not just garter stitch anymore!

One thing my knitting group has recommended to me as they watched me knit with my old, long aluminum needles are bamboo needles. And, now, I can see what they meant. Those long needles are just irritating on smaller projects. I like the grip of the bamboo needles, too.

So, you can teach an old crafter new tricks! Thanks, ladies!

What new skills are you learning?

Keep on crafting (and learning!),

Terry