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Monday, June 2, 2014

Anyone read German?

Sounds like a great book, unfortunately I won't be able to read it until it comes out in English.

A new book has been published by Verena Kuni with title “Häkeln + Stricken für Geeks” (“Crochet + knitting for Geeks”) with some mentions to Knitic with text and photos. The link to the book is here: http://www.oreilly.de/catalog/haekelnkgger/

Motor drive set up

Ed helped me complete the stand and motor drive installation tonight, I was having trouble holding the drive unit and using a screwdriver at the same time.  After we FINALLY got it installed, we realized that 2 steps back in the instructions I had managed to pinch the belt unit between the end supports.  So took it back off, loosened the belt, and reinstalled.  It went a LOT easier once the belt was in the proper position.

Step one of getting the Level 1 Masters - read the instructions.  I'll do that now.

Saturday, May 31, 2014

TKGA Master's Program

I ordered and downloaded the TKGA (The Knitting Guild Association) instructions for completing their master's Level 1 certificate for machine knitting today.   It is 32 pages long.    My goal is to complete the first level by the end of June. 

I tried this once before but did not complete it.  I don't remember why.  Maybe the kids kept me busy? They don't live here any more, since they have grown up, so I can't use them for an excuse now!

A new machine!

New to me, anyway.  It is a Brother KH-930, with motor drive, ribber, floppy drive, color changer, lace carriage, knit leader, intarsia carriage,.  I already have this model, but mine does not have the ribber, just the G-carriage.

I originally had the idea of buying it for parts it seems to be in good condition, so I guess I will just put it to use. It is missing the power cord.  The gentleman who sold the machine promised to mail it to me so I will wait a week or so before buying a replacement. 

I am not sure if I was acquainted with his wife, the woman who listed the machine on Craig's list said that she attended the Monroe knitters seminar last year.  Last year, of course, I missed the seminar.

This afternoon I plan to unpack everything, inventory it,  and see what else might be missing.  

Saturday, April 26, 2014

Swap completed.

FINALLY, I finished my swap for Mary Jane's Farmgirl friend.  It will go in the mail on Monday. Here's a peek.


Oh, I'll just go ahead and share the whole thing. 


The bag body was knitted with carpet yarn on the bulky knitting machine.  I  knitted the handles first.  For each handle I cast on 10 stitches and knitted to 36 rows.  If I do this again I will make them slightly longer.  For the bag body,  I  cast on 22 either side of 0, knitted about 80 rows, bound off four stitches on either side on the next two rows, knit 10 rows, cast on 4 stitches on each side on the next two rows, then knitted another 80 rows. 

I used an Anita Goodesign embroidery design.   I put a square of burlap under the design, and regretted the choice, because the embroidery foot caught several times in the loose weave of the burlap, causing registration errors and having to back up the design in order to work the foot loose.  After the initial quilting was done, however, mostly things went smoothly, and the embroidery was completed. Luckily the spots where the burlap was torn up was mostly covered by applique of the embroidery.

I fused the muslin lining of the bag to some stiff interfacing and traced the outline of the knitted fabric onto the muslin, cut it out, and used the serger to seam.  Then I seamed the knitted bag using the serger, turned down the lining by 1/4 inch  and stitched it down, then sewed around the top of the bag on the same stitching line to stitch the lining to the bag.

Altogether it did not turn out badly.

Tuesday, April 8, 2014

Gifted!

I was pleased to receive a gift in the mail today from a fellow Mary Jane's Farm farmgirl.  The swap I am participating is called "Earth Day Maker's Swap" and I initiated the swap last year and hosted it.  Another farmgirl took it up this year to carry on the 2nd annual swap.  The rules are: Don't buy anything, use something you already own from your stash or repurpose something from your household to make something useful for another farmgirl. 

She sent me a lovely knitted "gardener's hat" in yellow, blue and pink cotton.  It has a crocheted flower gracing the front.

  I need to send her something in return.  hmmm.

Saturday, March 22, 2014

Wolcott Mill Sheep Shearing Day

It was a great day today, lots of little kids like 4-6 years old who were interested in how sheep's wool was turned into clothing.  In the farmhouse we were arranged logically, the lady who breeds Shetland sheep was displaying roving, I was spinning and had several knitted items on display and the Civil War Reenactor who spins and weaves was weaving a sash.  So the kids came into the room and saw the whole process from sheep to "sash' in this case.  Thanks to the Metroparks system for hosting this event!  I am so glad to be able to volunteer at Wolcott Mill Farm Metropark!
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