Summer Flies Tutorial

by ieholly on August 27, 2011

Well Hello Everyone!

It’s been a long time since we’ve updated our blog! What better way to get back to blogging than with some exciting news for us! Holly and I have developed a ‘Summer Flies Mini Shawl Sampler’
tutorial that we have used in teaching our Summer Flies classes and wanted to make it available for LYS or individuals to use.

Are you interested in teaching a ‘Summer Flies’ or ‘Autumn Flutters’ class? Or are you new to lace knitting? If so, this is the perfect teaching tool to get you started!

This pattern is intended to make lace knitting easy and enjoyable! Inspired by many of the questions that we received from our knitters and classes we have taught, this tutorial contains all of the stitches used in creating the original ‘Summer Flies’ shawl and most of the stitches contained in the ‘Autumn Flutters’ shawl. This sampler class generally takes 3 hours to complete depending on skill level. When class is complete, you walk away with a mini shawl to use as a guide for your full size project. **This is NOT a full size shawl.**

If this Mini Shawl Sampler is used for teaching a class, please download one pattern per student. Pattern includes detailed photos and instructions for casting on the ‘tab insert’.

We hope this is helpful and that you enjoy knitting this little cutie!!

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First, hi everyone! I have been on an internet holiday and am glad to be back. :)

I have had a bunch of questions on the starting technique for Autumn FluttersSummer Flies and Little Shells. Here is a little tutorial of how I like to do it. As always feel free to email me if you have any questions.

The way these three shawls are started can be broken down into 3 basic parts:  1. Casting on, 2. Knitting a small rectangle, 3. Picking up stitches along the rectangles’ edges. I’ll go through each step. Here are the basic directions: (I think Autumn Flutters, Little Shells and Summer Flies might be just a bit different but the method is the same)

Using the long tail cast on method, cast on 3 sts. Knit 6 rows. Pick up 3 sts from the long edge of the garter stitch rectangle, with an additional 3 sts from the cast on edge, for a total of 9 sts.

1. Cast on:

First cast on using any method you prefer. I usually use the longtail method, but backwards loop would also work.

2. Knit a small rectangle:

Here, I knit 6 rows in garter stitch. Then I turned the work length-wise in preparation for step 3.

3. Pick up stitches along the long edge:

Pick up the additional stitches by inserting the right needle through the back side, wrapping yarn and pulling through. 3 along the length (the long edge) and 3 along the cast on edge (the short edge).

When finished it should look just like this, a little ‘U’ shaped tab. :)

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Autumn Flutters is now available!

by iamellab on September 28, 2010

It feels like Autumn here in Texas and it was the perfect day to launch our newest pattern – Autumn Flutters! I want to say a special thank you to Holly and Jan for test knitting the shawl and shawlette patterns. Your time and talent is so appreciated! You did beautiful work! Its crazy to actually sell something! It was a little more complicated setting up to sell on Ravelry than I thought. Not so much Ravelry, but pay pal had some glitches. Once we got those ironed out it was cake. :) Ravelry is an amazing community with fantastic tools. I’m not sure if we would have been able to publish with out it. Oh! And I can’t forget the fabulous Malabrigo Sock! Gorgeous! Thank you Yarntopia! Abril was the perfect colorway to interpret this pattern!


Autumn Flutters Shawl

Autumn Flutters Shawlette

Holly and I are on our way to houston to do a little yarn shopping. On the way out I saw this in my front garden! I haven’t seen a red dragonfly before so I snapped a pic.

Garden Visitor!

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Bananas. I die. (Wispy Cardigan)

by ieholly on September 27, 2010

I finally finished my wispy cardigan by Hannah Fettig last week! I LOVE IT!! Its totally bananas (i watch to much bravo). I made a couple of modifications mostly because I have a hard time reading a pattern. lol. I have a bad habit of glancing over a pattern and then running with it, a process that only works out sometimes. I used malabrigo lace in lettuce.

Wispy Lettuce

Here is a list of modifications:

- .5″ ribbing on sleeves and bottom.

- Knit each sleave separate and kitchener  stitched live ends.

- used a p2tog stretchy bind off around the neck.

Its a fantastic pattern. You can get it and yarn at knitbot.com. I am sure another one is in my future. I am already mentally winding the yarn. ;)

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Dog in a Bucket and Autumn Flutters Update

by iamellab on August 16, 2010

Hello. I took the cutest iphone pic of Gwynnie last night and thought I’d share.

She looks like a delicious little loaf of bulldog bread!

Autumn Flutters is officially off the needles and in the soak. I snapped a few quick pics – iphone again – I desperately need to get a good camera. It is shown here unblocked and measures out at 63″ x 19″.

Back


Pattern Detail


Front - with my new favorite pin

I think this should block out to be quite a nice size shawl. The pattern is written but It needs to be looked over by Holly and then knit again. We are thinking of offering this in 2 sizes and with and without the pleated edge.

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I have the mondays. :(

by ieholly on August 9, 2010

But this picture made me laugh. Hope everyone else is having a better Monday than me!! <3

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