Ponchos are everywhere, so I decided to update a poncho I made 7 years ago.  Here's the old version -- a little bit of glitz, kind of outdated, wouldn't you say?















And here's the new version.   A little bit more sophisticated with a touch of glitter.

And here is the pattern:

MAXIMA PONCHO

Yarn:

Color A: Classic Elite Kumara # 5716 - 3 skeins
Color B Manos Maxima #M8881 - 1 skein
Color C Berocco Flicker #3334 - 1 skein

Size when finished:  Neck is approximately 20" around, bottom of poncho is approximately 75" around and  poncho is approximately  20" long.

Gauge: 4.5 stitches = 1 inch with larger needle.Needles: 16” and 47” Size 8; 24”, 32” and 47” Size 9
As poncho increases in stitch count, change to larger length needle to accommodate number of stitches

Increase round: * K1,M1L, knit to one sttich before marker. M1R, K1, SM, , repeat from * 3 more times,  end K1


With color A, cast on 100 stitches. Place marker and join to work in the round on 16” size 8 needles


Work K1 P1 Rib for eight rows

Change to 24” Size 9 needles
Knit entire row, placing markers every 25 stitches using a different color marker for these 3  markers,, so you know which is the beginning of the round.
Knit one increase round


Round 1: Change to color B and Knit entire round.
Round 2: repeat increase round.
Round 3 Knit entire round
Round 4 repeat increase round
Round 5 Knit entire round
Round 6 repeat increase round
Round 7 change to color A and knit entire round
Round 8 Repeat increase round
Round 9 Change to color C and knit entire round
Round 10 *P1, M1P purl to one sttich before marker. M1P, P1, SM, , repeat from * 3 more times,  end P1
Round 11 change to color A and knit entire round
Round 12 Repeat increase round


Repeat these Rounds 1-12 for 3 more times


Round 13: Change to color B and Knit entire round.
Round 14: Knit entire round
Round 15 Knit entire round
Round 16 repeat increase round
Round 17 Knit entire round
Round 18 Knit entire round
Round 19 change to color A and knit entire round
Round 20 Repeat increase round
Round 21 Change to color C and knit entire round
Round 22 PURL entire round
Round 23 change to color A and knit entire round
Round 24 Repeat increase round


Repeat rounds 13-24 2 more times.


Round 25 Change to color B and Knit entire round.
Round 26 Knit entire round
Round 27 Knit entire round
Round 28 repeat increase round
Round 29 Knit entire round
Round 30 Knit entire round
Round 31 change to color A and knit entire round
Round 32 Knit entire round
Round 33 Change to color C and knit entire round
Round 34 PURL entire round
Round 35 change to color A and knit entire round
Round 36 Knit entire round

Repeat rounds 25-36 2 more times


Change to 47” Size 8 needles and K1 P1 rib for 8 rounds. Bind off. Add fringe if desired.

Woolbearers is having a new KAL-- the "Mitered Square Sweater" from the  Elizabeth Zimmerman book Knit One Knit All.  This sweater is not for the faint of heart.  The construction is unlike any other sweater I've ever seen.  And, like all EZ patterns, you have to read the pattern instructions very, very carefully.  The gals who are in the KAL are all at various stages, but love doing this one.  Here are some pix.

Here is a picture of the completed sweater from the book. Great looking sweater - eh?

I think that Susan is the furthest  along and is now working on attaching a new color to the sides.  She is using Cascade 220 sport and is the only one doing a two-color sweater.  I can't wait to see how the second color works.

Frances is making progress.  She was getting a pedicure the other day and was knitting this project  Two other ladies were there and insisted this could not possibly become a sweater.   Guess they never heard of EZ

Gary and Frances are both using Simply Shetland Sprindrift.  As usual, Gary is marking every 5 rows so he knows exactly where he is.  Someone remarked that his was perfect and believe, me it is!

 Jane and Linda chose Imperial Stock Ranch Tracie to knit the sweater with.  Jane finally turned this one corner and is on her way finishing the first part. Linda has a ways to go, but is getting there.

Great new patterns from Jenny Watson done in all sorts of Noro yarns. 

Knit Wear is a new magazine from Interweave and has great patterns and articles.  Lots of simpler, elegant patterns and lots of great info on knitting.  Come check it out.

The latest buzz on Ravelry is the Beekeeper's Quilt by Tiny Owl Knits. It's a great little project, because you simply knit a gazillion of these little hexagons and put them together whenever you are ready.  I love having projects that I can just pick up and carry around with me, especially when I have to wait at the dentist office, etc.  You can use up all the leftover sock yarn, or, of course, you can just buy more -- I think she says that one skein of Koigu will do about 12 hexagons.

Golf anyone?  Fran came into the store to learn to knit, so that she could make covers for her husband's golf clubs.  Well, she ended up making some for herself, a few baby blankets, sweaters, the Einstein jacket.  You see what happens.

Beverly comes in on Friday mornings to knit and just had her first grandchild, who of course, is going to have his first hand knit sweater from Grandma.  She used a pattern from Lana Grossa's Filati Infanti Spring 2011 book and knit it in Debbie Bliss Baby Cashmerino.  We had a little trouble with the pattern translation, but the folks at Muench were a tremendous help and Beverly successfully finished the sweater.  Now, if only the weather will cooperate.

Bevely also made a Challah cover for her friend's daughter who recently got engaged.  She was thrilled to get such a wonderful gift.

Janet keeps pumping out these baby blankets.  Both blankets are Churchmouse Yarns "Picot Edge Baby Blanket".  The first one is out of Woolbearers Superwash Chunky and does not not the picot edge, but Janet put a ribbon around the border.  The second one is out of Viking Balder and does have the picot edge.

 And Sara finished her Westknits' Mystery Shawl.  She used some of her leftovers along with Shibui sock yarn for great effect.  Love those colors together.

 Sandra knit the Clinton Cowl from the Berocco Booklet #313.  It's made out of Berocco Vintage and lots of colors! Looks great around her neck.

Speaking of around the neck, Sandra also knit this necklace out of Southwest Trading's Jazz.  I put a button on, but you can jazz it up with anything -- a shawl pin, perhaps.

This a wonderful  pattern from Berocco -- booklet # 314, called Caffe.  It's made out of Berocco Voyage, an alpaca/nylon blend that has a chained construction and the "fleece" part is out of Berocco Nanuk.  Come in and check it out.



No, it's not December and Chanukah has not begun.  After the hurricane I lost power.  My son said that one good thing about being Jewish is that you always have candles.  So, I brought out the menorah, lit a few candles and knit peacefully.  There was no TV, radio, computer or other distractions.  Just me and  my knitting.  I was really fortunate.  I was able to hook up my sump pump to my neighbors generator with about 18 extension cords going between the two houses, so my basement didn't flood.  I had to keep the doors open ever so slightly to accomodate the cords, and had to booby trap the doors, so the kitties wouldn't escape which they inevitably tried and almost succeeded.  The power came back about 3:30 am on Tuesday morning.  I feel so very lucky.  I know there has been great devastation to other parts of New Jersey.  Mill Race Village, where my store used to be was hit particularly hard. Lots of folks told me how soothing knitting was during the hurricane.  I have to agree. I am so glad that I know how to knit.

Here are some completed projects from classes that we have.  Jamie likes our Tuesday night knitting class and is gung ho on making things for her kids.  She recently found out a third one is on the way, so she just had to make a pixie hat from the Vintage Baby Knits book.   This one is made out of Jojoland Superwash Melody and is cute as can be. All we need is the baby to model it for us.

 And here is her Baby Surprise jacket out of Jojoland Rhythm Superwash.  This baby will be well dressed.

A finished poncho from Mary, modeled by Lisa.  This one is knit out of Cascade Lana Grande. I hear ponchos are coming back in a big way this fall.

 Jeanne was constantly coming in for more Cascade 220, I couldn't imagine what she was making.  Here it is -- Babette's Blanket, crocheted out of Cascade 220 and Plymouth Worsted Superwash Merino.  She did a fabulous job.

 Janet has been knitting up a storm (no pun intended).  She completed 3 sweaters, several scarves and hats and is working on 2 baby blankets this summer.  This is the Wallaby she made for her sister, who tried it on and it fit perfectly!

 Jane made this Wrap Me up Shawl this summer using SWTC Karaoke and trimmed it with Plymouth Worsted Superwash Merino.  It's going to look great over a black coat.

We've been getting in tons of new yarn. Here's a little preview:

Balder from Viking -- it's a chunky superwash yarn, great for baby blankets

Bazinga from Plymouth, a self-striping chunky wool/acrylic blend

This is Voyage from Berocco, made of an alpaca/nylon blend it has a chained construction for a light and airy feel.

 Casbah -- merino/cashmere blend sock yarn by Handmaiden

 New Noro Kureyon and Silk Garden colors

 Juli is a chunky alpaca/nylon blend with a little bit of glitz

 Lustrous Extrafine Merino DK -- merino/nylon blend that really glows

 Dream in Color Smooshy with Cashmere sock yarn

Classic Elite's Vista -- alpaca/merino blend

Classic Elite Toboggan -- chunky wool/alpaca blend -- great for hats, mittens, scarves and sweaters

And here is Rowan Fine Lace -- A Suri Alpaca/Merino Blend -- there's a book of patterns for this yarn coming out in a few weeks -- can't wait to see all of the beautiful shawls.

  Dr. Who -- lots of folks have been coming in lately looking for their Dr. Who scarf colors.  I was really surprised when my daughter, Emma  who was in the shop a few weeks ago, announced that she just had to make a Dr. Who scarf and could I help.  You have to understand that she is 17.  Even though she has known how to knit since she was 10, she doesn't.  And I didn't push it, because I know that the more I push the more she will push back and would never ever knit.  So I waited and lo and behold -- it took a TV show to get her interested once again.  Last week a gal came in with a list of colors of Cascade 220 that she needed.   I immediately recognized what she wanted to do, so I ran off the list of colors that Emma is using and she bought them all happily.  So, in case you are looking for Dr. Who scarf colors, this is what Emma and I picked out (in no special order):
Cascade 220 8622 - Caramel Brown
Cascade 220 8885 - Dark Plum
Cascade 220 2453 - Pumpkin Spice
Cascade 220 2415 - Sunflower
Cascade 220 9459 - Yakima Heather
Cascade 220 9473 - Gris
Cascade 220 9488 - Christmas Red Heather

We are following the pattern from this website.  As it happens, Rachel came in the shop yesterday with her completed Dr. Who scarf, sans fringe, which she proceeded to put on while we were all knitting.  Rachel happens to be Emma's age and they are friends.  I immediately called Emma on the phone and told her.   Well, she is knitting as I am writing this blog post.  But, I am not saying another word.

Here is Rachel's finished scarf -- she says that it's over 15 feet long.

I have a Tuesday afternoon beginning knitting class, using the Barbara Walker Learn to Knit afghan book.  After 6 months, folks wanted to knit something more than squares.   So, I got out Sally Melville's "The Knit Stitch" and of course, some of the gals wanted to knit Einstein Jacket. 

Here's Janet's first knitted item that she made for herself.  When she started the jacket, she wanted to make a size large, but I remebered some folks complaining their jackets were too big, so I talked her into a medium size.  When she completed the bottom portion, we measured it on her and it looked like the medium size would fit.  So, she did the fronts and backs and as we tried them on, I wasn't so sure --  Janet thought, well, if it doesn't fit, I'll give it to my sister.  But I was a little worried.  All that work.  But as you can see, the finished result is absolutely perfect.  And Janet gets the prize for finishing the coat in record time -- just about 2 weeks.  I may have to hire her to knit for the shop!  Oh yeah, she used Cascade Eco Wool and size 10.75 needles!

Sherry lives in Georgia and works in Staten Island.  On her trips home, she always stops at Woolbearers for my hand dyed sock yarn.  I am so thrilled that she would take the time to do that.  Here is a sock she made out of Woolbearers' Merino and Bamboo sock yarn in the color Cranberry Bog.  Something to remember New Jersey by.

 

Another gal from my Tuesday class, Sharon,  knit the poncho from "The Knit Stitch" out of Cascade Lana Grande.  This is her very first garment and she did a beautiful job.  The gal who is modeling it, Liz,  is also in the middle of making an Einstein jacket.

New Noni patterns --  this is the Bettie Boop bag and it was alot of fun to make.  I just have to find the right handles.

 Sydney's son got interested in knitting from the "Big Book of Knitted Monsters" by Rebecca Danger. Love that Dinosaur.

New Ab Fab afghan kits from Colinette.

And -- it's that time of year.  LOTS of new yarn coming in.  More about that later ....