LHYarn2011LaceChallenge Finale

LHYarn2011LaceChallenge, a set on Flickr.

We really had a great time with the lace challenge. Even if your name wasn't drawn from the magical pumpkin during the awards ceremony you should be very proud of your creations. I'm certainly glad I didn't have to do any judging!
Some Highlights
Two people turned in three projects each. J. and L.
Several of you had two entries.
There were 18 projects turned in for the prize drawing. Several of you finished items but had form-fill-in failure. And a couple of you missed the deadline by only a couple days.
S.'s lace shawl of her own design had the most yarnovers in a single entry until ten minutes before the final deadline.
There was only one crochet entry. It's a really lovely use of striping yarn.
There were only two of you entered in the accessory category.
The entries added up to 16,386.5 yards of knitting. That's 37.24 quarter miles or 9.3 miles. This is approximately the distance on the bike path around lakes Harriet, Calhoun and Isles combined. : )
There were 69,523 yarnovers knit for the challenge.  That's a whole lotta holes!
M's pullover has 16,490 yarnovers. That's 13.51 holes per yard for the project.
If I was a betting girl, I wouldn't have bet on the winner of the drawing based on yardage. There were two other people with six chances at winning each. The winner, P.V., only had four chances. I love this aspect of the challenge - that element of chance just for participating.

TBC

Beautiful new shawl for N.

May72010_3
Originally uploaded by chrisrknits

About nine months in the making, N. 's Christel Seyforth Desert Rose shawl is quite lovely. She substituted green Jamison 2-ply for the Black that was originally supplied for the border trim. We think this was a wonderful substitution. At first glance, one may think this piece is knit using intarsia technique, but this is not so. Fair Isle stranding with lots of yarn wrapping keep the back side floats in check and make for quite a smooth fabric after blocking. Each maker winds up with a unique piece since the knitter decides when the color changes will occur. N's came out with a wonderful ombre color pattern.

The Spring Lace Challenge

April292011_9
Originally uploaded by chrisrknits

R. stopped by with her lace challenge entry. Pictures do not do this stunning piece justice. For this work of art she used Claudia Handpaints 100% silk. Breathtaking.

Yogi Elizabeth Bear

Yogi Elizabeth Bear
Originally uploaded by chrisrknits

K.'s Yogi Elizabeth Bear dropped in the shop to demonstrate Lotus pose. Namaste

Skulls & Picots & Lace?

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Originally uploaded by chrisrknits

Who needs hearts when you can make skulls? This cute number is a lace challenge entry done up quick on Rowan's chunky weight Cocoon. Man, I love a sense of humor.

Lots of firsts this week!

I just love seeing people wearing the garments they've made. This week I photographed three knitters wearing first-of-a-kind projects that are real successes. They were all beaming!

We try to help everyone be successful with their projects and want nothing more than for them to succeed. If Jan or I are both busy, there is usually someone else hanging around that will offer help. We have expert knitter customers that love to support others in their quest to become fellow experts.
           
And there was a first for me. I won a prize for my shawl at the Minnesota Knitters Guild meeting this past Tuesday. Yeah!

Spring 2011 Lace Challenge Update

5march20111
Originally uploaded by chrisrknits

L finished her first project for the Lace Challenge already! And she's cast on for another and itchy to win ; ) One lovely garment on a lovely person wishing for a lovely spring.

I had better hurry up and get the entry form designed. This is turning out to be a really fun challenge.

Someone else has told me they are finished with a lace project, but I've not yet photographed the proof. If anyone needs help getting their projects input into Ravelry, I'm more than will to help. Just come to the shop when I'm around. Don't forget to bring your Ravelry name and password so we can access your account. I'll even take a photo for you to use.

Amimono Shawl

feb252011_2
Originally uploaded by chrisrknits

My shawl is finally complete with ties and tassels. Really enjoyed making this all garter stitch piece. Started with seven stitches and built out from the center. The trim is knit and attached to the live stitches. We might have to have tassel class since these seem to be a big hit!

Voodoodolly

Voodoodolly
Originally uploaded by chrisrknits

Meet Miss Purl Three Throughthebackloop, shop voodoo priestess. She brought along her magical stick pin for stabbing those difficult stitches into submission. Thanks for introducing us, L.B.

The Lace Challenge

 
Why a lace challenge?
Fudwick likes holes.
It's all about negative space.
It's about time we had another challenge.
Jan said we could.

Some Rules which we reserve the right to change, but for now these look pretty inclusive.

0. We're including crochet in this one for all those hookers out there. Not sure how we're going to count up the holes/yarnovers, but I'll figure something out and post it here later.
1. You need to have purchased your yarn for your projects at Linden Hills Yarn.
2. February 4, 2011 was the start date, so your project cannot have been started before then. Swatching is ok and if you have a project you really, really, really want to get in the challenge, you are welcome to frog it and start over ; ).
3.  The final day for submissions will be the last day of Spring June 20, 2011. You will need to bring in your project to be photographed and fill out your entry sheet for each entry on or before that date.  If you are nice, Chris might help you count up your holes.
4. We'll be holding the prize drawings on the First Day of Summer June 21, 2011.


Behold the Holey Prize Matrix of Gift Certificates to be awarded and Redeemed at Linden Hills Yarn.

Categories:

Adult Garment or shawl > 50% lace. One entry for each project of this type you complete. $30 by random drawing of all the entries.

Adult Garment or shawl < 50% lace. One entry for each project of this type you complete. $20 by random drawing of all the entries.

Accessory, Non Wearable & Children's wearable (i.e. hats, socks, chair cushion, dolly dress, lamp shade, etc.). One entry for each project of this type you complete. $10 by random drawing of all the entries.

Mileage. From cobweb weight to super chunky, for each 1/4 mile (440 yards)  of yarn knit in your lace projects entered, you'll receive one chance in the random drawing. So if your total yards knitted in all your entered projects is ten miles you'll have 40 chances at winning. Hence, the more you knit for the challenge, the better your chances will be at winning this prize. $30

Most holes. This prize will be awarded to the individual with the largest cumulative total of Holes/YarnOvers in their work. You'll also get to count each nupp as a YarnOver even though it's not a hole. Why? Because Kathy W. wanted extra credit. If you want to make nupps in your lace then by all means make nupps!
$40 and the title "Holey Dominator of Lace"

We have nothing 'round here if not a sense of humor!

2011Jan113
Originally uploaded by chrisrknits

Last year I made a hat for the DH using this nature graphic we affectionately know as the "fornicating reindeer chart." At that time K. said he just had to do a sweater. And bygosh bygolly this year he did! Hilarious and a big hit this holiday season.

For more fun with this chart, check out this link.

amimono2010bookcover

amimono2010bookcover
Originally uploaded by chrisrknits

This beautiful new publication from Helga Isager, daughter of Marianne Isager. I admire and adore the designs, although I don't particularly care for the uberthin models she chooses for her photo shoots.

This booklet includes some wonderful garments for children and we've added the luscious multicolor kid mohair used in the cover photo to our stock.

I've already started the great Chamomile shawl pattern using the Alpaca1 and Highland wool stranded together. Shawls will be the theme for the MKG's display at the Textile Center this spring. If I finish by February, I'll be putting this one on display.

Sparkle! Just a wee bit of bling.

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Originally uploaded by chrisrknits

And the sequins took off like a rocket! This was a product placement lesson if I ever saw one. I made the sequined hat (photo below) four or more years ago. It was displayed in the front window on a mannequin head for a couple of winters. We occasionally dug out sequins to sell over the years. A couple of weeks ago I did a little rearranging of the shop samples and put my version of the hat back on display in a different location than before and WHAMO. The desire for sequins decimated our supply and we ordered more! P. said of her version of the hat (photo right) that whenever she wears it she gets a positive comment, without fail. And it is sooooooooo easy to make.

Cocoon Hat from Cherished

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Originally uploaded by chrisrknits

This lovely hat in Cocoon is from the Cherised collection by Kim Hargreaves. I knit it within 24 hours time and blocked it over a dinner plate. I'd like to make this in a lighter color next time to really show off the lace. There is enough of the second skein remaining to make some fingerless mitts to match. The only mod here was that the pattern was written for back and forth knitting and I did mine in the round. Cool, Quick, and Slouchy!

Elf Cap from Simple Chic

Elf Cap from Simple Chic
Originally uploaded by chrisrknits

What do you do when you have two hours and a baby gift to be made? I made this hat.

Used one ball of Big Wool and some size US13 needles and the Elf Cap pattern by Jill Eaton from Simple Chic.

cherishedcover

cherishedcover
Originally uploaded by chrisrknits

This is full of great designs. If you like Kim's other work, you will not want to pass this up. If you need inspiring and quickly knit caps for gifts this has two wonderful hats. Several Big Wool sweaters for surviving the below zero temps appear. And if big and quick isn't your style, there are plenty of other designs.
I'm already starting one of the hats (Moon done in Cocoon) as a gift.

Kim Hargreaves Touching Elegance

touchingelegancecover
Originally uploaded by chrisrknits

For those of you who are Kim Hargreaves devotees, 15 copies of Touching Elegance arrived in the shop yesterday! An easy intarsia jacket out of Cocoon and a cuff-to-cuff snuggley piece in Drift are a couple of the highlights in this release. She's also created a garment or two for the men.

Superyak Superlace Supervest Finished : )

23Nov2010_6
Originally uploaded by chrisrknits

Finally sewed on the Vintage clasp (from Becky Lyon) for a closure on my Montague Vest. It's double strand of Karabella Superyak knit really quickly on size 13 Turbo Needles. I made some changes to the pattern for fit so that the center front would hang vertically on me and eliminated the bottom band which was to be picked up after sewing the side seams.

Rowan has caught my eye once again!

purelifeautumncablecardi
Originally uploaded by chrisrknits

I might have to make this cardigan. The patterns in this book use chunky yarn and this looks like a warm classic with a modern twist in that the bottom half is knit side to side. I'll need to check for waist/hip shaping in that area if I decide to move forward.

Hello! My name is . . .

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Originally uploaded by chrisrknits

Kip Tblwyif (prononced kip ti-bel-wif)
He no longer wanted to be referred to as "that sock monkey." His creator used the Mister Ben pattern by Two Old Bags which is available in the shop. Kip is made from self striping sock weight yarn but the pattern is written for multiple gauges of yarn.
A link to his Ravelry Friends