I Really Like Paper Piecing...

This is my first attempt at paper piecing and I am really happy with the way the block went together. I had a little trouble with the "reverse" thinking at the beginning, but quickly "turned my thinking around" (I know...narf!) and this Friendship Star block was my first paper pieced block.

Loreen (my friend and our class instructor) shared a joke with our friend, Will. They had all of us laughing. Will is quite accomplished with his machines. He's got more than two Babylocks and was sitting at his Janome for the class. He told us that he earned three ribbons at the Venice (FL) Quilt Show a few weeks ago. We were all duly impressed, even though we didn't get to see the actual quilts.

There were five of us taking the class, but most of the gals were camera shy. That's my Sofia in the foreground, and she was quite happy to help me create my block(s). I like the fact that, unlike Miss Ellie (my Ellisimo) and Prissy (my Espire), Sofie only weights about 12 pounds. It's a truly portable machine, so I don't have to worry about lugging around something heavier.

If anyone needed to cut their fabrics, the main cutting table in the front of the shop was available. It's also where we gathered to watch Loreen demonstrate layout or other paper piecing techniques. There may have been money and merchandise exchanging hands, too, although I was sworn to secrecy so I couldn't possibly comment.

This was as far as I got on the second block yesterday. It's called Kansas Troubles. I used the same fabrics that I've been using in my Farmer's Wife blocks, so I can add it to the blocks to go into my Farmer's Wife quilt when I complete them.

All in all, I think the class was a great success for me. I now understand the concept of paper piecing, and have completed one block, with patterns for three more from the class to finish. They meet every week, so perhaps I'll go back over again. All I can say for now is that I'm happy I took the class, because I've found that I really like paper piecing! If you haven't tried it before, get thee to a class and learn. Who knows? You might like it, too!

Checking It Twice...

On Wednesday, I'll be teaching a Beaded Shawl class at A Good Yarn Sarasota. This pattern is from Deanna's Vintage
Styles and it's a beautiful shawl.

This past weekend, I spent my recuperation reading the pattern and then starting the knitting process. One of the things I tell people who are either beginning knitters, or who are knitting a new technique is that "Patterns are meant to be knit, not read."

I found those words to be particularly true when going through the instructions for this shawl. Try as I may, I couldn't tell from reading it exactly how this shawl was going to work up. I couldn't tell if I'd be knitting it "top down", "bottom up" or "side to side". After setting up the yarn and beads, I began knitting the pattern and all was revealed. It will be created side to side.

Today, I'll continue working on the shawl, making class notes and taking photos to help my students envision "the next step". I think of myself as a "fearless knitter", because I'm never intimidated to try something new, but not everyone has my (sometimes obnoxious) level of confidence. Because I'm going through this process before the class, I'll be able to give some of my confidence to each of my students. By working the pattern right before they do, I'm checking each step twice for them. My students won't have to worry about pattern accuracy as they embark on this new project. I want to be sure that Wednesday is fun for all of us!

The More, The Merrier...

I'm tickled to announce that I'll be teaching a Beaded Shawl class at A Good Yarn Sarasota this month. It's actually a three-session class, beginning Wednesday, January 20th, with two other sessions on January 27th and February 3rd.

If you live in the area, or plan an extended visit to Sarasota, FL, I'd love to have you join the class. Each session is held on a Wednesday morning for an hour and a half, with a week between each class to allow students time to knit away on their shawl before the next session.
The kit, purchased separately from the class fee, is from Deanna's Vintage Styles, and you already know that I love knitting her Beaded Fringe Scarf pattern. (Heck, I did two as Christmas gifts and two others over the past year!)

I'll start knitting my own shawl this week, but the photos are the same design that I'll be teaching - modeled by Susan Post's lovely daughter. (Susan is the shop owner at A Good Yarn.) Class participants can choose the color they'd like to make for themselves. There are some really beautiful combinations!

You can get to A Good Yarn here to learn more about her new shop and further offerings in her class schedule. Hope some of you will be able to join me. The more, the merrier!

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