Knitting along The Way

Snow, Mud, and Baskets: The fifth season…

Beth Brown-Reinsel — Fri, 08 Mar 2013 06:16:38 +0000

I think I have mentioned this before... Vermont has FIVE seasons, not four: Spring, Summer, Autumn, Winter, and Mud Season, which as you may surmise, is beginning right now. Unless you live here, you can't imagine what that means. What's a little mud? Those Vermonters--are they just whiney? As the snow melts and the temperatures rise, the dirt roads turn to the thickest, deepest mud you ever saw.

Well, the first place I lived when I moved here was on a mountain, accessible only by dirt roads. Some of the people who lived on those roads would actually move into hotels for a few weeks until the worst was over. The first couple weeks, we would rev the car engine and bolt over the mud, hoping to make it across. But after awhile, there would be no getting around it and the car would get stuck. And of course, this means that anyone further up the road was also stuck because there is no getting around a car sunk into the mud at least a foot, if not more. I treasured my AAA membership for all the towing I got. But it was so stressful not knowing if I could get home, especially at night. And my last year there was so bad that the tow truck driver finally wouldn't answer the calls anymore, he was so fed up.

So now I live in town and have no room to complain, but I will anyway! This is my path from the parking lot to the porch–my own little mini-mud nightmare. I wear boots just to go to the car and I skirt the mud, trying to stay in the snow. After that I don't need the boots and switch to my shoes.

My "sidewalk"

It's messy going out and I prefer to stay in. So I have been getting a few fun projects done in the process between the numerous snow storms and the mud. I've been making a few baskets and having a blast...

An Egg Basket

A Tiny Market Basket

A Large Williamsburg Style Basket

A Medium-sized Williamsburg Basket

A Medium Round Basket

Well, I got all that out of my system I think and I am back to my knitting again!

Stitches West 2013

Beth Brown-Reinsel — Fri, 08 Mar 2013 06:06:10 +0000

By the time February rolls around, most New Englanders are willing to do anything to get out of Dodge, so to speak for awhile. The snow and the cold and the grey skies get to some people. I don't mind the winter all that much, but I must admit I do look forward to going to California (blue skies, warmer weather, NO SNOW) to take part in Stitches West. Even if the weather were horrible in Santa Clara, I'd still come--it is so much fun! The market was huge this year. I signed books at the Yarn Barn booth. It was really crowded!

Here is my first class. I am not too fond of the "Horsehoe" set-up, but it does give me a lot of extra exercise during class. it's a LLOONNGG way down there!

My students in the Latvian Fingerless Mitt class were just wonderful--so enthusiastic and motivated! They worked very hard that day and they were very proud--as they should be! Look at all their lovely mitts!

And here's a close-up of their work. Every mitt was beautiful!

My second class was two days long: The Danish Skrå-trøje. It was just a wonderful class, small and intimate, and we had the absolute best times! I wish every class I taught could have this combo of students. What a pleasure! It was a lot of knitting, but they all got pretty far with their little sweaters. I made them knit in two colors on the right side, purl in two colors on the wrong side, work in the round and flat, and make twined-knitted cuffs. I put them all through their paces and they were so successful! YAY!

The student banquet was fun too, but as I had a cold the entire time I was in California, I went to bed if I wasn't teaching or eating. If any of you students got my cold, I am so sorry!

I am already looking forward to Stitches West 2014!

The Dallas Handknitters Guild

Beth Brown-Reinsel — Fri, 08 Mar 2013 04:08:33 +0000

Now here's a guild I have a history with! I started teaching for the Dallas guild back in 1993 I think, before my book came out. And I taught at least one, if not two, workshops for the guild for the next ten years, give or take. It is such a wonderful feeling to know so many members over a long period of time. And every time I go back it's like coming home in a way. They know I love Mexican food and feed it to me as often as possible while I am there. They voraciously and loyally bought my yarns and kits and books and patterns when I had my internet store, and some years those purchases were responsible for keeping me afloat (as in food in the frig). So it is little wonder that I feel a kinship to them all. Big-hearted women. Last year, after many years' hiatus (because I had taught ALL my workshops to them), they asked me back! The membership has somewhat shifted. There are new faces–knitters who haven't had my classes. So I taught my gansey class, with my DVD. It was a huge class as usual (the Dallas guild always has a good turn-out), and the technology helped me get around to everyone. Later on I got this photo in my email box... Twelve little ganseys on display at the Dallas Quilt Show!

All the little Ganseys hung in a row...at the 2012 Dallas quilt show

What is so phenomenal is that twelve of the knitters in my class (that's 50%) FINISHED their ganseys. I was so impressed. I am more than ever looking forward to being in Dallas again at the beginning of May 2013 to teach Latvian Fingerless Mitts and the Norwegian Fana Cardigan! Can't wait! If you would like to join in the fun, you can contact the program chair here. Tex-Mex anyone?

…And More Arkansas Shenanigans

Beth Brown-Reinsel — Sun, 13 Jan 2013 06:23:54 +0000

Before I went home, I was invited to a Wild Feast....and then I saw Wild Beasts! The Feast was put on by knitter/weaver/musician/writer Crow Johnson Evans and her husband Art. Every year, they plan this potluck get-together of friends old and new and I was really honored to be included! We all brought something and I saw things I'd never seen at a potluck before, like quail and venison. It was all delicious. My favorite was the wild blackberry cobbler.

The table–only the beginnings of what all would be there in another 45 minutes

Crow brought out the gansey she had knitted for Art and she stood for a photo with her husband and her friend (and mine!) Juliann. Crow said she used my book a lot to design the gansey. It turned out wonderfully and Art wears it a lot, she said.

Left to right: Juliann, Art, and Crow, holding Art's gansey

After everyone is stuffed, the party moves to another room to watch slides of trips the various friends have taken in the last year. We saw incredible photos from the trip Crow and Art took to Indonesia, and more! On the way back, Juliann and I visited the Turpentine Creek Wildlife Refuge. I never expected to see such a thing in the middle of the Arkansas hills, but there it was! It is a refuge for many neglected, abused, and abandoned big cats. The facility is in high gear right now because it is about to get up to 32 new cats and there aren't enough cages built to house them all. Someone (from where I don't know) has been keeping these 32 cats for many years but is now 72 and in failing health and no zoo or other cat refuge has room. If you are into saving big cats, go to their website. The needs are great as this small refuge is trying to accommodate all the new animals. The cats that already live there are of course so beautiful and very healthy. Imagine my surprise to find a Grizzly Bear there! He was so happy playing in his pool of water, even though it was a VERY cold day. But I was most awed by the two white tigers there. Such majestic creatures. I am sad that it is allowed in this country, or anywhere, for private citizens to keep these lovely creatures in captivity. They belong in the wild, not in cages. Now of course, it is too late for these animals. They wouldn't last long in the wild, probably. But I am so grateful for facilities like this who can care for them until their dying day.

The Writers Colony –Around Town

Beth Brown-Reinsel — Sun, 13 Jan 2013 05:36:41 +0000

Eureka Springs, Arkansas is a bustling, charming little artsy town. Every street that winds around the hills has small galleries and niche shops. I found two kitchen shops, lots of small restaurants and a few really fancy ones too! The yarn shop also is an antique store! I wandered into two quilt shops. There were also two sexy lingerie shops to my surprise, but I guess a tourist town can support two. I have never seen so many B&Bs within a square mile as I have here in this town.

A hint of New Orleans detailing in the ironwork porches

Totally fun shops

This time of year is actually considered "off Season" now, as the weather is turning colder. (In Vermont terms these temps mean "mild" winter.) I guess it is really hot and humid here in the summertime, so I was glad I was there in December! The Writers Colony of Dairy Hollow is now comprised of two houses which have 3 writing apartments in the Main house. It is deceptive as to its size. Most of the building is down the hill, including the kitchen, the office, and the large dining area. In the apartment on the right, there is a test kitchen. This is the only writers colony in the country that offers this type of facility to cookbook writers. I saw it and it is awesome! My apartment was down the hill to the right.

The Main House of the Colony

This is the newest addition to the colony and I think it has five apartments. I got a tour of it and it is fabulous! Because it is such a 1950s architectural statement in itself, the Colony furnished it totally in retro 50's stuff. It is SO fun!

The Other Colony House

A friend drove up one day and we went to Brunch up the hill from the colony at the famed Crescent Hotel. This hotel was built in 1886 and boasts of several ghosts. It is a grand hotel as you can see...

The Dining Room

The Lobby

A beautiful fireplace in the lobby

The Grand Registration Desk

Eureka Springs was a boom town in the 1800s. Word got out that the springs around the town had health-giving properties and within a short time, the town's population exploded. This hotel, which is also a spa, was built to cater to tourists coming for what ailed them. The brunch was lovely and delicious!

The Writers Colony at Dairy Hollow- the Workshop

Beth Brown-Reinsel — Sun, 09 Dec 2012 19:55:13 +0000

Having been granted a fellowship to be here, it is expected for me to give back to the community in some way. The best I know how to do is to offer a workshop, so this past Tuesday, I got ready to teach a short two-hour class on the basics of Swedish Twined Knitting. I thought MAYBE I would get as many as 6 people. But was I surprised! TWENTY knitters showed up with dishes for a pot-luck lunch afterwards! We had a grand time!

What a nice big room to hold a workshop in!

Demonstrating Twined Knitting

Hard at work!

My patterns laid out on the piano

Notice all the potluck dishes on the counter in the background waiting for lunchtime. These knitters are great cooks!

It was a lovely day. I was so pleased so many came to learn this esoteric technique from Sweden!

Iceland Here I Come!

Beth Brown-Reinsel — Fri, 07 Dec 2012 17:48:38 +0000

From July 28 to August 4, I will be in Iceland, knitting, teaching knitting, being a tourist, and having fun!. The information on my Tour of Iceland has gone live! YAY! Here is the link. The early bird pricing (10% off) ends December 22nd so act fast!

Ragga-our guide!

I will be teaching the Swedish North Halland Pullover over 12 hours while we enjoy Reykjavik and the wonders of Iceland with Ragga Eiríksdóttir. Ragga is such a fun person and of course is from Iceland. So she knows all the best places to go. So much is included in the tour–even yarn!

The Swedish North Halland Pullover

We will learn all kinds of techniques the Swedish knitters used to make these beautiful sweaters. Here's the class description: The lovely red and black Swedish sweater from the Halland region can be dated back to the late 1800s. In this class, a small sweater will be knitted circularly compiling a variety of Swedish construction techniques: three different cast-ons, a choice of patterned or corrugated ribbing, 2 color geometric pattern knitting, "seam" stitches, the traditional neck construction and front slit, Knitting on the right side and purling on the wrong side with 2 colors (in three styles: two yarns in the right hand, one yarn in each hand, or two yarns in the left hand), the Norwegian purl, 2 shoulder joins, 2 types of sleeve construction, plus a discussion on designing. Length: 12 hours (2 days) Level: Intermediate- must be experienced using double pointed needles, Magic Loop, or two circulars. Supply List: • 3 oz. each worsted weight yarn (preferably wool) in red and black • One set 7-8" (20 cm)long (or shorter) dp needles each, US sizes 5 and 7 (3.75 mm and 4.5 mm) • One 16" (40 cm) circular needle US size 7 (4.5 mm) • St markers, st holders, scissors, sticky notes or magnetic board to keep your place on the chart, tapestry needle • Crochet hook, size D Homework: None.

Our class project

I have been to Iceland once before and I didn't want to leave, even in the winter! I cant wait to enjoy it in the summertime. I hope you'll come along. It's going to be a blast!

The 2013 Book Give-away for The 20th Anniversary of Knitting Ganseys

Beth Brown-Reinsel — Fri, 07 Dec 2012 01:57:00 +0000

2013 will mark the 20th anniversary of Knitting Ganseys being in print. I am so proud that it is still a viable, meaningful book, and am amazed that 20 years have flown by. When did THAT happen?

I was thinking about how wonderful books are and how they have affected my life. (I have 8 bookcases and counting... in my little apartment.) I decided I would celebrate this anniversary by giving away a book a month in 2013 to my eNewsletter readers. So this is how it will work: Sign up here to receive my monthly eNewsletter (Beth's Knitting Traditions Newsletter). There will be a special link each month in the newsletter for you to send an email to me that enters you in the drawing. I will blindly choose one person each month at the end of that month and announce it in the next month's newsletter.

Although you can enter the drawing every month, please only sign up for the drawing once per month. In November I gave away Cap Sease's new book Cast-On, Bind-Off: 211 ways to Begin and End Your Knitting.

And this month (December) I will give away...

Knitting Sweaters From Around the World, edited by Kari Cornell for Voyageur Press. I have two designs in the book–the Swedish Ullared and a Gansey–but there are lots of gorgeous designs in it!

I have plenty more books to give out. Good luck!

The Writers Colony at Dairy Hollow-My Apartment

Beth Brown-Reinsel — Thu, 29 Nov 2012 17:47:13 +0000

I am in Eureka Springs, Arkansas now. This is the first time I've ever been to Arkansas and wasn't sure what to expect. It is lovely country and the town of Eureka Springs is too darling for words! Very artsy, hip, and awesome! I'll save the town for another post. Meanwhile, I am in my apartment here at the Writers Colony at Dairy Hollow. I thought I would have a small bedroom with a desk, but I actually have a large bedroom-kitchen area with a bathroom (jets in the tub--YES!) and a room for my writing space with lots of windows and good light. I couldn't be happier.

My bedroom

The cheery bathroom

Note the Maurice Sendak print above the tub (the author of Where the Wild Things Are). Author Crescent Dragonwagon, along with her husband Ned, founded this place (Dairy Hollow) originally as a B&B. Crescent and her mother, Charlotte Zolotow who is also a children's books author, were friends with Maurice, who recently died. Actually Crescent lives near me in Vermont and we have gotten together on occasion. She has written over 50 books, many of which are fabulous cookbooks.

The kitchen

Lots of good light in the writing room...

...and a place to knit when I need a break from writing.

Well, I had better get back to work!

Only 2 days left to enter the book drawing!

Beth Brown-Reinsel — Thu, 29 Nov 2012 15:59:04 +0000

I am holding another book drawing. Cap Sease's new book on cast-ons and bind-offs is a gem. What you need to do to enter is sign up for my email newsletter, then send an email to this address. Good luck! The drawing will take place on December 1. I will mail out the book mid-December when I return from my writing retreat!