Tag: CHIX

CHIX Meeting – Math for Knitters

This month we will talk about how to substitute one weight of yarn for another. If your pattern calls for a DK weight yarn and you want to use fingering weight, what can you do to be sure it fits? This is a follow-up to Sandy Zeringue’s program last month about substituting one fiber for another.

CHIX Meeting – Substituting fibers

Sandy Zeringue (formerly of Knitting in the Loop) will talk about substituting yarns, with the emphasis on different fibers. For example, what can you expect if the pattern calls for merino and you want to use cotton instead?

CHIX Mtg – Park Avenue Yarn

As knitters in the Greater Houston area, we are fortunate to have several very nice yarn shops, but we all have seen a number of our favorite shops go out of business for a variety of reasons. We probably all do some of our yarn shopping online, but most knitters and crocheters want to touch and feel the yarn, want to see the actual colors of the yarn, want their purchases immediately, or want to visit a shop where you might have the companionship of other knitters. These are only some of the reasons we value our local yarn shops and want to keep them successful here in the Houston area. At the February 9th meeting of Chix with Sticks we will have Michelle McHazlett, the owner of Park Avenue Yarns in League City, talk about her experiences as a local yarn shop owner. She will also be interested in your experiences as a yarn shopper. Please be thinking about your connections to a local yarn shop and bring your questions and comments for Michelle.

CHIX Mtg – Knit One Below

If you like brioche stitch, the knit-one-below stitch (K1B) achieves a similar effect but involves no yarn overs,  burps or barks.   All you need to know is how to knit and purl.   You can create a dense brioche-like texture with a single color or columns of 2-colors in stockinette. 
HOMEWORK:
For the first sample, you will need a worsted or bulky yarn and a set of needles size 8 or above (either straight or circular needles).  Cast on 13 stitches and knit 2 rows of garter stitch then a row of K1P1 ribbing.  You will begin and end with a knit stitch. Leave the knitting on your needle.
For the second sample you must have either a circular needle or double points because you will slide your work  and work a second row before turning the needle.  The pattern will be worked in four rows: 2 on the RS then 2 on the WS.  You should bring 2 contrasting colors of yarn.
With color A, cast on 13 stitches loosely, preferably using a long tail cast on.  Without turning the needle, slide the stitches to the other end of the needle, join color B at the beginning of the cast on stitches and purl across the row.  Both A and B yarns will now be at the same end of the needle.  

CHIX Mtg – One-Skein Projects

Due to a scheduling conflict, our February meeting has been changed to the One-Skein Project we talked about at the December party.  In case you missed the last couple meetings, here are the details.

Either knit a small project using a single skein of yarn or look through the projects you already have finished and pick one you don’t mind getting  rid of!  Bring it to the February meeting where we will auction them off to each other – no real money here, just “Paula Bucks”, the fake bucks that Paula has been handing out at each meeting.  Don’t worry if you don’t have any bucks – some people who only have a few (like me!) will likely give theirs away to others.

The auctioned items will also be anonymous.  Come to the meeting even if you don’t have anything to auction – you may get some ideas for future projects!

CHIX Mtg – Buttonholes

At January’s meeting we will learn how to make sturdy, neat buttonholes.  For homework, using a light-colored DK or worsted weight yarn, cast on 12 stitches and knit 4 rows.  Don’t bind off, just leave your stitches on the needle.