new knitting chair

My old chair for knitting has become my beading chair so I discovered I didn't have anything suitable. I started looking. Nothing seemed right until I ran into this one in the basement storage room of a store in the next town. Price was ok too: $100. I've been using it for a few days now and it has very good back support. It's a wide chair so the arms don't interfere either. What is your favorite chair?

my entrelac

I bought this lovely alpaca yarn at John Lewis in London some years back and it was a challenge as I had to buy what was still there. It's yarn from Finland. Originally I thought it would be a fairisle vest, but then back home I felt it would be too warm that way so next idea was an entrelac vest using the 5 colors, and I had only one ball of two of the colors: white and black. Anyway, I finished the front and back a nd then didn't know how to proceed so it went into t he wip pile for a few years. Well, I pulled it out recently and when I flipped it upside down, I saw that if I could remove the center triangle, that would be enough for most of t he neckline. Did that and picked up stitches to add a bit for the shoulders. I then discovered I still had 3 balls (total was 11) and I thought I could squeeze out a pair of striped sleeves with the 3 remaining colors. I finished with just a few yards left.
The bottom was started as a ribbing, but I didn't like it because it was pulling in and the sweater didn't need the length, so I redid that section with 2 rows of sc.
Every now and then the entrelac bug hits me.
Weather this week is really hot so I'm moving now into the fairisle wips and next to be done only needs a little final sewing. It's been waiting nearly a year!

Venishnick entrelac from VK

I love entrelacs and have done quite a few. The problems are out there. How to finish at the neck, sleeves and bottom: lots of different attempts and this one is really interesting. I had a very hard time understanding how to sew in the sleeves which are knit from the top d own and really flare out at the armholes. But finally I figured it out and was very pleased with the result. The yarn is a wonderful Wensleydale which is extremely warm and actually I used the exact yarn and color that was in VK although I bought it before it came out.

The neckline, sleeves and bottom all finish in the same way which adds another nice designer touch. The aran pattern on the bottom is knit first and then stitches are picked up to make the entrelac sections. This aran is also done on the sleeves. It is not an easy one.

Mardi gras earrings (Carol Taylor)

This comes from "Creative bead jewelry" (c1995). Brick stitch mainly with size 11 beads and bugles. It takes quite a long time to make. The book has other variations.

jump ring necklace

Beads from South AFrica and China and mainly jump rings. Lots of fun. Have to make more.

J&S chunky

Here is the J&S shetland chunky in raglan style. The yarn is really warm and the pattern is very comfy. I use the Jacqueline Fee book on raglans and have never been disappointed. I prefer knitting them from the bottom up to avoid having all the sweater in my hands which can cause arm problems. And the chunky knits up quickly. The sweater is a big big on me but I figure it can always go to someone else. I have bought up quite a bit of this yarn which I think is now nearly gone. Compared to other chunky yarns, the price for that quality is hard to beat.