Returning to Blog and FO: Clapotis Shawl

October 13, 2012| LindyBeir| 0 Comment | 3:39 pm

Categories:

I have been away from blogging for about five months. There were a number of reasons for this. First, I just got busy with other things and didn’t seem to be able to find time to sit down and write any posts. And then, my knitting projects just didn’t seem to be getting finished — even though I was knitting. And then, my husband started on our remodeling project — which was/is my office. The remodeling will be worth it when it is done — but when it will be done doesn’t seem to be anytime soon. I now have my computer set up in the spare bedroom and I have retrieved a few skeins of yarn and patterns from the boxes I packed up several weeks ago — so I can knit. But heaven help me if I need to find any of my knitting books or any of my yarn stash! It’s all in boxes and plastic containers, stacked three deep and nearly to the ceiling in the garage. (So any future knitting projects are an excuse to go yarn shopping…) I’ll update you on the remodeling progress — here’s to hoping it’s done by the time I need to decorate for the Christmas holiday.

I do have a finished object! I have finished my Clapotis shawl.

I haven’t blocked it yet. Blocking will have to wait until I have free floor space again (remodeling). Here are the details:

Pattern: Clapotis – free on Knitty.com
Yarn: Jaggerspun Zephyr (50% wool, 50% silk) Colorway: Teal Needles: U.S. 4 (3.5 mm)
Since this is a laceweight yarn, I knit 18 repeats of the straight rows to get the length I wanted.
Unblocked the shawl measures 17 inches wide by 62 inches long. It will be wider and longer after blocking.

It’s a lovely, soft shawl and I am very happy with the way it turned out. I liked the finished shawl so much, I cast-on another using Knit Picks Gloss from my stash. More about this WIP another time.

Second Row of Teddy Bear SquaresSecond Row of Teddy Bear Squares

August 5, 2009| Lindy| 0 Comments| 7:19 pm

My Teddy Bear baby blanket is now half done. I have completed two rows of the Teddy Bear pattern and I really love how it is knitting up. The Peaches & Cream yarn is soft as you knit and will become even softer when washed. Perfect for a baby – soft and washable.

Teddy Bear Baby Blanet

Nearly Identical Twins…Nearly Identical Twins…

December 15, 2009| Lindy| 0 Comments| 1:52 pm

Last month, the Yarn Harlot posted an article on a pair of identical twin socks that she had made. As those of us who knit with self-striping/self-patterning yarns know, getting a pair of socks that are totally identical is nearly impossible — but this pair turned out to be completely identical. (I was impressed…)

This morning I was putting away my pair of striped socks that I had knit with Paton’s Kroy self-striping sock yarn — and noticed that while I had not gotten a completely identical pair of socks — they were nearly identical — being off only a few rows of striping. So I took a couple of pictures:
StripedSocks_Twins1 StripedSocks_Twins2

How’s that for a pair of twins?

Master Hand KnitterMaster Hand Knitter

January 23, 2026| LindyBeir| 0 Comment| 3:11 pm

2025 was a year of focused effort toward completing the Master Hand Knitter certification program curated by The Knitting Guild Association (TKGA.org). TKGA is a group of highly experienced knitters who work to help others learn and improve their knitting through various correspondence courses, certification programs, online conferences, in-person conferences and online reference materials. They publish an online magazine, Cast On, quarterly. A yearly membership is $35 and is well worth the price – giving you access to a wide range of resources and expertise.
The Master Hand Knitter certification program is a guided mastery learning program. One achieves mastery through a guided self-study process that includes improving various techniques through practice, learning to research and judge your work and applying new skills. You submit your work and it is reviewed by a group of Master Hand Knitters. You receive a written evaluation of your work along with suggestions on how to improve your work where it did not meet their standards for proficiency.

There are three levels in the program:
Level 1 focuses on basic skills such as determining gauge, making increases and decreases, and knitting some basic stitch patterns.
Level 2 focuses on finishing techniques. It covers different cast ons and bind offs and different methods for seaming and finishing.
Level 3 focuses on designing knitwear and pattern writing. Includes work on advanced techniques such as double knitting, entrelac, brioche, slip stitch and mosaic patterns.
Each level includes completing at least one project demonstrating the skills covered in the level.

This program is a journey – not a race. But it was, for me, a wonderful learning experience and a proud accomplishment. I achieved my certification as a Master Hand Knitter in August 2025.