Back from Italy

Buon giorno!

We had such a marvelous trip to Italy. I was inspired by all the knitted hats and scarves I saw. Also inspirational were the fall colors and textures of the countryside and cities. A surprise not to see one knitter, though! I wonder if they are all knitting at home, not out in public as you'll see in the U.S. on busses, trains, planes, cars and in restaurants and parks. I also never saw a knitting store, but we were in the older cities, looking at cathedrals and museums.

Brought plenty of yarn along with me, however, and got some knitting done on the plane to Milan and while we were driving on the Autostrada. The check-in guy at the Malpenza Airport (Milan) suggested that I would not be allowed through security with my knitting, so the flight home was knitless...so sad for me! But I'm reading a great book and they showed us plenty of movies on the 10 hr flight to Atlanta. Check out the pictures of the Alps from our plane once we took off - snow in Milano on Monday, 11/24, and once we got above the clouds, the view of the peaks of the Alps was so stunning!

Here are some pictures of the wonderful sights of Florence,

Tuscany

and San Gimingnano (I would move there in a heart beat!) It's also part of the Tuscan area, near Siena.

Happy knitting! Enjoy these pictures and look for my latest designs - washcloths in lace and cable patterns to be knit as gifts and/or to work up as samplers. The lace cloths will be a separate pattern from the cabled ones, and I'm working on 6 cloths per pattern.

Ciao!

Allison

At last!!!

At last the new 2 Askew Designs site is up and available! I still have things to learn, but it is looking so much better! Thank you Amber, of Never Ender for your help on this project; you have been great to work with and your creative ideas are amazing!

Our front page is going to have the most current designs and we are also working on a Free Patterns page. It will be at the bottom of the patterns page and the first pattern is going to be the Fair Isle leg warmers, WAHOO! Our logo is also up and running and I am currently working (while Allison is in Italy visiting Katie) on our business cards and brochures with the new logo. We chose the Chameleon for his/her versatility in design and adaptation. Of course the knitting needle is self explanatory.

Please let us know what you think and stay tuned for more of 2 Askew Designs. Thanks for your support!

Inspiration!

Well, I love to knit, of course it isn't obvious or anything :) I also, love to be at work, Jimmy Beans Wool and I really have it rough, touching all the amazing yarn we carry; what a tough life I have. On Wednesday of this last week, Allison, was doing her Drop Ins class at the shop and one of her students wanted to learn to knit up some leg warmers, and then Victoria my coworker decided to get on the leg warmer band wagon too! So of course I just can't stand to be on the side lines and I picked some worsted weight yarn in a variegated color and a contrasting solid and went to work. What do you think of the result?






Of course now I have to do the second warmer, but this knit up so quickly I think it will be a breeze.

Hello.....anyone there? Or are you busy trying to figure out the politics these days???

So here we are, right close to election day. and we have these awesome Politically Correct hats. Honestly, I have my opinions and Jeanne has hers, and our friends have theirs and our husbands might have an opinion or 2.

My knitting classes get just a teensy bit political (but not until we all know where we all stand, being in the same room, setting at the same table) and we pride our Nevada selves on being a civilized lot, for the most part. My students are told, "No swearing in knitting!" I am happy to report that if there is a bit of cussing, it's not over which of 3 senators or Alaskan govenor you favor, but which left-leaning decrease do you prefer?

Being the teacher, I get to have my say (and why!) and so the sheep must follow =0)

Beautiful fall colors here - yes, in Nevada! - and I hope you enjoy some of the posts. Hummingbirds have departed, but the quail are ravenous. We're hearing some calls from raptors and not being able to identify them. Smallish, and more color to them than the usual browns/grays. If we can capture them on camera, you'll be the first to know and perhaps help us to identify.

In the meantime, Happy Knitting.

Allie

P.S. - watch for posts regarding my travels to Italy! Coming up in November!

Did I Mention that Christmas is Coming????

Here's the latest! A Fair Isle Christmas stocking that my most beginner students, with direction, are able to manage. I am proud of them since they are "getting" the 2 styles of knitting using a color in each hand. Before you write in and tell me there are many more than 2 styles of knitting, don't bother. I know that! In fact, I've been teaching "Portuguese" knitting. And I've reviewed a book that talks about "Andean" knitting which is pretty much the same as the Portuguese style.

Ahem.

Most of us are pickers or throwers and here in Nevada, that's what we do.

The stocking was born from the need to develop a Fair Isle instruction class, and since it was close to Christmas-time (2002) this is what I came up with. I can't thank my students enough for their input on this pattern, and fellow Chameleo Jeanne gets the prize for her input. Watch for tips offered on our website, http://www.2askewdesigns.com/ for explanations to the tricky stuff on this and all of our patterns. I look forward to establishing an FAQ section. Oy. We are such newbies, still.

It's fall here in the Great Basin and I've got some lovely pictures taken this month. First of all, 10/10 and it's snowing. I mean SNOWING! Poor hummers at the feeder, but it warmed up, they seem to have had their fill, and as of today, I haven't seen them for at least a week. Unlike some of us (me included), they can take a hint and be gone.

Taos Wool Fest - what a fun time and our patterns were a smash! I did my damage and bought some lovely camelid fibers - mind you - I've been on a "fiber diet" for some time now. But as you know, when you're on a diet, you're allowed to cheat a little while away from home and that's just what I did. =0) As soon as I can upload some photos, you will see them here. If my DH were to say, "Let's move to Taos", I'd say, "Race you to the car!"

As always, Happy Knitting from your Chameleon buddies -

Allie

Not your Grandmother's Pocketbook!

Well, I have finally surrendered and Amber, of Never Ender, has been brought on board to help me create some Website Templates and make the site more a place you will want to visit. Between Jimmy's, knitting, and teenagers; I am bushed! I can't wait to see what Amber has up her cyber sleeve for us.

This little guy is the beginning of our much awaited logo! There is still some tweaking going on but I think we are getting somewhere! Let me know what you think of
him.

On the knitting front my newest pattern The Contemporary
Pocketbook is just being proofed and should hit the shops in the next couple of days.




Happy whatever to all of you and a good night! Oh wait it's not even Halloween yet, um, BOO!

Tiny Bubble Socks

Well they are here at last! My Tiny Bubble Socks and I have had such fun with these, as so many people have asked what is that pattern you are doing? It looks so hard! It is a very simple pattern and knits up quickly. You should be able to memorize the repeat in no time.

I wish you all happy sock knitting and am glad that Allison is now back from Taos and I hope she will let me come and pet all of her treasures. She has done some marketing on this trip and 2 Askew Designs will begin to show up in more LYS's!! Yeah Allison, thanks for your hard works.