Using a scale to determine how much yarn you have.

It happens a lot: you buy 7 hanks of yarn for a project, but only end up needing 6.25. How do you know how much yarn you have left? A digital scale can tell you.

Let's use Cascade 220 as an example, since I know that each 100g hank has 220 yards. 220 divided by 100 is 2.2, so 2.2 yards weigh one gram. If I weigh my yarn leftovers and have 30 grams, I simply multiply 30 by 2.2 to figure out how many yards I have remaining - in this case, 66. Now you know exactly how many yards you have left and can search for patterns that will work with your yardage.

Week in review.

Still doing secret knitting. I swear, that sweater will be perfect as many times as I've reworked the yoke.

This week in review:

Jan. 1


Jan. 2


Jan. 3


Jan. 4


Jan. 5


Jan. 6


Jan. 7

Looking ahead.

Remember me? My name is Tonya and I used to blog about knitting. December has been unbelievably busy with something like 11 knitting classes in two weeks, a deadline knitting project, and travel for the holidays and my sister's college graduation.

I'm back and looking forward to lots of great knits and classes in 2012. I also have a camera now thanks to my lovely parents, so the blog should be looking much better with actual pictures.







See. Real pictures.

I'll update again next year!

Just in time for the holidays - Shizknit Gift Certificates!

Give the gift of knitting lessons! Shizknit gift certificates are now available. Please click the "Donate" button below (it is the only option that you can customize your own dollar amount, I apologize for any confusion) and follow the prompts. A Shizknit gift certificate will be mailed to you and is redeemable up to one year from purchase date! Let your friends know that this holiday season, all you want is a knitting class!

Hibernating.

On Wednesday night I taught my last class until December, so I am taking a break from all of my class projects to focus entirely, 100 percent on my secret sweater. This means a few things are going to sit hibernating in a nearly-finished state for a few weeks.

Like Elijah. This little elephant just needs a few more rows on his arm and some legs and he'll be ready to give to Johnny for Christmas. I hope he doesn't mind being stuffed into a bag for just a teeny bit.

Class Preview: Learn to Knit

I'm going to do some class previews to let you know what each class entails . . . it's a lot more than will fit on that little sheet of paper I hand out!

That being said, Learn to Knit is the most open of the classes, and the one that I have the least to say about. You'll learn the fundamentals of knitting - cast on, knit, bind off - but if you know a little bit about knitting and would like to know more, I'm happy to teach you other techniques as well such as increasing, decreasing, the purl stitch, stripes . . . it's up to you! (If you are more advanced, you might want to consider signing up for some of my other classes.)

There isn't a "project" per se with learn to knit, but if you want to turn your first attempts at knitting into a simple washcloth, bring 100% cotton yarn. Sugar and Cream and Peaches and Cream are two common brands of cotton. If you have a specific thing you'd like to knit, send me a message at classes@theshizknit.com and I'll help you figure out what materials you need. For the basics, I suggest 100 yards or so of worsted weight yarn (more on yarn weights coming soon) and size US 8 needles.

Learn to Knit will be held the first two Fridays of every month from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. at Mama's Hip. You can register for the December classes on the Mama's Hip website, or email me at classes@theshizknit.com. One session is $15, sign up for two for $25. If you're interested in learning to knit but those class times don't work for you, email classes@theshizknit.com to schedule a private lesson.

Save 10% on Winter Classes!

(You can click the image to make it larger.)

That's right - all you have to do is stop by my booth at the Douglass Loop Farmers Market and sign up for a class! Payment is due on or before the first class session. The weather looks like it will be decent; stop by, knit, and register! I'll be there from 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. on November 19.