Archive for October, 2009
Online Teacher Class registration is open.
Saturday, October 31st, 2009
Hi All, just a quick note to let you know that my online class for teachers is now available for sign-up.
More information in this previous post.
Teachers already signed up include:
Shannon Okey
Amy Houck
Sherry Anderson
Christa Giles
Faina Goberstein
Susan Crawford
Deborah Robson
I am so excited!!
Posted in Online classes | No Comments »
UPcycled Tshirt Yarn patterns are LIVE on Ravelry
Thursday, October 29th, 2009
I have now formatted and uploaded all four of the new Tshirt yarn patterns to Ravelry. They range in price from $2 to $3. CHEAP. My contribution to encourage people to recycle or, even better, UPcycle!
In case you missed it, you can watch my “how to make Tshirt Yarn video” here. And, if you are really inspired, you can sign up for the next offering of the class.
PS: I’m designing a kids’ Tshirt yarn pattern for the winter issue of Petite Purls.
Posted in Patterns, gift knitting, Online classes | No Comments »
Feisty! A child’s Aran sweater in two versions (PATTERN’S READY!)
Wednesday, October 28th, 2009
This one is named after my feisty little one! Mazie is 21 and a half months old, and well into her “feisty twos.” They’re really not terrible at this age, just opinionated, all grown up, and really full of energy!
(Click the photo to see more pics and the schematic.)
The pattern is available for $5 on Ravelry, or through this link:
The pattern contains both the “girl” and “boy” versions, and has instructions for long or short sleeves.
Here, again, are the statistics:
Sizing:
Pattern is written for child’s sizes 12 mo. (2, 4, 6)
Yarn:
Lorna’s Laces Shepherd Worsted Multi [100% Superwash Wool, 3 ply machine washable worsted, 225 yards / 4 oz]
Boys: 2 (2, 3, 3) color: Fresh
Girls: 2 (3, 3, 4) color: Winona
Needles:
Sizes 7 and 8; 24” circular needle and dpns
Notions:
Stitch markers
Tapestry/sewing needle
2 buttons
Gauge:
5 sts and 6 rows on larger needles in reverse stockinette stitch
Tech Edited by Jenn Jarvis
Test Knit by Karen Clark
Posted in Uncategorized | No Comments »
Aaw! Mazie in the pinky version of her sweater…
Wednesday, October 28th, 2009
Posted in Patterns, baby | 1 Comment »
Sprout
Tuesday, October 27th, 2009
The last few days have been great! I’ve gotten so much checked off my To Do list, I can’t believe it!
One of the yarns I’ve been working with this week is Classic Elite Sprout.
This 100% organic yarn is so soft and lofty. It’s going to make a lovely sweater for Mazie!
Maybe you can tell from the “winder” picture, we’re getting more and more moved in. As we finish painting one room, we can fill it up and shuffle things around and eventually, everything will be unpacked. At least that’s what I’ve been telling myself.
Here’s a sneak peek of a shawl that I just finished, to be released as a pattern in a new Stitch CoOp Shawls / Scarves booklet that we’re working on. Knit in Cascade 220 Superwash Paints.
I’m in a blue phase. Blue is so calming.
Posted in yarn reviews, Patterns, baby | 2 Comments »
Mazie has a new sweater
Saturday, October 24th, 2009
…and she let me take some pictures of it!
I actually did the math on this one before we moved, Choo Choo Karen knit it up, Nipperknits Jenn Jarvis edited it, and we’ve been waiting for it to be cool enough to wear it! Mazie wore her new sweater to the park, too!
She’s such a big girl! We ran around the pond, fed the ducks, climbed on the equipment, slid down the slide, played in a pickup soccer game, were envious of some other kids’ jumpy castle, and then came home for a looooong nap.
That’s a lot of activities for a 21-month-old and a big old pregnant lady! 
This is the “Gender Neutral” or “Boy” version of the pattern, and we’ve worked up a “Girl” version, too! They’ll be available together in one download here and on Ravelry for $5.
Stats:
Sizing:
Pattern is written for child’s sizes 12 mo. (2, 4, 6)
Yarn:
Lorna’s Laces Shepherd Worsted Multi [100% Superwash Wool, 3 ply machine washable worsted, 225 yards / 4 oz]
Boys: 2 (2, 3, 3) color: Fresh
Girls: 2 (3, 3, 4) color: Winona
Needles:
Sizes 7 and 8; 24” circular needle and dpns
Notions:
Stitch markers
Tapestry/sewing needle
2 buttons
Gauge:
5 sts and 6 rows on larger needles in reverse stockinette stitch
Posted in Patterns | 5 Comments »
An UPcycled Tshirt Yarn Shrug
Friday, October 23rd, 2009
Here’s the final project that I have designed for my online Upcycled Thsirt Yarn Class:
I made mine using 4 XL tshirts that grade in color from a medium blue to black.
In class, we go step-by-step through cutting the Tshirts into yarn, dyeing our yarn, and then work through each of four knitting patterns together. There are several variations of the patterns, and they are all designed to be “gaugeless” so that you can knit any of them with any of the Tshirt yarn that you make.
The next round of this class starts on October 26, and signups are open now.
My students have been posting reviews of this class on the site:
From Judy:
This was my first on-line class experience, and so of course I
wondered how it would compare to attending “in-person” workshops or
classes. It has been a great experience! Anything Stefanie Japel
offers us is bound to be unique, cutting edge, and just plain fun!
There were live chats, videos, a question forum, free patterns
& loads of downloadable information. Plus, the sense of
comradeship and community was great. I feel like I’ve made some new
friends! I can’t wait to take more classes with Stefanie!
From Susan Bourgeois:
Ravelry and Twitter: Trafficknitter
The UP-cycled T-shirt Class, taught by Stefanie Japel, includes far
more information than just recycling T-shirts into adorable knitted
garments. Stefanie is generous with information and ideas on dyeing
the “yarn” and goes in depth into color theory. The video
demonstrations are a delight to watch and very detailed. The class
includes 4 patterns and Stefanie gives detailed video instructions
that will launch any beginner knitter into knitting a lace pattern
and still tailor the garments to suit all the knitters in the
class. No matter what your level of experience is, there is
something for everyone in this class!
I expected to learn how to cut t-shirts, and make a couple of novel
knits. What I got was the best value I have had from any knitting
class.
Besides, the class was really FUN too!!
Posted in Uncategorized | No Comments »
Fall Family Fun
Sunday, October 18th, 2009
We took a break yesterday from working on the house to go to the local pick your own pumpkin patch. The family who owns it has built up a lot of little attractions for kids. This was kind of expensive ($9 per adult) but was actually a pretty good way to spend a couple of hours on a pretty fall day. Nathan and I both grew up in Iowa, so we grew up with lots of fall activities. Camping, woodfires, raking leaves, CORN…so it was nice to share that with Mazie a little bit.
Mazie climbed a tower or tractor tires:
Then…took a loooooong nap.
Posted in just chit chat | 2 Comments »
More Tshirt Yarn projects and a video how-to
Wednesday, October 14th, 2009
So we are well into week 2 of tshirt yarn class, and I’m really making a lot of projects!
Here’s a scarf that I knit, using a length of organic bamboo fabric that I cut into yarn. I overdyed it in tea! The tea stained the scarf in a really interesting way, and toned down the baby pink.
I also dyed this light pink yarn with tea:
Here’s what it looked like fresh out of the dye bath:
It was light pink to begin with, and the tea added those darker tan spots. I can’t wait to see how this knits up!
Here’s a little video on how to use tea or coffee to dye things:
Find more videos like this on UPcycled Tshirt Yarn Class
Posted in tips and tricks, video post, Online classes | 1 Comment »
Fibertudes Monday at 1:40 EST
Sunday, October 11th, 2009
I’m going to be on the Fibertudes podcast / blogtalkradio show tomorrow at 1:40 EST.