A Fond Farewell to Keiko

Today was Keiko's last day visiting with our Stitch Angels. She came to the US with her husband on a three year work assignment and found her way to us and we're so glad she did! She is a ray of sunshine who lights up the room when she enters.

We are really going to miss her.

I knitted a little Stitch Angel to remind her of her time with us. Keiko is an amazing woman who learned to speak English and to knit at the same time!

Barbara and I spent the first few weeks guiding her on her journey into the world of knitting. And then she took flight on her own.

Now she has her very own Stitch Angel to remind her of us.

Keiko, it was a pleasure getting to know you and start you on your knitting journey.

She took one more lesson before leaving us, learning how to knit English style with the yarn in her right hand, as opposed to Continental style where you hold the yarn in the left hand.

We all wish you safe travels and hope you keep in touch through emails.

Carolyn was back today for another lesson in knitting. She has never knitted before so everything is a bit of a struggle until she develops her own style. I have a little poem I like to recite to new students that helps them remember the steps to accomplish a stitch. No, it's not the "In through the front door...etc." The version I heard is a little more memorable because it makes you laugh, "Stab it! Strangle it! Rip out its guts! And throw it off the cliff!" You have to admit it makes an impression and is easy to remember. LOL!

Debra B made progress on her baby sack with the sweet self patterning yarn.

Athena started some rounds of crochet to make a blanket. She'll crochet a bunch and then sew them together.

Edgar is very close to finishing his hat. Another 4 or 5 inches should do it and then he can sew it up.

Jim is making slow progress on his blanket of chenille.

Gail started this cabled baby blanket which calls for holding two strands of worsted weight yarn together. She chose a solid and a variegated which look great together. Pam's blanket has grown a lot since last week.

Ceil's Richland Shawl has grown so large that she is now knitting another texture beside the lace section.

Debra F is knitting the top down garter ridge cardigan. Now that Joann Fabrics is closing she is wondering where she will buy buttons for it. I suggested she make her own Dorset buttons with the same yarn to match the sweater. I may have volunteered my services to make them for her. ;)

Yvonne started a new dishcloth that has a checkerboard pattern. Rena is using up leftovers to create a corner to corner blanket. And Tina turned the heel on a pair of socks for her daughter.

Darwin continued crocheting his blanket while Gerry made crocheted coasters with the colors of the Irish flag as favors for her dinner guests who attend her St. Patrick's Day party. Pat's baby blanket gets larger each week. The textured stitch makes it cozy and warm.

Bob's blanket grows larger each week too!

Barbara worked on the Mountain Snowcap Hat which is a free pattern on Ravelry. However, the written pattern does not match the photograph of the hat nor does the stitch count work out correctly when it's time to decrease. So she had some "mathing" to do to get the top of the crown to look like the photo on the pattern.

By the end of the two hour session, the hat was finished and it looked like the picture. Sometimes free patterns are more work than expected.

I just started a Throwback Pixie Hood. This was a free pattern on Ravelry but has since been discontinued. I'm glad I saved a paper copy of it since it's one of my favorite patterns to knit for babies and toddlers.

It looks so cute when all you see are chubby cheeks.

My kitty is gently reminding me it's almost his feeding time so I better take the hint before he resorts to more forceful methods of getting my attention. Have a great week and keep those needles clicking!