Tuesday, January 27, 2015

Not quite a Blizzard, but Lots of Snow!

The weather guys thought we would get more snow, but mother nature kept the storm a little farther out in the ocean and we lucked out. It was not the blizzard that was expected but we did get a lot of snow. And I'm thrilled that it wasn't the 2 feet of white stuff that was forecasted because my parents are in Las Vegas for the alpaca auction and the girls were left in charge.
The alpacas are doing well and seem to enjoy the snow.






 





I've been doing some more knitting this week and thought I would share...

I knitted and blocked the Alpaca Blanket.
This pattern is no longer available for sale so I had to do some math (ouch) to figure it out.
Knitted with 3 skeins of Cascade Pure Alpaca.


Casted on my Sibella Cowl.
This is a pattern from Madder Anthology 1. It's a beautiful lace infiniti scarf/cowl.
Knitting it up with Anzula Squishy in Tan.
 

Reading The Girl On The Train and knitting up a pair of Vanilla Socks with Cascade Heritage yarn.
 


I hope where ever you are you are safe and warm and not stuck in the snow.

Happy Snow Day!
-Leanne

Thursday, January 15, 2015

A day late...Yes Dad, it's Thursday

I try to keep up with a blog schedule and Wednesday is usually the day I make sure to post. I join in with the other knitters in the internet land and usually update people on the critters of the farm. But I missed it yesterday as my dad liked to point out. I receive emails from my dad with just a subject line....I THOUGHT IT WAS THURSDAY. And yes it may look like he's yelling at me that I didn't post with his upper cap letters but that's the way my dad types. All uppercase. All the TIME. He has written in ALL CAPS since email came to exist.

Anyway....so a day late, but here's what I have been working on this week.

I had an order for a baby blanket and after the pattern was chosen, I realized it was no longer available for purchase. Seriously??? The designer took it off for sale in December. So it was up to me to figure out how to adapt a triangle shawl pattern into a square. With a houseful of boys (11 of them) and some pizza and wine, I figured it out! Horrah!


And as soon as I figured it out and wrote out all the schematics, Chase drew all over it. 
Of course he did. So knitting this up with Cascade Alpaca Pure from our store. Going to be beautiful!



Rick bought me a gift card for Christmas for Chelsea Yarn. I headed up last weekend and bought myself two skeins of the Anzula Squishy in the tan color way, the Madder Anthology 1 book and some new needles. I plan on making an infinity scarf out of this book. Have you seen the Madder Anthology 2? So pretty. I recently knitted the Barn Sweater by Carrie Bostick Hoge and loved the simplicity but traditional look of the sweater. I also knitted her Peerie Weerie boots by her so I am not officially a fan of hers.


The new field was ready for the big boys! So a few of them have headed over to the field outside my kitchen window. I had approximately 15 mini heart attacks the first day they were out there. I constantly thought an alpaca was loose. I'm really enjoying seeing them outside all the time.


I'm teaching a Fair Isle class at the farm in March. 
I am working out some charts and a hat that we will be making. 
I love fair isle so much. I'm going to be taking a lot of the tips and tricks I learned last year at Vogue Live Knitting with Mary Jane Mucklestone and passing it on to my students. 





I am also teaching a fingerless glove class. I'm teaching the basic form and then it will be easy adaptable with cables and patterning. These are knitted with Jill Draper Makes Stuff yarn.



So that's it for my knitting this week. Hope you're all staying warm if you live where it's cold!

Happy Knitting! -Leanne

Tuesday, January 6, 2015

Winter Is Here Yarn Along

Winter has arrived here at the Jersey Shore. The temps have dropped and the snow flurries began.
It's perfect knitting weather if you ask me!

Here's what I have been knitting along with some snowy alpaca pictures.

Over Christmas break, I casted on for the Barn Sweater.
I started Christmas Day and finished it in 10 days. It was a pleasure to knit and so comfy to wear. I haven't blocked it yet because i don't want to take it off long enough for it to dry.
Yarn: Brooklyn Tweed Shelter: Fossil color
Buttons from this site: Vintage Buttons from this etsy shop
 




I am teaching a fingerless glove lesson this winter, so I'm casting on a new pair to use as example.
Knitted with Jill Draper Makes Stuff Cormo wool, color: Still Life with Plums


Bundled up and went outside to play with the pacas.

 Smoke and Bing




Is this just the cutest little girl or what??!!! Peanut Butter Dickens looks like a happy girl in the snow.
 



Lily and Chase


The Brat Pack

 And back inside for more knitting and some podcast listening. Right now, listening to Woolful.
 For my reading, I just finished Half Broke Horses.
I just started reading Everything I Never Told You.

Happy Knitting and Alpaca Farming!




Saturday, January 3, 2015

Winter Knitting Class Schedule

Winter Knitting Lesson Schedule

All Classes are held in the farm store at Arrow Acres Farm  

Knitting Instructor: Leanne 
Contact Info: email, leannecoppola@gmail.com
phone: 732-500-6765 Call or Text
All payment is due at time of registration. 
Please mail a check made out to Leanne Coppola and mail to: 
Leanne Coppola 
2011 Bentz Road
Wall, NJ 07719
 or
Payment accepted through PayPal: leannecoppola@aol.com paypal id


Beginner Lessons: $65 per student. Includes 4 hrs of instructions (2, 2 hr sessions), 1 pair of knitting needles and one skein of yarn.
Class is for someone that has never knitted or has very little experience. You will learn all the basics of knitting and purling. You will learn how to begin and end your project. We have lots of fun!
Class dates: Session 1: Saturday January 10th & 17th 10am-12pm
Session 2: Saturday January 24th & 31st 10am-12pm
Session 3: Saturday February 21st & 28th 10am-12pm
Session 4: Saturday March 7th & 14th 10am-12pm

Intermediate Class: $45 per student
Class is for the knitter who feels comfortable knitting and purling and is ready to move on to shaping, following a pattern and more advanced work. You will learn how to increase, decrease, follow a knitting pattern and introductory lace pattern knitting. This is a 3 hour class.
Session 1: Saturday January 17th 1pm-4pm
Session 2: Saturday January 31st 1pm-4pm
Session 3: Saturday February 21st 1pm-4pm


Fingerless Gloves Class: $60 per student
Includes 2 (2 hr. sessions) Supplies required: double point needles and yarn. More details will be provided at registration time.
Sunday Feb. 22nd & March 8th 10am-12pm

Fair Isle Colorwork Class: $60 per student ***UPDATE- CLASS FULL***
IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO TAKE THIS CLASS PLEASE LET ME KNOW AND I WILL SET UP ANOTHER SESSION.
This class will teach the basics of how to two color fair isle strand knit. You will be making a fair isle hat. Supplies required: circular needles and yarn. More details will be provided at registration time.
Saturday March 7th & 14th 2pm-4pm



Let's Knit a Sweater!!!!  $100 per student.
After many requests, a sweater class has just been added to the class list!
I'm really excited to teach you how to knit a sweater!
We will be knitting the Barn Sweater by Carrie Bostick Hoge
 You will be required to purchase the pattern on ravelry so the designer can receive the money for her design. Click here to visit Ravelry page for pattern. I will work with you through every step of the way. You will learn how to construct a sweater to fit your body. It is worked seamlessly from the top down. You will learn how to work a button band, button holes, seamless construction, built in pockets and finishing work.

Requirements for the class: Knowledge of how to knit, purl, increase and decrease.
Yarn, buttons and pattern. I recommend making a gauge swatch before you arrive at the first class. This is a tedious but very necessary step in knitting a garment. If you have never made a gauge swatch before let me know and I will talk you through the steps before you come to class.
Need help deciding on what yarn will be best? Contact me and I can make some recommendations.

Class Dates and Hours (7 hours total)
Saturday February 28th 1-3 (2 hrs)
Saturday March 7th 11-1 (2 hrs)
Saturday March 21st 12-1 (1 hour)
Saturday April 4th 11-1 (2 hours) Finishing and sewing on buttons



***If the dates and times do not fit into your schedule, please contact me and we will find a time that we can meet. ***

Just have a question or need help with a project? Don't need a whole class? Please contact me and I can help. $15/hour for instruction.

Happy Knitting!
-Leanne