"For The First Time Anywhere. . . "

That is how I started the "3 Things You Can Finish Before Christmas" class.  The event which heralded the words, "For The First Time Anywhere," was my friend Thea and I teaching a knitting class together.  I think we gave the term dynamic duo a whole new meaning.  We were knitting at Ann's By Design one day with both Ann and the Marvelous Melissa present.  We were kind of trying to decide if it was a good idea to have classes in December or not.  It was during this time, we came up with three out of the box, smashing ideas.  One is to have a Black Friday Knit-In for all of those people who hate the crowds shopping and are sick of watching football.  Another was to have a Knitting Marathon.  The store will be open from 10 to 10 and people will bring in projects they are working on using yarn from Ann's.  We will take a picture when they check-in and one when they leave so they can be overwhelmed by their progress.  The third was the best idea of all; Thea and I would co-teach "3 Things You Can Finish By Christmas."  We started going through our fast and fun patterns until we came up with three, then we put the class on line and people started signing up.  I must tell you that brainstorming at Ann's By Design is one of the most fun, exhilarating experiences.  NO BODY EVER SAYS, "THAT'S NOT POSSIBLE."  Anything is possible and the impossible can be tweaked to make it possible.  I think one of the things I miss most about my fabulous position of Assistant Superintendent of Consultation and Planning at Lenawee Intermediate School District is brainstorming.  Sometimes I brainstorm with myself.  It is fun but it isn't the same.  It lacks the element of surprise.  I could pretend to surprise myself but it would be in-genuine.   

I wish I could post pictures of the class in session, but for some reason they are all laying on their side when they appear on Knitting: A Love Story even though they are not in the album. I can't figure out how to turn them around.  Once again I would like to stress, "I am a knitter and a storyteller not a photographer or a writer."  Maybe some day I will figure this out and you can see just how much fun people had.  When you stepped out of the classroom all you could hear was people laughing and talking.  Ann came in and said, "This is what a class should be like."  Now let me show you what 3 things we picked out.

Our first project was brought to the table by Ann.  It is the Seafarer's Scarf and is a free pattern from The Seaman's Church.  We made it out of Cascade Splatter a heavy worsted yarn.  The blue one is made out of a finer yarn.  This is a great pattern for either a male or female.  It is warm and easy and very attractive.  It can easily be finished in a week or two.

Now, you all recognize this.  It is one of my two go-to patterns for travel or gifts or just relaxing.  It is the fabulous Bandito Scarf designed by Hazel's Grandma and Meg's Mom the amazing Anne Campbell better known on Ravelry as Knitterly Anne.  Bandito is a free pattern on Revelry.  We made the Bandito out of Cascade Melilla.  This wonderful accessory can be easily finished in a week.  I have given this many times as a gift and the receiver always loved it.  Whenever I wear my own Banditos (and I have many) someone always stops to ask if I made my scarf and sometimes asks if I sell them.  Once you get started it is a one row pattern.  That's right, every row is the same.  

This is the Anne Norling scarf.  It looks very complicated but it isn't.  The fun comes in using variegated yarn.  Thea is a virtuoso on this pattern.  She has made many, many, many.  You name a fiber and I bet she has used it for Anne Norling.  We did notice the room got very quiet when we were working on Anne Norling.  We weren't sure if they were a little tired or a little overwhelmed then all of a sudden conversation happened again.  I think they got serious when they thought it was going to be hard then when they realized it was pretty simple they were relieved.  This can be completed in about a week or 2 depending on how much time you are devoting to it and how long you want it to be.  

That is our 3 Things You Can Finish Before Christmas.  You really can finish all 3 things.  Just as I suspected, Thea and I make a great team.  We both love knitting and want others to love and appreciate it as much as we do.  If you would like to experience the Dynamic duo, come to Ann's By Design most any Friday from 10:00 to noon and you will find us knitting together.  Because of all of the things going on in December like my Mom's 92 birthday and our Christmas trip to Lawrence, Kansas and my sister coming from Atlanta for Christmas, social knitting on Fridays will be without Jan in December and January.  January is our trip to Sunset Beach.  That reminds me, it is time to pick out my travel knitting.  I have some really great things to choose from this year thanks to the Fall Fiber Expo, Noble Knits, Earthfaire, Knit-Purl, Pinterest and Ravelry.  When you had to look through books to find something to knit, you didn't have as many overwhelming choices.  WOW!  I think I just discovered a new topic for Knitting: A Love Story.