Do I Remember How to Knit?

I spent a good chunk of time yesterday morning editing handouts for my Sew Expo classes. This would be a much larger job were I making handouts from scratch, but I’ve got years of teaching material on my computer. The handout for my lace class needed only minor tweaks. All that’s left for that one is to pull samples from my Giant Bin of Swatches and make sure they are all labeled.

I got about halfway through editing my handout for the cabling class. I already had one, but I’ve changed a few things about the way I plan to teach it. The cabling class is scheduled for Wednesday, which is the day before Sew Expo officially opens and is something of a “boot camp” class day. My other two classes are three hours each. Cabling is four hours.

The last knitting class I taught was in 2010. I hadn’t realized that so much time has elapsed. This is very much like riding a bicycle, though, and I am comfortable swimming in these waters again. And depending on how this event goes, I have lots of ideas for class proposals I would like to submit next year.

I decided not to take any classes at Sew Expo. I am going to have my hands full being a teacher and I want that to be my focus.

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My reward for progress on class handouts was to sew up a Toaster Sweater for myself.

This is the Toaster Sweater #1 (there are two versions), lengthened by 3". The fabric is a rayon cabled sweater knit from Joanns. It is a lovely fabric and I only wish it came in some nicer colors. (Other choices are a rusty burgundy and an olive green, ugh.) I don’t avoid pastels completely, but they have to be clear pastels, not muddy or brownish ones. (Think icy.) I have a pair of teal corduroys that needed something to wear with them, and this works perfectly. I know this fabric also comes in black, and a black Toaster Sweater would solve a lot of my wardrobe issues. Unfortunately, our Joanns is out of it. The Joanns in Missoula supposedly has some in stock. I’ll check next week; otherwise, I will order it.

I’m trying to put together outfits to wear at Sew Expo because I want to wear at least one article of clothing every day that is something I’ve made. My final choices will depend on the weather forecast for that week. Last year, it was cold and rainy while we were there. It’s been in the low 60s in Seattle recently, though, so it’s anybody’s guess what it will be like in another three weeks.

I have to hit the ground running this morning. I have a massage scheduled for 9 am and I need to be at the church no later than 12:30 pm to play for the funeral. We had a sound check late yesterday afternoon. This church uses a worship band for their Sunday services, so I’ll be playing on a keyboard rather than a piano. It’s a nice keyboard, but I play on a 111-year-old Bosendorfer grand at our church every Sunday, and the difference is noticeable.

[The Bosendorfer belonged to Susan’s mother. Susan did not have room for it at her house when she inherited it, so it is currently living at our church and I have the privilege of playing it every week.]

I keep a binder full of arrangements that are suitable for funerals and other somber occasions. They can be prepared at a moment’s notice and tailored for the amount of time I’ve been asked to play. For this service, I’ll play 15 minutes of prelude, accompany two congregational songs, and a play a recessional.