Fourth Thursday Friends: Laura Nelkin

As I sit here typing I await the arrival of my good friend, Laura Nelkin. She is coming to NYC this weekend to celebrate the publication of her new book, Knockout Knits. She'll be teaching classes and signing books all weekend. The fun begins tonight at Lion Brand Yarn Studio where she will be signing books beginning at 6:00 pm. Then tomorrow and Sunday she's teaching several classes at LBYS. I happen to have it on very good authority that Laura is an EXCELLENT teacher. So if you're anywhere near NYC, sign up for one of the several classes she's teaching.

But that's not all that Laura has planned for the weekend. On Saturday she's heading out to Morristown, New Jersey to teach a beaded jewelry class from 1-4pm at Trillium Yarns' new location at 4 Cattano Ave. Next, starting at 4pm on Saturday there will be a Grand Reopening Party at Trillium, where you will find Laura signing books, and me drooling over Trillium's fabulous yarns.

Since this is going to be the weekend of Ms Nelkin, I thought I'd cast on one of the patterns in her new book. Fingerless mitts are very popular in my family, we can never have too many pairs, so I decided to cast on Prolix Mitts. This pattern is shown in an elegant shade of Lorna's Laces Shepherd Sock in the book, and I really adore them in that color, but I have a basket of yarn sitting around that I dyed at Fiber College last week, and it's filled with variegated yarns. Since the elongated stitches that Laura features in these mitts really show off variegated yarns beautifully, I decided to dive into my basket and cast on. These mitts will be extra special since the design is Laura's and the yarn was dyed with the help of Ellen Mason in her fabulous dye tent at Fiber College. These are truly friendship mitts.

I should tell you more about the book -- which is excellent and as you'd expect is filled with new techniques taught in Laura's easy-going and very effective style -- but I've gone on and on already, and I have to tidy up the house so that Laura doesn't know what a slob I really am. However you should  go pour over the designs from the book on Ravelry. Then queue and favorite them to your heart's content, and buy the book!

If you come to one of Laura's book events this weekend, please do say hello! I'll be the one merrily knitting away on a pair of bold green mitts.

Comments

[Hannah]

Beautiful! I love Laura's jewelry work but I am always excited to see more of her garment style designs. Those mitts would be my top choice too!

[Carole]

That mitt pattern is fabulous and I love your bright green, too.

[steph]

sounds like you have a great weekend planned.....thanks for sharing the book title; i had no idea this was now available!!!!! I'm already pretty smitten with that crux cowl......and those socks.....and there's a hat calling my needles. (do you feel like an enabler?)

[Ellen Mason]

Big and small stitches are the perfect way to articulate your jolly yarn! Laura's pattern is brilliant. Let's see, I think I can get to NYC in about 5 hours ...

[Beverly]

That gorgeous green will be MOST WELCOME when the leaves are off the trees! Have a fun weekend!

[Laura Nelkin]

Your home was perfect! I was enamored with your stash and your sheepy art! Thankyou for the lovely review and for being the hostest with the mostest!!!!