Confessions of a Fiber Enthusiast

My! How I have changed!

2012-02-27T07:53:00.002-06:00

Not that long ago, my heart would beat a little faster at the mere thought of another knitting book. And, nowadays there are even e-books! (I have quite a few of those, too!) Now I find myself questioning the purchase of another book on knitting! Strange reaction....

And, yes, the bookcase is getting a bit crowded. I have books on lace, shawls, socks, stitch patterns, spinning, weaving, dyeing, tatting.... But, I seem to be getting more picky when it comes to investing in another book of any kind, even a novel. The last novel I bought was purchased at Sacred Heart bookstore in Dallas: "Quo Vadis" took me less than a week to read at over 500 pages. I couldn't put it down! Obviously, it was a good purchase and deserves space on a shelf.

So many books, and magazines for that matter, have much the same content when it comes to knitting design and basic patterns these days. There are exceptions, of course. And, sometimes I do go ahead and buy that book I was just fondling in the book store. (I think I have the basics, and have had for many years.) But, if there are not several projects or techniques that interest me I will just as often put it back on the shelf. The last time I was at Half-Price Books in our area I couldn't find a knitting book that interested me. I did end up buying a book for $6 on drawing and calligraphy. It seemed as though with every page I turned I found something that I wanted to try out.

I come by my love of books from my family who are avid readers. By the time I was 13 I had read all of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's 56 short stories and 4 novels on Sherlock Holmes.

I really think a love of reading is actually in my DNA. One of my fathers cousins did a family genealogy back in the 1970's and I discovered that there are educators and scholars in our family going back as far as the American Revolution. It makes me wonder how far back into history this family heritage goes. Most of my ancestors arrived in the colonies from the British Isles but we have not been able to pinpoint the exact time that this happened, although the family was already well established before time of the Revolution. I am eternally thankful to have such a rich heritage to draw from. I have a feeling that there were more than a few women in my family tree who were quite talented with textile production as well!

Peroxide for cleaning stains

2012-02-25T16:16:00.001-06:00

We have several sets of stone coasters that have become stained and need to be cleaned. I hate to put them in the dishwasher for fear that the cork on the bottoms of them will come loose. Then, I remembered my bottle of peroxide.

I just squirted some 3% peroxide right out of the bottle onto the tops of the coasters. See before and after shots below:

Sewing Corner...continued

2012-02-25T15:02:00.000-06:00

I am still trying to get my sewing corner better arranged and contained. In switching back and forth from the serger to the sewing machine I got tired of the cords and foot feeds getting in the way and I needed for my surge protector to be more accessible for plugging things into it.

I slid the two plastic bookshelves a bit apart and laid the surge protector between them. Then, I put a basket on the floor to hold the foot feeds for both machines when I am not using them. Then, I serged the ends of two pieces of wide elastic, added buttons and a piece of elastic cord to use in keeping my cords from getting in the way on top of the sewing counter. I like this arrangement much better.

Quick Sewing Machine Cover

2012-02-19T15:30:00.000-06:00

Instead of buying a second carrying case for my other sewing machine I decided to make a cover for it when it is sitting on the sewing table. When not in use I just put it back in the box in came in and store it in the closet. It takes up a lot less room than if I used another carrying case. If I need to take it somewhere with me I can remove the other sewing machine and use that case.

I got the idea for the dust cover after going thru some old pillow cases trying to find one the right size to line a knitting basket. No luck. But when I laid the pillow cases on the sewing table while searching thru them I thought, "Hey! I could use one of these for a dust cover for my Brother sewing machine!

Just find a pillow case that is wide enough, turn it inside out and pull it over the machine (you might want to remove the spool of thread....and my machine lets you lower the spool peg into the top of the machine so it is flush with the top), allow 1/2" seam, pin where you want to cut, fold the pillow case so that the side seams are together, then cut the fabric, rounding the edges. You could even add a piece of cording to the seam to pretty it up a bit.

Ta Da! Finished dust cover!

Happy Birthday, Mom!

2012-02-17T09:43:00.000-06:00

Isn't technology wonderful? I am sitting at the Sherman, TX Panera restaurant having breakfast and thinking how much I would like to be in OKC with my mom on her birthday. So, I decided to dedicate this post to her.

She taught me to knit when I was ten years old. When I was twenty I really took off with what she had taught me, along with a little inspiration from Elizabeth Zimmermann.

As you can see from the posts of my finished, and in-progress projects, I am a pretty fair knitter. I credit the 'knitting genes' I inherited from my mom for this, as well as the love of beautiful things and the desire to create.

This photo is of a shawl that mom recently finished for herself while I was visiting her last month. She asked me to work in the ends and block it for her. I have blocking mats and wires and it didn't take long at all to get the job done. Then, my friend, Linda, helped me out by setting up a photo shoot at her lovely house to best set off the shawl. And.....

TA DA! Here it is!

Happy Birthday, Mom! I love you heaps and gobs!

for the youngest grandchild

2012-02-06T17:14:00.001-06:00

Now that I have my sewing room back I am in the mood.....to sew! First off the machine is a pair of rompers for baby Josh...who will be 1 yr old tomorrow.....sigh...hope they fit him. This view is before the snaps were placed on the inseam and before I made the buttonholes.

This is a view of the facing for the bib....he likes Curious George...

And this shows the buttons....crayon buttons! Love them!

Blocking Table

2012-02-06T17:05:00.000-06:00

For years I used the dining table or the bed to block my knitting. Then I remembered I had table leg extensions that a friend's husband had made me back when I was quilting a lot....dug them out of Fibber McGee's closet and put them to use! They raise the table up to waist high on me...no more bending over for long periods of time pinning out my knitting to block it!

I now have space in the dining room to put up the table I took out of the sewing room (which is stored behind a bedroom door when not in use) and, with 'blocking mats' (I bought them at Target...they are intended to be used on the floor for exercise equipment and are larger than normal blocking mats, 19 1/2" square not including the interlocking tabs), and padding on top....I am ready to block a shawl for my mom that she just finished knitting. I will do the washing/blocking tomorrow so it has all day to dry....under the ceiling fan in the dining room!

Acrylic Yarn? Sometimes....

2012-01-29T12:24:00.001-06:00

I much prefer to knit with natural fibers: wool, cotton, silk, alpaca, etc., but sometimes I stumble across a synthetic yarn that I like. Some of the things I knit are intended for charity projects and need to be easy care, machine wash & dry.

I bought a skein of Bernat Mosaic yesterday to test knit a hat pattern. The yarn is acrylic, doesn't have any stretch to it at all and is not good for the brioche hat pattern: it just lays there, limp and flat. But, it works up well in garter stitch so I started a diagonal pattern scarf.

I also just finished a brioche hat in "I Love This Wool" for a charity project this fall. The label says hand wash, but I am going to do a test wash with the hand-wash cycle on my Maytag washer.

Finishing a project...finally....

2012-01-26T13:11:00.002-06:00

I had started a cable brioche scarf some time back and I am finally about to finish it while visiting with my mom. I have two balls of Araucania Aysen. I am knitting two rows with one skein and two rows with the other to blend it well. I like the result and look forward to the finished project.

The actual color is more like the top photo, taken in different light. I will probably add twisted fringe to the ends.

Frogged and Started Over

2012-01-26T13:02:00.001-06:00

I started a scarf out of a ball of hand-spun, hand-dyed yarn but didn't like the way it was working out and decided to frog it.

I am now using it to knit a helix scarf that I noticed in an issue of Spin-Off and again in Jane Austen Knits. I like it much better and it makes a perfect small project to tuck into my purse when I am away from the house.

Time to get back to blogging

2012-01-23T08:06:00.003-06:00

Time to get back to my blogging. I just haven't been interested in it for a while, but will make more of an effort to make it a regular habit.

Starting off this year I have reorganized my craft room, which had turned into more of an office with the advent of the desktop computer 11 yrs ago. The desktop is out and we now have 2 laptops and the room is free for my crafts once again.

I had hoped to get everything in that room.....but there isn't a place for all the spinning wheels. I need to be able to work around the loom, even though it isn't huge, and have access to storage and a place to set up the sewing machine. There are currently 2 spinning wheels in the smaller bedroom and 2 in the dining room as well as a floor inkle loom on loan from a friend.

I left a small table in one corner for the wireless printer and modem since that is where the cable connection is. There is also room on that table to set a laptop and back it up to the external hard drive. Hubby now has a table/desk in the master bedroom, mine is in the living room where I can keep track of what is cooking on the stove or watch TV while computing.

Lazy Blogger, That's Me!

2011-12-05T16:25:00.001-06:00

Can't believe it's been nearly two months since I blogged! Gotta get back in gear! Only have a couple of small projects going right now and no photos to show, but I will add photos when we get our Christmas decorations up....had to move the loom and some other stuff into the bedroom and out of the dining room....

Too Many Irons in the Fire

2011-10-14T20:00:00.001-05:00

I love to knit. And spin. And weave. I always have more than one project going at a time and sometimes it seems that I don't get anything much accomplished.....until I end up with several projects finished at about the same time. I am currently waiting for those several projects to be finished....soon! I really, really want to get back to the blue wool lace shawl I started a few months ago.

Wild Life

2011-09-27T19:09:00.000-05:00

Ever try to sneak up on an owl? He/she was very patient and actually posed for me....

More Adventures in Card Weaving

2011-09-27T17:45:00.001-05:00

I was intrigued with the weaving on the cover of Cadace Crockett's book, Card Weaving and decided to warp up a single width of the pattern for bookmarks. I altered the colors a bit and, after a couple of false starts and some entirely fouled up weaving, I finally got the sequence down and started over for the bookmarks.

So far I am happy with the result and hope to have several finished pieces done tomorrow.

By the way, this is one of those more complicated patterns that involves separating some of the cards and turning them different directions.....must....pay....attention....to.....the.....sequence!

Card Weaving

2011-09-10T18:00:00.000-05:00

A friend of mine has recently started me off with card weaving and we both attended a class at Apple Leef Farm and learned a lot. At first I was just working on my weaving by attaching it to a belt around my waist with the other end attached to a door knob that just happens to be across the living room from my chair. Then my friend asked me if I had room for her floor inkle loom....well.....duh! It is currently hanging out at my house (I have custody of it at the moment) and I am no longer attached to the door making it impossible for DH to have to crawl over my weaving.

I am having serious fun and now I need another plastic container for the balls of #10 crochet thread that I use for weaving. (And to think that I gave bags of the stuff away....to the same friend who got me started with the card weaving! LOL) That's OK. It's not like I needed an excuse to buy thread...

Our Prayers Have Been Answered

2011-08-17T13:36:00.000-05:00

On August 28th from 2 to 3pm there will be a Victory Celebration at the former Sherman Planned Parenthood site. All the personal prayers, all the group prayer vigils have paid off. Federal funding has been withdrawn and the country's largest abortion mill is closing offices all over the country. In Texas alone: Arlington, Plano, Mesquite, Gainsville, Sherman, Terrell, and Waxahachie.

To read more go to The Texas Right To Life website. Thank you, Almighty and Everlasting Lord for hearing our pleas and prayers to stop this holocaust.

OMG! It looks like rain!

2011-08-11T14:09:00.001-05:00

These photos were taken at around 12:30pm as I dropped hubby back at work after lunch today. They are taken looking north over the GCC campus. (When I was a student there, back in the Ice Age, we called it Harvard on the Hill.) The temperature dropped ten degrees in a matter of minutes. Looks like this is the day that we break the 100° temps. Thank you, God!

Not Your Every Day Dish Cloth

2011-08-10T14:54:00.000-05:00

I have been in the mood for knitting dish cloths, but not necessarily the diagonally knit garter stitch cloth. So, I decided on the colorful one in Mason-Dixon Knitting. The possibilities are endless when it comes to pairing up solids and variegated yarns.

Time for Tea....Cozy

2011-07-21T08:24:00.000-05:00

I decided that my teapot needed a knitted cozy to keep the tea warm since I tend to take my time sipping my cuppa tea. Having recently discovered brioche stitch I thought that would be a nice pattern and with the help of Nancy Marchand's Knitting Brioche I was able to make increases that blend into the pattern when designing the spout opening. I knitted it flat and then switched to circular at the top. Then I went back and seamed an inch at the bottom for a snug fit and added I-cord ties in the middle of the opening to keep it snug under the handle.

Where Has the Time Gone?

2011-06-27T22:24:00.001-05:00

My goodness! It has been more than a month since I last posted something and I totally lost track of time.Hubby is recovering well from a second back surgery with a very good prognosis and I am puttering along with my knitting and occasional spinning. No more dye pots just now, at least until the wind dies down.

I had a moment of stress relief when he was in the hospital the day after his surgery: the Woolie Ewe is only a short distance away from the hospital in Plano so I bought some sock yarn...on sale! I have started another Pi shawl in gorgeous shades of blue and purple using Araucania Ranco Multi, the same yarn that I used for the Apple Green Pi Shawl.

I also started a scarf in a cabled brioche stitch: Reversible Cabled Brioche using some Araucania Aysen.

On another front: we are enjoying a subscription to Netflix and finding many interesting things online. Among my favorites are some of the British crime dramas. We watched an episode of Midsomer Murders this evening and I now have a wonderful name for a cat...if I were ever to have a cat again: Kilmousie! Too cute!

Hand-spun Scarf

2011-05-22T22:05:00.000-05:00

I decided it was time to knit something from a skein of my hand-spun yarn. I used some Kool-Aid dyed Faulkland roving that I dyed earlier. The result was a little over 400 yds of a fingering weight 2-ply.

Joshua's Blankie

2011-05-19T22:22:00.000-05:00

Finished Joshua's Blankie and it is ready to mail to Virginia. It measures 34" square at 3 spi in Bernat Denim Style.

Another Pair of Socks

2011-05-19T22:10:00.000-05:00

I decided on Wendy Johnson's Laurel Sock pattern from "Toe-Up Socks for Every Body" in Malabrigo Solis colorway.

Ode To My Dishwasher

2011-05-13T19:17:00.008-05:00

The most wonderful devices known to man are of absolutely no use without some assistance from us.

O, dishwasher, dishwasher, thou marvelous machine!

Whatever goes in comes out spotlessly clean.

No spots, no stains, no, nothing so trite

When once I discovered the thing that you like.

No powders or liquids to make you say 'ouch.'

You prefer a detergent that comes in a pouch!

No wondering, no guessing the rinse aid to add

A light comes on and makes me so glad!

At the end of your cycle such a nice little chime

Telling all that your task is done in good time.

O, clever, O modern, O lovely machine!

To all of my friends your praises I sing.

In spite of your marvels, gadgets and such

One thing only remains and yet it means much.

In order for you to accomplish all that we see

It only requires one simple action from me.

For, no matter your strengths, for the dishes no shower

Unless and until I push the button marked 'Power.'

Patricia Blankenship 5/13/11

Finishing Socks

2011-05-10T12:12:00.000-05:00

Just starting the cuff on the second sock. I love finished projects.

The Sweet Smell of Spring

2011-05-07T18:02:00.000-05:00

As we have cleared the underbrush back from the edge of the driveway, a solid wall of honeysuckle has been revealed all along the south side of the drive. Walking out to shut the gate for the night I could smell the aroma all the way from the house to the road.

How About Black Cherry and Orange?

2011-04-21T15:44:00.000-05:00

I used Black Cherry and Orange for the other two skeins of Cascade 220. This photo is of the previously dyed roving spun up into a fine singles yarn.

Grape & Lemon-Lime Anyone?

2011-04-21T14:26:00.000-05:00

I used two skeins of Cascade 220 in natural for this batch: Grape & Lemon-Lime.

Kool Aid Dying

2011-04-20T20:08:00.001-05:00

Dyed a batch of wool locks and roving today using Kool Aid and the crock pot. I am very happy with the end result: orange/cherry/grape. The wool smells like fruit salad.

A New Blankie

2011-04-16T16:45:00.000-05:00

Since the microfiber yarn was hurting my hands, I decided it might not be such a good idea to wrap a baby in it...so...I had already started a throw with some Bernat Denim Style in a log cabin pattern from Mason-Dixon Knitting. It will be Joshua's blankie now.

More about my Pi...

2011-04-12T22:17:00.000-05:00

I am considering offering the finished pattern as a free download when I know all the bugs are worked out and have had a test knit done. I noticed that other designers on Ravelry have done the same thing with several variations on Elizabeth Zimmermann's Pi Shawl pattern. I might even offer it as a KAL if anyone is interested.

My Own Pi

2011-04-12T10:00:00.002-05:00

I have had a request to knit a lace shawl for a raffle item for our Red River Fiber Arts group and have settled on a Pi shawl with three lace pattern sections that I hope will turn out nicely. Part One, the center, and Part Two, the first lace section are done and charted. Now on to the next section...

I had several skeins of Manos del Uruguay Silk Blend Multi lurking in my stash that seemed appropriate. Also, I don't have to buy more yarn! Yay!

Take time for inspiration

2011-04-07T09:58:00.000-05:00

It never fails: I have something to finish by a certain time and that is when inspiration kicks in and I can't turn it off! Another hat on the needles...two pair of socks to finish...the never ending baby blanket...

One thing for sure...I...will...never...knit...with...micro...fiber...again. It hurts my hands and makes them ache. I thought it was just my imagination, but I keep going back to the micro fiber baby blanket and within twenty minutes my hands ache and my joints hurt.

2011-04-01T18:47:00.000-05:00

An idea just sort of popped into my head for a cap pattern....just started knitting this morning....and this is the result. Now all I have to do is write it down before it flees my brain and make it in a medium and large as well.

Gotta Love Those Cochineal Bugs!

2011-03-18T18:27:00.000-05:00

Several ladies from the Red River Fiber Arts came out to my house today and we played around with a couple of dye pots. The tea dyed yarn is lovely, but the cochineal is breathtaking! Without mordant! I will post more photos when the rest of the yarn has been washed. I finished up with a soak in Eucalan.

Toe Up Sock Design

2011-03-16T16:27:00.000-05:00

I have been reading Wendy Johnson's Socks From the Toe Up and using Judy's Magic Loop cast on I started my first toe up sock last night. As luck would have it, 64 sts on size 0/2mm needles with Sockotta sock yarn gives me 8 spi and a perfect fit for my skinny, size 9 feet.

I need a narrow tapering toe so I cast on 16 sts, 8 for the top and 8 for the bottom, and when I increased to the required 64 sts I switched to dp's since that is my favorite method of knitting socks. By increasing one stitch on the top of the sock I was able to have enough sts to do the Lace Rib from A Treasury of Knitting Patterns by Barbara G. Walker, with 5 repeats across the top of the sock. Now...on to the gusset!

From Sheep to Yarn Video

2011-03-13T14:21:00.001-05:00

Spicing Singles Yarn

2011-03-13T13:28:00.002-05:00

Saving a Red Oak Tree

2011-03-11T18:46:00.000-06:00

In 2002, my husband's father died and he had 3 seedling oak trees that had not been planted. So, my husband and his two sisters decided to plant them in his memory.

Last year, we noticed that the oak tree was too close to the lateral lines and decided to move it while it was still relatively small: 9 ft tall and 2" diameter at the base. Today, Marvin Odom came out with a helper and dug the tree up by hand, transplanted it to a new location with plenty of room to grow.

Brioche Hat Finished

2011-03-07T21:21:00.001-06:00

This is truly a one size fits all. It fits my 22 1/2" head as well as my husband's 24 1/4" head. I cast on 60 sts with worsted yarn on a size 8 circular 16" needle and knit for 10" in circular brioche st. Directions can be found here: Circular Prime Rib Patterns. My gauge was approximately 3 spi. I ended with two decreasing rounds. 1st dec round: sl 2, p1, psso. 2nd dec round: sl 1, k1, psso. Cut thread leaving enough yarn to thread through the remaining stitches and close the opening.

Brioche Scarf and Hat

2011-03-05T15:04:00.000-06:00

Brioche is a good stitch for a scarf and works up nicely in a variegated yarn. It is also possible to do this stitch in the round for a hat. I found directions here: Circular Prime Rib Patterns.

The Late Baby Blanket

2011-03-03T23:29:00.000-06:00

I don't believe I have EVER taken this long to knit a baby blanket! Fingering yarn and size 5 needles and SOLID garter stitch....sigh. I have calculated how many stitches there are in this thing so far, 52,480, and still have 3 strips to knit on it which will be 73,800 stitches.

Getting Organized

2011-03-03T23:02:00.000-06:00

It never fails: I go to my LYS for knitting needles and think I know what I need and end up duplicating something I already have. So....I spent the evening cataloging my knitting needles and creating a spread sheet for all my double pointed bamboo needles, addi turbo and addi turbo lace circular needles.

Now I have a couple of index cards with the info on them to keep in my wallet and I know what I don't have for a visit to the Woolie Ewe tomorrow with some of the ladies from Red River Fiber Arts in Sherman. I love playing chauffeur for my friends, especially when it is for a trip to the yarn shop.

I also re-bagged all my circular needles in ziplock plastic bags and labeled them with the needle size. I still need a better way to store my double pointed needles and not have to hunt to find 5 of the same size. They are currently in a jar on my desk....still working on that idea.

The addi lace needles are hanging where I can get to them easily and the others are in the top drawer of my wicker end table.

Test Knitting Finished: Design for Sale! WTG Amber!

2011-02-28T16:11:00.000-06:00

Just a short follow-up to my last post: Amber is finished with the testing phase and has posted her design for sale. You can check it out here: KnitMyWorld. Way to go Amber!

Test Knitting

2011-02-21T09:41:00.002-06:00

I just finished a test knit for a friend, Amber, of Denison, TX. She is a budding knitwear designer and asked me to do a 'test' for the test knit on Ravelry. She will be offering her pattern for sale in the near future and I pray she does well in her endeavor.

I enjoyed knitting her pattern and giving a couple of suggestions. One thing I learned....I have trouble getting 5.5 spi with worsted yarn. I like to knit loosely and I ended up having to go to a size 4 needle and even then the blocked arm warmer isn't as small as I had hoped. I may have over blocked it. I will give it another try later and not block it much and see what difference it makes. This has been a good learning experience for me and I look forward to doing this again.

Receiving Blankets

2011-02-08T17:09:00.000-06:00

I totally let the time get away from me this time around when it comes to helping my daughter get ready for this baby. I finally got the flannel bought as well as some fleece and all I need to do is serge the cut edges and throw it all in the wash to get ready to make receiving blankets. I will use a double thickness and make a dozen reversible blankets. There is enough fleece to make a couple of larger blankets for the crib.

He's Here!

2011-02-07T23:36:00.000-06:00

Joshua Bradley Martinez arrived this evening weighing 6 lbs 5 oz and 19 1/2 in long with a head of hair! Mom and baby are doing fine. Really need to get that blanket done now...

Wrist Warmers

2011-02-06T17:12:00.001-06:00

In between bouts of working on the baby blanket, which due to the small needles and finer yarn is making my hands ache, I was playing around with some thicker yarn for wrist warmers. I finished one, now I just need to make one to match. (Taking a decent picture of your own arm can be a bit of a challenge and the photo doesn't show the cable pattern very well.)

Winter Wonderland

2011-02-04T12:19:00.000-06:00

Monday we had a winter storm blow through north Texas and dump sleet and snow on us. The temperature has stayed below freezing all week and last night it started snowing again. We have about 5 inches on top of what was already there. I know it is a great inconvenience to a lot of folks who are out of work this week and those who have to reschedule classes, etc., but I am enjoying the beauty of it all before it is gone.

Baby Alert!

2011-02-03T18:02:00.002-06:00

Daughter called today and labor will be induced on Monday. So much for having another week to finish this blanket, lol. Must....Knit....Faster!

Growing Baby Blanket

2011-01-27T11:17:00.000-06:00

I need to knit one more round on this blanket and finish off with I-cord. I should be able to get that done by this time next week and then get some bibs knitting up.

Offering Designs for Sale

2011-01-26T19:01:00.000-06:00

I have several designs running around in my head, mostly shawls, some caps and scarves, and I am finally going to get around to selling my own designs. First thing is to get them all written down and proofed. Second thing is to set up a PayPal account so that I can sell directly from my blog as well as off of Ravelry. At any rate, I can at least rewrite the free pattens I have posted on my blog as PDF files for downloading.

But, before I get to that point....I....have....to....finish....the.....baby.....blanket! ARRGG! Too much knitting, not enough time....baby due in two weeks! Yikes!

Knitting Needle Conversion Chart

2011-01-26T16:07:00.000-06:00

My mom just called with a question about needle size, US vs British. I checked Ravelry and they posted a chart by Purple Kitty. When I checked the website I noticed that they offer the chart as a PDF file download. For those of you who would like to save a copy on your computer or print it off to stick in your bag, here is the link: Knitting Needle Conversion Chart.

Knitting Guilt

2011-01-21T16:58:00.000-06:00

Do you ever find yourself bogged down with a project and a deadline looming ahead and you just can't stand it until you 'sample' a yarn for your next project? Sigh. The gauge of my baby blanket project has made it a bit tedious and I keep thinking about some Manos del Uruguay yarn lurking in my stash that is destined to become a large circular shawl with a spoke pattern of increases. I got just enough done on my sample to get it onto a 16" needle and now I am ready to go back to the baby blanket.

Kaloncho in the Garage

2011-01-19T16:11:00.000-06:00

I moved my Kaloncho into the garage, instead of the house, from the front porch when the weather turned cold and it is doing much better than it ever did in the house. It is directly in front of a south facing window and has curved over to use the decorative top edge of the shelf it is sitting on for a support. It has put out several air roots and the leaves I stuck into the soil in the pot are sprouting baby plants on the edges of the leaves. I don't know a lot about plants, but I thought this type of plant would do better in warmer weather.

Apple Leef Farm Class Schedule

2011-01-17T09:54:00.000-06:00

Just got this email from Leef at Apple Leef Farm with her schedule of classes:

JANUARY 2011

January 22, Saturday 10am - 12noon
TWIST & SHOUT Free ClassFine tune your plying skills, making beautifully balanced skeins that work perfectly in your projects by understanding the physics of spinning. Bring any "problem" skeins you might want to decipher. Bring your wheel, fiber, plying kate (preferably tensioned) and some knitting needles for swatching.
January 23, Sunday 1pm - 4pm
LEARN TO SPIN ON A DROP SPINDLE
One of the oldest spinning tools is the hand spindle. They have been found all over the world in just about every culture. Learn how to make good functional yarns using this simple tool.
Things to bring: top or bottom whorl hand spindle, 4 - 6 ounces of roving. You can also purchase a spindle and roving here at ALF.
COST - $45.00
January 29, Saturday 10am - 4pm
INTERMEDIATE SPINNINGThis class is designed to concentrate on spinning techniques and spinning draws to maximize the potential of your fibers and end products.
Cost - $60.00 This is a full day of spinning!
January 30, Sunday 1pm - 4:30pm
HANDPAINTING PROTEIN FIBERSDyeing your own yarn or roving is a whole new level of excitement! There are many methods to getting luscious color onto your fibers, and this class will concentrate on hand-painting dye onto your roving or spun yarn. We will use protein fibers and Landscape dyes, however the techniques you will learn will transfer to any fiber and their relative dye.
COST - $45.00 plus a dye fee of $7.00

FEBRUARY 2011

February 5, Saturday 10am - 5pm
FIBER PROCESSING
This class is designed to teach you the entire process from selecting a fleece to getting it ready to spin!
COST - $60.00 plus a supply fee of $5.00
February 6, Sunday 1pm - 4:30pm
KNITTING WITH CABLESCables add rich texture and intrigue to any garment. From basic crossover stitches to complex Celtic knots, the imagination can put them together in more ways than can be counted. This class will teach you the basics of knitting cables to charts and designs.
Cost - $40.00
February 13, Sunday 1pm - 5pm
TRILOOM WEAVINGLearn how to weave using a triloom. No shuttles to wind, heddles to thread or loom to warp. Design and GO! You will warp and weft at the same time. Triangles can be made in any size, depending on your loom size and can be put together in any configuration you can imagine for a huge variety of garments, accessories, and home items.
Cost - $45.00
February 19, Saturday 12noon - 5pm
COLD PROCESS SOAP MAKINGThis class teaches the basics of making cold processed soap. You will learn a bit about the chemistry of soap, how to properly formulate your soap recipes based on SAP values and lye coefficients, how to make educated selections for base oils and fats, and a solid procedure for making and curing your soap for a quality product.
Cost - $60.00
February 20, Sunday 12noon - 4pm
FABULOUS "Light as a Feather" FELTED SCARVESThese scarves have to be seen to believe! They are light as air, warm and so pretty you will make them over and over again. A beautiful fabric that takes so little of luxury fiber! You will learn how to plan your scarf, prepare your fibers, lay them out, felt and full them. This is an all day workshop.
Cost - $60.00 plus a $20.00 supply fee
February 26, Saturday 12noon - 5pm
SPINNING, DYEING AND FINISHING SILKSilk is such a beautiful and lustrous fiber to spin! This workshop will show you how to prepare and spin all the various forms of silk available to spinners today. You will also learn how to dye silk. Even though it is an expensive fiber relative to our wools and such, it takes MUCH less to produce light and airy products than wool! So working with small amounts is a pleasure!
Cost - $60.00 plus a supply fee of $20.00 for silk fibers
February 27, Sunday 1pm - 4pm
CRAFTING WITH RAFFIA (Part 1)Once you learn how to braid raffia and how to stitch it and make turning rows, you can shape it into anything from bags, mats, baskets and HATS. We will make a hat in this class, just right for the summer!
Cost - $65.00 (both sessions)

MARCH 2011

March 5, Saturday 12noon - 4pm
CRAFTING WITH RAFFIA (Part 2)
March 6, Sunday 12noon - 5pm
NUNO FELT
March 13, Sunday 1pm - 4pm
LEARN TO KNIT
March 19, Saturday 10am - 5pm
SPINNING COTTON AND THE BAST FIBERS
March 20, Sunday 12noon - 5pm
HANDPAINTED COTTON WARPS
March 26, Saturday 10am - 5pm
ADVANCED SPINNING - DESIGNER AND NOVELTY
March 27, Sunday 1pm - 4pm
KNITTING WITH BEADS Free Class

APRIL 2011

April 2, Saturday 10am - 4pm
BASIC WET FELTING
April 17, Sunday 12noon - 5pm
LACE FELTED SCARVES
April 30, Saturday 10am - 4pm
CARD WEAVING

Sincerely,

Leef

APPLE LEEF FARM

Van Alstyne, Texas

Farm Website (check out our FREE Patterns): http://appleleeffarm.com/

I'm Only Human...or... I'm Made in the Image of God ?

2011-01-13T19:19:00.000-06:00

I hear so many times the tired old phrase, "I'm only human!", that really is nothing more than an excuse not to grow in holiness. Sure. We are human. We make mistakes. But what ever happened to the other perspective?: We are made in the image of God.

When we say we are only human doesn't that put the brakes on overcoming our shortcomings to some extent? How about this approach: God made me in His image. He expects a lot from me and gives me the grace and courage to accomplish His will in my life. Only we humans are made in God's image. Think about that for a while.

Remember that God created us and put us in charge of the rest of this earth: animals, plants, resources. We are not beasts in the field who are only intent on satisfying their needs for food and reproduction. We are above the beasts. God expects us to use the brains He gave us and realize that repeatedly making the same mistakes over and over again, expecting a different outcome, is insane.

I am tired of making excuses and hearing others excuses. Why don't we all aspire to something better than making demeaning remarks about God's creation?

Try this on for size: "Heavenly Father, I know I fall short and disappoint you, but you know I love you. Forgive my weakness and give me the strength to live up to my duties without in any way demeaning your creation. Help me to be humble without embracing a false humility that leads me to make excuses for my behavior as though I am not capable of more. Give me the strength to be perfect as you are. Help me to have perfect love for my fellow man as you do for all of us, your children." Amen.

What Kind of Knitter Are You?

2011-01-13T14:22:00.000-06:00

Do you ever think about what kind of knitter you are? Do you ever watch other people knit and learn a bit about their personality, or even your own?

I discovered Elizabeth Zimmermann over thirty years ago at a time when I was having difficulty even finishing a project because it wasn't turning out quite right. At one point, perfectionism, for me, had become a terminal disease and I got so frustrated that I tossed more than one project.

With the help of EZ I went from being a possessed knitter to a relaxed knitter. She cured me of my disease. I am not really sure how it happened, but I know she was the one who opened my eyes. Maybe it was the way she 'unvented' things. I like that word. It reminds me of Edison and how he had successfully discovered 2,000 ways not to make a light bulb.

I really don't have any worries when I knit. I don't worry about stitches falling off the needles....I just slip them back on. I don't worry about mistakes in the pattern....I just find them and make the corrections. Perhaps I am relaxed because I am comfortable with what I do. I enjoy designing shawls and hats and sometimes that can require a little frogging...ok...it can require a lot of frogging...to get the design to work. But thirty years ago I would never have been able to do what I do now because I have become a truly fearless knitter. I am not afraid to try something new.

My mom introduced me to knitting when I was about ten years old and I played around with it but didn't really delve into it until my daughter was born. I was a stay at home mom living out in the country with plenty of time on my hands and before I knew it I even had a spinning wheel....then a floor loom...and then more than one spinning wheel. There are currently four wheels hanging out in the corner of the dining room along with the small floor loom. But I digress....

I have had countless people watch me knit and shake their heads and say they would never have the patience to do that. I admit, knitting, or anything worth doing, requires a certain amount of patience. But it seems to me that knitting has taught me patience as well. It all depends on how badly we want to succeed at a particular thing. How much time are we willing to devote to perfecting something? And by perfecting I don't mean that it has no mistakes, I mean how comfortable do we feel engaging in that particular activity? If it seems like a chore, why do it? Life is too short. Find something else that is relaxing to do when you need to lower the stress level.....not raise it!

So...what kind of knitter are you?

Do you sit with your shoulders up under your ears crouched over your work swearing to yourself when you make the same mistake a dozen times?

Do you approach a project like a vendetta instead of with enjoyment?

Are you one of those people, like I used to be, who has turned perfectionism into a disease?

If any of the above apply to you....relax. Stop putting so much pressure on yourself. When you get right down to it, we are only talking about sticks and string....and two stitches....knit and purl. So you make mistakes! If I had a dollar for every mistake I have made in my knitting I would have enough money to own my own yarn shop....although if you take a look in my 'sewing' room at the stash I have you might think I already do own my own yarn shop.

It's not the fact that we make mistakes in our knitting that matters: it's what we do about the mistakes! 1. Are they obvious?
2. If they are, frog back to where you made the mistake and correct it.
3. If they aren't obvious and it doesn't interfere with the pattern....who cares?

If you are a relaxed knitter...find an uptight knitter and let them see you knitting while relaxed and happy. Give them a shoulder massage. Get them off caffeine and drinking herbal tea.

If you are an uptight knitter:
1. Be reasonable when choosing a project...don't bite off more than you can chew.
2. Don't have so much invested in each and every stitch that you can't bring yourself to rip it out.
3. When you get frustrated....walk away from it...have some chocolate....or single malt...or both.
4. Don't always assume that the problem is with you.
5. Written patterns do contain mistakes at times so check around to find the corrections.
6. Give yourself a break. It takes time to become adept at something.
7. Realize what you want to do with your knitting and don't just do what everyone else is doing.
8. If all you want to do is knit caps....then knit caps for chemo patients.
9. If you want to design your own projects, jump right in....adapt existing patterns....and...make notes!
10. If you don't like the way something is working out...frog the whole thing and do something else.

And last, but not least....whether you are experienced or a novice....join Ravelry! There are so many other knitters who have 'been there and done that' with all sorts of projects and would love nothing better than to get you over the hurdle with whatever is slowing you down.

So, as EZ would say...Knit on in confidence! Be fearless!

Are You a Yarn Snob?

2011-01-11T20:52:00.000-06:00

I recently asked myself this question: Am I a yarn snob? The honest truth is.....I don't know. Being a spinner, I naturally prefer fibers like wool, silk, cotton, alpaca, camel down, etc. Once you feel the real stuff you don't want to work with acrylic if you can help it.

However, not everyone I knit for would want to care for something like 100% non-superwash wool or silk, especially if it is something that is going to be laundered quite often. I am finishing up a baby blanket out of microfiber that is super soft and will be easy to launder. Our daughter has 5 children and is expecting her 6th in a month and the one thing she doesn't have time or room for is laying something out to block and dry. Maybe, when they relocate to Texas in a few years that will change. I can always wash and block stuff myself!

So, in answer to my question....I really don't like the feel of acrylic yarn on my needles....it sets my teeth on edge. I guess I am a bit of a yarn snob, but I hope I am never an 'in your face' yarn snob. To each his/her own. I would never want to belittle the love and work that goes into ANY project made by any person no matter what the content of the yarn. But....when I have this stuff to spin for my own yarn....Hobby Lobby isn't so appealing any more.

Here Comes the Sun

2011-01-11T12:27:00.000-06:00

The only thing more beautiful than snow is sunshine on snow...

Let it Snow!

2011-01-09T12:56:00.000-06:00

You just can't beat being snug in the house with a laptop and a basket of knitting on a day like this. All I need now is a cup of cocoa.

Fiber Arts Meeting

2011-01-06T16:59:00.000-06:00

I can't believe it has been nearly a month since I last posted something! Time flies. The Red River Fiber Arts group met today and we had a great turnout. We talked about taking a trip to Apple Leef Farm for Roc Day and we started working on a Knit Along with a simple faggot stitch lace scarf from Crystal Palace. It is great for a no-brainer take along knitting project.

We have several people who want to learn to spin and most of the group is wanting to work on knitting. I still want to explore the card weaving myself. If you are in the Sherman/Denison, Texas area look us up at the Sherman Senior Citizen Center on Thursdays from 1pm to 4pm.

Card Weaving

2010-12-09T17:45:00.000-06:00

The Red River Fiber Arts group met today and our fearless leader, Linda Schuster...on the right, taught us to do card weaving. We all had a wonderful time and I will be able to use my backstrap loom to do the card weaving, although it would be really neat to have a separate loom. We will see.....depends on how much use/fun I get out of it, lol.

Hats and more...

2010-12-09T17:35:00.000-06:00

Working through my monumental stash is turning out to be quite enjoyable. I had 2 skeins of wool yarn I had bought at Tuesday Morning. The label says it is Granito and has been discontinued. Figures. It is a bulky singles yarn and 150 yds was just enough for this hat. I am working on a similar hat out of Lion Brand Landscapes to go with the scarf in this photo.

Back in Business!

2010-12-01T12:46:00.000-06:00

Went to town to get my hair cut....came home to find a FedEx package waiting for me. I now have a case for my Singer 201 as well as a new foot control thanks to Jenny at Sew Classic, which is a great place to find replacement parts for your sewing machines. After changing the needle and adjusting the tension (the top thread was fraying) I am ready to sew....after I oil the machine that is. It has been sitting idle for a couple of years now. My sweet husband is going to refinish the original cabinet and in the meantime I can use it in the case.

"The Cat Who Saw Stars"

2010-11-27T19:49:00.000-06:00

I just finished listening to an audio book by Lillian Jackson Braun, titled "The Cat Who Saw Stars". I had read it many years ago and when I saw it at the public library in audio book form I thought it would be perfect to listen to while knitting.

There is a character, Barb, who is a knitter of one of a kind hand-knit sweaters made from her handspun wool and silk yarns. Also, there is mention of a float in the 4th of July Moose County Parade sponsored by The Friends of Wool. On the float are a shepherd playing a flute in the midst of sheep and lambs as well as several people knitting socks....two of them are men, by the way.

The main character, Jim Qwilleran, a columnist for the Moose County Something newspaper, wrote an article on hand-spinning for his twice weekly column, "The Qwill Pen."

I have been a fan of these books for over 20 years and finally decided to collect all of them in paperback form. I highly recommend them for anyone who loves cats and mysteries.

(This audio book came from the Sherman Public Library in Sherman, Texas and, as you can see, is well worn from use.)

Saturday Visitors

2010-11-27T14:41:00.000-06:00

My friend Amber called earlier and asked if I would be home. I said, sure, come on out! Little did I know she brought a friend with her! I have seen photos of Oliver on her facebook page before and I finally got to meet him in person.

He is the neatest little guy. Not one of those annoying little ankle-biter-yappy dogs at all! He sat in my lap while Amber looked through my bead stash for stuff to use for stitch markers. (Thanks for thinning out my bead stash, Amber!) When I went to put him down he wanted to stay in my arms....seems the ceramic tile floor made his little toes cold. He can come visit with Amber any time!

Crumbling buildings and old sewing machines

2010-11-24T14:22:00.000-06:00

Time has a habit of eating away at man-made structures and this photo shows that quite clearly. This was once the Waples Platter building in downtown Denison, Texas before becoming the Katy office building and in recent years it has been home of an antique shop. I purchased an old Singer model 201-2 sewing machine from a booth in this building many years ago for only $75. I just sent off an order for a replacement foot control for it and look forward to using it again soon. Glad I salvaged the machine. Wonder if this building is salvageable?

A New Lace Knitting Book

2010-11-24T14:13:00.000-06:00

I recently decided not to purchase any more yarn until I deplete my current stash, but I didn't say anything about books! I just got my latest purchase, Shetland Lace by Gladys Amedro, from Schoolhouse Press along with a replacement copy of my favorite sweater. I don't wear sweaters very often and this is more of a jacket with roomy sleeves. I still have a box full of Lion Brand Fisherman's Wool (the new stuff is made in China....drat!) and I will see about starting a jacket after the holidays.

Priorities

2010-11-23T08:00:00.000-06:00

Sometimes, when life gets a bit hectic, we all need to slow down, find a good book and have a cup of coffee. I am rediscovering the "Cat Who" books and I have a new coffee mug purchased at the Gourmet Yarn Co. in OKC. As you can see, I have my priorities in order.

Baby Stuff

2010-11-22T06:42:00.000-06:00

I was glancing through my copy of Mason-Dixon Knitting again and saw the bibs and burp cloths and thought I would make some to go with the baby blanket I am knitting. I like the slip stitch stripe pattern for the burp cloth and may make a matching bib.

Red River Fiber Arts

2010-11-18T19:10:00.001-06:00

There is now a spinning group in the Sherman, TX area: Red River Fiber Arts. We are spinners, knitters, weavers, quilters, tatters, crocheters...the list goes on. We meet at the Sherman Senior Citizen Center on Thursday afternoons from 1 til 3pm. The group was organized by Linda Schuster and we have a member who has her own carding mill just across the river in OK, Gail White of Ozark Carding.

We had some experienced spinners and some new spinners today and we all had a great time. Linda and Gail are great instructors and I try to help out a little. I don't really feel comfortable as an instructor since I am self taught and I draft with my left hand, not my right which is how most people learn. Hopefully, I will become more comfortable and be able to actually instruct before long. Time to step out of my comfort zone I guess.

I had put my camera in my bag...and forgot to take photos! Oh, well. I will do better next time!

(edited because the name is Red River Fiber Arts...not Artists, LOL)

Using up some stash...

2010-11-12T17:07:00.000-06:00

After going through my ENTIRE stash of yarn I have decided not to buy anymore yarn until I seriously deplete what I have lurking in the house...and the garage. So, I decided to knit up a lap throw using a machine washable yarn, Bernat Denim Style, and a modern log cabin pattern from Mason-Dixon Knitting. It will be the right size for someone who is wheelchair bound and will not require any special care. I had 4 colors to use instead of those in the book and I am enjoying a bit of no stress garter stitch in between the higher stress silk yarn for a half Pi shawl already on the needles.

Hubby is Home!

2010-11-04T14:47:00.000-05:00

My hubby just returned home after being gone most of the week to a law enforcement class/convention in Dallas. I managed to get most of the house cleaned and in better order while he was gone. Still on the list is cleaning out cupboards in the dining room and the utility room....oh yeah....and time to scrub floors again.

It will be nice to get back in our normal routine and enjoying evenings and weekends together. This is our favorite time of the year and we enjoy being outdoors when we can. The weather is great and the sun is shining.

Tea Time

2010-11-02T15:33:00.000-05:00

Time for a break and a 'spot of tea' on a rainy November afternoon. There are three Harney & Sons teas that I especially like and can be purchased at the Boiler Room in Sherman, TX: Peppermint Herbal, Yellow & Blue (chamomile and lavender) and Dragon Pearl Jasmine.

Since I needed a pick-me-up I chose the Dragon Pearl Jasmine. The teapot was a gift from my mom and I bought the cup at a Southwest Spinners & Weavers retreat many moons ago in New Mexico.

And so, tea pot at hand, I go back to my knitting and my audio book...and try to remember what pattern, sett and weave that hand-woven tea towel is in the picture. I remember I used mercerized cotton crochet thread. By the way, that is a plum in the photo, not an apple. I stopped by Kroger on the way home.

A Wonderful Rainy Day

2010-11-02T14:37:00.000-05:00

After running a few errands and casting my vote in the election, I am enjoying a lazy, rainy day indoors puttering around cleaning, straightening and arranging things in a more efficient manner while listening to an audio book recording of Pride and Prejudice. It is about time to take a break and work on my knitting.

A Real Treasure!

2010-11-02T14:04:00.000-05:00

I was gifted a book for my birthday by my sister-in-law, my brother's wife. The book had belonged to her mother, Lucy, who was an accomplished needlewoman and a prolific quilter. My jaw dropped when I saw the book, the same book I used to check out of the public library back in the 60's, McCall's Needlework Treasury published in 1964!

There is a pattern in the knitting section, which I jumped to first, of course, for a Sequined lace jacket that uses fingering weight yarn and gives instructions for....are you ready for this?...threading the sequins onto the yarn! OH MY GOSH!

I am really enjoying my stroll down memory lane and the patterns that I remember as a kid and a new knitter. Sigh. I have such a wonderful sister-in-law. Thank you, Susan! I love you!

Time to Vote!

2010-11-01T22:44:00.000-05:00

It's that time again! Time to get out and vote for the people who are going to be running things. I just checked the sample ballot listed for our area. Looks like I could probably just vote straight party this time around. In any case, lets all get out and do our duty and elect people who will make a difference!

Don't know about you, but I am not all that enthused about the so called 'change' that has occurred over the past two years. The good news is, we can always vote out elected officials who refuse to do their job, refuse to listen to us, the people who put them in office to begin with. If you are as tired as I am of elected officials thinking that WE work for THEM then GET OUT AND VOTE. Otherwise, you have nothing to complain about if things don't go the way you want later on.

I love Autumn!

2010-10-26T17:25:00.000-05:00

This weather is wonderful! It was cool and nippy this morning...in the 50's....but warmed up into the high 60's and low 70's during the day. I have had the house open and have enjoyed not having the air conditioning on. Last year it seemed like we went from A/C to heating with nothing in between!

I am feeling the urge to get some Fall cleaning done. I like to have the house open when I clean behind furniture and chase down the dust bunnies. We are both allergic to house dust and it helps to air out the house while I clean. Time to clean out closets and toss out junk; clean out drawers and get rid of stuff that is worn out or doesn't fit anymore; move the washer and dryer out from the wall and scrub the floor and baseboards.

Then I take a break and work on my knitting!

I.....HATE....SPIDERS!!!!!

2010-10-23T14:07:00.000-05:00

Went outside earlier today with hubby while he pruned some low hanging branches on an ash tree so we have a better view across the yard. I looked down and FROZE when I saw a big ol ugly orb weaving type spider on the front of my shirt!!!! ARRRGGGGHHHHHH

I started to knock it off my shirt and couldn't bring myself to touch it....so started yelling "getitoffgetitoffgetitoff" to my husband who very kindly knocked it to the ground while trying not to laugh at me too much. While thinking it over when I got back to the house, it probably dropped out of the tree on me when he was pruning.....which I asked him to do in the first place.

Branches removed, he went off to his shop and I returned to the house and remembered something I wanted to tell him and went out the front door to walk the 100 yards down to the shop....and.....you guessed it! Walked right into another bleepin spider web! The spider headed for the roof and off I went trailing spider silk.

Did you ever have one of those days when you just should have stayed in bed?

Half-Circle Pi Shawl

2010-10-23T11:43:00.001-05:00

I started a Half-Circle Pi shawl with the skein of Schaefer Audrey in Indigo that my mom bought me for my birthday. The yarn is gorgeous, but very slippery! It is a singles yarn and will make a lovely shawl, but I can't work on it for long periods of time. Thank goodness I have other, simpler things to work on in between.

(Edited to add link to Ravelry project page and pattern, although the title of the article is also a link ;0)

Blanky for Joshua

2010-10-15T23:05:00.000-05:00

Our daughter is expecting her 6th child in Feb 2011 and, since this one will be a boy, she has requested blue and brown. I found some Plymouth Dream Baby DK at the Woolie Ewe in Plano, TX for this project.

Just Photos

2010-10-15T21:42:00.000-05:00

Gourmet Yarn Co

2010-10-15T21:20:00.003-05:00

I am off to the Gourmet Yarn Co. in OKC in the morning for their Yarns on Stage trunk show featuring Alpaca with a Twist, Cherry Tree Hill, Claudia Hand Painted Yarns, Conjoined Creations, Dream in Color, Pico Accuaridi Dyeworks, Prism Yarns, Shibui Knits, Great Adirondack, and Twisted Sisters.

I am particularly interested in the Cherry Tree Hill and Prism Yarns. I love knitting with lace weight yarns and my mom bought me a skein of Schaefer Audrey in Indigo when we were in the shop yesterday. (It has joined the skein of Elizabeth Zimnmerman colorway I bought at the Woolie Ewe in Plano, TX.) They also have a great selection of Addi Turbo Lace needles which are the only needles I use apart from double pointed sock needles.

I am looking forward to meeting someone I have been chatting with on the GYC Ravelry Group when I get to the shop. We both knitted Wendy Johnson's Shetland Pi Shawl, but with a change of lace pattern for part 4.

Note: I am visiting my mom and snapped this photo on a table in the bedroom....didn't realize that my baby photo was in the picture, lol. That was only 56 years ago.

Can't think of a better way to celebrate my birthday than in a yarn shop!

Grayson County Fair

2010-10-07T20:25:00.002-05:00

Just got back from the Grayson County Fair to find that I won 1st place for the manos del uruguay shawl and 3rd place for the apple green Pi shawl. I pick them up Sunday evening and will post photos with ribbons!

Phase Two Complete

2010-10-07T18:52:00.000-05:00

Took momma cat and kittens to the local shelter a couple of days ago. It was much easier to get her in the pet carrier after letting her relax for several days. I had been around them too much and was feeling like bronchitis was coming on. Lungs are clearing up nicely.

Entered three shawls in the Grayson County Fair today. Hope I win a blue ribbon on one!

A HUGE hunk of Pi

2010-10-02T14:50:00.000-05:00

Finished the Pi shawl last night and used most of the 1,500 yds of Araucania Ranco Multi in Apple Green. It measured 48" across before blocking and pinned out to 64".

Phase One Complete!

2010-09-30T14:52:00.000-05:00

I am happy to announce that Phase One of Pat's Operation Feline Rescue is a success! Some sorry individual threw out a momma cat and her three kittens and they have been hiding in the woods much to near the road for me. She is very skittish and wary of humans, who can blame her?

I went out with some canned tuna and the kittens came running. Momma wasn't there. I picked up the kittens after they had eaten and took them to the house and gave them some water. I went back out to the road to look for momma and didn't find her. When I got back to the house she was in the front yard with the kittens! Such a smart little girl! She most definitely does not like me any where near those kittens, but she did actually take a bite of food from my hand. Take a good look at the closer photo of momma....she is slightly cross-eyed! She looks to have a bit of Siamese in her.

My plan is to let her be for a few days and simply provide food and water until she calms down a bit and I can get her into a carrier along with her kittens and get her to someone who can provide her a home. I am allergic and cats just don't last long out here in the country unless there are dogs around to keep the predators away.

A BIG piece of Pi

2010-09-22T13:47:00.000-05:00

As I already noted, I started with 1,500 yds of yarn for this project, which only called for around 1,400, and, not wanting to waste a yard of it, I decided to keep on going until I am out of yarn. The last two skeins have a bit darker shading and I rather like the way it looks so far shading darker toward the outside.

Almost there

2010-09-21T18:29:00.002-05:00

I am on the last repeat of the last section of my Shetland Pi Shawl. I decided to do a different lace pattern for part 4 after I saw the Willow Leaf pattern for another Pi shawl on Ravelry. Photos to follow soon.....lots of stitches crammed on the needle make it difficult to take a good shot. I had 1,500 yds to work with so I have enough to do 6 repeats of part 4 of the Willow Leaf pattern....to be followed by a wide section of lattice lace to finish.

Do I begin to see a pattern?

2010-09-08T17:20:00.000-05:00

In looking back over my postings of shawl photos I seem to notice a common theme here....GREEN! Well, it IS my fav color after all.

New Shawl

2010-09-08T16:54:00.000-05:00

Inspiration hit about 10pm last night....along with a pretty good steroid buzz from the Medrol Dose Pack for my poison oak.....couldn't sleep.....couldn't turn off my creative side. The result is Crest of the Wave Half Pi Shawl. I have one skein of Malabrigo sock yarn in Solis colorway and will see how far that will take me on a size 8 (5mm) addi lace turbo. I may decide to buy another skein of coordinating yarn to finish it off.

Shawl Pin

2010-09-02T19:04:00.003-05:00

I have a cute little shawl pin that I ordered from Romi a couple of years ago that looks nice with my Stonington Shawl.

Pine Cones Anyone?

2010-09-01T18:20:00.001-05:00

We have about a dozen pine trees in our yard and the 4 biggest trees have huge cones on them. I have to pick them up before I mow because they dull the blades on the riding mower and can be quite dangerous when they fly out from under the mower. I usually toss them out or burn them to get rid of them, but I am saving some for friends who do crafts. This batch is from the larger trees and they are as big as my hand.

More Pi

2010-08-30T06:57:00.000-05:00

Wendy posted the 4th part of the Shetland Pi Shawl yesterday and I am happily knitting away on it.....576 stitches on the needle! Whew!

Fall Cleaning.....a bit early

2010-08-28T11:51:00.001-05:00

It must be the lower temperatures. I have been enjoying working in the yard for the past few days and playing catchup with my cleanup chores outdoors.

Two words: Pine needles. Tons and tons of em. Love the sound of the wind in the pines, but don't care for raking up the dead needles. In late August we can count on a massive pine needle drop. The trees will be loaded with brown needles, then all of a sudden.....whomp! They are on the ground and need to be gathered. The piles in the photo came off of the roof!

I got the mass of honeysuckle away from the base of the largest pine and now, when it comes back out, it will be more manageable.

A New Look

2010-08-27T23:02:00.000-05:00

I was playing around with template designs earlier and decided it was time for a change. I like the new look of my blog. Hope ya'll do too!

I love Pi

2010-08-26T20:39:00.001-05:00

I am halfway thru the third part of the Shetland Pi Shawl. Really enjoying this pattern.

Black Bean Soup

2010-08-20T18:03:00.000-05:00

My mom introduced me to black bean soup several years ago and now I make it on a regular basis. I have soaked dried beans and used them, but I have found that canned organic beans make the best soup. Kroger carries a brand I like, Private Selection. The only ingredients are organic black beans, water and sea salt. One 15 oz can contains 130 mg of sodium.

I start by sauteing chopped onion, celery, carrots and garlic in olive oil. Then I add a cup of red wine and let it simmer until the wine reduces. I add 4 cans of beans, a 10 oz can of Ro*Tel Diced Tomatoes and Green Chilies after draining the liquid (if you like it hotter just add the liquid), a 15 oz can of Private Selection Organic Sweet Corn and 1 qt of Imagine Organic Free Range Low Sodium Chicken Broth. Grind a little black pepper and sea salt to taste. A little salt is needed since the ingredients are low sodium. Sea salt is best since it has trace minerals and lower sodium content.

Let the whole thing simmer uncovered for about an hour until it reduces to a good consistency. Serve with whole grain bread and some raw carrots for munchies and you have a feast!