Back to Normal?

We took a few days off to drive to the funereal services for DH's Grandmother. It was a time to reflect on the impact she had on our lives, and to share the sorrow and happiness as a family. Now, we are back home, and back to work.

I just wanted to provide a quick update on my knitting progress at this time. The most prominent is the February Lady Sweater. I have completed the body and bound off on one sleeve. I've tried it on several times and it fits but the neckline is more loose than I like. I learned recently that the way to tighten up a neckline on a top is to run a thread around the neckline and kinda cinch it up to fit better. I will try something similar on the sweater and then add some interesting buttons. It will be nice for when the temp drops again tomorrow.

With the socks for my son, knit in stretchy sock yarn with a  ribbed cuff and leg, I have turned the heel and am now working on the gussett. Black yarn is very difficult to work with unless the light is really good so this is a slow going project.

The other project on the needle is the Chinook scarf in the Knit and Fiber Creations. It's longer than the picture below. I've been thinking about taking it out and trying to use both ends of the ball to avoid the pooling of colors. Leslie (Knit Girllls podcast) say that is the best way to take care of pooling in handpainted yarn.

That's all for today.

Happy Knitting!!

A Tribute

Today I would like to steer away a little bit from knitting to offer a tribute to Ellie Forrester of Atlanta, Georgia.

She was my husband's paternal Grandmother, and was in my opionion a most amazing woman. She passed away last night (Jan. 21, 2013) at the age of 100. 

She was a woman of amazing class and style. As a true southern belle, she was always dressed immaculately.  She also possessed an amazing strength. Widowed in the 60's, she lived a good part of her life making all of her own decisions at a time when that was rare, while never forgetting that she was Henry's wife. She worked a job until forced to retire and then still found useful things to do with her time and energy.

She mothered 2 children, enduring the sadness of standing by the grave of her son on the day he was buried. She loved her grandchildren, great grandchildren, and great-great grandchildren with a wonderful tenderness never forgetting birthdays, or Christmas.

She possessed a sense of humor that was charming, endearing, and completely hilarious!! She talked a mile a minute and it was hard for us mere mortals to keep up. Kindnesses were spoken loudly, while criticisms were whispered.

She had more physical strength than you would have thought possible in such a frail looking body. She recovered from not one or two, but three major surgeries in her 90's, each time confounding doctors.

I will miss her more than I can say, because she became my grandmother too.

Spinning

My post on Wednesday reminded me of how much fiber I have been purchasing so I pulled up my wheel and starting spinning some of it yesterday. I had mentioned previously about my spinning progression from a homemade drop spindle to the purchase of my first wheel which is a traditional Ashford. I bought it at the Fiber in the Park event in Earlville, Illinois. It was wonderful to learn how to use this wheel. I attended a workshop at the Bishop Hill Fiber Guild Spin-In event that was held in Blackhawk College to learn more about my wheel. It isdifficult for me to work with though because of the singel treadle. I thought I had kept in properly oiled but....

Someone I know who raises alpaca told me that he just threw the fiber away or donated it because he doesn't own a farm and doesn't sell the fiber so has no need for it, told me he would bring some to me. In preparation for that fiber, I purchased a new double treadle wheel called a Babe Starter wheel. It turned out that he was just a "nutty professor" and no fiber arrived. I have a picture of my wheel to share on the next post but I found one from a website that sells them.  I don't want to violate any copyright or design property laws, etc so I won't show a close up of the mechanism but anyone who is mechanically inclined could probably make a wheel like this. It is so much easier to use and care for but it still takes some physical conditioning to be able to spin for very long. Just a couple hours yesterday really tired me out but if I were to spin daily, I would probably be in shape to spin longer at a time.

I decided to begin spinning the Cranberry Chutney BFL/Tussah Silk blend I got from Hiwassee Creek Dyeworks. I have about 1.5 ozs done so far. I have a scale that was meant for a diet but works great for fiber. I weighed the fiber before I started spinning. My scale will allow me to zero the scale with something on it so I will put an empty bobbin on it and zero the scale, then put the bobbin with fiber on it and get the weight of just the fiber. This way when I ply the singles together, I will have the same amount (or just about) on each bobbin and not waste any singles that can't be plied. But the Knit Girllls show how you can navajo ply any single left on a bobbin to use for any purpose that requires just a small amount of 3 ply.

That covers my spinning for today.

Happy Knitting!

Day Off

I am fortunate in that I am able to work a 4 day work week most of the time. I work in the billing office for a small private college with limited parking available. A few years ago the administration decided to allow employees to work shorter weeks to free up parking spaces. It wasn't a very successful effort but I have continued to take advantage of the offer. I usually take Wednesdays off to break up the week. It gives me a chance to decompress. Sometimes I have to be flexible so this week I have today (Thursday) off.

Today I thought I would post an update on the February Lady Sweater, i'm knitting in Caron Simply Soft acrylic worsted weight in white on size 8 needles. It is a top down pattern and I have completed all the increases and I think I'm at the point where I'm about to separate out the sleeves. The needles I am using are the Knit Picks interchangeable circular needles. I actually am using one wood needle and one nickel needle cause I have misplaced the other set! But the  cable is only12 inches long, expecting it to hold 349 stitches. Duh!! Last night I changed to a 36 inch cable so it's much easier to knit. I can also able to check the fit since the stitches set better on the needle.

A few days ago I said I would share my thoughts on a book that I got for Christmas. It's titled Super Stitches Knitting by Karen Hemingway. The book says it is a dictionary with over 300 stitches.  It begins with general information and instruction and then segways into the section called the Stitch Library. The stitches are divided into groups such as textured, knit and purl, cables, eyelets, and lace. They are demonstrated in an innovative way and are easy to see with well written instructions for each pattern. This is a wonderful book for anyone who needs a little stitch assistance to do their own designing. Since my background is in afghans these stitches fit well into designing a blanket. I wish listed this book on Amazon and that is where the above link connects.

Well, that will do it for today.

Happy Knitting!!

Favorite Etsy

Since I have so many WIPs going, there is no way I can possibly have anything updated to share since yesterday...so I thought I would tell about some of my etsy shopping experiences on etsy and who are my favorites so far.

I'll start by saying the 35-40 years ago when I first started knitting (yes, I came out of the womb with needles and yarn!! ) knitting gifts was an inexpensive way to make something special for people you cared about. It was also a way to convince my husband that I wasn't wasting money by buying yarn and needles. So all of my early purchases were acrylic yarns, always worsted weight because I concentrated on making afgans, both knit and crochet. My needles were straight metal needles. And for many years that's how I rolled :)

About 4 years ago, via YouTube, I discovered spinning. I made a spindle and got some cheap fiber from Hobby Lobby and started learning to spin. Then I started attending local fiber shows and fell in love with higher end fibers and blends. My love of sock knitting developed out of that since these fibers are more expensive and socks don't use much yarn.

I had signed on to Ravelry in 2009 but wasn't involved with groups and then I began attending school so knitting was for fun and not for more adventure. Recently, I have renewed my interest in Rav and begun to follow some podcasts (The Knit Girlls is my favorite) and I began to check out some of the Etsy stores they recommended.

In my Etsy wanderings in relation to independent dyers I think my favorite is Never Enough Thyme. Jayne is the owner and her customer service is fabulous. She ships the orders almost immediately and they get here so fast. Again, I'm in Illinois and she lives in Maine. I have ordered both fiber and yarn from her. The prices are very reasonable and her colorways are beautiful. Check our Never Enough Thyme Yarn on Etsy.

Another dyer that I liked is Hiwassee Creek Dyework. I purchased fiber in a colorway called Cranberry Chutney. It's a BFL/Tussah silk blend. I haven't been able to spin yet but the color is gorgeous.

Another is Dyeabolical Yarns. I ordered more fiber...a polwarth/silk blend in Kara colorway which is teals, gray and white. Very pretty. This is my first experience with this wool breed and its a short staple and is a bit more difficult to spin. I still have more to finish when spinning time becomes available.

There are a few more vendors that I have purchased from but my all time favorite is Never Enough Thyme.

That's it for today.

Happy Knitting!

Start-Over

I wanted to update some of my WIPs and thought I'd start with my start-over for today. I posted yesterday that I was making a pair of socks for my son out of Paton Stretch Sock. After I had ribbed about 1 1/2 inches I looked at it closely and thought it wasn't going to work to fit on a man's leg so I tnikked it and started again with larger needles. I don't have a free pair of 1's so I'm using size 2. The picture is on the smaller needles.

The start-over is a wonderful part of knitting and crafting in general. Too bad more of life doesn't give you a start-over!

My next wip is a progress pic on the Chinook Scarf by Ali Green in the Knit and Fiber Creations Bella's Wedding Day colorway. Fingering weight lux blend with superwash merino, cashmere, and nylon. This is such a lovely yarn and the scarf should end up  be wonderfully soft and warm. This is the first time I have ever used a yarn containing cashmere. It really wasn't that expensive either so check out the Knit and Fiber Creations shop on Etsy. Tammy is offering 15% off  her yarns and yarn clubs.

Next is the February Lady Sweater that I am knitting in Caron Simply Soft worsted weight in White. I wish I had chosen another color but I think this will be nice too. I really hope this one fits. I found 6 sweaters in my closet today that I have knit for myself and not one of them fits right. It may have something to do with the yarn choices or how I understand the sizing to work. I have heard that there is some amount of ease added to patterns and so the finished size allows for more movement but I don't understand completely how that works. I need to find a website, or a book that explains that better. It's a really shame to have wasted the time and yarn to make garments that don't fit.

Lastly, is the Athos socks by Caous Coffee. These are a superwash merino/nylon blend fingering weight in a pretty pink colorway. There are on size 1 needles so it will take a bit of time to complete. This is a suggested texture pattern for the Sock Knitter's Anonomous December KAL.

That's it for today.

Happy Knitting

FO-Piper's Journey

Good Morning!!

I finished Piper's Journey this weekend, washed and blocked it just in time for a cold snap. My craftroom is the basement which gets very cold in the winter. I have a heater going but its still very cold. This morning we woke up to 11 degrees, so I put the scarf around my neck and it really makes a difference!!

This weekend was a lot of starting projects. I began the sweater I wanted to make February Lady by Pamela Wynne out of Caron Simply Soft acrylic yarn in worsted weight. Its a top down pattern which I really like. I can try it on as I go to make sure it will fit. I have had the worst luck with sweaters over the many years I have been knitting. In a drawer I have a sweater of simple stockinette that I knit a few years ago that would fit 2 of me! I don't usually swatch and that sweater is the result. I swatched for the February Lady and didn't get gauge exactly so I went up a size on the pattern.

I also started a pair of socks in a pink yarn that I bought at the Fiber in the Park fest in Earlville, Illinos this last September. It's a superwash merino/nylon blend in a really pretty pink colorway. I didn't save the label so I'm not sure who the merchant was but it wasn't her yarn anyway. I thought I would try one of the textured patterns I found for the December Sock Knitter's Anonymous KAL. Its called Athos-Musketeer Socks by Caoua Coffee. I just have the ribbing and 1/2 of the pattern repeat finished. Just as a side note: if you have never been to the Fiber in the Park event you should go. I live just west of Chicago and Earlville is about an hour's drive from my house but it is one of my favorite events.  Its in a  park in the middle of corn fields with a concrete sheltered area where the vendors set up their tables. The local church hosts a food set up for a charity and a variety of local musicians play-mostly country music. It is just such a country, hometown feel and I don't mind the drive to experience it. That's the place where I bought my first wheel, and another attendee at the time helped me set it up and figure out how to use it.

I had ordered more yarn to make socks for my son. I found some Paton Strech Socks, a cotton/wool/nylon/elastic blend in black. The color might create a challange so I'll only knit when the lighting is good.Its really stretchy yarn. I'm using a size 0 needle so it will take a while to finish them. I'm doing a 2x2 rib, heel flap, and gusset pick on these socks. This style seem to fit him better.

I had ordered some yarn from an indie dyer called Knit and Fiber Creations. I got a lux blend with superwash merino, cashmere and nylon. Its so soft! Its called Bella's Wedding Day from her Twilight inspired colorways. It is mostly white with browns and reds.

 I wanted to make a new scarf for myself called the Chinook Scarf by Ali Green. I knit 2 of these for Christmas gifts for my daughters and they love them.

Well, that's it for today.
Happy Knitting!!

Project Bags, Con't

I finally got pictures taken of the bags that I made:

They aren't perfect but are usable. As I make more, I'm sure I'll get better at it. I printed the pattern from a blog I found and I can't remember where it was, so I searched and found a really nice tutorial here. She calls it a dopp kit which she says is a traditional term for a toiletry bag. This bag is not lined, so try this one if lining is important to you. You can modify the size according to the zipper you have and square off the sides and still have a box like bag.

WIP
Here are some pictures of my works in progress:
First is Piper's Journey.

This is a very easy, and pretty fast shawl. The body is knit in garter stitch and the lacy edging is added to the body. I was at the point of adding the edging before I knew it, and the edge pattern is simple to memorize. I like this colorway and its a sport weight yarn so it will be warm. I'm using Knit Picks Felici Sport in the monochrome colorway on size 5 needles.




The next WIP is the blanket I have been working on for my new great nephew due on 1/15.

The yarn is Lion's Brand worsted in the Denim colorway and I'm using size 8 needles. I'm not really using a pattern, just found the specs for a diagonal pattern that will be a rectangle. I would rather that the blanket was more than just a square. I'm about 1/3 of the way through this one.


That's the update on knitting. Just a quick personal note, my son will be returning to his ship tonight ( U.S.S. Nimitz) and we probably won't see him again until November when he is released. Long discussions with him yesterday really made it clear to me how difficult is it to be a young man today. But, he keeps moving forward and I am extremely proud of him.

Here's EM3 John S Forrester: United States Navy

Project Bags

I am a huge fan of the KnitGirllls podcast. Laura (aka LaLa) and Leslie (aka udontcallmeles) are so down to earth and honest about their knitting successes and failures,  and their lives that it has really given me a good perspective on my own knitting life/obsessesion. When I discovered the podcast, I took a few weeks and watched all the old episodes so I would be up to date with them. One of the etsy shops that they loved was Piddleloop project bags. I put one on my Christmas list based on their recommendations. I'm not saying that its not cute, cause it is but as you can see from my hand in the picture below, its rather small. I can fit a  2-50 gr balls of yarn and a sock on DPN's wip inside it. That is fine for a pair of socks but the cost was $23. The constuction is nice. It's lined and has some interfacing for support. There's a zipper and the handles are ribbon but....$23?

So I went online and found a pattern for a similar bag and for a drawstring bag (which I did wrong but who cares, and another bag that is longer) that uses just under 2 fat quarters. I paid $.99 each for the fat quarters and the zippers I have on hand from when JoAnn's Fabrics moved their store a couple years ago, I think I paid like $.50 ea for them. Now that I know how simple it is to make the project bags, I don't think I'll buy them again. I'll get some pictures of the bags I made to post soon.

Also for Christmas I asked for a couple books that I will review as soon as I have had the chance to really look at them. One is a book of knitting stitches that is awesome, and the other is of baby knits. I'll try something in there for the new great nephew coming any day.

That's what I have to share for today. Happy Knitting!!

Happy New Year!

It's starting to feel as tho things are beginning to get back to normal. Our family Christmas was held on Dec 30 to accomodate our son's leave from the Navy. It was a wonderful day, as most of our Christmas' are. We have 2 new additions this year: Dave is my oldest daughter's new boyfriend. Very nice young man who is well liked by the family. The second is our youngest daughter's boyfriend, Justin. They have a very sweet story. Justin has been our son's best friend since middle school. In high school they were together all the time so it was common for Justin to hang out at our house to play video games, etc. Our daughter had of course developed a crush on him some time ago but last summer when Justin was invited to her graduation party, a relationship began to develop. They have been dating exclusively now for 3 months. Justin is really already a part of our family.

The day after Christmas was New Year's Eve which was a busy night for us. Neighbors joined us and we had a fabulous time playing Farkle. I do have to say that I felt like I had been cooking and washing dishes for days and days!! Things have calmed down but since our son is still home, we have a few more days before the normal quiet sets back in.

I got the kids to stand still long enough for pictures yesterday so here are my kids, their special people and our youngest grandson Luke.

Nice looking crowd!!

So, on to more important things: Knitting

I wasn't able to get pictures but my holiday knitting was good. I finished the hats for the big boys, 2 Chinook Scarfs for my girls, the Advent scarf for my mother, socks for Mom and the youngest daughter. I had to IOU the afghan for Justin, not enough time.

I just finished a pair of socks for my son- a superwash/nylon blend sock yarn from Hobby Lobby knit on size 1 needles in a ribbed pattern, turned heel.  I wanted him to be able to take them back to the ship when he leaves this week.

I have a niece due to have a little boy next week (yes, I'm behind) so I started a diagonal blanket in a Lion Brand worsted denim blue yarn on size 8 needles. The yarn is wonderfully soft so will make a nice blanket for him. I will have to really get busy and then get it mailed to Las Vegas where they live.

I had started a child's sweater before Christmas for the World Vision group on Ravelry that I would like to get going. Below is where I left off. I'd like to make several sweaters to send.



I have ordered a lot of sock yarn so that is in my future and I really wanted to knit a sweater for myself soon. I have in my library on Rav the February Lady Sweater by Pamela Wynne. It's an older pattern but I think it will work nicely with my body type and my needs. I'll have to look at my stash to see what worsted weight yarn I have available.

Well, I guess its time to get to work so here's wishing everyone a great day and Happy Knitting!!