Snowed In

EGADS!! December 17th already?? Things have been quite hectic around here. This is always a crazy time of year in our household but this year seems like time is going WAY too quickly.

I have been scrambling to get some much needed production spinning done for here. The latest batch was 2 lbs of wonderful cashmere/silk blend which will make some lucky soul a beautiful sweater! It is spun DK to light worsted weight. Sorry I didn't check specifics like WPI, etc. Note to self...must document more to share. Thanks Jenny for teaching documenting is important and thanks to you readers for being patient with me. :-) I'm a WIP!
While trying to production spin and trying to knit a Christmas present, I have to admit I'm feeling a little of Yarn Harlot's Christmas deadline insanity this year. Although I don't have the overwhelming knitting schedule she does, I am beginning to feel a little anxiety as the days tick away. Will I get everything done?? To add, my munchkins have been home from school a LOT in the past three weeks starting out with 2 half days for teachers' workshop and ice/fog then 2 full days for an ice storm last week and then again a full day today for a snowstorm. Mother Nature is laughing as she's tampering with my Christmas preparation time.

We seem to be stuck in a weather cycle lately with storms in the Midwest over the weekends. A week ago, we were graced with an ice storm. Luckily, A. and I were able to leave early for the weekend to go to Indianapolis for a much awaited Hannah Montana concert. We drove the 6 hours roundtrip in driving rain, sleet and ice but we made it! All the while I was worried about getting there, getting back and having less spinning time for my deadlines but do you know what?? It doesn't really matter because the look on my 9 year old daughter's face when Hannah came out singing A.'s favorite song was absolutely PRICELESS!! And of course, in our rush to "beat the storm", I hurriedly packed and forgot my camera. DUH! However, it was a fabulous time.
This is the view outside yesterday morning. We woke up to a foot of snow and it was still snowing and blowing until midafternoon. We were definately snowed in.
Just a view of the table and bench on the deck... Isn't it funny? We received about 14 inches total and school was cancelled for today. It was a nice day to be snowed in although an albeit exhausting one. My wonderful hubby, who is in denial about snowstorms, has yet to break down and buy a snowblower. After 7 hours of shovelling out our driveway, (mind you, we live in the country and it is about 400 winding feet downhill to the road) he exhausted as can be, proclaimed, "If I ever get out of here, I am buying a snowblower". Mother Nature won that battle! :-D However, he is my hero. I pooped out after 3 hours of shovelling and bed never felt so good last night!

This was our reward after all the shovelling. The sun finally came out...frosty blue sky and sparkling snow. It was absolutely beautiful!

Stay warm, cozy and safe all of you who are battling the winter weather! I will be travelling later this week so I wish you all the warmest of holiday seasons!

Ice, Snow and Knitted Daffodils?

DECEMBER ALREADY??? Mother Nature decided to start December with a winter storm watch from yesterday afternoon until this morning. It was 15 degrees Friday night and that was without the windchill factor. It had been a chilly week and a windy one. We got a good dusting of snow which then turned to freezing rain and later just rain. As you could tell from the picture I took of the driveway, with the reflections of the trees, it was wet this afternoon!

I'm behind in my knitting and spinning projects so I took advantage to cozy in last night and work on them. Sorry, no pictures, some are for Christmas. I'll show later. However when it warmed up above freezing today and was raining like crazy, I took advantage of the weather for something else...
YES, that's ice and yes, that is a daffodil bulb. I have been late in getting my bulbs in this year. It is not the first time I've planted after a light snow. However, it warmed up enough that the ground was saturated and soft. I had at least another 30 bulbs to plant out of 70 or so. So out I went with raincoat and trowel. In hopes that I can see this, next spring.

We moved here last December. In the spring, one of the things I missed the most was my daffodils. At our old house in WI, I scattered bulbs every year for about 6 years near the woods. I would stand outside and toss the bulbs in the air and wherever they landed, is where they were planted. Later on, I tossed tulip bulbs, grape hyacinths, snowdrops and crocus also. Each spring, after a grey long winter, I would be excited to see my own sunshine in the backyard.
So last spring, when I was flowerless, I purchased this yarn. It is a soft buttery yellow 70% baby alpaca, 30% silk laceweight. It is Alpaca With a Twist, Fino. Along with the yarn, I picked up Fiber Trends, "Spring Blossoms Shawl" by Eugen K. Beugler. I figured since I didn't have daffodils yet at my new home, I'd have to knit some! So when the grey winter days stretch out too long this year, I will be knitting my daffodils and awaiting the arrival of a little sunshine in the yard. I love surprises and hopefully some of the daffodil bulbs will survive deer and critters.
A daffodil story to share...many years ago, when my children were still tiny, my husband was out of the country on business during our birthdays. Our birthdays are two days apart and in the middle of March when it is still cold and dreary in WI. Anyway, one night, I had an unexpected knock on the door. I was alone with my little ones and it was after 9 pm so I was startled that anyone would be knocking. I went to the door and turned on the porchlight to find my mom standing there with a huge grin on her face and a bouquet of daffodils. She had picked the daffodils in her yard that morning and had driven all the way from Arkansas to Wisconsin (about 11 hours) to wish me Happy Birthday!! What a total surprise! I loved it and it will always be a great memory. I think of it every spring when I see daffodils. Thanks, MOM! I love you.

Animal Tales

I am thankful for a lot of things in my life but I want to take a special moment to be thankful for the animals who share our lives. This is Shadow, my 9 year old daughter's "baby". Shadow is a Russian Hamster. When we moved to another state during Christmas Break last year, my daughter had a really rough time. She is shy and to uproot everything and everyone she has ever known was especially difficult. She needed a friend. So she picked Shadow. Shadow has helped her tremendously by being her little buddy that she could confide in whenever she didn't feel safe to talk about her feelings and frustrations. As A. (my daughter) said, "Shadow gave me confidence".

We came home this holiday weekend to find that Shadow had passed away. She was struggling for a few weeks but it was heartbreaking when my daughter carried her hamster to me and said, "My baby has died." A. cried all night and most of the rest of the weekend. She talked that she wished she had one more moment with Shadow and also talked about how she wished she had given Shadow something special.

I told her that animals that share our lives are gifts. Shadow's gift to her was to give her support and confidence until she could make new friends and get comfortable in her new home. I told her that A's gift to Shadow was her heart. She cared and loved Shadow and gave her a good home and took good care of her. I told her that it hurts so much because we love so much and although that doesn't feel good right now, it is a good thing. So we will take one day at a time to ease the heartache and when A. feels she is ready for another "buddy", we'll find one. Mommy is as heartbroken as A.

Meet Jaguar (left) and Tigger the supercats. When my daughter was potty training, she was showing her obstinate side. We had an older cat, Gracie, then and A. wanted kittens so badly. However, she knew she wanted two and one had to be black. Dad promised her we'd find kittens if she would just use the potty. Well, potty training came and went and we could not find the "right" kittens. We looked everywhere and A. was not satisfied. My husband and I decided two kittens would be better because then they could keep each other company since Gracie was growing old.

We were travelling back from a park one night in late August. It had been raining the previous days and the air was cool in the 50's. It was dark and we were travelling a country road. Up ahead there were two sets of eyes in the middle of the road. I thought they were baby raccoons. Hubby stopped the car and went to investigate. There were two of the tiniest kittens huddled together to keep warm. They were not used to humans and wouldn't come. A french fry that the kids had left over was the bait. The poor things were starving. We bundled them up in a baby blanket and took them home.

Many weeks went into nursing these kittens back to health before they even had enough weight to be vaccinated. They were flea infested, had their whiskers chewed off, and were only an inch wide behind the ribcage. The vet said we found them just in time; they would not have made it through the night. Unbelievably, these were the kittens A. described and wanted and even more unbelievably, they were not from the same litter. They had found each other and had survived by keeping each other warm.

Both are very pampered housecats. Jaguar is the independent one but is a huge "lovey" whenever the kids go to bed or when A. is crying. Tigger, although now 18 lbs, is afraid of his own shadow and is a "Mama's Boy". He follows me around and talks to me until I sit down to pet him and snuggle. They have been wonderful and we love them so.

The cats' gift to me was being able to love and care for them during a difficult time in my life after my father died from cancer. I was lost and needed someone who needed me even if it was two little flea bitten kittens. They have been a blessing in more ways than one.

Simba, my 80 lb. gentle giant, is a Rough Coat Collie, just like Lassie. He is now 4 years old. I grew up with dogs but have always been more of a cat person until Simba. A. (my daughter) always wanted a dog. Let's face it; she would bring home anything that moves. Haha. J. (my son) never showed an interest when he was younger and also seemed to be afraid of dogs. But then again, J. was a serious young boy who tended to worry about a lot of things including playing outside by himself (until Simba came along). Eventhough he is two years older than his sister, when he was little, he relied on A. to always be by his side. She was like his protector.

Frequenting zoos and pet stores is a favorite past time of ours. We love animals. So one cold day in January, we stopped at a pet store while out running errands. We always love to pick our favorites. Well, Simba was mine. He was as small as our cats at the time and just a little bundle of fur. I asked if I could play with him and the most amazing thing happened. My son, who never showed an interest in dogs, could not wait to be lifted over the cage to play with the puppy. He laughed and he played and he said, "I could play with this one all day long." It was amazing.

After a few days of debating, and much to my husband's chagrin, I wanted to get Simba. We brought him home on a night with 26 below windchill factor and going outside with him every two hours was an event! He was so tiny that he could not climb the one porch step by himself. This dog was smart! He was bell trained, potty trained in about a week and he has learned so much. He is the only self disciplining dog I know who will put himself in his kennel if he does something wrong while we are out. Usually, he is feeling guilty for sleeping on the couch. Haha. Since we moved here, he has full reign of the couches so doesn't feel the guilt any more. He is also so well disciplined that he will not take people food that is placed right next to his nose until he is told he can do so. By the way, one of his favorites is watermelon. If we bring one home, he will follow you until you cut him a piece.

He has a natural herding instinct. In our old house he liked to herd the cats back upstairs, the kids to the couch and my mom to a certain couch. I kid you not. The kids were used to playing that game with him but with my mom, it was a different story. My husband travelled a lot and I was thankful to have Simba who made me feel protected. My mom came to visit one time when my husband was away. She would wake up earlier than I and come downstairs. Simba, not being aggressive by any means but also being protective of the kids and me, would gently nudge my mom to sit on the corner of the couch. When she would sit down, he would bring her his toys as a reward. Then he would patiently sit beside her and watch her until I came downstairs. I would have to tell him it was ok and he'd let mom move around the house. Too funny!

Here at the new house, he is "Guardian of the Hill". He loves to stand or to sit on our hill outside the front of the house and keep watch. He will herd deer back to the woods. He never crosses into the woods; he knows his boundaries with nothing more than being walked thru the yard and being told yes or no. So the deer don't pay too much attention to him when they are near the perimeter of the woods. However, he will chase them back in if they are in the yard. He is intelligent, beautiful, so very gentle and we love him dearly.

Simba's gift to me has been a sense of "peace and presence". He has always been there when my husband was travelling or when we were separated 6 months during our WI/IN move. I could sleep easier knowing that I was not "alone" in the house with two small children. Simba would alert me if something was amiss. As I said, he is my "gentle giant" who is all heart and soul and our guardian.

I feel blessed for not only the people who come into my life but also the animals who join my life. They are truly gifts.

Inspiration: Spinning Jenny

Sorry, no pictures today. Remember? I was the DUH who forgot to take a camera to the spinning workshop here to learn from Jenny. You may want to check out Beth's blog or Jenny's for pictures. However, I do want to share some insights from my experience of taking two full day classes. Friday's class was Spinning Thick, Medium and Thin Yarns. Saturday's class was Plying Techniques. I learned so many tips that it would make your head spin to hear them all. (I took 20 small pages of notes and that does not include the handouts!). I could describe all the details until you say, "Egads, girl! Get over it already!" but I choose not to. You could learn every one of these techniques in various ways. I choose to put a more personal twist on my experience.

I truly believe there are no coincidences and that once a need/wish/want is planted in your brain and heart, avenues open up to guide you towards that journey. That said, I have been feeling "stuck". Spinning and knitting for about 4 years, I still consider myself a newbie. There is so much more to experience and learn. Once I learn a new technique, it opens a door to a myriad of others I want to try. I love to learn; I love challenges, and I love to grow.

I currently production spin but I have been feeling frustrated and want to take it further. I want to be in more control of the outcome and not have to rely on other people's shipments of fiber or deadlines. I don't mind deadlines. However, when I am waiting on other people, it sometimes makes it difficult to plan or schedule my own time. This is further compounded by a very busy husband and two very busy children. I have been feeling anxiety and frustration where I want to find balance.

I have been feeling "stuck" in my abilities. I love to experiment, to create, to challenge myself. However, since first sitting down with Lisa, and watching her spin which opened the world of spinning to me, I have been basically self taught. That includes anything that I have read or tried on my own. Yes, I can make nice yarn but I wanted to know the why's and the how's and have some guidelines. So, once I understood the mechanics, I could troubleshoot, plan, experiment and control what I'm doing. Also, once you learn the rules, it gives you a base knowledge and a starting point of tweaking and bending the rules. See, I do really have a bit of renegade in me; the nuns didn't repress all of that. Haha. That being said, it is very hard if you are on your own to decipher what is the "best" approach from myriads of differing opinions in print.

I said aloud to no one in particular (possibly my cats and Collie) that this was the year I wanted to learn all the options my wheel could do. Hey, give me a break! I often talk aloud when I am home by myself! Sometimes it keeps my sanity if only briefly. Haha. With so many wheels on the market, I have my favorites but before I ever invested in another wheel, I wanted to learn more about my own. I love my Schacht Matchless Double Treadle and would NEVER sell it. However, Sadie (my wheel) may want a bigger sister someday...a Saxony production wheel. It is an investment; so I wanted to learn all my options. First, however, I felt I needed to know the basics of wheels in general, different ratios, etc.

Another thing I said to myself, Tigger, Jaguar or Simba, was that I really wish I knew more about spinning so that I could do more. I have quite the stash of wonderful rovings but I promised myself that before I touched my favorites, I would learn how to get from point A to point B. For instance, if I had a sweater in mind that I wanted to spin for and I wanted a certain weight of yarn, say DK, how do I use that fleece to the best of my ability to produce a lofty, consistent, luxurious yarn? Or if I want to spin laceweight the size of frog's hair. What??? You've never seen frog's hair?? Okay that's what I mean...so fine and delicate that it would make angels sing. HOW do I do it?? It is very difficult to learn to ask the right questions about something if you have not experienced enough to learn what to ask. I wanted to learn as many basics as I could so that I could try on my own and then grow to ask the questions that would eventually follow. AND I wanted to meet people who could answer these questions.

I know that is a pretty tall order and I may want it all. People say you can't have everything you want. Well do you know what I say? Why not? If you want it bad enough, you'll find a way. One of the best things I have learned over the years is that when I get to a point where I am "stuck" or frustrated in my life, it is a time to sit back and reflect a bit because it usually means big changes are coming. Change can be hard, change can be scary but change is also wonderful and exhilarating! I know I am headed for a big change now but in what direction or where it will take me is the mystery. I will try to remain open and relish the adventure.

On my personal quest to grow in the spinning realm, I was fortunate to hear that Beth was hosting Jenny Bakriges at her shop. The title of the classes grabbed me...short, sweet, to the point and describing what I wanted to learn. I have to admit, so sorry Jenny, that I had NO idea who Jenny was. Being a newbie to blogging, Beth did point me to her blog and I did peruse the last post or two. Plus after seeing Jenny's portfolios at the workshop, I had realized I have been reading her articles in Spin Off without even making the connection. However, I went into this workshop totally without any preconceptions, without any expectations. and without any specific questions. AND I AM SO GLAD I DID!!!

I am so fortunate to have crossed paths with Jenny. She is a woman who appears to be very comfortable in her own skin. She is gracious, giving, genuine, diplomatic and absolutely hilarious. She presents TONS of information in a fun, creative and very entertaining fashion. It was wonderful to spend two days with her. Her knowledge of spinning techniques was astounding; her personal stories and shared experiences were fascinating and her willingness to take the time to trouble shoot and help her students obtain the comfort level they each needed was truly impressive. She makes spinning intuitive.

I was so impressed by her heartfelt words spoken of her mentor, Rita Buchanan. I believe we owe a lot to others who have "gone before us". I have always said that "Not one of us is as great as all of us together". No matter how "expert" we are in a field, we can always learn and grow from others. It was truly inspiring to meet Jenny and see her in action, represent qualities that I admire. I believe when someone does a job well, they need to know it. Life is not a competition. It does not hurt us in any way to bolster another person. Often as women, we tend to downplay our accomplishments in the attempt to not come across as conceited or to offend anyone. That is all the more reason to tell someone when they have done a good job. JENNY BAKRIGES, you do phenomenal work and I thank you wholeheartedly for your dedication and willingness to share with others.

That being said, if you ever get the chance to take a class from Jenny; run don't walk! Grab your wheel and go! Do not hesitate. Consider hiring her for a workshop for your guild. We need people like Jenny to expand our spinning horizons and let us expand her horizons by bringing her out of VT more! Haha. Thank goodness a genuinely talented and gifted person is willing to share her knowledge!

Finally, let me take this just one step further, we all have talents to share that someone may really want to learn. We all don't have to jump on a cross country circuit to do that. Please take the time to consider what you can share in your everyday life. It might even be as simple as teaching your new knitting neighbor how to knit socks (Hi Sue!). The simplest of things may actually change someone's life or at least open doors for them. Just think about it.

Introspection

I had a wonderful weekend at a spinning workshop which I will discuss in the next few posts as I get some time in to rest and process the myriad of ideas in my brain. After the first full day of class and a wonderful evening with new found fiber friends, I was driving to a hotel and something interesting happened. I was faced with insights on myself.

I am an observer. I love people and I am always fascinated by them. Their eye contact, body language, facial expression, ease of laughter, what is said and what is told by what is left unsaid is amazing to me. The interactions between two people versus group dynamics is fun to watch and to analyze. I love to try to figure out why people do what they do. I am usually pretty good at sensing people's "vibes" which has been a great asset in my life.

That being said, when I turn the tables and look at myself, which I was presented an opportunity to do this weekend, I am constantly learning new things. I love hearing other people's stories but I am hesitant to tell my own. I get so excited about hearing other people's stories that it is often difficult when "on the spot" to share, to think of something to say about me. I am generally not the focus. I guess this presents a challenge in blogging doesn't it? One that I will try to overcome gradually by "coming out of my shell" so to speak.

Which brings me to pictures, I unfortunately did not take a camera this weekend. DUH!! I have a blog now where I want to share my experiences! Why did I not take a camera? First of all, I guess it is ingrained in me from way back when, not to interrupt or disrupt a forum as a show of respect for the person leading it. I know, I know, I need to relax a bit. Hey, in my defense, 8 years of parochial education with handsmacking ruler rapping nuns in charge puts a damper on some very basic instincts to be a "renegade".

Another reason for not taking a camera with me probably goes a lot deeper. I rarely have my picture taken. That being said, I posted a self shot with me holding the camera above so that you can truly see that I exist. Haha. Relish it now folks, pictures of me are usually scarce. My children will probably look back on photos decades from now and say, "Did we really have a mom or was that a figment of our imaginations?" I am usually the one behind the camera taking the photos. So it was very interesting this weekend when Jenny was taking photos while we were spinning. I didn't mind having my photo taken but it was a really weird sensation as to "what does she want me to do in this photo?" Should I look serious and keep spinning with my head down? Should I look up and smile for the world? Or should I jump up and dance gleefully exhibiting my latest handspun? Going back to the ruler rapping nuns, I was not a renegade, I quit laughing or chatting or whatever I was doing at the moment and demurely looked down in "deep concentration" at my wheel. Why???

I'm going to tell you a secret. Come a little closer and listen carefully... I am shy. Now people who really know me say, "YEAH RIGHT!" "Once she gets talking, she never shuts up! Egads!"
Seriously, I was extremely shy as a child. The first 8 years of school were spent with basically the same 14 kids in my class. It varied a bit from year to year but mostly it was 9 girls and 5 boys and then I was thrown into a public high school of 400 people and although I was in gymnastics and cheerleading...yes, I was a cheerleader and pom pom girl. I know some of you are gagging right now! I was considered in the "in crowd" so to speak but I never felt part of the crowd. I was often mistaken as being stuck up when basically I was still extremely shy and overwhelmed by people. Eventhough I loved people, it always surprised and amazed me when they liked me. I was like Sally Field, "They like me! They really like me!" Ha ha. Over the MANY QUADRILLION years since then, it is funny to see that part of that shyness still exists.

A friend once summed it up that I am very careful who I give my heart to. That being said, I will share a few more secrets about me.
I am: humble, extremely grateful, playful, inquisitive, creative, love challenges,intelligent, intuitive, compassionate, passionate and extremely loyal. I love to laugh and be around people who make me laugh. I would give the shirt off my back to you or do anything I humanly can to ease your pain. If nervous or really excited about something, I will "chatter" like a squirrel. (That is in reference of never shutting up.) I find pleasure and greatness in nature and the simplest things. I am a hugger and when my heart encompasses you, look out world; I'll defend you until the day I die. It may take a while to get to know me but all in all, not too bad, eh?

Snow???

What a difference a few weeks make!
From BRIGHT
To BRISK!!!
Yes, that is snow you see. Northeastern IN has had flurries off and on all day. Mother Nature is trying to tell us that winter is indeed coming. Isn't it amazing how quickly the days go?
Rain, sleet, snow or the dead of night, I am heading off to here tomorrow to have fun with Beth and new fiber friends yet to be met. I am taking two full day spinning workshops from Jenny!

So Mother Nature, bring it on! This brisk weather is great for playing with fiber and happily spinning away at the wheel! I'll update you on what I've learned when I return. Until then, stay cozy and Happy Knitting and/or Spinning!

Starting Mystic Waters Lace Shawl

I have always loved water. Whether it was playing in mudpuddles or sending leaf boats down the street drainage system during a heavy rain when I was a kid or swimming in anything bigger than a puddle, I have always been naturally drawn to water.
It is mesmerizing how it moves, how the color changes, how the light plays with it and how it changes "mood" with the wind or calm. Now I get to play with a new kind of water: the Mystic Waters Lace Shawl KAL.
This is just the very tip of the iceberg so to speak for a very intricate large shawl. However, it is fascinating to see clue by clue how it is evolving. I love working with the Angel Hair laceweight from here. The yarn is soft, lofty and oh so wonderful with very subtle variations in color.
To add a bit of sparkle and to add a little weight for drape, I am adding beads from my stash along the border. I am only adding them to the top and bottom of the large diamond motifs. They are "Black Opal" colorway beads from my stash and are green/blue/purple/bronze which compliment the subtle yarn variations well. I wanted something very subtle so it would not interfere with the intricacy of the lace pattern.

This is definately a "thinking" knit and I know the progress will be slow. I just started and so I have 3 clues waiting to evolve and the 4th of 8 will come out on Wednesday. I am not so concerned with "catching up". I just want to enjoy the process and being part of my first KAL.

KNIT ON!!

Friday Eye Candy: A FO!!

This is the Noro Silk Garden 1 x 1 ribbing scarf that I posted in October. You can read more details there. I did make some minor changes to Jared's pattern. I cast on 40 stitches on size 6 needles and slipped the first stitch of every row for a nice edging. Finished size unblocked is 6" x 78". I can't wait to feel how the yarn softens with a gentle soak.
It was a lot of fun to knit because the colors line up in unexpected surprises. It was a relaxing easy project for the times when I just wanted to mindless knitting to relax in front of the tv or in the car.

Unfortunately my pictures cannot show the depth of the colorways. It really is a lot darker in person. I named it my "Fall Into Winter Scarf" because the colors go from bronze/brown/golds/greens/rust/reds to cooler colors of teals/turquoise/purple/grey/black. I rarely do a project twice. However, I might have to cast on another one of these since it is fun to play with the different colorways!! :-D

Shopping My Stash

Hey! When yarn speaks; who am I to argue? Especially when it can spell with coordinating beads!! Such a deal!! This is going to be my Mystic Waters Shawl. As the clues, keep coming, I am getting further behind so I decided I don't want to spin and dye for it right now. I'm too busy with other things. However, I want to be knitting at least part of this with the KAL group. I was looking thru my stash and here was this beautiful 100% wool laceweight, in Denim colorway from here . It had been a Shoalwater Shawl in progress that was stalled. RIP!! I was ecstatic to have the yarn work so well for my new project! I guess cleaning closets can be fun. Yeah right...okay only sometimes! :-P

I have been shopping my stash or The Lee Store as my husband says. I've been in the mood to reorganize projects and STUFF!! If it is a WIP that I've stalled on, do I want to finish it or frog it? Is this a yarn that I still really love or can I find another use for it? Etc., etc., etc. I happily frogged a shawl in progress for my wonderful SIL. She had some health issues recently and I wanted to knit her a "hug" but I stalled out on the project. It was turning out beautiful but then I really got to thinking that maybe she wasn't the triangular shawl kind of gal. However, she had picked out this STR colorway of Chapman Springs as her fave so I wanted to make something she'd use and love. So I ripped out the triangular shawl and then started a rectangular simple lacey stole/scarf. However, I was not pleased with the pooling of the colors. So having just finished the Peaks & Valleys sock pattern from Mountain Colors, (see previous posts), I though it might work out great for a scarf. WHALAH!! I cast on and knit while I was waiting for a doctor's appointment and I am loving it and the yarn. So eventhough it will be a smaller item, I think it will get more use. I hope she loves it because it still is a "hug" and well wishes for someone I love dearly.

No Mystic Waters Here

I spun up the second ball of hand dyed roving I had. However after looking at the dimensions of the Mystic Waters Shawl, which is GINORMOUS!!, I won't be using this yarn. Boo hoo sniff sniff! It would be too close to call on the final yardage. I know I wouldn't be able to replicate this particular dye since it was done over a year ago and I don't want to spend all that time knitting the shawl and then running out. So, I need to find another project for this one. I also need to figure out what to use for the Mystic Waters. Back to the drawing board or the spinning wheel as it may be!

Finally! A Project to Do!!

When I signed up for Spun Stitches, I went through my stash to see what I already had spun to make a shawl. I found this 4 oz skein of BFL, approx 706 yards, single ply between lace and fingering weight. I have been looking for a pattern to knit with it. The other day, I was reading the group posts and I saw the mention of MysticWatersKAL. It was an "AHA" moment. I loved the name of the shawl and the color of the yarn seemed to fit. However, I needed 1200 meters. So back I went into the stash. You have to realize that most of my stash is buried in boxes from a recent move and it is not easily accessible. Anyway, not only did I find another 4 oz of roving that I dyed at the same time but also some beads that would match! EUREKA!! It was serendipity!!
So here is the skein wound into a ball waiting to be cast on and here is the ball of roving waiting to be spun. I know what I'm doing this weekend. I want to spin the second skein so that I can alternate the two skeins in the shawl in case of any variance in thickness of the yarn. If I spin the second skein at approx the same lace to fingering weight, I should have just a teeny bit over what I need for the shawl. Blind faith I tell you! (Not only in the spinning but in the knitting...it's a mystery shawl. ) Keep your fingers crossed! I am excited to be knitting this. I tell you it was meant to be! Haha.

FO: BOOtiful Socks :-D

Finished!! My first attempt at 2 socks on circular needles; see previous posts. The pattern is Peaks & Valleys socks by Mountain Colors. The yarn is Mountain Colors Bearfoot color Sapphire Trail. It is navy with bits of orange, red and green throughout. Very nice color for this time of year; mysteriously dark and spooky :-D The yarn is 60% Superwash Wool, 25% Mohair, and 15% Nylon. It has a cushy, slightly fuzzy feel and will be nice and cozy to wear. Especially since it is 37 degrees right now as I type this. BRRR!! Fall is here, folks!
Finishing 2 pairs of socks this week, my new sock bag is empty. I love this little bag from Knowknits; I purchased mine from here. I LOVE collecting different bags for knitting and the hot pink of this one really made me smile. It is a lightweight nylon bag which has a snap clip if you want to attach it to a purse or your beltloop if you walk and knit. (Okay, how many people actually do that? It's kind of like rubbing your stomach and patting your head.) Also there is a small loop inside to run your yarn thru so the yarn ball stays down in the bag and there are no tangles. It's a fun little bag.


Updates: Since I mentioned Socks on Sunday posts, have you noticed that it hasn't worked out that way? Oh well! Sometimes life gets in the way of our better plans. And although I don't have any socks on the needles right now....oooh the horrors! Don't worry; I have enough sock yarn to last centuries and I'll be starting a new pair soon!


Also re: Pumpkin Patch socks...they will be frogged and going to a knitting friend of mine who loves them and wants to make them for herself. I love it when things can go to a good home!
The socks that were my trick will be her treat. Such a deal! Happy knitting, everyone!

FO: One Less Pair of Socks on the Needles!

YIPPEE!! The nights are supposed to get down in the 40's and high 30's this week so these socks will feel oh so cozy! They are made from Austerman from my stash; sorry no label for the colorway. They have a great feel to them...very soft although I really cannot tell the difference of knitting them with the aloe and jojoba oil in the yarn. However, I do LOVE the soft tweedy colors in their yarns. I knit a pair for me in the Denim colorway that I really liked until I caught my 11 year old son (whose feet are bigger than mine), wearing them while playing basketball in the driveway. He was doing so without any shoes. He stretched them out and they showed a lot of wear on the heels from the concrete. GRRR! They are now his socks. So I had to get busy on this pair for me. I just did a simple 2 x 2 ribbing for the cuffs.
Introducing my new sock blockers! I never block my socks to dry. I just dry them flat. However I wanted a way to showcase them better for blog pictures. Thanks to Maryann

I made some quick, easy and inexpensive sock blockers out of a plastic placemat from Walmart. Yes, it is not greatly attractive (I do so love the wooden ones), but when showing socks, the blocker is covered anyway. I could not resist doing this for around $1.50. Look on Maryann's website for her great instructions. I simplified it by just taking a knit sock that fit me and tracing around it on the placemat and cutting it out and then making a duplicate. It took less than 10 minutes and only one placemat. Such a deal!

A Change of Scenery

I've had a "little one" home from school for the past two days with a 102 degree temp. She decided to reside in the sitting area off the kitchen where she had the dubious honor of "Queen of the Remote Control." This is my usual spinning area where I can watch hummingbirds, birds and critters out this window. Don't you just love Mother Nature's valance curtains? I do. Anyway, after being overloaded with cartoons, I decided for sanity's sake to try a new venue.
I moved my spinning wheel to the living room. It was a blustery rainy day and this was the view from the front window. A little dreary and not many critters out today except for a few hardy birds, chipmunks and squirrels. Usually we have a deer gathering and squirrel a palooza going on. However, if I looked out the back window, this was the gorgeous view taken at the same dreary time of day with no sunlight. Mother Nature is awesome! It just made the day seem so much brighter. What an impact a slightly different view makes! Hmm...maybe that's a lesson to be remembered in everyday life. I hope you have a bright spot in your dreary days too!

Spinning My Wheels

If you have read my blog when I first started posting, you would already know that I am currently a production spinner. So as much as I would love to be knitting my own things and spinning my own stash, a lot of my time is spent, "spinning my wheels". Haha. Actually, I do all my spinning on my Schacht Matchless wheel which I named Sadie. She was a birthday gift from my family a few years back and I really love that wheel! .... and my family :-D

Here is the latest order that I shippped out today to here. The colors just made me smile when I saw them all together and I thought I'd share. Back to work...I have 70 4 oz skeins to complete by a December deadline and only 8 of these 20 in the picture above count toward that total!

Take time for yourself to do something enjoyable today!

Back to the Pumpkin Patch or the Frog Pond

After looking at the Pumpkin Patch socks this morning, I have decided that I am not going to knit any further. They will be a project that never was. Haha. Life is too short to be working on socks I won't wear. Oh well, it's one less project in my stash now! On to other things I do enjoy!

Have a good day!

Trick or Treat; Smell My Feet...

I was all excited when I pulled this out of my stash from here. I thought that I would love to get it done for Socktoberfest and SAM4. It is The Pumpkin Patch kit from one of Blackberry Ridge's Sock of the Month Collections. (You can purchase the kit separately, as I did).

Anyway, I believe the trick is on me. The yarn is 100% wool in what they call medium weight. It has a nice feel and loft; the colors are great, brown and the orange is a bit duller in person than in the photo. The pattern is adorable and looks like fun to do. So what's the trick?

The problem is, the yarn is a lot heavier than I am used to knitting socks with and I know that I would be way too warm in them with the double stranding of the colorwork. Hence, I don't want people to be able to "smell my feet". :-O I am done with the leg and am starting the heel. I may just finish the rest of the sock out of pattern and with one yarn to make it less dense. It is a really thick sock! It could practically stand up on its own! I am curious to see if it softens a bit with washing. Or it may be the socks that never get done. I'm not sure that I'd wear them. I am definately going to put them on the backburner for awhile. However, in the spirit of the season, I wanted to share the cute jack o' lanterns.

Noro Scarves in Progress

I should be spinning, I should be socking, what I have been doing is scarfing. (not food, although the chocolate chip oatmeal cookies have been disappearing much too quickly :-) I was cruising Ravelry and I saw two scarves that I wanted to try. So on Monday, I grabbed three balls of Noro Silk Garden #244 and started the Multidirectional Diagonal Scarf by Karen Baumer. It is a quick and fun scarf to knit with all garter stitch and I am 2/3 finished just picking it up here and there this week. I'll post it when it is finished. Hopefully, I can get a better picture; it is really dreary today.

As if one scarf project were not enough, I became fascinated by this striped Noro scarf also found on Ravelry. A neat feature of Ravelry (if you haven't joined yet, you may want to get on the list), is that they have pictures of FO's or WIP's of certain patterns people are doing. So instead of doing a web search through a lot of blogs, you can pull up a file and see for example, 100's of color combinations for this scarf. I was fascinated by the play of the colors; it looked like so much fun! So I just had to cast on!

Last night (Friday), I gathered 4 balls of Noro Silk Garden: 2 of #86, and one each of #244 and #245 and started this scarf done in 1 x 1 ribbing. It is a surprise scarf because you don't know what color combinations are going to line up with each other. I am excited to see what happens which is a good thing because it will be finished faster that way! Haha. I'll share more pictures as it progresses. I can already see me trying at least another one of these in a different colorway, or two or three...heehee.

In the meantime, check out Ravelry or you can also see an explanation and a GOBSMACKING GORGEOUS!! example on this blog. Thank you so much Ravelry and Jared for the awesome inspiration! I'm off to knit!

Self Imposed Stash Busting

The heat is on, not only outside right now (this is October, isn't it??) but also in my mind. I like challenges so I am going to challenge myself to a yarn diet from this day October 8th 2007 until March 16th, 2008. Why March 16th? I don't know...maybe because it's my birthday. "It's my birthday; I can buy yarn if I want to." Hmmm...sounds similar to a song. Haha. No I actually wanted the fall/ winter months to regroup and to work on what I have and that date popped into my head.

The only purchases allowed to be made are for completing existing projects and/or for gifts. Also, if there is a class that I REALLY want to learn something special, then I can purchase the items needed. Okay? Things are getting busy here and the weeks are flying by. Before I know it, the holidays will be here and there will be snow on the ground. I tend to go into "nesting" mode during the winter where I just want to stay in and hibernate. So, while hibernating this winter, I want to challenge myself to refocus on what I already have. I want to see how much progress I can make without adding more to the mix.

The same diet goes for spinning fiber. I have TONS. So I would like to see what I can do with what I have. So stay tuned for my frantic endeavors to reorganize and to get things done.

Added Note: The past few weeks I started an unintentional trend on my blog, Sunday Socks. In the interest of not being buried alive by my sock yarn stash, I would like to continue to show progress on my sock knitting with Sunday posts.

Sunday Already??? Socks Update and New Gadget

WOW!! This week went fast! It's Sunday again and the sun tea is brewing. It is near 90 in Norhteast IN and humid today; the normal high is low 70's for this time of year. So I am taking advantage of the sun tea weather for as long as I can!



Here is an update of the socks from last Sunday. The pattern is Mountain Color's Peaks and Valleys Socks and the yarn is their Bearfoot in Sapphire Trail colorway. This week's picture is more accurate of the colorway. The main color is navy with bits of red, green and orange interspersed. It's a great colorway for fall and winter and the yarn is so cozy!



I want to share a few interesting things about this particular pair of socks. My LYS had a class the past two Saturday mornings of knitting two socks at a time on one circular needle. Since I have never tried the "Magic Loop" method and I have never tried socks on anything other than double points, I thought I'd give it a whirl.



Well, let me tell you, you could hear the neurons "pinging" in my brain as they were growing! I really enjoyed the class. It was challenging to learn two socks at a time on one circular needle, in a patterned cuff and instep and with a dark colored yarn. I love challenges; bring it on! It was fascinating for me to see how to switch the stitches around to fit the sock in progress especially after the heel and picking up the gusset. It is amazing how Sarah Hauschka's mind works. How in the world did she come up with this Magic Loop idea? It's so totally twisted but cool! There is a book, The Magic Loop, which describes the process written by Sara Hauschka and Bev Galeskas published by Fiber Trends. Check your LYS and give it a try.



I decided that I would like to try a few more pairs of socks with this method to get it "implanted" in my brain. I don't know if it will be my method of choice for socks since I have a great rhythm established with double point needles. I'd like to see if I could get a rhthym going with this method. However, it is really fun to have a pair of socks completed at the same time! I am glad that I learned this method; I love learning new things.



There are two other things I learned during this class that I would like to share with you. First, I learned the Twisted German Cast On which is very stretchy and I would like to try this again on a few pairs of socks. If this is something you are interested in, an online search provides you with LOTS of information. Go for it! I also learned about a new gadget to fix my boo boo's. What boo boo's you ask? The ones when I am tired and knitting at night with dark yarn and too lazy to go get the Ott Light. The next morning, they kind of humble you by smacking you right in the face like DUH!! :-D Here was a nifty little gadget called the Seed Stitcher: (Heads up! Lea-ann might be changing the name.) However, you can check it out here and see how it works.

http://www.knittingtoday.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=KT&Product_Code=20011&Product_Count=&Category_Code=

I have to admit, I am a gadget and gizmo gal. This little gizmo is a nifty little handknitter's helper. How does it work? Well, in a nutshell, it reminds me of a Push You Pull Me (the two headed llama on Dr. Doolittle) What?? You also don't remember the giant pink sea snail?? Ok, ok...I know...I need some more sleep! Haha.

Anyway, when dropping a stitch off the needle to knit or purl back up into place, you insert this two headed hook into the stitch below the one you want to fix. Then working up the ladders of yarn, if you pull the head thru, you make a knit stitch. If you push the other head thru, you make a purl stitch. It is very cool, very simple and will work on different gauges of yarn without splitting the yarn. I tried it on fingering weight. Also, you don't have to stop and figure out which way the crochet hook or knitting needle has to go into the stitch to get the stitch you want. It takes a bit to get the hang of it but this will be a staple in my knitting tools bag.

What's For Breakfast?

While making my breakfast this morning as the sun was starting to come up, my Collie, Simba, started whining which means there is a deer close to the house. This little buck was eating breakfast at the birdfeeder right outside my dining room window (hence, the fuzzy picture...it was taken thru the screen and the window).

Our yard is a haven for deer and other critters and having the "herding" instinct inbred, Simba likes to patrol the top of the hill and "herd" the deer to the woods. He never follows them into the woods. In fact, they are so used to him that they will stand on the perimeter of our woods and nonchalantly continue to eat or frolick and ignore him. Too funny! We have "regulars" in our yard which we name including Long Tail ( a young buck) and Mama who gave birth to twins in our yard this year. At any given time day or night, we have deer sightings and if they are not visible, they are easily heard thru the deer paths in the woods. Last winter when a big snowstorm came in, we had 30 deer bed down in our yard.

I have been busy spinning a production order this week so there is not much done on my knitting endeavors. I guess the spinning is appropriate since it is National Spinning and Weaving Week. However I am anxious to start spinning up some of my fiber festival finds for some sweater knitting! I accumulated quite the stash of hand dyed roving from MI Sheep and Wool and from Midwest Folk Art andFiber Festival. If I leave it in plain sight, it looks at me with little puppy dog eyes begging to be spun into luscious yarn. So it is stashed away for now but I swear I keep hearing tiny voices saying, "Spin me. You know you want to. Think how great I will look in a sweater. Think how much fun you'll have...you know you love my colors..." Enough already! There are things and deadlines I HAVE to get finished first. My resolve is faltering but I must move onward and make some progress. So back to spinning I go with daydreams of getting to my own spinning and knitting soon.

Sunday

SUNDAY

SUNSHINE

70's

SUN TEA

SOCKS ON CIRCS

SEE YA!

FO: Socks and Washing

Here is the finished pair. I posted them as my September socks on SAM4 . I did a 2 x 2 ribbing cuff with the leg as follows: 2 rows K, alternate with 2 rows of K2 P2. It is fun and simple and looks great with striped yarn. Sorry, I didn't keep the ballband but I believe it is Online yarn.

I love handknit socks. Once you try a pair, you are hooked! It's fun to see that my children automatically reach for their handknit socks when they want to feel cozy. I often see them wear them when they are "under the weather" or when they are tired and/or when it's chilly. The only time I am not enamored with the kids wearing their handknit socks is when they are playing basketball in the driveway without shoes. :-) They will reach for handknit socks before regular socks. They love them and have even worn them when they've outgrown them! They stretch them to fit. My daughter used to call her socks, "Mommy's Hugs" when she was tiny. I'd like to think that they can feel the love that went into them. Added note: when my kids were little, having them pick their own sock yarn at the LYS allowed me a bit more time to shop! Haha. There is always a method to my madness. :-D

My husband, on the other hand, has not been coerced into trying handknit socks yet. He thinks they will be way too hot since they are made of wool. The kids and I keep telling him that they "breathe" and feel wonderful on. At first I was frustrated that he didn't want me to knit him a pair. He said that if I did, he would not try them on. However, maybe it is a blessing in disguise. He wears a size 13 shoe. I'd be knitting forever! With my kids' feet getting bigger all the time, (my 11 year old son's are bigger than mine not to mention he is now 2" taller than me), I have plenty of socks to knit.

I've heard people say that they wouldn't want to have to wash them by hand. Ever since the kids were small, I put a plastic tote with a hand drawn picture of knitting and socks, on the dryer. They know that their socks go in there and not in the regular laundry. Then when I get a whole bunch, I wash them in the tub sink in the laundry room with a squirt of Dawn and spin them in the spin cycle of the washer. Then I lay them flat to dry on towels either on the deck if it is a nice day or on the floor by the heating vent. It really does not take long to wash them by hand at all. You could put them through the washer and even the dryer depending on the yarn content, but I think they get "nubby" faster. I like the look of them when they are handwashed.

FO: My First Lace Shawl

Charlotte's Web Shawl is finished! It took 5 skeins of Koigu in 5 different colorways ranging from yellow golds/olive greens/corals/golden browns and blues. I'm sorry I didn't save the ball bands so I cannot share the exact dye lot #'s. (The colors are much more rich and vibrant in person.) I blocked this shawl to be about 70" in width and 36" in length.

I had wanted to make this shawl the minute I first saw it but it took awhile until I could find the right combo of colors. One day last fall I made a trip to Needles n Pins . It was a dreary rainy cold day and I needed a little drive cross country to avoid climbing the walls. I had nothing in mind only a small getaway before picking up the kids from school. It was serendipity that a new Koigu shipment had recently arrived. Anyway, I sat down on the floor ( I am known to do that) and played with color combo's until I found just the "right" one for me. I had waited so long to get the right combo and as I layed the skeins out on the floor, the funniest thing happened. The sun broke thru the clouds for a moment and everyone in the shop commented on it. A sign?...it was really funny! My whole day was brightened by the new yarn combo and the thought of making this shawl.

I've had it on the needles for awhile and packed in a box to move to IN. I wanted to finish it but I was stuck on the edging. I didn't want to do the fringe. I'm not really a fringe person and I didn't care for the crochet edging all by itself. I wanted something simple. So when I got it out again recently to finish, I did a search online to look at examples and I found a beautiful example on Knitting Wench's blog . She simplified the shawl by doing a YO edging. I loved it; thank you so much for the inspiration! Aren't blogs wonderful?

So here she is in all her autumn color glory just in time for Autumnal Equinox! I really enjoyed knititng this shawl. It was a wonderful project for my first lace shawl.

Spa Day for Knits

My Charlotte's Web Shawl had a spa get away in SOAK (Aqua fragrance, I believe). I really like the scent. It is fresh and makes the house smell good, not at all like wet wool. Plus it leaves the yarn so silky soft afterwards.

Then Charlotte got blocked today. I pinned and pinned and didn't realize how long it took but I'm glad she's drying. I told you I'd show her before the official first day of Autumn and believe it or not, that is this Sunday. Time goes way too fast!

Other items that were washed today (but with a spritz of Dawn) were the kids' knit socks and some of my own. I finished the purple turquoise pair that was featured in a previous post. We've had a bout of cold nights last week in the upper 30's and lower 40's so I am just getting ready for when it decides to stay awhile. I hope it is not too soon. I'm enjoying our seasonable weather this week of 80's during the days and 60's at night.