wool la lah

Raindrops keep falling on my fiddlehead...

2010-09-17T06:36:00.001-07:00

Woolala what fun I had with this one. I happened to have found some large beads that look just like rain drops...And we finally got some much needed rain. Was bound to happen.

As usual I am so exited to show that I take pictures in the dark at 6 am...
This baby was made with Noro silk garden socks, and the fiddleheads with a new to me yarn called Kauni from Denmark that I discovered at Three bags full in Vancouver. Another great wool shop for me to haunt while out of town.

Don't they look like little raindrops all over my fiddleheads...

Knitting XXXXXXL

2010-08-08T05:10:00.000-07:00

I have had so much fun in the last 2 days, knitting furiously a pair of "Alpine boot slippers" from Fiber trends.

A nice change of pace on 9mm needles, double yarn, in my case Patons Classic Wool and odds and ends of reds homespun in my stash. Talk about a stash buster!!! Yes I still have a humongous stash but it took a serious amount of fibers.

They are fun, fast, and fabulous...

BEFORE

Of course I put them in the washing machine right off the needles, could hardly wait, so did dh, it was like Christmas waiting to open your present.

Amazingly enough 1 felted faster than the other??? that was a first for me, the second one had to go through another 10 minutes, very interesting considering I made them at the same time, so I was sure the counts were the same. Learning never stops.

AFTER

Ta da!!! Voila les super boots, drying, drying, drying, inside, it is raining outside and I have to wait....

I added 10 rows in the lengh as I wanted them very high, worked great but for the next time I will increase the width as well to accommodate the calves. They fit great for indoors but I want a pair to wear outside.

Probably 3 or 4 days will be enough drying as I want them well blocked, and then I am wearing them regardless of weather.

Doubleknitting, adventures with fish.

2010-07-17T05:59:00.000-07:00

I have been busy with a new technique to me: doubleknitting.

I love the challenge of knitting in positive/negative all the time and have been playing with it.

The result, 2 doubleknit hats.

Hat #1: KOI

and the other side

I made the lilly pads separately on pins so they can be placed anywhere on either side.

Hat #2: 1 fish, 2 fish, r.....

and the other side

Doubleknitting can be a lot of work, concentration is key, but the results are very rewarding.

Look what I got in the mail!!!!

2010-04-19T18:30:00.000-07:00

I am soooo exited, I got a parcel in the mail today...

It all started with a simple inquiry in Ravelry, my much used and abused I-cord machine packed it in.

Quick second of silence for the dearly departed...

However I knew where to get a new one from the states, but I wanted one from Canada, I had my personal reasons.

Posted in forums on Ravelry, got great feedback and responses, (Don't you just love Ravelry) even offers of trade which I really appreciated, but the one that got to me the fastest was Robyn, of Robyn's nest. What a great person to have met, and after a few emails look at what the snail mail brought to my lap!!!

Yessss

You have guessed it

A beautiful, wonderful, helpful, brilliant tool to replace the now retired purple one!!!
This really turns my crank!!!

Look at what the storm blew in...

2010-04-09T06:06:00.001-07:00

We had a crazy storm last Friday, and I was trying to stay calm. Since the 2006 storm every time the wind picks up my body starts to shake. I have gone from heavy drugs to knitting. I discovered that in those cases the best anti anxiety I know is small concentrated fiddling work and ear plugs... If I don't hear it am okay!!!

I had just finished the main part of a hat, was glancing sideways at my button stash, so here is:

"A Case of Too many Buttons"

The patience and concentration of sewing soo many buttons did the trick, I stayed calm through howling winds...

and got another crazy hat to boot.

Besides being in love with the colors and the noise the hat makes when I shake my head I love the reactions of people when I ware it. Goes from bursting out laughing to "all that sewing, are you insane!!!"

What a wonderful way to lighten up our lives...

Night time knitting

2010-03-27T04:21:00.001-07:00

I just finished this and could not wait for day time!!!

Lately I get up around 4 am, get a lot of knitting done, that's way better than to toss and turn.

"Red Cabbage and Dandelions Hat"

A while back, a dear friend gave me 2 pompom makers for my birthday, does she know me or what? I can see a lot of those creeping up in my work in the future...

Anyway, this was made from a shawl I started 3 days ago, wasn't too sure about the overall feeling of it, casted it off as a scarf, still not too sure, then plonked it on my hat stand and took it from there.
Gathered the scarf in a "Cabbage shape, picked up stitches around the crown, knitted a hat top down.

The "dandelions" and "fiddle heads" tied the whole thing together, the scarf fringe fell naturally in place.

I wonder if my fascination for volume on top of my head, my hair is so thin now, has anything to do with the increasing largeness of my hats...

Dandelions are Hats

2010-03-23T18:20:00.001-07:00

I have been sick this winter and spent a lot of time healing and knitting. Part of the "cure" was to eat a lot of bitters to help filter my system. So I started to eat the lawn... I grazed...Dandelions, I love them, they are so fresh and crisp and meaty and healthy for me. It rubbed off in knitting ways too, so I designed a

Dandelion Hat

Now because I had grazed soooo much in February and March, and you have to eat them before they flower, when I decided to take the picture, all I could find in bloom was this lonely one by the shed...Lucky you, you could have been in my tummy!!!

Anyway, it was fun to make the pompoms/dandelions in a fluo yellow/green silk/mohair, and I can see myself wearing that one for awhile...

New Year, New Knitting

2010-01-03T12:57:00.001-08:00

Well it's a new year and new inspirations hit me. I became a Great-aunt, my other niece turned me on to this wonderful baby hat, which I made for my brand sparkling new great nephew, Aviatrix Baby hat by Justine Turner, and it got me flying with ideas...

As usual, constructing in all directions gets me going and after a few tries here is the latest.

In honor of the original design that sent me roaring, I present:

Amelia's leaves

Fun to knit

I love the colors, Noro Yes!!!

The multi directions are so defined....

So be prepared, I am flying with this one!!!

Holidays, tourism...

2009-10-01T08:03:00.000-07:00

We have not stopped going from one end of the country side to the other. Last weekend little "virée" in the Loire county for a family visit and on the way back touristic stops in "Brioude" for a marvelous visit to the basilica.

Sarcophagous outside

Gorgeous entrance around the corner

The light inside the red stones was even stronger with the noonday sun through the stained glass windows.

Of course the prerequisite virgin with child, except that it is a "Black virgin" made of lava rock, quite rare, we are after all in volcano country.

The floor made with stones from the "Allier" river made me slightly homesick.

Moved on to the "Musée de la dentelle" famous in this region

And even got invited in the Lace school were the best 4 lace makers of France work and teach.

We heard then about a little village on the way home, "Blesdel" and decided to check it out...Around the corner from a very well preserved and renovated monastery we found this church.

Too many pictures to show, just a small sample of Roman art...

Kept driving home, escorted by etherial wind mills...

It is good to be here especially since the weather has been nothing but sunny and hot.

holidays, Aubrac...

2009-09-27T22:47:00.001-07:00

Aubrac is where my family is from. It is a vast plateau somewhere in the south west center of France. It is ravaged by the weather, gorgeous, harduous, 1000 meters high, it is on the way to Santiago's pilgrimage, a rude shortcut through the mountains. In the summer you can hardly breathe through the heat, in the winter it is closed often due to the snow. Here you can see forever.

Pictures with my little camera can hardly describe it...

The pilgrims on their way in the summer can find shelter in this barn.

And the 12th century "Domerie" is still a refuge for the weary.

Our village is 20km from here, this is the top of the plateau, no trains, no buses, the only access is by road and walkways, somehow my Canadian home seem less remote when I stand here...

AHHH HOLIDAYS, MORE PICS?

2009-09-17T08:07:00.000-07:00

So much has happened since I left Canada last Saturday... I left home at 7am, it is now 4pm Thursday and I am finally at destination...

Last night we left paris at 11pm on a speed train, sleepers very comfortable

lost of room to stretch

and fun travelling companion

arrival very early at Rodez

breakfast at a local french cafe

where some prefer other modes of transportation on the "Santiago trail" to StJacques de Compostelles.

and meandering slowly towards home, great scenery along the way, the river "Lot" at Espalion

and finnaly home!!!

A Suivre....

AHHH HOLIDAYS

2009-09-17T07:41:00.000-07:00

Well I had this great big post planned with many pics and life is just like that, coudnt upload more than 1!!!

So travelling with new comp is a new adventure, I am sure i'll figure it out tomorrow.

Anyway it is great to be in the country aagain after 2 days in Paris, I love the calm and the sound of the cow bells in the back ground.

So we will try again....

Tour de Fleece 2009: Forfeit

2009-07-30T09:59:00.001-07:00

Well I has the best intentions and then life kicked in....

So I did not finish my challenge, but I learned many other things, so all is well.

In fact I did half.

Pretty ironic that the colorway I finished are the cool ones, considering that the temperatures are so high right now, I cant even touch wool...

I am knitting cotton, does not matter if it gets wet from my constantly drenched body or the dips every ten minutes in the ocean, I am staying cool....Almost.

Tour de Fleece 2009: Days 5 & 6

2009-07-09T19:26:00.000-07:00

Was too tired yesterday do do much after work, less take pictures or blog, but did manage 1/2 of a repeat on "Rainy Day Ocean"

Then today finished the other 1/2,

The colorway is definitely cooler,

and there it is drying in the shade.

"Sunny Day Ocean" is finally dry, with all the moisture around it took a couple of days, and I noticed that the Alpaca/Silk blend is denser. It did bloom in a lovely way in the end.

First challenge finished and met, on to the warm garden colors tomorrow.

Tour de Fleece 2009: Day 4

2009-07-07T19:46:00.001-07:00

Got home fairly early from work and managed to put in 2 hours of spinning!!!

Started on "Cloudy Day Ocean" color pathway, very appropriate, it has been pouring all day.

Goal met for today, 1 entire repeat of the colorway. This time I decided to vary the length of certain colors, partly for interest, partly as I realized that I have less of some...

Meanwhile DH got his new toy yesterday,

Just a little hop as it is raining... But spent time fixing some shipping damage, anyway more fun to come!!!

Tour de Fleece 2009: Day 3

2009-07-06T14:18:00.000-07:00

Finished the bobbin today, went pretty well as I spun kind of random amount of each color.

Ready to wash picture with flash...
and in natural light which is quite extraordinary today as a tremendous thunder storm hit us and woke me up at 4:30am.

The hank is now drying in the bathroom, tomorrow work, less time to spin, but intend to start on "Ocean rainy day"... Stay tuned!!!

Tour de Fleece 2009: Days 1 and 2

2009-07-05T16:24:00.000-07:00

After a very slow start, as in couldn't go near the wool yesterday I was so exhausted, I made up for it today and put 2 days worth in...

Anyway my challenge is to spin "Noro" out of alpaca silk blend that I dyed a few weeks ago. After reading about the "Noro" philosophy of color blending and mixing I set my wool on my chair and stared...

These are the choices I made based on nature surrounding me.

Cloudy Day Ocean

Cloudy Day Summer Garden

Sunny Day Summer Garden

These are the 4 color pathways I will attempt for my challenge.

Today I started on "Sunny Day Ocean", the colorway is warm and rich.

I am spinning sock weight, can't be technical I am going on radar, I also want to be able to use it for my hats.

Anyway a good start, and more fun to come.

What is that drying above my head?

2009-06-26T06:54:00.000-07:00

But first things first.

Last Sunday we had the first meeting "Under the plum tree" which wasn't under the tree as it was too chill, so we moved to the sun... 4 is a good start, nice visit, nice company, nice way to spend a couple of hours on Sunday morning.

I believe in the church of knitting...

Then went home and finally had the time to block the kimono shawl who had been soaking for 4 days!!! Best area to do this, above my bed...

I finally finished this project that I started last fall, very ambitious as the work is so tiny.

Not too many mistakes, it is made of sage zephir ( 50 merino 50 silk) gorgeous drape,
now I need the time to get it down!!!

On top of everything else I joined the 2009 "Tour de Fleece" was so much fun last year...

Colors Colors Colors

2009-06-16T06:48:00.001-07:00

Finished the alpaca silk blend hank, the colors are too good to be true!!!

The ball is now sitting on my desk, begging to be something extraordinary, I am looking back...

WWKIP Day June 13 2009

2009-06-14T10:21:00.000-07:00

Blogging might be a winter thing...Weather has been so nice I don't have time for much posting but still very busy with the needles, and then there was our gathering for WWKIP Day.

As I was getting ready the night before I realized that I did not have a transportable knitting project started, mostly crocheting these days, and cast on 20 sts. real fast so I wouldn't look silly as the organizer of the event, LOL.

A few less this year, 16 in all, many are away, some were working, new ones came and it was such a nice hot day that this time we looked for shade...

Knitting under the plum tree is lovely and we will gather throughout the summer every other Sunday starting June 21 9:30am till 1:30pm.

As usual exchange of information, projects and busy hands make for a great knitting gathering.

Here are our wonderful hands at work...

Suzel

Nicky

Muriel

Barb

Una

Margaret

June

Gale

Valérie

Bonita

Shelley

Christa

Marilyn

Jopi

Bev

And Donna who was doing her duty at the quilt raffle ticket booth and reading and knitting!!!

I am looking forward to our next gathering, maybe I will have a real project on the go this time...

Spinning Monday

2009-05-19T07:07:00.000-07:00

In between knitting projects, tired with the weather that keeps going up and down, decided to spin to relax...Wanted reds...

Still trying to achieve some well balanced blends, silk and blue face leister...
the result pleases me.

2 hours of spinning, enough for 2 hats or a scarf. Debating about dying this week, alpaca and silk blend....We'll see.

Moon snails and Seaweed Hat

2009-05-12T07:33:00.000-07:00

I was so exited to finish this hat that I didn't take the time to go to the beach to take a picture....

Same base hat as before, alpaca and Noro silk, odds and ends for the seaweed...

Needles size 4mm, bicolor multidirectional band, 120 sts. pick up, 8 flaps or hooks, moon snails base, sea lettuce and kelp inserts.

This was such fun to make.
I played with my needles to make the "Sea lettuce", I just happen to have the right colors. As for the Moon snails...

Mixed 1 strand of silk with the alpaca to add sheen to the shells, stuffed a little to give them dimension. I learned that I need to make the definitions stronger in order to see the coils, next time. Also the contrast is a bit strong between the main colors and the snails, but that is the way I see them on the beach.

As for the seaweed mess I found it lovely and lively.

Knitting hats, I wish...

2009-05-09T09:06:00.000-07:00

Even though it is still not busy season, I am suddenly occupied with details. I want to knit a new hat, in the sea series, but I have to do others things to get ready for market, WWKIP Day, cleaning my desk etc...

So here is a teaser, the colors (not quite all) of my new hat.

This one is going to have shells and seaweed, am working it out in between the other projects. Stay tuned.

Knitting blues

2009-05-04T07:33:00.001-07:00

This week is "Blues Week" on my small island, a very busy week of workshops, concerts, parties and a wonderful art show.
My cat could not care less...

In the past I have contributed various pieces for the "Blues were art though?" show, but in the last 2 years I had to pass due to technical difficulties in what I wanted to create. Mainly I did not find the right base.

But last week the local electrician who happen to be one of the founders of the Hornby Blues Society, was taking down a lampshade, and that's when the whole thing came together, in my head...

I am fascinated with fountains, love the water flows and sounds, so I thought making a "Blues" fountain would be fun. Ha!

This year being the tenth anniversary of the event, it seemed appropriate.

As I said water flows, as a matter of fact wherever it wants, and that was my first challenge, how to make water spit out of a harmonica (Blues par excellence to me).

After taking apart the instrument I realised that I had to carve out the channels or chambers in order to have the water come out the top. Then attach it to a tube connected to the pump. Re-seal the instrument, this took 3 days to cure, patience was with me and still fun.

Then the base.

The upside down lampshade was great but had to sit on something which turn out to be a very heavy cast iron enamelled pot lid with the total bonus of having a nut and screw top that fitted in the shade base. Woo Hoo, I was on my way.

After much debate and lack of time I decided to let the cord hang out of the side to avoid having leaks. Sealed the base with what I believed to be a fast silicone sealant, and waited the 3 days to cure...

Put water in, no leaks, life is good, worked on the melted Cd's and harmonicas sculpture, I love my heat gun, and after many fine tuning the thing worked!!!

Transported it very carefully to the hall, 9am deadline, placed it on its pedestal, filled it with water, IT LEAKED!!!!!!!!!!

I could have cried.

Turns out that during transport the pressure of the pump on the base dislodged the seal. So much for quick easy sealant.

Plan B.

Ran home, stopped by hardware on the way and got "Seal All" a fast cure, 4 hours, re-sealed, stood by with my hair dryer on low, missed my friend's birthday party, babied the blooming thing, cajoled and prayed, and by 4pm the thing was fixed, at home...

Transported it, this time base and sculpture separately, assembled it, filled it, it worked!!! No leaks. Phew...

The show opened at 7pm, my "Anniversary Fountain" was there, working fine, I was so exhausted I didn't even knit last night...

Fast and furious Fiddlehead Hat

2009-04-27T07:43:00.001-07:00

After the Kelp Hat I needed to make something Fast and Furious as I wanted to also do a lot of baking and cooking this week-end.

I love these colors, my own homespun version of Noro, mixed with the real thing.
Bi-color multidirectional band and flaps, the two mixed really well.

At first it looked like fall colors to me, but when I went to the garden to take pictures I noticed that it mixed wonderfully with the greens and flowers that sprung up almost overnight...

Kelp Hat

2009-04-25T07:15:00.001-07:00

So moving along nicely in the hat series, I got inspired by the sea. Last summer I knitted actual seaweed and with the garden becoming overwhelming visually, I decided to knit a new hat with kelp...

Lovely baby kelp made of angora, the color was what inspired me, dangling gently from the top and swinging in the breeze.

View from the top

Same base hat, I-cord finished with a bulb, stuffed with wool and embellished with three "ribbons". Turned out just as I visualized it, random lengh of seaweed cascading like a ponytail. Now what.....

Free Knitting Pattern: Fiddlehead hat

2009-04-18T15:45:00.000-07:00

I have had such a great feedback and fun making these hats that I decided to share.

But as I tried to copy/paste the pattern I spent the whole afternoon typing, it keeps rejecting me, so if you know how I can do this do let me know. For now the pattern is only available for Ravelry members until I can figure this out...DH just came home and saved me from a potential tear down!!!

So here it is

Free knitting Pattern
Please note that this was written straight from my head, Knit at your own risk...

Fiddlehead hat

1 ball Berroco Sox Metallic Durian color 1372
1 Ball Queensland Collection KATHMANDU Aran Color 144
2 circular needles size 2.75mm

Notions:
Tapestry needle
Stitch markers
"Embellish Knit" (optional but makes the I-cord work faster)
Scissors

Gauge:
Not too crucial but I got 8stsX10 rows=1inch square

Size: Medium/Large

Special instructions
Flaps:
Knit back and forth in garter stitch on 5 sts for 8 ridges.
Hat is constructed with the head band made of a small multidirectional "scarf", then stitches are picked up along the sides for the crown. I-cord "Fiddleheads" are then threaded trough the flaps for embellishment.

I wish to thank Karen for giving me permission to use her great instructions for the multidirectional scarf.

Hat Band:
With 2.75mm needle and the sox yarn cast on one stitch, leaving enough tail to use to sew band together later.
Row 1: Inc (knit front and back of st) = 2sts
Row2: Inc into first stitch, knit to end. =3sts
Repeat row 1 and 2 until you have 22sts.
Short row section:
Row 1: Inc into first stitch, SSK, turn.
Row 2: and all even rows, Knit.
Row 3: Inc into first stitch, K1, SSK, Turn.
Row 5: Inc into first stitch, K2, SSK, Turn.
Row 7: Inc into the first stitch, k3, SSK, Turn.

Continue the short row section, increasing in the first stitch of every odd-numbered row between the Inc and the SSK, (you don’t have to count because you’ll always be SSK-ing the two stitches on ether side of the gap that form from your Turn on the previous row.
Keep working until you have SSK-ed the last 2 sts, Turn.
Repeat instructions for the short row section 5 time more. You should have now, 6 short row sections altogether.
For the last Triangle:
Work as in previous section until you have 11 stitches on each needle.
Next row : Knit
Dec row: K2Tog, k8, SSK, Turn.
Odd-numbered rows: Knit.
Dec row: K2Tog, K6, SSK, Turn.
Continue until you have 3 sts on each needle. (6 stitches altogether).

Next: K1, K3Tog, Turn, K2.
Next: K3Tog, Turn, K1.
Next: K2Tog, pull gently the last stitch made and leave on needle or stitch holder to use as the first stitch of the crown, DO NOT CUT YARN, this way you don‘t have to join any yarn.
With tapestry needle sew up the band to close it using the tail end of the cast on, with a mattress stitch.

Crown:
Using the last stitch of the hat band as your starting point, pick up along the edge of the band 160 sts. (Works out to 2 sts made in front and back of each ridge edge).
Purl 2 rows.
Knit 8 rows.
Flap row: *K20, turn and make a flap of 5sts in garter stitch going back and forth over 8 ridges*, repeat *to * 7 more times. You should have 8 flaps evenly distributed over the row.
Knit 8 rows.
Purl 2 rows.
Knit 8 rows.
Flap row: K5, turn and make flap as in previous instructions, (you are "moving " the flaps over 5 sts to get a spiral effect in the final design), *K20, turn and make flap*, repeat *to*until the end of row and you have 8 flaps evenly distributed.
Knit 8 rows.
Purl 2 rows.
Knit6 rows.
Flap row: K10, Turn and make flap as in previous instructions, *K20, Turn and make flap*, repeat * to *, until the end of row and you have 8 flaps evenly distributed.
Knit 4 rows.
Next row: (Knit 14 sts, K2Tog) 10 times for top of crown decrease.
Knit 1 row.
Next row: (Purl 13 sts, K2Tog) 10 times for top of crown decrease.
Purl 1 row.
Next row: (Knit 12 sts, K2Tog)10 times for top of crown decrease.
Knit 1 row.
Next row: (Knit 11 sts, K2Tog)10 times for top of crown decrease. 120sts.
Knit 1 row.
Flap row: K10, Turn and make flap as in previous instructions, *K15, turn and make flap*, repeat *to* until the end of row and you have 8 flaps evenly At this point you can switch to 2 circular needles for comfort and ease.
Next row: (K10 sts, K2Tog) 10 times for top of crown decrease.
Knit 1 row.
Next row: (K9 sts, K2Tog) 10 times for top of crown decrease.
Knit 1 row.
Next row: (K8 sts, K2Tog) 10 times for top of crown decrease.
Knit 1 row.
Next row: (P7 sts, K2Tog) 10 times for top of crown decrease.
Purl 1 row.
Next row: (K6 sts, K2Tog) 10 times for top of crown decrease.
Knit 1 row.
Flap row: *K7, Turn make flap as in previous instructions*, repeat *to*until the end of row and you have 8 flaps evenly distributed.
Next row: (K5 sts, K2Tog) 10 times for top of crown decrease.
Knit 1 row.
Next row: (P4 sts, K2Tog) 10 times for top of crown decrease.
Purl 1 row.
Next row: (P3 sts, K2Tog) 10 times for top of crown decrease.
Purl 1 row.
Next row: (P2 sts, K2Tog) 10 times for top of crown decrease.
Purl 1 row.
Next row: (P1 st., K2Tog) 10 times for top of crown decrease.
Purl 1 row.
Next row: (P2Tog), 10 times for top of crown decrease.
Cut yarn and thread through the last 10 sts remaining and close.

Make 8 length of 4sts I-cord for fiddleheads. Thread the I-cord through the flaps made, from band to top of crown. Near the hat band make a small fiddlehead and anchor with a few whip sts. Near the top make larger fiddleheads of varied length. Tie up all fiddleheads at the top with an I-cord binder wrapped around the "bunch" of 8 "fiddleheads" 2 or 3 times. Anchor with light whipped stitches.

Fiddlehead Hat ValériePagnier-Copyright ® 2009 Valérie Pagnier

Rainy days and quilt square.

2009-04-16T17:26:00.001-07:00

Also known in some facetious circles as "guilt squares", today, a rainy day, was the perfect timing to do this.

Every year the island gets together a quilt made of squares done by many that is raffled during the summer month to raise money for an island cause. This has gone on for 32 years (I think). The first time I participated was in 1979, and have done many throughout the years, though not each one. Dh even made one the year we fund raised for the preschool.

This year the much needed New Clinic is the recipient and the theme is "Health".

The quilter that convinced me to make a square was lamenting than no one was doing pills and that she had a vision of little blue "Viagra" tablets here and there...

So here is what I produced today...My 12x12 contribution to the community quilt.

Tumbling pills is a perfect subject for me.....I am happy with the results.

Happy Easter

2009-04-13T14:56:00.001-07:00

Did not do much knitting this week, very busy with other things...

like baking...

One of my favorite French pastry:

Millefeuille with Coffee and Pistachio Triangles

the latter being a failed macaroons (as in they all melted into each other in the oven) but delicious nonetheless and pretty as decoration.

Happy Easter!!!

Knitting Primulas

2009-04-05T12:05:00.001-07:00

I have been knitting flowers all week, but first things first.

2 weeks ago our car finally had a major break down, yes the breaks went and we decided to buy a new car...

Dh had done tons of research on the net, we narrowed it down to 2 models, 2 different manufacturers.

Hyunday versus Honda.

In the end, Hyunday Elentra won for the best interior comfort the best price and the friendliest sales lady. All was done over the phone and we went to pick it up Thursday...

So new...Am still in shock...

So shiny that you could shave yourself...

There it is in the driveway, pointing in the right direction, dh keeps asking if I need a ride anywhere!!!

In between all these negotiations and major purchase I knitted primulas...

Last Sunday as I was walking by the patches in the garden I was drawn to knitting the spring.

Presenting the last of the series,

The Primula Hat.

I am very happy with the results, it was worth the entire week of knitting 64 flowers!!!
In my head, and now on it, I visualized something out of an Esther Williams movie, something full, something with motion still in it, just like the blooms in the wind, which is still icy by the way.

So there they are made of Plassard Alpaga, thank you Mom for the early Easter present, and the colors are just so right.

The base hat has the same construction, a multidirectional band, pick up stitches on the band with little flaps and objects inserted so they keep their movements.

Don't the daffodils look great next to it...Maybe I feel up to the challenge of daf knitting...

Knitting fiddleheads out of control...

2009-03-28T13:47:00.001-07:00

This trend definitively has something to do with me wanting more hair!!!

As far as hair do go I like this one the best, nice and full on top, and dangly to the sides, reminds me of being a Little girl and putting a towel on my short Jean Seberg haircut...

Great hat, and inspired to move on... How about seaweed and trumpets?

Stay tuned

It's all about ...ing

2009-03-20T05:00:00.000-07:00

As in Knitting, crafting, painting, cooking, eating, creating and now tatting.

Yesterday I Tatted... A dear friend taught me and I could not stop. So I spent the afternoon doing it. I love the shuttles even though I feel like I have 15 thumbs in my way. I also have a whole new respect for all tatting, it is quite a skill.

Also finished the "Spring fiddleheads hat".

Plassar alpaca which I picked up in France, on 3.75mm needles.

8 flaps in a spiral over 5 sts.

And today is the first day of spring, how appropriate!!!

Egg season

2009-03-19T07:42:00.001-07:00

March is egg season in my workspace. Pysanky is one of my favorite craft, quiet time around a candle, the smell of hot bee's wax and vinegar, and holding an egg in my hand. Next week I am going to our school and teaching the kids how to do it, so I have to get ready.

Another method I had always wanted to try was the "drop and pull", where you have a little stove keeping a bowl of wax melted and you dip a pin, then drop the wax on the egg and pull lightly to make tear drops designs. I thought the younger kids would enjoy that, but I needed the stoves....

So I got to make them. 15 of them.....Hunted in the hardware department of the Co-op, and found copper caps just perfect for the bowls.

Some galvanized wire and the left overs from an old oak parquet floor, metal corners and screws...

And, voila, a little forest of stoves ready to go!!!

I tested them, they work great, small enough amount of wax to be safe, adjustable height on the bowl, a tea candle underneath to keep it at the right temperature, and the copper keeps it even.

As for the pysanky, this year's batch is my favorite.

Drop and pull in the forefront.

Here is my favorite design of the tryptilians series.

And the birds.

Outside the weather is mental again, a great day for egging, or maybe tatting...

Knitting fiddleheads

2009-03-14T13:40:00.001-07:00

Doing the amount of knitting I produce, you'd think I never get out in the fresh air... I do...Enough to notice nature around me, take in colors, and yes once in a while get inspired.

This next hat in the multidirectional series started with a bicolor multi band, then straight with the body in one color and the flaps in the other.

Fiddleheads hat.

And then when I was making the I-cord I started to feel like spirals where on my mind...

Hence, the fiddleheads...

This was so much fun to finish, I started this am, the wool colorway seem to ask for it, and did not stop until now...

As I stare at it, my creative juices are saying: How far can I go?

I left the hat on the head for now, I just want to bask in it...

knitting flaps, next step.

2009-03-13T04:51:00.000-07:00

I have been sick for the last 2 weeks with the retched flu. Barely enough energy to do anything including knitting.

BUT...

I did do some. The hats have me. I keep knitting and thinking the next level, the shortness of time to do a hat lets me indulge in knitting and thinking the next step in a relatively short period. I get to experiment, my fav...

Presenting the twirly flaps.

On this one, the flaps are worked on 6 stitches and 8 ridges. The I-cord is thicker and makes for a good relief effect.

Still working with Noro, I should be getting free wool for the publicity...

Wishful thinking!!!

The next one worked in Silk garden sock, a twirly twist.

As I was working the flaps I decided to twist them to give them even more texture. Worked on 5 stitches, simply took the flap off the needles and twisted it before putting back on the same needle. I like that effect, makes knobby thingies... Left the tails dangling, maybe a wish on my part to have more hair...

Needless to say, I am working already on the next one, this time

bi color, stay tuned...

Multidirectional, a new level.

2009-02-28T15:16:00.000-08:00

These days all I want to do is knit, plain and simple. I love the motion my hands make, I get into the rhythm, I get to indulge in another favorite pastime watching videos, I get to be calm and Serene....

And while I get do do that DH plays with that...

So I did the groceries, made dinner in advance so I could spend the afternoon doing the other things. Multidirectional has got me completely fascinated, but getting a bit boring. I figured that I could take it to the next level:

Multidirectional lace.

Simple lace, that is, for now...

I thought it would be simple enough, just make rows of eyelet lace and watch them go in both direction. Not so fast. As it turns out, with holes every other row, the direction of the bars in between holes line up all the same.

In order to have them offset each other, I had to throw a ridge of plain knitting in between.

Cast on with 4.5mm needles. Used S258, you know who.
Patterns very simple:
Knit 2 rows plain.
Next row: *YO, slip 2Nd stitch over 1st stitch on LEFT needle and Knit that stitch,* repeat until end of row.
Next row: Purl to end of row.
Repeat the 4 rows until finished.
AT THE SAME TIME: (Don't you hate that)
make shaping on edges as for multidirectional scarf.
That's as far as I got today, going to air myself while there is still daylight...

Homespun flapper flaps hat

2009-02-27T16:28:00.000-08:00

Yesterday was another productive day, I feel like I should do this right now, as spring is coming and I wont have enough time to make all the things swimming in my head.

Instead I will be swimming, soon...So here is the latest version.

Cast on with 4mm needles, and my latest homespun, mostly blue face leister and silk. flaps worked as I go along, I-cord added at the end through the loops.

Love the colorway, very hearthy and warm.

Snow falling on cedars

2009-02-26T10:08:00.000-08:00

Woke up this morning to a gorgeous, icy, lightly snowy landscape.

full of my favorite colors, and inspiring

so I made my version of "snow falling on cedars"

A very satisfying quick scarf, with mohair/silk in a lichen shade, with a border of blob blobs I picked up in France.

The day is gorgeous, but cold, so I get to knit some more....

Knitting tip #1

2009-02-24T16:22:00.000-08:00

You know how it is , no matter what care you take to tuck in the loose ends on the back of your work after carefully knitting anything, the loose ends, no matter how or what, pull up through to the front!!!
There you have it, snipers of the utmost precision, very neatly shearing against the fabric, you turn the work around, and it pops, literally, to the front...
Drives me, and others I have heard, crazy.
So today finishing a sock for DH, a light went on...
SNIP THE END ON THE FRONT...
Voila, very simple, when I turned the work around, the loose end did what it always did, sneaked to the other side...BUT, it was on the BACK of the work....
I am beside myself for not having thought about it before, but I had that kind of a day, working front to get back...

And the oscar goes to...

2009-02-23T06:38:00.001-08:00

Oscar day is one of my favorite time of year.

I get to watch glitter and fashion and hopefully some interesting speeches, and knit the whole show....

And while I am doing that DH flies...

He loves his new toy, I have to admit it is quite pretty.

So that leaves me in peace to knit and create some more.

And the Oscar goes to...

The Flapper Flaps hat # 2!!!

It was 1 Oscar show worth of knitting.

I was not patient enough to wait for daylight to take the picture, so there you have it in the night shade and all its glory.

I do think I have something going here, but right now I am a bit at a loss...

Better let this one simmer...

Flapping Knitting

2009-02-22T09:15:00.000-08:00

I keep on playing with multidirection knitting and hats.

As I was knitting the last one with bobbles I got to think about different relief elements, introducing the flaps...

So, instead of making bobbles I made flaps so I could thread yet another element, the I-cord...

finishing with a flower on top.

Here are "flaps" details.

Based on 5 stitches worked back and forth for 6 ridges of plain knit. This gave me the threading opportunity I was looking for.

Of course it also got me thinking and moving still further....

So I am already working on the next one....

No time to blog, just a frenzy of knitting...

Hats, colors and sunshine

2009-02-19T11:26:00.001-08:00

The "Waves of the Nile" is finished. As my friend pointed out you cant see the cables and pattern as well as in white, but I do like very much the colors moving into each other. In today's sunshine it looks very bright.

That only took 1/2 ball of "Silk garden socks" so I decided to make another one...

The head band is made with the multidirectional pattern, stitches picked up around the crown, bobbles to give texture, and again, the colors...

The side medallion is a long I-cord wound around and around.

Name for it?

How about "Flapper Bulls eye"...lol

Not that great but that is all I can think of right now.

Off to town again on the 2 o'clock ferry, good thing it is gorgeous outside, sunglasses are packed, and of course car ride=lots and lots of knitting time...

Silk Garden Waves

2009-02-18T05:51:00.001-08:00

The homespun scarf is finished, I think I am on my way to a satisfying blend of the colors, of course after reading the Yarnharlot post on carding, I am now wishing to own one... Will I ever have enough toys!!!

I was so impatient to cast on and start a "Waves of the Nile" hat in silk garden, that I completely spaced out dinner, and by the time I looked up from my knitting, all the pizza was gone. Oh well I did have a good session.

The colors are moving the way I wanted, luck of the draw, the ball was ready with blues. Colorway #S264, on 4mm needles, looks promising.

I have to go to work, arghh, will finish tonight AFTER I get my share of dinner...

To town and back

2009-02-16T13:23:00.000-08:00

Took the first ferry this morning to go to get yearly mammogram done, was way overdue...(2 years in fact) It was a gorgeous day, bright, sunny, and we made it back on the 11o'clock sailing.

View of my island on the way back, it was so clear you could see the mainland mountain range in the background.
Such a beautiful day that someone went sailing, lucky bums...

Anyway I did manage to fly into the wool shop and load up on more Noro...

Hmmm, so gorgeous and bright too. Too bad I have to finish my homespun scarf before I start to play with this!!!

The green balls at the bottom were just an afterthought, they looked so lonely there all by themselves, and my favorite color to boot. It is "Kathmandu Aran", from Queennsland collection, 85% Merino, 10% Silk and 5% Cashmere. There was just 4 balls so I took them....What to make???

On the other hand, one of my neighbour's house burned down to the ground at 1:30am, nobody hurt, but his home is gone. I feel very sorry for the guy.

On the home front hubby is spending the afternoon with his flying buddy, doing some HPM (Heavy Post Mortem) on one of the choppers that took a dive on cement the other day.

That will leave me in peace to knit...

color color color

2009-02-15T06:46:00.000-08:00

Yesterday was a very productive day, again...

I cast on another multidirectional scarf bi color with the left over purple "Peter Rabbit" and a Noro. It is very pretty.

Then I wanted to experiment some more with spinning, first color combo
Took my time, the ratio is 2 to 1, worked really well. It keeps the spinning interesting as the changes have me riveted to my wheel.

Then decided to make another batch 3 to 1

I was in a rush, not sure how it will knit but the color is interesting...

So the plan for today is to finish the scarf, and start another with the homespun.

Bright sunlight, Bright colors.

2009-02-12T14:28:00.001-08:00

Finished the small scarf last night, as it turns out I did the same ratio as the last one but because of the colorway it blended better. My friend suggested that I use more contrasting colors as in "you know who" yarn, that will be next time.

It is so gorgeous that I took it outside for a sunbathe...

Not having to go to work today, I stayed up and cast on another "Aran Flapper Hat' with a yummy "Peter Rabbit" I had stashed away.

Finished it this afternoon, and it deserved a sunbathe too...
The color is so intense to start with, with the sunlight it just burst in the ivy.

I am very happy with it.

It is a size small.

4mm needles

Peter Rabbit from Fleece artist.

Sample

2009-02-11T06:16:00.001-08:00

Here it is, a better mix, still not what am aiming for, but still lovey.

Nice colorway, all my favorite colors, this afternoon I will experiment more and prep fibers for Thursday spinning...

More color spinning

2009-02-10T16:43:00.001-08:00

Last night went through a marathon of Forsyte saga on DVD and finished the homemade "Noro" scarf.

Came out very colorful, but the blend is not enough for my taste. I do like it though.

In the afternoon as I was knitting I got the urge to try more spinning, changing the ratio of the blend/main colors.

Choose a new colorway...
Which gave me this ...

Home from work today I wound it into a ball...

And here we go, ready to cast on a smaller scarf I think, not quite enough yardage, and energy only to knit after a day at the office.

Spinning results

2009-02-09T06:21:00.001-08:00

Last night finished the scarf and immediately took the spun yarn down from drying. Didn't take a break, didn't breathe, wanted to get to it right away!!!

Lying down on my desk I do love the colors and the way they melt into each other.

Even wound into a ball it looked great.

So cast on another scarf...

And this is what I think. The main colors are too long versus the blended parts. Also knitted it makes too large a block of solid colors. As Cedar posted in the comments, I will lay out the strands in a different order, lengthen the blended parts, am thinking 2 lengh blended for 1 lengh solid.
Something to look forward to next spinning session.
Meanwhile today is knitting club day and I am going, missed my buddies.

Spinning Sunday

2009-02-08T13:57:00.001-08:00

Woke up this morning with the idea of creating my own "Noro"...

After some thoughts shared with my spinning buddy, I decided to pick a color scheme, using the same lengh of each color, and splitting the roving into very fine strands. What seem to work was to spin until 20 cm before the end of the strand, preparing that strand to be narrower and narrower, taking the next color strand and stretching it from narrow to regular width. Combining the two, blending as I went, I got an idea of the ratio of each strands to use to achieve the blend.

Here is the color way.

Spinning went quite well, a bit more time consuming as I have to stop and start all the time, thinking of some way to lay the roving out to speed that up a bit.
Some idea of the colorway, I would call it "earthy rainbow"

While this sets and dry, I am going to finished yesterday's scarf. 2/3 done, I do like the color mix, and the change in texture every other row.

Can hardly wait to make another one with my own "Noro"...

Scarf binge

2009-02-07T13:21:00.001-08:00

OK am on a binge of scarves. Cant stop making them, having tremendous fun doing it and going back and forth between 2 patterns.

This morning cast on another bi color multi directional, this time noro silk garden socks S245, and Fibertrends angora I got before I went on holidays. Yum Yum, no other words describes it...

I think the colors are going to blend in a very interesting way.

Last night finished another potato chips in silk/mohair with the phildar blob blobs. Still 1 hour to cast off 800 stitches but with the help of Lucy Neatby`s condensed bind off, it reduced the time considerably and it so cool to do.
Slid this one in on Tuesday...

and this one...

and cast on this one last night and finished this morning while watching `Bonnie and Clyde`

All in all pretty productive week even though I went back to work in between...Wonder how long I can stretch the `jet lag` thing as a mean to do nothing else in the house.....Oh well made a tajine for dinner so I think I can spend more time staring at movies and knitting my fingers away!!!

Scarf finished

2009-02-05T19:15:00.001-08:00

Another good day of knitting, I do love winter I don't feel obliged to go outside and get to sit and knit all day...

Finished the second scarf, running out of Noro, as my friend says, "step away from Noro" could be a thought right now. Not.

I like the colorway of this one, very West Coast, though outside was grey as I was staring at 2 movies...Love the new toy.

Multidirectional diagonal scarf, twicked.

2009-02-04T16:44:00.001-08:00

As I was surfing through scarf patterns in Ravelry I got inspired by the color change in the pattern "The Unicorn Pegasus Rainbow Scarf".

That Noro is really great to play with. So I thought that I could do that particular color change with the same pattern as yesterday...

Cast on, using both ends of the ball. 2 rows of each.

No problem with first inc/dec. Then noticed that 1 color strand would end up on the wrong side of the work, one would travel to the left while the other would stay on the right.

Good thing I work with a circular needle, just shoved all the stitches to the other side, did a purl row to match the design, and 1st problem solved.

Looks good doesn't it.

Next hurdle was to switch the change of colors to the middle of the row, so the yarn moved back to the right by itself, and the stripes matched. Really I am glad my brain was on, it all worked.
Back of the work, and color changes in middle.

Front of the work, can't even tell there is an extra row.

The back again

And the front, I love how the colors are mixing up, this is too fun...

Ok, my mind is racing as well as my fingers as I am imagining the next project with this yarn, something kimono? Blanket of bands? Bags... What if I use mohair? Fluffy striped diagonals.....A wrap!!!

Scarf finished

2009-02-03T17:29:00.000-08:00

The scarf is finished!!!, not too bad on time, about 6 hours total, the pattern in the wool colorway keeps you going. I do have to say that I was originally reluctant to try any kind of Noro, but, big but, I have to admit that the lengh of the color repeat is great.

So there it is, folded in third as my overwhelming messy desk is still cluttered with the remnants of my trip (plus what I did not clean before I left).

Anyway, a great "no brainer" knit to get back into the swing of things.

Think am going to cast on another one...

Grey days and colorful ways

2009-02-02T15:24:00.000-08:00

Woke up at a normal hour today, finally beat the jet lag.

It is grey today, a calm winter day and I didn't feel like going outside, instead I casted on a simple scarf with the Noro silk garden.

Simple pattern found in Ravelry, am half way through already, practically knits itself...

The colorway "Composition" is fun to use for such a pattern, seems less repetitive, maybe finish by tonight...

Productive Jet Lag

2009-01-31T17:34:00.001-08:00

I am getting settled in at home, though the jet lag is worse on the third day.

Up at 4:30 am, played with the toy for a few hours, went to the library to retrieve whatever they had not returned in my absence, the 2 Lucy Neatby techniques DVDs where still there, and I can watch them on the he new toy!!!

Decided to make some mindless corkscrew scarves....

That was fun enough and managed to keep me awake through the afternoon, which my body thinks is still the middle of the night.

On the other hand look what I found on my desk, a very thoughtful Christmas present left by one of my favorite elves.

Now, what to make with that!!!

This is so much fun

2009-01-29T20:34:00.000-08:00

I have been home for 7 hours and done nothing but play with the new toy.

Just to keep playing here is a happy picture of me last week.

The bag did fit well with the decor, don't you think?

I am now going to finally go to sleep, full of the memories just past, and the anticipation of the fun to come...

Got it!!!

2009-01-29T17:07:00.000-08:00

I got it!!! so just a quick post to say that I love my new toy, and that it will take a few days to get used to it.

Sabatical

2009-01-13T01:29:00.000-08:00

My sabatical is almost over, I am travelling and cannot post pics, will bring up to date when I get back.
Next order of business to get my own laptop so I can work and play anywhere!!!

Mini Knits, Maxi Fun.

2008-10-02T15:28:00.000-07:00

Last year when Berroco published their free pattern for Minutia I got exited, but time never made itself available. Then this year I got the newsletter with Minutia 2008 and I was off and rolling....

I downloaded the patterns and after studying the notions I was horrified by the recommended needle size, 4.25mm. How can that be small and dainty? So I switched to size 2mm, used a lace weight homespun/silk, but kept the pattern directions. figured it would be small but in proportion. Worked great and I started to experiment with cables...That inspired me for the hats. It is wonderful how you can test a pattern in minutia, does not take long (1 1/2 hour), here is the Aran sweater in cashmere/silk.

Then tried with mohair spiderweb yarn and got me a cardigan...

And designed a Christmassy turtle neck...

I had the bug, and while surfing through the net for other patterns I found one for a "Baby Surprise" jacket for a 4cm doll!!! E.Z. would be delighted. Too cool or what?

So this afternoon as the light rye dough was rising and the weather stormed outside, I cast on.

Needle size1mm and cashmere left over. Took me 2 hours from start to finish, the button holes are real you can actually open the jacket...Too fun.

So here is my latest collection, the purple cable at the bottom right was my first try, I am getting better.

Okay, I am in no way near Bugknits level, check it out it`s worth it.

Waves of the Nile, another knitted hat.

2008-10-01T17:58:00.001-07:00

Just finished another hat, #3. The cabled band turned out beyond my wildest expectations, I like the wave on the forehead with the eye of Nefertiti right in the middle. Lucky design.

The crown is worked in feather and fans (6X6) with some purl waves....Somehow I see palms trees swaying on the banks of the river....
Anyway I like what came out, now I have to work out my notes to get it ready for publishing....

Baby's First Mukluks, a free knitting pattern.

2008-09-30T06:21:00.000-07:00

When I deleted the blog last spring I forgot that this pattern was available in Ravelry.

So here it is for your enjoyment.

Baby’s First Mukluks
Size:
Newborn to 6 months
Yarn:
-Red Heart Foxy 100% polyester 50gr/82m
1ball Plum
1 ball Claret
-Patons SWS soy wool stripes
1 ball Natural Geranium
*Please note you will be working with 2 strands of Foxy and that it only used 2/3 of Foxy and 1/3 of SWS .
Needles:
2 circular needles size 5mm OR 5 DPN
1 crochet hook size 5mm
Notions:
Darning needle
Pompom maker or cardboard to achieve same.
Gauge:
2 rows=1cm
With 2 strands of Foxy cast on 24sts.
Close circle and knit 6 rows.
Switch to SWS (1 strand only) and knit 6 rows.
Switch back to foxy, with 2 strands knit 4 rows.
Decrease 4 sts evenly spaced = 20sts.
Knit 8 rows.
Heel:
Work short rows back and forth on the first 10 sts: K9, turn, P8, turn, K7, turn etc… until you have 2sts in the middle. Continue working short rows picking up 1 st each row before turning. When you are back to 10sts, at beginning of main body rows, knit foot.
Foot:
Knit 8 rows.
Decrease 2 sts evenly spaced = 18 sts.
Knit 4 rows.
Decrease 2 sts evenly spaced = 16 sts.
Knit 1 row.
Cast off using the 2 needle cast off method, OR, graft the toe.
* Please note that the 2 needle cast off is my cast off of choice for this project as it is an outer shoe, and the outside stitching will not bother the baby’s comfort.
Finishing:
Darn in tail ends.
With 1 strand SWS make a crochet chain. Chain 50, bind off.
Thread the chain through a large darning needle, and weaved through the 2nd row of knitting of the SWS band, every other st.
Make 4 small pompoms with the SWS and attach to the ends of the chain.

Sneak preview: a new cable

2008-09-30T06:03:00.001-07:00

I have had so much fun working with the cables that I decided to try and design a new one.

I wanted waves so the band around the next hat would have soft curves that would lay on the forehead.

There it is, still have to name it:

I like the way the waves make some "eye" on the edges with the bobbles, reminds me of Egyptian hieroglyphs.

Nefertiti waves?

Waves of the Nile?

Cable wave?

You can help me name it.

Aran flapper hat, take 2

2008-09-29T06:20:00.001-07:00

I was so pleased with the first hat that I made another one....

This time I wanted a braided cable around the band.

And jangly tidbits...

The cable is swatch 9 chart A right to the edge to make it wavy above the eyes.

For the danglers I made 4 I-cords finished with a crochet cup at the end, still thinking about pearls in the middle.

I left the crown plain on purpose to emphasize the band.

I am pleased with the result and started another one with a really wavy band this time...Stay posted.

Camera, light, action....

2008-09-25T19:40:00.001-07:00

Went to town today on a big shopping spree, left on the 8 ferry, was back on the 12, so sweet. I got me flowers.

And a floor lamp to illuminate my knitting chair. My studio is the smallest part of the house and packed to the rafters, if they tried to make this up on a movie set, they couldn't...Anyway I got me a lamp, full spectrum bulbs and started knitting on the alpaca hat...I can see!!!
I Saw in Interweave Knits fall 2008 on page 84 a cover for a new book called Boutique knits. I loved the look of the hat, and the construction. A band around the head, and all the stitches picked up to make the crown. It inspired me.

This summer at a charity sale, I got Alice Starmore's Aran knits for $10!!! I could not believe my luck. When I got home, I have to say that I was a little baffled by all the hoopla around the book. It is a good book of Aran patterns and amazing pictures, but not in my view worth all the money it is fetching at auctions...Anyway, I put it aside. Then when I saw that new hat, I thought I would have fun with cables and went for it.

I started the hat with 34 stitches and got down to enough to make the band around the head (swacth 14A chart A) with bobles every other square to make them stand out more, kept the yarn attached and joined with a chain stitch and crochet, picked up the stitches for the crown, made a band of 5 cabled panels (swatch 14A chart B) only to row 25, and as luck would have it, 90 stitches with a decrease every 7 stitches gave me a beautiful spiral to the top.

When I walked into the living room to show off my latest project, my DD (the other one) asked if I wanted a professional model?

doesn't she look happy with it on?

Mommy can I keep it?

We''ll see.....

Alpaca Sunday

2008-09-21T20:39:00.001-07:00

The fall is definitely here, cooler weather and the fish and chips closed for the season...

So the alpaca I washed 2 weeks ago called to me today. Rain outside, feeling slightly sickish, probably a sequel to the very busy summer, I decided to stay in all day and spin.

This fleece is sooo beautiful that I actually took the time to wash, tease and card...

There it is 1 rollag, lofty and soft ready to spin. I got 9 done and proceeded to spin 3. It is now drying in the bathroom, tomorrow I want to knit a hat...

Water Knitting

2008-09-14T18:39:00.000-07:00

Today was a beautiful day!!! After a very busy day yesterday at our Annual fall fair I deserved such a day. So I went to the beach....

This idea of knitting seaweed in the water has been nagging at me for a couple of weeks, but the weather and mother nature's lack of bounty on the shore was not on my side. I figured that since I had to keep the seaweed wet in order to leave it pliable for knitting, I would experiment at the beach.

Today was THE DAY!!!

I took a pair of plastic 12mm circulars and sat in the warm water.

At first I tried with any thing coming my way but discovered very fast that it would not wrap around my needle. So I picked some long grass type ones and went for it.
With the seaweed like a ribbon I kept knitting...

The sun was warm and gentle and the water kept me cool and relaxed.

I could have gone on for hours....

After a while I noticed that my hands were pruning, and even though the sun was still full on me I got too cold,

so I rose from the sea with this fun piece of water knitting!!!

Also the tide was coming in, and the sun moving away from the beach.

On my way off the beach I stepped on a sweet piece of driftwood, just perfect for hanging my catch of the day...

It is now drying in the garden. I can hardly wait to go back tomorrow, they promised another hot day, and try to Water Knit some more, this time smaller needles and in the round....

Moving inside.

2008-09-10T04:23:00.000-07:00

Fall is in the air I can smell it. The days are gorgeous and sunny, the nights cool and fresh, and my energy is switching to inside. Sunday we knitted under the plum tree, nice to touch base with knitter buddies, I knitted me a pouch to replace my very tired plastic one.

Very simple rectangle which I miscalculated on the width, no problem, half way through felting (with a plunger as we are in low water season), I cut the sides off, re-bound, re-felted and voila. The part I hate the most is zippers!!! I recycled the one from the original bag. Still a bit too soft felt for my taste. When we are more flush with water I will give it an extra cycle in the washing machine to tighten it. It's okay it is working for me.

With Fall I am off to bed at 8 and of course that makes wake up at 4!!!

So I made another hat...

This one is with my homespun alpaca. I spun in the grease because I was impatient, and I can see the difference in the texture of the yarn after washing. Some places have more guard hair than others, a bit rough and twiny feeling. The down parts are so soft and lofty that I bit the bullet and washed 1/4 of the fleece and being Fall it is drying slowly...in the shade.

I do love the spiral though. Plyed the alpaca with pewter beads, and did the ridge in zephyr 50/50 silk merino.

When I got home from work the house smelled warm with baking. DD had made 4 blackberry pies, and washed the dishes!!!!

We dove into 1 at a very early diner wanting to get to desert fast, pie for breakfast, lunch, tea, I wonder if we wil have enough left over to freeze some...

I still do.

2008-09-07T05:31:00.001-07:00

29 years ago today I made the best decision in my life and received in return the single greatest gift ever!!!

So to celebrate I made DH a new pair of socks and he is wearing them watching the Belgium Grand Prix wile I blog and get ready to go knitting with my buddies. That's old married life for you...

I loved knitting those, the colors are so yummy.

This last week went on another binge of crochet hats, this time I used my homespun, plyed with tiny beads.
And there is the ongoing blankie project, it is turning out beyond my dreams, fun and lovely.
In my estimates, if I knit 3 squares per day, give or take a few days without, I should have plenty of time to finish it by December. It will be done to welcome my grand nephew, filled with the good energy of all the family and friend's socks.

Knitted "Crochet" hat.

2008-08-29T05:53:00.000-07:00

Spent the day knitting away, and there it is the

"Knitted crochet hat".

My darling model came home yesterday for a short visit, and while she talked and talked and talked I managed to finish the second version.

Turned out pretty well, has the look I was aiming for, and fits.

The start was abit wonky and the spiral does not show, must have something to do with the knitting being rows. Something to refine.

This is taken straight from my notes, might have mistakes, but just to give you an idea on how I did it.

Use 3.25mm to work with purple.

Use 4.5mm to work with orange.

(1) Cast on 6 sts on circular needle, or DPNs with purple.

(2) Purl 1 row.

Switch to orange.

(3) *Dbl yo, K2tog* repeat to end of row.

(4) Knit 1 row

Purple:

(5) K2 in each stitch.

(6) Purl

Orange:

(7) *Dbl yo, K2tog, Dbl yo, K1* to end of row.

(8) Knit 1 row

Purple:

(9) K2 in each stitch.

(10) Purl

Orange:

(11) *Dbl yo, K2tog*, to end of row.

(12) Knit

Purple:

(13) Knit

(14) Purl.

Orange:

(15) *Dbl yo, k2tog*, to end of row.

(16) Knit

Purple:

(17) *K3, K2 in one stitch*, repeat to end of row.

(18) Purl.

Orange:

(19) *Dbl yo, K2tog*, to end of row.

(20) Knit.

Purple:

(21) *K3, K2 in one stitch*, repeat to end of row.

(22) Knit.

Orange:

(23) *Dbl yo, K2tog*, repeat to end of row.

(24) Knit

Purple:

(25) Knit

(26) Purl

Work rows (23, 24, 25 26) 7 more times.

Purple:

(54) Knit

(55) Purl

Orange:

(56) Knit

(57) Purl

Purple:

(58) Knit

(59) purl

Loosely bind of.

Woolen pancake?

2008-08-28T05:22:00.000-07:00

I have been thinking about making a crochet hat, knitted.I wanted the look of the crochet bars, but with knitting I don't have to look most of the time, and I thought it would be fun to "duplicate" another version of the spiral hat.

Cast on 6 stitches with purple, did 2 rows, (1 knit 1 purl) for the stitch height, switched to orange.

For the bars: double yo, k2tog. on the second row dropped the double and knit all around. The look is right

Worked on increases, up to row12 everything looked right, then I panicked and thought it would be too small for the crown, so I increased more...That's when the "pancake" took Shape, lol.

I did not want to stop, or frog, so I plowed through to the end. A beret for a small infant, or felted it will make a nice change purse...

Anyway I learned something new which is always the point, I had fun doing it and I am going to persevere as I think I have got something interesting going on here. I lean toward using different size needles for the 2 colors, small for the dark, and 2 size larger for the bars, this might give me more height. Maybe a triple yo so the stitches stretch even longer, guess what I am doing today...

Out of cobwebs, into cowebs...

2008-08-26T06:08:00.000-07:00

Got a new load of books from the library including Nicky Epstein "Knitting never felt better", I like the eye candy of her books. Of course got me on another tangent I had to try one of the bobble scarves. As I am reading the tips, she suggests that "if you have a knitting machine, now is the time to use it". Well.... I got mine out of the cobwebs. The poor thing was so dusty and rusty and sad, that what would have been a day of knitting transformed itself quickly into a day of fixing. First locating all the parts took the better part of the morning, by one I had the whole thing taken apart, needles everywhere, and after a thorough cleaning and fixing it was ready to go.

Then of course I had to remember how to do it, another hour went by, but I would not give up!!! I was like a dog with a bone, don't talk to me, am working on this frustrating project, I will get it done regardless of time or need of those around me. What I like about this machine is that it will let me do bulky and even homespun, the needles are twice the size of a regular machine, and it is supposed to be easy! Right. Anyway I did do it, a few rows completely wonky, a random lace look, (holes here and there) and ta da, a very small silk/mohair scarf ready to bobble...

45 stitches wide, 1 ball of 25 grams silk/mohair, final knitting 1/2 hour, complete time 6 hours...It is shorter than I thought, the next one am casting on 40 only, I am amazed if it goes around a child neck by the time I full it...

As I was doing it I remembered some negative comments about machine knitting being not as crafty as hand knitting. Some seem to think that because you use a machine, it is not valid as a hand knit!!! Let me tell you that you have to be hands on all the time even with such a tool, picking up stitches all the time, you have to pay very close attention, fixing mistakes is not as easy as with 2 needles, and besides what is the difference with a weaver using a loom. It is still handmade. You just use 40 needles at once...Way more complicated in my opinion.

Oh well it was actually fun, I can see tons of possibilities, my brain cant stop designing, am off and running again....

Nightie days and summer rain

2008-08-24T06:26:00.000-07:00

Woke up this morning to the lovely sound of summer rain... It smells nice and fresh, I love the feeling of being in bed and looking forward to an entire day inside. It means lots of projects at my desk without guilt and I can wear my nightie all day. Ran outside to look at the trees, the ginkgo that my daughter purchased at a charity auction years ago is doing very well it looks so revived and green, even at 6 am.

Bishop of Llandaff colors are bursting out in the rain.

It also means that I get to wear my felted booties in my clogs, has been a while...

This day is going to fly, I can just feel it. There seem to be less and less hours in the day as I grow older. We were talking the other day of wondering if we will ever get to make all the things we want to try. This day shall be loaded with ideas and creativity. The rain is making me want to play non stop. My desk is a mess of projects and clean up should be one of them, but why waste this gift from heaven on chores. A little spinning, a Little finishing, a lot of knitting, I am loaded with vids from the library...

First a good cup of tea and a stare at my flowers of the month.

Aren't they gorgeous, this is the greatest gift, it keeps on giving. A local grower with a great sense of color, very inspiring and good for the soul.

What is wrong with this picture?

2008-08-22T05:17:00.000-07:00

I have been working on this pair of socks for 2 months...Something about them makes me not want to finish them. The colorway was exciting at first, I made them really big, maybe too big, I got side tracked with a ton of other projects, anyway at the knitting group I decided to try and finish them and look at what I saw.....

What is wrong with this picture?

Yes the toe is wrong!!!! Now I finished that one a month ago and never saw it until I was showing it...How could I have missed that?

Anyway trying to finish the second one and I will have to redo the first toe...Hmmm.

Been really busy this week with making more of those funky hats, plied some homespun with beads, had fun crocheting for a change of pace, I love the colorways.

This is a fun week of work in between everything else, the season is almost over, can't wait for September and to get my Island rhythm back...

Boudoir knitting?

2008-08-12T20:20:00.001-07:00

Just finished a black silk/mohair black stole. I love the feeling of the yarn against my skin, it is so soft.

Did a good old fashioned feather and fan, 6 stitches repeats. Casted 197 stitches on 7mm needles, and mixed mohair/silk and fun fur with a bright turquoise ribbon. Cut and knotted at the beginning of every row for a fringe, turned out very well.

I'll leave it to air on the line overnight, it will fluff up more. This is my way of not blocking, but giving it time to stretch a bit. I feel lazy tonight...

Sunday Spinning

2008-08-11T06:25:00.000-07:00

Still having a spinning bug....First I have a whole bunch of dyed roving to play with. Second I seem to have dedicated Sundays to spinning. Yesterday I visited my spinning buddy and we spun in the sun for about 3 hours. It's even more fun in tandem...The wool wasn't the only thing spinning...

When I got home I checked on my felted projects, another pair of sleepers out of SWS earth tones. I have searched high and low for forms to dry them on and decided to buy inexpensive knock off of Croc sandals at the dollar store. I cut the top part off, and voila, sturdy soles with an idea of the size. And they match!!! You can see peeking out under, the ones I have worn everyday, very cool summer, since I made them last fall.

Also felted more pot holders, this particular pattern is very sweet with a raised flower in the center, but one of them decided to break open in the washing machine.... I guess I did not close it tight enough, it looks great!!! Thinking of what to do with it, another work in progress...

I'll have to try to do that in purpose next time, maybe a lotus, more petals, and it will be a???

Wool surprize

2008-08-06T05:54:00.001-07:00

Cant' sleep more than 6 hours these days, don't you love menopause...Might as well blog.
Yesterday I got my wool surprise in the mail from Shelley at funknits, this was my surprise for completing my challenge on the tour de fleece, as I didn't even know she entered me in the draw from Team Vanisle on Ravelry. 2 skeins of gorgeous Lorna's hand dyed shepherd sock in Quadra Island color. Yummy. And, I still cant believe it, 250gr of Bombyx silk to spin, double yummy. For now I am just staring and fondling them....

The spinning bug is back with me as I got all this fun colors roving in my stash. I love dying too but I have to say that spinning someone else colorway is like a new toy, a new colored pencil box, you want to play with it. I am spinning it rough as it is intended for felting. Check this new batch...

Definitely a new palette of colors and a new inspiration for more pot holders...

Yesterday was a great parcel day, I also received my artistic Wire. Great customer service in that place, the first parcel got lost in transit, and they replaced it. These are my fall colors for a series of "pearl in a net" knitted necklaces.

Can't wait to play with that color palette...

Knitting in all directions

2008-07-31T08:25:00.000-07:00

I am still high from the tour de fleece completion, and to my great surprise, I also won some wool in a draw on Ravelry!!! I didn't know that when entering Team Vanisle I would be entered in the draw. Double winner!!!

I can hardly wait to see my gorgeous prize.

Thank you Funknits for doing that.

After Sunday's high I was still in a spinning mood and got done a small ball of blue faced leicester from Sheeptrhills, fast and dirty as it is for felting and I just need to give it enough twist to knit. No need to set the twist, didn't know what I was going to do with it.

My knitting is erratic at the moment, so I made another potholder!!! Gives me time to think about the next project...Made a beaded rope to keep my hands busy, designed a couple of headbands in cotton to relax after work, and wonder what I could make with the tiny amount left over from the beaded silk/mohair sitting on my desk...

I am looking forward to next Sunday's

"knitting under the plum tree" meet, it has been fun to stay connected with other local knitters through what is usually for me an "avoid people at all cost" tourist season. We have met new knitters here on holiday, sparked some interesting discussions about knitting in public, and renewed knitting friendships with each other.

Thanks again Bethany for inspiring this.

Tour De Fleece 2008 The Finish

2008-07-27T09:11:00.000-07:00

Got up at 6am this morning (local time) to enter the last étape of the Tour De Fleece, I really wanted to finish at the same time as the Tour...

Set myself up to finish the bobbins, my calculations were amazingly enough quite accurate, just a tiny amount left on one.
Wound up the small amount on ball winder ,
and race to the end.

By the time they were entering the suburbs, I was sprinting through the winding of the skeins.

A quick steam set, a trick I had learned from sheepthrills passing the skeins through steam when you want speed setting, and hanging during the entry into Paris...
Gert Steegmans crossed the finish line as I placed my 2 lovely balls (210gr total weight) of sock weight merino superwash in front of the TV!!!!

What a great race.

Congratulations to all.

The Yellow jersey belongs now to Carlos Sastre of Spain,

and me!!!

I loved the challenge, it was a very creative adventure. My heart is still beating fast as I got much more excited than I anticipated concluding this race. Thank you Katherine for inspiring me to do this.

Tour De Fleece 2008 pedaling

2008-07-25T05:58:00.000-07:00

Pedaling fast, the plying taking almost as much time as 1 bobbin to spin. I am being obsessed with the finishing, today being a work day, I put in 2 days worth yesterday.

And it is filling up nicely.

An amazing thing about this challenge is that it renewed my passion about spinning. I am looking at my stash, and think that if I set aside spinning time, I will have quite a bit of yarn to add to my other stash...the yarn one. Now, lets not talk about storage, there should be a challenge for that one.

Tour De Force, anyone?

Tour De Fleece 2008 climbing

2008-07-22T05:48:00.000-07:00

Put in a big push yesterday and got the 2 bobbins done...Another gorgeous day in paradise.

Got so excited about plying that I started right there, even though it was getting dark by then. It will take me the week to get to the finish line, I am glad that I was realistic in my challenge, cant wait to skein it...

Tour De Fleece 2008 My Mountains

2008-07-20T07:11:00.000-07:00

Spinning is progressing nicely, right on schedule, I am very pleased with the results so far. But this week was my personal mountains challenge, with the preparations for the wedding of one of my nieces. I had the privilege of making her the cake....

This was a week long project, I learned a lot, new culinary terms entered my daily vocabulary, and most of all I learned about time. I made her what some call a "raspberry rhapsody", french genoise layer cake, with a lot of help from this site, it was challenging, fun, exciting, and best of all the bride and the groom loved it. A layer cake for 125, my personal mountain.

Best wishes to L & D, as one of the grooms attendants said in his speech,

"May you future be as bright as the Bride's smile".

Tour De Fleece 2008 back in the peloton

2008-07-15T05:25:00.000-07:00

It was a very good idea to take it easy, I am back well rested and ready to re-join the peloton...I always loved the noun as a kid, it means ball, I could imagine all the riders in a tight ball wounding around the roads of France, very appropriate for a wool spinning challenge.

I finished the first bobbin, concentrating hard on getting the thinnest thread, and got started on the second one.

Yesterday being the 14 and Bastille day, claiming my frenchness fully, I gave a good push and got about a third of the second bobbin done.
13 days to go, the mountains are coming...

Tour De Fleece 2008 days 3 & 4 Injury

2008-07-08T17:17:00.000-07:00

I went to town yesterday and hurt myself lifting too many heavy things. I had planned to spin when I got home, but it felt too uncomfortable. So I am taking a 4 day break to heal and will get back into the race this Week-end.

I am not giving up on my goal, I figure I still have plenty of time...

Tour De Fleece 2008 Day 2

2008-07-06T15:59:00.000-07:00

2ND post for today, but really the actual day of what I accomplished.

So before I started this afternoon, this being a challenge and all, it occurred to me that I had no idea how much roving I had, and that I should measure the amount needed for each spool as I will make this yarn 2ply.

I got the scale out.

Weight the whole thing, minus the amount I figured I had already spun...

174gr. No 2 lb here, goes to show I have never had an accurate sense of measures, even in metric which I was born with.

Divided in two, roughly... 90gr on the right...

and set my timer to 1 hour.

This is the accomplishment for today. I finally covered the core of the spool.

Not bad, the hour went very fast.

It's good that the event runs for 3 weeks, I have so much on my plate, at this rate I should be finishing plying as they cross the line on the Champs-Elysées.

Tour De Fleece 2008

2008-07-06T05:06:00.001-07:00

There goes the challenge!!!!

As if I wasn't busy enough in the summer I decided to challenge myself, and joined the "Tour De Fleece 2008".

My lovely Louet spinning wheel has been dormant for 1 year....It's not like I don't have any wool to spin, I don't have the time or the right comfortable place do to so. The challenge was inspiring, I just got about 2lb of superwash merino roving died by Sheepthrills, the color is just right for the edging of the blankie I am knitting for my future great nephew/great niece expected in December. Can`t post pictures it`s a surprise...

Back to the spinning.

Hands are rusty, and the challenge is that it is sooooo slippery I even called to make sure that it is not silk!!!

It is not, just the nature of the superwash.

I set my timer for 1 hour.... its going to take all the Tour de France to make it...

Presenting the Cockle-Shale scarf

2008-06-26T07:52:00.000-07:00

There it is this morning that is cool and grey, the ray of sunshine in my day!!!

The finished dimensions are:

166cm (65") X 30cm (12")

Even though it was a nightmare to make a smaller cockleshell, I learned a lot and like the look of the final result.

Gently folded on my desk, I am still staring, hm mm, doing that a lot lately...
The pattern worked very well even with an unavoidable difference of 1 st. in cockleshell and Old Shale, makes for a slithgly wider bottom edge...
The pattern directions are finished, ready for printing, this work was very educational and fulfilling, now I want to make another one with some of Sheepthrills yarn....

Almost...

2008-06-25T19:13:00.001-07:00

When I got up this morning I was determined to finish the Cockle-Shale scarf. I knitted for 1 1/2 hour before work and got to the grafting stage. Then I had to go to work...

This afternoon I did the grafting with my knitting needles, a brilliant technique I found here, I love Techknitter, and was ready to soak...

Blocking is always time consuming but so worth the effort. I used a technique I found in the book "Traditional knitted lace shawls" by Martha Waterman, (now remember that if you puchase books at Amazon through Ravelry they get a cut)You use a continuous cotton thread through the outside, leave 4 loops at the corners, and tug... This only works on rectangles and squares, I still don't have wires, this works for me, with the help of a few push pins.

It looks beautiful!!!
Almost ready to photograph for my pattern.

Inspirations

2008-06-24T07:49:00.001-07:00

I am knitting in all directions these last few days. Can't decide on just one project, want to do them all.

I have cast on another hexagon for a felted bag, discovered this, and had to do it, left the other half of the cockleshale in it's bucket, better get back to it, trying to finish another pair of socks, and then my flowers of the month showed up....

I stare a lot......

So while I stared I decided to get all my left over sock wool in balls, that was fun, I think I have enough for a baby blanket.

Hats galore

2008-06-20T06:48:00.001-07:00

Thursday is chore day, so while I was at it I threw the pot holders in the wash, gotta save water. I think they turned out well. Not too much warp, it is a good design for felting. Shrinkage was 30%.

Triple side by side

Granny

and the double spirals

I flew through the chores as what I really wanted to do was finish the hat

It fits very well....Though I don't think this is my style!!!

The spiral is gorgeous though

Goes so fast I made 2 more!!!

This last one is with alpaca and yummy mohair/silk with beads that I got from Sheepthrills

Great productive day, chores done, pot holders felted, and 3 hats, too bad I have to work today....

Spiralling in control...

2008-06-18T19:40:00.000-07:00

For the last week or so I have been on a binge of crochet. For some reason I had this urge to make granny squares and pot holders...go figure.

I am never one to fight my instincts, so I went with it. I forgot how much fun crochet can be. It is still wool, still a finished fabric and goes fast.

There you have it the classic granny square, pre felting.

and post felting

As I said I am on a binge. To keep it interesting I stated searching for more patterns, first at crochet pattern central, then of course on Ravelry which is another goldmine of resources. I keep experimenting, making tons of pot holders in the process, Christmas stocking are going to be easy this year...

Browsing through the magazine rack for non existent knitting mags(I already have them all) I stumbled upon Interweave Crochet. Now usually crochet mags leave me cold. Not only the pictures and the models are too old for me, but, big but, I opened it and fell upon the "Yarn spotlight" featuring spiral crochet!!!

Now we're talking.

Great article, easy to follow instructions for a rusty crocheter like me, and voila, another series of pot holders!!!
pre felting

triple spiral even.

For the triple you have to go to here for very clear instructions and picture tutorial.

Since I felt pretty confident about the spiral thing I decided to try the

"Spring Spiral Hat" by Chloe Nightingale. ( Same person that wrote the Yarn Spotlike article)

The start is a little more complicated, but as I am going along it is starting to make sense. I chose 100% alpaca for the main color and a gorgeous skein of sock weight merino dyed by Cedar to make the spiral, I love that spiral.

Stay tuned for felted version of spiral, I can hardly wait.

The picture says it all

2008-06-16T06:42:00.001-07:00

Finally!!!

Yeasterday was gorgeous, went to the beach, swam, had tea and got to christened my chinese tea basket that I got for my birthday in November, worked on socks, lay in the sun...

A perfect day.

WWKIP DAY !!!

2008-06-14T23:51:00.000-07:00

The island was buzzing for the last week in anticipation of WWIP Day. I had posted an article in our local paper that comes out once a month, and that got the interest going. Our small Island in the Georgia Straight has about 800 permanent residents, so word of mouth got out pretty fast after that. On Saturday June 14th we gathered at 2:30pm under the plum tree in the center of our Co-op Ringside Market, the weather was chill, but the spirit was warm. We were 22 strong, which makes it 3.7% of our population, a pretty good turn out. Our age range went from 20’ish to 80’ish, most of us friends for more than 30 years.

Some brought projects they wanted to figure out...

Some even shared their birthday with us, another knitter was born today, that cake came on her friend's bike!!!

Did I mentioned that the weather was chill....here is another friend wrapped up in my shawl.
I decided that a pictorial of all our hands would show best.

Doris

Marilyn
Bethany

Vicky
Muriel
Christa
Shelley
Deb, she was stuck at work across the way....
Mary
Suzel
Anne
Laura
Jessica
Donna
Serena
Jopie
Helen

Moi!!!
Sabina
Maureen
Gayle

Jean
Caro
Catherine
Louise
We had such a great time. I really missed my friend Cedar but she had to work, so she knitted there. I came home completely stoked, full of that great energy that comes when people are gathered for a common cause. We shared, and I feel especially connected as other all over the world were knitting too. Thank you Danielle for such a great idea...

It's 12:43am, June 15, I have been up since 5:15am yesterday, and still flying!!!

Just checked the WWKIP Day site 783 Kips!!!!

Awsome.

Go!!!

2008-06-08T18:04:00.001-07:00

I finally was ready to cast on. In the process of thinking the all thing through, I came up with a title for the pattern:

Cockle-Shale scarf.

It is very appropriate as it is a combination of Cockleshell and Old Shale.

The first half is finished and waiting for it's second half to be grafted on.

All in all I am pretty pleased with the results so far, I can hardly wait to block it, that will be the final test... Stay tuned.

On the home front today was the annual charity fashion show benefiting our local preschool. My Swallowtail squared shawl was the "pièce de résistence" (as far as I was concerned, no offence to other designers) being the last one in the show, the veil for the wedding dress. Dear Allie wore it with gusto and some poise, I think she looked great.

And so happy...

A great fund raiser for the kiddies, strawberry shortcake and tea, fun for all.

Ready, set .....

2008-06-05T16:45:00.001-07:00

The rest of the week was pretty much spent still trying to figure out the programs and the uses of the fonts. Somewhere I found some very useful info on how to graph with a spreadsheet, and for some reason that was the only program I have that supported all the fonts from XRX.

I have to admit that even though very little knitting was done, I learned tons!!! Hopefully the next project design will be easier, graphing anyway...

Here is the progress so far.

Written instructions, muddled graphs, aborted samples, that was yesterday.

Finally realised that trying out with my good wool was stupid, duh, and re winded the poor thing for the 5th time, put it to rest from all it's abuse.

And today at 4.53pm it's all done!!!

Or so I think...

I am so fried right now that am holding off on casting on. A bit nervous too, I'll eat first...

Where did the day go?

2008-06-03T06:49:00.000-07:00

Yesterday started with a crazy desire to design something. I got up at 6, and went right to my desk, the second hat with I-cord was staring at me. It turns out to be very time consuming, boring repeats as I carefully made notes, trying to make the second one not so much like a tea cosy... Decided to park it...

Off it went to the side.

I had made a wonderful scarf out of 100% Alpaca des Andes (L'Alpaga de Plassard) that I picked up while in France in January. Not too expensive, wonderful softness and colors. But as I started, I found myself wondering if I could incorporate a different stitch pattern, and that's when the fun (or so I thought) started. Got my Traditional knitted lace shawls book from M.Watermann, browsing for a wavy stitch....Decided on Cockleshell, I always wanted to try that one out. Of course would have been too simple to make straight out the way it was written, I wanted 1 large cockle in the middle and 2 smaller ones framing it. Figure if I decreased the pattern repeat by 6 sts, would work out fine.....hmm

That's when the day took off on me. The first cast on was ok. I wrote down by hand everything I did as I went, until I got to the 10th row of the pattern...Center worked fine, after all it was straight out of the book. The sides did not want to add up and ended out with 6 extra stitches, Arghhh.

Went to the comp and proceeded to chart, so I could see where the problem was. Was 11.30am.

I have downloaded a wonderful knitting font, Knitting Symbols by CET , very simple, but as I had not used it in a year could not remember the key. So another 1/2 hour took off on me as I painstakingly printed my own key. Thinking that it was waisting my time I recalled seeing another one at the Knitters magazine site, and downloaded that one...There went another hour....I have to say that I enjoyed myself so far. The Knitters one is very easy to use as you don't have to make a graph, the symbols write themselves in a little square using a word processor program. By the time I figured that one out it was 2.30!!! No knitting just plowing through technical stuff. The results were what I thought 2 very precise charts...

4pm, gotta make diner, eat, pee, and looking forward to frog the all thing out and start again.

Here is the paperwork.

The 3rd attempt...

After 2 repeats still doesn't look or work quite right, notice the scribbles on my very carefully printed chart.

10pm, am going to sleep on it...

Yum...

2008-06-01T07:28:00.001-07:00

Yesterday was a full day of creativity in the kitchen. It was my girlfriend's birthday and any excuse to play with my other favorite medium is a good one.

So I decided to make a St. Honoré cake.

St. Honoré is the patron saint of French bakers, his name was given to that very centre part of Paris where later all the fancy shops like Chanel set up.

Not only does it look stunning, it tastes great and the process is fun, albeit quite long. For her birthday I spent my day in the kitchen playing, since I was at it made 2!!!

I found the recipe here (scroll down) very good explanation. And I discovered that I love spinning sugar. I wonder, if I kept it soft could I knit with it....Now that`s a new thing to explore!!!

Hat maker?

2008-05-30T06:14:00.000-07:00

As I was finishing the hat I was musing on being a hat maker. As row upon row of the cording was attached stitch by stitch with a sc of cashmere I thought about my great great aunt who was one, my grand father who was one and my grand mother who desperately wanted to be one but was not allowed...She had to run her parents business. Is it in the genes? I enjoyed the process very much and am pleased with the results.

And of course my new toy is in full swing, cant resist a new technique. Made some beaded ropes...

and a few more pearl necklaces. Looks easy because of the machine, nut in fact is quite time consuming as must pay very close attention. Am pleased with the results though.

I was just thinking....

2008-05-26T19:34:00.001-07:00

I was just thinking this afternoon as I was playing with my new toy. Actually the thought was implemented yesterday as I was playing with my crippled girlfriend, her wrist being enveloped in a cast. She was saying that it would be easier to have some kind of attachment to the machine so she wouldn't have to hold it with her hand. It hurts. As for me I'd like to have a free hand as I find that hours of holding the thing gives me cramps. So as I thought some more, I decided that I needed some kind of "Clamp" where I could insert the machine, then clamp it to a table or better yet my very comfortable knitting chair.

About 3 hours later I have it!!!

2 pieces of plywood, 1 indent to slide the machine in, and a hole below for the cording coming out. My hands are still shaking from using another of my favorite tools, my Dremel contour sander. A marvelous piece of equipment that smooth es all surfaces. I got it last year to finish the bamboo DPNs I was making. Makes the job go fast, but the shaking leaves my hands quite numb for knitting. Never mind. I am so exited about this right now I don't care!!!!

There it is lying on my table, and marvel of marvels my pasta machine clamp is perfect for the job.....

Now for the view with the machine inserted,

and clamped to my working table which is quite close to my chair.

And YES it does clamp to the arm of my chair!!!!!

Am so excited, this is going to be fun!!!

New toy, New inspirations...

2008-05-26T06:49:00.000-07:00

I love getting new toys. I treated myself to new automatic corking machines.

Came with wire too!!!

I had 3 old ones that were very tired. My Father had bought them at a Paris Fair in 1976!!! I still remember the pure joy of playing with it. We pumped out mileage of cording, but I don't remember doing anything with it.

Now am totally into it. Making bags I had used it to make flowers and embellishments, fast and furious, I wore out my old ones. The new ones even knit wire, yum.

So I played with it and made this necklace with my favorite color lime green, and pearls. Amazingly enough, the fabric is very soft but sturdy, sits well on the skin. I used 32 gauge wire and fresh water pearls.

And of course I had to play with wool. Took me less than 1 hour to make 1 ball of cording from 1 ball of wool. I thought maybe a baby hat bound in cashmere would be fun. There is the start.

I can see endless possibilities and inspirations. All other project are on hold while I play...