Back Again

Well, look, I haven't fallen off the face of the earth.  But it was a hot and busy weekend.
The Open House with Dances With Wool at Chickasaw Farm was fun.  It helped that before I got there I was able to get myself chilled completely.
In spite of the heat, I had a great time. I even wove a few rows on the huge tri-loom.  I put in a raffle ticket but I guess I didn't win.  I haven't heard from my friends that I had the winning ticket.

There were demo's of different crafts, and some vendors.  I didn't take my spinning wheel, but I did get one row of knitting done on my Tapestry Hitchhiker.  After all it was World Wide Knit in Public Day.  I got some wonderful wool for a shawl, and a nifty and inexpensive needle sizer.  Some people lose tape measures.  I lose needle sizers.  I also bought a white Shetland fleece to be layered with a rose gray alpaca I had found in my wool room and sent them off for processing at Stonehenge Mills.

I had to leave early from there, in time to get home for Mass, and then went on to the wedding reception with Hubby.

Friends of the family, the groom was the younger of our matching sets of boys.  Some of the groomsmen were familiar faces from the younger years. 

In spite of the heat, a great time was had. 

We even got a wagon ride back to the pond, where the wedding was held.  We saw a bald eagle fly off from a log when we interrupted his fishing in the pond.

A Couple of Day Trippers

It all started with a trip to the former fiber festival at the Castle in Charlevoix. A year ago they changed it to an Artisans Show, with the addition of various crafts in addition to the fibery folks. There were people with handcrafted jewelry, carvings, and hand sewn items as well as the usual yarns and fleeces.

My partner in crime for the day was my former boss and still friend Sandy. We had a wonderful scenic drive up M-37 through Traverse City to Charlevoix. We wandered around and made several purchases.

A gadget box for knitters, a flowered purse type bag (too small for my everyday usage but great for special occasions), and a large tote, as well as some alpaca socks (a gift). I also got some mohair boucle in a chocolate brown, and a smaller size skein in the same color of my late poodle Gilbert. The sweatshirt shown comes later in the story. The pink bag also was purchased there. It holds a watch face. They sold beaded watches with them, but they were all too small for my fat wrist. Sandy and her hubby do bead work, so they will make me a stretchy band for it.

While I had a fun time there, I was dissapointed. The one item I had wanted to purchase wasn't there. I wanted some crazy yarn in natural colors from Stonehedge Fiber Mill. And all they had was multicolored and they had left the natural at the mill. Darn. (One of the gals in their stall gave me a price and a contact to call at the mill to see if I could order some direct.) The other disappointment was that many favorite vendors I looked for were not there. And I really am not a craft show shopper.

I'm not sure if I will return to the show again.

Well. By the time we left there, I needed lunch. So we went in search of a restaurant in Charlevoix. But Charlevoix was hosting another event in downtown. Traffic was crazy. All a sudden, we were no where near the place we wanted to eat and on the other side of Charlevoix, on the way to Petoskey. Once there, Sandy casually mentioned we were only about an hour to The Bridge. (To true Michiganians that means one bridge--Mackinac!) I grinned and said I hadn't been there since '96.

So after we ate, we were heading farther north. And before long.....Mackinaw City!

Want further proof?

 

 

We also got a few souvenirs. The I (heart) Michigan sweatshirt shown above, and I picked up a green Colonial Michilimackinac water bottle. No fudge, no pasties, no visit to the island. But...The Bridge.

And with that we headed back to do some beach combing in Charlevoix and Petoskey stones. After a bit, I sat to dry my feet and sandals. And try to call Hubby, at 8:30.

Before long we reluctantly turned south, entered "home" in the GPS and were on our way.

A great and unexpected day. Anytime you can touch the water of the Straits is a good day. Or two. It was 2am Sunday before I got home and to bed.

 

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But There is Still Knitting

I mentioned in my last post that some of my current knitting will not be featured here on the blog. Sunday with the suddenly cooler temperatures was wonderful for working on my bulky wool vest.

One of my new projects will be shown here at least some. For a while it won't look like anything at all so I can share it here. I have been thinking it would be a good project to try a new to me technique...magic loop.

I think the yarn I will be using on it will be this rose grey bulky alpaca that I found in the stash. I love this color.

 

Yeah, I know, bulky again. I really dislike knitting with bulky yarn. And now I am going to have two projects running with it. This is a fairly small one though. I think I will live.

About the "new to me" technique of magic loop: It involves using a really long circular needle to knit in the round. But by leaving loops of the needle cable sticking out at the start of a round as well as half way around, you don't need to be knitting enough stitches to fill the needle.

For example, a knitter may use a 40 inch long needle to knit a sock. Obviously your foot is less than 40 inches around. The extra cable will form loops on either side of the foot. To me the main advantage would be that the same needle can be used throughout. On a sleeve, as you knit from cuff to body in the round, you may increase to where it is difficult to keep them on double pointed needles. Plus, you can't drop a needle somewhere and lose it. Great for travel knitting.

I am excited to try it.

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Knitting and Waiting

I am still waiting for my check so I can pick up my new car. I was told on Friday it would be processed that day and in the mail the next. However, as I confirmed when getting our taxes done, because of that next day being Saturday, it would not go out until Monday. Not until Sunday did I again realize that there would be no mail then either due to ML King Day.
Needless to say I am still waiting. However, Hubby got the truck fixed today, so I can borrow that for Bible Study tomorrow. But I really want my car.
But I have been knitting right along too. I cast off the left front of the Green Flowy Cardigan and immediately cast on for the right. I also transcribed the pattern, writing out the reversed directions for the right side. I think I am good to go until I get to the sleeves. But that will be a while.

You can see the place where I cast off the front seed stitch panel. That is supposed to be the flowy part.
In between the cardigan knitting I also finished my St. Benedict cowl. Out of alpaca and bamboo yarn, it is the first finished object for 2015.

I needed some mindless knitting while stressing out over my car, and to take to annual meeting at church. Easy relaxing free pattern that knits up quickly, what could be better?
Unless its is another made out of homespun? Time to go stash diving.

I am sure I can find something.

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Reviewing My WIPs List

The Mitered Lace Blankie came off the needles this evening. I can't decide which project to turn to next.

This lace blanket was my eleventh finished project for 2014. I am slightly impressed with myself.

It was a bit of a new style for me. I really Iike the way these last two baby blankies came out. I think after these, I have the courage to try a lace weight Shetland style shawl. I started a circular shawl a few years ago with a cone of boysenberry colored lace weight yarn. Since it has sat untouched for a couple years, I may frog that and begin anew.

And speaking of frogging, I found half of a fair isle sock that I began in 2011. I finally faced up to the fact that color work is not my thing.

Relentlessly I took out the needles and started ripping back. I gained four needles, a skein of white Sockrates alpaca sock yarn, and some lovely tonal dark blue mystery sock yarn. And a nifty knitting basket is freed up again.

I now feel free to cast on some socks soon.

 

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Knittin' Mittens

After finishing my shrug, I have been busy knitting my new mittens. 
Black and gray Boku (a wool silk blend), gray Kid Melange (a fine mohair), and lined with some Socrates (white alpaca/merino/bamboo/nylon blend).  Nice and toasty.
Below is a picture of one mitten with no lining yet, and one inside out with the lining in progress.
So for now, back to "White Christmas", with Bing and Danny and Rosemary, and the mittens.

Social Networking Comes Through

My post from last night came through for me.  I got a reply on FaceBook about the fiber.
According the the amazing Rachel of Counting Sheep Farm, and Ewe Hottie, I was right.  The fiber was from her booth.  I think I got it from her rapidly dwindling supply over a year ago at the Michigan Fiber Festival in Allegan. 

The fiber is her cormo, plus alpaca and silk from my friend and shetland source, Sheila.  It is almost scary how I guessed the fiber content of that.
On the knitting front, I am on the home stretch on the Leftover Pi shawl, shown below.

I am probably three quarters through the border.  Last night at Knit Nite I had a great chance to spread it out on one of the round tables.  The colors are blacker than shown here.  I am beginning I will need to block this either folded in half, with the fan on, or else first one half and then the other.  But the eyelet rows will need the blocking to fully bring them out.
Warm and toasty.  I look forward to using this, whether as a shawl, or afghan.  If to awkward to wear, it will still use as lap robe or afghan.  But I have to wear it enough to show people how to wear it.  I still have people asking where is the hole to put over my head.

The Finished Tee and More

Gertrude truly enjoyed her chance to wear the Blue Henley Tee. So did I. It is very comfy and warm. The sleeves come just to my elbow and are the perfect length.

I am plugging away on the black Northern Lights Shawl, although it is slow going. Every row is patterned, even if only ribbing. And it is not charted, only written. Even though the repeat is only 6 stitches, I still prefer the charts. So since I have to carefully keep track of the row I am on, I am going quite slowly.

So slowly, in fact, that I have been mulling over new projects. Again. For a while I had no travel knitting. My latest simple socks were waiting for gusset stitches to be picked up. The triangle shawl was patterned, although charted. The Duchess of Cambridge sweater is easy, but bulky for travel. So of course my thoughts were turning to new easy patterns.

Of course I have vowed not to start anything new till after the new year. And I will be spending another year trying to clear up some of my WIPs. But in the meantime, here are the plans January 1st.

This is a bit over 2 1/4 pounds of handspun brown shetland and white lambs wool. I spun it for a recent Tour de Fleece. I am thinking this may work better for a shawl collared sweater than my previous choice.

The yarn I bumped from the shawl collared sweater is this.

Again, I think there is a bit over 2 pounds. This was gifted/earned when I made a custom shawl for me. It is also payment for a future project, probably another sweater. I hesitate to use it until I have fully done the work it is payment for. But right now, this is what I want to use for the Sporto hoodie, from the latest Knitty. I can use the yarn plied with white for most of the sweater, and the darker, plied on itself for cuffs, bottom band and possibly the pocket.

The Delivery

Since Evelyn was at spin guild today, the delivery was made on her alpaca faroese shawl. I think she liked it.

No, I am positive she liked it.

It still needs blocking of course, but is a wonderful shawl. I especially like the shoulder shaping that keeps it on your shoulders when wearing.

I think the green that I started plying yesterday would look great in a similar shawl. I was wrong about the fiber on that, by the way, it was Romney, not Southdown, as I mentioned yesterday. It was that Sue Ann grew and dyed. I still have 2 half bobbins, 4 full bobbins, and at least one more that I still have to spin and then ply with the rest. Since I make 2 ply yarn, this will be plenty for an ample faroese. Now I just have to decide which pattern I will make. Although I am sure it will be made in the style of Myrna Stahlman, top down and probably ending in lace edging.

Of course that project will be a ways down in the rotation.

Another One Off the Needles

True to my word, I finished Evelyn's faroese shawl. This warm alpaca shawl was so easy and a great travel project. I may have to break into my cone stash to make one of my own. I only have a half dozen or so cones of fingering, lace and sports weight yarn .

Here is the back shot, graciously modeled by my Gertrude. I tried it on as well and it is a wonderful generous fit. Skinny Evelyn will be able to wrap herself up int it.

This is hot off the needles in these pictures, and unblocked. In this state the edge looks a bit ruffley. I think blocking will help.
This front shot helps you see how the shaping helps it hang on the shoulders. I really love it. If you don't like ruffles Evelyn, I do.

The back measures 27 inches before blocking. I haven't measured the wing span, but it looks ample.

The Home Stretch

Both NASCAR and Evelyn's faroese are nearing the end.  As I type this, the truck race finished a rain shortened race and Austin Dillon named champion.  Tomorrow and Sunday will see the last 2011 races and new champions crowned. (Since my man Mark is out of the
Chase, go Tony!)
The end also is looking close on Evelyn's faroese shawl.  I finished the second lace repeat and decided "Enough!"
(See below.)
The garter rows may grow slowly, but they knit quickly.  If not this weekend, it WILL be done next week.  (Evelyn, be sure to let me know ahead if you will make it to spin guild for the hand off.)
And then.....nothing new for a while.  I will spend December finishing WIPs.  I really will.  Promise.

Turkey Time

Boy, is it dark out, even for 5:00 pm following the "stupid time change" (long time readers may remember that I detest daylight savings and wish we were on standard time year round). We probably have about an hour of daylight left (as I type this.) I am already tired, thanks to the mucking around with the clock.

But enough of my blather. I have knitting to show off. I have completed a bit more on this than the picture shows. It the Two to Triangle shawl from the latest Knitters Magazine, option 2. I love the Panda Silk yarn, and am looking forward to the great drape.

And as usual I have markers to mark all the crucial increases points. With only 4 pattern stitches and the yarn overs always lining up, it is easy to keep track of the repeats.

And here is a picture, such as it is of Evelyn's faroese. I have added at least a couple more inches to this, as it went with me to the genealogy conference I mentioned yesterda.

I had some comments on it. People loved the alpaca yarn, and were wishing they had brought their projects along. I have said all along, I can concentrate much better with knitting in my hands.

Oh yeah. Wondering about the title of this post?

The Catholic church in a nearby town was holding their annual turkey dinner, with all the fixings. Since Hubby gets to that town nearly every week for the livestock auction, he had made note of it and so we went there after church for dinner. Yum. And since I was able to swap his dressing for my potatoes, it was extra wonderful. I can't wait for our Turkey.

Ok Evelyn, This One's For You

My friend Evelyn just sent me a plea on Facebook for a blog fix.  And since, as is usually the case, Facebook wasn't going to let me comment I decided I better come up with a post from my phone.
Between life and knitting it seems like I've been too busy to crank up the laptop.  And pictures are on the camera, waiting for the laptop.  So...my feet volunteered to stand in... (stand in, get it?)  (I apologize for that silly digression.) ...for Gertrude and model Evelyn's faroese alpaca shawl in a quick picture.
It is already in the black hole stage, where it doesn't seem to grow much.  To be able to recognize progress, I move a marker to show where I am when I pick it up.  That helps immensely.
My toes report the fledgling shawl is soft and toasty.  You will love it, if I ever finish it.

Growing Knitting

Although I did start Lizzie's pullover, and am almost to the dividing point for Maggie's Cardi, I really have been working on Evelyn's alpaca faroese shawl.
I was able to finish all the shoulder shaping last night.  With Hubby at the cattle auction, and The Wolfman and Fiddler on the Roof on tv, it was some prime knitting time.

Another Finished Object, Sort Of

Last Monday as Spin Guild, Evelyn asked if I would have the Alpaca Silk Jacket for Betty done by the Charlevoix fiber festival.  That is scheduled this coming weekend. I still had a sleeve to finish and the button bands and collar.  As well as the ever dreaded "sewing up".  However I plugged along.  The plugging was made easier when I discovered using a lapdesk on my lap with the sweater on top of it on my lap made the going a bit cooler.

 

By Tuesday Knit Night, I was able to pin somewhat together.  This picture is just before finishing the sleeve top shaping on the last sleeve. Then the fun began as I started sewing.  I am not a fan of sewing up.

 

But, inspite of the heat and time crunch, I finished it.  Or my part at least.  I am letting Evelyn add the buttons.  I had a bit left over to put with my two skeins, to make my own cardigan.  Later.

But my portion of this jacket is finished.  On to the next one. 

Carlye's Finished Shawl.

The finashed shawl was all I hoped for and more.  It was finished last Sunday as I sweltered in the heat wave.  And I am very pleased with it.
I will give it a bath and try to stretch it out next weekend.  The shower is in a couple weeks yet, so I have time. 
Until I gift it, here is a picture of Gertrude modeling it.

And let's push our luck with a front view.

The pin is a bone crochet hook, with a broken hook that I sanded off.

Carlye's Shawl.

Just a quick shot of the newest project. The shower is June 25, so I think I will have plenty of time to get this done.
I love working with the handspun alpaca too. Hope she likes it.

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