tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33714139669305549232024-03-13T18:30:07.574-04:00Bronx KnitterIt's about how I knit, spin,
rip it back, and start againSharonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13426445654825897405noreply@blogger.comBlogger424125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3371413966930554923.post-83725184145308807772018-07-31T07:00:00.000-04:002018-07-31T07:00:17.135-04:00Tour de Fleece - Lanterne RougeThe Lanterne Rouge (that's the red jersey) is worn by the last person over the finish line of Le Tour de France. This year, that award went to <a href="http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/tour-de-france-lanterne-rouge-lawson-craddock-raises-close-to-dollar-200k/">Lawson Craddock</a> and after you read his story, you won't feel bad for him. In this instance, coming in last was more of an honor than quitting, and the only thing he and I have in common is that I'm not quitting either.<br />
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My lofty goal of combing, dyeing and spinning up 5lbs 8ozs of this Romney that I purchased at the NY Sheep & Wool Festival (aka Rhinebeck) back in 2013 didn't quite pan out:<br />
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This bag of fiber wasn't the best fiber I ever purchased. There were lots of second cuts and veg matter. There was waste after plucking out the locks, there was waste after washing (I highly recommend using lingerie bags). The fiber had yellowed, some of it unusable which is even more waste. I'm not sure how much waste there was, surely it had to be close to two pounds! Even with the reduced amount of fiber, there was still a long way to go.<br />
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I dyed up as much as I could in a week, thinking the other two weeks would be carding and spinning, but that didn't quite pan out either, so I had to settle for a dent in that bag of fiber.<br />
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I drum carded what seemed like so much, and it's all so fluffy and pretty, but I have a long way to go before I see the end of this fiber!</div>
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Since the white fiber has a yellow tinge to it, I've decided it will be dyed a pale gray and it could become this <a href="https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/freyja-lopapeysa">sweater</a>, and if I dye some more of it in other colors, I could end up with this <a href="https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/umbrellas">one</a>. I guess it depends on how much fiber I get and what weight I end up with. Whatever I get from now on is going to be a pleasant surprise.<br />
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And now the tour is over, the last one over the finish line of the Tour de France was Lawson, the last one over the line for the tour de fleece will be Bronx Knitter. <br />
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You can follow along with my journey here:<br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Ravelry:<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span><a href="https://www.ravelry.com/people/BronxKnitter1"><span style="color: blue;">https://www.ravelry.com/people/BronxKnitter1</span></a></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />Instagram: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/bronxknitter/"><span style="color: blue;">https://www.instagram.com/bronxknitter<br /></span></a></span><span style="font-family: inherit;">Ravelry Group: <a href="https://www.ravelry.com/groups/moms-with-yarn"><span style="color: blue;">https://www.ravelry.com/groups/moms-with-yarn</span></a></span><u><span style="margin: 0px;"></span></u></div>
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<br />Sharonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13426445654825897405noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3371413966930554923.post-60682683346727149242017-12-15T18:50:00.000-05:002017-12-15T18:50:49.168-05:00The Dye PotWhat?! How can I possibly talk with you about dyeing yarn when I've been dye petrified since the beginning of wool time?<br />
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Some time ago, I made the <a href="https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/awakening-cowl">Awakening Cowl</a> by my friend Amy Lamash.. The colors I chose to make it in required some red yarn of which I had none. So the ladies of the VKN convinced me (for darn near 30 minutes) to just grab three yards of yarn and some red dye and do it. So I did. It turned out that I did not die from heavy metal poisoning, the jar with the dye did not explode and spray all over the house and I ultimately ended up with enough red yarn to make the cowl. I was so pleased with myself, but the recovery period was very long.<br />
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After watching many videos of "real" dyers plying their trade, which is all still a mystery to me, I decided that it just couldn't be that hard - or dangerous - to dye yarn. So I found some very old stash of white yarn, in this case it was <a href="https://www.knitpicks.com/yarns/Bare_Palette_Fingering_Yarn__D5420144.html">Knit Picks Peruvian Highland</a> fingering, not superwash, which is the same thing as Palette yarn.<br />
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It's a 2-ply yarn, very loosely plied and I'm sure it's about 10 years old. Since I had no plans to use it for any knit projects, I decided that it would be safe to dye it, and if the jar exploded and I ended up dyeing my whole house, well, so be it.<br />
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I did what all the videos said to do and buh-bang! I got dyed yarn:<br />
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Nobody died, the yarn was not what I expected, and I didn't want it anyway - so I won all the way around. I gave that skein away to the first person to send me their address and it's long gone now. But what I got was courage.<br />
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I found another partial skein of Knit Picks Chroma worsted and dyed it also. It looks just like the first skein, but with a lot more yellow. I was not pleased with the color, but the process turned the lights on in my head about what I wanted and how to get it.<br />
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Then I found some white Aslan Trends 100% alpaca that had been stained by black yarn. I thought it was just ruined and it ended up at the bottom of the stash bin. But with my new found courage, I dug it out.<br />
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I ended up dyeing it with light blue, then I sprinkled some navy blue and some green on it, put it in the pot and crossed my fingers:<br />
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When I pulled it out of the pot, I was (again) not impressed with the colors:<br />
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Until it dried, and then I was in absolute heaven:<br />
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I wish I had used more green, but there are speckles and blue and turquoise and it just tickled me pink! I'm going to make something with this skein, oh yes I am! Don't know what yet, but it'll come to me.<br />
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Now with my new found courage, I'm going to have some yarn dyeing misadventures/experiments. My inner 'mad scientist' has awakened. I have since purchased natural dyes, in addition to the acid dyes I already have, and I'm soaking some black walnut husks right now. You know, go big or go home, right?<br />
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Next post will be about knitting. Until then, happy knitting and dyeing to you!<br />
<br />Sharonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13426445654825897405noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3371413966930554923.post-88688153491859967762017-05-29T20:59:00.000-04:002017-05-30T08:35:47.083-04:00May - how is it almost over?One weekend of babysitting my 18 month old nephew, 6 doctor appointments with mom, and nursing one mother of a bad cold. I spent most of this month driving mom around, sleeping off the babysitting gig, or recovering from the worst cold I ever had - ever! But things are coming back to normal, and you should be happy that you can't hear me hack while I type this.<br />
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I did get some crafting done, though. So let's talk about the crochet items on my ta-done list.<br />
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Two Virus Shawls, and I would make more right now, except I want to get in on the <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/groups/summer-stripe-along">Summer Stripe Along CAL</a> so I have to slow my roll, just a bit. <br />
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Since the weather around these parts isn't exactly cooperating, I had to bribe my son and his girlfriend to pose for the pictures. They weren't happy with the conditions, but I offered my son's girlfriend a pair of socks (her choice) and I offered my son my love. They agreed, and their cooperation was appreciated, but it took dozens of pictures to find the ones that were blogworthy.<br />
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The first Virus Shawl was made with Creatively Dyed Steele, no colorway, but it's browns with a trim of Verdant Gryphon Aidos in blue:<br />
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Sky is a little taller than I am , so the shawl is shorter on her than it is on me, but I think it's just right. The browns show up much better on a cloudy day outside, and it's not particularly soft, but it is pretty and a really fast project.<br />
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The second shawl was made with acrylic, which seems to be a trend at my house. This second Virus Shawl was made so that I could write the instructions down for one of the ladies in my knit group. Problem is, I got halfway with writing down the instructions and finished the shawl before I finished writing the instructions! Yikes!<br />
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This shawl is HUGE and heavy and shiny! In fact, it's more like a blanket, and I am sure I know someone who can use this shawl as a decorative carriage blanket, although I'm not going to vouch for how warm it keeps the baby. The yarn is unknown, maybe Bernat, and the white is older than Central Park dirt, and it's probably Wintuk. I made this shawl that big because I needed that yarn out of my stash. Truly, I did.<br />
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The next thing I crocheted was a baby blanket. My cousin and his wife were blessed with a baby girl on Mother's Day, so I made them a blanket using all 8 skeins of Bernat Sparkle (which may or may not be discontinued) in the color peach. More acrylic out of my stash. Yay!<br />
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I didn't use a pattern, just found a simple shell pattern and did it over and over until the yarn was gone.<br />
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Then I did some knitting with wool, and the first thing off my needles is the <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/projects/BronxKnitter1/make-it-better">Make It Better</a> socks. Have you ever had one of those days when everything you tried to knit just didn't work out? I fell into a knitting slump and nothing appealed to me. So one of the regulars of the vkn suggested I make something up, so I did. Thanks Simona! I made them with Knit Picks in the chickodee colorway:<br />
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I haven't written up the pattern because I'm a lazy slacker, but when I do, the vkn ladies have agreed to be my test knitters. Thank you in advance ladies of the vkn!<br />
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I made the same socks in acrylic - just so the pattern would show better. I used Bernat Baby in blue for those:<br />
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I love the design! Not to brag on myself, but they are lovely with a little bit of lace eyelets. I only wish someone would write the pattern down for me. It would sure make me much happier to only have to concentrate on the design.<br />
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The very last thing I knit was the <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/zig-and-zag-2">Zig and Zag</a> cowl. I made it with my handspun from Greenwood Fiberworks in the fruit punch colorway (100% merino) and Aslan Trends alpaca in black:<br />
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If I had known how soft and wonderful this cowl was going to turn out, I never would have promised it to someone else! Oh my gosh. And Jason looks totally adorable wearing it, but he says there's too much pink in it, As it turns out he wants a cowl like that in a solid color, no design. I can do that - but not this time of year because nothing is going to come between me and my spinning. Maybe I'll start one for him in August.<br />
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So that's it for the knitting and crocheting. I'm going to start on the stripey CAL while still contributing to the Biggest Loser Stash Reduction KAL. I feel a Drachenfels shawl coming on and I already have my colors picked out.<br />
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And don't forget, the <a href="http://www.letour.fr/le-tour/2017/us/overall-route.html">Tour de France</a> starts July 1 and so does the Tour de Fleece! Get your fiber ready and join me and the gang over at the <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/groups/moms-with-yarn">Moms With Yarn</a> Ravelry group. I have a sneaking suspicion that there are prizes to be had.<br />
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So ciao for now folks. I'll be back as soon as I get rid of this darned cold!<br />
<br />Sharonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13426445654825897405noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3371413966930554923.post-64871159095782315692017-04-15T16:50:00.000-04:002017-04-15T16:50:06.636-04:00One In, Two OutHow do you know when your socks are at the end of their life? Does it hurt your feelings to have to do away with them?<br />
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My socks have four stages of life, depending on how they look to others and to me. Phase I, is where I find myself taking my shoes off to show them off. Not just because I made them, but because I think they should make a public appearance and I look for any reason to show them off (or no reason at all). Phase II is when the colors change from their original color, you can no longer distinguish the pattern from the rest of the sock and, while they may be cute, the memory of what they once were makes me now wear them with sneakers instead of shoes. Phase III, well, the socks are faded, felted, and no longer look like they did when I made them and even I'm not impressed by them. They get washed, put in a drawer and become 'house socks'. Phase IV is a hole which is instant death.<br />
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Remember when I made these <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/projects/BronxKnitter1/nordic-lights">Nordic Lights</a> socks by Janel Laidman from her book <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Eclectic-Sole-Socks-Adventurous-Knitters/dp/0981497209/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1492287363&sr=8-1&keywords=eclectic+sole">The Eclectic Sole</a>? At the time, they were the best stranded knit socks I'd ever made and I adored them, but that was then.<br />
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This is now, almost 8 years later (which is a very long life for socks):<br />
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These poor socks, while still in good shape, no longer fit ne and have reached Phase II, they got fuzzy and have shrunk in a most unnatural way (or my feet grew, which is unlikely). Since I'm the only one who washes and wears them, for the life of me I can't figure out what happened. They are in such a state that they cannot be unraveled, and cannot be worn by me. So, I have to give them up.<br />
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I found another pair of socks that somehow met with misadventure. Way back when, I made my first pair of Socks on a Plane by Laura Linneman, they were wonderful and functional and the yarn was divine.<br />
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This is what happened to them:<br />
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Could have been the cat, or the washing machine, or maybe even a dastardly moth and her lousy babies. Who knows, but it hurt my feelings. Only one sock was destroyed, and I have unraveled it (I'll get to the other later):</div>
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I already washed the unraveled yarn and hung it to dry, and I've already replaced my Socks on a Plane with <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/projects/BronxKnitter1/socks-on-a-plane">these</a> and new yarn. Now that its Springtime, it's time to reassess my sock inventory, and I'm sure there are others that deserve a good garbage can send off.</div>
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In the old days, when my socks got a hole, I'd just throw the pair out and bought a new skein of yarn. Now that I am on the verge of retirement and money may be an issue, it seems awfully wasteful to throw out otherwise good yarn, so I'm getting into the habit of recycling and reusing what I can.</div>
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While mourning the loss of two good pairs of socks, I decided that knitting another pair of socks will make it all better. However, my mourning must have addled the part of my brain that knits socks because I every pair I started didn't make me happy. I just couldn't find a pattern that made me happy, and every attempt to make socks failed, even plain socks. </div>
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I decided that I needed to work with some yarn that was happy and I chose Knit Picks Felici in the chickadee colorway then designed a pair.</div>
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These are the 'make it all better' pair that I started yesterday, so it's going quick. Now that my sock knitting mojo is back I am not feeling so bad about having to chuck socks that took some of my awesome yarn, lots of knitting hours, and about 10,000 stitches to make.</div>
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This makes pair #7 for the year of twelves. I'm way ahead of my self-proclaimed schedule, am happy to be getting a new pair of socks out of the deal, stashing down, recycling good yarn, <i>and</i> I'm making space in my sock drawer. I call that a pocket full of wins.</div>
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Until next time ... happy crafting.</div>
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Sharonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13426445654825897405noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3371413966930554923.post-534723064068459372017-03-29T07:00:00.000-04:002017-03-29T07:00:42.625-04:00One Sock to Rule Them All<div>
If I had my way, I'd knit socks all day and half the night every single day of my life from now on. <br />
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However, since I have to do other things, like shop for food if I want to eat, do laundry if I want to wear clean clothes or potentially step out my front door, and face it, I have to take my newly knit socks somewhere so someone will see them and think I'm the brightest thing since sunshine.</div>
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My latest sock knitting is the <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/jewel-fair-isle-socks">Jewel Fair Isle Socks</a> by Tina Whitmore - <i>again</i>. If you read my last post, you well know all about the first pair (#5 for the year) which were a fail because I ran out of yarn and I wasn't thrilled with the second sock. At a minimum, they lacked the fraternal twin kind of matchy-ness that I can deal with, and I wanted <i>that</i> sock pattern knit up and in my sock drawer!<br />
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Ultimately, I found some Cascade Heritage Sock in black, and some Black Trillium Fibres Merilon Sock in the Jack Dempsey colorway and went to work:<br />
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While I was knitting up this pair of socks, I had that feeling come over me. That feeling that says these are the ones I will wear - the keepers. With every row and every pattern repeat I fell more in love with them:<br />
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This pattern is written top down, but I knit them toe up with a fore-thought heel using waste yarn (compared to an after-thought heel where you snip a stitch). Toe up socks are not necessarily my thing, this is fourth or fifth time I've made them in my life. <br />
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My main issue is that I have rather large calves and Jeny's Surprisingly Stretchy Bind Off is still snug on me. So I did what most people do and found another bind off on YouTube that works for women with mountain climbing legs. Very Pink Knits has a <a href="https://youtu.be/SbzeEg6XMwM">simple stretchy bind off</a> that works for me and there's <i>puh-lenty</i> of room on my cuffs. Thank goodness! So now these socks really are perfect.</div>
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This pair makes sock pair #6 of 12 for the year of twelves. If I finish early, I can start on my <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/buttonside-sweater">Buttonside Sweater</a> which I hope to wear to Rhinebeck this year.<br />
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The <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/mitten-garland-advent-calendar">Mitten Garland Advent Calendar</a> mittens are coming along. I made mitten #2:<br />
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And mitten #3 which I'm not happy with since the "3" doesn't look like a three at all:</div>
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I will keep going with the mittens, all of them are different sizes even though I'm using the same size needles, US #0. I don't care, they all have their own little personalities, regardless of size, and they're a great palate cleanser for me. They're all made with Knit Picks Palette yarn. I don't know when I'll start mitten #4, hopefully soon.</div>
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Finally, I'm spinning braid #5 which is Frabjous Fibers merino in the chocolate cherries colorway:</div>
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The package said it was 8 ounces, but I weighed it and it's only 6 ounces. I generally don't get along with merino, it fights back on the wheel and it takes me 30 minutes of spinning to get my stride. <i>Oy</i>!</div>
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With half the braid spun up today, I have only 2 days to finish this yarn in order to enter it into the monthly tally for the <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/discuss/fiber-pusher-podcast/3586084/1-25#">2017 Biggest Loser Stash Reduction Challenge</a>. That means I have to finish spinning the other half of the braid, ply it, wash it and weigh it by Friday. Guess what I'll be doing all day tomorrow?<br />
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So now I'm off to find my next sock pattern. I'm taking suggestions if you know of any patterns that require 2 colors, and thank you in advance.<br />
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Thank you for stopping by and happy knitting!<br />
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<a href="http://www.ravelry.com/people/BronxKnitter1">Sharon</a> </div>
<br />Sharonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13426445654825897405noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3371413966930554923.post-56684190765396070402017-03-15T14:54:00.003-04:002017-03-15T14:54:31.933-04:00A Mitten to the RescueIf you've been crafting for a while, you've probably been where I am now - stuck. My knitting came to a dead stop because of something so trivial, I hate to even bring it up. However, since I brought it up, I may as well fill you in.<br />
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While putting my books in piles on the floor of the craft room, I came across a binder full of printed patterns (I've had them since the 80s) that I planned to knit. The one pattern I chose to start with were the <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/jewel-fair-isle-socks">Jewel Socks</a>. The pattern is written for top-down, but when I read ahead, I came to these dreaded words 'break the yarn'. Why would I want to break the yarn? The pattern also calls for the use of several colors which means a lot of weaving in of ends which I. ain't. doing. Sorry, not sorry.<br />
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I tried the top down method, even broke the yarn, got frustrated by the heel construction and ripped the sock back. I don't like to get 'aggie' (which means aggravated in the local vernacular) over something I know how to do and do regularly.<br />
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What ended up happening is that I knit the socks with Cascade Heritage sock in navy and some leftover yarn from a <a href="https://www.etsy.com/shop/galesart/items?section_id=16606865">Gale's Art</a> single sock blank in the Extreme 80 colorway, knit it toe up with an afterthought heel, and got this:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhulRfWzyWcl4yG9vtlJDE0UxKg3f-IbUwFWIO8AorGR6xPjsccdVHx7rdYM7oSyon2WhUDFyh_yhdLfPG9VRvs-MZNxF287msaPCYPCZgCTPvtrLk5Y1ka7lzDFoHtpe8wRjCadCODKv3b/s1600/side+by+side.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhulRfWzyWcl4yG9vtlJDE0UxKg3f-IbUwFWIO8AorGR6xPjsccdVHx7rdYM7oSyon2WhUDFyh_yhdLfPG9VRvs-MZNxF287msaPCYPCZgCTPvtrLk5Y1ka7lzDFoHtpe8wRjCadCODKv3b/s320/side+by+side.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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I <i>adore</i> this sock! I used most of the sock blank on the one sock before I realized there was no way to squeeze a second sock out of it. (<i>Note to self: next time I use scraps to knit a sock, take the yarn out of the project bag to see how much got used)</i>. My heart broke! Here's a close up of the one lovely sock:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguMfwunGdZ2FOrO8UJKcGbCNjBgHuxBd_j0yKWwJHSOEZeDc5PYWdHL1JSoGwPrYhcrlD1Qfx7DHx59nR0suWkXK0sm6x7aKAaL6vXr8-ol3oMpj6znA14lUc27eZSDRaPSvldQKWQKjwd/s1600/JewelSock.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguMfwunGdZ2FOrO8UJKcGbCNjBgHuxBd_j0yKWwJHSOEZeDc5PYWdHL1JSoGwPrYhcrlD1Qfx7DHx59nR0suWkXK0sm6x7aKAaL6vXr8-ol3oMpj6znA14lUc27eZSDRaPSvldQKWQKjwd/s320/JewelSock.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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At a loss for what to do, I went to Instagram and asked knitters for advice and counsel, and the general consensus was to make a second sock with different yarn and learn love the difference. So I found some leftover <a href="http://expressionfiberarts.com/">Expression Fiber Arts</a> yarn in the Unicorn colorway and made the second sock:<br />
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<i>Oy</i>! I am <i>not</i> happy. Worse yet, I am frozen, can't go forward, can't go back. I don't want this pair of socks, probably won't wear them and I don't know if I want to knit this pattern again because I don't want to be disappointed again. What to do, what to do?!<br />
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I needed a moment, a palate cleanser and time to have a good think. Is it in me to rock these socks? <i>Ummmm</i> ... time to take a break.<br />
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So I found some skeins of Palette yarn from <a href="http://www.knitpicks.com/yarns/Palette_Yarn__D5420132.html">Knit Picks</a>:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifNDn_mRbUONIVyO81zIfPuU5sJvXVE-PryOsaUqpyRQ1gSOd7P2h0fRG5K65RAknOs-Gba0rU4_-lQhLujwcN19HmoGFC8efr_p13IeVpXofrcUjNX-ya25s-kibIRi2rHgCAdTxRbddT/s1600/PaletteYarn.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifNDn_mRbUONIVyO81zIfPuU5sJvXVE-PryOsaUqpyRQ1gSOd7P2h0fRG5K65RAknOs-Gba0rU4_-lQhLujwcN19HmoGFC8efr_p13IeVpXofrcUjNX-ya25s-kibIRi2rHgCAdTxRbddT/s320/PaletteYarn.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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I have lots of it, 50 balls or more (likely more), and because it felts whether washed by hand or machine, it can only be something that doesn't go in a shoe. What I found was the <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/mitten-garland-advent-calendar">Mitten Garland Advent Calendar</a> and decided that I had brain space to work on at least one mitten:<br />
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Yes, it's fair isle and fiddly; I didn't even bother to capture the yarn in some cases, but its cute and it put some distance between me and <i>those </i>socks. When it was done, a light bulb went on and I found this yarn in my stash:</div>
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Another ball of leftover Cascade Heritage sock yarn in black and <a href="https://blacktrilliumfibres.com/">Black Trillium Fibers</a> in the Jack Dempsey colorway.</div>
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Now all I have to do is figure out where to put the other socks while I knit the socks that I <i>will</i> wear.</div>
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Thank you, mitten!</div>
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<br />Sharonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13426445654825897405noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3371413966930554923.post-37965313633670157342017-02-24T19:28:00.004-05:002017-02-24T19:28:54.149-05:00Loss of Grams<div>
In January I celebrated yet another birthday. Mercifully, no one gave me yarn. However, as I get older and slower, I realize that I have to do something about my stash before I son sells it all off for $1 per skein so he can make a mortgage payment after I kick the bucket. </div>
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See, here's the thing. Getting older is a privilege, a joy because there's lots of knitting and spinning to look forward to, and other than social security and a retirement home in the country (suburbs) I can't get much happier than that. Being 'fake retired' (real retirement doesn't happen until July), I've been purging my house of all the things I don't want to spend the rest of my life with. Some of it went to the trash bin, three bags full of clothes no one wants, but managed to make it's way to the laundry every week, ended up in the donation bin, and some of it given away to friends who want it more than me. None of it was yarn or fiber.</div>
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Having cleared out a closet of the stuff I don't want and making room for stuff I do want brought me face-to-face with my stash. My wonderful, adorable, sweet smelling and beautiful stash. There might be two or five skein in there that I don't love, but the rest of it is near and dear to my heart. Still, there is too much of it and love like that is demanding, consuming and has psychic weight - something must be done about it, so I'm committed to knitting it down.</div>
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Now, if you've ever gone stash diving looking for a particular skein and the same scraps keep popping up, well, that's a sign that it needs to get knit up. Such was the case when I found these:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGJhfdcQqM_j9wBuG2PAhUhXdgCUcRNgiD2TtkuAnVzghk-2TZtdW3GKSAklhCelj7a7pbyxkYlYN91YTT4wAgcMpDJogFhpbJKURqGEIh87uN3ndFuUQe41JUdsbZ1nxEGe4O0PExBdkk/s1600/Scraps.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGJhfdcQqM_j9wBuG2PAhUhXdgCUcRNgiD2TtkuAnVzghk-2TZtdW3GKSAklhCelj7a7pbyxkYlYN91YTT4wAgcMpDJogFhpbJKURqGEIh87uN3ndFuUQe41JUdsbZ1nxEGe4O0PExBdkk/s320/Scraps.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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I know the top skein is Jojoland Melody, the other two are mystery white sock yarn. None of these big scrap balls are enough to make a pair of socks on their own, so I mixed them up and came up with the <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/flower-patch-fair-isle-socks">Flower Patch Fair Isle Socks</a>. It's a paid for pattern on Ravelry, and if you look at the original pattern, you'll know that these socks are busy as heck, so I toned them down a bit.</div>
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I eliminated the picot cuff, the corrugated rib, the drive-me-crazy heel turn pattern and I added stripes where there were none. Yay me. That makes sock pair number three for the year, and I only used (most of) the Jojoland Melody and all of one skein of white. Maybe the second skein will stay in the bin once I stuff it back in there.</div>
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Right now I'm working with some Regia Pairfect in denim, pair number four. It's a skein of yarn that claims to give you two perfectly matching socks as long as you follow the instructions on the inside of the label. Well, I read the label and this is what I got:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9tYQmFGHgSdzRp8lAm3TBvD7wjm0DraUq-9wWGM7vR8iEab1QS96F88hvGMfSWWupsQP3_Qo60JV-xhe3a2aYTqMS9cqR23qnWbrxjofUhyphenhyphenrazQrlBs4ZRB_Q3WEfftif-O5kNvgAazi1/s1600/Pairfect.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9tYQmFGHgSdzRp8lAm3TBvD7wjm0DraUq-9wWGM7vR8iEab1QS96F88hvGMfSWWupsQP3_Qo60JV-xhe3a2aYTqMS9cqR23qnWbrxjofUhyphenhyphenrazQrlBs4ZRB_Q3WEfftif-O5kNvgAazi1/s320/Pairfect.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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Not so matchy-matchy, eh? I'm gonna love them anyway. The pattern is Socks on a Plane, but knit top down since I'm not so good at toe up sock knitting. These are replacement socks since the old pair had some sort of run in with something that totally destroyed one sock - and I'm pretty sure it wasn't the washing machine. I'm not naming names, but ... <span style="font-size: xx-small;">(Miss Kitty)</span></div>
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Regia is a sturdy yarn, hard wearing and will look just as good a year from now no matter how much I wash them, and more likely to be covered with Miss Kitty's hair than pills.</div>
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A few months ago, I pulled out twelve braids of fiber to be spun. They have to go because they are eight years old, at least, and every time I open the fiber cabinet door something falls out. Who is more blessed than me to have such a hoard? I refuse to get a bigger cabinet so these braids that fall out have got to be dealt with.</div>
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So, I took some <a href="http://www.abstractfiber.com/">Abstract Fiber</a> in the hopworks colorway, 100% BFL which is my favorite fiber to spin. This is braid number four of 12 and it spun up like a dream:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpDe1xudQRvS_UqBreMHRHcShKWf7g9PtaDG4fr6wpZASQM0OYTbHLVaTWoUMEx75ftQRHOlj5o3wmLmTJNWEvUXGKMDBvVNyqUcvCtYHjRjyCDRifjgiAjdZhfH6jREnf8kDo3WaBJjL5/s1600/Abstract+Fiber.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpDe1xudQRvS_UqBreMHRHcShKWf7g9PtaDG4fr6wpZASQM0OYTbHLVaTWoUMEx75ftQRHOlj5o3wmLmTJNWEvUXGKMDBvVNyqUcvCtYHjRjyCDRifjgiAjdZhfH6jREnf8kDo3WaBJjL5/s320/Abstract+Fiber.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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I ended up with 151 yards of this lovely Navajo plied yarn in a worsted weight:</div>
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And because I was so in love with it, I made the <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/bankhead">Bankhead</a> hat with it:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXTcJflw1rehQgIGMTqQOpN3ldHAyYmq1cKxoAGntaNB71j3fMHq8dNcarhM72krPKCEJ_hdHhCW68bFO3afwCyGtHxvbWtYaUjBUR9CBk5TvBldJ9_ZEuauGEvLG1A4A-7GI1JRlQ-bVe/s1600/AbstractHat.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXTcJflw1rehQgIGMTqQOpN3ldHAyYmq1cKxoAGntaNB71j3fMHq8dNcarhM72krPKCEJ_hdHhCW68bFO3afwCyGtHxvbWtYaUjBUR9CBk5TvBldJ9_ZEuauGEvLG1A4A-7GI1JRlQ-bVe/s320/AbstractHat.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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Sure, there was yarn leftover, but not enough to do anything with and I can live with that.</div>
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So now I'm going downstairs to spin the Frabjous Fiber on my wheel that is the colors of Valentine's Day, and after that I'll finish my sock. </div>
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I bid you adieu for now. You can find me on Twitter and Instagram as BronxKnitter, and on <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/groups/moms-with-yarn">Ravelry</a> as BronxKnitter1. You can also find me on <a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCEZBQG6jFR__Aq9LgETa6bA/feed">YouTube</a>. Until we meet again.</div>
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Happy knitting to you.</div>
Sharonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13426445654825897405noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3371413966930554923.post-60963520055003427262017-02-12T07:00:00.000-05:002017-02-12T07:00:08.160-05:00Twelve Months Of TwelvesHappy 2017 everyone!<br />
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I know it's been a long, long, long time since I last posted a blog. It almost seems like a lifetime ago. The thing is, since I started the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCEZBQG6jFR__Aq9LgETa6bA/videos">vlog/podcast</a> on YouTube, it almost seems redundant to do the blog, but I think the blog might fill in for the long gaps between recording. And I know some folks would rather read than watch - and truth be told, I kind of like reading blogs too.<br />
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This is also a good place to 'park' my knitting, and a much better place to for me keep track of it. So, if you will forgive my absence I'll just get on with it.</div>
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This year I have decided that it would be a good idea to buckle down on the stash down. I have too much yarn and fiber to store in one place (my craft room) without stubbing a toe or breaking my neck! Clearly, I had a problem called 'having' which means I wanted 'it' - not to knit or spin, just to have. Which is the <i>exact</i> same thing as hoarding.</div>
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Without throwing my hands up in the air and just selling everything or giving it away, I'm going to attempt to refrain from buying (except at festivals), and I'm going to knit and spin until everything fits in the tiny little room I have for craft storage.</div>
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My first objective is to knit 12 pairs of socks, and so far I've knit two pair in January:<br />
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Vanilla Latte Socks by Virginia Rose-Jeans for my son. I used <a href="https://www.missbabs.com/collections/yummy-2-ply/products/2ply-intothevoid">Miss Babs Babette</a> 2-ply yummy in the Into the Void colorway:<br />
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He never used to ask for socks, and now he doesn't stop asking. The problem is, the very day after I give them to him, he loses one. I am aware that socks get lost, but not after one day. I'm going to have to rethink is knitworthiness.<br />
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The next pair was a pair for his girlfriend. She saw me wearing my Cup of Tea socks by Robin Lynn and she wanted a pair for herself. I used <a href="https://www.etsy.com/shop/WhiteBirchFiberArts/items">White Birch Fiber Arts</a> sock yarn in the Crime Scene Barbie colorway:<br />
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This makes the second pair of socks I've made for her. She has both of her socks. Which makes me think that she's more knitworthy than my son.<br />
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I'm also dedicating myself to spinning up my fiber. Not all of it, mind you. Just the ones that fell out of the fiber cabinet when I opened the door, and the ones that prevented me from closing the door.<br />
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Twelve braids will have to be spun, some of it has to be dyed, some of it will have to be washed. Oy!<br />
I have made a dent, though, and for that I am grateful.<br />
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Skein one was a braid from <a href="http://www.shop.intothewhirled.com/">Into the Whirled</a> called Mithrandir:<br />
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I tried to spin up a worsted weight and this is darn close. A bunch of greens that look like collards, kale, iceberg lettuce and what all! This will make a lovely hat that's not too busy since the yarn seems to be screaming colors.</div>
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Skeins 2 & 3 were a two-fer. I spun a <a href="https://www.etsy.com/shop/loop">Loop</a> bump called overcast, and a braid of Sunset Fibers (she's on Facebook only) that looked like this before the spin:</div>
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And looked like this after the spin:</div>
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This turned out to be more than 500 yards of a 2-ply fingering weight yarn. I could have dressed it up better for the photo, but I was so excited with the yardage that I hurried things along. This is going to make a great contrast color for the hap baby blanket I'm going to make - one day.</div>
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I would have linked back to my project page, but Ravelry is down or technology truly finds me offensive and will thwart my every attempt to be a good blogger. All of the projects here can be found on my Ravelry project page (BronxKnitter1).</div>
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It doesn't help that I'm a little rusty at blogging. Missing details, no mention of what I'm working on now, no links to the KALs I'm participating in - the list goes on - but my toes are wet and that is what matters.</div>
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And if this post pops up because you're still subscribed after a 2-year hiatus - thank you. I'm going to sign off on this post and update my blog page details. I'm no longer Sharon V on Ravelry. I'm also on Instagram (as BronxKnitter) and I have to figure out how to add all this stuff to the page. It's going to be a long day.</div>
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Until next time, my best to you.</div>
Sharonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13426445654825897405noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3371413966930554923.post-91301639031945214742014-09-21T22:48:00.004-04:002014-09-21T22:51:34.360-04:00World Wide Spin In Public DayDid you know that Saturday was WWSIP? I didn't know anything about it, but my friend Sojourn Knitter knew and she invited me to spin in Union Square Park. While we were both running late we got there in plenty of time to do some spinning and to make a spectacle of ourselves.<br />
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When we arrived, the park was crowded, but not overly so, we had plenty of room to spread out. We had seats in the shade and after getting set up, we had plenty of company!<br />
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I wish I was able to take pictures of the folks who stopped by to ask questions, especially the children who wanted to give the wheel a try (no way!), or the adults who asked why we were there, or to let us know that they thought all spinning was done in a factory.<br />
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People crowded around and they were from Copenhagen, Asia, Ireland and we heard things from adults like, "Look, they're making thread." or "They're looming. Have you ever seen such a thing?" and one man said the last time he saw a spinning wheel was on a 7th grade trip to Amish country (he was about 40 years old). OK ...<br />
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It was a good day to spend in the park in an area that was clean, if smelly, in the shade and free of bird poop!<br />
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But, before I left, I popped in to knitting class where there were two new students and in pops Mary Jo. She had on the new sweater she made with her own two hands - her first ever sweater and every stitch was done by her:<br />
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Congratulations Mary Jo! Your sweater looks great and you did it all in two weeks! She knit for hours at a time - unbelievable! The pattern is <a href="http://www.berroco.com/patterns/avocet-b">Avocet B</a>, a free Berroco pattern and the yarn is Red Heart in natural, I believe.<br />
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And in case you think I've been a dirty rotten slacker, I did some knitting too! Finished a few things, in fact:<br />
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<a href="http://www.ravelry.com/projects/sharonv/greatwallsoiiikal">Great Wall Socks</a> III by Qianer Huang, made with Malabrigo sock yarn in the natural colorway using US #1.5 needles - and it almost killed me to make these socks! It took all of my time and attention, and they're going to be a very nice holiday gift. One gift down, many to go, but I'm starting early.<br />
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I also finished the <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/projects/sharonv/weather-the-weather-hat">Weather the Weather</a> hat by Megan Williams, which is a free pattern on Ravelry, using Rowan Felted Tweed in gray, using US #8 needles:<br />
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And right now I'm working on the <a href="http://www.filcolana.dk/en/node/682">Alva </a>sweater by Signe Stromgaard for Filcolana, another free pattern, using Shepherd's Own wool in brown using US #8 needles:<br />
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I hope to have the sweater done in time for the <a href="http://www.sheepandwool.com/">New York Sheep and Wool Festival</a>. It's an easy pattern and it goes quick if you can cable without the needle. Of course, it takes time and energy to finish a sweater, and wanting it done in time has caused me to lose track of which row I'm on - and reminded me how much I dread the words "at the same time ...".<br />
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There, another post with actual knitting on it. Are you surprised? There are quite a few things I've worked on and I'll talk about them in the next post.<br />
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Until then, happy crafting to you.<br />
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<br />Sharonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13426445654825897405noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3371413966930554923.post-15078834172965387242014-09-19T17:11:00.001-04:002014-09-19T17:11:14.005-04:00There And BackI said I would be back, and here I am - again. Who knew that the end of summer would be such a busy time for me! I took a short trip to San Diego, CA for my niece's wedding.<br />
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The lovely Lita married the handsome Leandro, and it was a very festive wedding. Too bad I couldn't find my stupid camera and had to use my cell phone:<br />
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So here's a few crappy snapshots.<br />
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The newly married Lita and Leandro (yes, he's wearing tennis shoes and yes, her hair is brown, blonde and red, but they're young and unconventional);<br />
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The first dance. Leandro called Lita his soul mate and team partner, that he wouldn't be anywhere without her. It was so sweet!<br />
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The cake topper, which I found interesting, but I'm too old to appreciate:<br />
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The parents of the bride, Joe, Lita, Leandro and Jeannie:<br />
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And just the siblings, Cyndy, Joe and me:<br />
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I'm happy to say that my brother, is doing well and in good spirits. He moves a little slower (don't we all?), but he has the same sense of humor and as much vigor, not to mention inner strength, as he's always had. I pray he goes into remission and stays there so we can all grow old together.<br />
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When the wedding was all over and done with, we all went our separate ways, Cyndy, Greg and family (three sons, Joe, Dan and Ed) went back to Seneca Falls, I came home to the Bronx and Lita and Leandro went back to Colorado.<br />
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We danced and sang and did all the things we could pack in to a family reunion, such as it was, but my best memory, aside from seeing Joe in good spirits, is this:<br />
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The happy reunion in California was <i>happy </i>and that's what I want to remember forever. Sharonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13426445654825897405noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3371413966930554923.post-2688356073639378192014-08-20T01:33:00.000-04:002014-08-20T01:33:58.209-04:00Failure to LaunchOnce upon a time, a lady started a knitting blog - and then one day, without so much as a fare thee well, her blog died. The end.<br />
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The blog may have taken a back seat because of other <a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCEZBQG6jFR__Aq9LgETa6bA/videos">things</a>, but the knitting - among other things - did not. I spent my summer exploring options to knitting.<br />
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For instance, I was 'fadoodling' around on YouTube and came across a few videos about making paper beads, so I thought I'd give it a try. I found some old wrapping paper, you know, the good kind that doesn't rip when you cut it, and gave paper beads a try:<br />
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Not too shabby, and a nice break in the knitting action. All I need to do is learn how to cut in a straight line so my beads will be the same size and poof! I'll have a new craft that'll last as long as my vision holds out.<br />
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I went to Wal-Mart one day and found myself in the craft aisle. As I bypassed the acrylic yarns and the crochet cotton section, I came across some crafts for $1.00 or less. I was with my friend Maria who can spend two hours trying to choose between two colors of the same yarn (true story!), and while she was in quiet contemplation I made my way to the cross stitch section and found two little kits for 97 cents. Jackpot! I found this:<br />
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So while everyone is spending a pretty penny on patterns from The Frosted Pumpkin, which costs a pretty penny and the pieces are rather large, I got to do some stitching on the cheap. Yay me! Now I know that I would never finish a big piece of stitching because I just don't have that big of a desire to do so. Got that out of my system and I feel better about it.<br />
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Did you notice that there wasn't one blog post about my spinning for the Tour de Fleece? I saved it for the Ravelry forum, but I did get some spinning done:<br />
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I love spinning. I really do.<br />
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And I did some knitting too. I made the <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/projects/sharonv/lavender-cardigan">Lavender </a>Cardigan for my neighbor's daughter using Valley Yarns Goshen in the linen colorway:<br />
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The sweater was supposed to be for me, but the pattern is written for one size - and it's not my size. However, anyone who knows math can upsize the sweater, but not me. Even if I knew how to change stitches to inches, I would lie to myself about how 'round' I really am and I'd still have gotten it wrong.<br />
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And with the leftover yarn I made the <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/projects/sharonv/oaklet-shawl-2">Oaklet Shawl</a>:<br />
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And there's more of that yarn around here, mercifully only a skein or two. This shawl is going to charity.<br />
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There's way more that got made, and not blogged about, but I'm going to save that for the next post which will happen in a few days - not months.<br />
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For now, Miss Kitty and I are going to sign off and wish you all happy knitting.<br />
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<br />Sharonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13426445654825897405noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3371413966930554923.post-72186899483261649122014-06-26T23:15:00.000-04:002014-06-26T23:15:57.922-04:00The End & The BeginningI have so much to say and so little time to say it lately. The podcasting is a little more time consuming than I thought it would be, but I have no regrets - other than that blogging seems to have taken a back seat.<br />
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Not everyone is interested in video podcasts, so I think it only fair that I share what I can't fit into a 30 minute time slot, along with other things I didn't get to talk about.<br />
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First, there's my newly bound off socks called <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/ugly-duckling-socks">Ugly Duckling Socks</a> by Karin Aida:<br />
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I used to spin yarn and put it in my stash bin because a) my handspun never looks like the braid of fiber I ordered and it takes some getting used to seeing it in yarn form, and b) sometimes the yarn is just too busy. Lately, however, I've had a second look at the hand spun in my stash - and as the saying goes 'there's a lid for every pot' and for my wildly beautiful and colorful handspun, there is a solid colored companion to rein it in with.<br />
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The socks being fraternal doesn't even bother me, every 'box' has it's own identity and I love each and every stitch. I love the socks, but I love more that I don't <i>have</i> to knit anymore - all socks going forward are at will.<br />
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And then there is the heartbreak that is the <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/monkey">Monkey </a>Socks by Cookie A:<br />
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Honestly, the skein of <a href="http://www.pagewoodfarm.com/hand-dyed-yarns-134.htm">Pagewood Farms</a> in lilac fields (#42) was not impressive, and while I was making the socks I still wasn't impressed, but then, when they were washed and blocked - awesome! Imagine my heartbreak when trying to get them on my feet only to find that they wouldn't go past my heel! Shucks!<br />
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The last two pairs of socks fulfill my commitment to make 26 pairs of socks in 12 months. I did it! I had my doubts, but I powered through - I even made socks I didn't want to make, with patterns that were poorly written, and quite a few pages long. Whew!<br />
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So, you'd think I would have had enough, right? Not so fast! I've been seeing the <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/mystik-spiral-socks">Mystik Spiral</a> socks pattern go viral and it seems like everyone has a pair, or two, and I've been drooling over this pattern since I don't know when. I was saving my self-striping yarn for a special occasion - like the end of the 52/26 pair plunge, apparently, and now I have a chance to have a pair of my own. Woo hoo!<br />
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The <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/groups/moms-with-yarn">Moms With Yarn</a> Ravelry group will be hosting a sock KAL in July, and while you may think I've had enough of sock knitting to last me a lifetime - or at least another year - au contraire, mon ami! I picked out yarn from stash: <a href="https://www.etsy.com/shop/FishknitsYarn?ref=shopsection_shophome_leftnav">Fishknits Yarn</a> in the Fuji - Fight Like a Girl colorway and purchased the pattern today:<br />
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And I am ready to go! Only four days until we start and Tracey is cooking up the details as I type. I won't win any prize other than a new pair of socks, that is, and I'm still excited. Yay!<br />
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Finally, with the Tour de France/Fleece coming up, I'll have handspun galore - maybe. I'm not going to join any of the Ravelry teams this year, I'm just going to enjoy the race on TV while I spin and cheer on my favorites (whoever they are this year). Maybe this year I'll just get the t-shirt.Sharonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13426445654825897405noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3371413966930554923.post-28209955162136694882014-06-25T19:03:00.003-04:002014-06-25T19:03:39.736-04:00Moms With Yarn - Episode 6<div style="text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Happy Summertime!</span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Finished Objects:</span></b><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Tracey:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.ravelry.com/projects/tbmccarthy/tiny-tea-leaves-cardi">Tiny Tea Leaves Cardi</a> by Melissa LaBarre. This is the first of two sweaters for each of her daughters, this size 8 is for her middle child. Just needs two buttons and to have the ends woven in. Good thing she had the notion to make a larger size when she started - two years ago!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Sharon:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.ravelry.com/projects/sharonv/monkey">Monkey Socks </a>by Cookie A. I made them for myself using my pink Susan Bates needles, because pink = US #2. As it turns out, they're pink, alright, but they're US #1 and as a result, the socks don't fit. Luckily, they have a home to go to.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It also means that I'll have to make another pair.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.ravelry.com/projects/sharonv/lonely-skein">Lonely Skein</a> by Diana Rozenshteyn. Made with US #6 needles and mystery yarn. This pattern is too pretty to make with yarn I didn't enjoy, so I'll make another with yarn I spun myself.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Works in Progress:</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Tracey:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.ravelry.com/projects/tbmccarthy/tiny-tea-leaves-cardi">Tiny Tea Leaves Cardi</a> by Melissa LaBarre, size 6, for her youngest child.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.ravelry.com/projects/tbmccarthy/skyp-rib-socks">Skyp Rib Socks</a> by Adrienne Ku. One done, one to go and Tracey isn't feeling the love! She needs suggestions for sock patterns - so feel free to leave your non-cable sock suggestions for Tracey in the episode thread of our Ravelry forum <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/groups/moms-with-yarn">Moms With Yarn</a>.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And while you're offering up your suggestions: why not join the group? That's where you can get details about our upcoming KAL.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Sharon:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.ravelry.com/projects/sharonv/ugly-duckling-socks">Ugly Duckling Socks</a> by Karin Aida. I used my handspun Rambouillet, so these socks are far from ugly ducklings!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">You'll need to watch the podcast to see what <a href="http://bunniphish.wordpress.com/">Heather</a> <strike>made</strike> enticed me buy! Luckily I have a supplier - thanks <a href="http://shop.shespins.com/products">Juanita</a>!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>Sharonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13426445654825897405noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3371413966930554923.post-6041077733931642782014-06-19T00:24:00.001-04:002014-06-19T00:24:37.931-04:00Moms With Yarn - Episode 5<div style="text-align: left;">
There was a lot of show and tell this week!</div>
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I must have fallen down the rabbit hole is the only reason I can think why this post is going up one week after recording. </div>
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<b>Finished Objects</b><br />
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Tracey:<br />
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<a href="http://www.ravelry.com/projects/tbmccarthy/little-oak-2">Little Oak Cardigan</a> by Alana Dakos<br />
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<a href="http://www.ravelry.com/projects/tbmccarthy/my-knitted-heart-vanilla-socks-4">My Knitted Heart Vanilla Socks</a> by Elizabeth Suarez<br />
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<br />
Sharon:<br />
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<a href="http://www.ravelry.com/projects/sharonv/show-off-stranded-socks">Show Off Stranded Socks</a> by Anne Campbell<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.ravelry.com/projects/sharonv/lavender-cardigan">Lavender Cardigan</a> by Schneckenstrik<br />
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<a href="http://www.ravelry.com/projects/sharonv/torrent">Torrent Socks</a> by Emily Wessel and Alexa Ludeman<br />
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<br />
<b>Works in Progress</b><br />
<br />
Tracey:<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.ravelry.com/projects/tbmccarthy/skyp-rib-socks">Skyp Rib Socks</a> by Adrienne Ku<br />
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<br />
Sharon:<br />
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Lonely Skein (which hasn't yet been uploaded to Ravelry, shame on me!)<br />
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<b>Tools</b><br />
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Tracey gave up on the Kollage Square Needles, they just weren't her cup of tea, so she went back to using her go-to needles which are Chiao Goo needles.<br />
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I tried the Nova Cubics which are square needles, and I love them! I ordered two sets from <a href="http://www.jimmybeanswool.com/secure-html/onlineec/searchSite.asp?keyword=Nova%20cubics">Jimmy Beans Wool</a>.<br />
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If you are so inclined, pop on over to our <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/groups/moms-with-yarn">Ravelry group</a>. Tracey and I are cooking something up for a KAL and a prize, but you'll have to wait until next week to find out the details - only because we're still working that out.<br />
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<br />Sharonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13426445654825897405noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3371413966930554923.post-88993458053502572932014-05-29T21:40:00.000-04:002014-05-29T21:40:14.018-04:00Moms With Yarn - Episode 4<br />
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Tracey and I managed to crank out one finished object each!<br />
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Finished:<br />
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Sharon: Broken Seed Stitch Socks by handepande (free Ravelry download)<br />
US #1/2.25mm needles / Cascade Heritage Sock Yarn & String Theory Bluestocking (multi)<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1WrSZ6h7KAryf1GsuqH73f6lQEjPO_Yk8cXWb7RwwIeq_eQwI52qt0Ut9CDhwdtD-DKUUIJfRQ2U-hCHOLHJwaiF4S334InLv0RKcTlZN1fSve4cEHA54in4dfkNVaoBnpS2UtLt59vED/s1600/DSCN4992.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1WrSZ6h7KAryf1GsuqH73f6lQEjPO_Yk8cXWb7RwwIeq_eQwI52qt0Ut9CDhwdtD-DKUUIJfRQ2U-hCHOLHJwaiF4S334InLv0RKcTlZN1fSve4cEHA54in4dfkNVaoBnpS2UtLt59vED/s1600/DSCN4992.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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Tracey: My Knitted Heart Socks by Elizabeth Suarez<br />
US #1.5/2.25mm needles / Blue Moon Fiber Arts lightweight<br />
Tracey learned how to do the kitchner stitch using <a href="http://www.knitty.com/ISSUEsummer04/FEATtheresasum04.html">this</a> site, and she scored her yarn from <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/people/sandjul/stash/trade">here</a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSs4Si9JHarFmX_s2nOHxh7wlZc-WnDV1R5wC4AeqVMkp6RcvpZJquZkIg_6JR1jUpYupSwaodlgu1r6hGDNTdoOmM-IAKmLzxbT6zpYo92Ygbi85t0N64onEj240G7o1DpBmtYwxoq_BC/s1600/TBM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSs4Si9JHarFmX_s2nOHxh7wlZc-WnDV1R5wC4AeqVMkp6RcvpZJquZkIg_6JR1jUpYupSwaodlgu1r6hGDNTdoOmM-IAKmLzxbT6zpYo92Ygbi85t0N64onEj240G7o1DpBmtYwxoq_BC/s1600/TBM.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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WIPs:<br />
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Sharon: Lavender Cardigan by Schneckenstrick, test knit socks to be named<br />
Tracey: Little Oak Cardigan by Alana Dakos, another pair of My Knitted Heart Socks<br />
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<br />
We also have a Ravelry forum called <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/groups/moms-with-yarn">Moms With Yarn</a>, and you don't have to be a mom to join, so won't you pop on over and see what that's all about.<br />
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A huge thank you to:<br />
<br />
Heather of the <a href="http://bunniphish.wordpress.com/">Bunniphish Crafts Podcast</a><br />
Diane of <a href="http://knitabullspodcast.blogspot.com/">Knitabulls Podcast</a><br />
James and Dawn of <a href="http://wolfefarms.blogspot.com/">Wolfe Farms Podcast</a><br />
To all the people that joined our Ravelry group and subscribed to us on <a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCEZBQG6jFR__Aq9LgETa6bA/videos">YouTube</a>! <br />
<i>Thank you, gracias, merci, dziękuję</i><br />
<br />
If you have any questions about anything we talked about in the video, please don't hesitate to ask.<br />
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<br />
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<br />Sharonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13426445654825897405noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3371413966930554923.post-46820350905252195142014-05-19T07:00:00.000-04:002014-05-19T07:00:00.212-04:00Steal AwayOn Saturday, I was up at 3:45 a.m., hot into a cab and went to the Port Authority where I met up with Sojourn Knitter, then hopped onto a bus to Northampton, MA. Why?<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWhC-P27kxTyFhhh9ldjzeJvzAVTkM0HXwCL9SNySz9LNyllFSbrQHzkr_XwT3T8u0xRsn1f6ohp7Imz85_2kX0EvVAS3GOvXczX5jg2nwOO18Xnn-ZS47ln5hYmUVQHwtDJlrWImXT79E/s1600/DSCN4981.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWhC-P27kxTyFhhh9ldjzeJvzAVTkM0HXwCL9SNySz9LNyllFSbrQHzkr_XwT3T8u0xRsn1f6ohp7Imz85_2kX0EvVAS3GOvXczX5jg2nwOO18Xnn-ZS47ln5hYmUVQHwtDJlrWImXT79E/s1600/DSCN4981.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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I went to <a href="http://www.yarn.com/">WEBS</a>! It's been on my bucket list for years, and my friend and 'road dog' traveled all morning in the dead of dark to arrived at about 10:30a. When we got off the Peter Pan bus, we walked to the store, a mere four blocks away.<br />
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Seeing the store, which I thought was much larger than it was, I was not disappointed. If you ever went to Seaport Yarns when it was at the seaport, WEBS is that size, which is pretty impressive.<br />
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With no plan, my shopping list was short and there was only one imperative - no sock yarn. I have plenty and even though I was trying to stash down (and because sock yarn doesn't count as stash), I went off the rails. Honestly, how can I say no to yarn at $3.79/ball?<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS8jroLXmNDgg6EBJiF1eAx0kOOqX47Kzrj23HVJNNAjLpVN_2kjs7ohnd4mueIDZKH0N-igIoi9pew5K9W2phEXkcKgpWvYnSD_YmRAY-Ey2RdbYte70e3vT-NCT6hRKOXb2YY0mXq5xJ/s1600/DSCN4983.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS8jroLXmNDgg6EBJiF1eAx0kOOqX47Kzrj23HVJNNAjLpVN_2kjs7ohnd4mueIDZKH0N-igIoi9pew5K9W2phEXkcKgpWvYnSD_YmRAY-Ey2RdbYte70e3vT-NCT6hRKOXb2YY0mXq5xJ/s1600/DSCN4983.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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There were vendors outside, and there were the tents and there were even items for $1.00. Yes, the lines were long, and you should have seen the folks who were clearing off those tables! They had shopping carts full. Yikes!</div>
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Inside the showroom, there was everything you could possibly want in yarn, fiber, needles, patterns, and books at 30% off! I was in heaven!</div>
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So here's the haul:</div>
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A bag from Stitched by <a href="http://stitchedbyjessalu.bigcartel.com/">JessaLu</a>, not on sale, but cute as a 'gift wrap' since I plan to put a gift in it. Her shop is closed until June because she's vending on the road, but she has some really pretty bags and she is so nice.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9oONwr0HV1PwDpVltAlp_u1zHXYsnHe3JMnKBm2V_osTp0eVzEAPJpR5Nc1JtbqWCOxywBBNilX0AuQhumg9TdUhR4HW2KOxBAeeQhFCZ1sb4noIH1DaLi7yHxbHTV03aNGpLPeniBJcd/s1600/DSCN4985.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9oONwr0HV1PwDpVltAlp_u1zHXYsnHe3JMnKBm2V_osTp0eVzEAPJpR5Nc1JtbqWCOxywBBNilX0AuQhumg9TdUhR4HW2KOxBAeeQhFCZ1sb4noIH1DaLi7yHxbHTV03aNGpLPeniBJcd/s1600/DSCN4985.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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There was a table full of coned yarn, and this cone weighs 2.5 ounces and only cost $20. I don't know about you, but that's a lot of cotton for a really good price:<br />
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I've been coveting these books by Ysolda Teague for a long time, and I could only find books 1 & 3, and they were 30% off. And of course, I never have enough US #2 needles:<br />
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Lastly, I did buy some yarn, but I'm going to hold out showing it here in case I don't get to use it until who knows when. Maybe I'll flash it on the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCEZBQG6jFR__Aq9LgETa6bA/videos">Moms With Yarn</a> podcast ...<br />
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The upside of having gone to WEBS was that it is now off my bucket list and in my memory bank. It was time (and money) well spent. The lines were long, but they went fast and I made a new friend while waiting. I bumped into Mimers66 (Amy) of the <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/groups/hudson-valley-knits">Hudson Valley Knits Podcast</a> and her friend Sandy.<br />
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Would I go again? Absolutely!Sharonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13426445654825897405noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3371413966930554923.post-84283994345154194082014-05-14T15:09:00.000-04:002014-05-14T15:09:27.907-04:00Moms With Yarn - Episode 3Sharon & Tracey are knitting and talking about it in episode 3 of Moms With Yarn.<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/nbGNvgvbrww?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
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Finished Objects:<br />
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Sharon: <br />
Pattern: Cable Rib Socks by Erica Alexander from <i>Interweave Knits Favorite Socks</i><br />
Yarn: Austermann Step (multi) / Creatively Dyed in the Ancient colorway<br />
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Oaklet Shawl by Megan Goodacre (free Ravelry download)<br />
Yarn: Handspun Punta yarn in the Fall 05 colorway<br />
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Tracey: <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/lin-lin-shawl">Lin Lin Shawl</a> by Yoko Johnston (paid for pattern on Ravelry)<br />
Yarn: Plucky Knitter Scholar in the Headboard colorway<br />
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Works in Progress:<br />
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Sharon:<br />
<a href="http://www.ravelry.com/projects/sharonv/broken-seed-stitch-socks-2">Broken Seed Stitch socks</a><br />
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Tracey:<br />
<a href="http://www.ravelry.com/projects/tbmccarthy/my-knitted-heart-vanilla-socks">My Knitted Heart Socks</a><br />
<a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/little-oak">Little Oak Cardigan</a><br />
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Thank you to all the people who watched our first two episodes, subscribed to our channel and left comments - especially those who left feedback. Tracey & I are trying to get better at the tech stuff.<br />
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<br />Sharonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13426445654825897405noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3371413966930554923.post-2250918835112723042014-05-13T15:30:00.001-04:002014-05-13T15:30:52.068-04:00Punta From Start to New BeginningSome time ago, I purchased some Punta fiber from <a href="http://shop.shespins.com/">She Spins</a> because it was pretty and I'd never heard of Punta. I was intrigued by the fiber, but was sucked in by the colors.<br />
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I'm always willing to try something new and lately I've been doing a lot of spinning. The colorway is Fall 05, but I think the colors look more like Summer, so I put off spinning it. Not that it matters <i>when</i> it gets spun, just that I spin it well enough to make something out of it.<br />
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When it was all done up: I was tickled pink (and orange and yellow and ...):<br />
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My 2-ply yarn had 423 yards.. I was trying to figure what I could make with all that yardage and started the Crocus Shaw, l but nixed it because the colors of the shawl were being drowned out by the pattern and all I could see was the vertical striping which I wasn't pleased with.<br />
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A short Ravelry search (I searched by yardage), and found the <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/oaklet-shawl">Oaklet Shawl</a> by Megan Goodacre, and I was smitten. So I started knitting and in the end, this is what was left:<br />
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But this is the result:<br />
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The shawl is just the right size, just the right colors for Fall or Summer, and I a love the way the stripes lined up on both sides of the shawl almost perfectly.<br />
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Amazing how string turns into things, isn't it?<br />
<br />Sharonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13426445654825897405noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3371413966930554923.post-9885954644686954092014-05-08T23:50:00.001-04:002014-05-08T23:50:26.807-04:00The Pain & The JoyI honestly don't know what I was thinking when my uncle asked me to make him knee socks, and I said yes. Where was my brain? He's 6'1" tall and wears a size 12 shoe. I didn't realize how tall the leg had to be, or how long the foot had to be and that all of my knitting dreams would be put on hold.<br />
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In the beginning I was so enthusiastic because I love knitting socks and it seemed such a challenge. I dug around in my stash figuring that one skein of yarn wouldn't cover the job. I was glad to find two colors that (sort of) go together. Creatively Dyed Yarn in the ancient colorway, and Austermann Step in color #23.<br />
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Using a US #2 needle and doing two socks at a time made the knitting go slowly, so when I got to the heels I switched out to double points which changed my whole attitude towards these socks. I finished the foot on one sock and half the other in one evening:<br />
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And then they were done! The socks are much larger than my large sock blockers, but how is that a problem?<br />
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The Austermann Step had two knots in it, and the pick up after the knot picked up the striping pattern in reverse. I was too tired of the socks to care, and they will be in my uncle's shoe anyway. As long as they keep him warm, I'm sure it won't be an issue.<br />
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But now I crave something that will turn out as planned with no surprises. So when a friend of mine said she had clear rain boots and only a few pairs of hand knit socks to wear with them, I offered to make her a pair.<br />
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My stash dive came up with String Theory Bluestocking:<br />
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And some Cascade Heritage sock yarn in black and chose the <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/broken-seed-stitch-socks">Broken Seed Stitch Socks</a>, which I've made before and it's a relatively easy free pattern on Ravelry:<br />
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After making knee socks, these are a breeze! No stripes, no knots, just wonderful yarn - and the sock in the picture was knit in two days. I'm zooming!<br />
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Now all I need to do is find something to knit with big fat needles so I can give my hands a little break and I'm all set.Sharonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13426445654825897405noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3371413966930554923.post-74150582188381916032014-05-05T15:20:00.000-04:002014-05-05T15:20:30.276-04:00Technical DifficultiesTracey and I were finally able to post another video of <i>Moms With Yarn</i> after overcoming technical difficulties.<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/ejOFTO3E858?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
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During the time it took to overcome the technical difficulties, I wasn't just sitting around waiting for my computer to come around to my way of thinking. I knew that wouldn't happen. So I finished the log cabin blanket:<br />
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This pattern is a recipe, so you can make it look like anything you want. I chose Lion Brand Wool Ease in both sport and worsted weight: in white, heather gray, navy and heather blue to use up some old stash, US #6 needles, and I knit until I ran out of the sport weight white which has been discontinued for years.<br />
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I'm also working on my uncle's knee socks. My biggest fear is that they won't fit and he won't tell me. After all that time and effort - all I can say is that it would be less stressful to make these socks if we lived closer together.<br />
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The top of the sock is the Cable Rib Sock pattern by Erika Alexander (<i>Favorite Socks, Interweave Knits</i>), I used Creatively Dyed yarn in the Ancient colorway for the top of the sock and Austerman Step for the striped foot. I used both Addi sock rockets and Signature Needles, both in US #2 needles. The foot of the socks is plain vanilla.<br />
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I'm also working on a shawl called Crocus, but I'm second guessing my choice of pattern because it's just not the same with no beads on it, but I think I have a back-up plan.<br />
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Tracey is working on the <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/projects/tbmccarthy/lin-lin-shawl-2">Lin Lin Shawl</a> using The Plucky Knitter's new yarn line called Scholar in the Headboard colorway and using US #8 needles.<br />
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<img src="http://images4-d.ravelrycache.com/uploads/tbmccarthy/229599071/image_medium2.jpg" /><br />
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Tracey also mentioned a shop on Etsy called <a href="https://www.etsy.com/shop/grandmashandknitting">Grandmas Handknitting</a>, where they're offering 10% off during the month of May if you use the code MAYFLOWERS. That's a good deal!<br />
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Thank you to the people who gave feedback, we really appreciate it. And thank you to the new subscribers, we got more than we expected and we are tickled. We're doing our best with tech issues, I'm the idiot in charge and mostly I pray.<br />
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Enjoy the show and thank you so much for watching.Sharonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13426445654825897405noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3371413966930554923.post-26092297922357725762014-04-16T17:51:00.001-04:002014-04-16T17:53:00.282-04:00New ThingsKnitting is my love and has been for decades, and it always will be. There are just times, like when the knitting mojo takes a vacation, that I crave something else to do until it returns.<br />
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After making the Mock Cable Wave socks (and failing to alternate skeins) and a mild case of disappointment:<br />
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I made it three quarters of the way and then the 'oh so similar' second skein was darker, not that it matters, it'll be in a shoe, but still ...<br />
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Maybe I needed a wee break, to try something different. So I pulled out my newly acquired Zoom Loom and made these:<br />
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What fun! I'd rather crochet a bunch of these together than knit - for the moment. I'd actually have to pull out my crochet hook to gather them, but it looks so easy!<br />
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And then I remembered my other 'distraction': cross stitch:<br />
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It's slow going and I'm learning as I go. You'll have to stay tuned.<br />
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And so, what with it being Spring and all (even though it snowed last night and my tulips fell down and can't get up) I went a little further in the 'changing things up' department. Tracey and I embarked on a little online adventure:<br />
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<a href="http://youtu.be/gChjaVIl-m0" rel="nofollow">http://youtu.be/gChjaVIl-m0</a></div>
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Tracey (tbmccarthy on Ravelry) is working on: </div>
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<a href="http://www.ravelry.com/projects/tbmccarthy/my-knitted-heart-vanilla-socks-2">My Knitted Heart Socks</a></div>
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<a href="http://www.ravelry.com/projects/tbmccarthy/little-oak">Little Oak Cardigan</a></div>
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Two <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/projects/tbmccarthy/tiny-tea-leaves-cardi">Tiny Tea Leaves Cardigans</a></div>
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Lin Lin Shawl (as yet unpublished)</div>
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I finished:</div>
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<a href="http://www.ravelry.com/projects/sharonv/mock-wave-cable-socks">Mock Wave Socks</a></div>
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<a href="http://www.ravelry.com/projects/sharonv/haberdashery-cowl">Haberdashery Cowl</a></div>
Spun BFL from Crown Mountain Farms<br />
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Is that enough newness for Spring?</div>
Sharonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13426445654825897405noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3371413966930554923.post-76714153898578702782014-04-10T16:23:00.002-04:002014-04-10T16:57:19.595-04:00It's a Beautiful DayIt might be spring according to the calendar, but according to the temperatures around here - well, all I'm saying is don't leave home without a scarf. It looks so sunny outside, and from the window it looks warm and wonderful so I took a walk to my back yard dressed thusly:<br />
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My jacket and my Haberdashery Cowl:<br />
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My Cup of Tea socks:<br />
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While I was taking those photos I glanced over and saw these 'eggs' growing in the dirt. I don't know what they are, other than pretty, but there's only two of them and from where I was standing I thought they really were eggs:<br />
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Feeling inspired, I took myself for a little ride to a couple of different points at Clasons Point (again), only this time I had a cohort, Mary Jo, who took me to someone's back yard for a better view and his back porch is so huge he has his own goldfish pond:<br />
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I didn't want to invade his privacy any more than necessary, so I aimed my camera towards the Point. I had no idea there's a boat entry ramp that allows you to take your boat right into the <a href="http://youtu.be/1TO-T6eyxWM">Bronx River</a>:<br />
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And there's public access to a jetty which, if you're daring enough to withstand the river spray, you can grab your lawn chair and soak up some sun. Just don't stand up if your chair isn't weighted.<br />
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And I thought to myself how fortunate I am to be able to walk to a place that is so well kept, peaceful and quiet during the day. Yes, it was windy and freezing cold, but it made me feel better about having to go home and do the stuff I don't want to do, like dinner and dishes.<br />
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I hope you were able to do something with your day today that made you feel invigorated and ready to face whatever comes next in your life.Sharonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13426445654825897405noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3371413966930554923.post-3872049924594382682014-04-06T23:33:00.001-04:002014-04-06T23:33:27.546-04:00Clearing the WheelI certainly am grateful. I am grateful to own a spinning wheel and fiber, and to have the time to indulge in any of my crafty whims at will. The good news is that I can take my time doing whatever I want (right after I do a little housework), the downside is this:<br />
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I joined a 12-month fiber club and I'm a little backed up. I put what I could into my hobbit hole of a fiber cabinet, but these four boxes had no place to call home. Two of those boxes aren't even open yet, and there's another one due in a day or so. Oy!<br />
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So I decided that now the weather is a little warmer and sunset is a little bit later, that it's time I cleared my bobbins and started to work on the overflow of fiber piling up around here. The first bobbin got cleared and got 423 yards (2-ply) of Punta that I purchased from <a href="http://shop.shespins.com/">She Spins LLC</a> in the autumn colorway:<br />
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And I did a chain ply of a <a href="https://www.etsy.com/people/loop">Loop </a>batt that I purchased at Vogue Knitting Live in the Menkes colorway. It's merino/silk/bamboo/angelina and I got 234 yards:<br />
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And the final bit of measuring I did today was of this 2-ply skein of polwarth from <a href="http://www.shop.intothewhirled.com/category/fiber">Into the Whirled</a> in the Calico Blue colorway that I spun back in October 2013:<br />
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Next up to go on the wheel will be this braid I won this from Diane of the <a href="http://knitabullspodcast.blogspot.com/">Knitabulls Podcast</a> forum by participating in a spin-along about a year or so ago. It's Into the Whirled merino/superwash merino and tussah silk in The Woods colorway:<br />
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I still have two bobbins to ply and then I can start tackling the fiber that doesn't fit into the closet.<br />
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I'm still working on the <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/mock-wave-cable-socks">Mock Wave Cable socks</a> I started for my aunt almost a week ago, one is done, the other is started:<br />
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These knee socks are a giant time suck. They are very textured and I would totally be in love with them if they had a 6" leg instead of a 12" leg. <i>Sheesh</i>! I took the 52/26 Pair Plunge on Ravelry and committed to make 26 pairs of socks in a year, and these socks represent the 20th pair I've made since June or July. I'll know better next year because my obvious limit is 12 pair in a year because after that I'm fishing for patterns that don't love.<br />
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Anyway, I'm off to work on my socks before I lose my mojo. I've already picked out my next pair of socks which are also knee socks for my uncle, who wears a size 12 shoe. <i>OMG</i>!Sharonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13426445654825897405noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3371413966930554923.post-69017049684561600492014-04-02T15:16:00.001-04:002014-04-02T15:18:01.942-04:00Accentuate the PositiveThis morning, at about 7:15, I was jolted awake by someone banging on my front door and frantically ringing the bell. I must admit that I watch a lot of crime TV, so as the banging and ringing went on I expected someone to say, "Open up! It's the police!". Thank goodness it was only my son who worked the night shift last night and forgot his keys. <br />
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In less than 15 minutes, he was packed and out the door headed to Soho to get on line to purchase a pair of sneakers (<i>what?!)</i>, "See you tomorrow" he said, because the sneakers won't be available until tomorrow morning. Young folks are <i>cray-cray</i>.<br />
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Yesterday, a neighbor stopped me in the street and asked me to come to her house to teach her to knit today. So this morning I pulled myself together with a croissant and coffee, and headed over. About 15 minutes into the lesson, she said she wasn't smart enough, couldn't learn and didn't want to waste my time.<br />
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That means this day already has two strikes against it. <br />
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I didn't feel to knit or spin, so I decided to take a walk about a 1,000 steps away from my house and sat on a bench at Clasons Point to watch the Bronx River float by:<br />
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Not exactly a sunny day, but it's warmer than it has been and folks around here are starting to wear shorts and <i>chancletas </i>(which is the Spanish word for scruffy shoes/sandals)<i> </i>with their Fall coats.<br />
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I thought I detected some sunshine near the Throgs Neck Bridge, but no, maybe it was just something shiny glinting off the rust-bucket barge parked there, and if there ever was a glimmer of sunshine it was fleeting.<br />
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So I sat down and marveled at how none of the rocks have graffiti on them, and how my newest socks look pretty good in this light:<br />
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And how the next pair of socks I'm working on are maybe not such a slog-fest:<br />
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And maybe I should just focus on the positive, like these crocuses growing in my front yard around the newly opened chicks and hens:<br />
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And then maybe I won't need to call on these guys:<br />
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I hope wherever you are, you're able to make the best of this day.<br />
<br />Sharonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13426445654825897405noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3371413966930554923.post-54018595369661104622014-03-21T20:02:00.001-04:002014-03-21T20:02:52.718-04:00A Little Gets You LotsIf I knit or spin a little every day, then it's a no-brainer that something is going to get done eventually. As it turns out, everything I was working on got finished in the past two days. Woo hoo!<br />
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I had some teal cashmere yarn laying around in the leftover bin, and the Wandering Wool left over from the Stitch Surfer socks and with those I made these:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAcQNpbj183KbmImPTARij-a0AKcK-TJAx0MBsnahblCaUcFNfyVH180oAV8pblHisQ5sy-z6zdgGVNAtKil43CxoKWMYH8DBYgRSFh-2qj6_Z4FXzuPeZSE3jiZJInKFEy2osiQ50jnJz/s1600/photo+1+%25281%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAcQNpbj183KbmImPTARij-a0AKcK-TJAx0MBsnahblCaUcFNfyVH180oAV8pblHisQ5sy-z6zdgGVNAtKil43CxoKWMYH8DBYgRSFh-2qj6_Z4FXzuPeZSE3jiZJInKFEy2osiQ50jnJz/s1600/photo+1+%25281%2529.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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They're drying now, and it's kind of hard to see the design because the yarns used are low contrast, but they're cute - and they're done. And when they dry I'm going to wear them right away. The cashmere is soft and the Wandering Wool is the second best sock yarn I've used this year.<br />
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The cashmere was in such bad shape that I couldn't continue the pattern down the foot or the socks wouldn't last a week. It ultimately ended up in the garbage. Ute Socks by Nancy Bush from <i>Favorite Socks</i> (Interweave Knits), US #1 needle.<br />
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The second thing drying is the Haberdashery Cowl, another Interweave knits pattern (Fall 2013):<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIWKLBHY_i-eNrvJscrTxXxGmVo7QQXXOuA7HVDgATLBCTdCbAYwv8ZAAdoRz_l0KhpcxEE8juLJTmNHrSbKwQtIrfdLTsy9xQj_TqF8CpbWXwilaD9leeN0Z-zAIg-fPuvvifHR0_s9kh/s1600/photo+%252837%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIWKLBHY_i-eNrvJscrTxXxGmVo7QQXXOuA7HVDgATLBCTdCbAYwv8ZAAdoRz_l0KhpcxEE8juLJTmNHrSbKwQtIrfdLTsy9xQj_TqF8CpbWXwilaD9leeN0Z-zAIg-fPuvvifHR0_s9kh/s1600/photo+%252837%2529.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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The white is Lion Brand, the blue/green is my hand spun (and I still have some left over). It was so easy to make and for me, using a US #6 needle is like knitting with broomsticks. It went fast and I would have made it longer except that I started to get bored. It's going to look great around my neck - and I'm thinking maybe I'll use one green and one blue button - keeping with the theme, so to speak.<br />
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I finished spinning/plying/washing some yarn too: below is some punta:<br />
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And here's some polwarth:<br />
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And here's a Loop batt I spun last year (it's the first one on the left):<br />
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Maybe I'll make a Zuzu's Petals cowl with the Loop batt, hopefully there will be enough yardage to both finish and use all the colors.<br />
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That's how I spent my day today, washing wool. My living room smells like sheep and it's making me want to spin more, but you know what happens when the sun goes down. My living room gets chilly and my bedroom is warm and cozy - and I think there's jelly beans up there.<br />
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Now I'm headed off to find the next thing I want to make with yarn I already have. You would think that would be an easy feat, but stash diving always leaves a big mess in it's wake.<br />
<br />Sharonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13426445654825897405noreply@blogger.com1