cozy day

It's a cold, dark and drizzly day today. Norm recommended skipping the errand running and just staying warm and cozy inside. Good idea, Norm!

So I spent most of the day sitting in my favorite room reading and knitting. Here's a close-up of the knitting:

This is a free cowl pattern called Pine Bough. I am unimaginatively using the same yarn and colorway as the pattern sample. The colorwork is very easy and fun so far. A perfect rainy day knit. Hope everyone has a safe and fun Halloween! The little guy is still debating on what to be. I suggested he wear his long red union suit and a blue wig and be Thing One from The Cat in the Hat.

nothing says cozy like a bunch of Halloween candy : )

(linking up with WIP Wednesday)

adventure's end

 

After what seems like months of being in UFO limbo, my Chance of Showers cardigan is finally finished. I have to give myself a hi five for not throwing in the towel on this project. Not sure why I didn't....when I ran out of yarn....when I found out the yarn color had been discontinued....when after finally tracking down the yarn the dye lot and color did not match up....when I had to learn how to dye a hemp-blended fabric....guess I'm growing up after all. Was it worth all the headaches? Most definitely! Heidi's pattern was a pleasure to knit. I have a finished cardigan that will get lots of wear. Plus now that I am an expert on fiber reactive dyes, you can call me for assistance with any of your hemp fabric dyeing emergencies.

knit.where outfit #16 extreme edition

I have been slacking lately on wearing my handknits. Ironically, as soon as the weather turns chilly, I dive for the flannels and sweatshirts instead of all my warm handknitted sweaters and accessories. Must be a remnant from my youth when grunge was the popular style of the day. So today, I made a special effort ; )

candy ribbon cowl, dipped! armwarmers, wicked pullover

simple slouchy hat

hiking socks

This might be one of my favorite knit.where outfits so far. It is certainly the warmest! So, what do you think...how many handknitted items at once is too many?!?

Target deer thermal top, American Eagle jeans, ll bean boots

bramble cowl

This project was a fun break from all the self-imposed sweater knitting that I have been doing lately. The yarn is Patons Colorwul, a soft 100% wool roving, in the bramble colorway. For the single crochet edging, I used Patons Classic Wool Roving in natural and plum. The finished cowl is colorful, soft and warm, especially when worn doubled around the neck.

Here's how I made it.

ingredients:

29 inch length circular knitting needle, size 11
J/10 crochet hook
one stitch marker
MC (main color) = two skeins Patons Colorwul (90 yards/85 grams per skein) or any similar bulky weight yarn
CC1 & CC2 = a small amount of Patons Classic Wool Roving in two contrasting colors or any similar bulky weight yarn in your stash

gauge: 11 stitches & 18 rows = 4 inches on size 11 needles

recipe:

Cast on 125 stitches. Place marker and join in the round. Knit stockinette stitch in the round (knit all stitches) until desired width is achieved (mine measured 8 inches at this point) or boredom sets in. Drink lots of tea, meditate, watch some movies, listen to an audiobook. If you are super coordinated, do all of the above at the same time. When the time comes to end all this fun, bind off knitwise. Grab your trusty J/10 crochet hook and show that curling stockinette stitch fabric who's boss by single crocheting into every stitch of the bind-off and cast-on edges with CC1. Then single crochet around again using CC2. Weave in ends. Give the whole thing a steam block. Wear lots : )



(linking up with FO Friday)

autumn colors

After a handful of rainy gloomy days, this week we are enjoying some beautiful October weather. I love the colors to be found at this time of year. Red, orange, gold, brown and burgundy all combine to make such glorious viewing. Some of them have found their way into my crafting.

Amazing how just a little bit of autumn color can inject new energy and happiness into all of my projects. I am making pretty good progress on both the knitting and spinning. The first picture is of something that I will reveal on Friday. Very relieved with the fact that I still remember how to crochet after such a long time without practicing. I finally finished spinning all of the Corriedale fiber from Maryland Sheep and Wool. Now I get to practice on this beautiful BFL & firestar combed top from Dyeabolical. Spinning with BFL is quite a revelation. So soft. The firestar gives off a bit of sparkle to the colors. Irresistible. Makes up for the fact that my second handspun is kind of an under spun mess:

On the bright side, this has only given me an excuse to play with natural dyeing techniques. I am aiming for a yellow/gold color. Just need to collect more onions skins. Or inconspicuously sneak some out of the onion bin at my local grocery store.



(linking up with WIP Wednesday)

daydreaming

If only....

yarn could grow on trees.

my second handspun

UFO's could finish themselves.

my I vow to finish you someday Aidez as soon as I figure out where I left off cardigan

one front and two sleeves could magically appear overnight.

Kaari pullover: back and pockets done

yarn ends didn't exist.

Chance of Showers cardigan: still waiting for a dyebath

dinner could be on the table with just a twitch of the nose, leaving more hours free for the fun stuff.

Happily, some daydreams can come true ; ) You can find this betwitched recipe here.

just knit

Sometimes you just want to cast on and knit. No thinking. No pattern. No complications. Just knit stitch after knit stitch. Some might find a large tube of stockinette stitches boring. For me, today, it is the perfect accompaniment to the rain outside. Hope that you are having the same peaceful start to your week.

more spinning tales

Currently spinning the rest of the Corriedale roving from Maryland Sheep and Wool using my new turkish spindle from knitpicks. This spindle can be configured as a top or bottom whorl drop spindle. Since I used a top whorl for my first spinning adventure, I wanted to mix it up a little by giving a bottom whorl a try. Really liking it so far. I love how the spun yarn is easily wound up into a center pull ball as the spinning progresses. Managing the cop was one of the issues I had with my first skein but this spindle makes it so much easier to prevent things from getting unwieldy. I am taking my time and trying to make the yarn be more consistent. Although it is going to be hard to resist starting on some tempting new fiber treats that just arrived the other day.

And I couldn't stop myself from adding to my budding spindle collection. Look, bunnies!