Hanspun Friday - Gurthrie

Here's another beautiful colorway - Gurthrie - dyed by Ginny of FatCatKnits.


FatCatKnits-Polwarth-4oz




I made it into a 2-ply yarn with 405yds.



Fall is here, and it's beautiful!



The leaves of the Weigelia bushes turned beautiful colors, just before they'll fall off. Looking at those colors, makes me want to have them on fiber too.



Out front, the strong wind yesterday, helped our huge Maple tree to let go of its leaves. Around here it smells earthy, something only Fall can do. Each season has its own smell, and I can't wait for the air to bring first snow smell with it.



We have huge yew bushes in our garden, and I'm thinkingn of removing them, seeing how toxic they are. It's amazing, that only the bright red jellowy pulp around the seed is not poisonous, when everything else on this bush is deadly. From the wood, to the green leaves. Mostly the dogs ignor them, but I find Denny pulling on branches sometimes, and Happy pushes his toys into the bush, and God knows why, plays in there. They are not interested in the berries though.


There are A LOT this year! That's only from one bush, next to the stairs!



And while I was out, yesterday, taking pictures, Denny was surveying his kingdom.



It's my birthday today too! 11/11/11 - isn't that a wonderful birthday date? I wish I was just 11 years old too. :o)

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Oh, one more thing. I finished another pair of Andrea's mitts for Hannah per her request.

Since they fit in with the color scheme today, here they are. Second pair went really fast. She choose the colors. Pattern is from Kirsten Kapur.
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Wishing you all a lovely weekend!

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Unbelievable!

November 4th, a Friday afternoon, and Saturday, and Sunday too, where lovely sunny days, and warm enough to sit on the deck, and have some hot chocolate, and do some knitting! I can honestly say, that never happened before around here.


I'd just finished my November socks, and cast on for a new project. It's been a long time since I've knit with straight needles, and a rectangular scarf too! Feels somehow old fashioned.

I've been meaning to knit these Eesti Trail Hiking Socks by Nancy Bush for a long time now. But who needs socks made with worsted weight yarn? My son does.



I've tried them on here, to get a modeled shot, but they are too big for me, and almost knee highs. I did make a few modifications.
I didn't make the leg as long as the pattern, changed the colorwork, and didn't do the 8 stitch increase-decrease for the colorowork (because I didn't read the instructions completely at first), but I used 2# larger needles for colorwork, and it worked out fine. It felt funny having this huge sock hanging off the needles. I thought it would never fit, but they fit alright.



pattern: Eesti Trail Hiking Socks by Nancy Bush from the book "Favorite Socks"

yarn: Elann Peruvian Highland Wool, 3balls in grey, about half a ball of natural white, yellow and orange

needles: 3.25mm, 3.75mm for the colorwork (not the stripes though)

While I was sitting and knitting, Denny tried to get comfortable on a chair too.






Are you comfy, Denny?


Meanwhile Happy was basking in the sunshine, and Maggie was running in circles. Since the neighbor used a leave blower (which makes the most aweful noise, like an old hair dryer) last time we were out on the deck, she's not comfortable there anymore. It took her about half an hour to just come out from the kitchen.
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Handspun Friday - Gin Fizz I & Buttonwillow

fiber: Corgi Hill Farm: Humbug BFL/Tussah 5oz, colorway Gin Fizz I
yarn: 2-ly, 460yds








This yarn turned into my second Buttonwillow warp. From the start I wanted to knit it in handspun yarn. I was not sure I had enough yarn, because the pattern called for 480yds/sportweight yarn, and I only had 460yds. As it turns out, I had about 1 yard leftover! The blocked size is 20" x 76".










While I'm spinning:


as soon as I stop, a head goes up:


Wishing you all a wonderful weekend!

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Morse Mitts

Susan asked me if I would test knit these mittens for her, and of course I said YES!



I think this is a great idea, using Morse code to "write" on your mittens. I made the small size, which spells "Anastasia". Size L and M have their own word. You can make up your very own word if you like too, because the pattern gives you the alphabet in morse code. Really cool!



I made size S so they would fit Hannah, and she said she liked them very much, when I sent her a picture of them.
What's not in the pattern is the contrast yarn for cast on. I was just trying out some different things. The right mitten looks better I think.

pattern: Morse Mitts by Susan Mehringer
yarn: Jojoland Wool Yarn Fingering Solids (almost solid, the color does go from light to darker)
needles: 2.25mm & 2.5mm
size: S

But you know what? As if it was not enough to be test knitting these mittens, look what was in the mail yesterday!



That's right! Get green around your noses, because Susan sent me this Wollmeise yarn as a thank you gift! In GREEN! My favorite color! (O.K. she asked me what color I'd like). :o)

THANK YOU, SUSAN!

Oh boy, that will be such a treat to knit with this Wollmeise. I think I already know which pattern it will be, but it's not released yet.

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In case you are wondering, Maggie is back to her usual self. No limping whatsoever! You should have seen her last night, doing the puppy run, bouncing off the sofa backs, and jumping around like a monkey. It's a wonder she does not hurt herself more often. This dog seriously needs a chill pill! When the boys are sleeping, exhausted from playing, Maggie still has energy left, to play on her own with chew toys, rolling on her back and holding them with her front paws. Sweet to look at. Thanks for all your well wishes!
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More cake, and Denny, and other stuff ...

At the end of last week I've baked a cake, and stuck (almost) strictly to the recipe. I just substituted white chocolate with dark chocolate chips, and added some more flavors.



I've cut the first slice when it was still hot, that's why the molten chocolate chips smudged the cake. I used fresh Cranberries, I just love the sour taste combined with the sweetness.

Even with one cup of butter, and fresh fruits, this was a rather dry cake. If I would make this one again though, I would leave out all chocolate, and double the amount of Cranberries.
Ooooops!


I did tell the boys to smell the cake, so I could get them into the picture. Of course Denny bullied Happy aside, and got a lick in. Ah well....



This is what Denny does, when he's spending time in my son's room, while Happy is having alone time with me. During his stay there, he whines, and yodels non stop. My son has developed an eye twitch. After he was released, Denny stayed by my side for the rest of the day. Can't get close enough. That's me sitting on the sofa, with Denny's head on my leg.



And here's what I've spun in October.


I've got my knitting mojo back, and I've cast on with some of my handspun yarn. That's all I needed to get me going again. :o)
Now I have to decide, which sock design will be my November socks. I thought I'd it all worked out, but changed my mind again. I'd like to get the yarn and needles ready, to cast on as soon as the current project is done.
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Heat's still OFF. Lovely wooly handknits are unpacked, and pulled on, and keeping me warm. The temperatures in the house hold steady at 13C. Yesterday morning, we had first frost. The grass was white, and the ground on top frozen for a few hours. Not a single snow flake so far though. The trees, and bushes are letting go of their leaves now. It sounds like it's raining, but it's not.
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Handspun Friday - Vampire Suicide

Just in time for Halloween, I've finished some FatCatKnits Vampire Suicide on superwash BFL (special Halloween colors Ginny had in her Etsy shop).









I've got 2 skeins, chain plied, 266yds total from one braid. The other one will have to wait. I was thinking of knitting fingerless mitts with long cuffs with this yarn.

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Wishing you all a lovely weekend!


She's still limping, but the pain killer helps her to get around, and sleep better I think.

On another note, I haven't knit a stitch in three days now. I do have three WIP's but nothing I'd like to work on right now. I do however enjoy spinning very much, so it's not so bad.

Yesterday morning was the first time I thought it was cold enough to wear knit socks again. It's 14C in my studio, quite chilly, but I don't want to turn on the heat just yet. I'm digging out all the handknit items to keep me/us warm. :o)

The boys went out on the deck in the morning, just to discover a thin layer of ice on the boards from the rain the days before. First they slipped around, but soon they licked the ice, and clawed at it. It was funny to watch them.

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Andrea's mitts

October is the birthday month of my sister. Her name is Andrea (even though we call her Susi). I thought those mitts would be perfect for her.




pattern: Andrea's mitts by Kirsten Kapur
yarn: KnitPicks Wool of the Andes, colors Coal & Fog, one skein each
size: s/m
needles: 3.25mm

They've arrived, and have been well received.

Then there are some bed socks I've knit in between all of what I've been doing. Knit with 3.75mm for extra loose fit. Request for another pair has been made. :o)




The last three days we've been worried about Maggie. She's been limping. One of her rear leg seems to bother her. From the time we've notices something wrong, and a day of rest, and easy, which did not bring improvement, we went to the Vet yesterday.
Maggie tensed up like a fruitcake. All muscles, all tense, so it was hard for the Vet to feel her leg, and find out anything. Maggie walked around like nothing was wrong there in the office, when at home she was hoping around on three legs.
For now, we are supposed to give her pain killers, and watch her for the next five days. If there's no improvement we'll have to do x-rays. It's hard to keep her quiet though, and away from the boys too. It's better if she only gets to see them one on one, less horse-playing around.


Oh, yeah, that's Maggie in front, Denny, and Happy in the Dining room. When I'm preparing dinner, they hang around, changing places all around, but basically just waiting for something to fall off the counter, or something to lick like a bowl, or anything else for that matter.

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Buttonwillow Warp

This past weekend, I finished the Buttonwillow wrap. It only took me three tries, until the third one was the charm. I like this design for the unusual spine, and the edging, especially the bell shaped big one in the middle.







This wrap is so soft, if hairy. The yarn is a blend of 80% Alpaca 20% Silk. Lovely combination. I liked this yarn much better than what was used in the original design (The Fiber Company Road to China Light, in the colorway Peridot, which I have, and it was my first try).



Even though I really like this colorway, this shawl will go into the gift bin for now. I'd like to make myself one with handspun yarn.



While I was taking these photos, Denny stole a wooden board from the kitchen counter, and munched on it, when I found him like that in my studio.



pattern: Buttonwillow wrap by Romi Hill

yarn: Wandering Cat Yarns Sophisticat, 1.56 skeins of Spring Fling - 445yds used (once again the WCY girls did a wonderful job with the colorway)

needle size: 3.5mm
size after blocking: 20 inches x 68 inches, I did not block the heck out of it though.

This is getting serious....

A serious sign of your fiber/yarn addiction is, when you step out of your bubble bath, look back with a smiling face, and think, "No dye bleeding whatsoever." Help me!

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