cindyknits

Pink !

2012-01-12T19:38:00.002-05:00

What a joy to knit these baby pants. Kanoko is a free pattern in Ravelry.

Last Day of the Year

2011-12-31T21:30:00.001-05:00

Today I enjoyed spinning and knitting with friends at RI Handspun. It was a great way to end the year.

Finally I am able to get back to my own knitting. I need to get back to the Bridgewater shawl, socks and spinning.

I'm also hoping to start a sweater for me. Of course, I can't forget to finish a baby gift.

The Hat is Done

2011-12-26T10:59:00.001-05:00

Christmas Trekking

2011-12-25T10:49:00.001-05:00

Today we are heading to DD for our usual relaxing day. Just a dusting of snow this am adds to the holiday sense. I didn't finish DH's hat after all. It's wrapped with needles attached. Hope he likes it.

Cookie Making

2011-12-22T08:09:00.001-05:00

It's begun. The baking that is.

Tis the Season

2011-12-21T19:24:00.000-05:00

I've been busy with the usual holiday activities. Knitting for Christmas has kept me busy as well. But I'm in good shape. I'm hoping to knit at least one more gift at this late date. I don't know about you! but just when I'm coasting into the holiday with quite a bit done, I try to do more ! Any one else do this? Talk about making the days whirr.

Tomorrow it's cookie baking time. Thanks to DD I am only making three or four kinds. These last few years she's volunteered to make some as well. When I think about it, I've been making cookies for more than forty years. Up until the last four years I used to make decorated trays of cookies for gifts. Hmmm what cookies shall I make? Butter balls, Christmas Pistachio M and M squares, Hidden Kiss cookies.........

What cookies are you baking?

Spindling for Sheep Heid

2011-11-20T13:26:00.001-05:00

All I need is 25 yards of 9 natural shades of wool. I can do it.

Natural Dye Day

2011-09-17T10:28:00.001-04:00

Our local weaving guild sponsored a natural dye day last week. With the guidance of Ellen Stone, who is widely known for her knowledge of natural dyes, we dyed fiber and yarn using jewelweed, cochineal , indigo, goldenrod, black walnut, rhododendron and more.

Here is a pic of my merino fiber in the cochineal dye pot. Below that is the cochineal dyed handspun merino yarn I just finished plying.

Spinning from a center pull ball

2011-09-03T10:33:00.001-04:00

You know how you can forget to weigh your fiber to split it evenly so you have two bobbins worth of singles to ply. Well..... it happened here at my house. Not to worry .... creating a center pull ball and using a spit splice,I am able to ply the singles into one skein.

Soon I'll have 2-3 ounces of Suri Alpaca and silk. Perhaps it will be knit up into some adornment.

I'm also enjoying some garden bounty.

Hurricane Spinning

2011-08-28T14:21:00.001-04:00

Low tech hobbies don't need electricity !

Beavertail,Jamestown

2011-07-15T13:16:00.001-04:00

Painting at Beavertail.....

I love blue !

2011-07-07T10:42:00.001-04:00

It never fails to please.... I love blue. Especially blue that has other hues blended into the roving. Tuesday I finished this skein.

I'm moving down the home stretch on the horseshoe lace section of Bridgewater.

Fig Tree!

2011-06-18T14:31:00.001-04:00

Yesterday I purchased a small fig tree. Found it at the local farmer's market. It's called Brown Turkey. The seller gave me some articles about growing it in the northeast.

I'm excited to give it a try.

I'm still plugging away at Bridgewater's lace section. I have a couple of small items to start knitting.

What a wonderful weather day. It made me want to do some long overdue chores around the house.

Presently I'm sitting in the Florida room listening to the birds, sipping iced tea and getting ready to knit and or read The Omnivore's Dilemma.

It's been a while.........................

2011-06-15T13:08:00.003-04:00

I've been doing this and that lately. I'm always thinking I should blog about my knitting, but I put it off. So.....................today I've tackled the blogging beast.

I have been working on the forever project, Jared Flood's Bridgewater. It started as a KAL, but some KAL members have been busy with life so I may be forging along solo. The yarn, Classic Elite Silky Alpaca is wonderful....very light and airy not to mention soft. I'm on the first lace chart, a nice easy horseshoe lace pattern,

I've also finished spindle spinning 2 oz. of some fiber that I'm hoping to use as a singles in order to retain some of the lovely color. I'll need a garter or linen stitch pattern to coral the bias.

A couple of weeks ago we celebrated my mom's 80th birthday. One of my gifts to her was a hand spun hand knitted shawl in one of her favorite colors.

Hope all of you get to enjoy the long over due sunshine today in the northeast. I'm off to get some exercise..........................

Spinning Paper

2011-05-16T11:44:00.005-04:00

After reading about spinning paper here and reading the latest version of Spin Off which contains the article "Spin Yarn from Paper", I decided to give paper spinning a try.

I visited The Paper Connection International LLC which is a full range Asian paper shop at their Saturday sale in Providence and bought some kozo (mulberry) paper in white and off white.

This morning I began my paper spinning adventure.

I cut the paper into 1/4 inch strips after folding the large sheet. I may experiment with cutting it so that I can create a continuous strip. Making joins is the more challenging aspect of spinning paper, but I'm having better luck as I practice. I spun the paper using my Forrester spindle and I plan to try using my wheel.

More to learn about paper spinning is in my future. I am interested in Shifu (cloth woven with paper thread).Here are some links:

Shifu Art

Lizz Aston's Blog

Shifu Artist Hiriko Karuno

Spindle Fun

2011-03-28T17:10:00.001-04:00

Today I finished spinning some luscious fiber on my spindle. Here are the three steps in the process: centerpull ball, two plies wrapped around a felted ball and a small sample skein.

Soon it will be a shawl !
Onward to the next spindle UFO...

Spinning Away

2011-03-14T11:59:00.005-04:00

I have had a productive week spinning. I'm sure it is due to my uneventful knitting on the garter stitch square that needs to be completed in Flood's Bridgewater pattern. Can't wait for the lace section.

I very much enjoyed spinning Ball and Skein's fiber!

Silk Knitting, Spinning and Paper

2011-02-14T13:05:00.006-05:00

After a weekend of silk workshops I did some web research and came up with the usual suspects and more.

Silk Info

Wormspit- a site about silk worms silk moths and silk

Reeling Silk

Silk Knitting

Iris's silk hanky links:

http://www.yarnharlot.ca/blog/archives/2011/02/02/mine_mine_all_mine.html
http://www.yarnharlot.ca/blog/archives/2011/02/04/mawata_wonders.html
http://www.spunkyeclectic.com/wp/2011/02/05/mawittens/

How to make Silk Paper by Ellen Doughty

Silk Fusion by Karen Selk

Silk Spinning

Hankies

For purchase:
Treenway Silk

Silk Spinning Videos ( I have not previewed all of these)

Getting Ready for Valentine's

2011-02-13T18:54:00.002-05:00

Getting ready for Valentine's Day with a carded batt from Robin Russo's Silk Workshop. Robin's workshop rates an A!

Thanks to Judy's careful attention to feeding the carding machine, I improved my understanding of how to feed a carder.

Spinning from a handcrafted batt never fails to delight the eye and soul.

Arboreal Night

2011-01-12T15:57:00.004-05:00

The snow made it all possible. It was a productive morning. Did some office work, shoveled a lot of snow, restarted my son-in-law's holiday sock gift.

Did I tell you? I made a pair of socks for DSIL and one was bigger than the other. I was totally puzzled since I'm rarely off gauge these days. But the second sock was noticeably bigger when DSIL tried it on. Back to the drawing board! I frogged the whole sock. then decided....let me check the stitch count on the first sock. Well....dang it I though it was 80 st when it really was 72sts. That's why it was bigger. It's not my gauge!!! Thought that was going the way of monkeymind.

Lastly, I finally got my backside in gear and added the Arboreal Night Cowl pattern in Ravelry. The link to the free pattern is on the right side of the blog.Please let me know if there are any issues with the pattern.

Cowl

2010-12-08T09:40:00.004-05:00

I just finished the shawl collared cowl with Ball and Skein's Breckenridge yarn. I just love the softness of this yarn not to mention the wonderful colorway. I interrupted my holiday knitting because of it!

The wonderful button's were a gift from Riverrim. Check out her Etsy store.

Plying is a new experience!

2010-11-13T11:44:00.001-05:00

I'm enjoying spinning some of Ball and Skein's Fox Grape BFL and Silk on my new Ledbetter spindle with interchangeable shafts.

I'm also working on some Edna Mower mittens for DH.

Here's a pic of the roving that is carried inside for more warmth.

The Gathering

2010-11-09T11:38:00.003-05:00

This past weekend always proves to me that The Gathering sponsored by NHA is a wonderful experience. I always come away with more fiber knowledge than before I arrived. This year I took a workshop on "Cutting Without Fear" with Therese Chynoweth. I came away with some wonderful finishing techniques as well as more confidence about cutting steeks and necklines. She's inspired me to finish my longtime UFO, Rona, by A Starmore. Her book " Norwegian Sweater Techniques for Today's Knitters", is a very worthwhile purchase for the serious knitter.

I also had the pleasure of meeting Sara Lamb in her workshop Braids and Bands on the Inkleloom. I need much more practice learning the pick up technique on the inkleloom, but it will be worth the effort.

Of course, I added another spindle to my repetoire, A spindle with interchangeable shafts to enable me to spin 2 or 3 cops and them ply directly from them. This is a Ken Ledbetter spindle that Ball and Skein is selling.

Spindling Done

2010-10-18T11:18:00.001-04:00

I finished spindle plying this wonderful merino and angora at 1 am this morning. It has a long history from handpainted dyeing to spinning and plying on my Kundert spindle. There is nothing more cherished than personally hand dyed spindle spun yarn. It's off to a hot bath to set the twist and on to the next creative step...... a delicious garment in fingering weight yarn.

Bhakti

2010-10-02T15:42:00.003-04:00

"Textiles are my religion." I can't agree more with Bhakti's quote woven into one of her works. Her presentation at Weavers Guild of RI was fascinating as she recounted her life travels to Guatamala, India and Mexico. She has traversed the world of weaving from the backstrap looms to computerized looms. She is a weaver, artist and author and a specialist in digital jacquard weaving.

She gave us a copy of one of Rumi's poems called The Guest House which addresses the yin and yang of life.

Citron at Point Judith

2010-09-01T14:32:00.002-04:00

What better place to knit Knitty's Citron than at Point Judith on a glorious day. Today in anticipation of Earl surfers take to the waves.

Drinking on a Lazy Afternoon

2010-07-30T15:54:00.001-04:00

Spinning Weekend

2010-07-26T11:00:00.001-04:00

After a weekend at the Foster Fair, I am spinning on my Kundert spindle. Nothing beats spinning with other spinners. It inspires you to keep the momentum going.

Carol M won the wheel spinning contest for the longest yarn! Congrats,Carol! I was lucky enough to win the spindle contest for the longest yarn.

I was also pleased about this:

Wednesday Eye Candy

2010-07-21T10:56:00.001-04:00

I was taken by the sight of bees covered in pollen this morning in a Rose of Sharon bush. Here is the flower without the bee.

The Value of Handwork

2010-07-11T09:12:00.003-04:00

All of you who make things with your hands understand the value of handwork whether it be spinning, knitting, weaving, quilting or some other craft. In the Slater Mill Ravelry forum a member posted this wonderful video about handwork. What I most love about the film is Renate Hiller's spinning with a rock. Renate is the co-director of the Fiber Craft Studio at the Threefold Educational Center in Chestnut Ridge, NY.

And yes, I'm off to find a rock and a stick to play with spinning some fiber. Watch the video ;her use of the stick is very interesting !

Tibetan Spindle

2010-07-08T20:34:00.003-04:00

As always I am thrilled by the opportunity to learn new techniques in spindle spinning. I took a workshop many years ago with GALINA KHMELEVA and purchased a Russian spindle. Ever since that workshop I have played with spinning on this type of spindle and not succeeding. Just lately I acquired a beautiful walnut Russian Spindle due to Iris's influence.

Then thanks to Habetrot's video link I found a very interesting approach to spinning on a Tibetan spindle which seems very much like the Russian spindle . I particularly like how the spinner wraps the newly spun singles on the middle of the shaft. This appears to make it much easier to spin new singles since the singles wrapped mid shaft gives the yarn that climbs up the shaft some traction. Later she unwinds the singles at the middle using a figure eight movement and then neatly rewinds the singles closer to the bottom of the spindle.

Does the video inspire you to try to spin on this type of spindle?

Yin and Yang

2010-07-02T18:47:00.001-04:00

As we well know gardening
has its highs and lows. Today I had the fearful task of removing poison ivy from the backyard. Armed with several clipping devices and dressed to the teeth in old clothing that covers the entire body I began clipping away. No. I didn't get all of it....I never do, but I got enough to satisfy me.

On to the joy......

Today's Knitting

2010-06-20T10:23:00.000-04:00

I just started a soft pair of summer socks in Panda Cotton by Crystal Palace Yarns. Although the yarn splits easily when knitting, it's well worth the effort because the yarn's soft feel is luxurious.

Strawberry Pickin'

2010-06-17T21:53:00.000-04:00

It's June and the strawberries are wonderful. My mom and I picked 6 lbs. Made freezer jam tonight.Yum........

Been Knittin'

2010-06-05T22:26:00.001-04:00

Catching Up

2010-05-22T11:18:00.005-04:00

For more reasons than you'd like to hear I've been busy with work and more. My garden has been delighting me more and more each day. I'm totally in love with my Snow in Summer!!! I've finally found a place it loves in my front yarn. It has repaid me with a stunning production of flowers. Also my Amsonia is in full bloom with her pale blue flowers. But is she ever tough to dig out. Beware the star plant's tenacious root system. I was able to dig out some small sections to pass along to other perennial lovers.

I have been knitting. Iris, you need to know I've dropped Rona again, but I'll go back. I started another drop stitch scarf in a great handpainted yarn I purchased at The CT Sheep and Wool Festival. This leads me to another yarn purchase at RI Sheep and Wool festival last weekend.....a drop dead gorgeous red cashmere skein. Naturally, I didn't stop there! I found some lovely buttons made by Katy aka Katrinkles. They are soooo lovely. The pics are below.

Painting Tote or Knitting Tote

2010-05-16T08:45:00.002-04:00

While at the R I Sheep and Wool Festival I bought myself a great present! A Nantucket Bag!
It's ready for painting or knitting on location.

Our guild also participated in a Sheep to Shawl demonstration. I posed with our finished shawl straight from the loom.

Another Botanical Garden Offering

2010-05-14T15:00:00.000-04:00

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

UFO Resurrection

2010-04-18T18:15:00.001-04:00

I am doing the deed.Resurrecting a UFO is a triumph . I finished Swan Lake so it' s high time to finish knitting Rona!

Here's some eye candy.......Star Magnolias at Roger Williams Park.

Spring at the Botanical Gardens

2010-04-02T13:18:00.001-04:00

Koolaid Dye Results

2010-03-30T10:36:00.001-04:00

C'est Fini ! Swan Lake Stole

2010-03-28T09:55:00.004-04:00

Many moons ago.....June of 2007 to be exact I began a lace journey that taught me the value of counting stitches and not fudging when it counts. I am happy to say the Swan Lake stole is drying after I blocked it this morning.

Thank you Pink Lemon Twist for this KAL! Thank you, Iris for starting this project with me while we read our charts on music stands in your backyard. You were also there at the finish line. I knitted the stole with Jaggerspun Zepher Wool-Silk 2/28 in Indigo. I purchased two balls ( 630 yds each) from Sarah's yarns. I actually used 1 and a half balls or 3 oz of the yarn.

Hula Hoop Knitting

2010-03-25T09:00:00.007-04:00

Last Sunday was a fine day for the outdoor sport of knitting.I worked industriously on my Lace Ribbon Scarf made of some hand spun alpaca, silk and angelina. Several RI Spinning Guild members hit Oakland beach for an afternoon of sun and fun. Some trotted over to Iggy's to get lunch while the rest of us knitted and spun wool while soaking in the sun and breezes. Over to our left were some talented Hula Hoop dancers. They could move that hoop so hypnotically that Ms. Marva was green with envy as were the rest of us. I remarked that in my heyday I did indeed use the hula hoop. Well..............one thing led to another and before I knew it, I was on the grassy island doing this and celebrating spring! Pictures courtesy of Mr Dubyah.

Been Plying on My Spindle

2010-03-02T22:07:00.000-05:00

This evening I've been plying some wonderful merino on a Kundera spindle after making the singles on Mr. Sturtevant' s lovely bird's eye maple spindle. Talk about a long spinning tool!

A Lovely Surprise

2010-02-23T20:42:00.007-05:00

Lily Pond Rhapsody

Last week I had a lovely surprise. I received an honorable mention at the RI Watercolor Society Flower Fantasy show for one of my watercolor paintings.Thanks to the encouragement of DH,Ellie, Carol and Rick, I entered the show.

Wool,Mohair & Alpaca

2010-02-16T21:12:00.002-05:00

I never tire of spinning ,plying and creating a skein of yarn! It's wonderful to twist the skein and observe its color and feel its texture. Such a simple pleasure that precedes thoughts of what possibilities lie ahead. This skein could become a cowl or a shawl. I've got time to play with creative decisions. On the other hand it may simply be a lovely skein.

The Beauty of the Center Pull Ball

2010-02-12T22:07:00.001-05:00

With Snow Soon to Arrive

2010-02-09T13:51:00.000-05:00

This is much needed:

Blooms in February

2010-02-06T16:38:00.002-05:00

How much we depend on our houseplants to feed out souls while we wait for springtime.

My orchid is sending out its green stem which contains the young buds of future flowers. What joy...................

Just in time!

2010-02-05T09:55:00.000-05:00

Finished the baby jacket for my newborn grand nephew.Bulky yarn makes for a quick knit.
Back to the many UFO's hiding in bags.

JD Salinger

2010-02-04T09:52:00.004-05:00

As a lover of literature and a English teacher for many years, I was grateful for the works for JD Salinger. I particularly enjoyed teaching the novel, The Catcher in the Rye to many high school students over the years. In today's Providence Journal Editorial section I read the article below. Cosell is right on the mark with her analysis of the novel as Holden's spiritual quest. If you've never read the novel pick it up. It's worth the read.

Hilary Cosell: To Allie, with love and squalor

01:00 AM EST on Thursday, February 4, 2010
By HILARY COSELL

NEW YORK Jan. 28, 2010

July 18, 1946

The first date marks the recent death of author J.D. Salinger. It was front-page news, along with the obligatory assessments of his literary output and opinions about his final resting place in American letters. Most of the conversations centered around his famous novel, “The Catcher in the Rye.” Does it stand the test of time? Is it still “relevant”? Or is it “dated” adolescent angst and alienation, penned by an alienated adult who chose to become a recluse?

I answer those questions with the second date, a date engraved forever on the psyche of Holden Caulfield, “Catcher’s” troubled adolescent narrator: the date that his brother Allie Caulfield died.

“He’s dead now. He got leukemia and died when we were up in Maine, on July 18, 1946. You’d have liked him. He was two years younger than I was, but he was about fifty times as intelligent.”

Salinger devotes less than two pages early in the novel to Allie’s death, and in a brilliant literary move, Allie is rarely mentioned by name after that. Yet he is everywhere in the novel, a misty presence, a motive force underlying Holden’s alienation, depression and misery. When Allie died, Holden slept in the garage at their summer home that night and proceeded to break all the garage windows with his fist. Then he tried but failed to break all the windows in the family station wagon, too. “It was a very stupid thing to do, I’ll admit, but I hardly didn’t even know I was doing it, and you didn’t know Allie.”

You didn’t know Allie. Is that really true? For it always seemed clear to me that the reader does indeed know Allie, if the reader can be persuaded to look beyond multiple references to sex, pimples, phonies and the disastrous meeting with Sunny the prostitute, to Holden’s shattering loss. A child brother, killed by cancer. A randomly chosen victim, for whom there was no cure and no savior.

“It was a very stupid thing to do, I’ll admit, but I hardly didn’t even know I was doing it.” To express deep pain in a violent and partly self-destructive act (his hand was mildly but permanently injured) may not be desirable, but nor is it “stupid.” Honesty should compel us to admit that such acts often take place as a last, desperate release of intolerable torment. It has never failed to both surprise and confound me that Allie’s death and Holden’s response to it are rarely, if ever, much explored in critical and classroom studies of the novel.

Near the end of the novel, Holden tells his sister, Phoebe, that if he had his choice he’d want to stand in a field of rye where thousands of little kids are playing. At the edge of the field is a cliff. Holden would be the only “big” person around, standing on the cliff’s edge.

“What I have to do, I have to catch everybody if they start to go over the cliff — I mean, if they’re running, and they don’t look where they’re going. I have to come out from somewhere and catch them. That’s all I’d do all day. I’d just be the catcher in the rye. I know it’s crazy, but that’s the only thing I’d really like to be.”

In typical Holden fashion, he may have the words wrong — the Robert Burns poem is, “If a body meet a body coming through the rye.” But Holden’s wish is not crazy in the least. His catcher in the rye makes utterly perfect sense. He could not save Allie from death. But as the catcher in the rye he can save all those other children at risk. It is a hope for salvation and redemption. Read more deeply, look beyond the universal adolescent angst that Salinger portrays so vividly, and you will find a universal spiritual quest. This writer suggests reading “The Catcher in the Rye” as Holden’s search for God in a godless world.

Salinger’s critics have bemoaned his obsession with children and with innocence. I’m not sure I would describe the clear-eyed, uncompromising Phoebe Caulfield, or the genius Glass children, stars of the “It’s a Wise Child” radio show, as “innocent.” Some critics have also derided Salinger’s increasing interjection of theology into his work, be it the “Jesus Prayer” and Christianity in “Franny and Zooey” or his later exploration of Hinduism, Zen Buddhism and other Eastern theologies in the Seymour writings.

But read “Catcher” carefully and the seeds of those later themes are planted in Holden’s story. Salinger’s evolution into theological themes should not necessarily be a surprise.

As James Joyce, a “theological author” if ever there was one, once said, “In the particular lies the universal.” The sacred is everywhere, if one just looks for it.

Thank you, Mr. Salinger, for giving us not only a glimpse of the sacred, but for your spectacular contribution to American literature and American life.

Hilary Cosell, an occasional contributor, is a Connecticut-based writer and a master’s-degree candidate at General Theological Seminary, in New York.

What I'm Reading

2010-02-02T15:00:00.001-05:00

Mc Cullough's John Adams is a great read.......Especially the interesting details about Abigail's role in our country's early days of independence.

Machines Can Knit Too!

2010-01-31T20:14:00.001-05:00

Today thanks to Iris I had a grand lesson on a Knittrax knitting machine.With Iris's help I was able to knit a sock blank of 450 yards of sock yarn I purchased from RI Handspun.
She is seated at the machine demonstrating how to recover some stitches

Can't wait to dye it!

Time is on the run

2010-01-30T10:00:00.002-05:00

How did it become January 30th? It is so true that time flies more quickly as the decades advance.
This means carpe diem without fail, folks. I've been reassessing what's important each day. Lately it's been painting, knitting spinning and writing. There's also photo shots at the local botanical gardens. We need the yellow in January!!

Spindle Adoration

2010-01-21T21:34:00.001-05:00

Ahhhhhh...... The joy of alpaca and silk moves through my fingers as I observe the whirling wooden tool that links me to the textile past of our ancestors.

Connections

2010-01-18T16:02:00.001-05:00

Today I'm trying to link my blog to Facebook...............let's see if this works!

Changes

2010-01-10T15:34:00.002-05:00

I've finally hunkered down to start another round of blog entries. It's about time, I think, to resume writing and picture taking. Problem is I got an iphone and I've being taking pics with it instead of my digital camera, and I need to establish a new upload routine. I downloaded Flickit to the phone and have been uploading pics to Flickr. This should clear the way to promoting more blogging. Well..................will see.

I've been in a quandry this new year with dealing with the loss of a dear friend and other issues. What has made it all possible for me to preserve my equanimity is family, friends and creative pursuits. Where would we be without them. EZ said to knit on through all crises, and she knew what she was talking about. Except I'm doing more..........creative writing, painting and dabbling in other fiber arts pursuits. Because in the words of Rose Tremain (b. 1943), British author: Life is not a dress rehearsal.

It's time for the fiber content, folks. Yesterday, I had the pleasure of listening to a presentation by Laurie Carlson at the RI Weavers Guild meeting who weaves using fiber optics. It's remarkable how she creates installations that utilize woven light. Take a look here.
After the presentation I was off to the our spinning guild meeting to spin some fiber yet to be photographed. I did manage to also spin some chocolate caramel fiber on my Ledbetter. I've got a sock in the making as well.

Happily I finished SIL's plain jane vest, but after the holiday.I also managed to use some autumn Navajo plyed fiber donated by a generous friend for a Fake Fair Ilse hat for DH.He said he likes it . When I mentioned using it for snow shoveling, he said I don't want to ruin the hat. "What!" I said. " Wool will keep you dry!" The uninitiated wool wearers of the world are all around us. Notice the Lindt 85% dark chocolate box upside down at the top left. I believe that baby is empty.

Back in the Saddle Again

2010-01-03T16:02:00.003-05:00

Yes, this has special meaning for me. Christmas Day I mounted DD's horse after over 40 years of shying away from riding. Don't get excited.... I only rode for a minute. It was a first lesson and no photographic evidence!

Believe what you will. Here is something to believe in......knitting:

This is Fake Fair Isle hat knit in some handspun autumn colored yarn and some Paton's Classic Merino in black.

Botanical Gardens

2009-12-05T20:33:00.000-05:00

What a joy to visit gardens in December! The holiday display was delightful.I never knew there were so many varieties of
pointsettas.

Phone Blogging

2009-12-03T16:56:00.000-05:00

I finally realized I need to post. So I thought I would try to post using my phone.Here's what DH has been up to.

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Whirlwind Weeks

2009-10-31T22:06:00.005-04:00

The last few weeks have been busy; hence my not being able to post. I was able to visit Rhinebeck for the weekend and partake of the fiber-filled atmosphere with friends and enjoy the much longed for goodies. I particularly enjoyed the Eveready Diner between visits to the fairgrounds!
The end of last week I enjoyed visiting the Botanical Gardens at Roger Williams Park. I was captivated by the Koi pond and of course the lush vegetation that has happily helped to soothe the loss of spring and summer flora.Today I was able to celebrate Halloween at a local Spin In hosted by Sue D at RI Handspun. We had a good time spinning, knitting and gabbing. Paula was spinning some Halloween Fiber that was delightful. Judy spun some lovely blue singles and plyed them. Carol R spun some bouncy fiber on her wheel. DebbieR spun her Witches Brew. Carol M worked on a lovely lap robe using Starmore's Maidenhair pattern. Sue began a sweet pink baby hat. I spun some Pumpkin Cappuccino from CJ Kopec fiber that fit the autumn Halloween theme. The lighting is poor and does not show the truly warm autumn hues to best advantage. I'll have to think about what to make with the four ounces I am spinning.

Rainy Day Blues

2009-10-03T10:07:00.004-04:00

Ugh! It's cold and dreary this am. Luckily I had enough light in the Florida room to take pics of my latest finished projects. I tried without success to upload the pics and projects to Ravelry just before this post, but it appears to be a bit cranky this am.

The shawl is a lovely deep red. I used the Simple Yet Effective shawl pattern and made a few mods to the pattern.

The scarf is a drop wrap stitch pattern knitted in handpainted Ella Rae Merino............a delightful knit. Blocking it made a big difference.

I Know It's Fall

2009-10-02T15:17:00.006-04:00

I know it's fall and all, but the summer got past me so quickly this year. It was a different summer, but delightful as well. I thoroughly enjoyed feasting on my heirloom Nebraska Wedding tomatoes. I actually grew peppers for the first time, and I had enough to stuff for a great supper addition! I planted some seeds from last year's Datura and I finally was rewarded today with one of its lovely trumpets.

On the weaving front I finished weaving 3 dishcloths on my Beka RHL. I really like the absorbancy of the fabric. On the knitting front, I've been working on a hodge podge of projects such as three cowls , a shawl and the scarf you see below not to mention trying to finish knitting my Ply by Night scarf made out of handspun alpaca, wool and angelina.

Last night I attended the Slater Mill Knit Guild meeting. Twist Collective presented their trunk show. As always seeing knitted garments sells patterns. Check out their website and archived patterns. You won't be disappointed.

The Spinning Room

2009-09-26T09:15:00.002-04:00

I came across this interesting article about the spinning rooms in 18th century Germany. It was there that people shared local news as well as news from travelers. They were even denounced: " as dens of iniquity because young, unmarried men and women would drink together, sing songs together, and perhaps even worse..."

Times have changed .............

Blossoms on Boston Neck Road

2009-09-05T09:31:00.005-04:00

This summer I drove down to Casey Farm with my Ashford Joy spinning wheel to demonstrate at their Farmer's Market. As I drove down Boston Neck Road I noticed a small low pond. Gathered around its circumference were several photographers with cameras and tripods. I almost came to a grinding halt when I discovered what had drawn them there. Keep in mind that the flowers are the size of large grapefruit which is huge when compared to what one finds on local ponds.

With the photographers permission I was able to stand in front of their cameras so I could take these shots with my humble Panasonic Lumex:

Fiber Pursuits

2009-08-24T11:47:00.006-04:00

This weekend I had a great time on a Tactile Travel tour to Shelburne, MA to visit Barbara Parry's farm. The trip was arranged as part of our Slater Mill Knitting Guild activities for this year. Not only did we play with the sheep, but we also saw Barbara's studio where we could buy some fiber , yarn or spindles. Some of us spun with our new Kundert spindles while others took part in a spindle spinning class. Still others knitted in her barn to the tune of her sheep songs.

I slipped over to her beautiful garden for a few shots.

Barbara captured the visit at her blog .After a mostly rain free visit,we headed for the Northampton Brewery then Webs. What a way to end the day!

Provisional Cast Ons
If you're like me I'm always on the hunt for a provisional cast on method that's easy. I've tried many, but I've settled in on a crocheted method. What's so wonderful about it is that it always works properly. No trying to figure out which crochet chain side from which to pick up the stitches to begin a project. Also unzipping is a breeze! It basically allows you to crochet stitches onto the needle you will use for your project.

The best directions are always visual. Check out this Knitting Daily's video featuring Eunny Jang
where she shows several methods. What method do you favor?

Summer Horseshow and Local Fair

2009-08-06T08:39:00.005-04:00

DD participated in a dressage show this summer and was rewarded for her hard work with Wyatt:

I love his ribbon. DD placed 4th out of 13.

I've been working on several projects as of late that have kept me away from posting. I finished a lovely little shrug for a 2 year old. I've finished another baby gift project. I'm still wanting to get back to some of my other projects, but they are warm on the lap while knitting so perhaps they'll be left for the cooler weather.

Now that I have a bit more time I'm working on tweaking a another bag pattern design that uses my own hand spun. Pattern writing is all consuming. The devil is in the details as they say. I'm also thinking about an idea for a shawl for the autumn. I'll be trolling through some stitch treasuries to get some fresh ideas.

A few weeks ago I attended one of our local fairs and submitted some hand spun.

Summer Flora

2009-07-26T08:48:00.002-04:00

I have been busy as they say with work and fairs and family and friends. Here are some flowers in my driveway garden............................

No Time For Posting

2009-07-05T15:12:00.018-04:00

June has been a whirlwind month for me. I've been busy with work, workshops and fiber pursuits. Mother nature's bird parade has intrigued me as well.If you look closely in the picture above you can see Mama protecting the nest of baby birds below.

I took a super handpainting dye workshop with Kris Gonzales of the Painted Sheep. Rhodamine Red,Spiced Pumpkin, National Blue and Mallard were just a few of the Prochem dyes we used to handpaint roving and yarn.

Today I finished spinning some fingering weight Icelandic fiber for a special project. I want to knit a light and dark shawl in natural colors. Here is the handspun ready for the project.

Close Encounter of a Fiber Enthusiast

2009-05-28T11:20:00.003-04:00

Where do I begin describing the fiber adventures that I have encountered?

Let's go back to New Hampshire Sheep and Wool.........I got to visit many vendors including Mad Angel Creations and Ball and Skein. I purchased some Strawberry Chiffon fiber from Mad Angel and I'm enjoying spindle spinning this wonderful fiber :

Here's Judy at her booth at NHSW:

Next stop is the 3rd Annual RI Sheep and Wool Festival. I had a wonderful day. I participated in our annual RI Spinning Guild Sheep to Shawl Demonstration. Here are some pictures from the day.

Carol and Beth are putting some finishing touches on the shawl

Here's a better view of the overall pattern:

Next post I'll continue the tale................

It was a great day for photos!

2009-05-07T13:13:00.005-04:00

Last week I finally got around to taking pictures that some of you asked for of the shawl and scarf I finished. Judy graciously took some of the pictures. I am happy to report that these two projects are off the needles and ready to roll.

Lately I've been sidetracked in my knitting. I wanted to finish up a new cowl pattern so I double dropped or is it tripled dropped some other projects. My basket overfloweth with several projects screaming for attention like socks, a lace scarf and some zzzzzzz UFO's.

Well.....rest easy.... I'm straightening my knitting basket and also plan to pullout some spinning projects before I head out to New Hampshire Sheep and Wool this Saturday. My goal is not to do too much damage at the festival....mmmm maybe a bit of roving or a some nameless wooden object :)))

Stretched to the Limit

2009-04-19T10:50:00.003-04:00

What a difference a hard block makes on a piece of lace knitting. This pattern called Old Shale Shawl by Evelyn Clark from Piecework Jan/Feb 2005 is a easy knitting experience. The yarn is Ball and Skein's hand dyed merino/silk Zephyr.
Purple hyacinths wow me with their color every spring.......................

Easter Pie Aka Pizza Gaina

2009-04-10T13:02:00.003-04:00

It 's that time of year again when baking celebrates the humble egg. I say this because I make Pizza Gaina and Easter Rice pie for my family. Today I made the egg dough for the Pizza Gaina from scratch and added the fillings. The turnovers are cooling as I write.

Tomorrow I will make the Easter Rice pie aka Pastiera...............

Sachuest Visit

2009-04-02T09:39:00.003-04:00

It's always a joy to visit Sachuest no matter what time of year.

Spring Tidings

2009-03-27T15:36:00.006-04:00

Today, my small office window was cracked to air out the room. Not only did the welcome air enter, but the sound of birds chirping in my yard perked me up. April is in the air:

Eliot reminds us from The Waste Land:

APRIL is the cruellest month, breeding
Lilacs out of the dead land, mixing
Memory and desire, stirring
Dull roots with spring rain.
Winter kept us warm, covering
Earth in forgetful snow, feeding
A little life with dried tubers.

As we all know April's cruelty turns the frozen earth eventually to a warmer time. Given our cooler temperatures in RI , my spring hat may still be worn:

Show and Tell

2009-03-17T18:00:00.004-04:00

The hat is knitted from hand spun Cooperworth ( the fiber is wonderful to spin) from Sandi at Wintechog Hill Farm. The green/blue/yellow yarn I hand dyed at Barbara Parry's dye workshop ( a very worthwhile workshop) at Web's and handspun by me. I'm knitting a hat from the top down with it presently.

I overdyed some merino and tencel that came out a lovely red/purple using koolaid dye.The last project is the Swiss Cheese Scarf I knitted out of merino/ tencel I spun years ago......part of my 10 year old Rhinebeck stash.

Men's Fashion Intersects Knit Designs

2009-02-21T18:24:00.002-05:00

Here's men's fashion with a knit sense....................Thom Browne's Menswear collection for Fall 2009....Be sure to check out the sideshow.

Opinions.............................

Tip of the Tam Pattern is Complete !

2009-02-17T18:42:00.006-05:00

Finally after much delay on my part, I've completed the tip of the tam pattern. Many thanks to Ball and Skein for her yarn and BySarah for her test knitting.

I'm also working on a hand spun hand knitted hat for charity which I've enjoyed making throughout the process. I began with 3 0z of lovely Coopworth from Wintechog Hill Farm in CT. that Sandi provided to our guild. The locks barely needed a flick and they were open and ready for a quick spin. What a joy to spin. Next the knitting process fostered my delight. Spinning from the lock from butt to tip produced a wonderful worsted yarn with striations of natural color in the yarn.........grays and browns.I'll post some pics of the finished hat soon.

Are you a process oriented spinner or knitter?

Nature aims to please....................

2009-02-09T14:08:00.003-05:00

My orchid readies to bloom.......................
So does my fiber................................

Wuthering Heights

2009-01-30T17:51:00.003-05:00

If you haven't seen PBS's Wuthering Heights ,view it online until Sunday, February 1, 2009. The online viewing is of good quality with a large viewing window. I read WH when a teen;this televised version doesn't disappoint unless you'd rather cling to the written word and not spoil your imagination.

I'll understand...................

On another Masterpiece Theater note .......Tess of the D'Urbervilles aired on PBS before WH. I fell in love with Tess's shawl.You know I had to find a pattern for this shawl. This shawl looks a lot like it.

In case you haven't heard there's a discussion on Ravelry about Tess's shawl .

More Knitting and Spinning.....................

2009-01-20T17:57:00.005-05:00

I've been wanting to post more of my knitting and spinning projects..............the skein is mohair and merino: spun and plyed on a Ledbetter spindle. The cowl is knitted with hand spun- hand dyed merino.The hat will soon be felted.

Yes! Pete Seeger Has Arrived!

2009-01-19T10:26:00.003-05:00

Inauguration 2009: Pete Seeger and Bruce Springsteen
Originally uploaded by USA TODAY

Pete Seeger is wearing a Solmate Socks hat while singing with Bruce Springsteen at the 2009 Inaugural Concert at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington DC yesterday.

There's a web site to nominate him for the Nobel Peace Prize.

Ravelry is abuzz discussing what the concert means to our nation as well as how to knit this hat.

Field of Dreams

2009-01-15T20:07:00.005-05:00

If you build it they will come........................truer words were never spoken! Last night I had the distinct pleasure of being in the company of many like minded fiber enthusiasts at Slater Mill in Pawtucket, RI.

Slater Mill is the birthplace of the American Industrial Revolution; it seems fitting that those of us who cherish the handmade as well as the machine made can now gather in its halls to share our craft and expand our knowledge. The directors of the mill have welcomed guilds and individuals from the northeast to join their community guild studios. They also plan to create a pan guild with the hope of co mingling the members of distinct guilds to inspire joint projects. Add to this their willingness to sponsor workshops in any fiber related topic, and we've got the care and feeding of the imagination.This excites me to no end.

Join the conversation at Ravelry........................

Vests are just the right type of knitting.........

2009-01-08T14:46:00.002-05:00

Yes.............knitting a vest has a lot going for it. Less sewing,no sleeves, less yarn. As you know I've made a vest out of my handspun that I posted last entry. Now I want to make another. I've got a few ideas, but nothing's for sure yet.

Here are some of the choices: All are free except the Chinese Vest. It's a tough decision. Which do you like? Perhaps there's a vest you can suggest.

Tamaqua Vest
Chinese Red Vest (Ravelry)
Boogie Vest
Vine Lace Vest

How I Spent My Christmas Vacation......

2009-01-04T18:50:00.004-05:00

Watching DH and DD checking on the horses...............
Seeing Gwen enjoy her daily hay.......................
Feeling glad M likes her felted slippers even though I forgot J's slippers Christmas morning........
Snapping pics of Puddy....................

Smiling at Marvin ( M and J's new rescue cat) loving nap time in an abandoned box.............
Photographing my new vest made with some handspun mohair and merino.......................

Happy New Year to all!

Make sure to buy the new Piecework Magazine.

Introducing Tip of the Tam

2008-12-14T18:23:00.005-05:00

The holidays nothwithstanding I have managed to get my act together and post some pictures of a finished piece. "Tip of the Tam" is a quick knit made with less than one skein of Ball and Skein's, Kashmir, a lovely blend of 80 % merino and 20% Mongolian cashmere and iridescent beads. It can also be knitted in Ball and Skein's Serena, Weatherfield and Arbori.The pattern will soon be available.

It's Dizzy Time

2008-12-12T17:45:00.002-05:00

I wanted to post something for the last week and a half. Time is flying by and still I haven't finished all the have to's.

I've been up to much as of late with work and knitting and spinning. One of these days I will take pics of some of my fiber work and show you that I have something to show for my absence from the blogosphere.

I've got a couple of neck wear items I've been working on in the pattern design area. Naturally, holiday gifts are being knitted, and I'm sworn to secrecy about those. After the holiday celebration I can post about those. I've also begun a new vest in some of my handspun yarn about which I'm really happy.

Tonight I'm headed off to a holiday get together with some of my high school buds. We got together last October to celebrate our 40th high school reunion and thought we would get together more often to celebrate. What a great idea!!! None of us has to prepare for the get together since we are meeting at a local restaurant to celebrate the holiday season. My kind of "do."

It Never Fails to Please

2008-11-15T10:48:00.005-05:00

I always enjoy The Gathering workshops and fiber enthusiasts that congregate once every two years in New England. It was fun to catch up with bloggers from the area as well.

The first workshop I attended was a full day session with Myrna Stahman. It was very worthwhile to learn about Faroese Shawl knitting. Myrna takes the time to make her participants understand the basics of lace knitting. She also takes the time to explain the difference between " lace knitting" and" knitted lace."

Lace knitting provides the knitter with the much loved " rest row" while knitted lace affords the knitter no rest from chart reading. I was able to start my Faroese shawl in a DK weight blue yarn. Ever since my return from The Gathering I find myself picking up the started shawl and knitting more rows.

On Sunday I had the pleasure of taking a workshop on spindle spinning with Abby Franquemont. It is also worth your time and travel to learn about production spindle spinning from Abby. Abby's childhood experiences in Peru as a child were illuminating and instructive. Add to this Abby's wit and you have a wonderful Sunday morning with a new low whorl spindle.

In the project department I have many tales to tell. I have started a scarf with my spindlespun Hale Bop. I continue to spindle spin some merino/mohair. I'm on sock number two in an easy 3x1 rib. On the wheel I need to continue spinning Rebel, Rebel.........a luscious batt from CopperPot Woolies. Some merino/ silk I bought from RI Handspun is calling me................

The Gathering

2008-11-06T15:45:00.004-05:00

Every two years I look forward to going to The Gathering which is sponsored by the Northeast Hanspinners Association of which I am a member. I very much look forward to a day long lace workshop with Myrna Stahman.Here is one of her free patterns in memory of Matthew Shepard.

The next day I'll be participating in a workshop with Abby Franquemont. My greatest joy is seeing other fiber enthusiasts and their work.

Back to packing..............................

TADA!!!!

2008-10-31T18:31:00.002-04:00

I think this is a record. I knit this sweater in about a month maybe even less. I'm loving its warmth on these chilly mornings. Pity I never made it to Rhinebeck to wear it there!
I was very happy to make this sweater out of stash yarn from Green Mountain Spinnery as well as stash buttons I bought from Spa a couple of years ago. I LOVE these dragonfly buttons!
The pictures are pretty lousy when it comes to seeing the true color, but the button shot is passable.

Not Much I like Here

2008-10-28T21:29:00.002-04:00

Knitting on Top of the World

The Russian Sage and Sweater Progress

2008-10-12T15:43:00.006-04:00

You know that eventually we have to weed and trim the garden. We can wait until next spring or we can do the work in the fall. Today I spent some time weeding and trimming plants in my driveway garden that gave me so much joy last spring....the Siberian Iris, the Mountain Mint, the False Indigo,the many lovely lilies and more. But I could not trim the Russian Sage...call me sentimental...I could not rob some bees of the chance to still feast on its lovely purple flowers. I'm so happy I took the time to work on the garden and spend some time enjoying this beautiful day.

On the knitting front I've been happily working on my Rhinebeck sweater....you know from the book A Fine Fleece which I very much love. I'm using some Green Mountain Spinnery worsted wool which appears to be a singles. I'm finished with the patterned part of the back and fronts which are knit together on a circular needle. I also have been spinning some merino and mohair on my KL spindle.

Last weekend I did some spinning at the Hearthside.

Linen Stitch and Hydrangeas

2008-09-27T08:29:00.010-04:00

I'm in the finishing mood lately. I rounded up a pullover called Jolie by Jamieson in Annabel Fox bulky yarn I had begun several years ago and finished the second sleeve. The fact that this sweater was done in linen stitch with some sleeve and design element increases are my excuses for not finishing the dang sweater.....yeah, yeah, yeah....you know that excuse by heart.

I am very pleased with the outcome especially after I blocked the sweater after a Eucalan bath. I must admit you need to think about whether or not to use Eucalan with some sweaters. There are times when I'm making a sweater when I'd like to avoid making the fabric softer.....consider a sweater/jacket made with Bartlett, Candide or Green Mountain Spinnery yarn. I find that I'd like the stiffness of this yarn and its resulting fabric so much in a design that a bath in another wool wash is best for my purposes.
Click on the picture below to see the lovely flecks in the linen stitch pattern. I love this yarn.
A few weeks ago I had the pleasure of meeting DD and SIL's newly adopted cat, Lizzie. She is delightful and resembles my own Ruth.................

I also enjoyed her wonderful hydrangeas...................they are so special when they are blooming and approaching the end of their season.

It's My 5th Blogiversary!!!

2008-08-26T19:11:00.005-04:00

You know I've never mentioned my blogiversary. This was due to the fact that I couldn't quite remember the exact date, but after a bit if searching I discovered that the earliest entry I have is August 27th 2003. It's not recorded in my Blogger archives because I was blogging using a website uploaded to my ISP. So..........I've picked this date to celebrate the event.

What a wonderful journey it has been. Thanks to Mr. Etherknitter I have learned how to save my blog. Thanks to the knit/spin blogger community I have been able to share and learn about knitting and spinning. This blog has provided me with an audience that loves fiber as I do. We all need an audience for our work to have meaning.

One thing I would love to know is who my audience is? I've looked at bloglines and know who some of you are , but I'm curious to know who else is out there. I'm sure readers visit and don't have time to leave a comment. If you've got a moment leave a comment, I'd love to know who my nameless readers are.

The hat that wanted to be a purse........

2008-08-18T08:24:00.006-04:00

All who know me know my love for all things Jacob. I even managed to get some wonderful handspun Jacob in a fiber giveaway. I thought about what I wanted to make with it, and I started to make a beret. It told me it wanted to be a drawstring purse.

Here you see my favorite bday present from DD and DSIL............Eeva Haavisto's mitten book!!! Yes..........it was reprinted and is sold at Nordic Fiber Arts!!My DD wasn't sure she bought me the right book since it is written in Finnish. It contains charts for a hundred mittens.
Yesterday DD and I had our summer bday celebration. She made me a lovely arrangement of lovely hrdrangeas and zinnias from her garden. I also received some funds to buy some other spinning delights!!!

Before, During and After

2008-08-17T12:24:00.004-04:00

The fiber is called Hale Bop after the comet that streaked across the sky in 1997.

Today is a glorious day!What could be better that blue skies, sunshine, comfortable temperatures and spinning!! I know a visit for our bday celebrations from DD and DSIL................

Walk with me Wednesday Bday Fun

2008-08-13T19:17:00.000-04:00

Today DH and I celebrated my bday with a trip to the shore...Point Judith that is. We took off after the morning traffic and visited the celebrated lighthouse built in 1888. After knitting a few rows and spinning on my spindle, we took a long walk to get in our dose of exercise. Next we had the best clamcakes, chowder and doughboys at Iggy's!

Breaking the Silence

2008-08-05T18:23:00.002-04:00

It's been a busy time with workshops and other work related musts. But I'm back. I'm having fun with Wordle. Take a look at my wordle.

EssentiallyI took my last blog post and created a word cloud with it in Wordle. Go and play. It simple fun to see what art your language can produce.

Yawn..................I'm tired....think I'll try to knit and or spin before I fall asleep.

Petticoats and Moon Flowers

2008-07-12T08:40:00.005-04:00

Can't beat this combination.....petticoats and Moon Flowers. I've been knitting right down to the wire. Last night I finished Emma's Unmentionables for my dear grand niece's first birthday. Today we will celebrate with a cookout at her home. I have to say that Web's cotton yarn is a winner as it is a mixture of cotton and microfiber. Did I tell you I bought more red yarn?Some red sprinkles woolease for a dollar a skein for a child's sweater down the road. I just can't stay away from this color.

I found a white t- shirt to complete the outfit. I added a bow to the t-shirt to match the tie on the petticoat.......It will be too large for this year, but she'll be able to wear it next season.

My lovely Moon flower keeps blooming every evening!

Knitting and Spinning Update with Wild Animals

2008-07-05T09:35:00.003-04:00

Yes.....................I've been remiss in posting as of late. Work has kept me busy as well as work on my new sock pattern which I plan to release for the fall.

I'm still working on Emma's Unmentionables and a pair of languishing Regia socks in Ringwood pattern. I still need to finish Mystery Stole 3.....................I'm on the wing segment.

Spinning is ongoing. I'm working on a full bobbin of a 5 oz. lovely dark red batt I mentioned in an earlier post. I'm almost finished spindle spinning the blue lambswool you saw earlier as well.

Earlier this week DD sent me some wildlife pics. A deer and some wild turkeys appeared on her land as well as a cat who likes to peek in her window.