Happy Thanksgiving

Got this from a friend. Have a great and restful day!

Fingerless Gloves and the Magic Loop

Sounds like the beginning of a good Fairy Tale. Once upon a time, before we left for France, I bought some Addi needles from Lisa at This is Knit. Ok enough, I can knit, but not great at the story telling thing. Anyway, extra long. I wanted to do the magic loop. I don't mind the multi needle approach, but it's just fiddly. The first row is the worst. Not that it's bad by any means, but the loop is great!! Half of the stitches on one needle, half on the other. Pull the long cables out on either side. Cheryl taught me the begging step of flipping the first and last stitch from one needle to the other so that the transition is smooth.

The purple yarn is Lorna's Lace Wool/Silk blend. I had to decrease the cast on amount by 5 stitches. It doesn't have very much spring to the yarn, but it is soft! I made them a bit longer than the pattern called for too. Don't like draft up the sleeves

Next was the Kilcarra wool. Love the green colour. Has bits of orange and purple in the wool. A bit scratchy at first but toasty non the less.

The fingerless gauntlet gloves came to a stand still in France. Yarn ran out. Bummer! Ruined my knitting schedule, but today I was up at Craftspun yarns with mom and Cheryl for a restock of the green. Success, plus another item or two for the non Christmas knitting. This is the last one. Not telling who they're for!!! Sorry girls!!

All the gifts are done except one. All are in the suitcase and ready to be taken back to the US. The goal has been met!!! Yes!!

Knitting Coils

Do you remember the Coils? I wasn't sure what to do with it. Knitting can sometimes cover up the beauty of the yarn. Isobel had knitted this lovely openwork scarf that I thought would really suit this yarn. She generously gave me the pattern.

It is a combo of knit 2 together/yarn over. I've used it before on a few things, but.... Mine always seems to move sideways. It doesn't hang straight. So as hers was perfect.. I'd give it a try.

Half way through.... It's a wave, right then left. Nice!! FROG!!! Not easy with the coils. Ok, I'll try and follow the pattern exactly. By this time I can see the shift in pattern from row to row and 2-3 hours later!!

Voila! Trellis Pattern Scarf. I love it. It's very light and lofty, yet warm with the wool. Happy, happy, happy!!

Finishing Projects

Today was finishing up day. All the bits laying around, that were mostly done, but not quite. 2 hats for friends were completed. Forgot the photos. Ooopps!! Was in a rush to get to a birthday party today. This bag and it's fraternal twin were completed tonight. Trim on, snap sewn, handles attached. Ahhh. A new knitting bag or two.
I love the ribbon on this one. Hard to see, but it has a bit of celery green with the aqua. Just seems to add a little life to the bag. I'm on the hunt for the perfect button to go in the middle of the flower.

The bag is an Interweave Knits pattern. 50x28 before felting. YOW!! Big enough to sleep in! Hands were 84" long. They turned out a bit long, but you can cut the stuff once it felted. I decided not to cut a hole in the top for the handle. I just thought it might pull to much. Anyway, I'm very pleased with it and glad it's done.

Tomorrow will begin the tale of knitting in France with pictures this time!

Back from France

Our trip to France was lovely. We were outside of Lyon and Macon in the middle of vineyards, rivers, valleys and some of the most beautiful countryside and villages I've seen. Every country has distinct characteristics. This area was the epitome of France.


Historic old churches surrounded by vineyards. I would love to come back during the prime grape season just to see the grapes hanging off the vine.

As Cheryl said in her blog. I too, was reserved to come to a country that I didn't speak the language, but I've had a change of heart or maybe it's brain. I would love to return and visit a bit more.
More fibre stuff tomorrow. Easy does it.

Cobweb Felt

I took a workshop over the summer on making cobweb felt. This beatiful, shear, gossimer felt is amazing to make. The process of stretching out fiber in a very shear layer and transforming it into fabric is fantastic. Soap, water, wool and friction. Wow, what a result. There are small red beads scattered around the the bottom in little lines. Needed just a little something!

This was a birthday gift for Cheryl. One thing she doesn't do yet is make Felt. Yes!! I can do that and I really like it too! Turns out, so does she... So it was a Happy Birthday to her.

More are in the works for Christmas gifts. I was thinking, teacher gifts from the kids. Also my friend Katrina is moving back to Australia in early December, so I will make one for her.
More later. I've been a knitting fool. 2 scarves, 1 completed pair of fingerless gloves, 1 nearly complete pair of fingerless drop stitch, gauntlet style gloves (ran out of yarn) and 1 fetching nearly done. Wool/Silk blend... YUM!!

Grammy Clause

My parents have come to visit for 3 weeks! We always love the visit. Avery loves the craft things my mother brings. She always comes up with amazing stuff for the kids to do. Glue stick heaven!!
Dad keeps busy by teasing the kids (which they love) and trimming our garden or yard. Yesterday was tree trimming day. A few large branches quickly turned into 3 small piles of leaves, branches and stumps. All precisely cut into equal lengths. 10 on the score card for tidiness and 10 for precision.
This would be some of the food portion of the visit. Some of the things that we can't get here or are just to expensive. Corn husks for making Tamales, Pepperoni, Enchilada Sauce and dried Cranberries. The cranberries are available, but you need to mortgage the non existing house to buy enough for baking.
There was also more things that we love, need or want. Mostly the wanting.... No wonder my house is so full. Anyway, we are having a good time.
Today is prep day. Tomorrow Roy and I leave for France. We'll be gone for 5 days. Don't ask where we are going, I don't know. Outside of Lyon is all I know. Roy's at a conference and I'll be doing some knitting.

Currants

I'm veering away for the usual green/purple combo for a bit. (I'm out of purple dye) So I thought I'd do something in the pink/red range.

After setup of the Knitting and Stitching Show Wednesday, I came home and thought that I ought to have something colourful to spin on Friday. So....
this is what we have. As I was spinning, some girls from the knitting group that I go to on Tuesday's stopped by and said "I really love the Currant colours" Currants! I hadn't thought of that, but that's exactly what they look like.

Growing up in the US, currants are not a common fruit. You see them as a garnish or decorative. Children's drinks, medications, sweets are all Grape flavoured. In Ireland it's Currant. My children had to be deprogrammed from grape and programmed to Currant. Now it's one of the favourite flavors. Yum. I've grown to love it to. So in honour of "The Girls" we have Currants.

It's not a great picture, but it's not nearly as PINK as it looks, more burgundy. Bad picture!

Fiber Femmes Article

November/December Fiber Femmes Magazine was published online today. I did an article about the Sheep and Wool Festival in Northern Ireland. Yippee!! It's been published today.