Experiment in Sheep Shop...

Ok.....So, I picked up this great yarn at the Haus and have decided to make a piece of a triangular Estonian lace shawl with it.  I'm not actually doing the triangular part, but am pulling out pattern pieces for a straight scarf.  So far it looks great, however, I only have two skeins of yarn (and the yarn is being discontinued), so I have no idea at this point if it will be enough for what I'm planning.  I don't think so.  I do have a plan B if it doesn't work, which will mean re-knitting the skein again, but what fun is knitting without a little ripping out and starting over here and there.  I love this yarn!  It's 30% silk and 70% wool....very soft....and a cool orange with color variations....beautiful.  Here is the beginning of plan A....

Oh, did I mention it's a lace pattern?  Of course it is...because lately all I've had on the brain is lace.  I have lovely alpaca lace I brought home from Maryland that is whispering to me in the night (cause alpaca is just a whispering kind of fibre).  We'll see what I decide to do with that.

On a side note....my Pease Fleece arrived from Maine....Sea Moss wool DK.  Sue and I swatched last night in preparation for the Faery Ring Jacket knit-a-long which will begin in July.  Just in time for winter wearing.  After just the swatch, I think this will be a great yarn to knit with as well.  Sue's is a groovy earth tone with specs of many colors.  All evening long she said, "Here comes pink.", "There is a blue."....I think she enjoyed the process.

My Little Sister...

Ok....so today is Kathy's brithday...to my little sister; happiness, health and lots of love.  Hope to see you very soon.  And, as usual, the magnoilas are in full bloom for your day.

Addition to the Family

Ok....I made a little friend to go with the jacket...I did this because I had a little yarn left and thought, "Oh, wouldn't this be cute"....and it is...however, I STILL have yarn left.  A ball of the bombay goes a long way.  But now, alas....I'm am finished with trying to come up with ways to use the yarn that is left over.  That being said, I love this little dude.

Finished Surprise

Ok...so the jacket is finished and there was enough yarn to add to the set...cap and socks.  Very little and very cute.  The yarn was a breeze to work with and I'm happy with the result.

Maryland Sheep and Crab Festival

Ok...Mum and I spent the first weekend in May (fake Mother's Day weekend), in Maryland for the Sheep and Wool Festival.  Let me start by saying that while fondling yarn and color matching all day is good times, there was also getting my Mum out of the house and crabs...crabs, crabs, crabs....there, Maryland is full of crabs....  Several crabs gave their lives that weekend so that we could crack and clean and hammer and have something to go with our beer and wine.  The weather on Friday was perfect and our Annapolis excursion and crab hunting was sunny, breezy and seaside...what more could I ask for.....ok...too much, I know.

On to the festival...I had really been looking forward to the weekend since my dear friend Sue told me "You have to go".  I talked Mum into it and started booking flights.  Well, 3 gazillion people had the same idea as me.  They came from everywhere....they gathered for yarn and spinning and sheep......and.....lamb burgers.  Yup, shearing on one side...sizzling on the other.  So, the kink in the event was the weather....90 degrees and sunny.  Great for the beach, not so much for the Maryland Sheep and WOOL Festival.  We enjoyed what we could get to and picked up some groovy and very soft alpaca lace yarn and wonder peace fleece......and then, we pooped out.

Of course, Sunday came and it was time for Mum and I to head in opposite directions....oh, wait...she made it, I however, had a canceled fight, a rebook to Birmingham, AL and a drive through lighting and rain at midnight....with, my wonderful new yarn, a contented body full of crab and a smile for having spent these wonderful moments with my Mum.

Mars, Venus and my gyro...

Ok....so needing to get out of the house a little bit today, took me on an errand run and lunch...my favorite Gyro place, timed perfectly so it would be fairly quiet and I would get in a little reading while eating.

To shorten this story, lunch did not turn out to be about my gyro, a diet coke and Percy Jackson and the Olympians as planned….it turned out to be about men and woman; Mars and Venus. The table across the aisle housed a man and woman who had finished their lunch and we're still discussing 'business'. Apparently, they work together in the journalism industry; her in video and he in print. They are a part of the same team that covers music events….and, she was not happy with him. Something did not go as expected during the last engagement, which brought them to this little place to discuss 'issues' and I suppose how they were going to work together.

What struck me were words, words I have read in a million self-help books and articles about men and women; dating, marrying, living together, getting along and most of all communicating. I really DID try to read and accomplished two chapters, but periodically, I would hear words that took my attention away from Percy and made me smile. Each time she tried to tell him what the issue was, she began with, "I feel like…." He began with, "You told me….." How many times I have read this? Have these two not read Oprah? or John Gray? Do they not watch TV? So funny, that exactly what every therapist says, is actually true…women communicate what they feel and men communicate what they see and hear. And these two were trying, but it wasn't happening.

I think they may have worked a few things out, but I can't be sure, because as they were standing from the table her cell phone rang and she proceeded to fill the other party in on some clothing issues she was having. While he, after holding the door for a brief moment, decided to wait in the car. The way they left the restaurant, was so symbolic of the lack of communication….neither heard the other or felt the other. Each was painfully self-focused.

Which brings me to why I'm smiling now? God knows this is going on. So, does He laugh when He sees us acting so silly? And, is He hoping that someday we figure out how different we are and that we should embrace those differences and enjoy? Smile at each other more maybe? I don't know, but today, I had a great lunch!

And so it begins

Well, here I am...out here in what feels like everywhere when you hit PUBLISH. I hope to share adventures and projects....photos and thoughts...and of course, food and wine.

Last night I joined the Thursday night knit group at Haus of Yarn as we began Zimmerman's Baby Surprise Jacket...fun and since it does not yet look anything like a jacket....an adventure. Yarn is Katia Bombay...love working with it so far....

Arctic Meadow Stole

The stole is worked horizontally to be 22" wide, however  the pattern can also be worked lengthwise with more stitches if you’d like. This version finished a 72" long. The yarn used for this model was a handspun BFL/silk blend....so lovely...very soft and comfortable.  This particular yarn produced a beautiful stripe, but a solid colour would be equally pretty.

Experience Level: Intermediate 

Materials:  

-1000 yds Fingering Weight Yarn - Handspun yarn was used for model 
- US 5 (3.75 mm needles)

 5.75 sts = 1” blocked

Abbreviations: 
K: knit 
P: purl
K2tog: knit 2 sts together 
RS: right side (only to keep track of your rows)
SK2P: slip 1 st knitwise to the right-hand needle, k2tog, pass the slipped st over the knit sts. 

SSK: slip two stitches, then knit together
st(s): stitch(es)
WS: wrong side (only to keep track of your rows)

WYIB: with yarn in back

WYIF: with yarn in front
YO: yarn over (note: there are 3 yarn overs in a row to create the circle)

Pattern Stitch: (multiple of 8 + 3)

NOTE: slip first st of each row wyif purlwise on RS and wyib knitwise on WS

Row 1 (WS) and all odd numbered rows: slip one st knitwise wyib, purl across

Row 2 (RS): sl1, K1 *YO, SSK, K3, K2tog, YO, K1; repeat from * to one st from end, K1
Row 4:  sl1, K1 *K1, YO, SSK, K1, K2tog, YO, K2; repeat from * to one st from end, K1
Row 6:  sl1, P1, *K2, YO, SK2P, YO, K2, P1; repeat from * to one st from end, K1
Row 8, 10, 12, 14, 16:  sl1, P1, *SSK, K1, YO, K1, YO, K1, K2tog, P1; repeat from * to one st from end, K1

Instructions: 

Cast on 83 sts
Work in pattern stitch to desired length (or width if making lengthwise).

Purl one row.

Bind off loosely. 

Block and enjoy!

Windowpane Throw

This throw is large, bulky and soft and can be made any size. The model is 50" x 60" knit with Juniper Moon Farm Yearling…big, fluffy and soft. This yarn is now discontinued, but there are many lovely bulky yarns out there to knit this with.  The pattern has a small garter end and maintains a 3 stitch garter edge throughout.

Experience Level: Easy
Materials: - 1200 yds Bulky Weight Yarn (You can vary this based on the size you want to make.
- US 11 Needle

Abbreviations:

BO: bind off
CO: cast on
k: knit
LT: left twist - place one stitch on cable needle and hold in front of work.  Knit one stitch from left hand needle, then knit the stitch from your cable needle.
p: purl
RS: right side
st(s): stitch(es)
WS: wrong side

Pattern Stitch:
Row 1 (RS): K3, LT, k28, LT, (k30, LT) twice, k28, LT, k3
Row 2 (WS): K3, Purl to last 3 sts, K3.
Repeat rows 1 and 2, 19 times more.
Row 3: Repeat row 1
Row 4: K3, p2, k28, (p2, k30) twice, p2, k28, p2, k3.  
Row 5: Repeat row 1
Row 6:   Repeat row 4
Repeat rows 1 and 2, 9 more times
Repeat rows 3 - 6.

Instructions:
CO 132 sts. Knit 4 rows. Work in pattern stitch to desired length ending with row 3. Knit 3 rows. Bind off loosely.

Running Diamonds Throw

The next throw for 2014 is a pretty good size at 64" x 70".  Very soft with James Brett Chunky yarn (once again I'm using this yarn because I need washable for a gift and this is perfect.)  The pattern is made with a 16 stitch ( plus 1) and 18 row repeats so can be adjusted to a larger or smaller size.  All my patterns work well for baby blankets as well.  Make a swatch to see what the pattern looks like with the yarn and needles you've decided on.  This, as well as any of the other throws can be easily adjusted.

Experience Level:  Intermediate
Materials:  -1365 yds Bulky Weight Yarn (you can very this based on the size you want to make.  This will also change if you're using a different weight of yarn with the pattern stitch.)
                    -US 10 1/2 (will very if different weight yarn is used.)

Abbreviations:
k: knit
p: purl
RS: right side
SSK:  slip one stitch knitwise, slip a second stitch knitwise, pass slipped stitches back to left needle, knit through the back loops.  Single decrease.
SK2P: slip 1 stitch from left needle to right, knit 2 together, pass slipped stitch back over knitted stitches.  Double decrease.
st(s): stitch(es)
WS: wrong side
yo: yarn over

Pattern Stitch:
Row 1(RS): K3, *p1, k2tog, k2, yo, k2tog, yo, k3, yo, k2tog, yo, k2, ssk*; repeat to last 4 sts, p1, k3.

Row 2 (WS) and all even numbered rows:  K3, p to last 3 sts, k3.

Row 3: K3, *p1, k2tog, k1, yo, k2tog, yo, k5, yo, k2tog, yo, k1, ssk*; repeat to last 4 sts, p1, k3.

Row 5: K3, *p1, (k2tog, yo) twice, k7, yo, k2tog, yo, ssk*; repeat to last 4 sts, p1, k3.

Row 7: K3, (k2tog, yo) twice, *k9, yo, k2tog, yo, sk2p, yo,k2tog,yo*; repeat to last 16 sts then k9, (yo, k2tog)twice, k3.

Row 9: K3, *k1, yo, k2tog, yo, k3, ssk, p1, k2tog, k3, yo,k2tog, yo*: repeat to last 4 sts, k4.

Row 11: K3, *k2, yo, k2tog, yo, k2, ssk, p1, k2tog, k2, yo, k2tog, yo, k1*; repeat to last 4 sts, k4.

Row 13: K3, *k3, yo, k2tog, yo, k1, ssk, p1, k2tog, k1, yo, k2tog, yo, k2*; repeat to last 4 sts, k4.

Row 15: K3, *k4, (yo, ssk) twice, p1, (k2tog, yo) twice, k3*; repeat to last 4 sts, k4.

Row 17: K3, *k5, yo,k2tog, yo, sk2p, yo,k2tog, yo, k4*; repeat to last 4 sts, k4.

Row 18: K3, p to last 3 sts, k3.

Pattern:

Cast on 183 stitches.

Knit 4 rows.

Repeat pattern stitch to desired length ending with row 17.  Knit 3 rows then bind off.

Enjoy!!!

Deco Columns Thow

This throw is large and soft and can be made any size to suit with a flexible 6 row repeat. The model is 50" x 62" knit with James Brett Marble Chunky…big, fluffy and soft..

Experience Level: Easy
Materials: - 1500 - 1700 yds Bulky Weight Yarn (You can vary this based on the size you want to make.
- US 10 1/2 (11 can be used for a bit loser knit)

Abbreviations:

BO: bind off

CO: cast on

k: knit 

M1: make one.  Knit one stitch from the row below to increase.
p: purl

RS: right side

sp2p: slip one stitch purlwise with yarn in back to the right-hand needle; bring yarn forward to purl 2 together; pass slipped stitch over 2 stitches purled together. 
st(s): stitch(es)
WS: wrong side
 

Pattern Stitch: (multiple of 15+ 8)

Row 1 (RS): K3, p2 *m1, k3, p2, sp2p, p2, k3, m1, p2*; repeat between ** to last three sts, k3.

Row 2 (WS): (k5, p4)2x, *k2, p4, k5, p4*; repeat between ** to last 5 sts, k5.

Row 3:  K3, p2, *m1, k4, p1, sp2p, p1, k4, m1, p2*; repeat between** to last 3 sts, k3.

Row 4: K5, p5, k3, p5 *k2, p5, k3, p5*; repeat between ** to last 5 sts, k5.

Row 5:  K3, p2, *m1, k5, sp2p, k5, m1, p2*; repeat between ** to last 3 sts, k3.

Row 6:  K5, p6, k1, p6, *k2, p6, k1, p6*; repeat between ** to last 5 sts, k5.

Repeat rows 1-6 for pattern.

Instructions:

CO 188 sts. Knit 4 rows. Work in pattern stitch to desired length ending with row 5. Knit 3 rows. Bind off loosely (RS).

Reverse Circles of Infinity

This reversible scarf was worked in a circle to achieve an infinity.  The yarn used for this model was 2 hanks of Ella Rae Merino Lace in violet black.  That made a large infinity with enough length for three wraps.  It can be made much smaller and narrower if you'd like.  If you would only like 2 wraps, cast on 270 stitches instead of the 400.  It will also reduce your yardage by 1/3.  The pattern is identical to my Reversible Circles of Lace with a few modifications to create the circle for knitting in the round.  There will be two rows where you will have to move your marker to properly place the holes.  

Experience Level: Intermediate 
Gauge for this example on this yarn is 3 stitches = 1".
Materials: 450-850 yds Lace or Fingering Weight Yarn -  (This can be made smaller or larger depending on yarn used.  Just check your gauge to alter the cast on sitches and go for it.)
- US 7 (4.5 mm needles)

Abbreviations: 
BO: bind off
CO: cast on
k: knit 
p: purl
k2tog: knit 2 sts together
SK2P: slip 1 st knitwise to the right-hand needle, k2tog, pass the slipped st over the knit sts.
SM: slip marker
st(s): stitch(es)
yo: yarn over (note: there are  some 3 yarn overs in a row to create the circle)

Pattern Stitch: (multiple of 10)  

Row 1: yo, k2tog, k1, k2tog, yo, k5 - repeat to marker, SM

Row 2: Purl across, SM
Row 3:  k1, yo, SK2P, yo, k1, SK2P, yo(3x), k2tog - repeat to marker, SM
Row 4: P7, K1, *p9, k1*, repeat from * to * until 2 sts from end; p2. (the k1 should fall in the middle of your three yarn overs.)
Row 5: Remove marker, p1, replace marker, *yo, k3, yo, k2tog, k3, k2tog- repeat to marker, SM
Row 6: Purl across, SM
Row 7:  *k5, yo, k2tog, k1, k2tog, yo - repeat to marker, SM
Row 8:  Purl across, SM

Row 9:  *SK2P, yo(3x), k2tog, k1, yo, SK2P, yo, k1 - repeat to marker, SM

Row 10: p2, k1, *p9, k1* repeat from * to * to 7 sts from end; p6, slip next stitch to right needle, remove marker, slip stitch back to left needle, replace marker.
Row 11: *k2tog, k3, k2tog, yo, k3, yo -repeat  to marker, SM
Row 12:  Purl across

Instructions: 
CO 400 sts (for large)  You can cast on less in multiples of 10.
Set up: 

Place marker at beginning of row and continue working in the round making sure you have one half twist for a moebius and no twists for an infinity.  

Row 1: K across to marker, SM

Row 2: Purl across to marker, SM

Repeat these two rows one more time.

Work in pattern stitch to desired width.  Bind off loosely.  Block, tuck ends and enjoy!