Always time for knitting

Yes, there was time for knitting today, even with the sunshine and warmer temperatures. Was I out in it? Yes, skiied about 7 kilometers today,even went on a trail I have never been on, never thought I could go that far. De-iced the back steps while the sun was out, vacuumed, cleaned a bit and while everyone was away doing their own thing, had some time for me.

Started this sweater tonight, having run out of handspun for the blue one. It has been in the works for awhile, couldn't find the right yarn for it. After some looking around, found this in of all places, the scrapbooking store in town. It's Wool-Ease and the gauge was right on.

Am having trouble with the needles,too slippery. Usually bamboo are my choice, but they didn't have them in the store so gave these a try, but on Monday will probably pick up some bamboo circulars .

Here is a close-up of the yarn over increases for the shoulders, it's another top-down cardigan. Here is a link to the pattern if you want to check it out.

Blues

Made these toddler mittens for Matthew, they are doubled strands of Wool-Ease from the stash. Didn't want wool, so his mom could throw them in the washer and dryer. The pattern is here, if you want to take a look. Also would like to make a pair of felted mittens for him, probably about a 4 year old size, then slightly felt them.

He won't leave mittens on, so they go through a lot of them, and in our climate he needs them, especially with the recent weather we have been getting. Single digits, with high winds, very low wind chills and blowing snow. It is supposed to warm up for the weekend, so there won't be much knitting going on here, I'll be out on the ski trails and making up for missed dog walks.


Here is an update on the handspun sweater, it is coming along. Have one more skein of yarn left, then have to finish spinning up some more of the yarn.

Photos

Here is the latest rug, still on the loom.

Our daughter took this one of our grandson, seems he wanted to do some baking....and now you know what I have been doing instead of weaving.

Weaving and knitting

Just finished sleying the reed and hope to start weaving in a little while. Had to come upstairs and warm up! It's pretty cold downstairs where the loom is...

Also finished up three more skeins of the blue yarn for my handspun sweater. Have about 8 more inches to knit for the body of it, then the sleeves and collar. Can't post any pictures tonight, for some reason when I try to edit and save photos, it goes to paintshop instead. I can't wait for Saturday, it has been one of those weeks, although a nice thing that happened was a friend invited me to join her to demonstrate spinning and drum carding last weekend at a festival. We had a good time, and people are always so interested in what we are doing.

Time to get back to weaving, will post pictures soon.

knitting, cooking, and a dog

Started the back of a baby sweater today, click here for the pattern. The yarn is Bernat Softee Baby in mint, but it looks blue on our monitor. Still finding projects to use up the leftover yarn from Matthew's log cabin afghan. Wish the texture showed up better,even a closeup didn't show it well, you'll have to go to the pattern site to see it. Lots of purling, which isn't a favorite but so far it is a fast knit. Stopped at the point where you are supposed to place markers for the sleeves.

Still working on the handspun sweater, have one and a half bobbins spun, and should finish the second bobbin by tomorrow night at the latest. A day for the yarn to dry, then back at it. Anyone else have multiple projects going lately, and what are they? Would love to hear what you are working on.

Tonight's dinner,lasagna. It's been awhile since we have had it, and sounded so good at the grocery store. Good and filling for the weather we have been having lately. Lots of snow, and zero degree temps will zap anyone's energy.


This is pseudo sourdough bread, click here for the recipe. It didn't turn out like I expected, but it made a soft, tasty bread all the same. I didn't use a bread machine, though; used the mixer to mix and knead the dough,let rise, then baked in the oven along with the lasagna.


This is my walking buddy, Noel. aka Alice ( Cooper) She found us at the humane society last summer, and has been entertaining us ever since. Every day we walk, unless the weather is too nasty. She loves running up the snowbanks, which are 6-7 feet tall at this point and will get higher.

Some progress on the handspun sweater

Here it is after 4 skeins of yarn are almost used up. Time to make more, there is plenty of the roving left. I will probably get started on it Wed. at our spinning meeting. Also have another baby's top down pullover on the needles in a dark rose color, and it's time to weave rugs, also. The shuttles are wound with rags, and waiting for me, just don't have the inclination to get down there right now.

I taught a group of knitters how to make stitch markers a few weeks ago. We had a pot luck, lots of knitting and fiber talk, what could be better than that?

Finished a rug

Closeup of the rug still on the loom.

Here's the finished rug,made a mistake on this one. Serged some of the rags with the seams straight across and the lumpy seams came through on the back of the rug. Have since learned from Rugtalk that they should be done on a diagonal, and will have to give that a try soon. It still looks very pretty on my floor in front of the back door. We go through quite a few rugs this time of year between mud and snowy boots it's always good to have another one. Of course the tension was perfect and there isn't any bowing at the hems, which usually happens with my rugs!

Our oldest daughter and grandson are moving back home for awhile, so am working on relocating my craft room. It's good to go through things, though. Do I need this? Do I have room to keep this? Do I really want this?