High Fiber—Thankful for Furry Friends, Freezing Flakes and Fiber Fun

We got more snow Friday night, so Saturday was great for snowshoeing. 

Here are my favorite snowshoeing companions: DH, Rocky (wearing black) and Sunny (in brown).

Sunny  was busy collecting snowballs on the trail, which she showed off after she got into the car.

Snowshoeing was a nice way to finish out the week.

Most of the week was spent frantically trying to finish the kilt hose for DH. I took the finished socks to Common Threads on Thursday. I'll try to get a photo of the socks on DH, maybe with his kilt.

Lynda had the beginning of her Dogwood Blossoms  sweater with her, a few inches of both sleeves. I can hardly wait to start mine! The number of people from Common Threads who are planning to start this sweater and work on it as a group is now at six, with Karan still contemplating making it. We plan on starting after Christmas, probably meeting once a week, but Lynda will have a head start.

Karan had taken a weaving class and showed off her progress.

Joanie and Georgette were both working on very unusual scarves. I'll try to get photos of their scarves next time. Julie brought me the finished Daisy Chain quilt, which she had quilted for me. Julie has a professional quilting business (Mountaintop Quilting, thorum@xmission.com) and will ship.

The quilt still needs binding and label, and I'll have to wash it. This was my first quilt with wool batting. It will be interesting to find out how it looks when washed and dried, and also how warm it is.

Kay was back with the group, working on a crocheted bag:

I spent the session starting Rocky's "Biscuits and Bones" sweater:

The square holes are where the little sleeves will go. Rocky's manly chest is 21", not represented in the pattern sizes, so I went down a needle size and am following the 24" instructions. I did a gauge swatch, and it should fit OK. I have a few inches to go before the shaping for the part that goes over his little rear end. It should be done before Thanksgiving. The free pattern is available from Patons through Ravelry here. I'm using Swish Worsted in "Hollyberry" from Knit Picks. I have plans to make one for Sunny, but she has more flesh on her bones, and she rarely gets cold, so there's no hurry. I picked the same yarn for hers, but in "Lotus," sort of a deep bluish pink.

Especially with the early snow and cold, I'm feeling very thankful for the roof over my head, the food on my table, my fiber activities and the creatures in my life: dogs, wild animals and people, including all of you reading this. Happy Thanksgiving! And happy birthday today to my "Thanksgiving turkey," DS2!

What's on my needles: Rocky's "Biscuits and Bones" sweater. 
What's on my iPad: Just finished Stieg Larsson's The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo. It's an interesting story. Now I've started Gabby: A Story of Courage and Hope by Gabrielle Giffords,  Mark Kelly and Jeffrey Zaslow from Audible.
What's my app of the week: I have to highlight the Audible app again. Now it will play the audiobooks you have ripped in iTunes, with the same features: bookmarks, advance or rewind 30 sec. at a touch. Nice!
What's in my wine glass: Viña San Esteban Reserve Malbec 2010. Special!

Note: This blog post was produced entirely on the iPad. (I used the Notes app to write it.) No other computer was used in any stage of composition or posting, and no Windows were opened, waited for or cleaned.

High Fiber—Early Snows.

Official winter is still 38 days away, but we have it already. I have to console myself with memories of fall colors, like this custom-dyed fiber:

It's called "Autumn in Park City." The fiber was dyed by AlohaBlu inspired by a photo I took of local fall colors. You can find her Etsy shop here.

The photo that inspired the colors is in my September 26th blog
here.

Here's what we have instead:

The usual neighbors have been out. (This was after a previous storm.)

Before the storm came, I got to Vintage Stitchers, where Julie brought back a quilt to Barbara, all quilted. It's the pinwheel quilt.

Barbara had another one to hand over for quilting.

I've been getting some knitting done:

It's the kilt hose for DH from the class I took at Sock Summit taught by Mary Scott Huff called "Kilt by Association." I didn't really have the right needles with me, so I ended up frogging the little bit I did in class and CO again. During our recent trip, I got lots of knitting done, but couldn't try them on the recipient, who was driving when I got to the point where I thought it was time to start the heel. I put that one aside and CO another one. Now I'm doing the first foot. In the photo you can see the sock on the right with the heel flap almost done and the lace edge turned down. The other sock shows the lace edge turned up, revealing the ribbing where the garter goes.

The iPad had problems again. This time I talked with a senior advisor, who decided it was because the backup was corrupted. We chose to sync without using the backup, and loaded the categories of data (photos, apps, audio, video, etc.) manually. It worked, and the iPad has been working great for several days now.

I missed church this week because of the snow.
It continued all morning and into the afternoon, so it was a good idea to stay home. Getting out of my neighborhood is the hardest, but a lot of other drivers aren't ready for winter. At least I'm not hearing the skiers complain that we aren't going to get enough snow in time for the ski areas to open. It's why we live here!

For the Daphne fan club:

I have been thinking about my blog lately. It seems a lot like a photo diary. It's fun to go back a couple of years and check out what I was up to then.

What's on my needles: Kilt hose, Prayer Cardi.
What's on my iPad: Just finished D. E. Stevenson's The Two Mrs. Abbotts and have started Stieg Larsson's The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo. Also happy to listen to The Knit Wits Podcast again. Have a listen. The interview with Poppa Button was hilarious!
What's my app of the week: This week I'm really happy for my Photogene for iPad app. Photogene2 for iPhone just came out, and it brings the iPhone version up to the capabilities of the iPad version and improves the usability with the small screen. I've had the benefits of the improved version for some time.
What's in my wine glass: Flip Flop Pinot Noir 2010. Very nice! (And I won't flip-flop on that opinion!)

Note: This blog post was produced entirely on the iPad. (I used the Notes app to write it.) No other computer was used in any stage of composition or posting, and no Windows were opened, waited for or cleaned.

High Fiber—Family Visits and Home Again.

We made it home safely, just missing a big snowstorm. We left behind happy memories, including time with family and meeting Knitting Community friend Beth in Kokomo.

And getting to see Daphne in some of the things I knit for her, including the gold socks:

The day after arriving home, I left DH with the unpacking and went to Common Threads. There I got to see Lynda's cardigan, almost finished. She used City Tweed HW  in "Denim."

The meeting was at Julie's, and while we were there, Anna's new quilt arrived for Julie to quilt. It's from from City Quilts by Cherri House

Friday I went to the Apple store to get the tech person to help me straighten out my iPad, which was having massive failures of a variety of kinds. He was able to put it right, so when I left, I was a happy camper.

Saturday, Joanie and I braved more snow storms to go to the Acorn Antique Fair in Ogden. We made it out of the storm, but after breakfast in Morgan, we ran into stopped traffic on Highway 84 due to an accident. We were stopped for an hour. Good thing we had brought our knitting!

We saw lots of great stuff at the antique fair. I came across this corner decorated with quilts. The one in the middle is a cross-stitch piece.

We found this Norwegian sweater among the smocked dresses. I would rather do my own knitting, but we had to admire it!

I only bought a couple of things, but my big purchase was this chair for Daphne:

I'll take it to her when I go back in April for the arrival of the new baby. We have the little table DH used when he was a little boy and our kids used later. This chair should be about right. Daphne will be moving out of the nursery to have her own room, so this should come in handy.

What's on my needles: The kilt socks are progressing. The first one is about ready for the heel, and I CO for the second one during the trip.
What's on my iPad: Finished All Creatures Great and Small and started The Two Mrs. Abbotts by D. E. Stevenson, the last in the Miss Buncle trilogy. In the car we listened to David Baldacci's The Whole Truth and Dean Koontz's Relentless. Good books, all!
What's my app of the week: I have to give it to KSL's Weather app by Vortex. We were able to use it to keep track of the big storm, so we knew it was safe to leave Grand Island, NE, where we spent the night on Tuesday.
What's in my wine glass: Fish Eye Shiraz 2009. We have this one frequently. Nice!

Note: This blog post was produced entirely on the iPad. (I used the Notes app to write it.) No other computer was used in any stage of composition or posting, and no Windows were opened, waited for or cleaned.

High Fiber—Family Visits, Part Two

We have been having a nice visit with Daphne and her family.

The Bees' Knees cardigan fit just the way I wanted: a little big, so she can wear it for a long time. The socks fit about the same way:

We came for Halloween, and there was a party for Daphne's friends at someone's home. Daphne was cute as a bug in her bug/witch costume.

We had a lot of fun things to do together, including walks and bath time. I'll try to post some photos next time.

The big fiber event this week was the presentation of the Floral Bouquet quilt to DD and DSIL. Here's the quilt:

My friend Ilene, who used to live across the street when we lived in California, sent this quilt to Daphne:

What's on my needles: Making progress on the kilt hose. I'm ready to start the foot.
What's on my iPad: Listening to Dean Koontz's Relentless in the car while traveling, and still All Creatures Great and Small by James Herriot on my own. Our speakers broke down on the way to Indiana, so we picked up an FM transmitter at DS1’s store in Kokomo, H. H. Gregg.
What's my app of the week: The Notes app that came with my iPad. It never crashes, never fails, and my info is saved until I delete it! (My iPad has gone wonky this week. I need techie help, but have been too busy with family, wonder why!
What's in my wine glass: Ambiente Mendoza Malbec 2010.

Note: This blog post was produced entirely on the MacBook. No other computer was used in any stage of composition or posting, and no Windows were opened, waited for or cleaned.

High Fiber—Family Visits, Part One

We have been on the road since Tuesday. In the car, I got a good start on the kilt hose for DH:

The knitting and the audiobooks make the time go by fast.

We arrived in Peru, IN, Thursday afternoon and have been having a nice visit with DS1 and his DW.

DS had the day off on Friday, so we took the pups (four, including ours and their Westies, Koko and Odie) to the dog park in Kokomo. Rocky had so much fun running, hiis feet hardly touched the ground.

While we visited with DS1 and his DW, I did some swatching for my Dogwood Blossoms cardigan. Here's one:

The reds aren't quite right in my camera, especially the color "Pimiento," which is sort of a cardinal red. I also made some changes to the design. I removed the "Almond" and replaced it with "Nutmeg." I also tried carrying the "Raspberry Heather" for two extra rows, reducing the "Rose Hip" to one row. I'm liking the effect. There is more swatching to be done, because I want to change a couple of other things, too.

While at DS1’s home in Peru, I took a photo of the quilt I made for them several years ago, "Misty's Windy Day."

Misty was the big standard poodle we had for 13 years. That was in the days before Rocky. Misty showed up in appliqué form in the quilt. The quilt was based on a block of the month program at Whimsy Cottage when the store was in Heber City. You bought the first block for $5, and then if you brought it back finished the next month, you got the next kit for free. I ended up not having to pay for any blocks, just the other materials. I made a lot of changes to it, including Misty. It resides in the home of DS1 and his quilter DW. See if you can find Misty. (Clue: Misty is white. Answer at the bottom of the page.)

I finished the binding on DD's quilt, "Floral Bouquet," so that will be ready to hand over when I see her in a few days. I'll try to post a photo next time.

We'll be here a few more days, and then it's off to Wisconsin, where we plan to spend Halloween with Miss 
Daphne.

Misty is next to the dog house near the street light.

What's on my needles: DH's kilt Hose, using Stroll fingering weight sock yarn in Bare and the pattern from Mary Scott Huff's class, "Kilt by Association" at Sock Summit 2011. Also working on Mr. Foster, a very old UFO, and swatching for the Dogwood Blossoms.  DBIL's Prayer Cardi is still waiting at home.

What's on my iPad: Still All Creatures Great and Small by James Herriot. I'm on the second half. We listened to Dean Koontz's Dragon Tears in the car. I think DH wants another Koontz novel for the next leg of the trip.

What's my app of the week: I've downloaded KnitCompanion, but haven't had time to play with it yet. I'll let you know.

What's in my wine glass: Frontera Cabernet Sauvignon/Merlot 2010 from Chile. Nice, and a change from what we can get at home.
 
Note: This blog post was produced entirely on the iPad. (I used the Notes app to write it.) No other computer was used in any stage of composition or posting, and no Windows were opened, waited for or cleaned.

High Fiber--Keeping Warm

We had knitting last week at Rob's lovely home:

 

Here are Lynda and Georgette, sharing knitting advice and tips. The knitting group is great. Rob has a neat new camera, which he used to take this photo.

This week we had Common Threads, in spite of the early arrival of snow:

 

Four of us decided to make the Dogwood Blossoms sweater from Knit Picks. Several of us have ordered the kit already. I'll let you know about our progress.

Saturday was Joanie's birthday. I gave her a framed photo of her cat, Kasha. We had breakfast at No Worries, along with my DH and two of Joanie's three children. Kasha was a hit! (Thanks to Rob for printing the photo for me.)

 

This week I've decided to share the pattern for the socks I've been making for Daphne. This is my own pattern. Here's the PDF: Daphne%27s%20Gold%20Rev..pdf

Please let me know if you have any problems with the pattern. It's only one size, but it can be adapted easily. The socks look like this:

 

She is wearing a size 5 shoe right now, so I made these in a size 6. The yarn is Stroll Tonal in Golden Glow, left over from her Bees' Knees cardigan. The pair takes 25 g of leftover yarn. They were fun and quick to make. I used the same pattern to make a different pair:

 

 

The only thing I did differently was to change the pattern to st st. The yarn is Lana Grossa Meilenweit 100 Multieffekt left over from a pair of adult socks. I'm finishing up the second sock now. It will be completely different, just for fun. I started in a different part of the pattern. That's why I'm calling them "Crazy Socks." I hope to make some mittens out of left over sock yarn before I see Miss Daphne later this month. For my friends who need their Daphne fix, here you go:

 

 

(You have to be able to think inside the box before you can think outside it!)

 

Unpaid Ad: Have a knitting problem? Want advice or an opinion about any aspect of knitting? Want to draw on the combined knowledge and experience of a number of accomplished knitters? Check out Ask the Fairy Godknitters. Post your question or issue as a new discussion, and stand back!

What's on my needles: The Crazy Socks for Daphne. I'm ready to get back to DBIL's prayer cardi when I finish the Crazy Socks. Also back to DH's kilt Hose.

What's on my wheel: Soon I will be starting some nylon-Shetland fiber blend for socks.

What's on my iPad: All Creatures Great and Small by James Herriot. Just added Wicked The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West by Gregory Maguire from the library. This is, I believe, the book the musical "Wicked" was based on.

What's my app of the week: With the snow this past week, it has to be KSL Vortex, a weather app by KSL TV in Salt Lake City. The other apps kept saying no snow for Park City, based on the weather station at the middle school. KSL has a weather station at Summit Park, where I live, several hundred feet higher, were we got--of course--snow!

What's in my wine glass: Crane Lake Zinfandel 2008.



Note: This blog post was produced entirely on the iPad and MacBook. No other computer was used in any stage of composition or posting, and no Windows were opened, waited for or cleaned.

High Fiber—Getting Buzzed

If you are a regular reader of my blog you have seen the progress on this, the "Bees' Knees Cardigan" from The New Stranded Colorwork by Mary Scott Huff.

Here was the body almost finished:

The yarn used is Knit Picks discontinued Essential sock yarn in "Cocoa," Knit Picks Stroll tonal in "Golden Glow" and "Springtime," and Stroll "Bare." All are fingering weight.

The sleeves were worked two at a time in the round with steeks between them. (Steeks = cutting your knitting. Yikes!) The odd sts in the middle of the photo are the steek sts. (Steek sts are extra sts on each side of where the knitting will be cut.)

Then I had to use the sewing machine to sew two rows of stitches on each side of the cutting line (marked with blue yarn). The machine stitching keeps the knitting from coming apart after cutting. Here's a closeup showing the sewing of the steek.

I steeked the sleeves first.

Then I blocked the body and the sleeves.

Then it was easier to steek the body. Here is the Bees' Knees steeking done and facings in progress. The bottom facings were worked with the body and sleeves using the green yarn.

I had to join the shoulders using a 3-needle BO. This will give a seam that will support the weight of the sweater.

Here you can see the sleeves sewn in. The front and neck facings were made by picking up sts with green yarn, knitted and then sewn down.

There was a facing for the armhole, a sort of knitted extension added to the top of the sleeves. Here you can see it sewn down:

Later, a strip of ribbon will be sewn over the raw edges of the sleeve seams. (I still have to pick out the ribbon.)

Next step: Sew on the pewter fasteners.

Who will be wearing this confection? Our beautiful DGD2:

She has just learned she will be sharing Grandma's hand knit baby and child projects with a baby brother or sister! Is she excited!

Another event this week was the introduction of the Ask the Fairy Godknitters group on the Knit Picks Knitting Community. Any question regarding knitting may be posted there, and experienced knitters will try to help. It will be fun to see what kind of questions we get...and what kind of answers!

I hope to have something in the way of quilting to show next week. Stay tuned.

What's on my needles: Socks for Daphne. I will be getting back to DBIL's prayer cardi, so I can finish by Christmas. Also back to DH's kilt Hose.
What's on my wheel: Empty, but it has plans, and so do I.
What's on my iPad: All Creatures Great and Small by James Herriot.
What's my app of the week: Zinio. Just got my new issue of "Knitting Traditions" through the Zinio app. They sent me an email with a link to Zinio to let me know the new issue was there. Love it! No more paper subscriptions for me!
What's in my wine glass: Il Valore Sangiovese 2009, becoming a favorite!

Note: This blog post was produced entirely on the iPad. No other computer was used in any stage of composition or posting, not even my MacBook, and no Windows were opened, waited for or cleaned.