Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas to All.

May your day be filled with all the Joy of the Day.

 

Mary



On the Needles Friday - December 6, 2013

I am still slowly making progress on my Dateline Cowl.   Love the pattern but it seems that every morning when I start knitting I make a mistake then unknit and reknit to correct the error - it's like 2 steps forward and at least 3 back.  Only 9 more inches of pattern before working on the pleats.

 

 

Take a minute and stop over at Patchwork Times and see what others have on their Needles.

 

Mary

Weaving on Wednesday - December 4, 2013

 Meet my new to me loom - it is a Leclerc Nilus.  I bought it about a month ago from the Opportunity House in Hendersonville.  I am hoping to get a warp on it soon since I had just received a towel kit I ordered and am reviewing videos for warping a floor loom.

 

 

I finished the table runners that I was working on last week and right now they are drying - so pictures next week.  Today I started another table runner with one more I have planned after this one.  I am using Sugar & Cream yarn so they are going pretty fast.

 

 

That's what is on my looms this week.

 

Mary

Weaving on Wednesday - November 27, 2013

This past week I developed the Holiday bug and decided to get some table runners woven.  I finished the first one which is a green and red log cabin design runner.  This is the first time I wove the this pattern and I'm liking it allot, in fact I am warping up a red/green/white one.  I am using Sugar & Cream cotton yarn which is easily accessible for me here if I need more.

 

I also have in progress a pair of towels which I am using a mercerized cotton thread.  My edges could be better but hopefully the finishing will hide some of the wonkiness.

 

 

That's what is on my looms this week.

 

Mary

 



On the Needles Friday - November 22, 2013

Making slow progress on my Dateline Cowl and loving the looks of it.  The pattern has you start with a provisional cast on and I'm thankful for all the You Tube videos out there made this cast on easy to get done.  I am adding the beads on each side of the center section on the first row of the pattern repeat, they really don't stand out but I like the little addition.

 

 

 

Take a minute and stop over at Patchwork Times and see what others have on their Needles.

 

Mary

On the Needles - November 8, 2013

Nothing on the needles at the moment but soon I will be casting on Dateline Cowl.  The cowl is knitted lengthwise and you create gathers at the back when connecting the ends.  I will be using Dream in Color Smooshy and adding beads for a little bling.

 

 

Take a minute and stop over at Patchwork Times and see what others have on their Needles.

 

Mary

On the Needles Friday - October 25, 2013

Making good progress on my Socktober Opal Socks.  I finished the heel turn earlier this week and now working up the leg.  When I started the socks I did not notice that the yarn was going to stripe, so the matching striping is purely by accident.  WOW the 2x2 ribbing really make these socks look so long but really the foot only measures 8 1/2 inches.

 

Take a minute and stop over at Patchwork Times and see what others have on their Needles.

 

Mary

Weaving on Wednesday

Last week I received my order from Knit Picks to make a few scarves inspired by the Burberry Scarves.  The yarn I am going to use Wool of the Andes Sport with the main colors of the scarves being in blue, pink, yellow and purple.

The colors in the first scarf are Wonderland Heather, Rouge, Coal and White.

 

 

Mary

 

 

 



On the Needles Friday - October 11, 2013

Yesterday I started my annual Socktober socks made with Opal yarn.  For the past 3 years I knitted with Opal yarn in honor of my ancestors and my birthday month.  I am following Wendy D. Johnson's Gusset Heel pattern and I am going to start a 2x2 ribbing on the foot after I finish 2 inches on the toe section.

 

 

Toe increases finished last night.

 

 

Take a minute and stop over at Patchwork Times and see what others have on their Needles.

 

Mary

Weaving on Wednesday

A little bit better than a week ago I warped one of my looms and started on this scarf.

 

I'm making slow progress but am now over half way done with the weaving.  The yarn is Knit Picks Stroll Fingering in Blue Topaz and Cocoa. 

 

Mary 



Design Wall Monday 10/7

It's been a long time since I have even touched my sewing machine but I have finally sat down to sew and it feels so good to be back at it.

 I have been asked to make a Spinning Star Quilt so I have been strictly dedicated to assembling the quilt.  This morning I finished the center and will have the borders added in the next day or two.  I hope to have the quilt finished by next Tuesday and have it on it's way to the new owner.

 

 

Stop by Patchwork Times to see what others are working on.

 

Mary

On the Needles Friday

 

I'm making slow progress on my Camp Loopy Project #3.  I am knitting Waving Lace Top in Cascade Heritage Silk, Honey Sage Color.

I had restart the top 3 times before I was finally happy with it.  First error was because I didn't swatch and just followed the comments from others and used size 4 needles;  I had knitted through the lace section and an inch into the body before I measured, too big - rip.  I didn't have a smaller size 3 circulars so we went to Michael's to pick some up so I could at least restart before the needles I ordered arrived.  I had knitted about 2 inches by the time the new needles arrived.  Some how on the second row at where the join to knit in the round was I twisted it and never realized until I was switching to the new needles - rip.

I have now completed 9 inches from my last official start date of 8/8 and have another 7 inches to knit before I get to the arm holes.  Finger weight, size 3, 250 stitches and 7 inches of plain ol' knitting to go before I start the lace top - AGH!
 

Take a minute and stop over at Patchwork Times and see what others have on their Needles.

 

Mary

On the Needles Friday

I started my Camp Loopy Project #3 this morning.  With 800 yards minimum to knit I have a long way to go this month, I can see not allot of other things getting accomplished.  I am knitting Waving Lace Top in Cascade Heritage Silk and the colorway is Sage Honey.  Not much to show since I only have completed 6 rounds.

 

 

I completed my second camp project on Sunday - Lace Vine Vest.  I'm happy with  how it turned out except I may redo the front ribbing, it seems to pull up too much to my liking but I will try blocking it again to see if that helps.

 

Take a minute and stop over at Patchwork Times and see what others have on their Needles.

Mary

Weaving Wednesday.

Today was a day of finishes. 

 

First to be finished were my tea towels done on my 24" loom.  The towels were woven from Lily's Sugar and Cream worsted weight cotton yarn.  These will make great hand towels in the kitchen.

 

Also finished today was the scarf I wove from repurposed Kroy sock yarn.  The yarn felt a little scratchy off the loom but after a soak in Eculan and a spin in the dryer it really softened up.  The scarf ended up measuring only 44" long by 6" wide but I think it work out great just to drape around the neck to use as an accessory.

 

Over the next couple of days I'll get both looms warped with another set of towels and another scarf.

 

Pictures to follow.

Mary

On the Needles Friday

Got a late start on my Camp Loopy Project #2, I think I actually started knitting on Sunday.  I am making Vine Lace Vest using Cascade Ultra Pima in the Sage color.  The lace pattern is easy to remember and hides mistakes easily - I have made a few but they don't stand out and are hard to find which is a good thing.

 

 

Take a minute and stop over at Patchwork Times and see what others have on their Needles.

Mary



Weaving Wednesday

Thought I would start updating my weaving projects on Wednesdays rather than mixing them in with my knitting posts on Friday.

 

A week ago I received my 24" Kromski Rigid Heddle Loom but did not have a chance to it until this past Sunday to start any project.  First on the new loom is Tea Towels from the online class I took on Craftsy.  I am using Lily's Sugar and Cream yarn with a 8 dent heddle.  I was able to complete the first towel and ready to start the second.

 

Last week I finished this scarf using Knit Picks Stroll in Merry-Go-Round colorway for the weft and Dove Heather for the warp.  The scarf finished at 6.5" x 72" off the loom but I still need to wet finish it so I will measure again.

 

 

This morning I warped my Cricket loom for another scarf using Paton's Kroy Sock Yarn I am repurposing from a pair of socks I started but had not finished even the first sock.

 

 

 

I'm really enjoying weaving, lots of ideas but need to still practice and take my time getting my edges even.

 

Mary

 

 



Get It Done - June

Get It Done - June

 1. Finish Orca Bay Quilt - bind done 6/8

2. Finish Oil Slick Quilt - quilt and bind done 6/30
3. Complete parts 1 & 2 of Bonnie Hunter's Quiltmaker Mystery Quilt.
4. April, May and June's clues for Back to Square One quilt

 

I only got 2 things checked off my list but I still claim the month as a major success.  In June I finished my Orca Bay quilt and will now longer appear on my listings.

 

 

Also finished this month is my Oil Slick quilt, hot off the machine from attaching and finishing the binding this morning.  On this quilt I used the Square Spiral panto and the thread color is Dusty Plum.

 

 

Get It Done - July

1.  Bonnie Hunter's Quiltmaker Mystery Quilt - Part One

2.  April, May, June and July's clues for Back to Square One

3.  Quilt and bind Spikey Stars quilt

4.  Piece Scrappy Irish Chain

 

Hopefully I can get 3 things checked off my list in July.

 

Mary



On the Needles Friday

Which is actually Off the Needles Saturday.

 

On Wednesday I finished my Camp Loopy Project #1 Scylla Socks.  I love the texture and can hardly wait until cooler temps to slip these on.

 

 

I also finished my Vesper Socks on Friday.  I used a basic toe-up pattern and let the striping do the work.

 

 

Have not done much weaving this week, only progressed about 4 inches on my scarf, but hope to get more done this week.

 

 

Take a minute and stop over at Patchwork Times and see what others have on their Needles.

 

Mary



On the Needles Friday

I am still working on my Camp Loopy Project #1 socks - Scylla. I was almost done on Wednesday, had a couple more rows of the ribbing and I weighed the remaining yarn and found I did not use enough yarn.  The project was to use 375 yards and I was at 360.  So I decided to un-knit back to the pattern and do another 10 rows of the pattern to help get me to the required yardage.  The socks are getting a little longer than I like but I love the texture the pattern creates.
 

 

For Camp's second project I will be knitting Vine Lace Vest using Cascade Ultra Pima in the color Sage.

 

 

Last week I warped my loom with yarn for a scarf but did not start weaving until yesterday.  I am using Knit Picks Stroll Fingering in Dove Heather for the warp and for Merry-Go-Round the weft.  On this scarf I am really trying to concentrate on my edges and making sure my weaving is even and balanced.

 

Take a minute and stop over at Patchwork Times and see what others have on their Needles.

Mary

 

Orca Bay Done!

Finally I have finished my Orca Bay quilt - it's been on my 'Get It Done' list way too long.

The panto I used was from Lorien Quilting called Fizz done with black thread.

The picture was taken before the binding was added.  Orca Bay will top my bed later this week.

 

 

 

Yippee!

Mary



On the Needles Friday

My Camp Loopy socks are coming along nicely.  The yarn I am using is from Woolen Mill St Yarns in the Zoe colorway and the pattern is Scylla.  It's nice to knit pattern repeats again since the last 3 pair of socks were plain vanilla.

 

 

My Vesper socks are just a few inches from completion but since Camp Loopy projects have deadlines they take priority.   I bought 2 skeins of Vesper a year or so ago but never used it just added to the stash now I don't know why I waited so long to knit with it, I love the feel of this yarn.  The colorway is Sugar Plum.

 

 

Take a minute and stop over at Patchwork Times and see what others have on their Needles.

 

Mary

On the Needles Friday

I finished my second pair of socks for the Pooling Sock Challenge on Wednesday.  This pair was knitted top down but I still prefer toe up only because I like the way the heels are done - no pick-up stitches.

 

My third pair for the challenge has given me a little issue because it would not pool on my samples.  So there will be only two completed for the challenge which really doesn't matter since I will be gone around the first and won't be able to post.

 

The yarn I was going to use for the challenge is Vesper by Knitterly Things.  This is the first time I am knitting with it and it feels wonderful.  The coloway is Sugar Plum and just knitting the basic toe up sock pattern.

 

My yarn came today for Camp Loopy.  For my first project for Camp I am knitting Scylla out of Woolen Mill St. Yarns in Zoe colorway.

 

On the Loom - I am working on a scarf from left over sock yarn that I will be gifting it to a friend of mine in Wisconsin.  The yarn is Knit Picks Stroll in Make Believe and Duchess Heather.

 

Take a minute and stop over at Patchwork Times and see what others have on their Needles.

 

Mary

On the Needles Friday

I finished my first pair of socks for the Pooling Sock Challenge this morning.  First pair is done with Knit Picks Stroll in Sorbet colorway.

 

No progress made on my second pair this week.  I want to get the heel turns done this weekend and  finish the gusset by next Friday then my plans are to start on my third pair.

 

 

My practice scarf is still on the loom.  I have about 37" inches woven and hope to finish this weekend.  Next I plan on doing kitchen towels.

 

 

Take a minute and stop over at Patchwork Times and see what others have on their Needles.

 

Mary

April Get It Done

 

Here is April's Get It Done List - didn't do too well at getting it done.

 

1. Add borders to Oil Slick Quilt Done 4/24
2. Finish Orca Bay Quilt - quilt and bind
3. Complete part 1 of Bonnie Hunter's Quiltmaker Mystery Quilt.
4. April clue for Back to Square One quilt

 

Here is May's List - looking kind of familiar again.

Maybe this month - just maybe.

 

1.  Finish Orca Bay - quilt and bind

2.  Finish Oil Slick - quilt and bind

3.  Complete parts 1 & 2 of Bonnie Hunter's Quiltmaker Mystery Quilt

4.  April and May clue for Back to Square One Quilt

 

Mary

On the Needles Friday

Made progress on both of my Pooling Socks this week, and loving both of them.

. 

Sock #1 Toe-Up is 2 3/4 inches from being done and I should finish them

this week.

 

 

Sock #2 Top-Down is ready to start the heel.

 

 

I got my loom setup yesterday and have gotten a start on my practice scarf.  Need some work on the edges but goes pretty quickly with worsted weight yarn.

 

 

Take a minute and stop over at Patchwork Times and see what others have on their Needles.

 

Mary

Weaving Loom

My Cricket Rigid Heddle Loom arrived yesterday, what a nice surprise when I got home from work last night.  Since it was already 8:30 I waited until today to work on assembling it.

 

Just a few pieces and hopefully not too much time to assemble it but first some quilting and I will tackle it once the storms come in this afternoon.

 



 

Anxiously awaiting getting started.  I have allot of projects dancing in my head, hope my learning curve is not too steep.

 

Mary

On the Needles Friday

Yesterday I started my second pair for the pooling challenge and I haven't finished the first pair yet.

For this pair I am using Opal Antonia Hand Dyes - Light Pink, Raspberry, Forest - the needle size is 2.50mm with 64 stitches casted on.  I decided to switch it up and do this pair top down to watch the pooling action.

 

With my first pair I have finished the heel turn and am starting to work on the leg portion.  Only 6 more inches to go.

 

Since last week I have watch the Craftsy course on Rigid Heddle Weaving and then enrolled in Beyond the Basics for the Rigid Heddle Weaving.  Both excellent courses, they answered and explained allot about weaving which helped me make my decision.  I decided and ordered the 15" Cricket Rigid Heddle Loom from The Woolery today.  I love the looks of the bigger looms and I was looking at 32" wide ones but I want to make sure I will use it first before I go bigger.

 

Take a minute and stop over at Patchwork Times and see what others have on their Needles.

 

Today is a rainy day here so I am just going to knit and nap.

 

Mary

On the Needles Friday

Last week I started my first pair of socks for the Pooling Sock Yarn Challenge.  I am using Knit Picks Stoll Multi in the Sorbet colorway.  I am using 2.00mm needles and increased the toe stitches to 64.  After the toe increases I increased another 2 stitches to keep the pooling but since the yarn natural pools I decreased back down to 64 and will let the yarn do it's own thing.  I have another 2 inches to go before I need to decide which side is the top or bottom.

 

Side A

 

Side B

 

My Nantucket Red cardigan is still in progress.  While I was knitting the front sides I noticed I missed the very first row of knit only on the back giving the cardigan a nice edge.  I ripped out the back and have now started over.  I have gotten to the armhole decrease before I started on my socks.

 

 

I have more now in progress than I really want at one time and am still thinking about starting my next pair of socks for the Pooling Challenge. 

 

And thanks to Judy writing about weaving I have been researching looms and have started taking the class on Craftsy for Rigid Heddle Loom Weaving.  Do I really need another hobby? 

 

 Take a minute and stop over at Patchwork Times and see what others have on their Needles.

 

Mary