Wednesday, June 28, 2006
New Hampshire
The child and I took a week and headed to New Hampshire to see my Mom. As I am BEHIND on blogging and getting ready to leave for France, I'm going to squeeze two posts in this week with lots of pictures.On the way to my Mom's I finished the Opal Chameleon socks. The pattern is the standard sock from Nancy Bush's Folk Socks. My Mom kept talking about how cute they were, so I gave them to her. Notice how well they fit?
We had a great visit. Here is Mom and her guy. Rumor has it that an elopement might be happening soon...
Mom and Jim
Originally uploaded by amyeetx.
Grandma and the child played outside during the week. The rainwater bucket was fun, as was riding the mule--not a real one, but a small terrain vehicle like a gator. Mom and Jim have lots of land, so it helps them get around, but I really think Mom has fun tooling around the farm.
Grandma
Originally uploaded by amyeetx.
I have been holding on to these pictures for a while, so time to show my stash enhancement. Remember those seaweed eating North Ronaldsay sheep? Well, after much contemplation, I chose a pattern and yarn from Elizabeth Lovick.
Lovely yarn from North Ronaldsay
Originally uploaded by amyeetx.
It was hard to get a great picture of the chocolate yarn, but it is darker than the closer up and a little lighter than the group shot. The best part of the yarn is that it is so soft--not a scratchy yarn at all. I picked a scottish tunic pattern from Elizabeth's Patterns for North Ronaldsay Yarn. If you want a fun and interesting yarn, look at Elizabeth's website. The service is fast and the yarn and patterns beautiful.
Lovely yarn from North Ronaldsay
Originally uploaded by amyeetx.
Monday, June 26, 2006
Sorrow
We are back from our trip north, but it wasn't an easy trip. We were delayed on the way through Houston both coming and going. On the way to Boston we were delayed 6 hours and on the way back they cancelled our flight to our home airport, leaving me to drive in from Houston. Both nights arrival were at 2 am. Visiting my Mom, however, was great.What was the most sad, however, is the news of my Grandfather dying. Pop-Pop was very ill, so it wasn't a surprise, but he will be truly missed.
Tuesday, June 20, 2006
In New England
I'm in New England for the week, visiting family and completing a touch of work. I'll be back soon with some yummy stash enhancement pictures! Have a super week.Wednesday, June 14, 2006
Lopi Sweater
I have finished my Lopi Sweater--and this gives me a chance to show off my new woolly board. I bought the woolly board from Camilla Valley Farm in Canada. The shipping was fast and the cost reasonable. The woolly board was easy to put together and high quality. I'm thrilled to have this as the biggest problem with knitting in Texas is getting yarn to dry quickly. This contraption allows air to circulate and it stretches multi colored knits well.
Lopi Sweater
Originally uploaded by amyeetx.
The sweater is Giselda from the Best of Lopi pattern book. This is the first sweater that I have knit entirely in the round, and it was a fabulous experience! I love how fast this scratchy wool knits, and the color work was a joy. Plus, the sweater fits wonderfully! If I can brave the 100 F temperatures, I'll get the hubby to take a picture!
I used my own color combination, because I wanted a grey/black body to the sweater. I used size 7 needles and the yarn that I purchased on sale from webs. I actually have enough left over that I can make a matching set of mittens!
I used my own color combination, because I wanted a grey/black body to the sweater. I used size 7 needles and the yarn that I purchased on sale from webs. I actually have enough left over that I can make a matching set of mittens!
Monday, June 12, 2006
Bless is finished
As promised, here's a picture of the finished Bless. This sweater received a lot of wear in Oregon. It is a comfy, comfy sweater. That said, I hate how stretchy the Rowan cork has turned out to be. The more you wear it, the more it stretches down. The other problem with this has been the zipper. Because the cork stretches, it sags in the middle--even after I added ribbon and reworked the zipper. But--still a sweater that will get lots of wear.
I sold quite a few of the items I took to our knitting guild craft sale and picked up a few items from other tables and still had a bit of cash left at the end.
Yardsale Purchases
Originally uploaded by amyeetx.
The Green Mountain Spinnery book was from our local used book store, but all the rest were ones that people had for sale. I really like the patterns for Peer Gynt. These are all traditional scandinavian color work sweater, always fun!
Thursday, June 08, 2006
Shopping at Soft Horizons
We didn't have a lot of time to putter around town when we were in Eugene, Oregon, but I did get to make a short stop at Soft Horizons knitting store (no website). It was located in a cute old house near the University of Oregon.
Soft Fibers Yarn Store
Originally uploaded by amyeetx.
They had lots of beautiful things, but I was quite taken with their book selection. Here is one of the helpful clerks.
My husband was snapping pictures as I was shopping. Notice the look of joy on my face? I have to point out that my husband was very fearful of the pile of books...
Shopping at Soft Fibers
Originally uploaded by amyeetx.
I contained my excitement to just a few purchases. I bought another Mountain Colors Bearfoot yarn skein, like the one that my SP had sent oh so long ago. They had the patterns to match, and I picked out Fritzy's Socks, which is a cable and moss stitch mixed pattern. These are going with me to France in July.
And the books? (left to right) Poems of Colors, A Collectors Item, and Folk Mitens left the store with me, continuing the trend of traditional knitting.
New Purchases
Originally uploaded by amyeetx.
And, for those of you heading to the local Knitting guild meeting on Thursday, here's my yard sale contribution! We pay 5 bucks for a table and get to sell and buy stash.
Stash Reduction
Originally uploaded by amyeetx.
Tuesday, June 06, 2006
Sea Lion Watching
We were able to see a whole colony of sea lions, just over this wall. Notice that I am wearing Bless~! I finished! A real picture of the sweater later this week.
Sea Lion Watching
Originally uploaded by amyeetx.
Hubby was impressed by the coast. Apparently the geology reveals a huge earthquake that happened in the 1700s. It caused a tsunami that hit the coast of Japan.
The child and I explored all the little crabs, shells, seaweed and particles washed up on the beach.
What's in the sand?
Originally uploaded by amyeetx.
But the big hit was this huge piece of seaweed that she pulled up and down the beach, naming it her dragon. There were tears when we had to leave... We found a secret hiding place for dragon so no one else would be able to run off with the goods. Ah, to be three.
