New Place To Blog

I've created a new blog and won't be posting here anymore.  I'm trying to eliminate an email I don't want to use anymore.  Yea, just try to do that with gmail!  Anyway, my new blog is Strand Farm Knitting and is up and running.  Not much on it though!  See you here.

Girasole (jeer-a-sow-lay)

GIRASOLE
(jeer-a-sow-lay)
Italian for Sunflower
By Jared Flood (Brooklyn Tweed)

It's finally finished! I started working on this shawl in February but just picked it up the last two weeks to finish the knitted border. I think the border took as long as the whole shawl! This pattern is wonderful. Very easy and the main body is very quick. The border is another thing.
Also, this particular batch of Spindrift was so thin in spots I was concerned it would break. Emailed the company and they told me this is a problem with darker colors.

Yarn: Jamieson's Spindrift
Color: #292 Pine Forest
Needle: US5

I think I used 472 pins to block the shawl!

RODEO RIDERS

Yesterday I traveled to the zoo with my daughter and grandsons. We had lots of fun seeing all the animals. The boys were playing in the park near the zoo afterward and I shot this video. We always have a County Fair and Rodeo on Labor Day weekend here in Ellensburg. It's really a big deal. The rodeo is one of the biggest in the nation. So, the boys are getting ready!

UFO's Everywhere-OH MY!

I just can't seem to finish anything these days! Although I did knit a scarf sample for the store out of Dream In Color Classy. But, didn't photo it. If you've never used this yarn, give it a try. It's wonderful to knit with and washes up nicely. It's superwash and 15% off this month at Dancing Ewe Yarns & Teas!
The above UFO's are "some" in my stash. The piece they are all laying on is my Katerina Shawl. Need to finish the second side. A green scarf for my SIL for Christmas. She can't wear any wool or alpaca so I'm using Rowan Summer Tweed-cotton and silk. A baby hat I started yesterday-almost finished-from One Skein. I'm using Cascade Cloud 9 and going down to a US5 needle. It's turning out pretty cute and to gauge!
The brownish is a project I started after going to Churchmouse Yarns & Teas for our anniversary. (Yes, my husband had a wonderful time! Just Kidding. He was very patient though.) The pattern was for a scarf in the Linen Stitch. I'm making a tablerunner with Socks that Rock Heavyweight. Another wonderful yarn. Color is Potomac. It's my "get done soon" project so I can use it on the table for fall.
More than one pair of socks on the needles. (Four to be exact). Trying different needles and techniques.
And, a couple of fingerless mitts.
GET BUSY my self is saying to myself!

One reason for my many UFO's. I keep getting new yarn! Top to bottom-Spud & Chloe Outer for a hat for my daughter. She saw it in the store yesterday and loved it. How can I resist? I think I'll try the Thorpe.
Next two-Socks That Rock Potomac and Sea Mar.
After returning from anniversary trip, I called and ordered two more! Bad Girl!
Bottom-every time my boss goes on a trip, I get yarn! She went to the Portland Sock Summit--I got yarn!

Madelinetosh~YUM! What to do? Any ideas? Not socks!

SURPASSED ONLY BY ITS FRAGRANCE

Stargazer Lily has to be one of the most beautiful lilies I've ever seen. Along with a scent that is so fragrant, it is hard to keep in the house. I counted 43 flower buds on three stems this year. It has just outdone itself!

I can't decide whether to pick it or let it stay outside this year. It lasts longer in the house because it is cooler and I only have overhead watering so it gets water damaged quickly.

Another beautiful and fragrant beauty. Phlox. Mine have done well this year and no powdery mildew. My garden is beautiful if I do say so myself. For so many years I looked at what needed to be done, not at the beauty I had before me. I have relaxed my "standards" and now enjoy looking past the weeds that need to be pulled and the flowers that need to be deadheaded and just enjoy what is blooming. Perfection is not all it's cracked up to be. In knitting, yes. In yards, housecleaning or raising children, no!

And, for dessert, Cherry Parfait Rose. What a perfect ending to a feast of the eyes!

CHRISTMAS IN JULY

Will I ever get over this short sock phase? Probably not! I'm trying to build my stash of these to wear with my Crocs next fall and winter (weather permitting). Crocs are the best for my feet but they do have many holes! I love this yarn. The colors are Christmasy yet different. I enjoy the mixture of teal green, olive green, and red. Christmas with a twist!
Yarn: Lorna's Laces Shepherd Sport
Colorway: December '08 Boughs of Holly
Jimmy Beans limited edition
Pattern: Pom Pom Peds-modified
Needle: US1
This one will be a little thicker than the others and I still only used one skein.

OK, this is the last post of pom poms (I hope). I'll try not to bore you with anymore even though I have another pair on the needles and one waiting in my knitting bag!

Pom Pomless Peds

I have really taken a liking to the Pom Pom Peds pattern (minus the pom pom) found on Purl Bee!
It's a great way to try new yarns and the socks are quite comfortable.
The first pair is from the new Spud & Chloe by Blue Sky Alpacas. The shop just got the new line the end of June and it is wonderful yarn! All are superwash and the "Sweater" line is 50% superwash wool/50% organic cotton. Can't wait to try it. The "Outer" is a bulky superwash wool/cotton blend too.
This is Spud & Chloe "Fine". It's 80% superwash wool and 20% silk. My first silk socks and I'm liking them very much. This color is called Glow Worm. There are nine colors to choose from. With names like Dachshund, Cricket and Sassafras, I'll be trying another pair soon. As stated before, I'm a loose knitter and I accidentally knitted these with a #1 1/2 needle. I'll use a #1 on the next pair.

This pair is made with Lorna's Laces Shepherd Sock in the color Edgewater. I knit on 64 stitches and used only one skein to make these. I love seeing the colors develop with LL Sock so these are a great way to see the finished project quickly. I think I'll be making several more pairs before summer is over. A good take along project for me.

I call these my YumYum socks. I purchased the yarn on sale at Dancing Ewe Yarns & Teas where I work and just had to try a pair of special socks for myself. The yarn is Baruffa Bollicina in Cocoa. I have three skeins and that should be plenty for a pair of socks. Knit on #0 needles, they'll be cozy this winter.

The blue KAL socks from the last post got frogged. I figured for all the work, no one would ever see all the lace knitting since I don't wear socks with sandles. I need to get a new pair of Birkenstocks so I can show off my designed socks!
I've already started another pair of Peds with the yarn.
Looking forward to a family reunion next Saturday in Everett. Not that we're from that area but some relatives live in Mt. Vernon/Sedro Woolley area so one of the neices is hosting at the midway point in Everett. That way no one has to do a lot of driving. We get to meet our new six month old great neice too! Babies are so cute and fun.

Summer Time Socks

These socks are called Pom Pom Peds. I think they are so cute. I wanted to try them to find something to wear with clogs or sandals for summer.
Pattern: Pom Pom Peds by Whitney Van Nes and available on Ravelry.
Yarn: Lorna's Laces Shepherd Sock
Colors: Top-Denim Body-Jay Pond
Needles: Size 0 (Ugh) I'm a loose knitter.
The main body only takes one skein so you could switch the colors and make another pair. Obviously, I left the pom poms off. Just not me or the person they are being gifted to.
I took the leftover denim and started the socks below.
Lacy Summer Sock by Stefanie Goodwin-Ritter for a KAL on Ravelry. The pattern will be available free for only for a short time.
Yarn: Lorna's Laces Shepherd Sock
Color: Denim
Needle: Size 0 (again!)

I really like how this sock starts. Something different. It will be fun to see if it is stretchier. It feels like it might be.
Nice, summer projects!

LOVE IN A MIST-PEONIES ARE BLOOMING

The pretty little flower below is called "Love in a Mist". The first time I saw it was in my daughter's bridal bouquet. It is a lovely little flower with all it's feathery greenery. It also dries well. It reseeds in my garden every year and brings back the memory of that lovely day! The peonies are blooming again! They are so pretty. The one with the white center is called "Bowl Of Beauty". I think it lives up to it's name!

This is my sanctuary. A great place to sit and watch God's creation unfold throughout the summer. I have a big rock that makes a perfect bench right about where I took the pictures from. It's under the crabapple tree. The cats love to sun on it too.

OH, THE MYSTERY

Oh, the mystery, the excitement, the work!
Yarn: Shibui Sock Yarn
Color: Zinnia
Needles: #2 & 3
Need to steam block so I can find the seams.

Katerina Shawl

KATERINA SHAWL

I was going to show you this when I was finished, but it's coming out so nice, I couldn't wait! The pattern is from the magazine The Knitter, Issue 4 which is printed in the U.K. I found the mag at Borders Bookstore and bought it just for this pattern (even though it is EXPENSIVE!).
Yarn: Manos Del Uruguay Silk Blend
Color: #3019 Dove - 10 skeins
Needle Size: 7
Finished Size: 79" x 291/2"

When I read the pattern, it called for five skeins of this beautiful silk/merino extrafine wool blend. I didn't read the number of meters required. The skeins I purchased at my LYS are only 135 meters! Yikes! Apparently they have bigger skeins in England. They were listed at 270 meters. My sort of expensive shawl just became my really expensive shawl. But, it's too pretty to pass up and it's going to get a lot of use.


You knit two panels and graft them together in the back. I'm going to try the Kitchener Stitch to graft it. 127 stitches. Should be interesting. I'm thinking an early morning job with no distractions!

And IT FITS!

This is the Petal Tam from Fons & Porter's Love of Knitting magazine, Summer 2009. My daughter is the model. I have not been able to get a hat to fit her head yet. She has a lot of hair! So, I gave this tam a try. It is one skein of Lorna's Laces Shepherd Sock that was on sale at Dancing Ewe Yarns & Teas. Size 2 needle. It was a little loose, so next time I'm going to try it on a size 1 needle--or try knitting it with LL Shepherd Sport weight. Not sure which idea would work better.

It was quick and easy. Neither of us know exactly how to wear a tam so we're still experimenting!

TIMBER

This big, ugly pine has been next to our driveway since we moved here fourteen years ago. I've always disliked it. I think you can tell by its shape why. The winds here cause a lot of trees to look like this. Well, for my birthday, my sweet husband finally cut it down.

There it goes!

Don't worry. We've planted many, many more trees around the house and they all look better than this one. It will keep my husband's shop warm this winter.

I Love Birthdays!

I'm a tax day baby. Yes, my birthday is April 15.
But,I do love birthdays! Even my own. Here is the cake my precious daughter baked and decorated for me. Chocolate with raspberry jam filling. Yum. Grandson #1 had baseball practice that night so we went for pizza.
I spent lunch earlier in the day with my girlfriends and I had a great time.
The day before my husband took me to a plant nursery and we bought a new dogwood tree for our yard as a present.


April 15 is known for:
The sinking of the Titanic
President Lincoln died
Insulin was discovered (At least something positive)
And, of course, the infamous tax deadline (unless it falls on Sunday)

My girlfriend gave me the book above. I love it! The book has great information on different kinds of teas, recipes for goodies and several knitting patterns. There is a tea cozy pattern I have my eye on.

My first project will be the one below. It's called a tablecloth but since it's only 24" diameter, I would call it a large doily. I guess doily is not a popular word anymore.

I'm using Rowan Cotton Glace in Blood Orange. I think it will look great on my dining room table. I've never been an orange person but I like it as an accent in my home. I look terrible in this color so I'll probably never wear it. Got the yarn on a great sale at Dancing Ewe Yarns & Teas.

And, I finished my Easter socks a little late but I'm ready for next year! Yarn is Shibui Grace and pattern is Faceted Rib from Little Box of Socks. I really like knitting with Shibui.

GIFTS FOR EASTER

I've been on a dishcloth kick lately. These are going to be Easter presents. Most are made out of Peaches and Cream, my favorite yarn to make dishcloths with. The darker green one is hemp! Terrible to knit with but makes a great dishcloth. The dark blue ones are KnitPicks CotLin yarn. Really nice yarn.

This one is a FiberTrends pattern and is made with Butterfly mercerized cotton. It is so nice and soft and great to work with. I'm going to give this one to my sister-in-law who is a "hostess with the mostest". I'm going to fill it with her favorite dark chocolate and take it Easter day.

Daughter is getting three and one filled with her favorite chocolate-milk chocolate!
I prefer knitting smaller dishcloths for myself as I have small hands. It is great to be able to make the size I want.

Easter Tea Cozy

Here is another tea cozy from the Churchmouse Yarns & Teas pattern. I love this pattern. It can easily be altered for a particular teapot.
Yarn: Lorna's Laces Shepherd Sport
Color: #162 Ice House
Needles: #2 circular 24" & 16" (I'm a loose knitter)
Made For: Mom for Easter

BLARNEY STONE TEA COZY

Here is a new tea cozy I finished on my recuperation time. I call it Blarney Stone because that's the color name Socks That Rock gave it. This yarn is Socks That Rock Heavyweight. I've never knit with this yarn before. Talk about wonderful and superwash! Perfect for a tea cozy. The pattern is from Churchmouse Yarns & Teas in Bainbridge Island, WA, and I just love it. There is enough yarn to make two of these.
The pattern is a basic 2x2 rib after the increases and decreases to make the ruffle at the bottom.
Unfortunately, it is a shop pattern and I haven't seen it available on Ravelry or elsewhere.This yarn was so nice, I kept trying to use it for other things. I thought it was a bit too thick for socks I would wear. It feels like a DK. Tried several other patterns but finally went back to what I'd originally purchased it for.

How do you like the cute ruffles on the bottom?

The top reminds me of a rose.
Recuperation going well. Can get my jeans on but still can't button the top button. Bonus: I've lost at least two pounds of my previous weight!
Not a highly recommended diet plan though.

SOCKS & SURGERY

I started these socks on Thursday. A few of us at the Dancing Ewe Yarns wanted to try the pattern. It's really fun and an easy pattern to knit. I had to rip mine out because I screwed up the pattern but that was good because I decided the 60 cast ons were never going to go over my stove pipe legs. I went to size 1 1/2 needles and with the stretch of the pattern, I think it will work. I'm using my wonderful Sock Stix Rosewood needles. I love them!
The yarn is from ShibuiKnits and we just got it in. It's flying off the shelves. It is wonderful to knit with. It may become one of my favorites.

The pattern, Faceted Rib Socks, is from Little Box of Socks. The original is made with Lorna's Laces Shepherd Sock but I find it too small to work with most of the time. I'm a pretty loose knitter.
We have renamed these socks the EASTER SOCKS because of the color which is called "GRACE". How appropriate for Easter.
As you can see, I'm having trouble at the place you change needles but I don't know what to do about that. Hopefully, it won't show when they are finished.

About the appendix. It was about to blow. I worked on these socks Thursday through Monday thinking I had the flu or something. Finally couldn't stand it any longer so went to the doctor Tuesday afternoon and had surgery on Tuesday evening. Talk about fast service! Got home on Friday morning feeling much better. My husband is a wonderful nurse. As good, or better, than the ones at the hospital. They were all excellent too!
Hopefully, I can get back to work soon!

My Holiday Socks

I started these socks sometime in early November so I'd have a pair of red socks for Christmas! Well, they became my Valentine's Day socks. That didn't happen. Now they are my early birthday gift to myself socks.
They are so cozy and pretty. Red is a very hard color to photograph. The red is much prettier in person.
Yarn: Lorna's Laces Shepherd Sock
Color: Bold Red
Needle Size: #1
Pattern: Sensational Socks Garter Rib Stitch
How cozy on my feet?: Priceless

In Between Knitting

I've been slowly knitting away on my Girasole shawl but needed a break, so knit up these fingerless mitts.
Made with Colinette Jitterbug, they were quick and pretty easy. The original pattern called for 15 cuff rows. I added and knitted 25. Much more comfortable. I will be able to get another set of mitts from the ball of yarn.
The pattern is Mitt Envy from Ravelry.
My husband said I looked like I had mini tractors running down my hand! Easy cable to work.

Meanwhile, the Girasole is still coming along. I'm on Chart G. Only have to finish three more rows of Chart G and repeat it one more time and then on to the edge. Yea!