"Knitting with Tea-and-Roses"

Welcome 2012

2012-01-02T15:10:00.000-05:00

I am really glad to say good-bye to 2011...it was not a very good year for me and a lot of other people in this world of ours. I hope 2012 is better all around. I was reading a blog article (not a blog I would have normally read but I saw a quote from it on Twitter and I was intrigued) today about 'anchor habits' and how to add to them instead of just making New Year's resolutions that we (I) can never seem to keep and this resonated with me. Briefly, anchor habits are habits, preferably positive (or at least neutral) habits, that you naturally gravitate towards doing on a regular basis...like that morning cup of tea and doing the daily crossword puzzle. I thought about it and realized that, when I don't start a day off this way, I don't feel quite centered. I recognized that I have a few 'anchor habits' and decided I liked the concept of adding a few more around them. To my morning 'anchor habits' I am going to add (actually, get back to) my 'Morning Cup of Yoga' routine and my 10-minutes of spinning. There are more 'anchor habits' I would like to form and I will try to gradually add them - among them, an almost daily walk and writing my blog. What do you think of this concept??

The beginning of the 'Turquoise Nugget' Shawl

Now to my knitting - lots of Christmas gifts completed and a few still to put on the needles :-( The list goes like this: 2 cowls, 3 pair of felted slipper/clogs, 2 pair of socks, a scarf and a shawl were completed (all during November & December-when am I going to start my Christmas knitting sooner?) and a pair of felted mittens and a tea cozy have yet to be started...but they will be, and soon or DH will NEVER stop harping at me. But, I am going to finish a wonderful, warm, bulky, brown sweater for me and a pair of glittery socks for me...

'Autumn Glitter' sock yarn - now on the needles

they are both started and the sweater is about 3 hours of knitting from being completed-Yea! The sweater needs some very special buttons since it is just solid brown (YES!!) and stockinette stitch and it just so happens that my dear cousin of 'Gourds Gone Wild' fame has added extraordinary buttons (as well as other neat and beautiful items) to her line of art gourds...check out the buttons by clicking on this link and scrolling about half-way down the page.

Well...that is enough time spent on my blog, now back to the real world of laundry, making dinner, writing Thank You notes and...finishing knitting my sweater! Hope 2012 is a happy and heathy one for all of you!

Hello Again!

2011-04-27T17:55:00.000-04:00

It has been a difficult start to the year 2011 - DH had a major back problem starting in January and my uncle has been quite ill since mid-February and then I have been spending more time at the doctor's & in physical therapy than I have ever wanted to do - so blogging has taken a back seat to my life...and now with the weather turning 'hot & humid' I lose lots of energy Yech! But I have been knitting and just finished up my 4th pair of socks this year - Yeah!

The above socks were knit 2-at-a-time toe-up with sport weight yarn and I am quite pleased with the results...they are quite soft (10% cahsmere) and I look forward to cold weather so I can wear them. Time to head out to Wednesday night knitting...what should I cast-on to take with me? So much yarn to choose from...how about a pair of socks in brown...for something different :-)

How Many Projects Are Too Many?

2011-01-27T13:59:00.001-05:00

Lately, I have been dreaming about new knitting & spinning projects to do...instead of actually knitting & spinning on the projects I already have on my needles and wheels (or writing in my blog about dreaming on new projects to start). I don't really want to work on any of the projects I already have going...I just want to START more projects. Now, I know that makes no sense because how will I ever finish the projects I have started so I can, in good conscience, start more projects. A true conundrum! Yesterday during the beautiful 10"snowfall, DH and I spent almost 3 hours on the swift and ball winder converting 14 skeins of yarn into balls so I can start new projects. Of course, if I had spent that time knitting or spinning on projects I already had going. I would have made a nice head-way into finishing at least one of them. Now, it is not that I don't like what I am knitting or spinning...I do. I like them all very much and I am not bored because each project is different (socks, lace shawl, spinning llama fiber) and each is enjoyable and satisfying in its own right. So, WHY am I spending more time dreaming of other projects and surfing the web for pattern and yarn options or searching on Ravelry for pattern suggestions...instead of actually working on the projects I have started. My question is...do you do that too?

Happy - Belated - New Year!

2011-01-21T12:48:00.012-05:00

I hope all of you had a wonderful holiday...we certainly did. Our niece and her family joined us for a NY Christmas (they live in Albuquerque, NM) - something we have wanted to do for a very long time. We had a wonderful whirlwind of a time...even being in NYC on the day of the Blizzard. I spent December preparing for their visit and my annual Christmas Eve Tea and then early January getting back on track with normal living...and writing in my blog is one of the 'normal' things.

Before the holidays I was doing a lot of knitting - but everything was for gifts - now I am back to knitting for me in a much more relaxed atmosphere (alright, I will still knit for others but for right know it is for me) and I am trying to get my 10-minutes of spinning in every morning. I am also thoroughly enjoying this Winter weather...snow and cold - just loving it!

The view from my 'spinning window' today

I am spinning up some Llama fiber for a project for my cousin (the llama rancher and gourd artisan in CO). I had spun some before Christmas and realized there wasn't enough for the project I am planning ...no, I am not going to mention the actual project because it is supposed to be a surprise!

And I have been knitting on my Parisienne Shawl and a pair of socks for me. I love both the sock yarn (Zen Yarn Garden Serenity 20)...you will never guess what color they are - and the pattern - Fluted Banister by Laura Gregory. The socks are knitting up fast and the yarn is so soft and warm that I am anxious to get these socks done while the weather is so wonderfully cold!

I had better start knitting these socks faster as I am awaiting delivery of a few more skeins of sock yarn...Yes, I admit it! I am a 'Sock Yarnaholic' - I already have more sock yarn then I will be able to knit in this lifetime but there is so much more out there- I am powerless to resist; but it is partly The Yarnarian's fault, her yarns & patterns are lovely. I will be using some of the sock yarn to knit lacy small triangular shawls (this has become another obsession of mine...it's all Rita's fault :-) ...but there is still TOO much....and then I have some wonderful BROWN yarn to knit a perfect sweater and then there are the felted clogs & socks for DH and a project for DC (dear cousin) and fiber to spin and.........OK...stop typing and start knitting!!

Spinning Afternoon

2010-11-15T14:34:00.004-05:00

Spent this past Saturday afternoon at a friend's (Helen) lovely lake-side home spinning and chatting and sipping tea...afternoons like this replenish the soul and help to lower the stress level that has been building for weeks now. Helen was spinning some lovely Romney she purchased at The Spinnery after her spinning lessons there. And even though in this picture it looks like we are very serious about the task at hand...we were really enjoying ourselves!

I finished spinning the Alpaca/Romney blend I had been working on:

and then I plied it (that is what I am doing in the top picture) with the brown Jacob I had just recently spun (shown in the previous post)...at least, that is what I thought the brown singles were...until I realized that this was some other brown roving I had spun...oh, well - one brown yarn looks like any other brown yarn, right? At least it was brown! I LOVE the result and hope I have enough yardage to knit the Reversible Plaited Scarf that Helen knit from her first hand-spun yarn...you can see the scarf, a matching pair of fingerless mitts and the rest of the hand spun on the table in the front of the top picture. Below is the Alpaca/Romney/Jacob plied yarn at 12 wpi (a heavy worsted):

I have really gotten my Spinning Mojo back and am now plying Border Leicester that The Fleece Connection [you remember us from an earlier posting :-)] got last year. I had actually spun the singles sometime last year and they had been sitting patiently on bobbins waiting to be plied all that time. Plying this yarn reminds me of why I don't really enjoy spinning it...it is very coarse and rough on the hands...but it is beautiful to look at when it is finished:

When that is finished this afternoon I will skein the Alpaca/Romney/Jacob yarn and determine the yardage. Why the crazed rush to complete all of this just now you ask...and even if you didn't ask I will tell you...I am hurriedly plying and skeining because I am selling my Louet S-50 this coming week and I will no longer have a skein-winder available or a spare spinning wheel to use for plying. Also I need to empty some bobbins now that I am spinning almost every day. Add this to the hours I am spending knitting potential Christmas presents and you can see where the stress is coming from...and isn't all of this supposed to be a way to lower stress?? Not in my world!

PS...The yardage of the Alpaca/Romney/Jacob(?) turned out to be about 210 and the skein is now drying after a lovely washing where it 'bloomed' beautifully :-)

Spinning Mornings

2010-10-29T12:21:00.014-04:00

I have decided it is time to resume my 'Spinning Mornings' because I have not been spinning at all lately and I really miss the peace and quiet and sense of fulfillment these few minutes in the morning at my spinning wheel provide to me. And I know if I don't spin in the morning, I never seem to get to it later in the day. So, on this beautiful Autumn morning, when the Japanese maple tree outside the window I spin in front of is at its most glorious red,

Japanese Maple in all its red glory.

I sat down at my wheel and gifted myself 30 minutes of spinning some glorious brown (of course) Jacob roving. It was exactly as Zen-like as I remembered and after just a few moments I was moving smoothly along spinning at 32 WPI (which will 2-ply with some beautiful light brownish-creamy Jacob roving I just happen to have in my stash, to 16 WPI and will give me a lovely sock weight yarn). If I keep this up, I should be able to get through my entire roving stash in................

Jacob roving with newly spun single @ 32 WPI

Another Week in Paradise

2010-10-22T12:34:00.003-04:00

Just a few photos from our last get-away to our favorite spot in Maine - Topside Inn in Boothbay Harbor. The weather was spectacular and we had a wonderful week of eating, reading, walking and then reading, eating, walking and then walking, eating, reading, ...you get the idea. I also got a bit of knitting in but this was more of a reading holiday - finished 3 books while I was there...and didn't feel guilty about just sitting and reading...now that is joy!

Late Summer Light & Blocking

2010-08-27T15:05:00.001-04:00

I noticed today that the light in the backyard looked different than it had for months and I realized that it was a Harbinger of Autumn. The Earth has rotated enough so that the Sun is now lower in the sky and, around Davenport Pines, that means the light being filtered through the leaves of our trees is softer and not as intense. Welcome, the first visage of my favorite time of year...you have been long in coming.

As soon as I feel Autumn arriving, the energy I have been without during this hot & miserable Summer begins to return and I am renewed...at least a little. All of the projects that have been on hold or not begun because of my lethargy are un-earthed and finished or begun. One of these unfinsished projects is my Cat's Paw Scarf...my first lace project. I had finsihed knitting it months ago and all it needed was blocking; so, on this day that makes me feel alive again, I decided to block it...not realizing that it would take a long time to do. Threading the blocking wire, inserting the blocking pins (I was almost finsihed when I understood how they had to be placed and so I had to re-do all of them) and measuring and readjusting to make it as even as possible. Over an hour later, my 8" x 70" scarf was blocked (not too well) and sitting on the blocking pads & towels on the living room floor...the only space in the house available for this project. if you look closely, you can see the little 'Cat's Paws' in the photo below.

I may have discoverd that I enjoy lace-knitting but I have also discovered that I am not very fond of blocking the lace projects I knit.

Shawls and Weaving

2010-08-24T13:50:00.008-04:00

Well, as I mentioned...I could not wait to start another lacy-triangularly-shaped-shawl and so I did...and then I frogged it all back to the cast-on! Nothing seems to have changed in my lace-shawl knitting except the yarn & the pattern...I still can't get the correct stitch count and I still make mistakes!! I am convinced that I cannot knit and listen to an audio-book...or a Yankee game...or music...or someone talking to me...or..................because, if I do, I make mistakes. I ask you, what does that say about my mental facilities? That's up to you to decide for yourself. This shawl is being knit from yarn gifted to me by a friend (Thank you, Rosemary) from Purls of Wisdom (my knitting circle) and a lovely and easy (or so I thought), well-written pattern called 'Parisienne' by Katie White which I found on Ravelry. The yarn is Elegance from Knit Picks which is 70% Baby Alpaca & 30% Silk in a glorious colorway called Redwood (think reddish-BROWN...the picture doesn't do it justice, and, no, the shawl is not going to look like a Sting-Ray when it is finished!). This yarn has an inner glow and shows the stitch definition beautifully and is very lovely to knit with. After I ripped out my first attempt, I almost immediately started over again and now I am on the 3rd lace row and my stitch count is correct (Yes!!) and I am really loving this yarn & pattern & knitting lacy-triangular-shawls...who would have thought?

Also, I am finally taking the plunge...I am going to learn how to WEAVE! I have always wanted to learn this art, even before I wanted to spin. Working at The Spinnery most every week and looking at all of the looms and the beautiful fabric on those looms has weakened my resistance to adding more projects to my never-ending list...but, so it goes. And, when, I was gifted with a sweet little 2-harness loom by a friend, what could I do. So now I am a knitter, crocheter, sewer, yarn-dyer, spinner, tea-blender...soon to be weaver...we really need a bigger house and I need more time in each day! I don't have pictures of my new loom but they will be forthcoming...and maybe I can weave some Christmas presents after I spin some yarn to knit into Christmas presents and knit the projects for the Christmas presents and dye the sock-yarn for the Christmas presents, finish knitting the sweater & socks for a June (2010) birthday present...and, maybe, just maybe, all of these projects will be finished for Christmas.........2012...unless I find some more projects to work on!

PS> The Garland Shawl is blocked!

C'est fini...FINALLY!

2010-08-12T13:26:00.000-04:00

Well, not quite...I still have to block it and weave in the ends; but, for all intents and purposes, my very first lace triangular shawl is completed...done...over...no more knitting on it...Hah! Of course, it is about the size of a small hankie and I know I knit way more stiches than there seem to be in the finished shawl...I mean I have been knitting (and frogging) this @#$*% piece of knitting FOREVER!!! Well, OK, not forever...it just seemed that way. Now for the surprise...I can't wait to start the next one!!!!

Fleecing-2010

2010-08-03T13:42:00.002-04:00

On a couple of days recently, the 'Fleece Connection' got together to pick and cold wash this year's fleece...3 bags of Dorset mix and 1 bag of Border Leiscester. With that completed we just have to hot-wash, card, spin and ply the pounds and pounds of fleece we have and that does not even count what is left over from Fleecing-2009. It might be time to send some off for the final stages, because we really wnat to start knitting with this gorgeous fiber. And, oh, yes...we want to start dyeing some of the Dorset....oh, yes and then we want to learn to weave and there is plenty of fleece for Nuno-felting and.......

Hello Again

2010-07-27T14:49:00.003-04:00

It has been a while since I posted...partly because I have not been feeling up to par and mostly because it has just been too bloody hot to do anything! The gardens are in a terrible state and no spinning has been done but; at least, I have been reading and knitting. I am moving along on my Garland Shawl

and have just started the 3rd (of 4) pattern repeats and I have decided that I really enjoy knitting these little triangular shawls with lace borders. In fact I have enjoyed knitting this shawl so much (even with the frogging and re-knitting that has gone on) that I have ordered more yarn from The Yarnarian for two more shawls...who would have ever imagined! I am also knitting a pair of "2-at-a-time toe-up socks on one circ" for my great-niece...these socks will match the multi-colored stripe on the sleeveless sweater I am knitting her.

We also managed a trip up to our favorite holiday place - Topside Inn, Boothbay Harbor, ME and a trip to Ocean Grove, NJ to hear a concert by an outstanding chamber orchestra, the Carnegie Ensemble, which was founded by a dear friend from our NJ State Opera days.

Time to turn the air conditioner on and start knitting as I listen to the next chapter of my current audio book (Careless in Red by Elizabeth George) before meeting a friend for dinner. I really am anxious for Autumn to arrive!!

The Dreaded YOs Strike Again

2010-05-25T13:32:00.005-04:00

OK, so I thought I had mastered the dreaded yarn-overs and was ready to take on a more challenging project. I was SO wrong! This is a rather long story; so if you are busy, you might want to skip it or, if you have the time, just curl up with a good cup of tea (may I suggest TnRs own 'Mozart' blend) and read on.

While reading The Yarnarian's blog a week or so ago I came across an absolutely beautiful new yarn (yes, definitely earth tones with lots of brown hue...you knew that already, didn't you) she had dyed. The Yarnarian had been browsing art books and a picture in the book on John Singer Sargent particularly caught her eye.

She says, "When I look at a painting, I first see the composition and subject, and then I look at the colors, and Sargent was brilliant in his choice of colors. What I did was look at each painting, and then whatever area of colors my eye was drawn to, that's what I tried to dye. So if you should look at any of these paintings, please note that I singled out a small portion of each one." As she says, the boat caught her eye and, hence the yarn and the name of the color "The Boating Party". And since one of my all time favorite paintings is Renoir's "The Luncheon of the Boating Party"...you already know what happened.

Well this yarn called to me and , even though I ABSOLUTELY do NOT need any more yarn and especially I do NOT need any more sock yarn, I rushed to her Etsy store and bought it. It arrived in a couple of days and the colors were everything I thought they would be...just warm and lush and lovely. Now, what do I need to knit with this yarn...not socks - it is too lovely to hide in shoes...I know, a small triangular kinda lace shawl. Perfect...and The Yarnarian had exactly the one I wanted in her Ravelry store...the Garland Shawl...not too lacy (I am not a 'lacy' person) but just enough and the pictures looked really nice...so I bought the pattern and was ready to go. And go I did...and frog I did...and go I did...and frog I did....and go I did and...you get the picture! Frustration was setting in, but I refused to give in; so I took yarn and pattern to my knitting circle and, YES, my lace-knitting teacher, Dearest Rita, was there that night. I thrust the pattern and my sadly lopsided attempt at the shawl at her and cried "I really hate YOs!!" After a few minutes contemplation, she realized that the pattern started at the neck edge and I had thought it started at the point end (the pattern did not say) and also my knit-to-purl YOs were non-existent; hence the lop-sided nature of my 4th attempt...that is because I didn't know how to do them. Dearest Rita patently explained the pattern and the YO and sent me home happy and convinced I would prevail! After frogging 3 more times (for a total of 7), I was finally on-my-way and now I can't put it down...I am really lovin' knitting this triangular lace shawl...YOs and all! Here's a close-up of the center section showing those blasted knit-to-purl YOs (the bigger holes on the right of the picture...don't really like the asymmetry, but what-the-heck) mastered...at least for now! Thank you, Dearest Rita.

Spring at Davenport Pines

2010-04-05T15:15:00.012-04:00

Happy Spring! OK, I know that I always say I love Winter (I DO!) and that Autumn is my favorite season (IT IS!), but even I must admit that this has been a very pretty Spring here at 'The Pines'. The giant forsythia is in bloom, the daffodils are up in profusion and the Crab Apple tree and old Pear tree are starting to show some color. Of course, the fact that the sun has been shining for days now and the sky is a deep blue does add to the over-all feeling of bliss I am experencing today.

But, one of the main reasons I am so happy it is Spring is because the Yankees are back!

Baseball season began for real last night (OK, the blasted Red Sox came from behind to win but there are 161 games still to go...and remember we didn't have such a great start last year and look where we wound up!).

I have been knitting and finished up some a couple of WIPs lately, so that feels nice too. The blue sweater is a baby sweater for my cousin's daughter's little baby boy, Landon Paul Alexander Parkhurst, and the brown one is knit from my very first hand-spun from scratch yarn...I am really proud of that sweater.

And I started Yoga classes 3 weeks ago and am really, really enjoying them. It feels good to be pushing my muscles and joints to new places. I guess this is part of what Spring is...a new beginning. So, Happy Spring and Happy New Beginnings to all of you.

Shearing Time

2010-04-03T15:27:00.011-04:00

Exciting news! Just like last year - The Fleece Connection (Peggy, Donna & David) will again be the proud owners of some beautiful Border Leiscester fleece (and some Dorset blend, too) from the sheep of Peggy's friend. More fleece to skirt, pick, card & spin and then knit. Of course, it would be nice if all of last year's fleece was all finished...but it is not. Soooo, guess we had better get carding and spinning very soon! Stay tuned for more updates on the exciting adventures of The Fleece Connection, including the names of 2 more possible members of our jolly 'band of brothers, we'.

Winter Wonderland

2010-02-10T15:15:00.003-05:00

FINALLY...we are getting a real Winter snow storm! The wind is just starting to pick up and it has been snowing quite steadily for the past few hours...looks like we have about 6-inches of snow with more on the way! I know, many of you are saying, "What is wrong with this woman...we want Spring." Well I am a Fall and Winter person. I love bundling up in the cold and taking walks in the snow and sitting in front of a blazing fire in the fireplace, sipping wine and reading or knitting. Of course, I do think about the people without a home or without enough money to buy heating oil or food or warm clothes and are cold and hungry and miserable and I know warm weather and sun is better for them. I do a little bit to help (never enough) but; I am sorry, I still love a good Winter snow storm. The picture below is out the back window looking toward the Summerhouse.

Unfortunately, my knitting mojo has gone away for awhile. True, I have been sick with a very bad upper respirarory infection since the last day of January and I am still fighting it and I am on the mend but that all takes a lot of energy. I have been reading almost a book a day so that is a good thing and I am sure my knitting mojo will reappear soon. As you can see in the following photo, I have at least four WIPs (not counting a baby sweater I was supposed to have finished by last Friday)...notice a color trend here?

I really need to get going on them. The 'sleeveless' sweater is being knit from my own handspun and all it needs are its sleeves and a good blocking. And then there are two different socks I am working on and just can't seem to move ahead on. The acorn sock (on left) only has about 2 inches before the toe and the Hedgerow sock (the darker brown one) only has about 2-inches knitted on one sock. I certainly wish I had decided to do this sock 2-at-a-time as I have no desire to finish this one let alone knit its mate. And then there is the Cat's Paw scarf that has been on the needles since last March! The scarf is probably long enough now but I still have a lot of yarn left...not enough for another project...but too much to just stop knitting. Sigh! I think what I really need is to start a NEW and EXCITING project! That's it...a NEW project will cure my knitting blahs...stop laughing everyone...I can hear you!

'Argentina' and Her Flock

2010-01-05T12:40:00.014-05:00

My dear cousin (of Lladyhawk Llamas & Lavender and Gourds Gone Wild fame) sent me many wonderful Christmas presents this year. They ranged from a ceramic Knitting Guardian Angel (knitting socks, of course) to a throw rug made from her own llama fiber to a gorgeous felted-fabric handbag to 'Argentina'...a fluffy, happy, hand-made from Alpaca fiber and champagne corks (!) creature who makes me smile whenever I look at her. And it just so happens, that a knitting friend of mine gave my DH and me wonderful hand-knitted, stuffed sheep for Christmas...so 'Argentina' has a flock to mind!! She is SOOOO happy.

I finally got around to knitting and felting my DH a little box to hold his favorite pen & pencil set. He has been asking me to knit this for months but there was always another project ahead of it in the queue. He is quite pleased with it...Happy New Year, DH.

Happy New Year!

2009-12-31T11:23:00.002-05:00

May this New Year bring happiness and well-being to you and yours

and Peace to the World!

Our Favorite Place

2009-11-11T18:07:00.008-05:00

After we spent Saturday in Rhinebeck, NY at the NY Sheep & Fiber Fest where I exerted all of my will-power and came away with only 3 bags of fiber & yarn - we headed to Maine and one of our most favorite holiday locations. It doesn't seem possible that just a few weeks ago we were enjoying the comfort of this wonderful place...Topside Inn, which sits on Boothbay Harbor's highest hill. We have been returning here every year (sometimes twice) for many years for rejuvenation and relaxation. The innkeepers, Brian & Ed, make us feel very much at home and we spend wonderful days in the fresh, clear air just reading, knitting and walking. We love this wonderful fishing village - Boothbay Harbor, and especially enjoy spending time there in the off-season when most of the tourists have fled south and we can walk the streets alone at night. This past October we spent a particularly peaceful holiday not moving the car from the time we arrived until we, sadly, had to leave. We started the days at our favorite corner table on the dining porch sipping tea and quietly watching the lobster boats head out for the day. Then our delicious breakfasts, always presented beautifully, are served. After breakfast we usually spent an hour or so reading in the living room in front of a toasty fire (this was October in Maine and temperatures were quite cool in the mornings - my Maine Morning Mitts came in very handy). Then we usually moved to the 3rd floor sitting area and gloried in the gorgeous view. DH read and I knit. The weather was so perfect on this holiday, that by late morning the temperatures had warmed up enough that we could sit in our favorite rocking chairs on the porch and continue our reading and knitting in the crystal-clear Maine sun. Time for lunch, so we walk down the hill into town for scrumptious lobster rolls and a walk around town; then back up for the rest of the afternoon to read and knit. After watching the sunset each evening, we sipped a glass of wine and then headed back into town for dinner and another long walk around town and the harbor. Back to the Inn to read by the fire before turning in so that we were rested for another perfect Maine day at Topside Inn. It doesn't get much better than this as far as we are concerned. If this type of holiday appeals there is no better spot than 'The Inn on the Hill' (Topside) in Boothbay Harbor, Maine.

I spent a lot of time reading while away but also a lot of time knitting and I almost finished my latest sock project while in Maine. Since the last couple of pairs of socks took lots of concentration & counting, I wanted a 'mindless' pair to knit while away so I decided on a 1x1 rib cuff and a 3x1 rib for the leg & instep...it was the yarn I used - Socks That Rock from Blue Mountain Fiber Arts - that made this pair of socks so special. The colorway was Fall "on Tap" and it knitted like a dream with incredible stitch definition. I am looking forward to making many more pairs of 'Socks That Rock'.

Tomorrow I teach my class - 'Socks-101' - at The Spinnery I have seven students and am really looking forward to the opportunity to turn more knitters in sock fanatics! I'll report back with some pictures next week.

Where Have I Been?

2009-09-26T11:31:00.013-04:00

Seems it has been forever since I sat down to update this blog-not really, it just seems that way. So what have I been doing and where have I been? Knitting, spinning, reading, working and to Virginia answers those questions. Knitting on socks, a lace scarf; spinning more Leiscester & Dorset and some alpaca/merino blend; reading more Donna Leon 'Inspector Guido Brunetti' books (once you start this series, you can't stop); spending Sunday's at The Spinnery working; and dining with former colleagues at a wonderful B&B and visiting good friends at their beautiful home in Virginia. Also spending time with good friends - both old & new and welcoming in my favorite season of the year- Autumn!

The SS09 socks are completed and have already been worn on a couple of our cooler days and the Cat's Paw scarf is just rows from being completed. I have already decided on my next lace scarf pattern - 'Branching Out' which I will knit in Shetland yarn. My needles also hold another pair of socks, of course, my needles always hold at least one pair of socks in the works. This pattern is perfect for Autumn but since this pattern requires diligence and concentration, I will be casting-on another pair that will be portable. I finished the fourth (!!) Penllyn sock this morning -so I can justify casting on another pair of socks - Yea! I say 'pair' because that is what I will do - cast-on a pair and I think it will be toe-up on Magic Loop. The Falling Leaves sock required me to finally get a grip on making a short-row heel and I find it quick and not too awful looking. I also like not having to pick-up gusset stitches, my least favorite part of knitting socks. You may also remember that I will not have to purchase any yarn to begin a new pair of socks, another plus; even though, just this week, I had 2 new skeins of gorgeous sock yarn join their new friends in my stash. These yarns are from Blue Moon Fiber Arts and are called Gail's Autumn Joy and Fall "On Tap" - you can just imaging the colors; now tell me, how could I have resisted these yarns!

Oh, yes, I also attended the Garden State Sheep & Fiber Fest a couple of weeks ago with my DH and a friend, an excellent knitter and just getting into spinning; and, yes, I did come home with more fiber and yarn. But, I had to - I had no choice! One must support ones local merchants, mustn't one? And this same friend and I took a 2 session Drop Spindle class at the Museum of Early Trades and Crafts in Madison, NJ. A good class with an excellent teacher and we both came away with a skein of 2-ply drop-spindled yarn and a desire to spin some more on our drop spindles. It will never replace my wheel but I feel like a more complete spinner since I can now spin and ply decent yarn on the drop spindle. BTW, if you are in the area and have never visited this gem of a museum - drop in sometime.

During my sojourn from 'blog updating' I made my first needle felted item - a little pumpkin, just in time for Autumn. This process is fun and I see some simple Christmas presents being made over the next few weeks. It is sure faster than knitting presents for everyone. And, finally, I taught (and got paid to do it!) my first knitting class at The Spinnery last week - I really enjoyed it and am now writing a Socks 101 class that I will teach on November 14, 2009. This is wine-making time and DH is vamping up for that this coming weekend. So things have not been quiet at Davenport Pines while I have been away from my blog. Hope all of you have been busy, happy and well. 'See' you soon.

PS. If you have not seen the movie 'Julia & Julie' - don't miss it!

PPS. As I read back over this Blog entry - I realize how correct Eric (Julie's husband in the movie) was when he said to Julie "It is all about you." By its nature a Blog is all about you - hmmm, I have to think about if I like that.

Does Sock Yarn Count?

2009-08-18T14:44:00.016-04:00

Of course, we all know the answer to that-but I was referring to when you measure your stash, because if it does, I am in deep trouble! While I am still on a Sock Summit high (and we all know I did not attend but was there in spirit), I decided to sort my sock yarns into hand-dyed and the 'other kind'. Only a year ago, the 'other kind' was just fine with me but that was before I ventured into the world of hand-dyed sock yarn and even did some hand-dying myself. Now the only yarns I deem acceptable for me to use in my sock projects is 'hand-dyed' and Sock Summit just fed that notion. So today I sorted, and not counting the dyed roving sitting there waiting to be spun into sock yarn-but that is another story, I have 22 different dyed-by-hand, absolutely gorgeous (OK, one is not so gorgeous) sitting in my stash. Each one ready to be knit into socks. And that doesn't count the 2 pairs that are on my needles as I type-so that makes 24. Which if I am counting correctly and if I knit 1 pair of socks every month is enough to last me 2 years! Actually, that is better than I thought-I probably missed some here or there. Of course, I do not knit a pair of socks a month because (a) I am not a fast knitter, (b) I have other projects - like lace scarfs and bulky-knit sweaters and teapot cosies and... - on the needles at all times and (c) I do other things in my life besides knit. The other question is, what am I going to do with the 11 balls (each one can make 1 pair of socks) of perfectly good 'other kind' of sock yarn I also have sitting in my stash.

You may also notice a trend in the colors of the yarn - you might notice that shades of brown and other earth tones tend to predominate. There are 2 lonely skeins of shades of blue - they are for socks for my DH. There is also 1 skein of rich Christmas colors which will some day be my very own special socks for that holiday season and there is a strange looking white/bright green/orange/brown - this colorway was named 'Fallen Leaves' and is not what I expected it to be - but it may knit up better than it looks in the skein. And here is the kicker - I spend hours searching the web for MORE hand-dyed sock yarn to buy - and SS09 didn't help there because it provided me with the names of lots more websites to visit to find more hand-dyed sock yarn - I sense a vicious cycle here - one I don't sense a solution to. But, it is a good problem to have because just looking at all of this beautiful yarn makes me smile and feel happy inside.

An update to the saga of the Penllyn socks : I have cast-on sock # 4! This is the 2nd sock in the pair I am knitting for my cousin. And I discovered something with sock # 3 (2nd sock in the pair for me) - if I knit 2 rows of ribbing (I am using top-down Magic Loop on this sock - toe-up is a different story) before I join in the round it is much easier for me to join without twisting and when I finish and weave in the ends all I have to do is quickly seam up 2 rows and it looks just fine. I have always found the first row I knit after casting-on and joining in the round is problematic for me - I just make a regular mess of it and usually frog 2 or 3 times before I am on my way. So, if you have that same sock bugaboo - try it, you may like it.

PS. I am knitting on the legs of my SS09 2-at-a-time-toe-up socks and I only have about 5 more inches to go until they are complete! I love knitting socks!

PPS. I am at 31" before blocking on my Cat's Paw scarf and already deciding on a pattern and yarn (Jamieson's Shetland Spindrift) for my next lace scarf - I love knitting lace!

'Sock Summit 2009' Socks Redux

2009-08-06T22:12:00.016-04:00

Forgot to mention that the yarn I am using in the SS09 socks I am knitting -so I stop whining about NOT being there- was hand-dyed by me in honor of the 'Dye For Glory' competition...I call it Autumn Sunset and it really glows in the sunset light.

Unbelievably, just as I was expecting 'tons' of Tweets from SS09 participants---Twitter crashed! At first I though it was because ALL of the SS09 Tweeters were Tweeting simultaneously on Twitter (do not even ask what that really means!) but that was NOT the case. Twitter was under a 'Denial of Service Attack', (Yes, it is as bad as it sounds) as my DH so helpfully explained! During the day, Twitter slowly recovered (and I realized how much I 'missed' my Tweet buddies...Oh, no, it has begun!)...it still doesn't seem to be at 100%.

After a VERY long 20 hour day-I believe I will crash-as soon as the final out is made in the Yanks-Red Sox game (Go Yanks!) being played as I type. After a glass (or two) of my favorite Pino Grigio I may finally be ready to try to sleep until 4:30 AM today (i.e. Friday, 07 August 2009).

'Sock On' SS09!!!!

'Sock Summit 2009' Socks

2009-08-06T05:22:00.011-04:00

If you are a sock knitter then you know what is starting today - SS09!! The end-all and be-all of a sock knitter's convention -the greatest sock show on earth- organized by Stephanie Pearl-McPhee (the infamous & famous Yarn Harlot) and Tina Newton of Blue Moon Fiber Arts. The list of teachers & panel members reads like a Who's Who of the sock knitters, or just plain knitters, of the world...EVERYONE who is anyone in knitting will be attending. There are classes on any sock-knitting topic you can think of, receptions, parties, a closing panel discussion and there will be a Marketplace of over 150 vendors selling everything you can think of related to socks and more. In other words this convention will be a sock knitter's dream. You may ask why, then, this professed Sock-Knitting-Addict is NOT at SS09 and the answer would be: Portland, Oregon; because that is where SS09 is being held and that is on the other side of the country from where I am and so I stay here on the East Coast knitting 2-at-a-time-toe-up-socks on 2-circs in honor of Sock Summit 2009. While this really does not make up for the fact that I am not participating in this extraordinary happening, at least whenever I wear these socks I can think of SS09. I plan to knit on these socks every chance get during SS09 and may even have them close to finished by the time the exhausted but 'sock-satiated' attendees pack-up their newly purchased stash & head home. FYI: the stitch pattern is a ridged-rib & the socks will have a standard square heel. I used Judy's Magic Cast-on.

On another knitting front, I have switched to wood needles (the Harmony Wood circulars by KnitPicks) from the Addi Turbo and found that the knitting on the Cat's Paw lace scarf is moving along much more smoothly...it is over 2-feet long (unblocked) already and I have only been knitting on it for 2 months! OK, all you fast lace knitters out there - stop snickering, I can hear you. So now I can knit 30 rows at a time without hand fatigue instead of the 12 rows I could only knit at a time with the shorter, slipperier metal needles. You may be asking why is this so? And even if you are not asking, I am telling. The reasons for me are two-fold: the yarn doesn't slip & slide off these needles and the needle length (not the cable length) is longer & easier for me to hold in my hands. I just may be able to finish knitting this scarf before the first snow.

And to all of the participants in Sock Summit 2009 - 'Sock-On'! And a Happy Birthday to the incomparable Elizabeth Zimmerman. On August 9th, Elizabeth, perhaps the person most responsible for moving knitting forward into the modern age, would have been 99. Her daughter, Meg Swansen will be at SS09.

Now it is time for a cup of Davenport Pines morning tea as I sit knitting my Sock Summit 2009 socks hoping that SS10 will be held closer to my home.

A Few Updates

2009-07-25T17:34:00.019-04:00

Still lots of spinning and knitting going on...still LOTS of spinning and knitting to go - until what? Am I running a race? Sometimes it feels like it - and I just keep falling further and further behind the leaders - whoever 'they' are.

The spinning of the Border Leicester is moving slowly along - I have found this fiber, because it is so coarse, somewhat painful to spin for a long time...it actually rubs my fingers a little sore if I spin with it too long. I have about 3 or 4 more pounds of it to spin - maybe I should wear protective gloves - NOT! And I really have not even made an in-road with the Dorset which is much more pleasant to spin - there is only so much time in a day and I do other things with my life as well (like all of you who read my blog) - like knit and read and attend concerts and garden and keep a home and work and try to keep up with Tea-and-Roses (not too successfully since I have become a fiber-junkie) and cook and blog and Tweet and, and, and...

I finished the Double Bubble socks for my grand niece's birthday - only a month late; but I think she will like them. The Booga Bag is felted and my current sock project fits perfectly in it. I can see these being knit as future gift items for family and friends. If I expect to have any for Christmas (of 2009), I better start knitting them yesterday! Although the kniting is quick & so is the felting and it is a fun and rewarding project.; the whole thing still takes time!

I am still following the preparations for Sock Summit 2009 (aka SS09) with envy and I voted in the 'Dye for Glory' contest; there are some absolutley gorgeous sock yarns exhibited on the Ravelry pages. If you are a Ravelry member go to this link http://www.ravelry.com/socksummit and cast your vote in each of the categories. Of course, I want to own many of the entries but realized today that I have EIGHT different brown colored sock yarns, all gorgeous & all hand-dyed, in my stash right now. And that doesn't count all the other sock yarns I have that are just in the brownish-family or were bought to make socks for someone else...like the beautiful 'David's Eyes' (Cascade Heritage Sock yarn) I just bought to knit a pair for my DH (aka David). PS The yarn does match his eyes.

Long story short: I am addicted to hand-dyed sock yarn and I can't stop buying it even though I now have enough that if I knit a pair of socks a month (which I won't) it would take me almost 4 years to knit up my stash; that is, if I can refrain from buying anymore hand-dyed sock yarn (which I won't)! HELP! Is there a 'Sock-Knitter's Anonymous' out there anywhere?

Breaking News

2009-07-18T17:22:00.012-04:00

'The Fleece Connection' has been renamed (after only two weeks of existence!?!).

We are now officially known as...

"IT TAKES A FLEECE"

Now we just need to design a logo and we are ready to take it to the next level...whatever that will be...Stay Tuned!

PS. With 'Thanks to HRC

From Fleece to Fiber Presentation

2009-07-14T11:56:00.010-04:00

This past Tuesday, we (friend of the 8 fleeces and I) gave our presentation to our local knitting guild chapter and, happily, it was a great success. The ladies came out in force and seemed quite interested in all we had to say. I had built a PowerPoint presentation of the steps in the process going from the sheared fleece to a finished project. In the case of the Border Leicester, a gorgeous purse Peggy knit from our fleece's yarn was lined with silk and even had a label with our endeavors' name 'The Fleece Connection'. We also had on display the various stages the fleece goes through from 'in-the-grease; cold-washed; hot washed; teased & picked; hand-carded; drum-carded; spun singles; 2-ply worsted weight yarn; skeined; a ball ready for knitting and the finished swatch (in Peggy's case the wonderful purse). Everything looked quite impressive laid out on tables and shown together in a basket...but we think most of the ladies would probably just head to their LYS for their yarn. I gave a spinning demonstration which was also very well-received and the entire proceeding had lots of energy...we were pleased that every one enjoyed it.

The Dorset was not left out, although being white without lots of lustre or sheen, it definitely takes a back seat to the Leicester (which my English friend Paula remined me was pronounced 'Less-ter' not 'Lye-ster'...try as I might-I really am not a Brit.
Not being as creative as Peggy, my swatch looked exactly like a...SWATCH. The drum-carded Dorset is truly gorgeous however, it looks like puffy white clouds. I am spinning this at closer to an Aran weight and the swatch did make us all say 'Aran sweater'. This is the fleece we have the most of and a lot of it will be in the dye pots we are planning for later in the Summer or eartly Autumn...another endeavor of 'The Fleece Connection'. Who knows where all of this will lead us...but we are having fun, even though it is very time-consuming to go from 'Fleece to Fiber'. Going through this entire process (the only thing we have not done is raise & shear the sheep) certainly does give you an appreciation for the time when there were no yarn shops!

From Fleece to Swatch

2009-07-02T21:53:00.004-04:00

Friend Peggy (she of the 8 bags of free fleece) and I have agreed to make a presentation at our next knitting guild meeting. We spent hours on it today and have more to go but we have moved ahead. Peggy brought a skein of plied & washed hand-spun Border Leicester home (see photo) with her so she can swatch it before the meeting on Tuesday and I have plied a bobbin of Dorset which I will skein & wash (to set the twist) tomorrow and then I will swatch that. It is really getting more exciting now that we have some REAL yarn to play with!

The gorgeous Gotland fleece I purchased at Woolbearers in Mt. Holly, NJ has been put on the back-burner as I work on the pounds & pounds & pounds & pounds of Border Leicester & Dorset fleece and while all of this is fun and a great learning experience, I really will not do this much work again to get roving to spin...unless the sheep in question is BROWN!!

Special Deliveries

2009-06-23T17:10:00.021-04:00

While I have been away from blogging (mostly because it kept raining & I couldn't take any pictures to share) I received two very unexpected and very special packages. The first box was sitting on our screened-in porch after we returned from a hectic day of being out-and-about and not coming home with everything we set out to get which I always find very frustrating and time-wasting. The box was ultra-light for its size and the return address read Lladyhawk Llamas & Lavender...aha! could it be?? Yes, it was!! a box of 3 gorgeous, soft-like-clouds fully processed llama fiber batts. I immediately called my dear cousin (DC) - she the owner of Lladyhawk - and profusely thanked her. She had just had her llamas shorn and, knowing my love of all colors brown and that I have become a fanatical spinster, she packed up about 10-ounces and sent it to me. Now...what will I do with this treasure? Spin each color separately or blend them all together & spin a tweedy yarn or blend each with one of my sheep rovings or together...or...or...decisions, decisions...but very nice decisions. Thanks again, DC.

A couple of days later, we were again out-and-about again (we do that a lot it seems) and, again, when we returned we found a mystery box on our porch. The return address told me it was from a very good 'tea-business-related' friend who now lives in SC (look for her on the web at The Cat-Tea Corner and be sure to check out TeaGuide and her CraftTea Designs...scarfs, t-shirts & pillow covers she has dyed with tea!). This box, too, was very light for its size and when we opened it, out popped ALPACA fleece in shades of...you guessed it...brown & beige...I guess my favorite color is not a mystery to anyone. Also included in this very special package were a card with a tea-bag (China White Mint) attached and a skein of already spun and plied Alpaca (I will make a lace scarf from this yarn...she how brave I have become about YOs! Thank you, dear Rita!)...WOW! The card informed me that the fleece had been sheared just 2 weeks ago at an alpaca farm near her home and that the lighter colored fleece was from Kudzu and the darker was from Knight...I love connecting with my 'fleece' by knowing their names. This 4-ounces of fiber needs to washed and carded and I look forward to the process as I have never prepared Alpaca fiber.

So now I have llama and alpaca to spin along with the pounds and pounds of Border Leicester and Dorset AND all the other rovings I bought at Maryland Sheep & Wool and Rhinebeck last year - I had best chain myself to my spinning wheel and spin and spin and spin and ply and ply and ply and then knit and knit and knit and, oh yes, throw in some carding. I was under the impression that I became involved in all of this because I didn't want a job?!? I had better brew some of the China White Mint tea and sit back and relax before I tackle all this fiber - there is always tomorrow...and tomorrow...and tomorow and.....

The Dreaded YOs

2009-06-03T13:11:00.017-04:00

I finally 'bit-the-bullet' so to speak by taking my first lesson in lace knitting (or is it, knitting lace?). I have always had difficulties with yarn-overs and avoid them at all costs. I decided to finally 'grow-up' and address my nemesis; and not the least, many sock patterns I want to knit have yarn-overs and I LOVE to knit socks. So I asked a very accomplished lace-knitting friend to give me a lesson in YOs. I realize it is not so much making the YO...that is easy enough; my problem arises when I come back the other way and have to knit...in the case of the pattern I am using, purl...into the YOs from the previous row. My friend, knowing I like both cats and history, chose the perfect first lace pattern for me: Elizabeth Lovick's Cat's Paw Scarf, which is a traditional Estonian lace pattern stitch. I am generally not a 'lacy-type' of person but this pattern appealed. For the lesson, I brought some stunning Merino light sock yarn in a gorgeous shade of brown (those of you that know me will not be surprised by my yarn color choice), a size US#5, 16" Addi Turbo needle, cute stitch markers from MDKnits and as much courage as I could summon to face the 'dreaded YOs'! Everything went very well as I cast-on 34 stitches (the yarn was slippery...not a good sign for my first lace attempt)...twice, and then k 5 rows...so far-so-good. Then I tackled the first row that had yarn-overs...under the keen & learned eye of my very patient teacher, success was mine! A full row containing...count them... EIGHT YOs, I was on a roll! By the end of the lesson I had completed 6 pattern rows making the complete Cat's Paw which could easily be seen when the scarf was stretched a bit. I thanked my friend & teacher profusely and headed home with my new skill in and 11 row scarf in tow. I was sure I had mastered the art of the YO. I was too cocky, too soon...what was I thinking...a 2 hour lesson made my an expert??? Not!!

That evening I sat down calmly and picked up the scarf, confident in my newly found ability to not shudder & shake at the thought of a YO...instead, I should have been trembling!. The first row went smoothly, the second row was a little bumpy & I had to frog most of the stitches. I persevered and the next 2 rows went pretty well...although all of my confidence had vanished by now...and then DH comes into the room asking me how many miles I had put on my car over the past 12 months? What??? I lost my place and had to frog that row....grrrr. Deep breath, tell DH not to talk to me until I come out of my knitting-space...he shakes his head & sighs (he knows how 'relaxing' I find knitting)...and I start the next row...which turns out to be a disaster! it is not even a YO row, it is a plain purl row...but I must purl into the YOs from the previous row and THAT is what I just cannot do succesfully every time. I wound up with 5 extra stitches by the end of the row :-( and when I tried to frog it, I could not figure out which were the YO's and which were the K2tog or SKPs...and so, I think, I will have to rip out the entire 17 rows and start all over again! But I will prevail, I will outsmart the dreaded YOs without a nervous breakdown! Maybe if I brew a cup of Lladyhawk Tea and sip it as I think calming thoughts, I might be able to sleep tonight.

Knitting Connections

2009-05-28T12:40:00.022-04:00

Last evening at my knitting circle (aka 'Purls of Wisdom') there were two new members. We are always happy to expand our merry group and welcomed them with open arms and smiling faces. As the conversations swirled, one of the new members looked at me and said, "I know you from somewhere". I had been thinking the same about her. She then said, "A B&B in Connecticut". I exclaimed, "Under Mountain Inn". Yes, saith she. Seems we (DH & I) had spent a lovely long weekend with this new member of Purls, her husband and mutual friends at this inn over 14 years ago. She had also worked in the same company as my DH many years ago, as had her DH. Talk about coincidence's. We were thrilled to re-connect. And it was knitting that made it happen!

Still knitting on the 'two-at-a-time-toe-up-on-one-circular-needle' that I intend to send my great-niece for her 10th birthday next month. It is a really fun pattern (Double Bubble) to knit and the yarn is perfect for my GN, but I really have to spend a lot more time knitting over the next couple of days to complete them in time for her birthday...and I don't have much time over the next couple of days to do just that. I must become a faster knitter...or stop doing so many other things...not! Perhaps one could comment that if I spent less time 'blogging' and more time knitting then I would be further along on the socks...and one would be correct!

Also still carding and spinning the gorgeous silver Border Leicester...have 22-ounces spun but not plied with many, many, many, many more ounces to go. And then we start on the white Dorset and Border Leicester. And that will also coincide with our (friend, DH & me) foray into dyeing with natural dye stuffs...Yeah! Am very excited about that. Other news...on Monday I am to have my first 'lace-knitting' lesson from a Purls of Wisdom friend. Oh, yes...I WILL master those dreaded YOs!!

My Spinning Places

2009-05-21T16:50:00.012-04:00

Since I have three spinning wheels and a very small house, I have set up spinning places in 3 rooms. My favorite spot is in what I call my parlor...a very English room...it is upstairs and is where I have made a retreat for myself. My office is just off this room so everything is very convenient. It is a space to read, knit, listen to music, sew, watch my sports programs (Go Yankees!) on a little TV and, now, it is a place to spin. The Louet S51...a delightful little wheel...is at home in this space. My spinning chair is an antique Victorian balloon back chair...I so enjoy being surrounded by history. That is some of the carded Border Leicester in the basket at the foot of the wheel.

The view from the windows is of our wooded property and when I sit and spin at this time of the year I look out on the fully leafed-out trees and hear the many bird songs. The sun rises through the side window and early morning is my favorite spinning time and where I enjoy a cup of my favorite Irish Breakfast blend tea. In the distance I can hear the local trains; a sound I have always found peaceful and comforting. Spending time in this space is an antidote to the stress and chaos of the life beyond my walls...it is my centering place.

The Saga of the Penllyn Socks

2009-05-15T17:39:00.007-04:00

The saga of the Penllyn Socks (from Wildhorse Farm Designs) continues. Last fall, I offered to knit my cousin (she of Lladyhawk Llamas & Lavender) a pair of socks, she happily said Thank You and chose the Penllyn pattern (one of my favorites) and the yarn (from my statsh, also one of my favorites) she wanted me to use...so I happily began to knit and the first sock turned out smashingly well (IMHO) and I began the second. Well the 10-row pattern repeat is so much fun to knit that I kept knitting it for 5 extra rows. This is not a pattern stitch you want to frog, so I decided to make this the first sock of a pair for me. Again, I was having so much fun knitting this pattern that I forgot to stop and the foot is too long for me and not long enough for my DC (dear cousin). That means I have two FIRST socks...only one of which fits any one I know!) and no second socks. Now I had to find more of the yarn because I did not have enough to make the second sock for my DC. Luckily I located the exaxt same yarn on the web, ordered it and now I have two FIRST socks and 2 more skeins of yarn to make two SECOND socks...but now I don't feel like knitting this pattern again because I have so many other socks I want to knit. This has all taken since last September! I am a slow knitter but I did knit and spin lots of other stuff during these 10 months I have been dealing with the 'Saga of the Penllyn Socks'.

Still Picking, Carding and Spinning

2009-05-14T18:40:00.008-04:00

Another day at peaceful "Davenport Pines" and another day spent picking, carding and then spinning more of the Border Leicester...a total of 14 ounces finished...are you kidding me? I have spent the last 3 weeks of my life doing this and I only have 14-ounces of singles...not even plied...yarn to show for it!! And how many POUNDS of fleece do we still have to pick, card and spin...don't even ask. However, the singles are gorgeous (if I do say so myself) and they have been moved to two storage bobbins to let the 'spin settle' before they are plied. We just purchased two (we never do things simply) flickers and I am looking to decide which tensioned Lazy Kate I will purchase because plying is the part I find most stressful. It is so nice that DH gets just as involved in all of this as I do and it is also great to have a knitting friend...the one responsible for the fleeces in the first place...to do all of the washing and hand-carding the Dorset. We are hoping to be knitting with this GLORIOUS :-) (Leicester) yarn by winter! We are just not saying which winter...Ha!

Fleece Factory

2009-05-11T18:17:00.019-04:00

When we do something, we do not step lightly...instead we dive in with both feet, a couple of legs and both arms. Thus continues our fleece adventures. A knitting friend has a neighbor who raises Border Collies and, of course, needs to also own sheep to train them with. Friend talks to neighbor; neighbor says sheep are being sheared and I will just dispose of the fleece; friend says, "Oh, no!"; neighbor says do you want the fleece?; friend says "Of course!" and I will share it...and that is how we became part owners of six (yes, 6) 32-gallon garbage bags full of fleece in the grease! Granted, it is VERY nice fleece...Border Leicester and Dorset. The Leicester is especially beautiful with nice locks, nice crimp, very long staple length and exceptional colors...silver, shades of grey and golden tips...see photo. When it comes off the carder it looks like a 'fall of luscious hair'.

It spins beautifully although, as expected, since it is Leicester, the yarn is not lofty but feels quite 'sturdy'. The colors show up beautifully in the singles and I am looking forward to seeing the plied yarn.

The dorset is white with more crimp and shorter staple but cards up to a fluffy white cloud. This also spins up nicely and, since the staple length is shorter than the Leicester, I find it easier to spin. My friend is still washing...I think she has 2 more bags to go and we are still carding and I don't want to think about how much more fleece we have before us to card...I am thankful that we bought a drum carder but I wish it was electric! We never expected to turn into a Fleece Factory here at Davenport Pines.

The saga continues with said friend visiting the exhibit on fashioning felt at the Cooper Hewitt Museum in NYC (http://www.cooperhewitt.org/EXHIBITIONS/Fashioning-Felt/ ) and deciding that next we now have to learn to felt fleece and, of course, learning to dye the white (some is Dorset and some is Border Leicester) with natural dyes is also on the agenda. It is a never-ending story of 'Truth, Justice and the American Way'...or something.

To Card or To Comb?

2009-04-29T13:01:00.022-04:00

On this beautiful Spring day (the heat wave of the past 5 days is over...for now) the birds are singing, the sun is shining, the Crab Apple looks like a white cloud & the Cherry trees are in full bloom , violets are peeking out all over the place and I should be out in the gardens weeding and cleaning up the winter debris; but, I am still washing my Gotland fleece...my puny 14-ounces of fleece...I am on the third day of fleece washing...what will happen when I get POUNDS of the stuff??

Yesterday, DH & I set up my new Strauch Petite drum carder and I just had to try to card some of this fleece I have been diligently washing and rinsing and washing and rinsing and...well, I now understand why Stephanie Pearl-McPhee is so picky about how she washes fleece...I just put mine into the wash pot, then into the mesh spinning bag and then onto the drying rack...didn't worry about keeping locks and fibers lined up...now, what a mess! it will take me forever (OK, an exaggeration, but you get the point) to get this all carded. I have to tease each lock and this fiber is VERY curly & VERY crimpy (see photo), so to try to line up the fibers just a little before sending it into the carder is tedious...to say the least. I spent about an hour and just got 1 rolag completed...I had to send it through the carder 3 times! However, when I finished and removed the rolag from the carder it was glorious...like a light gray cloud and so incredibly soft I had to keep 'petting' it...and it spun like a dream. Yes, I had to sit right down and spin a part of the first carded bit...the blend of colors in the yarn was fabulous. But my question, to all you Master Fleece Preparers out there, is should I buy a set of combs and comb the curly, crimpy fleece first before carding? I do want to spin wooly, but not fuzzy.

The timer just went off...down to empty the 3rd rinse (the one with the vinegar in it) and then a final quick rinse, a spin and then set out to dry. Only one more batch to go. Yes! Now I need a good cup of tea...what will it be? How about a lovely Tippy Yunnan...that will make the carding go better...sure!

My Very First Fleece!

2009-04-27T18:12:00.013-04:00

When I started spinning, everyone told me that I would soon buy a fleece so I could start 'at the very beginning' (well not quite, since that would mean raising the sheep! and I definitely will NOT be doing that! Right!) and I said 'Oh, no, not me'! Ha! That didn't last long. I started slowly...just 14-oz of the most beautifully clean fleece you can imagine...that is certainly the best way to start (Stay around for the next fleece story-and yes, there already is one!) The photo on the right is the unwashed fleece - gorgeous, isn't it. The sheep breed is a Gotland and if you spinners out there don't know about this breed and its fleece and wool, I would definitely suggest you check it out. Today I spent a good deal of the afternoon washing the first 2-oz...not because it really takes that long but because I had never done it before. This fleece was so clean that I only had to do one washing in detergent and then 3 rinses.

Here it is in the wash pot (which is a very large kettle with strainer I bought for only this purpose...since I now know I will be doing a lot of this washing of fleece!). It took me most of the morning to remember where I had put the detergent a friend of mine gave me for this purpose...surprise, it was found with the other washing detergents...who would have guessed. My compost/soil screen was cleaned up to serve as the drying rack; placed on top of 4 cans of beets - to let the air flow underneath - and placed on my screened-in front porch to dry out of the sun and out of the way of critters. With the very hot weather we are having in the Garden State, I am sure this will be dry by tonight and that means tomorrow I will be able to wash more of this glorious fiber. Once all of the fleece is washed and dried, I will card it into batts (since I am planning to spin it woolen) on my brand new :-) Strauch Petite drum carder. Then the fun continues as I spin it and knit it...with any luck my DH may have his new sweater by the winter of....2010!

Spinning, Fleece and Spring

2009-04-13T13:05:00.006-04:00

Spring is here...sunny, deep blue skiy and lots of daffodils and forsthyia looking like sunlight...but the temperatures are still in the 30's at night and mid-40's by day...which is just the way I like it. Spinning is going very well with 4 yarns completed...3 of them waiting for the project to be knit with while the bulky singles spun with heathered grey/brown Jacob roving has become a pair of Maine Morning Mitts and I look forward to wearing them on our next Maine sojurn.

Finished spinning the Fallen Leaves roving...that's it on the right...gorgeous colors and so lofty...it will become a vest with a shawl color.

Bought my first fleece last week...Yea!! Gorgeous shades of grey with a hint of gold Gotland with a wonderful staple and crimp and very clean with light grease...it should be easy to clean and card and as this is my first attempt at both, I am glad that is the case. Later roday I will be picking up my next fleece (yes, that is addictive too), an English Leiscester that a knitting friend has arranged. My knitting friend will also be getting a fleece because, even though she doesn't spin (yet!) she wants to learn about the process of turning sheep wool into yarn. We will work together and that will make it lots more fun. The adventures continue!

Winter Knitting

2009-02-07T14:36:00.004-05:00

Seems like all I want to do anymore is knit and then knit some more and then spin and then knit again...I realize that this is not all bad...but I accomplished almost nothing else during the entire month of January and I still have to update my website and complete writing, editing and mailing the winter issue of the Tea-and-Roses Quarterly before the winter is over!! My 'sock knitting addiction' keeps growing and I have three different pairs on needles right now...I am totally committed to the Magic Loop method of sock knitting and next time I will be casting on two socks at once...no more second-sock-syndrome for me. We have had a wonderful winter in NJ...lots of cold weather and just enough snow to keep everything white but not really get in the way of life (unlike the poor people in the Midwest) since before Christmas and I really don't want it to end...no I am not crazy...I just love cold weather, snow and warm hand-knit socks (so does my DH) and turtlenecks and warm hand-knit sweaters and a raging fire in the fireplace and a steaming cup of tea and my knitting needles and hand-dyed and/or hand-spun yarn and my books (when I need a brief respite from knitting and spinning), good music (listening to the Met's production of Lucia di Lammermoor as I type)...doesn't get much better than that...IMHO :-)

Fingerless Gloves...aka: Gauntlets

2008-12-01T20:48:00.013-05:00

Many people on my Christmas list will be receiving Gauntlets this year. They knit up fast, come in all varieties of patterns...with and without thumbs, and they really do keep your hands warm. They only need a small amount of yarn and so are perfect to knit using my hand-spun of which I only have small amounts of. Wrapped in a festive bag with a tin of 'Tea-and-Roses' own Fireside tea blend, this gift will help keep my friends and family warm on a cold Winter's night.

Teapot Cosies...or is it Cozies

2008-06-22T17:02:00.008-04:00

One of my favorite knitting projects...and I always have one on my needles...is a teapot cosy. This is the UK way of spelling what is known as a 'cozy' in the US. Teapot cosies are small projects that are quick to finish and make great gifts to any tea-loving friends...and there are SO many, many patterns available. The one to the right is a classic...found in most Brisish homes and a lot of fun to knit. TnR just did a Teapot Cosy workshop at a local tea-room and while the participants sipped tea and indulged in delectable desserts, they learned how to make one of these cosies from a kit available through http://www.tea-and-roses.com/tea_and_knitting.htm.

And one of the best things about this pattern is that it can be modified to fit ANY size pot. A friend has requested one in orange and cream (kind of like a creamsicle) for a short and stout teapot she got from her grandmother...this is one of the projects I will be working on this week as I relax on our Maine holiday.

DH's Warm Winter Socks...Finished!

2008-06-01T21:20:00.002-04:00

Finally finished the socks I had promised DH...he wanted a pair to wear around the house or with boots. This pair was made with 90% wool and 10% acrylic (so they can be washed withour felting!). He really loves them and is looking forward to wearing them all winter....he is modeling them in this picture :-)

Almost completed!!

2008-05-19T16:20:00.007-04:00

The bulky, shawl collared cardigan I am knitting from hand-dyed and hand-spun yarn by Susan Nadelson of Classic Warmth (and my spinning instructor) is just about done...yeah!! All I have to do is sew in the sleeves and that will be started tomorrow when I meet with Susan for a spinning/knitting lesson. I have never really mastered the art of sewing in sleeves...the last time I tried, I left big knots under the arm...enough to stop circulation when the wearer (my DH) lowered his arms :-( So for this one I need help because I want this sweater to be as perfect as I can make it. The yarn is incredible...warm and soft and classic..and I plan to wear this sweater forever. Even though it is May, the mornings and evenings are still quite cool enough to want to wear this long anticipated sweater. And the next one made with a different Nadelson yarn is ready to go on the needles. This sweater knit up very quickly on the size 10.5 needles. I will add another picture with the completed sweater modeled!

I am moving along on the pair of socks for DH being knitted from the yarn he dyed at our workshop at The Spinnery in Frenchtown and the alpaca shawl is about one-third completed. I always have at least three or more projects going at once. It is windy, chilly and partly rainy today...a perfect time for some knitting and tea...I think I with have some of Harney's East Frisian blend...a robust and malty blend.

My First Real Yarn

2008-05-16T17:36:00.002-04:00

I have been spinning yarn since February and I am just about finished with 'my first real yarn'! I have named it "Woodland" as it is a mix of copper, brown, dark green, deep red and a bright sky blue...the last not a color I would have chosen for my blend but my spinning teacher prevailed and everyone loves the 'poison'...as she calls the unexpected color. I plan to make a cropped bulky pull-over sweater with a basket-weave design on the front and back with plain arms...but first I have to finish three other sweaters in my queue. The picture shows the plyed yarn, the unspun fiber batt and the spun singles.

Finished the Peace Fleece Socks

2008-05-16T15:10:00.006-04:00

Just in time for summer :-( I finally finished the Peace Fleece Socks I have been working on since winter. If you don't know the story of Peace Fleece, check out their story on their website. I have them on right now and they are warm and toasty on this rainy, dreary day. As I write I am sipping a cup of one of my favorite teas, Brigette's Blend, from Harney & Sons. This tea is Assam based with a rich, malty taste. After a very busy week with a visit for DH's brother, I am taking a'day-off'! Now onto some spinning and knitting.