Toy Knitting

The week before the Maryland Sheep and Wool Festival I finished these cute toys from the book Spud and Chloe at the Farm.  I generally like to knit more functional items such as socks, mitts, hats or sweaters but this book was calling to me and In an effort to NOT stress about preparing for Md S&W  I dug into my stash and made this adorable barn cat and Spud.  They are both fairly quick and easy --great mindless knitting!  I am also working on the chicken and chicks and Chloe.  If you have little ones in your life these would be great gifts!

Another Rainy Day

It is another rainy day in central PA.  A great day to sit and knit.  I am hoping to finish my "work" and have some time to sit and knit.  I am working on several things and have not started anything new.  I made a vow last week to "finish five" and now I am thinking it should be finish 10??  I spent time on Monday (another rainy day) pulling out unfinished projects and reading over patterns.  I did finish both of my Maine Morning Mitts --counting  them as ONE finished project even though the project has 2 parts.  Today I am working on a baby hoodie (pattern in shop from Pure & Simple).  I am knitting with Cascade Superwash Paints in shades of green.  Very cute and soon ready to bind off the bottom hem and finish sleeves and hood. 

I was hoping to plant some flowers this week but it has rained every day.  The thought of lugging Riley in and out of the car in the rain is not appealing so I spent the last 2 days knitting, spinning and doing laundry and cleaning.  The weather should improve now that I am working at the shop for the next 4 days! 

Happy knitting!

Feeling stupid

Here is the photo of my finished "Maine Morning Mitt"  I can't seem to get it to appear on the page I posted earlier.  Where is Mary-Anne when I need her?  This is knitted from one of the yarns I have spun recently.  I am a very new spinner.  I took a class at Mannings last June and came home with a Lendrum spinning wheel.  I am finally starting to spin a consistent fine yarn and now I am learning to ply.  This pattern is from The Book of Wool or The Book of Yarn.  Since it is one of my first attempts at spinning the yarn is very thick and thin. 

Confession Time

I have to confess, I have a bit of a problem.   I LOVE to start new knitting projects and every time we get new yarn at the shop I need to "test" the yarn and start something. I have lots of things on needles: sweaters, hats, mitts, socks, shawls, etc. I also have a nice stash at home in my "knittery."  (John's name for the room where my yarn is stored.)  I think I did very well at Maryland sheep and Wool this past weekend.  I only bought 3 skeins of yarn.  I also bought some roving (3 different colorways in various amounts.) 

I made a vow to finish 5 things before I start something new.  I am pleased to state that early this morning I finished something!!!!  I am making a pair of "Maine Morning Mitts" from one of my handspun yarns.  One is finished and the other is down to the last inch of knitting.  I tucked several unfinished projects in my bag this morning and plan to work on my "Miley Tee" (Berroco's Remix) and my second "Tappan Zee" cardigan (blue Heron Cotton Seed.)   I also have a sock in my purse from the Scarlet Fleece Grassy Wool. 

Now that I have publicly confessed I hope to finish lots of projects and share them here.  I hope to see what you are working on!  Please stop in and share your projects!!

Lisa

Sheep and Wool Fun

Still recovering from a busy weekend at the Maryland Sheep and Wool Festival! We had PERFECT weather warm and sunny and a good crowd on Saturday.  Sunday was not as busy, possibly due to Mother's Day.  It was a fun weekend and I enjoyed seeing some Uncommon Threads customers at our booth!  I did sneak out of the booth for an hour on Sunday to shop with my niece and my sister.  I found some lovely roving and bought enough for a sweater.  Now I need to find the time to sit and spin!

I worked all day Monday to put the shop back together!   I am hoping to have more knitting time in the coming weeks!  I vowed to finish 5 things before I cast on something new!!  I am now working on a "Tappan Zee" (knitty.com) with the Blue Heron Cotton Rayon seed.  I started it last summer and hope to finish it this week!!  I bought some lovely sock yarn from The Sanguine Gryphon and hand-dyed worsted from Miss Babs at S & W that is calling me!

Happy knitting!

Spring Knitting

Spring has finally hit central Pennsylvania.  Weather in the 80's this week is not motivating me to finish any projects!  I look at all the bright colors of lovely cotton and lightweight yarns and I want to start something NEW!  That really isn't unusual for me.  I love the beginning of a new project but soon lose interest and want to start something new.

 I met with a sales rep from Blue heron Yarns today.  He had some new things that I plan to order for fall and he had several bins of yarn available for immediate sale.  The colors are absolutely gorgeous and having used several Blue Heron Yarns in recent years I was an easy mark.  I plan to take them to Maryland Sheep and Wool Festival next weekend but know some of them won't last that long.  A couple of regular customers and employees will probably NEED to add them to their stash.  I am an enabler in that way.  "You can never have too much stash."  and "It won't last long, if you want that color you should take it now."  Hee!  Hee!

I know something will probably go home with me!

Travel Knitting

I have just returned from a visit to my parents in Naples, Florida.  It was hot and sunny all weekend, very different from the weather here in Pennsylvania!  My mom and her friends meet most mornings at the pool in their condo complex for "water aerobics."  They all know the exercises so their is much conversation and comeraderie as they stretch and bend in the water.  After the workout they pull chairs into a circle and chat for another hour.  I enjoyed sitting in the sun with my knitting and listening to all the conversations.  I miss having my mother nearby but it helps to know she has a wonderful collection of friends in Florida!


One of my favorite things about traveling is planing some knitting time.  I always plan for lots of knitting time both during the vacation and traveling to and from the vacation.  If I am ever stranded at an airport I will have plenty of knitting to keep me busy!  I have never had a problem taking my knitting projects and needles on a plane.  I always have at least 2 projects in my carry on bag plus a couple more packed in my checked luggage.  For this trip I packed a new sock yarn: Grassy Wool from Scarlet Fleece in a color titled Cottage Garden.   The yarn is very silky (superwash merino and bamboo) and the color is a lovely blend of green, pink and lavendar.  I hoped to finish one sock but I have just turned the heel and started the foot on the first sock.   I worked on my "Citron" Shawl (knitty.com) made with Heritage sock yarn in a blue denim color, but it is not finished.  I also started a short summer sock out of Fortissima Socka Mexico Cotton in pinks and oranges.  I didn't finish that either!

My sister took me to her local yarn shop in Naples and I had fun chatting with another yarn shop owner and YES I did buy yarn and a pattern book for a cotton cardigan!  I need to finish a few things before I start another project!

It is good to be home and hopefully we will have some warmer weather soon!  Happy Knitting!  Lisa