Knitting Dragonflies

This is from the New York City for the opening of “Traveling the Silk Road” at the American Museum of Natural History .  Here you can see the Michael’s blog post on the filming of this. He is pretty much the Czar of sericulture. Technorati Tags: michael cook , sericulture , making silk thread , the silk road

I have been coloring my hair since I was in my 20’s, graying early and not loving it. I opted for color. Twice I have grown my hair out, and only left it for about 2 weeks, to return to the bottle.   I’m outside so much my hair bleaches out very light, and tends to have a strawberry blond cast to it. My lymph nodes in my neck swelled up and my doctor suggested that it was due to my hair color. So the research into henna began. I liked the natural side to it, and if you get tattoo grade henna, the color is fabulous. (so they say) All of my research has also captured the attention of a co worker and we are going to jump into this adventure together. Like Lucille Ball a blonde that is about to go red. I can only hope we look as good, not like Bozo The best henna side I have found is: Henna for Hair It explains more than you every wanted to know about henna. So our henna is in the main and on the way… Nov 17th, Yes Henna in the mail. Nov 24th evening, we have let ou...

Do what you love, love what you do… I have an Etsy shop and have tried to sell several different items in it. Maybe it was the items, my lack of enthusiasm, the economy or another variable, it never really took off.   Quite by accident, I started dyeing my hand spun fiber. One night on Plurk I posted some of my fiber and a woman went wild over it, and insisted I could sell it. I was just having some fun though, and ignored her. Then another woman contacts me and wants me to make her some hand dyed yarn. so I do and sell it to her. After that I start getting all kinds of requests!! My knitting is on the back burner right now, and my husband is extremely tolerant, with dyeing and yarn all over the kitchen. Dinner? What you want to eat?   Moral to the story, life is short, thanks to all of the knitters and dyers online that have helped me on my way! Dream as if you'll live forever.  Live as if you'll die today.  ~ James Dean   Now I...

This is a random falls in southern Indiana, if it has a name I don’t know it. When we hike I always take a small project, usually socks, and knit a while when we rest. There is nothing like sitting at the base of a falls.   Technorati Tags: knit , knitting , southern indiana falls

A few links from me to you. From the Make It Do It blog , a tutorial on making a snowman kit, this is a cute and easy gift you your and your kids to make and give. From Swiss Miss how to make your own ink jet tattoo paper . How fun would this be? To get into the Christmas spirit, how about this easy, and adorable patchwork star from Linaloo From Hope studios a tutorial on how to sew a scrunchy gathered scarf from fabric, we have all knitted them, this looks fast and cute. From All Things Heart and Home a how to on making expensive looking hurricane lamps for your holiday table From Jan’s Free content a how to on making some greeting cards without card making software If you live in the heartland like I do, you MUST have a casserole carrier. People make them like crazy, we buy them at every craft show, we take food to everyone, we don’t care! Funeral=need food, wedding=food, sad=food, celebration=food, in doubt?=bring food, any group of people getting together=yes we...

Is it cables? finishing? socks? gauge? color work?  For me it is lace. I love it, want to knit it, but it seems I spend a majority of my time tinking back. grrrr But if we could knit anything we wanted carelessly what would be the point? I constantly battle lace knitting, yet have so many lace projects and UFO’s it is comical. I will not be beaten down, well, ok, occasionally.  A couple of tips a girlfriend gave me: - Swatch! Start with regular size yarn (cheap) until you get the pattern down - Turn off everything: TV, music and distraction . - Learn to read the charts , look them over, chart symbols here [good Knitty article] - Use a lot of non snagging knitting markers, and count your stitches , repeatedly. Knitting markers can be anything from bits of yarn tied in a loop, to metal or plastic rings , the open ones are nice to slip into places or move. - Use a lifeline at the end of each repeat or section of the pattern . Frogging (ripping back) in la...

I haven’t been doing much knitting lately. I’ve been on a mad cleaning binge. So to reward myself and maybe get in the knitting mood, I decided on a spontaneous splurge. Three books were purchased:   - Victorian Lace Today by Jane Sowerby -I picked up this book and couldn’t put it down. The photos alone were captivating, I wanted to step into a photo and sit down. There are so many designs in the book, ranging to all skill levels and the tone of the book tries to convey that lace knitting isn’t hard after all. All of the designs are in chart form, and near the end they encourage you to try and design your own shawl. I’m looking forward to starting something, problem is I can’t decide what to tackle first, it all makes me swoon (does anyone do that anymore? Outside of a romance novel?) Errata here: http://www.knittinguniverse.com/books/bookscorrections/lace/laceweb.pdf   The Harmony Guides: Lace & Eyelets : 250 Stitches to Knit by Erika Knight-No charts...

Up this dark, and rainy morning and am reminded of how knitted items are so comforting. I have bought many a house shoe, slipper, and sock, to warm my perennially cold toes. But it wasn’t until I finally knit some wool socks that I came to believe in the miracle of wool as a perfect fiber. Now I understand those knitters are that sockaholics. This pattern is from Fiber Trends , the felted clog pattern (price around $5.00). I did use the Fiber Trends suede soles (ave price $15-20, look around, you can usually find some on sale) the soles really make the clogs last. They are worth the investment! I knitted mine clogs all in Malabrigo , (yes I’m a Malabrigo freak). I have knitted two of these clogs, and just follow the pattern, keep going, it will look unbelievably large, but remember they are going to felt and become warm and long lasting. [ rav link here ] [flickr photos here ] Remember cold weather is upon us and we all need warm feet.  Oh no, upon looking at the Fib...

I’m sure everyone know a knitter that needs a stocking stuffer or little (or big) present. Here are some that I found on Etsy while I was “suppose to be” paying my bills. I’ll categorize by price: PDF Knitting Pattern for The Slouch Hat $5.00 from PixieBell on Etsy, she has a entire selection of patterns (stylish, something for everyone)  and knitted up items, if you want to buy it ready to wear. For a child Woolen Gloves Hand Knitted Sheep Off White $15.00 these are from LinenKids , she has a wide variety of nice handmade hats, toys and she uses eco-friendly natural materials to put soul back into kids' clothes and toys Snuggly Santa Holiday Dog Hat $16.50 Sooo cute, I know, who doesn’t want to give their pooch a Santa hat. From Jessica Lynn on Etsy Flock of Sheep Stitch Markers For Needles Or Looms $17.00 From the Clay and Yarn Barn on Etsy , what knitter would adore these? A little flock of our own, for the city dwellers. She also has a whole ...

St Elisabeth of Hungary , spinning for the poor, on a castle type wheel with a distaff. I am fairly new to spinning. I had a variety of spindles and enjoyed playing with them. I was torn whether I wanted (or needed) a wheel or not. Spindling is relaxing and fun. Now when everyone has so many demands on them and less time, I was worried that a wheel would just make me want to “go faster”. Similar to the difference between a sailboat and a speed boat. But that didn’t turn out to be true. When I am especially stressed or have a constant stream of thought, I often have trouble concentrating on my knitting. I can be blindly knitting along and not paying much attention to the pattern. Resulting in frustrating frogging, and cursing due to mistakes. These two also curl up and sleep when I spin. This is when I especially enjoying spinning at my wheel. I have heard it compared to meditation, and I agree with this. The spinning of the wheel and its’ rhythm. The sounds of the...