Knitting Dragonflies

I’m knitting a Bone Yard Shawl by Stephen West . Using some of my handspun fiber. A Persimmon color Blue Faced Leicester fiber that I added a strand of Sulky bendable thread to it to give it some dimension. It looked so “flat” spun alone. I skein I had overspun, Ugh, overspun yarn is spun too tightly, when I hold it out flat it immediately winds up on itself and kink. The “fix” for this is to run it back through the spinning wheel the other direction and then I soaked it and dried it, to ‘'reset” the twist. That came out find, and didn’t take as long as I thought it would. So now, I just have a bit more to go before I’m done. I must have been stressed when I spun this! Read more on spinning yarn with the correct twist and balance, plus other helpful tips in Knitty article This was going to be a gift for a girlfriend who is going through tuff times, but when complications set in (with my knitting, not her), I ended up gifting her my Citron shawl Steve and Penny at the local ...

This is my Citron Shawl, done! I have been working on it for a long time. But had I knitted this all at once, it wouldn’t have taken too long. Love this easy, swingy pattern. Thanks Knitty! Free pattern here made by Hilary Callis . Knitty is a great online knitting and spinning magazine . Plenty of great articles and free patterns. This Winter Knitty 13 has a wonderful article about Ethnic Knitting Adventures by Donna Druchunas , it is about Designing A Norwegian Ski Sweater. Check it out, along with the other features they have. The pattern is a  semi circular shawl/cap (depending on the size yarn used and the length you knit it), It is all in stockinette stitch, with increases and decreases to form the gather/ruffle areas. Easy knitting, good for beginning knitter. Great item to watch TV, movies, or anything that you want to be on auto pilot. I was worried about the bind off, as I tend to bind off tightly. This pattern had so many stitches and they were at the full point of ...

I had  been thinking about sewing a fleece vest for my husband. Problem was I knew exactly how I wanted it to look. Of course. I couldn’t find a suitable pattern. So I decided I would draft a pattern for it myself. Inspired by the series “ Project Runway ”, which I am a long-time fan of. I found the confidence to give it a go. I used muslin and pinned it to him and then cut the pieces out. This did take 3 tries to get it acceptable. A lot of laughter and a couple of pin pricks. I used fleece on the out side and the lining, with batting in-between. My husband wanted the pockets to be a specific way. I settled on a simple pattern idea of a small stand up collar, basic front and back, zipper, and the most complicated part were the pockets! He wanted to be able to slip his hands in, and have a separate compartment with a secure flap. I had bought these lovely gunmetal grey snaps to apply to the flaps, but the fleece was so thick I had to default to using Velcro. I also decided to ...

I saw a link to this Boneyard Shawl by Stephen West and thought it was beautiful. Digging around in my stash I found some of my handspun that I have never used. I started knitting it up, it is a fast mindless knit, and I love how the yarn looks in this pattern. Notice anything? Yes, I took it “on the go” to knit and didn’t notice until several inches after the first “bone” that I had left it out. Sigh, so I decided to just keep going. Take a look at all of the Ravely shawls in this pattern, it can look so different with each knitter. I suppose this is my boneless shawl! I’m planning on gifting this to a girlfriend who has persimmon trees and makes everyone persimmon bread, cookies etc.…for everyone during the holidays. Love the color and I hope she likes it. While searching for this pattern I also came across the Quaker Yarn Stretcher Shawl/wrap . I love that one so much, it is not a free pattern, but I’m going to have to buy it and start that one next. It looks like the perfect...

I finished my Dummy Clap Shawl during my stay with my Dad back in March, when he had colon cancer surgery. But then didn’t knit again until just recently.   I would recommend this pattern, I originally picked it because I was always attracted to the Clapotis shawl in the Knitty Fall 04 . I never knitted it, but found this pattern and decided to try it. I will say, love the pattern, knitted it with Brown Sheep single ply yarn. Love this yarn, but I knitted this over a long period of time and it started to felt, due to all the packing around I did. The night before my Dad’s surgery, I decided to unravel the laddering, it took me 8 hours to individually unpick them, but that kept me busy and my mind off of other things. I’m pleased with how it turn out, length, width, it is easy to wrap around and small enough to use as a scarf. I only used about 2/3 of the cone of the Brown Sheep yarn, I would buy it again. (although it seems hard to find, I bought it in a spinning shop) BTW, ...

In my hiatus from blogging and knitting I missed the fact that Google Reader has been retired. Yes, I guess I’ve been living under a rock. I’ve had to reset my email passwords etc.. Working on my Citron Shawl , I know! Shawls look a mess when I’m knitting them and then beautiful after blocking! So I’m left trying to figure out how to read my blogs!  I’ve looked into Blog Bridge, and Feedly, what are you using? I’ve bought several knitting magazines, and been trolling Ravelry, looking at patterns and inspiring knitters and their projects. Patterns I’m loving!! Sideways Rib/Cowl Hood from V.Vine ( rav link ) free The Lonely Tree shawl (free pattern A basic super soft merino hat from PurlBee (free pattern) Thanks to all of the great designers!

One day I was reading blogs, and saw Paul The Quilter was making The Boneyard Shawl by Stephen West (rav link, free pattern) , and decided that would be the perfect gift for a girlfriend! Off to my stash to see what yarn I had to start it! I came across my handspun, I haven’t spun in around 2 years and was lost in looking at my spun stash. I have around 17 oz. of a strange pumpkin-ish colored yarn that I spun, I even ran it back through the wheel and added a multicolored thread to make the color pop a little, because I thought it looked a bit flat. I don’t look good in that color and it would be perfect for her! Yay! My husband and I thought it would be perfect for her due to the fact that she makes persimmon bread, and especially yummy cookies this time of year. We had just been to visit her and my husbands best friend to go to a music festival. I took some photos of a backdrop on one of the venues. Seem like this color was everywhere! I got so excited I finished up some fiber t...

Proof that I never know when I'll put down a knitted project, and leave it sit for  hours/days/months or years! Here is the citron shawl, I stopped knitting in the middle of a row!  Citron shawl is a great simple pattern, with rows of alternating increases & decreases along with stockingnet stitch, simple yet enough to give you some texture. How do you keep track of your progress? Coming along, only brought one skein with me! Mistake, so I'll be moving on to another project. Discovered I missed a decrease row, erg!  Think I'll just keep knitting & see how it looks!

Leaving for a music festival! Never know when some knitting time will present itself! I have 2 shawls ( lala scarf & citron shawl), packed & a possible third to start, lol. What do you like to knit on the road?

I’m coming out of a creativity slump, and thought that some hat patterns would get me going. After looking around I realized, crazy hat patterns is what I’m looking for. #1 to make the Viking hat pattern and beard, I didn’t realize these were two different patterns, the Viking hat is a pay pattern from Tara Murray. The Viking beard pattern is a free pattern.by Melissa Campbell , Links included.   I think wearing this would either invite conversation or people would cross the street to keep away from me! Either way a win. #2 The Hallowig by Megan Reardon (free pattern ) Love this, and think of the colors that it could be made in! #3 I was looking for a knitted cat scoodie pattern, and found it (by Cat Morley) , but I fell in love with the modification that a Ravelry knitter made to make into a fox scoodie! Go raverly, thanks Ficklephonebug! Cat knitted scoodie pattern here . Fox knitted scoodie pattern here.

Photo taken at Blue Grass DNR in Southern Indiana I been totally out of the knitting spirit. For way to long, I have a load of excuses. Looking back in the times of my life when I’ve not been creative, it seems the especially emotionally draining periods leave me too tired to create, or think of creating! My husband got me a new knitting bag for my birthday, I think that is a hint. LOL Knitting wife better than non-knitting wife? Bag is a Vera Bradley, tote in the Dogwood pattern, love the inside pockets! I’ve got it filled up already with two projects, which are both shawls/wraps. Simple and fast, I hope. *grin* New bag and new cover on chairs, need to replace seat foam also, hopefully before two years pass! If you struggle with lace knitting charts or have never tried them, I found this excellent blog post with videos from Emily ONeal. I have 3 lace projects going, all are out of a yarn, which I would have never bought, but I was not close to a real yarn store and needed a yar...

I’ve been caught up in some family health matters, and away from home. In the process got a nasty bug myself and had to recover from that. I’m back now and trying to get caught up with everything. What Dorothy said is true….There is no place like home…. I am knitting on 3 shawls and a sweater. And have a quilt that I’m still looking for more fabric prints for. Also doing some spinning. Hope everyone is well, I’ve missed reading what everyone is creating! Until then, check out this new Knitty Spring/Summer 2013 !! Happy Knitting

Five fun links…. -I like this idea of monograming your own mugs , Hey and Valentines day is coming up. Thanks Design Mom! -I love reading Threadbanger! Here she has found a tutorial on making a cuff watch out of a mens shirt! - Sneezerville teaches us how to unravel a purchased sweater , find some great yarn in a bad sweater? Turn it into a beautiful item with a little work. - Print your own calender with Sofia’s World ! Free and pretty too, get organized! -How about sewing  a Memory quilt with Todera , use some of your memory filled fabric or clothing. -And I couldn’t resist this one, make some Monster Spray for your little one. -- Knit Fast, Dye Yarn "Life is not about waiting for the storms to pass... it's about learning how to dance in the rain."

I was making several plant hangers for my plants to save space ( see post here with free crochet plant hanger patterns ). I ran across this YouTube video from JoeyFingis. I though it was interesting that he up cycled a 2 liter pop bottle into a planter with a water run off reservoir using a water bottle, and made a acrylic crochet plant hanger to hang it with. I think the idea is stellar. Check it out! I thought this would be good for starting seeds, and cuttings for plants. Which started me thinking about all kinds of things. I found this quirky idea of hydroponic gardening with a crocheted net from grubbycup on urbangardenmagazine I’m ready for spring, and definitely going to try this, let me know if you do!!

I’ve become a casting on fool. While at my Dad’s house, I cast on the LaLa Shawl by Laura Linneman (free pattern) with the yarn I had at hand which was a multicolor yarn by Paton's Lace. I wasn’t sure if I would like the color changes, but I turned out to really like the look of it and the yarn. I’m still working on my Dummy Clap Shawl , I just keep knitting, and thinking it is not long enough, I am knitting it in a fingering weight and it is never ending. I’m trying to decide if I should just cast off and be done with it. *grin* Love the pattern, but it is a little to mindless, after a bit, if I had made it with worsted weight (I believe it calls for that) I would be done by now. My Dad lives 4 hours away from me, so I had picked up a skein of Paton Lace from JoAnn’s, not being close to any real yarn stores, It is described by Paton's as a Soft lace weight with a beautiful halo. Beautiful range of gently shifting colors. The fiber content is 80% acrylic (I know, this made...

I’ve had to travel to my Dad’s house due to some of his health issues. Thanks to everyone that has expressed concern, he doesn’t have internet access and am sorry if I’ve not gotten back to you. I’ll be traveling back and forth in the days to come, just wish I could knit in the car, I could get so much done! Was at my Dad’s house and he looked out the windows and we saw this beautiful sunset. Had to try and capture it. Of course this is about 30 snaps in, love digital cameras! I don’t know about you but I love to listen to knitting podcasts! Especially since my car cd/radio is broken! My favorite’s right now are Knitmore Girls , Stash and Burn , and a new one I heard about Jane and Jen KnitFunny (I really enjoy listening to these girls!) Of course there is Cast On (my classic). Please let me know if there are some that you listen to and enjoy, I have lots of driving time to fill! Now on to knitting. Over the years I’ve discovered I like to have 3 types of projects going (at leas...