How ya doin? Two episodes of PJKnits is up on You Tube -
You can find them here I have some finished objects to show you in 40 and 40.1 along with some thoughts for getting through.
Knit On!
Thursday, April 30, 2020
Sunday, April 26, 2020
A New Week, Almost A New Month
I cannot believe that we are almost into May, can you? Finally, we have some sunshine today and no wind in Central Illinois. I am starting to make a plan for the next month, counting the days to retirement at the end of May and so much to be done at work before then, to try and make it easier for them when they are without me.
It's funny, when I look around at how chaotic my house seems to be while working from home. So many things seem to get dumped. I am mentally making lists of things that I want to start on when I get a spare minute, and first up is to start putting somethings back in their places.
Years ago, I was an avid sewer and machine quilter and hoping to be able to get back to it. When we moved into our new house five years ago, all the sewing and quilting supplies went immediately to the basement, as I knew it would be sometime before I could add sewing back into my crafting, with working and knitting everything in site. Now, as I look to the future, and as soon as my current finished object, the Claire Poncho is off the table from blocking, I am going to put my sewing machine up on the table and make sure it is in good working order. If I get a thumbs up from it, I am going to start ordering a sewing area from Ikea, so the Tall Guy can start putting it together, and then I can start pulling things out of boxes and really set the area up.
My nephew stopped by yesterday with a little present for me, which reminded me that he had asked for a quilt sometime back, so I would really like to get started on it for him after retirement.
I have been doing some knitting lately that includes a project that has been sitting around for a couple of months now, just waiting to be sewn together and the ribbing down the front and around the sleeves done. I sat down last Saturday and sewed it together, finished the ribbings and a final blocking last week, and finally it is ready for wearing! I will get some pictures later this week and post on Friday.
Claire is almost dry, so tomorrow, I am putting it on my agenda, after work, to sew it together, and then hopefully pictures for Friday again.
Both of those projects have been in the stash for a few years, and it certainly feels good to have them almost done, completely done!
The ongoing project that I blogged about recently, out of Shibui Pebble is slowing going, given the fineness of the yarn and needle and totally stockinette, but I am hopeful that it will be onto the collar with some t.v. time tonight.
It certainly feels good to be able to get some projects done for Spring and I am anxious to complete the current one and get to another one planned for off the needles.
Hoping you are all having a good weekend, stay safe and well, and make it a good week. Knit On!
It's funny, when I look around at how chaotic my house seems to be while working from home. So many things seem to get dumped. I am mentally making lists of things that I want to start on when I get a spare minute, and first up is to start putting somethings back in their places.
Years ago, I was an avid sewer and machine quilter and hoping to be able to get back to it. When we moved into our new house five years ago, all the sewing and quilting supplies went immediately to the basement, as I knew it would be sometime before I could add sewing back into my crafting, with working and knitting everything in site. Now, as I look to the future, and as soon as my current finished object, the Claire Poncho is off the table from blocking, I am going to put my sewing machine up on the table and make sure it is in good working order. If I get a thumbs up from it, I am going to start ordering a sewing area from Ikea, so the Tall Guy can start putting it together, and then I can start pulling things out of boxes and really set the area up.
My nephew stopped by yesterday with a little present for me, which reminded me that he had asked for a quilt sometime back, so I would really like to get started on it for him after retirement.
I have been doing some knitting lately that includes a project that has been sitting around for a couple of months now, just waiting to be sewn together and the ribbing down the front and around the sleeves done. I sat down last Saturday and sewed it together, finished the ribbings and a final blocking last week, and finally it is ready for wearing! I will get some pictures later this week and post on Friday.
Claire is almost dry, so tomorrow, I am putting it on my agenda, after work, to sew it together, and then hopefully pictures for Friday again.
Both of those projects have been in the stash for a few years, and it certainly feels good to have them almost done, completely done!
The ongoing project that I blogged about recently, out of Shibui Pebble is slowing going, given the fineness of the yarn and needle and totally stockinette, but I am hopeful that it will be onto the collar with some t.v. time tonight.
It certainly feels good to be able to get some projects done for Spring and I am anxious to complete the current one and get to another one planned for off the needles.
Hoping you are all having a good weekend, stay safe and well, and make it a good week. Knit On!
Friday, April 24, 2020
Off The Bed
About a month ago, when I really thought Spring was coming -
I pulled out a big tote back of Spring/Summer knits that I had put away last Summer when it became apparent that I wasn't going to get them knit for Summer. I put them on our spare bed upstairs as a reminder that they needed to be knit on this year. And also, to be a constant reminder, not to buy any more yarn, at least for the Spring knitting season.
I finished one of them which is awaiting blocking, and a quick seam, which I will get to this weekend.
I am proud to say, that when I finished it, I went right back up to the bed, and pulled another one down to knit on. This yarn and a matching scarf have been in my stash since Stitches Midwest 2015, so after almost five years, I would say it is time to get moving on it, wouldn't you?
A plus, it will be perfect for Summer wearing, that is if Spring comes back to Illinois.
Have a great weekend!
Wednesday, April 15, 2020
Wednesday Website
It's time for another Indie Dyer website. Although, I have always been puzzled by Indie Dyer terminology. I know it means Independent Dyer, but I always equate Indie Dyers with those hand dyed speckles and all over different colors.
But, really, I guess it means someone who dyes yarn by hand and that could be all solids or variegates or speckles like this week's Indie Dyer, Sun Valley Fibers. http://www.sunvalleyfibers.com
I have known Jeanette and George for many years. My first meet up with Jeanette was at Meg Swansen's Knitting Camp. Jeanette was sitting in the back waiting for the Saturday market to start and she was knitting on this super cool cowl, in the round, with loads of different colors. I came to find out that it was all different colors of minis that Sun Valley Fibers had dyed. A year later at Knitting Pipeline, Jeanette brought scads of minis to their Saturday market and of course, I had to get some. I still have my minis, and maybe next year, I will get around to knitting the cowl up, although, it would be a nice Summer porch project to knit on wouldn't it?!
One of my sweaters that I have knit and wear a lot lately is Hiro. It was knit out of Sun Valley Fibers Worsted weight, which is so squishy. It was a project that I bought yarn from at Sun Valley Fibers January Thaw retreat that I attended a few years back. Several of the Peoria Knit Wits bought yarn for it, and I think a couple of us have knit either the Hiro Pullover or Cardigan. I really need to get a picture of us all wearing our Hiros, not just me.
As it was, I purchased a bit too much of yarn for my Hiro, so I had plenty left to knit a Hospice blanket out of some of the leftovers. This blanket was so soft and cuddly.
At one of the January Thaw Retreats, the guest teacher was Melanie Berg. Knowing that she was going to be there, gave me the thought to knit one of her shawls to wear to class, Quicksilver, and of course, I had to knit it out of Sun Valley Fibers yarn, which I had purchased the Summer before at Stitches Midwest.
And last but not least of my Sun Valley Fibers knits, one of my fave shawls that I have ever knit. It may be the colors, that reminds me so much of the colors of the oceans, but the fingering weight Merino Cashmere Nylon is pretty nice too. Pattern is Laura Aylor's First Point of Libra.
The blues were from a gradient kit that I bought from Sun Valley Fibers and the dark is Onyx. At the time the Onyx was dyed, it was more of a really deep charcoal which I really liked. The new Onyx that Sun Valley Fibers is dyeing is really black, as the name would indicate.
This particular knit was done back in 2016 when I was off with foot surgery, and it helped me keep my sanity. There was one other blue that did not make it into the shawl. Because they were so close in tone, I used the black and white photograph on my phone to decide which one was too close to the others and eliminated it.
Like designers you find and really like, yarn dyers for me are the same. If you find one, you like you just keep going back to, even if it is only to try out every base they dye, right?
If you are in need of yarn, check out http://www.sunvalleyfibers.com
But, really, I guess it means someone who dyes yarn by hand and that could be all solids or variegates or speckles like this week's Indie Dyer, Sun Valley Fibers. http://www.sunvalleyfibers.com
I have known Jeanette and George for many years. My first meet up with Jeanette was at Meg Swansen's Knitting Camp. Jeanette was sitting in the back waiting for the Saturday market to start and she was knitting on this super cool cowl, in the round, with loads of different colors. I came to find out that it was all different colors of minis that Sun Valley Fibers had dyed. A year later at Knitting Pipeline, Jeanette brought scads of minis to their Saturday market and of course, I had to get some. I still have my minis, and maybe next year, I will get around to knitting the cowl up, although, it would be a nice Summer porch project to knit on wouldn't it?!
One of my sweaters that I have knit and wear a lot lately is Hiro. It was knit out of Sun Valley Fibers Worsted weight, which is so squishy. It was a project that I bought yarn from at Sun Valley Fibers January Thaw retreat that I attended a few years back. Several of the Peoria Knit Wits bought yarn for it, and I think a couple of us have knit either the Hiro Pullover or Cardigan. I really need to get a picture of us all wearing our Hiros, not just me.
As it was, I purchased a bit too much of yarn for my Hiro, so I had plenty left to knit a Hospice blanket out of some of the leftovers. This blanket was so soft and cuddly.
At one of the January Thaw Retreats, the guest teacher was Melanie Berg. Knowing that she was going to be there, gave me the thought to knit one of her shawls to wear to class, Quicksilver, and of course, I had to knit it out of Sun Valley Fibers yarn, which I had purchased the Summer before at Stitches Midwest.
And last but not least of my Sun Valley Fibers knits, one of my fave shawls that I have ever knit. It may be the colors, that reminds me so much of the colors of the oceans, but the fingering weight Merino Cashmere Nylon is pretty nice too. Pattern is Laura Aylor's First Point of Libra.
The blues were from a gradient kit that I bought from Sun Valley Fibers and the dark is Onyx. At the time the Onyx was dyed, it was more of a really deep charcoal which I really liked. The new Onyx that Sun Valley Fibers is dyeing is really black, as the name would indicate.
This particular knit was done back in 2016 when I was off with foot surgery, and it helped me keep my sanity. There was one other blue that did not make it into the shawl. Because they were so close in tone, I used the black and white photograph on my phone to decide which one was too close to the others and eliminated it.
Like designers you find and really like, yarn dyers for me are the same. If you find one, you like you just keep going back to, even if it is only to try out every base they dye, right?
If you are in need of yarn, check out http://www.sunvalleyfibers.com
Friday, April 10, 2020
Episode 39 Show Notes
Sorry for the rudimentary show notes for the last episode, but here they are:
PomPom Magazine -Spring 2020, Issue #32
By the Bay Bag
Joji Bag
Finished Objects:
Beach Pebbles Dotted Swiss Cowl, free pattern on Plymouth Yarn website
Mail Call:
Briar Rose Fiberarts
4th of July Kit for Andrea Mowry Nightshift
Spring Sweater Knitting:
Margate by Jody Long's Summer Breeze Book, using Jody Long Coastline yarn
WIPS:
Ouzo by Thea Colman
Shot Reverse Shot by Shanalines Designs
PomPom Magazine -Spring 2020, Issue #32
By the Bay Bag
Joji Bag
Finished Objects:
Beach Pebbles Dotted Swiss Cowl, free pattern on Plymouth Yarn website
Mail Call:
Briar Rose Fiberarts
4th of July Kit for Andrea Mowry Nightshift
Spring Sweater Knitting:
Margate by Jody Long's Summer Breeze Book, using Jody Long Coastline yarn
WIPS:
Ouzo by Thea Colman
Shot Reverse Shot by Shanalines Designs
Monday, April 06, 2020
So What's Next?
Dotted Rays is finished. As in stick a fork in it, it's done. LOL, I couldn't resist.
With more than 500 stitches to i-Cord bind off yesterday, I was pleased to have it off the needles. It is sitting there waiting for me to give it a bath sometime this week, and then I will be able to wear it hopefully, this weekend, to our Zoom Knit Wit session.
But, what to concentrate on next? My plan was to pull out something from last year's Spring/Summer projects that are currently sitting on the spare bed upstairs.
But, which one? I am leaning towards NOT casting on a new project, but rather one that is on needles, because, well, wouldn't it be nice on the other side to free up some needles?
Ahh, the dilemma of it all, when you have so much to choose from.
With more than 500 stitches to i-Cord bind off yesterday, I was pleased to have it off the needles. It is sitting there waiting for me to give it a bath sometime this week, and then I will be able to wear it hopefully, this weekend, to our Zoom Knit Wit session.
But, what to concentrate on next? My plan was to pull out something from last year's Spring/Summer projects that are currently sitting on the spare bed upstairs.
But, which one? I am leaning towards NOT casting on a new project, but rather one that is on needles, because, well, wouldn't it be nice on the other side to free up some needles?
Ahh, the dilemma of it all, when you have so much to choose from.
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