Away from home . . . .

No pictures to post as I am in Michigan for a few days. I brought projects with me that I have been knitting away on! Have a denim look bag almost half done and a really neat top made out of wool/silk almost half done. It's on #6 needles, so it's a LOT of knitting - but I love it. Will post a picture when I get home. I am here because my father is having major knee replacement surgery (which went very well, by the way) - however, before he went in the hospital, I was able to get away for a few moments and visited a charming knit shop in historic downtown Clarkston, called "A Basket Full of Yarn". They had many kinds and brands of yarn I hadn't seen before and I just had to purchase a scrumptious yarn that is 50% alpaca and 50% silk in a sport weight. It is a creamy off white with a little tinge of a peachy pink to it and absolutely feels like butter against your skin! I purchased enough to make a shell or tank top. There is another shop in Lake Orion that I hope to visit before I leave called "Heritage Knitting and Spinning". Check that out, Christy . . .

Dyed Cotton Swatch

Dyed Cotton Swatch
OK - I picked up my hand dyed cotton that had dried, rolled one hank of it into two balls and just HAD to knit a swatch - both to see what is going to look like and to get my gauge. I love it! This will work for the pattern I have chosen, but will be a lot of knitting.

Felted Bags

I have started my first felted bag - a small buttonhole bag, using two shades of olive green (light and darker) of Cascade 220. I love the way it's knitting up and can't wait to felt it. Will post before and after pictures as soon as I'm finished.

Dyeing to Use this Yarn

Dyeing to Use this Yarn
I am holding my freshly dyed yarn here, anxious to see it dry. Lisi, the owner of Stitch Cafe in North Hollywood, and the teacher of the technique, had to let it set for 4 to 5 hours, then wash it. I will pick it up on Wednesday, and what do you bet that I start the project I have planned for it, even though I have at least 6 other projects in various stages of completion. Oh well . . .

Entrelac Adventure

Entrelac Adventure
After dyeing 1200 yards of cotton yarn yesterday, I sat through a 3 hour, intense, class to learn Entrelac. I love it! Boy, do you ever have to concentrate. I started this with Noro Kureyon Yarn, #170. I love the way it changes colors. I have 4 skeins of this and think it's enough to make a bag, which I'm planning to felt!

Hand Dyeing Field Trip

Hand Dyeing Field Trip
I spent this afternoon at the Stitch Cafe in North Hollywood - yea! We dyed cotton yarn today - these are my two skeins, a total of 1200 yards of 100% pima cotton dyed three colors, teal (which came out like denim), dusty rose and seafoam. I plan to make a light weight casual cardigan sweater out of it - I think it will look great with jeans, etc. Can't wait to work with it. This process was a little different than working with the wool and silk - but I think I'll like it. I plan to try dyeing yarn myself at home after I get back from a couple of trips I have to take soon. Absolutely addicting. . . .

Neverending Project

Neverending Project
I started this lacy shawl a while ago - actually on circular needles. I was having so much trouble that I ripped it all out and started over with straights! Much better. This will take a while to do, but I think it will be wonderful when done. I am using Sirdar Silky Look in a soft golden color. I love it!

Hand Dyeing

Hand Dyeing
On Sunday, May 1, my daughter and her friend joined me in our first hand dyeing project at the Stitch Cafe in North Hollywood. I dyed three skeins of 50% Merino Wool/50% Silk. When I picked it up, the owner of the shop, Lisi, helped me write a pattern for a shell that would fit me. What wonderful yarn to work with - and the colors are vibrant and blending well. I can't wait to finish this and wear it. Looking forward to our next dyeing day - for cotton!

First Completed Project

First Completed Project
This is the first project that I actually finished - and wore! Wore it to work and my workmates loved it. It is knit from one 400 yard skein of Schaeffer hand dyed yarn - wonderful to work with and great to wear!

Projects

Like other avid knitters, I also have several projects going at once - keeps one from getting bored. I have actually finished one project and will post the picture soon - as soon as I figure out how to do it! Five (yes 5) other projects are in various stages of completion. The one that is intriguing me the most is using yarn, 50% marino wool and 50% silk, that I dyed myself at the Stitch Cafe in North Hollywood - a great shop, by the way. They are MOST helpful and excited about your projects. I am meeting my daughter, Christy, and her friend, Janet, there again this Sunday to dye cotton. Can't wait to see how it turns out!

Starting Blog

OK - thought I'd never do this. I used to knit several years ago and then just lost interest. My daughter recently started knitting and taught herself, inspiring me to start again. She asked, "how come you never taught me knit?" to which I replied, "you never asked!" Anyway, we are knitting up a storm and having fun. Now, I never thought that I would do this, but she started a blog and so here I am - - - am I crazy?