CRAFTING IN THE NEW YEAR

I have started my 2008 stash busting. I refuse to buy anymore yarn until I get some of what I have down to something that is a little more manageable. Well...until the Maryland Sheep and Wool.

I would not call this a New Year resolution because I never keep them so I felt that maybe this year I would just say that intend to use up a lot of my yarn.

The first hat called the Nehalem Hat by Oat Couture, www.oatcouture.com, can be made with either DK Weight or Heavy Worsted Weight. You also have a choice of brims, cable or ribbed. It was fun and quick to make. The only adjustment I made was that I did not have any beads so I used three crochet corkscrews. I wear my hair in braids for most of the year and is hard to find a hat to get all that extra hair under. This hat is perfect for that.


The yarn is very soft Berroco Foliage. It is a thick and thin yarn so I used the DK weight instructions but the the size 9 needle of the Heavy Worsted pattern.
Worked out beautifully.


Crocheting the corkscrews for the Nehalem Hat made me want to crochet a project. I learned to crochet years ago and made my daughter's coming home outfit from the hospital. The only crocheting that I have done in recent years was teach a co-worker how to crochet because she wanted the Martha Stewart coming home poncho. This hat is a free Lion Brand pattern.



It is just called Suede Cap. I have some suede yarn left over from a purse exchange that I was in. The yarn is by Reynolds and is called Cabana. This was quick, quick.

I am off to a good start I feel.

Happy New Year-2008 Has Great Promise

TWAS THE MONTH AFTER CHRISTMAS

Twas the month after Christmas, When all through the house,
Nothing would fit me, Not even a blouse!
The cookies I'd nibbled, The eggnog I did taste....
At the holiday parties, had gone to my waist!

I remember the marvelous meals all prepared:
The gravies and sauces, the beef "nicely rare".
The wine and the rum balls, the bread and the cheese,
And the way I NEVER said, "No, thank you, please."

As I dressed myself in my husband's old shirt,
And I prepared once again to do battle with dirt,
I said to myself (as only I can),
"You can't spend a winter disguised as a MAN"!

So---away with the last of the sour cream dip,
Get rid of the fruit cake, every cracker and chip!
Every last bit of food that I like must be banished,
'Til all of the additional "ounces" have vanished!

I won't have a cookie, not even a lick!
I'll want only to chew, on a celery stick!
I won't have hot biscuits, or corn bread or pie,
I'll munch on a carrot, and quietly cry.

"I'm hungry...I'm lonesome..and life is a bore
But isn't that what January is for"

Unable to giggle, No longer a riot!

HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL, AND TO ALL A GOOD DIET!


(author unknown)

A Great Christmas

I had a most fantastic Christmas. The first 5 pictures are from a calendar that a family friend gave me. Don't you think that this is terrific!















My son got me the Keurig Single Cup home brewing system with the cup maker so I could use my own coffee. It works great for coffee or just hot water. I am loving this .









My daughter got me the The New Pathways for Sock Knitters book. I had been looking at it and wanting it but just had not gotten around to buying it. Feels good to have it now.











I am still in awe and smiling because I HAVE MY WOOLEE WINDER. I know it will not make my spinning better but no more stopping and starting to move the yarn, now it will at least look pretty on the bobbin. Get ready for some fantastic spinning...well...maybe not fantastic.













My friend Vicki sent my favorite coffee, Creme Brulee, this beautiful sparkly yarn and goodies. There were more goodies but this is all that made it home. I made this scarf for Vicki from a pattern at Garn Studios-Drop Design. It can be knit in a day with bulky yarn. I also made my daughter a black one and a grey/blue one for me. I lose my scarves when I am working so this one will work just great.








Okay, I am through bragging. Hope everyone had as great a Christmas as I did.

For the next year I plan on concentrating on my spinning and weaving but will keep a knitting project with me for when I can not get to my loom or spinning wheel.

I have great plans for the New Year.

HAPPY HOLIDAYS

1st Sweater and Studio Tour

I thought I would give you a close up view of my sweater. On the sleeve is the cable stitches that I mentioned in my last post.







My daughter and I went on a studio tour in our area on Friday. We had a chance to meet and talk with the owners of 2 studios that offered handspun and hand dyed yarns and jewelry; owners of a Handmade fiber art Gallery that featured several local artist; hand painted furniture studio and a winery. There were several others that we wanted to go to like a hand blown glass studio and a pottery but time and weather was not in our favor.


Our first stop was Kiparoo Farm, www.kiparoofarmstudio.com
















I always stop at the owner, Annie Kelley, booth when I go to the Maryland Sheep and Wool in May. She has beautiful kits, yarn and her own patterns. I ended up with yarn and patterns to make some mittens and a scarf. The mittens will be knit and the scarf crochet. I really like this rich red. The yarn is wool and mohair.




Next, we went to Dancing Leaf Farm, www.dancingleaffarm.com
My daughter, TeAntae, had discovered her years ago when she needed to take a spinning lesson. Both Dancing Leaf and Kiparoo are farms. They offer completely different yarn and both are worth going to. I brought this gorgeous bright yarn from Dalis to make socks. The yarn is 100% superwash merino.























Our next stop was Lahara Gallery and Textiles. www.laharatextiles.com
I brought and insulated quilted lunch sack. I also signed up to take a rug hooking class this spring.






























Our last stop was Stone Wall Farm, Kathleen Balogh, offered hand painted glass ware as well as hand painted furniture. The sign said to go to the barn and it really was a barn. I loved it and wished I had one.

Proud Mom and 1st Sweater

So much has been going on these last few weeks. I finally finished my first sweater and wore it to my son's graduation. I am in the process of unraveling the cuff of the sweater to make it longer. Otherwise, I am quite pleased with my first attempt. The pattern is from Green Mountain Spinnery and is worked in the round with cables on the sleeve. The yarn is from The Yarn Cafe, http://www.yarn-cafe.com/store.cfm in Minnesota by Mooncake and is called Tranquility. This yarn is so soft that makes the knitting a joy. I will certainly make something else with it.










On December 8, 2007 my son got his Bachelor of Science degree with honors. It amazes me that I sent him to school and he would rather party. He goes on his own and look what happens!!!

The first picture is my son, Roger, and my daughter, TeAntae. The next one is Roger, of course. It is hard to see in the picture but he has crimson and white tassels; gold and a white stoles. The white tassel and stole shows that he is in the Information Technology honor society, the gold stole signifies that he had a 3.8-4.0 grade point average.....
and then I had to show you part of the commencement program. The important part.....