Don't You Just Love Receiving HandKnit Gifts?

Thank you Vanessa for all the wonderful gifts. This year I received mittens with cables down the center to go with the Bronte scarf I received from her last year. Bronte is a Sharon Miller design and appears in Rowan Yarns A Yorkshire Fable.
I also received Schoharie Country Milk Soap with 2 little sheepies on it along with this great Knit Yourself a Merry Little Christmas mug and "Lazy Cable Socks" pattern with Stideaway Shetland in colorway Bracken 100% Merino Wool by Autumn House Farm's . I feel so spoiled.
While I'm at it I wanted to show off my glovittens Vanessa knit for me a few years ago. I like to keep these in the car. They are great for driving.

It's My Anniversary...

Today is my anniversary and my husband brought home beauuuuuuutiful roses.
DH is taking me out to an early dinner then it's off to pick up our GS who will be spending the weekend with us.Happy Holidays ...

Knit From Your Stash 2007

I added a button and this link to Knit From Your Stash 2007. I don't think I can do it but I don't want to discourage others. Wendy Johnson came up with the idea to knit exclusively from your stash in 2007. Click on the above link for details.

I finished the next accessory for my loom. In my previous post I mentioned I wanted to make the equivalent of the Schacht "Wolf Trap". Well here it is ... It's going to be so helpful. I now have a place to put my shuttles and bobbins and other tools needed while weaving right at my fingertips.

Now should I make the equivalent of the Schacht "High Castle Tray"?

Like My New Wheels...

My loom is very portable albeit on the heavy side. I saw a Baby Wolf that had wheels (Schacht calls it the Stroller) and decided I wanted to make them for my loom. They work beautifully. When you close the loom the cross bars collapse and the wheels engage. The wood piece with the wheel attached is notched out a bit to custom fit the loom frame. That makes the wheel attachment extra sturdy. One of my other hobbies is woodworking and it comes in handy in the most unexpected ways. It just saved me $85.

While visiting the Schacht website I saw other accessories. One Schacht calls the "High Castle Tray" for handy storage and the other is "Wolf Trap" for holding shuttles and bobbins while weaving. I bought the supplies to make the Wolf Trap today.

If I keep going I'll have my loom all pimped out before you know it.

Had a busy weekend. Only managed to knit one Squirrel and Oak mitten and ended up frogging it back because it was a little short for my long fingers. This is a fun and quick knit.

The other day I picked up yarn for my Squirrel and Oak Mittens as part of the Stranded: The Colorwork Challenge. The pattern called for Dale of Norway Hauk but my LYS didn't have it so I am using Heilo.I finished knitting another Piece-of-Cake hat for my 1-year old granddaughter. I have one more to knit. The hat can easily be knit in a day. (See free pattern below.)

Stranded: The Colorwork Challenge

When am I going to learn to stop reading blogs and signing up for KAL's. The answer is NEVER! I read about the Stranded: The Colorwork Challenge on Rebecca's blog and had to sign up. It started Dec. 1, 2006.

I liked the rules:
1. Knit something in stranded colorwork
2. Knit them starting December 1st.
3. Or later.
4. Just knit them.
5. You must finish them.
6. Or not. Your call.
7. Share your progress (or frustration. Or hints. Or tips) with us.

Now, to answer a few standed questions:

What are your projects for this knitalong?

I've decided to knit Adrian's pattern called Squirrel and Oak Mittens . I wanted to make them after I saw Vanessa's.
At the same time I hope to get back to knitting Marina.

Is this your first colorwork Project? No

If it isn't, what was your first, and has it survived the test of time?

My first fair isle was a vest from Sweaters From Camp called Northwest Sunset Vest. I haven't worn it yet. It can be viewed here.

Piece of Cake Hat

A friend gave me 3 balls of Dale of Norway's "Free Style" and I didn't know what to do with it so I decided to knit her a hat. I found a "free" pattern on Kids Knits that uses the same yarn. It takes 2 balls to make an infant/toddler's hat and 3 balls for an adolescent, teen, or adult hat. I changed the original pattern so I could knit it in the round. I changed the tie from a crocheted to an I-cord and instead of hemming the headband I knitted it.

Here are my instructions:

Terri’s Modified Piece-of-Cake Hat Using Dale of Norway “Freestyle” yarn

So cute, yet so simple! Great in solids, but you can add stripes; embroidery, fair isle or intarsia motifs...the possibilities are endless! Instructions are for sizes: infant, (toddler, adolescent, teen and adult).

Yarn: 2(2, 3, 3, 3) 50g balls of Dale of Norway’s washable worsted weight wool “Freestyle” or similar wool.

Needles: US size 6 or 7 (4 or 4.5 mm) circular knitting needles and a darning needle. Use size necessary to obtain gauge.

Cast on: 76(80, 84, 88, 92) sts. Join ends and work in st st for 18 rows or until work measures 3”. *K2tog, yo; rep from * across row until only 2 sts remain, k2tog. Work in st st and increase 1 st at edge on the next row. (holes are 2 rows high). You’re back to 76(80, 84, 88, 92) sts. Work in st st for 18 rows. With another circular needle of a smaller size put the stitches you cast on back on the needle. Start with a stitch that’s parallel to the stitch you’ve just ended with on Row 38 (18 rows + 2 rows + 18 rows). Fold the knitting in half, purl side to purl side. Lay the needles together and k2tog (1 st from each needle, i.e. one from each edge). Try to knit loosely so the hat won’t be too tight. The holes when folded in half will form a zigzag pattern. Continue knitting. Work in st st until piece measures 7 (7½ , 8, 8½, 9)” long. *K2tog, yo; rep from * across row until only 2 sts remain, k2tog. Work in st st until piece measures 9 (9½ , 10, 10½, 11)” long. Bind off all sts.

I-cord

Using single strand and a dpn, cast on 4 stitches. Knit these stitches and slide them to the opposite end of the dpn, without turning the needle. Your yarn will be on the left side of your work. Bring the yarn behind the 4 stitches (from left to right) and begin knitting at the right hand side of the needles. Knit all 4 stitches and without turning the needle, slide them to the opposite end. Continue working in I-cord until your cord is 16-inches long. Weave in the ends. Feed I-cord over and under through the eyelet row. Pull tight, tie in a knot and make a bow.

Finish

Just weave in any loose ends and you are done!

Here is my hat for my friend.

Mowat Scarves Are Done ...

Tomorrow I have a Blue Ridge Spinners & Weavers Guild meeting. Our program will be dyeing self-striping sock yarn. The meeting will be held at Frog Eye Fiber Emporium. The shop owner is one of our guild members.

I finished both of my taran scarves. I felted one of them. I'm really happy with the way they turned out.
This is Sam our black Lab. He was so cute this morning I just had to take his picture. We also have a Dalmatian named Dottie.

H a p p y T h a n k s g i v i n g . . .

For those of you who celebrate Thanksgiving I hope you have a wonderful day.

There're Back ...

For the last couple of winters we're had visitors. Turkey Vultures! I went outside yesterday and happened to look up and there they were. They just sit there and stare. What do they want? Creepy.

Notice the trees have no leaves. That's because they are on the ground. We spent Saturday raking and will be doing the same this weekend.
Over the weekend I made a table top swift in my workshop. I saw one like this and decided to make it. The first picture shows it apart for easy storage and the second picture is the swift assembled. I made it from mahogany because I wanted it to have some weight to it. The pegs I purchased from the hardware store then painted them black. The lip on the peg should keep the hank from sliding off.I saw a very cute canine x-mas stocking and decided I had to make some. It was so easy. I used felt for the paw and pads and fleece for the cuff.

Where the hell is Matt...

I thought this was awesome!!! The background music is called Sweet Lullaby by Deep Forest.

Survey Says ... MeMe!

1. FIRST NAME?
Terri

2. WERE YOU NAMED AFTER ANYONE?
I was named after my dad.

3. WHEN DID YOU LAST CRY?
I can't remember the last time.

4. DO YOU LIKE YOUR HANDWRITING?
I'm told my printing looks like a school teachers. I never cursive.

5. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE LUNCHMEAT?
It varies.

6. IF YOU WERE ANOTHER PERSON WOULD YOU BE FRIENDS WITH YOU?
I hope so.

7. DO YOU HAVE A JOURNAL?
Not a formal journal but I do take lots of notes on pads.

8. DO YOU STILL HAVE YOUR TONSILS?
No. They were taken out when I was 22.

9. WOULD YOU BUNGEE JUMP?
Yes, but it would need to be a special place. Definitely not from some crane in a parking lot.

10. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE CEREAL?
I mostly eat Honey Nut Cheerios.

11. DO YOU UNTIE YOUR SHOES WHEN YOU TAKE THEM OFF?
Yes.

12. DO YOU THINK YOU ARE STRONG?
Yes. More like strong on the outside and soft on the inside.

13. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE ICE CREAM FLAVOR?
Pumpkin.

14. SHOE SIZE?
Mostly 8 sometimes 8 ½.

5. RED OR PINK?
Red.

16. WHAT IS THE LEAST FAVORITE THING ABOUT YOURSELF?
Sometimes I speak what I'm feeling.

17. WHO DO YOU MISS THE MOST?
My grandmother.

18. DO YOU WANT EVERYONE TO SEND THIS BACK TO YOU?
Nope.

19. WHAT COLOR PANTS, SHIRT AND SHOES ARE YOU WEARING?
Blue jeans, mint green, none.

20. LAST THING YOU ATE?
Cereal.

21. WHAT ARE YOU LISTENING TO RIGHT NOW?

Nothing.

22. IF YOU WERE A CRAYON, WHAT COLOR WOULD YOU BE?
Some shade of blue.

23. FAVORITE SMELL?
My dogs.

24. WHO WAS THE LAST PERSON YOU TALKED TO ON THE PHONE?
My attorney. She's handling an insurance loss.

25. THE FIRST THING YOU NOTICE ABOUT PEOPLE YOU ARE ATTRACTED TO?
Calming nature.

26. DO YOU LIKE THE PERSON you stole THIS from?
Yes.

27. FAVORITE DRINK?
Diet Coke.

28. FAVORITE SPORT?
Running long distances. I used to run marathons.

29. EYE COLOR?
Hazel.

30. HAT SIZE?
Not sure.

31. DO YOU WEAR CONTACTS?
Used to, but I had eye surgery about 8 years ago. Now, I wear reading glasses.

32. FAVORITE FOOD?
Anything with pumpkin in it.

33. SCARY MOVIES OR HAPPY ENDINGS?
Happy endings.

35. SUMMER OR WINTER?
Fall is my favorite but if I have to pick it would be Winter.

36. HUGS OR KISSES?
Hugs.

37. FAVORITE DESSERT?
Anything with pumpkin :-) .

38. WHO IS MOST LIKELY TO RESPOND?
?

39. LEAST LIKELY TO RESPOND?
?

40. WHAT BOOKS ARE YOU READING?
The New Work of Dogs by Jon Katz.

41. WHAT’S ON YOUR MOUSE PAD?

Nothing.

42. WHAT DID YOU WATCH LAST NIGHT ON TV?
20/20.

43. FAVORITE SOUNDS?
Native American Music.

44. ROLLING STONE OR BEATLES?
Beatles.

45. THE FURTHEST YOU’VE BEEN FROM HOME?
Europe. Although Maui is probably farther.

46. WHAT’S YOUR SPECIAL TALENT?
I'm not afraid to take on any challenge.

47. WHERE WERE YOU BORN?
Bethesda, Maryland.

48. WHO SENT THIS TO YOU?
Nobody. I copied it from Vanessa.

Waterford Fair

The Waterford Homes Tour and Crafts Exhibit (October 6-8, 2006) a.k.a. Waterford Fair is now over. The fair has been run by the Waterford Foundation since 1943. The Quakers arrived in Waterford, VA in 1733. The Colonial-era village of Waterford is a National Historic Landmark, which has remained intact and is a delight to visit and walk the streets. You can take a virtual tour of the village online.

The Waterford Fair included top-notch artisans, demonstrations, and musicians. In addition, there were Colonial encampments and Civil War re-enactors (8th Virginia Infantry the same regiment as my Carter ancestors). Each day 4 different historic homes were open for guided tours. Now for some sampling of pictures (click any picture to enlarge).

Vanessa came up from Florida to attend the fair. She brought along her newly finished Marina. It's just gorgeous and fits her beautifully. Hers was knit using the new Virtual Yarns undersea garden colors using 2-ply Hebridean wool and mine is being knit with the old Scottish Collection colors using Jamison + Smith 2-ply jumperweight shetland wool. It was interesting seeing them in a side-by-side comparison. The newer colors look deeper and richer to me. I liked both colorways.That's Vanessa on the right (and you know who on the left). We had a wonderful time and I throughly enjoyed spending time with her.
Melissa who I took my tartan weaving class from. Melissa is a member of the Waterford Weavers Guild as well as the Blue Ridge Spinners and Weavers Guild.

Tartan Class

On Friday, Saturday, and Sunday I attended a Tartan Weaving workshop led by Melissa Weaver-Dunning. Before class we warped our individual looms. Everyone picked their own tartan pattern. In the workshop we worked round robin sampling each others warp. This was a wonderful opportunity to work on different looms.

Melissa Weaver-Dunning is sitting at the second loom on the left.Beth Wilson, the president of the Blue Ridge Spinners & Weavers, is working on my loom which is the first loom on the right.After cutting the sample tartans off the looms we put them on the table in piles sorted by weaver.Melissa did a talk on the origins of tartan patterns as well as a session on designing a tartan warp. I loved the class and now I'm hooked on tartans.

Here are 4 of the 13 samples. Click on any picture to enlarge.