A spinner at work ...

Not me. Not yet. But I noticed others around me are doing it. It could be addictive. I know, I know. That's why I haven't even attempted any spinning. [a drop spindle doesn't count; I only tried a homemade one & bought only one book ...] So I try to keep my distance but as I walked out the door to head over to my LYS ...



She has on her Halloween suit also. And what a lovely web she spins!

Do you think she would help me with my knitting?



A few more inches on a neckwarmer. My mindless knit. Easy knit.



A little more than half way on Buddy's coat. My sister, Cindy's new friend. He's going to need it soon too judging by the early cool weather this year. I better not stop now.

I did have to start some mittens in Interweave Holiday 2009 Mag for the Grandkid Christmas gift basket. Christmas gifts are piling up. Can't stop now tho.



But a lace sampler scarf will go on the blocking board tomorrow once I graft the two ends together. I'll hand carry it to Seed Stitch Fine Yarn to be put on display. You're not afraid of lace knitting are you? You are? Trust me, it's easy. Join me in a class after Christmas.

And there's more than one project waiting to be cast on. The least being Christmas ornaments. More hats and mittens anyone ...

How about it Ms Spidy? Will you help me with my knitting tonight??

Happy Halloween Everyone!~

October is a funny month ...

Flowers and garden are fading fast. Yet color is everywhere. I love the Fall but soon Winter will follow ....

So I'm still working on Christmas gifts for the grandchildren.





Almost forgot to post the specs ...

Project info

Name: Pink Sunflower Tam

Pattern:

Sunflower Tam by Norah Gaughan

Size: child size

Needle and yarn

Needles

US 6 / 4.0 mm

US 7 / 4.5 mm

Yarn:

Rowan Harris DK in Pink

How much? 2 skeins = 246.0 yards (224.9m)

Wonder who'll pick this one? Which grand child would love a beret?

October's Yarn of the Month Club collection.

Malvasia by Rich More
40% Wool, 33% Alpaca, 16% Mohair, 11% Nylon
[A fun yarn to knit with but with such a small amount of yarn per skein (at what price I don't even know yet), what would we knit with it? Remains to be seen. But keep your eyes open for this yarn from Japan.]
2.75 sts/ inch on US 11s. Each skein contains 48 yards & this color is: # 6

Before blocking ... This color is correct.

After blocking ...

Tradicao by Rosarios 4
100% Wool
[Yarn with a nice firm twist, works up smoothly and into a sturdy fabric. I can see this in a beautiful knit jacket. ]
3.5 sts/ inch on US 10s. Each skein contains 131 yards & this color is: # 12

Before blocking ...

After blocking ...

Rittenhouse Merino 5-ply by Manos
100% Merino Wool
[I loved knitting with this yarn. It would be lovely in a sweater. Very soft yet holds it's shape really well.]
4.75 sts/ inch on US 7s. Each skein contains 241 yards & this color is: # 509

Before blocking ...

After blocking ...

Royal Tweed by Lana Grossa
100% Merino Wool
[I found this one hard to believe it's 100% wool, maybe because it's so soft. Nice knit and I loved the color play.]
3.5sts/ inch on US 9s. Each skein contains 140 yards & this color is: # 011

Before blocking ...

After blocking ...


The colors show up lighter in the After blocking shots, but the true colors are closer to the Before shots. I like all four samples this time.

Into the "Sampler Block Blanket" bag they'll go ...

I found this on Knitorious' Blog .... and took the test myself.

I am ... Which Ewe are You?

The results for me say: "This longwool knows that taking it easy isn't just a good idea -- it's a great one. With an open-mind and dependable attitude. Perendales always make the best of any situation. Flexible and adaptable, they are great negotiators and compromisors, as well."


The quiz is part of a promo for The Knitter's Book of Wool by Clara Parkes. Looks like a great book to add to the library. Check it out.

A longwool huh? Is that me or what.

I was never a "lace" kind of gal ...

But I do love to crochet or knit lace. I'm giving a class in crochet lace in November and just finished this Neck Lace collar. It's crochet. The yarn is the beautiful Filatura Di Crosa Superior. Faster to crochet with than you would think and so lovely to feel and wear when you're done. The pattern is from Interweave Crochet, Spring 2009. The pattern is Fan and Petal Neck Lace by Doris Chan. I could have used a smaller hook. Size F rather than G and the size would of been good if not better. I think I could probably get two collars out of the one skein of Superior too. Making it a bargain on the price.

In February I'll be teaching Knitting Lace also. With either Superior or Silky Wool ...

Superior is more difficult to tink or frog if you need to, so I wouldn't recommend it for your very first lace project. And that's why I'm knitting the scarf to show what it would look like with Silky Wool. This is a very nice lace weight yarn to work with. Nice for lace or for cables.

Just after getting our new dinning room set and putting some order to the room ...

[yup, those are all knitting, crochet or felting books]



This is where I sit when I'm online now.



Where I contemplate my next project to knit or crochet ...

And it must have something to do with Spud & Chloe do you think?

But I'll get back to that after I do up the squares for the Yarn of the Month Club.



You didn't really think I would get bored being at home every day did you?

To Crochet or not to Crochet ...

Didn't I say I was going to knit for awhile?

Well this Featherbed Beret came off the needles way to fast.



Oh how I love this yarn! The Featherbed Beret is for me so it's not going into the Christmas Basket. Nope, not this time. I love the feel of it and after all ... it goes with my new vest and even the flower scarf, don't you think?




And it did give me a break from crochet after making the Splashy Flowers Scarf. But only a short break. Because I've already started another crochet and plan to do another after that.

After all ... Filatura Di Crosa's Superior came in!



A Neck Lace is in the making even tho I still have Jared Flood's Quincy hat on the needles with Louisa Harding's Thistle Yarn ...



Now Thistle has fast become one of my all time favorite yarns and of course I had to puchase more for another knit ...



And what about that OTHER crochet?



How about I go spectacular this time?

It's a wrap ...

Bleaklow Vest from Little Cake by Louisa Harding is done!



It'll be on display at Seed Stitch Fine Yarn for a little while. I'll take pictures of me wearing it once I pick out the shirt I would like to wear under it. I love this vest!!

And the yarn. Yummy yarn called Thistle. I had one skein left over also. So this Featherbed Beret by Louisa Harding from the same book will go with the vest too don't you think? Only 2 skeins so I bought another blue.



Another great knit from Louisa. I really love her patterns.

And what about my crocheting?



The Splashy Flower Scarf from Crochet with Color by Kathy Merrick using Noro Silk Garden is done. I'll get better pictures when I'm wearing it to Community Knitting tonight. I wore it yesterday and got lots of compliments. Mmmmmmmm, this could become my favorite!

But now I need a rest from crochet. My hands demand it. It takes different muscles in my hands to knit so its off to ...




Either the mindless knitting of a neck warmer called Ambitus ... or

something a little more complicated and requiring some mind-control like a shawl from Wrapped in Comfort by Alison Jeppson Hyde which has caught my eye.

Can't have too many wraps can I?