Einstein

Einstein:
The facts: home-schooled, lived from March 14, 1879 - April 18, 1955, German, Jewish, had cool crazy hair, won many awards, etc.

Unfortunately, (although even more brilliant) I'm not talking about that Einstein. In fact, I'm talking about a great (see the similarities) knit sweater pattern. Perfect in that it's very neatly constructed, easy to follow instructions, totally do-able 1st sweater pattern for beginners & you will feel super smart once you've completed it.

It's from The Knitting Experience Book 1: The Knit Stitch by Sally Melville


Sweater Specs:

• less than 5 x 150g balls (or 11 x 50g balls of Lopi or another bulky weight)
  
• hand-spun 100% wool dyed in a khaki green.
• took a reasonable amount of time
• was a nice relaxing knit (perfect for obligatory T.V. watching with hubby in evenings or at appts.)
  
• straight forward, no nonsense pattern in garter stitch with the only decreases being in the sleeves
• only 2 seams (one at the top of each arm) to sew up to finish. (You pick up stitches to knit the various parts throughout)
• 5 buttons (I was given some wood toggle ones from Faye's stash)
  

I loved making this sweater. The only modifications that I made were that I didn't switch to the smaller needles when I had 11 rows to finish in each sleeve. I cont'd with the same size needles & only decreased down to 18 rather than 15 stitches & made it to the length I wanted. I actually had done it according to the pattern first, but didn't like the look, frogged it back & finished the way I discussed above. I like to roll the sleeves a bit & if you followed the pattern it would have turned out too tight & bunched for this look.
The total cost of this project was $15- including tax. I had gotten the yarn from a vendor at the last spin-in I attended in Port Hope at an incredible $15- for 5lbs of hand-spun (she was clearing out last years stock). The wooden toggles were a gift from my friend Faye's stash (yes, the same Faye who got me started with quails, lol.)

Anyway, got to go finish a flamingo, peace out, Boop

The Yarn Harlot

Yup, back we trekked to Aurora again this year. I convinced MA & Irene to go with me. Jack (not trusting my night driving skills since the motion of the car tends to make me fall asleep & who is MA's hubby) drove us all to Aurora last night to see Stephanie Pearl-McPhee (aka The Yarn Harlot) do another one of her awesome talks.

If you haven't gotten the opportunity then you're definitely missing out on something special. She is witty, intelligent, approachable & the farthest thing from pretentious ever there was. Motivational & inspirational, she makes you feel welcome & worthy regardless if colour, race or social economic level. A refreshing change to the norm.
(Pic of Steph asking us knitters to unite for the cause, lol.)

I suppose I could be viewed as a Harlot groupie, but for the most part, I think Steph realizes that I'm harmless, I just don't get out a whole heck of a lot & I'm a little obsessed with the whole knitting thing in general.

I also decided to take my (new-to-me) Blythe doll "Lydia". And, as luck would have it, was able to show Steph what a Blythe was (I'm hoping she's a better person for being enlightened, but she may just think I've crossed that fine weirdo line, lol). Erin (my friend in T.O. who I bought Lydia off of), was more than thrilled that Lydia got to meet such "Knitting Royalty"; her words.

Anyway, I have a ton of things to show/talk/blog about & really need to set aside some time to do so. Until then, peace out, Boop

Come join the Misery;midnight deadline

Just in case some of you don't (& I'd find that hard to believe) read "The Yarn Harlot", she's at it again. Total enabler. In her defense she says that it wasn't her fault.

Upon checking out the links to said "can't do without knit-a-long", I find myself weak at the knees. I have no right to be contemplating this adventure since I am washing & spinning fleece, knitting Christmas prezzies, convinced myself & Lynne that we needed to start the "Einstein Jacket" now instead of later & have thus casted on yesterday, etc. Before I know it though, I am joining; sigh.

It's the Mystery Stole 3 on Pink Lemon Twist's Blog. You have until midnight tonight in case you want to join me & the now 6080 others (yup you read correctly) as of 12:08pm today.

Peace out, Boop

Knit on my dear friends.

So, just to catch everyone up, I've been incredibly busy with the hobby farm. I've gotten another alpaca (a Suri type which can be read about here), hatched my 1st batch of Japanese quails (which I'll blog about shortly), have done some spinning, had our monthly CQ'teer meeting & lots of knitting.
I've been practicing my spinning on some Lincoln lamb fibre that I got off of Lynne on shearing day. It's from "Ava" who I just love. She is one sweet sheep. This is a long wool variety that is strong, mixes with mohair wonderfully & is sought after by dollmakers for use in wigs & Santa's beards.
It is different from regular fleece & slightly more difficult to spin because it's tough & more hair like (imho). Once you get the knack of it though it's great. I was quite pleased with how it turned out & can't wait until it's plied. The 1st pic is (from left to right): washed fleece, carded fleece & spun Lincoln. 2nd pic is a close-up of the spun fibre.
I have finished the "Monkey Socks"! Just for the record, I had mine finished before the Harlot, so it is I who is the trendsetter for her, lol. Both of us however, realized afterwards that they would have turned out a lot nicer if we hadn't used self-patterning yarn; great minds really do think a like (or perhaps just make the same mistakes, lol).
Amongst the finished knits are also some Christmas ones. I will only show part photos so the surprise isn't ruined; the pics are of 2 things modular & something with cables; nuff said.

CQ'teer meeting went well. 3 new members, 2 members that just came back from vacations: 1 to Japan & the other to the East Coast. Very nice & interesting stories from both, lots of show & share, chocolate, coffee, ATC's & a cool accordion paper booklet that Faye taught us for program this month.
I'll give you some time to absorb all the eye-candy & then I'll post again soon.

Peace out, Boop

Is that a pig on your lap?

Why yes it is & I'm happy to see you, lol. This is what I go through when trying to knit at night. The pic isn't perfect, but hubby took it; nuf said. Daffodil (my pot belly puzzle pig) is on my lap. The other black & white blob behind my neck is my Jack Russell "Pudgy".
I am working on a pair of Monkey socks which are almost done & I will post about later. I have also finished a Moebius wrap. This was a dead easy free pattern from a Bernat yarn label.
Isabelle (my mannequin of 20 years) is modeling the wrap. It took 3 x 50g balls of Bernats "Lux effects"; very fast & uncomplicated. I did however, cast on 40 stitches rather than the suggested 30 because I wanted it to come down my arm further. I didn't think the 30 would cut it and I'm really glad that I added the extra 10. I used the "tan effects" colourway.
I did try to find the link to the free pattern on the Bernat site, but the yarn has been discont'd of course. Here's the pattern anyway:

Moebius Wrap
-one size
-40" x 14"
-10mm (US 15) needles
-bernat lux effects 3 x 50g balls
guage: 8 sts. & 9 rows= 4" stocking st.

Cast on: 30 sts.
Row 1: (RS) K2. *P2.K2. Rep. from * to end of row.
Row2: (WS) P2. *K2.P2. Rep. from * to end of row.

Rep. last 2 rows until work from beg. measures 40" ending with RS facing for next row. Cast off in pattern.

Finishing: twist work once lengthwise. Sew cast on & cast off edges tog. keeping the twist to achieve the moebius shape.

Enjoy. Peace out, Boop

Who Knew

Since we've been busy the past few weeks putting up fencing for the lambs & alpaca, I decided to ask Mark how to use the lawn tractor. We were building the fence together (all 400ft of it) but he was digging the 25 post holes (by hand) himself. I was feeling badly for not being able to help with the digging so I thought perhaps he could show me how to use the tractor. He had his doubts, but showed me anyway.

I must say that I've never had so much fun. It was like horseback riding, but with control. The tractor has 7 speeds. Mark suggested I start at 2 & perhaps move it to 3 or 4 when I was feeling more confident. Our property is also hilly (quite hilly actually). Anyway, I decided to see what the 7th gear was like. OMG, the tractor took off like a bat out of h#ll. I was laughing so hard I thought I was going to pee myself & all I could say as Mark watched me fly across the yard was "eeeehaww", lol.

Mark usually does the lawns over 2 days, but I stayed on that sucker until it was done! Needless to say, Mark had trouble getting me off the thing & dinner was late that night.

Not sure why he complained so about cutting the lawn as I found it quite therapeutic. Women just don't get a lot of "me" time where as with this you can sit there driving aimlessly around thinking & completely alone. Gosh, I can't even use the bathroom without one of the kids or animals barging in to see what I'm doing, but this lawn cutting thing was bliss. I didn't even care about the freshly cut grass allergy that I have because with the hat & sunglasses nobody could my watery eyes; next time I'll take the allergy pill before I start the cutting.

Peace out, Boop

Splash

Not exactly the kind you do whilst swimming, but thought I'd show you my little alpaca named "Splash". I bought him from a friend of a friend a couple of weeks ago, shortly after the lambs (which he is absolutely smitten with).

Splash is a last year baby & about 10 months old. His colouring (although he looks brown in the picture) is mahogany. The sun bleaches their fleece (as it does with sheep) so the colour on top is not the true colour of their fleece. His actually has a purple tinge to it & is quite lovely. Splash will be sheared this year, but the lambs will likely wait until next Spring.

*picture by my friend Lynne Holtrust; photographer*

He is a wonderful addition to what is growing into a small fibre hobby farm. Although not broke to the halter yet, he has a nice personality & will accept hugs from Joseph & I (as if he had a choice with me around, lol). Anyway, full story at "The Funky Lamb" once again.

Peace out, Boop