The Scullery

Done and Done

 

Mittens are Jennifer Reinhart's Bias Cable Mittens (ravelry link),

knit in handspun Pagewood Farms BFL in Twilight.

Trying to Finish Stuff

Hi Blog!

This year, instead of resolving to buy no yarn or exercise more often, I'm just trying to finish what I start. First up would be Mom's Christmas present. It's okay, she knew it wasn't going to arrive in time for Christmas, and I've been sending update photos regularly, so no spoilers here.

It's the Hourglass Throw (ravelry link) from Anne Hanson/knitspot. I'm knitting it in some Berroco Connoisseur Collection Blue Faced Leicester, a discontinued yarn that has been aging in the stash for years waiting for the perfect pattern. This is the perfect pattern. I love Anne's designs, and I'm enjoying knitting this, although it is a bit of a challenge (have to watch the chart for every row). That photo, taken this morning, is at the halfway point. I have 4 more 32-row pattern repeats to go, and then the ribbing for the border. Good knitting while I watch the Ravens-Texans game to see who the Patriots will be taking on next Sunday.

 

Stuff I Can't Show You

Hi Blog!

Since last we visited, I finished a lovely pair of socks, but I can't show you, because they're a holiday gift.

I also finished a nifty pair of legwarmers that are soooo comfy, but I can't show you because they're a holiday gift.

How about a cat picture? 

 

Ambushes like this one are a regular occurrence around here. Harley isn't fazed. He might take a step sideways to avoid a direct collision, but otherwise he doesn't break stride. Cyra seems to expect him to be completely astonished and fall over with shock every time she leaps out at him. She's puzzled why that doesn't happen.

 

I also finished a pair of fingerless mitts, and I can show you them, because even though they, too, are a holiday gift, the recipient doesn't read the blog. These are knit using the stitch pattern from the Cozy Thermal mitts (ravelry link) superimposed on a pattern for a plain pair of guy-sized mitts. They are knit in some Lincoln that was the first (partial) fleece I ever bought, off a lamb named Beau. The photo does not do justice to the luster of the yarn, and after a washing with some of my last carefully hoarded Soft Wash and Soft Rinse, they are pretty darn soft.

I'm also halfway through another pair of mitts which I could show you if I could get a decent photo, but as it has starting snowing AGAIN, the photo will have to wait for another day.

It's a Spinning Saturday

Sometimes I get so busy knitting that I forget how much I love to spin. This long weekend has given me plenty of knitting time, so I'm taking a little break to play with some new fiber that just arrived today.

This is 4 oz of New England Blend roving from Dan at Gnomespun Yarn. Dan's got great color sense, but even better, he likes the same fibers I like. If you're looking for superwash merino, this isn't your shop, but if you're looking for great fibers for socks, or just for experimenting with different breeds and learning about their fiber characteristics, this is the place for you. This New England Blend is a new thing, and I think I was one of the first to snap it up. Dorset, Tunis, Hampshire, Romney, and Jacob. Tunis is the only completely new-to-me breed in that mix. I've used all the others for socks, and love them, but I've never seen them all together before. It's wicked fun to spin. A little shorter staple than I normally spin, and I don't think I'll manage the 3ply Dan pictured on the shop page (mostly because to me, Long Draw is a reservoir on the border of Rocky Mtn Nat'l Park, not a spinning style I've mastered.) I am aiming for sock yarn, though.

Cats are snoozing next to me, Jimmy Buffett's on the iPod, life is good. Hey, anyone else catch Jimmy as the helo pilot on Hawaii 5-0 the other night? Gotta love stunt casting. He was great!

 

 

Oh, Hai, Mother Nature!

Harley is Not Pleased. The drapes were closed all day, and I don't think he knew snow had happened. Even Cyra didn't stay out more than a minute, and she actually likes the stuff. Just not quite this much of it.

Half Finished

Life seems kinda stuck halfway right now, but at least with my knitting, I've got directions for the other half. Here's a couple of the halfway things:

Jennifer Reinhart's Bias Cable Mitten, in handspun BFL from Pagewood Farm, colorway Twilight. The yarn's a little dark for the pattern, but I like the mitten anyway. Nice fit, toasty warm, and silky soft. I love BFL.

 

Liz Abinante's Temperance pattern (one of the Bones patterns - this is my third so far, having finished Traveling Woman and Saroyan) in Wollmeise 100%, colorway Herzblut. I've tried this yarn and a couple other skeins of Wollmeise in three or four different patterns, and this is the first one where I managed to get beyond the weird cottony feel of the yarn. And ya know, once it's all knit up, that feel goes away and it's quite a nice li'l sock! I'll have to make more of them. Fortunately, there are a few more skeins in the stash.

And yeah, it's another gorgeous autumn afternoon here in paradise.

itsy bitsy spider trying to inject a little holiday spirit into the place. Halloween isn't my holiday, but hey, you really can't go wrong with cute stuffed toys and chocolate.

So Not A Morning Cat

Cyra: ugh. Does that light HAVE to be on?

Me: Cyra honey, that's the sun.

Cyra: mutters and pulls a pillow over her head

 

Comfy?

Because of course I hung the big fuzzy blanket on the chair just for YOU, Harley, not because it was still damp from the dryer and needed to air before going back on the bed. sigh.

I Made A Hat Redux

Same designer as last time, Hunter Hammersen at Violently Domestic. The yarn is Willow, a sportweight blend of finewool and down breeds, with a little mohair and angora thrown in, from Romney Ridge Farm.

Naturally, it is 70 degrees here in Colorado today, but we are forecast for a few more flakes before Old Man Winter moves on for the year, so I might still have a chance to wear it this season. If not, I'll tuck it in the daypack for hikes in the mountains this summer.