Yankee Knitter & Spinner

In Memoriam

2008-05-22T15:28:00.011-05:00

August 1996 - May 21, 2008 "Shadeaux"

To the ultimate best friend I could have ever had in this world..the unconditional love and care you gave me and asked for so little in return. We went through HELL and back and you never once faltered. I miss you sooo much...

Hazel's Toe Up Socks

2008-03-20T22:47:00.002-05:00

Here is one of my patterns I had posted in The Sheep Fold. I will be adding a couple more as I close out the group on Yahoo April 1, 2008.

Hazel's Toe Up Socks

Construction: Toe Up with 4 needles.
Cuff: 6 inches
Calculated Cuff Measurement: 5.71 inches.
Gauge: 7 stitches per inch
Total Stitches: 40
Rib Stitches: 40; Rib Repeat: 4 sts.
Heel Style: Short Row; Width: Standard; Stitch: Stockinette
Toe Style: Easy; Toe Shape: Standard
Needle Size: US 1 / 2.25 mm
Yardage:

Pattern:

Toe Up Cast On:

Using waste yarn cast on 8 stitches using the provisional cast on technique.

Work in stockinette for 8 rows (knit a row, turn, purl a row) or until your rectangle is approximately one-half inch high. End on a purl row. Unzip your provisional cast on stitches and place them on a spare needle.

Begin Knitting Circularly:

With the knit side facing you, knit across half the needle stitches. These stitches will be part of Needle 3. Mark this point as the beginning of your rounds.

With a new needle, knit the 2nd half of the stitches from the needle and then pick up and knit 2 stitches from the side edge, twisting the stitches as you knit to avoid any gaps. This is Needle 1.

With a 2nd needle, pick up and knit 2 more stitches from the side edge, twisting the stitches as you knit. Knit across the stitches from the cast on edge. Pick up and knit two more stitches from the cast on edge, again twisting the stitches as you knit them. This is Needle 2.

With a 3rd needle, pick up and knit 2 stitches from the side edge, twisting the stitches as you knit and then knit to marker. This is Needle 3.

You now have 24 stitches divided over 3 needles.

Begin Toe Increases and Patterning:

Begin working in stockinette as follows:
Rnd 1 Knit
Rnd 2 Needle 1: Knit until the last stitch, M1, K1
Needle 2: K1, M1. Knit until the last stitch, M1, K1
Needle 3: K1, M1. Knit across

Repeat these two rounds until your stitches total 40 stitches, (10, 20, 10) stitches per needle). Depending on the size sock you selected, you may need to adjust your final increase round to accommodate your total number of stitches required Place any "odd" stitches on needle 2.

Begin Foot:

Continue stockinette stitch on needles 1 and 3 (sole stitches) and begin pattern if desired on needle 2 (instep stitches). Continue knitting on 40 stitches until your sock reaches the point where your leg connects to your foot.

If desired, knit for an additional one-half inch to allow for ease.

Begin Heel:

NOTE: Heel is worked in rows on 20 stitches.

Begin Short Row Shaping:

Row 1: Knit across stitches until the last stitch, yarn forward, slip the next stitch as if to purl, yarn back, slip the wrapped stitch back to the left needle needle. Turn. The last stitch is now wrapped, on the right hand needle and remains unworked.

Row 2: Purl across row until the last stitch, yarn back, turn. The last stitch is now wrapped, on the right hand needle and remains unworked.

Row 3: Knit across the row until the stitch before the last wrapped stitch, yarn forward, slip the next stitch as if to purl, yarn back, slip the wrapped stitch back to the left needle. Turn.

Row 4: Purl across to the stitch before the last wrapped stitch, slip the next stitch, yarn back, return the slipped stitch to your left needle, yarn forward. Turn.

Repeat Rows 3 and 4 until 8 stitches remain unwrapped. End ready for a right side row.

Reverse Short Row Shaping:

NOTE: You will find your short rows will be more attractive if you slip the wrap up and over the stitch before knitting it together with the stitch.

Row 1: Knit across to the next wrapped stitch. Knit the stitch together with the wrap. Next: Bring your yarn forward, slip the next stitch as if to purl, yarn back, slip the wrapped stitch back to the left needle, turn. This stitch now has two wraps.

Row 2: Purl across to the next wrapped stitch. Purl the stitch together with the wrap, yarn back, slip the next stitch to your right needle, yarn forward, return the stitch to your left needle. Turn.

For the rest of the shaping you will be adding a second wrap to each stitch.

Repeat rows 1 and 2 until you have worked all the wrapped stitches. Be sure to slip both wraps over the stitch before knitting them together with the wrapped stitch.

Begin Sock Leg and Rib:

Beginning with Needle 1 and stitch pattern knit leg to desired height. Stitches total 40. You may want to use a size or 2 needle smaller for the ribbing.

Knit ribbing in desired pattern. When ribbing is approximately 2 inches or desired height, cast off loosely in rib.

Copyright © 2003 by Ginny L. Queior. Feel free to share this pattern with anyone as long as copyright is intact. Do not sell this pattern, mass-produce or include it in a collection without the expressed permission from the author.

New Sock Started & Ham Radio

2008-03-14T01:24:00.012-05:00

I just started the 9 to 5 Sock on #2 dpns, in bamboo. I am using Knit Picks Risata that is wool/cotton and am extremely happy with the yarn. I found the 'hand' is really soft and it would make a nice light shawl. Here is the link to Yahoo and Ravelry groups that are using this as a sock KAL....

I can't wait to wash this up and see what it will feel like. It is really a burgundy but came out more pink cus I took the pic in the sunlight.

Here is a close up....

It's a traveling st that doesn't require a cable needle.

It has really been unseasonably warm here the last 5 days. I like it but my FMS is screaming along with the chronic pain. I slept for almost 3 days and I didn't get too much to eat cus I couldn't stand in the kitchen long enough to make something of substance.

I have been to a local Ham radio (amateur radio) group called ARES...Amateur Radio Emergency Services. We are trying to get a county wide...Logan and also Kingfisher County...group together for early warning disasters and to actually work them...I am excited. I met some really nice guys there and they have been very helpful to me.

I received my license in CA when I was there and I want to upgrade now to General and up to Extra, eventually. There are regular exams here now and it will just be a matter of studying.

I met one guy who lives in Blackwell, OK on the Kansas border who is donating a 40 foot tower to me. He also has a beam antenna to go up there. We will probably put it up in the springtime..in a couple of months. I also have a new friend, locally, who has helped not only put in a 2m radio I am going to buy from him, but he is also going to put up my little J-pole 2m antenna for the house. It looks like a copper cactus, which is what I call it. I am only licensed for 10m on HF right now...but with a license upgrade, I can get out on more bands.

We are also trying to start a local club here..we had at least 8 people at the meeting on Saturday, and that is a good start. They are from all over Logan and Kingfisher county. There is also one guy who wants to get a group together to also Storm Chase...that would be right up my alley!!! AND also to be emergency communications for the fire, sheriff, local PD, and Red Cross. There seems to be a lot of new and exciting things going on...I have prayed for this for a while.

Off to knit some on those wonderful socks...

TTFN.........

Socks Done!!

2008-03-07T17:37:00.004-06:00

I finally finished the Pomatomus socks....they turned out great. OK State Fair here we come!!

I also got lost in Raverly yesterday and decided to move my Yahoo group over. Yahoo is going to be doing some weird things and I would rather have the group over in a really nice knitting/spinning enviroment. It is The Sheep Fold http://groups.yahoo.com/group/thesheepfold/ to http://www.ravelry.com/groups/the-sheep-fold. I will be closing the Yahoo group April 1st.

I have received my first project from Knit Picks and it is an adorable baby sweater. I can't wait to get the yarn and get started. I can't post too many details or a pic...you will just have to wait until the July catalog comes out....

TTFN....

Test Knitter

2008-02-27T19:16:00.002-06:00

WOOWOOOOO HOOOOO....I am now a test knitter for Knit Picks!!!!!!!!!! I am sooo excited..all these 40+ years of knitting.....I can't believe that I was accepted..but with all the knitting I have done and charity knitting..all that experience helps.

I am just sooo jazzed...gotta go finish those socks...

TTFN......

This N That

2008-02-26T03:58:00.030-06:00

I haven't posted in forever. It seems that the pain is getting in my way this winter. Crazy weather is either 20o or 60o. Yesterday was windy with 35mph+ winds, barometer dropped into the basement and it was 50o for a few minutes. Good day to do wash, which I did. I didn't hang it on the line...don't want red dust in my underwear...lol.

Danny, is growing, and he is 6 months old in the picture. He looks like my other cat, Laredo Texas Bleu. (Laredo is going on 12 years old.) Danny is on the left below and Laredo on the right.

I hope to enter these in the OK State Fair for 2008. I am using Regia Line Step yarn with #2 dpn. I would like to do the Mermaid Gloves that go along with this pattern.

http://craftoholic.blogspot.com/2006/03/mermaid-gloves.html She has great notes on making the sock pattern in to the gloves. Verrrry clever!!

I have a Irish Hiking Scarf on the needles that I am trying to finish. I take it to class on Tuesday nights. I am through one ball of Paton's Candiana and seems like halfway through the second ball. This is a great mindless project. It will be a gift to a good friend of mine.

I have been attending Ministry classes through the Episcopal Church here. It is called EfM or Education for Ministry. It is a 4 year program that is challenging and non denominational. The site is http://www.sewanee.edu/EFM/index.htm.

I have various other projects to finish..and start. I wanted to knit up some gloves and mittens from Selbuvotter by Terri Shea. She has written a great history of my favorite type of knitting, Norwegian. Just for that alone, is worth the price of the book. I found at least 5 of each I want to knit. I have to finish the Pomatamus socks so I have some #2 dpn to work with. I have a lot of sock needles, but they seem to disappear when I want a particular pair for a particular project...sound familiar??

I also have ....FINALLY....written out the Slip Stitch Sock pattern. I only have it in WORD right now but plan to convert it into a Pdf file. I hope that it knits up right as the notes I had were kinda sloppy.

I FINALLY got to clean up my studio....it has a nice 5 shelf chrome shelf in it. And last night, I had to try and find some extension cord for a lamp in the living room. WELL....as it goes, I had to move things around and POOF...it happened. It got organized!!! It still needs a bit of work and move my 4 Harness loom back in there, but it was a huge start. I never did find the extension cord....

Off to bed....TTFN...

Carding....and Humidity

2007-09-07T00:03:00.000-05:00

I decided last night to sit out on my little front porch and do some spinning. I met a wonderful man 2 years ago while delivering local papers here, who happens to be a shearer!! He had some fleeces that the person he sheared for didn't want..so, he gave them to me!! I was lucky as I got a chance to try South Down, which I probably wouldn't have otherwise. I like it as it is white, and I like to dye a lot. I found it is a very springy fleece.

He also gave me a grey Romney that, when washed, yielded about 2.5 pounds. I have been keeping it in a pillowcase..the best way to store if you run out of totes like I did. And it reminds me that it needs to be spun. I sat out and carded a big basketful of it last night and spun a few rolags. I also used a 3-groove (the new ones) bobbin for my Louet S-10. I have spun on the older ones for so long, I forgot I have the newer ones to use. It was easy spinning and I finally had to give up around 2 am when the wool started to get terribly sticky. I came and in checked the humidity outside, and it was 94%...and I wondered what was wrong!

The jury is still out on the pin for my Ashford. I had Donna take it yesterday afternoon so she could look and see if she had one that would work. I want to spin with it a bit more...'cus I haven't had as much experience with it as much as I have had with the Loeut.

I did have a spinning problem that I took to my group on Monday night. I have a problem spinning merino/silk and Falkland/silk and getting it no smaller than a worsted. The answers I got were good ones. I need to try another wheel, or change bobbin speeds (like the Louet). I usually don't wheel spin those, but by drop spinning them, I seem to have a bit more control.

I only put a couple of rows on the Rose colored MS3 the other night and nothing on the other ones. I have been in PT for my right shoulder today, and I still have some trouble with my rotator cuff. I tore it all the way through in July starting the lawnmower. I had to mow the lawn Monday, so that didn't help things either.

It is supposed to rain for the next few days and my chronic pain, arthritis, and FMS (fibromyalgia) is letting me know. I will probably lay low and read a lot.

ttfn.....

Decisions......Decisions.....

2007-09-01T03:33:00.000-05:00

I have finally been able to get into my Blog spot account. I wasn't able to since last November, hence...no new posts. How sad....I am now using this blog as knitting and fiber related things and the one on http://xanga.com/tiggerknits for every day life....

I am schlogging along with my Mystery Stole 3 http://pinklemontwist.blogspot.com/. I started out with a pretty plum colored Rowan Tweed fingering weight yarn with #8 pink beads. They have different beads in the package..some are frosted, clear with a pink center, pink overall, etc. I am able to use a #12 crochet hook to put them on with. I am using #5 bamboo needles.

In order to be a part of the knitting group at my LYS in OKC, I had to purchase a ball of yarn to work the stole with. So, I found some really nice lace weight called Harmony. from Jojoland. It is a really pretty space dyed with 880 yards for $7.99 . I thought that was a great deal!! I am using #10 seed beads on it with a piece of bead wire folded in half to put the beads on with. I couldn't find a crochet hook small enough. I am using a #4 circular needle.

The last one I started is a pink merino lace weight with silver-lined clear beads. This one is made by Ornaghi Filati (Italy) called Merino D'Oro. It is nice to work with but doesn't frog too many times well. I am using a #4 bamboo needle on this one.

I am up to Clue 4 on the first 2 and almost there on the last one. When I get a chance and get batteries for my 35mm, I will take some pics. Right now, my little digital is giving me problems and I can't get the pics off the camera and downloaded into the computer.

The State Fair is coming this month to OKC here. I have entered some things in it and I will be holding my breath to see how I do for ribbons. I didn't knit or crochet any layette sets this year, not shawls or sweaters. The winter and spring weren't really good to me and I had a lot of health issues that slowed me down. I did put a pair of socks in of my own design and some hand spinning.

I have a ton of WIP and I need to get them done before I even think of starting anything else. I also want to get some more spinning done as soon as I get the pin for my Ashford Traditional next week. I had the pin that goes into the shaft for the wheel arm sheer off on me a few months ago and it took a while for it to swim from New Zealand........

I also had a knitting group here last winter that kinda petered out due to lack of interest. I had the newspaper here advertise it for free, but they kept forgetting to print it. I am going to try again this fall to start the group up again.

I had a few totes of wool get wet this summer due to all the flooding we had here. I was able to take them outside and dry them all in the sun with no problems. Up to 40 totes and counting....

Hopefully, I can continue to get into my blog here and post more often....

TTFN............

Dontcha Hate That......

2006-11-10T17:54:00.000-06:00

I spend the better part of an hour the other night typing up a post and saved it to draft...Only to find out that it POOOF disappeared! I HATE it when that happens! SO...Instead of trying to recreate that post, I guess I will just go on from here. Rats..it had some good stuff in it, too!

It seems today that the weather has decided to get serious about being Fall. I don't know why as it has been 75-80o the last 3 days! What a disappointment! I didn't sleep very well last night or this morning and I took all the meds I could take. Short of going to the hospital for a pain injection. I didn't move too far all day and the animals were good...they climbed in bed with me save for one dog and one cat. Bear was on the floor asleep and Amy, the cat, was in the other room asleep in my fabric. She wanted to keep warm and not be crowded!

I sat outside those 3 gorgeous days and carded some Icelandic fleece I had washed a couple of weeks ago. I also plyed some Romney and silk noil I had spun on a drop spindle last week. I decided to card some silk together with it and plan on dyeing it with some orange Kool Aid. I am sure the silk will pick up the orange and overdye the dark grey Romney a dark heathered orange/grey.

I did start to spin up some alpaca I have to do for a guy down in Marlowe. He has a smallllll operation for processing fiber, and in return for him processing a Southdown fleece of mine, he wanted me to dehair 2 alpaca fleeces for him and spin up 9.5 ounces of a brown. So, I all ready have 3 ounces spun on my Ashford Traditional. I plan on plying to my Louet S-10. I haven't worked with the Ashford much since I bought it last summer from New Zealand, and I need to use it more to get used to spinning with it. It just doesn't hold too much fiber. I would love to have a Canadian Production Wheel someday...but that is a wonderful dream....

I did have to get dressed and go out to recover the boxes of crystal I have outside with the bleu tarp that blew off it from the wind that's been blowing all day. I took the rest of my fleeces off the front porch and put them out back under the tarp since I had to redo it. It makes the porch look a lot neater.

I am still working on charity knitting things for newborns and preemies. I enjoy knitting and crocheting little hats, booties and layettes. I do blankets from time to time when I find an interesting pattern. I have one right now that is a raised diamond from a Caron wrapper for a Sage Throw. I just adapted it to a much smaller 18x18 inch blanket. I also knit the burial buntings. I belong to the Oklahoma City Knitters Guild in OKC, OK, and we donate out things to Baptist Women Center, in OKC. They use a lot of things we send and especially the buntings and blankets. They give the blankets to the parents of the deceased baby as a keepsake. The buntings are lined in flannel and hold the little one for burial. It is a necessary thing as I have heard other hospitals just toss the baby in a biohazard can and that's the end of things. I like to believe that a human life deserves a bit more respect than that.

On another note, I had to bring in the rest of my books that were outside. I didn't want them outside for the winter. I have $500 set of Old Testament Commentaries that I don't want ruined. I had some cookbooks get wet this summer and they didn't fair so well.

I recently got back into beading, seed beading, in particular. I am beading some gorgeous earrings and plan on some for Christmas presents. I bought some more colors from Anna last spring. I like off the loom work and also loom work. The earrings I used to make when I was in LA and sold them in an aftermarket Harley shop. I would love to sell them again, but I need to find a place.

Oh..that gorgeous bleu Merino/silk yarn from the previous post knit up a beautiful wrister with lace up the back of it. Unfortunately, I spun most of it up as a Worsted Weight and I knit the cuff in the Sportweight that I spun toward the end. I only had enough to knit ONE wrister!! I went to my local spin/weave shop and couldn't find the right bleu. So, I got some fuchsia Merino and silk and plan on spinning it up a Sportweight and knit the other wrister. I don't care if they aren't the same color. I hear that the lastest thing is slippers that don't match!! I will be right in style!

TTFN.....

Fiber Crisis

2005-08-10T05:51:00.000-05:00

Uh...oh....I think I am in need of some serious therapy!! I was named Fibre Queen of the Isles on a Spinning list a few years ago (the name shall go unmentioned) and now that I am in need of some fiber to spin in my new/old Ashford Traditional...I have NONE to spin!! I have 30 totes of wool in storage along with some burlap and pillow case type containers!!! And I can't get to them right now. I mean, REALLY!! This could be a verrry serious thing!! SOOOO....as any good spinner, I had to acquire some fiber somehow. Thank God for a dear friend in Maine, who took pity on me, and sent me some white Cotswald to comb and spin!! And COMB I did!! The staple length is a good 10 inches long!! LOL..it has proved to be a challenge. I also purchased a pound of my favorite ....Coopworth...in roving when I got a chance to go to the Mountain View Weavery!! I plan on making some socks for my friend, Mo, in Oregon who really appreciates warm, homespun and hand knit socks!! I don't think I will overdye it this time. I am not sure about the Cotswold, though.

The photo is a picture of some gorgeous Merino/Silk mixture that that dear friend, Peggy, in Maine sent me for my birthday last year!! I haven't decided what to use it for as it has to be something very special. I remember Janet from Oregon, who's last name escapes me right now, who did the felted Companion Totes, had a wonderful pattern for a collar that was really colorful. I bought the pattern thinking it would be great for a collar/scarf in winter or even for a crisp fall day. It doesn't take much yarn and some of my early novelty spun yarn would be great. I probably could make a couple of different ones.

I really dislike not having my patterns or even previous homespun where I can put my hands on it. I will be soooo happy!!!!! jump up and down....when I can get into my own house and INDULGE!!!!!

Until I can.....I will just be content...NOT...in knitting and spinning what I have on hand....

TTFN..........