5th Teen Hat!

#20hatsin2020 #issaquahfoodandclothingbank #issaquahfoodbank #moreyarnplease #snowdayknitting

This happened ~

#moreyarnplease #knittingtime

Walkin' the dawgs ~

(Warning, something has happened to my Blogger formatting...Yikes????)
Since this week was too full of work to get any knitting in, I will share some other fun that occurred. My kids have a job each week of walking a neighbor's dog as she leaves for work early and gets home late a few days during the week, so my kids walk over after school and take Lola for a walk around our neighborhood.  Lola is a very sweet dog, and the kids love her.  Lola's owner let us know that this week she was "dog sitting" for two other dogs, and would that be ok if our kids walked all of them...Of course yes!

Plus it snowed, and I said I wanted them to send me pictures of this fun with all these dogs and kids....

  Plus it snowed, and I said I wanted them to send me pictures of this fun with all these dogs and kids.... and then my man had some fun as well, and youngest daughter started playing for the camera - I'm sure she's singing a Glee song...and the dogs look like they are singing too!

 

They are loving all of this fun! Even my man looks ever so patient while the pictures are getting taken and the dogs are curious about what is going on...Kids and dogs and snow, a perfect combination!

Trillian Blocking ~

Now that the snow and ice are not on our roadways, I was able to get the blocking boards that I share with the Jitteryknitter. Fun that I have three projects to block, yet not enough blocking boards...I have never had this issue before - see how wonderful it is to have a week of snow, ice and knitting ~ equaling three finished projects!!! Here is the lovely Trillian blocking. A beautiful shawl and one that I can knit while having a conversation too! A bonus during the time we had 10 kids and parents in the house for "after sledding" and "before snowball fights" cocoa and marshmallow consumption...plus dinner and lunch with so many snow bound happy people, I was happy to be knitting during the happy chaos! Now I can see how lovely it is!

Spinning polwarth ~

As the thawing of the snow and ice continue, I am able to spin one more of my 1 ounce samples of polwarth. This is my last one, and once it "rests" I will practice Navajo plying once again. I hope that this plying technique will become easier and fluid, as for now I stop-and-start as I used to for drop spindling. I am enjoying the practice, and am looking forward to what to spin next, so I can practice Navajo plying again, and again, and again!

Navajo merino/tencel ~

Practicing my Navajo plying again, this time with the lovely purples of my merino and tencel blend. I love how soft this feels, and the plying looks fair. I still do not completely understand the finer points of how to Navajo ply, as looking in my Visually Spinning book as a less than satisfying description and two pictures where I cannot see what the spinner's hands are doing. There must be many spinners that believe this is easy-peasy and feel they don't need to spend time with the details for beginners. So I am muddling along, and having a delightful time, as the twist is lovely and snug, and I am reminded of my dearest jitterbug twist, and perhaps someday when I am a great spinner, I can ply a jitterbug twist....ahhhh, my fondest spinning dream!

Thawing finish ~

Now our snow and ice is melting as our Pacific Northwest rain is coming back as if we could forget what life is like without the rain. No more sledding, no more snowball fights ~ just slush and puddles and grass peeking out on some lawns. Many tree limbs down as well, but our power is still on, and we are counting our blessings. As I was thinking of casting on another Trillian shawl out of my lovely Shibui Sock yarn, I made myself a deal that if I could finish one project on my list, I could cast on the Shibui....so......which project is the closest to being done? Yes, you guessed it...my scarf out of my handspun. This is the handspun I made with the drop spindle, before I received my Pocket Wheel. This is the BFL fiber given to be by Jitteryknitter for my 2010 birthday, to ensure that I would go into the "spinning rabbit hole" and never come out again.... and I did! (Thanks, Lisa!!!!)

Snowy finish ~

Another snow and ice day, as the power just came back on but still icy on the roadways. We were an entire day without power, and we made the best of the situation by all the neighbors sticking together for meals and support and relaxing fun. The kids are still having a blast, and the adults are enjoying some down-time as well. I have finished Trillian, and I love everything about it! I love the yarn with the hard twist and the colors are fabulous. The Signature Needles are a dream with this yarn as well, plus the pattern is easy enough to work on while having a conversation (however be careful on the phone, don't drop any stitches!!!) Since the colorway is Zinnia, it seemed perfect to take a finished picture in my garden. I had to clear off one of my sweet pinkie birds for the photos. Aren't they lovely! As I was casting off, I started thinking about two other skeins of Shibui Sock that would make another lovely Trillian... would that be too obsessive to cast on another Trillian so soon??!!???

Power outage knitting ~

Another snow day on our hill, but this one begins with no power - yes, lights out in the wee hours of the AM so we have plenty of time to get ready for the night. Well, we are still the hub for the neighborhood kids, sledding and snowball fights and lots of cocoa and marshmallow consumption. Also lunch and dinners, and we are having a blast. I did finish my mango handspun shawl, and as you'll note by the wee ball in the picture, I had just a teeny bit to spare! The thick and thin yarn makes it look rustic, and I'm excited to see how it will look when blocked. Very satisfying to knit with one's handspun! Even more satisfying to finish a project with one's handspun! Knitting with a headlamp worn as a necklace is the secret to knitting in a power outage. If you don't have a headlamp in your knitting bag now, I recommend you get one soon!!! Also took a picture out in the snow, just so you could see the shawl in more light...
Note: the power is now on while I'm posting this, as I am not yet clever enough to figure out how to post to the blog without power...my phone just won't do it!

Snow day spinning ~

Lucky and cozy are we, as the snow falls around us and the schools get closed, and my job sends us all home early...my mind turns to what bonus activity I could be doing now that I have a snow day.... so we are safely off the roads, and cozy by the fireplace...and I'm spinning a new blend on my Pocket Wheel. This is a blend by Rain City Fiber Arts, the same company that I bought the yarn for the Track Star socks, and I love that yarn and I LOVE her color blends....So I've been thinking of this blend, as I bought three 1 ounce samples of 50/50 merino tencel when I was still drop spindling. It looks lovely spun as a single on my wheel! I am wondering how it will Navajo ply, but that will be tomorrow's project, since I'm hoping for another snow day at home!

Snowy knitting ~

We have finally received our first snow. Much has fallen, and there are deer hanging out under our cedar trees to keep out of the falling snow. My youngest and I walked to the grocery store, but no driving on our hills, so that is a relief. The chickens have enough food and their water has not frozen. The cat is happily sleeping in her warm bed in the garage. My sweetie said he would "chain up" and drive me to work if the roads are still covered...so nothing to stress about....Just some knitting on this snowy day! P.S. I think I've fixed the two stinkin' dropped stitches, but they don't look perfect...so I'm not showing a picture of the "fix" but I am hoping that it "blocks out", right?

Venezia snow ~

I keep hearing voices telling me to get back to the clapotis...but I keep taking stolen moments with the Venezia. The one row pattern is easy, yet looks so lovely in this lavender yarn. Oh-so-soft as well, and I marvel how beautiful it is looking.

I am glad of a snow day to get some knitting in, plus other holiday endeavours that seem to be behind schedule...a chance to play with some silk merino and rosewood needles...ahhhh, good times....

I am wondering if there will be more snow days this week?

Venezia Vacation ~

Monday night, when I heard there would be a snow day on Tuesday, I thought that I needed a way to celebrate. As I sat in front of our fireplace with the grey/black clapotis on my lap, I realized what I needed.... a Venezia Vacation....


So I found my one ball of Webs Sale Venezia, and I cast on the Yarn Harlot's one row scarf, and I am loving this vacation!!!


P.S. The rosewood needles really help, too!!!

Snow evening ~

We just heard at 8:25 PM that we'll be having a snow day from school on Tuesday! Hurrah for the kids being home! Hurrah for my boss that knows that I'm too scared to drive up and down our big hills in the snow, so if the kids are off on a snow day from school, I stay home too!


As soon as we heard the news, my daughters put on all their winter gear to play outside, and I happened to see my oldest daughter putting this scarf item around her head...sort of looks like a dinosaur tail along the back...a free form knit and crochet piece she made years ago... and I had to get some pictures as she's on the phone making sledding plans for the snow day...

Hats for Snow ~

Our first twinkle of snow on Sunday, and I was thrilled to see one of my sweeties in one of my knitted hats....

Even after she came in from the snow, she was wearing another one that I'd knit for her...a "double hat" kind of day!!!

Beautiful hats, beautiful girl!!! I love it!!!

It's Baaaaaack ~

Hard to believe but the snow is back ~ lots of it too.... We did not even wear coats to church this morning, just sweaters, and I ran outside this morning on wet roads ~ no ice or snow or slush to run through.... and now it is back ~ steadily falling since 5:00 pm. The kids are hoping for another "snow day" home from school, as tomorrow would be there first day back since the first set of snow days before their official holiday.... they are so excited and hopeful..... stay tuned!!!

Knitting Dreams ~

Dreaming of hand spun hand dyed yarn, in a beautiful twist of blues, violets and a hint of turquoise, being knitted into a delightful hat ribbed and warm to ward off the snow of December......