2012 - Week One - Let's Do This2012 - Week One - Let's Do This I'm starting off 2012 with a positive surge of energy and eagerness because I know this is going to be a great year!  This year, although I don't set new year's goals or resolutions, I am looking forward...

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Week Fifty - GiftsWeek Fifty - Gifts This week's post is all about gifts.  First I'll start with the gift of an amazing husband who cares for me way more than I could ever deserve.  This past week, my laptop that I use for doing my job...

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Week Fourty Nine - Lessons LearnedWeek Fourty Nine - Lessons Learned One of the things I have learned about blogging over the past years, is that the very thing that you most want to write about generally keeps you from writing. That thing is called life. When I get busy,...

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Week Thirty - Rabbits Reborn and Sharing the Game of SoccerWeek Thirty - Rabbits Reborn and Sharing the Game of... This week has been a long one.  Scott has been in Africa all week and does not get back until Wednesday.  Although I have missed him greatly, I have been able to accomplish much with the quiet house...

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Week Twenty Nine - Missions and MittensWeek Twenty Nine - Missions and Mittens Scott left for Uganda yesterday on his first mission trip, ever.  He will be gone for 10 days and is part of an all male (testosterone rich) group of coaches and active guys.  He was excited, nervous,...

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Winner, Winner, Chicken Dinner!! We have a winner for the Nautical Knitter Contest!

Category : Fiber Arts, Patterns

Lucky commenter number 21 is the winner! First, let me thank everyone who commented and put my link on their blogs.  I really appreciate it!  I am so excited to share with you all what is in the bags and especially what I will be knitting next!  Our winner is Diana (Foxi) from Germany.  To see what was in the bags and what she won, check out the video:

Here is the list of bags you see in the video and their contents.

Bag #1 – Pattern – Sunflower Designs “Iris“; Yarn – Xie Bamboo Fiber #469

Bag #2 – Pattern – Knitpicks “Rona“; Yarn Knitpicks “Dye your own lace weight” that I dyed in blueberries

Bag #3 – Pattern – Sunflower Designs “Hydrangea“; Yarn – Xie Bamboo Fiber #492

Bag #5 – Pattern – “DaVinci Shawl“; Yarn – Yarn Place “Touch” (this yarn is so soft!!)

The winning bag was #4 – Pattern – Knitting Delight – “Way of Life Stole“; Yarn – Knitpicks “Alpaca Cloud” Moss colorway

If you would like to knit along with me on the winning project, you can find the instructions here.  It is a yahoo group and you have to join to get the pattern parts.  Leave me a comment if you want to knit along with me.  If you don’t, that is ok, just stay tuned to watch my progress.  Catch ya later, I’m off to cast on!!  Whee!!!

A Contest!!! What should I knit next? You decide…

Category : Fiber Arts

I am having trouble deciding which of these 5 projects to start next.  So, I thought I would let you guys decide.  Vote in the poll on the left and post a link on your blog to mine, so others will vote too.  Leave me a comment on this post telling me that you did both of these things and I will pick a winner from those who follow these simple steps.  Easy, huh?

Pick One

The prize will probably be some sort of yarny goodness.  I haven’t decided yet.  I can’t tell you what projects are in what bags, I have already forgotten…  But which ever one gets the most votes I will start next.  All are lace of one kind or another and none are my own design.  That is all I can offer.  Stay tuned for the results…

What would you do with a quart of VERY (found in the back of the refrigerator) left over blueberries?

Category : Fiber Arts

Put them in a pot of boiling water and dye some yarn!  That is exactly what I did and now I have 1600 yards of lace weight yarn in an amazing lavender color that is just waiting to be knitted up into something special.  This was such a totally cool thing to do that I have now found a new passion, Natural Fiber Dying.  Awesome!

Blueberry Yarn

Stats:

Knitpicks dye your own – 2 skeins Lace weight

1 quart semi frozen, definitely inedible blueberries from the back of the fridge

Soup pot, 1 gallon water (+or-), and 2 Cups vinegar

Bring water and berries to boil.  Cook for 1 hour.  Mash and strain out the blueberries.

Soak yarn in additional water and vinegar mixture, then place yarn and water/vinegar in soup pot with blueberry water.

"Cook" another hour or until water is clear and yarn has soaked up all the color desired.

Gently rinse yarn until the water runs clear and hang to dry.

*Do not stir the yarn too much while cooking.  It will felt!

Enjoy.

Spinning? Not so much…

Category : Fiber Arts

A few years ago I was gifted a lovely spindle and some purple/mauve mix fiber.  These came in a “learn to spin” kit, complete with instructions, etc…

Spindle and Fiber 

Fast forward to present.  I have spun enough of this fiber, on this spindle, in the intervening YEARS to confidently say “I know how” and “I don’t care for spinning”.  I think I would be able to master a wheel much faster and enjoy it more, but I still don’t think that spinning fiber is the craft of choice for me.  Let’s just say I consider it well worth my $$ and my time saved to purchase a nice hank of cashmere, silk, or even alpaca that someone else has lovingly spun into luscious fibery goodness.

So, even though it may not be my thing either, I will take the rest of this fiber mass and attempt to needle felt something.  If that doesn’t work, and you happen to be a close friend or relative of mine reading this, you can probably expect a nice felted bar or two of bath soap in your Christmas packages this year.  The spindle is going on the Christmas tree as an ornament.

How To Make A Double Point Knitting Needle Holder

Category : Fiber Arts

Do you need a way to keep your double points together when you are working on a sleeve or sock and have to put it away? We have the perfect solution for you. Here is an economical and fun way to make your own personalized double point knitting needle holder. They are so easy, make a bunch for stocking stuffers and gift exchanges. Enjoy