Saturday, 16 June 2018
Red Bird
I framed the Red Bird punch needle project this morning.
I love the bright colours, the sunflowers, and cardinal. The Valdani threads are beautiful. I found a website that shows how to variegate plain threads by dipping half the skein in coffee to make it a shade darker. I will be experimenting with DMC Perle cotton threads.
Friday, 15 June 2018
Cunningham
I finished the Cunningham blanket. It's a free Berroco design, easily modified for any size. I did about 25" of the inner lace part before starting the 3" garter stitch border. On the blocking wires, it measures 31" on each side. As the yarn is DK weight (heavy for a baby blanket IMHO), I made it small-ish. Hopefully useful in a car seat or pram.
I used Smart yarn by Sandnesgarn - 100% superwash wool. I did add a bit of hair conditioner in the rinse water to soften it up even more. It will have a nice drape.
The pinhole centre cast-on was a great idea.
I still have buttons to sew on the little sweater and may knit up a little hat or headband to go with it.
Tuesday, 12 June 2018
A Week Later...
I have had a lot going on since the last post and I haven't taken may photos - ergo the lack of posting.
Last week Jen1, Barb, Jeanette and I met at Jen's for a crafty day. It was loads of fun and we got everyone on board with the Hardanger project. Our next day together will be in two weeks.
I got my scissor fob put together, weighting it with a penny. Jeanette explained that when it's weighted, if it falls, the fob falls first, then the scissors. Thus the scissors won't be dulled as they'll fall last being pulled by the handle. I have to assemble the needle case so will have a good look at the instructions before I do that.
On Friday, Scooter came out from The Big City. We picked him up at the GO station and immediately headed to Kingston to catch the Wolfe Island Ferry for the first part of our Finger Lakes trip.
The ferry is free and only takes 20 minutes.
It was a beautiful day.
The sky was practically cloudless. Here, I'm looking back at Kingston.
Once on the island, we drove across it to Alexandria Point (a 12 minute drive) where we could take the next ferry - a 10 minute ride - to Cape Vincent NY. It's a privately-owned ferry that can hold 4 - 6 vehicles and cost us $20 CAD ($17 US).
Once there, we had lunch at waterside at Captain Jack's, then drove along the shore to Sackets Harbor, a town that was involved in the War of 1812. Skip and Scooter are history buffs so enjoyed looking at old cannons, battlefields, and touring the historical centre.
The next day, drove to Peterboro NY to attend the Civil War reenactment weekend. On the way we stopped at A Stitcher's Garden in Lafayette NY, along the Old Erie Canal. I purchased some small pieces of fabrics for stitching small items.
When we arrived in Peterboro, there was no evidence of the Civil War reenactment that had been held on that weekend for the last 25 years. When Skip inquired about it at a local business, he was informed that it was cancelled. Instead, there was a fundraising chicken dinner at the old fire hall. We soothed our disappointment by eating chicken, potatoes, and pasta salad until we were stuffed and then drove on to the fibre festival at Bouckville.
In the first tent I found the woman who was selling the little charms that I like to use for zipper pulls on some of my knitting projects. I bought 25 of them. On close inspection, I noted that the ring joining the two pieces is one of those double jump rings - making it very sturday. The vendor told me her daughter makes them.
There were about 7 big tents, live music, some food vendors (but not the deep-fried artichoke folks this year), plenty of port-a-potties, free demonstrations, and scheduled fibre-themed classes. We watched a longwool sheep being shorn.
In one of the tents, babydoll sheep were on display. They were only 8 weeks old and very cute.
The next day we ventured down to Skaneateles (pron. ska-nee-AT-las), where Skip and I have visited several times before. We walked out the jetty and looked back at the town.
There are two lovely, waterfront parks. This one looks up the west side of Lake Skaneateles.
There's a bandshell at one side of the park
and a beautiful, war memorial at the opposite end, honouring men and women who perished fighting in several wars/
The historic Sherwood Inn faces the park.
There are several cute shops. This one had pillows and tea towels that had been printed, then embroidered.
Many of the shops on the main street had very cute planters.
We met birding friends from Texas for lunch. They live near Auburn NY this time of year. After lunch we went to their farm to tour their 1800's farmhouse and out-buildings. After a couple of relaxing hours, we made our way back to Watertown for the night. Yesterday we made it the rest of the way home.
I've been stitching more of the scissor fobs for possible gifts or sale. On the baby blanket that I've been knitting, I'm almost finished the mitered, garter-stitch border. My progress came to a screeching halt when the cable broke away from the needle. I got the stitches picked up and set it aside for another time.
Last week Jen1, Barb, Jeanette and I met at Jen's for a crafty day. It was loads of fun and we got everyone on board with the Hardanger project. Our next day together will be in two weeks.
I got my scissor fob put together, weighting it with a penny. Jeanette explained that when it's weighted, if it falls, the fob falls first, then the scissors. Thus the scissors won't be dulled as they'll fall last being pulled by the handle. I have to assemble the needle case so will have a good look at the instructions before I do that.
On Friday, Scooter came out from The Big City. We picked him up at the GO station and immediately headed to Kingston to catch the Wolfe Island Ferry for the first part of our Finger Lakes trip.
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| In line to board the ferry |
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| Scooter and me |
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| We're the 'big glasses' people! |
Once there, we had lunch at waterside at Captain Jack's, then drove along the shore to Sackets Harbor, a town that was involved in the War of 1812. Skip and Scooter are history buffs so enjoyed looking at old cannons, battlefields, and touring the historical centre.
The next day, drove to Peterboro NY to attend the Civil War reenactment weekend. On the way we stopped at A Stitcher's Garden in Lafayette NY, along the Old Erie Canal. I purchased some small pieces of fabrics for stitching small items.
When we arrived in Peterboro, there was no evidence of the Civil War reenactment that had been held on that weekend for the last 25 years. When Skip inquired about it at a local business, he was informed that it was cancelled. Instead, there was a fundraising chicken dinner at the old fire hall. We soothed our disappointment by eating chicken, potatoes, and pasta salad until we were stuffed and then drove on to the fibre festival at Bouckville.
In the first tent I found the woman who was selling the little charms that I like to use for zipper pulls on some of my knitting projects. I bought 25 of them. On close inspection, I noted that the ring joining the two pieces is one of those double jump rings - making it very sturday. The vendor told me her daughter makes them.
In one of the tents, babydoll sheep were on display. They were only 8 weeks old and very cute.
The historic Sherwood Inn faces the park.
I've been stitching more of the scissor fobs for possible gifts or sale. On the baby blanket that I've been knitting, I'm almost finished the mitered, garter-stitch border. My progress came to a screeching halt when the cable broke away from the needle. I got the stitches picked up and set it aside for another time.
Although the Civil War plans didn't pan out, and Scooter and Skip never made it to a golf course or driving range, it was a great weekend away. We shopped, ate, did easy driving, stayed in nice hotels, visited friends, a stitchery shop, a couple of fabric stores, a fibre festival and enjoyed beautiful weather.
Monday, 4 June 2018
New Printer
I bought a new printer! Jeanette mentioned this type the other day, stating that it doesn't need refilling with ink for 2 years. That certainly got my attention as my current printer was going through cartridges about every other week, it seemed. And I don't even do that much printing. Although the old printer only cost about $70, I've been spending several hundred dollars every year in printer cartridges. The new printer was on sale for $299 but I won't have to buy ink for it for a long time. In addition to it being a wireless printer (and compatible with my Windows 10 computer - unlike the HP Envy), it does automatic double sided printing as well as scanning either to an SD card or the computer, and copying. It did take a while to install and the LCD screen is tiny, but it's working great.
It's the Epson Expression ET-2750. ET is short for 'EcoTank'.
It comes with the 4 ink bottles which are poured into the cartridges after shipping and opening the box. The '502' is a sticker that I affixed with as a reminder for me of the number of the replacement ink bottles which I hope I won't need for a long time.
This is the least expensive model of the EcoTank Epsons - perfect for home use.
Until last week I didn't even know there were printers with such big ink reservoirs! I learn so much from my friends.
It's the Epson Expression ET-2750. ET is short for 'EcoTank'.
Until last week I didn't even know there were printers with such big ink reservoirs! I learn so much from my friends.
Saturday, 2 June 2018
Starting a Baby Blanket
I have started the Cunningham blanket, a free pattern by the Berroco Design Team. It is for my friend's granddaughter who will be born in September but the mother will be visiting locally in July.
I am using Sandnes Garn Smart - a DK superwash wool with 4mm needles. I previously used that yarn for a Lehe lapblanket and really liked the feel of it. It's not a baby yarn but I'll rinse it in hair conditioner before I wet block it and it will be very nice.
It is knit from the centre outwards. I started with a pinhole cast-on - something new to me. It involves using a crochet hook to cast on the first 8 stitches. They can then be transferred to the knitting needles for knitting in the round (dpns or magic loop). The yarn tail is then snugged up, pulling all the stitches to the centre, thus closing the hole.
I haven't knit lace in a while and it took me a while to get my mojo back. It's always tricky to get the pattern established. I put a stitch marker at each 'corner'. The chart is very easy to read and the instructions are very clear. I just kept making mistakes due to inattentiveness. I keep adding cable lengths as the project gets bigger. Right now I have 2 - 24" joined cables but can swap out one or both of them for longer cables as needed.
Once I have knit as far as I want to go for the centre - approx. 28" or 70cm, I'll start the garter stitch mitred border. I bought more than enough yarn for this project.
I am using Sandnes Garn Smart - a DK superwash wool with 4mm needles. I previously used that yarn for a Lehe lapblanket and really liked the feel of it. It's not a baby yarn but I'll rinse it in hair conditioner before I wet block it and it will be very nice.
It is knit from the centre outwards. I started with a pinhole cast-on - something new to me. It involves using a crochet hook to cast on the first 8 stitches. They can then be transferred to the knitting needles for knitting in the round (dpns or magic loop). The yarn tail is then snugged up, pulling all the stitches to the centre, thus closing the hole.
Thursday, 31 May 2018
Red Bird
I finished punching the Red Bird project.
While at Jen1's yesterday I decided to outline the stems and leaves with the dark brown after all. I think it really made them 'pop'.
I love the tonal Valdani threads I used for this project. They give the large areas such depth of colour. My brain is already swirling with ideas for other projects. Something like this, perhaps?
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| Northern Lake - Lawren Harris |
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| Mount Lefroy - Lawren Harris |
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| Pine Tree and Red House - Lawren Harris |
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| Ice House, Coldwell, Lake Superior - Lawren Harris |
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