EWESPECIAL: April 2015

Thursday, April 30, 2015

Selvedges in Knitting

We're back on the topic of selvedges. this time in Knitting! Have you ever thought that you must make your selvedges work just right? Of course, you have! I found this site Tricksy Knitter very helpful.

Here is a simple chain slip on this shawl selvedge

How about a crochet edge to finish off your selvedge?

On this shawl I used garter stitch on the border.

There are so many interesting stitches to use for that added feature on your knit wear.

Happy stitching!

Wednesday, April 29, 2015

Clouds.

Have you ever lain in the grass and looked skyward and to see what cloud shapes you can imagine?

What fun that is.............................."oh, I see an elephant" "that shape looks like a clown".............

We look towards the clouds to bring us relief on a sunny day--

"Thank goodness, that cloud blocked the sun"

clouds give us reflections of the setting sun

clouds fill the sky with light fluffy puffs--

I don't know the name of the cloud shapes

but

I'm always happy to see some of those puffs on a clear blue sky day!

Tuesday, April 28, 2015

Love IS...............................

Love Letters--what is love? Is it tangible? powerful? words? Thoughts? Suggestions?

Well, I do LOVE Chocolate! Is that wrong?!!

I LOVE receiving love letters and cards!

LOVE is wrapping a quilt around a friend in need!

Why is LOVE always shared as a heart?

Love is beautiful,

Strong emotion,

Feeling,

For anyone

Who opens their soul

How do you LOVE?

Monday, April 27, 2015

Simple Pleasures

Simple Pleasures include finishing March's pattern

for the Year long Scarf project! Yes, I know I'm behind a month............................................but I'll catch up soon!

Here is April pattern:

DIAGONAL MADEIRA LACE
#4. Diagonal Madeira Lace (multiple of 4): 68 beads and 46 total sts on the needle.
NOTE FOR PLACING BEADS: you will be placing beads on the ‘Slip one, K2TOG, psso’ stitches. Place the bead in the K2TOG stitch and be sure that the slipped stitch is passed over the K2TOG stitch AND the bead. This will anchor the bead in place. You will need 68 beads for this pattern section. If you have strung your beads onto your yarn before beginning, detailed instructions for how to insert the beads can be found in Post #617.
NOTE: There are two versions of the pattern. Be sure to mark the version you are working on.
Non-Beaded Version:
Row 1: K2, +YO, Sl 1, K2TOG, PSSO, YO, K1; rep from + to last two sts, K2.
Rows 2, 4, 6, and 8: Purl.
Row 3: K2, +K1, YO, Sl 1, K2TOG, PSSO, YO; rep from + to last two sts, K2.
Row 5: K1, K2TOG, +YO, K1, YO, Sl 1, K2TOG, PSSO; rep from + to last 5 sts, YO, K1, YO, SSK, K2.
Row 7: K2, K2TOG, +YO, K1, YO, Sl 1, K2TOG, PSSO; rep from + to last 4 sts, YO, K1, YO, SSK, K1.
Rep the above eight rows 3 times more (4 times total).

Sunday, April 26, 2015

Happy Birthday!!

Today we celebrate the birthday of my lover, constant companion, daddy to my children, breadwinner, my soul mate.........................................................Even though we were married young, our lives have evolved together. So, today I wish my Hubby a Happy Birthday!

The young Dan on our wedding day in 1963

And the man today!

Love you!

More every year!

Saturday, April 25, 2015

Linen Warp, Silk Weft

It is my good intention to finish this warp before the end of April--we have 6 days and counting.

What we have here is linen warp, set at 30 epi (ends per inch). I used some handspun 2 ply brown cotton to space the warp after tying onto the beam.

Of course, there is Always a threading error when I weave--can you see it? I use a straight pin to attach it back into the warp and anchor

we are weaving with handspun single silk--and there is another error--in fact, two errors to deal with.

Cut that off and begin again. The trouble with this warp is that I used two different weights of linen, which means when in the dent the smaller warp doesn't fill in the space as well as the larger warp--make sense?

Here you can see the trouble--I also did a free form twill reverse threading and without thinking got the heddles to close--e.g.. 1-2-3-4-3-4-3-4--

Not going to take it out now--tomorrow I'll cut this off and begin again--sett at 24 epi

maybe, that will work better.

Wish me luck!

Friday, April 24, 2015

Trees--Searching for Roy G Biv 4 - Green

Well, what do you know--Today is National Arbor Day! So, we are writing about Trees! You know those tall green things that shed their leaves in the fall, gives us lovely yellow pollen in the spring!
Are you ready! Let's go--Green is calling my name! And we are searching for.................................

Roy G. Biv, also ROYGBIV, is an acronym for the sequence of hues commonly described as making up a rainbow: Red, Orange, Yellow, Green, Blue, Indigo and Violet.

I feel for those who are colorblind--my husband is one--he can't see green--what a pity! Green is so refreshing to look at--green is new growth in the springtime. Green means money! Green is a young cowhand--I'm celebrating Arbor Day with Green

Here are the greens from my yarn closet--

Just look at the different greens you can see in the field

Did you ever think there was this many greens in one place?

There are greens in my floss collection

Greens in my fabric stash

I stopped in the local paint store to pick up greens, but these cards certainly didn't photograph green.

close to brown is green?

Check out more greens at

Jennifer Coyne Qudeen.

Thursday, April 23, 2015

Spring/Autumn

Even Spring brings some knitting time for the Fall.

Here is a delightful, easy pattern to knit now and

be ready for the fall cool temps.

Knitting Fever

I think this would be suitable for any age or gender.

How about this cute BaaBaa hat? How many do you think you will knit?

check out this free pattern, designed by Donna Smith, at Shetland Wool Week

Heads up! This is a winner!

Wednesday, April 22, 2015

Happy! Happy! Happy!

I Love Cookbooks! The more colorful the better! This one makes me very happy when I browse through the pages.

The photos make the foods look so tasty and the stories along with recipes make the food come off the pages. Do I cook these recipes? Not hardly!

I enjoy the staging of the foods, the decorations highlighting each recipe--and looking for weaving designs--like this one with blue and white stripes. It looks so refreshing and you just want to head to your loom and begin warping!

Here's another featured recipe placed on different striping sequence

How about these red and white plaids? Adds some cheery notes to the dish.

and another blue and white cloth, using the blue stripes as edging!

Okay, I'm getting hungry looking at all these recipes.

hope you'll join me and look through your cookbooks--not only for the recipe

but how the dish is staged.

Tuesday, April 21, 2015

Learning a New Technique

Even though I've been knitting for several years now, there are so many techniques I do not use or even try to learn. But, when it came time to work on our Springtime in Paris pattern, the first cast on line was "With MC, using a Provisional Cast On, cast on 196 sts"! Say What?!! I haven't the foggiest idea how to do this. As all good instructors do, they include a YouTube video that is very helpful.

https://youtu.be/8XIr2GiqjQg

and now, I can do a provisional cast on over another needle! Hurrah for me!

A cast on designed to create live stitches on both sides of the cast on. There are several options for working it but my preference is the circular cable needle style.
Video:
https://youtu.be/8XIr2GiqjQg

At first, it was very awkward--two needles side by side--cast on over one stationery needle--okay--did it--not once but twice! Practice makes perfect, right?!

And I'm diggin' this pattern--lots to keep one's interest as we knit.

Oh, we're adding beads too. I'm behind with the clues, of course. Almost finished with clue 2 as clue 3 comes out.

At first, I used a needle that didn't have the thingie attached at the ends--big mistake! So, I got up from my chair and marched upstairs to find the stoppers--am glad I did--no more stitches falling off!

And we are knitting....................................

Monday, April 20, 2015

I Live Here

Here is where I live................

I live where hot air balloons float over the house on a cool morning.............

I live where the bluebonnets take to the fields in the spring time.............

I live where longhorn steers are common.................

I live where crawfish is a party on a weekend...............

I live where you can find the best BBQ joint just around the corner..........

I live where you can that perfect pink cowgirl hat............

I live where the greatest rodeo/show happens...........

I live where cowboys still exist.............

I live here where my family and friends are!

How about you?

Sunday, April 19, 2015

OOPS................................

Yelp! OOPS says it all! I'm working on April block from

Pat Sloan's mystery QAL 'Vacation Time'

and I'm using western fabrics

My brain was definitely in a fog when I made this block!

Here! This is much better--I think!

The pattern is quick and easy (if your brain is in the right gear!)

Here is the second block==really not too sure I like this one either--just might change those 1/2 square triangles out--after my brain fog clears!

Saturday, April 18, 2015

A Group of Friends Create...................................

Here we are--750+ knitter friends! All working and designing our own shawl pattern through the efforts of designer Maria Rosa Spighetti. We have worked through

yarn weight (fingering weight was chosen)
how many colors (two)
what shape (crescent)
how to obtain that shape (short rows)

This has been fun adventure! Maria Rosa is an excellent designer so she is taking our voting choices and designing this shawl pattern for us. You can check it out on Ravelry under the group Maria Rosa Knits Away.

Wait! You're not a member of Ravelry yet? No problems--it's free! Just go to the website and join in the fun! Lots of exciting things happen on that website for all textile folks--knitters, those who crochet, dyers, quilters, surface designers--I guarantee you--a great time surfing! so join in the fun!

Friday, April 17, 2015

Life Changing Books

Every spring and summer I have the pleasure of downloading wonderful audio books! All Free!

There are classics and young adult books (meant to get them reading)!

Here's how it works........

Download Details

Downloads are in MP3 format, hosted by OverDrive, and are Mac and Windows compatible.
Downloads will operate through the OverDrive app.
Most listening devices are supported.
Each SYNC audiobook will be available for download for a period of 7 days (only).
Titles, once downloaded, are yours to keep.