Just Cruisin' Along...........

Just cruisin' along with my knitting--

I'm happy that I'm on the third yarn in the pattern--

yeah me!

This is January pattern for Hat group on Ravelry--

Always running behind and my goal was to knit

at least 5-7 hats in 2018.

Well, you can see that I made a mistake way back in 

first color--I didn't see it till I was too far removed

and said--'darn it' and knit along!

Just cruising along with my knitting and this is easy

pattern to follow but there it was --three pinks!!

instead of just two--well, this time I tinked back

to the mistake as those three together threw the

whole pattern off.  This pattern is from Darn Knit Anyway--

I'm cruisin' again!!  Maybe, I'll finish before April

as March pattern comes out--still have February to knit......

Weavers Gathering!

It was our February meeting of WSW (Westside Weavers)--

we are a small group but mighty!  Our experiences are varied

but Sharing is a big part of our

meeting--times of trouble, sadness, health issues, friendships

we made, weaving problems and solutions--

During "show and tell" time, Penny had this gorgeous Shetland wool--

boy, wish I knew this last November!  It would have been

perfect for Shetland lace knitting project--oh, well,

we touched it lightly and could see it being spun into a

fine thread. 

Connie shared her Christmas gift--

a stitching joy to behold!  

Rosemary had her Christmas cards--she used portions of

her parents wool blanket--bringing back memories of

her childhood--she did some eco-dyeing on the wool

and used the insets for her cards--very clever!

Another clever idea from Rosemary--all those photos

you receive over the years--all from one family--she

used to make these delightful balls for decorations

for her memory tree.

Such colorful twill towels were shared by Pat--

nice handle--20 epi cotton--

She had several with different weft colors to

accent the warp--we all wanted to sneak one into

our bags to take home!  

Good work Pat!

Laughs, Friends, Fun, Sharing, and we end the 

the day with lunch.

Finishes? Not Much.............

I think there are many people who finish projects,

I'm not one of those people--although, I try--

sometimes, those projects or UFOs linger for

awhile--why?  Sometimes, I get lazy; sometimes,

I lose interest; sometimes, I forget about them!

This is 10 blocks from A Quilting Life--2017 BOM--

I had to search the site to find the last two block patterns, so

maybe, one day in 2018 I'll put it together.

This is the leader, ender project--it will be an ongoing

sewing project.  Maybe, I'll finish this and pass it along

for a charity quilt

I have the pieces all cut out for the leader-ender

so there should be no excuse--right?

I'm still working on the lender-ender project from 2016--

oh, well--some day it will finish!  Maybe!

I was knitting these Winding Stairway fingerless gloves

on two circular needles--doing two at the same time.

well, that didn't work for me--it was a good idea, until

I put them down for awhile.  When I picked them up to knit,

I got lost in the pattern trying to keep up with

both gloves--now, the gloves are on double pointed

needles--and I think I might finish--by next winter.

For MONTHS--I've been looking for this pattern!

Finally, it surfaced!  I wasn't looking for it

and out it came from hiding! 

another UFO on the list of almost finished items.

Wonder what other UFOs are hiding?

The Cowls Have It...........

Our theme for 2019 January Spin-in is Purple Cowl--my mind is whirling with ideas--cowls--not Purple, that's for sure!!  

I will use color wheel to select off the side from purple --Orange!

This was the Joyful Cowl MKAL by designer Heather Anderson on Ravelry

--fun to knit--variety too.

Lots of loose ends to repair though

During the Olympics, Ravelry hosts Ravellenics 2018

free pattern (Just Slip It) was designed by Susan Ashcroft

This event is called "Cowl Curling"!

I've had this variegated yarn for some time--

now, which solid to use with it?  

Crochet Comeback!!

Crochet seems to be making a comeback--we had one spin-in participant show off her granny square afghan that was knit from every Opal sock yarn --no photo here--too bad--it was stunning!
Since, we had so many crochet pieces, it got me to thinking about how we seem to come around to different fiber techniques.

Here is one that comes close to our Granny Square Queen's work.

Lavender and Rose  has a tutorial for hexagon squares:

We had several crochet wearables show up at January Spin-in.

Most of the time, we had lots of knitted and woven items,

but this year we were blessed with this technique.

Suzanne is modeling a crochet poncho that a fellow

fiberist gave to her.

I'm sorry I didn't get the name of the pattern but

you can contact Suzanne at Fireant Ranch if you 

are interested in this pattern.

This lovely was made by Jane at Spin-in--

she said she wanted to show off her space dyed

yarn and this pattern was just perfect

"Virus" shawl by Woolpedia, designed by

Julia Marquardt

Mijo Crochet has a free pattern and tutorials for you!

This is way too pretty!  Wish I did more crochet!

Inveraray Cable Scarf

by Noelle Stiles  has a wonderful cable--

Fire and Ice Shawl is a free crochet shawl pattern

Grab those hooks and lets get to hooking!

Color At My Fingertips

The loom is warp ready and I've placed colorful fibers to

brighten up a rather gloomy time.  I have certain shuttles that

I like to use--the one on the right is my favorite--a gift from

CHT board members when I retired as President--

it glides nicely across the 8/2 cotton threads. 

Each of these towels will use a different weft color--purple pops across

the orange/red warp

A little blue too makes my heart sing with delight as I

throw the shuttle--heres to a treadling good day as 

the warp progresses on the front beam.

Another towel is humming along-----wait! there is one big

glaring mistake!!  Somehow, the weft didn't cross the warp in

a few pieces--guess what?  It's time to rippppppp back to the 

mistake!

Oh well, I found this before I took the warp off the loom.

!

Whew!  off the loom!  Look at all those weft ends that

need to be darned back into the warp--handwork for sure!

I'm happy with the results from this warp--when I'm weaving

I'm thinking about the next warp--

each warp in my mind will change as I progress on the

loom-- I will leave plenty of warp, so if I choose

I can tie on the next warp--

Happy treadling y'all!

Hearts All Aflutter--It's Valentine Day!

Just last week, I took the time to remove all my snowmen

and decorate the house with Valentines--lots of pinks and

reds are showcased around the rooms!  

I find there aren't many seasonal quilts in my stash.

This is one that was made from a kit about 7 or 8 years ago.

This exchange quilt was one that was enjoyable to piece

together.  Each year when I bring it out, there are my

friends from 20 years ago.  We had such fun designing

our heart block.

Why is it we love this time of the year?  What will you do

to celebrate this supposedly most romantic day of the year?

Will there be a dinner out with your favorite person?

An alone evening with just yourself?

Sometimes it becomes an ordinary day for errands and chores,

and hopefully, when evening rolls around--there

will be a special box of candy or a bouquet of flowers

waiting for me!

Hope your Valentine Day is all you want it to be!

The history of Valentine’s Day–and the story of its patron saint–is shrouded in mystery. We do know that February has long been celebrated as a month of romance, and that St. Valentine’s Day, as we know it today, contains vestiges of both Christian and ancient Roman tradition. But who was Saint Valentine, and how did he become associated with this ancient rite? Check it out at

HERE

Mardi Gras!!

Mardi Gras Day!!   is coming tomorrow- time for all the jovial adventures and events to come to a climax at midnight Tuesday.  There has been celebrations for weeks--

Colors of Mardi Gras come alive as table decorations!

I found these decorations at the Alabama Rest Stop.

Why not leave up that Christmas tree to decorate

in Mardi Gras colors?!!

Did you know that Mardi Gras originated in

Mobile, Alabama before New Orleans??

Having a Mardi Gras Theme party?  Here is a tablescape

from From My Carolina Home.

Blog finds a Mardi Gras mini quilt for decoration.

time for the last King Cake................
The Epiphany or Little Christmas is observed on January 6th in many Christian churches. This day has come to be known as "Kings Day."

Since the 300's the day has honored the meeting of the three Wise Men with the infant Jesus. King Cakesbecame a part of the celebration to symbolize the "finding of the infant Jesus." 

Traditionally, 

King Cakes

 are oval-shaped to show unity of all Christians. The Mardi Gras season, which begins on this "Twelfth Night" (January 6th), is expressed on King Cakes by using the carnival colors of purple, green and gold. As a King Cake is cut, each person awaits anxiously for his piece to locate the small baby. 

A plastic baby is inserted in each King Cake. The person who finds the baby is deemed the "King" or "Queen" and will bring the King Cake to the next King Cake party.

Color of The Month--Blue--Color of the Year--Violet

Do you follow fashion trends?  Or color trends?

This color of the year is ultra-violet!

I'm screaming now--I dislike that color!!  I'm an

Orange person!  --but, I'll survive

the year.  Our theme for 2019 at January spin-in is

PURPLE cowl--!!!  Who thought that one up--My 

partner in crime!!  She loves that P color and so

many of our spinners love that color!  

So, take a look at Violet, if you are a Purple person!

Now, if you are in that color spectrum--maybe, 

BLUE is your color--who doesn't like blue??

Books have been written about Blue 

Isn't He adorable?  Find this blue bear HERE

and learn more about BLUE

Blue is calming, refreshing, relaxing, sustaining – like a quiet day on the beach. Blue can be healing – a soft caress of colour. Blue feels steadfast and safe.

Blue symbolises trustworthiness and maturity, and is a signal to be taken seriously. Blue is the brand you can trust. Blue appears in over half of all corporate logos. “You can rely on us” it says.

But blue doesn’t have to be sedate and serious. Blue is very versatile. Blue can be fun, just perhaps often in a more contemplative kind of way than some other colours.

And blue is certainly not always gentle. Blue has its own energy – it is full of life and vitality. Clean water and a clear sky both look blue. Blue is the colour of our shared home, our planet Earth. Blue is the colour of vastness – the endless sky, the unfathomable ocean, the horizon and the distant mountains. Height, depth, distance – they’re all blue!

It's A Gnome Kind of Year.

Fatcat Patterns is back on my radar!  I have always enjoyed Sindy's

patterns.  And she offers them free during the month they are posted.

Beginning in February, you can download the first of the Gnome

blocks--everyone of these Gnomes will set your heart singing

as you create them!

 Here is another Gnome BOM!  Piecemakers Quilt Shop is 

offering these Gnomes at $5 for the pattern or you can

purchase a kit for $19--I'm going for the pattern as

I have a wool stash.

It's going to be a fun stitching time with

Gnomes.

A gnome /noʊm/^[1] is a diminutive spirit in Renaissance magic and alchemy, first introduced by Paracelsus in the 16th century and later adopted by more recent authors including those of modern fantasy literature. Its characteristics have been reinterpreted to suit the needs of various story tellers, but it is typically said to be a small humanoid that lives underground.^[2]