Preparing for 2020

How do you prepare for a new Year?  Make resolutions?  Goals?  Challenges?

Here is my goal for 2020:  to finish at least two (yes 2) UFO's before I begin a new UFO!

My UFO's are known!  Here is another new UFO to begin--I've gathered my reds, pinks and whites
for this fun sew along.

Fort Worth Fabric Studio has a Valentine adventure beginning 

Monday, January 6--and I love the fabric colors

I have a bunch of reds ready for Valentine hanging--they are

UFO's for another project that I didn't manage to do--I'm covering

two goals with one-- :-)

And to begin the twelve days of Knitmas, I'm knitting along with

Nomadic Knits--they had two choices of yarn groups--naughty or nice--

believe me, I have plenty of those yarns.  

Each day for 12 days after Christmas, we receive a clue--

I'm happy to have something else to work with my hands while i

wait for January to begin....

January--knitting adventures begin

Sometimes January can bring on the blues--

and you go into a slump after all the festivities

of the holidays

Not when you are planning new knitting adventures!

Find at Ravelry!

Key Features

• This cowl is a tubular shape, knit from the bottom up with fingering weight yarn.
• Heather’s sample measures 24” (61 cm) circumference and 14” (35.5 cm) tall.
• Stitches Used: Most stitches are based on knits and purls with some variation to challenge you (nothing super hard!). There are videos for stitches that can benefit from further explanation.
• Difficulty: Adventuresome Beginner through Advanced Knitter
• Clues will be sent to your library as automatic updates on January 1, 5, 11, 14 & 20 by 9 AM EST (-4:00 UTC)

Materials Needed:
Yarn: Fingering weight yarn, 400 y (366 m).
This cowl has been tested with single ply & plied fingering weight. The cowl will look best in solid, soft tonal or gentle gradient yarns. Variegated, self-stripe or speckled yarns will hide the beauty of your creation. Lace weight yarn held doubled may be a bit of a challenge. Using multiple colors of yarns or scraps may compete with the stitches in the cowl.

Needles: Size 3 (3.25 mm) circular needles (16 - 20”/41-51 cm length)

Gauge: 26 sts = 4” (10 cm) in stockinette stitch, blocked—Exact gauge is not crucial, but it will affect the size of the cowl & yardage requirements.

Notions: BOR st marker, tapestry needle, optional beading tool.

Optional Beads: 68 6/0 seed beads.

Another great year of knitting by one of my favorite designers--

Toni Lorenz--4th year "Knitting in the Loft" Ravelry group

Never mind I didn't complete last year's Japanese knitting--

I'm still in for this one!  Always a learning time!

Another favorite!  Yes, Elizabeth Ravenwood designs

awesome patterns.  This is a year long knitting adventure

This pattern is found on Patternvine

Finished Size: Approx. 9"/ 23 cm wide and 75" / 190 cm long Materials: 460 yds / 421 meters fingering weight yarn Size 5US / 3.75mm circular needles Size 5US / 3.75mm double-pointed needles or short, straight needles (optional) 2 stitch markers Size 8/0 or 6/0 beads (optional) – the number of beads will depend on the glitz you want

Mark Your Calendars NOW!

Here we go--another year of great sewing!

Pat Sloan is hosting 2020 Out West BOM!

This begins January 3rd and you can find the information

on her above website.  Several of us did her last BOM--

she gives great instructions--sew along with us!

Erin Russek does such lovely applique work and

she is hosting 2020 free block of the month with

different applique blocks of her design.

You can purchase the center medallion now on her

website or you can just skip that center and do the 

smaller free quilt, beginning January 15th

To participate in the Quilt Along, tune in to Sew Fresh Quilts beginning on January 13th, when the quilt size options and fabric requirements will be shared. Then, every 2 weeks beginning January 14th, instructions for all of the individual blocks will be shared. 

Bloomtopia QAL 2020-- featuring Summer Sweet by Sherri and Chelsi for Moda Fabrics.  Make A Wish Fundraiser Starting February 1, 2020, we will release two patterns each month for six months here on the blog. Simply follow along on our blog to download the patterns as they are posted! Also, we’re pleased to announce that Sherri and Chelsi are filming the free complementary videos for each pattern.

Melva Loves Scraps plans for a blog series that will feature the patterns and the letters from former German Officers held at the POW camp located in Trinidad, CO.   C&T Publishing granted permission to scan and share the collection of Kansas City Star quilt patterns that my Grandma Schleich had. 

Check out Busy Hands Quilts in 2020 to see what other

projects will be available to sew--

The name of the sampler quilt is “Sisters;” there’s a Big Sister 12″ block and a Little Sister 6″ block of each patchwork design. So each month you’ll make two blocks – a 12″ and a 6.” The quilt measures 68″ x 75.”

Check out this site if you wish to look at other Quilt Alongs and 

Block of the Month

Down The Rabbit Hole!

Just one click and I'm down the rabbit hole and lost for hours!  If you are bored or just plain want something to do--visit Top 110 Quilting Blogs of 2019!  I don't know how I got started but I just couldn't stop--There were the usual blogs and then the ones I wasn't familiar with.  This blog, of course, is not listed.

Be sure to stop by and vote for your favorite!

And, there is ranking of knitting blogs!  and book blogs!  Oh my!  I'll see y'all later..........................



HAPPY HOLIDAYS AND MERRY CHRISTMAS!

.Knitting Along With Hallmark Movies....

Have you been watching those Hallmark Christmas movies?

These are good movies--pretty scenery, love abounds

and it always turns out right in the end!

Perfect watching as I knit!

My Advent scarf is coming along nicely--Sure I'm behind by

a couple of days--that doesn't matter as I'm enjoying the knitting process with this

season.

I ran out of yarn--next best thing--grab a color close 

and away we go

I'm using Stroll from Knit Picks--nice handle

My other Advent KAL is a Hap and it's easy knitting--

looks like I'll need to go with longer cables now

I like this pattern--as I run out of one color of yarn, 

I can add another color and texture.

Hope you have some time to relax and knit to

Hallmark movies or just visit with family and friends!

My Flock--

This is what I've been doing for the past few months--

dressing my herd!

I knitted sweaters for each of my 10 sheep

and 10 llamas.

It was quick knit and they look so festive

and warm.

These little guys will be my gift to my fiber friends

There are ewes, yearlings and lambs along with llamas--

hope my fiber friends like their gift as much as I 

liked dressing my flock.

As I Sit and Ponder..........................

Here I sit---trying to write a letter to my 99 year old mother and what am I doing instead?

Procrastinating Yes, that's right!  I'm procrastinating--browsing through the internet for snowflake patterns--something I'd like to knit/crochet again--years ago, our tree was decorated with all my handknit/crocheted snowflakes--where did they all go?  Doesn't matter--I'm thinking I should be writing that letter, but here I am.........................................
And I don't even need snowflakes for this year--I'm thinking about 2020!  What gives??

Oh well, I found many patterns so that satisfied my searching--for the time being.  

-----why am I writing a letter to my mother when we'll see her in tomorrow?  Because, she can't hear a darn thing but she can read!  This way she is getting the news without repeating "What did you say?"  after every word I say!

There is a luncheon at her assisted living facility and we are invited to attend--there will be Santa Clause, some gift giving, many Christmas songs along with some readings.  It is a time to rejoice with my mother as she has lived another year to experience Christmas season. 

Merry Christmas Mother!

Gansey, Guernsey, Jersey?

I've been knitting Advent Scarf 2019 which features Gansey patterns--this scarves always teach something about history in a way--if you bother to look up the patterns and reason why it's called what it's called............................. after reading the description and what yarn should be used for this scarf--I completely disregarded that and used my handspun yarn instead--fine, multi-colored yarn--

Well, that's not going to work--back to stash diving!

and reworking all the patterns to bring it up to date and here's

what I'm knitting now:

Now, I can clearly see the patterns pop!

A gansey (or guernsey) is a hardwearing, hand knitted, woollen jumper which has been worn by fishermen around the coast of Britain for many years.

A tough weatherproof garment, usually navy blue, its purpose was more than just to keep the fishermen warm and dry.

• Take a walk through historic Scarborough >

Each gansey has a unique pattern which varied from village to village and from family to family. If there was a shipwreck or accident the bodies washed up on the shore could be identified by their gansey as being from a particular village and family. In this way the fisherman could be returned to their family for burial.

It takes around six weeks to knit a gansey by hand. They were usually made by mothers, wives and sweethearts and the patterns were passed down the generations via word of mouth - they weren't written down.

The ganseys are knitted without seams, all in one piece on five or more small needles using very fine, hardwearing four or five ply wool. They are knitted very tightly to make them weather proof. The tighter the knitting, the more water and weatherproof it is.

• Trawlerman's tales >

Detail from a Filey gansey.

The pattern is concentrated round the upper body for extra warmth and thickness. The stitch patterns, such as anchors, diamonds, cables, lightning, ropes and ladders, symbolised the everyday things in the fisherfolks' lives. Telling of their tools, harvest and the weather. It became traditional for the knitter to put in a number of 'mistakes' so the sweaters were personal to each member of the family.

Weaving of the Past!

We've been unpacking Christmas decorations and memories of the past

come flooding back as I pull out each item.

When I look at these memories, I'm always amazed that I really

made it!!

This little Santa was woven about 35 years ago--

I wove tartan fabric and then decided to make Santas

for each of the family members--this one was made

for my side of the family--the only reason I have this one

is because that family member passed away and Santa

was returned to me--I was happy to have it as I didn't make

one for our family.

This is the Bailey Tartan--loved the colors!

This was during my tartan phase that I was weaving

tartan fabric!

Each Santa carried in his stocking the Tartan information

This is the first weaving I did for Christmas--about 40 years ago--surprised I

still have it!  It is double weave, woven right after I learned to

weave!  Unbelievable that I tried double weave as a new

weaver--but, I remember I was weaving from Big Book of Weaving

and did each 'recipe' step by step!

\

Here is his backside--I'm thrilled I have these memories from

past weavings--not often I keep anything for my collection.

Guess I'd better write up some description of Santa and 

attach to him for years future.

Cookie Exchange

I love cookie exchanges!  

You invite 11 of your friends and ask each to bake a dozen cookies--

it can be all the same dozen or variety.

Then you set up a party where you serve cookies, coffee and 

when each person leaves, they take home 12 dozen cookies!!

hopefully, not everyone used the same recipe :-)

But, it's all good! and delicious time with your friends

and your family will devour the goodies.

Picky Palate has a list of the best cookie exchange recipes!

Now, that we are 'dieting'--ugh!  no

cookie exchanges for us

BUT, 

I found this Virtual Cookie Exchange!

This began yesterday--just jump on the wagon

and gather all the calorie free goodies you can!

So many friends participating all week long:

December 2^nd

• Creatin’ in the Sticks
• Ms P Designs USA
• Home Sewn By Us 
• Vroomans Quilts
• Cathie’s Craftworks
• Sew Many Yarns
• Just Because Quilts

December 3^rd

• MooseStash Quilting
• Stitchin At Home
• Barb – Hosted by Just Let Me Quilt
• Hill Valley Quilter
• Little Penguin Quilts
• Everyone Deserves a Quilt
• Selina Quilts
• Count it *all* JOY!
• Purring Cottage

December 4^th

• Made By Marney
• Homespun Hannah’s Blog
• Beaquilter
• Cynthia’s Creating Ark
• Life in the Scrapatch
• DesertSky Quilting
• Sunlight in Winter Quilts

December 5^th

• Quilt Doodle Designs
• Ridge Top Quilt
• Pumpkin Patch Patterns & Quilting
• Websterquilt
• Bumbleberry Stitches
• Kathy’s Kwilts and More

 December 6^th

• Just Let Me Quilt
• Kris Loves Fabric
• Domestic Felicity
• Karrin’s Crazy World
• Songbird Designs
• Melva Loves Scraps
• Brenda’s Quilt Blog

Let's Read or Listen..............

Here we go--the last 2019 Agatha read!

you can read it for free here

or listen free here

Since I'm working two Advent projects for the month,

that will be my Agatha knit along--

Advent Knitting

I love knitting for Advent!  It is a daily evening event

for me as we prepare for the joyous celebration of 

Christmas.  This Advent knit along is designed by Julie

Kubitsky in the group For the Love of Haps

This is 3/4 circle shawl with 42" wingspan and 21" depth.

You can either use one solid or low contrast multi yarn,

or 4 coordinating colors of 50 grams each; long color block yarns

or scraps with random color switches. 

First clue is released daily beginning today through December 24

An Advent scarf designed by Tricia Weatherstone--one of my

favorite things to knit this time of year--

This scarf is based on Gansey stitch patterns with lots of knits

and purls and simple cables.  You can find the free pattern on

Ravelry, either in Sock Madness Forever or Mountain Knits and 

Pearls groups.