Sunday, June 26, 2016

Hidden Knitted Codes?

Have you ever thought about knitting secret messages into your knitting?  The most famous or is it infamous character to do such a thing was Madame Defarge in Dickens’s A Tale of Two Cities.  I came across this article the other day and found it fascinating!  How do you knit messages into your knitting? Purl one for this action, drop a stitch for this action--just fascinating!  Women are resourceful and knitting has been a supplier of assisting in passing secret messages--

so, if you have some time and want to learn how to pass secret messages through
your knitting--watch this video!
Just fascinating!

Saturday, June 25, 2016

Magazine For Handspinners

In my many years of being a handspinner and weaver, I've gone through multi number
of publications for such fiberists.  About 5 years ago, I decided to discontinue my
connection to these magazines--mainly, there is so much you can receive through
digitization.  I have stacks and stacks of unused magazines--sometimes, I browse
through them, but mostly, they just sat there on the shelf.
Recently, I came across this magazine--PLY.  I thought--let's give it a try.
It is published four times a year--and I've received the latest issue
on Bulky yarns--I'm not the biggest fan on bulky yarns.  
I know there is a place for them in our fiber work, but not in mine.
This is a slick paper magazine--many colorful photos
and instructions on how to accomplish bulky yarns.
We'll see how the next publication is--
I'll pass this issue along to a bulky spinner.


Friday, June 24, 2016

Let's Read!

Now that the summer solstice is here, it's time to pull out a good book, find a soft comfy chair, pour a chilling glass of something cold and READ!
I found this list of books that are highlighted for 2016--which will you pick up?


Thursday, June 23, 2016

MORE LOVE!


Anna Dalvi has designed these fingerless gloves to
give the world MORE LOVE!
You can capture her pattern here

The pattern is free until July 4th.

Let's outreach to each other and give
MORE LOVE!

Wednesday, June 22, 2016

Wednesday's Yarn Day

Well, there it is!  The dreaded Kitchener stitch!
I don't know why I think it's dreaded--it's easy to do,
if you concentrate while doing it.
It got me to thinking---hmmm,
where and how did this stitch begin.
Knitting played a big part in WWI and many 
were encouraged to knit socks for the soldiers.
Take a look at the history of this 'famous' stitch.

And how did Kitchener get its name--here is the low down!

The British Secretary of State for War, Horatio Herbert Kitchener, associated himself with the Red Cross drive to urge women to knit “comforts” or items for the men in the military, particularly mittens, socks and scarves. He was concerned about the foot problems the sock seams caused and personally contributed a pattern for socks which included a seamless grafting technique that would come to be known as the “Kitchener stitch”.

okay, I'm grabbing my needles and a quiet location to close up these socks
and I'll be done with another UFO!
Happy Wednesday Knitting or whatever fiber work you are doing.

Tuesday, June 21, 2016

Denver Botanic Gardens Presents...............................

SCULPTURES!
These lovely works of art are created from various artists.
It's always a pleasure to walk the grounds of the gardens and
works of arts make the morning walk more pleasant!

"Goddess with the Golden Thighs"
Reuben Nakian

"Theater Set Element from Judith"
Isamu Noguchi

"Without Words"
Judith Shea

Judith Shea

"Hare on Bell on Portland Stone Piers"
Barry G
Flanagan

"Cavaliere (Horseman)
Marino Marini

"Down Tree"
Louise Nevelson
"Nike"
Saul Baizerman 


"Standing Figure"
Henry Moore



"Wounded Amazon"
Jonathan Silver

"La Grande Chiave (The Large Key)"
Giacomo Manzu
"Woodrow"
Deborah Butterfield

Take a walk through the gardens and savory the sights, sounds and peacefulness
of your journey


Monday, June 20, 2016

Quilts! Not Just Tops!

I'm so excited to have two of my tops returned to me from my Colorado quilter, Alycia.
I mailed them off to her in May, knowing I would be in Denver during June.
We met up last week!  Now, I have two lovely quilted tops turned into Quilts!

This one was from Bonnie Hunter's free list of quilts.

Alycia did stars!  Just perfect for this starry quilt!

The other top was my Bonnie's 2015 mystery.  I think it's no longer free pattern, but
I love doing this one--used up lots of my stash reds and golds.

This one was quilted with circles!  Love it!

Binding is sewn on--next comes hand stitching.
Hmmm, wonder if the blond headed daughter would like this one--
it is quite large and would fit her bed nicely.

It's Time--

 It’s time to think about greeting cards I’ll send out this year.  Most years, if I’m not feeling pressed, I’ll create my own cards.  One ye...