Rocky Mountain High!

A journey into the natural................................a journey into Rocky Mountain National Park brings you lovely skies, cool temperatures, peaceful settings, lovely wildflowers and roaring streams as they tumble toward the great rivers.

Mixed Bag of Tricks!

There comes a time when we must pull out a bag of tricks to keep things rolling--what tricks?  Don't you have your own bag of tricks?  Ideas, thoughts, creativity, just plain "stick-to-itness".......doesn't everyone have those things just waiting in the wings for the day when it's right for the picking? 

Let's pull this one out of the bag and catch up with the others in the group!  The knitting on this handspun shawl is so far behind, we really need some of that proddin' or jabbin' to pick up the needles and begin on clue........where did we leave off?

It really is going to be pretty when (and IF) it is ever finished.  Just can't seem to stick to the needles on this one.

And what do we have here?  A real mixed bag---of yarns.  and what do these yarns all have in common?  Well, they are going to make up a mixed warp for a weaving challenge.  Now, just have to pull out one of those 'tricks' to figure out how to measure the warp and then how to sley.  Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm, this will take some thinkin' for sure.  Guess we'd better let that one rest.

The loom already had a warp from (mumble under her breath) summer...........okay, it was summer of 2009--that's not all that bad, is it?  Anyway, we'll just tie on and pull through--one thread at a time.

This is what happens sometimes when you try to pull through the reed and heddles--threads get lost and we have to pull out another trick to rescue them.  The loose yarns are weighted and the feet are ready to tromp the treadles.

Here is the first sample--not good!  Too close of a sett--back to rethreading--we do want those ribbons and bumpy yarns to make an appearance.  And the handle of this--awful!  Feels like sandpaper.......................

This is much better--at least, that trick of spacing the warp makes a difference; but, still not too sure this is what we want to see and feel.  Okay, this little project will wait..........................................we'll need to go back to our bag of tricks and see what we can magically pull out!

Flying Geese & Other Sundry Stuff!



Darn those 'Gap' Caps!  The knitting needles are flying around, using up that stash yarn that has been nicely aged!  You'll never see this cap on this head--used purple!!  Nothing else needs to be said..............of course, there are lots of 'purple' people out there and this cap will look nicely on one of their heads.  Boy, "green head" is sure missed when a model is needed!

Using two different colors of yarns makes a world of difference in the look.

Not only has this yarn been aging, but the pattern as well.  This is a super kids hat pattern from a favorite designer--Woolly Wormhead.  Was a quick knit.

And now to the flying geese part of this blog.  This is a easy way to create those critters--no bias edges either to work with--one large square and two smaller ones with a diagonal line drawn 1/4" on either side of the center.

Sew down each side of the line and then cut between the sewn lines.

Who cares if you cut straight?

Oh, look--two hearts appear after the seams are pressed towards the light.

Add another one of those squares to the pointy end of the heart and sew again.

Chain stitching is good!

Cut between the lines and look--you have those pesky flying geese flying straight off the board!

And we add those flying geese to the top of the larger 4.5" square and we have the finished 48 blocks to this mystery quilt pattern sponsored by Lyn Brown on her website.  Now, we wait for clue #4 to be posted on August 17th--We are ahead of the game for once.

All the pieces are cut, pressed and ready to be appliqued onto the eighth block from Bunny Hill Designs  "Henrietta Whiskers"
Okay, back to another one of those 'Gap' Caps.......................................................

Wrapping Up the Week

We are wrapping up a week's WIP--one is finished, another begun (shame, shame).  No sewing this week--just knitting, knitting, and some fun!

Here is the finished 'Gap' Cap!  This is always a quick knit--just hard to put down sometimes when you want to keep your fingers involved--mindless knitting for sure!

Found this handspun knitted cap hiding in the closet--must have been knitted many moons ago--think it is a sideways with short rows knit as there is a seam.

And we have begun a mystery shawl by one of our favorite designers.  Check out Stephen West's mystery KAL on Ravalry--don't you just love that site?  It gets us into so much trouble!  Using stash yarn here--no need to buy more when this has aged nicely.

And for a fun day! My knitter friend Judy's daughter Betsy (are you following this?) is a free lance production assistant and she got a gig this week to assist with the filming of The Quilt Show, which was being taped in Boulder.  Betsy received two complimentary passes for Judy and her friend--Me!  (Thank you Betsy and Judy!)  So we met up at the Daylight Studios at 8:30 AM.

So, this is all you get to see until the production is shown sometime in early 2012!  Look for us on the very back row....we were last in line so we were last to file into seats.  What an interesting day!

Testing the Gorilla to Make the Gap

Oh yeah, we are testing the Gorilla to make sure it does what it says!  The Gorilla Glue that is.........the label says it will bond with most anything, is stronger, faster--well, we've heard that speil before so this will be a real test!

See, the little screw thingie on the smaller cable needle pulled out of its socket--a real bummer when you are knitting and have soooooooo many stitches and the next thing you know, all those stitches are loose!  Yes, loose and floating off the needle!!  And we need that smaller cable to hit hats.  Hubby says there is gorilla in the garage!  A gorilla in the garage??
Gorilla glue, he says--reported to be stronger, faster bond, hold forever...................finding that gorilla on his garage shelves--now, that is a feat in itself!!  but, find that small gorilla we did and squeeze a small amount and we mean very small amount into that little hole is another feat.  Let it set--how fast is fast?  It's a long time when you want to knit right away.

Going through the stash yarns we have come across these small bits.  what to do, what to do--can't just throw them away?  Awww, yes.....................................remembering knitter friend Judy's recipe for a cap (supposedly named the Gap Cap from photos of this retail's stores hat).  That would be perfect pattern to use up these orphan yarns. 

Who would have thought that those two ophans would marry quite nicely--and the gorilla has been holding that screw thingie to the cable quite well.  Do you think there is a chance of an endorsement for Gorilla Glue?

OOPS!

Hurrah!  The final clue to Miss Terry mystery KAL pattern on Ravelry!  The yarn is handspun green cotton from a dear friend (previous post of May 29--Spinning Memories).  Anyway, the last step of clue 3 was to increase stitches to 521 and in our count, there was one missing--not bad for adding more than 250 stitches to the regular count--so, what do you do?  Add one, of course!  But, then when knitting into clue 4, row 3--guess what we found?

The missing stitch!!  It had been dropped along the way--bummer and oops!  Got to pick up that little stray and bring it  up to the needles.  Where is that expensive ($8) crochet hook that was bought on one of our shopping sprees?  It would be perfect to use.

How about the Hiya needle pouch?  Nope! not in there.

Then it must have be stored in our regular large bag--sorry, have to disturb you--little pig.  Search, search--nope, not in here.

Then it must have been dropped into one of the knitting bags along with the planned knitting.  How about this one with the Bear-y Cute Hat pattern from Mindy Vasil.  Oh, yeah, this is going to be a really cute hat--when it gets done--but, no $8 crochet hook in there.

Okay, how about in the Knit Picks needle bag?  This indeed would be an excellent place to store $8 crochet hook--but, nope not there either.

Back to searching in the knitting storage bags--2011 Kalendar by Carmen Oliveras--oh, boy--we are so far behind in this pattern--must catch up soon before another clue comes out.  But, alas--no $8 crochet hook!

Oh, yes--it must have been dropped into the sewing bag--but, nope--not there.

There is still more knitting bags to go through--how about this one?  Wolle's yarn just waiting for the right inspiration--not there either.  Gee, this is really getting aggravating!  Where is that darn crochet hook?  

Pulling everything out of the mesh bag--no hook!

These two hooks were found--cheap plastic and metal--but not the expensive $8 one.


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Okay, here is another storage bag--Ananke waiting to be continued--not there................



Getting desperate now--even searching the little bag (made by dear friend Julie) that stores all the wires for i-pod, camera, phone--no way, it could be in here.  Think! Think! where was the last place that little hook was used..............................................hmmmmm, seems that we were working on that cable stitch and using that hook to hold stitches while sitting on the sofa.  Oh, no--dare we think it fell between the cushions? and do we really want to lift the cushion and found what else is hidden there?  Okay, let's go there..............

There you are--you little dickens!!

Yelp--there you lie in all your glory along with little crumbs, dust, popcorn kernels and who knows what else.  Okay, now that we found that expensive $8 hook, what were we going to do with it again?

Post 259: What To Write About??

It is always a challenge to find something interesting to write about--so let's just take this blog to catch up on a few things--not saying it will be interesting......................................

This is our picnic quilt--it stays in the car and is pulled out when we attend concerts or just want something to wrap up in for those cool evenings when we are away from homebase and forgot our jacket--of course, it isn't used much for that purpose this summer--been too darn hot!

And speaking about 'hot'--how many of you just -love- to iron?? Not this soul!! But, here is a great product for those times when you need just a little bit of starch to brighten up a blouse or pants.

It is also used when making the pieces for the applique--works super good!  This is July's block from Bunny Hill Designs.  Henrietta! SShe does get around--it is one of those free designs that shows up the fifth of each month. 

Another free design is this one--which is such fun to stitch--Birdie Stitches!

And deconstructed Overall Sam or Andy--whatever--has been constructed.  Once all the blocks had been stitched, it was leaving the hands free at night and a situation developed--what to stitch now that this is finished??  This quilt top is packed in a box, heading back to Texas for long arm quilter Judy to put her special touches on.  The tops will be sent to Joplin residents as soon as all the handwork is finished.
Okay folks, that's all for post 259--see you next time. 
Happy stitching, treadling, reading, singing, listening, sleeping, eating.............or whatever strikes your fancy!