New Challenges--

Yes, there are some new challenges out there--well, new mysteries to solve too! So here we go!

If you are not a member of Ravelry --you should be!  Three million (3,000,000) members can't be wrong!  And it's all free!  This pattern is up for March KAL from designer Lisa Mutch and it's a free pattern to boot!  Lovely simple shawl, but elegant!

Not Free, but only $1--yes, only One buck!  This is a mystery KAL (knit along) from designer Rachel Henry.  I so enjoyed the first pattern she had as a mystery--'Crushed' and now, this one is Capriole.  Knits and yarn at the ready for this mystery to begin end of March.

Are you a fan of "Game of Thrones"?  Then you might enjoy this mystery KAL beginning late March.  I'm not much a fan of this show, but willing to take a look at the pattern with Jimmy Beans Wool CO

This mystery shawl has already begun, but it's never to late to sign on and begin.  So far, the knitting has been quite relaxing.  The designer is Cindy Garland--and the pattern was $3, but well worth the $$$.  It's a two color knit

This is an interesting knit , the goal is to produce a symmetrical triangle shawl, knitted using 2 to 4 colours (this seems to be the trend).  Alexandra Wiedmayer’s knitwear designs and this pattern is $5

This mystery sock knit is classified 'unusual construction' and boy, is it!  But, why not learn a new way to make a sock so I'm on board for this!  Designs from General Hogbuffer  Check it out--another free download on Ravelry

And oh, my!  when I signed up for this Westknits ebook in February, I thought we would get three or four patterns, but no, we got soooooooo many patterns--this will keep me knitting Stephen's patterns for a long time! 
Never a boring minute and never time to keep your hands idle! 
Happy stitching!!
 

Quilt Winners from HLSR

On our last day to attend Houston Livestock and Rodeo (HLSR) we finally made it to the display cases that exhibited the winning quilt collection.

It wasn't easy to take photos through the glass but we did the best we could.  It was difficult to see the winners names and location but here are a few of those winners.

I really liked the quilting on this one.

Quite the country scene as you drive along the back road.

And we feature we see often--a died armadillo on the side of the road!

Every quilt entered is a winner in my book!



A super way to feature embroidery panels with quilt blocks.

And this one!! a definite one to make for cowboy grandson==been collecting these type of fabrics for some time and this will be great way to feature them in a manly way.

QUIET PLEASE!!

QUIET PLEASE................we are doing the Kitchener Stitch!  Why oh why does it require absolute quiet with no interference from anyone or anything to do this stitch?  It's not like it's a new stitch to me, I've done it many, many times...................................... but, I have to read each step and then repeat 'knit, knit, purl, purl' until the last stitch is closed!  Then breate a sign of relief!

Yes!  It does look right and the top of this sock is closed!  Wait, there is another one to close, so quiet please.   And on we go to finish up a pair of socks.

This pattern came from this book--lots of creative and unusual patterns.

Doesn't matter where the designer lives, we all speak the same language when it comes to knitting.

Good!  Off the needles and ready to wear--well, next fall now.

And I'm not worried that the stripes don't match--it's all good!

Once more--quiet please!  We have another pair to close up. 

Well, this pair of socks begin with another pattern and alas, I didn't really like the tedious work so switched to this pattern "Hermiones-everyday-socks" by Erica Lueder of Dreams in Fiber Blog.  Both of these patterns were easy to remember and easy to knit, so we have two more pair of socks to add to our wardrobe! 
Hope you don't need quiet when you do the Kitchener Stitch!

From My View

 

Here we are again at Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo!  We are in our booth, which is located in the Reliant Center, Hall A.  The weavers and spinners have been volunteering for many moons now to educate the public about our craft.  During the week, hundreds of school children pass by our booth.  On weekends, we get families who are out to enjoy the aspects of this wonderful event.  These photos are taken from my view of the area.  Come look at what I see!

 

 

I've attended Cowboy Church upstairs and have made my way across to Hall A to come down the last escalator in the hall.  Our booth space is located right inside Hall A--go to the left and you'll see our little space, all roped off............. are we the captured or are we keeping out???

 

 

 

The loom is out and ready for the weaver.

Today Connie is the weaver

Another Sunday Gerry is the weaver on her small tapestry loom.  We can gather quite the crowd at times.  And it seems the bigger the crowd, more will stop to view.
 Alecia (coordinator for weekends) is the spinner on the left.

We have visitors from many countries and some visitors will hang around for several minutes to absorb..................in the background is the breed row barn, where you can view different animals

Off to the left is the petting zoo!  Today it smells quite--well, ripe!  The area is kept very clean but today is a rainy day and it seems to enhance the flavor of the elements.

The loom lacks a weaver right at this moment, but we are trying to keep it slow and easy--we want that 10 yard warp to last the whole three weeks

I've piled my fiber on the floor for all to see and hopefully, far enough back so little hands will not be tempted to grab and flee.  I have a prepared merino roving (blue) and rainbow dyed locks to spin

Ah, here are my feet in action--spinning, spinning--and talking!  We can do that, you know?

It's That Time Again--HLSR

Yes, it's time for Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo!  For three weeks we will be donning our cowboy hats, slipping on our Levis and boots to skoot ourselves to the world's largest rodeo event.  During that period of three weeks, Contemporary Handweavers of Houston members will be on the grounds demonstrating.  My first stop of the day is Cowboy Church, held in Reliant Center, upstairs.  It's always an inspiring way to begin the day and week.  As I walk across the upstairs to hall A, which is seems miles away, you miss alot of the crowds on the lower level plus you see some of the 4H events taking place.  This Sunday it was Horticulture so I snapped a few photos of the table settings as the kids prepared to be judged.