Monday, October 31, 2016

Hall-OOOO-Ween!





Take any one of those pumpkins and turn it into this: 

Allhalloween,[6] All Hallows' Eve,[7] or All Saints' Eve,[8] is a celebration observed in a number of countries on 31 October, the eve of the Western Christian feast of All Hallows' Day. It begins the three-day observance of Allhallowtide,[9] the time in the liturgical year dedicated to remembering the dead, including saints (hallows), martyrs, and all the faithful departed.[10][11]
It is widely believed that many Halloween traditions originated from Celtic harvest festivals which may have pagan roots, particularly the Gaelic festival Samhain, and that this festival was Christianized as Halloween.[1][7][12][13][14][15] Some academics, however, support the view that Halloween began independently as a solely Christian holiday.[1][16][17][18][19]
Halloween activities include trick-or-treating (or the related guising), attending Halloween costume parties, decorating, carving pumpkins into jack-o'-lanterns, lighting bonfiresapple bobbing and divination games, playing pranks, visiting haunted attractions, telling scary stories and watching horror films. In many parts of the world, the Christian religious observances of All Hallows' Eve, including attending church services and lighting candles on the graves of the dead, remain popular,[20][21][22] although elsewhere it is a more commercial and secular celebration.[23][24][25] Some Christians historically abstained from meat on All Hallows' Eve,[26][27] a tradition reflected in the eating of certain foods on this vigil day, including applespotato pancakes and soul cakes.[27][28][29 (information from Wikipedia.

Sunday, October 30, 2016

Do You Podcast?



Years ago, I learned about podcasting--not that I would podcast myself, --but I would listen to podcasts.  There were very few then but now--oh, WOW!  you can find a podcast about almost anything and everything!  Plus now, you can find video podcast!!  Gee, I could spend hours watching techniques I would like to learn and know more about.
The above photo represents 50 best podcast of 2015
pod·cast
ˈpädˌkast/
noun
  1. 1.
    a digital audio file made available on the Internet for downloading to a computer or portable media player, typically available as a series, new installments of which can be received by subscribers automatically.
verb
  1. 1.
    make (a digital audio file) available as a podcast.

More than 300,000 podcasts exist in the world as of the close of 2015. They range from products made by someone pressing record in their closet to million-dollar outfits with sterling sound engineering. 

Okay, I have my itunes stuffed with podcasts to listen too--if only, I could watch as many as I have waiting in the wings--here's a few that I found interesting for my craft purposes:


WARNING:  Podcast/video casts are very additive!!

Saturday, October 29, 2016

Color: Guide For Knitters

So, you are a knitter and wondered how color affects your knitting.  Here is an opportunity
to learn some interesting facts about color from a pro:  Ann Weaver


and it comes to you through the MDK (Mason-Dixon Knits gals).  Sign up for their "snippets"--a weekly newsletter.  

Part one:  What we talk about when we talk about color is up and ready to enjoy.

in this series, you'll explore five types of contrast:
  • Contrast of hue
  • Light-dark contrast
  • Complementary colors
  • Warm-cool contrast
  • Contrast of extension
Nothing to lose but a little time and you can come away with better understanding of color in knitting.  Join me in this adventure!

Friday, October 28, 2016

TRAVELLING!

Yelp, I've been travelling and I didn't even leave my comfy chair!  Okay, it's a good thing sometimes when I travel through the internet; it is definitely a time suck!  But, I've travelled to many interesting places and met some really cool people.




Take Sarah Hunt and her Fiber Trek:


Then there is Kate Davies Designs.  She is working on a publication that will feature their travels. What photos--taking you to far away places where you can meander through paths of thought in an instant and snap back to reality when you want.
October woodswhere will your journeys take you today?  I'm headed out to do my errands, but it was a fun time walking in someone's shoes for awhile

Thursday, October 27, 2016

Attic Window Panels

I've been playing around with panels that were found in my stash.
One of the expatcher gals, Linda, was the first to do this in our group.  Judy M had
several Christmas tree panels that would be perfect to use window panel effect.
I'm practicing with this panel--first big mistake, I didn't take a photo of the whole panel
before I cut it into pieces.
At this point, I'm not too sure this panel works well--but, I'll trudge on as I've put in some
math time--Yes, figuring out how wide and what length the window panels needed to be,
took some math brain power!

I'm auditioning borders--thinking the top fabric works better than the light colored one on
the right.  I AM NOT going to buy more fabric--there is plenty in my stash to
play with.
Interested in doing this technique with your panel?  Check this you tube video out....


Wednesday, October 26, 2016

Weaving Away

There are days that I just want to weave, especially when it's the width is just 6" wide!
Here is the warp from who knows when!  I wrote about it in post "Note To Self", October 21.
I had tied onto the previous warp (cotton towels) and pulled through--not going to waste this 
lovely yarn.  It's been smooth weaving so far.  I planned this project (believe it or not)
to follow the towels in broken twill--now, I'm winding a warp for more towels but
will thread in twill--there is so much you can do with this threading.
and I can tie on for eternity !  

Tuesday, October 25, 2016

Oh Dear! Not A Knot!?


When it comes to working with your yarn, be it either handspun or commercial, there could be a KNOT appear right where you don't want it to be!  Oh, fudge, what do you do when you have a knot?  Sometimes, it's just a simple loop in the yarn and you can tug it out but other times, it is a repair--
A BIG FAT KNOT where you don't want it to be!

Here is a video to helps you work through this obstacle.


and there you have some solutions!
BUT--what if you want a knot.  I have a pattern that asks for knots in the knitting!

Okay, I just got rid of knots and now I have to ADD knots--!!
Go Figure!



KNOT STITCH PATTERN
There are step-by-step photos below to guide you through this stitch, but if you're ready to go, here's your ticket to instant knitted knots:
Multiple: 6 + 5
SPECIAL ABBREVIATION

MK (Make Knot): Purl the next three stitches together, but do not drop them from the needle. Knit the same three stitches together, then purl the same three stitches together. Drop the stitches from the left needle.

PATTERN

Row 1: Knit across.
Row 2: Purl across.
Row 3: K1, *MK, K3; repeat from * to last 4 stitches, MK, K1.
Row 4: Purl across.
Row 5: Knit across.
Row 6: Purl across.
Row 7: K4, *MK, K3; repeat from * to last stitch, K1.
Row 8: Purl across.

Repeat these eight rows until you reach the desired length.

Okay--now, I've added a knot back into my knitting!

and I've heard there is an app for anything and everything--guess what?  I found an app
that shows all the knots you could ever want to achieve--!!
And so you have it
KNOTS







Walk for JD

  Every April around this time of year, we sponsor a walk for our little great grandson, Jerry Daniel aka JD; he was born February 17, 2023 ...