Advent Shawl 2016

I know that tomorrow is Thanksgiving in United States and most have their minds 

turning to family events and delicious foods to serve.

Now, is also the time to think of preparations for Advent.

Every year for the past several years I've been knitting for advent--it is a 

time for me to reflect on the season as I knit a few rows each day on a shawl.

This year is no different--unikatissima is providing the row by row, day by

day knitting pattern for this lovely shawl.  Maybe, you'll join us on this

adventure.

Advent Socks

This MKAL is for a sock pattern. They are knit in two colours, and have sections of stranded knitting. They are knit from the top down, and the pattern will be released in four parts, one each sunday of advent, which means the following days

27 november
4 december
11 december
18 december

The pattern is written in two sizes. Choose your size depending on the width of your foot and instep rather than the length of the foot. Most important is that you try on the sock several times when you knit it so that you are certain that you’re able to get it over your heel.

Yarn: Two colours of fingering weight yarn. I recommend 50 grams of Colour 1 (C1) and 100 grams of Colour 2 (C2)
Gauge: 32 stitches/10 cm (4”) of stockinette
Needles: 2,5 mm dpns or the size you need to get gauge.

Wovember Or Sheep, Sheep, Sheep!

WOVEMBER is about…

* recognising that WOOL is a premium textile which comes from an actual sheep, and
that – as such – the terms WOOL, WOOLLY and WOOLLEN should only be applied to real WOOL and not, for instance, to polyester or viscose.
* celebrating the important heritage and contemporary value of WOOL through our 100% WOOL stories, blog posts, pictures, textiles, and garments.
* educating and informing the wider public of the wondrous qualities of WOOL.
* creatively pushing the idea that the word WOOL should refer to sheep’s WOOL only.
*reconnecting the idea of WOOL to the animals and people involved in its creation and manufacture.
* campaigning for a clarification of trading standards to prevent further misuse of the term WOOL.

Enter the WOVEMBER COMPETITION by sending us a 100% wool photograph for the WOVEMBER gallery. (Fabulous 100% WOOL prizes are on offer!)

* Have fun WITH WOOL!!!

To involve yourself with WOVEMBER, you can…

* endeavour to wear as MUCH WOOL AS POSSIBLE throughout the month of WOVEMBER, and tell everyone about the unique qualities of WOOL.
* sign the WOVEMBER PETITION to support changes to textile trading standards and product descriptions.
* TALK ABOUT WHAT WOOL MEANS TO YOU throughout WOVEMBER on your blogs, sites, facebook pages, twitter feeds, and other social media.
* PUBLICISE WOVEMBER by sharing our button (below) and linking to this site.
* send us WOVEMBER stories about sheep, wool, knitting, weaving or other endeavours which celebrate WOOL in all its sheepy glory!
* 

Winter Wanderings Stitchery

Yes, I'm late to the party, as usual!  There is a chance I can play catch-up and get into stitching with these gals.  There are only four blocks to this stitchery wall hanging--easy enough to do--right?!

First block from Ellie's Quilt Place  You can find the setting instructions

on her website.

This block #2 from Els-Bobbin 

There will be two more blocks, so tune into one of these gals website to

pick up those free stitching patterns.

A Belfry of Hats!

I'm knitting away on my mystery hat patterns from Woolly Wormhead.  This is one of my favorite hat designers!  The features on the hat patterns are always unique and interesting.  I found this yarn in
my stash, of course.  It doesn't show the pattern too well, but it features several cables that decrease on each other.  Each Wednesday a new section on the pattern is released.
Look at this:  Free patterns from Woolly Wormhead!  Try your hand at one of her patterns.

How about this MAN HAT!  A quick and easy knit for that special man in your life.

Peace Project

The Peace Project goes live on November 28!  What a super idea--let peace begin with ME and YOU!

Full pattern is available on November 28 with the Peace-along beginning on December 1.

Peace, we need it now more than ever.

“Let there be peace on earth, and let it begin with me.”

Last year after conducting the first “peace-along” It was jokingly said “if we could get knitters around the globe to focus on peace for 21 days we might create world peace.” At this point , no joking, what have we got to lose?

This  cowl pattern was designed by Christina Campbell to have a bit of a soothing stitch pattern. It’s a 4-row repeat. Knit ~1 repeat per day and at the end of 21 days (or close to it) you’ll have a peaceful cowl. Optional i-cord edging.

What’s a peace-along? There will be a daily tip on how to infuse more peace into your life. These tips will be available on my blog each day from December 1-21. They’ll be simple things, some from me and others from a few guests.

What you need:

• Stash dive or purchase something yummy for your soul. Approximately 450-550 yds of fingering weight yarn. I used 2 skeins of Brooklyn Tweed LOFT. I love the rustic feel…it’s the intersection of luxury and strength.
• Christina had lots of questions regarding color choices. She made 3…one from Wonderland fingering weight (Goat’s Beard color way) which was light grey and white. It’s gorgeous but the stitch pattern doesn’t show up as much as the solid color versions. The other two are made from Brooklyn Tweed Loft.
• can you use variegated? Why not? If it brings you joy and peace then why not. 
• If you are buying for this project maybe pick a solid or mildly tonal.
• size 4 or 5 needles (US) ~32 inches. gauge information forthcoming.

Can you help create world peace? Spread this information as far and wide as you can. How many knitters can we get involved?

“Buy” the pattern now and you’ll get an update when the pattern goes live on 11/28. 
“Fav” the pattern. 
“Start a project” 
Share on social media…tell all your friends. 
Use the hashtag #peacealong2016 on Instagram. 
Subscribe to my blog (www.thehealthyknitter.com) to get updates on Project Peace. 
Tell your LYS and have your own peace-along in December. 
 a thread on the Healthy Knitter Ravelry group, join us here: http://www.ravelry.com/groups/the-healthy-knitter

Santa Comes To You!

Quilting Digest has a simple but effective Santa pattern for you!

All this from a Log Cabin block!

So great for your tree, the mantle or gifts for friends.

Happy stitching!

Sontag--

I recently came across an article from Civil War Blog by Barbara Brackman that jogged my memory of a covering that we wore when we worked on the plantation demos.

Then again, Outlander book and TV series has also featured this interesting weaving apparel. 

I knew it by Bosom friend as it covered your  front to keep you warm during those cold days as we did our demos.  This type of garment stayed tucked into the back and did not hang loose to fall into an over pit fire as you cooked in the hearth. Here we have another name --Sontag--and you can find many different patterns and styles that fit that title

Sontag, Habit Shirt and Bosom Friend----- a small shawl

Cephaline - something to wear on your head

Civil War Sontag

What a fascinating history about Sontag or Cephadine!  

Tess Durbervilles-Shawl

World Turned Upside Down Blog

Revisit to Boro

Julie B Booth has an interesting article about a thread technique that I wrote about several weeks
ago--Boro.  If only I knew about this stitching effect years ago when I tried to darn the kids clothing--they would have had some fancy look; but, then on the other hand, they probably wouldn't want to wear it!  Anyway, in this article Julie shows how using the simple running stitch can create some interesting looks for your mending.

Mending takes on a whole new look--don't throw away those holey jeans, just boro them!  We might set a whole new trend in the fashion world!

WIP

An earlier blog I posted about that pretty sock blank

And super free pattern

I found this yarn in my stash and I have plenty!

I jumped at the chance to knit that shawl

This yarn is well aged!  I remember buying from a

Local yarn shop that sold by the bulk--of course, I bought

This at a bargain price. Just one problem--

Don't make any mistakes!  It's a devil

To take out!

Time To Color and Fold!

I love this!  You can print off these interesting holiday paper globes,

cut and fold your way to marvelous decorations!  It's a good way

for the kids.

There are also other super decorations to color and use in your home!

Have fun and check back often to see what else is available.

What about this 3-D trees?!

Impulse Buy

There it was!  This awesome looking sock blank from The Loopy Ewe was staring me in the face--I so love

orange or shades of orange and the blue combined gave this fiber the look

of ME!  So, without hesitation I ordered immediately!  I don't do that

often as I like to use my stash--of which I have plenty!

But, this was right there--right in front of my face!  How could I resist?

It wasn't long before the fiber arrived and my first thoughts were--

what do I do with this?  I don't want socks--no one would see them.

Now, the search was on to find the right pattern--there are so many out there

that use gradient yarn--nothing really caught my eye 

until

this pattern popped up

and it was free!  Oh, how I like free! 

Shells and Tide  would be just perfect!  Alas, there isn't enough yardage to knit this yummy scarf--
oh well, I have the perfect pattern for another yarn.

Veteran's Day!!

Friday, November 11

Veterans Day 2016

Veterans Day is an official United States public holiday, observed annually on November 11, that honors military veterans, that is, persons who served in the United States Armed Forces. It coincides with other holidays, including Armistice Day and Remembrance Day, celebrated in other countries that mark the anniversary of the end of World War I; major hostilities of World War I were formally ended at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month of 1918, when the Armistice with Germany went into effect. The United States previously observed Armistice Day. The U.S. holiday was renamed Veterans Day in 1954.

Veterans Day is not to be confused with Memorial Day; Veterans Day celebrates the service of all U.S. military veterans, while Memorial Day honors those who died while in military service.^[1]

On November 11, 1919, U.S. President Woodrow Wilson issued a message to his countrymen on the first Armistice Day in which he expressed what he felt the day meant to Americans:

"ADDRESS TO FELLOW-COUNTRYMEN The White House, November 11, 1919. A year ago today our enemies laid down their arms in accordance with an armistice which rendered them impotent to renew hostilities, and gave to the world an assured opportunity to reconstruct its shattered order and to work out in peace a new and juster set of inter national relations. The soldiers and people of the European Allies had fought and endured for more than four years to uphold the barrier of civilization against the aggressions of armed force. We ourselves had been in the conflict something more than a year and a half. - With splendid forgetfulness of mere personal concerns, we re modeled our industries, concentrated our financial resources, increased our agricultural output, and assembled a great army, so that at the last our power was a decisive factor in the victory. We were able to bring the vast resources, material and moral, of a great and free people to the assistance of our associates in Europe who had suffered and sacrificed without limit in the cause for which we fought. Out of this victory there arose new possibilities of political freedom and economic concert. The war showed us the strength of great nations acting together for high purposes, and the victory of arms foretells the enduring conquests which can be made in peace when nations act justly and in furtherance of the common interests of men. To us in America the reflections of Armistice Day will be filled with - solemn pride in the heroism of those who died in the country’s service, and with gratitude for the victory, both because of the thing from which it has freed us and because of the opportunity it has given America to show her sympathy with peace and justice in the councils of nations.

En Provence!!

Quiltville, Bonnie Hunter's exciting website, has all the information you need to

join this free quilt mystery.

Every November, around Thanksgiving time, Bonnie hosts a free quilt pattern.

You just need to look for the clues on her website every week.

She has chosen these colors for the palette, but you can substitute your color

choices--just keep track.  

She keeps the clues up for a few weeks.

I don't know if I'll sew along this year--purple is not my thing!

But, I"ll save the clues for future reference or if I sub different fabrics.

Estonian Knitting

Have you ever wondered about Estonian knitting and what makes it different from other country knitting?  Kate Davies Designs has posted a review of the book--Estonian Knitting 1, Traditions & Techniques, Anu Pink, Siiri Reimann, Kristi Jöeste  

Estonian World has some interesting facts as well.

And along comes Elizabeth Ravenwood on Ravelry group A Big Comfy Doghouse forum

with 2017 year of Estonian patterns!  I'm so excited!

If that wasn't exciting enough, Toni L. Lorenz, of Knitting in the Loft forum group

is hosting a different Estonian sampler for 2017--completely different 

patterns!

How much fun is this going to be?!!  Hope I can keep up with this adventure

and learn about Estonian knitting.

Warp Weighted Looms

Sometimes, my brain goes into overload--I love the history of fabric--

how did it happen?  When did it happen?  Who was the person to come

up with the warp and weft of weaving?  Most don't stop to think--

just how did we get from zero to here?

When I do demos on weaving or spinning, I remind folks that

all our fabric came from a single thread!  Yes, a single thread became

a towel, a sheet, a piece of clothing, yes, even your underwear!

But, in ancient times, how were those clothing items woven?

Here is one of the most primitive ways you could make a loom-

a rock weighted loom!  Fascinating isn't it!!?

The Warp-Weighted Loom I Oppstadveven I Kljásteinavefstaður is a new

book written and researched by Hildur Hákonardóttir, Elizabeth Johnston and Marta Kløve Juuhl 

They worked for six years to contribute to this interdisciplinary book about the North Atlantic Cultural Heritage, represented by the Warp-Weighted Loom.  

The result is a story in three parts; the Loom History in Iceland, Shetland and Norway; an exceptional Practical Handbook which also shows the strong connection between science and good practical handicraft, and the textile findings from prehistoric and historic times.

Main text is in English and important recipes also in Icelandic and Norwegian.

Maggie Forest and Silvia Ravinet  wrote an interesting modern day account of their 

research into this weaving technique and maybe one of the first looms used.

Reading their experiment makes me very happy that others have tried this method

and we now have fancy easy to use looms!

The warp-weighted loom is a simple and ancient form of loom in which the warp yarns hang freely from a bar supported by upright poles which can be placed at a convenient slant against a wall. Bundles of warp threads are tied to hanging weights called loom weights which keep the threads taut.^[1] Evidence of the warp-weighted loom appears in the Neolithic period in central Europe. It is depicted in artifacts of Bronze Age Greece and was common throughout Europe, remaining in use in Scandinavia into modern times. Loom weights from the Bronze Age were excavated in Miletos, Greece.^[2]

At Least---One Finish--Well, Almost!

This quilt is back from the quilters and she did a remarkable job on

the quilting!  I'm really happy with the results.  And Yes, it is finished in

one sense of the word--it's back from the quilters and the binding is on, but.........

It will be awhile before I sit to sew down the binding, which I usually do by hand

there are about four other quilts waiting for their binding to be stitched down.  Now, there 

are alternates to stitching by hand-- Here is a tutorial 

One of my friends sews the binding on the BACK and brings it to the front

to stitch by machine--she does all her quilt bindings this way.

To each their own method.  I prefer to sit and pat my quilt as I stitch--

This quilt is 2014 BOM 2014 - A-Z with Ewe and Me!

It only took me two years to finish--well, almost finished!

For Baby's Warmth

When I make baby receiving blankets, I will buy 1.5 yds of snuggle flannel--

it also takes 1.5 yds for the back.  Usually, the blankets will take only the width of the fabric=

1.25 or 45" wide.  After the flannel has been washed, it will shrink slightly, which

gives me at least .25 yd left for other purposes.  Recently, I took all those quarter

yards and cut them into 6" squares.  I left them for decisions later.

When I heard that a local charity needed receiving blankets for newborn babies,

I knew there was an opportunity to use those squares so I sewed them into a

nine patch--some I coordinated

Then I cut the squares into quarters or did nine patch disappearing block

I tried to place the blocks so there were not many match ups--this will be a

nice size blanket

Here's a good video on that step.

Doesn't matter where the colors hit--love using my 'leftover' fabric

to be creative for a great purpose!

I had this large piece of pink and decided to border it with the 6" squares

I might add more once my order of flannel arrives this week.

There is still some handwork to be done on these but I know that

a baby will enjoy the warmth of my sewing.

History of Color

Have you ever wondered how color came to be?  The history of color/pigments is fascinating--how did an artist know how to reproduce a color needed for artwork?

The website, Artsy, has an article, The Art Genome by Sarah Gottesman, that gives a brief insight into the history of color.

Red ochre is one of the oldest pigments still in use--can you believe?!  

Lapis Lazuli or Blue is worth more than gold!  

Joseph Turner used the experimental watercolor Indian Yellow—a fluorescent paint derived from the urine of mango-fed cows.  

Green pigments have been some of the most poisonous in history.  

The Impressionists—especially Monet—so adored the new hue that critics accused the painters of having “violettomania.”

The darkest pigment of the Old Masters, “bone black” is produced by burning animal bones in an air-free chamber.

Of all the pigments that have been banned over the centuries, the color most missed by painters is likely Lead White.

Give this article a read--great information here--especially if you enjoy color and art history!

Horus Shawl--Can We Say Scrumptious!

Horus Shawl designed by Pink Brutus looks to be a challenge,

but if you like challenges, jump right in as this one looks lovely!

Notes Worked from the top down for center section, then working each side separately using short rows to create wings.  Ears of Grass Lace will not repeat fully between each point of moving markers, simply continue in pattern.

Yarn DK (#3 Light); Shown: Rowan, Felted Tweed (50% Merino Wool, 25% Alpaca, 25% Viscose; 191 yds/50g): Color 157 Camel about 7-8 balls. - However, yarn isn't particularly important for this pattern.  A lighter weight will produce a smaller shawl and a heavier weight will produce a larger shawl.

Needles US6 (4mm) 21" cir for working a large number of sts; Gauge 5.5 sts & 7.5 rows = 1" St st worked flat.

Color Plus

Brightside website offers an insight into color wheel:  I have many books on color and it is still confusing at times.  Isn't color subjective?

Scheme № 1: A complementary combination

Scheme № 2: The triad — a combination of three colors

Scheme № 3: An analogous combination

Scheme № 4: The split complementary combination

Scheme № 5: The tetrad — a combination of four colors

Scheme № 6: The square

Combinations of individual colours--rules that can be obeyed--but, I'm of the mind set--rules are meant to be broken!

Let's Practise Colorwork!

Our November 2016 monthly KAL is the

Quick Ombré Hat pattern by Emily Dormier ( a free Ravelry pattern)

The pattern only shows one size, but you can use this as a working basis:
Baby (Child, Adult S, L)
To fit 16 (18, 21, 23)” head
Cast on 76 (84, 96, 108) sts
CAUTION. This only works if you use smaller needles to knit the ribbing before changing to the pattern needles.

Start date = Nov 1, 2016 and of course, I'm a day late to begin this!

You’ll be able to practise colorwork and knitting in the round.
Don’t be afraid to try,

Here are a few tutorials to help you:
Stretchy cast-on



Knitting in the round

Make A Wish Quilt Project

Check it out Quilt Along  It's happening in 2017

please add this to your list of must dos for the year!

you won't be sorry

Patchwork Quilt Along benefits Make-A-Wish. This fantastic organization grants the wishes of children diagnosed with a life-threatening medical condition. Make-A-Wish believes a wish experience can be a game-changer. Granted wishes help children feel stronger, more energetic, and more willing to face their medical battle, and for many the wish marks a turning point in the fight against their illnesses!