Tuesday, March 27, 2012
She's alive!
Have you been as worried as I have, wondering if Crazy Aunt Purl fell off the planet? Or took a very wrong turn somewhere in the Hollywood Hills, or stepped out in the road & got flattened by a passing tour bus? Well, worry no more--she's back!
Sunday, March 25, 2012
Nubs
The title refers to my poor feet, after more than 4 hours cruising around the Flea Market at the Fairgrounds. DiscoDame & I set out very early (about 7:15 a.m., an impossibly early time for Disco!) Friday, heading to the Threadfest -- but when we got there, the doors were locked, and it looked like nothing was set up inside. So both of pulled out our phones & checked calendars; I had it noted for Friday and again next Friday, and she had a reminder for next Friday. Well, what to do? Disco had seen that the Flea Market was on, so we scooted up the hill and proceeded to spend lots of dough while wearing ourselves to nubs. Concrete floors everywhere...but we had a good time and came home with goodies. However, I believe I'll have to skip the Threadfest, as I spent way too much for my fun. I did see one vendor's display of re-purposed old silver flatware, that had some handles worked into hairsticks, as well as other forms. My thought was,"Why not shawl sticks?" So, I mentioned that to the vendor--but since I didn't break down & buy one he might not change his sign.
I have finished unravelling the red-purple sweater, and discovered that my little swift (the "Almighty Reeling Machine") definitely has a weight limit. I had to pull the wound skein off, and rewind part of it, break the yarn, tie bits around that skein, and make another -- twice! The "umbrella" kept collapsing in slow motion, so the skeins were getting smaller around and developing bulges. It's good to know the limits of our equipment, I guess. So I now have three washed & dried skeins, and three unwashed. There's quite a bit of yarn here, and I've already looked at vest patterns. I'm thinking cables, with moss stitch and ribbing, and how lovely this crazy purple tweed will be in that form! And it will probably be a cardigan vest, though I've seen some nice slipover ones.
I have finished unravelling the red-purple sweater, and discovered that my little swift (the "Almighty Reeling Machine") definitely has a weight limit. I had to pull the wound skein off, and rewind part of it, break the yarn, tie bits around that skein, and make another -- twice! The "umbrella" kept collapsing in slow motion, so the skeins were getting smaller around and developing bulges. It's good to know the limits of our equipment, I guess. So I now have three washed & dried skeins, and three unwashed. There's quite a bit of yarn here, and I've already looked at vest patterns. I'm thinking cables, with moss stitch and ribbing, and how lovely this crazy purple tweed will be in that form! And it will probably be a cardigan vest, though I've seen some nice slipover ones.
Wednesday, March 21, 2012
Hello stranger
Good grief; it's been almost a month since I posted. I'm sorry--I know how disappointed I get when my favorite bloggers go silent. There's been knitting, and knitting-related activity over here at Chez Plaid. I worked several more repeats on the EWW, a few more rows on Plaidman's slippers, and even another square on the 3rd Dolly Blankie. I took some vacation time, so wound up with five days in a row of goof-off time. I unraveled a thrift store sweater! I bought it for the wool, which is a terrific purpley-red tweed, and it looks like it's worsted too. I'm thinking "Vest" for this stuff. There are several more thrifted sweaters in the stash, just begging to be unraveled and reused--so I'll stay away from the yarn shops for a while. Not that I have a yarn buying moratorium per se--I'm going to a festival (well..two festivals, actually) next month, and will likely buy some goodies there. Pinching the pennies till then...
Chez Plaid is about to get a mini-makeover. A couple of my vacation days were spent (also some $ was spent!) in the hardware store (Ace on Charlotte Ave in [horrors!] West Nashville), getting the "stuff" we need to start a project. I bought two foundation vents to replace missing ones, two Tyvek-like coveralls, and a large humane trap. Yes, we're going into the crawlspace! So the feral cats have gotta go to the pound. Plaidman says there's lots of spiders under there...if you don't hear from me again before June, send the Orkin man.
We had the requisite corned beef & cabbage out of the crockpot, only I had a new recipe from A Year of Slow Cooking , for her Dijon corned beef. Yummy! Simple! I really need to use the crockpot more.
Chez Plaid is about to get a mini-makeover. A couple of my vacation days were spent (also some $ was spent!) in the hardware store (Ace on Charlotte Ave in [horrors!] West Nashville), getting the "stuff" we need to start a project. I bought two foundation vents to replace missing ones, two Tyvek-like coveralls, and a large humane trap. Yes, we're going into the crawlspace! So the feral cats have gotta go to the pound. Plaidman says there's lots of spiders under there...if you don't hear from me again before June, send the Orkin man.
We had the requisite corned beef & cabbage out of the crockpot, only I had a new recipe from A Year of Slow Cooking , for her Dijon corned beef. Yummy! Simple! I really need to use the crockpot more.
Thursday, February 23, 2012
At last
The dearth of knitting has come to an end (I hope). I picked up the slippers I'm working up for the Plaidman, knit a row or three, and put them down again. Didn't knit for another week, then this past weekend I worked up an entire 16 row repeat on my Every Way Wrap -- I'm back, baby! And back in business.
The daffydillies suffered only a little from the frost & snow of this past freaky weather week. I have them mounded beneath the maple tree. Lawks, we've been in this house a long time: I used to be able to reach all the way 'round that maple, now it takes two people to hug that tree. And it survived having a lot of it's roots dug up when the septic field needed re-digging. Right after that event, a pair of woodpeckers took up residence there -- I get such a kick from watching them at the feeder! They hang almost upside-down from the edge of the feeder tray, and will stomp their way around it to find what they like -- and to chase away blackbirds & jays! They don't bother the littler birds, just the big greedies. If only I could get a picture, but they're very shy of people.
Lord help us, the entire Plaid household (well, excepting the cats) has been caught up in the Malazan Tales of the Fallen, which is a fantasy series by Steven Erikson. There are many, many very thick books--the first few of which are largely responsible for the lack of knitting lately. Plaidman & I are taking turns requesting the next two in the series, from the library. We love our library! Speaking of which, I've a return notice in the email--three other books are due back this weekend.
I have one more Friday to work, before my coworker returns from her extended trip. She's adopting some sisters from a foreign land--I won't say more here. But I know these little girls are going to be blessed, to be in their new home! Easter is going to be terrific in her household; her own kids are all boys, so I'm guessing she'll have a ball dressing her daughters for church. Nana (my dear departed mother) used to dress all five of us kids, for Easter Sunday. She made a lot of the dresses we four girls wore, but didn't sew for our brother--dresses = easy, trousers = hard to make! I have a photo of us, with girls in bonnets and "spring" navy cloth coats, and Brother in his little suit. Put that on the to-do list: find the family photos & scan some of them so y'all can take a look!
The daffydillies suffered only a little from the frost & snow of this past freaky weather week. I have them mounded beneath the maple tree. Lawks, we've been in this house a long time: I used to be able to reach all the way 'round that maple, now it takes two people to hug that tree. And it survived having a lot of it's roots dug up when the septic field needed re-digging. Right after that event, a pair of woodpeckers took up residence there -- I get such a kick from watching them at the feeder! They hang almost upside-down from the edge of the feeder tray, and will stomp their way around it to find what they like -- and to chase away blackbirds & jays! They don't bother the littler birds, just the big greedies. If only I could get a picture, but they're very shy of people.
Lord help us, the entire Plaid household (well, excepting the cats) has been caught up in the Malazan Tales of the Fallen, which is a fantasy series by Steven Erikson. There are many, many very thick books--the first few of which are largely responsible for the lack of knitting lately. Plaidman & I are taking turns requesting the next two in the series, from the library. We love our library! Speaking of which, I've a return notice in the email--three other books are due back this weekend.
I have one more Friday to work, before my coworker returns from her extended trip. She's adopting some sisters from a foreign land--I won't say more here. But I know these little girls are going to be blessed, to be in their new home! Easter is going to be terrific in her household; her own kids are all boys, so I'm guessing she'll have a ball dressing her daughters for church. Nana (my dear departed mother) used to dress all five of us kids, for Easter Sunday. She made a lot of the dresses we four girls wore, but didn't sew for our brother--dresses = easy, trousers = hard to make! I have a photo of us, with girls in bonnets and "spring" navy cloth coats, and Brother in his little suit. Put that on the to-do list: find the family photos & scan some of them so y'all can take a look!
Thursday, February 9, 2012
Hard workin' Mama
I haven't knit a stitch in a week -- I'm about to expire from withdrawal symptoms. Lots of projectts started, none of which has managed to fire up the knitting mojo. Instead, I'm thinking of going to the Middle Tenn Fiber Festival, to take Fleegle's class in supported spindling. Must. Resist. Urge. To. Spin!
My daffydils are blooming. They started budding the middle of last week, and over the weekend they opened up their trumpets. The Lambs' Ears at the porch front look truly ragged, even though the winter has been super mild. Doesn't matter, before the end of June I'll be digging them out of the yard--they kinda want to take over! I'm probably going to dig up what's left of the pussy-willow, which is now an all-u-can-eat for the Japanese beetles. If they'd only learn to eat honeysuckle....I could stand to have less of that!
Disco & I cooperated on a crock-pot lasagna, ala A Year of Slow Cooking (http://www.crockpot365.blogspot.com/), and ate like pigs -- it's abfab, I tell ya!
I have nothing to say about the so-called Super Bowl (pffft! as if it could be super without the Steelers!), because even tho it was on the TV and I was in the room, I didn't watch.
My daffydils are blooming. They started budding the middle of last week, and over the weekend they opened up their trumpets. The Lambs' Ears at the porch front look truly ragged, even though the winter has been super mild. Doesn't matter, before the end of June I'll be digging them out of the yard--they kinda want to take over! I'm probably going to dig up what's left of the pussy-willow, which is now an all-u-can-eat for the Japanese beetles. If they'd only learn to eat honeysuckle....I could stand to have less of that!
Disco & I cooperated on a crock-pot lasagna, ala A Year of Slow Cooking (http://www.crockpot365.blogspot.com/), and ate like pigs -- it's abfab, I tell ya!
I have nothing to say about the so-called Super Bowl (pffft! as if it could be super without the Steelers!), because even tho it was on the TV and I was in the room, I didn't watch.
Monday, January 23, 2012
More slippers
I've started a pair in Titans (Boo! Hiss!)colors, for the Plaidman. Had to really hunt for appropriately colored yarn--I don't actually have navy acrylic in the stash. Duh. Most of my acrylic yarns seem to be either pastels or Christmas red & green. So, neutrals are kinda sparse! Disco was wondering whether we could just try tying together a slough of different colors in 20'-30' lengths, to make our own "variegated". I said sure, as long as you don't mind pastels & Christmas! I have written up my notes for adaptations to Aunt Maggies's Slippers; if there is any interest I'll put that over on my patterns page, with a link to the original pattern.
Go Patriots! (We hate the Ravens...)
Go Patriots! (We hate the Ravens...)
Tuesday, January 17, 2012
After careful review
I looked into the Every Which Way Wrap mentioned in the last post. This is a paid pattern, and from the look of it not exactly reversible. Now I don't mind paying a bit for a nice pattern, and this does look nice--but the reversibility of the Every Way Wrap was what sold me on knitting it. So I guess for now I'll pass on the Every Which Way (thank goodness! It was gonna get confusin' here real soon!). Last week I knit another pair of Aunt Maggie's Slippers for Disco, in a light orangey gold plu a medium orangey red acrylic yarns. They went so much faster than the last pair; have I actually gotten to be a faster knitter? I could live with that!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)