Misc March Stitching Chat

packyderms_wife

Neither here nor there.
Well it's spring here, but not quite spring here... as usual mother nature cannot make up her mind, so what are you stitching up this month?
 

packyderms_wife

Neither here nor there.
Sad to say that now that my dad has passed away I can now focus full time on studio activities, no more stress of "what ifs" if I get started on a project and have to drop everything to go home for a funeral. It's been over a week... and am starting to get back into the swing of things.
 

AlaskaSue

North to the Future
Goodness, Packy. Spring looks like it’s forever away from here...though I did go to a Peony Conference this weekend and am putting in my seed order. Got 9 more inches of snow last night on top of what we had and you would not want to drive the highway between Wasilla and Anchorage today (icy, yow).

But I’m working on dresses for the grandgirls and DDIL (coordinating, not matching). Looking for a nice romper for the one-year-old grandboy but can’t find a pattern I like. Hmmm, should come up with something for dear Son too, I suppose, Ha.

The nice thing is the daylight is lasting longer, which is wonderful for us morning people right now - but that will change next week of course with daylight savings time change.

Spring...well, I’m going to start my starts this month, planting day is right around Mother’s Day. Meantime, I’m going to get the side-by-side out and plow my huge driveway.... :)
 

Grouchy Granny

Deceased
Spring is kind of thinking about it here in Denver CO. Got about 2 inches of snow last night but it warmed up to 53 today and melted off. Don't dare plant until end of May so I'm also contemplating what I'm putting in the garden this year.

Need to get out of the doldrums and get out to the sewing room (in the detached garage) and get the GKid's quilt quilted - it mostly is. Trying to figure out the idiosyncracies of the new Bernina 770 on some types of thread (I use invisible for most quilting) is challenging.

Then need to see how it does on free motion quilting. If it gives me too many problems I'll switch back to my trusty Bernina 440.
 

Faroe

Un-spun
Sunny and warm here. I'm not a fan of NM summers. Too many flies, and the my rabbits will soon be miserable. Always much prefer sweater-weather.

Hoxbro's (spell?) Danish women's natroje sweaters book is on the way, along with some knitting needles (Hiya, in sizes I don't yet have). I'll probably purchase a cone of Franjipani to knit either a gansey, or a natroje this month. Currently working through a cone of grey shetland that provided yarn for one lace scarf, and am about 1/2 way through a lace shawl in the same yarn (beautiful heathered grey, but at this point, I'm getting a bit tired of it). Both pieces from Elizabeth Lovick's book on Magical Shetland Shawls. Easy to understand patterns. This is one of those books that will get worn out.

The next book on order will be Alice Starmore's Aran sweaters. I know there is a lot of negative sentiment against supporting her (apparently she has a rep. for frivolous law suits), but I'll be getting it off the used market anyway. I don't actually like the way she compiles her books - no schematics, and the photographs aren't all that clear either. No one needs a coffee table book with lavish landscape photography...just show the damn knitwear! More info on suitable yarn would help too - we are not all buying HER yarn. That said, I do admire much of her work, in the event that you actually get to see the sweater...Andrea of Fruity Knitting podcast has featured a few of them.

ETA, Packy, sorry to hear about your dad.
 

packyderms_wife

Neither here nor there.
Sunny and warm here. I'm not a fan of NM summers. Too many flies, and the my rabbits will soon be miserable. Always much prefer sweater-weather.

Hoxbro's (spell?) Danish women's natroje sweaters book is on the way, along with some knitting needles (Hiya, in sizes I don't yet have). I'll probably purchase a cone of Franjipani to knit either a gansey, or a natroje this month. Currently working through a cone of grey shetland that provided yarn for one lace scarf, and am about 1/2 way through a lace shawl in the same yarn (beautiful heathered grey, but at this point, I'm getting a bit tired of it). Both pieces from Elizabeth Lovick's book on Magical Shetland Shawls. Easy to understand patterns. This is one of those books that will get worn out.

The next book on order will be Alice Starmore's Aran sweaters. I know there is a lot of negative sentiment against supporting her (apparently she has a rep. for frivolous law suits), but I'll be getting it off the used market anyway. I don't actually like the way she compiles her books - no schematics, and the photographs aren't all that clear either. No one needs a coffee table book with lavish landscape photography...just show the damn knitwear! More info on suitable yarn would help too - we are not all buying HER yarn. That said, I do admire much of her work, in the event that you actually get to see the sweater...Andrea of Fruity Knitting podcast has featured a few of them.

ETA, Packy, sorry to hear about your dad.


Ah yes good ole Alice. I have several of her books... and had to buy other books to understand her patterns, lol. Didn't know she was the queen of lawsuits... that's not a good reputation to have especially in the craft industry.
 

Broken Arrow

Heathen Pagan Witch
Not so much spring here, but mud season is in full swing. Expecting snow here again towards the end of the week. It must be coming, the horses and cows are starting to blow their winter coats out. Dogs haven't started yet.

Got our shearing date set finally. April 29th this year, and we start lambing on May 2nd. Cutting it close this year, but I had a heck of a time finding a shearer in our new state.

Got a shawl on the needles using my handspun yarn. Also a wee dress for my granddaughter from respun hobby lobby roving yarn stuff. Gotta love acrylic for kids. I did also get my studio finally set up. Now I can actually find stuff!!!
 

Melodi

Disaster Cat
Well, now that I'm both on Nightwolf ordered "lockdown" (aka I don't leave the six acres unless it is absolutely necessary like a doctor's appointment) and my back still has me off-duty for much of anything beyond what I can do sitting down; I'm trying to get some knitting catch up done and possibly get out my small looms to practice some new ideas.

I'm still working on the very long, very warm scarf - I am using some discounted pure wool yarn our local yarn shop keeps getting in, only in the shade of "natural" which is fine - I already made a hat out of it.

For years I've been wanting a scarf like I can in Denver that goes all the way around my neck and still hangs down a bit; here you mostly only get scarves that tuck around your neck and under your coat. Perfect for the usual Irish/British damp but not effective when it is snowing or a fierce-cold wind is blowing.

I'm almost done with that, I'm going to see about steaking the sweater I started last year (cutting them) so I can knit the sleeves but I also may start a pair of socks next.

Mostly small things I think for the moment, but a sweater or other items are not out of the question.
 

Melodi

Disaster Cat
Baron Tiger Von Trip says: "U not needs to be spinning, fleeces iz for kittah pillow" (and yep that's a Finnriver bag from Washington State as is the fleece on the distaff).

88149479_10222242132700021_309061109271232512_o.jpg
 

Faroe

Un-spun
Almost done with the second small shawl in Lovick's book. Would have had it finished, but got to row nine in the third and final chart...there is a mistake in the chart. Spent an hour re-re-re-knitting, and not trusting my own reasoning. Couldn't find any errata by the publisher, nor on her site, and has to resort to Ravelry to straighten it out. Did finally get a correct chart from there (some things are ONLY on Ravelry - grrr...), which matched how I had decided to knit that row after all the confusion.

So, now I am on row 15, of 34. Could finish tonight, but my concentration is shot. This afternoon, I lost a filling (???). Not happy. Will have to dig out some clove oil, and maybe a plug of bee's wax. I don't trust dentistry, and would rather not catch Corona while getting it fixed. The shawl will be very pretty, when it eventually gets done.

Happy knitting, everyone.
 

packyderms_wife

Neither here nor there.
Almost done with the second small shawl in Lovick's book. Would have had it finished, but got to row nine in the third and final chart...there is a mistake in the chart. Spent an hour re-re-re-knitting, and not trusting my own reasoning. Couldn't find any errata by the publisher, nor on her site, and has to resort to Ravelry to straighten it out. Did finally get a correct chart from there (some things are ONLY on Ravelry - grrr...), which matched how I had decided to knit that row after all the confusion.

So, now I am on row 15, of 34. Could finish tonight, but my concentration is shot. This afternoon, I lost a filling (???). Not happy. Will have to dig out some clove oil, and maybe a plug of bee's wax. I don't trust dentistry, and would rather not catch Corona while getting it fixed. The shawl will be very pretty, when it eventually gets done.

Happy knitting, everyone.

You should go get it fixed! My mom ignored hers when it fell out she ended up with sepsis and died.
 

Melodi

Disaster Cat
I have the yarn to crochet a continuous granny square, but I haven't had the time to sit down and start it. Something like this, only with purple instead of green. It's going to be a spring throw for my recliner.

View attachment 184938
I used to make a lot of these as baby blankets in my 20's, I'd add a few rows of knitting to the bottom and top to make a rectangle.
 

Faroe

Un-spun
It doesn't get any better than natural shades like that!
Took a break from knitting today (just a few rows from finishing), I have been VERY stressed out!
 
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Broken Arrow

Heathen Pagan Witch
Thank you!! I have a hard time, this time of year, waiting for shearing and lambing. Its like a kid waiting for Christmas!
 

Faroe

Un-spun
Planning on getting some Jacob fleece to spin. Just kind of itching to get back to twirling a hand spindle. The Woolery sells roving, so it won't require prep.

Finished the knitting on the shawl. It is very small - my fault. I should have used the larger rec. needle size, and a finer yarn for better lace definition. Anyway, it looks nice (not finding any mistakes - yet), and works well around the neck. The pattern called for an odd (but easy) provisional cast-on for five stitches on each side which is at the ctr. back where the "tab" would normally be made. I hate making those tricky tabs, but since that is the first thing done, it GETS done. I still have to graft these stitches before soaking and blocking - next time, I'll probably start with a tab.

Not sure what I'll make next. There is an intriguing mini pattern in the same book that looks like it could be painlessly sized up. Might do that one, as I like the clear diamond motif and always love the sort of prairie point edging that this one has along the two slanted sides. Yarn??? I have enough left of the cone to easily make another shawl, and a big one too. Nice yarn, but I am just tired of it for now.

Two books came in - Vivian Hoxbro's Traditional Danish Sweaters, and Knits from the Heart of Norway, by Irenen Haugland. Both are lovely. I'm not much of a color knitter, but I can see using the Danish texture motifs on the (usually multi-colored) Norwegian sweaters, as the scale of both detailing is the same. Might get a skein of cheap Wallmart wool just to do some experimenting. I wanted to purchase a cone of Frangipani, but everyone seems to be out of the colors I like.

I bought a $5 bag of mica flakes off Etsy. I wanted to do that sort of Indian mirror embroidery on denim. The vague plan is to make a few denim totes out of old thrift store jeans (I have multiple paper grocery bags full of them). Chose the traditional mica over the mirrors for the flatter profile, and safety. The little round mirrors for sale on Etsy look like they have sharp edges. Never worked with these before, so...we'll see.

Happy stitching. :)
 

Faroe

Un-spun
That's gorgeous!!!
Working on an "apprentice" fichou pattern from Lovick's lace shawl book. I'm on the 4th or 5th try on that one. Earlier, I thought there had to be a mistake, but the counts are working out now. At this point, I *think* I can keep going, and make it whatever size I want. Simple looking motif, but it is tricky. Experienced lace knitters probably knit mostly from their knitting, but I am stuck on the chart, and it is slow going on this pattern.

Ordered a cone of Frangipani in Falmouth Navy. Not sure if that is going to be a Gladys Thompson pattern gansey, or a Danish style sweater. I know I can knit the Thompson, the Danish patterns look intimidating.
 

Melodi

Disaster Cat
Almost done with the very long and very warm scarf - I put it aside to work on some UFO socks in weight between most sock yarn and full Aran yarn.

I'm trying to work on UFO's to some degree while everyone is on lockdown, that and probably sock knitting. Some of my tools and stash are in the room that currently has to power and that household members (not me) keep putting large items in front of the door which I can't open.

Yesterday, Nightwolf got my Inkle loom out but I realized all my books are in there; he's at a beekeeping course today with a housemate (the last outing for some time I suspect - housemate is already on orders to work from home next week and is staying here).

But I hope to have him really clear a path tomorrow as I need a number of things out there, I saw someone who had just figured out brocaded tablet weaving at my last SCA event and I want to try it out while I can still remember what she was doing.

One of our other SCA members posted "the UFO thread" in hopes of encouraging folks stuck at home to finish things.

Finally, a yarn shop in Dublin had a "Keep calm and carry yarn," sale so I ordered some Aran wool, I'll probably have Nightwolf deal with the box and then either put the yarn in the freezer or just set it aside in one of the less-used rooms for at least 9 days.
 

Faroe

Un-spun
I don't know about anyone else, but I can NOT focus on anything!

The only knitting getting done is some garterstitch, and very piecemeal, at that. The lace shawl has been laid aside for so long, I'll have to re-study the pattern. I have some gorgeous gansey yarn that arrived, but no desire whatsoever to cast on the intended sweater. House is a mess, yard work needs to be done, and neither one of us is even complaining about it!

If nothing is interesting on the computer, I've gone to just staring at the walls. Watching the snakes in their vivs is entertaining. They are restless because of Spring. Two days ago, I set the ratties out in large wire cages in the chicken hoop house, now that the weather is warmer. They love the extra space. I noticed while milking this evening that the goats enjoy watching the silly ratty antics. Never thought about it before, but both animals have the same scrappy personalities.
 

Seeker22

Has No Life - Lives on TB
I am knitting along on a pair of leg warmers. The black shawl is having to wait for bright days.
When I have to deal with another dark time because of rain, I go on Bead Tool and graph more bead patterns. Been getting lots of those done. We are flooded in. My four foot deep fire pit was two thirds full of rain water yesterday and more is inbound. Fill up that Aquifer, I'm not complaining. I have lots of stuff in the greenhouse waiting to get planted. I just don't want to do that until the Spring storms are past.

I got an email from Harman Beads in New York. Thought I'd pass it along. If you still need beads they are still mailing. I won't order until I have to, as I am drowning in beads.


HARMAN COVID-19 - *Important Update*

The Governor of New York, Andrew Cuomo has taken the unprecedented action of ordering all non-essential businesses to close as of Sunday March 22, 2020. Regrettably, we are left with no alternative but to temporarily close our warehouse until further notice.

Our staff will still all be working from home and doing our best to provide you with the best service we can. You may email your sales representative or you may send a message to our general email: sales@harmanbeads.com

We will still be able to accept orders on our website: www.harmanbeads.com and via email correspondence. Will do our best to get orders out as quickly as possible once our warehouse reopens.

We will continue to monitor this situation very closely and we look forward to reopening as quickly as possible! We will send out a notification when we reopen or if there are any other changes or updates.

We want to thank all of our customers for their patience and understanding during this truly unprecedented time. This continues to be an extraordinarily hard time for all of us. Please stay safe with your families. We will all get through this together; and when we do, we look forward to expanding the possibilities of sparkle together!
Sincerely,
6fea6ac9-5ddf-4d87-888f-1cb90d070031.jpg

Alisa Mandel Nogen, CEO
 

packyderms_wife

Neither here nor there.
I am knitting along on a pair of leg warmers. The black shawl is having to wait for bright days.
When I have to deal with another dark time because of rain, I go on Bead Tool and graph more bead patterns. Been getting lots of those done. We are flooded in. My four foot deep fire pit was two thirds full of rain water yesterday and more is inbound. Fill up that Aquifer, I'm not complaining. I have lots of stuff in the greenhouse waiting to get planted. I just don't want to do that until the Spring storms are past.

I got an email from Harman Beads in New York. Thought I'd pass it along. If you still need beads they are still mailing. I won't order until I have to, as I am drowning in beads.


HARMAN COVID-19 - *Important Update*

The Governor of New York, Andrew Cuomo has taken the unprecedented action of ordering all non-essential businesses to close as of Sunday March 22, 2020. Regrettably, we are left with no alternative but to temporarily close our warehouse until further notice.

Our staff will still all be working from home and doing our best to provide you with the best service we can. You may email your sales representative or you may send a message to our general email: sales@harmanbeads.com

We will still be able to accept orders on our website: www.harmanbeads.com and via email correspondence. Will do our best to get orders out as quickly as possible once our warehouse reopens.

We will continue to monitor this situation very closely and we look forward to reopening as quickly as possible! We will send out a notification when we reopen or if there are any other changes or updates.

We want to thank all of our customers for their patience and understanding during this truly unprecedented time. This continues to be an extraordinarily hard time for all of us. Please stay safe with your families. We will all get through this together; and when we do, we look forward to expanding the possibilities of sparkle together!
Sincerely,
6fea6ac9-5ddf-4d87-888f-1cb90d070031.jpg

Alisa Mandel Nogen, CEO


Thanks for the link to Harman Beads, like you I'm drowning in beads over here so I won't be ordering anytime soon, it's nice to have a new bead source.
 

Melodi

Disaster Cat
Faroe I have one of their books but I had no idea they were so adorable! I watched part of this and I subscribed to their channel, I'll try and finish it in the morning.
 

Faroe

Un-spun
Back with the lace. It requires concentration, however, so I can't knit while watching videos.

Purchased another Frangipani cone in a Cordova blue. As I understand it, a color exclusive to The Net Loft, a fiber store in Alaska. $10 shipping to NM - very reasonable given the distance and the weight/size of the cone. I would like to use it for one of Hoxbro patterns.

Don't judge that book by the odd t-shirt knit on the cover - the sweaters inside are gorgeous, and the author has dozens of charted stitch patterns. I like the limited use of Bavarian-style twisted traveling stitches that gives just a bit more definition and texture to the knit/pearl contrast. I haven't studied the patterns, so can't say anything about mistakes, or the quality of the directions.

Will wait for April to get some Jacob roving to spin. I can watch anything while spinning.
 
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Broken Arrow

Heathen Pagan Witch
Some fiber porn for you. Miss Boudicca’s fleece when I changed her coat today. 4” staple with a tiny super tight crimp. She’s a 5 year old Merino.
DBA15FDD-F4AB-40B1-A1BC-99DCCC2E138C.jpeg
 
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