Halfway

 I finished plying the second skein of the Southdown wool which measured out to another 150 yards..  

I plan to dye the first one in a few colors and the smaller skein in a solid color.

I don't know exactly what it will be used for yet.

 The flowers are loving the rainy season.  This Hibiscus measures 8' across.

 The knotweed bush is making a comeback-the freeze this past winter reduced the big bush to a few 12" stubs.  It is now over my head in height...butterflies are coming to dine!

 This little stub of cactus was 'picked' for me--the lifesaver was too real for some little boy!

It might well root!

It is pretty on my windowsill over the kitchen sink in the meantime!

 This used to be the pond--it is becoming a lake.

We can't drive around the pond-straight ahead on the left was the dam Bill had built.

The next three days are supposed to be dry so we will see if the water level drops at all.

I have been adding to the Persian Tiles blanket;  I think I am about halfway done now.

I ripped out the other blanket-I like this one better and I want it to be big enough.

I also have a pattern to my random colors!

It makes it easier to know what to use next!

Southdown Skein

 I wound this off the bobbin early this morning...it is balanced and beautiful!

This is a down breed and so the yarn is soft, super squishy, bouncy and lofty.

I have started plying the last on the bobbins.....another skein will follow later today.

We have had a relapse of the vomiting by the youngest--it makes for a bit of confusion and disruption but I am hoping for a nap time later today so I can do some work on the frame.

I do so like being home for a change!

Sunny Spinning!

 After I dropped off the boys, I went to do some spinning by the river.  

It is day three of the Tour de Fleece, you know! 

 I managed to ply the first bobbin full for skein number one of the Southdown fiber.

 This was my view of the river today.

On the way home, I took a picture of the construction going on at the Dunn's Creek Bridge;

it will be a four lane bridge in another year or so! 

 The boys enjoy spotting the construction vehicles each time we drive by!

(and because no one was behind me, I slowed down and took this pic out my windshield!)

Sweater 101 FO

 The sample sweater from the video class is off the needles and blocked!

 I had a good time learning some extra tips and feel pretty equipped to handle alterations to patters much better.

 This will fit a one year old child;  made with heavy worsted yarn from the stash on #8 and 10 needles.

I even added the yoke to the back.

I think I scored an A+ , if I do say so myself.

The Mighty has Fallen

 The men in the house have been down with a stomach bug so OJ has found a quiet place to hide.

(the skin people were sick not the fur ones....)

 This guy used to have a brother who was grey and white...and this is how they would sleep.

Sweet, huh?!

(He is cuddled with Ethan's KitKat)

 Nyki is always on the hunt-this guy was discovered by Nyki and reduced to naught by moi.

 And a little kntting has been going on--this is my progress on the Sweater 101 class.

 Bill, when he was feeling better earlier in the week, 

felled the great cedar growing just outside our pool area.

It was messy and when he began to dig it out

 discovered that there were tree sized roots heading into the house foundation

 and the pool - we are glad it is down.

 The boys thought it was a great adventure to have a 20' crater in the yard!

 And a little forest to play in, too!

These are some of the treasures we found 6' under the ground near the tree-most of the glass was broken but we found these bottle intact.  According to their manufacturing numbers, they are from the 1930's.  Pretty cool, aren't they?!

Sweater 101

 If you are new to knitting or a knitter of decades like me,
you need to check out the free course by Cheryl Brunette called How to Knit a Sweater.
I am using a bag of chunky yarn to knit the class sweater for a child; 
I am learning a lot of tips and tricks-I wish I had had access to this so many years ago
and am glad for it now!

I think that anyone who knits, needs to give her videos a watch-you will pick up something positive, I'm sure!  I enjoyed some knitting time today-

But set it all aside in time for the fireworks show my son gave us

tonight-

this one was a photographic accident and I love it!

We had a wonderful day.

What's New?!

 I tried The Incredible Sweater Machine 30 years ago but had the itch to try it again.

I watched a bunch of videos by Cheryl Brunette

 and I was ready to put it together

 and

KNIT!

I did it!  I have high hopes to both knit sweaters with this and for making sock blanks for dyeing.

It was nice to conquer and to play! 

 I also bought some cotton and linen bare yarns so I can try Procion dyes for plant fabrics.

I have tons of cotton for spinning that will now have color so it won't be so boring!

And I couldn't resist this quilt kit because it is in oranges and blues;   I don't love and adore sports at all but these are the colors of both Syracuse and now Gainesville--and it is a great color combo!

Now to find the time to actually use these crafts!

Summer Sunflower Tank

Ta Da!

The summery Sunflower Tank is off the needles and ready to wear;

It didn't take as much time to pick up the stitches

along the armholes and neckline

and knit the I-cord bind off

as

it did to seam this thing! lol

I designed this using the software from The Sweater Wizard

and the measurements from a summer top I love.

It is soft and has a nice drape;

knitting it in an easy K3P1 rib helps the cotton to keep its shape

and not stretch out as the day wears on.

The open side seams keeps it from hugging a tummy too tightly

and gives a bit of swing to the hemline.

It's a win and I will try this pattern again!

STATS:

yarn-TLC Cotton Plus (51% cotton/49%acrylic) worsted weight   3.5 oz    2 skeins

#8 needles

Stardom-My Moment of Fame!

Hey, check out this post on KnittedBliss-

starring a pair of flamingo socks I modified from a mitten pattern !

How cool is that!

Framing the LeMoyne Star

 It is loaded and I managed to stitch one row of the panto to anchor the layers in place.

This is the pantograph I am using on this quilt, too.

I am using pastel variegated thread.

 It is a very subtle and sweet design in the lighter thread.

I have to tuck it up for night time.

When it is down, kids and cats love to play in the 'tent' of the layers!

(I float my top and batting-this is the only draw back I have found to this technique! lol)


Today is my 2,222nd post!
How cool is that?!
I'm thinking a giveaway would be a good idea!

Across the Finish Line

 The cinnamon and spice triangle quilt is a finish!

 I used the now favorite pantograph pattern called       .  

It is a long (wide?) repeat so with only four rows, the quilting was completed.

I diid piece the leftover two triangles into the backing fabric so it has a bit of interest there, too.

I also used pink thread for the back so it would reflect the colors of the front!

 And I remembered to put my label on it, too.

And I put it right onto the recliner in my bedroom so it will be ready for future naps!

(This was made using the scraps from the king sized quilt on my bed so I am keeping it to match.

I can see that after 7 or 8 years of use, the original quilt has faded!)

Solutions

 I loaded the triangles top  on the frame and managed to quilt halfway;  I hope to finish it soon!

I worked in between things to finish up the Southdown fiber before the TDF begins

but it isn't going to happen, so I won't sweat it!

I don't know about you but while I am tempted to purchase t-shirts

with cool saying on them, 

I can't stand to wear crew neck shirts of any kind.

(My son just switched jobs from Sherwin Williams to Behr paint company

and so he brought me a new tshirt.

I have found a wonderful solution to my conundrum:

 fold-over elastic to finish the edge after I cut off the old ribbing and lowered the front neckline

by an inch.  It is easy to sew on and leaves a very stretchy, comfortable edging!  

 And last night, I bought the bullet and tinked back the bind off to the point of the errant stitches

 and one at a time,

 I ripped all the way down and repaired the purl in the knit row.....twice.

It was not as painful as it felt when I first noticed it. 

 I find if I give myself permission to leave a mistake,

  I usually can find the courage to fix it in a few days.  

I am ready to seam the front and back together

 and do the I-cord edging on the armholes and neck edge!

I've been doing a lot of this during the rainy bouts!

I'm grateful the house is on the top of a rise on our property-

or I would be working on stocking up an ark!

Star Wars or Andes Candy?

 

I caked up the new sock yarn....

and cast on-you will be getting a better idea of how this will be working up 

but I was too tired to do any more knitting on it last night!  

I finished the toe on #1 needles over 64 stitches.  

I think it is edible!

My knitting view yesterday-

I am almost done with the summer tank front!

I have some interesting links and stats for you on that for next time!

Swap Pleasures!

I received my Swap partner's package in today's mail!

It contains a beautiful earth toned skein of SW Merino/Nylon sock yarn 

from the etsy shop, Dashing Dachs,

in the Yoda colorway.

Also, my red/white/blue item is a cushioned notions bag.

And the button is handmade/felted by Kim;

you will see it on one of my project bags in the near future!

Thank you to Kathy B for hosting this swap;

it not only was a fun kick-off for summer,

it was a nice way to meet new friends!

As Long as We're Here....

We went to Daytona Beach to the fabric store 

and as long as we were in town,

we went to the beach!!!!

The breeze was so welcome, the water brisk, the sun warm

and the laughter a real delight!

I was able to knit on the way to and fro and the front of the summer tank is at the halfway point!

A very pleasant day for a family adventure!