Way out in the Middle of Nowhere

I was thinking about this so maybe it's time to address bullying in a different way: by a story.  You see, I'm the only one in the knitting group who has been kicked out of a Knit Along. Ok, as I say it, "I was asked to leave."  a knit-along.  Yeah. because I called out the List Mom on bullying. I used to join Knit Alongs.  The jist of them is that the person running the knit along - the List Mom - puts out a section of a chart or directions each week and you knit that part, not knowing what you'll get for a design until the end. The knit alongs is run through a email group, which allows you to control how many people are in the group and who gets what kind of message. Each week the email goes out to gather up another clue and others chat about things and post pictures of their progress.   It's a great way to get a few thousand people to test-knit your designs.  Heck, one of my favorite shawls was made that way: Dem Fisher Sin Fru from Monika Eckert ...

I'm not that old, nor am I MacDonald, but I am part Scottish! To count: Three goslings hatched last week.  That was primarily why I was not blogging.  One was a bit slow emerging from the egg and needed help. There are 24 chickens under that galvanized roof that is the brooder.  They are bigger now, but still UGly! These chickens were bred for meat and show it: large breasts, spotty feather production, stupid as the day is long. We put them in the garage for protection until they are big enough to head on out to the coop. The coop is 99% done - we are working on shingles and that's it.  If it weren't 100 degrees in the shade, that would be done by now. Four ducks. They're fun to watch.  Until a few days ago, they were out in the laundry room. They're only a month old, but they wanted out...really wanted out.  So now they are in the coop with the larger chickens. Yesterday it rained for about 15 minutes.  Those ducks were outside happil...

Hey, blogger got some new bling! Yay! The knitting continues. A few High School buddies are getting married in about 6 weeks, so there is some covert knitting going on. Something befitting of the couple.... Summer is a time for kicking back and relaxing. So I've decided to stop sewing until many of the bags are gone. Problem is, they aren't getting out of here fast enough to suit me. So I put them on clearance. Go over to my shop to buy a bag dirt cheap. The ladies that meet on Thursdays have been encouraging me to continue on the featherweight. It's mindless knitting: stockinette for hours and hours. But the brandywine is finished! I was nervous about not having enough handspun for it, so the body is 13 repeats of chart B instead of 15. But It did turn out stunning. Difficulty-wise, I'd give the pattern about a middle of the road in difficulty. I did need to keep the chart with me all the time, and there was one time I had to tink back about 5 rows due to a hug...

This blogger does not like me at times. The next few things on the needles are a bit easier and great for keeping my hands busy while watching TV. The featherweight cardigan is part of the KAL that the ladies have started. A number of us ladies gather at the Dragonfly on Thursdays for open knitting. When I work by yourself all week, it is good to get out and chat with others to keep my sanity. My featherweight is in orange: Tiger Lily by Malabrigo. The last item on the needles that is new is the Brandywine Shawl . The initial idea was to knit this using some Malabrigo Sock yarn that I bought specifically for it. I started that things SIX TIMES using that yarn and each time, it would screw up before row 20. Finally I got the idea that this yarn did not want to be that shawl. I picked up a hank of handspun in a beautiful combination of violets and oranges and started knitting with that. It's been easy-peasy since!

First of all, let Americans take a moment out of their day off to reflect on those who serve in our Military and gave their lives in defense of the United States of America. Without them, USA would not be as Free and Wondrous as it is. There are times in my knitting journey where I am direction-less. I will start things and then frog them. I will start different things and just leave them alone. It usually happens after I complete a large project. The last episode was about a month ago. During that time, I started some 5 or so projects because the 6 or so that are in progress were not enough....... The Bee Fields shawl was giving me fits. I had an inkling that the size 7 needles were too big, but was too stubborn to frog the darned thing. It took about a week, but I mustered up the ooomph to do so and then restarted it. It does look better now. The yarn is a handspun silk that I had custom dyed for this shawl. I wanted a honey colored silk. Kerri at the Dragonfly was happy to help ...

Merry Christmas To All!!! Here's hoping that your knitting projects were done in time, here's hoping that your holiday festivities are fun and full of friends and family, and here's hoping that your holiday season has a few moments to remind you of why we celebrate all of this in the first place. My projects are done, except for the socks. Mom's not going anywhere in the future; her socks will be given when they're done. The shawl and stole turned out lovely. Pictures will ensue which will show the receipients in their new presents. Now, we knitters get to start planning for next year. My biggest goal is to spin enough cotton for a shawl for my sister. She is allergic to wool.

Mystery Stole3: Ok, I am confessing that I honestly and truthfully did try to like the stole as the pattern was made, but it didn't click with me. Even after trying to re-dye the whole thing, I considered the wing with the stole portion to be discordant. So last night I frogged it all. OH the horror!! I'm re-working the stole portion as it's own pattern, probably for my Mom for Christmas. I've started it again, and put in the beads this time. Secret of the Stole: I started this one with my own handspun cream Targhee wool. It's weight is fingering weight and it's being knitted on size 3 addi circs. The beads are green. I didn't realize until I had gotten home with them that the chart has green squares as the indicator to put in a bead. Wow....can we say, subliminal? There was a comment on the email group that the two points were a great bikini top. My DH said the same thing this last weekend when I joined them all together. I was in the car at the time, drivi...