Life's Little Pleasures

So once again we meet at a date much later than what I had expected to post over two months ago. But much has happened since that time--the holidays for one, the passing of my dear cousin Bernice, my own herniated disc, and a variety of other ills and sordid moments that make up this life. However, I always turn to my knitting for comfort. Last weekend I taught a class at Hill Country Weavers on how to create a pillow and just had a great time with an exceptional group of knitters--I believe they had fun as well.

As I prepared for the class, I took the opportunity to rummage through my stash--I never like to pass up that particular delight and often look for reasons to do so. I pulled a few things out and that you can see here.




Included in tht nice little bundle is a yarn by Terra that is 60% Merino, 20% Baby Alpaca and 20% Silk that is a most unusual color of purple and steel blue. It is magnificent. And then I also saw a beautiful skein of 100% Mongolian Cashmere by Jade Saphire which is simply a very light lilac color. And last, I was surprised with a very red Blue Sky Alpaca skein that is 50% Alpaca and 50% Silk. I ask myself how such luxurious yarn has managed to escape me and am left with mouth agape and no answer. I do remember that I purchased them to knit flowers with. I have since knit a few flowers and will continue to do so, but I am not sure I will use these special skeins to knit flowers with. I guess I will have to hunt for projects to use them in. What a lovely diversion to all the turmoil of late.

And on another happy note, I've started needlefelting, so stay tuned for my first project which I am about to complete.

Gratitude for Life's Little Moments

This Thanksgiving holiday has been filled with good times and a few sad times. I feel grateful for being alive and well and looking forward to more knitting projects. I have been quite prolific of late, but have not taken photos as I should have. Part of my frenzy has been in preparation of the Hill Country Weavers Fiber Festival. I will be volunteering on Saturday, December 13, but the fun event goes through Sunday. Local crafters, not just knitters, will be selling their wares at the store that weekend--if you are in the Austin area, please drop by--you are sure to find some great items for holiday giving.

Sad times include my aged cousins--one ailing with a fractured toe and the other preparing for a mastectomy. And yet, we are all here and grateful to be alive. That's why we endure miniscule inconveniences such as having to wear a hard boot to keep toes straight and why we choose to have surgery to remove a memorable part of ourselves. Because life is worth living. We are definitely looking forward to a new year filled with good times that life seems to be stingy with sometimes.

I am also grateful for having attended this years ACL Fest in Austin. Absolutely loved Robert Earl Keen, John Fogarty's energy is electrifying and what can I say about Alison Krauss and Robert Plant. I'm one of Robert's biggest fans and Alison Krauss is my favorite female vocalist. So to be able to see them together after listening to Raising Sand, there joint album produced by T. Bone Burnett, about a gigazillion times, it was great to be able to see them together in person.

Take a look at a couple of the photos I took. Not great mind you, but it does conjure the memory for me.

The Unity of Knitting and Reading in One Project

My latest project is almost complete. It will be so yummy to wear in the fall and winter. It's made from Malabrigo and the color is burgundy. As you may know Malabrigo is kettle-dyed and so color pooling is not consistent amongt the skeins. But it is all beautiful and so luscious against the skin!





Here's a picture of the inspiration and what it will look like when finished (except for the color, of course). You can get the pattern here at

Lisa Knits

The pattern appealed to my inner reader. My problem with reading is very much like my problem with knitting, so many projects, so many books! I've started three books recently: Clapton, Garrison Keillor's Pontoon, and My Boyfriend's Back. My knitting projects are the Reader's Wrap as seen above, two pairs of socks and a scarf which I will share with you next time. I'm also listening to Pillars of the Earth on an audiobook downloaded onto my Ipod about three months ago. I fear that I will not get back to Pillars anytime soon and will most likely have to start over. Sometimes I get overwhelmed with the number of books and knitting projects and am guessing that I am not alone. At one time, it was worse. I would start so many projects and get so overwhelmed that I didn't always finish them. Bit older and wiser now, I finish most things that I start. And I have managed this by keeping the number of projects at three or below. Anyone else have a plan of attack for maintaining sanity amongst the lure of so many wonderful projects shared on the internet and at your LYS?

Tying Up Loose Ends

Today finds us tying up loose ends, literally. I have been busy weaving in ends and working mattress stitch, backstitching, and sewing on buttons on the latest pillow design. I call it my handsome pillow simply because it looks masculine. I planned it that way, but I also had Xmas in mind. Thus, the green and the red, but hardly the brightness of most things considered Xmas.

You can see that it really is a fairly simple design. Mostly stockinette done in even rows so I could carry the yarn up the side and avoid having too many ends to weave in. The back side is all done in the dominant color of the front, a nice chocolate brown.

There is ribbing on the top, or the side, whichever way you might prefer. The buttons are from Adorknit. You can find them at Yarnorama, one of my favorite LYS.

My sweet kitty, Louie already likes the pillow--he took to it right away. He has good taste, I believe.

Today finds us tying up loose ends, literally. The loose ends to my latest pillow design, that is. This is a very simple design of stripes in stockinette with ribbed edging. For visual contrast and accent, I found these beautiful handmade buttons of green and red..how appropriate for a pillow with red and green striping! I have only woven in the very few ends there were, and I say few because I carried the color up the side rather than adding on each color as I came to each stripe. That saved so much work, and I'm all about simplicity. Nice clean lines. This pillow reflects my personality, I think. Steady with a bit of spice for interest. Now I just need to sew the panels together and soon my lovelies, you will see the end result.




It's kind of sad and wonderful at the same time, "bittersweet" I suppose is the best word, to describe that feeling when you have just about completed a project. Me thinks the real fun is choosing and starting and knitting the actual project and although I do love the sense of accomplishment when it's done....I hate to see some of my projects end.

When I can come to terms with the end of this project, I will post photos. I think I must go sit and ponder this.

Summer-time and the living is not so easy

Today finds me a bit on the lazy-side. I'm not sure if it is genuine fatigue brought on by seasonal allergies or if it's just general malaise. Summer time and heat are not favorites of mine, and this could be what is dragging me down. So I have decided to turn my thoughts to a cheerier time, that of the upcoming fall. I am not a sweater knitter, but I have thought of trying my hand at the garter stitch blanket of Elizabeth Zimmerman most recently featured on brooklyntweed's blog. Jared and I think so much alike. It's all about classic lines for me, and him too, I think. And I envy his ability to whip out projects in what seems to be mere seconds. How does he do that?

On a smaller scale I have just knit a baby blanket following a lovely little pattern that can be found at Stitches from the Heart. It's a charity with true kindness at its heart. There are so many babies born into this world much too early, and parents totally unprepared--clothing, toys have not been purchased yet and so the little ones enter with nothing, and so many leave early as well. Wouldn't it be lovely for them to have just one thing? Maybe a little blanket like the one I knitted seen here

The rows are eyelets which I entertwined bright white ribbon through. One always has the option of not putting the ribbon in, it might be more functional without it. But the white called out for the ribbon, at least to me. I think it might even make a nice christening blanket. But you can find several baby blanket and hat patterns for knitters and crocheters at the site. All the details are there for you to donate your handiwork.

It is time to recline and let the warm thoughts of a bonfire and hot chocolate permiate my thoughts as I attempt to make it through the heat of summer.

Seeking your Approval, Most Humbly

I have been away for a goodly portion of time and I can only apologize and try so much harder than I have in the past. However, I will show you some of the projects with which I have been most busy.

On WWKINP Day I traveled to one of my favorite LYS, Yarnorama, and oh my, what a good time was had by all. I dyed my very first yarn. It was not simple dye friends, it was Kool-Aid! We took our sock blanks (a lovely blend of merino wool and nylon, for softness) and we soaked them in water and vinegar, dyed them, cooked them and then rinsed them. As many f you know, purple is my favorite color, so of course, I used colors that seemed quite complimentary. I wasn't really sure what I would end up with though. This is what a combination of Grape, Cherry and Lemon got me.

The photos show the lovely purply, red and pink well, but the subtle dots of yellow cannot be seen. What should I knit with this lovely yarn? I cannot seem to settle on a project for it, but I am sure the project will find me.

And now, I've made a new addition to my little fiber family of goodies and here it is:

It is a Schacht Rigid Heddle (Flip) Loom. My friend, and owner of Yarnorama, Susan Fricks, helped me load all the yarn on it and currently what you see on the warp is Tofutsies and the weft is Panda Silk. A most lovely combination of pinks and purples. I will share photos when I have completed it.

For now, I will leave you to your own devices as I make my way back to my loom. Lovely.