January. Lots of indoor days, snow, rain, sleet, ice… Read the other day that 49 of 50 states have snow, Florida being the exception. Give me lots of time to occupy. Got the looms out the other day and tried a couple color patterns I’ve been thinking about. The hounds-tooth and a log cabin. Got both to work, but have not yet figured out the Log cabin in diagonal. Still trying. Here’s what I came up with.
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New slippers
I used the Fiber Trends felted clog pattern that I bought years ago. I don’t know if they still carry it but it is a “classic” so very likely they do.
I have an extra wide foot so I knitted to extra rows on the sole. That worked fine with the exceptions noted below.
First, the pink pair, the first one I made , it’s mate, and the color catcher results:
I could not find my #13 circ so I knitted the first one with a #10 using the mens small size as compensation, I hoped. I only did the one, in case it didn’t work, I would not have wasted as much yarn. It did work but the brown faded into the pink, giving me an orange slipper. Sis told me about the Shout Color Catchers she had bought but not tried and sent me a couple in the mail. I used it when felting the rest of the slippers and as you can see, they do work!
The second pair was knitted on my found #13.
Pay attention to the yarn you are using. Use the same yarn for sole and tops. I didn’t notice until I had knitted quite a bit, that the grey was coarser than the blue. It felted less, or at least slower, so the soles are a bit longer and wider. Not enough to make them useless but it could easily be a problem. There was no fading, but whether that was the catcher, which, as you see is strongly brown, or the yarn, your guess is as good as mine.
The edging, which I knitted according to the pattern rather than as I did the pink ones, is way loose, but very likely that is as much the grey yarn as it is the technique. In the future, however, they will all be left flat. I can fix this easily enough. There is a tiny bit of difference in size, which could be that I worked an extra row or just the felting process. Anyway, I now have two pair of usable slippers.
Now- on to other projects!
Hope the last week of 2010 is going well for you! If you are snowed in, get out your yarn, looms, needles, hooks, and Make Stuff!
Happy Christmas Day!
Randy and I stayed home this year and enjoyed our Christmas. He gave me a new glass case for my dolls so we spent the better part of the morning rearranging things so we could fit it into an already crowded room! But it looks nice and I can see my dolls now and the settee can also be used. They used to be parked in a row there.
Both kids called today. We talked to everyone which was very nice. Talked to Randy’s step-mom this morning too, and was able to thank her for her contribution to our Christmas day. We’ve had dinner this evening and are about to indulge in dessert then just listen to carols, the rain, and read. A comfortable and satisfactory ending to a lovely day. I hope you all enjoyed yours too!
Happy Christmas!
Wow! What happened to this month
December has flown by and here I am not posting again. Been busy but that’s a poor excuse, isn’t it.
It has rained off all the snow but there is more predicted for today. We’ll see. Poor sleep last night. The bear was back for his weekly pass though but stopped here for a couple hours. We got a new fridge and the old one is setting in the driveway waiting to be hauled off. Still smells like food tho, I guess, if you have a bear nose. He did get it open and pulled out the drawers trying to find some goodies. Dog barking, husband yelling… I hope he doesn’t come back tonight.
I have Christmas songs on the XM this morning and am working on a holiday sweater for one of my dolls. I might get ambitious later and do some domestics. Himself has gone to help a neighbor move and then to visit his step-mom so I have the whole day to goof off. Yeah, that part about getting ambitious might have been a fairy tale.
Hope you are having a restful holiday season and not stressing out.
Don’t Worry, Be happy! Still good advice.
A visitor
We had a little light snow last night and a visitor came by to check out the trash cans. Afraid he was disappointed, tho as we never put anything out until an hour or so before pick up. He walked the length of the driveway (150 yards?), checked the neighbors can and wandered on up the hill. As you can see the snow has already started filling his tracks, but is turning to rain now.
Check the Web page for What’s New. We added another project yesterday.
A Special offer!
It’s been several days since I posted I see, but I have been busy! We are making a special offer to weavers just in time for the on-line version of Black Friday. If you are among those who had rather do their shopping at home than put yourself in harms way out in the shopping malls this one might just be for you!
When you order your 12 Or 7 inch loom between now and December 20th you will get a free project sheet for our newest pattern… the Button Down Scarf… PLUS 3 hand made Yew-wood buttons to use on your new scarf! Yew wood is the same wood used to make the famous bows in the olden days. It is a rare tree these days but you need not worry that any trees were harmed to make these unique buttons. The dead branches used for these buttons were collected over the years by Randy’s dad in his wanderings though the Trinity Alps, & he never cut live wood. It is a very hard and beautiful wood.
The scarf is easy and economical to weave and would make a great Christmas gift as well. The scarf I am weaving was made using the 12″ square loom but this scarf can also be woven using the 7″ square.
Winter Warning!
We had a sprinkling on the deck last evening but Mother Nature relented and moved the snow back up the hillside. Thanks, Mom!
Autumn activity
Randy went to work on Grandmother’s apple peeler and got it working again. It needed a little aligning and some sharpening. This old machine has peeled a lot of apples! It was given to Grandmother many years ago by a friend who told her it had been his mother’s. Grandmother passed it on to me a long time ago. I haven’t used it the last couple years as it was out of whack, but Handy Randy has it going again. I’ve put up two and a half dozen pints of apple sauce this week and am working on pies for the freezer today. Unfortunately my freezer is getting a little crowded! I’m not sure I’m going to be able to get as many in there as I’d like. My poor BIL may have to take one home with him after Thanksgiving! lol
Welcome to November!
The temperature was 41 this morning, on the warm side, but the mt. tops are white, none the less. The trees that still have leaves are brightly colored and I have this ready to go into the oven. I have never grow Jack Be Little pumpkins before so have not a clue what will become of them I did them like apples, brown sugar spices and some raisins. I thought about adding some ginger cookies crumbs but the local store did not have any ready at hand. Well, x your fingers for them!
I’ve been working on the toddler clothing. I have some nice cotton bamboo blend but it kind of a wimpy color, I’ll need to find something to give it some kick.
I worked in the shop a bit but had to give it up as I kept hitting my thumb with the hammer. So I’ve been doing book work most of the day. Gaaa!
Well, I see Himself is home. Must be Game Time! Go Giants!
A last harvest
The apples are the last thing on the harvest list. These are destined to be one pie and some applesauce. There is one more tree, a neighbor who does not use hers offered them to Randy and he said yes! Hope your autumn is rosy!
Hazel Rose 