WordlessWed...WrapUp...Winter Is Coming

W

The Artisans and Crafters Gathering

And so it begins!  The holiday shopping season with the Artisans & Crafters Gathering.  I haven't participated in a show since opening a Studio at The Chicken Farm Art Center.  So, it was a different mindset in choosing what to take, planning and setting up the space, and trying to think of everything needed...like bags, change, Square Sign, and on and on.  Needless to say, I had to make several trips back and forth from the Studio to the show site.

Finally....all set after moving things around several times.  My space was 10' wide by 5' deep and fortunately I was next to my spinning group so got to spread out a bit more.  As I look at this picture, I see several things that I will not have to take back to the Studio.  Yay!  It was a good show and worth the time and effort to be there. 

This year's new line of knitted and crocheted items....Cowls and Capes.  Last year I did Shawls and Ponchos, and am in hopes they will go again this year.  I think I'm done with hooks and needles for the season....famous last words...ya know!

Will definitely have to get back to Rag Rugs...both crocheted and loomed.  Especially the loomed as I sold the last one at this show.  Have one on the loom now....time, time, time!!! 

You can see some of the ones I have made on Sue's MadeWith Fabric&Fiber website where I have a LibbyLula Custom Rug Tab.

On the DPN's...Double Pointed Nightmare!

Several years ago I began combining crochet and knitting, especially when an edging was needed on a knitted item and visa versa.  Adding a knitted band to a crocheted hat requires picking up crochet stitches with a knitting needle.  Simple enough, right!  Except when it is in the 'round' like this hat/cap. 

 

I would try every small circular needle in my arsenal before I would even think about knitting with FOUR needles...aka DPN's...double pointed needles.  Seriously, when I first started knitting, using two needles was sometimes a challenge and circulars, well, they actually are my faves.  But, I didn't have a small enough circular for this hat/cap so...DPN's...which, at one time I had nightmares over, were unearthed from the bottom of my needle bag.   So, the made with Hand Spun Yarn by Sue McPeak hat/cap required a knitted band with DPN's....there was no other choice....I had to make something with the HandSpun Yarn by Sue McPeak.

I haven't had much time of late for spinning!  Can you believe it?  Especially since February, when my wheel arrived and I was totally in the OverDoSue SpinArama mode.  However, at some point one has to take time to make something with all that 'Hand Spun Yarn' by Sue McPeak. 

The NUMBER #1 question people ask when they see the 'Hand Spun Yarn' is....

"WHAT DO YOU DO WITH IT"? 

I LOVE this question as it gives me the opportunity to 'Show and Tell'.

 

I SHOW the Capes and Cowls and TELL...

"I Knit, Crochet, Weave and whatever else my

OverThinkItSue can come up with.

 

Speaking of Knit and Crochet with Hand Spun Yarn...

Here is the result of the DPN's hat Band.

Dreamy, huh!

Day 7 of 12 Days of Christmas Countdown

6 More Days Til The 46th Annual Thanksgiving Open House at

The Chicken Farm Art Center!
*Here is Todays 'Christmas Gift Shopping' preview from

Sue's MadeWith Fiber&Fabric Studio.
*For the Knitter on your list...or...for You and Yours to Stay Warm In Knitted Style.

 'Life Is Short...Buy the Yarn'
Over the years I have taken that quote to heart...and not just YARN!
Really, how many Knitting Books and Magazines can one save for Patterns?
I LOVE Knitted LACE...but...I don't love knitting it!
So, here's 'A DEAL' for Lace Loving Knitters to Knit!
I do Love Knitting on my Knitting Machine Bonda..remember her?

Keyhole Knitted Scarf...Unforgettably Soft

 The key word here is 'Keyhole'.  It's a scarf style I've wanted to make for several years, but couldn't find a FREE pattern...until now.  HERE it is on Ravelry...if you want to make one, too.  You will notice I have changed the pattern a bit.  I did the 'Rib K2,P2 Pattern' for the first 4 inches and then switched to Knit on the right side and Purl across the wrong side.  The pattern was written for Noro yarn and size 10 needles.  I prefer a softer less scratchy yarn like this skein of 'Unforgettable' mixed with an other soft yarn from my stash.  I also increased to size 11 needles.

As per my usual 'OverDoSue-ness'...a second Keyhole Scarf is waiting for casting on with larger needles.  I love both Vanna's green and Bernat's rose with this skein of Unforgettable, and since I can't decide which one to use, I'll just use both. 

I think the #15 needles will work for the extra strand of yarn.  If not, I do have even larger needles. It will be fun to experiment, and besides I need the casting on practice.  It has been awhile since I knitted.   Like Vanna, I am first a Crocheter, and I will probably adapt this Keyhole knitted pattern to a Crochet pattern.   Do you think Vanna would like a copy? 

Better Knitter...Better Blogger...Really!

Truth be told, I've about given up becoming a 'Better Knitter', and by the looks of my Blog Stats the same could be said for my Blogging.   Oh sure, I have a list of excuses about as long as the last cast on I did for a lace shawl...several years ago.   I guess I'll have to call it finished since it's about as likely I'll knit or purl back across those kabillion cast on stitches as my going to Estonia.  I should have known from previous projects that called for really, really thin lace weight yarn and really, really, really, tiny needles on a really, really long circular thingy.  And, I really, really thought I wanted to be a Lace Knitter!  

So much for Vogue Knitting's 25 TIPS FOR FASTER KNITTING.

SALE...$9 per hank

 And so much for Knit Pics gorgeous lace weight yarn intended for a shawl from

Knitted Lace of Estonia!

 

Hmmmm...I betcha #1 is Post More Often...Really!

Should I Stay or Should I Go

I just read a couple of articles on how to store a Yarn Stash.  Of course it is after the fact...being I have already re-organized and stored mine.  I don't know why it didn't occur to me to research and get tips before I spent several hours in my storage studio...fancy name for garage.  In reality, it is my former Sewing/Quilting/Yarning Studio and perfect as a safe storage space. 

One article suggested to store yarn as you bought it.  In other words if it is a shank leave it shanked...don't use your ball winder to un-shank it until you are ready to make that sweater.  Score one for me...6 shanks intended for a knitted sweater...still shanked for six years after purchase.

 If your yarn is in a wrapped pull skein like Vanna's yarn is sold...for sure leave it for ease of pulling from the center.  Of course that is after you have dug through the center for the LOOSE end to begin and finally have to pull out a baseball size wadded tangle in order to begin.  Score another for me...most of my yarn is pull skein with left overs wound on Ball Winder, re-wrapped in original wrapper and stored with like yarn.

Now comes the storage container question.  Should I stay or should I go?  STAY with baskets, plastic bags and plastic tubs...or...GO with eco-safe, breathable, easy access and economical containers.  I'll let you read This Article about storage containers and you can decide what works best for you. 

I decided to GO!

Shanked sweater yarn...still shanked, breathing, and waiting for Pigs to Fly!

SmartPhone Knitting

Counting Rows by chocolate sounds pretty yummy, but a 'Resolution Buster' in the proverbial 'Lose Weight' as the #1 New Years Resolution. 

I quit making New Years Resolutions years ago and switched to 'Goal Setting'.  Stuff like:
~Chocolates for Row Counting...M&M's instead of Snicker Bites.
~Increase M&M intake to 2+ per row rather than every 20 Rows.
~Reward self with a handful at the end of each sitting and knitting session regardless of length of session.  Double it if session is longer than 10 minutes.

Now that I look back and review these 'Knitting Goals' I see why I have dozens of  Knitting Works In Progress, Knitting Log Books full of 'Strikeout Ticks', and empty M&M bags littering the bottom of my Knitting Bag.  No wonder my jeans are too tight. 

All I can say is "Good Timing" on Santa's part with the gift of a new Smart Phone.  Yep, traded in the old one which Tim...sales guy...called a dinosaur and then quickly amended to 'Best of it's Time'...I must have given him 'The Look' cause I really loved that SmartAleck Phone.  At any rate, I'm finding that my new 'Smarter Phone' maybe my best bet for 'Setting Knitting Goals' in 2014 that will get me back in my 'Jeans' with ease.

FatFree Knitting Row Counter!!!

I have an APP for that!!!!

(Love saying that)

Also have an APP for Calculating Quilt Measurements...will save that for another

Tricks of My Trades Tuesday.

In the meantime, here are some Links about Knitting Apps.

Be sure and read the Descriptions and the Reviews before downloading.

knitravel

iKnitty.com ... Apps list on Sidebar

Google Play Knitting Apps

hAPPy New Year!!!

 

 



Despicable Knitting

While watching Despicable Me2 the other night, I found myself singing along with the Minions Banana Song just as I had with the Beach Boys back in 1965. The 21st Century Minioneze  BaBaBanana tunes right up to the BBoy's 20th Century Rockin' and a Reelin'  BaBaBarbara Ann.  Check it out:

The Minions Banana Song on U-Tube HERE and the

 Beach Boys' Barbara Ann on U-Tube HERE.
Another example of 'What Goes Around....yada yada yada!!!!

Now this is not a Review or a Plug for the movie.  I will leave that to my Grandson who watches it 24 and 7 and speaks Minioneze fluently.  What this is....is a Slipper Sizing Pattern Test.
 

For once, I am Size Testing a Slipper Pattern...as this is not my first Rodeo at knitting slippers for grandkids who just gotta have them sooner than later, and then never wear them. 

Although, knitting slippers is not like knitting a sweater which I have had some experience in starting and none in finishing.  No, it's more like knitting Socks in that it takes TWO...one for each foot...another example of my excellent starting skills.

I have long been afflicted with SSS...Second Sock Syndrome...which is quite apparent when digging through my sock drawer.  I am determined not to let the Second Sock aversion morf into Second Slipper Syndrome. 

Therefore, this first PAIR of Minion Slippers are being made at the same time on one set of needles...which is going to cause a shockwave of dropped stitches among my knitting group.  Not only that, but my Grands are not getting the first PAIR....I AM!!!!

Oh Yeah....BaBaBarbara Aaaannnn!

Here's the LINK to the Pattern if you would like to Size Test a Pair for yourself...

or your Grandkids!

Posted to DayByDay....MadeIt~ShowIt Monday

Linking To:

Smiling Sally's Blue Monday

Confessions of A YarnAholic...AtoZ Letter Y

When Alma turned the key to her 'Skeleton Closet' and revealed her Knitting Habitat, I was never so relieved in my life.  My first thought was...Here is a woman with a worse addiction than mine.  Here is the result of a lifetime of  'OverDoNess'....and yet, she is seemingly free from FiberPsychosis.  

Right then and there, I took a 'silent vow' to come to grips with my own Fiber Psychosis, and regain the 'Comfort and Calm' it once was for me.  I'm sick and tired of worrying about what will happen to 'All My Stuff' when I'm gone.  I knew talking with Alma would help.  Here is her story testamony confession....

In the beginning, I had no idea that a couple of sticks and a piece of string would culminate in a life of Knitting Stuff Addiction and a constant state of FiberComa.  Most folks have an idea of how Yarn gets from Sheep to Shop, but only fellow knitters truly understand the implications of knitting and starting a Yarn Stash. 

It's a full time job maintaining a Yarn Stash where at least 2 to 4 skeins of every color known to woman kind is right at your fingertips.  In those colors it's imperative to have a variety of weights like Fingering, DK, Sport, Sock and Worsted.  Then there is the yarn content....one can't use 100% wool for everything.  Therefore, the stash must have silk blends, acrylics, cottons and whatever else is the latest in the YarnArama world.  If that's not bad enough, there are the horrible side effects of YarnAholicism....the tools, gadgets, bags, books and STUFF. (I approve this confession to be used as Sue sees fit.  Alma)

After counseling with Alma, I began to re-evaluate my condition.  The thing is, I never intended for my Yarn Thingie to get to the Coma and Addiction Stage.  It's not like I haven't been there done that!

Before I became a Yarn Junkie, I was a Quilt/FabricAHolic.   

I was the Queen of QuiteALot of Everything Quilty!

 

Some might say I still am, however after lots of

Fabric DeTox and ReFocus Therapy

that Stash is what I call Busted!

Now I am ReFocused on managing my YarnArama.

~SuKnitWitty...knitting blog...is incorporated into CollectInTexas Gal.

~I Group-Knit one afternoon a week and on occasion in the evening while watching TV.

~I belong to only one Knitting Guild which meets once a month...down from the National Guild and a dozen or so Online Guilds.

~My knitting is confined to two shelves in a small corner of the Sewing Studio...down from two rooms and a living room nest.

 

And yet, I am still plagued with thoughts of my DaughterInLaw's solution for downsizing and dispensing...

Craigs List and Garage Sales.

Sue to Alma

How did you overcome your Knitting Addiction?

Alma to Sue

I took up Quilting!

See Ya Tomorrow for the Last Letter 'Z'...Quilters Zodiac

Next Generation of Crocheters and Knitters...I'm In!!!

Okay, I admit, I'm an Old School Hooker. Maybe I should put that another way...I don't want you to get the wrong idea.

 

Let's just say I've been crocheting and collecting crochet from right around the time Acrylic Yarn made it's debut on the Commercial Market.  I know you want to know when that was....here's the link to...Acrylic, It's Old, It's New, It's Everywhere.

 

I first learned to crochet in Mrs. Browning's homemaking class.  I was a disaster with those little bitty hooks that any Egyptian MummyMiester would have been proud to own. 

And that teeny tiny string!!!!  It was pre-dental floss!  You can just imagine how excited I was when Worsted Weight Yarn and a size J Hook came out.  I could finally make something that laid flat.



It wasn't until much later that I decided to try Crochet Thread and Steel Hooks with numbers.   I collected vintage books like the 'Crinoline Lady in Crochet' and tried my hand at Crochet Edgings around pillow cases and dresser scarves.   So for years, I SeeSawed back and forth between Crochet Thread and Yarn until I became a Knitter and a Yarn Snob...I appologize Acrylic Yarn, but I do love the feel of bamboo, alpaca, merino and all those fancy yarns.

Which brings me to my PhD #2....with PhD being Projects Half Done out of  100% wool.   Here are my Marsh Felted Slippers...with the Knitting finished and they are still a PhDone....

I still have to go through the Felting Process before I can get 'Full Credit' for them. Right now they would fit 'BigFoot' or the 'Jolly Green Giant'.  

This will be my first time to throw my knitting in a tub of hot water with a pair of jeans, and I don't mind telling you it's kinda SCARY!  I plan on giving myself ExtraExtra Credit towards my PhD...unless they end up fitting my grandson.  He's three!!!

Then there is my Third Credit PhDone!  I'm back to Crochet with this one, but as a Yarn Snob!  Another 100% Wool that will be Felted.  Only I'm not going to be the one throwing it in hot water.  I'm leaving that up to SusanB who is an experienced Wool Felting Yarn Snob. 

Not only does she have experience felting, but she is light years ahead of me as a knitter, crocheter and needlepointer.  You can see her beautiful work at Seduced By Yarn.

I've Crocheted many of these Baskets and found them to be great for holding YARN and all kinds of other things...like Diapers.  Yep, I made one into a Diaper Tote. 

Here it is in my SuKnitWitty Ravelry Projects  

Here it is on SuKnitWitty Blog Crochet's The Way...For Diaper Totes Times Three.

Here is the PATTERN on The Purl Bee.

Marsh Felted Slippers Pattern....FREE on Ravelry.
Marsh Felted Slippers by Claudia Olsen

I guess you can tell I'm still SeeSawing between  Crochet and Knitting!  More times than not I find myself using BOTH on many projects.  Like the Slippers where I crocheted a ruffle around the top and chained ties for bows at the back.  It's a great way to avoid having to weave in the ends. 

It took me awhile, but I finally got Pinned!

And, what FUN I am having with The Next Generation of Crocheters and Knitters!

These Gals are Taking Crochet and Knitting to the Next Level....You Go Girls...I'm All In!!!!

FIBER ART CROCHET

KNOT JUST KNITTING

ABCedarium...IloveKnittingLetters

ABCedarium....Yes...It's a real word...I did not make it up!  I do make up words occassionally, and many of you have questioned my TexaSutionary skills, and have commented that you have not been able to find definitions or pronunciations.  That's because Wikipedia has not updated their TexaSutionary.  I submitted it ages ago!  I suspect they have just not gotten to the Letter 'T' in their vast data base of New Reference Online Materials.  Hopefully, I'll hear from them before the end of this 2012 Mayan Calendar Year.

 I'd hate to think that sometime in the FarFarAway Future that the New World would not have The TexaSutionary.  Yikes...I'd be responsible for FFA Future Knitters thinking the Alphabet is 'B-Z', and that CVKG is the correct letter order, and LogIn means it's OK to light the fireplace, and Ravelry is just misspelled, and the author 'SuKnitWitty' has two extra letters...ty!

OMG!  I don't have time for this FFA Future worry right now.  It's the last day of February and I'm rushing to meet a SID (self imposed deadline).  I promised several of Ya'll Knitters I'd have this 'ABCedarium Post and Pattern' for you this month.  So, here YaGo!

Abecedarium (or abecedary) is an inscription consisting of the letters of an alphabet, almost always listed in order...oops.  Typically, abecedaries are practice exercises...whew!

Some abecedaria include obsolete letters which are not otherwise attested in inscriptions...Yay for TexaSutionary!

Some abecedaria found in the Athenian Agora appear to be deliberately incomplete, consisting of only the first three to six letters of the Greek alphabet, and these may have had a magical or ritual significance....YEEESSS...SuKnitWitty The Knit-Purl Wizzard!!!!


There's more, but I'm going to get right to the Knitty Gritty of  Knitting the Letter 'E' in Two Colors....

Y is for YARN

In the beginning someone, somehow, someway figured out that with a piece of string and a couple of sticks,

a piece of cloth could be made that would someday send a specific section of the worlds population

 into a FiberComa and Knitting Stuff Addiction. 

 Most everyone knows what Yarn is, so I won't go into the specifics of how it came to be or the

 in's and out's of getting it from Sheep to Shop! 

 I'll just get right to the Fiber Coma and Addiction part of being a Knitter and YarnAHolic!

Yarn is kinda like Potato Chips!  One is never enough!

A well rounded Yarn Stash should have the following:

1. 2 or 3 skeins...4 would be better...of every color of yarn known to woman kind.
2. a variety of weights like Fingering, DK, Sport, Sock, Worsted in basic color palette and then some zingers.
3. one can't use 100% Wool on everything, so gotta have silk blends, acrylics, cottons and whatever else is the latest in the world of YarnArama!

There's more, but I think you get the picture. 

The worst of it is I haven't even begun to touch on the horrible side effects of having a YarnARama Stash!

  The Tools, Gadgets, Bags, Books and Stuff!

The thing is, I never intended for this Yarn Thingie to get to the Coma and Addiction Stage! 
It's not like I haven't been there before!
Before I became a Yarn Junkie, I was a Quilt/FabricAHolic!
I was the Queen of QuiteALot of Everything Quilty!
Some might say I still am, however after lots of
Fabric DeTox and ReFocus Therapy that Stash is what I call Busted!


Now I am ReFocused on managing my YarnARama!
I have it down to One Knitting Blog

One Wednesday Afternoon a week Knitting Group and
 One Monday Night a Month Knitting Guild Meeting.



Two Rooms and One Nest at home.
and  


A Few Several Untold Number of Works In Progress.

The best thing about being  Strung Out on Yarn!!!!

My Great Yarnie Friends!

Linking To Jenny's Alphabe-Thursday

for

The Letter Y