Estonian Lace Study: 213 preliminary chart

Estonian Lace Study: 213 preliminary chart: "Well, I did a trial run using a charting program called Stitchmastery Knitting Chart Editor. The chart has a few bugs in it, like a few ext..."

Estonian Lace Study: Let the charting begin

Estonian Lace Study: Let the charting begin: "I'm studying shawl and lace design with an awesome teacher right now. Her name is Sharon Winsauer . I'm going to base my shawl design arou..."

The Girls

Visiting, Fiber Fairs, Fleeces, Bottle Trees, Racing and Chickens

So just to recap my visit to Charlevoix:  my cousin, Cheryl, came along with me to visit our Aunt Marge and cousins who live in Charlevoix.  We stayed at the Bellaire Bed and Breakfast- See pictures below- which we love.  We shopped in Alden and Elk Rapids on Thursday.  The yarn store in Elk Rapids had closed early because it was "too hot".  I'd say more than half of the businesses didn't have AC up there and it was in the 90's.
Thursday night we ate at Moka in Bellaire (great).  Friday we met Aunt Marge and cousin Ellie at Garfield's in Petosky.  We had a great visit before Ellie had to head off to work.  She loved her gloves (see pictures below).  Cheryl and I took Aunt Marge home and stayed to visit for awhile.  Couldn't reach the other cousins so we went back to Bellaire, walked downtown (sneaked across a bridge under construction that we probably weren't supposed to be on) and had dinner at Lulu's.  Saturday we headed off to the Fiber Fair at Castle Farms.  Really nice selection of vendors.  Lots of rug hooking and wool fabric (Jeanie).  I bought an 8 lb black Bond fleece from Big Hand Farm.  A real beauty.  We decided to try to get it to Zeilenger's for processing on the way home.  While we were racing to Frankenmuth, we saw a yard with two huge bottle trees in it which reminded me of the ones in Karen's book, Act of Grace.  We rode into Frankenmuth on gas fumes, only to be slowed down at the last minute by an Amish-looking carriage carrying tourists.  As we maneuvered around the carriage, an American Indian in full buckskin wearing a headband with a feather in the back also crossed our path.  Shouldn't that be some kind of omen?  The lady at Zeilinger's agreed the fleece was beautiful but thought I paid a lot at $10/lb.  Oh, well.  I love it anyway.  They are really backed up and the fleece won't be ready for at least 3 months.  They have a great reputation so that doesn't bother me. I probably won't be ready to spin it til then so I'm just glad I'm not processing an 8 lb fleece myself!! Had a big chicken dinner at Zehnders.  Listened to a couple of Cast-On podcasts on the way home.  One with the Free Mending Library guy on.  Reap What You Sew.  That was a great episode.  Glad to be home

Relaxing in Bellaire

Ellie's Gloves Finished

Well, the gloves are finally finished.  I had to redo the fingers but I think they came out pretty good.  They are more sage green than the picture shows.  The pictures looks a lot more yellow than they really are.  How do you get the color right when photographing some of these yarns?  I can't figure it out.  Hopefully Ellie will like them and they will fit her.  Now onto some more IOUs.

Ellie's Gloves!!!

....minus a few fingers

Glove Frenzy

I am totally hooked on glove knitting now. I've been making a pair for my cousin, Ellie. There is a really pretty pattern by Joanna Ryan called the Plum Blossom Gloves. Here is the link:

http://theraineysisters.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/12/plum_gloves1.pdf



I'm using Ann Budd's method to knit the fingers but I'm going to try Meg Swanson's icord technique next pair.
I-cord gloves technique

Thrumming Demo At Spinners Flock

Well, ok, we did the thrumming demo. Not so sure how well it went from my standpoint but Jeanie was great and the handout was really good, I think. Public speaking pretty much does me in. I think I will knit and snooze this afternoon.

Saturday morning

Jeanie, Judy and I are on our way to the Spinner's Flock meeting today. Jeanie and I are doing a thrumming demo. Will post later.

Quote for today

My friend, Karen Simpson, author of Act of Grace, posted this quote from Louisa May Alcott the other day and I really, really love it so I'm re-posting it.
       
          I am not afraid of storms, for I am learning how to sail my ship.

-                                          Louisa May Alcott

JCCFS and more fancy circular knitting

I just got home from spending a week at John C Campbell Folk School learning to do fancy stitches on my circular knitting machine.  You'll notice I didn't say "circular sock knitting machine" because I've found out that you can knit many more things that just socks on this machine (thank goodness because I'm having a LITTLE trouble with the socks.)  Lucy Best and Eric Wolff put a ton of work into this course and I learned more than I ever thought I would - including - maybe the NZAK might not be the perfect machine for me.  Hmmmm.  

Sock Alert!

I've been at Woodsock the last couple of days. Woodsock is the spring retreat in Coleman, MI for circular sock machine enthusiasts. I completed my first sock (this is a big deal), have two more completed on the machine and hope to finish the fouth today. I'm staying at this awesome b&b in Beaverton. I have to check the link but I'll post it. It's called the Nestle Inn. Luann is awesome and it is just so cozy and comfy. A perfect spot to relax.
http://www.nestleinnbb.com

Estonian Lace Knitting on youtube.com

My friend, Faina, makes the most fabulous knitting videos on youtube.   I just wanted to share with you the series on Estonian Lace Knitting.  You will be amazed at the beautiful lace you can knit.

Recommended Knit and Purl
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n0MvIadccUQ

Estonian Lace Techniques - part 1       
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FgYeya47QdE  

Estonian Lace Techniques - part 2    
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uM2baC5KTEU

Estonian Lace Techniques - part 3  
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xogKWf4sH_U

Estonian Lace Techniques - part 4    
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M3wYj5ZrDk0  

Estonian Lace Techniques - part 5  
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G7QWRmAO6Z0 

Estonian Lace Techniques - part 6
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Amn0Qrvbss       

Bust Darts and Neck and Shoulder Shaping

I went looking for information on knitted bust darts and neck and shoulder shortrow shaping for sweaters.  Ask and you shall receive:

Bust Darts and Vertical Darts:
http://www.thedietdiary.com/knittingfiend/OrderForms/BustDarts.html
http://nonaknits.typepad.com/nonaknits/2006/01/shaping_up.html
http://www.conniehester.com/knitting-bust-darts.htm
http://www.knittingdaily.com/blogs/daily/archive/2008/06/19/the-worksheet.aspx
http://www.knittingdaily.com/blogs/daily/archive/tags/Hot+Tomato/default.aspx


And Paula J Ward has some wonderful youtube tutorials (if you like the math- which I love):

Shoulder Shaping:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=obiogGE6DqY
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vVfoQgr2uS8
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9vU6SnLiR8w

Back of Neck Shaping:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oib-UdXNH14
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D5H9_CJxd6I
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ZyHsrFAOAs

Cat Bordhi also has a good video on hiding the wraps in short rows:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_yVikAvPuE4

and the Japanese short rows are slick, too:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QwRDWEfrtgE
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r_PJIz4OqSE
and lunaknits has another method:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OcnXE68s3pY

Jillian-Rodger's Midnight Dancing Sample Palette for a Sweater

Welcome! - Rate Your Music

Welcome! - Rate Your Music
Just found out about this web site. You can catalog your music or just read reviews of music.
Very cool for music lovers. I also am a big fan of www.librarything.com for logging your books and checking out what other people are reading who have the the same literary tastes. And then, of course, there is www.ravelry.com for those of us who love the fiber arts.
Isn't the web wonderful?

Scallops,cheddar, sweet red pepper quesadilla

I guess I'd better start taking pictures of these creations but here is my lunch quesadilla from yesterday and it was actually quite tastey. I think you could use salmon or shrimp as a substitute and maybe freshly grated parmesan or your favorite cheese:

Brush one side of a whole wheat tortilla/lavash with olive oil. Turn over and spread the following on half of the tortilla: chopped left over grilled scallops (1 sea scallop)(I grilled on George F. grill)
ciltantro to taste
grated or small thin pieces of sharp cheddar
a few chopped red sweet peppers
black beans (canned)
Fold over and grill on George F until tortilla is brown and cheese is melted.
Serve with mango peach salsa (Garden Fresh Gourmet- in refrigerated section, near veggies)
Yummy.mmmmmm

Totally made up chicken sausage pasta recipe

Saute in a little olive oil:
one chopped sweet onion
Add some minced or chopped garlic
add 2 links spicy (hot) chicken sausage with meat removed from skins.
When chicken is almost cooked, add 1 chopped red bell pepper and maybe another type of pepper to add interest.
Keep sauteing until the onions start to carmelize everything.
Add fresh basil, salt and pepper (fresh basil is an important ingredient)

I served over pasta topped with grated parmigiano-reggiano. Delish.
Also would be good without the pasta and wrapped in a flatbread.
For a little juicier pasta you could add some roma tomatoes after everything has carmelized.