Fiber Friday | 5.4.18

Fiber Friday | 5.4.18

This photo is from Wednesday, but this morning the lilacs are all open! Their gentle fragrance fills the morning breezes and our weather is supposed to cool down a bit, so I am hoping they will last longer. Add to that, my neighbors Dogwood is on the cusp of blooming and the trees all seem to be in a race to unfurl their leaves. We have had glorious gentle rains. Outside is a smorgasbord for the senses! Spring is absolutely springing here in Pittsburgh.

I continue to knit around and around and around on my Lucinda sweater. I need to get to that magical number of 16 inches and I can then divide for the sleeves… I am at roughly 10 inches so a bit more to go. I have taken to heart all your comments about my uneven stitches becoming more even through the wonder that is blocking! My fingers are crossed, and I am worried much less about how it looks right now.

This weekend is a trifecta of fun: Maryland Sheep and Wool, Cinco de Mayo, and the Kentucky Derby! I mean what more can you ask for in a weekend?

Are you despondent because you can’t get to Maryland to peruse the wares? Jennie the Potter will have pottery online today starting at noon central. Yes, you are reading that correctly! You can get pottery online on Friday here! This year’s MDSWF design features River Otters… oh the cuteness of a knitting otter!!

In the making department, I also finished a sleeveless tunic on Thursday, and will get some photos taken to share with you next week. This tunic is extra special because I was able to make it out of the ‘reclaimed’ fabric from a previously made garment! I know, I was so excited too! The modifications I made worked well and I could not be happier! Well, I could maybe be a tiny bit happier if I could knit a sweater in the amount of time I sewed these tunics! Hahaha! But, I am now planning what other garments I can deconstruct to make a couple more tunics!

To start the links off, I want to share an wonderful app I discovered this week: The Cornell Lab Merlin Bird ID I know a good number of birds, but not every bird I see I know… but thanks to the wonder of Merlin, I have been able to identify a few new (to me) birds! And, best of all… it is FREE and available in both the AppStore and in Google play.

Heidi Kirmaier has a new tee shirt with perfect summery knits timing!

Ankers Bluse is adorable and will be out in English soon!

Silver Forest… just stunning

Balloon Cardigan is a new twist on a classic!

That is all I have for this week! Have an awesome weekend and I will see you back here on Monday!

Long Weekend Friday

Long Weekend Friday

I have to say, I really love long weekends that begin on Wednesday night and are filled with good food and even better company! This is that sort of weekend and while we will head out to participate in the rush of shopping, it won’t be the focus of the day.

Here is your reality check for the weekend though… there are only 30 days until Christmas so if you have any gift knitting to do that you have not started yet…stop reading this and go cast on! There might be a project or two in the links that will work in the time you have left, just sayin’…

There are some awesome sales going on in the fiber world, though.

Perhaps a couple of grab bags from Amy at Spunky Eclectic… she has one with yarn like this grab bag for instance, or she has some awesome grab bags for hand spinners like this, or this, or even this! And, her sale does not end there! She has spinning wheels on sale, and weaving looms like this awesome Schacht Flip rigid heddle or this Wolf Pup.

Also, don’t forget that Beth Smith has a giveaway going on for a free kit for her Spin & Weave Along!

Now, how about some links (or perhaps more links is more correct!)

Mary pointed Humulus out to me on Instagram the other day… Yeah, I love it!

I don’t know about you, but stranded knitting just seems to go faster than “regular” knitting. So, perhaps you can get these mittens done in time for Christmas and maybe these mitts too!

I have yet to jump on the Brioche bandwagon, but this hat might be the thing that makes me jump!

Duo Chrome… a sweater for Big people and Little people! And, you could knit this with the helical striping technique!

This sweater, love it!

Noux… so many good sweaters!

And, finally, I will do the tiniest bit of self-promotion, so please forgive me but I have a bit of a Black Friday Sale going on in my Lipsburgh Facebook Group. I have the product in stock and I’d be happy to help you pick the perfect LipSense™ color. I would love you to join me there!

Have a great weekend… AND, this is the last weekend of NaBloPoMo, so I will see you back here tomorrow!

October what?

October what?

How on earth is it already October 20?!? Amirite?

But, how is this perfect fall weather? Outside of Monday when frost greeted Sherman and I for our morning constitutional, it has been most gloriously beautiful. Crisp, cool mornings that give way to sunny, warm days. This weather can just stay for a good long while!

Operation List Completion went very well this week, surprisingly and I am feeling decidedly accomplished!

AND, I have some details to share about the Charitable knitting I completed and blocked! It is Justyna Lorkowska’s Close to You pattern, and this might become my “hitchhiker”. Super fun to knit, an easy-to-memorize pattern, and it uses just one skein of sock yarn. I used some deep stash that I got eons ago from The Loopy Ewe. It is Fleece Artist sock yarn (I think 2/8 BFL, sorry I am not sure and the tag is long gone). I love how it turned out and I am thrilled to be helping support this cause: The Foster Success Foundation.

In the book category – I did have a more than slight moment of panic last night!! Two audiobook holds have come through: What (the hell) Happened and Little Fires Everywhere. I have 21 days to finish them…can I do it? (Also, of course this happened after I started listening to Life after Life on a recommendation from Mary!)

For those that love Anthony Bourdain’s Parts Unknown… he is in Pittsburgh this week! You won’t want to miss it! Really!!

Now, how about some links?

  • First up, Marie Greene has a new sweater pattern: Azimuth
  • Plucky Knitter has a new pattern collection out, but I especially love Martin. I love the versatility of a vest and this one has some cute details!
  • There are some new things from Kirsten Kapur and Thea Colman! I love this yarn pairing and really wish I was going to the reception at Jill’s studio!
  • Animal Bonnet is just in time for Halloween!
  • Electra is beautiful (and it is a lovely shape as well!)
  • Tamangur… I love the yarn and the construction of this sweater. (P.S. The yarn is lovely and very affordable!)
  • These socks… or maybe these… oy! (And, really… the Socks of Narnia is an awesome collection and reading knitters are my favorite)

And, finally… I am doing a bit of work with my dear friend, Beth Smith. She has some new classes coming and some other wonderful surprises! If you are not on her mailing list, you should be!!

That is all I have for today, enjoy your weekend and I will see you back here on Monday!

Vacation Friday’s

Vacation Friday’s

So, the only knitting I have even done is to work briefly on this long-in-progress hat. It has been cold enough, I am wishing it was long-completed!

Tomorrow, a day of outdoor beer drinking festivities! But, I do have some links this week!

That is all I have for the week! Have a wonderful weekend and I will see you back here on Monday!

Getaway Friday

Getaway Friday

The final touches of packing are happening today. That’s right, we are heading out to visit my kids.

Woollelujah! has been packed and is ready to go. It contains a little bit of this and that – some pay attention knitting and some mindless knitting. My goal, one finished object before the trip is over and I think that is entirely doable!

And, there were some really excellent links this week!

Op Art Shawl is knit with an interesting yarn (and it is a free download!)

Baskerville Dawn to Dusk II is a collection of patterns knit up from another interesting yarn. I especially like Bristol Ivy’s Bovey

Issue 3 of Laine Magazine has some incredible knits in it. I might be planning a stop here to get a copy!

Ghostwood Mittens gives a lovely idea. Carry a strand of mohair/silk with your yarn to create luxury mittens (and super warm!)

Kindred Knits… so much cute here! Especially the cardigans!

Wearable Cardigan – entirely  wearable but with shorter sleeves.

See you back here on Monday! And have a great weekend everyone!

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