On the Sticks, In the Sticks

Homeschooler's Wishlist and Eye Candy Friday

So, I got my invitation to Ravelry a week or so ago. took me a while to check out what all the buzz was about, but now I'm having fun checking it all out. My name over there is sunrisewalker.

On the Homeschool Yarnies group there I saw something called the Homeschooler's Wishlist. I think it may be to long to reprint here, so I'll share the link to the original  of it. I found it here at the Secular Homeschooling magazine website. I haven't read the magazine before, but the list made me laugh. It's actually called the Bitter Homeschooler's Wishlist, which will explain the tone of some of the things on there, but it's still funny, and true to some of my own experiences.

I've been working on several WIPs but don't have the photographic evidence at the moment. Sorry!

I finished another facecloth, this time in a lovely light sage green from Debbie Bliss Cotton. Yummy soft! Details...size 7 needles, garter stitch around the edges, stockinette in the middle.

I've also been working on the body of the Top- down Raglan with rolled sleeves and neck that I started around this time last year. I'm doing round after round of stockinette on the body now (no wonder I left it languishing for so long!) But I still love the yarn (Khatmandu Aran in ...what else? sage green, of course), and look forward to wearing it (someday...soon?)

Since I have no knitting pictures to share today, I'll leave you with a little eye candy...something to look forward to...it won't be long!

Gazanias!

Stay warm and be good to yourself!

Eye Candy Friday

Sorry I've been so quiet here this week. The kids have been sick with a cold, and I've been up in the night with Morgan who has been croupy, so I've been falling asleep right along with him at the end of the day.

It's been kind of cloudy and cool for several days here, and the other day I found a beautiful, but mixed reminder of days to come.

Fall is one of my very favorite seasons, but I have to admit, I'm not quite ready to be done with summer yet.  

Last week I was thinking to myself, how do people around here (including myself) stand it - the colder weather coming -  as the thought of winter sent a chill through my brain. But, being a native New Englander, and with the help of the last several cool days, I knew. You just accept it. Not even in a bad way.  It's funny how naturally I just donned a sweatshirt and sweatpants on the chilly mornings. It also struck me that i just naturally expect that it will warm up again  a few times before the cold really sets in. It's almost like you get a few bonuses. So you have time to adapt. And there's nothing shabby about fall in around here!

I've been working on my Fractured Lattice Socks this week, but I won't bore you with pictures...they look good, but same as last time I posted, just on the second sock :)

Instead here are some garden pictures. Enjoy your weekend!

Our first corn!

A week from today we'll be heading up to Maine on vacation. I can't wait!

Eye Candy Friday Plus

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       

I have lots of goodies for your Friday viewing pleasure!

First up is...

Daylilies!

Next is an FO... my Regia Silk Colors socks are off the needles and I love them! They are very soft and comfortable. They fit just right. Which is an accomplishment, because the past few pairs I've made have turned out to be looser than I wanted. I've been thinking that I have bigger than average feet (size 10) and might not fit into the "average" sock patterns. Turns out average is just right, even though my foot measurements are bigger around than the patterns call for. That whole "negative ease" thing must be working in my favor. Yeah!

Details, details...

Yarn - 2 balls (50 gms each) Regia Silk Color #0190 [55%wool, 20% Silk, 25% Polyamide]

Pattern - sort of my own, though it's just basics - 2x2 rib for the cuff, short-row heel, st st foot.

The new technique I learned for these socks was the short row heel, which I really like. I browsed the internet for tutorials and used this one at cosmicpluto.com. There are lots of short row tutorials out there, including some without wraps (this one uses wraps and turns) - just Google.

After I finished these socks, there was a day or two where i couldn't decide what I wanted to do next. Several things were calling to me. Should I start a few things like I wanted to? Or just stick to one? Should I do the Tofutsies socks (why do I feel like I've been avoiding those?) or the WIP socks that I'd hoped to enter in the Fair? or something completely different like ...

Well, on Wednesday afternoon while I was sitting in limbo, I decided to wind up this beautiful laceweight from Morehouse Merino. I bought it a few years ago at their store in Rhinebeck (or is it Redhook?). Anyway, it's not that far from here. If you ever get a chance, visit their store...it's a beautiful experience for the senses with all the amazing colors of yarn they make and sell. All 100% merino, much of it from their own sheep. If I remember right, they also give farm tours on Sundays.

It's what they call a triple skein. I can't remember how much yardage that is, but it will be enough to knit up this...

The Triangular Bellini Lace Shawl (a Morehouse Merino pattern)

My youngest calls it a 'humongous' flag (even though it's only about 6"by 8" so far) He's impressed with how it keeps getting bigger and bigger.

And these...

My Tofutsies socks. I had shown a picture very much the same as this a few weeks ago, then frogged them and made a swatch with a few patterns. Now we're rolling again. Can't wait to see how these come out as they'll be my first socks of my own design. Fun.

The weather has been really hot and humid for a few days, after a cool spell. This Sunday is the Blueberry Festival here in town, as well as hubby's birthday. The weather doesn't sound so good, but I hope to be checking out the festivities anyway. Have a great weekend everybody, and thanks for stopping by!

Eye Candy Friday

Fresh red raspberries, mock orange (?), and lemon thyme from the garden. Mmmmm!

And Widdershin finishin's !  :)

 

I love these socks! Last night I put them and could have just sat there and stared at them for a long while...actually I did, smiling. I love the color and how they fit.

Details, details!

These were knit on size 3 needles to get the recommended gauge of 7st/in. While I love the fit, I'd also try the on the recommended size 2's to get a tighter fabric. I was afraid of having a sock for an elf if i did that this time, but now that I have a finished pair for myself, I'm more willing to take the chance. :)

Yarn - Brown Sheep Company - Wildfoote Sock Yarn on color # SY-04 Elderberry

Pattern - Widdershins by Brooke Chenoweth Creel and found at Knitty.

I did the plain version; there is also a cabled version, and I can imagine myself using this same pattern as a basic toe-up sock pattern to which many different stitch patterns could be applied.

Mods: The directions called for knitting the foot until three inches shy of the length of your foot, then starting the heel. With the first sock, I found this to be just a bit longer/looser than I wanted, so for the second sock I started the heel at 3 1/2 inches shy of the length of my foot for tighter fit, and I'm happy with this.

Just above the top of the heel flap, I decreased two stitches to tighten the leg just a bit, then added them back in just before starting the cuff ribbing to have the right number of stitches fot k2p1 rib.

Instead of binding off loosely, which ended up being a little too tight still, I used what someone called a Russian bind off. See here for the directions. This came out nice and loose.

What will I cast on next for SOS? Not sure yet. Still working on the Tofutsies swatch. I have a few socks on the needles already that are not part of Summer of Socks that I'm tempted to work on while I'm thinkin', so we'll see.

Eye Candy Friday

Zinnias!

Eye Candy Friday

We went for a hike to Bash Bish Falls the other day. We started out from the bottom of the trail in Copake Falls, NY and hiked along the stream which comes down from the falls. The hike is only about 3/4 mi, and partway to the falls you cross into Massachusetts ( Mt Washington, I think). Bash Bish is the highest waterfall in MA and just breathtaking. It's been several years since I've been there. But I'm sure we'll be going back again soon!

Eye Candy Friday

For your viewing pleasure...

These poor Gazanias have been sitting on the back porch for maybe two weeks, waiting to be planted. But, undaunted, they have produced a beautiful bloom to remind me of why I live them so much!

If only I could make this a Scratch 'N' Sniff exhibit! The wild roses are in bloom all around here. I love their sweet-spicy rich scent. I can smell it everywhere we go in the car with the windows rolled down, and on my morning walk. Maybe their blooming on a roadside near you, too!

And last, but not least...

These Forget-me-nots are in the middle of our lawn and have been mowed down a few times now, but have come back this past week to bloom again. I post these in honor of my brother-in-law, Chuck, who passed away  on June 7th from cancer at the age of 45. I knew him as a quiet, thoughtful and kind man and a big time Red Sox fan. He will truly be missed.

   

Eye Candy Friday

Siberian Irises blooming in my sister's garden. Some will be coming to live at my house in the fall. Yum!