Vail Island Vest
My Vail Island Vest is finished!
Except for the button (and something to make the button buttonable?)
This is NOT the button that this vest is looking for. This button is too pale. Way too pale!
Who has a resource for great buttons?
I need to find the perfect button so I can wear my vest!
Gone button shopping!
O. M. G. !!!
You’ve got to see this one! My art teacher friend sent me a link to a friend of a friend’s blog and it is simply incredible. Awesome, actually. To think that a community of knitters and crocheters got together and created this beauty is … well … O. M. G.!!! I particularly love the beehive and bees (imagine that!) Look very closely at Lucy’s photographs … there are all sorts of critters hiding everywhere! Fabulous! This made my day!
Here’s a link to the whole blooming article (tee hee!): Click HERE!
Gone knitting!
I was walking some dog poop up the driveway in the poop shovel this morning and practically tripped over this guy (or gal!). Well, I didn’t exactly “trip” over it, but I nearly stepped on it and since I was carrying a shovel full of … well, you know … I tried hard NOT to step on it and nearly dumped the “load” (so to speak) all over the driveway.
I was thinking, though, these guys have a difficult life, don’t they? As I was standing over it with my camera (and every time my camera made a noise, the caterpillar stopped moving … but it never curled itself into a ball) I was watching it navigate the grass and rocks and other detritus that is part of the Maine landscape and was realizing that it’s kind of similar to me climbing a mountain but I don’t have to worry about somebody stepping on me or picking me up to play with me! What a brave creature to come out of its bed daily and climb mountains (even though by my eyes, they’re pint-sized mountains), taking the risk of being stepped on by who-knows-what because just about anything’s bigger than he/she is!
My next thought was about people and, more specifically, me. I always considered myself NOT to be a risk-taker. I think I’m changing that perception, though. I’ve left an unhappy and unfulfilling marriage, a comfortable home and community to live somewhere new where nothing was certain (and it’s still not on some days). That was very brave! I’m learning and re-learning daily and hitting bumps in the road on occasion – sometimes taking those bumps in stride and sometimes, not so much! I’m like the Wooly Bear!
I guess the moral of the story, if there is one, is that I’m stretching just like the Wooly Bear caterpillar, and while I am so in awe of how brave he/she is, I could take a little time to consider (and be proud of) how brave I am, too! In this big adventure called life, I’m stretching and growing and it’s all good.
Gone knitting!
So, last night was my knitting group and it was good to be back. And despite today’s rain, my “sinus thing” is feeling better and I’m feeling better, too.
One of the reasons that I love knitting is the people that I’ve met. They’re such a diverse group – elderly religious women to outwardly gay men and everything in between. And I’ve loved them all! It’s a group of people who share a passion for fiber and for making things with their hands. You can’t do it on the cheap, it’s simply not possible – it’s an investment of time and money – but perhaps the real reason we all do it is for the community. The knitters. The people. Sitting and visiting for a couple of hours with busy hands. Helping each other with challenges of the fiber kind as well as those we meet in life.
Last night JoAnne was telling about meeting one of our other “girls” at the grocery store. She was stressed about a family matter and was being “bossed” by her relatives. JoAnne, in her fabulously direct way that women seem to get as they get older said, “they can all wait while you take care of you!” The best advice to a great person who wants to do for others.
Wonderful Betty helped me turn the heel on the two-socks-on-one-needle-socks-from-H@#$! Yippee! I’m not sure I really will ever try this again or that I would be able to repeat it. BUT, I have a concept of how it’s done and have learned something new in the process. I think I’m happy knitting one sock at a time and not having them matchy matchy. LOL!
So, now I have the following projects on the needles:
Cambridge Shawl - WIP
And I need to find something fabulous to make for Aunt Judy’s 70th birthday party in October! Lace scarf? Bella mittens? Fingerless gloves? We’ll see what I can find. And my niece’s baby turns one in October so I’ll have to make him something! So many projects and so little time! 😉
For now, I’m so grateful for my knitting friends who I’ve met along the way … all of you … you know who you are. I need to put my computer down, pick up my fraidy-cat dog who’s afraid of the thunder outside. Bless his little heart!
Gone comforting!
Yesterday, I was sitting in my Maine office. Working. I was the only one here (well, the dogs were here) as N. had gone sailing. It was easy to imagine that I was the only person living on the lake … with the exception of a couple of boaters who were likely not lake dwellers (at least not in my imagination.) Oddly enough, he was thinking the same sort of thoughts out on the lake in his boat …
After the “season” ends, the lake changes. It’s so quiet that you can hear the rain showers coming down the lake or over the house. When was the last time you could actually hear the rain falling? I heard it yesterday.
I finished the hats that I was knitting. All of them. You’ll not see a photo of the hat sent to Stockings for Soldiers because I forgot to take one before it was packed up and shipped off. Suffice it to say that their pattern was VERY basic (translated in Queen Bee language, it was boring!) BUT it will keep a soldier’s head warm. I used Plymouth Yarn’s Galway worsted in color 10 (navy blue.) I like this wool and have used it before. The price is moderate and it’s soft and good to work with. I included a note to the soldier (I hope they’ll send it along) thanking him or her for serving our country, etc.
New on my needles is the Cambridge Shawl. I’m using Cascade Yarns Cascade 220 Heathers in color 2450 (a medium purple.) I’ve already been challenged by this patter more than once:
Provisional Cast On - Right Side
Provisional Cast On - Wrong Side
Challenge #1 – Provisional Cast On. I am not sure that I’ve ever succeeded in using a provisional cast on. Probably because I don’t know how to crochet. BUT with a bit of tutoring on the internet, I’ve learned a single crochet which was enough to finish the baby hat edge and make a 25 or so stitch chain to use to provisionally cast on 22 stitches.
I’m thrilled and amazed to see that when you get it right, there is a right side and a wrong side just as they say in the directions. Phew!
Challenge #2 – Short Rows. I’ve done short rows before with the wrap and turn method. I figured that I could use the same method here but the pattern suggests using a different method with yarn overs. I knitted the first 18 (or so) rows and was pleased to see that the ruffles were starting to look like ruffles and upon admiring my work, I realized that there, in the middle of the ruffle on one side, was a HUGE mistake … I had totally done the wrong row somewhere. So, what’s a knitter to do? I frogged it and started over again. This time, I’m slipping the first stitch of each row so that edges look a little bit prettier… but I managed to get back to the point where I was forced to frog.
What I frogged.
I’m happy to still know that I don’t know it all yet. I like learning new things and I know it’s good for my brain to be challenged by the counting and reasoning. While I don’t always get it right the first time, I am happy to know that I can get it eventually.
Gone knitting!
The sun is out today and I’m typing on my favorite desk in my favorite office … my lap is my desk and the front porch is my office. We have a new family of ducks who have been coming by to visit … and get a little bit of bread from me! 🙂
Listening to President Obama’s speech at the University of Richmond while I blog. In the sun! Just having the sun out makes my attitude so much better. I’ve finished the two baby hats that I’ve been working on and they’re really cute. I wish I had a doll or a stuffed animal to put them on for photographs. Neither my hand nor my yarn spool makes a great baby face! Regardless, they’ve turned out well.
Hat #1 is the Aviatrix Hat from Justine Turner (and a free download on Ravelry.) I knit this hat in Plymouth Yarn’s Baby Alpaca DK (colorway 753) in a wonderful grey-blue color. I love it! There are two buttons on the hat so that when baby’s chinny-chin-chin gets all pudgy and kissable, mom can loosen the strap and it will still fit.
Hat #2 is Garnstudio’s Dropps Bonnet in Rib in Alpaca . It’s such a cute hat and I know it’s going to grow well with the baby as the 3×3 rib is really stretchy. The reason I really like this hat is that it goes over baby’s head like a hood – and they can’t pull it off! I knit this with Reynolds Revue 100% Merino wool in (color 1431) a raisin color – it’s a pretty brownish wine color (in these photos it looks way more pink than in real life!) that I think will be very “in” this year since it’s an organic color and found in nature. The only “issue” I have with this hat is, I think, the nature of merino wool in that it shows all the increases around the bottom of the hat. Fortunately, it will be under the baby’s jacket but it’s still aggravating for me to be able to see the “irregularity” of the stitches.
I’m having a really proud moment, though, because I tried something that I’ve never done before. (Although, my knitting friend Bob in Ohio did it for me once several years ago.) Anyway, after reviewing several videos, I did a single crochet edging around the opening of the hat and it looks great! I wish I had a doll or a stuffed animal here that I could put the hat on to show it off better … hope my new mom will send me a photo of baby in the hat and for the meantime, my photos on my antique spool will have to do. That’s life!
I found a really quick baby mittens pattern to send along with the hats … without having to knit a thumb gusset, it’s a really quick knit and very quick, indeed!
I’ve been thinking that I need to design and knit up a case for my new computer … cabled? or patterned? lined? unlined? We’ll see what I come up with. I have some really cool yarn that I bought out in northern California in December that has some cat hair in it … and pretty sparkly blue, too. I think that will be my yarn choice! I also have the “Kate Middleton” shawl that I bought some new yarn for. I’ll let you know what I decide!
So, from my porch office with the breezes blowing gently … gone knitting!
I found this wonderful pillow at TJ Maxx yesterday for $15! It was meant to be mine … because I am the Queen Bee! LOL!
The house in Maine survived Hurricane/Tropical Storm Irene. While we weren’t here on Sunday when the storm hit, we arrived on Wednesday to clean up the yard … one fallen tree and a collection of sticks and small branches.
I’ve finished one really cute baby hat and am starting a second. The first, an “Aviatrix Hat” is really cute but the pattern wasn’t particularly clear. I used a wonderfully soft medium blue yarn and I think the baby will be kept really warm … until he grows out of it. The second hat is a Dropps design. It’s a bit like a hood in that it goes over the head (and thus won’t come off so easily!) You can click here for the free pattern – and while you’re there, they have a ton (TON!) of really beautiful patterns. Shop till you drop!
I’m nearly done with my vest. If I hadn’t gotten this creeping crud upper respiratory thing, I’d have it done and could be wearing it. I still love the vest – wish I’d made mine a bit longer, but I think (if it fits around my body) that I will get a lot of wear out of it.
I’m working on the “hexipuffs” for my knitted quilt. Did I show you a picture of this project? Yikes! I love it! TinyOwlKnits has designed the most wonderful one-of-a-kind knitted quilt that I, the Queen Bee, must have. It’s called the beekeeper’s quilt and here it is …
It’s beautiful, is it not? Well, I am working on mine (I have three or four of the 3 million little hexipuffs that I need to knit) and I can’t wait to show you as it’s put together. You can make this project too … by visiting this website and purchasing the pattern for a very reasonable fee! Here’s the site … http://tinyowlknits.wordpress.com.
I have a couple pairs of socks still on the needles: a pair of black ones for my son, Bear. A pair of scrappy/birthday party/celebration socks for my Etsy shop and the dreaded two socks on one needle which I’ll get done soon … once I get a bit of help from the master (rather, mistress) of two socks on one needle, Betty, at my LYS here in Maine.
So, this Queen Bee is busy, busy, busy. (Can you imagine that?)
Running out to get the laundry off the line and then wrapping my afghan around my shoulders while I knit a bit … think I’ll attempt the seam for the vest’s shoulders and finish that baby!
Gone knitting!
Back in the land of heat and humidity and the yard weeds are taller than the plants that we dug holes for. Go figure! At least the pots in the front yard aren’t dead and my (now) puny “jazz hands” palm tree is still alive and growing after a near death experience.
I’ve had a fun day today and am going to continue having fun when my girlfriend comes for dinner but I thought I’d take a few minutes to show you what I’ve been working on while I wasn’t blogging … it’s not “much” but it’s work, none the less!
I’ve finished the coveted “Turkish Bed Socks” (find the pattern HERE at Churchmouse Yarns and Teas) and it just reinforced to me how much I love knitting with Koigu wool. It’s simply wonderful to knit with … if you try it on my recommendation and don’t love the way the yarn feels and knits, let me know and I will buy the yarn from you. The colorways are endless, too … you’re bound to love at least one (hundred) colors! The construction was interesting and I only got a bit confused once … and when I stopped reading ahead, I was fine. They’re cute and I’ll be they’re super to wear with my clogs in the winter.
I have made two more pairs of fingerless “Gauntlets”. One is in a gray alpaca DK weight
yarn from Village Farm Alpacas in Waldoboro, Maine. The yarn is absolutely the softest and it was good to knit with … nearly as good as the Koigu, just not quite.
The second pair is almost finished. These were knit with a wool and silk blend from Plymouth Yarn Company called Mulberry Merino in a dark emerald green colorway (color 686, Lot 531). The yarn is so soft and the fingerless mitten pattern is wonderful.
The yarn is spun loosely and it’s not as much fun to knit with because it splits on the needles and then gets stuck which is annoying! These will either go up on my Etsy site or be given away when I reach 100 “likes” on the Queen Bee Knits facebook page.
My vest in coming along. I’ve finished the back and have started working up one side of the front but I have to be honest, I haven’t really done much knitting. The last few days I was playing with my “old” friends from college at Virginia Beach and there was no time for knitting … I was out riding the waves (body surfing) for over an hour on Saturday. I’m sunburned and getting that “I’m going to peel” itch but it was worth it.
So, now I’m home and I have an order for a baby hat for one of my former au pairs. She’s adopting a little Latino boy from Illinois in October. She’ll be present at the baby’s birth if she has enough time to get from her house to Chicago area in time. How exciting is that? So, I’m off to find some cute patterns for the baby hat and then will hit the shops in person and/or online for yarn. Any suggestions?
Gone knitting … or pattern hunting!
Firefly!
The first thing I think about when I think about summer is fireflies (second only to honeysuckle and other flowers and the call of loons and swimming and …)
I remember collecting them when I was a child and then passing on my love of these brilliant bugs to my children. We’d get a great big glass or plastic jar and punch lots of holes in the lid for air. They’d fill the bottom with grass and sticks and leaves and then the fun really begins – collecting the bugs and watching them light up. Running around outside in the dark (without the fear of stepping in dog poop) and the squeals of glee when, “I caught one!” was called. It was always such fun to watch their little faces peering into their jar watching the bugs light. They (and we) would have been outside all night – or at least until all the bugs were caught or asleep!
When I was a kid, I always wanted to take them to my room and keep them for a night light … and in the morning they were all dead (or nearly dead) and I’d release them anyway. (Because we all know that miracles happen.) I don’t remember my kids taking them inside to die. I think we were more concerned with teaching them to respect all living things and that the reality is that they’ll die in captivity. Real world, heartbreaking reality. But it helped my kids turn into compassionate human beings.
Lightning bugs still are harbingers of summer in my mind and there’s nothing better than a lovely summer night when the fireflies are out and I remember the wonderful days when my children were little and passing on the traditions of collecting fireflies. Gotta love summer!!!
Loom Dude's Knitted Firefly
Here’s a compatriot’s pattern for knitting fireflies! What a wonderful idea, Loom Dude! Click HERE to flit over to the Loom Dude’s blog to collect the pattern!
Enjoy what’s left of your summer!
Gone knitting!
Queen Bee Knits 