Forecast says . . .

You know you live in New England when you hear the word snow and then think 'how much'? If it's 2-4 inches you probably just shrug and go about your day. If it's in the 4-8 range you might think about stopping on the way home from work for milk and bread. . . or wine and cheese. When you start to talk 8 or more inches it's time to start the checklist. Batteries, cell phones charged, wood for the fireplace, bottled water . . . and another bottle of wine.

You know you are a knitter in New England when you hear the word snow 
and think . . . 

Thanks to my friend Kirstin for finding this . . .
 and for littlemonkeyscrochet!

I know, I know. It's says 'Crocheter's Blizzard Forecast'. 

But let's face it . . . when you are stuck in the house with a raging blizzard outside . . . crochet, knit, spin . . . you really just need some fiber in your hands.







Snow is coming on Saturday. Since it's too early for an accurate forecast, I'll be ready. I have a new mitten pattern, an on-going afghan, and some nice fingering weight for a cowl.

Until next time, keep your nose in a book or your fingers in fiber.

Hmm . . . perhaps my favorite Knitting Night of all is the one that falls right before Christmas. 



I wonder why?

Perhaps it's because of the mini cheesecakes or the Grinches made from fruit . . . or the cookies or chocolates or Christmas bread.

I'm really not sure which it is!!





But of course there was knitting involved too.

Peggy made the cutest little knitting bag ornaments for everyone. Now when I look at my tree I will think of all my knitting friends.

Here she is showing us the American Girl doll outfit she made. Because it was Peggy that made it, there is not only a reindeer sweater . . . but matching pants, mittens and ear warmers.







Then . . . just to out-do herself . . .



Yes, a knitted bike seat cover! (Well I guess if your granddaughter asks if you can make her one . . . then what is a grandmother to do?!)










Lizzie's sweater is almost done.










Just another all-around-wonderful-time with a wonderful group. A great way to have a stress-free evening.  Join us.

Until next time, keep your nose in a book or your fingers in fiber.

Cool Chicks Wear Sweaters

Let's face it. When the cool temperatures of winter start to come we all break out our sweaters. Pullovers, cardigans, cabled or mohair . . . we all have our favorites. 









But if you want to be a really cool-looking chick . . . well, you have to have a hand-knit sweater.

Seriously. What more can be said?

These chickens belong to my mother's physician assistant. Anyone that cares about their chickens this much . . . well, I think my mother is in great hands!

Until next time, keep your nose in a book or your fingers in fiber.

Ready to Time Travel?

Saturday was a beautiful November day, so I convinced my husband to take a trip to visit Old Sturbridge Village. I thought it would be fun to transport myself in time to the late 1700's-early 1800's . . . (I had a vision of turning into Clare from the Outlander series!).

 As soon as we walked in we, were greeted by the cutest little sheep . . . well okay, they weren't really little . . . I looked at them and wondered how much they weighed!!


While some people were looking at them and probably thinking of lamb chops for the village, I thought . . . 'oh, fleece'!




When we came across the building labeled, Carding Shed, I couldn't wait to go in. (For some reason my husband was not as enthusiastic). Gone were the days of carding by hand . . . dominating the building were two carding machines that would have been powered by water.

I could just picture myself walking around the village in my bonnet wearing a dress made of a pretty blue calico print and carrying a basket . . . to put my fleece in, of course.







I envisioned myself purchasing my fleece (probably using vegetables from my garden or eggs from my chickens, since not many people had money), and then probably going home and sitting down and setting to the task of spinning my yarn . . . hey, just like the spinners that come to Knitting Night on Mondays!










But then as I walked around more . . . 
 and noticed more of the cute little woolie lambs . . . it hit me. They weren't knitting cowls from sock weight yarn or scarves from the latest novelty yarn . . . and their sweaters were not knit from kid silk mohair or cashmere.

They were using homespun wool . . .  literally . . . and knitting for warmth.

I also took a closer look at the cute little woolies . . . and then I also took a closer look at their fleece . . . and I saw how DIRTY it is!! (Leaves, mud, sticks and other 'items' I would not want to touch.)



Then I found out that women could drink alcohol and carry a gun . . . but couldn't vote. (My husband thought alcohol and firearms could be a dangerous combination in women and perhaps they should have allowed voting instead.)

Hmm . . . what do you think? Would you want to live in that era? Take a trip and visit Old Sturbridge Village and decide for yourself. The library even has a pass so that you can get a discounted admission.

I decided the 18th century was not for me. I'll stay in 2015 and visit my local yarn shop and purchase a hand painted skein of yarn to knit something frivolous.





Until next time, keep your nose in a book or your fingers in fiber.

Turning T-shirts Into Yarn.

One of the best things about working in the library is having creative co-workers . . . like Lindsey. When another co-worker cleans her office . . . resulting in a lot of T-shirts that are left in a 'who-wants-these-?' staff area  . . . Lindsey looked at them and saw . . . yarn. (I know, right?! Yarn?!! I looked at them and saw a pile of T-shirts that I wouldn't wear.)

When she showed me her 'yarn' I was of course . . .  'how did you do that?' Since she is nice . . . she showed me. I went home and copied her and made my own T-shirt yarn. Want to make some??

Start with . . . you guessed it, a T-shirt.

Lay it flat and smooth it out.
















Next cut it just below the armholes . . . 

Then cut off the hemmed edge at the bottom.


You now have a tube.

Next fold your 'tube' in half, but leave one edge about 1 1/2 inches longer than the other.


Now comes the fun part.

Cut from the bottom through the first fold . . . but don't cut all the way across. Leave the fold furthest away intact.











Repeat all the way across. I made my strips about an inch thick. (Maybe you noticed my lime-green-Only-You-Can-Prevent-Forest-Fires ruler. I had a grandiose vision of carefully measuring each strip. I threw that idea out the window and just eyeballed it once I started. I decided to be a free spirit.)

When you are finished, unfold it and separate all the loops.

Next cut diagonally to make one big strip.

(You would cut from where my thumb is to the notch created by the two top loops.)









You will end up with one big long strip of jersey fabric.

Give it a gentle tug and a little bit of magic will happen. The ends will roll in and it will turn into . . . 

. . . a pile of T-shirt yarn!!!!

I'm not sure what I will make with it. Maybe a cowl?

Go ahead, give it a try. You must have a lot of old T-shirts that you are probably never going to wear again. (And if you see Lindsey tell her thanks for sharing!)






Until next time, keep your nose in a book or your fingers in fiber.

Shop a Little . . . Help a Little.

I wasn't going to mention that the holidays are right around the corner . . . but . . . well . . . they are. If you haven't been busy all summer knitting hats and scarves and finger-less gloves and socks and cowls . . . it's okay. Don't stress about how you can't possibly get enough gifts knitted in time. At the last Monday Night Knitting, Mary presented a perfect solution for you. (At least if you live in the South Shore area of Massachusetts.)

If you shop at Charming Charlie's on Sunday, November 15th from 11:00-6:00, 
10% of your sale will be donated to the organization CABbies. 
Charming Charlie's is located at 194 Colony Place, Plymouth, Massachusetts.

CABbies (Cancer Care Advisory Board) is a non-profit organization that provides short term financial assistance for local cancer patients in active treatment that are experiencing financial hardships due to their cancer diagnosis.






click here for more information on CABbies.







What could be better? Easy shopping and helping people that need a little help.
Mark your calendars!

Until next time, keep your nose in a book or your fingers in fiber.

Books or Knitting? Take Them Both!

One of hardest things about working in a library . . . and being a knitter . . . is having sooo many books on my 'I'd like to read this' list. Because of course, the 'I'd like to knit this' list is just as long. So what do I do when supper is over and the dishes are done? Sit and read? Sit and knit? 

Thankfully the library has a compromise available for me . . .not the one I really want, which is to sit and read at work!! But now there is Hoopla. I can now instantly (and yes, I mean instantly!), download or stream an audio-book to my phone, plug in my earbuds, listen to a book and knit away. The best part? It's quick, easy, and of course FREE with my library card. What could be better?! (Yes, you are right - pour a glass of wine before you sit down.)

Give it a try. If you don't have a Duxbury Free Library card, see if your library offers Hoopla. If they don't, suggest it to them and then ask what other audio options they have in the meantime. Start knitting and listening.

Until next time, keep your nose in a book (or your ears!!) or your fingers in fiber.