From the Library's Shelves

My mother always told me "Good things come to those who wait". Well, she was right. (Again she was right, she also told me not to snap my gum, keep good posture, and always wear clean underwear. The last piece of advice was the nurse in her talking.) 

Ever since the Outlander series started on the Starz channel, I've been patiently waiting for the pattern book to come out with all of the gorgeous knitted items that have been shown.  I managed a replica of Claire's cowl on my own, but for the boot cuffs, the hand warmers and the shawls . . . well I confess . . . I wanted a pattern.

Luckily Interweave knits has come to the rescue and published Highland Knits, Knitwear Inspired by the Outlander Series. 

Click here to place a hold.

Come to the library and check it out. I think you'll like it. We're talking chunky or bulky yarn for a lot of the projects . . . although I fell in love with the Falling Leaves Boot Cuffs and they call for worsted weight. But still, lots of quick knitting! 

I do see the contradiction here . . .
my mother telling me to learn to be 
patient . . . I try . . . but then get excited over a pattern book of projects that will knit up quickly. . . At least I don't snap my gum anymore!! 







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

Monday Night Knitting Group

Another fabulous night of knitting!!





Joan is making a scarf . . . isn't this a great way to practice different stitches and patterns?


















Audrey is one of our new grandmothers . . . so she is working on a baby sweater.















 



Marguerite is finishing up her prayer shawl.

Martha is making a shawl . . .

. . . and Pat is working on a beaded cowl. 
















Lots of other projects going on too . . . sweaters, hats, and yes . . . even a breast prosthesis!!  

Join us.

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




 

Knitted With Love

Working in a library with wonderful people is great. . . when some of those wonderful people are also knitters . . . well, can it get any better?! There is always someone around when you get stuck on a pattern, need advice, share yarn with . . . and of course show a completed project to. 

Suzanne has been quietly knitting in the staff room for the past few weeks making a 'stuffie' for her son. Luckily I was working today when she brought in the completed project. I confess that I didn't know exactly what . . . or rather who . . . he is . . . but then I also confess that I am not a Star Wars fan. (Suzanne however has a really awesome Star Wars pocketbook. Even I . . . the non-Star Wars fan . . . acknowledge the cuteness of it!)

He is Admiral Ackbar. But more importantly he is the cutest, softest, cuddliest thing. Just looking at him gives you that warm fuzzy feeling that a hand crafted gift gives you. That feeling you get knowing someone thinks enough of you to spend their free time creating a gift just for you. (And let's face it, when short rows and embroidery are involved, someone flat out loves you!).

I wish you could squeeze him like I did. 

I had to share him with you. 

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

Measure Twice, Cut Once

In between my knitting projects I've been squeezing in a little weaving. My first project was a scarf . . . of course. Isn't that what you always make whenever you learn a new craft? One scarf was enough . . . I then decided to move on to a piece of clothing.

Jess was nice enough to take a picture
 of me wearing my creation!

Here's where my thoughts ran ahead of my brain. I started weaving away . . . mixing colors and having a grand old time doing it. I thought I was organized. I even made sure to save enough yarn to be able to knit the front panel. But then when I went to put it together . . . well, let's just say I'm glad that asymmetrical is in style.


A little single crocheting at the bottom took care of my poor mathematical skills. 

I think I'll try another one. . . It's a great way to use up some of the single skeins in my yarn stash. This time I'll be more organized and I'll do what my friend Carleen always says, "Measure twice and then cut once".

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

Let's Face It

My bear has dried. 

He looked a little funky . . . so I took a mohair brush and gave him a nice combing. If you don't have a mohair brush, you can use any soft bristled brush.

As I brushed him out, I cut any pieces that were stiff feeling.

Then it was time to create his face.

I'm not very good at embroidery . . . so I decided to take the easy way out and I bought plastic 'animal eyes'.

I took a couple of pins and placed them where I wanted the eyes to be.  That way I could move them around until I found the perfect spot.

Once I found the perfect spot, I grabbed my scissors and 'poked him in the eye'! Since the felt is pretty thick, I had to wiggle the tip of the scissors around a bit to make a hole.

I put his eyes in . . . 

and here is looking at me!!

Next it's time for the dreaded embroidery . . . otherwise he will not have a nose . . . and he won't be able to smell the roses . . .or honey.

Here he is with his nose . . . and I figured I would give him a heart while I was at it. Yes, I cheated and sewed a button on for his heart!!

I stuffed him with fiberfill . . . .see it peeking out of his belly??

Next I just need to sew up his tummy seam. 







But I'm told he needs a sweater . . . or a vest. I guess I know what my weekend project will be!

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

Monday Night Knitting

It's not a hat . . . it's a palm tree!!

Monday Night Knitting is always fun. Fun enough that even if some of our members go to Florida for the winter . . . they check in with us!

But do they have to put the palm tree in the background?? When it was about 10 degrees here?? I decided to forgive them since they were knitting.












Look at this cute sweater that Peggy finished.













But there were plenty of us that weren't in Florida.







Pat came with her spinning wheel. I wish you could feel this . . . it's llama!!

So soft! She is thinking of perhaps knitting a shawl with it.

Martha also came with her spinning wheel. She is creating a yarn that is going to fluff to uber softness once it is washed.
















Lizzy did a little finger knitting . . . 














. . . by the end of the night she had a scarf all done!!

Joan modeled her finished scarf.

The 'other Joan' had finished baby sweaters.














The 'other Liz' had lots of finished hats!!








Of course there were more knitters . . . but many of them are camera shy! (Which is why there are a lot of heads missing in these photos!)

Come and join us . . . then you'll get to see all the faces.

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

BEARy Wet

Okay . . . Saturday morning I felted my bear. If you've never done any felting here's a few tips.

• Set your washing machine for the smallest size load and the hottest temperature.
• Add a little bit (and I mean a little bit) of soap. The soap will help those fibers relax a little!
• Add a pair of jeans (or if you are like me . . . and your jeans will never-ever-ever fit you again after being washed in hot water . . . add a pair of sneakers. You just want something to go through the cycle and 'hit' your piece. It helps with the agitation.
• Check the item before your machine reaches the rinse cycle. If it isn't felted enough for you, turn your machine back to the beginning of the wash cycle. (It will save on your hot water!!)

Here is my bear after it went through the first wash cycle. I took him out to see how much he felted. He was still a little too loose for the fabric I was looking for, so back in he went.

Here is a close up. You can see that it is felted . . . but unfortunately you can't feel it. You will know when it is just right . . . kind of like Goldilocks knew.

Once the piece has reached the consistency you want, take it out of the wash. Don't let it go through the spin cycle . . . it could end up with folds that are hard to get rid of . . . and it could affect your ability to shape it.

Here he is all nicely felted. I took him upstairs to my kitchen sink and rinsed all the soap out of him with cool water. Now it's time to get him ready to dry.

This is the time to squeeze his toes to a nice shape, press his cheeks out, play with his ears . . . make him start to come to life!

I cut up an old towel into strips and stuffed it into his legs and his arms . . . and into his head . . . and into his chubby tummy. 

The material will help draw the moisture out and also helps for him to dry in the right shape.

Tomorrow I will take the towels out and let him finish drying. Then it will be time to give him a face and stuff him. I better start thinking of a name for him!

Come back again to see him get his face!

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