Out with the--sorta-old and in with the--new to me.

Weaving has become a passion and a focus for me these days.  I have found that mastering the frustrations of warping a loom and then watching fabric develop from the threads I add is both exhilarating and calming.  I love watching what ever I am weaving come to the point I recognise the pattern and at the same time, the changing of the treadles, the throwing of the shuttle and the beating of the weft, all have a zen quality as you repeat and repeat and repeat some more. 

Yesterday I finished a scarf for my husband.  He supports all my fiber activities and has received hats and socks from me.  But yesterday I gave him a 6 ft long scarf.  Now, he is very color challenged.  He doesn't like it.  He is truly a black and white kind of guy.  So how to make some interest??  Start off with the basics-a solid black warp.  Not too many. But the initial weaving was too tight, tear it out, cut if off and start again.  Add MORE warp, change the reed and rethread.  Now try again.  Don't like pattern, change that.  Found one and looks nice.  But wait, doesn't look like what it is in the book.  Look to the underside--there is the pattern!!  Draft was written for a sinking shed and mine is a rising shed.  That's okay, will weave and then turn over.  But back to the color--or lack thereof.  The weft was harder to choose.  I ended up using a nice merino/silk/nylon blend I bought in NJ a few months ago.  It is a variegated grey with silver thread shot thru it.  And lo and behold...he loves it.  YES, success!

So what next?  More kitchen towels.  I started to wind a warp of 400 ends, a 4 yd warp to do 5 towels for an exchange.  Then some nice friend pointed out that I can't realistically get 5 towels out of a 4yd warp unless I make them really small.  Already have half of the warp wound so I am NOT going to undo it and start again.  Change of plans. I told my daughter I would do towels for her.  So, 4 towels with 2 colors will work just fine.  Then I can wind a 5yd warp-or more-to do the towels for the exchange.  There is a solution to every problem if we look hard enough.

Now back to the cryptic title..

I bartered a few months ago for a 4 harness table loom.  It was in fair condition and I did a little work and got it into much better shape.  I thought it would be a good class loom.  Only problem is--it is way to big to have just 'sitting around'.  So I sold it--to a lady that is currently in Florida and lives in a bus motorhome.  And so out with the sorta old.  As for the in with the new to me.. I found a Harrisville 22" 4 harness, 4 treadle loom that folds to 14" wide.  And I even have a place I plan to store it.  And I will pick it up in 2 weeks.  As my husband says, I reinvested the equity of the first loom to get the 2nd. 

Still knitting but not too much.  Worked on the FLS and have to finish some fingerless mitts very soon for a person at work.  Gonna take it with me tonight.  But in the mean time...I just keep moving forward.

Planting seeds the knitting way.

Been a few days and realized I had not written anything.  I went to Connecticut this week to watch my 2 wonderful nieces while their parents took a 50th birthday celebration for Dad to Jamaica.  I personally think I got the better end of the deal on this, 2 feet of snow where they live or not.

We did lots of fun things but what was the best was getting them to start knitting, in a fashion.  We went to Michael's and bought yarn for each and kids knitting needles.  We also went to Wal-Mart and got a set of the circular easy knitters.  I figured the 6 year old could work on the easy knitter and the 9 year old we would start with the needles.  Well suffice to say, both took to the easy knitters.  We spent at least 2-3 hours working on them, getting started and helping learn the process.  Both girls were very focused and I was very impressed.  But more was to come.  Later that evening and again this morning, BOTH girls got out 'their knitting' and started working on their hats. No prompting needed from Aunt Rena, just a bit of help with errant loops now and then.  Each had 2 different sizes going when I left today and it will be interesting to see if they keep it up when I talk to them in a few days.  Now is the time to plant the seeds and I think that that was definitely accomplished this weekend.

Keeping going..

Well, I have gone back to working on the February Lady sweater for my daughter.  Problem is I can't measure it on her and there was a place that needed measuring.  So, when my BFF and I had our holiday day last weekend, we went to Stitches With Style to sit and knit.  There I was talking to Janet, a friend that works there part time and is pretty close to my daughters' size.  With very little asking, she graciously tried on the sweater top and helped me determine that I needed at least another 3" of garter stitch before I started the lace. So, I am keeping going on the plain ole knitting...  But while there I met a couple of ladies that are weavers as well.  We got talking and it was so much fun and such an opportunity for learning.  They are both members of the Harmony Weavers in Wilmington and I am already planning on joining this week.  I got lots of complements on the scarf that Cathy had with her and my pictures of my towels on the loom.  AND they think I am too advanced already for the beginners course at The Mannings.  SO, am looking at the 4 day event in July for MAFA.  I think it will be a good time and learning experience.  Time will tell.

Life does not totally revolve around knitting, as noted above, there is also weaving!!  This morning I took off my first set of kitchen towels from the loom, all 5 of them.  And these babies are not the small, wimpy ones.  They range from 27 1/2" to 30 1/2" long and all are 21 1/4" wide.  Well they are that size, until I finish washing them in hot water and drying them in a hot dryer several times.  These are 100% cotton and will shrink up, which is what we want, so I am excited to see what they will be like after they are dried.  Next on the loom--one of 2 choices, a black scarf for Sam or a multicolored shawl for me.  I know I want to do the shawl next but it is winter and he could use a nice scarf.  Practicality will probably win out plus he has been a good guy as I gather all the little bits that make weaving more fun and easier. It is his turn now for something nice.

Speaking of winter, I am watching the weather again. I work the next 3 nights and then head to Connecticut to watch my 2 nieces as my sister and BIL fly off to the Caribbean to celebrate his 50th birthday.  I first off, don't want to get stuck at work and secondly, want to be able to get there to watch the girls.  So it is another weather watch and wait.

Well the first wash/dry of the towels are done so they are now soaking for the 2nd time.  Pictures to come when available.

Another done-

The nights have been nice and I have been able to work on my Wollmeise socks.  And today I finished the Kitchener stitch and the socks are done.  Tried them on and they fit perfectly--yeah!  So it is the 7th day of the first month of the year, and I have finished 2 projects that were OTN for a while.  That is not a bad thing. 

Next is the WM sweater I started in 2009 for my daughter.  It is a February Lady sweater and I am about a third of the way done.  I want to finish it and surprise her for her birthday.  So I have a bit of time, 5 months.  But I want to get it done well before that as I have a few other things that I need to do as well.

But knitting is not all I have been doing.  I am working on my first set of kitchen towels, weaving them in an 8/2 cotton.  The warp is a pale yellow and the weft is white.  This was the warp from hell that made me back away for a week after I put it on the loom.  But for all its difficulties, the weaving is going well.  I think that there will be at least 6 towels out of the warp.  After I get the one I am doing done--the 4th in the set- I think I am going to change the tie ups for another pattern and do another color for the last 2 towels.  I may send 2 to each of my sisters and keep the last 2.  Not sure but it is fun as the process goes on.  Maybe I will get them done this weekend.  That would be nice and then I could warp the black wool for Sam's scarf. I am having way too much fun...

Knitting at night.

I am a nurse.  I have been for 37 years this May and the majority of the time I have worked it has been at night.  I like working at night.  You have a better time to communicate with your patients as there are not visitors, doctors, social workers or other assorted interruptions.  And the night is when you are needed the most, feelings and fears are magnified as the business of the day fades and the frustrations and realities of current situations become focused. 

I work with new Moms and babies.  Most people would go "Ah-h-h-h, you get to play with babies."  But truth is I get to help over tired and often in pain women try to cope with a squirming, hungry, fussy and often unco-operative newborn.  Meltdowns happen and a lot of soothing--of both Mom and baby--is done.

But sometimes, when the mouth is held just right and the stars align, there is a calm time in the middle of the night.  (Any nurse will tell you not to use the "Q" word to describe that period of time as all hell will break loose if you do.)  And during this calm time, a little knitting can get done.  I have knit socks and scarves and sweaters and mittens in the last few years.  Whatever project it is, it has to be able to be put down instantly when a bell rings, or a co-worker needs help or an emergency happens.

Tonight I got to work on my Wollmeise socks.  I have turned the heels and am marching towards the toes.  I did a quick measurement and about another 10-12 rows before I start the decreases for the toes and the end of these socks.  IOW, about another 3-4 nights like tonight and I will have this project/UFO finished. 

Knitting at night, sometime lots, sometimes none.  But every night brings a chance to get closer to finishing a project.  Why waste time...I can knit at night.

First one finished for the year

Went with my BFF Cathy to take her grandkids back to their mom after the holiday weekend yesterday afternoon. It was rainy and grey but the company was fine. And there was knitting to be done. I knit a bit in the car but was getting close to the end of the yarn. I put it away until we got to Border's Books and with a nice holiday latte I was ready to finish the socks. I undid all the remaining yarn and figured out how many more rows I could do. When it was all said and done and the last stitch bound off, I had 10" of yarn left. So Mia's socks are now done.

My next UFO to be worked on: Pfferminz Prinz socks. Just about done with the gussests and then onto the feet. They are going to work with me this week.

Keep knitting and keep Binding Off in 2011.

cozy's place: Taking Stock and Binding Off

cozy's place: Taking Stock and Binding Off: ""

List of UFO's

I haven't done much blogging but now I have a reason to do this. I am in a challenge with my BFF to see how many UFO's we have and can finish in 2011. So it is January 2nd and I am ready to start listing what I have and then as I do them, mark them off.

Here is the beginning list:

Mia's socks DONE 1/2/11
WM Pfefferminz Prinz socks DONE 1/7/11
Handspun Wendy Johnson Peace Socks
Handspun shawl for Benita
Handspun Portuguese Fisherwoman's Shawl for me  DONE 6/11
February Lady sweater for Riane
Susie jacket for me
Wonderful Wallaby Jacket for Myles

Next I need to look for all the rest of the UFO's and WIP's and list them here. And after that--knit, knit, knit...