Estonian Lace - Mittens with Nancy Bush

On Saturday and Sunday September 26 and 27, the PPKG sponsored workshops by Nancy Bush.  Saturday was an Introduction to Estonian Lace.  Nancy Bush walked us through knitting a sampler with a Lily of the Valley pattern.  Cheryl, our over-achiever, completed, blocked and brought her sampler to the next day's class on mittens, which is the yellow pattern below.  Sunday we learned a braided cast-on and stranded color knitting of a cuff.  Traditional colors are white, black and red.  Estonian culture has a tradition that the red strand of color (symbolizing the life blood) surrounding an opening of a garment (sleeve, hem or collar) protects the person from evil.  My thoughts immediately turned to the story of the Exodus and how the shed blood of a lamb applied to the door posts protected the Israelites from the Destroyer.  Then on to Rahab and the red cord hung outside her window preserved her from harm during the invasion of Jericho and last on to Jesus Christ who's blood applied to my account preserves me from death and the Destroyer.  Traditions have an element of truth and this one certainly harkens back to centuries past.

Nancy did an awesome job communicating her knowledge of the Estonian life, culture and traditions including the unique forms of lace and color work.  The two days were a wonderful cross-cultural education in history and art.

Baby Sweater and Market Bag

Finished two projects - a baby sweater (a little larger size due to worsted weight yarn and modified needle size) and a large market bag.  At one of the Pikes Peak Knitting Guild meetings, Angela taught the 5-hour baby sweater that takes approximately 7 hours to complete with the Vanna's Choice green.  I think it took me a wee bit longer, but it is finished all but a button for the closure.  Looks sweet!

The stylin' French Market Bag owes to the inspiration of Joanna with Needleworks by Hollyberry in Old Colorado City.  The class instruction laid the basis for getting started and amazingly the stitches in a brown and blue cotton basketweave and mesh stitches were addictive enough that voila!  The bag is now finished and ready to use when trips are made to the local farmer's market or the regular grocery.

Knitting Joke

My favorite and one shared with the local Knitting Guild is: 

A woman is knitting as she drives (which is totally unsafe, and I don't advocate it). Pretty soon, her speed has crept all the way up to 95 mph--and she passes a parked police car. The car gives chase. Officer Bob turns on his siren, but the woman, oblivious, doesn't notice him. Finally, he pulls up alongside her car and yells, "Pull over! PULL OVER!"

She looks at him, looks at her knitting, and yells--


"NO! It's a CARDIGAN!"

See the link for additional laughs:  http://www.anacleta.com/knittinghumor.html

Nancy Bush Workshop - Colorado Springs

On September 26 and 27, 2009, Nancy Bush will be presenting Workshops in Colorado Springs on Estonian Lace and Mittens. If you are interested, a flyer is attached for further information.

Knit Knot Tree

The Associate Press carried an article in the paper the other day about Yellow Springs, Ohio that has created a "purl" of a tree by knitting fabric around it. The Knit Knot Tree has become a tourist attraction of sorts. Quite the colors have hung around even through the winter and the tree hasn't really felt the frost this year. Check out the AP link.

Pikes Peak Knitting Guild Luncheon

The Pikes Peak Knitting Guild is holding a charter member luncheon April 19, 2008 from 11:30 - 2:30. Amanda Berka, a former president of the Guild and recently with Interweave Press will be our speaker. Guiseppe's depot is the site of the luncheon and the cost is $15. All current, past and want-to-be members of the PPKG are invited.

Sheep Sweater

Finally finished the sheep sweater. Alpaca yarn spun by a small company and which I purchased at 2006 Stitches. Loved the blue grey color and learning the carrying of color. There was even two rows when I had to manage three colors at one time. The most memorable part of the process was getting the right fit. The sleeves are long enough for my arms!

Latest Knitting Projects

Felted tote bag - pattern Fiber Trends and used Cascade 220 with a multi fun yarn

Child's sweater - pattern off the internet

Cable design down the front and one on each sleeve. Added a cable down each side to make it slightly larger. Yarn is superwash Brown Sheep Wool (white) which was hand dyed with Strawberry Koolaid.

Vogue Stitchionary2 - Cables

Vogue’s Stitchionary2 - Volume Two Cables
Vogue has developed a series of knitting pattern encyclopedias which places six balls of yarn in various shades of one color on the front cover. Each volume uses a different color. This one the choice was brown and the topic was cables.

I have some partiality to cables, Arans and Celtic designs and so I was anticipating looking at the various patterns contained in this volume and I wasn’t disappointed. The first few pages give a short history of cables. It is believed that the cable originated with Celtic tradition via the Book of Kells in the 9th century. Further, there is some idea that the Book of Kells may have contained illustrations of cable-knit sweaters. The book relates that Aran patterns were used for fisherman sweaters and used for identification purposes which is somewhat suspect in current histories of Aran development.

The book is well organized and arranges the patterns from easy to most difficult. There are written instructions and a chart for each pattern. Some of the pattern names enable you to imagine the cable in your mind, such as:

Easy - mock, argyle, thistle, horseshoes and snow angels
Diamonds - embossed, tic-tac-toe
Pretzels - river run, Cleopatra, wheat
Braids - bean stalk, Pippi
Allover - honeycomb, waves, pie crust (lattice type), cable maze, ribbed cable
Combinations - Jacob’s ladder, rick rack and Art Deco

All in all there are 202 pattern designs from which to select to create your personally styled-cabled sweater. I’m hoping to use some of the above mentioned to develop a special design of my own. I would rate give this stitch directory 4 stars for variations in pattern and difficulty of knitting. The only disappointment is that the history section was a little short and some of it is discounted by several other historians.

Rockies' Stitch 'N Pitch

Baseball and Yarn. Rockies' Dinger sporting a scarf and ready to knit another with large needles and a yarn skein in equal size, gift bags containing yarn, needles and a Interweave Magazine (current edition) and beautiful weather. All of which while being in the Mile High City with my wonderful husband. The game was exciting and included two HRs hit by the Rockies and ended with a win over the Dodgers with a final score of 6-2. What a fantastic event!

UnFinished Objects

UFOs - Hooray! No longer are they in that classification! Here is a Mystery Knit night belt / scarf completed last week. It's knit in two and threaded back and forth through between the completed sections to create the braided look.

Second - a pair of socks made from Jaeger sock yarn on size 1 needles. Yuck! The yarn split and gave me fits but they are finally done. Yessssss......

Fiberlicious 2007

Fiberlicious is a local Pikes Peak Knitting Guild sponsored event in the back yard of our current President, Peggy. This was the 4th annual time for the group to gather. During the day we undertook splitting sheep and llama fleeces that were less than clean. The family pets loved the smell and enjoyed rolling in the fibers left behind from horders of all things related to yarn.

Patty, pictured above, demonstrates her wheel. I am extremely grateful to her for taking the time to instruct me on how to use a drop spindle. My drop spindle is a Schacht 3 oz. top or bottom whirl depending on which way you want to use it. There is significant gratification in seeing wool strands spun into a single ply and remembering women's endeavors from centuries past.

Craving a spinning wheel, but I'm not ready for the huge investment of $$. Pictured below is some of the llama fleece Joy brought to the festival day.

Afghan Block a Month Pictures

Oak leaf and acorns, applique trees, Swirl, reverse stockinette, star and entrelac cable - 12 inch squares for an afghan being constructed for my husband as a Christmas present. All the patterns for this are found in the Great American Afghan book published by Knitters.

Just finished another slip stitch pattern with hearts in maroon and ready to tackle the next one in line a 5 chart pattern with triangles and bobbles involving entrelac and some other new techniques. With each block I have expanded my repertoire of skills. It is amazing what can be done with just two stitches - knit and purl adding in increasing and decreasing. The patterns and designs seem to be limited only by my imagination... I seem to specialize in trite expressions. It's such fun!

Albuquerque Visit

Frank & I took a business / leisure trip to Albuquerque, New Mexico for the Triple-A All-Star Fiesta and Game on July 11, 2007. Our visit included a balloon ride for Frank, a tour of Old Town for both of us and renewing a friendship with Steve, the Director of Public Relations for the Albuquerque Isotopes and a former co-employee at the Pacific Coast League Office.

Last year when we visited Albuquerque, I found a shop called Village Wools and with anticipation, visited their new location. Wandering around the store was a pleasant diversion but since my stash has grown substantially, the better part of valor ws to just pick up a couple of small items to work on a pair of socks. Next time though, watch out!

Blogs, Newsletters and Podcasts

A new blog host - Lion Brands -lists several connections to fiber blogs: http://cache.lionbrand.com/blogs.html. Not only does it encourage chatter, but a weekly newsletter can be received. The last few editions have contained a cable pattern of the week. One of my favorite techniques is cabling. I've done several scarves in containing different types of cables. The next afghan block is Aran with cabling and seed stitch. I'm anxious to finish what I've been working on (a shawl) to begin another project.

Interweave Knits recently began publishing a daily newsletter via e-mail, Knitting Daily where life meets knitting. The most recent edition featured a pattern for colorwork, a two-strand Fair Isle print for a shoulder bag. I thought this might be an interesting item to tackle at some point in the near future. If you wish to receive this newsletter, check out the following link:
http://www.knittingdaily.com/cgi-bin/udt/um.register.account?ET=knittingdaily_blog:e653:15871a:&st=email

Each week for the last 10, Kelley of KnitPicks has released a podcast. Episode 1 reviews several books which I now wish to add to my library with the plan that I will complete the workshop contained in the books. The first is The Sweater Workshop by Jacqueline Fee, who instructs through doing a sampler of the stitches to make a sweater you design with the yarn you choose. The second is The Knitting Workshop by Elizabeth Zimmerman, the patron saint of all things knitted. This volume is a compilation of knitting workshops she taught. Much to my chagrin, this book has been sitting on my shelf and not used. Now that I've been knitting a wee bit longer I might be better suited to work through the information provided inside!
For a download of this podcast:
http://www.knitpicks.com/content/index.php/archive/episode-1/

Lessons from a Sheepdog - Sheepdog Trials

Finished reading Lessons from a Sheepdog by Phillip Keller and visited Estes Park Wool Market where a version of sheepdog trials occurred. Phillip Keller discussed seven lessons to be learned from a sheepdog. First, the wrong master will enslave and cause a dog to fear and be unable to work; 2) after the dog is set free to follow the good master, he has to learn to respond properly; 3) the new master teaches the dog to trust him by his goodness and concern for the well being of the dog; 4) the dog delights to obey the new master and responds to the benevolence and kindness of the master; 5) there is a test of faithfulness for the dog to stay where he is needed, learning to obey based on signals; and not being distracted by other events, circumstances or location of the master; 6) disobedience and faithlessness sometimes result in the need for discipline to correct wrong behavior. The discipline is exercised in love by the master and his love never disappears; and 7) the sheepdog is available for any task and will perform any assignment for the master because the dog knows the master loves him.

In Estes Park, various breeds of sheepdog herded the sheep, short-legged corgis and long-maned border collies, Australian shepherds and numerous types of Heelers demonstrated the above principles and responded to cues from their master. They did not respond to the cues of others, nor did they do harm to the sheep. If left to their own, however, some would have worn the sheep out by continuing to round and drive them from one spot to another. Each breed of dog worked in a slightly different manner. Some were gatherers, some motivators, some drivers.

Seems as though God is trying to drive home a point to me. I finished the book just before leaving for the Wool Market and had no idea that the demonstration of the dogs would be part of the event. God takes me through various stages to reach the goal of His glory. Being set free from the Evil One, sin and fear; working out who is my Master, His trustworthiness, faithfulness and love for me; delighting in His sacrifice on the cross for me and desiring to obey all His commands; serving where placed and how the Master has asked me to work; the need for discipline when I am distracted from the task at hand and He has a particular job assignment for me; and being available for any assignment no matter where that might take me or how difficult the job.

Jesus, my Master, has corralled me by His love and faithfulness. How can I be so ungrateful to not respond with obedience. Sometimes I am that ungrateful and it is exhibited in my selfishness rather than selfless love and service to others. Lord Jesus forgive me! Thank You for the way You teach in objects that have meaning to me.

Brown Sheep Mill

On Monday, June 11, 2007, 31 women boarded a bus for Mitchell, Nebraska where the temperatures were in excess of 95 and the humidity numbers matched. What would cause this group to travel from compartively cool and dry Colorado Springs? Yarn, fleece and a tour of a well-known mill for fiber, Brown Sheep Company, Inc.

Upon arrival at the plant, a preliminary explanation of the process was provided outside under the trees. Afterwards the group was divided into three smaller ones to be guided through the facility and see the machinery in operation - carding, spinning, plying and dyeing equipment. No photographs were allowed inside due to possible espionage and theft of family production secrets. (But no photography didn't stop Samuel Slater from brining the initial plans to the US from England!)

Before boarding the bus, we were given the opportunity to SHOP! Skeins being discontinued, seconds, overstock, etc. were made available for us to pick through. The group complied and relieved the Mill of all of its "overstock" and then some. I purchased some off-white superwash wool to use for Aran sweaters for a couple of the younger nieces. Also found
several skeins of Serendipity Tweed in a blue that I might use for a cardigan for myself.

Cast On: a podcast for knitters

One of my favorite podcasts is Cast On. However, Knit Picks Magazine has recently started a podcast full of information about techniques.
Cast On: a podcast for knitters

Sheep Street

Burford - Needlecraft Store

Back on Blossom Street, Debbie Macomber

Just completed Black on Blossom Street with Lydia and the gang. Two new characters were introduced, Colette Blake (who is currently living above A Good Yarn) and Susannah Nelson (who is the protagonist of Susannah's Garden has opened the shop next door on Blossom Street called by the same name). Lydia has decided to hold a lace shawl class. Alix (a baker in the shop across the street and engaged to Jordan Turner) signs up for the class, along with Colette and Susannah. Colette is hiding a secret, Alix has wedding nerves and Susannah is learning the nuances of having her own business. Margaret(Lydia's sister and assistant at the store) endures an assault on her daughter and deals with her anger toward the perpetrator. The characters are well-developed and describe women you would like to invite to sit down and share a cup of tea with you.

One thing I can count on in Debbie's books is that by the time I reach the final chapter, the problems have been resolved, relationships have developed and deeper connections made through trust, communication and friendship. The author understands the yearnings of a woman's heart to make committed friendships, ones which will endure times of difficulty. Friends who exhort to do what's best in the situation and will spend time listening without passing judgment.

The forward mentions that Leisure Arts will be publishing another project book to coincide with this third installment in the Blossom Street series which will contain the shawl patterns found in the front pages, one of which is the Myrna Stahman pattern. Once I have a chance to glance at the patterns, I will review this item, too. Another announcement within the front piece is the launching of the web site, www.debbiemacomber.com which will make available a new free pattern once a month.

I guess I'm a sappy reader who likes tales with resolution. These books exhibit that plus allow me to explore my emotions, connect through the experiences and growth of others, and glean wisdom in how to deal with some of the harsh aspects of life.

In my "rating system" this merits 4 stars.