moonfrog

Well, there aren’t any alligators here, just lots of fibery goodness. Where did all this come from? And why won’t it fit into the closet anymore?! We’re in the middle of switching rooms around and I am having serious trouble stuffing my fleece and yarn into the available closet space. I’ve been giving myself quite a scolding about it, but I’m not really sure that I’m listening.

Ah well, it will be settled soon and then we are off for a few days to Earth Dance, a music and peace festival that we work at most years. It will be a welcome break from the chaos here at home. My plan is to walk and read and take pictures whenever I’m not working. Relaxing . . . .

In the meantime, I’ve been knitting little things.  There’s a vest I want to start, but I think life is too cluttered right now, so it is waiting in the wings.  I managed to finish a cat-ear hat for a woman starting chemo this week. And I’ve been working on leaves. The owner of our LYS is doing an art project for the window and has asked everyone to make leaves. I’ve done a few and that might be all I manage. Maybe I’ll remember to take a picture of the finished display?

Oh, and Hey, Teach! is an official part of my wardrobe now.  I’ve been wearing it out quite a bit and enjoying it. It fits great and is a very satisfying finished project.  I added a bit to the length , otherwise it is knit to pattern as best as I could manage.  I love it!

The details:

• Pattern:  Hey! Teach by Helene Rush for Knitty.com
• Yarn:  Queensland Kathmandu Aran in Beige, about 9 skeins
• Needles:  Size 8

And before I leave town > > >  it’s time to announce the winners of the my blog anniversary contest.

I’ve been checking out some new blogs this week and noticed many that have been neglected for months. It got me thinking  about whether to keep this blog going, just a routine checking in with where it fits in with my life. I decided that this blog still serves a definite purpose for me.  Besides the great people I have met through it, I have a reminder of where I’ve been. Sometimes it’s rather sporadic, but at least there’s a bit of a trail to look back at as I wander. It seems like something I need, so it will continue for now.

Oh, what’s that?  The contest winners?  Yes, of course!  As usual, the random number generator pulled out the winning numbers.  Congratulations to the winners:    Sarah,   Karen,    Carrie K,    and   Knitnana.

There’s more work for the winners, though.  Each of you will need to pick your prize and email me with your choice. First claim gets it.  The choices are:  Two skeins of Peace Fleece in lavender and coral, a skein of STR club yarn in Dragon Dance, a skein of STR club yarn in Goody Goody, a skein of Dream in Color Smooshy in Nightwatch,  or two Ravelry mugs that change from  “disagree” to “agree” when filled with your favorite hot drink.

Follow the links to see Rav pics, so you can actually see what these look like.  If there’s nothing here to your liking, just say “surprise me” and I’ll do just that.   I will be leaving town Thursday afternoon, so don’t worry if you don’t hear from me right away.

Thanks to all of you for reading my sporadic blog. Until next time . . . .

In a couple weeks it will be this blog’s four year anniversary, so I figured it would be good to say a few words, especially since it has been a month since my last post. Sheesh!  I really would like to post more, so I’ll try to do just that.  In the meantime . . . .

Let’s have an anniversary give-away.  All you have to do is leave a comment. You can answer the question at the end of this post or any other comment.  It’s that easy. In a couple weeks I’ll award four prizes — for my four years of blogging.

Now I’ll show you what I’ve been up to lately. Actually, this has been going on for quite some time. I took another weaving class in the spring and didn’t get very far with my project, so I am back at it. I’m using a countermarche loom so I can learn the tie-ups that are like my own loom, which sits waiting. Threading the warp took a long time on this big loom since I had to sit inside the loom to do it. It was crowded in there! The project is a blanket in shadow weave, which is quite complex, and I’m using all eight shafts. I never knew it would be such a long proces just to get the loom ready to weave. The picture is my view for the last two sessions, while I laid on the floor beneath the loom threading and attaching these chains.

Okay, enough whining, because here’s the loom now. The weaving has begun.  I’ve gone a bit further than  in the photo, doing the practice weaving. It looks like I threaded it correctly and the design is coming out lovely. The shed (the space to put the shuttle through) is not very big, which is a mystery since this type of loom is supposed to have a great shed, but this will do if I work slowly and carefully.  Heh.  Slowly is my best-est way.

My weaving instructor, Linda Hartshorn, has been very patient with me and helped me at each stage, even though the class has been over for a long time. I’m really excited to be actually making the blanket now.

There’s something else that has me nearly dancing in circles. I finished Hey, Teach!  I just hunkered down, hardly going out over the Labor Day Weekend, and knit, knit, knit.  The motivation?  I want to cast on a vest, but wouldn’t let myself do it until this was done. Ha.

This is my first cardigan. Never have done a button band before. This one wasn’t hard. Whew!

This is blocking and waiting for its buttons.  And that’s where you can help me. I found these wooden buttons in my button bag that will work. The husband says they are great — but he always says that. (Secretly, I think he was raised by Tony the Tiger of Frosted Flakes cereal fame  — Grrrreat!  I wish I was that optimistic.)

Anyway, should I go button shopping or use the stash buttons?  What say you?  The yarn is soft, but tweedy and nubby and  I’d like it to have just-right buttons.  I’ll write up the official finishing post after I sew on the buttons and try to get a decent modeled shot. It fit very nicely before washing and blocking, so I hope it’s the same after.

Make sure you leave a comment for the contest.  I’m looking forward to a better-blogging year ahead.