Freshisle Fibers

Double Knitting Insanity

In an attempt to drive myself completely crazy I thought I might try double knitting again.  I have an idea for a pattern that I think would be best in double knitting but decided I should just do a small sample of someone else's pattern first.

Such a bad idea.

I tried a bit of double knitting eons ago - pre-blog era.  Now I remember why I hated it so much.  Too much keeping track of every single little stitch, too much back and forth with the yarn.  Awful.

Double knitting lets you knit the front and back of a piece so that they are different or even reversible.  It's like knitting two projects at the same time.

This little snowflake hotpad seemed to be a good project for a trial run.

One side has a white snowflake with blue background, the other side has a blue snowflake with white background.

It's terrible, it's tedious, it's pure drudgery.  All the things that knitting is not supposed to be.  I'm going to finish it even if it kills me and then that's it.  I'm done with double knitting.

The good part of this latest foray into broadening my knitting skills is that I found a lovely site with knitting charts that I hadn't seen before.  However, I won't be using these charts for double knitting.  Stranded knitting maybe.  Definitely beautiful charts for colourwork.

So Much Snow

We had a snow storm yesterday.  The kind of snow storm we haven't had in quite a while.  So much snow that we were without power all day yesterday.  So much snow that we spent the better part of the day blowing snow, shovelling snow, wading through snow to move more snow.  My husband's parents are still without power.  We love our generator!  And 3G on the iPad!

It was a heavy, icy snow.  Pretty to look at but hard on the trees.  We have many broken branches.  Others are bent so much that I'm sure the trees and shrubs will never come back.  They may be lost.  Time will tell.

Yesterday's storm and loss of power also meant some quality knitting time.  The huge grey vest is off the needles and in the finishing stages.  It needs a good blocking and a zipper.

The hexipuff keepsake quilt is growing.  Slowly.

And another pair of socks are on the needles.

Thank you for all the good wishes for my mother.  She's stronger than she was last week so that's a good sign.  She's in good spirits, happy to be home, and taking things easy and slowly!  My father's health is also not great - prostate cancer that is slowly moving into the bones.  They are, however, together, in their own home, and they have lots of help, support, and love from family and friends.

Small Steps

There is progress on the hexipuff quilt. Really there is.

See.  It's getting bigger.  Really.

Now if I just didn't have report cards to do and curling games to play.  The curling I love, the report cards not so much.

Hexipuff Love

I have been assimilated. Resistance is futile.

With over 2500 projects of the Beekeeper's Quilt on Ravelry, is it any wonder that I couldn't resist.

I have loads of little leftover sock yarn balls and thought that making a special keepsake quilt would be a neat way to use them up. The first 10 or so hexipuffs were fun, cute, and quick. Great mindless knitting when I was exhausted from school. Now that I'm a bit more rested, the cute factor is wearing off.

This quilt will be an endless project and will take forever. This I know. I also know I'll have more exhausting times ahead and these will make great knitting for those evenings when I just need a little knitting to stay sane.

I'm also knitting mittens this holiday. Slowly, slowly. I am the slowest knitter. But I have been dyeing - a lot. Our house is full of more watermelon yarn and many new self-striping skeins. Not yet listed in the shop, but coming soon!

Preparations

It's almost time for the one knit-a-long that I do each year.

NaKnitMitMo 2012

An entire month just for knitting mittens.

I might knit more than just mittens, but the goal is to at least finish one pair by the end of January.

My yarn is ready (our own softspun), my pattern is ready, my chart is ready (another of my own).

Let the knitting begin.

10

Most people are counting the days until Christmas Day.  I'm counting the school days left until Christmas holidays.  10 school days.  10 very full, very busy days.  10 days trapped in a building with about 200 children who become more hyper with each passing day.  And, now we have snow.  That will ramp up the excitement level considerably.

I actually love this time of year with the students.  Although they are excited beyond words, it is mostly a fun and happy time at school.  It's a time to enjoy their enthusiasm for Christmas and remember how special this season really is. 

My Christmas knitting could use a dash of the kids' energy.  There are socks still on the needles.  These will be finished in time.  I'm finished the foot and the heel and just have the leg to complete.  No problem.

But, the huge grey blob that is a vest for my father is another matter. 

This knitting in super large sizes takes forever.  Other people's blogs and project pages on Ravelry are full of finished sweaters and vests in sizes small and medium, not XXL !  I've finished the main body and have started the separating of the vest for the fronts and back.  Maybe there's hope it will be finished for Christmas.  Or at least sometime during the Christmas holidays. 

Startitis

I'm suffering from a very short attention span.  One new project after another.

A vest for Dad. 

Socks for a friend for Christmas.

Another pair of socks for ???

And, that's not all.  There are a pair of mittens and a hat started that I haven't taken pictures of yet.

Serious startitis.

Happy Thanksgiving

It's been a very happy Thanksgiving.  So many things to be thankful for.  The weather is glorious and warm and perfect.

Dear brother is home for the long weekend and we've been having a good visit with lots of walks and plays with the Dusty puppy.  They both love the water.  Hard to believe the water is warm enough for a swim!

 

Progress reports are done and I have some time to knit again.  The never-ending February Lady Sweater has seen the light of day and has one more sleeve to go.  Maybe I'll finish it for this fall!

 

Today is for dyeing - and a little school homework (very little!).

Slooooow Dooooown

I'm trying to make the days slow down.  There are just too few holiday days left.

We had a short trip to southwestern Ontario last week and this week my brother and his partner are here for their holiday.  The days are just speeding by!  Maybe it's also because this is my last week of being 49.  That really big birthday is just around the corner.  Scary.

I'm cramming as much fibery goodness as I can into my last few days.

 

I had a teeny, tiny bit of Wollmeise left and wanted to put it to good use.  These are a combination of Hot Rod Socks and Flame Thrower Socks knit with my leftover Wollmeise in Campari Orange and Patons Kroy for the black.  Wendy's Gusset Heel pattern from Socks from the Toe Up, 3 mm needles, 64 stitches.

The dyeing continues - cochineal skeins drying and soon to be listed in the shop. 

 

I'm hoping to harvest some St. John's Wort for dyeing today - if the rain stops!  And, I'm working on another new mittens design with plans to have it done and ready for next week.  If the days would just slow down I might get it all done!

Happy Canada Day!

Welcome summer holidays!  I am so done with school and so ready for a holiday.  The Canada Day long weekend is a great way to start.

The plans for my first weekend of holidays include lots of yard sales, spending time with friends, and loads and loads of sleep.  And maybe some knitting.

 

I started another pair of socks last week - plain, plain socks - with Louet Merlin.

My father got another good report at the doctor yesterday.  He has another appointment with the oncologist in a couple of weeks but we're hoping all is well.  He's feeling great and ready to enjoy his summer, too.  My father-in-law also had a good report at his doctor's visit last week so hopefully they are both going to have a good summer.

As usual, I know my summer plans will include lots of dyeing and knitting but the first priority is rest.