Freshisle Fibers

Re-Knits

I'm living in the land of re-knits.

Since going to the markets, I've realized that many of my samples knit for my patterns have been gifted away.  This is fine for online sales because the patterns and pictures are still there, but not ideal for face-to-face sales.  People want to touch and see the real thing.

So, I'm re-knitting and re-doing.  It's actually not a terrible thing because it's also giving me a chance to review the patterns and edit them a bit, add more detailed photos, and just generally make them look better.

A new and improved Manitoulin Island hat.

This is probably even more popular than the watermelon yarn at the local markets!  I'm not sure how many we could sell of the finished hat because we repeat ourselves over and over again that we sell the yarn and the pattern, not the finished hat.  When they see the hat, they don't read the signs that say that, they just want the hat!

New and improved wristwarmers and hunters' socks.

We are asked many times how much will a skein knit, so these serve that purpose as well.  This is about how far a skein will go.  Both were knit with from the one skein.

The markets are mostly fun.  Because it is outside, the weather is always a concern.  Too windy, too rainy, too sunny, but last week was perfect and I'm hoping we have more of those ahead this summer.  The people are interesting and the response has been very positive.  I love retail sales and being at the market reminds me of how much I enjoy that.  Even the not so positive experiences have a funny side.  I could write a book!  I think, especially now that I'm retired, I enjoy the social part of the market with lots of people to see and visit with.  I'm very much looking forward to the next month when the tourist visitors really arrive on the island and to see how I manage with those shoppers.  Lots of fun and new experiences!

Keeping Warm

Playing and learning on my new Brother 970 knitting machine means that we have many, many new items to keep us warm this winter.

I've been learning how to use the ribber and have made enough hats, headbands, and scarves for a small army.  4 hats, 3 headbands, 2 scarves, 5 soap cozy scrubbies.  Crazy.  Fun, but crazy.

Next up, learning how to actually use the electronic part of the machine and colour work.  Another steep learning curve, I'm sure.

Quick Knits

I'm finally getting my feet under me again after all the holiday festivities.  There were many quick, small knits finished for gifts before Christmas and during the holiday season.  Time to share.

Cowls.  Easy and quick.  Round and round and round.  The pink is Bernat Ruffelina, the red and white is an old stash yarn - no label but some sort of chenille, and the brown is Paula Lishman's beaver yarn.

The beaver cowl is special.  Very special yarn.  It was originally knit into a hat for my father, but I frogged it - sadly and with tears, but it was time.  It's now a very special cowl for me.  So soft and so warm.

I am a fan of the Outlander books and television series and there has been much discussion online among knitters about the costumes.  Claire's fur cowl was my inspiration and impetus for finally changing the hat into a cowl.

Wine glass cozies.  Many, many wine glass cozies.

A quick and fun knit and a great conversation piece.  The surprise is that they are actually very practical and usable.  We had lots of practice using them over the holidays!!  They are knit with Rowan Pure Wool DK and finished with a variety of vintage buttons from my enormous button collection.

 Cheers!

Real

Retirement is becoming very real this week.  I had a wonderful luncheon and visit with some other teacher retirees on Tuesday when it was a Professional Development day.  We knew exactly what meetings others were suffering through!  Yesterday when the kids went back to school was even better.  The bus went by, the neighbourhood cleared out, and I sat in my pj's with coffee in hand and enjoyed every second.  Dusty puppy was a little confused.  He's learned that the bus means I leave and he automatically heads for his crate.  But, this time I stayed!  Joy and more joy!  And, today I went shopping in the middle of the afternoon.  Fewer people around.  I loved it!

I've been dyeing up a storm with so many natural dye plants ready for harvesting at this time of year.  And, I've been finishing projects.

The precious Socks That Rock yarn from last Christmas have been knit into a Christmas present for this year.

Knit with 3 mm needles, the yarn is Socks That Rock Silkie, 81% Superwash Merino, 19% Silk, colorway Black Magic.  The pattern is the free Socks on a Plane.  It's a basic toe-up pattern with simple cables on the sides.

My Corinne sweater is also finished and ready for fall.

I knit the medium size and probably should have knit the small.  It's a little too full, but wearable.  The yarn is also a little wild!  Very colourful!  It's knit with Bernat Mosaic and even though it's an acrylic yarn (gasp, gasp), I love the yarn.

I'm hoping the rain holds off and I can finish up some of my dyeing tomorrow.  More coreopsis is in one pot soaking while another holds acorns.  So much fun! 

Sockapalooza

Just when we think spring has finally arrived, it snows!  There was snow on the ground this morning!  Thankfully it's melting away now.

Easter weekend was busy with my brother's visit and school is racing along.  44 working days left.  Hard to imagine.  There's a mountain of paperwork involved with retiring.  Not the fun part!

I've been knitting steadily.  Very simple, very straightforward knits.  And lots of socks,

Here's how to have socks fly off the needles.

First - a ladies' pair of socks and ankle length.  Very fast.  Knit with Bernat Sox for my mother-in-law.

Next, a pair of men's socks in aran/worsted weight.  Thick, men's work socks that knit up fairly quickly.  And a headband to match!

 

These are with Diamond Luxury Collection - Fine Merino Superwash Aran.  I love this yarn and I'm now carrying it in the shop - if I can find the time to get it listed!

Now that the snow is melting away we can see the disaster on our yard.  The road in front of our house was re-tarred last fall and all the gravel that was loose has ended up on our lawn - thanks to the snow plows.  Lots of raking ahead today!

Still Winter

Winter is still here.  Still.  Everyone has had enough.  Enough snow and especially enough cold.  Minus 26 with the windchill this morning and into the minus 30's again tonight.  Too cold.  But, as much as we are complaining, it seems there is still more on the way.  No signs of winter ending soon and the weather is calling for more snow this week.

The good news is that March break is only a week away.

The past month has included a lot of curling and some illness.  A cold, followed by a chest infection made the short month of February feel very long for me.  Hopefully I'm on the mend and will stay healthy so I can enjoy my break.

Another easy knit is off the needles.  Two skeins of our Softspun yarn became this long, soft, and squishy cowl.  No real pattern, just a few stitches, knit a few rows, yarnover dropped stitches here and there, and then joined as a mobius when I was out of yarn.  It will wrap twice around my neck and is the warmest thing ever!  Necessary given our cold weather!

I also knit a pair of socks for myself.  Something I rarely do.

These are knit with Katia Darling and my standard sock pattern (Single Ply Socks).  I love the colours and they are perfect for curling.  I've already worn them a few times and they keep my toes nice and toasty warm in my curling shoes.

More socks are on the needles and another pair of the Curling Rocks Mittens for a friend are nearing completion.  This week is the Tim Horton's Brier so it's fitting to be knitting a curling project and watching curling, too.  Stay warm!

Winter Knits

It's that time of the winter when I start to get tired of winter.  Tired of cold, tired of snow, tired of dark days.  The first part of February is always the worst part of winter for me.  However, we've noticed that it is actually daylight for a bit longer each night and that's a good sign.

This winter has been full of curling (two bonspiels so far), school (report cards are done), and loads of knitting.

The slightly singed, black walnut dyed skein from last fall's dyeing has been knit into some socks.

There are more of these skeins available in the shop - the skeins that didn't come to close to the fire!  The pattern is my standard Single Ply Socks pattern, but with 3 mm needles.

Next, is a super soft scarf knit with Cascade Eco Cloud.  It's a blend of merino and alpaca.  Simply wonderful to knit and a delight to wear.

This is my no notes, no thinking, carry along project.  Cast on enough stitches to make it scarf width, use whatever needles are handy, knit a few rows, yarnover between every stitch on a row, drop those yarnovers the next row, knit a few rows, and repeat.  The yarnover rows break up the monotony of straight garter stitch and give the scarf some texture.

But, I think that for next to the face wear, nothing beats Malabrigo Rios.  This is the Burberry Inspired Cowl knit with one skein of the rose colourway.  So easy, so soft, so warm.

I have the weekend ahead free of curling and free of school work.  Best of all, the sun in shining.  Time for a winter walk with my Dusty puppy and maybe even some dyeing.  I'll try to enjoy our cold and snowy winter!

More Christmas Knits

Two more Christmas gift knits are off the needles.  I never should have said I was done with knitting Christmas presents because I keep thinking of more projects I should do and have ready for Christmas gift giving.

The first is another pair of socks with some very old Fortissima stash yarn.  These are for a lady.  Since I primarly knit socks for men, I am always amazed at how quickly a pair for a woman are to knit.

The second is another of my least favourite knits, a frilly scarf.  This one was a bit different, knit with Estelle Covent Garden, Frill Seeker Fabric Fantasy.  It is exactly like knitting with a piece of fabric that has small holes on one side.  Very easy, but the result is very dramatic.

We have loads of snow and it's super cold.  Very Christmasy feeling!

We're ready to host Christmas for our families again this year.  Our second Christmas without Dad.  It's hard, very hard.  But, dad loved Christmas and we'll remember that and those memories will help get me through.

Sunshine

We've had so much rain, but today is a bright and sunny day.  Everything feels better with sunshine!

I can't believe it's November already.  Thanksgiving, moose hunt, Hallowe'en, and the first round of reports are done.  Deer season and Christmas shopping are on the horizon.

I've been ahead of schedule with Christmas knitting this year.  Which may not be a good thing!  I keep thinking of other things that I could knit to add to the presents.

Another pair of socks are off the needles.  These are toe up, and using up leftovers of Patons Classic.  Hopefully they are are not too wild for the recipient.

The masterpiece shawl is blocking.  I am so happy with the results and can hardly wait to wear it.

 The pattern is called Rustic Beauty and was in the Love of Knitting magazine, Fall 2013.  I used 6 mm needles and Artyarns Beaded Silk Sequins and Artyarns Ensemble Glitter yarns.  I love the tiny, glittering sequins and beads in this yarn and it is so soft.

But, today was not for knitting.  It was just too nice outside and those deer stands need to be checked before deer season.  We had lots of help!

My Last First Day of School

Today was my last first day of school with children.  I think there will many of these "last" moments this year.  It's a different feeling.  The same nerves, the same jitters, the same excitement of that first day of school, but with an edge of anticipation of what will I be doing at this time next year.  It's a good feeling.

My timetable this year is still a bit of a jumble, but I think more manageable than last year.  I am teaching all of the Core French - Grades 4 to 8, all of the primary music - JK to Grade 4, computer skills for JK to Grade 4, and a bit of literacy activities for JK/SK.  Still a mix, still a very busy day!

I finished another pair of socks for Christmas gift giving while we were away this summer.  Some very old Regia jacquard yarn that makes for some very brightly coloured socks!

I've also received a new order of frill and ruffle scarf yarns for the shop.  I haven't managed to get them all listed yet - maybe this weekend.  I've been knitting up a couple for samples and eventually for gifts.

They are quick knits, and although they are not my favourite thing to knit, the gift recipients love them!

And now I'm off to crash on the couch.  No knitting tonight.  I forget how tired I get this first week of school.  Exhausted!