Long, cold Saturday

Yesterday, Mr. Daisy and Youngest Child went to Polar Camp with their Cub Scout pack. They left at 7 a.m. and came back about 5 p.m. Since I got up to usher them out into their long, cold Saturday - I had plenty of time to get all the cleaning done by noon, drive two daughters about the Twin Cities, hit up a yarn store and pick up a knitting book over at the Textile Center.

Come 5 p.m., however, we mostly just wanted to settle down in a warm clump on the couch and watch reruns of "Dirty Jobs." Hence the Sunday Seven.

 

But, first, I'd like to show you the two lovely yarns I picked up for my next weaving project. I'm making (another) variegated yarn scarf and this time I'm  using Ella Rae Classic Superwash and Louisa Harding Liberty Boucle. Both lovely soft blue colors - very soothing.

Knitwise, I'm still alternating between the endless brown scarf and my Ruth Shawl. I can tell you definitely that I don't like working "big to little." I don't feel like I'm moving along at all! I also pick up the Classic Socks every so often but I haven't worked on them so long that they are going to make my Ravelry Olympics list!

For those of you not in the know, Ravelry is the social networking site for knitters/crochet lovers. We list all our projects there and every four things, during the Olympics, have our own version called the Ravelry Olympics. Things like WIP wrangling (finishing up works-in-progress) or Sockput (making a pair of socks.) Silly, silly, silly - but very challenging. I'm on Team Minnesota and on Team Tardis. I guess it's like having dual citizenship . . .

Yesterday's Saturday Seven? 

Four pairs of boy pants, two shirts and an apple slicer. The world's worst apple slicer. Since GFMelissa gave me a new one a few years ago, this one has languished in the utensil drawer. Off to St. John the Evangelist's big sale where it will find a home with a less discriminating apple eater.

Nothing to wear here - only to eat*

Today isn't about knitting at all - just good things to eat.

That's my mother and grandmother up there. Most people don't know I am of Italian heritage. My last name is German and my maiden name was English.  I don't look very Italian (blonde/brunette, blue eyes) and my children don't either (except for Youngest Daughter - but even she has blue eyes) so there aren't any visual clues to go by.  Influenced by GFMelissa, we even like to play at being Swedish when we pull out the Santa Lucia day costumes.

Despite that, I have the proof. Tasty proof. Pizelles. My Nana used to make these crispy anise-flavored wafer cookies and send them back with us when we visited. She didn't make very much Italian food - she wanted to be an American! - but she did make these for holidays.

Youngest Child had "Family Tradition Day" at school so we pulled out the family pizzelle iron and went to work. I think my mother has an electric pizzelle iron now and I know why. Lots of standing up at the stove top! YC did help me mix them, though.

But I had to do the actual hot iron cooking.

Youngest Daughter helped me peel the cookies out the iron - let's just say the first few were "testers."

We didn't really get going until Irish/German Mr. Daisy stepped in and started cranking  them out. He was the BMW of pizzelle production.

Since we were sending them to school, we only got to taste the broken ones. And they were yummy!

Today I'm making the less traditional Chocolate Pizzelles. Maybe I'll get a few as a reward?

*This refers to my Oldest Sister (so very, very old!) who asked what I did with all the knitted stuff I make. She thought we all went around bundled up in scarves, hats, mittens and sweaters. I give it away, of course! Except for my small problem with shawls. Those I keep!

Not making years like they used to

Or making weeks! Things have been flying by here at Chez Daisy - knitting, weaving, school projects, birthdays . . .  on and on.

My title came from a quote by Elizabeth Zimmerman. It was used in a newsletter from Schoolhouse Press - according to her daughter Meg Swanson. According to her, EZ used to say "They aren't making years the way they used to." And I think it may be true.

One thing that did brighten up 2009 and, now, 2010 is my new Beka Rigid Heddle Loom. And my mystery project was . . .

This!

I made the Variegated Yarn Scarf from "Weaving made Easy" by Liz Gipson as a holiday gift from GFMelissa. Lucky I was so far behind on the gifting that I was able to utilize my Christmas loom.

Today's Saturday Seven is a simple set of books - I finally cleaned out the car diaper bag. Yeah, Youngest Child is six so I'm pretty sure I don't need one of those again.

I'm going to donate them to my church's youth activity bags.

Back to planning the New Year! I did the math today and I finished 18 projects this past year. I still have four outstanding projects (Mr. Daisy's Classic Sock,  the Encore Worsted 1662 Ladies Shrug, the River Grass Gansey and the Road Not Taken scarf) to finish up and three leftover projects (Saartje's Bootees, the Back to School Vest and the Interlocking Balloons scarf) which I have to decide whether to "fish or  cut bait" on. And, of course, the blue sweater remake. My sister emailed me to ask when it was going to arrive!

Time flies when you are incredibly busy

Yes, this is the never ending brown scarf. The Road Not Taken Scarf from A Fine Fleece. I've taking it along with me as my "on the road" knitting but as you can see from the photo, this is the Magic Ball of Yarn that never gets any smaller.  It still looks lovely but I am seriously thinking of finishing up. The only problem is that I still don't really want or need a brown scarf or the remaining ball of brown yarn. Hmm. I may just keep knitting to spite the Endless Ball of Yarn.

Youngest Child was home sick (ha! the faker!) one day this week and since that limits where I can go, I turned that energy into cooking.

 Pepperoni Rolls and homemade spaghetti sauce from frozen summer tomatoes.

Mmm.

I also had time to artfully arrange the Ruth's Shawl I'm making. Can you tell it will be a shawl? I'm thinking Victorian hair jewelry . . .

I also finished this! What is it? You'll have to find  out tomorrow after I give it to my friend. Let's just say I wished I had a television in my bedroom last night when I was watching Conan O'Brien and finishing the edging . . .

A Friday Film after all this time? How about this glimpse into Rigid Heddle Weaving.

Enjoy!

So you thought I forgot, eh?

Saturday came and went but the photo remains forever. This week's Saturday Seven was all mine: a pair of khakis, a cardigan, three bags, a skirt and a vest.

I really put off this posting because I was hoping to get a picture of the Ruth's Shawl pattern that I'm knitting. Alas, since you start with the full number of stitches, all I have is a few squiggles of lace to show. Lovely and soft but tiny compared to the whole project. I'm thinking it's not the most exciting photo.

Theoretically, January is being labeled "Selfish Knitting Month" but I'm not all that excited about the shawl. I'm thinking of moving back to the The Classic Socks. When even that slow moving project seems interesting, I know I'm in a project slump!

Knitter's Delight

(With appreciation and credit to http://www.wordle.net/.)

I've been having more fund than I should on the Internet this morning. Now, it's time to get over to the gym for swimming. If Ladybug can do it, so can I!

Finding the sweet spot

Well, I never did tell you when I would be back in 2010, did I?

Since we last met, I've been knitting up a Wee Balaclava for Youngest Child. I used some handspun which I dyed way back in May 2006 when I was making a scarf of many colors for Shepherd's Harvest.

I used the green Border Leicester that was left over from this:

Luckily, Mr. Youngest Child asked for a roomy one!

"Just like a ninja!" he said.

I also threw myself fully into the weaving world using my Christmas Rigid Heddle Loom and instructional books. Looks like some people want woven birthday presents!

GF Melissa helped me warp the loom and since I didn't want to run out - we just warped and warped our way through 2 skeins of green Cascade 220. The weft (the red) was a skein of Blackberry Ridge fuzzy mohair. As Mr. Daisy is 6'4", this is my new holiday table runner. I'm setting up today for another scarf - I really want to figure out the plaid format!

Part of the weaving fun is choosing the yarn - I opened up all my yarn stash boxes (okay - four boxes is not that bad!) and sorted the stash. And sorted. I don't really have a lot but I really have a lot of "project" stash. You know - that's for the blue sweater or the bohus cap or Kate's vest. I've got to start working through some of these projects!

In honor of the new year and a new determination to use up my stash, I cast on with this Blackberry Hills Farm Blend. Alpaca, silk and wool and I'm using it on Ruth's Shawl (a Ravelry link) from Blue Lace Designs.

My only regret is that this is a pattern where you cast on all the stitches first and work your way back to zero. Not so fun.

I must admit that I've been going through a lethargic fall-into-winter. Between the cold weather and my several colds, I been thinking about a nap since September.

In this New Year, my aim is to get back into the sweet spot of exercising, knitting and blogging. That may mean new knitting projects (not just finishing up the hibernating ones!) and some new exercise options. Bike riding, anyone?

As for the blogging, I think I enjoy writing for myself better than trying to attract new readers. Most of the things I really enjoy - reading, knitting, swimming, etc. are truly solitary pursuits so when I spent a little time working on readership and it didn't work - it just made me even more tired.

In light of this, I may try that failed blog contest from the fall again in the spring - probably trying it into the Minnesota Knitters' Guild's Yarn Over in April or Shepherd's Harvest in May. Those are occasions when knitters and spinners get together so it might be easier to get readers' attentions at that time.

So, for January 2010- I recommend reviewing your stash (it may be bigger than you expected), your knitting skills (step up the projects!), your exercise program (let's get ready for bike riding season!) and your blogging habits (write when you are interested but don't worry if anyone responds.)

As Elizabeth Zimmermann said, "Knit on with confidence and hope, through all crises."

Nothing happening here - move along.

Except for a cup of tea  - or six. I have a cold with a bad cough; it is very cold here and I got a rigid heddle loom for Christmas. That should be enough said, right?

See you in the New Year!

Let the wild snow rumpus begin!

But before the big snowfall (okay, guys, this is Minnesota, right?), I thought you might like to check out this:


Mombot has the perfect fashion accessory for a thrifty soul.


Now, back to your regularly scheduled snowstorm. Just in case I don't fight my way out of the snowdrifts in time, 


Merry Christmas!

One down, two to go . . .

Okay, I'd pretend it was Saturday and time for the Seven but that would be too easy.

Holiday preparations are starting to cut into my free time - but with yesterday's Monday Book Club meeting, I have one holiday starting point out of the way. We had a great time - we read short plays at our holiday meeting - and now I've got Christmas cookies to bake . . . a college student to get home and another to visit the doctor.  I am so glad the snowing won't start until Christmas Eve!

I finished one of the Bella Marie Mittens and am working on the second. I think I'll try the "Two at a Time" technique the next time I make these mittens.

I also spent a little time spinning up the remaining green wool from this summer. Maybe a hat? Mittens? Hmm. Next up on the spinning wheel, the Anonymous Fleece from GFMelissa!

Saturday's Seven were a sweater, two tee shirts, a turtleneck, two pairs of shoes and a mattress pad. I don't know why I hung onto the shoes for so long - they just never fit - and the mattress pad fits a youth bed. Was I going to wait until we had grandchildren to use that one again? Off they go to the St. John the Evangelist Big Sale!

Time to finish up the Christmas cards and put the cookie dough in the fridge to chill. Then, a little recuperative knitting!

Your heart is full of unwashed socks.

"Oh, really?" you say. That is just another, more eloquent way of saying - you're a crab cake.

Just in case your puzzler is tired - Enjoy this clip from "How the Grinch stole Christmas." I can't rouse myself to give you anything more . . .

Stop and say a prayer

I think I've mentioned my friend Mary who taught me to knit. Her daughter - the same age as one of mine - has Ewing's sarcoma.

She is going into yet another lung surgery today for tumor removal before she can undergo more treatment.


I thought I would let you read what her mother wrote on her Caring Bridge site today:

Hi. We left for the hospital just after 5 am. J. was in good spirits. She is not in surgery yet, but now that she is 18, the parents aren't invited to be with her as much. They will call us back before she goes in. We already know that this is going to be more involved than we first thought. We got 2nd and 3rd opinions from friends of ours who also happen to be in radiology. Looks like the operation today will involve Both lungs now. The left will require the big incision, but they might be able to do the right with a scope. If not, she will have the 6-7" incisions on both sides of her back. It makes for 2 chest tubes and a longer recovery,, in any case, but we want to make sure that all measureable cancer is removed before she goes to the stem cell transplant in late Jan. Sooo, please pray that the surgery goes well and gets all the cancer. Pray for the surgical team and for a recovery without complications. Thanks everybody! She will be in for many hours, so don't freak if you don't hear back before 3 or so. Thanks! Mary 

J. is such a nice girl who has undergone quite a lot of treatment over the last two years but kept very positive. Just keep her and her family in your mind today during all the holiday whirl. She could be any of our children . . .

The holidays struck early!

Good Friend Melissa stopped by early on Sunday morning for a little Saint Lucia Day festivities. She brought everything but the coffee cups and the wreath! Yum! I didn't make any saffron buns this year - just too busy with the weaving on Saturday - but I enjoyed all her hard work.

GFMelissa and Mr. Daisy enjoying a cup of Swedish coffee!

And if this didn't get you into the holiday mood, stop by

The Minnesota Knitters' Guild annual Holiday Party & Silent Auction

Tuesday, December 15, 2009

Our annual holiday party caps off another fabulous year of knitting. Bring a treat to share with the group and high-quality yarn and knitting notions to donate to the auction. The proceeds from the silent auction are used to fund the Service Committee budget.

Location: 3000 University Ave SE Minneapolis, MN
Contact: (612) 436-0464, ext. 115
Time: 7:00 PM - 9:00 PM

See You There!

A one day project!

I loved my weaving class at the Yarnery today! It was challenging to think about using yarn in a different way but I really loved getting a project done in a day. We started at 10 a.m. and went to 4 p.m. with a break for lunch. It ended up being about 64 inches long and 9 1/2 inches wide with fringe on either end.

This photo is before it was washed and hung to dry. It's upstairs right now - I can't wait to wear it!

It's a beautiful mix of burgandy, gold and green - very pretty!

In other fiber news, I've started another pair of Bella Mittens for Youngest Daughter. The same yarn (Karabella Soft Tweed) but in gray but and one size larger needles (8).

Teeny-tiny was the theme of this week's Saturday Seven.  A pair of Youngest Child's twill pants, a sweatshirt, two polo shirts, a tee shirt, a pair of shorts and a pair of mittens. Man, that kid is just grow, grow, growing! He didn't even get to wear the mittens (I bought them at the end of the season last year) so they are going to the mitten tree at my church.

Just in case you have a spare pair of mittens or gloves laying around (knitted or otherwise), my church is sponsoring its yearly "Mitten Tree."

Randolph Heights Presbyterian Church in Saint Paul collects new hats, mittens and scarves for distribution at the Naomi Family Residence, the women and children's residence program of the Union Gospel Mission of the Twin Cities.  The RHPC Mitten Tree is collecting until December 20, 2009.

If you are interested in contributing a pair or two, please send them to:

Randolph Heights Presbyterian Church

Attn.: Mitten Tree program

435 Hamline Avenue South

Saint Paul, Minnesota 55105

Have a lovely weekend!

On the way out the door -

Hey! I've got a dinner and a movie date ASAP so this is one quick link. And if any of you are in Saint Paul tomorrow - I'll be enjoying the all day weaving class over at the Yarnery! Yea for yet another hobby that will make me a good person to know come the revolution (or the economic collapse - your pick!)

 Enjoy!

Snow day means (wool) wash day

This morning, I decided to use my snow day (at 15 degrees F. and blowing snow - no way was I going outside!) to check out the RDF (Really Dirty Fleece!) that I've been cleaning bit by bit.

I have six bags of cleaned and carded fleece. Each section is a different color.

Mostly gray - black, dark black/brown, dark gray, medium gray and light gray!

The last section of cleaned and carded wool is a nice colored gray but I don't think I'm going to be able to use it with the other colors. It is just the dirtiest section . . .

that what looks like heathered gray is really - VM. Vegetable matter. 

It got to the point today when I looked over what I was cleaning and I just bundled up that section and tossed it. The remaining sections -  dark brown, black and dark gray - were relatively clean so I washed them up and I'll get a final carding session in later this week. I don't really know what I'm going to get yarn-wise but I'm hoping to get something good enough for hats and mittens. 

One of my favorite links that I've gone to over and over this week is Spinning Forth. Ruth MacGregor's great links, videos and articles make me think this nasty old fleece might actually make some fun yarn!

Saturday, Saturday

Today was the day we planned on having the Christmas tree put up. It didn't quite work out as planned - we do have a nice clean spot for it in the living room, though!

I feel the same thing about my knitting! I have a have a plan for knitting but not actually much going on. Mostly, I've been checking out the other patterns in my "Two at a time" sock book. Is it wrong to want another pair when I've only worked about five inches so far? I'm stalking the Twilight sock pattern and it is calling, calling to me. Maybe I'll use this yarn?

Or the remains of this:

I have been working here and there on my Road Less Travelled scarf as well.

This must be the world's largest ball of yarn - I'm not expecting to finish up until sometime in the New Year!

Since Saturday is once again here - here's the Saturday Seven! I cleaned out the toy box and pulled out five stuffed animals and an Iron Man costume. The chair was the last folding chair of a table and chair set I got from my parents after graduation. They were used when my parents bought them so they had a long and full life - fly, little folding chair, fly! Actually, the whole load is going off to the St. John the Evangelist Sale.

I did have a photo of last week's Saturday Seven - but it was bad. Very Poor. Sucky. Icky. And it's all gone anyway. I dropped it off on Monday morning as part of the "Let's clean up after Thanksgiving" game plan.

Friday - yes, Friday.

I keep thinking this should be Sunday. Holidays do that to you!

Not much going on here - just saw this and wanted to share. I was really glad my daughters never played against her - they both had long ponytails!

I think this girl needs a knitting . . .




Here is a link to the real story behind all that crabbiness.

Back to the knitting - I'm stalking a Hurry Up Last Minute Sweater pattern on Ravelry.

Happy Thanksgiving means . . .

A Happy Blogaversary!


Actually, I started my blog slightly more than four years ago (on November 14, 2005) but I always associate it with Thanksgiving so I make that the celebratory date. 


I recently went back and checked out my long-ago blogging goals.


"To start writing what I've thinking about. And that's knitting. What's on the needles, what I wish I was working on and what I've learned in the process. Probably that there aren't enough hours in the day to accomplish all that I want - and still get a nap."


If it's humanly possible, I'm thinking even more about knitting. I've been trying to finish up some longstanding projects - think brown sweater! - as well as some trying out some new ones -  I highly recommend the Bella Mittens! 

Foolish Middle Daughter - she's modeling the mittens but she's wearing shorts!


I also think my foray into two-at-a-time socks has been going well as well. 


"It's the other things that keep my projects creeping along. Husband and family, an active church life, as well as a growing exercise regimen (mostly swimming but also running and cross country skiing) plus reading and spinning are too distracting. Must Say "Time to sit down!" more often."


Well, with this cold for the past few weeks, I've had plenty of time to sit down. And lay down. My exercise regimen has completely fallen by the wayside. But things are looking up and since it hasn't really snowed yet (or snowed enough for cross country skiing with GFMelissa!), I don't feel too bad about it.  Who knows, I may become one of those odd people who go more often to the gym between Thanksgiving and Christmas than the rest of the year?! Husband, family and church life - they are definitely the same but since no one is being confirmed, graduating or breaking a leg this year - it's all good.


 "I am not a slow knitter, just an overscheduled one. I keep finding the next project - and starting it. Interfering with completionn of Baby Sweater #1 were one shawl, a pair of beaded mittens, cabled socks and a beautiful shawl from Kristmen's Design Studio called 'Glorianna.'"


Well, I finished that Babies & Bears sweater as well as the Beaded Mittens but I have no idea what shawl I meant. I think it was the Kiri Shawl which I was getting ready to knit for the Knitting Olympics in February 2006. I did enjoy making that shawl. I think I frogged the socks though - the Cabled Rib socks from Favorite Socks: 25 Timeless Designs from Interweave Press. I went on to make the Retro Rib socks several times as well as the Go with the Flow Socks so I don't feel too bad about that. The "shawl" was actually a scarf and it was frogged as well. I like the pattern just fine but it didn't seem to go with the yarn. Maybe I'll pull that patten out again this coming year . . .


Since 2005 I've had a lot of fun projects as well as a few epic fails. I'll be taking apart my sister's blue Mission Falls Bay Cardigan  and making it a bit smaller - possible the Bay Bolero? - sometime in the next year or I'll be hearing about it forever. Ditto the Big Brown Sweater, Aka., Mr. Daisy's River Grass Gansey. I just don't like the twisted stitch section at all. 


In celebration of all these goals - met and unmet - and of our anniversary over here at Chez Daisy, I'm setting up a little contest.  In almost a complete rip off of Knittymama's* anniversary contest, I'm launching the Pattern Review Contest:

Contest rules:

1. Review a knitting, sewing, spinning….any kind of pattern, really, on your blog. It doesn’t have to be detailed but, please, give us the down low. Hard to follow? Good charting instructions? Timeless? Trendy?  Worth buying or should we search out the free on-line version?

2. Leave a comment here leading to your pattern review. 

3. Post a link in your review that brings us back to the contest here. That way your readers will be able to read the comments section here and put in their two cents. Did they hate it? Love that pattern? Think you're crazy "but in a good sort of way" for attempting it?

4. After that - you'll just have to sit on your hands until the end of the month. The day after Christmas (December 26, 2009) is when I'll assign each of the pattern reviews a number and then toss you all into the proverbial hat - the random number generator - to award a prize. Two prizes actually. **

One is a copy of  Charmed Knits: Projects for fans of Harry Potter by Allison Hansel.

Remember this Sweetie?

and

One copy of 2-at-a-Time Socks: Revealed Inside. . . The Secret of Knitting Two at Once on One Circular Needle Works for any Sock Pattern!, by Melissa Morgan-Oakes.

Fun Times x 2!

So let's see some pattern review, ladies and gents! I am sure you have some information to share!

*To be honest, her's was for book reviews. Mine is for pattern reviews. So totally not a rip off!
** Just love that Bold button!

Down go the rest of the dominos . . .

Well, I think I'm over my cold - finally - but some of the other members of the family have gone down today. So, I've been working on the Bella mittens and cleaning out some drawers. One pair of jeans, a sweatshirt, two teeshirts, a vest and two pairs of mittens. The mittens are new - I sewed them for a mitten tree at my church - but they are going off to charity.

Back to some serious television watching and knitting. Oh, and enjoying a little Twilight-themed chocolate!

Middle Daughter picked up a pack of these at the Big Bullseye store this afternoon. Mmm.