by Kat | Sep 8, 2007 | General
…and spinning and spinning…
Well, it’s been a hectic week here at the Christensen Huis – school started for all the Christensen children. Rachel is off to the U of M and Heidi and Sam are back in school as well. Busy mornings, busy days at work, and busy evenings should equate to a night of sound sleep but, I have been tossing and turning most of the night! If there was just a switch to shut off my brain and keep it from wondering what I have forgotten in the day, what I need to remember to do the next day would be awesome!
Hello Brain … you know, I’d remember things better with a good nights sleep!
So all that thinking about things forgotten and urgency to remember would be much better served if you thought about that in the morning while I am sitting and savoring that first cup of coffee with some knitting in my hands.
You know – those mornings are nice and quiet – before the chaos of the day erupts.
You might consider that for next week – I promise you that I would be so appreciative of it!
So now, dear reader, are you wondering where the spinning and spinning comes in?
Somehow, magically, that Coopworth roving I have is turning to the most amazing yarn! For those who gave the suggestions to me a huge THANKS goes out to you! So, in my evenings, I have been spinning and spinning. I am beyond parking the spindle between my knees and I am just spinning away!
News flash – I love it!
Now, not more than knitting – but I want to knit me some socks out of that Coopworth I am spinning.
Speaking of socks -I bought Cat Bordhi’s new book, New Pathways for Sock Knitters, Book One, yesterday. This book is sheer genius. If you do not have it, I urge you to go today and pick up a copy of it. Cat is one brilliant woman and the designs in this book will astonish you – truly astonish you, trust me on this! If you are a sock knitter, there are new things to learn in this book that will take your sock knitting to a new level. If you have never knit socks, Cat explains how to knit a sock that your foot will love. And, when you have finished your first pair – they will clamor for more!! She uses a variety of techniques and a variety of great yarns. If you, like me, have more than a skein or two of sock yarn in your stash – run out and get this book. Your stash will decrease with each pair of socks that fly off your needles. Think how happy this will make you feel if you, like me, wanted to decrease your stash in 2007.
As Lynne was so kind to remind me that Christmas is right around the corner – you can get to work on Christmas knitting NOW and have some lovely socks to gift to your loved ones.
If this commentary has not created the urge to run out and get this book then I will make it very easy. Click the link and buy it today!
Seriously, dear readers, this book is so incredible!
This week in a Marketplace report, Kai Ryssdal interviewed Mark Penn about “microtrends” and Mark mentioned knitting – my ears just perked up at that word – and Kai was surprised to hear about the increase in knitters. So, I emailed Kai to share how LARGE the knitting community is. Blogs, Ravelry, Etsy, etc. After all – I consider Marketplace to be on the pulse of the planet – so I felt compelled to increase their knowledge.
Guess what – they emailed me asking for my phone number – yes, they want to call me. I will update you later with where this all goes!!
Have a great weekend everyone!!
by Kat | Sep 1, 2007 | General
Hello Everyone! I was awakened this morning by the sun peeking in the window! It was warm and welcoming. Nights have been getting cooler here. And, nights have been getting longer – the sun did not wake me until after 8AM! All these things add up to summer ending!
I even saw some trees with changing leaves this week as I drove between Holland and Grand Haven!
Yikes – I am just not ready for fall!
I have plans to have no plans this weekend. August ended on such a frenzied note that a weekend of nothing sounded quite heavenly. So, you will find me sitting outside, soaking up the last summery rays of sunshine, listening to the radio, and knitting.
I had some stash enhancement this week – I have been wanting to knit Charlotte’s Web for some time now. So, I broke down and got 5 skeins of Koigu!! Here is the great part – 3 of them were ON SALE!! A new knitted item on it’s way for the wedding I am attending in September!! Who needs a new “little black dress” when you can dress up your current black dress with a new wrap!! It should be just the right weight for a fall evening!
My LYS has enlisted my help – yes, that is right – my help. They want to start a blog!! Yes, gentle reader, Rose and Ruby are going to be available to you – near or far – via the blogisphere!! Watch for updates on this in the days to come.
Now, I am off to my plan-less weekend. And, here is to hoping that your weekend plans or no plans goes exactly as you imagine it to!!
by Kat | Aug 30, 2007 | General
Hello Everyone!
How on earth do we all find ourselves looking at September arriving this weekend. Wasn’t it just yesterday that we were all celebrating the Memorial Day Weekend and ushering in summer?
What a strange feeling to have the “official end” to white shoes arriving this weekend. Heck, I have not even put on my white shoes yet this year!
Wait a minute…I don’t even own any white shoes!!
One thing I am NOT looking forward to is having to put away sandals and summery tops and sun screen!!
I am, however looking forward to sweater weather and cool nights and Clapotis weather!
You know – the days that the sun shines so brightly – warming up everything and the evenings that get cool and crisp – good weather for pulling out a wrap or throwing on an extra layer.
I have noticed, also, that the markets are all carrying an abundance of mums in a riot of colors – rich, deep, vibrant colors. Kaffe Fasset colors. They have been drawing my eye to their intense beauty.
I also have been eyeing some fall yarns – some out in the marketplace and some from my stash! New patterns and cool nights make for some knitting inspiration in my house.
I have also been working on spinning – some of my gentle readers gave me some excellent pointers that have paid off tremedously. Each time is pick up the drop spindle, it feels more familiar in my hands. I no longer have 10 thumbs, but some fingers that are listening to what my brain is saying – slowly but surely!! This is a whole new level of creativity for me! And, I am really enjoying it so much!!
I have a long list of things that I want to accomplish – but I am so thankful that this month was productive at work. Productive and profitable!
Have a good weekend everyone – enjoy!!
by Kat | Aug 26, 2007 | General
Or why you should not knit on cold medication!
Hello everyone. Summer is winding down and with it I have come down with the mother of all colds. I am living on cold medicine and my poor brain is in a fog.
Now, knowing all that – what on earth possessed me to pull out my “Wing O’ the Moth Shawl” and work on it.
Count me as an idiot – no life line was anywhere to be found in the rows I had previously completed.
I tried “tinking” a bit – okay, that did not work either.
The end result – off to the frog pond for me!
I was not too far – but far enough that it was a painful experience.
This caused me to stop and ponder the value of a life line. Some days it would be awesome to have a life line in REAL life. Imagine this with me a minute, dear readers…
This would help tremendously at work – when a problem pops up, all you would need to do would be to pull back to the point where there was no problem. Great idea huh? I could have used this life line on Friday – work can be complicated when there is more than ONE person involved. To “tink” back and remove the subsequent involved parties – what an awesome thing that would be.
This caused me to think even further – imagine being able to “tink” back to remove ex’s from your life! Now, would this be awesome or what!!! The glee one could experience in that bit of “tinking” would be something to savor!!
How about the ability to “tink” back to take back those stupid things I say – you know – the “open mouth, insert foot” comments! Another good idea, no?
The possibilities are endless, are they not?
Oh for a little “tinking” in some areas of life!
Have a good weekend all – I am heading back to bed. Here is to being “cold free” by Monday!
by Kat | Aug 19, 2007 | General
Hello everyone! Fiber Festival in Allegan was so much fun – and there was some stash enhancement! And, I bought a drop spindle – I know, I was just going to look! Well, it looked like an interesting and wonderful way to drive myself nuts this weekend! So I purchased a nice spindle and some roving – this roving was specifically suggested for a beginner! I cannot remember what the green roving is – but the natural roving is from Blue Faced Leicester. I have been playing at this a bit this morning – and I am, of course, struggling with drafting. I have the spin and park down, but figuring out this drafting thing is not as easy as the gentleman made it look! So, I worked at this until my back was telling me I needed to do something different. I would have posted some photos of what I have spun, but my camera battery died, drats!
There was lots to see though – and Chris from Briar Rose was there. I went with 2 patterns that I was looking for some yarn for – her latest and greatest “Bee” designs. Well, of course, Chris had some amazing yarns that I think will work beautifully. I also saw Susan who is designing an amazing bit of lace out of Chris’ fiber that has been dyed a lovely shade of “cherry”. Look for the debut of this lacy goodness in Leland in October!
The upper photo is some lovely Briar Rose Fiber – Heritage. Which is 100% Wensleydale and the color is so incredible. This will knit up into Anne’s Bee Fields Shawl. In the bottom photo is some Sea Pearl – a blend of Merino and Tencel. This shimmery yarn will become the Honey Bee Stole. There’s a whole lot of knitting to be done!
The weekend was just wonderful – filled with fibery goodness. I saw sheep and more sheep – some Angora Rabbits – and looked for Alpaca, but I did not find any!! There was fiber everywhere – and more. It was a fun weekend!!
