The Little Summer Lace Socks And The Pattern

NOTE: In the pattern, where I say to disregard row 1, I mean row one (the ‘no stitch’ row) of the charted pattern – I made the chart one row too long. The written pattern is correct as written. Sorry for any confusion! 🙂

Hello 🙂

I’ve been working on a little personal challenge – my socks are wearing out (they’re handknit so they are all a few years old) and I needed some more.  The socks I like, however, are little.  Ankle socks.  With lace….lots of lace!  Of course, as it usually is when one has something definite in mind – I couldn’t really find a pattern I liked for it’s style and pattern.

So – I decided to design some.  These are the first and I’ve made the pattern available as a pdf;  The Little Summer Lace Socks

They fit really nicely since the lace gives them stretch.  The edge sits just below the ankle.

I designed the lace by modifying an existing pattern, “String of Beads” from the book “Traditional Knitted Lace Shawls” by Martha Waterman.

Enjoy, I know I am 🙂

If you are interested in my handspun yarn for sale, please have a look at my HandSpunYarn site.

 Have a fantastic day!

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It’s A Turkish Wheel!

Good morning! I should call this ‘tales from the rabbit hole’, me thinks 🙂

We acquired this beautiful Turkish ‘Nomad’ Spinning Wheel this past weekend. She’s beautiful and very very old. The couple who sold her to us bought her on the Turkey/Russia border, years ago, on a trip. I haven’t mastered spinning with her – she’s a little bit moody and operates on a bobbin led, no brake system. Apparently spinning on these is similar to charka spinning. Of course, I’ve never charka spun, either!

I scrubbed her down with methyl hydrate (standard warning – these rags will spontaneously combust if left in a pile and not dried flat and disposed of properly) and a bit of steel wool. I tried the toothbrush (my favorite method) but her dirt went a little deeper. The steel wool is fine and doesn’t mar the wood…

She cleaned up really nicely…and with a few shims to tighten up some joints (I used stretchy plumbers tape – not sticky – to wrap the maidens so they weren’t loose) and plan to use some wire to stabilize some of the more serious cracks. I feel like the cracks are stable as is but who knows how heat/humidity and use will affect things. I feel like the wire wraps will be a good way to repair her without taking away from her history. I would HATE to have to replace a part completely.

Another view of the dirt – precleaning –

My baby after her bath…and a little tung oil massage…

I Can’t Believe I’m Out Of Free Flickr!

Yes, only for this month… November will be here before we know it!

I’m working on the cutest ‘bunny rabbit’ sweater – from some fleece artist ‘peter rabbit’ which I had in three pinks. Not enough of it for a one colour sweater but I think my striping helps the colours work together. I’ll post a picture as soon as I’m able….probably November first 🙂

We had my daughter and my grandson visiting recently and boy oh boy, is that boy ever growing!! 🙂 She’s doing a fantastic job with him….

Have a great day!

Basset Baby!!!!

Awesome day, my friends 🙂 We found a beautiful baby basset hound!!

She is 9 1/2 weeks old and her name is Rosa 🙂 She’s such a sweet puppy and we’re so glad to have found her. We drove for a long time yesterday to get her but it was well worth the trip! She did cry for most of the ride (I think the driving scared her) but has been excellent and fitting in quite nicely since we got home.

She’s pretty small still…

and she’s definitely interested in spinning (or at least smelling sheep)…

She and the boy are almost inseparable (he’s already sad about going to school on monday!)…

She loves to cuddle…

and certainly has Dora’s attention…

Of course…we all like to cuddle 🙂

If anyone is interested in finding a beautiful, quality, registered basset in Ontario, check out the ‘Autumn Blaze Bassets’ site – they have a website and I highly recommend them!

Knitting Like Crazy For Christmas…

Yes, it’s almost here.  Or so it feels like, anyways!  I have so many things I want to finish up and a few things finished, so far…

These are my ‘Inspired By Colour’ mittens using Marks and Kattens ‘Trend’ (party colourway) and Patons ‘Kroy Sock’ 4 ply (black). They knit up to a medium woman’s size with a snug, cozy fit and a longish cuff to keep your wrists toasty all winter.

I’ve made sweaters for two of my girls…the first is ‘Amused’ by Jordana Paige (from knitty, winter 2008). I knit this with Patons ‘Classic Wool’ (where did you go merino?) in Jade Heather.

The second is ‘Egret’ by Norah Gaughan, available as a free pattern from Berocco.com. I knit this one also in the Classic Wool, in Cognac Heather.

The buttons were just perfect!

Off to knit a pair or two of slippers…the list is far from done! Happy knitting and have a great day 🙂

Inspired!

I’ve been working on a new pattern – for stranded mittens – for my daughter for Christmas. The pattern was inspired by a really beautiful yarn. It has everything stranded mittens need (in my opinion of course!) – great colour, fingering weight, a bit of ‘grab’, superwash and wool. For what more could I ask?

I’ve paired it with Paton’s ‘kroy’ sock 4 ply in black – to give it a chance to do it’s colourful thing. Oh yes – the yarn – it’s Marks and Kattens ‘Fame Trend’ in the colourway ‘party’. I found it at the Knit and Quilt in Barrie a week or two ago. Beautiful! I will definitely be back for more!

I’ve finished the pattern and have knitted the first mitten. I’ve posted the pdf pattern, if you’d like to use it –

The pattern;
InspiredByColourMittenPattern

My mitten (unblocked)…

Please let me know how it works out for you!
Have a great day 🙂

A Hat Fit For A Princess

I’ve finished the hat to match my ‘Snowflake Princess’ sweater coat!  I have also written out the PATTERN in case anyone else is interested in making it.

Here it is…

So cute 🙂 It’s about 7″ tall and 17″ unstretched, around.

I’m going to make mittens next!