Nanine's Cowl

As usual I have been extremely busy however this time I had time to put in some fibery fun!  I went to the Studio 66 Retreat and took several projects with me (knitting, weaving, spinning).  Of course as I was procrastinating I did not take Nanine's cowl with me.

The retreat was in Forest Falls, CA in the mountains and the cabins are very good.  I don't particularly care for camping so cabins with showers, sinks and toilets are my idea of how to spend time in the mountains.  Linens and towels are provided so there was more room for yarn in my bags!

There were several demonstrations and I attended Navajo plying on the fly, pickups on a rigid heddle loom and making paper beads.  We also all got to dye silk ribbons (the ribbons and dye were provided)!!  I ended up with Victorian rose colors. I promise to put pictures up soon.

Anyway, it is time for my friend to move so I had to get her cowl done. I thought to myself about what pattern would be good for her cowl as my requirements were that it was black and thick (she is moving to a cold place).  I had only one skein of Wool Ease Thick and Quick left over from my Charley bonnet so I had to figure out how to make her a cowl with one skein and it still be substantial.  I had a backup skein of Paton's Divine just in case it would not come out large enough.

Lion Brand has a cowl on their website named Ribbed Cowl and so I took the stitch count and rib pattern from that.
Here is what I came up with:

Materials:

One skein Wool Ease Thick and Quick 80% Acrylic, 20% Wool, 106 yds, 90 m.

One spool of Offray Double sided satin ribbon 7/8” by 18 feet (only part of the spool is needed).

Size 13 (9.0 mm) circular needle (24” size is probably best).

One stitch marker.

Cast on 80 stitches being careful not to twist the stitches.  I knitted on the stitches in k2, p2 ribbing so that the cast on would be stretchy.

Knit for 4 inches in k2, p2 ribbing.

Make eyelets:

K1, yo, p2tog, p1 around the row.

Knit the next 4 inches in k2, p2 rib.

Bind off in pattern (k2, p2 rib).

Measure out enough ribbon to go around the cowl and then some to make the bow and tails.  As it is a gift I cut more ribbon that is needed.

My gauge: 15 rows and 12 stitches equal 4” by 4”.  As it is ribbing and the ribbon is there for adjustment, unless you are wildly off gauge it does not matter.

VirgKnits94

More lace

As I said before I am always bitten by the lace bug, I am now working on more than 4 lace shawl patterns, it has grown to 8.  Ideas always come in feast or famine quantities, never one or two at a time.  Of the 4 new patterns 2 are knit with Mini Mochi, 1 with Chroma (fingering) and 1 with Malabrigo lace.

A few new toys, one Victorian and two Russian style spindles.  The Russian spindles are the best for spinning my dog's fur.  His is the white mohair looking yarn on the spindle.

Not much other fiber stuff going on right now!

Principles of Knitting has arrived!

I got to work from home today and I went out to get the mail and I had a package from Amazon.  I did not remember ordering anything recently and then it dawned on me as I opened the box that my pre-ordered Principles of Knitting was inside!   I felt like a little kid with a new toy!!  My excitement could barely be contained!  That book is a must read for every knitter.  There were cast on's in that book I had never heard of.  What a valuable resource.  I have been chomping at the bit for at least a year maybe two since I heard that it was being re-done.  I have always known it was a valuable resource but the out of print copies were going for anywhere from $200 to almost $400 per copy.  A little bit out of my price range (smirk).

I have been very busy but my needles have not been still!  I submitted 3 design ideas to a magazine and I have been trying to finish gifts and knit a little bit on other designs in my head.

I promise I will write sooner!

A New Year!

I find myself with way too much to do and not enough time to do it.  Does that sound familiar to anyone?  I bite off more than I can chew with knitting Christmas presents not taking into consideration the other things I have going on.  Little insignificant things like WORK!  My dog has such an easy life, he lays around, sleeps, eats and lays around some more.

It is already January and I am still not done knitting presents and sending them off.  I am glad I have grace from the recipients.  I also have patterns I am writing and want to submit to a magazine that are in various stages of being knit and are due by the end of the month.

I think I will make some soup tonight, it is easy fast and can cook on its own while I knit away.

Fast and Easy Soup
1 store rotisserie chicken
No Salt Seasoning ( I like Kirkland Organic No-Salt Seasoning or Trader Joe's 21 Seasoning Salute)
Garlic paste 2 tsp (or fresh - couple of sections chopped)
Ginger paste 1 tsp
2 stalks of celery diced
1/2 red onion diced
Green cherry tomatoes or tomatillos cut up (about 15 or 20)
1 butternut squash
3 or 4 shakes of turmeric
3 or 4 shakes of garam masala (Indian spice)
A few leaves of fresh lemon verbena, lemon balm, sage and rosemary chopped (optional)
Fresh cilantro leaves if desired
1 to 5 shakes of sea salt

If the chicken is large and will mostly chicken and no soup then take away 1 or two of the drumsticks before boiling and set them aside or eat them.  Put the chicken in a large pot with enough water to cover the chicken.  Boil the chicken about 1/2 hour to 45 minutes.  Take the chicken out of the water remove the skin and bones, tear up the chicken and put it back in the water.  Add everything else.  Cook on medium until the squash is done.