Smatterings

  • what the cows say

    Since it wasn’t exactly raining today, more like drizzle or mist hung in the air, and the weatherman started the day by telling us that today was our window of better weather; I did what any stir crazy animal would do.  I headed outside to see what I could get done in the window.  Planting except for containers that could be filled with soil premixed a few days ago and kept dry in the barn, was out of the question.  I planted the containers.  Then, I walked to the mailbox.  The cows were lying down.  So much for the weatherman.  I’ll bet on the cows. 

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    Gray days are extraordinarily beautiful  The light is magic. 

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    I turned on the burner under the dye pot and set about dyeing three different red colorways (two in the merino / silk lace weight and one in the 100% silk)  and eight skeins of the Verdigris in the lace weight silk.  Not bad for a window kind of day. 

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    2 responses to “what the cows say”

    1. What beautiful reds!! Our weather man always goes by the animals and Indians. He is usualy right on by following legends and checking on the fauna.

    2. Ugh. More rain.

  • June 7th already

    It’s already June 7th and I’ve just begun my Trekking socks.  I like this yarn.  Alot!  I wanted a simple pattern that gave texture to the striped yarn without giving too much confusion to the pattern.  Wendy had posted a simple 6 stitch, 4 row repeat that she used on the top of a sock.  I used a 3/3 rib to carry the 3 knit stitches into the pattern  of the sock.

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    So far, so good. I’m rethinking my use of the 4 dps.  For a trekking project, especially one with yo’s strategically placed at the beginning and ends of the needles, it would probably make more sense to use two circs or a magic loop.  I’ll switch between them and see what I like for a walk around project. 

    I’ve got everything ready to go for the Wings of the Swan shawl. 

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    I really liked using the old Bryspun circs for the silk, but as you may remember, it /they broke.  A couple of them broke.  And, as much as I like the points, the new circs have a different join, one that is not supposed to break.

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    BUT, it has a small lip that catches fine yarn.  I think you can see it in the picture.  So, it may be back to my Addi Turbos, the bamboo was a bit too sticky for the silk. 

    Finally, I charted the written pattern onto a graphed index card. 

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    If I could just wrangle up a little more time…..

    4 responses to “June 7th already”

    1. Ooh, that yarn is so PRETTY!

    2. Summer is slipping through our fingers and it hasn’t even begun.
      Are you going to use both colors for the shawl? That will gorgeous.

    3. I can’t believe I’m reading blogs instead of working with a freaking deadline brething down my neck BUT: I took my Bryspuns, wrapped the join with thread and painted it with clear nail polish. Solved the bump issue.
      A girl will do whatever it takes to get the points she wants. Just sayin’.
      (Oh, and nice silk!)

    4. Love the color of your Trekking socks. I haven’t started my eyelet swirl socks yet, hope to this week. The silk looks so luxurious t knit with!

  • Adagio.. adieu

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    I loved this project.  I even loved the three nights it took to crochet the edging.  I loved the endless knitting on the ruffle.  I loved the silk.  This is a perfect summer shawl.  The drape is fantastic.. well.. it IS silk.  As I’ve said in the past, the key to this project was deciding to use the Russian Join.  After that, everything was simple. 

    Because I enjoyed working with the silk so much, I am beginning, immediately, the  Wings of the Swan Shawl.  I haven’t worked out an edging.  Maybe another ruffled one.  Never having been a ruffle kind of person, I was surprised at just how much I liked it.  One thing is for sure, I’ll be digging through Barbara Walker’s books, searching for the right one.

    I have been on the go, NON-STOP for the past week.  Just a bit of knitting each evening.  Tonight, I’ll start joining the ends and winding the balls of silk for the Amazing Lace. 

     

    26 responses to “Adagio.. adieu”

    1. That is fabulous! Elegant and drapey. Wow!

    2. Great work! Great Color! Love the style!

    3. It looks just beautiful! Everything–the style, the color, the craftsmanship . . . gorgeous.

    4. Beautiful :o)

    5. That is truly a perfect summer shawl. Beautiful!

    6. Oh my…it is so beautiful. Everything about it is perfect. Very, very nice work all the way around.

    7. BEAU~TI~FUL

    8. It’s gorgeous, Judy. And just so *you*!

    9. Beth

      It’s lovely. Are you making Children of Lir or the Wings of the Swan that was in Inknitters awhile ago?

    10. I was tres impressed when I saw the lovely colors, but you CROCHETED?!?! all of that edging. You go girl.

    11. Exquisite.

    12. Beautiful!

    13. Ohhhhh… how perfect is that? And I know how the ruffled edging goes – I did one on a shawl earlier this year and it is soooo perfect for some of those hot sticky days. What’s the big deal about crocheting an edging? I am more impressed about knitted edgings on crocheted garments (wink).

    14. Linda

      Very Nice, and the ruffle makes it dressy. Can’t wait to see it in person.

    15. I love the way the color changes evenly throughout. Tres Elegant!

    16. And you said you don’t crochet!!! Tsk! Tsk! It’s lovely…

    17. marisa

      The shawl came out beautifully! Isn’t it a great pattern?!

    18. That’s a beautiful shawl – beautiful color – it looks great!

    19. This is so amazingly gorgeous, everything is just perfect and you did such a fabulous job with it! No wonder you’ll be continuing to work with silk, it’s mere heaven to work with, isn’t it?

    20. That is exquisite! I love the way the colors merged and blended together. The drape is fabulous. Three nights for the ruffle, eh? Uh oh. (I’m seeing the future unfold before me.)

    21. Wow – it’s gorgeous! It must look beautiful on you.

    22. Beautiful, I think the time spent on the ruffle was totally worth it, it really adds so much. Love it!

    23. Spectacular shawl!! did you make up the pattern or is it available??

    24. All’s I can say is OMG, that is stunning! Love it, love it!!

    25. Oh Judy. You’ve gone and done it again–another PERFECT shawl. I love how the directionality of the lace pattern works with the very gradual shading in the yarn. And the edging is exactly right–just fancy enough for the simple design. Bellissima.

    26. Just beautiful. I’m not a ruffles girl either and I love the ruffles on your shawl.

Our lives are dyed the colors of our imagination.” ~ Marcus Aurelius

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