Next!

What’s Happening?

I’m still catching my breath from all the excitement of the new grandbaby (he’s more adorable every day!), but there’s a lot of fun stuff going on around here! So, what’s next?

You may remember my visit to The Artful Yarn I wrote about in this Kiersten J Yarn Shop Hop post. While I was there, I picked out some gorgeous hand dyed yarn by Spun Right Round to make a scarf (Tweed Boomerang) the shop was using as a class project.

I finished it up while I was on Granny K duty and it’s time for a soak before blocking. I found the pattern to be perfect for knitting with a lot of interruptions and distractions. You need to pay a little bit of attention at the beginning and end of each row to set it up properly, but each section is made of a 4-row repeat that is easy to memorize.

It’s a fantastic choice for a beginning knitting class, not least because it’s so rewarding to watch the fabric grow in the beautiful colors of the hand dyed yarn. I love a good knitting challenge, but I also adore the simplicity of garter stitch. Sometimes the simplest stitch option is the best when the yarn is the star of the show.

What am I learning?

You know the saying, “You can’t teach an old dog new tricks?”

Hooey!

Weaving has been on my Want To Learn List for so long! Like bazillions of other kids, I wove dozens of potholders on those square hard plastic looms with the metal hooks and the inconsistently stretchy bands. I loved doing that! Since then, I’ve played around with cardboard looms during craft time with kids, and those are fun, too. But I wanted to really dig in and learn how to weave like the Big Kids.

I had the opportunity to play with an Inkle loom and a small rigid heddle loom when I worked in the yarn shop, and that just convinced me even more to keep weaving on the list. As I’m developing the Beast to Blanket curriculum, I’m realizing that it’s important to include weaving as one of the ways we’ve historically used wool to make fabric.

I arrived home from Granny K duty to find that Greg had assembled the tapestry loom that arrived while I was gone. I had it warped within 48 hours of my return!

My first weaving is pretty terrible! The selvedges are uneven, it’s inconsistent, and I’m learning loads from the pile of books I checked out from the library about the errors I’ve already made, but I love it. I love it so much. I’ll share a picture in the next newsletter after I’ve done a little finishing work.

What am I Knitting?

In an upcoming Kiersten J Yarn Shop Hop article, I’ll tell you about an amazing place called Harps and Thistles Yarn Emporium. It’s located in Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio, and they’ve got a fascinating story.

While we were there, I picked up some Fox Sock yarn in Old Photographs. Once I finished the scarf that’s currently enjoying a warm bath, I started these:

It’s my very simple top-down vanilla ribbed sock pattern based on a 72-stitch leg. When I can no longer remember my own name, I suspect I will still remember the formula for these socks. Next up? Sock #2!

What Else?

More new tricks for the old dog!

This, friends, is a true first in the making. It’s a fiber arts project for sure, but first? Wood working! Power tools!

I have never done a shop project in my life, so this is sure to be an adventure.

Can you guess what we’ll be building? I’ll show you next week!

What’s Up With Mr. Darcy the Sheep?

Mr. Darcy is welcoming new personages right and left as the neighborhood expands, as well as trying his hand (hoof?) at modeling.

You can read his latest letter, complete with introductions to all the new characters on Pemberley Farm, right here.

What are you working on today?

Happy knitting!

Kiersten J