Turning Over New Leaves

What’s Happening?

The weather is starting to change around these parts.

The neighbors have their Fall decor going up, the trees are just starting to get that slightly dried yellow-orange tint, and the grass has decided it’s not dead after all and it’s time to make up for all the growing it didn’t do in the heat of summer. It’s getting darker a bit earlier, and while that’s not necessarily the best news, I do love how the light changes color at the end of the days this time of year. The Autumn Glow is something special, isn’t it?

It’s a happy season for knitters because it’s time to start pulling out the woolies! Last Sunday was chilly and wet and absolutely called for a knit scarf. It’s hard to fuss about dreary weather when it means pulling out something beautiful and cozy for the first time in months.

So here’s to breaking out the wool socks, comforting cardigans, and happy hats of Fall! What’s your favorite knit or crochet item to use when the weather starts to turn chilly?

What am I Knitting?

I finished blocking the Tweed Boomerang I shared last week.

I really enjoyed this project from beginning to end: from visiting The Artful Yarn and buying the materials for their class project pattern to watching the garter stitch and simple lace pattern come together in the beautifully hand dyed yarn to blocking the finished piece and seeing the yarn bloom and the lace open.

I’m planning to shop my stash for another yarn pairing to make another one right away.

What am I learning?

I’ve still got some finishing work to do on the first weaving piece I shared last week, but the Great Weaving Learning Project is gaining steam. It turns out that for me, learning to weave involves learning some wood working, too!

As I mentioned before, I want to incorporate some weaving in the Beast to Blanket class. To me, one of the most appealing and accessible methods to do that for a bunch of kids looked like using a peg loom. There are loads of instructions on the internet about how to make a simple peg loom.

Now, keep in mind, I’ve never done a wood working project in my life. My experience in carpentry is limited to sweaty, anxiety-ridden sessions with “put-together” kits for cheap furniture that often included sketchy written instructions that may or may not have been written by someone familiar with the English language.

However, I recently married a man who is capable of designing and building shelves that hang from the garage ceiling (above the door, anchored to studs and trusses and other sturdy-sounding things, that are capable of holding bazillions of pounds of garage storage) by himself in his spare time, apparently without supernatural forces of any kind. I had a lot of confidence in his ability to help me with a peg loom.

Greg taught me how to use a drill press, a miter saw, and a power sander, and we made a peg loom!

I taught him how to use a peg loom, and the first project on this peg loom is a table runner. It’s pretty fun!

What Else?

I found a really neat product I wanted to be sure and share with my friends who enjoy Fair Isle knitting:

The folks at Pacific Knit Company have come up with these great cards that they’re selling in collections called Doodle Card Decks. They’re made up of colorwork motifs that you can pick from, mix and match, or otherwise use for inspiration for your colorwork knitting.

They have them for seasons, for different themes (I love the farm one), and even funny combinations of decks like their “Jaws Bundle” which includes Summer and Ocean.

I love this idea! Wouldn’t it be fun to teach a colorwork class and use a deck like these to have each student design their own piece? Or perhaps a client wants to commission holiday socks but needs some guidance on the design? Or maybe you’re working on a gift for a friend who loves an activity and you’d love to include a lot of specific details?

I think I’m going to have to get one (or more) of these! What a fun find this was!

(I’m not being compensated for mentioning this product!)

What’s Up With Mr. Darcy the Sheep?

Mr. Darcy and pals had their first official flock shearing. It was a learning experience for everyone! All the sheep are very happy to have lost the extra bulk and heat, and we’re storing the wool for future use.

Here’s Mr. Darcy, pre-shearing, having a wee snack:

What are you working on today?

Happy knitting!

Kiersten J