That time of the year.

I did have a good time today when I came home from getting the usual home supplies. I try to stop at the local dollar store and get something for molly. I got a stuffed walrus toy with squeeker inside. She is so used to getting goodies that she ran around barking, got in the bag, found the toy and ran for our room. Soon tossing it high in the air, biting its squeeker and barking like mad. I think truly Molly has been the blessing of my life for the year 2006.

I wish all of you a real good New Year and Happy 2007 !!

Love your friends and family and

Tell them SO!!

Show your love while you have the time to do it,

don't wait until it is too late and then spend a lifetime

wishing you had done more.

New Felted Purse

I made the My Constant Companion and love it, but it is too big for a purse, I made one of my own pattern, still too big, now I have one that is SUPER. Working on pattern type up right now.

Size of Felting Projects

I thought you could shrink down aproject to make it the size you wanted? obviously not. drat. so now will start working on a new purse project. The bag is going to be a biggy after all. I know it was for a knitting bag but it is so pretty that i just wanted to felt it down and make a every day purse out of it.
Now I have to start all over again. Any good purse suggestions?? Maybe I will try to work one out myself.

A Good Knitting Weekend For Me and Molly !

I had a super knitting weekend. Completed the entire My Constant Companion Bag except for the handle cord and have to make it out of something smoother? Working on the outside front pocket in a green tweed now. Used a picot fold over hem top edge for a little heavier edging. Now to felt this little goodie!

Dozen Pairs of Clogs Finished. Total finished 18 Pairs.

I finished 18 total pairs of shoes. Whew. Now to make a pair for me! What did I learn? DO NOT and I repeat this DO NOT mix yarns. Mystery wool does not felt at the same rate as Patons Wool. Results? Tops went quicker than bottoms and it was a constant stretching battle. Still not sure they will be ok. Might have to make that pair over again.

Only One More Pair To Go!

I finished the medium blue, pair 16 and the paprika, pair 17. Now only 1 more pair and mom's dozen pairs will be finished. Working on a felted purse bag called My Constant Companion too. Will make one for me and one for 'S'.

Rain and Knitting

Finished the medium blue ones. Had errands to run. Raining wonderfully outside so not much time for signing on here. Only 2 more pairs to go and then a HUGE felting job. Almost finished.
Pair 16 DONE!

Still have 4 more pairs to knit.

I think if my count is right I need to knit 3 more pairs for my mother and then make me a pair too. This is the most fun I have had in a while. The pattern is so well written and easy to follow.
I bought some real cute silver puppy buttons also and want to make another pair of the ballerina slippers.

Todays Clogs

Pairs 14 and 15. All I have to do is seam them up.

Tomorrow I hope to do the purple ones and the medium blue ones.

Clog Count

I had to take time out yesterday and make a new hat for kevin. but here is latest clog count pic

Wow what a difference!

what a good cycle in a washer will do!

Clogs, clogs & more clogs.

I showed them to my mother. She said she would take a few pairs for gifts this year. A few pairs. TWELVE pairs. I have 12 pairs done, but some are already given out so I have 5 1/2 pairs done so far out of her 12. whew.

Now I need help. I bought Tulip Puffy Paint. HOW?? do you apply it to the soles of the slippers so they won't slip anymore? If anyone can help me with that I would sure appreciate it. Solid? Dots? Stripes?

I bought a 4 oz of white, and a 4 oz of black. Now I just need help learning to apply it.

Clog count is up 3 more pairs to 12 total finished so far.
#10 pink tops orange/rust bottoms
#11 three shades of green
#12 Patons Wool in pinks/reds top, gray bottoms
next is #13 in Patons Fall colors top, gray bottoms
then i have mixed blues, pink, purple, teal blue for tops and all with gray bottoms planned.

Ok Now That's Funny!

My felting friend gave me such a laugh over this pic.
Thank you LD I sure needed some fun in my life!!

This totally cracked me up this morning. And the
part that is even funnier is that I made 2 more pairs...

I am clog addicted, help send more WOOL !

A Clog and Bag Weekend

Pair number 7 Purple, 8 Blue/Gray, and 9 Orange, Rust & Pink. Then Crochet and Knit Bag.

Clog pair no. 4

The bright pink and green ones are not felted yet!! sorry if it makes it seem that they are done.

Pictures of Clogs

pic of all 7 pairs, the purple ones are the ones I am finishing up now. First make shoes, then make second soles so I am ready for second soles on that pair. Then off to the washer for more felting fun. The kids are sure enjoying this 'failure' of mine!

Clogs and addictions.

I will knit these things until I finally get me a pair or die trying!! I made blue ones, red ones, pink ones, rust ones, baby pink ones, and now purple ones. I wear a big shoe but by golly these are tricky to fit!!

I started with cascade 220, then went to Patons merino from michaels, now using odd wool balls and the small sized pattern. Maybe I knit too loose?

got a happy family at least. everyone got shoes but me. either I make them fit this time, or hunt up more kids to make shoes for.

Clogs and Slippers

I made 5 pairs of clogs and 1 pair of ballet slippers this week. If you want a good, fast, big needle knit you really have to try these two patterns. Clogs. Ballet Slippers. Those are just two stores to get them at. You can always go to www.google.com and check out felted clogs and felted ballerina slippers. I have had so much fun while i rested my eyes. These use a size 10 1/2 to a size 13 needle. My kind of recreation knitting for real. I had a lot of trouble reading the pattern tiny print but it is my eyes not the pattern. A very kind friend told me I had missed a whole section on the little insert. DUH!! No wonder I was using extra yarn on the sole , not my original idea, you are supposed to!! Thank you friend for pointing that out. Shoes are more fun if you do them right.

This Weekend!

anyone trying to contact me I am not at my machine. i cannot get my own email for some reason through the groups. Mom having surgery. I won't be online but about five minutes today. i will catch up with everyone on Tuesday!!

I had son pick up a couple letters earlier, but if i missed yours i am blaming him!! He went to Earthlink webmail and got them for me.

Don't give up on me, I will be back early Tuesday Morn.

Ring Found, Wearing Clogs, Knitting Ballerina Slippers

I found the ring in the washer, am wearing the burgundy clogs, and knitting away on a pair of the ballerina slippers for son's friend. Spent the whole weekend driving kids from one place to the other. Snow, blowing wind, rain.
Now I have a chest cold working up and a good excuse to have a hot coffee and knit til I drop!

Felting is an adventure.

I worked for 4 days at all that felting. I ended up giving the pink shoes to grand daughter Melody. I kept the burgundy ones but they need a touch of design change next time. The blue ones fit Kevin real good.

I drove down town to give Chris a ride home from work and looked at my cold hands on the steering wheel, my ring was GONE! I have worn my class ring every day since 1971. Gone!!

Did find it, was in the washer tub waiting for me to figure out it had slipped off during that slickery felting job. Whew!! I am knitting another pair of clogs and searching for the Felted Ballerina Shoe pattern. Or a good crochet one either felted or unfelted. any hints?

I don't felt so good.

I sure gave it a good try. The blue clogs fit son Kevin real good. The pink clogs are too big, the burgundy ones had NO FELT cuffs. DRAT! I waited til they dried a little, then ripped out the cuff one stitch at a time. Re knitted the cuffs, refelted and they are ok but still too big. Now I need felting help.
if you throw them back in the washer will they go ahead and shrink down more? I need to get them about one inch smaller all over.

Pair Number Three Done. Now Let's Felt!!

Ok this time I used 3 strands on the soles, 2 strands on the tops. again increased the sole by a couple of rows. Now to go felt these and see how it turns out. My feet are freezing I sure hope at least one pair turns out to fit me. BRRR!!

Two Pairs of Clogs In Two Days. WHEW!

Ok here is try number two. I made the soles shorter and 2 rows around wider. I increased the extra rows to go from the small size to the medium size stitch count. Then I used the medium part of the pattern to finish the clogs. OOPS! It just seemed like one long day really it was two days.

Tomorrow, FELT DAY PART TWO!!

uh Oh! I get an F in Felting. Drat.

well guess pair number one is not gonna be for me. i found out that when you felt stuff it shrinks stuff in width way quicker that it does in length. so now they are too long. and i am gonna have to make another pair.

does anyone have any hints on just how in the world to figure out how to knit for felting? i sure thought they would be ok as a womans large shoe size. they would be ok in width but they are SO long! good think i have a son that wears size 16 shoes.

well here I go on felting try number two.

Clogs Info

I used Cascade 220 regular NOT superwash. I put a 12 inch wood ruler in the pic so you can see how huge these are when you knit them. I used a size 13 circ i purchased on sale at Michaels Craft store in Livonia. I bought one too long. it was a little tricky to slide the stitches around so on the second shoe i did not join them in the back until finished. I used a pattern purchased from Fiber Trends. Yarn is used double strand all the way through. I will wash and watch until felted and shrinking down to right size. Then form them, let dry, and I will have new clog house shoes. Winter is coming quick so good thing too. I am thinking I need to make another set of soles for them and felt them too then sew them on? If anyone made these can you tell me is it soft and wobbly like socks or stiff like shoes? Do I need another sole? should I knit another sole, sew it on, then felt or felt first them add sole?

Felting!!

Well not exactly. I did knit the clogs. But I have to get up my nerve to throw them in the washer. I might have to call the medics!

Best Friends

I am so lucky to have such a good friend.

New Header Pic

My New Green Sockies.

I really love green yarn. These are for me! Gedifra Socks.

Happy Halloween From Me and Molly!

Happy Halloween From Molly!

This is her new house I made for her. Foam couch cushions cut up and covered in sheep flannel. All warm and cuddly inside with her toys. Her house is on my bed. No drafts for Molly this winter!

And What Are You Knitting?

I am working on all of these plus the 6 socks I knitted for the new patterns coming out. WOW! What are you knitting? What are you going to start next? We know it isn't possible not to cast on for that 'One More Project' feeling.

What Is This??

Good Gosh! What is this?? Almost a dozen total needles in it.
Don't poke your eye out!

Here Is Lacey Goodness!

OH! Lacey goodness! I koolaid dyed some white shetland and now have cherry pink yarn. This lovely lace is the back of a pair of gloves I am working on. The back has a picot hem edge. Now I am working on the finger widths and lengths. They feel wonderful and stretchy.

Baby It's Cold Outside!

With snow moving in and getting serious I am too! The windchill here can easy reach 65 degrees below zero. Our biggest snow was about 3 feet deep. Wait time at a bus stop can be over an hour so here you better dress up real warm. This single ply pure merino is as soft as a kitten. It feels just like a long strip of top ready to spin. straight and smooth. I am using size 3 bamboo dpn and it is so soft. I had to make mittens because this yarn says pet me all day long!

Fan Dancers

Here is a front shot in opal
of the fan dancer socks.

Fan Dancer Socks

Fan Dancer Sock Pattern
contact Laura at
http://siriusknitting.blogspot.com/
for information about this pattern.

Ask for it by name!!

Hey I Got Published!

Lambie says go check out "Friendly Socks, Vol. 2: A to Z", a compilation of sock patterns by 16 designers . The book will be approximately 150 pages, with 38 sock patterns, and related articles. It will retail for $28, with choice of media mail shipping for $2.50 or priority shipping for $4.50.
Copies of book #1 are also still available [at $24 and ship].pictures available at http://siriusknitting.blogspot.com/ and on the yahoogroup "friendlysocks".


Me and Lambie say go take a look!
(and no lambie is not in the book)

Gedifra yarn grows up.

This lovely Gedifra sock yarn wanted to be these socks.
I am really enjoying this knit!

Molly In October 2006

Here is Molly Jack-A-Bee guarding her pink pig toy on the bed.

Gedifra 4201

i got a ball of yarn and thought how great this stuff feels. Well it looks better knitted even than it feels. I am using smaller needles than my usual ones and cast on 72 stitches. It really makes a difference in what size needles you use as to what you end up with. I read that lots of times on blogs about pooling and trying different sizes with different numbers of cast ons. but I never really saw it before.
The color knits up into the neatest blues and pinks and creams in bands on the sock that i ever saw. You can't wait to see what you will knit up next. Pretty, cheery colors. I had almost stopped using skinny yarns because of my eyes but the brighter colors make it easy to see and work with.
I want to try 3209, 3210, and 4212 too!!
It is October already guess what all my family will get again this year?
this would be the perfect baby sweater yarn too especially if you didn't know if it was a boy or a girl.

What Am I Knitting Now?

Bright Cherry Red Candy Cane Socks!

come see The Friendly Sock Book, Vol. 1 at

http://siriusknitting.blogspot.com & www.siriusknitting.com

upper part of new coat

Here is the top part of the sleeve. I will do one more repeat of the saxon braid cable. It goes in the mid shoulder area. This will add heaviness and strength to that area so the weight of the coat does not pull the shoulders down. My sleeves are knitted from the cuff to the neck. Then the bottom of the coat will be picked up at the bustline and knitted in an A-line shape to the hem. More pics soon.

Pretty New Socks

Five new patterns in 2 weeks. Almost all typed up now. whew.

Working on a Coat

Coat sleeve picture and showing the smooth increases. this yarn is wonderful. I am really enjoying knitting with size 8 needles. Now if I can only figure out the shoulder part of the coat. hmmm...

Knit and Spin, Knit and Spin

I have 3 versions of the 'F' socks and 2 different 'O' socks and 1 bright Red pair all on the needles at one time. I knit on one sock then knit on another one. Whew. Sure hope you like those Red ones MM!

Also received some really special yarn in the mail. I can't thank you enough. I will be knitting away on those much needed projects as time allows and show you the results as quick as I can.

How did the shawl go over 'S'? I hope the liked it!

BB your pink puppy is absolutely adorable and I think she is wonderful.

Spinning some green fiber and lots of browns. Received some alpaca too and so far just at the petting and loving it stage. I think it has to be the softest stuff I have ever touched.

Knitting Shawls

finished the shawl for my dearest 'S', also finished the 5 new socks.
'S' do you like this color ok?

Learning about Lucets and back to school.

I would love to learn more about lucet cords. I found some gorgeous examples on the internet.

Tuesday is the first day of school. Even though the teachers are on strike the kids have half a day of school. My grand daughter goes to high school!!

Did you ever see such a shocking picture?

This is the most shocking thing you can pull out of a package. YIKES! Fortunately for me they were the most wonderful generous gift from someone with lots of love in her heart.

Sweater all ripped out and re-balled.

Now I am going to start my sweater over again. This time I will plan it better and see if I can manage to get the rest of the needed yarn for it. I had a great start going on it with the cutest chickens. I am going to try to put dogs and chickens and maybe foxes on this one. Any suggestions for good graphs or extra large sweater patterns? here is my chickens, the sweater is folded this is one fourth of the circular yoke and collar I had knitted. I found a really good review of this yarn at REVIEW and it tells all about how soft and plush it really is. I am using the fisherman weight also.
NOTE* This sweater is knitted with BULKY weight wool I purchased from an online store 6 months ago. It is 100% wool and the same weight as LOPI.

All worn out and ready for bed.

Molly Jack-A-Bee is all worn out and ready to go to sleep. Here she let her bunny rabbit toy fall out of her mouth to the floor and she is watching it. Wonder if she is waiting on it to move?
Just in case she is, Hey Molly it's a toy!
I bought a purple halter for her and an engraved name tag to go with her dog tag on her collar. I am going to get another one tomorrow. No room for the phone number on the first one. She is a great comfort to me.
I am glad she is here to meet me when I come home. Bless her little dog heart.

A brighter lighter pic of sock i hope

Okay the brighter picture took and was able to replace the old darker one. the pattern is typed up and in pdf format for free download already in the group files. it has not been test read or knitted so proceed at your own risk! good luck and hope you like it. now off to knit the other 3 already started and to work on the flower basket shawl gift for someone special S!

Wiggles Socks

Full Pattern for Wiggles Socks as fast as I can get it typed. For big pic click on this little Pic wait until it loads then look for box on bottom right corner of picture to click to make it REAL big. I put picture here so it will load faster instead of hunting through the photo albums for it. Full pattern will be FREE at Group. or if you email me directly I will gladly send it free in the email as soon as it is typed up.

UPDATE all typed up at least ready for trial reading and knitting available in files section of the group.

Time To Get Busy!!

I have battle with my weight all of my life. I have lost a large number of pounds but still have so much to go yet. Today I am going to open a new group just for that purpose. Hopefully a few good friends will want to join me in a battle of the bulge.
Anybody that would like to lose a few pounds or tighten up those buns join me at
BetterBodiesBuddies .

Fiber Fests and Friends.

I learned a big lesson about friendship the last couple of weeks. What looks like a friend may or may not really be a friend. And a friend that you never knew you had come set down beside you and spend some time spinning away with you.

I didn't purchase anything at the fest. I had a great time. The yarns and fibers at Toni's stand were just heavenly. I set among them squeezing and petting and spinning away. She had to most gorgeous spindles and fiber as well as so many skeins of yarn. Maybe next year I will be able to scoop up on the goodies too!!

New Dog, New Life.

My son drove hundreds of miles to go pick up Dear Molly. She is bigger than jack was. He weighed 16 lbs. A toy breed. She is more medium weight at about 20-24 lbs. A build like his but taller and longer. She has a yelping Beagle bark if and when she uses it. She has a much more laid back temperate and loves the kids. It looks like a go!

I took lots of pictues, have the vet papers, shot record, and identity and address of the wonderful lady we got the dog from. Now let someone come and try to take her!!

Today I am going to start a sweater for her. Fairisle with dog bones and stuff in the pattern. What fun and so good not to be alone anymore.

* * * * A Very Big Weekend Coming Up! * * * *

I am heading for Allegan to attend the Michigan Fiber Fest. I will be able to see some of my friends and have a very wooly weekend! When I get home I am hoping with all my heart that my new best friend will be safe here at home.

Shetland Fleece Progress

Here is the GORGEOUS fleece I washed and the little lamb it came from. Isn't that the cutest critter you ever saw in your life? Cleanest farm and fleece ever. I just love that little lamb. The lamb fleece is just as wonderful in person as it looks on the lamb. I am so glad you don't have to harm an animal to get fleece.

I Found A Fur Baby!

I wanted to say I found her at www.petfinder.com. What a really great site.
I found a wonderful rescued dog and now am working out details with owner and my son about pick up.
Details so far on Molly a 2 yr old Jack Russell / Beagle mix:
Molly was rescued from the pound. Her owner passed away and the family didn't want her so they took her to animal control. She is sweet and cuddly and loves to be with you. She is very energized. She gets along with dogs, cats, kids, rabbits. She just needs a loving home. Is up to date on shots and is spayed.

If all the travel plans and pick up details work out she will be home this weekend. I will get back from my Allegan trip Sunday night and she will be here waiting for me. My son and his girlfriend will travel to Bear Lake to pick her up.

So maybe a little bit of good thoughts towards a dog that needs a second chance and a knitting granny that needs her too.

I Had Another Fleecy Day!

My son moved his great big aquarium from in front of the upstairs closet door. We have lived here now for over 4 yrs. Guess what I found? Yep those fleeces I thought I had imagined. So I spent all afternoon and washed 5 more of them.
White shetland, White fuzzy unknown, Gray-Oatmeal romney with brownish tips, Chocolate Corriedale, and some Brown merino. That is 10 fleeces in 3 days. I hope this winter we get 3 feet of snow and the whole city closes down around me. I will lock up and spin til I drop.
The first fleece was a white freebie. it is in a big white bag, above on left is todays 5 fleeces and on the right is the other 4 fleeces for comparison. Total 10.

Little Dog Where Are You?

I have searched and searched for a little dog to love. You would think with so many unwanted animals that one little dog would not be such a big search. I have not even found one in my area. Not one. If any little pups or dogs are out there looking for a good old lady to love them where are you? I tried the shelters, they want as much as $500. Seems like then it is about money not finding fido a loving home. What do you think? Where would you find a furry heart to love, in or around Detroit? Maybe it is time to get that miniature sheep and call it Spot after all?

Know What Makes Me Mad? UPDATE

"To find out a fleece I paid for weighs less when it is clean . Truthfully that did surprise me."
*****UPDATE*****
after washing 10 fleeces so far I have discovered it is only that one that was such a big change in the before and after weight. Not one of those other fleeces changed so much. The other fleeces I got including the free real bad ones still washed out to weigh very close to purchase weights. The best ones so far were the oatmeal romney and the chocolate corriedale. These two dealers had the cleanest and easiest to prepare fleeces. I actually bought more than one from the oatmeal romney farm. The hardest to clean was the white shetland. The black and white shetland came prewashed and was superb. The white shetland had hard to soak tips. Not unexpected but just a different cleaning than a more open fleece tip. I also noticed BIG differences in the carding of the fleeces washed like this. When I washed them in mesh bags and more packed together I had all kinds of little 'noils?' in the cards and sticks and dirt. The big tub method made a very big difference in how much 'stuff' falls or floats out of the fleece. I still have some assorted bits and pieces to clean up then I am done.
*********
I do know now that a change in before and after weight is expected. I don't think anyone was trying to fool me. Experienced fleece buyers already knew it. As a newbie I just thought it was gonna turn out to be more. But still if I had known the projected before and after weights of fleeces it surely would have been included in the math of cost of fleece for me.

All Four Fleeces Closer Shots

black and white shetland and gray dorset

oatmeal romney and brown merino

WE GOT FLEECE TO SPIN !!

Five fleeces in 2 days. Now by golly I got spinning to do!! at the top is a black and white shetland, then a gray dorset, then a oatmeal romney, then a brown merino. Yesterday I did half of a HUGE one in unknown sheep white. see next pic. so total about 25 or more lbs of fleece. the white bag is a 13 gallon kitchen can liner stuffed full.

Bye Jack.

I know he is not ever coming back so
time to let it go. Say bye bye.

Washing Fleece Time!!

I spent all afternoon yesterday feeling sad so decided to get after it and get some of the fleece washed. I used hair shampoo on it and it came out so white. Now waiting on it to dry. I read that some commercial soaps have bleach in them and bleach eats wool. I figured the safest soap I could use would be shampoo. Any other ideas?? It is now on a big screen door to dry. I feel some spinning coming on!!
This picture is taken from my front door to the edge of front porch. whole 6 foot long screen covered with fluffy fleece drying. OH BOY!