Mother's Day

What did you get your mom? I got a text message from each of my kids.

this is what i got for my mom, my best friend.

it is full of roses on the end and back side and a cute little stick up heart

that says To Mom

The End Of A Lifetime

Queenie has been a member of this family for 17 years. Today Harold and I had to take her to the vet for the final time. I can't think of not having her here. Not hearing her bark. Not opening that late night can of dog food. She was Harold's dog. We were together to the end.

Spinning With a Support Spindle

Ok it's play time!! A new spindle and this

time it is just about the perfect spin!

The Spindolyn !

Click on the word spindolyn above to go to the website for this marvelous spindle. I love my spinning wheel. I love my drop spindles. I love to spin. But my arms get tired from dropping over and over. My wheel is not in my room and i set in my room looking at it through the door way thinking about spinning. This support spindle is perfect. No drop. No arms over my head. I ordered the Castle base and the Tenor with the black plastic cover and the Soprano without it. The Tenor is for my wool and the Soprano is for my new cotton. Yes! Cotton! I bought some brown cotton to spin from LittleBarnFibers on ebay. I bought the brown toned one but he has so many colors for sale. The cotton is smooth and even though it has short fibers it spins quite easily. I was surprised to be able to do it on my first try. But then with a combination of the spindolyn and the Little Barn Fibers cotton it was meant to be. So now i can set in my chair and watch tv while I happily spin away without my shoulders feeling like I moved heavy furniture all night. What a pleasure to be able to spin again. I had seen this spindle over and over on the internet when surfing late at night. I watch that video so many times that I have it memorized. I was just unsure how it worked and if it worked.

IT DOES!

If you like the way they look, you will love the way they spin. If you order you can choose to have the black plastic on the shaft of the spindle or not to have it on there. You can choose which base you like and which spindle shape you want. I don't get any goodie points for saying stuff about it. I bought mine already. But when you find something this great you just have to share it with your friends.

On her site you will find a pdf for a weighted bag to put around the base. I made my own with wool, a cottage cheese carton lid, aquarium rocks, and a crochet hook. It has an outside bag and then an inside smaller one. the rocks go between the inside tube and outside tube and are seamed in. The don't fall out. Marbles would work fine. What's the bag for? The spindle has a beautiful hand turned base. But putting it in the bag weights it down so it stays where you put it, like on your leg, or on your lap. This is just so much fun.

easy weaver looms for sale

since i use the cricket now and only the cricket
i am selling both the easy weaver a and easy weaver b
http://www.harrisville.com/search.php
the a sells for $99 I would like $60 plus shipping
the b sells for $165 I would like $100 plus shipping
i think shipping would be about $10 each.

any offer considered. or possible trade for items at bottom of post.

do not leave comments here but contact me by email below.
please contact me at jeanie

still searching for items also. charka. support spindles. kick spindles. cotton to spin.
if you sell these items or have them to trade please email me at above link also.

First Sock Off The Loom

my first loom sock, the efg extra fine gauge wonder sock loom, it is adjustable so you can knit all sizes of socks from a baby sock to 96 stitches. I used 64 stitches and the Cascading Leaves Sock pattern that I wrote. I used a short row heel with double wrap at end of rows. I made short tops as I was unsure of the Regia Yarn on the new loom. Gauge was 9 stitches and 12-13 rows per inch. Unbelievable with a loom!! Sam makes these and they are the finest wood crafting I have seen in many years. If you never knit a sock but love wood you got to see them!

I took the first sock off of the loom and put it on dpn size 0 to finish the end and the toe because I am not good yet at seeing how long to make the sock to fit feet while it is still on the loom. I figured this would be easier for me. After I finish one I can count rows and then know approximately how long to make them before a on the loom short row toe.

and that top left pic, that is the box my loom came in. the post office had a tragedy with it at the air port they say. it came in a plastic cover with a apology on it. boy am i lucky dalooms wraps it good inside the box because the box died in delivery!!

cascading leaves on a sock loom

cascading leaves using efg sock loom getting over 8 stitches to the inch.
this is the efg extra fine gauge sock loom from DALooms

top pic is the short row heel. look how dense the fabric is, no holes there!

Cascading Leaves , another pair finished.

this pair is knitted on size 1 dpn from knitpics. using a skinny regia yarn. gauge for this pair was 9 stitches and 12 rows per inch. cast on 64 stitches. made for someone special that wears a size 8 1/2 narrow shoe. I sure hope they fit!!

Wonderloom

Wonderloom

Guess What I Have Been Doing?

I have found a new love. My Cricket Weaving Loom.

This was purchased from Arbor Yarns

I absolutely love this loom. Arbor Yarns was the best to buy from.

With quick shipping I had it here in a matter of days.

It took less than an hour to get it all put together and then another hour to warp it.

Dishcloths here I come!!

Catching up and checking in.

I have been knitting like a maniac. It is the wool. Yes that's it I am blaming the wool. It sucked me in like a black hole. I love this stuff, I got it from Astrid's. It is Evilla Art Yarn 83 - 6/2. Natural, grey and pink. I did the other shawl in the blue and gray colorways with the thinner yarn. But this one is my favorite to knit with. It feels like the kauni, a homespun natural feel. No nylon it it! Just good pure sheep!

I am almost finished with a new shawl. This time from the center out in a square. Trying to decide if I want the edge knitted from center out or seperate and then knitted on?

I am also playing with my looms again. I have a Beka Cherrywood. BUT it is too big to be fun. too awkward I wish it was one of the smaller ones like the cricket. The fun one is the Easy Weaver. I have the A, wish it would grow up and turn into the B model. Easy and Fun. Gives me all the weave weave weave I want with out all the fuss. Now if it would eat it's wheaties and grow into the B size I would be so happy.

Still knitting socks. Have so many pairs on needles. Also knitting mittens still. I was struggling along trying to do christmas presents then decided oh well and put them in the box. Ended up not sending them at all.

Detroit has a total of about ten inches of snow. BRRR. Both sons ended up with big dents in their cars. Drat. Kev got his fixed and now Matt has one that runs all the way down the side of his van. I am still without a car but hoping to find one by February or so.

Had a little revelation about car insurance. I and my boys, have NEVER had a car accident. No tickets. Nothing. Here we set paying No fault, commonly called ' No Fault Yo Fault' in my area. Cause it really doesn't cover anything at all. It just gives you a piece of paper that says you are insured. My insurance agency for over fifteen years was charging me $1200 plus every six months. Just for Kevin. Why? She told me it was my zip code.

Son Matt went to Progressive online. When he showed me that his was less than $300 I about had a stroke. So why was she charging me that much? Cause I believed her and paid it. Duh.

All those years I paid that money for nothing. Needless to say, not anymore. Now other son is a Progressive insured driver too. I can't believe I was paying a thousand bucks extra every six months for nothing. Think of how much yarn I could have bought ? er I mean, How much money I could have saved, yes, that is what i meant to say.....

Weather here is in the teens. Next week we go to single digits and even have days predicted at zero. All with way below zero wind chill numbers expected. I can see now the squirrels in the trees will be knocking at the door waiting on the corn and bird seed to be put out. Poor little things.

Molly is laying in the bed. She should really be ashamed. She is as lazy as I am and has gained weight. When I got her she was a petfinder dog shelter dog. A special angel of a lady had rescued her and advertised on petfinder with her. Son Kev drove 2 days up and 2 days back to bring her to me. She was thin, 20 lbs, and a touch shaky. Now she weighs in at 30 lbs plus and is the rooster of this barnyarn.

If you are considering getting a pet, give the shelters a try. There is so much love there waiting to come home with you. Maybe your next best friend is there now?

You know you can contact me anytime here ... JustJeanie

Free Patterns for Socks and Shawls

many of the patterns you see on this blog are totally free. contact me at Jeanie and tell me which ones you are interested in. I will get right back to you!

Blue Gray Finished

Pattern is being typed up now.
Available soon.

Blue Gray Evilla Wool Shawl

I am in love with this wool. I got it from ASTRID'S Dutch Obsessions.

She has absolutely the most gorgeous yarns.

The Adventures Of Knitting Nellie

I mailed off a few Knitting Nellies. See one below.

Then go check out her adventure.

I still haven't quit laughing!!

Hope this shows the detail better.

Find this gorgeous yarn at ASTRID'S Dutch Obsessions

It is Trekking Hand Art in the Trinidad colorways.

Melody's Trinidad Lace Stole

Finally finished , packaged up, and going out in the mail!!

Silly Molly Staying Warm

she thinks she is all covered up in the bed. but there is a lot of dog meat hanging out!! She is very short haired so she covers up at night with me. As we head for snow in the weather truthfully I'm glad to have the doggie heating pad!!

My Coat Material

I'm putting pic of the material I sewed my coat from here to show to a friend!

Kevin's tats

Kevin

Finally a finished project!!

I bet you thought I never finish anything but I do!

This stole is my new design. It has a lovely Victorian feel to it. Right now it is blocking er uh drying on a door placed over the dryer and washer.

This was knitted with Trekking Hand Art yarn available at

Astrid's Dutch Obsessions

A very nice stole can be done with 2 skeins, I used 2 1/2 and made it bigger.

Bollywood Movies and Music

Does anyone else just LOVE Bollywood? I am absolutely devoted to the movies/dvds. I can watch them over and over. I love the music and the singing and dancing. I don't care that I have to use subtitles at all. Just super entertainment. The best source I have found so far is

EROS

I can spend hours just shopping around at that site!

All kinds of free stuff there to watch and listen to also.

Nope I don't get a discount, I just really like it!

Melody and Robert

Ivy Shawl

Glazed Carrots Laceweight Wool.

Hunting that perfect pattern for this bright orange

glazed carrots wool from Handpainted Yarns.

I am noticing a lot of BLUE knitting lately?

i tried showing pictures of the many mittens, the peacock shawl and mystic waters shawl.
all inprogress. They go along with the other dozen inprogress projects......

but the pics showed up so dark it was not good. i will try to get outside and take new pics.

here is a early shot of the mario mitten in palette wool

rob ouch

grandson meets van.

grandson zero.

van one.

Robert's knee

something fun to do

love this site JigZone

Anyone For A Little Gator Salad?

The New Manager!!

Way To Go Mom!

Tagged

Subject: TAG

Two names you go by:
1. Jean
2. Jeanie
Two things you are wearing right now:
1. tie dye tee shirt
2. stretchy pants


Two longest car rides:
1. Kansas to California
2. Michigan to Oregon

Two of your favorite things to do:
1. Knit
2. Weave/ and Read about evenly

Two things you want very badly at the moment:
1. To have peace in my family with less worry.
2. time to knit

Three animals you have or have had:
1. Peanuts the orange tom car
2. Ginger the dog
3. Molly my dog

Three people who will fill this out:
1. no idea

Three Things you ate today:
1. coffee, coffee mate, artificial sweetener

Two people you last talked to:
1. Son Kevin
2. Son Matt

Two things you're doing tomorrow:
1. knit i hope
2. have a quiet day

Two favorite holidays:
1. Christmas
2. my mother's birthday

Favorite drink:
1. Coffee
2. diet coke with lime

Mittens

One Mitten Down, and already working on the other one....

click pics for bigger pics. here is the underneath and the top of the mauve mittens.
i used knitpicks wool of the andes and size 3 dpn. pattern is from selbuvotter book.

Folk Knitting Page 100 Marko's Mittens

Well I finally got some palette and size 1 needles to work and at least I can knit these while I wait for my new yarn to get here. My Selbuvotter book arrived in the mail too! I hope this will be a great weekend!

Texas Yarn

Sometimes I fall over stuff. My sister lives in Houston. I was searching for a ball of yarn. Seems easy huh? NO! I looked for over a week. The yarn must be 50 g, and 180 yards approximately, and wool. Someone in the Townies Group pointed me to KNITIVITY Adventures in Fiber Artistry. Located where? TEXAS! Not only does he sell this size yarn but he has it in lots of colors. The only tough choice you will have is picking which color to knit with!

I want to knit MITTENS!! There is some mittens inside me that want to be knitted and they won't take NO! for an answer. Ok so what if it is 92 degrees? So What! It is so hot in my room i can't even stand to touch yarn. Good excuse to crank up the air conditioner and say oh well to big electricity bills. Well it is really only for 1 or 2 days a month. But I am gonna knit MITTENS!! I have a couple of mitten books. Tried and tried to find the latvian book with no luck. Now I am waiting on my Knitivity yarn in sport weight. Oh I see mittens in my future.

Did you ever knit mittens? when? pics? blog about them?
write in let me know!!

Lady Bug Yarn Ivy Shawl KAL Enter Now To Win

dont forget anyone that pays and joins the Ivy KAL group before June 2nd is going to be entered in the drawing to win the Lady Bug Ivy Leaf Shawl FREE I pay shipping to you no matter where you live!!

contact me at JEANTOWNSEND

Pay to join, get the pdf for the pattern. Be entered in the drawing.

shawl shown above!!

Blog Things

What Your Favorite Color ... Green

Says About You:
Balanced --- Relaxed --- FlexibleCompassionate --- Philosophical ---

HumbleLoyal --- Inventive --- Unique

http://www.blogthings.com/whatdoesyourfavoritecolorsayaboutyouquiz/

Happy Birthday !!

Son Kevin showed up with a lovely cake with 55 candles on top of it, two big ones that say 5. Son Chris came over and gave me money and then him and girlfriend took me shopping. We all had a super bar b q in side yard. What a surprise and what a day. Kevin mowed the yard and did it all. Boy oh boy what fun! Other kids Beth, Matt, and Harold sent me Happy Birthday Text message, hmmm..... I sure won't save them any cake!!

Ivy Shawl KAL info

contact me direct at jeantownsend for information on joining a KAL
$5 for pdf pattern in text and charts but one member that joins the KAL will receive the actual knitted shown shawl free.