Still Some Snowy Days and a Peak Into My Knitting Bag

A peak out my dinning room window today.

This time a year I have to work real hard not to be discontent and feel the grass is greener on the other side. (literally, lol) It is that time of the year of transition time between winter and spring. We are seeing glimpses of spring but we are still getting snow. I am drooling over pictures on blog posts that show trees in bloom and life. Yes, it will happen here too...soon. Till then I will cozy up to my knitting and sit by the fire and patiently wait and daydream for spring.

Here is a peak into my knitting bag of goodies. I am using up odds and ends in my yarn stash and making hot pads that I will make a quilt front and then put on a binding. The moss stitch gives the thickness so I don't have to use batting or a backing. It is all in one, neat eh? I am hoping during spring break I can get some quilt fronts made and then assemble them. I used chunky 100% wool or cotton for this. That is important because if you use acrylic it will probably melt when used, I know b/c I used my hubby's aunts and that happened, not a good thing.

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My MIL's Stripy Wooly Socks and Ramblings

With all the day dreaming I find myself slipping into here and there thinking about spring. I need to remember to savor the now. I know that in the next week or two it will be the beginning of starting seeds on the plant table. Which means in the next couple of months we will start prepping the garden to be planted and it will be full speed ahead from there till New Years again. So, I need to remember to savor this time of quiet days sitting and stitching and planning.

It also shows me I need to get a move on certain projects I wanted to get done this winter. I better get them started and finished in proper time. I really want to clean out what will be our future bathroom. Ohh for those who have known me for the last few years...well yes things have crept back into that room. I need to just get it all out and not allow anything other than what is needed for the future bathroom back in there. I think I will get started on this mammoth of a project a week from today. I will have to block out my Saturday for that alone. Maybe a pre-made frozen dinner is a good idea or a crock pot dinner. I think I will have to get hubby to get me a kitchen timer this week so I can set intervals of work and rest periods. Then what ever doesn't get done that day I will set a goal of 15-30 minutes each day till it is done.

Do you have any mammoth projects that are calling your name this winter?

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Simple Pleasures~ Knitting in the Round

This week I took some yarn that I had hand dyed and then made a sweet gift ( a cowl) for a sweet friend. There is something so fun about knitting in the round. I added a bit of lace knitting to it but not too much because it would be lost in the texture of the yarn. I am very pleased how it turned out. I find when I have a lot on my mind and heart I tend to knit more. It is a very therapeutic way to sooth the nerves and mind. And a wonderful time to pray.

.....Simple Pleasures is to remind me to stop, to look, to listen, to slow down and pay closer attention to the simple things in life. And when ever I do, I am never disappointed.

To join click on the Simple Pleasures graphic and see what it is all about.

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Friday Farm Girl~ Doodle Stitching and Other Projects

Today in my Farm Girls @Heart post I want to share how I have discovered the love of Doodle Stitching. In years past I use to cross-stitch but now I have found with all the things this homeschool mama has to do. The mental power to do cross-stitching is to much. I like needlework that is more freeing and forgiving. I like how the author encourages you to carry on and create your own designs. I hope this coming year to spend some time each week just...doodling. And I hope to be able to create some of my own doodles. I love crafts that I can just play with colour and shapes and only the sky is the limit.

I also have been knitting a shawl for a charity. I hope in the next week or so this will be done. I have done a lot of complex designs but sometimes a very simple one will stump me, lol. The middle yarn overs that create the lacy holes sometimes will move to one side or the other. Not what I want. I have to be very careful this doesn't happen. I don't know if you can see it very well but I made a beaded stitch marker. I hope to be making some to put in a Etsy store. Trying to find a way to sell my crafts and not have to leave the home to do it.

( To read other Farm Girls @Heart and/or join in on the fun go visit my friend Lori's blog by clicking on the graphic)

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Dyeing Wool With Food Coloring or Kool Aide

I was going through my craft patterns last night and found my notes on how to dye wool with food coloring or Kool Aide. I sure am getting the itch to try my hand at it once again this winter.

On January 10th, 2010 I posted on my old blog of my experience dyeing wool with food coloring and had to share it with you all. I have have been enjoying my hand dyed wool Calorimetry headband this fall and winter. ( pattern HERE)

(January 2010)

I have been wanting to dye my own wool for years but never have had the courage to. But I keep hearing about those ( my older brother included) who have dyed animal fibers with Kool Aide. It is a safe and wonderful non fussy way to do it in your own kitchen. You even can use your crockpot ! My crockpot has become one of my most favorite tightwad tools.

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My brother gave me some white sheeps wool last year. I have been holding onto it for awhile and decided to take the plunge and dye it. But as I was researching how to dye it I found out you can also dye it with food colouring ! This neat must see homestead video that shows how to dye wool with Kool Aide. Off there they gave a link in in their more info a very well written out instructions too and a neat link to food colour dyeing your wool.

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Here I am winding my wool into a hank of yarn.

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I tied my hank in several places to hold it together while I dye it. ( suggestion here: tie very loose or it will give a tie dye ring…not reccomended unless you want that look.)

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Here I am soaking my wool in a vinegar and water bath over night to help it to absorb the dye better.

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Here is my yarn in the crockpot after I have poured my food coloring mix into it. Please watch video and read the instructions on the side. It explains it very well. There is one other site that I recommend to read too. Go HERE.

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This is what the water looks like after it has exausted all the colour from the water. It is so fun to keep peeking in and seeing it disapear. This is a GREAT science experiment with learning color therory. I had a ton of fun mixing my own colours with the food colouring.

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TA DA ! Here is my first tries !

((((HAPPY DANCE)))

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And my second tries !!

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I thought I would show what my knitting basket looks like right now. The top right corner shows the two balls of yarn that I dyed the second time round. Doesn’t this make you want to try it ?!?

( To join in on the fun or check out other Friday Farm Girls @Heart posts click on the graphic and go visit my friend Lori)

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Shalom ( Cardigan)

Picture taken by Nicolas 10 yo

I was finally able to get a sweet ds to take my picture of my new FO ( finished object) my Shalom Cardigan ( the pattern is HERE but I used THIS alterations to it.) . *GRIN* I love my new cardi so much. The wool I picked is so soft and a joy to wear. I have some green cotton yarn to make a different sweater( that is a bit complicated for my full brain) but I am now thinking maybe a Shalom II might be a choice. [o= One thing I would do different is make the sleeves a bit longer. Just long enough to go over my elbows and I want to try using the moss stitch instead of the garter stitch for the edges and cuffs. I just love the 3/4 length sleeves. I have some other FO's I want to share and I need to take some time this week or next to get some pictures of them for you.

( To join in on the fun go visit my friend Lori's blog by clicking on the graphic)

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Knitting Woolly Socks

I have been busy busting my yarn stash this fall and winter and felt what a great thing to share on FFG@H. This year my MIL only suggested a few things for a gift ideas for her and one of them was a pair of my hand knitted socks. *grin* I was so thankful I had some sock yarn in my stash and I got busy.

I have been knitting for ohhh what seems like forever. I learned from my mom in mid to late elementary. And then became a avid knitter in junior high. But in all honesty I didn't take the leap to learn socks till about 6 or 7 years ago. I was scared of the heel. Now I feel silly but it did help to see someone knit the heel. I am a visual learner. And now I LOVE knitting socks and it is very therapeutic knitting in the round. I am hoping this up coming year to try some fancy lace knitted ones. Up until now I have enjoyed using smart yarn which is computerized striped dyed yarn. It makes the stripes and I don't have to think about it. *grin*

I have found these socks amazing. They are not too thick and they are very long lasting. My family loves them and I have a list of orders from them now that they see me knitting them again.

This years knitting goals are..... I want to make a drop spindle with two CD's and I want to learn how to knit two socks at the same time on two circular needles. If you want to learn how go....

HERE.

Lesson 1 - Getting Started

Lesson 2- Lets Knit !

Lesson 3- Time For the Heel

Lesson 4 - The Toe

If you want to find all kinds of neat patterns.( a lot for free) I suggest to join http://www.ravelry.com/ a online knitters and crocheters community. I have had so much fun there. If you do join look for me Canadagirl. And befriend me too, *grin*.

( to join in on the fun click the graphic and visit my sweet friend Lori)

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