Wool Windings

The Pumpkin Patch

2006-09-12T08:02:00.001-05:00

I'm on a felting kick again. This time it's pumpkins. The large pumpkin is made from a pattern I picked up in Utah. Even though the pattern was free, it's copyrighted so I can't share it. But, I can share how I made the small pumpkins since they are creations of mine. They are about the same size of the ornamental gourd pumpkins you can buy in the store this time of year.

MINIATURE FELTED PUMPKIN

Pumpkin:

Yarn: Use any natural fiber yarn that will shrink when washed. I used Cascade Pastaza in Burnt Orange.

Needles: Double point needles in appropriate size. Use a couple of sizes larger than recommended for your yarn. The goal is to create a loosely knitted fabric. US Size 11 is usually good for worsted weight and is what I used.

Cast on 15 stitches and join in the round.
K 2 rnds
Inc 1, k1, inc 1, k2. Repeat to the end of the round. (21 sts)
K 3 rnds
Inc 1, k3, inc 1, k2. Repeat to the end of the round. (27 sts)
K 10 rnds
K2tog, k3, k2tog, k2. Repeat to the end of the round. (21 sts)
K 3 rnds
K2tog, k1, k2tog, k2. Repeat to the end of the round. (15 sts)
K 1 rnd
K2tog around to last stitch, K1 (8 sts)
K2tog around (4 sts)

Cut yarn. Draw through remaining sts to close. Weave in ends. Leave the top of the pumpkin open to add stuffing later.

Felt in the washing machine until desired size is acheived and stitches are no longer visible. There are many ways to shrink your knitting. The way that works for me is to use hot water, a small amount of soap (Eucalan Woolwash), high agitation and the lowest water level setting available. I also throw in an old pair of jeans to help with the agitation. When the felting is finished, I set the machine to the spin cycle for just long enough to remove the excess water, but not long enough to set permanant creases in my knitting.

Stuff the pumpkin while it is still damp so that you can shape it as you want. With a tapestry needle and yarn, sew a running stitch around the opening and draw closed. Using lengths of yarn, form sections by wrapping yarn around pumpkin and drawing tight to shape. Tie knots on the top of the pumpkin. The knots will be hidden by the stem.

Stem

Yarn: Worsted Weight

Needles: US 6 Dpns

Cast on 12 sts. and join in the round.
K 4 rnds
K2tog around (6 sts)
K2tog around (3 sts)
Work I-cord on remaining sts until desired length. Bind off. Weave in ends.
Using a sewing needle and thread, sew stem to top of pumpkin. Use a little stuffing to fill in bottom of stem if desired.

Be creative and have fun with this pattern. Combine different colored yarns together to get a variegated look. Use up those little bits of yarn you've been saving and bust your stash.

The Circle Vest

2009-03-17T09:51:00.012-05:00

I love to knit. I knit almost every day. I can see myself knitting for the rest of my life. But, it has become clear to me that writing about my knitting projects is not something I have a heart for anymore. From now on I'll be keeping project notes on Ravelry only and blogging about day-to-day happenings on my photo blog, One Snap. Thank you for following Wool Windings all these years. I'm a better knitter because of your encouragement.

The last project featured on this blog is a very cleverly designed vest called Circle Vest.

Yarn: Noro Silk Garden

Color: 267 Taupes/Blue

Modification: Added a button for a better fit in the front.

The armholes are finished with slip-stitch crochet.

The back is the star of the show.

More notes and pictures here.

Baby Blanket

2009-02-16T10:11:00.005-06:00

Free Pattern: Sunny Baby Blanket
Yarn: Caron Simply Soft
Needles: US 8
Notes on Ravelry

Take a Look

2009-02-09T14:23:00.004-06:00

At first glance you might think these are regular mittens. But take a closer look and you'll notice the thumb is open.

Then look at the palm side and you will see that these are indeed fingerless mittens.

How cool is that!

Pattern: Negative Space
Source: Knitting New Mittens and Gloves by Robin Melanson
Yarn: Reynold's Lopi
Needles: US 10 & 10.5 DPNs

The unique design of this "half-glove with a tongue," allows the back of the hand to be covered for warmth, while the fingers remain free.

There are many fun elements in the construction of these mittens, including provisional cast-on, I-cord bind-off and applied I-cord (the cuff is an I-cord coil).

Everything I needed to know about working a technique that was new to me was explained, so I didn't have to go to another source for help.

I look forward to knitting other mittens and gloves from this book. There are 28 designs to choose from...I like them all.

Not Just a Neck Warmer

2009-02-02T11:16:00.003-06:00

The beauty of this neck gaiter is its simplicity and versatility.

Worn as designed, it's long enough to pull up over your mouth and nose if needed. You can, of course, knit it to any length you want. The pattern suggests 8". Mine is 8.5".

Fold it in half for an extra thick neck warmer. I wore it this way for fishing on Friday night and it kept me toasty warm.

Doubled up like this, it can also be a headband/ear warmer. Two layers of wool did a excellent job of blocking the cool breeze on Saturday.

If you want more coverage, wear it as an open-topped hat.

I may have to knit another one, so I can wear two at once.

Free Pattern: Ribbed Neck Gaiter
Yarn: Araucanaia Nature Wool
Color: Am 0320
Needles: US 7, 16" circular

Something for Sue

2009-01-26T05:00:00.001-06:00

I couldn't send Mark hand-knit mittens without making something for Sue, also.

Free Pattern: Keyhole Scarf
Yarn: Ballybrae Knitting Worsted by Brunswick (discontinued)
Color: Sky Blue Tweed
Needles: US 10

I'm modeling the scarf before it was washed. After washing it, the stitches straightened out nicely, which was good. But as I was laying it out to dry, I noticed a big mistake. It seems when making the keyhole, I bound off 12 stitches, but only cast on 10 on the next row. I was two ribs short of the right number on the bottom six inches of the scarf.

I don't know if Sue would have ever noticed this mistake, but I couldn't live with it. After the scarf was dry, I ripped back to the keyhole and fixed it.

This rustic tweed yarn is some I inherited from my mother-in-law. I think she would like the fact that one daughter-in-law knit with her yarn for another daughter-in-law.

It's almost like she's giving this gift too and that makes it extra special.

PS. Received word from Mark that the mittens fit.

The Mitten Contract

2009-01-21T08:26:00.000-06:00

Brother-in-law Mark needed a pair of wool mittens to wear under his chopper mitts. He asked if I could knit him a pair. I said, "Sure, send me a tracing of your hands." And with that, the mitten contract began.

I was warned in advance that his hands were "strong, but delicate with long graceful fingers often associated with concert pianists." When I got the tracing, I knew I should order two skeins of yarn!

I decided to go with Wonderfully Woolly Worsted Weight from Green Mountain Spinnery in natural grey. It seemed appropriate to use 100% New England Wool since Mark lives in Vermont and besides, I've always wanted to try this yarn. When it arrived, I knew I had made the right choice.

Using Ann Budd's book, The Knitter's Handy Book of Patterns, and advice from John, I knit a pair of mittens that John says are "just right." If it weren't for the fact that they are a little too big for him, I'm not sure he'd let me send them to his brother.

Knit at 6 stitches per inch, these mittens should be hard-wearing and warm. The 1x1 ribbed cuff is longer than typical for regular mittens, so that it will extend beyond the chopper mitts.

Extra length was added to the hand and thumb to accommodate Mark's extra large hands.

I mailing them off today.

I sure hope they fit.

Westminster Vest

2009-01-12T13:24:00.005-06:00

My vest is finished and it's actually cold enough to wear it. Yippee!

Westminster Vest
Designed by Betsy Campbell for the Wooly West
Pattern Purchased at Black Sheep Wool Co. in Salt Lake City, Utah
More project details and pictures here.

Fisherman's Neck Gaiter

2009-01-08T10:48:00.000-06:00

For my favorite fisherman.

Fisherman's Rib Stitch in the Round
Free Pattern with Photo Tutorial
Project Details

New for 2009

2009-01-05T12:24:00.000-06:00

The back and two fronts of my vest are finished and have been joined by three-needle bind off at the shoulders. Today I will sew the side seams and begin knitting the band along the armhole edges. The job of seaming will be all the more fun using my new Gingher scissors adorned with cross-stitch fob. My neighbor gave these to me for Christmas and I love them!

The photo above is being featured today on my photo journal, One Snap. It's a blog based on Project 365. The idea is to take and post one photo, every day, for a year. One Snap will be my primary place to blog in 2009.

Posting here at Wool Windings will be sporadic and will most likely be about knitting only, perhaps only photos of finished objects with details posted on Ravelry. I'm still debating what I want to do.

I've considered using Ravelry exclusively as my knitting journal, but there is a part of me that's not ready to give up this blog entirely and that's because of all the friendships I've made here. So, I'll experiment with a couple of ideas until I find out which works best for using my time wisely--one of my goals for 2009.

Our Week in Matagorda

2008-12-31T05:00:00.001-06:00

This was the first year that neither of the kids were home for Christmas, so John and I decided to spend the week at the travel trailer in Matagorda. We did not put up a tree. The only decorations were two poinsettia place mats and a Christmas candle.

Inside the Trailer

The weather was not the best. From Sunday to Christmas Day it went from really cold, to warm, to cold, to warm again. Each front that came through brought rain. Low clouds obscured the sun most of the time. And one day the fog was so thick that John and I walked right past each other on the beach and didn't know it.

Foggy Day at the Beach

John's big Christmas gift this year was a fishing light.

Shining a strong beam of light on the water at night attracts the bait, which in turn, attracts the fish. On the nights it wasn't too cold, I joined John for nighttime fishing on the river. Everything I caught was too small to keep, but John caught one keeper trout.

My big Christmas gift was a deck we built for the trailer. I love the way it turned out! It provided us with a nice clean, dry place to sit and watch the comings and goings on the river.

I passed on the kayak fishing this time since the weather wasn't that good, but John didn't let the cold and wind stop him. He caught two nice redfish, which gave me an opportunity to photograph the pelicans at the fish cleaning table.

Patiently Waiting

Fighting for Fish Scraps

Mine! Mine! All Mine!

We left Matagorda sooner than we planned when we got word that my grandmother passed away in Oklahoma. She was 93 years old and a faithful Christian. Though her passing was sad for us, it was a victory for her. I am confident she is in a better place and I am comforted.

But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. ~ 1Cor. 15:57

Z is for Zinnia

2008-12-29T07:39:00.000-06:00

Dad always planted zinnias near the vegetable garden to attract the bees and butterflies.

I remember being allowed to pick zinnia bouquets whenever I wanted, which is probably why I love this flower today.

The full, double blossoms are my favorite.

The bright colors make me smile.

I'm dreaming of a zinnia garden for next year, like the one from my childhood, with butterflies and bees and cut zinnia bouquets for the table all summer long.

At This Rate...

2008-12-18T11:43:00.004-06:00

...I don't expect to finish my vest until the end of the year, if even then.

I've only managed to knit a few inches on it since the last time I showed you. Knitting has not been a priority on my list of things to do in December, though I do wish I had this vest finished so I could wear it. I could have used it several times already this season.

John gave me this funny little sheep the other day. I think he can sense that I need some cheering up. It's been gray and dreary here all week and some last week, too. I don't do well with gray and dreary, but the weatherman promises a bit of sunshine today, so things are looking up.

Next week we'll be hanging out at the travel trailer in Matagorda. Christmas dinner might very well be grilled trout or redfish or if we're really lucky, flounder.

Wishing everyone a Merry Christmas!

Y is for Yardstick

2008-12-15T05:00:00.000-06:00

Do three yardsticks count as a collection? If so, then I have one.

According to The Book of Alternative Records, Ing. Arnulf Bietsch from Bolsterlang, Germany holds the current world record for a yardstick collection. He has collected more than 30,000 different yardsticks which he stores in a special room with air conditioning.

I keep a yardstick near my knitting spot. I like to use it or a 12-inch ruler to measure knitted fabric. I find it easier and more accurate than a retractable tape measure for measuring small items; measuring floppy fabric with a floppy tape measure can be cumbersome for me. And I always have a yardstick handy for blocking.

For anything over 36 inches a tape measure is best, of course. But, I've even found a way around that for measuring scarves: A good length for a scarf is 60 inches which happens to be the exact length of my dining room table. When the scarf reaches end-to-end, I know it's long enough.

Never lose sight of the fact that the most important yardstick of your success will be how you treat other people--your family, friends, and coworkers, and even strangers you meet along the way. ~Barbara Bush

Stay Warm; Wear Wool

2008-12-11T09:11:00.007-06:00

Days like this call for wool.

It was damp and windy with feels-like temperatures in the low 20s...and it snowed! Can you see the perfectly formed snowflakes on my coat?

When I pulled out My So Called Scarf (details here) to wear yesterday morning, I decided I didn't like the looks of the cast-on and the bind-off edges, so I added fringe. Much better.

My wool/silk scarf, wool hat & mittens, wool socks and wool coat came in handy. I really felt sorry for all those people wearing acrylic.

Coming Attraction

2008-12-10T10:27:00.001-06:00

Soon to be featured as a finished object is a vest I started in mid-November.

I bought the pattern at Black Sheep Wool Co. this summer. The plan was to knit it with yarn from my stash, but nothing seemed right. For my birthday, John treated me to a trip to Twisted Yarns and I chose this pretty indigo-colored wool by Imperial Stock Ranch. I cast on right away, but got side-tracked with knitting hats and most recently a lace scarf.

As you can see, I'm back on track and nearly to the finish line--only one more front to knit and then the bands. I could knock it out in a few days, if I had more time to devote to knitting. But with things getting busy as they usually do this time of year, I'll be satisfied with getting it finished by Christmas week.

Here's a close-up of the stitch pattern: ribs and seed stitch. And for Jean, I've included the Scotch Bonnet I found on the beach this weekend.

September

2007-09-12T07:00:00.000-05:00

007 Snap a Dozen Days

Ruby-throated Hummingbird

September is the month that our backyard comes alive with hummingbirds. It is rare for us to see hummers in the spring. And we have never had one stay for the summer. However, when the hummingbirds begin their southerly migration, they tend to stop over in our yard to feast on the flowers of the Turk's Cap shrub.

You can see how perfectly designed flower and bird are for each other in the photo above (all pictures in this post can be viewed in a larger format with the click of the mouse). As the hummingbird dips in for the nectar, her head brushes against the stamen and is dusted with pollen.

This year we have about six Ruby-throats that feed regularly in our yard. Each day we are entertained by their acrobatics.

And awed by their grace and beauty.

These amazing little birds are my favorites and I look forward to their return each year.

The Best Day (Part II)

2007-09-19T07:03:00.000-05:00

After leaving the fiber fair, John and I drove to the mountains. We took the Mirror Lake Scenic Byway. Our destination was Mirror Lake, but our first stop was the Upper Provo River.

John tried his luck with the fly rod.

I explored the area and added another flower photo to my collection.

The sky was beautiful--a deep shade of blue mixed with puffy white clouds.

While John continued fishing upriver, I found a place to sit and knit.

Another pair of socks is underway. Again I'm using Online Supersocke Cotton. This time it's Beach Color 946. The colors may be reminiscent of the beach, but I think they look quite at home in the mountains.

After catching a few fish and knitting a few rounds, we headed for Mirror Lake.

Definitely one of my favorite places! It's so beautiful that it's hard to capture the true feeling of it in photographs.

It takes about an hour to walk around the entire lake. At first glance it doesn't appear to be that big, but when you walk the perimeter you realize there is so much more to see. The scenery seems to change with each stop along the trail.

I kept my eyes open for wildlife. I saw chipmunks, various birds, a muskrat (I think) and a few squirrels. This guy thought I wouldn't be able to see him if he sat as still as he possibly could.

We left just before dark hoping to spot a moose on our drive down from the mountains, but no luck. We did however get held up by traffic...of a different sort.

Hundreds of sheep!

Not the type of traffic jam we're used to in Houston, that's for sure.

(Click the last two pictures for a bigger view.)

Just Ducky

2007-09-21T07:15:00.000-05:00

For most of the summer, Friday's posts have been reserved for flower pictures, so it seems only natural to continue with a non-knitting theme on Fridays. Today it's photos of a duck I saw at Silver Lake in Utah. She was quite willing to pose for the camera. You can click these for a bigger view.

Enjoy your weekend! It's the last one the summer.

Pair #18

2007-10-05T06:30:00.000-05:00

Fresh off the needles...or maybe not so fresh?

I don't know why the dogs had to sniff my new socks. My feet were not stinky. I promise.

Plain O' Stockinette Socks
Online Supersocke Cotton
45% Cotton, 40% Wool, 15% Nylon
Beach 946
Short-row heels and toes
US 1 on 64 stitches

And since I already had my feet propped up, I stayed outside just a bit longer to take in the Hummingbird Show. (Click the next two for bigger.)

At times it was dramatic.

And at other times, comical.

The best entertainment is sometimes right in your own backyard!

Get outside this weekend and enjoy what God has created (even if it's raining). You'll be glad you did.

Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!
--Psalm 46:10

Not a Monkey

2007-10-12T06:30:00.000-05:00

I planned on knitting Monkey Socks with this yarn, but these stripes needed something less distracting than a lace stitch pattern to show off their beauty. I think they really shine in this 3x1 rib. And right now a simple pattern that I can knit in my sleep really works out better for me. I need a "don't have to think about it" project for the end of the day and this is it.

I'll have to buy a variegated yarn to knit a pair of Monkeys since I don't seem to have any in my stash. For those of you who have knit a pair (or multiple pairs), which yarn would you recommend? Has anyone used a solid color before? I do have some of that stashed away.

Have a great weekend! Our kids will be home for a few days, so we're planning on having lots of fun--no housework allowed.

October

2007-10-15T09:08:00.001-05:00

007 Snap a Dozen Days

Sunset at Matagorda Beach

October is a great month to be outdoors. It is still warm here, but not oppressively hot--just perfect for a day at the beach. The sunsets are especially nice this time of year. I hope to experience this sight many more times this month right from this very spot.

Gotta run. The kids are still here and we have things to do. More about our weekend later this week

Snippets

2007-10-31T07:00:00.000-05:00

Look what I saw on Sunday. One of the pumpkin hats I knitted being worn by a sweet baby boy. It made my day!

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I inherited this ball of yarn from my mother-in-law's stash. It is a two-ply wool that I think will work well for a shawl. I didn't know how much yardage there was though, so I used the kniddy noddy to guesstimate and wound it into center pull cakes.

There is close to 1000 yards--enough for most shawls. I had Flower Basket Shawl in mind, thinking I had the pattern, but I don't. Guess I'll have to buy it.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I knitted two headbands. I'll keep one in the jeep and one in the truck. That way I'll always have something with me to keep my ears warm--no more improvising. The patterns I used are Super Simple Knit Headband and You Stole My Heart Band (minus the beads). The yarn is Mountain Colors. The colorways are a mystery to me as they were mill ends and were not labeled. I used two strands held together and size US 8 (5 mm) needles.

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Several weeks ago we were treated to a beautiful rainbow after a light shower. The picture got left in the camera and I forgot all about it until now.

May God give you...For every storm a rainbow, for every tear a smile, for every care a promise and a blessing in each trial. For every problem life sends, a faithful friend to share, for every sigh a sweet song and and answer for each prayer.
~ Irish Blessing

Snaps

2007-11-09T07:00:00.000-06:00

A few of the ones I liked from our trip to Matagorda.

Our next trip to the beach may not be until after Thanksgiving. Today we're taking the travel trailer to the Texas Hill Country for Kid 'n Ewe.

Have a wonderful weekend!

A is for Alligator

2008-01-09T07:00:00.000-06:00

American Alligator
Brazos Bend State Park
Needville, Texas

One of the best places to see an alligator in the wild is just a few miles from my house at Brazos Bend State Park. According to this article, it is home to 300 American alligators . With numbers like that, it's a guarantee you'll see at least one gator and most likely several as you walk the trail around Forty-Acre Lake.

Did You Know?....

The sex of the juveniles is determined by the temperature of the nest: above 93° F all are male, below 86° F all are female, and temperatures in between will produce both sexes.
American alligators can live to about 50 years in the wild. After it is four feet long, an alligator is safe from predators except humans and occasionally other alligators.
Alligators can tolerate salt water for only brief periods because they do not have salt glands.

That last fact makes me feel a little better about kayaking in the salt water marsh. Read more facts here.

Thanks to Vicki for hosting ABC-Along 2008. Sign-up details can be found here and here. Every two weeks I'll post a photo representing a letter of the alphabet.

See ya later, alligator! (I couldn't resist.)