He made Q-tip stop tearing around the house with my Addi Turbos for 5 minutes...
Monday, January 02, 2012
HATS for tiny GIRLS and BOYS
Recently, I learned to crochet. Well, I say recently - compared that to when I learned to knit more than half a century ago ... I only learned to crochet in the last couple of years and I was given a wonderful pattern for hats which are well received at local hospitals for their newborn population.
The latest bag ready for delivery, and the first bag of the New Year, is pictured here, containing 34 hats, 4 of which were made New Year's Day. So quick and easy.
I like to store them in those nifty plastic bags that sheet sets come in because the hospital staff can see what they're getting and it's easy just to slip a card or note inside saying where they are from and it keeps the hats clean and organized.
There is joy in knitting and crocheting and definitely warming tiny heads.
Recently, I learned to crochet. Well, I say recently - compared that to when I learned to knit more than half a century ago ... I only learned to crochet in the last couple of years and I was given a wonderful pattern for hats which are well received at local hospitals for their newborn population.
The latest bag ready for delivery, and the first bag of the New Year, is pictured here, containing 34 hats, 4 of which were made New Year's Day. So quick and easy.
I like to store them in those nifty plastic bags that sheet sets come in because the hospital staff can see what they're getting and it's easy just to slip a card or note inside saying where they are from and it keeps the hats clean and organized. There is joy in knitting and crocheting and definitely warming tiny heads.
SEE, THIS IS WHY I CALL HIM "IVAN THE SQUIRRIBLE"
Our squirrels are VERY bold. There is, quite frankly, no way of discouraging them from thieving the bird food when they set their little pea brains on that very task. The picture above is how I found him when I walked into my kitchen to make a cup of Rosie Lee this morning.
Today, it seems, Ivan decided it would be a good day for a suet breakfast. Clearly, this particular rodent's list of new year's resolutions did not include leaving the birds' food alone.
Now, normally, I would not be put off by this blatant display of gross disrespect, but I DID give him a good 3 minute grace period munching on the suet so I could photograph the dirty deed before pounding on the window so I think he ought to be grateful. This was very rude, I think.
After jumping from the illicit feast to the window sill and over to the fence where he furiously scratched himself and spun his tail while "regrouping", he decided he was still not full.
This is Ivan coming back for more. It's a good job Q-tip was too busy chewing my Addi Turbos to notice this little mini-drama.
Crafty Squirrel: 1
Irate Woman: 0
He wins the battle - I'm still fighting the war.
Our squirrels are VERY bold. There is, quite frankly, no way of discouraging them from thieving the bird food when they set their little pea brains on that very task. The picture above is how I found him when I walked into my kitchen to make a cup of Rosie Lee this morning.
Today, it seems, Ivan decided it would be a good day for a suet breakfast. Clearly, this particular rodent's list of new year's resolutions did not include leaving the birds' food alone.
This is his commentary to me after pounding on the window to dislodge his hairy butt.
SPEAK to the TAIL!
SPEAK to the TAIL!
Now, normally, I would not be put off by this blatant display of gross disrespect, but I DID give him a good 3 minute grace period munching on the suet so I could photograph the dirty deed before pounding on the window so I think he ought to be grateful. This was very rude, I think.
After jumping from the illicit feast to the window sill and over to the fence where he furiously scratched himself and spun his tail while "regrouping", he decided he was still not full.
This is Ivan coming back for more. It's a good job Q-tip was too busy chewing my Addi Turbos to notice this little mini-drama.
Crafty Squirrel: 1
Irate Woman: 0
He wins the battle - I'm still fighting the war.
Sunday, October 09, 2011
Blimey! Roots have invented a #knitting camp chair with #YAR... on Twitpic
Well it's about time, I say! Roots have finally made a camp chair for knitters, complete with yarn holder. What took them so long? Knitters rejoice!
Well it's about time, I say! Roots have finally made a camp chair for knitters, complete with yarn holder. What took them so long? Knitters rejoice!
Friday, September 30, 2011
This is a video I stumbled upon on YouTube and thought I would share. It seems that some folk think I am the star in the video. Although the person in this video is, in my humble estimation, a mechanical wizard with her fingers, I am not she and she is not me! I appreciate her efforts, though, to share this talent with the world and I am just providing friends who read my blog with a sample of some of the talent available on YouTube and elsewhere on the WWW. Enjoy!
Here's the work in progress! I'm getting excited just thinking of it. Keep your hands warm AND end up with a finished product. Life is good.
Here's the work in progress! I'm getting excited just thinking of it. Keep your hands warm AND end up with a finished product. Life is good.
Tuesday, January 11, 2011
Cat Bordhi - Part 1: wrapping & turning, concealing wraps
By far, the very best demonstration of wrap and turn I have seen. Thanks, Cat Bordhi, for publishing the informative and very helpful video!
Monday, November 08, 2010
Thursday, October 21, 2010
Startitis Strikes Mississauga Knitter
I am sick with a terrible case of Startitis. If left unchecked, this can lead to a chronic case of Finishaphobia. I've already got some of the tell-tale symptoms of this ghastly malaise. I have currently on the go - a pair of socks, no. 1/2 and I'm not liking the chances of casting on the second - this is a whole other illness - "Onesockitis" - I have a hat in modified rib which I really like, but it's boring. So much yarn, so little time and I want to use it all! Bless me!
I am sick with a terrible case of Startitis. If left unchecked, this can lead to a chronic case of Finishaphobia. I've already got some of the tell-tale symptoms of this ghastly malaise. I have currently on the go - a pair of socks, no. 1/2 and I'm not liking the chances of casting on the second - this is a whole other illness - "Onesockitis" - I have a hat in modified rib which I really like, but it's boring. So much yarn, so little time and I want to use it all! Bless me!
Friday, October 15, 2010
Wednesday, October 13, 2010
IN THE WANING OF THE DAY In the waning of the day when embers warmly glowing lay within my hearth
the stresses that had taken hold no longer seem to be so bold
They don their cloaks and quickly flee, and yield to wools enfolding me,
As I sit clicking, clicking, softly knitting
in the waning of the day.
In the waning of the day when all around me sleeping lay
No sleep can find me as I sit before the fire and quietly knit
My soul finds solace in the act, the quiet, lovely fibrous act of one stitch over, two left back
Wrap the yarn, take up the slack.
A sock, a hat, a baby sweater
End result? It doesn't matter
Just the act of quiet solace worry-free of come what may
in the waning of the day.
the stresses that had taken hold no longer seem to be so bold
They don their cloaks and quickly flee, and yield to wools enfolding me,
As I sit clicking, clicking, softly knitting
in the waning of the day.
In the waning of the day when all around me sleeping lay
No sleep can find me as I sit before the fire and quietly knit
My soul finds solace in the act, the quiet, lovely fibrous act of one stitch over, two left back
Wrap the yarn, take up the slack.
A sock, a hat, a baby sweater
End result? It doesn't matter
Just the act of quiet solace worry-free of come what may
in the waning of the day.
Copyright 2010 - Judith Somersett
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Saturday, October 02, 2010
Just so there is no confusion, the "Judy" in this video is not me. I do not know this Judy but I think I love her! Her instructions are clear and concise and extremely helpful. I think anyone who wants to know how to perform this task should watch and learn! Enjoy, and thanks, Judy, for your much appreciated assistance! :)
Wednesday, December 30, 2009
Sunday, August 30, 2009
Not exactly knitting related, but hey - this is one of my all-time favourite recipes which I originally found in the 1987 (!!!) Milk Calendar and have not seen since until this morning when, after having spent 2 hours crawling through the crawl space and digging through boxes and making a right mess of the crawl space, not to mention myself, I gave up and Googled it and some precious person had posted it to their blog and yes, it is the same one! It is a milk-based sauce as opposed to the standard tomato-based sauce, so for those of you who may suffer tomato allergies, make this with confidence... Oh! And if any of you actually HAVE the 1987 milk calendar, and are of a mind to share the recipes in it (it was a stellar year for the MC), I would be ever so grateful!
Oh, and if you want to check out the blog where I found this long-lost recipe, go here:
thoroughlymodernvintage.blogspot.com/2009/05/my-creative-space-completed-wips-and.html
COUNTRY STYLE SPAGHETTI
Country Style Spaghetti -serve 4 to 6
2 Tbsp. vegetable oil
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 tsp. salt
1 onion, chopped
1/2 tsp. pepper
1/4 tsp. hot red chili flakes (opt.)
1/4 c. chopped pimento or sweet red pepper
1 lb. sausages (sweet or hot Italian) removed from casing and broken up
2 Tbsp. flour ( or tapioca starch)
2 1/2 c. milk
1/4 tsp. nutmeg
1 lb. spaghetti
1/2 c. grated Parmesan cheese
3 Tbsp. chopped fresh parsley
1. Heat oil in a large skillet and brown sausage as you break it into chunks. When the sausage is getting brown, add the garlic, onions and hot pepper flakes. Drain off any excess fat.
2. Sprinkle meat with flour and cook a few minutes, stirring. Add milk and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and add nutmeg, salt, pepper and pimentos. Simmer gently for 15 minutes.
3. While sauce is cooking, cook spaghetti in a large pot of boiling, salted water. Cook until tender 10 to 12 minutes and drain.
4. Toss spaghetti with sauce, cheese and parsley. Taste and season if necessary.
Serve with any green vegetable and if you wish, garlic bread.
Prep. Time: 20 minutes
Cooking Time: 20 minutes
Oh, and if you want to check out the blog where I found this long-lost recipe, go here:
thoroughlymodernvintage.blogspot.com/2009/05/my-creative-space-completed-wips-and.html
COUNTRY STYLE SPAGHETTI
Country Style Spaghetti -serve 4 to 6
2 Tbsp. vegetable oil
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 tsp. salt
1 onion, chopped
1/2 tsp. pepper
1/4 tsp. hot red chili flakes (opt.)
1/4 c. chopped pimento or sweet red pepper
1 lb. sausages (sweet or hot Italian) removed from casing and broken up
2 Tbsp. flour ( or tapioca starch)
2 1/2 c. milk
1/4 tsp. nutmeg
1 lb. spaghetti
1/2 c. grated Parmesan cheese
3 Tbsp. chopped fresh parsley
1. Heat oil in a large skillet and brown sausage as you break it into chunks. When the sausage is getting brown, add the garlic, onions and hot pepper flakes. Drain off any excess fat.
2. Sprinkle meat with flour and cook a few minutes, stirring. Add milk and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and add nutmeg, salt, pepper and pimentos. Simmer gently for 15 minutes.
3. While sauce is cooking, cook spaghetti in a large pot of boiling, salted water. Cook until tender 10 to 12 minutes and drain.
4. Toss spaghetti with sauce, cheese and parsley. Taste and season if necessary.
Serve with any green vegetable and if you wish, garlic bread.
Prep. Time: 20 minutes
Cooking Time: 20 minutes
Friday, June 19, 2009
Saturday, October 11, 2008
LAZY DAISY STITCHERY
Good morning all! Okay, for those of us who like to embellish our knitted pieces with embroidery, I found a neat little tutorial video on how to do a lazy daisy stitch. Now I know what you are probably thinking - I've made hundreds of those - but for those of us who are visually needy, I thought I'd post a link because after all, this person's site is really quite good and the video is really quite clear.
You will need to scroll down past the picture of the multiple strand daisies in action (which, incidentally, I think are a marvellous idea and look nifty).
Joy in Knitting ... and stitchery!
Good morning all! Okay, for those of us who like to embellish our knitted pieces with embroidery, I found a neat little tutorial video on how to do a lazy daisy stitch. Now I know what you are probably thinking - I've made hundreds of those - but for those of us who are visually needy, I thought I'd post a link because after all, this person's site is really quite good and the video is really quite clear.
You will need to scroll down past the picture of the multiple strand daisies in action (which, incidentally, I think are a marvellous idea and look nifty).
Let me know what you think if you're inclined to visit!
Here's the link.
Joy in Knitting ... and stitchery!
Tuesday, August 19, 2008
SSK vs. K2tog tbl
The video below is shown on my blog courtesy of and with permission of Brittany Newberry, the owner of the video. Brittany has created many instructional videos for your viewing pleasure and knitting clarification. Her site is http://www.knitwitch.com/
Thanks, Brittany!
Joy in Knitting
The video below is shown on my blog courtesy of and with permission of Brittany Newberry, the owner of the video. Brittany has created many instructional videos for your viewing pleasure and knitting clarification. Her site is http://www.knitwitch.com/
Thanks, Brittany!
Joy in Knitting
Tuesday, August 12, 2008
GOOD GRAPE! IT'S ANOTHER BABY SWEATER!
And it's so PURPLE!!! These sweaters are SO quick and SO much fun, I'm thinking of making a gross of them...Anyway, this one is a really rich shade of purple by Cabin Fever. Not sure the pic does it justice, but I think it looks really smart and some little tyke is going to be really swish-looking.
Joy in knitting!
Monday, August 04, 2008
NOW I KNOW MY ABC'S
Okay, I am definitely going to stop making these now (after I've done a PURPLE one!) The little ABC buttons on this one were one of my favourite features. They are just too cute.
I can't tell you how much fun these little sweater are to make, and so quick (as you can tell) because I've finished 3 complete sets in July as well as a turquoise jacket which is not pictured and is not lacy but plain.
I did go in a slightly different direction with the "skirt" of this sweater and adopted a double-eyelet pattern I got from Ann Norling. I think it worked very well but took a tiny bit more yarn than the original Cabin Fever pattern.
Joy in Knitting
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