Tuesday, June 23, 2009

More yarn loveliness

Habu Textiles Super Fine Merino, will be used in combination with Stainless Steel/Silk blend also from Habu.


Silver/Slate wool, from www.ourladyoftherock.com A Benedictine Monastery located in the San Juan Islands of Washington state.
Mother Hidegard is an absolute joy to speak with, to know more, there is a very informative article on Our Lady Of The Rock in Wild Fibers magazine.
www.wilfibersmagazine.com I subscribe to this beautiful publication.



And finally from Swift River Farm www.swiftriverfarm.com some gorgeous 2 ply Jumper Weight Yarn.
95 % Pure Shetland Wool
5 % Bombyx Silk
Enjoy


I did it


I finally bit the bullet and attempted knitting in the round.

I have not only mastered the 'Emily Ocker's cast on', but have used 4 dpn's to begin with and am now on a circular needle.
To start off, needles were flying around everywhere, poking me here and poking me there. But I perservered, I showed those needles who were boss, just like Elizabeth Zimmerman said I would.
I have cast on the EZ Pi Shawl, and what an addictive knit it has become.

My first shawl, my first E O cast on, my first E Z pattern (love it), my first experience with dpn's, and my first knitting in the round.

Perfect, as we had all succumbed to the flu in this house, (almost all, it appears Coen has been spared).
We have had the works, vomiting, diarrhoea, coughing, sneezing and endless boxes of tissues have been used.

I find, as a single parent illnesses very challenging. The first couple of days were not so bad with Mia sick first then folllowd closely behind by Camilla. But on the fourth morning I knew I was in trouble.
Having had no sleep for the previous 3 nights, nursing Mia, my defences were well and truly down.

It is in these dark moments of pain and fogginess I find myself thinking 'how are we going to get through this'.

So, here we are 10 days later, feeling a little more human than wounded animal.
Now the task is to clean the house as nothing has been done in a week.

Plenty of knitting though, in between resting on the couch in front of the fire. No sports were played over the weekend, as I declared complete rest for everyone, no matter how well you think you may feel.

Monday, June 22, 2009

Pictures Of You



I dare you to watch this and not cry.

This post was prompted by "pictures".
I have just finished reading how 'M' has lost hers.
And after watching 60 minutes last night (something I normally would not do), I found myself looking at pictures of old classmates well into the late hours of the night.

The impact of looking at pictures, the emotional torrent of flooding memories.
And the drowning sensation.
Yet, in complete contrast the overwhelming joy (birth pictures)

Pictures Of You

I've been looking so long at these pictures of you
That I almost belive that they're real
I've been living so long with my pictures of you
That I almost believe the pictures are all I can feel

Remembering you, standing quiet in the rain
As I ran to your heart to be near
And we kissed as the sky fell in, holding you close
How I always held close in your fear

Remembering you, running soft through the night
You were bigger and brighter and whiter than snow
And screamed at the make believe, screamed at the sky
And you finally found all your courage to let it all go

Remembering you, fallen into my arms
Crying for the death of your heart
You were stone white, so delicate, lost in the cold
You were always so lost in the dark

Remembering you, how you used to be
Slow drowned, you were angels
So much more than everything
Hold for the last time, then slip away quietly
Open my eyes, but I never see anything

If only I'd thought of the right words
I could have held on to your heart
If only I'd thought of the right words
I wouldn't be breaking apart
All my pictures of you

Looking so long at these pictures of you
But I never hold on to your heart
Looking so long for the words to be true
But always just breaking apart
My pictures of you

There was nothing in the world that I ever wanted more
Than to feel you deep in my heart
There was nothing in the world that I ever wanted more
Than to never feel the breaking apart
My pictures of you

The Cure

Wednesday, June 10, 2009

Beginner

I am hoping this will be the next project for me, after 2 x school scarves and Moss Rib Sweater for Camilla.

Having never attempted cables before, I am looking forward to it.

Finger Callisthenics



When I first stumbled across this scarf on Ravelry, I enjoyed the complexity of the pattern (only a 2 row repeat).
Now, after finally mastering the pattern (I did mention it has ONLY a 2 row repeat), I am really enjoying this knit.
It is actually fun, once your fingers have recovered.
Definitely a slow knit, but what a refreshing change from mindless 'stocking stitch'.

Friday, June 5, 2009

Stella


Cascade Yarns 100% Undyed Peruvian Highland Wool.
This yarn is hefty and chunky, being reserved for a lap blanket for me.
I can feel the warmth of this wool whilst the skein is resting on my lap, gorgeous.


Malabrigo kettle dyed, pure merino wool.
www.malabrigoyarn.com for more color. I have in mind another scarf maybe.
I love living in a climate that allows me to wear these fibres.







Beaverslide Dry Goods www.beaverslide.com
This yarn and the available colour palette is stunning.
"Fine wool grown in Montana. The colours were inspired by the natural world here on the Rocky Mountain Front, and are unique to our company. It's processed in Maine and spun on an antique spinning mule."
I feel the word 'rustic' is overused in descriptions, but it is certainly warranted when describing this particular yarn.
Our newest member of the family.
She made her way into our home and hearts uninvited.
But she is here to stay.
Aptly named for when attacking skeins of yarn S - T - E - L - L - AAAAAAAA






























Wednesday, June 3, 2009

Hello

Habu Textiles Fiddlehead Cotton Silk, this is a very rare, traditional yarn from Niigata inNorthern Japan. It is made from mixing the fiddlehead fern cotton with silk. The result is a delicate, very soft, rustic yarn.
Habu Textiles Silk Stainless Steel 69% silk, 31% stainless steel. Originally used as an industrial yarn to create oil filters, this extra fine yarn has a core of stainless steel with silk wrapped around the core. Because of the stainless steel, there is a memory in the yarn.

Manos del Uruguay Silk Blend 30% silk, 70% merino extrafine wool, kettle dyed
Manos del Uruguay is a non profit organistaion which assembles over 400 artisans in cooperatives scattered throughout the countryside of Uruguay. The aim of the organisation is to bring economic and social opportunities to rural women.
Unfortunately, I haven't been able to capture the true colour of this yarn. (Juniper 3043).
It is the most exquisite blue.

Hello, my name is Caroline and I am a yarn addict.