Master Knitter Wannabe

So of course now that I've heard about the Master Knitters program on my favorite podcast, Knit Misadventures, Ihave to give it a try.


My Spinning Wheel


I ordered the level one course and it showed up in the mail just three days afterwards.  I thought I'd have a month to warm up to the idea more!

So, it feels pretty intimidating but I'm gonna give it my best shot!  So, some accountability would be nice! 
 

Some inspiration

This course is offered by "The Kniters Guild Assocation" (TKGA) if you would like to reserach it for yourself.  I think this progam will help me to fine tune my knitting skills.  I've been knitting, crocheting, tatting, macrameing, rug hooking, etc. since I can remember.  I don't even remember the moment I actually learned to knit but I do enjoy it.  It wasn't fashionable to knit when I started and certainly not in my teens.  There were very few patterns or books at the time.  Most patterns were for babies.  Now, oh my goodness, the variety of books and supplies never ends and it is considered way cool if you knit. 

So, off we go.  I'll get my little notebook together and look through my stash for some yarn that qualifies for the projects and BAM!

Strawberry Anyone?!

Okay, a hit of cognac to chase away the doubt and a big attempt to finally, actually "can" something! The Strawberries were big and beautiful at Hyvee (my favorite grocery store) and I couldn't resist. I've had all of the supplies needed for canning for several years now and most importantly the book by Better Homes and Gardens 'You Can Can'. I just love that name! But of course I first consulted Youtube and searched "canning strawberries". How did I ever survive without Youtube? It really helps me to watch someone doing something to learn.

My first canning experiment created 3 - 1/2 pints which really got me going. I followed the no sugar recipe on Youtube.

That's it, I got the bug and I was so proud! Back to the store for more strawberries. This time I used the pectin, sugar, etc. It produced 8 - 1/2 pints of terrific jam (I HAD to use the 1/2 pint jars cause they are just too cute. Leftovers were used to make a strawberry pie for the guests! With a sprig of mint from my garden!!!

Last weekend the guests enjoyed gourmet Chocolate Chip cookies with a soft frosting - Ghiradelli chocolates only! Oh my word. Recipe from Martha Stewart's book 'Cupcakes'. Not sorry I bought that one! And the guests are in for a real treat this season!

Yes, Jeff, I am baking for the guests.

Farmer Girlfriends - last fiber day I mentioned how "muddy" my beautiful roving turned out to be after spinning.  This is what I was talking about. 

The roving is absolutely breathtaking but when I spun and plied it it looks a little mucky, but somehow better in this photo.  Sherryl had some multi colored roving which spun up very clear and beautiful.  Maybe this had too much brown in it?  Lesson learned:  Not sure...maybe let Sherryl pick my roving from now on!  What fun!

Lovely and Fun Lace

I love everything about lace.  It is so dainty and feminine.  I am fascinated with how each tool you use creates its own unique stitches.  Crocheted lace is much different than the airy knitted lace which is similar in openness to bobbin lace but still quite difference.  Tatted lace produces it's own unique stitch, density, flavor, etc. 

Of course I've had to try them all over the years.  I still don't have a favorite but enjoy the diversity of it all.

This is my lace basket.  I don't get to it much but it inspires me every time I pass by it.

It's good to try using different threads but I usually go back to the standard white or ivory as my favorite. 

The round bag in the middle, that is crocheted. I found it at an antique sale.  Women used these to hold their ball of thread while they crocheted, tatted, etc.  They would hang it around their wrist and perhaps walk through the lovely gardens while making their lace edgings. 

Far left is an orange plastic tatting shuttle.  I prefer the heavier silver plated ones. As far as needle tatting, that's a choice we have to each make but I like the movement of the shuttle passing back and forth through my hands. 

The ivory/light green lace is bobbin lace made.  Now that takes a lot of concentration and after about 3 years I'm still working on the same pattern.  Need to spend more time with it but my life is anything but the quiet needed to pursue this technique!

There is some multi colored tatted lace here.  That was fun for a change.

The bright white piece is crocheted with bobbles.  I just love bobbles.  They are so fun.

I'm planning on making a lace sampler book. Seems all I ever get done are samples!!!  When I do get some yardage I use snippets of it here and there are miscellaneous projects like doll clothes.

Hope you enjoyed.  Have a great lace making day...I'm off to another fiber day with friends!

My Gift Shop/Cabinet

 The nice thing about owning a Bed and Breakfast is you can actually show what you make and try to make some money to feed your habit.  In the entryway I have a beautiful old cabinet filled with Fiber treasures.  Things move along slowly but it's good because I can keep up with it. 

Of course my Fiber Friends contribute their items as well.  We have all natural, super soft wool scarves, face scrubbies, warm cowls, felted purses, potholders, "Guest" towels, Potpourri and more.

My mother made the Victorian lady potholders which I just love. I machine embroidered some red work towels.

 Here I have some nice washcloths and my glycerin soaps (see larger photo below) and the finished Princess Coat that is way too large for Cara Isabella.  I also hand crocheted some lavendar scented sachets.

 Home made potpourri!  I use flowers that were left behind by guests, hang them up quick to dry, snip them and spray a nice, gentle scent on the mix.  Put it in a vintage basket with a vintage hanky and you are good to go! You can just imagine the memeories of wonderful getaways behind each batch.

Softly scented Glycerin Soap using only Essential Oils of course.  Each has a vintage photo adhered to the top which makes them especially charming and one-of-a-kind!

And last but not least, my crocheted wash/dish cloths. 
I use 100% cotton and, don't tell my Fiber Gals this, but the real pretty ones are made with expensive "Noro" yarn.  They are the best.  I just love them and they hold up way better and longer than my cotton towels.  Love the colors and the feel.

Please, consider emailing me pictures of your projects.  Let's inspire one another!

Fiber Day

Sherryl, the originator of Fiber Day



Linda, Jan & Claudia

 Fiber Day is Sooooo Much Fun!

One day a month we get together to do lunch and whatever fiber thing we want to do from 12 to 5pm.  We try all sorts of things:
Sherryl: Spins, crochets, dyes fiber
Jan: Knits, crochets and is into felting purses and resizing old wool sweaters
Claudia: She's into fine needlework, cross stitch, with beads
Linda: Crochets, Knits, dabbled in weaving a bit.
I:  Bring about 4 unfinished projects and switch back and forth between them


Linda, master christmas stocking crocheter


 A couple of years back Linda crocheted 30+ Christmas stockings to give away to some kids at a local alternative school.  The loved them!

Sherryl, Jan and Claudia are all "Farm Girls".  Linda was raised on a farm but seems to have transitioned to "City Girl" some years back.  I, of course am a "City Girl" too.  You can tell by our Fiber Day conversations.  Some talk about their horses, cows, gardens and others of us talk about the most recent manicure we had! 

I love being around my "Farm Girlfriends".  They calm me down and I learn lots of cool things that my friends don't know like how to make syrup, soap, lotion, jelly, blueberry buckle cake, flaming Figgy Pudding...I could go on and on but cannot leave out the crocheted "G" string.  Yes, they can be a little wild those farm gals.



Princess Coat finished!



They all got a big laugh when I said I wanted to be a farm girl but I didn't care too much for dirt.  And what's with the old saying "If you have live stock, you have dead stock", oh my.  Think I'll continue living vicariously through them! I get sad enough when a plant dies!!!!:)

I worked on this Princess Coat on our last fiber day.  It is finished now and I just love it, although it is way to big for my granddaughter.  I used acrylic yarn because young parents don't know how to care for wool but now there is no hope of shrinking it down for her.  It is so much bigger than her I may have to give it away to another young lady this year for Spring. For now it's in my gift shop at the Inn just to see if it goes! 

Fiber Day is Fun.  Get some friends together and try it out!  That is my Free advice for the day.





Variegated Yarn

Variegated Yarn

I have used variegated yarn in the past but never with such surprising results. I suppose I need to work with them more An experienced variegated yarn knitter/crocheter would probably have seen this. Isn't it a beautiful pattern. And I love the soft colors. I'm making a coat for my Grandaughter out of this yarn. Can't wait to finish. That being said, it will be a while.

I always have several projects going on at once time. One that needs a lot of focus and quiet time, one take along (maybe 2), something exciting, something you can watch TV with and not mess up. And that's just knitting. I always have a spinning project waiting my attention, bobbin lace pattern setting to the side and something to embroider.

Sometimes I wish I was a master of one and not a jack of all trades but after I think about it, I just assume be this way. It's more exciting to me!

One year I tried to focus just on quilting. It went well but it is highly unlikely to happen again!