Thursday, December 23, 2010

Remembering my Yiayia

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In late September my Grandmother died. Although she was very far away, she was someone I spent a lot of time with over the years, as a child and as an adult. She was 96 years old and in the nearly 39 years that I knew her I have no memories of her knitting, weaving, spinning or crocheting--and yet she did all those things, probably primarily before I was born.

The last time I saw her I was still in a cross stitch/embroidery phase and had only recently learned to knit. She could not believe I was wasting my time working on projects for others. She did not understand that for me, the craft was a way to relax, or to give my hands something to do. To her these activities were done to clothe her family, by necessity. If she did not weave her floors and beds would be bare. If she did not knit and spin her children would not have socks. Once these items became readily available and affordable at the local stores the hand work became less of a necessity. In this new world of washing machines, dishwashers, vacuum cleaners, and inexpensive clothing, etc. we did not have the same view of hand crafts.

And yet when my Mom looked through my Grandmother's things she found the following:
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It is very possible they have not been used in 50 years, but there they were. My Mom has many memories of my Grandmother weaving and knitting, but she has only a few memories of her spinning. The shuttle is missing the part to hold yarn. The spindles are quite worn. But to me they are treasures. My Mom gave them to me because she knew I would treasure them--she doubts any other family members would even know what they are. Like my Grandmother's curved steel dp knitting needles (with a crochet hook on one end) they are a small link to my past and my family's history, and the history of fiber crafts.

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I will remember all the funny stories she told, her wicked temper and the delicious bread she baked for me. And I will wonder about the yarn she spun and the items she made.

Monday, December 20, 2010

Traveling Woman II FO


I finished the shawlette for my sister just before Thanksgiving, and promptly started another one for my other sister. Hopefully it will take less than four months to complete this time. I should try to take a better picture before I send it off.

I also have more plans for projects. Also an improvement since I feel like I could barely think about planning all these months. Sleep deprivation will do that to you.
I bought yarn to make my older son a new sweater and yarn to make my younger son some diaper covers.

I also have a lot more of the MadelineTosh than I expected. The skein seems to have been 120 or 125 grams. I probably could have made another repeat of chart A. I have 40g left and I was thinking I could make a Traveling Little Lady for my 4 yr old niece. Then she can be matchy matchy with her Mom. We'll see.

Thursday, October 21, 2010

State of the Traveling Woman


I started another Traveling Woman in August--and it is still not done. I was dithering for a while about ripping back, I knew I didn't have enough yarn. Yesterday I finally found the time to do it--in the car while the baby was sleeping.

Here is what it looks like over the steering wheel.

Snapdragons




I think these snapdragons know their time is short. They are giving a lovely end of the year display.

Wednesday, October 20, 2010

Scenes from the Fair


No knitting content today--I didn't even take any photos from the ribbon winning fiber crafts. Just some sights from the local fair a few weeks ago.
pretty honey


a really big pumpkin


veggie art

early stages of the sand sculpture

Friday, October 8, 2010

How long has it been?

Sorry it has been so long since I have posted. Time just slips away. Any every spare second I spend doing things that should have been done already--or sleeping. I should be sleeping right now--but I'm not.

My little bean is now 6 months old! Hard to believe. There are a few projects that I never got to blog about before he arrived.

I made 4 diaper covers, to be used by my friend, the photographer, for her sittings with newborns and infants. We went in at 4 weeks and had family photos--the baby wore the hats I made and the diaper covers--very cute.

If I can ever find the notes, I really need to post the mods that I made. I found the smallest size too large for a newborn--so I reworked it so it would be smaller.

Sorry about the poor quality shots. Some of them were taken with the computer's webcam. I never took any with the regular camera--and now they are gone, so that is all I've got.

The little pink one was completed hours before I went into labor.
And a good thing too--I didn't pick up the knitting needles again until August. I've been slowly working on another Traveling Women--but I'll save that for another post.


Sunday, February 28, 2010

Full-term and FOs

As of the middle of last week I am full-term. I would guess I've still got a couple weeks to go--which is good. I've got a few things to finish up at work before I take some time off to get acquainted with the newest family member.

In the meanwhile, call it nesting, or something, but I have finished a few projects.

First the Traveling Woman shawlette, which I could have finished a few weeks ago, but had a crisis about the amount of yarn. I ended up ripping back, and from then it finished off quickly.
Here it is:
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And up close:
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I also made a bulky little baby hat in one evening:
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But the big finish is the Tilted Duster. I had to block the sleeves pretty hard--don't know if they would be tight anyway, or if it is due to the pregnancy, but after blocking they fit fine. Months and months sitting around in a bag waiting for sleeves--but I finally have something cozy to wear. I will probably wear it non-stop for the next 6 weeks or so :)
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Tuesday, January 26, 2010

Baby Santa


Here is a hat I finished off last month/year--though I didn't give it to the intended recipient until this past weekend.
Another prop hat for my friend's photography shoots.
Maybe we'll get the new baby to wear it for some shots next year.
This was knit from Sirdar Big Softie, using size 15 needles. Machine washable and super cute. I just love the pompoms this yarn makes!


The not quite-Colonnade wrap

I finished off something else--though still not my Tilted Duster.
This started off as the Colonnade wrap from Knitty, but when I got to the lacey part I just wasn't loving it. So I continued on in stockinette until I felt it was long enough.
I wore it today, and it kept me comfy.


Friday, January 8, 2010

Wednesday, January 6, 2010

First FO of 2010


Sometimes you just need a little instant gratification--and a new hat.
Pattern Icing Swirl Hat by Ysolda Teague
Needle US 10 / 6.0 mm
Yarn Knit Picks Decadence