Color Too

I love neutrals. I guess I have an understated, somewhat quiet personality. But one can't fade completely into the woodwork and I abhor monotony. So I generally wear a pop of color somewhere and I knit colors too. Above are a couple of samples in flame stitch  .... I love the classic little granny square as well. Wouldn't the Zigzag Scarf  be pretty in Kid Silk Haze? The afghan would be a very lengthy project but you can find this pattern for free from Rowan. .... So for all you sassy bold types .... we love you too. And have a lovely day.

Working With Wool

I recently purchased this book of wonderful photos and history of the West Coast Salish Knitting tradition. I was disappointed that no patterns were included in the book, but you can go online to find some authentic items knitted by Coast Salish Indians at West Saanich Woolworks. I especially liked the items pictured above and have purchase some roving wool (Lions Alpine Wool or Tahki Montana) to design my own.

Irish & Linen Stitch

1. I have had this pattern for awhile and it is looking like time to start on it. I am still collecting some koigu yarn ... enough for three separate scarves. One in green, another in blue and also plum. The scarf is worked entirely in a linen stitch and can be knitted from almost any stash of odds and ends. You can find this pattern at Churchmouse Yarns & Teas.   Oh and Happy St. Patty's .... I've shamrocks in the window and on the table and I have been planning my;

St. Patrick's Day Menu 

Guinness,

Chicken Sausage

Scalloped Potatoes & Spring Peas

Irish Soda Bread 

  Irish Coffee &  Oatmeal Cookies

The Irish Soda Bread Recipe came from a very dear little Irish Grammie who makes the bread for the Irish festival at the Hagley Museum every year.

Irish Soda Bread

3 c. flour

2/3 c. sugar

1 t. salt

2 T melted butter

2 eggs

1 T. baking powder

1 t. baking soda

1 1/2 c. raisins ( I like golden)

1 3/4 c. buttermilk

1 T. caraway seed (opt.)

Sift all dry ingredients. Stir in raisins and caraway seed. Combine beaten eggs, buttermilk, and melted butter. Add to the dry ingredients and mix with a fork till just moist. Don't over stir. Pour into a greased loaf pan and bake at 350 degrees for 1 hour. Remove from pan immediately.

Simple

I've begun a blankie in the moss stitch. The wool is Rowan purelife (13 circular needles). I plan to toss over my favorite chair so I can snuggle. It is also a simple break from trying to figure out more complicated patterns.

Knitting & Upcycle

I do not only knit for myself. The above items are part of my nesting projects for Samira and perhaps some other children. I knitted and felted the hats (a free online pattern) to match some upcycled gloves on etsy from Felt Sew Good. The gloves, as shown to the right, are my own first attempt ... the little grey pair with the wayward thumbs. I did make about three more pairs, from thrift store sweaters, which turned out much better. I cannot show them because they all went under the Christmas Tree .... I may try to make a couple more, in the near future, as I promised my mother a set.

Basketweave Cowl

Done and finished this lengthy but lovely project. Above, with my cowl, are some pretty, little, recycled mittens from Felt Sew Good on etsy. Allthough they match so nicely, I am tempted to knit a set of mittens in the very same basketweave design. I did find a helpful site online, where you can graph and print a digital design for fair isle knitting or other motif. And so I am in the process of designing my set of mittens on Tricksy Knitter. You can find a link under my list of blogs and tutorials. My Basketweave Cowl is made from a Danish 100% wool from Kauni. My project required 2 skeins (150 g. each) with some left over for the mittens.

Norwegian Christmas Socks

So here are the Norwegian Christmas Stockings or "little red socks" I have been promising to blog to you about, dear reader. They are knit on #2 circular needles and double points.

As you can see I am stopped conveniently at the heel, awaiting the stamina to figure out the next step. I have a pretty good idea about how to proceed and may be able to show you at least one finished sock very soon. I have hung up the idea of making a set of Christmas Stockings for a pair of socks. These will be for just two little feet .... mine.

The Winter Gardener

I've brought in some of my garden to winter and I am nursing it thru till spring. Above, I found some fresh potted herbs at the Acme marked 40% off. I put both pots in my cart and continued my shopping only to be chased down by the horticulture employee who let me know that for today and for me they were 50% off. How really kind.

I like to grow my indoor plants in old ironstone chamber pots. And the herbs make any kettle of soup gourmet fare.

Kiss Me

Sam models one of my latest additions to Cotton Ginnie Studio, the Aran Sweater. It is a vintage find. Sam is a long time friend and team mate with Jon from WCS. And yes, he's Irish too.

The mittens were an emergency effort for my son Caelen who has his studio in the top floor of his urban row house. It gets very cold up there. Since I got one of his paintings for Christmas I responded with a pair of very masculine fingerless mitts so he will be encouraged to paint some more. Caelen and his wife feel very connected to their Scotch Irish roots but I had to remind him that he is nearly 1/2 french from his mum's side of the family.

Happiness Is ...

Returning to finish some of my pre Christmas efforts. I'm trying to finish projects in an orderly fashion but the Double Irish Chain is calling my name .... along with the little red socks .... Jon and Ashley get happy.

So This Is How It Is

Spent a good bit of Saturday deciding on the arrangement of fabrics in my Double Irish Chain. After all was said and done, ended up going the traditional route. I'm very pleased. The pattern lends itself to strip and machine piecing. Much quicker then hand piecing. I will hand quilt. My sewing machine is working all right ... there's an annoying problem with the bobbin. I can only fill it half way or the needle snags on it. So a lot more stop and go to refill. The machine is a Brother .... did see a demo, at a reputable dealer, with a Janome machine that was pretty impressive .... should be at $500. Years ago I was scammed into purchasing a machine from a demo held at a Holiday Inn. The machine quickly malfunctioned and I had no where to return it to. I traded it in for the current machine at the local Singer store. However I have gotten repairs on the Brother, at said store, which have not been satisfactory as the problems persisted ... wasn't sure that they did anything to it. Any hoo .... I'm just glad that it is currently running with no tension problems.

J0n and Ashley did finally make it in by this morning. So I did break up quilt think sessions to cook and visit.

A Lazy Afternoon

It is a rainy Friday afternoon and the housework is done. I am waiting for Jonathan to show up with Ashley. It was to be parents day at LB but my son said he'd rather come home early after spending time with his girl. So for now I am sipping coffee and planning my next quilt.'

Above are my color choices for the Double Irish Chain which I'm thinking may become a Triple Irish Chain ... I'll play with it some. I think I may have enough colors to make a second quilt and I think Rolling Stone is a pretty pattern that I have worked on before in my Wood Rose Quilt. The lovely sweater to the lower left was found at the thrift store for a couple of dollars. It needs a small repair. I think it is a lovely find for one of the grandchildren.... might be slightly large for Asher.

Finished & In Process

Above are a couple of vests I have finished. The blue and gold are in the UD colors. Above you see the beginnings of the Basket Weave Scarf. I have also finished a couple of extra Boater Scarves.

Knit Picks

Here are some patterns I would love to try! The Drops Design Patterns are available online under free patterns at Nordic Knits. There are so many free patterns I have only just begun to look through them in my spare time! I did purchase the glove pattern from Noble Knits because it compliments a free cable knit hat pattern that I have in my file. So many projects ... so little time. I have just completed a baby vest done in University of Delaware colors. And I've started a lovely intricate basket weave scarf (another free pattern). I seem to gravitate to these complicated projects .... proof that I do enjoy the process over quick sale .... somewhere there has to be a happy medium.

The Boater Scarf

I am loving this scarf! Spring is still a little chilly here in Delaware. You can find this great scarf (for men or women) with more details in my Cotton Ginnie Studio by me ... hair by Ashley (Hoard) 302-453-1113.