Adam's Nanny

Martha's Vinyard Fiber Farm Update

Just a quick update for those of you that voted for Martha's Vinyard Fiber Farm to receive the tech makeover.  They won!   Thanks for voting.

The Bucket Bag

Last night, I got to sit down and start Marta McCall's, Bucket Bag, again. 

 

I was knitting away on Sunday and knew in my heart that I must be using needles that were smaller than required but I was really enjoying knitting the bag and I didn't want to stop. So when I sat down last night, I looked at the bag again, and admitted to myself  the needles were way too small and I started again with the correct needles. 

 The yarn is Cascade 220, knitting with two strands.  And the colors are pretty much the colors you see, bright red and navy.  I am ordering the fabric lining on e-bay.  For some reason I am obsessed with having this cherry fabric lining.

And after some searching around the web, I found the red leather handles on a site called www.joggles.com.   

 This is my first real attempt at making a felted bag that I will actually use and I am confident I can complete it and take it with me to Stitches.  Will keep you posted. 

Was I the only one not at Rhinebeck?

It was a perfect weekend for the Sheep and Wool Festival in Rhinebeck but I just couldn't conjure up the energy to make the trip.  But I didn't let the weekend go to waste.   Yesterday, we drove into New York.  Finding street parking on a Saturday is always a gift and we received two.  The first stop was Chelsea Market for breakfast at Sarabeth's.  And then after breakfast it was a trip over to Union Square Market  for Pumpkins, Lavender,  Eucalyptus and Bitter Sweet for my front door.  

With all our flowers, pumpkins, and gourds in hand we made our way back to the car and headed home.  I thought if I could fix up the apartment and get everything done on Saturday, I would be able to make it up to Rhinebeck today but it just didn't happen.

Still a good day after all.  I decided to go to Purl to purchase my Warm Woolies Swap.  The weather was a little cool and I got there a half hour before Purl opened so I wondered around 

 until I found a Starbuck's where I could wait with some hot coffee.  

Once the chill was gone, I walked a few blocks back and found the store already filled with customers. 

After viewing all the pretty yarn, I picked out something I thought my swap partner would like and they were kind enough to wrap it for me.  (I'm not giving it away here, M, you'll have to wait to receive the box.) 

As much as I loved all the yarn that I saw, I used restraint, was really good, and only purchased the Vogue Holiday issue.  I'm saving all my pennies for Stitches.  

Here are some highlights of the store, which also has an excellent blog, www.thepurlbee.com , complete with tutorials.

 

Since I started with Rhinebeck, I just want to report that a friend just called and said mutual friends called her when they were driving home from Rhinebeck late last night after attending the Ravelry party.  They said the entire day was fantastic and the Sheep and Wool Festival was indeed awesome and crowded. Maybe next year...

 I have started Elizabeth Zimmerman’s Baby Surprise too many times to mention.  Everyone I know has knitted the sweater and has told me repeatedly, once you get the first one completed, you won’t be able to stop creating them. I have written about my attempts at this sweater, in a variety of different yarns, but there is always a point where I am stuck and just give up.

 

Well, before my best friend’s granddaughter is too old to fit into a baby surprise, I decided to invest in the DVD, which I am told will arrive any day.  Hopefully, this will get me through the sweater, step by step.

 

If I have to, I’ll sequester myself away in my dining room with the computer and sit at the table and do this until I get it right.  Hopefully, I will be able to post my progress shortly.

In the meantime, I have only 4 or 5 inches to the next armhole of my sweater shawl.  It is looking promising that I will be able to wear it while at Stitches.

 

Last night at our knitting group, the topic of the Rhinebeck Sheep and Wool Festival came up, which led to a discussion of drop spindles.  I purchased mine while watching a demonstration at Stitches a few years ago. It is a beautiful spindle. I clearly remember standing there while the woman showed me how to work with it.  I thought, I can do this, until a few days later at home standing there with my roving and drop spindle becoming rapidly frustrated. It was a disaster. A local yarn shop, KnitKnack had given classes in the past so maybe after Stitches, we will mention it to the owner to see if she would be willing to start a class again so we can all master the drop spindle technique.

 

As for Rhinebeck, I would love to go up there this weekend.  The weather should be beautiful.  Maybe I’ll just leave the house cleaning for another week and just get in the car and drive.

 

Martha's Vinyard Fiber Farm needs your help

  While I was looking through Ravelry earlier, I came across this post for Martha's Vinyard Fiber Farm.  They are looking for help in securing a $5000 tech makeover from Intel that would allow them to put web cameras in their barns and pastures.  So if you have a minute, take a look at the site and help them out with just a click.  The deadline is tomorrow at midnight. 

Sunday Tea Party

Yesterday, ladies from Staten Island and New Jersey gathered at Kathy’s house for our Tea Cozy Tea Party.   It was a fun afternoon of knitting (and eating) and even some show and tell.  Everyone brought something to snack on so it turned into quite a feast.   There was lots of fresh vegetables and fresh fruit, quiches and a variety of home-made dips, an olive, a sun-dried tomato, a vegetable and cheddar and bean dip. 

   

The desserts were many and varied, rum cheesecake, chocolate covered strawberries, homemade coffee cake, cookies, donuts and brownies.  

While knitting our tea cozies, Kathy delighted us by showing all the Noni bags she has done.  It was Kathy's beautiful bucket bag that inspired me to begin one.

 

(She is not only an beautiful knitter,  but an accomplished needle worker as well.  Her home is a showcase of of her beautiful needlepoint pillows and counted cross.)  And as much as I would love to have a room for my knitting I know even if I finally get to accomplish it, it would never look as lovely as Kathy’s knitting room.   (I was blessed with the ability to do needlework but I think when I was created the “neat and organized” gene was somehow omitted.)

And finally here is the reason we all came together.  The Tea Cozy.   Maggie's completed tea cozy is here.

And Rodica's, who chose a two-color ruffled pattern.  This is the first half and the second half was still on her needles when I left and I am sure is sitting on her teapot today.

It was wonderful to leave our politics at the door and enjoy an afternoon of yarn and clicking needles.

  

A Good Day for Yarn and the beginning of the Bucket Bag

I got a call from Gynine at Stockinette yesterday that my Punta yarn had arrived.   I drove right over after work and picked up four more skeins just to be sure that I would have enough.  I realize my mistake.  I hastily did a swatch and when I measured the shawl it is about three inches wider than the pattern, which is better for me, but puts the yarn count off.

 

   

I tried on the shawl last night and the length and drape are perfect.  I have another 7 or 8 inches to the next arm hall and then I will be well on my way to completing the shawl.   It's just picking and knitting the sleeves after that.

When I was in Stockinette last night I decided to buy the yarn for this Bucket Bag, which I am going to start today. It is designed by Marta McCall

 

I am using Cascade 220 for the bag.  The base of the bag will be navy blue and the body of the bag red with a navy stripe at the top.  My ultimate goal is to find red leather handles and line the bag with   

a cherry fabric but maybe something a bit brighter than this one designed by Mary Engelbreit.  I think I would prefect it if it had a white or navy background.  I am sure an internet search will produce just the right thing.

.

It is another beautiful day, just a bit of a chill in the air this morning, but I am looking forward to getting out early and taking advantage of this beautiful weather!

A British Weekend - Tea Cozies and John Lennon Art

  It is another absolutely beautiful day here at Liberty State Park.  Last night I met with my knitting group and they are always so encouraging.  I am making great progress on my sweater shawl and going to stop at my LYS to see if she was able to get the additional yarn.  If that doesn't work, I have decided to work the sleeves in a tweed. 

Sunday our group is getting together to knit tea cozies.  I am excited because it will give me the opportunitiy to knit something else without feeling guily about the shawl.  I was searching through the tea cozy pattern on Ravelry and fell in love with this pattern from Two Swans Yarns. It's done in Fair Aisle and is the "I'm A Little Teapot" rhyme.  I thought it was really unique and so I ordered it.  I know I won't have it in time for Sunday but it would be nice if I could have it finished for my Mom for Christmas.  

Tomorrow morning I am heading into the New York to see the John Lennon Art Exhibit.  If there are any Lennon fans out there, here is the information.

Exhibit is at Openhouse Gallery, 201 Mulberry St., in

SoHo

. Hours: Thursday night 5-9; Friday 12-9 p.m.; Sat. 11 a.m. - 8 p.m.; Sun. 11 a.m.-6p.m. The suggested $2 donation benefits City Meals-On-Wheels.

Sweater Shawl - Not Enough Yarn

  Well, I came to the realization last night while I was knitting my sweater shawl (that I had hoped to have done in time for Stitches) that I may not have purchased enough yarn.  I have a call into the shop to see if  there may be 2 or 3 skeins left.  If not, it will become an internet search, which if unsuccessful, will probably result in my making the sleeves from a different dyelot or reduce the length of the shawl which will mean pulling out about six inches of knitting.  I was so sure I had purchased more than enough but with just five skeins left, I am not very hopeful.

Well, I guess this means I'll knit a few more squares for Warm Woolies.

 

 

A Day at the Farm - without a shawl

It was an absolutely perfect day to go to the Havest Fest at Stone Barn in Tarrytown, New York. 

(And it would have been even better if I had not copied the directions incorrectly and taken us an hour out of the way.  But that was all forgotten once we pulled into the parking area.)

We crossed the road to a beautiful farm and the first thing we came across was a hay ride.  

 We continued on the path and past the pig roast

 

 to the food tents. 

     

Where we did some serious sampling.

Trying the Roasted Corn and Beet Salad while we waited on line for

   

the Pork and Sauerkraut sandwich on a freshly baked onion roll

 

and freshly made waffle cones and ice cream and candy apples

          

And of course there were the sheep

   

and pigs

 

The flowers were beautiful - not sure exactly what some of them were

   

  

but here is my favorite - a sunflower of course

 

and how I wanted one of these shirts

 

But more than that I really wish I had one of my shawls complete.  It seems every other person had on a poncho (that they had knitted)

So here is my shawl from Wendy Knits, which is still on the needles because I was so frustrated with it, even after receiving the errata sheet.

 

and the shawl sweater I am currently working on. I am happy to say I am ready to start the first sleeve.  (See book below for what it is going to look like and previsoius post for all the details.)  

     

In between I am working on squares for Warm Woolies through a Ravelry Group, Knit a Square Join a Swap for Warm Woolies.   These are seven inch squares knitted with two strands of red heart wool for more warmth.  Please check out the site if you have an interest.