The Colberth Rock Shawl and A Thrift Store Find

 Yesterday, I picked up a  shawl I started.......ok, wait for this now.......July 4th. 2017!

 It use to be a free pattern on Ravelry Now it's a few bucks so looking for the pattern was necessary. I finally found it (the last 2 pages of it) and picked up where I left off in the mesh lace. Then about 16 rows down I obviously dropped several stitches in one place. Trying to mend lace was not successful so I frogged about 16 rows. I found a rest row (knitting all stitches) and picked up with a smaller needle finally. The yarn is Juniper Moon Farm Moonshine  and is 40% alpaca. Its a beautiful, soft red. 

After knitting a pair of socks, switching to size 9 US needles with worsted weight was very different.

I frogged almost back to the point where I picked it up. I may have shown this on the blog in the distant past as I started it a long time ago but here's a few pics from then. The true color is in the last 2 pics.

The Colberth Rock Shawl by Rhonda Craven (in progress)

Mystitchmarkers match the yarn :) 

I'm on the second skein now.

It's really a basic triangular shawl.

591 yards of cushiony, soft goodness.

The label has suggestion to use size 7 needles and I started it out like this but my tension must be tight because I ended up switching to a size 9 into the mesh lace portion.

And now.

Definitely will need some good blocking.

And my latest thrift store find!

A wood bowl and some old spools.

just because.........

I have a little soft spot for old sewing notions

and wood bowls........

And I'm getting the bug on this very rainy day to do some thrifting again. It just makes a dreary day brighter.

Have a great day!

Kaihola Shawl --New Start

I have some yarn in my stash that is luscious and yummy from my Washington DC trip and my visit to Looped Yarnworks. I held it like a treasure for a while and found the shawl I wanted to use this for on Ravelry. It is a free pattern named Kaihola by Heidi Alander. 

Last night late, I actually started ----and this morning I frogged it out because I was learning a new stitch that is in this pattern and with the help of You Tube I restarted and properly stitched it right.

Made a world of difference to have the set up rows right. 

I learned the KYOK.

The pattern also calls for Knit, Purl, Yarn over, KYOK, and KFb

I am using # 9 needles Addi Lace my tension is usually tight.

This is working perfectly!

You cast on 8 stitches. Then the first set up row will result in 11 stitches.

Then you start on the stockinette part with lace edge for the top down and this is actually the start of the body of the shawl. 

My goal for this pattern was to try to learn to read charts instead of written instructions. 

I've shyed away from that but with this pattern when I get to the the 4 charts that are pretty short, I think it will be a good pattern to practice with. 

The beautiful colorway and yarn was pricey, much-so, but a splurge so I want to make sure I get every stitch right!

I think I have enough yardage as I have 2 skeins of it; however, I've thought about increasing the body part (this is an option) to make a larger one and then knitting the wide lace section in another colorway that blends well. 

Brand is Anzula

luxury fibers

hand dyed yarn

Cricket

DK weight and 80% superwash merino, 10% cashmere and 10% nylon

colorway is Seabreeze.

The label states you can machine wash cold, gentle cycle (I would hand wash all my knits). and lay flat to dry. 

you can find more information if you like this at 

www.anzula.com

I'm really enjoying this morning early as I woke at 7am and started in on this for a couple of hours before chores today.

If you knit, do you prefer charts or written instructions?

I hope you are enjoying a beautiful Saturday. It's so nice to get a day off!!!

Abbie has a talent of stacking pillows and pulling blankets to her choosing. I think she is ready for a good morning nap after her usual morning treat.  I just shampooed her and put a coconut rinse on her. Her hair is SO thick! I blow dry her after ward but she wanted to dry the rest by itself and it's got to be brushed. 

She is a serious pillow-stacker. 

Till later,

Jennifer

Progress on Mr. Darcy's Scarf

Good morning, friends!  It's Saturday, and OH what much laundry and cleaning that has to be done. 

Just thought I would followup on this scarf that I learned the lesson about when knitting a stockinette with only one knit stitch border.  I have also recently bought a handheld garment steamer, a Shark, and I think this will help with the uncurling as well. I plan to lightly steam and then pin to block when I finish.

I've actually seen good results when I store it  by rolling it up flat at night. I haven't worked on it in several days because on work days, I'm exhausted when I get home. But here is my progress.

We have a large leather sofa, so you can gauge the size by that.

I'm a little more than half way done.

This is for a tall man, Mr. Darcy so I'm using 3 whole thick skeins of the Bernat.

Although this is a blurry picture, you can see where I changed from stockinette to garter.

Th color is most truest in this pic. The yarn is not really soft, but not hard either. It's pretty thick so I'm using my wood straights.

colorway is Denim Jeans

using 3 balls/skeins

So, I'm at a standstill until I can get some things done today, I have planned out. I'm doing some really early, early early Spring cleaning. I'm donating alot of stuff because I just feel a cluttered environment is too stressful. I also have committed myself to the local domestic violence shelter in many ways and one is donation of things I don't use or have too many of, so it can be given to someone else who has less.

It'a REALLY windy day here in the North Georgia mountains. I can hear the wind whistling around the corners of the house. My chimes are very active right now. 

I enjoyed a good fire in the woodstove last night and makes me forget the raining and cold outside!

Miss Abbie is cuddled in her "day bed" and taking a morning nap. And I am writing this morning and sipping coffee with Bailey's Red Velvet Cake creamer and sugar.

Have a great Saturday. Tune in tomorrow for a Valentine design. I hope you like it. It's simple and would look great in a redwork design!

Jennifer

Love Is All We Need~~sampler freebie!

  This past week, has been quiet and I've been working on some goals I set for 2014 that include:

• simplifying my life in all areas
• learning new knit stitches
• reading, reading, reading at least a book a week
• organizing while I'm simplifying
• paying it forward with donations of "too much stuff"
• being more mindful of my morning devotionals
• practicing yoga more often AND learn more from You-tube videos
• learning more about frugal living
• researching more about the products I put on my skin and going more organic
• pulling out my cross stitching I designed to stitch the models
• pulling out my WIPS I have already going and finish some
• start writing a book

So, as you can see, I set some big goals but all in all, so far, it's February and I'm doing as well as I can.

Folks, there are some intelligent, talented writers in the blog world and I really didn't realize the depth of the free education and movies on u-tube that we have available!!!

For example, I've been wanting to learn to use cables in my knitting but it just looks so hard. I'm going outside my comfort zone and found The Casting on Couch series of English knitting on u-tube and she taught a braided cable scarf! It looks quite much easier than I had thought but I will have to get those needles out and work it.......work it baby, work it......

Here is her site for freebies. I highly recommend her tutorials on You Tube. She is great at explaining.

http://www.thecastingoncouch.com/

I have knitted the Chunky Lace pattern on the end of a garter scarf and it turned out well.
I really want to try the Cabled scarf pattern.

For simplifying, I set this goal because I'm at a middle age (huhum) point in my life where cleaning the chaos, having fewer things, promotes a better environment for less stress. I've read a couple of books and found some blogs I really like and without identifying myself a hoarder...........I do tend to cling on to things longer than need be. I don't know if it's the mentality of "some day I'm going to need that" or what. I think I mentioned the book I read that was free on Pixel of Ink about organization and decluttering. I have since found and stashed a couple more on my Kindle. Speaking of that, doesn't Kindle save space for books!!!!  I've got 265 books on my Kindle, most of them from Pixel of Ink freebies.

I started with the down stairs bathroom and took out all that was in the cabinets. Threw away an entire trash bag full of expired or junk. Then, I organized using baskets I already have for different things. I have WAYYYYYYYY too many lip products. :O
But, I'm very girly, so to part with them is hard to think about.
I have gone through the baskets once and taken a week off of that and now I'm going to go through them again. My goal is to have minimal things in my bathroom. Minimal. Less stress. And this is just one room. In January, I finished selling or donating toys that my adult kids didn't want and feel a load is off there. So, still have many rooms to go but by the end of this year, I hope to meet my goal.

The knitting bug has had me for a while now, but I'm digging into my cross stitch WIPS again and going to pick this up more. I do love samplers! I think knitting has just been such a repetitious therapy for the mind and also useful finishes, with Winter being the best time to knit.

Yoga is now a mindful part of most days in the week and I like it best when my hubbie and I find a lesson online and practice together. It's really quite balancing. I've practiced yoga for about 2 years now, maybe 3. There was a time I didn't practice and I could really tell the difference when I started back.

Recently, I've started substituting natural oils for many beauty and cleaning products and I'm really, really enjoying coconut oil. Just Google Coconut Oil and uses and you will find amazing things. I really didn't realize how good for you this is. Make sure if you get coconut oil, you get, Extra Virgin Cold Pressed, Unrefined Coconut Oil. I have replaced my shaving cream, my night cream, day cream, cleanser, makeup remover and body moisturizer/scrubs with it. It's solid at 76 degrees or below and liquid above that. It lasts forever! It is antibacterial, antiviral, and antifungal properties so you can use on acne, dry skin, sensitive skin and eczema. In fact it's GREAT healing for eczema and psoriasis type conditions. This also ties into my more simple and wholesome living goal! You can order this online but I just picked it up at a grocery store. I prefer the glass jar brands instead of the plastic.

One of my goals in life I set many years ago is to write a book. I officially started and have a publisher already in the ready. It's in it's baby stages of formulation right now and that's about all I can say at this point. But! When my writing mojo begins, I write a little more. My goal to finish is by the end of this year. I know that sounds like a long time but I want to make sure it's right before releasing. The publisher is supposed to call me again early Summer to check on progress.

My camera is really on the blink. I hope to get it to squeeze a few pictures of the snow we are getting. The most of this storm, Pax is hitting our area in the mountains with prediction totals of 9-12 inches by Thursday morning. Folks, that is ALOT of snow. I'm concerned about the icing conditions as well. But for the most part, hubbie and I are huddling inside until Thursday.

 Louie the outside cat, has checked in the Lodge at Fox mountain through the end of the week! We already have had constant snow since 5am. He is ever so glad to curl in the back of the bathroom cabinet that is open and hibernate. Can't wait to see what he does when I turn on a blow dryer.


I designed a freebie offered for a short while here for you!!!  I want to thank you for all your support and taking time out to read my blog. Valentine's Day is just around the corner so I was inspired to design this one. I will have it out free for a couple of weeks. Again, if you stitch it up, please, please, please send me a pic. I will put it on the blog here and especially adore the different ways you finish it.

 

Love Is All We Need

designed by Jennifer Fox, Feathers in the Nest

copyright 2014

 

I'm humming the Beatles song now in my head...........................................

 

Use colors of choice and linen of choice! From muted pinks to bright pinks, this sampler can take many décor options. I would love to see this in a primitive sampler.

Please keep pattern as is except changing the initials to suit you and your sweetheart!

To enlarge to print, just click on the picture and then print in your computer software.

 

I can't wait to see some finishes! You really do make my day. I hope this makes someone happy at least and if your heart is happy, then so is mine.

 

I have two knitting projects on the needles. A shawl and a Spring light airy scarf.

Stay-tuned for pics and progress.

 

And finally, this creature that was stealing all of Louie's food outside on the back porch is not around anymore. He actually growled at me and hissed. Scared me to death.

He met his demise at the end of last week.

 

 

I failed to use the Opossum Pie recipe that is in one of my cookbooks......YUCK.

 

Now this is a much prettier furbaby. Yup, she is a B.A.B.Y

 

 

So on the needles I went from this:

 

 

 

 

I have another one, a thick cranberry shawl in another pattern on more needles but at this time my camera has met it's demise. I will have to get hubbie to take a pic of it for the next post.

 

 

This red headed woodpecker was seen prior to the snow coming. I guess he was "going to the grocery for milk and bread before the storm".

 

Stay tuned. Soon some snow pics today with hubbie's nice camera!!!!!!!!!!!

 

Knitting warm and cozy,

Jennifer

 

Monday Musings--a compilation of home working

Monday started with Banana bread breakfast this morning.

 

I baked a DOUBLE recipe of Banana Bread Friday and here is how fast is flies.

Out of the oven

 

24 hours later

and 48 hours later...........it goes fast!  That's why I doubled the recipe. It is a simple one I found in a very vintage recipe book from 1979. The name of it is "Think Christmas" and was compiled and published by The Junior League of The City of Washington, Inc. I've had it for about 5 or 6 years now found in a junkin' store.

 

 I really needed a few more bananas but I made do with what I had.

 

The basic recipe is :    (remember to double if making it in a cake pan)

1 cup of sugar
1/2 cup of butter, softened
2 eggs, well-beaten
3 large bananas, mashed or 6 small ones
1 tsp of baking soda
2 cups of all purpose flour
1/2 cup of chopped nuts (I used pecans)

If using for only this recipe and not doubled,

Preheat oven to 275 degrees.
Cream sugar and butter
Add eggs and bananas
Add sifted flour and soda
Add nuts and mix well
Pour in greased loaf pan and bake for 1 hour.

Now, when I doubled it, then I poured all this in a tube pan and baked at 300-325 instead for about 1 hour 10 minutes or so.

Makes great dessert, or a breakfast bread or a good midnight snack!!!! You can also freeze some of it.

On the stitching front, here is my progress on At Home with Jane Austen.............(designer, The Sampler Girl)

I finished the flower motifs and now on the last band of flowers at the end.

 

As for knitting, I have started and now have sections of a scarf I'm putting together with some serendipity.

 

I will combine all the sections. I found this wonderful FREE Chunky Lace Scarf pattern on You Tube over the weekend and it's a 6 row repeat.

 

Here is one section of the 6 rows. It makes a lovely scalloped pattern. I will do another row or two of this and decrease gradually to fit the gartered sections on each end.

 

 

I'm using straight needles for this because I don't have a 13 circular, I so wish I did!!!!!

I adjusted the pattern by decreasing by 10 cast on stitches and still this is a cramped fit on my 14 in straights.
I "unbunched" some stitches to show more of the lace pattern.

I would love to work this pattern on circulars in a shawl. This pattern practices ssk, ssk2p, YO, K, P.

You can find the pattern here  http://www.thecastingoncouch.com/ along with many others.
This is under freebies. It will also lead you to the You Tube tutorial. Please don't make the mistake of just Googling Cast on Couch as it also leads to some kind of porn videos.........wacko and not intended at all.

I like to follow her knitting as she knits like I do in English style.

Speaking of English style, there was a great replay of the last episode of Downton Abbey last night on PBS and another show for sneak season 4 previews. I LOVED IT. I didn't love watching the death of one of the main characters, Matthew, though. They said season 4 will start 6 months AFTER this happens, so next Sunday night we are glued to watch the new season start.

I hope by this time I am on to model stitching my Downton Abbey design. The colors I chose are so pretty. So, when I finish this band of flowers on At Home with Jane, I will be picking up my design of Downton Abbey pretty quickly. It's a large design. I plan to make some smaller designs from this series in between as well so stay tuned!

Keep calm and stitch on,
Jennifer

Wordless Wednesday~~ Progress on Knitting

 

 

Ok, maybe not completely wordless!
As You Like It scarf I'm working on this morning.  The progress is shown with work still on needles so I can add about 5 more skeins. Yup, it's long. I wanted it that way to double up well for the cold weather. It's actually been a fun piece to knit. I'm ready for some beautiful snow now.

Hope your hump day is going well.

Jennifer

As You Like It Scarf Progress and Design

Just to let you take a peak at some knitting this weekend from my stash, I will share these pics.

About 5 months ago, at least, I found a treasure in the junkin' store I frequent, all in a plastic bag and appeared to be skeins of DMC wool. I was first attracted to the colors as I love Colonial blues, reds, greens, etc. So, while resting up over the weekend with Mr. Darcy and 2 movies, I knitted.

Just one skein to another.

I counted after opening the bag!!!!!  53 yes 53 skeins in muted colors. Virtually 10 cents a skein.

 

I just started knitting, in no special order and then I stacked them like this so I can just pick one up as I go. This will make about a 90 inch scarf, plenty to double and triple with jeans on a winter day.

This DMC 100% virgin wool is imported from France. Washable. Cold water.

 

I decided not to piece blocks together, just keep knitting from one color to another.

Hence, the name As You Like It scarf. It's stitch therapy. Keeps my hands busy and warm by the woodstove.

This bag was only 5 bucks. If ordered from a store would be over 50.00 bucks.

 

 So I think as they say another man's junk, is another man's treasure can certainly apply here.

 

I just keep knitting in simple garter one to the other, not really getting disturbed by some irregular threading through the next color.

 

Keeping it simple.

 

Picking out and choosing colors.

 

 Designing my own jeans and sweater scarf.

 

Loving the beautiful colors.

 

One really interesting thing about this pack~~~there is only ONE skein of Dark Brown. Yup.

From chaos.

 

 To organized.

 

To systemized in the colors I like.

 

But the brown is special all by itself.

Only 46 more to go! I've got some buttons in my stash I might use on this, as well.

 

Simple finds.  Simple joy. Simply colorful.

 

I picked up my smaller needle for 1 over 1 stitching on my pincushion. Didn't cross stitch much on it. I got side tracked to knit.

Till later,

Jennifer