Sock # ?

A great crafting weekend ended with another pair of socks knitted and a new skein of stretch yarn already on the needles. I enjoyed knitting this twisted rib sock pattern. It looks complated but is really quite easy. The new pair is back to a basic k2p2 rib but the yarn is stretchy so I'll see how this new type yarn works before working it in to fancier patterns. My son gave these his craft seal of approval.

I set aside a lot of time for quilting too and finished up the center of the quilt. I took it off the long frame and put it on the q-snap frame so I could get the borders done. I had to think about how the quilt would get finished and by just quilting it the vision of it in it's final glory appeared to me. My gang of cats are quite interested in the whole quilt thing and really want to jump on it but they are being good. Just wait until I have to go to work tomorrow and the they have the entire day to themselves.

Turkey day craft aftermath

It was a great turkey day and I even got to do some knitting at the end. I made pumpkin cheeseballs for the appetizers and they were a big hit. Next year I'll make them a tad bit smaller so they fit on a cracker and you don't get cheese overload.

check out the bettycrocker website (http://www.bettycrocker.com/recipes/recipe.aspx?recipeID=37889&Source=SearchResultPage&terms=cheese%20pumpkins) and you can see a picture.

We checked out all of my mom's new knitting magazines, commented on good and bad knitting, got some good guidance on what others needs are for the future and generally had a great time just visiting. After a wonderful dinner it was on to checking out the upstairs craft supply and my sister and I both went home with some fabric and other projects that will get finished by us and then given back completed to mom.

After a stress free car ride home (lighter traffic than expected), everything go put away and then I could sit back and relax with the little gang. A dvd and a bag of knitting along with a bowl of the Rose Clan Indian Pudding made for nice end to the holiday. I thought seriously about going to the stores at 5 am the next day for those door buster sales but the extra hours in bed won out as did a snuggly Magpie keeping me warm.

I brought my knitting to work and did some at lunch so tonite it's a quilt session with some more dvds and cats. Another sublime nite of crafting.

Craft companions

The quilt has recovered from it's batting surgery and is now fully back on the frame. I found the quilting thread, the 12 sharps that I love to quilt with (short and sharp), my thread holder to wear around my neck, favorite thimble, box of finger cots (little thin rubber covers for your finger that grips the needle, sharp scissors and masking tape. All the tools to get the job done, along with the tv remote control. I tuned up my thread and got right back into quilting. There is a lot to do but an hour or two every nite will get me done. I'm extremely hopeful at the moment but it's still November.

My craft companions were extremely perplexed at the rearranging of furniture and favorite perching spots (my lap and back of chair). Magpie kept coming and looking at the quilt frame, trying to peek over it and putting her paws up to see if there is a space for her. She's not quite ready to settle into a spot as yet. I cover it up when I'm not using it and also tilt the top up so that it doesn't encourage napping during the day time.

The first twisted rib sock is completed and the second cast on. I still need a carry along project for work so socks it is. My local yarn shop had the missing yarn I was needing and I'll have just a Little bit left over at the end of the pair. They are quite the pattern and I'll ask my son to do a test fit for me just to make sure they'll be a good wearing sock. The foot is done totally in stocking stitch instead of my usual ribbed top.

The Indian pudding is in the fridge ready for dessert tomorrow. I couldn't resist and had a little tasting bowl tonite, hot from the oven. Yummy. The Rose clan's recipe holds up to the ages. I think I just need a little bit bigger dish to bake it in or else next time use two dishes. Happy Turkey day tomorrow to one and all.

Holiday crafting season

It's now officially the start of the holiday crafting season. I realize that I have been crafting all year long but that's just me (or a small minority of addicted crafters). Since I'm getting down to the wire on my socks for everyone project I cast on another men's sock. It's a twisted rib pattern found in the book "knitting (man)ual" and featured in the knitpicks new catalog. I really like the way the sock looked in the knitpicks catalog and went to my library and checked out the book. The sock in the book was poorly photographed and styled and I could see why I just went right by it. The catalog was clear and showed how nice the ribbing would look. It's an easy 9 stitch pattern repeat so the number of stitches around had to be adjusted a little.

This sock does have a problem though. I'm running out of yarn to finish the foot. A visit to the local yarn store is in the works to see if they have more of this. What's worse is I don't remember when or where I bought it. I think it was in the fall but I'm only guessing. If all else fails at the store I'll search on like and get the sock done by the holidays. I do have more backup yarn to knit with.

Another in the extremly limited series of stitched holiday cards. This one is very different for me and comes with a printed card to put over the stitching. Very nice.

A more modern interpretation of the holiday season. This one is a favorite, loved the modern vibe from the wondering reindeer.

Now a problem that has got to be fixed. This is a quilt on the frame that I started quilting over a year ago. I put it aside, wrapped in a sheet and forgot about it. The gang of cats got to it, pulled down the sheet and attacked the batting showing on the underside and made a big hole in it. It's only batting but before I can get back to the quilting the batting has to have some surgery. Luckily here is enough extra on the end so I'm hoping for the best. I'm going to to do a clean cut across above and below the damaged areas and then rejoin the two sections with whip stitching. The quilt top will get rebasted on the frame and then the quilting can begin. This time I'll make sure it's wrapped up securely each time I walk away from it. The gang of cats think that a quilt frame with quilt is the 'most excellent' place for a nap. I do love them and they are great craft companions. Now on to surgery and yeah, where is all the quilting thread and needles.

Crafting for the holidays

This doesn't look like much but there is still some stitching to do before it assembles into a pincushion, needlebook and scissor fob. It already has a matching case to slip into. Not sure who will get it but I want it finished and done. I'm liking getting to the assembly and finalizing.

Yesterday and today I had meetings to attend and used the time wisely by working on my second opal sock. It's done. Yeah!! Another guy sock pair finished. I didn't even waste any time but put another skein of brown regia yarn in the knitting bag, ready for the needles.

Snow cat 6

The snow cats are all finished being stitched. They got a press but their reward was to get carefully put away in a storage bag for finishing later. No rest for the weary crafter.

Snow Cats

I finished up two more snow cats this weekend, taking a break from knitting. These are working up really quickly. I found my wooden thread/scissor/needle holder and it's keeping me going on this project. I'm halfway finished with the final cat. They might get set aside as I need fabric to assemble them.

For a crafting break I went to see the new James Bond movie 'quantum of solace'. In prep for the movie I read the original story that bears the same name. It deals with men, revenge over the long haul so after the movie I think they picked a good name. Of course there aren't many Ian Fleming titles left to choose from. Chitty chitty bang bang could be a good shoot-um one but all viewers would think of it Dick Van Dyke singing 'toot-sweet'. It was a good addition to the James Bond lineup. Vintage echoes of Bond abound with visits to Haiti, loads of chase scenes, great villians, loads of killing but revenge in the end. If you've read Fleming you know that they just lift the titles and tack them on to the movie but in the end this one you could sense old Bond. Go, watch and just let the chases, girls and villians fall where they may.

Penguins and socks

Here is the 'quilt show' sock yarn and it's first finished sock of the 'mens pair' that I have been working on this week. Casting on wednesday and then done on saturday is pretty good timewise for a sock now. I loved this opal yarn. The color is nice, subtle and looks great and it's going to be nice and warm since it's a little thicker than most yarns I've been knitting with. Now to cast on for the second one.

In my quest to send out christmas cards I've added another in my extremely limited series. I like these singing penquins. What is it about penquins that make you laugh. They do need a good wash and press before they're mounted and ready for mailing. I'm enjoying the break from knitting. So many projects calling my hands to work on them.

Holiday for crafting

A holiday designated for crafting would be a wonderful invention. I know there is a month dedicated to sewing but just a day for everyone to craft would be nice. Since it was veterans day and I'm a veteran I decided to make it a nice day dedicated to doing what I like to do. That is crafting, watching movies and relaxing. I did a lot of that and even baked a batch of yummy bread to munch on.

The first project was the Marilyn Monroe cross stitch that I had stitched a month or two back. I had got the frame but had put it aside to do other stuff. She came out really nice and I love the super special frame that I got for her (on sale of course). She's going into work tomorrow and I'm thinking of giving her away in a raffle. I know she'll go to a good home.

Next up was the third member of the 'dino gang'. It's a yellow brontosaurus that I finished last nite. I had help getting his legs knitted and assembled by my black cat 'magpie'. She lay in my lap keeping me warm and toasty and encouraging me to just keep on crafting and not move my lap at all. I love when she lays in my lap because she gets really relaxed and stretches out and looks very angelic for a black cat. She is a craft enabler.

Here is the finished stocking of the redwork snowman. This worked up quickly even with the iffy finishing instructions. I omitted the thin batting for the stocking as it would have made it a little too bulky in my opinion. It's fully lined in matching cream and has a red back. You don't even have to put anything in it and it looks good. Quite large it could hold something special.

At the end of the day when my bread was rising I got out my snow cats and did some more embroidery. Here is snow cat 2.

And here is snow cat 3. Only three more cats to stitch up. Tomorrow it's back to the workaday world but there is a meeting so I'll bring my sock kit and cast on for another pair of men's. So at the end of veterans/craft holiday I think I accomplished my mission. Good crafting karma, yummy smells throughout the house from the bread, the yard almost totally cleared of leaves and some more projects moved to the 'it's done' pile. Happy crafting

Dino and friends

This snow guy is another piece of redwork that I finished over the weekend. He's going to be transformed after a lot of assembly into a folk style christmas stocking. I realize that I don't need a christmas stocking but I think he'll look great hanging from a mantle somewhere. I like his bird theme. He's quite large and will look impressive.

Now for my favorite new additions to the knitting family of toys in our house. Here are the t-rex and teradactyl, posing in the back yard for their glamour shot. They are reenacting a fight scene from one of the many godzilla flicks we like to watch. They are so cute and are soon to be joined by a new friend, a yellow brontosaurus. His body is done but only has two of four legs knitted. These are quite the adorable knitted treasures all from the 'jean greenhowe' collection.

Quilt show and cats

Yesterday my sister and I went to 'a quilters gathering' and had a great time. You do the quilts first, admiring all the work that went into each, the colors, composition, quilting and just that it's done. Not all were great but some were spectacular. I love fabric and crafting and admire all those who can do great quilting. Then it was on to the 'gift shop' or all of the venders areas. We decided to do a circuit and then go back and decide what to get. It was crowded but every one was in good spirits, included the bus loads of quilting ladies from all over. A wonder lunch break off site got us fueled up for more and it was back to the venders to make our purchases. We even discovered one room we had missed. Another walk around the show and we called it a day. Whew.

The 'snow cat' is from a pattern I got in that almost missed room. I do love redwork or in this case 'bluework'. It's easy and fun but comes out so nice. You need to trace the pattern on to your fabric in order to embroider it. I didn't have a big light box so I improvised. I sometimes use a storm window over two chairs with a light on the floor under neath. Last nite though, all the storms were in place and it was cold so I looked around for another substitute. I found it in the shape of a semi-clear plastic drawer. The side was large than the paper, smooth and perfect for putting on my ironing board with the light inside. My black cat Magpie wanted to sit inside the box while I worked but the light got in her way. She had to settle for the entire box on the floor once I traced my patterns. Finding a hoop and my scissors and I was off on a new project. I really have to stop starting new ones and finish all of the others.

My little dinosaur got sewn together last nite too but he's waiting for a trip to the backyard once it dries out so he can look fierce in the grass. Happy crafting to all.

Prayer Shawl

Three days go by and I finished knitting a small triangular prayer shawl. I used a lacy border but the thin yarn was a little problematic. I blocked it today and it's drying now, getting ready to go out to be given away on friday after a blessing.

Since the prayer shawl was finished I cast on and started knitting a green t-rex. A Jean Greenhowe pattern. (www.jeangreenhowe.com) is a first for me. It's coming out great and watching the Lucy Neatby dvd helped in making my 'mattress stitch' look almost invisible. Pictures to follow at a later date.

What is art?

I read this article about an art installation in a modern art museum this weekend and it got me thinking about art and what qualifies as 'art'. For this artist (and others I have read about)he sends out instructions, a diagram of what the art should be. Then others recreate the art from the instructions. The museum pays for these directions and has to hire people, not the artist, get supplies and make the art. It's like paint or sculpt by the numbers. Lots of museums could buy the same instructions and each have a 'kit' made piece of art to display.

As I'm knitting along on my sock quest it makes me wonder about all of the people who have designed patterns for knitting and all the other crafts I love. They send me a design I've paid for, I then get the supplies and recreate the design in yarn, fabric or stitching. Some I display just like art, on my mantle or wall. Others I give away for the recipient to enjoy. In the case of my multitude of socks when do they become 'art'. I've followed the same pattern, done it in many different fibers and colors, put them all in their jars to look like something they are not (decorative but functional) and lined them all up on the shelf to admire until the holidays when they will be given away. When I look at them all jarred up they look like a piece of art. If I put them on multi-tiered shelves they'd look even better. Unless you opened them up you wouldn't know what was in them, or what was their function. They just look good and interesting. Is it art, folk-art, handicrafts or just knitting?

I'm not sure. I love to go the art museums and admire the painting and sculpture knowing that I haven't the talent to produce a great painting or sculpture in oil or marble. But the modern art, or sculpture by number, I know I could do. It would be like building a model airplane or knitting a sweater. But the question remains is what I do art. When do the crafts and skills of my hands become 'art', art that is valued by others? I don't think any of us 'regular' crafters will know. Perhaps it is the taking of risks or just the designing from within, creating from scratch.

In the end it's just good to think about why we value some art more than others.

So read the article and think about your last visit to a museum, look around your house at your own art, and look at the things you make and create. I'm really sure the 'paint by number' kind of art, recreated by others is good but keep in mind it's a copy, not by the original artist just like my multitude of socks, made by me from a pattern designed by another. Makes you think.

Mass MoCA fills a 3-story building with a tribute to Sol LeWitt - The Boston Globe

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Another month, another pair

It's November and I finished another pair of socks last nite. These are for a man and might be a little wild in color but they feel really soft and will fit well. I'll ask my son to to a quick test fit just to be sure. Not one to rest on my laurels or even rest I went to the attic and looked at my yarn stash with a man in mind. I came up with another multicolored blend and a green/blue mix. My son thought they could both work as guy yarn but wanted to see a little bit knit before he would commit totally. I agreed, put it down (step away from the yarn) and decided to give myself a project break from the sock extravaganza which my knitting has become. My daughter had given me some yarn from her stash on the last visit so I pulled out a cone (loads of yardage) of thin, natural wool and cast on for a triangle shawl that will go to the prayer shawl ministry.