WiPs &Gilgal Gardens

Happy Wednesday everyone.

I am still working on my second Estuary tank, a pair of socks, the Emelie sweater and a couple of other things.

That didn't stop me from casting on Alana Dakos' shawl collared cowl tonight.

I'm using Lorna Laces Shepard's wool in the pansy colorway.

I can't wait to see how this one turns out.  It's a beautiful pattern and a quick knit.  I'm about a quarter of the way done and think I'll finish under 4 hours.

For more WiPs check out Tamis Amis' Blog.

This week I had to take a quick trip to Utah.  There is a small sculpture garden in Salt Lake City hidden in the back yard of a couple of houses.  It's called Gilgal Gardens.  The garden and sculptures were a man's hobby.  He carved these stone sculptures in his back yard and when he died his wife donated the back yard area to the city as a park.  It's worth a visit if you are in the area.  Here are a couple of photos of my favorite pieces.

Heart in God's hands

This is the sculptor.  Love his pants.

This is Daniel.  The sculpture is depicting the scattering of Israel

This is depicting Joseph Smith as a Sphinx.

Fundraiser to help in the wake of a tragedy

A young mother was killed yesterday when she was walking her dog.   A drunk driver killed her.  A designer has blogged about the incident and is selling a pattern and donating all proceeds between August 19-26th.  Please take a minutes to look at the pattern.  Purchase it if you can and pass the word along.

Knitters are great at helping each other out and banding together to do some amazing things.

http://withmeldotcom.wordpress.com/2014/08/19/angry-and-sad/

Pattern is: Hapa

Please pass it on if you are able.

Thanks.  Be safe.

WiPs Wednesday

Happy Wednesday everyone.

I've got a couple of new WiPs that I cast on since last week.  First up is a hat for a friend of my brother.  I'm using Imperial yarn company yarn in a purply pink tweed.  It's gorgeous and the pictures don't do it justice.

I cast on 90 stitches using size 8 needles.  I've got another inch before I decrease.  I'm aiming for slouchy.  Even though the fabric is a bit stiff.  Hopefully it will loosen up after blocking.   It may have needed much bigger needles.

I've also cast on another Estuary Tank.  This one is teal.  I remembered to sew it together correctly but have some unsightly holes where I picked up stitches along the garter stitch sides.  I took out the picked up stitches and tried a different method with the same results.  So I'm accepting it as is and will sew up the holes later.

For more WiPs check out Taxis Amis' Blog

Spinning and soaking-all good things

It's Monday.  I'm not particularly thrilled about it being Monday; but there's nothing we can do about Mondays.  I was able to knit for an hour this morning, making excellent progress on a hat I owe a friend of my brother's and that made the morning much better than a morning without knitting would be.

I've been reading some blogs in between waiting on hold to talk to people and dealing with the thousand of emergencies that seem to crop up everyday (not any of my own creation-I am just the office guru).  One in particular caught my eye and both saddened and pleased me.

The blog is Mad Men Knitting.  The Man is Gregory.  He lives in Florida and he knits and sells bears to keep himself clothed and housed.  His story is inspiring.  He was homeless.  He fought his way back and now has a place to live and in order to pay for his life he knits and sells bears.  They are beautifully knit bears.  They are hand knit bears.  Meaning he knits them by hand.  This takes time.  The thing that saddens me is that a few people who have ordered bears have been unhappy in the wait for their bear and subsequently been rude and demanded refunds.  Now maybe these people ordered a bear for an occasion and it upset them it didn't arrive in time.  Maybe they are having a hard time.  I do not know.  I do know that I hope that I never treat anyone the way that Gregory has been treated.  I am saddened by the behavior of others.

Other people have heard Gregory's story and made an effort to repair and restore his faith in humanity and paid for the refunds or told him to take his time with their order.  Others have made donations through his site or purchased his patterns or book.  Another woman offered to knit some of the pieces of bears to help him catch up.  I jumped on that and added my willingness to knit some pieces too.  I don't know that that offer is helpful, as he most likely needs to have a particular gauge and we may be making more work.  The point is that for every negative comment, there were double that in positive comments. That made me happy.  I struggle with the negativity that surrounds me.  (Lots of negativity in the law).  So I look for positive things each day.

This past weekend I was able to finish some yarn.  My second (EVER) handspun yarn.  It's Ashland Bay Polwarth.  It's sooooooo soft.

Want to see?

My nifty lazy kate

Plied yarn

On the swift

left overs on the swift

Close up on the swift

Yarn soaking

Ta Da-Look Yarn

Close up

With a nickel for perspective

I made a total of 204 yards.  I think it is much improved from my first attempt and I'm happy about it.  I think that I will be dying the yarn.  And then I need to find a project to make.  Loving this spinning thing...

Have a great week.  And I am challenging you to do something nice for yourself and something nice for someone else.

FO Friday

Happy Friday everyone.   I finished my socks made from online supersocke the streamer colorway.

I apologize for the quality of the picture.   It was taken while riding the train.

For more finished objects check out Taxis Amis' Blog

Have a great weekend.

WiPs

Happy Wednesday everyone!

Just a quick drive by post today.  I am finishing up a pair of socks; just about to do toe decreases.

For more WiPs see Tamis Amis' Blog

TGIF & FO Friday

TGIF!  Happy Friday everyone.

I've got a couple of finished objects to show you.

First up are the red anklets:

They came out quite nicely if a bit stiff.  I have not blocked them yet but I have worn them.  They loosen up as I wear them and I think once they've been washed they'll soften.

I also finished the sleeves and sewed them on (and wove in most of the ends) for the Estuary Tank that I am turning into a cardigan.  I have not steeked it and I could just wear it as a pullover for a bit.  Also not blocked.  But the knitting is done.  Unless I do steek...

It's not the best picture because I took it at knitting night last night after I finished adding the sleeves.  The color is fairly accurate.  And it is mainly cotton-so soft.  And not heavy.

For more FO's visit Tamis Amis' Blog

Have a great weekend.