woolythyme

Contrary to popular belief....there is still fiber in my diet.  Just not quite as much...and definitely not as exciting...as in the past.

On the needles....another Citron shawl for the shawl-ministry pile (the 'pile' of which, at the moment, is non-existent, the last one having been gifted last week).  This is probably my favorite mindless shawl to knit for the simple reason that it can end up any size.  I've knit them with 10-section repeats, 7,6 and 9 section repeats.  This one is ending after 8---which is exactly 10 ruffle rows from being completed---unless I run out of yarn sooner, which will simply make that ruffled edge a tiny bit shorter.  Somehow on it's journey to completion, the stitch count got off by a couple of stitches, but on this pattern it doesn't matter a lick.  The rows get pretty long here at the finish line; I was sure there were at least 3000 stitches on the needles, but a quick count showed me there were a mere 832.  I've got a good book, so who cares?

As I was diving in the stash to find a hank of lace weight for the Citron, I came across this...

 ?????  Pretty pattern.  It's a very small (although I vaguely remember this being for me...) cropped (really short) back and one front.....and a very, very small amount of yarn.  No pattern.  No needles.  AND NO MORE YARN???!

It now looks like this...

I wish I could 'tick' a project off Ravelry, but this one never even made it onto the WIPs list.  Baby blue?  For me?  What was I thinking?  Now, I'm thinking baby boy sweater or a multitude of baby boy hats which it should have been in the first place. 

So, if knitting hasn't been consuming my hours....what has?

I'm in the middle of my second on-line course, taking a class at the local art school, spending a teenager's amount of time on Instagram and Pinterest (so much that just about all that pops up now is photography related posts and pins...I sort of miss all my fiber inspiration) and quickly realizing that my learning curve is really really steep.  

And I have the patience of a gnat.

Not a good combination.

socks for syria....

The group is actually called Hats and More for War Torn Syria, a ravelry group founded by Jean (Seattle USA/Canada), Laurie (Jordan/New Jersey USA) and Virginia (Ireland); they are volunteering on behalf of Studio Syria, which is sponsored by “Save the Children”.

The need for hats has become less of a need than that for all other things wooly....socks, sweaters, vests, mittens for all ages, blankets....and softies for the children.  When I looked in my sock drawer, I was sick with my excesses.  My socks don't even fit in TWO!?! sock baskets any more.  And to be honest---I wear the same dozen over and over (and only need the 'dozen' because I'm too darn lazy to wash them until I have a pile.)

I was also sick and saddened with the events of last week.

Tien (autumngeisha) came across this group on ravelry and is sharing her excess socks.  I'm happy to join her.  

The sock knitting here won't stop....have you seen Squircle?  I need to knit those!!! funky heel, leftover sock yarn---can't resist!  It's nice to have another reason to knit socks!

 

 The organization gathers purchased items as well as knit and crocheted ones.  Perhaps your charity knitting group would like to send something?

USA
Salaam Cultural Museum
℅ Rita
3806 Whitman Ave N
Seattle. WA 98103

United Kingdom: (knitted and crocheted items only)

Knit for Peace (Refugee Appeal)
Radius Works
Back Lane
London
NW3 1HL

 

 

EEP! almost forgot!!!  Yarnalong Day....I'm reading Books for Living by Wil Schwalbe (author of the End of your Life Book Club, which I haven't read.)---just started it.  Screwtape Letters went with me to El Salvador.  Can't beat a good C. S. Lewis!!!

a great big wooly thanks!!!

 

Christmas may still be over 100 days away (107 to be exact...what do you mean, you haven't started your holiday knitting?) but the Seamen's Church Institute's Christmas at Sea program will be assembling their Christmas boxes much sooner than that.  This was my adopted charity this year and just look (!!!LOOK!!!)   at all the lovely, generous knitters who have joined me!  I'm wow-ed.  

Many, many thanks to Danielle, Vickie, Dawn'l, Terry and the entire 'In Stitches in McKinney' knitting group.  I'll be sending a box off next week on behalf of each of you....

 

Surely, I can knit one two or three more hats before then!!!  

On your mark, Get set, GO!

a great mail week...

A good mail day is one with no bills and no junk mail.  A great day includes fibery stuff.

 

Just look at this week....am I not the luckiest person E-V-E-R???

Last week I was hopping around on Craftsy...still trying to get my head around the fact that it's not just a teaching site anymore...when I stumbled on to some Arne and Carlos sock yarn----ON SALE!  Who could resist?  (well, I couldn't.)  The internet and Paypal make this kind of impulse shopping wayyyy too easy.  I think I might have ordered this at 1 or 2 in the morning.  And they must have had someone receiving orders at that insane time of night, because it was delivered in a couple days.  Of course, I had to immediately cast on some socks for hubby---who does NOT need any---so I have no intentions of really working on them any time soon.  Just had to cast on, though.  I'm sure you understand.

And then...

this sweet little kit arrived from Katrine!  A 'just because it's spring/thinking of you' thoughtful little gift.  This is designed by Marie Mayhew, who designed the felted snowmen that I get out every Christmas.  Her patterns are meticulously written and adorable when completed.  Can't wait to see how this one turns out.  Thank you, thank you!  It blows my mind the friends I have who I've never met.

 

Speaking of which....Danielle!  (Hi, Danielle!!!)

Freddy and I had just finished another 1898 hat for Seamen's Church, my 'charity' this year.  The very next day...here comes

this green scarf to add to the donation box for the Christmas at Sea program!  It inspired me to cast on another 1898 hat.    Many many thanks for your time and generosity in contributing to this cause!!

 

And next week just might be another goodie in the postal department.  

Had a little bout of insomnia last night!!!

another 1898 hat....

It matches me!!

 

                                                                                        * * * * * * * * * * * 

SSSSHHHHHH.  Mommy said I was NOT allowed to take over her blog, even though a whole bunch of you thought I did a pretty OK job.....thank you very much!!!  

Please, don't tell her I'm b-a-c-k already.  Our secret, OK?

 

Hugs and slobbery kisses.

 

Your Friend,

Freddy

 

 

my fickled, fickled, knitting mojo.....

First of all, I must take a moment to thank this awesome, generous knitting community for the support you all have already shown for the Christmas at Sea project.

I finished the 1898 hat yesterday; interesting construction, quick to knit, and enough yarn leftover for a couple mitered squares.  One of the many things I love about this charity is the variety of patterns they suggest (free on the website above);  the assortment of handcrafted things they put in the Christmas boxes can keep even an attention-deficit knitter like myself content.  (If you would like to add your contributions to this Paducah 'collection center', please email me or RAV message me---woolythyme1 for my address.  You, of course, could send directly to SCI.)

Most of the SCI projects are small.  For me, I'll most likely 'break up' larger projects with a hat knit here and there.  I love mitering, but I'm feeling the need for one of those breaks, and a single hat didn't do it for me.  So, I started rummaging in the stash for yarn for perhaps another hat, when Boxy (in her bag) fell out of my closet.  HEY!  I L-O-V-E that sweater!  (No, I don't NEED that sweater, but I think I'll love her to death if she's ever done.)  OK, Boxy, you are back in the 'active' pile of knitting.

THEN, still planning ahead for some SCI knitting...I was sure I had a Seamen's scarf pattern that was printed in an OLD old old Piecework, eons ago.  Of course, I saved it.  Didn't I?  It's here somewhere....OH, look!  Mary Jane Mucklestone's book, fair isle style.  It was stuck in with 'loose patterns' instead of on the book shelf.  (For Pete's sake....I'm a LIBRARIAN.  I KNOW a misplaced item is a lost item.)  Well, this is found again, I've wanted to make Gudrun Johnston's Bressay dress since I bought the book, so I stopped my scarf-search and ordered yarn for the dress.

While on the computer, I checked my emails, followed a link from Andrea (thisknittedlife...if you don't know her, you really must; her blog is always a very fun read)   to Craftsy's Architexture Scarf kit (I've had that pattern fav'd since it was still in the test-knit stage) and promptly ordered one....it was very reasonably priced.

So, in less than 20 minutes, I went from blah-ly picking up my mitered blanket again (wondering where in the world my knitting mojo has gone), to having Boxy, Architexture, Bressay, another Seamen's 1898, and a Mariner's scarf...all jumping up and down, screaming 'knit me first'.     

 

OK, mojo....you choose.

a simple request....

Reading?

Mink River by Brian Doyle was highly recommended to me by a friend and I must echo her praise.  A beautifully written, lyrical tale of a small town and it's inhabitants on the western shore of Oregon.  I'm not far into it; I can't put it down.

 

Knitting?

How many weeks have you all been hearing about this worsted weight mitered square blanket?  At least three?  I suppose I could really shake things up and show you the fingering weight mitered square blanket that is started but not very far along.

Oh!  Look!  This one is r-a-d-i-c-a-l-l-y different.  It's going to have pointy edges instead of even ones.  (sorry about the sarcasm) The sad thing is...for the first time ever...I'm running out of things to say about my projects before I run out of love for them.  

That 'love' part may not be entirely true...the allure is waning just a bit, but nothing else has stepped up to distract me, so I miter-away.  The Great Closet Purge a couple weeks ago threw in my face the fact that I already own more shawls, scarves, mittens, hats, cowls, socks, and sweaters than any one person should own.  (It's true, many are not loved/were never loved after they were finished, but ADORED while in process!!!--- and will find themselves another home someday, but I'm still left with more than enough.)  The little pile of baby-in-waiting gifts is adequate; it probably could be added to if I was so inspired---and I'm not.

Charity knitting?  I actually brought home the last 3 skeins of pew shawl yarn from church the Sunday it was so cold in the sanctuary that every single one of the shawls was literally being fought over.  (Oh, how my heart did sing that morning!!!) This is a move of shear desperation, though, because there is nothing I hate knitting more than those *$@*&^&% pew shawls and this would be my 5th one.  I think the boiler is fixed, so there's no rush anymore.

 

And then.....today, the mailman delivered this newsletter

I've knit for the Seamen's Church Christmas-at-Sea program in the past; I think most knitters in my town have since one of the two inland waterway training centers is headquartered here.  But my efforts usually start in October or November...and I get maybe two or three scarves or hats knit before it's time to send them off.  This year could be different.  

Last year SCI (Seamen's Church Institute) distributed 5,390 gift sets (a 'set' being a hat and scarf) to seafarers and 8,971 gift sets to mariners along the inland river system.  (If you tied the yarn used to make all these projects end to end---over 6.08 million yards--it would stretch from NYC all the way to London, England--with a little left over to weave in the ends.)  They do this every year.  They need help.  Would anyone be willing to join me this year in knitting for them?  Just as every seaman matters, every hat and scarf matters for this program to continue and to grow.

 

I've experienced the generosity of this caring group in the past.  I know we could really make a difference.  I would be happy to serve as a collection center for this; if you are interested you can email me or message me on ravelry (woolythyme1) and I'd love it if you would help spread the word!  

Fred can't wait to get started.

 

STOP CHEWING ON THOSE NEEDLES!!!
 

You can download a copy of the newsletter at http://smschur.ch/knitb4xmas.  

 

some SCI patterns:

1898 hat

crocheter's seamen's hat

seafarer's scarf

mariner's scarf

whirling dervish wielding knitting needles....

I'm having a hard time thinking of this as a Lenten project; the only sacrifice made was emotional in that I r-e-a-l-l-y didn't want to knit it.  It didn't take that long....although I think I might have looked somewhat like a whirling dervish wielding knitting needles.  I obsessively knit like a maniac just to be done with it.  I knit in the car.  I knit while I cooked.  I knit in places you really don't want to know about.  I was knitting at 3 am one night.

I think you might have been able to clock my yards/minute on a speedometer.   

 

Pew shawl #3 for our church.

Ta-DONE!

Amen 

Lenten project....

On the needles:

More than half-way through the Lenten season isn't exactly the time to think about what to 'give up' for Lent.  Cheating, wouldn't you say?  But for these last two weeks of Lent, I've decided to give up some small pleasures...some indulgences perhaps and do what I should have done weeks ago (if not months ago).  I cast on for another church pew shawl.  (UGH.)  I've temporarily 'given up' all the great, happy, spring 'indulgences' (some lovely silk blends, a scrumptious cashmere, and a few spring-like colors in cotton) and am focusing on this project----mindfully, prayerfully, and positively.  (well, mostly positively.  It's hard for me to be positive knitting with #8 needles.)

 

The knit 3, purl 3 pattern is meditatively 'zen'.  (TRANSLATION:  boring as you-know-what).  The color matches our church pew cushions pretty perfectly (and is not a color I would ever EVER buy or knit for myself).  This is the third shawl for me (and I next to NEVER knit something twice, let alone !!3!! times, especially something I hate knitting. oops that wasn't very positive, was it? ).  It WILL be done in two weeks.  (It hopefully will be done in LESS than two weeks.)

 

Reading:

I really enjoyed the book I was reading last week....so decided to pick up another true crime non fiction.  I'm mostly a fiction reader, but Murder of the Century by Paul Collins is another book where I'm finding that the truth is more bazaar than most fictionalized detective novels.  This grisly dismemberment-murder takes place in the 1890's;  the book focuses on solving the case more than the gross details of the case.  (Well, there are gross details, too.)  What I found fascinating, though, was the role that the tabloid newspapers played....particularly those owned by Hearst and Pulitzer.  If there wasn't enough action on the case---they would send out their own investigative 'detective-reporters' to muck in the evidence, often scooping the police and the forensic work being done.  Nothing for a good headline?  They would create something--truth had little to do with what was printed.  Slow news day?  One paper offered a $500 reward for the solution to the murder---only to be outbid by the other, offering $1000 reward (making sure that their edition wasn't released until 5 minutes after their competitor's hit the streets).  Some papers during this time printed a morning, afternoon, AND evening edition....and with no television, radio, computers, phones, or FACEBOOK!!!....you can quickly see that in almost all respects, newspapers were the social media of the day.  

Freddy and I have devoured this book.  (He, rather literally---note the lower right corner.  Shhhhh.  Don't tell the library.)

sorry.

#WATCHthisCAP

We tagged....

 

 

 

and tagged....

 

 

ran out of tags....

got more tags....

 

 

and had a whole lot of fun--helping to get the word out about Seamen's Church and the good work they do for the men and women who work on the nation's waterways.

 

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

A very, very special thanks to all the wonderful knitters who contributed their time and talents to make this happen.  Shall we do it again next year?????   (I've got the tags!!!)

 

 

 

Be on the lookout!  They are e-v-e-r-y-w-h-e-r-e!!!!

 

Free knit hat pattern is found here. 

Free crochet hat pattern is here.

 

#WATCHthisCAP