Wednesday, November 06, 2013

November Nitting

On the weekend my sister Helen & I went to a quilt show put on by the Durham Trillium Quilters' Guild.  It was pretty good with lots & lots of quilts to admire.  I didn't take any photos as I didn't want to carry my camera around with me (apologies!).  The bonus of these quilt shows is the vendor booths full of designer fabrics & hand-dyed yarn ... yes!!  Nothing like a bit of inspiration (the quilts) paired with the products to make it yourself!
 
One booth was from a new quilting store in the city beside mine.  After talking with the owner, I am "this" close to heading over to their new store and sign up for a quilting class.  I know how to quilt, and I've been sewing for many years, but I just want to hang out with some like-minded ladies ... my life is getting far too quiet.  She made the classes sound like so much fun that I really can't wait to find the time to get over there (I just hope they're open in the evening so I can get over after work!).

Another vendor I have met at a Mississauga quilt show a few years ago.  I bought some beautiful hand-dyed yarn from her shop, Dye-Version and knit my green seed stitch scarf.  This is the lady that I received the pattern for the Chevron Lace Scarf too!  I was so happy to see her again.  She has such beautiful yarns!  I couldn't resist.  I bought a skein of sock yarn ("Moody Blue") to knit a scarf for my daughter ... it will match her pretty blue eyes :) 
 
 
My sister was drooling a bit over the yarns too, and since her knitting skills are quite basic, I told her I would knit her a lace scarf if she wanted to pick out the yarn for it.  I know she was surprised (we're not the "sharing" type of sisters, if you know what I mean).  But I do love her, and I was happy to make this offer as I'm trying hard to patch things up between us. 
 
(Just a quick aside ... our family has and is going through huge turmoil for the past few years, and it's really put a strain on my once solid relationships with my siblings.  I never thought we'd ever be in this position, but life is challenging and I think Helen and I are the two that want our family to come back to that happy place again.)  So.  Knowing I can knit this scarf successfully made it easy for me to offer to make it. 
 
Helen chose a gorgeous bamboo fingering yarn ("Galapagos").  And here is the yarn in all its glory:
 
 
Bamboo yarn has a really nice shimmer to it, and it feels "weighty" despite the thinness.  I just love the feel of my bamboo scarf, and I know Helen will love this too.  Free patterns were once again included with the yarns, so I'm all set.  I cast on Helen's scarf as soon as I got home.  Its slow going, but I've got this much done:
 
 
I want to get it done before Christmas so that it doesn't become a Christmas gift (we don't exchange gifts anymore in my family).  And I have to get this finished so I can start the scarf for my daughter which will be a Christmas gift.
 
So while I'm waiting for paint to dry on railings, fish tanks to fill, fish to acclimatize and general ho hum household stuff, I can knit these two projects in my spare time :D
 
I hope you're all having an enjoyable day ... ours is quite grey & damp, but doesn't that make you want to curl your feet under you on the couch and knit? 
 
Thanks for stopping by!
 
Wendy
 
 
Joining in with the Yarn Along
 
 http://www.gsheller.com/category/yarn-along
 
 

38 comments:

  1. Pretty colors Wendy! Love them both. I've been trying to teach myself how to knit for almost a month now and I just don't get it! I can't even get to my second row without it looking awful and way too tight!
    Really loving the scarf....it's going to be very pretty!
    xx Shari

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    1. Thanks Shari! If I can offer a bit of advice for the tight knitting. I suffered with this too and when I figured out (after two years!) the trick for knitting loosely, it was such a relief. (Assuming you're knitting right-handed) Knit into the stitch, wrap the yarn around the needle and now you're ready to take the old stitch off the left-hand needle. Now "lift" the stitch up with the right-hand needle, don't just drag the stitch off the end of the needle. By lifting the stitch UP and off the needle, you create a big, loose stitch. The higher you lift up the stitch, the bigger the stitch will be. Everything I read said that tension was created by how tightly you hold the working yarn in your pinky, but I never came across anything that said to lift the stitch up high off the needle. I only discovered it when I realized my purl stitches were a lot less tight than my knit stitches and found I was lifting the stitch off the needle higher in purl than knit. I hope this helps you because once you can loosen up your knitting, other stitches (like knit 2 together) become SO much easier ;)

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  2. You are so accomplished... With the knitting and the quilt making.

    I have sewed a little bit, and am now trying to learn to knit. It-is-being-fun, so I hope I keep at it. :-)

    Very sweet of you, to do that, for your sister. I'm sorry about the family turmoil. But wish you and she well, with bringing family back to a happier place.

    And thank you so much, for wishing me well, with our beloved city. -sigh-

    Tessa~

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    1. Good luck with your knitting Tessa! I really struggled with it in the beginning, but had no one to ask. Now I'm really enjoying it and have something on the needles all the time :)

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  3. Well both yarns are lovely but that blue is beautiful - your daughter will love it x Jane

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    1. Thanks Jane! I like the blue too, and hope she's pleasantly surprised with it ... she's not an easy one to make things for ;)

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  4. Both yarn are very pretty, and it is going to be a beautiful scarf. I'm sure your sister is going to love it. I, also like the bowl, that the yarn is kept :) -Gaia

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    1. Thanks Gaia! I think she'll like it too. And that bowl is perfect for knitting ... the straight sides keep the ball of yarn from dancing out of the bowl (a thrift store find for about $4).

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  5. I would love to be able to knit better but my hands won't let me...dishcloths are OK, but larger things take too long and I end up with a bag of UFOs.
    Jane x
    PS That yarn is LOVELY!

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    1. Ha! I'm the same, and therefore only work on small manageable projects ... but with loads of detail ... all to keep my interest locked in!

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  6. The yarns are beautiful and I admire your wish to bring your siblings back together. Families are so complicated. I know this well. I think your sister will be thrilled with the scarf and the love you're putting into making it for her. :)

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    1. Thank you Jennifer. It's like a slow crawl back to where we used to be. I'm not sure we'll all be the same again, but the civility is starting to come more naturally ;)

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  7. The scarf is looking lovely Wendy, and I love the colours of the yarn that you bought yourself, beautiful. I hope that you are able to get to the quilting class and that you enjoy it, sounds as though you could do with something nice if you have been having troubles. I hope that things keep improving. I know that it is difficult with families - trust me, I know! - but it does get easier with time I can also tell you that, and I am sure that your sister will surely appreciate this lovely gesture of yours. Take care of yourself, and good luck with all of your many projects - at least you won't get bored!! xx

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    1. Thanks Amy :) I hope I can get to that quilting class too. They don't have a web page yet, so I can't tell when their hours are. I just really need some diversion from the every day.

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  8. Our day is pretty grey and damp here too. I am working on hand stitching a card and it isn't going too well. I think the yarns you have chosen are beautiful and your sister's scarf is going to be outstanding and chic, etc etc. I think it is such a thoughtful thing to do as far as extending an olive branch.

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    1. Winter is your grey & damp season, isn't it? I've always admired a little hand stitching on cards. I'm sorry to hear it's not working well, but I hope you get it sorted out in the end and you'll let us see! My sister has a good eye for artsy stuff (she's an illustrator herself). I kind of surprised myself when I offered to knit the scarf, but I'm glad I did. Thanks Stacy ;)

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  9. I'm glad you enjoyed the quilt show Wendy it sounds like fun, I would love to start a quilting class too, it's something I can't do and would love to learn. Sorry there has been an upheaval in your family but isn't it wonderful that knitting something for your sister can help to put it right, I love the yarns and the scarf is going to be beautiful. :)

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    1. The quilt show was a lot of fun, and my sister & I enjoyed discussing the merits of the different styles of quilting. I really love sewing ... everything about it! So I'd like to get back into it more and a quilting class would force me to work on some projects I probably wouldn't do on my own. I sure hope that pretty little ball of yarn can work some magic in my family ;)

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    1. Thanks Ana! The shimmer doesn't really show up well in the photos, but the colours are fairly accurate. I can't wait to get started on the blue scarf!

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  11. Beautiful yarns and knitting Wendy. What a wonderful thing to do for your sister, I hope your family
    situation improves.
    luv
    irene
    xxxx

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    1. Thanks Irene! I hope things eventually improve too.

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  12. Sounds like you had lots of fun and I love your yarn choices! :) x

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    1. It was a LOT of fun Ada. I'll show you the results when they're complete!

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  13. What a beautiful scarf ,,, it is a gorgeous colour ... Bee xx

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  14. This is such a beautiful piece! Just visiting via Christina's Made by Hand meme. Kx

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  15. The first thing out of my mouth when I saw that photo of the scarf you are making for your sister is "God is that Gorgeous" It blew me away! Amazing! Amazing! And as for your family...life is nuts...there are so many dynamics in each family. And I hope that you all can come back together. All the best sweet friend! You are inspiring!!

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    1. Thanks Nicole :) Yeah family dynamics change all the way through your life. I hope this turns into a hiccup along the way, but I really think we've all changed from it too much.

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  16. That sounds like a fun day out and some good quality time to spend with your sister. Well done to both of you for making an effort to heal your bond. Such yummy yarns too and your lacy knitting is gorgeous, that is a true labour of love.
    Hugs xx

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    1. Thanks Gilly, it was a good day with a happy result :)

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  17. I totally get the family turmoil thing - we have the same in my own (a bit) and with my in-laws. So. Much. Fun... (not) .
    Love the DYe Version yarns, and Galapagos is my all time favourite colourway! So beautiful - and the lacy pattern you chose if showing it off beautifully.

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    1. I guess all families run into this at some point. It just really brings me down. I'm so glad that you're already familiar with Dye-Version! The lace pattern (chevron lace scarf) was knit up in a sample using Galapagos, and that's what caught my sister's attention. It looks even better in real life!

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  18. I just love both of the yarns-your sister's scarf is just gorgeous-I know she will love it! That was very kind of you to do-what little family I have is in turmoil as well (my brother and I over Mom) part of live I am afraid-good luck with everything-hugs Kathy

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  19. Thanks Kathy! I think she'll really like the results too. Your family is having the same issues as mine. All of this conflict started back when my parents were needing more assistance. Everyone has their own way of wanting to deal with it ... even the parents ;) Somehow or other everything gets straightened out, and maybe it's not to everyone's liking, but compromises have to be made. I hope you and your brother can weather this storm well enough to still be friends in the end. Take care Kathy. xox

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    1. thank you-this latest development here with my brother was quite the surprise for me-hoping too it all works out well-hugs

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