tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-91524995136323752082024-03-13T08:44:14.929-04:00The Rugged MooseWendie Scott Davishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00422462454689323029noreply@blogger.comBlogger598125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9152499513632375208.post-90799652627732809162024-02-27T08:48:00.002-05:002024-02-27T08:48:51.106-05:00The Mystique - and Mistakes - of Steeking.<p>I have discovered that I am a knitter who loves colourwork more than lace or cables. I guess it's just the way my brain works. I can keep track - and stay motivated - by colours changing, more than I can in a complex cable or lace pattern.</p><p>So, I was immediately smitten with the <a href="m/patterns/library/voyage-9" target="_blank">Voyage Cardigan</a> and saw it as a great way to use up a lot of my buckets of sock yarn. Plus plain sleeves, which would go quickly.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHeK2KU7OxTWYxUULxHaLDM8xzE2YqU_nqzmGncPYmnXi-UvyDQUuMKkZmc1JXZH5qacOpCghEb6zvAWNmmhITJ242cI7DIPbxtcqytf4AoVTMIYbB0HyLHBouAbFHzY6KAtujmy59xekDP-ZVx2amDoXZzj1n2OkuJDV8OECC13jHJllPmY5b6p6HVOE/s640/DSC01383_medium2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="426" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHeK2KU7OxTWYxUULxHaLDM8xzE2YqU_nqzmGncPYmnXi-UvyDQUuMKkZmc1JXZH5qacOpCghEb6zvAWNmmhITJ242cI7DIPbxtcqytf4AoVTMIYbB0HyLHBouAbFHzY6KAtujmy59xekDP-ZVx2amDoXZzj1n2OkuJDV8OECC13jHJllPmY5b6p6HVOE/w266-h400/DSC01383_medium2.jpg" width="266" /></a></div><p>Just one (or three) little catches in this pattern. It involves "steeking". </p><p>For those of you who don't know what steeking is, it is a way of being able to "knit colourwork in the round" and avoid having to purl. A number of stitches are added to the create the "steek", which is reinforced area that connects what will become the two fronts of a cardigan. The steek is the connecting element that lets you cut into your knit material. That's correct "CUT". </p><p>This pattern also had "steeks" in the sleeves, so you knit in the round (again incorporating steek stitches) and then cut open the sleeve steek to pick up the sleeve stitches. </p><p>I cannot believe that I have been knitting for 60 years and never experienced a "steek" before. They are the norm in many European countries and people swear by them. I think the whole idea of cutting a sweater was too scary for me, so I just avoided any mention of them. But this pattern was so fabulous that I decided to go for it. And there are a TON of videos and guides to help you gain courage. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9ksQXmo1h0wZ3umGa7spcN7eiEuzIaJcG9l_6tR5vWQpYTXiTRs_nnbnzC6tnPVqgEmxWoU6bkf_V-L7NfvU4wh_IJj14J3SpdDmZBzDjLa2e85CjgAqsrMI3kHRGPleZiMiLEOu09PkfSBCgxdr3m1lRJE7h2pZ255EyVllbFoUnVAUYaO5ywmnIClc/s4032/Voyage%20Cardigan.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9ksQXmo1h0wZ3umGa7spcN7eiEuzIaJcG9l_6tR5vWQpYTXiTRs_nnbnzC6tnPVqgEmxWoU6bkf_V-L7NfvU4wh_IJj14J3SpdDmZBzDjLa2e85CjgAqsrMI3kHRGPleZiMiLEOu09PkfSBCgxdr3m1lRJE7h2pZ255EyVllbFoUnVAUYaO5ywmnIClc/w300-h400/Voyage%20Cardigan.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><p>The colour work, as expected, was hypnotic. I used the pattern image as a guide for picking colours that I had in my stash that were close. And it went sooooo quickly. I just couldn't put it down - I needed to see what the next pattern would look like. Every area only involved two colours, and, a bonus of the "steeking" is that the new ends get cut off, so no ends to darn in.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSRTc0TR29ayTYJ17M2rGquxg81gxSux5KGpMBqh_3Smq91mpERB8o28sDMYoFsXC9iV6iSY6eUWaVxhEkFZPNmcmaOI4oEGDRjrmHufl4DK_sBwtWrvYHgJHdaGO8EE94PQwoSI4hb2NSg3wZLnNtlK_Itwu0UHK2aJsr5qFjOOyGDL4NQvOgbH4AeNQ/s4032/VoyageCardi_16:2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSRTc0TR29ayTYJ17M2rGquxg81gxSux5KGpMBqh_3Smq91mpERB8o28sDMYoFsXC9iV6iSY6eUWaVxhEkFZPNmcmaOI4oEGDRjrmHufl4DK_sBwtWrvYHgJHdaGO8EE94PQwoSI4hb2NSg3wZLnNtlK_Itwu0UHK2aJsr5qFjOOyGDL4NQvOgbH4AeNQ/w300-h400/VoyageCardi_16:2.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><p>Above is a picture of the fully knit body - with the shoulder seams joined - and you can see some running stitches up the front that show where the "steek" stitches are. I watched many, many videos on reinforcing before cutting. And was ready to jump in. The sleeves are also not yet cut, so more of a cocoon than a sweater. </p><p>There are two tried-and-true favourite methods to reinforce a steek. One is to use your sewing machine. The other is to crochet a reinforcing chain stitch right next to where you need to cut. I have no idea why I was leary of trying the sewing machine method, but I was, so opted for the crochet chain method. Here are a couple of pics</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFJ-rlnuahKRLUl9LRvsZQ5KvEbadv2LtFwYBOLYMhCGq5XYOp7TfDK5Dd0-OX6l0zKVvEMMRXctk1fQ9zNdtzhy_phREodouUfidwWX5gHUx0CNvEKsxYJ73CAs0zeCGeUAltaq9a_rXHAOHo78yqGaHyKNZVBMDFsjf7z9IFoOJghyphenhyphenAAcf32K459hSE/s4032/Front_Steek%20Reinforcement.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFJ-rlnuahKRLUl9LRvsZQ5KvEbadv2LtFwYBOLYMhCGq5XYOp7TfDK5Dd0-OX6l0zKVvEMMRXctk1fQ9zNdtzhy_phREodouUfidwWX5gHUx0CNvEKsxYJ73CAs0zeCGeUAltaq9a_rXHAOHo78yqGaHyKNZVBMDFsjf7z9IFoOJghyphenhyphenAAcf32K459hSE/w300-h400/Front_Steek%20Reinforcement.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>This shot shows the crochet reinforcement on either side of the steek stitches.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-RTZ_ShsyL5k0V4TR_OwWHGsxaRJbzs5mCcJZVeKY-Z5hz6brLe2OB9QyrDBZSZ7ooEwCEuDYBhq2PQF8Kl_hk_ctrKyurtUfNNCrH8TDu0MWY9xHhJFA4rZC5aGE8sC4aqu_Op7yah8bQLyMF83Ek9rLpGHP08LevSvIzCqKvv3zcrK6uarWPOHxN8g/s4032/front%20cut%20jpg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-RTZ_ShsyL5k0V4TR_OwWHGsxaRJbzs5mCcJZVeKY-Z5hz6brLe2OB9QyrDBZSZ7ooEwCEuDYBhq2PQF8Kl_hk_ctrKyurtUfNNCrH8TDu0MWY9xHhJFA4rZC5aGE8sC4aqu_Op7yah8bQLyMF83Ek9rLpGHP08LevSvIzCqKvv3zcrK6uarWPOHxN8g/w300-h400/front%20cut%20jpg.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">This shot shows the front steek actually cut. You can see the running stitch guide for the edge of the steek.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqcN9SXK8tgPwOTAUo6GEXptNhIiuDCCWX4T0PNdaJcoodkLBS-Uj_AFsNHQjXGb4Kb9TACxsjmr7xdwr-z_kWfeRIMWkn9DqQjIKkh9BAw0fybuYoQUO7A-pbRP6MgaWllqLqaAl8foKZn1Vz8pRqCMpVZPk8WadNbAo3eeL29YMSruRCDPSax-8tVpY/s4032/sleeve%20steek%20jpg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqcN9SXK8tgPwOTAUo6GEXptNhIiuDCCWX4T0PNdaJcoodkLBS-Uj_AFsNHQjXGb4Kb9TACxsjmr7xdwr-z_kWfeRIMWkn9DqQjIKkh9BAw0fybuYoQUO7A-pbRP6MgaWllqLqaAl8foKZn1Vz8pRqCMpVZPk8WadNbAo3eeL29YMSruRCDPSax-8tVpY/w300-h400/sleeve%20steek%20jpg.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">This shows the sleeve steek cut - you can see the reinforcement crochet line.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Unfortunately, when I went to pick up the sleeve stitches, the crochet did NOT hold the stitches and I started to lose the edge. Yikes. I quickly ran to the sewing machine and did what I should have done from the start. It was fast, easy, and most important of all STURDY!!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Here is what the sleeve looked like once I picked up the stitches. I will be putting ribbon over the bulk in here, as well as on the fronts. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjndSF0i18CzEAyxKFbmSBfWTcOtlBVSEwqyeDfSthyMrYahYKnEezNsbtFpQ3Ef7uPc6Liae7-DrxCZV8As40jlSwUWQqrkWagLU7ugSGqGELR7KXx7WoZaU2Xtysc6EsJj4RfCHo2OblmWzwQTUyrHu2y-2ydtayvMdf5vz6_L4WnHOq9ltUkalUWJmA/s4032/steek%20and%20beginning%20of%20sleeve.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjndSF0i18CzEAyxKFbmSBfWTcOtlBVSEwqyeDfSthyMrYahYKnEezNsbtFpQ3Ef7uPc6Liae7-DrxCZV8As40jlSwUWQqrkWagLU7ugSGqGELR7KXx7WoZaU2Xtysc6EsJj4RfCHo2OblmWzwQTUyrHu2y-2ydtayvMdf5vz6_L4WnHOq9ltUkalUWJmA/w300-h400/steek%20and%20beginning%20of%20sleeve.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">And here is the sleeve in progress. I may have to do some duplicate stitch over the first row. I may also try blocking again and see if that helps, after darning in the ends at the beginning. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhteaP6o1xfgVN22FDPYYIyk84S8e2q3InMPTvLhItXrK9c4c8HrIx_fcnn2j-X5mT5yuQ7fdrPIrZiWrzeE4C4_hyphenhyphen4KEFrlJTrx_Zb0ZTzgsrWWfTdZfRBahDdu-tw86GHn352q7diROdQ6o-nTkDT6cMAMKJkoWaD2Brf-L_TSHKkGEgdNUjjqXxroT0/s4032/IMG_5419.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhteaP6o1xfgVN22FDPYYIyk84S8e2q3InMPTvLhItXrK9c4c8HrIx_fcnn2j-X5mT5yuQ7fdrPIrZiWrzeE4C4_hyphenhyphen4KEFrlJTrx_Zb0ZTzgsrWWfTdZfRBahDdu-tw86GHn352q7diROdQ6o-nTkDT6cMAMKJkoWaD2Brf-L_TSHKkGEgdNUjjqXxroT0/w300-h400/IMG_5419.HEIC" width="300" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">So, one and a half sleeves to go - the remaining sleeve is the "messier one". And the button band to pick up and knit. Still a lot of work left. And the fun really was the colour work, which I still love.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">What were the mistakes? Not using the sewing machine at first to reinforce. It would have worked much better and would have saved me considerable time. And, there is also a boo boo in the colour work, which somehow I didn't notice until it was all done. Now I am leaving it in as a "creative" touch - like I did it on purpose. lol. I don't think anyone will notice except me. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Hoping I can finish in the next week, but I do have a pair of socks that have a deadline, so you never know. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Wendie Scott Davishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00422462454689323029noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9152499513632375208.post-54605831717059830722024-01-27T14:06:00.004-05:002024-01-27T14:06:58.535-05:00Paint by Number Revisited<p>Last weekend, our granddaughter was coming to spend most of Saturday with us while her brother and parents left to host his birthday party. As Everleigh is a keen young artist-in-the-making, we always have fun painting or doing a craft together.</p><p>Getting us each a paint by number set sounded like the perfect plan. When there wasn't an appropriate one for a 6 year old, I settled on a "mermaid kit" - image on stretched canvas and necessary paints for her, and a paint by number for me. The image is a cute, paint-splattered Dalmation pup, with lots of pink, purple and other bright colours, so I figured she would enjoy seeing it come to life. </p><p>Here is a picture of the boxed kit. A 16 x 20 piece of canvas, all the required paints, 4 brushes and a hanging system, for $20. Seemed like a good idea. (Artist's Loft from Michael's BTW)</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilFb66ndSociwhTZDSFmGeqeSK9PIkb7jy3dO2-swZ1uUuwid90Y-NWex2FI33owNE51lXte9MOb_FZyd4lDZVqxpEHdYIL8124BF0LWk0Z27Ei98yZIDH8jFloXqqGtNHwW37t_TALTEwxiAyo569okErNGgqzDsNkTLWoqBGvPdtpyffNq3zI-nLR2k/s4032/IMG_5358.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilFb66ndSociwhTZDSFmGeqeSK9PIkb7jy3dO2-swZ1uUuwid90Y-NWex2FI33owNE51lXte9MOb_FZyd4lDZVqxpEHdYIL8124BF0LWk0Z27Ei98yZIDH8jFloXqqGtNHwW37t_TALTEwxiAyo569okErNGgqzDsNkTLWoqBGvPdtpyffNq3zI-nLR2k/w300-h400/IMG_5358.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br />When I removed everything from the box, I was in for a bit of a shock. Although on the box, the paint areas look like they are a good size, here is what you see when you open the "legend". Zoom in a bit and you will see what I was in for. Luckily, I have a fancy magnifying glass, a gift from a friend, which came in very handy.<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFHXFOFyJhePNz9RDBI2G9sWbt41mOAmGe6am7qV7gdaaE1kBwi8DJaKxHunfTCBNjRdeC5ldFnPTcD8MhA5T04MPKe3gn57ZTHI9J9msp-fjbgnmL2q58ubyMxurRqilCkxthQ1uoUAHPtUAOG263xPxm3v5_HW66OW6Y0E1Km5xxlbiN218JQmZF3Co/s4028/IMG_5353.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4028" data-original-width="3019" height="553" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFHXFOFyJhePNz9RDBI2G9sWbt41mOAmGe6am7qV7gdaaE1kBwi8DJaKxHunfTCBNjRdeC5ldFnPTcD8MhA5T04MPKe3gn57ZTHI9J9msp-fjbgnmL2q58ubyMxurRqilCkxthQ1uoUAHPtUAOG263xPxm3v5_HW66OW6Y0E1Km5xxlbiN218JQmZF3Co/w480-h553/IMG_5353.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><p>While Evvie and I painted together, which was a couple of hours, she was nearly done her painting and I had made a very small dent in mine. By the end of Sunday, after probably 8 hours, here is what I accomplished.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_u29mNolvLfZaxFBBzH1_VtPXqdIEx4KYKaOAue093KSKQEgtskM0iivvPGFY9RC5qarT9SIrH9Gjya7kdGDWyqUzDBpruQt1ciSWL-8Sn72Yxm9f-slppqbfM0VZxY-kH4wMu62gkW4nOSATME61njvAScSjYg4oxhS_oYP-g7ceb8oIJdytkY5-MZo/s4032/IMG_5352.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_u29mNolvLfZaxFBBzH1_VtPXqdIEx4KYKaOAue093KSKQEgtskM0iivvPGFY9RC5qarT9SIrH9Gjya7kdGDWyqUzDBpruQt1ciSWL-8Sn72Yxm9f-slppqbfM0VZxY-kH4wMu62gkW4nOSATME61njvAScSjYg4oxhS_oYP-g7ceb8oIJdytkY5-MZo/w300-h400/IMG_5352.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><p>The good news is that it was just as relaxing as I remembered. And it turned out to be a very good "value exercise", which I always like to see. Got me thinking that perhaps I should have my "portrait" students colour or paint in the values on their patterns before they start hooking.</p><p>Evvie decided that this dog should come and live on her bedroom wall, which is what I had been secretly hoping would happen. But even better, her mom was about to buy another animal print for her wall and totally fell in love with this pup - who wouldn't? She was even going to invest in a frame so she could do a grouping with the other critters on one wall.</p><p>So the challenge was on. I really, really wanted to finish this in a week, so that they could take it home.</p><p>A few hours spent every day got me to the end of all the "splats", and just the background remained to be done. Evvie and mom both wanted the background to be white, versus the light blue you see on the box. And it saved me another chunk of hours to leave it white. I was in!!</p><p>Here is another picture that I shared when the painting was done - just background left. I wanted them to be sure before I did anything that they didn't want blue. It was a unanimous "team white" decision, so I just had to cover all the little number 1s that were on the canvas - pale, but still there.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicANgxZKYR5bl5yE5vZlbJsFbgTZTcIol4hvhBCPPUU2z2mlltLm-0mn5Bl3oFd166txQnblPiJM20PLzi4tjwwkL_Sqq7VMUZp97MyaQ1Iefi9SVchS6wkvvaKBFNJCqc_6hhrsOVMEO21hNUDVSpCLSGjbaChx7s7zYyO73-5L1l33TkFh7h3Kbn_Pk/s3357/IMG_5354%202.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2675" data-original-width="3357" height="319" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicANgxZKYR5bl5yE5vZlbJsFbgTZTcIol4hvhBCPPUU2z2mlltLm-0mn5Bl3oFd166txQnblPiJM20PLzi4tjwwkL_Sqq7VMUZp97MyaQ1Iefi9SVchS6wkvvaKBFNJCqc_6hhrsOVMEO21hNUDVSpCLSGjbaChx7s7zYyO73-5L1l33TkFh7h3Kbn_Pk/w400-h319/IMG_5354%202.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p>Today, this pup, who we named Splat, went into a frame to be part of a feature wall. I am so happy that he has gone to a good home.</p><p>My net takeaway from this experience is that, like most other things, paint by number has come a long way in the last 60 years lol. There are a ton of places online that sell them, a number who will create a paint by number from your photo (and not too expensive, I might add). There are sites that encourage you to do it as a social event - girlfriends and a bottle of wine. And some of the designs are very contemporary and would look great in any room.</p><p>I definitely give this exercise a hearty two thumbs up. It did keep me away from hooking for a whole week, so keep that addictive factor in mind. Totally worth the money and the time. </p><p>PS A little story about paint by number in my childhood. My oldest brother Bill loved these - the old kind of bucolic scenes, or trains, or whatever. And in the day, I think the paints were oil versus acrylic. He would paint the entire thing on Christmas day, rather than doing one colour at a time and letter it dry.</p><p>One year, he put his painting on the desk in our dad's study to dry. My sister Nancy had a phone call and decided to sit on the desk, in her brand new stretchy stirrup pants. When she stood up at the end of the call, she had an imprint of the paint by number on her backside. I laugh every time I think of that. </p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Wendie Scott Davishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00422462454689323029noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9152499513632375208.post-91597824737995143132024-01-12T15:29:00.004-05:002024-01-12T15:29:40.260-05:00Some Special Sparklers. <p>On New Year's Eve, our three grandkids were together, which is always a wondrous thing. After dinner, to burn off a bit of steam, the kids were ushered outside, where there was a fire in the fire pit, and sparklers for twirling (with appropriate adult supervision).</p><p>Theo, our daughter-in-law took an amazing shot with the slow exposure on her camera and this was the result. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNMij5zKX9pGKCXcGuozXvZT62WCED0qbOvpGcXDq-PIyMylYtofFysWCm7BlXhq3UEljrxUAhuGd-u6V3r0eBjejO9mdIRgtoH7prZfrb1m5Ss0L_M07LGizP6A1WkI-gXz1mWk7EwZN7u4N57YXXwVTMlT0Wo3HAfcZN1zFT49265NjKxKLxddMLkoE/s4032/NewYear'sEve%202023.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNMij5zKX9pGKCXcGuozXvZT62WCED0qbOvpGcXDq-PIyMylYtofFysWCm7BlXhq3UEljrxUAhuGd-u6V3r0eBjejO9mdIRgtoH7prZfrb1m5Ss0L_M07LGizP6A1WkI-gXz1mWk7EwZN7u4N57YXXwVTMlT0Wo3HAfcZN1zFT49265NjKxKLxddMLkoE/w300-h400/NewYear'sEve%202023.jpeg" width="300" /></a></div><p>I knew immediately that I would have to "hook" this moment. And today, I had a little time to see where this would take me. First of all, I wanted to get closer to the action, so I cropped it.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHorlknPPcqzHUReAZ_2OY0D8Ltz7MYRji9dZZz0Qq8BxYhyphenhyphenCTG-dfc9Xumevxhlg9hzUEYzvCz8VHogzdQfxhoTLPtaIdqNlVUFyVeHAYXiHfsYnMARG4xyajQBbHj4gfAiMm6ta6-yeEfDVK-HRb6RONSQkJI2BrbVUKgCNgzrT0ltAueBAdgVS9mM4/s2879/try%2012%20x%2020.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1938" data-original-width="2879" height="269" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHorlknPPcqzHUReAZ_2OY0D8Ltz7MYRji9dZZz0Qq8BxYhyphenhyphenCTG-dfc9Xumevxhlg9hzUEYzvCz8VHogzdQfxhoTLPtaIdqNlVUFyVeHAYXiHfsYnMARG4xyajQBbHj4gfAiMm6ta6-yeEfDVK-HRb6RONSQkJI2BrbVUKgCNgzrT0ltAueBAdgVS9mM4/w400-h269/try%2012%20x%2020.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p>Much better to get in on those expressions. Jackson (10) already has swagger in his sparkler. Everleigh (6) seems very focused on watching what she is doing. And Charlie (2) is enjoying the wonder.</p><p>Next, I ran the image through my favourite Photo Editor - Photomania. And I decided the effect I liked best was "Brush Strokes". Simpler sketch, stronger values, a much better hooking road map. Not much different from the original shot. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN5UXn6I1m-oN-TiHH0_fAfvsiyZByWn-uAhyR_B07SJ-V8dGD6JwI76K7C1kMMdTDhPSeHJmhYJ7YgUgGAPgx46Xys68kzSY3o5eS_mhiZtdfhXFcXUEX3Be11ESv4XtCKk7yLLfhhmkyB8hLYxTNvY8-_hyphenhyphenHmC1gundjNJUKt-hVIIkSZXtpYKdNAWE/s900/Photomania%20-%20Brushstrokes%20with%20slider%20.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="606" data-original-width="900" height="269" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN5UXn6I1m-oN-TiHH0_fAfvsiyZByWn-uAhyR_B07SJ-V8dGD6JwI76K7C1kMMdTDhPSeHJmhYJ7YgUgGAPgx46Xys68kzSY3o5eS_mhiZtdfhXFcXUEX3Be11ESv4XtCKk7yLLfhhmkyB8hLYxTNvY8-_hyphenhyphenHmC1gundjNJUKt-hVIIkSZXtpYKdNAWE/w400-h269/Photomania%20-%20Brushstrokes%20with%20slider%20.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p>And to create my sketch, I ran the Brush Strokes effect through "Coal Sketch", another effect on Photomania.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyGVAOZtvCdLwR6GkcD-3MdoWaYmfZ5MHbyB3N600yMQFFerRHXwW2eFHXuLGyx8_UxriIqUHbtCQO_JkaX3IaKVmt-N3wB1Z7Y-EjLGVVxiq4cpJnQ2a38EHnGZK0WSFykAJeQd03ifDXiRT2cJGMtJS_80KP40r_RVAf6UIMTFKuFxoDI5vGd0BBlTw/s900/Photomania%20-%20Coal%20Sketch%20.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="606" data-original-width="900" height="269" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyGVAOZtvCdLwR6GkcD-3MdoWaYmfZ5MHbyB3N600yMQFFerRHXwW2eFHXuLGyx8_UxriIqUHbtCQO_JkaX3IaKVmt-N3wB1Z7Y-EjLGVVxiq4cpJnQ2a38EHnGZK0WSFykAJeQd03ifDXiRT2cJGMtJS_80KP40r_RVAf6UIMTFKuFxoDI5vGd0BBlTw/w400-h269/Photomania%20-%20Coal%20Sketch%20.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The initial result was just way too many lines in black and white, so I used the slider to reduce the effect, and let more of the photo show through, while still keeping a good strong line I can use for my pattern. I will trace the key lines onto a piece of tracing paper, and use that to transfer the pattern to backing.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">This whole photo editing process is one of the technology tools I cover in my workshop, Creating Fibre Art in the Age of Technology.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">My Workshop Week 2024 class filled in a couple of days after registration opened. My wait list turned into a second workshop in early March. And now I have another wait list for a third. It makes me so happy that folks are keen to learn about all of these tools waiting out there on the internet.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><p><br /></p>Wendie Scott Davishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00422462454689323029noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9152499513632375208.post-61652981972807130992024-01-05T10:14:00.002-05:002024-01-05T10:14:58.207-05:00A New Online Adventure<p> </p><p>HAPPY NEW YEAR!</p><p>Hope your holidays were filled with love and joy (remember, I'm a big seeker of joy and mine certainly was). </p><p>I started my year off with a big learning curve.</p><p>As mentioned before, I am one of the instructors teaching a Zoom workshop in Workshop Week 2024. My workshop is Creating Fibre Art in the Age of Technology, one of my passions.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisoOssWWaADWkieh6SL-L5aNB0buambcUUEWq4Fc0CcSTZ7VGAxN8kK8j3Dzhbkepav50ieZDYHCbX5o3eo68e8w75PA5fpi8IX8SHJuxuNoO706QTi5zuUg5BZFV3zyqxZFHEOvPWrYu3UcALy8EpPxzZN5BPUfSlRRR50EkCGmbqaj9mPLbFtQhL9pg/s1754/LOGO.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1754" data-original-width="1240" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisoOssWWaADWkieh6SL-L5aNB0buambcUUEWq4Fc0CcSTZ7VGAxN8kK8j3Dzhbkepav50ieZDYHCbX5o3eo68e8w75PA5fpi8IX8SHJuxuNoO706QTi5zuUg5BZFV3zyqxZFHEOvPWrYu3UcALy8EpPxzZN5BPUfSlRRR50EkCGmbqaj9mPLbFtQhL9pg/s320/LOGO.png" width="226" /></a></div><br /><p>Here is a link to their Instagram page, where you can see all the information about the lectures and classes during the week. <a href="https://www.instagram.com/inthestudioonline/">https://www.instagram.com/inthestudioonline/</a></p><p>My workshop filled incredibly quickly and a second one was created for March 2. It too is filled. I am so thrilled that so many people are interested in learning about the free, online tools that can be used in mat making - or any fibre art, for that matter. </p><p>As part of our instructor responsibilities, a group of us were asked to take over the Workshop Instagram page - for a day - and tell the followers a bit about ourselves. My day was January 3rd. I had not taken over a page before, so that was a lesson unto itself. And then I had to figure out what I was going to say. </p><p>I eventually settled on six posts, which I spaced throughout the day. You can see them (should you want to) if you go to that page.</p><p>I feel like I can put another notch in my "online adventures) belt. </p><p>And it is always fun to learn something new!!!</p>Wendie Scott Davishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00422462454689323029noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9152499513632375208.post-54564108842049233602023-12-17T16:33:00.000-05:002023-12-17T16:33:05.079-05:00Finding Joy in Small Things <p> Another interruption from "Hooking for Joy" was more Joy.</p><p>I made a few little ornaments - they are punched - and gave them as hostess gifts and decorations for people who are far away. Here they are posing for their close up on our mini tree.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzA0pFiyMTmgPQHLUcfGhEfSz9VjO1ejOQ3bSxgiBv0lIjN15NZJ5qrRJBQw4CaZosZsjOM5RFdm-bppw91Y4nCaFEFvq7jOJf74zXNUFoNTx46kLqe9-vtBjzEG2saU7X-RHqsXdsyV4ur_-HfXKMXkO7ELnEP7pc4Fol1Ell0A-rj0nspk8fX52GEt8/s2304/Joy%20ornaments%202023.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2304" data-original-width="1728" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzA0pFiyMTmgPQHLUcfGhEfSz9VjO1ejOQ3bSxgiBv0lIjN15NZJ5qrRJBQw4CaZosZsjOM5RFdm-bppw91Y4nCaFEFvq7jOJf74zXNUFoNTx46kLqe9-vtBjzEG2saU7X-RHqsXdsyV4ur_-HfXKMXkO7ELnEP7pc4Fol1Ell0A-rj0nspk8fX52GEt8/w300-h400/Joy%20ornaments%202023.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><p>Making home made ornaments has always brought me Joy. My kids received an ornament every year for the tree, so when they moved out, they already had a full tree worth of ornaments. </p><p>I am now continuing that tradition with their kids. This year the Tree Stars for Jackson and Everleigh, and the Spiderman ornament for Charlie. (see earlier post)</p><p>Looking at all of these ornaments reminds me of when I made them, and why they were important that particular year. They are not trees, they are time capsules. </p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Wendie Scott Davishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00422462454689323029noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9152499513632375208.post-59966163414584835602023-12-09T16:40:00.000-05:002023-12-09T16:40:13.598-05:00A Darn Good Lesson. <p>In my never-ending quest to save my husband's socks, before they get turned into creatures or Christmas tree ornaments, I have tried just about everything. I have patched, duplicate stitched, tried working with extra reinforcing fibre in the heel and toe. And to date, although they have prolonged life somewhat, they have not been the perfect solution. Perhaps there isn't one.</p><p>But there has been a lot of chatter lately about the re-emergence of the Speedweve Darning Loom, which apparently was a big fixture a few decades ago. After watching a couple of YouTube videos, I decided to order one and give it a try. The cost was not prohibitive, and I can always use a new approach.</p><p>Today I tried to use it. First of all, I am pretty sure I ordered the small and got a large version. Not sure what you would darn with this, but I decided to "give it a go" anyway. (Because there is nothing there for scale, the wooden holder is 5" in diameter, and it has 28 hooks versus the 14 that I saw in both videos. Even getting that disk into the sock was a bit of a workout.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX4Nw-Uo__sVd3vdF_dccmcvNvubHTF3nSVPxZhyphenhyphensDPyDMDDBCOt09i-pdLcV13vJPr0drjidLcqhOvQTYX7lWsBXaV2IbNVgH2AHOg8fAb_H-mzQCf0XyUt618INCOyBcBBNwm6kApPpbdnQ9UYIrlGvfSPxNtYLLmSkOacbfhcQIBr5EMbVJR7QoxBY/s4032/IMG_5281.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX4Nw-Uo__sVd3vdF_dccmcvNvubHTF3nSVPxZhyphenhyphensDPyDMDDBCOt09i-pdLcV13vJPr0drjidLcqhOvQTYX7lWsBXaV2IbNVgH2AHOg8fAb_H-mzQCf0XyUt618INCOyBcBBNwm6kApPpbdnQ9UYIrlGvfSPxNtYLLmSkOacbfhcQIBr5EMbVJR7QoxBY/w300-h400/IMG_5281.HEIC" width="300" /></a></div><div><br /></div>And I haven't felt so "left handed" since I first learned the Kitchener Stitch decades ago. (I can now do that procedure left or right handed, but still avoid it whenever possible.) Just trying to set the thing up required more than two hands - my husband got involved. Remember, there are his socks at stake. <div><br /></div><div>No matter which way I tried to set up my "loom" stitches for weaving, it felt awkward and backward. But I pushed on. And after much swearing and do-overs, I got it done. The loom stitches were in and on the right hooks, and I was on to the "weaving" step. It wasn't perfect (as the woman in the video stated), but it fell off twice. </div><div><br /></div><div>Here is a picture of my first results. Not horrid, but not great!! But the hole was covered. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1eIaV53S-PUepZT__VuU5izbpAkRlItbgTSEU74OaW1AanDzCZp2E3AZ-TtAWi3Pz5AJsAMXKE6DT4HAJco-Zag9Qpz0NB1Xq2QNy2UcAwpOoEx_3DKOftDLlBubvxDDaooasAm1myoEemd59OMG1Kwzppfb6QqUUZlvHAK1FpcTCpubap91voexI3QE/s4032/IMG_5279.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1eIaV53S-PUepZT__VuU5izbpAkRlItbgTSEU74OaW1AanDzCZp2E3AZ-TtAWi3Pz5AJsAMXKE6DT4HAJco-Zag9Qpz0NB1Xq2QNy2UcAwpOoEx_3DKOftDLlBubvxDDaooasAm1myoEemd59OMG1Kwzppfb6QqUUZlvHAK1FpcTCpubap91voexI3QE/w300-h400/IMG_5279.HEIC" width="300" /></a></div><br /><div>After a break and a walk outside, I came back to try to apply some of the learning from the loom towards my old technique, which involved putting a papier mache grapefruit into the sock, instead of a darning mushroom.</div><div><br /></div><div>What the loom taught me was that the elastic tension around the hole made a big difference. So, once I got the grapefruit in, I put an elastic above and below the darning area. And I made the long stitches freehand, without any hooks. Easy, peasy. And so was the weaving. I think without the hooks in my way, I could just move around much for easily.</div><div><br /></div><div>Here is the result "without" the loom. (And before the clean up and darning in of ends.)</div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFvrKyUwa1G8ilWxvjFcOfuFWp1iVdwoWuwjimmZjP0CXMvx2EWV8IQXb5ixQXwsF0e0QOwjgJkke614_8wc3ZwAzLACXeqnWpW5AjY5_u6Wd04s7NCUrp_e_Bo2aek3sbYq9h44AD0e2Vv4YAbj9jvnYWGmpSuFw66biQBpSC0WcWYVEm8qVkF2-52bo/s4032/IMG_5278.HEIC" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFvrKyUwa1G8ilWxvjFcOfuFWp1iVdwoWuwjimmZjP0CXMvx2EWV8IQXb5ixQXwsF0e0QOwjgJkke614_8wc3ZwAzLACXeqnWpW5AjY5_u6Wd04s7NCUrp_e_Bo2aek3sbYq9h44AD0e2Vv4YAbj9jvnYWGmpSuFw66biQBpSC0WcWYVEm8qVkF2-52bo/w300-h400/IMG_5278.HEIC" width="300" /></a></div>Again, not perfect, but more symmetrical and not pulling on the sock. <br /><div><br /></div><div>So, although the Darning Loom may have been a waste of whatever I spent. The lesson about tension on the darning grapefruit was worth every penny. </div><div><br /></div><div>I am pretty sure my technique still needs lots of work. Like a tighter weave, perhaps. But at the end of an afternoon, I have two socks with darned patches that may last a little longer.</div><div><br /></div><div>My husband has been warned that as long as he refuses to wear slippers over his socks, and wears friction holes on the bottom of his heels from the hardwood, these will be his last home made socks. He can just go and buy much cheaper socks, which i would not waste my time on saving. Stalemate!!</div><div><br /></div><div><p><br /></p></div>Wendie Scott Davishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00422462454689323029noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9152499513632375208.post-70285440943386104882023-12-06T16:38:00.000-05:002023-12-06T16:38:01.156-05:00Some Merry Interruptions <p> While progress continues on Hooking for Joy, there were a few little Christmas goodies that needed to interrupt. In fact, there were three Christmas stars, some sock monsters, a little knitted monster and a sock tree (a prototype for many to come).</p><p>The Christmas stars were a request from my daughter, since they decided this year to get two small trees instead of a large one (so they wouldn't have to rearrange all their living space), and she needed two hooked stars - one for each tree - so there would e no arguments about who gets the star!</p><p>Simple hit and miss stars turned out to be quite the "hit".</p><p>Here they are on the backing.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiosXRkYGlm26mnHzImQre9QvgN08peJ_iqMvMubckYWAslvQ4Qtdw21HqdbgN52HBoZWBuijF4Mfbr8l1QzBddsj16oz9Exqr8z8yADCRwAKUFIS10lUj6zSF2SHkeSXo74mKB5pCgg1AYiK6PLXc0eE82KqZ5eU_W8LsMtMWdNk_coEXp06RehA9sRbA/s2304/IMG_5245.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2304" data-original-width="1728" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiosXRkYGlm26mnHzImQre9QvgN08peJ_iqMvMubckYWAslvQ4Qtdw21HqdbgN52HBoZWBuijF4Mfbr8l1QzBddsj16oz9Exqr8z8yADCRwAKUFIS10lUj6zSF2SHkeSXo74mKB5pCgg1AYiK6PLXc0eE82KqZ5eU_W8LsMtMWdNk_coEXp06RehA9sRbA/s320/IMG_5245.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><p>And here they are on their respective trees.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIxVHRfKiH0PYiyr1r6ZuQ1H_GrfMr8gd8YXyZXWOhpDGqNbRLgbG88wFGa5trsfyGt0Ot081GGOI9URecMEJvu8yxdfTOl5eHyA0SlGOorSQyAXfcNEGO_gzuRyAzagBmODCpAu0Z7vg0l_023qwXiNzxbtxBpGOwqcCuhqcPW9F1Gd8IbAtMg6xoP-Y/s4032/IMG_3817%202.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIxVHRfKiH0PYiyr1r6ZuQ1H_GrfMr8gd8YXyZXWOhpDGqNbRLgbG88wFGa5trsfyGt0Ot081GGOI9URecMEJvu8yxdfTOl5eHyA0SlGOorSQyAXfcNEGO_gzuRyAzagBmODCpAu0Z7vg0l_023qwXiNzxbtxBpGOwqcCuhqcPW9F1Gd8IbAtMg6xoP-Y/s320/IMG_3817%202.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><p>You may have noticed a third star drawn on the backing. Good eye! This was for the third grandchild who does NOT have a personal tree. And his became a Spiderman ornament, his big favourite superhero of the moment. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrPCN65U5bhZ9VzKxRhxKIEQCsQPCdSUxp5IAgcFVbbfnRat33P-bnrEU1g0kwcP7_s2sWOHTXBo6_qukmvm3WHliBrhg__Z_962rDVuQa0MTMswOvtG0NOnbxAKcTlP9WhvZl-AY1_LbRsCM0HEViXsdSGsRA95obc1RExU27CTecJ-SApEjsttgXy2g/s4032/IMG_5248-1.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrPCN65U5bhZ9VzKxRhxKIEQCsQPCdSUxp5IAgcFVbbfnRat33P-bnrEU1g0kwcP7_s2sWOHTXBo6_qukmvm3WHliBrhg__Z_962rDVuQa0MTMswOvtG0NOnbxAKcTlP9WhvZl-AY1_LbRsCM0HEViXsdSGsRA95obc1RExU27CTecJ-SApEjsttgXy2g/w300-h400/IMG_5248-1.jpeg" width="300" /></a></div><p>Next, without a real deadline, is me doing a few things to save socks that have been darned, patched and now are just "dead socks". A while ago, I started with a sock cat, which I finally got stuffed and done. Then I created a couple more. I think they are pretty sweet. I have no idea what will become of them, but they will give a second life to those socks. In lots of crazy, adorable ways. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjboz-co2szdiD-qFtnsXSV9811vkWOoUNGilUQKVBMVuRvVhzOaDJUkZp2xUrwHay5T1GFNpUc2iz7vp3hsWbHVrgk4PDuHgnDByPi-1VtbH0g3YyIvbtdVUDF_WFDloyqzo0EF7w6UtjtUYhQKRi13tTNrOP34wpDlap82rYbsO85R7BM0_UY8D9OAs0/s3102/IMG_5258.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3102" data-original-width="2921" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjboz-co2szdiD-qFtnsXSV9811vkWOoUNGilUQKVBMVuRvVhzOaDJUkZp2xUrwHay5T1GFNpUc2iz7vp3hsWbHVrgk4PDuHgnDByPi-1VtbH0g3YyIvbtdVUDF_WFDloyqzo0EF7w6UtjtUYhQKRi13tTNrOP34wpDlap82rYbsO85R7BM0_UY8D9OAs0/s320/IMG_5258.jpg" width="301" /></a></div><p>Some monster leftovers were calling to become a tree ornament, which was fast, easy and cute. I see lots more of both of these ideas in the future.</p><p>A while ago, I knit a sweet monster blanket and matching monster for a new little human. Here's a link to a post I shared in May. <a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/9152499513632375208/6888797437981590244">https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/9152499513632375208/6888797437981590244</a></p><p>She is now a few months old, getting ready for her first Christmas. We get to meet her tomorrow, so a whipped up a little "grinch-like" monster that can hide in the blanket. And her mom and dad will get the first sock tree ornament.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmdquJGTTLlOUf-5CB-Vxsx-j20-YOkXd21zlsAw_arwxBx2vQq1JsYj1RYHkL9JPa8FfPeA68FLyCaH1AH3IZMyaQxGY-GCMP16l2oerADsGN84SpG8Rhko1Y6K-4oXbzoaDRbaY820LhQSXftfuMsaZhZu4vao1yZHM0aAUTvZmDJDyCdJjPkU_Zpso/s4032/IMG_5270.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmdquJGTTLlOUf-5CB-Vxsx-j20-YOkXd21zlsAw_arwxBx2vQq1JsYj1RYHkL9JPa8FfPeA68FLyCaH1AH3IZMyaQxGY-GCMP16l2oerADsGN84SpG8Rhko1Y6K-4oXbzoaDRbaY820LhQSXftfuMsaZhZu4vao1yZHM0aAUTvZmDJDyCdJjPkU_Zpso/s320/IMG_5270.HEIC" width="240" /></a></div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibZub3wOb3t_pjEPTZu6Qfu6aLzs33-oUUxW3Cmm_od3cgSIJJn3lhUKMz9HBTSiy4kWONF8FSXDHfu6RLkHc0ELuYLAbem0M3SkayCztqlyLkDtz9Q3bQLh5UC9qFmyRV4wf0A-4QR9aBz5DLVAX8r5YvsLLr5Wm4cglBRSXmB0qJzqwFE57VGQtgy_E/s4032/IMG_5271.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibZub3wOb3t_pjEPTZu6Qfu6aLzs33-oUUxW3Cmm_od3cgSIJJn3lhUKMz9HBTSiy4kWONF8FSXDHfu6RLkHc0ELuYLAbem0M3SkayCztqlyLkDtz9Q3bQLh5UC9qFmyRV4wf0A-4QR9aBz5DLVAX8r5YvsLLr5Wm4cglBRSXmB0qJzqwFE57VGQtgy_E/s320/IMG_5271.HEIC" width="240" /></a></div><p>I love making and giving home made things at Christmas. I have since I was about 12 years old. For me that is the joy of the season. There's that Joy word again. It seems to be popping up a lot lately, which is great.</p><p>The Joy mat continues to evolve. I have been spending a lot of my time working on the hit-or-miss section, being mindful that everything needs to get lighter as we travel to the top. It's such a great project to sit at whenever I have a little bit of time. I continue to enjoy this process.</p><p>I promise to share some progress shots one day soon. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Wendie Scott Davishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00422462454689323029noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9152499513632375208.post-63890701127239605192023-11-17T14:46:00.000-05:002023-11-17T14:46:17.918-05:00Background Check<p>Well, my original instinct about the background turned into reality this week. Once I had one of the swirls done in the light values at the top, I was able to check the multi-grey value background against all the different swirls.</p><p>And I am happy with it, at least so far.</p><p>Here is a picture of it around the dark to medium areas. By placing the lightest values of the grey next to the dark outline of the dark swirls, it separates nicely and allows me to add the other grey values into the negative space between the swirls - always an interesting thing to hook. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpZNszcrAsRd9nkOOXib0O2iOmtOkM3ryLduNyFipNedqBkeyApSn8ldqs9KbbdZhIqovLTit1-WaXrYtmXSBVI6YPBMSJYQemA4hgqLRlDeYyzv7_pLazIgTHaM-SwaVX-x4IUaORnD_0BBGKSdpF3n11CNIJ6bVIVmCVC1Znx9sAW8Us5J6bc-VVNNM/s4032/IMG_5239.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpZNszcrAsRd9nkOOXib0O2iOmtOkM3ryLduNyFipNedqBkeyApSn8ldqs9KbbdZhIqovLTit1-WaXrYtmXSBVI6YPBMSJYQemA4hgqLRlDeYyzv7_pLazIgTHaM-SwaVX-x4IUaORnD_0BBGKSdpF3n11CNIJ6bVIVmCVC1Znx9sAW8Us5J6bc-VVNNM/w300-h400/IMG_5239.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">And I could kind of reverse the value order of the greys around the lighter swirls. And I think it is working there too. I have proved to myself that I can tailor the background grey values around each and every swirl. I was so excited to see the progress that I hooked myself into a cramp today. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6dHlde5OApMiG4psX613N6SjpZp_oNZr8YruqN17X9XkmulXdD7wQGmEweeBuassigTuNMwamWGhzTAQZXagSoi9aSc4iXY6aqFzK_HQRta4roG3KDz5w85acNzW8SQLAK4NAa8c_d4TtVUnmmttD96oO5Q42nPkWtSj1ngrSyv6M2OkGBs0huuRQMhs/s4032/IMG_5240.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6dHlde5OApMiG4psX613N6SjpZp_oNZr8YruqN17X9XkmulXdD7wQGmEweeBuassigTuNMwamWGhzTAQZXagSoi9aSc4iXY6aqFzK_HQRta4roG3KDz5w85acNzW8SQLAK4NAa8c_d4TtVUnmmttD96oO5Q42nPkWtSj1ngrSyv6M2OkGBs0huuRQMhs/w300-h400/IMG_5240.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">As far as the initial purpose of this rug - Hooking for Joy - I can say that every step along the way has been filled with joy. Ask me again after I slog through the straight line hit-or-miss. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I will update again once I am cramp free and get going again. lol. </div><br /><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Wendie Scott Davishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00422462454689323029noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9152499513632375208.post-13195365773916916032023-11-12T11:59:00.001-05:002023-11-12T11:59:42.242-05:00Progress on Hooking for Joy<p> Let me begin by saying how much I am enjoying hooking this.</p><p>After so many yarn and 4-cut projects, this is like stretching my arms and flying. Plus each little "swirl" is unique. And there is no "wrong" in this. So it is very freeing and joyful. Guess I am achieving my goal even though it is early days.</p><p>The idea was to have the spheres get lighter as I moved up the rug. So the bottom was very dark. Then came some medium dark. Then medium. And I am moving towards the medium light. Then the light. </p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixgfTnc1iDyPxG-dpu6qN0IWk7_86JXYIaZ0yvjt-5ziXta7dicygErKb2q30ebILCcYj-C2js9boM5C3xKnd5EYEDY7wGD7dEcEXCqL5lqm1yNvjZgdP8bHnaWwhE-oEsFKoQ0uQkvWTomULdS5pdaj3ydw84_TkrfeuLShkPQPz2iTxK4ijikwmz86w/s4032/IMG_5226.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixgfTnc1iDyPxG-dpu6qN0IWk7_86JXYIaZ0yvjt-5ziXta7dicygErKb2q30ebILCcYj-C2js9boM5C3xKnd5EYEDY7wGD7dEcEXCqL5lqm1yNvjZgdP8bHnaWwhE-oEsFKoQ0uQkvWTomULdS5pdaj3ydw84_TkrfeuLShkPQPz2iTxK4ijikwmz86w/s320/IMG_5226.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgjX_UR8ix8_xWk8ckjMSqRhtcynh94Ku6jzVWsVs_6NM0Dx0z4-psKd7Mao1NV4usMmLHxRL7KWDKXxQYWN1LosgHcbFwN1DjmDIwyk_Ew-Su1qqjs8g9K5xFh4koXJE_WN1ZOZd7EMl9xzboix6IY6ZcMdascIvG6TfPhWr8H_aLAW6Us875eF-x-cc/s4032/IMG_5227.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgjX_UR8ix8_xWk8ckjMSqRhtcynh94Ku6jzVWsVs_6NM0Dx0z4-psKd7Mao1NV4usMmLHxRL7KWDKXxQYWN1LosgHcbFwN1DjmDIwyk_Ew-Su1qqjs8g9K5xFh4koXJE_WN1ZOZd7EMl9xzboix6IY6ZcMdascIvG6TfPhWr8H_aLAW6Us875eF-x-cc/s320/IMG_5227.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb_DrRPoRIPRLPFUWWTXjcUXjMrp1-ybQzSfG5b01FCWZlYFqRPnkJPbldtyGp5LOI_06zA4BB7bAs3yRN5JUGJodDIpf-gwagpHQlSw7fvX6rrGa4yDxb0ZMYOerO2xMtVvrJ1zT4cOma48WV7OHK9JzZL5EgYqtfXmINnm8i9RLVzLI-I7ni5etFQD8/s4032/IMG_5228.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb_DrRPoRIPRLPFUWWTXjcUXjMrp1-ybQzSfG5b01FCWZlYFqRPnkJPbldtyGp5LOI_06zA4BB7bAs3yRN5JUGJodDIpf-gwagpHQlSw7fvX6rrGa4yDxb0ZMYOerO2xMtVvrJ1zT4cOma48WV7OHK9JzZL5EgYqtfXmINnm8i9RLVzLI-I7ni5etFQD8/s320/IMG_5228.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">There are swirls on the other side of the centre panel as well. Smaller, but still quite a few. And the centre panel is just straight line hit-and-miss. I am popping in a few leftover strips as I go to hold the spot as the values need to change from dark to light in there as well. </div><p>Once I get all the swirls done, I will have to figure out my background.I am leaning towards different values of grey in the negative space between. If I have a light, dark and medium, I can use whatever value I need next to each sphere. The lighter ones will need medium and dark next to them - the darker ones will need the light.</p><p>By the time I share my next progress post, I should have a little test of the grey background in a few places. It's nice to be able to move around and work on what brings me joy at each sitting.</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Wendie Scott Davishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00422462454689323029noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9152499513632375208.post-44955404741986115302023-10-31T11:35:00.000-04:002023-10-31T11:35:28.617-04:00Hooking for Joy<p>I was trying to decide whether this post should be called "Looking for Joy" or "Hooking for Joy". Decided to go with this one.</p><p>As things have gotten increasingly horrible in the world, my joy has taken a huge hit. I am one of the happiest people I know, and the weight of everything that is going on right how has really taken its toll on my joy. Two wars, freak of nature incidents all over the world, politics completely paralyzed around the globe through polarization and politicizing of everything. Add to that my incredibly slow crawl back from Covid and my heart and head both hurt from the hopelessness everywhere. </p><p>But this week I had an idea for a project that might bring some joy while I look for joy. </p><p>Don't get me wrong. I have a wonderful life. I am an incredibly lucky human to have the existence that I do. The loving family that I have. And the comforts that I enjoy. But it just gets heavier and heavier to process everything that is happening to those much less fortunate than me. And I am burdened by the weight of it all. </p><p>A few years ago, I drew a pattern on a huge piece of rug warp. It was supposed to be for some crazy multi-fibre yarn that I bought. But the yarn didn't work, so the pattern got shoved aside. I even turned it over and drew something on the back, but this week, it is getting a second life.</p><p>I just found the original post - which was 05/06/2018. And the original plan was for it to be a headboard, which is why it is the shape it is. </p><p><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/9152499513632375208/280184271176479569">https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/9152499513632375208/280184271176479569</a></p><p>Fast forward to this week. I started to think about all those swirls and how they represent the whirling in everyone's brain all the time. And right now, trying to process the horrible state of man's inhumanity to man, those whirls are dark and joy-less. I think I may have found a concept to help me find the joy. I am hoping that hooking for will help lift me from the dark swirls as I search. </p><p>Here is the pattern, with more swirls added. And I hooked a few swirls in the bottom. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-vP7fftaEnf5zlvYwn-lBUfS-cmHu9C2qh4mXIdqAhMTbhw_gSK5Idh_X-LFS8yshq8jHoVwJIrjK5qXbCgwyvjWOrb-rdyTyhLR9P3zYEHNFpUHY-eI26Hj7ZE2qzeTiNwH1LVfvL3j6fG3I7SJoyJYNrgiHgmU0_gbsbwpYOr8dmiMM72mNxITbY2c/s2016/IMG_5196.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2016" data-original-width="1512" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-vP7fftaEnf5zlvYwn-lBUfS-cmHu9C2qh4mXIdqAhMTbhw_gSK5Idh_X-LFS8yshq8jHoVwJIrjK5qXbCgwyvjWOrb-rdyTyhLR9P3zYEHNFpUHY-eI26Hj7ZE2qzeTiNwH1LVfvL3j6fG3I7SJoyJYNrgiHgmU0_gbsbwpYOr8dmiMM72mNxITbY2c/w300-h400/IMG_5196.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><p>Here's a closer picture, so you know it's not all black. And gradually I will make my way to the light at the end of the tunnel. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguD2G0HQuH-QDl9imPMIJ5hWVO9v1utrEVV0xRTeTN4wS1qlXJ_SFszbArjDgmeaT5wQL5XqlIqu7twrVjDVEUxuZvCtqKOOG-Mt1lzmaLTmmSRtdp922RtF5kWBqYKFLVUXxj46ZipyJ9SMgRTt6_KPHo7hrlhvcQk-Vzmat-54yi5wEDoWnT5dULW4g/s2016/IMG_5197.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2016" data-original-width="1512" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguD2G0HQuH-QDl9imPMIJ5hWVO9v1utrEVV0xRTeTN4wS1qlXJ_SFszbArjDgmeaT5wQL5XqlIqu7twrVjDVEUxuZvCtqKOOG-Mt1lzmaLTmmSRtdp922RtF5kWBqYKFLVUXxj46ZipyJ9SMgRTt6_KPHo7hrlhvcQk-Vzmat-54yi5wEDoWnT5dULW4g/w300-h400/IMG_5197.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><p>I am not often a concept hooker - I usually work from photos - so this is a big leap of faith for me. It may not be what I want it to be, but I already have enjoyed hooking a few swirls, starting with the darkest ones.</p><p>In my mind, there is a dark section at the bottom, a mid value section as I hook my way to the joy, and a lighter section when I get to the end of this journey. </p><p>To try to show what is in my head, I put some worms on the pattern to show the transition from dark to mid to light values. (Oh, forgot to say that I intend to hook most of this from my worms.) I am sure I will have to add as I go. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw_DDVmxG18DZkRDfTyQMU99-M9uYQeqavfsFA6sbFRLde24vnoMJ0y5MPA4Kc0f1zFM1zhxFFV94Fje_8lQh3pevH3-bG7-pW0TP_4LGOJif5is4tYEeG4jMtWQ_CKUnm4HTMClwBrrOzxFWwqJj3h8vI7biorOBaheGt1L8bzKzUzo1QQbY_yk4aY9k/s2016/IMG_5191.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2016" data-original-width="1512" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw_DDVmxG18DZkRDfTyQMU99-M9uYQeqavfsFA6sbFRLde24vnoMJ0y5MPA4Kc0f1zFM1zhxFFV94Fje_8lQh3pevH3-bG7-pW0TP_4LGOJif5is4tYEeG4jMtWQ_CKUnm4HTMClwBrrOzxFWwqJj3h8vI7biorOBaheGt1L8bzKzUzo1QQbY_yk4aY9k/w300-h400/IMG_5191.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><p>I also did think about the middle section, and decided to try straight line hit-and-miss, using the same colours that are in the swirls. That section will also transition from dark at the bottom to light at the top. Here's a picture of the beginning of that section - outlined with some black and white beading. I think I will like this. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS4eNTEQP_5Nz4Le8NT3I-DEMXTt_eu0cc8IsNZ14kOAGb803fbk0xkG6Hj08Q16EXQ3vFtP1-CQtPWNn0plmaCTSFi488HCgvFa9JOULcX3XQ1oYGT64BHXQSHvL3CIwmF4xZcC1BtxJDic7aObvcTiEXEJv8QNU9fKGx7AZ-sWMOW-WdwOfffHceWYE/s2016/IMG_5200.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2016" data-original-width="1512" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS4eNTEQP_5Nz4Le8NT3I-DEMXTt_eu0cc8IsNZ14kOAGb803fbk0xkG6Hj08Q16EXQ3vFtP1-CQtPWNn0plmaCTSFi488HCgvFa9JOULcX3XQ1oYGT64BHXQSHvL3CIwmF4xZcC1BtxJDic7aObvcTiEXEJv8QNU9fKGx7AZ-sWMOW-WdwOfffHceWYE/w300-h400/IMG_5200.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The background (between the swirls) will remain an unknown for a while longer. A few ideas are in the back of my head, but I think I will keep hooking the swirls and see where that takes me. The teacher in me is yelling "You have to have a colour plan for all of it". But the joy seeker in me is saying, "Wait, it will come to you in time."</div><p>Already, ,just through the motion of sitting at the frame, pulling these loops and letting my mind wander, I am lifted a bit. I realize that nothing on this project is going to solve any of the problems of the universe. BUT, if it helps me deal with them in a "more me" way, that is all I can ask for.</p><p>Some folks have "worry stones". I think I am a rug hooker who has "worry worms". And pulling a thousand loops a day, using the worry worms, seems to be a good thing right now. </p><p>Stay tuned. </p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Wendie Scott Davishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00422462454689323029noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9152499513632375208.post-34633756344655105582023-10-21T11:48:00.000-04:002023-10-21T11:48:31.629-04:00Older Mat. New Post.<p>For years now I have not only been using "free stuff" on my computer to help me hook from photographs, but I have also been teaching people about it. </p><p>All my "hooking from photos" classes - live and virtual - use free online photo editors, but I also introduce my students to resources that are on the internet that they may not be aware of.</p><p>I have been invited to participate in Workshop Week 2024, which is an online extravaganza of teachers and courses. My course will be related to using your computer in rug hooking. And it will introduce those registered to the resources. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBIyMN6MV-R_mMO58L9Wqw-DUa4FlZfLMxXRTvRibGVyoOOkx2veB4iUCr1BVzzobXh0zKJ0pgu2DCPa2-lTPz6ZH5T5ygwvQR4uuQ6GHKkrFSHibQVyr5blJaFd4TTsLSf7BbhUD3nuy1HxLAHBKq0CjDxvTaBg57A7mXUq_W3aa7c3u-2C-gggmsXyg/s1754/LOGO.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1754" data-original-width="1240" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBIyMN6MV-R_mMO58L9Wqw-DUa4FlZfLMxXRTvRibGVyoOOkx2veB4iUCr1BVzzobXh0zKJ0pgu2DCPa2-lTPz6ZH5T5ygwvQR4uuQ6GHKkrFSHibQVyr5blJaFd4TTsLSf7BbhUD3nuy1HxLAHBKq0CjDxvTaBg57A7mXUq_W3aa7c3u-2C-gggmsXyg/w283-h400/LOGO.png" width="283" /></a></div>I decided to do a blog post about my rug that I call "April Tech", which was a rug I created using my computer to do each and every step. A little background for the name and design. I had a "December" mat and thought it would be fun to create a mat for each month. As I was teaching this course in April, I chose April. (Those are still the only two month mats I have hooked. lol)<div><br /></div><div><b>Step l: Clip Art </b>(the perfect argument against "I can't draw".)</div><div><br /></div><div>I thought that a kid carrying an umbrella in "April Showers" was a great place to start. I found the following clip art which was the foundation of the design. The main motif. There were lots of choices. Just google the image you are looking for with "Free Clip Art" and voila. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuw4Q-EmQhK3U1KG6C71j1RxsfhsgpSj2GWZ1on4LastiXwCdo8C7848670tl8ly33e831o20kjlZVXP34cddoRnQ7YrjCOHl3xg-Ogju14AO9HlJQcTHDn3LVZWiOa4aD53k4ayD6LewhqARb9vI5_2GI37xJWi2mLT_SFjTcTNLVxYqzuJlp18ZcfV4/s1064/images.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1064" data-original-width="760" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuw4Q-EmQhK3U1KG6C71j1RxsfhsgpSj2GWZ1on4LastiXwCdo8C7848670tl8ly33e831o20kjlZVXP34cddoRnQ7YrjCOHl3xg-Ogju14AO9HlJQcTHDn3LVZWiOa4aD53k4ayD6LewhqARb9vI5_2GI37xJWi2mLT_SFjTcTNLVxYqzuJlp18ZcfV4/w286-h400/images.jpg" width="286" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I also wanted umbrellas for the corners. And I wanted some kind of cloud clip art.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhWwteulfO2B43hGrA59R-xjmV0OSVRyGyylzr6-hlobVKadLwxBsKkzUXfoZMHP32QcUYcgKCOGy6FBIqSO-LUslPboLKgMvd54vfnx-2DQUK0ZdPu11Rjp82OBd9HPyn55rbG2lzlvmT2PfCRuemaIpKbyKvjla7QS9W-GTI_1hC7YI4kw2enOEERao/s600/Swirly-Rain-Clouds-Coloring-Page.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="600" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhWwteulfO2B43hGrA59R-xjmV0OSVRyGyylzr6-hlobVKadLwxBsKkzUXfoZMHP32QcUYcgKCOGy6FBIqSO-LUslPboLKgMvd54vfnx-2DQUK0ZdPu11Rjp82OBd9HPyn55rbG2lzlvmT2PfCRuemaIpKbyKvjla7QS9W-GTI_1hC7YI4kw2enOEERao/s320/Swirly-Rain-Clouds-Coloring-Page.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>Remember, these are all free!!! Royalty Free and Free to use. <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div><br /><p><br /></p></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_ffyrUEPXWF6NvSVWJQ3Up_Bs36jDU04OipbeFQs_mvoU1TgV4-SAT7ywQ_nKmiIqWLWbFPsq1YrZipOXb3-U4vT6quzNVS_9sxRIXBvGl5QsSsOLfVBdRP-0pRFwPX4_JfKIFCcS5xrw506U-rbnruMJ8Uz_9YjJDBMrUgRSh0b5yobmXizcjTtpI8c/s930/Closed-Umbrella-coloring-page.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="740" data-original-width="930" height="255" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_ffyrUEPXWF6NvSVWJQ3Up_Bs36jDU04OipbeFQs_mvoU1TgV4-SAT7ywQ_nKmiIqWLWbFPsq1YrZipOXb3-U4vT6quzNVS_9sxRIXBvGl5QsSsOLfVBdRP-0pRFwPX4_JfKIFCcS5xrw506U-rbnruMJ8Uz_9YjJDBMrUgRSh0b5yobmXizcjTtpI8c/s320/Closed-Umbrella-coloring-page.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: right;"><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><b>Step 2: Fonts </b>(the perfect argument against "I can't print.")</div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">I wanted a font that would be easy to hook, and that looked like April. I I went to dafont <a href="https://www.dafont.com/">https://www.dafont.com/</a> and sampled a couple that I liked.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjV041TnkiPt_yQL9ls-ImzDBvdcNofocygdvLuVXunG3W-qIMbVKkri4Mr_fYFL_lTGbH8ReYfJtCGD4fLLNskVEGpkLOJcd_T81f2NNEVyy6qVJr7NcWnK63rVNtuWAIXqUpk-U_Ia7NaxTvywJICtbOJrbP6TVQ1XHCOL_dzaxoBwogyJst1Z0OhfU/s257/Easter%20Sunday%20.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="130" data-original-width="257" height="130" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjV041TnkiPt_yQL9ls-ImzDBvdcNofocygdvLuVXunG3W-qIMbVKkri4Mr_fYFL_lTGbH8ReYfJtCGD4fLLNskVEGpkLOJcd_T81f2NNEVyy6qVJr7NcWnK63rVNtuWAIXqUpk-U_Ia7NaxTvywJICtbOJrbP6TVQ1XHCOL_dzaxoBwogyJst1Z0OhfU/s1600/Easter%20Sunday%20.png" width="257" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_UXmEzon9IZfnMjV2y9CFFVPKnDlA37e0hZMNmx8GWTYLyOhKXbDV4huQtyMaY1p4qZrCIU2azVBU3HhYbOvCUakilh7DS51_DqUvHHZ07O68rvJyxfDNB_PXokBSuyAcMMuHnI8BXtAiLvCuQUXGvV4QqhY4Z_zCmtKhRlRzgRylsP_vUkaI6bZ6UUY/s210/spring%20whisper%20.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="109" data-original-width="210" height="109" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_UXmEzon9IZfnMjV2y9CFFVPKnDlA37e0hZMNmx8GWTYLyOhKXbDV4huQtyMaY1p4qZrCIU2azVBU3HhYbOvCUakilh7DS51_DqUvHHZ07O68rvJyxfDNB_PXokBSuyAcMMuHnI8BXtAiLvCuQUXGvV4QqhY4Z_zCmtKhRlRzgRylsP_vUkaI6bZ6UUY/s1600/spring%20whisper%20.png" width="210" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I blew them up to the size I needed and tried them on for size. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;">I wanted to use a picture of my grandson, instead of the little girl under the umbrella, so I found a shot that I liked, cropped the image to get in closer, and put in his face. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Step 3: Enlarging</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">I used a free online resource called <a href="https://www.blockposters.com/" target="_blank">blockposters</a> to blow up the image of Jackson's face inside the umbrella to the size I wanted. This resource works with your uploaded image in multiples of an 8.5 x 11" sheet of paper. So you can go two wide, three wide. It sends you a preview and gives you finished size dimensions. You can just tape the sheets together to make your final size. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Then, on a piece of gridded paper, I put all the elements together. (This I did with scotch tape and scissors - I know it could be done on the computer, but old school seemed the best for me at this step.) </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnKayJVFGPaIYDZtFU28p8mnCNJB3anJaLHAYu6ceRwp-5agmPkul9G5CSaMxZzPdWjzneoeSiU2xQ3upwlxipNl5Dt97nyTBE9QUcjsiKAwif95eeKpnCNGDb8lw-ql9XW3v6W0vav__T0QUUNrErTC_EAZTaK1cN8H9gak-LFF4IIWMRd3qgFE5gQpA/s640/IMG_3080-1.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnKayJVFGPaIYDZtFU28p8mnCNJB3anJaLHAYu6ceRwp-5agmPkul9G5CSaMxZzPdWjzneoeSiU2xQ3upwlxipNl5Dt97nyTBE9QUcjsiKAwif95eeKpnCNGDb8lw-ql9XW3v6W0vav__T0QUUNrErTC_EAZTaK1cN8H9gak-LFF4IIWMRd3qgFE5gQpA/s320/IMG_3080-1.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">With Jackson in position, the font selected, and the clip art umbrellas in the border, I was ready to go.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">(Forgot to say that Jackson's photo was run through Photomania to create the value sketch I used for hooking him. )</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">A couple more decisions were made simpler with more online resources. I found an image online - not one to copy, but to do a colour selection from it for the rain on the inside - not the border. The colour plan was created by sampling the colours in the image using Paintbrush - a free program for Mac (it is called Paint for PC and does exactly the same thing.)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJPy5ZOB9f6lapR0KpMHoZ1kb_qYqDZv3OtghWAzjyjt-hr2QA4Qd_kdyf7-aYpDpAZANGNSCjGeiMgDqMRCvuj1QtFeXQEQliWJvZrfBq0U9QxuTZTEgnmtpo0NJEqaMxnTwBjCbaErP_rEFruu3ncDHzDYY6kChyphenhyphenfpAwW-1Id__bHheZI3mftXmePEE/s900/sky%20Colour%20Plan.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="530" data-original-width="900" height="188" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJPy5ZOB9f6lapR0KpMHoZ1kb_qYqDZv3OtghWAzjyjt-hr2QA4Qd_kdyf7-aYpDpAZANGNSCjGeiMgDqMRCvuj1QtFeXQEQliWJvZrfBq0U9QxuTZTEgnmtpo0NJEqaMxnTwBjCbaErP_rEFruu3ncDHzDYY6kChyphenhyphenfpAwW-1Id__bHheZI3mftXmePEE/s320/sky%20Colour%20Plan.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>On to the hooking. There is no online resource for that lol. Just one loop at a time. Here is a progress shot - nearly done, but still a few things to change. You can see that already, I have used the same cloud swirl on all sides, instead of the raindrops I had originally thought of. <div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeWi38OgKGMVs8QzTDEZTQy_FKbhYqAOWSKcR3IC4SrmoN4XddB-ZQPKZx1MUnQVdxz_MQj943YASr1fttdhNRTtTjeuIbtQ_F6ykvdribhacy46T3F8dAtOvZuxsPrtEjvw76DARyBsZKbRR3y-CNoOmQkS0aEeeoJdcja9hDWbTrjogb-NAk8cPYyP4/s480/IMG_3097.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="476" data-original-width="480" height="317" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeWi38OgKGMVs8QzTDEZTQy_FKbhYqAOWSKcR3IC4SrmoN4XddB-ZQPKZx1MUnQVdxz_MQj943YASr1fttdhNRTtTjeuIbtQ_F6ykvdribhacy46T3F8dAtOvZuxsPrtEjvw76DARyBsZKbRR3y-CNoOmQkS0aEeeoJdcja9hDWbTrjogb-NAk8cPYyP4/s320/IMG_3097.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Here is the final piece. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_sfpIq3WhDBhOJPEvosNsY8YqOfnjvSsxlG1pKo5Kiyv__oRAVi_Eq5Fc1QCO0VIpOqYsuTP_fuEmDY0_J8QPz-tDC9bBBtJ2ZjybjQMYNaQ5X3-kGE0XpA95_ql71CgHtCnoSKxb1FBoG4iGg__jvd6KBSR77L1tjZPQeYxMpBQmI-qSQHYk874TXPo/s3052/IMG_5173.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2853" data-original-width="3052" height="299" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_sfpIq3WhDBhOJPEvosNsY8YqOfnjvSsxlG1pKo5Kiyv__oRAVi_Eq5Fc1QCO0VIpOqYsuTP_fuEmDY0_J8QPz-tDC9bBBtJ2ZjybjQMYNaQ5X3-kGE0XpA95_ql71CgHtCnoSKxb1FBoG4iGg__jvd6KBSR77L1tjZPQeYxMpBQmI-qSQHYk874TXPo/s320/IMG_5173.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I changed the single line around the main motif - opted for a rainbow of colour instead of the black and white beading. And I added a golden yellow outline to the lettering to make it pop. I hooked one line of the background wool around the black border, and then hooked a line of the golden yellow. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">It was a fun challenge to myself to prove that from start-to-finish, I could create an entire mat using the free resources that are readily available. I had used all of them together for many, many years. But not all in the same piece. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><br /><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><br /><div><br /></div></div>Wendie Scott Davishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00422462454689323029noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9152499513632375208.post-61663694730772191212023-10-19T10:31:00.003-04:002023-12-07T10:41:03.259-05:00Two Firsts for the Kawartha Rug Hooking Group.<p>I have been hooking with this group since I moved to Peterborough. We meet in a local repurposed school that is now called "Activity Haven", and has more activities for seniors that you could ever imagine.</p><p>Before COVID, we had our own room and averaged between 12 and 22 people each Monday morning. It has always been a very welcoming group.</p><p>When COVID hit, we decided to see if Zoom would be a fit for us and began meeting online at the same time. Some weren't as comfortable with the online meetings, for a number of different reasons. But a core group galvanized in this format. And not only did we hook on Zoom, we solved one another's problems - and those of the world. lol.</p><p>Now we are back to in-person and occasional Zoom meetings when we feel the need. And we are back to something else. A sense of a group that can do things. And this month we have done two REALLY BIG things.</p><p>NORWOOD FALL FAIR</p><p>Early last spring, the OHCG was approached by the Norwood Fair committee to see if there would be any interest in having a rug display at the fair. Our group was contacted to see if we would be interested and we jumped at the opportunity. Rug Hooking had never been part of the fair, and we were taking the space from the Tole Painting/Decorative Painting folks.</p><p>To drum up interest, another member of the group and I did a demo night at the Norwood Library, bringing lots of rugs and demonstrating both Traditional and Punch Needle hooking. There were about 25 people present.</p><p>Dial forward to October 6 and we were ready to get this display started!! There was drop off and tagging on Thursday evening, judging and display on Friday, and pick up on Monday dinner time. The display looked great. Neighbouring Campbellford group also entered pieces in this display. </p><p>Apparently the feedback about having a Rug Hooking Display was very positive. And next year will be a breeze with the learning curve behind us. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi51NpozBG2IUc0WzwXYeBahJ0Z0QMGrdZjVFQGHY_GzgPwq3DCXhufe0CHyfHARBUdzYp5jzvKgyA04KOS-Qegv7l8hsinguuAhftHsdFilvRFGrzgTFR5OyoBqm3CKnkP-L_8tZ5WuUF5CWbgXVKE1BFgDy0QZpOWrSBN1JIpJHOuiHw5qnVhoykLojM/s4032/IMG_5141.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi51NpozBG2IUc0WzwXYeBahJ0Z0QMGrdZjVFQGHY_GzgPwq3DCXhufe0CHyfHARBUdzYp5jzvKgyA04KOS-Qegv7l8hsinguuAhftHsdFilvRFGrzgTFR5OyoBqm3CKnkP-L_8tZ5WuUF5CWbgXVKE1BFgDy0QZpOWrSBN1JIpJHOuiHw5qnVhoykLojM/w300-h400/IMG_5141.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHD2DfT9A_w7VJyLRwVjv0fEcGvhyphenhyphenomyy761CtOgIaIPyWpXbHIxBn-4v8eKr_a3FV6uNGOqRZAWjylmUvM5wS0uqiYXIswHQSlr5nUSIs6tt5UtfQICcnf5S6_MkI0OMig6k-78JAwaZQ2uNU7dDDfsGSpxF4E5EcVnFWp9mdAjnOF2-6JqiFuTqA6pc/s4032/IMG_5140.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHD2DfT9A_w7VJyLRwVjv0fEcGvhyphenhyphenomyy761CtOgIaIPyWpXbHIxBn-4v8eKr_a3FV6uNGOqRZAWjylmUvM5wS0uqiYXIswHQSlr5nUSIs6tt5UtfQICcnf5S6_MkI0OMig6k-78JAwaZQ2uNU7dDDfsGSpxF4E5EcVnFWp9mdAjnOF2-6JqiFuTqA6pc/w300-h400/IMG_5140.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7nsBPWiXl4jyUsmS6dyqizLmnlZKEa0ROcDNVotESlXXbKaYw-98R7_PawSdMMq43ft1zdmOVgs5hXJfAIXEo36cLlPKYEjSAKcrwytF4AYG_NZXpVKobrrmQy-rYKZNxGCUGng2dw5NuNWN2aEs3M1nx1U7ZxPaduDO-IXoOr0DmHVUofHfLWQ8H4Os/s4032/IMG_5139.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7nsBPWiXl4jyUsmS6dyqizLmnlZKEa0ROcDNVotESlXXbKaYw-98R7_PawSdMMq43ft1zdmOVgs5hXJfAIXEo36cLlPKYEjSAKcrwytF4AYG_NZXpVKobrrmQy-rYKZNxGCUGng2dw5NuNWN2aEs3M1nx1U7ZxPaduDO-IXoOr0DmHVUofHfLWQ8H4Os/w300-h400/IMG_5139.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>"ESTATE/STASH BUSTER SALE"<div><br /></div><div>Over the past few years, many of our members have received calls from people who are no longer able to hook. Some are Estates, but some are also long-time hookers whose stash is a lifetime of supplies, which they are no longer able to use.</div><div><br /></div><div>We decided to hold an event, in our usual Monday morning time slot, and see what the interest would be. People who were donating their supplies were given a free table. People who were selling were to pay a $25. table fee.</div><div><br /></div><div>The group had unanimously decided to give any funds we collected to KAWARTHA FOOD SHARE. With the exception of one cutter and one frame, most of the proceeds were from "free, with a donation to Kawartha Food Share". We expected to raise a few hundred dollars, but we never dreamed that we would be able to take $992.00 to them on Monday afternoon. </div><div><br /></div><div>There was quite a bit of work involved, and a LOT of learning. But we are all eager to do it again next year, bigger and better.</div><div><br /></div><div>We know that many of us have more patterns, more wool, more hoops and hooks than we can use. But as long as there are new hookers coming into the fold, or hookers who are looking to build stashed versus busting them, there will always be this way to raise fund for Food Share. </div>Wendie Scott Davishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00422462454689323029noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9152499513632375208.post-51027660441643229692023-10-03T18:19:00.003-04:002023-10-19T10:33:03.007-04:00A Free Vest<p>As if I need another project on the needles, I do pay attention to the "stash busting" opportunities. That is where the Andrea Mowry "<a href="https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/search#query=Tessellated%20Vest" target="_blank">Tessellated Vest"</a> pattern came in. </p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiagh0MHYAhZnid1bSZa_wEFZgYdpenMq2opnWiFLHQWhF33Awben3DKQj2JqiKWaiQLXpXwkjWP-jJNckq7tI2-pLMMFD01a1lkGJn6ZdIisDR7MhYx2Yo5E6kfl7zKC4ESJaVKbRKg7KOf8kLlUW6pfbQSZ5CCM28cvs6giZTC6ivSyibBDWDsq3TIns/s320/5J6A5323_small2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="320" data-original-width="213" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiagh0MHYAhZnid1bSZa_wEFZgYdpenMq2opnWiFLHQWhF33Awben3DKQj2JqiKWaiQLXpXwkjWP-jJNckq7tI2-pLMMFD01a1lkGJn6ZdIisDR7MhYx2Yo5E6kfl7zKC4ESJaVKbRKg7KOf8kLlUW6pfbQSZ5CCM28cvs6giZTC6ivSyibBDWDsq3TIns/s1600/5J6A5323_small2.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><p>I am a vest lover. I have knit several, and I wear them a lot. They are good for "not too hot" and they are a bridge between seasons. And since I seem to live in the land of slip stitches, this is an easy pattern to choose.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglsoYzNzUwFvfDGe56kBWUdhltTHubjGh-2hsG9Rh8bxIMwhpniIOz2hyphenhyphenXF45clLqoy6MbohcMOnlLKe2R9ukoGg_Wdmryf8oA1F3wz1Ixmg_rEs8aO9Rw_jp6EZbghd9z2DXqrxHokl2i9a1PnKhNxY8TiU-xP_Ju1FpBFBkF-1afg0hh2FuuzSaivbo/s4032/IMG_5131.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglsoYzNzUwFvfDGe56kBWUdhltTHubjGh-2hsG9Rh8bxIMwhpniIOz2hyphenhyphenXF45clLqoy6MbohcMOnlLKe2R9ukoGg_Wdmryf8oA1F3wz1Ixmg_rEs8aO9Rw_jp6EZbghd9z2DXqrxHokl2i9a1PnKhNxY8TiU-xP_Ju1FpBFBkF-1afg0hh2FuuzSaivbo/s320/IMG_5131.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br /><p>Why is this a freebie? Well, the first two colours - the black and the purplish variegated - come from my sister Nancy's stash, not mine. And the third colour is two strands of a "mohair-like" fibre that was donated by someone, years ago, when we were still in Toronto. I think they are cones from a weaver, but they will work well in this endeavour. They are perfect for that light colour, and they are a little fuzzy.</p><p>Resistance is futile when it comes to the slip stitch. And for my money, <a href="https://www.dreareneeknits.com/" target="_blank">dreareneeeknits </a>(aka Andrea Mowry) has done more to advance its success than any other designer. She is the epitome of hip, young designers who are introducing knitting to a whole new generation.</p><p>I will post progress, because this will be a slow knit. Sock weight yarn. Tiny needles. But I was curious to see if my trio of freebies would work in a swatch - and it seems, they did. Full disclosure, I did not knit the entire swatch, but enough to make me believe it will work. So I decided I will go up a size and see where I net out.</p><p>BTW, that shawl that I shared in the last post? Well, the remainder of those skeins allowed me to knit another shawl. This one for my granddaughter is more about the pink than the blue. And I am inches from the end. Just an i-cord bindoff. But when we are sitting in the high 20's in early October, my urgency is not so active.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6rubQmdjJcCmphihtxZcLJqPyQJpHPp5m-yGRNj35YsW-bIaqGjXU9FpA-h9c3KiX00iJl0rRQGE1766RaHp_anWlN47LtHlYvP21VbwR1shnDsNlTEgeA7C6wM50R4KLtJWHV9hyphenhyphenbqh5Rs1Gm_UyATzpmhFp4Y4wBP2v0-op2af1EEUipYF3FjaSJPo/s2016/Evvie_Shawl.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2016" data-original-width="1512" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6rubQmdjJcCmphihtxZcLJqPyQJpHPp5m-yGRNj35YsW-bIaqGjXU9FpA-h9c3KiX00iJl0rRQGE1766RaHp_anWlN47LtHlYvP21VbwR1shnDsNlTEgeA7C6wM50R4KLtJWHV9hyphenhyphenbqh5Rs1Gm_UyATzpmhFp4Y4wBP2v0-op2af1EEUipYF3FjaSJPo/s320/Evvie_Shawl.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><p>So I will do a bit of work on Tessellations Vest before starting my grandsons' (that's right - plural) slip stitch cowls. If you are a grandmother who knits, you know that the minute that one finds out you are making something, you are in it for a couple more.</p><p>Oh, and on the hooking front, another little memory captured in yarn. This little mat, mounted on an 8 x 10 inch stretched canvas, will keep those three days in Upper Island Cove in a spot where we will always see it. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyfLOyAH6Hk1bLm466xuD63OeYclUoIwuf5uoeTbUCS2cTwWqJJya-uP0oMVACkF34g1qtD2Bvlmbc8XTEhVEpWqCFujbg_emH0rYQ5JVdJKEvIlmN1LEdw_iFPDy5mExHyo6F7sSR5Eryr7BUcnBnNGrWcuB0Y408CVQhD7vqKVh4qdBRrEoeue0SKrM/s4032/IMG_5122.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyfLOyAH6Hk1bLm466xuD63OeYclUoIwuf5uoeTbUCS2cTwWqJJya-uP0oMVACkF34g1qtD2Bvlmbc8XTEhVEpWqCFujbg_emH0rYQ5JVdJKEvIlmN1LEdw_iFPDy5mExHyo6F7sSR5Eryr7BUcnBnNGrWcuB0Y408CVQhD7vqKVh4qdBRrEoeue0SKrM/w300-h400/IMG_5122.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><p>A couple more of those special moments in the works. I promise to share. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Wendie Scott Davishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00422462454689323029noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9152499513632375208.post-80792064515199085952023-09-18T16:34:00.001-04:002023-10-19T10:33:44.060-04:00My COVID adventure and how I spent all that isolation time. <p> I had to read that last post to see where I left off. Ah yes, I had had 4 negative tests. Then, on Day 8 of Rick's isolation, I tested positive. DANG!! That meant another 10 days of isolation - although the rules are incredibly fuzzy these days. But that is what I decided to do. There went the rest of August and some of September!!!</p><p>There was lots of knitting. My hooking mojo, or lack thereof, was telling since I never don't feel like hooking. Although my experience seemed milder than Rick's, I was definitely not myself. Bad, bad headache, body aches, little cough and runny nose.</p><p>I knit another Shift Shawl - this time with some incredibly soft and cozy yarn that I had purchased at Michael's to do a different Andrea Mowry pattern. But the gauge was off, so I decided to go back to my slip stitch relaxation technique and made a lovely shawl combining two shades of Yarnspirations Cloud Cakes from Caron. It proudly boasts it is NO Wool and is machine washable and dryable. I just won't stand too close to an open flame.</p><p>Here is a picture of the shawl, which I probably didn't need to soak and block but did anyway. (I just noticed my little critter rug in the lower right corner.)</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBoYDLQVX6IcjXkAhcktJe1Qsul6ri9xaDyvjTGvbGoLRKoYpx8MtW7b_egtJjhNFJkEsaJ5FUBH2lG1dVk8no-EUKms42YryA9PxmxklFiymmtZ1YsP8MvMFgSguiqwtU27_a2i5EoG_N0-jHCiXX1P0gNrThG1xJsF0DASnuNq59n4Kr_52EW82L9t0/s4032/IMG_5107.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBoYDLQVX6IcjXkAhcktJe1Qsul6ri9xaDyvjTGvbGoLRKoYpx8MtW7b_egtJjhNFJkEsaJ5FUBH2lG1dVk8no-EUKms42YryA9PxmxklFiymmtZ1YsP8MvMFgSguiqwtU27_a2i5EoG_N0-jHCiXX1P0gNrThG1xJsF0DASnuNq59n4Kr_52EW82L9t0/w300-h400/IMG_5107.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><br /><p>These cakes are 8.5 oz/240 g, with 760 yards/695 m each. And I think without a couple they are $14.95 each - but who shops at Michael's without a coupon? Not me.</p><p>There is enough yarn left for me to reverse the colour order and start a smaller shawl for my grand daughter who is very excited. Seriously, this yarn feels like polar fleece, is extremely cozy and even if she only uses it to watch TV, it was worth the low $$$$ and was a good time waster. No complicated parts, so perfect to do while binge watching whatever. </p><p>When the knitting got tiresome, I remembered a jigsaw puzzle that my son and DIL gave me as a gift a while ago. With 4 days ahead of me, seemed like the perfect thing to do. And I did!!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmISLJFv3GntH3AkpUH--vUDBSMq1iaynmwHFPyZoN059qHKXAgtt75CN-HVw0YKQEc7r2g0rSHtELkUHIg9MJNJvu5PdREUIkhpVm4bxWVTfeZ9GttcK5qAHWLf58OIfMcFjAls2fRBgj7WMwauUwdZmYiRJNXlCB_tVB_9OijyWAS-iKCivr5z_iViU/s4032/IMG_5089.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmISLJFv3GntH3AkpUH--vUDBSMq1iaynmwHFPyZoN059qHKXAgtt75CN-HVw0YKQEc7r2g0rSHtELkUHIg9MJNJvu5PdREUIkhpVm4bxWVTfeZ9GttcK5qAHWLf58OIfMcFjAls2fRBgj7WMwauUwdZmYiRJNXlCB_tVB_9OijyWAS-iKCivr5z_iViU/w300-h400/IMG_5089.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><div><br /></div>This is a puzzle about iconic hairdos from the 1800's to now. And each little image was a puzzle unto itself, which was great because the outside border did not come together too easily. As my sister said "there are 3 days you will never get back". And she was correct, but man it was a good time waster lol.<div><br /></div><div>I am still laying pretty low, and bought a bunch of N95 masks for the fall. I think we are about to enter another wave, so want to take all the precautions I can. </div><div><br /></div><div>Oh, and because this knitting crazy grandmother wants to treat all the kids the same, I bought two more cakes of this soft yarn at Michael's this past Saturday. And yes, there were coupons. There will be two more cuddle wraps/shawls for my grand boys. In lovely earth tones that should look amazing together.</div><div><br /></div><div>The shifting will go well into the weeks and months ahead. </div><div><br /></div><div>Stay tuned. <br /><p><br /></p></div>Wendie Scott Davishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00422462454689323029noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9152499513632375208.post-10131078342474324142023-08-28T11:08:00.000-04:002023-10-19T10:34:20.857-04:00Knitting and Hooking and Newfoundland Rug School and ...... COVID<p> Yep, that's what's been going on since my last post.</p><p>I will save the COVID story for later, so you can enjoy the other parts of a great trip.</p><p>Rick and I went to Newfoundland on August 9, picked up a car in Gander and immediately drove to St. John's. It is apparently the only way you can rent a car - one big loop, no pick up here and drop off there.</p><p>We spent 3 days in St. John's - not the best weather days, but perfect for a Hop On Hop Off Bus Tour, and a few destinations on day two. Here is the first photo of us on the bus tour day - pissing rain and absolutely socked in with fog. I think I took this selfie at Cape Spear, but in all the fog, it was hard to tell. ha ha </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhR75o-Drs4FWTEStU66E-Z99ZA03AlMnIHIz_UGf13TTfa02WrAjqKMRYnQfDgLXRV0C2jN42HUdLHLxZ6snZ2F5kOcbizTGZqhJ4-Bf9ehvBoZNmOUrSbS2sqofq6xTsP1aq5BCdMD1U_iZUMreYbidaNX6uUuAzAYr9Z_c1FmD8wbqAliu7vk739Lko" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="3088" data-original-width="2316" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhR75o-Drs4FWTEStU66E-Z99ZA03AlMnIHIz_UGf13TTfa02WrAjqKMRYnQfDgLXRV0C2jN42HUdLHLxZ6snZ2F5kOcbizTGZqhJ4-Bf9ehvBoZNmOUrSbS2sqofq6xTsP1aq5BCdMD1U_iZUMreYbidaNX6uUuAzAYr9Z_c1FmD8wbqAliu7vk739Lko" width="180" /></a></div>This was the second day, and this shot was taken by another bus passenger at Quidi Vidi. Quaint little harbour that was on our list, but it wasn't open at 10:00 in the morning, so we settled for this shot and then purchased some of their Iceberg beer at a liquor store in Mount Pearl. <p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE6r_QfrSGssT57QlHQixSMZMpk_3utaduSsu15nth0R7uVxzAPrfzQh7QptRedJtvtuPM2FWZXZHNE842QiVqaAVmkdGgsAwy1oeE3Z8UiOCAa2EprPUcYUynB_uLdVfniVu9leRr0dEfEqGArzTx1-6dqbkRW3-KZV6F2LShKpni7k34sa1-GTUVcKU/s4032/Newfoundland%202023.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE6r_QfrSGssT57QlHQixSMZMpk_3utaduSsu15nth0R7uVxzAPrfzQh7QptRedJtvtuPM2FWZXZHNE842QiVqaAVmkdGgsAwy1oeE3Z8UiOCAa2EprPUcYUynB_uLdVfniVu9leRr0dEfEqGArzTx1-6dqbkRW3-KZV6F2LShKpni7k34sa1-GTUVcKU/s320/Newfoundland%202023.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><p>We have three of our best meals ever in St. John's. Exquisite fish - all three times - two dinners in the Terre Restaurant attached to the Alt. And the third meal at Portage, right across Water Street from the Alt. We found all the people who we met to be incredibly friendly and professional.</p><p>The next three days we went to Lisa Meecham's Airbnb <a href="https://www.airbnb.ca/rooms/46624133?source_impression_id=p3_1693233707_As562NjpQGHVLsAm" target="_blank">"Salty by the Sea". </a> What a change from busy St. John's. This place was idyllic - and not often I use that word. I can't say enough good things about this place. Right across the road from Upper Island Cove, which offers a spectacular view all all hours. Lisa has filled her place with treasures that are waiting for you around every corner. We had three days of blissful peace. I know there are lots of pics on the link above, but they don't have my very relaxed husband watching the water from a red Muskoka chair. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy0FlkIzPz6BjJcI98_bUtiVUMFn7GlHUzrGgL4leiX-BVmAqJLSssPCJ1OH4rwPRE_4nohc0apD_oQbsf0-kJTQEQCeW0DrzKGvnVvvWrygz7YdYSLw4B5x2tSNUTNZe0fCVmCUWCdenNTdf21wEr-6JocP1oK9YepGDNkAvD7tP9sFS5MIqdQBpcJ6E/s2880/IMG_5004.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2880" data-original-width="2160" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy0FlkIzPz6BjJcI98_bUtiVUMFn7GlHUzrGgL4leiX-BVmAqJLSssPCJ1OH4rwPRE_4nohc0apD_oQbsf0-kJTQEQCeW0DrzKGvnVvvWrygz7YdYSLw4B5x2tSNUTNZe0fCVmCUWCdenNTdf21wEr-6JocP1oK9YepGDNkAvD7tP9sFS5MIqdQBpcJ6E/s320/IMG_5004.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br /><p>Then we drove back to Gander to return the car and send Rick back to Toronto before I went to rug school. I stayed behind for 5 days, and had fun just about every minute of all 5.</p><p>Rug school this year was a bit smaller than when I was there before, but it was a fun group and everyone got to know lots of people. We had a games night on Friday night, and a Kitchen Party on Saturday night, complete with a "screech in" - and a cod! Luckily, I was screeched in many years ago in Toronto, so did not repeat the process.</p><p>This was my first Kitchen Party, and there were some shenanigans!! This is a student from my class, and a silly pose in front of the backdrop with the theme, Music and Friends. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWw8790WX0MlpKlLDgc58aEbEdBS2AAQ2E4DlH3btUmH2X4gJXU7OUDIXllf26F9-ELVkExtBVgg4gb9EuVhhGCN5iwdQdrvFFiR8WCCzaAr_6ZvGDWIhF-kO_--I9O4BKPn6sKuHX5-xwjxCZ0EZcvUZA5wVmijI3kiDSlvThb8AKrcKc3phy97pLyLg/s960/367492656_1278521449474069_8004149162936495421_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWw8790WX0MlpKlLDgc58aEbEdBS2AAQ2E4DlH3btUmH2X4gJXU7OUDIXllf26F9-ELVkExtBVgg4gb9EuVhhGCN5iwdQdrvFFiR8WCCzaAr_6ZvGDWIhF-kO_--I9O4BKPn6sKuHX5-xwjxCZ0EZcvUZA5wVmijI3kiDSlvThb8AKrcKc3phy97pLyLg/s320/367492656_1278521449474069_8004149162936495421_n.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><p>Speaking of the theme, I hooked a ridiculously fun project for the Theme Challenge. After letting Friends and Music percolate in my head for a while, I decided to hook a very large LP, with a song title or two - about friends - in every groove. I even put it on my yarn swift so you could spin it. AND I made a play list of the songs. I didn't win, but it didn't matter, it was a lot of fun and is a great keepsake.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAN-L9GfPlr0dGrWwVrUo8ltWNq7xER9oBSASUGN2xpkqkQ34hJCtfP9cCndopXApIsAuIg86OJZshUf8JZWHBj84nhOZ9Qtp_PjFuDy3s1SWFmUA3xpF8_NXzil286OyT1tyVD0cnZA_vurYBDg4yqYxj563Le6NyBZhVNJwXe0NjFY_rFzgdcNOibig/s4032/IMG_5083.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAN-L9GfPlr0dGrWwVrUo8ltWNq7xER9oBSASUGN2xpkqkQ34hJCtfP9cCndopXApIsAuIg86OJZshUf8JZWHBj84nhOZ9Qtp_PjFuDy3s1SWFmUA3xpF8_NXzil286OyT1tyVD0cnZA_vurYBDg4yqYxj563Le6NyBZhVNJwXe0NjFY_rFzgdcNOibig/s320/IMG_5083.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div><br /></div>My class had 14 keen students, who were working on portraits from images that had been run through various photo editors. I had three cats, two dogs, several grand children and self portraits. At the end of three full days, a couple of people were finished, and many were well on their way. Everyone has promised to send finished pieces, so I will hopefully be able to share here.<div><br /></div><div>As to the knitting part, I did take a sock with me for plane rides etc., and didn't really get too far. I find socks are the perfect carry-long project, but tend to opt for a movie on a plane if there is one. Luckily there is no deadline for socks - at least not for a while.</div><div><br /></div><div>So, now to the COVID story. By Saturday night, when I spoke with Rick from school, he was feeling horrible. I thought it was another "man cold", that he had picked up from the driver who brought him home on Wednesday. We decided to test him as soon as I got home on Monday. "POSITIVE". The first of many tests. We will do another one today, since he is now more than a week. And we want to see the grandkids. I have had 4 "negative" tests, and my just laying low until Wednesday, which will be nearly 10 days.</div><div><br /></div><div>All in all, an amazing experience - except the COVID part. But after all the frenzy of activity, it's nice to be a bit bored and sitting around the house waiting for freedom to come back.</div><div><br /></div><div>Be careful out there. It's still here, even though nobody wants to talk about it.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /><p><br /></p><p><br /></p></div>Wendie Scott Davishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00422462454689323029noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9152499513632375208.post-39140384830859807442023-07-02T15:32:00.005-04:002023-10-19T10:34:38.532-04:00Knit and Miss<p> June was a big knitting month. But it wasn't all successful, which is always hard to take.</p><p>The green sweater that I shared in the last post turned into a "not-nearly-enough-yarn-to-finish" project. Despite my (terrible) math, the weighing and trying to figure out yardage, it was not meant to be. So it is now unraveled and waiting to be something else. At this point, since it is cotton, I am considering dishcloths. lol </p><p>I started another summer sweater that was a very unusual pattern <a href="https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/dinner-with-my-captain">design</a>. In truth it was too unusual and I was NOT feeling the joy. It ended up being "frogged". </p><p>On the up side, it sent me into familiar territory with one of the yarns I had been using. I ended up knitting a second "Rock it Tee". I used the taupe-y pink colour from the frogged sweater, combined with a lovely pink fibre from a cone of yarn donated by a weaver many, many years ago. I think it is called Verlene, and I had best not stand too close to an open flame or fire. </p><p>I wear my previous tee quite often, and the mohair/verlene stripes let the air flow though, so it is fine for a pretty hot day. Probably not the 38 degrees with the humidex days. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg66Fm6nfTWy_ONqqO52PObPnjJrCbEj6bhNKAEBcQvY1BVTl2Alik90MruWSaW4CHjGYcZ7xqIKycKkuAwpcMWBSviNbuohLjBaPFDajBO3f5XW7pXWZLd6hiz2lM5A_D7VcpsnSsDMqkYmKauiJz3_dkHh_MHr46ewTiawUGOxqSnS4A3-Cmu85aBZWY/s4032/IMG_4855.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg66Fm6nfTWy_ONqqO52PObPnjJrCbEj6bhNKAEBcQvY1BVTl2Alik90MruWSaW4CHjGYcZ7xqIKycKkuAwpcMWBSviNbuohLjBaPFDajBO3f5XW7pXWZLd6hiz2lM5A_D7VcpsnSsDMqkYmKauiJz3_dkHh_MHr46ewTiawUGOxqSnS4A3-Cmu85aBZWY/w300-h400/IMG_4855.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><br /><p>I will use the other colour from the frogged sweater with another light fibre for stripes for a third Rock it Tee at some point. Here is that combo, in the queue.</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPV-MoVlMYxmLBHURYZjCFJrZoujevbgzG5K0IeNopf3XWjdX5CoXZHZQM6qakY0Y3Za5nW8il856IHZWkCglGOH1EQM5_beGkTNXOWAHJ0e6_tpjHg5XZo0MZqEYAC-Se6m2pcvIpOilZBQtrueMq8NmpH2w3-1ekD7oeHu9i_5PXb1c5l0Dih8HmGks/s4032/IMG_4856.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPV-MoVlMYxmLBHURYZjCFJrZoujevbgzG5K0IeNopf3XWjdX5CoXZHZQM6qakY0Y3Za5nW8il856IHZWkCglGOH1EQM5_beGkTNXOWAHJ0e6_tpjHg5XZo0MZqEYAC-Se6m2pcvIpOilZBQtrueMq8NmpH2w3-1ekD7oeHu9i_5PXb1c5l0Dih8HmGks/w300-h400/IMG_4856.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><br /><p>Before I can get started on that, I am tackling a shawl left behind by my sister Nancy. Not exactly sure why I am doing this, other than survivor guilt perhaps. Since I have no idea where she was in the pattern, I spent several hours with the pattern and the shawl trying to figure that out. To little avail. I thought I would be able to "fudge it" and just keep going. Now that I have invested several hours in it, I realize the correct thing to do is to ravel it back to a place I recognize and move forward again. As there are no stitch counts in the directions, it is nearly impossible to choose a spot. Plus Nancy made a big boo boo right near the beginning. So I may go all the way back. In fact, looking at this photo, I know I will go all the way back. (If you zoom in, you can see that there are beads and sequins in the yarn on the right.)</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7OZkbSBGiaso3ntZzUWpJzvcYAjefGfsIKe5WTtMHZDQp_GupxZY8cJSfXqrQ6T6TRd3YcU-3lHTEQN_yxvO4Cr5FhU4rdj_KGY1HqsPqZ9yhhLGf666uaUuW_lWu5RVlmLpexMeKwfBhrEJRy0RSl3I_hjl52t0YQHaVsHyeFwY6wzaAHu_zmQZDU6w/s4032/IMG_4857.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7OZkbSBGiaso3ntZzUWpJzvcYAjefGfsIKe5WTtMHZDQp_GupxZY8cJSfXqrQ6T6TRd3YcU-3lHTEQN_yxvO4Cr5FhU4rdj_KGY1HqsPqZ9yhhLGf666uaUuW_lWu5RVlmLpexMeKwfBhrEJRy0RSl3I_hjl52t0YQHaVsHyeFwY6wzaAHu_zmQZDU6w/w300-h400/IMG_4857.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><br /><p>Luckily, I fared much better on the sewing front. I completed my first Studio Tunic by Sew Liberated. I swear it is the best pattern I have ever made. The finishes are incredible. I will make another one in either denim or linen. It is an amazing layering piece. You can store a ton of stuff in those huge pockets.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEles6wIvWbpuLa1jUTBYaJ3VPjjxbISymNDFyqjLk8ivN_mmTLwEix7gIF0kTFF6dou9YCpBZw6DxwrGT9xtnhxZocXCunGnmINVPZchfw8--hWAUn-JwkiL-6uSsf0urS_W269HNzhFQUb4xsLHAJ1CtLyiqrQQhQ4VtoqMK2udxB2Afb4ONnQFIUGM/s4032/IMG_4836.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEles6wIvWbpuLa1jUTBYaJ3VPjjxbISymNDFyqjLk8ivN_mmTLwEix7gIF0kTFF6dou9YCpBZw6DxwrGT9xtnhxZocXCunGnmINVPZchfw8--hWAUn-JwkiL-6uSsf0urS_W269HNzhFQUb4xsLHAJ1CtLyiqrQQhQ4VtoqMK2udxB2Afb4ONnQFIUGM/w300-h400/IMG_4836.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><br /><p>And I made my second Tunic #1, designed by 100 Acts of Sewing. Also a success. <a href="https://www.instagram.com/100actsofsewing/">https://www.instagram.com/100actsofsewing/</a></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuokS4FOOLGDV_pjTiOefl6T81UP7LE9nllpZIoR8B4-71n4EzE4PbF2o-tlqHfa0rsRd_VF3kaic8LznQxqenBn7tkBL59cFhMPavIvFfzqNTmBMBx0ALv3m4MDgM76-HsHkwHM7LcV1MdiOzTJFM24DF_dGJ5ZNQHt7JL0CTvPyPLq8gD_F5vphHF1I/s4032/IMG_4858.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuokS4FOOLGDV_pjTiOefl6T81UP7LE9nllpZIoR8B4-71n4EzE4PbF2o-tlqHfa0rsRd_VF3kaic8LznQxqenBn7tkBL59cFhMPavIvFfzqNTmBMBx0ALv3m4MDgM76-HsHkwHM7LcV1MdiOzTJFM24DF_dGJ5ZNQHt7JL0CTvPyPLq8gD_F5vphHF1I/w300-h400/IMG_4858.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><p>The one behind the new one was made from a finished length of African fabric I bought in Barbados before COVID sent us home a lifetime ago. I had to crop it very short to get it out of the fabric, which I love. So I just wear it with a tank top underneath. The new one is quite a bit longer.</p><p>On the hooking front, I am nearly finished both projects I need for Newfoundland Rug Camp in August. And I promise to share them once camp is done. Rick and I will head there in just over a month. He will spend a week with me before I head to camp and he flies home. We are both looking forward to that. </p><p>When I tally my June score, I think I am still ahead. Plus all the projects made staying inside for the rain-filled and smoke/smog filled days more tolerable. And, as the title of this post says, some went well and some just went away. </p><p><br /></p>Wendie Scott Davishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00422462454689323029noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9152499513632375208.post-68887974379815902442023-05-14T15:01:00.000-04:002023-10-19T10:35:15.641-04:00How Many Projects are Too Many Projects?<p>I have been busy. Very busy. And working on lots of things that I cannot share here for a while.</p><p>One hooking project is for a children's book and an exhibition tour. Another hooking project is a theme piece for my the rug school in Newfoundland in the middle of August. I am also working on a portrait that I will take there with me, so I can't really show that either. </p><p>And I am writing a third instalment on the series "Artists We Love to Hook" for the OHCG magazine, fall issue. This issue title is "Kids and Grandkids", any my daughter Everleigh was so excited she drew me a picture of Alice the Rainbow Giraffe specifically for that article. Again, I cannot yet share.</p><p>So what can I share? Well, I attended a baby shower last weekend and finished knitting a special gift for the wee one. It's a stroller/play blanket from a book called "Knit a Monster Nursery" by Rebecca Danger. It's a book I have had for at least a decade if not longer, and when I found out the nursery theme is grey (since they don't know the gender), I remembered this adorable blanket. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg01njiSYQzc4A4362q01S5RzFqaB05pwHyP7Ho_5-dohfx94gu7WSu84ZFDYY1b1IlodzbdZlnr0pw9GcETZ_HSIW2tQy3Mu1O3l1Lemzs5dT5iL5iGvhRPQRb6g2mmfiZcdobi69ridlx4FJhDrQPNKIbf3Qdjn0FbHf3Ygy7R32P0AWWstArEl6y/s4032/IMG_4733.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg01njiSYQzc4A4362q01S5RzFqaB05pwHyP7Ho_5-dohfx94gu7WSu84ZFDYY1b1IlodzbdZlnr0pw9GcETZ_HSIW2tQy3Mu1O3l1Lemzs5dT5iL5iGvhRPQRb6g2mmfiZcdobi69ridlx4FJhDrQPNKIbf3Qdjn0FbHf3Ygy7R32P0AWWstArEl6y/w300-h400/IMG_4733.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">It was a hit!! The mom-to-be is thrilled and when I said I had yarn left over to make a couple more monsters, she was very excited. The baby isn't due for a few weeks, so I think I have time to do at least one more, if not one for every pocket.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I also just finished a sweater that took longer than it should have, since it was constantly being interrupted by other projects. This sweater is called DAA (Don't Ask Again) and was an interesting knit. Today I will be adding the buttons, which I found in my jar of old buttons.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">'</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Yesterday, there was a fibre festival here in Peterborough and I can THIS close to going, but realized that I have so many projects in my queue, I certainly could wait until next year to go. I picked this sweater up again after setting it aside last fall. It is recycled cotton from another project and is definitely more a summer garment. It is called Bijou Tee, has a lace panel you can wear in front or back. I am worried I may not have enough yarn, so will let you know how that goes. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIQvHGQblRkoZbEK6d2Rj1lA6tM4dvMs3Fqk9i4KrfusKM8egOH8xBTECYXRRxcB8VQATfEFENsIDE2zzTIoN5Yqiec7NkVaaFM-HyxZGc9ykKw7qnzT83mtTXOZ3VTkj5Z3jWZBBO2e8jeBQ6P7le5Uvzngptu6v7Swhit1hz-prYuGyp4tlzBsO7/s4032/IMG_4753.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIQvHGQblRkoZbEK6d2Rj1lA6tM4dvMs3Fqk9i4KrfusKM8egOH8xBTECYXRRxcB8VQATfEFENsIDE2zzTIoN5Yqiec7NkVaaFM-HyxZGc9ykKw7qnzT83mtTXOZ3VTkj5Z3jWZBBO2e8jeBQ6P7le5Uvzngptu6v7Swhit1hz-prYuGyp4tlzBsO7/w300-h400/IMG_4753.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Last week, I did a swatch text for<a href="https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/pressed-flowers-cardigan-2" target="_blank"> Pressed Flower Cardigan</a> which has been on my wish list since I first saw it. I was planning to use some yarn from the sweater that I deconstructed in a previous post, together with some of sister Nancy's stash. But both yarns are too fine to get gauge. So I guess I will have to get other yarn for it at some point. (Maybe next year's fiber festival lol).</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">In the meantime, I have two full sweaters waiting. A black and white cotton one - I have this pattern in mind but will have to check gauge and quantity of wool.https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/stripy---casual-summer-shirt-with-stripes</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><br /><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Wendie Scott Davishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00422462454689323029noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9152499513632375208.post-36612153668999949752023-03-24T15:50:00.001-04:002023-04-25T12:53:30.950-04:00Spring is Sprung - well, maybe!<p>My sweater from the last post is done and well worn. I am extremely happy with it. This is the mirror selfie that I shared on social media, but forgot to share here. I wasn't sure if I had anything that would go with it, but it turns out I do. And it is perfect with denim, so I am good to go. </p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMipfK_oYZaT947gBGaTBE9c8qfJJzGT9gm8LJbuGN8PvGYDdlP18eWHFhwa-Z85j3WYXo3HjxIn9IQ1OjINk3anv_kb9XN1ecNj5Rn9ar2XLxN_Da51_OEXJBkHTPjnvDvv7MbVEoF-82bnay9zuQsso5HZGg7sflVlgQzVi0pJTsJ3Lb-xUymmEP/s3004/IMG_4584.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3004" data-original-width="2244" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMipfK_oYZaT947gBGaTBE9c8qfJJzGT9gm8LJbuGN8PvGYDdlP18eWHFhwa-Z85j3WYXo3HjxIn9IQ1OjINk3anv_kb9XN1ecNj5Rn9ar2XLxN_Da51_OEXJBkHTPjnvDvv7MbVEoF-82bnay9zuQsso5HZGg7sflVlgQzVi0pJTsJ3Lb-xUymmEP/s320/IMG_4584.jpeg" width="239" /></a></div><br /><p>Not all sweaters have such a happy ending. Once in a while I either have picked the wrong yarn for a pattern, or the wrong pattern for the yarn. And sometimes it takes more than a couple of tries to get it right.</p><p>I shared a post a few years ago about some Madeline Tosh Vintage yarn that had two incarnations before I got it right. And even then, I had to shorten the vest that is now in a regular rotation in my wardrobe. </p><p>Another sweater kept reminding me that it was not my favourite as I passed it over - over and over again - in favour of something else. Since the original yarn had cost a fortune, I decided to try yet again to make it into something that I would love. (Here's the original post and I am shocked that it says 2010!! This poor yarn is a teenager).</p><p> <a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/9152499513632375208/2257711226976518030">https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/9152499513632375208/2257711226976518030</a></p><p>Deconstructing a sweater is a tedious and extremely time-consuming proposition. And this is the second time for this yarn- OK, it is a bit excessive, but I feel like I owe it to the yarn, and it is the ultimate re-use, recycle project. </p><p>Ravelling a sweater back takes hours - and hours - and hours. I think I started in the fall and then stuffed it away because it was taking too long. But yesterday, thanks to Tanis Lavalee, I was reminded of a pattern that would/should/will be perfect fo the third time for this wool. It is called Tensile. The designer is Emily Green, and you can find it <a href="https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/tensile-2" target="_blank">here</a>. </p><p>It has a lovely open (easy, according to the reviews) lacework, and is perfect of layering and will be lovely if spring really has sprung.</p><p>Here's a recap of what I have done and where I am now: (with a few images for visual interest)</p><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>take sweater apart, which means cutting off the neck and cuffs</li><li>ravel all the yarn into very kinky balls, dealing with all the knots you encounter</li><li>resist the urge(s) to throw it away, or at least hide it</li><li>use your swift to wind the very kinky balls into skeins to soak</li></ul><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7JbVdF8kyKV-gCy893Qp-wK_s_qq5cZgdlxTScx-s79eZ233IZOZmmskM7Q_x_ftz9M_dq-5f3ZOXFbR6kpYIY5SqnGbIY0yYNMOz4kLHzehp5di0rYsDvhzzsGwEm1XVbVo10UVqaOH7CILwarIVnPErhS96Hr1svygqVOfTBM6sPQ4a0-7gcCG0/s4032/IMG_4678.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7JbVdF8kyKV-gCy893Qp-wK_s_qq5cZgdlxTScx-s79eZ233IZOZmmskM7Q_x_ftz9M_dq-5f3ZOXFbR6kpYIY5SqnGbIY0yYNMOz4kLHzehp5di0rYsDvhzzsGwEm1XVbVo10UVqaOH7CILwarIVnPErhS96Hr1svygqVOfTBM6sPQ4a0-7gcCG0/s320/IMG_4678.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><div><br /></div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>soak the skeins to remove the kinks - the many, MANY kinks </li></ul><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8R1XEL6USwC5l0CR2YtnjydnrDmYKrTL95eymiKYGorgpy_hPeZCIamznxfJh5Bu6Obsp0yGuDxalwTVhqqeQKrCxtgw8BDRJMCKSxXrMqhFwXF_hLFPWNBdDKoV0CqRSao1ZYYOoogdkxdtBc-19W4bzdc14_BZm0T7iCszK7US7RuKZEAsJ9NPk/s4032/IMG_4679.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8R1XEL6USwC5l0CR2YtnjydnrDmYKrTL95eymiKYGorgpy_hPeZCIamznxfJh5Bu6Obsp0yGuDxalwTVhqqeQKrCxtgw8BDRJMCKSxXrMqhFwXF_hLFPWNBdDKoV0CqRSao1ZYYOoogdkxdtBc-19W4bzdc14_BZm0T7iCszK7US7RuKZEAsJ9NPk/s320/IMG_4679.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Are you tired yet? Cuz there are still a couple more steps before it is ready to knit again.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>put the (hopefully) kink-free skeins on towels to squeeze out most of the water</li><li>hang the skeins on a drying rack to dry</li><li>put the skeins on the swift and spin into cakes</li><li>cross your fingers and hope to heck that you have enough yarn for the pattern.</li></ul><div>Keep in mind that all of this is happening while I am a third of the way through another sweater. Am I totally insane? Well, yes, but I have been having trouble with an arthritis flare in my big finger on my left hand, so decided to give it a little break from knitting and hooking. Going through this exercise is using completely different muscles, including the patience one. lol.</div><div><br /></div><div>If this third time isn't the charm, I will stop. I won't even make socks with this yarn. Our affair will be over.</div><div><br /></div><div>But I am the eternal optimist and hoping that Tensile is the right choice for this old, lovely yarn. </div><div><br /></div><div>Stay tuned.</div><div><br /></div></div><p></p>Wendie Scott Davishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00422462454689323029noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9152499513632375208.post-53294644806544138362023-02-11T15:23:00.001-05:002023-04-25T12:54:03.331-04:00Old Dog, New Tricks <p>I knit my first cardigan when I was 12. I remember it was a Patons variegated yarn, in a kind of raspberry colour. I remember it had raglan sleeves, and a v-neck. When I was finished knitting it, I had a back, two fronts and two sleeves. Then I realized that I had knit two right fronts. My mother said I would have to ravel the second one, and knit a left front. But, I decided to improvise. </p><p>I sewed my sweater together with one smooth (stockinette) front and the other a bumpy (garter stitch) front. To make it look intentional, I sewed one sleeve in smooth side out, and the other bumpy side out. Little did I know that years later, this would become known as a "design element". lol.</p><p>That was the first of many cardigans. And the first of even more "improvisational" approaches. </p><p>Right now I am working on the finishing details of "Desperate Housewife", which I introduced you to in my last post. I have just finished the button band on the right front, and will now pick up and knit the other side. Then, there are still pockets to be done.</p><p>Here is a picture of the button band, which is probably one of the best I have ever knit.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiirA1lNauRsQAnN85kGIRXtJOFCXbB6ca7uoFUt0PWaV7ZFYiNnpAZd3rdaAoaAuueZEyp76vyaycxlIWuPcDM0eEoNaDF_glUoq_5udQS05tNRoC4ALFtNmy-wupCn_4uI-TyaIy2RtyMVDYZ2kdjy8iD2jeKfM3vDea9_pcfQJDaKSSdllJFpt4/s4032/IMG_4565.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiirA1lNauRsQAnN85kGIRXtJOFCXbB6ca7uoFUt0PWaV7ZFYiNnpAZd3rdaAoaAuueZEyp76vyaycxlIWuPcDM0eEoNaDF_glUoq_5udQS05tNRoC4ALFtNmy-wupCn_4uI-TyaIy2RtyMVDYZ2kdjy8iD2jeKfM3vDea9_pcfQJDaKSSdllJFpt4/w300-h400/IMG_4565.jpeg" width="300" /></a></div><br /><p>There are three very good reasons for me to say that. One is that I finally learned - 60 years after knitting my first cardigan - how to correctly pick up the stitches on the front for the button bands. I found a video by Roxanne Richardson that was total eureka moment!!! (BTW, she has videos for everything, which you will see if you go take a look.)</p><p><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NGEuXyeLFkA&t=20s">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NGEuXyeLFkA&t=20s</a></p><p>Amazingly, the tips she shared created a firm button bad that is just the perfect length. Too bad I didn't know this umpteen cardigans ago. Definite game changer, especially since I have decided I am more of a cardigan person than a pullover gal.</p><p>Next up, the one-row buttonhole. I think I knew this once, but probably forgot. And my last few cardigans didn't have button bands or button holes, so I got to discover this all over again. And my teacher, for this one, is Andrea Mowry aka Dreareneeknits. </p><p><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3W-09aS7FSM">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3W-09aS7FSM</a></p><p>Andrea is also a fountain of knowledge. I am sure she also has a button band tutorial, but I found Roxanne's first. Good to share the wealth and appreciation, I say. And this technique is surprisingly easy, once you try it a couple of times. Desperate Housewife has 10 buttonholes, so I got very good after the first two. </p><p>And last but not least, I thought I had seen a tutorial for binding off your very last stitch. In fact, there are many. I usually end up with a little bump where that last stitch comes off and I darn it in. But today, I discovered this tutorial by Knit Purl Hunter. </p><p><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vvc_bbGKbaA">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vvc_bbGKbaA</a></p><p>One at a time, these are all valuable lessons to learn. But all three together make an incredible difference in the finishing of this cardigan. </p><p>I still have pockets to pick up on the fronts, after the second band is done. So I am going to go and see if there is a tutorial on how to make sure those pockets are straight. I will keep you posted. </p><p>How wonderful to have these resources waiting to teach these old dogs new tricks. </p><p>Now off to pick up the stitches for that second band - quickly, before I forget. </p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Wendie Scott Davishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00422462454689323029noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9152499513632375208.post-77750219688969508772023-01-14T17:39:00.007-05:002023-04-25T12:54:22.693-04:00Happy New Year. Happy New Projects. <p>Socks, socks, hats, hats, hats. That was the end of December and the beginning of January.</p><p>Rick's birthday is January 5th and the only thing on his list was another pair of socks. Which I completed in the nick of time. The first pair I have knit in Briggs & Little Durasport, which I am hoping will stand up to his wear and tear. Here they are, enjoying a little fireside time. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiroZgoJY0VJLEKNSKrasn_hQRLzFGXxVqEqLM43_aKui2riLQFR59jFZNlrdOf9aar9RbQkLumtwfLw8resJ4DrGPs_XuUUXqkJLG2u2GKd0duiIBfbXRZBPYMzxTVl_A6QEJIo1xc9DyOhokAIN44XwoXJ46uY1zy8LIGQb2XVOuvGUhz1lJld4j9/s4032/IMG_4527.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiroZgoJY0VJLEKNSKrasn_hQRLzFGXxVqEqLM43_aKui2riLQFR59jFZNlrdOf9aar9RbQkLumtwfLw8resJ4DrGPs_XuUUXqkJLG2u2GKd0duiIBfbXRZBPYMzxTVl_A6QEJIo1xc9DyOhokAIN44XwoXJ46uY1zy8LIGQb2XVOuvGUhz1lJld4j9/w300-h400/IMG_4527.jpeg" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Next on the needles was my latest "reincarknition". I rediscovered a cowl I knit a few years ago that I never wear because I didn't like the fit. So now I have turned it into a hat, which I have already worn a few times. The yarn was perfect for both projects, but is much happier in this Andrea Mowry <a href="https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/flicker--flame" target="_blank">"Flicker and Flame"</a> pattern. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Here's the "before" cowl.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgybsRxDS7KWBdbmKEk0ChRjWiL3q3bhr56tiDiaCi-_Bj8kMeRuIf3I2wqmWI-LMP3D8jPOQlbpPqnyV0scTAFYzeY7Ufpk7Wfw_bVNkchvOPUT1ogn11DaG_eAIE5KJYet4E-6jUbESYZrQl513mexB540OlaosJ0WrZFDllCg5R_giYKJJtf1glC/s320/inspira1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="240" data-original-width="320" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgybsRxDS7KWBdbmKEk0ChRjWiL3q3bhr56tiDiaCi-_Bj8kMeRuIf3I2wqmWI-LMP3D8jPOQlbpPqnyV0scTAFYzeY7Ufpk7Wfw_bVNkchvOPUT1ogn11DaG_eAIE5KJYet4E-6jUbESYZrQl513mexB540OlaosJ0WrZFDllCg5R_giYKJJtf1glC/s1600/inspira1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">And here is the "after" hat. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_R-a29YUAwgcoGjMM6fvxvIHxXqBx234hSslsJfWxO0g5164Or4b2qAmZlzQ2da24c6toWxd-xL_ATEjJugaESpDv0eUZGzaS355xzs3X_C6F3jSBCk8qGX7hgc3dnl6mcsN7h5q-jV7os-Rska6pg_6T_zLj7ja9WEStw1xfHqrzaWxOwW-YPqam/s4032/IMG_4526.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_R-a29YUAwgcoGjMM6fvxvIHxXqBx234hSslsJfWxO0g5164Or4b2qAmZlzQ2da24c6toWxd-xL_ATEjJugaESpDv0eUZGzaS355xzs3X_C6F3jSBCk8qGX7hgc3dnl6mcsN7h5q-jV7os-Rska6pg_6T_zLj7ja9WEStw1xfHqrzaWxOwW-YPqam/w300-h400/IMG_4526.jpeg" width="300" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I actually had the pom pom in my stash, and it is a perfect match - what are the chances of that!!! The colourwork looks complicated, but is a piece of cake, thanks to the colour shift in the variegated yarn. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">So with all these "sprint" projects out of the way, it was time to plan for a "marathon" one. And I had the perfect pattern in mind. The pattern is called <a href="https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/desperate-housewife" target="_blank">Desperate Housewife</a> and it has been in my favourites since it was released by Melanie Berg last year. When you look at the pattern, you realize it has 7 contrast colours for all the stripes, and I realized that it was a big "stash buster" possibility. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Between my sister Nancy's stash of sock yarn and my own, I was pretty sure I could come up with something that would work. Here is a picture of the first "ball swatch". I actually knit this to see how things would go together. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpilxdf7zdGqZ6t8kbheeYJZaZ7qwqt5YZHWd4dNx7AD5DIu5NQ7MeDq6TJNRvznsFkD20mrB5lXBy-7_y3cFu6EM-DtltXLwId5Cv8AGJOeGQYQ658uxdPIkSC9mkVt_vaNddmhrqTxmntZaH7xUa1Y-YISB39-oExNdFCSgeJL-m9MgbzQ2W3XY2/s4032/IMG_4519.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpilxdf7zdGqZ6t8kbheeYJZaZ7qwqt5YZHWd4dNx7AD5DIu5NQ7MeDq6TJNRvznsFkD20mrB5lXBy-7_y3cFu6EM-DtltXLwId5Cv8AGJOeGQYQ658uxdPIkSC9mkVt_vaNddmhrqTxmntZaH7xUa1Y-YISB39-oExNdFCSgeJL-m9MgbzQ2W3XY2/s320/IMG_4519.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">From the knit swatch, I ruled out the lime green and the bright confetti yarn. I also realized that the red was too primary for all the other colours. I substituted a sage grey-green for the lime. And I got a solid dusty pink to replace the confetti. And a variegated dusty red/grey yarn to replace the red. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I have just finished knitting the first sequence of all the colours together. And I am very happy with the choices. You can see that, compared to the designer's choices, my colours are a bit more muted. Turns out they look like a lot of other things I have in my knit wardrobe, including the hat above. (You can also see my experiments with different yarns that I taped to the picture.)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmaWUH4lvndELNHSSl72t3mRo6P799lmC7wQVTrntIJ86RdTPcypZqk_Cuwcji2j47MPoMeCUuBZriVj1cw3P8a4WjglnQYK59Z7p-xRBLh-smC5gthAiP-z9o9DQ49uFBpDVlH5Ig39vMa7o6pDNVQbmVTCHP58YiGo5aTIpy6T-5ICy8cGNizLgL/s4032/IMG_4530.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmaWUH4lvndELNHSSl72t3mRo6P799lmC7wQVTrntIJ86RdTPcypZqk_Cuwcji2j47MPoMeCUuBZriVj1cw3P8a4WjglnQYK59Z7p-xRBLh-smC5gthAiP-z9o9DQ49uFBpDVlH5Ig39vMa7o6pDNVQbmVTCHP58YiGo5aTIpy6T-5ICy8cGNizLgL/w300-h400/IMG_4530.jpeg" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;">I am also very happy that two of the colours in here are from Nancy's stash and three are from mine. Technically, the sage is also from Nancy's, but she gifted me that yarn a few years ago. Although I had some grey in my stash, there wasn't enough of the same colour to be the ribbing and button bands to come. (Yikes, formatting glitch here, not sure why.)</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Now that the sleeve stitches are on holding yarn, the body stripe sequence should go a bit more quickly. At the widest part of the yoke, after the last increase row, I had 420 stitches on my needle. That is a long stretch around the needle. And this is a long, below-the-butt sweater, so the stripe sequence repeats 1.5 times in the body - and then let's not forget the sleeves. (Oh, and pockets too, oh my.)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">As I said, a marathon. And I know I will be short on that last blue/grey variegated yarn at the bottom. But, I have a few "runners up" in my kit to use on the sleeves. I really don't care if they don't match exactly. I am not "Desperate" to get it done in any timeframe, and find it very relaxing to just "knit" for a while. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Since Nana's blanket, this is the biggest project for a very long time. Perfect for the snowy months ahead. Would never have brought this much yarn in my luggage to Barbados, but staying put for this winter makes this the perfect project.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">On to the second repeat I go.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Thanks for reading. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Wendie Scott Davishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00422462454689323029noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9152499513632375208.post-52465901638119302642022-12-23T11:42:00.001-05:002023-04-25T12:54:47.251-04:00Making Merry<p>There are some years when your Christmas spirit isn't quite as lifted as others. I think this is one for me. Too much bad stuff going on in the world, both big and very personal, and I have been finding it hide to get excited.</p><p>Except for the Christmas making, which always lifts my spirits.</p><p>This year, I re-committed to fabric bags, so had fun getting merry material and making bags for the "grands" stuff. I also decided to recycle some cardboard into gift tags. A good second life for the amazon boxes things came in. Hoping to get the bags and tags back and will use them again. </p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiB-boGlz7V1J2WJvKMxk_dHB7jTvWA5BVPM8qURwt-lvm7MSB03sP5Urc07JrGLPKeMLDPKcLdts6ycFHxBXKktCISI47JAI14r2KOHgUnUurmxq65_cCjsUrLEeiRKZ89X26K-ZOYEHOGCLbyW3eWnL7tJ_YuzYpYbftfPzNKGHJAhqWp8fZFv7_/s4032/IMG_4453.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiB-boGlz7V1J2WJvKMxk_dHB7jTvWA5BVPM8qURwt-lvm7MSB03sP5Urc07JrGLPKeMLDPKcLdts6ycFHxBXKktCISI47JAI14r2KOHgUnUurmxq65_cCjsUrLEeiRKZ89X26K-ZOYEHOGCLbyW3eWnL7tJ_YuzYpYbftfPzNKGHJAhqWp8fZFv7_/s320/IMG_4453.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB2zffqhguvYA5_D2O97X7aId6OndIKyb4UNDTOV-KKU079b6f0jY8ukfZYVPeUl6X-7nJlweiYkTA3PYGUqykAhFus1q4sjY3IxDdmwlZZWNTRVLnRhGt3CSDSzvCPeSMobhps7tSC9XaExzZJNs0wKbNWzSFz3YPvW2_Bil6NEFhtRqnBCZ-SyYg/s4032/IMG_4454.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB2zffqhguvYA5_D2O97X7aId6OndIKyb4UNDTOV-KKU079b6f0jY8ukfZYVPeUl6X-7nJlweiYkTA3PYGUqykAhFus1q4sjY3IxDdmwlZZWNTRVLnRhGt3CSDSzvCPeSMobhps7tSC9XaExzZJNs0wKbNWzSFz3YPvW2_Bil6NEFhtRqnBCZ-SyYg/s320/IMG_4454.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrBAHQQBRhBpmmrnJYnw8ybBG9p9hq6xSlhxfX3SDQincgcqmcwPNq1m0wiUWY6FF9jVLmpdS8lB0xMov5vPWtxwInsVnzxU3394DwhE3lPAfLF05NtJLW6Uqzr9MjrO18VDjspus1i5WV1wwQ5LzLwq6p_aKHygWMH01aTz5or7NRZXhi7lJcIVMg/s4032/IMG_4455.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrBAHQQBRhBpmmrnJYnw8ybBG9p9hq6xSlhxfX3SDQincgcqmcwPNq1m0wiUWY6FF9jVLmpdS8lB0xMov5vPWtxwInsVnzxU3394DwhE3lPAfLF05NtJLW6Uqzr9MjrO18VDjspus1i5WV1wwQ5LzLwq6p_aKHygWMH01aTz5or7NRZXhi7lJcIVMg/s320/IMG_4455.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><p>The little gingerbread tags sparked an idea for this year's ornaments. (I make one every year for my three grandkids.) And I love these!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBks0Wo-iP3umkOfWldJdqGtBT5PJf00fRuHkQudxTVrsZTUY5ZqUTH5v9K7WFmFWwFrbKckr9f4evuBPqlHqzh_-eRuXTOVzQIHscdvZ8wpi73PJZSOlkKJHd_hEdJnrMQ9CaaLBau4_aGTnPEpK8G62lxqRZTeBH-3wAn2e0XCoAC-7yq9WbmKmQ/s4032/IMG_4459.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBks0Wo-iP3umkOfWldJdqGtBT5PJf00fRuHkQudxTVrsZTUY5ZqUTH5v9K7WFmFWwFrbKckr9f4evuBPqlHqzh_-eRuXTOVzQIHscdvZ8wpi73PJZSOlkKJHd_hEdJnrMQ9CaaLBau4_aGTnPEpK8G62lxqRZTeBH-3wAn2e0XCoAC-7yq9WbmKmQ/w400-h300/IMG_4459.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><p>I had some printable fabric paper, so I printed an image with all three faces. They turned out to be the perfect size to fit on fabric gingerbread men. I stitched on the faces, embellished the "cookie" part with embroidery and buttons. And then blanket stitched them onto some blanket weight wool. They are now hanging on our tree for the kids to discover, and then take home to their own trees. </p><p>Another Christmas make was a special gift for my son-in-law. Many years ago he found some leftover yarn of his grandmother's (fondly called Mumu). It is from Denmark or Sweden and is a lovely wool twist. This year, he asked if I could use that wool to knit a hat for each of Mumu's four great grandchildren. And I did. The littlest "great grand" is just 7 months old. Jackson is the eldest "great grand" (nine in 5 days). I added the pompoms for a little break from the blue. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu23_P-Dxu7kuO_tG79CaAgHMLa27PVcY7MEMFY8SyIOvS7V5gH4qxMsUyg-I_FviCWM_AB8tZh0qxfvA6TNRshYbGGfTEd7lEOmlq8vV3JlXvW84dSnNssGpAO_kuTlMyBx3xFwEQk7L3QDTrJiSXfles4KlGEUaIT0nF7KoOnmdxauNpGOVLCYSY/s4032/IMG_4458.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu23_P-Dxu7kuO_tG79CaAgHMLa27PVcY7MEMFY8SyIOvS7V5gH4qxMsUyg-I_FviCWM_AB8tZh0qxfvA6TNRshYbGGfTEd7lEOmlq8vV3JlXvW84dSnNssGpAO_kuTlMyBx3xFwEQk7L3QDTrJiSXfles4KlGEUaIT0nF7KoOnmdxauNpGOVLCYSY/w400-h300/IMG_4458.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><p>The ones on the right and left are <a href="https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/classic-ribbed-hat-5" target="_blank">Classic Ribbed Hats</a> and the middle two are <a href="https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/high-point-hat" target="_blank">High Point Hat </a> which are both free patterns on ravelry from Purl Soho. Although the weather has scuttled their plans to deliver them today, I am sure at some point over the holidays, there will be four beautiful heads inside these hats.</p><p>Last of the merry making, hopefully done in the next day, a pair of socks for my husband, who loves homemade socks more than anyone. He seems to go through them faster than anyone, so this pair is being knit in Patons Kroy, which has a 75% wool/25% nylon mix. Hopefully that will slow down the wearing out. I also got some Briggs and Little Durasport, which is supposed to be the strongest sock wool EVER, and will try a pair of those for him next.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicSUoPapP-V7_NNiewyriGUG6SyEEXfPOgu6Nrv0IGcIvLrvOHBaKQqTQ7fyOGVKM72HBeNuYNZgFG4qiOzPYexDRa7a02p5HDitGZscMcbEhu0nKWn0no27RFye5QO79wugL9TuEUm-QjT8b6vSjcL7hsqcS7H3gNoZQu4X8Ii-X0BvrrkuQi0ZwF/s4032/IMG_4460.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicSUoPapP-V7_NNiewyriGUG6SyEEXfPOgu6Nrv0IGcIvLrvOHBaKQqTQ7fyOGVKM72HBeNuYNZgFG4qiOzPYexDRa7a02p5HDitGZscMcbEhu0nKWn0no27RFye5QO79wugL9TuEUm-QjT8b6vSjcL7hsqcS7H3gNoZQu4X8Ii-X0BvrrkuQi0ZwF/s320/IMG_4460.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><p>Since my last post, I knit another Peach Fuzz sweater - this one for me. I liked the one I knit for my friend (who has now finished ALL cancer treatments!!!!) that I did this one for me. I love the colour combo and it is so soft and cozy. May it ward off any cancer vibes that are headed my way. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja7Yd7d2MRLLucJB2UL28_ZHXacp2cEfy0KsdWXwI6o1_9-ySi5K-ZAjjeb8bF1H52ZGKfgkDUIVCqpcK4UQPMbJ---t8D86OGt0E1qwzpwhxE5SM9TQxmtEYYQ-ut1LKob_Z4QGhJPwMHfpfJW11JYrBZkzirVREyg8Zznl-WvoWLJgCDUB_qqpAy/s4032/IMG_4415.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja7Yd7d2MRLLucJB2UL28_ZHXacp2cEfy0KsdWXwI6o1_9-ySi5K-ZAjjeb8bF1H52ZGKfgkDUIVCqpcK4UQPMbJ---t8D86OGt0E1qwzpwhxE5SM9TQxmtEYYQ-ut1LKob_Z4QGhJPwMHfpfJW11JYrBZkzirVREyg8Zznl-WvoWLJgCDUB_qqpAy/s320/IMG_4415.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><p>On the cancer front, my husband's surgery finally happened just over a week ago, and we had a follow up with the surgeon yesterday. When he removed the tumour, he had to do a skin graft. Yesterday he pronounced it a success, which is not always a sure thing on lower extremities. That's a relief. Stitches on the harvest site come out next week, and a community nurse will do a dressing change on Boxing Day. So slow and steady, we head into the healing. May this be the last of it for a long while.</p><p>On this happier note, I will everyone who visits me here a Very Merry Holiday. Just writing this post has pumped up my Christmas spirit. And although the weather outside may be frightful, I hope all our holidays are delightful. </p><p>See you in the brand new year. </p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Wendie Scott Davishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00422462454689323029noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9152499513632375208.post-24664718843471114222022-11-13T16:35:00.004-05:002023-04-25T12:55:06.371-04:00KNITTING FOR GOOD AND EVIL <p> I received an email this morning that reminded me that since I closed comments a couple of years ago (due to horrid messages I received when the "trolls" first arrived), I have forgotten to thank you for visiting here. It reminded me that my virtual diary is still, in fact, a blog. And that there are readers lol. So I decided that I would really try to post a bit more often, which would be a good thing for me and for you.</p><p>Lately, I have been doing a lot of knitting. Since the Nana Blanket, there have been more projects for others and they are always a joy to knit, no matter the reason.</p><p>First up is this <a href="https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/peach-fuzz-2" target="_blank">Peach Fuzz </a>sweater. I found out this summer that a very good friend was going through chemo for breast cancer. She and her husband had not been telling many people, but since we were going to be next door to them for a week, they shared the news. We were lucky enough to have two quick visits, and I was able to tell her about Melanie Berg, the designer of this sweater, and Melanie's InstaGram posts about her breast cancer journey. </p><p>Peach Fuzz was designed by Melanie when her hair first started to come back. She posted on day 44 after her chemo to declare "it's hair". <span face="-apple-system, "system-ui", "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #262626; font-size: 14px;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CZzL6CkI9Nc/?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet">https://www.instagram.com/p/CZzL6CkI9Nc/?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet</a> (Follow this link and then you click again and can see her video.)</span></p><p>So this is the version that I knit and mailed in time to arrive for day 44 for my friend. She loved the colours I chose and as I suspected, thought they were the perfect choice. Inside is a label that says "Knit with Love and Swearwords". I explained the swearwords were F*ck Cancer - over and over and over.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEucRO4dJUSItnDS2O-c26UTG6mSNO3lfsniZAA9zGfJ21Z369DJLTK9PfMI97vJpG21SECDUrzsgLLME2-13DUtoe8XSFwHnivbCA2TAKwUJwOo5rnh6EsRlp14BcXsaa-Iee9zve66jqKAzV0y7iUn-FUofbGh1S53HnLhylpjMycoMgEPmRFIqj/s2016/IMG_4297%202.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="2016" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEucRO4dJUSItnDS2O-c26UTG6mSNO3lfsniZAA9zGfJ21Z369DJLTK9PfMI97vJpG21SECDUrzsgLLME2-13DUtoe8XSFwHnivbCA2TAKwUJwOo5rnh6EsRlp14BcXsaa-Iee9zve66jqKAzV0y7iUn-FUofbGh1S53HnLhylpjMycoMgEPmRFIqj/s320/IMG_4297%202.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">She gave me permission to share this photo of her modelling it, with her very own peach fuzz - hair, I mean. And an awesome smile.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrgUcpQW3XaH_aFSwHC--MpNe7N_mUSb9qM1kmThyJzySUtKvlqKppH5EzQ5oJL9fsimWkwhJN5ImWXPzjW6fjuhnB0_NU8FNyBLnl8ZScikvv3-OSRVznphGr0oDgxD0o_vztu3w8nrx6gzKJrWjV3v9MnmozasFZxuqVeDUkWUM9jsPqAcEBhEnB/s640/image0.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrgUcpQW3XaH_aFSwHC--MpNe7N_mUSb9qM1kmThyJzySUtKvlqKppH5EzQ5oJL9fsimWkwhJN5ImWXPzjW6fjuhnB0_NU8FNyBLnl8ZScikvv3-OSRVznphGr0oDgxD0o_vztu3w8nrx6gzKJrWjV3v9MnmozasFZxuqVeDUkWUM9jsPqAcEBhEnB/w300-h400/image0.jpeg" width="300" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Next on the needles was another special set of gifts. A friend is having twins - any day now, by my reckoning - and she has a two year old who is very excited about being a "big sister". I knit three little vests from a pattern called <a href="https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/in-threes-a-baby-cardigan" target="_blank">In Threes.</a> The tiniest size for the little babes (knit in cotton), and a toddler size for the older sister in her favourite colour (with hippo buttons). I think they will all be large at first, but lots of room to grow. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-4HmnZe4Wo52WBxN1aua_XkmlH3FCqCVJsfEvK5b1BLtdymHGv1ggNklPB0uOhnypJ3irkW4W9rtPG5Ho9iJaE1U7RipqDJKbEMYgDc--Q9Uc5zFAVkK-OfBmkLnSs9MGjI3JXRCHROOOzzIpEKpvswxsLJolSbfT1JzFbTK5mrds3seBd_XvIyBw/s320/IMG_4387.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="240" data-original-width="320" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-4HmnZe4Wo52WBxN1aua_XkmlH3FCqCVJsfEvK5b1BLtdymHGv1ggNklPB0uOhnypJ3irkW4W9rtPG5Ho9iJaE1U7RipqDJKbEMYgDc--Q9Uc5zFAVkK-OfBmkLnSs9MGjI3JXRCHROOOzzIpEKpvswxsLJolSbfT1JzFbTK5mrds3seBd_XvIyBw/s1600/IMG_4387.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><p>A request for a hat and "mitts with a string" for Charlie led me to these two hats (two because the first one was wayyyy too big). I was given the grey and navy colour choice, but added the pop of yellow for the tassels and pom pom. As soon as I finished, I thought it looked like a chicken. So now the boys - Jackson and Charlie - will have matching Cousins Chicken Hats.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR9ZsUFKjt29xEfo308nWJjKLb5d5_6chL-8O1G8N1D86MbYFLY2Jc-wMAnAfjUyNo-icYIxYm8x13mUuiiADJX2dFTX6PlPRYRTS85B7MwO-r4vuLOAi4eMzEHtbXCifHyu-_qJtSm7Q6eOF0dg4azi15bCZuDQ2mcZkvMqnuLWd_zBN5wtzRyAAP/s2112/IMG_4382.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2112" data-original-width="1584" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR9ZsUFKjt29xEfo308nWJjKLb5d5_6chL-8O1G8N1D86MbYFLY2Jc-wMAnAfjUyNo-icYIxYm8x13mUuiiADJX2dFTX6PlPRYRTS85B7MwO-r4vuLOAi4eMzEHtbXCifHyu-_qJtSm7Q6eOF0dg4azi15bCZuDQ2mcZkvMqnuLWd_zBN5wtzRyAAP/w300-h400/IMG_4382.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Jackson put his on right away. Then put his headphones over top. I guess he likes it!!!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9-OIQkE32zRsMxvG10gnxGBrRTVcvKwPvW3LKqbPzAq15a3xk9dyqY39HcsaajCgsREtySP239hQFJpkSRDnGastk5TwEe8MOovRD4QCE_O_4LlZkWL6t-aopnAEKAtwyu3UIMivfhM_CxwBj8VIBoeD3sEOmKC5R9jln_lQzak9grXgujCYRkFSS/s2496/IMG_4384.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2496" data-original-width="1872" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9-OIQkE32zRsMxvG10gnxGBrRTVcvKwPvW3LKqbPzAq15a3xk9dyqY39HcsaajCgsREtySP239hQFJpkSRDnGastk5TwEe8MOovRD4QCE_O_4LlZkWL6t-aopnAEKAtwyu3UIMivfhM_CxwBj8VIBoeD3sEOmKC5R9jln_lQzak9grXgujCYRkFSS/w300-h400/IMG_4384.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Now there will be another for Everleigh. Requested colours are pink, purple and violet. Hardly a surprise!!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Thanks again for stopping by. </div><br /><p><br /></p><p><span face="-apple-system, system-ui, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #262626; font-size: 14px;"><br /></span></p><p><br /></p>Wendie Scott Davishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00422462454689323029noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9152499513632375208.post-88039855502219709132022-10-29T16:43:00.003-04:002023-04-25T12:55:22.496-04:00The Nana Blanket is Home!!<p> This week, as the weather turned a bit chillier, I put the Nana Blanket in the mail. The postage was silly, but still less costly than a trip on the 407.</p><p><br /></p><p>Two days later, I got a text from my niece, and this fabulous photo.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif1xhZ2ltxUkR-_4pTVif5BAIrQHtlUEVc7XViZiVwMpK-VCxZrSxK9VJK2HSlGCiQgqJim12B1d2IdQEqgaszNZzj2YQ5qXdvL4h7o05Vlz2NY7hDtV4YPkC099OcVeSFiwKS8luwmaDl92HH3AxX-GEfCX1xRjok2d0Z1bi7erPl4wiz3Gd8kBm7/s4032/Grayson%20in%20his%20Nana%20Blanket.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif1xhZ2ltxUkR-_4pTVif5BAIrQHtlUEVc7XViZiVwMpK-VCxZrSxK9VJK2HSlGCiQgqJim12B1d2IdQEqgaszNZzj2YQ5qXdvL4h7o05Vlz2NY7hDtV4YPkC099OcVeSFiwKS8luwmaDl92HH3AxX-GEfCX1xRjok2d0Z1bi7erPl4wiz3Gd8kBm7/w300-h400/Grayson%20in%20his%20Nana%20Blanket.jpeg" width="300" /></a></div><div><br /></div>It looks like a perfect fit, hug-wise I mean. And apparently, it was a hit. He fell asleep under it the very first night.<div><br /></div><div>I know that Nana is as thrilled as I am.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /><p><br /></p></div>Wendie Scott Davishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00422462454689323029noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9152499513632375208.post-64138579672005158152022-10-07T15:32:00.001-04:002023-04-25T12:55:46.744-04:00More gardens to share. <p> So, I finished my fourth sample garden, the one that was inspired by the home spun yarn that is dangling from the bottom. It is mounted on a stretched canvas that is 10 x 20. The centres of the flowers are also created by making quillies from the "rasta" yarn. (This is not the best picture of it. Colours are much brighter.)</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDt3haXQiHJClniL6xX0YUNTDeTSJXz0jqCm0eTbNJSidKZocioTtsA6BrqCpl36_xt0qwIfe7TghHJBGhQwYxVvIw78lzwHAqLZyvLaTvbTaxYyYFbszOf2rid4G1fo9eQ3UnLVnj8yZ7sK63Brgj5f4YYzc3KkhHFrnr2eyXT4iMrH6KHFQ-8ama/s4032/IMG_4293.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDt3haXQiHJClniL6xX0YUNTDeTSJXz0jqCm0eTbNJSidKZocioTtsA6BrqCpl36_xt0qwIfe7TghHJBGhQwYxVvIw78lzwHAqLZyvLaTvbTaxYyYFbszOf2rid4G1fo9eQ3UnLVnj8yZ7sK63Brgj5f4YYzc3KkhHFrnr2eyXT4iMrH6KHFQ-8ama/w400-h300/IMG_4293.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p>In addition to the gorgeous hand spun yarn, in the little "prickly" looking flowers in the upper left corner, I used the yarn that is made for knitting "scrubbies" for the kitchen. I love how it turned out. If you zoom in a bit, you can see it clearly.</p><p>Then off me and my little gardens went, to my first "in person" workshop since 2019. What a rush that was!! Everyone was soooo happy to be together in a real space, of course they were going to have a good time.</p><p>But they got the concept, and after I showed some reference from Pinterest, and did a lesson on making a quillie and how and what to do with Proddy, off they went!!!</p><p>Each student had something unique in their heads as they started their little gardens. I took a few early shots while in the class as they were just getting started. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuOemee9zsC8sY8ugk948jByUQjR8qdibeRb2nOyKM64lmKSsFbqtPV1bXdT4SPIkZUl4wjOyi5jftBURVr2YvlhGZ2QW52j6Oo6X2dCRvYl5ypny55HNUOgalUQN-Lp6Sx950ETcSlS9NO7fR33UGb6E_q8TRC6up-5zGsbzVRu4QLCohsUs-bQv-/s4032/IMG_4315.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuOemee9zsC8sY8ugk948jByUQjR8qdibeRb2nOyKM64lmKSsFbqtPV1bXdT4SPIkZUl4wjOyi5jftBURVr2YvlhGZ2QW52j6Oo6X2dCRvYl5ypny55HNUOgalUQN-Lp6Sx950ETcSlS9NO7fR33UGb6E_q8TRC6up-5zGsbzVRu4QLCohsUs-bQv-/s320/IMG_4315.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZLhwNaucoPhGZ3hvT_kam2BxaVgqF8yc13ceK6RXQgbcPu2arIkZc2xLQ_xpfgOSrJiWojpP2aUXn1sJzwtGFrIKJu0iwwfQZd0s_eIzrurbJpxh3JUdL-tZXfStf2UNa0wDx-6nH5p7xTv-bPADrl2DNuGJrZvMqqg-1aGEKylBm44j7qBE9eSNk/s4032/IMG_4314.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZLhwNaucoPhGZ3hvT_kam2BxaVgqF8yc13ceK6RXQgbcPu2arIkZc2xLQ_xpfgOSrJiWojpP2aUXn1sJzwtGFrIKJu0iwwfQZd0s_eIzrurbJpxh3JUdL-tZXfStf2UNa0wDx-6nH5p7xTv-bPADrl2DNuGJrZvMqqg-1aGEKylBm44j7qBE9eSNk/s320/IMG_4314.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNbtpgtAjWrtLBM4PCiRCUSN3OM0Gb3PKWGiZB7KeQAjvTQyZ8kuN4JG9Xy0SMWC3n2hu_nCx9x4Meljbi97OE2RG6NLbJY-GTkb5_RDx3cF3nU38758EIYYcE7qcogQ-w11WxIyQhJRRI1rZ8MFsOJRWIt218ht0EaNXE66YJ5s9TbfYed4MSQTrM/s4032/IMG_4313.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNbtpgtAjWrtLBM4PCiRCUSN3OM0Gb3PKWGiZB7KeQAjvTQyZ8kuN4JG9Xy0SMWC3n2hu_nCx9x4Meljbi97OE2RG6NLbJY-GTkb5_RDx3cF3nU38758EIYYcE7qcogQ-w11WxIyQhJRRI1rZ8MFsOJRWIt218ht0EaNXE66YJ5s9TbfYed4MSQTrM/s320/IMG_4313.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; 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text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIOS2Cym_66Kin8WQMj-seV5dHt4VkTWJ0LcWFpPtxQtrCuOBMYbqtxLUQTRY169PMjjkESoJIfqSbabwafgvSweEpLJiXJmqg5YqIcVCZGq7Z9M1P83CrVzzsSJrBrlrbRvOnD3yxA-lIzAoE2yZTldqvp5a7f0u7otTowRfKcbXqckPbbq4zBlL9/s4032/IMG_4303.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIOS2Cym_66Kin8WQMj-seV5dHt4VkTWJ0LcWFpPtxQtrCuOBMYbqtxLUQTRY169PMjjkESoJIfqSbabwafgvSweEpLJiXJmqg5YqIcVCZGq7Z9M1P83CrVzzsSJrBrlrbRvOnD3yxA-lIzAoE2yZTldqvp5a7f0u7otTowRfKcbXqckPbbq4zBlL9/s320/IMG_4303.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTRc7OkRsIP4vwnMmZKkqQvBvigAwoP0qKqBTDTlOf-g8psvbR70aO-tW9zcL3aeFSa70hxWjersTdrDjRIq1Xj2CB1qW0oegIb7EuV8-i4Gw_8jqZjFL1wLpcf1ifvYO7zFjHhj1bTfgWaZjpAxwhN_uALbnQnsk3rINgANON1Pi0ONaVuhHcVUNF/s4032/IMG_4302.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTRc7OkRsIP4vwnMmZKkqQvBvigAwoP0qKqBTDTlOf-g8psvbR70aO-tW9zcL3aeFSa70hxWjersTdrDjRIq1Xj2CB1qW0oegIb7EuV8-i4Gw_8jqZjFL1wLpcf1ifvYO7zFjHhj1bTfgWaZjpAxwhN_uALbnQnsk3rINgANON1Pi0ONaVuhHcVUNF/s320/IMG_4302.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>By the end of the day, everyone was much further along. And I am thrilled to see how many "gardeners" have been sharing their masterpieces on Social Media. </p><p>Here is Peggy's </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzBM9mGTzT-xAh-VbykX4X6CC74TptOMoktPQRBOxWtCSK2BmAUsMnDEKoa6MGmqKUI00VisSJi-8rL8RV9V2NGLVWqSj0jnQmW2E4lG0H_vZFlGx9EddsKrVv5ozDo5CYPs1ueXGehJb0ahSobZEkXTUewCJFUmwb-XkPl6eAH8HkMGmItVaoi7VJ/s701/310546363_10228929127111781_5264710505379292673_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="701" data-original-width="526" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzBM9mGTzT-xAh-VbykX4X6CC74TptOMoktPQRBOxWtCSK2BmAUsMnDEKoa6MGmqKUI00VisSJi-8rL8RV9V2NGLVWqSj0jnQmW2E4lG0H_vZFlGx9EddsKrVv5ozDo5CYPs1ueXGehJb0ahSobZEkXTUewCJFUmwb-XkPl6eAH8HkMGmItVaoi7VJ/s320/310546363_10228929127111781_5264710505379292673_n.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>Here is Claire's </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6SMePtLInfiZKLBiALVzWgDOOiZoLZ5c98I4yOf77nXHlGbxNmB2uYmdOWLdfTa_a9PiZ3NtevBRu84uCPzLgwixqKkZZ46TkFP0wqw2g4uPHU45o6oaezKNEzZW6okHRg4yTTbQngjh5otLqmc6pIgQToCHpHhX7UOQPl4bndxA4UK7V5axm0T9_/s640/310508583_10158462633566326_2105544606060941184_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="516" data-original-width="640" height="258" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6SMePtLInfiZKLBiALVzWgDOOiZoLZ5c98I4yOf77nXHlGbxNmB2uYmdOWLdfTa_a9PiZ3NtevBRu84uCPzLgwixqKkZZ46TkFP0wqw2g4uPHU45o6oaezKNEzZW6okHRg4yTTbQngjh5otLqmc6pIgQToCHpHhX7UOQPl4bndxA4UK7V5axm0T9_/s320/310508583_10158462633566326_2105544606060941184_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p>And here is a link to Martina's on her Instagram page. (you can't copy an image from there). You will get a re-direct notice, but if you click on the link you will see it. She actually was working on 4 tiny gardens, so you will see more from her either on IG or here. </p><p><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CjT-NW7pxS0/">https://www.instagram.com/p/CjT-NW7pxS0/</a></p><p>Hopefully, I will have more to share in the coming weeks. </p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Wendie Scott Davishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00422462454689323029noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9152499513632375208.post-73088996923082095172022-09-23T16:02:00.001-04:002023-04-25T12:56:16.128-04:00The perfect garden for a black thumb!!!<p>I have never been what I would call a "gardener". At best, I have been able to keep the hardiest plants alive inside. And have successfully chosen plants for, and looked after, two perennial gardens outside. I listen to others talking about their LOVE of gardening, and that is not the word I would choose. That said, I am a "wicked" weeder and trimmer, which has come in handy over the decades.</p><p>I am happy to announce that I have found my perfect kind of garden. It suits my trimming and weeding skills, and it cannot be killed.</p><p>SURPRISE! It is made from wool. I have created 4 gardens in anticipation of a workshop I will be teaching in Cobourg next Thursday, the 29th. First time for me. First time for this class of brave hookers.</p><p>A bit of a back story needed here. Several years ago, our Ontario Hooking Craft Guild Annual was held in North Bay at Nipissing University. Adjacent to the big room where the rug show and vendors were located (I think we were on top of the covered skating rink in the athletic centre) was an anti-room that contained a "living wall". It was the first one I had ever seen and I was in awe. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBw4RTv377kUQM8Vf3Cgizs4XglK5RZNOqQcR70N0atte8NtJ4AsyyVal82_9-TlWlEABKMcMyGY4xhm89xQn6nqBn69jrR3ngzc3joJurj5jP4uhz9ag_-Qp8Oh2fDKSTgcsgo6lqjoiG3YI0PI2eafx2pF2d1ISkgweByfLn-9AxN38PFfSyQW2F/s424/nipissing%20living%20wall.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="424" data-original-width="277" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBw4RTv377kUQM8Vf3Cgizs4XglK5RZNOqQcR70N0atte8NtJ4AsyyVal82_9-TlWlEABKMcMyGY4xhm89xQn6nqBn69jrR3ngzc3joJurj5jP4uhz9ag_-Qp8Oh2fDKSTgcsgo6lqjoiG3YI0PI2eafx2pF2d1ISkgweByfLn-9AxN38PFfSyQW2F/w261-h400/nipissing%20living%20wall.png" width="261" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Although I don't remember it exactly like this, I found this picture on the university's facebook page and it is in the athletic centre, so I guess this is it. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Recently, these "vertical gardens" are popping up EVERYWHERE. Many office buildings are using them - as respites from work, as dividers, whatever. And if you go online you can order materials to make your own - even DIY instructions to make moss ones - even artificial ones.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">A while ago, I decided why not see if I could make a small garden out of wool. I would use not-so-traditional techniques like "quillies" and "proddy" and make up the rest as I went along.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Here is the first result of my exploration. It is nestled inside a shadow box that I think is 10" x 10". </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2uSEQoeCF0CDqEqzQJO1uLG5xyfAqr6sb5gd-sGTy6-9pWgYnjX-CGRQUd39-IH1b4_cdzcY20JrlTvlc-yy-K3YMOHJppcwB9bsXrAuia4HpdgAtiFCb-zceJHibjDmePi38QPRuyf-ZuOzk9-_lotLeJSmUh52HH3Uu8AtjHKRY-XIaxb9JZG0g/s640/unnamed.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2uSEQoeCF0CDqEqzQJO1uLG5xyfAqr6sb5gd-sGTy6-9pWgYnjX-CGRQUd39-IH1b4_cdzcY20JrlTvlc-yy-K3YMOHJppcwB9bsXrAuia4HpdgAtiFCb-zceJHibjDmePi38QPRuyf-ZuOzk9-_lotLeJSmUh52HH3Uu8AtjHKRY-XIaxb9JZG0g/w300-h400/unnamed.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I quickly realized that you could shape just about any kind of leaf - like ferns - just by cutting into the wool. And your imagination would let you create flowers that would never exist in nature.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">About the same time, Pinterest was blowing up with "vertical garden" reference. I started collecting all the different things I fell in love with. It's amazing what materials are being incorporated into some of the recent ones, like twigs and other kinds of wood. Some are even planted inside driftwood. They are amazing. And, like all art, these walls are following basic art rules with respect to design, colour and texture. Eureka!!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">On to the next one, which is a sweet little 4" x 6" mini, inspired by a "mossy" one I found on Pinterest. Here is the inspiration garden</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6InMosp03dRa-bJ6otz8tR7ox47J3m3sWwOSRTgVevveEPUXUhbGjELP6y-53522Qa1gump8N_9UBMKg2d6r663eZbGP1jC0KR0gOGy_e7U-I7SJayOR3ujecMxSfG2Xkb4_DVeT4EPBJWQty11kw21-zqwapVqeRSAo2YuYuHkAkz-etAIQ7WA-b/s844/74f302fc82964e36b6161299703f3881.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="844" data-original-width="564" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6InMosp03dRa-bJ6otz8tR7ox47J3m3sWwOSRTgVevveEPUXUhbGjELP6y-53522Qa1gump8N_9UBMKg2d6r663eZbGP1jC0KR0gOGy_e7U-I7SJayOR3ujecMxSfG2Xkb4_DVeT4EPBJWQty11kw21-zqwapVqeRSAo2YuYuHkAkz-etAIQ7WA-b/w268-h400/74f302fc82964e36b6161299703f3881.jpg" width="268" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">And here is my inspired "tiny garden" in a special little hanging frame. Look closely and you will see quillies and French Knots, some high loops cut in a fringe, and some novelty yarn that has been kicking around in my stash forever. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqW8Hm68O1cY8uihrtsmhV46Y3PuGyCqpDZ6D0ZKRp1UzESCfXQqwjXM4kME-dl5xwJD8M_SxSwG-MX6xyBMYWmYo5VT45BOtbaNBxTZafvR-OwZ2gQ3SXXhIAOZ6yLxc--7xafauGez0xyAJANoln9NeEI4UqxtmF2a8-b5y55NMrs0ced-72nyt8/s3006/IMG_4253%202.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2568" data-original-width="3006" height="273" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqW8Hm68O1cY8uihrtsmhV46Y3PuGyCqpDZ6D0ZKRp1UzESCfXQqwjXM4kME-dl5xwJD8M_SxSwG-MX6xyBMYWmYo5VT45BOtbaNBxTZafvR-OwZ2gQ3SXXhIAOZ6yLxc--7xafauGez0xyAJANoln9NeEI4UqxtmF2a8-b5y55NMrs0ced-72nyt8/s320/IMG_4253%202.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Talk about addictive. There are just so many incredible images of the real McCoy, that my faux collection was bound to keep growing - pun intended.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Number three was also inspired by a Pinterest image. This wall that features a collection of little live gardens made me realize that I could make an arrangement of my wooly wonders. And I happened to have an oval frame that I found on sale, and I was eager to try some new effects. Here's the image</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM29Xe80nIxcPVK7l2payDtSIaO7GQwHJcQ7zuq__aehkF3NMVuqCA2EuHHcO5NJ7zc3AbuEQvNQuhuqxVn6AfJDRBuOc474nGhz3Yd4r4ghTLw9qp91n0m0YUw3_4iU3N04MYu1mZOtxHic8fnXaKbqw8ZSJSGhMMFymRi4hVYGW7TgmVRnKGDI3B/s4032/IMG_4159%202.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM29Xe80nIxcPVK7l2payDtSIaO7GQwHJcQ7zuq__aehkF3NMVuqCA2EuHHcO5NJ7zc3AbuEQvNQuhuqxVn6AfJDRBuOc474nGhz3Yd4r4ghTLw9qp91n0m0YUw3_4iU3N04MYu1mZOtxHic8fnXaKbqw8ZSJSGhMMFymRi4hVYGW7TgmVRnKGDI3B/w300-h400/IMG_4159%202.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">And here is where I netted out on my oval garden.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYvhd4xcHGoF2MZUrWWRhGV975rUw8yz-0HUdCA7fhOfeN40pfb7ukWHbKiOui4sh6RhveHjTA03WC_H6SG1QFr4Rvs0-_gGdbArRm9yM3fgYBvFY8nMqpIorFeYL_MHJR-OmtXk1TIg_kjH6tmqokm5_ZSR4wcEu5myw-UC5neDTq03_D9mj6mUyz/s4032/IMG_4252.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYvhd4xcHGoF2MZUrWWRhGV975rUw8yz-0HUdCA7fhOfeN40pfb7ukWHbKiOui4sh6RhveHjTA03WC_H6SG1QFr4Rvs0-_gGdbArRm9yM3fgYBvFY8nMqpIorFeYL_MHJR-OmtXk1TIg_kjH6tmqokm5_ZSR4wcEu5myw-UC5neDTq03_D9mj6mUyz/w300-h400/IMG_4252.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">This time, my proddy flowers included some green Sari Silk, which gives a different look and feel when combined with green wool. A couple more quillies and some French Knots, wool trimmed to look like dangly ferns and directional hooking gave this lots of contrast and texture. But the real fun in this exercise was the grey and white "marled" yarn which I pulled high and trimmed to see if I could create an effect similar to the feather plants in the "inspiration" garden. Then I diluted some glue and painted it to see if I could shape the yarn and make it stand up. (A little manipulation goes a long way!) </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I am just finishing my fourth sample, which I will share when it is framed. It was inspired by a hand spun yarn I bought at least a decade ago. Bright colours, lots of fibres spun together to create knots in the skein that are just beautiful. I knew I would use it as a dangler at the bottom. And the colour in this hand spun would inspire some colour inside the garden. Luckily, the more Pinterest images I saw, the less I was afraid to put some colour bursts into this one.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The garden is done, but when I went to put it on my stretched canvas, I realized I needed to add another row - or two - of regular hooking all the way around.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">You will just have to come back to see it.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><br /><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Wendie Scott Davishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00422462454689323029noreply@blogger.com0