Valentine's day is right around the corner. Here is a free pattern from someone else's blog. Just too cute!
And even better, you have plenty of time to make a few of these.
Sunday, January 31, 2016
Thursday, January 28, 2016
Home ownership
Today I was digging in the front yard. Planting flowers? No. Putting in a driveway? No. Trying to find a water line leak? Yes.
It's one of the tradeoffs of home ownership that you eventually have things break down. And the odds of things breaking increase with the age of the house. My house is within spitting distance of a century. No, I'm not sure what that is, but it sounds kind of cool. At least to me. Maybe you don't think so and that's fine, too.
So, last month I had to change out the innards of the toilet. Not too bad. It wasn't the "after" portion off the innards, so the water was clean. For the other part I like to call a plumber! This month was a miscellaneous leak. Who knows where! Yep, my job was to find out where the leak was. I cut out a large piece of tree root, but that wasn't it.
So I went to the muddiest spot and dug. Found it! With other chores to do I decided to leave "find the exact spot" to tomorrow.
Even with all the repairs and upgrades, painting, sanding, cleaning, de-bugging, etc, it's so worth it. I've owned this house for 20 years now. I live in the country, so I have farm animals in my back yard. The peace and beauty it's breathtaking. And at the end of the day, I own this house and isn't that cool?! I won't be paying rent the rest of my life. I'll pay it off and own it free and clear. Awesome!! I can't wait!
Like raising kids, horses, llamas, dogs and cats, owning a house brings a certain amount of pride. I did that!
Wishing you proud ownership and a trouble free house!
It's one of the tradeoffs of home ownership that you eventually have things break down. And the odds of things breaking increase with the age of the house. My house is within spitting distance of a century. No, I'm not sure what that is, but it sounds kind of cool. At least to me. Maybe you don't think so and that's fine, too.
So, last month I had to change out the innards of the toilet. Not too bad. It wasn't the "after" portion off the innards, so the water was clean. For the other part I like to call a plumber! This month was a miscellaneous leak. Who knows where! Yep, my job was to find out where the leak was. I cut out a large piece of tree root, but that wasn't it.
Even with all the repairs and upgrades, painting, sanding, cleaning, de-bugging, etc, it's so worth it. I've owned this house for 20 years now. I live in the country, so I have farm animals in my back yard. The peace and beauty it's breathtaking. And at the end of the day, I own this house and isn't that cool?! I won't be paying rent the rest of my life. I'll pay it off and own it free and clear. Awesome!! I can't wait!
Like raising kids, horses, llamas, dogs and cats, owning a house brings a certain amount of pride. I did that!
Wishing you proud ownership and a trouble free house!
Sunday, January 24, 2016
We aren't the only ones who care
Sometimes it's nice to know there are like minded people out there. People who know that when you take your time and do things right, the final result transcends the sum of the parts.
Today I want to share a post about people who care. I hope you are as touched by this story as I was.
But before you go, a few thoughts of my own. Inspiration comes in many forms. Sometimes inspiration comes from someone, or something that wasn't meant to be inspirational. I don't think the sun is trying to inspire us with it's glory, but I am inspired by it. By giving 100% to whatever we do, we create something worthy of inspiring others. What greater flattery than imitation? I would say that inspiring people to create is greater flattery. The very idea that my work, no matter how insignificant, might be a stepping stone of creativity is awe inspiring to me. So here is the article I want to share:
http://bittersoutherner.com/alabama-chanin#.VpmZAkRMHqD
Today I want to share a post about people who care. I hope you are as touched by this story as I was.
But before you go, a few thoughts of my own. Inspiration comes in many forms. Sometimes inspiration comes from someone, or something that wasn't meant to be inspirational. I don't think the sun is trying to inspire us with it's glory, but I am inspired by it. By giving 100% to whatever we do, we create something worthy of inspiring others. What greater flattery than imitation? I would say that inspiring people to create is greater flattery. The very idea that my work, no matter how insignificant, might be a stepping stone of creativity is awe inspiring to me. So here is the article I want to share:
http://bittersoutherner.com/alabama-chanin#.VpmZAkRMHqD
Tuesday, January 12, 2016
Hello, friends!
Today I'd like to talk about using the right tools.
Using the right tools saves time and money. OK, that's a pretty obvious statement. Feed your dog on chocolates, get a big vet bill, or a dead dog. Not good! Feed yourself chocolates all the time and you might feel better in the immediate sense, but you're also likely to gain weight, which makes you feel worse and makes you eat even more to maintain that higher weight.
So, that wasn't really about tools, was it. How about eating soup with chopsticks, or using a butter knife to tighten a screw. I really have done that with the butter knife. It works if the screw isn't too tight. I don't recommend it because you kind of tear up your butter knife and sometimes the screw, too.
But how do we decide what's good and what's not good in yarn? There aren't any labels on the yarn balls that say "do NOT EVER use for socks". Of course, not! I can't tell you how many socks I've knitted, just to find out that what I used did not live up to my expectations for a good sock.
1) Synthetic materials that were too heavy, so my feet stayed sweaty.
2) Llama/wool blend that didn't have enough stretch and was worsted weight to boot, so stiff as well. If it wasn't scratchy, then I could have used them for house slippers, but I never made the second sock.
3) Gorgeous wool, silk, mohair blend that made the most striking sock ever! And the yarn broke the first time I put it on. (Many times mohair is listed as "strong" and silk as well.)
4) Yarn with a very high twist - great wear and tear sock, but my feet are sensitive, so the socks wound up hurting.
5) A very loosely plied sock yarn - very soft, but pilled up a lot and didn't last long enough to justify the hours it took me to knit.
So, what makes a good sock yarn? (My opinion only!)
1) Wool or wool blend with a tight enough twist to last, but not so tight it's ouchy.
2) Wool or wool blend that is fine enough (micron count) to not be scratchy. Merino is one of my favorites, but there are several others that are fine enough - Blue Faced Leicester and Cormo come to mind.
3) Yarn that is not so fine in diameter that your foot can feel every line as if it's fishing line.
4) Alpaca blend that has enough bounce to lend itself to socks. Most especially if you have sensitive skin like I do.
5) Colors that I adore. Really?! Yes! If you don't enjoy working on a project, you aren't likely to finish it any time soon. I have to have nice colors and a yarn that is kind to my skin as I knit.
6) An appropriate weight for the type of sock you are knitting (dress, boot, flip flop, etc.). Yes, there are sock patterns for flip flops and yoga.
And then there are all the pattern factors for what makes a good sock. But that's another topic for another day.
Growing up I was always the quiet one that listened and watched. If I saw my brother get in trouble for something, I made a mental note to not get caught doing that! I suppose I should have been more focused on doing right instead of not getting caught, but there you have it, I was a kid and that's what kids do, right? So, my advice to you today is to learn from my mistakes.
If you have a question about yarn and what you might use a particular type to make, drop me a line. As for my recommendations for a sock yarn, I like my Round Sock yarn a lot, but if you want something thicker, then I like the luxury of FAS Serendipity. I make socks to be wonderful to my feet and the alpaca/silk blend is very nice to my skin!
Today I'd like to talk about using the right tools.
 |
| The right kind of yarn for a very lovely sock. 100% wool, but light enough to wear in summer. |
So, that wasn't really about tools, was it. How about eating soup with chopsticks, or using a butter knife to tighten a screw. I really have done that with the butter knife. It works if the screw isn't too tight. I don't recommend it because you kind of tear up your butter knife and sometimes the screw, too.
But how do we decide what's good and what's not good in yarn? There aren't any labels on the yarn balls that say "do NOT EVER use for socks". Of course, not! I can't tell you how many socks I've knitted, just to find out that what I used did not live up to my expectations for a good sock.
1) Synthetic materials that were too heavy, so my feet stayed sweaty.
2) Llama/wool blend that didn't have enough stretch and was worsted weight to boot, so stiff as well. If it wasn't scratchy, then I could have used them for house slippers, but I never made the second sock.
3) Gorgeous wool, silk, mohair blend that made the most striking sock ever! And the yarn broke the first time I put it on. (Many times mohair is listed as "strong" and silk as well.)
4) Yarn with a very high twist - great wear and tear sock, but my feet are sensitive, so the socks wound up hurting.
5) A very loosely plied sock yarn - very soft, but pilled up a lot and didn't last long enough to justify the hours it took me to knit.
 |
| FAS Round Sock Yarn in Granny's Roses. |
So, what makes a good sock yarn? (My opinion only!)
1) Wool or wool blend with a tight enough twist to last, but not so tight it's ouchy.
2) Wool or wool blend that is fine enough (micron count) to not be scratchy. Merino is one of my favorites, but there are several others that are fine enough - Blue Faced Leicester and Cormo come to mind.
3) Yarn that is not so fine in diameter that your foot can feel every line as if it's fishing line.
4) Alpaca blend that has enough bounce to lend itself to socks. Most especially if you have sensitive skin like I do.
5) Colors that I adore. Really?! Yes! If you don't enjoy working on a project, you aren't likely to finish it any time soon. I have to have nice colors and a yarn that is kind to my skin as I knit.
6) An appropriate weight for the type of sock you are knitting (dress, boot, flip flop, etc.). Yes, there are sock patterns for flip flops and yoga.
And then there are all the pattern factors for what makes a good sock. But that's another topic for another day.
Growing up I was always the quiet one that listened and watched. If I saw my brother get in trouble for something, I made a mental note to not get caught doing that! I suppose I should have been more focused on doing right instead of not getting caught, but there you have it, I was a kid and that's what kids do, right? So, my advice to you today is to learn from my mistakes.
If you have a question about yarn and what you might use a particular type to make, drop me a line. As for my recommendations for a sock yarn, I like my Round Sock yarn a lot, but if you want something thicker, then I like the luxury of FAS Serendipity. I make socks to be wonderful to my feet and the alpaca/silk blend is very nice to my skin!
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