Fixing a Crochet Blanket

Soooo a few weeks ago my boss asked me if I could fix his wife's blanket. It was a blanket she's had for years, and has alot of sentimental value. The damage was limited to a small part, just along the edge. So I asked if it was ok if I took out some of it to make the repairs. She was agreeable to that.....

So I took it apart.... OMG that was one of the worst experiences of my life. I think it took me a week to take it apart. One stitch at a time, leaning over my kitchen table,

I ended up having to use two different knitting needles. I would suggest in the future using the smallest knitting needles available. I used a 2 and 3. The 2 was easiest when I sewed back together, Note : Always use a small knitting needle when taking apart crochet.... makes it easier to sew back together.

Speaking of sewing back together, that was the easiest part. That took me most of last night, but I think it turned out better than I had planned. I think the blanket almost looks as good as before it was damaged.

Then from the yarn that was left over, I made a toy for their baby. I hope to have that done shortly. If I would quit fiddling around on the internet, I could finish. On that note .... I gotta get back to that. I'll post picture of that later.

Oh .. and the Perkiomen bike trail is awsome!! We've been riding every sunday for the past month. Very nicely done and well maintained. Last week we went to Schwenksville, this week went to Oaks. Nice ride .... but my legs are killing me so back to the couch to crochet and finish.

Harry Potter and knitting

We went to see Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince last night. First let me say I liked the movie as a movie. But I was kinda taken back by things. (NO SPOILERS) Things I would have liked to see were omitted and things that we not in the book were presented. hhmmm... will have to have discussions with other friends and see where we all stand on it. But all in all a good movie....

I did get a tshirt to wear to the movie. As I didn't want to appear too child like, I got a shirt form WB shop. "I solemnly swear that I am up to no good" and on the back, "Mischief managed". And since there is a reference to knitting, I wore my knitting needle earrings from sassafras designs.

As for knitting - on the Arwen sweater, I'm almost done one half. Although I may have to make changes, the armsicle although done to measurements, looks too small. We will have to seam it up and possibly add some. Or I maybe able to block the daylites out of it and make it work.

Wool Fest Kirtland Ohio

Whew ... just got back from a show out in Ohio. A first hand view of how bad the economy is doing. Our sales were small, no sweater amounts of yarn. But we did get alot of knitting done and I made some new friends. Also have to admit that I didn't spend the amount of money that I usually do. Although I did get some really pretty yarns.

This time, I'll tempt you with pics AND the name of where I bought it. I've been forgetting that alot lately.

This first one is a really nice bright pastel colour scheme.

It's by Earthly Hues from Granville Ohio. Sorry but hte ball band doesn't have a web site. The colour is called Rainbow Lace 100% Merino, I'm not sure yet what it wants to be when it grows up. I'm sure it will decide something nice.

This one is from dahara dreaming a bright pastel colour called Pixie

Dance. This one is a sock yarn, Super Wash Merino and nylon, I think the socks will be really cool! The web site is www.daharadreaming.com also on etsy as daharadreaming.etsy.com She had alot of really nice colors. Not a big supply, but every colour came in 3-4 different weights. Nice concept.

My last yarn purchase is more of a sweater weight yarn. The feel

of this yarn is unbelievable!! It's from Annadele Alpacas, no web site listed, so not sure if they have one or not. It's 50% Alpaca and 50% Nylon. The colour is amazing and the softness.... OOOOOOO!! I bought all she had of this colour not quite enough to make a sweater, I'll have to mix it with something else.

I bought some other little stuff, but nothing out of the ordinary. It just seemed like no one was really buying anything, like I said, little purchases of smaller amounts of yarn.

The way to the show got the news that my real job was laying-off people, I got alot of text messages and emails from everyone. Going back in tomorrow is going to stink, 2 of my best buddies got let go. I'm sure the atmosphere is going to be difficult. Scary times we're going through now. I only hope the economy turns around soon.

Dinner time, I should feed the groupies.

Ok - so I've been working on a sweater that I reaaallly love, IK winter 2006 A Cardigan for Arwen... ok - so I am a geek and read all of the Tolkien books when I was a kid.  I've re-read them several times since then. I LOVED the movies and have all of them and watch them ...frequently.  So when I saw this sweater I knew I had to do it ... took sometime tho before I could fins a yarn that I likes.. so it's out of Rowan Summer Tweed, I think its called Butter Cup, nice yellow heather colour.  The pattern is a bit of cables to break up the annoying long stretches of stockinette stitch.  Oh - and the cables are reversable, so if the cardigan is worn open, the cables don't have a nasty side.  About 9 inches up I found that I crossed cables the wrong way...  I dont know how well the pic shows it but my needles are pointing to the wrong crossed cables.  Since its reversable, it's not as easy as just dropping those stitches down and crossing the right way .. soooooo After debating for a few days - I did the honorable thing and frogged.  So now I'm paying more attention and making sure my cables go the correct ways.

In my defense -  I did have eye surgery that morning and not didn't have good vision the rest of the day.  Note to self - after having eye surgery stick to stockinette stitch, no cables.

They  eye surgery was more annoying than anything, I had a torn retina.  Not detached (thankfully) just torn.  Quick ZAP with a laser and done.  Still waiting for my vision to clear. 

I did pick up some new sock books .... Amazon.com is a baaaaddd place.  I got the Wendy Johnson and Cookie A sock books.  Completely different styles of knitting an excellent balance.  One is toe up, one is cuff down.  I shall have to cast on this weekend from each and see how it goes.

Meanwhile - more pics of more yarn that I picked up in New Hampshire Sheep and Wool. First one is going to be socks.  The second is Puppy Love and Rabbit - going to be a one-below scarf. Some silk and rayon that thinks it may become a vest. And Maizy 9corn silk yarn) socks.

New Hampshire Sheep and Wool

So after leaving Maryland Sheep and Wool I headed up to New Hampshire for their sheep and wool festival.  More yarn fun!!

I did work at a friend's shop for this sale, but I still got some time to wander about and get some cool stuff.  hhm... I haven't gotten those picks off my camera yet, so I will have to do that shortly.  

Today we're sitting out in our front yard having a neighborhood yard sale.  So far so good, getting rid of all of the previous hobby supplies.  No yarn out ... that hobby I'm still working on.  But hte quilting, painting, scrapbooking, cross stitching ... you get the idea are going. 

Even selling off some baseball cards that I collected with my brother years ago.  Of course I am keeping the good ones in the house.  Although they are all asking if there are any old ones in there... for $1.00 are you kidding?  The ones marked $40 are the good ones....

In any case it's a good morning to be sitting outside and I'm getting my first tan of the season!!  Will add pics from New Hampshire stash accumulation later.

ttfn....

Maryland Sheep and Wool fun!!!

Oh wow!! the first yarn thingy of the year!  I went with some friends to shop on Saturday.  It was a rainy drive down, but once we got there, the weather was ok. We had some rain, but fortunately we were able to be in the barns when it rained.

We stopped at almost every booth, and bought at most all of them.

So there are just a few pictures of what I bought.

Socks that

 Rock ..... their colours are sooo cool!  So after standing in line for a bit (the

 line was realllly long so we circled around and

 came back when it was shorter and they still had some stock)  I haven't quite figured out a pattern yet ... but that'll come

Then over to Tess Designer for some silk/wool fora  spring like top.  

  It's a pale green colour really nice.  

Went to Kipparro and got talked into buying yarn by Steph, it took her a long time to talk me into it.  

Some other yarns form where I dont remember.

Barely had time to unpack that before heading up to New Hampshire Sheep and Wool with Maple Creek Farms.  More about that trip later, with pics of the cool stuff I bought there.

Knitted a pair of socks on the way up and back, I'll have the pattern posted shortly.