FLU

I HAVE THE FLU!!! UGH!!! My throat is on fire, and that's all I can say. I'll see you all later, when I'm not contagious. :0)

Finished & Washed

I got out the heavy artillery, this is my sewing machine, it's a Brother, simple and easy to use. Then I got out my tomato pin cushion which has quilting pins, they are longer and thinner than regular pins and I really like them for sewing they stick out really far enough for me to pull them out right before I run over them. I pinned the mats with the hem stitching inward.

Set up my tension, this was a bit of trial and error, the cotton yarn doubled makes for a really thick fabric. I did two rows of straight stitching and cut off the excess warp threads for a neat edge. Then I noticed I'd made a mistake when I planned the mats. I should have given myself at least 14 weft shots of the white, this would have allowed me to fold the edge over once more and have everything tucked under. I made notes on this for the next mats.

This is what they looked like before the second fold over, after that my camera decided not to take anymore pictures, so I'll have to get them up tomorrow, after wash and dry, with final measurements.

Barely Made It!!

This picture is definitely a weaver's nightmare, I'm at the end, the very end of my warp and have 11 weft shots to go. At this point every warp thread is hand manipulated, because there is almost to way to tension it properly. Since I was so close, I needed to finish it.

Of course, not with out some fretting and slow as molasses picking, but the results were well worth it.

Here they are, before cutting them apart, now I have to hem and wash them. I have to say I really like the hem stitching it was really worth the time and effort it took to get it done, the edges are really neat and should easily sew up I also did the white header/ender to turn over. I will do a step by step for Leigh who did the best post on Hemming Hand- Woven Fabrics, which taught me a lot from the post and comments everyone gave.

The details are:

Before washing:

Size off loom: 15 1/2" x 23 1/2" I estimated they would be 16 x 24 so closed enough with the take up of 1/2"

Materials: Peaches and Cream 2 balls of 2 oz color Bubblegum weft, and White warp 1/4" of a 1# cone @ 112" measured warp.

Lost Studio, Found Inspiration

I also lost my studio,waaaahhhhh!! sniff sniff. My youngest step son move back in, so I've been downgraded to the seldom used dining room . Yes, I miss my room.

After all the feeling of loss and grief, I decided to try and turn it into a productive weekend, I organized my weaving journal and notes not a heavy task, since I haven't been weave long, but I noticed that on some items the notes are detailed other vague, some of my notes are in various notebooks, so I sat and printed pictures, wrote notes and details and I even wrote down some tips to remind myself how things work and how not to go down a path that didn't work. I'm not a neat freak by far, but I like to have my crafts organized, I always feel that I'm more productive in my thinking, creativity and vision of what I want, when I have what I need, where it should be. (my mom always said everything has a place and everything in its place, is the order of the universe, I use to think that was a load of crap, but you know, as always, true wisdom comes with age, now I truely listen when she sputters pearls of wisdom or should I say purls, hindsight is 20/20) Thank God my DH understands my need to create, because he's a neat freak, but not with my crafts that he leaves alone. The the garage is his domain, the rest of the house is mine :) love how that works, what's yours is yours and what's yours is mine LOL.Once I organized my work space I felt compelled to warp my loom after not working on it for 2 months, this felt really good and it eased my sense of loss.

I figured I wanted to try some lace patterns, I warp on for some place mats to play around with, since I can use them later I don't mind fiddling with them. I like they way they are turning out, I'm on the second mat with the first sequence of my pattern. I also hemstitched the edges, they look really neat and tidy, this is the first for both techniques and I'm really appreciating the process. I have already started thinking about doing the lace shawl, with the crochet cotton I was trying to knit in this post, since I love the colors and can't figure out what to do with the yarn I might as well try weaving something lacey and delicate. I downloaded this tutorial which is great, and it answered most if not all the questions that were in my mind.

You can see the hemstitch on the top.

On the right I have 2x2 leno

4 weft rows and 1x1 leno.

Mitered Baby Blanket

This is the progress on the mitered baby blanket, I know I promised no endless photos of mitered squares, but I thought I would share with you what I've been up to. I like the colors and the design I came up with, what I don't like is the reverse side, can anyone say, sloppy and messy looking, ugh!! I think I'm going to sew a complimentary piece of material on the other side and keep all the mess between the fabrics, I'll have to think about how to accomplish that with out it looking like a big pillow case. Maybe with some quilt stitching which I've never done, but I guess I'll try.

Back to Blogger

Sorry Folks!! I had a temporary mind lapse, I'll have to keep my blog here after all. Wordpress is not my cup of tea. So I'm back here and I truely appologize for the inconvenience I didn't want to cause anyone any problems. I've had a few complaints about the blog not loading with images and the images not being in the right spaces etc..

Valentine's" Day Glitter Graphics

ONE SHAWL, TWO SHAWL, CREAM SHAWL, PINK, BROWN, BIEGEY/CREAM SHAWL

Okay, and with that title you have to figure that I have finished the cream shawl, I'm abstaining from taking a pic until I come back from vacation. I'd like to get a really nice creative shot, since the last pic really was atrocious.

Since I was needing a knitting project to take along and I have this wonderful, and very thin yarn in the stash. Which I have decided to turn into another shawl. With what I learned from the recent pattern, I am creating my own design, which I'm enjoying. I scanned this pic because I'm not having any luck with the camera. I'm using #5 needles (3.75mm) Susan Bates Silvalume. I like the needles nylon cable it's not as twirly as the bamboo needles I use, but the tips oh slippery as the dickens. Yes, they have made me curse twice but I'm getting the hang of it. I also love the colors really soft and feminine.

Update on Shawl

I'm in love with the knitting on this one, it's a really easy pattern and with it I learned to do K2, YO, K2, which the YO was the part I didn't know how to do and it creates the little eyelets, very cuteypie.

Since I'm knitting on it for about two hours a day I have 2 .5 more skiens to finish and I'll have it completed for my trip. I started with 5 skeins of this bulky yarn which weighed a pound so each skein was 3.20 oz. (math whiz that I am hehe). So far it's 29" long x 40" @ the hypotenuse with about 7 oz to go I'm also loving the fact that I don't need to fringe it, as I twisted fringe last year for what seemed to be an eternity LOL. Sorry about the crappy pic, but I left my camera at home and had to use the company issued construction camera (very scary piece of equipment).

So now my mind is working on the next knitting project I need to take with me that I can do for the long drive (14 hours). The baby blanket is too cumbersome for the car and I'm going to need something portable and of course from my stash. Maybe I'll start the stash buster afghan, now what stitch... that will take a bit of research, cause I'd like to learn somthing new, I wanted to do it in Entrelac, my elusive confusing stitch, maybe that will be a good time to learn it after all I do have 14 hrs to kill.

New Knitting

I know, I know, I should not start yet another project, what with two on needles, but the baby blanket was driving me nuts and I needed to take some drastic measures so I decided to do a simple shawl. The pattern is here if your interested and I have another link to share for free knitting patterns here, maybe some of you know about it, but for those who don't I hope you enjoy browsing, I spent two hours on there yesterday lol, but I digress (see my mind is not concentrating lately, but oh well)

In keeping with my stash busting, I'm using yarn that I bought at the Rag Shop before they went out of business, I posted about it here, it wasn't labled as anything, but I know it's acrylic (I'm not itching hehe) it's bulky I'd say #5 and soft as buuuudder I'm knitting with my 10.5 circs but I wish I knew who manufactures it because I would buy more, what a great surprise to work with, really nice yarn. I'd like to finish before I leave on my trip in two weeks and I think I can accomplish it. I have not abondoned the blanket I'm leaving it to do during my lunch breaks at work. Maybe this will free up some of my time to plan some weaving, it's been too long since I've woven anything and I really miss my loom.

I also uploaded my knitting bag pic, I received this as a Christmas present from one of my co-workers, he's such a doll. Inside was some wonderful hand creme, body wash, makeup and chocolates, but believe it or not what I loved the most was the bag, ever since I've use it as my knitting travel bag, everyone at work thinks I'm nuts, but it's so cute I can't resist, the reindeer just make me smile.

Weirdo Knitter

Last night I went to the LYS and sat in on a knit in. I would never generally go to the store because there is alot of animal fiber in there and of course my allergies go haywire, but I wanted to get a feel for the shop owner and instructor because I'd like to take an Entrelac class and I thought this was the best way to check out the atmosphere. What I found out is that I'm a weirdo knitter, I knit English style when I do a knt stitch and I throw the yarn so I was told and Continental when I purl and I don't even hold the yarn behind the project on the purl but in front and I do it backwards looping over and around insted of under and around. Trust me everyone was staring and commenting on this weirdo way I knit. I'm not really shy, but I don't like to be stared at, it's uncomfortable, add to this commentary and I was beet red and I started getting nervous which didn't help the knitting and being a newbie, this really rocked my confidence to a nano byte.

I explained that I am self taught with books, internet videos amazing blog knitters and some yahoo group help, I was met with open mouths and raised eyebrows. They tried to correct my hands, my holding of yarn and the position of my needles, after all this instruction, I couldn't knit not one stitch and I've been knitting really quick in weirdo, I'm confused, my knitting looks like everyone elses in the end so why is my method so appauling? I couldn't ask this bunch of snoberettes so.... needless to say I don't think I will learn Entrelac.... at least not in this shop and God only knows I have a very limited source of LYS, the next closest place is 20 miles, which translate in our traffic time to 45 mins to an hour commute after work, shall we say NOT HAPPENING.

So if anyone has an internet video, or book I can get, so that I can see how it's done and convert it in to weirdo, then please let me know I'll appreciate it.

On the baby blanket, I have finished the (torture) mitered squares and have begun to put them together, once I have one side attached to each other I plan to pick up the stitches and start striping. I got a stripe pattern from here which is a great help, I don't remember how I got to that webpage but I'm sure it was reading someone else's blog.

I don't have any new pics of projects but I can leave you with what Miami looks like today

Master Weaver

I took this picture December 24, before we started our prep for "Noche Buena" which is Cuban for eating roast pork, rice with black beans, yucca with mojo, drinking mojitos, playing dominoes with very experienced champion style matches (very competitive), and celebrating Christmas Eve. While I was clearing the several potted plants under our mango tree, I looked up and spotted this





as I walked around it several times, I was awe stricken, by the complexity and simplicity of the use of space, not a missed warp, all of it even and perfect. I thought how amazing that such a small creature could do such a magnificent job of weaving instinctively.

20 SQUARES AND 12 TO GO!

Okay, so not really a mitered square baby ghan, after knitting endless squares or what seems to be endless squares, I'm not really liking the process, shall we say tedious....

But I have to finish the baby ghan. So what's an industrious girl to do, in my case, I have decided to knit the mitered squares for the two ends and the middle in stripes, I've worked it out in my minds eye and think it will be really cute, or at least I want it to be. This is the route I think I will take, visually I think it's interesting to mix up the squares and have the color everywhere, instead of the predictable same with same. What do you guys think? I also need some help putting these together any suggestions as to not have the thread yarn I use for stitching show through the other colors?

TGIF!!!

I can't say it enough, Thank God it's Friday!!!!

We have had a rough week, both my youngest kid's cars were at the mechanics, the dog has chewed her hind legs into bleeding stumps, and I have to finish getting a crown on my tooth today, whew!!

I was talking with DH yesterday and said to him "you know we've spent over $ 2,000.00 , we didn't even have fun and we haven't even reached the weekend yet". His look was classic, a bit of surprise (he hadn't calculated the costs), then annoyance (the emergency fund is running low) then, just laughter (because you just have to). You're probably thinking why the heck are they laughing about it, well no one in our family is sick, hurt or in the hospital. God has granted us life everyday, not that it would be a great day, but another day. Trials and tribulations are a part of life, they way you handle them, that's in it self is the true lesson.

So this is why we laugh:

James 1:2-6 (NKJV)
2 My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, 3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. 4 But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. 5 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. 6 But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind.
1 Peter 1:6-8 (NKJV)
6 In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, 7 that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ, 8 whom having not seen you love.

There is always a silver lining, an end to troubles and a way home.

FOR SALE

Since I haven't used any of the following items for over 8 months I thought it would be great to sell them to someone who will use them.



Love and Money Weaving looms $ 9.00 + Shipping. "Sold"

Knifty Knitters Long Loom Series II - $ 9.00 + shipping

Knifty Knitter Round looms including the Flower Loom $ 10.00+ Shipping

Adult size FG Cotter Pin Round from DA $ 15.00 +shipping "Sold"



One 32" wooden loom with cotter pins FG ( I don't have a pic of this one but it's a Marla Richard's Loom) $ 20.00 + shipping "Sold"





All the looms have been lovingly used all will come with pick, I don't have any instructions other than for the long wooden loom and the Hex Love and Money Looms . I will accept money orders (preferred) or personal checks. You can email me betyantonio4@yahoo.com with your addy and I will let you know what the postage will be.

Mish Mash and Then Some

I finished the woven sample this one is 25.5 " x 25.5" (wasn't planned this way it just happened) on my RH with the 12.5 dpi heddle, crochet cotton. It's very open and airy really nice drape, what I don't like are the edges, which are my fault, because I smashed them as I was weaving I have to learn not to pull too tight on weft so that they would be more uniform with the rest of the fabric. I could see a very pretty shawl in the near future with this yarn. It's pink, beige, brown and cream it's really lovely and I'm looking forward to working with it.


In the knitting department I finished my sweater, it doesn't seem that the color variation is such a big deal once it was all put together, so I'm keeping it. It's been washed, dried and blocked and it feels so soft. I'll really enjoy it on my next trip in February to NC.





I have been currently knitting this http://www.knitty.com/issuefall06/PATTviveka.html for my DD in light blue and heather grey for the body, but I stop dead in my tracks last light as I cast on the front, why might you ask, well my co-worker is 6mnths preggos and I have not started her baby ghan (YIIIIIKEES!!). So in my panic stricken state I started to dig around for my copies if Creative Knitting and I found this



I like the mitered square afghan they had and think it's simple enough to accomplish in a smaller size for a baby, I wanted a bit of a challenge in my knitting since I'm a newbie. I did a quick search on the web and found that I am about two years too late for the mitered square crazy from the Mason Dixon Knitting book, just as well, I'm sure that bloggers were getting dizzy over all the posts of colors, patterns, stripes etc.. So what I'll do as to not get anyone to roll their eyes when they read about my mitered square ghan is, I'll post only one square and won't post again til it's finished (saving you the grief of having to view countless squares. So I'm armed with my mag, my Knitting Answer Book (I think this is a must have for baby knitters) , yarn, circs, straights, and stitch markers, wish me luck!

So Much for Resolutions

Only 7 days after I posted the no buy new yarn blah, blah, blah.... guess what happened, when I went to Big Lots looking for some plastic bins? Where do you think I wound up? In the yarn section of course! After debating with my inner hoarder for about 15 seconds, I bought 10 skeins each of this ever so soft yarn Bernat's LuLu in GoGo Mint Green and Paton's Be Mine Wuzzy White (1 point for the hoarder 0 for the sensible me, hangs head in shame LOL but they were $1.00/ea.). Both yarns require 5.5mm needles which will work out great.

For what and why might you ask after all the talk of not buy anything and stash busting, well my niece is preggos and I think this would be the softest baby blankie I could knit. Now I'm in search of a pattern something simple and not too fuzzy both yarns are a type of boucle and have enough happening in the texture.

This is why lists don't really work for me ;0)

2008 STASH BASH

I have decided that, although I don't do lists because, I think they remind us of failures more than accomplishments, this year, I will, against my better judgement make a list.

I, as many a fibre aficionado, (oooohhhh I like that word) have more than my share (hoard) of yarn, so this year I will not buy yarn for any new projects until I'm finished with the stash that currently resides in my drawers, all of which have a designated projects attached to them, this of course brings me to my list.


Weaving Projects for 2008

Baby Blanket (1)
Baby Blanket (2)
Place Mats
Dishtowels
Log Cabin Scarf
Bath Mats (2)
Table Runner (2)


Knitting Projects for 2008
DD's Sweater (in progress)
Stash Busting Afghan
Cable Sweater
Learn Entrelac
Learn to use DPN's

This should keep me busy for a while at least it's motivation to get rid of the yarn. :o)

NEW WEAVING

I started the new year out with new weaving, this is crochet cotton on my RH with the new 12.5 dpi heddle I ordered back in November. This one is just for fun, I wanted to see how it would turn out. Sort of experimental.

Happy New Year!!

Another year come and gone, in the blink of an eye, at least that's how is seemed.

I've been reading some blogs and I love every one's disposition of fresh new year and new start, in that spirit, I'll do a 25 things you don't know about me meme, since I can't fathom having to do the 100. If you can read this thank a teacher, if you can write a meme thank another teacher, and if you can spell, punctuate and write in context, kiss a high school English teacher.

1. I miss the change of seasons, I spent New Years at 80 degrees ??
2. I'm married for the second time and after 13 yrs still in love with him
3. We are a Brady bunch family (boys his, girl mine).
4. I came to the US when I was 3 and became a citizen when I was 23.
5. I can read French, but can't speak it. (That's what 4yrs of high school French does to you)
6. Any kind of wine makes me sleepy within 1/2 an hour.
7. I loathe the fact that most people think Fidel Castro is the "President" of Cuba, duh DICTATOR.
8. I loved geography and world history when I was in school.
9. I hate the word mines, since a lot of people use it instead of mine.
10. I can read, write and speak Spanish fluently.
11. I love a good laugh, the kind that makes your stomach hurt.
12. I'm an independent, couldn't decide between parties, both have pros/cons.
13. I hate the way kids butcher the English language see #9.
14. I don't balance my checkbook, EVER.
15. I finish projects (eventually).
16. Till year ago, I didn't know what DH, SIL, the the other acronyms meant LOL.
17. I love to organize.
18. I can't eat anything spicy.
19. I can punch as hard as a guy (really my husband says so)
20. I'm thankful for everyday the Lord allows me to enjoy.
21. I don't like it when parents don't discipline their children and expect everyone else to accept it.
22. I lived in Union City, NJ til I was 14 and miss it.
23. I really don't like Miami, never have.
24. I don't understand why people are so concerned with celebrities.
25. I paint murals.