Author: horsenettle

Fair Weather Non-Knitter

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It just figures I’d go and be typical… when it’s cold, I knit. When it’s warm, I don’t. Since we’re creeping–no, make that speeding–toward the middle of August, I guess I can admit it! I’m a fair weather non-knitter.

Non-knitting isn’t all bad. I have plenty of time to think about knitting, imagine all the wonders I’ll create, and yet I don’t  have the hassle of making mistakes, frogging, and just plain giving up. Of course, I also don’t have the joy in finishing a project and all that goes along with it like the excitement of starting, the tiredness of staying up for just one more row…

In short, I haven’t given up on knitting but I have decided that a pile of wool in my lap on a ninety degree day is less than appealing. Yes, I considered using cotton, but still, it just hasn’t fit into my summer.

So, now that summer’s on the wane, although I suspect we have plenty of 90 degree days left, I’m just getting that inkling of interest in starting up a project. Some of my basic ones I may have mentioned before. They’re practical: I want to have a “knitting closet” to keep all my bits and bobbles organized, along with my stash (which is still small–I’ve resisted the urge to even look at yarn until I’m making an actual project); I also need my little knitting corner set up, and it’s almost there.

Finally, I’d like to unearth my digital camera so I can keep adding pics to this blog. Sometime during our move it went missing and we’ve yet to find it.

I’m not wanting to wish the summer away, but I am looking forward to cooler weather. Happy knitting!

BTW, if anyone has tips on making a calorimetry with a Knifty Knitter, please send me ideas!

Categories: Loom Knitting

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Long Time No Knit

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Can it really be that my last post was from March? Nope, I didn’t drop off the face of the earth, nor did I decide to stop knitting–I moved! In mid-March, B and I received notice that our rental was being sold, so we needed to vacate. The past two months have been at times frustrating, exhausting, overwhelming, expensive, and life changing. Did I mention they’ve also been wonderful? Because…

…we’re in our very own house! Yes, we bought a house and moved at the beginning of the month, and that’s why I haven’t been knitting. In fact, if anyone had suggested I knit something during early spring, I would have probably burst into tears, that’s how hard things were. But now…

…we’re in our very own house!

Oh, I mentioned that already, did I? My knitting is still safely packed away in a rather large box (I fit it into one!) in the garage, just waiting for a place to call home. I’ve scouted out a potential location to set up my very own knitting corner in our house, but I’m waiting for a good chair/sofa, yet unpurchased. I also have a great spot in a closet for all my stash and doo-dads that need storing.

But in the meantime, I need to finish unpacking, paint a room, plant a garden, continue to work, buy a chair/sofa, and sometimes even sleep.

I haven’t yet taken a picture of a great antique store find–it’s a wooden sewing stand with a handle on top. It’s really cool and will hold my WIPs. I also know after I get going again, I’d like to consider a few projects for the summer: one of these goofy looking fly masks, good for riding my horse during pesky fly season; there’s a super cool messenger bag made out of twine/string I spotted while browsing knitting books at Barnes & Noble, it’s in Erika Knight’s Classic Knits: 15 Timeless Designs to Knit and Keep Forever; and I’m also interested in socks–whether I need to purchase a loom or needles (yikes! I said needles! didn’t mean it, really!), I’m not 100% certain yet.

Someday soon I know I’ll be knitting again. Wish me luck with unpacking and finding that perfect knitting nook!

Categories: Home

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Hooray! A loomy ‘zine

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Loom knitters
Loom knitters

How cool is this? A loom-dedicated online ‘zine called, appropriately enough, The Loom Knitters Circle. Featuring patterns, articles, and a forum, this great site is just what loom knitters have been asking for. Visit it today!

As far as my own projects, I didn’t take any pictures but over the weekend I knitted four little hats for my nieces’ American Girls dolls. I used the blue loom, two strands of Moda Dea yarn, and invented a slightly different pattern each time.

I also finished my ziggy-zag scarf. In the end, I probably used 1.5 skeins of yarn. I’ll post a picture, soon!

Categories: Loom Knitting Resources

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Antique store find: Handee Revolving Wool Winder

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Handeewoolwinder2

Now here’s a little item I’m sure will be “handee” someday–a wool winder. It was just $5.50 at a local antique store. I had just admired three or four wooden ones, all very pretty but expensive, rickety, and too big, when I spied this one still in its vintage box. All the pieces are there (it’s metal) and it looks like something I’ll actually be able to use. Plus, the gal on the box is super retro cool, don’t you think?

Here’s what the box says:

Handee Revolving Wool Winder: “From Hank to Ball – In No Time At All”

“The Handee All-Metal Revolving Wool Winder makes it so easy and convenient to wind yarn yourself at any time. Instantly adjustable to take any size hank and any type wool. Rubber cusioned clamp can be fastened to chair or table instantly and does not mar surface.”

Handeewoolwinder1
A week or so ago, I had read a tutorial on how to wind yarn using a swift and an electric hand mixer. No, I’m not kidding. Visit Fig and Plum’s blog to learn something new.

I have the swift, I have a mixer. Now, all I need is some yarn!

Categories: Vintage

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