Seamingly simple vest

I picked up this pattern at the Blue Moon Fiber Arts booth at the Oregon Flock and Fiber Festival. It's a really good pattern for a beginner. Someone who has made a scarf, and wants to go the next step. You first knit a really big ribbed rectangle, then pick up stiches along the back, then knit another ribbed rectange. The only seams are the two under the arms. I made a few small adjustments, and will add a button. It feels like wearing a cozy shawl. Yarn: Knit Picks Wool of the Andes, 100% wool.

Holiday cards

The local library hosts adult craft events every month. Here are some holiday mosaic cards I made at their last event. It was interesting to see all the creative ideas from the other people there.

Another one

Another zimmerman jacket. This one is made with a combination of two natural undyed yarns. The dark grey color yarn is from Corriedale sheep, Pit River Wool, CA. The natural white color is from Coopworth lambs, Coburn Creek Farm and Pottery, WV.

I mailed both jackets to San Francisco for the "afghans for Afghans" effort (http://www.afghansforafghans.org/). They collect hand knitted and crocheted wool blankets, sweaters, hats, mittens, socks for people in war-torn (and cold) Afghanistan.

Elizabeth Zimmerman jacket

This kid sweater design is from Elizabeth Zimmerman's "Opinionated Knitter" book. She is one of the knitting greats, coming up with neat ideas, and encouraging each knitter to be creative and not be a slave to a pattern.

To make this sweater you knit the piece of flat knitting that has some increases and decreases in it (top picture). Then you fold it together, sew/knit the top seam, put on a few buttons, and "voila", you have a sweater.

Uncle Jim

My uncle Jim passed away a couple of months ago. My dad and I went to northern CA for the memorial service. Though a sad event, I hadn't seen that side of my family for a while, and I learned things about my uncle I didn't know before. It was also a chance to see all the sheep that my aunt and uncle were raising.

The first picture shows a lot of pregnant sheep. Over 100 lambs were born this year.

The second picture is of my dad (left) and uncle (right) when they were young.

The third picture is a more recent picture of my uncle Jim. He was a pretty happy guy.

Finally, a picture of one of the dogs on the ranch and a feral chicken, coexisting in peace.

Garter Stitch Rug

I knit this rug for my bathroom. Using two strands of thick yarn made it a very quick project. The off-white yarn was chunky Wool-Ease, with a couple of stripes of varigated yarn (can't remember what brand that was).

Water bottle holder

In need of summer-time knitting projects, I decided to try some water bottle holders. First I knit one in maroon cotton yarn with a very basic lace stitch. It looked good, but the strap stretched out with that cotton yarn.

So I decided to try making a felted version. The one pictured here is my first effort - Yarn is Cascade 220. I like it, except that it's a little too loose at the top, so the next one I made (sent to my dad), I put some decreases in the last circular rows, and it turned out better.

Bead necklace

The local library is hosting some craft classes for adults. I went to one last week and made this cool necklace. First we learned to crochet with thin wire. Then we strung the beads onto some fresh wire, and started crocheting that wire, incorporating the beads as we went along. Then we cut the wire, added a clasp, and the necklace was done.

Log cabin test

The log cabin technique allow you to knit in blocks, by finishing one block then picking up stitches along one side of the finished block and starting the next one. This is a test of that technique that ended up as a washcloth. It's hard to see the blocks here, since I mostly used the same color, but you can see how the garter stitches change direction. Yarn: 100% cotton, Sugar and Cream.

Third hat

The swirl hat idea didn't work out. Maybe I'll try it again sometime. In the meantime, second hat has been sent to its new owner, and third hat has been born.

Second hat

Gave the first hat away before taking a picture, but both hats are very similar, based on a pattern in the book "Fashionable Projects for the New Knitter", by Alison Barlow. I have an idea for a swirl hat - that's next on the knitting agenda. Hats are really fast from start to finish - they let you try design or color ideas without a big time commitment.

Sock yarn scarf: Koigu

Another sock yarn scarf knit on the diagonal, about 6 feet long, 5 or 6 inches wide. What a great raspberry color, with subtle variations; the yarn is hand dyed (and on the expensive side). Finished it yesterday, wore it already today. Koigu yarn, 100% wool.

New materials

My mom had to go to Germany for some family things, and brought me back this wonderful yarn in great colors as a present. Not sure what it's destiny is yet, maybe a sweater, maybe a hat... Wolle Roedel, superwash merino, 100% wool.

Cactus #2 and #3

Two more cactuses are blooming! Only one is holding out. Maybe next year...

BOT - The Orchid Thief

By Susan Orlean, read by Jennifer Myers. Lots of fascinating history of England and Florida, with insight into the world of passionate orchid collectors, past and present.

Stripezag sweater

Combined some stripes, zig zags, and colors I liked into this sweater. I made it a little oversized already, and when I washed it, it really stretched out. So, I felted it slightly, and I think it will work out okay. Haven't tried it on yet, as it's still drying. Felting a sweater by hand is hard work - but very fun too. Yarn: Cascade 220, 100% wool.

BOT - I Capture the Castle

I go through a lot of books-on-tape (BOT) while knitting. I'm going to (only) post the ones I liked, in case anyone is looking for recommendations.

I Capture the Castle is written by Dodie Smith and read by Emilia Fox. It's in the form of journals written by 17-year old Cassandra Mortmain who lives with her eccentric family in "not-so-genteel poverty in the crumbling ruin of an old English casle, " as the back of the case tells us. Great to listen to, very funny.

Stripey sleeve

Here is a sleeve from a sweater-in-progress. The sweater will be a mixture of purple and red stripes and zig zags on a blue background. When that's done, I have some rasberry colored Koigu sock yarn that is destined to become a scarf. I also want to try making some hats while it's still cold enough to wear them.

Mascot

This is Presto, my parent's pup snoozing in the sun. He showed up on their porch about 10 years ago and ended up staying.

Pit River vest

This is the final, felted Pit River vest made for my dad with yarn from my aunt and uncle. My dad likes it and wears it often - it is really warm on a cold winter day. I'd make it a little longer if I were to do this again, but overall this vest turned out well.