Here's a new roving from Ashland Bay, called Hollyberry. It's a multi-colored Merino, very soft and easy to spin. In the past, their multi-colored rovings were so well-blended that the colors become muddy after spinning. I like the newer version.





Here's another knitted hat using Yolo Wool Mill's wool yarn. I've adapted the design from the Knitted hats book, the one that's shaped like a hat. This book came out several years ago with the Knitted Mittens book. Note to Vera: I don't have a specific pattern for these hats. I have several books that I usually use but I make many changes to suit the style I want. The website Knitting-and.com (Sarah Bradberry's) has several free hat patterns, as well as Fair Isle charts. Sorry for my delayed response.

Here's the red crocheted shawl that I did for Frog Pond Knits. The pattern is by Karabella. The yarn is by Katia, a fingering weight cotton yarn. I understood the pattern easily. But then, I'm a veteran crocheter. I could have written it another way to make it easier for a beginner to comprehend. I fudged and made changes (like always) and liked the way it turned out. It's now on display at Frog Pond.

Last night's crochet class was fun. I wish I could visit their store more often but the distance from home combined with really, really, REALLY bad traffic scares me. They're planning a YARN CRAWL, where people visit several participating yarn stores in the area , where each store has something fun and special to offer the customers. I am really looking forward to it.

One of the 20 or so hats I knitted in Dec,2005 for Yolo Wool Mill. All I had to work with are 3 colors of wool yarn, white, light gray and dark brown. All natural colors. You would think that I would be sick and tired of knitting hats by the time they were done. On the contrary,they were fun knits. Each hat was a different design. I really had to be creative to use up only 3 colors. I did cables, slip stitches, fair isle, textures, lace, etc, etc. And I took lots of pictures.

That's why I love knitting little articles of clothing. One or two days and you're done with the project. Move on to the next. But then, I also enjoy knitting sweaters now. I used to be intimidated by knitting larger garments. For fear of not finishing them (and I have a lot of unfinished projects).

One of my many FOs, my 9 yo son's Aran Sweater from the Aran and Celtics book. The yarn used is Knitpicks' Natural colored Wool of the Andes. They yarn turned out soft and great for next to skin wear. What an enjoyable pattern to knit. I think I only used 3 (or maybe 4?) skeins, 220 yards each, $3.49 per skein. What a bargain.

Almost forgot: thank you so much for all the birthday greetings. It was a wonderfully quiet birthday. We celebrated with dinner Sunday night at my parents. Yesterday, my husband brought home the most scrumptious, moistest chocolate cake ever. With strawberries on top! The kids gave me their homemade version of birthday cards, the one you treasure the most. I still have the ones they gave me the previous years. Little Emily knows how to incorporate yarn and pretzels in hers. Matthew's is the pop-up version, with hearts and "I love you's". My secret pal from the knitting guild even delivered her present. She must have ran really fast to her car after ringing the doorbell because I DIDN'T CATCH HER!!!

thank you.

A new pattern called Any Which Way, Sachets!The best part in knitting these sachets is that I used up a lot of my leftover sockyarns. I prefer using solid colored yarns versus the self-patterning ones. I used cotton yarns, silk yarns, Lorna's Laces, Artyarns, Gems Merino Pearl, etc., etc.

The patterns is available in downloadable format at
The Knitting Zone.

more to come

well, hello! I just want those few people who read my blog know that I am still here and getting busier by the day. Today is my birthday! I'm 45. Aside from a few (actually, I lied. A lot of) gray hairs and a few aching joints, I still feel the same as the day I turned 21, he, he.

I have lots of designs in the making and planning stage. I'm teaching several crochet classes at Knitique and Frog Pond knits. That's keeping me more busy but I love it. I've taught some kids crochet classes which totally amazes me. I love these kids. So eager to learn yet not afraid to show their frustrations when the hook won't go through the stitch--lol! I hope to pass on this craft to as many people as possible.

And my kids are learning to spin on a drop spindle. There is still hope that at least one of my kids will pick up my love of fiber.

will take more pics. Believe me, I have lots of finished projects.