Saturday, September 3, 2022

STASH


     There are some things in life that seem to be a mystery.  For instance, my accumulation of yarn, whole skeins, wound balls, worsted to fine, acrylic and wool, all colors, fancy and plain,  that are now organized in plastic bins on shelves in my laundry room. This is my stash.  If I didn't know better, I would say that yarn regenerates itself and grows when you're not looking like zucchini in your garden.  However, my hand has been in the growth of this stash: yarn I've bought at Goodwill, online, Walmart, yarn stores, yarn I inherited from my sister, and yarn given to me by friends. That's the best reality I can come up with.  This organization has been my summer accomplishment.  Although I've found a few stray balls of yarn in drawers and plastic bags. Now I know what I have and can get my hands on it when I need it. I won't have to buy any more yarn. But you never know. (There are a few more bins on the opposite wall)
                                                                            Georgia's Stash.

     Again, as shown in previous blogs, I'm using my stash to make blankets/mats for the Chico Animal Shelter cats and kittens. I use three yarns as one and size 15 double pointed needles.  I've also crocheted one mat using a very large crochet hook and going free style, since I'm a novice at crocheting.  My favorite knitting pattern is the tried and true Grandma's wash cloth pattern - corner to corner, and it's variations, especially the one that shows how to knit a rectangle instead of a square.  I've included links to patterns and websites I've used for all of my projects.  

And one in crochet.


Rectangular Hand Towel

I'm also working on two other knitting projects: a scarf for the Red Scarf Project and a baby blanket because I was curious about this yarn and bought a skein.  I ended up making two scarves.

                         
Scarves knit in Mistake Rib. I used pattern by Joan Janes as a guide with random striping. 

Vertical Lines Baby Blanket from Plymouth Yarn using their Hot Cakes yarn.  One skein makes the blanket.  My blanket will be just like the one in this picture. 

Also working on a lap blanket for Alice's Embrace.  Found I had enough yarn in my stash to make one.  
https://alicesembrace.org/  Finished product in the next blog. 

Leaving this blog with pictures of our garden treasures.





Until next time...
minipurl.
































    


     
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Sunday, May 15, 2022

KEEPING OUR EARS AND NECKS WARM


    Hello visitors to mini's knits and purls.  It's been quite awhile since I've been here. I've taken on a long-term substituting job at ECHS teaching English four periods a day.  No one applied for the open position last fall so I was asked to take over until June.  Fortunately, a new full time teacher has been hired for the 2022-2023 school year. I've tried keeping up with my knitting, but a two hour commute back and forth has cut into my knitting time.  However, I have a couple of knitting projects completed recently to show you.

                 These ear warmers were commissioned by my niece, Dina's golfing friend.  The mornings on the way to the golf course in Arizona can be cool enough to require some head warmth.  So I knit two for the friend and two for Dina.  These patterns are easy to knit, however, I struggled with the flowers which were knit, also. Crochet flowers are prettier, but I need to practice my crochet before attempting one.  

 

 

Dina looking ready to meet the cool morning.  
                                      https://www.ravelry.com/patterns//library/mornng-walk-headband-earwarmer

Wool Scarf - The Goodwill store in my town is one of my haunts to find yarn.  Sometimes I'm surprised by the good selection of enough to make a scarf or hat.  The yarn for this scarf is Lion Brand Fisherman's Wool.  Two skeins -Maple Tweed and Oak Tweed #4. I used size 9 needles. The pattern is the basic boyfriends scarf: row 1 - Knit, row 2 - knit, row 3 - knit 2, purl 2, row 4 - knit 2, purl 2.  Sometimes I start and end a scarf with ribbing.  On this scarf it's about two inches. I cast on 30 stitches. I knit the light tweed for 21 inches, then added the dark tweed to make a stripe pattern for 26 inches, and finished with the dark tweed for 14 inches.  This scarf will surely keep someone's neck warm this winter. 


And so will this hat knit in bulky yarn. 
https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/big-chunky-comfy-hat 

I used Lion Brand Home Town USA yarn - color: San Antonio Spar.  The hat went together quickly, knit in the round on size 11 needles.  


It's definitely not cool weather now here in Northern California. Here are some results of sunshine on our backyard. 




Until next time.  Here's minipurl.
 




















 

           











 

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