Winter is Coming!

Winter is well on its way here in New Hampshire.  Most of the state received a good dose of snow (about 14" where I live) the day before Thanksgiving.  It looked more like Christmas than Thanksgiving, but pretty nonetheless.  Although we had a bit of a heat wave to follow which melted most of the snow, more white stuff is in the forecast.  Soon, that will be the norm rather than the exception.  Winter Solstice is on Monday so winter will settle in soon.

After spending much of the fall knitting a test knit, I was finally free to work on my own projects.  Cast-on-itis kicked in big time, but I resisted - well sort of.  I finished a cowl to match the mittens that I did in November.  This used up a second skein of Alchemy that was purchased in SanFrancisco in August.

http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/amerie

Having finished the cowl I cast on my 2014 Christmas socks!  These are the Atlantic Current Socks by Melissa Sibley in the Holly Jolly color way by Voolenvine Yarns.  I hope to get these done before Christmas, but since they are for me I am not stressed to do so.

http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/atlantic-current-socks

My main knitting focus is finishing the Brownstone pullover by Jared Flood for my husband.  I really would like to have this done by Christmas so I used all of my spare time (when he wasn't around) to finish.  It is done - hope it fits!

http://www.ravelry.com/projects/pjmcmullen/brownstone

My spinning has been a bit irregular as of late.  I did finish two skeins of Icelandic wool from the fleece that I purchased from my local LYS owner.  My plan is to do about the same amount in between other fibers to mix it up.  

Right now I am working on some beautiful fiber from Into the Whirled that I purchased at Rhinebeck - in the colorway "Rhinebeck."

That is it for this year.  I hope everyone has a lovely holiday season - whichever one you celebrate.  

Merry Christmas from New Hampshire.

Giving Thanks

New Hampshire awaits the arrival of snow.  Many areas of the US have been deluged already, but so far we have managed to have a mild fall.  Winter is coming so knitters are preparing and I am no exception!

Off the Needles

Since my last post, I have been working pretty exclusively on a project that unfortunately I cannot share.  It is another test knit for one of my favorite designers, Norah Gaughan.  This beautiful cabled turtleneck pullover came off the needles on Saturday and is on its way to Norah.

I have managed to finish a couple of smaller things while working on Norah's design.  First is a plain vanilla sock using Patons Kroy in the blue rag color way.  I cast these on a while back just to test out this really inexpensive yarn.  It won't be my favorite sock yarn, but the price point is terrific.









I also participated in a mitten swap with Juniper Grace of the podcast by the same name.  We chose the Sidecar Mittens by Baby Cocktails (http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/sidecar-mittens).  Mine is in my handspun of Friends in Fiber and some random alpaca from my fiber stash.






Just in time for winter to approach I finished a pair of Maize Mittens in Alchemy yarn purchased in SanFrancisco this summer.  (http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/maize-3)
I was going to knit the matching Barley hat (very popular pattern in Revelry), but I think the yarn is better suited for a cowl.

On the Needles:

Still working on the Wee Melia by Ysolda Teague and the Brownstone by Jared Flood.  Just cast on the Amerie Cowl by Lucy Hague.

On Deck:

I am waiting for some Christmas sock yarn by Voolenvine to make the Atlantic Current Socks by Melissa Sibley - a new pattern just released on Revelry.  I finally received my Canadiana yarn from Fishknits Yarn.  I ordered it early in August and just received it this week! Since I've waited so long for it now I just want to sit and look at it before casting on.

Spinning:

I have been spinning less this fall since I've been occupied with test knitting.  I have gone through about a half pound of Icelandic Wool that is ready to ply.  I also finished a 4 ounce bump of BFL from Three Waters Farm.  It is destined to be sport weight socks for someone.

Happy Thanksgiving to those who celebrate!

Fall has been beautiful here in New Hampshire.  After a summer filled with travel, life has settled back into a routine. 

Off the Needles 

Since the last post I have finished a number of projects.  First, the Radian Yoke Pullover by Wendy Bernard.  My goal for this project was to have a summer weight pullover for my trip to Ireland.  It was perfect and I found myself wearing it with slacks, skirts, and capris.  The wool was Silky Wool in the Cognac colorway.

http://www.ravelry.com/projects/pjmcmullen/radian-yoke

The Summer of Shawls and SocksThe Shawls:

I finished three shawls during my travels.   

http://www.ravelry.com/projects/pjmcmullen/wendyknits-summer-mystery-shawl-2014

The first was the Wendy’s Summer Mystery KAL by Wendy Johnson.  The last clue for this project was released while I was in Ireland.  After finishing the clue, it got a lot of wear on the cooler days.  Knit in my handspun - I really love it!

Since that project was finished early on in our trip, I cast on not one, but two shawls.  The first was a KAL with Mel Ski of the WithMel podcast.  She discussed a section of the project each week on her blog and was free to listeners.  The pattern is now available for purchase - the Menehune.  This was a really easy knit - perfect for vacation.  Knit in my handspun as well.  Mmmm notice a trend here???

http://www.ravelry.com/projects/pjmcmullen/menehune

http://www.ravelry.com/projects/pjmcmullen/the-age-of-brass-and-steam-kerchief

The third summer shawl is a very popular free pattern on Ravelry, The Age of Brass and Steam by Orange Flower Yarn.  This, too, is knit using my handspun - a Loop batt that I purchased from her Etsy shop.  This is a terrific pattern for handspun.  

One other shawl that I knit this summer was a test knit for designer, Norah Gaughan.  Hopefully, I will be able to share more information about that after the pattern is released. 

The Socks:

Two pair of socks came off the needles.  The first is a pair of plain cuff-down vanilla socks using the Party Like It’s Your Birthday sock yarn by Knitpurlgurl on Etsy.  This self-striping yarn is a beautiful cushy base that expertly knits up into a fun pattern.  

http://www.ravelry.com/projects/pjmcmullen/birthday-cake-socks

http://www.ravelry.com/projects/pjmcmullen/monster-socks

The second pair is a toe-up plain ribbed sock using — yep, you guessed it — my handspun!  These are my Halloween socks for 2014.  The heel is the Fish Lips Kiss Heel by Sox Therapist. Love this heel for toe-up socks.

http://www.ravelry.com/projects/pjmcmullen/claires-gauntlets

One final project off the needles is a pair of hand warmer mitts.  These are the Claire’s Gauntlets designed by local designer, Carl Ruhl.  These were knit in Noro yarn deep in my stash.

On the Needles

Actively on the needles right now are three projects.  One is the Brownstone by Jared Flood.  This is a project that will hopefully be completed by Christmas for my husband.  The sleeves are finished and about half of the body.  So far, I am right on track for my deadline.

Also on the needles is the Wee Melia by Ysolda Teague.  This is an adorable little jacket for a sweet little girl who will be celebrating her first birthday this December.

After having finished two other pair of socks, I resumed working on my Patons Kroy vanilla sock.  Even though they are self-striping, I decided to use the Fish Lips Kiss Hell again as I really enjoy how it works up.  One sock is finished and I am well into the second sock. 

Spinning

Since the last blog post, I finished several skeins of yarn.  As you can see from the knitting above, much of it has been used in projects.  

Also in the spinning vein,  I purchased a second wheel!  This is a travel wheel called a Hitchhiker made by Merlin in Vermont.  I purchased it from a lovely lady on Ravelry who lives in Vermont as well.  Although it hasn’t seen much action yet, I am hoping to spend some time with it this winter  

Hotter than a Firecracker!

The weather in New Hampshire is hotter than a firecracker on the Fourth of July.  Yep, that's a Midwestern saying that I grew up hearing in Indiana.  It fits the current weather, though, here in New England.  After Hurricane Arthur blew through, we had two lovely days of dry, 80F weather.  Now we are back to the 90s and humidity is settling back in.  No worries though - the AC is on and I'm knitting and spinning away!

On the Needles

July brought on a case of cast-on-itis.  Although I did manage to limit myself (so far) to only two new projects.  Since I had frogged my Monster Socks, it was time to cast on a pair of socks so I cast on a plain vanilla stripy socks using Party Like Its Your Birthday yarn by the Knitpurlgurl on Etsy.  I am using a basic fore-thought heel and they are knitting up beautifully.

The second project I cast on has been pretty much my sole focus this past week.  It is the Radian Yoke pullover by Wendy Bernard published in Knitscene Summer 2011 now available as an individual download (http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/radian-yoke).  This top is knit from the top down with a simple lace yoke, raglan sleeves, in a DK yarn.  I chose Silky Wool in the Cognac colorway which I picked up at my LYS, Twill in Nashua.  It is going very quickly despite the long rows of stockinette.  I am hoping to have it finished this week.

The other knitting that has been on my needles since the last post is gift knitting so I can’t discuss those projects here.

On the Wheel

This past week marked my one year anniversary as a spinner!  I am happy with the progress that I’ve made over the past twelve months.  My spinning has improved leaps and bounds.  I’ve knit several things with my handspun and felt confident enough to gift a skein to a friend.  

July 5th marked the start of the 2014 Le Tour de Fleece.  For those muggles out there - this is an event held alongside the bike race of almost the same name.  Spinners all over the world join teams and challenge themselves to match the different stages of the bike race.  I have joined two teams - Team Schact (in honor of my Ladybug wheel) and Team Sasquatch (coached by several podcasters who I follow).  My personal goal is to simply spin every day and mark my progress in the Ravelry forums.  

On Day One and Day Two I spun two ounces of Into the Whirled, merino/superwash merino/silk, in the Martini & Rossi colorway.  This will become a 2-ply, probably fingering weight yarn, after I spin the other two ounces.


Day Three begins the chain-plying of 104 grams of a Loop batt, merino/bamboo/silk, in the River Run colorway.  

July in New Hampshire

This past weekend was full of Fourth of July celebrations here in the USA.  My husband and I play in a local band, the Amherst Town Band.  We marched in a parade on the Fourth which we just squeezed in before Hurricane Arthur dumped rain on New England.  The band’s concert, normally held on the Third, was rescheduled for Saturday, the 5th.  Since it was rescheduled I ended up conducting the band.  It was a great night for an outdoor concert followed by fireworks.  You can “Like” the Band on Facebook, https://www.facebook.com/AmherstTownBand?ref_type=bookmark

Link to video: https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=10204256665639858&set=o.152870441456603&type=2&theater

June is Bustin' Out All Over!

Winter is but a distant memory in New Hampshire.

Life in New Hampshire

      School is almost finished for the year here in New Hampshire.  A few more exam days, clean up, and mounds of paperwork and then it will officially be summer.  My seniors graduated last week and soon everyone will be hitting the beaches, mountains, and parks.  

     We are winding up a renovation project and soon the house will be in true-relaxation mode.  Today hit 90 degrees F and the pool temperature rose to 76 degrees - very pleasant.

     Lots of concerts, travel, and relaxation are on tap for us for the rest of June, July, and August.

Off the Needles

I finished the Giraffe for one of my students.  This is a pattern by Susan B. Anderson from the Itty Bitty Toys book:  http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/giraffe-10 which I checked out of my local library.  The Giraffe is definitely NOT itty bitty!  Although I was not one hundred percent satisfied with how it turned out, my student loves it and I am happy that I was able to complete it before school ended.

Also off the needles (but not completed) were my Monster socks (http://www.ravelry.com/projects/pjmcmullen/monster-socks).  After turning the heel I realized that they were too large for my feet and I frogged them. I will cast them on again on smaller needles but maybe not until fall as they are intended to be Halloween socks.

On the Needles

I am still plugging away at the Rowan Afghan KAL project (http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/pure-wool-worsted-mystery-afghan-kal).  I skipped a couple of clues and went on to Week 6.  Although I would really like to finish the project soon, I need to do some gift knitting so I might need to put it on hiatus for a bit. 

I have cast on two projects which are secret knitting.  One is a Christmas gift so that will be a long-term clandestine project. The second is something I can’t even hint at because I know this person reads the blog!

Other than that I have socks, shawls, and a sweater that I plan to cast on in the next couple of weeks which will kick my summer knitting into high gear!

Spinning

Two skeins have been completed since the last blog post.  The first is a beautiful blend of merino, bamboo, and silk from Taylored Fibers.

 I created 403 yards of a 2 ply in a light fingering weight.  This is definitely going to become a shawl.  The Tanhouse Brook shawl - for now - is my first choice: http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/tan-house-brook-shawl by Jennifer Lassonde (BostonJen).  I purchased the pattern and am anxious to knit it up.  There are so many great shawl patterns coming out this summer that I find it so hard to decide!

The second skein is 381 yards, 2 ply, in a merino/silk blend by Friends In Fiber.  This was a batt I purchased at the NH Sheep & Wool Festival.  I plan to gift this skein to a new friend who fell in love with the fiber.

Currently on the wheel is a 4 oz Loop batt called River Run.  It is a merino/bamboo/tussah silk blend that I plan to chain ply so that I can keep the gradient colors intact.  It is a gorgeous fiber to spin and it is going so quickly.

May Flowers Continue to Bloom

The last weekend of May is upon us.  Today it feels about right, but this past week has felt more like early April with 40F degree temperatures!  This morning Lucy and I spotted our first iris while on her walk.

Off the Needles

This week I finished six more afghan squares of the Rowan Mystery KAL (http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/pure-wool-worsted-mystery-afghan-kal).  I have twelve completed which means I am 25% done.  On to the next pattern of six squares!

On the Needles

I have been making progress on my Giraffe.  It now has legs and I have the ears, tail, and horns ready to attach.  The pattern is by Susan B. Anderson using Cascade 220 yarn in the daffodil and tangerine color ways (http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/giraffe-10).

On the Wheel

This has been the week of plying.  I finished plying the 4 ounce bump of Taylored Fibers.  It is ready to be skeined and finished.  Last weekend I finished the singles of the Friends in Fiber Bahama Breeze that I purchased at NH Sheep & Wool.  It is in the process of being plied and should be finished soon.

Other Life Events in NH this Week

Monday was Memorial Day here in the States.  Lucy walked with the Nashua D.O.G. group in the Nashua parade.  She had a good time and many children gave her lots of love.

Two of my best friends lost parents this week so it has been the week of funerals.  Both parents lived long and fulfilling lives, but it is always sad to see a child lose their parent at any age.  May they find comfort in knowing that they will always have them in their hearts.

Now Is the Month Of Maying

Back to Future

This week I feel like I have returned to my roots.  Having grown up underneath the sewing machine while my mother sewed like what seemed non-stop, I found myself at my own sewing machine again.  Except for the few odd bits here and there, it has been pretty idle for a number of years.  So much so that I was compelled to make a cover so I wouldn’t look at all the dust!  The result……

A lovely new cover, learned a new technique, and have regained some sewing mojo!

On the Needles

No finished objects this week.  My knitting took backseat to a few other activities this week, but I still managed to get some time in on a couple of projects.  I am continuing to work on a Giraffe by Susan B. Anderson.  

http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/giraffe-10

I finished the body, the head, and am now working on the legs.

No, this is not an alien - just a giraffe in progress.

Along with the giraffe, I continued to work on the Rowan Mystery Afghan KAL. 

http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/pure-wool-worsted-mystery-afghan-kal

I am working on Week #3 squares.  Although I am a couple clues behind, I think I will move ahead to Clue #6 when it is released on Monday and catch up with #4 & #5 later on.  I will show my progress on what I have so far in the next blog post.

On the Wheel

Spinning has taken front and center this week.  As you can see from the photo, it is time to do some plying!  I finished spinning a 4 oz. batt that I purchased at the NH Sheep & Wool festival two weeks ago.   It is fiber from Friends in Fiber in the Bahama Breeze colorway.  Also ready to ply is 4 oz. of Taylored Fibers in a lovely gray (unlabeled) color.  

On Sunday I had the pleasure of having two friends over - one to spin along and the other to knit and maybe get bitten by the spinning bug.  We had a nice afternoon of spinning, drinking wine, and sharing some companionship.  It was a terrific way to spend a Sunday.

Life

The big event for our family this week was college graduation.  My youngest step-daughter graduated from Boston University!  Yay Julia!  We spent the day with she and her sister last Saturday and celebrated her achievement.

School is cranking on - only one more month to go.  Ugh! These last few weeks for teachers (and students) just drag on.  This is the only time of year I wish I were still teaching in Indiana.  Oh to be out of school at Memorial Day.

The New Hampshire Sheep and Wool Festival, Knitting, Spinning, and busy-ness!

Last weekend was the NH Sheep & Wool Festival at the Deerfield fairgrounds.  Two knitting friends and I headed up on a very wet Saturday morning - excited, though, to be sure. Shortly after our arrival the rain let up and it actually turned out to be a nice day.  The clouds kept the temperature cool enough to wear hand-knit items - always a plus at a fiber event!

We had a great time looking at all of the vendors.  This is a fairly large fair for a state the size of NH.  There are some vendors from outside the area, but most are local to New England. 

I bought two skeins of sock yarn.  One was a yarn I intended to buy.  It is a skein of Opal sock yarn.  So many people rave about how wonderful it is so I really want to try it out.  The other was an impulse buy from Decadence yarn.  The color is beautiful and will make a pair of socks less busy than my usual self-striping yarn.  I bought a lovely braid of fiber from Holiday yarns that is aqua with lots of stellina (that’s the sparkling stuff) in it.  The other fiber purchase is from Friends in Fiber which is not far from where I live.  I love their stuff and this is a batt of merino silk.  I’ve not spun from a batt before and it spins very different so that will be a good learning experience.

Off the Needles

 I have one finished object this week.  It is my Entangled Vines cardigan by Alana Dakos - http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/entangled-vines 
in Madelinetosh Vintage in the Magenta colorway.  I love how it came out and it fits perfectly.

 

On the Needles
This week was all about finishing the above cardigan.  To that aim, I took a break from the Rowan afghan KAL.  I will pick that back up this weekend.  This week I also cast on the Giraffe by Susan B. Anderson -http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/giraffe-10.  Although knitting stuffed animals has never appealed to me, I have a student who is obsessed with giraffes and I think she will really like it.  

Spinning
I’ve finished singles of a polwarth /silk blend that I will ply this week.  I also started spinning some of the batt from Friends in Fiber. More to come on that later.

Life
May is a ridiculously busy month.  Concerts galore and graduations.  We had our spring concert on Wednesday and all went well.  My stepdaughter’s college graduation is Saturday so this will be a busy weekend of family stuff.  We are also marching in a parade (weather permitting) on Saturday in Mont Vernon

Alex Preston made it to the top three on American Idol.  Since he graduated from the school where I teach this has been quite exciting.  Unfortunately, he didn't make the final two but we are all very proud of our "hometown" boy.  We know that he will make the most of this opportunity and look forward to what is to come in his future.

Upcoming Events

Interweave Knitting Lab in Manchester, NH - May 15-18 (I will attend the marketplace on Sunday - no classes for me this year.)

http://www.interweaveknittinglab.com/ehome/index.php?eventid=73662&tabid=160345&

Rhinebeck in October! I am officially going again this year.  Reservations have been made!

http://www.sheepandwool.com