RECAP. Jan - Aug. 2020

Off the Needles from Jan-Aug 2020

The Love of Spiders- Melanie Berg

Cloudborne Merino Superwash & Elevate Fiber Arts Silky Merino.

Quilted Princess by Me Elizabeth Knits ElizscKnits @ Ravelry

Softee Yarns. 

 

Miss B by Nancy Merchant

Rowan Kids Silk Haze  gray and lavender

Winter on My Mind

by Melanie Berg

Polwoth Yarns Tarndie Homestead

Purple Princes Quilted Jacket in Simply Soft 

Sofia in Cascade Sport by my designs on Ravelry Elizscknits 

Still on the Needles 

Anita's Hoodie my design  released Sept 15th 2020, Cascade 220 Sport 

Hue Shift Blanket-A Knit Picks Kit, 

Windor Jacket- Jane Spice-Smith and her yarns. (my Australian splurge)

#jojiKal2020 Hipster Cowl in Allpaca Village Spinning and Weaving 3 ply prime

Oatlands & Hobart, Tasmania

 I really don't know what I thought Tasmania would be like... a wilderness, rough terrain and hardly anyone around.   Well it was a little of that, but not completely.  We took a tour from Port Arthur and the vistas were outstanding.

And one day we traveled from Hobart to Oatland, a tiny village in the countryside.   Of course this visit was about getting to a lovely yarn shop and to have a cup of tea and crumpets. 

Tarndiwot - Australia Feb 2020

Tarndie.  Feb 27, 2020.  

 A beautiful visit to a homestead in Victoria, Australia.  The ride was about 2 hours from Melbourne and the views were outstanding.  The countryside is dotted with sheep and the combination of blue skys, green and golden fields and breathtaking vistas along the way made this ride wonderful.   

When we arrived at the Tarndie Homestead we were greeting warmly by the owners.  Each one took a group through a guided tour, covering the history and workings of this farm.    Very gracious at all times and so proud of the 140 year heritage this family has created on this land. I've included a link to their website so that you can explore for yourself. Our tour included a typical lunch, meat pie and beet salad, served on the veranda of the original home.  Then it was off to shop. 

 You can see the results of my purchase below.  

“Polwarth Sheep are naturally white, however Tarndie has a specialised flock of black + coloured sheep variations in shades that are unique and sought after. The members of the first original flock still grow at Tarndwarncoort + their wool is treasured by crafters all over the world. ”

— Tom Dennis

Winter on My Mind by Melanie Berg

Great Ocean Road Woollen Mill Fine Merino grey

Tarndie Polwarth 4 ply natural-The is a wonderful, soft, smooth yarn and so easy to knit. 

https://www.tarndie.com

37 Roseneath Rd 
Warncoort VIC 3243 

Australia

 

My day in Sydney Feb 2020

I have been extremely fortunate to have been able to travel to Sydney this last winter in order to go on a Knitting Cruise though Australia and New Zealand.    Absolutely beautiful places and I'll share a bit of my travels in the future but today let's focus on knit stuff.  
Our groups boarded a van and traveled outside the city to visit Jane Slicer-Smith's home studio.  She is a prolific designer and wonderful hostess.   Her  book Swing, Swagger and Drape is lovey and you may have seen her designs before.   She has a line of wool (just knit my swatch yesterday and it is so soft and textured) www.sigknet.com

Although I had no intention of purchasing yarn...when there are so many samples to try-on and you fall in love with the details and workmanship, it very difficult to walk away.   I doubt I'll be in Australia any time soon>

I did chose the Windsor Jacket and hope to have it complete by my next knitting cruise  (www.Craftcruise.com)

Our next stop was a local yarn shop in the city of Sydney and again I did purchase yarn, but this time it was for one of the three patterns I brought with me to find a matching yarn.    This time around I made the decision to have a few patterns picked out prior to the trip in order to take some control of the amount of yarn I purchased.   I think my plan worked out well and I've completed one design since I arrived back home.   But more of that in another post. 

Nifty Gadgets for Knitting and Crochet

 Three gadgets that I find so handy for knitting and crochet

1. Gauge measuring tool (top left side)  This tool grips the fabric so that you have a set area to measure without a tape measure or gauge tool shifting as you count.

2.  Circular needle tubes (bottom left) --These are fantastic metal tubes with a rubber cap.  The cap has an opening to insert the needle tips.. very clever holding your stitches in place and protecting your needles at the same time.   Love these.

3. Magnetic pattern place holder (bottom right).   My go to way of keeping track of my place in a pattern is post-it notes, but these magnetic place holders are another great way to stay on track.   The magnets are attached to ribbon and cover the width of a page.   This and a simple clip board really makes knitting or crochet patterns easy to follow.

I also love my bag collection..when a yarn shop offers a bag with their logo or name printed on it, I'm sure to make that purchase.   It's a way of recalling my visit to that shop and a memory of the trip made to reach it.
This blue project bag is from the yarn shop Yarn Diva and more in Hillsdale, New Jersey.   (April 2019)

Invergorden- A day of leisure

Invergorden, Scotland

The Highlands and abode of Nessie

This was one of the last stops on our voyage.   I decided to forgo the trip to see the Loch Ness  Monster and explore this shipbuilding and key Naval location during the second world war.   We walked around the town, visited the museum and lunched at a local coffee shop.   This was the only place that accepted money in pounds (English and Irish),  euros and even krone's,  so a shopping I did do.  The local bank was in a Subway Sandwich Shop!!!!!

A Little Yarn Crawl

Visited a few yarn shops in my travels last month.  

There is no reason for me to shop, my stash is way, way to large and overflowing into every spare space in my home, but I just love to visit yarn shops.

First stop on my way to San Jose...(I get a kick out of saying that) I stopped in Danville, CA  (about 1 hour from home) "A Yarn Less Raveled"  https://www.ayarnlessraveled.com
Wonderful selection of yarns and especially interesting gadgets and notions.  Many handmade, unusual yarn holders and measuring tools.   Loved the shop and the people, I stayed a bit to knit and will definitely go back.  Funny thing is a friend of mine was there the day before and we were both talking about this great shop at Knit Night, not realizing that is was the same one.

Than a week later, after a red eye flight, I was in Yarn Diva and More in Hillsdale, NJ.   My mind was  a blur but I  did manage to find a few special things, like the hand made wood buttons from New Hampshire and lovely project bags from the shop. So in addition to this shop, there were 15 other local New Jersey yarn shops all part of a Yarn Crawl that weekend.  I had no idea, but I definitely did not have the energy or time to go....but a couple of my diva friends heard about the shop so I returned with them the next day.  Did I tell you the shop owner was giving away goodie bags too!!!!!

Next stop was a totally unplanned event....Purl Soho in NYC.   Always a pleasure to visit and I did pick up some Brooklyn Tweed Shelter yarn to coordinate with the yarn I already have to make a brioche hat. And of course pizza down the street.

https://www.purlsoho.com

Then off to Ohio.....a place I shall visit often.   In North Olmstead, I found an adorable village with an array of Oldtime shops: Antique, Gift, Honey, Ice cream and of course yarn.   The truth is that I was hunting for the yarn and discovered this great complex of shops. Peg's Knit and Spin.   https://pegsknitnspin.com


My daughter found a shop also, and I was blown away.  
River Colors Studio, Lakewood,  Ohio
https://www.rivercolors.com

We walked in through the back entrance and the first thing I saw was LOPI.....so excited.  A variety of weights and so many colors.....I could not decide what to pick up first and then my daughter walks up to me a says " there is a lot more to the shop.."  She was not kidding, every label I love.  Jamison, Hedgehog, Malabrigo, Manos, Spincycle and Quince & Co.   Needless to say, I did get some LOPI!!!! and totally forgot to take a photo...lovely and helpful people.  They teach a mindful class also, wow,  how much better can it get?  

Do you have a favorite yarn shop?
Til next time

Knitting Recap 2018

Good thing I take photos of my work (most of the time) and good thing the photos are dated in the program.  Some of these patterns are on Ravelry, some from purchases at markets or shops and some from my collection.  

Royal Jacket (Elizabeth Knits) 

Home made Blocking board

Lola Headwrap  Oct 2018

Quilted Princess (Elizabeth Knits) Oct. 2018

crochet- cat pod

Hand warmers  misc. patterns 

All over Lace   Lanaknits

quilted princess (Jan 2018) Elizabeth Knits

Love Heart crochet (Elizabeth Knits)

Pussy Hats April 2018

Hansel  by Gudrun Johnston  June 2018

My Market Bags

Silverleaf  Isager Strik Alpaca Aug 2018

Entrelac Cowl- noro silk garden Nov 2018

Mackinac Beanie by Heather Anderson

Looped on YouTube Nov 2018

High Sierra Shawl  Room Hill (Nov 2018)

my design  

C2C  dec 2018

Crochet simple gloves by Bronislava  (Dec 2018)

Strip Quilt for Butte Dec 2018

Men and Women's Cable Gloves #617 (Dec 2018)

Slalom from Guys Knit  Nathan Taylor (Nov 2018)