From Drought to Flood, or; Would You Make Up Your Mind?

The last few weeks have brought torrential rain to California, battering our coasts, and flooding our lower valleys with apocryphal amounts of water, water, water. Up here in the Northern California Sierra Nevada mountains, our dams are overflowing, and our rivers are engorged. A state of emergency has been declared for California because as saturated as we are now, more rain is forecasted. I wonder if this is a new normal, and we won’t have to worry about water rationing this summer, or is this merely a freak stop-gap? I suspect the latter is the case. Minus my young adult years in the military, I have lived in California my whole life, and for as long as I can remember, water has always been an issue.

The top image was taken from a different angle, but you can still discern the similarities and how much more water there is.

All but one of the rocks is underwater. I know, it is a different angle, but trust me, it is the same area.

I don’t mean to sound like I’m complaining because California needs this water, but not all at once. I mean, this summer we were battling wildfires fueled by such paltry precipitation of the 2021/2022 rainy season. Now we need to build an ark!

Walking backroads that are cut off to vehicular traffic.

But I did not go to the river just to take pics of floodwaters; I brought the doggies. We went on a pleasant walk and made some discoveries, so it wasn’t all bad.

As with all disasters in life, they rarely come in singles. Last week the heater died, so we’ve been using wood we had to chop up from the trees that toppled during snowmagedden last year to feed our wood stove to keep from freezing. (Hm. That is rather serendipitous!) There are people coming out tomorrow to fix it. I’ve got my fingers crossed that it will be a simple fix and not an outrageously expensive replacement. Visions of moving from this paradise/hell are dancing through my head yet again..!

Which makes for a great segue. My socks pattern, Cozy Fireside Socks, is now available. All the testers on FB have gone quiet, so I’m going to post it here in the hopes that I’ve got it correct. I’m pretty confident it is because I had to test it on the second sock! So without further ado, here is the link to the pattern for the Cozy Fireside Socks.

Still working on the modified Ghost Horses Sweater by Caitlin Hunter. I predict it shall be finished in another week…give or take. I’m happy with it so far and want to finish it quickly so I can show it off. As for my next project, I have decided I’m going to take a chance on another designer for my fair isle pullovers. Gasp! No, I haven’t fallen out of love with Boyland Knitworks; I think I’ve bought just about every pattern she’s published. I just want to mix it up a little. And yes, I’ll post about that when I get to it.

So here’s to fervently hoping you’re not floating away or freezing to death! Stay safe, everyone.

Yarn Thoughts

Hey, hey my crafty readers! I’m going to rile the feathers of some of you out there today with this post. Not with malice aforethought, but with careful consideration and preference.

Over the years I have discovered something truly tragic and erroneous about our yarn crafts. With cooler weather staring us in the face – (well, for some of us, it’s down the street, peeking around the corner) – many of you will be lining up your knit and/or crochet projects for the season ahead. As you pore through the plethora of patterns you purchased over the summer or saved on your Pinterest boards, the culling will begin. Some patterns will have you scratching your head as you ponder what you were thinking when you bought it, others will make your fingers tingle to feel needles clacking in your hands. Once you have decided on the projects, the search for the perfect yarn will commence. For most of us, there will be a compromise. Not having an unlimited budget for the yarn, we still opt for wool, usually larger company wool so it is somewhat more affordable. The atelier shops online with their lovely, squishy skeins of yarn are usually reserved for the smaller projects such as socks, mitts, or hats. Usually. Every so often we’ll splurge on an especially pretty sweater, cardigan, duster, what have you, but by and large, we’re looking for a bargain.

I can almost see you, dear reader, nodding your head in agreement and thinking, “Yes, we’re with you. What’s your point?” Well…….I truly hesitate to say this, but IthinkI’mgoingtoswitchovertoacrylics. There! I said it. I have spoken yarn heresy! But before you press the comment button to tell me how wrong I am, hear me out. I shall start with the projects that made me change my mind.

It began with my first top-down sweater project, Zweig, a lovely knit lace and fair isle sweater created by Boyland Knits. It took me a year of on-again/off-again knitting. I loved it. I finished it in May, and by sweater weather season, this beauty had been ravaged by moths. I had to throw it away.

My first major heartbreak!

Next is the maintenance of it all. Handwashing and laying your work flat to dry in the winter (when you’ll be wearing these beauties) means taking up a lot of real estate on my kitchen counter or table for days. I don’t know about you, but that’s not a viable option, especially if you’ve got more than one item drying. That makes it untenable. Then there’s the storage issue. After the moth incident, I am careful now to pack away all my wool sweaters in the only appropriate bag I’ve got.

Really?

Granted, these reasons alone may not have been compelling enough for me to switch out as I plan to do unless I hadn’t used acrylic as a last-ditch effort. While making my very favorite sweater of all time, Halibut, another Boyland Knits creation, I was truly strapped for funds. As it happened, I found some compatible acrylic yarn buried away in some sad neglected corner of my closet. It had been gifted to me by a friend when she moved and had to do some serious stash reduction. I went ahead with the project and have been seriously pleased with the results. But the best part of all for me is when it comes time to wash it and store it. I throw it in the washer and then the dryer and smush it all up on a shelf, just like the rest of my clothes. I am more inclined to wear it not only because I love the design, but because it’s just so easy to care for…or not care for, however you want to look at it. It’s not an heirloom that I fret over when I’m wearing it because it cost so much to make, it’s a living, wearable piece of art.

Crammed in the corner by the high-maintenance yarn sweaters!

So smack me down if you must in the comments, but know that after I use up my pretty, squishy, and expensive wool yarn that I did buy already, it’s going to be acrylics for practicality. At least for a while.

In the meantime, here is a freebie pattern for mittens that you may use whatever type of worsted yarn you want!

Click here for the pattern

Enjoy!

Gearing Up and Another Freebie

Hello, once again, dear readers. As summer draws to a close, many of us here in Northern California are waiting with great anticipation for the first rain that always comes with the cooler weather. So far, the fires in the general area have all been stopped with no building damage or loss of life – thank God. There has been only one smoke-filled day this season; otherwise, it’s been wonderful. That’s a change from the last two years when we experienced months of choking smoke during the fire season. Meanwhile, we still have to finish out August and most of September for a relaxation of fire vigilance. Only when Placer County allows fire days are we assured that it would be highly unlikely for a raging inferno to start. Fingers crossed that our luck holds this year.

As many of you who read my posts consistently throughout the year may remember in October and November I find local crafts fairs to sell my goodies and enter those that I can afford. Some are worth the money, and some aren’t. As always, I will be at Bierwagen’s Pumpkin Patch in Chicago Park every weekend in October.

Opening weekend 2021

Delicata and acorn squash, among others

Pleasant fall scenery for my lunch walks

Getting the inventory nice and plump throughout the year was my goal, and I believe I have accomplished this. I absolutely hate knitting and crocheting while I’m under the gun; it’s no fun. I now have enough for my opening weekend and perhaps the next, depending on the crowd’s mood. With historically high inflation rates hitting most of us hard in the pocket, I may have enough inventory for the whole month. In any case, I am looking forward to it. As you can see by the pics, it’s a country thing.

Part of the fun of selling your wares in an open market comes from getting ideas about what to make. There are perennial favorites, such as the Fringed Palindrome Cowl that will always sell, but you want to mix it up. With that in mind, I whipped up this fun and tremendously easy beanie with the beginner in mind. Presenting (drum roll) the Chutes and Ladders Beanie. As with most of my patterns, this is an adult size. To modify for size, go up or down by sets of 4 stitches.

Whips up fast and made with super bulky yarn so it will keep you warm

Hope you use this pattern for your next mini-project.

Still Here

Hello, dear readers. With life’s ups and downs, news so horrific that seems to continue ad infinitum, and see-sawing markets reacting to all the events, it’s been a queasy ride in the United States. Gas prices here in Northern California are among the nation’s highest, so we’re not doing a whole bunch of traveling. In fact, we’re wondering how we can afford to get to work.

But you see all this every time you go online or turn on your television. That’s enough of that. Take a deep breath from your diaphragm.

A few months back I was seriously thinking of a move. I felt the need to get away from the seasonal fires and to downsize. As it turned out, I never found anything that I liked well enough to induce me to leave here, and in the meantime, interest rates and prices continued to climb. So here we stay. I can’t say I’m too disappointed. It’s still beautiful…when it’s not smothered in choking smoke.

No smoke yet this year!

Working on the background

A bit of good news – I finished the modified Tecumseh sweater! I’m thinking I will not change yarn weight ever again when working on a project. As you can see, it looks ok. What is not seen in these pics was how absolutely wide it was! It wasn’t really warming because it was allowing the cold air to seep in at the bottom.

I was so very unhappy with how wide it was I threw it in the washer and dryer. And yes, it is 100% wool.

Came out with this. The length, which I liked, was shrunk, and it’s still way too wide!! I don’t know if I want to wear this again or not. At least I got a nice beanie out of it!

But personal projects are now on the back-burner because, yes, it’s that time of year again when I start building my inventory for the crafts sales for Christmas. Well, all except for one. I’ve been wanting to make this forever and it is so easy, I figured, eh, why not?

“Blue Jean Baby” Poncho

Some color modification, but it’s going splendidly!

So this is how I am dealing with a societal meltdown. How about you? What are you doing to keep it together?

Finished Project and a Freebie

Can you tell I’m glad it’s done?!

And just like that, it’s done. I’m proud that I finished the sweater in (for me) a relatively short time, and as the pictures attest, it was the perfect weather for it. I’m especially pleased with this because I used Patons Astra DK acrylic yarn in a color that isn’t available anymore because it had been given to me about seven years ago, and the contrast color is Bernat Baby Sport Yarn, Baby Taupe. So, yea, this beautiful sweater was an acrylic yarn stash buster for me and cost me a net total of $15. I don’t normally use acrylic when I’m working on a project like this, but there you have it. Truly, I would have liked to use the recommended yarn, but it was a bit too dear for me, and damn it!- I wanted to make this sweater!! The pattern info is here.

The snow is falling and creating a beautiful Currier & Ives backdrop, but it’s wreaking havoc on the roads. I’ll be using this time as a springboard to start my next project, another Caitlin Hunter creation.

Tecumseh

Yarn, place marker, and sizing numbers circled

This is another sweater knit in DK weight yarn – and it is wool!! -so I suspect it will be finished in about a month. Hopefully. Wish me luck!

In the meantime, I wanted a crocheted planned pooling project that wasn’t a cowl or a scarf, so I made a sweater for one of my doggies. He’s a Chiweenie with very thin fur, so he must be covered pretty much 24/7. I wrote the pattern to be customizable, just as your doggie needs, and it whips up fairly quickly. Here it is!

So Christmas is over and I’m experiencing a little melancholy as I look at the bare spaces that were festive and bright just yesterday. And because of the snow I mentioned earlier, the lights will remain up until it’s safe to bring them down.

That’s just sad

So, dear readers, I hope this post amused you, and may you continue to carry on being awesome!

Snow Day and a Freebie

So far this year, my entries have been a bit on the dark side; the post about my daughter, absolutely harrowing. This time, I promise, I’ll focus on something else. Nevermind the title, I like snow…unless I have to shovel it. So that’s what I’m going to do. Post pictures of the snow.

Guess who’s shoveling this snow….?

Tulips peeking through the snow

Taken from my front porch

I really liked the gate

A little subtle HDR action

Looking up

And just in time, the freebie! A simple Rolled Brim Slouchy pattern. There is a little shaping to the hat, it’s not just a tube, and I should have possibly made it a bit longer to get more of a slouch, but, oh, well. I still like it, and hope you do too. Enjoy!

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Adieu, adieu, parting is such sweet sorrow – NOT!

As I pack up my minivan for the last show of the season, I am loathe to admit that, yes, I am glad that it’s over, and yes, I’ll be doing it again!  I went all out this year, purchasing a canopy, lights to illuminate my wares for night time shows, a cool pink chair that has a lot of gee-gaws, including a fold out side area for my lunch, electronics, etc.  I am pleased to say that my endeavors were able to cover the costs of the purchases I felt necessary, even though the money earned managed to disappear in the general household fund.  How does that happen?

Anyway, with all this industriousness, I was able to write up a few of my own patterns and will be sharing them as soon as I can.  The first one I have is very popular and doesn’t stay around long.

 

California Little Quail Messy Bun Hat

California Little Quail Messy Bun Hat

I named this hat after the California Quail because it’s little curved crest reminded me of the bobble stitches on the hat.

This pattern is worked in rounds with joins.  When joining, sl st to the first st, and work first st in the new round in this spot.  Here is a link for the method.  It reduces the gaps when joining, giving the finished work a much neater look.

Abbreviations:

Yo = yarn over

Ch = chain

St(s) = stitch(es)

BLO = back loops only

Sc = single crochet

Dc = double crochet

Tr = treble crochet

FPSC = work single crochet in the post of the stitch directly below from the front

FPDC = work double crochet in the post of the stitch directly  below from the front

Materials:

1 skein worsted weight yarn

Crochet hook size I or 5.5 mm

Definitions:

Bobble stitch: work tr EXCEPT leave the last two loops on hook; yo twice, and repeat, leaving three loops on hook; yo twice, and repeat.  There should be four loops on hook; yo, draw through all the loops.

With I hook (5.5 mm), ch 20, join with sl st to first ch to make a circle.

Round 1:  ch 1, 24 sc into the circle.  Ensure the sts are lined up so as not to twist them; join

Round 2:  ch 2, dc in each st = 24 dc

Round 3:  ch 2, *2 dc in first st, dc in next st* around, join = 36 dc

Round 4:  ch2, *2 dc in first st, dc in next 3 sts* around, join = 45 dc

Round 5:  ch 2, *2dc in first st, dc in next 5 sts* around, dc in last 2 sts, join =  53 dc

Round 6:  ch 1, FPSC around, sl st to first sc, then sl st to first st in back row

Round 7:  Working in the back round of sts, ch 2, *work 2 dc in first st, dc in next 6 sts* around, dc in last 3 sts (the last st will be half hidden because of the unusual join at the beginning of the round – don’t despair, it’s there!), join = 61 sts

Round 8:  ch1, sc in BLO around, inc. 3 sts evenly, join =  64 sts

Round 9:  ch 3,*Bobble stitch, 3 sc* around, join with chain on top of first bobble cluster

Round 10:  ch 2 , dc in same st as the join, dc around, join

Round 11:  ch 2, FPDC around, join

Round 12:  ch 1, FPSC around, sl st to first sc, then sl st to first st in back row

Round 13:   Working in the back round of sts, ch 2, dc around, join

Round 14:  ch 1, FPSC around, sl st to first sc, then sl st to first st in back row

Round 15:  Working in the back round of sts, ch 1, sc around, join

Round 16:  repeat round 9

Round 17:  repeat round 10

Round 18:  repeat round 11

Round 19:  repeat round 12

Round 20:  Working in the back round of sts, ch 1, sc in BLO around, join

Round 21:  ch 2, dc in BLO around, join and end off.

Optional earflap extension variation:

Row 1:  Using last round as reference, DO NOT CUT YARN.  ch 2, turn, hdc 30 BLO.  Check at this point for position and comfort; if you need to go further, add a few sts at a time, if less, remove a few sts at a time.  If more length is needed, repeat the row as you see fit.  If you like what you see, follow next step.

Finishing:  sl st into next st, turn, sl st across the row plus one.  End off.  This should round out the squared edges and give the hat a less “home made” look!

Work in any ends, tuck your hair up and enjoy!

Goofing around

 

 

It’s Here!

Red Heart has finally produced a yarn that is specifically for pooling.  Uniformity of color is assured, “engineered so that color repeats are evenly dyed for happier pooling” – as the ad says.  I was looking for this about two weeks ago when I went to Joann Crafts, but they weren’t carrying it yet.  I have to call them.  And yet….am I being silly when I say I don’t want it to become easy?  That means there will be no craft or hard-won hours to brag about?  That’s why I need to try this out.  As soon as it hit the shelves on my LYS, I’m getting some, and I will report the results.

http://www.redheart.com/yarn/super-saver-pooling

Oh, My Word!

Have you been as busy as I have?  I’m sure you have, if not more so!  My last post was in November, and here it is, one week before Christmas.  At least the last post was a freebie crochet pattern, so that’s good.  I had a visit with my mother after Thanksgiving and we had a grand time; I finished the Coffee Shop Wrap, which took way too long to make!  Nothing wrong with the pattern, I just couldn’t get into it.  I do love it, though.  Wearing it as I’m writing this post.  Thinking of making some more – have lots of fans!  In the interim, I’m making a slouchy using the leftover yarn.  It’s cotton, and I’m thinking it won’t hold its shape, hence, the slouchy!  I’ll post when done, and if you want, I’ll get the basic numbers and graph to you.  Yea, there’s coffee cups on it.

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Since I most likely will not be posting before Christmas, I would like to wish everyone a good time this holiday season, no matter what your preference is.  I do not know all of the holidays being celebrated around the world at this time, but I believe they’re mostly in the northern hemisphere.  Everyone needs a break from winter!!

See you all in the funny pages.

Quick Cowl Pattern

I really like this cowl because it is so easy and still manages to be fashionable! The yarn used is textured, and I crocheted into the back loop for even more texture.  And it whips up so quickly there’s plenty of time for you to make several for Christmas.  I used the Fiesta colorway because it is so colorful it will flatter most any skin.

Pattern link!

Enjoy!