Borrowing the Rex

As in, my neighbor’s Rex babies.  Aren’t they cute?  I watched them for a few hours this weekend while a rowdy party was going on next door.

There are three Black Otters and three Broken Black Otters in the litter. So, darn cute.

Look What I Can Do!

Split rings!  Whoo!

I have wanted to try split rings for years, but I just couldn’t motivate myself to try them without guidance.  At my Lafayette Lacers meeting on Saturday one of the members demonstrated the technique for me.

It’s very simple.  Really simple, yet, so dramatic in contrasting colors.

I’m already contemplating the ways that I can incorporate more colors into my tatting.

Sock Hunter Episode 61: Socks on the Run

Sometimes a sock hunter can be on the trail of a pair of socks for days or even weeks.  Watching for a hint of lint clinging to a twig, a heel print left in loam, or even a trace of lanolin in the air.  It can be a daunting task, especially when socks are on the run.

I spotted this pair of *Inverness Socks just before they dashed off again.

I quickly tracked them as they ran, but I never managed to get quite as close to them again.

They were wily socks, darting to and fro.

I barely caught up, as I puffed and huffed after them.

It was with grief and glee that I snapped my final picture and collapsed into the grass and late morning sun.

This is your Sock Hunter, out of shape, out of breath, and out of her mind, signing off.

*Inverness Diamonds pattern from the Barbara Walker Treasuries, Fleece Artist Trail Sock in Madder, US 1 Hiya Hiya Steel DPNs

Happiness Rolled

I’ve wanted a DPN roll for my sock needles for a long time. Amby kept telling me that it wouldn’t be that hard to make one and I should just “DO IT, already!” So, I finally went to work on a DPN roll today. It only took me an hour or so to whip out this pretty green DPN holder.

My edges aren’t perfectly straight, neither are the pockets, but it’s done, it’s mine, and it only cost me $2.00 to make it. The ribbon was even recycled from another package. I love it when things come together.

I did write the needle size on the fabric with a sharpie marker, but I’m still pondering ways to track the needle size without writing on the fabric.

Oh, and there is still some room for a few more needles on the right. I did stick my WPI tool and a cable needle in the end pockets. I was just testing things, you know.

Bit of Spinning Then

Fiber: 4 oz. batt of Merino and Corriedale blend, dyed in the Berries and Cream colorway from Maine Woods Yarn and Fiber
Wheel: Kromski Sonata
Spun: semi-worsted, chain plied
Yardage: ~250 yards
Intent: Scarf for Jenna, the 8-year-old neighbor girl who asks me every day if I have the scarf done yet, sigh

Now I just need to find the right pattern.

Curled Up

I couldn’t resist a picture of Beau. He looked so cute all curled up on his bed.  He even has his own pillow.

I threw in this photo too, just to prove that he is a well loved puppy. Do you think he has enough toys?

Surprises! I Love Surprises!

Like getting a lovely birthday package in the mail from Helena.  My dear wonderful friend Helena, whom I met through the Knitter’s Tea Swap at least two years ago.

See all of the lovely things she sent? Cookies and tea (oh. oh. she sent Australian Daintree tea, my favorite. so tasty) and a book and a bunny bag. What’s that? Can’t see the bunnies very well? Let me help you out.

But that’s not all! The bunny bag held more surprises.

See? All kinds of surprises.

A cute little needle holder.

Some inspiring fall colored roving.

Some lovely peachy colored roving (that reminds me of Woolly Bear caterpillars).

AND a wraps per inch tool! How spoiled am I? I think I’m very spoiled.

You know as soon as I took my pictures I sat down for a nice cup of Australian Daintree tea with a biscuit (that’s Australian for cookie, hee).

Thank you, Helena!

The Wonderful Thing About Tribbles

. . . is Tribbles are wonderful things.
Their tops are made out of rubber.
Their bottoms are made out of springs.
They’re bouncy, flouncy, trouncy, pouncy,
fun, fun, fun, fun, fun!
But the most wonderful thing about Tribbles is: you can’t make just one!

No, you can’t make just one!

Apparently, I have a problem.

Help.

Sock Hunter Episode 60: Happy (Birthday) Socks

This shall not be your typical Sock Hunter post.  You see, ’tis the Sock Hunter’s birthday and any socks found on a Sock Hunter’s birthday are extra special lucky socks.  ‘Twas just this sock hunter’s lucky day that she found one of those extra special lucky socks.

Happy Birthday (Socks) to me! Happy Birthday (Socks) to me!

Happy Birthday, Lucky Sock Hunter, Happy Birthday (Socks) to me!

Happenstance brought me around a corner just as these *socks settled into a Burning Bush near my house.  I had been on a sock hunting expedition all morning, my faithful Sockhound coursing at my side. We had failed to flush or pin any socks, but hope is ever a Sock Hunter’s friend.

Hope and luck were with me finally, as the socks shifted a little, trying to take in more of the late fall sunshine.  I quickly heeled my hound and snapped some pictures before the socks decided to take off.  As they startled, I did a little happy dance and made a wish. After all, lucky birthday socks can only be found once a year.

This is your Sock Hunter, happily hunting while eating a piece of cake, signing off.

*Malabrigo Sock Yarn, Violetta Africana, Sunshine sock pattern by Cookie A., Hiya Hiya 00 Steel DPNs

Just A Touch Of Tatting

One of these things is not like the other. One of these things just doesn’t belong.

You know, because one of the angels is light pink instead of white.

I’ve been on a tiny tatting kick lately and wanted to make some small things. I don’t seem to have the patience to make large tatted things, unlike knitting.

I wanted to make a cute little snowflake, but I was having trouble finding a pattern that I really liked. I searched my books, the blogs I frequent, and several free pattern sites, but I just couldn’t find a pattern that I liked. So, I made one up!

If you are a tatter and want to duplicate this snowflake, it is shuttle tatted with No. 10 DMC Cebelia cotton. The pattern is as follows:

Ring A: 2 ds, *1p, 2ds* repeat from * to * 6 more times (7 total picots), cr, rw
Chain: 3ds, *1p, 3ds* repeat from * to * 3 more times (4 total picots) rw
Ring B: 2ds, 1p, 2ds, join to 6th picot of previous ring, 2ds, *1p, 2ds* repeat from * to * 4 more times (6 total picots and 1 join), cr, rw

Repeat the Chain and Ring B until you have 6 total rings. For the seventh and last ring, join the 2nd and 6th picots to their adjoining rings to finish the middle. Make one last chain and weave in ends.