handstories

a quick change

    And just like that, there is sunshine!

    Spincycle fiber in "Rusted Rainbow".

zipped

    It's been a while since I've done any kind of exacting sewing, the kind that involves a sewing machine, measuring, and making things line up.

    I guess it's still been a while.

    But the zipper is in.  I don't think I've dealt with a zipper for more than twenty years!

    The back was pieced together from recycled and felted wool sweaters.  

    That wavy top edge . . . sigh . . . I tried.

    "You Zig, I Zag" pillow,  yarn and design by Spincycle Yarns.  

    Knitting, sewing, zipping, muddling, wonkiness, and enjoying by me!

zig-zag-zip

    Do you remember that cool kit that I won last summer from Spincycle Yarns?  Well, I've finally finished the knitting of it.  Once I decided to read ALL of the directions, rather than assuming I knew what to do (which took my fool self a total of five starts to realize), it knit up very fast.  The chevron pattern was the perfect amount of change in stitch to keep it interesting, while still being easy enough to allow for chatting or movie watching. 

        I still love the name of the grey yarn, "grumpy birds", and found myself chanting it as I clicked along . . . "grumpy birds...grumpy birds...grumpy birds..."  Doesn't it make you giggle?

    Now to face the zipper installment!  

it's all in the labeling

    After finishing the first sock, I realized the mistake I made in the stripes.  Do you see it?  Rather than frogging it (knit-speak for ripping it out, "rip-it"), I repeated it in the second sock.  It's now a design feature . . . right?

    And waiting in the wings . . .

    I splurged at the Urban Craft Uprising Fair yesterday.  

    Blue stood confused (and impatient) in the booth while I pondered the pinks.  "But you don't like pink!"  

    "I don't wear pink, there's a difference."

    Maybe I will rethink wearing pink and make a hat for myself after Christmas.

zig-zagging along

    A few weeks ago, we went to the Urban Craft Uprising.  It's a craft fair of the coolest kind that happens twice a year here in Seattle.  I always look forward to going to seeing all of the new creations by local artists.  A favorite booth is that of Spincycle Yarns.  Two women, from Bellingham, Washington, dye and spin fiber into delicious beautiful yarns and rovings.  (I knit that bright green cowl with buttons from their yarn.)

    At the fair I purchased their pretty roving above ("rusted rainbow"), which entered me into their drawing for the "You Zig, I Zag" pattern and yarn, and I won!  

    I love the yarn colors, and their names "greed" and "grumpy birds".  

    Thank you Spincycle, I'll look forward to zipping this out someday soon!

    I feel that I am somewhat zig-zagging through this summer.  An idea emerges, I head towards it and then something comes up that derails me.  They are happy interruptions for the most part, just the things of life- long weekend trips, Moon and K's birthdays, etc., but I find it so hard to get back on track, oh well, I'll keep zigging along and see where I end up.

knitters not models

    There's been a bunch of knitting going on around here.  Above is Moon's first scarf.   Needles and a Surprise Ball of yarn (a yarn ball that I hid trinkets and beads throughout to motivate him to keep knitting) were one of my gifts to him a couple of birthdays ago.  

    I had finished up a couple of knitting projects last week, too, and had the brilliant idea that we should do a photo shoot with the boys and I wearing the three objects.

 Bad idea.                                                                                                                        

    Thirteen year olds think that it is "creepy" to be wearing mama's cowl for a photo.  Sensitive skinned nine year olds do not want wool that is "too itchy" on their face.

    Never mind.  I give you lifeless, but cooperative photos . . .

                                 A cowl/scarf meant to wear in a myriad of ways, sent off as a gift.

That cowl with the buttons attached, finally.