Wool takes front & center

That time of year is here when wool begins to take front & center in our daily life. In other words, I knit a lot more when the weather gets cooler. The past month had me traveling to California and during my trip I managed to visit several local yarn stores and purchased some lovely yarn. My needles have been clicking away and I have finished three items since my return. A headband, a triangle scarf, and a cowl-and I have already worn all three.

Earlier in September I was knitting on a piece that had purl stitches and while husking some yummy corn on the cob I was struck by the similarity of the kernels and my purl stitches.

Fall is here, the air is cooler and that means it's time for the New York Sheep and Wool Festival in Rhinebeck, NY. This year we ventured to the festival with our daughter & our son in law and took in the creative spirit that this festival has. As one wanders around the festival there is a quiet calm  and everyone is sporting wool. I always feel like I have found "my people" when I am there. My find for this year was a beautiful hand woven blanket made by Peggy Hart of Bedfellows Blankets. Peggy lives in Shelburne Falls & creates her blankets by gathering fleece from local farms, custom spinning it & then uses antique woolen mill technology to weave her creations. A perfect blanket to cuddle up in as the colder weather approaches.

As the days get shorter the creative spirit gets stronger here at Needle & Hand. There's always enough light to knit no matter where you are.

A Pattern Phase

Seems I'm going through a pattern phase these days. It has been a relaxing, creative summer with time to focus on the patterns in my work.  There are days I look around and BAM there is a pattern that speaks to me.
I am not one to have only one project in the works-for me it is the more the merrier.  I'm making real progress on my cashmere shawlette-this is a cable & lace pattern with simple garter stitich, designed by Anne Hanson. Can't wait to wrap myself in this baby on chilly days.

I'm also working on another project with a simple pattern. This is a black baby alpaca scarf. A gift for a very special person, who happens to be very tall therefore lots of knitting, but the pattern keeps my interest.

The other day I was working in the kitchen and picked up one of my favorite pot holders-a gift from my daughter. It is a handwoven piece that she bought from one of the weavers in her weaving guild when she was living in California. Love this pattern-kind of reminds me of the black alpaca scarf.

One of my favorite knitting stitches is the stockinette stitch-knit one row/purl one row. I've made many  hand knit sweaters with that stitch. I'm close to finishing a project with that stitch using some beautiful yarn from the Hudson Valley.

This past week I had "patterns" on my mind and noticed that my stockinette stitch pattern was lurking in several places:

Our ceramic lamp-

And the old tractor tire at our CSA-

Patterns can really get into your head-especially if you're a knitter. Last week we were in the Adirondacks and went on a canoe ride -and yes, I had patterns on my mind. My favorite was the pattern made by the long grassy weeds in the river that we canoed over.

I checked out the definition of "pattern" in the dictionary and I like this one:" a style of marking of natural or chance origin".

As I sit here looking out at the patterns of nature in our woods, I chuckle at the pile of patterned fabric on the wooden table-waiting to be created with. Oh what project should I start now????

Reaching Out

Hard to believe it is the middle of July but with the summer sunshine comes growth in the "Hot Tub Garden". Things are really "reaching out" on these sunny days.

We're growing some tomatoes, green peppers, cukes and herbs. We have a mama doe and her triplets hanging around the house so we're really happy to have our garden up on the deck.

I'm working on a project that has perked my interest in sheep breeds and fleece. I've always wanted to raise sheep but never quite got there-just like I always wanted to own my own knitting shop. As the years go by and I gain a bit of wisdom, I realize that what I really enjoy is the fiber & the process of knitting. I'm knitting with some NY State local yarn and am finding The Field Guide to Fleece (published by Storey Publishing)  to be very helpful.

Found myself to be very productive last week. I ventured to a great little yarn & fabric store and purchased some nice cotton to try my hand at making a project bag . My dear friend & I have been sharing handmade gifts for many years. I usually knit something but this year I decided to "reach out" and try my hand at a sewing project.  I gathered my sewing tools and got organized before I started my project.

I quickly realized that I need to work on more exact measurements if I want to bring quality into my sewing projects. The house seemed rather quiet for me to work so I decided a little jazz might help my creative energies.

Once I had the measurements figured out I started to make progress with my project. Yesterday I presented my friend with her birthday gift....my very first Project Bag.  And she loved it!!!

As I look back on the week it really was a week of reaching out and trying new projects, learning something new about fiber that I have cherished my entire life , and watching those tomato plants reach for the sun.

Red, White & Blue

 Here at Needle & Hand we're getting in the Fourth of July spirit. The day started with an early morning swim & then home for a healthy breakfast. As I sat on The Baitshop deck having my coffee I noticed the red, white & blue around me. Old Glory was waving at the front door ready to welcome the day. And hanging on the line next to my bathing suit was my handmade "Fourth of July" apron.
I have had this apron for well over 12 years. I purchased it in our hometown from the most amazing seamstress. Everything she made was perfect. She use to work in the local fabric & yarn store and I use to wonder if I could ever perfect my sewing skills to match hers. I'm no where near that but I continue to try.

After an early morning swim there is nothing more relaxing then a coffee on the deck in  my favorite chair-made locally  & painted by my better half.

 The weather is beautiful today -perfect for a canoe ride. Speaking of canoes...the Old Birch Bark canoe is decked out for the 4th.

 Wishing you all a Happy Fourth of July from those of us here at Needle & Hand....and yes, the knitting continues. Working on a "HAT" design. Merino wool and wooden needles are such a joy to work with.

Cotton Duck, Hand Dyed Wool & Cashmere

Summer's pace is starting to set in at Needle & Hand.  The sewing machine has been humming, the needles clicking away and always an audible book in the background. I love this kind of multitasking.
A couple projects jumped to the front of the line this week. I finally decided it was time to make some simple cotton duck curtains for our guest bedrooms. It was a simple project and I'm quite pleased with the end result.

 The next project of the week that found its' way to the front of the line was a pair of socks made from hand dyed wool. I've had this skein in my studio for several years just waiting for the right time to make something with it. It caught my eye the other day and before I knew it I had it on the yarn winder-as of today I'm almost to the heel of the first sock.

 I was feeling very contented with my projects for the week when what should appear in our PO Box but my June shipment from my yarn club I joined ( gift to myself!). A small package that held a beautiful skein of cashmere wool. So of course I had to cast on immediately.

My audible book that has been with me during these projects is "No Ordinary Time: Franklin and Elinor Roosevelt-The Home Front in World War II" by Doris Kearns Goodwin.

Hope you are feeding your creative soul as we move into the summer months.

Today's Tool Shed

 After many years of stashing away my sewing supplies and tools, I decided it was time for a visit to the sewing tool shed.  My approach was one of simplicity. Let's not go over board and buy every sewing tool there is on the market, instead I went for the tools I would really have use for.  This morning I decided it was time to  get moving and lay out the tools and start a project. My goal in all of this is to perfect my sewing skills.

I learned to sew on my Mom's old Singer sewing machine. I was in fourth grade when I did my first major sewing project. My Mom was our 4H leader and we made a green skirt. I can still remember trying so hard to keep the stitches going in a straight line. Over the years, I moved on to more complicated items. I still have the apron I made in Home Economics class in 8th grade.

I made my own wedding dress and two of my bridesmaids' dresses. When our children came along I was constantly sewing for them. I even made a tie for my husband. And then life got busy. It seems I would find it easier to go purchase an article of clothing instead of making it. But lately I've had this feeling that I wanted to get back to "making" good quality items. So I refreshed my supply of sewing tools.

The tools are ready, I'm ready, time to get sewing!

Bottom shelf & Top shelf-both winners

We all know the phrase "top shelf" and have come to associate it with finer things. Here at Needle & Hand I've had the experience of working with both "top shelf" materials & "bottom shelf" materials and have to say I'm please with both projects.
The "top shelf " project is a pair of handknit socks for yours truly. My daughter gifted this fabulous yarn to me for my birthday.This is Periwinkle Sheep 100% superwash merino wool that has been hand dyed in small batches.Every once in awhile I decide to replenish my own sock supply and I think this pair will be a winner.

The wooden platter that the sock is on was handmade by my son in law.

A week ago I happen to be in one of those "Big Lot" stores. As soon as I enter one of them I can't wait to get out. I was on the lookout for some inexpensive outdoor chairs-no luck. However I did find myself in an aisle that had chair seat covers. I was looking at them & noticed they were all $1.00 each. I need to add here that these were on the "bottom shelf". I then quickly noticed that the material was not up to par and the workmanship was shoddy-seriously, what did I expect for $1.00?? I then noticed four denim blue covers that were actually pretty nice-their price was $2.99 each. I pondered for a moment and then decided I really didn't need these covers and started to return them to the "bottom shelf" when my hand rubbed up against a piece of fabric that felt wonderful. I pulled out the small piece of fabric and realized that it was not a seat cover but a pillow cover made out of 100% Indian cotton. I knelt down and checked to see if there was a second cover of the same fabric but to my surprise I found another pillow cover made of linen. They were the only two of quality on the entire shelf and I decided they needed a new home.
Once home I replaced two old pillow covers I had with my new finds-just a few seams of handstiching and they were done.
I love the result. Oh, and the cost of the "bottom shelf" covers was $1.00 each. So we here at Needle & Hand are feeling pretty good about our new pillows and think they deserve "top shelf" treatment.

Hot Tub Garden

We here at Needle & Hand just had a wonderful week in the beautiful Adirondacks. In spite of a few black flies we hiked & kayaked. It was a great get away and now it is time to start using those hands to start planting. We live in the woods and are frequented by deer on a daily basis. Over the many years we have lived here it has always been a challenge to plant a garden and not have it eaten by our four legged friends. When we finally took our redwood hot tub out of service we found a new life for it-our kitchen garden. Here is is after a long winter. Today I started the process of putting in new soil and planning out what we'd like to have growing there.  Tomorrow the sage, rosemary & basil will go in. I'm thinking some green beans & lots of cut flowers & in the middle we'll place some patio tomatoes. The black flies are hanging out here in the Berkshires but it sure is wonderful to be outside.
An update on my knitting. I finished the surprise gift and love it. I'm getting ready to turn the heel on the grey socks. The sewing machine is calling to me. Maybe on a rainy day.

The Sock Story

Let's talk about socks. I love to knit socks. I have been knitting since I was in second grade but I didn't attempt to knit socks until I was 55. I love the joy of knitting an item that someone will wear and eventually wear out. Some socks just fly off the needles and some socks take forever. I've become a bit of a sock yarn snob. If I'm going to put all of this work into making a pair of socks on a size 1 needle then I better love the yarn. My family has come to appreciate a pair of handknit wool socks. Last Christmas I accomplished the feat of knitting seven pairs of socks for my better half-one for each day of the week . He loved them. The problem I've created is that now he only wants to wear handknit socks. I have two nephews who love my handknit socks-only problem is that they have huge feet!! But no complaints from me, just another excuse to knit with fine wool. My favorite sock story is that I knit my daughter a pair of socks and she lost them, almost a year later after one of her moves she discovered them in her boots and was thrilled. So in my little journal of Things To Make And Do I always have a list of loved ones to make socks for. They'll have to guess who this pair is for. My knitting bag has socks on them. The bag is from Three Bags Full. Handmade by Michelle Corbeil a graduate of Williams College.

On the road with Needle & Hand

When I'm traveling and riding shotgun there is nothing I love to do more than knit. Today was one of those perfect "On the road" knitting days. Lots of sunshine, a good cup of coffee in the cup holder, great company and a cherished destination. This particular project is a gift and I'm on a bit of a deadline. The wooden needles & the squishy wool make for smooth sailing. The pattern is from one of my favorite designers, Knitspot's Anne Hanson. You'll notice the spiral journal on my lap-need that to keep my row count straight. Please note my new work wardrobe....jeans. Wool, wooden needles, jeans & sunshine-a perfect day at work.

First weaving attempt

Two years ago I was enjoying a beautiful day at the Rhinebeck Sheep & Wool Festival when I can upon a booth where these lap looms were being sold. I have always wanted to try my hand at weaving and thought this might be a good beginning. So I purchased my Millpoint Emporium 18th Century Lap Loom. That was two years ago, and it has been in my small craft studio ever since-still in the original package. No longer sitting at a desk and a computer eight hours a day, I decided it was time to get the handcrafted frame loom into action. My goal is to make a small pillow cover. The brown yarn in the photo came with the loom but I have since moved on to using my very own handspun with fleece from our neighbor's sheep. The movement of the shuttle and the feel of  fleece on the hand is comforting. Let's see if we can get this pillow finished before I head back to Rhinebeck in the fall.

Let's begin

Where does the joy come from? When do things feel just right? When am I happiest? When I ponder these questions I always come back to my family, my friends, my knitting, and making things by hand. Recently,  I was given the great opportunity to focus on my creativity and really take the time to discover what it is I love to do. The Adirondack chairs await for me to settle in with Needle & Hand and begin the journey.