Today’s progress was made on another one of my favorite designs. My Doodling Shawl by Sheri Karobonik , this time using Perth by Queensland Yarn in the color Bay of Fires. Using US 10.5 circular knitting needles. The pattern can be found on Ravelry.com under Sheri Karobonik. The shawl is very easy to knit. It is a perfect beginner pattern or a break from lace knitting.
No projects got finished today
I am making a good amount of progress in knitting and Tunisian crochet projects today. Except for weaving in the ends they are basically finished. So today’s knitting and crochet count is one of each. I do wish I had a bigger Soak Wash tub to hold the projects that need seaming or weaving in the ends. The basket includes one pair of Maxi Fingerless Gloves to seam in the Della Q snap bag and 3 scarfs that need the ends woven in. Maybe it is a good thing that this is the small wash tub. I am sure I could get 3 times the amount of projects in the bigger wash tub. I like to weave in the end in natural light. I also tend to have more energy earlier in the day.
Currently I am on a finishing binge on the project front. My body seems to require more rest right now. So the best thing besides napping that I can do is listen to a book and knit. Also winter is coming, so I need to knit faster. I say this tongue in cheek, because today was yet another day over 100 degrees Fahrenheit. There has not been enough rain this summer. So the summer seems longer than normal. A good afternoon rain storm just makes the day more pleasant. Because of the long-term drought in the desert Southwest, we haven’t seen regular afternoon rain showers for a long time.
It was a day for drop spindles and Tunisian Crochet. I am almost done with the first ply of a lace weight yarn of Striken Lock. I got a four ounce or 100 grams worth to try out. I fell in love with the roving It has taken almost all my feather weight drop spindles to complete the project. As soon as I am done with the first ply then it will be time to get the yarn off the spindles to ply.
I also made progress on two Tunisian Crochet projects. One is a charity scarf that I am completing the edging. The other is my advent calendar from last year. I am almost finished with the first of 5 sections. The next section will be solid white. Then the next color section, followed by white and the last color section followed by a white boarder.
If you have not guessed it already, I am working on my Ph.D in knitting and spinning = projects half done. I think the projects half done have won.
Of course I had a bad body day and spent most of the day resting.
I am currently designing 2 new knitting patterns. The good news is that the elements for one pattern have come together. I will begin to type up the relevant information and instructions. Taking pictures in 100 degrees Fahrenheit is not ideal for this pattern. So I’m going to have to come up with an alternative that’s indoors.
The Bad news is that the second pattern on the third section will have to be tinked. I can say at this point having two out of three sections done is helpful. However, the last section is the largest section. Tinking will take place soon.
I have finished the Maxi Fingerless Gloves for my daughter. All I can say is that The yarn is scrumptious. It is an alpaca, silk blend from the Yarn Dragon in Seattle, Washington. It even came in a worsted weight which was needed for the pattern. He has a beautiful on line shop. It is a luxurious fiber that I’m sure my daughter will love. And hopefully there won’t be any allergies involved. On gloves looks larger then the other because I just had to try them on. I might have to get a skein of this yarn for a pair of gloves for me.
While visiting in San Diego last week we had a chance to visit the state historic park called Old Town, San Diego. When going through La Casa de Estudillo, we got to see some very old spinning and fiber preparation tools. In the main bedroom there was a very small spinning wheel. In one of the other rooms we spotted a squirrel cage for taking skeins of yarn and wrapping them into balls. There was no adjustments to be made like the Squirrel cage I purchased from Shepard’s Woodworking . Of course all the skeins of yarn would have been made the same size, so there was no need to make it adjustable. What I am really saying is that if you wind large amounts of yarn at home you definitely need a squirrel cage at home. Some things never change. I have had mine for a few years now and wish that I had gotten it sooner. The hand carders looked very similar to the hand carders produced today. The difference was in the handles. The handles looked like they were carved or whittled by hand. The blacksmith would have added the pins on the carders with each one made by hand. The handles had no grip like the modern ones that I use.
Of course there were no acid dyes around to dye the yarn. It is my humble opinion that various plants, spices and flowers were used to make the colors.
Below are a few pictures.
We took a break from the heat. We spent 4 days in San Diego. The weather was nice. The food was good. The Doctor Who exhibit at the Comic Con Museum was well worth the time and money. My favorite picture from the museum was the Tom Baker scarf. It was awesome in person. I loved the length.
You always have to be aware of pickpockets. They are all sizes and all ages. The one that tried to pick my wallet was in her later years. When traveling I normally put my wallet under my knitting or Tunisian Crochet project in a medium Della Q snap bag and my medicine in a Stasher bag. The pickpocket thought that the Della Q snap bag was my wallet. Because of the size of the shawl in progress she could not get it out of my purse. I was rewarded with a very deliberate body slam. She put a lot of shove in that for someone her age. I do still have my wallet. Double pointed knitting needles have also been used to foil a pickpocket In the past.
*I purchased both the Stasher bag and the Della Q Snap Bag. I am a fan of both companies and use there products on a regular basis. I am not being paid by either company. I will however earn a commission on purchase from ads on the website
This week I started working again on the Advent Kit that I bought in 2024 from Cornbread and Honey. The good news is that I am working on it again. The bad news is that I probably will not be done by December 2025. I working on this with on this with Tunisian Crochet on a size H, 8 or 5mm, on fingering weight yarn. That being said, I am 4.5 mini skeins in. The oak pattern that I designed has 6 mini skeins followed by a white section, repeat once and add the last 6 mini skeins. With a crochet boarder in white.
I am getting a lot of nice compliments from complete strangers. That feels really good. I also did the next 2 Russian joins so I won’t have to weave in any ends. I can also use all the yarn with less waste.
