Saturday, April 29, 2017

Snowed in and --- wait! It's April!

It really is April (very late April, in fact).

It really is Spring.

But here in the foothills of Colorado, we have about 18 inches --- so far. It is still snowing and we should have another 6 inches by this evening. This is why we are all warned not to plant anything outside until after Mother's Day.

Now one of the major things you need to know about me is I love snowy days and cold weather so I am loving this last hurrah of winter. I figured someone has to love winter weather and it appears that is me.

Wine -- check!
Movies from the library -- check!
Lots of yarn -- check!
Chili in the crockpot -- check!
Snowed in -- Priceless!

But it will all be gone by Monday or Tuesday when the temperatures go back into the 80s. I guess summer will come after that.

Monday, April 24, 2017

Kelsey Lace and Spiral Hat

Kelsey Lace and Spiral Hat




I recently did a spiral hat (posted April 12, 2017) and enjoyed doing the stitch enough to make a second hat. However, to add a little interest, I did a small leaf lace pattern just above the brim. Now I am thinking I need to make an entire hat of the lace pattern now. It is beginning to look like I will have more hats than I have cold days, even in Colorado, to ever wear them. (Don’t worry; I will sell many of them at holiday craft fairs)

MATERIALS
1 skein each Loops and Threads Woolike in Gray (85% Acrylic; 15% Nylon, 620m/678yds))
Size US 2.5 (3.0 mm) Circular Needles
Size US 2.5 (3.0 mm) Double Pointed Needles
Yarn needle
Stitch markers
Gauge: 16 stitches in pattern to 2”
Size: Fits most medium (22-23”) to large (23-25”) sized heads since pattern is very stretchy. To make a smaller size, reduce the number of cast on stitches by numbers divisible by 2.

Pattern Stitch:
Round 1: P1, k1. Repeat these 2 stitches to end of round.
Round 2: Insert the tip of your right needle knitwise into the second stitch (which is a knitted stitch) on the left needle and pull up a loop. Do not remove from the left needle. Knit the 1st stitch on the left needle. Put both stitches onto the right needle.  Continue to the marker which is the end of the round. Remove the marker, k1, place the marker. It is important that the first stitch of each round is a stitch that was purled




Lace Pattern Stitch:
Round 1: K2tog, YO, K1, YO, SSK, k1. Repeat to end of round.
Round 2 and all even numbered rounds: Knit.
Round 3: YO, K3, YO, S2KP2. Repeat to end of round.
Round 5: YO, SSK, K1, K2tog, YO, k1. Repeat to end of round.
Round 7: K1, YO, S2KP2, YO, k2. Repeat to end of round.








8


O
B
O

7






6

O
/

\
O
5






4
B
O



O
3






2

\
O

O
/
1


Knit
/
K2tog
\
SSK
O
Yarn over
B
S2KP2: Sl 2 sts as if to k2tog, k1, pass 2 sl sts over


Hat Pattern:
Cast on 136 sts. Place marker and join.
Work the two rows of the pattern stitch for 2 inches, ending with round 1.

Begin Lace pattern: Work the lace pattern 4 times, ending with round 8.

Return to the two rows of the pattern stitch until the hat measures 10 inches from the cast on edge, ending with round 2.


Crown:
Switch to double pointed needles when appropriate.
Round 1: P1, k1. Repeat these 2 stitches to end of round.
Round 2: K2tog to end of round.
Round 3: K all stitches.
Round 4: K2tog to end of round.
Round 5: Repeat Round 4 until you have about 10-15 stitches left. It doesn’t have to be exact.

Break yarn. Thread yarn thread and draw through the remaining stitches.  Weave in ends.


Saturday, April 22, 2017

I Shot the Turkeys

Passing through our yard, I got a chance to capture the wild turkey rafter (yes, a group of turkeys is called a 'rafter') and I shot them all.  I used a camera, but you get my drift.
Escaping by way of the cul-de-sac
In our rock garden


Yes, they hang out in trees ...

... just so Neko can watch them.


Wednesday, April 19, 2017

What About Second Breakfast?

So far, Neko is really, really fond of Ken's and my retirement. Most mornings, Ken and I don't get up at the same time. I will get up around 7:30 and Ken will sleep in until 8:00. Sometimes, it's the other way around.

So Neko has figured out this schedule and now uses it to his advantage.Whoever gets up first has to fed the beast. Neko is so loving and affectionate in the morning because he wants breakfast as soon as possible.

Ken will get up first and feed him, rewarded by leg circles and loving twittering by the local panther. Then about an hour later, I will get. Neko approaches me with his sweetness and loving, making me think that he hasn't been fed yet. He uses that cute little mew so I just say "Awwww, my baby!" and then I pick him up. He purrs and rubs my chin. So I feed him again. I am such a sucker.

It's called Second Breakfast after the Hobbits in the Lord of the Rings. At least he has the same furry feet.



Wednesday, April 12, 2017

Knit Two for the Price of One!

Penny Reversible Spiral Hat
Rib side

 












I really like this spiral stitch so I incorporated it into a hat.  It is easy to do and it creates a wonderful spiral effect.  But as I put it on my model head I noticed the ‘wrong’ other had a wonderful texture to it as well. So in essence, this is reversible! 
Non-rib side
 














MATERIALS
1 skein each Loops and Threads Woolike in Golden (85% Acrylic; 15% Nylon, 620m/678yds) (any sock 
     yarn would be fine as well
Size US 2.5 (3.0 mm) Circular Needles
Size US 2.5 (3.0 mm) Double Pointed Needles
Yarn needle
Stitch markers

Gauge: 16 stitches in pattern to 2"

Size: Fits most medium (22-23”) to large (23-25”) sized heads since pattern is very stretchy. To make a smaller size, reduce the number of cast on stitches by numbers divisible by 2.

Pattern Stitch:

Round 1: P1, k1. Repeat these 2 stitches to end of round.
Round 2: Insert the tip of your right needle knitwise into the second stitch (which is a knitted stitch) on the left needle and pull up a loop. Do not remove from the left needle. Knit the 1st stitch on the left needle. Pull both stitches onto the right needle.  Continue to the marker which is the end of the round. Remove the marker, k1, place the marker. It is important that the first stitch of each round is a stitch that was purled.

Hat Pattern:
Cast on 136 sts. Place marker and join.
Work the two rows of the pattern stitch for 10 inches, ending with round 2.

Crown:
Switch to double pointed needles when appropriate.
Round 1: P1, k1. Repeat these 2 stitches to end of round.
Round 2: K2tog to end of round.
Round 3: K all stitches. 
Round 4: K2tog to end of round.
Round 5: Repeat Round 4 until you have about 10-15 stitches left. It doesn’t have to be exact.

Break yarn. Thread yarn thread and draw through the remaining stitches.  Weave in ends.

Wear with either side out!
(named for my friend Penny)

Monday, April 3, 2017

My own personal Bagheera




"A black shadow dropped down into the circle. It was Bagheera the Black Panther, inky black all over, but with the panther markings showing up in certain lights like the pattern of watered silk. Everybody knew Bagheera, and nobody cared to cross his path, for he was as cunning as Tabaqui, as bold as the wild buffalo, and as reckless as the wounded elephant. But he had a voice as soft as wild honey dripping from a tree, and a skin softer than down.” 
― Rudyard Kipling, The Jungle Books
You looking at me? --Neko

Have you ever read Kipling's Jungle book? My little black kitty is a true descendant of Bagheera the Panther. He is extremely territorial to the point that he will attack people who come to our house. We have to put him the office so our guests do not have to fear teeth and claws digging into ankles or hands. The office has interior windows and he will stare at our guests the entire time they are here. We assume that he believes they leave because of him, because no one ever stays! Then he struts around like he owns the place. (I guess he does)

I am a sweet, adorable, delicate kitty.
You got a problem with that"
We have never been able to figure out how he got this way. We got him from a cat shelter when he was just 14 weeks old and he has always been this way. His first months of life before us must have been a struggle, or maybe he was just born this way. He is now 14 years old, and he will never change. However, he is the funniest cat I have ever had. He runs from place to place in the middle on the night. He stands on top of me in the morning and meowed into my ear to let me know it is breakfast time. He dances with an invisible cat all the time. He sits on my keyboard and stares at me. He has the ability to look so adorable and mews so sweetly when it is treat time.


He can be nice to me and very cuddly when he wants to be. He is totally in love with my husband. He will crawl into Ken's lap, put his paws on both sides of his face and stare into his eyes. I am only the human who gets his food and cleans his litter box. He was originally supposed to be my cat, but he let me know from the beginning that the bearded human gets his love and I have to deal with both ends of him. {{sigh!}} But for some reason, I just adore him completely, notwithstanding the scars on my arms from his teeth and claws.
Where's my treats?

This is what it is to be abused by a little black panther.