Cinnaknits

Mobeus Crazy

2012-01-18T17:58:00.001-04:00

Pink and white Mobeus' knit by Elaine from Read's knitting group. Brown double wrap knit mobeus knit by JoAnne. Mobile update.
Cinna

Not Much Happenin

2012-01-15T08:05:00.001-04:00

There isn't too much going on knitwise here.
I finished DH's socks. Gawd! I hate knitting men's socks. Their feet are so long and then the legs have to be long. My DH doesn't want socks that are snazzy. So knitting him socks is so boring. I did start a pair of socks for me that are nice. I bought Fleece Artists 2 of 3 mitten/sock/toque kit in a very nice tonal light green moss. So the kit has BFL and Kid. Of course I am using the BFL (Dk/Aran) on it's own for Serpentine Socks from Wendy D.Johnson's book Socks from the Toe Up. The Kid is slated for a scarf or shawlette. I am using a 2.75mm Kollage square circular needle with a firm cable. I find the join on one end a bit rough and if this is the firm cable I can only say "Wow!". Very nice cable and the shat is smooth and not bad to knit with. Gauge has not been an issue at all.

Anyways, that is pretty much it on the knitting front.See you Wednesday night at Read's
Cinna

January 2012 Post

2012-01-08T20:33:00.000-04:00

So the holidays are over and they we were very nice. I would like to say to the Bag Ladies "Je voudrais vous remercier pour mon sac du laine".
I knit my DD a pair of wool felted mittens from Catherine Vardy's pattern using Briggs and Little Regal yarn.

DD's felted mittens

I became somewhat obsessed with felting after I felted my first dumpling bag and I must say I had mixed results. I made a pair of Fiber Trends felt clog pattern that are still too large for my DH. The sad thing is I was using the medium woman's size. So I made another pair using 2 strands of cascade 220 (I think colour 2415) and 2 strands Pattons Classic Merino Aran and Magnolia. I understand that felting light coloured wool can take a fair number of washes to felt but it took 8!! Not only that but after 4 attempts our 10 year old Kenmore washer died! OMG!! Luckily we were able to obtain a used Hot Point washer from a friend of DH's. Thank goodness and it works very well. Anyways my felt clogs are wonderful and I love them. I learned that to get them to felt quicker I must knit them on 6.5mm needles. A rather costly lesson. I do recommend the pattern. Note in the pre-felted photo the normal sized slipper. The next photo shows my felted slippers.

Pre felted clogs

Felted slippers

I am still into felt patterns and am knitting a tote bag pattern from Patons Family Felting . I did some spinning on my new bulky flyer and decided to crochet up a tote to felt. The pattern is " I Felt the Earth Move" by Letita Sherriff. It felted very well except for the yellow stripe which I had to oversew. All the yarn was handspun except the top border and handles. The second photo shows the felted product. Stuffed with plastic bags for shaping. I am delighted to say it felted very nicely in the first wash.

Pre felted crochet bag

Felted tote

I still have a fair number of socks on needles and am developing a teaching pattern for tip to cuff knit mittens to be taught at CC this winter/spring. Busy,busy,busy.

I am happy to be going back to work tomorrow after being off for 2 months due to a shoulder injury. Mind you it is only for 4 hours a day this week and 6 hours a day next week but I am pleased none the less.
See you all at Read's this Wednesday.
Cinna

Found Lost Photos

2012-01-08T20:30:00.002-04:00

The photos are of my DD's birthday shrug and my friend Gael's felted dumpling bag. Gifts I had made for them and then I couldn't find the photos. Obviously I found them.

Cinna

DD and her shrug

Gael's bag

Wanted and Needed

2011-12-23T16:26:00.000-04:00

So it's December the 23rd and yesterday I picked up the Ashford Jumbo Flyer, 2 jumbo bobbins and some practice fibre from Heidi at London Wul. It certainly was nice to see Heidi again and that she had the above waiting for me at her shop made it even better. I definitely needed the flyer as I want to start spinning some bulky weight yarn to make Lopi type sweaters etc..

Jumbo Flyer

The bobbins are drying having been treated with Minwax. I haven't spun since late October due to a sprained shoulder but I had to try the flyer out and so spun a bit this afternoon. I like it! I like it a lot! The sliding hooks on this baby work like a dream and I just know the flyer and I are going to be great pals.

I am always on the look out for needles and of course I had to snag a set of Knitter's Pride interchangeable Acrylics as well as the chunky set. The set is quite nice. Very reminiscent of Knit Picks except the cable is a little thicker. The joins are quite smooth and the tips just sharp enough. I purchased my set from WEBS and the very day they arrived here I discovered in the Mary Maxim catalogue that arrived the same day that Mary Maxim is also selling these needles and to my delight my LYS, Cricket Cove is now selling the straight and DPNs . Yeah!!

Knitter's Pride Acrylic Interchangeable Needles

I finally managed to finish DH's Lopi sweater this morning. Hooray!! Go team! This is the first sweater I have knit him and I am well pleased with the fit. Note to self, gauge swatches really do work! Who knew? The colours are a bit blah but as DH is a mechanic and tends to attract grease like a magnet the colour is probably just right.

DH and Barclay

Well that shall be it until after The Day. I hope everyone has a joyous, safe and wonderful holiday.
Cinna

Party and Eats!

2011-12-15T21:15:00.000-04:00

Well it wasn't really a party but our groups annual Holiday supper at the Homestead Restaurant. As usual I ate far too much. Thanks to Nathalie for the nice stitch markers. Note the coffee motive on them. Does that gal no me or what? Thanks to Deina for the nice bag she made containing homemade jam. Yum! Thanks to Therese for giving us all special cards thereby making a donation to the Make a Wish Foundation and to Doris for bringing the lovely angel pins she had made from some of her china mugs and to JoAnne for delivering fudge. Yum,yum,yum! We will be taking a break and meeting at Read`s in Riverview on January 11th, 2012 at 6pm.

Stitch markers and Deina`s gift bag containing jam

Tomorrow DH and I head down to Halifax to deliver Christmas presents and goodies. I am the first to admit that I am a basic cook and baker. There are things I make on the stove top that make very good holiday sweets. Such as Church Windows and Chocolate Macaroons. I also make a very good Peanut Butter Ball. Below is one of four trays I made up after physio today to take to family. It also includes Rice Krispie squares. Thanks to my physiotherapist Chris Mercer for that idea. Below the picture find my peanut butter ball recipe which is so easy you`ll be amazed.

Peanut Butter Balls

1/2 cup peanut butter (any kind you like)

1/2 cup icing sugar

some sifted cocoa

some sweetened coconut (shredded or flaked)

Mix the peanut butter and icing sugar together. Form into balls and roll in coconut or cocoa.

You can also form the balls around a large nut, maraschino cherry before rolling.

makes 12-16

That is all there is to it. Honestly! That is it. If you find there a little dry roll them in a bit of melted butter before rolling in coconut. I also like them rolled in a crushed pecans and coconut mixture. Really there is no limit to what you can roll these in. They can be dipped in melted chocolate as well.

Well that is all for now.

Cinna

Early Monday Morning Mobile Update

2011-12-12T06:19:00.002-04:00

It is just after 5:30 am here and because my Mum and I discovered on Saturday that we both purchased the same outfits for my brother's girls for Christmas I shall be leaving for Walmart soon to return the ones I bought. I thought that it was kind of funny that we did that.

The photos are of the dumpling bag I made for my Aunt Marjorie using Alafos Lopi. The outfit is for my Great Niece Victoria. The Ribbed Jacket is a free pattern by Debbie Bliss.I made the body out of Patons Classic Wool, Petal Pink. It took 2 balls and the ribbing, hat and, mittens are Bernat Baby Jacquards Florals,Rosebud. The mittens are by Ruth Bendig and the pattern is Toddler Mittens on a String. The hat pattern is a free Bernat pattern Frilly Top and Tootsies

Dumpling bag

Victoria's Set

I felted a pair of mittens using Briggs and Little's Regal this weekend. Let me tell you if you want to knit a garment that it'll take a lot to shrink it this is the yarn to use as it took about an hour in the wash to shrink them. They did turn out quite lovely. I used Catherine Vardy's pattern purchased at Cricket Cove. I also purchased the yarn there. CC has 30% off selected yarns on Fridays until Christmas. I will put a photo up after Christmas as they are a gift and I know the recipient reads this blog.

Tonight the group is meeting for annual Christmas meal at the Homestead restaurant before we take our holiday break. Yummy!
Cinna

Deina's Sweater

2011-12-07T18:24:00.001-04:00

Deina's sweater she made as a gift for her DIL. The pattern is by Norah Gaughan called "Peace" and is made with Berrocco puma. Lucky DIL.
Mobiley Yours
Cinna

Camera Eating Photos

2011-12-06T05:52:00.000-04:00

Well I did have a few photos of my morning sock class that I had taken with my phone but they seem to have been eaten by some mysterious photo eating monster!! I was pleasantly surprised that all of my students had completed their socks. I hope you all continue making socks 2 at the same time on 1 circular needle.
Hubby drove me to London Wul on Saturday. I hadn't been since October. Heidi has some lovely sparkly fiber that she has dyed for sale. Even though I can't spin right now I bought a bag of yummy purple. I have been working on a few little projects like a sweet little cardigan for my year old niece. It is a free pattern by Debbie Bliss found at the All About You website.I have completed 5 Dumpling bags and plan to make at least 1 more. Thanks to Nathalie and Deina for your felting tips. I was having quite a time getting the process to work consistently. Your tips to use a pair of jeans in the washer and 1/4 to 1/2 cup of baking soda in the water seems to have done the trick. I used Plymouth yarns Galway Paint 100% wool on this one. They are such cute little project bags. I but a skein of Briggs and Little Heritage in rust at London Wul to make myself another one.Three others are gifts and one is too small (that one I made before the felting tips).

My Dumpling bag

Yesterday I decorated the house for Christmas. I used about a quarter of the usual amount of decorations. Just have to put the tree up this weekend. I would send of gifts but have been waiting for my Avon order and last week I ordered a special something, something from WEBS for my daughter. Otherwise I am good to go for the holiday.

We are meeting at Read's on Wednesday,December 7th. Next week we will be meeting at the Homestead restaurant in Riverview for a little supper and chat before the holidays. Until Wednesday then.
Cinna

Socks, Again!!

2011-11-28T07:37:00.000-04:00

This morning is my final class of teaching 2 Toe-Up Socks on 1 Circular Needle at Cricket Cove in Moncton until the next time. I taught two classes one in the morning and one in the evening. I am always delighted to pass on this great sock knitting technique. I believe my students are usually amazed at the end of the classes that they have actually knitted a pair of socks this way. I never am. Here are a few things I want to pass on to all of you that want to knit socks in this fashion and have no LYS nearby offering classes. There are a number of books available that usually have visual aids that should assist you.The Internet is a great resource.There is You Tube with all its videos and search engines, Ravelry, Pattern Central, Knitty.com, Socknitters.com and many more.

The ladies in these two classes asked about baby socks. Foot size and how many stitches to cast on to total number of stitches. It is very difficult to answer those questions in a general way. Antje Gillingham offers a toe up pattern in her book Knitting More Circles Around Socks. The book is written for toe-ups on 2 circular needles but as I tell my students it is easy to convert the patterns to 1 circular needle. Lynne Lounsbury offers a varied pattern with a chart ranging from 3 to 36 months Easy Toe-Up Baby/Toddler Socks and p2designs offers patterns on DPNs with a conversion box at the end of the patterns.

The ladies were also interested in darning. I am going to brag here a bit and tell you all that I have not had to darn any of my hand knit socks to date. I am ready to do so at the first sign of a hole. I have my darning egg and needle all set to go. Here are a few URLs that I found to be very useful in assisting you to darn socks. From Knitting Daily and Kathleen Cubley Darn There's a hole in my sock! and from HJS Darn Those Socks! These are 2 of my favorites.

Besides knitting socks I have been knitting hats, dumpling bags, and DH's sweater is waiting for me to finish the sleeves. We are knitting this week on Wednesday evening at 6pm at Read's in Riverview (weather permitting). See you there.
Cinna

Hats and Baby Sweaters!

2011-11-08T07:24:00.002-04:00

Very interesting day yesterday as blogger was down. Knitting at Read's last evening was great fun a dear old friend joined us for a few minutes of catching up.Hey Theresa T.!

JoAnne made a few hats for holiday gifts and they are smashing. Good job JoAnne and thanks for sharing.

JoAnne's hat

Another of JoAnne's hats

Therese had made a few items for her DD as baby presents for her then unborn child. Her DD had a boy, Samuel on Friday past. Here are the pictures she took of the dresses before they were off to Montréal. Both patterns are from 'Sock Yarn One-Skein Wonders' The dress uses Noro Silk garden sock yarn, and the vest uses Briggs & Little Tuffy Canadian sock yarn. Congratulations! Felicitation! To Therese and family.

So cute Noro dresses!

So sweet!

I too have been making hats. The pink hat is a plain bulky knitted hat with a pompom, the grey hat is a free pattern from London Wul and is by Heidi Wulfraat called Twisted Top , the green hat is also a free pattern by Daniella Cortez. It is found on Ravelry and is called Nature Hike Hat . All are knit with bulky weight yarn and knit up very quickly. The nature hike hat I used pencil roving and spun it a couple of years ago when I first started spinning.

Basic bulky knit hat

Nature Hike Hat

Twisted Top

I started DH's Lopi sweater on Nov. 4th and he is ever so excited!! Lopi knits up so fast. If you are looking for quick knit but nice garments for holiday or winter gifts you may want to consider Lopi patterns. You can also check out DROPS . There are lots of free patterns there.

Today I am teaching at Cricket Cove, Moncton in the morning and evening. Always lots of fun doing my sock classes. Next Wednesday evening will be the Knitting Group at Read's. See you around.
Hugs
Cinna

Happy Halloween

2011-10-31T20:55:00.001-03:00

Well last week at Read's we were 3 and we had a very nice time. We are hoping Deina is feeling better.

Today is Halloween and I worked. It was a good day. I work with an excellent group of people. A few of them are going to let me help them learn to knit or improve their knitting skills. Bwah-ha-ha!

Rachel,Marie,me and Carole

John

The meeting of the regular Read's knitting group is this Wednesday evening. There may be a small road trip to join Doris and JoAnne at their church's bazarre. No trick, a treat.

I am off to bed now as it has been a long day
Boo
Cinna

Pictures Gone!

2011-10-25T02:58:00.000-03:00

I must apologise to JoAnne as the pictures I took of her hats and ruffled scarf last week have mysteriously disappeared. I'm sorry.

Well sock class started last week at Cricket Cove and it went very well. I am interested to see how the ladies made out. I will have to wait until Nov. 8th. No one has phoned me for help so they must be doing okay. Evening class starts this Thursday and Knitting at Read's is this Wednesday from 6pm until 7pm as per usual. Last week my daughter joined in the fun and then she and I went to Michael's as I needed some items and she is always interested in purchasing beads.

Speaking of purchases I have asked Heidi at London Wul to order me a bulky flyer kit for my double drive Ashford Traveller spinning wheel. I have so much fibre from the retreat that I would be 5 years spinning it all into sock or lace weight. Hence the purchase. Thanks Heidi for your advice on that.

My fleece was finally all dried this morning so I shook it and fluffed it and put in a bag to be carded into batts later this week when I am off work. DD and I are certainly getting lots of batts from it. I think she got at least 6 or 7 and I carded 4 more from the fleece we did for her. I didn't weigh the stuff I bagged this morning but out of the original 7lbs we probably got about 6lbs after it was washed. I think that is pretty good. We had a great time DD and I carding the fleece and we also carded together some wool and alpaca. She took home a few batts and I kept a few. I spun up some very nice singles out of some of it. We both enjoyed spinning at London Wul last Thursday. We had to leave early as I had made a batch of beans that were ready to eat by 4pm and she was supposed to hook up with her BFF. Her plans fell through so she spent the night hanging with me and we had fun. I miss her.

Hubby is getting quite impatient for me to start knitting his Lopi sweater as it is getting chilly here. Well he will probably have to wait a few more weeks until sock classes are almost finished. Sorry dear.

Well until next time
Hugs
Cinna

Spinning Weekend

2011-10-19T08:16:00.000-03:00

So here it is October 19th and I have been home 2 days. So it has been 3 days since the 11th Annual Maritime Spinners Retreat. What can I say I have been busy.

Last Friday, October 14th, I headed out for the Old Orchard Inn near Wolfville, N.S. for a weekend of Spinning fun and what fun it was. It was great to see familiar faces, meet new friends, learn new things, and spin and shop 'til I dropped. The Old Orchard Inn was a fabulous venue with lots of space, great views, food, and people. My room was spacious and perhaps haunted! The 1st night my door blew open. Oh my room had 2 doors, the inner corridor door and the outer parking lot door. It was the parking lot door that blew open after only an hour of sleep. So I was awake again 'til almost 3am. Sigh! On Sunday morning after taking a very early am Ummm break in my vehicle my key card wouldn't work. So after a bit I trudged up to reception in my nightgown and was given a new key card but it was thanks to Odette the housekeeper that I was let back in. I must say the receptionist didn't even bat an eye and thankfully there was coffee on in the lobby so it was all good. But doesn't that sound a little haunted to you? Saturday was full of spinning, shopping and having fun. Stupid me I took a trip to Gaspreau Valley Fibres and didn't take 1 photo. I bought lots. The shop is so nice and so is the staff definitely a great place. Richard Ashford was at the retreat and that was something. I actually bought a Romney fleece, thanks Elizabeth for helping choose my very 1st fleece. There is just so much that goes on at these events that I could spend hours posting about it. Suffice to say it was an awesome event, a good time and I spent a load of $$$ and have great memories to cherish. Next year's event is going to be hosted by Moncton's Twisted Hub City Spinners. The theme is Let's Get Dizzy. It will be from October 19th to the 21st, 2012. Woo-hoo!! I can't wait.

Well I must get ready for sock class this am at Cricket Cove. Tonight I will catch up with my knitting friends at Read's in Riverview and Thursday it is more spinning fun at London Wul. I am excited this week as my daughter Ashley is here visiting.

Enjoy the pictures and I'll see you around.

Hugs
Cinna

London Wul Hosts Richard Ashford Mobile Update

2011-10-13T02:58:00.001-03:00

What a lovely night spent at London Wul where owner Heidi hosted the amusing and charming Richard Ashford of Ashford wheels and looms of New Zealand. Mr. Ashford presented a historical slide show of the company, spun, explained and performed wheel maintainance. Kate his charming associate demonstrated carding and spinning techniques. Vicissitudes to Heidi for a very successful and enjoyable evening.

Re: Mobile Update from Read's

2011-10-03T18:25:00.000-03:00

Oops here are the socks

On Oct 3, 2011 6:23 PM, "Cindy Greenslade" <cagreens@gmail.com> wrote:
> Here are the climbing mistletoe socks completed. Having a great time with
> the gals knitting at Read's.

Mobile Update from Read's

2011-10-03T18:23:00.001-03:00

Here are the climbing mistletoe socks completed. Having a great time with the gals knitting at Read's.

Monday Note

2011-10-03T08:32:00.001-03:00

Not a very inspirational title but hey it is hard coming up with them.

Missed last weeks knitting and spinning due to a virus that is raging through the floor at the hospital where I work. A lovely little bug that I was unwilling to share. So I stayed away. Tonight we are going to meet at Read's in Riverview to knit instead of Wednesday as I have to work Wednesday until Saturday morning.

I am getting ready for the Spinning retreat. I have spun some of Heidi Wulfrat's handdyed Jacob batts into some singles and 2 ply yarn. Very nice to spin. It was my first time spinning wool from flock. I found the staple quite long and seems to have a fair bit of lanolin. I love the feel of it while spinning. Keeps my hands from drying out. Today I have to start and finish my name tag for the retreat and spin some more Jacob to ply with either beads or feathers.

I completed knitting "Climbing Mistletoe Socks" yesterday. This is a pattern I fell in love with in Issue 25 of Knitters magazine that my DH gave me last Christmas. I used a 3 ply handspun Polwarth from a roving I had purchased at London Wul in a watermelon handdyed colorway. I knit them on 1 long circular needle until after the short row heel and then I had to knit them separately because of the shifting stitches. I'll get a picture tonight and mobile upload them later.

Deina telephoned me last night and told me what a nice time she had visiting the Knit East Market this weekend. Congratulations to Cricket Cove for hosting a wonderfully popular and successful event. Too bad this gal worked Friday night and therefore couldn't attend. Sigh! Deina also reminded me that this Tuesday evening is knitting at Cricket Cove, Moncton. Give them a call for details. Thanks Deina.

Well that is all for now.See you tonight.
Cinna

2 Shrugs

2011-09-28T01:59:00.002-03:00

Well another week has come and gone. We have had some great weather here and are truly thankful for it. Yes it would have been nice to have had it in August but what can you do?

Last week I visited my mother. She is looking for a hobby. I tried to get her interested in quilting a few years ago with little success. I am making no suggestions this time. I had a lovely visit. As is our custom we went to Guy's Frenchy's. A second hand store. I purchased 4 nice dresses, a skirt, cardigan and, a blouse. Now I am outfitted for my trip to Mexico in March. Almost. I need to make a blue or black shrug or shawlette.

Speaking of shrugs last Wednesday at Read's Joann and Nathalie brought in there completed beaded shrugs. They are gorgeous.

Therese was working on 2 very lovely baby dresses for granddaughter(s) knit with Noro Kuryeon. I hope they are finished this week so I can post some photos. They are so cute.

I am working away on a pair of socks. Knit with my handspun for the spinning retreat next month. I have been having a great time spinning lately. Scary!

Well see you Wednesday evening at Read's or whenever you drop by here.

Cinna

Fwd: Shrug it Off

2011-09-16T14:38:00.024-03:00

The shrug in the photo is a free pattern named "Pretty in Misti Shrug" from jimmy beans wool. It is a very easy lace pattern that can be worked up in a matter of hours. This was made from a thick and thin spun yarn purchased at London Wul and hand dyed and spun by the owner Heidi. Heidi dyed it in multicolored oranges and yellows. It is very soft and just a joy to knit and wear.

This week's knit meeting at Read's was very entertaining. Deina had arrived back from her Mediterranean cruise all tanned up with some nice stories that we all enjoyed.

I managed to get to spinning on Thursday at London Wul and had a very nice time listening to Janet tell us of her 5 day weaving workshop that she took in Massachusetts. Her samples were lovely. After I drank my large 1/2 decaf coffee I apparently was quite entertaining.

Knit East is taking place September 30th to October 2nd. Check it out.

See you next Wednesday at Reads

Cinna

Sweaters

2011-09-07T13:23:00.002-03:00

Well I have completed 1 Lopi sweater and I have a Lopi cardigan drying. My goodness they take a long time to dry. The pullover is an old pattern called "Maria". It has an updated version in the book "the best of lopi". It worked up in about 2 weeks.

1st Lopi sweater

The 2 color cardigan is a free pattern called "Hela". It also works up very quickly. Iam waiting for it to dry before sewing in the zipper. I just love the Lopi's and now DH wants one as well.

I spent a day spinning up some Shetland laceweight on my Ladybug. Pictured below.

Knitting at Read's tonight and next Wednesday. I won't be there tonight but I will be next week.

Cinna

Lately

2011-08-23T08:59:00.002-03:00

Well it has been sometime since my last entry.

What can I say it's summer.
At the meeting two weeks ago Deina brought in the stole I made for her. Looks nice on her. Classic black. You can't go wrong.Last week's meeting was graciously hosted by Deina in here home and it was so lovely. Deina's home is lovely with a very large screened summer room to sit and knit in. Deina provided us with some yummy treats, my fav was her turtle cheescake topped with fresh raspberries. Yum. Thanks so much Deina.

When I can motivate myself I will upload pictures of the Lopi pullover I completed and pictures of the 3 ply yarn I spun on my Ladybug and the 2ply I spun on my Ashford Traveller. I know some of you are thinking that knitting Lopi wool sweaters in August is a bit mental but I want them ready for when it is cooler. So I have 1 done, 1 on the needles and 1 for hubby waiting to be knit. Yup we have gone Lopi crazy.
We meet this Wednesday at Read's.
Cinna

Deina's Pooling Rivulet stole

Blogging On the Go

2011-08-09T06:16:00.002-03:00

So this is my first mobile post. Currently working on a Lopi sweater "Maria" in reddish tweed with white accent. I finished stole for Deina a few weeks ago. I have attached a photo. Hopefully it'll load.
Knitting at Read's this Wednesday night at 6pm. See you there.
Cinna

Shrug and Jaywalkers

2011-07-28T03:35:00.000-03:00

OK, OK I realize that I am posting in rapid succession but what can I say life is like that sometime.

Anyway, I have decided to try the Jaywalker toe up pattern using a 2mm, 40 inch circular and Regia cotton sock yarn. Knitting 36 sts on instep and 32 sts on sole. Two at once and so far so good. The dream is alive.

Just finished blocking the Calypso Shrug from the book Sock Yarn One Skein Wonders. I made mine from a skein of Noro, Kueryon sans beads. That is with out the beads.

Well coffee break is over so back to work.

Cinna

Shawlette

2011-07-27T01:12:00.001-03:00

It has been some time between posts.
Sorry. What can I say it is summer and I have been busy pooling (ya know laying by the pool, swimming in the pool. Pooling the verb) I also had family visiting from Newfoundland. Hi guys keep in touch.

I have always wanted to knit Jaywalker socks. I can't explain why. Ya know just wanted to. Anyways, I have tried 3 different sock yarns on 3 various sized needles at different counts. Ya know like 68 or 64. Anyways, I guess it is just not meant to be, my feet are very narrow and so I shall pass on the Jaywalkers. I blocked the Calypso shrug this morning and it is drying even as I type. I think it turned out quite nice. I am working on a plain black version of the Pooling Rivulet Stole from yarnfloozies. The stole is for a friend who will be cruising in the Mediterranean this August. A plain black stole will be a nice classic addition to her cruise wear.

Here are a couple of pictures of the Chevrolette shawlette by Britt Schmeising. I made it using a hand dyed polworth roving from London Wul. It is a 2 ply sport/fingering weight wool that I spun on my Ladybug.

Well let us hope that it will be a little less time between posts.

Later

Cinna

Free Pattern

2011-06-25T06:53:00.000-03:00

Yesterday was my 49th birthday!

Did I get depressed?

Of course I didn't.

I did complete a gift for all of you! A new sock pattern. A pair of lovely, lacey socks just for you. They are done toe up on 1 circular needle. I have to caution you that I nobody test the pattern. I also made them to fit my size 7 1/2 foot but included in brackets size M/L. I hope you enjoy them. I certainly enjoyed making them. The link can be found under "Free Patterns" to the right. Here is a photo of the birthday socks to tempt you. Of course my boys had to get in the picture.

Oh and Thanks to my darling DH for the gift certificates. Always appreciated.

Knit wits are some of my greatest pals.

Hugs Cinna

Night Out

2011-06-17T07:43:00.000-03:00

The Reads' group met Wednesday at Alto in Riverview for supper and it was quite lovely.Most of the group agreed to work on this fabulous calypso seafoam shrug from the book edited by Judith Durant "sock yarn one skein wonders". You can see some photos here .

I stash a few of my projects in a footstool in the living room and the other night didn't I go to take my sock project out and the lid came down and cracked my lovely Knit Pick needle right in 2! Well thankfully I have a spare and DH sanded the broken tip to a lovely point. Beware biting footstools. I am also working on a little shawl called Chevrolette by britt schmeising. I am using some of my red and white handspun.

Oh well that is all for now.
Be well
Cinna

Trinity Shawl Complete

2011-06-13T18:35:00.000-03:00

Hey everyone.

I actually completed the Trinity Shawl that I started in 2010 (blog date 05/17/2010). Why did it take so long to finish? This is not a terribly complicated pattern but it is hard to finish things when the knitter (yours truly) has buried the project in a basket and doesn't find it again until she moves her hobby room. Doh! I used Briggs and Little's sport weight yarn colour Smoke. I used a border called Wide Tunisian Lace that differed from the border suggested by the pattern. The weight makes this an excellent cool weather shawl.

Trinity Shawl

So Knit in public Day on Saturday was wonderful and relaxing. Cricket Cove hosted a nice event at Chapters Starbucks. Thank you Cricket Cove. A reminder that Cricket Cove's after hours knit group meets this Tuesday evening, June 14th starting at 6:30pm.

The Reads in Riverview group is meeting for supper at Alto in Riverview at 5:30pm on Wednesday, June 15th. Located between Curves and Subway.

I am working on a new pair of socks that I will be adding as a free pattern shortly. It is a wonderfully, stretchy lace pattern worked toe up on 1 circular needle. Look for that in the very near future.

So until Wednesday stay well.
Hugs
Cinna

2011-06-03T00:31:00.000-03:00

So knitting group was good on Monday. Doris completed a scarf that group member Therese had designed and it is lovely. Made out of seasilk.

Doris' scarf

My third shrug from the Noro Mini book. This one done in Fleece Artist bulky.

Noro shrug

Some info for you. Our group will be meeting on Wednesday evenings at Reads through June to the end of July at 6pm until 7pm. Unless otherwise posted. Cricket Cove , Moncton is hosting a Knit in Public event on June 11th at Chapter's Starbucks in Dieppe from 10:00am until 2:00pm. For further details give them a call.
There is a charity Zumba class going on this Saturday, June 4th at the Coverdale Rec Center in Riverview from 10:00 until 11:00am. It is in support of Juvenile Diabetes. The cost is only $5.00.If you've never done Zumba before it is great fun and what a great cause.

Well that is all for now.
Hugs
Cinna

With Gladness!

2011-05-28T09:18:00.000-03:00

Quite often on the heels of sadness gladness may spring.

I have just learned today that Richard Ashford will be attending the 11th Annual Maritime Spinners Retreat . I am certainly happy that I have already registered and secured a room for the event.What a treat to be able to meet and learn from Richard. Make certain you register early.

Um, you all probably do not remember but way back in 2009. Um 2 years ago I started a pair of socks called the Artichoke Socks by Megan Humphrey with Heidi's handpaint sock wool from London Wul. Well I found those socks when I was shifting my craft room and rec room around and I finished them a few weeks ago. I made them using the Magic Loop method and 2 socks at the same time. I also did the pattern all the way down using the short row heel method. I think they turned out quite nice.

Artichoke Socks

Shawl class at Cricket Cove started a bit late but went very well. I am certain the three ladies taking the class are doing okay with the pattern. I believe CC, Moncton is doing something for Knit In Public Day on June 11th. I will contact them and see if they have any information that I can post.

The Reads knitting group met this past Wednesday. Unfortunately yours truly was working and could not attend. I am waiting to see if the ladies are able to meet on Monday the 30th as I will again be working on Wednesday and 3 weeks with no group contact sends me into withdrawal. I will post the date as soon as the ladies get back to me.

I purchased Cookie A.'s sock book knit. sock. love. What a lovely book this is. Cookie's patterns are done on DPNs and I think a few of them are going to be a challenge to do 2 socks on 1 circ but I am going to give it a go.

Oh well it is Saturday morning and I must go to workout and run errands.
Cinna

follow me on twitter

With Sadness

2011-05-21T16:12:00.000-03:00

I was quite distressed on Tuesday afternoon to learn with great sadness of the very sudden passing of my Aunt Margaret H..It has been a trying week to be sure. DH and I drove to my Mum's yesterday for the wake and as expected we were exhausted when we arrived home yesterday. It is never easy to lose a loved one but is quite distressing when they are gone suddenly. My love goes out to my cousins and their families.

Photos

2011-05-11T14:10:00.000-03:00

My hobby room is all but complete. I could use more storage and a little area rug. I suppose I shall always have more stuff than storage. I was delighted to find a table and two door wardrobe at Kent in Moncton. Home Depot, Moncton supplied the wonderful Martha Stewart 9 cube storage cases and the fabric drawers as well. All for under $400. Bonus! Plus I have more then doubled my space. Woo-hoo!!

I have a photo of my last sock class group at Cricket Cove. I thought the ladies did a great job. In the photo are; Betty, Gail and, Margaret. Absent was Helen. Good job ladies. Bravo!

See you at Read's.
Cinna

The End of Class

2011-05-09T10:38:00.001-03:00

Just a quick note.
Today is my last sock knitting class with my present group at Cricket Cove until probably the Autumn. The group has been wonderful and it has been great getting to know the 4 ladies. It has also been great teaching in the afternoon. It is my hope that all 4 ladies will continue to knit socks at least some of the time using the techniques they learned in class. I am hoping to get some pictures today to share later.

I have pictures of Natalie's many finished projects to share. Nathalie was a busy gal and she completed two felted purses, a frothy green-blue ribbon/tape scarf that is simply scrumptious and, a beautiful pair of socks using Knit Picks imagination sock yarn. The sock pattern is from Knitty.com. Way to knit Nathalie and thanks for sharing.

The reason I am late updating is many fold. Number one is my full time job quite often gets in the way. Dang it all! I have to be able to support my hobbies some how and earning money unfortunately seems to be the best way. Two, I am in the middle of moving my hobby room from a small space to a much needed larger space. This of course entails much unpacking, moving of many things and of course the purchasing of other things. In this case those other things are storage units. More stuff more storage needed. Lets' face it gang I like to shop. Another very good reason to work. Third, I am a little discombobulated as there has been yet another attempt of fraudulent charges on my credit card. Frequent shopper has frequent problems with thievery and dishonesty of others. Thankfully my now credit card company was right on to it so no problem for me on the plus $5000.00 attempt to suck me dry (as opposed to my previous supposedly so secure credit card company that did nothing to help their now former faithful shopper out, no names mentioned). Fourth, I have to have time to knit, sleep etc. You all know there are just not enough hours in a day.

Anyways, reality beckons in the form of housework. Sigh!

See you in the funny papers.
Cinna

Royall Weddings and the Like

2011-04-27T06:09:00.000-03:00

Not much going on. I am working all week until Friday morning.So I will have to watch the Royal wedding taped later on television when I wake up on Friday.Like I would get up and watch it live at 2am. Yeah I would! I was married July 18th,1981. I was the same age as Diana when she married Charles. We were living in Ontario then. I got up and watched them get married. My groom was tall, dark and handsome. Unlike Diana and Charles we are still married. That'll be thirty years in July. Prince William was born in June, 1982. My daughter in October, 1982. That means both are in their 29th year. I watched with the world the weddings of Andrew and Edward as well as the break ups of Diana and Charles, Andrew and Fergie, Anne and Mark. The births of their children. With the world I grieved at Diana's funeral. I was pleased that Prince Charles was able at last to find happiness with the love of his life Lady Camilla. I along with the rest of the world wish Prince William and Kate Middleton all the best.

I am finishing up a pair of socks that I found down in the bottom of my knitting basket. I am certain I started them a few years ago! I have also spun some lovely light fingering weight polwarth. I spun it and plyed it on my new Ladybug and will perhaps make a scarf or shawlette with it.

Well that is all for now. The knitting group meets at Read's tonight at 6pm.
Hugs
Cinna

New Shawlette

2011-04-13T08:05:00.000-03:00

Hi!

Just a quick blog as I am working nights this weekend and need my sleep. Have you ever wanted to knit a shawl but were to frightened to undertake such a task? Well there are many, many patterns on Ravelry for small shawls or shawlettes that are gorgeous and easy to knit. My last post showed you Heidi Wulfraat's shawlette Heidi's Plumsweet Picot and I completed another shawlette using Patons Kroy Socks FX, Clover Colors. It just screamed shawlette at me. I found the pattern on Ravelry. It is Traveling Woman by Liz Abinante. I think it is lovely and found the pattern to be very easy to make.

Traveling Woman shawlette

A closer look

So be ye not afraid there are shawls out there that a novice can knit.
Have a Happy Day
Cinna

Excited Me!

2011-04-09T09:27:00.000-03:00

Well, Wa-hoo!! I have just emailed off my registration for the 11th Annual Maritime Spinners Retreat taking place in the Gaspreau Valley of Nova Scotia this October and is being hosted by Gaspreau Valley Fibres and The Potluck Spinners. I even booked my room. If you are a spinner,spinndler,weaver or you just love fibre these spinning retreats are fun and informative. Did I mention that they are fun? This will be my third and I traded three work shifts to be able to go. I just know it will be a great time.

Knitting group last Wednesday was fast paced and fab!! Lots of knitting and chatting going on.I love hearing what everyone is doing. This week we will meet at Read's in Riverview at 6pm on Wednesday the13th. Bring a project and hang for an hour or so.

Just so I can show that I truly do knit I have uploaded a few finished projects. The shawlette is free pattern by Heidi Wulfraat of London Wul called Heidi's Plumsweet Picot. It can be found on Heidi's site or here as a free Ravelry download. I made mine from a skein of Fleece Artist seawool that my pal Deina got me last year. I believe the colour is Victoria.

Plumsweet Picot shawlette

I also knit a couple pairs of socks from Wendy D. Johnson's book Socks From The Toe Up. The green pair are Trail Socks yarn by Fleece Artist and the pink pair are Kertzer's On Your Toes Bamboo, Blooming Pink 0333. The patterns are for the green Serpentine and the pink On-Hold Socks.

On-Hold Socks

Serpentine

I finally managed to spin a skein of silk up for Deina. She had a kit of silk hankies for a scarf that she asked me to spin. I spun half on my Ashford Traveller and half on my Schaht Ladybug ad then plied them on my LB.

Spun Silk Hankies

I also finished plying the black Corriedale Top with some light green fibre from London Wul. I am at present knitting it into a pair of socks from the book The Sock Knitter's Workshop, pattern Garter Waves on page 100. I am doing both socks on 1 circular needle.

Black&Green 2 ply wool

Well that is all for now. I will see you Wednesday night at Read's or I'll see you around town. Now I am forcing myself to do some housework before nap time as I have to work tonight. I am forced to work to support my hobbies.
Hugs
Cinna

Ladybug, Ladybug ...

2011-04-03T07:38:00.002-03:00

Well exciting day yesterday! I am on vacation and as you know I spent a few days of that spinning fiber with my DD in Halifax. The plan was to head to Maine for a few days and visit Halcyon Yarns, the Spunky Eclectic and various other fiber related shops along the Maine coast with my DH in tow. Alas, it was not to be as the weather has been most uncooperative and saw fit to blast us with snow. I was not amused on April Fools Day to wait out the snow. It just was not funny. DH saw that I was a little down and wanted to know exactly what I was going to Maine to shop for.When learning that I was considering a new spinning wheel he was just amazed.

DH,"You all ready own 2 wheels dear."

Moi,"Dear. Spinning wheels are like shoes. You have to have as many as you can so that you are assured of the exact right pair for every mood and every outfit."

DH,"Well can't you get what you are looking for from around here?"

He is a lovely man and rather clever at times. I must say he is very accepting of my passions.

The hunt was on for a Schacht Ladybug spinning wheel in our area. I had done quite a bit of research on line and decided this would be the wheel I would most like to try. In an ideal world I would be able to try every wheel out there ( I live in hope) but let's face it this is not an ideal world. After more online searching I found a dealer not more than a few hours away. Que Sunrise Mercantile located just outside Tatamagouche, Nova Scotia. I have met the proprietor Suzy at 2 spinning retreats and was delighted after a quick email to her that she telephoned to let me know that she had 2 (now 1) Ladybugs in stock. Ain't life grand? That whole ideal world thing was coming my way after all. So on a snowy morning (that was just yesterday folks) DH and I headed out for a leisurely drive to check out a few Ladybugs. Suzy is a charming lady and her shop is as well. We were greeted very warmly and Suzy set me up in an out of the way corner in the cafe to try the wheels. I fell in love with the first wheel. Are you surprised? Browsed around the yarn, fibre, books and gift ware. Paid for my purchases and had a lovely lunch in the cafe with DH before heading out into the snow for home.

Sunrise Mercantile

Me and Ladybug

Suzy of Sunrise Mercantile

DH waiting patiently in the Cafe

It was a grand day. I have my new wheel. Which is very quiet, easy to treadle, and is cute to boot. Yes life is good.
Speaking of which I was to let you all know that I did indeed manage to get my Keurig coffee maker to work last week. There were just a few grounds clogging the dispenser and a safety pin did the trick and it was unclogged and I was able to have my usual Morning Blend.Yum!
Knitting group met last Wednesday night and Doris shared the lovely baby blanket she made for a friend who is expecting and Deina shared a finished hat she made for 1 of her grand-daughters (they are twins so Deina has made 1 for each). Such a nice Nana.

Deina's hat in Noro

Doris' baby blanket

The Riverview Read's knitting group will meet this Wednesday evening, April 6th at 6pm and the Cricket Cove group meet again April ~~18th~~ 19th at 6:30pm on Tuesday.

Well I guess my trip to Maine will have to wait until this summer or fall. Hmm, I wonder what I shall shop for then?
Hugs
Cinna

Whorling,Twirling and Spinning

2011-03-29T20:25:00.002-03:00

Well I am back from my spinning fun days in Halifax.
What a great time!
I picked my daughter Ashley up at 6pm on Sunday evening in Halifax. Loaded her, her spinning wheel, fiber and incidentals into the vehicle. Picked up the key and some grub and headed over to our lodgings (my brother's apartment near Bedford). Once settled I took a look out the dining room window to see eight deer in the back parking lot. Now seeing deer is not a new thing for me but seeing them within the HMR was quite
cool and a great way to start off our spinning retreat.

After settling in and unpacking our wheels. My wheel is the Louet Victoria and Ash's is the Ashford Kiwi . Which we set up as a double drive on Monday. I have to tell you I had not really seen her wheel since last October and I was quite surprised to see the double groove in the wheel and let me tell you Ash certainly spun energetically with her wheel set up as a double drive. While we were waiting for our supper to cook Ash modelled the spinning apron I had made the day before.

We spun until about midnight Sunday night and on Monday we visited The Loop and LK Yarns. We were happy campers when we arrived back at our digs and we happily spun and plied from 3 to 8 or 9pm.

My fiber booty

Plying the wool

Bobbins of black & blue-green Top

Below is a picture showing two shawlettes I knitted this February.

So there you go! Two days of whorling, twirling and spinning. See you all tomorrow night at Read's

Hugs

Cinna

Lalalalalala

2011-03-26T06:30:00.000-03:00

What a stupid title,eh!

I am a little cranking this morning for a few reasons, (1) my 3 month old Keurig coffee maker is not functioning. So I am forced to drink drip coffee, (2) it snowed yesterday and as I look out the garden door I can see white on the deck and, (3) I have to go buy groceries sometime today. I think just the not having my usual Morning Blend would be enough to crank anyone out.

So my physio is all but over. Thanks to the good physiotherapists at Tidewater Physio Clinic.I can even start back at Curves, albeit slowly. That means I should be able to return to all things spinning and knitting related.

I am on vacation from work at present and looking forward to visiting my daughter in Halifax. We have a night of spinning planned for tomorrow and a visit to The Loop and LK Yarns on Monday. I love LKY and visit there every visit to Halifax. I met some of the gals from The Loop at last years spinning retreat and am anxious to visit that shop. Speaking of the spinning retreat I believed that it would take place on the same dates this year and traded a couple of shifts in late October so as to be able to attend. I received a registration email yesterday and the retreat is taking place the weekend before. So I will probably have to sell my soul to rearrange my work schedule. Oh well it is worth it. Such a great time is always had at the retreat.

I am almost finished a pair of socks I have been working at very slowly. I seem to be in a stall with them. I will have pictures soon and will try and post a few pictures from my Halifax visit.as well.

I fired of an email to the Gals that meet at Read's for the date of the next meeting but if my memory serves me (which it may not due to lack of my usual morning caffeine fix) the meeting at Cricket Cove should be this Tuesday evening and the Chapter's group this Monday evening.

'Til next time.
Warm Fuzzies
Cinna

Egad Where'ld I Go?

2011-03-13T09:41:00.001-03:00

Just to let you know I am still here.Just getting over the whole shoulder injury flare up thingy.

So what does Cinna do when she has above said flare up?

Physio (includes prescribed exercises), read, sleep (a lot), work, watch lots of Netflix, work, read, physio etc.. It's a vicious and painful cycle. Oh did I mention shop? No I see I didn't. Well I suppose everyone should know by now that, that goes without saying. The things I haven't been able to do a great deal of is knit, spin and type a lot on the computer. Hence the minimal blog posts.

Quite often I occupy my time with other obsessions when in pain. Some old some new. This flare up I got heavy into ereaders and I have purchased two ereaders. Well three if you count the one I took back. I purchased a lovely lavender Kobo from Chapters in Moncton. Which I see is now ten dollars cheaper then when I bought it. Grrrr! . I love this thing. It's pretty basic but what makes it great is I can go just about anywhere in Canada and pick up a Chapters Gift card go to the Chapters or kobo site and use my gift card to make ebook purchases (including knitting) and the wifi is so easy to set up as is the ereader itself. No glare in sunlight. You gotta love it. So why two ereaders? I can give you a few good reasons like the kobo is kobo bookstore specific, it has no light, and the main reason is because I wanted two. So the other ereader I purchased and which has been at Canadian Customs since the 10th (3 whole days) is the Pocketbook IQ 701. Check this puppy out! Not to techie for me, has a touch colour screen that rotates automatically, has WiFi, plays videos and music and just looks like a lot of fun. I have to tell you I also became obsessed with cell phones. I have 2 months left on my mobile contract and I just had to have an Android OS phone. So I bought [note the word (or is that verb) bought] a cute little Motorola Dext smartphone. Bell has them on sale now because they won't be offering them anymore. Motorola has come out with a newer model. Anyways I am happy to have it. It is giving me an idea of whether or not I really need a smartphone or if I can make do with my new Pocketbook. And I didn't have to renew my contract.

Hubby says I've been very cranky. I think he is probably right. So if I cranked at you from the first week of February I am truly sorry.

So it's back to knitting and spinning. My shoulder is much better thanks to my physiotherapist. I went to the meeting at Read's on Wednesday. I was a little tired and sore and I might have cranked a bit (sorry). It was great to get out and knit with the ladies and Gael showed up. Gael manages the Cricket Cove store here. She had exciting news. Cricket Cove is offering knitting nights at the store here in Moncton every other Tuesday evening. The next meeting is this Tuesday, March 15th from 6:30pm until 8pm. Hosted by the lovely Viola . So get yourself there bring a project and a beverage and join in the fun. The Knitting group will be meeting Wednesday night at Read's in Riverview. That is the 16th from 6pm until 7pm. See you there.

Cinna
"Women like to sit down with trouble - as if it were knitting"
~ Ellen Glasgow (April 22, 1873 - November 21, 1945)

Nothing New

2011-02-22T05:09:00.000-04:00

Really not much to say. I am, hopefully coming to the end of a bad flair up of a shoulder injury from last year. I haven't been doing much knitting and no spinning at all.
The group met last Wednesday and it was great seeing and chatting with everyone.They will meet again this Wednesday and then Monday the 28th.

See you there
Cinna

Banishing the Winter Blues

2011-01-18T07:45:00.001-04:00

Are you living with the winter doldrums? Is getting up in the dark to go to work and coming home in the dark getting you down? Well turn that frown upside down and check out Knitty's winter edition . I have to tell you that even if you don't knit anything from this it is guaranteed to make you smile. There are so many lovely things in this issue to make you feel all warm and fuzzy inside.

The 5th annual historical issue of Piecework also looks interesting as does Vogue Knitting winter preview 2010/11.

You can revisit a well loved pattern. Presently I am knitting a Lopi hat that I absolutely love to wear. I have 2 knit in blue and lime green from last year. This time I am knitting in Alafoss Lopi 9974 0126. I could make this hat in as many colours as are available. You could try a new pattern. I am knitting On Hold Socks in pink(because I don't have any solid color pink socks at all) from the book "Socks From The Toe Up" by Wendy D. Johnson.

There is lots to do in the winter months that can be done both indoors and out. Join a swap, a group, a gym, skate, ski or just go for a walk. Did you know you can walk at some malls!? That is one of my favorite pastimes. Walking and shopping. I like to do combination sports. Why just last week I bet I walked over 10kms at the mall downtown. It's great if you get there early (but not to early you want some of the stores to at least be open) there are less crowds and you can walk to all the stores several times. Just remember your budget. I have gone absolutely boot crazy this year and purchased a number of boots in my quest for the perfect pair. I am currently waiting anxiously for my Skecher Rhythmic toning ankle boots to arrive. Woo-hoo!!

I guess that is all for now. Stay warm and happy. Enjoy the season in whatever way makes you happy and keep your sticks off the ice.

Hugs
Cinna

Post Holiday

2011-01-10T02:09:00.002-04:00

I hope everyone had a great holiday? I worked a bit and rested a bit. All in all a nice quiet holiday. I received some nice presents. Hubby gave me a gift certificate to London Wul so that was nice. I took the tree very early and undecorated as well because of my schedule I just wanted not to have to do anything on my days off.

I managed to finally complete DH's work socks. Boy they were boring to knit. Sorry to all those who enjoy knitting sport weight work socks I am just not into it. I am however into knitting my socks. I wonder if that has anything to do with the fact that my feet are a great deal shorter then hubby's and I like socks just above my ankle and not socks that come up to my calf. Well not yet anyway.

I completed the mixed media challenge that Heidi had at London Wul. What a blast!! It was so much fun I certainly hope Heidi considers having another this year. Below is my entry. It is named "The Red Queen", a cloth doll face applied to a cotton base. I completed the face machine stippled the wallhanging and appliqued wool hearts on. I used some 34 gauge craft wire and applied it to some wool hearts then I attached it to the head creating a 3D effect. I made the wallhanging circular which is a great departure for me.

The knitting group will not be meeting again until February, 16th at Read's in Riverview.

Have a good one.

Cinna

Pre Ho!Ho! Update

2010-12-19T18:06:00.000-04:00

Well it is getting close to Christmas day and it is past time for an update.

As promised are the pictures of my "Apple Cider" aprons made for the Tie One On challenge of the same name.The full apron is made from apple fabric that my friend Deina gave to me this fall and the half apron was actually a curtain that I purchased this past \spring at a second hand shop. They were great fun to make and I look forward to the next challenge.

Apple Cider Full Apron

Apple Cider 1/2 Apron

We had a few busy weeks at knit club at Read's with plenty of show and share.Here is Joanne's moebius as modelled by Nathalie and Deina's hat.I apologise for the poor quality of the photos. I had only my cell on hand.

As you know I have been working on a mixed media fiber challenge hosted by London Wul of Moncton. Here are a few photos of my work thus far. I seem to be stuck on the exact right hair and hairstyle for this 3D wall hanging. I will look in my doll making box and come up with something.

Sketch and pinned head

Stuffed face

The group met at the Homestead for supper on Wednesday evening and a great time it was. I mean really the Homestead does serve very filling food and wonderful pies. Our Deina had called ahead and reserved a peanut butter pie for us. Thank you for that Deina and the Homestead agreed even though they don't normally offer that particular pie on Wednesday. If you have never had their peanut butter pie you simply must go and try it, it is divine. Since it was our last meeting before the holidays I made the ladies a darning egg each. They were fun to make. I purchased the wood eggs and the wood coat rack pegs at Michael's. My sweetie of a hubby did his magic with drill and glue and assembled them for me. Then the fun began! I got to tole paint them and varnish them and then give them as gifts. Very satisfying.

Darning Eggs

Half the eggs

The group will not be meeting again until mid February 2011.
From my house to yours I wish you all a joyous and peace filled holiday season.
Ho!Ho!Hope!
Cinna

Happy December

2010-12-04T10:42:00.000-04:00

Well happy December to one and all and yes I am finished my holiday shopping, no my tree is not up yet. I usually put the tree up the week of the 10th. This year should be interesting with the kitten. No I am not decorated yet either. I do that with the tree. Baking,baking! What is that? I used to bake like a mad woman for the holidays but since there is just DH and myself I just do light baking. You know a few of our truly favorite things. Quite frankly I am not a great baker. My cookies are usually too brown on the bottom and my cakes don't rise as high as they should. So I usually make peanut butter balls and shortbread cookies. I used to make peanut butter brittle now I just buy it along with chocolates and other goodies.

This past week at knitting was great. Deina shared the moebius cowl she completed. I never particularly cared for them but Deina's is great as can be wrapped around like a small ponchette.

Deina's Moebius

Joanne shared her lovely pink and white crocheted baby blanket she completed for someone where she works.

Joanne's Baby Blanket

I shared 2 pairs of socks I completed. The striped pair are just basic knit using 2 at time magic loop from the toe up. The yarn is North Pole, Victoriana. The fair isle socks are from a class I taught at Cricket Cove and is a modified Paton's pattern. Modified from DPN to 2 at a time magic loop.

My Socks

I want to share with you all the new and wonderful present I bought for myself. I purchased a set of Hiya Hiya interchangeable needles from Zen Yarn Garden. I purchased the small set to use for knitting socks and lace. I received the set with the very lovely red case. Delivery was quick and I received a lovely note from the proprieters. I have not actually knit with them yet. I have just fondled them and looked at them but I plan to road test them on my days off. They are very pretty.

Hiya Hiya Needle Set

My Mum was down last weekend I took her out for supper and by the time we left the restaurant there was quite a snowstorm. I realized how awful my tires were. Does the term slip-sliding away ring a bell? Thank goodness I was scheduled on Monday for servicing and having my winter tires put on. Of course it has been raining for 2 or 3 days now and the snow is all gone but I know it will return and I am ready. It was good to see Mum and I gave her, her Christmas presents. I hope she likes them.

I haven't been spinning much. What with teaching class, working and studying for my recerts ans them doing the recerts at work there hasn't been much time. I didn't go last Sunday due to the bald tire thing. I couldn't get out of the driveway. I should be able to make spinning this coming Thursday and look forward to going to London Wul with the ladies.

Our next meeting is Wednesday night, December 8th. This will be our last meeting at Read's before we break for the holidays. Hope to see you there until then stay warm and cozy.

Cinna

No Title , Just a Note

2010-11-22T20:57:00.000-04:00

Hi there due to the snow there was just Deina and I at knitting tonight. We had a nice quiet night and I finished off a pair of socks. Speaking of socks. My sock class at CC finished last Thursday night and the ladies did a great job. I will post pictures of socks in a few days.

I have noticed more and more houses decorated for the Holidays and a few decorations have crept out into the open at Curves in Riverview (the gym I frequent). Bravo to JoAnn for finding a family that needs the assistance of some of Santa's helpers to provide a fun filled holiday. I always feel so much more Christmasy knowing I have added to someone's joy.

Well that is all really.

Take care.The next Read's knitting group meeting will be at 6pm Monday the 29th but if there is a storm we will try Wednesday the 1st of December.

Keep your sticks in the wool.
Cinna

Brainstoming a Mixed Media Challenge

2010-11-02T10:26:00.000-03:00

    Well thanks to Heidi Wulfraat of London Wul I have yet another creative outlet this winter. Heidi is hosting a Mixed Media challenge until December 31st and I have course have signed up. Now here is my dilemma! Do I mix media in rug hooking, tole painting, knitting, quilting, cloth doll designing, teddy bear making or do a mixed media garment?? It has been a very, very long time since I worked in the medium of cloth dolls. I must admit to thinking this would be a chance to renew my love of that creative outlet. Hm decisions,decisions.

    Just a little break there as I raced into the ensuite where I had left the tub running!

   Yes my creative thoughts are flowing. I am thinking. The project will have to be fairly small as it is November. Perhaps a wallhanging with some patchwork and trapunto. Both of which are traditional quilting techniques but use the trapunto to create a face and needlesculpt the features with the hair being found objects or tiny patchwork blocks flowing into the wallhanging, add some crazy quilting, paint/embroider/bead the facial features. Hm it has possibilities. Title the entire thing "Into the Quilt". Oh my I am liking this. Stay tuned as I will be uploading sketches later.

Tonight is Sock class night at Cricket Cove. I had two out of three students show last week. Both very nice women and they have proven to be accomplished knitters. Which is a good thing as learning to knit 2 socks using the Magic Loop method does take a bit of knitting knowledge. We are knitting a modified Patons Fair Isle sock pattern and it is quite nice.

Tomorrow night the Read's Knitting Group will be meeting at Read's and taking off for tea and shopping at the United Church bazaar in Salisbury. Where JoAnne and Doris of our little group are volunteering their time and some items. Exciting!

   Last night I managed to spin and Navajo ply a finished skein of 39 yards of some roving I purchased at MacAusland's Woolen Mill on P.E.I. while at the handspinning retreat. I had purchased a variety of colours and I am spinning them in a particular colour order. Which is why I am Navajo plying. After seeing the lovely scarf sample at London Wul that has the colours so nicely ordered I thought why not give it a try.

   Well now I must get busy and make a few samples up for tonight's class, do housework, and make lunch for DH.

    You all have a great day and remember Spinners do it on the flyer. Groan!
Cinna

A Silk Purse from A Sow's Ear

2010-10-30T00:12:00.000-03:00

So what do you make with wild spun yarn?

Well I made a cute pair of mary jane slippers from Knit Simple magazine, holiday 2010 issue, pgs31& 66, designer Alicia Kachmar. Pictured below is the original wild spun yarn, the wild spun yarn with a previously spun chunky yarn and the slippers.

Wild Yarn

Wild Yarn Combo

Wild Mary Janes

When I arrived home I had the above yarn and an unplied sparkly skein that I had drum carded at the retreat. I plied it with a silver metallic crochet cotton and the result is below.

Sparkly Wild Yarn

I noticed this neat hat pattern in a Spin Off magazine last year. It is the Tahoe hat from the winter 2009 issue, pgs 88-90, designer Jill Smith-Mott. This is a good pattern because you use small amounts of fiber to knit it up. I must say it is a rather large hat at 24 inches. I did a rib at 86 sts and it is still a bit big.I like it and will probably make another on smaller needles.

Tahoe Hat

Knit club will be meeting at Read's on Wednesday the 3rd and then heading to Salisbury for a church bazaar and tea.
Hugs
Cinna

Retreat Roundup

2010-10-25T10:07:00.000-03:00

Well what a wild weekend Ash and I had at the 10th Annual Handspinner's Retreat at the Rod Mill River Resort on PEI. Wha-hoo!! We spun, swam, spun, ate, shopped, slept, spun and shopped some more. Met new people and reacquainted with people I met last year. Ash spun for the first time on a wheel and she loved it so much that when queried if she would like a wheel for Christmas it was a resounding yes. As luck would have it Heidi was spinning on a borrowed Ashford, Kiwi that was for sale. Thanks Elaine for telling us about that and mediating the sale. Ash and I brought her new used wheel here early yesterday and sanded and treated it before her Dad took her home to Halifax. Along with the usual 3 bobbins and lazy kate she got a jumbo flyer and a stand alone skeiner. Merry Christmas Ash. Heh,heh now all I have to do is knit that shawl you asked for. Ash's Kiwi is lovely and if she decides to sell it I get first dibs. Now I couldn't ask for better.

Ash's Kiwi

Finished Kiwi

The weekend was just great. I came out of my comfort zone and tried some carding and spun same. Rosalie showed me how to chain/Navajo ply. Thanks Rosalie and congratulations on winning that wild carder. You lucky pink-sparkly shooed gal. Ash won a pair of hand knit socks from Maine and I won a wonderful bag of goodies as a door prize from The Loop of Halifax. See what was in it.

We bought fiber galor. I mean I filled my wheeled shopping cart with it as well as a Spin Off 2011 calendar and the Alden Amos handspinning book. What a weekend. Thank You to Louise and Elaine for organizing and we will see you next year in Nova Scotia. See what I bought.

I finished my Lakehouse socks just in time to wear them to the retreat and here they are.

Here are pictures of Ki Ki and the chicks just before we left. The chicks are now going out side the coop into the pen.They weren't going out when the pics were taken.

To everyone at the retreat who asked me about the apron Ashley was wearing it is Simplicity pattern #7481. I believe I said it was a Butterick pattern. Sorry about that.

Well it is back to the real world. Tomorrow is the first class of 2 color, 2 at once, cuff down socks at Cricket Cove in Moncton. I am looking forward to the class and will be happy to make your acquaintance. Tonight is knitting at Read's in Riverview at 6pm and hope to see you there.

Apron Crazy Weekend

2010-10-17T21:22:00.000-03:00

Well let me just tell you that we named our new kitten "Ki Ki" and we of course actually call her Ki Ki-D. Our little princess has been well received by our two large canines, Barclay and Ralfie. Our cat Tansy on the other hand is still at that hiss and growl stage of their relationship. Poor Tansy is quite put out.

My Mum was here on Thursday, her birthday! Sorry I can not reveal her age. We had a great visit and DH and I took her out for supper at The Homestead and the staff there sang happy birthday to her and served her, her peanut butter pie with a candle. It was so nice of them and supper was more wonderful because of it.

Friday after going to Curves I came home and started making a bag to carry my Ashford Traveller spinning wheel. I have a little luggage cart to pull it but I feel it needs protection from the weather. The bag is almost complete just a few little things to add before this weekends retreat. The making of the bag led me to a weekend frenzy of apron making. I swear to you that I did nothing but make aprons until noon today and I only stopped then to go to London Wul to knit and um I had to bathe before going. Eww!! Too much info! I made a couple of aprons for the Tie One On apple cider apron theme. I will post those pictures when the deadline for the theme has been reached in December. I made a few other aprons and I of course made a new spinning apron. Check them out. I really enjoyed making the spinning apron as it allowed me to use the embroidery option on my sewing machine.

Wednesday knitting club was great fun this week with a good turnout. Many thanks to Deina for donating fabric to the group. We all appreciate your generosity and as you can see I have been making good use of some of it. Doris is working on some snowmen to sell at her Church`s Christmas bazaar. Joanne is working on this really pretty crochet baby afghan , I am almost finished the Lakehouse socks. This week the meeting will be Wednesday evening again on the 20th and then on Monday evening the 25th after the spinning retreat.

Well I must look after the bread I have rising and get ready for sleep.

Hugs
Cinna

3 Pocket Apron

Asian Fabric Apron

Floral Apron

Back Floral Apron

Spinning Apron

Back Spinning Apron

Clos up Front

Close up Back

The Home Front

2010-10-08T10:16:00.000-03:00

Well number one. Happy Birthday to my dear daughter Ashley. Twenty-eight years ago today you arrived and my life has been enhanced ever since. See you on the 21st girlie. We will have an awesome time at the handspinner's retreat.

Number two. I have not as of yet been able to sneak up quietly enough of on the 2 baby chicks to get a photo. They are still being sat on by their Mum. Sigh! Hubby built a box for them and placed it on the floor to get them out of the nesting box which is quite high off the ground. I want so badly to hold them so they will be less shy of us then their mother is. Besides chicks are so cute.

It has been an odd kind of week or two. As you all know I have been trying to safe a bit of spending money for the upcoming retreat an almost impossible task and I am going to tell you why. First our water cooler gave up the ghost. So there was $$ out of pocket for that. I must say that the new water cooler is more energy efficient and the cold and hot water are that. Then the washing machine quit in the middle of it's rinse cycle full of water and bedding. Hubby got it drained and we got it repaired. Then I went to do dishes and the fawcet came off in my hand. Thank goodness it has a lifetime guarantee so we are awaiting a replacement. Moen really does give you excellent service and they stand-by their products. Meanwhile a screwdriver is getting the job done. We had to have our septic tank sucked, why do you suppose they call those trucks "honey dippers"? I mean the fluid level was a foot away from filling the tank to overflow. Mind you our 500 gallon tank had not been sucked since we built the hous 9 years ago! Anyways, I am hoping that will be the last of the breakages and extra costs 'til at least next month.

Yesterday I headed out to London Wul for some spinning. I have to work Sunday so fortunately for me the Thursday ladies are very welcoming. I bought a bag of mohair to spin/ply with my polworth to make any socks I knit from it stronger and I also bought a bag of soysilk and wool to spin. The most amazing thing is that when I arrived Heidi was cradling a small kitten. Some person had abandoned it as far as Heidi could ascertain. She is a pretty little medium haired tabby and quite frightened. Heidi's hubby is severely allergic to cats so I brought her home in my coat and popped her in our pet carrier and placed her in the ensuite with a litter box, some food and a baby gate keeping secure away from our 2 dogs. Not that the dogs would harm her. She is just too frightened right now and too little to be running around. She just wants to find a dark safe place to hide. The poor little thing. I am calling the vet to set up an appointment to have heer checked out and I haven't named her yet. I have to observe her for a few days but I am liking Rose or Lilac so far. I managed 1 good photo of her.

Our New Kitten

I managed to complete a Traveling Fern Lace Scarf by Sherrie Xie. I had joined the Spin Along and Lace Knitting groups at London Wul this spring and I have finally completed my project. The fiber was some of Heidi's hand dyed Polworth in brown-pink-mauves and I spun it fairly fine on my Louet ,Victoria. It was one of the 1st things I have spun in abundance. The scarf is 10"wide x 41"long unblocked and 13"wide x 51"long blocked. I overdyed it with a scarlet color that made it more red-rust in tones and I like it very much.

Blocked Scarf

<><><><>

Close Up of Scarf Pattern

Well hubby has ~~regained consciousness~~ woken up so I best go have a coffee with him and get on with my day. As I am working this weekend "Happy Thanksgiving" fellow Canadians.

Keep the Home Fires Roaring
Cinna

update

2010-10-05T16:23:00.001-03:00

So it's been a while since I last posted. Let me bring you all up to speed

Well when last I posted DD was visiting and we had a good time. One of our things is to visit second shops in the area and we hit pay dirt this visit. I found a bag of handspun wool that included 2 skeins in violets, a skein of spun sari silk and, a few balls of grey mohair. Woo-hoo! Also DD will be accompanying me to the Handspinning Retreat on P.E.I.. My birthday gift to her.

I have lots of pictures this time. I have a few projects by Therese. Notably here green and block socks, her in progress baby blanket with the 4 corner ducklings and, 2 cotton knit cardigans for her grandchildren. Excellent job Therese and aren't your grandchildren lucky. Deina's Uberball socks. My completed handspun with B&L heels and toes, a cowl, SIL's hat, Carolle's white shawl, and my Syrian shawl from the book Victorian Lace Today, page 130, made from Paton's FX sock yarn.

Therese's Socks

Therese's Projects

Deina's Socks

<><>

Cowl

Syrian Shawl

Syrian Shawl Close-Up

SIL's Hat

Carolle's Shaw

Sari Silk Scarf

Handspun Socks

On the home front we have at least 1 baby chick from our hen Elly-Mae who is an Ameraucana and our rooster Clyde who is a Canadian Chantecler. I saw just 1 chick and it was so sweet. All yellow and fluffy. I just caught a brief glimpse before Elly-Mae settled over it and started snapping at me. I am so pleased after we've lost so many of our hens to a brutal attack and more to poor health. The chicks are most welcome. Poor Bonnie our Chantecler is I believe sitting on eggs that probably won't hatch. DH is very pleased.

Well that is all for now. I will post pictures of the chick(s) as soon as Gracie will allow us to take some.

Hugs

Cinna

Progress

2010-09-06T06:21:00.001-03:00

Well Wednesday night this week will be fun at knitting at Read's as my daughter will be coming along to knit and Deina has asked me to talk about kool-aid dyeing fiber. I finished work Saturday evening and I wasn't surprised that the power was off at the house due to the wind gusts brought on by Earl. At least it was warm and the power had just gone out (again) so I was able to have a cup of tea before heading off to bed.

I am making progress making borders for the couple of shawls I have knitted. I have definitely found it quicker to knit the border separately and then add them to triangle shawls. I finished a purple Yo-Yo Stripes shawl yesterday. I knit it out of Briggs and Little sport weight, colour Mulberry. I will block it today. I chose the border from the book Super Stitches and it is a sweet little shawlette.

I had placed an order with Mary Maxim and am delighted with the sock blockers, sock yarn, books and the skeins of Paton's Lace I purchased. One of the books I ordered was "Knit Prayer Shawls 15 Wraps to Share" by Leisure Arts. I am looking forward to making a few of the projects.

I hope everybody enjoys today, the Labour Day, holiday. See you Wednesday.
Hugs
Cinna

Just Thrilled

2010-08-29T16:56:00.000-03:00

Well I am so thrilled!! I sent my registration in for October's Maritime Spin In, in PEI. I also reserved my room. Yeah! The theme is Spin Wild and info can be found at the Maritime Spinners Retreat website. I am anxiously waiting to find out if my DD is going to get the time of work to be able to join me. Thrilling! Speaking of DD I am thrilled that she will be visiting us shortly at the beginning of September for a few days. I haven't really spun anything for weeks because I have been either working or pooling.

     "Pooling"? Is that a verb? It is in my household and today was the perfect pooling day. Yes instead of working, knitting, or spinning I admit I was pooling. I can hardly believe my good fortune. The end of August and the temperature in the high 20s. The sun shining, a brutal stretch of work behind me and the pool water crystal clear and beckoning. How could I possibly resist? Well I couldn't but the day is waning and this blog doesn't update itself.

     I just received my Cricket Cove newsletter informing me of KnitEast a weekend of workshops featuring, Cat Bordhi, Stephanie Pearl-McPhee (Yarn Harlot), Lucy Neatby, the Fleece Artist and, Jane Thornely. Sadly I will be working that weekend with no hope of possibly getting it off (Cinna is weeping uncontrollably) but I am thrilled for all of you lucky knitters, and fibre fiends. All that talent in one spot so close to me and I can't go.

   Once again I am thrilled that the Moncton, Cricket Cove store has invited me to teach a Magic Loop sock class this fall. I am excited to be offering a 2 socks on 1 needle, cuff down, 2 color, fair isle class. Go see the sample and sign up. I will be offering a toe up sock class in the Spring if invited to teach by C.C..

   Well knitting group has continued throughout the summer and I have been thrilled to be able to show up as often as my work schedule allows. The ladies are always such a treat to knit with and the group is so relaxed that I just de-stress the entire time I am there. Last week was an excellent turn out and Nathalie and Therese thrilled everyone by sharing a few of there finished projects. Nathalie completed her crocheted shawl at the meeting and Therese showed of here yummy afghan. I am telling you these gals can knit and crochet.

Nathalie's Shawl

Therese's Afghan

Therese also gave me the name of a French on-line Knitting club that she belongs to and is located in Quebec. I believe it is the Canadian club of Bergere de France and is Club Direct Laine. Thanks Therese.
So as thrilling as updating this blog has been I am once again off to the pool before it gets to cool. See you tomorrow night at Read's.

Hugs Cinna

Borders

2010-08-09T06:35:00.000-03:00

Well last week the worse thing I did to myself was to crush my right thumb in the garden door. So it was a pretty good week.

    Last Wednesday night knit group was small with Therese, Nathalie and I. Very cozy. We had a surprise guest for a few minutes, the lovely and vivacious Marielynn stopped by and sat a spell to knit on her shawl. Marie Lynn was home visiting her parents as she has been teaching in Korea for 4 years.

I have decided that I am not very fond of knitting borders onto triangular shawls. It just seems to take forever. I have no problem knitting borders onto circular or square shawls! I offer no apologies and can give no reason for this. Just a personal preference.

   DH informed me the other day that he may go home for a week early in September. Boy howdy talk about short notice. I ran around like mad when I got home from work last night hunting for the 2 balls of red Sirdar ,Tweedie Chunky yarn I had purchased in the spring to knit my SIL her requested hat. I found the yarn after about an hour and managed to about 9 inches of the cable band before the Sandman got up to me. The pattern is 9069 and I am making the beret. This is thankfully a quick knit project.

   Well that is all for now. See you Wednesday evening.

Take care
Cinna

Taking the Good with the Bad

2010-07-29T17:21:00.000-03:00

It has been a while since my last post, as was pointed out to me at Monday's knit group, so I shall update you now. July has been a busy month. I completed a few shawls, worked on some projects and started some new projects.

So the good. Well I completed the Moss-Fern-Wrap by Kimberly K. McAlindin from Interweave Crochet, Fall 2009. I used Berrocco, Ultra Alpaca Fine in 1282.

Moss Fern Wrap

I had purchased a neat little kit from Cricket Cove in June with my birthday $$. It was a melange of different weight and shades of yarns in red in a little nylon bag. There was enough yarn to create 3 scarves or a wrap. I opted for a fringed triangular shawl. Geesh I forgot to say that the style was to be "free range". If you aren't certain of what that is check out Jane Thornley's site. I enjoyed the challenge of being somewhat unstructured in my knitting and I had combed through my books, magazines and many websites looking for a suitable pattern. I decided on Aunt Phebe's Comfort Shawl by Donna Druchanas. Here is one bad. I had spent a fair amount of time looking for a pattern and was reminded by Therese at knitting group that there was a pattern supplied in the kit. The good is that they are almost identical and I changed the cast on to use only 3 stitches and size 10mm needles.When I started knitting the shawl I didn't think I would care for it very much but upon completion I know I will enjoy wearing it. I like it very much.

Free Range Shawl

Close up of free range shawl

More good. DH and I went to visit our DD for a day and we of course visited LK yarns and I purchased a skein of Noro "Sekku" lace weight yarn in citrus or colour 1 and for a shawl from the book folk shawls I bought 3 skeins of "Cadenza Hand Paints" by Estelle in a teal pathway 968. Very yummy. Besides visiting and yarn shopping with my DD we visited my DB (dear brother) in his new apartment. I was wowed by his design sense!! The 2 bedroom upper and main floor apt was surprising enough but I really believed my newly separated, submariner brother would have just the bare necessities. Not so!! The apt is tastefully decorated and neat as a pin. I am certainly looking forward to spending some time there. Despite the sad reason for him having to acquire the place he certainly has set it up to be a comfy place for himself and his daughters when they visit.Plus DH and I went for a day up to my Mum's and my Aunt was there. I hadn't seen her for a longtime and I was delighted to learn that she had started knitting again. Congratulations to our niece on the birth of her 1st baby.The weather here has been exceptional and that is always good. I have been reading a lot of feel good books by my favorite authors; Debbie Macomber, Robyn Carr, Sherryl Woods, Earlene Fowler and Maggie Sefton. Ah, brain candy is always good.

Are you ready for the bad?
Well actually it was really only one bad day. Yesterday was bad. I would have to say it was an "I Love Lucy" kind of day. It was suppose to be my last day off before going back to work but I am obviously off today. The day started off typically with me doing piles of laundry and housework before having to return to work for 4 days. Then while I was down on the carpet vaccuming under the sofa my very light weight vaccum snuck up behind me and, please don't laugh too hard at this, sucked a hank of my hair up into it's power bar. I swear it took a handful of hair right from my scalp. There was blood! So there I was face pressed to the carpet and unable to reach the turn off switch with my hair being yanked out. Thankfully the belt became overheated and the darn thing shut off. Hair fell for at least 30 minutes. To comfort myself I went to town to a shoe sale and bought a pair of DANSKO's. That afternoon I was down by the pool when I decided I should go bring the cat litter I had purchased in from the car. I was walking along and was almost to the stairs when I took a mistep and fell between the deck and the pool! I laid there stunned briefly, got up, made my way into the house, laid on the ottoman and wept. Meanwhile my dogs were frantic and the cat litter was totally forgotten. I think I got off lucky, a bit of whiplash, bruising, sore from head to toe and some double vision for a couple of hours. I spent a horrible night trying to sleep but doing absolutley nothing today has helped. So now you tell me wasn't that an I love Lucy kind of day?

I will be back at work tomorrow and because it is a Civic holiday on Monday, knit group will be meeting on Wednesday, August the 4th. My love to group members Deina who is tending to a sick relative and to Doris who lost her brother suddenly. We are all thinking of you.
Hugs
Cinna

Joanne's Wrap

2010-07-02T19:51:00.000-03:00

I have to telll you that for my birthday DH gave me some $$ to support my habit and I spent a lovely hour at CC buying laceweight and sock yarn and I still have my gift certificate for some yummy stuff at London Wul. Yahoo!! I have to say this was my best birthday ever.

Monday night's knitting meeting was wonderful.Joanne finished her lovely blue wrap that was a free pattern from Michael's. She did a great job.I always enjoy our meetings. It's so good to just sit and knit or crochet and listen to all the chit chat and see what everyone is working on. Feel free to join us.Our next meeting is Wednesday, July 7th.

Hugs
Cinna

Catching Up

2010-06-22T15:05:00.001-03:00

Well I have been laid low for a time with fluid in my ear! Man the pain was unbelieveable. I certainly have greater sympathy for children who suffer from this, the poor little things. I did go visit my doctor last week after trying to treat this at home (what can I tell you it's the nurse thing) for over 10 days. I swear honest to goodness I thought I must have a really bad infection. Imagine my surprise when the doctor told me that I didn't have infection at all but just fluid behind the eardrum and to use a decongestant and tylenol/advil. He also told me it can take up to 6 weeks for the problem to go away! Holy cow!! Bring on the decongestant already. You know Cinna is not feeling well when Cinna can't knit. Anyways I am on the mend now and have started a pair of socks Tribute by Brenda Patipa on Knitty.com.

Last Monday the girls met as usual at Read's and thereby participated in Knit in Public week. Ha,ha,ha. I bet they didn't even realize it. Yeah girls. I had to be satisfyed with knitting on my coffee break at work like a few years ago.

I have gone a little mental shopping for shoes to wear at work that my recently acquired Skecher mary janes do for me. If you are not familiar with rocker bottom footwear let me tell you that they improve your posture, relieve leg, joint, knee and back pain and can even reduce cellulite on your legs and abs. Depending on the shoe. I won't even tell you what I have spent in the last few wekks but it is under $1000.00. Are you shocked? Well in my defense the Skechers are like sneakers and my feet get a little warm in them at this time of year. So the hunt was on to get a pair of clogs with rocker bottoms. Clogs are my preferred at work footwear. You can really shoe off your knitted socks in clogs, slides and mules. So I bought a pair of Dansko clogs and then a pair of Alegria clogs and mary janes. I am totally loving the rocker bottoms and my feet are happy, happy and what better way to celebrate my this week birthday then by spoiling myself. Spoiling yourself is always good.

Here is a picture of the apron I made for Janine's birthday. She is my daughter's best friend.

I am knitting the borders on 2 shawls and am making headway with a crochet shawl Nathalie and I have been working on for a few months. I have put the dessert and the shawl pictures up on that post for your pleasure. We will be meeting at Read's on Monday the 28th as we just met last night and we had a good time. Until then stay cool and knit like mad.
Hugs
Cinna

Just Desserts

2010-05-31T01:48:00.001-03:00

Last Wednesday our group met at Deina's for a fun dessert potluck. There were 7 of 8 of us and of the 7 wonderful desserts I partook of 6. Egads! Not only did I suffer from the inevitable sugar high and post tummy ache but I was a bit jumpy rushy when Deina wonderfully led an impromptu tour of her home. Sorry about that Deina. Thank you for inviting us in to your beautiful home. JoAnn brought her completed alpaca shawl in moss green to show us and it is lovely. This week we are meting at the regular time and place on Monday the 31st.

Cinna

A Little Briggs&Little

2010-05-17T10:50:00.001-03:00

So what's the scoop?
Well I paid my 1st visit ever to the Brigg's and Little store last Tuesday. I grew up in the area but as you all know I didn't grow up a knitter. Hence, this 1st visit thing. That's my story and I am sticking to it. Briggs and Little is located in Harvey, New Brunswick in the pretty as a postcard surroundings and although the store is tiny the selection of B&L products is delightful. I bought enough roving to start a White Buffalo sweater and some sport weight yarn.I now wish I had purchased more of the sport as the colour selection at B&L is fabulous. Well worth the visit.
I have been knitting shawls like my life depends on it. I have so many skeins of mohair that I decided to knit em up. I completed a triangular shawl out of Heidi's hand-dyed mohair in fuchsia. The picture makes it look red but trust me it is fuchsia. I used the pattern yo-yo-stripes by Jennifer Thompson that I found on Ravelry. This little shawl knit up in a jiffy and the mohair makes it nice and light. So light in fact that I added a crochet shell border to keep it from flying away in the wind. I completed a diamond patterned wrap out of yellow mohair (same source for the wool) from my book Victorian Lace Today and the pattern is found on page 90. I left the border off as I knew I didn't have enough wool and so made up a lovely stole. I am knitting out of my Fleece Artist kid mohair, wool& nylon dark brown a Shetland shawl pattern Drops Design 87-1 plus I started out of my Briggs and Little smoke (gray coloured) sport weight wool a Trinity shawl also found on Ravelry. Phew!

I had a great time at London Wul on Thursday spinning with the ladies and I bought more sock yarn and lace weight yarn at the sale at Cricket Cove on Saturday then enough. Yup I am a pretty happy little gal right now.
Tonight is knitting at Read's at 6pm and it's back to work for me tomorrow so I can pay for all my purchases.
Take Care and if you can't be good at least be happy.
Cinna

Vests and Other Matters

2010-05-02T16:58:00.000-03:00

Just wanted to share a few things.
Last Monday night's knit group was wonderful. A great turn out and I shared with the group how to do a three needle bind off. This particular bind off easily replaces the Kitchener Stitch so if you have a phobia of the Kitchener stitch you will want to Google the three needle bind off. It is super easy. The group meets again this Wednesday, May 5th at 6pm.
I had made the statement to Linda at London Wul that I don't wear vests. Now I stewed on that statement for a time and I asked myself, "why don't I wear vests?" I couldn't come up with an answer.So Linda if your reading know that I have indeed added vests to my list of items to wear and to knit. You will see below the picture of a vest I knitted last week. The pattern is Lion Brand Cable Accent vest. I substituted the yarn with Sirdar Big Softy which was in my stash. I am now working on a Lopi vest in the palest of gray. Also a very simple pattern. There are also pictures of a hat that is a Lopi pattern but I used Brigg's and Little Heritage and the socks I knit in the class I just finished teaching. The Noro silk garden lite sock is heavier than the kuryeon but man are they ever soft.
I picked up my high speed flyer for my Ashford, Traveller spinning wheel on Thursday and DH just put the 2nd coat of penetrating oil on it last evening. I can hardly wait to give it a whorl on my days off.

Hope to see you on Wednesday

Hugs

Cinna

Just a Note

2010-04-24T03:14:00.001-03:00

So sock class at Cricket Cove finished on Tuesday evening. I had 2 wonderful ladies take the class and I do hope they continue to use the Magic Loop method of knitting socks. I thought I would finish the toes of my sock using a short row but didn't care much for the look or feel of it so ripped it back and am doing a classic toe. Perhaps it was the thickness of the yarn that put me off, Noro Silk Garden Lite sock. I find the yarn to be a sport weight and not a nice fingering weight. Monday night was fun as well with a few of us braving the weather to meet a Read's. We will be meeting on the 26th this week.

I must tell you that Jeff who is a regular at London Wul on Sundays showed me his method of plying and I am not the worst plyer ever anymore and indeed I am actually using some of my handspun and plyed lace weight yarn to make a scarf from Victorian Lace Today (pics later as I am at work). I probably won't be at the big London Wul sale on Sunday as I am working until 8am that morning. If I don't make it Sunday I shall be there for Thursday.

Well that's all for now.
Cinna

Check It Out

2010-04-03T05:46:00.000-03:00

Spring is finally in our midsts and how welcome it is. Be certain to check out Cricket Cove, Moncton this week for the wonderful Queen Anne's Lace trunk show. Check out the beautiful shawls, stoles and scarfs. Also check out the spring issue of Knitty.com and the lace sock pattern. Be certain to check out London Wul on April 24th and 25th for their fabulous Spring Sale.

As usual this past week's knitting group was fun. Welcome to Therese. We hope to see you again this week. We will be meeting on Wednesday night the 7th. Elaine dropped by as well with a lovely sampler scarf she had knit for co-worker Jennifer (picture below).

Well I am off to work. You all have a great Easter.
Cinna

This and That

2010-03-28T21:36:00.000-03:00

So I am once again at work. This is a good thing as it means my shoulder is better.

Last Sunday morning I was up early and off to London Wul to pick up my new Ashford ,Traveller spinning wheel.! I elected to purchase it unassembled and unfinished. I stopped at Kent and picked up a can of Minwax teak and tung oil and arrived home in great anticipation. DH and I enjoyed a coffee whilst perusing the brochures and assembly instructions together then it was down to the workshop to apply the oil. DH set me up quite nicely and I was finshed the first coat at 2pm. Nothing to do then but wait the required 24 hours.

I worked away on a new shrug and hat to be knitted leisurely as my sock class started Wednesday evening. I frogged the 2 stole patterns I had started as I simply wasn't liking the looks of them. I ripped the button bands off my sweater and knitted up bands that I liked. I like the look of the sweater much better now.

Monday afternnon I sanded and applied another coat to my wheel and enjoyed the hour or so knitting at Read's with the ladies. Tuesday evening the wheel was assembled by DH and Wednesday mornings test drive was wonderful. I must mention that my Traveller is a double treadle, double drive. I snuck a feqw hours of spinning in between my day and nigth shifts and I have to say I am probably the worst plier in the world bar none.Oh well something to work on. The fibre I spun was a quite nice polwarth plied with doll mohair. I hope to knit a pair of socks out of it.

I look forward to seeing you all at Read's on Monday evening.
Cinna

Pictures and Oops

2010-03-18T10:29:00.001-03:00

Well apparently I was very tired when I posted this week's meeting night as I left the wednesday there on with the new date. We actually met on Monday night the 15th. Oops and big apology. We will be meeting next on Monday the 22nd of March at 6pm. The other oops is that of the numerous pictures I took at the meeting on Monday night only the photo of Doris' shawl came out. It is a lovely triangular shawl based on the Alpaca Prayer Shawl pattern I found on Ravelry. Doris made her's out of Lion Brand Homespun in a lovely shaded teal blue.

A couple of posts ago I spoke of completing my first circular sweater from a LOPI pattern. The button band is crocheted and I am none to thrilled with it as it gapes.The sweater fits nicely but the front gapes! Sigh! I am thinking of taking out the crocheted button band and knitting one on. I have to think about it. Here are a few pictures of it. Note the detail on the cuff. I enjoyed knitting a sweater in the round and I am going to knit another very soon.

Below are the pictures of the Feather and Fan shawl I made from the book Folk Shawls. Three of us set out to make this shawl. Tanya completed hers last fall and now mine is completed. I knit it very large but as you can see from the mirrored photo I am very comfy wearing it. The colours are wonderful and as you can see my lab Ralffie seems to like it.

I started a scarf on Sunday but have discovered I don't find it lacy enough so I am looking for a new project. I am crocheting a shawl at knit group but I need to knit on something.Perhaps I should complete some of my UFOs? I'll think about it.

Sock class starts at Cricket Cove on the 24th and I am looking forward to teaching once again. Please support your local yarn/ fiber shops and have a great day.

Hugs

Cinna

Why I Wasn't at Spinning on Sunday

2010-03-03T08:49:00.000-04:00

Just so as you know I went shopping on Saturday for a smaller work tote.Unfortunately stupid me I pushed around a shopping cart for 15 to 30 minutes. I want you to know that I have been dealing with a sprained left shoulder since January. So pushing a cart, albeit an empty cart, was a not so bright thing to be doing. The`sprained shoulder also explains my recent apron making fetish. Therapy! After picking up a smaller and lighter tote bag for work, I had thought about making one but I am rather fussy about my totes, I headed over to Old Navy to check out there sale. Yup you read correctly I not only pushed a cart around I also went jean shopping. Well holy cow they had jeans on for $20!! My old O.N. jeans are so old they are starting to fall apart. Anyways, I walked away with 2 pair of jeans, a pair of navy chinos and another tote/handbag! Well geesh the bag was regular $37 on for $9. What could I do but give it a home. I was so sore I headed home only to have to grocery shopping with DH. I brought DH along because my previous actions meant I needed someone to push the cart and lug stuff. Well all this activity left me very sore and it took me the rest of Saturday and Sunday to recover. The silver lining is that because I knit continental style and therefore move my shoulders very little I was able to get quite a bit done on my shawl and I was able to watch more of the Olympics. Now you may ask, "Was it worth it?" Well I hated to miss spinning but I have to tell you it was definitely worth it. Psst, don't let my DH know about the Old Navy purchases he still thinks I just bought a tote and some vitamins.

Just a reminder that knitting was canceled Monday because of the storm so we will be meeting tonight. If there is a storm check back later for when we will meet next.
Hugs
Cinna

A Restart

2010-02-28T07:49:00.000-04:00

Just a quickie post once again. I am blaming these brief posts to the interesting TV coverage of the Olympics.

So the restart to my shame is on the Feather and Fan shawl in the book Folk Shawls that I convinced Heidi and Tanya to knit on last year. Tanya completed hers. She is the only one thus far of the 3 to have finished it. I picked it up again on the 23rd and frogged it. Sigh! I am once again on track with it and am back to starting the tails. I felt good restarting this project as the finished shawl is quite lovely.

If you remember the problems I was having plying on my Louet Victoria I am getting that problem dealt with as well. Experience is the solver of many problems. Through reading many blogs and my spinning books I realized I need to ply on my regular flyer but I needed to use a half full bobbin. So it's coming along.

Monday night we will be at Read's at our usual 6pm. Nathalie and I are working on a crochet shawl. I think Deina might join us in this project. Doris and Joanne are working on knitted shawls. Feel free to come along and join us.'Til then
Cinna

Go Canada!

Just a Quick Post

2010-02-21T21:14:00.000-04:00

Spinning was great today.Well not personally as I couldn't seem to keep my fiber from breaking but I enjoyed the social aspect. It's always nice to be around fellow spinners and knitters. I rushed away to finish my first ever circular sweater and to cut apart the steek was a nailbiter as I have never done that. Only time will tell if it'll hold up.I should have a photo of the completed sweater sometime this week. It's a LOPI pattern, I've never knit a LOPI sweater before! Face it I was deprived as a child. Whilst everyone else in the world was sporting a Lopi I was blissfully unaware of their existence. That has changed and I must say knitting a sweater on a circular needle goes quite fast.
I am off to dreamland and look forward to seeing you all tomorrow evening at Read's.
Cinna

Not Much Going On

2010-02-16T04:54:00.002-04:00

Hi all.Sorry about the lapse but there really isn't much going on.I am still suffering from a wrenched shoulder joint and am finishing with a nasty cold bug.

I am still knitting occasionally on my Lopi sweater and less frequently on a shawl.I am slowly recovering from my apron making fetish.Sewing little projects has been easier than knitting right now as it is a different motion and doesn't seem to aggravate my shoulder.

Knitting club is this Wednesday night and I hope to see you there.

Hugga Mugga
Cinna

Apron Strings and Other Things

2010-01-29T11:40:00.002-04:00

Well I have been off work due to injury.Fortunately given a few weeks of rest and a great physiotherapist I will be returning to duty tomorrow.

Last Sunday I took my first venture out of the house and packed up my Louet, Victoria and headed out to London Wul for a Spin-A-Long. Due to a senior moment I packed everything but my flyer. Doh! I even packed my apron and spinning socks. Which are a yogs sock pattern but I knit the socks especially to wear while spinning.So instead of spinning I spent my gift certificate from Christmas and purchased enough Lopi Light to make a cardigan. Always a silver lining and to prove this point I want you all to know that I have been having a great deal of difficulty plying my laceweight yarn on my Victoria. So I took myself out yesterday for some shopping therapy (bought a new handbag and shoes at Sears warehouse sale) and then I went out to London Wul for some advice from Heidi. After some discussion we decided that I would contact Louet and I could use the regular flyer to ply. Anyways, while I was there (without my wheel) I asked about purchasing an Ashford, Traveller and we were off on a discussion of single versus double drive. As luck would have it the Thursday afternoon spinning group showed up and I was able to try one of the groups Traveller. Very nice. So last evening I plied my wool on the regular head of my Victoria and then again on my high speed flyer. Afterwards I was spinning some merino and my footman treadle connector broke! Okay did I kept upset? No instead I got DH out of bed to show him what had happened and (only because he had been grumbling about me purchasing another wheel so soon) told him, "See that is why a person needs a 2nd wheel". So silver lining a go-go. I got to not only test drive a new wheel I ordered one today. I received an invite to join the Thursday spinning group, I purchased a new handbag and a pair of shoes, both at 40-50% off the already marked down price. I got to buy some yummy yarn and fiber to boot.

Now I must tell you that after my physio session on Tuesday I was mega sore and so did very little afterwards. Amazingly I awoke Wednesday morning full of energy. So I took an old nightie I had purchased at a thrift store just for the purpose of making an apron out of and made myself a pinafore apron, sans pattern. I had used Robyn Pandolph's Willing Hands apron pattern shortly after purchasing my wheel and made an apron to keep the fibre off me and I have decided I like aprons. I am so glad I bought Robyn's pattern a number of years ago as I don't think you can purchase it anymore. I had purchased mine from Cabbage Rose. I made it out of a light brown print so all light-dark fibers show up on it. I have included a few pictures of them as well as my Great Grandmother's apron that I inherited. It has been laundered and I have it stored away. Gram always wore an apron and made the best ever molasses cookies. Check out the print (ignore the stains) on her apron. Very 30's wouldn't you say? I have an apron book on the way and look forward to making a few more aprons.

Aprons 3
Aprons Back

Knitting club was very productive on Monday night. Happy belated birthday to club member Joanne. We will be meeting again on Wednesday the 3rd of February. Usual time. Usual place. See you there.

To that home economics teacher who flunked me in grade 9."Look at me now lady."

Hugs
Cinnaknits

What About Crochet

2010-01-19T13:15:00.005-04:00

Well here we are again well into the winter blahs.

Our group met last night at Read's with 2 members missing.We do hope you are feeling better and hope to see you next Monday night.Deina treated us with her 2 crochet hats and I believe Nathalie is getting quite interested in crocheting.I love to crochet and have saved a number of my Decorative crochet magazines from earlier years.I do believe that magazine is now defunct but Interweave has a lovely publication. There is also Defining Crochet, Crochet Today, and Crochet World.

A funny thing is that when I started to crochet I never had a great deal of trouble reading the patterns in symbol. I actually prefer reading crochet patterns in symbol but I still struggle with reading knitting patterns in symbol!! What up with that?

If you are new to crochet or need a refresher of how to make the stitches the Internet is loaded with assistance. You can search engine the word crochet and the sites out there will just boggle the mind. A good resource that explains the stitches with diagrams here. If you need more assistance with crochet stitches check out You Tube and type crochet stitches in the search bar on the site,grab a beverage and enjoy. I like Granny's Garret for explaining crochet symbols used in patterns. All crochet magazines and most knitting magazines show an explanation of basic crochet stitches.

There are great deal of free crochet patterns out there on the Internet and my advice to anyone starting with a new craft is find a project you really want to do and attempt it. Don't worry about the size (I'll probably get lynched for this) or the expertise. If it is something you really want to make try it. You may not finish it or it may look like um crap but at least you tried. My first crochet project was a simple afghan that I finished but hid from the world and finally threw out because it was horrid. What it taught me was the basic stitches, plus a few advanced stitches, how to read a crochet pattern, gauge can be very, very important, and the material used is also important. What it also taught me was that I really enjoyed crocheting and that my DH really loves me because he said when I finished that awful little afghan how nice it was. I still love crocheting doilies and table toppers! That's right I love making those really delicate looking patterns. I think it's the lace. As a matter of fact I am going to attempt a crochet shawl pattern from Interweave crochet magazine. Let's hope that it turns out better than that 1st afghan.

So forge ahead. The struggle is worth it and good luck.
Hugs
Cinna

Show and Share

2010-01-14T09:28:00.003-04:00

Our Monday night meeting saw a few of us bring completed projects to show and share.Here are pictures of our finished projects.We will be meeting again Monday the 18th of January at 6pm at Read's.

The picture's below are of my fingerless mitts, slouch hat, Lopi neckwarmer, cowl from pattern out of Vogue Knitting magazine and the cowl made from my homespun,Nathalie's drooping elm toe up socks and Doris' triangular shawl.

Enjoy
Cinna

Happy New Year

2010-01-11T08:46:00.007-04:00

Well better late than never. Happy 2010!

I do hope you all had a great holiday season. I of course worked right through from December 25th to the morning of the 29th but New Year's Eve was quietly wonderful. DH and I stayed in and watched "Angels and Demons" and the new Harry Potter. Yeah!

I did manage to knit a few things.I knit my 2 nieces a poncho each for Christmas.
This great pattern kiddie capelet is from Christine Buhagiar of Knitting for Boozehags.
kiddie capelet

From Vogueknitting's Holiday 2009 issue I knit the Ribbed Cowl on page 57. I used left over Lion Brand Wool-Ease Thick and Quick from last winter's hats I knit. Very easy pattern and very warm.Have a look at Vogue's picture here.
Ribbed Cowl

Yesterday I spun some thick and thin bulky yarn. Trust me it wasn't by design.It is because I am still learning to spin that my yarn is that way. Anyway, it was a beautiful polwarth wool from London-Wul and Heidi assures me I will eventually be able to spin some lovely lace weight yarn.I can hardly wait. Anyways, last night I found this fab cowl pattern on Ravelry it is Knot Your Mamas, Single Skein Lace Cowl.What makes this pattern so wonderful is it is easy, it is free and it gives you the directions to make the cowl/hat in 4 yarn weights!! So my homespun looks pretty good in the bulky weight pattern.Below is a picture of my cowl blocked.Sorry it isn't dry yet or I would have a picture of me wearing it.Perhaps if it is dry by tonight's meeting I'll get a photo.I also made a plain slouch hat from SWS wool and I will get snap of that at the meeting as well.

Homespun Cowl

Well I am off to workout, and shop! Woo-hoo!! So until the next time remember,"It is better to have knit and frogged,then never to have knit at all."

Luv Ya
Cinna

What does Cinnaknits enjoy reading? Robyn Carr's Virgin River novels, Debbie Macomber novels and Stephanie Pearl-McPhee.

What's Going On?

2009-12-15T14:40:00.003-04:00

So I hope everyone is ready for the holidays.I put my tree up and decorated my home yesterday.That would be December,14th!I delivered my mother's presents on Sunday after a marathon cookie baking day on Saturday. Of course I went to Cricket Cove first on Saturday as it was their no tax day sale.I bought another Lopi book,some Lopi lite and some Briggs and Little country roving.Why B&L roving you maybe asking? Well have you ever heard of White Buffalo? This was a Canadian yarn company that produced lovely sweater patterns. I fortunately saved the only book I ever purchased of theirs.It is book# 1269.You can see a picture of the cover here.B&L's country roving is an excellent substitute for WB's unspun yarn used in these patterns. It is also a good substitute for Lopi and Lopi unspun. What with the Olympics coming in 2010 I am feeling a desire to knit a sweater.Something I don't often do.

The knitting group will be taking a break until sometime in January.Probably the 1st or 2nd week of January.We met last night for supper at the Homestead restaurant in Riverview and we had a very nice meal and very good time.

Please find below a few pictures of my "pi" shawl that is on display at Cricket Cove for the knit along that will take place this Spring.Also I have a picture of the lap quilt the staff and I made at work for our previous boss. Who has moved on to another job.We miss you Amanda. The pattern is "log cabin" with the center squares being singed by the staff as a keepsake.

Check out knitty.com for their Winter'09 issue.There are some very nice patterns.

Well until next time. Knitting is not just a pass time it is a Zen experience.

Pi

Close up of Pi
Quilt

Just A Little Bit of Fiber

2009-12-08T05:05:00.002-04:00

So last week was exciting! I promised Cricket Cove,Moncton that I would have my pi shawl finished to display as a sample in the shop for the up coming knit along of the same. Well stupid me I decided I just had to add a lace border to it. So while on my nights I started. So that would have been last Monday night (Nov.30th).Just so you gleam some idea as to my undertaking here are a few details. The pi shawl ends with 576 sts and the border I chose is knit on sideways and has an 8st repeat.This means that for every repeat there is a decrease of 4sts and 5 repeats of the pattern took me around an hour or and hour and a half to complete and it took 144 pattern repeats.Phew! So I knit like a fiend and finished Friday night at 8pm and handed the completed shawl over to the care of Chris at Cricket Cove Saturday morning.I must say despite my tennis elbow from knitting so much this shawl is very lovely and even unblocked is a nice size.So if you have a hankering to knit a circular shawl or just would like to see it and sympathize with my sore elbow drop in to Cricket Cove.

Saturday also saw me have a visit to London Wul. I won't tell you how much fiber I bought for spinning but it was a fair amount and all lovely. I also purchased Lopi book #25 and enough Lopi Lite to make a shrug. Yup my credit card took a beating. Heidi also clued me in to the fact that a lot of Lopi patterns are great for knitting up my handspun. So I started the hat with dreadlocks from book#25 for my daughter using some spindled and wheel spun fiber. London Wul has a special book section at present whereby the proceeds are to be donated to a charity in memory of a friend recently lost to cancer. There are books dealing with weaving,knitting,quilting and, cross stitch. I encourage to drop by and purchase a few.

Well I am off to work.Keep your sticks/ wheels in motion and have a happy day.
Cinna

A Quick Note

2009-11-30T07:35:00.005-04:00

I am in between my days and nights but wanted to share some pictures and news with you. I have changed units where I work for 6 months and discovered a few knitters. It's nice to share enthusiasm with them. We will be meeting Wednesday, December (OMG December already!!) 2nd, usual time, usual place.

Here are some pictures for your pleasure. Joanne's Flower Petal Shawl from elann.com and Joanne's toe up socks.The pattern isDouble Eyelet Rib by Wendy Johnson, Doris' shawl based on Knot Another Hat's alpaca prayer shawl pattern. I love this easy to make shawl pattern. It takes about a day to make. Nathalie's scarf from the book Ocean Breezes Knitted Scarfs by Cheryl Thies. Enjoy.

Joanne's Petal Shawl
Joanne's socks
Doris' shawl
Nathalie's scarf

My New Louet Victoria

2009-11-07T06:23:00.003-04:00

Okay,okay I admit it I have purchased a Louet Victoria spinning wheel!!

I gave Heidi a call at London Wul yesterday and asked her not to laugh too much when I asked her if she had any spinning wheels in her shop I could try out.You have to understand that when I purchased my drop spindle I was very insistent on the fact that I would never own a spinning wheel.

Famous last words!

I have to give Heidi her due she didn't laugh too loud,long or hard at me.I had spent the week after the Maritime spinning retreat drop spindling and looking at wheels and reviews.I boogied over to London Wul in yesterday's little snowstorm and Heidi set me up with a few of her wheels.I had let her know that ultimately I was interested in spinning fiber into lace and sock weight wool and I was mainly interested in an Ashford Traveller or Kiwi. Ummm I came home with Heidi's demo model of the Victoria. Number one it was the only wheel I could manage to spin on and two Heidi gave me a great deal on it. It is so tiny and sweet I just love it! Heidi had a bunch of extra accessories that I got as well, the High Flyer kit and more bobbins then enough. What a great time I had at the shop with Heidi's great patience and it was so soothing to sit amongst all that fiber and try and spin. I was a bit frustrated trying to spin on the Louet S10 and I am certain my face must of lit up when I sat and spun (very badly) on the Victoria. It was exhilarating. I said,"I'll take it", as soon as she offered to sell it to me. Heidi, bless her said "Well you don't have to decide right away" and I agreed to think on it as she did up her quote for her gently used demo model and one on a new Traveller. I decided that hey I can spin on this one, it's very comfortable comes with all these extras and the difference in price was only about $100 or so. So I took the lovely Victoria off Heidi's hands. We spent quite a while going over it and Heidi and I both agreed that a person isn't limited to just one wheel either. So once I master the art of spinning I can always buy(or not) another wheel.I took off like a shot for home with my new wheel and hubby and I took it out of it's case last night and oohed and awed over it.Looked it all over.Set it in a prominent spot and marvelled at it. It really is pretty. Now all I have to do is learn to spin on it.

Thanks Heidi and Linda for your patience. Here is a link to some pictures of the Louet Victoria on the Net.They are not my pictures but I am now a proud owner of one and not the baby.

Have a spinnerly/knitterly Day
Cinna

Spinning Out of Control

2009-11-03T09:06:00.005-04:00

So the spinning/weaving retreat finished on Sunday.What a great time.Tanya taught me the basics of spindling our first night and I definitely struggled with drafting, getting my fibers to a manageable thickness and then spindling with consistency.My first efforts are pictured below.You'ld think I would be embarrassed to share the photo but we all have to start somewhere and I started way out there.Note there is no consistency and the yarn is very chunky.Okay,extremely chunky! With persistence and about 8-10 hours of spindling on Saturday I have finally managed to produce a decent single from Heidi's, hand dyed polworth.
My 1st efforts at spindling

I met a lot of very supportive people from all over. The ladies from Moncton were fun, supportive, knowledgeable, friendly and made me feel right at home. Tanya arrived in her completed shawl we had (Heidi, Tanya, and myself)decided to knit from Folk Shawls. You know the shawl I have only made a start on.It is lovely.
Tanya and her shawl

Catherine whom I usually sat beside gave a wonderful demo on Navajo plying.
Catherine teaches Navajo plying

Linne(sp) God love her attempted to show me how to spin on her wheel. There was an exercise in patience on her part and one of futility on mine.Thanks Linne.
Linne
Cathy a retired RN from my hospital, whom I have not seen for years and I had know idea she was a spinner,was there. Just the same as ever. Full of humor and a great spinner. Hey Cathy I have been looking at wheels and may actually purchase one! Pictured her helping a beginner spinner Leah. Leah made leaps and bounds with her spinning during the retreat.
Cathy and Leah

Steph from the Chapters knitting group arrived for the day on Saturday.Steph was spindling at Knit in Public day and unbeknown to her gave me the bug. Her wheel was very cool as well. Umm, I can't remeber the name of it but Staph was cranking out some fine singles.
Stephanie and her cool wheel

Below are various pictures of the Haloween costumes. I include the Chicken hat in defference to my hubby who keeps chickens.
Me "the Green hat Witch" spindling CJ and Meredith
the circle
All the Witches
Sarah, best costume the Chicken hat

There was so much to do at the retreat and so much to learn. The shopping was fabulous and I look forward to seeing everyone next October in PEI.
Cinnaknits/spindles

More Later

2009-11-02T09:45:00.003-04:00

I had a lovely time at the Maritime Spinners and Weavers Retreat in Fredericton this past weekend. I met a lot of great people and I learned a great deal. I have a few pictures to post and more to tell you but I am forcing myself to buy much needed food etc and do some housework.So hopefully I will post some more later today.

I also finished the socks form the sock class I taught and gave them to my daughter for whom they were intended.I shall e-mail her for a picture as I forgot to get one.

Meeting at Read's on Thursday,November 5th at 6pm.
'Til later then
Byedee-bye
Cinna

Just a Brief Note

2009-10-27T02:04:00.002-03:00

I have been super busy.Just in case you haven't noticed.The day before Thanksgiving our Nephew was wisked away for a kidney transplant.He is doing well and is home now. Sock class is finished as of tomorrow night.The ladies have been wonderful.

I am off to the spinning retreat this weekend and I have purchased 3 lovely spindles on Etsy from Butterfly Girl Designs, Knot My Day Job and the Spanish Peacock.

Note we are meeting on Thursday night this week.I hope to bring my daughter along as she is visiting. See you there.
Cinna

Lots of Blah,Blah,Blah

2009-10-02T07:35:00.003-03:00

First of all please note that I have put tentative meeting dates for the group up for October. There will be no meeting next week as 3 of us are unavailable. I will not be present on the 14th but the meeting will certainly take place as usual. My apologies to the group for having to leave early on Wednesday evening. I believe I ate something that has had a bad effect on me. I am finally able to eat toast. I hope group member Nathalie is recovering from her cold.

I have uploaded a new free sock pattern. It is not for the faint of heart and I can not guarantee that there are no errors in it. I suggest you leave a message if you find errors and I will get back to you as soon as I am able. Like most people I am busy but I will get back to you. The pattern is done 2 at a time, cuff down, magic loop. Take your time with it. Read it carefully and you will do fine. Please note that there is a link for the word and PDF version of the pattern.

I have been busy knitting on two shawls, fingerless gloves.Thanks to JoAnne for sharing the fingerless glove pattern she enjoys knitting from knitty.com. The pattern is Fetching by Cheryl Niamath and I liked so much that I am making a few pairs as well. I am also attempting to teach myself how to drop spindle spin yarn and I look forward to meeting some of you at the Maritime Spinners Retreat in Fredericton on the 31st. Please do come and introduce yourself I love meeting and sharing. My boss is moving on so I am piecing a log cabin wall hanging quilt for her and have to have it ready to be quilted by my co-workers on Monday. Zoiks!!

My knitting class started last night at Cricket Cove.I have the great pleasure once again of sharing the technique of knitting 2 socks at once using the Magic Loop method and this time we are knitting toe-up. The 3 ladies in the group are delightful and I can tell that they will all do well. One of the ladies has just moved here from Edmundston and this is her 1st pair of socks. Never mind that it is her 1st pair of Magic Loop socks it is her 1st ever pair of socks! While she is bilingual I believe she is struggling with my lack of French. I do speak a little bit of French but it is mostly related to my work and not my knitting. I have done a translation of the pattern for her online but who knows if it is any good. I found a few French websites that may help:
Knit Spirit
Magic loop
I do hope these are helpful.
Well time is pressing and I have lots to accomplish today. I hope to see you all on the 22nd.Remember the ladies will be at Read's on the 14th.Take care and remember knitting is should be relaxing.If it is not then you aren't trying hard enough! En francais:tricot est devrait être relaxing.If il n'est pas alors que vous tentez pas assez dur?!

Shawl Pictures and More

2009-09-19T22:06:00.004-03:00

Knitting group was as always very fun and Joann and Doris are making great inroads into their shawl projects and Nathalie has started her Drooping Elm socks. Joann has been bugging me as to why the first sock class I ever taught was on 2 circular needles and not one as she is finding knitting 2 socks on 1 circular needle so much easier and faster. I don't know why I did that Joann.Sorry! We will be meeting at Read's again this Wednesday evening around 6pm.Drop ins are welcome and bring a project or just some yarn and some sticks and we'll get you started on something.

I am so excited as I sent in my registration for the Maritime Spinners Retreat taking place in Fredericton from October 31st to November 1st at the Crown Plaza hotel. I received a copy of "Spin It:Making Yarn from Scratch" by Lee Raven, several back issues of Spin Off magazine, some roving and a niddy noddy all from WEBS.I watched a few you tube videos on drop spindle spinning this morning but decided against attempting it for the next few days as I am working nights and I want to be alert when I try for the first time.

Below are the pictures of the Alpaca shawl I made. There are 3 pictures of it made in the mystery wool I purchased at London Wul and one in pink is made from Patons Norspun from my stash.I finished the Eaveryaway wrap that is in the Interweave fall issue.I made it out of Lamb's Pride worsted,colour Prairie Fire.I have made a beginning on my feather and Fan shawl and am loving it.

Well back to work.Coffee is over.Take care and see you at Read's.
Hugs Cinna

Mystery Shawl,Times 3

The Same Shawl Pattern in PinkEveryway Wrap
Close Up of Everyway Wrap
Interweave Knit magazine and am thinking of making Okmin Park's "Everyway Wrap"

Just a Quick Post

2009-09-08T10:54:00.002-03:00

Nathalie and I had a productive night Unfortunately I haven't taken pictures of the shawl I completed with that London Wul mystery wool. Yesterday I finished a shawl using the same pattern. I made it using some Paton's Norspun from my stash.Both shawls look completely different as one is light and lacy and the Norspun is a worsted and looks more solid.It is drying even as I type as I blocked it late yesterday afternoon. I will fringe it and promise to get pictures of both of them to post. I truly believe I have found what I shall be making the ladies on my list for Christmas.

That is all for now as I am typing this on the QT at work.

Have a great day.
Cinna

Shawl Completed

2009-09-01T07:05:00.004-03:00

Last meeting I shared with our little group at Read's a shawl I completed from a pattern in the book the best of knitter's magazine "more than circular" pg44 by JoAnne Besold. I used Fleece Artist's, Special Nyoni handyed yarn. I had purchased both at London Wul in May of this year. This pattern is based on a doily pattern and took about 4 or 5 days to complete.I think it is about 64 inches in diameter.The pictures are below.

More Than Circular Shawl

On Saturday I made a visit to London Wul and I had a great time there with Heidi and fellow sock teacherTanya. We are very naughty gals as they convinced me to attempt drop spindle spinning and I convinced them to knit a large shawl pattern from the book Folk Shawls.Well what can I say I did ask Heidi about drop spindle classes and Heidi did have this yummy Berroco,ultra alpaca fine wool. We are going to be knitting the "Feather and Fan Triangle Shawl" on pg 64 of Folk Shawls by Cheryl Oberle. I found this fabulously soft fluffy mystery wool in the sale bin there for an unbelievable price and I spent about 9 hours knitting that up into a light basic triangle shawl.I am going to block it this morning.The wool reminds me of my calico cat Tansy and quite frankly she disappears when hiding in it.The pattern I used is found here. This pattern is a free pattern by Sarah Keller of Knot Another Hat and it takes between 250 to 350 yards of wool.

On the laptop updates I managed to buy myself a lovely thin Compaq QC60 and because it was such a great deal I also purchased my daughter an HP mini netbook for her birthday. Oh don't worry that I am letting out a secret by telling you all because she already has it. Her birthday isn't until October but why wait. Besides I am certain hubby and I will get her a few other little gifts.

Well I am still working on my wrap from Interweave magazine and I have started EZ's (Elizabeth Zimmerman) pi shawl and I hope to give a little class or workshop on it in the Spring at Cricket Cove. I think I'll call it "let's make an EZ pi shawl".Heh-heh-heh.

See you all Thursday at Read's.Until then stay warm.
Hugs
Cinna

Post Hurricaine Bill

2009-08-24T20:58:00.004-03:00

Well all is well here.Bill was basically a blow and wind event.Our power was out for 2 hours and there was damage done to our back deck gazebo.That is about it.

I am finally almost done my circular shawl.Yeah!I am that point in the knitting of it where it takes almost a half hour to knit 1 round.Not an easy thing to do when your back is in spasm.

Oh did I forget to mention that?

My back went into spasm on Friday.Thanks to my wonderful physiotherapist and the fact that I have done little else but knit, sit and, sleep since Friday I am feeling much better.Well enough to update this blog.

Last week's meeting saw Joann bring her elann.com Petal shawl that she has almost finished.She is making hers in "Marble" acrylic and it is lovely.I hope she has it completed and brings it this week so I can get a picture of it.I have to say I am rethinking doing the shawl in Vogue and jumping on the Petal shawl bandwagon.Joann also finished her spiral socks and I got the lovely Nathalie to snap a few pictures of her spiral socks and my eyelet socks.

DH is wanting a laptop and we are going back and forth on this.I have offered to give him my Toshiba but he is not going to take it if I am just going to run out and buy a laptop for over $1000!!Stay tuned.Oh and Joann and Doris I hope to have a new Debbie Macomber book to share with you.

Below are the sock pictures.Notice the blue fair isle socks.I knit those my six sox group.

Fair Isle Socks

Joann and my socks

Better Late than,Well You Know

2009-08-18T19:17:00.003-03:00

I received a phone call from Joann in the Read's knitting group wondering about our next meeting.Sorry everyone I m a tad late with updating. Put it down to the great weather we have been enjoying lately and sheer laziness on my part. The group will be meeting on Wednesday at 6pm on August 19th.

Wait!! That's tomorrow night!!

Like I said I have been lazy.

Has anyone been to Cricket Cove lately? Well I stopped in yesterday as I knew they had received some new yummies. Truly you must make it over.They have Knit Picks,Felici sock yarn,Malabrigo sock yarn,Schoppel Wolle, Zauberball sock yarn and some more HPKY sock yarn. Plus a score of other yarns and books.It is quite apparent what I was interested in.

Below are some pictures of Deina's felted totes that she has made and I am modelling a felted crochet hat and a pair of felted crochet gauntlets she also made. Deina is a quilt designer and teacher and soon she will be teaching crochet at Cricket Cove. So all of you out there can sign up and learn to crochet with the amazing and amusing Deina. Also below are the pictures of the toe up socks that the lovely Nathalie test knit for me. I am offering this class in the fall at Cricket Cove.It is a toe up, Magic Loop sock with an alternate decorative heel and looks stunning in solid, striped or handpainted sock yarn. Thanks Nathalie for testing the pattern for me.
Felted Totes

Felted Crochet Hat&Gauntlets

Simple Eyelet Toe-Up Socks

Well that is all for tonight.See you at Read's tomorrow night.
Cinna

Not Much Ado About Nothing

2009-08-09T20:16:00.002-03:00

Not too much going on.

I have finished a hat for my SIL Elsie that DH will take with him when he heads for his old stomping grounds later this month.I wil post picture later. I received my Fall, Interweave Knit magazine and am thinking of making Okmin Park's "Everyway Wrap" with Cascade 220 yarn. I purchased Vogue Knitting's fall issue and am thinking of making Mari Muinonen's "Cabled Shawl", also with Cascade 220 but in tweed or heather. Although the shawl seems like it would require loads of attention and quite frankly I am rather deficient in that area. Also in the fall Vogue is a hat I rather like. It is Cathy Caron's "Eyelet Cap". I just love that deep brim and that it is done in fingering weight.

So it will be off to Cricket Cove for me tomorrow to check out the colours they have in Cascade 220 and then on Tuesday evening I'll be at Read's knitting up a storm.

I have begun a free pattern. A pair of toe-up-socks!! I am doing them using Magic Loop. I think I will be calling them "Mossy Trees". Kind of a nice pattern for autumn/xmas. So stay tuned for those.

Keep on Knitting Y'all
Cinna

Pictures Retreived

2009-07-21T11:01:00.003-03:00

OK I won't say that it helps to have sleep before attempting techie things. I won't say that it helps to reread the user manual for your cell phone. Nope I won't say it but I can certainly recommend it. Snarf!

Having not said any of the above I was able to upload my cell phone's pictures to an online album and retrieve them from my computer. That still doesn't explain where my watch, my brand new SanDisk micro card or my old Samsung SD micro card went. I am through ripping my house apart looking for them.When all else fails buy new ones.
Below are the pictures of Nathalie and her completed flower petal shawl. She did a wonderful job. As noted Nathalie downloaded the pattern from elann and she used Cascade 220 that she purchased at Cricket Cove.

Deina joined us for the 1st visit and what a treat. Deina is a proud Nanny of 2 twin girls and she showed and shared the ponchettes and hats she has made for them.

So enjoy the pictures and come out and join us this Wednesday evening at Read's in Riverview from 6pm until 8pm. See you there.
Cinna

GRRRR!!!

2009-07-20T04:36:00.002-03:00

OMG!! Good saving and printing a frigging sock pattern be anymore frustrating?
No it couldn't. I inserted a little table into my toe up sock pattern and I swear honest to goodness that it is reeking havoc with my computer,my printer and my brain. Word simply refuses to save the darn thing and has even printed the pattern in some sort of codex.I am ready to rip my hair out. I have managed to print a few copies but I always like a hard copy just in case you know. Anyways I shall soldier on with that.

Moving right along to more technical difficulties.I took the pics at the last knit club meeting with my cell because I forgot my camera! Well dah! Of course my cell's sd port overheats when the card is in so I have been saving the pics to the camera and then inserting the card very briefly (so as not catch the phone on fire)and then loading the pics onto my laptop and then up to my blog.Well I cannot locate my sd card and the darn cell refuses to recognize the other 2 cards I have inserted. I fiddled and managed to open an album on my servers site and even managed to upload the pics to it. I figured out how to send the pics via the cell to my e-mail but it is taking hours to send so I am just going to have to forget that plan and try and figure something else today when I get up.You see I am at work and I don't get off until 7:30am and I pretty much fried.

So I will try and figure something out.Obviously I shall have to get my cell fixed.

TTFN
Cinna

2 Socks using Magic Loop Test

2009-07-09T09:55:00.003-03:00

Okay so I am going to be teaching a "Toe-Up Sock Class using Magic Loop" this Autumn at Cricket Cove in Moncton. No shocker there as I am certain I have mentioned this before. One of the ladies from my group is testing my pattern for me. I find it easier to design socks to teach so I don't infringe on any copyrights. I have discovered via this testing of my pattern that to date I am unable to find any resources on-line that show a picture of the needle positions that are similar to how my needle positions are when I knit my socks. Most pictures show the socks being knit when the socks are one behind the other on the needles. I knit using a Figure 8 cast on by casting on, on both needles held parallel. I cast on required number of stitches and then slide these stitches down the cable and then cast on the next sock. Now bring the right hand needle through and knit the sts from the top needle and move to the next sock.Knit a round and move to next sock and knit a round.Your needles should be facing one another tip-to-tip. Starting with next sock, Sock "A" the 1st set of sts are the heel sts, k1,m1,k to last st,m1,k1. Now on the next set of sts on sock A these are the instep sts do as above and onto sock B repeat as for sock A.Knit around.Continue in this manner until required number of sts are on both socks.Remember that unlike other toe up socks your needle tips will always face one another in the start position and your working yarn will come from the cable side.

As I am at work until later tonight I will post the pictures I took at knit club tomorrow.Nathalie's shawl is lovely and Deina joined us and brought a capelet and a few hats she knit for her twin grand-daughters.Very cute.
e
If you got it.Knit it.
Hugs
Cinna

Pothos Socks Finished

2009-07-05T18:00:00.004-03:00

Hi all just wanted you all to know that we are meeting at Read's tomorrow night. That is July 6th at 6pm.We had a lovely meeting on Thursday. Monday night I hope to get a photo of Nathalie's shawl to post.What a wonderful job she did on it.

I belong to a wonderful on-line sock group theSix_Sox_Knitalong and I have just finished my first pair of actual socks that has been posted this year.Yahoo!The sock was designed by Lorri Ann Romesberg and it is knit mostly inside out.I got on a real yellow yarn fit this spring and found some pale yellow Fixation at LK Yarn in Halifax the day before flying off to Mexico. I have to tell you I bought more balls of yellow patterned and gold solid yarns before I bought those 2 balls of Fixation. It's a terrible thing wanting a certain color of yarn and having to buy all those other colours 'til you find just the right yarn. Yup, a terrible thing (snicker).

Anyways, those socks are done and tomorrow night I begin testing the socks I have designed for my Autumn sock class at Cricket Cove. I have designed a simple toe-up sock to be knit on 1 or 2 circular needles. I am also working on a shawl from a book I bought this Spring "The Best of Knitter's Magazine: shawls and scarves". I am doing the "More than circular" shawl by JoAnn Besold on page44. I have purchased the yarn to make Elizabeth Zimmerman's "Pi Shawl" on page50 of the same book. I like this book as it has a goodly number of patterns that have charts and text versions of the patterns.Well worth a look.

Until tomorrow night.Be good and if you can't be good then be happy.
Cinna

Knit Group

2009-06-26T20:54:00.004-03:00

It was a lovely knit group last night. We saw the return of an old friend, Joanne and her friend Doris. Welcome back Joanne and welcome Doris.Nathalie is very close to finishing her Flower Petal Shawl from elann.com. I'll have to post a picture of it.
I was telling the ladies at knit group about this fun site I found and I have promised to post the link here. The site is TipNut and if you go under the craft section I think you will be happy to surf the links to free patterns.
Also Red Bird Knits is having a July sale.It started a few days early and make sure you check out the new Hiya Hiya interchangeable needle sets that they will be offering as soon as they become available. I am on her e-mail notification list.I have my Knit Picks which I love but I can definitely use the lace size (small) set. Woo-hoo!
Well until next time.Stay cool.

Deina's Class Socks

2009-06-17T20:01:00.002-03:00

You saw a picture of Deina in the previous post. Deina has been a friend of mine for a good number of years. We share hobby interests such as quilting, rughooking and now knitting. Deina is a wonderful quilter and teaches at The Fabric Cupboard 22 Brandon Street, Moncton,NB,506-855-3800. Deina took my magic loop sock class in the spring of this year but was to ill to make it to the final class where we showed and shared our socks. Deina brought her socks to KIP day and the picture below are of her and her finished socks.

Good work Deina and thanks for sharing.

Wow What a Great Knit in Public Day

2009-06-17T19:30:00.007-03:00

Saturday the 13th turned out to be very fair and the turn out for Moncton's first KIP day event that was hosted by Cricket Cove went excellent. There were prizes and surprizes! Like the owner of Cricket Cove Donna Walsh showing up. Cudos to the staff for organizing a fun event. Thanks to all who participated in the knitting of preemie hats and for your fellowship. Below are a few pictures I ended up having to take with my phone camera as my batteries were dead in my digital camera.Hope to see everyone and more at next years KIP.

Donna Walsh and Yolande of Cricket Cove
Moi
My friend Deina
Early morning
A few of the hats
Going for a spin,Krista?
Winner of the gift for 1st hat knit on site
Gael of CC and others late afternoon

Link to Flier

2009-06-05T01:25:00.002-03:00

As promised here is the link to the knit in public day flier for the Cricket Cove KIP.Feel free to print it and put it up where it can be seen by others.

KIP flier

Knit in Public Day (KIP)

2009-05-21T11:55:00.002-03:00

Okay so here is the scoop on KIP in Moncton.

Hosted by Cricket Cove
June 13th,2009
10am until 3pm
In front of City Hall, Moncton, NB
If raining then in the Lobby of the Blue Cross Building (if that changes I will let you know)
What to bring:a beverage(although there are a lot of restaurants handy), a project to work on, or you can work on the preemie hats that will be going to both our local hospitals, something to sit on, a friend or two or 50.

What is KIP about. Check out the KIPwebsite.

Cricket Cove has chosen two preemie hat patterns to work on. These hats knit up fairly quickly. I knit the 3 needle one in 45 minutes on DPNs,which is very quick for me as I dislike using DPNs. I knit Michelle's in about an hour but I was using a worsted weight cotton-acrylic blend on 3.25mm. I imagine using the baby sport weight yarn and the required needle size I probably would have finished faster.Download the patterns and knit,knit,knit those hats and bring them along with you.Here are the pattern links:

Bev's Preemie 3 Needle Cap

Michelle's Preemie Hat to Match

You are of course more then welcome to knit any preemie hat that you desire with any of your stash. Cricket Cove will be supplying a limited amount of copies of the patterns and yarn. As I am winding the yarn into manageable sizes it will be available on site on the 13th of June. I hear there maybe a few prizes given away as well.For more information drop into Cricket Cove at 303 Mountain Road
Moncton, NB. Open Monday to Saturday from 10am to 5pm, or call 384-7290.

Knitting at Read's

2009-05-18T20:20:00.002-03:00

Oops! Due to the holiday weekend Read's closed at 6pm tonight the 18th so we will be meeting there on Wednesday night the 20th of May at 6pm.Bring whatever you are working on, relax have a cup of coffee, browse the books and magazines and share your enthusiasm with fellow knitters.See you there.
Cinna
AKA Cindy

Made in Mexico

2009-05-13T20:05:00.003-03:00

Okay so I have been back from Mexico for 10 days now and I am overdue for posting.We had a wonderful time at the Palladium Colonial resort on the Mayan Riviera.It was very sunny and hot.The beach was glorious and yes I am peeling.That is right for like the 2nd time in my life!!Let me just state that we saw no evidence of the swine flu while we were there. This was our 3rd trip to Mexico's Mayan Riviera and our 2nd to this resort. The last time we were at the Palladium was in 2003. Any guesses what Pandemic was going on then? You guessed it, it was SARS. I told DH that we will not be visiting any Palladium resorts again. Big sigh of relief from the rest of the world.

I did manage to do some knitting while I was there.I tend to get up fairly early so I knit before the rest of my family would wake up. I actually finished the Drooping Elm socks at Elann.com by Christie Pruitt. So that was what was made in Mexico. I knit my pair out of Sisu yarn and I used Magic Loop. They are pictured below.

Prior to leaving I stopped at L.K. Yarns in Halifax,NS and picked up some yummy sock yarn. The day before we left I received my ball winder from Knit Picks and made a mess of a skein of yarn that I tried to wind from the back of a chair. Ever done that? Yuck! So I was off to Cricket Cove ASAP after getting back and purchased a yarn swift. I am so glad I went because,drum roll please, Cricket Cove in Moncton is hosting a Knit in Public Day! Yeah!! That is right fellow knitters on Saturday, June 13th, 2009 Cricket Cove invites all Moncton and area knitters to join them and participate with knitters the World over and knit in public..I am so excited by this.The plan is to knit on preemie hats for the local hospitals but I am certain you can knit whatever you want.Please check back often as I will be posting the details as they are made available to me.

Monday night we met at Read's and had a great time. We will be meeting again on the 18th at 6pm.See you there.

Cinna

On the Catch Up Trail

2009-04-23T20:57:00.004-03:00

So let's catch up.

Last Wenesday,that is April 8th, I took a little drive to Cricket Cove in Saint John. I haven't been to St. John often and I haven't driven there on my own for many years. Being the clever gal that I am I took my GPS. Well let me tell you I was amazed. Not only did it get me right in front of Brunswick Square it also prompted me when I was 200 meters away from a parking spot! Righgt in front with no paying! As was pointed out to me later by a co-worker who has much more GPS experience than I that the GPS was letting me know that there was a parkade 200 meters on my right. Which by the way there was and it was just coincidental that, that parking space was free. Oh well there goes that mystery. I had a lovely chat with Hazel and bought oodles of sock yarn as well as a great knitting t-shirt desperate knitter. I drove for another hour and spent a few hours with my Mum but didn't make it to Yarns on York.

This Tuesday night was my last night teaching the class "2-Socks-on-1-Circular-Needle" at Cricket Cove in Moncton.I felt it went well and certainly enjoyed instructing the ladies on the technique. The picture below shows Debra and Wendy with their (and my) socks. Good job ladies.

Wednesday my Knit Picks order arrived. Yeah! I ordered the ball winder that is on sale for $20,charm bracelet,yarn etc.. Ya gotta love Knit Picks!

Tonight was great at Reads we knitted and chatted. It was nice to speak with Catherine who is interested in taking up knitting once again after a hiastus and to meet a fellow Magic Loop instructor,Tanya who teaches at London Wul.

So all caught up. Until next time stay safe

Cinna

Class and the Secret Sock Cult

2009-04-04T07:44:00.005-03:00

Last night was my first magic loop sock knitting class at Cricket Cove and I have to say the ladies that are taking this class have it going on! They picked up that needle and learned the long tail cast on in record time and were knitting on their socks like nobodies business. Way to go ladies. I can hardly wait until Tuesday's class when they learn the heel and heel turn.I expect them to pick that up readily.

One of my students made the comment that, I am certain all sock knitters have heard,"why are you bothering to knit socks when you can go to almost any store and buy a pair for a few dollars?". This led in to a discussion about the Yarn Harlot and why we do knit socks. The consensus was put a pair of hand knit socks on someone and they will understand the passion and if they don't... well you know what they aren't getting for Christmas, birthdays etc..

Where I work one gal has people believing I belong to a sock cult! Thanks Vickie for spreading the word.What better cult to belong to and I can think of no better way to ensnare more people into my love of sock knitting then to have a person present it as a forbidden passion. Well okay I can but every little bit helps.

So class was a success and that pleases me no end.

Don't forget knitters that on Monday nights join other knitters at Chapters for some companionship and knitting or join us at Read's in Riverview on the 16th & 23rd.

I am still knitting away on my toe-up and cuff down socks but like life other commitments are slowing down my progress. I don't resent it because it is all knitting related.

See you around and remember there is no better cult than a sock cult.
Hugs
Cinnaknits