HAPPY TURKEY DAY!

 Happy Thanksgiving - Everyone!

 It's early morning here, and I'm just enjoying the quiet stillness before the busy day begins. Sipping piping hot Spiced Gingerbread coffee in my favorite mug. Of course I just had to accompany it with some crusty bread toasted to a golden brown, topped with some yummy jam.

Simply delicious on this still - dark - cold - holiday morning.

 On the knitting front, I have been puffing  away on the Hexi's for the Beekeeper's Quilt.

These particular puffies have been sent off to Hope Lives. There, they will join other puffs that were donated to be knitted into a charity blanket that will be auctioned off.  I sent in a colorful variety of handspun and commercial puffs.

As the weather gets colder, my thoughts turn to knitted scarfs, hats, mitts, and cozy slippers. So.. the other day I went stash diving. Into the Wool Cave I went -on a quest for the perfect handspun to knit a warm fluffy scarf.  I found a warm cinnamon brown fine wool with nubby flecks of color (a two-ply bulky wt. handspun). I think this will look yummy knitted up into a nice warm scarf. Now, I just have to select a perfect pattern. I just love knitting and spinning this time of year.

On to the finished Knits. The Fresco Basket Whip Cowl is finished! What a fast knit. Really some great TV knitting. You know that busy work you like to do in front of the TV, but not so complicated you can't get into the movie  because you're too busy counting lace repeats.  This will make a great Christmas present.

Well.. it is just starting to get light here, and soon the preparations for the busy day ahead - will begin.

Hope Everyone has a great Holiday!

Little Red Riding Hood

Hey there! Little Red Riding Hood - you sure are looking good!  I just cast on The Fresco Basket Whip Cowl, and all I could think of was Little Red Riding Hood. Maybe because one of the new shows this season is Grimm. The first episode was a take on the fairytale. I'm using some of my handspun in a 2-ply fingering wt. yarn. The perfect red for a hood. Easy enjoyable knit.

Isn't she sweet!  This little darling is a Baby French Bulldog. My daughter will pick up her new baby on Thanksgiving. What a cutie.

The weather is still warm but really rainy today and will be turning colder soon.

Better get on with getting the winter wear around.

Stay warm, everyone.

Are you ready for winter?

Winter's Breath

Winter is finally starting to show its face around here. A few snow flakes are just starting to drift down from a cold grey sky.

Holly-Days - Just in time for some winter spinning, and in the Giffordables shop at www.giffordables.etsy.com  now. The fleece washing, dyeing, and carding continue. Will be updating the shop with more batts, locks, and more fiber soon.

Knitting on the Acid Green Skull socks continues. Hope to have this sock, off the needles soon. So many other things to do this time of year.

Brrr...Bundle up, and keep warm everyone.

Hope you all get to enjoy the long extended weekend that is coming soon!

Harvest Batts and Acid Skulls

The Harvest - a fluffy wool spinning batt of masham, merino, and sparkling grape angelina now listed at www.giffordables.etsy.com.

Shades of golden ochre, and bittersweet orange are topped off with a generous dusting of sparkling grape angelina.

Sparkling Grape

Merino, and corrie topped off with sparkling grape angelina. Would make a great companion batt to The Harvest. Whether you spun together or plied.

On the knitting front, I am currently working on a pr. of Skull socks in some of my handspun. Dyed an Acid Green - it is one of my favorite colors. I'm just about ready to start knitting the heel.

What a beautiful fall afternoon.

 Couldn't ask for a better day this time of year.

Hope you all take a little time to enjoy the day!

Frost is in the Air

There is a chill in the air today as fall winds down, and soon will turn to winter.

 I just finished drum carding up some Fall Harvest batts.  Will be listed in the www.giffordables.etsy.com shop soon.

Also just finished this handspun shawl. Should be warm and toasty to wear this winter.

Bundle up, and keep warm  for the rest of this cool fall day.

LUCKY SHAMROCK

Only a few more days til St Patrick's Day. I knitted up this sparkly little shamrock pin for the

 March Mystery Challenge.

Took just a wee bit of sparkly handspun to create the Shamrock  pin.

I decided to use some of my kettle dyed merino, wool top, tussah silk, and of course some sparkly gold and kelly green angelina.

Ready for clue 3 today! So far a really fun, easy knit.

 Is it a hat? Mmmmmm...  could it be a cowl?

Hope everyone takes a little time to enjoy the day!

LUCK O' THE IRISH

Winter does not seem to want to let go! Letting the cat out into the still dark, frigid, early morning air, I noticed the icy white crust on the deck boards.  Brr... Needless to say - Kitty did not last long out there, before he was pawing the door to get back in.

The knitting and spinning continues to bring a much needed shot of color and warmth into the cold, snowy days as I impatiently wait for spring to finally arrive.

 One of the groups I belong to is a Mystery Knitting group. I have really enjoyed knitting along, getting the clues each week. Since it is March, I was feeling in an Irish mood with St Patty's Day coming up soon, and decied to use some of my green handspun. I had some washed merino and bfl locks in the stash. I dyed them along with some angora, and silk noil in a variety of green shades. I also carded in some cashmere for added softness. After spinning a 2 ply fingering wt. yarn, I finally cast on. I have made some progress, and it's a interesting pattern. Could it be a cowl? Maybe a hat? Not sure yet. Will post photos later as I get a little further along.

February's mystery pattern is done, and it was this fun, chunky neck scarf.  Shades of blue and natural shetland were washed, carded and spun into a 2 ply worsted weight.

 The pattern is Shizuku by Angela Tong. The name of the scarf means drops or tear drop in Japanese. Very easy knit and flew right along. Love the "Dingleballs" around the edge. At least that's what came to my mind when I started to knit this scarf. I think I'll have to make a few more.

Cotton candy  - The Sweet Shop - March Phatfiber Box

Samples are done and at Phatfiber headquarters. I made up a few for the shop at http://www.giffordables.etsy.com/  just in case you don't get one in your box. Also in the shop are some larger blended batts of Cotton Candy with some extra sugar sparkle.

Checkout:  http://phatfiber.blogspot.com/ for more info about the fun Phatfiber box.

Well the weekend is almost upon us, and here's hoping yours is a good one!

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY !

                                                 Happy Valentine's Day
                                                            
                                                 Hope it's a good one!

 Grabbing a hank of handspun, I just could not stop myself from casting on for yet - another project. Such a fun looking pattern. Of course, I had to drop everything else I was working on, and cast on immediately.

Leaving the room to get the camera for a progress shot, you can see who had to get up on the table, to enjoy a little sunshine.

So... I snapped him! Such a big, warm, fuzzy kitty.

 Well.... it's back to some fun knitting, for me.

 Hope you make a little time, to enjoy the day!

KNITTING THRU THE STORM

The storm is headed our way, with more snow!  Poor kitty goes out... then in... then out.... again in hopes that it will be nice out. But he doesn't last long before it's back in for him. This is the time of year when we all get  cabin fever.

I have finished the second pair of Cowgirl Slippers, and I'm finishing the toe on the third pair. This time I am using a heavier handspun in BFL, mohair, and firestar. These slippers knit up so...fast.

Off to ride out the storm, and do a little knitting.

Stay safe and warm everyone!

ON A WINTER'S DAY

                               

                                   View from my window, as I knit through this winter's day. The lake is frozen, snow is coming down, and it's so...cold. I wish this deep freeze - we are in would stop. I would love a nice heat wave of the 40's.

Knitting away on my Cowgirl Slipper Socks, while snuggling in with the doggies, and kitties. It is a quick and easy pattern from the Interweave Knits - Winter 2006 issue. I am using a hand spun two ply of shetland, alpaca, and angora. So soft and fuzzy, they will make a great pair of TV, or bed slippers. I am already thinking about what hand spun, I will choose, to cast on for the next pair.

Off to do alittle bird watching and knitting.

Enjoy the Day! 

Just 10 Little Stitches

When I don't feel like knitting or spinning anything that requires me to think , I take out my Ten Stitch Circle Blanket and add a few more rows. All the yarn is spindle spun , again just something to grab and go. The wool is kettle dyed top and all the same roving . A nice springy wool and oh so colorful. Busy work, you know - TV knitting.


Fresh from the dyepots!