3.9.11 Fiber Allsorts

Recovery is slow here but it is ongoing steadily… except for when I overdo it. I went out today for the first time and nearly hit the floor in Joann Fabrics because I got dizzy. I fought the good fight and still came home with thread, fabric and some other goodies. Yay. Good grief…. I love a fabric store.

These are also evidence of my boredom and resultant startitis.
Feather and Fan Cowl,

nee shawl but abruptly truncated and sewn together at the sides in favor of

Honey Cowl (free pattern by Madelinetosh) . I am using Plain and Fancy wool from the Yarn Lounge, size 10 needles, 140 stitches cast on. I think it will suit me. Germ protection again.

The waistband of Isobel in the 2nd smallest size, not for me and we will see. This is Elsebeth Lavold Silky Tweed in a warm beige with orangey bits in it. (Thanks Theresa!) I think the fabric will be good for a skirt but we will see. The twisty rib is a killer but very sturdy. The color is all off but it was the best I could do. I should have bought that Ott light today.

Doh…how could I forget Mara??? Another free Madelinetosh pattern in handspun wool/soy 3 ply.

Then there was a CUI (Craving Under the Influence of steroids). Maureen made me do it.

3.4.11 Rachel reminds The Lady it has been a month, enough already.

Nope, I didn’t meet my end at the Super Bowl party in NC where Rachel my niece and I talked knitting and teaching (she likes to teach, I don’t), nor was I planning to leave you watching the Linen Movie for the rest of eternity wondering what happened to me. Things happen. Firstly I ignored thoughts of writing, the fact that I should write, that I wanted to write for about 2 weeks. Then I had a fun week with Tuesday Night Knitters, a weaver’s group, a trip to Mathews VA for the day and Alexander’s Antiques that night, a Clothos spinning guild meeting on Saturday, a scratchy throat on Sunday, a dentist then haircut appointment on Monday, bronchitis on Tuesday. That was long about the 7th of February I think. When Liss was drying my hair I knew I was sick. Here I am, recovering from pneumonia. Never been like this before. But I am feeling a little better and am apologizing for worrying my family and friends.

And animals. Pets do not like sick caretakers. They know. I have been sleeping in a different bedroom due to coughing fits and midnight nebulizing with my LungFriend PulmoMate machine. It has blown The Emperor’s tiny mind. He counts on the fact that he can put me to bed in the same place, at the same time on a nightly basis and that I will stay there until he wakes and wants to talk at about 7 am. Now he is running around caterwauling at 2am, bringing me mice, squirrels (faux of course, in the house here) and chit chat. I can usually accommodate him with coughing. By the time I am back in my usual place we will have to readjust our routine.

Suzie, well she just wants to GO OUTSIDE regularly. And get my leftover bread crusts dumped in her bowl. Since she does not have a fenced yard, she goes out on the leash for a walk that is NOT ENOUGH. She is OK though, she got a bath by Mr. Lady the other day and her undercoat felted. He didn’t brush before bathing it seems. I am making my way around her body plucking the tufts of fulled wool. Beats pulling pills off the blanket I am under.

Well, here are my FO’s for the post.
Yankee Knitter Designs Pattern #8 Mock Cable Cardigan, bought a long time ago from who knows where done in Paton’s Classic Wool. I LOVE IT. It is relaxed and soft and warm. I have been wearing it constantly. I finished the seaming and button sewing before the crash, during the mild coughing stage.

And here is my Pneumonia Cablegram, really Woven by Thea Colman. It was all I could manage this week and it was a fun little knit, done in a ball of Jo Sharp Silkroad DK Festival colorway, bought before it was discontinued. I had to add some merino dk that must have been Jo Sharp as well, saved from an eternity in leftover heaven.

Just remember, avoid crowds and wear your hat. My mother knew I didn’t wear mine in pneumonia weather.

8.3.10 Weavcrastination.

I missed the weaver’s sale at WEBS. Darn. Procrastination has a death grip on me. I know, I don’t blog much but what the heck. I don’t know why. Once I sit down in this crappy chair and start writing I have something to say. It is just getting in the chair and turning on the music and starting it up. I guess we all have our issues. One of mine is procrastination.

It’s the same with weaving. Once I sit down to the loom and start throwing the shuttle I am very happy. I wove so much last weekend that my knees locked up when I quit. Maybe it was that stupendously ridiculous fall I took last week. I either tripped on a rock or put my foot in the wrong place inadvertently competing with my daughter for sidewalk space to avoid the Harry Lauder Walking Stick bush. This is the scene of the incident. These stones are granite and they are very hard.

Now I have 7 bruises in various colorways. They form a neat broken line at various rock determined spots on the left side of my body. It’s all healing thank goodness. And I didn’t visit any xray machines but I know one bone must be at least cracked. My hands were full or I think this wrist would have taken the weight instead of the forearm and that would not have been pretty. This is the only photo you get of this little adventure.

Back to weaving. I wove off the cottolin warp that I put on some time ago. Here are some shots of that. The small sample is gorgeous fabric. I maybe should have done the whole warp in this as I would now be cutting it up for a top. I will have to remember this Finnish Twill. The red/pink is for a Christmas table mat. The green are 2 tea towels.




They need hemming which I will get to but I am glad I wove something. Should have done it sooner.

Now where is that warping mill?

3.1.10 March is here!

Rabbit Rabbit. That is what you are supposed to say when you awaken, before you utter another word on the first day of a month. It is supposed to ensure good luck for the entire month. So I said it. And March is supposed to be double the luck for some reason.

It must have worked because I received a batch of Camp Runamuck’s Blogoversary Yarn Purge! Thank you Theresa! Theresa’s request that we donate to an animal rescue organization is an easy one. I choose the Richmond SPCA, the first real home of almost all of the pets I have ever lived with.

Another bit of luck: Miss Mono was feeling well enough to go with me to get some of her clothes from her campus apartment. She has been wearing mine for over a week and is looking forward to getting into something more youthful. She must be feeling better! Thank you so much for your good wishes and comments. I feel sorry for ANYONE who has every had mono.

Maybe some weaving and knitting next time!