Bits and Bobs...

Brynwood Needleworks - Current Sock Knitting

While I've been sorting and purging by day, I've been relaxing on a sock knitting project in the evening. I have lots of sock yarns, which I love using. My plan is to have an ongoing sock project all year. Then, when Christmas rolls around next December, I'll have a whole basket of completed socks to give as gifts.

Brynwood Needleworks - Mini Cookie Tin

 

I had to run a few errands for office supplies during the day yesterday, so I went to Fond du Lac to our local Staples store. How many of our moms used these (empty) cookie tins to store sewing supplies? 

 

Well, as I was standing at the checkout at Staples, I saw a display of these mini cookie tins. My mind immediately calculated that I could use these to store Valdani (or DMC, or Anchor) perle coton balls for works-in-progress! Best part? They were $1.99 each! At that price, I could throw out the cookies, if I wanted to. (Of course, I didn't!) Check out Staples online, or your local Staples store. You just might find some for yourself!

I'm torn between closing out my year-end books, and working playing in the studio. Perhaps, I can schedule my time so I can do a little of each. We'll see.

 

Thanks for leaving notes about Tag's new signature. He thought he was pretty clever, and your comments just serve to egg him on. He kept telling me to check his blog post, so I could see how he tickled his readers. So, on behalf of my little short-legged friend, and me...Thanks so much for stopping by to visit. You're deeply appreciated.

 

Creating...

Brynwood Needleworks - Election Day

We were told that we could bring a book or handwork to the polls on Tuesday, just in case it got slow. Well, the only time free time I had was when I went on break in the morning, and when I came back early from lunch.

We were serving a steady flow of electors all day, which was great, because the day went so much faster. However, I did take a project with me, and I did get a little play time in.

Brynwood Needleworks - Sock Project

I took along a sock project I began on Sunday. This is a pair that was requested, so I have someone waiting to receive them once they're done. I'm using Opal self-striping, super wash wool yarn. Ahhh. There's really nothing like handknit socks!

When Tag and I got back home, I wound down by knitting a few more rows on this first sock, and then went to bed.

My plan is to sit and knit for a bit in the evening, when I'm in my comfortable chair. During the day, I'm busy with something else.

Brynwood Needleworks - Embroidery Project

 

I'm working on a project for an upcoming quilt show. I've managed to find a lovely, sunny spot to stitch in the kitchen, so I'll be working on this in daylight, and knitting by lamp in the evening. 

I'm only showing a peek at this, as I'm going to get a little further along before I reveal more of the project. This is my own design, so I'm hoping it comes out the way I'm envisioning it. Wish me luck!

Talia's Wings...

Brynwood Needleworks - PostStitch "SockStitch" February Kit Contents

I promised to show you the contents of my first PostStitch "SockStitch" kit, and you're going to love it! This is the February kit, with a Valentine theme. The sock pattern is called "Talia's Wings", designed by Heatherly Walker of YarnYenta.

The designer explains at the top of the pattern that the angel wings in the design also appear as hearts, and the name Talia means "dew from Heaven".  Doesn't that sound sweet?

Brynwood Needleworks - Yarn Love Sock Yarn for Talias Wings Pattern

The featured yarn in the kit is a 400m skein of Jane Austin from Yarn Love Yarns in a swoon-worthy variegated colorway. There are gorgeous shades ranging from a light pink to deep, royal purple. aaahhhh. Talk about inspiration!

Brynwood Needleworks - PostStitch "SockStitch" February Kit Contents

In every kit, recipients receive a postcard which lists all the contents on one side, and the inspiration for the kit's contents on the reverse. There are also links to PostStitch's social media sites and an invitation to post work-in-progress or completed projects online to spread the knitting love.

Brynwood Needleworks - PostStitch "SockStitch" Notions

This particular kit includes a set of cable needles (yes, there is a cable pattern in this sock!); and a yarn needle for tucking in tails; and...

Brynwood Needleworks - PostStitch "SockStitch" Valentine Cards

 

a set of four yarn-themed Valentine cards to share with knitting friends. To say the least, I'm tickled "pink" with my first kit. I'll be starting this sock just as soon as I finish the set currently on my double pointed needles! These are going to be fun.

They're A Walk On The Wild Side...

Brynwood Needleworks - WIP Stripey Socks

Can you even believe it's already FEBRUARY?!

You can see I've begun my second sock for this pair. They're bold, colorful rascals! I'm not worrying about matching the stripes this time. I just cast on the second sock where I ended the yarn for my first sock. We're goin' funky for sure.

Brynwood Needleworks - Stripey Socks...One down

 

I finished piecing my quilt top over the weekend, too, but I won't share more progress pictures until I'm finished quilting it together. I want to get to the point where all I need to do it sew on the binding by next weekend. That means I'd better do some serious FOCUSING this week! 

I'll keep working on these socks in the evenings, too. I have a new sock project on its way from PostStitch, my friend Amy's knitting subscription business. I'm having lunch with her tomorrow, so I'll find out all about it then.

PostStitch has two different subscription programs. One is "BigStitch" which is one women's garment/accessory project with everything needed to start and complete the project. The other subscription is "SockStitch" which includes a sock pattern, premium sock yarn to make the socks, and additional special notions. You can also choose the length of your subscription, too, receiving as many or few kits as you'd like.

I love everything that comes in the kits, and since I'm planning to gift more socks this year, the SockStitch subscription will be just perfect for me! I'll take pictures to show you my February kit when I have it in my hot, little hands!

Tag can't wait to share his post tomorrow! We've got a new video, and the still shots are a hoot, too. You won't want to miss it.

By Night She Knits....

Brynwood Needleworks - WIP (Work In Progress) Socks

I sew by day.. and knit by night.  

Brynwood Needleworks - WIP Socks and My Faithful Protector

  Even as I knit along, my faithful heartbeat is at my feet. Life is good.

Planning Ahead...

Brynwood Needleworks - Regia Socks

  I've vowed to make at least one item each month that will be a Christmas gift in 2016. When I'm not sewing in the studio, I'll be knitting or hand sewing while my feet are up.

Brynwood Needleworks - Regia Socks

  I'm working on my first pair of wool blend socks for the gift basket. Of course, I'll be back in the studio tomorrow working on commissions.    

For Toasty Warm Tootsies...

Brynwood Needleworks - Sheree's Finished Socks

I wanted to show you the handknit socks I finished for our sister-in-law(love), Sherre.

I'm so happy with the way they turned out, and I really like the color combination.

Brynwood Needleworks - Sheree's Finished Socks

I started to calculate just how many knit stitches there are in one pair of my socks, and changed my mind. After all, what does it matter? Each stitch was made with love, knitted more often in the company of people who bring joy into my life (Handsome or the ladies at Paneras), than alone. 

I took them to Paneras Tuesday night, and handed one around for the ladies to see. One of the gals cracked me up. She said, "Your stitches are so perfect. There aren't any holes or anything!" (yay!)

I imagine they'll keep my sister-in-law's feet toasty warm on those chilly Wyoming winter nights. What could be better than that?

What William Morris Said...

Brynwood Needleworks - Sherre's Second Sock

Our anniversary was lovely. We spent the day in each other's company, and had a nice dinner at a favorite restaurant. There are so many wonderful things about a life shared over decades...stability, forever love, and laughing or sweet comfort in memories we made together.

I also spent a little time in the studio...I started a second sock for my sister-in-love and set up a few projects for Destiny to embroider in the next day or so.

Brynwood Needleworks - Sherre's Second Sock

We're going to empty out a storage unit today. (Have I said how much I miss having a basement and/or an attic?) I've begun a "declutter" effort for the new year.

We emptied twenty photo albums yesterday, keeping the few photos we wanted, setting aside a few to send off and tossing the rest. After all, how many different poses do you need of the same subjects? One or two really great ones should be plenty. I found myself wondering why I'd even considered keeping so many that were out of focus? I'm married to a photographer, after all. I should have known better!

 

Our plan is to archive and share these images over the next year, rather than have the task fall to someone else "when the time comes". It's one of those love/hate tasks. I love looking at the images, but thoroughly dislike the clutter they engender. It feels great to purge all the redundancies. It also feels good to know that many of the memories will be in the hands of the rightful keepers, too.

After the storage unit is emptied and swept, we'll bring all those items we felt needed to be kept, and go through the same process. William Morris said, "Have nothing in your homes that you do not know to be useful and believe to be beautiful." I think that's a perfect criteria for making our decisions...at last.

Kicking It Up With The Double Points...

Brynwood Needleworks - Sherre's Socks, knit through the heel turn

I love those completely lazy days when there are no demands for one's time except by choice. When there's time to put up your feet, take a deep breath and just decompress.

Sometimes, I fill that time with a good book (I got a few new ones this Christmas!), hanging out by the pool with Tag and Bella, sewing on just about anything, or getting busy with my double point needles. Yesterday, I chose the needles.

Brynwood Needleworks - Sherre's Socks

I'm moving along at a pretty good clip on this pair. as I'm nearly finished with the first one. (I just have to finish the toe on this one.) These will go to my sister-in-love when they're finished. I'm sure they'll keep her feet toasty warm on those chilly days or nights in Wyoming.

I'll be working on them exclusively, until I get them both done! Now, where did I put that egg nog?

Socks, A Block and Fiber Divas...

Brynwood Needleworks - Lorna's Laces Sock Project

Last night was my night to get together with the Fiber Divas at Paneras.

As I'd finished the Hedwig socks (see photo below), I needed to set up another pair to work on. I sorted through my sock yarn stash and chose a beautiful wool/silk blend from Lorna's Laces.

Brynwood Needleworks - Fiber Divas (l-r: Adele, Kathy, Krisann and Norma)

It's always nice to gather with the ladies. Adele is still recuperating from her fall and subsequent hip surgery, so Helen (in the next picture) has been kind enough to pick her up and bring her Paneras. We're thrilled to have her back in our midst.

Kathy is working an intricate pattern and says that it's "knit 10 rows, unknit 5". She's having a little trouble making headway, but I know she'll have a breakthrough and be much further along by next week.

Brynwood Needleworks - Fiber Divas (l-r: Doris, Anne, Ellen and Helen)

Ellen just celebrated a Birthday, so there was cake and song in her honor. She always has a kind word and a smile, and I'm so glad she's not only a part of the group, but also my friend.

Ann is working on a small quilt project. I enjoy seeing her latest project, and she's currently hand quilting this piece. Everything she makes is lovely. She's also a Wisconsin native, so we share shopping stories (usually of visits to Primitive Gatherings in Menasha, WI) whenever one of us manages to get back "home".

Brynwood Needleworks - Finished Hedwig Socks

In case you're curious about how the pattern finished up on the second Hedwick sock, I'm sharing a photo of the finished pair.

The pattern matched right up to the rows marked with the red arrows. The only thing I can think of for an explanation was that there was a cursed knot in the yarn right around this area. The knot was a little surprise from Opal Yarns, inserted in the production of this ball of yarn. Factory installed knots are the bane of all knitters, and this one knocked my second sock off-pattern.

Lucky that this part of the sock will usually be inside a shoe, but I don't think the recipient will mind that the socks don't match exactly while they keep feet toasty warm this winter.

Brynwood Needleworks - Signature Block

I've already managed to finish a stack of projects this week...a signature block going into a quilt for a friend; the machine embroidered commission is on its way to my client; and half of an order is done for another.

It's only Wednesday and I'm a little ahead of schedule. I'd say that's not half bad!

Toe Dancing...

Brynwood Needleworks - Hedwig Socks

Remember last week when I told you how I was concerned about starting the second sock of my Harry Potter-themed yarn? I said my Type A was going to hate be mildly peeved if I couldn't make them match.

Brynwood Needleworks - Hedwig Socks

After I completed the first sock, I started on the second. It was off by about five rows, so I took my knitting off the needles and held the yarn where it needed to start in order to carry on the same pattern into the second sock.

I pulled enough extra yarn for my long-tail cast-on and started again. I cast sixty stitches onto my needle, divided them between three double points and then started knitting again. This time, the pattern for the second sock was spot on!

Brynwood Needleworks - Hedwig Socks

All I have left to knit is the foot shaping and into the toe. I think my Saturday will be filled with Hedwig yarn, and end with another pair of completed Christmas socks. How will you spend your Saturday?

 Oh, and don't forget to set your clocks back before you go to bed tonight!

Knitting Hedwig...

Brynwood Needleworks - Hedwig Socks

The Strawberry Blossom & Roses Sachet is finished and on its way to a new home today. I needed to wait until daylight to take pictures, so I'll show it to you tomorrow.

Brynwood Needleworks - Hedwig Socks

After I leave the studio at night, I take up my knitting again. I've missed having knitting needles in my hands, and with the arthritis "on break" these days, I'm truly enjoying making socks again.

Brynwood Needleworks - Hedwig Socks

For this project, I'm using Opal Yarns' Harry Potter yarn in the "Hedwig" colorway. In case you're wondering, the pattern I use is frequently given away with a purchase of Opal Yarns. It's called "Free Simple Sock Pattern & Gift Pouch", by Sue Morgan. She designed the pattern in 2004.

If you've never made socks before, but you're comfortable knitting and reading patterns, I'd highly recommend that you start with this pattern. It's very simple and teaches the basics of knitting socks. It also explains how to resize the pattern for a smaller or larger sock.

Brynwood Needleworks - Hedwig Socks

When I started this pair, I had no idea that the seemingly random dyes along the yarn would produce such a fabulous pattern in the sock(s). I'm so smitten with the way it's knitting up that I can hardly put them down.

Brynwood Needleworks - Hedwig Socks

I'm only having one, single issue. If you know me well, you may have already foreseen the one thing causing me any distress. In case you're an occasional reader, I'll help you out. 

 

The pattern is so obvious as I knit, that I'm concerned about making the second sock match the first! Oh, dear. Each time a new block appears in the pattern, I immediately start thinking about it again. 

 

I'm glad I kept a nice long tail at the start. Perhaps I'll be able to find a repeat in the yarn when I get to knitting the second one. I'll be happy if I get close...I think...