Shortie Socks and So Many Photos!

I finished knitting a pair of shortie socks last week.

I have tried other shortie sock patterns in the past, but the heel was too loose or there was too much fabric on the top of my foot where it meets my leg. So I just experimented this time.

I am really happy with the results, and they fit great.

I used short rows across the top of the foot to lessen the amount of fabric, plus short rows on the back of the foot to bring the heel up. Then tightened up the ribbing so they aren't loose on the heel.

I knit them two-at-a-time (except for the short rows and heel-flap-and-gusset had to be one at a time), toe-up, 64 stitches, magic-loop on a 2.5mm, long circular needle, from both ends of a ball of yarn.

Knitting from both ends of the ball means I could use up every bit of yarn - not much left!

The yarn is a handspun merino/nylon blend.

From fibre that I dyed. 

I only had less than 80g - the reason for the shortie socks (normally I use about 120g for a pair of mid calf socks).

Photos from Around - 

Sunrise last week.

Amazing frost yesterday morning.

More frosty trees. For the photo I am standing on a tall snow drift (looking over the top a tall willow hedge), and almost as tall as the highway behind our home (the z-dyke built 25 years ago, to protect Winnipeg from flooding - we are on the wrong side).

This pair hit the window the other day - some type of hawk and an Eastern Bluebird (which I have never seen here before).

Molly likes to bite Maggies legs for some reason. Maggie is so tolerant.

We are seeing flocks of geese now(oh no - heading south in the photo).

All the birds, and dirty snow are sure signs of spring.

This one is another sign of spring that surprised us - a skunk under the car. We all thought it was the cat when we came back from a walk, and were surprised when after Molly went to see her she came out growling. Luckily no one was hurt and we haven't seen the skunk in a while.

Peace!♥︎

Table Runners

This past week I finished weaving a couple of table runners (and some extra)-

The warp is cottolin and the weft is all handspun.

This was the first one. I tried all kinds of different weaving techniques for this one, and it took a while.

So for the second one I just wove blocks of colour, with a couple of long locks added here and there.

To finish up the warp I used up all kinds of little bits of leftover handspun.

I think I will make a pillow cover with this piece.

Photos from Around-

We had a couple more storms this past week.

The highway that goes around the large city I live near has been closed 7 times this year - 3 times in the past week! Apparently the highway closing hasn't happened in years.

There were storms with lots of snow.

Some with high winds

Some with both.

Lots of shovelling happened,

Molly is always happy for that.

Luckily most of the snow removal happens with a tractor (Molly stays away from that).

The top of a pickup truck is still visible.

This morning it was foggy - yesterday was above freezing.

We have to duck under tree branches along our walking path now.

Peace!♥︎

Spinning and Knitting

I finished spinning everyday in February with a few more skeins in my stash - they are all now works in progress or finished objects.

A merino/nylon blend - knitting shortie socks.

I blended some different fibres (handdyed merino/silk, pearl fibre, two more types of silk and some silver sparkle),

and spun a fingering weight yarn (~180g) - knitting a cowl.

This is BFL wool,

I spun to make some fingerless mitts.

It is a free pattern on Ravelry - Cozy Cuffed Mitts by Karen Everett.

I finished knitting a pair of socks with a BFL/Nylon blend with yarn I spun earlier in February.

Photos from Around (more snow photos!) - 

This winter (so far) is at #3 for the most snow fall since they started keeping records!

Sunrise.

In the summer I can't even jump up and touch the bottom bar on the orange gate, now we can walk over it.

The garden shed is in a hole.

Windblown sparkly snow.

All the snow being put to good use. Molly was tired after all the running around!

The driveway this morning - snowed in again after a storm yesterday.

Peace!♥︎