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!♥︎

Spin the Bin 2022

This year I participated in a Spin the Bin Challenge hosted by a Ravelry group.

The challenge is to get together a bin of at least 24 ounces of fibre to spin in the year.

This is my bin,

and all the fibre (930g/32oz).

Since I have been spinning everyday in February I finished spinning my bin.

The four bigger, colourful skeins on the bottom of the above photo are for socks, and the grey is half of a larger spin (that is now finished) - I am hoping to weave a blanket.

Ended up with 5299m (2,332yds) of yarn.

Since February isn't over I dyed up some more fibre this week.

I finished knitting a small scarf this week-

The pattern is Easy by Martina Behm.

I used a 32g leftover bit of handspun for this one.

Photos from Around-

We have had more storms this week (really about every second day since the beginning of the year, and part of the reason I have been able to spin so much). We were even snowed in for a few days this week with a couple days in a row of blizzards.

Lots more snow photos (I am sure you are getting just as tired of seeing them as we are, but one day it will all be melted, and it might be nice for me to look back on this as a one off winter - hopefully!).

Sunset.

The driveway is in there somewhere.

Molly loves pushing her ball in the snow and trying to find it.

So much snow.

All the best!♥︎