Some Storm Projects

We have had three storms in the past two weeks - two Colorado Lows with an Alberta Clipper in between!

So lots of at home time for crafting - I started a few storm projects.

This is another "Easy" scarf by Martina Behm. Made from 56g of handspun.

I love the pattern - it is perfect for small amounts of handspun, it's fun to knit, plus really nice to wear.

This is a piece of crazy quilting inspired by the snippet scrolls I saw in the Summer 2021 issue of Quilting Arts Magazine.

I had a set of door knobs from our first house (padded out the post with some batting).

When rolled, the outside is "plain", but inside I wanted it to be a bit "more".

"There is always more than what we see."

I also finished knitting a pair of socks - this is pair number 6 of my goal to knit 12 pairs of handspun socks this year.

Photos from Around -

The first storm was supposed to be the worst in decades, luckily for us it wasn't too bad (it did last for days and we were snowed in, but we didn't loose power).

Lots more snow (the skies cleared one afternoon for a bit, and I thought it was over - no).

The second storm was mainly high winds, and just a bit more snow - so sparkly though.

The third storm seemed worse than forecast. 

Lots of rain - we were a bit worried about flooding, but just the internet went out.

Then freezing temperatures and more snow (high winds). Highways closed again.

Miss Maggie was happy to stay inside and watch.

Yesterday the winds calmed down and the sun finally came out!

Today lots of the water has gone down, thank goodness because we are expecting more rain this weekend with another Colorado Low in the forecast. At least the snow is melting and maybe winter is coming to an end (probably shouldn't say anything!).

 

All the best!♥︎♥︎

A Couple of Finishes

I finished a couple of knitting projects recently.

A pair of handspun socks (this is number 5 for the year - my goal is to knit 12 pairs of handspun socks in 2022). More details can be found here.

A handspun shawl/scarf. More details can be found here.

For the past couple of months my husband has been working in Vancouver (on the west coast of Canada).

He sends me pictures like this-

The view from his apartment.

Cherry blossoms.

I send him pictures like this -

The snow is melting, I don't know if we should be worried about flooding just yet.

The snow is off the surrounding fields (drone photos from yesterday evening).

Although the snow in our yard has come down a few feet, there is still lots to melt, plus we are expecting the worst storm in decades over the next three days! We have done lots of preparations, and hoping that it won't be as bad as predicted.

Best friends (although Molly looks a bit surprised that Maggie came to lay near her, she usually just comes to touch noses).

All the best!♥︎♥︎

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!♥︎