Monday, July 27, 2009

Tuesday, July 21, 2009

Casey is Knitting


My Sweet Granddaughter Casey is staying with me for a couple of days. Today she is knitting a simple dishcloth with Grandma!!!

Sunday, July 19, 2009

HiyaHiya


I am probably the worlds slowest knitter! But I Love knitting, and knit every single day. I wanted to show you the progress that I have made on my sock, using the HiyaHiya 9 inch knitting needle. I have finished the leg and am starting on the heel flap. This is just the slickest little needle. I think that I can knit socks faster with this little needle. And I think that this would be the perfect little needle for knitting socks while traveling, because you wouldn't have to worry about losing one of your knitting needles. I have to tell you this little needle did take a bit of getting used to. The first day my right hand hurt a bit from knitting with it. But after that first day everything was fine! And my hand did not hurt any more! I really like this little needle!!

Friday, July 17, 2009

HiyaHiya knitting needles


I bought a size 1, 9 inch HiyaHiya knitting needle for socks. I am finally taking time out to try them. So far so good. I have only knit the cuff of my first sock, but I like them. They are very, very smooth to knit with. They do take a little bit of getting used to. But they are OK. Do you own HiyaHiya needles? Have you tried them yet? What do you think of the HiyaHiya needles?

Thursday, July 16, 2009

Falls Park











It is a Beautiful Sunny, but windy afternoon here in South Dakota. Matt. Elvis, and I decided to take a trip into the big city of Sioux Falls, and walk through Falls Park. It was a very nice day for a walk in the park!!!

Thursday, July 9, 2009

Castle Fibers

Matt was hungry for a Buffalo Burger, and I wanted to buy some beaded earrings, so we took a trip across the State to the Black Hills. One of the most Beautiful places in our state. As long as I was heading out West, I decided that I would visit Castle Fibers, and meet Rita. Rita had a nice Yarn Shop in Main Street in Rapid City. Lucky Girl! I had a nice visit with Rita, we talked about knitting and spinning. I bought some hand dyed batts form her shop, that will be on my wheel very soon. Rita has Beautiful hand dyed, hand spun sock yarn in her shop, her colors are so very deep, and vibrant in her yarns. I enjoyed my visit at her shop very much. If you are ever in Western , South Dakota, make sure you stop by and Visit Rita, at her yarn shop Castle Fibers. If you would like to see some of Rita's yarns there are some pictured here in her knitting blog http://celticharpanddrum.blogspot.com/

Sunday, July 5, 2009

Our Tomato plants are huge!!!!!


Our tomato plants are almost as tall as my MIL. We started these plants from seeds. Now they are HUGE. We planted our garden out at my In laws farm, because we don't have room for a garden here at home. We stopped out at the farm today to look at our plants. They are the biggest tomato plants that we have ever had. My MIL is standing by our plant here. She is 5' 3" tall, and the plants are almost as tall as her!!!

Thursday, July 2, 2009

Fiber Arts Friday

http://www.alpacafarmgirl.com/

Knitting Poem from 1887

Knittng Poem From 1887.A Stocking In Rhyme
To knit a stocking, needles four, Cast on three needles and no more; Each needle stitches eight and twenty. Then one for seam stitch will be plenty. For twenty rounds your stitch must be Two plain, two purl alternately. Except the seam stitch which you do Once purl, once plain, the whole way through. A finger plain you next must knit, Ere you begin to narrow it; But if you like the stocking long, Two fingers' length will not be wrong. And then the narrowings to make, Two stitches you together take Each side the seam; then eight rounds plain, Before you narrow it again. Ten narrowings you'll surely find Will shape the stocking to your mind; Then twenty rounds knit plain must be, And stitches sixty-five you'll see.
These just in half you must divide, With thirty-two on either side; But on one needle there must be Seam stitch in middle, thirty-three. One half on needles two you place, And leave alone a little space; The other with the seam in middle, To manage right is now my riddle. Backward and forward you must knit, And always purl the backward bit; But seam stitch, purl and plain, you know, And slip the first stitch every row. When thirty rows you thus have done, Each side the seam knit two in one Each third row, until sure you feel That forty rows are in your heel.
You then begin the heel to close; For this, choose one of the plain rows; Knit plain to seam, then two in one, One plain stitch more must still be done. Then turn your work, purl as before The seam stitch -- two in one, one more; Then turn again, knit till you see Where first you turned, a gap will be.Across it knit together two, And don't forget on plain to do; Then turn again, purl as before, And sew till there's a gap no more.
The seam stitch you no longer mind, That, with the heel, is left behind. When all the heel is quite closed in, To knit a plain row you begin, And at the end you turn no more, But round and round knit as before. For this, on a side needle take The loops the first slip-stitches make; With your heel needle knit them plain, To meet the old front half again. This on one needle knit should be, And then you'll have a needle free To take up loops the other side, And knit round plain, and to divide The back parts evenly in two; Off the heel needle some are due;
Be careful that you count the same. On each back needle, knit round plain; But as the foot is much too wide, Take two together at each side, On the back needle where they meet The front to make a seam quite neat Each time between knit one plain round, Till stitches sixty-four are found; And the front needle does not lack As many as on both the back.
You next knit fifty-six rounds plain, But do not narrow it again; 'Twill then be long enough, and so Begin to narrow for the toe. Your long front row knit plainly through, But at its end knit stitches twoTogether and together catch Two first in the next row to match; Then to the other side knit plain Half round, and do the same again; That is , two last together catch, Two first in the front row to match.
At first knit four plain rounds between, Then two, then one, until 'tis seen You've knit enough to close the toe; And then decrease in every row, Until to stitches eight you're brought, Then break the thread off -- not too short-- And as these stitches eight you do, Each time your end of thread pull through.