Hey Nineteen

Last week I delivered my 19-year-old back to school for her Sophomore year at Virginia Tech.  I do miss her, but she's so happy there I wouldn't want her anyplace else.

In my Sophomore year I had the good fortune of a roommate that knit, and friends that knit too.  I think that was a little unusual for 1985.  And we all knit with Lopi, mostly hats and sweaters. 

Lopi Icelandic, 1985

Knitting this Icelandic sweater was my salvation during finals, guided by Knitting in the Old Way by Priscilla Gibson Roberts.

an update with a nod to my daughter

In 1985 my friend Skooie was taking a class in elementary education, and one of her assignments was to learn something new, something she knew nothing about.  So we all taught her to knit. We started her on a hat in the round.  She had many teachers, and also many followers who wanted to learn to knit as well.  She would pass her knitting to non-knitting friends and let them have a go at it.  Gauge was never considered, and I think maybe which direction to knit in may have confused her once or thrice.  She soldiered on, never frogging a single stitch, and ended up with a hat that would fit a rhinoceros, horn and all.  With the hat on her head, she gave a presentation to her class on her learning-to-knit experience and I do believe she earned an A.  And she became a tremendous school teacher.   

In other news, I have finished my un-named cowl made from recycled yarn, as well as a pin to hold it just so.  And my man has finished one wood shed.  We're rich.

Yarn Revival

I deconstructed a men's all cotton sweater a while ago and dyed the resulting yarn to self stripe.  The colors were happy and bright.  Too happy and bright.  Ick.

So I plied the yarn with the yarn from another deconstructed all cotton sweater, this time a grey and white rag cotton twist.  Yech.

So I threw it in a dye lot with something else ... I can't even remember, something red.  Ack.

Last chance.  I tossed it in a dye bucket with some blue and black dye, and the sleeves of an old cotton tee. Hooray!  I'm loving the resulting mellow blue stripey yarn, and it feels like velvet.  It's still on the needles, and the tee has been cut into little rosettes for embellishment. 

Money spent was next to nothing, and the time spent has been a sweet lesson in perseverance.

A Whole Lot of Win

We have winners from the Fiber College Blog Tour!

Giveaway #1 goes to Genevieve Monks Keller.  Your prize will be waiting for you at Fiber College.  There is a table at the entrance with smiling faces to greet you and point you in a direction.  They will have your yarn and your free pass for Saturday evening.

Giveaway #2 goes to Bekky.  Please email your shipping address Bekky (odacierATyahooDOTcom), and I will send your yarn on its merry way.

Giveaway #3 goes to Leamonteach.  Wait.  #3?  There was no #3.  Well, there were some folks that were unsure about whether they could make it to Fiber College or did not indicate, and I appreciate that they left a comment anyway, so I threw in one more giveaway, just like giveaway #2.   Leamonteach, please email your shipping address to (odacierATyahooDOTcom).

Have you ever used a random number generator?  I am embarrassed to say I felt a little nervous clicking on the 'generate' button.  Yikes, good thing I'm not a gambler.  Thanks Y'all!

A Simple Wish

I wish for you, Dear Reader, a good long spell of peace so that you may knit until you're contented.

From the Archives

I drew this in 1993 ... or was it 1992?  It seems I was thinking about styling back then, too.  My daughter would say this is an example of too many changed variables.