Needle Emporium Tent Sale!

We went to the Needle Emporium's Annual Tent Sale yesterday.  It was pouring rain as we set out to Ancaster, a 40 minute drive, and most of us got soaked transferring to Fiona's car.  All worth it when you see the haul....

 yes sir, yes sir, three bags full!  One of the bags is for a friend, who yearly gives me some cash and allows me to freely shop for her!  I just run around grabbing all the merino and silk and alpaca that I can find, enough for a full sweater of each yarn.  Then I offer her any choice, because I love it all, so there are no rejects here!  There are Noro (four full bags), Louise Harding pure silk (red), Rowan Purelife cotton, Sandnes merino-cotton.  All the yarn pictured below is my part of the loot, $280 for all of it, probably over $1000 if purchased at full price.  Woooohoooo!

I will be busy knitting swatches and planning what will become of this new shiny stash.  Meanwhile I finished a cute simple mobius cowl, and will post that in a day or two.  I had a great, hot, weekend, golfing in a major tournament qualifier, and making the cut there.  I will compete for all the glory in two weeks, against a really tough field.  No major expectations for myself, but will try to put up a good show.
My felting project (the Apples) will be framed next week, and I will be there to help and document the process.  Can't wait to see it with all the other pieces.

I finished the green sweater and here it is modeled by Susan.  Love the colour and it is so soft.

 I unpacked a new treasure.  It is a Singer Featherweight and is only 14 inches long!  I did some surfing on the net, and according to the serial number on the bottom, it was made in the same year that I was born.  How cool is that!  I threaded it up, and took it for a spin.  The thing is FAST and smooth and almost purrs as it sews.  No wonder my favourite Aunt loved it and never traded up for a BIG machine. Everything is in perfect condition and I know that she put many miles on this baby.

What a treat to add it to my sewing room.

Where have I been lately????

I am aware that it has been ages since my last post.  And to be fair, I had SO much on my plate, my blogging (and some of my crafting) had to be put on a shelf for a few weeks.  It looks as though things are almost back to normal now, and I have time to breathe (and post fun stuff again).  So here are some photos of what I am working on, and what was occupying my time for the last few weeks.
First you will see a well underway poncho.  It is a cool design by Cocoknits.  Veronika is the model, and I am using Rowan Yarns, Cashcotton DK.  It is knitting up very easily.  You need to know (or be keen to learn) short rows, but otherwise it is a snap on long circular needles.

 The next photo is a close up of the small beads I used to detail the apples for the big felt project.  The piece is now done except for the mounting on the backing muslin, and framing.

 The next photo is of a quilt I made a couple of years ago for my dear Aunt in Ottawa.  This was the reason I have been derailed for the last few weeks.  My sister and I went to Ottawa two weeks ago to clear out her apartment, as we lost her to cancer in June.  It was a physically and emotionally draining week, and the quilt is now pictured at my sister's home in Winnipeg.  Her sweet kitty has laid claim to it immediately.

 When I returned from the move, I had to work full time to cover for a vacationing staff member, and as I am so used to part time work, I found it quite a challenge to get through a forty hour week again.  At the end of the week, we launched right into the three day Club Championship at our golf club.  It was really hot and humid the first day, rainy and thunder and lightening and wind, the second day, and a lovely holiday Monday to finish.  The photo that follows, shows me and my Hubby and my Daughter, all champions (repeating from last year) of our flights.  It was really tough for Rick and I, but Robin sailed through the three days with a commanding lead.  We are so proud.

As things settle down, I can get back to more knitting and sewing and golf without rushing from work.  Life is good.

Apples and Wine

One more photo of the apples, inside.  The colours are a bit truer in this light.

 We had a great day today.  My sister booked a British Cab, and driver, to take 5 of us on a wine tour of Niagara on the Lake.  Here is our cab, and Dennie, our driver.... The company is Niagara Classic Cars, and they have many cool vehicles for hire for any type of event.  Many of their cars have been used in movie shoots around Ontario.  The double decker bus was out on a shoot this week!  I would recommend this company to add value to your Niagara vacation!!!

 Here is the Angel Inn, where we had a British Pub lunch.  Mmmm.

 This is Frog Pond Farm, an organic winery, and my sister with her camera.

 The cab again.... so cute.

 My daughter and I overlooking the vineyard, and Lake Ontario in the distance.

 Konzleman Estates Winery.

 The Guinea Hens that eat the bugs that would eat the grapes at the organic winery!

And of course , along the way there were MANY wine tastings and more than a few bottles popped into the London Cabs "boot".   What a lovely day.

Full Panel.... ready to mount!

Almost finished.  The first photo shows the photograph on the left and the felt work on the right.  The apples are a bit more green than the photo shows, the felt looks a bit grey in the evening light.

 Close up of leaves and stems.

 more

 The last one shows large beads near the base of the apple, and smaller beads in the rusty lines of the apple.  Unfortunately the full three dimension effect does not show in the photos.  The bottom of the apple, with the dark beads and details is also indented into a bit of padding to add to the apple shape.

You need to come see it in person when it gets to a permanent home in the fall!

Union Jack Sweater

 I wanted to knit another Union Jack sweater, but this time like it was from a black and white photograph.  I found some perfect colours in a cotton, microfiber blend from Elann (my go-to source for great yarns at great prices!)

****For the USA Flag, go HERE, and change the 9 edge stitches on the front to 18 on each side... use the charcoal for red, off white for white and black for navy....
**** for other flags, including proud Canadians! go to this graph paper generator, and print out a page that has 90 stitches (put in the gauge and go 5 times, to get 100 stitches on the page, like the Union Jack one).  Draw your flag and use it like the pattern states below.  The reason this graph paper is better than square graph paper, is that you will get the flag without distortion, as gauge is more rows than stitches wide.

  This pattern IS NOT for beginner knitters.  Experience in charts and Intasia Knitting is needed.  If you skip the chart and knit all in one colour, it is easy.

Union Jack Sweater.

Size:  Mine is loose fitting medium, measuring 42 inches around the chest.  The sleeves are dropped and relaxed.  Add a few stitches or decrease up to 9 each side to make larger or smaller! 

Yarn: DK weight yarn, 10 balls (50 grams approx. 100m) of charcoal gray, 2 balls of off white, and 2 balls of black.  (I used Louisa Harding Albero)

Needles: 4.5 mm or any to make the gauge work!

Gauge: 20 sts and 26 rows = 4 inches. (in stocking stitch)

**** you will also need to find and print a FLAG CHART ****    I found the Union Jack chart HERE.  It is 90 stitches wide.

Back: With charcoal colour, Cast on 97 sts.  Work in knit one purl one ribbing for 2.5 inches.  Last row (wrong side) increase 9 stitches evenly across .

Change to stocking stitch, and work evenly until total length from cast on is 27 inches (or length preferred to shoulder) Cast off all stitches.

Front: Cast on 97 and work SAME AS BACK until you are about  10 inches  from cast on edge.  With right side facing you, knit 9, start Union Jack Chart row 1, knit 9.  Work the chart intasia style, keeping 9 stitches in charcoal at both sides, and using the charcoal for the red, off white for the white, and black for the navy blue sections of the flag.

Continue with the flag until the front is 4 inches below the total length of the back.  At this time, make the neck shaping, by casting off the CENTER 20 stitches.  Keep the flag chart going, and attach new yarn where needed, work both sides and decrease one stitch at each neck edge every RIGHT side row, 8 times.  Work even at the neck edge until the total length is same as the back.  ALSO WHEN you run out of flag chart, work the remaining front all in charcoal.  Cast off all shoulder stitches.

Sleeves: Cast on 43 stitches, work in ribbing for 2.5 inches.  Increase 5 sts on the last rib row, and work in stocking stitch, in charcoal for the rest of sleeve.  Increase one each side every SIXTH row until 74 stitches, then keep even until sleeve is 17.5 inches, or desired length of sleeve.  Cast off all stitches, and make another sleeve.

Sew one shoulder, and pick up 80 stitches around neck edge.  Work in knit one purl one ribbing for 1 inch, then cast off loosely. Sew other shoulder, sew sleeves, centered from the shoulder seams.  Sew side seams and sleeve seams.

Wear proudly!

Apples are in the Tree!

Moving on with the art project...  I made some stems.  They are knit from wool.  Here I show them attaching the leaf clusters to the main branch.  You can see how much definition the front leaves now have against the background stem and leaves.  I think this will add depth to the picture.

You can also see some beads sewn into the main branch to add texture and detail.

Here is the layout of the apples, first with paper patterns, so that I could get the size and spacing that I liked.

Then the apples themselves, with everything still lying loosely on the background.  I could still play with the balance of the design, and try to get it as close to the photo as I want.  Then I stitched everything down in their place.

Here is one close up of the start of beading on the apples.  The beading will add a bit of shimmer and texture to the otherwise very matt surface that felting is.