Gnome book


Gnome book
Originally uploaded by midnightskyfibers

I am super excited I found the Gnomes
book at the Fremont Market on Sunday! I have had a slight obsession with gnomes lately (and planning a series based on it), I couldn't even bring myself to barter the price lower.

Random book trick: sticking a book in the freezer helps get rid of the musty smell. I wouldn't do it for any really valuable books though!

I am still searching for just the right garden gnome for my balcony though, something not so cutsey as most of them.

Hems


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Originally uploaded by midnightskyfibers

Have you noticed that I love hems? I mean really really love hems. Folded hems, picot hems, garter, lace, matching or contrasting. I think they add such a nice finishing touch to garments, even heavier weighted garments in thicker yarn, which can benefit from a hem to weight down the bottoms or add just a touch of whimsy. Or ethereally light lacy hems, simple double hems to keep a garment's edges from stretching. I even figured out a way to knit both sides of a hem at once so as not to have to sew one side I love them so much.
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This is just a simple hem though. Hardly complex, but just enough to give the edges some structure with an icord around. Worthwhile I think, even if you don't like picking up stitches. Like many things, hems require good shaping, often shortrows (which are rarely written in to patterns, especially for cabled edges- or the pattern doesn't have curvy edges because of this. They *are* a pain to write out!) or increases and decreases to help the edging turn a corner smoothly, draw in a cuff, or create a collar.

(I'll reveal what this is eventually, once the pattern is written. It's for a smallish person and uses Rowan 4 ply. And is wicked cute.)

gloves and more


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Originally uploaded by midnightskyfibers

Rustic Mittens (soon to be a free pattern). Uses about 200 yards of EcoWool. Chain stitch embroidery above the cuff makes the otherwise very plain mitten more fun.

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I had great finds at the Fremont Sunday market this week! Pears were 10/$1, plums $1a box, peaches 2.99 a pound- the cheapest I have seen them locally! Plus local red peppers and corn.

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Mmm plums like the ones that come off my mom's plum tree (when the wind doesn't know all the blossoms off).
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Also at the market- this super cute glass with a spinning wheel on it. I think it is part of a domestic glasses set as there were others depicting other "chores", but not near as fun as the wheel.

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And finally, the Holiday Stocking. This is for the Holiday Stocking class I am teaching at The Fiber Gallery on November 15 and 22. Made using good old Cascade 220- and just one skein of each color!

Batts and roving!


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Originally uploaded by midnightskyfibers

With my drumcarder I can now make blended roving! I have been having lots of fun blending wools with mohair to create nice slightly halo-y roving and batts (some of which will be in the update Thursday, in addition to vegan yarns!).

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I had an accidental felting. The larger mitten is AFTER I washed it too to try and make it shrink to size. I will wash it again to see. They still fit me felted, but the cuff is too short.

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Notice something wrong here? I totally killed my sewing machine. The foot broke off, the needle broke (and it still at large), and it started going when I was not pushing the pedal. Scary! I had a breakable day yesterday, also shattering one of my wine glasses *everywhere*.

Monday Tea towel


Monday Tea towel
Originally uploaded by midnightskyfibers

As distraction, I've been embroidering a couple quick teatowles from Posie Gets Cozy's Pleasant Tea Towel design, which is a free download. I neglected to get enough teat towels though to make the entire set, so I will have to head back to the hardware store to get more just in case I plan to make the whole set.

A review and Shop Update!


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Originally uploaded by midnightskyfibers

Did I mention there was a shop update?

Also, check out the review on About.com from the knitting editor! Yay!

Fiber Friday Topics


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Originally uploaded by midnightskyfibers

This is just a tiny skein, spun from plastic fiber from bottles and natural brown wool locks.

Sorry for missing last week, still recovering from having to uninstall and reinstall all computery things here :)

Topics for the next couple weeks are:
(today)September 5thOrganic- naturally colored, organic, recycled…

September 12th Awash in fabric-a crochet rug, pieced bag, and yarn galore all in one and one for all.

September 19 Paperbound- scrapbooking and yarn all in one? Spinning Shredded newspaper? You betcha!

September 26th Campy- vintage and a little bit retro? Park themed?

How do people like having the topics posted in advance? Good/bad? I know some communities only do it a week out or so, but I know many people commented here they don't have time to do something in a week (I know I don't, my mordanting process is twice that, ha!).

Anyways, if you have ideas for F_F topics, let me know here in comments or email (through my site, whatever). Thanks :)

babysocks1


babysocks1
Originally uploaded by midnightskyfibers

Sneak peak for the updates...(actually, it occurs that the site is now updated as it is now Thursday by its clock. O well...guess the update is up!).

I was making the baby socks a couple months ago with the idea of hanging a bunch of them along my shelf. Four pairs in all. It never happened, and I got tired of knitting baby socks- for the time being anyways. Cleverly, I had made them in pairs.

Since the update is here...you can see them here.

Cat of the hour


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Originally uploaded by midnightskyfibers

(Yea, that would be Joey sitting in the drawer I am trying to fill with yarn. Clearly, it is not working well :))

They are threatening to do a Pet of the Month for my apartment building. I threatened to send them the bottom picture here.

I cleaned out the yarn-filled half of my closet. Ok, well half of that half of the closet (it's a big closet). And uh...there is a lot of yarn. A big update for Thursday with lots of seconds type yarns and fibers is in the works. If the cat will move, pretty please.

Succulents in a vase


Succulents in a vase
Originally uploaded by midnightskyfibers

I am surprised these succulents made it actually! I stuck them in one of my urchin style little vases when they fell out of my succulents pot.

Brewing

I now have far too many airlocks in my house- and a few more on the way. A friend mentioned she was going to make blackberry wine, and convinced me (not very hard of course to do!) that it was really easy to do and that I should make some too! My first batch of blackberry wine is now in the secondary ferment and I have started some blackberry mead using blackberry honey.

Hot Peppers


Hot Peppers
Originally uploaded by midnightskyfibers

Hot Peppers from the Farmers Market in Phinney. I was warned that the bottom ones are especially hot! They are hanging above my fridge from my light fixture. I hope they are far enough away from the stove that they dry out!

Here's asneak peak of the August Fiber Club.