Hey Everyone!

The yarn giveaway began over on the Facebook page yesterday, and runs through Friday the 8th at 3:00 pm Pacific Time (6:00 pm Eastern). 

By going over to the Facebook page, liking the page, sharing the pinned status, and commenting on the pinned status, you will be eligible to win these two skeins of fishermen’s wool.

  

The Giveaway Has Begun!

Hey Everyone!

I am running a yarn giveaway over on my Facebook Page this week, it runs through May 8th. If you are interested in winning 2 skeins of Lion Brand Fishermen’s Wool, one in the Ivory, and the other in Nature Brown, then you will need to head over to the blogs Facebook Page, like the page, share the pinned post, and answer the questions I asked in that post.

The winner will be announced Sunday May 10th.

Good luck to all who participate.

Upcoming Giveaway

Hey All!

I am going to be starting a giveaway on my Facebook page, beginning May 1st. I am going to be giving away 2 skeins of Lion Brand Fishermen’s wool. If you are interested, head over to The Knitters Notes Facebook page, and like the page for more details as the become available.

Feel free to look around the Facebook Page, share it, and make sure you like the page before May 1st. 

Finding my Zone

Good Evening to All,

I finally decided to invest in the first five seasons of Downton Abbey, hoping on the off chance that I would like the series. I had not seen any of the parts before purchasing the five seasons that are on DVD. I received them in the mail yesterday, and have so far watched parts one and two of season one. I have to say that i have not been disappointed.

After I get home from work, get dinner and make my lunch for the next day, I have been settling in to watch a couple vlogs on youtube, then watching a part (what each episode is called) of Downton Abbey. While watching the part I have been working on my knitting projects. It has been quite relaxing. Last night I worked on the baby blanket I have in the works for my cousin and his wife who are expecting a baby, and tonight I was working on the scarf I am working on for myself. The scarf is a new project. I am using Fishermen’s Wool in Oatmeal. I am knitting it flat, and then going to sew the ends together to make it an infinity scarf.

I have been facinated with Scotland for years. While Downton Abbey is set, and takes place in England, it is close enough for me to get my fix. Not to mention that the first series (season) starts off in 1912. Between the history, and the costumes, and the sets, and the Castle are all amazing, and I am absolutely loving it.

I love the combination of watching a historical fiction British TV show and knitting to calm my nerves, relax, and zone out before going to bed to then start another day at my day job.

Friday Night Knit Night

Hey Everyone!

This evening I spent inside working on my current series of knitting projects. Spending the evening watching shows or listening to music while working on projects is a relaxing way to unwind and calm down. Knitting is my creative outlet. It is also one of the things that challenges me, calms me, gets me excited, and one of the things I love doing with my time and my life.

It all goes back to the summer I was 10, and bored out of my mind by the end of June, and was ready for school to start again, with another month to go. I had asked my grandma to teach me to knit, and I have stuck with it ever since. Now I am glad that I did. I love the feel of yarn, and getting lost in the yarn section of the craft store, or spending hours in a yarn store dreaming up the projects I could make if I had the money for the yarn.

I love knitting, It is one of those things that is always on my mind, and dream about. Yes I do get out and go do things, and do take breaks from it, but even then I am thinking about it, or yarn. I am still trying to figure out a way to get paid to do what I love without having to own my own business.

I have three projects going at the moment, I have my mom’s Christmas gift that I am working on, I have a wrap that I am working on for myself, and I have infant leggings for a friend of mine who has twins, and wants leg warmers small enough for her little guys.

For my wrap I am using lion brand fishermen’s wool in oatmeal, and it is super soft. I am loving it. As some of you already know, Fishermen’s Wool is my favorite yarn for projects for myself. A lot of what I have made in the past few years has been made of Fishermen’s Wool. I got started using it about 2 or 3 years ago, I had been wanting to try it for a while before that, but I had been waiting until I had the money to buy my first skein. It was well worth the wait, and worth the money. Once I had made my first hat and scarf from it, I was hooked, and bought subsequent skeins, and have made many more projects with it. Beings that it still retains it natural Lanolin it is softer than other wool. It also washes and wears better than regular wool. The Lanolin is a natural water repellent which is helpful in the part of the country I live in, where most of the winter is gray and damp.

Seed Stitch Poncho

Saturday was a busy knitting day for me. I had pushed through and finished the Seed Stitch (British Moss Stitch) Poncho that I have been working on for a couple of months now. For this project I used Lion Brand Fishermen’s Wool Yarn in Oak Tweed. I have to admit I had my doubts about how it was going to turn out, and if it was going to work the way I wanted it to, but in the end it turned out perfectly and beautifully. I knit it in two pieces and then hand linked the two pieces together.

I made this poncho for myself, and it will be nice to have once the weather starts really cooling off, and I want something a bit nicer than a jacket or coat, but that will still keep me warm. Especially with the weather we have around here, it is generally overcast, gray, and wet a lot of the time once the rainy season starts (usually in September or October and lasts until May or June). The fact that the Fishermen’s Wool retains its natural Lanolin, that helps repel and shed the rain. I love that is a mix of two of the different natural colors in the Fishermen’s Wool line.

Figuring out how to link it was the biggest challenge. I had done a little research during the knitting process, so I just went for it, and I love how it turned out. I was also a bit concerned that the neck hole would be too small, but was happy to find out that it is just the perfect size. This is a lesson in just going for something, trying something new, and not being afraid to try, because it will likely turnout just fine. I know I am overly critical of my own work, as are most people about their own work.

I will also be washing it. This kind of a project doesn’t really need to be blocked, since it fits well, and the pattern was free handed and something that I had come up with specifically for this project. I just want to get any chemical’s that the yarn may have been treated with or added to make it easier to knit with. I also like the idea of getting some of the sheepy smell (I like the sheep smell, but it can be overwhelming at times) out before I wear it. I use a lanolin enriched wool wash for all the wool garments I knit, and then lay them flat to air dry.

Christmas is Coming!

Christmas is about 3.5 months away, which means that it is time to start thinking about the Christmas gifts I will be knitting for people. One of which will take me a while to work on. I am starting my friends Christmas gift. I picked up the yarn today at the craft store, and her gift will be simple enough for me to knit up. Right now my local Joann Fabric and Craft Superstore is starting a round of coupons, most of which are good next week (which will be nice so I can finish getting the yarn I need for Christmas gifts), as well as having sales on their fall decorations so going yarn, craft and decoration shopping is hard for me to say no to, even if it is more or less window shopping. I picked up a couple little wooden pumpkin decorations since they were half off so I got both for the price of one, then one of the yarns I bought was on sale, and the other yarn I bought I was able to use the 40% off one full price item coupon for, which was a good buy on my favorite brand of yarn. I did not pay full price for anything today at Joann. I was super happy about that. 

I am also working on finishing the poncho I started awhile back. I am working on the second piece of it. It has been slow going the last few weeks with having so much going on. I am really wanting to get it done before the weather really starts turning. I want to make use of it this fall and winter. 

The poncho I am working on, as well as my friend’s Christmas gift are being made of 100% wool. I used to not like working with, and wearing wool. I used to think it was too hard to care for, wash and such. Then I decided to give it a try, and I fell in love with using it for personal projects. After working at a knitting studio for 5.5 months where we worked with a lot of cashmere and cashmere blends I learned about washing techniques as well as wool was and shampoos. I have also taken to storing my knit wears in plastic buckets with lids, and putting cedar blocks in with my wool garments. Wool has gone from being my least favorite fiber to work with to being my favorite for using for myself. I am excited for fall and winter to get here so I can pull out all the hats and scarves I have knit up, and be able to wear them again. 

 

Personal Project Excitement

Hey Everyone! 

I am still working on my fishermen’s wool poncho that I have been working on for a bit for myself. I am using two skeins of Lion Brand Fishermen’s Wool in Oak Tweed. I am knitting it in two pieces and then I am going to link the two pieces together. 

I have also started a pair of fingerless gloves for myself. I had purchased some yarn a while back intending it for one purpose but then deciding to not use it for that project. I finally figured out what I want to use it for. I found an easy knit flat pattern on pinterest that I am basing my gloves off of. I love trying new things, and making my own knitwear. I get a better quality garment for a lower cost. Beings that make this stuff for myself, the labor that goes into making items for myself is totally worth it for the money I save on buying the yarn and doing it myself. For these gloves I am using Premier Yarns Deborah Norville Collection Serenity Garden Yarn in Gems. 

Beings that today is the first day of school for the kids in the school districts here where I live. That gets me even more excited for the fall and winter projects that I am working on. As the weather is still warm/hot at the moment, I still have some time to get these projects done, but Fall is right around the corner. 

I have also recently been spending a lot of time on Pinterest looking at knitwear and getting project ideas and just seeing what other people have made. It is kind of addicting to a knitter. 

 

Working with Wool = Bliss

Hey Everyone! 

This past week I have been spending time working on my fishermen’s wool tweed poncho. I am definitely going to be making a two piece poncho, but how I am going to link the two pieces I have not decided on yet. 

I am going between two straight pieces linked on the top and bottom to create a rectangular poncho, or linking side to end to create a triangle poncho. 

Having warm projects in the works reminds me that fall and winter are coming again, which I am getting excited for. I love the cooler weather and the rain. I am totally partial to fall and winter fashion, and the warm clothes. 

Fishermen’s wool has become my favorite yarn to work with for personal projects. It makes warm garments without being super heavy, and it still has its own natural lanolin which makes it very water resistant. Having that water resistance where I live for in the winter is very important. 

Starting a New Project

Hey Everyone!

A quick update on my falling leaves wrap: I got it finished yesterday evening, and I am just needing to finish blocking it

So with it being done and off the needles I am starting a poncho for myself using Lion Brand Yarns Fishermen’s Wool in Oak Tweed.

I finished it up yesterday as I have been catching up on sleep now that camp is over, and I am able to get back to more of a regular schedule.

Beings that I have been making excellent progress on my newest knit for kids sweater I am taking a little time to start a new personal project so that I will have two projects in the works. At least I am keeping my newest personal project simpler than the last one. I am going to be using the seed stitch on my poncho, and keeping it easy.