What We Are Up To....

Knitting ... Boothbay from Hannah Fettig's new book, Home and Away

The patterns in this book are wonderfully simple but timeless and the images are beautiful.

Painting ... Last week I began the project of painting our entire bedroom - something that has been needed since we bought our home six years ago.  So with lots of caulking to fill in the cracks, holes, etc and then a couple of coats of paint - I have painted the ceiling, walls, floors, and am finishing up the trim.

Gutting ... The two upstairs bedrooms and putting on a new roof over those bedrooms (it is about 1/3 of the house).  Because of water damage the walls have mold in them and need to be completely gutted, insulated, and sheetrocked.  The roof we will be stripping (2 layers of shingles and 1 layer of metal) and then shingling.  Since we are doing it ourselves, we should be good and tired for the next three weeks - but it is all good.

Coloring ... The children are enjoying color-by-numbers right now, simple ones for the younger ones to really detailed books for Sarah.

Enjoy this day!

Warm wishes,

Tonya

Simple Hand Knit Bunny Pattern

When I checked on the link I gave you a couple of posts ago to the bunny pattern I had submitted to Rhythm of Home many years ago, I realized too late that it was no longer available.

So I have rewritten it, to share here.

Little Hand Knit Bunny
Small amount of yarn - use knitting needles and yarn weight that result in atight knit.
Legs:
Cast on 10 stitches (leave a 12" tail) and knit 10 rows (all garter stitch).
Break Yarn and cast on 10 stitches (leave a 20" tail) on the same needle of first leg.
Knit second leg for 10 rows.
Next row:  Knit across both legs to form body and head for 28 rows.
Next row:  Bind off and leave about 12" of yarn when breaking yarn.
Sew up first leg with shorter tail yarn up to the crotch.
Sew up second leg with longer tail yarn up to the crotch.  Tie both yarns together to secure in place at crotch.  Continue sewing longer tail up the back and back of head of bunny.  Tie a knot at top.
Using a crochet hook, stuff legs and then body and head.  Using a piece of new yarn and yarn needle, sew a running stitch between bunny's head and body and tie securely to form the neck.  Weave yarn ends and cut.
Knit Bunny Ears:
Cast on 6 stitches.
Row 1:  Knit
Row 2: Purl
Repeat rows 1 and 2, 7 times (14 rows total)
Row 11:  Knit first 2 stitches together, knit 4, knit last 2 stitches together
Row 12:  Purl
Row 13:  Knit 2 stitches together, twice
Bind off.
Repeat for second ear.
In contrasting color, crochet inner ear.
Row 1:  Chain 12 stitches
Row 2:  Turn and single crochet in 11 stitches across, finish off
Repeat for other ear.
Using a yarn needle, sew inner ear down middle of bumpy section of ear (the outer parts of the ear will curl inward a little).
Sew ears to top of head.  Sew top of head closed.
Add eyes and other features if desired.
Arms (knit 2)
CO 8 stitches, knit 8 rows, BO
Sew running stitch around top and then sew sides together, stuff, sew last end closed and sew onto bunny.
Repeat for other Arm.
Tail:
Using a crochet hook (size G for worsted weight yarn, size D or E for sport weight) -
Chain 2
Round 1:  6 single crochets in second chain from hook.
Round 2:  2 single crochets in each single crochet (12 stitches)
Round 3:  2 single crochets in each single crochet (24 stitches)
Finish.
Sew a running stitch around the edge, put a small amount of wool in the center and pull tight.
Sew onto back side of bunny.

Perhaps crochet a scarf for your bunny.

A New England Yarn Journey :: Gotland Wool Company

I want to introduce you to another Vermont Fiber Farm - Grandview Farm located in Washington, Vermont.  

 Kim has been a long time shepherdess, but recently welcomed Vermont's first flock of Gotland Sheep to her farm.  You can meet some of them here and learn more about the history of Gotland Sheep.    

They have curly, lustrous, silky wool.   I purchased a skein of worsted weight in Mist from her shop, Gotland Wool Company.   The yarn is such a beautiful silver gray color and super soft.  I am enjoy knitting a baby bonnet with this gorgeous yarn.    It is more expensive, at $17.00 for 2 oz - but the joy of working with it is worth it.  

I am learning more and more about the costs and care that go into owning a flock of sheep and truly, if yarn is cheap, you really do need to wonder.

You can listen to a podcast from a couple of weeks ago at Woolful, where Kim was a featured guest.

Woolful podcasts are my new absolute favorite podcast.  I get so giddy each time I listen to the interviews with other fiber enthusiasts and am researching where the entire process of sheep to wool might fit into our family's future.

Knitting and Reading

I am joining in Hat Along No. 1 at Fringe Association.  It is the Audrey hat by Jessie Roselyn and the pattern is being shared there for free.

I am using Rowan felted tweed  (something I had in my stash) which is a 50% merino, 25% alpaca and 25% viscose.

It will make a nice hat on the not-so-cold days and the pattern is a lovely chevron repeat.  I am using my stitch markers to make the pattern easier to follow - I only have to worry about the 12 stitches between each marker!

Mike and I are reading The Nourishing Homestead by Ben and Penny Hewitt.  It is the kind of book you can keep out by the rocking chair, open up to any section and just read.   I agree with most of their views on nutrition and much of their basic philosophy of why they live the way they do.

I hope the Hewitts don't mind if I share a quote -

"The culture of modern corporatized agriculture has directed us away from a holistic understanding of soil health in much the same way that the culture of consumption has directed us away from skills, self-reliance, and community."

Joining in with Ginny.

A New England Yarn Journey :: Knoll Farm

My first stop on the journey of exploring local yarn is Knoll Farm in Fayson, Vermont.

Peter Forbes and Helen Whybrow  purchased Knoll Farm in 2001.

They began with a flock of sheep; planted gardens and a field of blueberries; revived old apple trees and tired pastures; built a bread oven, workshop, bath house with living roof, and small yurts for outhouses and meeting spaces. They pulled out old barbed wire and re-dug springs, installed solar panels and converted their energy to wood.  They started a learning center, Center for Whole Communities, that is now a nonprofit leadership center for land and people with programs all over the country. 

Knoll Farm raises 100% purebred Icelandic sheep.  They sell their raw fleeces as well as spun.  They spin and dye some by at at their farm in micro-bathes, and the rest they have spun at Green Mountain Spinnery in Vermont or Morningstar Fiber in Ohio, where they specialize in Icelandic, which is a dual-coated fleece with a very long staple.

A little about the Icelandic Sheep Breed -

Very few Icelandic sheep have been cross-bred or exported from Iceland since Viking settlers brought the breed there nearly 1,100 years ago, making Icelandic sheep one of the purest breeds in the world. Renowned for their exceptional fleece (which is marketed in this country as Lopi yarn), and “gourmet” meat, Icelandics are an excellent all-around breed that is becoming increasingly popular around the US.

Icelandics range in color from white to blue-gray to deep brown to black, spotted and mouflon. Other desirable traits include easy births, common multiple births, excellent mothers, highly alert and curious dispositions, fast growth, delicious meat, naturally docked tails, and hardiness. 

For more about Icelandic sheep, visit the Icelandic Sheep Breeders website.

I purchased two skeins of their Cloud Yarn which is a double-ply yarn spun at Green Mountain Spinnery, and comes in 4 oz. skeins (approx 225 yards). Definitely coarser than their lambswool but knits up very well for any garment not worn next to the skin. 

I decided that a Plain Vest, in size 12 months, would work well with this yarn, providing warmth for a baby while not being directly on their skin.  I love the almost delicate look of the natural color and thoroughly enjoyed knitting with it.  I did not find it coarse to the touch but only a little itchy if held to my cheeks.   It is such a joy to think that the yarn comes from a small farm right here in Vermont and that the finished vest will provide warmth for a young child, not to mention will look adorable.

I love the idea of supporting others in their quest to make a life, not just a living - and that is exactly what Helen and Peter are doing at Knoll Farm.

Reading and Knitting Today

As far as reading goes, I definitely prefer nonfiction to fiction and even when I really enjoy a nonfiction book, I seldom read it cover to cover (front to back) at least at first.  

Usually, I will first pick up the book, skim through, stopping to read something that might catch my eye and then read back through the book.  Depending on how interesting I find it, I do occasionally read every word from start to finish but more often than not I have a pile of books by my bed that I change out each night, or for a week or so before another topic draws me in.  Does anyone else read like this?

Lately, I have been especially interested in unschooling or interest-led learning and then how that might look as more of our children enter adulthood.

DIY U by Anya Kamenetz is one such book.  The subtitle is Edupunks, Edupreneurs, and the Coming Transformation of Higher Education.  There is quite a bit of history of higher education which I did skim through, but I am enjoying every word of the chapter, Independent Study.  

This is a great quote from this chapter by Henry David Thoreau -

"Students should not play life, or study it merely, while the community supports

them at this expensive game, but earnestly live it from beginning to

end...

Which would have advanced most at the end of a month, -the boy who

had made his own jackknife from the ore which he had dug and smelted, reading as much

as would be necessary for this, - or the boy who had attended the lecture

on metallurgy at the Institute in the mean while, and had received a ... penknife from

his father?

Which would be more likely to cut his fingers?"

Much of this chapter focuses on how the internet has changed everything and how accessible knowledge is and that it is available through everyday people living what you want to learn about.  Collaboration is a huge aspect of real learning and the internet makes it possible, for example, to "talk" with someone anywhere in the world.

I am also reading Bill McKibben's,  Hope, Human and Wild .  I love that it is not a series of doom and gloom essays about the state of our earth, but instead offers positive solutions that are being put 

into place in various parts of the world.

As far as knitting, like my reading habits, there are many projects in the works. But one I am more focused on than the others is a gift for a new-to-be-born baby boy.  I am using the Two Needle Blocks Baby Booties and Hat pattern.  (Still avoiding double pointed needles as much as possible.)

Joining in today with Ginny and so many other inspiring knitters.

Knitting

The holiday rush is over!  We keep things so simple for Christmas, but our business more than makes up for any craziness.  As the last 9 packages went out the door this afternoon, I let out a few whoops and now feel like my mind can open up to the possibilities of this last week before Christmas.  The buckets of soap and water came out and along with my two best cleaning partners, Sarah and Emmy, we have started some long overdue housework and organization.  

Tonight we have caroling at the town green and tomorrow night a holiday and solstice concert also in our little town.

As far as knitting - I am excited to start doing more of it in the coming days.  I did finish a few projects recently.  One is another plain vest with some yarn I painted last summer.  I finished a hat with angora inspired by the pattern in the new issue of Taproot.  And, finally, a crocheted wool bowl that made it out in the pile of packages today for a very patient customer.

If you need a little last minute something for a baby or young child, here is a link to my gnome baby pattern.

Joining in with Ginny today.

Outside and Inside

There was a fairly thick layer of ice on the pond this morning.

The girls and the young buck were happy to see the sun again today after missing it for several days. 

Inside I have been busy playing with greens and browns.

I finished another simply sweet sweater.  I made an error on the arm size.  Writing patterns

is no easy task let me tell you.  I am not so sure I have the stick-to-it to keep knitting samples and working 

through different sizes.  It really makes me appreciate those that do sell their patterns.  The writers/designers deserve to be paid well.

I have dyed two wool/silk scarves.  One a soft sage and the other a shade of brown.

They lack some originality, however, and I am looking for ideas to embellish them - to make them each 

a bit more artsy.  The fabric is delicate so whatever I add needs to take that into account.  Any ideas?

Knitting and Reading

With a new pair of wool mittens completed for Emmy and Abraham, I have now started a pair for Sarah.

The colors are Lena's Meadow and Lavender from Peace Fleece.

I am re-reading one of my all time favorite books, Up Tunket Road.

"One can't help but wonder whether we might not have a lopsided view of reality - and perhaps misaligned priorities- by eschewing lifestyle choices that at times involve discomfort, deprivation, or difficulty for the sake of living a bit more in sync with nature while aggrandizing energy-intensive (from both human and fossil-fuel perspectives) recreation that produces primarily adrenaline and vicarious entertainment value.  The option that seeks to minimize long-term risk by trying to live lighter and healthier is culturally suspect, while the pursuit of high-risk sports is magnified and praised."

Joining in with Ginny today.

Two Needle Mitten Pattern

Joining in with Ginny of Small Things for this week's Knit Along to share a simple mitten pattern that I have had several requests for...


This is a really simple two needle knitting pattern for mittens.

So far I have made the following sizes the first number is for our 3 year old, second for our 7 year old, and third number for our 11 year old.  Please note that our children are on the smaller size, but wool is very forgiving either way.
This pattern is adapted from the Wee Mittens in the book Vintage Knits for Modern Babies.
Cast on using size 3 needles with worsted weight yarn 31 (35) (39) stitiches.
Rib for desired length of cuff - K1P1 for each row.
Change to larger needles (size 5) and work 2 rows in stockinette stitch.
For the Thumb:
Row 1:  Knit 15 (17) (19), place marker, M1, k1, M1, place marker, knit to end - know you have 33 (35) (37) sts.
Row 2:  Purl
Row 3: Knit to marker, sl marker, M1, knit to marker, M1, slip to marker, knit to end -
Repeat rows 2 and 3 until you have 13 (15) (17) stitches between markers
Nest row: Purl
Thumb:
Row 1:  Knit 28 (32) (36), turn
Row 2:  P5 (6) (7), p2 tog, p 6 (7) (8), turn
Work 4 (6) (8) rows in Stockinette stitch
Next row:  K2tog across row
Break yarn and thread tail through rem sts and pull tight.  Start sewing up seam of thumb.
Top Shaping:
Rejoin yarn to stitches on left needles with right side facing, and knit to end  30 (34) (38) stitches.
Continue in Stockinette stitch until work measures length for hand, ending with a purl row.
Decreases:
Row 1:  Knit 2, knit 2tog across row
Row 2:  Purl
Row 3:  Repeat Row 1
Row 4:  purl
Row 5:  Knit 2tog across
Break yarn leaving a long tail and run needle through remaining stitches pull yarn tight and sew up seam of mitten.

I am still reading the Charlotte Mason Companion and have started a new nightly chapter book with Sarah - it is an older book called A Horse like Mr. Ragman.  It is a book that horse lovers would enjoy and Sarah is most definitely a lover of horses.

Knitting and Reading again for the Yarn Along

Joining in with Ginny of Small Things again...

I have just cast on with some wonderfully soft baby alpaca yarn to knit up this sweet hat, the pattern courtesy of Ginny.  If all goes well, I have some natural colored alpaca as well and I would like to size it up to knit one for myself.

I am reading The Ministry of Motherhood by Sally Clarkson as I need extra encouragement right now as we are still working on rhythm and balance and reading her book helps me to  remember what an honor it is to have the privilege of mothering all of our blessings.

I could really use a good fiction read  - any suggestions?

Warm wishes, Tonya

Knitting and Reading again for the Yarn Along

Joining with Ginny at Small Things again this Wednesday - don't the weeks just go by so fast?  I am knitting these sweet little Mary Jane style wool booties for our shop.  They are a quick and easy knit and again from my favorite knitting book, Vintage Knits for Modern Babies.


With just a few pages left to go in Deeply Rooted, I am looking for another bedtime book.  Deeply Rooted is again, a great read if you are passionate about food, and specifically about keeping our food choices local as much as possible and out of the hands of big business.

This little book, Small Acts of Kindness, is a children's book that was recommended and how wonderful to go along with our kindness theme.  It is just great - starting with one small act of kindness from a little boy giving his mother a hug in the morning and how that leads to another act of kindness from his mother to someone else, and so on and so on....

Looking forward to finding out what you reading and knitting or crocheting.

Baby Knit Pants and Another Farming and Food Book

Joining in with Ginny of Small Things this Wednesday to share more about the knit baby pants and what I am reading.

For the baby pants, I have altered the pattern a bit from the book, Vintage Knits for Modern Babies.

Cast on for front.
Using size 4 needles, and worsted weight yarn, cast on 26 stitches.  Knit 6 rows garter stitch, on the 6th row increase 2 stitches evenly across row.
Continue in stockinette stitch until leg measures 5 1/2 inches long.
Cut yarn.
Cast on 26 stitches on same needle.
Repeat as above.

When other leg measures 5 1/2" long finish on a purl row.
Next row knit all the way across both legs.
Continue knitting in the stockinette stitch until piece measures 9 1/2 inches long.  Now knit in the garter stitch for 3 rows.
Next row you will be adding holes for the drawstring.  Knit 5 stitches, Knit 2 Together, Yarn Over, Knit 5 stitches, Knit 2 together, Yarn Over - repeat across row.
Knit 3 more rows and bind off.
Repeat exactly the same for back.
Using a crochet hook, chain to fit all the way around the waist of the pants.   Using a yarn needle, weave chain in and out of holes around waist.

I am reading a really good nonfiction book - Deeply Rooted, Unconventional Farmers in the Age of Agribusiness by Lisa M. Hamilton.  Her writing is engaging and holds your interest as she introduces the reader to farmers who are not part of the giant world of agribusiness.  As Wendell Berry writes in a review of the book, "...these people have had the courage to use their own intelligence in their own places."

Looking forward to reading about your book choices and what is on your needles.

Yarn Along

Joining in with Ginny at Small Things today as knitting is one thing I have been able to do a bit of.  Nursing, holding baby and knitting seem to go together well.

The pair of pants I had knit for Emmy are too big, so I cast on another pair using smaller needles (size 3) and some cotton yarn (75% from recycled cotton by Lion Brand).  I have one side done and hope to finish the other side in the next couple of days as she really could use them.  For this pair I decided to add button holes along the top band to thread a drawstring through.

I pulled out a book from the shelves, 10 Principles for Spiritual Parenting, that I have had for some time and re-read a chapter.  This week our family is focusing on practicing kindness - to each other in choosing the words we use carefully.

Looking forward to seeing what everyone else is up to.

   

Yarn Along - Question about Knitting Socks

I was encouraged by Ginny's post last week to pick up this classic book at our little library last week. It is a great read so far.  A book about a working poor family in Brooklyn... so interesting to compare and contrast with today's concepts of "poor" and also the idea of hope.

I have read another of Betty Smith's novels which I really enjoyed as well - Joy in the Morning.

At Melanie's recommendation (thanks Melanie!) I am following the free pattern for simple socks knit on four double pointed needles from lionbrand.com.  It is exciting to think about not have to sew up seams.   I am stuck though.... I am at the turning the heel point and have the correct number of stitches for the heel on one needle and understand about going back and forth but there is a stitch I have not been able to understand - is is Wrap and Turn.  Can anyone explain this?

I look forward to visiting the other knitting and reading posts today hosted at Small Things.

(no baby yet....)

Warm wishes,

Tonya

Yarn Along - Easy Knitting and Easy Reading

Joining in again this Wednesday (no baby yet...) with Ginny of Small Things to share two of my favorite things - knitting and reading.

I cast on to knit a very simple scarf - it is a basketweave pattern - knit two, purl two for two rows and then reverse that - purl two knit two for two rows.  I am using a DK weight wool/merino blend from Peace Fleece in a soft mossy green/brown shade with little specks of color throughout and size 6 needles.

When the baby comes and so much of my time spent nursing I like to have several simple knitting projects kept in various locations where I would stop and nurse.   This is a another simple project to join along with the shawl.

I finished up this enertaining and easy reading before sleep book - Whilstin' Dixie in a Nor'Easter by Lisa Patton.   

I need some suggestions for some new reading.....

Warm wishes,
Tonya

A Simple Knit Shawl Pattern

(Joining in with Ginny this week for the Yarn Along because knitting and reading are two of my favorite things to do.)

On our way home from Maine, I started this very simple shawl.  I have always wanted to knit a shawl for myself.  After trying several too complicated for me patterns, (because I can't keep count when a child needs me or I have to get up and get the bread out of the oven...) I decided on this very simple pattern.

For this shawl I am using DK weight wool/mohair from Peace Fleece in Sea Moss on size 6 needles.

The pattern is as follows:

Row 1: CO 1 stitch

Row 2:  kfbf (3 sts)

Row 3:  Knit

Row 4:  K1, Kfbf, K1 (5 sts)

Row 5:  Knit

Row 6:  K1, Kfb, K to last 2 sts, Kfb, K1

Repeat rows 5 and 6 until you have 11 stitches on your needle

Now for the rest of the shawl

K5 YO, Knit to the end.

See, simple?

I am still reading Lzarge Family Logistics and the second book in the Anne of Green Gables series.

Looking forward to seeing what you are working on and reading.

Warm wishes,

Tonya

Knitting Rainbow Gnomes

Joining in with Ginny of Small Things this week for her Wednesday Yarn Along.

It has been quite some time since a knit up a set of rainbow gnomes.   For these I am using Peace Fleece worsted weight wool/mohair yarn.   I hand dyed the orange and yellow using Peace Fleece's natural shade of yarn.

My pattern is here and is so simple.

I am on to the second in the Anne of Green Gables books - Anne of Avonlea, and am enjoying this even more than the first.

Knitting and Reading

Joining in with Ginny of Small Things again this Wednesday to share what I have been knitting and reading.

I am enjoying knitting these little caps/bonnets from - again Vintage Knits for Modern Babies.  

The pale green one is knit of yarn from Green Mountain Spinnery of 20% organic cotton and 80% fine wool which will be good for the in between days when the baby first arrives.

The other cap is knit of alpaca which is so soft.   I am knitting up several for market.

I am just beginning this book, Good Wives - Images and Reality in the Lives of Women in Northern New England , 1650 - 1750.

I enjoy reading about what life was like for women during this time period.

What are you knitting or crocheting and reading?

Warm wishes, Tonya

Yarn Along - Knitting for Baby and Abraham

Whenever I am knitting, Abraham, who is three years old, asks me what I am knitting.  I tell him.  And then the next question that always follows is, "Is it for the baby?"

Lately, it seems that I am always saying, "yes".

So after finishing this little bunny, pattern from the same book I keep mentioning, Vintage Knits for Modern Babies, I cast on for Abraham -

mittens and socks.

I am still reading Anne of Green Gables and really enjoying Anne's love of life.

Joining in with Ginny again this week for the Yarn Along.