tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-60809752024-03-13T00:38:09.883-05:00mz knits ... and sews!more fun than a barrel of monkeys!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07987593134479788398noreply@blogger.comBlogger428125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6080975.post-74035956343257543082022-02-18T22:19:00.011-05:002022-02-18T22:19:57.010-05:00Another one done!<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Would ya look at that … I finished a pair of socks! I have no idea when I started them but I guess it doesn’t matter. Done is done!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">My #FinishOrFrog2022 project is well underway!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiOn6GEVgQnsC8FkwyA1-aXFR5d7wwMUd8L3cJg0UuvwKKK6hh9N9ys534HGkZHj2AgTJJ7a4PzFY3No9VA7DAOpvqYvEsrzkTNT-fpZYFGPYu6wQ8LC7Ot5XfxEgjxemzzH4CLcT1p0JCQIJn41OIULMXg14zkzZQg6dwaW4jDnmovwOw3kHY=s4032" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiOn6GEVgQnsC8FkwyA1-aXFR5d7wwMUd8L3cJg0UuvwKKK6hh9N9ys534HGkZHj2AgTJJ7a4PzFY3No9VA7DAOpvqYvEsrzkTNT-fpZYFGPYu6wQ8LC7Ot5XfxEgjxemzzH4CLcT1p0JCQIJn41OIULMXg14zkzZQg6dwaW4jDnmovwOw3kHY=s320" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Until next time,</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: center;">-mz</span></div> <p></p>eboni a. johnsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15784064916144381113noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6080975.post-9197920185193690832022-01-25T22:03:00.005-05:002022-01-25T22:03:54.684-05:00It’s COLD!<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">So I made another hat. I’m on a roll with the stripes! I had an all-black pompom in my stash and I thought this color combination would be a perfect way to show it off. Whaddya think?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj27VjPmRF3ERjOyoZHHCgm13-nf-CWWhbi5Nt2pEqkVXqiW5UdQW6v0w7S1qZWs9OUH8PjtX5R4o8RjdMWx40dQNQhIbRIg6oihwEg1vsD-7bU6SUss7Tmhi-ryysnlMcLk0OVMwMQSf7PQBxMnbtdQkTTW1W_OrPGCdteCsqxBvzpMbqaWNQ=s2048" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj27VjPmRF3ERjOyoZHHCgm13-nf-CWWhbi5Nt2pEqkVXqiW5UdQW6v0w7S1qZWs9OUH8PjtX5R4o8RjdMWx40dQNQhIbRIg6oihwEg1vsD-7bU6SUss7Tmhi-ryysnlMcLk0OVMwMQSf7PQBxMnbtdQkTTW1W_OrPGCdteCsqxBvzpMbqaWNQ=s320" width="240" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjiBBQCSRHDnY1b0R5SM5YyQ-plbNlBqXfO_TdOpX83eQtvvTT08_pO723PYT3t7UqfkZjVK1UYR3kuVg_P_ug9suddVrvBJoEeZ8fpASQj418Mas3Ij44uJ9RQbogtraTG2kwz1oBS8IoHGF4HLJ-jIhZ_j_X9cHWGMd72PMk6UOsBZ0CpCic=s2048" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjiBBQCSRHDnY1b0R5SM5YyQ-plbNlBqXfO_TdOpX83eQtvvTT08_pO723PYT3t7UqfkZjVK1UYR3kuVg_P_ug9suddVrvBJoEeZ8fpASQj418Mas3Ij44uJ9RQbogtraTG2kwz1oBS8IoHGF4HLJ-jIhZ_j_X9cHWGMd72PMk6UOsBZ0CpCic=s320" width="240" /></a></div><br /><p></p>eboni a. johnsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15784064916144381113noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6080975.post-64582282541247735732022-01-09T12:17:00.003-05:002022-01-09T12:32:55.092-05:00Winding up ....<p>So, last night I decided to cast on a(nother) winter hat. But I was cozied up on the couch watching a movie and didn't really feel like setting up the swift and ball winder so I just used my feet to hold the yarn while I wound it by hand. Hey, it wasn't perfect but it worked!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXrvdhz_-Pd5g6QrsqSOvlh_w9uDDccpzo5EeFBdCekIOgHgjJnVNMG3Xq-MHpHcDeTvZO67NFBgKnZMPOstd3HuHaHvBmBCZv5xuJh3a-44721QIg-z5KfCuE6Fw2JMKo5-2Dkg/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="3072" data-original-width="3072" height="421" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXrvdhz_-Pd5g6QrsqSOvlh_w9uDDccpzo5EeFBdCekIOgHgjJnVNMG3Xq-MHpHcDeTvZO67NFBgKnZMPOstd3HuHaHvBmBCZv5xuJh3a-44721QIg-z5KfCuE6Fw2JMKo5-2Dkg/w421-h421/IMG_5860.JPG" width="421" /></a></div><p></p><p>Casting on later today! It'll be very much like the hat I posted about last week, just in different colors. I have a black pompom that I'll attach to it. I might also stitch a plain fleece hat inside of the knit one, to make an extra cozy lining. I don't know about the weather where you are, but we have had low temps in the teens --- 🥶</p><p>-mz</p>eboni a. johnsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15784064916144381113noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6080975.post-40279856815622291162022-01-03T15:18:00.004-05:002022-01-03T15:20:50.884-05:00Off the needles<p>This was done with some leftover Malabrigo Rios (colors: Bobby Blue, Pearlten, Natural). And a pompom on top that a knitting buddy gifted to me a while back. I love it so much!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiOuh8tv0TPWuc3zYSyIotq3KfIOKEFesFMuCXZ0Ohaad4-dadt0eyRLK_DmfqStV3AOENF2iA_6E16jQDqfJ7AxNRUtPtIa-PmoMcHNiVZ7aRBDgmJH7DuU3cN7_JgzF1A9R61AL_JJo3BbgCA7WXCL_0-Fbq-sCR0kkSQ-i4UgDTzDGin4TY=s3088" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3088" data-original-width="2316" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiOuh8tv0TPWuc3zYSyIotq3KfIOKEFesFMuCXZ0Ohaad4-dadt0eyRLK_DmfqStV3AOENF2iA_6E16jQDqfJ7AxNRUtPtIa-PmoMcHNiVZ7aRBDgmJH7DuU3cN7_JgzF1A9R61AL_JJo3BbgCA7WXCL_0-Fbq-sCR0kkSQ-i4UgDTzDGin4TY=w241-h320" width="241" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEibXTyVRlEIXS7TPn9lezX7BtnibeLyBWNpxToy2R8h2KF3GMaxFWZEPp8ry0gVe0RADLhehiqbMsaChM7kv4Afh9l2UyJD1FBKwqQId9O6kzy6k1JS9FSXyWVsKtGMtROIU_bJtiw9sPQ-Uc9m3-fV9TMi7lkB8osvFbiu8rpsW43oT9oKJZo=s4032" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEibXTyVRlEIXS7TPn9lezX7BtnibeLyBWNpxToy2R8h2KF3GMaxFWZEPp8ry0gVe0RADLhehiqbMsaChM7kv4Afh9l2UyJD1FBKwqQId9O6kzy6k1JS9FSXyWVsKtGMtROIU_bJtiw9sPQ-Uc9m3-fV9TMi7lkB8osvFbiu8rpsW43oT9oKJZo=s320" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">There have been lots of developments since I last blogged and I really haven't been up to much that's blogworthy. Or so I thought. But last spring I bought a house! My craft room hasn't really been unpacked or set up yet. I'm thinking about the best solution for storing my yarns and fibers so that I can see them, rather than keeping them in big plastic bins. Got ideas? Let me see 'em!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">This year I'm going to focus on finishing or frogging the eleventy million projects I have on needles and hooks. Stay tuned for more info as things progress!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">-mz</div><br /><p></p>eboni a. johnsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15784064916144381113noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6080975.post-4738997859133093162020-12-14T01:32:00.002-05:002020-12-14T01:32:36.292-05:00Merry Christmas to me!<div>I bought myself a new sewing machine for Christmas! Here’s a pic ...</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfDlrfQb2BCnK1AJ7EVX_cVfPerQ5rQB7egCKRFk2GP02PUDDlzg_TaUc55dVo_3IPV_8UlpCuSaLoX7FMSfw1cddm5j4BK0jhKjDtOQi8p6mQ3ypZJWNk7DTM1hSnOeioqk34qA/s2048/0F8DEA79-C936-404D-8FD6-EC09836BB85C.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfDlrfQb2BCnK1AJ7EVX_cVfPerQ5rQB7egCKRFk2GP02PUDDlzg_TaUc55dVo_3IPV_8UlpCuSaLoX7FMSfw1cddm5j4BK0jhKjDtOQi8p6mQ3ypZJWNk7DTM1hSnOeioqk34qA/s320/0F8DEA79-C936-404D-8FD6-EC09836BB85C.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div>... and some video!<div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://youtu.be/LQWhnij3rdg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="725" data-original-width="481" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6PBKAX2n9dnuyQOqxfoSBZCIuIIC_S1XA2s8aVqOSJB_9AiNVzq6GqpV0_eAs-LG39tWNp7d-TtEGuYbgGRriMhsD6K3k4H2LZHQYyH3HiM7YDeSsQo4faDs4X2rPY_agCOEI2A/s320/5EAEAE7C-15AE-4608-A8E9-7D335236E7DD.jpeg" /></a></div><br /><div>More to come ... soon. Stay tuned!</div>eboni a. johnsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15784064916144381113noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6080975.post-24177741977930477862020-11-04T21:50:00.004-05:002020-11-04T21:56:13.235-05:00Mz knits .... and sews! <p>Ever since the beginning of the pandemic, I’ve had it in my mind that I wanted to sew some masks. But in my downsizing to a smaller place a few years ago, I decided I couldn’t keep my sewing stash or supplies so had to get rid of absolutely everything. Sewing machine, table, fabrics, tools, storage containers, dress form, EVERYTHING. The house I live in is much smaller but I was still able to carve out a space that works well (enough) for sewing, at least for small things like masks. I’ve spent a chunk of the summer re-learning how to sew (and collecting tools!) and I think I feel confident enough to let more of my creations out into the world. </p><p>Here is the batch that I am currently working on:</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6OiIr4HqKupEnE1DIhdkqa6kJjHhPn1AQVpgufJlAObKvSoUI-FlxxxL6Ip4Bu2cnkLiz-BPm_JtWagOBi08YORr9klZNC9ivTtTXm_l0c-Zz54A1IhLzsJx72gn4GivcmC-lUA/s2048/395147C8-2274-4E74-9848-79A6E56B5B74.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6OiIr4HqKupEnE1DIhdkqa6kJjHhPn1AQVpgufJlAObKvSoUI-FlxxxL6Ip4Bu2cnkLiz-BPm_JtWagOBi08YORr9klZNC9ivTtTXm_l0c-Zz54A1IhLzsJx72gn4GivcmC-lUA/s320/395147C8-2274-4E74-9848-79A6E56B5B74.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU-bUYF5ePOSqqq65MJn-CVYbE27ayos1cFT0CZ7-w8TTNNHC907DuzXndBIqFywVnJP26oWsfmfhe5Yvc1Eap_DVBY1XSUKROXcK-3pkAKLgP_oTIkS8PHdnba9EC2a7cxOuAIA/s2048/6EB6F035-F07F-4797-8021-32D3EDF056F3.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU-bUYF5ePOSqqq65MJn-CVYbE27ayos1cFT0CZ7-w8TTNNHC907DuzXndBIqFywVnJP26oWsfmfhe5Yvc1Eap_DVBY1XSUKROXcK-3pkAKLgP_oTIkS8PHdnba9EC2a7cxOuAIA/s320/6EB6F035-F07F-4797-8021-32D3EDF056F3.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis4F4AV05xi0XutS741fOGsHW7E7F3wyCHN3cQDXQyx_xjWLTdgGSC0Y5AQfPzJLRHZRNSAo2wMKsYdccRnY_YBv70ZYVPR1s-My5lXnRRm0DCdy6iTSBw9eGNYZb7nyzKVVlYFA/s2048/9BEA3889-DD52-4177-8155-797A0E584491.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis4F4AV05xi0XutS741fOGsHW7E7F3wyCHN3cQDXQyx_xjWLTdgGSC0Y5AQfPzJLRHZRNSAo2wMKsYdccRnY_YBv70ZYVPR1s-My5lXnRRm0DCdy6iTSBw9eGNYZb7nyzKVVlYFA/s320/9BEA3889-DD52-4177-8155-797A0E584491.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijbLtO7rJ8X3tE5mLdqCjWqUUKfh_to1YiO4oxDO9ZvIACjE9yZxuZEE54XuHx9RHaoY0EXdJ0z5p93zGYwdb5CCL__DJjrTjBbRAhEoRPs40L-bTuqpIgqsZrf9WCET4RBWzz8A/s2048/C2447CD7-29B1-4FAF-AF5D-019633A38D81.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijbLtO7rJ8X3tE5mLdqCjWqUUKfh_to1YiO4oxDO9ZvIACjE9yZxuZEE54XuHx9RHaoY0EXdJ0z5p93zGYwdb5CCL__DJjrTjBbRAhEoRPs40L-bTuqpIgqsZrf9WCET4RBWzz8A/s320/C2447CD7-29B1-4FAF-AF5D-019633A38D81.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p>Once they’re finished, I will post them on my “<a href="http://www.mzknits.com/p/masks.html" target="_blank">masks</a>” page. I’m planning to offer them on a “donation” model. I don’t want to sell them exactly, especially since I’m still learning. But folks have wanted to pay something so I came up with this option where they can donate what they like. I’m not in it to make money, but I want to do my small part in making sure masks are available for people who need or want them. </p><p>One day soon, maybe in the next post, I will show you around my “studio.” Hmm ... should I make a video? Post in the comments and let me know!</p><p>Until next time (soon, I promise),</p><p>-mz</p>eboni a. johnsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15784064916144381113noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6080975.post-66307704355506897902018-02-11T22:38:00.001-05:002018-02-11T22:38:50.570-05:00Unexpected yarn acquisitionOn Friday afternoon, I got a text message from a student friend of mine saying she left a bag of yarn by my office door. I texted back to say thank you -- I was out of the office at the time. When I got back, I saw a big trash bag of yarn waiting for me. I was stunned. It was full of the "good stuff" -- Malabrigo, Madelinetosh, Wollmeise, and other unlabeled odds and ends. There were a couple of in-progress items too, including a piece of a Beatnik sweater. Two completed shawlettes were in there, and a partial one:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZYrrrYbcYRg1SZuUgf6fEJFcR_xG011_iwlqJujHlQpzyaWshstK3EPQoNSQaoVzCGnoQvp-c5dsM6wEQQd6AS-xkypELl6ih8OzHQGf9wA16qPN_1nSLCmQ_I9r_G66_7fgRPg/s1600/IMG_2914.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZYrrrYbcYRg1SZuUgf6fEJFcR_xG011_iwlqJujHlQpzyaWshstK3EPQoNSQaoVzCGnoQvp-c5dsM6wEQQd6AS-xkypELl6ih8OzHQGf9wA16qPN_1nSLCmQ_I9r_G66_7fgRPg/s400/IMG_2914.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
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It's beautiful, right? I wasn't sure what the pattern is, so I posted this pic on Instagram and asked my internet knitter friends for help. Within 5 minutes I got a reply saying that it's a <a href="https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/vulpix-2" target="_blank">Vulpix</a> by Stephen West. Eureka! </div>
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Now, I should also say that another knitter friend was also gifted a big bag of yarn from this same student. We're not sure exactly why our friend is doing such a huge destash but we're definitely reaching out to make sure everything is okay. </div>
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That being said, it was hard to figure out what do to -- should we hold on to these bags of yarn for a while to be sure our friend won't change her mind? Or should we assume that she really wanted to unload this yarn for whatever reason(s) and think good thoughts of our friend as we knit happily with it? We had some trouble deciding the right thing to do, but ultimately made a choice. Today at our Sunday knitting group, we spread all the yarn out and encouraged folks to choose what they wanted. It was fun to see what we all gravitated toward, as we chose yarns with particular projects in mind. Some of it will become a "Find Your Fade" shawl. I've chosen some Madelinetosh Merino Light in order to knit a Vulpix -- I love that pattern but I'm not really an "orange" person. So I'm going to reknit it in a darker gray and red. The cotton yarn went to a friend who is busy knitting dishcloths and dish towels. A new knitter friend is now the proud owner of some beautiful brightly-dyed yarns that will be pretty amazing for the colorwork techniques that she's exploring. Most of the yarn has found new homes and whatever is left will be offered up at a future knitting group. It feels like the right choice, and we think our friend will be happy to know that we're taking good care of her stash.</div>
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But first .... I really need to *finish* some stuff before I *start* some stuff :-) </div>
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Until next time,</div>
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-mz</div>
eboni a. johnsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15784064916144381113noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6080975.post-79818575422732032682018-01-29T22:45:00.000-05:002018-01-29T22:46:12.574-05:00It's finished!<br />
I am so excited to share this project!<br />
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This scarf was a gift for one of my dear friends, Lori. A bit of background: last year I inherited a bunch of yarn from Lori, and over Thanksgiving I dug out this beautiful off-white chunky yarn. Some time ago someone on Facebook tagged me in <a href="http://www.ladylifehacks.com/beautiful-knit-scarf-free-pattern/" target="_blank">this pattern</a>, and I thought the yarn would be perrrrrrrrrrrrfect. So I started knitting.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0QwIutt8ykc1wliAXWHxQ29ETmBoVOXJWFPIPZQPxQt02_wMaEYm5ucdjnn396pT6AS1HoI-eLbLvti-u1trpDRxMUOXkFN5vQKd54wYWzcKL1Kzd5nuTlw1M8BhPQraneKkqOg/s1600/beautiful+scarf+cowl+thing.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: right;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0QwIutt8ykc1wliAXWHxQ29ETmBoVOXJWFPIPZQPxQt02_wMaEYm5ucdjnn396pT6AS1HoI-eLbLvti-u1trpDRxMUOXkFN5vQKd54wYWzcKL1Kzd5nuTlw1M8BhPQraneKkqOg/s400/beautiful+scarf+cowl+thing.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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I didn't have a recipient in mind, but I asked Lori what yarn it was (since there were no labels) and she told me about the bad memories that the yarn held for her. In that moment I decided without saying it that I was making this scarf for Lori. So I did.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdC2DcsrHIhij6VK4KZsxuh6i4aNmvS3j0oxRr9c78v68tT9hNEZ5G4_PtQ5yQJsJGLztFC-HglyVfTifkqAIKNqqz0tBTpu88T4N4Jf8PYly8eh8eXqaS5nSY5OXued3nEdG2tg/s1600/7Fxtt1QBQ1Cl5vhauHxbVA.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdC2DcsrHIhij6VK4KZsxuh6i4aNmvS3j0oxRr9c78v68tT9hNEZ5G4_PtQ5yQJsJGLztFC-HglyVfTifkqAIKNqqz0tBTpu88T4N4Jf8PYly8eh8eXqaS5nSY5OXued3nEdG2tg/s400/7Fxtt1QBQ1Cl5vhauHxbVA.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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When I gave it to Lori, she cried. I cried. We cried together. I didn't take pictures of that moment but later on, I got a lovely photo of Lori modeling it. See? She told me that all the bad memories are replaced with good ones. That makes me really, really happy. </div>
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The owner and knitters at my local yarn shop, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/castonyarnstudio/" target="_blank">Cast On Yarn Studio</a> are such enablers! A couple of weeks ago I mentioned that I wanted to knit a <a href="https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/shetland-triangle-lace-shawl" target="_blank">Shetland Triangle Lace Shawl</a> and they showed me this beautiful Berroco Folio Luxe yarn -- 65% superfine merino, 25% rayon, 8% acrylic, and 2% sparkly bits. </div>
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I was going gangbusters for a bit until somewhere in the 3rd repeat where I made some kind of mistake that I couldn't find or fix. I *knew* I should have put in a lifeline but noooooooo. I figured I'd be fine to make it through the repeat but I wasn't fine. So I frogged it, start over, and believe me, I've learned my lesson. I'll post a photo when I get a little bit further along. </div>
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Until then, happy knitting!</div>
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-mz</div>
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eboni a. johnsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15784064916144381113noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6080975.post-55462222718449394702018-01-14T16:34:00.002-05:002018-01-14T17:22:54.616-05:00Something I've never done beforeRecently, I signed up to do something I've never done before, but have always wanted to do: attend the Knittin' in the Mitten retreat, organized by CoggieTM of the<u> <a href="http://thehighfiberdiet.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">High Fiber Diet podcast</a></u>. I've heard about this retreat over the years from Ravelry and other social media sites but for some reason I've never been able to attend -- either due to not having the money, or not having vacation time, or whatever. I decided that I'm going to make the time and save the money. So, I requested a spot. The first deposit is due at the end of the month, next deposit (to pay the balance in full) is due later this year and I'll just save for it. I've put the dates of the retreat on my calendar, and will make it work. I'll get to meet new friends, as well as those I have only known "through the computer." I'm very much looking forward a new experience!<br />
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I've been knitting on a "stealth" project lately and I think I am getting close to being finished. I can't say a whole lot about it now, but I can show you a sneak peek:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTsVfNvj0NMQewXKSTFpsVwJI4qD6xQiuyRzq732YKfHRSjNqwr-0SWccuuOwB4nWMSmYlCAEVtCvS5I17eqG9GgguFIt7KcmcFcTv1vt5G7qM4KKbVNKXCBBYOwbT3aP9D5E0vA/s1600/cables.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="220" data-original-width="235" height="299" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTsVfNvj0NMQewXKSTFpsVwJI4qD6xQiuyRzq732YKfHRSjNqwr-0SWccuuOwB4nWMSmYlCAEVtCvS5I17eqG9GgguFIt7KcmcFcTv1vt5G7qM4KKbVNKXCBBYOwbT3aP9D5E0vA/s320/cables.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div>
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It's going to be sooooooooo pretty, I hope! I got this yarn in a friend's destash last year. I'm not 100% sure of the fiber content since I got it without labels, but from the way it feels, I think it's at least 50% alpaca. It's fun to knit, and I hope that the person I'm making it for will love it. *fingers crossed* It's currently the only one of my WIPs that I'm working on steadily right now. I think it's really the only way that I will make it through my baskets full of in-progress stuff (there are soooooo many projects). One at a time.<br />
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Yesterday I spent some time in my yarn room, tidying up. I've got 2 more bins of yarn and 3 bins of fiber left to add to my <a href="https://www.ravelry.com/people/mzundercover/stash" target="_blank">Ravelry stash</a>. I'm excited to get toward the end of this longstanding project. It's really been helpful to do this, though. Whenever I need a particular yarn, it's wonderful to be able to "shop my stash" -- search in Ravelry to figure out how much I have, and most importantly, figure out which bin it's in! This is one of those projects that is somewhat of an annoyance but one that is well worth doing.<br />
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I better get back to it ... these projects aren't going to knit themselves!<br />
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-mzeboni a. johnsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15784064916144381113noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6080975.post-10349934579233368352018-01-08T23:23:00.000-05:002018-01-14T15:59:27.879-05:00You thought I forgot about you, huh?Welllll ... I didn't, I promise. I'll spare you the details of how life has played out for me over the past year but suffice it to say that my creative pursuits have suffered accordingly, as evidenced by one pitiful blog post in the whole year. However, I'm recommitting myself to more regular self-care and self-love, which, for me, includes playing with yarn ... and blogging about it. Today is as good a time as any to start.<br />
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As usual, I have way too many projects on needles and spindles but when has that ever stopped me from starting something new? I recently-ish got hip to the <a href="http://www.eatsleepknit.com/cshop/yarnathon/" target="_blank">Yarnathon</a> game at <a href="http://eat.sleep.knit/">Eat.Sleep.Knit</a> and decided to play along. I probably won't do a whole lot to earn points or stars for my team but this will be a fun thing to do this year, and will hopefully help me regain my knitting mojo.<br />
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So ... I got this lovely ball of yarn in a holiday gift swap:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs9o4jmBDjxi2IVGlD1oPwYBWoDsvLzhyKMzvmLN8ZYjLyp1xMI4gdoMR9xYMbCnEmgeU8d7HCD-wOHsQqar4-A7sQmeh9AOJVOXOmWAjDAEukl_I7c35GcFoRd-wAT9C3nvYPXw/s1600/%252BBD722mcRmq7q7OnQOeBuA.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs9o4jmBDjxi2IVGlD1oPwYBWoDsvLzhyKMzvmLN8ZYjLyp1xMI4gdoMR9xYMbCnEmgeU8d7HCD-wOHsQqar4-A7sQmeh9AOJVOXOmWAjDAEukl_I7c35GcFoRd-wAT9C3nvYPXw/s320/%252BBD722mcRmq7q7OnQOeBuA.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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It's 70/30 cashmere/silk and it is sooooo soft! Even with the number of in-progress projects I have, I can't resist casting on something new. I think I've decided on the <a href="https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/shetland-triangle-lace-shawl" target="_blank">Shetland Triangle Lace Shawl</a>. The yarn is very thin and quite a bit different from anything I've knitted with lately. I've had a bit of trouble getting started, but I'm chalking it up to "operator error" as I haven't identified a mistake in the pattern, and I haven't seen any indication that there is errata available. Maybe I need to sit in complete silence to work on this until I get the hang of it.<br />
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This pretty lacy shawl is a new project I started over the holidays.<br />
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It's called <a href="https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/dragon-scale-scarf" target="_blank">Dragon Scale Scarf</a>, and I've expanded it so that it should end up more like a shawl once it's soaked and blocked. It's an easy pattern to memorize, and lots of fun to knit out of Madelinetosh Tosh Merino Light, in a color called Silver Fox. I have 3 skeins of this for a total of 1,260 yards. Should be nice and long.<br />
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And now it's way past my bedtime so I'll stop for now but I'll be back soon to catch you up on other crafty goodness!</div>
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Until then,</div>
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-mz</div>
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<br />eboni a. johnsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15784064916144381113noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6080975.post-76197803904353522342017-03-18T21:46:00.001-05:002017-03-18T22:04:14.143-05:00Well hello!My apologies for being away for so long. Life has a way of getting in the way!<br />
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I've decided that during this current presidential administration, I'm going to knit <a href="https://www.pussyhatproject.com/" target="_blank">pink pussyhats</a> and give them away. So in recent days, I've made hats for my mom:<br />
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my friend Lisa:<br />
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and my friend Terry:<br />
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I am also making one for Lisa's 2-year-old daughter. It's not quiiiiiiiite finished, but will be in just a few moments. All that's left is to tuck in the ends.<br />
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Also, I had the pleasure of finishing this beautiful baby sweater:<br />
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Here's some background on that. I have a friend, Brenda, who works with a woman named Melissa. When Melissa's mother passed away, Melissa gave Brenda her mother's knitting supplies which included this partially knitted baby sweater. Melissa's daughter recently had a baby girl, for whom Brenda had started knitting a sweater. Brenda asked me whether a piece of the great-grandmother's knitting could be incorporated into the sweater that she was knitting for the new baby. After looking at both sweaters, I deemed it wouldn't be possible to do a sweater "mash-up." So I asked Brenda to let me have the partially knit sweater and I'd see where great-grandmother left off in the pattern, and that I'd let her know how to finish it. As I was puzzling over piecing it together, I decided to just go ahead and finish it. Isn't it precious? I enjoyed knowing that the little bit of knitting I did will provide an heirloom for the family to treasure!<br />
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Maybe I am starting to get back into my knitting "groove." I really do hope so.<br />
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-mz<br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07987593134479788398noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6080975.post-78843649453857110822016-10-17T20:51:00.002-05:002016-10-17T20:51:45.422-05:00A little retail therapy never hurtsI need yarn like I need a hole in the head. But that hasn't stopped me yet.<br />
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Last weekend some friends of mine came up to northeast Ohio for the <a href="http://www.autumnfiberfestival.com/" target="_blank">Autumn Fiber Festival</a> in Ashland, Ohio. It was one of those beautiful autumn days ... sunny, clear, and warm. Ashland is less than an hour's drive from my house so I jumped at the opportunity to meet up with my friends and see what I could see. I didn't plan to buy anything but, well, I kinda *had* to. You'll see why in a moment.<br />
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I was really good about walking around to most of the vendors before I bought anything. Then I had lunch with my friends and decided I might buy something but only after lunch. After all, you can't shop on an empty stomach. True story. My friends had to leave shortly after that but I hung around for a while after that, presumably to do my "little bit" of shopping then go home.<br />
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I <a href="http://www.dispatch.com/content/stories/life_and_entertainment/2016/09/27/1-rv-converted-into-yarn-store-that-rolls-to-where-knitters-gather.html" target="_blank">recently read about Yarnbyrds</a>, an RV that's been converted to a traveling yarn shop, or I guess more accurately, a yarn truck. Cool idea, right? It turns out that they were at the show and I was excited to see what they had. Unfortunately, I didn't get any pics of the inside but if you click on that link to the newspaper article I read, you'll get a real good idea of what it's like. I ooohed and aaaahed over the lovely yarns like I always do, but I quickly went down the rabbit-hole of getting some stuff I "must have." In so doing, though, I made it a point to get yarns that I don't already have. Like:<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3LRkEgRLZkLxhpgYrIYpR_pCdHyLDmcQub953BRikUDR8qi90fHqDj1d7ilp-FMjf1XEU7j1R-xmGhGT04nYnLcucteE9Lu4mRwLG3tujZ99KMgGJ0Su6BxC0URu75g3hfp042A/s1600/IMG_3398.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3LRkEgRLZkLxhpgYrIYpR_pCdHyLDmcQub953BRikUDR8qi90fHqDj1d7ilp-FMjf1XEU7j1R-xmGhGT04nYnLcucteE9Lu4mRwLG3tujZ99KMgGJ0Su6BxC0URu75g3hfp042A/s400/IMG_3398.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The one on the right is sock yarn from <a href="http://www.oinkpigments.com/" target="_blank">Oink Pigments</a> in the "Spring Fever" colorway.<br />The one on the left is sock yarn from <a href="http://ancientartsfibre.com/Meow_Yarn_Collection/" target="_blank">Ancient Arts' Meow Yarn Collection</a> in the "Le Chat Noir" colorway.<br />Proceeds from this yarn is donated to charities that help stray and abandoned cats. Cool, huh?</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrCbwDiLesbVpiclJOdrCgzNo6nRVsDBmnbGlZ-j6rEIKy7YVBRWr6JMLLnpxX0v_oVPcZC0dSO7CSgKrjPgL6xEBO7wf-MBmRrpVXzhGLWCukhEuHeC8Z_kfTzdUTsNRnKPhEGw/s1600/IMG_3397.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrCbwDiLesbVpiclJOdrCgzNo6nRVsDBmnbGlZ-j6rEIKy7YVBRWr6JMLLnpxX0v_oVPcZC0dSO7CSgKrjPgL6xEBO7wf-MBmRrpVXzhGLWCukhEuHeC8Z_kfTzdUTsNRnKPhEGw/s400/IMG_3397.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Okay, so I probably don't need any more little project bags, but I couldn't resist this one. <br />Perfect for toting around socks or a lace shawl ...</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvXvnJ_9BBssI0NeWrKjd0k_iBr16wV3c2z1kuneF_f9RSvZYE6ppIu6u4i04jhMzsSUkEhUxDNbGa0gRyIljIiHGJ9OOxAoIO8KOxB7TCdmpqYigSXKI1QWr2b9C2m-8ty6m6yQ/s1600/IMG_3400.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvXvnJ_9BBssI0NeWrKjd0k_iBr16wV3c2z1kuneF_f9RSvZYE6ppIu6u4i04jhMzsSUkEhUxDNbGa0gRyIljIiHGJ9OOxAoIO8KOxB7TCdmpqYigSXKI1QWr2b9C2m-8ty6m6yQ/s400/IMG_3400.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">As a corn-fed Ohio girl who was born, raised, and has a deep and abiding love for the Buckeye State, I HAD to have this ski hat kit, which includes the yarn and the pattern. And once the shop owner told me that this was the last kit she had in stock AND that she wouldn't restock it, I kinda felt obligated to take it off the market so no one else could have it, either. </span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">
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<span style="font-size: small;">So. I was planning to stop shopping right then and there. Buuuuuuuut..... then I wandered around at the vendor booths INSIDE the hall. On my first trip around, I spotted this cute little owl shawl pin. He was still there when I went back so I had to bring him home with me:</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb2Dc0i4ilXdSdadG7abGAB_EN3WB22zSDCfTER4OVlp7p_Uu_-PLfJEe4YivDZTtgZ_8OqiaQ20KXbwpcMoeIRkHogrVBdoJcEYk817wDlMCM3v01V4sz6Z6Au8JEDMEYsyO9Mw/s1600/IMG_3402.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb2Dc0i4ilXdSdadG7abGAB_EN3WB22zSDCfTER4OVlp7p_Uu_-PLfJEe4YivDZTtgZ_8OqiaQ20KXbwpcMoeIRkHogrVBdoJcEYk817wDlMCM3v01V4sz6Z6Au8JEDMEYsyO9Mw/s400/IMG_3402.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
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Look at his little eyes! <3</div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">Here's where I really fell down, reader (my apologies ... I'm listening to Jane Eyre via the <a href="http://craftlit.com/" target="_blank">CraftLit</a> podcast (you should, too!), and Jane sometimes speaks directly to her reader). I passed DreamWeaver Farm's booth where these lovely embroidered tote bags were for sale, and, well, I decided that I needed something to carry the aforementioned loot in. Look:</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFDQtJK6WyClBLHImAF4xDyiSRLzIrpLkKD8d2eY4fs14sKGa7f5bICfyyNoYTC9JIWllUGRlLx2NYJ2UCacItLZR7EpNzBDjaVE9I32kWD7HPZohS_uI4msoDmHziMNtdI3bWgg/s1600/IMG_3395.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFDQtJK6WyClBLHImAF4xDyiSRLzIrpLkKD8d2eY4fs14sKGa7f5bICfyyNoYTC9JIWllUGRlLx2NYJ2UCacItLZR7EpNzBDjaVE9I32kWD7HPZohS_uI4msoDmHziMNtdI3bWgg/s400/IMG_3395.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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It's expandable, it has 3 pockets, AND it has this adorable flock of sheep on it!<br />It'll be perfect for taking to other fiber shows in the future. <br />Because, let's face it, there WILL be other fiber shows. </div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">On my way out of the building, I stopped at <a href="http://gwenerin.com/" target="_blank">Gwen Erin</a>'s booth and picked up a pound of fiber -- a half pound of Shetland (on the right) and a half pound of Falkland (on the right). </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjecaadpcLFWCkQ1tkld57aDaMvuy0l080zMOHRXiJOHmRqo7DwbDHbRjd37maUmRCctlq8HVyM4uyjkucDf5bcCtUFn9dxtnqAPG-MkZg1mEjFD_glw3ljfPAcVlUVrKD14i1y9g/s1600/IMG_3396.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjecaadpcLFWCkQ1tkld57aDaMvuy0l080zMOHRXiJOHmRqo7DwbDHbRjd37maUmRCctlq8HVyM4uyjkucDf5bcCtUFn9dxtnqAPG-MkZg1mEjFD_glw3ljfPAcVlUVrKD14i1y9g/s320/IMG_3396.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small; text-align: left;"> I can neither confirm nor deny that I may or may not already have some of these fibers in my stash. </span><span style="font-size: x-small; text-align: left;">I won't know for sure until I actually open those fiber bins when I get around to </span><a href="http://www.ravelry.com/people/mzundercover/stash" style="font-size: small; text-align: left;" target="_blank">cataloging them</a><span style="font-size: x-small; text-align: left;"> on Ravelry.</span><span style="font-size: x-small; text-align: left;"> So far I've only made it through the sock yarns and a wee bit of the lace yarns. <br />But that's a post for a whole different day.</span></div>
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I'm quite pleased at my haul, and I hope you've enjoyed it, too!<br />
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-mzeboni a. johnsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15784064916144381113noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6080975.post-14665161911561901412016-08-30T20:08:00.002-05:002016-10-16T11:15:11.471-05:00Of COURSE there are famous knitters!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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When I told my husband last week that I'd been invited to have coffee with a famous knitter, he was all like, "Cool." He wasn't nearly as giddy about it as *I* was, or as I would have been if someone else had told me s/he was going to meet a famous knitter. I'd have been all, "Who? Where ya gonna meet? Whatcha gonna talk about? Tell me, tell me!"</div>
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But my excitement was enough for both of us. Last week, my dear friend Jan said she'd been in touch with Kay Gardiner (yes, THAT Kay Gardiner of <a href="http://www.masondixonknitting.com/" target="_blank">Mason-Dixon Knitting</a>!) who was in town bringing her daughter back to campus. Jan told me that Kay would have a bit of time to meet up at a local bakery on Saturday morning, and asked if I would like to join them.</div>
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Uhhhh, YEAH!</div>
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So we did. We chatted, we ate brownies (and I may have had TWO red velvet cupcakes), we drank coffee. And we knitted. </div>
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And before it was all over, we took a selfie. And it was Kay's idea!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiciuS6nP7bVxTeyweYAEHv-joqbqooquNIa8q-PZWFe8lLmSQ-PQ_BJxCna6y2BW1XdINmCBipDhEwf3fO3uJcsaS6KrPV-t4OPcemhNg4ivi__yOahesi6QWhjCMs72XZG_45CQ/s1600/IMG_2953.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiciuS6nP7bVxTeyweYAEHv-joqbqooquNIa8q-PZWFe8lLmSQ-PQ_BJxCna6y2BW1XdINmCBipDhEwf3fO3uJcsaS6KrPV-t4OPcemhNg4ivi__yOahesi6QWhjCMs72XZG_45CQ/s400/IMG_2953.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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It was a perfectly wonderful way to spend a perfectly wonderful afternoon. I look forward to meeting up again some other time when Kay comes down Ohio way. </div>
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In other news, I've spent a chunk of the summer adding my <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/people/mzundercover/stash" target="_blank">stash</a> to Ravelry. Yup. After many years of flat-out avoiding this task, I decided that it would be a great way to help me remember what I even HAVE in my stash (since it's all tucked away in gigantic plastic bins, and can't be displayed nicely on shelves like my very own yarn store). I'm finally to the bottom of the sock yarn bin. Next up will be the laceweight and other skinny-ass yarn. Then I'll tackle the overflowing bin of sweater yarns (mostly worsted). Fiber stash will be next, and then any odds and ends after that ... knitting needles and crochet hooks, maybe? It's a big task for sure, but taking it in smaller pieces sure does make it easier. Stay tuned for more. I may finish this task before next summer!<br />
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-mz<br />
<br />eboni a. johnsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15784064916144381113noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6080975.post-89303381685630538202016-07-23T22:26:00.001-05:002016-07-23T22:26:26.350-05:00Time flies<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
My deep apologies for being absent for so long. I've been *meaning* to catch up but life's been happening. Here's a very image-heavy post to catch y'all up!</div>
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The end of May always means the annual <a href="http://www.greatlakesfibershow.com/" target="_blank">Great Lakes Fiber Show</a>. This year, 3 friends and I hung out in Wooster, OH for the weekend and had so much fun. Here's a bunch of photos ... mostly of stuff I bought. Next year, I'll try to do better at getting photos of people (including me and my friends!) and animals but for now (and in no particular order) ....</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh12DnexJeD_a3gu9I3lMPu2635ziZumEoRmjZ-sm4-d7IBQaoWl4t9eXhxCLsrQd08A9Q3G91zYl76SeJmJ8lnBkngzSqftXvwFUpuuhxhbMu-rHCfDjmdO5giKw4sMQUoHT2Ggw/s1600/IMG_2215.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh12DnexJeD_a3gu9I3lMPu2635ziZumEoRmjZ-sm4-d7IBQaoWl4t9eXhxCLsrQd08A9Q3G91zYl76SeJmJ8lnBkngzSqftXvwFUpuuhxhbMu-rHCfDjmdO5giKw4sMQUoHT2Ggw/s320/IMG_2215.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Christina brought buttons. These are the two I chose.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikzc_NEVX3B9A0KKbWuIv_MKpsrGalClUSY55yBd0K4iFhRDyLaHxe79xcwvtZtkPVdQqm20e90l7jh4OC9oqn0XsMEHSh8NSk2ZgHNr_FU9p3qQkjguEIrP_jT6Ye6b4qFEjN4w/s1600/IMG_2216.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikzc_NEVX3B9A0KKbWuIv_MKpsrGalClUSY55yBd0K4iFhRDyLaHxe79xcwvtZtkPVdQqm20e90l7jh4OC9oqn0XsMEHSh8NSk2ZgHNr_FU9p3qQkjguEIrP_jT6Ye6b4qFEjN4w/s320/IMG_2216.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A trip to Wooster always includes a meal at Broken Rocks Cafe. <br />On the first night, I sipped a strawberry margarita with a sugared rim (instead of salt). Yum!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEPQaPMV55h7YpnAigy24yN8kp8kSUn8EwgPDmqbu3XqmQbpeSA4aX-oFb2kjAlbgq7G4Xf7brzmBRErbDnDufhLt5hPjm3jynD-6OhpeD-AuWhN5SjrmgL-s-Kahj7J61FVKbuA/s1600/IMG_2217.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEPQaPMV55h7YpnAigy24yN8kp8kSUn8EwgPDmqbu3XqmQbpeSA4aX-oFb2kjAlbgq7G4Xf7brzmBRErbDnDufhLt5hPjm3jynD-6OhpeD-AuWhN5SjrmgL-s-Kahj7J61FVKbuA/s320/IMG_2217.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My dinner on the first night was kind of amazing. <br />Beef tenderloin, topped with something I don't remember, but I asked the chef <br />to add bacon to it. Sides of asparagus and potatoes. Divine.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmON7LOA_PGJMJiQV4L_hP7uyJftomx1ykMdxku02SO2VCR2Hn40VuYxnZoSVfLE9Kup_X4JwRD3YnLFIwLMjonVqBO9K5UJGrBUt4Qz3ATwrnWCWftBY1EHuYHYXGmuygnOBIlA/s1600/IMG_2218.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmON7LOA_PGJMJiQV4L_hP7uyJftomx1ykMdxku02SO2VCR2Hn40VuYxnZoSVfLE9Kup_X4JwRD3YnLFIwLMjonVqBO9K5UJGrBUt4Qz3ATwrnWCWftBY1EHuYHYXGmuygnOBIlA/s320/IMG_2218.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A friend asked me to repair the thumb of a mitten that her dog chewed up. <br />It was in my knitting basket so I got it done while I was surrounded by folks I could ask for help if needed.<br /> Turned out to be an easy fix!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjhts3oW-uz0NRlxE9hEzUUe1XUNoLAvxn56hpbXZzFvtrZCm6b8ub2jcZ8LFhpf2QNWzxwwbv42_y0XfnSRXhQdSuoo_8jrqCNCMUX2Djd0mSMMKoI9uirkogcsZnNqHG98SQ3w/s1600/IMG_2220.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjhts3oW-uz0NRlxE9hEzUUe1XUNoLAvxn56hpbXZzFvtrZCm6b8ub2jcZ8LFhpf2QNWzxwwbv42_y0XfnSRXhQdSuoo_8jrqCNCMUX2Djd0mSMMKoI9uirkogcsZnNqHG98SQ3w/s320/IMG_2220.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fish leather. Makes sense that it's a thing, but I'd never seen it before.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEpgzpu__UjrEXJZ2maZyy3hvGEtKSOfPV02mxLp99cadE1RCOq5jKZiOBSQRIQZd5FUhr5WUzDfGCXd7CKp_edust7Ir-MLncXXXXc95ZvnH0zQ6c0MuUlt5BLc6rTbcdBIR37g/s1600/IMG_2221.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEpgzpu__UjrEXJZ2maZyy3hvGEtKSOfPV02mxLp99cadE1RCOq5jKZiOBSQRIQZd5FUhr5WUzDfGCXd7CKp_edust7Ir-MLncXXXXc95ZvnH0zQ6c0MuUlt5BLc6rTbcdBIR37g/s320/IMG_2221.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Check out this cool basket. <br />I think it's actually a planter, but it will certainly suffice for yarn storage. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4o3A7G0GZuCAM8D2BaPts58BookXjN2AXMAa4f2sbwMwnpnUl1V-8Eb7gcV6X2OAP07P5k5ZkVnn30ubQsBiahbNKjKUbqhN1Zi6Q5Le2CJiZLHUyrqRaK4kTPvESWLffJgoW2w/s1600/IMG_2222.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4o3A7G0GZuCAM8D2BaPts58BookXjN2AXMAa4f2sbwMwnpnUl1V-8Eb7gcV6X2OAP07P5k5ZkVnn30ubQsBiahbNKjKUbqhN1Zi6Q5Le2CJiZLHUyrqRaK4kTPvESWLffJgoW2w/s320/IMG_2222.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">There's my car at the end of day 1. Last one standing.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCqiINhlzIbdsq8m_yRE6v7ScCJYDIyYB5qTUWmAU7MJVUhXIUoc7102fNQCUquIPiP9q4XhSMADSqYtkT48_Vt_KwpDKtT_ZOAxEHmubYKNGVy8jPCYSpoaxNZGdAeRWt-lc4Wg/s1600/IMG_2223.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCqiINhlzIbdsq8m_yRE6v7ScCJYDIyYB5qTUWmAU7MJVUhXIUoc7102fNQCUquIPiP9q4XhSMADSqYtkT48_Vt_KwpDKtT_ZOAxEHmubYKNGVy8jPCYSpoaxNZGdAeRWt-lc4Wg/s320/IMG_2223.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Project bag. Oil cloth ... should be nice & sturdy. And how could I go wrong with sugar skulls?</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUTxpICOlv7H3yHEvf2KAQyNNQWDnhm4qeRKpUrClKjlmTrQLn5P2x0s4FSY5AkkXvJHZwmPVG0zZ_VA4RJ5IlX9fNN99TIWKyh27L4cNLt0Jd27NknFljGgqaS11m7UnVkNkpeg/s1600/IMG_2224.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUTxpICOlv7H3yHEvf2KAQyNNQWDnhm4qeRKpUrClKjlmTrQLn5P2x0s4FSY5AkkXvJHZwmPVG0zZ_VA4RJ5IlX9fNN99TIWKyh27L4cNLt0Jd27NknFljGgqaS11m7UnVkNkpeg/s320/IMG_2224.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Day one dessert: Strawberry shortcake with creme fraiche and vanilla bean ice cream. <br />The calories are SO worth it.</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibFOVx7jJgni5k3YRBAsXcIuH7bC5u2V114lauHGbKzVpK3RsCCFzE9eMstMSLTwqNZsCGipYctbU1i9ZncyuYgZ1NHjiUjIfjavgl7l7P5ImBgLRLedaUOuu5P1KXFduuc9tyPw/s1600/IMG_2232.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibFOVx7jJgni5k3YRBAsXcIuH7bC5u2V114lauHGbKzVpK3RsCCFzE9eMstMSLTwqNZsCGipYctbU1i9ZncyuYgZ1NHjiUjIfjavgl7l7P5ImBgLRLedaUOuu5P1KXFduuc9tyPw/s320/IMG_2232.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sheepy oilcloth apron. I ended up buying more twill tape and lengthening the straps so I could wrap them around my waist in order to hang a towel. That's how I roll. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrF3I_KPwE7k2xO2-Gj1CzyznOVjsD1ii86PBihIoFjPOvbi0pITI4NYcKkDULC6kR3BhYbUjsOC01e1OhHr_LOnQntOVjCRfV6ni_zKnICZUCp-fVouCgxsgNH8CT9f2zBcmv1w/s1600/IMG_2275.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrF3I_KPwE7k2xO2-Gj1CzyznOVjsD1ii86PBihIoFjPOvbi0pITI4NYcKkDULC6kR3BhYbUjsOC01e1OhHr_LOnQntOVjCRfV6ni_zKnICZUCp-fVouCgxsgNH8CT9f2zBcmv1w/s320/IMG_2275.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Black yak/merino blend fiber. It was 50% off ... I couldn't just LEAVE it there!!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpTUIFGZEZ2PPFtJ7HF2md-kT-YPyyZYGFhMjGwu1tZzFXKb96-fLijdeDO1tsPV8B28gF5tU4qPxEgeVE7pz8sx7dcBzog4R6yxTdm0RXrXOlJAuR97chwn9mmE6CFHBZ31p1Og/s1600/IMG_2235.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpTUIFGZEZ2PPFtJ7HF2md-kT-YPyyZYGFhMjGwu1tZzFXKb96-fLijdeDO1tsPV8B28gF5tU4qPxEgeVE7pz8sx7dcBzog4R6yxTdm0RXrXOlJAuR97chwn9mmE6CFHBZ31p1Og/s320/IMG_2235.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Here's that fiber on the spindle. Ply on the fly, baby!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhERl_Hs0S0UJ2Lc80bufiPFF_aaO59F2dlH4vPMDOpcJ_VFOUsA7n34_RgX69KtNw4rq5_obzv54apFQ9226HnYWMATWxvbxiJ0Nj5IksaNBIZCJgy-9iP1gWEVKuSR1xKADnTAg/s1600/IMG_2237.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhERl_Hs0S0UJ2Lc80bufiPFF_aaO59F2dlH4vPMDOpcJ_VFOUsA7n34_RgX69KtNw4rq5_obzv54apFQ9226HnYWMATWxvbxiJ0Nj5IksaNBIZCJgy-9iP1gWEVKuSR1xKADnTAg/s320/IMG_2237.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One vender had these light-up letters at her booth. I need this in my life!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXga9E69mkb8LrTjc0g90ccA64g9CuvJUhJaUy0z4jsMXF5fR25GaGkMfaGyBK_vxmOiIEXAIu6X7jFxTud1EpnN73Jr4afpdfChb_6jEeGRCPnmZaa5-grmbpHXesOyNoeOw8pA/s1600/IMG_2272.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXga9E69mkb8LrTjc0g90ccA64g9CuvJUhJaUy0z4jsMXF5fR25GaGkMfaGyBK_vxmOiIEXAIu6X7jFxTud1EpnN73Jr4afpdfChb_6jEeGRCPnmZaa5-grmbpHXesOyNoeOw8pA/s320/IMG_2272.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Two new baskets. Fair trade, made in West Africa. I love these!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzgY9EH5uKYa5wcmSldS6ugYVnkp-0BvGaRB6FZ3q5tHKP1ldC7-7ZlcQRXkHfmlk-V1_AQBDHVuk53BEAAq64hQT6rwr1EX0nckGV_mCga4AglwyZDy13xv6pJHnuKVmvbGs3ww/s1600/IMG_2273.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzgY9EH5uKYa5wcmSldS6ugYVnkp-0BvGaRB6FZ3q5tHKP1ldC7-7ZlcQRXkHfmlk-V1_AQBDHVuk53BEAAq64hQT6rwr1EX0nckGV_mCga4AglwyZDy13xv6pJHnuKVmvbGs3ww/s320/IMG_2273.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">These cute bags are made from recycled materials. <br />The larger one is my "notions" bag with all kinds of stuff in it (markers, tape measure, a crochet hook, darning needles, etc). The smaller one with the elephant is my makeup bag and lives in my purse/backpack.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJjnxnbTKgl2XtVksZFORsLrAz7bZRKOcb7Th9d21rJPSQXT1tMbWapmEke8pVt3ae0rQtivy2LzZPYE3z052QKdzU7jAxCLjhjZxv72rw6KtBjlBsXvbIgySWkzJaUF-oiLiIYA/s1600/IMG_2274.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJjnxnbTKgl2XtVksZFORsLrAz7bZRKOcb7Th9d21rJPSQXT1tMbWapmEke8pVt3ae0rQtivy2LzZPYE3z052QKdzU7jAxCLjhjZxv72rw6KtBjlBsXvbIgySWkzJaUF-oiLiIYA/s320/IMG_2274.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Squishy little stress reliever sheep. I think he needs a sweater. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxhpfQkNRCJMonIZppR7bMdbDz6T7ZWdUjzpFbue6vaorMPgeYAycGj9ygnAwshge3yig4_KfQghwPzzjZBMbzvU8XGAo5M7BXvsp6gbi4Bo8VPMKS1HN8WOvYosHM7hR0kHNLWA/s1600/IMG_2276.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxhpfQkNRCJMonIZppR7bMdbDz6T7ZWdUjzpFbue6vaorMPgeYAycGj9ygnAwshge3yig4_KfQghwPzzjZBMbzvU8XGAo5M7BXvsp6gbi4Bo8VPMKS1HN8WOvYosHM7hR0kHNLWA/s320/IMG_2276.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">More yak/merino fiber, waiting to be spun up. This stuff is heavenly.</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPvAl_utql_oclXDHbjuPVLZP1O86YoYo6iY8w884KvzCIRH78dKkSiyXSfqf-OjgschqTXZIEI3MUAkdWf3DUlBS-0zssOVQdgvSkxOZOjKTdkcD7KEetokAgqctTXcLOdJVhZw/s1600/IMG_2279.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPvAl_utql_oclXDHbjuPVLZP1O86YoYo6iY8w884KvzCIRH78dKkSiyXSfqf-OjgschqTXZIEI3MUAkdWf3DUlBS-0zssOVQdgvSkxOZOjKTdkcD7KEetokAgqctTXcLOdJVhZw/s320/IMG_2279.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I had to have this cute red scarf with sheep on it!</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-ejp35b6mQp9F5kDvIvpoJSrCLfJv7V-1OaGIPBDImhE3aUkyI32p4EkJCkUs7TILcDuObYuVVLKq159Xdbp5kGtnZ3c1VOPFegi-K5o49OV9ZYP_kbrZ1NHJsIGZHLGHRxu9YQ/s1600/IMG_2287.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-ejp35b6mQp9F5kDvIvpoJSrCLfJv7V-1OaGIPBDImhE3aUkyI32p4EkJCkUs7TILcDuObYuVVLKq159Xdbp5kGtnZ3c1VOPFegi-K5o49OV9ZYP_kbrZ1NHJsIGZHLGHRxu9YQ/s320/IMG_2287.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Large project bag, with hedgehogs and OWLS! </td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaxkcKwN5hz2J-xuD_utp_GBj6De1n7aW570oyY8hYlEM1iRDtoKKlNNRQ9qOquLkOGyWe3ZoPT2povLs1RlEYykd5u9ST9oqoEu7WW9UYhyphenhyphenRPlHlAn2kgtVB5fUrWiWEB3Ldi7g/s1600/IMG_2288.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaxkcKwN5hz2J-xuD_utp_GBj6De1n7aW570oyY8hYlEM1iRDtoKKlNNRQ9qOquLkOGyWe3ZoPT2povLs1RlEYykd5u9ST9oqoEu7WW9UYhyphenhyphenRPlHlAn2kgtVB5fUrWiWEB3Ldi7g/s320/IMG_2288.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Small project bag, perfect for knitting socks on the go.</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtpizl7cr3xU91akHN4EWfSWyDRAHXKgW6rJGzPF5BIYNK9uSi9bZC0fZoJ6k7XaWM07h8v7F8wmefM9P8lHGALlAGQM5S2NHl6CtqmqIbf6oKLOL2qTozG24AiB_BF9rf0C4SnA/s1600/IMG_2289.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtpizl7cr3xU91akHN4EWfSWyDRAHXKgW6rJGzPF5BIYNK9uSi9bZC0fZoJ6k7XaWM07h8v7F8wmefM9P8lHGALlAGQM5S2NHl6CtqmqIbf6oKLOL2qTozG24AiB_BF9rf0C4SnA/s320/IMG_2289.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Here's the inside.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuaD81lH76RJyE7NG6-5AjOp0sIRw-2X_1UY0l0CTfaMBhQO2bElOQM9gqszKpLaJcoyM-cPPRqD4gL4R3K5cjEzZYnFaIsM8vBm-hFpicRHTSgy1vHsDbYbQVX5f-yIHd76unZQ/s1600/IMG_2290.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuaD81lH76RJyE7NG6-5AjOp0sIRw-2X_1UY0l0CTfaMBhQO2bElOQM9gqszKpLaJcoyM-cPPRqD4gL4R3K5cjEzZYnFaIsM8vBm-hFpicRHTSgy1vHsDbYbQVX5f-yIHd76unZQ/s320/IMG_2290.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My friend Kate Larson wrote a book ....</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinRvPSQboWdevgUetbH4Mc44AEFr4WbhOWOV0rsqtRuon6rMBXrcVn1akho_XrRe4LrSES_ZfW8UZEs3YQAJmrcDyem0MVFYeY70AbudTV03brclWFteCOlsZNS3yhQ6pZx6YLIg/s1600/IMG_2291.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinRvPSQboWdevgUetbH4Mc44AEFr4WbhOWOV0rsqtRuon6rMBXrcVn1akho_XrRe4LrSES_ZfW8UZEs3YQAJmrcDyem0MVFYeY70AbudTV03brclWFteCOlsZNS3yhQ6pZx6YLIg/s320/IMG_2291.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">... and was kind enough to sign (and date) it for me.</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjU_qWDq_s-pRvRjNJSucwzLEnhWoi-_Dqtqpksuspe4tndxMgOJZdSzD1J7BM20z7tmWSLrhKIJizGEeLDeD3kF8yCtcUCpYlcOIui8CEz-qzw3EofJ5MhH_umLVHW_2xZ00_fA/s1600/IMG_2293.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjU_qWDq_s-pRvRjNJSucwzLEnhWoi-_Dqtqpksuspe4tndxMgOJZdSzD1J7BM20z7tmWSLrhKIJizGEeLDeD3kF8yCtcUCpYlcOIui8CEz-qzw3EofJ5MhH_umLVHW_2xZ00_fA/s320/IMG_2293.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Saw this adorable little sheep keyring ....</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtjU853tm9erRvTm_IfHPm3fglbNqDd8sqO7IQjop6NEJ8togUEhI0VDMLCboWumtMma0Ve0OG-5OVzwEGI8BNuT0oD73wyXUTcUD1LTCNeZVrPX8A1NfCs42SZwJtCv8Sg1Di7Q/s1600/IMG_2294.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtjU853tm9erRvTm_IfHPm3fglbNqDd8sqO7IQjop6NEJ8togUEhI0VDMLCboWumtMma0Ve0OG-5OVzwEGI8BNuT0oD73wyXUTcUD1LTCNeZVrPX8A1NfCs42SZwJtCv8Sg1Di7Q/s320/IMG_2294.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">.... and decided I needed a flock. This is the closest I will ever get to being a shepherd. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLAqSdFad7zs9kmBa-2txhKF29CYFBzY1wDRMhDDd9RsME7otcm1jAOakjq7ixhpGJa-tj_R8IpImmq59MNQ80wOTJgz8AJLBMKnmBEx2-Cjl6t_cGC8IUz1s1bJcQLnaXP_YUfA/s1600/IMG_2295.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLAqSdFad7zs9kmBa-2txhKF29CYFBzY1wDRMhDDd9RsME7otcm1jAOakjq7ixhpGJa-tj_R8IpImmq59MNQ80wOTJgz8AJLBMKnmBEx2-Cjl6t_cGC8IUz1s1bJcQLnaXP_YUfA/s320/IMG_2295.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">So .... this gorgeous yarn was on sale too. $10 each (from the original $28 price). <br />This is a lovely merino, cashmere, and silk yarn, you already know I had to have it. <br />I got enough for a sweater. Now to choose a pattern ....</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimyJHVks8p1OcLBgxyAhD9e3QkUMJloqmU2DCBKs0YzieCQ55QStGvdq0SLQqZp7961cUX6hkaGwOXoK0SmXm_Bcwtb0U6LxHSBmZEeDZ03e0m8wFGDPbbB71HyqZ09pjtmhvGmA/s1600/IMG_2297.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimyJHVks8p1OcLBgxyAhD9e3QkUMJloqmU2DCBKs0YzieCQ55QStGvdq0SLQqZp7961cUX6hkaGwOXoK0SmXm_Bcwtb0U6LxHSBmZEeDZ03e0m8wFGDPbbB71HyqZ09pjtmhvGmA/s320/IMG_2297.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Another cute project bag. You can never have too many. Seriously.</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc9WnYHPnYl4SvD8H9ff9-_jXuSRW2_zvSslbS6Ooykjtj0VWWteiJ_uG76fP4ROBlDf1BnwZqEKCAakW41jcG1j20qENxbjls-XmkOQY2rfqT4AehX93xQqPOM2_lVrHWFQTdLQ/s1600/IMG_2298.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc9WnYHPnYl4SvD8H9ff9-_jXuSRW2_zvSslbS6Ooykjtj0VWWteiJ_uG76fP4ROBlDf1BnwZqEKCAakW41jcG1j20qENxbjls-XmkOQY2rfqT4AehX93xQqPOM2_lVrHWFQTdLQ/s320/IMG_2298.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fiber I've never spun before: Targhee. I bought about 12 oz, and put some on the spindle right away. <br />I love how springy it is. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJSrtFqoa3SP8KQyZJyJNSXl2616_x7RbnzArKlZ7BwbiOePNdBhko6yNCR7sGpGT6x_tzZtRfDSUw2SPxSngNOVSmfOFbn0pLcVdpcluXvdt_w_p0vXK0Sv_fhe6xgQEQ8o5e-A/s1600/IMG_2300.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJSrtFqoa3SP8KQyZJyJNSXl2616_x7RbnzArKlZ7BwbiOePNdBhko6yNCR7sGpGT6x_tzZtRfDSUw2SPxSngNOVSmfOFbn0pLcVdpcluXvdt_w_p0vXK0Sv_fhe6xgQEQ8o5e-A/s320/IMG_2300.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is a fiber blend I've never spun ... alpaca/bamboo. It's black alpaca mixed with emerald green bamboo. <br />It's so subtle but boy does it pop in the daylight.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsm_f9dQrhr33KxAwDH-b1FWLRRpjQQTeILerxLZBbR-cu9tkxFNGYIxN56tqiHU1T5bdOY7wU6V2IkIjEy75WkIzkBa7hcZ7n7HDcte2ctDZi-jAt-cxMIeM60PMUCB9WW0MoGA/s1600/IMG_2302.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsm_f9dQrhr33KxAwDH-b1FWLRRpjQQTeILerxLZBbR-cu9tkxFNGYIxN56tqiHU1T5bdOY7wU6V2IkIjEy75WkIzkBa7hcZ7n7HDcte2ctDZi-jAt-cxMIeM60PMUCB9WW0MoGA/s320/IMG_2302.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cute owl and pearl stitch markers. Something else a knitter can never have enough of.</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG5QOZmPSiijpoZAbrEFGMvDd7Azwxz3rE0yLHThHcgHFqxlXodkcajbbdVKGCWMiw583kNC2tTSj0C4JlvSOX86322YQCphNLwr5elZPce8YTBp5n0capSlZR5WZUPUp4zLiiFQ/s1600/IMG_2304.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG5QOZmPSiijpoZAbrEFGMvDd7Azwxz3rE0yLHThHcgHFqxlXodkcajbbdVKGCWMiw583kNC2tTSj0C4JlvSOX86322YQCphNLwr5elZPce8YTBp5n0capSlZR5WZUPUp4zLiiFQ/s320/IMG_2304.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And I "needed" another spindle. This one came with its own storage bag.</td></tr>
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Next time, an update on my list of current and recently completed projects!<br />
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Until then ...<br />
-mzeboni a. johnsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15784064916144381113noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6080975.post-91097446375924959402016-05-01T19:47:00.002-05:002016-05-01T19:47:44.498-05:00Catch up postI recently played a game that until now I'd only heard about, Cards Against Humanity. In April I decided I need to get my own set. So I did. And then a friend told me about the unofficial expansion pack called Knitters Against Swatches. So I got that, too. And all I need now are some folks to invite over so we can get a game going. I can't wait!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUksNK_J1HUijDSJ6OXhTlrp45U2_Zz81UjM1qwLEejsdoyMqa_DglNeQ-wq0GL0nhgoa16XFWm6SJTG53TG867EcO43EPTslPG5qT4_qULe1mbk-EsMucIZ-3v-kSECCBLpNSew/s1600/IMG_1896.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUksNK_J1HUijDSJ6OXhTlrp45U2_Zz81UjM1qwLEejsdoyMqa_DglNeQ-wq0GL0nhgoa16XFWm6SJTG53TG867EcO43EPTslPG5qT4_qULe1mbk-EsMucIZ-3v-kSECCBLpNSew/s320/IMG_1896.JPG" width="240" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqX1eEnSiRijvLwEssJClFr3VxwpgpII4TjEO1zlXQGoehtg8TN_17TdFJswH6WY2yB-1shsVKK26ONuhfNuSJNv0E5O5B_XtDXZ33SK8o446lj0rdjhDWFVFeOcMAPiM2O0EAeA/s1600/IMG_1897.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqX1eEnSiRijvLwEssJClFr3VxwpgpII4TjEO1zlXQGoehtg8TN_17TdFJswH6WY2yB-1shsVKK26ONuhfNuSJNv0E5O5B_XtDXZ33SK8o446lj0rdjhDWFVFeOcMAPiM2O0EAeA/s320/IMG_1897.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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Have you ever tried double knitting? I did, a LONG time ago. I knitted just enough of Debbie Stoller's "Uncle Argyle" pattern to figure out how the technique works, and then I quit. But I am in need of a special thank you gift for my godfather, and I thought a double knit arygyle scarf in Ohio State team colors (scarlet and gray) would be perfect. So I tried again. The first few tries were frustrating but now that I have remembered how to do it, it's going well:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRzzga0Cek2Eqr7uVY1M1oaTU6VA8Srbw4OYYFI_sSGPHCzs8e1ognlh_cEZ4zG8hOATY7Yc9mZ6yrCM-StrxwFG4b98KcC5QMr50LKTwGcpJHyvRVOOySYnK2qLOAr4uGNbfG0g/s1600/IMG_1920.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRzzga0Cek2Eqr7uVY1M1oaTU6VA8Srbw4OYYFI_sSGPHCzs8e1ognlh_cEZ4zG8hOATY7Yc9mZ6yrCM-StrxwFG4b98KcC5QMr50LKTwGcpJHyvRVOOySYnK2qLOAr4uGNbfG0g/s320/IMG_1920.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIfWCvPXm00BlLm0Z5VdI1A9C2wyvjSq-Ns1kwWfL-b6ldMr6FLEpWGdfgkW9VHfI9pG9mbicbWIuxG429G4OPW7_Hjk4hQDgeoi9cVLUSHm4RAEHiBLJ2qV7wC_QqKrZkn9Ijaw/s1600/IMG_1921.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIfWCvPXm00BlLm0Z5VdI1A9C2wyvjSq-Ns1kwWfL-b6ldMr6FLEpWGdfgkW9VHfI9pG9mbicbWIuxG429G4OPW7_Hjk4hQDgeoi9cVLUSHm4RAEHiBLJ2qV7wC_QqKrZkn9Ijaw/s320/IMG_1921.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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There's still a loooooooooong way to go, but I think it will be worth it in the end!<br />
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And with that, I better get moving. I'm meeting up with a friend in like 10 mins for a short Sunday night hangout.<br />
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Talk to y'all soon.<br />
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-mzeboni a. johnsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15784064916144381113noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6080975.post-45946748571756593762016-04-17T18:02:00.000-05:002016-04-17T18:04:23.354-05:00Short charity updateRemember those hats I told you about last week? The ones that I needed to find a good use for since I couldn't use them for my chosen charity? A good use has become clear. Tomorrow they will be on the way to my mom, who will raffle them off in a church fundraiser! <br />
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In other news, today I finished a hat for said charity in a more appropriate acrylic/nylon blend yarn ... and my husband loved it so much that I gave it to him. As soon as it came off the needles I cast on an identical one that *will* be for charity. We took a long walk around town today, and I knitted as we walked so I got a fair amount done. Here it is in process:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiowWLF6b4tr54MPoHDBrh3CjBU2G08jgdqnN9T9SIDED-_24o7GiVTd55Olipf1W3UKn91w-wcy8RUfw-rV6RkJXnNzrb3pvvvzDDk2FMCxp13QWOQqHq4rlQXAwtXMyvs2q5D4g/s1600/IMG_1882.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiowWLF6b4tr54MPoHDBrh3CjBU2G08jgdqnN9T9SIDED-_24o7GiVTd55Olipf1W3UKn91w-wcy8RUfw-rV6RkJXnNzrb3pvvvzDDk2FMCxp13QWOQqHq4rlQXAwtXMyvs2q5D4g/s320/IMG_1882.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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I just LOVE the color. I knitted up the rest of the yarn that was left after I finished the hat that I gave to my husband Found a couple skeins of this color from a fellow knitter on Ravelry and bought them from her. Really looking forward to knitting with this yarn some more in a few days.</div>
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I'm also knitting this one:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-2qdOpFqrpav-UsTkNVnUEoX_cJPuGpi37sqtG90Omcm5GPwWj93UmdsDQEahcvft5KTHRr_Lyl6E-kU_SsWyt-Ry00j6eNTpHOISQaf-P2BwSYHwU8hnOE8YqX8tOHtOp_Z1yQ/s1600/IMG_1888.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-2qdOpFqrpav-UsTkNVnUEoX_cJPuGpi37sqtG90Omcm5GPwWj93UmdsDQEahcvft5KTHRr_Lyl6E-kU_SsWyt-Ry00j6eNTpHOISQaf-P2BwSYHwU8hnOE8YqX8tOHtOp_Z1yQ/s320/IMG_1888.JPG" width="240" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7fHeeUqjmVUsTy25ZkJqQCt_KMY30zWXGat3tP2XiReI4h2lfLOy3VP8Y8b-beZkrmWoVNyziIl1XGlsH_XSm4AHZWjV3fBW3UmMmxtrXQ4kQ4FxSCmtp22b3mXCp0DmdQLecPw/s1600/IMG_1824.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7fHeeUqjmVUsTy25ZkJqQCt_KMY30zWXGat3tP2XiReI4h2lfLOy3VP8Y8b-beZkrmWoVNyziIl1XGlsH_XSm4AHZWjV3fBW3UmMmxtrXQ4kQ4FxSCmtp22b3mXCp0DmdQLecPw/s320/IMG_1824.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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This yarn is SO soft. I wish I could remember where I got it. It's been in my stash for so long ... I'm happy to finally put it to good use. </div>
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And now ... back to knitting!</div>
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-mz</div>
eboni a. johnsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15784064916144381113noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6080975.post-26848500464221111552016-04-08T00:22:00.001-05:002016-04-08T00:22:13.280-05:00Before ... and afterYou know how you go to "clean up" a room, but you end up making a much bigger mess in the process? That's what happened to me last weekend. My yarn room/art studio was a colossal mess and I attempted to clean it up. Here it is, mid-mess:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqDohWBALhE2sU-pjAooLJXdyRV5RnWS_OwKfQsNTEb_zB3_EriYWQNww4d2gQzMgs26Pcaem_FtfZ3FZ6ruEW6Po5XtP7-IjLqtWwuNS_j0eD8-x_opUrlUYaA6uiI8nN8o8cew/s1600/IMG_1819.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqDohWBALhE2sU-pjAooLJXdyRV5RnWS_OwKfQsNTEb_zB3_EriYWQNww4d2gQzMgs26Pcaem_FtfZ3FZ6ruEW6Po5XtP7-IjLqtWwuNS_j0eD8-x_opUrlUYaA6uiI8nN8o8cew/s320/IMG_1819.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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... and here it is once everything is moved around and put away. Much better!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyyAJ2Up2GBEzzTzgvVfKLlTlba03dScxquUd2RkVuGiNFwnnt7SsCiJIU5rTmkkUf-jm9Z9IZ94pI6ubIwm2RruqH0T9HVVC1hvNlJn71pl-IVbXWABFVqzKvNKDBhTOoALJxrQ/s1600/IMG_1821.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyyAJ2Up2GBEzzTzgvVfKLlTlba03dScxquUd2RkVuGiNFwnnt7SsCiJIU5rTmkkUf-jm9Z9IZ94pI6ubIwm2RruqH0T9HVVC1hvNlJn71pl-IVbXWABFVqzKvNKDBhTOoALJxrQ/s320/IMG_1821.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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Last week I talked about the dilemma I had with a stack of hats I knitted for charity, which can't go to the charity I planned to send them to due to the high wool content. I haven't yet figured out what to do with them, but in the meantime I went stash diving and found find a few balls of more appropriate yarn that I can use! I'd show you but I don't have photos of it yet. I found a ball of Berroco Comfort yarn in a deep cerulean blue (worsted weight, I think), and a ball of Dark Horse Fantasy yarn in a sage green (also worsted weight). I cast on 2 hats, one in each color ... I couldn't help myself! I'm not using a pattern; I just cast on 112 sts with US 6 needles and am doing 2x2 ribbing for a few inches. Then I may switch to stockinette. Or maybe I'll continue in ribbing. Or maybe I'll pick a pattern from a stitch dictionary. Who knows! ALSO, I remembered that some months ago, a friend gave me a big ol' bag of yarn that she no longer wanted. I dug through that and found several full and partial balls of stuff like Plymouth Encore (shout out to @knitonepurltoo!) and Lion Brand Wool Ease so all of that should keep my charity efforts going for a bit. I may also go in with a friend on an order from <a href="http://yarn.com/" target="_blank">WEBS</a> so I can get some more Berroco Comfort -- I really like how it feels and how it's knitting up so far. </div>
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Right now, though, it's way past bed time. Good night!</div>
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-mz</div>
<br />eboni a. johnsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15784064916144381113noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6080975.post-10725695793409308412016-04-03T16:28:00.001-05:002016-04-03T16:31:00.001-05:00I blew it.<div class="p1">
<span class="s1">So ...</span></div>
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You remember those hats I knitted for charity? Well. I was all set to send the hand knit goodies off in the mail this week, and went to the blog to look for the address to send to. Aaaaannnnd while I was there I looked at the requirements for donations. Aaaaaannnnnnd figured out that donated items should not be 100% wool. So .... now I need to find something to do with the hats and scarf I knitted. Yes, I realize (now) that I should have looked this information up BEFORE I started knitting, but I think in my excitement to get started it slipped my mind. I'm sure the internet will come to the rescue, and help me identify an organization that will accept my donation. And in the meantime, I've done a bit of stash diving and found 2 balls of yarn that will be appropriate for the charity I originally chose: <a href="http://homelessbridge.blogspot.com/"><span class="s2">The Bridge Project</span></a>, which collects knit and crocheted items for the homeless in central Ohio. </span></div>
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<span class="s1">Now that my yarn room/art studio is cleaned up and organized, I'm going to get showered and go do a bit of shopping before I settle in for a little knitting!</span></div>
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<span class="s1">-mz</span></div>
eboni a. johnsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15784064916144381113noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6080975.post-36641972895121941592016-03-22T23:01:00.000-05:002016-03-22T23:02:11.137-05:00Nice haul<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Every so often, my friend Jan and I go on these very awesome, very therapeutic yarn crawls. This past weekend we had a much needed trip, which coincided with the beginning of spring break on the campus where we work. Our afternoon adventure started with hanging out at Black Locust Farm yarn shop in Lodi. If y'all have been paying any attention at all, you know that I love to knit socks. And that sock yarn doesn't count as stash. Soooooooo these pretty things came home with me:</div>
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The ball of yarn on the left is to knit my husband some socks. He is one of those guys that doesn't really wear colors aside from black, blue, gray, and occasionally some brown. I got yarn to match his wardrobe. The self-striping should keep it as interesting as it could possibly be ;-)</div>
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Last year on a trip to the shop I fell in love with a project bag made by Aimee of <a href="https://www.etsy.com/shop/CackleBerryCreations" target="_blank">Cackleberry Creations</a>. I met Aimee in person at the Great Lakes Fiber Show last spring, and mentioned my love of elephants and Doctor Who. And then I promptly forgot about that conversation! Well I was pleasantly surprised to get a message from Aimme via Ravelry, that, despite some life challenges, she completed the bags for me! Look! Elephants ....</div>
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... and a close-up of the matching stitch markers!</div>
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And then TARDIS ....</div>
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... and matching stitch markers!</div>
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As I was paying for my yarn, I also spied these beautiful pearl stitch markers near the register. Some of y'all know how much I love pearls too, so I couldn't leave these in the store! </div>
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I have since messaged Aimee to ask for a couple more bags ... one with a coffee print, and one with FIREFLY. Actually I might need two Firefly bags if possible, one for me and one for a dear friend who got me hip to that show in the first place.</div>
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After hanging out at Black Locust for a few hours, it was time to head down the road to Wooster, where we had dinner at one of our faaaaaaavorite places, Broken Rocks Cafe. Wild mushroom pasta for the win! That's a standout favorite dish of mine, especially when it's followed up with pecan pie for dessert. </div>
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It was a lovely day, indeed. Guess I need to get knitting and FINISH some stuff before I start something else. Well I DO have that cowl I'm knitting for a store sample. I'll post pics of that next time. Until then ... good night!</div>
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-mz</div>
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07987593134479788398noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6080975.post-31576035613866114762016-03-06T12:10:00.000-05:002016-03-06T12:10:28.365-05:00Charity check-in<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I won't bore you with all the stuff I've been up to (particularly work-wise) that has kept me from blogging lately, but here is a charity check-in post. The last few weeks have been all about the chunky hats (<a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/erichs-af-knockoff-hat" target="_blank">my own design</a>!):</div>
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I've got a black & gray one on needles now, and I'll try to remember to post a pic next time. That's about it for knitting at the moment. I've gone pretty far down the rabbit hole of coloring (particularly <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Sweary-Coloring-Book/e/B01ABLPQV0/ref=dp_byline_cont_ebooks_1" target="_blank">swear word coloring books</a>!), and drawing <a href="https://www.zentangle.com/" target="_blank">Zentangles</a>. I think that's how I shall spend part of the afternoon until it's time to go knit with a group of friends.<br />
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Until next time,<br />
-mzeboni a. johnsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15784064916144381113noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6080975.post-37913641146795755872016-02-10T11:47:00.000-05:002016-02-10T11:48:24.433-05:00Back to square 1<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I am currently participating in a dishcloth swap, and recently finished this cloth. It is done in linen stitch, and is crocheted from the center out. It is one of my very favorite patterns for cloths and blanket squares. <a href="http://allfororphans.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/KAS-square-Mary-Lokken.pdf" target="_blank">You can get it online for free</a> (thank you, Mary)! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Just for fun, I am also crocheting a matching kitchen towel, also using linen stitch, but made back & forth in rows, instead of in the round. I'm a wee bit afraid that I will run out of yarn, though. I'm debating whether to go to the store to track done some more of the same color, or accent with a complimentary color (which I may have enough of in my small stash of cotton yarns). Decisions, decisions. I do want to go to the store to pick up some more supplies for coloring so maybe I will just "look" and see what other cotton yarns are available.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Speaking of coloring, I've really gone down the rabbit hole on this adult coloring craze. My favorite things to color are very creative swear words -- complete with flowers, hearts, cute animals, etc. But here's a "clean" one that I'm working on, using Vaseline for some <a href="https://www.google.com/search?q=vaseline+coloring+pencils&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8" target="_blank">neat blending techniques</a>! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> What are you all creating this week?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">-mz</span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07987593134479788398noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6080975.post-8960048865499622702016-01-24T20:06:00.000-05:002016-01-24T20:08:09.985-05:00Catching up<div>
It's been more than a week since I last posted (sorry!), but I'm here now :-) This is a post to catch you up on what I've been up to lately.<br />
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A long time ago, a friend of mine asked me to mend a few holes in her granddaughter's baby sweater. She'd already outgrown the sweater, so there was no particular rush on this. I held on to it for such a long time because I wasn't sure the best way to fix the holes. Last week I had some inspiration, though, and ended up embroidering flowers and a heart to patch up the holes:</div>
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I'll return the sweater the my friend this week. I hope the mending meets her approval! Note: I'm not sure what's up with the uneven sweater hem. I think it is designed to be asymmetrical. <br />
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I've made a bit of progress on that scarf I started a few weeks ago. I finished one full skein of yarn and started a second skein. One skein was just not long enough for a scarf, and two skeins might make it too long. But I think too long is better than not long enough.<br />
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Recently, a friend asked me to knit a hat for him. I've made good progress on that, and am working on the crown decreases. I'll post pics when it's all finished. But now ... more knitting and football. Yay!<br />
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Talk to y'all in a few days, folks. Stay warm and safe out there!<br />
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-mz</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07987593134479788398noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6080975.post-38360703115317399212016-01-09T06:20:00.001-05:002016-01-09T15:21:09.665-05:00New on the needles<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Several years ago, I did a fair amount of knitting for charity. Earlier this week, I decided to renew that effort by dedicating every Friday to charity knitting. I already have lots of projects on needles, but setting aside one day a week just for charity knitting will be good for me, and for my stash! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">I went "stash diving" to choose a yarn, and then I remembered that when I moved house in the spring, I gave away most of the yarns that I would have used for charity knitting ... those that were acrylic or acrylic/wool blends. I HAD to shrink my stash because the new place is much smaller than the old one, and there simply isn't room to store all the yarn I had. It was a tough decision for sure, one that literally made me cry. At the end of the day I'm happy that I decided to keep the yarns that I love the most but in hindsight it would have been good to keep some of those other yarns. While I'm not sure that 100% wool yarns are the best choice, I decided to go ahead and use what I have. Hopefully I can find a place that will accept items that have a high wool content. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">First charity project for 2016 is a simple ribbed scarf knitted from Lamb's Pride Worsted in a color called Turquoise Depths. Easy to knit: cast on 26, and do 1x1 ribbing to desired length. I got approximately 12" knitted this evening. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-qFP7FXH7hPG-6zSsQcNYLufRV3OtnrQ4S-nLLDog0nNZ42fnOSB5ix31k88iSTpRPC2HedTnnggmDbHf6Em8Tyhmr07U21yrOB_oSVIDfXgDOBVuycJlhMYQt9CnHLihWbYq/s640/blogger-image-1343474441.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-qFP7FXH7hPG-6zSsQcNYLufRV3OtnrQ4S-nLLDog0nNZ42fnOSB5ix31k88iSTpRPC2HedTnnggmDbHf6Em8Tyhmr07U21yrOB_oSVIDfXgDOBVuycJlhMYQt9CnHLihWbYq/s640/blogger-image-1343474441.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Tomorrow I'm planning to cast on a scarf in these yarns:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjys_Rz0Ugvtv4aaQPsCxE2BSdCvqboZD9u_SHM0b9Z6PAmI1km8g4BXBDrnOBTtPXJ4ROYLDjFUgb8xkYkDWB_ajbC4lvyJVVGjZ9w0g53zC30Q8i_81OO3Au_0CdpkHIymCil/s640/blogger-image--1875932670.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjys_Rz0Ugvtv4aaQPsCxE2BSdCvqboZD9u_SHM0b9Z6PAmI1km8g4BXBDrnOBTtPXJ4ROYLDjFUgb8xkYkDWB_ajbC4lvyJVVGjZ9w0g53zC30Q8i_81OO3Au_0CdpkHIymCil/s640/blogger-image--1875932670.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">This is a secret gift project. The yarn is Wool Ease by Lion Brand, and is an 80/20 acrylic/wool blend. Now the task is to find the perfect pattern. I think I might attempt double knitting an argyle pattern like this <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/uncle-argyle-scarves" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/uncle-argyle-scarves</a>. Double knitting takes me a long time (at least it did last time I tried it in 2008!), and while there is no real deadline, I'd rather do something that isn't so tedious for me. Suggestions? Note to self: if you end up doing double knitting, use this slip stitch edging: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0-BLtYkAfa8" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0-BLtYkAfa8</a>. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">I'd better try to sleep. It's been a pretty restless night but at least it's been kind of productive. I am on track with weekly blogging!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Good night, um, morning!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">-mz</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div>P.S. I think this is the pattern I will use, but I will knit it to scarf length, in the round. It'll be PERFECT! <a href="https://www.imperialyarn.com/sites/default/files/errata/F01%20Argyle%20Cowl.pdf" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">https://www.imperialyarn.com/sites/default/files/errata/F01%20Argyle%20Cowl.pdf</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">P.P.S. Cast on as if you're knitting a toe-up sock. That way you'll only have to graft one end together. </div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07987593134479788398noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6080975.post-15693143812928176652016-01-01T00:26:00.000-05:002016-01-01T00:34:42.958-05:00There is nothing like starting over<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'Lucida Grande', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">It’s a personal tradition of mine to start a new project on Jan 1st. And this year I’m starting TWO projects -- <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/ginnys-cardigan" target="_blank">Ginny’s Cardigan</a> and <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/february-fitted-pullover" target="_blank">February Fitted Pullover</a>. I’m livin’ on the edge here, folks!</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'Lucida Grande', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'Lucida Grande', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">About starting over, I'm going to try try try to be better about blogging at least weekly. I fell off the blogging wagon early in 2015. Please don't feel shy about nudging me if I drop the ball again! Check the sidebar over there ( --> ) to keep track of my progress on those 85 million WIPS I have on needles :-) </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'Lucida Grande', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'Lucida Grande', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">And with this first blog post of 2016, I'm going to call it a night! I brought in the New Year with my Mr., and now it's time to cozy up with a bottle of hard cider and more knitting. Ginny is already on needles ... February Fitted is next. Aaaaaaaaaaaannnnnd ... GO!</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'Lucida Grande', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">-mz</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'Lucida Grande', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><br /></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07987593134479788398noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6080975.post-61828704079626787472015-10-31T22:35:00.001-05:002015-10-31T22:35:29.733-05:00Did I just start another project?Why, yes I did:<br />
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<a href="http://ravel.me/mzundercover/9yn29" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFT1soWkoMglSynBpE110m_YUKItCrldD7A0LRReERxKuTEJMV7zuyE9zo5oyV0bHf-0lslYLHhiJgGYheKYO0JSeKt4X-ENk4Fl8v334_MF68z0r_rVSW4LxXaZAkdTjfbpq5Tw/s320/2015-10-10+09.11.31.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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This is the <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/aestlight-shawl" target="_blank">Aestlight Shawl</a> by Gudrun Johnston, which one of my Ravelry friends recently gifted me. The yarn is a blend of merino and tencel, which I bought a few years ago at the Great Lakes Fiber Show. No idea the brand; the only label was a handwritten tag identifying the fibers and yardage (about 500 yards). Should be plenty enough for my shawl!<br />
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What else have I been up to? I just now finished lengthening the hem of my Saucy Librarian sweater. It was just a couple inches too short. Every time I wore it, I had to yank it down in back periodically. That gets old quick, so I finally took apart the bind-off, picked up the live stitches and knitted a couple more inches. I'm much happier with it now.<br />
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Now, while I listen to <a href="https://librivox.org/the-legend-of-sleepy-hollow-by-washington-irving/" target="_blank">The Legend of Sleepy Hollow</a>, I'm going to work on my Owls sweater. I'm just about finished with the owls along the yoke, and from there I think it'll be smooth sailing to the finish. With any luck, I'll have a new sweater to wear next week. And not a moment too soon, with the chilly temperatures we've had lately.<br />
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Until next time,<br />
~mz<br />
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<br />eboni a. johnsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15784064916144381113noreply@blogger.com1