Wyoming Breezes

Sockhead Cowl March 2019 Knitting from the stash continues - this time a skein of Cascade 150 Prints (75% super wash merino and 25% nylon). Who knows why I purchased this skein of dark yarn, but it's being knit into a Sockhead Cowl and will be donated next winter to a local shelter. The yarn has a nice spring to it and is a delight to knit. The bonus: the label states it is a 150 gram skein, but when I weighed it, it was actually 155 grams, which will result in a longer cowl. I have several other dark-colored skeins that I'll knit into scarves, etc. for the shelter.

Half Circle Pi Shawl June 2017 A work in progress: EZ 100th Anniversary Pi Shawl: Camping (half circler version) . I'm currently working on the "Slanting Twigs" section - row 67, with many more rows remaining to knit. Needles:  US size 8 Yarn:   Heritage 150 Sock Yarn (Cascade Yarn)            Color: 5631 I've always wanted to knit an Elizabeth Zimmerman Pi Shawl, but I'm not keen on full circle shawls, nor do I want to knit one until I'm 80. When I found the Anniversary Shawl patterns on Ravelry, I quickly downloaded the one I like the best: Camping . Notes from Ravelry: Elizabeth Zimmermann was born on August 9th, 1910 (8/9/10), so this year 2010 is the 100th anniversary of her birth. This shawl is one of a set of SIX shawls designed as a tribute to EZ and a celebration of all she has done for us. They are based on her PI Shawl which can be found in her book Knitter’s Almanac . Three of the EZ 100th Anniversary PI Shawls (Gull...

28's Cousin 53 June 2017 This is the first time I've knit this pattern, but it won't be the last. The pattern is very easy (only 53 rows); however, the last ten rows seem to take forever to knit because at that point the shawl has over 500 stitches. The pattern said blocking was not necessary; however, I recommend blocking the shawl. Without blocking the shawl is barely four inches wide; with blocking, 9 inches. I loved knitting with this yarn, and the silk it contains adds drape and softness to the shawl. Pattern:          28's Cousin 53! by Lynne Ashton (Ravelry link) Yarn:         Charlemont Kettle Dye - Valley Yarns (60% merino, 20% silk, 20% polyamide)         100 grams - 439 yarns  (I used all but 9 grams)         Color: Whipple Blue (photos reflect color pretty accurately) Needle:         US size 7

Rockets' Red Glare 57 x 74 Quilt of Valor I have two more patriotic panels and hope to make them into quilts within the next two weeks. Rockets' Red Glare is QOV #107

Completed Project Peace Cowl December 2016 This was such a fun knit that I couldn't refrain from knitting more than the recommended one, four-row repeat each day. i-cord bind off The i-cord bind off was a new (to me, at least) technique, and I was surprised just how easy it was. It seemed to take forever on the 318 stitches around the edge as well as the 318 stitch cast-on edge, too. I picked up the stitches on the cast on edge, but some of the others in the KAL started the cowl with an i-cord. I used a double-point needle to do the bind off because I didn't have to fight the weight of the cowl and the remaining stitches on the circular needle. i-cord edge on the other side, too Pattern :  Project Peace Cowl  (Ravelry link)  by Christina Campbell Needles : size 6 US Yarn :     Regia 6ply Tweed - Bordeaux (6 grams of the 150 gram skein remain)     Regia 4ply Silk - Marine Blue (the i-cord only used about 14 grams) Size : my fi...

Project Peace cowl December 2016 I have joined over 16,000 knitters around the world in the Project Peace knit-along . The cowl pattern is free on Ravelry , and each day during the KAL, Christina Campbell shares thoughts of peace on her blog, The Healthy Knitter . It's not too late to join the KAL, so check it out. Pattern:   Project Peace Cowl (Ravelry link) Yarn: Regia 6 ply Tweed (Bordeaux #00706) Needles: size 6 US Stitch count: 300 sts

completed by unblocked scarf November 2016 The Noro Hitchhiker shawl/scarf came off the needles last Friday. I haven't blocked it yet, but that will happen soon. This scarf has 35 "teeth." I probably would have had enough yarn for two more teeth, but I didn't want to chance it. Knitting notes can be seen here .

Oh, My Stars 64 x 72 inches Quilt of Valor You may remember the pile of sixteen patch blocks  (79 completed blocks) I made in July. From that stack of blocks, I made Twirling 16s and Crossing Paths , but I still had 23 blocks remaining. I used "waste" HSTs from other quilts, paired them with 5 inch squares from another scrap bin, and made the star blocks. The sixteen patch and star blocks came together nicely. Other than the blue border, this quilt was made entirely from scraps of other Quilts of Valor. Oh, My Stars is Quilt of Valor #106

Snow Day Cowl November 2016 Saturday evening, I turned a single skein of bulky yarn into a cozy cowl. The finished cowl stands 6.5 inches tall and is 22 inches in circumference. Pattern: Snow Day Cowl by Sue Jackson (Ravelry link) Yarn: Patons ColorWul (#90742 - Ocean) 85grams/3 ounces - 90 yards Needles: size US 13 Stitches:  64 I've knit this pattern before (shown here and here ) for gifts and donations, and I have one for myself that I wear when shoveling the walk and driveway. It's a quick knit with bulky yarn or double-stranded worsted and big needles.

Scrappy Striped Socks November 2016 For some reason this pair of socks kept getting pushed aside, moved from the table beside my knitting chair, to the coffee table, and then finally stuffed in the bottom of my knitting bag. I unearthed them on Friday and managed to finish them on Sunday. Knit with scraps from five different yarns meant lots of ends to contend with once the final stitches were grafted. Knitting details can be found on this August post.

Picot Dot Wrap off the needles November 2016 When the Picot Dot Wrap/Shawl came off the needles last week, it didn't look very appealing. Actually, it resembled a colorful sting ray. I seriously questioned whether the pronounced hump in the middle would even come out in the blocking, but . . . shawl being blocked with a few hundred pins, I managed to straighten the edge.  the finished shawl Once the shawl dried completely, it was ready for its photo shoot.  The center hump is slightly visible, but it has been tamed enough to wrap around the neck. Pattern: Picot Dot Wrap by Cheryl Zuccaro Yarn: Kauni wool          colors EC (black/grey - 140g - used 69g) and EQ (rainbow - 160g  - used 85g) Needles: US size 6 The pattern states the kit will make 2 shawls - colors reversed. My finished shawl used 154 total grams of wool, and I have 146 grams remaining. By adding a bit of another black yarn, I will have enou...

Microwave bowl holders October 2016 Sheri and I met one day in late October to make prototypes of the project we would be presenting to the monthly sewing group. Sheri had already made hers (shown on the right), and I was making mine to see if it could be completed in two hours. I used Sheri's machine that was totally unfamiliar to me, so we had to stop the clock for a bit to address some technical problems (empty bobbin, broken needle, etc.) I managed to complete my bowl holder in the time allotted. underside of microwave bowl holders The bowl holders are reversible. I used two fat quarters (FQs) from a bundle of Asian prints I purchased several years ago. If you aren't familiar with cloth microwave bowl holders, they hold a bowl as its contents is being heated in the microwave. The edge or wings on the cloth bowl holder are used to lift the bowl safely out of the microwave.  Sheri and I used this pattern . When I got home, I looked for a pattern that did not ...

Freedom Quilt of Valor 59" x 79" This panel was purchased at High Prairie Quilts in Parker, CO when I was visiting Marilyn in August. I originally planned to use the pattern the fabric company offered online, but changed my mind when I found the "cheater" fabric at the September quilt show in Lander. Freedom is QOV #104

Picot Dot supplies Remember the kit I purchased in Denver and shared in this post ? Last week, I decided to read through the pattern and start knitting. Hmmm, cast-on was delayed until I could wrap my head around the directions. The pattern, like all others, gives directions for the stitch rows. The sections have labels: S, A, B, SR, BR. Sounds easy enough, but then the sections are repeated periodically. The pattern contained a check list of knitting rows and pattern rows. I pulled out my highlighters and went to work marking the yarn color placement and prepared a set of handy flip cards with the stitch pattern for each row: i.e. S1, S2, S3, S4, etc. The cards and checklist will keep me on track without constantly referring to the pattern itself. It looks and sounds complicated, but it really isn't, thanks to the handy checklist. Now, that I have everything prepared and have a clear understanding of the pattern, I can begin knitting. Do you read the entire pattern befor...

Old Glory Quilt of Valor 58 x 75 Old Glory is the second top made with a patriotic panel from my fabric stash. The border fabrics were pulled from stash to complete the quilt. As with American Hero (posted last week) the final border is a "cheater" fabric. Old Glory is QOV #103

American Hero Quilt of Valor 60 x 74 Last week, I gathered patriotic panels (six total) from my stash and pulled fabric for borders. The first top finished was American Hero . The outer border was made from a "cheater" print fabric. Panels make quick and easy quilts. Cut border sizes: dark blue 2 inches, cream 3.5 inches, red marble 5.5 inches, final border 8.5 inches on sides and 6.5 on top and bottom (I ran short of fabric) American Hero is QOV #102

Slouch Hat September 2016  I had enough yarn left from the first Slouch Hat to knit another. Wow, did the yarn have a surprise in store for me: it striped completely different. The first had a lovely swirl, and this one wanted to be more bold with zig-zags. I rotated the hat and snapped photos to show the striping.  I still have a bit of yarn remaining, but it's going in a bag with other scraps. It will tell me someday what it wants to become. All the zig-zags swirled together at the top. It's been gifted to a knitting buddy that liked the way the yarn pooled and striped.

six Quilt of Valor presentation cases three hospice pillow cases September 2016 The red and blue bandana prints and the tone-on-tone blue flowers were scraps from quilt backs, the striped fabric was an impulse purchase at a clearance sale, the blue/pink flowered fabric at the top was from Marilyn, and the neutral flowered fabric was large enough for the body of two cases. Approximately nine yards of fabric and scraps out of my stash.

Colorful Feathers 63 x 72 inches Quilt of Valor  Colorful Feathers was one of the projects I worked on at Marilyn's house in August. I had all but one row finished when I came home: it took me a month to get motivated to make eight more blocks. Last week, this UFO was checked off of my "to do" list. Colorful Feathers is QOV #99