Time for a break!

The Farmer and I took a few days off! Getting away is tricky as there is so much to cover.  Make sure everyone knows! Find people to mind things while we are out of town.  That sort of thing. We can't go too far as stuff happens and when you have only a few days its not worth spending all the time getting somewhere. 

We have a trailer, so we took it to Emily Park, not too far. We hadn't been there for years, 14 to be exact.  The trees have grown so much that what once was an open area is lovely private campsites.  We discovered the Trans Canada Trail!  The weather was lovely, if you remembered last years vacation we were camping during the hottest week of the summer.  After re-reading that one I realized there wasn't any point in telling you about the things we forgot as they are pretty much the same.  The only difference is that we remembered the fan and forgot the sleeping bags! (We did have a lovely wool blanket that proved to be a 'marriage' saver!)

One thing I never forget is my knitting.  You must travel with at least 3 projects and one just in case ball of yarn.

The main project was a lace shawl using the new Madelinetosh Prairie.   It is something that has been on 'the bucket' list for a while.   Then there is a little scarf that I started using Manos Alegria.

If you are like me and just like to knit, no purls please, you will like the clever designs created by Martina Behm.  She  designs projects that are easily adapted to any yarn, and they are mostly just knit stitches.  (plus she has some cute videos on how to wear her designs)  A couple of us are contemplating the design Viajante.  It's lace weight, a lot of it, and if my 'bucket list' project is not doing what I want, this  is the 2nd option for the yarn I wound up.

We did have a lovely couple of days and I worked a few shortened days at the shop.  We plan another little trip next weekend which means the shop is closed on Tuesday July 29. 

More later....too busy enjoying the sunshine!
See you Soon!

Learning curve!

4 days off, well kind of off.  There was laundry, groceries, a tiny bit of cleaning, paperwork, research a new stove and this:

Almost three years ago I was hunting a little on Kijiji and found this loom. 

It was old, older than me, but it came with a lot of extra accessories.  It seemed to be owned by a Doctors wife who purchased it in the late 1950's and was still using it in the 70's.  There is a binder of notes from a course she took in the 60's and a project binder.  Then I think it sat in storage for many years.  We picked it up on our way home from moving The Boy to school.

The Boy put it all back together and got everything adjusted to work.  (I don't know how he and The Farmer can do that but this may explain some of it)

Then we moved it into the tiniest room in the house, which I use as a closet/storage room. This week we dragged it out into our family room.

Tuesday I measured out the warp and The Farmer helped wind onto the loom, yesterday I threaded it up and started to weave.

The learning curve is huge.  Math is important. I was following a pattern that suggested each warp be 5 yards long, I choose to do it  8 yards to give me extra fabric to play with. I wound one ball onto the warping board only to find myself 1/2 a yard short. I now know how long it takes to unwind a warp!  Then I ran out of heddles as I was threading up, you can undo them too!  The loom is a counterbalance loom and so the instructions for the course will not work as the set up of the treadles are completely different; I have kind of make it up as I go along.

When I am done there will be pillows, how many I am not sure.  I do have to go and find some more yarn as of course I ran out.  

Good thing the Yarn shop is open again today!

Thanks for letting me have a break, it's good to challenge yourself!

Canada Day!

July 1st Canada's Birthday!

It's hot and humid in Ontario and I am celebrating the day indoors, trying  to teach myself how to weave on the floor loom.  Let's just say the learning curve is pretty steep!

No matter how you are celebrating, take time to remind yourself the this truly is a great country to call home!

Just a reminder that the shop is closed tomorrow, which is a good thing as the shop in not air conditioned and it looks like the humidity will stick around?

Happy Canada Day

See you Thursday.