Spinning Wheel goes round and round.......

In 1980 the need to spin became an obsession for me. I found an antique walking wheel on the back porch of an old local store and the owner sold it to me for a cheap price. I taught myself to spin which was not an easy task by any means. There was very little spinning information available but I managed (or should I say, struggled). New wheels were born over the years and I want you to meet one of them. It's a Country Craftsman and was purchased in 1991. Unfortunately they are no longer available. The gentleman who crafted these beautiful wheels retired in 2003. I have two of these but this one is my favorite. I have no idea why, we just seem to get along well.


I have purchased masses of fleece along the spinning trail and was even known to pack a lunch, put the kids in the car and go for a ride looking for sheep farms at shearing time. Nothing like taking your kids to a stranger's door to find out if they were willing to sell a fleece. Trust me, I begged and managed to snag a few during those excursions:).
The spinning bug has recently invaded my knitting time and I've been spinning away. The red skein is romney, the other two skeins are unknown. I navajo plied the two on the left. Now to find patterns for these three.

Way back when (in the 90's) I spun and knitted a few items for the family. Here's a pair of well worn fleece stuffed mittens.

The yarn was dyed for the pink pair of socks. The pair on the right is a spun corridale.

The pair on the left are a border leicester fleece with a shetland sole. The pattern is Elizabeth Zimmerman's design. As you can tell they're large to fit hubby's Fred Flintstone sized feet. The pair on the right are for me. They're thick and warm. Perfect for cold winter days.

There's a sweater hidden around here somewhere that my youngest son requested when he was 12 yrs old. I took him to my favorite sheep farm on shearing day and he chose the fleece that he wanted. I must find that sweater.

Okay, Anita, is this enough info? LOL There's an inside joke going on here and I'm going to ask for your help. Anita requested these pics and I requested gingerbread men stitch markers. If you haven't seen her new apple markers check them out and put in a request (better yet, demand) for cupcakes, donuts and of course gingerbread men.........hee-hee).

Knotty or Knice?

My BFF gave me these socks for my birthday. I LOVE them! She bought the yarn at the MD sheep & wool festival this past May. The yarn is Socks that Rock in Watermelon Tourmaline. She knew that I've been wanting this color for a long time. The pattern is a Cookie A pattern.
I enjoy receiving hand knit gifts. I appreciate it so much.
They're perfect!




That wasn't the end of the surprises. She also knew I have been wanting Gingerbread House from Knitpicks. Everytime I would try to order it, it was on backorder. This yarn is so-o-o-o soft. I pet it everytime I walk near it in the basket. She made pattern keeper sets for me and she bought me a Knit Night Light so I can knit in the dark.
Thank you BFF you know me better than anyone.

I called my BFF yesterday in a panic. She was calm as a cucumber about the whole "finish gift thing." I am sweating it over here. I have no idea how she can be so calm. I know we made this "finish the gifts in time" vow last year but I have no idea where the time went. I also have no idea how she can be so calm.
Now before you think I haven't finished anything. Take a look. Knotty or Knice gloves.
This picture didn't do true justice to the color. After 15 pictures I gave up and settled on this one. It is a purple/blue/green mix and they are perfect for the person in mind.
I loved making these. They were quick and the pattern is very well written.

I was on the search for a project when I happened to come across these on the needles. (so that's where my extra set of size 4 dpns were stashed) I started them sometime back in Jan 2007. I put them away and I only had one thumb to finish. I'm still trying to figure out why I did that little stunt. Is my mind slipping? Don't answer that.......lol I have no idea what pattern I used for these and since I only had the thumb to finish I didn't even look for it.
I finished the thumb and stashed them as a gift. I have a person on the nice list who requested mittens and since she likes softer colors these are perfect. One more gift crossed off the list.
Off to see if I can find UFO's that should have been finished a year ago or to find more needles...............
p.s. Just read the BFFs post. She is in a knitting panic. Whew! I was afraid I was in panic mode alone. (I'm feeling much better now:)

Yarn projects

I finished the red hat for the daughter. I found the pattern on ravelry. Chunky yarn, size 10 needles and an evening produces a finished hat!





I also finished the mittens. They're a Christmas gift for someone. I'm feeling the Christmas knitting crunch these days. The katydids are chirping and it is beginning to look a little like fall around here.

The rest of my weekend was quiet. We were going to visit the sons in the city but we were unable to connect for the visit. I HATE the city and I only go there because our sons live there or because I have a required dr appointment.
Hey! I'm an Appalachian gal! Give me the mountains and the country any old day.

Is it Knitting or Dawdling?

It is hot and humid. Makes for some crazy lazy days around here.

I should be working on my Christmas gift sweaters but it is too warm for that right now. So I have dabbled in mitten work.
A pair of Heartland Mittens have been cast on. I like this pattern. It's fun and much easier than it appears.
The colors remind me of Crayons.






I just had to cast on for this pair of mittens. I have been into the stash lately. With the price of fuel, groceries and utilities I have been stash busting.
Not sure whose hands these mittens will fit. The yarn is fun to knit. It's Patons SWS.






A friend of the daughter requested a pair of self striping gloves. Anytime a teen asks for a hand knitted garment, I try to indulge the request. (as long as it's a reasonable request:)









It rained.......I take that back.........it poured! With tornado warnings during the first part of the week. I did nothing but knit.
I love fall and I found this knitted felted gourd pattern. I went back to the stash and found these colors to make gourds. Okay, I admit the purple/plum gourd is not a real gourd color but I liked it. These were made in a day. A total of 9 were completed. They were fun and they're preparing me for fall. I will regret having knitted these when I'm on the Christmas gift deadline but.....oh well.
I stuffed them in my new Longaberger Basket. mmmm........I smell pumpkin pie.

p.s. Lazy days mean dog days around here and dog days mean Mr. Bettis is sleeping........A LOT! :)

The Sock Yard Pirate

It's Spirit day for Homecoming 2007 around here. This is the youngest daughter heading out the door for school. It is dark and although you can't see, it is snowing this morning.
We made the signs and the husband has a huge flood light that is lit every evening to show off the sign.








This is the attire she wore and before you say anything, all of the girls dress like this for spirit day. Personally, I wouldn't have been caught dead in this get-up ( as my mother would have said) but it's the "thing" to wear today.

This is a picture of the finished pirate socks. She wore her clear clogs to show them off. See? I really do get something finished.

This is a pic of more decorations at the school. There is a pep rally tonite and believe me this kid is excited.

The eldest son had the nerve to call me last evening to see if I could make his wife a pair of red mittens for the game..............tomorrow........does this boy think I have knitting elves here?

I'll have to make them for Christmas........next year.