Fiber Arts Friday: Summer Cardigan, part 4

In a surprise turn of events, all 4 panels are complete.  I decided to verify the row count on the lower panel when I thought I had two rows to go... and I had exactly 30 rows complete.  WooHoo!

The apparent reason for this is that I missed counting two rows during the first skein... which means my weight estimates were a bit high last time.  I was expecting to need two full skeins plus a little extra to finish this panel.  Now I have about 20g of the second skein available for seeming.

After confirming that the stitch count of the three Floral Panels match the stitch count on the lower panel, I washed them according to my regular process.

Then taking some of the techniques I learned in my Finishing Class earlier this year, I blocked the front and back panels on top of each other, to aid in matching rows.  It's not clear in this photo, but they don't exactly match in height.

You can see that my stitches got progressively more loose on the solid panel.  Hopefully this won't be a big deal in the finished garment.

Next step is seeming!

Happy Fiber Arts Friday.

Fiber Arts Friday: Small and Simple, part 2

Coming back to my Small and Simple sock project...

Step 4 - Begin Knitting

Based on the needles required, my inventory of tools, and my intent to keep this project as simple as possible, I will be knitting one sock at a time.

Once I'm past the toe, the sock is extremely simple until I get to the heel.

So I have caked 2 skeins, made two toes, and am ready to bring these with me on my trip.

...

...

...

Step 5 - Knit, Knit, Knit, and don't Talk About It

I apparently haven't taken any photos along the way.  lol.

I did take this project with me on my summer work trip.  I made a huge amount of progress both before and during that trip.

I also took this project to several waiting sessions... as in a couple of oil changes, an emissions test, one dog show... and waiting on hold with my Internet Service Provider for over 3 hours.  :-/

I bound off on September 11 and wove in the ends on September 12.

Ta Da!!  My very first hand-knit socks made by me, for me.  :-)

Only 5 months, start-to-finish.  :-D

Happy Fiber Arts Friday!

Home Improvements: Exterior, Recycling the Glass House

Last weekend we also cut down the aluminum frame and copper wire from the Glass House and hauled it to the Recycling Center.

Pretty incredible how small that monstrosity packed down to.

Home Improvements: Exterior: Trees, part 1

There is a lot to talk about this week on the Home Improvement front... :-)

The sellers stated they were un-aware of any dead trees on the property... but the first spring/summer revealed a few very-dead trees and several nearly-dead trees.

We, with the help of some friends, removed 2 very dead trees, 1 mostly dead tree, and 3 that were impeding the growth of other trees last weekend.

Two of the trees were quite large, and required the help of a back hoe.

The first very-dead, and very-large tree revealed termites.

I've since learned that termites are common in Colorado and feel very fortunate to have not experienced them before now.

My research confirms we have the Subterranean Termite Worker, pictured on the left below.  No others were observed.

We isolated this wood, until we were able to confirm the species... and will continue to keep it isolated until a professional inspection and treatment are completed, which have been scheduled.

Fortunately, no termites were apparent in the other trees we removed.

Cuttings from the live trees were given to the goats.

Non-infested logs were cut and stacked for firewood, and the branches were hauled away.  I probably should get a rack to raise this wood off of the ground.

AND I continue to find trash left behind by the previous owners.  :-/

  

There are at least 5 more trees to address, at this time.

Home Improvements: Exterior, Paint

With the Glass House gone, our Painter was able to get busy on the actual painting... and get busy, he did.

Before:

After:

The new colors go much better with the existing roof and brick.  I think it also makes the house blend into the landscape more.

There are a few things currently remaining, including the replacement of the exterior lighting and gutters... and as predicted, we now really dislike the doors, but those will have to wait for a while.

Home Improvements: Exterior, Glass House Removal

We've spent the last few months just living and being in our new home.

After the move and with all of the work to prepare and sell our former home, we needed an emotional break.  Only taking time to unpack and organize as necessary, but mostly just focusing on decompressing and experiencing the new place as it was.

So now that we're feeling clear of mind and reasonably rested, as well as starting to do some of the things we used to do... like dog shows and travel, we decided it's time to start the work that needs doing.

Beginning with the Exterior

Starting in the last week of August we began firming plans for updating the exterior of our new home.

First up is paint... Paint, Siding Repair, Gutter Replacement, Removal of the Glass Room from the back of the house, and Exterior Lighting Replacement.

Capitalizing on an unexpected free Labor Day and the availability of a few awesome friends, we removed the glass house... on one of the hottest days of the year.

We also found some un-disclosed water damage.

I had hoped this room would be useful as a Greenhouse, but the reality was that it was cold in the winter and ridiculously hot in the summer... and we are very glad to have it gone.

The amount of light that is now present inside and the increased visibility of the back yard with this monstrosity removed is incredible.

Dog Shows: Cheyenne Kennel Club, 2022

Next up for Wilma and me was the Cheyenne Kennel Club Shows over Labor Day Weekend.

They have moved from the Frontier Days venue to the new Archer Complex, just east of town.... which is very nice.  This was my first time at this venue.

The Reserved Grooming Spaces were sold out by the time I registered for the event... and unlike Greeley, there was not an Open Grooming Area available, aside from adjacent to the car.  They will be having more reserved and indoor open grooming at future events.

So Wilma and I planned to "show and go" and I tried my new pop-up tent to help with shade in the parking area.

Wilma is a happy girl.  She enjoys seeing her Dog Show Friends and moving in the ring.

But when she's coming into season, she doesn't want anyone near her back end.  This includes me, let alone Conformation Judges.  :-/

Her normal season begins in late-September/early-October.  So I knew it was coming, but figured we were ahead of the window.

You know where this is heading now, right?

She refused to let the judge look at her teeth on the first day.

Upon taking her home, we examined her mouth to ensure nothing was going on.  To which she allowed both me and Hubba to examine, thoroughly.  She also let our friends look at her teeth at the venue the next morning.

But again on Day 2, she would not let the judge look at her.

I am very happy that she backed away from the judges and was mostly her goofy self.

I asked to be excused both days.

Both days the judges were extremely kind, patient, and tried very hard to help Wilma feel relaxed.  I have not experienced this level of support and accommodation from a judge before.  I thanked them both... and decided to stay home for Day 3.

So long story, short.... Wilma came into season on Day 3 of the show.  This is one month early.

So her behavior makes sense.  It is frustrating, but it makes sense... and I'm extremely happy there's nothing going on in her mouth.

This also means that we stayed home for the Evergreen and Peak-to-Peak Working Dog Specialty shows last weekend and are staying home for the Roaring Fork shows this weekend.

This also means that all hope I had for getting her ranked and therefore invited to the National Owner-Handled Championship later this year is over.

I always say that each dog teaches us something different.  For Wilma, I need to be more aware of her season, and plan accordingly.

Fiber Arts Friday: Summer Cardigan, part 3

I did figure out what was going on with Row 10 of the first Front Upper-Panel by taking a screen shot from the pattern website, zooming in, and counting stitches.

It turns out that the number of skipped stitches is not correct in a couple of places on the written pattern.  Once I confirmed that what I had was the same as the photo, I was able to move forward quickly.

As of this moment, both front upper-panels are complete.... and they match... and they each weigh the same.  :-)

I have 1/3 of the lower-panel to complete... and have ordered some new blocking boards.

Happy Fiber Arts Friday!

New Adventure: Chickens, part 3

As with any farming adventure, once you claim a victory, you are swiftly dealt a failure.

Fluffy Face was taken from the coop this morning.

There is no obvious entry or exit point from the coop walls and all that's left is a pile of feathers near the water bowls.  Therefore the most likely predator is an owl.

I found the chicks hiding in their chicken house.  They are all ok and accounted for.

So I will be closing the doors to the chicken house in addition to the coop over night until we are able to get netting in place above the entire coop.

For those who may be wondering where our dogs are.  They are in the adjacent yard because the existing fencing in the chicken yard is not adequate for keeping the dogs in.  There is also a long process for LGDs and Chickens to trust each other

We do have plans to improve the fencing which has experienced delays.

New Adventure: Chickens, part 2

Well, we don't have the new adult chickens yet.  So it appears to have been a good move to get the 6 chicks to keep our lone surviving hen company.

They are growing fast.

They started to escape their trough last week, so I moved them out of it.

As of yesterday, they are exploring beyond their corner of the Chicken House and starting to run after little things that move.

I have not let them out into the larger coop yet.

Fluffy Face was crowing this morning.

I didn't know that hens crowed.  Apparently it's common and is related to claiming territory.  Since the chicks are getting larger and more interested in exploring, I think this makes sense.

The chicks are 3 weeks old as of yesterday.  I imagine another week or two and all of their baby fluff will have been replaced with feathers.

Fiber Arts Friday: New Normal Socks, part 2

Apparently I have not posted progress on my New Normal Socks since this initial post almost two years ago.

I did find some in-progress photos from about October 2020...

Toes/feet complete. Ready to begin the gusset.

Gusset is finished.

Then right about the time our move got into full swing, I realized the thicker yarn meant fewer stitches.  Which meant I did not have enough stitches to complete the heel in typical fashion.  I set this project aside to think about it... until about July of this year (2022).

Not only is winter coming and I would love to have a pair of thick/warm/hand-knit socks, but I also want to use these US3 needles for another project... So I sought to learn how to do an Afterthought Heel.

What I learned is these are called "Inserted Heels."  The ones I found are called Afterthought, Forethought, and Peasant.

Resources:

Louise Tilbrook - Afterthought Heel

Interweave - Inserted Heels; Afterthought and Peasant Heels

Peasant Heel Videos:

I really like the technique described in the second video...

Armed with the information above, I found some left-over black Cascade220 for the heels.  While it's not the same make of yarn, it is the same gauge and should look nice with my existing New Normal yarn.

I removed the gusset stitches and partial heel.  Fortunately I already had lifelines in place, so this part was easy.

Then I checked the length of the foot part of the sock against my ankle bone, using Louise Tilbrook's instructions above.  I needed to add ~2.5 inches.

With the extra ~2.5 inches, lifelines,

and and one row of pink waste yarn on the heel-side.

I will continue knitting the "tubes" until I run out of New Normal yarn, and then make the heels later.

I'm feeling much better now that this problem has a solution.  :-)

Happy Fiber Arts Friday!