Alpacamundo Monday: Pre-Winter Chores

 We've had a gloriously long Autumn season... which is about to end later this week.

Over the last several weeks, I've been making sure the pre-winter chores are completed.  That means, the barn is now full with hay...

The sprinklers have been blown out.

The gutters have been emptied of leaves, but first I had to take in the view.  :-)

There are still some leaves to come down.  However, they are sufficiently far from the house, so I don't expect them to find their way into the gutters.

The de-icers have all been set out.  I generally don't feel fully comfortable with the de-icers until we've passed our first hard freeze.  Once that happens, they generally work for the entire season.

Happy Late Fall.  I hope you are enjoying this lovely time of year.

Fiber Arts Friday: Piney House Socks, part 2

As of last time, I was nearly complete with the first foot of my Piney House Socks.

I have been continuing to work a few rounds most mornings and evenings... and there was a short trip out of town that allowed for more progress.  

I completed the second foot in early October.

I like this green a lot.... it's quite cheery.  Interesting how it changes in different light.

Happy Fiber Arts Friday!

Fiber Arts Friday: Cattitude, part 3

So as of last posting, I had just completed the crown of the Cattitude Pussy Hat.

I am starting this post with determining where the ears go... by placing two pairs of removeable stitch markers.

After letting that sit for a week or so, I picked up the 14 stitches for each ear.

Having been sick with Covid for early September, the initial part of the ear pattern was not making sense to me... It states to pick up 14 stitches, then first row has two increases resulting in 14 stitches, then the next couple of rows have short rows, which are normally fine but the abbreviation/name doesn't make sense.... so I need to have clarity of mind before I progress.

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Then, finally on a beautiful and chilly first day of Fall, September 22nd, I spent some time reading through the ear instructions again and figuring out where the stitch counts were incorrect...

I picked up and knit 14 stitches of the outer ear, then made two stitches for 16 (not 14) and continued as written, with a few other corrections.

It looks a bit like Pikachu or a Viking Hat right now.

Hopefully the ears will widen out after stitching together and blocking.

Happy Fiber Arts Friday!

Fiber Arts Friday: Piney House Socks, part 1

After playing with the Rainbow Trout Colorway for more than a year on two different Top-Down sock patterns (Jaywalker and Squircle), I wanted a solid-color and Toe-up sock.

I looked at a few options, and then settled on House Socks by Purl Soho in the Alpine Fir colorway by one of my favorite local-ish indy dyers, Teton Yarn Company.

I have been doing a lot of Twisted Rib lately.  Mostly on a project I have not shared here yet.... that being said, I like the simplicity and construction of this sock.

... and given the last few days of Covid+ Tests, not only was I able to finish Squircle, but I was able to make a lot of progress in a short few days... nearly completing the first foot by the time I had a negative test.

I am continuing to work on these a little each morning and evening, while watching politics and sports, and hoping I'll be able to complete them in short order.

Happy Fiber Arts Friday!

Fiber Arts Friday: Rainbow Trout Squares the Circle, part 6

As of last time, I was just beginning the second foot...

Thanks to catching Covid in early September, I had a lot of quiet and alone time and was able to complete these socks.

"Thanks" is of course is said facetiously... there were several days with a cloud in my head where I couldn't think critically or for very long on anything... the only thing I could do was make stitches... slowly.

I do not wish this illness on anyone.  Having Covid sucks and anyone who says otherwise is not being truthful.

That being said, I am delighted to have these socks completed.

I love how the Rainbow Trout colorway has varying thicknesses of each color, so it's not obvious that the heel rounds are longer and therefore thinner stripes.

These are by far the best fitting socks I've made thus far.

The construction of these socks is really quite interesting.  I'm glad I worked it exactly as written and am looking forward to using this pattern again.

Happy Fiber Arts Friday!