Tuesday, November 25, 2008

Rocchina's (Alpaca Lace) Wrap




Rochina's (Alpaca Lace) Wrap


This pattern is available at This & That

3712-B Lawndale Drive at Crosspointe Shopping Center in Greensboro, NC.

(336)288-0034

or buy it here

$3.00




Finished Size: 20 inches x 6 feet (blocked)

Materials:
Cascade Baby Alpaca Chunky #557 (100 % baby alpaca; 108 yds/99 m; 3.53 oz/100 gms) 4 skeins.
Needles size US 13 /9 mm or size needed to obtain correct gauge.
Darning needle

Gauge:
9.5 sts/ 12 rows = 4”/10 cm over lace pattern stitch (2.5 sts and 3 rows per inch)







In other news:

My "Bohus" style sweater:






The Debbie Bliss Cashmerino Aran is very soft and nice to wear.

I've completed 2 more Level 3 swatches! here is swatch 15 "charted intarsia. I found this swatch to be particularly difficult. First, choosing a design. There are many to pick from, but after choosing an planning, I realized that most images couldn't be used. While stitch patterns can be printed in compendiums and reused in one's orignal patterns, most images are copywrited and thus cannot be reproduced without consent. I had to design my own image. So here is my "original" picture "Balloons":




The intarsia itself wasn't too bad, but the strings on the balloons proved to be a particular challenge. And colors....too much yarn to think about!

I have also completed the charted symbols swatch which is blocking. This is probably where I shine the most as far as design goes.  Although the yarn for the Master's must be ordinary, it was a fun swatch.. I will share this with you in a future post


I "stole" this from the SW Lipizzan Site:


Concerning Lipizzaners:

" -They're smart. I believe that in general they're about as bright as a three-year-old human child. They're not so good on abstracts, but concrete
concepts get through just fine.
-They're sensitive. You can't bully a Lipizzan. Either he shuts down and turns to stone, or you discover that he really is genetically predisposed
toward the Airs Above the Ground. He is also a warhorse, which means that where another horse might run, he may stand and fight. This can
backfire severely with trainers who view horses as purely flight animals, and don't allow for a horse who fights back.
-They understand English (or French or German or Spanish or whatever language you like to speak to your horse). You can talk to them,
and in fact explaining a new exercise before you execute it can be very helpful. If you treat your Lipizzan like a fellow sentient being, he'll respond
in kind.
-They are powerful one-man horses, sometimes to the point of trouble. They do not generalize from the Chosen Human to anyone else, and have
to be taught to acknowledge any other human's right to tell them what to do. This is a great deal of fun in a boarding situation, as too many of us
know.
-They have really low idiot tolerance. Inept handling on the ground and poor or imprecise riding will result in a horse who is difficult or
impossible to handle. This is particularly evident in connection with vets and farriers. "

And finally, Mr Zip shares this picture of his sister by the fire:












Have a Happy Thanksgiving!

Friday, November 21, 2008

First Snow

Here is what we woke up to this morning:










A far cry from 3 weeks ago! Plus it's freezing....I'm getting to wear my sweaters at last.


Horses listen to the sound of huntsman in the woods(last Sat):



Sunday, November 16, 2008

White Horse (Cashmere) Scarf

This pattern is available at This & That

3712-B Lawndale Drive at Crosspointe Shopping Center in Greensboro, NC.

(336)288-0034

or buy it here:

$3.00







White Horse Scarf

This is a wonderfully soft short scarf, perfect for wearing under a jacket or coat next to the skin on your neck to keep out the cold or as a rich accent piece.

Finished measurements: 4” x 42” after blocking (can be made longer by increasing yarn amount.)

Materials:
Jade Sapphire Mongolian Cashmere 6-ply (100% Cashmere; 150 yds/137m; 1.94 oz/55gm) 1 skein
Needles size US 7 /4.5mm or size needed to obtain correct gauge.
Darning needle

Gauge: 20 sts and 28 rows = 4”/10 cm over blocked lace pattern










I've finished the Bohus Style Pullover. It came out great and fits perfectly.










I found this toy at WalMart. He looks strikingly familiar. Helicopter Ben is really Santa.


Thursday, November 6, 2008

Fall has finally arrived at our home:




breathtaking....



and our woods and trails:





(maybe not this)


Our friends:




Monday, November 3, 2008

Owl's Roost

I just want to report that I rode Owl's Roost (finally),

























Yes, I did have to walk in a few places and I did ride around the obstacles, but I held my own and didn't embarrass my self.












I walked this.








As to knitting: I'm working on some of the paperwork to my swatches. Creating charts and patterns. I've also started looking at information for the Traditional Knitting Report.

I'm working on the Bohus style pullover. I've made the main body 1 sleeve and started the second sleeve....

Mr Zip: