p2together: December 2007

Hi Megs,

Have been busy, busy but have managed to finish some things and also get ready for Christmas. We did get our tree up, have the lights on but that is as far as we have gotte

We had a crazy time getting it in and up. It is very big, very fat and very heavy! We had to tie a rope on it an hoist it up!

I have been busy getting stuff done to put in Hands on Crafts. I have sold a lot - my knitting goes out the door faster than I can get it made - which really feels good. We have also more wool in and other supplied for rug hooking. The whole shop has been doing very well. I think people are finally sick of the stuff at Walmart et al. I have also sold bolts of wool, notions, hoops. It is nice.

First I finished this funny little purple silk blend scarf with "silly bits" for fringe- came out really well. It sold the day I brought it in - I didn't even have time to get a picture. I sort of made up the pattern. I had seen the funny things hanging off a scarf (bind offs) so I played around ... Cast on 3, knit across, cast on 17 (I used the "between the stitches method to make it more twisty), cast off 12, knit across, cast on 17 at the other end, cast off 12, knit across, etc. etc. This increases by 5 each time so it goes up in a triangular scarf with little twisty fringes. I think you can use any combination of cast on and offs depending on how long the fringe and how deep you want the triangle scarf to be. I just messed around with it. Sorry I don't have a picture. I am making another one out of a silk yarn.

Then I also finished the gray scarf with the maroon beads. It came out really well but again, I sold it before I even got a tag on it so all I have is a picture of it partially finished. It draped nicely and the beads gave it a nice shape.

I finished the smaller entrelac. Not as wide and not as long. It is really a scarf - not a shawl. I braided the fringe like the other one. It is now "for sale" but it is also expensive because of the time it took and the yarn. Don't know if it will sell as fast but really do think it is nice and was a lot of work! The yarn is the Spirit Freedom wool - so soft - same as the other but in reds, pinks and oranges. Really makes a nice blend.

Then surprise - I finished the Four Panel Jacket that I have been working on forever. It is from a Jamison's book, designed by Carol Lapin. I made it from Jamison's Shetland Wool - chunky in colour Arctic. It is so nice. I put a circle and pin clasp from Fleece Artist on it to close it. Again, this one has a high price so don't know if it will sell. The wool is really high quality I bought directly from Jamison's. It is nice to have it finished. I had to do an i-cord all around the whole piece and sleeves which was really tedious. It looks really nice on - like a swing coat. It fits and looks good on everyone. The hat was made by Doris.

Then - I made this crazy scarf out of the pom pom yarn I bought at Americo in Toronto. It is 100% Marino wool with pom poms sewn in so when you knit it the "balls" just appear at random. I made up a pattern (just a rib with a ruffle ends) on 12.5 needles. It went really fast and the scarf came out very funky. I like it.

The only rug hooking I have done is a Christmas coaster for our Christmas party. We exchange coasters. I got a lovely one and was happy when Shirley Bradshaw (my teacher and friend) got mind. We do this sort of random selection of the gifts so don't know who is going to get what. The first (the holly) is the one I made, the second is the one I picked - made by Odette Rohland. She did a beautiful job on shading the poinsettia.

Now we are settling in for Christmas. You should be receiving some surprises from us. We will miss you but know you will enjoy Paris (Texas) and seeing Nathan's family. Clay is coming on Sunday. We have had awful storms here - but not a lot of snow - just crazy wind, rain, sleet and freezing rain. It has also been very cold - for us.

Here is a picture of your bells from Nana. We put them out tonight - trying to get some decorating done. When we look at them we think of you.