Fireside Socks Done!

These won't win an award for speed knitting, but they're done! White is pretty plain and unexciting, plus it doesn't photograph all that well, but I've wanted some handknit white socks, so here they are.

"Fireside" isn't the name of the pattern, just the name I gave to the project, since these were started while enjoying the fire of our woodstove. They are actually the "Classy Slip Up Socks" from Knit Socks! 15 Cool Patterns For Toasty Feet by Betsy Lee McCarthy. You can read about that here.

What's next? Well, I still can't get to my loom, but if I can find my circular knitting needles, I may start on a blanket. I may be slow, but it's nice to have something creative to do.

Fireside Socks Done! photo and text are © 13 March 2010 by Leigh at Leigh's Fiber Journal.

Related Posts:
Fireside Sock Knitting

"Catzee's Cloth" Made the Complex Weavers Journal

If you can get your hands on a copy of the February 2010 Complex Weavers Journal, turn to page 13. On the bottom half of the page, featured as one of the participants of the 2009 Tied Weaves Study Group, there I am. Or rather, there's the Summer-and-Winter fabric I wove...

...inspired by my tortoiseshell cat, Catzee. The write up includes a black and white photo of a sample and the draft.

You can see color photos and read more of the details of the project on my following posts:

• Inspired By Catzee - Where the idea came from and how I developed the draft from a barcode of Catzee's name
  
• Catzee's Cloth - on loom progress and a close-up
• An Unexpected Wrinkle - How I came to name it "Tortie Trails" and the problem I had with wet finishing it.

Of course it's an honor to be "published," even if it's only as a contributing member of a study group. But this sample is special to me because of Catzee.

She disappeared at the end of last August. In spite of turning the world upside down to find her, we never did, nor have a clue as to what happened. I have grieved over her more than I ever have any other cat. I still have to catch myself, and not allow the sadness to overwhelm me again, by focusing on happier thoughts.

Anyway, I just wanted to share this with you. I learned a lot by participating in the study group, and plan to do another someday, whenever we finally get settled and establish a routine on the homestead. Even though this blog isn't very active, I still appreciate every one of you who visits, especially those of you who are regulars and visit my homestead blog too! Thank you!

"Catzee's Cloth" Made the Complex Weavers Journal photos and text are © 7 March 2010 by Leigh at Leigh's Fiber Journal.

Sock Progress & A Thrift Store Find

By Leigh

Fireside sock progress?

Slow, but getting there.

Thrift store find?

This neat woven bag.

I'm not sure what the fiber content is, nor if it was handwoven. But it was only 50 cents so how could I resist?

Posted 3 March 2010 at http://leighsfiberjournal.blogspot.com by Leigh

Related Posts:
Fireside Sock Knitting
1st Fireside Sock Done

Got Sheeps?

By Leigh

I do!

Tina (A Blip on the Radar) did a very sweet thing this year and sent out Valentine's gifts, of which Rascal and I were lucky recipients! We got quite a few goodies, but this is the one I absolutely had to share with you, sheep soaps. Aren't they neat? They are definitely "do not use" soaps and deserve special display in my bathroom.

Thank you Tina!

Got Sheeps? © Feb 21, 2010

by Leigh at Leigh's Fiber Journal

I Won!

By Leigh

I won this totally cool t-shirt from Basically Benita. She had a give-away and I was one of two lucky winners! She and her husband Scott have been developing a line of t-shirts, and this design is one of their first.

That's not all! They have two more designs here and here.

Benita and Scott will be opening up a webstore soon, with these and more. Keep an eye on her blog for details.

Thank you Benita! I will wear it with pride.

Posted 5 February 2010 at http://leighsfiberjournal.blogspot.com