Meanderings of a Mermaid

I've hat a love for you ever since I was a child. Father making me squint into the harsh sun; all while waiting for several family photos to be snapped. I hated that. I quickly learned to adopt a hat and sunglasses. Sun screen was added to the daily list once that modern marvel came along. And as an exploration geologist it was always important to be very observant. Whether doing the navigation in the co-pilot's seat, or trying to spot the gossanous glint on a far rock outcropping, or determine if that was a polar bear or just an arctic wolf stalking me,... it was always important to see well and see it all immediately. Therefore hats have always been very important to me. I still wear them all the time outside on a bright day. Hats can quickly add some panache to an otherwise plain outfit. They can put you in a playful mood. Some hats will lend an air of mystery to your persona! Suck in your cheeks and you too could be a jet setter about to fly off to the Riviera for some ...

Okay so here are a few pictures that tell the tale. The mosaic purse has been knit and now it needs to be lined. Here the purse is already sewn together, using the mattress stitch or invisible stitch. You are looking at the inside with all the floats and loose ends. In this next image is the cotton broadcloth lining. I used a frisky remnant of fabric I received from friends in New Zealand. I simply cut three pieces all just a little bigger than the outline of the three knit pieces. Then I sewed the cotton together on a machine. The top edges and strap edges all have a minimal hem folded over just once. And I ran the stitching line as close to the edge as I could. Here is a close up of the corner detail. You may need to lop off a triangle of cotton at each corner just to allow ease for making it around the bend. Drum roll please! Here the lining is going into the knit purse. A sneak peek at the lining before it gets sewn in. Normally I would recommend a plain light coloured lining,...

Somewhere along the line I decided that running a workshop for the area knitters would be a good idea. This, at a time, naturally, when I was quite busy already. Of course . After some careful thought, a list of five or so possible topics, some discussion and rudimentary voting, we settled on a mosaic knitting workshop. It is the simplest of the colourwork techniques and lots of fun. Then I set about to find a stitch pattern that would work. This is what I came up with. Since most of my stitch pattern books are at Home North, I relied on Vogue Stitchionary 3 to come up with the candidates. Pie Crust is the name, and a simple purse is the game. So in preparation for the workshop I am writing up the unique design and blocking the pieces prior to sewing it all up. I will eventually line the purse for added strength. For my version number one I will use crepe myrtle branches that need to be pruned anyways. Many options are possible for the simple handles: chopsticks, drumsticks, thin sp...

Here's what's on the needles right now. The yarn is Trendsetter "Serene"; a blend of silk, cotton, viscose, nylon, linen and a wee bit of silvery lurex. The colours are shades of grey and a sort of ivory or very light beige. I've paired it with a black possum wool I shipped back from New Zealand. So this is the bottom of the back of the shawl. As it will venture over the shoulders I will split it for the neck. Two sides will be worked independently, making a cape-like front that can be closed with a shawl pin or buttons or what have you. This one is being done plain but I already have ideas for textured or lacy ones.

So is it just the cold medication I'm taking, or have my sparrows suddenly blossomed out into something more delectable? Only in Texas would the sparrows be this large. Everything is big in Texas. Sing around the campfire, join the campfire girls? Hmmm . Why did I drive all the way to the grocery store today, when supper came strutting by? "Officer, I swear that bird attacked me. I had to defend myself. Then pluck it and bleed it ; dip it and bread it; brown it and roast it...." When I'm home being sick with a cold and under siege by monster sparrows I knit. This is a short scarf I made using two balls of alpaca yarn. This is so soft to the touch and very warm. The stitch pattern in the Siemens Brioche, which is completely reversible. I found in Natalie Marchant's Brioche book. There's a plethora of beautiful inspiration in that book. ..I wonder ...what kind of wine goes best with sparrow?...

The before . This beauty came with the house. Workable. And after ! Pretty eh? Best of all it works on a thermostat , so the busy mermaid doesn't have to worry about it.

So here it is! 2011 - 1 is completed. Well as far as I can tell right now. It's hard to embroider with chunky wool on thick garter stitch fabric. But I do like the rustic/primitive look of the animals. This can be used as a baby blanket or a mat for junior on the floor. I added the blanket stitch border to stress the rustic aspect. Ah, and this might just wind up as design project number three for 2011 Number two was the neckwarmer described in the last post) . I am knitting up a pile of sea stars. Framed in lace, the six petalled stars are quite easy to knit up. I may combine them with a watery lace panel to make a shawl or a poncho. Hmm . Or it may become a blanket. I haven't decided yet. The difference between blocked and unblocked. Mind you, the scrunched up one in the centre does look like it could scuttle across the blocking board at any moment. I just saw it move....did you see it move? ???