Saturday, February 20, 2010

Old News - Snow in the Lowcountry

"Whose woods these are I think I know. His house is in the village though; He will not see me stopping here To watch his woods fill up with snow."

Robert Frost




We rarely get to glimpse this white stuff here in the South Carolina Lowcountry. Last weekend Mother Nature treated us to a brief encounter with a little snow.


Here are a few sites spotted out and about the river. We haven't had a "ground covering" snow in this area since 1989. Our local squirrel pack seemed totally shocked and disoriented.


The recent cold rainy weather here has not been ideal for the beautiful camellias. Here are a few that haven't been too damaged.  They are dusted with a little frosty stuff!


The river looks like glass. There's a dusting of snow on the dock. Pretty tranquil . . . not like tropical storms that rip through here from time to time.



A little farther inland near Grays, the accumulation is a little thicker. This is near the pond at Baybottom.



Cold pines!!
There is a little knitting going on with "Olympics' watching" and staying warm by the fire.
My most active project at the moment is a vest from Oat Couture - Cotswold Vest. I am using some beautiful yarn that I purchased at Stitches South last spring. It is multicolored shepherd worsted by Lorna's Laces. It is hard to believe that wool could be SOOooooo Soft! Hope to post pictures of finished best before too long. Here's a preview. . .


This pattern uses slipped stitches to break up the color runs. I am enjoying learning as I go!


"The first fall of snow is not only an event, it is a magical event. You go to bed in one kind of a world and wake up in another quite different, and if this is not enchantment then where is it to be found?"

J. B. Priestley

Wednesday, February 10, 2010

First Felting Phenomenon


I am very excited to report on my very first felting project! This was a great patt!ern to learn a little about felting. Pretty simple, quick, and pleased with the end result! Can't ask for more!
This is "Vintage Bubble Bag" by Eva Weichmann.

Knitting begins in the round . . .



I used Cascade 220 (974 Delphinium) and Noro Silk Garden (273A). The pattern calls for 2 skeins of each.  The result is a bulky looking bag - before felting. I made the handles longer than specified in the pattern so that it could be used as a shoulder bag. My handles were approximately 40 inches long.



Hanging on the stair-rail - you can see how "oversized" the bag is . . .

After agitating in the washing machine for 10 minutes (and adding some extra hot water),  I could tell the bag was shrinking and the individual stitches were disappearing. 
Bubble bag is still drying out, but I am already pleased with the results!