knitting – Ruth E. Hendricks Photography

A Shout Out

Meet Andrea Panzica, owner of 614 Knit Studio in Clintonville, Columbus, Ohio. Here she helps me show off my finished object. She had helped me choose yarns for the Westknits Mystery Knit Along when I was visiting the family in October 2022. The yarn is Ansel fingering weight Jill Draper Makes Stuff yarn. I wanted to show Andrea the yarn knit up into the shawl from the yarn she’d helped me select. You might remember Andrea from the Great Lakes Fiber Festival post.

I frogged the start of Twists and Turns and knit Stephen West’s design Vertices Unite instead.

Here Andrea sporting her Stephen West Shawl MKAL from 2020 Slipstravaganza when I was choosing yarn last fall.

When the yarn was knit into the start of “Twists and Turns” Mystery Knit Along – October 2022

August 14, 2023 by Ruth Categories: knitting, PhotographyTags: 614 Knit Studio, Jill Draper Knits Stuff, knitting, photography, postaday, Shawl, Stephen West, travel, Vertices Unite, Westknits, yarn 11 Comments

The Great Lakes Fiber Show in Wooster Ohio

Last week when I was visiting my two Columbus, Ohio families, I popped into 614 Knit Studio to get a sock needle and some sock yarn to knit men’s socks. Believe it or not, I hadn’t taken enough knitting projects with me. I ended up staying almost ten days instead of five and had completed two projects. Thought I’d get a jump on some Christmas knitting.

When I was at the shop, a sign on the door said the shop was going to be closed Memorial Day Weekend because they were going to be a vendor at the Great Lakes Fiber Show in Wooster Ohio. When I entered Wooster into my Maps App it was a mere hour and fifteen minutes from Laura’s house and on the way home (sort of) to Pittsburgh.

Here’s owner 614 Knit Studio Owner Andrea Panzica

I bought a merit badge pin for a couple of knitting friends. I had to tell Andrea it was because of her sign at her shop that I came to the Great Lakes Fiber Show

Look at this gorgeous Studio Dog Fibers yarn they are featuring

Here are some of the vendors I met at the show. People at Work

Do you have a Spinning Wheel that needs repair or servicing? Here is Ed Jr. Ed the Wheel Healer. Located in Oberlin,Ohio you’ll have to email or give him a phone call as they are not on social media.

Look at all these Inkle Looms! Chuck and Angie own Egill’s Woostuffs

Here’s Chuck with a cutting board of Spalted Walnut, Cherry and ____?_____and Angie with a handmade loom.

Chuck ELECTROCUTES some of the wood for this effect. He showed me a video of the process

Recycled Yarn Co has an Etsy shop sells cranked tubes to make socks by adding cuff, heels and toes. I’ve knit several pairs of Opal yarn socks and it’s hardy and long wearing. Thanks to my friend Terry who introduced me to the brand.

Joanna’s Boutique has the most beautiful silk scarves and clothing with nature prints. She sells roving and fiber, buttons at her Etsy shop

Merino wool sneakers for sale from WOOLLOOMOOLOO

Knitting Needle Jewelry by Bur Oak Studio from Danville Indiana

I bought a basket (woven in Ghana) from Frog It Yarns I’ll use it to hold my front porch knitting

How about these custom wooden needles by Ann Carpenter? And the cotton cord is made in Poland from recycled clothing.

Watch a short Sheep Herding Demonstration on YouTube

thank you Andrea for telling me about the Great Lakes Fiber Show

May 29, 2023May 29, 2023 by Ruth Categories: dogs, Fiber Art, knitting, PhotographyTags: 614 Knit Studio, Columbus OH, crochet, Great Lakes Fiber Show, knitting, photography, postaday, rabbits, sheep, spinning, travel, Wayne County Fairgrounds, weaving, wool, Wooster Ohio, yarn 18 Comments

The Volunteers Bronze Statue Guest Blog

Thank you Joanne who sent the article and photographs from Halifax

The Volunteers Bronze Statue in Halifax, at the Waterfront, Nova Scotia (click link for article written when the monument was unveiled in 2017)

“The bronze sculpture, called “The Volunteers,” features three life-sized figures from three generations: A young girl pulling a wagon full of salvaged metal, an African-Nova Scotian woman holding a tray of coffee and sandwiches, and an older woman seated with a Mi’kmaq basket and knitting.”

The sculptor is Marlene Hilton Moore

Bronze Sculpture of Woman Knitting for the WWII Effort

May 26, 2023May 26, 2023 by Ruth Categories: Guest Blog, knitting, Photography, sculptureTags: Canada, guest blog, Halifax, Halifax Women’s History Society, history, knitting, Marlene Hilton Moore, Mi’kmaq, Nova Scotia, postaday, sculpture, The Volunteers, weaving, WWII 4 Comments

Local Yarn Store Day is Saturday April 29th

Here’s a photo of McWalker Yarns owner Amy McCall holding the photo I took of her as she opened the store in April 2018. Standing with her is fabulous crochet artist Melissa White (who is also an employee) The photo shows how much the store’s inventory has grown!

McWalker Yarns in Millvale PA is celebrating their fifth anniversary and Local Yarn Store Day. There are special sales and prizes for shoppers this Saturday April 29th. Amy says in her latest newsletter “To celebrate this special occasion, I asked Toni at Raggz Fiber Art to create an exclusive assigned-pooling colorway for us to be named “The Yarn Shop at the End of the Rainbow.” Wow, has she outdone herself! We have, for now, a limited number of skeins of this amazing colorway in fingering weight. These will go on sale on Saturday (4/29) at the anniversary party (and are destined not to last”

A solid community of fiber enthusiasts has flourished, even during pandemic times. It was during these long months that McWalker began mail order sales, curbside pick-up and hosted Zoom meetings several times a Week. There were classes and make-alongs, friendships formed, even during isolation.

Here’s the post created upon the store’s April 2018 opening Millvale Welcomes McWalker Yarns

also the First Anniversary post is here

Congratulations to Amy on bringing her dream into reality. A dream where we share in the yarny goodness and positive vibes. When entering the store there’s a welcoming spirit. It’s a wonderful local yarn store.

April 27, 2023 by Ruth Categories: knitting, Photography, small businessTags: anniversary, celebration, crochet, knitting, Local Yarn Store, McWalker Yarns, Millvale PA, photography, postaday, yarn 5 Comments

Wordless Wednesday

April 4, 2023 by Ruth Categories: knitting, PhotographyTags: #thegirlwhowearswoolsocks, Easter, egg cozies, eggs, holiday, knitting, photography, Pittsburgh PA, postaday 25 Comments

Baby Roy Examines My Scrappy Sock

Six months old and checking for a dropped stitch?

February 10, 2023February 10, 2023 by Ruth Categories: Childhood, knitting, PhotographyTags: childhood, Columbus OH, grandson, handknit socks, knitting, photography, postaday, scrappy sock 20 Comments

Midwest Yarn Iowa City- Guest Blog

Joanne writes from Iowa today….

“Just like my friend Ruth, I search out yarn shops when I travel, hoping to find local yarn.

I’m visiting my daughter in Iowa this week and made a quick visit to the Home Ec. Workshop.

Located in a lovely old red Victorian-style home, the shop offers supplies and inspiration for quilting, crafting, sewing, and a full selection of mostly natural-fiber yarns for knitting and crochet.

It was fun to visit and chat with the owner Codi Josephson, who shared that the shop was recently featured in Better Homes & Gardens Quilt Sampler magazine (Spring/Summer 2022 issue). I came away with a few treasures …. a fabric project bag and some fabric to make a few more. And I found a locally dyed yarn called Ewe & Lea. I loved all the colors, so ended up with five skeins …. wonder what projects I’ll be knitting up!” —Joanne

P.S. You can shop online, if you aren’t headed to Iowa City anytime soon. I bought some sock yarn (on sale) for a friend. -Ruth

The fabric- teacups, teabags and colorful buttons

**Jen Hewett** Project Bag holding the **Punkin Head** hat Joanne is knitting for her grandson
(**click** for Tara Thomsen’s free pattern)

September 8, 2022September 8, 2022 by Ruth Categories: knitting, Photography, QuiltingTags: Better Homes and Gardens, crochet, fabric, guest blog, Home Ec Workshop, inspiration, Iowa City, Midwest, photography, postaday, Pumpkin hat, quilting, small business, teacups, travel, yarn 7 Comments

North East – More Than a Direction

There is a town in Pennsylvania called North East. Yes, that’s the name of the town, not just a direction. About 150 miles north of Pittsburgh, near Erie, it turns out it’s the northernmost town in PA.

My friend Roberta went to the North East Farmer’s Market and saw a vendor with yarn! There were chairs behind the display table and knitters sitting and knitting. She told them about her friend the knitter (me) and that I’d even been on a knitting cruise to Norway with Arne and Carlos . (If you’re unfamiliar with this creative duo who live in a Norway, you can click their name to learn about their creative designs.)

Sunday night Roberta came over to my front porch to celebrate my birthday. We shared Taiwanese takeout she had brought with her, Blackberries on vanilla ice cream and pizzelles were dessert.

Then I opened a surprise birthday gift she brought. It’s so cool she chose such lovely yarn for me and although she’s not a knitter, she knows I have a passion for it.

Yes, she knew I’d love the yarn from the Three Tulips Yarn Company “…dream up magical colorways in tiny, individual batches so that your project will be truly unique. We love yarn and believe that each stitch should be a joy to create.”

You can meet the team at Three Tulips Yarn Company here

Here is what she gave me

Colorful and feels so squishy and a teacup on the birthday card!

Hand-dyed Micro Batch Yarn by Three Tulips Yarn Company I think to make a Hat on the left /Socks on the right.

August 23, 2022 by Ruth Categories: knitting, PhotographyTags: birthday, celebration, Farmer's Market, friendship, hand dyed yarn, knitting, North East PA, photography, postaday, Three Tulips Yarn Company, yarn 15 Comments

World Wide Knit in Public Day

These photos are from World Wide Knit in Public Day 2017 post at Carnegie Library McKeesport branch.

Where will you knit today?

World Wide Knit in Public Day was founded by Astrid Salling. Click link to find a location (Japan,Hungary, Cape Town, Acapulco, or Millvale PA wherever you are – find location where fellow knitters will meet and knit.)

– “BETTER LIVING THROUGH STITCHING TOGETHER!”

June 10, 2022 by Ruth Categories: knitting, PhotographyTags: Carnegie Library, knitting, photography, Pittsburgh PA, postaday, World Wide Knit in Public Day 3 Comments

A Felted Bowl

My friend Ann in Colorado invited me to join her knitting group (via Zoom) one Friday afternoon. Everyone was knitting a woolen piece to be Felted into a bowl. it was fun to knit with them , virtually.

You have to use large knitting needles and 100% wool yarn to be sure it will felt. I was trying out Germantown yarn worsted by Kelbourne Woolens made in the USA. Our local yarn store, McWalker Yarns , had just gotten some in stock. I chose one 100 gram skein of Sage Green.

It took me a little under two hours to knit. I ran it through the front loader in hot water with old canvas sneakers, twice. A top loader is preferable for agitation and a quicker result.

Note:There are free knitting patterns to search online to make felted bowls. The pattern I used is in a book so can’t copy it.

I used a Pyrex bowl to get the shape as it dried

January 23, 2022 by Ruth Categories: knitting, PhotographyTags: Felted bowl, felting, Germantown yarn, Kelbourne Woolens, knitting, McWalker Yarns, photography, postaday, winter, worsted, yarn 6 Comments

Category: knitting

A Shout Out

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The Great Lakes Fiber Show in Wooster Ohio

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The Volunteers Bronze Statue Guest Blog

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Local Yarn Store Day is Saturday April 29th

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Wordless Wednesday

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Baby Roy Examines My Scrappy Sock

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Midwest Yarn Iowa City- Guest Blog

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North East – More Than a Direction

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World Wide Knit in Public Day

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A Felted Bowl

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