yarn – Ruth E. Hendricks Photography

Yarn: The Daily Prompt

Yarn is the Daily Prompt at WordPress. Not a photo challenge but Michelle W says “Write a new post in response to today’s one-word prompt.” YARN

Spin it, weave it, hook it,

graft it, embroider, wind it in a ball.

Hoard it, stash it, collect skeins to knit.

Knit and purl mittens, ribbed pumpkins, scarves

no one in your family or list of friends

ever asked to receive.

“Mom, I think we all have enough hats. ”

Create shawls of comfort, like hugs

striped socks and hooded baby sweaters

with duck buttons or monkeys.

Think of the recipient while you repeat

the motions of each stitch.

In, around, down through and off

In, around, down through and off-

off the needles.

Tens of thousands stitches with strands of yarn

turn into garments, stave off the chill.

April 30, 2017May 1, 2017 by Ruth Categories: knitting, PhotographyTags: baby sweaters, crochet, daily prompt, Knit, knitting, photography, postaday, yarn 17 Comments

Multiple Factors Affect the Size of Your Knitting

Multiple factors affect the size of your knitting.

*Knitting needle size and type of needle (wood or metal).

*The thickness and weight and number ply of the yarn you use from a lace weight to super bulky. Best to stick to pattern guidelines and suggestions or be prepared to do some tricky math calculations. And pray.

*Your inner tension- yes- there are loose knitters and tight knitters and those in between. Some people go UP a needle size or two and some knitters go DOWN a needle size or two to get the correct gauge. You knit the way you knit and it isn’t easy to alter the tension. Everyone is different. You get to know pretty soon where you fall on the gauge continuum.

*Checking gauge is crucial for successful outcomes. Once I knit a sweater for a high school bf and the woman at the yarn store ripped out the ENTIRE SWEATER in front of my eyes. I am not kidding.

*At the beginning of a pattern you can see the requirements for yarn type, needle size and the gauge is – how many stitches per inch, how many rows per inch.

Here’s a quote from Craftsy site (and you can click it for more info about knitting gauge adjustment)

Gauge is the number that determines how big or small your knitted project will turn out, so learning how to make adjustments to your gauge is necessary if you want to avoid ripping out your project and starting all over again.

Today after the sad task of attending a funeral together, two friends and I went to lunch on Carson Street on the South Side.

Deb brought her knitted Christmas stockings.

The smaller one was knit 32 years ago for her daughter and Deb added the little knitted skirt to the original pattern. The second one was knit this Christmas for her daughter’s new husband. A different needle size. Ooops!

Plus, Deb noticed that the first stocking she knit was going a different direction than the one she made for her daughter’s husband. Double Ooops!

I asked if I could photograph the stockings and she agreed- as long as I didn’t put her in the pic.

Deb used a different needle size for sure. She’s already started another one.

And now she has to make the pattern in reverse so the stocking will hang the same direction. Thanks Deb for allowing me to photograph the stockings you knit as an illustration for gauge today. Nicely knit!

January 5, 2017 by Ruth Categories: knittingTags: Christmas Stocking, Craftsy, friendship, holiday, knitting, knitting gauge, knitting needle, photography, postaday, tension, yarn 14 Comments

Learning to Knit Mittens

Five hours in. Knitting a mitten. A Baby Alpaca yarn mitten. I looked at the clock. I knew what time I turned on the TV and what time I turned it off .Time to stop knitting and get to bed.

The Weekly Photo Challenge is relax but I remember some people found learning to knit stressful. Have to get past the possibly awkward part of learning the basics before you get to the Zen. Holding the needles. Finding the right place to stick the point.

My friend Ann texted (after a volley of texts about the miserable weather and whether we really NEEDED yarn) that she’d pick me up and we’d go to Oakmont to the Yarns by Design store. She brought a fingerless mitt and a matching cowl she’d completed and since I had the same pattern at home –Susan B. Anderson Waiting for Winter Mittens pattern– I felt inspired to knit mittens Thanks, Ann.

Now I Thought I’d start the new effort in the morning .. but the new yarn spoke to me and I started.

Ann said they worked up faster than socks. She’s right about that!

December 7, 2016December 7, 2016 by Ruth Categories: knitting, PhotographyTags: baby alpaca, friend, knitting, mittens, oakmont, photography, Pittsburgh PA, postaday, relax, Susan B. Anderson, weather, yarn, Yarns by Design 12 Comments

Yarnbyrds: A Gourmet Yarn Truck

My son-in-law James saw a story about a yarn store on wheels. Here’s the clip on Columbus television. YARNBYRDS,LLC THE YARN TRUCK

James knows I like to knit and enjoy good yarn so this morning he sent me a link from the local paper aticle about Yarnbyrds Columbus Dispatch.

A converted RV is a yarn store? I’m in!

The ~~Food Truck~~ craze has inspired a gourmet Yarn Truck. What a wonderful idea.

Found the phone number and called Robin and this evening I was able to go and visit “Birdie” ( the mobile yarn store’s nickname) and make some wonderful gourmet yarn purchases, too.

Here’s Yarnbirds website for details on the delicious yarn and a calendar of where Birdie will be parked, so you can check it out, too! A terrific selection to choose from- I know I’ll be back.

What a cool idea. Here is the owner/ proprietor Robin Richey.

Birdie the Yarnbyrds Mobile Yarn Store

Facebook Instagram Ravelry

Yarnbyrds Logo

Exterior of Birdie

Robin’s husband Tom did all the LED lighting in the truck and so all the yarn shows in true color which is really important in a yarn store! He’s an electrical engineer.

Robin creates the project bags. There’s jewelry and Drunk Yarn kits for dying.

Yarnbyrds on Facebook

November 14, 2016November 14, 2016 by Ruth Categories: PhotographyTags: Central Ohio, Columbus OH, crochet, family, fiber arts, food truck, knitting, Mobile Yarn Store, people at work, photography, postaday, Recreational Vehicle, RV, sock yarn, yarn, Yarn Truck, Yarnbyrds 13 Comments

Lunenburg Nova Scotia-Guest Blog

Today I received a skein of sock yarn in the mail from my friend Joanne. The name of the colorway is beach glass. She sent a little bag of smooth beach glass, too. Here’s the photo I took of the yarn

Here are the photos Joanne emailed to me today.

“Here are a few photos from Lunenburg – such a lovely little town.
The Mariner’s Daughter is the yarn store.
A few street scenes.
Our lunch – mussels with garlic and cream; and a lobster roll.”The Mariner’s Daughter

October 26, 2016October 26, 2016 by Ruth Categories: PhotographyTags: beach glass, Canada, friendship, guest blog, knitting, Lunenburg, Nova Scotia, photography, postaday, sock yarn, The Mariner's Daughter, yarn 9 Comments

The Quest for Sock Yarn in Alaska

Alaskan sock yarn was the quest. And this was the place to find it.

I ‘d researched on the computer from Pittsburgh, prior to our trip.

Knitty Stash is the home of Alaskan Yarn Company , right in Homer, Alaska where we were headed.

Gorgeous hand painted sock yarn with special Alaskan colorway names that invite you to knit your Alaskan experience, right into a pair of socks ( or shawl, cowl, etc) “Our Alaskan color way: Kachemak Bay, Lupine, Arctic Autumn, Northern Lights and Fireweed and Denail Autumn and High Bush Cranberry” You can click here to see what they look like knitted up

Yarn store number three on the great Northwest adventure.

You meet the nicest people. My friend Lisa and I went back on Tuesday night and watched the three women use spinning wheels, turning fiber into yarn.

Meet shop owner Jules and her sweet dog Ruby.

Jules made the knitting artwork out of duct tape with the help of a friend! Weatherproof..

You can see some of the colorways on the wall in this shot. I focused on Jules so the background a bit soft focus.

My quest was satisfied and I mailed some skeins the next day. It was here, waiting for me when I got home. I’ve wound one colorway already. Will keep you posted.

Here are the colors close up, borrowed from Knitty Stash site so you can see how lush they are.

I did not take the yarn photo below, but I wish I had bought all the colors and taken it! Thanks Jules. screen-shot-2016-09-25-at-11-48-28-pm p.s. If you missed my 4/27/16 post on The Satisfaction of Sock Knitting you can read it here

September 25, 2016 by Ruth Categories: dogs, PhotographyTags: Alaska Sock Yarn, Alaska Yarn Company, Denali, dog, fireweed, Homer Alaska, Kachemak Bay, knitting, Knitty Stash, northern lights, people at work, photography, postaday, spinning, travel, yarn, yarn shop 20 Comments

Wooley Mama’s on Apple Street- Omak, Washington

Wooley Mama’s

Meet Laura Hayner. And Shadow. What a sweet doggie. She follows Laura everywhere.

She is spinning fleece of some local sheep.

Here’s a skein of some of her handspun yarn from a spinning workshop. It was a grab bag of different fibers and has a really cool and varied look to it.

Spoiler Alert for Christmas Gifts- Made in the U.S.A.- World’s Warmest Socks for Winter. I’m sure she’d be happy to send you some. They are thick and cushy. Perfect in a big boot or to wear around a drafty house.

Thanks Laura for welcoming us to your lovely shop. Love the name of your store.

Thanks for showing us your logo. My sister likes the buttons she bought, too.

I enjoyed seeing your spinning and will enjoy knitting all the yarn I bought and shipped to myself. It’s great you get your fiber from local ranches and farms- 4R Ranch in Tonasket and Good Farms in Okanogan for two.

September 20, 2016September 20, 2016 by Ruth Categories: People at Work, PhotographyTags: alpaca, dog, dreamcatcher, farm, handknit, handspun, knitting, Omak WA, people at work, photography, postaday, ranch, spinning, travel, wool, Wooley Mama's, yarn 9 Comments

Prickly

Cactus at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center

Hill Country Weavers – yarn store on South Congress

April 11, 2016 by Ruth Categories: PhotographyTags: Austin TX, cactus, knitting, nature, photography, postaday, travel, wildlowers, yarn 11 Comments

Yarnphoria in Philadelphia

Knitters find yarn stores when they travel. It’s fun to buy souvenir yarn. Add to the stash. I bought sock yarn dyed after a Monet painting. When I wear them I’ll remember our time in Philadelphia. Of course I have to knit them first.

I bought a size one needle (similar to a toothpick) that is an 8 inch circular and will learn to master making a sock on it after I watch the video a few more times.

You can become creatively inspired in new directions in a new yarn shop.

I was fortunate I had time to knit on this trip.

I walked to Yarnphoria 1016 Pine Street from our hotel. Several times!

The wooden swift and ball winder, used expertly by Yarnphoria owner, Dona.

Gertie, the rescue dog who helps mind the store, liked my lap.

In fact, I think she likes everyone’s lap. There’s a sweet pic of her on the store’s FB page.

Fingering, sock, lace weight, worsted, bulky, chunky are all yarn weights.

Colors arrange like an artist’s palette.

Planning a project out of the “American Wildflowers Collection” cotton yarn made in Philadelphia by Made in America Yarns

(Those are Dona’s cool shoes she got on Etsy)

Rings Around the Collar Pattern. Now that’s a cowl!!!

Proprietor Donna, originally from New York, designs and knits the dresses with gorgeous yarns.

She has great energy to help calculate yardage, do all that knitting math- and I sat and swatched the yarn to get my correct gauge before I left the store. She wound all my yarn for a special project (SPOILER ALERT!)

Not just different weights but all types of fiber content from cotton, bamboo, mohair, silk, merino wool to super luxurious cashmere. You name it.
FB Yarnphoria page

Here’s a review I found online –

“Adorable shop! Fantastic yarn! The owner is amazing and will help you with anything you need. What yarn to use for what time of year, what yarn to use for babies, anything you need. If you’re a beginner or advanced, she is just amazing – and she knits/crochets? castles! And hats! And dresses! She can make anything and wants to help you make anything as well. A perfect location for a perfect shop. Of the 5 yarn stores I’ve been to in my life, this takes the cake by far.”

March 7, 2016March 8, 2016 by Ruth Categories: knitting, PhotographyTags: cashmere, cotton, design, fashion, knitting, Philadelphia PA, photography, Pine Street, postaday, silk, travel, wool, yarn, Yarn bombing, yarn shop, yarn store 29 Comments

Knitting Socks – with a little help from experts

This post started with Steve bringing me a bowl of beanie weanies for Sunday night supper.

I looked at the color of the bowl, the sock I was knitting, and the teal of my new robe from Christmas. ( thank you, V- it is very cozy)

I try to keep the blog IRT for the most part.

The last sock yarn I used was for a Sockhead Hat by Kelly McClure Pattern (thanks for the Chocolate and Cherries yarn,Toni).

Then I thought of all the references I am using to tutor myself to knit socks again. Reading about the knitting is good preparation.

I’d started a pair of socks simultaneously on two circular needles about two years ago. (Thanks for the yarn, Molly) but bought new size one double point needles yesterday to knit them singly.

I used to worry about “SSS- second sock syndrome.” Listened to Alicia and Natalie on a Mastering the Knits Podcast talk about socks and yarn and more socks and felt inspired.

Also, my long time friend, E, brought me a Christmas gift. A book –Knit Socks! –shaped like a sock -by Betsy Lee McCarthy

The two books have exclamation marks in their titles.

Additional References pictured above

-The glare of the Round white OTT light -so I can see on a winter night

– Susan B Anderson “How I Knit My Socks”

Susan’s Blog link
-Stephanie Pearl-McPhee Knitting Rules!

Yarn Harlot link

January 11, 2016 by Ruth Categories: knitting, PhotographyTags: Betsy Lee McCarthy, food, knitting, knitting socks, socks, Stephanie Pearl-McPhee, supper, Susan B. Anderson, winter, yarn 15 Comments

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