SOCK WOOLIGAN NOW AVAILABLE

OKAY, I finally got my act together and edited “Sock Wooligan” for anyone who might be interested.  This was designed for the Fleece to Foot Challenge at Sock Summit ’11 this year and was an honorable mention.  Stephanie Pearl-McPhee, herself, told me she thought it was awesome…after I got up from fainting flat out, I felt pretty good.  It is now in my online Ravelry Store and I will be thrilled no end if you like it.  If you don’t, I will continue to design anyway.

 

SOCK WOOLIGAN

 

Today was tough for our son.  His football team made the “Superbowl”.  He went to every practice and game.  He lost 30 pounds to be at weight for this sport.  After all that, they played him only as a sub, because injured kids who had been out for WEEKS came back to play this game.  He didn’t get nearly the play time he had hoped for and I would really like to find someone to go pound right now…not a great example to set, fortunately, he doesn’t read my blog.  My friend Kathy came and watched the game with us, and Brian was thrilled to have his own cheering section.  I am very proud of him.  The coach…that’s another story altogether.

I think I will go knit some lace and chew on a rawhide bone…no calories.

love and light always, Mary Ellen

 

New Patterns From Frog Tree Yarns

This morning I received the go-ahead to post the first four patterns to join the Frog Tree Family of my design.  There is also hope that in about two weeks there will be a new scarf/shawlette pattern ready to post on Ravelry…fingers crossed.  I also have a new shawl in the works…not lace…but knit side to side with a new edging.  It will be knit out of Frog Tree Yarns Chunky Alpaca.  I have test knitters on the pattern right now.  For the time being, it can be referred to as the Sea Green Thing.  Here are photos of the newest patterns you can find at your LYS or order from me and I will ship them to you (just drop a note in my email!):

The FiddleHead sock...so named because it resembles the ornate carvings on the head of a violin. Ribbing is combined with rope cables and a floral lace stitch in an easy to remember stitch pattern, both written out and charted. The test knitters at Summit Yarn were very enthusiastic about this pattern and I do hope you enjoy it too! When ordering ask for pattern number FT-245. And...Thank You!

 

The Lady Jane Wrap came into being in answer to the requests of knitters frustrated with trying to guess how much yarn to budget for the final edging of shawls. In answer, this shawl is knit side to side and both top and bottom lace edgings are knit at the same time. Though it resemble Whipped, it is a completely different construction and not an update. Please remember the body of the shawl can be knit with any stitch you choose: Stockinette Stitch, Garter Stitch, file:///Users/maryellenlangieri/Downloads/photo-17.JPGSeed Stitch...etc. This becomes a lovely knitting experience, and leaves you with an elegant piece to wear when the knitting is complete. When asking for this pattern at your LYS, as for pattern number FT-244.

 

FLOCK WOOLIGAN PART ONE

 

FLOCK WOOLIGAN PART TWO...A FLOCK OF 24 SHEEP FOR EWE TO COLLECT!

 

Meet Winnifred Wensleydale Wooligan...the minx who began all of this. She is the matriarch of the Wooligan Clan. The pattern is now available with the names of all 24 sheep just for Ewe to knit. When asking for this pattern at your LYS, please request FT-261...and Summit Yarn Thanks You!

 

The Heirloom Baby Blanket is a reversible and easy-to-remember stitch pattern using only knits and purls. The texture appears lightly embossed for a classic look. The Heirloom Baby Blanket is a quick and pleasurable knit you are going to want to do again and again for those much loved little people in your life. When requesting this pattern, please ask for pattern number FT-257...and I thank you from the bottom of my heart!

 

and finally, today’s cuteness:  I was getting my son ready for football the other day and I kept hearing “Mouw…Mouw Mouw!”, louder and louder.  I finally looked up to see Nikkers flirting with me shamelessly on top of the stair bannister over the foyer.  Here is the same photo from this morning from a higher vantage point, in case I needed to resue the little rascal:

Nikkers, the netless trapeze artist, and his brother, Sputters in the foreground. I apparently am "MaaouwMaouw".

 

with love, light and laughter always, Mary Ellen and all things Summit Yarn  xoxox

 

 

 

Photoessay Sunday…In No Particular Order

Tomorrow morning I ship a huge box of goodies off to Frog Tree Yarns.  All the Flock Wooligan kits ordered at TNNA are assembled.  There are several samples, new Pediboo swatches and one darling pink Sheep Wooligan.  It feels awesome to have all these to do’s crossed off my list.  I am continuing on the Live Oak Shawlette, into a second repeat of chart a and I think I can get a third repeat of that chart before I have to do the final edging chart.  Will keep you updated.

Flowers from Lisa still looking awesome....the smaller pointy flower spike is just halfway opened up.

 

Nikkers at his post on the back of my chair.

 

 

Nikkers shows Mommy who's boss!

 

Chris shared a photo of her vegetable garden at her vacation home. It is so orderly...ours, like the studio, is much more random.

 

Chris works on her Flounce scarf...garter stitch over nine stitches on a US10 or US11.

 

Mimi showing the feed bucker who's boss.

 

Brian found this image on something at the local sporting goods store! LOL!

 

Uncle Dude gives his chemo cap a thnmb's up!

 

Only two out of three cats prefer fresh catnip...the third recoils in horror at the "awful" smell. Not the reaction I expected.

 

Smidgen watches the boys from a safe distance.

 

Sinfonia wanted some of that catnip too.

 

Sputters loves his Papa so very much.

 

Back I go to my lace knitting.  Waiting for the shipment of this month’s Colinette Jitterbug so I can swatch out the new sock.  Take care and more tomorrow!  with light, love and laughter,

Mary Ellen aka TheHumanLoom

 

Flock Wooligan FLOUNCE! Fauxberry

OMG!  Did someone say FLOUNCE?  YES, I just got off the phone with Knitting Fever and a bag in every color is on the way.  The new colors can be found on the company’s website and I will not know the retail price until the shipment arrives with the invoice.  If you are interested, I can take pre-orders.  Just email me with your name, email address, and details of the colors you would like and quantities.  I am happy to ship…if you need this please include those pertinent details as well.  When the Flounce arrives, I will post here on the blog.  I know you all are eagerly waiting for this yarn because I find that someone has searched it everyday in the search stats.  Thanks for your patient wait.

Suzy modeling FAUXBERRY in one of many styles it can be wrapped.

 

Put the scarf on "backwards" and wrap and drape to suit yourself.

 

Frog Tree received the document for this pattern today in their email and sent it off to their graphic designer, Marcia (who, by the way is completely AWESOME!).  Tricia (president of Frog Tree Yarns) promised to let me know as soon as this pattern is printed and available, as it was very popular at TNNA.

I finished the writing of the Fleece To Foot Competition pattern today but still have to test knit, edit and type.  The deadline is July 8th and approaching all too rapidly.  Now I am making lists of names for this super secret project and I wish I could ask for help…!  I also began typing up the Flock Wooligan sheep pattern.  These Pediboo sheep began as just a simple display idea for this year’s TNNA.  Just knitting all 24 of them in time was an adventure (thanks AGAIN AND AGAIN to Lisa for knitting ears/tails/feet!).  It never entered my imagination Cat Bordhi would even notice them or that other people would want knit kits of these lovable little adventurers.   (The kits were Cat Bordhi’s idea; she and a friend of hers who is also a designer gave some really awesome ideas!)   At the show we took some custom orders, and I am putting those kits together as we speak.  From here on out, the sheep will be available in kits of six, just like the Pediboo Colorpacks.  More information to follow.  The Flock is currently at home on the back of Tricia and Chet’s couch (owners of Frog Tree Yarns) in Cape Cod.  They are quite happy to be resting after all their miles of travel.  Here are the pictures from their trip:

The original Frog Tree Sport Alpaca sheep, a Wensleydale named, Winifred Wooligan, who started this all and her Shepherdess.

 

The last nine sheep on the day of their completion...all ears in the wind!

 

Lisa and I in her beautiful garden with the Flock, their first official outing.

 

The Flock Wooligan were the Darlings to meet at this year's TNNA! They have a special place in their heart for Cat Bordhi!

The Flock modeling with Cat Bordhi's Zebra Pediboo Socks (I think these socks have her newest heel architechture)!

 

A Wooligan made just for Cat Bordhi after her much appreciated sharing of the sheep with attendees at TNNA. This is Zeb Ewedhia Wooligan, the Only.

 

This is Chet Petkiewicz, co-owner of Frog Tree Yarns, giving Zeb a protected place to wait for Cat.

 

The orange Pediboo arrived for my friend's chemocaps, neckwarmers and socks...they are there in potentia.

 

My son and his beloved cat, Durga. This is a rare scene. Usually, the only time Durga is on the bed is after Brian is fully asleep. So if Durga is not on the bed I know someone is playing possum.

 

both boys balked at having their picture taken...go figure...

 

So, I have an afghan square to knit tonight, the next section of the competition sock, and maybe I will treat myself to a few rows of my Spectra Scarf!  Take care, more photos tomorrow and the next installment of Arsenic and Old Lace KAL.

with love, laughter and light,  Mary Ellen and Summit Yarn

 

 

A Firestarter In Every Flock

There just has to be a firestarter in every flock.  In Flock Wooligan, her name is Ewelonda.  She seems to have some attitude adjustment issues and got the whole flock into a complete dither today.  It all must have begun sometime after I finished putting Hewegh (Hugh) together and into the corral with the rest of the flock.  I know I was feeling very pleased with myself for completing sheep number thirteen…getting closer to that ten sheep countdown!  Here is how they all looked:

Hewegh is in the back row patiently waiting for his face and other assorted parts.

You would think this would all be a non-issue, right?  Well, I did. I went back to the table and made the next sheep for the flock, Violette, and she looks awesome!

Violette is also patiently waiting for her adornments.

And just like before with Hewegh, I get up to go put her in the corral so she can get to know the rest of the flock.  What do I find?  The flock is in complete chaos…everything and everyone has run amok.  Ewelonda somehow convinced them that Hewegh was a ZOMBIE and any sheep that were still missing legs were for sure going to become ZOMBIES too!  The sheep with legs all jumped out of the corral, right on top of each other.  The ones without legs crapped so hard and so fast they propelled themselves into a corner as far away from poor Hewegh as they could get.  And I don’t even want to know how Ewelonda made it out of the corral and up on top of my newly blocked Victorian Baby Bonnet!

When the Flock Wooligan ran amok today...sigh...

I did manage to get everybody under control and convince them that NOBODY was a Zombie or even going to become a Zombie…and it took some fast talking because Ewelonda really had them all completely freaked out.  Ewelonda now has her own special corral and if she doesn’t get herself under control she got told she will be put in with the felted wool balls and never see the light of day again.

Ewelonda in timeout.

The rest of the flock has settled in and are now shunning Ewelonda until she learns to keep her mouth shut.  I personally think she is always going to be a bit of a free spirit.  They will all be at TNNA in Columbus, Ohio.  If you see Ewelonda and she is acting up, don’t hesitate to spank her for me!

Flock Wooligan and the Bell Jar time out corner.

All of the Flock Wooligan have been created from Pediboo by Frog Tree Yarns and there will be one sheep for every color and every sheep has its own name.  I do hope ewe get to meet them, they are quite the adorable crowd!  They are very excited for their first road trip!

loads of love,  Mary Ellen and Flock Wooligan

 

Things Grown by Hand

As most of you know I have been given the privilege of doing a Pediboo display for Frog Tree Yarns for the upcoming TNNA in Columbus, Ohio.  The part of the display the company envisioned is complete and in their hands.  They called this morning and I am thrilled to have heard they loved the package and are looking for pattern support from the ideas I sent them!  What an incredible way to begin any day!  I have some more ideas that I am hoping to finish in time for TNNA and am hard at work at these as well in the few days that remain.  I have two more swatches completed.  One I did in Shadow Knitting (a technique referenced by Barbara Walker first and later by Vivian Hoxbro) and the other swatch I did in Garter stitch Entrelac.

Shadow Knit swatch....looks like just a bunch of stripes....right?

but get down at the right angle and look again...it is a FROG!!!

And here is the garter stitch entrelac swatch, which I think would make just about any garment or scarf or shawl look awesome:

I especially love how these subtle colors work together....they would be great colors for baby boy clothes!

Currently there are 13 out of 24 sheep complete for what I hope will be a completely eye-catching display to draw attention to the Frog Tree Yarns booth…here is FLOCK WOOLIGAN so far:

Flock Wooligan....and they all have names! The white one in front is, of course, Ewenice! The green one all the way in the back is Ewelonda!

Many thanks from the Flock and their MaaMaa to Auntie Lisa for their much needed body parts…doesn’t that just sound like black market organ trafficking?  I assure it is not…just ears, tails and legs, thank ewe very much!

Finally,  thanks to my liege, Sir Franklin Habit of Chicago, this last little number that took 24 hours to knit, has been rolling around in my head since the class on lace edgings I took with him back in March at Loop Yarn in Philadelphia.  This man is just a knitting God.  A veritable Adonis and it breaks my heart he does not bat for my team…but I will continue to admire longingly from afar, though probably not in silence.  Anyway, during this class he shared with us a baby bonnet prototype he created.  The pattern he used was from “Last Minute Knitted Gifts” and he altered it just at the bottom edge with two rows of lace, one above the other.  It was nothing short of elegant.  I have searched all over Ravelry and cannot find a photo to refer you to…my apologies.  I did look up said bonnet pattern and it is very nice indeed but requires sewing, which in this particular garment it quite easily avoided….a bonnet is just an enormous heel turn after all.  I then went back to my file cabinet and extracted the first bonnet I ever knit and did the math.  I had some definite ideas when I began this project, but as so many knit projects do, this took on a life of its own.  Here is a photo of what this bonnet decided to become…BOISTEROUSLY VICTORIAN!  (I do live in a home inundated with testosterone…it really is no surprise this kind of girly girl stuff comes off my needles…it has to be expressed somewhere!  I did manage to suppress the urge to overdecorate with knitted flowers…sigh…):

yes, the lace goes ALL THE WAY AROUND...yes, there is also a picot edge...no i-cord though...

leaf lace from a book by Nicky Epstein and sawtooth lace of my own imagining...

The ties for the front are monk's cord tipped with leaves also from one of Nicky Epstein's "Over The Edge" books, which I absolutely treasure!

Said bonnet is resting tonight, soaked in a Brita pitcher all day and pinned/stretched into the exact right shape until it is dry.  I need to go buy a grapefruit or something to display it on until it is time to send the last of the goodies off to Frog Tree Yarn.  Clearly, Pediboo is a yarn so awesome it is meant for MUCH MORE than socks…but oh, it is also so very wonderful for socks, too!

Here are the customer projects that have come through the door in the last few days…Lisa is nearly done with her Peas Please Vest in Robin’s egg blue…my apologies, I did not photograph it today.

Socks by Martha in Abstract Fibers yarn...

Martha does the toes of her socks in the pattern called: "Eye of the Partridge" because this is where socks wear out for her. This stitch pattern gives her socks reinforcement and added longevity.

Miriam, as you know helped us all by finding an error, now corrected, with Insertion #3/3 of the Arsenic and Old Lace Afghan.  Here is her completed Block #16 — Carlisle Stripe:

Arsenic and Old Lace Square #16 by Miriam in The Netherlands

Martha using her beautiful handspun for the Estonian Lilac Leaves shawl...she substituted eyelets for the nupps and used only a single garter ridge between stitch patterns...I love this color of yarn! WANT!

This is Chris doing an amazing swatch. We designed this together...look in the middle and you can see an elephant's trunk. The edge's are Chris's brainchild and I love the stitch she chose. Really, please...your knitting IS YOUR ARTWORK...BE FEARLESS!

Chris chose the edging she is using because it looked to her like the elephants footprints and its meandering path.  I can hardly wait to see the finished swatch and I love how she tied the ideas together!

That is all for this catch-up blog.  The next one is all about my Nikkers and his favorite Ratty.  Stay tuned!

Loads of love and hugs, Mary Ellen and Summit Yarn Studio

 

At Last…KAL…Parental Bragging Rights

This is what it looks like just outside the door to my knitting studio today AND now the sun is shining as well.  This is…AT LAST (can you hear the song in your head…”At Last”)…the snow I have been waiting for all winter.  Eight inches of it landed sometime in the night.  It is still clean, fresh, and white.  Every branch of every tree is outlined.  As I drove into the studio today, the children were all out in their driveways shoveling snow…as well they should.  It was a wonderful sight.  And talk about perfect timing…on a day the kids had off from school anyway.  It just doesn’t get better than that, does it?

Then, again, maybe it does.  Tonight is also Monday…our weekly family ski outing is tonight and I can hardly wait to discover what it feels like to actually ski on snow instead of ice.  I was up ill all night last night and feel ick today…but I am not going to miss this opportunity.  Period.  The End.

I at least want to get one run down the bunny slope and if worse comes to worse, I can go melt in the ski lodge with some ginger ale.

The Arsenic and Old Lace Afghan/Scarf KAL is going to keep you busy this week.  I have the square all worked and edited for you AND also you will begin the edging on the first strip/insertion unit of this afghan.  This way when you are done knitting the body of the afghan you will only have two long sides to edge…not all four.  You will thank me later…I hope.

These are sheep in England.  Lisa Tizzoni and her son, Mark took these photos and framed them for me.  I keep them proudly displayed in the studio.  I was admiring them again this morning so I thought I would share them with you.  Aren’t the babies so cute…there is nothing so wonderful as the feel and smell of a lovely sheep.  Yes, call me weird if you want to…I can live with that.  Sheep don’t eat my yarn, they supply it.

 

And last, but never least, is a note about my dear son.  He belongs to the Competitve Training Camp (CTC) at our local tennis club and here he is in the newspaper (yesterday):

That is him in the first row on the left of the photo! YAY!

Take care and have a lovely day.  Stay warm and have fun in this last blast of winter.  Wishing you loads of love, light and laughter always,  Mary Ellen and Summit Yarn

xox

 

Open Cast Call: Auditions to Model for Ewenice II

Yesterday, there was a knock at the door of the studio…once I opened the door I realized it had been more of a head butt than a knock, but whatever works, right?  Standing outside the door of Summit Yarn Studio were three sheep, just standing there staring at me.  The leader of the group, a black fleeced cheery Ewe, offered her sincerest condolences at the watery grave of our former ice-ewe, Ewenice.  She then informed me she and her friends were here because they felt I needed more options.  In turn, they each got up on Ewenice’s former pedestal and posed…wanting this opportunity now because shearing time is “…like any minute now, lady!”.   Having served as their would be photographer, it would seem only fair to solicit your opinion…who is best fit for the job…or do you have other OPTIONS to be considered?

MacKenzie MacWooligan

Jaberwonky Jones

Ewestice Fluffance the Third

I thought that was all there was to this story.  When I entered the studio this morning there was an angry mob of outraged creatures staring me down who insisted they had every right to an opportunity to model for the posistion as those three wannabees, yesterday.  Of course, I helped them all out to the pedestal and here is their photo for your perusal:

The Shepherdess snuck into the photo, but she has a mouth like a sailor and I think she may be married to one. The ram in the photo head-butted her off the stand and she fell on her rump!

Everyone feels sure they are best for the job.  Your opinion counts, so please weigh in on this most important matter!

 

ICE SHEEP…She’s here and she needs a NAME!

Look Who’s Come For A Visit!

My phone turns on every morning at 9 a.m.  This morning when it did, I heard the repetitve ping of the phone announcing multiple textmessages and emails.  It made me smile because I knew what they were all about…the arrival of our first annual ICE SHEEP.  We saw beautiful ice sculptures of Reindeer around the Holidays at the Glenburn Grill, out on Route 6…our favorite place for just about any meal.  The people are warm, sincere and their food is THE BEST.  We found out that our friend, James Mitchell is also an ICE SCULPTOR… a real artist.  I let this roll around in the brain cavity and worked up the courage to ask if he would do a sheep for our studio.  He did!  And she is just AWESOME!!!!!  Please come and visit and in the meantime here are some photos of her…one question though, what should we name her?

The Scuptor is Mr. James Mitchell of ICE DESIGNS:  Ice For All Occasions.  He can be reached at (570)604-5386 or by email at:  mitchell44@aol.com

Thank you James!  We love our sheep…SHE IS JUST SO FLUFFY AND ADORABLE!