WORKS & WORKS IN PROGRESS

So, how does the Farm Mom pass time these days? Why, with knitting needles in hand, of course. It's been a season of pumping out scarves, hats, and dish clothes. Most of my projects have gone to the persons for whom they were designed, but here's a quick view of a couple of hats that remain at The Farm.

WORKS

In this photo, Minnie's modeling a hat I made backwards out of soft, organic wool. It serves to keep the head warm, nonetheless, and Minnie's totally happy to wear it when the big chill hits The Farm. (Note: Minnie's one of my first dolls and definitely my favorite; she was given to me the Christmas I was in 1st grade by my "adopted" sister, Minnie. Minnie (the doll) is in pretty good shape to be 51 years old, I think. She hangs out in the big room a lot.)

This beret is an experiment in combining handspun wool yarns. The teal band is from yarn I picked up on a trip to New Mexico several years back, and the purple tam section is from wool spun fromVermont sheep. This hat is a bit itchy, but it's really, really warm and provides a fashionably nerdy look to anyone who doesn't have a large head.

WORKS IN PROGRESS

My first sock, made from Frog Belly Green handspun wool from eastern Tennessee. Knitted on size 2 needles, these socks have no EFT (estimated finish time). I find the knitting fun but tedious and have a hard time seeing much progress on small needles with really small thread. I enjoy knitting on this project, but I'm obviously a ways away from the heel and toe, so stay tuned....

The photo doesn't do the color of this alpaca and silk scarf justice. It's really a pretty baby boy's blue with yarn overs every 6th row to give it a lacy look. I think the finished product will be delicately soft and fun to wear. I pick it up and knit on it when my frustration with the seeming lack of progress on the sock starts to surface. (I like projects that move along fairly quickly - hence, my preference for knitting scarves.)

I'm not sure what this is going to be OR if it will continue in its present shape and form. This yarn is the same handspun wool from Vermont sheep I used in the tam Minnie's modeling above. It smells of sheep, clean sheep, that is, and will be an incredibly warm scarf (should I continue with it) if anyone can stand the itch around his / her neck. It would definitely have to be worn with a turtleneck or on the outside of a garment.

I thank my mom for teaching me to knit and for her guidance as I've made several things in the past year. While I was in Boone, I picked up some BEAUTIFUL dark purple yarn to knit myself a sweater. I'm eager to start, and I figure if I get going soon, perhaps I'll have it finished for my 60th birthday in 4 years!