Making new neural pathways and mittens too...

Oh fun fun fun...first taught myself to knit continental and then once I had accomplished that all of a sudden knitting stranded became interesting..so wanted inspired by the interweave knits mag for boot toppers, I proceeded to make those into cuffs with variations, and then wanted to do some real latvian scandinavian mittens, and voila found the pattern Bird in Hand, merely 5.95 on the next on www.kategilbert.com and before I knew there I was downloading and knitting the mittens...when I was stuck last night, never having done a braid before, along came ravelry site, and there was a kate gilbert group, so I posted my dilema and within moments a woman replied, clarifying the pattern for my novice self...and haven't look back, so there is the mitter so far, and the name of the pattern. I am doing it it two ply merino, that I had sprinkle dyed dark purples, and white, and learned how to carry the prominent yarn in the same hand at all times, which clarifies the pattern edges better, so that the yarn coming from underneath is always in my left hand...that would be the white yarn in this case...Then had to Ml left and Ml right which I went to www.knittinghelp.com and there was a live video. Make it so....love the internet, I am learning so much on this knitting path and its a new trick or two every day, not hard to do if you are a knitter with a small "k" to quote the Harlot...so I am truly making new neural pathways and have the mitts to show for it. I love this part of knitting.

These are the latest fingerless gloves found in the interweave gift mag . Made from merino sock yarn which I dyed with mushroom dyes (except for the blue) haven;t found a blue dye yet beside indigo, but I have heard there are some Hawk Wings, and other Polypores that will give me that color...I do love the tone of thedyes...

So back to the mitten, and oh, also learned the picot edge, that is folded traditionally and looks great..

sanguinea or not sanquinea that is the question

Another round of mushroom gathering today, and a feast of Chantarelles, we keep thinking it will be the last feast but still going into December, what a treat. Gathered more northern red dye, top, and what I think are californicus on the bottom, but I am definitely not sure of that, are they western red dye, phoenicea , or californicus...they have very orange gills, and aren't nearly as red as the sanquinea. Hopefully someone , somewhere can answer this question. Perhaps Leena the queen of mushroom dyeing, in my mind, who lives in Finland, and is a great dyer.. can help me out. Even with three mushroom books in hand they are so close the two californicus and phoenicea, that it is hard to tell for a novice like myself. Also found what I think are Jack O'Lanterns Omphalotus olivascens, which I have cooking away on the stove as we speak...and the liquid is slightly orange, sort of like a pumpkin, thus its name, but gives a purple dye, mystery of mysteries....what I did get today was Carol Lee's mushroom dyeing book, and that will be helpful. Already is helpful and I just opened it. Now I think I will try and dry these new mushrooms in the picture today, as I don;'t have enough pots to put them in, and I did hear that drying is the best way for color, and Color says that the older the mushroom the more color, which is news to me...of course, its all news to me. Will post some Omphalotus olivascens tomorrow .....and perhaps wool dyed with it.

more shrooms

Colors of the day, bfl roving today, with northern red dye, and sulfur tufts...the last tufts of the year. Next fall I will collect early and freeeze them for use later, or dry them I have to research which way is best. The colors are brighter as I think the roving as opposed to the spun silk/wool, takes the dye more as the fibres are open so the dye seems brighter, used alum cream of tartar and a glug of vinegar in these baths, and this was the second bath of the apricot color. I am milking it for all its worth. Snow on the ground outside but it is melting. My kind of snow, beautiful then gone...yes!!!!!!!! that is why I live on the west coast, I definitely am into grey and rain more than snow..snow in my mind, means work...frozen pipes, frozen truck, frozen me...but luckily dh is home still and keeping us very warm and toasty...
Found a great site the other day...www.techknitting.blogspot.com where there is so much fabulous information...she is a brilliant, sharing knitter, and is answering all of my unanswered novice questions...I love this woman, and great diagrams and pics to go along..she is a definite must for my knitting, between her and my friend a www.woollalah.blogspot.com I am knitting my way through the world...now back to spinning this roving...