Housekeeping

"Perhaps all artists were, in a sense, housewives: tenders of the earth household."

- Erica Jong

I am a lousy housekeeper.

No ifs, ands or buts. I would rather be creating something new, than maintaining something old.

My house is a pit, my lacework impeccable - sigh...

Which is why it has taken me this long to put my house in order.

Now that all of the patterns in the Fellowship of the Ring series (first of the Lord of the Rings Collection) are out, I have compiled them into both a comprehensive E-book of all 13 patterns (including Evenstar) for $60. This is a $12 savings over purchasing them individually.

I have also separated them into three"mini-collections" of four patterns each.

Wee Wonders $18

four small accessory patterns

Bag End, Goldberry, Rivindell, & Bombadil

Traveling Togs $22

four cabled patterns

Argonath, Dwarrowdelf, Lothlorien, & Strider

Elven Delicacies $25

four lace patterns

Evenstar, Galadriel's Mirror, Legolas, & Mithril

This way, those of you who love lace, or cables, or small projects can purchase a selection that includes only your favorites and still take advantage of a reduced price.

You can purchase here on the sidebar, or on Ravelry's website. Either way, you will download through Ravelry, so can keep the patterns in your library if you so desire.

You do NOT have to be a member of Ravelry to use their download provider.

I have also made another page that features the Fellowship Patterns.

*****

Now, anybody do windows?

Bombadil Hat

"Old Tom Bombadil is a merry fellow,
Bright blue his jacket is, and his boots are yellow.
None have ever caught him yet, for Tom, he is the master:
His songs are stronger songs, and his feet are faster."
—The Fellowship of the Ring

Short post today - I am on vacation at the lake, but BB/FM &WB are holding down the fort in Indiana. Our signal booster is on the fritz, so am working from my father's house today. Ah...the joys of modern technology!

Here at last is the third entry in the Fellowship of the Ring subscriber series. If you have subscribed to the $45 series, you should receive an email with a code to unlock the download. If you have not subscribed, the hat pattern is available for individual purchase over on the sidebar or on Ravelry (as soon as I get everything set up)

BOMBADIL HAT
$6


SIZE:
17 (19) inches circumference around ribbed brim
MATERIALS:
fingering weight yarn
220 yds. color A (lt blue)
80 yds. color B (navy)
80 yds. color C (yellow)
SMALL: size 2 (US) double point needles and 24 inch circular needles
LARGE: size 3 (US) double point needles and 24 inch circular needles
cable needle
6 stitch markers
yarn needle
GAUGE( in ribbing) :
7.5 (6.5) stitches = 1 inch
intermediate level pattern
skills needed: cabling & stranded colorwork
written & charted design



The hat features a fair isle band just above the ribbing and a nifty twisted stitch pattern on the top, that forms a medallion when viewed from above.

Check over at String Theory for kits; I have not seen them up yet,
but assume they are waiting for the final pattern to post them on
the website.

I hope you enjoy knitting the hat as much as I and my test knitters did. Thanks to my lovely sister-in law for modeling!

This concludes the work portion of our vacation - back to lying around in the hammock with a good book - ahhhhhhhhhhhhhh...

Perseverance

"You win some, you lose some, and some get rained out, but you gotta suit up for them all."

- Satchel Paige

Life is all about keepin' goin' out here on the sunflower farm these days. Life with a toddler in residence is a challenge. Two steps forward, one step back.

Or (more accurately) two steps forward, take a half hour break for cat video browsing, two steps forward, become human jungle gym for grandson, two steps forward, explain where Grandpa is & why Grandma needs to work instead of play...

You got the picture yet?

Perseverance is key. Just keep on pluggin' away at it and eventually it gets done.

And speaking of done...

Galadriel's Mirror is finished - YAY!

Here is a shot of the lower border as it comes together in the center point.

It is hard to tell from these photos, but the border design features a triple leaf motif and the same twisted stitch pattern from earlier in the design, separated by the openwork and finished off with a crocheted loop bind off.

GM is in test knit right now; am hoping for an August release date.

Lots of other stuff goin' on right now:

Have been working on a free pattern for all of you, in the LOTR theme. This is Weathertop, a nifty little reversible scarf in Rowan's Revive recycled yarn. The yarn looks just like weathered stone. Will knit a bit more on it and release later this week.

Bombadil is ready to go - just waiting on my model so I can get a lovely head shot for the front of the pattern and then she will be whisked away into your hot little hands.


And my yarn for the Bag End felted tote bag arrived in today's mail. It is Anna's Yarn from Unique Sheep in (l. to r.) Golden Ale, Lager, Amber Ale, Machiatto, & Stout

I have been waiting breathlessly for this shipment, as I am teaching the mosaic knit bag class at their annual retreat in September. Should be a lot of fun!

While waiting, I did design work for one of the Two Towers patterns. This is Emyn Muil, a triangular scarf/shawlette) in Madelinetosh lace. (Please ignore the kitty derriere - squatter's rights!)
I was inspired by this photo of the endless rocky repetitive landscape Frodo & Sam first meet Gollum in.

The scarf is knit side to side and features a very repetitive pattern of overlapping peaks (just like its inspiration)

Guess that's about it for today. Short stuff should be here any moment, so better make this brief.

Reporting live from the toddler front lines...catch ya later!

Sneaky Peek

"Old Tom Bombadil is a merry fellow, Bright blue his jacket is, and his boots are yellow. None have ever caught him yet, for Tom, he is the master: His songs are stronger songs, and his feet are faster."

—The Fellowship of the Ring

Bombadil went out to test knitters last week; thought you might enjoy a little peek at the next Fellowship Series Pattern (included in the $45 subscription)

I'm really happy with this one- will get modeled shots before release, never fear...