Friday, May 22, 2020

Rolling, Rolling, Rolling

One thing about buying yarn in pretty skeins is that you have to roll them into balls to use them.  Many people use yarn winders and I do have one, somewhere, but I actually prefer the old-fashioned way and like how hand-rolled yarn balls look.  


The thing is.. when you wind them yourself you usually have to ask for assistance from someone.  :-)  You can also put the skein on a swift to wind the ball and I do have one.. somewhere.. but my dear husband is very kind and helps me. 


On my end.. Mocha is my quality control.  I keep the beginning end out and start the rolling on my finger so the end hole doesn't get covered up, when done it's a center pull ball.


Tadah!


It's been a rainy chilly week so a good time to sit by the fire and get started on my shawl.  


Mocha took a break from helping.


Then get the pattern out and get started!  I actually forgot that it uses 1 row of triple crochet and then 2 rows of half-double crochet and repeat for the body of the shawl.


I am so pleased with the intense color of this purple!


The first three rows.


I think one of the things that attracts me to crocheting is the sense of accomplishment you get from building and growing your project.


Growing...


To be honest.. I'm happy as a clam to be staying home and safe during this troubling time.  


I found a better place than under the piano to have my biggest Japanese fishing floats.  To the left of my easy chair, under the wooden bench I got to put my printer and some plants.  I have to admit I'd love to toss Mocha's ripped up soft toys into the bin as they drive me crazy, but Dayle disagrees with me.  Hmph.


I was having some adventures on Google Earth, looking at our old house in Milton, Louisiana and then I put our current address in.  This is our farm from above.  Our property is pie shaped, with our little forest covering about a third of our land, the pasture goes from in front of our barn, up to the corner and down to the other corner of the woods to the road.  Kind of fun to see.  


I am so pleased that the rain seems to have stopped and the sun is out.  I will be having a walkabout to check on the veg gardens.  Then feed the fish.  Then crochet.  :-)  What are you up to?  ((hugs)), Teresa :-)  


22 comments:

  1. I taught myself to knit from watching my gramdmother from across the room. I was 7. Sixty one years later, I still knit backwards! I remember my dad holding the skein of yarn while I rolled it into balls. You couldn't find it any other way!
    Love the aerial view of your property. I have one printed of my 'dream house' that my late husband and I owned for the seven years before his death.



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  2. I've been winding balls the old fashioned way myself lately and I do know where my swift and winder are. Balls are easier to carry in my apron pocket when I do my knit walking and I've been doing as much of that as possible. Araignee

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  3. Teresa, you and Dayle make a great team...rolling right along :-) I love seeing the beautiful purple start of your new shawl. I went to Freddie's to get a week's worth of groceries this morning and managed to walk the mile condo loop in between rain showers this afternoon. I am nursing a pulled muscle/ligament in the area of my right arm bicep...over the last three weeks or so...it got better then I irritated it again...so I am focusing now on resting it using a heating pad...no driving, sweeping, lifting till it totally heals! Happy weekend to you, Dayle, and Mocha, Fish and Ginger πŸ’œπŸ€—πŸ§Ά

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  4. Lovely post again Teresa and Mocha and Dayle sure are helpful. Beautiful purple. Here we have distant visited some of my kids so nice to see their faces πŸ˜€πŸ˜€πŸ˜€πŸ˜€πŸ˜€

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  5. WOW! I love your little plot and your own little forest too! John has helped me with skeins of yarn in the past. Ranger is always on hand to check my work; sometimes he's to handy! I love the colour. The pattern looks easy and fun to do. Take care. Best, Jane x

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  6. Those giant fishing floats are a delight under the table, so pretty. A joy to see the start of your crochet project it grows so quickly so is such an encouragement.

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  7. I am in love with the color of the purple yarn. I have been making a few shawls and really like the pattern you described. I will be using it for the next shawl I crochet. I've never heard of the way you described wind the ball to make it a center pull ball but will definitely be doing that in the future. I hate it when the ball of yarn falls and my little ShihTzu makes agame of grabbing it and running away.

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  8. I had forgotten all about Google Earth! I typed in our address and the photo must have been taken several years ago as there was not camper in the driveway, no cover on the gazebo and our daughter's car is in the driveway and she's been in Virginia for the past four years! It was fun to see.

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  9. Teresa, I love the little pink bed for Mocha. Seeing the many projects that you crochet makes me want to learn to crochet. I took a crochet class many years ago and crocheted a couple small baby blankets but never continued after that. This would be a great time to start again.

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  10. Such gorgeous yarn and a great start to your shawl. Happy weekend Teresa. Hugs xxx

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  11. I am like you, content to be at home also. I love seeing pictures of your cozy living room, and noticed all the wonderful medals in frames, and the picture of a young service gentleman. Are the medals Dayle's or from a son in your family? Just want to say, that is very impressive. Happy Memorial Day! Bonnie (mother of a Marine)from sunny WI.

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    1. Hi Bonnie, the young Army photo is Dayle and the medals in the top frame are ones he was awarded. He was given the Purple Heart, Distinguished Flying Cross, the Air Medal and others. The bottom right frame are the medals my dad was awarded after being a Marine during the Iwo Jima, Japan conflict in 1945 in the South Pacific. Thank you for asking.

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  12. I really like the purple you're using for the shawl and your crochet hook too. Dayle is a great helper. Dennis is my yarn untangler. Whenever I have a lot of knots I give the skein to him. He has the patience of a saint.
    Cool photo of the farm. How fun to see everything from air.
    It's still rainy here but we're enjoying the trailer anyway. Sunshine is promised for tomorrow.
    Blessings,
    Betsy

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  13. Your shawl will be beautiful with your yarn choices. I like your crochet hook. Is it heavy in your hand when you are crocheting? Some hooks with wood attached hurt my hand, not light enough for me. Love seeing your farm from above. Best to stay at home as people are not compliant and acting reckless. Stay safe at home.

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    1. My hook is solid sterling silver, this one is size H, made by Celtic Swan. I don't find it heavy at all and I have arthritis in my hands. My G hook is one I use for most of my projects.
      ((hugs)), Teresa :-)

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  14. Teresa, that is so awesome..brings happy tears to my eyes, that you have these from your dad. My youngest son (the Marine) was gifted with my Army dads two Purple Hearts, from WW2. He could not be prouder of Grandpa, and so happy that Grandpa gave them to him before he died. What wonderful brave men they were, and all the young men who are still fighting for our freedom. thank you for your reply. Love your blog!

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  15. Your Dayle is a great husband, Teresa! It's a blessing to be married to a good man. I do like your fishing floats under the table, so lovely there! I too am contented at home. The strange part for me, other than Skype, is not visiting my children and grandchildren.

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  16. Teresa you are so cute about your yarn. Im in love with a skein of lace too. I cannot wait to get to it. But I am forcing myself to finish the other one which is in bland beige.....

    I love the glass balls under the table. Very pretty .

    Fireman is done with winding duty. Dayle, you rock for helping!

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  17. I have a Nostepinne to wind my yarn, the 'old fashioned' way. It's handmade from yew wood and is so beautiful.
    Fun aerial view of your place.
    You should get a cotton rope basket for Mochas toys. I have one for our Hamish. It looks good and keeps all the 'ratty' toys together. 😊

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  18. The only rolling I did recently was of my ankle when we were out for a walk two days ago. :/ Thankfully after a day of rest it is better. Still a little swollen. I've been working on all sorts of little projects. Using up what I've got on hand. We are still under full curfew til the end of the month. I sure hope June is better around here. Take care.

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  19. That purple yarn is so intense - it will make a gorgeous shawl. Google Earth can be a lot of fun, non?

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  20. Love the purple yarn, it is such a vibrant color. Your house and barn look amazing from above. I love the tress and am so glad you kept them and did not cut them down. I love flowers but tress and near and dear to my heart. Stay safe my friend.

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