My New Fall Fashion

I have a very wise friend who says that the most important fashion item for cold-climate people is the coat. In fact her philosophy is that every woman should have several coats. Forget what's underneath them as come cold weather, we seldom take the coat off when we go out.

Until I was introduced to her philosophy, I had one dress, winter coat. When I went out, I wore my coat. At the grocery store, the mall, the post office, the bank, the coat stayed on. All people ever saw was the coat. My same, same coat. Her philosophy is right.

Now, I have three coats. The latest being a purchase from Berry Ellen. I saw the Berry Ellen designs at the Meaford Craft Show the weekend before Thanksgiving and loved her coats. Unfortunately, her smallest size was too big for me. Read again. Her smallest size was too big for me. How great did that make me feel?

I asked about a custom size and she said "Of Course". Now I have my latest coat - teal canvas with dark, charcoal grey, velveteen trim. I love it. But of course it needed a scarf. Knowing my colour wheel (A girl can learn much from watching Colour Confidential) I decided the best colour for the teal coat scarf would be orange-ish.

Off to the stash I went and pulled out my bag of orange yarns. Having seen, on shop shelves, some very expensive yarns that were simply many different novelty yarns tied together, I decided to create my own.

One of my yarns, was plentiful, the others were just bits and pieces. Using the 'Old King Cole' measuring method of nose to finger tip, I created my designer yarn by alternating twice the amount of my plentiful yarn, with half amounts of the various bit and pieces. Then I simply tied them together - no special knot - and started to knit. When I came to the knot I knit one stitch with yarn, tails and knot, then let the rest of the tails hang out. Very hate-couture, don't you think?

The pattern is Sally Melville's Shape It Scarf, from her first book The Knit Stitch. I'm feeling very 'runway' with this.

Have a great weekend everyone. I'm off to the grocery store, the bank, the post office - wherever I can think, to show off my coat and scarf. Thanks for reading.

Thursdays Are For Knit Group And My Survivor Review

My picture taking habits took a lazy approach to knit group today. Only three pictures.

Sharon finished the lovely, light-but-warm, Fleece Artist shawl for her cousin out west.

A gorgeous piece with simple garter stitch knitting but absolutely stunning yarn. It's beautiful, Sharon. I am glad it got detoured today for some show and tell, before getting shipped off to Alberta.

Sharon's had a busy knitting week (Her hubby's out of town. Can you tell?) with two FOs. This is a little chemo cap for her sister in law.

Sharon says her SIL looks fabulous in this colour. Hope it brightens her day, Sharon.

Pat is back in full swing, with her first complete knitted doll. This one ready for the upcoming Christmas season. Another cutie, Pat.

This seems a brief and uninspiring post - I think my flu shot has kicked in and made me dopey dopier.

And My Survivor Review.
I still say it's Survivor Bonkers this time round. Fabio using the pool for the bathroom and Naonka 'eeking out' over touching the cows n..........(rhymes with ripples). How would you like Naonka to be your child's PE teacher? Scary!

I won't say who got voted off because Lyn S commented last week to say that 'down under' they are 6 episodes behind. I don't want to spoil your evening of TV viewing, Lyn.

Tissues Versus Hankerchiefs

My father always used cotton handkerchiefs. My Mother washed them weekly. Yuck. Not for me. We use tissues at my house. Always have. Always - - - well, maybe not.

Christmas is coming and thoughts of sugar plums hand-knit gifts dance in my head. First on my list was felted slippers for my Grand daughters. This fall, I purchased some very special trim - rabbit fur yarn from Paula Lishman. My vision was to knit something to show off the fur. Felted slippers with fur trim seemed a good idea. The grey fur looked best against black, so black slippers it was. Late last night I finished the first pair. Silly, I know, to felt just one pair, but what knitter can resist seeing the results? Not me, obviously.

Felters know that things felt best when paired with something else in the machine. I chose Fred's jeans. Felters know that it is best for the machine to place the knitting in a bag - a pillowcase, perhaps.

But it was late. I was in a hurry. And I couldn't readily find an old pillowcase. Big mistake.
Fred had a tissue in his back pocket. Of course, the late hour and my haste meant I didn't check.

Take it from me. There is no mess quite like the mess of black wool slippers felted with a tissue.

I think Fred will get some cotton hankies for Christmas.