This is so cool..

I just learned something new today and I think it’s so cool.  It’s a new way to display photos online. Here’s a collage of the animals being there amusing selves.

Everyone posing for the camera

My last post of making Feta cheese had a lot of pictures and I noticed how they were here and there.  Even though I tried to stagger them so they all didn’t line up on one side of the page, it didn’t look as professional as I would like.  I was inspired by Mary Heather on Ravelry (aka rainydaygoods) to do a better blog.  I liked how all her pictures are so neat and tidy.  Then I checked some of the Forums on Ravelry and the Tour de Fleece 2008 group had Day #12 posts and what did I see, someone who posted a picture like I wanted to learn to do.  I asked, “How you do that?” ….does that sound familiar??  It’s a program that is free software from Google, called Picasa.  It’s easy to use.  I found it, downloaded it and had my first collage made before she was able to repond back.  I answered her with this collage of the Betsy Valley Garden Walk, 2008 that I went on a couple of weeks ago.

Do you see the bottle trees in the photo on the right?

Then there is another way to get interesting photo effects without downloading any software.  You can do this online with your Flickr account.  First log into your Flickr account, then go to Mosaic Maker.  I made this little collage of my socks.

Take a look at some of my latest socks!

So I’ve shared some of my new found knowledge with those of you who haven’t found these cool applications.  For those of you who already have found them….why didn’t you tell me?

 

My first big lace project

lace first 20 rows

Originally uploaded by bellavitafarm

OK, this time I’m really going to do it…..lace that is. I’ve finally decided I SHOULD be able to do an “Easy” pattern from the book A Gathering of Lace. I picked the Beginner’s Triangle to do for my first lace project. I started on US #6 needles and made a few mistakes that I tried to fix but wasn’t happy with. I got to about row 15 and decided to rip and redo. This time I used a US #4 needle and I’m much happier with the results. I want a very warm shawl that will hold up to lots of use and abuse. I plan on leaving it on my chair in the living room during the cooler months. It will probably get sat on by a dog or a cat at some time or other.

I wanted to really be successful with the pattern this time. I started doing the Mystic Light Shawl KAL on Ravelry but before I finished Clue #1, I realized that pattern was to advanced for a beginning project. I don’t want lace to frustrate me to the point that I give up on it. I KNOW I can do this!!

Heck the first 20 rows took me all day to do (right). I’m seeing a much better version this time. The holes are all in the right places….LOL

 

Mystic Light swatch

Mystic Light swatch
Originally uploaded by bellavitafarm

I got my swatch done for the Mystic Light Shawl Mystery KAL which starts on March 26, 2008. I used US #6 circular needles, gotta order some Addi lace. The blunt tips on regular needles won’t cut it. I’m using Fearless Fiber’s Inner Sanctum colorway for this project. The yarn suggested in the pattern is sockweight due to the cabling that the pattern calls for in addition to the lace. You can see the cables on the edges in the swatch. This is my first big lace project and I’m kind of excited and at the same time scared I’ll screw up.

 

Working Magic Loop

Magic Loop 2 socks at a time in progress. It’s not hard, here are the basic concepts to keep in mind.

This is often referred to as the “Home Position” in Magic Loop knitting. When knitting one sock using Magic Loop this is the only position you will refer to. See how the yarn is coming from the back needle? That is the most important thing to remember. You will pull the back needle out to become your working needle.

This shows the back needle from the picture above pulled out and ready to use as the working needle. If you look close you can also see the working yarn is coming from the cable from the back needle. That is an important concept to remember in ML. Always make sure when in the home position that the yarn is on the back needle.

This is what I refer to as the “Resting Position” in Magic Loop knitting. You only have this position when doing two socks at a time. The right needle should have the yarn coming from the front from the last stitch on the needle. The left sock will have the yarn coming from the stitch that is on the cable (positioned behind the left needle).

This is the position that I usually leave my knitting when taking a break. You will see the home position and the rest position twice for each round of knitting on both socks.

Tips with Magic Loop, hold on to the tip of your needle when pulling on the cables, so you don’t have dropped stitches. I also keep a finger in the loop where the bend is between the front and back of a sock, so the stitches don’t slip off there either.

 

Casting on for 2 socks at a time on Magic Loop

Nine easy steps to casting on for Two socks at a time on Magic Loop. Step 1 cast on all your stitches for sock 1. So far, so good.

Slide sock #1 on down the needle, out of the way. Next, cast on all the stitches for sock #2.

Push all the stitches to the other end of the needles. See how the tails and the working yarn are at the opposite end from the tip of the needle (pictured lower right)?

On the sock closest to the needle end (sock #1), divide the stitches in half. Bend the the cable so half the stitches are on the needle and the other half are on the cable. Sock #2 is shown at the bottom (don’t worry about it now). On the right you will see the free needle which will become your “working” needle.

Make sure your stitches are not twisted. Use the needle shown at the right to work the stiches on the needle. Make sure to snug up the yarn on the first two stitches to avoid “ladders”.

The first half of sock #1 has been worked. The needle in the back will have the worked stitches and the working yarn will be dangling from this. This is the needle you want to pull out to become your “working” needle. Then you will knit the second half of sock #1.

Here’s a close up to show you better.

Here’s the needle (upper right) pulled out ready to work the second half of sock #1.

Now you’re ready for sock #2. Push these stitches up to the end of the unused needle.

Again, split the stiches of sock #2 in half. Half the stitches on the needle and the other half on the cable below. (Sock #1 is on the right and sock #2 is on the left.)

When you are done with both halves of sock #2 you should have something that looks like this.