Donna side

Donna side
Originally uploaded by bellavitafarm

Our first lamb born on Bella Vita Farm & Fiber, April 7, 2008. She is a little Shetland x Finn ewe, we named Donna. She was born around 9 AM while I was doing morning chores. We were late for an appointment with our CPA, Don. So we named her Donna, seemed very fitting.

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.

Alpine Twins

twins
Originally uploaded by bellavitafarm

Here are the twins born Feb. 23, 2008 weighing in about 8 to 8.5 lbs. The one on the left with the white eyebrow is Venus and the full frontal shot is Casseopia (Cassie). Shannon (the mom) had them about 3 PM without help. I was on my way out to the barn to check on everything when about halfway there I heard baby cries, newborns. I knew it wasn't Lacy. When I got there mom was cleaning off the first one (Venus) and Cassie was still covered with amniotic fluid. I grabbed a towel and cleaned her off some and gave her to mom to finish getting her clean and dried off. It right around freezing outside but the barn was about 40 degrees F.

Lacy 3qtr shot

Lacy 3qtr shot
Originally uploaded by bellavitafarm

Here's the newest addition to the Bella Vita Farm. She's a little Alpine doe that I named Lacy. I just started a new group on Ravelry "A Gathering of Lace" the same that Lacy was born, Feb. 21, 2008. Mom and baby are doing great!

First Fair Isle Sweater

Well, this year I'm really sttttrechinnng my horizons with knitting. I've decided to do my first Fair Isle sweater this year. I've gotten a pretty good start on it, now if those socks would stop jumping on my needles in the meantime...
I'm working the Luna Jumper pattern from The Art of Fair Isle Knitting. I'm using a fingering weight merino that I dyed to match the colors that were used in the pattern. There was a bit of a learning curve dyeing this wool compared to the superwash merino I'd done before. The superwash really grabs the color a lot more than the regular wool does.

I'm also working on a pair of Monkey socks by Cookie A. for the January KAL going on at Sock Knitters Anonymous on Ravelry. I have to have them finished before the end of February to qualify for the drawing. I'm starting on the toe of the first sock, so I have some real knitting to do!

Do you plan projects way in advance, or is it just me? I'm hankering to do some lace this year too. I've already picked out a beautiful pattern I like and I'm working on figuring out the errata and how to get started with a shawl pattern.

I've also planned an Aran sweater sometime in the near future for my husband. Then there's my lovely Shetland lamb's wool yarn that I just back from Spinderella's that is queued for an Oregon Fair Isle cardigan pattern by Alice Starmore. Geesh....so much knitting and to little time! Until next time, keep the needles clicking!