Autumnal Equinox, a Tale of Two Murderers

On this day, September 22, 1923, Myrtle Schaude confesses to the poisoning death of husband Edward, and the attempted poisoning of their 4 children. Was Autumnal Equinox to blame?
 The Poison Widow: A True Story of Sin, Strychnine, and Murder (Wisconsin), by Linda Godfrey.

It sounds eerily familiar as in the case of Susan Smith, who murdered her two children in the name of love.. Mother Love, Deadly Love: The Susan Smith Murders
Susan Smith was born on September 26, 1971. Ironically, I'm not trying to find a correlation, but the facts become something akin to a Stephen King novel.

While I have not read any books that cover the story of Susan Smith, and only have a brief knowledge of the history of the case, and having no previous interest in the mechanisms behind a mother who kills her children,  I found the story of Myrtle Schaude strangely fascinating. I don't know if it was the need to know what would cause a gentile Wisconsin woman of the early 20th century to go to such desperate lengths for the sake of love, or was it another case of strange crimes in Wisconsin that have caused eyebrows to raise?
I truly enjoyed reading this book by Linda Godfrey-her ability to hold the audience captive, without over-embellishing, made it one of those books that marks this author as one to revisit, again and again.

Today was DH's birthday; my Beloved Egghead had a good day ♥♥♥

Sharon and Mike

Warren, The Birthday Boy and Moi

Should You Carry the Yarn Along the Side or Cut It?
By: Barbara Breiter


Knit Shell Beach Washcloth

When working a pattern in stripes, sometimes you'll see an instruction "Carry the yarn not in use along the side" (as with the Knit Shell Beach Washcloth shown at left); other times you won't see an instruction at all.

What should you do then? "Carry the yarn along the side" means nothing more than leave the color you are currently not using at the side of your work without cutting it. You'll pick it up again later when you are to use that color again. If you are not going to use the color for 4 more rows, the next time you are at the edge where the unused yarn is, you will need to twist it with the color you are using. This will keep a loose loop from forming (the loose loop might get snagged or look unattractive if it isn't twisted into the other yarn).

If you're working 2 rows of one color followed by 2 rows of a second color, carrying the unused yarn makes sense, because all the color changes are on one edge of the piece, meaning that you can simply pick up the next color at the side and proceed.

If you're alternating three colors, working 2 rows each, you will need to twist both colors not in use. Drop the color you just finished behind the other two, twist the other two, pick up the next color you need and continue.

If the pattern is anything other than 2 rows of color A followed by 2 rows of color B, even though you've been told to carry it, you still have a personal choice to make and should consider several factors that may lead you to cutting it every time instead. The down-side to cutting the yarn is that you will have many more ends to weave in (but if you weave in as you go, this task will not be as daunting). The upside? The row edges will be much neater. This should be especially considered when you are making a scarf or a throw where the edges will be seen. In a sweater, the edges will be hidden in a seam; however, the seams will be bulkier because you've carried the yarn so that’s a negative factor to consider.

There is no hard and fast rule but generally if you are going to be working more than 4 rows before needing the color again, strongly consider cutting it. Some people will stretch this to 6 rows. Every time you twist the yarns, you are adding more bulk to the edge.

And you can always weave in those ends while watching TV.


Authored by Barbara Breiter

Barbara Breiter is the author of THE COMPLETE IDIOT'S GUIDE TO KNITTING & CROCHETING. Find her online at http://www.knittingonthenet.com/

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Human Interactive Products, Inc. - Montana Made Batik Gallery (T-shirts, Prayer Flags, and Cards)

Very interesting Batiq fabrics, check out the bison and horse prints!

A customer's website:
Human Interactive Products, Inc. - Montana Made Batik Gallery (T-shirts, Prayer Flags, and Cards)

Elliott Hundley at Andrea Rosen, NYC (April 2010)

Check out this artist, the collages are made using our hat stick pin blanks, thousands of them~

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Spud & Chloë — Blog FREE KNITTED CABLE FUN SCARF!

Spud & Chloë — Blog FREE KNITTED CABLE FUN SCARF!

I had to post this, it looks like a fun and fast project~Although DH would probably think it a wonderful Halloween Prop, hanging from a tree, my neck still in it~ HEHEE! At least it looks soft, whata way to go ~

Back to work, blog updates to follow later-the boss is coming!

Babeh Rhonda's Winter Socks, Done!

Finished Baby Rhonda's Winter Socks, only to find one cuff is about 1/4" inch longer than the other. Not that noticeable, but I saw it right away. Mommy probably won't even notice. That's the beauty of hand-made. :D

It's beautiful and 72 outside. We went to Kutter HD's Open House, it was packed, cars lined the streets, people spilling out into the parking lot! I saw Kellie flitting around and when she saw me, grabbed a hug-she's such a sweetie~ No prize at the raffle, but had fun just being there. It feels great to be part of a Family that doesn't think you're weird-we're all Family there, just having fun.

Going outside to enjoy this beautiful day, and knit up something new, or maybe work on my Halloween Ravens Doily; Pattern: Doves in Flight, done in black and orange.I'm a little further along today, but doesn't look like much, just a bunch of knots~

Baby Rhonda Winter Socks

I spent the evening outside with DH, knitting up a baby sock-start to finish, in record time~

I started Baby Rhonda's Wisconsin Winter Socks last night, cast on and did about 3 rows of ribbing, then put it down until morning.

Next day, 7 am sharp:

I picked up where I left off on the Baby Rhonda's Sock, worked on it for about 2 hours, turned the heel and never looked back It was way too windy to go for a walk, and the temps alone would have put us in hypothermia from the drastic change. I was content to stay in; the wind drives me nuts.
By 9pm, orders were packed and work was done, so while DH heated up some chili, I set to task on the sock foot, and finally the toe was in sight~

Later that night (2 hours later):
We have Baby Rhonda's Sock #1!

Baby Rhonda's Winter Socks

Igor is glad it's cooler out-he has his SpoiledBratzwear jacket back~

Wisconsin Winter Socks, Cuff Down

Tonight before DH started dinner, I finished my Wisconsin Winter Socks, and am mighty pleased with how fast the second sock went~and without a hitch! I figured I put in approximately 15 hours per sock, over about 3-5 days.

Taken outside: the background (a chenille shawl) is a little "hot" but the socks are pretty spot on, color-wise.

the heel gusset

the foot

the toe, close up

I have mastered the Kitchener stitch, these being my 3rd pair of completed cuff-down socks. I believe I may have enough yarn left from 3 balls, to make a pair of toddler sockies for Baby Rhonda.

I'm still pretty sold on the toe-up sock, having one less step to complete. The end result is still the same, a nice pair of socks that will outlast their retail counterparts.

On to my next project, The Wonderful Wallaby

 I got my pattern book here:  Paradise Fibers, same place you can also get  a copy of Wisconsin Winter Socks.

I am also going to whittle away at my Ladies jacket Drops “Alaska”, having left off last Spring at this point:

Got mine today! Annie's Attic - View Stick

Use this View Stick to make reading your crochet and knit patterns easier!

The View Stick attaches directly to your page, keeping the magnifier in place and your hands free! Two red lines highlight the line you're on. There's no magnetic board needed and it's made for both left and right hand use.

Visit the store where I found mine! Visit store: Gotta Notion

You can also find them here: Annie's Attic - View Stick

I'm 2/3rd's of the way up the calf of my Wisconsin Winter Socks for Sharon.

I also received a set of Clover Large Stitch Holders, which I need for the pocket flap of my Wonderful Wallaby. Life is good when there is knit and crochet yarn art ~