kitty companiona

kitty companiona

Thursday, February 2, 2012

Did He or Didn't He?

Today is Groundhog Day and being a Pennsylvanian, we have THE official word on all things pertaining to the pesky rodent.  I haven't seen any news yet this a.m. but he couldn't have seen his shadow around here.  It's depressingly gray and dreary.  Maybe in Punxatawney the sun was shining where he has his burrow.  They can have their six more weeks of winter.  I don't want it here!

Oh, I forgot, we haven't even had six weeks of winter yet.  Yesterday it was in the 60's!  This has been a wonderful uncommonly warm winter and I love it!

Speaking of pests helpers, Deiter makes a bee-line for my desk the minute I sit down to type.  How am I supposed to see the screen with a 20-lb. groundhog sized cat in the way???



With the warmer weather the last few days the stinkbugs are beginning to emerge.  One happened to fly by and land on Deiter's back.  Feeling something on him that wasn't supposed to be there, he quickly bit at it.  Horrible surprise!!!  He gagged and went flying around the room like demons were after him!  I felt really sorry for him, but it was still rather humorous.

Last evening I finished the sweater vest I was test knitting for Julie at Knitting at Large.  This was a fun project to knit.  I wasn't sure how I'd feel about sewing in a zipper by hand, but it went well.  It's finished just in time for spring.


Julie has included an alternate fancier cable in the pattern.  I'm thinking about doing another vest in a light gray heather with the Celtic cable.
The Carnation vest pattern will soon be available for sale on Ravelry.

In the past year, thanks to Julie's encouragement, I've completed three sweaters and this vest.  I'm about at the end of my knitting marathon.  I'm still working on a sweater for Mom, but anything else for myself is on hold for a while.  Time to get back to rughooking and maybe some weaving, along with sewing of course.

Last year about this time (I think, maybe longer) I joined a challenge on Rug Hooking Daily.  I never completed the project.  A few days ago, while digging in my rug supply cupboard, I found the rug that I had begun and then decided I didn't like.  I guess absence does make the heart grow fonder because it doesn't seem to awful after all.  Ha-ha!  So I will be working on this again.


The theme of the Challenge was Grandmother's Trunk.  We were to create a rug that would remind us of our grandmothers by using items that might have been in her memory trunk.

Both of my grandmothers were needleworkers.
My father's mother was a maker of 'quilts'.  She and my great-grandmother called them quilts, but they were really knotted comfortors.  They loved the crazy patch kind with the satins and velvets and then did decorative stitching along the edges of the blocks.  I still have one that they did in wool for the wedding of my one aunt and uncle.

My mother's mother loved embroidering pillow cases, making doll clothing and crocheting rugs.  For most of my childhood she lived across the street from a graveyard.  Back then, when people put flowers and wreaths on the graves, the ribbons were actually satin, not the plastic we have today.  When the flowers had faded (they weren't plastic either!) the kind man who was the caretaker would remove the ribbons and give them to my grandmother.  She would carefully wash and iron the ribbons and use them to crochet rugs.  As you can imagine there were a lot of pink, red, and yellow rugs given away to all of us family members!  She also used cotton rags which made more conventional and attractive rugs.

I decided to include these grandmother passtimes in my rug along with the teacup since both of them were lovers of tea with lots of milk.

Speaking of which, I could use another cup!
Have a great weekend everyone.  Thanks for stopping by.


19 comments:

  1. I believe we'll have six more weeks of winter not matter what old Punxatawney has to say. But like you said so far it hasn't been to bad and no matter what we get now shouldn't last to long.

    I love your red sweater vest. Red happens to be one of my favorite colors.

    I'm glad you decided to finish you rug hooking project. I love it and I'll bet it will look great when its finished.

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  2. I was hoping you'd give us the official verdict on GH day being in PA! Here too..... it's pretty dark and dreary with no GH's in sight!
    That red sweater vest is gorgeous!! Another awesome finish Pat!!!
    I am glad you are revisiting the challenge rug... I opted out of that one too I guess because I had a class to teach! I thought your design was great back then and happy you will give it another chance!
    Poor Dieter...... I hope he remembers his experience and leaves the stink bugs alone!
    Enjoy your tea in that lovely teapot!!
    Hugs!
    Cathy G

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  3. Hi Pat
    No different here with the weather, pretty dreary and this winter seems so long. They (whoever they are) keep promising snow.

    Can't think why you didn't like this design, I think its lovely, particularly like the wool trailing over the edge.

    Must say you've got patience to knit the sweaters, don't know if I'd manage it now, used to make fairisles and cables years ago.

    Keep well both of you
    Briony
    x

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  4. Hmm, I will have to check and see what our local groundhog "Shubenacadie Sam" saw this morning. I forgot. Probably because I was tired from shovelling the pre-groundhog day snow we got yesterday :)
    The image of Dieter and the bug running around made me laugh. They are so funny sometimes. It nice to see that rug again and hear more about your Grandma memories.

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  5. Think I'd like that vest without a closure...

    Looking at that started rug, I didn't look close and thought that ball of yarn was a mouse that had fallen into the bowl! They say my eyes are fixed, HAH!

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  6. Thanks for sharing the history of your Grandmothers that developed the rug design.. I think it is great and can't wait to see it finished.

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  7. Our groundhog, Wiarton Willie ((from Wiarton, Ontario) predicted an early spring YAY :-) I am very excited about an early spring even though winter has been practically non-existent!

    I bet your grandmother's satin ribbon rugs were beautiful!!!

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  8. Idid enjoy this post!
    Love that naughty cat!
    I like the rug you put away then decided to finish, the cup of tea looks so real!

    You have a great weekend too, we are expecting a bit of snow here this weekend.

    Sandie xx

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  9. I'm so looking forward to seeing Grandmother's trunk develop. I really like that sweater. I have a new co-worker who is a knitter of sweaters and she has me wanting to start one. It's been a long while since I've tackled a sweater. I'm on a hooking binge right now though. Looks like six more weeks...but it's staying lighter later, which I'll gladly take!
    Hugs,
    Courtney

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  10. Deiter want to be an indoor groundhog with light on his back to announce an early spring. Here the groundhog predicted an early spring. I wonder if Mother Nature heard this.
    Your knitting is so even and what a lovely pattern.

    Pat I'm glad that you decided to work on your grandmother trunk challenge. I like your pattern way back then and still love it now. There is no end to your talents. Hugs. JB

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  11. *****your rug is charming! have you ever read the book, "preserving the past in primitive rugs" by barbara brown? this is a great one for family memories being translated to hooked rugs. my maternal grandmother was a great needleworker, my paternal grandmother was a concert pianist. i spent my childhood travelling the world with her when she performed either as a soloist or with an orchestra. perhaps someday i should follow your example and put it onto linen and hook away. your sweater is wonderful...i am married to a prolific knitter. looking forward to viewing more of your rug in progress and courtney from sassafras and winterberry and kathy from acorn hollow are excellent rug hookers! i sat with them at the last hookin here and i want their blogger friends to know this. keep up the great work!

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  12. Oh poor Deiter with that awful stink bug! blech! Deiter does make a great groundhog though.... ummm 6 more minutes left to your computer time? lol! The vest turned out great! Love the grandmother's trunk rug and looking forward to seeing more of it! Happy Spring to ya'!

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  13. It sure sounds like you come from a line of creators Pat. Love everything you put your hand to. I look forward to seeing your rug evolve. Don't put it away again!

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  14. What is a stink bug???? ...it must have a really nasty taste but I bet it was a funny sight.
    I love your finished sleeveless cardigan ...so practical....and I am glad you found that rug ...when finished it will hold so many memories.
    Some our fur babies plonk themselves infront of either the TV or monitor and no matter how much I encourage then to move they stubornly remain ....bless them lol.
    Hope you and Zip are keeping well xx

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  15. Poor Deiter - Jonser ate one last year and had a bellyache for 2 days! Your rug looks like a wonderful story - glad you have pulled it out of the cabinet! Great vest in a great color! That groundhog needs to get a new hobby....

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  16. Gorgeous vest!
    teresa_a

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  17. You've got to love a woman who knits your vest and hooks incredible rugs, too. Thank you, dear Pat, for all your talent and support. You are amazing. Xxxooo

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  18. Pat, What a wonderful rug to hook!
    It is so sweet and different to say the least. Love the photo of Deiter the "ground hog"! It was a good laugh for me....Cute....

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  19. Hi Pat, thanks for the comment on my blog. I'm waiting to see what you got done on your Grandmother's trunk. It's going to look some nice when it's finished. I can't wait to see your progress.
    Ps, I'm late for my barn work. Hugs. JB

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