My Highland Collection

 

   This is the latest Highland Knit piece I've completed.  It's a Highland Capelet based on designs by the Scottish Princess and Carryl McCarthy and Wanda Mae Kafka.  It's done in Premier Serenity, a chunky acrylic on US 15's, and is machine wash and dryable.  It requires a shawl pin that I'm hoping to try my hand.  In the meantime I'm using a shawl pick to hold the sides closed.(added 4/19/2020)

  Here's my complete...to date...Highland Collection based on the designs shown in the pattern book Highland Knits, inspired by Diana Gabaldon's books and TV series "Outlander" and collected by the editors of Interweave.  I've also used patterns I've found on Ravelry.com, a website for knitters and crocheters.

Claire's Rent Collecting Shawl
based on the design "When in Scotland' by Rilana Riley Munson
available in cafe latte (shown), heather gray, turquoise, amethyst.

The 3 pairs of gauntlets are (l-r) 'Healer's Hands' in gray, 'Love Triangle'
in oatmeal and 'Thru the Stones' in cafe latte.  They are based on designs by Carol Ruhl,
Kristen Brooks, Kalurah Hudson, Wanda Mae Kafka, and the Scottish Princess.

The Boar Hunt Capelet
based on the design by Tina Brooks
available in cornmeal (shown), heather gray, cafe lattte)

The Gathering Cowl
based on the design The Gathering Infinity Scarf

by Karen Clements

available in heather gray (rust, soft navy)

   All designs are worked in 100% acrylic yarn and are machine wash and dry-able.  Prices are available upon request. And while I say an item is based on a design by someone else (to give the original designer credit) I always make changes while knitting...if I can see how to do something easier or if I lose my place in the directions (yes, that happens!)  The items may end up looking the same but have minor construction differences.  I am currently working on other designs for gauntlets, caplets and shawls and as I complete them I will post their photos here.  

   While they are currently available only from me, after the 'shelter in place' orders are lifted they will be available at 

Cooper Country Crafts 

               2 Doubleday Court,                Cooperstown, NY

What Else Is There To Do?

      How is everyone coping with the 'shelter in place' rigmarole?  It's confusing and a little scary but if we just keep calm we should make it okay.  Walmart in Herkimer has started to restock...with a limit on how many rolls of  TP or paper towels you can buy or cans of veggies.  They were out of most packaged bakery items (like Wonder Bread and English muffins last week but that isle is stocked again.  A friend from camp, our fathers were fishing and card-playing buddies, drives for Hannaford, and Jim says the warehouses are full so everyone just has to calm down and wait for the trucks to get loaded and the stuff delivered to the stores.  It won't happen immediately but they're doing the best they can.  We've got to remember,  truck drivers are only human...those 18-wheelers are the super machines...and it takes time to load them, drive them 1/4 to 1/2 way across the state, unload them and get the stuff put on the shelves.  Jeff and I stopped at Walmart this morning while our clothes were being washed at the laundromat (a long story there) and people were still grabbing the 36 roll packs of TP like it had a prize inside.  I personally don't know where I'd put that many rolls of TP in this house.  I've got 6 rolls of TP and 2 of them are in the food pantry because the shelf in the bathroom only holds 4.
   In the meantime, I'm still knitting.  Since the spring reopening for our shop in Cooperstown has been put on hold, I have plenty of time to fill my stock drawer.  I had requested (and got) from the library "Highland Knits", a pattern book put together by the editors of Interweave, inspired by the Outlander series.  Some of the patterns in there are also available in a slightly different form on Ravelry.com, a free site for knitters and crocheters, and some are only available for free in the pattern book. I've been comparing the patterns and 'pick and choosing' the ones I want to do.  (The important thing about using free or purchased patterns is to be sure to give the designers credit...which I'm!)   I started out following the colors the designers suggested with the patterns but as I watched the first season of Outlander on DVD...which I also got from the library) I decided to change some of the colors.  As a historian, I know all colors were not widely used in the early 18th century, the time of Outlander, but if the producers can use those colors so can I and I'm going to sprinkle some in my collection.  Granted some things...like gauntlets...will likely remain in neutrals...but some of the capes and shawls I will be offering in purple and turquoise.  To tell you the truth, I'm getting sick of brown and gray!  
   The 'powers-that-be' in the shop have decided to collect photos of new merchandise from members and offer them on the shop's Facebook page.  Kind of keeping our images fresh in the customers' minds.  As I take new photos I'll post them here.  Right now, I just have photos of the 'Healer's Hands' gauntlets and 'Rent Collecting' shawl(which I've posted on this blog many times.)  Last  

The Gathering Infinity scarf

night I finished the 'Gathering' Infinity scarf that can be worn as a cowl 
and started the 'Boar Hunt' Capelet.
    I keep finding more patterns that I'd like to try and I'm really trying to use up my stash but I did buy some yarn this week.  I didn't have enough bulky yarn to do the 'Gathering' Infinity scarf...it's 50" long...so I had to buy a skein at Walmart.  Now I've got 2 partial skeins but the dye lots don't match.  I might try something with them anyway.  I also ordered 2 skeins of Caron Simply Soft (in Woodland Heather, a light green) because I found a shawl pattern that I want to do and Walmart didn't have the yarn.  With Walmart as the only local store to carry yarn I'm stuck...either buy what they have or order it from somewhere else and pay postage.  I haven't been disappointed yet...between Walmart, Mary Maxim, Herrschners and JoAnn Fabrics I can usually find what I' want but I don't like having to pay postage if I can help it.  I guess I'm just cheap.
  Break is over...time to get back to knitting.  Stay calm and stop trying to corner the market on TP.

  

Highland Knitting

      I thought I had a good...not a great, but a pretty good stash to knit from but after reading and rereading Highland Knits, the patterns based on 'Outlander', trying to decide which ones I wanted to make, I realized I'm going to need yarn.  I have enough worsted to do the fingerless mitts or arm warmers but the cowls and the Boar Hunt Caplet call for bulky and I have just 2 whole skeins of the same color of that.  Luckily, I have to go to Walmart today and pick up an Rx (Warfarin) so I think a side trip over to the yarn display will fit in nicely.  There is no rush to get the yarn, I don't see the shop opening on time (April 15th) this year but with the libraries closed I've got to spread out my knitting and reading time or else I may have to resort to cleaning house to stay busy before this quarantine is lifted!  I've got 1 episode of Season One of 'Outlander' left to watch and I don't want to rush it.  Watching the show has helped me decide what I want to knit.  I wasn't going to do any of the cowls but I like the one Claire's been wearing.  By the time this mess is over I should have a nice inventory, hopefully, some of it will sell!  I will post photos of my inventory as I finish. 

So far, all I have done is  Claire's

Collecting Rent shawl and a pair Herb Healers Gauntlets...

I hope to finish the 2nd pair of arm
warmers today and then it will be the the Boar Hunt Caplet.

Zoey-the Watch Dog

     Zoey must have pulled watch-dog duty last night...3rd shift, too!  She was restless after supper wanting to go out but didn't go very far...not even off the stairs a couple of times...while Fanny took herself for a walk around the garage.  Zoey was mainly interested in a patch of driveway between the car and the steps...but there wasn't anything there I could see and Fanny didn't seem interested in the area.
   Around 11pm something ran past the big window in the parlor.  It was pretty windy and I couldn't see what because it was pitch black out there. There aren't any security lights on that side of the house.  Zoey got up on my mom's ceder chest and tried to look out the window (that's why there are nose prints on the glass) but that didn't satisfy her.  I asked Jeff why we never installed motion lights on that side of the house and he agreed we should.  (If we will, remains to be seen, but I think we should!)  She asked to be let out a couple of more times but when it started to rain that put a stop to that (she must be related to the witch from Oz...if she gets wet. she thinks she'll melt!)
   By 2am we (Fanny, Zoey and me) were comfortably settled in my bed.  Fanny claimed the bottom...a great footwarmer, with Zoey under the covers next to me.  I'm balanced on the edge of the mattress...I had more room in my bed at Brockport and that was a cot.  Anyway, Zoey suddenly climbs out from under the covers and dives under the curtain...more nose prints on a window...growling ferociously.  She kept that up for about 10 mins before starting to bark loudly...and jumping back away from the window and out from under the curtain!  She kept growling and backing up, going under the curtain and jumping back away from the glass for about half an hour.  Fanny rolled over and growled importantly at her ('shut up, kid' maybe?) but Zoey kept it up.  Fanny wasn't interested enough to get up and look, she just rolled over onto her good ear so she couldn't hear the noise so much.  (Like most dogs of her color (white), breed (Australian Cattle dogs) and size (large), Fanny has lost the hearing almost completely in her left ear and partially in her right.  I think she finds it convenient...she 'can't' hear when called unless she wants to.  But she still hears the words Treat or Peanutbutter clearly and comes a running!)
   I tried petting Zoey and talking to her...Fanny growled a couple of times at me so I switched to whispering...telling her that the critters outside didn't have humans to give them a bowl of food and had to hunt for their supper.  Told her they were our neighbors and she had to get use to them.  Since I couldn't see who was out there I don't know if I was talking about deer, turkey, fox, coyote or the mountain lion/bobcat. (I'm pretty sure it wasn't the bear...too early in the season for it!) There wasn't a bloody scrap pile this morning so I'm betting on the turkey rooting for grubs in the leaves.  I think the coyote or bobcat would have been more vocal about killing a turkey or deer...and may have invited the rest of the pack to join in a late night snack. (More of the joys of country living.)
   Like most 3-rd shifters, Zoey is still sacked out this morning. It must have 

been a tough night for her.  But you've got to admit, she's definitely got a tough life.
 

Highland Knits!

    

   I got the 'official' OK yesterday to expand my shop display into adult wear with Highland Knits inspired by the TV show Outlander.  I've done adult wear in the past but they never sold that well and they were displayed with the children and baby knitwear.  This year my Highland Knits will be displayed with the other adult wear in the 1st room of the shop.  I don't plan on having more than 1 or 2 of an item at a time...one hanging just above eye level and the other folded on a shelf, except for gauntlet or fingerless mitts.  I've found 2 patterns...with cables...that I really like and there's another without that I've seen called "Herb Gathering Mitts" that I think I can improvise.  Maybe 2 pairs of each?  They're a lot longer than fingerless mitts covering the arm up to the elbow!  Because I'm trying to stay true to the era (early1700's) the yarns are rather dull...heather gray, shades of brown, burgundy, dark blue, dark or heather green.  Too much of that will make the display rather dark and depressing.  I did order a heather green yarn for a shawl yesterday that should be nice.   The lace shawl I'm working on now is called 'Guernsey in Pink' but I'm doing it is Cadet Blue...a dull pale blue.
   Besides 'Claire's Rent Collecting Shawl' in the color combo used on the show, I did one in amethyst edged in gray. Now I'm waiting for the buckles that I ordered to come!
   Here's one of the gauntlets I just got

finished.  It's called "Claire's Highland
Warmers" designed by Kristen Brooks.
There is another version of it called 'Scottish Princess' designed by Scottish Princess.  Of course, I made a couple of changes to the pattern, too, but it still came out pretty good!  I can't wait until I get to the library and pick up the book Highland Knits by Michelle Bredeson.  There are 2 other gauntlets I'd like to try and several caplets and shawls.  

    

Errands and Appointments

      We had some errands to do today and some appointments to keep.  
   Jeff and I both were suppose to visit 'the vampire'...a regular INR for me and a cholesterol test for him.  I scored in range with an 2.8 (yes!) but because it was with a decrease in dosage I have to repeat the test next Friday after a week of normal doses.  If I'm still in range (2.5-3.5) I will be retested in 2  weeks and then in 1 month.  Staying in range can be very difficult some times because I'm still not sure what pushes me out of range.  This time my nurse thought it was just because I had a cold and my body's reaction to the cold was enough to push me out of range.  (I had scored a 3.6 last week, just  .1 out of range but still out!) I have always relied on Robitussin when I had a cold.  It soothed my cough and dried up my runny nose.  Last winter I used it and my INR went totally out of control.  It took several months before we got it back in range and my attending told me not to use it anymore so this time when I got a cold I took Benadryl at bedtime just to dry up my runny nose and coughed and blew my nose the rest of the day.  With all the hoopla about the coronavirus going around, blowing your runny nose draws some strange looks. Most people don't realize it's not a symptom of the virus. 
   Jeff saw his endocrinologist yesterday and she suggested some changes with his diabetic medications but first he had to have his cholesterol and triglycerides levels checked.  When he got to the lab today he found that his attending had ordered some additional blood work, too.  We just have to wait and see if his numbers were low enough to allow the change in medicines.
   The lab where Jeff was seen is at one end of the building and the one where I was seen is at the other, so he parked in between and we went in separate doors expecting to meet back at the car.  I actually expected to find him sitting in the car waiting for me but as it happened we came out of the separate doors at almost the same time!
   Our errands took us to Ilion next where I returned some library books and Jeff paid the Spectrum bill.  We were back in Herkimer when we decided to stop for a late lunch/early supper.  Jeff's blood work had been 'fasting' and all I had to eat so far was toast for breakfast so Burger King was looking pretty good to us.  We were almost finished when our friend Coral came in.  She was surprised to see us...but glad...because she had some sad news to share.  Her husband, Len, had passed away this morning.  He had been hospitalized for a couple of months at the VA in Syracuse and had been home on hospice and palliative care for about a week.  She said it was a very peaceful passing.  We were both sorry to lose Len but glad his struggle was over.  We visited with Coral for awhile at Burger King and she promised to call with the time and place for Len's service.
   By the time we got home it was a good thing I had gotten the 'girls' chicken nuggets at BK.  Like most dogs, they have no sense of time...10 mins feels like hours to them so several hours must feel like a lifetime.  After we were sniffed and inspected, cried and  barked at, they let us in the house and I divided their chicken nuggets.  I had gotten one of BK's 5 for $4 deals that includes 4 nuggets so with the regular 6 pc. order that they share, they each got an extra nugget!  I cut the chicken nuggets in half and mix them with their dry dog food  and boy, do they clean their bowls!
   Right now everybody...but me...is asleep so maybe I can do some knitting.  I've got the 'Guernsey in Pink' shawl on the needles in my pocketbook but so far I haven't had time to do more than 2 rows at a time on it.  I'm not getting my 55 repeats of the lace pattern done at that rate.

Better Keep Knitting

       I must be slowing down because I've got only 3 projects going at once right now.  I finished Jeff's birthday socks in the red-white-blue merino I received in my last Yarn Pal package (from New Zealand).  Since I sold both of the 'When in Scotland' shawls I made (supposedly for the shop) I decided I better do another one.  I had bought 2 jumbo skeins of the Red Heart acrylic worsted in cafe late just after Thanksgiving and used 1 for the shawls but I can't find the other skein.  I've pulled boxes and bags out from under the bed and from the back of the closet but I still can't find it so I gave up and bought a regular size skein on Friday.  I've got that section of the shawl almost finished...it's on US10's and it goes fast.  My 2nd project is a baby sweater with white sport yarn on US7's.  I honestly haven't worked on that since I started it.  My knitting mojo is working fine, I just don't seem to want to work on baby sweaters right now!  The 3rd project is a shawl called 'Guernsey in Pink' and it starts with the lace edging.  That's 10 sts on US3's in a 10 row pattern that's repeated 55 times.  It works out to something like 4 1/2 ft of lace.  (I've got about 3 ft finished right now!) I've decided it's a good thing I wasn't born 200 years ago because I'd have very plain linens and underwear.  Knitting lace edging is boring and takes forever!  
   Oh, I saw some patterns for market bags made out of plastic grocery bags.  Since they are no longer 'legal' to use them in NY and I have a huge supply I thought I'd try to knit some.  We'll see how they work out. 
   Jeff just brought home a 'test drive' from Skinner's...a Honda.  It looks good, clean, no rust, but it has high mileage.  They're trying to make a deal with him for 2 vehicles but the mileage on that one has me hesitating.  We talked to Dave at Hillslide Friday and he wants us to stop there this week to see what he has.  We thought we do it when we go to Little Falls for a doctor's appointment later this week... before we make up our minds about this Honda.  We really need 2 vehicles.