Story of A Lifelong Knitter~Susie~Part 2

"Now you have come to your fourth year, Your work you will begin, That is learning the three arts: To read, to knit, to spin."

Icelandic rhyme from the 1500's.

Here are more of Susie's wonderful heirloom knitting.
The doll dress below is a newborn baby reproduction from the late 1800's pattern.

Another doll's dress.

This dress was made for a newborn. In the second picture you can see that the back is completely open except for the closure at the neck. Babies wore these going out of the house. They were covered in front but the back was completely open for easy dressing and undressing.

Doll sweater with lace collar.

Doll clothes designed and made by Susie. Even the little booties at right!

Baby doll dress and blanket Susie made for her doll house.

Susie loves to make toys and has made many treasured ones over the years. Here is a doll she created and knit recently.

With two knitted friends.

Knitted and felted nesting bowls. This pattern is free and available at Dancing Ewe Yarns.

Another of her creations! She's planning of filling the basket with these little gnomes.

And, last but not least, a felted pumpkin.

After sixty years of knitting, I'd say Susie has done a lot to grace the world with many beautiful heirlooms making all our lives just a little more lovely.

Story of A Lifelong Knitter-Susie

"Now you have come to your fourth year, Your work you will begin, That is learning the three arts: To read, to knit, to spin."

Icelandic rhyme from the 1500's.

Knitter and teacher, Susie R. grew up hearing and repeating this rhyme. Although Susie's Icelandic grandmother spoke no English, she would talk to her son (Susie's father), and pointing at Susie say, "too old". At five, she felt Susie was too old to learn to knit! Children in Iceland were taught beginning at age 3 or 4.

The second Susie's grandmother placed needles in her hands, Susie loved knitting and has been knitting for sixty years.
Her favorite things to knit are lace and toys.
Enjoy these pictures of only a portion of Susie's knitting. Part 2 will be next week!

Susie's first tablecloth above was knitted with 30 weight thread.

How beautiful is this pattern! Does anyone know what this flower is? Susie and I didn't know.

Susie's favorite pattern is the oak leaf.

Susie was told that lace tablecloths and doilies were to be knit in ecru or white. But, her grandmother knitted in color so Susie followed her. How lovely in these shades of pink!

More oak leaves!

The blue, green and yellow doilies were knitted by Susie's grandmother. Susie knitted the pink doily using the other three doilies as a pattern.

Remember to check back next week for Part 2!

USING UP THE YARN

Customer, Linda R. made her first Baby Surprise Jacket. Finding that the pattern uses about 1 1/3 skeins of Lorna's Laces Shepherd Worsted, she decided to purchase yarn for another jacket and then get just one more skein that matched with the first two and mix the leftover yarns together for the third jacket.
The picture at the top shows the first one she knitted on the right. The second on the left and the combination yarns in the middle.
Yarn: Lorna's Laces Shepherd Worsted
Colors: Happy Valley, Jay Pond, and Dusk
Quantity: Five skeins total
The pattern is available at Dancing Ewe Yarns in baby, and now child and adult size. If you have ever been frustrated by this pattern, the new instructions are great as well as having several size choices in the same pattern. This is a great pattern for using up all that leftover yarn you have hanging around!
*I do suggest clicking on the pictures above for a closer view.*

JENNIFER'S LACY SUMMER TANK~SCARF CONTEST

Customer Jennifer L. finished the Lacy Summer Tank for herself. Jennifer is a beginning knitter and look what she has completed! Great job, Jennifer.

Pattern: Lacy Summer Tank ~ free from Dancing Ewe Yarns website
Yarn: Rowan Summer Tweed
Needle: #7

We at Dancing Ewe Yarns are really excited about the "Really Great Scarf from Sock Yarn Contest"!


EVELYN CLARK, BEV GALESKAS and DEBBIE RADTKE will be our judges. Remember, the Grand Prize is $100 along with several $50 prizes.
All sock yarn is on sale 15% off until July 31.
The scarf above was knit by Cathy using Dream in Color Smooshy. How soft and cozy that will be next winter.

FROM SHEEP TO SWEATER

Terry N. knit this sweater for her husband, Ken and what a labor of love it was. The sweater took her over two years to finish.

First, Ken's two Navajo Churro sheep, Sunset and Snowflake, donated their brown and natural white undercoat. Next, Terry prepared and handspun this into 2-ply yarn. She also dyed the blue yarns.
She selected the pattern, OSTERDALEN 2004, from Dale of Norway. This is the pattern used for the Norwegian Ski Team sweaters.
Terry used size 2 and 3 needles to knit this sweater.

The design on the sleeve is a Norwegian legend honoring a Norwegian hero.

Wear it well, Ken!