Thankful!

We have so much to be thankful for - family, friends, health, ability to travel and knitting, of course!

After almost 38 years of work at the same place, my husband, Tom,  retired. We took the opportunity to spend Thanksgiving with family in both Pennsylvania and New York. 

We visited Niagara Falls

American Falls at Niagara in the afternoon

American Falls at Niagara at night

 and were at the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. 

The big man himself!

We ate and ate and ate. As a final activity before heading home was the Broadway play “War Horse”. 

What wonderful experiences we had. The memories will last a long time.

This week a visit to the gym to renew our membership and get back on the wagon is planned.  Haven’t decided yet whether to revisit ughh! Jillian Michael’s “Shred” DVD. It is so evil!

Only a little knitting was accomplished.  I finished one of the fourth pair of grandkid’s mittens and still have the thumb to finish on the second of the fourth pair. I finished a gaiter for our 3 year old grandson who didn’t get a scarf this year because of the fear that he would choke himself. The gaiter was a big hit and now his brothers want one too!  

I finished one Hermione’s Favorite Socks made for our daughter in Knit Picks Andean Treasure in the colorway Midnight Heather. The yarn is a beautiful and soft alpaca in black with blue and green heathery bits. 

The second sock is a third finished. I am making them toe up using the Fleegle Heel. Oh! the joys of knitting black which makes the stitches hard to see but since that is the only color she wears and since she is our only daughter. Well......what’s a knitting mother to do?

Until next time........

Socks ADD

For someone with Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD), vanilla socks are a nearly perfect knitting project. Why you say?  

Well, think about it. You pick a beautiful yarn - self patterning or self striping is best because the pretty colors and patterns that are continually changing will keep your attention.  

You grab your circular needles, or needle if you prefer magic looping, and using Judy Becker’s Magic Cast On, you cast on a small number of stitches. The magic begins. Oooh! What’s not to love?

You begin increasing every other round until you have doubled your number of stitches and are tired of remembering which round you are on -- is this an increase round or a plain round? This section has been just interesting enough to keep from being distracted. Plus the yarn is still changing pretty colors. Yeah, I’m simple that way!

Next after all this casting on, counting and increasing, you can settle down for a few inches of plain knitting. Aaah! Oh wait, even though the colors are changing, this is starting to get a little booooooring.  

Time to do something else.  Just in time, the gusset appears. You place pretty markers and increase only on one needle. Oooh! look at the nice triangles forming. Then, you are suddenly sick and tired of increasing, counting and trying to remember which round you are on. Did I increase this round or is this a plain round?

Enough of this!  Ooooh! It’s time to turn the heel. Where is my pattern?  Quiet everyone, this is serious business. No interruptions, please. Knit, turn, slip, count, purl, turn, slip, count, knit, turn, slip, count. . . . Aaah! . . . .oh!. . . ktog, count, slip, turn, ptog, should I be counting or slipping. Why did the pattern slip to the floor? “Somebody, answer the phone! Can’t you see that I’m turning a heel?”

Phew! done! now only have to knit a slip stitch heel flap. Kind of relaxing after the heel turn. 

Boy! am I tired of this slipping and knitting.  Oh, look! Time to knit plain for the leg. And, . . . . .when you are sick and tired of knitting plain, it’s time to knit the ribbed cuff. Aaah! knit one, purl one, knit one, purl one, knit one, purl one, . . . . .

Yeah! cuff is done. Now enough of this knitting. Time for the sewn bind off. Where is my yarn needle? Oh, there it is. Now, where are my scissors? 

Weave in the ends. Oooooh! how pretty! Admire. Show to everyone. And . . . .You grab your circular needles, or needle if you prefer magic looping, and using Judy Becker’s Magic Cast On, you cast on a small number of stitches. The magic begins. Oooh! What’s not to love?

Until next time . . . .  

Short and Sweet

Not much on the blog recently. I am dealing with a kidney infection. (I have found another medicine that I am allergic to.) Not fun at all.  A lot of lying around and/or sleeping. Also drinking lots of water. Which, of course, send me to the bathroom. Then back to the couch. Antibiotics and AZO are my friends!

Knitting

FO

I got a little knitting done. Finished the Preppy Baby Blanket out of dishcloth cotton. I really like the way this turned out. This pattern of alternating stripes of ten ridges in garter stitch will probably be my go-to baby blanket for a while.

WIP

I am still working on my Seedless Slice Sock to put in our LYS as a shop sample for the Knit One Crochet Too Pediwick yarn. This is a nice yarn to use for spring or summer socks. I also like it because it is a soft nonwool made from bamboo and nylon. The new spring colors are yummy!

Enabling

On the advise of Katie, of Knittin on the Fly podcast, I order the Encore 8-Hour Baby Blanket....Revisited booklet by Plymouth Yarn.  The 14 patterns look simple and quick. Might try one soon. Might find a new go-to baby blanket to help fill the gift drawer.

Until next time . . . .

Happy Dance!

Yeah, Yeah, Yeah, Yeah!  The La Vie de Bois socks are finished. The socks are designed by Heather of Highland Handmades and Fiberistafiles.  The pattern was well written and not a difficult lace sock to knit. I liked the heel on this toe up sock. It is alway rewarding to finish the heel with no holes. ;~)

Still working on the garter stitch striped baby blanket ala SheilaD37 from Knit1Hearttoo podcast. This is a fun knit and may become my go to baby blanket as it is inexpensive, 100% cotton, soft and colorful. 

I plan to cast on a toe up sock with an afterthought heel knit from Knit One Crochet Too’s Pediwick sock yarn.  I encouraged my LYS to order several new colors. I plan to use the watermelon colorway and two of the greens to knit the socks. I am planning to make the toes, heel and cuffs in stripes of dark and light green. The main body of the socks will be the watermelon color. I am going to make this sock for the LYS as a sample to help sell more of this yarn. I hope this turns out as well as I imagine it.

I found buttons for the off white baby yoke sweater that I finished last week. The buttons are chickens!  Just need to block the sweater and sew on the buttons. I made the 12 to 18 months size so that the baby will get more use out of the sweater.  This is knit using the Basic Baby Yoke Sweater in Plymouth Yarns Jeanne Chunky on size US 10 needles.  This is one of the 5 hour baby sweater patterns. This pattern is a keeper. 

Still working my way through Maggie Righetti’s book on sweater design. Hope to start my cardigan sometime in March. We’ll see.

Busy week coming up. Not sure how much time I will have for knitting or reading.

Until next time........

Lots of Knitting

Finished Items

The two scarves I was knitting for grandsons, Logan and Holden, are finished. YEAH!  They will be in the mail soon to them. The scarves used the Hogwarts Scarf pattern by Lauren Kent. The boys chose their colors. Each scarf is 6 inches by 50 inches with a 6 inch fringe. They will be nice and warm.

HO (half finished object)

I also finished the first of the La Vie de Bois socks by Heather of Highland Handmades. The pattern is very well written. 

Works in Progress

The second La Vie de Bois sock has been cast on and the toe is almost finished. I am working on size US 2 (2.75 mm) needles in Invercargil colorway of Berroco Comfort Sock. I have to work on this sock when I am uninterrupted. Since this is not often, I cast on another sock. This time in red Berroco Comfort Sock on size US 1 (2.5 mm) needles. This will be a plain sock with gusset and short row heel. I plan to add an intarsia heart in white on the heel flap.  We’ll see. These will be my February socks. They will be much firmer knit than the La Vie de Bois socks.

Next on the Needles

I joined the Dramaticknits podcast Favorite Musical Swap.  My swap partner’s favorite Musical is Little Shop of Horrors. I am looking for a knitting pattern to make for her. I also have found some neat swag to include in the package. We are limited to one knitted item and $10 for the swag. Let’s see how creative I can be. Come on Etsy!

Charity Knitting

A call has gone out for us to show our support and prayers for the designer Lisa Dykstra yenforyarn. Lisa has ovarian cancer and it is no longer in remission. Heather boutrosbabe of Highland Handmades has re-kindled the Yen for Yarn KAL. Melissa Meliabella of His and Her Podcast is a part of this wonderful charity too:-)  

I bought her pattern Winter Birches Fingerless Mitts.  They are gorgeous! I am looking forward to casting them on. My prayers are with Lisa. Join the KAL and send her your good wishes.

Travel

Hubby and I head to Arizona this weekend for a 6 day vacation at a beautiful resort. We need the rest, relaxation and rejuvenation. We are so looking forward to spending time together away from our normal cares and jobs. I plan to take lots of pictures to share with you.

Until next time, enjoy your knitting.

Friday

Good morning!  At least it is morning when I am typing this.  

The last few weeks have been trying. Lots of traveling around the state with hubby’s volunteer job. He is the equivalent to the state president of the organization. 

In between traveling I have been undergoing allergy testing as I have a new allergist (Old one retired. How dare he?!), and it has been 6 years since I have had them. Because I reacted very strongly last time by having a major asthma attack, the new doctor divided the test. This meant that I had 1/3 of the test each week for 3 weeks. Yuck!  I reacted to the same old stuff. Allergy shots will still continue. 

I also had a flu shot and a TB test. Then on the way to the last appointment, I had a back tire blow out. No injures to me or the car, but the tire had to be replaced which involved a tow truck across state lines as I wasn’t near the tire repair center and the lug nuts had to be cut off.

Yesterday was much better.  Very uneventful. Except for the fact that the La Vie de Bois sock I am working on got the foot finished and the heel turned.  I have started the leg and have about an inch of the lace pattern finished. Looking at the beautiful sock emerge on my needles makes me want to hug Heather (boutrosbabe on Ravelry) for designing such a great pattern.  (If you haven't joined Ravelry yet, you need to!)

I am hoping to finish this sock this weekend. Hubby, Tom is out of town traveling to DC. I might have a chance.

Since I rarely ever have second sock syndrome, I plan to cast on the second sock as soon as the bind off is finished.

I also plan to start a pair of plain vanilla socks (that is - mindless) to have as car and wait knitting. The La Vie de Bois socks have a different chart for the front and back of the sock, so it is easier to knit when I am uninterrupted. 

For my vanilla socks, I am thinking red yarn on size US 2 (2.75 mm) needles. Maybe I will add a heart to the leg below the cuff and call them my valentine socks.  Then I could join one of the podcast KAL.

Still working on the grandsons’ scarves. They are about 2/3 done!  Mindless knitting, but  they are getting rather large to schlep around!

I am heading for my comfy chair with a cup of tea to pick up my needles and knit, knit, knit.

Hope you have a great Friday!

Temptations

The days are cooler. This should make me want to knit all the time gearing up for winter. However, it just makes me want to search patterns and start new things. There are so many new books and magazines tempting me. 

I am trying to be good and ignore start-itis. Get behind me, Satan!

The Log Cabin Garter Stitch Baby Blanket is getting close to completion.  I have to finish the two brown sections, then knit the two lavender sections and then I will knit an inch of blue border around the entire blanket. Should end up about 36 inches (91 cm) square. 

I finished one of the “He Who Must Not Be Named” sports weight socks (Lorna’s Laces Honor yarn) and have cast on the toe of the second sock. Should be finished by Halloween. The alpaca/silk yarn is so soft but so strong. Great combo!

One sock down! Bag is from Piddleloop.

Wonderful Wendy Johnson heel

I am working on a swatch in Araucania Yarns Tolhauca Multy. 

I would like this to be a cotton garter stitch sideways knit jacket. I am having some trouble getting the proper guage. It is knitting a much larger stitch gauge than suggested. I may have to just adjust the pattern. I really like the fabric using the size US 5 (3.75 mm). It almost looks woven. 

I am also using this cotton yarn to make the Noro Keyhole Scarf as part of the Quickie KAL  on Fibernymph’s Podcast. It is a great ribbed scarf. Loving it!

Writing about all these projects makes me want to grab my needles, so i will post this and give in to the temptation for a little while.

End of Summer

We survived Hurricane Irene. We were at the beach when she hit. Lots of wind but not too much rain. Five to six foot waves. Overheard a resident the next morning say that it was a nice summer storm. Those who live in other states weren’t as fortunate. My prayers are with them. 

Since we were on the road most of last weekend, I got a little knitting done.  The Baby Boy Stocking Cap that matches the Baby Boy Surprise Jacket is finished. Now to await the baby boy. He’s due the first week of September.

Also worked on and finished is the Rosebud Trellis Cowl. It turned out very well. It is extremely soft. I’ll try to get the pattern written up soon.

I realized that August is almost over and I have not knitted a pair of socks. So I cast on my go to pattern - Wendy Johnson’s Sport Weight Gusset Heel Basic Socks on size US 2 with Lorna’s Laces Honor in the colorway, He Who Must Not Be Named. The sock is patterning delightfully.  I need to get cracking! I won’t be finished the August socks this month. :~(

I did, however, cast on and am a third finished the LaLa’s Simple Shawl in Katia’s Samba colorway 8660. A cotton yarn that is mostly green with splashes of red, pink, purple, teal, mint,  and blue.  Hope it doesn’t end up looking like clown barf.

We are pretty busy as summer winds downs and fall is soon to be upon us. (Yes, I know that summer goes until the third week of September) It is still rather warm here, so sweaters, jackets, shawls, gloves and hats are still a few weeks away. 

Sleeves and Secrets

I haven’t gotten any knitting done so far today as I seem to still be battling some kind of bug. Low grade fever and chills and a general feeling of yuk. :~(

I did get some knitting done yesterday. The first sleeve of the Red Summer Cardigan is finished and the second sleeve is a third finished.  I really love the sweater and it fits well.  Neck down design is definitely my favorite knitting construction for sweaters. So easy to make sure it fits before getting too far along in garment.  I can't wait to wear it!

I was hoping to have this finished before August 15th. This would get it finished in time to add it to The Knitgirllls 2011 Summer Stash Dash. I still have four more days. I will probably make it, but will FAIL on the Stash Dash. Even with the sweater, I will be about 1600 yards too short of the 5468 yards goal of a 5K.  Oh well, it has been a fun knitting summer so far!

Also, on the needles is a new sock design using Schoeler & Stahl’s Sockina Cotton. Shhhh! it’s a secret. The working title is City Squares. That may change once they are blocked. Here is a glimpse at the design so far.

Found a new book the other day at the local book store. Just had a chance to look at it today. It is titled “the GLUTEN-FREE ALMOND FLOUR cookbook" by Elana Amsterdam. Many of the recipes look and sound wonderful. 

I ordered the almond flour she suggests and will try to make a couple of the recipes this weekend. I’ll let you know how that goes. If we like them, that will work for both my gluten-free diet and my husband’s low carb diet. Woohoo!

A Year of Socks

The sweater I am currently knitting is a departure for me. I am an avid sock knitter. Last August, I decided to join the hundreds of sock knitters who had started their own Self-Imposed Sock Club. The goal was to knit a pair of socks for each month of the year. Since I began in August, my year would end July 31, 2011. I finished my July socks on July 18th. 

Each month I chose a sock pattern and an appropriate yarn. The goal was to finish both socks before the end of that month. By finished, I mean knitting done, ends woven in and socks blocked.  To some knitters this might not seem like much of a challenge, but in August of 2010, I had never made a sock before. I was a newbie. Wasn’t sure even where to start.  

I mentioned this at my investment club meeting and the two knitters immediately sent me off to investigate Ravelry. One of the members mentioned a great pattern for a beginning sock knitter - the Lifestyle Toe Up Socks - No Swatch Needed by Charisa Martin Cairn.  Thanks, Mary and Lisa. 

Ravelry is a great resource for knitters and the Lifestyle Toe Up sock pattern is wonderful for beginners.  Thus, began my Year of Sock Knitting.......

August Socks - my first pair

September Socks

Self-patterning

 October Socks

Frankensocks

November Socks

Autumn Colors

December Socks

Christmas

January Socks

Almond Nutkins

February Socks

Red Heart House Socks

March Socks

Water Avens

April Socks

April Flowers

May Socks

Rosebud Trellis

(First Kathom Design)

June Socks

Farmland Socks

July Socks

Comfort Turkish Bed Socks

(Yes, there are two!)

Thus, begins my lifetime of Sock Knitting.......