Woo Hoo.....

It is finally finished. I hate this sweater, I am so glad it is done. You wouldn't believe the mess I had last night. I started taking the bottom out so I could lengthen it. What a nightmare. This stuff is even harder to rip than it is to knit with. So I got out the scissors and started cutting. I got a few raised eyebrows. DH even commented on the process. And DD was horrified. 2 hours later I had all the fuzz picked out of it and the stitches picked up. The whole time I was working on it, I am mumbling things that are better left unheard. DH says, "why don't you just finish it and be done with it?" Uhmm, I am trying, this stuff is a bear to knit with. DD came downstairs this morning to inspect the damage and was disappointed to find it still not finished. She is lucky she didn't find it in the garbage can after 2 hours of frogging and cutting and picking out fuzz. She is happy it is done, although you wouldn't be able to tell from ANY of the photos I took. I am happy it is done, and I think I am going to celebrate by burning what is left of the ball of yarn from the bad place.

In a Fog!!

OH, my goodness, It is so foggy here. It rained all day yesterday, and with the snow on the ground, and the rain

and then the freezing temps overnight, we are left with a frozen, icy, foggy mess. My brain was starting to fog over last night too as I knit the never ending hood of DS's sweater. How is it that the hood takes twice as long to knit as the rest of the sweater. I don't understand. It seems you knit and knit and knit and it never grows. It needs to be blocked and I need to buy a button. I had one at the house I was planning to use, but decided it really didn't look right, and it was too big for the button hole. He had it on this morning when I got up to get them ready for school. He loves it! That is my February UFO resurrection project finished. I am ripping out a cabled sweater I started 4 or 5 years ago and am making a different one. Hopefully that will be my march UFO project. So far so good, And I still need to by more of the ever dreaded Homespun to finish DD's sweater :( That way it too can lose the "U" and become a FO.

I am close to being done with the first sock for the Feb. heart theme for theSocktopia group. I need to close the toe and weave in ends, and of course cast on for the second sock. The red yarn carried behind the white shows more than I would like, but there is not much I can do about that. It fits really well, hopefully I will get the second one started today.... I hope!

And just warning to everyone ...BEWARE OF THE BLACK ICE!!!!!......I drove the two eldest to the bus stop today. They have to walk to the other side of the neighborhood to catch the bus. I knew as soon as DD 1 got out of the van tragedy would ensue. She started "running" and there is ice everywhere. I tried to roll down the passenger side window to tell her to take her time.... someone had locked the window controls, so I couldn't roll it down quickly enough, and down she goes. She is our accident waiting to happen, I am sure I have mentioned this before. Well, she gets ups, brushes herself off and continues to the bus, I am still trying to figure out why the window won't go down, and boom, there she goes again. This time she gets up and turns around and looks helplessly at me. How can I let her get on the bus when she has fallen twice in a 3 foot space. So I am motioning for her to come back to the van. Thankfully she makes it back without further incident. We come home, I gather up the youngest and all her school supplies. DD 1 changes into some dry clothes and cleans up the scrapes and abrasion and off to school we go. Well, I realize after she is dropped off, DD 2 will be able to make the bus, so we head back home instead of going to the Elementary School, I hate to wait in the line for drop offs. I pull up to her bus stop, give her a kiss goodbye, tell her to be careful and she proceeds to slide right out of the van onto the ground. I sure hope these two girls of mine have a better day, it sure didn't start out well for them.

Have a great day all and watch out for the ice!

So Close....

You remember the sweater from the bad place, the one knit in the Lion Brand Homespun. I was determined to finish it. I started it eons ago, well really a year and a half ago. I hate knitting with this yarn, it hurts my hands and arms, so I would knit a few rows and then put it away. Well, I was determined to finish it and I wanted my daughter to stop griping at me, so I worked and worked and worked on it .... and ran out of yarn with only 14 rows of finishing to do. Can you believe that? So now I have to go shopping for another ball of the stuff, I know I won't match the dye lot but I don't really care, I just hope I can find the color. And since I started it over a year ago it is really too short in the body too. She has grown about 4 or 5 inches taller in the last year and a half. Since I am going to have to buy more I might as well take out the bottom and make it longer. Argh!!!!

DS's sweater is coming along nicely, I am on the hood and then just weaving in ends. I like this one so much better than DD's. He is anxiously awaiting for it to be finished. I really like the way this one looks. And it just figures, I put a stripe of black in his, thinking I didn't have enough of the teal ... well I have plenty, in fact I have found another ball. Ran out for DD's and have too much for his. I can't convince him that it would look nice with a collar, so I will have to keep knitting the hood.

And this Bearfoot yarn has been 5 different socks. But this is what it is going to stay. I have definitely got my money's worth out of this ball, knitting it so many times. I was afraid I was going to wear the "good" off of it. This sock is knit in a 4 x 2 rib, and I like it. No matter which pattern I have used and no matter the number of stitches, it has pooled the exact same way each time. Now , hopefully I will make its mate and be done with it. I love the yarn, I love the colors, I just couldn't find a pattern.

And I don't know about you, but I think this counts a a pair. These are mittens for the DS and DD 2. His are knit in Blue and Red Dancing Fibers Serendipity 60% Alpaca and 40% Merino, Magic loop method. And hers are Cascade 220 Superwash. But I am going to frog hers though, it is a little short in the thumb gusset. And, I found some navy, unfortunately not superwash , in the stash, to add to hers. It will match her coat perfectly.

Well, hubby is home, with dinner.

Stay warm everyone, we are expecting freezing rain, sleet, and then snow tonight and tomorrow. Sounds like fun!

Edited 2/13/07 We are covered in Ice. The northern part of the state is having blizzard conditions, we are covered in ice. It is still sleeting, the temps are dropping, and snow is on the way. The wind is blowing. You should hear the trees creak as the wind blows through their frozen branches. It is kind of eerie. I would really much rather just have snow!!!

Mittens Anyone.....

With the cold spell and the snow we have had, my children have reminded me that I have knit mittens for everyone but them. I really appreciated my mittens the other day when I was out shoveling the drive. I had on the tan mittens I made with the Mohair and Sock yarn held together. My hands were dry and toasty warm, almost too warm. And the hand knit socks I had on ( made by my sister) kept my feet incredibly warm. I was out there for quite some time, shoveling the 8" of snow we got. I was soon reminded just how out of shape I am. My back was killing me but I had warm hands and feet.

Anyway, the kids told me that I have knit mittens for everyone this winter but them. I guess this is true. After giving it some thought I realized I had made mittens / gloves for my sister , niece, nephew, people at work, and myself but not for my own kids. What kind of mom am I? So yesterday I dug through the stash and found a few balls of Dancing Fibers Serendipity 60% Alpaca and 40% Merino and made DD1 some mittens and a hat. This yarn has a really nice feel to it on the ball and knit up, but it is quite splitty. I knit the mittens pretty tight so they would be warmer, the hat I knit to the recommended gauge and it was not as bad to work with then. This was the only color I had two balls of and there are only 82 yds / ball so the hat needed to be multicolored. She loves it and has it on her head right now. Now I need to find something for the DS. I have a ball of royal blue and a ball of red and a little of the off white left over from the hat in the Serendipity, maybe he will get a pair of patriotic mittens. He would really rather have gloves, I would really rather knit mittens, chances are he will get mittens.

I was asked to knit a pair of mittens for a gal at work. Her only specification was that they be neutral. I dug through my stash and found some Shoeller Esslinger Merino Light and knit her a pair. They fit and she liked them. I guess they were neutral enough.

And, I started a pair of socks for myself. These are for Socktopia, for the hearts themed socks. I graphed out the chart the other day and cast on. I am a little further now than what is in the picture. I was going to put some roses on them also But that would have required more yarn and my supply is limited in these colors. The picture is not very good but I haven't taken a new one yet. Well I am off to take DD1 to the doctor to get her throat swabbed. They didn't have any regular appointments for today, but since she has a sore throat they can squeeze her in for that.

The Meme

I was tagged by Karen, Bonnie and Shelley so here it is.
The Alphabet Meme:
A - Available or Taken: Taken
B - Best Friend: Karen and Tony
C -Cake or Pie: Pie Lemon meringue
D - Drink of Choice: Diet MT Dew
E - Essential item you use everyday: computer
F - Favorite Color: only 1 hhhmmm Teal
G - Gummy Bears or Worms: bears pineapple ones please but I would really rather have chocolate
H - Hometown: Columbus IN
I - Indulgence: White Chocolate Mocha Latte
J - January or February: January – My son's b-day and my dad's too
K - Kids & ages: 3 children 2 girls , and 1 boy 15, 13, and 9
L - Life is incomplete without: my family and Jesus
M - Marriage Date or Most Memorable Date ( and why): wedding date 6/10 also my parents anniversary
N - Number of Siblings: 4 sisters and 2 brothers
O - Oranges or Apples: orange (clementine please, no seeds and easy to peel)
P - Phobias or Fears: i am claustrophobic, I have to feel air moving
Q - Fave Quote: Proverbs 31: 10 -31, I wish I was this woman
R - Reason to Smile: my children
S - Season: Autumn I love the colors and the cool weather
T - Tag 3 or 4 People: anyone who wants to play, I think everyone has been tagged already
U - Unknown fact about me: It must remain unknown
V - Vegetable you don't like: lima beans, I think they are the nastiest things ever
W - Worst Habit: I have the gift of not minding a little clutter
X - X-rays: I think I have had everything x rayed, I probably glow in the dark
Y - Your Fave Food: Lobster and Prime Rib
Z - Zodiac Sign: Taurus
More than anyone would ever want to know about me. If you want to play feel free to.

Tags and Knitting for Others

I have been tagged yet again. The Lone Knitter has tagged me for the 6 weird things about me. I don't think I have become any weirder since the last time so I will just refer you to that entry here. And both Bonnie and Karen have tagged me for another meme, but I have not taken the time to address that one yet. Consider yourself tagged if you want to participate in the 6 weird things about me meme, I don't know who else to tag that hasn't been already.

On the knitting front, most of my knitting time has been spent knitting charity items . I have one, yes, just one, sock done. And I started a sweater vest last night that I am designing as I knit. It hasn't been blocked so it looks a little narrow in this picture, but other than being a little short it will fit the youngest. I think it will fit a six year old nicely. These are for CIC.

I have a hat finished. I was going to send to Kate of Minestrone Soup , but she is asking for fun fur type hats and this is fuzzy but not fun fur, so I don't know if it will work or not. My girls sure like it, so maybe it will make it into the mail and maybe not.

The Lone Knitter is having the blanket drive, so I started a baby blanket to send to her for this month. I didn't get the squares in the mail for January, so I will send those along with the blanket when it is finished. I am knitting it in Plymouth Encore. I had a few requests for this blanket when I went up to work on Saturday night. Seems like half of the girls at work are in the family way. I will remember not to drink the water up there.

And I started a baby sweater that I am designing. I have been asked to knit for a baby that is due in June, so I thought I would work up a few things, see if they liked them and then donate the others to charity. So far I like this one, and I am even remembering to write down what I am doing, which is really unusual for me. Well I think that covers all the recent knitting. Today is the first day all three of the kids went to school and then the two youngest had a half day. But it was a day with no sick children home, yea! We are all taking daily vitamin C now. Maybe that will help.

Working on 25 for Charity

One of my goals for this year is to do more charity knitting. I am hoping to make at least 2 items for charity each month. I have been knitting away on socks for CIC, the problem is I knit one socks and then start another pair. I cast on for the second one of this pair as soon as I finished the first so maybe that will help me in getting this pair finished. That darn knitter's ADD.







The Lone Knitter is having a blanket drive for cancer patients. She is asking for 8 inch squares, baby blankets or twin sized 'ghans for her cause. This is something that is near to my heart, having lost my Mom, a grandmother and an Aunt to cancer. I have knit a few squares and have another on the needles. I will get these in the mail to her probably by the end of the week. You earn raffle points and there will be prizes too. Next month I will try to make a baby blanket.



And Kate of Minestrone Soup is collecting fun fur type hats for the children's cancer ward in Boston. I have knit this one in Splash. I think I have a few other fun fur type yarn laying around here somewhere. It is not something I normally knit with, but I think I got some samples from TNNA last summer.






And for myself, I finished the first lace sock last night in the Claudia's Handpainted. I am really happy with the way this turned out. I will cast on for the second one soon ... probably this evening. Well that is about it on the knitting front. The youngest just walked in the door saying she doesn't feel good. I hope this isn't the start of another sweep of illness through the house. She is complaining of a headache and a stomach ache ... doesn't sound good for me. Take care all.

Socks, Socks and more Socks

We had out first snow of the season, and my feet are loving the hand knit socks . The colder weather has given me the desire to knit even more socks, because a girl can never have too many ... right! I was remiss in including the sock blockers Karen fashioned for me from clothes hangers, so I will show them off with some socks in progress. I finished one of the socks in the Irving Park Lorna's at the staff meeting the other night and started the second. I am about half way finished with the second one. And then I started another pair yesterday in some Claudia's Handpainted in the Wisteria colorway. They are moving right along. This is my own pattern, although I am sure there are similar ones out there somewhere.

And, a couple months ago, I made a pair of baby socks and was asked to share the pattern. Well I finished the socks and gave them away, and never wrote down the pattern. I have since joined a couple groups that knit for babies in the Children's Hospitals so I will be knitting more baby socks and have a pair in the works. I will remember to write out a pattern this time. These are knit with some left over Opal, I think one from the Element group. I will be making some in a sport wt yarn soon. Those little socks are so fast to knit and so darn cute.

And the last pair, Opal Fish. I bought this yarn a couple years ago, and could never decide what pattern to use. I think that is the case with the self striping yarns, I never know what to do with them other than knit them plain, and let the yarn do all the work. I am doing a simple 3 X 1 rib on these with my generic sock pattern. I love the colors in this yarn, it is one of my favorite Opals.

Well the kids are coming in the door from school and will be wanting some attention, more knitterly goodness later.

Her First Formal

My baby is growing up. And boy do they get expensive the older they get. She is going to her first formal at High School tonight. She and a bunch of her friends are going together. She is all dressed up and ready to go. I think she is just beautiful! It just makes me want to cry at the thought of how quickly they grow up.

She is becoming such a wonderful young woman.

Goodies From My Sister

I finally got around to taking pictures of the goodies I got from Karen, on Monday. We had our Christmas together then, since we could not be together over the actual holidays. She embroidered a sweatshirt for me, It says I heart knitting and the heart is a yarn heart with knitting needles in it.... I love it, She knit me a pair of beautiful socks in my favorite Lorna's Laces Shepherd Sport, the pattern is the cup cozy pattern (turned sock pattern by her) from IK magazine. And some dyes, because she knows I love to dye yarn. I love it all. Thanks again Karen.



And while we were over in Cincinnati, we went to her LYS and I bought some goodies for myself with Christmas money from the in-laws. The One Skein book I actually bought for Karen, but she already had it, so while we were at the yarn shop I bought her Scarf Style and I will keep this one for myself. The sock yarn is Lorna's Shepherd Sock in the Seaside colorway and the other yarn is Sahara, from Joseph Galler in the Natural colorway, it is 50% merino and 50% camel hair and it is yummy! I have never knit with this yarn but it feels lovely.

And to reward myself for finishing my first UFO of the year, I started a pair of socks. This is my own pattern, I am knitting them in Lorna's Laces Sport in the Irving Park colorway. There is more brown in this yarn than I anticipated, and I have to say at first I was disappointed in it, the color that is, not the yarn, but it is growing on me.

Today is the Benjamin's 13th birthday, it is so hard to believe that he is a teenager now. He wanted a Jello cake, I just got that out of the oven. I need to wrap his I Pod and I Tune card, he will be happy with that. I just know he is going to want to go to McDonald's for his birthday dinner...yuck! But, it is his birthday so that is most likely where we will end up... yuck, have I said that already. Happy Birthday young man.

First UFO Finished

I finished the sweater for the youngest last night. I should have went ahead and blocked it last night when I finished instead of waiting for her to try it on. Who knows when I will get it back to do that and sew on a button on the top. She is NOT taking it off anytime soon. It is knit in the lovely Lorna's Laces Shepherd worsted in the Sherbet color. The pattern is from Knitting Pure and Simple.

We were not able to spend the Holidays with my sister and her family as we usually do, so today the kids and I are traveling over to Cinci. for a visit. They have the day off today from school. I am taking Christmas gifts along. You would think with all this extra time I have had I would have gotten my knitting done, but I still have a bag to make for my niece, I will show her the yarn it is going to be knit in. I do have her fingerless mitts for her though.

I had several singleton and partial balls of Koigu, so for my sister, I made a pair of Monstersocken. All Koigu, I used the International Sock of Doom pattern for the leg, the foot is plain, US size 1 needles. I would kind of like to keep them for myself, but I will let her have them. That makes for a lot of ends to weave in. There are 6 different colors of Koigu in these socks. I have no idea what the color numbers are. They look better in person than in the picture, it is rainy and gloomy out and I can't capture the true colors.

Also for Karen is a pair of felted clogs. I hope she will like these and not find them too scratchy as they are made in Lopi. They do soften up quite a bit in the felting process. Purple and yellow are one of her favorite color combinations, these are bright and cheerful. I like them, it is a Fiber Trends pattern. It is really a super quick knit. I am going to have to make a few more pair. I want a pair and so do my girls. I also am taking her a ball of Louet Gems Opal in sage green and a book, she picked out Scarf Style while we were at her LYS.

And for my nephew, I made a pair of ankle socks. He has hairy legs and likes his socks short for that reason. He wanted a pair that were thicker than the regular sock yarn so I knit him these in some sport wt merino. I also knit him a pair of fingerless gloves.

Well Blogger is not loading any pictures and I must be off to Ohio, I will finish this when I get back.

Added after day trip to Ohio: I came home to a screen full if pictures. They finally loaded after we left. We had a good time I bought some yarn for myself. Karen made some lovely socks for me and gave me other goodies. I will post pics tomorrow when I can take a good pictures of them. Everyone loved their stuff and my niece was even happy just to see the yarn her bag is to be knit in. I need to work on that, I am such a slacker Auntie. Off to knit.

First FO of 2007

I was hoping to be able to post one of those sweaters, but I think daughter #1's sweater has given me tendonitis in my elbow. I can hardly move my right arm. That sweater is so heavy. So the first FO of 2007 is a pair of socks for CIC. One of my goals for this year is to knit more for charity, and I am well on my way. I have 2 other pair started with one done in each pair.
I am just making up patterns as I go along for these socks. I need variety to keep interested in the project. The push this time is for socks, sweaters and vests for the older kids, age 6 - 16. This pair of socks fits my 13 year old son. Hopefully after a day or two of resting the right arm, and working just on small projects, I will be able to finish the sweaters.

UFO Spotting

No, not the ones in the sky ... the knitterly kind. You know, the ones hiding out in baskets and bins in every nook and cranny of my house. I joined the UFO resurrection 2007 Well, I am waaaaaay to embarrassed to show them all, so I am just going to post the few I am going to be working on in earnest for right now. When I get these done I will bring a few more out. Actually, I usually give up starting new projects for Lent, so this will give me a head start on that.


First, a sweater for my son. This is based on the knitting pure and simple pattern, I didn't have the yarn to get the gauge they recommended, so I changed things a bit and am doing my own thing to make it work. It fits him and he loves it, and that is all that matters. The yarn is Plymouth Encore.




And for the youngest daughter, another of the same sweater as for the son. This one is knit in Lorna's Shepherd Worsted, ( lovely, lovely to work with I might add) I don't have much left to do on these, so hopefully it won't take to long to finish them. It is just that boring stockinette st that drives me crazy. But I will finish them.




And for the eldest daughter, who had to have the yarn from H@##. There is really more done of this than the picture reveals. I knit it in the round to the armholes. It is the Lion Brand hooded sweater pattern and it is knit in their Homespun yarn. This yarn is heavy and unpleasant to work with in my opinion. I tried to talk her into something else, but she insisted she had to have it made in this. I promised to have this finished before they go back to school, so I really ought to work on it first, but the other two are so much nicer to work on. OK, well blogger won't let me load that one so I will try to add it in later. Anyway, these are the UFO's I plan to work on each day until they are done. Then new ones will be put into the rotation and I will share those later.

I hope everyone has a safe and happy New Year!!!!!

A Little of the Christmas Knitting

First the fingerless gloves/mitts for my niece and nephew. My nephew wanted a pair of fingerless gloves to keep his hands warm yet still be able to use the keyboard for the computer. His are knit in Jo Sharp Alpaca Silk Georgette in the Pearl color. And for my niece a pair of fingerless mitts, knit in Misti Alpaca Sport in the Lavender color. I didn't use a pattern for either pair. My sister assures me that Curtis will love the gloves and I am pretty sure Amanda will love the fingerless mitts as I can't keep them off my eldest daughter's hands. She loves them.

I knit a pair of socks for my husband, he refuses to even try them on. He has told me that he does not want any hand knit items, but I was hoping to convert him. I knew I was setting myself up for disappointment even as I knit them, but I was hoping. My daughter loves them and they fit her, so if I can't sway him into giving them a try, they will go to her. But I really wish he would at least try them on. They are knit in Trekking color 102 on size 1 DPN's. A 3 x 1 rib for the leg, 68 stitches, just my generic sock pattern.

The eldest, decided to go through my yarn to pick out what she wanted for her fingerless mitts. She picked some white Baby Ull and some Baby Ull I had dyed. I started knitting and I thought they looked a little too little girlie for her, but she insisted they were fine. So, I get the first one knit, and guess who doesn't like them. Well, the youngest does, so they will go to her. I am going to knit a pair for Kaitlin in the lavender alpaca just like Amanda's. Thank goodness I have another ball or two of that. It is a stranded salt and pepper st on the hand and a 2 x 1 rib for the cuff, thumb and top of the hand.

I still need to make Amanda's bag and finish up a few things for Karen. I am so glad for the extra week , well now it is only 4 days, so I need to get busy. I hope every one had a great Christmas.

I Have Been Tagged....

"THE RULES: Each player of this game starts with the "6 weird things about you." People who get tagged need to write a blog of their own 6 weird things as well as state this rule clearly. In the end, you need to choose 6 people to be tagged and list their names. Don't forget to leave a comment that says "you are tagged" in their comments and tell them to read your blog."

6 weird things about me
1. I will not eat or drink after my children, but I will after my husband. I think it has something to do with the little presents they used to leave in my glass when they were toddlers.
2. I have been told I have a "quirky" sense of humor.
3. I will not eat food from a pitch in unless I know who made it and know they wash their hands.
4. I kinda have a germ phobia and yet, I am a nurse... go figure
5. I fall asleep while knitting and continue to knit, and once knit two sleeves together while doing so. I generally knit them at the same time.
6. I rub my feet together while I am sleeping (that was from my husband)

OK thanks Deb, now who to tag. Karen, Allison, Alisha, Diane, Helen, and Shelley, hope you don't mind and of course you don't have to play if you don't want too. It is hard to think of 6 things that are weird, because to me they aren't weird. I had input from my family.

And a few knitterly things. I posted this on my Flickr but not on my blog as it was a gift for a secret pal. She should have received it by now, but has not posted anything, so I am going to go ahead and post a picture of it. I had posted a progress picture of it earlier. I used the charts from the mini sock in Socks, Socks Socks and just adapted it to make a felted stocking.

And in another exchange I made a scarf with some lovely Elsebeth Lavold Angora. I used the Double Eyelet Rib stitch for the scarf, seed stitch on the bottom and sides. This is a lovely yarn to knit with and ever so soft. I know she has hers, she emailed me to let me know. The color is Aubergine, very eggplant looking. I hope everyone is getting their Christmas knitting done, I am still dreadfully behind.

Pink Hat

Remember the pink SWTC Phoenix yarn from the previous post? It has become a hat for my eldest daughter. She is a bit tired and grumpy this morning, but still willing to model it for me. She hates getting up so early for school. Seed stitch around the bottom and top of the hat with a double eyelet rib stitch for the rest. I think it turned out pretty well, and she likes it.

I finished sock 1 of a pair for DH last night. I wish I had picked a different yarn for his socks. I love Trekking, and I love the color, but so few of the Trekkings have repeats, so the socks won't be identical. I don't know how well he will like that, and this is the first pair of socks I have knit for him. I am hoping to convert him into a handknit sock lover.
Back to Christmas knitting, time is a ticking.

Kona from Australia

A little while back Danielle of Sheep Geek was giving away some goodies in a contest. I was very lucky to be the recipient of some lovely hand dyed Henry's Attic Kona yarn. Well today the postman delivered this lovely package to me. The candy bar did not fare well in the trip across the pond as you can see, but I am sure it will still be delicious. The yarn is even more beautiful than I thought it was from the pictures on Danielle's blog... simply beautiful. It will be hard to stay focused on Christmas present knitting with this in the house. Can you see the little pictures at the bottom of the package, the middle one is a camel crossing sign, too funny. That is one we don't have here in Indiana. Thank you Danielle for sharing some of your beautiful hand dyed yarn with me.

Added on:
I got my Christmas exchange gift today from Teresa. She sent some lovely handspun, by her, yarn yummy 40% cashmere, 40% silk, 20% Merino in a beautiful brown. I am hoping to make a pair of mittens and a hat with it. I may have to order some more of it to make a matching scarf at a later date. She also sent a silk needle case, a tote bag from SWTC and a ball of hot pink SWTC Phoenix. The Phoenix is already becoming a light weight hat for the eldest. Thank you Teresa for the wonderful gift.

Fake Isle Finished

My youngest asked me to make a hat for her teacher this year for Christmas. I think she wanted an earflap hat, but it didn't happen. I was going to put earflaps on this hat, but I don't have enough yarn and I am not buying more for what would amount to yarn for one earflap. I knit it in Diakeito Diamusee and Cascade 220. The pattern is from Magknits. It is a pretty quick knit.

And when I was at Sock Pron today I saw this : "be sure to check out Rachel's pay it forward giveaway as well as Kristen's vintage knits contest... you know she made my legs famous with her Vintage Knits article in the recent Knitty, eh? :)" Who doesn't love a contest? Go play.

Just Laying Around.....

and knitting lots of socks. I have been laid up with this pneumonia. I don't have much energy to do anything, but am finally feeling like knitting again. And I have been finishing up some of these socks that have been treated like unwanted step children. They are feeling the love now, and will be keeping my toes toasty warm in this cold front that has blown through. This is the pair I started back in August I think. Opal sock yarn given to me by Karen. It is a Dream Catcher I think, I can't remember the number. Just my generic sock pattern, 68 stitches and size 2 dpn's.




And then there are the Koigu socks ... I do love these. It is the baby cable pattern, well kinda, from Sensational Knitted Socks. These have got to be some of my favorite colors. The cables are a little longer spaced than the pattern calls for, but it is essentially the same sock. I don't have the ball bands for this yarn any more so I have no idea of the color numbers. They are probably in the bottom of one of my many knitting bags. Knit on 2 circs, size 1 Addi's





And here are the socks that I am designing for Karen for our sock exchange. I already have mine from her, so I need to get busy on these. She has already seen them so it is ok for me to post a picture of them. Knit in Lorna's Laces in the Sunshine colorway, on size 1 dpn's. She loves yellow, so these are just perfect for her and the cables and lace design shows well in it. They aren't really that bright in real life, but it is cold out and I am not going outside to take a picture of them. Sorry about the glare bouncing off the table from the flash. Blogger is loading everything sideways or upside down and it won't let me load the last picture, so I will save that for another post.