Ugh!!

Haven't knitted a stitch in over a week and fortunately don't have any knitted Christmas gifts due in the morning.

Merry Christmas, fellow knitters and non-knitters. Here's hoping for a beautiful day with family. Remember always the reason for the season!

Dancing with the Angels

Just wanted to share another blog story about a beautiful little girl named Ellie. Her mother has been sharing the incredible journey of their daughter's life with Neuroblastoma, since September 2006. She is, as her mom said, Dancing with the Angels tonight. The host of the knitting group I've attended knitted for Ellie.

She leaves behind a family who is hurting but hopeful - they know they will be reunited with her, and that her pain and suffering is over. She has a little brother Ethan who will certainly miss her.

Just wanted to share. It's too important. Hug your kids, tell your spouse they are loved. Pray for Ellie's grieving family.

Not what I had originally intended

Okay, like many knitting projects, I'm coming to find, these booties started off with another destination in mind. They were supposed to be Ugg type. The pattern was cute, from knitty gritty or DIY, and called for yarn I wasn't willing to pay for. So the substitution began, and so did the frogging. I completely finished the boot once, ripped it out completely. Then the sole arrived again, was ripped back to a reasonable size for a 4 month old rather than my 23 year old son, and then the uppers... Without exaggerating, I suppose it's seen 6 revisions. Anyway, I'm pleased enough with the results, but they look more like Indian moccasins than the boots they started out to be.



My niece's son I'm sure could care less. And my niece will most likely never miss the Ugg's they could have been.

Happy Thanksgiving!

On the eve of the day that we pause to reflect on the "good stuff", I just wanted to wish everyone in my life (both the real part and the virtual part!) a very happy Thanksgiving!

Itching to sit and do some knitting tomorrow and wishing you all the same!!!

I'm thankful for God and merino and family and cashmere and friends and alpaca and church and wool and health and angora and my home and fiber and ...

4 minutes well spent

If you haven't seen this, or seen it recently, check out this amazing video. And if the video doesn't do anything for you, it's still a great song!

Don't Faint

Okay, I know two posts in one day is ridiculous. However, this just came. I am smiling just like the box. Except not cardboard, and not black... you get the idea.

Here is what came. Woo hoo! I was just playing in my stash just this morning.
If there's no post for a while, this is probably the reason. Plus, the two posts today should cover me for a while. Don't call the authorities; I'm sure I'm okay!

Riley's Bear Hat

My very good and longstanding friend has her first grandchild. Never mind that Riley is now almost 4 months old. This pattern came from Knitting to Go and knitted up quite nicely. But I thought it was missing something.

So I added the little tuft on his head, knotted securely. I think it gives him some fun. The eyes don't show up well but are duplicate stitched in.
Here is a set of "wristers" or whatever. My oldest girl has been wearing them to school but traded them in on a costume for Halloween today. It's the only reason they're photographed. Pattern from "Weekend Knitting".
And here is the dreaded sock. I'm on the foot, probably mid-way through the decrease on the instep. It's not doing much for me but I want to finish one of them and then find a one-legged friend to give it to.
Here is the annual parade of pumpkins. I free-handed a moose well, okay, I had a photo of one and enlarged and copied it, but with my hand. Craig carved. I think it is just darling. Might become a Halloween pumpkin tradition.
Happy Halloween!

Finished Objects (posted October 24)

Here are a few things I've been doing lately. These are wine bottle cozies and they were just TOO fun!!. Check out the little blue bag on the right. Guess what that is? Sock yarn. I don't even particularly want to knit with it. But the stripes I thought would be... fun. Oh no, does this mean I have been somehow infected with some sort of knitting sock virus? I haven't finished the one sock I've been irritated with. There are no pictures of it, but I worked on it today and actually now I think I want to finish it. Stay tuned.





Here is the view of the bottom of the one -- I thought it looked pretty neat. The red and white one is some random stripes etc I thought would be fun and that pattern is called Labrador Diamonds that I think I got from a book of mitten patterns.

This is the "South Seas Table Runner" finished. It will eventually have some shells or buttons on the edges. When I finish my sock!! The candle is one of my favorites from a store in Peddler's Village in Lahaska, it is a MOOSE.

Oh, and another new discovery in my own backyard. What a cool place! By my own confession I am not a yarn shop maven but this one was completely set up by color. A warm room, a cool room, black/white and neutrals. Fun stuff!

Not a Yarn Store for miles

This past weekend, we accompanied some dear friends to NYC for the weekend. Had big plans for covering the big apple and of course I had big plans to find some yarn! But for all the preparations, I had not scouted out the locations of I'm sure all the wonderful stores in the city. So here are some photos. We had an awesome time! I had never seen Times Square before so I was absolutely enamored!!!

Here is the WTC site. I kind of like the NYC hat reflection. Amazing to see the rubble still there. Very sobering.

Here are Lindsay Steph and lady Liberty. Great weather and a very nice Liberty Island and Ellis Island excursion.
Here we are and I have really bad wind-blown hair! NYC skyline (financial district) behind us.
Here we are in the Ferris Wheel inside the ToysRUs in Times Square.
Here is Paige hamming for the camera; Times Square was really cool.
Her shirt says "I didn't ask to be a princess, but if the crown fits..."

Thanks!

Thank you for your words of encouragement. It's kind of like labor, making a sweater, I think. Now that one is done, I'm actually thinking about maybe... someday... "having another". Of course, since the last one did actually take me 9 months to knit, by the time I'd be done it would be hot again. Need to plan better. Or knit more.

I look forward to some photos of the yarn store in Myrtle Beach that I didn't make it to. Thank you in advance for my vicarious visit there!

I have a mistake (dropped stitch) in my sock and I'm seriously considering abandonment. And possibly destruction. I think I dropped the stitch doing the lace pattern so I can't even just go back and catch it. sigh.

Happy knitting!

Bring on the cool weather!

Ahh, completion!!!


The sweater is finished. Now if it was only cold enough, or cool enough, to try it on without breaking into a sweat! I really like the neck that I was so fearful about.


I understand that casting on a lot of projects before finishing those already started is sometimes a sign of creativity. I completely agree, for most people. But I think I have self-diagnosed knitting ADD. I can complete 2 rows of a project that I really like (you can read obviously not my socks in progress) and already be thinking, I would really like to work on _______ now instead. And if there isn't something in mind already, or if I have already picked up the three projects already on the needles and knitted two rows, I am nearly driven to start something else. And I can't affix a positive label like creativity to this. Most often I resist. Although, mostly I barely have the time to sit long enough to knit two rows. on any project!!


I can only imagine what would happen if I actually picked up that cashmere yarn I daydream about. I'll bet I wouldn't put that down!

Knitting in Heaven

Okay, the prompting for this post is that it is about 86 degrees with high humidity and I have been seaming a sweater...

In heaven, there will be a ski lodge type building for knitters. Rustic, country, huge windows from floor to ceiling. Fireplace open on 4 sides, blazing fire. There will be varying degrees of chilly-ness. Perfect for knitting with wool. Perfect to bundle up in that cozy throw. Perfect motivation to finish that wool sweater.

Did I mention that it is 86 degrees? Did I mention that it is the first day of autumn and I am resisting turning the air conditioning back on? I realize I choose to live in Pennsylvania, where it is not uncommon to have heat and air conditioning running in the same 24 hours period of time.

Back to the lodge ... a perfect assortment of couches and chairs. Footstools to prop work up on. Plenty of end tables to hold books, patterns and the occasional beverage. The view out the window is, what else? Beautiful snow. Snowflakes, evergreen trees with snow laden branches. A cardinal sitting on a limb. Knitters everywhere. None of us are sweating. I haven't quite worked Jesus into the scene, but I'm sure he is knitting. Or coaching knitters. Or perhaps creating a multi-colored sheep that you can pluck an end of yarn from and knit right from the animal. (humor me, it's my fantasy and God can do whatever he wants with the sheep) Maybe the sheep could double as the end tables?

Ahh, knitting in heaven.

LYS visit

Finally got to a LYS Lambs Wool that is only 20 minutes from my home but I'd never been there before. There was more yarn in one building than I'd ever seen before in one place. I'm sorry, S..., even your stash didn't have quite this much. Although if you were hiding a bunch somewhere, well, then maybe...

And actually I didn't purchase anything. I hope that wasn't a crime or anything. I guess I really should have picked up something as "rent" for all the wool I ran my fingers through and daydreamed about.

Project updates

This is the lace table runner "South Seas Table Runner" in KnitPicks ShineSport. It's cotton, fun to knit with, and the lacy pattern is super easy - a 4 row repeat. I hear blocking does wonders for lace so I'm anticipating liking this even more when it's done! Currently it's just over half way. That is a 9 inch dpn next to it to give an idea of size. Supposed to be 13 x 24 when complete.

Here are Jess's fingerless gloves. The ends sewed in... okay. I am pleased enough.
Here is how they look on. This pattern is modified from "Weekend Knitting" - I didn't like the garter stitch cuffs and prefer a rib. I'm glad I changed it. I think the fit is better this way.
This was a fit of "I need to finish something and avoid the socks". It is a kitten cloth, about 8 inches square, out of two strands of 100% cotton chenille is a very pale pink. I got the yarn on ebay and learned a very important lesson that if it doesn't say from a smoke free home, it isn't. Some febreeze, a ziplock bag with a dryer sheet in it, finished off with some sunshine has worked magic. Seriously you would never know. Thought the cat pattern was cute; also have a moose pattern to try but I don't think I'll like it in pale pink... Moose deserve better than that!
And lastly, here is our geriatric dog Luther. His thrills in life are knocking over the trash can and eating dog bones. He is deaf and blind and almost 14. Wow.
Back to knitting. I've got the bug! And I may start something else (my startitis is a real problem) to avoid those dreaded socks!

So did people knit in the Bible?

I wonder about Old Testament knitting.

David writes in Ps 139 about being "knit together". I wonder if his great-grandmother Ruth learned to knit?

Looks like God also knew how to knit -- and doesn't that just make every modern-day Christian knitter smile!! -- as if creating David wasn't enough, apparently David and his buddy Jonathan were "knit together" on a soul-level. Picturing a finished knitted piece, it just speaks volumes on what a friendship can look like.

New Testament has less references, but Col 2:2 talks about being knit together in love. How cool is that? Makes me want to go knit a friendship shawl. Also makes me want to go buy that cashmere yarn at the LYS down the road!

"It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year!"

Ah, back to school. The season triggers memories of nervously getting off the school bus. New lunch boxes. (I remember having an Emergency 51 lunch box once. Also Adam 12. And either the Partridge Family or the Monkees, I'm not sure)

Now my kids are nervous and I am considering what LYS to visit first!

But on to other things. And projects: the sweater is blocked, the fingerless mitts - one set completed, the other awaiting a compassionate knitting pal's assistance, the socks, all 2 inches of them, are about to be stuffed into an envelope and mailed somewhere. Anywhere. The box is felted. I did start a "South Seas Table Runner" while on vacation and that's maybe 1/3 done. It's a lacy type pattern that makes big holes! So my UFO list is still pretty much unchanged. I wish it was easier to finish something than to cast on something else.

Labor day should mean lots of knitting!

Wishing all my fellow knitters time today for a lot of knitting.

Myrtle Beach accomplishments

Here is some knitting, half finished on the drive down. It is by title a "Large felted box" - I disagree with the name because it's only about 8 inches square! Before felting, too. It's knitted from handle, across the bottom, to the other handle. Then the 3rd and 4th side by "pick up and knit" and then a simple seam up the four corners. It is 2 threads of "carpet yarn" which is really stiff and I added a cream thread of maybe sport weight just for kicks on the top 6 rows above the handles. I still plan to felt it a small amount. This box is filled with little paper stars made by Paige, who is completely better except for low energy and an intermittent cough.

Here is Craig and Steph's silhouette against a stormy mid afternoon sky. This was followed by pounding rain and thunder and lightning. It was great. One of my favorite things to do is watch lightning storms! This is taken from the balcony of our condo.

Here are Nate and Jess (son and his girlfriend) at Teddy Town in Barefoot landing.
Here is Paige and her dear friend Hannah who we linked up with at Myrtle Waves water park. She had a great day visiting her friend and it made for a great way to end the week.

And here are some of our wonderful friends, too. It was so great to see them. The only regret is that we never got that game of Speed Uno in. Next time, for sure!
Next year vacation plans: more knitting, less illness, visits with friends, maybe a cat sweater, definitely a yarn store!

Plans go awry in Myrtle Beach

*Sigh. Didn't make the yarn store. For very good reason, though, I might add. My youngest came down with a nasty fever the day before we left and it remained throughout the entire vacation - from 100.4 to 102.8 - despite all our best efforts and an emergency doctors visit and antibiotics. On the up-side, she did great with all of it. She was able to go to the beach, pool, shopping, even the wave park with friends (check back later for photos).

Turns out, after a visit to our home pediatrician, that she probably had "walking pneumonia" and has already responded pretty well to the change of antibiotic.

Craig and I actually did head out briefly, picked up a few souvenirs for those saints watching our geriatric dog while we were away, and I only changed my mind about 8 times about wanting to go to the yarn store (let's go, no we probably shouldn't, oh let's go anyway, we should go home, etc). I am married to a very patient man - not even a breath of frustration when I finally called it off for the final time.

But while we were on our way home, I think I could hear that cashmere from our LYS calling my name. Or perhaps it was my stomach growling, I'm not sure.

A Happy Discovery!

I have a knitting friend who has mastered knitting on many levels. Not the least of which is finding yarn shops on vacation and making it look like an accident. I haven't tried this yet, although my time is nearly here.

We leave for Myrtle Beach tomorrow. And there is a yarn and fiber studio 4.7 miles from where we are staying. I have memorized the directions. I have motivation. I can hardly wait!

Sweater Pieces at last!

Ah, the endless sleeves are completed. The front, back with stitch holders await blocking and joining. I would try to calculate hours but realize that even if I paid myself minimum wage, this sweater would be far too valuable to ever wear!

I have a bit of fear, however, about the neckline. Well, perhaps it'll go better and look smooth once it's done. But my concern comes back to, all this yarn, all these hours, what if I hate the way it looks?

Here are my 3 little darlings. Right at this moment, they have nothing to do with my knitting blog, but the camera was out and, well... here they are.

Mild Panic Sets In!

I've heard about knitters being very irrational and highly upset if they lose a knitting needle. I understand there is an attachment to them, not to mention they are usually lost while in mid-project. I didn't get it, I mean, it's just a needle. No big deal. Until it happened to me!

Cleaned out both knitting bags. Okay, actually there were three that I've stashed things into, to cut down on the visibility. Found some interesting lint and some needle point protectors I didn't know were missing. Cleaned out my purse. Headed out to the car (seeing as how I'd taken them to church with me for show and tell. Really, show and tell. And if it had been dark enough I might have taken them out during one of the services...). Checked on the floor in three most suspect rooms. Wondered with pounding heart if they had been used in a teeth cleaning ritual. Decided to check between couch cushions. There is was, quietly waiting to be found.

I think I get it now. Losing a needle is a big deal.

Conveniently, guess what came in the mail today? A "win" from ebay!

Maybe that will help me stay organized.

A Small Project is in my future

Wow, may I just say that sweater sleeves are endless. I thought the front was rough until I did the back. Now how is it that the sleeves can somehow take longer than either of those pieces?

Of course, like most other mother/knitters I know, you sit down to really pound out a few rows and ... the phone rings, the dishwasher makes a terrible grating noise, the children need to be dropped off or picked up from somewhere, the cat gacks on the rug, the washer goes off balance, or some other natural or child-made disaster occurs.

And my endless socks are actually - "gasp!" - 2 inches long now. Good thing it's warm out.

I'm thinking whatever it may be that I cast on next, it will be something that is quick to finish!

What is so great about Socks?!

I don't have many photos of finished knitting. Here is a cabled pom pom hat on Paige. It so suits her personality! The cable was scary until I did it. Very cool to watch it come together.

Ugh - I've been knitting this beautiful cranberry sock yarn for hours. I go around (and around and around) and it's still only about an inch of ribbing. At this point, I'm thinking about casting off and making it a bracelet.

Or a cat collar.

Speaking of cat...

This is the infamous cat sweater of http://www.myoverstuffedroom.com/ notoriety.


And this is a knitted mouse which I have no excuse for. It was just fun. Please do not attempt to analyze any knitting project.

Back to the socks... I visited a LYS last week, and the staff there was just SO excited about socks. I was gifted the sock yarn above - or cat collar yarn, take your pick - so to see sock yarn for sale at $10.95/ball was disturbing... And one errant toss into the washer... well, we'll just say that I don't quite get it.

And if that isn't bad enough, I made a very bad decision and touched some yarn hanging there that was ... well, it defies description in softness. Happened to check out the label - it was cashmere. And $36.95. My yarn mentor didn't bat an eye and told me about some yarn that costs so much more than that, I think you need to declare it on your homeowners insurance.

If I listen hard enough, I think that cashmere yarn is calling me. I may have to visit it again soon.

My Current UFO's - slated for finishing this week!

Scary to list, but here it is:
My brown tweed sweater still needs sleeves and the neck
some Christmas present fingerless gloves needs multiple loose ends sewn in
some wristlet/fingerless gloves needs about 10 more rows and to be mailed!
The scary socks (seemingly from sewing thread knitted using size 2 masquerading as toothpicks!) in a beautiful scarlet - jury is still out on those

Hmm... Actually I'm surprised there are only 4 items. I think I'm going to go cast on something else now!

Hello

Just can't resist anymore. If I'm going to hang out on other peoples blogs, I'm feeling the need to have my own!



So thanks for dropping in. Check back again soon.