Sneak in another 2008 Cast On ~

Before 2008 is complete, I have cast on a new hat..... destined to be a black & hot pink one for rockin10, but..... turned out the Frog Tree Alpaca yarn is sport weight, and the hot pink is worsted weight and they did not work together in the stripes of the hat. So, since I had 3 inches of the brim knit out of the black, I pulled out the other Frog Tree Alpaca yarn (from our wonderful Birch Bay weekend) and started a hat out of my Hats: A Knitter's Dozen Birthday Book of hat patterns. The yarn is heaven to work with ~ and the little Yarn Lady in the picture came from my sweet knitting secret pal yesterday! Cute, eh!!!

Here is the hat, now completed at almost midnight!!!!! Whoo Hoo!!!!

2009 New Year's Knitting Resolutions

2009 New Year's Knitting Resolutions ~ The list begins here (and may continue to grow!):

Category: Learn Something New
1. Cable Felted Bag ~ Louet pattern





2. Cable Hat ~ Fiber Trends

3. Nuppie & Braid hat (with the new cast on) ~
4. Mitered corner project ~ perhaps from Domino Knitting book




Category: Share your love with others
1. Ten (at least) hats for church bazaar
2. Hats for Michigan Christmas gifts

Category: Knit what you love
1. Summer top ~ Classic Elite Premier Cotton blend (Ella Rae pattern, perhaps?)
2. Finish all 2008 knitting projects (decadence cardigan, purple tank top, tofutsies & jitterbugs)
3. Add to this list!!!!

2008 Knitting Resolutions Completed ~

My 2008 New Year's Knitting Resolutions and some pictures to remember... (the Resolutions list has been in the blog side bar, but will be replaced with the 2009 Knitting Resolutions soon):

1. Begin cardigan out of Decadence Knit Picks ~ began Central Park Hoodie
2. Try project using mitered corners again ~ from Domino Knitting ~ tried this, but frogged it ~ on list again for 2009
3. Make more than 7 hats for church bazaar ~ knitted 13 hats in 2008 - 11 plus 2 special order 'squiggle' hats
4. Learn brioche stitch & do a project ~"Husky Pride" hat
5. Finish Philosopher's Wool Fair Isle sweater ~ complete
6. Finish all unfinished objects from 2007;
(1) bag ~ sari silk
(2) socks ~ Dye Studios deep cherry wool
(3) beaded bag~ Koigu
(4) socks ~ Urban gypze wool

2008 Christmas Gifts ~

So, here is the ending Tally on 2008 Christmas gifts knitted by me: (I only have pictures of those gift openings I witnessed, but my blog has pictures of all of them in the making)


1. Scarf ~ snowflake blues
2. Hat ~ Packers' green & gold wool
3. Hat ~ blue & violet hand spun
4. Headband ~ peach wool
5. Ken's black hat ~ Tessin Wool
6. Grandpa's green hat ~ Beaverslide Wool
7. Jack's Packers' hat ~ Cascade 220
8. Grandma's blue hat ~ Manos
9. Socks ~ yellow alpaca silk
10. Clogs ~ Peace Fleece

Comparisons ~

Can you believe that the site of this picture

now looks like this?

Wow......lots of snow around here......great vacation in this snow!

Another One Done!

Here is another Christmas gift done! Yes, just now I cast off and took pictures so I can celebrate the scarf being done! Yippeee!!! This is a gift for a sweet friend at work, so she will get it the first week of January ~ so I am done in plenty of time!

Christmas Joy ~

Happy Christmas to all of you! Another Christmas tradition that gives me great joy is my Christmas Quilt. I made it from a "Quilt Block a Month" pattern/kit by the Sisters, Oregon Stitchin' Post. The pattern/kit was given to me by my sweet sister as a birthday gift. It was loads of fun to sew, as the colors are not traditional "green & red" and the designs are whimsy and fun. I pull it out of the closet at Thanksgiving and reacquaint myself with all the blocks and shapes and colors and whimsy and delight.... I love this quilt!!!!!

Halfway there ~

Check out the progress on my snowy scarf! I was able to knit today while my sweetie drove us off this snowy hill to do some last minute errands. Road trip knitting is great and I am now on my second skein. The yarn is On Line Iceland, and the pattern is Diagonal Scarf from the book Morehouse Farm Merino Knits.

Remember me?

Hey, look who is getting holiday attention! Ta da!!! The Central Park Hoodie is getting some serious attention during these snowy days. I knit on the Hoodie when I can concentrate, as there are decreases and counting going on now. The back is ready for the shoulder shaping, and the right front still has a few inches before being at that point...the left front will be the last...I need to read ahead to see how the actually "hoodie" part begins, as I have never done "hoodie construction" before ~ stay tuned!

Snow Everywhere!

There is even snow on my new cast on project! This is fun yarn, "Iceland" by On Line, and I made a scarf last year out of the same yarn, and a special gal at work loved it, so I found more yarn (yes, More Yarn) on eBay... so I could make her a snowflake scarf too.

Rockin#13 seems to have taken ownership of my scarf... as shown below....

Early Santa!

Santa came early and delivered 3 skeins of hand spun hand dyed yarn. The pink to the left was called peppermint but I think it is more hot pink.

Perhaps it will make a great scarf for rockin#10.

P.S. rockin#10 created a blog tonight ~ check out this link!

............................

Got (enough) Yarn?

Oh-oh, I have run out of Peace Fleece periwinkle yarn and need to order more ~ as in More Yarn Please :) All that I have left is the small bit in front of the clogs, and I have the cuff roll and outer sole left to knit on clog #2... so you will have to stay tuned for the finishing of these clogs....

Snow Dance ~

During our snow day Wednesday (with no snow, by the way) our dance floor became "complete" and looks marvelous! Thursday, another snow day (with LOTS of snow) and you can see how beautiful the dance floor, tree and snow look. Plus my knitting looks great too!

P.S. Here are some dancers outside!

Birthday Wishes ~

Happy Birthday to an awesome knitter and amazing friend! I wish for you a day with soft yarn, new patterns, lots of time and an endless eggnog latte!
Cast on something wonderful and enjoy your day!!!!

I can feel the love ~

As we wait for a Big Snow Storm to hit our area, I dig in my sock drawer for The Socks That Janis Knit For Me ~ yes, she knit them For Me ~ SHE KNIT THEM....for me.... They are exactly where I left them last season, peeking out over the beloved Jitterbugs and delightful Alpacas. I smile as I see them, green wool with purple embroidery on the sides. I think they are smiling too, as they know snow must be near and it is time to play. I put them on ~ there is the love ~ I can feel the love in every stitch, in the perfection of the heel turn, the exact perfect shaping on my foot and the cozy ribbing that hugs me. I think they are two years old now, is this our second or third winter together? They have worn well and continue to keep my feet & heart cozy warm and twinkling with the love in every stitch.

P.S. For those of you that have not met Janis, she is the amazing woman at this blog. I am so blessed that our paths crossed as Knitting Secret Pals.

Happy Holiday Bag

Since I am scooting along on the Fiber Trends clogs, I wanted to share one of my holiday traditions. This red bag with the fur trim and furry whoo-whoos was given to me by a friend a few years ago, and now I am using it as my holiday knitting bag! I feel like one of Santa's elves as I carry this around with my knitting treasures inside. It makes knitting even more fun!!!! (is that possible ~ more fun?)
P.S. These are not Minnesota Vikings clogs ~ no way ~ never ever

Cast On ~

We had a shift in plans today as the weather became too cold and the roads too icy to maneuver this morning....so I was able to get lots of gifts wrapped, cookies baked and still had time to CAST ON!!!! Yes, I cast on for the Fiber Trends clogs, finished the first inner sole and have started on the clog top! I am using Peace Fleece and the colors are wonderful and the yarn feels great as I work with it. Bravo!!!!

Instant Gratification ~

Wow ~ knit a hat in a day! How wonderful it feels to have such an accomplishment ~ especially during the holidays! The hat is done, and it was fun to knit ~ as baby hats are pretty fast and feel like instant gratification when they are complete!

Another Request ~

I cast on this hat on the way to the church Christmas pageant practice this morning. My husband requested that I knit a Packers' hat for a soon-to-be-new-born-grandson of good friends that are in the Packers' group. So here it is....I am a sucker for a knitting request....

Knitting Dreams ~

Dreaming of hand spun hand dyed yarn, in a beautiful twist of blues, violets and a hint of turquoise, being knitted into a delightful hat ribbed and warm to ward off the snow of December......

Beautiful Yarn ~

When Rockin#13 saw my finished peach hand spun hat, she said, "I would like a hat like that." Always up for a requested assignment (which means someone actually wants something I knit) I pulled out the other hand spun I bought from Sisters, Oregon. Instead of the greens, she chose the beautiful blues & purples, and I cast on during the Christmas Pageant practice today. The yarn is beautiful and evenly plied ~ smoother than my lovely peach ~ and such a joy to work with.

When not to knit ~

There are a few situations when it is not appropriate to knit ~ but only a few! One of those times is when you get to watch your daughter play basketball for the very first time in middle school. This was her second game, and I was very excited to be able to see her play ~ she is so fast, just a blur, eh!! She scored her first basket, too ~ so of course I had to watch every minute and not miss any action! I suppose I could have knit during half time, but it was fun to watch the girls practicing, so I did not want to miss that either....

Beautiful Hat!

Wow ~ this hat from hand spun hand dyed "family" sheep's wool is beautiful! I just finished it a few minutes ago and have been parading around wearing it with pride! Rockin#13 daughter took my picture and promptly asked if I would make her the same pattern out of the green hand spun hand dyed sheep's wool from Bend, Oregon. The pattern is a 3 inch 2X2 rib (as rolled hem doesn't look good with all the bumps in the hand spun) and then a 5 inch crown, and then start the decreases..... very basic & beautiful!

A Good Cause ~ part 2

This is how the "How to Knit" kits look now that they are wrapped & ready. Do they look like something festive & creative for a teen or a mom? Let's hope so!

A Good Cause

I made three "how to knit" kits for gifts to needy families in our area. They will be part of the toys & teen gifts collection at our church this weekend. Perhaps a teen will like a "how to knit" kit, or perhaps their mom would like it! The "kit" comes with a 14 page booklet (in a plastic envelope) with directions to cast on, knit, purl and bind off, plus a scarf pattern (shown in the picture below the yarn), knitting needles, plus enough yarn to make a scarf (or 2). One colorway is Harry Potter Gryffindor House (red/gold), and the other two are in purple and gold, local team colors. I will also donate the newly finished Sari Silk purse, as that seems like something a teen might like.

Real Sheep

I am knitting with yarn that came from a real sheep in Bend, Oregon. I know, I know, all wool must come from a real sheep ~ however, I know a bit about this particular sheep, I know the owner and spinner ~ we are practically family!!! My sister & I took spinning lessons last April at the yarn & spinning shop in Sisters, Oregon. I bought this hand spun & hand dyed yarn from the shop owner, and sheep owner, Pam. Her sheep was named Galadriel, from the Lord of the Rings. The wool is a combination of beautiful shades of peach ~ my favorite color (can you see all the shades in the picture?). Pam talked about Galadriel, and when she first came to live with their flock, and sheering her, and dying the wool and spinning it ~ how could I resist buying this yarn ...so now it lives with me, and is becoming a hat! And go to chicken news!
(can you tell who was editing this blog? Yup, rockin#13 ~ check her adventures out in Chicken News!)

Really done

With help from my sister (the rock star bead expert ~ is it redundant to be a rock star and an expert?) the sari silk bag is really done ~ Officially. Period. Done. She had two perfect glass beads ~ gold & yellow, and about the size of a quarter. They blend perfectly with the colors of the sari silk. I sewed a silk loop and attached the beads for the purse closure (get it 'closure' for the purse and 'closure' for the knitting project, clever, eh?).
~ the purse does look really great! Can you see the glass beads?

Don't tell Mom

Shhhhhhh, Mom's Christmas gift is done ~ I finished sewing the binding on #8 today! Very excited to have another Christmas gift complete ~ even if the gift is not knitted. Rockin#13 picked out the fabric & metallic trim ~ the greens match Mom's dining room area. I think she will like them a lot for the spring!

Counting blessings

We had a delightful Thanksgiving filled with an amazingly perfect dinner and great family time ~ lots of laughs and time to relax and enjoy the day! Here is my rock star beading sister being creative with colors and textures as she makes awesome jewelry. I am enjoying her company and hoping to glean some of her beading knowledge ~ she is such fun to be with and she is really good at beading!

Guess who's coming to dinner?

This morning we had a neighbor looking for Thanksgiving dinner ~ isn't she beautiful?
Here she is by our chicken's aviary. Have a happy Thanksgiving, and be sure to count all your blessings.

When to read?

Another exciting event! My second Interweave Knits Magazine arrived in the mail! My very own subscription to this knitting magazine is so amazing, as I was always reading a friend's copy or checking the library for past copies. My sweet friend gave me a subscription for my birthday and it has been wonderful to think about having peaceful time to reflect on all the arcicles and patterns ~ but when does one read it? I am not done reading my first magazine yet, as I am carefully and thoughtfully pondering each bit of wisdome and advice, and weighing each pattern and yarn thinking, "Could I knit that?" or "Would I want to knit that?" or "I should try that!" or "I should find that!" so reading the entire magazine is taking some time....probably good that it is quarterly, so I am not too far behind?

Monday Night Knitting

Packers are playing and I am knitting ~ great way to spend a Monday night, except that the Packers are not winning.... bummer....

Good news is that I made a bit of progress on the winter headband....I think it is more than half complete!!

Farther along ~

I was able to knit last night while watching the Red Wings hockey game on TV with my sweetie. We both enjoy watching hockey games, and are pleased when our Red Wings are on TV. He follows the team more closely than I do these days, however I love the excuse to sit & knit with my sweetie. Here is the headband with more inches on it ~ can you see the difference from yesterday?

Nothing like it ~

There is nothing like the feeling of casting on a new project ~ any project ~ any yarn. There is nothing like the excitement that this will be a great project, this will fit perfectly, this will look lovely, this will turn out exactly how I am picturing it. All optimism, all hope, all faith, all excitement ~ the cast on moments are the action that says, "No matter what knitting disasters have occurred, I have the faith and optimism to keep knitting!" This new project is a winter headband for Rockin10, as I made one for Rockin13 last Christmas. The yarn has some elastic in it, so it will be great for keeping her ears warm while sledding down our street during snow days!

Inch by Inch

The Jitterbug Socks have another inch on them, as I needed a bit of "quick" as I did a few more rows on the Hoodie. The Jitterbugs are showing some pooling, so I have been using the slip stitch technique ~ they are still beautiful.

I would really love to cast on a new project with some of the wonderful yarn from our September Celebration, perhaps the nuppie & braid hat... and I would need to review Marion's video of the cast on....perhaps I will get a chance this next weekend?

Back to the Hood

I was able to get back to the Hoodie this afternoon for a few rows, and the cable row. I have about 16 inches now on the back, so I will find out when I will start shaping for the sleeves. I can see I will need to be knitting on some different projects (or finish the Hoodie!) or this blog will be boring in a hurry!!!!!