Saturday, December 19, 2009

My Son's Moose.........

I love, love his moose. Just LOOK at him!
My son was 3 [he's 20 now] when he made this creature.......with the help of a very wonderful caretaker.
I had to share this with you all before leaving to visit with my son for a week.....but I'll be back!
What's that under the moose, you ask? Why it's some knitting I did for Glenda Hunt! I love, love this, too! ;)

Thursday, December 17, 2009

Snowflake Earrings

This very handsome snowflake is crocheted with DMC Metallic Silver Floss, crochet hook US sz 5/1.7MM and sz 6 Clear Crystal Silver-Lined Beads. I buy most of my seed beads from Beadwrangler.
It turned out so beautiful. The designer is Mindy Albright and the Free pattern is on HMG.
Okay, so I have one more to make...:O)

Tuesday, December 15, 2009

The Raspberry Rabbits

Oh, oh, oh!!!! Just look what I got in the mail!!!
I ordered 3 items and got 5! Michelle packaged it so beautifully and gave me some chocolate and a 100-page journal!! What a wonderful and pleasant surprise! Thank you, Michelle!
I will be stitching the 12 days of Christmas Ornaments with these items. I selected the same variegated blue floss, as she did, and for almost the same reason.....my sister Doris' eyes were a bright blue [8/58-11/97].
I need to also order the linen Michelle has on her website.

Tuesday, December 8, 2009

It's a little cold.....

....in Chehalis, WA!!! Just look at the Timberland Library's lovely fountain! It's in freeze mode....
This is very unusual for this area.
When I walk outside, the grass crunches under my footsteps, my breath can be seen and my nose gets cold......I also feel alive..
I would love to hear how it is in your part of the country....and please include a link!

Sunday, December 6, 2009

My tatted flutterby.....

I actually don't set aside enough time to do this. Since teaching myself, with a video from the library, how to shuttle tat - I've developed a real love for the old craft.
This is tatted with sz 10 crochet thread.
Once, on an airplane sitting between two men, I took my tatting out and began working. They both leaned forward and asked me what I was doing......we talked the whole trip about tatting!
Who would have thunk!

Tuesday, December 1, 2009

Christmas Ball and Christmas Calendar

This wonderful Christmas Ball is found in the 'Christmas Workshop' section of the Garnstudio website. I knit it with some left over sock yarn and US sz 1 needles.
If you like to have a little treat every day until Christmas, check out The Christmas Calendar which starts today!!! A surprise a day........until Christmas!
Happy knitting and crafting! I am so blessed and thankful to each and every one of you who visit and read my blog. Thank you!!!!!

Sunday, November 29, 2009

A sad day today.....

.....as the TV goes on all day about 4 Lakewood, WA Police Officers murdered this morning.
As a police widow, many years ago, it breaks my heart for the families left behind.

Wednesday, November 25, 2009

Pattern can be doubled!

..and I mean, doubled like in - as a dish cloth OR an afghan square! How cool is THAT?

I knit this out of Cotton Classic, Color #3443 - Pink.
It finished up [for me] as a 6 inch square.

This pattern can be found here.

Sunday, November 22, 2009

Undyed Opal turned into this!

My friend, Kimberly, dyed this sock yarn. I love, love the colors and the yarn bloomed just the right amount.
This pair was knit on my CSM with a 1x1 rib for 1 1/2", 1x3 rib all the way down the leg and the top of the foot.......and it knit up like a dream.
To find out what else can knit up on the sock machine, visit Jenny's website.

Friday, November 20, 2009

Jenny Deters and CSM's are good friends....

....CSM's have been around for a very long time. I barely learned about them in 2004 and own two now.

I've gone to a few retreats to learn more about what else can be 'cranked' on the machine.....and that's when I met Julie. Julie is a friend of Jenny's and was demonstrating how to do fair isle on the CSM! OMG!

Jenny has compiled her lace sock patterns into the first book. In her second book, you get socks and much more than socks! You've just GOT to check it out!

If you want to read more about this fantastic designer, it's here! While you are there, check out the FREE pattern.

If you want to check out her two books, you go here. I have these two books and [with no affiliation] am very impressed with her work. The patterns are super easy to understand.

Wednesday, November 18, 2009

The Yarn Grove

When The Yarn Grove says they strive to ship your order quickly......they mean it!
I ordered on Sunday night, it was sent out Monday, and my mother called to say the package arrived!
Great company and very good prices!

Sunday, November 15, 2009

Knitting socks with worsted weight yarn

I'm knitting socks for Ed with this yarn because he loves the color. It's Cascade 220 [Color 5011; Lot 5258] and, since I want to get 6 sts/1", I have to use US sz 2 wooden dpn's.
I am a loose knitter, therefore I knit with smaller needles. {sigh}
There is no pattern. I figured (10" circumference x 6 sts/1")-10%, for fit, +2 sts. Why 2 sts? So I can knit a 2x2 rib.
Do you knit socks without a pattern?

Saturday, November 14, 2009

Bagatelle fulled/felted!!!

Here is the cutest and quickest little bag, to knit up, ever! It finished up 8 1/4" wide by 6 1/4" tall (not including the handles).

My previous post, of this bag, got some interesting comments. I loved reading each one and learned so much more about how the word, Bagatelle, originated......depending on location, too.

Thursday, November 12, 2009

Balloon Bag fulled..

The beginning dimensions were 12 1/2" wide by 8" tall.
It is now 11 1/4" wide by 6 3/4" tall. Looking for the perfect button.
The pattern was introduced at Bag-A-Holics and is FREE.
I have made so many of the beautiful bags from that group.
If I was feeling better, I'd be knitting another one. I've got a cold and I feel crummy....

Tuesday, November 3, 2009

Bagatelle Finished!

Oh, what fun! This is going to be a cute little fulled bag!
I need to find my zippered pillow protector to put it in and toss it in the washer.
This quick little knit can be found on Terry's yahoo group.
Now to crochet up some cute little coasters from the same group site!

Monday, November 2, 2009

Bagatelle....

...beginnings. Using the FREE pattern supplied by HMG, some Cascade 220 wool [I just LOVE the color!] and needles, I am creating this fun little wonder.
It's still not too late to join this group that offers so much in such a short time!
Well, I have to leave you and go knit on it. Won't be long before I'll be finished.

Shawl KAL done....

...well...except for blocking. This was a very rewarding knit-a-long with a little crochet.
I'll get it blocked and mailed off to my mother.
No special occasion....life is too short to hold off giving something made from your own two hands.

Sunday, November 1, 2009

School House Press KAL

And here is the finished Shawl from SHP KAL, posing against my loom.
I still need to block it before gifting it to my mother.

This was a very rewarding knit and it's light as a feather because I used Unspun Icelandic Wool.
An update: My mother received it and loves it! She is my biggest fan......I love you, mom.

Wednesday, October 28, 2009

CSM Socks

I took a class from Amelia, to learn to dye sock yarn, at one of the CSM (Circular Sock Machine) Lacey Retreats in WA.
She had all kinds of dye colors, tools, microwave.....everything you would need.
I finally cranked out a pair of socks from my Verdun 47 - 72 cylinder.
I did a 1x1 rib for 1 1/4", switched to a 1x3 rib for 4" where I continued that rib down the front/top of the sock.
I love the way these look and feel. :)

Friday, October 23, 2009

Icelandic Sweater update...

...well, it's coming along nicely. The hardest {or most unloved} part is when I was knitting with 3 colors. I put it off and put it off and finally gave in.
I already knit in a couple of short rows, for the back, to prevent the dreaded frontal droop! Thank you, Meg Swansen, it makes so much sense and I always incorporate them in for my son.
I will work hard on it today after I do a workout, upstairs, to get me blood moving!