Barn Hat for mom..

Yup, it's officially called a Barn Hat by Jacqueline Fee. The pattern can be found in her book, The Sweater Workshop.

The book, in case you didn't know, is along the same lines as Elizabeth Zimmermann's books.........teaching you to think outside the box when it comes to knitting.

This will go along nicely with the Moccasin Socks I sent her a while back.

Look what I won!

Ever since I got to try out a set, from my friend Penney, I just HAD to have my own! She had one I absolutely loved in a 4x6 size.

I found a listing, on E-bay, for these two [2x2 and 4x4].......and, well, I won.

I have lots of plans for these two Weave-it's!!

Icelandic wool hat....

....per my son's request.
It's getting there. What's getting there? Me getting the sweater knit that my son saw and asked me to knit up for him.
I charted the design and decided to knit a hat, for practice. So far, so good. I think he's going to like it.
I used Reynold's Lopi from Halcyon, US sz 10 1/2 needles to get 3.25 stitches to 1". I've been wondering whether to use a lighter yarn for the medium brown.......to help the dark brown stand out more.

Little Penny Sweater for Reba

With the book, Doggie Knits by Corinne Niessner, Cascade 220 Superwash in a violet color and US sz 6 & 7 circular needles, I was able to knit this for Reba.

It's size small and fits her pretty good, but she still did not want to model it for the camera. I understood after I saw the temperature was 76.

Reba, today

Here is Miss Reba, in her raised car seat, waiting to go. She has sure come a long way and has been living with us a little over a year now.

If you'd like to catch up on her life, you can read about Reba's beginnings here.

In this picture, the wild silver hairs are a sign of her "poodle" side.

I'm going to brag a bit here........when Reba announces the arrival of visitors, I thank her, ask her to be quiet and have her sit/stay as I open the door. She does so and will not go to the visitors unless I say. Amazing.

Even in a full run outside, she will stop mid stride when I command her to. Amazing, again.

I still love Reba.

The "Cindy" doily

With Gloria Penning's book open to "Cindy", sz 10 crochet cotton and US sz 0 needles, I knit this handsome doily. It was for a friend of mine whose name is just that.....Cindy.

After knitting on it for a few days, I blocked it lightly and presented it to her.

She liked it so much she couldn't make up her mind how to display it! Sweet.

Gloria has a FREE pattern on her website to try out and it is stupendous! PS: I have all her books.

Addison growing up.....

Here is Addison at 2. I believe she's outgrown the red sweater I knit her......so it's time for another one.

I'll have to think about a design especially for her.

Anyone have an idea for a horse loving little girl?

Deby Lake, talented knitter

Here is a second bag, of the same pattern knit earlier, by Deby Lake. My mother saw the first one I knit and fulled, and wanted one of her own.

I used Paton's Wool and large needles. It's lined with a light colored fabric, a contrasting fabric for a zippered inside pocket and hand sewn to the inside. The fulled tails, from the handles, serve as zipper pulls.

My mother loves it and told me she always wonders what I'm knitting now. :)

Set It Up Coaster

Yup....it's that time again for Holiday Mystery Gift Along to start!!!This is their 3rd year and mine, too.
They gave us a little something to do as we "hurry up and wait" for Saturday, September 19th, to begin the mystery knitting/crocheting.
I just KNOW you'd like it! There are many quick and useful gifts just waiting for your needles/hooks and your overflowing stash.....ahem....something that I don't have........yeah, right.

Hope to see you there!!!!

A BSJ for Emma..

Emma is my sister-in-laws great grandchild and I wanted to knit her something to keep her warm.

There is nothing nicer than a BSJ in Superwash Cascade 220 to do the job.

I made up the baby socks to go with the sweater and hat.

Isn't Elizabeth Zimmermann a genius?

One of the things I tried..........

You see.....I took this class called, Intro to Watercolor, at the local community college.

We had to draw something first and the teacher wanted us to draw cats.

Okay.

She even made it easy for us with a sheet filled with little black and white photos of cats.

This is my interpretation of a 'live' cat.

So, I did the class and found I did NOT like to watercolor.......I'd rather knit.

What takes more brain cells to do than knit?

You've got it! Genealogy!
I've been away from my beloved blog learning to weave, spin better, and figure out new knitting techniques.
There's been the many, many Power Surges I've been having and it does not make me happy that I am unable to wear my hand knit sweaters! I looked forward to winter just for that.
Is there anyone else out there that wears T-shirts all year round?
I'll be away at the semi-annual CSM retreat in Lacey, WA starting Sept. 11-13. It's the sort of retreat where you play all day until someone yells that it's time to eat.......Oh my, I thought.....this must be what it feels like to be a man. :)