Two doilies made for my mom

By special request from some great friends who think I'm so talented!
I took these pictures a couple years ago but made these more than 15 years ago while visiting at my mother's place in Colorado. I always have to be making something so these were it.
I believe the top doily was from an Old World/Old Time Crochet magazine and

I don't remember where the oval doily came from. I have a feeling it's from an Old World/Old Time Crochet

magazine, too.

My son loves my socks!

Here are some socks for my son. I used my CSM for the ribbed legs and am knitting the heels, feet and toes by hand.

The yarn is DG Confetti 100 superwash, color 14.04.

I am a loose knitter and have to resort to US sz 0 needles when using fingering weight yarns. It's a bummer when I read how others use sz 2 or 3!

I think I'd like to knit some fingerless gloves with this yarn to match his socks. Hmmm.

Sweater Sampler

I joined a yahoo group, a while back, that concentrates on knitting a project each month from Elizabeth Zimmermann's book, 'Knitter's Almanac'.

For the month of October you had a choice of knitting the October project, from the book, or knitting the Sweater Sampler from 'The Sweater Workshop' by Jacqueline Fee.

Here's my sweater sampler.....but mine was done some time back so I'm done for the month.

I really want to knit some leggings! They were last month's project.

I have many loves of knitting and one of them is EZ's works.

Fresh Corn Tortillas

Well, there's the assembly line to make corn tortillas.
Masa, a little salt and water make up what's in the bowl covered by a damp towel. The damp towel keeps the mixture moist.
Then to the right of the bowl is my press. I place about a tablespoon of the dough, slightly flattened, between a Ziploc bag with 3 sides cut off. I have my cast iron pan, hot with low-medium heat and use a metal spatula to turn them.


This picture shows what it looks like when it's flattened. It comes off the plastic bag real easy.








I melted cheese on the corn tortillas and ate them with my own salsa.

I have a feeling I might wake myself up in the night with garlic/onion breath.....but ohhhh, it was worth it!

Did anyone know I was gone?..and The Road Trip

I left Washington to live in Northern Arizona for a few months ~ mainly during the holidays last Wednesday. Why? To spend time with my college son. :)

I got to my destination Friday afternoon.

First stop: filled the tank up at Woodland, WA so I could drive straight through Oregon. Price was $2.859/gal.

Second stop: Yreka, CA to fill up after 363 miles at $3.359/gal. While I was there, I saw a quaint looking place to eat called Grandma's House. So, instead of a fast food chain, I opted for this place. I am so glad I did! The atmosphere, hostess, waitress, food and other customers were all wonderful.

Third stop: it was going to be Redding, then Red Bluff. It ended up being Corning, CA. I stayed at the Best Western Inn. Once again, I was greeted with a friendly atmosphere and Shannon who checked me in. The room was very nice and breakfast was available from 6-9 a.m. In the morning, I spent some time with the help and Karen, who gave me my receipt. I don't have all their names but they were all so nice. I also met a few people that were displaced by the fires.

Fourth stop: Westley, CA to fill 'er up after 337 miles at $3.059/gal if you paid cash.

Fifth stop: Newberry Springs, CA to fill 'er up after 360 miles. This was an emergency one since I thought I was going to run out of gas and the most expensive at $3.499/gal.!! I ordered a burrito and ate it in my truck.

Sixth stop: I couldn't resist stopping when I saw a Pilot Travel Center advertising gas at $2.739/gal. So after only 146 miles, I filled up.

Seventh stop: Best Western Kings Inn & Suites in Kingman, AZ. Here's another time where the clerk was very pleasant, my room was nice and it was late....11 p.m. They provided breakfast from 6-10 a.m. Very, very nice.

I was up early and arrived at my destination by noon. It feels good to set up house and have some of my favorite things around me......like.....what else but yarn! :)

Pictures are of Mt. Shasta with a hint of sunset on the top; The full moon; the full moon and Mt. Shasta; and then the blood red sun setting in Barstow.

I hope I was missed.

I'm back on line now and happy to be blogging!

A new book, mug and something special

The Art of Fair Isle Knitting by Ann Feitelson is my new book. It's been around for a few years but it's new to me.

Then there is this mug that DH got for me. It's beautiful. I love it!

Now for something special and very dear to my heart ~ the scarf my son knit for me. I can't even remember the name of the thick -n-thin yarn I picked but it took 2 skeins.

Not only did he hold one needle under his left arm and knit it continental style (the way I taught him), he remembered how to cast on with the long-tail method. His tension was loose but even. When he was near the end of the first skein, he came to me as asked how to add the next skein. I showed him and he left to do that.

He finished knitting it and asked how to cast off. I showed him and he left to complete the scarf. The next morning, he proudly presented the scarf to me.

It's beautiful.

It's warm.

It's perfect.

I can't even find the ends he weaved in.

What's more amazing is he hadn't touched a knitting needle five years before this project. He just picked it up as if he had always been knitting.

My 3 Scarves are HOT!

Well......they're hot to me. :)

The first one was made on my CSM for my son who is attending college in a cold climate. I used Austermann Step and oh, is it silky feeling. I have to make a matching pair of socks to go with it.

(Jalapenos given to us from a grand couple we know, who grows them....and they are hot and delicious!)

The next two scarves I knit for my hair dresser. She isn't a knitter but, while on vacation in Canada, stopped at a yarn shop called "Mad About Ewe" and fell in love with the color and texture of these yarns.

The multi-colored bronze yarn spoke to me right away. The blue was holding out on me for weeks! I tried lace knitting but it got too stiff. I tried tiny 2-stitch cable knitting - no good. I went for the drop stitch pattern again but with a little twist.

Using US sz 15 needles, I cast on 15 stitches and knit 6 rows in garter. Row 7 is k1, yo....all the way across, ending with k1, turn; Row 8 is k1, drop yo.....all the way across, ending with k1, turn; Rows 9 & 10 - knit; Row 11 is where you repeat Row 7; Row 12 - repeat Row 8.

Here is what you must remember when knitting a drop stitch pattern: keep the plain rows (whether in garter or stockinette, etc.) knit in even numbers or your scarf will be lopsided. The yo's must be knit as an odd row.

Well, that's it for now. Did I tell you all that you make my day when you leave a comment or email me about knitting? You do and I thank you. :)

A Double Rainbow

This is exactly the way the sky looked a couple of weeks ago right off our front porch.

Isn't it supposed to bring good luck when you see one of these?

Icelandic Lace Shawl update

I've had a little time to knit on this shawl and it's coming along nicely. I'm on Chart E and it's flowing smoothly.

I think what makes it such a nice knit is the Main Line yarn. The runner up is Andean Silk from Knitpicks.

I will definitely be wearing this and showing it off.

I am at a loss for words today. How strange for a gal whose 6th grade report card had, "She talks too much" written on it each quarter. I only mention the 6th grade because I don't remember my other report cards. You ever have one of those days?

A meager beginning on a lace edging...

...for a handkerchief.

Oh, I love to knit lace and I love handkerchiefs with a lace edging. The pattern is Project #6 and can be found in 'Heirloom Knitting' by Sharon Miller.

The picture shows 16 rows completed. Sharon got 3" for her width......I'm getting 4".

I'm using DMC Cordonnet sz 70 Coton and 5/0 needles. What is the blue tape for you ask? I didn't want to make a couple of my dpn's a permanent set of straight knitting needles (by gluing beads on the ends) and the blue tape will come off easy and leave no residue.

I found them and my 6/0 needles at Victorian Cottage Treasures. They even carry 8/0!

I used to, as a kid, knit with safety pins and sewing thread so this is nothing new.

My Swatch(es) for Secret of the Stole

Okay, now......
Here is my first swatch using Jaggerspun Zephyr - knit with US sz 4 needle.






Here is another swatch using Knitpicks Bare - knit with the same needle size.






Did I forget to place a ruler or some sort of measuring device with the swatches? Of course......but I'm not feeling well so I have an excuse......right?
So...which do you all think looks good? Scarlett says the dark one. :)
I also forgot to mention: You, too, can join Secret of the Stole by Nautical Knitter! She told me there are 17 days.....and counting, before it starts! Membership closes October 4th.

I taught my son well.

Isn't this the kind of picture we love of our kids? That's Jasmine guarding and protecting him....maybe even keeping him warm.
It brings tears of warm fuzzy feelings to my eyes each time I look at it. Of course, he isn't that little anymore. He's in college, stands at 6'3" and weighs in at 190 lbs.
You know the things I wrote in my profile? Well, I taught many of those things, that I learned, to my son. I taught him to read and write; to be kind to and respect others; to respect women; to tell the truth; to not spend what you don't have and save for a rainy day; to try new foods and to eat right; to knit; to love animals; to fish; to ride a bicycle; to drive; to change the oil in our truck; to read about firearm safety BEFORE I would teach him to shoot; to have an imagination; and many more things.
So, how is he now that he's basically on his own? He eats well and works out to keep in shape. He doesn't eat sugar, drink soda pop/alcohol or smoke; knit me a scarf; loves to read; wants to learn other languages; likes to fish; tells the truth; spends only what he has and doesn't touch what he saved to cover the deductible for his car insurance; is a good driver; has good work ethics; respects others; and he is kind, especially to me.
I love my son.

MS3 finished.....and finally blocked

Here is my Mystery Stole 3 blocked. I hmmmd and hawed after finding out that the end was going to make it asymmetrical. I just wasn't sure about that and I couldn't imagine that it would look..okay.

I decided to keep knitting it as is.......and I'm mighty glad I did. I like it. I like it very much!

I hope to have a picture taken with it wrapped around me soon so you can see what it looks like worn.

Thank you, Melanie, for a fantastic knit-a-long. I thoroughly enjoyed it. It was so exciting to hurry and wait for the next clue. I didn't want it to end.

One thing left to do - order the perfect finishing touch that was made especially for this KAL - the Swan Shawl pin from Romi.

Ahhhhh.....Icelandic Lace

I finally got to start this Tuesday, even though the official start date was Monday.
My, oh, my.....the yarn feels so nice. It's JaggerSpun Main Line and feels like some of the lanolin is still in it. I got it from Sarah's Yarns and she is a wonderful person to do business with.
I am a loose knitter and I'm using Addi Lace Needles in US sz 4. So far, I like the way it looks and feels.

The pattern is from Knitting Daily or you could join the Icelandic Lace Shawl KAL. The KAL is warm and inviting with lots of help. It's kind of nice to know there are others working on the same project you are.

I've got a few toes to do the "Kitch" with on my BBS before I can resume knitting on it.

One of the best places to visit......on the web

And this is it: Knitting On The Net

I am so very impressed with that site. I had to get something warm to drink and just look and look!

In the meantime, I'm knitting 2 scarves for my hairdresser. She wanted to exchange a haircut for the scarves and she supplied the yarn. Good deal for me!

Since I love 'old' pictures, here is a random one {taken a few years ago} of hubby and his two sisters eating lunch with their dog, Shorty, intently waiting for something to fall.

Tangled.....yarn?

So.....
Here is the yarn before I started to "untangle it".








Here it is the next day - today - after I worked on it for a couple of hours yesterday. Is it progress?
Well, yes, in a way since I finally found the ends. Notice the 2 ziploc sandwich baggies with the little rolled up ends in them.
We'll see how far I get today.

If anyone has a better/quicker way to untangle such a lovely yarn, please let me know. Any advice will be greatly appreciated. My e-mail address is on my side bar.
I forgot to mention - it's Cherry Tree Hill. No, I didn't buy it this way. Someone had it and now I have it. :)

Socks from my mom......for me

I send my mom lots of sock yarn, as a gift, since she loves to have socks on the needles for a random project. She has always knit us kids sweaters and mittens as we were growing up.

She absolutely LOVED this yarn and wanted to make me a pair of socks. They are so nice.....not only to wear but each time I put them on, I think of my mom.

I think it is a worsted Fortissima washable wool. She knit a 1x1 rib with sockinette foot.

I love my socks......and I love my mom.

So The Thing is........Blog

If you don't subscribe to anything else, you must subscribe to Barb Cooper's blog. She will make you laugh, cry, side with her, think about things you wouldn't dream about thinking and much, much more.
The one entry that really got me was "Socks and Life Lessons".
I don't have time to read books (stories) unless they are about knitting, however ~ I have time for her writings. I wish I could write like her so I could really say something that would perk your interest so you WOULD subscribe. She's fantastic.
Oh, did I mention she also knits?

Illusion Knitting

Look at that! You can actually see the word, V-rod, on that scarf.
When you look straight on at the scarf, it looks like it has just a striped design. It really is an illusion.
I designed and knit this in Cascade 220 a few years back when we DID have a Harley V-rod motorcycle.
I have seen illusion knitting on Knitty Gritty and visited various sites on the web. I just found a really good place, here, with FREE patterns. A really good book called 'Shadow Knitting' by Vivian Høxbro is a good source. The author really liked my scarf!!
There's even a yahoo group with almost 1000 members!!

My name is Maria......and I'm a Bag-A-Holic

This is my bag before felting.








This is my bag after felting, adding stars and a handle.
It's fun to knit a purse every month but it's not a requirement.
Come join the group! Not only can you see the materials list for my cute bag for July ~ you should see the project for August! Wow!
Besides......what would one more project on the needles hurt? ;-)

Many, many thanks to Terry Ross, a fabulous designer.

Mystery Stole Clue #4 finished

Wow! The knitting just flowed. This time it was easy to memorize. You can see my lifeline and remember, this isn't blocked so it doesn't really look like it is going to look. Did that make any sense? Hmmm.
Another thank you to Melanie, the designer. She's incredible. To be part of the next one, click on her name and join so you can be informed of the details!!
Before I start to knit lace, from a chart, I like to count the plain knit squares and write that number to the far right from where I read the chart. In other words, when there is a symbol and then blank squares - I write the number of the blank squares right after the symbol. That way, I don't have to scan across the row for the number and quite possibly lose my place - it's right there and waiting.
In order to keep my place, I place a magnetic strip ABOVE the row I am about to knit. I do this so I can see what my knitting should look like right below that row to make sure I place a yo in the right place, etc. I can catch errors much quicker that way.
I can breathe now as I wait for Friday and "Clue #5"......and knit on some other very important projects. I have bunches of socks for soldiers to knit and a summer sweater (or two) by Sally Melville.

Icelandic Lace Shawl

This is one of the most beautiful shawls I have ever seen. What's even more wonderful about it ~ a KAL. There is a knit along starting late August or early September!! An exact start date hasn't been set yet, as we are all gathering our yarns. The pattern calls for a fingering weight yarn of your choice. Many are using Jaggerspun's Maine Line 2/8 in 9 different colors of browns and greys.
So what are you waiting for? Come join us for a light and friendly group! There's still time!!
Oh, yeah ~~ the pattern is FREE!

My socks match.......by color

Here is a pair of socks made on my CSM (circular sock machine) with Austermann Step. I absolutely love the way the yarn feels.

I also love the place where I bought it from ~ Double Diamond Knits! Don't wait another minute to check the site out! Judy is quick with your order and answers your emails. My order arrived as promised.

Yeah, I know the stripes don't match but I just can't have the added stress of matching them and then running out of yarn or having to splice 'em.

When I hand knit, well.....that's a different story. I do like my stripes to match.

Again, you will be missing out if you don't take the time to check out what Judy has!

Yes, I knit lace... but I can knit cables, too

I began knitting this lacy cardigan (Cool Cardi) June 27, 2004 and finished it August 15th, of the same year!! The pattern is in a small booklet #483 published by 'Patons & Baldwins, Inc.' dated 1986.
I used a cable cast-on with this fingering yarn and US sz 7 needle.
I have worn it so many times and it's light as a feather.
Shades of purple call me all the time so, naturally, I knit it in this lovely shade of lilac.


This Aran Cardigan was knit for DH a while back. The pattern can be found on page 36, in "Two Sticks and a String" by Kerry Ferguson.
I used Cascade 220 and knit it longer than the pattern stated. It is a beautiful cardigan to knit. I need to knit me one, too, now that I have the experience. ;)

A peek at Clue #3 to Mystery Stole 3

What can I say? It's a wonderful thing for me to be knitting.

This is my Zen. It is so peaceful with my knitting in hand and feeling the softness of the Zephyr running through my fingers.

I look forward to Friday for the next clue to my mystery knitting.

Mystery Stole Clue #2 finished

Here's a peek at part of the stole with clue #2 completed. Even 'I' don't want to see what I have knitted so far. I want to be mystified in the end.
I tried to take my time to make it last until Friday, when clue #3 will be posted, but I couldn't!
My fingers are so happy when I knit this. It's incredible how this makes me feel. Lace is definitely my cup of tea.
Even adding the beads is a breeze.
Ho, hum......now I have to "hurry up and wait" until Friday. :O(

Socks for my son

These socks (Sport Sock with a Hemmed Ribbed Top) were an experiment on my CSM. Just like the pattern said ~ a bit time consuming but worth the effort. The pattern could easily be adapted to hand knitting. I used Trekking XXL in Color 03 and had plenty left over after making them long enough to fit shoe sz. 13.

They were so much fun to do, especially since I was making them for my son. He truly appreciates everything I make or do for him.

I wonder what I'll be making for him next.......

Orenburg 'Diamond Triangular Shawl' modeled by me...and not the floor

What more can I say? I think and hope the pictures say it all. :)

Click here if you want to read more about this Orenburg Shawl.

What's for Dinner?

Here's what I'm making for dinner:

Hamburgers (my way)
1 1/2 lbs. Lean HB with 2-3 Tablespoons Worcestershire Sauce, 1 egg, Salt & Pepper (mixed well)

Hamburger toppers
Sliced Pickles
Sliced Walla Walla Sweet Onion
Lettuce
Mustard & Ketchup (eater's choice)
Franz Sweet Onion BBQ buns

Potato Salad (German mom's way)
4 Red Potatoes, boiled, chopped and peeled (if you didn't scrub the peeling beforehand)
6 eggs, chopped (boiled, of course)
1 sm to med White Onion, chopped and fried in butter (glaze them babies!)
Mayo or Miracle Whip (cooks choice)
Vlasic Zesty Dills, 2 chopped
Pickle juice (yes, pickle juice)
Salt & Pepper (not too much salt since the pickle juice will almost be enough)

Bush's Bar-B-Que Baked Beans (store bought cuz I didn't have enough time to make 'em myself)
(stay away from the back ends of everyone after a bit or just eat this outside and stay upwind)

Soooo.....what are you having for dinner?

There's a new kid on the block...er, blog

Yes, there is a new kid blogging and he's very, very interesting! If you love fiber, sock knitting and learning new techniques, you'll enjoy reading what Doug has to say. His link is also listed on my side bar under Blogs, Blogs, Blogs!