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.

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!

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!

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!!!!!

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.

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.

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.

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.

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!

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?

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.

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....

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!

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.

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.

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. :)

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!

Knitted Hearts

I started with the right heart and got much better as I went along. These are so easy and very beautiful!

The knitted version can also be found on the same yahoo group as I mentioned for the crocheted ones.

Do you see my other crocheted heart for my other ear? :)

Off to find some ear wires and straight pins.

Crocheted Heart

This cute and quick little pattern has decided it wants to be an earring! All right then, I will have to make one more since I have two ears....

[I used Patons Brilliant in Radiant Red]

I can't wait to see what patterns appear on Saturday! Truly...it's like an early Christmas for FOUR MONTHS!

Wavy Riblets is FREE

I know this picture is a bit dark but I was trying to capture the real deep red color.......

I used Reynold's Saucy with US sz 6 needle and started it late last night, finishing it this morning.

Where did I get this quick and satisfying FREE pattern by Noreen Hunter-Talbot? Why, right here!

My mug rug

Well, would you look at that! It's a mug rug that I was inspired to crochet, today, with the rest of Terry's group. I was done in no time. I used Rowan Ribbon Twist and a US sz K crochet hook.
There are two other patterns posted today, too. One is a Shooting Star!!
Oh!....and you should see the cute elves with their little hats....adorable!!
It's a great group with no bad manners and I'm happy to be there. :)

Shawl progress...

...with US sz 9 circular needles and Unspun Icelandic I bought with Annie. We are both following Marilyn VanKeppel in this KAL.

I would probably be finished if I wasn't knitting on a couple of sweaters, too. :)

This is the first time I've knitted with the Unspun Icelandic (from SchoolHousePress). I hesitated trying it, until now, because I heard too many stories in the Con category versus the Pro category.........Here is MY thought on knitting with it.......it's very easy to knit with as a continental knitter. I really like this wool and it's going to be so nice and warm for my dear, sweet mother who appreciates all things wool. [The first thing I noticed is how wonderful it smells!]

3rd day of knitting...

Not bad work for 3 days! It is really a very nice knit.

In order for me to make sure it will fit my super tall son, I have a tracing of him on a roll of craft paper. Once I know the sleeves and body are long enough, they will be joined together [minus the 10 stitches under the arms for the body and the 10 for the sleeves] and I'll knit the handsome yoke.

Yup, I must admit......this is really nice.

{materials used: Icelandic wool, US sz 9 and 10.5 circular needles and my flying fingers}

The sweater is getting there....

This is knitting up nicer, and quicker, than I first anticipated.

I'm getting 3.25 stitches/inch using US sz 10.5 needles and Reynold's Lopi.

I started knitting it last night, worked on it tonight and am this far along.

It's getting cold and this mom needs to keep her son warm.

I bet he is REALLY going to love this sweater. :)

Wool and more wool!

Just look what the post lady brought to our door.....unspun Icelandic wool!! [Thank you, Annie!!!]

Annie and I shared the cost to do some serious knitting with Marilyn VanKeppel. She is posting the KAL {3 of them!} on the SchoolHousePress website.

Come join the fun and knit along!

A bow tie for my son

I quickly knit this up with sport-weight wool and US sz 1 dpn's. It was from a library book.....and I didn't write it down so I could remember to tell you where to find it for yourself. [I'm sorry..]

It was an extra piece on a sweater but when I saw it, I pictured my son wearing it as a bow tie.

I attached a curved safety pin on the back and mailed it off.

Yarn for my stash!!!

Judy from DoubleDiamondKnits always comes through with a great order! I've ordered more than once and am happy when I do! The best thing?....FREE shipping on orders over $50.00.

Just LOOK at what I received!!! The Bamboo yarn feels SO soft and I plan on knitting socks using the FREE pattern on her website.........the one using a solid color and self-stripping yarn.

Weave-it weaving..

..with cotton that I normally knit/crochet dish cloths, pot holders, and even handy candy dishes!!

I'm looking forward to weaving with 100% wool in different shades/colors, sewing them together and fulling them. If I start now, I could weave a blanket! [There's looking at the BIG picture!]

First, I need to get this little coaster in the mail to my mother along with all her other goodies......Her birthday is coming up and I always spoil her with fancy chocolates and cookies. This time, I'm including a pair of fulled slippers to keep her feet warm.

I used Brown Sheep Lamb's Pride in a worsted weight.

Over the knee baby stockings...

...for Nana's Sweet Boy.

Nana is my dear friend, Agnes. Sweet Boy? Her grandson. :)

I used, machine washable, wool sock yarn and US sz 2 needles. The pattern can be found in "Homespun Handknit: Caps, Socks, Mittens & Gloves
by Linda Ligon, ed."

I've made this pattern several times and they are the cutest, warmest (if using wool) and they stay up!

They go in the mail on Monday.