Give-Away winner is.....

......#7!  Pam D, from Oklahoma, won my scarf!  I will be e-mailing her to get her address.

Thank you to all who entered to win this gorgeous Maaema Scarf designed by Denise of LostCityKnits!

NOTE:  If you ever find yourself wondering what to do with your aging loved one, you will not be steered wrong when you look into the FREE website ArtfulCare.com.  Not only do you get the information you need, you get Julie.  She is there, in between helping friends and family with their aging loved ones, to help you.  I am so glad I met Julie and I know you will be, too.

Sometimes......and the Give-Away reminder

Sometimes you're the windshield....Sometimes you're the bug

Sometimes you are just TOO cute!  (My moms pup)

It's not too late to enter!!!!  A name will be randomly drawn for the great Give-Away of a hand knit scarf of silk and wool tomorrow morning.  It's light and airy and will look great on anyone.  Click HERE!!!!

National Peace Officers Memorial Week........

......starts today.
My first husband, James Michael Young, was killed-in-the-line-of-duty in 1983.  I remember him every day.  I am reminded of all the other officers who died, every year.  There is a website called ODMP that I became a member of....when I became a widow.

Please take the time to remember those fallen officers, today, yesterday and tomorrow.

On a more uplifting note!  The Give-Away is still going!  Please visit this post today!!!!  Who wouldn't want to be the winner?!!!

You know it's Spring when.......

Yes, that flower really is BLUE!  Most of the flower pictures I took were at a Master Gardner's House......Lucky Me!
If you haven't yet, don't forget to check out the very simple rules for my GIVE-AWAY.  No monies involved...absolutely FREE!  It's here!!!

The Knackfulknitter GIVE-AWAY begins now!

Remember the Maaema Scarf I test-knit for Denise?  (You can read more about it here.)

Well, I think so highly of it AND of ArtfulCare.com, that I'm willing to give it away with a random drawing to all who participate.  The lucky winner will receive a lovely scarf. 

At ArfulCare.com there is something for everyone. You or someone you know will learn practical tips to assist in the care-giving journey with an aging loved one. The original artwork is precious, too. 

Here are The (very simple) Rules:

1. Go to ArtfulCare.com, read as many pages as possible, and leave a comment on the Contact Us page for Julie at ArtfulCare.com, not on this blog post.

2. In your comment, you must include your name in a recognizable form; for example, Mary P or Mary in WA. You must use your valid email address. 

3. In your comment, please include an answer to at least one of the questions on the Contact Us page. 

4. Share the website with at least 1 friend or family member. 

5. Comments must be in by Tuesday, May 24th, at 5:00 am, PDT.  I’ll draw early Tuesday morning and let you know the winner!

The give-away is open to all, no matter where you are in the world, but I must mention:  Knackfulknitter – and all subsidiaries thereof – is not responsible for customs fees or delivery failure due to postal difficulties. International mail will be shipped the most economical way possible.

Keep watching for the Give-Away!!!

Still teasing........but it'll be here soon enough!

Love,

Maria

I've been hit by the Give-Away bug!

Yes, the bug found me and bit me!

I will be hosting a give-away with the details coming soon!

If you love to make holes on purpose,....

and you love lace,...
and you love a FREE pattern,...
then you will love the Maaema scarf pattern.

I test knit this for Lost City Knits.  It was a wonderful and super rewarding knit.  I used JaggerSpun Zephyr 2/18 and US sz 4 needles.  More information on it can also be viewed on my Ravelry page.

Test Knitting the Sangiovese Stole

Photo by Lost City Knits

It was an honor to be included in the small group of test knitters, for Lost City Knits, for this stole.

I knit it with the lace weight silk I bought from the owner, Denise, a while back and it told me it wanted to be the Sangiovese Stole.  Ha!  We all know that the yarn needs to speak to us!

It is more beautiful and elegant than I imagined it would be.

Photo by Lost City Knits

 I love it.

The Stitches Of Life giveaway......I won!

Not only did I receive this wonderful book, Lelia [of Stitches of Life] sent me two wonderful tatted pieces and 3 Vintage cards with yards of sz 20 Lizbeth threads!

Thank you, Lelia, for the wonderful thing you are doing!

Artful Care

Are you caring for an aging loved one? Bewildered?

My friend and fellow knitter, Julie, has been the primary care-giver for 15 (!) family members and friends over the past 20 years.

She created a plain language, down-to-earth website aimed at sharing loads of practical tips for the care-giver. She takes the mystery out of this journey, showing ways to navigate the system and access the system. With humor and comical original artwork, Julie shows how to ask a question and get an answer, how to communicate with siblings, how to meet with the professionals, and much more.

There's something for everyone at www.artfulcare.com. I hope you will take time to visit the site and send feedback.

[NOTE:  People come into our lives for a reason~~~~When Julie and I met, years ago, we "clicked" and am so thankful for her awesome website.  I had been worried and dreading how and what to do when the time comes with my mom.  This is something no one wants to think about but Julie makes it possible.]

Turning circles into hexagons

If you want to learn to make a Hexagon from a Circle, you must visit Arlette. 
Beware, though, and make sure you have a sandwich and something to drink BEFORE you go look at her blog!
There is no way you can visit there and stay for a short time.

Arlette is incredibly talented.....and that's putting it mildly.

The tatted Daffodil Doily....

....is blocked and on its way to my mom.

As I tatted around, on Round 4, I realized I would end up with an additional ring.  I read the pattern, again....looked at the sketch...and there it was!  On Round 3, one of the chains should have one less picot.  [You can see the extra ring bottom right]
I challenged myself by making split chains and split rings.  It was invigorating!
This is a lovely doily and I'll be making it again. 

Oh, shoot!  I forgot to measure how wide it blocked out to be!  Another excuse to call my mom.  ;^)

A bag and a purse

I made this bag for a niece who got a job, BEFORE she graduated from College, as a Teacher.  I also added a pocket to the inside.

She has 4 younger sisters so I made them all purses to fit their personalities.  It was a blast!  I only wish I had taken a picture of the other purses!!!

The color is more true in the purse made out of the same cotton fabric.

See!!  I can sew, too!  ;^)

A BSJ for Leo Frank Daniels

From this....



....to This!

 

A BSJ is a Baby Surprise Jacket.  It's a surprise because it looks like the "From this...." picture before you do your magic and make it look like the "....to This" picture.  Pretty cool, Meg Swansen and Elizabeth Zimmermann!

I made this with Dalegarn Baby ULL [100% Merino Wool] in 4 bright colors and a neutral.  The pattern can be found at SchoolHousePress as a paper pattern or on DVD.

I also knit a pair of socks from 'Vogue Knitting Socks Two, on the go'.

If you've knit a BSJ, please put your link in the comment section!

A Moebius for my mom

This Moebius should definitely keep my mom's head and neck warm!  She's in Colorado where it's pretty chilly right now!
It's super lightweight because I used Unspun Icelandic Wool.  That wool is so wonderful to knit with.
The pattern is something I made up and it's in garter.  I knit every row.
If you have 'Knitting Around' by Elizabeth Zimmermann [note the 2 n's in her last name], then you, too, can learn how to knit your own Moebius.
After knitting this for mom, I knew I needed one for myself!

You DO NOT want to miss out on this!!!!

If you love to crochet and you love snowflakes....you'll want to have this!  Please take the time to check out the Snowcatcher blog post about how to get her patterns in PDF format.

A past blog post about my sister, Doris, ties in with Snowcatcher, and her husband, in what they are doing.

Feb 2011 DOM

What is a DOM?  It's Doily of the Month and you can find the link to the pattern there.
This 6" doily was made with Aunt Lydia Extra Fine Crochet Thread in US sz 30 and my trusty US sz 11/12 crochet hook.  The hook really does have that size beat into it!  Must be old.
There's nothing like a blocked doily to bring out all the beauty it deserves.  If I had a Like button, I'd like it myself!

Tatting the Daffodil Doily....

....has been quite an experience for this inexperienced shuttle tatter!
The thread I used was Manuela Color by Stahl Wolle.  I believe it is a sz 10 thread.  I first thought the thread was dirty until I looked at it in better lighting.  The color is variegated and SO subtle....
My, oh, my!  I wanted to have a knotless doily.  Well, I got that by learning to make a split chain AND split ring by Linda Davies YouTube video.  She does such a beautiful job showing you how. 
I have the booklet "Learn to Tat" with interactive dvd by Janette Baker.
The pattern, in my copy, had several errors and omissions for this pattern.  I contacted Ms. Baker to let her know and she graciously gave me a link to a pdf file with the correction on her website.  It's here.
I finished this piece today [picture was taken a few days ago] and I decided to leave it as is with the extra ring.  *sigh*
All in all -- I learned a great deal and am feeling more confident to work on other pieces and learn even more techniques.
Once I get this blocked, I'll post a finished photo.

My Tatting Press!!

Isn't it cute?!  I love it!
If you tat, you will want one of these.  Now I can take my tatting with me and not worry about it getting all tangled or snagged by my shuttle(s) with their little hooks!
This wonderful pattern is graciously given by Ann.  Scroll down a bit and find the pattern listed on the Left of her blog.
Thank you, Ann, for my gift!

I-Cord Gloves



I-Cord Gloves by Meg Swansen

I finally made myself some gloves.....not just any gloves.  These quick [and very fun gloves] are an unvention of Meg Swansen's and can be found in her book "Handknitting with Meg Swansen".
I had this wonderful, warm stuff called Furlana.  Oh boy!  It's 80% Merino Wool and 20% Possum fur by Sherwood Exports Ltd., New Zealand.
Believe it or not, my LYS had it in stock. 
I went back to purchase all she had but it was already all gone.  :(
I was SOOOO wrong when I thought 5 sts/1" wouldn't keep my hands warm!

The unfinished sweater, in the background, is a Top-Down Yoke Sweater I'm knitting with Andean Silk [by KnitPicks] in the color Cornflower.  More on that in another post.

Just for fun Doily & Coaster

This little doily crocheted up quite quickly.  You can find the pattern here. 
I used sz 10 crochet thread and a US sz 7 hook.  Mine measured out at 5 1/2" wide. 
I love it!

A Lace Shawl......

.....knit to perfection!
It all started out as a shawl to take with me on my plane ride.  You know how you will "hurry up and wait" at an airport...well, I remembered reading EZ saying about knitting a shawl while traveling "it is a perfect travel-knitting".  And it is.
I cast on, at home, to get a good start and to where I would be able to knit round and round on a 29" circular needle.
Only thing was the tips of the diamonds were staring at me with unhappiness.  Why?  Because they were not "centered".  Ugh!  When I got home, I ripped [also known as frogged] back and started over. 
As I got to the points....I stopped.  I took a rest and watched my newly acquired DVD called "Knitting Lace with Meg Swansen".  Ah, ha!  There it was!  Just what I needed!  A centered eyelet by Amy Detjen and demonstrated by Meg!
My fingers moved stealthily along, making all the points "perfect"! 
I am knitting and doing the Happy Dance [in my mind].  I look forward to finishing up, blocking and wearing my lovely shawl.
NOTE:  The yarn I am using is Burgandy 4-ply 70% Wool/30% Silk from Little Wool Company and made in New Zealand.  It came in 1000 yards at 200 grams.  I'm knitting with a US sz 10 circular needle.

Leaving for a week!

I hope you don't mind if I leave for a week....:)

I'm going to spend some, very much, needed time with my son and extended family in sunny Arizona...

What am I going to knit on the way there, you ask?  Why, Elizabeth Zimmermann's 72" circular shawl in New Zealand lace-weight Wool/Silk.

I look forward to posting finished items when I get back.  Until then...

A knitted Tam for me and something else

Ever since I got to know Elizabeth Zimmermann and Meg Swansen, I have been wanting to knit a Tam.
It's easy when you use EZ's math.
This one is knit with Un-Spun Icelandic  that you can purchase at School House Press.  It was super fast to knit and I did it the EZ way....no pattern!

The sweatband pattern [which is FREE!] can be found at the yahoo group called Holiday Mystery Gift Along.  It's not too late to join in the fun! 

Good knitting to all!

Knitted House Slippers

The greenish & brown pair are for my son. The purple & black pair are for Laundon.

Both are in college and both needed house slippers to keep warm. :)

Armed with Megan Mills' pattern called Garter Stitch Slippers, I used Cascade 220 Superwash and US sz 7 needles and knit them up super quick!

The only thing I added was the crocheted chain so they could tighten up around the ankle to keep the footies on.

I usually make a pair for my son every year.....and some of his friends, too. ;)

Wishbone Sweater for my son

This is the nicest sweater to knit up when you are in a hurry to send something warm to your grown child.

I used Sheepsdown wool [from School House Press], knitting needles for MY gauge and my knitting bible - Elizabeth Zimmermann's Knitter's Almanac.

The finished sweater weighs only 2.53 pounds. Details on how to knit this wonderful sweater is in the Knitter's Almanac.

Do you see my personal message in the hem at the back? Once again, I used wool...

I wish everyone could have a sweater like this to wrap themselves up in because it's like a big hug!

Thank you to the readers of my blog....

It's the little things that make me smile......my readers....and when I see a comment, that REALLY makes me smile. Someone, out there, thinks enough about me to do that.
Bless each and every one of you. You just don't know when your comment will make a difference in someones life.

Pondering.....

Remember hearing this.......You treat people like you want to be treated.
What do you do when you've done that, to people that matter to you, and they still treat you like you don't matter?

It saddens me to no end. My heart aches and the corners of my mouth are catching up to the edge of my jaw. I find myself alone and pulling away from friends and family because I can't put my happy face on and pretend.......I just can't.

The very hard part is treating them like they treat me. I have to fight the urge to be nice to them. It breaks my heart, each time, because that is not who I am.

The finishing touch to my Spiral Yoke Sweater

Here is my personal message in the hem of my sweater. I knit with 2 different colors of Icelandic wool in pencil like roving.

Now I will always know what the name of the sweater is..........and when I knit it!