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. :)

What my son knit in 3 weeks

He actually knit 4 scarves and, that fourth one is already packed away. Don't you just love the way the multi-directional one looks?

Knitting in WA on winter break

{Mike}

{Kevin, Shea and Frank}

It was like a whirlwind while the "college" friends, of my son's, were visiting. I taught three of them how to knit since my son already knew how.

Two (Kevin and Shea) finished knitting a pot-holder, fulled it and gave it to their mothers. Mike got about 7 rows done.

It was nice to see they wanted to learn something out of the ordinary. Made me smile, too. :)

The Boys.....

....posing for me during the Underground Tour in Seattle on the 16th of Dec. Left to right: Mike, Kevin, Shea & Frank (my son).

The three friends, of my son, learned how to knit with two of them completing their small projects. Congratulations!!!!

They are all now safely back home. I really enjoyed getting to know them!

Warm thoughts.....

Wishbone or Hurry-Up Last Minute Sweater

After waiting 3 days for this sweater to dry, I put it in the dryer. I used that contraption that keeps the dryer from tumbling the clothing.

This is one BIG sweater for my very tall, college son. The fitting will take place when he comes for a month long visit this month. [trying to contain my extreme happiness here without shouting!!!!]

Ahem......

Elizabeth Zimmermann was right in that it didn't take long at all to knit up at 2 1/2 stitches to the inch. I used the best wool - Sheepsdown - and you can get that at SchoolHousePress. I finished the inside neck, cuffs and hem off with some red wool and a hidden message on the inside of the hem in purl stitches.

It's not too late to start YOUR Hurry-Up Last Minute Sweater with others at EZFans. It's the December project in Knitter's Almanac. The group is very nice and helpful!

Spanish Infanta test crocheted.....

CraftyGryphon said...
How about this one: Spanish Infanta Tablecloth

So, I made it yesterday and here it is. Hmmm, not too bad. It was only 10 rounds.

The pattern suggested sz 20 thread with a US sz 9-10 hook. I used a US sz 7 hook with my sz 10 thread.

I think I like it!

Variegated knit into ?

I am just itching to knit a tablecloth out of the two balls of Steinbach Wolle sz 10 Cotton. So, I have 1200 yards to work with.

What I need is a pattern that won't get "lost" with the colors.

Any ideas?

Moccasin Socks

I wanted to share my first moccasin sock from Knitter's Almanac! I have hesitated on knitting this for a few years. I could not fathom how I would know when knitting the "top" was long enough for my foot.

I decided to plunge right in changing only one thing......I knit it in the round.

I used Briggs N Little worsted using US sz 3 dpn's. I am a loose continental style knitter and usually have to resort to smaller needles to get gauge ~ 5 sts/inch.

I doubted EZ regarding the length of the "top" knitting so I made it shorter. As I was knitting merrily along, I got all kinds of ideas swimming in my head with ways of using this technique, as well as, several "Aha!" moments. Thank you EZ and Meg!

Since the top was made shorter, they will be gifted to my lovely mom whose feet are slightly smaller than mine. I can see my mom now (the woman pictured in my header and who taught me to knit) .....turning it that way and this way and saying out loud, hmmmm.

It makes me smile just thinking about it.

SOTS iii prize......

....was brought home from the mail box! It's a beautiful shawl pin made exclusively for the theme of the stole ~ "Estes Park".

I was also awarded a 20% off coupon, on my total purchase, from Robbie of RubyVegas.

Thank you, Nautical Knitter, for a wonderful adventure into lace knitting and for the great experience on the group!

I love my prize, my stole and am styling now with my pin.......

A Contest!!!!!

....by Nautical Knitter! Okay, you all...head over there and follow the very simple rules [3 to be exact] and be entered into a contest.

I joined the contest because there were no essays involved.... ;)

Wishbone (EZ) sweater for my son

After I knit my son the hat of his choice, I asked him if he would like the Wishbone sweater. He took a look at it and without missing a beat, said he would indeed!

All EZ fans know this comes from the Knitter's Almanac. I used the Sheepsdown wool that she used but not the size needles she used.

EZ got 2 1/2 sts/inch using US sz 10 needles. I tried that and I wasn't even close. I had too many stitches. So.....I experimented with many needles and found I got gauge with US sz 13!!!
What's with that?! I am a loose knitter but with this thick wool, I am a tight knitter. I would love if someone could explain that to me.

It didn't take long [see picture] to knit the sleeves and then the body (a few days) but I had to wait to join to make sure everything was long enough before joining. I found I need to knit the sleeves a bit longer. Once I join, the knitting is going to go so fast! My son will have a sweater to go with his hat and will surely be warmly surrounded by my knitting.

So, I'm off to knit!

Secret Of The Stole thru Hint 9...and Finished!

Well, I've finished this beautiful stole on Friday and am finally posting my picture. It still needs to be blocked and I still need to guess the theme....Fall Leaves or Snow falls?

I am sad it's over......but not all is lost as there will be another one next year!

I've had a great time with this.

Double Basketweave Reversible Scarf..for my son

Many, many of you know what it's like to buy yarn you just HAD to have. You don't know what you're going to do with it.....but you have to have it!

I bought three balls of Plassard Merinos (100% SW Wool) in Couleur 241 and Bain 42. [I'm guessing that's Color 241 and Lot 42.]

I knew I wanted to knit my son a scarf from this wool but I could not find a pattern that "spoke" to me.......until 10-11-08. Why that date?

Well, that's the day Terry's group posted that pattern. I instantly could picture my son wearing a scarf with THAT pattern and THAT yarn.....TOGETHER. Yea!!!!!

It's a great knit and looks like cables. I'm about half way through with this project to keep my son warm.

Smoked Salmon..........the best!

On September 26th I watched the Foodnetwork channel with The Neely's. They were in Montana, visiting a gal that takes Salmon to a whole new level!!

Her business, Montana Mountain Smoked, is one place I knew I had to look at! She not only smokes the wild sockeye, she makes a salmon dip that you could eat like ice cream!

My mother LOVES smoked salmon [and that's an understatement!] so I ordered the biggest package they had - for her birthday.

I wish I had a picture of my mom digging through the box that she said she thought didn't have a bottom! It was HUGE!Needless to say, my mom is in salmon heaven!

I will be ordering some for my college son during finals week in December. A smaller gift package of smoked salmon and salmon dip should feed his brain!

Excuse me while I go and order some for me!

Do you eat Cashews whole?....

We got these from Costco and the brand is Kirkland.

I happened to see something sticking out of a whole cashew and went to break it off. You know how some of them have a little 'tail' sticking out of the wider end?.....

Well, this one wasn't firm and it left a trailing web-like silk thread when I pulled at it.

My curiosity got the best of me and I opened the cashew.

The picture shows what I saw.

I was telling a friend about it and she said, "Well, since it's roasted, the little guy is dead and sterile so it won't hurt you". That made sense..........but I'm still not going to eat it.

I used to wonder why I always ate the halves and broken pieces.

I do not wonder any more.......

Secret Of The Stole thru Hint 8

I don't want this knitting to end........yet I do, so I can wear it.

For me, it's like being pregnant and enjoying the feeling of the baby growing, moving around and kicking. I couldn't wait for the birth to see what my baby would look like.
Oh, the happy day to finally see, touch and share with family and friends. After his birth, I felt a little empty inside, missing the kicking and developing and secret of what my child was going to look like....

I know it has to end........but the good thing is [like Nautical Knitter said]....there's next year and another SOTS!!! I checked on the yahoo groups and there it was! SOTS iv!!! I am going back there and signing up, after I publish this post, so I don't miss out!

**Important UPDATE: I found out you should be signed up with Nautical Knitter Designs at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/nauticalknitterdesigns so you can get an email when sign ups are open!

Mystery Stole thru Clue 5

I like the contrast of the Ebony colored wool/silk and clear silver lined beads on this stole.

I finished too soon and now have to wait until Friday for Clue 6.

It's luxurious.

Something really, really FUN!!!!!

This is a peek into the excitement that's happening in Terry's group!

It's not too late to join in the chatter and fun that's going on there!

I can't remember the last time I laughed and smiled so much!

You won't be disappointed.........there are also all kinds of small ideas for Gift Giving in knitting AND crochet.

Terry is a fabulous host and check out her blog, too!