Quick Knit

The Little Guy wanted something to keep his cards together and didn't like that we just put a rubber band around them. I used leftover yarn and cast on 10. I doubled it on 2 needles like socks toe up. I then increased each side until I had 7 each needle.

Now I knit until it fit the cards, decreased each side every other row for 3 rows, then made a button hole before binding off.

The Little Guy chose the airplane button. He loves the case...and I'm kind of proud that I finished it in just an hour.

Charity Knitting

So the last shawl is finished and nicely wrapping my friend as she recovers from her surgery. It was fun working with such colorful yarn.

I'm thinking about what to knit next, and finishing up some UFO's when my Alabama friend tells me she is behind in her charity knitting. She's a swapper on Ravelry and traded slippers for something. I asked if I could help. She is, after all, using the pattern I taught her! She asked me to crochet 2 pair of slippers on my own and sent me the link on Ravelry for the reservation in South Dakota. They need warm clothing for the older children. I made my 2 pair and couldn't stop. It felt good to make something that I'm sure will be needed, and used. I only stopped at 10 because they need them before it gets warm again! I'll make more for next Sept.

I tried to make colors for girls and boys.

Couldn't resist making some of them "fun".

Next One

I've started another shawl for a friend who has to have surgery this month. I saw this yarn and it was so full of color I knew it was for her.

The little guy knows this lady and really likes her. He's gotten involved in the process. Last weekend he helped me wind the yarn. -In his stylish skull pj's!

He likes to read to me while I knit,as well.

Finished Shawl

I'm happy with the results of this final shawl. It took more yarn than I had estimated but my aunt is worth it. I don't think the pictures do it justice, but I don't want to wait to get it in the mail. I still have to write the letter. I take notes as I'm knitting so that all of the energy around me goes into the knitting. Then I write a letter with all of the information for the person receiving the shawl. (I wish I could record the beautiful song coming from the bedroom as the little guy is getting ready for bed. He loves to sing. Mary Fran would like that)

She's going thru Chemo and I hear that it makes one cold. All the snow makes one cold. All of the news makes one cold.....I hope this will help to bring warmth to her and she will know that she is loved.

Meanwhile,trying to go to sleep.....

Serenity Shawl

I found the perfect yarn for the shawl. It's Frog Tree Yarns, Meriboo (Merino & Bamboo). It's lovely to look at, wonderful to work with, AND better yet, the company is Fair Trade.

Check them out...Frog Tree Yarns

I think my aunt will like that the purchase of the yarn will help women to make a living wage. I feel like I'm giving twice.

I got it, and some advice, at my LYS... The Knitting Knook.

This is the test swatch, and I plan to incorporate the chain on both sides. This yarn is a dk weight so I doubled it up and I'm using a size 15 needle. The drape is nice, yet there will be some warmth to it. I'm still using the pattern of 3's but I'm designing my own look for this piece.

I like the gradual change to purple better than a stripe. The color change is made by changing only one strand at a time and using 3 rows to complete the change.

More to come...

Sad Day

Today has been a difficult day. I got up preoccupied because January 21st was the day that one of my dearest friends died. It was his Birthday. Even tho’ he died 21 years ago, I still grieve and miss him all the time, but especially every January. He changed my life and I will never forget what he did for me.

I went about the morning and checked the email, where I got some reminders from other friends about the anniversary. I feel sad because still others are telling me sad stories about what is going on in their lives. My sister in law has a student and his family die in a fire overnight, a friend has her car break down completely and thinks she might get laid off soon. Then I get a family email that one of my favorite in laws (an aunt) has cancer. She has to start Chemo next week. She is hoping for the best and thinks that the treatment will help.

Meanwhile, even tho’ I’m sad, I decide to start lessons with the little guy. Math goes well. Math usually goes well. We decide to have a craft day. PERFECT!! The little guy gathers up items to start making Valentines. We start cutting and pasting. He keeps asking me to look in different places for more supplies. As I do, I find love notes from him. “I Love Mommy”. I find about 4 of them and he gives me a hug every time. He knew I was sad even tho’ I was trying to hide it, and knew what to do. It really helped me. Cool thing is, I kept finding the notes all day. I found one in the laundry hamper, on the basement steps, in the bathroom, on the bed...he was busy. What a kind soul. I never even told him what was going on, yet he knew what to do.

The little guy has helped me to realize that I have to do something for my Aunt. I’m going to make her a prayer shawl. I’ll have to stop everything else and get it done quickly. I understand you get cold during Chemo treatments. I’ve made them before. Maybe I’ll design one for her...I’m starting to get the creative wheels going.

Love, Art and Knitting will get us thru the darkness.

Knitting With the TV

When the little guy was very young, I used to let him watch Sesame Street. It was a good break for both of us. I soon learned that I couldn't knit at the same time. The Count, Cookie monster, Grover, and even Big Bird would often count things. ANYTHING! And they would sing while they were counting, which makes you pay attention even more...and then you have the counting song in your head. Great for the 4 year old, but not for trying to knit. I can't keep count of the stitches on my sock with The Count singing about bats.

So the little guy isn't so little anymore and I get my knitting done after he goes to bed. Now I have a new challenge. I've learned there's numbers all over the TV! Sadly I can recite the number for Empire flooring. I now know that I can't knit to the news. Well, not all of the news but the the weather. "The temperature is now 12 degrees, but lets look at how cold it is around the state...13 in... 14 closer to the shoreline...etc." Oh NO! I'm counting here. I change the channel. Thinking it was safe, I frogged the socks (too many mistakes on size 1 needles), and started over. I find out that when you don't have cable TV, all of late night is about numbers. Every commercial has a phone number they have to repeat at least 4 times. then there's "But wait! If you act in the next 10 minutes we'll add 2 more...." Even David Letterman has the top 10! I'M TRYING TO COUNT HERE! I frogged the socks again and will start over...only this time I'll remember that there is a mute button.

Learning at Home

My friend has given the little guy 2 complete seasons of "Dirty Jobs" from Discovery. He's so excited about it. It's amazing the details he pays attention to and what he learns. He learns something from everything...but I'm especially amused at what he learns from this show.

Today, we are done with the lessons for the day, and he asks if he can watch some of the video as a reward. (his idea...ok lets go with that) So, I'm in another room, busy with dinner. I'm trying not to listen to all of the gross things that the host, Mike, is talking about. Suddenly, the little guy yells, "Hey Mommy, did you know that sharks have 2 penises?".

No, I didn't know that.

Gift

One of my favorite Christmas gifts came from my friend in AL. I make shawls. Lots of shawls. I wear shawls. All of the time. In a conversation, I casually mentioned that I don't have a shawl pin. She was aghast. So this came in the mail. I don't know the artists name. I love it and I feel so "uptown". Now I don't have to keep adjusting the shawl when I knit either.

I'm still working on this blog. I hope it gets easier as I get further along. I'm told I need more color...have to ask the geniuses at the apple store about that. ( I'm taking classes and workshops and that's what they like to be called...genius. ) I worry, because I always worry, that too much color will interfere with the knitting photos. But then that creates more pressure for myself and my designs. Isn't this a right brain left brain thing?

Men's Neck Warmer

Men’s Cable Neck Warmer

Yarn--Vintage Wool from Berroco --- 1 skein. Medium weight.

Needle size--set of DPN size 9.

Gauge-- 4 stitches =1 inch.

MOCK CABLE STITCH-(MCS)-knit on 2 stitches. First knit second stitch on left hand needle. Do not remove from needle. Next, knit first stitch on left hand needle, remove both stitches from the left needle together.

WARMER

CO with Cable Cast On 64. Divide between 4 needles, 16 stitches each needle.

Turn. K2, P2 across all 64 stitches. Now be careful not to twist and join to work in the round. Place marker to show beginning of round.

Rows 2-4. K2, P2 around.

Row 5. Work *MCS, P2 repeat to end of row.

These 4 rows are the pattern throughout the piece.

Repeat rows 2-5 for 6 sets of 4 row repeats or 24 rows.

Increase in back and sides only over next 2 rows.

Increase row 1. M1 at beginning of row before first K stitch. Continue in pattern until last 2 ST, M1, P2. M1 in between needles before first K stitch. Continue in pattern on this needle (2nd needle) and onto the next needle (3rd needle) until last 2 ST. ( Do not increase in the front.) M1 before last 2 purl ST, P2. M1 in between needles before first K stitch. Continue in pattern until last 2 ST, M1, P2.---6 stitches increased this row.

Increase row 2. Repeat Increase row 1.---6 Stitches increased this row.

Work next 2 rows in K2, P2 pattern.

Repeat R4. Work *MCS, P2 repeat to end of row

Work 2 more sets of rows 2-5. (8 rows total)

2 more rows of K2, P2 pattern.

Bind off loosely with sewing bind off.

First Post

Well, here is the first time I've tried to post. Happy New Year!

I wanted a place to put the crafty designs and the ideas floating in my head. Maybe then I can sleep at night!

I made several cool knitted socks for gifts this year and as I started each one, I made up different ways to perfect them.

I also knitted a "neckwarmer" for the big guy and it turned out terrible; something like a collar they put on horses when they are in the field. I spent New Years day frogging it. BUT THEN I spent the next day designing and knitting a new one that is perfect. Next post will be the pattern.