It Helps to Upload the Pictures First

I’ve been meaning to get a new post up, but for some reason I keep forgetting to upload the pictures from my camera… I mean really, how hard is that?

Maybe I’ve just been kind of lackadaisical lately?

So, with out futher ado and unnecessary apologies, here’s what I’ve been up to knitting wise:

I finished the little striped socks for my grandson Improvised pattern using Poems Sock yarn (958) done in 2x2 stripes using both ends of the ball; size 2 (2.75mm) needles

I also finished the Blue Honeycomb Mittens, which are practically unneeded now.

Pattern: Honeycomb Mittens by Jean Newstead from Homespun-Handknit (one of my “workhorse” books) Yarn: Lambs Pride Worsted in blue magic and Twilley’s Freedom Spirit shade 506 Needles: Size 7 dpn I could have knit these in two nights instead of the two months it actually took. I just had too many other things on the needles in between. Oh, and just in case you needed to know… Curbberg day 7 (And there’s snow in today’s forecast… hmpf!) I’m off to try and finish another something. Happy Knitting Nana

Not Quite a Pair

I finished two socks last week, but they are not quite a pair… I got one each of the Bavarian and Jaywalker socks finished and the second sock of each pair started.

I also knit a pair of mittens for a shop display … here is a picture of one of them. I finished the second one at work on Thursday and immediately set up the display at the shop, I did take a picture with my cell phone, I put that picture on ravelry, but it is not good enough to show here.

Trust me. And believe that there really are two mittens knit. Or come by the shop and see for yourself!

And most miraculously, I have started the hoodie for DD#1, and I’m happy to say that I’m off to a pretty good start!

I have a new beginning sock knitting class starting tonight, but I’ll be using the previous class samples for this one since I have my quota of projects OTN right now.

Saucey goes to the vet tomorrow for her first follow-up since starting the insulin so say a prayer or think good thoughts for her.

And here’s a sure sign around our house that winter isn’t too far off….

Happy Knitting!

Fun Finds and Other Knitting Topics

Yesterday DH and I decided to venture out to a favorite haunt that we hadn’t been to visit yet since we’ve been back in the area. It’s a combination Antique shop and Auto Museum. There are antiques, collectibles and lots of vintage and specialty cars. It’s a nice compromise for a Saturday outing. I spent the morning poking about the antiques and he went and ogled the cars. Fortunately he didn’t see anything he could afford to buy (Hee, hee). But I found a few nifty things. The first thing I found was a cute little statue of a cat hugging a ball of yarn (how perfect is that!). The kitty kind of looks like Zelda and it’s hugging a huge ball of yarn proportionally. It’s actually a string holder. You put a ball of twine into the ball of yarn and there’s a little hole at the top where the string can be pulled through. It had some slight damage and was a reasonable buy at around 6 dollars. I didn’t notice until I pulled the price sticker off that it was made by Fitz and Floyd which is one of my favorite collectible makers. I’ll probably put it on my desk with some twine or scrap yarn for the occasional need to tie something together for whatever reason. Next I found 6 vintage Pattern leaflets from Leisure Arts and Unger (with copyrights between 1979 and 1987) for a whopping $5.00 (for all 6). How could I resist. My friends at knitting group will get a kick out of them. Plus, a couple of the patterns are actually not bad. The real find though, were the vintage nylon circular needles I got 2 of them for $2.00 each. Practically a steal! I also found some steel ones with the wire cables which weren’t in great condition. They were 40% off the $16.00 sticker price. Not bad. I already have a couple sets of these and they aren’t much fun to knit with, but I’m thinking about using them for some sort of shadow box display for the office / craft room. I started to take pictures but it actually clouded up when I was rounding up everything. The pictures might be a little dark, but here’s a look see.

March knitting is off to a fine start. I fixed my mittens:

(Of course, NOW, the temperatures are above 40 degrees and it’s raining…) (hmpf)

Anyway, if you like my mittens check out these: Jared's Kuryeon Gloves. He humbles me with his creativity and skill.

I finished my part of the super-secret group project that one of my knitting groups is doing. (Sorry no picture – it’s a surprise).

Here’s the big project I have planned for March… I don’t know if I can knit the whole thing this month, but I plan to get it started! Diagonal Delight Vest (Kit by Shelridge Farms)

Oh, please let me clarify something in Friday’s post. Some of the comments led me to think that I was a little misleading. My writing must have gotten as complex as my February knitting.

To clarify; I actually knit 2 pair of socks in February. I know my swap partner is an occasional reader so I deliberately avoided posting any pictures or details of the second pair of socks that will be going to her. The knitting was a little complicated because I was doing new techniques in both patterns. I really liked both patterns and wanted to make sure I met my self imposed deadline to finish them both in February, so I was alternating between the two. (It’s not likely that I will try anything that crazy again, too soon.) I promise, though, that once the box is safely in the mail and it won’t spoil her surprise, I will post the details and pictures of the second pair of socks I knit in February. I think they turned out even better than the Annetrelac socks and hope to knit myself a pair down the road!

A Couple of Things are Finished…

I finished the Mitten Decoration last night; I added a few of my own touches, and love the way it turned out.

At knitting group this morning, Lynette brought the finished Afghan in. We did squares over the summer and she has been busy putting it together. It came out mighty nice too. The recipient, Michael will be home on leave next month and we’re going to have a formal presentation then. Here’ a peek.

I did some of the grey and black squares. I don’t think I posted any pictures of them during the knitting, because by themselves they weren’t much, but with everyone else’s efforts, it is really nice!

Designing Fun

I found a picture of a cute door decoration in some decorating magazine. I didn’t like anything else in the magazine (too foo-foo fussy for my taste), so I cut the picture out and tossed the magazine. I think it was a special publication one.

So anyway, this has been on my mental knitting list for a little bit. The only problem is the magazine didn’t provide any DIY instructions and I don’t have any patterns for cabled mittens like the ones shown. Not that I don’t love a design challenge. So after mulling this over and a few “how hard can it be(s)” to fortify my courage, I dove in. Turns out; not too hard at all! I started with this idea, but no pattern. Figured out an estimated number of stitches loosely following a basic pattern, figured out the width needed for the cable and started knitting. I had to take a break from knitting to go buy the greenery part (my coupon was threatening to expire today), so I don’t have it all done yet, but here’s some progress photos.
Oh, and BTW, while knitting these, I decided this would be a fun pattern for wearable mittens, too! This is #1 of the five things on my Christmas knitting list. 2 of the other 4 will take less than a day to knit; the 3rd about 4 days and the 5th is the 3 week project; 9 more charity hats to knit as well. Of course since knitting is how I stay out of trouble these days, most of this is just a time management thing, not a time making thing. (But, I’ll be sure to keep you posted on my progress).