Denise Shopped for me!

My Knitting Parents yahoo group has this wonderful woman who offers to shop for us whenever she visits her parents. They live near the Lambs Pride factory in Nebraska where you can buy their yarn for $12 per pound. I took the plunge this time and asked for 4 pounds of yarn... this is what was in the fantastic box I opened today at work.

The bottom skeins are worsted weight of their regular yarn... the top skeins are worsted weight in super wash. Now... what project to start on!

Lightning speed

The prayer shawl is complete, including a trip through the washer and dryer with a load of clothes. No special care was taken (on purpose) and it looks fantastic. I think it will handle what the intended young man can dish out with no problems.

My own sons love the pattern and are coveting one of their own....some day. ;-)

Prayer Shawl 2007

Have you ever had someone ask you to do something for them and since they asked 5 months before you had to have it completed, you said "Absolutely". Then you procrastinated until maybe 2 weeks before? um, yeah - me too!
Our church gives each High School senior a prayer shawl from our congregation. This one is for a male. It is grey with a green cast to it. It seems to change color in different lights and keeps me wondering. My eldest son advised me to make it wider than the pattern for the traditional "shawl" so that the recipient could use it as a lap blanket if he wanted to. I'm using a double strand of ella rae Amity in color number 20.

This finished portion has used up 2 balls of the yarn. I would like it about 4 times as large so I better get knitting! The size 15mm needles sure help speed things along! It is currently 15 by 40 inches - approximately.

Cast on 60 stitches (or any multiple of 3)
Knit 3 Purl 3 row 1
Purl 3 Knit 3 row 2 repeat until length needed
Original email from church said to use Lion Brand homespun and size 11 (US) needles, I'm making it this year with a double strand of worsted and NOT homespun.

Socks (Barely There) all done!

The socks are completely done... the one (right) is grafting but not pulled tight enough. The other one (left) is grafting pulled tighter and with the firststitch on the end of each needle slipped over the one next to it.

I can't really tell the difference but I think the one I decreased on each end looks better. They are drying now, I can't wait to see what they look like after wearing and washing in the machine once.

Barely There Socks

Youngest son just got some light brown suede clogs and wanted a pair of "footies" to match. I just made my very first sock on sock weight yarn! :-)

The pattern is from the Knitting Pattern a day calendar, the May 1st 2007 entry for Barely There Socks by Jill Schaefer. I used Lorna's Laces Shepherd Sock (80% Superwash Wool, 20% Nylon) in Chino colorway. They should be washable so I hope I don't wind up with a pair of baby booties when they get washed by him.

The toe is grafted, instead of the 3 needle bind off but it looks a little strange. I'm sure the 3 needle would have been the same but I'm not quite sure what I would have done differently. Now... I better cast on for that second sock or it will never get done!

Stitch Markers

I wanted some different stitch markers, but couldn't really find what I wanted for the price I was willing to pay. One quick trip to Hobby Lobby and the next day I had these! I still have more beads but didn't want to get too crazy!

I put a small jump ring on one end, and a larger on the other. Now I can use them for a lot of different sized needles.

Ear Cozies Pattern

I'm trying to do a little catching up today. This is the Fiber Trends pattern (CH-34) called Ear Cozies. I made it with Katia yarn (washable wool) in a size medium (1-2 years). The gaugue is a little off so it is larger than it should be but it should fit the intended giftee perfectly. This is a shot of it AFTER it was washed and dried with a load of clothes. I love stuff that comes out looking this great with no special care!

I'm so glad Christine recommended it - there's no way I would have purchased the pattern after seeing the picture that came with it. It is MUCH cuter when knitted up than the picture on the pattern.

Spring brings Finches

These shots were taken by our eldest son on April 8th. We have a split entry house that has a large transom window over the front door. We were sitting on the top steps in the house, watching the finches on the transom window sill. They in turn, were chatting with each other and watching us. One year they even built a nest in the corner of this window and we were thrilled to watch the babies hatch and then grow to leave the nest.

Oregon Vest Class

I signed up for another class at my LYS... the Oregon Vest by Oat Couture natural knitting. I am really liking it! The pattern is written for 3 weights of yarn, Worsted, Bulky or Super Bulky. My goal is for this vest to stay in the car when we are traveling around this summer and be used for those runs into the hockey arena for youngest son's games. I wanted to use chunky yarn for warmth, but wanted easy washability so I wouldn't be upset if it gets smooshed in between hockey equipment in the back of the truck. I chose ella rae Amity yarn in a pretty midnight blue (color 20). I have the back complete and 10 inches of the left front. I'm really liking the twisted rib stitch, it's amazing what knitting in the back of the stitch will do for the look of rib.

The two big reasons I took the class is because we are going to learn how to put in a zipper... and pockets on a side seam. There are 3 vests made in different sizes at the store, one of them has cloth for the pockets instead of knitted fabric. I'm going to try that version.... I'm concerned about keys and things going through the fabric in knitted pockets, not to mention a triple layer of bulky knitted fabric right at my stomach/hip area.

I met the Harlot!

Yesterday a friend (Kim) and I got to leave work early (YEAH!) and drive to St. Paul, MN and attend the Yarn Harlot's talk for her book launch of Cast Off. That's a shot of Stephanie taking "sock pictures" of the crowd.

We arrived in St. Paul early, found parking amazingly easy... then walked just a block east to visit the Yarnery. WOW, what a neat place... I could wander those rooms for hours looking at the yarn and seeing all of their knitted up swatches and items. I was just going to "look" (yeah right) and wound up bringing home 4 balls of Cascade Fixation (more baby hats and booties in my future) as well as a skein of Fleece Artist Sock yarn. I think this means I am going to start knitting socks - heaven help us! ;-)

After touring the yarn store, and thanking the wonderful people there for putting this all together, Kim and I walked a block back and visited the Bead Monkey. Oh my, I actually found myself putting things in a little tray to buy so I could start doing beads! WHAT was I THINKING?!? Sanity prevailed and I didn't buy anything but goodness there was gorgeous stuff there! A bead stash would definitely be fun to build and easier to hide than yarn.

We then stopped for coffee and conversation in the Bread and Chocolate place nearby and then walked over to the auditorium where the Yarn Harlot would speak. We met up with Gail (from my Knitting Parents Yahoo group) and her friend Sally - then got in line and chatted until the doors opened. I was a little anxious about them trying to check in 400 people but the Yarnery pulled it all off quickly and without a hitch again. We were seated and knitting within 10 minutes of the doors opening and we were probably 30 people back in line. Nice job Yarnery!

Stephanie was like an old friend sitting on the other end of the couch knitting with us, she made us laugh, she made us think and at one point Kim was crying she was laughing so hard! When I was walking back to the car I realized that my cheeks hurt from smiling so much. What a wonderful evening! I just want to sit, knit and reflect on it all day. I should however get back to work so I can earn that next paycheck to keep buying more yarn! ;-)

Mitred Jacket is finished - well almost!

Just as soon as I find those buttons I bought those many weeks (or is it months) ago, I'll get those sewn on and it really will be finished.

Buttons or not, I'm wearing it tomorrow when I meet Gail (from my Knitting Parents Yahoo group) and the YARN HARLOT! I'm so excited.... an entire afternoon and evening of knitterly fun!

The jacket was begun last spring/summer/fall... gee, I can't remember. I made it with Cascade and Malibrigo for the fun stripes. I love it in the front, not so crazy about the back but then I don't really have to look back there so I'll live. ;-)

You can see details about the yarn and pattern here: http://tamsden.blogspot.com/2006/08/class-starts-tomorrow.html

Hair?

In 2000 I started cutting my hair shorter and shorter - it got so it was shaved in the back and the longest hair was under 2" long. I had shorter hair than my sons! ;-) Two summers ago I decided it might be fun to grow it out and try some new hairstyles again. ARGH... what was I thinking?

Ok, it is kinda fun to be able to put it up under a baseball cap, or in a pony tail... and it is almost long enough to all go up in one ponytail in the back. I had totally forgotten how much fun it is to put your purse or bag over your shoulder and pull your own hair, or to go outside and have the wind blow your hair in your mouth and eyes so you have to use one hand to clear your face to make sure you cross the street safely.

I'm not sure how long it will last - but it's long again. My hubby and kids love it. I haven't decided yet.

Smitten with Mittens

I have finished the Smitten and matching Mittens for a friend at work. I did "His" side of the smitten in blue and "Her" side in a purpley/pink mix. The mittens match their side of the smitten. The yarn I used was Cherry Tree Hill yarn (Twister?) in 75% Merino Wool and 25% Superwash. I used 1/2 a hank of each color.

The Smitten pattern is from One-Skein Wonders and the mittens are from Knitters Handy Book of Patterns.

I hadn't used the Knitters Handy Book of Patterns since I got it.... it seemed a little too complicated for a very beginning knitter. I've since looked at it again and can't believe I haven't used it before now. It's wonderful!

Just checking in!

I haven't gotten much knitting in lately but there are still a few projects on the needles. I have one Fiber Trends felted clog/slipper done for #1 son - the other is almost started. ;-) I'm using Cascade 220 wool for them.

I made the Baby Gnome hat for a 3 year old (One-Skein Wonders book edited by Judith Durant), that turned out big enough for my 12 and 15 year old sons. They have inherited it and I will try the hat again with a single strand. Here's a shot of the picture from the book - and one with a 15 year old wearing it. Another lesson in GAUGE!

The hat is knit in ella rae Amity yarn - a new to me yarn that seems to be very nice. My LYS just started carrying it and at less than $5 a ball for 200 yards I think I'm in love!

Baby Gift complete!

I have completed another set of baby hat and booties. This set is for my boss's new son Nathan. I also made a bib from Mason-Dixon Knitting. I used Cascade Fixation for the hat/booties.... I used Rowan handknit cotton for the bib. I have some pink to make a bib as well, however next time I think I'll make the bib in reverse so I can just keep knitting until the yarn runs out. That would mean making two straps, then joining them with cast on stitches in between and knitting. I never know what to do with all those odds and ends of the different types of yarns!

When you were little - did you play Duck, Duck, Grey Duck?

I've been told that Duck, Duck, Grey Duck is purely a Minnesota thing. Evidentally the rest of the world says Duck, Duck, GOOSE! So, what did YOU say?


http://www.gray-duck.com/gray-duck/

http://www.gray-duck.com/gray-duck/minnesotaisms.html

My favorite goalie

What does my favorite goalie do after saving 82 of 84 shots on goal at the District Hockey tournament?

Second Set complete....

The girly version of the 2 baby sets for a friend at work is complete. I used some fun fur along the hat brim and it definitely put it over the girly edge. :-)

More baby booties and a hat

I was asked by a friend at work (in November) to knit 2 sets of hats and baby booties for her first 2 grandchildren - to be born in February. I'm just doing it! ARGH.

Here is the first set. The booties for set number 2 are complete as is almost 1 inch of the hat - knit, knit, knit, knit!

As usual, the pattern is Anna's Baby Booties from the Tangled Skein - the hat is Theresa Gaffey Designs (#68) Basic DK-weight Baby Hat. Yarn is Cascade Fixations.

I made the newborn sizes in both and have lots of scraps left to add to a scrappy hat.

Neck Warmer finished

DS#2 has school patrol this next week and it's going to be below zero all week. I used up the last of this neat yarn and made a neck warmer for him using the directions Dawn gave me. It's perfect! The hat is the London Beanie I made this past fall.... nice looking set. They have been playing around with it and they can have it down under their chin, up over their nose or on their head as a hat. Very versatile! :-)

It is made with Katia Tundra color 6705 that is 50% wool, 40% acrylic and 10% viscose. I did 64 stitches and did 1 x 1 rib to keep it nice and tight against their little necks. I'm really liking this yarn, I'll need to get some more!