Happy New Year!

Suspender Sweater Done

I love it. I loved knitting with Berroco's Ultra Alpaca. And I have two skeins left. With 215 yards on each skein, I'll have enough for a scarf. That should be nice and cozy.

I had to start over a couple of times on weaving the garter stitch side seams. I had never done it before. I got the Glossary DVD out and Handknitting with Meg to see how to do it. Finally, after almost weaving one whole side seam, I figured out, mine looks best when done from the wrong side. Then the right side looks much better. I am not sure if I missed that along the way or if it was just me.

Last night I started back with the Round the Bend sweater. I need to find something that is some mindless knitting for Knit Nights and at lunch work knitting.

Today, is the last real vacation day. After today, everybody will be back at home for the weekend and it will just be a weekend. I am going to haul out the baby yarns and decide on options at least three baby sweaters that I need for this Spring. One I know will be a girl's and one for my great nephew that I have talked about before. The other I won't know for sure for another couple of weeks. This should be fun!

Had A Little Scare Last Night

I finished knitting and sewing up the last sleeve seam with about 12 inches left of yarn. And I still had the side seams to weave. I was sure I had at least one extra ball left somewhere. I distinctly remember telling myself that there was no need to worry.

Do you think I could find it? I searched all the camp stash twice. I went through bags that I knew it wouldn't be in. I did find another sweater in progress that I want to finish for knit camp, but no Alpaka.

Then, right before I sat down to go online and see if Schoolhouse Press could send me a skein, I checked one more spot. I did not think it would be there, because that spot is reserved for other stash. But, low and behold, there they were, two skeins of it! Yippee Skippy!

Today, I weave the seams together. I don't think I have ever done that. Time to get Schoolhouse Press' Glossary DVD out!

Christmas 2006

We had a great Christmas! Except for when my niece announced that they were thinking about getting married in July?!!What, did I not tell her that was Knit Camp month?

I am off all this week and enjoying the heck out of it, even though, the first day was spent taking the tree down, bringing out my snowmen (at least the ones I could get to) and bringing out a little of the yarn collection. I have a stash that I want to knit on before Knit Camp this July. Okay, I was at her first wedding, I may not make it to the second wedding.

I did not get to knit at all yesterday. And today, is errand day. I have to exchange my coat in Peoria , the tall guy bought me. I have a nail appointment (broke one yesterday all the way to my nail, it bled, it hurt and it still hurts!) Then this afternoon, evening, am heading to my mom's to celebrate her birthday.

Which after today, leaves just two official vacation days left in the week and I am being selfish with them. I want to just sit at home and knit and plan my projects for the new year which includes the above mentioned pre-knit camp projects and at least two baby gifts. Not to mention, I still owe something knitted for my great-nephew, but I think a nice Spring sweater is really what I want to do.

The new baby with his Cousin A. Notice the hand knit bib. My neice likes how absorbent it is. I'll have to make some more in a larger version for her.
The new baby with his Cousin B.

I like Christmas, but I love having the week off in between when I can pretty much have the house to myself and get out the pajamas when I want to. Yesterday it was 3 in the afternoon, today, I gotta get moving!

I'm On Vacation

Not the kind of vacation where you go away (that's a little over 50 days away).

This one is just from work. I don't have to go back until January 2nd. I know it will go fast, but I am going to enjoy it. I have a list of stuff I want to accomplish and alot of it is knitting. I hope I get some of it done.

It just feels good to be free to do what I want. Knitting included.

Merry Christmas

I've Got a New Book

The only problem is there are no yardages of how much yarn is used for each? Not yet that I have found. Needle sizes yes, but no estimated yarn, hmm?
I used a gift cert that my boss gave me for my birthday to order this book. I saw it at my local yarn shop and was taken by the simple sweaters with great yarns.


As I read through it, I think maybe I should give it to Willie's girlfriend for Christmas instead of the Knitting Without Tears that is wrapped for her. But, I am not going to.
As I pen a little note to the girlfriend explaining why I am giving her a EZ book, it validates why she needs to know about the "godmother of circular knitting" as I put it.

Someday, I hope she "understands it" and wants to learn more. The designs in my new book are built on two simple patterns with great yarns.

This book screams one of our knitting friends!




One thing that I noted early in the book, Kitty has her local yarn shop finish (for a fee) the sweaters she knits. Hey, Linda we could use a local yarn shop that did that for us couldn't we!!

I'm Ahead For Next Year

I spent alot of time working on this scarf the last few weeks, just to decide that there was no way I was going to get it done in time for this year's Christmas present to the gal we work with. So, now I can work towards finishing it for her for next year.

It is a knock off of a scarf that I saw in the Athleta catalog. Or a narrower version of the pocket shawl that Knit Picks had a free pattern for. I had the yarn forever and knitted until it was gone. I think, now I will trim the pockets with a navy rib.

Boy, it feels good to be ahead of the game! VBG

There Comes A Time

when you just say enough. Enough. The new baby does not need anything knitted for Christmas. I'll knit a Spring sweater for him. Then, I don't have to feel guilty for not giving something to the other two for Christmas. The red scarf will look better on my gray coat then the intended recepient. Besides, jewelry is always good for a 50th birthday!


These flip flop socks have been given absolution. They don't have to be done before Christmas.

Now, I can return to knitting for myself.

I feel so much better now!

If You Could Have Seen Me

I spent the entire weekend with knitting needles in my hand. And probably every waking moment this week after work you will see the same thing. I have paired down the list of what MUST be done. One pair of flip flop socks, one scarf and one hat and mitten set.

Accomplished this weekend, three scarves, two of which did not have to be done, but I spent time knitting them anyway. Heck none of them really had to be done, I could of not. The two outside scarves ended up being shorter than I really wanted them to be, but I kind of knew that going into them. But still I knit them.

And a pair of mittens, to go with one of the scarves. Again, I didn't need to do them, I already had something for the intendee, but her scarf from last year, had an accident, so instead of trying to repair,Walmart had the same yarn and I made a new one. And since I was doing mittens for other friends, I figured she'd be disappointed if she did not get some too.

Oh, the rationale!

Absolutely No Knitting Was Done Yesterday



And I doubt today either. It's another full day for me, a meeting first thing, then mostly eating-two potlucks at lunch to attend and a dinner tonight! And that is even the Unit Party yet. And I have to weigh in at noon. Am I tired? But, this is the worst of it. I still have shopping to do and loads of knitting, but after tonight, I should be able to get back at my regular schedule!

But, I did get my tree up and some packages wrapped. I was so pleased about that! But, now I think they need some of those cute little mittens for decor on the top. You know the pattern...it was on the Knitting Calendar a few days back....Someone stop me please!!

Holiday Knitting Still To Do

This bag contains everything that I would like to accomplish for the Holidays. Realistically, at this moment, I'm ready to chuck one of them. It's not a gift, it is something a coworker asked me to knit for a friend of hers. Its not crucial as far as I'm concerned.

Tomorrow night, I'll make the decision. Tonight I shopped. My feet burn. Never again will I be this far behind and not know what I am shopping for! Never again!

I Went Shopping On Saturday


I'm glad I did. Because the yarn shop will be open next Saturday but not the two Saturdays after that when I really would want to go and shop JUST FOR ME. I could make a trip out there when I'm off between Christmas and New Year, but I intend on spending that week KNITTING WHATEVER I WANT!


What did I buy? Yarn for a scarf for a friend of mine's 50th birthday celebration the Saturday before Christmas. I've got to get my fingers busy with this one.


A Dale Baby Book I don't have. Which has this cute little hat and mittens set in it.I would like to get it done for Christmas Eve for my new little great-nephew. I think it would be a nice tradition to start for the little ones to get a new knitted hat and mitten set each Christmas from their Auntie Pen.


Sounds like something out of a book doesn't it. I can just hear them when they are 20, "every year even now when we are 20, our eccentric Auntie Pen knits us hats and mittens"


And this is for after Christmas, Alpaca Twist for a shawl for me. The feel is just scrumptous. And do you notice the color? It is not blue or green. It will go great with black and gray and blue. For now it sits and waits for me.

Two Weeks And All Will Be Given

At this time in just two weeks and Christmas Eve will be over. All of the knitted stuff will be given away. I've got way too much to accomplish in the next two weeks. I cannot sit and read like I did this weekend. I must knit whenever possible!

Updates later this week.

Another Christmas Gift Done
Gazillions to go. And I have rethought a couple too.

No time to chat, too much to accomplish tonight. You know how it is....

It's Cold Outside!

But, if you are where I am at, you know it. We are all going back to work today. The good thing about cold weather is that I have plenty of sweaters and scarves to wear this week and I will! The bad thing is it is to work and home, cause I'm not shopping when it is this chilly and the roads bumpy and snowy still. Cold weather is good for the gas companies though isn't it!

Snowed In!

Could not make it to work today. The tall guy did get the older twin to his job at the prison this morning, but that is it. He and the younger twin are out now picking up prescriptions for grandma and picking the older one up from the job.

Our stupid neighbor has his van stuck right in the middle of the road, and has pretty much abandoned it, so no one can come down the street from the main road. What an idiot, but that is the way they are.


I got up at the regular time, got all but dressed and decided that I was not even going to try it! Do you think I spent the day knitting? No, spent the day cleaning my living room and dining room and putting away the Thanksgiving decor and putting up a little Christmas stuff.

And since I did put some Christmas out, I have to find a spot for this that was up on the dry sink in the dining room.


Once I get that done, I'm done for the night. I'm going to watch Polar Express tonight, drink some wine, knit a little and read a little if I get that far. Tomorrow, I'll tackle the laundry and maybe by Sunday, we'll be able to get out. Us and the 39,000 people in the city.

Be safe my friends this weekend!