Gorgeous With a Capital G

What a beautiful weekend!  We hosted my brother-in-law and sister-in-law's 25th Surprise Anniversary Party yesterday.  They were genuinely surprised and did not have a clue that their daughter was coming in with her family for the party.  The four kids (two from each of their previous marriages) put it all together, I just provided the place and drink.  It was so neat to see how they all four came together and put on a special party for their parents.  It was a lot of work, but I was pleased as punch that we had a big enough house to do it.  With 16 yesterday, though, I am thinking we may have bought too small of a house.  (Don't tell the Tall Guy I said that!)

Now, with all of that done, it is time to look forward to Knit Camp, in just 1 1/2 weeks.  I've got some knitting to finish for my potential contest entry.

And a shawl to bind off and block.

And a shawl to re-do the bind off on.

And a shawl to wash up and re-block.

So, it would seem for now, there are a few shawls in my knitting queue.  I'll show you pictures after camp.

For now, enjoy this drop dead gorgeous day, I am heading out to the porch to knit my Sunday away!

Happy 25th Anniversary!

Finally Finished Friday

This monster is finally done.  I got a wild hair 19 days ago to knit a surprise afghan.  And this is the result.

It has been all encompassing every day since.  It is a bulky yarn and went fast at first, but about half way through, ugh, it got heavy.

The yarn is a super wash wool called Viking Balder.  I have never heard of it, but I can tell you it is super soft and squishy.

Now onto regularly scheduled knitting for ME!

Wednesday Website

Schoolhouse Press

Updated website, this is so cool!  You gotta go here and look.

It's Official - Summer of Shawls Has Begun

Yesterday was the official start of Summer and the longest day of the year.  But, as you all well know it was also Father's Day so I put off blogging about the start of Summer for today.  And with the start of Summer, it also means the kick off of the Summer of Shawls!  

I am not stopping the sweater knitting this Summer, but for the most part, I am really trying to clean up some of my shawls that are in process, yarn that is earmarked for shawl knitting (some still in the bag from last Summer), and patterns that I am anxious to cast on.

Add to the list the many options for Hospice Home Shawl knitting that I want to do!  This shawl is not mine, but rather one that my friend Pam knit for the Hospice Home.  Isn't it lovely!

Over the past few weeks, I've been catching up on some podcasts, and you might be surprised to hear how many have been talking about shawls this Spring/Summer.  I have been learning a bit from them and the types, their history, yarns that are really good for different styles and shawl designing.

The amazing thing is that just when you think you have a really good idea, you realize that you are not the only one to come up with the idea.  Like, how nice a little shawl is to always have in your purse or in the pocket of your seat should you get somewhere and need a little bit of knitting to get you by.  Of course, it is nice it is a fairly easy shawl so you don't have to worry about lace charts and such.

Or how smart it is to have a little shawl tucked in your car or at work during the Summer when everybody is cranking up the air condition every where you go (especially for us people that are always  cold).

But, before I go full blown into shawl knitting, I have three more chunks of color on this throw for a surprise gift this weekend.  I am anxious to get it done and move onto shawls for Summer.

Stay tuned and remember in 10 years your shawls will still fit.  Not my own quote, but, I am sorry I can fully acknowledge the author.  It's kind of hard to write while driving!

Happy Father's Day

To the best Dad ever.  Boy, do I miss you today and every day!

And to my Son, who is a great Dad! We are so proud of him!

Yes I Like Bags And I Cannot Lie

From Amy at The Fat Squirrel Speaks, a big sweater project bag.

And a set of three Namaste bags.  However, the large one is not as large as it appears, so this ensemble is going to be a Door Prize at Knit Camp.

Along with a Walker bag that I already have and thought others may need one too. After all it is in the pre-requisite color of PJKNITS!

The final bag for this Saturday is from Erin Lane Bags.  It is a fabric created by Kristin Omdahl.  Isn't it beautiful?!  

And still I search for the perfect purse, but for now I've got some great project bags to put my knitting in AND give away at camp.

Early What???

It came in the mail yesterday.  But, it surprised me in a couple of ways.  

In the baggie it came in, they included my renewal notice.  I think I might have said to myself, I won't need that.  But, then I opened it up and thumbed through the pictures and it had me re-thinking giving it up just yet.  There are actually several sweaters in this issue I really like.

And as luck would have it, the shop got some Molly Ringwald Madtosh in yesterday.  Unfortunately, I am going to have to go on the hunt for one more skein of it, because for my size there is never enough in a shipment for a whole sweater.  (Ok, ignore that gripe, it has been that kind of week!)

It shouldn't surprise me though that this is the Early Fall issue, since even Pantone has released their Fall colors.  I'm liking Biscay Bay a lot, but that would not be any big surprise to any of you now would it?!

Wednesday Website

Berties Blankets

Check out this Hospice Blanket Site.

Chuckin The List

That's what I am doing!  The only project I have to have done by the end of the month is my Top Secret Surprise Gift.  Life is way too short to not knit on what you want to be knitting on!  I have way too many time sensitive projects at work that I should stress about my knitting.

And if I want to cast on something new, that's totally up to me.  You are in control of your knitting.  And of your style.  And of your life.  And of your Show and Tell for Camp.

I think that is very adult like of me, wouldn't you agree?

So, what is your personal style?  Me, I have to say I love a good logo t-shirt and blue jeans.  That is about as of a sense of style that I have.  Years ago, I used to get the Spiegel catalog, do you remember that catalog?  I always imagined myself in the clothes and shoes the models wore.  But of course, I also imagined I had their body and unlimited funds to do it with.  The thing I like about a good catalog or even QVC is when you see the whole outfit on someone,   you don't have to figure out what to wear with it, you see the whole picture.
I have shared these two websites with you before, but right now, I think you might enjoy both of them if you happen to be of my age range.

Walking in Grace and Beauty

Fifty Not Frumpy

So, to bring it back to knitting again, what is your style of knitting?  Whatever it is I hope you like what you are knitting.  If you have yarn that has lost it's flavor with you, pass it on.  Will it make a good Hospice Home Shawl?  Is it something the Nursing Home or Assisted Living Center might take for their residents to knit or crochet with?  If you don't like what you are knitting, for heaven's sake chuck it and knit what you want to.  You, too are in control of your knitting!  Enjoy it!

I'm A Day Behind

I was hoping to catch up today, but I am a day behind of my schedule for knitting.

With most of the laundry all done I had a  good part of the day to get some things accomplished on my list.  This little nightmare has two weeks until it has to be done, washed and wrapped for giving.  I just have two more skeins to knit tonight and I'll be back on schedule, but I had to take a bit of a break to rest the hands.

 Big yarn, big needles and the weight of what is already been knit makes the hands ache just a bit.  That and I need to wind some more.

I just looked at the calendar and realized that a week from today is not only Father's Day, but the official start to Summer,  and we will be starting the Summer of Shawls starting next Sunday!

Finally Finished Friday

It has been another grueling work week, I am so glad to call it for the weekend.  This week is another shawl that I took to the Hospice Home yesterday.  I've had Rustic Beauty done for some time now, it just needed to be blocked.

The yarn is Berroco's Vintage DK.  I still have a bit left which may go into another shawl down the road.

Happy Weekend Everyone!

Wednesday Website

Interpreting Japanese Knitting Patterns

Very interesting, and just a little bit of something when you get tired of American Knitting Patterns.

Call Me Crazy Again!

What was I thinking? I need to take all of these.

And turn them into an afghan by the end of the month.  You know I have a lot of knitting on my plate between now and camp don't you?!

But, I have a plan.   I plotted out how many sections I have to knit per day or every couple of days to have this accomplished along with what is currently on the needles for camp.

 The good news?!!!  I have made my goal for today, at least the knitting on the afghan.

Finally Finished Friday

Not much to report, BUT, it is finished, it is blocked and it is ready to go to the Hospice Home next week.  And, it is yarn from the 2013 Yarn Over.  

The yarn is Lorna's Laces Shepherd Worsted.  The pattern is an enlarged version of the Big Bad Baby Blanket from Debbie Stoller, Stitch in Bitch book.  I can see making another one of these.  Not in the same yarn, even though I have yarn left.  

My take on the yarn:  This is super feel good stuff!

Wednesday Websites

Guess I had a pretty good idea, huh!


Susan B Anderon Summer Sweater Plans

Amy Herzog Summer Sweater KAL

Can You Guess?

Baby Boy A and his wife are having a ??

Believe it or not, this is about the only blue I have laying around the house that is suitable for a boy.  But, this will make something nice for the new baby to come.

Welcome June!

It's the first of June.  It's a Monday.  It's the start of the week and the start of a month and I'm callin it the start of Summer!

I've goals and plans for the next month.

Cutting out as much sugar as I can.  This will not  mean that I will pass up treats that a certain dear knitter friend I know makes.  I will not deprive myself of that pleasure.
I am going to be eating more fruits and vegetables and less processed foods.  --I really want to live healthier and a very long time like my auntie who is like 94 this year!  I want to see my grandkids get married and I want to dance at their weddings.

I am going to use my fitbit and really try to walk 10,000 steps each day.  I am going to log my meals through the free app, My Fitness Pal and keep it to 1200 calories a day.  I am not paying for weight loss products when there are some perfectly good apps out there for free. -- I am counting on my peeps at work to help me achieve my 10,000 steps a day.

I am starting small.  I want to be down 7 pounds come camp.  By September, I want to have significant weight loss.  Target date is Labor Day. I'm going to start making some healthy lunches.

I've got a lot of knitting on my plate.  Between now and Knit Camp (the second weekend in July), I am concentrating on what I am taking to camp for Show and Tell, what I am going to wear while at camp AND maybe the camp contest, which at this moment I do not have ANY idea.  I need to get on that one!

I AM GOING to find the perfect bag for Summer and Summer sandals.  I am a bag and shoe addict.  I am always searching for the perfect bag.  One that looks stylish, will hold my pursey things but will also hold my knitting so I don't have to lug 2 big bags around with me.  And I want it to sit up fairly well, so I can just knit from it. And sandals, I ordered many pairs this year and sent them back.  They gotta look good and feel good.  Do you know how hard that is?  The search continues.

Every waking moment that is free, I'm going to be knitting this Summer.  There are so many things I want to do and Summer does not mean and end to my sweater knitting!  What are your goals this Summer?  Share them with us, won't you in the comments!