Happy New Year!

Every December 31st, I post the same thing...here is my tally for 2019 of Finished Objects:

Cowls - 16
Scarves - 12
Hats - 3
Dishrag/Potholder - 2
Poncho - 1
Shawlette - 1
Baby Blanket - 3
Fingerless Mitts - 1
Headband -1
Socks -1
Hospice Shawl - 1
Sweaters - 7

Total Knitted Objects for 2019 - 49

My Knitting Journals

Episode 35 is up on the PJKnits You Tube Channel.  You can find it here

In Episode 35, I talk about my Journals and my love for making lists and plans.  Below is the short version of the podcast.  Show Notes can now be found in the Ravelry Group - pjknits. 

 

I have been using this journal for most of 2018 and 2019 to document my cast ons, knits and just some knitting related items in general.  I do document finished items here and on Ravelry, but my notebook sits next to my chair and is easily accessible when I want to make notes in it.  It serves as my notes for what I put into Ravelry as well.

I put a ball band with the info of the yarn and washing instructions, along with a snippet of the yarn, so when I am looking through it, I know just what yarn I used for knitting.

These paper clips show projects that are still WIPS, so it is easier to find a WIP.

For 2020, I decided to buy a new journal (my old one is almost out of pages) and start the new year off with a clean paper.  I think I will add more knitting things to it as I go along, like things I want to knit, color ideas for new knits and just some knitting thoughts.

Happy New Year Knitters!

Merry Christmas!

Christmas Gifts from Knitters

I love knitting related Christmas gifts, don't you?

It seems like everyone is getting into the knitting themed wrapping paper!

Yarny goodies and when they come with a pattern so you don't have to think much are so nice to receive.

For those travel times, it is nice to be outfitted with a blanket that plugs into the 12volt battery slot, along with some knitting necessities and extras.

And it is always nice to have a nice Christmas candle, a little snack and some relaxing scented bath balls to get you through the season.

Now, I wonder what Santa will bring?!

Friday Finds and Finally Finished Objects

I just had to add a couple of bags to my collection this year. The Snoopy design is from Molly Klein Designs and the plaid is from MultiCraftyGuy who makes them out of recycled men's shirts.

While I was off, I finished this baby blanket and knit a hat for my assistant's grandbaby!

 

And we made three batches of my Mom's famous peanut butter fudge for gifts and eating. 

Happy Friday!

What Have I Been Up To?

Well, I went back to work last Friday after being off for 2 months, it wasn't super bad.

I went to hospice where we had a record number of shawls and blankets.

We celebrated this sweet thing's 1st birthday.

I have been knitting a mitered square a day as my advent calendar.

Oh, and I have been doing Vlogmas over on the PJKnits Channel on You Tube.  Won't you join me
here  in the shenanigans?!


What have you been up to?

Mail Day

Last week, I got the sweetest package from Allison.

She sent a shawl for the 40 Month project, but said I could give it to Hospice if I did not need it for the project.  It is beautiful and will warm a patients shoulders and heart as well!

She also added some goodies to the package.

Thank you Allison, what sweet and thoughtful gifts!

Finally Finished Friday

My new daughter-in-law requested a squirrel washcloth for her Mom.  I knit a Llama one for her bridal shower, and since her mom likes squirrels, she requested one for her.  This was a quick and fun knit out of Sugar and Cream Cotton yarn.

After 40 months and over 40 cowls, shawls, scarves and wraps, the project has been completed and given out to the ladies at work.

Here 37 of them are before being gifted.

And now we can call the last of 15 years of Girls Holiday Bashes a Wrap!

Advent 2019

I didn't buy any Advent calendars for myself this year.  I was tempted by the yarny ones, but lets face it, I really did not need any more minis or yarn.

So, I decided to use the leftover sock yarns my friends have given me and continue working on my mitered square blanket, by knitting a square a day.

So far, I have done 5 days, and I am having some fun by just diving into my bag and pulling out a new sock yarn each day to add to it.

Only 21 days to go!

Finally Finished Friday

Today's finished objects are not what I hoped for, but they are finished, just not quite sure what I am going to do about the results.

The Top This Hat - Bunny Edition - It was too small for my granddaughter and I thought it probably was too small for a 6 month old too.  I went down a size needle and probably should have used the size I used before for one of these.

After a nights sleep, I decided to rip it out and start over again.  Much better the second time around and perfect for a one year old to be.  It wasn't until I looked at the picture that I realized the subtle chevron at the bottom.  Now, isn't that kind of cool!

And since the first two were such a quick knit and I still had one more in my stash, I knit this one up this evening for the six month old gift I am behind on.

My No Frills Sweater.
From afar, not so bad, but...

The closer you get...

See what I mean?

But, sometimes, you just have to laugh it off, hide it and live with it.  And don't show up in public in it... or rip it.

Just not today.

Happy Thanksgiving!

We have so much to be thankful here at Chez PJKnits this year, you just would not believe how much  just in the last three months has happened, from sadness to happiness to frightful health scares to the many blessings.

This Thanksgiving, I am truly counting my blessings!

Have a Happy and Safe Thanksgiving!

A Little Sweater

You all know I am a planner, right?  So, it should be no surprise that I had to sit down and plan this sweater knit.

First the yarn.  A new to me yarn I picked up at Stitches Midwest in August.  

Another simple knit, but with a trend that has been going on all Spring and Summer, (mohair held with finger weight yarn) that I am finally jumping on, even though, the great Gianni Versace said
 " Don't be into trends.  Don't make fashion own you, but you decide what you are, what you want to express by the way you dress and the way you live."

I am going for it again as I do like the soft feel of mohair, we will see how the wearability is of it against skin.

 But first, I had to calculate centimeters to inches, and decide which size I needed to knit since there is a lot of ease in these patterns (another trend of the Spring and Summer).

And then to swatch!

I had heard about this quick swatching technique at knitting camp, but this is the first time I actually did it.

Amazingly simple and quick.  I am so glad I used it!  Not my usual big swatch, but I'm adapting.

Cast on!

Look at the halo on this mohair, can you stand it?

After a few short rows and the yoke of the sweater, I am off on the body, which goes on forever.  I have went down a couple of sizes of needles in the waist, and now back out a bit for the hips.
The progress keeper was a birthday gift, and I love seeing it every time I come around to it.

And currently, I am on my last sleeve, and hope to have a Finally Finished Friday object for you later this week!