And

Happy Thanksgiving

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Pre-Thanksgiving Knitting and Crochet Ideas

What's In Your Knitting Bag(s)?

It would be quite obvious by yesterdays post that I have bags, lots of bags!  And I have a new one, but not one that I bought, one that was a gift from the ladies that I taught how to knit last Fall.  This is now my new non-shop knitting bag.

It is the bag that I am keeping my non-shop related knitting in, which at the moment is housing two projects.

My Stora Dimun shawl from Folk Shawls.  It is not getting a whole of knit time right now because I am really busy knitting on the other half of my Cusco Jacket from Briar Rose Wistful yarn.  I really want to get it finished because I am anxious to wear it and right now it is just around and around, so it is great knitting that doesn't need me to pay much attention to it.

My other knitting bag is the one that has my Knit 4 Together projects in it.  I really am a stickler about when using their space to knit that I knit on yarn from their shop.

One of the projects that I will test out to see if it fits this weekend is a little Lang sweater for Mona Lisa.  She is growing like a weed so I am hoping that it will fit her, but if not, I still have it in mind for little Bella.

From the latest Nora Gaughan booklet, I am knitting this sweater for me.  The yarn is so soft.  It really is low on the totem pole of knitting right now.

Not because I don't love it, but the Cusco and this capelet is really getting all of my knitting time right now.  It has been in progress for sometime, but it is straight knitting right now and another great project for the shop where I don't have to pay a whole lot of attention to it while I knit round and round.

It was on some old Inox Needles that were very twisty, so I took the opportunity to use my new Knit Picks Caspian needles to convert over to.  I am so loving these needles.

And do you know what Knit Picks is doing now on these needles and all of their needles?  They have engraved on the metal barrel the size in mm and American sizing.  How cool is that!

For now, those are my current go to projects.  I am bound and determined to some justice to them this weekend in between snuggling a little someone and enjoying the holiday with all our family.

Getting Ready

I spent some time in the yarn room this weekend.  It felt so cramped and I was worried about how much room Mona Lisa was going to need later this week.  I did some re-arranging and put all of my projects on the top row of my wire racks of stash.

While I was re-arranging, I really started looking at my stash critically.  In a couple of weeks, we are doing a yarn over exchange and I have pulled some stuff for it.  But, I also have some yarn that only certain someones would really appreciate.  So, I pulled out my phone and called my knitting bud, L and she is graciously helping me out.

After cleaning up a bit, I really wanted to cast on something new, but I didn't do it.  I have four projects that I am concentrating on right now, and I am not giving myself permission to cast on anything new until they are done!

Feeling good today, how about you?

One Week Ago Today--

Gone In 50 Seconds

We were so very lucky last week, when this tornado skipped over us landed just a few blocks away, went back over and touched down again and then onto Washington where it did the most damage.  It will be years before things are back to normal.

All I can say is that we were lucky and I feel for those who were not as fortunate as we were.  Friend C is displaced from her home, but okay.  So many lost so much.

But, if there is a bright side, the community, the state and others have rallied around the area.  What an outpouring from everywhere, makes one quite thankful and also makes one wonder why we cannot always be as kind and giving to one another when there are not crises.

Finally Finished

But not on Friday.  I really tried my hardest to stay up last night to finish my Simple Garter Stitch Prairie Shawl last night but the legs got restless and that is a sure time that I should be in bed.

I just had a few rows to do and I finished them up this evening and bound it off.  It still needs blocking, which I hope to get it wetted down and drying yet tonight.

The shawl is out of Hikoo's Simplicity.  It is quite soft with it's 53% Merino Superwash and has a silver thread running through it.  Too bad I don't get to keep it.  It is for our Girl's Holiday Bash at work the week after Thanksgiving.

 This year's theme is Sparkle.  As part of the bash, we put different centerpieces on each of the dinner tables with a can next to it.  Attendees get to buy tickets and put in the cans they might like to win the centerpiece.  The proceeds go towards buying prizes and centerpieces for the following year's bash.  I am getting a bit of reputation for knitting for the bash.  I just need to go shop for a blingy pin to decorate the shawl.

I am glad to get this one done, now onto to the next knit in progress.

Shopping Enhancement

Not a yarn in this group, but I've been spending a little birthday money these past few weeks.  It is so much fun to have boxes waiting for me when I come home.

These needles were super cheap and came from China.  Paula from Knitting Pipeline podcasted about them earlier this fall, so I sent for them.  Not sure why I did, because I didn't really need them.  But the price was right.  About $3.99 a set.  I'll set them aside for now and maybe donate them to a worthy cause.

From Willow Creek, I have bought  a really cool set of mesh bags.  Ok, so I don't really need more bags, but these are really cool.  I am a sucker for bags.

But that is no surprise now is it.  Enter, my new winter purse from Beijo.  There is a matching wallet and coin purse that goes with it.

Namaste.  I have been waiting for this little jewel to come in for about two months.  Only this color has been on backorder.

But, finally, I found it on Amazon.  It is perfect to throw in my purse with my knitting, with a few supplies that will be handy, just in case.

And best of all - new from KnitPicks, Caspian Needles.

Finally, this is a company after my heart!

I am so in heaven with this purchase.  I can hardly wait to cast on something with them!

Wednesday Website

Independent Stitch

This Has Been A Stormy Sunday

Overhead just a few blocks from us.

Again about six blocks from us.

And about a mile from us, it played havoc with some houses.

Then it took off for another nearby community, where it hit a friend's house.  She and her family are okay, and the cell phone service was spotty, so I am not really sure how bad her house is, but she did say that they had taken a hit.

"Knit on with confidence and hope through all crises" - EZ

What Are You Knitting This Week?

To start with, I am knitting on Cheryl Oberle's Simple Garter Stitch Prairie Shawl from the Folk Shawls book .  I am following the pattern exactly for now, but when I get to the last skein of yarn, I am going to try to make some elongated ends to it so it wraps around a bit to add a blingy pin to it.

The plan is for it to be a part of the money maker for our  Girls Holiday Bash we host at work every year.  This year's theme has bling all over it.

The yarn is Simplicity by Hikoo which feels so good!  But of course with Merino in it, why wouldn't it feel good.  And it is a super wash.

This must be a Cheryl weekend, because my other knitting project, mostly being knitted at work and at Knit Night, is my plain Cusco from Knitted Jackets by Cheryl.  I am using one of my fave yarns Wistful from Chris over at Briar Rose Fibers.  This is the second half of the jacket and it is a great no brainer knitting project.

You know what is so funny about this knit?  Everyone who sees these holes at the bottom thinks it is a really cool pattern.  When I tell them, they look at me like I am not telling them the whole truth!  Chuckle!

I did a little shopping this week, spending my birthday money several times over and can't wait to show you everything when it all comes in.  Hopefully, that will be a post for later next week.

Have a good weekend and knit something fun!

Not Even Finally Finished Friday

This is my stack of finished knitting that desperately needs my attention.  Several need blocking, one needs a button sewn on, one needs a lining of some sorts put in it and one needs sewn together.

One needs to ease into it slowly though.  Kind of like these leaves. 

 On Tuesday, we had a bit of snow. By the time I got to work, the leaves were just a fallin from the trees and covering the snow up like it wasn't even there.

It was so much fun to watch them fall.  It was almost like they were saying "hey, it snowed last night, we better get off of these trees!"

The snow is gone and today, the lawn company came and took care of all the leaves.  And the trees are bare.  Which means I better get movin on my finishing or it will be Winter 2015 before I get to wear them!

Wednesday Website

http://twinset.us/?page_id=5129

I have ran out of current podcasts to listen to on my way to and from work.  The Knitmore Girls turned me onto the Twinset podcast.  I have only listened to one, but I am looking forward to listening to more.  I think this is one that I am going to like.

I hope you give them a try as well.

Cool Birthday Things

When I logged into google on Sunday, my birthday this is what I saw.

I thought how cool, this is how they are saying happy birthday to something/someone.  I hovered my mouse over the pic to see what/who it was.  And it said "happy birthday Penny".  How cool is that!  Google was commemorating my birthday.

The gals at work know me so well.  These are my giftees from them.  My office is filled with Snoopies and they know that I will not buy them for myself, but love to get them as gifts!

This one goes around and round on his sled and and the end has the wicked Snoopy laugh I love.

The doghouse was a gift from a fellow co-worker last year.  We tied Snoopy to the top of the dog house.  And Charlie Brown goes with Snoopy, which is my first Charlie Brown in the collection.

This is the coolest book with large pictures.  It is going to be some great reading for Grandma and Mona Lisa at Thanksgiving.

I have the coolest friends, don't I.  I think I am done celebrating my birthday officially now.  It has been great!

Honoring Veterans Today!

Goodbye 55!

Today is the first day of my 56th year.  And I have a whole lot I want to accomplish in my 56th year!

First of all, I want to lose weight.  Well, heck that is not unusual, but by the Spring I really want to be at  my normal weight.  It doesn't hurt that today, the first day of my 56th year starts on a Sunday, my start over day of the week.  I found this neat little chart a while back of healthy snacks, something I really need.

 And I need to start eating lunch not just a piece of cheese.  So after walking for the first 1/2 hour of my lunch, I am going to start planning  my lunches too, so I have something to eat, but get to spend the last 1/2 hour of it knitting with my lunch buddies.

My second thing I want to do in my 56th year is work on the legs and stomach.  I know at 56 it can be difficult almost impossible to complete erase the effects of time, but I am going to do a bit for decreasing it.  It starts tomorrow, with getting up early (which means going to be earlier) and getting on the treadmill and starting the Couch to 5K program again, if the internal organs will let me. I may have to just walk, but at least I will give it the college try.

I found yet another cool little thing on the web for the legs, and I may give this a try in the evening before going to bed, maybe not all of the reps but a few to start.

And of course, there are those WIPs and many projects on the needles.  I am going to try to get them down in numbers, but hey, baby steps even at 56.

Happy Birthday to Me!

Half Finished Friday

Ta Daaa!  One half of my Cusco Jacket is finished.  And I am lovin it!

I have made a few changes to Cheryl's pattern from Knitted Jackets.  Added more stitches to the cast on, left off most of the lace chart except for the yarn overs/knit 2 togethers and added a repeat of them at the bottom of the sleeve.  I wanted a sweater that I can wrap up in or throw over a simple turtle neck to use as layering piece this winter.

Mine is out of the ever wonderful Wistful from Briar Rose Fibers.  I just love this yarn.  I already have one other sweater out of it, and have more of it in yet another color way for my Ravellenics project that I will be doing in 2014.

A couple of weeks ago, I was well into the sleeve knitting when I noticed this little boo boo.

Not sure how that happened, but I ripped it back to the start of the sleeve and away I went.  What I really like about my adaptation is that I can sit and knit and not have to pay too much attention to what I am doing.  Well, maybe in the above instance, I should have paid a bit more attention to it!

There are a couple of other projects that are a bit time sensitive, so Cusco won't get a whole lot of knitting done on it right now, but when I just need a bit of calm relaxing knitting, this is going to be my go to in the next few weeks.

What Do You Get?

Take one of these - Blueberry Tootsie Pop, courtesy of the lady I work with.

Add some of this Madelintosh in Button Jar Blue (just in last week at Knit 4 Together), purchased with my money, but delivered to work by knitting friend Debbie on her way from an appointment.

And what do you get?  Strange looks from the people I work with when I take the pictures of them both!  They just wouldn't get the whole blog thing (and I am not sure I want them to!)

Not 100% sure what it is going to be yet.  I think Hannah Fettig's Breezy cardigan.  I don't have enough yet, but I did see where Jimmy Beans Wool has the same colorway.  I believe I will order an extra skein from them.  That is what I had to do a couple of years ago when the local yarn shop didn't get enough of another Madelinetosh for a whole sweater.  Jimmy Beans to the rescue.  Gotta love them!

The Great Pumpkin

came to my house last week in the form of a box.  At first I thought it was a t-shirt that I had ordered, but I could not figure out why they would mail it in such a small box.  Then I opened it.

Is this not the coolest surprise?  Look at those sparkles on that yarn. Then I opened the card.

I was stumped as to who could have sent it?  At first I thought from a friend that I have not seen for quite some time.  But then the Knit On piece had me wondering, camp?  But who?  I even posted to Facebook thinking I might get a clue.

Oy, when I was really stumped a thought came to me.  I checked the return address.  I might have a clue.

Thank you great pumpkin!  How did you know I was searching for something sparkly?  I have the greatest friends!

Friends

This past week, I said good-bye to my dear friend.  She is moving away, pretty far away.  I have known her for 20 years and at times she has been my friend, my second mom, my fellow enabler, my sounding board and at one time my co-worker.

She is the same age as my Mom would have been and I always compared her to my Mom.  Where my Mom was old, she was young, never once would you consider her to be old.  I looked to her and would say in my mind, I hope to be like her when I am her age, heck, I wish I was like her now.  She is adventurous and loves to travel.  She, at the drop of a hat would go to Africa and China if she could.

Most of all, she is a generous woman.  Every New Year's day she would have a little get together for our group and some other fiber friends.  She would have a little lunch for us and we would knit the first day of the new year among friends.

We can never quite remember when our little group started knitting together.  We can remember it was when a little shop in Chilli was open and right before they closed but we cannot just come up with the exact year.  Lets just say its been more than 10 years.

When we moved to several places and finally decided the open world was not for us and that we wanted a little more intimate group, she opened her house to us every Thursday.  I would pick her up and we would go to dinner and then back to her house to knit with our little group. We have solved a lot of world problems, family problems and knitting problems.  We can be open and honest with each other and we can laugh at each other most of all.  Oh, how we have laughed!

I have been really good until I just right now when the magnitude of the loss is hitting me.  Sure, we will email, and will on occasion talk on the phone, but it will not be the same.  This is the end of something.  Even though, our little group hopefully will go on.  We may pick up some new friends, but it is just not going to be the same.

All of a sudden, I am feeling very old (I'm not really that old) and I like my friend do not like it.  Not one little bit.  And I don't like changes like this.  I want life to go on as it has.  And it is not!

But, in the fashion of my dear friend, I will buck it up and say that this is bashert.  I'll miss you terribly and think of you often and hope that this new adventure for you brings you better health, new friends that knit and many years of knitting at the beach!  I love you!  Keep in touch.

12 Hours of Knitting

http://www.nrk.no/knitting/

If you see this before the time is up, you will be amazed.  They are spinning and knitting for a record.  They spin the yarn and then the knitters knit a jumper from the spun yarn.  I am loving watching them spin and knit so fast.    I wish I knew Norwegian.

Happy Halloween

Wednesday Website

Knit Knit Frog

I love this post from 2008 for a nice no roll hem on stockinette.

Seriously Swatchin

On Saturday evening, I started swatching for this.  The pattern starts at the collar and is worked down.  The gauge is swatched in stockinette.

Which I did.  I knitted a serious swatch, starting with size 9's because I am a super loose knitter.  But, in this case, I had to jump up several needle sizes.  That just never happens.  Finally, I got gauge on a size 11.  1/2 size larger than recommended needle and that is something I never do.

Fast forward to yesterday, I cast on with my size 11 needle, started the collar.  Whoa!  The collar was larger than what I would have needed for 1/2 a body.  I went back to my size 9 and finally am now semi-comfortable with a size 7.  What the heck!?

I now have a collar that is closer to what it should be.  I wish you could feel this yarn.  It is so soft, I am so going to love wearing this sweater!

Happy Birthday Sue!