Happy Birthday Tim!

Tim's birthday was yesterday, and he also got a hat. His was just a plain watch cap as well, in Patons classic wool "forest". Translates to camouflage. I'm hoping it will be a warm and useful item! I forgot to take a picture of it before it went in the mail, which is lame because it's been sitting in a ziploc bag on my project shelf for a month. Maybe Tim will photograph the hat and send me a picture! Maybe Katie can photo it on his head :-) !
I've attached the scanner to my new computer, found the software and installed it, scanned the above picture and uploaded it. For those who are techno-savvy, it's no big deal, but for me, I feel proud of myself. I'll need to work on editing and figuring out how to use it and all, but I ran across this photo as I was going through some papers today. Me bad, I did not write the date on the photo, but I'm guessing 10 and 12? 11 and 13? Anyone? Love you guys!

More Car Knitting, Happy Birthday, John!

Yes, just a simple watch cap, but it's wool and it's soft, and it's still really cold here.






Pattern: Watch Cap from Knit Hats for sizing guidance: # of cast on stitches (106), adult large, then "knit by the seat of my pants, so to speak.
Yarn: Patons Classic Wool (in a blue tweedy colorway). What's that called?
Needles: Whatever size, cheapo bambo circs, 16 in.

Recipient response: It was well received.
Knit again? yes.

Yes, this qualifies as "Car Knitting". But enjoyable! And especially so because of the love for my oldest son, and the thoughts of him as I knit. Today is his birthday. Happy Birthday!

Can You Guess?

What's in the box? Hint: It contains "ingredients".

And I just realized that the "finished" felted hat photo in the felting post is really the "before" picture. I'll change out the picture one of these days.

Bright and sunny today. We have not had any above freezing days since February 3rd. And snow is predicted for tomorrow night....I'm still suffering with the crud, but back to work tomorrow.

Fabric Crochet

I had fun this past fall learning how to crochet with 1" fabric strips. I took a class at the LQS and made a rug. It was a learning opportunity. But I really wanted to make this bag:

















So I did.
This was my birthday present for Mom. Take a peek inside. I lined it with the same fabric which I used for the crochet, and I added a couple pockets to the lining. I covered some plastic mesh to add stability to the bottom. The covered mesh can be removed and the bag can be tossed into the washer...it was an enjoyable project.










And then I made a couple pillow cases, one with the bag fabric. They're quick and easy and make great gifts. Easy man, that's what I love.



Not such a great picture, but you get the idea...

Happy Birthday, Mom!

I'm sending out a belated birthday wish to my Mom. She turned 88 on Wednesday. What a woman. This picture is from Mom and Dad's 65th anniversary in May of 2005. Lisa modeled all the dresses that Mom had worn to each of the 4 children's weddings. It was so much fun, and each of us posed with Lisa and Mom. This was from my wedding in 1976.
We love you, Mom!

Remember Felting?

I've had a change of heart. And I owe a long overdue apology to my favorite "package ninja" (hi Tim, I love you) for the felting flame. Especially since he and Skor went to the yarn store with me when they were in town. He sneaked a book about felting off the shelves and crawled into a corner and read (very fast) all the secrets. So it's safe now (I give up) to post photos from last fall's guild felting seminar. The few felted projects I'd completed up to that point were all done using a washing machine. At the seminar, we used buckets.

The idea was to felt bowls, but I wanted to make a hat. (I'm a rebel.)















Here's a few of the finished items, drying.


And here's my finished hat. I've worn it all winter. I've been thankful for the warmth, but it's a little itchy.

Procrastination: Darning

I'm the queen of it. This is hard, even for me to believe: I've had six (count them) six pairs of hand knit socks in the "mending basket" for ages. Every time I'd see them (or run out of handknit socks) I'd keep saying (to myself): I need to get them darned! Apparently I don't listen to myself much. However, I did (over a year ago) purchase this lovely darning tool. So I'm working on them. So far I've restored 2 pairs to the wearable sock drawer; this one is almost done. I'm taking precautions and reinforcing the heels that have not worn through. This one is the very first sock I ever knit. I intend to wear them until they simply can't be worn!
I now reinforce all my sock heels with wooly nylon or a second strand of what I'm knitting or a contrasting color. I've learned. I also must be constantly vigilant about filing down my calloused heels because that's the main culprit. So I file and add shea butter lotion. A healthy combo.
Yesterday was Knitters of the North monthly meeting. We have fun with sharing our projects, talking about the charity projects, getting news from various fiber circles, and planning upcoming events. Good times, good people. Next Saturday one of our members is doing a seminar on knitting a top down baby sweater. In April, Nancy Wild is coming to do a hands-on event: hand painting sock yarn...that one sounds like it could become dangerous!

Socks That Rock!

The long awaited shipment arrived this week! I joined the Rockin'SockClub way back when enrollment first opened. In fact I have had my name on the "waiting list" practically all last year. Interesting that I never actually ordered any yarn from Blue Moon Fiber Arts before. I just took everybody's (in the blog world) word for it: that the socks really did rock and that the yarn was amazing. I agree with Pat that the first shipment "so isn't my colorway". I am thrilled, not disappointed. The yarn is gorgeous, perfectly spun and dyed. I am looking forward to starting the included sock pattern. Pat has started hers, and so has Wendy. Take a look at theirs!
I took a class, once upon a time, that was supposed to teach me toe-up socks using the crochet cast on. It didn't take. I did not get it. I don't understand short rows. I'm holding onto hope that I can actually knit these socks because the garter stitch makes the short row wrapping easier.
I did start socks (Six-Sock-Knitalong) that use the I-cord cast on. That was new to me, seems to work well, and my "Springtime in Paris" socks are on their way....but that's why, along with all the other projects underway, I'm holding off on starting the STR "Monsoon" socks.


My goal is to knit the pattern supplied with each STR shipment. It's another knit-along! I knit very slowly. I probably won't be able to keep up, but at least I'll have the 2007 collection in my stash!

A new week...

I feel sorta like today has come and gone with nothing much to show for it. And then there's the laundry, still to be done. I did go to a lunch at work, honoring employees with 5, 10 and 15 years of service in the organization. Me? I'm a 15 yearer. Does one feel honored, like they've accomplished something OR uneasy at life just moving along without notice? One day you wake up and it's 15 years later...

At some point I will put a few thoughts here about my dear Dad who passed on January 19th. We were at peace about his passing (graduation day, as he called it). The family was together for all the arrangements in Portland, and we had a good time. Lots of memories and sharing. Now we're back to our "lives": making sense out of, and negotiating our individual worlds without our Dad/Grandfather/Husband in it. Endings usher in "first time" events, don't they? Dad was 93.

Here's a progress photo of my current "car knitting" project. A project is a car project if it meets the criteria of "mindless". The traffic always clears, the lights turn green, so one can't be trying to navigate lace or cables when navigating the car...This one is a "charity sweater". It's just Wool Ease (red and black, random stripes). The project comes from Knit for Kids. They always need sweaters and our guild is encouraging members to contribute as a "challenge project". The pattern couldn't be easier and is on the website. I changed it in order to knit on a circular needle. I'll soon divide for the combined sleeves/top.

Regular work schedule the rest of the week. Catch you later!

Thrummed Mittens

Stats:
Pattern: Interweave Knits Winter 2006
Yarn: Harrisville Designs (picked up at Yarn Expo for $4/hank!) 100% Wool
Needles: Size 4.00 and 4.50mm Addi Bamboo (Love them!)
Roving: Unidentified Falklands wool picked up at Yarn Expo. A Ziploc bag full. Pre-dyed in purples/red/dark blue.

What I learned and would change: I would add a few rows between the ribbing and the thumb pick up. My thumb pick up is messy. I'd fix that. (No, I don't like to rip and frog--it's reeeeaaaalllllyyy cold here, and I need to wear these!). Using the roving was interesting, a bit tedious, but feels wonderful on the inside. I'd actually like more of this softness inside....




The thumb is different than the usual mitten thumb. There is no gusset, rather, you knit in some waste yarn, then pick up and knit these live stitches later. Designed this way to maintain the thrumming pattern. I like this, but need to adjust. Maybe I need an extra stitch or two to make the thumb larger and reduce the stress "gaps" at the picked up stitches.

Today was actually warmer (about 20 F) and the sun is significantly warmer plus the days are longer. Love it. I was at a quilt shop this afternoon for the 2nd of two classes using "Buggy Barn" patterns. It was great fun. Quilt pictures forthcoming...

Thinking about blogging again...

I've been thinking about this blogging thing. No posting in a very long time. Should I delete the blog or start again? One of the problems I've had is figuring out how to make my sidebar work and not understanding the gut workings of html and how blogger works. Today I found out that I should switch to the "New Blogger". I am skeptical. I just want whatever I use to work, I don't really want to have to learn computer programming. I don't want any more life frustration...Whatever.
Guess I'll take another stab at it. I enjoy my daily perusing of a limited number of blogs, but I end up thinking that I don't have much to say of any interest. Bear with me as I do some catching up. This may not be interesting.
Several things are new in my life. Like a new laptop computer that actually moves at modern speed. I think I was a victim of Norton Security gumming up my hard drive and bogging down my computer, for one thing. The new computer with wireless has enhanced my life in many ways!
I've been knitting quite a bit and also quilting. I found my camera. And the new computer has this slot in the side of it where a person can stick the SD thingie from the camera. This could be useful. I'll not try to cover it all today, but will take some pictures and do some project photo journaling of those as I go along.
Knitting: Today was our guild informal "Masters and Mentors" group. It was originally formed as a format for those working on TKGA Master Knitter program to get together and compare work, get advice from those who've completed the program, and support those who are working on their credential. Several of our members have completed at least the first level, and at least one has completed all three. Anyway. It's mostly now just a "sit and knit" opportunity and of late it's been a venue for working on charity projects. Today there were only 3 of us....one a "guest" who wanted help with a lovely Aran sweater project...I finished my Thrummed Mittens (insert picture here) and the other member worked on sewing blanket squares (charity project). It's always an enjoyable time. Knitters are good people.
Over the next few days, I'll see how Picassa interfaces with the "New Blogger" and The New Computer. Next: Thrummed Mittens. (Oh, yeah, that brings up the whole subject of "where did I get the roving???")