Progress Continues - New Socks & New Yarn

This past two weeks seem to have passed in slow motion, somewhat.  I was sick with a nasty cold that just didn't want to let go, so not very much got done.  For three days I felt too miserable to  bother picking up my knitting needles.  It has finally passed now, and moved on to about everyone I know, it seems.  Every day I hear of another friend or acquaintance that has been laid low.  And no, it was not me spreading it about.  I didn't go out when I was sick.  But it seems this cold is everywhere, and if you are one of the lucky ones to miss catching it, be very thankful.

Anyway, just before I was laid low with the nastiness, I managed to finish spinning the Icelandic wool I had purchased last September, from HeartsEase Farm  Once I began to feel a little better, I was finally able to ply the yarn, and finish it.

This was spun from Icelandic wool roving, and it was labeled "Raspberry".  It looks more like Cotton Candy to me.  When it was plied, I ended up with 160 yards of 2 ply yarn, at 12 wpi, weighing just 4 oz.  Now I am looking for something to make with it.  It is not the softest wool, but I think it could make a nice hat or scarf, or cowl.  Not sure which it will be yet.  I'm waiting for it to "speak" to me.  LOL

And finally my very pretty socks are finished too.  I have been calling this colorway Very Berry, but that was an error.  It was purchased at KnitPicks.com, Stroll Fingering, a hand painted superwash yarn (75% merino wool, 25% nylon) and the colorway is Berry Patch.  I cast on 64 stitches, using a 2.75 mm - 32" circular needle, and they are done in 4x4 cabled rib pattern.  As far as I'm concerned, this was a lucky find in KnitPick's clearance bin.  They are very soft and very warm, and I love the color.  Until now, I've never knitted with this particular yarn, but I would definitely buy more of it.  It was very nice to work with.

I also have some good news to share about the Opal socks that I had previously knit for my daughter, as a Xmas gift, but when it came to wrapping day, they had disappeared.  Well, they are found again, and I immediately gave them to my daughter so they could not be lost again.  It seems that my cat must have been cuddling up with them, and managed to push them behind some plants, where they eventually slipped down to the floor, behind the cabinets the plants were sitting on.

I was busy rearranging my living room, and cleaning up, and in the process, moving things here and there, I happened to come across them.  It sure was a relief.  I was really getting worried there for a bit, thinking my feeble mind was slipping over the edge here.  But they are found and safe and I will be careful in future of what is laying about, because I do know that Rosie loves the wool garments, and she can get very aggressive in her "fondling" of them on occasion.

On the "Cat's Paw" lace scarf, I have more than 2 feet done, and it continues to progress well.  The mohair lace shawl is moving a bit slower, but it too is still coming along.  I have completed about half the rows, but as you know, with a shawl it continues to grow every few rows, so I would not say I am half way through the entire garment.  :)

This morning I awoke to find 5" of new snow on the ground.  I really was not expecting that, but I am certainly not going to complain about it.  We have been so fortunate this Winter, with the mild weather we have enjoyed thus far.  A little snow now and then, in the spirit of Winter, must be allowed then.  If nothing else, it is still and always will be, lovely to look at.

Take care, KEEP WELL, and keep smiling.......  :)

Some Progress Being Made

Since I am in the progress of creating a few more items, but have nothing yet finished to share, I thought I would just give you a report on how things are going.  Don't want to stay away too long, or I'll forget to come back one day.  LOL  And don't laugh, at my age, these things do happen.  :)

First, my socks....

 I am doing cables every 7th row, on this pair.  This is the "Very Berry" colorway from KnitPicks that I acquired through their clearance sale.  It is superwash merino wool (75%) and nylon (25%).  I'll have more details when they are finished.

Second, the "Cat's Paw" scarf.....

 

I started this scarf once before, got about 6" done, and decided it wasn't exactly as I wanted it.  So I frogged what I'd done, and started over, and decided I wanted to add beads this time.  I have quite a few crystal beads left over from a shawl I made early last year, and decided to see how they would look.  So I cast on again, and began to add the beads.  After adding a bead into the center of each paw in the first pattern section and third section, I decided that was too many beads.  I don't want them weighing the scarf down, and this yarn is a silk/wool blend in lace weight, so very light, and doesn't need a lot of beads stretching it out either.

If you look closely, as you go up the scarf, in the 5th pattern section, I placed a bead in the center of each of the two central paws, and then on the 7th pattern section, I placed a bead in the center of each of the two outer paws.  And I am continuing in this manner, 2 center paws, then 2 outter paws, throughout.  I think this is going to be enough beads to make it interesting, without weighing down the yarn, and I will do the beading on the finished end to match the beading that was done in the first 3 pattern sections, to even it all out.  

And last, but not least, the shawl......

I haven't gotten too far into it yet, but it is going very well.  I love working lace work, but it does not like me, because I have a terrible problem remembering yarn over's.  I have done very well with this shawl, so far.  Knock on wood.  It is a fairly basic feather and fan styled pattern, so maybe I'll manage quite well through this one.  I sure hope so.  I love the yarn, and it's working up very nicely.

On the spinning front, I have completed half of my roving, and have moved on to the second bobbin with the second half, and about half way done spinning that.  So hopefully, I'll have some new homespun yarn to share too.

Our Winter has continued to please and surprise us, and it will definitely be one to go down into the record books.  And even with all the great weather we've had to this point, I am still amazed at how lovely it has been, now into the month of February.  Just amazing!  I hope everyone is having a Winter to remember, as I am.

Take care and keep well.  And most of all.........keep smiling.  :)

Projects Finished - On To The Next

It's been a very busy couple weeks, working on several projects all at once, but it sure prevented any chance of getting bored.  I finished the homespun scarf, my son's hat and scarf, and the teddy bear.  Today I am here to say I've now finished the 5 pc baby set, the "make-up" pair of socks for my daughter, and then a little hat I threw in there, just for the fun of it.  LOL

Using Opal Grafitti yarn, and size 2.5 mm circular needles, I cast on 64 stitches, and knit up a pair of ribbed, slightly cabled socks.  Basically, they are 2 x 2 ribbed socks, but every 7 rows I passed the left knit stitch over the right knit stitch, to make tiny little cables.  It was more to make the knitting of them a little more interesting than anything, but I rather like the look of it too.  As soon as I finished knitting the socks, I took this photo, and then handed them to my daughter.  I was taking no chances on losing these babies, like I did the last pair.

Then on to the 5 pc. baby set.  The last I posted, I had finished the jacket and begun work on the dress.  Progress was steady and I have now completed the set.

The yarn is Bernat Baby Coordinates in the "Sweet n Sunny" colorway.  Needles used, size 2.25mm circular needle and 2.75 circular needle.  The pattern called for cotton yarn, but on the day I was shopping for the yarn, I couldn't find any that I liked for this outfit, so I used the Bernat instead.  It finished up nicely, but I was often annoyed by the splitting of the white strand running all through it, so I would definitely go with something different if I ever knit this up again.

The pattern is by Patsy Leatherbury, and I have looked high and low to share it with you, but I simply could not find it.  I acquired the pattern when I was subscribed to "Annie's Attic FREE Pattern of the Day."  The site is no longer offering this service, but even when they did, you had to get the pattern that very day as it would be another pattern featured the next day.  So I do apologize that I cannot share with you the details of the pattern or where to get it. 

This basically concludes the projects that I started about a month back, but I guess it was not all quite enough, because in between working these and the last few projects, I suddenly threw in another one.  Something quick, that caught my eye, and I just "had to make it."

I found this crocheted hat pattern on Ravelry.  It's the Ridged Hat w/Brim by Kool Stitch.  I did not make the flower for it, because I was so excited about finishing the hat, I totally forgot about it until now, looking at the pattern again.  LOL  I love the design, and the fit is good, but the yarn I used is not suitable.  Too flimsy for the hat.  I am definitely going to make this again, but I will use a firmer yarn the next time, and I'll try and remember to make the flower to trim it with too. 

I also found a knit hat, similar to this, but it was much too floppy (again, wrong choice of yarn) and too big as well.  I plan to try that one again too, using a firmer yarn and a smaller needle. 

Now I have moved on to new projects, but still working on a couple of unfinished ones as well.  The "Cat's Paw" scarf was frogged, and I've started over again with smaller needles, and so far I'm liking it better now, so I will continue on this and see how that goes.  I've also begun the Mohair shawl from the kit I purchased early this month, and posted here at the time.  And I have cast on and begun to knit a pair of socks for myself, with the "Very Berry" merino yarn I bought from KnitPicks.  On the spinning front, I'm working with  pink Icelandic roving right now.  Mixed feelings about how it's spinning for me, but I will stick with it.  Right now I'm not overly impressed by this roving, and that could be the fault of the person that made the roving, and not Icelandic wool in general.  I'll have to wait and try other fleeces before I make a final judgement on that.

For now, that's it for me.  Hope everyone is having a lovely weekend, and that the coming week will be a good one for you and yours. 

Take care, keep well, and keep smiling ............  :)

Mid-January Update

There has been a little progress as I continue to press on with this and that, or whatever.  First, there is some new homespun.

According to my calculations, I have 150 yards of this "Fairy Batt" wool.  It weighs 2 3/4 oz. and I'm guessing it is sport weight in thickness.  Forgot to measure that.  I purchased this wool at the Endless Mtns. Fiber Festival last September.  I loved the color of it.  What you can't see is the very fine gold fibers that are woven all through it, and which catch the light as you move and turn it.  It is a very soft green.  I don't even know what kind of wool it is.  It was pretty, so I bought it.  My heart took over because my head was certainly not thinking straight.  LOL  Have no idea what I'll make of it, but most likely a little scarf as an accessory item.  Not enough yarn for much of anything else, really.

On the knitting front, as part of a baby set which includes a dress, small jacket and booties, I have finished the jacket and have begun work on the dress.

The yarn is Bernat Baby Coordinates, the colorway is "Sweet 'N Sunny." in shades of peach, yellow and white with a strand of shimmer.  Another time when I went for something that caught my eye, and really didn't think about how I was going to be using it.  In my defense I will add that when I purchased the yarn I also had not picked out what baby set I was going to make.  Again, not very smart I suppose.  I should have settled on what to make first and then bought the yarn, but I seldom think that way, I'm afraid.  Although I think it's very pretty, and I know it's very soft, the strand of shimmer is a pain if you have to frog any of it, and it splits easily.  But I am making do, as I always do.

For some reason, even after working the lace work on the body and sleeves of the jacket, when I started the bottom of the dress back last night, I kept screwing up over and over.  It's only 6 rows of lace work, but I've knit it 4 times now, having frogged it 3 times before finally getting it right.  I was beginning to get worried, but I think I started work on it when I was over tired, and should have waited until today.  After tearing out all the stitches for the third time, I picked it up this morning, and knit the lace work without a single hitch.  I guess a good night's rest was all I really needed.  :)

We are having some very nasty and very Wintry weather here today.  Freezing rain and sleet which is supposed to turn to all rain, before turning back to snow by the end of the day.  I'm glad that I have no need to be leaving the house, and I hope all those that must are kept safe from harm.

Take care, keep well, and keep smiling............  :)

FO #3 and Half of FO#4

Moving right along here, I now have another project I can put aside as finished.  The scarf, to match one of the hats I knit up for my son.  This was the hat he liked best, and the only one that had enough yarn left over to make a scarf with.

The last time I saw my son, he was on his way out with a friend, and wearing this hat and scarf.  I guess that says "I like it Mom."  :)  The scarf is not quite as long as I wanted it to be, but he can fold it in half, put it around his neck, and pull the two ends through the loop and it stays put, so as far as he is concerned, it is long enough.  I'm not going to argue.  The yarn is Red Heart, using the Yarn Harlot's "One Row Scarf" pattern, and US #9 needles.  This project is officially finished.

The next project, I can show good progress on, is one sock (of a pair)  I'm now making for my daughter, to replace the pair I lost.

Thank goodness, my dear sister Ruthie, sent me 2 skeins of Opal Graffiti yarn.  I still feel just horrid over losing the first pair I made for my daughter.  She was waiting patiently for them, and then Xmas day arrives, and there were no socks under the tree for her.  She had seen them, even tried them on to make sure they fit, but they were gone.  So I really want to get these done quickly, because I promised her a pair for Xmas, and then did not honor my word of promise to her.  I am still not able to find the missing pair.  But these will do just fine.  Opal is a very fine fingering yarn, and I used 2.50 mm (US#1) circular needles, with a cast on of 64 stitches.  It felt great on my foot, so I know it will fit her too.  Now on to finish this pair and put them behind me too.

I have made good progress with my spinning the last couple days, and should have a hank of homespun to share with you soon, as well.

We are enjoying a gorgeous sunny day, although bitterly cold.  It was all of 7º this morning, and even now, in the late afternoon, it is only 15º.  But we are not buried under a mountain of snow, nor covered in inches of ice, so I am not complaining.  I hope the sun is shining upon you today as well.

Off to do a bit more knitting.  Take care, keep well, and remember..............
keep smiling.     :)

FO #2

Since I had a head start with this one, it's not something I have only been working on since the start of 2012.  This one I started back around September, maybe even before that, but it kept getting pushed to the side for other things.  Then I would take it out, make 1 or 2 more pieces, and then lay aside again, because something else would catch my eye.  Very unlike me, most of the time.  But on occasion it does happen.

My Teddy Bear ....................

Taken from Simply Baby by Debby Bliss, I found it here, a free download.  The pink scarf is my own addition.

This little bear is very easy to make, and can be made any size, depending on the needle size and yarn weight you choose to use.  I used the recommended baby yarn and US# 1 needles.  The bear is about 10" or so standing.

The pattern uses cut pieces of felt for the eyes and nose.  I didn't have any felt laying around, so I crocheted the eyes and sewed on the nose.  A bit crooked, but it gives the little guy character, right?

After I posted all the new projects I have started, and showed you a glimpse of some the new ones I will be making later, I found a couple more I had ALREADY started before the new year and forgotten about.

A wool/silk lace scarf being done in the "Cat's Paw" lace pattern.

Another green lace kitchen curtain that has about 4" done on it so far, to match the  first one I finished early last year.

And an "Easy Peolo Purse" bye Cari Clement.  A cute little crocheted purse, about the size of a clutch bag.  Nice for storing your crochet hooks in, if you wished.  :)

There has been progress on the baby dress and sweater set.  I have the sweater nearly finished now, just needing one sleeve.  On the pair of socks for my daughter, I am now decreasing the gusset stitches, and will be on to the foot of the sock soon, and it will be smooth sailing after that, then on to the second sock.  I have not yet cast on for my own socks, and there has not been a lot of progress on Barry's scarf, but there was some.  But I have managed to get in a good amount of time spinning, so I might have some new yarn to share with everyone in the near future.

Guess that's it for this time.  I hope to have another FO for you soon.  I must press on because there is much to be done and time is always short.

Have a great weekend and keep smiling.....................    :)

Multiple Projects = No Boredom Here

Normally, I am a one-project-at-a-time type of person, but at the start of 2012, I began several projects, going in all different directions.  And I actually finished something too!

So I will begin with the finished project - a scarf I knitted from the homespun yarn I created with the "art batts" given to me by Heather Woolove back in September of last year, at our little Fiber Festival.

This is the "One Row Homepsun Scarf" designed by The Yarn Harlot.  I also want to add, this pattern works great with any yarn, not just homespun.  It's quick, easy, and makse a very attractive scarf, in my opinion anyway.  :)  Thank you Heather, for the gift of your batts.  This is my first completed spinning AND knitted project for 2012.

 Other projects I have begun are a pair of socks for my daughter, to replace the ones I made for her as a Xmas gift, and then lost somewhere.  Yes, they have to be here somewhere, but I still have not found them, so I am going to replace them for now.  If and when I do find them, that will be wonderful, as then she will have 2 pair of new handmade socks to keep her feet warm.  I know that with her, they won't be worn out any too quickly.  She runs barefoot 90% of the time, but she probably will wear them to bed.  :)

I have begun a little knit set for my BFF Kate's new granddaughter, due in April.  The set includes a dress with a little sweater, and booties, which I will most likely change the pattern to make socks instead.  The socks stay on the feet better, especially if you make the cuff long enough. 

I'm still working on the Teddy Bear for the same upcoming birth.  I have but one limb to finish now, and then that can be stitched together and stuffed.  So maybe by my next posting, I'll have that finished to share with you.

I'm making another "One Row Scarf" for my son, to match one of the new hats I just gave him.  There were 3 hats from left-over yarns I found laying around, and the one he liked best had enough yarn, I hope, to make him a scarf.  I doubt it's going to be a very long one, but it should be long enough.

Then there are the projects I am definitely going to make sometime in the near future, and have begun preparing for them even now.

A pair of socks for myself, a new shawl, and a pair of boot style slippers.

I have been looking at these patterns in the Mary Maxim catalog, for well over a year, and especially the shawl, I've actually drooled over all these many months.  I finally took the plunge and purchased both, which came in kits.  I love the boot-style slippers with their big buttons on the cuff.  And the shawl, a feather and fan type of pattern, appealed to me in it's simplicity, plus the choice of gorgeous yarns.  I can see myself getting more of this yarn, in other colorways, and making more than one of these shawls. 

So for now, as you can see, I have no excuse to cry "I'm bored."  I have more than enough to keep my hands busy and my mind active.  I've also been spinning more as well.  And I hope to have some new yarn to show off at some time in the near future as well.  When I'll get to knit with it, and what I decide to make, will be a mystery for a while yet.  But that's OK.  It does have to be spun first before I can begin thinking about those things.  At least, for me that's how it works. 

I hope everyone has been enjoying the wonderful unseasonably warm Winter as I have.  Half way through the season now, and still no real bad snowfalls to complain about, and so far only two that were measurable.  Knock on wood, I don't want to jinx us now.  This has just been too much fun so far.  But even if it all came to an end tomorrow, I have enjoyed it while it lasted, and that can not be taken from me now.

Have a wonderful week, and keep smiling            :)

2011 Coming To A Close

Now that Xmas has come and gone, I am finally able to share with you the entrelac style hat and scarf that I knit for my sister, Ruth (Jessica's Mother).

There is also a pair of "peek-a-boo" mittens to match, and a knit hat for my Brother-in-law, Jeff.  Jessica knit her Dad a dark blue scarf, using Lion Brand yarn, so I did my best to match it with this hat.  I believe she used "Homespun" yarn, and I used a heavy worsted, so they are not identical, but close enough, I hope.

Santa was very good to me this year.  My son purchased a gift certificate for me, from KnitPicks.  I could not have been more pleased.  I love their yarns, needles, notions, so I will definitely put it to good use.  He wants me to buy yarn to knit myself something, because I had made a comment earlier about a person my size needing a LOT of yarn to make even a simple top with.  My son told me now I should have no excuse paying for it.  LOL  We'll see.  I might do just that.  :)

  My sister Ruth sent me some Opal "Graffiti" sock yarn in the partie color, along with a lovely gold hummingbird tree ornament, some German coffee (it was very tasty too) and this adorable little pig, made from a single strand of cleverly coiled silver wire.  I now have 3 of these figurines.  A very large spider, a gorgeous dragon, and now this little pig.  I like rather strange creatures.  Pigs, dragons, spiders, bats, to name a few.  They are placed close by so I can see them on a regular basis.

And my niece Jessica sent along a few more soft squishy friends to keep me company.  Remember the large red Angry Bird Cardinal she sent me earlier?  Well, as you can see, I now have a piglet and an Angry Canary.  The Canary, when you squeeze his head just under the comb on top, it giggles, just like they do in the game when you finally destroy all the pigs.  There are 3 giggles.  The first is very short, the second a little longer, and the third one is very long, and very sinister sounding toward the end, and it cracks me up every time I hear it.  I think I've squeezed poor Canary about 20 times, so far, today alone.  LOL  Just for the fun of it.  There in front is a lovely little TY Tarantula, with a soft furry back, and bright red eyes.  I think they call them "beanie babies."  I love them, every one.

All this time I have been busy knitting too.  This time on a baby blanket for my BFF's new granddaughter coming in April.  I have been working on a little teddy bear too, but got so caught up with the blanket, the teddy was put aside for a bit, but since it's nearly finished, I should have that done very soon too.  But for now, the Mitered Square Baby Blanket.

Still using up my stash of baby yarn, it came in handy when looking for yarns for this little blanket.  It's about 3' x 3', roughly speaking.  I knit each square separately, and then stitched them together, and then added a row of single crochet along the outer edge and finished it with a row of scallops, all done on Size US#10 needles.  I used double strands of baby yarn throughout, to give it body.  Using single strand it would have simply been much too flimsy.

Next, I am still working on a scarf using the green homespun yarn I made from my friend Heather's "art batts."  That too is close to being finished.  And while sorting through some of my stash, I also found some camouflage colored yarn, and I'm going to use that to make a hat and scarf for my son.

Oh yes, I nearly forgot.  Remember the blue/greenish/purplish hat that I spun and knit as a gift for my son?  Well, it seems he never gave a second thought as to whether it looked "feminine" or not.  He was overjoyed with it, and with his blond hair, it looks very good on him too.  He also loved the socks I knit for him, and had them on his feet right away.  :)

I have yet to find the socks that I knit for my daughter, but she was tickled to have the entrelac hat, scarf and mittens I had knit for her too.  Xmas morning, the 3 of us went out to breakfast at a local Inn.  The food was excellent, and it was a very pleasant way to begin the day.

I guess, depending on where you live, you are having whatever type of Winter is coming your way.  Winter seems to have forgotten how to get here this year.  It is still somewhat delayed, it seems.  It was all of 41º today, very unusual for this time of year.  Yes, we've had a tiny bit of snow, and yes, we've had some cooler weather.  But nothing like what we normally have for November or December.  So our Winter is already only half in size, even if January and February become much more normal weather-wise.  The days are already beginning to lengthen, and if I think about it hard enough, I will soon begin to smell Spring in the air.  It all depends on how you look at it.  :)

Have a HAPPY NEW YEAR and best wishes for a wonderful 2012!

Keep smiling.................... :)  :)  :)

A Few Things To Share

Although I don't "celebrate" Xmas as many do, I love the sights, sounds, music, and the spirit of the Holiday Season..........the spirit of giving. 

At one time, when my children were young, we did have a big tree.  Now it's just a little 2 ft. tall, fiber optic tree, but I love how the colors fade in and out and change all the time.  It's small and I put no ornaments on it, but I think it's pretty just the same.

Last week, I put in an order with KnitPicks for a few small things I needed, stitch markers, extra cables for my Harmony wood needle set, and since I was on the website, I thought "why not check out whatever might be on clearance?"  So that's what I did.  And what I found was gorgeous, IMO at least.

This is KnitPicks stroll fingering sock yarn, Hand Painted, 75% Superwash Merino Wool, 25% Nylon.  462 yards/100 grams.  The colorway is Berry Patch.  The color is so deep and rich, and the yarn is so soft.  I can't wait to have it on my feet!  I have a feeling it won't be too long in the future either.  A gift to myself I guess.  :)

A few weeks back I showed you how the local deer were enjoying our apple tree.  Well, right before deer season opened, we has one very special visitor, and I have to tell you, when I took this photo, he was no more than 30 feet away from me.  If this had been during deer season, and someone with a gun rather than a camera, he would be on the dinner table right now.

An 8 point buck in rut, standing broadside and making a perfect target of himself, as he tries sniffing out does in heat.  And there he stood, right in front of me, just a little left of the apple tree.  I just had to take the photo, if for no other reason but to prove he was actually there.  LOL  Gorgeous, isn't he?  And no, to my knowledge he was not caught during deer season.  So hopefully, he will be out there to breed again next year.

And on the gardening front.............last Summer, friends (Matthew & Wendy) gave me a Mandevilla vine (Alice DuPont).  It grew beautifully and bloomed all Summer, and actually reached it's peak in blossoms just as temperatures were getting cool enough to worry about a hard frost killing it off.  But before that happened I cut it back a little and brought it inside, and it continued blooming for several weeks.  But after a while, the leaves started dying off, because the days were just too short, and it wasn't getting enough light.  At that time I cut it all the way back, and then crossed my fingers.  Well, here it is, and since I took this photo, it has grown even more.  It's looking great, and I'm hoping I can contain it without doing too much damage, until I can once again place it outside, in the full light of day, and then it can grow all it wants again.  I am hoping to do just that, but not sure if I can.  The last time I tried that with another Mandevilla, several years ago, it didn't work.  Maybe I'll have better luck this time.

As for myself, I seem to be falling apart.  The socks that I knit for my daughter, to give her for a Xmas gift, have disappeared.  While wrapping her gifts yesterday I discovered them missing, and I have looked everywhere I can possibly think of that they might be, and they are just not.  I had set up a box in my bedroom, and as each knitted gift was finished, I took a photo of it, and then placed it in that box.  All of the gifts were there..............but her socks.  I am hoping, at this point, that I just might have mistakenly mailed them off to my sister, living in Germany, with her gifts.  And so I have spoken to her via Skype, and explained the situation.  She will be on the lookout and will let me know Xmas day.  If she does not have them, then I am truly befuddled.  And I will then have to knit my daughter another pair, as she was really looking forward to receiving them.

Also, last evening I awoke around 1 AM, needing a bathroom break, and rather than slip into my bedroom slippers AS I ALWAYS DO, I grabbed my cane, and rushed to the bathroom, being very groggy and off balance, and smashed my foot right into my METAL cane!  OMG did that hurt.  When I climbed back into bed I realized that it still hurt quite a bit, but I was just so tired, I ignored it, lay back and was out like a light in no time.  Then this morning, as I was getting up for the day, I slipped into my slippers, and it was quickly evident it was not just a minor bumping.  My toe was still extremely sore.  As I pulled my foot out of the slipper to look, I found my poor toe (the one next to the pinky toe) was purple, blue and black.  OUCH!  Guess I won't be running into the bathroom WITHOUT slippers again!  :)

Have a wonderful weekend, and I hope everyone gets all he wished for.

Happy Holidays to one and all.........................  :)

Last of the Xmas FO's & Other Things

I finally managed to finish the last of my Xmas gifts.  One a planned gift, the other, just something that I felt the urge to do at the last minute, just for the fun of it.

I finally finished my son, Barry's, socks.  As he wears a size 12 shoe, they are not that tiny, and compared to the other pair I just finished, you will definitely see what I am talking about.  I didn't weave in the end of the yarn on the toes, because I want to see them on his feet before I do that.  Just in case they need a little more toe, or even if they might need a bit less.  It will be easy to frog out the end stitches and make whatever adjustments I might need to make, but I am hoping they will fit just fine, as they are, and then I can just finish them up.  I know he is going to be thrilled with them.  He has the one pair I made for him last year, and he wears them all the time.

These were made with Patons Kroy Socks yarn, a fingering yarn, 75% superwash wool, 25% nylon, using US #2 needles.  The color is #55012, and it's been a long time since the last time I knit with Kroy Socks yarn, and I was really pleased by how soft it was in the hand.  It was a joy to work with because it seemed to be massaging my hand as I knit them up.  Can't complain about that.  :)

The other pair of socks that I just finished were a last minute idea, but I think they will be enjoyed and appreciated.  These are a pair of Granddaughter socks, for my BFF Kate, who is expecting a new granddaughter in April of 2012.

As you recall, about a week ago, maybe a bit longer, I finished a pair of socks for my BFF Kate.  There was a nice sized ball of yarn left over, so after I finished my son's socks, with plenty of time left, I just thought, wouldn't that be cute if Kate and her new Granddaughter had a pair of matching socks.  So I sat down and got to work on them.  I finished them up last night, and I am going to wrap them with the socks I made for her, so she can put them on her new granddaughter herself.  I think she will get a chuckle out of it.  I know I do, just thinking about it.    Guess it doesn't take much to make me smile, eh? 

Over the last couple of years, since my husband passed away, I have occasionally mentioned a group of ladies that I have "fallen in" with.  They make up the "Little Ladies Sewing Club" here in Lakewood, PA.  It may have begun as a sewing only group, but today it is a hodge-podge of needlecrafting.  Knitting, crocheting, embroidery, quilting, counted cross stitch, needlepoint, whatever.  If you use needles to do it, we have members to represent the craft.  The large majority of our members are now widows, (and several members over 80 years of age) but we do have several long-married members that still enjoy the company of their spouses, but also enjoy the company of our fellow members twice a month.  We meet on the 2nd and 4th Wednesday of every month, and this past Wednesday we held a covered dish luncheon.  At this luncheon any husbands that wish to come were invited to join us, and we also invited a few of the elderly widowers in the community too.  Each of the ladies brought a covered dish to pass around, and it's amazing how we manage to pull this off without duplicate dishes, but we do, and we did.  There was more than enough food to feed everyone, with plenty to spare. 

 
As you can see, there are plenty of smiles to go around, so I think everyone there had a fun time, not just myself.  Our meeting place is the Northern Wayne Library in Lakewood, PA, Wayne County.  A few faces were accidentally cut off, or covered by another head, and I do apologize for that.  I tried my best to get everyone into the photos, but I guess I am thinking now I should have stood on a chair, above them, to get a better view.  Alas, I didn't think of that until after I got home, and uploaded these photos into my computer, and saw that some of the faces were missing or covered.  Oh well, I tried.  :)


So, now I am all ready for Xmas.  I even set up my little 2 foot pre-lit tree today, so that this evening I can enjoy the pretty lights as they fade in and out and change colors.  I'm not one for a lot of decorations, but I do enjoy my little tree.

The weather has continued to be exceptional for this time of year, in our area at least.  Unseasonably warm for the most part, and totally open, with barely a speck of snow to be found, except on the ski slopes where they are pumping it out continuously with their snow making machines.  And so far, from what I've been hearing, if we do have snow for Xmas, it won't be anything to brag about.  For me, we have already made it through nearly half of Winter without Winter really showing it's face.  That's fine with me.  When it does come, it will definitely be over with sooner than usual, and there will be far less of it than in other years.  It is saving me money with my fuel oil bill, and I am thankful for that.

I hope the Holiday season is a joyful time for all of you.  May all your wishes come true.  Have a joyous and loving Holiday Season, and remember, keep smiling...........  :)