Quilt blocks!!

I'm going to Kitchener a pair of socks tonight (more on them another time.)

But first - I've got two quilt blocks completed. My first "real" quilt blocks! I signed up for the (free) Block of the Month course from Craftsy.com.

The wonky pound sign block really IS 12.5" square, just photo graphed at an angle.

Happy 2012!

Wishing a happy & healthy 2012 to all

Projects 2011

There probably were a couple pair of socks that I can't remember & didn't get photos of, and I still need to take a photo of my February Lady Sweater and four chemo hats. But, here's what I can show you now:

I started the "Toxic Socks" [Ravelry link] in March or April, and finished them last weekend.

The pattern is not all that difficult, but it's not one I could memorize. Thus, I could only knit on them when I could concentrate. A lot of the year I needed totally mindless knitting (or crocheting), so that's why these took nine months.

Pattern: Toxic Socks
Yarn: Knit Picks Stroll Sock "Duchess Heather" and "Bare"
Needles: Size 1 [US], 2.5mm
Knit for: DD2

About the same time, I started socks for the grandsons. I knit them top down & waited to do the toe decreases until October after measuring their feet :-)

Pattern: Ribbed legs, stockinette feet
Yarn: ?? in "Pumpkin" and some blue
Needles: I think US 2
Knit for: Sport & Buster


DD2 got a new living room set, and the afgan I'd crocheted for her years ago was looking rather sad. So... taking colors from the new chair, I crocheted long strips, alternating "beige" and the colors in random-ish stripes. No pattern. The yarn is Vanna White's.

(Photo taken on my sofa, not hers.)

5 Years

My calendar reminded me that five years ago today I began this blog.

My goal for the remainder of this year is to add photos/info about several projects I've done this year, but haven't blogged. And my goal for 2012 is to blog more! Not promising how often, but at least more than 2011.

MONDAY MEME - on a Saturday

Spent some time this morning reading knitters’ blogs like I used to when days weren’t so full. Dee had a Monday Meme posted, so here’s mine. (I’m posting this today, because there won’t be time on Monday.)


Age: 63
Bed: Very firm.
Chore that you hate: Shopping.
Dogs: Had one a long, long time ago. A toy poodle named Vida ~ short for In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida. Yes THAT long ago!
Essential to start my day: Two cups of coffee.
Favorite color: It used to be blue. But, I’d say now it’s a dark cranberry color.
Gold or silver: Gold.
Height: 5'5"
Instruments that you play: None in the past 50 years.
Job Title: Reference Librarian
Kids: 3
Live: Beatles!!!
Mom's name: Beverly
Nicknames: Jakki
Overnight hospital stays: At least seven as a patient: T&A, appendectomy, pneumonia, three C-sections, and a total hysterectomy. And probably at least six or seven this year during my daughter’s hospitalizations.
Pet Peeves: My favorite college football team not being on TV every game day.
Quote from a movie: Unfortunately, I rarely remember memorable lines. Although, I’m sure my favorite would be from one of the Lord of the Rings movies.
Right or left: Right.
Siblings: Four younger sisters, and a “little” brother.
Take-Out-Food: Chinese.
Underwear: Cotton
Veggies: Yes. It’s a requirement for a vegetarian.
What makes you run late: Other people
Xrays: Try to stay away from them.
Yummy food: Veggie pizza!
Zoo Animals: Oh, those poor caged animals.
Now back to more blog reading!

March 2011 Socks

My March socks were started several months ago, but finished just a few days ago.

I Have been working on the Toxic Socks, but that's far from mindless knitting. And lately I've needed Mindless Knitting. (See previous post.)

These used up leftovers from at least five, maybe six earlier pairs. Not too bad looking, if I say so myself. These are for me, but are a bit large.

However, the goal was to knit House Socks to keep my feet warm during winter months. And, these will definitely do that!

Helluva month

I'm OK, but two of my DDs aren't. See: Lynch Syndrome. DD1 will have surgery on Monday.

DD2 (the mama) has a colonoscopy scheduled for Mar 31. God, I hope it's "just" ulcerative colitis for her.

Probably won't post much after today for a while, but I WILL be knitting. (A lot healthier [and cheaper] than smoking & drinking!)

2011 February Socks

I had intended to do a "big person" pair of socks during January. Great intentions, but no product to show for it!

So, about January 24th I decided I could quickly whip up a pair for the toddler son of DD1's friends. I had him in mind when I ended up with plenty of leftovers from this pair last summer.

Great intentions, but I didn't get them cast off until February 2nd. Too late to qualify for "January Socks," but early enough in Feb that now I can get a good start on my "March socks."

I haven't done colorwork in, oh, probably 43 years [...I started knitting very young :-] so this next pair will be slow going. And I'll get to try out that "knitting thimble thingy" [see last post.]

I'm Baacckk!

Tonight's post features what I bought several weeks ago with the gift certificate my DD3 gave me for Christmas.

Thanks again, Honey Bunch!

I plan to use the sock yarn for myself. I think the buttons will be used on my February Lady Sweater. That's looking like it will be a February 2012 Sweater.

The "knitting thimble" thingy, if it works, could be handy when I start knitting a pair of colorwork socks (2 pair are planned.)

Oh, what a busy month! & December Socks

I finished Christmas shopping /wrapping early and that should have given me some "free" time, right? The month was full of busy-ness -- all good, but I'm still waiting for free time. I've been contemplating this and have decided that:

• I shouldn't be so selfish to expect ME time
• Spending time with people is more important than a clean house, etc. etc.
• I need to prioritize and schedule (really good at this at work, and not at all good at this away from it)

On the other hand, knitting IS 'me' time and I have been knitting all month - while visiting, waiting (in waiting rooms, in the car waiting for my DD to get off work), etc. I finish a pair of socks:

Pattern: Celtic Spirit from Sock Club by Charlene Schurch & Beth Parrott
Yarn: Knit Picks Stroll in Sapphire Heather
Needles: Size 1 [US] /2.25mm; two circs
Knit for: DD1

Click on the photo for a closer view of the pattern.

2010 November Socks

This pair was finished early this month, but I forgot to get a photo of them before Sport and family moved out of town. But, when I visited last week the socks were sent back home with me - they'd shrunk in the laundry.

A cool soak with fabric softener and a blocking session - and Yay! They fit Sport again. He visited yesterday, and I tried to send the socks home with him. But he wanted to keep them at my house, because "Mama doesn't know how to wash them."

SO...since I had several pairs in need of a wash, we had a lesson in hand washing and air drying socks :-) Sport asked for the steps to be written down "with everything in words." Later, he happily took the socks and his detailed washing instructions home with him.

Pattern: Garter Rib version of Mix-and-Match Socks from Chrissy Gardiner's Toe-Up!

Yarn: Patons Kroy Socks FX

Needles: US 1.5

Knit for: 7 year old Sport

OTN Update

1. A Christmas project - I hope to finish soon.

2. February Lady Sweater - I dig this out occasionally and I've worked to below the sleeve division. Woo Hoo! My goal is to finish it by... February 28, 2011. That might be possible :-)

3. Socks for DD1 - Using a top down pattern from Sock Club. Just finished row 9 at the top of the cuff.

Photos eventually.

Oh - argh - I forgot to get a photo of Sport's socks to post here & at SAM10. Now that they've moved I can't just walk next door with my camera anymore. [sniffle] I'll try to remember to take my camera along this weekend.

Way to go, Prince Charles!

Thanks to my non-knitting DD1 who passed along this article from the NY Times.

OFF the needles: I finished Sport's socks a few days ago and I'm hoping to get a photo of them on his feet this weekend.

Other news: Don't think I said that the grandsons (& their parents) moved last Saturday. Too far to visit everyday, but close enough to see them every weekend or two. I'm missing them a lot already. But... the plan is that each of them will spend a weekend with me once a month. This weekend is Sport's turn and Buster's will be in two weeks.

It's that time of the year

Halloween costumes for the grandsons:

Buster


















Sport



















And for the grand dogs, too! (Sorry, I can't tell the triplets apart...)

October 2010 socks & other updates

September was an incredibly busy month - so was August, July, June…. I tried to get this pair of socks finished by September 30^th, but - Hey, I’ve got an early submission for October :-)

Pattern: “Mix-and-Match Rib Sock Recipe” in Chrissy Gardiner’s Toe-Up!, using the Cable Rib version

Yarn: left over Paton's Kroy Socks FX in Clover Colors (see this post)

Needles: two circs, Size 2 US

Knit for: 5 year old Buster. They're about a 1/2 inch too long, but I'm thinking by March his feet will have grown that much.

Other Updates:

I’ve been knitting. Buster had asked for a scarf back in April, I think. I promised I’d have it done before it was cold. It’s cold and it’s done. Also made him a hat and a pair of mittens. I took him to Hobby Lobby and let him select from any of the “I Love This Yarn” varieties. [I know, I know… but, for a very busy mama with very active boys Easy Care was the most important.] Buster did a great job of picking out navy blue on his own. His winter coat is gray with navy trim. I used a waffle stitch pattern on his scarf.

Sport of course got to pick out his yarn. He selected a dark olive green. Also made a hat, scarf & mitts for him. I used a Mistake Rib pattern on his scarf.

On the Needles Update:

Finally CO for the February Lady Sweater! I bought the yarn on April 4, 2009. I love the color - Cascade 220 in #7811 Purple Jewel Heather. As I said in the post, I intended to get something burgundy (more reddish) and came home with Purple!! I’m knitting with an old 29” circ needle (my grandmother's) that has a very stiff cable (even after soaking in very hot water.) So, I’m going to go submit an order for several new circ needles - etc. (Probably not yarn, tho. My yarn totes are full already. Gotta get knitting!)