Dona's Scarf

My friend is going to Minnesota in January to visit her family. We don't generally have much need for scarves here but she asked me to make her one for her trip. I did basketweave on the ends and seed stitch for the body of it. Why does Simply Soft Plum Wine photograph purple?

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!

I had the urge to knit a Santa Hat. I have no idea why but I wanted to make one. Here it is in all it's glory on both of my kids. MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!!

His and her chemo caps

A relative of a friend has lung cancer which has moved to her brain and lymph nodes. She's going through chemo and has lost her hair. Her wonderful hubby has shaved his head too and they're trying to wear matching chemo caps. I hope they like them.

What a difference between natural light vs indoor lighting. :-)

Shawl for Deb

This is a Christmas gift for a friend. I could finally put the picture on the blog, she opened it today. :-) I found the pattern here.

The cat bed has a home

I gave some friends the cat bed hoping that maybe their cats would like it better than mine. Apparently they both do. YAY!!!!

It sure looked bigger without a kitty in it. LOL

Every pear tree should have a scarf

This is for my friend Marlene. She supplies the yarn and how she wants her scarf and I knit it up. It's the first scarf I've done lengthwise and it was a nice change.

I thought the pear tree looked a little chilled so I let it wear the scarf for awhile. :-)

And the winner is..............

Susan's the winner on my Pay It Forward. I wish I could've chosen between the four that commented - Sarah & Alyssa, I do appreciate the comments.

Sallee & Susan - I'm senile and didn't remember to pick a winner until just now. I put your names on a piece of paper and shook them up in my hands. My son picked the winning name.

Susan - something will arrive on your doorstep between now and November 30 of 2008.

Thanks to everyone for the comments and I hope that you get lots of comments on your blogs!!!!!

ODE TO MY WIFE THE KNITTER

ODE TO MY WIFE THE KNITTER

Author Unknown

She learned to knit on Monday
Her stitches were very fine.
She forgot to thaw out dinner,
so we went out to dine.

She knitted socks on Tuesday.
She says they are a must.
They really were quite lovely,
But she forgot to dust.

On Wednesday, it was an afghan
She says jacquard is fun.
What colors!! What textures!!
But the laundry wasn't done.

Her Knit-weave was on Thursday,
Green, yellow, blue and red.
I guess she really was engrossed,
She never made the bed.

It was wall hangings on Friday
In colors she adores.
It never bothered her at all
The crumbs on all the floors.

I found a maid on Saturday
My week is now complete.
My wife can knit the hours away,
The house will still be neat.

Well......it's already Sunday
And I'm about to throw a fit.
I've cursed, I've raved, I've ranted
The MAID has learned to KNIT!!!

Pay It Forward

I've always wanted to do this and Thanksgiving seems like a good time for it.

Here are the rules:

I will send a gift to a random person (my son will pull the name) who leaves a comment on my blog between now and November 30 requesting to join this PAY IT FORWARD exchange. I don’t know what that gift will be yet and you may not receive it tomorrow or next week, but you will receive it within 365 days, that is my promise! The only thing you have to do in return is pay it forward by making the same promise on your blog.

I don't know what the gift will be yet, I only know it will be something I'd like to receive. Whoever the winner is, I will hopefully find clues in their blog as to what they'd love. :-)

All I ask is that is you commit to the idea wholeheartedly and pay it forward on your own blog!

Cat Bed

My cat sleeps on a knitted blanket on the couch almost all the time. I found a pattern for a pet bed in "Knit Simple" (Snug Harbor by Rae French) and thought she'd love it. I finished it last week and put it on the couch instead of her blankie. She didn't like it at all and so we put the blankie back and the cat bed next to it. She still won't go near it. I'm giving it to a friend who has two kitties. Maybe they'll like it.

Contest Alert times 2

Anne is hosting a contest. She's asking for us to share three of our favorite patterns. The fun thing about this contest is seeing all the patterns everyone else loves. Maybe I'll find my next favorite. :-)

Jane is having a contest in honor of 300 posts. Go on over and leave her a comment about one weird thing about you. I'm sure we all have out, ummm....... weirdnessess. Please tell her I sent you.

If I can knit for Kansas I can certainly knit for California

All those fires blazing around us. I know of many that were evacuated but everyone was eventually able to return to their homes. There are so many who had no home to go back to..... I can't even begin to imagine.

I found this blog today and tonight after work I'll start knitting.

http://sandiegowildfireblankets.blogspot.com/

And yet another contest :-)

Contest Contest Contest

Go here.......... http://tangledupinknots.blogspot.com/

The rules are easy. Thanks hopalong682003 for sending me over there. :-)

How to play the 100 things contest game:

First, pick a number 1-100.
Write it down.
Next, read through the 100 things post (or just scroll down to the number you picked, I'll never know.)
Leave me a comment with a similar fact about yourself.
No changing your number.
One comment = one entry.
Post about this contest on your blog and get one additional entry (make sure I know you posted).
Let me know someone sent you and you both get an additional entry.

Baby blankie for Jacob

This really is a fun pattern to knit. Hope Maria likes it.

Round blankie for Maria's baby

My friend Maria loved the last round blankie I made and requested it for her baby due in January. She picked the colors to match the colors of the nursery. I'm hoping to finish it this weekend. This picture was taken a couple of weeks ago. I have 4 more inches to go.

Fall into Autumn gift received and Final Question

WOW!!! I can't come up with a better word than that. WOW!!!

I have been spoiled by Kathy way beyond any of my expectations. She is probably the best spoiler in this whole exchange. She wrapped everything individually in yellow tissue paper with candy corn ribbon around each item. There were fall leaves scattered inside. It was so pretty and the huge box was packed full.

She sent two perfect-for-fall dishcloths (she has a picture on her blog), the mug is so cute and there was spiced apple cider packets in it. There is a glass pumpkin with fall leaf candies in it, a beautiful round tin with 5 maple leaf cookie cutters, lemon peranium (smells so good) soap, a huge magnet with knitting needles and a ball of yarn, Lindt pumpkin truffle candy that my DH has fallen in love with, a set of wooden needles, pumpkin scented votives, an adorable turkey votive holder, two beautiful fall dishtowels, a dishcloth pattern book, a dip and spread set shaped like a leaf. There is also a card with scarf pattern. AND - it keeps coming, my favorite color dishcloth yarn and some blue cotton chenille yarn that I'm excited to try. I've never tried cotton chenille but I've heard it makes wonderfully soft face clothes. This is going to sound silly but the last thing in there that I almost didn't see was a package of Chowards Violet Mints. I LOVE those things and probably haven't seen them in well over 10 years. They were such a tremendous surprise.

Kathy, you are the absolute best!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The question for this week is:

How was your experience in the exchange? Did you enjoy the folks you met? Did you just love the cloth and goodies you received? Please share any thoughts, criticism, and things you loved!

I think the above post says it all. It was a terrific swap and I can't say enough about Kathy. Thanks Anne and Sharon, it's been wonderful.

Baby sweater #2 for Patty

This is for Patty's twin #2 (or twin #1 - whichever). I used the same pattern as the last one but this time used leftover Wool Ease that I had. It was so nice to be able to use up part of my stash instead of going out and buying something new.

That's four baby gifts down, two more to go...............

Fall into Autumn Topic of the Week

I missed last weeks topic. I was too lazy to take out all the needles and paraphernalia and take a picture. That means this is entry #4 into the drawing for me.

On to this weeks topic:
Are you the type that likes to go to participate in all the fall festivities like apple picking, pumpkins, decorating for the fall, hay rides, baking fall goodies, etc. or do you just sit and count the days till Thanksgiving/Christmas/Hanukkah?

I love apple picking and although I can go up to a place called Oak Glen here in CA, I just go in my back yard where I have a Gala and Fuji tree. YUMMMMMMMM. My 11 yo son loves decorating pumpkins and we'll probably get one next week for him. One of these years I should just grow him one, he'd have a great time with that. I don't think the bunnies would bother a pumpkin plant unless the leaves are especially yummy.

Baby sweater for Patty

This is for one of Patty's twins. I'll start on the next one as soon as I figure out which pattern. The pattern for this sweater can be found here.

Fall Into Autumn - Topic of the Week

Are there any recipes you especially enjoy having in the Fall? Any foods that are seasonal that you especially enjoy?

I love soup and definitely eat it more often when it starts to cool down. My favorite, Motza Ball Soup. I start with the regular box mix but add noodles, chicken, and whatever veggies I'm in the mood for at the moment. My least favorite soups are anything tomato or beef based. Bleck!!!

Susie's blankie #2

I finished this one the other day. It's definitely not one of my all time favorites and I told Susie that if she hates it I'd make her another one. :-)

Fall into Autumn - Topic of the Week

This gives me 3 entries into their contest. I'll do it for that reason alone. :-)

(Q) Autumn has now officially begun here in the States!! What is your favorite thing about Autumn/Fall? Why?

(A) My favorite part of Fall is the weather change. It's not much in California but it's better than two weeks ago when it was 112 degrees. We had rain this past week (very unusual for us) and I was able to wear a sweatshirt two days. YAY for Fall.

Fall Into Autumn - Topic of the Week

TOPIC OF THE WEEK

(Q) When you knit or crochet dishclothes, washclothes or face clothes, what do you use? What size needle or hook? Wood? what type? Metal? Plastic? A specific Brand? Why do you love that needle or hook so much? Is there one you are dying to try? Is there a particular yarn you love and use all the time for clothes? What is so special about it?

(A) I tend to use size 6 or 7 needles, usually metal, for dishcloths. I knit on the looser side so those sizes work better for me. Facecloths - I use thinner yarn and probably a size 5, again metal. Why metal? It's what I have the most of. I have a few wooden dpn sets and a couple of wooden straight needles but the bulk of what I have is metal. The needles I'd like to try are the KnitPicks Options and I'll be getting them as a Christmas gift. YAY!!! My favorite face cloth yarn is Knit Picks Crayon Pima Cotton. No favorite dishcloth yarn. :-)

A few apples from my tree. My DH drew on the conjoined (as my son called it) apple. :-)

Entering contests does pay off!!! I won this beautiful handmade bracelet from Jacque, it says Purl Girl on it. She also sent a copy of her self designed Nottingham pattern, wish I'd look as good in it as she does.

Jacque, thanks again so much for the prizes!!!












WIP - This is going to be a baby blanket for a friend. I was hoping to finish it this weekend but no such luck. I'll be crocheting something simple (best I can do for crochet) to finish it off.

Fall into Autumn - Topic of the Week

The ladies hosting the Fall Dishcloth Exchange think it's a good idea for us to write weekly in our blog. To get us to do that, they'll be posting a topic of the week for us to answer. This way, we post every week AND we get entered into a drawing if we post. Now that I think about it, I'd love to hear everyone else's answers too. Leave a comment please. :-)

This is this weeks topic:

(Q) Now that in some geographic locations the weather is starting to turn cooler, do you change the type of yarn(s) you knit/crochet with? If so, what do you now knit/crochet with instead and why? If not, why do you not switch and what do you knit/crochet with?

(A) I don't think I ever change the type of yarn I knit with but I don't like making afghans during the summer, so I save those for winter. I tend to run cold so I like when the afghan starts to cover up my lap and keeps me warm.

Mini Blankies for Patty

My friend Patty had twin boys very premature (28 weeks) last week. I wanted to make something small for them so they'd be cozy in the incubators. Here are the two mini-blankies. Both boys are doing well but are expected to be in the hospital until mid-October at least.

Dona cloth

Susan designed a Dona cloth for me. She even figured out how to get the pattern correct for me (a lefty). Thanks Susan!!!!

Knitters Virtual Vacation Swap

Lis was my secret swap partner for the KVVS. I just got her package and absolutely love what she sent. She took me on a little tour of Chicago.

First to keep the sun out my eyes she sent me a beautiful pink Chicago baseball cap. She sent the most perfect colors of Lorna's Laces Sportweight. I've never tried Lorna's Laces before and it feels so soft, I can't wait to use it. She sent a mini 2008 calendar - great for my purse, a really nice knitting canvas bag from her favorite LYS - it's the perfect size for me, a Time Out Chicago magazine as well as a CD with pictures and info about the town, a beautiful washcloth of what I think is the Chicago skyline, a really cute blank knitting greeting card for me to use, and last but not least Gevalia French Roast coffee.

Thanks Lis, you're the best!!!

Candy Bag

I finished the "Candy Bag" and here it is resting on my patio. It was a really fun knit and I'll definitely do more.

Good felting gone bad

I was making some felted potholders as Christmas gifts. I followed the pattern perfectly and yes they’re felted but they are NOT something I’d give to anyone as a gift. Their shape is a tad irregular. I’ve felted countless bags and have never had a problem. OH WELL. They made me laugh so I guess that’s not the worse thing.

Another contest and Virtual Vacation Swap

Here's an easy contest. If I make this, I have five chances to win. Link the contest to my blog and I get a bonus entry. This gives me one entry and actually I love the little bag so I'll knit one up and get five more chances to win. Everyone, take a look, the bag is adorable. :-)

Virtual Vacation Swap news - my package is on it's way to be delivered this afternoon according to UPS. YAY!!! Hope she likes it!! :-)

First baby item finished - five more to go :-)

I've got 6 babies coming from friends within the next 6 months. Here's the first FO. I have no idea where it's going but one down, five to go.............

http://www.knitting-crochet.com/babbla.html

Knitting In Process

Four things on the needles right now but I didn't take a picture of the fourth. A lavender baby blanket for a friend, a baby sak for another pregnant friend, socks for me, and non-pictured are going to be felted potholders for a Christmas gift. I knitted one so far and decided it would be more fun to knit three more at a time so I have three on the needles and yarn balls all over. LOL

Deb

seems to think that I'm a Rockin' Girl. Sure hope so! ;)

Now I get to choose 5 other gals who Rock.
(I'm hoping this is their first nomination)

Here goes:

1. Dipsy Doodle

2. Miss Me

3. Laura

4. Mandy

5. Janet

Susie's Potholders

Sarah's (of the post below) grandma asked me to make her potholders. Here they are. Off to knit a baby blanket ..........

Dishcloths for Sarah

Sarah is my friends daughter. She tells me that my dishcloths have spoiled her from using store bought. It's been a long time since I've made her any - and I'm not sure why the first one came out so loose - but with a compliment like that............

One Christmas gift down

For my friend Cindy. This yarn matches her kitchen perfectly and she loves knitted dishcloths. I thought a dishtowel and a couple of dishcloths would be a good gift for her this year.

Knitters Tea Swap

My Knitters Tea Swap package arrived today and I couldn't believe how heavy and full it was. There was:

Numi Assorted Melange Tea, Tazo Chai (one of my all time favorites), Revolution variety teas (10 different flavors to try), Pecan Pralines, German Black Forest Truffles (oh yummmmm), North Carolina Bone Suckin’ Bar-b-que Sauce, an assortment of beautiful Moravian Handbaked cookies, Nonni’s dark chocolate biscotti, Tofutsies sock yarn which I've always wanted to try, Koigu sock yarn - another one I've never tried, a tea bag holder, white tea and ginger hand lotion - that smells good enough to eat, and a pattern for a Koigu Neck Cozy.

I was so thrilled with each and every one. Trish, you're the best!!!

Yarn holder

I'm not entirely sure what this is called but I guess it's a yarn holder. A friend asked her father-in-law to make it for me. She has one and was sure I needed one too. She is so right, I just love it. I put the yarn on and just knit away. THANKS Lynn!!!

Felting....... gotta love it

Most of these were gifts for people. I just love the way something starts out so huge and then turns into something so usable.

Rebuilding Kansas one block at a time

A lady in Kansas is getting 8 inch blocks together to make afghans for the survivors of the tornado. I have tons of worsted yarn just sitting there and I think blocks will be a good use for it.

All the info is on her blog regarding the squares if anyone has extra yarn and time.


These are the blocks that I finished so far. They knit up in no time and it's a great way to use up stash.

Baby Sweaters

Since I learned to knit AFTER my kids were born these have all been made for friends.