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!! :-)