Life Happens - Knitting Happens - But Not Blogging

I can't believe it's been almost 4 months since I last blogged. But there is work, mowing the yard, doing the dishes, etc...you know...LIFE.

I have been knitting...
I just finished the Meringue Zig Zag Scarf (knit in Knit Picks Parade, not Meringue), I'm on the second sock of the Knit One,Crochet Too 3X1 Rib socks, I finished one of the two dishcloths (Chinese Wave) I mentioned in the previous post, and I've knit two Hermione's Cable & Eyelet Hats (the one shown has been given to my niece for her birthday and the other is for Mandy - Mandy's is grey) both are knit in some Caron Sport I've had for so many years I can't give an exact time. I'm knitting two more of these hats (I love this pattern) - one for myself and one for one of Mandy's friends. They are both in Caron Sport too - mine is green and Leah's is "thunder blue".

I haven't finished the petal tam yet, but I'll get it back out soon and finish it up. I've started another scarf in some brown Caron Sport - it's called the Double Moss Stitch Scarf in the new issue of Fons and Porter's Love of Knitting. I knit and gave a baby hat (along with the blanket to Mandy's friend who is due any day now) I forgot to take a picture of; but there is a woman at work who is having a baby sometime in February and I think I will knit the same hat for her, so you may see it after all.

I've joined a local gym through work (they got us a nice discount on membership). I'm doing a water aerobics class twice a week and am trying to work myself up to going in for some additional cardio work outs (falling miserably at that right now).

Both kids are good. C. J. is working and Mandy is back at college (and working too) - year 2! She did so well last year - Dean's List both semesters.

Well, I think I've got everything up to date. Happy Knitting!

PROOF

...that I haven't forgotten how to knit socks. I started this pair in late December or early January and got to the toe decreases on the first sock and put it down. It has been staring at me from the footstool since then, wanting to be finished. So, I finished it (and its mate). But I have to admit when I was starting the kitchner on the first toe I had to question myself about remembering the steps. This is Cascade 220 Superwash in a pretty heathery green/blue, 40 stitches on US 2 dpns.

These and this are also PROOF that I DO finish what I start.

A dishcloth started - I have no idea anymore. Lovely lace diamond pattern...can't wait to use it.

I am also working on finishing a couple more dishcloths I started about the same time I started this one.

The Tam is close to done and the Mead Scarf has grown some too.

Have a great weekend! Happy Knitting!!

Twofer

Two posts in the same month and within a week of each other...it must be a miracle.

Last year sometime (and I'm just guessing here) between January and March, I started a scarf that I never blogged about. I decided to work on a UFO today and pulled this out of the basket (it's really a plastic container). I'm using a sock yarn I bought at a local wool festival many years ago. No ballband, I just know that it is 100% Merino Wool that needs to be hand washed. I'm using a US 4 Addi Turbo. This is the Mead Scarf by Elizabeth Morrison (linked to Ravelry). I put a couple more repeats on it today, so it's growing!

I did a count today; I have 24 UFOs. I must work on this.

I also started a hat this week. This pattern can be found in the Fons and Porter Love of Knitting Summer 2009 magazine. The Petal Tam: Trekking XXL (I lost the ballband so I don't know the color #), on US 2 needle. I have started this yarn in about 4 or 5 sock patterns over the last few years and never liked any of them, I think it's making a very pretty "tam".

I hope everyone is having a safe and fun holiday weekend. I love that I still have two more days off!!!! Happy Knitting!

Oh, Well.....

It seems I blog even less than I knit these days, and that's saying a lot.

Last month, on Mandy's birthday, Monica's family and mine finally had our Christmas. Monica gave me some beautiful Fleece Artist and Knit One Crochet Too sock yarn. Love the colors!!

I did finish the baby blanket - well, except for the border. Mandy did find out that her friend is having a baby girl, so I will need to see what girly color yarn I have in my stash that will go with the yarn I've used. I think it turned out quite nice.

I also started a shawl for myself. I have 7 skeins of Patons Rumor in color 9742-Moonstone. It looks like stained glass and has alpaca in it, so it should keep me warm. I'm using an online pattern from the Prayer Shawl Ministry . Very simple pattern that is knitting up nicely. I'm using my Denise Needles for this with the size 13 needles. I started this on the 9th...we'll see how long it takes to get it done. Hopefully before I need it.

I think that's all I have for now. Take care and happy knitting!

OOPS!

February kinda ran into March. February was crazy busy at work (fiscal year end + working in accounting dept = CRAZY), but we got through it so....
Oh you came here for knitting didn't you?
Not much to show really. No progress to report on my "Lauren" sock. But I did start a plain one.



Amanda (I mean Santa) left a ball of yarn in my stocking for Christmas and to make Santa happy I started knitting with it. This yarn is very soft and nice to knit with. Love the colors too.















A couple of weeks ago Amanda found out that one of her friends is going to have a baby in September, so I pulled some yarn out of my stash and started a baby blanket... because even though September is 6 months away I will probably need all that time to finish it. I have 3 skeins of this Bernat DenimStyle (I hope it will be enough to make a decent size blanket). This is what it looks like after one skein (11"). I know there are a lot of Feather & Fan patterns out there, but this one is in the Spring 2009 Fons & Porter's Love of Knitting magazine.
Well I think that is everything... Happy knitting!

Mother Nature Strikes Again....And Some Knitting

Well, Mother Nature has really let us have it the last two days... and I want to thank her for a couple days off because I don't leave my house when the weather gets this nasty.
This is the view from my kitchen window...








And this is out my front door, there is a driveway and road out there somewhere.






I started a couple new lace projects. This is the Lily of the Valley Scarf from Knitted Lace of Estonia (Nancy Bush). I'm sorry you can't see my 5-stitch nupps very well, but they are there. I'm knitting this in Knit Picks Palette - Nutmeg.



From the same book - this is the Raha Scarf. Knit in Panda Silk.











Monica thought she had lost her knitting mojo, but it was soon found again and this is her latest (I'm so privileged to be her test knitter) Lauren. Lots of cabley fun. Sorry the picture isn't so great, Monica wrote this to be knit on circulars and since I don't knit my socks on circulars I had to arrange the stitches to best set up the center design and it makes for wonky pictures. The snakey cables frame the center cable.
Well, that's all I have for this month. Happy knitting!

Too Long Gone

Sorry for the long absence. Many of you know that my husband passed away near the end of September. I want to thank all of you that prayed (and are still praying) for the kids and me and sent some lovely messages to me through my sister's blog. The kids and I are doing alright, we miss Tim terribly, but we're taking care of one another. Christmas was difficult, but family and friends have helped a lot (and keeping busy doesn't hurt any either).


I haven't done a lot of knitting in the past few months, but I do have a little to show. The first is a hat I knit to put in the "Holiday Giving Barrel" at work. It's a simple 2X2 rib hat knit it red speckle WoolEase. I hope it will keep some child warm this winter.





Next is the same pattern knit in a grey WoolEase for son (I put it in his stocking). He loves it!





I also knit a pair of ankle socks for him...Cascade 220 Superwash.
Also given for Christmas.




I knit (well started anyway) two pair of fingerless mitts. One pair I actually got to the thumbs, the other only one cuff is done. Both knit in Cascade 220 Superwash (red and pink).


I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas and New Year. I'm praying that this year will be a lot better for my family and every ones (we are ready for good things to happen to us).
I hope to blog and knit more this year.
God Bless.