Theres no place like home when it snows

Oh my Oh my! What a perfect weekend to stay in and finish those Christmas gifts we so desperately need to complete!!!!

The snow started about 10:30 last night and is still coming down! And it is beautiful!

I have two Christmas projects on my needles. I need to take some pictures of the projects.... The first is a hat to match the scarf I made last year for the Hubby.

The second project are a great pair of gloves that the thumbs come out for texting! For young son.

Need to begin those right now!!

So with all that said, I will leave this blog early, so the knitting may begin! And now you too can get back to your knitting!! Come on we have lots to do!!!!

Mittens Mitten who made a mitten?

Yippee one done and one to go. Why do we have to be made with pairs?

This mitten pattern is really nice. I picked it up a few years ago at the Knit show.

The pattern is called "Pop Up Paws". If you live in Southwest PA, near Bridgeville to be exact, you can pick up a copy off of "Carol's Needleworks" . Just let her know, I sent you. She ordered them because I lost mine. And she was the only place that had them.

Now the pattern DOES NOT have the pattern work, oh no.... My friend wanted these for her friend for Christmas. I thought how hard can this be? AH, well, there are many increase and decrease in this pattern. And pattern work likes to keep its numbers the same.

SO there was a lot of, of, of, creativeness going on!

They did turn out rather cute! I am going to block them and get rid of the stiffness. I used Cascade 220. She picked all the colors. Good choice. Would I make them again. The mittens, yes the pattern work, NO!

The baby bunting is almost done. Really cute.

I will post a finished picture later.

Also my scarf and my daughters vest are all coming along nicely. I have been focused on the mittens, because they are not for my family, but a gift for someone to give someone. How sad am I, I get those things done, but family..... well maybe they will get this or that next.....whatever! They know I love them.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!! MY ALL YOUR LOCAL YARN SHOPS HAVE AMAZING BLACK FRIDAY SALES!!!! LIKE 40% TO 90% OFF!!!

Summer Weather in November!

The weather today was much nicer than most of June, July and August. Our temps were in the 70's! Sunny and warm. Just a beautiful day to get out and do something. Or sit in the sun room, knit and soak up the rays coming through the windows!

And that is pretty much what I did. I know that this wonderfully warm weather is not going to last much longer, so I thought cold and knitted on some wonderful wool projects.

The daughter's hat is complete. Very pretty pattern. All the information can be found on my raverly page

found here. I really loved making it. Much more than the scarf. It looks really nice on her head. And the color is not even close to the color it truly is. It is much richer and very pretty.

My latest project is the cutest baby bunting. Making it for the newest member of our family. My brothers fourth son!!!

The pattern comes from a great book! Interweave "Knitted Gifts".

It is worth buying! I am making at least three, probably more patterns out of it.

It is well worth the $21.00. Take that back..... Knit Picks has it cheaper and free shipping! Go for it. Its a great Christmas idea, gift book.

This baby bunting is toooooooo cute for words. I just started it and I am almost at the armholes. I am thinking of lining it with fleece for added warmth. Although if the winter stays like this, he will never use it!

Time to get back to knitting. The night is passing by..... Keep knitting my peeps !

HAPPY HALLOWEEN

Larry is sporting his Dracula costume this year. Gilbert decided he wasn't wearing anything this year. dogs!Halloween was light this year. We only had a few ghouls and princesses. Lots of left over candy for the kiddo's here, who have outgrown the night. Not getting many treater's meant lots of knitting time.

"My So Called Scarf" is DONE! It was fun at the beginning, till the daughter wanted it long enough to wrap that funky way the

kids do it. Which meant three skeins and lots of knitting. BUT, its done!

It is a very pretty scarf. It is done on size 11 needles. When doing the pattern, you will notice it goes on an angle. it gets frustrating if you make a mistake and have to rip. Because of all the YO and increases you tend to lose stitches if you are not careful. It must be blocked when finished. I think it will be very warm on campus this winter and protect my babies beautiful face from the cold.

Now, that her neck is warm, her head must be too! That was what I worked on while waiting for the goblins.

This hat is from Vogue Knitting Fall 2009. It is a complicated cable pattern that moves semi fast. Lots of cables going different ways to create a beautiful finished project. I am using the yarn the pattern calls . It is very pretty and easy to work with. Makes a soft halo that will provide warmth for the wearer. Hopefully it will not make her ITCHY!!! The picture cannot and does not show the beauty of this pattern. If you like cables, this is a nice hat to make. I should have it finished this afternoon.

And finally, the daughter has a baby shower to attend and wanted mom to make that really cute hat she made in the spring. Oh and booties too!

The booties might get done. But the little hat, was too cute to not make again! This pattern was different from the last one and I like it better. It has the little cord on the top, which adds even more cuteness!

Well, here comes NOVEMBER and that means that in less than a month and a half it will be.... yeah better get those projects done!!! Here we go again!!! I love the stress of the holidays.

Watch your step

Where have I been? Nowhere special. School starts and it seems like time flies. Speaking of flying, I guess I thought I could fly. Last night I was home alone, and excited to sit and knit and watch cops.

Cops wasn't on due to some baseball game! SO I headed upstairs to throw a load in the wash and dryer. I was coming down the steps, with for some reason, my cell phone in my hand, and it happened.

I missed the last step. I don't know how. I heard it pop and then the next thing I knew I was on the landing in extreme pain! And the cell phone battery was dead!

The good news, its just a severe sprain. Its ice and rest for a couple days. Notice the hand knit sock in the picture....

Before the big fall, I had finished up a charity project for one of the SIL. Hat, mittens and a scarf set. I used Vintage wool. LOVE IT!!!! Very very nice to work with.

I broke my camera so I didn't get a picture of it, before it left. The new camera came yesterday.

That's another reason I have not blogged in awhile.

So while I am mending, I decided to pull out some hibernating projects. The weather has turned very cold and my daughter went out last night with her boyfriend and her mittens I made her last year. But she had no scarf or hat to match! I forgot all about those mittens. That made me remember the scarf I have been wanting to make. I bought the yarn probably two winters ago. Its "Manos del Uruguay ". This totally cool pattern can be found here. She just saw it and said...."I really like that scarf, who is it for?" Yippeeeeee!!! It moves quickly and should be finished tomorrow. size 11 needles.

Next on the list of UFO's is this beautiful vest for the hubby. The back is SOOOOOOOO boring!!!! I am at the very top of the back and ready to bind off and start the fun front. I think the front will go fast because of all the pattern work. Can't wait to see.

Well, I am going to sit and let my ankle knit itself back together, while I knit some warmth for my family. Peace out. And keep knitting

Ditto is done!

It is finished! The ditto is done. I love it! The picture does not do it justice.

I used Seduce from Berroco yarns. It was wonderful to work with. It is a yarn, that needs to be by itself. You must put it in its own little baggie and not allow it near other yarns.

It tangles like crazy!

So where have I been you ask...... Facebook. I fell totally in love with its offerings and games. Caught up with some old friends and reconnected with distant cousins. I

have slowed down and returned to my normal self.

Also school has started and that in its self is time consuming. Open house is in a few days and I have been home today with a cold. But all is well, and I am on the mend. So I will be ready for open house.

The first day of fall is tomorrow and I look forward to the

cooler temps and color changes outside. This is my absolute

favorite time of the year. It so inspires to start new projects, take long walks and just enjoy the smells and sights of this time of year.

And speaking of weather, this has been the very worst year for my allergies! And speaking with many others, it seems its in the air(no pun intended). I decided to seek holistic help. I found a wonderful doctor, who is hopefully going to help me with all my issues. I am on a elimination diet this week. I have stopped all caffeine, sugar,dairy and wheat products. WOW, what a fun time that is! I am drinking almond and coconut milk. I don't care for the texture. And I found a drink that tastes just like instant coffee!!! Love it! Hubby and I went to Whole Foods on Saturday, to find many of the crazy things I have to eat. We enjoyed the visit and I amazed at what other food is out there! And It was so nice to go to the fish department and they knew where the fish came from and the amounts of mercury each piece may contain.

Now its back to knitting a new project. And there are many. I need to finish up my nephews skull sweater and mittens. And one of my sister in laws called and requested a scarf and mittens for a fund raiser at my nephews school. I took a picture but dropped the camera and think I may have broken it. So no pictures to share of the above projects. Also I found a sweater to make the hubby. We will see about that one. And the new baby in the family is due very soon, and I need to finish a blanket. Gee, not to many demands! I better get busy. Stop typing and Facebooking and start knitting!!!

NOTHIN MUCH

AHHHH so that's what I have been doing.... Well not me, but the family. Camp this year was soooo much fun! We had several guest this year at camp. The most fun was had when the youngest nephews and their parents showed up.

That's the youngest with the fish he and his brothers caught! Hubby took them to a children only pond, and they had just stocked it. So much fun!

Went to my favorite LYS at Brookville, "Spin a Yarn". Bought myself some

really nice yarn, that my daughter promptly spilled my coffee on!!!!

Yeah, all over it! Anyone out there, who can help with this unfortunate predicament please post!

Not much to say... So I will finish with this lovely picture, that NO ONE would look at the camera for!!!

Knitting info coming soon.......

I wish it would slow down.

Since we have been home, we haven't stopped! We went to, three graduation parties, golf birthday party, a few Fourth of July celebrations, a Zoo wedding and a big old Italian Picnic at my home.

SO, when did I knit? In the car on the way, to all but one, of the events.

The Nephews were here today. What fun! The middle one picked this pattern for a fall sweater. Which I started right away! the yarn is Comfort, worsted weight and Bernat glow in the dark. He is excited. The older one chose a pattern with a

skeleton chest on the front. They both will be a breeze to make. And the two year old is getting a orange sweater with a glow in the dark pumpkin. All the patterns can be found in this book.

I also have joined a KAL at Bloomin yarns. It's the

ditto sweater from Berroco. I am using the yarn I was going to use for the Shawl Kal. (LOL)

Its "suduce", and is BEAUTIFUL! Its a pain in the butt to drop. It knots like crazy! But it is beautiful to feel and look at. It is on small needles, so it is slow, but very nice to hold.

Now, I have other projects, and a few I saw tonight when I went up to my sewing room, and thought, ewwwww, I wanta make this. So who knows how many more are to come.

This is Baby Jaguar

at the zoo wedding with her twin stingray. The food was made by the monkeys. Yeah it was that bad. But everything else was great! And this is Baby Jaguar and Baby Zebra, in the elevator.... Names were

given to them by their Great Aunt Cathy.

They had a good time. They are both 20 and got shut off by the bartender. Dad did slip them a glass of wine. But they were happy just being there and dancing.

And the weekend carried over with all the fam at my home for a good old fashion picnic. Lots of good times and laughs. Nothing, Nothing replaces family. It was great!

This is my mom and her sisters and brothers, minus one sister, who passed four years ago. She is always in our heart. We love you Aunt Mary!

On the way back home

Ah. Home again. The time flew this year. It seems like the week was shorter this year. Is that possible?

I didn't achieve the success I thought I would, but with the week running shorter(LOL) I just didn't have the time. Even the ride there seemed shorter.

Oh no it wasn't, I take it back, I had a full blown allergy attack, and could not function. Very little knitting was done. I was blowing my nose.

But the good news is I did complete the socks. The picture is on the way home. I still need to weave the ends in. Glad they are done! They were super easy.

And the beautiful, I LOVE IT, Liesl by Yolanda.

It was so much fun! It works up really quickly.

I picked up the buttons today at Bloomin Yarns.

It blocked out beautifully.

I guess finishing two UFO's is better than leaving them at home and coming back with another new UFO?

I am onto a new project. I don't know what. Maybe I will finish that purse.

I do have some glow in the dark yarn, and promised the nephews I would make skull and cross bone sweaters for Halloween. And of course I picked up the most beautiful yarn at Bloomin this afternoon...... Decisions,decisions decisions!!!

The week has flown

That is my daughter and Nephew. Going 800 feet up over the sound. Crazy kids.She had the best time. Her brother was in the boat taking the shots and she took her own in the air.

After they did that, it was more seafood!!! As the week winds down, we are sad.

Everyone wants to come again in August.... Sounds like a plan....

The picture to the left is her in the air, only about 400 feet.... And at the right, watching the dolphins play. That hairy leg, is her cousins.

I love the BEACH!

Knitting. Not much going on here. Too busy. This is the view right outside our house. The weather is perfect. We are having the best time.

I picked up some yarn from the greatest shop down here. It makes a complete baby sweater. Post pictures later, as I am on my way to breakfast.

Our house is OK. It is not as nice as last year, But it is closer to everything. It is centrally located in the Outer Banks. Which makes driving anywhere, a lot faster.

From the top of the Currituck lighthouse to the bottom of the sea, Have A GREAT day!

5 Day's and counting

Yes....5 days and counting till we hit the OB!!! 

I am crazy busy. Got the son together today for the trip, shoes, shorts, shirts, swimsuit.

Of course nothing fit him from last summer. I think he grew 10 inches!!!

Yesterday the girls going had a Pedi party! I was the coordinator. I supplied snacks, beach theme  and of course the FUN!

Husband gets his new tennis shoes tomorrow. His are so grass stained, its kinda embarrassing....

Daughter has a JOB, and is 20, do I have to buy for her? She has more in her savings than    me!!!So she is on her own.

Then there is me.......Clothes? Shoes? NAH, PROJECTS!!! 

I decided it would be UFO trip this year. Yes I am leaving with started projects and returning with them done!!!

First on the list is the halfway completed sock for hubby. It was in my last blog. I should have that done by Ohio. It is that far along.

Second. The Camo socks on the left are young sons. Started....I don't remember. I had to rip back due to a miscalculation in the foot part. So to sleep they went. 

The other, black and white are the skull mittens for my daughter. I started them over the winter and the first mitten was completed in a few

 evenings. BUT it was extremely small! And I read the pattern color chart wrong. SO I started a new pair, with a  much larger needle and the correct color chart. BUT, I messed up somewhere and now need to rip to the line ribbing and start again. SO off to sleep they went.....

This was a kit I picked up at BLOOMIN Yarns, over the fall, last week of October for sure. I loved the colors, my daughter was with me and said she would like them. Once again, I started them and everything was going good, TILL, I missed two rows and used the wrong color!!! Damn, you must think I don't know anything!!!

So I need to rip back this pair to the orange design and begin again.....AGHHHH!!

AND here it is!!!!!!!!!!! The G&*^%mn lace shaw!! The satan pattern. It has been ripped Several times. I am thinking, I may save it for the last thing I do. I am being positive...I am bringing two different yarns. In hopes that I will make two.....

It is fun to get these together and then see them finished! I will be so happy, if in two weeks from today I come back with almost if all of these projects completed. I mean, they are small. Not too difficult to do. And very portable. I can take them down to the beach. Time will tell.....

I am thinking positive.  You think positive also....GO grab a UFO and FINISH IT!!! We will all feel better!!! Peace out my Knittin Peeps!!! Keep those needles clicking!

The VERY busy month of MAY!

The look on my face....Well that is how May has been..... CRAZY! I am holding my ID badge while one of my Hormonally challenged 7th graders snaps my pic. We laugh like this a lot. I enjoy my job very much. Yeah, they are middle schoolers, trying to figure it all out while at the same time, thinking they know it all. BUT, they keep me young and make me laugh. What job do you know that can do that?

May was a blur...Every, and I mean every weekend wa

s packed with something to attend. Which means a few things.

1. The laundry is now taken over and is demanding we either wash it

 or move, so it may keep growing. 

2.Dust bunnies have turned into dust monsters and I think they ate the cat.

3. I still have a full freezer  of meat because we have eaten, birthday, graduation, mothers day and shower food every five days twice! Get that.

4. The most painful.......my knitting is really behind.

I am working on four different projects. This is a beautiful pattern from last summer's  Knit-n- Style. It is really easy pattern work. And moves quickly, unless of course you have a party to attend........

Also I finished one of hubbies socks. Started the second on monday at a waterboard session. I mean, inservice.

Also in the works....The vest for hubby and the cardigan out of the farmhouse yarn. 

If you are in need of a yarn fix, please visit your local yarn shops....This is a hard time of the year for them. They need us...Do you part....BUY YARN from your LYS!!! 

OK, I am off the soap box. Yes I am going to my LYS tomorrow. Really. And I am going to buy something. Really!

 JUNE, You must go SLOWLY and how about some sun? Where are you? Feels more like a fall break, not summer.

I leave in 15 days to go back to the Outer Banks with the fam!!! Can't wait. What will I take? Sock yarn of course. AND.........I am going to try my g*#@ lace again!!! Will send photos with the phone. And let you know how that is going.....

Till the next time I blog....Peace out, keep your needles moving and your yarn shops running..

A step back in time

20 years ago I made this. It is the softest, yummiest of wools. I knitted it on size 2 needles. There are pearl buttons at the top with french lace around her neck. 

I am, or I have many

WIP and don't feel like showing the half done projects. So I decided to  take

 a trip down memory lane.... You in? Come on...... it will be fun.....

This was a quick knit, soft cotton dress with little panties in the same cotton I made for her during the spring. She was about three months old in this picture. It was a pattern that I could still make today. It is timeless. Also the christening gown could be made today just as it was twenty years ago

This little cardi was made

 when the fun fur yarns

 were brand new to the knitting world. The pattern came from one of my knitting magazines and I think it took one weekend to make.

Man, I was good!!!! Knittin Fool

O, I made her outfit underneath the sweater.  Hey I was a stay at home mom with one kid!!!

First birthday outfit! Tooo cute!!! It had little pieces of polka dot fabric sewn into the yarn.  I remember it being soooo expensive, $8.00 a

 skein! And I was happy I only needed, I think three!!! I made her pants out of the same polka dot fabric. It was adorable! I even made her the barrette in her hair

And this extremely cute, and I cannot find anywhere now, was made in the car on the way to a picnic four hours away. I had it completely done and on her the next day. Well not completely, I lied. I had to go and buy a zipper. It was from, the now out of production, Disney pattern book. And was a breeze to make. I wonder if I can still knit that fast? Little kids are really easy to knit for. Their size alone, makes knitting fast and fun. 

I have many more old time projects, but these were crying out to me....Remember when!!! Wish I could go back to that simpler time. Things were so much easier, so much I would hold on to a little longer. Hug her a little bit more, kiss her goodnight a few times more. Not worry so much about how clean my house is.  O but I digress......

 

I am getting my summer projects together, and one is getting all my pictures in albums. Thus the trip back through memory lane. These pictures are not in albums yet and were easy to scan. A lot of their sweaters I made are in books and tucked away.  I made my son some really cute sweaters. Bright colors and dump trucks to snakes! It was fun times... But now all are tucked away, waiting on the next generation to wear them. 

Have a great day, hold on to those you love, give them an extra hug and let them know you love them very much.

As it is said and so true......Time waits for no one......

Everything old is new again!

Really, this blog would have been updated last week, but SOMEONE, misplaced the camera cord to transfer the pictures.

I have decided to put away

 some heavy projects and pull out the summer ones, that should have been done last summer.

But it does make you feel so good when you finish a big project, like this BORING summer sweater on the left!!! Since the picture, both sleeves are done and the neck is being finished.  This is the yarn that smells like lavender.  You would know that, if you are one of my longtime blog readers.

And also pulled from the archives is this cute cotton vest.  It is on size 6 needles. It to is slow moving. Since some of the work is completed, It doesn't feel so boring.

The yarn is a hand dyed cotton with Cotton Fleece. I love that yarn.  The pattern is from Knitty, called Leftovers. Very nice pattern.

And finally,coming along nicely, the purse for the daughter.

So, from the looks of things, I have the knitting bug back, full force.  Not pictured are a few other UFO's.  My cotton lace cardi.  a vest for the hubby(for Christmas) and a sweater for the nephew.  Yeah just a few things...... I hope your knitting is coming along as good as mine.  Its a real good feeling. The kind that makes you want to put on your shoes and run to the yarn shop and get some more!!! Stash? stash? huh? what stash? For real, I have to use the stash..... But I need to replenish that.......right? 

Peace out! Keep you needles clicking and your stash flow full....  And can somebody shut my motor mouth husband up, while I am blogging!!! GOD! 

Please enjoy the the sandpipers!

Nothin!  I got nothin! I have been trying, but........NOTHIN!!!!!! So please take a moment to enjoy the birds, the warm sand and the ocean.

I have decided to take a stab at LACE (AKA: I HATE MYSELF, Lets FROG, FROG, did I say FROG!) knitting. This is beautiful to look at. The yarn is light and oh so pretty. BUTTTTTT!

Now, I have been knitting for 23 years. I have been teaching knitting for almost as long. 

But, now, my knitting and brain are not on the same planet. My mind cannot stay focused on the the yarn overs, ssk and counting! Somebody help!

I joined the KAL at Bloomin. Yeah that worked.......NOT!  Then I picked up a the magazine "Crafts and Things" for the first time in years, and, OH MY, the projects! One is a lace doily. Well I thought, something smaller, you can handle, butter brain. OH NO! I ripped that sucker at least 5 times.

So with all that said, here I sit.......Its going to snow! It only figures.  With nothing but frustration on my needles. I think I will do some garter stitch, yeah that will work. 

Is it me, or is lace knitting, Satan in the wool?

Peace out, and hopefully this knitter will get her act together and have a project to share next time.

Please pass a tissue

It all started when one of my lovely students walked up to me and sneezed.  Not just any sneeze, but one that landed on my face!  As I looked at them, ready to cry, I knew, I too would soon look like they did.  

With in 48 hours... yes, you guessed it. 

Lost my voice while talking to Carol at  Carol's Needleworks,on Tuesday. I was having a normal conversation, and then, POW! nothin. NO voice nothing. Needless to say Carol looked at me like I had three eyeballs. SO I quickly got what I needed and headed home. It progressively worsened over the week. I am on the recovery side now. Full of Gatorade and penicillin. 

SO what did I get at Carol's? Some basic washable wool for the cutest little cardigan for young nephew's birthday in May.  

The same nephew that

requested socks last year. I have finished the back since this picture was taken. The pattern comes from Favorite web site for patterns, Knitty.

He said, that he preferred blue to the green and wanted yellow spikes. DONE! I am adding green to the second set of spikes.It looks like so much fun!

The back went quickly. Just straight knitting and raglan sleeve.  They did a seed stitch ribbing, love it!

Now even though I was sick, I did drag myself to the Thursday night Mini Workshops at BLOOMIN!!!

How to read Lace shawl charts. And it was sooo worth it! I really got a hold of how to read those charts.  

I loved my yarn, till I started.  Not so after working the pattern, I decided to not use the it and bought the pink yarn in the top picture. It is a bamboo from Farmhouse. I really am having a love affair with that company.  The bamboo is called Bonnie's and the color is desert bloom. It is so soft and has a light sheen to it.

The cardigan is coming along quickly. I have put it aside to do the Nephews cardigan and the shawl.  But I know I can probably finish it in a weekend. Yes its that fast. 

The yarn is farmhouse also. So, you see the love affair I have. 

My tea and honey are ready. My throat really needs it.  So I am off to sip and knit. Till next blog....Keep knitting!