Since this is the first day of a brand new year (with no mistakes in it, as Anne says to her teacher in Anne of Green Gables), I thought I'd begin it with a new blog post since I've been remiss with my posts this past year. First of all I want to post the promised pictures of the two completed items made most recently: a knitted buttonhole scarf for moi, and a crocheted baby blanket for my new grandchild due this year.
This is the scarf I knit from the yarn and the booklet I won in a 'new motto' contest for an online yarn store. I really like wearing it (although in my neck of the woods it hasn't been cold enough to do so very often....ugh!). It's great not to have to tie it or worry that it'll come undone and the color goes with just about everything.
The baby blanket was a joy to crochet once I got the foundation row squared away. I did have to wind up fudging that row though and then I was off and running. I still can't figure out why I couldn't get it to work out for me but since I really liked the look of the pattern I wasn't giving up. I used Vanna's Choice and enjoyed crocheting with it. It didn't split very often and will be soft enough for the baby and my daughter-in-law can toss it in the washer and dryer as needed.
I have 2 grandbabies due in 2012, one in March and one in June and we don't know whether they'll be boys or girls but you can see which I think at least one of them (if not both) will be. Time will tell but I do already have a baby blanket for a girl done (picture above) so I'm in good shape if one has a boy and one has a girl. What to do if they both have the same sex though......I guess I need to knit or crochet 2 more.....oh, how I wish the parents would find out what they're having ahead of time, but that's not their choice, so I may have to get to work on new blankets.
As for resolutions for this new year, I have a few and just hope I can see them through. 1. To continue losing weight and becoming more active. I've already lost 15 pds. so my next short term goal is another 15 by mid April. 2. To spend less on impulse buying even for small items because 9 out of 10 times in the past, if I think about it for a couple of days before purchasing I wouldn't buy it more often than not. 3. Based on my number 2 resolution, I definitely want to save more in this unstable economy. We've worked too hard not to have enough to live comfortably on so there's no time like the present to begin, no matter how modestly. They are my goals and I hope to live up to each one of them to the letter. I wish all of you (if I have any readers of my blog left after my extended absence) a happy, healthy, and prosperous 2012 as well!
I guess you could say it's been awhile since I've blogged.....a blogging hiatus of sorts! To be honest I needed a break and was working on two UFO's, both of which aren't completed even as I type. I'm still crocheting the baby blanket for my new grandbaby who is due in March of 2012 and a buttonhole scarf which I'm knitting. I got that yarn and pattern from Deramores online store in England. I won both the yarn and the pattern booklet for a slogan I entered into their contest over the summer. I was bowled over when I got the email that I won and shortly thereafter I got my winning package in the mail....airmail, that is. :)
I promise pictures very soon since I do need to finish up both of the above before Christmas and then I'll be free to begin 2 new projects, one of which will be socks using String Theory yarn in a combination of a lovely cocoa brown and a medium pink, what fun!
Since I don't have any pics of fiber content, I leave you with our little snow day on October 28, 2011. I don't remember ever getting snow that early in our neck of the woods but there you have it......Mother Nature will do as she pleases when she pleases so there are no guarantees when it comes to weather. My one hope is that the upcoming winter will be a very cold one, which will be right up my alley. Cheers to all of you!
Here are my completed socks knit using Claudia's Handpainted yarn which I purchased from Simply Socks. I used size 2 dpns and knit them both at once so as to keep each modification I did uniform. I really enjoyed knitting with this yarn as it's very reminiscent of Koigu sock yarn and I especially love the feel of the somewhat 'squishy' yarn as it becomes a sock and the cabled effect it gives my work. I needed a pair of socks in brown tones to wear with my fall colors when the time comes because I have all manner of blues, purples, oranges, and even pinks, but alas, until now, no browns. I'm glad they're completed though because it seemed to take forever to finish these babies and I just about made it, yarn wise, and was left with only inches of each skein!
I'm waiting to get some ice blue yarn in order to complete a granny square baby blanket I'm crocheting. I didn't get very far because I ran out of the blue, but it's going to be done in 2 colors, white and ice blue, and NO, there are no announcements for a new grandchild, I'm just trying to get a jump on things because I know there will be another grandbaby on the way one of these fine days. I do like crocheting this pattern (the Rasberry Granny Ripple on Ravelry) and when I'm finished with this one, I'm going to do another baby blanket, but this time knit, in either a basket weave or with two strands held together in another stitch. I'll probably knit this one in some sort of pink combos for the obvious reason. :)
The only other news I have as far as my knitting goes, is that I finally gave in and bought a set of Signature dpns after having read how much my online pal, Kathy, loved them. I got a size 2 set in red and at first I didn't care much for the very pointy tips but after knitting one of the socks above with them, I got into the groove and didn't poke myself as often as I did and first, and now I have to say that I do like them very much. They come in especially handy when doing the heels and picking up because of the tapered tips, so if any of you are considering the purchase, although they're awfully expensive, I think you wouldn't be sorry and you'll have thes steel babies forever!
Spring is taking it's good old time appearing in my neck of the woods but that's okay with me. The way I see it, the longer it takes to warm up, the less time it will eventually be hotter than blazes with humidity that takes every ounce of energy out of me. I am looking forward to the buds blooming though and the leaves coming back on the trees as it is such a beautiful time of the year. I'm not sure if we'll get our annual hibiscus like the one above this year or not since we've decided to plant some impatients (I think that's how they're spelled) of various colors all in one pot and put out on our front porch and also on our patio out back. When they start to bloom I will take lots of pictures and share the beauty with you.
I've finally decided to take the plunge and try my hand at a gansey and I'm currently working on the Gansey Sampler by Beth Brown-Reinsel. There are quite a few new things to do on this sweater, things, I've never attempted before. The Channel Island cast on always freaked me out but once I actually 'saw' it done, well, like anything else it wasn't as difficult as I thought but just hard to explain in words alone. Since it's only a sampler and ergo, a learning process, I'm using an acrylic yarn, Vanna's Choice (color: linen) which works up quite satisfactorily. I chose a light color so I could see all the patterning and immediately spot where I'd made mistakes, which I've already done. I'm not sure that I'll ever knit a true Gansey sweater for myself or anyone in my family but I do really like patterning with purl rows placed strategically here and there. I am learning several new things though, and that's always a plus in knitting and in life, LOL.
I'm also working on a pair of socks using Claudia's Handpainted yarn in the aptly named color, 'mushroom hunting', which I really like. This yarn is lovely to knit with and has a spring to it's step and a lovely softness.....really reminds me quite a bit of Koigu, also one of my favorite sock yarns. I'm using size 2 dpns (the square Kollage needles) and I am enjoying knitting with them as they glide easily and don't fight me on every turn like some needles tend to do.
Well, here's to all of you for a happy and enjoyable spring time and thanks for stopping by.
I just completed this fingerless mitts using Clara Parkes pattern Maine Morning Mitts from her Book of Yarn. I had to give the thumb several tries before I came up with a relatively neat ones, but I'm happy with the final result.
I used Schoeller & Stahl's Limbo Mexiko. I made these for myself because lately (and this is a first for me), my hands have been getting very cold at times and they are great to slip on, warm and cozy, yet I'm still able to use my fingers for knitting, reading, etc.
I also got busy and updated my yarn stash on my NeedleTrax software. Now, that was a major eye opener and thus, I'm on a yarn diet for the remainder of this year and well into next, or as they call it on Ravelry, I'm 'Cold Sheeping' and that's a fact. I cannot believe I have so much and wonder what in the world I was thinking to continue buying yarn even when I have only two hands, LOL. I couldn't possibly use it all and I know I've blogged about this in the past but now I'm more serious about ONLY knitting and crocheting from my stash and logging how much yardage I use each year.
I've decided to use some of it for charity knitting or crocheting because it seems only right to share this excess of fiber. I totalled up the yardage of everything and can't even get up the courage to list the colossal total here! So, NO MORE!
My next project is to take a look at the specific yarns I have and make a list of knitted or crocheted gifts I'd like to make for my loved ones this year....perhaps one a month if I can manage it and still whip out a few charity items......we shall see, wish me luck.
It's finished and I really love the way it turned out! Even though I thought I was making it smaller that some of the other stockings I've knit using this particular pattern, when I put it up against the one I made for my husband it was only about 2" shorter which isn't a whole lot on a stocking. However, that just means good news for our sweet little Connor, since he'll continue to get more in it each and every year, so that's a good thing which he'll love but his parents might raise their eyebrows now and then. :)
Below is a picture of our trimmed tree which I thought you might like to see. I made most of the ornaments on it including the white popcorn garland which is crocheted. I've always been partial to it since it makes the tree come alive, so to speak.
I think though, that I may begin another (can you believe it) stocking for person unnamed since they may read the blog now and then, using a different pattern this time. I have one from years ago that I got from my 'then' local yarn shop and it's knit in garter stitch holding two yarns together and the finished product is really quite lovely looking. I knit one for my mother years ago and she still hangs it up every Christmas season......I should take a picture of it the next time I'm over her house and post it here for you to see.
Also, I want to begin something in (dare I say, it) crochet! I've missed my crochet craft lately and haven't done much in the venue, but that's soon to change. I'm thinking, perhaps a baby blanket, but not sure just yet so I'll keep you posted. In the meantime, I wish all of my faithful (even though few) readers out there, a blessed Christmas filled with love, good health, peace, and much joy for all of you!
