A BIT OF KNITTING AT LAST!

I have been asked to knit a special afghan square for a surprise for someone who I can not tell you about here. I choose this square from Mary Walker Phillips "Knitting Counterpanes" Mrs. Beetons pattern. I used a # 6 needle and Brown Sheep Lambs Pride. I am most pleased with this one. Great fun to knit and I felt it would fit into the project quite nicely. Hard to know what to knit when there are others making the squares. I was thrilled to find one repeat of the pattern ended up being the 11: square requested. A gentle steam and that was all there was to it. Also it has a nice edge to join with other squares. I did purl one round past the pattern and then bind off in knit. I had the choice of color so my favorite pink it is.
The same square a different size. What a gauge lesson this is. I used Elizabeth Lavold's cotton, linen blend to make a face cloth. I love this yarn it produced a great feel with just enough texture to give your face a good scrub with out being scratchy. When visiting a yarn shop recently representing my wonderful ChiaoGoo knitting needles the shop owner and I were chatting about linen and what a glorious fiber it is. I mentioned face cloths and Susan asked if I would knit one for her. I choose the same pattern I used for the afghan square. With a #4 needle it came out great. Then for those who wanted something simpler I knit the basic garter stitch "dish cloth" great fun and easy to do. I still even had a bit of yarn left.

I had grandchildren here this past weekend and it was very busy I can assure you of that. Kathy my daughter and I made all new curtains for the little camper they own. Getting it ready for a trip. Now I have Louis here for the next 10 days. But at 12 he is wonderful and absolutely no trouble at all. I even get to knit some.

I just started the swirl shawl to add to the long list of things in progress. Pictures to follow as I make some progress.

PICTURE FROM TNNA

I now have a picture from Columbus at TNNA. We had a wonderful dinner and brainstorming session with the ChiaoGoo Needle company. Lots of ideas and such. Here is a picture just sent to me. Thanks a bunch Wendy. It took place the night before the market opened. Naturally I came home with wonderful ideas. Now I am forced to use the old MAC ICE CUBE that belongs to hubby. Hopefully later this week my lap top will return from repair. Until then I don't have pictures except this one send to me from Wendy's camera. We had one of the nice waiters take our picture. I am however working on getting some knitting things finished up and will take pictures to send along when my computer returns. This old stand by has no way to connect the camera.

An interesting afghan square for a group project afghan. I am done and ready to mail even early as it is not due until July 20. Then there is a sample face cloth for a shop I promised to knit. At least I am able to use the same pattern for both. A great leasson in what gauge will do for making two things the same and yet different.

I have some special yarn I picked up at TNNA to see what I can come up with so all the pattern books are out and I am searching the perfect one for a lace scarf. You know the old saying "so much to do so little time".

I had a big group here for brunch on Friday and now that is all put away and I am returning to my knitting passion. Then next week is grandson week. I hope to mix some business with some special entertainment for Louis. It seems to never be dull around here always lots to do.

Cross your fingers the computer arrives soon.!

NOW PICTURES BUT WOW!

I just returned from Columbus. Ohio and the TNNA show. They do not allow cameras on the floor so I don't have a picture for you. I had a glorious time. It was a special treat to meet the folks I work for at ChiaoGoo needles. We had a great time showing off our line of great needles and introducing the new red cable circular. It is so soft, flexible and with a smooth smooth join. Right now only one size but more to come.

I found no real theme as to what will be new and exciting in the knitting world. Saw some lovely yarns and notions. I plan on adding a few things to the lines I sell. More on that later when it all comes together. New books continue to be published and I brought home several. As yet I have not had a chance to read them. I am getting ready for company so more on that front later.

MY BIG BUFFALO WEEKEND!

Last weekend was absolutely the best. It all started on Thursday when I left to visit yarn shops first. Now visiting all the yarn shops in my area is just such a wonderful job I can hardly stand it. I just love looking at all the glorious things there are out there. So far I have not purchased any new yarn. You all know my stash overflows. I am really using a lot of self control. My method is to say it is not fair to buy from one shop and not every one I visit. So far it is working we shall see how long I can contain myself. After a day at the shops it was time to meet my friend Lou for a late lunch. We decided to pass on dinner and just have chocolate cake. I like it I like it!

Bright and early on Friday I joined some members of the Buffalo Guild for a little lace workshop. I had one group in the morning and another in the afternoon. All were just fantastic students and I love every minute of teaching. I wish I could do it every day.

Dinner that night was with Lou and a dear knitting friend Betty. Gee how lucky can an old lady get?

Saturday and Sunday were more classes. We did the little American Girl doll sweater in a two day session. Such wonderful students they always thrill me what fun they have learning something new. Then dinner in the evening with some of the Guild members. Life is soooooo good!


Now tomorrow I am off again. Oh dear more yarn shops followed by TNNA. So much yarn and knitting I am sure it will be overload but I shall share when I return.

READY AT LAST

The last workshop booklet is finished I think the sample sweater turned out nice. I try very hard when teaching to have students knit something to keep. These classes teach technique while giving you something to take home. The one pictured here is all about knitting and cutting sweaters and making steeks. A few other things thrown in as well. The little sweater fits an American Girl doll.

I sure have not been so great at blogging lately. I am finally finished with the workshop I am doing in Buffalo this weekend. I had a hard time getting all the computer work finished. Apparently all the computer work messed with muscles in my shoulder and I have been taking all sorts of meds that make me goofy and sleepy. Tomorrow at least I get some physical therapy for this. Damn insurance companies had to give approval. Then if that were not enough I get some sinus stuff that filled the ears with fluid. I felt like I was at the amusement park on the "tilt a whorl" in my own chair. Now the medication for that really messes with the mind. At last things are looking up and I am on the mend. I leave Thursday and will stop at some yarn shops to do my job for ChiaoGoo and then it is a knitters weekend. Pictures to follow next week. Promise.

A BIG PROJECT FINISHED!

What satisfaction to have a big project finished. Darling daughter and family love to go camping and last fall purchased an old 1980 small travel trailer. On my last visit with her I brought home all the cushions to make new covers. Yesterday was the day. I have a sewing friend visiting and we did them all. There were 6 total. Several of them very large and hard to deal with.Then I added a pillow as well. What a change from the old brown scratchy covers from 1980. We worked the two of us all day and we finished. I also learned a lot about covering cushions. One you need to find somewhere to purchase long long long zippers. I went to the local drapery/slip cover lady who gladly sold me what I needed. She even started the zipper pulls which is an ugly job in my opinion. Now hubby will deliver them this afternoon on his way east for a week of fishing. I plan to stay home a few days and get things in order for the upcoming workshops. Then I will do some quality grandchildren time. However there are also curtains to make for this little camper. Another day another time.

My company leaves this afternoon and I plan to make some cases to show off the wonderful ChiaoGoo needles I am selling. I think after my first sale on Wednesday I need a better way to display. Thank goodness it did not matter to my customer. I can tell you for someone addicted to yarn visiting a shop brimming full to the ceiling it was an seeing how much self control I had. Lots of wonderful yarn and I held off and did not come home with more. I am most proud of myself. I have made it a rule not to buy yarn on my working visits. However I will soon know where to find yarn!

WHAT A DISASTER AREA!

OK where have I been? Take a look at this mess! I had to move from my little office in the laundry room up to the kitchen because it is toooo darn cold to type downstairs. We seem to have a bit of a delay on summer arriving here. I do not consider 40 in the morning warm weather. Now I am in the kitchen working like wild. I have a 3 workshops to be finished up, the directions written, the samples knit and the booklets for hand outs printed. Way behind would be a good way to put it. This picture is of where I am knitting and writing right now. On top of this I have now taken a job. I am a sales rep. for ChiaoGoo knitting needles. This means learning the numbers and the line. But oh how much fun to visit yarn shops and see what goes. I personally love the needles and so that makes it easy. As well as they are so wonderful and nice to work for. Then add to the mix out of town company coming Wednesday, The covers to sew for daughters camper and getting hubby off for a free fishing trip he was asked to participate in. I think home alone a few days will be a good thing for me. It does not end. June 5,6,7 I will be teaching for the Buffalo Knitting Guild. What fun to do once the preparations are all complete. Also will be visiting yarn shops the day before the workshops.a tough job for sure. Then it is off to TNNA in Columbus, this for work as well. Back home again and then a brunch to host for some out of town company. So if you don't hear from me for a bit I am alive and well. Really involved with all things knitting I will try my best. Perhaps some great pictures of neat knitting things from my travels.

Susie has two graduations in her family to attend to. But once that Katie is finished she will have even more time to knit. I hope we get her to blog a bit for us. Once her life is quiet.

I don't forget about all of you who take time to read this but sometimes "my life gets in the way"