DRUM ROLL IF YOU PLEASE!!!

At last the "endless sweater" is finished. I just can't quite believe it. You have no idea just how good it feels. I have washed and blocked it, written the letter that goes with it and except for sewing in a label it is all ready to go to my sweet Uncle Harley. I looked at my notes and it measures exactly what the sketch says it should. How nice that was. I look back and remember that I started this in mid November. So even though it seemed like it took forever that really was not the case. Hey we had Christmas and the blasted foot to deal with in the midst of this sweater. It is a size 44 with a 20" body and sleeves over 24" long. He is a tall thin guy. I think about why I am so pleased that this was 8 stitches to the inch and 11 rows. I did it I did it!. Yarn is some lace yes you got that right lace weight merino is a wonderful heather brown. I used 2.5mm needles and did my own pattern.


Then while I was in the finishing mode I finished up a pair of mittens. This is my own pattern I call Surprise Mittens because it is a surprise just how warm they are. I had started these for a class did the first one up to the teaching portions and then put it away. Now this project too is finished. Now I am ahead on the gift projects. Do ya think I can substitute a pair of mittens for a sock this month?

Then as we are getting ready to travel and there will be a precious little girl to visit I did another pair of the gloves with cuffs. So I have a little gift for her as well.

Onward now to knit a collar for my good black wool coat. Mr. Sammy who is infamous out there in blog land for being a destroyer. He ate the corner of the collar. Soooo what to do? Knit a collar and sew it over the old one that is missing a bit. Then on to something new and fun. Yes Yes Yes.

I am getting ready to travel and hopefully be able to blog a bit while I am away. We are taking Louis who is 10 to see the Grand Canyon and other out west sites. I have already scoped out a few yarn shops to add interest.

You have not posted for a week!

This past Saturday I was teaching a knitting class and one of the students Hillary by name said to me you have not posted in a week. Oh my that got my attention. I did not realize there are some of you out there that look up what I am doing and what I have to say. Things are very busy here. I am still at work on the "endless sweater". The plan is this and we all know about plans!
I hope to finish it this week, wash and block and yes TAKE A PICTURE and put it in the mail to dear Uncle Harley who is so darn special he deserves all the stitches in this puppy. In the mean time I have taught 2 classes on the proper way to place decreases. Another class on knitting felted snow men with hats, scarves and the like.

I needed instant gratification in knitting so did these little gloves I for Miss Lillie that are in the picture. Made some adjustments to the pattern in a booklet I have wrote several years ago that shows how to take a pair of ready made gloves and put fancy cuffs on them. In eyelash yarn, as for this pair or you can knit with light weight yarn, add beads, use chenille, or mohair with flat purl buttons. I am going to do a second pair of gloves this week as well. We are off on February 1st and will visit another little girl who also loves PINK she needs these as well.

I am waiting for my sock kit to arrive with all the leaves and grapes from Vintage socks. That darn Yarn Harlot got me again. I see these things and just have to knit them myself. More on that when the kit arrives. I know I must have the "endless sweater" finished before I start one more thing. I can't tell you how many things are running in my mind I wish to knit. Mostly I am planning on my vacation knitting. More about that next week. Rest assured I am knitting and always knitting.

Tomorrow's car knitting is to finish up a pair of mittens I wrote a pattern some time back for mittens knit with a strand of sock yarn and a strand of mohair lace weight. Makes them very light and warm. Will do a picture for those when finished as well. I look forward to time to sit and knit while someone else drives. But with the wind chill and temperatures what they are today and tomorrow I may just need them before I get home.

Now tomorrow I am off to get my I-pod worked on. I love it for a trip. Right now when I plug it in I get zilch I mean nada so I am off to see the "Geek Squad" at the Apple store. After which I shall have a delightful lunch with my special friend Lou.

Perhaps a quick stop at Borders books just in case I have missed some new knitting book that has arrived before I knew it was out, I think I keep good track of up and coming books but sometimes I am not as good as I think I am.

KEEPING BUSY

Seems like I can not find enough hours in the day. Here is what I have been working on the past weeds. First off I am preparing a workshop to be held at the University of Pittsburgh Bradford. Tomorrow and next Saturday. I have the booklets all ready now. This is an in depth hands on class about decreasing. Teaching where to place decreases and the correct slant in each occasion.
I will also be covering necks, collars and stripes in ribbing as well as three needle bind off. Each student receives a reference book that I have written to guide them later on, The picture is the cover of the book and what their sampler will look like is on the cover.

All of this seems to take me a great deal of time. I am working on my learning curve with a new computer and tasks are done a bit differently with newer programs so that in itself seems endless. I bet the MAC support team wishes I had never bought this new computer but they are endlessly patient and helpful and boy am I learning. I wish I had a teenager around the house who would wisk me through all of the computer stuff. When I think back that when I was in school an electric typewriter was hight tech it amazes me how far I have progressed.

Back to sleeve 2 on "endless sweater"

Up and about and mighty mouse

Oh yes today was a great day. I got the stitches out of the foot. I now can on a limited basis try and get back to a normal life. Not going to get all caught up at once. I believe Dr. said do some walking but NO WALMART! I also have finished cuff 2 on the endless sweater. Now upward on the sleeve. But the best part of today is the new present I bought for myself. A wireless mouse for the computer with a name yet "mighty mouse" Great fun but I have spent a very large part of the afternoon learning how this cute little gadget works. Finally called tech support and learned a whole lot. The wonderful man spoke real English and not computer jibberish. How lucky am I. I think it looks a bit like an egg. What will they think of next. Perhaps I need to try a wireless keyboard. Yes I have that ordered now this was so much fun and not outrageous in price. Onward with the computer . knowledge this is sure a lot for an old Grandmother to absorb in such a short time.

More bed blogging

Hopefully this will be my last day of total off the foot stuff, this really stinks. With any luck and my good behavior last week I will get the stitches out and be semi mobile once again. I did cheat just for about half an hour today and went to get my hair done. What a glorious treat that was. I even put the darn foot up on a stool the entire time. I find the biggest challenge to this doing nothing is I get sleepy and falling asleep. Then at night can I sleep, NOT. Knitting progress has been made, I have finished this cute blue sweater from Carol Anderson's Wonderful Wallaby and yarn from the local yarn shop Keeping Ewe In Stitches. It is a size 12 for my long and tall grandson. I have also finished one complete sleeve of the endless sweater and am starting the cuff on sleeve 2. Tonight a movie and get that sleeve some progress.

I have lots of plans for New Year Knitting. All must be on hold or just in my brain until this sweater is completed and mailed off to that special Uncle. At least I do have time to blog while doing little but surfing the web and watching movies.

I think one vice I will need to put away is the ability to sit warm and comfy in my bed with foot outstretched and shop all over the web. Great fun but the bank account is not liking all this activity I am sure. I have found all sorts of fun stuff like the a wireless keyboard and wireless mouse for the new computer. Then there were wonder full PINK winter Crocs that had my name on them.

For winter weather of which there is a lot left here I will be very happy to have them. Putting the dog out at night will once again be my job and I thought the Crocs would work just dandy.

Joan

bed blogging

Well this is something new for me. I am now blogging from the comfort of my good old bed. The foot is still an issue have a bit of infection so back to bed with the blasted thing up on a pillow. I survived Christmas, the joy on the Grandchildren's faces was something to behold. My goodness the man in the red suit did come. How pleased they were.

Now I am working on an endless sweater. It is for me sweet Uncle but a mans Large at 8 stitches and 10 rows per inch is slow going. Lovely lace weight merino on 2.5mm needles. It is helping now that I can put a DVD in the laptop and sit here and knit. Hopefully by Thursday I will be out of here and getting some real work done.

I think I shall s et a goal for myself. A pair of socks a month...next Christmas would then be a walk in the park. Anyone care to join me with this. We can post our pictures and encourage each other. I do so much better with a goal in mind. I am going to make 2 pair in February as January will not produce any socks until this sweater is finished. Patterns will be fun to compare as well as yarns. I promise to knit up my stash first. How about that one?

Joan

BON BONS

Now just where have I been? You know the old answer sitting on the sofa eating bon bons. Exactly what I am doing around here. Usually I am the most last minute in a fluster person for Christmas. This year.....Wrapped and ready. Now this does require a bit of explanation. In order to be ready for some "get out of the snow trips" ut gas been necessary to have some surgery on my foot taken care of now. So here I am with a bandaged foot and a box of Godiva. Does it get any better?

I have made multiple pairs of the wonderful "Maine Morning Mitts" and we are loaded and ready to roll on Monday to see the grandchildren enjoy Santa and all he brings.

It has been frantic here since Thanksgiving. I also have a new computer and naturally new things to learn and learn and learn. Most exciting as this is my first new computer. A MacBookPro and I have yet to learn all the nifty new things it will do for me. So between doing a bit of reading, a bit of knitting and lots of sleeping life is moving along nicely. I have about 3 more weeks of not using the darn foot and hopefully I shall be off and running once again. Sure is a good thing to have wireless and I can operate from my bedroom.

Best wishes to all of you for the greatest holiday season.