MORE THINGS FROM MY NEEDLES

As promised here are some more things I have been knitting.   It keeps me busy trying to come up with new class ideas.  I like to have students make something but most important are the skills I try to build into each project.  I am continuing with one new project each month.  All are easy and can be completed before Christmas to give as a gift.   This pillow case with the lace edge makes a wonderful gift for someone who seems to have everything.  The pattern with soft points does not require blocking and I am doing a lace "shorthand" to teach that system for a pattern.  Sometimes it is easier than using a chart.

Pulse warmers are a great small project with or without beads.  I like to make the ones like the cream with lots of garter stitch above the lace edge.  Sip this part under your sleeve and fold back to make a cuff.  I think they are quite pretty.  The beaded one is lots of fun and you only have beads on every other row.  Therefore none of the beads are right next to your skin.  I was quite surprised to find out how warm they made me feel.  Perhaps it is all in my head who knows but a fun to knit project.

Now here is a quick and easy gift.  Purchased stretch gloves and you add a fancy cuff.  Perhaps using yarn you made the matching scarf with or something left from the stash.  I have been quite surprised to see these "fluffy" yarns back in the market place.  "Everything old is new again!"

Until next time keep those needles busy!!!!!!!

TRYING TO DO BETTER!

I certainly have been neglectful for ever so long.  It is time I posted a few pictures of my knitting and such.  I guess sometimes my schedule gets a bit hectic and I just do not think anyone is interested in what goes on in my little life here in the hills of Pennsylvania.

Will try and catch you up on a few things.  It has been a very busy summer and fall looks to be no no different.  One reason I find I can get back and be more efficient is that taking pictures is no longer such a big job.  No more taking the picture and then plugging the camera in and about 4 more steps on top of that.  Now with the new I-phone hubby gave me a couple weeks ago as a great birthday present this is oh so easy.  Snap, send to my email and you have it.

I have been teaching some interesting classes here are a couple.  From Betsey Beads the Twilight necklace.  I used a heavier yarn from Berroco called Seduce.  Blue green beads and then purchased a real silver and turquoise clasp.  I loved doing this.  Hardest part is stringing the beads.

I found that most of the shawls I love so to knit are very light weight.  Yes warm but not warm enough for where I live.  So I knit this one this past week from Universal yarn called classic shades.

This is an easy fun knit if you don't get all excited about a lot of short rows. My suggestion is that you practice the yarn over short row.  It is easier and faster and works beautifully.

My upcoming class this Saturday will be a button version of a mitered neck warmer.  Quick and easy and such a lot of fun.  If this is a pattern you wish to have just let me know.  It is my personal one and I shall share if happily.

Now enough for today.  I will try tomorrow to back track and show you some of the knitting I have not mentioned before.  As well as some family news.

A FEW LEFT OVERS

At Christmas time I was on over load and also some of those I give gifts to read this blog so nothing was posted. Will show a couple now. Ah the tea cozy for my friend Nancy. We met as we both belonged to the same college sorority. (years apart to be sure). She is a great love of a pot of hot tea. What is not to love. So I thought for a tea lover and someone who adores Victorian what could be better than a crazy quilt tea cozy. I have quite a stash of ribbons, fancy fabrics and lace. You might be interested to hear the cream lace came from France about

WWI. It belonged to a friend of my Mothers and when she left the large family home was going to toss it. Thank goodness Mother saved it for me. I use it a lot of special things. Then there are Violets which is the right flower, pearls also. The colors lavender and maroon. All the right things and even a sterling crest from Mother's charm bracelet. Nancy was pleased so I shall share the pictures with all of you. I do things other than knit once in a while.

Thank you for your patience!

Those of you who like to know what I am working on have been so patient. I have had a busy time of year. First it was Christmas where I made most all of my gifts and taking pictures just did not happen. Then the new year arrived and I have been busy working on my classes for the coming year. I promise pictures and soon.

Some personal knitting to be sure. Then I have worked at getting rid of a ton of stuff in my yarn room. Ebay has kept me busy and I will do more in a couple of weeks. Feels good to have sorted and found new things to keep me busy.

My current projects have been can you believe it something for me: the white hood+scarf. I love it and our weather has been cold here. I used a fantastic yarn that is wool and tencel. The sheen is wonderful and the yarn flew through my fingers. This one I keep and wear.

Then the doll outfit for Miss Lillie, I loved using the free pattern on the Crystal Palace site and the bulky mochi yarn. Amazing what the color did particularly on the hat.

Then the sad projects chemo caps. I always feel fortunate that I can do some little thing to help friends who are having to endure this procedure. So there are two hats. The aqua one in from Panda Silk which is so soft and nice silk and bamboo, I just know it will feel wonderful. The dark blue hat is Cashmerino. Very soft but with some warmth. ( it looks better on trust me) Guess I need to get a head form to try on these hats.

I just can't seem to find the hours in the day that I need to keep up but I shall do my best to keep you posted on what I am knitting. Sewing will wait a while now.

If you have questions about patterns and the like you can send me a message. I shall try and help you. Just not enough time to hunt up the links right now.

Hope all of you in blog land are doing well.

IS THIS REALLY KNITTING?

I hesitate to call this knitting, however it is in a way. I found the new scarf yarns something to behold in color and texture. Just had to give them a try. Just picking up a bit of the webbing at the top and pulling it through the next loop. What is this I thought? I did end up with a lovely light weight scarf. Great fun and oh so quick to knit. With my schedule this seems to be what I can accomplish.

I really am working on unloading a lot of yarn on ebay these days. I had thought when I happily brought it home I would certainly knit it all up. Well 10 plus years later after keeping it stored carefully I know this will not happen. They also continue to make yarn. I guess that was something I forgot about when I was filling plastic bin after plastic bin. Takes quite a bit of time to weigh, package and get the yarn ready to mail but I am working on it. It just does not seem right to "hoard" all this yarn. I guess I fear the yarn police will make a raid so this has kept me busy.

I have also make 6 large needle rolls for some of the ladies who frequent one of the yarn shops I hang out in. Then there is the massive clean up the sewing room going on here as well. My serger has returned from the hospital so I can use it once again.

I am headed off to see the grandchildren later today, oldest one has a big part in the high school play and I would not miss it for anything. My it seems yesterday he was just a little infant in my arms.

When I get home I will post my other big project on repairing my old cherished quilts. I have learned a lot I will share with you.

I'M STILL ALIVE AND BACK AT THE BLOG

Well after way to long an absence I have returned to "blogsphere". The new eyes took a bit of getting used to. But wonderful none the less. I have been working on some sewing projects in the meantime. Have a new shawl on the needles hopefully to show you next week. I am doing a lot of teaching knitting so my time to knit is spent on little samples of "how to do it". I truly love to be able to share what I have learned all these many years.

I have new double pointed needles and they needed a case. I am a lover of double pointed needles. I feel I knit smoother and faster than the other methods such as "magic loop" two circulars. Now I love things that match and I adore my Lexie Barnes Lady B knitting bag. Mine is an older pattern called Kiri and I had purchased some small zip bags to match. Well when the new 6" metal double points from ChiaoGoo arrived I needed a special case. I have made little zipper cases like this from fabric for a long time. Now however everything is matching. I love it. I used the case that was about 6 1/2" deep and just stitched in the pockets. Used a white out pen and wrote on the number. I am pleased with what I have created. Yes it only holds up to size 8 but I rarely use the larger sizes and they are in the old cases I made before this one.

I shall try to get a few more things I have been working on posted very soon. I have an idea of how to repair an antique quilt where on corner has rotted due to the exposure to the sun. Also some other things in progress.

Why I am not knitting

Here is what goes here and why I am not knitting.

A week ago I had cataract surgery. An amazing thing to be sure. But only done on the left eye. So since I was blind as a bat before I can now see with that eye like magic, except for the close vision so then I need my "cheater" glasses. At first I thought well just take the left lens out and I would be good to go. Not so you can see there are the old glasses sans left lens. Thought it was a good plan. Well the progressive lens in the right eye made me feel like a drunk so now I just close that eye and move ahead. But to knit with one eye makes the other one way to tired. So I am just puttering around here waiting for September 22. Then the right eye will match the left and I am good to go. Truly amazing to get out of bed in the morning and not have to put on my glasses. It was always trauma if I dropped them as I could not find them. Such is progress in the medical world and I am most grateful. Thanks Dr. Nick you worked a miracle for me. so be patient out there all you who wait for knitting content it will happen soon.

Worth the wait

At last I am getting a few projects finished up. Here is a pair of fingerless gloves. Great fun to knit and I was able to use some silk yarn from my stash. A double pleasure. Here it is summer and I am thinking gloves. I recently saw an article that called them reading gloves. Now I like that description. I love to sit with the Kindle at night and read in bed. This will keep my hands warm. I think I might just make some more. I have other things on needles and now perhaps I can finish up a few more in the next week. Then things knitterly come to a halt. Grandchildren will return for another visit as well as dear friends. Guess it is time to open up the kitchen. I spent yesterday getting a couple of things made and into the freezer and that will help out a lot. Tomorrow I hope to get more baking done. At least it was cool and that makes me feel more like doing baking.

I am hostess at bridge on Wednesday so will be doing a cake for that I am trying something new and will later let all of you who read this know the results.

On the 25th I will have cataract surgery and I am really looking forward to that. I know that sounds crazy but I have not been driving after dark as I know I don't see as well as I should. One eye will be done this month and the next 4 weeks later. Just in time for fall when it gets dark earlier. Now I call that planning ahead. Dr. Nick has promised I will be able to read all the writing on the TV screen from across the room. I guess we could get a larger TV but then what fun would that be?

Our dry weather has come and gone and the yard and flowers are most appreciative for some cooler temps and the rain. Now I need to work on a few that did not make it during the heat. They are sure looking sad.

More tomorrow on progress in the knitting department.

DON'T FORGET TOMORROW IS SIGN UP DAY FOR DISH RAG TAG!!!

A new class in the works

I am getting ready to teach a new class in a week. Beads I just love them. Great fun and a quick reward for your knitting time. These darling little "mini purses" are such fun to make. Do not let the small needle size get to you. They are not difficult. You may purchase kits for these from
http://www.purseparadise.com/

Here are a few little hints to help you in your knitting. I think if you attach the pin to the frame first it is much easier than after you have the purse sewn to the frame. Then sew the knitting to the frame before seaming up the sides. (fewer ends to work in). Work over a table the entire time with a towel or piece of fabric placed on top to catch loose beads. Now make a couple and have a ready supple of unique gifts.

The big 50

Not knitting this past weekend. Dave and I celebrated 50 years of marriage with close friends and family. It was a glorious day.

Where or Where have I been lately?

I feel badly I have neglected posting for so long and will try and get more pictures up for you to check out the knitting. I just returned from the knitting camp held by Meg Swansen in Wisconsin. We had a project for a contest and we all knit a "Suspender Sweater" from her new book "Knit One Knit All" A great contest for all of us. Here is a picture of mine. Hopefully more pictures in the days to follow, I am doing a lot of teaching these days and really do love it as well as working as a sales rep. I just need more hours in the day. Tomorrow my family arrives, daughter, hubby, Louis and Lillie and 3 dogs. Then they will be returning my 2 dogs! What 5 dogs in the house. It will be busy. Saturday is our 50th yes I said 50th wedding anniversary and we will be having a small party. So after all of that I shall be a better blogger.

I am still alive

I know it has been forever since I was able to pay any attention to this blog. There is news however. Susie and I met for the first time in April. It is a 12 hour trip It was so wonderful just like we had known each other for years. And that parallel lives thing kept coming up. How can two women who live 1000 of miles apart go shopping and purchase the same ball point pen. What are the odds? This is just one of the things we continue to discover about each other. I have been really busy working at a new thing. I am doing some designing and some sample knitting for Hand Painted Knitting Yarn. Add this to my teaching schedule, working as a rep for ChiaoGoo. Then there is home and family. Plus the two little dogs. My life is full. What I am knitting is for someone else so until it is posted and I can give you a link no pictures. I do however have a couple of personal things on needles at at the point where they are finished I will let you see what goes on.

All of this plus I am working very hard to destash the yarn closet or should I say room. I need to get things put away. When you run out of room in a giant storage space it is time to get busy and do something about this. Therefore I have been very busy on ebay. Also dividing the things that will work for charity knitting to donate.

Add a bit of sewing to all of this and you know why you have not heard from me. I promise to do better.

ANNIS SHAWL

I have always been thrilled with the beauty of the shawls from Estonia. Particularly the ones based on the Lily of the Valley. Such a beautiful flower and in the spring the ones that grow at my back door have a fragrance I adore. That being said the "nups" in the patterns have made me think about doing one of these. So when I saw Annis on Knitty I thought this would be a perfect time to try them out. Then I found the U-Tube demo on the crochet hook method. I was off and knitting. This is a fun shawl and I loved knitting it. Now if we could just have some warmer weather I will be able to wear this pretty pink treat. I have a few other projects that must come first then I think I shall cast on for the Lily of the Valley. Now understand there are 3 other shawls that must come first. Plus some work for upcoming classes but keep watching I will let you know when I start.

EVERY THING OLD IS NEW AGAIN

A number of years ago (I forget how many) I worked out this pattern. Then it went to the "unfinished boutique" I am working hard at getting things organized, well at least as organized as I will ever be. I am now writing directions and the like after finishing the sample. I gave away sample 1 a long time ago. So it is back to square one. I have a shawl I must get busy working on as I am planning my December donation shawl now. None of the waiting until my life gets in the way stuff as in years past. Hubby's work schedule has changed once again so now I need to change my work schedule as well. No lace knitting when the TV is on full blast with some sort or other of sporting event. We have moved from football now to college basketball. I just can't count when they are yelling numbers at the top of their lungs in "surround sound" . This means I must work when he works. OK the house will keep and the kitchen floor is clean enough to be healthy. Thank goodness for little puppy Vera who is a great cleaner up of any food that might have landed there.

I AM NOT LOST IN THE SNOW!

I am not lost in the snow but have been busy doing knitting things. I try in January to get caught up with all the items that never quite were finished at Christmas. Then it is also time to prepare for upcoming classes. We have had more snow than I can remember in years and keep in mind that memory goes back a long long time. I did finish up this black hat it is felted Gallway and some sort of fun fur yarn that I really don't remember. The pattern is from Fiber Trends and believe it or not it is for me....Perfect for this dreadful weather we are having.

There is one good thing about snow and cold weather here. We are all well prepared for it. My heart goes out to those of you who live where "real winter" is not something you are used to. Our heating systems, roofs, insulation and a large generator should we loose power. We are made for this stuff. We have a large tractor mounted snow blower that can send that white stuff miles if he wants to do it. So all is well with us.

I also made a couple of hats of my own design and I like to call this embossed knitting. Many years ago at Meg Swanson's Knitting camp we were delving into the Swedish Twined Knitting. With no translation of the first book on this it was pure guess work. So I designed this hat to use this way of "not twined twined knitting" I call it embossed knitting. I really do love to do it and this is going to be part of my classes before long.

Then we come to the always popular Wallaby by Carol Anderson. You know this is a favorite when grandchildren outgrow theirs and ask for a new one. So I knit up a little one in red as a class sample. I also have a large one almost finished now for Louis who requested it at Christmas. If that were not enough I have a pink one started for Lillie. I am doing a Wallaby Knit along class at Yarn for Ewe in Kennedy, Ny and this is all in preparation for these classes.

I have printed hand outs that go along with the pattern book so I have been working hard at getting these all ready for Saturday.

Then there were several days of sewing, cleaning the sewing room only to trash it again as I look for fabric.

More about that later. Keep warm

Just what goes on here?

It hardly seems possible I have been away from this blog for so long. I am most sorry. First it was the computer which would no longer burn a CD. I decided in what now seems foolishness to send it in to be repaired while the Apple Care was still in effect. I only had a few days left on this coverage. Yes I know they say back things up. Well I did the best I could and off it went. Returned in 3 days and I was thrilled until I started it up. I found out they had wiped it clean. You got it I lost all of the information I had not backed up. I can not tell you the hours spent to reinstall everything. Things are pretty much as good as it is going to get at this point. Did I register a complaint you bet I did but what is that old saying "it is what it is".

Then we had Thanksgiving and we were away with the family for a week. I did a bit of Christmas shopping but not a lot of knitting. I did enjoy the time with the family and would not trade that for anything. Once I returned it back to teaching some knitting classes and this gives me great joy to share what I have been blessed to learn over the years.

Next project was to get the out of town gifts wrapped and mailed. This included 3 hand made knitting bags. Done!

All the while work on my hand made gifts. There are photos here of what I made and there will be more after Christmas. I just had to get some of the things all wrapped. Now it is time to show all of you who care to look just what I have been knitting. Not in these pictures as I lost the camera files as well are a sweater for Lillie and a hat with matching sweater and hat for her American girl doll which is what my gift to her is at Christmas. Then there were hand knit socks for my Louis.

Now here are the pictures and what I knit. A scarf and fingerless gloves in pretty blue with yarn from the stash. Makes me feel very thrifty. Then my own pattern for the red line shawl in doll size. Sock yarn doll clothes. Also pot holders sewn and kitchen towels to match.

If you have not seen the new book out "Sock Yarn One Skein Wonders" edited by Judith Durant. Please run don't walk and pick up a copy. The sock yarn doll clothes are from this book and I want to start on page one and knit my through this gem.

I now have the special hazelnut biscotti made for my son in law for Christmas, the cookies baked and as I write this everything is all wrapped up. I now need to put the "sticky buns" in the oven for the bridge party.

Happy Holidays to all of you and I must hurry back to the needles there is still a sock that needs a foot.....

A QUICK SCARF

I am beginning to think I am making progress around here with the knitting. I have finished another pair of the socks with the "Strong Heel".

Finished this pretty fluted scarf knit this with: 1 ball Universal Yarn Classic Shades color #705. Here is the pattern. It was told to me at a knitting meeting and I have no idea where the original pattern came from. I just wrote down and knit what I was told. So want to share with all of you. This is really a fun knit. If this is a pattern someone has written I am so sorry and please let me know. I just found it fun and a quick and easy gift. This time of year hubby is glued to the football games and like it if I watch with him. Many I find not very interesting so this is what keeps my fingers busy yet my mind can still pay attention. Enjoy

# 7 needle

1 ball -Universal Classic Shades Yarn

Cast on 20

1. knit 20

2. knit 8, turn, knit 8.

3. knit 6, turn, knit 6

4. knit 4, turn, knit 4.

Knit 20 repeat these 4 rows until all yarn is used.

More completed knitting

I also worked long and hard on the final version of my red line shawl. This was done to celebrate the wonderful "Red Line" needles made by ChiaoGoo. Such pure joy to knit with. My endless thanks to Universal Yarn for the wonderful Holiday Red with sequins yarn called Soft Payette. It absolutely flowed in my fingers and the sequins were no problem at all. The best part of this project was the fact it did not need to be blocked but just a light steam on the wrong side. I love something that when you are finished knitting you can wear it right away. I have been working on this project off and on since June and at last I have the written directions. I needed to do a double check of them so with the left over yarn I knit one to fit the American Girl Doll.

I have been told that Miss Lillie is requesting an American Girl doll for Christmas. You can imagine what I will now be working on until Christmas. Lots and lots of little sweaters. That Mary Ann was so helpful to model so beautifully the shawls on Knit Night at http://yarnforewe.biz/ Dianne has changed the name from Stash Busters to Yarn for you and Stash Busters two to more accurately represent the new direction her shop is going in. Not just stash busting but a full service yarn shop. How exciting for all of us in the Western New York rea.

Knitting and not blogging

I really have been doing a lot of knitting lately but alas no blogging. First thing I was trying to complete was the Panda Silk Fan Shawl, I seemed to get a bit of help from Sammy the dog. Check out this picture he does not knit the way I would like him to. I did however spend a lot of time with the unravel routine. Thank goodness this is lovely smooth yarn and he did no damage and the shawl was completed. It has a wonderful drape and feel. I found it not necessary to block this shawl. I just used the steam iron carefully and I do mean carefully on the wrong side and it came out fantastic. This kept me busy for quite a while. If you live in a warm weather area or want something special for summer this is the shawl for you. I want to thank Mary Ann for doing a fantastic job as the model.