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.

KEEPING BUSY

There are days when I wonder what happened to my time. I am always busy with a project or 20. Right now I have a very busy teaching schedule. A week ago Saturday it was my happy experience to be the speaker for the Waterways Knitting Guild in Jamestown, NY. It was perfect timing as I had just received my new copy of Elizabeth Zimmermann's Knitters Almanac. I have owned the original for many years and enjoyed using it and just reading it. I was blessed to attend her knitting camp for a number of years and to own an original drawing of hers illustrating the Stonington Shawl. I also received from her daughter Meg at camp a mitten EZ knit it was the proto type for the one in the box. I sure am one lucky knitter. I have letters and correspondence from EZ so it was a fun morning for me to share what I have with others.

After which I taught a class on putting cuffs on ready made gloves at http://yarnforewe.biz A quick and easy Christmas gift. I always enjoy sharing what I have learned.

Then I was busy with this little project of decorated sugar cubes of all things. My donation to a breast cancer fun raising tea. What a sticky little project this was.

Everything Old is New Again

Interesting how the lighting changes the color of yarn. The picture of the ball is accurate and the one of the sock done with the scanner is a bit different. You never know...
Quite some time ago I knit a sock and did a pattern. The yarn is long gone from my stash. I was fortunate enough to be gifted with a wonderful ball of a new sock yarn by Debbie Macomber. The Blossom Street Collection and is called "Petal Sock Yarn". This color is "Plum Tree". This was a perfect time to do the sock again. My own pattern and I did a little edit to it and am ready to teach a class on this nifty heel. It does fit nicely and avoids the picking up the heel flap that seems to perplex some knitters. The yarn is absolutely wonderful. Soft and silky with a bit of halo. I love it, the yardage is fantastic 462. I think a shawl in this yarn would be something so soft and warm I can hardly wait for the yarn to arrive at my local yarn shop. I would caution those who purchase this yarn to remember it seems a bit thinner than the Sockotta I used in the beginning so I did that old trick and went up a needle size. Worked perfectly. Also the label says NOT to put it in the dryer. All in all it was a breeze to knit. It just seemed to flow through my fingers. It also has a feel good aspect and that is that Debbie is donating all the proceeds from her yarn line to help children all over the world. Now how nice is that?

FALL

That old saying " a picture is worth a 1000 words" I am in awe of the beautiful colors of fall.