a shortie

Bugg made it home safely and our first Christmas in our own home in Louisiana was wonderful. The weather has been heavenly but did cool down on Christmas day.

We have been going to basketball tournaments and FYS has gotten a little playing time.

Progress has been made on the Christening gown and I love the way it is turning out. It has little cap sleeves. I did alter the pattern in the lace skirt: First repeat was knit to spec, but every following repeat lost a pattern 1-4 and 13-16 repetition. To compensate for the length, the Frost Flowers pattern was worked 10 times.

I will really need to move on the second half.

Hope you and yours had safe, joyous holidays spent with the ones you love.

Chris' scarf

A few months ago a car full of friends headed to Baton Rouge for a yarn day. Chris picked up three skeins of Berroco Bonsai Colors and asked me to make something with it.

At 77 yards per skein, pattern choices were limited.

The Easy Drop Stitch Scarf Pattern by Christine Vogel worked well with this yarn.

Knit on US 8 needles, the scarf was finished in just a few days. Chris has not seen it yet, I hope she likes it!

Finished measurement" 6" wide; 58" long

Infinity

Remember the Punta Mericash that I encouraged you to hunt down and buy, buy, buy?

I recommend it even more highly now. The drape and softness is definitely at the top of my list.

Two skeins were plenty and it feels luxurious when wrapped around my neck.

It knit up quickly on US 5 needles

I am devising a plan to get more in a blue-ish colorway.

It was a pleasant diversion, but time is awastin' and I really need to focus on the Christening gown.

A little more than knitting

When we moved into our new home this past summer, little thought was given to the fireplace. From the inspection, we knew that gas was run to it and that the previous owners had burned real wood in it. Nice wood logs were stacked on the metal grate. As it would be, I found time to actually clean the fireplace out and discovered long cracks in the refractory brick panels. Not to worry, we hunted around for replacements and were told about a product that would seal the cracks up to be good as new.

Fast forward to last weekend:

We have been getting a little cool weather and the draw of an open flame has captured my desire to install some gas logs. I performed a pre-hunt for just the right ones then Hubs went with me to buy them. It took another trip to the hardware store to buy a pipe wrench.

Sidebar: the difference between a pipe wrench and a monkey wrench is that the pipe wrench has teeth on the part which grips whatever you are wrenching (probably not a word, but you glimpse at how my mind works).

Pipe wrench and Hubs were able to remove the old piece of gas thing-a-ma-jig that was there and we surveyed the existing refractory brick that was to have it's crack(s) sealed.

We glimpsed at each other and I began prying out the old brick panels - trust me, we were thinking the same thought. We would never feel comfortable doing this half-butt and just knew that we would have to go purchase replacement panels.

It was Sunday and there were two options for parts. One was closed for inventory and the other had an employee who took the information and promised to "call us Monday after 11A with an estimate". We are still waiting for that call. In the interim, the place who has spotless inventory records, gave a price and is ordering the parts today.

This is a prime example of the typical do-it-yourself project at our home. I am convinced that God is still trying to teach me patience and wonder why he couldn't give me a tad to sample and practice growing.

Will we have a nice flame for Christmas? Probably not and I will learn to deal with it. Hopefully, we will get to use it before the weather gets hot again. I am convinced that the parts will come in fairly quickly, but wonder about what the next hurdle will look like.

Oh, why can't everything in life be plug-and-play?

Snow? Really?

They didn't say it NEVER snows here, they said it RARELY snows here. Expecting to see the little white flakes every 10 years or so, imagine my surprise when snow fell last week for the second year in a row.

This was my only evidence that it had 'snowed'.

Granted, it didn't stick around long. As a matter of fact, it didn't stick at all. The snow here is more like little water crystals.

I've decided if this is the extent of it, I am staying and will deal with the kooky drivers who have no idea how to negotiate the slightest bit of icy weather and really have no business driving in such conditions.

Apparently, the semi-cool weather finally inspired my husband to wear those socks I finished for him just after Valentine's Day. He did not understand that they are meant to be worn, no matter how many times I insisted that knitter's want recipients to actually use and enjoy the finished product.

He says he didn't want to wear them out.

I've also cast-on an infinity scarf. If you haven't had the opportunity to see Punta Yarns Mericash in person, just take my word for it and order some. I'll bet this is going to be flying off of every shelf that stocks it. At around $20.00 for 262 yards, it was irresistible. The colorways are fabulous and did I mention how soft it is? It is soft, really soft! You need some!

Finished in a month!

Finished!

Pretty quickly, too. I wasn't even knitting monogamously, either.

Lana Grossa - Linea Rossa No. 2, Model #9

This yarn is truly dreamy. The softness factor is off the scale. There were a few thick and fuzzy pieces in some of the skeins. I cut most of them out and wove in the extra ends as I went.

The pattern called for a button, but I couldn't imagine putting a button and I-cord/crochet loop on the front of this sweater. I opted for a shawl stick. My LYS just received a very nice one that would coordinate perfectly and it may become mine today.

The only thing I frown upon is the way the cables poke out in some places . They are 10 stitch cables and they will tuck back in, but I prefer for them to look all fancy without any of the extra work.

Link to the Cardigan on Ravelry

This is the second model made from this book and I find the designs very wearable and stylish. Not your great-grandmother's knits.

Miller's Hat - a finished object!

Miller's Hat came out from Through The Loops Designs just as I was finishing up the mystery sock.

What a cute, stylish hat and made with worsted yarn. I knew my daughter would love it.

It knit up quickly in just 3 days. I'll admit it was obsessive knitting, but you still have time to get a few finished for Christmas.

The main color is Tosh Worsted in Betine. This is from my fiber club subscription and there is one more skein of it.

The pink trim is Malabrigo Silky Merino in the color Rupestre. This was held double to attain Worsted gauge.

These yarns made for a super soft hat.

This is the only Christmas gift I've made this year!

See it on Ravelry

Circa 2000: my first socks ever

10 years ago I embarked on a most satisfying hobby adventure. Knitting had always interested me and the day I walked through the doors at Mass Ave Knit Shop changed my life.

Truly, knitting changed my life!

In the early days, my yarn purchases were like those of many new knitters. It was on sale, so I bought it. Many of those yarns are in my yarn closet to this day.

So, when the sale came up and Jo Sharp DK wool balls were in the bin, I noticed. There were many odd balls and the owner told me that there was enough for socks.

Knitting was new to me and my second sweater was nearing completion, but were my skills sock worthy? No worries, I plunged in with Learn to Knit Socks and my new yarn.



The Basic Sock pattern looked pretty easy and my first socks were born.

The stitches look pretty even for a fairly new knitter.









It is apparent that gauge was not a huge consideration in my early days. The fit is not great.

The toes make me laugh! They are finished with two different techniques and one hasn't been recognized by the knitting community as a valid option for closing toes.







All-in, I keep these socks just as they are for many reasons.

They remind me how far I've come on my knitting journey.

They make me think of the valued relationships knitting has brought into my life.

They show me how something useful can be made with two sticks and some string.

They are keeping my feet warm this rainy day.

I still have some of this yarn in different colors...