Knitting Passion

This is what I have been doing in my “spare” time. This is what I do while the tv blathers on in its inane manner. This is what I do when hubby is home and wanting company in front of said tv. This is what I do when I need to decompress after work.

This is what I do.

Cute little devils, aren’t they? I’ll work on some more tomorrow after work. I hope to go to Anchorage Saturday to visit a friend. Maybe do some shopping. For sure she and I will be sharing lunch and chatting - quite a bit.

I’ll also take the blue felted bag up to her and hope that she likes it.

Have a wonderful weekend, everyone. I hope it is sunny and warm and pleasant for you.

mini socks, knitting, anchorage, alaska, friends

Took a look at the summer issue of knitty and found this on the front page: a ripple skirt done in hemp.

I felt quivery and shivery and sorta like (the Irish in me would say) someone had walked across my grave. You see . . . my mother crocheted an afghan (wool) in almost the exact same colorway. dee-dee-dee-dee . . .

The concept of this skirt is neat, though . . . it is done in the round so you can slip the stitches off onto waste yarn in order to try it on to make sure the fit - the length - is okay. Ahhhhh - just right!

I still have Mom’s afghan around here somewhere. It was made in the early 60’s so you can imagine the shape it’s in.

more from knitty . . .

do you have trouble making buttonholes? Here’s a tutorial from Techniques with Theresa.

and - last, but not least - here is a GREAT article on knitting socks for diabetics. Must sit and read that whole article as hubby has diabetes and has much trouble with his feet staying warm - even in the summer. (of course . . . we DO live in Alaska).

Allrightythen . . . my little linkylovefest is over for the evening. We are having a gorgeous summer evening - the fire in the Caribou Hills south of us seems to be under control - or at least we are not getting any smoke from it. All’s right in our little corner of heaven. Trust it is for you as well.

knitty, knitting, ripples, ripple skirt, ripple afghan, diabetic socks

Went on a mini trip through Etsy last night and found some interesting - fun - things to share with you today.

I’ve heard of knitted tea cozies but this is a first for me:
Apple Jacket with the following information from the site:

“Never eat a bruised apple again!
Protect your apple with this 100% cotton jacket.
Fits a regular sized apple.
Hand-knit in a smoke-free home.
Neat gift - especially for teachers!”

You can also find it in white, or purple. And, even in blue.

and, oooh, look - there’s even a PEAR cozy, too!

Now, this looks like addictve fun - a sample pack of yarns with a couple of stitch markers thrown in. Yummy!

Entirely too much fun! Okay - I am working on more mini socks. I’ve got a lot of left over sock yarn that can be used. Hope you’re all enjoying your day.

etsy, knitting, cozies, fun, apple cozy, pear cozy, sampler pack

A few days ago I told you about knitting mini socks to make a difference in the life of a child who is deaf/hard of hearing.

It just so happens (go figure) that I have some leftover sock yarn. And, so while watching/listening to Hell’s Kitchen tonight, I knitted these:

I placed them near the sock I have on needles for the youngest granddaughter - I’m waiting for the measurement of her little skis to finish it - but they are there to give you an idea of the scale of the minis. The sock on needles is a child’s size.

Anyway - they are too much fun - and quite easy - to make, so I will probably make several more before sending them off.

Come on, folks, what’s on YOUR needles??

mini socks, knitting, charity, deaf, hard of hearing, children, socks

Believe it or not - isn’t there a song that starts that way? - we are just a few short days away from the 4th of July - Independence Day.

I was dinking around the net looking for something to knit to show patriotism and lookee what I found!!!
here’s a red, white, blue pin

here’s a slightly different version:

if you’re a really quick knitter - or for next year - how about these patriotic socks?

yummy!

there are also several patterns for sale - a hat and a couple of sweaters.

ooh - hey, check out these socks! I love the button treatment.
(no pattern included for those.)

erm . . . here’s an interesting bag

. . . and - here’s a trio of patriotic hats with a bonus: information on the SHIPS PROJECT for our service people.

Be sure to read the projects needed and the colors approved - a special need now that the heat is rising . . .cool ties. There is a pattern for those (these are sewn) and a link for the pellets to insert.

Have a wonderful week, everyone.

No, not really - I haven’t ripped anything . . . I just want to introduce you to Ravelry, a knit and crochet community. The link will take you to a peek page - the site is still in beta testing stage. However, it should be open - wide open - to all sometime in the next few days.

So . . . if you want to become involved in a community of like minded yarn-folk, keep watch over at Ravelry and join in the fun when the site goes live.

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I mentioned the Ninilchik area fire in yesterday’s column. Things are getting more complicated for Alaska. There are several fires burning across the state - some up near Anchorage were started by lightening strikes. The one in Ninilchik? Turns out it was started by sparks from a grinder being used. Sad - human error.

If you can spare a kind thought, a word of prayer, for folks you don’t even know . . . this would be a nice time to do so. There are a lot of people who have cabins - either weekend or fulltime homes - in the Caribou Hills. They are being threatened by that fire. A young couple from my church have a cabin there.

It was pretty eerie in Kenai last night. Yesterday was the longest day of the year. Usually I could be able to sit on the front stoop and read a newspaper at midnight. Not so this year.

This year our day darkened earlier - much earlier - because of a heavy pall of smoke over the area. It blocked out the sun effectively enough so that it was D.A.R.K. at 8 pm. The sun was an orange/red ball hanging in the sky - barely visible through the smoke.

People are rushing to their cabins to try to salvage things - and/or to attempt to build fire breaks around their homes - in hopes that the fire will pass them by.

Folks here in town are beginning to have headaches and/or breathing problems from the smoke in the air. We could use rain - lots of it - and your prayers as well.

Take care, everyone.

ravelry, knitting, crochet, fire in alaska, ninilchik fire, caribou hills fire

I generally write these entries the “night before” because in Alaska when it is the night before for us, it is the morning after for most of you. However, last night . . . . suddenly I was without a server. Not sure what happened, but I gave up and went to bed.

We do have a major fire burning south of us - near Ninilchik - and I heard yesterday that it was in danger of overcoming some power lines (yes, we do have power lines even!) so I imagine that it may be possible that something happened there.

Nevertheless - I am here this morning.

I have not yet finished the first sock, but am getting closer. The mini socks will come next.

The minis are knitted on size 1 needles - that may be a drawback for me. My hands go to sleep if I am using small needles. But I will do my best to get a couple off anyway - and sent on to help the project.

In the meantime, along with the fire - we are having really gorgeous weather here in southcentral Alaska! Yesterday there were 80s all over the map. I know - 80s in Alaska - there just seems to be some sort of SOMETHING wrong with that, huh? We’ve (that all collective “we”) been running around in light jackets - or no jackets - since the temps climbed above 40 - yesterday we (again that collective we) were complaining about being - get read - TOO HOT!

In Alaska.

TOO HOT!

I don’t think I ever imagined I would say such a thing. But I have lived here now for 29 years (I’m almost a pioneer now by their standards - Pioneers of Alaska) and my blood is pretty thick. I grew up in Ohio where the temps hit 100s each summer and it was beginning to bother me our last year or so there - so the great icebox sounded pretty inviting.

And, besides - in the winter when it is well below zero - I can always pile on a home knitted sweater and socks and be perfectly (PERFECTLY!) comfortable. It’s much easier on the eyes as I tell my hubby - to put on a sweater than it is to have to take too much off.

Have a glorious day, everyone!

. . . for knitters to show that they have hearts bigger than the biggest . . .

Now that the Hokie Healing blankets are being assembled and all of the squares they could ever want have been delivered . . .

. . . it’s time to look for a new way to express ourknittingselves to the world - to show that we care.

You can Make a Difference in the lives of children who are deaf/hard of hearing. Go to Sock Pixie and read the whole story, then get out your leftover sock yarn and let your needles sing. It’s a mini sock convention, friends!

When you have your minis (mated or not) completed, send them on:

KWC c/o Sonia
9760 Brooks Road S.
Windsor CA 95492

or to:

Sock Project c/o Caroline
70 Wyman Street
Jamaica Plain, MA 02130
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Come on, you KNOW you wanna . . .
*************************

And, while you are visiting the Sock Pixie, be sure to check out the other free patterns. Not all socks, mind you. There are several baby items in the mix. Enjoy!

mini socks, knitting, knitting for charity, charity, deaf children, sock project

The big sewing party occurred Saturday - over 6000 squares! They finished 20 blankets while there and plan to finish the other 12 for the families of the slain this week.

After that, they will continue to make blankets for those who survived the attack at the school. And, then . . . others who were in the building. The hope is that whoever needs a hug will receive a blanket.

The family of the shooter has declined the offer of receiving one of the blankets, according to one of the news anchors.

Pictures of some of the crafty folks and the results can be found at Mosaic Yarn Shop’s website.

While you are at the website - be sure to take a look and listen to the news reports of the sewing party.

It’s lovely what a committed group of people can do for another group of people. The folks at Mosaic Yarn Shop - and every knitter or crocheter across the country (and in several other countries) are to be commended for sharing their hearts in this fashion.

knitting, hokie healing, hokie squares, 8 inch squares, mosaic yarn shop, sewing party

So, the socks I started while at the Writers Conference? The ones I put on the needles for Knitting in Public Day? Yeah, those . . .

I’m using a pattern designed by the owner of the LYS in Soldotna - it’s actually the pattern I used for my first ever pair of socks. Christmas a few years ago all of the grands got a new pair of socks. These will likely go to the youngest girl - and I don’t think that the youngest boy received a pair - he was too little. So, I have some bright green that I think he’ll like.

Yes, it is summertime - but it is summertime in Alaska - tootsies get chilly and need to warm up in nice stretchy socks. That’s where this Gramma comes in.

This is the first sock - should be able to finish it in a couple more evenings and get the second one put onto the needles.

I’m just your basic plainjane knitter - I pretty much stick to patterns and do basic stitches. One of these days . . . I might break out and do something more daring.

or not . . . guess we’ll just have to wait and see if that ever happens.

So - what is on YOUR needles at the moment? Fun socks? Fun felted objects?

I must remember to tell you (note to self and all that) about a trick that a woman I met at the writers conference uses - it’s not a new trick or anything like that - but it could be useful.

But, I’m going to be all mysterious and leave you with those thoughts . . . what in the WORLD was that knitting passion person talking about?????

socks, fun, grandbabies, gramma, knitting, needles, wip

Mosaic Yarn Shop has again been featured on their local news - the great sewing party will be Saturday. You can read more about all of that on their site.

It sounds to me like they have well exceeded their original goal - at least that is what it sounded like the reporter said. It sounds like she says they have over 5000 squares! Bravo to all of you knitting folks out there! That is remarkable for a (really) short period of time.

It just shows how much heart knitters/crocheters/PEOPLE have - when there is a need. A lot of love and prayers went into the production of the squares. I’m sure that a lot of love and prayers will go into the constructing of the blankets from the squares.

Go, Hokies!

mosaic yarn shop, hokies, hokie spirit, hokie healing, hokie squares, knitting, blankets

yeah - tribute to an old movie there - what can I say - I’m an old knitter, thus the old quotes or references to old quotes.

451 Press has begun a beta program for bloggers to place homebuilt headers onto their sites. I’m not a great graphic designer by any means - and apparently the 451 software knows that. I’ve attempted to upload my weinie graphic several times and refreshed several times as well - and, welllllllllllllllllll - yeah, I don’t see it, either.

back to the drawing board - tomorrow is another day - platitudes and gratitudes all around.

Designing daughter has new graphics up at Watching Survivor - AND - Watching Rachael Ray! And, I must say that the WRR one . . . to die for, m’dear. Or, maybe that should be “to dye for” - you deserve a color treatment today! Yes, you do.

all that and EVOO, too!

That daughter of mine - sure am glad we helped get her through school (babysitting does TOO count for something!) If you need help with YOUR banner graphics, call Lessa!

me?

Lessa? somebody hellup the gorl, please? (later - when I’ve had some sleep I’ll come back to it, too - later, later, later . . .)

later folks. It is time for me to move on for the time being. You all enjoy your Thursday, now, y’hear?

knittingly blog . . . heh

Well, I was going to tell you all about a contest over at Allison’s Blue Blog, but I think it might be over. However, if you’ve a mind to do so, go on over and visit her site - and enter if you read the post differently than I do. It looks to me like it might have ended on Sunday, but I could be mistaken in that supposition, also.

At any rate, Lessa and I had a lovely drive home Tuesday from Homer after the conference was over. We are both tired - yawned all the way home - and, while I don’t know for sure about her, I plan to hit the sack early.

After I dropped her at her house, I had to go in to work for awhile in order to get some files ready for an early morning meeting (it’s not really a meeting, but that’s all I can say about it here). Then hubby and I went out to dinner at a favorite restaurant. He had been working hard all day, too, and we were both too tired really to cook. So, out we went.

I am going to have to cook tomorrow - I’ve had restaurant style foods all week long - or so it seems - and too much is too much, you know?

Oh, one of the knitters during the conference gave me her card so we can touch base later - she and her hubby own and operate the Snoozin’ Moose Inn in Anchorage. I visited the website a little while ago and there are a couple of pages that have wonky coding or something. I’ve let her know, but thought I would share the site with you anyway - who knows when you might be in Anchorage, Alaska needing a place to stay, right?

And, just because I can - and just because I love living in this great and varied land, I am going to share a gorgeous view with you. Taken from the deck of the Land’s Inn in Homer yesterday:

Kachemak Bay

Don’t you want to be out there in some sort of boat enjoying the water? Look at all the variations of blue . . .

hmmm - I started with blue and end with blue. Have a great Wednesday, everyone!

kachemak bay, blue, knitting, homer alaska, moose

I am at the Writers Conference still - we have half a day left. The past couple of days have been gorgeous - sun and blue skies. The wind kicked up today, however, which leads to quite a bit of wave action on the Bay. When I get back home I will post some pictures of the area and then post an address where you can see them if you so choose.

In the meantime, as this is a knitting blog - and in honor still of Knitting in Public, I tried all evening Monday to get a really good shot (sneakily) of one woman who had gorgeous wooden knitting needles. I was trying not to be intrusive and still get the shot.

Below the table at her feet sat her working dog - a very large black poodle. (Standard, maybe?) She was one of several workshop attendees who knitted during the several readings.

I hope to find a yarn shop before we leave town Tuesday. If I do I’ll let you know in Wednesday’s entry. For now, I am off to dreamland - as I post this in Alaska it is just past 11 pm Alaska time Monday night, but after midnight elsewhere, so for all intents and purposes it is now Tuesday.

See you soon.

yarn, knitting, yarn shop, homer alaska, kachemak bay writers conference

So, as I mentioned before, Saturday, June 9th, was World Wide Knitting in Public Day.

As promised, I carried my knitting along with me to Homer, Alaska - where I am attending the Kachemak Bay Writers Conference with daughter, Lessa. And, Saturday I carried my felted bag along with a pair of socks I have just placed on needles.

see . . . ?

Then Lessa and I attended a public reading by the conference keynote speaker, Amy Tan, at the local high school where I found that I was not the only person recognizing the day:

see . . . ?

I had to take this shot on the sly and in the dark so had to use photoshop to get it light enough to be seen - thus the grainy, almost artistic view.

Sunday someone else was knitting during the opening workshop and she and I talked for a few minutes - we shook our heads over needing a special day - special permission - during which we could knit in public. She, like I, knits pretty much wherever she goes.

And, so - there ya have it. Our knitting in public day in Homer, Alaska. Life is good - and so is the conference. I’ll be back tomorrow.
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knitting, knitting in public, amy tan, kachemak bay writers conference, homer alaska, lessa, watching rachel ray, watching survivor, knitting passion