Knitting Passion

Yesterday I told you about Jess at Sticks and Strings. Last night while watching SYTYCD (what??? You don’t know what that means? sigh. So You Think You Can Dance, of course) I cast on the Lake Ariel cloth. It is a super easy pattern of only four rows. It works up really pretty, but there is an error in the number to cast on. I’ve let Jess know, so she will likely change it soon. If you decide to try it before . . . or just want to make sure . . . it should be CO 41 (not 42) to make the pattern work out right.

I’m doing it in a cream color - hers was done in a gorgeous green - and I think it will look really nice when it is completed.

I’ve completed another tweed cloth and another petal cloth - I haven’t take pictures yet, but will post them when I do.

So, for now, I’ll share some more pictures of the cloths finished for the fall ladie’s retreat. This is the Lace Curtain cloth by Patricial Lawrence (meowmama).

This is a really super easy cloth to knit up. Again, it is a simple four row pattern stitch. You should know YO (yarn overs) and P2SSO (pass two, slipped stitches over). They are easy to catch on - and there is help out there for you if you need it.

Another beautiful cloth is the Lilacs on the Verandah cloth from Keeping You in Stitches.

I am drawn to this pattern firstly because I love lilacs - we had a huge bush next to our rental house when I was growing up. My mom loved flowers of all kinds and had roses, the lilacs, four o’clocks, and many others.

My own lilac bush here in Alaska has never bloomed. The moose keep it pretty well pruned and it has just never gotten there in all these years. At least I have a pattern to keep me in mind of the flowers.

Yeah, I know . . . lots of dish cloths - what else can I knit? Well, I am about out of dish cloth cotton so it may be time to dip into the sock yarn stash . . . . . . .

ha ha ha

Today marks the end of my three month stint as interim executive director. As such, today was just a bit on the overworked side. And, I’m still not quite ready to meet with my boss tomorrow.

Almost - but not quite. I do have the biggest hurdle ready for her to jump. It, of course, is the biggest headache, the one thing that has caused me no end of grief and stomach upset. By the time I left this afternoon I was more than nauseous.

It may be the flu.

I know it is not the flu.

Good thing my boss loves me. Good thing I know how to read (and follow) the Policies and Procedures manual, huh? Yup, good thing.

Of course, all of this has left me (very) little time to knit - and even LESS time to blog about knitting. So, you see several empty spots in this blog over the past month - okay, over the past THREE months. Sorry ’bout that, everyone. I will try my best to do much better.

Orrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr - who knows, there might be a NEW person waiting to take over the blog. I guess only time will tell that tale.

So, I’ve been looking for a new (to me) sock pattern to use up my Tofutsies yarn and found the Tidal Wave over at Southwest Trading Company that I think I’m going to try. It calls for circulars - I’ll probably try it on dpns because that is what I’m used to. Maybe some day I will get brave enough to try something new - maybe - maybe not.

I do like the looks of the leg of this sock, though. And, since I live in Alaska (where I make my own fun, I might add), something named Tidal Wave just seems to fit. (what with our propensity towards earthquakes and the like)

Picture from the website.

Take care - I’ll see you next time.

Oh, my - these are some great (80’s throwback) colors for yarn . . . Jelly Yarns. I am loving the colors and I’m sure the granddaughters will as well.

In fact, I’m so sure, I’ve just ordered the belt and bracelet pattern, black yarn, and pink heart buckle for the Girl’s birthday.

They even offer free patterns. How very cool is that - and it is a great looking little purse, too!

These colors remind me of when Ladybug (my youngest daughter) competed in a scholarship pageant the summer between her junior and senior year in high school. For her talent she decided to sing “Anything you can do, I can do better” from Annie Get Your Gun. (side note - I was in that musical when I was in high school - long, long ago).

Deciding to try to impress the judges a bit, we went for an updated version of Annie toting her gun. Ladybug was decked out in the neon colors that were the rage back then - guess that was actually the 90s that the colors were so vibrant and NEON.

It was also when the super soakers first came out - so, Ladybug wore bright colored tights, shorts, suspenders and shirt with a jaunty little tam on her head. In her hand she carried one of the super soakers. She had greens and yellows and pinks and oranges covering herself. It was really a cute outfit and she wore it well.

Unfortunately - or perhaps not unfortunately as God has it all in His power at all times anyway - she did not place in the pageant and we came back to Alaska to carry on with our lives. Don’t know about her, but I would not have given up that trip with her. It was great fun to visit Iowa and Illinois (the pageant was in Illinois) and see the sights while she was so busy practicing for the pageant.

I saw Ronald Reagan speak at Truman’s Library (? I think it was Truman’s - somebody out there help this old gal remember whose library is where) on the Iowa side of the river. I also visited all of the Amana Colonies and experienced a glorious midwestern thunderstorm. I LOVE the rain, so gloried in it while the folks at the Miniature Barn grumbled.

I also suffered a bout of heat stroke. But I am fully recovered all these years later.

Memories from a ball of yarn. Pretty cool!

Bag Ladies and Gents still needed. Read about the project here and contact me at prplmoose AT kenaiwriter DOT net if you’d like more information or would like to contribute. THANKS!

At my daytime job part of my duties is to arrange for - or give - various trainings. Some are required trainings, while others are educational, entertaining, or plain fun. Some are a delightful mix of all of the above.

One of the latter occurred this week when I invited some of Kenai’s finest firefighters to come and teach us how to utilize fire extinguishers properly.

First, they started a fire in a burn barrel. They used plastic bags filled with newspapers and poured gasoline (!!) onto them, then ignited the lot with a barbecue fire starter. Oh, pyromania!

One by one, our staff members extinguished the fire (which was started over and over again) with the firefighters watching and coaching closely. Much fun ensued!

And, they, of course, made sure the fire was fully extinguished before heading back to the station.

Then, my brain tried to figure out a way to tie together knitting AND firefighting, and you know what? I can do that!!

Here is a blog written by someone who both knits and is a firefighter - for two different companies! Whoot! She also apparently is fond of breaking double point needles.

And, for my British friends - here’s a group of firefighters who helped make a calendar to raise money for some seniors. I love this comment: “We have such unlikely situations as a firefighter sitting in the garden being taught to knit by three older ladies and a polar bear being rescued from a tree (scared by fireworks!)â€? Yup, the story has a picture of the unlikely firefighter in the garden. Cute!

And, last, but never least . . . a pattern for firefighter’s socks - well, socks that reminded the crafter of ladders . . . thus of fires and firefighters.

I’m off to the big city tomorrow - driving up with a friend after swimming and a dental appointment. We will stop by the mall to see my pictures (hopefully) hanging in the Fur Rendezvouz Photo Contest, and have some lunch before we head back home. Oh, we’ll hit a couple of stores, I’m sure - a yarn store for absolute sure.

You all enjoy!

You know it’s almost spring when you hear about babies, babies, and MORE babies headed for a soft landing on this earth. Two of my longtime online buddies are going to be first time grandpas. And, while the situations (in both cases) are not 100% hunky dory, nevertheless, these two gents (did I mention they are both Brits?) will make stupendous Grand-das. Yes, indeedy.

So, I’ve been the knitting gramma from across the pond (also known as “that wacky ‘laskan” and other not so charming monikers - heh) and I’ve been knitting baby socks. I’ve sent some off to one of my friends and am ready to send some off to my other friend.

And, THEN, I found out that my dentist is going to be a first time dad this summer!!! Can we say MORE baby socks?? I knew we could.

But, not just socks . . . BOOTIES!!! How about these for an upcoming holiday . . . Booties go Bragh! from Vickie Howell. Or, you could knit her Hugs and Stitches newborn booties. key-ute!

And, for those feeling all goose-bumpy about babes, but not in the family way . . . nor even having a family man (so to speak) . . . here’s a quick and cute Boyfriend Scarf that just might help (or not).

okay, friends . . . you know how you do a search and click a link that has NOTHING to do with whatever you were originally searching for? Right? Right? And, it just happens to be one of the most interesting links you have seen that night? Right?

Yeah, like that . . . here’s a site for those who have no sight - braille knitting books! That’s very cool.

Ahhhhhhhhhhhh - it’s THAT time of the year again - cupid is tightening up his bowstring and sharpening the points on his arrows - NEWSFLASH! Cupid uses pointy sticks!

Heh - so do I - use pointy sticks, that is.

With The big day coming, of course my thoughts turn toward hearts - and lots of ‘em. What to do? What to make? Is there enough time? (nah, probably not . . . but you could make a good start for next year - or your anniversary - or something like that)

Here’s a heart dishcloth to knit. I’m not quite sure why the sample is done in GREEN, but, the sentiment is the same, I guess . . . I heart your dishes. Heh.

Are your lover’s tootsies a bit cold? Here’s a pair of valentine heart socks. Now, just how cool is that?

And, to top off your ensemble, here’s a valentine hat! Warm feet, warm head, big and warm HEART!!!

Speaking of warm hearts, don’t forget the bag project for Shelly’s Share a Square project. If you can whip up some bags for the afghan tags - and get them sent in to me that would be so cool. We are thinking bags large enough to hold 48 tags - approximately 3×5 or 4×6, I’m thinking those should be big enough. Actually, I think Yellow Rose suggested 8×10, but something tells me that might be too big.

At any rate - simple sewn bags, ornately beaded bags, ALL bags are welcome.

We hope to collect 140 bags - one for each afghan - before they are distributed to the kids at Camp Sanguinity this June. Wanna help? Drop me a note - prplmoose AT kenaiwriter DOT net. I will hook you up!

Time for a Share a Square update, I’m thinking. Shelly tells us that she now has all the squares she needs. She could use a few people to put black edging onto the squares and/or sewing an afghan or two together.

I’m finishing up one - one is completed and in the box to be returned - I should have this one finished by tomorrow and into the mail by the next day - Saturday at the latest.

I have the first row of black around the second afghan and will follow that with a colorful row and then another row of black. Then it is off to the Post Office.

Now, if you have not been able to help out the SAS (Share a Square) project, how about a HAP project? Even though Deborah has been busily collecting 6×9 inch squares for the HAP (Homemade Afghans Project) project, she has found time to also donate squares to Shelly’s SAS project. There are some very cool people out there in the great blue ether, aren’t there?

So - HAP - 6×9 inch squares can be knitted or crocheted (several patterns available at Deborah’s site), sent off to Deborah who finds volunteers to stitch them together. The finished - bed sized - afghans are packed up and sent to military hospitals where they are given to returning, wounded, troops.

It’s a worthwhile project if you have a mind to help out.

I’ll be headed to Anchorage next week for a two day conference for work. I have a skein of cream colored acryllic that will go along with me - to be made up into HAP squares. Won’t you join me?

So, I KNOW that you are all dying to know what is the latest project off the needles and the latest project that is ON the needles. Or, are you too busy trying to decide just what to feed the hungry hordes on New Year’s Day? (Click that link and Lessa will tell you all about what to do and what NOT to do . . . because we all know, Lessa knows best - except for her Mama, of course.) hahaha

Okay - for the curious among us, here is the latest from the needles - both off and on:

Okay - the color is TERRIBLE, but I wanted you to see the whole thing. The piece in the background, of course, is another “stocking” cap - yup, just like the one I made Lessa for Christmas. Lessa’s friend loved hers and I offered to make her one in her favorite color. She said yellow - and I happened to have a skein of yellow on hand, so, “J”, here ya go. As soon as you get me your address - or Lessa - then it will be on its merry way to you.

The pattern, by the way, is available online from knitty.com

It is actually more of a baby yellow in color - I’ll show you in a closeup picture of the other object there.

While this picture is blurry, it does at least show the color off a bit better.

Oh, and the object still on needles? It’s a baby sock - made out of leftover sock yarn - a pair being made for a certain friend of mine who is going to be a first time Grandpa this summer.

That link will take you to my home page entry about his wedding in 2006. He and his bride and their children all came to the US from the UK in order to be married by Elvis in Vegas. And, yes, this ‘laskan went to the wedding - where, I of course melted, as temperatures were in the 120 degree range. I was thus a “baked ‘laskan”, yes indeedy.

Now as my friends come up on their second anniversary, his daughter is going to present them with a first grandchild. He’s not so sure he is ready to be a grandpa, but we will talk him through it and he will love the little tyke immensely, I’m sure.

I’ll post a pic of the finished pair - perhaps tomorrow.

It’s getting closer . . . no, not Christmas. Well, okay, Christmas is getting closer, too. But what I was REALLY talking about is . . .

Christmas holidays for the school kids. Think of it as a mini-summer vacation time. They’ll only be home and under your feet for a couple of weeks, but they will be there.

So, the age old question is already being discussed at the dinner tables and by the parents in their rooms after the little darlings have gone on to bed . . .

WHAT DO WE DO WITH THE KIDS?

Because we all know that shortly after the big guy in red leaves and heads back to the northern reaches of the world . . . shortly after the last battery goes dead . . . shortly after the teeniest pieces of the most favorite toy in the world have been lost . . . it’s then, my friends, that your kiddos and my (grand)kiddos will set up a wail that can be heard miles and miles away . . . .

I’m BORED, Mom!

So gather up your project starters and get ready now - while you still have some of your sanity firmly in check.

Here are some ideas:

How about this Snowman Door Hanger? Made with canning jar lids and paints . . . just right for your school-aged kiddos to do - and the youngers with adult supervision and help.

Continuing with the snowman theme - look at this snowman jar. Way cute - and you COULD even KNIT his hat instead of using material for it.

And, another one in the theme: Frosty Days Jar Art.

Want something INSIDE the jar to warm you up? Try this recipe for Jalapeno Jelly. Yummy!

Hey, many thanks to JM at the Fiction Scribe. I appreciate your highlighting my request.

Loopty Loop . . . here we go loopty lie . . .

I think this looks like a fun project - a Loopy Scarf and Hatpattern found at Joann.com.

It’s at a skill level 2, so you would need SOME knitting expertise, but it looks simple enough. I always try to do projects a little outside of my comfort zone. It stretches me - AND - it teaches me as I stumble through the patterns.

That’s where a Local Yarn Shop (LYS) comes in so handy. It’s especially helpful when there are groups like the Friday Night Knitting Club held in your LYS. There is usually lots of laughter, lots of help, and lots of friendship developing. AND . . . you get rows upon rows completed - which, of course, means lots of projects completed. Way too cool, huh?

I know that every time I have been to the shop there have been people asking Zaynab questions - or asking other knitters questions - how to get out of a knitting pickle - how to do this or that stitch - sharing experiences - sharing joys and sorrows . . .

It can become a family away from your family. And, while I live 150 miles or so away, I have been made to feel more than welcome every time I have gone in. Even the hubby doesn’t have a problem going in. Well, okay, he is all right with it for a short while . . . and then he is ready to go back to the car to wait out my shopping spree.

Hope you are supporting the LYS in your neighborhood. Hope you’re getting those Christmas pressies finished, too. Have fun!

Ahhhh - the beauty of simplicity and quick knits!

In the past two days I have finished three hats - the Pup’s, TAT’s and Kinzie-bug’s. Pictures are below the cut - surpises and all that.

The girls’ hats are both done in the same yarn - shown on the left. The boy’s hat is on the right. And, I did his with an extra strand of dark blue worsted along with the main yarn. Gives it a bit more body.

So - that leaves me with two more to complete and then I will be finished (yeah, right) with the grandbabies. Then it is on to the Mama’s. And, yeah . . . I likely won’t be showing the mamas’ FOs here - at least not until after the big day. You understand, of course, because at least one of them reads here.

I have been crawling all over the ‘net looking for cool patterns. And, while shopping with the bugget yesterday (why, yes . . . all of our grandkiddos have nicknames - why do you ask?) I picked up Judith Durrant’s 101 One Skein Wonders and can just feel my fingers itching to get into some of those quick and easy and FAST (did I mention, FAST?) patterns. Wow!!!

There are socks and mittens and hats and toys and scarves and, and, and . . . you get the picture. So - break out your stash and get knitting - we are closing in quickly on the big day.

Oh, just checked and see that the finished afghans I sent off to Shelly on Saturday have arrived to her post office. They’re just waiting for her to pick up. It’s not too late, you know . . . you can STILL join in on the fun of helping to make some kids really happy when they arrive at Camp Sanguinity next summer.

More tomorrow . . . don’t forget to click Read the Rest to see the hats.

(more…)

Here’s a way to thank WWII Veterans . . . we can all Knit Our Bit and snuggle them up in something warm. For the past two years this project has been aiming to put a scarf around the neck of every WWII veteran.

You can read the FAQs here.

Here is the 2007 V for Victory Scarf Pattern

The 2006 pattern is also available as is a crochet version of the V for Victory scarf.

Grab your materials and begin knitting your scarf. If you belong to a knitting circle, why not make this a group project!

Mail completed scarf to:

The National World War II Museum
Knit Your Bit Campaign
945 Magazine Street
New Orleans, LA 70130

For questions or comments please contact Lauren at lauren.handley@nationalww2museum.org or call 504-527-6012 ext. 229.

Please include your mailing address, so they can recognize your generosity by sending you a certificate of participation and let the veterans know where the scarf has come from.
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From the website:

Knitting during World War II

On the Home Front during World War II, knitting served as one more way Americans could support the war effort. The November 24, 1941 cover story of the popular weekly magazine Life explained “How To Knit.� Along with basic instructions and a pattern for a simple knitted vest, the article advised, “To the great American question ‘What can I do to help the war effort?’ the commonest answer yet found is ‘Knit.’� Thousands of Americans picked up their needles to knit socks, mufflers, and sweaters to keep American soldiers warm and provide them with a home-made reminder of home.

“The Navy needs men, but it also needs knitters� newspapers cried. Church basements, school lunchrooms, and members-only societies all had knitters busily clicking their needles. Their handiwork was destined to warm and protect, and fated to suffer with the soldiers. After the war, some knitters dropped their needles for good. Others kept on knitting throughout their lives in a wide variety of colors – any color, many swore but Army-issued khaki or olive drab!

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Something new for you to consider as you think about your projects for your own family. Reach out and touch someone with your loving concern. Thanks!

btw - HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

Yeah, it’s all over at our house, too - only 7 tricksters and we are related to ALL of them. Ah, well. Lots of things were going on “in town” to keep the kids happy and safe - so it’s all good.

But, you and I both know . . . that next year if I do NOT purchase candy . . . there will be 692,000 goblins at my door. Right? Right. The neighborhood my boss lives it? Well, they have the dubious pleasure of hosting every kid who lives in our small town on Halloween. Parents will drive clear across town to that particular neighborhood and drop their kids off - the houses are close together - the streets AND sidewalks are paved - it’s a GOLD MINE as far as candy goes. Yeah, not fair perhaps, but it is the way it is.

In the meantime - here’s a pic of a couple of works in progress.

These are Christmas gifts - the bag on the left was requested by the oldest granddaughter. It is ready to be felted. On the right is a hat requested by the oldest grandson. It’s coming along rather nicely, considering I just put it onto the needles yesterday.

Speaking of Christmas presents . . . aren’t these just the cutest? I can soooooooo see the littlest grandboy toting a few of these around.

And, say there . . . if you are an American Idol fan, and/or you or someone you love has diabetes, check out Diabetes Health Talk today for information on a contest to win tickets to Elliott Yamin’s concert. He is “Inspired by Diabetes” and is helping to judge a contest. You can find the details in that entry.

You know . . . somebody is going to win . . . why shouldn’t it be you?

This should be one I can keep . . . giving home made for Christmas. As the grands have asked for certain things already - and those things being from the needles - I think I am on my way to keeping this pledge already.

I’d like to thank Summer at Creative Mom Cafe for the link and the idea. It’s not too late for you to get in on the fun . . . click on the buy handmade button above and go on over to sign up.

The bag for oldest granddaughter is coming along - but all of that stockinette stitch gets old after a bit - so I have to set it aside to either pick up something else to work on - or come back here to type about the latest projects.

either way . . . heh

If you’re looking for a new project . . . other than Shelly’s Share a Square, that is . . . check out the Jesse’s Branch Charity Crafts site. There are lots of ideas there, including Duffel Bags for foster kids. These are sewn, not knit, but worth looking into if you have time and the capabilities to do some up.

There are also patterns for baby sweaters and Christmas ornaments. How cute are they?!

I sent a batch of mini socks off to a charity that requested them awhile back and have been working on some for coworkers for Christmas gifts. I am thinking I NEED to do some of the little hats and sweaters and mittens, too. Maybe I will take in my Mom’s mini Christmas tree for my office and place some of the ornaments on it! Actually, I think they might dwarf the tree. Ah, well.

handmade Christmas gifts, mini socks, mini hats, mini mittens, mini sweaters, Christmas ornaments, charity

I am taking an annual leave day today - yesterday was a holiday for me - Alaska Day. It just felt GOOD to take an extra day off and I have PLENTY of annual leave to use, with little time to do so . . . so, here I am.

Have worked out this morning - only 23 laps in the pool today. I am still way ahead of where I was just 6 short weeks ago, but I did 3/4 mile yesterday! (27 laps) Daughter, Ladybug, forced encouraged those last two out of me. All in good fun, of course.

After pool, hubby and I took oldest grandson (15) out to breakfast - there is an In-service for the schools today so, no school! (and, his mama is off galivanting around CA with celebrity chefs and all that! Leaving us the delightful chore of watching her babies! - she’ll tell us all about that on her return)

Then we went to a garage sale hosted by an associate of mine - where we found a lawn mower for $40 (now that snow is coming, that is surely a necessity!) and goodies for the Boy and for some of the grands - unopened things that are PERFECT for Christmas gifts! And, I only spent $15 on them. Lessa and Ladybug will be very impressed.

I have been paying bills and straightening up the dining table since then and now hubby is resting from his all night shift and I am trying not to make too much noise - so I am here. Yay!

Hello to Summer at Creative Mom who is planning some winter knitting herself.

So . . . here’s something I am planning to do before Halloween - yikes! That is coming up SOON! Is that like FUN, or what?

Have an awesome weekend, everyone!

knitting, halloween, creative mom, swimming, garage sale, fun