Knitting Passion

Admittedly, I am NOT one to follow fashion. Sometimes that is a GOOD thing. Reading this article today about the best of the worst fashion fads only to discover that the poncho AND the shrug are no-nos. A quick look for patterns to share with you found the one pictured here which is listed as a poncho-shrug. So, two for the price of one.

The author of the snarky piece about the best of the worst says to make a commitment and wear a shawl or sweater or nothing, but for heaven’s sake, forget the shrug. lol poor fella - for it could only be a fella who wrote such drivel, huh?

There are times when it is ONLY my arms that are cold - when I am sitting at my computer, when I am watching tv while knitting or crocheting - when I am paying bills (WAIT! I am cold ALL OVER when I am paying bills hahaha) - and I don’t want a WHOLE sweater or to cover up with an afghan because then I would be TOO HOT!

Hmmmm - menopause might have something to do with all that.

Nahhhhhhhhhhhhh

At any rate, while the article shows several fads I am glad we no longer suffer through (can anyone say GIGANTIC shoulder pads - or - shiver - MULLET???) I still think ponchos look cute on little girls and shrugs are great for an evening of tv shivering on a cold-ish Alaskan evening.

How about you? What is the ONE thing you HATE to see someone wearing - whether hand knit or store bought? Comment below.

Yes, I said the word . . . or rather, I typed the word . . . SEX - and added Safety to it - and added Knitting to it, too. What do these all have in common?

Read the story at A Little Red Hen.

You see, I have grandchildren who are getting to THAT age (gasp!). You know the age to which I’m referring . . . the age of dating (again with the GASP!) and seeking their mates - finding their own way in the world. I want them to be S.A.F.E.! So, I was excited - well, that might not be the right word - but, still I was excited to find a page with something I could knit for the Girl to carry with her - AND - for the Boy’s (future . . . please let it be future) girlfriend to carry with HER when they do go out.

It’s a simply knit “Condom amulet” to be worn - holding one or a few condoms. There are a few patterns . . . Corn Silk Condom Amulet, Ball Band Cotton Condom Keychain Amulet, bra and breast pouch amulets, and some others.

But as you read the information on the above site . . . you’ll see that it is not just the young folk who are at risk for HIV and other diseases. Women in their later years - who’ve been out of the dating scene for awhile - don’t often think of using condoms for safety. After all, condoms are for helping guard against pregnancy, right?

Right . . . AND, they help prevent HIV, Aids, and other diseases. Read HIV Wisdom for Older Women and learn why it’s important.

After you know the importance, why not make a fashion statement? Knit up several of these amulets and then fill them to wear on those important dates. In this day and age, YOU need to be pro-active in protecting yourself.

The Boy? The Girl? Nana is going to be making some of these - you take care! Love ya!

You big boobie . . . it used to be a taunt of us kids, one against another . . . and the adults used to laugh and laugh and laugh - and we had no idea WHY they were laughing . . . until we were older ourselves and realized what we were saying in THEIR eyes.

Boobies . . . we all got ‘em.

Boobies . . . used to make me blush to say the word once I knew what I was saying and what it made others think about when I said it.

BREASTs is how I taught my daughters to say the word - it’s not tits or boobs or boobies - the word is breasts. We call our body parts by their proper names.

And, so I sit here to tell you about boobies . . . yup, I can say the word now and not blush (too much) and I can talk about one of my favorite, pet, projects . . . breast cancer awareness.

My mom’s sister - Aunt Mickey - died of breast cancer in 1972. My mom’s other sister’s daughter (my cousin) Marsha died of breast cancer a few years ago.

I don’t want my daughters to join them - I don’t want to join them - before our time (whatever THAT means). And, so I fight to help eradicate breast cancer.

Several years ago I took part in the Pony Express (motorcycle) Tour for Breast Cancer - flying out to Montana, borrowing a motorcycle (later wrecking it - sigh!) and riding a leg in the tour, after having raised over $2000 for the Susan G. Komen Foundation.

I’ve supported various fundraising efforts to get the word out - or to help someone who has the disease.

I’ve been an advocate of breast health self-care . . . do YOU perform a monthly bse? (breast self exam) Do YOU see your doctor on a yearly (at least) basis to have him/her perform a more thorough breast exam? Do YOU have your mammogram each year?

Check
Check
Check

And, friends, don’t think that just because you’re a GUY, you can’t get breast cancer . . . because you can. So, you need to do the same things . . . although that mammogram might REALLY hurt you!

But, this is a knitting blog, right? So, I have LINKS for you -

The Knitting Experience Cafe is holding a Boob-a-thon. Go over and read all about it.

Do you wanna make one/some of the boobies????
Lactation Consultants of Great Britain has a pattern on this page.

So does Knitty.

By the way, this is not necessarily just for a fundraiser or awareness raiser (although QUITE the way to go about both), but many use these knitted boobies INSTEAD of the silicone replacements. They say they are not as hot or heavy.

Caution, however . . . don’t use wool (ouchy, scratchy, itchy, HOT) - instead use one of the softer cottons.

Go for it, friends . . . be a boobie (maker) and make your mark on the word. THAT’s where (t)its at, you know!

Typical night of web browsing for me . . . click here, follow a link there . . . HEY! How did I get HERE? Yeah, that kinda night.

I was over at Ravelry.com and found a question from someone wanting to know what to knit her sister (in-law?) who was going through a divorce. Lots of suggestions were bandied about from making her a prayer shawl to keep her wrapped in love during the tough times . . . to a bag in the shape of her ex.

Links were posted to a contest (now over, dratitall!) called My Ex is Full of Knit!

BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! Oh, me, oh, my! I love the play on words - you’ll, maybe, love the play on hubby’s likeness:
The winner was chosen - Barf Bag - Oh, I could do so much with this - if I were more rested, but it’s bedtime and I’m NOT rested. Nevertheless, here is the picture:
Go on over to the page and check out some of the other entries. Snark rules!

You might check out the rest of the store, too . . . there are some free patterns availalbe for purchase and download. There are some really interesting things for both knit and crochet - AND - for free or to purchase.

My Ex is availalbe as a download (pdf) for only $1. Sure can’t beat that price in an alley, cat! (ba-da-bum-bum! Swish!)

And . . . if you’re feeling LUCKY (do ya, punk? huh?) or just want to help someone reach a goal, check out the Mega Knits raffle and help send someone off to fulfill a missionary dream. The yarns available as prizes are YUMMY looking - erm . . . kindly disregard this post . . . I’m thinking of donating and, thus, entering . . . maybe I don’t want to share! Nahhhhhhhhhh - just kidding - go on over and ENTER!

thank ya, thank ya very much!

Carpal tunnel syndrome can occur in people of any age, but it most often occurs in people 50 or older. The condition occurs more commonly in women than in men. Younger people, usually men between the ages of 20 and 40, sometimes develop carpal tunnel syndrome as a result of stressful activity that involves heavy use of the wrist and the heel of the hand.

Dr. Donnica says limit or lay off the things that make your hands ache, tingle, go to sleep. Sigh.

Since I’ve begun knitting more I’ve noticed that the numbness and tingling in my hands and forearms hve increased dramatically. Now it is beginning to affect my sleep as well. Last night I was only able to stay in bed a couple of hours and then I got up to sleep upright in my chair. The sensation was lessened, but I still did not sleep well.

I’ve been told by a couple of doctors that I have carpal tunnel syndrome - and they have both suggested the need for surgery eventually. My youngest daughter suggested splints to wear to bed - and I will likely look for them while shopping this week . . . if I remember to add them to my list. (ha! senior moments rule!)

To add to this misery - my job consists of a LOT of computer time - actually my last 20-25 years of work has consisted of computer time. Of course, I also spend time on the computer either here or my own site or Ravelry.

What’s a gal to do? I make my livelihood doing the one thing and I thoroughly enjoy doing the other.

It’s hard to know what to do.

I checked out some web sites:
Here’s a Knitty.com article about the subject.

and a Discuss Crafts article.

I just may try these. Lord knows that $80 is a lot cheaper than surgery - and worth a whole lot more for peace of mind.

I’ll try to make up my mind to see what is best for me. In the meantime - you all take care of YOUR hands and wrists and such - while I go out and try to “wake mine up.” ;/

The hype is getting hyper - the ads are getting weirder (get up early - lots of athletes showing their sport - and then talking about chicken for breakfast?!!!) and the bicyclists are taking it on the chin for wearing masks while they practice . . . can only mean one thing . . . yup, it’s closing in on the start of the Olympics.

Days and days of people who hardly ever leave their chairs in front of the tube watching ATHLETES with all capital letters working their stuff. Cheering them on. Maybe, just maybe getting inspired to go out and improve their own lots - that is, getting up and off the couch.

Meanwhile over on Ravelry the ravelympics (loosely based on the Yarn Harlot’s 2006 Knitting Olympics) are gearing up with many different teams choosing their patterns, buying the yarn, and getting ready to hunker down during opening ceremonies to begin their chosen projects, intending to work on those projects (and those projects alone) straight through each event to the closing ceremonies. The hope, of course, is that their project will be complete at the end of the closing ceremonies - and that it will FIT the intended recipient - and that it will LOOK GOOD! (or at least presentable)

Nope, I haven’t succumbed. I will be working as usual during the olympics and will be blessed to get to see any of the events I would like to see. Remember, we are in Alaska - and that means many of the events we would like to see (if it is anything like the winter olympics were) will be shown late at night or during my normal work day. Sigh.

And, nope, no tivo here - ah well. I will read all about it in the newspapers and online.

I’ll also watch to see what the ravelympians come up with during that time.

Of course, I could work on the second Share a Square afghan Shelly sent for me to piece together. I finished the first one a week or so ago - and NEED to get that second one pieced together. The pic there to the left is of the bags I knitted to send with some of the 140 afghans Shelly and crew took to Camp Sanguinity. Pretty colorful, huh? Hope the kiddos enjoyed them. I am making bags to go with the two afghans and will send them along when I send this box off to Shelly.

And, dish cloths . . . don’t forget the dish cloths . . . I can’t seem to stop making them!

life is good.

While I can apparently get in here to post (she says while she bites her cheek and crosses here eyes - because she can’t cross her fingers and still type, you see) for some reason I canNOT view either knitting passion OR big brother craze!!! Very interesting.

So, I will trust the YOU all can see this page - since Lessa of Big Brother Craze fame says SHE can see both my page AND her page . . . and I will continue to come in here to post - just as long as the posting fairies allow me to do so.

Soooooooooooooooo who is gonna win the Big Brother Craze comment contest? That, my friends, is what I want to know - AND why I peek in (or attempt to peek in) to see just how many comments there are on that post.

I will also ask Ms. Lessa to check to see how many folks have commented here, so I can pull a name (or two) out of a hat for a special prize. I will email you from prplmoose AT kenaiwriter DOT net to get your snail mail address, okay?

Meanwhile . . . hubby is in the other room watching Fog or some such jump and runner on the tv. He loves jump and runner movies - he mostly enjoys watching me jump at the scary parts while he tries to pretend that HE did not jump you see.

And in other news, the littlest miss came down with her younger brother and her cousin to get snacks from Nana and PawPaw. Soon she came back in with a big worried look on her face “Nana, I fell on my bike and scratched your car - it has big white mark on it.” I told her that she probably didn’t hurt it much as PawPaw had already scratched it when he pulled his motorcycle out of the garage.

So, we all went out to look and I walked to the PawPaw damage - “see, sweetie, PawPaw marked it, you didn’t.”

Sniffle . . . “no, Nana - on THIS side, see?”

“Oh, THAT mark. Well, sweetie, you just made a match to PawPaw’s - it’s okay.”

Cousin looked up and said “I think she was afraid you would be mad.”

Nahhhhhhh - stuff happens. The car is paid for and likely to be the last new car we buy - it runs fine and I now have special marks - one from Paw-Paw, one from an ornery moose that jumped over the back of the car last year, and now one from the Ladybug. It just needs a few more love marks from the other grandbabies and daughters, huh?

and, look what my ravelry swap partner sent me. It’s a gorgeous dish cloth and ball of dish cloth cotton. I’ve not used either colorway, so am well pleased. Thanks Andanteknitter!

Allrighty, friends. I am going to post this puppy and cross my fingers that you all can see it. Have yourselves a WONDERFUL weekend!

Do you all realize that TODAY is the LAST DAY of July? Holy mackerel - where in the world has our year gone? I have my window open to take advantage of the breeze - it is actually H.O.T. outside today - remember, I live in Alaska. It is TOO hot when it is in the high 60s.

One of the advantages of having the window open, though, is that I can hear two of my granddaughters playing with two little girls next door. They have the doll house set up on the lawn and are busily marrying off barbiesandkensandbarbiesandbarbies. THEY have NO clue that today is the last day of July. To them, summer will go on forever - or at least until school starts in a few weeks.

In the crafty, knitty, crochet-y world . . . here is a video that is making the rounds today over at Ravelry and other places I frequent. It’s G.G. the Green Granny (or, actually Granny Gertrude, aka GG). The only thing the reporter didn’t mention is the name that we all use for plastic bag yarn - plarn. He’s young, maybe he’s still teachable.

Hey . . . time’s drawing close for the announcement of the winner for Lessa’s Big Brother Craze - bloggy world - comment contest. Follow the link, go on over there, and leave your comment. Cool prizes to be had. Let’s get her up and over the 100 comment mark, okay?

And, if you have left me a comment this week, you will also be entered into a little contest of my own. It won’t be for the cozy (I only made one), but for something special out of my stash. I will contact you after Lessa makes her announcement tomorrow - and then will ask you to send me your mailing address. I promise I will only use it for good.

Here’s a pretty piccie for you: the teddy bear love cloth that I gave to Ms. B for her birthday. (which, btw, is TODAY! Happy birthday, friend!)

Yup, I love to watch So You Think You Can Dance. I was a tad confused tonight when Cat Deely began saying something about it being Thursday and an elimination night and I was all “Wha? Honey, what day IS it?”

Of course, it was a rerun of last Thursday night’s show followed by the new one-hour show.

And, what a show it was! The judges said they were so glad they were not judging tonight. I’m with them. Every time I think I have my favoritest favorite - the next couple dances and I flip flop. Sigh.

Twitch is AWESOME! Mark and Joshua . . . as well. Of the wimmin, I really, REALLY like Courtney, but I think she is destined to leave next week. That is sad. And, I think that Mark is the one destined to leave next week for the guys.

But . . . . . . this is a KNITTING blog, not a dancing blog. Knitting is what I was doing during the show - and, boy are my hands STIFF now. I cast on two of the baby feet cloths and am working them on the same needles. You might think that means they would be done more quickly, but such is not the case. You have twice as many rows to do this way. The one sure thing is that you can be sure to do both cloths alike - if you are paying attention.

Granddaughter came down to switch out some laundry and came in for a goodnight kiss - I had all the stitches but ONE on the right hand needle and her hug popped that last stitch right off the left hand needle . . . and onto the right hand needle! She saved my stitch without even knowing it.

This is one of the dish cloths I knitted for my friend’s birthday. It’s a bit hard to read, but says CAMPING IS IN (TENTS) - the last is not a word, but two tents. (Lighten up - you’re too tents!) Heh.

Waving hello to Ginny, a new commenter (new visitor?). She also commented over at Big Brother Craze. Have you commented there? Why not? Don’t you like prizes? hahahaha

One of the groups I joined at Ravelry is hosting a dish cloth exchange in July. I had the option of signing up for one name or two names to send a new dish cloth and a ball of cotton yarn.

I chose two people and sent off two envelopes last week after the partners were announced.

By choosing two, my name was then matched up with two people - and look what I received in the mail yesterday from one of them - aren’t those colors gorgeous? And the cloth was done from one of the patterns of the week that the group posts. The ball of yarn Anna sent me is in baby colors which is cool, because it is perfect for a project making the baby feet cloths for a group known as Birth to Five. I have the pattern already because I made it for Ms. S last year. (she wears a baby feet lapel pin so I thought it was a natural for her)

I didn’t try that pattern, although I have completed several of the others. They are generally quick to work up and make nice cloths. The group seems really nice - I haven’t noticed any backbiting or the like. I guess if people are nice enough to make dish cloths for other folks, they must just be nice all around, huh? (please understand that MOST of the people I’ve run across over at ravelry seem to be VERY nice people . . . but there is always that one, you know?)

So - have you checked out Lessa’s Big Brother contest???? Why not???? Get on over there and join in the fun. Leave a comment and have a good chance at winning one of the prizes. I wrote about it in a previous entry. Lessa wrote about it here.

I knitted a couple of prizes for her to give away - and you need to comment on HER site to have a chance at winning one of those. Buuuuuuuuuuttttttttt . . . if you comment on that entry of mine, I just might throw something into the pot for one of the knitting passion readers, too.

How’s THAT? Go on, you know you wanna!

Well, allrighty then! Have we got a contest for you . . . we being Lessa over at Big Brother Craze, that is . . . with a teensy bit of help from the passionate knitter here.

The object is for you to go on over to visit Ms. Lessa and leave a comment on her contest post. Every post there will be eligible for a prize - and, just wait until you see the prizes my friends!

There is a coffee mug, a beer stein, a sticker, a cozy for your to-go frou-frou coffee, and a coffee cup dish cloth. Oh, this is WAY too much fun. And, there will be special prizes for the 50th, 100th, 150th, etc. commenter on that Big Brother Craze post.

It’s all in conjunction with a giveaway over at Bloggy. You know you like contests. I know you like contests . . . so hurry on over to Lessa’s and get your Big Brother comment in.

So . . . who do you think will be eliminated? Angie or Jessie? Hmmmmmmmm? And, who will hold POV?

Would YOU eat pig’s feet (knuckles, lips, ears) if that was what was offered to you - even if they were cooked really, really well . . . and covered with lots (LOTS!) of barbecue sauce to cover the taste, or the looks, or the THOUGHT of what you were about to eat?

Would YOU have been able to follow Renny’s shouted instructions on which sock to put on the board - and if you could not have done that, would YOU pout because it lost you the wine for the week?

Tell us, tell us true . . . just what would YOU do?

(do I sound remotely like I know what the heck I’m talking about? hahahahahahahaha)

p.s. there just might be a special prize listed here later this week for those of you who make a comment to THIS post. Are ya hooked yet?

All the better to knit, my dears . . or shop for yarn, my dears . . or . .

Two of my friends and I drove to Anchorage Saturday - our plan was to stop at Mt. Alyeska in Girdwood, ride the tram to the top and have lunch to celebrate Ms. B’s birthday. Unfortunately, the weather was not very cooperative and we could not make ourselves spend the money to go up if we would then not be able to see much.

Soooooooo, much laughter and conversation ensued as we tried to decide where we would have our lunch in Anchorage . . . and what we would do afterwards before heading back to the Kenai.

Lunch decision first: Bear Tooth! It’s been awhile since I’ve been there, and I think Ms. S had never been so we were off and running . . . and lost . . . okay - I don’t call it lost. I call those extra twists and turns “tourist miles.” We did several tourist miles until we got ourselves turned in the right direction and “THERE - it’s right THERE!” Ta-dah! We had NO doubt we could find it. (Thanks Mr. S for helping to hone us in by way of cell phone!)

Lunch was good, although Ms. B and Ms. S ordered the fish taco and got the Baja fish taco, which are two different tacos and they were a bit disappointed. But they decided it was very good nonetheless. I had a half favorite salad (oriental with sesame dressing - yum) and a slice of pepperoni pizza.

Ms. B opened her pressies and was happy to receive 6 new dishcloths and some frou-frou soap. Yay!

After that we went across the road (how convenient was our choice for lunch - a LYS right across the street!!!!) to Far North Yarn Company. We fondled and oooohed and ahhhed over the different yarns - we chatted a bit with Kay (the owner) and her daughter (sorry, I forgot your name!) and peeked in on Kay’s knitting class and chatted a bit with the other knitters there. (yes, I bought yarn!!! No, I’m not sure what it’s for . . . yet)

I asked Kay if I could take a picture of the store to post here - and asked her to pose. Such gorgeous pretties, Kay! We had a wonderful time looking . . . and buying (or course). Hope to come back again soon.

After the stop at FNYC we went to the Yarn Branch at the Quilt Tree store - and, amazingly, I was the one who came out without buying anything. Who’d a thunk it? (yeah, me either!) Both Ms. S and Ms. B found things they liked. Yay.

A stop at an antique store was next on the list - Ms. B was looking for something specific - Ms. S and I were just looking. While we didn’t find exactly what Ms. B was searching for, she did find something that she liked and it came home with us.

We decided to stop at a Michael’s next - well, actually I went there while the others went to the Sportsman’s store first. I found some dishcloth cotton - 608 yard skeins of Sugar N Cream for only $5! Couldn’t pass that up.

We had a stop at Wally-world (a must, of course) before heading on back down the road.

It was a lovely time, spent with dear friends. We laughed and we cried and we did both at the same time. What more could you ask?

Welcome to this summer’s Alaska . . . rain and more rain and still MORE rain. Sheesh! It is no wonder people are cold and grumpy and just plain old sourdoughs. (You know what makes an Alaskan a sourdough? S/he’s sour on Alaska, but doesn’t have enough dough to leave - rim shot!)

But still . . . it was in the low FORTIES!!! this morning. Even I, queen of needing all things about her cool, even I had to turn on the heater in the car this morning. Big sigh!

In all things knitting related, however . . . I have finished another dish cloth for my friend’s birthday basket - hopefully she is not peeking in here to see what I’m up to - but I won’t be sharing pictures until after Saturday.

Three of us, including the birthday friend, will be driving up towards Anchorage, stopping at Mt. Alyeska in Girdwood. We’ll take the tram up to near the top of the mountain and have lunch there - probably take pictures - for SURE we will gab and have a good time together before heading back down the mountain.

After that . . . drive on those last 35 or so miles into Anchorage to look for - what else - clothes and YARN!!! Whoot! Yes, planning on looking for the Far North LYS. I haven’t been there yet, and everyone is all a-twitter about it, so NEED to go see what all the fuss is about.

Friend wants to do some clothes shopping, too . . . so that ought to be fun as well.

Here’s Patti’s first ever sock! She is one of our “Soldotna knitters” who I met through Ravelry. Congrats, Patti. We have now corrupted you! Come to the dark side . . .

And, for all of you Big Brother fans out there . . . Lessa over at Big Brother Craze and I have teamed up to put a contest together. Watch her site for details - contest starts the 28th. Come on, you KNOW you want to know what the “hampsters” are doing.

There is even a BB group over at Ravelry! Yes, I’m a member - even though I have only seen a complete episode of the show ONE time. Heh. Ollie is my man . . . but, ooooweeee . . . you should see him after dark! Oh, my oh, my oh, my!

This thread came across on Ravelry . . . What would happen to your stash if you died? (note: this is a YARN stash, people, not the other kind - lol) The woman who started it was on a boring drive home from a 300+ mile trip and wondered just what would happen to her yarn if she was in an accident and . . . well, you get the picture.

My thoughts went right to Squitchinglady who I wrote about here. Wonder if SHE has written a will leaving her beloved stash to someone who she knows would take care of it and use it in a good way. (that’s a picture of SOME of her stash there above.)

Nah, mine’s not in my will. I named the other things that were important to me - wedding rings, other special rings, charm bracelet, etc. THOSE things I named - but not the yarn. Hmmmm - guess I could think about it - but there are a lot of you out there who could step up and request. My girls would honor me by honoring your request. Yup, they would.

Not that I have that big of a stash - well certainly not as big as Squitchinglady’s. But, I have SOME yarn here and there (don’t forget to look behind my chair!)

I thought I might be adding a coupla balls today . . . but somebody beat me to them. Oh, well. That’s life. I’m sure it happened the way it was meant to happen.

But, you know . . . there is just something sad about going to a yard sale or estate sale and seeing someone’s yarns - there only because someone passed away or was put into a nursing home or something. They look all squished and forlorn . . . and the people selling them have NO clue of their intrinsic worth - that would be their worth to their owner, not necessarily to the new person fondling them.

And, even sadder is when those yarns don’t sell and they come into our shelter on donie day - scrunched up in between books that didn’t sell either.

They go to good use, though . . . but wouldn’t it be more fun to gift your stash while you’re still living and able to see the smiles on the recipient’s face? Yeah, I think so, too.

Okay, folks . . . let’s try for two days in a row, shall we?

It’s a blustery Sunday afternoon - well, early evening I guess. We’ve had lots of wind today, but since it has blown away the rain clouds, I am not going to complain. We’ve had sun, more sun, and even more sun on this Sunday.

So, what’s up with you and knitting? Myself . . . lots of dish cloths finished and either in the works or planned - planned, you know . . . the patterns have been printed off - now I just have to cast them on and get them done. Sounds like the stuff to do while “watching” tv with the hubby.

Some folks have told me they can’t knit and watch tv - well, surely one of them will suffer. In my case, it’s the watching tv part that suffers. I am basically there next to hubby while he watches. It seems to work out well for both of us.

This is an Alaska dishcloth made for a Ravelry swap. I made two, actually, and sent them off to two different people. I added the “8 stars of gold” in honor of Alaska’s 50th anniversary for statehood. (that is actually 2009, but it is all the news now as the state makes its plans for its “big” birthday bash.) I also did fish cloths (rim shot) in honor of our salmon fishery. Found a pattern for a fishy afghan, did three fish up in dish cloth cotton, sewed them together and there you have it . . . a fishy cloth. They turned out pretty cute, too. See?

Hope my swappees like them. I should be receiving a cloth from two different people (since I chose to send to two, I will receive from two) soon. Well, soon is relative, of course. The deadline to send is the 26th. I started on my cloths right away - only waited to see who I was matched up with in order to choose a ball of cotton to send along with - waited to see what their fave colors were. Some folks appear to have waited until they were matched to decide what to send. It’s all good.

And, hey . . . run over and check out Lessa’s Big Brother Craze! She and I are working together on a little project for a CONTEST!!!!! Stay tuned for more information - and rules - and all that kinda stuff!