A PUMPKIN HAT!

I have a friend whose baby is due today-

I thought a pumpkin hat would be welcomed!

I made it on the Sentro knitting machine with DK weight yarn.

 I also cast on for a top-down round yoke sweater. 

 So far, so good!

PLAYING WITH YARN

Here's something unusual-I cast on a new pair of socks for a change!  I usually make a pair a month but haven't knit any socks for a few months!  It is going well, though, 

and striped yarn is always pleasing to work with!

I also cast on for a newborn's sweater--I've made so many of these sweaters and I am doubting myself about the size--it is REALLY small.  I forget how tiny newborns can be!  

And I gave the intarsia-like crochet work a try-chosing to make just a sample from the pattern.  Other than not having enough contrast between the two colors for the star-I found I am glad I tried this kind of work but I will be checking this one off my list of skills and leaving it at that!  Too many strands to keep track of and ends to weave in! lol  But I did it!

 

FO AND FELINE FRIDAY!

 

The Gneiss Sweater (pronoun) is finished!  I had a lot of mis-starts and recounts but I got there eventually.

  The yarn is Premier Basix Mosaic in Zebra. 

The pattern is Yarnspiration 'Caron Top Down Knit Pullover'. 

It looks great with a pair of black jeans. 

 I have a few wintery days to still wear it!

I made the ribbing longer in the back by an inch

 and left it split so that it won't draw in.

Time to wash our faces and get going!

Ready for the day?!  Me, too.

 

TIME TO SEPARATE!

The count stayed perfect all through the increases

 and when it was long enough, it was time to put the sleeves

 on stitch holders (yarn) while I power on down the body! 

 It's nice to have this sweater working right!

 

JUST A SLEEVE

Since I am down with a virus of some sort, I am in bed, dozing and knitting as I am able.  I  figured out how to knit the sleeve from the cuff up-as opposed to picking up stitches and knitting down from the yoke as the pattern reads.  This way, I didn't have to haul the sweater around each time I knit a round on the sleeve!  I have the markers up the inside of the sleeve, marking the increases and leaving me a good path to follow (and notes) to make the second sleeve to match!  I have about 3" more to knit and then I will knit a few rounds in waste yarn.  Using waste yarn on both ends to join with grafting is a trick I use with the machine knitting and it is worth the little bit of extra work so you can SEE what you are doing! It is working beautifully in my head! 

 Today will see if my plan goes as smoothly in 'real life'!

 

KNITTING HAPPENED!

I made another flower petal dishcloth on the Sentro last night--I like it in the colors.  Since this has only 30 rows, it should be an easy project but the cotton yarn takes some extra handling so it is a slow machine knit but still very doable-especially when the results are fun and all of the little balls get used up!

Now here is a real slog!  I have finally finished the section of the body from the armholes to the hem!  I hope to breeze through the sleeves-I might just knit them in the round and graft them to the shoulders when I am done;  I don't look forward to hauling the body of the sweater around and around as I knit the sleeves!  At least the first fitting is good-I am looking forward to the blocking so the lacy yoke shows up better!  If the weather keeps in these below freezing numbers, I need to get it knit to wear sooner rather than later!

 

TOO FAST PACED!

On the road again! After church we headed out to enjoy another December birthday--it is wonderful to see the kids and make their day special!  On the way, I finished this month's block for Tunisian crochet.  As I smoothed it out on my lap, I realized there was a major goof in the middle--I had started across the row, gotten interrupted and came back across before finishing the row which made a 'short row increase' that is highly visible now-and the block isn't square!  It's ripped back and I will do it again; 

 it's a good thing it was a very enjoyable pattern! lol

I shifted to the socks I've been working on.

  Since they are man-socks they are taking longer 

but they are knit on #3 needles

 so it isn't labor intensive over just 60 stitches. 

 I do love the yarn and the results-

this is the second sock going up the leg so it won't be long now.

I was so tired when I got home last night, I forgot to blog. 

 The kitties were glad to see me and soon we were all slumbering!

Today, I will do a lot more resting and then drive only 2 minutes down the road for quilting group.  I have some binding to apply to that star quilt~

 

A SMATTERING

After church, we had lunch a I went to my room to nap. 

 And when I awakened, I made a hat on the Sentro,

 put a pattern repear on the latest block

 and am very close to finishing that cursed sock! 

 I had done four inches on the leg and realized I had done the wrong rib--more ripping out!  I can't believe how distracted I have been on the this pair of socks! 

 The other knitting went smoothly at least!

I will be heading in to quilting group today,  it will be nice to work on the 9 patch stars.

 

RESTING

A Mother's Day gift!  Aren't they intereesting?!  Little pops of color and texture to delight my eyes!

Bill had to help me move these cement planters but we removed the dead topiary and placed some Dipladenia in each with a bit of decorative grass in the background!  

And I finished the back to the sweater, Marisol, and began the sideways knitting on the left side.  The yarn is at the neck opening!  A very interesting design and yarn!

(the title means I am resting in all the handwork I love)

 

Speckled Socks

 And the second sock is done, just like that!  What fun to knit this pair;  the yarn was soft and comfortable in my hands.

Stats:  Yarn Bee yarn,  #1 needles, toe-up, gusset heel, 

k3,p1 ribbed leg over 64 stitches

Distractions and Attractions!

Remember this?  

My favorite knitting machine? 

 I cast on some Christmas colors for a scarf-double sided, 

seamed down the long side! 

 I haven't had a good time on the last sweater months ago

 so it has been in time out .  I hope to declare success in a few days!

Mostly I did mundane jobs like pruning the dead plants and flowers in the yard but there was also moments like this--packing my old vintage knitting machine because it is sold and of course, I have to ship it.  

That's okay, I have sold 3 of the 4 items for sale 

and made enough to buy the bandsaw so it's all good,, right ?!

I made only one new block-the blue one for the top row-

the one I made reversing the colors!

After doing a bit of decorating the front porch, changing out the usual for the special, yesterday, 

 I was ready for some simple, quick projects for my knitting. 

 I made two of Valorie's gnome hats but am having trouble finding the small fur pom-poms on-line, so will get creative in the sewing room today.  

But not until after I teach a friend how to knit!  

She is coming for a visit to learn how-

last year I taught her how to crochet and she didn't enjoy it. 

 So now we are going to try knitting-beginning on the Christmas bells!

 

Another Hand Hug-Sort of...

I love this pattern (Tough & Toasty by Martina Behm) 

and tried it with the last of the ball of SilverSpun yarn 

but it turned out too small.  

I am trying it again with a few notes for the new numbers

so that I can repeat it for the second hand--

NEVER 

think you will remember what you did! lol

Yesterday was our church anniversary service,

 followed by a meal and then games outdoors for the kids (and big kids!) .  Will is carrying an egg here

and here Ethan (far left, red shirt) and Will (on the right)

 are getting ready for the egg toss!  What fun!

  It was followed by a rousing game of kickball!  

The kids loved it and did great!

 They had a pretty area set up inside for photos--

Matthew took a 'candid' of Bill and me. 

 I'm tired but thoroughly enjoyed my family visit this weekend!

Keep Going Hands!

This is what 2" of rain looks like-it comes fast and furious every afternoon. 

 Most of the time, it isn't this much at one time.  

We need 7-8" minimum a month to keep the water levels up to normal

 and we have only been getting a few inches.  

This was a very welcome rainfall!

I did buck up for 1/2 hour to do a loose meander on the flannel GO! quilt. 

I decided to finish the edging differently than normal.  

I trimmed the batting to 1/2' and the backing to 2 1/4"

 and brought it to the front to just cover the raw edges of the top,

 pinned and stitched it down by machine. 

 My Gram finished all of her quilts this way 

and then usually stitched it down with feather stitching by hand.

I think it was easier for me because of the walking foot 

to keep all of those layers playing nicely together! lol

 I added my personal moniker labels to the edging as usual.

Isn't the backing fun? 

 I had just enough of this cut of fabric to add the length I needed for the backing. 

 I'm out of luck for the rest of the pile. 

 I need to feel better to get to JoAnn's!       

                                                                             One problem I encountered, was the open miter at each corner.

            I ended up hand stitching each open miter closed so it was a relatively simple solution!

A hat and a beginning of a mitten for this set.  

This is knit from a leftover skein or rather Cake from the stash! 

 This is from Plymouth Yarns called Hot Cakes, a  75/25% wool /acrylic blend,

 similar to LionBrand's WoolEase which the other hats were made from; 

 the biggest difference is that this skein has a lot more yardage 

so I could make mittens to match from the one skein.

 And I added color to the line and wash of Asa Gray's Lily.