Shame on me....

...I've neglected my blog. Of course I've been knitting, sewing, making jewelry and I just got a Kobo e-reader so I've been reading alot. Here are a few pics of my knitting.

My 'To Do' List

Yeah! this is it; I'm heading outdoors to soak up some sun and knit. Bring the cool drinks and Join me.

My Earth Day project

My knitting group has taken the green challenge. Reduce, Reuse, Recycle. We must create something incorporating these guidelines: we can not buy new yarn, we can not use our stash or that of a friend...gotcha! LOL Everyone was instructed to 'Think outside the skein'.

As our grandma's used to do; they recycled everything, they never threw anything away. Remember the old rag rugs that covered the pine or linoleum floors. The process was simple and all hands would be put to work ripping old clothing into strips and braiding them into rugs. I decided to knit a bathmat from old t-shirts. I immediately set out for the Salvation Army, I bought 10 t-shirts for $4.00 (what a deal!) I washed and dried them as soon as I got home with my new 'stash'. Cut the t-shirts into strips and began knitting. Here's what I have so far, actually the knitting has progressed a little farther.

I found it ! ! !

Way back in February I was going crazy trying to find a hat pattern...remember? I thought it was in a magazine; I tore my house apart looking for it. In my mind I could picture it, the color, the stitch pattern...everything, except where I found the pattern!
One day I decided to tidy up my desk; it was becoming a sloppy mess of articles and patterns I had printed off the net. And there it was! not in a magazine as I thought (I was positive it was in a magazine) The pattern is on knitty.com http://knitty.com/ISSUEwinter09/PATTshroom.php

In-Depth Review of Knitting Yarn

In-Depth Review of Knitting Yarn

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ta...daa! it's finished!

I finshed the lapghan a few days ago. Of course I've used it! It's nice and cozy for napping and covering my feet while I knit in the evening. Of course my cats want to be all over it...NOT! Cat hair in knitted fabric does not come out in the wash. Sorry kitties.

I've started a hat for my DD to wear on St. Patrick's Day. It's the Ribby Toque in the latest issue of KnitScene.

a quick knit lapghan

I'm currently working on the Mulit-Hued lapghan, it's a KAL that my CafeMom group is making this month. The pattern is from LBY, knit with Jiffy yarn in 10 different colors. It's the first time I've used Jiffy, I usually work only with natural fibers but this is a satifactory yarn. Of course I changed the colors to suit my personality. I also modified the pattern by adding a garter border aong the bottom because the edges curl under in stockinette stitch. When it's sewn together I'll add a border to the sides too. Two of the three panels are completed, I'm sewing them together as we speak. Here's a pic of panel #1

I'm going crazy...

...trying find a pattern. I've recently seen it in one of my many books, magazines...somewhere in my house! I'm making my DD a hat for St. Patrick's Day. I can picture this hat...just don't know where I've seen it. I've gone through all of my most recent media and can't find it! Argggg! It's a slouchy beret, it has a very wide k2p2 rib about three inches wide and the slouchy part looked like seed stitch, I think it was knit with sz 10 needles, bulky yarn. I'm not in the mood nor do I have the time to create a pattern, I'm hoping I find it...sooooon! Again today I went through my patterns, no luck! darn! Maybe in my searching I'll find a suitable substitute.

Sleepy Sunday

Today I've accomplished 'nada', 'zip', 'zero', 'zilch', 'nothing' LOL. I've been on the computer all day! I have not once picked up my knitting. shame! shame! shame!

Christmas gift

I made this set for my DD. I used LBY Landscapes in Spring Desert. The pattern for the scarf is from Berroco #287 Sundae.

Now my sweet cookie will be warm and toasty this winter. xoxox

Hands at work

Where have I been for the past year???

that's the BIG question. I've neglected my blog, I read the blogs of others and enjoy them so much so I've decided to get with the program. First, I'll start by posting pics of some of my knitting.

It's Spring, Be Happy

Long awaited spring, this past winter seemed like the longest ever! Our first snow came in November, before Thanksgiving and it seemed as though we had snowfall every week all winter long. January was especially difficult, but I managed somehow to get through it.

A few weeks ago my adorable great niece Hannah Grace was here for a visit. Here's the latest pic and also the hat and mittens I made for her. In March it's still cold up here in the northeast and she needed some winter wear, no need for it in NC where she lives.

Autumn, my favorite season

What have I been doing since my last post??? Wellllll, I have been knitting, just working on the same ol' projects but not making much headway. Helped ~S~ pack and move (again), painting and cleaning (tough on my hands), so not much knitting right now. Enjoying the beautiful fall colors, when I'm not hiking in the woods I can watch the changes from my window as I work. TTFN

Mother's Day

Tomorrow is Mother's Day, so I'm wishing my Mom a very happy day. I know it will be happy, my kids ~S~ & ~R~ are making brunch for me and my Mom. I've had a preview of the menu which includes waffles with berry cream, blueberry muffins, bloody mary's and a few other surprises. After brunch everyone is giving ~R~ a hand packing because he's moving to a new place. No matter what is planned it will be a good day if we're all together sharing, helping and loving each other. Hugs and kisses for my Mom.

WIP's/UFO's

I was thinking about this the other day.............What's the difference between WIP's and UFO's??? Both are unfinished projects, maybe UFO refers to projects that are banished to the back of the closet and haven't seen the light of day in years. If that's the case then I don't have any UFO's, everything is classified as a WIP. The list is not too long; a Fair Isle scarf for my son ~R~ (which I'm hoping will be finished for next Christmas), a tank top with 3/4 of the front finished, 6 inches of a summer shrug, the modern quilt wrap (a long way to go on this one!). Is that all? Only four projects! I should stop procrastinating and get knitting. If I knit every day I could whip these out in no time, but since my surgery and recovery (which is not complete) I find it difficult to knit every day and for long periods of time. So I'll go easy on myself, plod along at a steady pace, Steady as she goes! and I'll be done in no time. We won't even talk about all the yarn and patterns waiting in the wings. I've realized that I have startitis, the follow through and finishing process is sometimes long.

With spring in the air I want to be outside but the gardening is going to be a very slow process this year. Last year I watched as the weeds took over, I've decided that's not going to happen this year. On guard dandelions, crown vetch and all the other weeds that I don't know the name of, you've been warned!

Just outside my window is a big Lilac bush and some of the buds are just beginning to open. It seems every year we get a late snow or frost and blights the buds, I hope that doesn't happen this year. I love the scent of the lilacs coming through the open window. When the bush is in bloom I'll post some pics. The Trillium's are in full bloom, they're always blooming for Mother's day, one of my favorite wild flowers.

I'm off for another exciting day of doctor and dentist visits. Later..................~D~

Spring............

My intention was to post weekly, I don't know what happened to that idea, I have no excuse. But for what it's worth 'here it is'. Spring has sprung in my neck of the woods, finally! It's good to be outside; even if I'm just sitting on the porch reading or knitting, gardening is out of my league at the moment. baby steps.....baby steps...... Here's a pic of the latest, it's a sundress I made for my great niece Hannah Grace, isn't she a beauty???

I'm baaaacckk!

Yes, I'm back! It's been a very long hiatus (6 months). The wrist surgery really kicked my ass! I have only recently begun to knit again. I wear stress relief gloves and knit a few rows before my hands begin to burn and tingle. Everyone who knows me must be up to here with my whining but all I have to say is "walk a mile in my shoes".

I will show you what I started before surgery and what I'm (slowly) working on now. I started this scarf for my son for Christmas, it's a slow go, he knows to expect it next Christmas (2008). As you can see I have a long way to go. Every stitch is made lovingly and with ~R~ in my thoughts. One of my greatest fears is that something that I put so much time and love into will get lost or left behind on a chair or loaned to to someone and never returned. I can't let my thoughts go there.

I LOVE shawls and wraps of every kind. These I started before my surgery and have not worked a stitch since and probably won't until I'm finished with the Modern Quilt Wrap. Here's the Argosy Wrap in a vintage yarn from Spinnerin 100% virgin wool made in Switzerland. The quilt wrap is knit in luscious Rowan Kid Silk, absolutely yummy!

Alive but barely kickin'

yeah, i'm alive but some days are tougher than others. this post will be short and sweet.... i've been out of commission, had wrist surgery and just trying to recover. so no knitting goin' on here, just dreaming about knitting..... i ask you...what is life without knitting????? although i do have a few things on needles waiting for the day when i can knit. each week i place the needles in my hand without success, i'm guessing i should be able to knit in one month. this set back has not stopped me from buying yarn though, just getting ready. next post i will show you my most extravagant purchase yet. i did buy a set of knitpicks circulars, beautiful, just beautiful.....

i'm have no choice but to type with my left hand, actually everything is done lefty....which is not easy for a righty. here's a pic of my constant companion. see you in october....

Playing "Catch Up"

Yeah! that's what I'm doing, it's been nearly three weeks since I blogged but for good reason. After and HUGE storm I didn't have phone service for a week (that's life in God's country). Once that was repaired I spent a few day replacing the modem and surge protector which was fried during the storm. The lightning hit the phone line and actually melted a three foot section of cable. Once that situation was rectified I've been switching over to gmail which is great so far. It's taking quite a while since I had three email addresses.

I'm a Great Aunt, here's a pic of beautiful Hannah Grace and her parents moments after her birth. Just look at those happy faces!