KNIT A NEW DREAM

SOCKS, SOCKS, SOCKS!

2010-06-04T04:12:00.005-04:00

I have decided to spend this year working mainly on my sock techniques and using sock yarns that I have never used before. We all get stuck using the same yarns and patterns over and over again - I certainly have.
My family loves my homemade socks and every year they expect socks galore for Christmas! So I have plenty of feet to cover with my sock knitting. There are only so many sweaters and afghans that this family wants or needs - so sock it will be. I am very fortunate that all the women in my family wear a size 10 shoe and all the men wear a 12.5. I knit male or female socks and at Christmas go through my sock stash and decide who gets which socks! So here I go with my experiment and will let you know which books, sock yarn, and needles have made a successful or unsuccessful pair of socks!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY DARLING DAUGHTER....

2009-01-28T12:54:00.003-05:00

I remember bringing this darling little baby girl home from the hospital. An armful of joy and the sweetest baby ever! During one of our middle of the night feedings, I was listening to the radio and Stevie Wonder's song "Isn't She Lovely" came on. I cried like a baby because she was the most beautiful thing I could ever have imaginged. Now look at her - successful businesswoman, almost through her masters degree, happily married, home owner, and about to be the mother of her very own beautiful baby girl.
Dear Lyndsay,
Of all the dreams I dreamed for you - you have far exceeded them all. You are my pride and joy and I could not have a better friend and daughter. So many great things will come your way and this year, Ruby Grace, will fill your life with love and happiness.
Love Mom

MEET RUBY GRACE!

2009-01-26T09:10:00.004-05:00

Darling Daughter had her ultrasound last week and we are having a grandaughter! Oh how joyful - I can hardly wait to meet her! She is due on June 16 and I am knitting and sewing as quick as possible so that I can spend all my time with her.

A DREAM COME TRUE!

2009-01-12T15:59:00.003-05:00

I can't believe it!

It is just too good to be true!

The news is just too much for one person to handle!

I'M GOING TO BE A GRAMMY!!!!!!!!

SOOOOO MUCH SNOW!

2008-03-19T08:45:00.007-04:00

We still have tons of snow here in the beautiful White Mountains of New Hampshire - some of the snow banks in our front yard are over 10 feet high! All this snow has left me feeling that spring will never come and feeling like tomorrow is April Fools day instead of the first day of spring!

Girl's Best Friend Anklets from Knit Picks was a great sock to knit. I used Essential yarn from Knit Picks, a smooth rich yarn that was a nice tight guage on size 1 needles. Also a great pick for some plain old straight knitting without having to follow a fancy pattern all the way to the toe.
This picture does not do these gorgeous socks justice. The blue is a deep luxurious steel blue and the pattern is so pretty!

These socks are Fiber Trends Angel's Rest Socks. I used Tofutsies bamboo yarn on size 1 needles. A simple repeat pattern with a fair outcome.
I am not too sure about the bamboo yarn.. I have another skein from a different brand that I am working on right now. I hope they turn out better than these. This bamboo yarn is rough on the hands and not particularly soft to the toes. Oh well - live and learn!

The good old Thuja pattern from Knitty.com made from a KnitPicks yarn for darling son. I made him a great pair for Christmas and gave him directions on how to wash them by hand but somehow they ended up felted after being thrown in with his regular laundry! I finally get him to wear hand made socks and he felts them! Hope he likes these

Okay....... so in the knitting scheme of things I am unable to part with any decent piece of yarn - no matter how small. I was organizing my stash and kept coming across all of these little balls of sock yarn - guess darling grandbabies will have plenty of matching socks with Grandma!! HEE HEE!

These are size 6 months baby socks made from some leftover Lorna's Lace sock yarn. OOOOOH so soft and sweet!

For those of you who have e-mailed me about my lack of posts - I am sorry. My mom suffered a stroke at the end of Janruary and driving back and forth to her Neuro Rehab Center and taking care of her needs has left me without much time for anything except migraines and work. I really should be working on a work related project right now but my head just isn't in the game. No migraine today and it is snowing again - maybe I will stay in my jammies and knit all day!

LOTS OF WINTER KNITTING GOING ON!

2008-01-14T10:33:00.000-05:00

I am so glad to finally be done with all of the Christmas knitting -- I can finally get back to knitting for the grandbaby trousseau and pick projects out of the blue to keep my lap warm on a cold winters night! We have had so much snow this last month, I think that we won't see the gardens until July!
In my typical yarn-aholic fashion, I have amassed great quantities of Encore Worsted yarn. I don't know how it happened but it did. So I have set out to find patterns for kids and babies using my stash. I found this great pattern called "Grandma's Raglan" at The Elegant Ewe in Concord, NH. It has sizes children's 1 thru adult size XXL. So I dug into my stash of Encore and pulled out some plum and white to knit up this adorable size 2 kids sweater with stars. Cute sweater, easy to follow directions, and a way to use up some of my Encore stash - What more could a gal want?
I visited a specialty yarn store last summer and found this gorgeous hand spun silk. I bought the last 2 skeins with no idea what would become of it but just had to have it!
Lucky for me, as I was going through my Christmas knit list (those people that I love very much and appreciate the fact that these items took me days to make) I thought that this would be perfect for a scarf for my good friend, Gloria. She loved it! It is just her style and she wears scarves every day.
I used a pattern from the Yarn Harlots blog from October of 2006. I had used this pattern once before and had fallen in love with it!

IT WAS A WONDERFUL CHRISTMAS!

2008-01-05T05:39:00.000-05:00

It was a wonderful Christmas after all. December was an awful month with the death of my father and our son being hospitalized. It turned out that by Christmas our son was home and we were all ready to have a very merry day. All of the turmoil and grief was placed aside and we followed through on all of our usual family traditions with much joy.
Hubby fell in love with a sweater that I had knit for myself a year ago and just had to have one for himself. He even wanted the same exact yarn!- only he chose a different color. (This was the hardest knit I have ever done because I hated the colors and the whole thing was just knitting with size 6 needles!) He loved it and has been wearing it nonstop since he opened it on Christmas day.
A Kangaroo pouch sweater from The Purl Stitch book. A simple in the round knit with this great pocket for keeping hands warm. Made from a cotton blend yarn - Sirdar Aran. Too much straight knitting for me - I am back to cables and fair isle for a while to hold my interest!
This is the Kangaroo pocket sweater that I made for myself a year ago. I love it and wear it all the time!

Thuja socks from Knitty.com. My favorite pattern for men's socks! A simple knit with just a little design to them. These are for my Therapeutic Touch Therapist. Yes, the vertigonous migraines go on and on and on but I am willing to try anything to get rid of them or make them a little less troublesome. So far the Therapeutic Touch sessions have helped a lot. I don't know exactly how but the vertigo is much less for a week or so after the treatments. Michael, my Therapeutic Touch Therapist, deserves a pair of beautiful hand knit socks. He is trying to teach me about "grounding" in which you imagine that you are like a tree, with roots growing into the ground - therfor the beautiful tones of brown for these socks! I have a session this morning - here's hoping he likes them!

I knit 14 pair of socks last year! Everyone loved their handmade socks this year that were lovingly wrapped and placed under the tree. My mother was a little miffed that I had made her a hat instead of socks. She said that next year she wants socks too!

IT'S BEGINNING TO LOOK A LOT LIKE CHRISTMAS...

2007-12-17T07:45:00.000-05:00

My Christmas knitting is coming along quite nicely - I think that I may get it all done before Christmas at 2 am.

Here are my Hopscotch Socks - a pattern from Patterworks Yarn Shop in Meredith, NH. The store is very pricey but sometimes you can find patterns there that are unique. I really try to limit my budget in this shop although I can spend hours just looking at all of their lovely yarns and patterns.

These are definitely the hardest socks I have ever made - the stitch pattern and the size one needles made me want to pitch them off a bridge on many occasions. Made with Lorna's Lace yarn - they are soft and absolutely gorgeous! Oh, these are a Christmas present for me. I think that these need to be mounted and framed - never to be worn - only to be looked at to be ooohed and aaahed over!

A close up of the stitch pattern. Only a 2 row repeat but those 2 rows were painfully tiny and the old reading glasses came out whenever I was working on them!

A Christmas present for hubby! Darling husband made it very clear to me when I started knitting for him that he wanted to be able to see my progress on his knitted items. I wasn't supposed to knit something for him unless he could watch!

Not this year babe! A hat and mitten set - only knit when he was at work.

The hat is called a Canadian Winter Hat from Book 2: The Purl Stitch - Sally Melvilles book. He will look gorgeous in it!

Knit Picks Men's Convertible Fingerless Gloves in Shamrock Reilly ( Knit Picks Yarn). I was surprised at how easy these were to make and love the look and feel of the yarn. The pictures really don't do the yarn justice!

My sister refused to take my mother out shopping anymore until she gets a new winter hat. My mother loves her old winter hat but looks a little like Lemony Snickets when she goes out.

Cascade 220 yarn and Knitty.com's pattern Coronet. Size 6 needles. What a great knit. This pattern is easier than it looks and gives great results! I still need to wash and block it but wanted to let you see it.

PS - Our son is in the hospital and may not be home by Christmas. Any good thoughts and prayers for him would be greatly appreciated.

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY TO US! 29 YEARS

2007-12-02T07:46:00.000-05:00

The Inn at Crystal Lake in Eaton, NH. This is where we are going for a delightful dinner this evening. The views and food are supposed to be spectacular! But before we go, I need to reminesce a little.
I was just 17 when I met the most wonderful man - of course, I overlooked him completely! I worked at a sandwich/coffee counter at a drug store after school and one of the salesmen used to come in every day for coffee and a sandwich. ( I did notice that he was a good tipper even if I didn't think twice about him being a potential date!).
I am a chatterbox and would talk to all of my customers endlessly! The regulars got used to their daily updates on the high and low points of my life. One afternoon, I had just got done explaining to the counter full of regulars that I was unattached ( my last boyfriend had been a troll in disguise!) and that my birthday was Saturday night and I didn't have a date! I was 17 and totally self-consumed with my own life! AWWWWW - 17! I jokingly asked the customers at the counter, "So , what are you guys going to get me for my birthday?". The salesman spoke up and said, "I am taking you out for dinner!". Oh my goodness, what had I just done? I had no way out, he knew I had no plans for my birthday and for the life of me I couldn't come up with one reason not to go out with him!
So we made plans for the date. I had him pick me up at work (I wasn't sure I wanted him to know where I lived), I barely made an effort to get dressed up, and I had to pick up my little sister from a high school dance (so I would have to be back early)! Not my usual for a Saturday night. I was sure this was a one time thing and I would not ever go out with him again.
When he picked me up, I was totally impressed. He was dressed to the nines, had gotten a hair cut, and had polished his Pontiac Firebird (OH GOD am I dating myself or what?). He was the best thing I had ever seen. Dinner, Dancing, and a Moonlight Kiss followed and I really kicked myself for having made plans to pick up my sister at the dance!
6 weeks later we were engaged and 6 months later we were married. 29 years of ups and downs. 29 years of falling in love with him over and over again. I like him so much better today and love him more than ever - I didn't think that it could be possible! I still get excited when he comes home and he is the most handsome man I have ever seen! His kindness and patience with the trials and tribulations of life have saved me from going off the deep end several thousand times and for the most part in the last 10 years, he has been there for me more than any other human being could ever hope for! Don't get me wrong - we have had some incredibly rocky times in our marriage but as I think about those times - they just make today a day of joy and celebration!
Oh and by the way - I just want to share the greatest things that Tom and I have ever done!

Our son, Tom

Our daughter, Lyndsay

Thanks to both of you for so many years of pride and joy! We are truly lucky that somehow you picked us as parents. We love you both and could not be prouder of what wonderful human beings that you have become.

I'VE BEEN A BAD, BAD BLOGGER

2007-11-12T06:25:00.001-05:00

Between working full time and my camera battery being on the fritz, I have been a bad, bad blogger. Part of the excitement of finishing a project is posting it on my blog! But alas, I have fallen behind and although I take most of the blame - my wonderful Kodak camera battery is far more the culprit of my lack of blogging!
I have gone absolutely crazy with the book, Favorite Socks from Interweave! These are the Flame Socks in Cascade Fixation - I just love them

Diagonal Cross-Rib Socks are also added to the list of my favorite socks from this book. I used Reynolds Signature DK yarn (It is starting to get frosty here in the mountains of NH and I was looking for some comfy warmth for snowshoeing this winter). Size 3 needles. A wonderful twist to the pattern - a left sock and a right sock! The pattern changes on the second sock so the cross-ribs go to left instead of the right! It made for an interesting knit!

An old favorite from Knitty - Thuja socks on size 2 needles from Knitpicks Felicia yarn. A Christmas present for someone who needs a little color in her life. She is one of those people who wears tan and black all the time and I am always teasing her that she would be much happier if she would just wear brighter colors! Of course, I am a jeans gal with lots of bright sweaters and shirts - purple and pink are my favorite colors to wear and you should see how bright my nursing scrubs are! They can see me coming a mile away (HEEHEE)

I found a new yarn that I just had to try- Sirdar Snuggly Fair Isle DK yarn. A simple summer baby sweater with short sleeves and a hood - it is much cuter than the picture and a chubby little baby inside it would just make this perfect! Soooooo soft! It goes right to the grandbaby trousseau.
It made me realize that I would rather knit true fair isle - I could have more control over the color pattern but it was worth a shot.
I promise to be a better blogger and hopefully my new camera battery will last more than two minutes now! TATA for now!

WHAT A WONDERFUL SURPRISE!

2007-10-29T06:38:00.001-04:00

I love vintage knitting totes! I don't know what it is about them but they just make me happy!
Last week, I recieved an e-mail that was a delightful surprise!
Beth and Dustin are the children of the original manufacturers of the Knit Kaddy and their parents were excited that they had found my post about these vintage beauties! Really nice folks who offered up some interesting information about the Knit Kaddy.
So here is a little information about them that I didn't already know.

1. The Knit Kaddy's came in different shades of the colors that are shown above and different fabrics as well - I have seen a green one similar to the ones above but have never seen any other fabrics
2. JC Penney showed some interest in selling these in their stores but decided not to carry them after all. So they were only sold by mail order.
3. The last Knit Kaddys were made around 1973 or 1974 because the factory burned down - what a tragedy for this family.
Thanks to Beth, Dustin, and their family for the info and lovely e-mails and the info!

RUBY

2007-10-12T05:44:00.001-04:00

This is Ruby's sweater. Three years ago, we found ourselves with an empty nest. Darling Daughter graduated from college and got married with Sweet Son graduating from high school and heading off to Boston for college. Our once small house became enormous and I knew that this was going to be a difficult transition for me. I have always loved being a mom and it came so fast. And noone ever tells you that it isn't just the kids leaving but all their friends go away to college as well - our once busy dining room table that was frequently filled to the brim with teenagers emptied out and hubby and I were left with heads swirling.
During this time, I began to dream about a little girl. She was about 3 years old and we would take walks together, read books, and bake cookies. It was comforting to dream about her and the day after she would visit me in my dreams the world didn't feel quite so lonely. I didn't know who she was or why I was dreaming about her but she was there a couple of times a week.
After an unusually lonely day without my kids, I dreamed of her once again. This time she was sitting on the dining room table in front of me - she took my face in her tiny hands and said, "Grammy, it's not time for me to come yet. Mommy and Daddy aren't ready". We hugged and she and I returned to our usual dream activities. I began to call her Ruby in my dreams and we continued a few times a week to have adventures together.
For Christmas that year, hubby bought me a present. Just before I opened it, he explained that I needed to have an open mind about this gift (usually not a good sign). I opened the package to find this beautiful little statue. I started to cry just like a baby - this is the face of the little girl in my dreams. Hubby had a huge smile on his face, knowing that he had nailed this Christmas present. I had told him about my dreams and he said that when he saw this perfect little fairy, he just knew he had to get it for me.
So for Ruby, I used size zero and one needles with Baby Ull yarn to make her this perfectly Ruby colored sweater. Dale of Norway Pattern Book NR 164. It will be tucked away with the rest of the grandbaby trousseau for my perfect little grandbaby when she comes. We will bake cookies and read books and take wonderful walks together when she is ready to come. She will be dressed in a beautiful ruby red sweater that Grammy made for her when she was just a dream.

VACATION -- OH HOW SWEET IT WAS.......

2007-09-27T06:39:00.000-04:00

5 Glorious days on the coast of Maine!! What could be a better vacation? Hubby and I set off for some of our favorite places along the coast and had a wonderful time!
This is my favorite yarn store along the coast - Heavenly Socks Yarn in Belfast Maine. It is a small whole in the wall shop but it is just filled with the greatest yarns and the owner has this super energy that makes you want to stay forever! She knew most of the customers by name and there were people sitting and knitting everywhere. She also carries the most incredible yarns - just everything that you could possibly hope for in a yarn store!

Gorgeous yarns and plenty of knitted samples! I had never seen Elizabeth Zimmerman's Baby Surprise Jacket but after this sample - it is definitely on my list of baby items to knit!

This is the sock corner! Glorious fist-fulls of the most gorgeous and unusual sock yarn you could hope for. Lots of patterns and knitted samples - I did help myself to quite a few of theses beauties!

The view from the porch of our little cabin on the sea in Belfast, Maine. The cabins are very rustic and have a little kitchenette to make coffee and breakfast in the morning. Oh, to sit on the porch and listen to the sound of the ocean with a great cup of coffee and my knitting is sheer NIRVANA!
The perfect sunsets too! A glass of wine, hubby, and my knitting make this one of my favorite places to wake up and go to sleep!

One of the famous lighthouses that you find on the coast of Maine. So many beautiful sights to see and the leaves were just starting to change - so beautiful golds and crimson leaves were everywhere.
We also did a lot of antiquing with our famous trip to the Chicken Barn. The Chicken Barn is simply that - a huge old chicken house that is filled to the rafters with old books and antiques - A place that you could spend a whole day exploring and find some great treasures.
Great seafood and lots of treats that are not on my usual low fat vegetable-laden diet but oh the lobster! So sweet you thought you were eating dessert! Hubby and I ate our way all the way up the coast and back down with local bakery goods, gallons of "chowda" and seafood!
And last but not least - a whale watch! One of my favorite things to do in the whole world! My kids always hated these boat trips because I was the crazy lady standing at the bow of the ship with my binoculars plastered to my face, yelling "Thar she blows" whenever a whale came into sight. The kids would always find the furthest spot on the boat from me and hide their faces in shame but I just couldn't have a better time. Here is a Finback whale that we saw this whale watch. It was okay but I love seeing the Humpback whales more - They like to play by the boats and usually put on quite a show for the passengers. They wave their tails at you and spend lots of time checking out the boat. Still to get the opportunity to see one of these splendid creatures is shear joy for me!

FAVORITE SOCKS FROM INTERWEAVE.....YAHOO!!

2007-09-06T11:50:00.000-04:00

I am just in love with my new sock book! Favorite Socks - 25 Timeless Designs from Interweave. What a great collection of socks - you just want to make them all. I also have gotten into a rut using the same sock yarn over and over again - of course, I could substitute but I need to get out of the everyday sock yarns that I use and try something new!
These are my Retro Rib Socks in Patons Kroy Sock Yarn. I had a hard time finding this yarn but ebay wins again for helping me find what my LYS does not carry.

I love the twisted stitches and what looks complicated is sooooo easy!

Next from this book is a textured pair of socks done in Cascade Fixation!

Fall is in the air and the flower gardens are starting to dwindle with blooms. This is the side yard to our home and every year I am amazed at how large the Hydrangea tree has gotten. The blooms are so white! They are so many blooms and they are so heavy that you wonder if the tree can hold them all up. Just a gorgeous end to summer!

TEENY TINY CABLES........

2007-08-28T08:51:00.000-04:00

Teeny tiny itsy-bitsy cables on size 1 needles! Wow - what more can Dale of Norway ask of me? I seriously thought that the 8 3/4 inches of seed stitch were bad but these cables need a magnifying glass to be knit! My hands are aching after just 4" of cable work but this is a very special sweater for a very special little girl (when the sweater is finished, I will tell the whole story!). I am just finishing up the yoke of the sweater and will start the sleeves this afternoon - more seed stitch! This will definitely be a one of a kind sweater in the grandbaby trousseau!

Simple knitting to break up the teeny tiny boredom - size 9 needles with Sirdar Confetti yarn. This yarn usually sells for nine dollars a skein but I scored 6 skeins on Ebay for $3.99! I have always had a plan for a baby blanket out of this yarn but could never justify the cost - YAHOO!

Summer is coming to an end quickly here in the mountains of New Hampshire. The temperature was 48 degrees when I got up at 5:30 this morning. The flowers are all in full bloom by the side door to the house and it is just gorgeous! Impatients, Dusty Miller, and Coleus make for gorgeous pots every year.

This past weekend, hubby and I dug up the back yard to reseed the lawn and we built a patio for the grill. Hubby is the "GRILLMASTER OF THE UNIVERSE" and needed a less muddy place to work. His birthday is Friday and I am out to find the smoker of his dreams this morning. I think he watches a little too much Food Network during the summer and has visions of smoking whole bison! But if that is what he wants for his birthday - that is what he will get! When I asked him what he wanted for his birthday dinner, he replied "I want to have a big BBQ!. He made me a list of meats that he wants - I think we should invite a small country to help us devour this meal! All joking aside, he is a really good cook when it comes to grilling! Oh YUM!

LOST IN A KNITTING BLACK HOLE....HELP!!

2007-08-14T05:41:00.001-04:00

HELP!!!! I am lost in the KNITTING BLACK HOLE!! The more I knit - the less seems to get done! I knit and knit and knit but there seems to be no end in sight! I knit for an hour and get 1/4" ahead of where I was before! That is what I get for using teeny tiny needles and choosing complicated stitches.

The red is the beginning of a baby sweater with 8 3/4 inches of seed stitch on size one needles. I have completed 8" but it is like pulling teeth to get me to get the last 3/4 " done so that I can begin the cable work!

I am sure at some point the Knitting Goddesses will show me some progress but for now, I will continue to slug along in hopes that these beautiful knitted goodies will be done before I die! I keep thinking that maybe I should start a new project on larger needles just to get some sense of accomplishment but I am afraid all of these projects would go to the back of the basket! Oh well - wish me luck (and patience)

MONKEYS AND MUGGLES...........

2007-07-30T13:12:00.000-04:00

Monkey socks from the Knitty.com archives were so much fun to knit. Sockotta cotton/wool blend on size 2 needles were perfect knitting this week with the temps in the 90's. Funky socks to go with my Birkenstocks and Jeans this fall! But......I just got the Interweave's Favorite Socks book and they are just calling my needles to get to work! If you get a chance to peruse this book, you too will fall in love! The prologue makes it sound as if they will be publishing other books in the future with favorite Interweave Knits patterns.

Yes, I am a Potterphile. I admit that I have anxiously awaited each and every book with baited breath and have shared these books with my 2 kids and hubby over the years. It is always a hoot to see who finishes first. Darling Daughter went to Borders at midnight on the release date to get her copy. As her husband is a muggle and does not share the Pottermania, he did not understand why little children were dressed up in pillowcases with pointy ears and long noses (house elfs)! Lyndsay finished in less than 24 hours. I bought my copy a few days later and hubby read every night after I went to sleep - of course he was way too cool to let me think that he was gobbling up every word and staying up until 2:30 am reading! I on the other hand read as much as I could every day but ended up on the couch yesterday after trying to lift a 300 pound patient - put my back into spasms that made some of the torture in The Deathly Hallows seem pleasant. So my hot pad, Harry Potter, and I laid on the couch all day. Kudos to J.K. Rowling for making the last book the best with great twists and turns and the answers to most of the character questions we had all been wondering about! As soon as Darling Son reads it (he is coming home from college today for a few weeks), I will put it away with all of the kids favorite books from childhood to read to my grandbabies someday!

Eye candy from the garden! Lilies are in bloom everywhere and I just had to share a few of them with you!

Some are miniature lilies and some have ruffled edges - they are just gorgeous and add some gorgeous colors to the garden!

TOO MANY PROJECTS ON THE NEEDLES

2007-07-24T06:48:00.000-04:00

A finished pair of Thuja socks - Knitpicks closeout sock yarn on size 2 needles. I have a family member with ENORMOUS FEET! These will be his Christmas pair of socks - They are so long that they did not fit on my sock forms! Oh well at least this year he won't have to cramp his feet into the socks that I made him and smile like they fit! I was so worried that I wouldn't have enough yarn to finish them properly but.............

I had enough left over for a sweet pair of baby socks - size 6 months! Another thing to add to the baby stash and they are soooooo soft! I have lots of sock yarn leftovers and I am going to turn them all into baby socks! I just can't bring myself to throw out perfectly good yarn - no matter how small the quantity. I am finding myself with loads of half skeins of yarn that is running over my stash - so baby socks should fix that - Maybe?

A preview of the Dale of Norway sweater for me. I have wanted to make this sweater for years but could not justify spending the crazy amount of money on Svale yarn. I found Svale on sale for $3.49 a skein and my credit card was out before I knew it!

Monkey socks in the making! From Knitty.com these socks were just calling my name!

In other news, the backyard walkway projects are coming along nicely. The new grass we planted is coming in and hubby has been so busy with work that we are kind of at a standstill. I wanted to post some pictures but it is raining cats and dogs outside - so another post on another day!

I am working 3 eight hour shifts a week and it is going well. No vertigo but the headaches are coming more often. I just have to take it easy and follow my treatment plan to the letter! But being back to work and doing the job that I love has done my heart and spirit a world of good!

A SWEATER FOR ME!!!!

2007-07-12T14:12:00.000-04:00

YES!!!! Nothing to add to the baby trousseau this week . Instead it is a sweater for me! I know it is hard to believe but I actually made a sweater that is not a present for someone else or to add to the growing baby sweater collection!

Knitting Pure and Simple's Neckdown Wrap Cardigan #263 was a breeze! Size 8 needles with a gorgeous worsted weight home spun yarn. I bought this yarn several years ago at The Maine Organic Farmers Association Fair. I just could not bring myself to knit it because it is so beautiful and soft. I have just lovingly stroked it every time I would peruse my stash.

I tried desperately to make this into a Dale of Norway sweater but it was not to be. I had to break my own heart and send it back to the frog pond. This yarn demanded simple lines and straight knitting to show off the gorgeous multi-colors that had been spun into it. (It looks so much better on me but noone was home to take a picture - the hanger will have to do!)

Hubby is disappointed - he had coveted this yarn since I bought it and hoped it would end up in his handmade sweater collection but alas it is mine - all mine!!!!!!

CLEARING OUT THE WIP BASKET

2007-07-03T07:44:00.000-04:00

Here is my newly cleaned out WIP basket. Knitting that has frustrated me or just doesn't suit the yarn gets thrust into this poor basket on our fireplace hearth never to see the light of day again! But yesterday - it got a good cleaning and I was amazed at how many UFOs I found that just needed a few more rows or a matching mitten to be completed! I had forgotten so many of these projects that I had a hard time remembering which pattern I had used - so some knitting projects were finished with a little flair of their own!

Baby socks, Baby hats, and baby mittens all got their finishing touches!

Yesterday, I worked for a few hours at the hospital and got a really bad vibe about the mood of the hospital. A Medivac helicopter flew in to take out a patient - this happens often but there was something different about the buzz in the hospital. Not knowing what was going on, I left the hospital after my short shift and got into my car just as the helicopter was taking off. In the car, the radio was running nonstop news bulletins about a shooting in our little vacation town. HORROR. Most major roads had been closed and several people had been killed. The freakin psycopath shooter was on the loose and the SWAT teams had been called in to search for him. I decided to head home and wait it out. Frequent news bulletins and my UFO basket kept me busy for the day - Hubby came home safely and early due to the fact that he could not drive around town due to the search. We watched movies and locked the house securely - wondering how in the world this could have ever happened in our quiet little town which has welcomed thousands of people to enjoy the 4th of July to play in the mountains and lakes all around us. I am always in total awe of the things that people do-------- the thought of harming another human being is just not a thought process I could ever put together. There is so much of it in the world and it just makes me so sad. This morning, the killer is still on the loose and the whole town is in shock. Off to work I go with thoughts and prayers for the families who lost loved ones yesterday. I will never understand the taking of a human life - I hope I never do.

OUR LATEST WIP.............

2007-06-27T09:47:00.000-04:00

Okay - I will throw some knitting into this post! Hubby and I have been busy remaking our side yard. This is the space between our barn and the house entrance. It is always a mud trap in the spring and an ice trap in the winter. After 21 years of living here and thousands of children tromping along this muddy pathway we finally got our act together. We have been in the planning stages for about 3 years - Hubby doesn't like to jump into projects without thorough research! (He is terrified because our little town is getting it's very own Home Depot this week - and my honey-do list has grown exponentially)

This is the original walkway - just a patch without grass led to the side door. The white poles are the beginning of hubby's 3 week torture session to get the lines for the new walkway - JUST RIGHT! We had to dig an 8" bed for the walkway and fill it with crushed stone and sand prior to placing the stonework. 10 tons of gravel, 2 tons of sand, and a pallette of paving stone and TADA!!

Way better looking don't you think? We still have to build a step and lay the granite slab that starts the walkway but with work and heat in the 90's, we are taking a break.

Maybe now I can get back to some knitting! But honestly - my honey and I love to do these kind of projects together and they always grow and grow. Now the plan is to get more pavers and make a sweet little pathway around the back of the house. A moderate size patio will follow - where the barbeque will sit. A new shade garden and some tree limb surgery and we will have the backyard of our dreams.

The honeysuckle is absolutely gorgeous this year (on the left of the trellis) and we have to be really careful of the hummingbirds. They have no fear of us and love to whiz past our heads.

I HAVE GOT TO BE CRAZY!

2007-06-19T10:59:00.000-04:00

Patternworks is having a "Knit and Crochet Challenge" Afghan. So I, in my infinite desire to drive myself crazy, have decided to take on the challenge. Yes, I crochet - but prefer to knit. The design must be original and be both knit and crocheted. It must be made up of 7" x 9" blocks joined in the technique of your choice. The finished size can be up to 50" x 60". The whole deal has to be made with Encore Worsted Yarn and must be turned in by November 16 ( yes this year). The hardest part is that they send you a kit with 5 different Encore Yarns and you must incorporate these colors into your afghan! You have no choice in even 1 color - I asked! So here is what they sent me for colors - In order from left to right.
1. Green (I don't even think so it is more the color of peuce!)
2. Beige (Okay I can live with that one)
3. Wine
4. Orange (Orange, Peuce, and Wine? May the force be with me!)
5. Rainbow (which would be fine if only all these other colors were part of the rainbow colorworks!)

Dale of Norway baby sweater with 8 3/8 " of seed stitch - 304 stitches. What was I thinking? I have got to be crazy! I have a little over 4" done.

FIXATION......MY NEW LOVE!

2007-06-14T06:13:00.001-04:00

Darling Husband is getting picky about what I make for him. Not that that is a bad thing - you have to give the guy credit for always being interested in every fiber in every yarn store we visit. He doesn't sit on the bench out front of the shop and look at his watch every 30 seconds or groan when he sees my purchases. No, he touches and asks questions about every yarn that I have not worked with.
He knows the difference between a knit stitch and a purl stitch and fair isle and cables. When the phone rings and it is for me, he always asks the caller to hold on for a minute until I am finished with the row! So we visited Scarlet Yarns in Lancaster NH last week and he got his hands on some Fixation socks and just had to have a pair! I wasn't too sure if I would like working with it because I am not a stretchy yarn kind of knitter but his gorgeous green eyes made me buy a few skeins and get to work. I have to say that I really hated this yarn at first - too stretchy - too hard to see the pattern - too difficult to see if they were going to be the right size. After several attempts at Thuja from Knitty.com, I finally got it right and these just flew off the needles. I had to post them quickly because Hubby had to wear them today! Something about the weather and how his feet wouldn't sweat in them - HEEHEE! I think I will have to add Fixation yarn to the stash and make him a few more pairs.

The sad news of the day - I have knit a few baby sweaters from Dale of Norway (okay a few hundred). So I decided that it was time to make one for me! I bought this gorgeous yarn at a huge fair several years ago and had been waiting for the perfect pattern to make ME a Dale sweater. I found a pattern that I loved and went to town - it just never looked right and although I had way more yarn than the pattern called for - I seemed to be running out quickly. So it is back to the frog pond for this one. This yarn just did not want to be this sweater - yes I did the proper swatching and followed the directions to the letter but after finishing the front and back - I only had 2 skeins of yarn left! I tried it on and I definitely would have looked better in a garbage bag so yesterday morning was spent carefully unraveling a few weeks worth of work - I am okay. I did not loose my mind or the desire to use this yarn. I started another pattern with it yesterday and it just may work. Let's all keep our fingers crossed!

ALL MY WORKS IN PROGRESS......

2007-06-07T06:53:00.000-04:00

Socks and a baby sweater on the needles. Hubby found some sock yarn at a sweet little shop in Lancaster, NH - Scarlet Yarn. Amanda, the owner of the shop, spent a lot of time with us and hubby decided that he just had to have a pair of socks from this yarn! Getting picky hubby is - we'll see.
A Dale of Norway baby sweater started but it will be a while before this is done. Size one needles - 304 stitches - seed stitch! Need I say more?

The gardens have demanded much of my time lately. 3 years ago, darling daughter got married at the house and hubby and I seriously overdid the whole garden thing. Now we spend a lot of our time in the spring and summer planting, weeding, and simply enjoying the multiple gardens we have created. This is the entryway to the house which lies between the barn and the door - Loads of annuals and perrenials here!

One of my favorite hanging baskets - this plant hooks onto the trellis work and just grows and flowers all summer! Sorry - can't remember the name of it!

One of the small fairy gardens. Different size irises, begonias, ginger, and hostas surround this fairy bird bath.

I have also increased my work schedule to three 8 hour shifts a week. There are no hours available in the ICU so I am working on the Medical-Surgical Unit. I worked there for 4 years before going to the ICU and it is just a miracle to be able to take care of patients again!
I have also been teaching a course on reading ECGs. The cardiac rhythm course is a really good chance to review and I love teaching. It has been really time consuming putting together the program and teaching tools but so far so good. I have taught 2 classes and will teach 3 more. Feedback has been good and I have been asked to take on more and more responsibilities as the Medical Surgical Unit takes on the Telemetry Interpretation role. Good thing I knitted this felted bag while I was out sick - It carries all of my teaching goodies. Say HOORAY for my continued progress with the silent migraine/vertigo saga. I have not had any problems with it at work but do get small doses of head pain and vertigo at home from time to time. I couldn't be happier - everything is looking pretty good right now!

JAYWALKER SOCKS....TA DA!!

2007-05-31T07:41:00.001-04:00

What looked so hard was OH so easy! These are Jaywalkers socks by Grumperina. I saw these socks on several blogs and just had to make them. They looked so hard that I wasn't sure I could do them justice but they turned out to be really easy.

Regia sock yarn, knitted on size one needles proved to be a perfect match for these cute socks.

If you want this free pattern go to www.magknits.com/Sept05/patterns/jaywalker.htm Thanks for the free pattern and the loads of fun knitting these Grumperina!

FLOWERS FOR BABY............

2007-05-25T09:36:00.000-04:00

Sometimes, I see a blog or pattern and nothing can stop me from putting down every other project and just knit up the most gorgeous things! I stopped over on Zonda's blog one day and caught a glimpse of this beautiful baby blanket - I was on a mission. Dawn Brocco's Flower Baby Blanket just had to be made for the grandbaby trousseau. Can't you just see this wrapped around a beautiful baby girl? I sure can.
I copied Zonda and made it out of Lion Cotton Ease Yarn (rather than the wool yarn that it called for) because it would be softer and better to cover baby - no matter what the time of year. It is so soft! Double stranded on size 10.5 needles, the pattern was clear and concise with lots of short rows to produce the perfect petals.
I was very unhappy with Lion's color selection for Cotton Ease because I wanted the bright colors and nothing less. I found a seller on Ebay with enough "Bubble Gum and Lemon " Cotton Ease that I could make this project without worry. Cheap price and low shipping - order and wait. I think it came out great! It still needs to be washed and blocked but I just couldn't wait to show you!

I had enough yarn left over to make a matching hat! HEEHEE! Oh these grandbabies are going to be dressed year round!

LITTLE BOYS AND DRAGONS.................

2007-05-17T14:42:00.000-04:00

I may have gone back to work but I am still knitting away. Working 4 hour shifts leaves me plenty of time for knitting the grandbaby trousseau! What will I do when I get back to full time?
(I won't do housework anymore probably!)This is Dale of Norway NR 163 - pattern16308 from the new Fall Dale Collection.

I just had to knit this dragon! I saw it and knew that a little boy would just freak out over a fire breathing dragon - so size 4T. Made out of Dale Falk yarn on size 4 needles, this was a blast to watch grow off of the needles. The dragon is embroidered on after the sweater is finished and the result is just too cute for words!
I also forgot what it was like to work with a knitting needle larger than a size 1 - Projects actually get big fast when you are using a larger needle! Thank goodness for a little break.

I love the flames!

IT SEEMS LIKE FOREVER...................

2007-05-02T13:58:00.000-04:00

It seems like forever since I have blogged but there is an incredible reason why!I am back to work - 4 hours, 3 times a week!! Can I say YIPPEEEEEEE!!!! For those of you who do not know - I have been having a silent migraine with vertigo for over a year and have been unable to walk across a room without falling. I have tried to stay strong and finally found the right combo of medications and vestibular exercises that allow me to start back to my beloved nursing job!! I have knitted constantly through the last year and it has been my saving grace- when all else failed I had gorgeous yarn and lovely needles to keep me sane. Even though our financial resources were strained, Hubby always took me to yarn stores and let me spend whatever I wanted. He would stand with the basket and say, "You need to get new yarn - find something you like and get to knitting!".

These are my new Fiber Trends Peak Experience Socks. Pattern #AC-49. Made on size 1 needles with Regia Cotton Surf sock yarn, these were a breeze to knit up and have family and friends begging for them for Christmas. I will definitely use this pattern again and again! Sue

KNITTING NEWS FOR THE WEEK.......

2007-04-22T08:26:00.000-04:00

Another Dale of Norway sweater completed! This is my first attempt at using Stork Yarn but I think that I am in love! Oh so soft and easy to work with - what a pleasure. Dalegarn NR 142- Pattern 14208. Knit on size 1 needles with a great lacey pattern at the bottom, this is going to be so sweet on a newborn.

Fun lace work -----------
but you really have to pay attention to the 12 row repeat! This is why I tend not to do lace work - It can make me crazy if I miss one stitch. Hubby was amazed to see so much of it done but to be really honest - I had to turn off the tv, phone, and be as quiet as possible so I didn't screw this up!

Two new Vintage Knitting Totes have been added to my collection. To the left is an English style tapestry knitting tote. The English style totes have a round bottom and a square top giving them a wonderful look. They also used all leather for the strap and top which makes them much more sturdy than the "pleather" totes that were made in the USA. And this one is so funky, I just had to have it. I wasn't really so sure that it was a knitting tote until it arrived in the mail. I have never seen anything like this one - so I took a chance and got it! When it arrived, I ripped the packaging open and to my surprise it really is a knitting tote! The riveted hole on the top gave it away. I am not a big golf fan but this tote just had to be added to the collection. A pocket it the front and a pocket in the back make it very useful to carry around needles and extras. It is in great shape and I am glad I took a chance on it!

SOCKS!!! TA DA.............

2007-04-18T05:38:00.000-04:00

The latest pair of socks in the "I must knit all of my sock yarn before I can buy anymore" saga. Oh, how hard not to buy sock yarn! It just calls to me everytime I enter a yarn store.
This is my first attempt at knitting with a yarn made with some elastic. I had a terrible time getting started because this yarn did not want to be the socks that I wanted it to be. I must have tried 6 different patterns before going back to the simpler stitches that allowed the yarn to show itself off.

This is Trampoline Stretch yarn made by Skacel. The picture does not do the yarn colors justice - they are so bright and interesting.

These are knitted on size 3 needles from a pattern in Sensational Knitted Socks. Twin Rib is a 6 stitch repeat sock and is a great knit! I love this book and just received More Sensational Knitted Socks ( more wonderful stitches and patterns to choose from). I just love these books and wish every sock owner could magically find them in their knitting stash right now. Simple directions and lots of choices - my kind of knitting book!

Off to work on the latest pair of socks - TaTa for now.....

HAPPY FRIDAY THE 13TH!!!!

2007-04-13T06:36:00.000-04:00

Now I know why they call them the White Mountains. We got 12+ inches of snow overnight and another huge Noreaster is on it's way for Sunday! Will I ever see my garden again?

PURPLE MUST BE THE COLOR OF THE DAY!

2007-04-11T11:21:00.000-04:00

My life has just turned purple lately! I don't know what it means but everything I am knitting is either outright purple or has shades of purple in it?
Dale of Norway - Dalegarn NR 114
#11404 Knit on size 1 needles with Baby Ull Yarn. Size 9 months
I absolutely love the fair isle pansies but don't like this pattern at all. I knit a swatch and the measurements in the book match but it just doesn't have the usual style (?) look(?) that Dale of Norway patterns usually do.

I may just have to crochet loops on the sides of the dress and add a purple ribbon that ties in the back. We will see when grandaughter comes how it looks but I won't make this pattern again. I do love the pansies though except that portions of the fair isle had 3 colors carried through the row. I think I am pretty good at fair isle until you ask me to add a third yarn to the mix - then it takes me forever!

Darling daughter finally got a real cast this week - purple! She is healing nicely and the Xrays look good but she still needs to keep it elevated in order to keep it from swelling.
We got a little carried away with taking this picture - notice the fruit and chocolates. It makes it a little more artsy! Don't you think?

PEACHY KEEN..........

2007-04-02T08:05:00.000-04:00

I know - another Dale of Norway but you must admit that this is so sweet! Dale of Norway NR 142 - pattern #14206 - size 24 months. Knit on size 0 and 1 needles (my Knitpick Options make the knitting glide), this sweater and cap set just had to be added to the baby trousseau.

I love the fair isle pattern. I held up the colors prior to knitting and just didn't think that the khaki color would work but it blends nicely!
This pattern was a fairly easy knit except for a few rows that called for using 3 colors in the same row. I love fair isle knitting with 2 colors per row but adding the third color was very challenging.

I am not a big fan of pom poms but this hat just called for one! I can't wait to see what it looks like on a grandbaby.

I'M STILL HERE...............

2007-03-28T12:28:00.001-04:00

I started to knit a swatch for a hubby sweater this morning. This is KnitPicks Shamrock yarn in OReilly. Ever since I finished my kangaroo pocket sweater last fall, he keeps asking me to make him one. I will see if he likes this yarn before starting it. He is such a big fan of my knitting! How lucky can a girl get?
I have just had a few crazy weeks and haven't been able to finish anything. Once again, I find myself in the middle of a bunch of projects that are almost done but can't seem to be able to finish just one thing. Instead, I jump from project to project - finishing an inch here and a sleeve there but never quite getting one thing done. Also, one of my projects needs to be steeked before I can knit any more - A process that always slows me down. I need a large glass of wine or to be in an absolutely courageous mood to actually cut through my knitting!
My sweet daughter fell and broke her ankle last week. She has been in so much pain! I got over there last week for a few days to help out around the house and keep her company but wish I could just stay by her side. I knit a little while I was there but my concern for her far outweighed my need to knit. I think that is why my knitting is so scattered in the last few weeks - worry always gives me attention problems.

I just started reading this new novel about knitting. I read somewhere that Julia Roberts has already signed on to play the lead in the movie! I guess she is quite an accomplished knitter herself. So far, it is really good and will let you know how it is when I am finished.
I ordered 2 new knitting books this week - the new Stephanie Pearl McPhee book - Cast Off and More Sensational Knitted Socks. I'll review them in a later blog.
TaTa for now! Sue

KITTIES WITH GEMSTONE COLLARS - WAY TOO CUTE!!

2007-03-15T11:17:00.000-04:00

Kitties with gemstone collars on a size 2T kids sweater!! I put 2 patterns together and got this really cute sweater. I started with Sandnes Barn book 0308 - Sweater with Ruffles and added the fair isle kitties from Sadnes Design Nr 34.

Isn't it sweet - Knit in Knit Picks Merino Style yarn in Petal Pink. Size 4 needles (whew - glad to be off of the size 0 and 1's for a change!) I love the ruffles on the sleeve and the seed stitch rows.
I found the collar strings of dark pink gemstones at WalMart. I knew that I had to add them for perfect contrast and just the right touch to make this a girly-girly sweater.

DEAR YARN GODDESS.......

2007-03-12T07:13:00.000-04:00

Dear Yarn Goddess,
I know that I have turned my back on you and have spent the last 3 months not worshipping you as I should. I have refrained from adding lovely, soft, and vibrant yarns to my overflowing stash. No matter what the price or need to buy, I have abstained from all knitting shops and on-line yarn sales. This is my apology and hope that you will correct my yarn karma to me.
I tried. I went to my favorite yarn store last Sunday and tried desperately to add to my yarn collection but alas they did not have color or texture that called to my senses. Hubby held my shopping basket with anticipation as I fondled and pleaded for the right colors - but to no avail. Darling Husband was also disappointed in me when I walked out empty handed.
So, I ordered online. A sale on Dale of Norway Baby Ull at 20 % off made my credit card fly from my purse and although it was a small purchase, I felt that I had regained my yarn mania in some small way. An e-mail from the company quickly followed stating that they were out of the color that I had ordered but it would be coming in in the next shipment and I should receive my peach Baby Ull within 10 days. I waited with baited breath and on Friday my package arrived. I ripped open the package to find THE WRONG COLOR!!! They had sent me baby pink instead of baby peach - a flurry of e-mails ensued and my correct order is already in the mail.
Once again, I apologize for my insensitive treatment of you. I will get back on the wagon and begin to increase my stash beyond human imagination. I know that I still have many closets and areas for hiding the growing yarn collection and I will work diligently to restore my good name with you. Please allow the correct color of Baby Ull to land upon my doorstep so that I may finish a lovely baby sweater and I will be forever in your debt.
Your friend in yarn, Sue

BRINGING HOME BABY BOY

2007-03-04T08:22:00.000-05:00

Here is Dale of Norway NR 135-#13505 - my bringing home baby boy set. A few weeks ago, I finished the bringing home baby girl set and needed to knit up something baby blue. Knit on size 1 knitting needles, this set was a breeze. Time consuming - but worth every minute! Baby Ull makes this outfit sooooo soft that I want one.
I love the Baby Ull yarn for it's softness and the color palette doesn't change. Dale of Norway is great at keeping their baby yarn the same every year so that you don't have to run out and buy a different shade of red for the new designs.
After showing off my grandbaby trousseau to a dear friend, she kindly pointed out that most of the knitting I had done was mainly for boys ---so I am on a new kick to find Dale baby girl sweaters and dresses and they will be coming along in the future!
My vertigo is still keeping me from driving for very long so I totally missed the Korner Knitter's biannual 25% off sale! My favorite yarn store, Korner Knitters in Standish, Maine has the greatest selection of yarns and the nicest yarn gals you would ever want to meet. Maybe by October, I will be able to drive an hour to get there for their next sale! In the mean time, I continue my yarn diet - I have refrained from yarn stashing (except for one lonely ball that I needed to finish a project) since mid December! I think that hubby will just have to take me yarn shopping soon - Enough is Enough!!!!!

AND NOW FOR THE SUPER CUTENESS FACTORS OF THE DAY!

2007-02-26T06:55:00.000-05:00

Twinkle, Twinkle little hat - another Dale of Norway pattern. Size 6 months knit in Baby Ull on size 2 needles. I have already knit the blanket to match but just couldn't get enough of the sweet stars - so a matching hat! I also needed a break from the big projects that I am working on so TADA!!!!!!

My sister got a new puppy this weekend. She has been looking for a while for a new pet and finally found the perfect one! This puppy is so cute - I almost went and got one of my own! As yet unamed - none of us could keep our hands off of him!

UPDATE - The puppy has been named JET! Mainly because he takes off after my sister's cats so fast!

SOCKS ON SIZE 0 NEEDLES...WHAT WAS I THINKING?

2007-02-23T05:26:00.000-05:00

Thuja socks made with gorgeous Trekking XXL yarn! What a pain though - I gauged the yarn and the only size needle I was happy with was size 0! I thought," What the heck", I can do it. Well 3 weeks later, they are done and they are GORGEOUS!
Do you like my new sock stretchers? I said I was on a yarn diet but never said anything about knitting accessories! HEEHEE!!! I love the way that they make the socks look. I got them on ebay and am delighted to own these beautiful hand made sock stretchers. After all the work that went into these socks, it is great to see them on the stretchers rather than just folded in my sock drawer. I think that I will leave them out for a little while - just to admire them!

WHAT THE HECK IS A TOQUE?

2007-02-13T07:40:00.000-05:00

This is a Toque, a type of Norweigan hat with a knot at the top. How cute is that? In my adventures to knit up at least part of my stash, I came across this multicolored dk yarn and found exactly the right pattern for it!

Sandnes Barn 0308. This cute raglan sleeve sweater, size 2T, was a fun knit on size 4 needles.

The hat just had to be made once I saw the sweater finished! I also have enough yarn leftover for a cute pair of 2T socks but I think those will have to wait for another day - your eyes can only take so much of the bright colors!

Back to the stash knitting. 8 weeks and I have only bought one skein of yarn that I needed to finish a project. Hubby is amazed and wonders when the yarn packages will start arriving in the mail - Little does he know all my hiding places for my stash!

KNITTING THE STASH....

2007-02-07T08:49:00.000-05:00

I know, I know - we all say it. I need to stop buying yarn and use my stash! Well I am on week 7 of no yarn acquisitions and it is painful.
I bought this pattern and yarn last year for a vest for hubby-poo. I had kind of pushed it aside because it was just knitting in the round with no interesting fair isle or cable work. But in the scheme of things, it turned out pretty good! Hubby loves it and has already worn it several times.
I have had a lot of doctors appointments and it was great to have some simple knitting to take in the car and for the waiting room. Great pattern! Encore worsted yarn on size 8 needles was a great break from all of the tiny needles I have been using of late! Maybe I can make another one because hubby loves it so much - Goodness only knows that I have enough yarn!

BRINGING HOME BABY GIRL.....

2007-02-03T12:21:00.000-05:00

Another gorgeous baby sweater and hat to add to the grandbaby trousseau!! Dale of Norway NR164-#16412. The softest baby pink yarn from Lanette, knit on size 0 and 1 needles. This sweetie-pie raglan cardigan and cap are for a newborn and hopefully someday (way in the future!), we will bring home a beautiful baby grandaughter in this adorable outfit.

This is the tiniest little thing that I have ever made - But oh, so worth it . The picture does not do it justice!

PS My children understand that in no way is this a hint to jump on the grandbaby train - They know that I will have much more time to play with the grandbabies if I am not knitting! Look for "Bringing Home Baby Boy" outfit soon!

HAPPY 25TH BIRTHDAY TO MY BABY GIRL!!

2007-01-27T13:33:00.000-05:00

I can't believe that this lovely little beauty is 25 tomorrow! She still has the same twinkle in her eye and can light a room with a smile. She has become the most wonderful young woman and we are oh so proud. Where has the time gone? Keep it up darling Lyndsay - the sky is the limit for you!

SAMPLER AFGHAN

2007-01-23T10:32:00.000-05:00

My new year's resolution holds with no new yarn purchases. I dug this project out of my UFOs and got interested in it again - I had totally forgotten about this sampler afghan that I had started last fall.
12" x12" squares knitted on size 8 needles make for a quick knit and it is so much fun to try all of the different stitches.
This one is "Quilted Lattice"

The camera didn't pick up the true colors of the yarn - it is a camel color in Encore worsted weight.
I figured it would be easy to wash and care for.

Little Shells

Moss Stitch

Yarn Over Cable

5 squares long and 4 squares wide - Should make for some great snuggling on a cold winter's night.

The 5th square is on the needles - I will update every 4 squares!

SOOOO MUCH FUN TO KNIT!!!!!

2007-01-18T13:25:00.000-05:00

Too much fun!! Dale of Norway NR 101 Snowman sweater. Knit on size 4 and 6 needles with fair isle and cables made a very fast and interesting knit! I used Encore worsted yarn - due to the fact that this sweater is a 2T and goodness only knows what grandbabies will spill on it!

FAIR ISLE AND FELTING - LIFE DON'T GET NO BETTER THAN THAT

2007-01-16T08:06:00.000-05:00

Nicky Epstein's Tote Sweet from Vogue Knitting - Holiday 2006 issue! What a great knit! I love fair isle and felting but never thought to put the two together. This bag turned out great and I made it for my nursing paraphenalia when I get to go back to work. A hopeful project as I still am not any where near ready to return to the ICU but the doc promised to have me back to work by June 1. So here is a ray of a dream, some planning, and a prayer that I may be able to return to my beloved job. It will be so great to pull my stethoscope out of this bag!

Close up of fair isle after felting. One of my New Years Resolutions is to knit my stash down - So I used the colors of Lambs Pride that I already had!

Prefelted - This bag was huge!

I am keeping my other New Year's resolution - I am knitting socks from the stash only - No yarn acquisitions for the new year yet!

DARN IT OR NOT?

2007-01-09T15:58:00.000-05:00

I have knit a LOT of socks and never had a problem. This Christmas, I decided to knit a pair of socks for hubby and for darling son. I had a hard time finding a masculine self-striping yarn in a thicker sized yarn. I was looking for masculine, comfy, and warm.
I thought that I had found the answer with this Moda-Dea Sassy Stripes yarn made by Coats. I have used this yarn before and never had any problems ------until now! GRRRRRRRRRR!!
Within a week after Christmas - both loved ones presented me with socks that had gaping holes in them. I don't knit through the knots. I used the correct gauge and needle size. I hand washed and air dried them. I lovingly put my whole heart and soul into making these socks perfect!!!! AGGGHHHHHHHH!!!
The boys feel terrible and I simply don't know what to do - the yarn is definitely not going to hold up and the holes are huge! Not just one sock has a hole in it but both pairs - all 4 socks- have these same holes! What to do - Guess I will toss these and start new ones but Coats yarn has lost a customer forever!! Be forewarned

My pile of handmade socks that all have holes in them after being worn only 2 times each!

NEW YEARS RESOLUTION...

2007-01-06T05:17:00.000-05:00

I am terrible at keeping New Years Resolutions. I always make them an unacheivable goal that never lasts for more than a few days but this year I think that I might actually keep my resolution! I will knit all of my sock yarn!
I find sock yarn irresistable - You know, you head into the yarn store to get a few skeins of yarn to make a specific project and then.......... the stacks of sock yarn beckon you. They call to you with all of their gorgeous colors and self striping promises. What the heck - I can afford to buy one or two more skeins of yarn and they are only for a pair of socks! I throw the sock yarn into my basket and take them home where they sit in my knitting basket until my next purchase of sock yarn. Then these lovely skeins get moved to the HUGE plastic bucket upstairs in my craft room rarely to be seen again.
But not this year! I will revisit that plastic bucket everytime I finish a pair of socks until the sock bin is empty! I think this resolution might last a couple of months before I give out to the latest and greatest sock yarn sale! HEEHEE

YOU KNIT WHAT?

2006-12-31T05:38:00.000-05:00

It has been a busy season for our family including an emergent gall bladder surgery for our darling son-in-law. He has never had a trip to the emergency room or surgery before and understandably, was a bit nervous about the whole ordeal. Darling daughter decided to quell some of his nervousness with this knitted gall bladder! The nurses and doctors (not to mention the entire family) got a real hoot out of this one. Doug had it on the gurney with him all the way to the operating room. He has recuperated well and is back to his old self again with this hysterical reminder floating around their apartment! Job well done Lyndsay!

Another adorable knit by Lyndsay!! NORBERTA

CHRISTMAS KNITTING REVEALED....

2006-12-18T06:06:00.000-05:00

Dale of Norway!!!! Yahoo - I thought that I would never finish the beading on this gorgeous hat and scarf. Felted using Heilo yarn and size 5 needles. I just had to make this for darling daughter for Christmas.

The finished scarf and a closeup of the beading. I only bought about 14,000 beads to make sure that they were absolutely right for the project.

"They call them pirates" scarf for darling son. My daughter made him the hat - so I thought a scarf would be a perfect match for him. Do you see the problem with this? It is the same color combo as the felted duo for darling daughter - It will be a long time before I use a black/charcoal color to knit anything again!! Heilo yarn on size 5 needles - I made my own pattern from the hat design!

Dale of Norway - Hat for hubby! Hope everyone likes their Christmas knitted gifts!

FLYING OFF THE NEEDLES......

2006-12-14T13:24:00.000-05:00

I just love my new Mason-Dixon Knitting book. These gals really have some great ideas and make it fun to knit with lots of tips and stories to go along with great patterns. These are 3 of the Ballband Dishcloths that I have made from the book!

I used size 8 needles with 2 balls of Peaches and Creme cotton! One variegated skein and one solid color make the slip stitch pattern just jump right out at you!

These need to be washed, blocked, and wrapped for a great Christmas gift for someone really special to me!

They are so fun - you might almost want to wash the dishes! (NOT!!)

SOCKS AND A HAT....

2006-12-10T07:22:00.000-05:00

It is such a busy time of year but knitting will not take a back seat this year. I am furiously trying to finish up several very complicated Christmas knits. But here are 2 that I can post - the folks who will be receiving these knitted goodies don't even own a computer -Can you imagine that? Above is a Dale of Norway fair isle hat - Dalegarn NR 130. Made from Heilo yarn on size 3 needles, this is the hardest fair isle yet!

Another pair of Thuja socks done!! This Knitty pattern is just wonderful and is one of my favorite car knits - the pattern is so simple that it is difficult to make a mistake and it is easy to see where you are in the pattern repeats. Moda Dea Sassy Stripe Yarn on size 3 needles - Another pair of tootsies will stay nice and warm this year!

28 YEARS AGO TODAY,,,

2006-12-02T07:52:00.000-05:00

28 years ago today, I married the love of my life. Not that it has been all roses and butterflies - It hasn't but when I woke up this morning - I knew that I loved this man more than ever! He is my best friend, my love, and my hero. I can only hope for another 28 years with this wonderful man.

BAH HUMBUG.....

2006-12-01T09:22:00.000-05:00

BAH HUMBUG..... I have been knitting my little fingers to the bone! I have made some quite excellent knitted items that I would really like to show you but....................some people who are getting these gifts will see them!!!! Guess I will have quite the show in January!

SILENT BOB AND THE CHRISTMAS TREE

2006-11-26T15:09:00.000-05:00

I know what you are thinking - this is supposed to be a knitting blog but with the holidays approaching so quickly I thought I would share a little.
I would like you to meet Silent Bob. Silent Bob (my kids named him long ago) was a Christmas school project that my son made when he was in first grade. Silent Bob has been sitting on the hearth everyday for 15 years since he was presented to me by a cherub faced little boy who was so gleeful at his completed snowman that I thought he was going to burst. Every year when I am putting away the Christmas decorations, I pick up Silent Bob and remember the sweet faced boy and Silent Bob never quite makes it into the decorations box. Silent Bob got a makeover last year with a newly knitted hat and a new ribbon around his neck.

This is the 10 foot tall pine tree that sits on the hill next to the house. My son brought it home when he was in kindergarden and he proudly planted it with the help of his dad. The tree was little more than 6 inches tall and we never thought that it would live -especially because the kids were constantly sledding over it when they were little and the snow called them to this little hill with sleds in hand. It now stands tall and proud - just like me whenever I think of that little boy and his sister with the ruby red cheeks - sledding down that hill with the dog chasing them the whole way. Those beautiful little faces that would sit and drink hot chocolate with marshmallows after a long afternoon of sledding.
Thankyou to my wonderful son and daughter for all of the memories that you have given me at this time of year. You are my blessings.

DINOSAURS........

2006-11-22T10:00:00.000-05:00

A cutie dinosaur sweater for the grandbaby trousseau! A eweCANknit pattern #015 Dinosaur Fairisle knitted in Encore Worsted Yarn (superwash because this is a size 2T - Can't you just see the sticky little hands now?) Size 7 needles for the fastest fairisle knit in a long time. I thought I would take a little break from the Dale of Norway patterns on size 1 and 2 needles. How cute is this?

I think the dinosaurs need a little more color - Colored spots maybe? What do you think?

Last week, JoAnns had a sale on beads and I went a little nuts. Hubby was great about the bucks I dropped on my evergrowing bead stash. I threw a few pairs up on ebay because I could never use all of the stitch markers I make. It is good therapy for me - when I need a break from knitting.

CHOO CHOO..................................

2006-11-19T09:09:00.000-05:00

Another baby sweater to add to my grandbaby trousseau. A wonderful fair isle pattern from Sandnes (patterns are similar to Dale of Norway). Book # 0105 Size 2T - Knit with Baby Ull yarn on size 2 needles. I love the look of the baby fair isles and although it is tedious knitting with such small needles the results are just great! What do you think?

A WELL USED SKEIN OF YARN.....

2006-11-16T11:04:00.000-05:00

Last Thursday, I went to a doctor's appointment. It was just supposed to be a follow up but it turned into an adventure in knitting! I packed my knitting bag for the 4 hour trip and brought more than enough knitting for 8 hours in the car and an hour in the doctor's waiting room.
I also packed my brand new copy of One Skein Wonders thinking that I could have a chance to really look through and think about simple one skein projects to debulk my growing stash of orphan yarn. Little did I know that my quick little appointment would turn into a 6 day hospital stay!
Between tests and treatments, I kept my mind and thoughts busy with a little red baby sweater that was just pure knitting in the round. I even made the IV team place my IV in a spot on my arm where it would not interfere with my ability to knit! They got a real hoot out of that request.
Once the red yarn for the baby sweater was used up - I had only one lonely skein of Lambs Pride Wool left in my knitting bag. It was a lonely leftover from a previous project and had gotten lost in the bottom of my gigantic knitting bag. I pondered my options and decided to make a scarf out of this lonely little chocolate brown yarn.

I finished the scarf and had nothing left to knit. HMMMMM.......... I ripped it out and made a fancy hat. With still another day before I could go home and no more knitting to be had ---- I ripped out the hat and made this cute little brown bag! A skein of yarn well used I must say!

A lesson well learned to always, always pack as much yarn in my bag as possible and it will be a very long time before I knit anything brown again!!

By the way, this is a great book with excellent patterns. I highly recommend it!

IT'S GETTING MIGHTY COLD HERE IN THE MOUNTAINS........

2006-11-07T09:58:00.000-05:00

With the temperatures here in the White Mountains of New Hampshire, dipping into the teens at night - I decided to put a little warmth on the needles!
Reynolds Odyssey Pattern #82226 is a great knit! The diagonal stitching on the cuffs was a breeze to do and sure look gorgeous in this yarn. Stampato Extra - 100% Merino makes these mittens so soft and warm. I tried them out this morning with a walk in the garden.

I came across this Paton's Rumor Yarn on Sale at the Korner Knitters in Standish Maine. Hi Guys!(They follow the blog). I bought 2 skeins with no idea what to do with it but hubby chimed in that it would make a luxurious scarf - Okay, I'll give him the right part just this once!

This yarn is an Alpaca blend and is so soft! On size 10 needles it worked up quickly! I found the pattern on the Yarn Harlot Blog and it was just a repeat of 4 stitches!

UNDERSTANDING SELF STRIPING SOCK YARN...

2006-11-03T18:51:00.000-05:00

I decided to take a break from my large projects this week and make up a pair of gorgeous socks for myself. I had bought this self striping sock yarn - Big Mexiko from Schoeller Stahl - last spring on sale for just this purpose. I have used this yarn before for another pair of socks and knew full well that it takes 3 skeins to make a pair of socks. The sale was too good to be true and these 2 skeins were the only ones left - therefor I knew they would have to be short cuff socks. I checked the lot and color numbers and Voila! they were the same.

Rules for using self striping yarn -
1. The socks are never ever the same striping pattern no matter how hard you try.
2. You have to buy the same lot number or you need to make one sock!
3. The finished project is always always gorgeous!
4. You must always pull from the same end for each sock. If you start with the middle strand for one then don't pull the center for the second.

But - with all of my self striping yarn know how - I never expected this! Look! These socks are exactly opposite striping patterns!!! I pulled the yarn from the outside of the skein for both and I knit both from the top down! Thank goodness they are for me and I love being different!

What do you think?

LIFE IS GOOD......

2006-10-30T20:40:00.000-05:00

Thanks for the pic Lizzytish!

HOPPING OFF THE NEEDLES THIS WEEK........

2006-10-26T13:28:00.000-04:00

Dale of Norway did it again!! An adorable froggy on the front with a worm on the back. I love the pattern and styling of these great baby sweaters!! Here is a face only the cutest of grandbabies could wear!

His friend the worm on the back.

Knit on size one needles with Baby Ull Yarn.

SPARTAN PULLOVER

2006-10-25T09:02:00.000-04:00

Hubby has a new sweater!! This is the Spartan Pullover from the Fall 2006 Interweave Knits. A great pattern, easy knit, with easy to follow instructions.

I just had to try Knit Picks Swish Superwash yarn - so I put it to work on this pattern. A soft 100% superwash wool that feels just great! This sweater is done in Coast Grey with a lighter color for the Fair Isle portion. This yarn is a wonderful yarn to work with except for one problem: It is unforgiving. You can see every tension change and small glitch in your knitting.

Hubby is excited to have another new sweater but really loves my Kangaroo Pouch sweater - Maybe he can have one for Christmas.........stay tuned!

I'M DREAMING OF.......

2006-10-23T08:56:00.000-04:00

A WHITE HALLOWEEN? This morning, we awoke to the first snow of the season.

THE MORE I KNIT .............

2006-10-20T14:35:00.000-04:00

I am trying desperately to finish 2 sweaters and the more that I knit them - the more there seems to be to knit. I keep thinking that I am getting closer to the finish when it seems that I just have soooooo much more yarn and pattern to complete.
Hubby's sweater's last sleeve just seems to go on and on and on and the latest baby Dale of Norway sweater is on size one needles.......I don't have to say any more do I?
So today you get YARN!! I found the top yarn at a cute little store in Vermont and it is anxiously awaiting the needles. Supersoft merino sock yarn.....MMMMMMMM.......I want to start them so badly that I swear the yarn gets closer and closer to my favorite knitting space everyday - Is it magic or am I just petting it too much? OOOOOH how I want to start these socks!
The yarn below is a Lambs Pride Yarn that is going to become a Christmas present! The color is Peacock Blue and there will be more pics after December 25.

All of my longing to finish projects had to take a break this week because I finally broke down and bought Mason Dixon Knitting. I just had to make a dishcloth!
All this angst because I promised myself not to have more than 3 projects on the needles at one time! I must curb my enthusiasm and be just a little more sensible - BAH..I think I'll start the socks!

KANGAROO SWEATER DONE!!

2006-10-15T07:57:00.000-04:00

IT'S DONE!!!! YAHOOOOOOOO!!! This poor yarn has been through many a trial and tribulation - I just couldn't decide what it needed to be! It has been 8 different sweaters - all ditched due to lack of the correct pattern. Finally, I found a sweater that did justice to the yarn. Sirdar Aran Denim yarn in beige with flecks of brown, black and grey. It is gorgeous yarn but alas it just needed the right venue to show off it's luciousness.
I have wanted a huge comfy warm sweater (this is way too big on me) with super long sleeves for Fall days just like today. It has a great kangaroo pocket in the front and the hood is just as warm as toast.

I will admit that at times I felt like I was knitting a tent - So much of the same color without fair isle or cables. I think that the finished sweater will serve me well on cold New Hampshire walks. What do you think?
Pattern is from Book 2: The Purl Stitch by Sally Melville and is called the Kangaroo Duo. Easy to follow instructions with lots of options for sizing from little kids to size 2X.
Yarn Sirdar Denim Aran in color 0607
Size 6 needles (what was I thinking?)

LIZARD RIDGE

2006-10-09T07:02:00.000-04:00

A sneek peak of things to come! I couldn't resist Lizard Ridge from Knitty's Fall Edition. Worked in short rows in Noro Kuryeon, it is a blast to work on! The color work and not knowing how it will look until the next section is done is like reading a really good mystery novel! A surprise at every turn.
Darling Daughter and Son-in Law were here this weekend and want it for Christmas. Hubby got a little animated at the thought and said, " That afghan is going nowhere!". After they left for home, DH mentioned twice that he really liked it and was hoping that we could keep it for ourselves. HEEHEE! He is so damned cute! I think I will have to keep him and get busy making 2 afghans instead of 1.

WHAT I'VE BEEN UP TO........

2006-10-01T06:57:00.000-04:00

I finished my first pair of mittens! A gorgeous pair of Gansey mittens knitted in Classic Elite. They are just too soft for words! A moss stitch with twisted cables - they were so much fun to make - I will admit that the pattern was for gloves but I chickened out and turned them into mittens! They almost make me wish for winter!
I picked up this knitting stand at a little antique shop in Vermont for $3.50. The fabric was falling apart and the inside was badly water stained. I had picked up some great fabric at JoAnns on sale and knew that I could recover it with a little patience and a lot of hand sewing.

Didn't it turn out great? I love the greens and pinks with a retro kind of print. It is now holding an unfinished sweater for hubby next to the couch where I knit. I have a few more of these stands and think that I will recover them all - A few great Christmas presents for my knitting buddies!

I just love the butterflies on this print with the green and pink paisley!

Hubby and I finished up his vacation with a cooking marathon. We visited the King Arthur Baking Store while we were in Vermont and picked up a load of new cooking tools. We love to cook for the family at big gatherings and love to try new recipes! We had pork roast with a port wine and mission fig sauce on this night - It was yummy!

ROAD TRIP!!

2006-09-25T07:25:00.000-04:00

Darling hubby and I set off for a long weekend in Vermont this weekend. I was in charge of the map and the new sweater I am making for hubby. We did the usual sightseeing and antiqueing but the yarn shops drew us in. We met a lot of great people on our trip and had a lot of very interesting conversations with the owners of the lovely little antique stores and the yarn shops we visited. The yarn store ladies that we met were absolutely enamored with my hubby's interested in all things knitting! One store owner asked him if he would like to go in the back and watch the football game to which he replied, "No thanks, I would much rather look at the yarn with my wife". He continued to brag about what a wonderful knitter I am and how fair isle knitting is my passion right now. AAAAHHH..got to love a guy who loves yarn.
The first store that we visited was the Whippletree Yarn Shop in Woodstock Vermont. What a great little shop with lots of samples knit up! They had lots of the standard yarns available in most yarn shops but there were a few local yarns that were interesting too. Pleasant employees and a gorgeous window front had me frothing at the mouth to linger a little while longer. I bought a few patterns - the sweet little lamb hat in the window is one of their own and I had to have it!

Another favorite LYS on our trip was The Naked Sheep in Bennington Vermont. The owner of the shop was great and let me take lots of pictures. She has 2 little kids and there is a play area with lots of toys for all to share. A gorgeous roomy store with great lighting and lots of to-die-for yarn! I bought a few patterns and some Brown Sheep Yarn. The Knitting patterns are on turnstyle racks for easy access and lots of ideas. Thanks for the hospitalit
We also visited some other LYS on our trip to Vermont but these were the 2 worth mentioning. A great vacation with lots of foliage, good food, and some quality time with hubby. Alas, the only problem with Vermont was that the antique and oldies but goodies stores didn't have one vintage knitting tote!

EEK A STEEK!!!!

2006-09-20T10:49:00.000-04:00

Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star - It's finished!! Dale of Norway blanket made with Baby Ull yarn in shades of blue and yellow. Won't my (someday) grandbabies look wonderful snuggled up with me in the rocking chair wrapped in this blanket? I love the faces on the stars and moons! Just an FYI - It is Dale of Norway Booklet Nr 110

Lovingly knit in the round on size 2 needles.

The part of fair isle I like the least! Steeking. It still makes my stomach flip everytime I take a pair of scissors to a finished fair isle. I understand the concept but it just breaks my heart to cut through yarn.

I bought this gorgeous light yellow velour to line the back of Twinkle blanket (so no little fingers or toes get caught in the loops.

To the left is the backside - not bad for knitting a little more than a year!

THE LONG WEEK..................

2006-09-14T13:49:00.000-04:00

This week has been a very long, long week with little progresss on the knitting front. I am caught in that place, where all of my projects are 80% done but still nowhere near finished. I do this all the time - I seem to synchronize my knitting so that all projects are at the same stage of doneness.
Therefor - you will recieve a little more of my knitting tote collection! TADA!! Don't change the channel - This is really good if you like vintage or if you are a little on the wacky side like me.
The knitting tote to the left is made by Tupperware in 1959 under the name of TupperKraft. It is huge!! 3 feet tall- It looks more like a hamper or garbage can than a knitting tote. AAAAHHH but the holes in the bottom and along the seam give it away - that is where the yarn comes out! I guess someone must have needed a place for about 100 balls of yarn! This is definitely not something to casually tote around with you like the others. I do love the swirls in the plastic - very retro!

On the other end of the scale is a 1960's Tammy (Barbie's friend) knitting holder. It is so tiny! I am always afraid that I will loose it amongst my other knitting goodies. The original set came with a ball of yarn and knitting needles for Tammy.

Okay - I'll give in - Just a little preview! The next Dale of Norway is called Twinkle Twinkle Little Star! Can you guess what it will be?

I WANT A STASH WEASEL!!!!

2006-09-07T04:15:00.000-04:00

I shamelessly stole this picture from the Yarn Harlot's blog - yes I couldn't help myself. I want one! Actually I would like a herd of Stash Weasels and this is how I would use them.
Can you imagine having a bevy of these delightful creatures whose only job in the whole world is to care for your yarn stash. They would primp and preen and smooth your yarn. They would pick up any wandering balls of alpaca and cashmere and carefully snuggle any stray wool ends back into their cozy little niches. If a stray bug or critter dared to enter the yarn domain the Stash Weasels would hunt them down and make short order of them (thus they would be self feeding). The Stash Weasels would also take great pride in winding skeins of yarn into perfect balls without any tangles or knots.
The best would be taking these little guys yarn shopping. I would lovingly place my Stash Weasels in the back of the car and they would giggle and sing all the way to the yarn store - just like me! When I would bring my new wool purchases back to the car, they would begin to preen and purr over the yarn and would become watchdogs so that the yarn would remain safe for the rest of my journey.
Once home, there would be no need to remove the overflowing bags to the house in front of Darling Husband or other prying eyes. In the dark of the night, the Stash Weasels would strap on their head lamps and like Navy Seals begin the daunting task of securing the yarn to it's tactical areas without alerting enemy intelligence. All yarn and knitting paraphenalia would be stealthily moved and deposited without notice and the Stash Weasels would settle in for a nap with noone the wiser.
If I could only teach them to sew together my finished projects - I would be all set!

GOOD MORNING SEPTEMBER!

2006-09-01T10:38:00.000-04:00

My favorite time of the year! The Mount Washington Valley of New Hampshire is certainly starting to look like fall. This morning it was 43 degrees and there has been snow on the summit of the tallest mountain in the Northeast. Some of the leaves have started to change and the pumkins in the roadside fields are starting to turn orange. Just a few more weeks and the mountains will be ablaze in color!

The morning glories are in full bloom and the apples are a beautiful red - just waiting to be picked! September 1st is also darling hubbies birthday. He got hot coffee and breakfast at 4:00 this morning before he went to work. I have called him every hour to sing him Happy Birthday on the cell phone. His new charcoal grill and all of the tools that go with it are wrapped in lovely paper. Darling Daughter is picking up the "Organic Charcoal",that he has been ooohing over, and there will be a big cookout at the house tomorrow.

A new winter sweater is on the needles for me and the wool is bought and wound for a lovely new fair isle sweater for hubby. Last night, it was so cool, I was glad to have a large warm project to work on instead of socks. If only it could stay like this!

GREAT BALLS OF FIRE - I FINALLY DID IT!!!

2006-08-30T04:34:00.000-04:00

Before
I love the look and style of the 1950-1970's vintage knitting tote's. So much so that my kids are concerned that I am spending all of their inheritance on them (HEE HEE) I search high and low, ebay and yard sales to find these simple little beauties but alas every once in awhile I purchase a true stinker! As is the one on the left. It looks great in the pic but it is water stained, very dirty, and no amount of Febreze will remove the musty smell. I have gotten very good at repairing these gems but have never had the courage to actually take one apart and try to recover it for fear of ruining it. From handles to vinyl repair, some just need a little TLC and some need a true overhaul. This tote is my first attempt at vintage overhaul - unfortunately the thing that I forgot while choosing the fabric, is that one of the reasons that I love these totes is the retro fabrics that cover them. I love the Chinese red but it truly does not fit the classic style. Oh well, I learned a lot about the construction and have a gorgeous little beauty to add back to to my collection!

This tote was $3.99 on Ebay. What a nasty piece! After taking it apart, It is nothing more than heavy cardboard, a piece of vinyl, and some hardware. After reinforcing with much packing tape and some reshaping(and thank goodness for my glue gun!!) - the serious work begins. The fabric is a sewn case which is tightly fitted with a vinyl bottom sewn in. The hardware is reattached and I lined both totes (not the original style). I found some gold buttons at a shop this weekend with a ball of yarn and knitting needles on them. I bought 6 and had no idea what I would do with them. The hardware from this tote was not salvageable - so Voila! the buttons look great in place of the hardware! This second tote overhaul was more challenging but the vintage style fabric is stunning! Don't you think?

KNITTING EPIPHONE!!

2006-08-29T06:32:00.000-04:00

I am a typical Type A Personality and once I make up my mind that I will do something - everyone get out of my way. I had so wanted to make these geometric socks out of Noro Kuryeon that I spent 2 very frustrating days trying to make the GD pattern work. Through bloodied fingertips and multiple handwritten worksheets - the swearing went on. I was determined to make my very own pair. The pattern calls for a size 3 needle - What are you kidding me? Even at a size 5 - that was still way too tight. The pattern was written wrong - so I had to rewrite the whole thing as they left out a few k2tog and ssks.But on the third day of knitting disaster - I had an EPIPHONE!

Not only did these socks not look right but if I finished them, they were going to be so scratchy - I would never wear them. Why would I want to use $25 worth of gorgeous yarn for a pair of socks that would only hold horrible memories of a knitters nightmare and scratch the H.... out of my feet!

Off to the frog pond - Noro safely back to it's original state and I am happy once again. My family will never quite be the same after the melt down that occured during the shredding of the pattern followed by a bonfire of the magazine. I do not have to make something just because I plan to make it. Thankyou Knitting Goddess for the Lesson ---UMMMMMMMMMMM---- Breathe deeply and repeat --- Knitting is fun ---Knitting is relaxing --- I am a good knitter --The designer and pattern writer for this pattern should take a long trip to the woodshed for this one!

WHAT HAVE I BEEN UP TO?

2006-08-24T09:52:00.000-04:00

So - I wanted to try out Knitpicks new line of Fall Yarns - I ordered a little bit of everything and am playing with them all. I finished this great little felted Fiber Trends Gelato Bag with Wool of the Andes Bulky in "Impatiens".

This yarn is great! It works up nicelywith 137 yards per skein. Gauge is 3-4 stitches per inch on size 10 - 11 needles. I didn't have a lot of fuzz in the washer or on the bag! YIPPEE!! This is a sample prior to felting. The quality is so good I would not hesitate to knit a bulky sweater out of it either.

A couple of months ago, I went out and bought all the makings for stitch markers but never got around to making any. A friend showed me how to make them this weekend and I have been having a ball playing in beads all week. Hubby came home to a dining room table filled with beading supplies and just rolled his eyes. He simply said, "I guess we will be going to the big city for supplies this weekend?".God bless him!

MORNING GLORY

2006-08-23T07:58:00.000-04:00

Morning Glories cover the sides of our 200 year old barn. They begin to bloom in mid August and their colors are just glorious! Just thought I would share my view of the world on an early morning in my garden.

LORNA AND THE PRINCESS

2006-08-16T15:00:00.000-04:00

What a great week for finishing knitting projects! These two are straight off the needles. The Princess sweater above is a size 12 months from the SandnesGarn 0305 book made from Lanett yarn in a bright pink with a crocheted silver crown and trim. I thought that I had forgotten how to crochet but it came back fairly quickly. The lace sleeves and the scalloped edging are the perfect finish for this sweet baby sweater. Hubby thinks that it is toooooooo pink - but I can just see a beautiful baby girl in it!

Some more gorgeous colors with Thuja socks made with Lorna's Lace's Shepard Sport in 100% wool - Purple Iris. Little Knits was having a sale and I just had to indulge and try this yarn. I have a feeling that these will end up under the Christmas tree for Darling Daughter. Every time she visits - I find her caressing them lovingly!
Note to self - This yarn has an incredible softness and must become a regular on the needles!

MY BEST FRIENDS AND THREE DAYS OF KNITTING BLISS!

2006-08-14T07:38:00.000-04:00

Mary Ann and Lyndsay -
My best knitting friends!
3 days of pure knitting and heaven sent bliss with 2 of my favorite people!!!! Here they are at Boothbay Harbor!

Thursday morning, Darling Daughter,Lyndsay, and I set off for 3 days of fun in the sun with our best friend Mary Ann. Our knitting bags packed and our spirits high we meandered up Route 1 through the lovely Maine seaports with crystal blue skies and gorgeous ocean views at every turn. What a glorious morning!

We stopped at a gorgeous little knitting shop called the Purple Sheep!

Lyndsay caressed every skein of yarn at the yarn store in Camden, Maine(so did I). Great buys and our stash increased a little. Gorgeous gurnsey gloves will be on the needles shortly.
We arrived in Franklin Maine at about 1:00 and Mary Ann was waiting for us. She was staying at a gorgeous little cabin on the lake. Lots of knitting, good food, Corona's with lime, swimming, fishing, sightseeing, blueberry picking, followed which was topped off with our usual laugh until you drop/pee your pants story telling untill you can't breath sessions. Way too good for my tired soul!

Loons on the lake (as opposed to the loons in the cabin) and the beautiful sights of the ocean. Thanks for your hospitality Mary Ann - Hope we can do it again some time soon!

YARN SALES AND YARD SALES - WAY FUN!!!

2006-08-06T08:52:00.000-04:00

Darling Daughter kidnapped me on Tuesday morning and took me off to Portland Maine for a day of Yarn shopping with loads of sales and a night of knitting with my favorite SnB ladies. My vertigo has not improved and the medications make it difficult for me to drive - so this was a heaven sent diversion this week.

Hubby wisked me off on Friday and Saturday for a Yard Sale Marathon. I found these great vintage knitting magazines and books for 10 cents a piece! Great find! The lady that I bought them from used to knit a lot and we both enjoyed talking about knitting. To the left, I found a vintage tape measure and pin cushion in the shape of an iron and one that is made of tin painted brown with compartments for all your notions. Too cute! I also found these size 2 knitting needles by Red Heart (they have red hearts on the tops) to add to my knitting needle collection and a crochet and tatting booklet from the 1950's in pristine condition. My grandmother used to tat. I have her tatting shuttle and some of her lace work - I remember her tatting while she watched tv.

I have been wanting to make these Geometric design socks from Knitter's magazine - Summer edition 2006 since I got the magazine. You can tell that I have been deep in thought over these socks for a while due to the coffee stain on the page!

My daughter managed to get me to the Korner Knitters in Standish Maine (one of my favorite knitting stores in the whole world - HI GUYS!!) before their big sale was over. I got this Noro on sale - 25% off and will be putting it on the needles this week!

Sandnes
I also greatly increased my Dale of Norway Baby Ull stash! (I just love sales!! Darling hubby was awesome about all the bags of yarn that came home with me that night - god bless him! He is going to have a gold halo when he gets to heaven!) All those beautiful colors of merino wool, that wash so well. I found this line of knitting books on line and managed to scoop up a few on Tuesday. They are done in the Norweigian style like the Dale of Norway and the Lanett and Petit Mandarin yarns knit up to the same gauge. I have started one sweater already and they have some great designs! Dragons, fairies, trains, and trucks to name a few - I have found a whole new baby world to knit!
Stay tuned for the Princess Sweater that is just about to come off the needles!! It is so cute - it almost makes me want another baby!

VINTAGE KNITTING FOR KIDS...LIKE ME!!

2006-07-31T10:18:00.000-04:00

I guess I am just a big kid at heart - These are part of my vintage knitting collection. A Jr. Miss Knitting Basket is 6 sided and has some great retro pictures on it! I just had to post all of the sides so that you could see the cool pics!

Below: A 1950's Ponytail case All of these are marked Hassenfeld Bros, Inc. Central Falls, Rhode Island, USA. With a little digging and a lot of luck, I found out that this was the company that eventually became Hasbro. It seems that Henry and Hal Hassenfeld opened their toy business in 1923. In 1968, the company felt it needed a trendier name - so it can up with Hasbro!

A 6 sided child's knitting kit with original plastic knitting needle and other knitting accessories.

A vintage sewing box - complete with all a little girl needs to sew!

SOCKS IN THE GARDEN

2006-07-26T11:55:00.000-04:00

The gardens are so beautiful this time of year that I just had to take these pictures outside! I love to knit socks and carry a sock project every where I go. I ordered this yarn from jujuknits on Etsy.com a few weeks ago - the colors were just too gorgeous to pass by. I know that the blue/green socks are a little bright but on a happy bubbly kind of day, I might just break them out with my Birkenstocks and jeans.

The pink/brown socks are Knitty.com's Thuja sock pattern - a really fast knit that always looks great no matter the yarn. The blue/green socks are from Sensational Knitted Socks-the Elongated Corded Rib. I love this book because I can pick any yarn and any sock pattern that I like and add the pattern by choosing a 3, 4, 5, or 6 stitch repitition for cables, basketweave, lace, etc....

ROAR!!!!

2006-07-21T17:21:00.000-04:00

Finally the Dale of Norway baby sweater is done! TA DA! I got a great deal on ebay for 6 skeins of red baby ull - so I decided to make the largest size sweater possible in order to use all the yarn. Size 3T on #2 needles. Then I got the idea that I could take a Debby Bliss teddy bear pattern and make it into a lion to match the sweater. Somewhere in my tortured knitting mind, the toy lion needed a sweater and a paw print on the sweater to match. Actually I love doing the color work for the Dale children's patterns.

MY HERO.......................

2006-07-20T10:49:00.000-04:00

Just a brief blog to tell you about my hero. Last night, I had a crying jag and he held me in his arms and reassured me that everything would be okay. I have been out of work for 12 weeks and my job is at risk. The doctors told me that I just have to wait for the meds to work and I can go back to work when my vertigo is completely gone. My husband knows that being a nurse is very important to me and that it is much more than a job. He has gone to all the doctors appointments and listened to me gripe and snipe every day without complaint.
He also never complains about my knitting. You can always find him right behind me in the yarn stores I visit - basket in hand, waiting patiently for me to drop another load of yarn into our already bulging house.
I didn't believe it was possible that 28 years of marriage would make me love him more. Lucky me!

NOW - WHERE DID MY KNITTING GO?

2006-07-17T11:06:00.000-04:00

The fairies in my gardens have been busy!

THE GOOD, THE BAD, AND THE BABY

2006-07-13T16:57:00.000-04:00

The Good
It is always a good day when the mailman honks his horn. Packages!! YIPPEEEEE! They are always for me and always filled with yarn and knitting goodies!

The Bad
It took me forever to get to the mailbox - bad day with the vertigo.

The Good
Knitpicks new Option Needles - I ordered them a la carte - so that I could try them first. Plus some Knitpicks sock yarn on sale - Who could pass up the opportunity to make more socks?
On the right is the yarn that I ordered from ETSY just 2 days ago. Lovely homemade merino sock yarn --YUMMMMMM!!
Of course the new needles and the new yarn gave me an excuse to sit and knit this afternoon! Options needles knit like butta! Note to self - Must buy more!

And last, but not least, our baby robin is no longer so ugly. He is starting to look more like a baby everyday. He peeps everytime his momma comes near the nest! We spend a lot of time in this area of the garden, so mom and dad robin are used to us being around baby. I waited until they flew off for breakfast to snap this shot!

A LITTLE KNITTING HISTORY

2006-07-10T16:14:00.000-04:00

Knitting Tote History Update!
A little knitting history for you. If you know me at all - you know that I collect vintage knitting totes (see Flickr badge for more) These are 2 of my favorites.
I have been trying to research the history of these totes since I began my collection a year ago. This weekend I found a huge box of McCall's Needlework and Crafts magazines from the 1960's and 1970's at a yard sale. I grabbed a handful, made the guy an offer, and off we went. I was thumbing through when I saw this advertisement.

The Knit Caddy sold for $5.95 plus shipping. Holds all your knitting needles and comes with it's very own sizing guage. The picture above shows the top of the tote with knitting needles. Made by United Specialties Co. in 1972!

I am a woman on a mission - I will discover the vintage secrets of knitting!! Stay tuned for more knitting history..........

WE HAVE A BABY!!

2006-07-07T08:37:00.000-04:00

Last night, we heard peeping coming from the nest and this morning when Momma Robing flew off for her breakfast, I snuck a peak! A baby only a mother could love taking a morning nap. Don't be alarmed - Momma bird is back on the nest and my peak didn't seem to be noticed.

Monday, we found a Robins nest in the lilac tree near our barn. 2 Perfect blue eggs!

YARN HO + BOOK WORM = TOO MANY PROJECTS!!

2006-07-03T19:24:00.000-04:00

My new favorite book to share with darling daughter! Sunday we sat in our PJs and made modular knitting bags with my stash of sari silk.

I have been a book worm for as long as I can remember. A new Nancy Drew Mystery was way better on a hot summer afternoon than anything I could have done outside. I have a lot of cookbooks, gardening books, reading books, and now a whole lot of knitting books! Yahoo!
But there is one problem - this afternoon I went upstairs to get a skein of baby ull for my latest Dale of Norway baby sweater and noticed "Folk Vests", which reminded me that I have 1200 yards of the most gorgeous blue Bartlett wool to make a vest for my hubby. Next thing I knew - 2 hours had passed and all of my knitting books had been pulled to the floor and every vest pattern had been marked for further review. Another hot summer afternoon, spent lolligaggling with a bunch of books - seems that I haven't changed much!
(By the way - not pictured are the large pile of knitting books I keep under the coffee table in the living room and the numerous ones stashed in my knitting bag)

WE'RE BACK!!

2006-07-01T10:07:00.000-04:00

The Saco River

A view of Mount Washington and the Saco River.

The road trip to Boston was a success!! All kinds of tests and lots of new doctors and audiologists gave us their 2 cents on my condition. No vestibular (balance center of the brain) damage was found. They think that I am having silent migraines and started me on some new drugs. I woke this morning with less vertigo than I have had in months(YIPPEE!!) and actually took a walk across the street to takes some pictures I have been wanting to post.
A surprise - This is the mother fox who lives near our house. She hunts small rodents around our house and has been seen with four kits!

Boston Skyline at sundown- ROAD TRIP!!

2006-06-29T20:14:00.000-04:00

Boston Skyline at sundown
Originally uploaded by jadell.

Off to Boston tomorrow to Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary (sounds awful doesn't it? Am I really infirmed?) The knitting is packed for the three and a half hour car ride - I think I have half my stash in my knitting bag! Hope that Doc has a can of "VERITGO-BE-GONE"!

BATHING BEAUTIES!!

2006-06-27T09:16:00.000-04:00

While I am out on medical leave, I am trying to make a dent in the Christmas knitting. I saw these great wash cloths and knew that a few people on my Santa list would just love to have a set! I hope to knit 4 facecloths and a soap pouch for each gift. Wrapped in ribbon with a homemade soap - These should be great gifts! I am using Wildflower DK in shades of peach and cream for this first set.(The picture looks more orange but actually is a dark peach)

LOOK WHAT I FOUND!

2006-06-25T20:19:00.000-04:00

I love to collect vintage knitting and sewing items. My favorite tape measure is the kangaroo with baby in her pouch. When you pull the joey's head, the tape measure comes out.
My latest treasure is a sewing kit(the small vacumm on the left)that looks like an old vacumm cleaner. I found it in an antique shop and the owner thought that I was absolutely out of my mind to be so excited. When you open it there are needles, safety pins, thread, and a thimble. How cute is that! The Hoover is a tape measure! I will post the rest of my collection on a Flickr badge soon.

WHAT IS THIS?

2006-06-24T16:53:00.000-04:00

I found this in my garden today.......... It isn't a hummingbird - Some kind of bug maybe?

PRETTY PLEASE..............

2006-06-22T16:35:00.000-04:00

Okay -- so it has been more than 8 weeks of vertigo. I feel like I am on the deck of a boat, sometimes the waves are 2 feet high and at other times the waves are 15 feet high. The world is in a constant motion and I cannot regain my balance. It is worse when I am in crowds or when there are bright flourescent lights above. I wake up in the morning with the bed rocking and spend the rest of my days just praying for it to STOP! The Ear Nose and Throat doctor has run all of his tests - no diagnosis. The Neurologist has run tests - no cause there: my brain is perfect. My Primary Care Physician (who I know is the best in the world, I work as an ICU nurse in the hospital where she practices. I see the care that she gives and noone could possibly care more about their patients or give better care)has run all of her tests and still no known cause or treatment.
I have been waiting for an appointment at Mass Eye and Ear Infirmary and finally got a date for July 20. Lucky me - I asked to be put on a cancellation list in case there were any openings - I GOT NEXT FRIDAY AT 1:00!!!
I promise that if they can fix this -
1. I will never take my health for granted again
2. Everyday, I will take great joy in being independent!!
3. I am going to drive my car and sing for a month about it!
4. I will return to the job that I love and put every ounce of joy and love into being a nurse!!
5. I will have a new found empathy for my patients
6. I will never miss Knitting Night in Portland again!
So I am throwing this wish out into the heavens - Pretty Please....find a cure for what I have!!!

ADDICTED TO BABY DALE OF NORWAY

2006-06-20T09:39:00.000-04:00

I absolutely cannot get enough of Dale of Norway baby sweaters made with Baby Ull yarn! I love doing the color work and making things that are so cute! So far, I have completed the baby duck sweater, ladybug sweater and now the seal sweater!(See the others below on the blog) The seal on the front of the sweater looks like fair isle but is not- embroidered over knitting. I am starting the next Dale Sweater - It has a lion on it! Too cute!

MORE FOs FROM A DIZZY BROAD!!

2006-06-20T09:26:00.000-04:00

Here is the update - I STILL HAVE VERTIGO - NO BETTER, NO WORSE. I am getting better at moving around the house and garden but put me in a grocery store or Wallyworld and the whole world turns upside down. Vertigo can also be very weather sensitive - last night we had some major thunderstorms. Dear God - I laid on the couch through the whole storm, while the house rocked violently back and forth. After the storm - I was back to just the floor rolling under my feet. God bless the people who love me enough to hold me up in the grocery store and understand that if it is raining, they have to make their own dinner!
Here are a few goodies that I have knitted since the last update
"Fake Enterlac" scarf for hubby - Grinasco Top Print
Baby Blue Sweater - Sirdar Dreambaby DK

HAPPY BIRTHDAY BABY SISTER!

2006-06-20T09:22:00.000-04:00

Look what I made for my sister's birthday! My first very own pattern too! I filled it with books, dvds, fancy lotions, lots of gitchy goodies, and the new Dixie Chicks Album( don't care about their politics - just love their music!) She loved it!!

The Sun has finally come out in New Hampshire!!

2006-06-18T18:59:00.000-04:00

It seems like months since there has been more than one day without rain. Some areas of New Hampshire were getting 2 to 6 inches of rain a day! The gardens have taken a real beating and I just finished doing a Miracle Grow treatment. They should perk up nicely in the next few days of hot weather.
I also know that on this Father's Day the sun has been shining in other ways. My children were here and that makes our dispositions much sunnier. Laughing, good food, and the chance just to be together to celebrate the wonderful man I married.

DREAM COME TRUE! A YARN STORE FOR SALE ON EBAY!!

2006-06-18T18:56:00.000-04:00

I don't know - what do you think? A yarn store for sale on Ebay? $59,000 - no delivery though --- I am one click away from moving to Cleveland, Ohio. Talk about a SABLE!