Long Lost Mittens

I'm ashamed to say when these were started besides I don't even remember. It was Adam at AdamKnits that got me to thinking about these beauties. I love the grey and yellow. It's Debbie Bliss DK Merino. The pattern is called 'Corazon' from Knitty.com. Why they are on the back burner I don't know. But I have them out now and will get to them very soon. I should like to wear them this winter!!! Check Adam's fabulous mittens too!

Wrap or Scarf or Both

The Vine Stitch Wrap pattern is from the Vogue, Shawls little mini book. The one on the left is my scarf version leaving some repeats out. It's Berroco Ultra Alpaca a wonderful yarn and an excellent deal for the yardage of 215! I think the color is called, "Potting Soil Mix". Isn't that a crazy name? I'm on an alpaca kick I think. Next is the royal blue (although you can't tell it here!) Knitpicks Shine Sport cotton (the suggested yarn for this is cotton). I bought the yarn a while back for a summer top that just didn't turn out so it was frogged. Knitting with it here is mainly to get rid of the yarn. I started the Vine Stitch Wrap on size 9's as the pattern required but it was horrible. Changed to a 7 and it's a remarkable difference. I even like it! Check the link and click on the 'view more images' it's the key lime green one in the last set.

A Little Bit Fancy

This is a 'mac & me' pattern found at kpixie.com simply called #050 Ruffle Scarf. Knit in Blue Sky Alpaca/Silk, sport weight. Seems more like a fingering weight to me but oh so soft! It will look nice with my black wool jacket. The scarf section is a k2p2 rib and since I 'throw' the yarn it makes for a slow knit. I couldn't wait to add the ruffle so I put the working end on a holder and added the ruffle! (pick up stitches on the cast on end) Hopefully soon to be finished.

Rosie, seems to want this space whenever I do!!
I was trying to read Nova's blog but she wouldn't let me! If you haven't checked this gals knitting and baking you gotta. Her photos are fabulous too!

A Glimpse of What You're Reading

I was tagged by Knackful Knitter with this different sort of game.
Rules are: To open the book I am reading, turn to page 161 and copy the fifth sentence on the page! This definitely gives you a teenie tiny glimpse! So here goes, But what you do sometimes get are choice little annotations that are included to give background to a particular book's subject (and to justify what is often a lofty price. Your glimpse is from Warmly Inscribed, The New England Forger and Other Book Tales by Lawrence and Nancy Goldstone. I love this couples books!
Now I am to tag 5 others, Here are some readers I know, Abiding, Storybook Woods, Robin (the librarian!), Vaughanville. This is hard you know some folks don't like this sort of thing. I need one more, Textile Fusion(she even writes books!).

Treat Yourself!

I've finished a Horseshoe Lace Linen Washcloth by Theresa Gaffey Designs just for me. Pictured here with wonderful soaps by my friend Catie. The yarn is Euroflax Linen 270 yd. per skein. I've gotten 2 so far and I think there is enough for another although the first wasn't exactly this pattern but similar. I'm sure I can knit one a tad smaller with the yarn I have left. The first one I knit was a Christmas gift for my mom. So far she's using it as a doily because it's, "just to pretty to use"!
Treat yourself to something as simple and elegant as a lacy facecloth. If you are so fortunate to have a friend that makes fabulous soaps, get some!

Surgery a success, God is Good and Prayers were Answered

Now we play a waiting game. Several visits back to the doctor for different things and a prosthesis by April. She is doing well and has been a real trouper with a positive attitude. For her first shoes she says she wants Crocs.

Since some of you have asked: black ones so that they go with everything!

Feeling Greedy!

I don't normally mention personal stuff but I thought that the more prayer for this situation the better. My 18 yr old daughter is having surgery on Thursday. This takes place at the Shriner's Children's Hospital in Greenville, SC so we will leave tomorrow as it's 6 hours from where we live. She is having her right foot amputated. I know that sounds drastic and it is but this will give her a new normal looking foot (prosthesis). I won't go into details but just say that this is a good decision and she is excited to be able to wear any shoes she wants! She's worn some sort of high-top tennis shoe all her life. I am confident the surgery will go well as this hospital is for orthopedics alone and they do this sort of thing all the time. It's the healing time and adjustment that might be difficult. She will get her prosthesis in 2-3 months so that is a bit of time to wait.
So my greediness is for your prayer's for her. Thank you so very much!
Yes, I am taking lots of knitting and reading along with me.

Honoring Someone You May Not Know

I'm sure honoring someone that we don't know can be done in many, many ways. I found a way to honor a woman that has given her life for my freedom at this website The Mother's Day Project Granted it's not much but as I stitched her name I was able to pray for her husband and family members she left behind. This is 1st Lt. Jaime L. Campbell.
She was 25 years old, of Ephrata, Wasington. She was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 207th Aviation Regiment, Alaska Army National Guard, Anchorage, Alaska.; killed Jan. 7 when a UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter crashed near Tal Afar, Iraq. She was a pilot in the Army National Guard and a member of the Arctic Eagles of Alaska. Her husband Sam Campbell is a captain in the Army and was in Iraq when she died. Her parents, Miki and Jeff Krausse, live in Ephrata.
I'm honored to have taken part in recognizing Jaime in this small way.

Mystery Vest

Since I don't have a good picture of this vest, the back of it at least I'll call it the Mystery Vest. I am hoping you will love how the back turns out. You can see the front in a post below. I am about at the arms of the back. Made lots of progress on a trip yesterday and today. I was a passenger so that gave me lots of knittng time. It's just a K4, P2 pattern. Simple is best sometimes. The yarn is Karabella Soft Tweed. Love it!

Amazing Thrift Store Find!!

No not yarn!!! Look at my beautiful clock! It's a Waterbury Gingerbread Style Clock made by the Waterbury Clock company in Connecticut in the late 1800's. I was in the shop and a lady had it in her basket. I commented to her that she had a really nice clock at a great price. $6.00 Well, she looks at it closer and says it doesn't have a key and did I want it. Well, sure I do. I was thinking that I didn't care if it worked I just wanted to look at it on my mantle. When I got home I set it on the mantle, walked away and later hear a bong, bong, bong....... It works! I set the time and it's been correct now for few hours! I'm shocked!

Find #2 - I found a Longaberger basket 1991 Centennial with the red, white and blue lining and the card that came with it. It was given to me! I was really blessed today! I LOVE THRIFT STORES!

Project Queue Makes for A Happy New Year!

Thank you to Mary who works at my LYS and to Nikki who both read my blog and saw my plight about missing the yarn sale. They emailed me pronto and let me know that indeed I did not miss the sale totally that I still had time. Soooooo, I went yesterday and came home with a few projects. First up is the cutest vest although the picture from the Knit N Style website doesn't show the back which really 'makes the vest'. It's from the Feb. 2006 issue. The collar is a large triangle down the back and ends in a tassel. I bought Karabella Soft Tweed in a rusty orange.

Next up is a cardigan by Classic Elite. It's in a booklet called, "City Park". I'll be using the suggested yarn of 'Sundance' a cotton/microfiber blend in a chocolate brown.

Then a summer top by Sirdar in their leaflet #5872 which is out of print and I can't find it anywhere on the Internet. It's a sleeveless ribbed mock turtleneck. I'll be knitting it with Cabin Fever's Cotton Tweed in cherry red.

I was needing some projects that required a bit less concentration and I could take 'on the go'. My Kinsale is just not that kind of knit. I'll be finished with hubby's sock shortly although I did cast on for that vest last night and I think it will be a quick knit! So there you have it, my sale haul. I'm happy!

Gifting One Sock

This is quite OK for family members, immediate family that live under your roof! The pair will be for my husband. I gave him one finished sock for Christmas and of course he knows the other will follow very soon. These are Elisabeth Zimmerman's Woodmen Socks. I've posted the pair I made for myself a while back. I wear them a lot. I did use a wool/nylon carry along thread at the heel and toe. He even tried them on so I could guestimate the length of the foot.

Knitpicks, Shamrock in color, 'Fitzpatrick'. Used a 7 needle. CO 44 stitches, k2p2 for the pattern. Simple. It's the perfect mainstay wool sock and a quick knit with worsted weight on 6 or 7 needles. The pair I did for myself was on the 6's and for hubby on the 7's.

What did I get for Christmas? I know you knitters might not get too excited but I love this new gizmo! My Zojirushi Bread Machine. A gift to myself actually but of course the whole family benefits. So far it's been great. I've done Whole Wheat and White/Oat/Spelt and it's all wonderfully good. This bread pictured is still hot and I just ate the end piece!



Hubby came through with a gift certificate to my LYS! I found out today that they had a sale on Friday. I'll call tomorrow and hopefully hear that it's still on cause I am just so mad that I missed it. I would have, could have been there! Gee, I just remembered they are closed Mondays and of course it's part of the New Year's Holiday too. I think I missed out. 25% off is quite a bit to know I could have had if I was in the know!

Enjoy you Christmas Eve

Painting titled: EMANUEL GOD WITH US by James Seward found at AllPosters.com (click on the picture and you can view it a little larger) It's beautiful!

I hope you have a wonderful time making memories with your family and friends. I'm sure we all have special Christmas Eve traditions and continue to establish new ones.

A Cabler's Dream

Maybe not quite but almost! This is a Cable Wrap from Vogue Knitting Winter 2005/2006. I've started this over a couple times. I used the wrong size needle then counted wrong and even now I wish I had used an even larger needle. It's on a 10 but the next size might offer a little more drape but I'm not taking it out again. I think it will block to about 15 inches wide and I hope it softens too after a washing. Yarn is Peace Fleece purchased from Kary at The Knotty Sheep. It's kind of tweedy and a soft seafoam green. I bought the yarn for a shawl a while back but never knit it. This pattern just showed up and I cast on without much thought! You know how it goes with 'destashing'?

Addendum: 12/25 Project canned!!! It's too stiff, not drape at all, not wide enough for a stole and too wide for a scarf. Got about 10 inches into it and I know I wouldn't use it. Too much work for something useless. So, I have 7 skeins of this!!! Now what?

12 Christmas Facts for Our Family

I've been tagged by Jody at Gumbo Lily to share my own random 12 facts about Christmas:

1. It's all about JESUS

2. The world has lost sight about the reason for celebration

3. I love Christmas Carols

4. This is our first year for an artificial tree. We usually go cut one down.

5. My sister has given my kids an ornament every year since their birth, always from a place she has traveled.

6. Because of my sisters ornament gifts when my kids have left the nest I might have a bare tree!

7. We have a Koala Bear tree topper. Why? I don't know! We like him.

8. My children open their gifts to one another on Christmas Eve.

9. My husband does Christmas breakfast . Our 2 older sons and their friends always drop by at just the right time!

10. I refuse to travel at Christmas. Celebrating at home is important.

11. We have no outdoor lights. It's an old house and no outside outlet.

12. We gather in our bedroom and read the Christmas Story from Luke before going downstairs to open gifts. It has to be light outside before the kids can wake me up!!

I'll tag Catie and Erica.

Need a service project involving your knitting?

How about joining the Bandage Brigade? Bandages for leprosy patients in Vietnam! Found out about it here from Junie Moon scroll down to Dec. 9. Check here as well leprosybandages for tons of information and see pictures of how this can be such a blessing to a lot of people. This will be my first KAL of sorts so I am pleased it will be a helpful one. Come on. It's quick and easy with a purpose!

If you are interested in a great book about a physician that worked with leprosy patients check out, Ten Fingers For God. It's an amazing and wonderful story.

Finally finished!

A gift to mark 25 years of LOVE for my sister and her husband. It's taken me 3 years to complete this quilt probably due to my knitting habit!

She requested all neutrals. Her husband is a bluegrass musician so I included a few musical notes. At first I thought it would be kind of unexciting but I love the colors. I'll be shipping it off to Colorado tomorrow.

Scottish Shortbread My Favorite

Made some shortbread today for our Spinners and Knitters group Christmas gathering tomorrow night. I love this stuff. Butter, brown sugar and flour. It melts in your mouth. I kept thinking of some kid song so I looked up the lyrics. It wasn't shortbread at all but short'nin. Remember this?
Put on the skillet,
Slip on the lid,
Mama's gonna make A little short'nin' bread.
That ain't all She's gonna do,
Mama's gonna make A little coffee, too.
Mama's little baby loves Short'nin', short'nin',
Mama's little baby loves Short'nin' bread,
Mama's little baby loves Short'nin', short'nin',
Mama's little baby loves Short'nin' bread.

Kinsale Revived!

It's about time too. I don't know why this sweater has to wait so long for me to concentrate on it. My Christmas gifts few that they were are finished so I am back to what will one day be a favorite sweater I'm sure. Last night I was checking out the Kinsale's on Ravelry and was encouraged. I want to finish this before I get back to my Karabella cardigan and before I start the Pearl Buck Swing jacket that I manged to purchase yarn for in haste just a month ago. That Jaeger Extra Fine Merino is being very patient waiting to be cast on! I think Kinsale will be my manly sweater. I mean isn't gansey more masculine? The whole fisherman ideal, the Scottish coast, the moor's, the lighthouses, the waves crashing on the cliffs, etc. He awaits me now!