I made up the pattern, but you can see the design is a take on a pattern I did before 
This is the second pair of socks I made for Clare. This is some left over sock yarn and the other pair was also a stash-busting accomplishment. My daughter tells me they are difficult to keep on her feet. Maybe the next pair should include some yarn-overs (holes) with an i-cord lace strung through to keep them on. I'll work on that.
I made a simple stockinette stitch wrap for Catie (daughter # 2) and sent it off to Charlottesville without thinking to take a photo. She is charged with sending one to me soon. It's cute, and it was made with Rowan "Big Wool". It knit up in three nights on size 15 needles. I made up the pattern but there wasn't a whole lot of magic to it. Knit a row, purl a row. I blocked the heck out of it so hopefully it won't roll. We'll see.
Below is a scarfette for Kelly. (daughter # 1) I made this pattern up too. Hopefully if I ever want to duplicate this stuff I can remember what I did. I didn't write any of it down.
Don't ask me why Blogger turned this photo sideways. I can't figure out why Blogger does most of what it does. Anyhow, it's done in Manos del Uruguay that I bought at Purl Soho in NYC. Two strands held together on size 10.5 needles. It should be very warm around the neck. Also a stash-busting accomplishment. (yay!) It's currently on the blocking board and I'll get a better photo of it after I sew on the buttons. And, for those of you who were wondering..... yes, I do know that cables are best left for solid colors. But I was in cable-y mood! What can I say?
Right now, I'm working on a rectangular cable wrap of my own design out of a pretty yellow aran wool. (I have to admit that I just re-worked s few small things from another pattern that I already did) Photo to come.
The diet is going ok. I'm still grumpy. I like sweet stuff. I like Starbucks coffee drinks that are a calorie nightmare, I like wine. Oh, I love salty snacks too. Ugh. Thank God I still have knitting.
I've been doing a lot of thinking about the year. It was good. Some are good and some are bad, but this one was good.
Could this be a subtle hint??
I believe my Christmas present says, "Put the knitting down and get some excercise."
Point taken.
Last year at this time, when taking stock of my year in knitting, I resolved to use up my stash in 2008. I didn't. This coming year, I will make a concentrated effort to do just that. I have some beautiful yarn, most purchased with a particular project in mind and some purchased just because I liked the looks of it. In reality, it's wasteful. So I will try. Really. I will. I could make Clare 30 pairs of socks with left over sock yarn and I'd still have some left over.
I'm not sure why I didn't photograph all of the Christmas projects I completed. I think I was out in left field somewhere for the last two months but I will make an effort to get back on track.
The beaded scarf turned out well even though I screwed up the pattern. Michael's fingerless gloves were a hit. I think the girls liked their socks. Denny liked his cashmere scarf even though I think it's flimsy. Something that cost that much to make shouldn't be so non-substantial. Give me 100% merino any day. Lesson learned.
So, I just want to say Happy New Year to all of my knitting friends near and far. May 2009 be a great year for everyone!
(Gratuitous grandchildren photo to follow)
I just got back from a week in the beautiful 
And, of course, we had to hit "The Needle Lady"
Thanks to this little vacation (of sorts), the Christmas knitting is just about complete.Times are tough. According to what I've been reading in Time and Newsweek, they're going to get tougher. When times are tough, that means that times are really tough for charitable organizations. When you have to cut back, I would think that one of the first places you look is the money that you give away. So I feel sorry now for the people responsible for raising money for charitable organizations.
Having said that, here's the rant: I'm tired of every checkout person in just about every store I walk into asking me if I want to give a dollar to this charity or that organization. At lunch time, it was for an organization I never even heard of. And, it was the second person today who asked me. The first was at the supermarket before work, and, yes, I gave a dollar to .... wow.. I can't even remember now what I gave it for. But I did recognize that organization. The second time I was asked was at Taco Bell and I have no idea what that money would have supported.
I usually say yes. But it annoys me. It's the principle. If I chose to come into a store to purchase something, they should have the courtesy not to ask me for more money.
I'm not cheap, I'm not stingy, and I'm not a great big grouch. But I prefer to choose who gets my donations. I have pet causes. I can't help it. I'd rather the MS Society get all this money I'm forking over at the checkout counter. Or the food bank. Sure, I know I can say no, and I'm sure there are plenty of people who do indeed say no. But I do not like being put in that position when I go into a store in good faith to do business.
On the one hand, I'm glad they raise a lot of money from people like me who can't say no. People need the money. On the other hand, it still annoys the hell out of me.
Ugh. I'm so conflicted!
Jade Sapphire 100% Cashmere scarf
I came up with this stitch on my own for this scarf. Not that it is anything
Below is Colin's sweater.. all finished but the neck.
On the knitting front, I'm working like crazy on a lot of small projects for Christmas gifts. I have many more projects in my head (including sewing projects) than I will have the time to complete so I'm trying to prioritize. It's not easy!
I stopped at Wendy's at lunch time for one of their new flavor dipped chicken sandwiches ...shown here:
It's waaaay better than fast food.™ It's Wendy's.® - Wendys.com
I got the buffalo chicken type. Looks good, huh? It was.
But I have to tell you this. Do NOT get one of these if you can't
A. sit it down on a huge sheet of that paper like the kind that you roll out from a huge roll for picnic tables. It's the only way that it can be cleaned up adequately.
B. wash your hands and face with soap and running water and reapply your makeup.
C. power wash the immediate area after you're finished.
It was the messiest sandwich I ever ate. Ever.
But put on your hazmat suit and I think you've got something here.
I did something I've always been tempted to do. I bought two skeins of 100% Cashmere.
I love these. But because one is decidedly shorter than the other one (I have no clue how it happened), I'm not going to gift them as intended. Yes, I know I could rip the short one apart and make it longer, but I don't have it in me.
