Happy Holidays Everyone!

The next week will probably be a blur of activity for me so I wanted to take time to wish you all a very Merry Christmas filled with loads of love & laughter.

After months & months of delays, my daughter's boyfriend deployed to Afghanistan yesterday. He had a 9 hour airport layover here in DC so she drove up (speeding all the way, I'm sure) from southern VA & we found a great seafood place for dinner. Although I have spoken to him by phone over the last 2 years - this was our first face-to-face meeting. Such an awesome young man! As a young boy his mom made alot of his clothing so I've promised him loads of handknit care packages (hmmmmm - cashmere socks might be a nice treat). Here's praying that the next 6 months goes VERY quickly & he's back with us safe & sound.

On the last leg of my holiday knitting & very pleased with everything. There will be a little something handmade in everybody's Christmas stocking this year. Looking ahead to the New Year, I've joined the Sweater-A-Month group on Ravelry. Won't succumb to the pressure but hope to end up with less stash & a few new wearables. First up will be this Inca Marl Ruffled Coat pattern by Jan McCarthy.



Looks like a 2 month project to me! Enjoy your holiday!

Fetching My Mojo

The Fetching Fingerless Gloves pattern by Cheryl Niamath first caught my eye years ago. It calls for knitting on double point needles (DPNs) which I soon found were like cryptonite to me...... I just couldn't get the hang of it. Here I am years later with wonderful knitting buds who probably got tired of me talking about Fetchings & suggested that I try 2 circular needles instead. BINGO! I absolutely love the pattern (completed in 2 days). Decided to use Bernat Cashmere Natural Blends from the stash for my trial pair. Wow - soft, thick & wonderful.

I was so happy after finishing them last week, my knitting mojo went in full swing. Here's the pics so far........


Each item only took a day of knitting so they're high on my list. The first is another One Skein Beret from Artful Yarns Old Western. The second hat is the Purls Arrow Hat that I found on Patternfish.com. Nice pattern & once again only took a day of knitting. My self-imposed yarn diet isn't working very well. I fell in love with Creatively Dyed Yarns at last month's Stitches East event. As I was walking away with my loot (aka purchases), I saw this beautiful colorway.
It's called "Canoe" and it's the most fabulous mix of blue, green & gray! You'll notice that isn't a stock photo. It's the 2 hanks I ordered & received last week. Headed home today to continue the Knitting Mojo Marathon..........

Oops - I Did It Again........

Ignored my blog - that is. Here's the speed version of what I've been up to: Finished my Avon walkathon; went to Stitches East (finally got a swift & winder - YEA); started my gift knitting; made some progress on WIPs; planned my inventory for seasonal craft shows; and completed the Help the Homeless Walkathon. Here's the photo run down:

Time Flies When You're..........

Where the heck did the last month go? At last check-in we were celebrating Labor Day.......... now it's Columbus Day; the grandkids have the school routine down-pat; I've switched to my fall wardrobe; winterized the car; raked a few leaves; and my gift-knitting is in full swing. We won't even discuss all the yarn clearance sales I've hit between Alexandria & Roanoke (lol).

I'm still working the Fern Lace Wrap and fully intend to be finished and sporting it on Election night. Here's the latest progress pic:

My youngest daughter fell in love with the Slouchy Beret I made for the older one so naturally I had to whip one up for her. She's so good at the guilt-thing, she even managed to get a matching scarf.


The Leaf Lace Scarf is coming along nicely but I haven't managed to take a new picture. I've been training for my 6th Avon Walk for Breast Cancer in 2 weeks in Charlotte, NC. I continue to walk in honor or memory of some fantastic women. Every year my list grows but I keep the faith that we will find a cure. Y'all pray for me by way of good weather and no blisters!

I promise not to stay away so long........happy knitting!

Freedom

My oldest has decided to learn the art of knitting. I'm sure this has alot to do with relocating across the country & missing her boyfriend - but hey, whatever works for ya. On my last visit, we went yarn shopping and I showed her the basics. I have yet to see the progress on her garter stitch scarf but she came home Friday with a request for a quick knit - Please Mom; you're so fast Mom; your stuff is so nice Mom; can I have it by Sunday Mom; yada yada yada. It usually goes in one ear and out the other (I hear it from her and her sister all the time) but this is for something special. Her boyfriend is leaving for a six month term in Afghanistan and she's going to visit him this week before he deploys. In true diva fashion, she doesn't want to worry about how her hair looks on her trip (lol). Here's the finished project.

Slouchy Beret by Lauren Nell Roy
1.2 skeins of Nashua Handknits Grand Opera in Teal
Started: Sept 5 - Finished Sept 7

This morning was the "America Supports You Freedom Walk" from Arlington Cemetary to the Pentagon to show support for the Armed Forces. Let's hear it for our soldiers.................

Weekend Getaway

Decided that the holiday weekend was a great time to visit oldest daughter in her new digs in Southern VA. Didn't want to break the bank (airfare should be renamed gotcha-fare) or be behind the wheel for hours & hours so the next best thing.......public transportation! How bad could it be? I have plenty of knitting projects, books, & an ipod to keep me occupied. There were no available seats on Amtrak so I settled on Greyhound. Was that a moan escaping your lips??? Why didn't you tell me??

I'm not a novice - I grew up traveling the Greyhound between West Virginia and Washington, DC every summer and holiday. Arrived an hour early, purchased my ticket, headed outside to grab a seat on the bench & await the bus. I was soon joined by Linwood & his imaginary friend. They had a wonderful conversation filled with obscenities. I'd rather be safe than sorry so I inquired with the desk rep (who was very friendly) if she thought it safe for Linwood to travel in an enclosed space for 4 hours - only to find out Linwood was a regular. She told me to threaten to call the police & he'd shut right up (WTH?) But wonder of wonders, he was ticketed on a different bus. My bus arrived an hour late only to find that the driver couldn't operate the wheelchair lift. If I would have had my super powers activated, I would have lifted that poor man onto the bus but alas it took another hour for the driver to obtain lift instructions by phone. By then there was not a snowballs chance that I would make my connection. The oh-so-friendly rep told me not to worry - there were so many folks from my bus making the same connection that they'd hold the bus (again - WTH?). They did. My plans for a potty break, a soda, & a snack were dashed upon seeing the angry mob who was made to wait all those hours that we were late. And by the smell of my seatmate - he didn't have a chance to freshen up for a few days. So all in all it took me 7 hours for an advertised 4 hour trip. The return was not as eventful but still took 5 hours. But there is a bit of goodness to this story:

Here's the progress on the Fern Lace Wrap. I'm using Fleece Artist Sea Wool in Moss and modifying the pattern to make it shawl sized. Both the pattern and the yarn are a joy to work. I actually completed a couple of rows between tears watching the historic Democratic National Convention so I've renamed it "Opening Night DNC" but most of the work was done in route over the past weekend. Next time, it's the train for me........

Crossed the Finish Line

With the official time of 16 days, 6 hours - I finished the Bag-N-Tote Backstroke of the Ravelympics.

Everything Bag
from Suss Cousins' Hollywood Knits Style

Denim & White Stash Yarns

Finished Summer

Summer in the City Sweater
from Handknit Style by Linden Ward & Beryl Hiatt
4 skeins of Elsebeth Lavold Cotton Patiné



This took me about 3 weeks with only 1 frogging incident (twisted the yarn at the neckline....oops). Love the finished item - soft, sexy, & shaped. Might look better on daughter whose cleavage hasn't started it's journey south like mine has. What the heck - on the right occasion I'll probably give it a whirl (lol)!

The Final Lap

Looks like I'll complete my Ravelympics project before the Olympics Closing Ceremony next week. Won't take home the Gold or Silver - but it feels wonderful to be nearing the finish line. I committed to the Everything Bag - a ginormous carryall that lives up to its name...... big enough to carry everything under the sun (lol). Originally planned to use some cotton chenille from my stash but after doing a few rows, only one word came to mind - UGH. Thank goodness for plentiful stash. Switched to a cone of cotton denim ($1.00 at the thrift store) and a cone of mystery yarn from a recent local stash-giveaway. Love it! It even met the seal of approval from my daughter who's begging me to give it to her. Here's the progress pic:



Still have a few rows to finish the back. then I'll block it, line it & give it a cute button on the pocket. All-in-all it's a great project.

Olympics of Summer

Been MIA from the blog, but not from knitting. Gearing up for Ravelry's version of the knitting olympics. I'm officially signed up for the Bag-N-Tote Backstroke for Team Virginia Stars.......Revving up to start & finish (in 17 days) the Everything Bag by Suss Cousins.









In the meantime, found a great book at Tuesday Morning called Handknit Style by Linden Ward and Beryl Hiatt. Several sweaters jumped onto the gotta-make-it list but this one got my immediate attention.
It's called Summer In The City. Using Cotton Patiné in a creme color that I recently purchased from Little Knits. My plan is to have it finished before the Ravelympics so I'm knitting like a fiend. The yarn is kinda "splitty" (if that's a real word) by I love it's soft texture. Pictures coming soon!

Next week is vacation. Roadtrip to visit daughter. Planning to hit every yarn shop between here and Roanoke.......... Knit on my friends, knit on.

So So Socks

Started these top-down socks using the Double Moss pattern from Sensational Knitted Socks. One word - blah! Love the pattern & love the yarn but the 2 together just don't mesh. The Sockotta yarn will probably work much better in a rib or stockinette stitch so off we go to the frogging pond (RIP IT!)

Summer FO

Cream of Spinach Wrap
Pattern by Larissa Brown
Bamboo Splash Yarn (6 skeins)
Started - June 16: Finished - July 6

Loved the pattern. When blocked, it has a much more lacy look but I really like the unblocked version. The bamboo yarn was very nice to work with. I was disappointed a couple of times when the colorway disappeared. It occurred in a couple of areas so it appears to be part of the design. I plan to do another one - in the blocked, more lacy version.

Another Year Gone By........

That's right - it's my birthday........again. Good news: I got a set of Knit Picks Harmony Needles!!
Better News: I'm healthy, happy & peaceful. Best News: I'm blessed with wonderful family

Take Me Out to The Ball Game.........

Last night was "Stitch-N-Pitch" night for the DC Nationals. It's a collaboration between Major League Baseball & The National Needlearts Association promoting all forms of needle arts (knit, crochet, cross stitch, embroidery, etc). For stitchers, it's a great night to grab your project and head to the stadium for a night of stitching & fellowship. And what a long night it was........ the game went into 14 (yes - fourteen) innings! Made new Ravelry friends in my section as well as shouting-out to Jill, Chelette & Cici in the next section. Even talked my brother & his friends into attending so I could bring back extra "goodie bags" for the ladies at next month's stitch2gether. What a great night - here's a couple of pics:
The backward cap rally worked cause we won!!!!
On the knitting front, I have sent the One Skein Tank Top to hibernation & started the "Cream of Spinach Scarf" by Larissa Brown. I've renamed it the Cream of Bamboo Scarf cause I'm using the Bamboo Splash yarn bought at A Tangled Skein last weekend. My other mod is to widen it so it's more of a wrap/stole instead of a scarf. Thanks to Stitch-N-Pitch, here's my progress.

Rewind

I promised pics of all the weekend happenings but in my haste to get everywhere - the camera was left at home. So you'll have to settle for my after-the-fact snapshot. You'll see the Bamboo & Hemp & Malabrigo yarn I bought on Friday night as well as the swapped yarns I got on Saturday at WWKIP Day.

The weekend did not disappoint. I absolutely loved A Tangled Skein and thankfully it's not too far from the job so I'll visit again soon. Their yarn selection is spectacular (and I finally found the size 2 Addi Lace Turbos). Saturday afternoon at Belle Haven Park was the perfect Knit-In-Public day with some scooting about to stay in the shade (lol). Thank you Kate for setting it all up. I made lots of new Ravelry friends and managed a few rounds of the sock mate. Speaking of which - yes that is a FINISHED PAIR of socks in my pic - WAHOO. On to my next project.

Get your knit on.......

Summertime Unwinding

Oh the joys of summer! This weekend is shaping up to be a good one. The fun begins tonight at A Tangled Skein's Friday-the-13th Knit Event. From 7 pm to midnight you'll find me there enjoying the refreshments, live music, sit & stitch, and super sales. This will be my first time visiting the shop & I've heard nothing but great things. Tomorrow is WWKIP Day & I plan to chill on the banks of the Potomac River at Belle Haven Park with fellow Ravelry knitters. There's even a yarn swap planned so I need to decide what I'm gonna part with outta my stash.

This is my second weekend in a row of pure knitting bliss. Last weekend was our June Knit2gether. The summer schedule is hectic so Deb & Jeannette couldn't make this one but Cici & Chalette from 2 Sistahs That Knit blog (and Ravelry) joined Ava & I. It was such fun getting to really meet them (we crossed paths at MD Sheep & Wool) and I'll admit that talking sucked up all my knitting time (lol). I'm in awe of all the great knitting going on(check out Ava's Washi and Tsumugi Coat)and I have high hopes of finishing my sock's mate this weekend. Will be sure to post pics of all the festivities, but in the meantime - here's pics from the June Knit2gether:

Sock-ilicious

Basic Top Down Sock with Heel Flap
Sensational Knitted Socks by Charlene Schurch
Uruguay DK (Wool/Alpaca/Silk) - Khaki

I know...... it's plain. I know..... it's tan. But dang it - it's my FIRST SOCK & I'm excited! Just like my cable experience I'll repeat - What the heck took me so long? The book & the circulars made all the difference. Oops - before I get too carried away, let me go finish the mate.