Another Year Older

So much going on. Days are whizzing by. Mom's chemo treatments are ongoing; DD#2 scored a great new job; DD#1 was honored as Citizen of the Year in Media from the Roanoke NAACP and I celebrated my 54th birthday a couple weeks ago. I'm entering a landmark year - planning on retiring on my next birthday....... Oh Happy Day!

In the midst of all this I'm still balancing out the hectic with knitting. After a couple of hiccups on the chart for Shirley Paden's Cabled Shrug, finally making decent progress. It is a beautiful design & the cables are exquisite. Haven't felt so challenged since completing the Every Way Wrap back in 2009.



Y'all know how I love all my knitting gadgets. Special shout-out to my knitsib, Debbie, for this beautiful Yarn Bowl. Been scoping them out for over a year & just like Goldilocks.......some were too small, some were too low......but this one is just right!



Happy Knitting.........

The Guernsey & The Shrug

Happy Memorial Day!!! The wonderful start of summer.......bar-b-ques, picnics, beaches & of course - new knitting projects. After finishing so many hats, I need a challenge. So I turned to one of my favorite designers, Shirley Paden. There are several of her patterns in my Ravelry queue including a cabled shrug from the Interweave Knits Fall 2005 issue. Chose the Nashua Alpaca/Merino blend in Periwinkle from my stash.

The design is a simple rectangle with cuffs and an intricate diamond-cable pattern. Since I'm going through my "wrap" phase, I also started Jared Flood's Guernsey Wrap. It's also a simple rectangle with a series of knit & purl patterns that simulate a traditional Guernsey sweater. Chose Elann's Limited Edition Naples - a wool/silk/rayon blend with a great drape. Perfect for any air-conditioned venue.

The Guernsey is my take-along project while the shrug demands all my attention so it's my stay-at-home project. So no excuses for not knitting all the time (lol).

Enjoy any festivities you have going on today. Mom came home from hospital on Saturday full of energy so we'll plant the garden today & enjoy goodies off the grill. Happy Knitting!

Thrown For A Loop

It's been two months since my Mom was diagnosed with lung cancer. She has moved in with me & we're working our way through chemo, nurses, physical therapists, home health aids & far too many trips to the ER. Through all the upheaval, we are blessed with a strong family & support system. Brother stepped up to ensure her move/storage of goods goes smoothly. DD#2 cares for Mom daily while I work. DD#1 travels home every weekend to cook & care for Mom while giving us a break. Auntees call, write & most importantly, send their prayers & love. Speaking of prayers - there is a "prayer circle extraordinaire" all around the country that's providing us strength everyday.

And through it all, I knit. Hats are perfect mindless knitting & Mom calls them a security blanket for her head that seems to always be cold. Sanguine Gryphon's Bugga - a mix of merino & cashmere; Blue Sky Alpaca Silk; and a skein of hand-dyed have been transformed to...........





Although I don't have a pic - a big shoutout goes to my knitsib - Arthella - for knitting Mom a beanie in beautiful shades of pink & purple from supersoft yarn. Speaking of knitsibs, Debbie & I attended our fourth Maryland Sheep & Wool Festival on the Saturday before Mother's Day.




A beautiful day with vendors galore...... Babs, Bugga, Mohair, & a yarn meter - all made their way into my bags (lol). (Need to seriously consider a yarn diet!)

Happy Birthday Ma!

Today is my Mom's 76th Birthday. She's living the life I hope to at that age...... retired 20 years, organizing events in her active-seniors community, & traveling to the casino whenever she wants....... She worked so hard the first part of life, I like to see her enjoying the second part. My handknit gift to her was the Button-up Wrap by cdaniele. Made from Cascade Yarns Eco+ in the Cordovan colorway. She loves the poncho style but arthritis makes it difficult to maneuver over the head. The button-up front makes it secure & easy.



Belated Happy New Year to you all. It was a wonderful holiday season filled with family, friends, & lots of knitting. I finished all the hand knit stocking stuffers (a first for me) and joined the 11 in 2011 challenge on Ravelry. It's finishing 11 sweaters (cardigans, tanks, pullovers, etc) during 2011. It's really just an excuse to knit more (as if I needed an excuse). In addition to pulling out the unfinished Einstein Coat, the Tempest Cardigan, & the Vogue short-sleeve cardigan - I started the Cire-Perdue by Norah Gaughan. Beautiful cable up the center front.



Let me get busy........ happy knitting!

The Hat Brigade

Thanks for all the well-wishes! The good vibes from all of you hit their mark & helped me have a peaceful & uplifting week. And the great equalizer - knitting - also did it's job. I delved right into my pattern queue & selected a few hats I've been wanting to make. The result is the array of hats at the top. From top to bottom - Felicity made from Mirasol Yarn Akapana; Slouchy Beehive Hat made from Araucania Nature Wool Chunky; Claudia made from Berroco Blackstone Tweed; and Garter Ridged Hat made from Ester Bitran Hand-Dyed Andes Wool. All were great fun & best of all made from stash yarn. I plan to gift them all to co-workers who have been hinting all year about wanting something handknit.

Still have a few more last-minute items to knit-up for the family. Today starts my winter vacation (aka knitting-at-home-in-pjs). Won't go back to work until the first week in January. D.C. got the first real snowfall today so it really feels like hibernation time. First, I need to get the tree decorated and all the trimmings together for enjoying the kids & grandkids next week.

Happy knitting & happy holidays!

P.S. Forgot to mention that I did finish my Warmer/Capelet. Came out wonderful!

Getting In Balance

I am usually the calm one in high stress situations. That went out the window last night when I was struck by a minivan while crossing the street at an intersection near my home. My angel (and the Lord) was looking over me. At the middle of the crosswalk, the sound of the engine accelerating made me step back. But not quick enough - the van ran over the front of my foot. I have never experienced the level of rage that I felt towards the driver. My spirit still feels out of balance.

Emotions have gone full circle. From fear, to anger, to shock, and back to anger after learning that the driver was not issued any citation. While she was extremely apologetic - not giving your full attention to driving; striking a pedestrian in a crosswalk; and not heeding the right-of-way should have circumstances. While the police officer was very polite, it is unnerving that he was more concerned with conveying the insurance reporting procedures to me than sending that message to the driver. I won't vent about the hazards of the "sue them" or "get paid" mentality that prevails in this society. The popularity of shows like Judge Judy, Joe, & Alex attests to that.

The swelling has subsided, the limp and the bruising will eventually go away. The opportunity to get paid doesn't interest me - having drivers who are not distracted does.

Maybe meditation & more knitting can get my spirit back in balance.........

A Home For The Holidays

Yesterday, the girls and I participated in Fannie Mae's Help the Homeless Walkathon that raises funds to support organizations working to prevent and end homelessness in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area. I've been walking this one since 2003 and it's one of my favorites because 100% of all registration fees, donations, and sponsorship contributions go directly to the Organizations that provide services to people who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless. Plus it's such a family-friendly affair - lots of moms, dads, kids & dogs (yes, even doggie donations in the name of your pet)...... This year there were more than 14,000 registered to walk on this bright & sunny day. Here's a few pics:






After the walkathon, it was home & back to knitting. I finished the cap for DD#2's SO. Used the "Regular Guy Beanie" pattern and Frog Tree Alpaca yarn for a super soft finish.

Started the "Hot Chocolate Warmer" by Eline Oftedal last week. It's a beautiful capelet that's knit in the round from the bottom. Leaf pattern at the bottom designed to resemble the leaves of the cocoa plant. I'm using my stash of Knit Picks Wool of the Andes Bulky in a beautiful blackberry colorway..... so mine is a "Blackberry Warmer". Have finished the body and now working the shoulders. My only modification will be to drop the contrasting neck color. Very nice project.


Have fallen in love with several patterns from Twist Collective - Winter 2010 edition. If you haven't checked it out - run, don't walk - to the website. In case I don't get back to post this week...... Happy Thanksgiving & Happy Knitting to all!

Yowza Saroyan

Saroyan by Liz Abinante (free pattern at feministy.com)
One Skein (560 yards) of Miss Babs Yowza - Whatta Skein
Colorway: Russet
Began - October 20. Finished - November 5

I'm in love with this pattern and this yarn. The pattern is one piece from start to finish and can be adjusted to different yarn weights & lengths. My modifications were 9 leaves on the increase & decrease and 12 leaves in the center. Have another skein of Miss Babs in Plum that just might become another Saroyan.

Keeping peace in the family. DD#2 liked the hat & gloves I made for DD#1's boyfriend - so I've started another set for her boyfriend. Using Frog Tree's Alpaca Sportweight for this one. Pics coming soon.

Happy knitting!

Full Knitting Mojo

Good thing I need my job to afford my yarn habit. Feeling like I could just spend my days knitting, knitting, knitting. Maximizing my daily commute time (knitting), my Saturdays at the grand kids football games (knitting), Sundays watching NFL (knitting). Best of all I'm getting projects finished! The proof - hat & fingerless gloves for Martin ........
Getting it in the mail this week for overseas delivery and will follow-up with another care package of socks and a scarf.

Started the Saroyan Scarf designed by Liz Abinante. I tend to shy away from patterns on Ravelry that has been done by the masses but couldn't pass on this one. Using Miss Babs "Yowza" yarn in Russet. The pattern is simple, yet interesting, with its leaf edge and the yarn colorway is beautiful. Haven't decided if it will be a Christmas gift or a keeper. The deciding factor may be if there's enough yarn for a hat...... then it's all mine.



Since I missed the Rhinebeck Festival (again!), a trip to my LYS, Fibrespace, was a must. Last weekend picked up another skein of Miss Babs Yowza in Plum; a skein of Madelinetosh Merino Light in Clematis, and a skein of Madelinetosh Pashmina in Forestry. All three colors were shouting my name (lol) as I roamed the store.



Looking forward to a roadtrip over the weekend and yet another chance for dedicated knitting time (not driving, of course). Happy Halloween & happy knitting, y'all

30 Day Wrap-up

Sooo glad the weather has changed & it's fall. Been crazy-busy but the knitting Mojo is in full effect. Maybe this will be the year that I accomplish my plan of knitted stocking stuffers for all this Christmas.

After a quick trip to Ohio last month, I visited daughter just in time for the 10th Annual Smith Mountain Lake Wine Tasting Festival. What a blast! Delicious wine, swinging band, and plenty of fun-loving patrons.




Saturdays have been filled with cheering on the grandsons at their football games. Nothing cuter than those ankle-biters running the field. Watch out NFL! Been trying to become a "regular" with the Sunday Sit-n-Knit group at A Tangled Skein. I get so much motivation from these knitsibs. Everyone has such great WIPs. Thanks to Thella for encouraging me to try some colorwork. Her projects are beautiful and she knits and spins with no-fear (lol). After all these years of knitting, I had never tried color stranding. For my first project, I finished the Sheep & Wool Hat by Emily Spence.

Super simple project with great results. Need to master the "float" but have definitely added a couple more stranding projects to my queue. Lastly, started my gift knitting with Jeff's Mitts by Lorraine Ehrlinger. Named mine "Martin's Mitts" because they're for my daughter's boyfriend who's been deployed overseas. They will be matched with the Regular Guy Beanie by Chuck Wright and a pair of Man Socks by Hannah Fettig. All great traveling projects I can do on the metro during my daily communte. Hope to finish up in the next week or so.

Happy knitting y'all.

Start-itis

My que of projects on Ravelry represents my wish list of everything I'd like to knit if I had a gazillion years of "me" time. Since that's not the case, deciding what to make next is always a challenge. This summer I was on a cardigan binge where I started the Cotton Crane Cardi, the Oriel Lace Cardi, and the Tempest Cardi.



All of them beautiful - none of them finished.

While at Stitches Midwest, cousin Jen gifted me some great sock yarn. Of course, in the hotel that night, I started a pair of toe-up socks with the gusset on the bottom (my new favorite sock technique from Wendy Johnson).



As I finish-up the first sock (do I really need 2?), my attention is drawn back to the que. This time it's hats & scarves for fall. Someone please send the knitting police to issue me a citation - I must finish something soon!