Smittin by Knittin'

JANUARY 30 2011

January is almost finished and all the stars are lining up.  Lots of things in the works.  I'm trying to set up a knitting group at the church Rick and I started attending.  It's kind of a slow process but I think it will work out.  We want to do some sort of community outreach program as well as knitting little items to sell.  At present I'm knitting some little dish clothes to sell in the courtyard before the services.

 
 
 
 
 
I have afew more in progress, but I must say they are fun and quick to knit and there are so many possibilities.

Last year I started an Enterlac sweater. I shared the start of it many months ago.  I finally finished it inbetween all the other projects I had going.  The bulk of the sweater was finished except for the pockets.  For some reason that took the longest.  It was well worth the wait.

 
 
 
I changed the sleeves a little by adding a cuff and I think I will knit a belt also.

Last fall we had our first group class at The Skein.  It was a intarsia class.  Our teacher Nancy came up with a cute design for a paw print.  I took the pattern and made a pillow for Allison's birthday.

 
 
 
I used some kitty quilting fabric for the back which tied the whole project together.

I have been telling you about all the alpaca yarn I have been getting from Peru.  Bill's wife and her relatives have been so kind, picking out and shipping all the yarn, three shipments altogether.  I knit Tonia a pair of slipper socks which will doesn't even come close to repaying them for all their efforts.

 
 
I used some of the yarn from the last shipment.  100% alpaca fingering weight yarn.  The pattern is honeycomb and the suede bottoms are my own idea. I knit another pair of slipper socks using the campfire pattern also with suede bottoms and everyone seems to really like them.

My cousin had some of her friends spin some fiber for her and I wanted to get in on the fun also.  My Aunt was going back for a visit around Hallowen and when she returned she brought me the fiber.

 
Joyce is an incredible dyer.  I love eveything she does. I started spinning right away but Christmas projects needed to be completed so I had to take alittle break.  Once the Christmas rush was over I started spinning in overdrive. I wanted to make a 3-ply sock/lace weight yard.  I filled up 6 bobbins then started plying.  Ended up with 572 yards of 3-ply and the last skein was 237 yards of 2-ply. I liked the way it turned out and I sent to her mid-January. Hope she likes it also and can't wait to see what she creates with it.

 

I actually used some of my hand spun yarn for a birthday gift for my sister. A pair of flip-flop socks.

 
The cool thing is that you can also use them for hand warmers.

Last item to share is the Vilia socks I'm currently knitting.  It is a Cookie A pattern which means alot of very intricate stitch patterns.  I'm using some yarn I got from Blue Moon.  I love all their yarn.  Has alot of twist and all the socks I have knit with their yarn wear very well with a minimum of pilling.

 
Can't wait to finish the second sock.  I tried on the first one and it fits perfect.

 
Trucker and Trolley playing with their stuffed doggie.  Thats alot of dog flesh.

 
Good ole' Trucked all tuckered out from playing with Trolly.  She is really a handful even for him.

 

January 15, 2011

Where has all time gone? Starting about October everything is just one big blur of getting ready for the holidays.  I was comissioned to knit five different hats, three for friends of mine and two for friends of Rick's.

 
This hat was for my friend and fitness coach Perla.  I knit the same hat for my friend Susan along with another one I forgot to take a picture of. 

 
This hat was knit for the wife of one of Rick's friends.  Mike is Rick's former boss and they still do some work together.  They were looking at yarn on the internet and Rick took the first sweater I knit him to show Mike the basket weave pattern.  They didn't find anything on the internet so I suggested they go to The Skein where I hang out on Wednesday nights.  They chose a cranberry alpaca and Rick talked me into using some of my hand spun 3-ply grey alpaca.  Mike wanted the hat really thick because they go skiing alot during the winter.

 
I knit this stocking cap for Rick's friend Terry's Dad.  It is also alpaca and the grey is my hand spun.  I took a week off in October and another week in December and had to spin some more grey.  I was kind of under the gun so to speak because I had to have both hats finished before Christmas and it takes time to spin especially if your making 3-ply yarn.  It turned out really nice and soft, just perfect for those Kansas winters.

I knit two more hats just for fun.

 
 
 
I'm keeping both of these.

The only Christmas presents I knit this year were two scarfs, one for my Mom and other for my Aunt.  We are all fans of the Outlander series and I found an Outlander knit a-long from the Knitters Brewing Company.  They hand dyed yarn for the four different clans in the story.  If the your gauge is correct a plaid pattern unfolds as the scarf is knit.  First scarf drove me a little crazy, but the second one was a little easier.

 
This scarf was for my Aunt.

 
I gave this one to my Mother.

I knit some really cute head bands for my nieces.

 
 
Allison with here head band.

 
Kaitlin with her head band.

 

 
A picture of some of the crazyness during the holidays.  Baked tons of cookies for friends, family and work.  As you can see at the end of the table, knitting the headbands inbetween batches in the oven.

All for now.  I have some other things to share but I'm pressed for time and will have to continue in afew days, hopefully tomorrow.  I promise I won't wait three months.