Happy Holidays!

Merry Christmas to all my family and friends! Well, at least to the 2 or 3 who actually read my blog... It's been a great holiday so far (I still have 4 days before I have to go back to work). I haven't even checked my blackberry for messages! I don't even know where my blackberry is right now! Love it!

So, aside from wrapping, baking, card writing, organizing, cleaning, shoveling, eating, drinking, and visiting, I've been knitting too. I'm almost finished Brad's "Cobblestone" sweater! It's been a fairly easy ride so far; I'm thinking of knitting another one! Maybe a smaller version for myself with a softer yarn?

Here's a picture of my progress... I'm almost through the short rows and ready to begin the decrease rows. Oh, and the cute little lamb is my new tape measure!! Love it!

Brad asked me to knit him some "not too long, not too girly, socks to wear around the house" last week. This is what I came up with.

Happy New Year! Best wishes to all for 2008! xo

The pattern is adapted from Ann Budd's "Cowgirl Slipper Socks", but don't tell Brad... he might not wear them anymore if he knows they're cowgirl socks!

The pattern is adap

Snow Day!

This scarf is sooo soft. I bought the yarn at a garage sale last summer. Unfortunately, I have only 1 skein and I have no idea what it's made of! Can you believe I only paid 25 cents for it!

Oh, the weather outside is frightful... Our second winter in Moncton and the first real storm so far! I love it! I was starting to think I was never going to see any true Maritime winter weather. So, here I am, at home on a Tuesday (yay), writing Christmas cards and... KNITTING!! How perfect.

Stella is curled up on my lap and we're both hiding from the blustery cold outside. The only thing that could possibly make today any better is if my husband were home with us... No snow day for him!

This tiny little sweater I knit in stocking stitch using self-patterning Opal sock yarn. Oddly, both the front and the back of the sweater have funny "empty" patches right in the middle! Otherwise, I'm quite pleased with it, especially since I knit it without a pattern! I have still to finish the neck, which I'll do in a simple 2 X 2 rib pattern, as I did for the cuffs. It's the perfect size for a new baby; any takers?

Actually, there is a new baby boy in our family! Perhaps it will go to Jake! That is if I can finish it in time for him to still fit into it...

Brad's "Cobblestone" sweater is coming along nicely, although I've had to lengthen the body to accomodate his height. It may just be finished for Christmas...

Happy Holiday preparations to you all!

Oh, and I made some "Fig and Roasted Grape" preserves last night. Very delicious with a strong cheese, olive oil, and balsamic vinegar. Here's the basic recipe:

• 2 cups red, seedless grapes, roasted in olive oil
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 1 lb dried figs, quartered
• 8 cloves garlic, raw or roasted, chopped
• 1 orange, zest peeled and slivered, juiced (1/3 cup)
• 2 black Chai tea bags
• 2 cups water
• 2 tbsp balsamic vinegar

Saute garlic in olive oil, add water, and tea bags. Boil, remove tea bags. Add figs, simmer until figs are soft. Add vinegar, orange juice, grapes, and orange peel. Simmer until liquid is reduced to a glaze. Season with salt and pepper. Bottle and store. Yum!

Well, it's almost December, it's getting pretty chilly, and I've been knitting accordingly. I'm happy to say that I've started Brad's sweater! I don't think it's the sweater he thought he was going to get; what with the "Detroit Red Wings" logo and all, but I know he'll love the one I have decided to make. It's "Cobblestone" from the Fall 2007 Interweave issue.

This is the first time I've used circular needles. In the past, I've always converted the patterns requiring circular needles to accomodate straight needles. I decided, this time, to follow the pattern as such and I'm glad I did. So far, so good! I'm about 6" away from finishing the body and the circulars are remarkably easy to use!

Here's a picture of my progress so far...

I'm using Briggs & Little Regal 2 ply wool in Fir Green; Brad's choice!

This is a picture of a felted lunch bag I knit as a gift for my mom-in-law, Judy, for her birthday earlier this month. The bottom of the bag is great because it sits flat; it's knit as a 5 sts cast-on, with a steady series of increases. A couple of rows of reversed stitches create the ridge that forms the beginning bag's body and the handles are made with simple cast-offs and cast-back-on-agains. I will definately knit this bag again!

Finished my socks! Well, not exactly a complete pair.... I've knit 1 pair using 2 different patterns that are slightly similar. I'm thinking of knitting another couple using similar designs to make up a "bunch" of mix-and-match socks. Maybe an even half dozen?

thinking of winter knitting

It's mid-October and finally chilly enough to actually wear some warm and wooly threads! My favorite time of year is here and not a minute too soon.

I've just finished a baby "shawl" for my husband's cousin's baby. He's a twin; not the new baby, but my husband's cousin that is.

The shawl is actually a blanket for which I chose a very soft, mercerized cotton so that the blanket can double as a bath blanket. The pattern is from Debbie Bliss' "Special Knits" collection. http://www.debbieblissonline.com/books/sk/index.htm

The edging in the original pattern calls for a series of garter stitch points but a chose a crocheted lace design instead.

Now onto something special for a very special mother-in-law's birthday!...

Well, it's getting colder (although only slightly...) and I've been thinking about knitting things that are warm! Maybe a sweater for Brad, definately a doggie sweater for Stella, and probably lots and lots of socks!

I have gotten another 1 1/2 of a pair of socks knit from Interweave's"Favorite Socks" http://www.amazon.com/FavoriteSocksTimelessDesignsInterweave/dp/1596680326/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/104-7511400-7924715?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1191892940&sr=8-1

I like all the patterns and wanted to try them all at once; I decided to knit 1 pair using two different but similar patterns; one for the left and one for the right! The first one is "Embossed Leaves" and the second is "Flame Wave". I'm knitting both with very old Swedish sock yarn, a lot I found at a yard sale a couple of years ago and never really found use for until now!

I have other new projects started (and no more finished yet), pictures to follow soon! Thanks for looking and Happy Knitting (or whichever craft you happen to be into)!

Whew! What a summer! Work has been ridiculous and I haven't done nearly as much knitting as I would have liked. The new house and new puppy have been keeping me busy at home!

I have started yet another project (yes, it's true) but I have a good excuse; my husband's cousin and his wife have just had a baby boy!! I've only just begun the bath blanket and will add pictures when there's a bit more to show. In the meantime, I did find another project that I completely forgot about! It's a patchwork aran blanket with each patterned square submitted by different "contest" winners. I've decided to knit the entire piece in "cream" on 5 mm needles and yes, it's acrylic... please don't be angry... I'm too lazy to dig out the pattern reference right now but I'll share it with you if you'd like it. Anyway, here are the pics (and I've added a few from my garden too).

Ok, so Brad wants me to start knitting the sweater I promised him... I sure hope he wears this one...

Hello friends! I'm happy to report that my knitting bag becoming more and more organized... I'm working hard on finishing a few projects; please tell me there are other knitters out there who dislike assembling knit projects as much as I do. I think I could just knit and be happy never putting anything together; it's those around me I worry about!

I've turned an unfortunate knitting needle accident into a functional stake for one of my weaker plants...

A few more random projects from the last couple of years... This shawl is knit in mohair with a dropped stitch pattern. It's very comfy!

My felted laptop bag. No pattern, just knit in straight stocking stitch and felted. The handles are "cut" and whip stitched to make them prettier.

I have finally received the "Interweave Knits" 25 Favorite Socks pattern book and I'm excited to start my winter knitting. I'll spend the next few weeks finishing up any Summer projects (I promise) and putting away any Summer yarns (well, maybe not) before I start (yeah, right).

Well, fellow knitters and non-knitters, have a great Indian Summer; See y'all in September!!

sweet vacation...

Hello again, I've been digging up both finished and ongoing knitting projects all day! If only I'd photographed all of my projects; this is definately a must-do from now on... The following pictures are from various times and are posted in no particular order.

This is a very comfy cardigan; one of my first. Knit with Icelandic mohair in vibrant, shiny colours.

Aaahhhh... One of my favorites and one I wear as often as possible.

This is from Debbie Stoller's Stitch 'N Bitch: The Knitter's Handbook.

(http://www.amazon.com/Stitch-N-Bitch-Knitters-Handbook/dp/0761128182)

Knit in chunky wool (can't remember the brand) and

I added "thumb holes" with a tight whip stitch in contrasting white for extra comfort.

This is a great piece from a kit I purchased in Ancaster, Ontario. It's chunky wool in rich browns, creams, and greys. It sits on a chest at the top of my stairs and I smile every time I see it... then I usually frown when I think of how long it took to complete and of how much it cost...

Baaaahhhh...

This silly piece is the front and left sleeve of a sweater made of remnants. No pattern here but I used varying stitches, increases, and decreases and varying yarns: wool, cotton, soy and linen blends... I will most likely never finish this one; actually, I'm thinking of taking it apart and using the yarns for other smaller projects, but it was fun while it lasted!

from the same piece... water and sky.

And for my sweet, sweet husband: a super soft crew pullover in blue heather denim. It's a Rowan pattern but some of the details were left out; he likes his sweaters plain and simple.

"Elly" from RY Classic Babies Book Four

http://www.ryclassic.com/elly.htm

in lavender cotton.

...and some ribbon to detail the inside seams.

Currently, I'm working on a messenger-style laptop case for my friend