Scarf & Hats for Charity

 

 

 Finished on Friday! The beige/gray hat is now completed and ready to be sent with the other two hats and scarf to Knitted Needs in Denver.

The green and red hats are knitted;the scarf and beige/gray hat are crocheted. The scarf is crocheted length-wise with a couple rows of mesh, then shells, then mesh--as many rows to achieve the width you want.

 

 

The beige/gray hat uses a different shaping than I have used on other projects. The hat is worked flat from the bottom edge to the top in single crochet. The shaping for the crown is achieved by crocheting across a row, leaving five stitches unworked and turning to work back across the piece. Then turning and working the next row including the five left unworked, turning and working across. This is repeated until the hat is the size you want. Sew the seam and cinch and fasten the top. I don't know if I'll use this pattern again, but it was interesting for a one-off. It is designed for a beginner and seems to be a good first project.

 

Please don't try to battle your way through my description!! The pattern is here and my project notes are here.

 

 

This pink/red hat is made from bits of Plymouth Encore stash with the crown having a touch of mohair. This photo doesn't show the pretty stitches very well. The details are made with slip stitches. You can see my project notes here and see the pattern too.

 

 

That brings us to this hat that appears to have a basket weave texture. The angle of the light in this photo washes out the neck section, but the texture continues over the entire hat. This pattern is fun and fast. See my notes for details.

 

Do you have any FOs this week? Wishing you a happy and blessed weekend!

 

 

Wednesday WIPs

 



http://www.gsheller.com/caption

 Here are a couple WIPs that are receiving my attention which means the afghan is set aside for the moment so I can work on some gifts.





The first is a mystery KAL dish/face cloth that I plan to use in a swap. If you squint your eyes and tilt your head at exactly the correct angle...there..can you see it? There are two small garter stitch hearts in the center, one positioned above the other. This is the first time I've used "I Love This Cotton" by Lily from Hobby Lobby. This cloth is soft enough for a face cloth and feels like a brushed cotton. I wonder if the fibers would withstand scrubbing dirty dishes.                        

The other is called Christian's Hat a quick and charming knit hat that I will add to my donation to Knitted Needs in Denver. The yarn is Ella Rae yarn is 100% wool which is perfect for this frigid weather. I want to get it along with a scarf and the pink/red hat into the hands of someone who needs it ASAP!

 

 This Slip Stitch Stash Hat was indeed knitted with stash, Plymouth Encore and Bucilla Melody.

 

My current read is Mrs. Lincoln's Dressmaker by Jennifer Chiaverini, an interesting historical fiction that opens just before the election of Abraham Lincoln in 1860.

 

So...what are you knitting and reading?

 

End of December Back Yard

Cold

Serene

Beautiful

Books-n-Dogs on Thursday

Dedicated to Fireflynights.

"Pick up the nearest book. (I’m sure you must have one nearby.)
Turn to page 123.
What is the first sentence on the page?
The last sentence on the page?
Now . . . connect them together….(And no, you may not transcribe the entire page of the book–that’s cheating."

Chocolat by Joanne Harris Page 123
First sentence: "For some reason she wants to abet them."

This would be the famous abetting scene in which the gypsies arrive unabashedly as visitors and sell supplies for cash-money. Then there is the "hiss-thump!" of the breathing machine that prevents pere from indicating what should be done about the gypsies---how to get rid of them.
The decision to speak to the woman is daunted by the disdainful look of the MAN with a glass in his hand. He was drinking something!

Last sentence: "He looked dangerous, violent, in his filthy overalls and long, loose hair, and for a second I felt a thin stab of anxiety for the woman."

Now then, aren't we all so happy that Joanne's writing of the mid-section is what it is! :)

Max & Lailah:

"OK. Got it. Spring snow storm. Can we come back in now?"

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Don't act thoughtlessly, but understand what the Lord wants you to do. Ephesians 5:17

Friday Fill-In and More!!

1. Tonight I saw all the mistakes I made in a new knitting pattern I'm doing. Fixed now!

2. Joyfulness and thanksgiving makes me wanna dance!

3. Splitting a few appetizers between friends: Me, "Do you want to split one?" Friend, "Oh yes, They look decadent!" Moments of eating pleasure, then Me, "Do you want to split another one?" Friend, "Of course! Why not?"

4. Alecia, a gracious woman at church, is someone I'd like to get to know better.

5. The smell of Easter lilies reminds me so much of springtime!

6. A kiss from DH and that made it all better.

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to recuperating from a tough week of health problems, tomorrow my plans include continue recuperating with the help of meds and breathing treatments and Sunday, I want to have fun at the Rockies/Diamondbacks game at Coors Field. I plan to have reasonably recovered by then!

In Response to Questions in the Comments (Love comments!)

The Santa Fe pic on Wordless Wednesday was taken about two weeks ago when DH and I took a road trip to Tucson to see some Rockies games at Spring training camp. And now, the season has begun! We drove through two days of white-out blizzards in Raton Pass in northern NM.

While in Santa Fe, we visited the Georgia O'Keefe Museum for the first time. I was enchanted by the peaceful atmosphere, the simplicity, and the thrill of seeing original O'Keefe works! I bought a couple more small prints to add to my collection.

Arriving in Tuscon meant trading snow for mild sunburns!

Then on to Scottsdale for another Rockies game.



And, yes, we did drive a little way on Route 66. My first trip on 66 was in the '60s when my grandparents took my middle sister and I from NE Ohio to San Diego and many other interesting places in the West. I remember Colorado and Denver on the drive home and decided CO was a most amazing place. Never in my wildest imaginary journeys did I ever consider that I'd move to CO in 1974 and remain here to this very day!

Moving right along....

The Friday Night Knitter's Club by Kate Jacobs
My notation in my reading journal says, "so-so/got bored with it." Knowing that its a huge hit among knitters, and apparently others as well, I feel like a turn-coat, a heretic. But, here's the thing, I stayed with it to page 204 and could not get engaged with the characters. It seemed predictable with some stereotypical characterizations. I put a bookmark after page 204 and returned it to the bookshelf where it is resting comfortably.
So that's my true confession. But, that's just me. I'm just saying....

On Max being relaxed.... Poor boy. Though always Mellow Max by nature, he now suffers with arthritis at 10+ years of age. So, yes, he may be a bit zoned-out on pain meds and the anti-inflammatory med, well also, the Benedryl and thyroid med--all prescribed after weeks of tests at the Colorado State University Veterinary Hospital and our personal vet. Maybe he's groovin' to the Eagles (who completely predate Max) or Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Heart Club Band or "How Much is That Doggy in the Window". Anyway, he's not crying...or moaning. Nope, not many action shots of Max, good ol' boy... My sweet Max. :)

Wordless Wednesday -- Santa Fe

Thursday: Dogs and Books

~~~ Boxers in the Snow ~~~

Max strikes a regal pose as he surveys the back yard and spots Lailah's silliness.

Meanwhile Lailah snuffles around with her muzzle in the snow! I am not kidding! Could she be scenting the resident rabbits under the deck?

Max: Enough of this 11-degree stuff, I'm heading for the door and warmth!

"What new books are you looking forward to most in 2008? Something new being published this year? Something you got as a gift for the holidays? Anything in particular that you’re planning to read in 2008 that you’re looking forward to? A classic, or maybe a best-seller from 2007 that you’re waiting to appear in paperback?"I'm in the process of reading a Zadie Smith book, On Beauty and am looking forward two getting into two books I bought with a Christmas gift card: The Last Mrs. Astor: A New York Story by Frances Kiernan and The President's Table: Two Hundred Years of Dining and Diplomacy by Barry H. Landau. Although The President's Table is a lavish coffee table book, it is heavy on content and interesting insider's information from the author who is a former Head Chef at the White House. It's a lush book, a pleasure to handle.

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God has given each of you a gift from his great variety of spiritual gifts. Use them well to serve one another. 1 Peter 4:10

Saturday Sky -- Crisp, Cold

Wordless Wednesday: Overview

Room With a View

Bright, sunshiney day -- 9 degrees

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No wonder my heart is glad, and I rejoice. My body rests in safety. Psalm 16:9

Wordless Wednesday : ICE!

Linkin' Lookin' and Blog

While mindlessly knitting and finishing this scarf for charity, I've come across some interesting
web sites to share. How about an advent calendar for knitters? Click in each day to find another free pattern on the Christmas tree at http://www.garnstudio.com/julekalender.php?lang=enI've already printed two patterns that I intend to make, though I do admit to being a pattern stasher like some people are yarn stashers.

Want to build your vocabulary while performing a charitable act? Go to http://www.freerice.com/ Warning!! This is addictive, but for a very worthy cause!

Here is the fantastic stripe site at http://www.kissyourshadow.com/stripe_maker.php After you plug in your colors, a stripe pattern is generated specifically to meet your color scheme. I find it very useful since I can put colors together, but the patterning gets me every time!

How 'bout some levity? This holiday site just makes me laugh at all the garish sweaters that users can create. Of course, some are quite tasteful. Since this type of sweater is not something I'd typically wear, I thought it was hilarious! Allow yourself some time at http://weloveholidaysweaters.wehatesheep.com/ and release your inner designer!!

Here's a simple knitter's ornament to make. Wouldn't it be fun to have a tree with a knitting theme? http://www.craftster.org/forum/index.php?topic=211860.0

It's a snowy day in the neighborhood--sparkling, bright, and new!

Another couple of inches are predicted to fall tonight. Wonderful stay-inside sort of weather.

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Please pray for the families of the victims of the shootings at two worship centers here in Colorado.

May the glory of the Lord rise among us.***

Snowy Saturday

A bright winter day like today always reminds me of the children's book A Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats. Gently falling snow, icy snow packed roads, truly a day to stay warm and cozy in the house. Silly Squirrel feasted on nyjer seeds clearly not intended for him/her/it.

More mindless scarf knitting while I spent the day online. With some eyelash (that was given to me) and some Mission Falls gray cotton, I used size 10.5 needles to make another scarf for Scarves from the Heart.


Here is a typical pose with the ever-patient Max enjoying his rawhide while Princess Lailah lounges on him. She does keep her Teddy bear nearby. The surgery didn't phase her;she's doing great. Thanks for asking, Donna.

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Light shines on the godly, and joy on those whose hearts are right. Psalm 97:11

Wordless Wednesday ~~ Water/No Ice

Wordless Wednesday

Plainly Peek-a-Boo

Max and I enjoyed our tip-toe through the tulips---more like tiptoe through the puddles. Not a tulip in sight! As a reminder, we have had the same snow on the ground since December with other layers piled on. I've been referring to it as our permafrost. So...it was a WOW moment when we spotted grass beneath this patch of melting snow.



Q: What do you call snow that's been around too long?

A: Dirty snow!

It appears we're approaching a small lake at the intersection.

Oh yes, thawing is happening!

Moving on to Mata Hari socks... Here is the beginning. I know. Almost too inspiring, isn't it? I'm using two size three circs and black Cascade Fixation yarn.

The little peek-a-boo holes add appealing detail to these otherwise plain socks...plainly peek-a-boo socks! I'm combining information from a few sites to make my socks. The red socks are at http://craftoholic.blogspot.com/2005/09/all-about-socks.html where I first saw them. A fab basic pattern is at http://www.seedwiki.com/wiki/perfect_sock_pattern that's helping me to get started. I have always-always used a knitted cast on. I now have learned the Turkish cast on from the information at this site. I love the feeling of GROWTH! and learning a new technique! Yeah-yeah, old dog/new tricks!! And because I want to knit both socks at the same time, I am referring to http://www.knittingzone.com/twocirculars.htm Go Addi Turbos, go!

Happy Feet!

***Do you have travel info/suggestions for a trip to Phoenix?*** I am planing a trip during the third week of March and would appreciate any comments/suggestions you might have! Thanks!

A lot of people like snow. I find it to be an unnecessary freezing of water.
---Carl Reiner

Saturday Sky Redux

Very much like a week ago---shiveringly cold with heavy cloud cover.

This is especially for Tracey at http://fuzzybritches.wordpress.com/ since she rilly-rilly wants snow.

Cold! If the thermometer had been an inch longer we'd have frozen to death. ---Mark Twain