Thursday, September 30, 2010

Is it really the end of September?

Just where did September go? I know, I've been busy, and not sharing well with you all. But I think I'll make up for it here. Sit back and come with me on my journey!
When was the last time you cooked up a batch of No Bake cookies? I think the last time I made these, I was at Beth's house after school way back in jr. high school for me. Boy are, I mean were these good! But I'd forgotten how sugary they were! Makes me want to go grab a glass of milk all over again.
Made a slew of stitch markers for a friend and her Mom to share.
Finished the 'Cuse Scarf (Used Flaunt your Colors Scarf pattern and 2 skeins each of the orange and navy Plymouth's Encore yarn, and 60 st cast on size) which then was mailed to daughter. However, I'd really like the flier miles the scarf went, since it made it way via the postal system to New Hampshire, back to Long Beach, CA, then to Anaheim, before crossing the country once more up to New York for it's delivery! Man, what a trip that scarf made! (See what putting tracking numbers on your packages will do for your handknits?)
Finished the hospital socks and they're just waiting for the final try on before I graft the toes shut. Why is it, that when I want the kids to try on the stuff I knit for them, their schedules just never seem to match with mine? Makes you wish they'd never grown up-eh? Not to mention you'd not have to knit size 13 mens socks, either! Kids sizes would be finished so much faster!
Finished almost the whole kitchen set for the kid's friend's wedding gift (Cables 'n Columns set from the 2011 Dishcloth calendar using a cone of Peaches & Creme cotton )
 Hugged a kid...
 Added fringe to the high flying miles 'Cuse Scarf...
Hugged another kid...
 
When I finished the last placemat, look how much I had left from the cone of cotton? Oh, how I love using cones to knit the kitchen sets! No ends to weave in and plenty of cotton to knit the whole set in the same dye lot. 
And now Mom's socks are within moments away of starting the toes! Yea! They will be ready to gift to her the next time I go to see her. Now, shhhhhh don't anyone tell her! I can't wait to start a pair of these for myself!

Now, are you ready for what's coming up next on the calendar? There's a hint in one of these pictures, can you figure it out?

Saturday, September 11, 2010

Cables 'n Columns Kitchen Set

2011 Dishcloth Calendar is ready!!!
The sale information is here.
Included in this years calendar will be my patterns:
Cables 'n Columns Dishcloth
Cables 'n Columns Kitchen Hanging Hand Towel
Cables 'n Columns Placemat
Cables 'n Columns Sack Sock
All of my patterns were knit with Peaches & Creme in Article 930 cone in color P94, Deep Red with (US) 5 (3.75mm), (US) 7 (4.5mm) straight needles, (US) 7 (4.5mm) 16" circular needle, and (US) 6 (4.0mm) double point needles. 
Enjoy!
The teaser picture? Was this one. Samples here, from top left:  knit with Lily's Sugar 'n Cream Stripes in Lime stripes, Peaches & Cream Cone in White, Peaches & Cream Cone Premium in Deep Red

Thursday, September 9, 2010

In the meantime...

Sorry for the delay in the 'announcement', it appears that technical difficulties beyond my control have pushed it back. I was really hoping to have given you all the details on September 5th, but....while you're waiting, I'll bring you up to date on my needles, etc...
The "IU /Perfect" scarf has been finished. Yes, with the Plymouth Encore yarn, I really do like the (US)9 (5.5mm) circular needles with it. So, I would recommend that you play with your yarn and needles and see which size you want for your scarves. The purple and yellow one I knit for my niece last year was knit with Lion Brand's Wool-ease yarn. I like the (US)8 (5.0mm) needles for that yarn, it's skinnier. With the 9/5.5mm's on this one, I ended up with 16sts/21 rows gauge with the white, and 17sts/21 rows with the red. See? The dyes can make a real difference on the same brand/type of yarn. It helps to check your gauge all the time! Flaunt your Colors Scarf pattern can be found here. I'll update that at a later time. 
Meanwhile, I'm working on a pair of socks for daughter's fiance. He's been asking for some slipper socks for around the house type of wearing. I'm using one of the A.C.Moore bags of mill ends, which feel a lot like Bernat's Berella 4 worsted acrylic. He tried on the pair of socks that I'd knit for A4A, and liked the way they fit, so that's the same pattern that I'm using for him, too. That is a 'Sock class' that can be found here.
For the last bit today, while I'm 'patiently' waiting for the other news, I bought the yarn for this scarf ohhhhh, probably 2 1/2 - 3 years ago. I spent the better part of last week searching all over the house for it. I had saved it so well that I had to clean out two closets and it still wasn't there, nor in the bin with the rest of my Plymouth Encore yarn bin. [OK choir, do I hear an 'amen' from the peanut gallery? I know you've done this many times, just like me. We're all in good company here.] Why? Because I had intended to knit it for the oldest daughter WHILE she was still a Master's student at Syracuse University. However, since I had it in the planning stage for so long, I couldn't remember where I had it on 'hold' in the 'on deck' circle. Once I finally found it in a totally different location than where I would have bet the farm it was hiding it hit the needles as quick as I could get it to prevent me from 'saving' it so well again. Again I'm using (US) 9 (5.5mm) 16" circular Addi turbos to try and get this finished and off to her before the first snow flakes fly while she's still in the area where the colors would be appreciated. What a shame that Plymouth discontinued that color shade of orange #1383! I think it's the perfect color of orange for all things team/school colors and Halloween/pumpkin! Why oh why yarn companies, do you NOT keep the crayola 8 and pastel colors in your line up so we Moms and sport fans can find the correct team colors and baby colors year after year when we're knitting up sweaters, hats, scarves, and mittens? Add the seasonal colors from time to time, but please, keep the basic 'bread and butter' colors with your 'bread and butter' yarns! It would make this knitting one happy camper to be able to find what I want, when I want, as the inspiration hits to make things for people without adding to the 'someday I'm going to do such and such pile' in my house.

Just sayin'....

Saturday, September 4, 2010

Do you remember?

Do you remember when I posted this picture back here? Well, it's  really, really close to the time when I can tell you about it! I know, it's been long in waiting...but....soon! VERY SOON!
I'm excited! Curious? Stay tuned!