Aloe Dye Fail, Skully stitch marker success.

Not being able to spin has left me a bit discombobulated.  I've limited my knitting to a few rows at each sitting.  The arm/shoulder/neck pain is improving, but the arm weakness is about the same.  I saw PT today and will see Sport's Medicine tomorrow.  The meclomen is helping the pain and not irritating my stomach so far like other NSAIDS, and it is on the WalMart $4 RX list.  YAY.  I really dislike taking meds.  My son had fun reading the two page handout that came with the pills and keeps asking me if I've had any sudden weight gain or puffing up. 

I'm knitting  Foolproof by Louise Zass-Bangham from Inspiration Knits. Not free but clever.  It starts off like a shawl and ends up a cowl.  There are no seams.  I'm using a self-striping yarn, Tangier to avoid having to weave in ends.   I must say, the striped versions with higher contrast are more eye-catching.

My aloe dyeing was a bust.  I was inspired by the lovely pink Kai got with aloe. I got a rather pale yellow which is actually quite nice.  I learned a lot.  First, always label packages of white powder.  I'm now sure the white powder was soda ash and not alum.  Secondly and most importantly, don't be in a rush when it comes to dyeing anything.  Third, my churro spun on the Navajo spindle was not spun well, and fell apart with the abuse. 

Mom brought a good point when I whined about the process...at least I have tried it.  I may try it again, too when the aloe plant gets out of control.  Somehow it seems better then throwing the thinnings away. Also cooking aloe does not smell too bad and is non-toxic.

In lieu of spinning in the Tour de Fleece I'm shopping online (mostly card-making supplies), surfing for inspiration and re-potting my poor neglected plants, including 3 sea island cotton plants.    I even managed a set of skully stitch markers and some very dangly acorn earrings.  The bone skull beads were funky smelling when I got them, and they were boiled, soaked in bleach and paint thinner and left in the elements for awhile (like years, lol) and they no longer smell bad. 


I'm signed up for Stitches MidWest...one felting class, and one rigid heddle class.  The only knitting class is intarsia in the round, so I'm hoping my shoulder/neck/arm problem will be better by then.  I was going to take Cherry Baby with me, but I decided not to spin for all of July and maybe August. 

So Sad, No Tour de Fleece for me :(

I've somehow messed up my arm and neck and can't spin.  I've tried resting, massage, exercises and even resorted to acetaminophen and naproxen.  I'm resigned that I will not be able to spin in the Tour de Fleece this year.  I have been  referred to a specialist. Sigh. Guess I'll keep off the knitting for a while as well.  My hands don't know what to do while watching TV anymore.  The pickings on TV are slim, but I've settled on Longmire, 24, Endeavor and the last season of True Blood. 

On a more successful note, my mom's pineapples are going strong.  She has harvested 2 already and this one is almost ready.  

She is coping with my dad's passing by doing what she always does when under stress.  She is cleaning and organizing...going through pictures, clothes, writing letters.  Many things have gone to the thrift stores.  She messed up her shoulder and finally saw her doc.  She was referred to PT.  But she never lets these sort of things get her down.  Her main concern is whether the cat (Kiko) chooses to sleep with her or not.  It's handy living next door to her, and I have breakfast with her 6 days a week now that I'm retired and get all the daily reports!

My quest for "cocktail" attire for an August wedding has only been 50% successful.  The search goes on.  The plant re-potting project is underway.  The Lancaster has reported a white fly infestation on the avocado tree in the pot.  Agh!  The trials and tribulations of owning a yard!  The Lancaster has been digging and laying gravel around for his great "drainage" project.  I'm not even sure I needed that, but he's usually right.  Guess I'll have to buck up and call the appliance dude to figure out what is wrong with the flaky dishwasher.  The Landcaster feels that is important and he's usually right.  Aah the mundane-ness of it all.

A Texas cousin came for a visit.  It was nice catching up and sharing stories.  He lost both his parents this year, one month apart.  His mom was my mom's sister, and mom is the last of the siblings.  This is the cousin that I met for the first time when he was 70!  I love his stories.  I'm not sure why I never got to share in his life growing up.  My mom never took us to visit them in Granbury, TX.  He expressed his recent awareness, that there is nothing like family.  It's never too late.  True too of old friends...reminiscing, we all remember different things and have different takes on what went down way back when. 

Retirement Brain

I thought I had today all planned out...breakfast with mom, knitting at 10, hang out until 2pm and doctor's appointment at 2:30pm.

The doctor's appointment for my sore arm and shoulder, and weakness in the arm.  I really didn't notice the weakness until I tried to carry the garbage bag.  I tried to see the Sport's Medicine doc, but they didn't consider knitting a sport.  I suspect my problem started after finishing the lace from hell.  Anyway, to get an appointment on a certain for an acute problem, I had to call at 7:30am that day.

2:30 seemed the perfect time. I could drive over after knitting, see the doc, and get my blood tests done for my routine appointment in August.   One problem...knitting was for next week.  Oh well, I had a great time at Aloha Yarns, and practically had Nanea all to myself.   And, I actually spent 7 hours without my computer. (not counting Wonbin the iphone)

Anne stopped by and I scored a 3 lb avocado!  Can't wait for it to get ripe.  I always worry about these massive avocados since a former patient got beaned on the head picking one.  She luckily did not get a concussion, but had a very impressive bruise that when down her back as well!

 Update:    6/27/2014 Here's what a 3 lb avocado looks like.  almost 8 inch tall and 5 inch in diameter. 

I've been referred for some xrays and to see a Physiatrist.   In the meantime I'm going to knit and spin on. 

Blogless Sandy had a good laugh.  She is reading a book about chemo brain, a type of cognitive dysfunction related to chemotherapy.  The symptoms sound similar to retirement brain, which I may be suffering from.  Mom and I spend part of each am determining what day of the week its and what tasks we need to get done.  This becomes a feat when there are no work days to schedule around.   Having calendars help some, but only if the data is entered correctly. 

I finished a little stashbuster.

Pattern:  Ruched Sleep Eye Mask
by Sarah Cores
Yarn:  Pakucho, organic cotton
Needles:  First 3 size 6, too holey.  Second one size 5.
I'm going to try these out on my night flight to Stitches Midwest.  It's so hard for me to sleep on planes.

The Moosie has Landed!

Moosie by Jonathan Bosworth
9 inch Tulipwood Shaft
28 grams.
Love this tiny work of art.  The whorl diameter is 1.75 inch

I'm going to try some silk on it next.

Another long term knitting FO while knitting with blogless Sandy and Nanea at Aloha Yarns

Quiviut Cap
Pattern:  Free on Ravelry, Osmena by Jenn Jarvis from Nipperknits

The Qiviut is incredibly soft and silky.  Knitting on size 1 and size 2 needles goes very slowly.  I did Jeny's Incredible Stretchy Bind Off.  I got this luxury yarn in Alaska at the Anchorage museum a few years ago and finally found the right project for it.

Yesterday was No. 2 son's birthday.  I can't believe he is the big 30.  Back in the day, 30 was considered over the hill and the age after which a person could not be trusted.  How foolish I was back then...but at least I was invincible!

A Lovely Gift

Kbrow has sent me a very nice package with some wonderful ceramic acorn buttons!!  I will enjoy them on some future project.  They make me very happy just to be there to admire, too!  She also included some tasty smelling, home made soap, my favorite citrus-y flavors.  Lovely, lovely soap.

Since retiring May 31, I've been pretty lazy, just dreaming of all those healthy pursuits and things that need to be done.  I'm giving my self a mental vacation for one month.  I'm not really good at deadlines that I set for myself, but I'm content to dream about it.  My son was a little worried about me as I went out with my blouse inside out.  Humpf.  These things happen to "mature" ones  when they are rushed!!

I felt very accomplished having fixed two things on that fix it list.  One is this bracelet that I've had for ages.  I got it back in the antiquing days and did not have it very long before the middle stone fell out.  Sigh.  I used a rondele I found laying around and filed it a bit.  Luckily the setting prongs were still functioning.  It's bluer then the other stones, but from a distance not a bad match.  

 

The other is this clock. I've always loved this clock that was a gift years ago.  I ordered several clock movements from Klockit.  The hand were a bit long so I had to do some surgery. I forgot to order second hands but was able to use the old one.  So far it has continued to keep time. 

The knitting has slowed down a bit for the summer.  I fell in love with hempathy and Webs had some on closeout.  I decided on orange and was going to use it for weaving, but then the Aloha Yarns ladies were doing The Hole Story KAL, by Michelle Hunter from Knit Purl Hunter so I decided to jump on the wagon.

I somehow screwed up the ruffle and got this frilly thing that was the neverending lace from hell.  My neck is still stiff as I was so intent on just getting it done!

The hempathy was very nice and drapey and will wash well.  It came out a nice size as well.   And yes, it is very orange!!!

Kbrow was my thrift hunting buddy and the drum has had to continue beating alone since the violin moved East.   I was rewarded with some "real" yarn for next to nothing, a skein of Euroflax, Berrocco Trilogy and 2 skeins of 100% silk Amerah, SW Trading.  I crocheted a puffy heart/leaf garland.

Crochet Puffy Heart by Bonita Patterns, size G hook.  

 

I have thrown out a few things as a friend is having a garage sale...mostly old spotty books, some liquor bottles shaped like golf clubs and bags that were inherited with house...and I cleaned my desk.  It's still very cluttered but I spy a bit of the table top now and some of the dust bunnies have been moved out.

I obsessed on these sheep so made a few.  

It's difficult to keep off the Internet shopping for things I don't need.  I did get all the roving I need for the upcoming Tour de Fleece.  The plan is to mostly spin cotton on my Hansen e-spinner, "Cherry Baby" and do some puffy thick and thin on Serenity, the Majacraft Rose.

I'm set up to go to Stitches MidWest in Schaumberg.  It will be hot in August!

Catching Up

My company's DOD contracts were cut way back so I decided to retire...again and also to blog again.  The last couple of months have been a blur.

In April, my dad passed after 4 years of being home bound.  He suffered from depression over his loss of his physical abilities to do the things he loved, gardening, listening to baseball games, and music.  While medications helped, he refused to leave home and did not even step into the garage for four years.  He lived a long and interesting life of service to his profession and to his family.  I am grateful my mom was able to care for him at home, that he had no physical pain, and that his passing was peaceful.  I am grateful I live next door and was able to support them these last few years.   He was laid to rest May 24.  For me the process was gradual and I came to terms with whatever resentments I harbored. Now when I think of dad, I think of his cute smile and his integrity and drive to do the right thing.  I have fond memories of fishing with him in Kaneohe Bay, catching ika down by the Ilikai, crawfish in Nuuanu Stream...

On my second to last working day I contracted a virus, I'm thinking the Norovirus.  I wasn't tested, 'cuz ya know doctors make the worst patients and I treated my self.  Not that there was much to do but groan and moan, and try to stay hydrated until the darn thing passed.   I lost another two weeks to the pity party.

I did some knitting and crocheting and purchased a Hansen E-spinner (my own retirement celebration gift, lol)  I won't bore readers with the details, so here is the mosaic.  The project details are on Ravelry.  

1.  crochet Bucket hat (made several)
2.  Gaptastic Cowl-made two
3.  Kamuela socks.  Pattern from Aloha Yarns in Kaneohe.  Fun footies in hot pink.
4.  Canalatto Cowl
5. Tried out the Cascade Tangier Noro-like yarn.  Nice!  Quaker yarn stretcher boomerang
6.  More Graham hats (made 3)
7.  Graham hat
8.  Giro
9.  Finally finished the Queen Anne scarf.  I ended up looping it and adding some crochet flowers for a goodbye lei for a friend.
10.  Echarpe Pointes Violettes/Violet Points Scarf.  My first time using Hempathy.  I think I'm in love.  This is a perfect yarn for Hawaii's warm climate.
11.  Flower Girl Cottage Crochet headband.
12.  Spinning Ewa Beach (Sea Island) cotton on "Cherry Baby", the Hansen e-spinner.

My most recent project was a spindle bag.  My very first project on my Cricket Rigid Heddle loom, was a "table runner".  It was not very good, so I sewed it into a spindle bag for my Malcolm Fielding Tasmanian Devil.  

It fits the cardboard tube the spindle shipped in and is padded inside with one of the those floating noodles, cut to size.  I sweat the grommets, but managed to put them without a hitch thanks to youtube!



I used a knitting needle to enlarge a hole, so no cutting was needed for the whole project (oh wait, look at that fringe...snip!).  The fabric was thick, so I didn't line it.

Somewhere in there I took to a trip to Sonoma.  I enjoyed the Beringer Winery.
I visited two fun knitting shops:   Knitterly in Petaluma and Cast Away and Folk in Santa Rosa.   Both were places I would visit again!

What's not to like about a wall of Koigu?  I won't flash my stash, but I didn't hold back!

Reuben Sandwich

I've always loved Reuben Sandwich's.  I did not have corned beef and cabbage on the 17th since I was expecting my sister, the Sky Goddess to be here to cook, but she didn't come in until today.  I cooked the corned beef by it's lonesome and got some Bubbies Sauerkraut, and some Swiss cheese.  For the bread, I decided to use that bread flour I've had in stash for a while. Of course this lead to shopping for the other items needed like rye flour. 

I used the recipe from the Smitten Kitchen.  Some of the recipes have pickle juice in them so I picked this one because it did not have any.  This was a fussy recipe which created a sponge, and was kneaded about 4 times. The author warns 8 hours is needed to make this.   The only modification I made besides grinding my caraway seeds,  was to bake it in a bread pan on 375 degrees for 45 mininues, instead of a round loaf on a pan sprinkled with cornmeal, with slashes in the top.  If I must say so myself it was  a big success, even with the puka (hole) that formed.

The Sky Goddess whipped up some easy Russian dressing for the inside.  This was the first time I'd tried the Bubbies Sauerkraut, and it was delish!  Mom whipped up a salad some Admiral Guiler's Turtle Soup to top off the meal.  On a side note, the Bubbies site says the Chinese invented sauerkraut!  Learn something new every day.

Crochet Bucket Hats

A friend tasked me with crocheting a hat for her grand daughter.  She had a sample which was too small.  The first one came out large enough for an adult.  I didn't use a pattern.  For the other I used a cute Japanese pattern.

Pattern:  210-24 Summer Hat, by Pierrot (Gosyo Co., Ltd)  Free!
Yarn:  Plymouth Jeanne DK.  The red is aran.
Hook:  F and H
Half the fun is making different flowers.  I experimented with my Crazy Daisy Winder in the bottom left corner.  I'm not happy with the  centers.  There are some good you tubes that I will follow next time.  I ordered the new improved Han-ami flower loom made by clover, so some more hats are sure to follow.  These are so fast to make!  I just wish I had more colors of the Jeannee DK.  The aran is a bit thick.
Mods:  I wasn't sure how to the lace so I just winged it from the picture.

Totoro eyeglass holder filled out the mosaic :)

Ravellenic 2014 Team Aloha

 I didn't make the deadline, but at least I finished:)

Pattern:  Aidez
Yarn:  Cascade 128 Superwash, about 8 skeins.
Needles:  10.5

Mods:  I wanted to make this as seamlessly as possible.   I knit the sleeves first and found I had stitch gauge but not row gauge.  I also read that the sleeves run small.  konasf and SageYarn had some helpful notes.  I knit the largest size sleeves. I had a couple of glitches in the crossed cables in the back which mostly block out.  The sweater really grew in length with blocking and is a bit too long.  It is certainly cushy and snugly to wear.

I don't this was the best project for this yarn with the needle size I chose.  It's a bit fuzzy on the cable stitch definition and stretched too much with blocking.  A tighter gauge may have helped.  I did learn that I will have to be more careful next time when joining the sleeves as I ended up with some very loose stitches...okay they are holes:( at the joins.  I've tried other raglan styles before and have come to the conclusion it is not the best arm style for me. 

I do love knitting cables!  Perhaps it's time to think about St. Brigid again.  It has been in my queue forever!

Now with Downton Abbey over for the season, there is a void and I'm sad to say I will frog my Downton Abbey Mystery KAL shawl.  After hibernating it and seeing the finished shawls, I decided the project is not for me. I'm so looking forward to Game of Thrones!

Perhaps I can practice on my new toy.  It spins very well. 

Tasmanian Devil - support spindle in Rose Sheoak and Dymondwood by Malcom Fielding.  I'm hoping for a Moosie in the next herd from Jonathan Bosworth.  A girl can dream. 

Big Island Quilt Shop Hop 2014

This was a whirlwind shop hop with Melody and JoAnn.  What fun!  We flew out Tuesday morning, picked up our car and visit all nine shops to get our quilt blocks and shop. 

1.  Quilt Passions, Kona
2.  Fabric and Quilting Delights, Kona
3.  H.Kimura, Kealakekua
4.  Topstitch, Waimea
5.  Fabric Impressions. Hilo
6.  Kilauea Kreations II, Hilo
7.  Fabric Workshop, Hilo
8.  Pahala Quilting, Pahala
9.  Kilauea Kreations, Volcano

Each shop had it's own charm, sales and supplies.  We were met with Aloha spirit and had fun sharing ideas with lovely, crafty quilters.    We all got our quilt blocks and some ideas on how to put them together.  Our names were entered into the drawing...one can dream... 

Kona was socked in with vog when we arrived, and I couldn't even see Mauna Kea.  By the time we got to Waimea it started to clear out and we were treated to the cherry blossoms blooming.  We had wonderful weather in Hilo, Pahala and Volcano.   Outside our hotel room we were serenaded at dawn and dusk by the mynah birds nesting in the banyan trees and at night by the coqui frogs which have invaded Hilo.   We did the Hilo Farmer's Market and and ran in to an old friend. After a great lunch at Hilo Bay Cafe, which has moved to a new location, we checked out of the hotel and went on to Pahala and Volcano.  We flew back to Honolulu with our treasures.  I would go back in a heartbeat!

I made some pillow cases from my sale fabric.  Christmas fabric but who cares:)  I used the Missouri Quil Company video again, only I cut the cuff 12 inches instead of 9 since the handout the shop lady gave us used 12 inches.  Nine would have been enough, but oh well.  I still love them.

Scrappy Blue Something, Weaving project number 3

This is project number 3 on my 15 inch Cricket Loom, following the Craftsy Class by Angela Tong.  I used up more of my cotton stash in blues, white and off-white.  The marled yarn really made the sections interesting.  I love the way the mercerized, double-stranded DK weight Bernat Cassino created the illusion of crosses.  I went for random lengths of weft and warped half the loom with white and half with Cascade Sierra Quattro.
I wanted to make placemats, but the final width was only 10.5 inches so for now it's yardage.  It's a little wide for a scarf, imo. 

I made a small dent in the stash.  My weave is more uniform, and the selveges are okay, but the ends with the fat yarn really showed up with the contrast. 

I signed up for Ravellenics, Team Aloha Knitters, but my project, Aidez with Cascade 128 had a little stall.  I took the chart with me to work on my Nook, and misread it.  Darn this old eyes!!  It's started again on dpns.  I'm going with a sleeve and plan to knit this in the round.

I'm enjoying this season's Downton Abbey  (spoiler alert)..
 What is that sneaky butler up to, and I still hate that horrid visiting butler for what he did to Anna.  I hope Anna gets some justice but not at the expense of Bates.  I'm not sure I like Rose.  Lady Edith needs a break, waah.  It seems inevitable that Tom Branson is not renewing his contract, sigh.  Drama drama....I love this series!

Just Like Sisyphus

The more I clean, the messier my house looks...a never ending tale.

I live in a giant craft box. It's a constant battle to organize and tidy up the stuff.  I'm just not ready to give up the stuff...there are more spinning, sewing, weaving and knitting projects to do!  

The perennial cleaning organizing project has resulted in finding a few treasures, but also lead to Internet time finding new ways to declutter and organize.  Let's not talk about buttons, because I have yet to find a good way to organize those.  Yes I have tackle boxes and such, but the collection has outgrown them all.  I can't see myself sewing all the buttons on a card.  I envy those who can. 

I previously researched different ways to keep the thread from coming off the bobbins and none really worked real well.  I finally found some of those fat tiny hair ties and they seem the best so far.  However, the number of bobbins I have has been multiplying.  Yeeks!   My MIL used to unwind the thread and put it back on the spool. I just buy more bobbins.  My bobbins will take over the world!

I've been obsessing on ink pad storage.  Every brand is a different shape and size.  There ought to be a law... and it should include cell phone cables which should all be interchangeable! But then, I digress. There were some nice storage ideas, like the the foam board shelf.  These are also sold on Etsy in foam board or up-cycled wood.  Very nice!  After obsessing about cost AND shipping to Hawaii which can be a real expense, I talked the Landcaster into making me one from the redwood in the garage and got some mini-sorters from Off'dePot.  I'll have to make labels for the colors and get me a couple more sorters. Now to just keep that ink pad stash from growing!! (there are more in a drawer, yet)

 

I had fun making these hats.  There are both the same yarn but photographed in different light. 
Pattern:  Goblin Hat, free pattern by Elizabeth Murphy from Rhythm of the Home !!!
Yarn:  Darker brown, Vanna's choice, Barley.  I used the entire skein and ran out on the second one.  Lighter beige is Plymouth Encore, colorway 240
Needles:  Size 6 and 8
Mods:  I knit the top one in size Adult, but miscounted and had 4 extra stitches when I started the decreases.  I added one stripe as notes on Rav suggested the hat would be too short to button.  The second one is the child size.  I ran out of yarn so finished the hat with the lighter color except for the last few rows and i-cord. 
Comments:  Very fun pattern and a good way to use a very special button!  And did I mention free?  Thank you Elizabeth Murphy.

After the pour down...

Goodnight, sun.

Today

Blogless Sandy knit the cutest Minion!  It was a fun day starting off with a great massage, followed by Korean food, bon bons at Aloha yarns while knitting and chatting.  After hitting the Farmer's Market, its home!  Not bad for a rainy day in the islands. 

Terrestrial Ribba

Pattern:  Ribba, by Wooly Wormhead
Yarn:  Knotty Naomi Twisters.  Bond wool, from Southern Cross Fibers.  Colorway Terrestrial. 
Needles:  size 9
Mods:  I did not get gauge, so knit the large and knit 12 rows in rib sections and started my crown decreases 4 rows into the second rib section. 
Comments:  This wool is wonderfully squishy and soft.  The colors make me very happy, especially the way the blue glows. 

Now for a whine.  I decided to join the Downton Abbey Mystery KAL.  The second clue was not knit-able as initially written and I went a bit bonkers.  I had to hibernate the project to "get over it".  I am going to wait until the series is over to insure the bugs are out of the pattern, but it still nags and beckons.  I thought the project was karma as it called for 550 yds of DK weight and I had an luxury skein in my stash.  The yarn did not appreciated being frogged numerous times! But at least the pattern is free.

A Cotton Day

Blogless Linda, a weaver, has cotton growing in her yard. She is very generous in sharing.   It loves the hot, dryness of Ewa Beach. This particular day followed some strange weather, more rain then usual, and the bolls are plump, but very few had burst open.  We spent some great time chatting, eating bon bons, checking out her really cool paper weavings and trying to get Tiger(the cat) to approve of us.  I'm tempted to plant a few seeds.  According to Cotton Acres, it is very easy to grow indoors or out.

Jan. 29, 2014 update:  Blogless Sandy has updated me on the type of cotton, South Island cotton.
 

Lanikai, FO

Pattern:  Summer Flies by Donna Griffin.
Needles:  size 8
Yarn:  Hand spun cotton grown in Ewa Beach  by Linda Sjögren,  Spun on my Majacraft Rose, two ply.  Hand dyed in Procion dye, turquoise.    Held together with Lontue by Araucania, colorway greens.
Comments:  I ran out of hand spun just before starting the ruffle, so I held two strands of Lontue together.  The variegated Lontue made the turquoise more interesting.  I'm happy to say this first attempt at spinning cotton worked pretty well and did not fall apart!
I am calling this Lanikai for the the beach on east Oahu.  On a sunny day it is incredibly blue and green!

Really there are two of these socks.  I had fun using up some sock yarn stash.  This is a plain vanilla toe down  64 stitch sock  on size 1 needles. 

Pattern:  Endless Saturday Socks

by Kristen Johnson

from Cozy Things

I'm calling them Melody for the recipient, who is a very colorful, multi-talented person that comes together nicely.  She loves crazy socks and they fit her fine.  She does have two feet. 

I keep little balls of sock yarn.  I bet I'm not the only one.  I have the Bee Keepers Quilt pattern to knit, but after knitting half a puff I could see a future of sewing in ends.  If there is one complaint I have about the crazy sock, it that there are two ends to weave in every color change, I do not like sewing in ends! 

More hats.  Two more Noro Hats and one more Graham. 

I used the Earflap Hat Pattern Generator bu Lucia for the Earflap hat in Cascade 220.  The Earflaps have a very unusual construction, as another knitter described, like knitting toes.  The flaps and band are double layers.  My count was off so I wasn't able to find a color-work pattern to fit, but the stripes worked fine.  The final hat has a short braid of all 3 colors coming off the top.  I am hoping to get a picture of the hat in action.

As the end of the year rolls a long, I plan to take a break from knitting until Downton Abbey starts.  I'll see how that goes.  The plan is to organize the stash and put away Christmas before then.

***update 1/31/2013 I've wound the Blue Heron Rayon Metallic for the Downton Abbey Mystery KAL 2014 which starts Jan.5.  So there will be knitting in January!

I wish you all a Happy Holiday and Happy New Year!

Hats, Hats, Hats

1.  Classic World War II Watch Cap by Helen Waittes from Cocoa Beach Yarn Company. 
Cascade Superwash 220
2.  Skull Hat, by Gina Davidson from Knit Two Together (Blog).  Cascade Sierra
3.  Combination Summer Hat, by Amanda Muscha from StrangeKnits.
Cascade Sierra
4.  Urban Jungle Crocheted Slouchy Beanie,by Vickie Howell from Vickie Howell For Caron.
Cascade Sierra Quatro
5.   Urban Jungle Crocheted Slouchy Beanie,by Vickie Howell from Vickie Howell For Caron.
Cascade Sierra
6.  Chaos Cap,by Amy Duncan from Two Sticks and a Sheep
Cascade 220
7.  Graham,by Jennifer Adams from Nutty Irishman Knits
Cascade Pacific
8.  Meret (Mystery Beret), by Woolly Wormhead from Woolly Wormhead
Cascade 220
9.   Graham,by Jennifer Adams from Nutty Irishman Knits
Cascade220
10.  Chroma Stocking Cap, by Aimée Chapman from 52 Weeks, 52 Hats
Lionsbrand Amazing
11.  Grey Gardens, by Kate Burge and Rachel Price from Knitty, Spring + Summer 2013
Noro Taiyo
12.   Graham,by Jennifer Adams from Nutty Irishman Knits 
Vanna's Choice

Forest Gnome join Teeny Gnome

Pattern: Alan Dart Yuletide Gnomes (Jultomtar & Teeny Tomte)
Yarn:  Cascade 220 for face, Queensland Kathmandu Aran for rest.  Sirdar Foxy for beard.
Needles:  Size 5.  Size 10 for beard.
 Mods:  Knit most of this in the round.  Stuffed with wool and polyester beads for the okole.  

October

All 3 of my sisters visited in the last month.  No. 1 had not been home for almost 2 years.  No.4 visits about once a month and No. 2 come 2-3 times a year.  Dad turned 94 this month.  Mom will be 90 next month.  Living is getting more challenging for them.  No. 2 is still here and cooking up a storm!  She made the best corned beef.  Her secret is to glaze the corned beef after it has cooked with mustard, brown sugar and ground cloves and bake in the oven  @ 375 deg while the vegies are cooking. Yummy!  She also made brown stew and swears by the whole slow browning, caramelizing of the meat and vegies before the actually stewing.

For dad's birthday she had me make a Chocolate Zucchini Cake .  If you are like me you will say, well why zucchini?  I'm not sure what it added but the cake was very yummy and moist!  The mods are to use buttermilk in place of the sour milk and bake at 350 deg.  I would also increase the amount of chocolate chips to sprinkle on top so each piece had at least 3. 

Top with ice cream:)

On the knitting scene, I'm on sock number 5 of the new, improved sock knitting mojo.  Number 4 was another Finnish Sock.  Zeska, was nice enough to provide the pattern for free (in Finnish) but translate the pattern stitch to sl. 1, K1, YO.  Pass slip stitch over K1 and YO.  I'm calling this Furlough Sock, as much of this was knit on time made available by our country's budget issue.

Pattern:  Petäjä-sukat by Eeva SavirantaYarn:  Tosh Sock, Madeleinetosh
Needles:  size one Chiaogoo needles.  I'm on a roll with these nice pointy needles, using the the magic loop method.
Mods:  There is no English translation for this pattern so I adapted the pattern from Sensational Knitted Socks, 6 stitch pattern CO 66 stitches.  I added a purl stitch to match the beginning purl stitch to the patterned portion of the foot, working 34 stitches for the foot and 32 for the sole. 
Comments:  The varigated yarn did not show up the pattern as well as the solid color of my first one, but made for a nice snug fit.  The yarn was a bit splitty with these pointy needles, but not excessively so. They feel wonderful on.

No. 5 sock is Kellswater Sock in Tosh Sock, colorway Stormy.  It is knit toe-up.  So far I've knit one toe.

Another project was Red Hat.  Such a clever name, lol.

(oops, have to trim the tail after blocking)

Yarn:  Malabrigo Rios, color Ravelry Red
Needles:  size 7,8 short circs, and size 9 dpns
Pattern:  I'm sure this has been done before, but I didn't use a pattern except for the decreases.
CO 90, twisted CO. K2P2 5 inches.  I wanted this ribbing to fold up and cover the ears. 
Change to size 8 needle. Fisherman knit in the round. for another 5 inches or so. (I have a 22 inch head)
Decrease according to Fisherman’s Hat by Christina. The number aren't the same but easy to fudge. I changed to size 9 needles as recommended.
I've using the twisted CO for socks over two needles lately as it is stretchier and easy to do.
Warning:  Try not to drop any stitches in the Fisherman Knit portion.  It is a very challenging to fix!  I found tinking back as soon as a mistake was made the the best way for me. 

Seattle/Camano Getaway

I had a wonderful little getaway to Seattle and Camano Island while Big Sister and the General were visiting the folks.  I knew they would be in good hands!

I finished Caamaño Socks
Pattern:  Katniss Socks by Rose Hiver, free on Ravelry.
Yarn:  Koigu, a light blue
Needles:  ChiaGoo size one.

 

I knit my flap 2.25 inch and had 17 end stitches. After picking up the 17 gusset stitches plus the additional two that are knitted together, I had a total of 59 stitches before doing the math for the clever ribbed gusset.  

There was some stash enhancement, but everyone knows sock yarn doesn't count, so I have no guilt and did not hold back.  

The first shop I visited was Bad Woman Yarns in Wallingford.  Free parking!  Yay!  They had a nice selection of Skacel yarns and others. I went for the good stuff.  

Barely seen in the photo is the Madeleine Tosh Sock in Tart.  It was love at first sight.  The second has sparkles and is 88% rayon but sparkles:)  Rayon Metallic by Blue Heron. 

The second yarn shop I visited was Pinchknitter Yarns in Stanwood, Washington.  Sirkku Bingham – Owner and operator, was very friendly and helpful.  I actually went twice since the Katniss sock required stitch markers and I did not bring any with me.  She had some neat HiyaHiya ones that work like safety pins.  They will work for crochet as well.  There were some wonderful samples in the shop.  I got the yarn to make the hexagon sock from Think Outside the Sox. 

Best Foot Forward, by Nashua Handknit will make wild and crazy sox!  When I went back there were some ladies gathered knitting.  Such a warm, bright place.  I loved it!

I'm thinking of Wave, by Skein Designs, for the sparkly stuff and Paraphernalia, by Taina Anttila

for the Tart.  

I stayed a few days with my snowbird friend and family on Camano Island.  Her Halloween/Fall decorations inspired me to come home and make a couple of pillow cases.  Well it started off with table runner, then Halloween dog kerchiefs and then pillow cases.  The pillow cases are a little habit forming to make!

I made mine 24 inches long since my pillows are a little short.