Wishful Knitting

Pussycat Hats- lots of them I made several of these last year for marchers and then gave them all away.  To remedy the situation while enduring a cold spell, I have been knitting like crazy.  After making socks for so long, these are flying off the needles.  The original pattern is from Ravelry which has you knit flat and then seam: https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/pussyhat-project This pattern is more what I followed: https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/pussyhat-4-gauges-in-the-round Here's what I did exactly: Using Malabrigo worsted (soft like buttah), I cast on 100 stitches onto size 6 needles.  Using the magic loop, I knit 4 inches of 2 X 2 ribbing. That gives a brim that can be folded for extra warmth.   After that, I switch to size 8 needles and continue in stockinette for six inches- total of ten inches.  Then I turn the hat inside out and use a three needle bind off.  Easy peasy.  The gauge is 20 stitches t...

Bonjour- J'espère que vous allez bien! I figured out comment revenir dans ce blog. Nous faisons bien . Les filles grandir de plus en plus et elles sont heureuse . Ma mère et Don et Donna sont tous bien aussi . Les filles sont occupé avec l'école et le sport. Haley a joué au volley-ball et elles ont tous deux prenaient des cours de danse . La vie devien calmé un peu récemment, Ce qui est agréable . Nous avons juste eu Halloween- je dois essayer de poster quelques photos . Nous sommes allés au mariage thème de l'Halloween ! C'était très amusant. Tu me manque!

We went to a "chalk festival"- which was really all about sidewalk art!  There were 3 master artists and the rest of us.  It was wonderful.  You walk through the town and admire the art.  Then you can go to a station and get free chalk and a number and find your own sqaure to decorate!  It was such a unique and interesting event. One of the master artists. One of the new talents : ) Another up and coming artist!

Seems a lot has changed with Blogger in the last couple of years!  We shall see how this goes.  To say that I don't have time to blog would be an understatement, yet here I am.  As a personal goal, I am going to try and spend more time doing things I enjoy and less time worrying about my work......we'll see how long that lasts! As a segue into a new post, I am also trying a craft that is new for me....crochet!  Although I have had some fun with it in the form of amigurumi, I haven't ever made a full blown crochet project until now!  Furthermore, I have also deviated from my undying love of natural fibers and sashayed into the realm of cheap acrylic yarns.  To be honest, this started with our recent move- when I rediscovered a blanket that my Grandmother, Stella, made for me when I was a baby.  Sadly, she passed away, so I never got to know her.  But I have this blanket....and I love it.  It's not the kind of love that knocks you off ...

To say our little knit group was "close knit" is the perfect cliche! When we moved to Italy, I desperately missed having a knitting circle and the weekly meet-ups. I tried for a long time to find other knitters- then I decided to create a few of my own. I started offering knitting classes. It went well, I am proud to say everyone who signed up WAS able to learn to knit. There was a teen-age girl, however, who was very resistant. At some point during this time, I remembered that a woman from my Italian language class had mentioned that she liked to knit. Then I met my dear friend Stacy who had the bug to learn how to knit. So there! I created my own little group! We were intermittent and not very focused, but boy did we have fun! I really looked forward to our meet ups. Then, like all good things, our friend Janny had to move. We decided to knit blankets- one for each of us. We each chose a color- Janny did all the research and ordering. Then we chose patterns- one horizontal...

When I received this yarn, I wasn't so thrilled with it....I am not sure why. But THEN, I started knitting it up and I love it! This pattern was great for mindless knitting and I really love how it turned out. So, maybe it wasn't really love/hate, but rather less love then more love : ) I-cord bind off was a nice touch. I was worried it would be too tight, but it's not, it might even be a little loose...but not enough to bother me! Picture courtesy of my 6-year old- she's come a long way. Vitatl Stats: Yarn: Socks that Rock Lightwieght Color: Pink Granite Pattern: Anake Mods: none Size: 51” wingspan and 12 1/2” depth more info here: ravelry link

This story on this shawl is long and likely not all that interesting. It all started when I saw the pattern on Ravelry. I had already planned a quick trip to Paris with my Mom and Joceylne, so I was overwhelmed by the magical draw of that city. I decided that not only would I make the shawl, but I would buy the yarn for it in Paris- perfect! Despite the debacle of the 2010 Ravelympics, I joined the KAL. I didn't finish on time, or win any prizes, but I DID meet another, very nice knitter online- my first "virtual" friend : ) She and I shared the ups and downs, okay, mostly downs, of this project. It was awesome to e-mail back and forth about this project. Of course, the pattern was not published in time for our trip...but I purchased what I thought would be the correct yardage in Paris. As it turns out, it was not the correct yardage! I decided to continue this project with yarn from our not-so-local yarn shop here in Italy. I cast on during our cruise and knitted...

This is one of those skeins- the Socks That Rock lightweight. The colors are sweet and very gentle. Here it is modeled by my elder daughter, but the little one has laid claim to it. For whatever reason, she calls it her own. I am almost starting to relax enough about my paranoia of them having things around their neck, that I just might be able to let her wear it once in a while. She can have it, but I prefer her stuffed cat wear it. I love working with this yarn- it's got a great texture! As you can see in this pic, it's too bulky to wear as a neck wrap, but it seems too small to use as a shawl. I wish I would have gotten two skeins for this one. Who knew? And it's all just part of the great experiment to find a little neck wrap that is NOT a dickie! Specs: Yarn: Socks that Rock Lightweight- colorway Goody Goody Pattern: Multnomah Needles: size 6 knitpicks circs P.S. For you there, family member who would like a shawl of some kind- here's what you have to do. Go to th...