Baby Gifts

I have been making baby gifts lately. Seems like everyone is having babies these days. The Fleece blanket and hat is for hubby's boss. I bought a kit 50% off after Christmas and the blanket was way too big for a baby so I cut it down in size and was able to make a matching hat from the extra. I still have more left and hope to make hats for the 2 big sisters as well. The sweater was for a coworker and I used The Einstein Coat pattern. All garter stitch and very easy. The recipient loved it. So much fun to craft for girls. My teenage boys just don't appreciate it. I finished the blouse I had cut out from the last post. As soon as I get pictures downloaded I will show you. I used the JJ blouse pattern from Burdastyle with a few minor changes. This pattern fits me well and I think it is a very flattering shirt for me. Makes me feel good. That's what it's all about, right?!

Another Blizzard???!!!

I don't know how much more winter I can take. I'm getting worried about calling in to work again to say I can't get there. Hubby tried to go to work early this a.m. and ran into a road blocked with a(big) snow drift. A few hours later I drove to the end of the lane, intending to go to work, and could hardly make out the mailbox a few feet away. It was scary enough trying to turn around and drive back down the lane. It's the worst we've had since we moved out here 9 yrs ago. Already called the boss and told her I didn't know when I'd be able to get there. Hope I don't get fired. Aside from being stressed, I almost completed one sock. I searched Ravelry for a crochet pattern and have adjusted numbers as I go along. For some reason crochet is faster than knitting for me and I have been into that lately. I am also in the process of knitting a basic cardigan I found online. I completed the back in just under a week and that is all the farther I have gotten. I used a wool blend that I purchased at Hobbylobby and it washes up nice and soft. It is a soft celery green with small flecks of color. I really like how fast and nice it is knitting up. I believe it is Snowflake, but I am too lazy to get up right now to go get the ball band. I really need to get back at it as it sounds like the temps are back into the teens this next week. Hopefully I will have more progress to show next post. I will send you off with another winter photo. Stay warm and safe.

Happy New Year!

It is still 45 min. to midnight here but I figured I wish everyone a Happy one now. After this post I am off to bed. No exciting party for me. I just realized I have had this blog for over a year now. I posted pretty regular at the beginning and then slacked off quite a bit once the weather got nice. I hope to be better this year. I am getting better about taking pictures and knowing how to download them and get them to where I want without having to ask the boys every time. I just finished knitting a hat for the eldest's girlfriend and hope to get a picture soon. I also crocheted myself a cloche during our stormy Christmas and will post that as well-- before the weekend is over. I find that crochet is still quite a bit faster for me so am on the hunt for some cardigan patterns in crochet. We shall see. I have at least 3 knitting projects on the needles now with a good many in the much wanted cue using some Christmas stash enhancement.. I also have at least 1/2 doz. sewing projects cut out and waiting to be sewn. Now I want to add crochet and I haven't spun since last winter I think. Everyday life just gets in the way of creating. I will leave you with a couple pictures from our Christmas snowfall.

Ready for Christmas?

I don't think I am ready for Christmas. I feel like I have run out of steam and of course I wait too long to start some of my gifts. I freezer paper stenciled some t-shirts for my nephews, but I don't seem to be able to find the pictures on my computer. That's what I get for having the b oys download them for me, you never know where they're at. I also crocheted what I called monster balls for the younger nephews. They were a hit. Just round, soft balls with legs and a face, but the boys loved them. I will post pictures when they are located. I am working on a couple of baby sweaters and I am in the mood to try and crochet some socks. I am so much faster with crochet so maybe I can get a pair completed.

Going digital

Well, we hooked up our digital converter box, which only cost $9.95 after the government rebate. It was the amped up antenna that cost $40 that was the kicker. But, I tell you what, it really makes a difference, even if it looks like something from outer space. http://accessories.us.dell.com/sna/productdetail.aspx?sku=A0642818&cs=19&c=us&l=en&dgc=SS&cid=39715&lid=1003762We get several PBS channels and I'm hoping that one of them will have Knitting Daily TV on other than at 3am. I would really like to catch an episode. Tonight I plied some of the alpaca/silk blend I have been spinning. I love how it turned out. It is so light and soft. I did some research today and found out a little about having a balanced twist. I think I did a better job than the wool I plied this weekend, though I am very happy with it also. I need to get some more so I have enough yardage to actually knit something with it. I should have enough of the alpaca/silk for at least a small wrap. I can't wait. It will probably be warming up before I get it done. I'm not even finished with the first 4 oz. yet. I'm really enjoying spinning it. I promise to get pictures posted as soon as Technoboy helps me with the hard drive.

I know it's been a while again, but like I said, I need my own computer. It's awful trying to share with 3 other people. Hubby has a control issue especially when it comes to the laptop. So, I will finally show you the last 2 hats I made for Christmas presents. The first is a stranded colorwork (my first) Thorpe hat.

The second is the one for Bud's girlfriend. As I posted before there were numerous false starts before the final product. It looks huge, but I tried it on as I went. I'm not sure if she likes it or not but she picked out the pattern.
I think it's pretty cute. She has quite a few hats so I hope it goes into her rotation. I have been working on her sweater but the last couple of nights have been unproductive. I seem to be in a little bit of a slump. I think it is my winter depression. I need some sun and outside time. It happens every year about this time and I feel like winter started early and it is lasting forever. I shouldn't live in the midwest, but here is home. I'll make it. I always do. I did do some sewing the last 2 days. I made Hathead's pajama pants and have Technoboy's second pair cut out and ready to sew. I also purchased some linen type fabric with a larger floral pattern on it for $1.29 a yard. I spent time the other night going through my patterns and chose a nice 3/4 sleeve jacket to make from it. I hope to have that done before a surprise birthday party for a good friend in a week. It will have to wait until after the weekend because I have to work again. Speaking of, it is time to leave . Have a good day.

Survival

I feel like I could use a few days to recover from the holiday. There just seems to be so much to do when we get together with my family and the time is so short. We like to play games, video and card as well as other games. It can get pretty loud and crazy at times depending on which game is on the table. Always lots of fun and an abundance of food. My SIL likes to bake so there was a wide variety of goodies including fudge, pie and a variety of cookies. I think I will wait to step on the scale for a week or so. The handmade gifts were well received. I was a little worried. My MIL liked her shawl made out of Malabrigo. This was the first time I used this yarn and now I know of which the resst of you speak. I hope I can afford to make a sweater out of it sometime in the near future. Unfortunately, I forgot to get a picture of it. I did get a picture of the hats I made for my nephews and brother.

I have one more to make and that is the 2 colorwork pattern which is a first for me. It is coming along quite well. I am a little proud of myself. Next up, I will try to tackle cables. I made the mistake of letting Bud's girlfriend go through my patterns and pick out a sweater she would like. She picked a zip-front cardigan with cables. It is probably the most difficult pattern I own. It is very cute, but I hope I can accomplish it. Of course, she also picked to have me do it in black. UHGGGG! Nothing like a challenge right?! I guess I won't be done with Christmas presents for a while yet. Well, I better get back to knitting. I'll post more Christmas pictures next time.

Winter

This is what it looked like at my house yesterday. Other than it being freezing cold and blowing like a banshee, the snow that was falling was beautiful. The flakes were so fluffy and HUGE. I don't mind the snow, it's just the cold and the wind that makes it miserable. Today is above zero with much less wind, but I think tomorrow is supposed to snow again and the temperature will drop.

As far as knitting goes, I just finished a scarf for a friend for Christmas. It is the Chevron Scarf from Scarf Style. They have some really cute accessories in this book. I recommend checking it out.

I hope you can see the stitch definition. It is hard to capture black yarn accurately. I wanted to use a really nice yarn, but the budget didn't allow so I found a nice acrylic, yes I used acrylic, called Love This Yarn. It was less than $3.00 and comes 355yds to a skein so it took just one skein for a decent length scarf. She is a shorter gal so I think this will be just right. I have been trying to make as many gifts as possible for this Christmas. It has added a little stress, but I have to finish knitting one hat and add some fleece to the inside. I will hopefully have a picture of my 3 nephews in their Thorpe hats at Christmas. My oldest- he'll be known as Bud- said that they needed a tassle on top, so I will be adding that, hopefully, this weekend along with their linings. I hope I get everything done and wrapped in time. I do need to knit one more, the patterned one, but that one doesn't have to be done until after Christmas. I wish I had more time. Don't we all.

Good luck getting all your presents done in time for the holidays.