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Showing posts from November, 2005

Malabrigo Mitten Mishap

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Unbeknownst to us, the lightbulb was burning through the lampshade while we photographed indoors. I was trying to get the cable cuff to show up better, and tipped the lampshade to allow for more light... thankfully it was a slow melt and not an incineration. Nonetheless, it panicked me after we noticed it ....about an hour later. Anyhow, do you like the cabled cuff on the mitten? Al made it up. Christmas gift for her high school counselor who helped co-ordinate her early graduation. Al assured me the woman deserves a good something after seeing her through this. Here are some lesser known knit blogs that I enjoy: Chappy's Mom Fuzzy Noodle Knits Major Knitter Quiet life Knitting Nurse Naive knitting More photos later......I think the message is to stick with the outdoor photography.....windchill or no windchill! Beats burnin down the house!

All Snuggled in their Beds

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The babies at the INFANT SPECIAL CARE UNIT at Evanston Northwestern Hospital will be snuggling under these donated blankets soon. Thanks to all the anonymous knitters who have generously used their knitting time and talents so that the Intensive care unit is a bit cheerier for all. As nurses, we love the warmth of a handmade blanket amid the electronics of it all. Thanks to 3 Bags Full Knitting in Northbrook for starting the drive. The blankets are as sweet as the babes.

Is it a wreath? No Its a Flower Hat start

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Remember the Flower Hat in last year's WINTER Interweave? Al and I both loved it. Well, apparently work bribes are effective......... Al's yarn shop boss is offering Starbucks incentives for employees who will knit store samples. As if Al doesnt have enough going on right now, she's been lured. It is made from a Rowan Yorkshire something. What would you work extra for?

Leftovers

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I have leftovers. Yarn that is. I made these socks for my sister last year. This was an occasion where I stepped outside my comfort colors because I was bored. I was really happy with colorway knitted up. So, I'd like to make a little something with this leftover yarn.....but what? Hmmmmmmm.

Turkeys Talking Necks

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"I don't know, I think she looks better in a V-neck....." A little Turkey humor. So let's talk necks. I do love a v-neck. I have yet to attempt one. I also love turtle necks and a drapey soft U shape that actually doesn't do anything but show neck. Since I am committed to knitting a sweater in the round again soon, I think I am going to have to take a class at 3 Bags Full or Mosaic to come up with such a pattern. Pat K. thanks for visiting. I love the knitpicks yarn and it came to my house so fast! Thanks to all who visit and all who leave comments. I'll continue to stick my neck out blogging in part because of YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Goldens

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Knitpicks oatmeal Elegance and Huck golden retriever model. The yarn is for scarfSTYLES Here and There Cables For my Mother's Christmas gift. Total cost 30.05. I have a feeling this is going to take me until Christmas Eve. :) The gift of this gift is that I have found a perfect yarn for a sweater for ME that won't show dog hair. Ahhh serendipity, I'm thankful for you. What's with the doublespace look today, you may be asking? Well, I'm having some vision issues again, and I wondered if this is a more reader friendly presentation for you? Do you like it? Let me know. I have also reached another milestone: I checked a LARGE print book out of my library the other day. This was done accidentally, but I am liking the easy on the eyes effect it has on me. I hope this post is easy on your eyes!

good grief

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The baby blanket is done!

Hummer the dog

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Hummer is my friend Susan's new rescue. If you are in the Chicago area you likely heard of the 60some chihuahuas rescued from one home in Palatine in August. Hummer is one lucky girl to have Susan now. Susan is starting hew own blog. She is a wealth of knowledge regarding cars and the auto industry. Her new blog autosmartsforwomen.blogspot.com just opened up. She is happy to answer any questions you have about cars etc. She has written for WomenwithWheels.com for years. I've never made a dogsweater, but I may just have to make one for Hummer. What's the easiest dog sweater pattern out there? Anyone?

Inside photos

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Sorry, the weather just would not cooperate with an outdoor picture for today's post. This is Knitting Pure and Simple baby tunic 211. It will have a hood and sleeves. Al is knitting it in Plymouth yarns Fantasy Naturale 100% cotton. I think the bottom line is going to run about 30.00. If you are tempted to knit in the round, I have found Diane's patterns at Knittingpureandsimple.com to be reliable and easily followed. I have had a stretch off of work and have been knitting holiday gifts. I have yet to start my mom's cable scarf. I have never made anything for her since taking up my knitting again. I want it to be wonderful for her. She suffers from dystonia, and my wish is that the scarf will quell her neck tremors, if only for a bit.....if not, then I know she will bravely go out with an Irish scarf around her and face another day with this affliction, beautifully.

Harpnuts

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For those of you who read irisheyesknitters, the shower was fun. Al's sweater was unquestionably the most adored gift. No other knitted or chrocheted gifts were given. Quite a few of the soft blankets that you tie little knots all over the edges, were given. We played some games; I love shower games. I know this is a sign of getting old, but hey I won! I have figured out the source of some weird head pain and am no longer thinking I need an MRI. I admittedly, was off to the races after a few days of this odd pain. Anyhow, the size one double points used for these fingerless gloves require that I wear my bifocals regularly. Its just an eye strain thing. My mother may have been right about turning on some lights when doing such things, altho I didn't go blind mom. Its just that I was at a harmonica concert saturday night and the lighting was suboptimal,( sorry I had to, ......) well dark to be exact, and I kept knitting away on the fingerless. The woman sitting next to

Rock a Bye buttons

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See? The buttons are on. Plenty of time. Shower is about 15 hours from now. :) Deb, my sister, gave us a button lesson today. Something about a shank and a toothpick and a counterclockwise wind. I think I've got it. It was a lesson, however, during my normal nap time, otherwise I would have taken photos and given a tutorial. So the shower is tomorrow, and I wish I could knit during the event. Isn't that awful? It would blow my cover as a functional knit-a-holic. This is Susie's term at 3 Bags Full for those of us whose families know how bad its gotten, but to the rest of society we function pretty normally. I hope there are other handknitted/crocheted gifts. I will bring my camera along. You can never had too much blogging material. I do try to keep both writer and reader amused.

33 degrees

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It is 33 degrees out this morning.....I apologize for the flash photography post. I so love available light. Whenever possible I post with natural light photos and I prefer an outdoor backround. The reality is....its november in chicago. Realized, after catching up on sleep, that I can give the boring baby blanket to little Ryan after he is born. This freed me up to be inspired yesterday reading another blog, sorry don't recall which one, and cast on. This is stash yarn fingerless glove number one. I am having fun again.....:) The buttons are not on the baby sweater.....the shower is in about 48 hours...

Al's koigu shawl

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Al made this shawl a year or so ago. There is one little part at the top that curls a certain little way that makes her not love it. I love it. My friend Diane was making the same shawl for her daughter at the same time. She made it in a red/rust shade and it too was beautiful. I am bored bored bored with the baby blanket again. This time a simple rectangle shape with the same yarn. When I am knitting it, my mind wanders to socks, and sweaters....Im tired of stash knitting. Are you bored bored bored too now? Yawn. Its too early....

On Al's needles

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Al found this pattern in a scarf book. That's all I know. It is being knitted as a gift for my sister, Deb for Christmas. She's the Irish one without the Hungarian bags under her eyes and tree trunks for calves. As a matter of fact, she just returned from Ireland, North and South, yesterday. I must say the Christmas knitting is easier when : 1) Your daughter works at favorite LYS 2) She calls from work and says, "Mom, I found some yarn I love. What can I knit for someone for you for Christmas with a guage of 4sts/inch?" 3) You supply the funds. 4) She knits it up beautifully. I am a lucky one, I am. Must be the luck of the Hungarian?

Talk to Mr. Ed

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Go right to the source, and ask the horse, .... 1. The question I raised regarding the bottom line on Al's Noro Silk sweater from Last Minute book, has an answer. Over a hundred dollars for that baby. It really looks flawless. Priceless. 2. Jen at Wordsnwitnwool asks where the new icecream store is located? Well, just a long walk from my house! It is a DAD'S Ice cream store in Glenview. Looks like they have a pumpkin pie flavor....hmmmmmm. 3. I havent been Tagged but I'll give my two cents on the favorite yarn question going around blogland: For now I'll say Australian Merino. 4. Finally, the question of what did you actually do with the extra hour of sleep this week? I worked on a Christmas gift afterall. I finished another shawlette, but used the old ONline bluejean blue that was originally in the Pemberley Shawl I frogged. The drape came out as I had hoped, even more beautiful than with Collinette. I am so happy when things turn out well knitwise.

Knitting Ancestors Happy Day of the Dead

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I love All Souls Day or Dia de Muertes. It is my son's birthday and I feel he is especially connected to his roots. Old Generational family stories fascinate him. Anyhow, this photo is of my Hungarian great-grandparents, my grandfather and my great uncle. The knitter, or one of them for sure, was my Great Grandfather. A long passed on family story is of his death. He died in a rocking chair with his knitting needles in his hands at 104 years of age. I knew that before I became a knittaholic. My Uncle Joe is on the far right. He was a basket weaver. He, as you can easily see, had hydrocephalus, or Water on the Brain as our relatives say. My great grandmother attributed this condition to her being kicked by a cow during her pregnancy....He lived to his 50's and was well loved by the whole family. And just because there aren't enough sweets in the house right now, I had to buy some sugar skulls at a great Mexican Store in DesPlaines. It is a few blocks away from

Al's NoroSilk Sweater

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Modeled by my Sis-In-Law Barb, because she's a sport and doesnt mind her picture taken. Al liked this sweater. She had some issues with the neckline and adjusted it, but overall a good sweater knitting time. Colors are great, I think. Hopefully Al will wear it soon. I have to get the bottom line cost on this from her later so as to live by my own rules........so consider this an incomplete post...:)