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I just got up from night shift and I can't make the pattern rotate...please turn your head about so you can see the pattern right side up! Well, here we are with the first box back from the Take and Replace Swap. Let me say, none of you know your math......there are so many items in the box it is unbelievable. There are 17 skeins of yarn alone... Remember, you take One thing out, you put one thing back.....oh my gosh....I know for a fact each box began with 10 items.....no matter The generosity of knitters is something really amazing. I have to say I worried about the boxes the whole way through the swap. I wanted each and everyone in the swap to have so much fun with it. I think we succeeded ladies! I will be showing more of the box contents, but today we'll start with the sweater pattern that I plan to knit!!! Who put it in there??? WHo WHO? The big needles are JUST what I have been hankering for. I need to knit my sister's blanket soon and the Bates ci...

Here are Marguerite's wonderful Red Team Picks. Love that yarn. I also laugh myself silly with that Yarn Harlot book .....and we have a winner The Green Team box arrived at my house this afternoon, Saturday. Everyone has been so great about this swap. 2 boxes, 17 states and 21 knitters. I am eagerly awaiting the red team box coming home too. Im making myself wait to open the box.......no time before I head to work now.... HAPPY HAPPY knitting to everyone who played! I'll pick a winner from the Green team on Monday when I wake up ......keep your knit fingers crossed for yourselves! as always going on and on kathy b

What a haul. Ann took out 10 items......I am delighted you all found things to love in the box when it arrived to each of you. Marguerite don't despair......the race is very close. You never know which box will arrive first..... Go teams Go! Did anyone else read in Knitters Review how to come up with a needles size for your yarn if you dont have any information? THis was new to me: You double the yarn and pull it through the sizing loops until you find a not too tight not too lose fit...that's your needle size to start with......great tip I thought. Have a wonderful safe weekend

See the frog that is on the Cheezit box? Katy send him to me with the big old pink circular needles I wished for on a recent post. I have never gotten a box without it being wrapped in brown paper. I have heard of mail art. I think this qualifies. If you find a Girl Scout cookie box in the mail and its from me, rest assured there are no thin mints left inside. I think this is such hoot or a ribbit I guess. The frog has a little light and croaks. Radar loved the light. Thanks Katy you are so sweet. In the spirit of amphibiens, I frogged a sock that I found in my closet last week. I tried to finish it, and had only the little bit of the first skein left when I hemmed and hawwed. Then I just ripped or ribbitted it out! Sometimes a good froggin clears your head.... I want to give a shout out to Lynne from Knit Together in My Mother's Womb fame. She now has an etsy site and I've become a buyer! Minne&Amos is her etsy site. Take a look. BUt the cutest lined lunch ...

I knitted myself a pair of mittens. I have to say that I prefer this Dances with Wools mitten pattern because you knit the mittens on two needles, flat. Since seams are forgiven with felting, I wanted to try this method. I tend to fight with the thumb stitches on double points, so this method left me very relaxed. I washed them twice in hot water, with my front loading washing machine, and Tide. Oh, and the yarn was Nashua, again. I love how it is spun and how it felts. Grace tagged me for 7 things you don't know about me: could there really be 7 things, the way I blab on and on here at irisheyes? Let's see: 1)I do not like puddings. The texture gets to me. 2) I am always early if not exactly on time. 3) I never wear a watch;I can usually guess the time anyhow within 10 minutes 4) I've pretty much quit working out/walking since my dog Huck died, and my rescue failed 5) I love to swim but not enough to make me join a pool 6) I love when the cats come to s...

and so it arrived in the mail...on a snow day where the Snow maker gave us just enough to brighten the Feburary look about our town I opened this flattish manilla envelope...tsking Grace, she just shouldnt have, tsk, tsk, tsk, no matter what was in the envelope.... and then I unwrapped the tissue with her green words hinting .....a little something for you... and there it was a green cabled hat. So soft ....and so green i now know I cannot hate March ever again. i put it on my head and it like the magic hat of a snowman before me, made me do a happy dance. I know it wont be coming off my head all day, the old house is chilly even with the goodenss of radiant heat. and I will oh i will glance at myself in the mirror, more than once, and I will smile a silly wonderful smile given me this day by Grace

Here are Cheryl's Takes. The red team box is on its way to Marguerite. THe green team box was last heard from at Ann's. I do wonder which team is going to win at this point. I love the yarns Cheryl TOOK. Marguerite....I know you are the very last knitter to get a box, and You've been patient! Ann, I cannot wait to show the Red team your Takes. Here's to the Finish line.....should I put out a big ribbon for the mailman to run through? I WOULD LOVE YOU TO LEAVE A COMMENT>

*Do you take pictures of pictures.....I do. This is a picture of a picture that my baby sister sent me of her youngest....a while back. The BABY as I still refer to her despite Fireman's protests , is now 5... *I am smitten with a mitten.... pattern that is. These are going to be felted...for me! *The Framboise is something you add to champagne.....for a delish twist *The Take and Replace Swap is winding down...or up if you ask me! The boxes are at or headed to their last stops before returning home to me. Race race....green or red who will win???? *Knitted to a movie Jane Gooddall 's When Animals Talk, We Should Listen fascinating.... or... what in the world have my cats been trying to tell me??? I WOULD LOVE YOU TO LEAVE A COMMENT>

The Cubs have this little gut wrenching slogan this spring: The calendar say 11 but we are stuck on 10. For those of you who don't get it, it means the year is 2011 be we are stuck on number 10 , Ron Santo. Sweet huh? So we can have a few more heart pangs....I guess .. Aren't we sad enough? No major League Stitch N Pitch planned for the Cubs again this year.......bummer. But if you are in Daytona on April 23rd you can Stitch n Pitch at the Daytona Cubs minor league game.... I may have to go to Milwaukee for the Brewer's Stitch n Pitch game on June 21st........ so I'm hungry for baseball......and it is only February! Until April I will have to keep knitting to Blackhawk's hockey games....and an occasional Bull's game..... Are you a sports knitter? I WOULD LOVE YOU TO LEAVE A COMMENT>

My Seaman's scarf is finished. I am improving a bit as a knitter, I think, because I am blending patterns to my liking. I am not writing patterns, for certain, but my confidence must be improving. I just knitted a faux cable for the bulk of the scarf, and knitted a typical rib for the neck area. While I love how it came out, it cannot be for me. My hives are also improving...and although I soaked the scarf in conditioner, it is still too wooly for this skin sensitive knit blogger to wear.... Things are improving for the shelter cats at Heartland Animal Shelter in Northbrook. Here is an adoptable tortishell kitten, enjoying a blanket knit up by Molly from Three Bags Full , once removed...(her mom Adrianne works there!) I have found more blankets in my mailbox. Dorothy M and Linda C. I thank you so much. You are both entered in the raffle for the Moosemanor handpaints yarn in a custom color of your choice. Get those kitty blankets in to me by 2/28 and you can be in the raff...

This is Leona. We met today in a waiting room. She is knitting for Marjorie, a relative with ovarian cancer. I told her I'd ask for prayers for her Marjorie. She was so thankful I know where to get prayers. She was knitting with pink, plastic circulars She said she's had them for ages I want those needles anyone??? Do you know where to get those pink plastic circulars?

The two Take and Replace boxes are nearly neck and neck. Green team is a tad ahead. Remember the first team to get their box back to me, will get to be in the raffle for a fun prize..... Lesley's takes are here and on her blog too. Love the yarn, the sock pattern. I put the crochet hook pad in there way back when! WHo put in that lovely yarn? Get ready Cheryl, Lesley has already mailed the box on its way to you.

You cannot be a cowardly lion to live in Chicago in winter. This image was shot midday today in Oz park in Lincoln park. No editing was done to the color. That is the color outside our windows these days.......no wonder I had to eat a ham and butter sandwich on sourdough at the Bpig Cafe for lunch. It was, quite possibly, the best sandwich I have ever eaten. Grace when you come to Chicago we have to go there.......they have an entire wall of loose tea jars to pick from. Perhaps the lack of color in our world made this granny square sweater catch my eye. It it a Territory Ahead sweater. Would I wear it? Well, I don't know.....would you?

Happy Valentines Day. I love this Less than 3 Bag by erin knits. I must go over and buy the pattern. She promises it is easy with no sewing. My kind of pattern! Here are some good thoughts for all of you on this day of love: Studies we want to put stock in: Coffee: Research say coffee provides more antioxidants that any other food or beverage in the American diet. Studies suggest it can lower the risk for type 2 diabetes, dementia, heart disease and prostate cancer. I'm drinking Caribou daybreak right now ...... Chocolate: Studies show eating chocolate, primarily dark chocolate, aids digestion after a meal. It is a potent antioxidant. I love non nonpareils. Red Wine: darn....I prefer white. But reds in moderation can reduce cholesterol, forming blood clots and the risk of kidney stones. I do like a nice Beaujolais. Tea: reduces risk of heart disease, help maintain blood glucose levels and improves insulin sensitivity. I like Passion Tea over ice, from Starbu...

I have racked my Hungarian brain. This Irish seaweed FUCUS skin bath treatment...... is the culprit. I am nearly certain it caused my hives.....This Hungarian should know better...

This is Dorothy's Haul from the Green team. I guess there is a spinner in the making. HOW FUN. Ann, get ready you are next in line on the Green team! Then.....dare I say it, the box comes back home to ME! I am very excited about both boxes finding their way back home to me! I want to give a shout out to aemmeleia.wordpress.com blog. (Of Autumn Tea Cozy pattern Fame) She is giving away some nice books and only 2 of us have entered the raffle. Get over there and let her know which book you'd like. I have been getting very very sleepy......due to antihistamines in spades this weekend. I have managed to watch Grays anatomy on hulu. I think i want Meredith's bangs. Mine are too short and sparse. If I can manage to stay awake for the Grammy's I will watch them. Will you?

This is the start of my knitted vest. Karen of Knittraps.blogspot.com is writing the pattern for me. Oh big needles, I heart you..... This amazing painting was created by my friend Larry. He is Vietnam Vet who paints for his ongoing struggles for peace of mind. I heart Larry. He is a hero to me. I heart heart heart this painting of the wolves..... I heart these darn candies. I cannot stop eating them. They don't all taste the same to me either. I heart the oranges, purples and whites the most. Some other things I heart: I heart wine tastings....... I heart you all who are in the Take and Replace Swap....I am so happy it is moving along well I heart all of your knit blogs. I really try to read them all and leave you comments. I heart vacation days.....today is one for me! I heart benadryl.....I'm someone who is a big reactor......I mean skin wise you sillies....I react to bug bites like they are all from brown recluse spiders...I react to some medicines...I...

Go Green Team! Karen H says her son insisted she take the Valentine socks. Well, good. I put them in the start box!!! Happy Feet yarn looks wonderful. I know that Major Knitter made the scrabble stitch markers. ON to DOROTHY. Get ready!

Emily of Yarn Miracle and her daughter Ellie played Take and Replace yesterday . Look at their picks!!! That is some wonderful sock yarn. I love the vase that Ellie picked. The only thing I put into her takes was the Sock pattern. So glad someone wants to knit it up. The bookmarks and notecards are so darling....Get ready Lesley.....the box is on its way to you!

Nancy had fun with the box. I Love the NORO she took. She also Took Major Jen's gorgeous cards, some red yarn that looks fun and teas.........I wish you would say what you put in, after it gets chosen, dear readers and if you are enjoying seeing your replaces get taken!!! Thawing out from ice fishing with Fireman yesterday. The temp was 4 degrees when we started and 7 when we finished. Brrrrrrrrr. Even the warmed shanties were hard to keep warm. Memorable...you bet!!!!!

Nancy from Wyoming played Take and Replace........she's mailing the box out to the green team's Karen today! I'll show you Nancy's takes tomorrow. The bunny and the yarn are not part of the game....just there for eye candy today! The knitted bunny handmade is another Fadeeva........so soft...... The other image is the Moosemanor Handpaint in Deep Blue Sea. I know I have blogged about it already, but this picture shows the true colors! I am thinking of knitting a Stephen West shawl with the yarn. It has over 400 yards to it, and did I already mention how wonderful Betty was? A true pleasure to deal with. . I had the yarn in no time. I didnt' sleep walk or sleep knit last night......I can tell by where I left off in my knitting......Did you?

1 ) The year of the Rabbit is traditionally associated with home and family, artistic pursuits, diplomacy, and keeping the peace. Therefore, 2011 is very likely to be a relatively calmer one than 2010 both on the world scene, as well as on a personal level. The above year of the Rabbit information was really wonderful to read......the year is associated with artistic pursuits. That's US!! Here's to knitting while we are diplomatic and keepin' world peace.. 2) I've always wubbed the wabbit....... 3) Did anyone else notice the crocheted blanket in the SNL opening skit with Wayne's World last Saturday night? I had to hulu it. 4) The denim silk yarns in the image above are waiting to be a summer FO. I have a longish open vest in mind.......have you knitted with this yarn? 5) Finally, there was a story in the news yesterday about sleepwalking. SOMEONE in our home sleepwalks. As aggravating as it is to protect their identity, I will complete the pos...

My neighbors made me a snow lady! Isn't she cute? The blizzard was not really made of snowman snow. Very few snowmen if any are gracing the area. The only reason my snowlady came to be, was during a bit of a warmer spell Saturday when the snow had a bit of melt to it. Here is my other snow lady. Al in her FARGO hat. Aint she cute too? Al is going to knit me some tiger's eye socks. Yippee. I love that pattern and there is no way I can knit them. I asked her nicely if she would, even if it took her to Christmas. She said, "Sure, I can knit those." Gosh I wish I had her knit confidence! She is going to use a navy sock yarn with little to no shading so the pattern will really pop. Happy Monday to all SNOW ladies out there! I WOULD LOVE YOU TO LEAVE A COMMENT>

The Red Team is now tied with the Green Team. Sarah's picks are shown in this post. I love the Socks That Rocks skein she TOOK. It is very fun for me to see how the contents have changed so much since I sent the original boxes out. Get ready EMILY ........the box is on its way to ALABAMA now. I saw both of these car plates this week and loved them. Have you seen a plate you liked or thought was clever this week? This Chicago fan is rooting for the PACKERS tomorrow. (While I work of course.!!!) Have you seen the KNITCIRCUS spring edition that just came out.? Hooray for BIANCE Boonstra of Lansingerland blog fame. Her FIREY lace shawl is on the COVER. Biance you ROCK. We are so proud to know you! Finally, I am casting on today. Karen of Knittraps.blogspot.com is writing a vest pattern for me and she is writing out the reverse shaping word for word, row for row. THANKS Karen, here's to me finally learning reverse shaping this year......

ANIMAL PEOPLE ARE SO GREAT. Betty from Moosemanor Handpaints on etsy says: I would love to donate a gift certificate for either a skein of my Superwash Sock yarn or Woodlands Worsted (200+ yards, not superwash but great for a one skein project). The winner can pick the color from among my colorways and I’ll custom dye it for them. Is that OK with you? IS that okay Betty? Is that OKAY? YOU ARE The BEST BETTY! So it is official. Yarn from Moosemanor handpaints CUSTOM dyed no less, is up for raffle prize to all of you who send me a kitty acrylic knit blanket by 2/28! and p.s. The red team and the green team are tied right now .......Sara from the Red team has sent the box to you next Emily....... won't you leave a comment please?

1. If there is snow in your grocery cart it must mean: a)you should buy champagne to keep cold in the cart b) there is so much snow outside they had to put it in carts to clear the parking lot c)you are seeing things, and should not shop right now 2. There is only one week left until: a)Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show b)Kathy b goes ice fishing with fireman c)my very first colonoscopy 3)The gorgeous skein of yarn shown a) is a MooseManor handpaint of Betty's b)belongs to me now c)is on its way to my house in the mail d)all of the above 4)Major Jennifer's Takes from the Green team will involve: a)another wonderful Wallaby in cotton yellow b)teaching someone new to knit with cute plastic needles c)replacing with wonders for Nancy to choose from in WY next d)all of the above 5)The prize for the charity cat knits drive should be: a) Sock yarn b) a knitting book c) paprika d) a gift certificate to MooseManor handpaints 6)The first appliance to bother...

During the blizzard of 2011, Radar and I were busy. I was busy knitting a soft blanket to give to the Heartland Animal Shelter for a cat who is caged and awaiting a forever home. Radar was a good sport as poster kitty for the campaign. All of my cats are from shelters. They are such sweet loving animals. We are so lucky to have Fiona, Radar and Rosalyn. If you knit or crochet a small (12 inch by 11 inch or so) blanket in acrylic for the shelter, and send it to me in the mail, I will enter your name in a contest. The prize will be wonderful. I am working on the prize...... Email me at harpnut@gmail.com if you need my address. You must have the blankets to me by 2/28 to enter the contest for the prize. Now, I want your thoughts. What is a good prize? Suggest anything...I'm open to having a really successful campaign for shelter blankets. THANKS! I talk more in the comments!

BE LIKE MARGIE......WEAR A SWEATER TO BED TONIGHT! I talk more in the comments!

Here is my Seaman's scarf about half way done. I am using Weaver's Wool Quarters, from Mountain Colors in : silverbow. I am using a faux cable pattern for the body. The neck is a simple 2x2 rib. I love how the faux cable is breaking up any pooling. (Sorry dear Katherine, not all pooling do I like.....) The pastels are nice on this wintry day. Here are a few other warm thoughts for you on this Chicago Blizzrd warning day: If you want to watch a hummingbird father taking great care of his chicks, go to phoebeallens.com. A live webcam shows this ruby throated hummer raising the little tiny birds. It is Febrauary 1st already. What with all the blizzard hoopla, when I heard the air raid sirens go off this morning, I'd forgotten it was the first tuesday of the month and wondered, for a nanosecond, if we were having a tornado with the blizzard! How did you like that run on sentence? I bought some stemless wine glasses last week. Here's to my breaking fewe...