Charlotte's Web Shawl

I finished the Charlotte's Web Shawl on Wednesday and blocked it that night. I wore it Thursday and received compliments everywhere I went.



Specs:

Name: Charlotte's Web Shaw1
Yarn: Koigu Painter's Palette Premium Merino (KPPPM) in 5 assorted colors
Needles: 6 US Addi Lace Needle
Started: 3/22/2010 Finished: 4/7/2010

In spite of the horrible chart I enjoyed knitting this shawl. I had to replace the color I chose for the last section and I love it. I'm considering making one of these in a solid color. I also added a border from my Haapsalu Shawl book. Even though I blocked it well it still curls a little at the bottom but it doesn't bother me.

This can be a quick project if you pick all of the right colors the first time. I would have finished it much earlier if this little faux pas hadn't occurred.

I finally got pictures of my oldest brother Billy wearing his Mars Hat & Scarf. We couldn't set up nice winter looking shot since he'd just got back from Spring Break vacation.




Specs:
Pattern: Mars Hat & Scarf by Veronik Avery available on Twist Collective.
Yarn: Berroco Ultra Alpaca Stone Washed
Needles: 3 US addi Turbo
For: Billy
Hat Started: November 20, 2009 Finished: Neovember 22, 2009
Scarf Started: December 5, 2009 Finished: December 31, 2009

As I said about the first set I knitted this is an excellent pattern. All three of my brothers love them. They are the perfect manly gift. I have one more set to photograph.

Snow Again

Last night we got a light dusting of snow. When I went to bed everything was covered but by the time I got up this morning most of it was gone. It's hard to believe that we got snow twice in the same year! No pictures this time. I've been nursing a case of bronchitis and sinusitis and I'm finally feeling much better.

This past weekend we went to Wadmalaw Island (which is in South Carolina) to celebrate my Aunt Ida Mae's 75th birthday. It was a small family gathering and my aunt was suprised when she found out. We didn't know it was a surprise party until we arrived. She was getting out of the car when we drove up but since her distant vision is gone she couldn't see who we were and thought we were friends of one her grandchildren.


Specs:
Pattern: Anemoon by Zebraknits
Yarn: Brown Sheep Nature Spun Worsted True Blue Navy
Needles: 6,7 US circular needles
Size: One size
Started: 2/12/2010 Finished:2/13/2010

I learned a valuable lesson. If someone pays you to knit something for them be sure to get half of the money up front. The lady who I knitted this for thought I was charging her $15.00 even though she repeatedly asked and I repeatedly told her the price. I was prepared to keep it when my oldest brother's friend saw it and immediately took it off my hands. The color is much deeper and prettier than this picture shows. I have one skein remaining and may have to make one for me.

I finished the Mars Hat and Scarf for my brother Charles but I've yet to take pictures. I'm going to try to get them taken this weekend.

I started another pair of fingerless mitts for my mom. They are the Della Mitts a free Ravelry download. I'm using some of the Colinette Jitterbug mom bought for me when she was in Florida last year. The color is Blue Parrot and they are gorgeous.


My sister requested a hat and even though I said I wouldn't knit anything else for her I did. I used a chart from Beautiful Knitting Patterns to make a hat with a Fair Isle band of leaves.


Specs:
Pattern: Leafy Fair Isle hat based on a chart from Beautiful Knitting Patterns
Yarn: Cascade 220 Wool colors Brown and Natural
Needles: 4 and 6 16-inch circulars and 6 dpn's
Size: S/M

I cast on using the Double-Start Cast on from Folk Knitting in Estonia and worked in corrugated ribbing. The hardest part was the decreases at the top which took me 4 tries to get right. I'm glad the yarn was up to the challenge.

I started this Cotton Kisses baby sweater in June and put it aside when I realized I wasn't going to have enough yarn to finish it. One of my Guild members, Janie, made the other sweater included in the pattern in the smallest size and gave me the rest of the yarn she had last. As soon as it arrived I picked up the stitches and finished the band. I think it is an adorable sweater even if it won't fit Anniyah until later.



Specs:
Pattern: Cotton Kisses Baby Cardigan by Plymouth Yarn
Yarn: Plymouth Yarn Cotton Kisses Green
Needles: 5 and 7 US
Size: 12 months
Started: June 23, 2009 Finished: February 25, 2010

I'm going to have to find a way to blog more often so that I don't have these large updates. The past two weeks I've been glued to the Olympics and there was no way I was going to blog at 1:00 AM. I was too busy trying to make it to bed.

Knit-Inn 2010 Part I

Wow! I didn't realize that it has been over a month since the last post. I had to deal with bad back to back colds and a back injury that kept me sidelined for a week. I'm happy to report that things are finally back to normal.

I attended the SC Knitting Guild's Knit-Inn in Greenville. As usual I had a fabulous time. I got to hang out with my Fort Mill bud Lou and caught up with some other fab knitters that I see once a year. I'm always amazed at how you don't see someone for a year yet when you get together you pick back up right where you left off.

I took three classes this year. Most of the time I wait to late and don't get in many but this year I listened to Deborah and sent my registration in early. I took a modular scarf, an I-cord and a shawl pin class. The instructors in each were fabulous and provided excellent information. I've already received permission from Michele to teach the I-cord class to our guild.

This is the shawl pin I made in class.


She also gave us enough copper to make two more at home.

We had dinner with my youngest brother on Friday and Saturday. Mom didn't take any classes so they went shopping. I delivered his blocked Xmas present and I must say that he looks very handsome in it.


Specs:
Pattern: Mars Hat & Scarf from Twist Collective
Yarn: Berroco Ultra Alpaca
Needles: 4 US straights and dpn's
Size: One size

Moderations: No mods needed. This was an excellent pattern and is perfect for men.
Scarf
Hat

I didn't shop much. I purchased two personalized baskets one for mom and one for me and a book, 101 Designer one-skein wonders. Mom purchased 4 skeins of Karabella Aurora 8. Two in red for her and two in royal blue for me for each of us to make the Garter Stitch Loop-Through scarf. I started mine on Saturday but between talking and watching the Super Bowl and basketball I'm finally almost finished knitting it. I was almost finished yesterday until I tried it on and realized that I needed to add another 2 1/2 to 3 inches to the neck.


That's Part I of the update. More to come tomorrow

Clickety Clack

The knitting needles have been clicking away at Chez Morris. I finished one scarf set and cast on the second scarf.


This is an in progress shot of the first scarf. I need to block everything so I'm saving them for one blocking marathon. I've enjoyed knitting the hats and scarf and didn't find the 286 stitch pick up as tedious as some have indicated. This is truly an inspired design and I've enjoyed the details that went into making the scarf.

To give myself a break I cast on the Caera hat by of Zebraknits of {a-black-pepper}. It is available as Ravelry download.


I'm using Sublime cashmere merino silk DK. It knits beautifully but is already beginning to show some of the tell tale signs of pilling as I knit it. I keep having to dislodge little bits of fluff. I'm at the crown shaping so this will soon be in the FO column.

I thought I'd add another photo of the cactus since I only included close ups in the previous post.


This is always the first bit of holiday cheer that we have in the house. We put up the last Christmas tree yesterday and the in-house decorations. I'm almost finished with the shopping and will soon start wrapping.

I'm looking for a good gingerbread cookie recipe. If you have one please share or direct me to a good one. I plan to make cookies with the boys on the 19th and this will be my first time making gingerbread cookies. I was tempted to purchase a couple of the copper ones at Williams Sonoma but at $8 a pop we're opting for a cheaper version. Thanks in advance.

Countdown

I've been diligently working on the first Mars scarf. The shaping and construction is far from normal and consists of two ribbed panels that are picked up along a central strip. One of the panels is shaped to form a collar that fits snug around the neck. It is this design feature that drew me to the pattern.


The 8-row repeat works up fairly quick but it is still taking a good bit of time to knit the 45+ inch center. I'm hoping that I can get all three completed before Xmas and finish the sweater for mom, although I've already decided that if push comes to shove I'll give them the hats and they'll get the scarves later. I put mom's gift on hold last year and she didn't get it until well after Xmas so it wouldn't be fair to have her wait again.

My favorite plant, the Holiday Cactus, is blooming like crazy this year. We left it outside longer which allowed the plant to set almost 3 times as many buds. I've been practicing using the macro setting on the new camera to capture close shots.





The next thing I'm going to work on is re-organizing the craft room. It is in such disarray that I almost hate to go in there. I have maxed out all of the storage space in the room and with all the additional yarn and book purchases I made this year stuff is everywhere. I'm not into resolutions but I have to make a serious committment to use what I have. Wish me luck!

Leftovers

The first major fall Holiday has passed and it was great! I enjoy spending time with my nieces and nephews since we don't see each other as much as we used to. Several of them are on the way to adulthood and usually have other things to do in their free time.

My youngest brother surprised us on Thursday. His plant was scheduled to work the night shift but at the last minute they cancelled and gave them the day off. That meant that all five of us were together.

Even with the number of people we had for dinner and the take-out plates that were packed, there were plenty of leftovers. I've been plowing my way through them since Friday and Byron, baby bro, took some home with him today. My sister also prepared a package for my niece who's on her way back to Clemson.

I didn't do any Black Friday sales. Never have and probably never will. There's something about getting out in the crowd that doesn't appeal to me. I had already found my best deal prior to that...

A Canon Digital SLR. It's a very early present for my 50th birthday in September next year. I've been reading the operation manual and playing around with it. One of my guild members, Kim, has agreed to give me some lessons.

I reached the halfway mark with the Xmas presents for my brothers. All of the Mars hats are finished and I've started the first scarf. I also completed 3 more bracelets two of which mom has taken on her cruise. She is enjoying wearing them and I can't blame her. They are gorgeous and I'm glad I decided to make them for gifts. These are two of the most recent ones.



This evening I started on the beaded Xmas ornaments. For some reason I didn't make any last year. I usually try to make at least four of them for the color scheme that is used that year.


Christmas Joy


Holiday Greetings

I plan on making a few more for the themed tree and the traditional tree in addition to the ones I plan to make for my brother Charles and his family. I farther ahead than I've ever been in my Xmas knitting so I don't feel the pressure that I have in the past when I've knitted for Xmas. It's going to be a wonderful, thankful, joyous and relaxed holiday season.