Happy Thanksgiving 2010

On October 1st I came across this post on Grumperina's knitblog. I was immediately captivated by the design and waited patiently for her to finish and release the pattern. I purchased it as soon as it became available. I tried hard to be good and not cast on but temptation got the best of me.

The pattern is Volna. It is for 3 different size scarves and is available as a Raverly download. She used 3 different types of Noro for each scarf. That was my original plan but when I went to get it out of the sock yarn basket I saw this skein of Wisdom Yarns Poems Sock and the deal was sealed.


The color is cruise and I love the rainbow effect. We bought two skeins of this brand during one of our beach trips. This is the skein mom picked out. I started yesterday and quickly learned that I need to regularly check my stitch count. Because of all of the short-rows and shaping it isn't a mindless knit but neither is it all that hard. I created a spreadsheet to help track where I am and to keep count of the repeats. I've already decided that this is a repeater and I will be making one of these for myself.

I've pretty much decided that I will not be doing any Christmas knitting. I'm going to make some jewelry items for the ladies, purchase gift cards for some of the nephews and try to figure out what to get for my brothers.

I'm ready for the Thanksgiving weekend. For the first time since I was a teenager we are not having dinner with family. Mother and I are joining my brother's friend and her family for dinner. It is such a relief not to have to worry about preparing the meal. The past few years we have had dinner at our house and the responsibility fell on me and my mother but mostly me. This year all I have to do is make a Turtle Cheesecake and relax.

I hope you all have a safe and wonderful Thanksgiving. God has blessed me this year with so many things to be thankful for that it is a truly special Thanksgiving season.

Morlynn Shawl

I've been working on a special gift. A gift from the heart and soul.

When Mrs. Edmonds passed I wondered what I could do for Sesame in the days, months and years to come. I can't imagine how it is to loose one's mother. My mother is not only my mother she is my best friend, confident, cheerleader, inspiration and I could go on and on. I wanted to do something that would give her comfort so I knitted her a prayer shawl. We she wears this she will be covered in not just the prayers from me but also those of my mother.




Specs:
Pattern: Morlynn Shawl / Tuch by Alexandra Wiedmayer
Yarn: Miss Babs Yummy Sock & Baby Handpainted Journey & Monochrome Roasted Pumpkin
Needles: 4 Addi Turbo
Started: November 6, 2010 Finished: November 16, 2010

There isn't a modification needed for this wonderful well-written pattern. The only decision is how to arrange your colors. The yarn is delicious and I can't wait to use it again.

Passing On

Life has been really busy and at times sad. My mom's good friend passed after a short illness. She was diagnosed with metastic gallblander cancer less than two weeks after my birthday party on the 18th of September and passed on the 24th of October. Mrs Edmonds was like a second mother to me and had let me know that she felt the same about me on my birthday. Our hearts have been heavy but we are so glad that she didn't surface for a long time. We were all blessed to have known and loved such a sweet and gentle soul.

Last week I got the pneumonia vaccine and after having a really bad reaction learned that at some point in time I actually had pneumonia instead of some generic respiratory infection. I felt like I had the flu and my arm is still sore around the injection site. I'm sure it is going to take several more days for the huge lump to go away. Benadryl and Motrin has helped to ease a lot of the swelling and irritation. The doctor said that reactions like this do occur but rarely and that I should never get the shot again. I was like yeah! You think so!

I've finally gotten around to taking pictures of some of my winning knits. This is the Heavenly Blue Cardigan which I knitted for myself but looks better on my mom so it is now hers. It won first place in the Women's Sweater category and the Sweepstakes in knitting at the South Carolina 2010 State Fair.




Specs:

Pattern: Heavenly Blue Cardigan from Beyond Wool by Candace Eisner Strick
Yarn: St-Denis Nordique in Fjord
Needles: US 4 & 5
Started: August 20, 2010 Finished: October 5, 2010

Mods: One of the mods I made was in the number of buttons. The specs for this size required 4 buttons every third slot. This would have resulted in a sweater that gapped badly so I used one in each slot. I also made the cables mirror on the back. This was only done only on the front. I also made sure that the sleeves mirrored on each side.

This was almost the sweater that wasn't meant to be. First were the e-mails between me and Webs trying to find a color with enough yarn of the same dyelot to send. Then I got all the pieces made only to find that my fronts were 1 1/2 shorter than the back. I re-knitted both of them and I'm glad I perserved. I believe this sweater is my best work ever on a knitted garment.

Up next is the Tuscan Leaves Hat which won a first place in the Hat category.




Specs:

Pattern: Tuscan Leaves Hat by Nina Machlin Dayton
Yarn: Universal Yarn Deluxe Worsted Gold Spice
Needles: US 6 & 7
Started: September 26, 2010 Finished: September 27, 2010

I'm steadily expanding my knowledge of beading and jewelry making. This past weekend I made magnetic hematite bracelets using beading wire for me and mom.



I'm not sure where this will lead but I do have plans to make some matching sets for us. It is so much fun learning something new. I hope my knitting doesn't suffer because of it.

***edited 11/2/2010 to correct modifications.

Tiny Triangle Fingerless Gloves

Specs:

Pattern: Tiny Triangle Fingerless Gloves by Lynne Vogel
Yarn: Mirasol Chirapa 707
Needles: 2 Inox dpn's
Size: Large
For: Stephanie
Started: 10/8/2010 Finished: 10/17/2010

Modifications: I added 8 additional stitches to make this a size large. The pattern is written for a medium. This meant that I had to increase one stitch on the first of the 4 knit rows before the bobbles to maintain the multiple of 3. After the bobbles were completed I decrease 1 stitch on the next knit row.

I have come to realize that I really enjoy making gloves fingerless or otherwise. They are an excellent way to use that skein(s) of sport or fingering weight yarn you don't quite know what to with.

Getting Busy

I finished one project...


and immediately cast on another. I'm making a coordinating scarf for the Tiny Triangles Fingerless gloves. It is Pimpelliese, a free pattern I found through Ravelry while looking up Baktus.


I have well over 3 skeins so I figure why let it sit around when I can put it to use. I also have this yarn in two other colors, a lovely green variegated of which there are 3 skeins and a blue variegated of which I have five, so there will be at least one more glove and scarf set.

Isaiah was over this weekend and the first question he asked on Friday was if I had his gloves made. I told him I had to check and see if I had any yarn in garnet and black of course, and his questions was, "Where in the yarn room."

I searched the stash and realized that I don't have any garnet washable yarn so I'll have to make a yarn run just for this project.

Christmas projects are in the making but they aren't knitted. These are the makings for two Cosmo bags from Amy Butler's Style Stitches.


I don't sew often but soon as I saw these I knew I had to make them for my cheerleading nieces. These bags will be large enough to carry all of their gear. I've washed and pressed the fabric and cut out my pattern pieces.

There are 12 very cute handbag and bag patterns in this book. I plan to make some of the others and "stretch" my sewing muscles once again. I'm not sure if the others will be gifts but I know there are two or three that I plan to make for myself. I'm hoping these will jump start my quilting. I have so much that I want or need to do that I'm going to have reign myself in.

Revealed

Today was the day to find out what won the sweepstakes award.


Heavenly Blue Cardigan
I personally think this is one of my finest pieces of knitting. I loved knitting with the sportweight and have several projects in line that will be done in sport or fingering weight.

We, the Palmetto Purlers, had our demo at he fair today. Lots of people stopped by to admire the knits we had on hand and to learn more about our guild.

Today was probably a record admission day. It was the first time in 3 years that it didn't rain on opening day. Couple that with the $1.00 admission and you have all the makings of a record. I'll go again next week when mom gets back in town and look at the other exhibits.

Growing Up

This happy fella turned 6 on Friday.


He's changed so much in the last year. He's now a silly boy who's full of play and questions. I was working on the fingerless gloves below last night when he asked his usual question.

Isaiah: Whatcha making Aunt Beverly, socks?
Me: No, I'm making gloves.
Isaiah: Gloves?
Me: Yes, fingerless gloves. Want to try them?
Isaiah: Sure. (He tries them on.) I need a pair in red and black. You know I love the Gamecocks.

You have to admire the boy. He has great taste. He also wants the matching hat and scarf. Looks like a trip to the store is in order.

I had to break my vow and knit something for my sister. Out of the blue she started bring yarn home from Tuesday Morning. It is really nice yarn so I'm making her a pair of fingerless gloves and possibly a matching in color only scarf.


The pattern is the Tiny Triangle Fingerless Gloves by Lynne Vogel. The pattern has neat details like the triangle edging and some bobble detail. First one is done and I've started the second.

The fair results are out and once again I've won the sweepstakes award in knitting. I'll find out tomorrow what won. This is the first time I've received blue ribbons for all of my entries and my fourth time winning the sweepstakes. I'm seriously considering not entering anymore since I've won it three years in a row. We do our demo tomorrow and I'll have pics to post.