A wreath for a knitter

Someone posted a picture on Facebook of a wreath made with balls of yarn and knitting needles.  I asked Jacy and Joan if they would make one for me if I supplied the materials.  Yesterday afternoon Joan went out with a list and this morning I have a new wreath on my door!

We looked at the website with the original picture, but couldn't find instructions.  Still, it was easy to figure out a way to make it, although the wreath that was our inspiration may have been put together differently.

Supplies for my wreath:
 * 1 wire wreath frame
 * 3 packs of styrofoam balls in 3 different sizes
 * florist's wire
 * yarn in various colors, gauges, fibers
 * 1 pair of large (mine are size US 13) and long aluminum knitting needles
 * Modge Podge, if desired (we ended up not using it)

I showed Joan how to wrap the yarn around the styrofoam balls, as if she were using a nostepinne.  We thought about spraying the finished yarn-balls with Modge Podge, but Joan just tucked the yarn-end under the wrapped yarn, then slipped florist's wire under a few strands of yarn and wired them to the wreath frame.  Finally she stuck the needles under the yarn on several balls and it was done!

Egg cozies

A couple of years ago I saw this cute egg cozy kit from Peace Fleece and teased Penny that she should knit them for the eggs she gets from her chickens.  She laughed and I laughed, but I couldn't get the kit out of my mind.  About a year ago I ordered the kit, started a chicken, then set it down.  Earlier this summer I decided to finish the kit. Soon I will be making soft-boiled eggs for breakfast and you can be sure that those eggs will stay warm in their chicken cozies until we're ready to sit at the table and eat them!

When you get two knitters together...

...they knit.  Penny and I knit while we waited at the hospital for Liam to be born. 

She worked on a silk shawl, and I worked on a cotton dishcloth.  And before too much time had passed, we had the best little knit-together-by-God-in-his-mother's-womb grandson!

Knitting in Napa

Knitting while in Napa was necessary.  There was only so much tasting I could do before I felt like I was "tasted out."  I'm not a huge connoisseur of wine, although I do appreciate good wine.  So my while my companions tasted on I pulled out my yarn and needles and listened to their observations about the wine.  It made for some perfect days.

One PAIR of mittens

The colorwork pair of mittens are not finished, but this pair of mittens meant to imitate cloisonne enamel work is done. As usual, Penny was the instigator and I meekly agreed to learn to knit these mittens while she was here visiting at the beginning of March. We shopped for yarn, figured out the instructions on the pattern, and cast on. Penny finished her first pair within a couple of days (and is probably on her third or fourth pair by now). The pattern is Cloisonee by Stephanie Pearl-McPhee.

One mitten

The left mitten is finished - and it's so warm! I'm working on the cuff of the right mitten, but the days and nights are getting milder. They'll be nice for next winter.

My Green New Year Cardigan

I finished my green neck-down cardigan last week and have been wearing it a lot, even though we have had rather warm days. Back in the fall Penny, Denise, and I decided to do a knit-along of this sweater. We started knitting on January 1. I finished mine on February 3. It's a fast knit, requiring very little concentration.

Marley agreed to model for me so I could get a picture of it on a live human being. The pattern is by Diane Soucy and is the Neck Down Cardigan for Women that I made over a year ago. It's easy and so comfortable to wear. I think I see a few more of these in my knitting future.

Coming along on a mitten

Mittens

I feel as though we jumped from autumn to spring, with really no winter in between. Although I have a "To-Knit" list a mile long, I have been longing to knit something small, but not too mindless. So even though the days are mild and pleasant, I'm starting a pair of mittens called Freja.

More knitting

I told Jenny I'd knit her a pair of Auburn socks now that she's at Auburn studying nursing. They are done and ready to warm her toes on these cool autumn mornings.





Angela saw Sarah's mustache cowl and loved it (what is it with these girls and mustaches?!) so I knit her one, too. She told me she wears it as she walks to classes and it keeps her face and neck protected from the wind. Now on to more socks, and maybe a few bibs for Bear... .

Mustaches

For the past year Sarah has been fascinated by mustaches. She has a mustache necklace and a mustache ring (I think). When she saw the Incognito cowl that Joan made for Marley, she begged for one, too.

Bear is keeping Joan a little busy, so I decided to knit the cowl myself. It took just one evening, and I read and watched TV while knitting it. I used Cascade 220 Superwash, size 9 circular needles, and size 10 circular needles.

Stay warm, Sarah!

Working on David's blanket

David's blanket is slowly growing - miles and miles of garter stitch and it's worked all in one piece, so I have to be home to work on it. It's a warm, cozy project now that the days and nights are getting cooler.

Jenny's purple socks

I offered to knit two pairs of socks for Jenny. She asked for a purple pair, and an "Auburn" pair. The purple pair is finished, and I've just cast on the first of the orange and blue pair. Happy warm feet, Jenny!

Fiber in the fall

It's that time of year again - time for fiber and sheep & wool festivals all over the USA. Last year I was in Taos, NM, for a fiber festival. This year I'm heading back to Montpelier, Virginia, for my favorite Fall Fiber Festival. It's small, but always has good vendors, tasty food, and exciting sheep dog trials. The best part, though, is that my Virginia friends go to it, too, so I enjoy delightful fellowship there.

The Gentle Art of Knitting

Two days ago my copy of Jane Brocket's latest book, The Gentle Art of Knitting arrived. I have had the best time reading it and reveling in the lovely photos and picking out future knitting and crocheting projects from the patterns included.

As with The Gentle Art of Quiltmaking, Ms. Brocket has stripped away rules and intimidating "must-do's" to make knitting and crocheting accessible to everyone who would like to create something with yarn. She emphasizes color and texture, and has written patterns for a variety of projects to showcase those elements.

This book is written to inspire and encourage knitters of every skill level, and those who would like to learn to knit.

Staying busy

A few weeks ago I bought 60 Quick Baby Knits and the suggested yarn (Cascade 220 Superwash) so that Joan could make more cute baby things.



In between sighing for the baby's due date to hurry up and get here, Joan picked up knitting needles again and knit these little slippers. She plans to knit mitts and possibly a hat to match.

The book is full of adorable and quick projects. There are garments suitable for girl babies and boy babies, as well as many that could be for either. And the blankets are beautiful! Between the two of us, I think we'll make quite a few of the items listed in this book. Definitely worth the money spent!

Buttons and bibs

This is the summer of babies and I am knitting baby bibs like a mad woman. As soon as one comes off the needles, another one is cast on. Lately I've been letting them pile up a bit, then I take four or five and weave in the yarn ends, then sew on the buttons. All the buttons come from my late grandmother's large button stash, and it's fun to rummage around in the super-huge, short-bread cookie tin in which they're stored to find the perfect button for the particular bib. I need to knit about six more, then I think I can rest from bib-knitting.

Unless, of course, I find out that someone else is expecting a baby!

More knitting for Bear

While we were in North Carolina over spring break, Joan and Brandon chose some yarn for me to knit a cardigan for their baby. I had enough left over to knit a hat for him, too. Joan also chose some cotton yarn so I could knit a few bibs for the baby, and before we knew she was having a boy, I started knitting a pair of cotton bootees - in fact, I was working on them in the waiting room while we waited to go in and see the ultrasound that showed us the baby was a boy.

Knitting for Bear

With about 6 to 8 weeks of pregnancy left, Joan is starting to nest. She's been knitting all kinds of things for her baby "Bear." This is becoming the summer of babies, so I've been making lots of bootees and bibs to give as gifts, and am enjoying the evenings Joan and I spend knitting together. Baby garments are so quickly made and so cute!

Quilting and knitting

Penny came for the weekend and we spend three fun days quilting, knitting, and making a couple of trips to antique stores. Now it's back to life as usual, but with happy memories of good times with my friend to brighten my days.