Kathy's Knitting & Knothings

Friday, December 30, 2005

Braided Neckpiece Done

Decided to be good and finish Braided Neckpiece from Loop-d-Loop. 3 x Debbie Bliss cashmerino chunky, color 17007, addi #11 circs: (color is closer to the full shot, but close-up shows detail. The color is magenta).

Caviar Swatch

Ok, Justin, I KNOW it's stupid to say yeah me, I finished a swatch! See if I ever knit anything for you! I was looking at this, but just forget it :)- I really love this yarn. I can't wait to make the Caviar Sweater! Being a tight knitter, I took a chance and hit gauge right on (16 sts and 22 rows = 4") going up to 10 1/2. Now should I work on my current WIPs and wait until Jan 7? I could finish the braided neckpiece and headband today. Then there are the #2 socks, or Bobby Bear (who needs arms afterall) or that Entrelac bag I started last summer.... Hmmmm....

Thursday, December 29, 2005

Mitered Squares Jacket

While at Creative Fibers I was trying to get a sense of what yarn to use for the Mitered Squares Jacket, even though I don't need it until March. Here's the description - haven't seen the pattern yet: Jill’s Mitered Square Jacket - Learn from the creator of this pattern. Multi colored/textured garter stitch blocks create a cardigan style jacket. I was told that it was a great leftover and stash buster so waited to see what I had at home. A way to use up left-over yarn! I think this will work ;) Of course, this will only make a small dent in my stash. Not sure it is 2 lbs of yarn, but I am sure I can find more to fill in ~

Felted Mittens

Finally got the mittens finished, and felted: I used Artful Yarn's Shakespeare in colorway 3 - "To sleep, perchance to dream" and size 13 dpns, and a Creative Fibers pattern.

Tuesday, December 27, 2005

Nice day after day after

Tuesday - fun having lunch with Vanessa at Bosc Kitchen in Avon. Then off to Creative Fibers to spend my gift certificate and stock up on 20% off yarns for upcoming classes. Score! A beautiful hand dyed yarn Wool & Mohair from Farmhouse Yarns by Hopyard Spinnery, located in East Haddam CT. The color is "Sugarplums and Butterscotch" for the Caviar sweater.

Picked up some more sock yarn for the Magic Loop socks. Plymouth Encore, color 403 Dark Greys Heather. That's also my newest attempt at taming the dpns - the toothbrush holder!

I like the look of the the extended collar on the Caviar sweater:

Monday, December 26, 2005

Clear Clogs

Also clear boots. Great for showing off those socks...

Christmas 2005

Well, it's done for another year! Actually we have had a great holiday. V got in on Thursday, but both Phil and I worked on Friday. Saturday was busy with gift wrapping for the Yankee Christmas, branch spreading and decorating followed by Phil and Vanessa cookie making and general food prep for Christmas Eve and day. Dinner was fun once again, and some of the kids got vicious during the swap ;) Phil, Vanessa and I did the gift thing Christmas morning, and then set about getting ready for dinner: garlic and herb encrusted spoon roast wrapped in bacon, 2ce baked potatoes, stuffed artichokes, spinach salad and homemade bread. Shrimp, cheese cake and various other appetizers and desserts rounded-out way too much food again this year. Phil seemed pleased with The Godfather boxed set, Harry Potter boxed set - years 1,2,3, Shawshank Redemption (finally) and tickets to Spamalot. Add in seasons 5 & 6 of Mash and a video game. Vanessa received Sex and the City season 6, parts 1 & 2, Lonely Planets The Gambia and Senegal, an Entertainment book, silver and stone bracelet, Dukes of Hazard DVD, Sephora brushes, Letters Home, a Nurse calendar, ITunes and her Louis wallet! J got a couple of Polo shirts, some Polo sox, Amazon gift certificate and the pasta pots while Tara got the Food Network Favorites cookbook and Amazon gift certificate. As for me ;) lots of knitting gadgets like cable needles, stitch markers, sox calculator, yarn guide, yarn requirement guide, Raglan calculator and the yarn meter I wanted. Throw in Folk Bags, Vogue quick reference, and Ray, Must Love Dogs, then a new robe, top, pants, cashmere sweater and a gift certificate to Creative Fibers, and top it all off with cash from Mom and Dad - whew! The weather didn't cooperate though, the family was here until almost 11, and then it took Dad over 2 hours to get home in the rain and fog. The card players (Aunt Loretta, Justin, Dad and Dane): Not much knitting over the past month or so, since I needed to get the website up and running. That should settle down soon. And so no blogging except for the school site :( WIP: Phil's sox give him happy feet! So he is getting another pair (need to get a pic of those socks). Bobby Bear, braided neck piece (almost done), felted mittens need thumbs, Entrelac bag, and chain link scarf (which I may never finish). Upcoming classes: Caviar sweater, Moebius scarf, Magic Loop socks, and Mitered Squares Jacket.

Christmas Eve '05

Chris, Nathaniel, Me (I know it's the ugliest sweater on earth!), Vanessa, Justin, Tara, Charlie Tara, Gabbie, Charlie Vanessa, Justin, Tara, Gabbie Chris, Me, Vanessa Nathaniel, Jenn Gabbie Rachel and Vanessa