The Kindness of Others

I have been spending a lot of time looking at everyone's projects on Ravelry and being a little envious of everyone's skills. There are so many beautiful things being done and some seem so complicated and difficult. I am sometimes amazed at what seems to catch everyone's attention-I saw one American Aran Afghan that not one person had commented on and another crocheted afghan that was very pretty and nicely done but also a very easy one that over 600 people had chosen it as a favorite. I loved the crocheted afghan but I do think that anybody who can complete either the American Afghan or the American Aran Afghan has accomplished more than I ever will.. ( I do want to make that crocheted afghan--I think my daughter would really like it)

Another thing about Ravelry that I enjoy is being able to keep up with the projects of your Internet friends and knowing when they have updated their blogs. This is where the title of this entry comes in--twice when I have been looking at projects that I admire, I have accidentally clicked on add to my friends--these people probably wondered why I added them but they both kindly added me to their friends list.

In perusing everyone's projects, I have decided on trying two more knit afghans. I have been reading one group's blog on the Barbara Walker Learn to Knit Afghan. I really have enjoyed their comments and have seen many beautiful finished afghans from this pattern. I have been wanting to try more slip stitch and this seems to fit in with that goal. I am just trying to use up some stash for this project and I have picked 42 of the squares that I hope to complete. The pictures are from my phone--so forgive the quality.

The other afghan that I have been wanting to do for some 20 years, is the heirloom leaf one. I have bought through the years three different patterns. I tried the first one I bought--20 years ago--in red (simply because I have so much of it), but that pattern required 96 squares and I didn't really like it in red.. I also have Nicky Epstien's pattern and someday I would like to do that one but for now, this pattern seems to be a little bit easier. I am doing it in some superwash wool but the color is incorrect in the photo below. I really wish that it was that color--I may be looking for some different yarn. None of the blocks from above or below have been blocked yet--and that is another exciting thing for me--I have ordered a blocking board so I am waiting to try it out on all of these blocks. I am just waiting for its arrival!

March is almost upon us--hoping spring is soon here-good knitting and crocheting to all!

Catching Up

Time does fly! One of my goals this year was to be a better blogger and to try to keep up. Oh well, tomorrow is another day.
Christmas was wonderful, January was cold and snowy and we are more than half way through February. We have a new president-loved watching the inauguration --I am hopeful that he will have success in leading our country.
Here are some of the things I have been working on.

Christmas Gifts

I have been hard at work making Christmas presents--I was feeling pretty good until I realized that we are half way through November. Today, I finished this hat for my Daughter's stocking-it is made out of Red Heart Zoomy--a yarn new to me. The hat was very easy and due to the super bulkey classification went really fast.


I am really in to making purses--it seems like everyone is making this one--it is also an easy fast and easy. I am giving both sisters, daughter and niece bags--but not sure who gets this one.


Saw this afghan on ravelry and it is also a very popular pattern--also an easy fast crochet. This one is for my daughter-colors match her bedspread --I hope it is modern enough for her. I ordered the yarn called for in the pattern but then found this yarn in my stash--I liked these colors much better and wished I could return the other yarn


I am going to put potholders in stockings-just getting started on those.

I am also giving more shopping bags to my sisters and daughter--

This shawl was made from moda dea Tweedle dee yarn--it is a shaded yarn and very soft. I orderd this yarn on line and the color was not what I was expecting for the purse that I planned on making--so--this pattern was on the yarn label and it was an easy knit but not necessarily a fast knit--had to make myself do some every day.

Well, must get back to more Christmas gifts--Wishing everyone a Happy Thanksgiving.

Lost IT

After writing a lengthy post thanking Monica for awarding me the I love Your Blog award and nominating Ria and Sandy for the award (that was as far as I had got)--I LOST it all. So I will just say that my knitting goal in life is to be half as good as my friend Monica--her projects and patterns are wonderful! I love reading Ria' s blog for all the lovely pictures of her work and the fun quizes she has on her blog and for her excitement over the car races! Sandy is an expert crocheter and also shares wonderful patterns that she has developed and found. Check these three out! (I am challenged--I couldn't figure out how to get the picture of the award on my blog ;) so I think I will stop here.)

I have made one more counterpane bag and lined both of them today--I am always proud of myself when I finally finish the lining--I have been known to put them in the closet for years before lining them .

I forgot to say that Sandy is having a crochet contest on her blog--I couldn't choose between the granule stitch and the open fan--so I submitted both. Check out her contest.

Counterpane Bag

After taking so long with the knit afghan, these purse projects are a welcome relief. This took me two days for knitting and sewing together the bag, but I do still have to line it. It is a big, big purse and will really need to be lined. I saw this bag made on Ravelry and it looked so beautiful I had to purchase the book--I got the book second hand and I have ordered some Noro to make a second bag.

It's DONE!

I wonder how many heard my happy yell when I finished weaving in the last thread?? I have never been so happy to be finished with a project. I feel like I am free now-ha-free to finish all those things I started when I couldn't stand to work on the afghan. I have two scarves and three purses that are going to be my first priority--all those other afghans (four) will have to wait until I decide I can stand to work on another afghan.

Missing Months

How time does fly--my last post said I had missed April--now I have missed a whole summer season and the start of fall. Many reasons for the missing in action with the main ones being health issues and computer issues---hopefully the health issues are resolving and the computer issues will be soon .

I just read the sad news of a friend's brother-in-law passing at the early age of 48. My mind has not been able to think about other things--life can have so many unexpected turns. Prayers and thoughts go out to their familys.

I have not accomplished that much knit/crochet wise--I have made 16 shopping bags of various patterns--here are some samples..

And I have made 3 of Monica's ballband recipe bags.

LasT Day of MaY

Once again, May has slipped away as fast as April. I became ill on Mother's day--thought I had food poisoning--turned out I have cellulitis--I was in the hospital for 12 days and now I am on home IV therapy and an oral antibiotic that is going to break the bank! Felt so bad that I didn't even want them to bring my knitting/crochet to the hospital. I have been home a few days so hopefully I will start to feel like being more productive.

I Missed April

No, it wasn't that I have been so busy and accomplished so much that I did not post in April--I just don't know where the time went to.

Spring did come finally, although it is only 48 degrees at the moment. Of course since the tree was blooming so beautifully, it has been raining and all the blooms are almost gone.

I don't have a redbud, but I get to enjoy the neighbor's--the redbuds have been especially beautiful this year.

I also know it is spring because Jasmine has had her spring hair cut--doesn't she look cute.

I hope you can tell from this picture that the afghan has grown--yes, very slowly, but it is coming along--probably 2/3's done.

I have started a crocheted afghan called Gingham Garden--couldn't figure out the flower square that went with the pattern (just when I think I know what I am doing!) so I am trying to decide on a flower pattern to go with the gingham strip--anyone have any opinions? (The green is much prettier than pictured--although I might have chose a different green, but I am using up stash.

The End of March

I see that I have only managed one post so far, so I am thinking I ,at least, must end the month with something. This has not been an especially good month for projects--I don't seem to be getting too much accomplished and spring doesn't seem to be getting here fast enough for me. It is 56 degrees--there are these signs of spring, but I am wanting warm, sunny weather with beautiful flowers and trees blooming.


The winter white afghan continues to progress at a snail's pace. (doesn't saying it that way seem to make it the afghan's fault and not mine that it is not coming
along very fast?) I really don't know why I haven't finished it--it's not that boring to knit--variety of four patterns and I know if I don't hurry and finish it, it will be too hot to work on.


I started another one of Monica's double cable scarf--I wanted to do it in the yarn that she used for the book, but decided that I can not buy that yarn until .I am caught up on some bills. This is Berroca's comfort yarn that I actually also like.


I have also started another afghan by Nicky Epstein called Gentleman's Afghan. I wanted to use the yarn that is pictured in the pattern, but wouldn't you know it, that yarn was discontinued. (Which really was a good thing since I trying to catch up) Since I couldn't have the good stuff, I am using up yarn on hand. I had trouble with a couple of her blocks so I am going with her idea but using patterns that I have always wanted to try.



Here's to the coming of spring--have a good day to all.

When Is It Spring?

As tired as I am of winter, I have to admit that this snow was beautiful--view from my front yard and one from the back yard.




Again, feeling the need to have some finished work (if I didn't take all this time out to do short projects--my afghan and socks would probably be done --at least a lot closer to being done than at present)--I started this Heartland purse--I really like the stitch pattern. The purse was supposed to be a shoulder purse but due to a Beth Error--it has handles.

Need to Finish a project

My afghan is coming along so slowly--I am afraid I have been neglecting it-probably only has an inch more than the last picture.

I have the aran sock on the needles, but not far on them either. I was beginning to feel like I was not accomplishing anything--so, I started a hat.

Hats On by Charlene Schurch is one of my favorite hat books. I have made more projects from that book and I feel like I really got my money's worth with that book. This hat was made from Paton's classic wool and Noro Kureyon for the contrast. When I got to the top of the hat, my noro went with the totally different colors that I love in other things--but looked strange on my hat, so I skipped the pattern on the crown. The hat turned out too big for my styroform head, but happily fits my head OK.

Sock Want-a-be Knitter

I have heard of the SSS--second sock syndrome and I am wondering if anyone else has the SWABKS (sock want-a be Knitter Syndrome). I have purchased tons of sock yarn and have not one pair of socks to show for all that yarn stashed away--not to speak of the books, patterns, and three DVDs bought in hopes of producing a pair of socks.

I love looking at all the beautiful socks that Monica and others produce--maybe I don't have the patience for the actual knitting of the sock. This is one of Monica's patterns that can be bought at the Loopy Ewe-- click here and you can see what it's really supposed to look like!

Camera Problems

Tried all day to get my camera to transfer pictures--uninstalled software-tried to read instructions (if all else fails-lol), help line etc. Nothing worked -- pictures would not transfer from camera to PC--then--for no apparent reason--it worked. Thus, I decided I had better show my progress while I can.. If you count the ring cables, you can tell I have made some headway but this seems to be taking for ever.




I am going to try and knit Monica's Aran sock--so I dug out one of my old unfinished socks and I know it is a little pathetic but I thought I better try on an old sock before I try the beautiful aran sock.



One day the snow all melted - in the 50's and by the next morning we had a very light covering of snow and in the 20's. Rivers are very high and there are flood watches.