Trick Or Treat Memories

I was going to delete this photo and then I thought....WAIT! This is my brain after all this Halloween excitement. :P Am I ever glad that this is over.

The resident Trick or Treater....my ghost. I have no idea why she wanted to be a ghost but I didn't argue. This costume cost $2...twin size bed sheet at the thrift store. Woo Hoo! She insisted on having a bow on her head but it was a clear plastic bow so you can't see it unless you're up close. It made her happy so that's all that matters.

This was in someone's yard on our route during the night and I thought it was pretty awesome. I had a really hard time getting the photo....couldn't get a clear one no matter how hard I tried. It was pretty busy and fast moving along the road so I didn't have much time anyway.

This is a little better but the Pirate was going back down into the treasure chest at this point so you still don't get the full effect.

I did no decorating this year myself so I thought I would include the pumpkin from a friend's front porch. You gotta have at least one pumpkin. My Ghost had fun and got plenty of candy she doesn't even need so I guess it was a good night. We finished of with some scary movies and pizza...no cooking..YAY!!! I hope you all had a great Halloween. This is hopefully our last one to go out Trick or Treating.

I've finished my snake scarf and I'm working on some cute little cable cuff mittens for my cousin. It's a vintage knitting pattern and it knits up so fast. I have now learned to do cables on the needle. YEAH! Then I am on to a hat to go with her little mittens. After that...not sure. I'm just happy to finally be making some Christmas knitting progress.

Hugs!

I Refuse To Not Knit!

Things didn't work out so well with the bag pattern I originally intended to knit. I lost count of the number of times that I frogged and re-started and frogged and..... So, I decided that this yarn is kinda getting himself a little attitude going. Excuse me, Mr Lion Brand Wool-Ease Thick & Quick, but do you realize who you are messing with here? I may be small but I sure as heck ain't gonna be intimidated by some chunky yarn. Puh-leeeeeezzzz. Off to Ravelry I went in search of a different pattern which I could use to whoop his butt.

That pattern would be Purl McBigBottom by The Crochet Dude. Mine is a little smaller than the one in the pattern photo but still a pretty good size for a bag AND.....we are totally kicking Mr Wool-Ease Thick & Quick's behind!!! Of course I'll do a little "tweaking" to it somehow but mostly "by the pattern". It's knitting up pretty quick and that's a good thing....I so need that right now. I'll keep you posted. This could end up being a good one for the Christmas gift box.

This is hopefully going to be my next victim. Froggie and I both got a hank in different colors and our plan was to knit ourselves a scarf. We played around with a design today and would like to get it cast on tomorrow...imagine that, knitting for ourselves. As long as I don't go playing around with what we charted already...tomorrow shouldn't be a problem. I have a couple of different ideas floating around my head as I type...maybe I'll chart them up and get her opinion tomorrow. We'll pick one and cast on while we wait for the kids to get out of school.

* Just wanted to say "THANKS!" to everyone for the awesome encouragement you've given me lately....You are all such awesome friends and I don't know what I'd do without you! Massive HUGS...I <3 You All!!!!

Goodies From South Africa

Froggie and I had a "girl's day out" today. It's been a while and we both needed it bad. lol
We hit a few thrift stores and of course the LYS, Hobby Lobby and Michael's....you have to do some yarn shopping. It's was a very nice day and I wish we could do it more often. After picking up the kids from school...I came home to find that I had received a package from my wonderful friend Shirley in South Africa. They don't get Peaches & Cream or Sugar & Cream over there so Froggie and I had sent her a package with lots of cotton and a few other little extras. This is what I got from Shirl today.....

an awesome package of so many different yarns. I can't even begin to describe my excitement when I opened this box. There was more of the pretty fuzzies, some ribbon type yarn and lots of wools and the softest acrylics and....I haven't done inventory yet to let you know what they all are. I was too excited. She also included some candy (chocolate and Jelly Tots) which have been mostly devoured already by the kids. lol Jelly Tots were a huge hit! I did manage to get a little of the chocolate myself.

She also sent me this scarf and glove set that she knit herself. They're fingerless gloves and they're so soft and warm. I am actually looking forward to getting out in the morning so I can try them out. The picture really doesn't do it justice...they're gorgeous!

Now I'm off to listen to the CD she included with some music from South Africa.

Dankie, Shirl! You really made my day.
Lief jou baie!!!

Scarf Finished And Baby News

I finished a scarf yesterday. It's made from yarn sent by my wonderful friend, Shirley, in South Africa. It's an eyelash type yarn and I was surprised to find that I really like it. It's so soft and it's actually pretty warm. The yarn is called Vere which, in Afrikaans, means feathers. I will have to get a better photo of the finished scarf so you can get the full effect. Right now, Ms Thang has it on and it's looking like I'm not getting it back. Oh well, I have enough Vere to make another one.

I have to say a big CONGRATS!!!!! to my dear friend Cat. A lot of you know her already. She found out today that she is going to be a Grandma!! Woo Hoo!! I'm so excited for her. She didn't think she would see this day. "Mommy To Be" was told she could not conceive so please keep Mommy and "Baby To Be" in your prayers. And stop by and give Cat a big "Congrats" on her wonderful news....I know it will make her day! *Like the baby news hasn't already done that*

La Dentell Belle Continues...

With my Christmas gift knitting out of the way, I can now focus on my La Dentelle Belle Scarf KAL. I feel like I've been knitting this forever but it just doesn't seem to be "growing" as fast as it should. I thought I was a fairly fast knitter but I have to keep in mind that this is lace and I haven't knit many lacy things so I won't be zooming through it. At least now it's finally beginning to get a little longer. I used my trusty Christmas tree to hold it for me while I took a few photos.

A little close-up so you can see the colors...keep in mind it's a work in progress and it will look a lot better once it's blocked. I love this scarf...it's a beautiful scarf....but will I EVER be glad to be finished with it! I had considered knitting up another one but I don't think that's going to happen anytime in my near future...unless I can find a yarn I like that is NOT lace weight. I don't think lace weight yarn and I are going to be very close friends. It just takes too long. lol

I got two gift certificates for yarn shopping for Christmas and I can't wait! One is for my LYS (Thanks to my sister) and the other is for Hobby Lobby (Thanks to my oldest daughter). I am planning on taking my sweet time picking out something special that I probably would not otherwise buy because it costs too much for my budget. I may even splurge and get myself a pair of Rosewood needles. I would love to have at least one pair.

Almost There And Contest Goodies....

I have, at last, a "Hunny Bear" to give my cousin for Christmas. This is thanks to my good friend, Froggie. Thanks so much, girlfriend...I so appreciate this. Not to worry folks, I already sent her a message to post the pattern...please, please, please...it's time to share.

ETA...Froggie has now posted the Hunny Bear Freebie...hop on over and check it out...the button is on my sidebar. :)

This is my second place prize for the Google Christmas Trivia Contest in the gettingtoknowyou dishcloth group. http://groups.yahoo.com/group/gettingtoknowyoudishclothknitters/
A ball of Sugar & Cream striping yarn in Violet Stripes...so pretty...a ball of Peaches & Cream in Deep Purple...I haven't seen this color around here...YAY...and a really cute little notepad...I love notepads. You just can't have enough little notepads for the desk. I go through them like lightening.

I also managed to get a little knitting time in on my La Dentelle Belle Scarf KAL. I am so far behind, it's just not funny but I will finish....sometime. Poor thing doesn't look much longer than it did before I started knitting last night but it really is a bit longer.

Off to finish my last dishcloth...I'm about 2/3 of the way done and will be finished with it tonight. This is a good thing since we're exchanging these gifts tomorrow. lol
Hope you're all having a wonderful holiday!

A Christmas Surprise & La Dentelle Belle Progress

My daughter has THE BEST interpreter there is...I have proof. Today when "Ms Thang" got home from school, she ripped into her bookbag like a mad woman. She was signing a mile a minute about "V" saying to open this now...DONT wait until Christmas! ("V" is her interpreter.)
She opened the card first...this took a LOT of willpower....inside "V" said that since my dd and I have such a close relationship, she thought we should both have this same gift. How sweet is that? We had identical little wrapped boxes and this is what was inside.....

This is "Ms Thang's" necklace. Oh yeah, we put them on immediately! Her chain is just a tad bit shorter than mine. They are so much prettier than the photos show. The reflections of colors and lights in the room distort the finish in the photos.

This is mine. I took it off hoping I could get a better photo. This is not quite as bad as the other with the colors reflecting on the necklace but it still just doesn't compare to the real thing. They're just dainty little things but the detail is pretty good. I just wish I could have gotten a better shot.

It was a really nice early Christmas surprise. "V" always gives dd a little something but I was totally not expecting a gift for me. She is awesome!

Now, the La Dentelle Belle progress...well, it's not so much progress but I will get there. I've had to set this aside to get those teacher gifts finished and they almost are...YAY ME! I love this yarn and even though I wasn't too thrilled with the colorway, I am more than happy with it now that's taking shape. I don't normally buy bright colors but this was a super good deal. I have another hank and I'm already trying to decide what else I can knit up with this. I may even make a scarf for myself with this. If my sister is reading this, don't worry, this one is yours. I promise.


I have two dishcloth dresses done and just waiting on the crochet edging at the top and another just OTN. It will done tomorrow, I hope. I'm using the Sugar & Cream striping yarn in the Holiday Stripes. So far, the first two have been a pleasant surprise in the way the striping has worked out. You know you're gonna get photos.

La Dentelle Belle Scarf KAL

I know everyone is probably so much farther along than me but I was just proud to make it through the first 13 row repeat. lol This scarf made a very valiant attempt at kicking my behind. We finally called a truce and this is my first day of knitting. I frogged only once...cuz I missed one stupid stitch at the stupid beginning and had to frog the stupid thing and start over.
I decided to go up a needle size for the cast on (US size 6) and then intended to go back to the size 5 but I like the look of the 6's so much I just kept on knitting. I wasn't entirely satisfied with the look of the scarf on 5's anyway and I have to say...I like this look much better.

I'm using KnitPicks Gossamer in Sunrise. This is the first time I have knitted with a lace weight yarn and it took me a little getting used to...I think I have the hang of it now. Let's hope so anyway. lol
This is my youngest daughter, "Ms Thang" trying her best to make me want to take the kitty home. Two little kittens have taken up residence at my sister's house and being the animal lover she is, my daugther carried this kitty around all afternoon except for the time she spent playing with my nephew or the dog. Yeah, the kitty is cute but we have so many animals already. I'll keep you posted...we seem to have a habit of taking in animals.

ILOVEKANDCALONGS Update

I wanted to pass along some information for anyone who was a member of the SASE group which has been deleted without any warning whatsoever. There was a KAL planned (The Icelandic Shawl) and kits ordered and then the group just mysteriously disappeared so...our wonderful Cat has re-opened the ILOVEKANDCALONGS group for anyone who wants to re-join. This group was closed when SASE supposedly resumed out of respect for the owner. We are back up and running with the Icelandic KAL scheduled for January and a beautiful scarf KAL that starts Friday (tomorrow). Please feel free to join us...Cat has tried very hard to send invites to anyone who was a member before and to other SASE members as well. If you didn't receive an invite, please don't think that you were forgotten or ignored. All the information in the SASE went POOF along with the group itself. We do want you to join and hope you come with us. If you were not a member of either group, that's okay, too. Come on over and join in, we'd love to have you there. The more, the merrier!

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ILoveKandCAlongs/

My Scarves In Progress

Here is the scarf I have been wanting to knit since doing the Eyelet Rib Cloth by Maile Mauch. I hope she's pleased with the results so far. I absolutely love this scarf. I've gotten a lot of positive comments from others who have seen it while I am knitting. I didn't stray far from the pattern Maile used to make the dishcloth...smaller border and just keep knitting. That's probably about as far away as I got. I haven't had a chance to talk to Maile yet about possibly posting the pattern for the scarf...since she is the designer of the cloth I used as inspiration, I would want to check with her first. She just had surgery and hasn't been online yet...I will find out ASAP if anyone is interested. Hope all is well, Maile! Get well soon...We sure miss you!

This is a close-up of the front. I wasn't sure about the varigated and considered frogging and changing yarns but I stuck with it til the pattern started to really develop. I'm so glad I did...I love this scarf and it will not be given or sold....IT"S MINE! I seem to be very partial to the varigated yarns...solids are just not as exciting to knit with in my opinion. Although, I must admit, this would probably be a beautiful scarf done in a pretty solid. It's the designer, she is a genius.

This is a close-up of the back side of the scarf. I love that it looks good no matter which side is showing. I also love the earthy tones of this yarn. I almost forgot to mention that this one was done in Bernat Softee Chunky. The color is Nature's Way and the best part...it was on clearance for $1.67! Can't beat that!

This is a scarf I've been working on lately as well. It's done in Lion Brand Wool-Ease. The color is Autumn. I originally bought this yarn for a scarf KAL but it just didn't work well with the pattern so I put it back for later. I decided to just do a 4X4 ribbing so it's a good one for semi-mindless knitting which is something I need lately. Once again, my dear Mother has mentioned how much she would like to have this one. I knit her a small lapghan a few years ago with this same yarn and since it matches....well, it's Mom logic...go figure. lol And this yarn was also on clearance....$2.00!

June Mystery Scarf KAL

Here is my June mystery scarf KAL finally finished. I got so far behind on this one but it is the finished scarf in all it's glory. It was done with Sinfonia yarn in Lila. It is a summer scarf designed by the talented Liz Hanson. I believe the name of the pattern is Diamond Waves. It is such an easy pattern to follow. I really enjoyed this one. I'm thinking maybe I should make more of these. They are beautiful gifts.

This is a close-up of the design. You have to see it close to appreciate it. It just so pretty. I already have this one given away. My daughter's speech therapist saw it while I was working on it. I always carry something to knit when I am going to be waiting. (Yes, I knit in public and I'm proud of it!) Anyway, she commented on how pretty it was so I decided then that she needed this scarf. She learned to knit a year or so ago herself but doesn't have the time to devote to it. She had a baby and does some beautiful bead work (jewelry) and then her job as a speech therapist, so it doesn't leave her much free time. I hope she enjoys this. She is a dainty girl and I think this will look perfect on her.

Back From The Frog Pond

Well I am back from the frog pond finally. I had intended to use the original acrylic yarn that I started out with but...we don't play well together. lol I couldn't wait to see how the Sonata yarn was going to look knitted up so I started over with it instead. I love earthy colors and greens are one of my favorites. I think this yarn is so pretty. I wish I was closer to being finished. The first photo is my progress after week two of the SASE group shawl KAL.

This next photo is just a closer look at the design and the colors. I can't believe how easy the feather and fan pattern has turned out to be. It looks so much harder than it really is. I almost didn't even try this KAL but I figured "what could it hurt to try". I have learned so much from all the groups I have joined this year. My only regret is that I didn't join a long time ago.

This is my lovely summer scarf KAL from the same group. This is my progress after Day 3. No matter how I take the picture, I can never get the color true. This is a little darker than the actual yarn. This is the Sinfonia yarn...very nice. Only drawback with the Sinfonia is that it seems to want to split. But it's worth the trouble. It looks so nice once it's knitted.

And I haven't totally given up on the acrylic shawl. I don't like to be beaten. And the colors are pretty. So I'll keep you updated on that one. For now, I'm still (not so patiently) waiting on my Knitpicks Options to get here. :( I am so eager to see if all the hype is true. And I just ordered some more wonderful soap from Kandie (JustforKhix). She has some new ones that I can't wait to get my hands on.

June Scarf KAL

This is the first day of my scarf KAL with the Shawls & Scarves Etc (SASE) group. I had originally intended to use a thicker yarn...something more suitable for cold weather. It was posted as a summer scarf but you can use the yarn of your choice with the appropriate needle size. After receiving the first days post, I remembered this yarn I got from my friend (HEY FROGGIE!) and thought to myself..."This would be perfect!" I put the thicker yarn away and cast on. This is Sinfonia in Lila. It's a little darker in the photo than it is in reality.

This is a no so good close up of the rows I've completed. You get the general idea I hope. It is so pretty. This is one of those scarves I would have ooohed and aaahed over and kept on browsing. My first thought would have been that it was just too complicated for my poor frazzled brain. I'm getting more comfortable with lace but it still makes me somewhat nervous. I have to say, I managed to do this much with absolutely NO FROGGING! YAY ME! So far (oh I hope I'm not jinxing myself here) this is a pretty easy pattern. I love doing KALs but I hate waiting for the next rows....I get sooo impatient when the pattern is one I can follow easily. And I have someone in mind to give this to but I need it done soon!

I think I'm going to head over to Knitting Pattern Central and look for some scarf patterns. The ones I passed over thinking I couldn't do it. I got lots of stash and a massive urge to keep knitting. Gotta stay busy til the next scarf rows come out. Tomorrow I get more rows for my feather and fan shawl....can't wait. I decided to wait before casting on with the new yarn. Oh, almost forgot, gotta go frog the shawl and re-do on bigger needles. I have to find the right size to get that drape going. Ok, so much for idle hands....lol

I'm still here!

In case anyone was wondering...I am still alive. Been so busy with my scarf KAL (had two going at once) and finishing little gifts for teachers that I can't seem to find enough time for everything. The first photo is my Seaman's Scarf from the KAL. It was done in the group SASE-Shawls & Scarves Etc. I have only done boring scarves in the past. The easy, garter stitch kind. This one was an easy one for new lace knitters and there were two options as to how to do it. Either all zig-zag lace or the ribbing in the middle. I know wish I had done one of each. I wasn't too sure about the ribbing together with the lace but it turned out great. I love it!

I made one little mistake in the first one so I carefully positioned that out the camera view..lol. This one was done with Red Heart Soft Baby in Laddie Print. I have never liked acrylic yarn but this yarn is really soft...not like the acrylic I learned to knit with.






The next scarf was done with Lion Brand Wool-Ease in Blue Heather. I just happened to run across it at my local Hancock Fabrics and bought a couple of skiens. I thought this would be a good thing to try it out on. I love the first scarf but I'm thinking I like this one better. I think I could wear it with more than the varigated one.

I'm so looking forward to the next scarf KAL. And I am going to attempt to knit the Pacific Waves Shawl in June. That one is really stressing me out. I don't know if I am really up to it but it's so beautiful and I have the yarn so I think I will give it a try. If it doesn't work out, there's always the frog pond. lol

Noah's Ark Dishcloth

I just posted my Noah's Ark Dishcloth pattern for sale. I'm not 100% happy with the photo...will try to get another one posted soon.

Hope to have another photo soon of my scarf KAL. It has come such a long way and I really like the way it's turning out. I would never have put a rib and a lace design together but it looks so good. I even considered not doing the ribbing and just continuing with the lace throughout. I'm so glad I decided to take a chance. RaAnn is so smart. After I finish tomorrows rows, I will try to get a good picture so you can see it.

Scarf KAL

This is my first scarf KAL with the new group Shawls And Scarves Etc (SASE). It was started by RaAnn Clegg. She's a wonderful person and excellent designer. I love the zig-zag lace design and the colors are turning out so pretty, however, the edges of my scarf seem to want to curl. Since this is my first scarf other than garter stitch, I don't know if it's something I'm doing wrong or if this is typical of a ribbed edge on a scarf. I hate to frog and start over but I don't want "curly" edges on my scarf. I couldn't give it away if it didn't look good. If anyone reading has any suggestions, please let me know. I welcome any and all help. I really want this to turn out well so I can possibly give it as a gift or donate it even. I know a lot (if not most) of you have much more knowledge of these things than I so I'm hoping for some good ideas as to how to do better next time. I'm gonna end up frogging....I can feel it. lol