It's What Month???

Recently I've received a few "when are you going to update your blog" inquiries. After checking back it was a surprise to see the last posting was in March. So, with summer almost over, I'll give my blogging the old "back to school" organization plan. To those who have lived in our house, remember vitamins, vegetables and healthy eating. Hopefully blogging will do better!!

This top is "Shrug This" from One Skein Wonders done in Lion Brand Cool Wool on the left - added about 4 additional length inches. Same item in a silk blend on the right - only added about an inch to the length.

Our family is well - some projects for the growing children have been completed.

A new pumpkin hat for Miss JE and a candy corn hat for her birthday buddy CH rounded out the Halloween knitting. Children are still deciding on costumes - soon the machines will be humming and the fabric flying so all can be finished in time. My favorite sewing has always been the costumes - so creative.

Miss JE's sweater has been completed and it's even more adorable when worn by a special cutie. I loved the smocking - something I've never done before. I believe it's a Sirdar pattern, color obviously purple.

The socks turned out well - two knit at the same time on two circulars. A new tecnique for me from Antje Gillingham's book "Knitting Circles around Socks". It worked and I happily completed the two - no longer suffering from 'one sock' syndrome.

Sewing class will begin soon and I'll be teaching a lined vest this semester. It's going to be interesting to see the look on the faces of people who have never used a sewing machine before - planning to make a lined piece of clothing!

Fresh off the needles (last night) One More Row pattern by Jill Vosburg "Hearbeat Sweater". The yarn is Summer Soft by Filatura Lanarota, a worsted weight rayon/acrylic color 202.

Some charity baby hats, a 'flag bag' for scout flags for our son-in-law, FINALLY finishing repairs and reworking of nephew Phil's quilt from Grandma, and two pink modular knit baby carseat blankets rounded out the recently completed craft list.

The past few months have been exciting. Our youngest grandson, CH was christened and within a few weeks, he and his parents moved further west - out where the snow and sun are one.

We visited JC, JE, BD and their parents and had fun seeing our first professional soccer game with them. This August they spent some time with us and had a great time experiencing the south shore beaches.

We've all installed webcams on our computers so that we can see the family and just how quickly the children grow (ok, some new laptops come with them built in). BD was quite surprised to see me on his mom's computer - didn't quite understand it yet. JC is missing his two front teeth (they fell out naturally) has started school - already in 2nd grade. The time goes so fast! JE has orientation on Wednesday and class starting on Thursday. She's ready to go! BD will be spending time with his mom and missing JE and JC. Out west, CH is eating cereal and trying other new foods. He spends lots of time with mom and dad and has made a friend in his daycare program. He's sporting at least 1 new tooth!

BBQ season has been in full force and we're just back from New Holland, PA where Chris was a judge at a BBQ competition. Good food, good people, good time.

The next few months will mean more commuter traffic for Chris, now that school is in session.

Some fall plans for me include sewing classes, knitting classes and reorganizing our genealogy files (recently completed is my portion of a database documenting the Kings County Deaths index for 1881).

Summer has been a corn lover's delight - we thought last year's crop was good, but this season it was even better! We're looking forward to the cool nights and have decided to keep fuel costs down by using our coal stoves this winter. A bit more work, but so cozy! Till next time....

Too small!

JC's socks are too small! The same size I made him at Christmas, but I forget how fast kid's feet grow! I've brought them (the socks) back home and will expand the foot portion - thank heavens they were not toe up! Will have to quickly repair them - JC took them off his feet (not happy about that) for me to make bigger - "Grandma, I'm growing!!"

Expand on, Grandma! Deb

How Lucky Are We???

This past Tuesday, my husband and I became GRANDPARENTS for the FOURTH time! A beautiful healthy baby boy, CH, was born to our son and daughter-in-law. We welcome CH into our family with love. CH joins our grandsons JC and BD and granddaughter the Divine Miss JE. We are very blessed.

What have I been doing? Knitting for me! This is the EZ Rib Warmer, partially finished. I plan to do an attached ICORD edging - hopefully will start that this evening.

Socks for CH (so tiny in blue print), BD (white multi), Miss JE (purple of course), and JC (who likes "Crazy mixed up socks") for Easter.

OTN - 2 socks at 1 time on circs - hoping to eliminate 'second sock syndrome' - these are for me!

A new smock for art class for Miss JE is fresh out from under the sewing machine needle.

Have several items almost at the completion point - now that we're home, will try to make completion a reality.

Thank heavens for grandchildren - they are the reminders of how good life really is! Knit on! D

WIPs and other Stuff

Here we are celebrating our birthday (both the same day, same year) at Killington. Took it easy and only skied one day, but had a good time. Who ever thought we'd still be skiing at 59! I love being in VT - I find peace there.

This past week brought the passing of a good friend and father figure - Roger. Friend - neighbor - dad and grandfather - an all around good guy. His passing leaves a huge empty spot in our lives. Be in peace with those who have gone before you, Rog.

Baby boy car seat throw - modular - on the blocking table! Bernat Softee chunky yarn in color Circus. I love the way the varigated yarn flows when done in this modular throw. ( Update 3/08 - This blanket was made for our new grandchild CH)

Update on J's sweater. Putting it together today, then need to add the hood. Miss J has requested a zipper rather than buttons - her wish is my command (happily)!

OTN is an EZ Rib Warmer. I'm attempting to understand "Pithy" directions on my first EZ project. Yarn being used is Caron One Pound "Pure Fisherman". I don't know if they still make this color - I dug VERY deep into my stash for it.

Also OTN is the EZ Baby surprise jacket. I'm using Plymouth Encore Colorspun for this project. I always try to use machine wash/dry yarns for baby items - quite honestly most mom's don't have the time to hand wash anything! I've only just started and will need lots of help with this one.



Completed this Crochet Pot Scrubber yesterday just for fun. It's made out of nylon and it will be interesting to see if it actually works!

Also completed and being blocked is my version of the 2008 St. Baldrick's hat made from Karabella yarn. I'm thinking of putting some 'curls' on the top. (Didn't figure out how to flip the photo yet - sorry it's sideways!)

On the sewing front, I've gotten a new dressmaking model. My Double Deluxe arrived this past week and I'm thrilled. I've had models before, but never one which was my size, which made them more of a 'coat rack' rather than a dressmaking asset. I've twisted the dials to my size ( no photo here - no one needs to see that size), gave Trudy a fancy hat and I'm ready to sew. First on the list are a few summer tees. Also thinking of a few summer dresses - when the weather is hot, they're so much more comfortable than shorts and tees. Then the almost impossible - pants that fit the way I want them to! If I EVER get that pattern perfect, I will have attained nirvana.

Until next time, knit (and sew) on! Deb

Can it be 2008??

Can it be 2008 already? I can't imagine where the year has gone - it seems as though it was only yesterday we were worrying over the less than major computer problems of Y2K!!

As you can see, I've been busy craftwise. Most of these items have already been given as gifts, so I'm able to finally show the photos. I'm still trying to figure out how to publish a vertical photo, so unfortunately until I do, we'll have to look at several with a 'head tilt'.

This basket lining (no I didn't make the basket) and bunting are for Brian and Jenny's, Baby K, expected in March. The little green sweater and yellow booties are also for Baby K.

The yellow booties are Debbie Bliss' Moss stitch slipper, made in a baby yarn left in Mom Ks stash when she passed in 2004.

The little green sweater is made of Brown Sheep Cotton Fleece - I just love the feel of this yarn!




These two items were for BD - he loves the fabric books and I was so happy to be able to find a new one. I don't like the new "premade" packaged ones currently being sold, so finding a new book pattern is like the gold at the end of the rainbow!

Isn't the sock monkey cute?? I recently found the pattern and socks at the Vermont Country Store after we'd been to VT for a meeting. I remember the sock monkeys my mom made and thought this would be a cute gift for BD. We also added a book about sock monkeys, so he could identify one with the other.

This is a multidirectional blanket (pattern from Iris Schreier's multidirectional Yahoo group) recently made - you can see it's still on the table being blocked. After seeing the high prices of blocking needles, I decided to be creative. There had to be an alternative - so off to Michael's I went - to the floral department. These are floral wires - I think about 15-20 came in a package for $1.99 and they seem to work just fine. Why, oh why didn't we save the old wooden curtain blocker's my grandmother had? I can still see my grandmother and mother stretching the ninon curtains into shape!! Ah, another lifetime ago.

My version of a popular scarf being touted this winter. These three were Christmas gifts, the red for my daughter, dark blue for my daughter in law and the denim for my nephew's girlfriend. They were such fun to make - all in Plymouth Baby Alpaca - and sooo soft!

Now who are the pink booties for? Really, they were on the needles and needed the last 4 rows completed for about 2 years. Instead of losing the pattern, taking them off the needles (which I NEEDED for another project) and putting them in the UFO basket, it was just easier to finish them.

My brother's hobby is woodworking and he made me two intarsia cat wall figures - the woods are so lovely and the finish is beyond belief. Now what can I make for the guy who has everything? The HAT - with my own version of intarsia! The paw print on the front is very appropriate as my brother volunteers at Bide A Wee in Westhampton - he takes the senior dogs out for walks and runs. Being longer around the ears and neck the HAT will keep him warmer - the winds out in Westhampton can get very intense. (Could this be why my two resident cats are from Bide A Wee?)

I made this cute little basket for my sister in law. We visited she and my brother on Christmas Day and I wanted to take a little something special for her.

My knitting plans for the new year include finishing my Sample Stitch Kimono, finishing Josie's sweater (just need to make the hood and then stitch it together), finishing Ben's colors blanket, work on an EZ Rib warmer and try to understand her technique.

May 2008 bring you good health and happiness and lots of yarn! D

Knit till I drop!

Here it is - my version of the new scarf touted to be the best thing since sliced bread. In all honesty, it's warm and practical. Rather than having reams of lengthy scarf hanging over one's shoulder this scarf takes care of the important part - the neck!
I've made it out of Plymouth Baby Alpaca Grande - SOOOO soft! Notice the buttons - made a trip to NYC for button shopping and lunch w hubby. Have several scarfs in the works - planning to make them the gift of the holiday season.


Crazy mixed up bed socks were completed for someone special - someone w cold feet. These are a plain tube sock - ribbed for 5 inches and then stockinette for 5 inches, before starting to decrease. The yarn was worsted weight - leftovers from some previous projects, but perfect for that special guy with definite ideas on color.

In design is an intarsia puppy paw print in gray on a blue winter hat. More about the recipient after the holidays - again a gift which I hope to keep a surprise.

JE's purple sweater is progressing nicely. Working on two fronts at the same time - up to the decrease point. Will then work the two sleeves at once to avoid "second sock (sleeve) syndrome".

Also making good progress on BDs blanket - this month's cable is a bit thought provoking for ONE row only. The rest is easy knitting, but make a mistake on that row necessitates the dreaded FROG.

If you think all I do is knit, the answer is NO - I occasionally leave the house to buy yarn!

TTFN, Deb

Where Does the Time Go?

Can't believe that it's almost Halloween! What have I been doing with my days? Since September, we've been to Vermont (for a meeting) and Baltimore (for 2 days of knitting classes and 3 days of great food). Chris has been back to Baltimore for a genealogy meet and I took a bus ride to Rhinebeck, NY for the Sheep and Wool Festival. Heard that the Maryland S&W is MUCH better (and larger) - wonder if I'm brave enough to try that next spring?!?

Coming along well on BD's 'colors' blanket - strip one is finished and I've started on strip two. Liking the pattern designs - from Liesure Arts Sampler Afghans #932 using Patons Canadiana.



JEs sweater (Sirdar Snuggly 3936) in purple with a hood. This is a new technique for me - a mock smocking pattern.



It's coming along great and the color is SOOO JE! Working with chunky yarn makes the stitches stand out (also shows any errors so accuracy is important) and it is going so quickly. I should have the back finished this weekend!

Ok, so I've been working on items for BD and JE, but what about JC? The boy of many hats - Do I make a hat or some crazy kind of scarf? Does he even wear a scarf? In the planning stage, but need a consult with his Mom.

And here we have a photo of our last adventure! Sayville NY, Chris' first BBQ judging event! Yes, Chris is a certified Kansas City BBQ Judge - and the perfect weather was only enhanced by the opportunity to try food cooked by teams of BBQ specialists!

Judging is quite a science - it's more tasting and reviewing than eating en mass. These people are very serious. If you ate everything you were served, you wouldn't be able to get off the chair at the end of the day. Suffice to say, leftovers can be taken home and are VERY welcome.

Jeff, if you're out there, you missed a great time. We'll sign you up for the next judging!

Can this be Alice in Wonderland?? Yes, it's JE in disguise - costume I made for Halloween. I believe this costume came into being as JE liked the shoes! Amelda in the working!!

Count Dracula (aka JC) is primed to hoot and spook with his great cape and vest- in this photo he was awaiting his "fangs" but trying on the outfit to show how it fits!

The parties have begun and the grandchildren are treating and tricking - quite a difference from on our street where we MAY have one or two visitors on the 31st!

This year BD will be the well loved "elephant" - Great costume - keeps the babies warm and a favorite of Mom's until the children are big enough to decide what they want to be.

Next year we'll have 4 trick or treater Grandchildren! Jenny and Brian are expecting in March - right in 'birthday ally". Wonder what the costumes for next year will be?? I know we'll need at least one more knitted Pumpkin Hat!

Other projects in the works are convertible mittens (the first knitted item I'm making for Chris); A sewed fleece vest for me (project we're making in the machine sewing class I teach at Northport Adult Ed). Also finished handmaking a few items which will be revealed toward the end of the year as they are Christmas gifts for family members.

'Till next time. D