Sock Monkey Java Jacket

Jill and Nathan Mittens

Even though I've posted other mittens, these are the first pair I made.

One loses most of one's heat through bare extremities. Guess that's handled.

Kerri's Mitts

Kerri mitts

Bella's Mittens

I bought some bulky yarn for mittens and found this cute mitten pattern on Ravelry. It was inspired by the mittens in Twilight. They are so warm. Will probably make another pair, but change up the cable to be two parallel cables instead of two attached cables.

Mittens for Pat

I made some really cute ones for Jill but forgot to take a picture.

How to knit a flat circle

I copied this from a hat pattern that started with a flat circle. My plan is to use it for the bottom of a felted bag.

Using double-point needles, CO 5 sts.
Divide sts between needles and join to begin working in the round, being careful not to twist.
K 1 round.
Place a marker to mark beginning of round, or wait until there are a few more sts on the needles first so it is easier to manage. If you find 5 stitches too difficult to work, you can cast on 10 sts and start on Round 3. This will form a small hole that can easily be sewn closed later.
Round 2: [M1, k1] around. 10 sts.
Round 3: [K1, m1] around. 20 sts.
Even-Numbered Rounds 4 through 20[22, 24]: K all sts.
Round 5: [K2, m1] around. 30 sts.
Round 7: [K3, m1] around. 40 sts.
Round 9: [K4, m1] around. 50 sts.Round 11: [K5, m1] around. 60 sts.Round 13: [K6, m1] around. 70 sts.Round 15: [K7, m1] around. 80 sts.Round 17: [K8, m1] around. 90 sts.Round 19: [K9, m1] around. 100 sts.
Etc…..

French Market Bag

Really wanted to try knitting a felted bag. Love this first attempt. It looks better than my poor photography skills would lead you to believe.

Knitted Putter Cover

My putter cover keeps falling off; the zipper broke. Tried a velcro model. Hassle. So, I made this cute spiral cover in a couple hours.

Skinny Cables Scarf

Easy, but entertaining scarf pattern. Love the yarn: Tonalita by Trendsetter.

Wavy Gravy Hat

I bought the yarn for this fun hat at a knitting shop in Bend and finally got around to making it when I was in California a couple weeks ago. It was very fast and easy

Girls' Weekend

We tried to take a long walk every morning with a stop at the coffee shop. It was SO cold and windy we couldn't bring ourselves to go out on the last day. You can see the snow on Darla's back in this picture.


We each brought a project to work on. This is Darla's quilt. She cut and sewed the entire top. Judy finished a quilt top too and sewed binding on another. Rhonda finished a pair of socks she was knitting for her son and worked on the coolest Christmas stockings for the twins. Stephanie worked on a sweater for her grandson and I finished my first pair of toe-up socks.


This is what the weather looked like the entire weekend. What the heck...snow in April.


The socks.

In addition to our projects, we ate really, really well. Each of us was responsible for a meal. We had homemade scones, granola, and croque monsieur for our breakfasts. Dinners were spinach and cheese in croissant dough and chicken curry. Of course, girlie appetizers were plentiful as well.

On our last day we went into Bend and had a lovely birthday lunch at Chow. The food was terrific; we shared 5 entrees and dessert and our tab was only $60 including tip. Especially yummy was the chickpea and barley salad.

We also hit the BJs Quilt Basket and a great new quilt shop Sew Many Quilts. After lunch, we went to Juniper Fiberworks to play with the yarn. I found a several skeins I 'had' to have.

Socks!!

Last summer, my friend Stephanie gave me two #2 circular needles for my birthday after I'd mentioned that I'd like to learn how to make two socks at the same time. Until about three weeks ago, I didn't take the time figure out how. After a few missteps, taking the socks off the circulars, putting them on dps, rearranging and knitting them back on to the circulars, I finally have it figured out. It's a great process, but a person can really get tangled up in yarn and needles. Well, here they are so far....heels done, gussets done, now only the foot and toe remain. Yay!

Strangely, I met an old acquaintance (from 1982) at a class I was taking for work and found out she teaches a toe-up, two at a time sock class at a knitting shop, Tangle. I really want to learn that method, so may take her class in the near future. She also has a great blog, www.persistent illusion.com.

Newest Sock project

Making these socks a little smaller than the last pair.

Working on my second pair of knitted socks. The first pair were just plain gray. Too bad my skills needed improvement. 1st sock much larger (had the gauge wrong) than the second. Fortunately, being wool, I was able to shrink the big one and it almost matches the other. Can wear them around the house.. a little bulky for shoes.
The new socks are multi-colored stripes, knitted in a lace pattern. Check out the almost finished first sock....