Family Fun and Knitting!!!

I attended Jakob's 3rd birthday party last Saturday.  Notice the excitement in his eyes as he sees his front bucket loader cake that my daughter, Emily, baked and decorated for him.

Jakob blowing out his candles!

Enjoying my grandson!

It was a great Thanksgiving at my son-in-law, Richard's family home.  Lots of great food, laughter and fun!

My older daughter, Amy, and I had a lot of quality time together from shopping at LYS and mall to going to an alpaca farm that unfortunately was not open that day. 

Amy and I knitted a lot, watched knitting TV programs and more.  I wish I had remembered to take a picture of her knitting project as she is knitting very, very well for the short amount of time she has been knitting.   (The apple doesn't fall far from the tree!!!! hehe)

I am so proud of all my grandchildren.   Above is Nick, age 12, chopping wood to donate to needy families in the area.  Unfortunately, he is still too young for a chain saw.  He was out there for quite awhile.  He drove the tractor and loaded the wood on the cart.  This will also help him earn a Boy Scout badge.  He's always been a hard worker.

Unfortunately, I didn't take pictures of all family members and also didn't take a picture of the completed hat I gifted to my daughter.  I just plain forgot.

All you knitters........eat your heart out!!!  I stopped here briefly on the way home. 

I was on a mission and it was a quick shopping trip as I am returning for their December 26th sale accompanied by my daughter and catching up to Brian and his brother.  I scooped up 20 skeins of sale yarn...more info later.

"Show and Tell" knitting blog post tomorrow.  I've already written and scheduled the post. 

Happy Knitting!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving to all my blogging friends!  Sorry, no pictures to post.  This gal is just dog-tired. 

I'm traveling to Rhode Island for turkey treats and quality time with my family and grandkids. 

I've completed lots of knitting and I mean lots.  So much so that I've had no time to take pictures.  I finished my 3rd Quincy hat last evening (all in about 10 days), another cowl, a scarf and one 3/4 completed, started another cowl.  I'm exhausted just thinking about it.

Lots of pictures when I return.  Will catch up on blog reading at some point.

Happy Knitting!
Joansie

Oh, Baby, Baby....

.....I'm so in love with you!

Pattern:  Quincy (Jared Flood's new book "Made in Brooklyn")
              This pattern can also be download from Brooklyn Tweed's Blog
Needles:  Size 10 1/2
Yarn:  Cascade Baby Alpaca Chunky (2 skeins with plenty left over)

While knitting this hat I kept humming "Oh baby, baby, I'm so in love with you!" because it  was a truly fun knit.  A couple relaxing evenings with your needles will complete this hat.

The Crown Of The Hat!

I love the simple elegance of this hat. 

It's difficult to capture the true beauty of this hat with my camera on a cloudy Vermont afternoon but it is one of my favorite patterns. 


I've completed several other projects that I have yet to post.  Those needles are just a clicking away.  The "Sally Bag" is completed but for the felting and lining.

I had a tooth extraction late Thursday that did not go very well.  The dentist was having difficulty and ended up hitting all my upper front teeth full force with the equipment.  He reassured me that nothing was chipped or broken.  I was then informed that my jaw was ready to collapse and that he needed to do a bone graft which is normally $400.  He said he would not charge me which left me wondering exactly what happened.

I was told to take it easy for a few days, not to lift anything heavy (that means laundry baskets, right?).  I was told I would feel some discomfort.  The first day was just plain pain.... 

I had an excuse to eat plenty of ice cream and pudding (tapioca).  It's back to work tomorrow!!!

Happy Knitting!

Excited Over My Next Project!!!

I'm so excited about my next project that I have to give you a glimpse of what I am up to.  Did I say next?  I still have two sweaters to finish which are almost done, a scarf and another neck warmer.  Perhpas this will be my Christmas timeoff, vacation, heavenly week. 

Do I have your attention?  Let me tease you a little bit!  It's always so much fun to do that!

Four skeins of Cascade 220 from my LYS.  Only three is needed but I am not taking the chance of running short.  Cascade 220....does that give you a clue?  100% wool.  The project has to be wool.  Still wondering, well, read on.  On second thougth, read on anyway.

I can already feel each one of those strands slipping through my fingers as I anxiously wind the yarn off my umbrella swift.  I'll feel the love of those same strands of yarn as I knit each stitch of my pattern.  

Silly men, (and I suppose some women also) like to say they get twice the heat when chopping wood.  Once, from the elevated body heat while chopping, and again heat when burning the wood. 

I'll get twice the heat from this yarn and it's so much easier....well, almost.  Once as it rests in my lap as it grows row by row and again when I wear it.  Oh, yes, I forgot.....this project is not worn in the true sense of the word. 

Ok, I've kept you in suspense long enough........

I'm knitting the "Lucy Bag" (<----click)as shown in the picture below on their web site. 

I knitted this bag for my younger daughter and loved it.  My older daughter has also knitted it for herelf.

My plan is to knit the bag, line it and needle felt a bird on the lower right (or left) of the bag.  Today, I was on a hunt to find lining fabric.  I really wanted a chickadee on a pine tree branch.  Chickadees and pine trees are my beloved home State of Maine's state symbols.  The material below is what I found.  Now, it's to decide which bird to needle felt.  This one..........

...or this one!!!.....

....or this one!!!

...or this one!!!!

I spoiled myself as well and purchased Brooklyn Tweed's (a/ka Jared Flood) new book.  It's no surprise that every pattern in this book is gorgeous. 

Happy Knitting!!

Cowls and Mittens

I knitted this cowl for my co-worker, Amy.  You've seen this same cowl in various yarns several times on previous blog posts.  Amy is always doing something nice for everyone else.  Amy is a fantastic baker and is always bringing baked products into work.   She is proud to say that all her baked goods that she sells incorporate all local ingredients. 

I think this colorway looks fantastic on Amy.  Her hair is a beautiful "salt 'n pepper" and wasn't it convenient for her to wear red the day I gifted her the cowl.  The buttons are from a stash of buttons she gave me awhile back.  Quite a propos!!!  I used Cascade 220 and adjusted the pattern accordingly as it called for DK. 

I have as much fun selecting buttons as I do knitting!

A close up!!

Brian sent me an e-mail because  he knew I had been looking for "Magnificent Mittens" for quite some time.  It's been out of print and if you can find it, the cost will be anywhere from $149 to $1,000.  My co-worker, Amy, surprised me one day.  She borrowed the book through inter-library loan.  Why I can't take books out of the library is a story for another day.  I drooled over this book  and decided the only way I could possibly ever own it was finding it at a yard sale where someone didn't know what they had. 

Well, much to my excitement, and I mean excitement, the book, "Magnificent Mittens and Socks", is going to be published again for $16.47 at Amazon.  I'm not sure if all the same mitten patterns are included along with the socks.  I don't care.  I am buying myself this book.  Here are a few pictures.

A thumb and a spare so that when one wears out, you flip the mitten!!!

I like the large cuff that easily goes over a jacket sleeve!

These would be a slight challenge but well worth the time!

I started teaching my cowl knitting class last evening.  All the women except for one are previous knitting students.  One of the women was disappointed I was not offering another class through by "Recreational Department" before the holidays so she offered her beautiful home to a small group of knitters.  We had less than a week to advertise if we were going to complete four Tuesday classes before Thanksgiving.  I've also been approved to teach additional knitting classes at the Rec Dept. starting in January.  It's exciting and I'm having a terrific time.  The women are lovely and we soon become friends.

Happy Knitting!

Halloween and Grandkids

It's been awhile since I've posted pictures of the grandkids.  Here are a few that this proud grandma wants to share with you.

Jakob, now almost 3 yrs. old, entering his Aunt Amy's office in his dragon outfit.

My daughter, Amy, with her nephew and my grandchild, Jakob!

Walking down the hall, the tail looks a little heavy!

"I'm so cute!!!"

"Trick or Treating" is a little tiring and time for a rest!  (not sure why the outfit is now green)

My two older grandchilren!!!  Joe (age 14) and Nick (age 12)  They are really good boys!!!

Jakob and his pumpkins!!!

I hope you all had a Happy Halloween!!!  I've gotten a lot of knitting done and have finished quite a few projects.  I'll be posting those this week!!!  They have been on the needles for quite some time!!!

Happy Knitting!