Topic of the Week

TOPIC OF THE WEEK: Autumn has now officially begun here in the States!! What is your favorite thing about Autumn/Fall? Why?

The cooler weather for sure! It's been very hot in Memphis this summer. Hotter than normal. I'm really enjoying sitting outside (vs. sitting in the air conditioning!) and knitting away. We do a lot more traveling during Sept/Oct and I can sit outside, people watch, and knit happily away! :)

I'm doing alot of knitting as I joined a few swaps and the dates are coming up fast. I have most everything done except for 2 dishcloths and felting a bag. The bag is knitted, but I'm knitting another one for my sister for Christmas so I will felt both at the same time.....Of course, I also want to make one for my daughter, so I just have to be careful of the time so everything has time to dry before I mail the bag to my partner.

Pictures later tonight of F.O. and stalled work. :)

Happy knitting all!

This is the box I received from N.C. I am doing the Dishcloth Tag
and my tag member sent me a grandmother's favorite in blue, 2 skeins of pink and of course candy! I had to make up a dishcloth from one of the skeins and send to the next member who is in Texas. I used the pink Peaches n Cream and did the Pink Ribbon Awareness Cloth , but of course I forgot to take a picture. :(




I'm down to the last foot for the Monkey Sock 3 swap. I am doing them in Luna Park, 100% merino wool. I have everything else put together except for buying the yarn to make a pair of socks. I have all my monkey things, put some other stuff already, so now I just have to decide what yarn to get. I still have plenty of time, so I'm not sweating the "small " stuff! LOL















This is going to be a felted purse for the my swap partner for the Fall Felted Bag Exchange. The pictures do not do it justice. It is a hunter green in Cascade 220 and the color is gorgeous. I'm thinking my partner will like it very much.


Well, I'm still working on the baby blanket, a sweater for me, socks for Hubby, plus the other 2 listed above. Now, if I could just figure out how to knit at work, I might get everything done in time. Getting a little stressed out here!

Happy knitting all!

Socks are finished

Of course, I would give socks away without taking a pictures, so sorry for the quality of the pictures. They are cell phone pics! LOL

Anyways, the ones on the left were in the Opal Tiger colorway and I have to say, it is very nice. I love how they ended up looking like tiger stripes!




These yellow ones were for my sister's birthday (I was late!). But they fit and she loved them. She loved how she was the first in the family of "outsiders" to get a pair of socks from me! It's a long story, but the short tale is our older sister had said one time she was finished with Christmas shopping EXCEPT for the outsiders. When we asked who were the outsiders she still had to shop for, she told us "US". So for the past oh 5-7 years we have teased each other on whether we are "outsiders" or not! LOL


Mostly this past weekend, I did "sewing" stuff. Had to get my machines fixed and then pick them up and then go to Hancock Fabrics and buy some stuff, and then take my daughter back to Hancocks to pick up some stuff and then and then....LOL Actually, we got a maternity top cut out and started sewing it up, but I made a big "oops", so now I have to go get more material :( and at $10.00 a yard, I am not happy! Oh well, it's been awhile since I have actually sewn, so I'm "chaulking" it up to "blondness"! LOL

Happy knitting all!

Fall Into Autumn Dishcloth Swap

Wahooo....going to do a new swap. It is the Fall Into Autumn Dishcloth Swap. The sign up starts From September 1 - 8. I think I am right in the middle of this one! :) I loveeeee dishcloths.

1. Do you knit or crochet? How long have you been doing it? I do both. I have crocheted for over 20 years, but have only been knitting about 18 months.

2. Have you made dischloths before? Do you use them yourself, give them as gifts, or both? I love love love dishcloths. I give as gifts, and use them always!

3. What's your favorite cotton to make cloths from? What cotton would you like to try that you haven't before ? It depends on who it is for. For my kitchen, I prefer Cotton Classic, for the bathroom, I like Sugar and Cream or Cottontots.

4. If you knit, do you prefer circular or straight needles? For all, do you prefer wooden, metal, or plastic needles? I use all of them depending on the yarn I am using.

5. What are your favorite colors? Any colors you don't like much? Favorite colors are burgandy and royal blue. Least favorite would be anything Neon.

6. What do you like best about Autumn? The cooler weather. It's been very hot this summer in Tennessee.

7. Pies: Pumpkin? Apple? Pecan? All of em? or No Thanks! Pumpkin for sure!

8. When you were a kid, were you the one who couldn't wait to get started with school , or the one who overslept on the 1st day? Always a school kid....loved it!

9. Do you celebrate Halloween? (The real key here guys is especially knowing if you have an aversion to the holiday or little goodies/decorations associated with it, given the timeframe of the swap). Halloween--used to, until 9 years ago when we moved into a new house. There are no kids in the neighborhood, so don't do anything anymore :(

10. If you had to choose just 3 edible 'goodies' to eat for a full year, what 3 would you choose? Chocolate, chocolate and more chocolate!

11. Do you have any pets? Kids? Husbands who seem like kids? ;) All of the above! 1 black cocker spaniel (who is really spoiled); 1 son 26, 1 daughter 23 and one GRANDCHILD on the way! Of course my hubby of 29 years!

12. If you were to describe a particular yarn that shares traits of your personality, what would it be and why? Hmm....that's a hard one! I would have no idea...I'm a gemini for sure so I'm sure a yarn that doesn't know what it is!

13. Do you use your cloths mostly for dishcloths, or as facecloths? Both and love'em.

14. Favorite Fall Holiday: Halloween or Thanksgiving and why? (Feel free to share another fall memory if you do not celebrate either of these holidays) Thanksgiving....I love the whole having family over, cooking, baking, etc!

15. Do you have any allergies or aversions your pal should know about? Dust? LOL

Trying to Catch up....but going backwards

This yarn came in the other day: It is the Tofutsis from SWTC. It is one of the yarns for the sock club at yarnmarket. They are supposed to be special limited edition colors and there will be a pattern for each color. It is absolutely gorgeous, and since I love this yarn, it's going to be nice to get a skein in every 2 months. Should give me plenty of time to keep up with the pattern. I am "chomping" at the bit right now to start this sock, but have to wait. Have 2 pairs going and I don't want to get stressed out!

This is the sweater I am working on for me. I started it last week, but I'm a little concerned as I only have 7 skeins and only have this much done with one skein. I am going to go ahead and continue knitting and see what I use up on one side. That should give me an idea on whether I will have enough to finish. I stopped by the LYS and they don't have any more in this color. She can order it, but then I might have a dye-lot problem. Wish me luck!

This is one of the 2 pairs of socks I am working on. It is the new Opal in the Tiger color. It is very pretty and so far working up pretty nice. I have actually finished this sock and working on the 2nd since I took this picture. I did the heel in short-row double wrapped and I like that very much.

And this is the other sock I am working on. It is being done in yellow Wildfoot on size 2 needles. Can't say I like the pattern too much as it has plenty of k2tog and yarns overs, so my fingers are sore. Taking this pair very slow and giving my fingers a break after every 10 rows! :)

Now, I just have to start on all the swaps I am doing. Let's see, I have a knitted felted bag to do, a dishcloth but have to wait for the tag box to come in to start, a pair of monkey socks, ummm.....going to have to review my list I think. I'm in 5 swaps and that's only 3. But I have all requirements printed off, so I just have to clean out my knitting bag, and I'm sure the other 2 will show up!

Happy knitting All!

Finished baby sweater set!

Finished the baby set. It includes the sweater, hat, socks/booties and a knit burp cloth. The cloth has a stork on it! It is way too cute! Now, I just have to wait to find out if the baby is a boy or girl so I can add details, like pink or blue buttons!






This is a comparison of the 2 sweaters together. The little one is the first one I knit, but I think it is way too small, so I did the next one 2 sizes up from it. All of this is done in Dreambaby DK which is so soft and so nice to knit with. I hope the baby is happy and nice and warm.






I also did a dishcloth this week in Red White and Blue. Of course it is in the DW pattern as I love the way it works. The yarn is one I have never seen before as my LYS just got it in. It's more expensive than SnC or PnC as it is $2.75 a skein and only makes the one cloth. I did it on size 7 needles. The yarn is called: SRK coolspun cotton and only has 73 yards to the skein. I'm going to see how it lasts and holds up over time. I'm hoping the colors won't run as PnC has a tendency to do in the bright colors.



And I finally finished a pair of socks for hubby this weekend. I've only been working on them for oh about 2 months now. The baby through me for a loop and I was working on getting some stuff done ahead of time. Hubby has already worn them so sorry about the bad picture. He loves getting new socks and takes them to wear the next day before I have time to take pics, wash and block! LOL Gotta love him!

I'm also working on a new sweater for me and I am still working on the surprise baby blanket. I'm about 2/3 done with the blanket, so I'm hoping to have pictures soon. Well, at least in process as again for the final work, I have to know if baby is boy or girl. I think I am driving daughter nuts about that!

Happy knitting all!

Fall Felted Bag Exchange

How long have you been knitting or crocheting? How did you learn? or from whom? I have crocheted for over 20 years. I have only been knitting for less than 2 years. I started in January 2006. I learned to knit at my LYS.

What was your first felted object, and why did you decide to try felting? My first felted object was a purse for my daughter. I wanted something to match her red wool coat she wanted last Christmas.

What are your favorite colors? Any you hate? Pretty much love all colors but neon.

What are your favorite styles\types of bags? (Long straps? Short handles? Handbags? Totes? Any and all.

Embellished? Plain? Include links to patterns or photos if you’d like – give your pal an idea of what you enjoy!) Most probably plain. I'm not a bling type person.

What handbag or bag are you carrying today? Do you use a separate bag to carry your knitting? What I would call a regular handbag, overthe shoulder type. I always carry a separate bag for knitting, except I do carry a sock in my purse. LOL

What other things do you enjoy knitting or crocheting? Sweaters, socks, dishcloths.

What sort of needles do you enjoy working with? (straights vs circs, bamboo vs aluminum) Actually I use them all, depending on what I am working on.

What’s one project you’ve not yet tried but are dying to make? I have the pattern and the yarn for the felted clogs, but haven't started them yet.

What’s one yarn you’ve not yet tried but are dying to work with? I haven't work with Noro yarn yet.

What other hobbies do you have? Do you spin? Sew? Garden? I do not spin, but I do sew and garden, and read.

Besides yarn, do you collect anything? Piebirds.

What kind of goodies do you enjoy? Sweets? Salty? Anything you hate or are allergic to? Chocolate and more chocolate

Do you have any kiddos? (Furry kind count!) 2 grown at boy 25, girl 23, 1 dog and one grandkid on the way!

What kind of project best personifies you and why? I am doing the Sample Stitch Kimono, this keeps me interested in a long-term project. As I tend to hop or push getting something done before I lose interest.

What is your favorite part of Autumn? You can also share a special Autumn memory if you'd prefer! I love the change of colors on the trees and the cooler temperatures.

Tell us 3 things you would do if you won 10 million dollars in the lottery. I would quit work, and volunteer at a shelter or something along those lines, buy a maybach and buy a house near or on the beach.