Woolythyme

End of the year Ta-Dahs!!

Let's start 2012 with a clean slate....so here are the final ta-dahs of 2011!!

Frosted Fields socks are finished!

And the best thing about them...they are a present for a friend whose birthday is in AUGUST!!!  (I'm ahead already this year, and am going to gloat about it because it will probably be the only time this happens!!!)  It's so easy to knit for this friend....she really "gets it" when it comes to handknits.  (The first item in the newly "designed" gift box--the box that will contain gifty FOs for the year.)

On our car ride back from visiting with #1 son and family I finished Selbu Modern.  (I deleted the picture from my computer which is SERIOUSLY low on memory before I posted it, so we'll just have to use the Rav link.  Sorry.)  I honestly thought that this was going to end up fitting an American Girl doll, but the miracle of blocking came through once again, and it's a very nice hat.  Nice fit.  Just can't love knitting fair isle.  I keep thinking if I do enough of it, it'll grow on me, because I adore the look.  I'm afraid I'm going to have to do a heck of a lot more to love the process. 

 

This is the basic baby cap I knit a lot.  (I try to provide a baby hat in the baskets the women of our church give to new moms.)  I wish I could give credit to someone, but I think it's one of those hats that you see over and over and over in slightly different variations, and I haven't used a real pattern for years.  These actually are 2 different hats, because I was slightly distracted and started decreasing differently, but they turned out just about the same.  In case anyone might be interested in using odds and ends from their stash for a similar one....this is what I do.

On a size 4 (because I'm a very very loose knitter) 16" circular needle, with dk wt yarn, CO 80 st.  Place marker, and start knitting in the  round.

Knit for about 4 1/2" and start the decreases. 

Version 1:  *Knit 6, k2tog, repeat around.  Knit 1 row.

                   *Knit 5, k2tog, repeat around.  Knit 1 row.

                Continue like this, decreasing the number of knit stitches before the k2tog by 1 stitch, followed by a knit row (changing to dpn when needed)--until you are just knitting 2tog.  Continue k2tog until you have 3 or 4 stitches left on your needles, and do an I-cord for about 3".  Bind off and knot the I-cord.

Version 2 decrease starts with *K 8, k2tog, repeat around.  Knit 1 row.

                                                       *K7, k2tog, repeat around.  Knit 1 row.

                                                        Follow above instructions.

These take less than a skein of yarn.  I had two partial balls of the blue; was seriously  running low on the second hat, so started striping with the white (needed at least 3 white stripes--that old basic design rule of odd numbers!), so I could end with a blue I-cord and have it look like the stripes were intentional, and not just---oops, ran out of blue, so the rest of the hat needs to be white. 

The whole hat obviously can be striped; you can add embellishments (buttons, crocheted/knit flowers, embroidery); instead of going down to 3 stitches at the very end for the I-cord, you can stop at 6 stitches--make 2 long I-cords and make a bow on top.  Whatever.  Have fun!

See you next year!

 

A single moment....

Joining Amanda with a single picture from the week.....

 

I think my friend's 3 year old grandson liked his lambie scarf.  Not sure, though, if he just really liked the pink marker or was just a little put off that Grandma made him "write" a thank you note. 

He was "kinder" to the tulip on the front.

WIP Wednesday....Yarn Along

The second sock is on the needles....I'm sort of shocked.  Of course, the first one lingered partly finished in the UFO pile for months, so I'm really not sick of the pattern yet.  It's a short sock, too, so there is hope that a pair might actually materialize sooner rather than later!  (The yarn is from the alpaca company PACA PEDS Heels and Toes in "Promise of Spring"; it's quite lovely to knit with!!)

I'm reading more than just the pattern that's pictured, just failed to take a book picture.  Sorry.   My current Audible download is the first in the Amelia Peabody series, Crocodile on the Sandbank.  It's OK. There are a gazillion in the series, so I guess if I get hooked, I'm set for months. 

 I'm really enjoying the Reading Promise that I started last week.  Short memoir-type chapters that really aren't tightly connected--perfect pick up/put down bookfor the holiday.  A load of book titles mentioned--some old friends, some new-to-me that I might want to check out!!!  I'll share!

Looking for more suggestions???  Join Ginny for Yarn Along!

Tuesday Ta-DAH!!

Granny is DONE!!  That last green border finished with about 4 yds of yarn leftover.  (phew!!!)  Christmas day temps reached almost 60 degrees, so I dragged her outside for her photo op, but the camera still didn't capture the colors.  This is one happy afghan, and when the weather turns dreary and cold and grey and damp and overcast, I will be one happy afghan snuggler. 

(It's not going to last.........but this morning........it's SNOWING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!)

Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow....

The Santas are all put away.  But "he" and all his little elf helpers were very good to us again this year!  Family pictures and picture calendars, notecards designed by budding artists (JayBob and the Candyman!),  donations in our name to some of our favorite charities (I actually got a share of Heifer International's knitting basket--is that perfect, or what???) and some amazingly funky wonderful antique-y tchotchkes.   Hope you all had a wonderful day as well.

But when Christmas day is over, I just have to put the Santas away.  He's been here, he's gone, and the Santa decorations just have to go, too.  The lights are OK, the greenery stays, and of course, the creches will be out until Epiphany, but Santa....sorry, big guy.  But, when Santa leaves..... Frosty and all his snowman friends appear!  This might be as close as we get to snow....so I'm counting it!

When I look at a glass a water....

 

 

 

In 2003 my husband and I went to Ciudad del Carmen in the Yucatan with Living Waters for the World to give clean water to the "poor " ! How naive I was.  How egotistical.  How selfish and self-serving.  How ungrateful.  How poor.  Yes, we helped to install a water purification system, and yes, we left the community with clean water.  But, we came home with so many "gifts" from those beautiful, faithful, hardworking, creative people that we will forever be indebted to them..

We returned to the Yucatan the following year to Lerma and Xkeulil.  We found dirt floors, and scrawny chickens, and outdoor firepits for kitchens--and some of the most endearing,  industrious, spiritual, family-oriented folks.  We shared the gift of clean water with them, but once again, the gifts they bestowed on us, the values that we so often take for granted, and lose track of in our consumer world are ones that they reminded us (why must we be reminded ?) to hold close every day.

We now serve Living Waters  in other ways, although  PapaGeek still does some traveling.    Every time I turn on the tap, though, and receive clean water, I am acutely aware that this is a gift and a blessing not to be taken lightly.  And am reminded of all my friends from afar and all the other gifts that they have given me and my family. 

Simple gifts... important gifts...my wish to you this holiday season.

 

Blessings to all  

 

 

Yarn along....WIP Wedneday

Granny is nearing the finish line!!  I'm working on the final edging row (but will undoubtedly run out of yarn and have to take a break while another skein is ordered).   20 squares by 16 squares has made it large enough to cover the top of a queen size bed, but it's been pretty happy on the sofa, and will probably stay there.  The perfect snuggly to drag in front of the fire, too, with a book (and a wish for snow).  (Done with KnitPicks Swish worsted wt--squishy soft.)

I've been listening to an audible download of the Night Circus (recommended by several yarn-along-ers)--and am loving this Jonathan Stange/Mr. Norrell era fantasy.    I finished listening to P. D. James' new book, Death at Pemberley and was rather disappointed.  P.D. James meets Jane Austen--perfect, right!!!? But, no twists, no turns--and, because I was listening to it, I really didn't know how much more of the story was left....and when it ended, I thought--that's it?  I'm a rather devoted fan of English mysteries--and love most of James' work.  Just not this one.

The book in the picture is "queued"...The Reading Promise, my father and the books we shared by Alice Ozma.  My dad was a huge reader--and even after he lost his sight (I set him up with talking books) he was still reviewing and recommending books to me.  I'm pretty sure I'm going to love this reading adventure between a daughter and her librarian father; it's a discussion book at our local library.  Let you know next week, maybe--still slogging along with the Prague Cemetery; liking it, but not having oodles of time for it.   (One chapter before lights out isn't moving it along too fast!)

What are you reading and working on this week?  Hop over to Ginny's yarn along for other great reading recommendations and project ideas!!! 

We should have cheered louder....

This "fan" found reading more exciting than the game.

This one ate the pompom off his hat, then took a nap.

No wonder we lost.

Weekending....

 

 

 

 

 :: a little  a whole lot of  wrapping

:: a little bread making

:: a little candy-ing (peppermint bark)

:: cookies!!!  (my mom's chocolate cookies--yum!!!)

:: watched The Christmas Story

:: watched PapaGeek suffer through a kidney stone episode (and felt so helpless.  he's fine now.)

:: made soup (creamy wild rice...yum)

:: played Santa and delivered/mailed some gifts

:: crocheted, crocheted, crocheted

:: resisted the urge to go buy buy buy; it's so easy to get caught up in the consumer frenzy--just one more little gift...oh, maybe one more...this is definitely the downside to "finishing" early; am I really finished?  I could make one more thing...buy one more book (that's good for the grandkids, right? which means one more times seven...) make one more batch of cookies (when there are more calories sitting in the pantry and more tins to be delivered than are healthy!!!!) I resisted...(except for the cookies...) so far.

:: and I crocheted, crocheted, crocheted...........

:: it was a relaxing weekend...getting mentally ready for a whirlwind 36/48 hours with all 7 grandkids (under 8 years), having both my son and daughter together, celebrating Christmas and two birthdays---can't wait!!!!!! ♥♥♥♥♥

 

PS  I need an opinion...I changed my font.  I looked back on some of my posts, and I felt like I was shouting.  Honestly, I wasn't.  But, is this better?

want to see how others have spent their weekends?  Join amanda at the habit of being!

 

 

A moment....

A single picture...joining Amanda at Soulemama.