Simple Hat

Pattern: Debbie Bliss Simple Hat from "Baby Knits For Beginners"

Yarn: Debbie Bliss Baby Cashmerino, color # 005 - 1 skein (50g)

Needles: US 3 dpn

Mods: I used a smaller gauge yarn (pattern called for Debbie Bliss Cotton DK) .

Mainwas knit in the round, when 9 sts remain, made I-cord thingy at top.

Finished size Head Circumference size 17-18 inches, 6-12 month old.

Start Date: 6/6/07

Finish Date: In Bethany Beach, DE - June 2007

Toe-up Socks Complete

Pattern: Combination of P's toe-up class and Joy's generic sock pattern

Yarn: Panda Cotton (55% bamboo, 24% cotton, 21% elastic nylon) color #0432 - 1 skein

Needles: US#1 dpn, gauge 7st/in

Mods: I CO fewer stitches than pattern suggested due to elastic in the yarn.

I used # inches around ball of foot X sts/inch X .75 (so, next time use .90 as suggested)

Start date: 4/17/07

Finish date: 6/24/07

Thank you, No Sheep Pal

A lovely package arrived awhile back. I think it was right before the 4th of July and our second trip to the shore for this Summer. It was a busy time and I have not been up to my usual tricks on the PC since. Poor excuse I know.

Anyway, did I mention it is such a lovely package from my No Sheep For You Pal? See in the photo, I got two skeins of Bouton d'Or New Bamboo (color 078), which I already have on needles. I'm making a pair of baby socks as a gift for my friend, A. Along with the yarn I got ladybug tissues and a little ladybug handwritten note.

Thanks again, No Sheep Pal.

Rabbit, Rabbit, Rabbit!

On this the first of July, I remembered to say Rabbit, Rabbit, Rabbit.

On researching why I am getting the "err" message on my Nikon D50, I found this and this to be most helpful. I've tryed a different memory card, a fully charged battery, removing and replacing the lens and none of those worked. Besides Jonathan Ryan suggests if the message has appeared for a third time, as mine has, it is time to return the camera. I only hope my husband saved the purchase receipt.

Pirates

The last time I was in the theatre my husband and I saw Babel. We got popcorn*. Last night I saw Pirates of the Caribbean At World's End with two girlfriends. We did NOT get popcorn*. They talked me into to going, it did not take too much talking. It was the first I had seen of the Pirates movies. Yes, I really am that out of the "in"!

Now, I so want to see the first and second movies and now I may have to add these to my "to knit" list.

*I was not allowed to get popcorn or buy anything at a movie as a kid. So, having popcorn at a movie always reminds me of going on dates. I actually remember saying on dates, "you mean I can get popcorn if I want it"!

Back From Bethany

We had a wonderful family time at Bethany Beach in celebration of my parents' 50th wedding anniversary. The damper was that my father ended up being admitted to the hospital the Thursday night of our stay (June 21). He was showing signs of a mini stroke (TIA) and after a serious of tests that turned out to be the diagnoses. On a good note, he was discharged this morning, has no lasting damage and can resume normal activity.

As far as knitting is concerned, I got alot done there. I finished the Panda Cotton toe-up socks and the Simple Baby Hat from Debbie Bliss Baby Knits For Beginners. I'll be posting photos as soon as I can get rid of the error message on my new Nikon D50. Urgh!

SP10 Has Done It Again!

Start with a lovely handmade card, add bamboo yarn, cotton yarn, painted egg leaflet, lavendar sachet, measuring tape, pins, Mitchell's Fat Wool Soap, topped with chocolate (some for the girls and some just for me) and you've put together the perfect parcel.

So, my SP10 remembered I wanted to try some bamboo yarn and spoiled me with some. She thought of me when in an antique shop and spoiled me with a painted egg leaflet from there. Somehow she knew I was in need of something to keep the moths away and spoiled me with the lavendar sachet. You did make the card right? I like it best of all the items in the package. I have it displayed prominently in my kitchen to remind me to get knitting!

I have been so well spoiled. So fortunate am I to have been paired with you for this exchange. You've put together packages as if you've known me forever, really!

Thank you, Crafty Drama Queen.

Mango Moon

This post is especially for you, Marsha. You asked for pattern suggestions using a single skein of Mango Moon Recycled Silk. A few years ago I saw scarf in "Unraveled" (a lovely local shop which unfortunately had to close) made with the yarn, admired it and jotted down the pattern on a scrap of paper. Of course, now I can't find the scrap of paper.

But, I just e-mailed Joy who used to work at the shop and she knew exactly what scarf I was talking about. She wrote to me in reply:

"Yes, I remember the scarf and the pattern. Her Aunt Carol had made it using “purse stitch”.

On an even number of sts.
K1, *yo, p2tog* rep between *s, end k1.
Rep this row.

Happy knitting."

Strawberries

This morning the girls and I headed out early to pick strawberries at Highland Orchards. We went out to the fields just behind some other pickers who looked much more experienced than us. I overheard them in line talking about what type of leg wear was most appropriate for picking and one woman asked me "are THEY going to pick too?" I simply replied "yes".

The girls did a great job. It did not take us long to pick 3 1/2 lbs of berries. We remembered to take our carton from last year and got a 35 cent discount on our total. The berries cost about $8.00. It was sunny and hot in the fields, next year we'll have to remember our hats!

Knitter's Day Out

Today I signed up for Knitter's Day Out (KDO). I've been there twice before. It's a great opportunity to spend the day with others who share my passion for knitting and to take some classes at a very reasonable price.

Now look at the photo. See the lady in pink? I was sitting to her left.

Why?

M: Good night, I love you.
T: Why do you say that?
M: Because I want you to know that I love you. And I want you to remember that you are always safe here.
T: Are you talking to me?

Wallaby Progress

Here's the progress on my Wallaby. I'd better go hit the needles because this baby was born yesterday!

I couldn't help but use the forget-me-nots in the yard as a backdrop. They match well with Knitpicks, Shine, Bachelor Button yarn. Don't you think?

Another Parcel From SP10!

I received another brilliant package from my SP10. The latest issue of Simply Knitting, needle case, lady bug buttons (oh, so cute), knitting needles and a skien of lovely Hip Knits silk yarn in 'eat your greens' shade. You've gotta love it for that name alone. Trust me, though, it feels great. The yarn is hand dyed 100% silk, 180 metres to 100g, recommended needle size - 5mm/US8. It's available at www.hipknits.co.uk. They say that one skein is perfect for a hat, scarf or small bag. That suits me just fine. SP10 even thought to send a scarf pattern my way - I'll get that via e-mail.

Your parcel arrived just in time to bring a smile to my face on a difficult day.
Thanks so much!

SP10 Parcel Continued

Along with the great yarn are some yummy candies local for my SP10, a bar of chocolate orange soap and a postcard from her recent trip to Scotland. Is she aware that I save every postcard I receive and of my fondness for maps? In my life before motherhood, I worked as a cartographer.

SP10 Parcel Continued

SP10 even thought to send gifts for my girls. They were so excited to share in the opening of the package. Of course we read the book right away and we tryed on all the fancy hair accessaries. It was so thoughtful of you to think of them and to individually wrap and label their gifts!

By the way, this idea of several posts in a row is my feeble attempt to get around the fact that when I try to write a post and include multiple images it always ends up looking awful.

The Lanyard

In celebration of this Mother's Day, get out your tissues and read The Lanyard, by Billy Collins.

My Total - $16.00

While walking around town today, waiting for the Grower's Market to open, I stumbled upon a garage sale. I don't think I need to justify these purchases, do I? My favorite item is hard to see in this photo. It's a small blue enamel pot with lid, just the right size for a child's kitchen - price, 5 cents.

Watering Cans

Completed Gifts

This week I've got two FOs (Finished Objects)to share with you. From the colors I chose, it looks like you ought to be washing your dishes in your thong huh? I sent off the dishcloth to my SP10 and the thong to my sister-in-law.

It feels so good to have these two smaller projects completed. I told myself I was not going to CO my next Wallaby until these were off the needles. Yesterday I started, I CO the Wallaby sleeves for a friend's new baby. She's due in 3 weeks, my goal is to have the sleeves done by the time the baby arrives. I'm making a 2T, so baby will have plenty of time to grow into it.

Off, On and Frogged

Off the needles:

The Moebius scarf - it needs work! First of all, it's not a real moebius - mine has one and a half twists. Secondly, it needs to be blocked. It is alot more narrow than I want it to be and very long.

The toe-up-sock - this is a small sock to be used for my "adventsocken".

On the needles:

A thong (a gift for my sister-in-law), a pair of toe-up-socks for T., and a dishcloth for my SP10.

Frogged:

The toe-up socks for myself. I realized a did not have enough of the solid blue yarn (used above in the small sock), so I've decided to use that blue as toes and heels in combination with this yarn.