Have yourself a Merry Little Christmas...

Pottery Barn Inspired Cable Stocking...

As most of you know, I work at the LYS.  In early November, the owner of the shop brought in two Chunky Knit Christmas Stockings she purchased at Pottery Barn {she is a huge PB fan}.  She thought it would be fun to create a pattern similar to the stockings.  Good friend and coworker, Mary and I studied the stockings.  We made notes and I took them home and began prototyping.  I tested several different yarns, heels, and toes.  Here is what I came up with.

Using Lamb's Pride Bulky and a US 10.5 16" circular needle, these stocking go together quite quickly.  And they can be made for less than half the PB price.

As you can see these stockings were hurried off to the shop before being blocked.  (And my photo taking skills have not improved in 2013!) 

My pattern is available here on Ravelry. 

It is Christmas Eve.  Next week is the perfect time to get started on next year's Christmas knitting!

After...

The painters finished painting Thursday.  I took a few pictures (with my phone).  I had planned to get more pictures  today, but we've got a dusting of snow!  As you can see, the base paint is brighter, the trim is painted an accent color, and the shutters are barn red.  We are very happy with it.

Last Friday we had a plumbing problem, because isn't that when all plumbing problems begin, at the end of the work week!  The husb noticed water in the basement, and dry wall damage. He called 6 plumbers before he could find one that would come that day.  The plumber determined the seal was bad on the powder room toilet - that was an understatement since he could lift it off the tile floor without unscrewing any screws.  He said it would be less that $200 to reset the seal.  When he got in there he determined he could not reset the seal because the sub flooring, under the tile, had rotted away.  He said we were lucky we hadn't fallen through the floor.  He gave me the name of a handyman that could replace the sub flooring and the tile.  So, our plumbing problem is now a powder room reno. 

The money pit continues to earn it's name.

Before the Facelift...

The painters finally arrived!  Here is a before picture of the house.  I don't think the house has been painted since the late 1990s. 

The house is currently green but looks grey in some light.  You can see where I tested a few colors on the front of the house and on one shutter.  I think the house would look nice with a contrasting trim.   We finally settled on a slightly perkier green, cream trim, and barn red accents.   If the sun shines today, I will take pictures of the finished project.

 

Next, we plan to do some landscaping before the ground freezes... which means soon.  

 

 

The woods are so pretty!  It is my favorite time of the year.

 

Churchmouse Classics Welted Fingerless Gloves...

I love all things Churchmouse.  I am referring to Churchmouse Yarns and Teas.  I made these Welted Fingerless Gloves as a shop sample for our 12 Weeks of Christmas promotion.   I love the pattern and since I am a confessed serial knitter, I have made these mitts more than a half of a dozen times.  No blocking necessary.  They are my go to gift, and are always well received. 

This pair of mitts are made of Berroco Vintage DK.  One skein yields 2 sets of mitts. I knit them using the Magic Loop technique on a US 6.  The buttons were purchased at JoAnn Fabrics.

The local meteorologist is warning us of snow flurries tomorrow.  Ah, knitting weather. 

Where has the time gone?...

Oh my!!! It has been a YEAR since my last post, and what a year it has been!

Sept - March:  renovated new house (aka the money pit)
Nov:  moved into new house
Dec:  Prince Charles moved home, with a kitten (Atta, the indoor cat)
March:  I manage the yarn shop while owner has back surgery
              Mom visits for the month
May:   Mom has back surgery and I help out with her recoop
           Husband brings home new cat (Smitty, the outdoor cat)
June:  Mom moves in with us, for good
July:   Marley moves in with us (an adorable basset hound/lab mix)
Aug:   New drainage and hardscaping 
           5 days w/o water = New pressure tank, one week later, no hot water
Sept:  landscaping plans
Oct:  possibly paint the exterior, but we've been waiting for 2 months
         possibly hiring a new painter

Just one year ago we were empty nesters.  Now we have our son, my mother, two cats and a dog living with us.  It all sounds like a lot, but it is really a blessing.

The house still has areas that need work, but that can wait for now.  This time of year, I am in love with the property!

The old lane to the main road.

 

 

Pre-constitution Hackberry

 

Peace!