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!

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. 

Sock it To Me...

One of my favorite knitters, Kim of  I'm gonna tell Mom!, knit one pair of socks per month in 2011.  This, combined with my new Magic Loop skills {great tutorial here}, and my husb's Christmas wish list, inspired me to knit socks again.

I am currently working on these.

I use the Adult Basic Sock pattern by Ann Norling, and a US 1, 40 inch cirular Knit Picks needle.  The yarn is Malabrigo Sock yarn {fabulous}. 

Yesterday I finished this pair, knit out of Regia Design Line by Kaffe Fassett {from my stash}.

I finished this next pair of socks before Prince Charles returned to school.  These socks were on double pointed needles among my UFOs... for a loooooong time.  I only had a few inches to  knit to finish the pair {shameful}.  I gave them to Charlie and he paid me the highest of compliments.  He wore them 3 days straight and on the 3rd day, at a party, allowed his friends to try them on.  Now they want me to knit them a pair of socks.  Anywho, these are made of Plymouth Happy Feet yarn.

For Christmas, the husb asked for a pair of socks that weren't too tight at the top.  So this is where my sock story began.  These socks are made of Dream in Color Sock yarn.  To finish these socks I used the "Quick Toe Shaping Method".  A method I created when I discovered at the end of the second sock that I had forgot to alternate knit rows with decreasing rows {duh}.  He'll never be the wiser.

I found these socks on Pinterest.  Maybe someday...

{You can find this picture, free pattern, and purchase yarn at Sweet Paprika Designs.} 

Decembrrrrrrrr...

The sun is shining today and I should get out and walk.  Shoulda....Woulda... Coulda...   I have really fallen off my 10,000 steps wagon.  And it is hard {for me} to get motivated when it is 28 degrees outside.

It is not that I haven't been busy.  I just finished this Christmas gift for my sister-in-law.  It was a joy to knit out of Malabrigo Worsted in Ravelry Red. 

The pattern is Ruffled and Rouched by Pam Powers.  Here is her Ravelry picture for an idea of how it is to be worn. 

I also am working on a lovely pair of fingerless mitts.  I taught myself the Magic Loop and I am delighted not to be using 5 doublepoints.  You can find a great tutorial on the Magic Loop here on the KnitPicks website.  I don't know why I waited so long to try it!

Field Trip #1...

Oh my... it has almost been a month since my last post.  Busy, busy, very busy.

I had the opportunity to travel to Boston with the husb for a conference.  We did the usual sightseeing.  We took a trolly tour which I repeated the second day.  Very fun and informative.

Naturally I googled to find all the local fabric and yarn shops.  That is how I found  Windsor Button on Temple Street just off Boston Commons.

When I walked in I found this to the right...

More yarn then imaginable... waiting in boxes to be unpacked.  Since I work in a yarn shop I was just itching to dive into these boxes.  Crazy!

They had a nice yarn selection.  Everything from Lion Brand to Lorna's Laces.

But the BUTTONS.  Check this out...

and this...

and this...

I, of course, had no particular need for buttons... but I picked out 5 interesting wood buttons for my stash.

And here is the good news... they have an Online-Store!  The bad news is, it is not nearly as fun as beeing there!

An Amish Lifestyle...

well... not exactly... but my laptop died and I have been without far too long!  Yesterday the husb took me out and we shopped for, and bought, a new laptop. YEAH... I am back in business. 

While I was offline I got a TON of things done.  {Imagine that!}

I took Eva K to see her grandson play college football.  It was 900 degrees {slight exaggeration} that day.  In the fourth quarter the sky turned black, it began to hail, lightening, rain cats & dogs, and we had a 3 hour delay {no exaggeration}.  The Wartburg Knights came out on top beating Monmouth College.  Yeah team! 

Mom and Skinny Sister's son Riley

At my Rockin' Bobbins meeting we decided to exchange blocks for our Scrapity-Do-Dah quilts one more month.  I completed 5 more sets of 12 blocks for our exchange.  {OK... hardly Amish... what would I do without my Bernina?}  

I cranked away at my YO-YO Along project and I now have 782 completed! 

My yo-yo travel kit

I finished knitting my Fledermaus-Tuch.  It is waiting to be blocked.

I finished knitting Mom's Stitch Sampler Shawl.  Again... waiting to be blocked.      

I began this project....

Found @ ClassicCableKnits.com

I bought this pattern at the Classic Cable Knits trunk show held in August at Village Yarn Shop. This project begins with the pretty edge and the pattern uses a chart.  {Why have I been so afraid of knitting charts?} It has been SO enjoyable to knit.

I am using Madeline Tosh Vintage yarn.  The pattern is written for sock, DK, or worsted weight yarn.  Nice touch!  Since I am generally a serial knitter, rarely knitting a pattern just once, I will probably knit this project in another weight...soon.  Maybe a KAL at VYS?

I finished listening to The Daughter's Walk, by Jane Kirkpatrick.  This story begins with the historically factual 7,000-mile walk taken by a reluctant Clara Estby and her mother, Helga, from Spokane, Washington, to New York in 1896. The fashion industry is looking for promotion of the new, shorter dress for women; Helga is looking for a $10,000 prize to save the family farm from foreclosure. The novel follows Clara after the walk, spanning 40 years.  I enjoy historical fiction and I found this novel interesting.  I was not, however, totally captivated.

 

I began reading a bevy of Lincoln books.  Very interesting.  I look forward to downloading a new book for my walks.

What were you up to while I was gone?

I am such a Lucky Girl...

I am home from a great weekend in Schaumberg, IL where I attended...

Stitches Midwest.

Last Friday I traveled with my knitting BFFs Mary, Jane, and Maureen up north.  Jenny met us at the convention center.  The other girls atteneded classes and the Fashion Show.  Jenny and I simply went to the market. 

There was soooo much to see.  And it is obvious that shawls are going to be big again this year.

I loved this booth where leather handles were the specialty.  You can check out the handles here at their online shop Homestead Heirlooms.  I bought a few sets of {lovely} handles and 2 really cute felted bag patterns.  Their prices are very reasonable.

This booth seemed very familiar...

These are pictures from Crazy Girl Yarn Shop booth.  They have 2 shops, one in Cedar Falls and one in Coralville, IA.  I visit the shop when I am in Coralville {where I lived previous to IN}, and my BFF Theresa has sent me wonderful gifts from the shop.

It was also fun to see Mass Avenue Knit Shop, from Indy.  You couldn't even get close to their booth. Susan was VERY busy!

 I browsed and shopped all afternoon on Friday.  I purchased a 2 day ticket so I went back to the market on Saturday to wander some more.

My favorite booth was Miss Babs Hand-dyed Yarns & Fiber.   Here I am with Miss Babs.

And here is a shot of her booth {sorry to the innocent woman I caught bending over}. 

Saturday afternoon you could find me in a comfy chair in the lobby with an energy snack and caffeine.

I worked on my class samples for Village Yarn Shop and took in just how great life could be! {Did I tell you I am dipping my toes into the teaching pool?}

If you want to see what I purchased...you'll have to stay tuned! 

Knit on peeps,

On a Mission...

The Rockin' Bobbins {my quilting group} have always tried to have a mission project to work on. We've made baby blankets for the pregnancy center, bed quilts for a new women's shelter, quilts for a children's home, quilts for soldiers, and jumper dresses to be delivered on mission trips.  {Last year I think Kathy & Jenny made the bulk of more than 150 dresses!}

After reading an article in the local paper, Kathy came up with the lovely idea to knit chemo caps to memorialize Dottie.  Not all the girls in the group are knitters so they've purchased Knifty Knitter round looms.  Kathy is using the loom and I think she has already knit more than a dozen caps.  She is a petite woman that puts her big heart into everything she does! 

I made a couple hats per the instructions given Kathy.  We are supposed to use Homespun by Lion Brand.  I found it very soft, the colors were pretty, but it split alot.

It left me looking for other alternatives so I searched the webI found this cute Marnie MacLean pattern for a Fun Flapper Hat.   I used some Bernat Soy from my stash - so soft.  And I had to rely on my mad {35 year old} 4-H skills to crochet the flower. 

I am working on another out of Cascade Pima Tencel from the shop {but stashed}.

I'd love to hear from people that have made or had a need for chemo caps.  I'd like to know what patterns and fibers you found best.   Advise me please! 

I'll be counting caps on my sidebar and jump starting this project during the season of Lent.

Cast on!

Fancy Neck Cozy...

Eva K and I recently visited Ewe-Nique Yarns Etc. in Morton, Il.   This shop is nestled right between The Quilt Corner and Pumpkin Glass, a very nice bead store.  Yes people, a little slice of heaven for me. 

I bought Cabin Fever's pattern Fancy Neck Cozy and the exact fibers used to make the shop sample at Ewe-Nique Yarns. 

Then I made another for my SIL's birthday.

And I convinced Harriett to order patterns for the shop and made a shop sample for The Village Yarn Shop.

The pattern is fun, easy and quick.  I have yarn to make a fourth!

We are expecting a second round of snow here in central Indiana.  It is supposed to begin tonight in the middle of the night.  I am wondering if I will be working {playing} at the yarn shop tomorrow.

Cast on!

Where does the time go???

My resolution to get organized has totally gotten away from me.  But... if at first, you don't succeed, TRY, TRY again.  I refuse to give up.  I just cleaned out one of my yarn stashing {read hiding} places.  My BFF Theresa is making Thread & Sulky free form scarves she saw on Fons & Porter and I have some great bits of leftover novelty yarns to share with her.  I can let go of this yarn knowing it is going to a good home. {Can you say hoarder?}

I have been knitting samples for the shop.  I made this cute felted bag.

Before

So sorry.  The quality of the above picture has probably forever impaired your vision.

After

My BFF Carolyn took these pics at the shop, hence the quality!

The pattern "Lopi Hipster" is free with purchase of yarn.  I used 3 skeins of Lopi.  I could hook you up!

I also made the beginnings of this cute cable scarf using a skein of sock yarn and a skein of Rowan Kidsilk Haze.  It is so soft and reversible - which is nice with a cable.

The pattern is here. 

I have also been taking a sock class with Jane.  I have one sock ready to Kitchner and another on its way. Can''t wait to show you the finished project - and yes, the sock yarn was from my stash.  I ambitiously purchased  it at the shop last year.

What's on your needles?