What's up 9/23/07

Here they are--second pair of socks. They're made from Elann Esprit using Cat Bordhi's Sinple Socks pattern and size 2 needles. I really like the 2 circular method. Of course, a couple of times I used the "resting" needle to knit from the working one. That wasn't a major problem. I started my Dublin Bay sock-a-long socks last night for the First-Time Socknitters group.
This is mid-September KAL from monthly dishcloth group. Pattern from Knit Sew Studio. I almost frogged this when I discovered what it was. I've tried this before and had trouble with the crochet. This one did okay. Yarn is SnC Painted Desert. I'm thinking of making a hand towel and dishcloth to match for a gift. There is a witch on this cloth somewhere. She's in profile from neck up and right facing. This is Rachel's Knitting Room KAL 6 and designed by Marilyn Wallace. Yarn is Hot Orange SnC.
This is knitdishcloth KAL. Pattern is creation of Kayleen Clements. Yarn is Bernat Handicrafter Twist.
This isn't a knitting project. When I'm not knitting, I do a little rubberstamping. Usually I do this on Sunday afternoon but lately I've been knitting more on Sunday. This is my Christmas card for 2007 and 2008. Members of my church exchange cards so I start in January making "church" cards. I'm almost finished with 2007 ones. This card will be mailed to friends who do not attend my church this year. I go to a friend's home for Christmas Club once a month on Monday and this is card I'm working on. The design can be found on www.splitcoaststampers.com in the gallery. The stamp set is Stampin' Up City of David. I'm sorry I can't remember the "designer's" name. I'm not very good with designing cards.
I had an interesting thing happen this week. I welcomed Flo who works for Elmore-Pisgah in Old Fort, NC to monthly dishcloth group. In my post, I mentioned that I lived in Reidsville. Another Reidsville knitter responded and hopefully she and I will meet. I want to start a knitting meet-up group here. My new cyber-friend knows the young man who mows my lawn. This was just TOO COOL!!!!

I've really been working

It doesn't look like I've done much this week. Here's my bookmark KAL. It's done in DMC Traditions size 1 needles. This is my first DW cloth. Someone sent me one in an exchange and I really liked it. So I made one of my own. It is a great cloth for variegateds.
I'm not resting. I have projects OTN--scarf KAL, prayer shawl, dishcloth KAL and sock 2 of Cat Bordhi simple socks. Tomorrow is another KAL start up and will start another on Monday. Hopefully next week will have more finished.

In memory of Sunny D

I lost my 17 year old Himalayan last night to old age. Sir Sundance Kit-of-Rosedale, as he was officially known, (aka Grumpy Cat, Sunny D, Big Guy, Sundance) was a good cat. He was almost like a dog. I miss him but have Izzy and Debit to keep me company.

I don't have a picture of him that can be posted. In his younger days he was a beautiful cat. He adapted to most things--Debit (the dog) took a while. Debit for some reason was a little frightened by Sundance. If Sundance was laying in a doorway, Debit would bark until he moved.

I love you Big Guy and will miss you...

Fruit of the needles 9/10/07

This is Eleanor the Elephant designed by Rhonda White. I recycled a KAL that was Yin Yang kitties. I think I had some problems so decided to use this lovely SnC blue (in NC we call this Carolina Blue) to make a birthday gift for my friend who loves elephants.
This is September KAL for Monthly Dishcloth KAL. It was also given to my friend.
This is my first completed Christmas gift. The pattern is Fore Towel from Knit Wits Heaven. It will be given to a golfer for use as a golf towel. It' s made from Bernat Handicrafter Sage Green. I really haven't been resting. I have on the needles a scarf KAL, dishcloth KAL, sock 1 of a pair, a prayer throw, and a bookmark KAL. I also did test knits for Monthly Bookmark design contest. I can't post those pictures. I did get my twin set assembled and will work trim as soon as I finish my socks.

This week's completed projects

Monthly dishcloth KAL. This colorway is SnC Rainbow bright ombre. It worked up nicely and will match. Handtowel I made earlier. One Christmas gift--done!

Below is mid-month KAL from Knitdishcloth group. Bernat Handicrafter. I suspect this one will be sailing on the Just B Gunn. Capt Noah Gilligan Gunn did me a favor so this dishcloth and M&Ms will be his reward. I may try to work out a handtowel.

Here they are my first pair of socks. It's 90+ degrees so can't wear up yet. I'm pleased with how they turned out and am starting pair two tonight. I'm going to try the Cat Bordhi method. This is a prayer throw I made using persimmon TLC Amore and size 10.5 needles. Pattern is flickering flames from THE HARMONY GUIDES vol 3.


The bookmark to the right is mid-August KAL designed by Liz Hanson. I have a couple of children that will receive one of these. I'll probably buy some brighter yarn and use #10 cotton. Both of these were made with DMC Senso which is fairly heavy. Bookworm was on size 3 needles. The other bookmark is Brian McGaunn's flowering vine. I'm going to try this one also with #10 cotton or Grace. Rachel's Knitting Room KAL is a Kool K-9. Yarn is SnC Robin's Egg Blue.
I also made 4 more prayer throws from the Serenity Prayer panels. My flannel shrank badly so these are small than first. That's what I get for buying cheap flannel. I get to work on socks next weekend.

I went to stamp camp this afternoon. We made Halloween favors. Taped a scalloped and stamped piece to a sucker. Also made a get well card and matching envelope.
I'm up to the neck shaping on my twin set. I hope to finish it over my long weekend. Next week I'll start Christmas projects in personal knit time.

First Sock

Here's my first sock. I followed tutorial at http://www.cometosilver.com/. Scariest part was grafting the toe. I had not had success with grafting before following the tutorial. It really helped. Yarn is Elann Esprit which is elasticized cotton. I think the colorway is English rose garden. I'm becoming addicted to sockknitting. I love handpainted yarns and interesting colorways but knitting other garments with them is way out of my budget. Socks will allow me to use them. I'm also considering dyeing my own yarn.

Also I'm working on modular coasters from Knitty Gritty. I've knitted entrelac dishcloth a couple of times but I keep having to frog these coasters. I'm knitting one of Brian McGaunn's bookmark patterns.

Bookmarks and project progress

These are my versions of the August 7 bookmark KAL. I used 4 different yarns. From the left, yarns are Elann Adara, Knit Picks Shine Sport, Patons Grace and LionBrand Microspun. I liked the Shine and Grace best. This pattern is available at www.knitwithkt.blogspot.com.

The bookmark on the left is made from Adara and from another pattern found at www.knitwithkt.blogspot.com. There are other free patterns on this site. The bookmark on the right is my second attempt at the July bookmark KAL.

Other projects progress: twin set about 12 inches up the back of the shell. I start armhole shaping in another inch. Hopefully this will be finished by the end of August. Then I'll start working on Christmas gifts. I'm working on my first sock and am about 6 inches into the gusset. I want to finish it by Thursday so that I can work on the second one on my Lake Junaluska trip. I'm also working on a prayer shawl that should be finished in about a week and, of course, I'll have KALs to do this week.