New Year

Wishing everyone out there a very Happy New Year

Stay safe and warm

24 years

Yesterday was our 24th anniversary. We had kind of a different day. We were going to just do a little shopping, ..... ok they were going to get me some yarn ; ). Can't make any gifts without yarn. So anyhow... Mom came along with us and then took us out to eat. All of us me Brent and both boys. Jorden my younger son by a whole 13 months, reacted badly to something. Ended up in the van throwing up, good thing we had a bag.... he was fine after that. He never could eat fatty meats so it may have been the pork. Poor kid felt bad about "ruining" a meal, like that could matter over him, silly boy.
So alls going better. Jorden was feeling much better had some color again. Then we got back home.........It was bad............Our dog thought it was a good idea to eat out of the cat box.............then threw up all over the living room.......... the smell not exactly nice.......We've had her 8 years and she picks our anniversary to try eating out of the cat box..... she had food and water, she could have eaten the cat food even!!!!!
All in all it was a good day, Jorden was feeling good enough to eat the steak dinnr I made, I got some nice yarn and started a hat for mom. started a blanket today for Jorden. : )

Men's Triangular Wrist Warmers

This pattern was created with easy on and off in mind


Men’s Triangular Twists Wrist Warmers
145 yds worsted weight yarn
Size 8 US dpns ( set of 5 )
Cable needle
Small amount of scrap yarn in contrasting color
4 ½ sts. by 6 rows per inch
Fit’s a 9“ wrist. This pattern size can be made larger or smaller by changing needle size or yarn weight as well as by adding or removing stitches. Keeping the number of stitches to 10 on needles 1 & 2 for the right hand and needles 1 & 4 for the left hand. You may need to do 1 by 1 ribbing instead of 2 by 2 depending on how many stitches are changed.
StitchesK = knit
Kf/b = knit into the front and back of the next stitch
K2tog = knit 2 stitches together
M1 = make new stitch by picking up bar between stitches and knit through the back loop
P = purl
Skp = slip one stitch knit wise, knit the next stitch, pass the slipped stitch over the knit stitch.
T2b = Slip 1 stitch onto cable needle hold in back, knit next stitch, purl stitch off cable needle
T2f = Slip 1 stitch onto cable needle hold in front, purl next stitch, knit stitch off of cable needle
on Ravelry

The Hole Star

The Hole Star Ornament

I wanted to hang crystals on my tree but they were so small you couldn't see them, so I made this star to hang around the crystals. You can use any small item you like.
I used fingering weight in white. Yarn with a bit of sparkle would also be nice.

I used size US 4 needles, for the larger one ( 4 3/4" across by 5" wide ) and US 3 for the smaller one ( 4 1/4" by about 4 1/2" ).

Cast on 9 sts. Leave a tail long enough for seaming at end.
Row 1 - Knit ( ws )
Row 2 - K1, K1F/B, K5, K2tog.

Repeat for a total of 10 times.

Knit one more row and bind off all but one stitch.

Pick up 8 sts. along the left edge. ( right side facing )
Making sure not to go all the way to the end as this is what gives you the hole.






Repeat for a total of six times, on the last one bind off all stitches. Seam the edge and weave in ends.


K1F/B = knit into the front and back of same stitch.
K2tog = knit 2 stitches together.

I used the K1F/B increase because I like the look of it, but you can use any increase you like to give them a different look.

flip flop toes

I did it I got a pair of flip flop socks done for DS#1. I used my good old stand by pattern for a cuff down round heel sock, then made it up as I went along. Took days, as he wears a size 11 1/2 shoe.

My yarn back stock has gone down so much I had to buy yarn to keep making anything!! The photo is of some of the items I've put together, I wish I had thought to get a photo of everything.

I have a few patterns to put out soon, just need to find more hours in the day. However if you see something you like E-mail me and I'll try and get you the pattern or the link to the pattern if it's not mine.

Halloween

Happy Halloween

This is Sammy wearing the witch hat I made.

Hope everyone has a great night.

Halloween socks

I looked in my sock drawer the other day and realized I had no Halloween socks. So out came the orange and black. I tried a round heel this time.







As I was looking at my socks I came across the slippers my grandmother made 30 years ago. I made a pair, but still need to spruce them up a bit.

I also made a bag. It started out a scarf, but it just needed to be a bag ;)

I did start the pattern over, with a different yarn. Maybe it'll make it into a scarf. We'll see.

I made some wash cloths and hand towels with borders, for my mother.

I got a hot pad/dishcloth done yesterday. I like them on the small side, so it didn't take long.

Still using the yarn from my stock pile.

It's starting to go down in size as my Christmas gifts bag over flows yahoo :)





My son gave me this yellow rose : )

A warm winter

I've been reading reports of how this winter should be a colder one. Well I for one froze all last winter. I was not looking forward to the up and fast coming winter. Already the garden is showing signs of cold weather. :(
My parents got us the most wonderful gift. They arrived last evening. http://www.edenpurestore.com/ A big one and a small one as well. We will be so much warmer this year. WooHoo

More done items

This is a shawl I just finished.
Not that it took very long. I used large needles ( 15 us ) to try and show the yarn more. The yarn is by Yarn Bee's Playful, in Black Tie Ombre. I wouldn't want to use this yarn on anything tight knit, but for a loose stitch it was fun. I used a healing shawl style, with wrap and drop stitches.

I had to make another pair of mittens. It's a fun quick knit. These are baby size. Next pair will be older kid size. I added beads to my grey pair to look like a snow flake. I posted them in my last post.

I made a hat as well, it's kinda small. I hope it fixes, I'm pretty sure it will she's a tiny little thing. If not I'm sure we'll find someone who could use it. I used my real camera not cell phone for this shot hoping to catch the real color, yes bright pink and black. : )

Okay so yesterday I was playing with the idea of adding a edge to a washcloth. Not just a border. Just to do something different. I think just about every border that could be has been!

I made a stocking stitch oblong square. I was going for a hand towel size with this one at DS request. I just put what ever I had together. Peaches and Cremes Fiesta and Daisy ombre. Odd but usable.

This is a pattern I did a a few weeks ago, but never got posted. It's Lace Beanie in Lion Brand's free patterns. I used Redheart, but don't recall the name of the color. It came out looking good but was kinda rough on the hands as far as knitting goes.

All in all I'm starting to make a bigger dent in my stash. Yahoo

Done

This is photo of some of my finished items. Green hood hat with flower button in the top left corner. Next to it a pink and black bag. the next row is a multi colored scarf, green bag and gray mittens. Bottom row is a scarf with leaves on it and a pink and black scarf.

Fire Faerie

I just took the faerie personality quiz on Neopets http://www.neopets.com/faerieland/personality.phtml

and was told

You are similar to a fire faerie. You are very spirited and prefer being nice and warm. Cool

If you go to Neopets I'm Neo325938 http://www.neopets.com/userlookup.phtml?user=neo325938

Mittens

Mittens are done. Loved the way it all came together. I will be making more of these.

x-mas socks

Well got done with the x-mas socks. Went to a smaller needle. It was coming out a little large. So much for not checking your gauge.

I didn't redo any, just added more rounds. I wanted to see if it would make a loose fitting fold over cuff, it did : ) Okay so my inexperience is showing through again, but it was fun.

I put them on one long circular needle and worked them magic loop style. I'd never tried it before on anything other then a small bag. Took a bit it get the hang of it, but then it really flew by. : )

I'm working on a pair of mittens right now that are a fun knit, I must say most new ways of knitting something is fun for me, and this is right up that alley.

I've read here and there about using scrap yarn to make the thumbs, but had no clue as to how. I now have a pattern : ).

I got it on The Knitting Haven thanks to Holly : ) I've gotten so many good tips and ideas from KH. Nice place to be.

I have just done the "scrape yarn" part. Cool, so far so good.

I've had to change the pattern some. I have a wide hand and need a roomy thumb. So I added a gusset before the scrap yarn. I'm kind of spacey today ( more so then most days) due to the head cold my whole family has picked up so I have no idea if this will work, we'll see ; )

I'm using Simply Soft by Caron in grey heather, works up well.

I'm trying to make as much as I can to get us ready for winter. I made a throw for the back of the rocking chair, it really cuts down on the chill of the wood plus no draft on your back. Nothing fancy, I tend to stay away from fancy for myself and home.

I did have to add a little fun fur to the mittens though lol. Anyhow it's just a stocking stitch with a few color changes. I really need to start using another camera the color that looks orange is red. I was keeping to my x-mas theme.

Think I might put together a few draft dodgers as well, our doors aren't what they should be anymore. Was thinking about making more blankets, but as I was washing the boys blankets (I'm on the third day) I started realizing they had plenty. Not sure how they fit it all on their beds and still had room to sleep.

Well back to the wash now, then more knitting : )

Pink Socks

Got the pink socks done the night before last. Started some x-mas colored ones yesterday morning. I'm trying them on one circular. So far it's going good, I should have stopped and read about it, but I wanted to try a pair in cotton.

As I'm on a yarn diet, I needed to use what I have on hand first so it's red, green and white for these socks. I really like the way it's coming out so far. I'll post another photo later. I'm now doing the gussets, the pattern of the yarn is making both socks look close to each other : )

I got this yarn from Peaches & Creme. In the $2 grab packs. So far I've been able to use everything I got in the pack. Really a good deal, if you don't mind random colors. I wanted to have some on hand to make dish cloths, but have found so many uses for it : )

Another storm coming so I'll have to post more later.

Socks and peppers

I just got started on knitting more house socks for myself. The color doesn't show very well here, they are really bright pink. I love colorful socks.

These are really quick knits as I use a size us 8 needle and worsted weight yarn. Plus I make them only ankle high.

I fell in love with the style awhile back when I was bit by the sock bug one night, and had nothing but size 8 dpns on hand. So why not I thought and it all began.

Most "real" knitters would never use a size 8 on socks I've been told, but hey that's what I had so on I went.

They were right about the stitches being large of course. However I have found that's just what I love about them! I have since made other types of socks, but keep coming back to these. I have worn out the heel on a few pair already (and fixed them), I just find myself digging through my sock drawer passing the others for a pair of these. So bright pink it is, then maybe green as I gave my green pair away :(

I garden as well as knit. I was just out picking some New Mexico chili and tomatoes, while taking a break from knitting. When I started thinking about my socks. Okay so my shoe got stuck in the ground and I had to step out of it, then started thinking about my socks ;)

The ground here is mostly sand, so if you wear a loose knit sock you can shake out the sand (most times), and still be some what protected from all the uglies out there (spiders, ants, weeds).

This time of year I'm not really looking for warmth, so another plus for loose stitches, although I did wear them most of the winter as well. Bad part is they don't do good with close fitting shoes :( As I don't wear close fitting shoes at home I can live with it. Okay so much for socks.

My garden worked out so well this year. We've been freezing chili and tomatoes as well as eating our fill. I've been saving seeds, so next year I can do the whole thing with out having to buy plants or seeds.

Our hot boxes worked out so well, really a little too well as I wasn't quite ready for so many plants all living and doing great. A little better planing and next year should be even better (knocking again).

Yesterday was my mother's birthday. I gave her some of the wash cloths I had posted earlier, plus a bath mitt and and a few other wash cloths I didn't get photos of. Dad took her out to eat last night so the party will be on Sunday. She really seemed to like the cloths, it's one of the few thing I can knit that I know she will use. :)

I've been working on patterns to post, that will come a little later.

Wash clothes

Wow, it's been awhile since I've been here. Life has been even more crazy then ever (knock, knock, KNOCK).

Little dog is doing real good now. Happy as can be. (a few more knocks please)

I have been able to knit up a few things as of late.

I've made a lot of wash clothes and scrubbies, a few hats, a scarf. I'm now working on a wrap and a doll. The top photo is a close up of a washcloth made with Sugar and Cream's summerset. In flickering flames stitch. Good thing the cloth came out better then the photo. lol

The second photo is a pattern by Sewfunky called Starfish cloth. Really a fun cloth to make. I was able to use up some of my smaller pieces of cotton with it. The round one is also done in cotton (sugar and Cream's yellows), the pattern is on Bernet called Doily Style dishcloth. I changed the boarder to a knit stitch instead of purl.

I have not "paid" for any yarn in months, I've been real good and have been using my "back stocked" yarn. I was given some real nice lion brand homespun in a soft blue. Not sure what I'm going to make out of that yet, but that's half the fun isn't it : ) So I'm in no danger of running out of yarn yet ; )

Little Dog

My little doggie Phoebe had to be taken to the emergency vet this last Sunday. She started to bleed from her bottom. Talk about scary. She took it way better then I did. Turns out her anal sacs got blocked up. I didn't even know she had them!!

The vets were really good with her and the room full of people who were with us. My two boys, me and my parents who drove us down to town, plus my hubby who was already in town at work. He was able to take lunch and get there before us and fill out all the paper work. This is a much loved little doggie.

One burst and the other had to be drained, she did so well. Not even a whimper. This is the doggie that has to be bribed to just look at her toe nails let alone trim them. She has to take antibiotics for a week plus they put her on pain pills for a few days. The antibiotics she takes with no problem, the pain pills are a whole other story. She doesn't like them at all, so much for beef flavoring.

She's a little mad at me right now. I won't let her lick, where the hair had to be shaved a little. I'm sure it's starting to itch, poor girl. So she's holed up with the boys in their room. Any time I go near, she dives under the blankets. The funny part is all I have to do to get her to stop licking is look at her or lightly say no, but she's acting like I'm the meanest person to walk the earth. Small price to pay to have her safe and getting better.

Rainy Season

We got some rain yesterday. Yahoo It's the start of the rainy season for us. Good thing too, it's been almost a month of 100% plus. Very dry and windy. The only bad thing (besides flooding) is the lightening that also comes this time of year. Starts a lot of fires in the desert. Also means limited time on the computer. The garden however loves it.
Our pumpkins are doing great along with everything else, but the peas. Some bug is eating the leaves. I've sprayed a few times, but they just seem to be drying up even though I've been keeping up with watering. Oh well they were great while they lasted.

I've made a dent in my yarn. I've made wrist warmers (one set of sleeves) for a few nieces 3 in all, more the a dozen wash clothes, and about a dozen scrubbies. Three bags also for nieces. Plan on starting a real cute hat. The pattern is by Berroco, called Dizzy best of all it's free. I'm also getting ready to start a blanket in homespun. Haven't pick a pattern yet. I'm thinking some thing loose, not overly done as the yarn looks cool on it's own. Got slowed down for awhile here, my shoulder gave out on me and needed a break. Pain sucks, but like they said at least you know your still alive. ;)

Last report I read about the fire said it was almost out, with the rain we got I hope it's true. There are so many fires going on all over the place, my best wishes to all out there who have to deal with them in any way. The report said it cost about $500.000, and 1750 acres. All so someone could mess around and lose control of a fire that should never have been started in the first place, as the fire hazard was already at high. Stop and think, that would save so many a lot of trouble. Just think of how the world would be if people just stopped and thought about what they were about to do. Probably would cost a lot of people in law enforcement jobs, but still would be kind of cool, huh.

Reports are now saying that the fire is mostly under control. With about 1700 acres burned. No homes lost, or people. Yahoo 130 people worked all night trying to get it under control. THANK YOU

Father's Day

Happy Father's Day to all the Dad's out there. : )

This has been a crazy week around here. My sister moved in with us, and is now staying on the couch. Until hubby gets the add on rooms done. So far everything there is going good.

Our mountains are on fire. The photo at the top of this page are of the Organ Mountains, the fire would be on the right side of the photo looking at it. The fire was started yesterday, late afternoon. You can see the flames from my back door steps. They are spreading fast. A very hard to get to area. This morning it would seem to be slowing down, or at least there is less smoke. We haven't had any rain to speak of this year, the "rainy season" doesn't start until around the first week in July, which now seems very far off. They said it had burned over 400 acres by 6pm last night.
Smoke filled our house around 3am making it very hard to breath. Only a hand full of houses are in that area. I wish them the best. I hope the animals living up there made it out. I know that's most likely not the case, but one can wish.
Reports are saying, it was a "man" started fire, in other words not lighting. Too many people don't realize just how fast a fire can spread in dry areas like this. I hope all goes well.
Thanks must go to all the fire fighters working on this. Please be safe.

Garden

This has been a really good week for my garden, My peas are coming along great (a first). The tomatoes are starting to get fruit. Green beans are flowering. Lettuce is almost ready to cut. Cucumbers are going better then ever. I added chives, parsley and spinach yesterday. I have my first green chili on the plants YAHOO.

The boys planted a few more trees, weeping and globe willows. Roses have been in full bloom, for a good two weeks now. As soon as you go through the fence to the front yard the smell of roses hit you, it's very strong and sweet. It's been bringing the hummingbirds around :).



My niece said yes to my making her something, So I'm almost done with the wrist warmers. Made a bag for my other niece. Going to make wrist warmers for Toni. She spent some time here this last weekend and gave me more yarn :) :). I'm going to have to start making bigger things. I did make half a dozen dish clothes this week too, but still not moving fast enough. Might help if I could stay away from this new game we got. It's so cool, you get to make a village, set it up so they can feed and heal themselves. Build stuff, teach them to fish, all kinds of stuff. It's a lot of fun. Oh okay back to house work and knitting mostly knitting :)

My yarn

I was going through my yarn today, when it hit me. I've got a lot of yarn!! The photo only shows some of it. I was given most of it. The rest I got on sell or at the goodwill. I don't like to pay full price, and don't do it often if ever.

I can hardly say no to a gift, right that would be rude. And I do so love getting yarn gifted to me. If they can't use it who am I to say no.....

Now the problem, how to use it all.????? I have to stop buying any myself. I can't even believe I'm writing this. I went for five months without buying any last year, and lived through it, I can do it again, yep that's what I'm going to keep telling myself.

My family has been telling me they are happy that I took up knitting, because I'm now easier to buy gifts for, but wow. I still haven't use all that I got from my last birthday, and just got more. yeah Life is Good
I've only been knitting for just over a year now. I guess the real answer is to just knit faster ;) other wise who knows what I'll have in another years time.

All this got going because I was looking through my yarn to get ideas for something for my great niece. She doesn't need anything she said. With that kind of thinking I'll never use up my yarn. So I'm left to come up with something for a 13yr girl. I have boys, I'm way out of my comfort zone here.
I'm thinking wrist warmers or something like that. She's kind of goth right now. Any ideas out there???


Today the wind is picking up again, at least it backs down the heat. We hit over 100% yesterday. Just after the wind backed down enough to hang out the wash we got rain clouds, no rain just clouds. Not knowing that then I only got one load dried. I really hate using the dryer when you have to use the cooler too. Oh well I didn't feel like doing wash anyhow he he, maybe later ;)

My first peas are ready to pick. YAHOO I can't wait for the tomatoes and chillies. The prices are going up so much on anything worth eating it should save us some money this year. As long as the water bill doesn't get to crazy that is.

Penguin Socks

I just finished up a pair of pop-out penguin socks for Mother's Day. A little late I know, but better late then never.

The pattern is in the book " knitted socks", by Anna Tillman. The book was a birthday gift, I love it. This was the first pattern from the book that I've done, but have plans to start "the whole hog" and "fab for flip flops" patterns soon as gifts for family.

I changed the pattern a little bit. I did top part in 2 by 2 ribbing. Also changed yarn to Berroco Comfort DK for the top parts and Sinfonia cotton for the foot. Oh and I put button eyes and no tail as it wouldn't work with the type of shoes she has.

I did most of the sock while on a drive to and from Wisconsin. I finshed the instep and toes after we got back.

The drive up, though not under happy circumstances went well. The ride back started well for the first day, the next we ran into so much rain you couldn't see but feet in front of your car.

I was very happy to come back to my desert home:), even though it was cloudy it was more sun then we'd seen in two weeks. The last day of the trip went very well, weather was

great, miles flew by. By then no one wanted to stop even for food! We made it all the way home.