Baby It's Cold Outside!

My new hat is done just in time for the really cold weather to get here. This morning it was -16F. This is the Amanda Hat made with Malabrigo in Brillante. Needles were size 9 circular and dpns.

I love everything about this, it covers my ears, its soft and cushy, and of course warm!

Plus it only took me 2 days to make. It is a free Ravelry download so all the more reason to get on there if you aren't already!

Hope you are all staying warm!

Bright and Cheery Socks

My new WIP makes me smile even on the greyest December day.

My knitting bag matches them too.

These are Jaywalkers in Knit Me Now yarn, Sock Love. Color is Fire and Ice, I love that they are striping the way I had hoped!

Oh and the last post had a picture of my son's bag he was taking to Grandpa and Grandma's. I forgot to mention in case you couldn't see that he packed his knitting and half way there asked me if he could knit:)

I love that!

A Handmade Christmas

This is the pile of stuff my son had packed to go to Grandma and Grandpa's house. Do you see what I see? We had a great Holiday weekend with Thanksgiving on Thursday, Christmas on Friday and a Birthday party on Saturday. I am with my little sister when she suggested we do Christmas in January next time we are together on Thanksgiving only.

My sister loved her new hat. See this posting about it. .


My dad's vest is finally done! It fits and he loved it.

When I look at these pictures the song, "I'm too Sexy" runs through my head:)

In case you want details here they are: Pattern is mine made up as I went. Yarn is Cascade 220 in Midnight heather used I think about 4 skeins, needles sixe 7 US circular. Size about 36 inch chest.


I made most of the gifts this year, these aprons were for my nieces. They also got baking related items. Cookie mix, cake mix, wooden spoons, you get the picture.
These 2 are for my nephews W and T:)

My little sis also made a bunch of stuff. Noley got a "guy". He has been sleeping with it which is always the true gauge of whether a kid likes something or not. If they can't go the night without it near them they love it.
T got one of these for his birthday because it is so darn cute! I got an order from my nieces for one each once they saw this:)
The Birthday party was for the 2 boys who are 3 weeks apart. We went the easy way out with a DQ cake and a pool party. Here they are with their helicopters from Auntie B.

Noley is a little fish and loved the water.


T is a daredevil and went down this slide over and over again face first then backwards. No Fear!

All in all it was a good time if a little hectic. Looking forward to a quieter Christmas at home and a visit to the other Grandma and Grandpa right after.

In case you need a last minute gift for a fellow knitter or someone just learning, I have these knitting kits in my shop. Maybe some of you would like to check them out.

Here is hoping you all had the best holiday weekend too! And a low stress, happy, fun Christmas to come.

It's All About The Blues

I made this hat for my sister by her request. It is the Snowboarder Hat that Rocks you can find the pattern here. I do love free patterns and since this is made with bulky yarn it was fast! Sis bought the yarn which was super soft and squishy. Plymouth Yarn, Baby Alpaca Grande Hand Dye, used 1.25 skeins in the Turquoise color. I am also working on these socks. The Waving Lace Socks from Interweave Press Favorite Socks. A close up of the lace detail. I like socks with a pattern they go faster for me I think than plain knit ones.

The big Thanksgiving holiday is coming up soon and I have to finish the sweater for my dad. I'm off to get working on that. Keep on knitting!

Stripey Hat

Easy quick project for KD. Raveled here. It was a stash busting project that I brought on the trip. I finished it the week I got back on a night shift at work.

I was KD's idea to put the long blue tassel on the end with a pom pom. I am thinking of lining it with a little fleece so its even warmer and won't let the wind blow through. Probably my gauge is a little off but I love the end result and it fits.

Here's a shot of my trick or treaters, a mad scientist, black cat and Darth Vader were hanging out with Grandma and Grandpa.

That's Miss M's poncho I made a while back. I blogged about it here.

I have Dad's Vest on the needles and am almost done. I should be finishing it up soon. Talk to you all soon!

All Dressed Up

My Brother In Law got married right before my trip and I managed to snap a few pictures of the kids in their finery.

Insert this conversation into this picture.

Me: KD go stand by your sister. Get Closer! Noley come on get in the picture honey. Miss M smile. KD get closer to your sister!!
KD: I don't want to stand by her!
Me: OK Noley get in between them. I'll give you a sucker.
Miss M: (smiles nicely)
KD: I'm not standing by her!
Noley runs away.

These are the best of the pictures minus one I am using for Christmas cards.

Here is a picture of the Pimlico shrug. I thought it was way too big but it served its purpose for the wedding. I felted it just the other day, which would have been fine except there was a small issue with my timer not being set right and it got felted too much. It fits me but not as well as I would like. One of my sisters is going to get it I think.

Note the folded up sleeves and the fact that this "shrug" goes down to my butt. Yikes! I mean I knew it was big when I was knitting it but was in complete denial since I was in such a time crunch. I plan to make it again with smaller needles and possibly finer yarn.

I have a hat for KD and a scarf to show you next time, along with pictures of the felted Pimlico shrug. Talk to you all soon!

Home again, Home again...

Jiggity, Jig.

My trip in pictures, there just aren't the words to say how absolutely perfect this trip was. I really didn't want to come home.

Horseback riding on the beach.

We stopped here to rest our legs, it was like an oasis.

My favorite night out for dinner at Blu. Eating on the beach with my girls, I felt like I was in a movie. (My sister on the left, me on the right)

Cabarete, Dominican Republic

Common entertainment there (no chickens were hurt, they have spur covers)
A Street in Puerta Plata

Our balcony

Our boys Fabio and Alex, they are the activity guys at the resort.

We were sad to leave them, they were great guys and we got to know them pretty well. I hope they have the good lives they were striving for.

Lots of pictures to inspire new yarn colors too.





Knitting content will return next posting I promise. Hope you enjoy the pictures!