A year-long project: Part 2

And the afghan project continues.  Klick here for details and January photographs.  Here are the five blocks for February.  In fact, I liked both sides of one block, so I took photos of boh sides.  I'll decide which side to use when I put the afghan together.

Can't wait till March.
Knit on Merrily!



A year-long project

Vicki Mikulak of Simple Knits is offering members of The Yahoo group Holiday Mystery Gifts  four afghan squares per month throughout the year. My version is being knit with a double strand of off-white sock yarn since I still have two 3-lb.cones bought from WBS several years ago. So here are photos of the January squares:

Honeycomb

Acorn

Waves (Now that I look at the finished square, it sure looks I missed something in the directions. Oh well,this will make it uniquely mine.)

Meandering Cables



I am anxiously waiting for February's squares. 

Knit on Merrily!

This year's sock knitting has started

The first two pairs of socks for the year 2012 are done.  One pair for me and one pair for the orphanages in Kazakhstan.  To keep me motivated, I have joined a Ravelry group called "12 socken projekt" (12 pairs of socks project).  A free pattern will be offered each month, along with links to other free sock patterns if you don't like the one offered. Here is a link to the blog  and the link to the Ravelry group .  This month's sock pattern is called "chicken ladder."  It's an easy pattern and even if you do not understand German, the chart should be easy to follow since the chart represents 15 stitches, i.e. one needle of 4 DPNs.  I used Alpaca with a Twist Socrates (30% Merino, 30% Alpaca, 20% Nylon, 20% Bamboo).  I used 1.75 mm DPNs since the yarn is just a tad thicker than regular sock yarn and the pattern is a lace pattern.  I have narrow feet and want my socks to stay up. It's a wonderfully soft yarn with the Bamboo giving it shine and the Alpaca giving it warmth.  I am not so sure how well it will wear since, as far as I am concerned, the yarn doesn't have enough twist.  It won't matter in my case since I never were shoes with closed heels and rarely closed toes, even in Winter.  Birkenstocks all the way. 



 Please excuse the wrinkled sheet, but this was the only spot with enough light. There is too much snow outside to find a suitable spot for a photograph.

The second pair was actually started in December, but didn't get finished until January.  The socks are knit with a very old ball of Opal sock yarn.  The color is rust. The socks were knit with 2.25 mm DPNs. The pattern is called Basketcase and can be found here on Ravelry.  These socks are for the two orphanages in Kazakhstan that are supported by the Motherless Child Foundation. It's never too early to get started.  If you are interested in knitting sweaters, hats, mittens, scarves or socks for an appreciative crowd of kids, you may want to check out our group of knitters.

...and the same wrinkled sheets.

Knit on Merrily!

It's January 7, 2012 and...

...and I haven't even shown my Christmas presents I received.  So before January gets away from me, here are the photos.

Blue faced Leicester and silk, Blue faced Leicester, and Suri Alpaca and Silk and Merino

 Suri Alpaca, Merino and Silk

And then I bought sock and sweater yarn with money from my other daughter:

Now I just need to decide what to knit with that hand spun yarn?

Knit on merrily!

The last of the knitting for 2011

At the request of my son, I wound up the year with a scarf and a pair of men's socks. He has just moved to Washington State and wanted to gift friends with some of mother's hand-knit goodies.

The socks are knit with worsted weight Cascade super wash in a k3, p1 pattern with every other row knit in stockinette.

The second project was a scarf, "just like you knit for me."  Of course, I had no idea what pattern I had used and had forgotten to record it on Ravelry.  The yarn for my son's scarf had come from a now closed yarn shop's basement via a dead friend.  I remember her saying that it was a French yarn. So tooling around Ravelry I found this  scarf.

 I used just under 3 balls of JoJoland Melody, fingering weight yarn.  I was a little disappointed with the yarn:  too many knots and no discernible pattern repeat in the coloring of the yarn.  But I think it turned out fine.  Now I just have to make it out of the snowy driveway and mail the goodies.

And just for good measure, here is a photo of my son's scarf.

Knit on merrily throughout 2012.

Eagles and Turkeys

What do eagles and turkeys have to do with knitting, you ask?  Nothing.  I am in between finished projects, so have nothing in a knitterly way to show.  But... Whenever we start complaining about how far we live from no-where, this shows up in the front yard. 

A pair of American Bald Eagles twittering on top of the highest pine tree on the property.  I was unable to get close enough to get a good photo, but I think you'll get the picture.  The female had already flown away.

This is not a black and white print; it was just one of those dreary Michigan days. 

The turkeys were also strutting through the yard, making an otherwise dreary day one to remember.

On the knitting front, I still have to finish my sideways cardigan knit with 6 ply sock yarn.  Click here for a photo on Ravelry.  I also have to block the From Dawn to Dusk shawlette.  Also on the needles are another shawlette, Water lilies and a cardigan knit with fingering weight Alpaca on 2.5 mm needles.  It'll be a long time before that cardigan is done.  At least I hope to live long enough.

Knit on Merrily!

First snow - November 11, 2011

The Snow Fairy by Claude McKay

I
Throughout the afternoon I watched them there,
Snow-fairies falling, falling from the sky,
Whirling fantastic in the misty air,
Contending fierce for space supremacy.
And they flew down a mightier force at night,
As though in heaven there was revolt and riot,
And they, frail things had taken panic flight
Down to the calm earth seeking peace and quiet.
I went to bed and rose at early dawn
To see them huddled together in a heap,
Each merged into the other upon the lawn,
Worn out by the sharp struggle, fast asleep.
The sun shone brightly on them half the day,
By night they stealthily had stol'n away.

II
And suddenly my thoughts then turned to you
Who came to me upon a winter's night,
When snow-sprites round my attic window flew,
Your hair disheveled, eyes aglow with light.
My heart was like the weather when you came,
The wanton winds were blowing loud and long;
But you, with joy and passion all aflame,
You danced and sang a lilting summer song.
I made room for you in my little bed,
Took covers from the closet fresh and warm,
A downful pillow for your scented head,
And lay down with you resting in my arm.
You went with Dawn. You left me ere the day,
The lonely actor of a dreamy play.