Getting Old

Someone had to remind me, so I'm reminding you, too.

Don't laugh.....it is all true...

Perks of reaching 50

or being over 60 and heading towards 70

and beyond!

01. Kidnappers are not very interested in you.

02. In a hostage situation you are likely to be released first.

03.No one expects you to run-anywhere.

04.People call at 9pm and ask, did I wake you?

05.People no longer view you as a hypochondriac.

06.There is nothing left to learn the hard way.

07.Things you buy now won't wear out.

08.You can eat supper at 4pm.

09.You can live without sex but not your glasses.

10.You get into heated arguments about pension plans.

11.You no longer think of speed limits as a challenge.

12.You quit trying to hold your stomach in no matter who walks into the room.

13.You sing along with elevator music.

14.Your eyes won't get much worse.

15.Your investment in health insurance is finally beginning to pay off.

16.Your joints are more accurate than meteorologists or the national weather service.

17. Your secrets are safe with your friends because they can't remember them either.

18.Your supply of brain cells is finally down to manageable size.

19.You can't remember who sent you this list.

20.And you notice these are all in Big Print for your convenience.

And remember, never, ever, under any circumstances, take a sleeping pill and a laxative on the same night.

Baby clogs and little alpacas

I am an "oooher." And here are two of the things that have brought forth more of my ooohs.



















Miniature alpacas from Misti Alpaca. We do sell them if you want one.

















And these sweet felted baby clogs that Cinda knit.

Grande 6 cable hat

Skacel has sent us some great hat kits. You get a skein of bulky yarn and a flyer with four patterns. I knitted the pattern on the front of the flyer.

It is the yellow one on their flyer.

And here is my finished project.


And they also sent us some more Addi Clicks.

Halloween

Yesterday was Halloween. And I have to admit it was pretty scary. I had two witches stop by to terrorize me.
















They played with the yarn
















and the spinning wheels.

Helen shows her love

Helen Huey was one of the folks we came into our shoppe. She passed away recently, and her daughter brought into our shoppe the sweaters that Helen knitted for her great-grandchildren this past year.




Here is a close-up of this sweater.




Helen knitted sweaters like this every year. She started in January so she would have them done by Christmas.

I did not know Helen very well, but I know that she loved her family.

Jackie, who has previously done amazing knitting, brought in a baby blanket she had just finished. The blanket is knitted with Punta Lava.

There are all sorts of bobbles on this blanket. Jackie stated that she almost lost her fingers after knitting all of those bobbles. The blanket is soft and very nice. Good job, Jackie.

Jill couldn't, but Lynn did

We called Jill in for help. Kate needed help with making loops. She and I worked on it Monday evening and were not able to lock the loops in.

So Jill came over and worked on it. She was not able to figure it out. Then Lynn came in and guess what?
Meet Stella.

She is a rescued greyhound from Florida. Lynn and Stella are from Ft. Wayne. They are up here on vacation. Stella makes a great yarn shoppe dog and Lynn - well, Lynn knows how to knit.

Mr. Greenjeans

Okay, this did it. On September 16, Diane posted a picture of her Mr. Greenjeans.

For those of you who are not familiar with this sweater, go to Knitty.com I have loved this pattern ever since it came out two years ago and now I am going to knit it.


Now, this is with the understanding that I am at a work site six days a week and then on my day off, I do other things that can't wait. So, if I can put in 5 hours a week on this sweater, it may be done later in the winter and just in time to add something new to my wardrobe.

So, the question is -what yarn do I use for this wonderful sweater? I was looking at Ravelry and some folks have used Cotton Fleece. That would be good for this terminally hot person, plus I can wash and dry it in the machine. But, I also like Lamb's Pride and they have some beautiful reds. Or, we carry Shaefer Yarn and I could order some Miss Priss in a colorway that I like. Annie looks nice, so does Catherine the Great, or what about Frida Kahlo? And I like Billie Holliday, but I think I want to stick with a red colorway. It is bright and cheery.

Are you ready to join me?

Only three and a half weeks

It is that time of year to pull out the pumpkins.



Susan made up a felted pattern for pumpkins and the wonderful thing about them, is that you can use them for Halloween and Thanksgiving and then knit them up in other colors for Christmas, Valentine's Day, Easter....You get the picture.

Two skeins of Lamb's Pride worsted makes three pumpkins.

Mila sent us a picture of the baby jacket and hat pattern by Naturally she knitted for her new grandaughter. She used Buttons yarn from Fiber Trends.


Isn't Corallus cute? We blooged about her cousins on July 12.

Cast on and off

If you have noticed, I have a list of favorite blogs that I enjoy reading. On that list is TECHknitting. I have just finished reading her post for September 30, 2009 and it is full of many great ideas. But the one I want to specifically point out is the stretchy cast on and cast off.

First, start here with Knitty's article. Then let's look at Cat Bordhi's video of the cast off.



Jeny has also come up with a great technique for a stretchy cast on and here it is.



Isn't it great! I am so easily excited. Next pair of socks I knit, I will have to try the cast on technique.

Turning

We have some scrumptious yarn that arrived this week. Elegant Yarns Kaleidoscope. (if you click on the individual yarns, you will see a color sample)


Nine separate, wonderful colorways.

I found the perfect scarf pattern for this yarn. Multidirectional Diagonal Scarf. Check it out at Ravelry.


So I am knitting along and doing really great.


Then I stopped and looked at it. My knitting was turning. I pulled it out and started over. Doing just fine. Then I did it again.

I think I have it figured out this time. I am knitting the last row, instead of starting back with my increase and ssk row, after finishing my short rows.

I will let you know how it goes.

The lord of grafting stitches AKA Kitchener

Recently, we have had lots of requests dealing with the Kitchener Stitch. This is when you take two sets of live stitches and weave or graft them together. It is mostly used when you finish the toe of your socks.

Lord Kitchener developed this technique. According to Wikipedia "The knitted sock patterns of the day used a seam up the toe, that could rub uncomfortably against the toes. Kitchener encouraged British and American women to knit for the war effort, and contributed a sock pattern featuring a new technique for a seamless join of the toe, still known as Kitchener stitch. "

Knitty.com has a great tutorial. I like this one for her pictures, thorough explanation, and also the pointing out that garter stitch kitchening is different than that for stockinette. If you prefer a you tube tutorial, Knit Witch has a good one.

Not knitting - Fuzzy Fuzzy Cute Cute

Ok, every now and then you've got to put the knitting aside.

Wrapping it up

I finished several samples for the shoppe.



Easy Lace Scarf using Claudia Handpainted Worsted 55. This took one skein of yarn. The pattern is by Clara Parkes of Knitter's Review and was very easy - just a 4 row repeat.


A shawl using Schahrazade from Henry's Attic. This is the same pattern we use for our Mountain Colors Merino Ribbon Shawl.

I learned a new cast on!!!!

As much as I like to knit socks, I am still a novice. And that is what is so exciting about the world of knitting - there is always something to learn!

Knitting Daily had a video posted the other day with Nancy Bush and a cast on that she uses for her socks. Check it out.

I am using it to knit a pair of socks with our new sock yarn, Crazy Zauberball.

What we do on Yarn Lover's Night

Every Monday night, from 6:30 pm until 8:30 pm, or whenever we leave, it is Yarn Lover's Night at the shoppe.



We do all sorts of things on these nights.






When you get a chance, come join us.

I had a day off

Once a week, I get a day off - Sunday. What I did this Sunday was ignore all the bookwork and housework that needed to be done. The weather was perfect for lying around and napping and knitting.


Our backyard has been turned into a meadow.


I watched the hummingbirds visit the feeder.



I made sun tea.


And I finished knitting the Rufflicious baby sock. (Baby Ull yarn, US 1 Addi Turbo needles and Kalamazoo Knits pattern)


What a perfect day.

I want to adopt them

This weekend I was treated to a delightful experience. I met Ellie and Lilly.


The girls and their grandmother came in. A new baby girl was to be born into the family and Ellie and Lilly wanted to knit a gift. We picked out the yarn, Monte Cristo, and I taught them to knit.

If my grandchildren were to be like this, then I am ready to become a grandmother. It was a pleasure to spend time with both of the girls.


This is Ellie modeling the Tomten.

Thank you, ladies, for stopping by. You made my weekend.