Thanksgiving

We had our Thanksgiving dinner at school this week. Every year it is our tradition for the kindergarten and 1st grade to dress as Native Americans and the 2nd grade to dress as Pilgrims (I'm on the right, trying my best to hide behind a Pilgrim boy). and have turkey dinner together (our great school cooks provide the meal). And...my favorite Pilgrim \

Needled to Death Whoduknit Project

Here is my Alpaca scarf for my Needled to Death project for Whoduknit. It is knit from Knitpicks Decadence 100% Alpaca in the Spring Leaf colorway. The pattern is the Super Yak Scarf from One Skein Wonders (I love that book!)
I doubt if there were any Yaks on Vickie Claymore's alpaca farm, but I suppose there could have been. I worked the pattern from a chart which was a new experience for me. Charts have always been a mystery to me - what in the world do all those dots, slanted lines, etc. mean. But after unraveling (frogging) several times, the pattern became clear and I have solved the mystery of working with charts! Of course my scarf has lots of twists and turns like the book, including a "make 7" stitch in which you make 7 stitches out of one. I think that this scarf was as much of a challenge to me as solving the case of Vickie Claymore's murder was to Kelly.....and I didn't have Maggie Sefton to help me!

Three Day Weekend!

Hooray! And it's finally stopped raining after two days of down pouring. It's even warm - almost 60 degrees!
Last weekend I went to a United Maine Crafter's Show in Bangor where I met a lady from Scandinavia who was knitting fleece lined mittens. I've been wanting to learn how to do that (you add the fleece as you knit), and she showed me. She was also selling some hand spun yarn and had one skein left of a gorgeous silk that she had marked half price. Who could resist! - she even included a scarf pattern.
"On the needles" - an alpaca scarf for my Needled to Death Whoduknit project. I'm using the Knitpicks Decadence that I received from my One Skein pal, Mary Lynn, and the Super Yak Scarf from One Skein Wonders. I don't know if I will finish it on time - maybe I can claim it is not finished because Maggie Sefton's series is not finished yet???
And a shawl that I'm making for a friend for Christmas. I'm using LB Microspun and the Lacy Winged Shawl pattern from the 2007 Knitting Pattern a Day Calendar (March 28).
Last night I took a break from knitting and went to a scrapbooking class. We made this adorable mini-star album. I think I'll be making a few more for Christmas gifts.

Warning - Danger!

Swap-bot is a very dangerous place to be - DON'T GO THERE! Don't click on that link! You will end up spending the rest of your life at the post office - your mailman will hate you. Your family and friends will question your sanity. Don't click on the Funky Scarf Swap or The Knit Kit Swap and whatever you do, don't click on View All Swaps
That Funky Scarf Swap is soooo tempting....but no, I have willpower!
But..seriously. I'm not sure about this whole Swap-bot thing. It seems very impersonal - like an automated swap. I guess I'll see how the Knit Mitt Kit Swap turns out. At least that one has a home page where you can post.

I guess I should post a warning about going to your local book store too. I found One Skein Wonders at mine today. I love it! I think I like it better than One Skein. I don't think there is anything in it that I wouldn't want to make. Like one of the scarves.. Hmmm - I still have 8 hours to sign up for the funky scarf exchange.
I also picked up a copy of Frankenstein for $2.00. That's the book Knit the Classics is reading this month. But after reading the first couple pages - I really don't think I want to read it. Too many other good books on my list. Which leads me to - or maybe leads you to the poll for the Whoduknit December Holiday Mystery book. There are some great choices and great possibilites for projects to knit.

P.S. I'm weak, I'm very weak! I just signed up for this swap

The Well Dressed Thanksgiving Hostess

Start knitting your thanksgiving hat and tea cozy now!

And get a head start on the Christmas holiday

Purchase the patterns here

Knit Kit Mitt Swap

I just signed up for the Knit Kit Mitt Swap
that I came across pretty much by accident today. It sounds like fun and the mailing date is not until after Christmas so it seemed doable. Here are my answers to the questionnaire.

Knit Kit Mitt Swap Questionnaire:

What are your favorite colors? Blue/green/mauve

Are you a new mitt knitter? How long have you been knitting mittens? I've been knitting children's mittens for years, but have not actually ever knit adult mittens.

Do you prefer solid or multicolored yarn? multicolored

What fibers do you prefer in mitten yarn? wool or wool blend

Where do you usually knit mittens? In my favorite chair watching t.v.

How do you usually carry/store small projects? In a basket, or small knitting bag

What are your favorite mitten patterns? I don't really have a favorite

What are your favorite mitten knitting techniques? I use the magic loop method

What new techniques would you like to try? Knitting a fleece lining into the mittens.

What are your favorite needles for knitting mittens? magic loop (40" circular)

What are some of your favorite yarns? Cascade 220, Patons Classic Wool, Galway, Noro

What yarn do you totally covet? Koigu

Any pattern you would love to make if money and time were no object? Can't think of one

Favorite kind of needles (brand, materials, straights or circs, etc)? metal circs for magic loop/ bamboo circs for other projects.

If you were a specific kind of yarn, which brand and kind of yarn would you be? Probably Patons Classic Wool

Do you have a favorite candy or mail-able snack? CHOCOLATE!

What’s your favorite animal? dog

Would you prefer super warm mittens or something more like fingerless mitts? Super warm

If you were a color what color would you be? blue


What is your most inspiring image, flower, or object in nature? children


Do you have a wishlist? No

Anything else you’d like to share with the group today? This swap sounds like a lot of fun - can't wait to get started!

Happy Halloween

My weekend turned out even spookier than I thought it would. On Saturday it was storming so I opted to stay home with Agatha Christie rather than go to the Halloween party. Just as I got to the first murder in the book, the power went out. I continued reading by flashlite, with candles flickering and wind howling - it was the perfect atmosphere for a murder mystery! Our power never did come back on until 11 p.m. Sunday night, and some parts of town are still without electricity, making for a very spooky Halloween!
We had a great Halloween party and parade through town today. Do these kids know who is standing behind them?

Spooky Weekend Plans

It is the first day of hunting season in Maine, and the guys have gone to hunting camp. We are expecting a rain/snow/wind storm tonight so curling up with an Agatha Christie Halloween mystery is what I'd like to do. But, tonight is also our staff Halloween party and I really should go, at least for a little while. You know you are getting old when you would rather curl up with a good mystery than go to a party! On Sunday, there is a kid's Halloween party at the local community center that my DD is organizing. It is always very spooky and lots of fun, so I will stop by to take some pictures.
I finished and delivered two more felted totes, have another drying now, and one more to knit. Also finished my brown socks - knit up quickly on a size 5 circ and Wool Ease. I think I'm going to take a break from felted totes for awhile and knit my "Needled to Death" Whoduknit project - an alpaca scarf. I have the yarn, a gift from my One Skein SP that I have been hording. It's Knit Picks Superfine Alpaca is a very pretty green color. I just have to find the perfect pattern. And I also have to decide on an ornament to make for the KTC ornament exchange. And oh yeah, clean, do laundry, and grocery shop - these things really get in the way of my reading and knitting!

Criminal Behavior and other Swaps

Stephanie is hosting a holiday swap on Whoduknit If you like reading mysteries and knitting come on over and join us.
I've also joined the KTC holiday swap and received my SP's name today.
At school we do SP swaps once a month. The Secret Pumpkin swap is next week.
Why do I like swaps? I don't know which is more fun - the giving or the receiving!

International Tote Exchange Bag

I received my tote today from my ITE pal, who turned out to be Bonnie, the hostess of the swap - how lucky am I? I have been watching this bag on the blog, coveting it, and checking each day to see if anyone had received it. And today, someone did - ME!
I'm so excited! Isn't it just gorgeous. She also included some Halloween peanut M&Ms, Spooky Cats Peeps, Tea Fortes, and an adorable purse notepad. The picture I took doesn't do it justice.
Here is the progress of it as posted by Bonnie on the ITE blog.
This is the yarn she used - Noro Kuryon and Cascade 220
The pattern is The English Garden Bag
And here are her progress pictures:

Lucky, Lucky, Me! I think this bag is a work of art! Thank you Bonnie!

The Full Monty

A howling wind storm on Friday night just about finished off the leaves that were left on the trees. Today is bright and crisp though, a perfect fall day.
Last night I went out to dinner with a couple of girlfriends and then went to see a show - The Full Monty. If you are not familiar with this play it is the story of unemployed steelworkers who come up with a bold way to make some quick cash, when they observe how much their wives enjoy watching male strippers during “Girls’ Night Out. It was hilarious! I haven't laughed so hard in a long time. Imagine my surprise when the show begins with a male stripper who looked very familiar! A look at my program proved I was right - he was in my 1st grade class 15 years ago! Also, sitting right behind us was the whole crew from my local LYS - but none of us were knitting! And speaking of mystery balls (yes, bad pun intended,) Whoduknit Mystery balls are beginning to arrive at SPs homes, and you can check out the 'unraveling' of them on Whoduknit. There is also a Who's Who on Whoduknit contest going on. If you are not a member yet - come on over and join the fun. This month we are reading and knitting projects for Needled to Death by Maggie Sefton (who is a member of our group!) and next month we will be reading Arthur Conan Doyle's Hound of the Baskervilles.
This is a knitting blog though, and I have been knitting. I felted another bag this morning - two more orders to go, and then I'm going to have to say NO, because I need to get some of my own Christmas knitting done. I took a break from the felted bags and started a pair of socks. I found this yarn in my stash and I think it is Wool Ease. I can't remember what I started making with it, but I must have frogged whatever it was, and I have come to a couple of cuts in the yarn and have had to join. They will be warm, and probably just for around the house. I'm using the magic loop on size 5 circs. They are going really fast, and I love knitting socks this way.

Silly Kids!

Our Second grade earns marbles for good behavior. When they get 20 marbles they get to have a party, and to vote on what kind of party it will be. Today was their first 'marble party' and they voted on a movie and pajama party! What a bunch of silly kids!

Weekend Update

It has been another beautiful fall week, for the most part, with just one rainy day.
Thursday's X-Country meet was held on a beautiful course with just breathtaking fall foliage views. Before the race, one of our coaches challenged the kids with a promise to come to school wearing a dress and have his head shaved in front of them if they had a 1st or 2nd place runner. Jordyn made a valiant try and came in 3rd (out of 85 girls), but it was Jacob this time who took the challenge and 'ran' with it, to come in 2nd! Steve did follow through on his promise as the 6th, 7th, and 8th graders looked on and Diane (my daughter, who is the other coach and also a beautician) shaved his head. I'll post pictures of this monumental event as soon as I receive them - but here are the proud twins with their medals.

In less exciting news I finished two of the felted bags I have orders for - two more to go. I picked up the yarn for the last one yesterday - blue/green/purple in jewel colors - I think it will be pretty. Also picked up a copy of Interweave Knits Holiday Gifts Magazine. Such cute things in it, like the snowman Christmas stocking, wooly pears, Best Friends bears, and boudoir socks. When will I ever get the time to make them all?

And received an unexpected gift from DH. Last week I was looking for a hammer to hammer some grommets onto a felted bag and complaining that I couldn't find one in his workshop - so he came home with this - my very own PURPLE tool set. LOL Maybe I will build myself a craft room??

HAPPY FALL

BORN TO KNIT

I finished the mystery pattern last night (had to tink back a couple of rows in my excitement over seeing the Detroit Tigers beat the NY Yankees and knock them out of the play-offs!) I don't know if you can see what it says - "BORN TO KNIT" - Very clever Deb. Yes, it was from Deb, my very devious SP. She knew that I knew who she was (hard to run a swap and keep that secret from myself) so she put a fake return address on the package to confuse me (she knows that it doesn't take much to confuse me). But in the end, it was her card that the beginning of the skein was wrapped around. And look at all the goodies that came out of the ball! I won't run out of stitch markers for awhile at least. I think my favorite is the sheep tape measure, isn't he cute? There are still a couple of mysteries in there though. Like the red thing - not sure what that is. And are those arrow heads? Thanks you so much Deb - this was so much fun.
Oh, and I am a little bit devious too. I had some yarn left at the end, and instead of knitting more with it, I unwound it to get to the rest of the goodies!

Mystery Ball Update

You know you are blogging too much when you try to post a Whoduknit blog on the International Tote Exchange Blog! Anyway -
I'm halfway through my mystery pattern and this is what has fallen out of the ball so far (yes - that's a snake!) And that brown thing sticking out of the ball of yarn looks like a chestnut - but it's attached to something and I can't pull it out....got to start knitting!

TGIF Surprises!

I arrived home from work today to find two packages waiting for me! What a great way to begin the weekend! One was from my downstream tote exchange partner, Stephanie. It was a thank you gift for the tote that I sent her. In the package was this wonderful smelling, pretty bar of felted soap, and a Magazine called "Bend Living" - The Spirit of Central Oregon. In the magazine is a very interesting article written by none other than Stephanie herself! about the the woman who makes the felted soaps on Wild and Wooly Farm in Bend, Or. The felted soap can be used for washing, or for a pin cushion, and the article tells how it is made. She also included the funniest thank you card featuring 'Many Many Tanked Ewes' Seems they has a little too much to drink at Joe's Fleecin Baaaaaaar. Thank you Stephanie!
The second package was from my mystery ball SP, and inside was (can you guess?) my mystery ball! It is lumpy and funny looking and loaded with goodies. She also included a mystery pattern, which I will cast on for tonight - so I can get to all of those treasures inside! Stay tuned as the mystery unravels!

Fall Colors

I think this is the prettiest time of year - when the leaves change and the weather is crisp in the morning and warm in the afternoons. I just wish it lasted a little longer.
I went into town yesterday for Harvest Gold Days, which means lots of sales going on.
There was a Grand Opening of a 'Chocolate Factory' which is really pretty tiny, but has lots of yummy chocolate. They had a chocolate fountain flowing with pretzels, pound cake, and strawberries to dip in it. I sampled, but didn't buy, mostly because it was so crowded - but I'll be back!
Upstairs from that a scrapbook store was having a 30% off sale. I bought a kit to make a photo recipe book which looked really cute. It will probably become a Christmas present for someone. Also some fall stickers and embellishments. Now if I can just get to those fall pages. There was a craft fair and Chinese Auction going on, and all of the stores had sales, including my LYS which had 20% off on all of their yarn. Very tempting! I have orders for two more felted bags in fall colors - so using the leaves as inspiration, I picked up some Galway in brown and dark red, and green heather. I think they will make a pretty bag. I used the Random Stripe Generator to choose a stripe pattern.
I found another felted bag pattern I would like to make on Monica's blog. It's based on the ballband washcloth pattern that I love.

Today, I have been winding my mystery ball for the Whoduknit Mystery Ball swap. I can't post a picture because I don't want her to recognize the yarn. When she receives it, she is supposed to knit the pattern that is with it and let the goodies fall out of the ball as she knits. The very last thing in the ball will be my identity. I think it will be fun, and can't wait to receive mine.

This afternoon I had hoped to watch the last Red Sox game of the season. A very dissapointing season, in first place the first half and then had nothing but injuries and bad luck the second half. Looks like their bad luck is holding up as it is raining in Boston and they probably will not play. Looks like knitting and a movie this afternoon for me.

Rainy Saturday

A great day to be doing housework - NOT! I had to go into town to go to the bank and food shopping - and had to drive right by my LYS. I picked up some yarn for my Mystery Ball SP. Now I have to gather up all of the things to go in it and start winding!

While I was there I found some yarn for my Time Traveler's Wife project. I'm almost finished reading it. I love this book. It so intriguing - I know I will be reading it again. I thought of several projects - like socks for Henry because when he time travels he has to leave all his possessions behind including his clothes and his feet are always cold. But when I found this passage I knew I had found my project. Henry is talking about a poem, "Bamboo without mind, yet sends thoughts soaring among clouds. Standing on the lone mountain, quiet, dignified, it typifies the will of a gentleman." I remembered that early on in the book Henry compares time travel to a mobius - So my project will be a mobius scarf knit with this beautiful bamboo yarn. It is so soft it could very well be soaring among clouds and would blend with the color of the sky. Now all I have to do is find the right pattern.

I finished the bag for my daughter's sister-in-law. This is a smaller version of the It felt it Random Bag using the random stripe generator. I used Paton's Classic Wool. I have orders for two more of these bags for Christmas presents.

Whoduknit? I Did!

We had some really exciting news on Whoduknit this week. The author of this month's book, "Knit One Kill Two" has joined our group! If you like to read mysteries and like to knit and have not joined us yet come on over and check it out.
We also have a Whoduknit Blog.
I have my SP for the Whoduknit Mystery Ball Swap and I'm trying to decide on the yarn to use for the ball. I have a lot of ideas about what to put inside it, but still undecided on the yarn.
Speaking of yarn. I found this Bernat Handicrafter Cotton in Walmart at under $6.00 for a 12 oz. skein. It looks and feels just like Sugar and Cream so I can't wait to try it.

I received the new Lion Brand Catalog in the mail today. I know a lot of knitters turn their noses up at LB yarn, but they are certainly giving knitpicks some competition with their new yarns, patterns, and catalog.


I finished my first ballband 'warshcloth' from Mason-Dixon with S&C yarn, and I'm hooked! I will probably have one of these on my needles at all times. And some of them will turn into bibs, which I think would be adorable.

You Are A Fig Tree

You are very independent and strong minded. A hard worker when you want to be, you play hard too. You are honest and loyal. You hate contradiction or arguments. You love life, and you live for your friends, children, and animals. A great sense of humor, artistic talent, and intelligence are all gifts you possess.

What's Your Celtic Horoscope?

And the Winner is........

I am so excited! My granddaughter, Jordyn, won her first ever x-country race yesterday - #1 in a field of 40 girls! Now her twin brother, Jacob, has been running for 3 years, and is a good runner, usually up in the top 5 and has had one win. Yesterday he came in 8th - good - but a little competition from his sister won't hurt!

Scrapbooking

I have been neglecting my other obsession - scrapbooking - lately. I've got as much scrapbooking stash as I have yarn stash, but like yarn, I keep buying more for 'someday'. Saturday I went to the grand opening of a new scrapbooking store. I didn't need anything, but the new owner is the daughter of our cook at school - so I really had to make an appearance- right? There were 'mystery' prizes, and I actually won one - All these scrapbooking supplies!
I also bought a kit for making a tag album - too cute to resist - and I actually went home and made it. There are pictures on both sides of the tags so there is room for 16 pictures, but I had to print them out small to fit. They are pictures from our trip to NJ this summer.

You Know Summer is Over When......

The JCPenney Wish Book arrives! All the telltale signs of fall are here - the days are cooler, it's getting darker earlier, the leaves are changing, and....the Christmas catalogs are arriving! Christmas!!! The JCPenney Wish book is here, along with this stack of catalogs received just this past week. Toy catalogs, Lillian Vernon, Personal Creations, etc. etc. but the one that popped right out at me was the Patternworks Catalog - oh the yarns, the patterns, the tools,And... the reminder that I have not started knitting any Christmas presents yet. Last year I gave felted bags, felted hats, and Eros scarves. This year I was thinking about socks and felted slippers, but I keep getting distracted by other things I want to make. Maybe gift cards would be a good choice this year:)

First Week of School

We made it through the first week of school - but next week has FIVE days! Having my granddaughter in my class seems fine for her, but challenging for me, as I try to keep a balance between giving her too much attention and ignoring her completely. So far she has not tried to take advantage of having her 'grammie' as her teacher.
Fortunately I team teach with another teacher, so that she can do all the evaluating, and disciplining (if it becomes necessary, which of course it won't LOL), and I won't have to worry about either being too lenient or too critical of her. She says 2nd grade is awesome! So that's a good thing.

I am not getting in too much knitting, but did make my first Baby Bib O' Love from the Mason-Dixon book, and have started on a pink one - nice mindless knitting! My nephew and his wife, and two teachers from school are expecting babies in February and I think these bibs are great. I would also love to make the Moderne Baby Blankets, and the Heartbreakingly Cute Kimonos, - all out of Peaches and Creme Cotton, inexpensive and very washable, although I'd like to try the Rowan Handknit Cotton too. I love that book and would like to make everything in it!

Another It Felt Bag

This is a smaller version of Turtlegirls It Felt Random Bag I CO 38 sts, knit 38 rows (19 ridges) in garter st. then PU 18 sts. along the side, 38 sts on the CO row and 18 sts on the other side. Then knit in the round. I used the random stripe generator and chose olive green, pink, and aqua, (Paton's Classic Wool) with 2,4,& 8" stripes and 64 rows. It's 15"x15"x6" before felting. I Haven't made the i-cord handle yet. I think I'm going to invest in one of those handy little thingys that make i-cords. Anyone know of a good one?