Another Day

Nothing exciting happening today. Up and to the grocery store then the farm stand for corn and tomatoes. Gotta love summer food and feel very blessed to live in a farming community where the farm stand is just around the corner. I can't believe the corn and tomato season is almost over. Gotta enjoy it while it's here. Going to work in a few minutes. I picked up Friday, Saturday, and Monday (labor day) and supposed to be gorgeous weather all weekend. What am I--crazy??!! But can certainly use the money as Christmas is just around the corner. At least I am off Sunday. I have always wanted to journal but never had the discipline to sit down and write every day--and since I am on the computer often, this is perfect. Thx Kel (that is my daughter who talked me into this) So I hope to post something every day unless we are away. The weather today is gorgeous--mid 70' and sunny with low humidity. My kind of weather. My husband likes it a little warmer. He is working on closing the pool this weekend--so it is a good time to work and be out of his hair. Well you all have a great day unless you've made other plans. Pic of Pool

Where I Live

This is where I live with my wonderful husband. This is what I see when I look out my kitchen window. He was raised on this property. It is as pretty as it looks, and lots and lots of work. But we truly love it here.

Loop Stitch Booties

The pattern for these loop stitch booties is found in a very old book calle "Wee Moderns" by Spinnerin I believe it was published in the 50's or 60's I have been making these for over 30 years. They are adorable to give as shower gifts. They are made with baby fingering yarn and a size 1 crochet hook. Everybody loves them.

socks

The site I learned to knit socks from was from royea.net titled socks 101. It can be found under my sock links. Just simple basic worsted wt. socks. So glad that I went there. Happy Knitting

More socks

These are my three most recently made pair of socks. The top ones are made with DG Confetti yarn--there was no color name on the label. The middle ones are with Fortissima Stars & Stripes--the bottom ones are made with Opal Rainforest Peacock. All of them are made with my variation of the 56 stitch and 56 row sock pattern which can now be found at the Chic Knits web site. I will put the link under my sock links after I post this. I use sock wt. yarn and size 2 needles ( I cast on with size 4 needles to allow give to the cuff.) AHH the tricks we learn as we go along!!!!! I like 3" ribbing so I do 27 rows of ribbing& 40 to 48 rows of stockinette stitch for the cuff. I do the heel, heel turn, and gusset per pattern instructions. Then I do 40 rows for the foot for a 6 to 7 1/2 foot and 50 stitches for the foot for the next size. (this of course is a woman's sock.) I follow the pattern for the toe. The thing I really like about making socks is that you pretty much can do what you want with basic patterns. I still need the instructions to turn the heel--after all I am still a newbie to knitting socks. Happy knitting!!!!

Christening Gown

This is the info on the christening gown I posted below. The pattern is in a book by Leisure Arts called Christening Layettes By C. Strohmeyer. It calls for yarn. I used Baroque bedspread weight cotton and I used a steel crochet hook size 1 to get guage. I lined the skirt with satin. I did not line the top as I figured they would wear a onesie on the baby under it. Of course used satin ribbon and pearl buttons. The booklet was published in 1992. Very busy dayl Made and got ready to mail invites to my daughters baby shower. It is being given by my mom, her stepmom and I (I call her the other mother) and her 2 sisters. My exes wife and I are fortunate to be friends. She is due at the end of Oct. Shower is at beginning of Oct. such fun!!!! have a great day!!!!

Poncho

This is a pic of a poncho I crocheted for a dear friend of mine. It is an old pattern from the 70's. The pattern shows it made with fringe. This pic looks blue, but it is really a sage green--the color of our old desoto. She kept begging for a poncho so I made it for her for Christmas. Happy knitting and crocheting.

Indian Head Afghan

I have made three of these afghans. One for my son when he was in high school that he wore out, and one when he graduated from Pennsylvania School of Culinary arts. I also made one for my Dad. My Mom gave me the one I made my Dad after he passed on. It is done in afghan stitch with cross stitch. It really didn't take as long as you might think. Crocheting and knitting are really just a couple of the passions in my life and I am grateful I have been blessed with the ability to do them well.

Had a Blast

Last year my husband and I went to Niagara Falls for our 9th wedding anniversary. We had a ball. Went to a coupla casinos--but didn't gamble. Went on the jet whirpool boat--that is a riot if you ever get a chance to do that. Did all the local tourist stuff, We had a really great time. After eating dinner on our anniversary in the revolving dining room overlooking the city we found this little photo place that did these pics. Isn't this a blast Put this pic on our Christmas cards last year. everyone loved it.

Sunday

Well am home from my Sunday Morning running. I am so addicted to knitting socks. Finished a pair this morning while out and about and had a new pair started before we got home. I really need to quit and work on the baby sweater that I have to have done by Oct. 7. Went to a jewelry party this afternoon and bought a coupla pieces. Did not book a party however. I have only had one home party in the last 30 years--a pampered chef party for my daughter when she was selling it. I really hate to do those parties however--so I don't. Did do quite well when I had it though. Coupla people booked and sold $600 worth of merchandise--so got a lot of nice stuff. I would simply rather buy it. Well I am off again.

We will be riding in this car this morning. It is my favorite. I collect yarn, shoes, books, and nurses. My husband collects these cars. Since his collection is much more expensive, he doesn't say too much when I come home with another skein of yarn, a new book, shoes, or nurse figurine ::snort:: But believe me he worked a lot of overtime to afford these beauts. He calls it a white collar hobby on blue collar wages. He is now retired and gets to enjoy them He has five 56 Desotos. 2 Fireflites--an Adventurer (in the process of an off the frame restoration) and a Pace Car Convertible. Oh and a coupla junky parts cars hanging around. He says if they are all the same year that parts are interchangeable. Our pole barn is bigger than our house. Well I am off now. Have a great day.

oops

This is the black yellow blue and red felted bag that I knit. For some reason it didn't show up in previous post.

Christening Gown

I have crocheted 3 of these. All three of my daughters have one. It is from an older Leisure arts Book--will have to hunt up the one. It was designed to be made with yarn, but I went with the guage and came up with a hook and Cotton to meet the guage. It is really beautiful. I do a lot of both knitting and crocheting--love them both. I know this is supposed to be a knitting blog but you will see a lot of both on this blog. Well you all have a great day--unless you've made other plans

Felted Bags

I knitted these felted bags. I knitted 1 of the red white and blue one (made with lion brand wool) which went to my middle daughter and 2 of the other one(made with patons wool)--one I gave to my 16 year old grandaughter and kept the other one for myself which I use for--of all things--knit and crochet projects!! It is so simple and fun to knit. The pattern can be found at http://pensandneedles.blogspot.com/2005/11/sentimental-stripes-felted-tote.html. I am having so much fun finding other knitting blogs and posting--I am glad I let my daughter talk me into starting this blog. Well you all have a great day

Just one more pic of the socks--it is a better one. I finally figured out how to export my digital pics to where I can upload them to blogger.

These are just some of the socks that i have made. I have only 25 rows to rows to go on the foot of the second sock of the pair that I am making now--then decrease for the toe. I have a crocheted sweater set I have to finish by Oct. 7 for my daughter's baby shower. So much yarn--so little time!!! Also have to get invites in the mail etc. And leaving on vacation Sept. 22 to Oct 2. Life just gets busier and busier. And speaking of obsessive compulsive. As I said, I learned to knit socks in Nov of 06 and now officially have enough sock yarn to knit 43 more pairs of socks. I am not an addictive personality!! Now you all know why I still work part time. Somebody has to pay for all that yarn. My knitting and crocheting daughters love to come to my house for patterns. Have been crocheting for 38 years and knitting for 31 years and have amassed patterns you wouldn't believe. And also have crates and crates of yarn. Why my oldest daughter said the other day, "This is better than Hobby Lobby!" I of course also give them yarn when needed. You know how moms are. I have more yarn than I could work up in a life time. And since I married a pack rat, the clutter might as well be at my house ::snort:: Well as I have to work today I really must run--fix lunch etc. I work the 2:30 to 11 shift--have been doing it basically for 22 years and that is where my body clock is. Generally sleep till 8 or 9 every morning and when I can't I feel like crap. Yall have a great day, unless you have made other plans.

Knitting

I have been knitting since I was 27 years old--That is 31 years. The years fly by so fast. I knitted sweaters and mittens for my kids when they were small. Now I knit mostly socks. I decided in Nov. of last year I was going to learn to knit socks after the first of the year. And being the obsessive compulsive person that I am Sat down the last Thurs of Nov 2006 and started. Ripped them out 6 times and said to myself, "I am not doing this to myself." I got a book in the mail from a friend Fri morning from a friend titled "A Good Yarn" by Debbie Macomber. The first few pages were 2 sock patterns and I said to myself, "OK God, I will try again." The rest is history. I am on my 11th pair of socks. Of course I have made 3 felted bags. 4 or 5 ponchos (some crocheted) and 2 or 3 crocheted baby blankets-booties-baby sweaters also since then. Besides working part time as a nurse. Trying to visit my 82 yr. old independent mom and my children and 9 grandchildren. And now I am learning to do this (blog that is). I usually give away most of what I make, but I have kept most of the socks.

End of the Day

Well we are approaching the end of the day. I did a very little bit of knitting on my socks. Like 10 rows or so. Fed my hubby and I our favorite summer meal--bacon and tomato sandwiches and cor on the cob--nothing hare about that. Super hot and muggy. We have been fortunate to not get the rain that people south of us got. the flooding is horrendous. I work part time in a long term care facility for mmr/dd children. I am an LPN and have worked there almost 15 years. I am blessed to be able to work part time at this stage in my life--but I love my job. I will be working tomorrow. I am going to have to have my daughter show me how this blogger works. I did manage to get a coupla pics up. Bye for now. Chris

Another busy day

It is hot, hot, hot and humid, humid, humid. Up early again with lots of running to do. No time to knit this morning. I learned to knit socks in Nov and am almost done with my 11th pair. That does not count 3 baby blankets I have crocheted--a coupla ponchos-knit and crochet-booties etc. This is gonna be a quick post cuz I gotta run and am very new to this blogger thing. My daughter talked me into doing this. Can't wait to learn all about it. Always up for learning new things. When I learn to post pics they will be there. Be back later.