Hold On To Your Hats!

It's very windy here in Fontana, and fall has arrived in the Inland Empire.
We're having gusts of about 49 mph and that makes it pretty darn hard to go outside and pull weeds. I hope they die down soon because we are in need of a few groceries.
Meanwhile I've been busily knitting up more Hatz!

Hatz 26 - 30

Four of them are just a basic beanie - no pattern. I used up lots of little oddballs of chunky type yarn, like Lion Brand Jiffy.

# 26 is two strands of knitting worsted started from the top down with a 2.5" garter stitch brim. Nice and warm around the ears.

#28 is the RAD Hat knit with bulky yarn, and several oddballs of Lion Brand Jiffy.

Still working on the Juliet Cardi, Sally Melville Vest, Squarz and blankets.

Discovery

It's fun to go digging in one's hidden Wips. Look what I discovered!

It is a vest from Sally Melville's Styles book; The Whistler Vest.
This one was hanging out deep in my closet with some other forgotten projects.
We were discussing what to make for the elders of the Rez and vests were mentioned. I think this one will be going up to South Dakota this winter.



These are the two fronts and they are already up to the armholes, so I really do not have much more to knit. It's a simple linen stitch knit on #5 needles.

Mitten Challenge Totals & More

The totals for the Mittenz Challenge of 2008 are in!

1003 pairs of mittens/gloves/wristers were were mailed last week to the Rez!

Simply amazing, isn't it? What one group of people can do when called to the challenge!




Now back to our regular programming.... digging out the WIPs

Found two more hats in the WIP pile.

Hat #23

Pattern: Slip Stitch Quilted Baby Hat by Shelly Kang
It's a Ravelry Download too. $5

Since this was my first attempt at quilted stitches, I used stash yarn.
It was a bit hard for me to keep track of the pattern and I know I made at least one "design element". But I like the outcome so much that I'll probably make another and choose some prettier colors. This one reminds me a little pineapple!

Hat #24

Pattern: Gansey Hat by Gail
Yarn: Bernat Soft 'n Cozy
Needles: #7's

I was a test knitter and I thought this was a fun hat with all the patterns going on.
I plan on making more.

Getting Back To Other Projects

Rita's House Socks are done! The garter stitch sole worked out great.
I worked the afterthought heel on 20 sts, leaving 16 for the instep.
Hope they fit!



Here's the start of the Juliet Cardigan that I am knitting for my sis, Rita.
She saw the pattern knit up at her local yarn shop.
It calls for a gauge of 14sts per inch. Caron One Pound yarn and size 8 needles gave me the right gauge.


I spend yesterday catching up on some Tivo'd shows and working on putting together the small granny square baby-ghan.
I'll have pictures soon.

Keeping Track Of Hatz

And so I said I was going to go thru my knitting projects yesterday...
Guess what I found? Hatz! I had stored them away somewhere different from where I usually keep them.

So now I have all my hats to take pictures and I had a picture that included the 6 hats I mailed out last Friday.
I went back and looked at all my posts and photos in my computer and I've found out I have made a total of 44 hats since Jan 2008.
38 of these I've made for the Rez.

But wait! My sidebar says 22....
Looking back at my posts I see that I started counting for a Hat Blitz I thought was going to start soon.
I started with the yellow butterfly hat as #1

So thanks to BigHugeLabs, I made this mosaic of all my hats from 1-22



I think I'll take Lizzie's advice and bring down my finished hats to the computer area and COUNT them!

Meanwhile here are some pics of the latest hatz.

A Pair of Socks and Some Answers

Here's the house socks I've been working on. As you can see I've knit the place for the afterthought heel with black waste yarn.

Now to take care of the "I Love Your Blog" Award answers

I'm supposed to answer with one word whatever comes to mind first so here goes:

The questions are as follows:

1. Where is your cell phone? Charging

2. Where is your significant other? Recliner

3. Your hair color? Brownish

4. Your mother? Deceased

5. Your father? Deceased

6. Your favorite thing? Knitting

7. Your dream last night? None

8. Your dream/goal? Many

9. The room you’re in? Small

10. Your hobby? Numerous

11. Your fear? Seldom

12. Where do you want to be in 6 years? Alive

13. Where were you last night? Bed

14. What you’re not? Slender

15. One of your wish-list items? HDTV

16. Where you grew up? California

17. The last thing you did? Knit

18. What are you wearing? Cothes

19. Your TV? Off

20. Your pet? Neutered

21. Your computer? On

22. Your mood? Impatient

23. Missing someone? Yeah

24. Your car? Red

25. Something you’re not wearing? Socks

26. Favorite store? Home Depot

27. Your summer? Fun!

28. Love someone? Yes!

29. Your favorite color? Red

30. When is the last time you laughed? 10:58

31. Last time you cried? Forgot

And that's it for today because as you noticed, my mood is impatient!

Square-Mania

I've been crocheting and knitting up 9" squares and now I have a little leaning tower of squares! They're waiting for company - more squares from our group.

The top square is the basics solid granny square pattern I use.
There is a YouTube video that shows how here.




Now Lizzie has made quite a few blankets already and she just finished a crocheted Box Stitch Diagonal one.

The other day at the LA County Fair, I saw a lapghan crocheted in Box Stitch Diagonal. It was just odds and ends with black sc around the edges.

So I've decided to try my hand at this stitch. Funny thing is that I've made an afghan or two using this stitch, but many, many years ago. So I am glad there are tutorials to help refresh my memory.

I decided to just make a 9" square for practice because I do not have enough yarn for a lapghan or baby blanket.






Rita's Slippers Are Done!

PDF Pattern: Mountain Form Slippers
Yarn: Worsted wt stash odds and ends

These were fun to make, but I am not sure I like the ribbing part. I suppose it holds the slipper snug to the foot. I'll have to ask Rita how they wear.
I was thinking next time I could just do them on straight needles and crochet the seam closed on top, like a planned embellishment.

Changing Gears

Update On The Blanket Blitz

Now through January 15, 2009, our Yahoo NAS Group will be making

4" knit or crochet squares in BABY COLORS ONLY, sport or worsted acrylic yarn

and/or

9" knit or crochet squares, any colors, worsted acrylic yarn

We will be sending all squares to:

NAS Blanket Blitz
19510 Van Buren Blvd.
F3-361
Riverside, Ca. 92508

I will be one of the "assemblers" having fun joining up all the squares to make blankets.

We have a blog too, showcasing blankets, squares, tips, etc.
Native American Support Blanket Blitz

If you prefer to make a complete blanket, afghan, quilt, laprobe - that's great!

February 1, 2009 is the final date to send completed afghans, quilts and blankets for babies through adults, knitter's choice (please label all wool blankets).

Send the completed blankets to the "Main"

Julie Garreau-Project Director
Billy Mills Youth Center (The Main)
8200 East Lincoln Street
P O Box 410
Eagle Butte, SD 57625


I've been working on several blankets and lots of squares. One of my projects is a hexagon blanket. I've even got my sis Rita, crocheting little hexagons for me.
Here's a big shoebox full that she sent.
The plan, once we coordinated our finished hexagon diameter, is to connect them with white. That should be a pretty colorful blanket.
When I get around to joining them, I'll post the progress and some links on how to join.


Mittenz

I've finished my last pair and have to take pics, finish filling the box and pack and ship. It really does give me a very happy feeling to know that there will be more warm hands and heads at the Rez this winter.

Other Projects
I finished that small baby hat and it is small - infant sized.
Lizzie said I should have cast on 80 sts and next time I am going to do just that!

One pair of slipper socks are finished and I'm doing great on the other pair on two circs.

That's all for today as I am resting up from all the walking I did yesterday.
We went to the LA County Fair. Fun, but oh so tiring....

No Blogging - Lots of Knitting

No Blogging lately - what's wrong with me?
I've been real busy tending to the forgotten backyard. It was a jungle back there but I've now gotten it manageable again.

My computer was having problems, my hard drive died. Put in another one and now I have to install all my programs again. I'm still not finished and now my photo editing software is not working for me.
I decided to use Flickr's Picnik program. So far it's OK.

My sis Rita sent me her favorite slipper socks to mend. I usually do afterthought heels and tell her to not throw them away when she wears a hole in the heel.
I can fix them! I did fix them and decided to knit her up a few more pairs.


Some nice reddish ones.
Yarn: TLC Essential Multi - Sedona colorway
Size 4 needles - working both socks at the same time.
Pattern: Melanie's House Socks
I've made a pair of these before and really liked the garter stitch sole.
With this pair I am going to work an afterthought heel instead and still keep the sole in garter stitch.


Here is another pair I'm making using up all the bright bits of yarn.


PDF pattern: Mountain Form Slippers

Mittenz Update
Time is quickly approaching the mail date! I have about 72 pairs of mittens made.
I was saying I was trying to knit up 100 and I will for the year of 2008, just not for the current Blitz. Besides my mitten box is almost full.....

I've got a few more photos but I'll save them for tomorrow.

Oh and Linda nominated me for "I Love Your Blog Award" Thanks!
I'll see what I can do about answers......

The Knitting Factory Is Open

I knit up this car seat blanket so fast, I amazed myself! Of course it is only about 24"x31" - but still, you know how slow I go on blankets in the summer...

I used Mason Dixon's Moderne Baby Blanket but cast on fewer stitches and added a few more strips.
This will be for Little Lissie - matches her little hat :)
Yarn is Hobby Lobby's I Love This Yarn.






WIPs
I like to clean up my craft room when I go away, so I tend to shove all the WIPs here and there - out of sight. Now that I am back, I am having fun searching for them because I forgot where the heck I hid them!

Found the Telemark Sweater and finished it in no time. This one is destined for the Rez for the coming winter.


Pattern: Telemark Sweater (Free Ravelry Download)
Needles: #7's
Yarn: Thrift Shop


Now to hunt around for more FO's and those mittens I left to be finished.
Yes, I am back to knitting even more mittens! Maybe I can reach 100 pairs before the end of Sept? Nahhhh...... not even if I knit in my sleep :)

It's Been Awhile

Well it's been awhile since I've last posted. I am back home again and trying to resume a regular schedule.
It's hard. I miss my Colorado family.

Lots of chores around here too. My backyard is a jungle of weeds, my wips are lying around, abandoned, my desktop power supply died, now the cpu fan is making strange noises and that is not good. Oh and I need to look for a car.

Good thing I have my summer shows Tivo'd. I have been knitting a car seat blanket, using Mason Dixon's Moderne Baby Blanket pattern. Lots of garter stitch to watch the shows.

Here's a cute crocheted hat I made for little Lissie. Added the flower for even more cuteness!

More News From Colorado

I've decided to stay awhile longer here - just having too much fun with my grandchildren. I hope hubby is still alive in So Cal... (just kidding - he's fine)


A girl can never have too many outfits, right?
Here's the little one's wardrobe.
And I just had to knit up a matching hat.




Thought I'd knit up a few sweaters for future use before I head back home.
This will be little granddaughter's Halloween sweater.


Yarn: Hobby Lobby's I Love This Yarn
Pattern: Garter Stitch Baby Cardigan

In big brother's loving arms

Still crocheting 9" squares for the Blanket Blitz!

And Now We Present

My granddaughter!

My daughter is holding the wee princess.

Pretty darn cute!

And no, I did not crochet the sweater.......
But I will be making lots and lots of cute little outfits soon!

Knitting In Colorado

Heading back home to Morrison, Co, after a day of shopping
I could not resist taking this picture.



Here's the cute yarn shop I visit that is really close to DD's home. I bought some Brown Sheep bulky yarn and a Fibertrend's Clog pattern to make grandson some slippers.

The Cottage Yarn

Another hat from thrift shop yarn. They like it - they're keeping it!


And I am still busy making squares and hexagons. The pink flowers will be the centers of a large square.

Fun In Colorado

I'll be posting in bits and pieces - too many pictures!

The scenery here is simply beautiful and we are on the west side of Denver.
Here's a picture of Denver from where we were shopping.

Birthday Boy's Party

I'll post later on with some knitting pics!

Colorado Tales

My one little hat I made while I've been here in Colorado.
It's from Woolwinder's pattern - Made In America



A very easy pattern and she has more that I plan to make. I have a 2nd one on the needles right now. I've made a few more crochet hexagons and squares with little scraps of yarn I packed. So for now I'm ok but I do really want to go for a little visit to Hobby Lobby! Love their yarn selections.


Colorado Adventures

The sky here is so beautiful and I could not resist taking this picture of sunset.



What a treat - we saw mama deer and her bambi right outside grandson's summer camp!




We went to Macaroni Grill last Friday for a family birthday dinner. Birthday boy says that they have the best macaroni & cheese! Also the best chocolate cake :)

Birthday Boy with Nonni

The birthday parents!

The actual kids birthday party is today and I'll have pictures to post soon!

Will I Have Enough Yarn?

So I'm off to Colorado tomorrow. I'm still packing right now and wondering just how much yarn to take.... I remember last time I ran out of yarn!
If I could handle 2 suitcases by myself, I would pack another one with yarn.
But carrying my purse, and my carry-on with laptop AND one big suitcase will be all I can handle.
I've packed plenty of patterns and I've got more on my Ravelry Queue. Now that's one good thing about Ravlery - you can access your patterns anywhere as long as you have a printer!
But I have a plan -I'll try to hit Hobby Lobby in my first week there and stock up on yarn!



Going Square Crazy!
I very excited about our latest Blanket Blitz and have been knitting and crocheting squares with lots of colors! I already had some 6" squares, but added on a few more rows to get the 9" required.

The little hexagons are my contribution towards a blanket that I will be sending to the Main.






Telemark Pullover

I'm almost done with the Telemark Pullover( a free Ravelry download).
When I took this picture I was going to work both sleeves at the same time on circs. That idea did not work out too well as I would have been juggling 4 strands of yarn. I'm alternating a varigated with a solid to make sure I have enough yarn.




Mittens

Finished my blue pair of mitts for the NAS Mitten KAL! I love this Lion Brand pattern and I have more chunky yarn so I'll probably make more pairs. Next time I plan to convert this flat needle pattern to the round - no seaming !



Remember these I started on 2 circs? Guess I was not in the mood for 2 circs because I could not go on with them. I ripped them out and made another pair.

This is what I made - a simple 2 needle mitten, knit both at the same time on 2 pairs of straights. They're a k2,p2 rib which makes seaming nearly invisible and the mitten a snug fit.

Don't they look like little saguaro cacti?

Knitting Cold Weather Items

It might be hot weather in Southern Calif right now, but our group is busy knitting up cold weather items for the Cheyenne River Reservation.

There's a Mitten KAL going on and I've been working on these little blue mittens.
I'm knitting them slowly because I've been told I am supposed to "Knit-Along" and not knit them up beforehand :)

We've got 2 easy patterns - one flat like the blue ones below and one in-the-round.
Come and join the fun and knit up some mittens for the Rez!




Pattern: Lion Brand 2-Needle Mittens
Yarn: Bernat Softee Chunky - discontinued
Needles to get gauge of 4sts/1" - for me those would be size 6

As you can see I love to use those little plastic markers. They're the best to keep track of row counts.

Knitting on Hatz has slowed down for me right now but I'm going to Colorado for awhile and I will probably take yarn for hatz. They're great for trips.

And stay tuned for news on our Blanket Blitz. We will be making squares and blankets.
I've volunteered to seam up the squares and that should prove to be lots of fun.

How About More Mittenz?

Another set of Mittenz for the Rez

And here is another pair being knit 2 at a time on 2 circs.
They are really easy, just k3, p3 rib.

Remember the Babette Blanket? I put that away when I had company and now it is too hot to think about joining those panels. So it's taking a summer break.

But I've got a new crochet blanket I really want to try. It's called the Hexagon Blanket and I read about it on Ravelry. Ravelry can get one into trouble and they've got me "hooked" (bad pun intended).

The pattern is only available in a Japanese craft book and it's hard to obtain, but I think I have figured out the motif pattern pretty close to the original.
It's really just a round granny type motif with the last round making it a hexagon shape.
There's more to it's assembly and such but I'm just playing and having fun making little motifs right now.

Knitting Has Resumed

The Surfer Boy has gone back to Colorado and now it is boring around here....
So much fun to be with the young ones and going, going, going everywhere!
We went to all the old places I used to take my kids years ago.
This picture from my cell phone at Huntington City Beach, Calif.

Now for what is on my needles and hooks to keep me from being so bored :)

Neopolitan Baby Blanket
From Knit One, Stripe Too by Candace Eisner Strick
This one is for my soon to be granddaughter!

Still making mittens! Here is July's crop.

A little baby sweater on the needles - the Telemark Pullover
It's a free Ravelry download.

This is my July stack of reading material