Ella got her yarn!

The yarn store was open and Ella was all excited. It was very hard for her to make a decision on the color. She would see one and say "that one", then spot another and say "no, that one". It was cute to see such yarn excitmeent! We finally found a skein of Red Heart Multi color that she really liked, containing, shades of pinks and blues and purples. I looked thru a couple of my knitting books I brought along and decided to just do an oversized Grandmother's Favorite dishcloth pattern on size 13's. It is going quick and she really "loves" her baby blanket. She received a Baby Alive doll for Christmas and she needs a blanket. I really enjoy knitting for her. Isabelle just loves rubbing the yarn on her face(have to make sure she is washed up!)

Knitting Ella some socks

I am knitting Ella some socks per her request. I am using Plymouth Dreeam Baby D.K yarn color 205. It is white yarn with splashes of pink, yellow, blue and green. 1 is done and she wants to wear it. I am now past the gussett and doing the plain knitting. They are very soft as the yarn is a microfiber acrylic. She now notices knitting on programs on TV. Too cute. Today we are going to local yarn shop to pick out yarn for a doll blanket. I have been there twice and it is always closed. I hope it was just holiday closing. Ella has bugged me all week to go to the "yarn Barn" (name of the store). I told her today would be warmer for a walk and she has been after me since 7:30 a.m to go. It is almost time to go now and she is excited!
I'll let you know how we did..... (Ella will be 4 next month)

Extended "Grand" visit

I am up north at my daughters house for a few weeks, possibly a month, maybe more. I am going to try and spend some quality time with my daughter and 2 grand daughters. I was here before Christmas while my daughter and son-in-law went to Cancun but didn't get to spend time with her.

Me and Ella walked to the Dollar store after lunch and it started snowing. Ella will be 4 and was having fun catching snowflakes with her tongue. She noticed everything along the way. She carries on the cutest conversations. The yarn store was closed so we will have to tyr and go another day. She wants me to knit her a baby blanket for her dolls. Too cute.

My husband will be "batching it" while I am here. It is a little over 3 hours away but in the winter that could turn into 5 or more. Maybe he will come up for my birthday. :-)

I have my own room here with a computer and internet, tv and swivel rocker. It is very comfortable. My son-in-law loves to cook. I get to play with the girls while he cooks and does dishes. A Grandma could get used to this!

Test Socks finished

This is the side view and I should have taken a front view as it shows the pattern better. Knit with Lorna's Laces. The pattern will be available where those patterns are sold. The Lobed Leaves are very pretty. My picture just not do it justice.
They were knit toe-up, 2 at a time on 2 circulars. Very nice short row heel.

Frantic knitting

I still have a long ways to go on my son' sweater for Christmas. I was busy knitting a test pattern and finally got them done. It was my first test knitting job. I was challenged with some new techniques and accomplished them. I am a better sock knitter for doing this! :-) I will post a picture once the pattern writer has them and gives me the ok.

I pulled a muscle in my back somehow and can't bend down much. I have much Christmas cleaning to do as I am having a house full on Christmas day. My hubby has promised to sweep and mop the floors.... oh dear...

Babysitting

For the past week I have been up at my daughter's house watching my beloved grandaughters. My daughter and her husband took a long awaited honeymoon after being married 4 1/2 years. They are in flight from Cancun home. I am tirrrrreeeedddd! Izzy is 18 months and can escape anything which keeps me running. Ella (4) is a good hlp but she has her moments of jeolousy and things get mighty noisy. Overall, it's been a wonderful week.

I do knit after they go to bed but I realized I made one sleeve a whole 2 inches shorter than the other on my son's Christmas sweater. I guess I am more tired than I thought! I will repair once I am back home in a safe un-knitting environment.

I will post pictures once I am home and recouped.

I am looking for a copy of Knitting Marvelous Mittens by Charlene Schurch if anyone has one they don't love anymore or if your local bookstaore has acopy...drop me a comment. ;-)

Put on some Glam.

I found this really cool site. Sparkle Plenty .They have custom logo t-shirts with crystal, rhinestone, promotional & logo apparel for special events, promotions, parties, tradeshows, bat mitzvahs, etc. - any special event which needs an upscale crystal tee or stunning rhinestone tee.
Their tees are very high-quality (sweatshop free) fitted and flattering (not the kind you sleep in or use to wash your car)

Can you imagine your whole wedding party in matching tee shirts with sparkles? I think that would be very original. Or at a baby shower with the due date? Or a great gift for the "tween" that you don't know what to buy for, her name in crystals!
Do you have a spa or salon? All your employees could have the salon name and theirs on a tee or name pin. They also have earrings and other jewelry. make your employee of the month feel special.

How about a custom logo for your home based business team? You could have them as rewards for top sales, etc.
Check them out.

I know this has nothing to do with knitting but I do know many work from home moms with a home based business. Sometimes I just like to spread some information as I love networking. :-)

De-Stress

the game was disabled as it was a holiday special.. go to Pogo.com to play more games.


If you are a Popgo addict, look me up....ProsperBNHealth is my Club Pogo ID.

Isabelle's sweater & Handspun

My grand-daughter, Isabelle, loved her new sweater. She didn't want me to take it off of her when we had spaghetti for supper but I didn't want her making a big mess on it. It has a crew neck, knit top down, no seams. Sweaters For Everyone Kids to Adults by Mary Rich Goodwin from One-Piece Knitting is the author of the book

Ella's sweater fit her but she would not model it.
She said she wasn't cold. :-) Ella's has a v-neck. Mommy sure loves that they now have matching sweaters and that they have warm sweaters for winter. They knit up so quickly and I love that there is no seaming.




I have also been spinning and plying. "Louise" Louet spins like a dream. I am producing so much yarn now. I am so happy that I purchased the new wheel. The double treadles make it easy on my back and knees. I actually have a small blister on my finger from spinning so much!

The seafoam green is a very nice soft yarn made of mohair, wool and silk. I wish I had gotten more of the roving. I bouhgt it in Door County in the Spring and the vendor did not have any information on her sales slip so I don't know where to get more. That is a very poor business practice.

The brown is coopworth and very easy to spin. I got that roving with the purchase of my Louet. There was only 1/2 pound but Yarns BY Design sells more. My husband would love something knit for him with it.

Swedish Squirrel Mitten

I finished 1 of my mittens today! This is my first 2-color mitten. It is so nice and warm and fits my hand perfectly. The pattern is free online here. I used sport weight Brown Sheep Nature Spun .
I have cast on for the second one but got sidetracked with my spinning wheel. :-D
I am spinning some nice cotswold natural brown. I have one bobbin full. I will be spinning another bobbin and plying. Plyed it will be sport weight. I will knit dear hubby some socks.

Meet Louise

My new spinning wheel!!!! I bought her today at Yarns By Design. Louise is a Louet S51 DT. She has double treadles for slow or fast spinning. She has a total of 3 bobbins included. She spins like a dream and so smoothly. I was spinning lace weight in no time. I am so excited to get some more spinning done, but I had to blog about her first!.

new spinning wheel in my future?

I am thinking of buying a new spinning wheel. I tried out some Louet's today and fell in love with the S51 DT. It is a double treadle and spins so smoothly at a slow pace for fine yarn.





I have a very nice spinning wheel that my wonderful hubby made me 28 years ago and have struggled with over spinning all these years. It is a beautiful piece of furniture.