Monsters for Easter!!!!

First, a cute baby picture:

Eat your heart out Frank Sinatra!  Check out those blue eyes!

I am getting pretty excited about Easter this year.  First, I get to make an Easter Basket for my DGS and it is already filled with some fun stuff - although it is hard to not buy candy - but what 9 mo. old needs candy??  Of course I had to make him something!  I'm a Crafty Nana after all.  These are called "Monster Chunks" from a cool designer named Rebecca Danger.  I love her name - sounds like she should have her own book or mini-series!  lol

I made these at our Knitting Guild's annual Day Camp.  This was our 3rd Annual.  I am proud to say I helped start the tradition of these 2 years ago.  This year the theme was "Monsters".  We made these toys to donate to the local Children's Hospital for kids going into surgery.  Everyone made theirs different.  We used Berrocco Comfort Worsted and I used safety eyes.  I crocheted the eye patch and the white circle for the ogre.  I followed the pattern on the Pirate but found picking up stitches to be a bit fiddley.  So I just reversed the 1st half by starting with a small cast on of 6 stitches and increased in an opposite way until I got to the part of the picked-up stitches and then just continued with the pattern from there.  It was really interesting to see all the sizes that came out with the same pattern and yarn but different knitters and needle sizes.  I made these for BWM (DGS) and plan to make more to donate.  We got super fun goodie bags and lots of good company at the KNOW (Knit at Night Out West) Daycamp.  Can't wait to see next year's theme!

2012 Week 3 Hodgepodge Post

Gratuitous Cute Baby Picture...
          I think this is the 1st picture of my DD where she actually favors me.  She usually favors her daddy in picutres.  This was taken with her camera phone and I tinted it Sepia.

Darling Grandson with Darling Daughter

Here are the new questions that Joyce came up with this week.

1. A new Miss America was crowned on Saturday night-did you watch? If you were a contestant what would your talent be?

          No, but my DD did.  Miss Oklahoma was from my Alma Mater - Oklahoma State.  Betty came in 2nd.  It is interesting that she has such an old-fashioned name.  I wonder if it's a family name?  I guess you can't knit or crochet??  Probably a monologue from a play or a flute solo.

2. Do you have houseplants? Real or fake?

          Not really.  I have a really black thumb.  I can pick out plants and determine where they should go but I can't keep them alive.  My DH does that outdoors.  I used to have a philadandrium for a long time - you can't hardly kill those.  When I was a teenager I had some cactus in some planters and a terrarium.  Lately, I have been considering getting one of those...It's a funny story! 

          I tried a new carbonated beverage that is supposed to have the opposite effect of "Red Bull".  It was called "Drank".  One Saturday evening, I decided to try it while reading in bed.  I drank half a can which was one serving and conked out.  My DS came in really late and was talking to my DH, I evidently heard them and woke up groggy and told them, "YES, I would LOVE to have a Terrarium!"  lol.  They both said, "What?"  I was pretty fuzzy but started to explain what it was...Talk about way out of context...Guess I should leave the "Drank" alone!!


3. When you were in school did you speak up or were you more of the hide your face, avoid eye contact, and pray the teacher didn’t call on you type of student?

          I guess I spoke up.  I really liked school.

4. Next Monday marks the Chinese New Year…what do you order when someone suggests Chinese food?

          I enjoy Lo Mein because I love pasta but also enjoy lettuce wraps.  I think both of those are pretty Americanized.  In Japan, when we went to real Chinese restaurants, my favorite think was Chicken Noodle Soup that came for the whole table, it was flavored with lemon.  I have not had anything like it here in the US but it was delicious.

5. How would you define a miracle? What would it take for you to consider something a miracle?

          A miracle is something good that happens that cannot be explained by normal means but only though God's intervention.  I have seen many instances of this, usually in reference to miracle healings that doctors cannot explain.

6. What’s your favorite Disney song? If you’re stuck you’ll find a list here.

          This is a tough one since I LOVE all things Disney.  I think I would have to say "Bibbity Bobbity Boo".  As a child we had a "45" record player and we had a few "plastic" records for it and one of them was "Bibbity Bobbity Boo".  I am sure my Mama got tired of hearing us play that!  I also really like "Hakuna Matata", I love all the Happy songs!

7. I should have _____________ yesterday.       

  Exercised! Instead, I guess I was planning on taking over the world...

Pinky: Gee, Brain, what do you want to do tonight?
Brain: The same thing we do every night, Pinky - try to take over the world!
         
8. My Random Thought

Bev's Sparkly Christmas Socks!

          I knit these socks for my DMIL for Christmas this year.  I was pretty excited about them because they were the first in a while that I actually got to fit someone - I seemed to have hit a sock-fitting wall on the 2 or 3 pairs I worked on before these.  I was super happy that I was able to make exact twins on the striping! 

          I bought this year last year after Christmas so I got it on sale, it is Marathon's North Pole sock yarn in "Jack Frost" colorway.  I knew my DMIL would like it as she really likes blue and it has a silver sparkle thread all the way through it.  She modeled them below for me.  Also, this yarn is machine-washable which is a must for most of my sock recipients.  I knit these with 2 Circular needles, size 1.5.  I knit them toe-up at 64 stitches (she has an average width foot) with a Fleegle heel and a 1 x 1 rib and Jeny's Surprizing Stretchy Bind-off. 

          I had tried to make her some socks a long time ago but used a different bind-off and she couldn't get them off and on.  I really like Jeny's method for exactly that reason.  The silver thread looks cool but is a little rough on the hands while knitting.  I used a lot of lotion!  This was not the softest yarn, but I heard that washing them would help soften them up.  After hand-washing once, and machine washing twice, these socks did get softer.  I think the more they are washed and worn the softer they will feel.

2012 Week 2 Hodge Podge Post

First, gratuitous Baby Shot: 

Nap Time with Poppy Mark

Here are the new questions that Joyce came up with this week! Play along by posting your own answers, linking up with her website, then visiting other bloggers to see how they answered.

1. Lake Superior University has once again published a list of words/phrases they think should be banished from the Queen’s English in 2012 -amazing, baby bump, shared sacrifice, occupy, blowback, man cave, the new normal, pet parent, win the future, trickeration, ginormous, and thank you in advance. Which of these words/phrases would you most like to see banished from everyday speech and why? Go here to read more about how the words are chosen.

          I don't care for "the new normal", aren't we making a new one every day??  Maybe that's not such a good thing...

2. Are you easily embarrassed?

          In public, yes, in private, not so much.

3. What is your go-to snack?

           Sweets - cookies, cake, and pie!  I am a No Calorie Left Behind type of dessert person.  I cannot fathom that the chefs on Top Chef can't or don't like to make dessert!  Almost everyone I know, including guys learned to make desserts before they learned to cook anything else.

4. Have you ever been to Washington D.C.? If not do you have any desire to go? What site/attraction would you most want to see in that city? If you have been, what’s your favorite site/attraction?

           I have been a few times.  This is a very timely question, as my neice is getting ready to go in a couple of months.  I told her the tour and changing of the guards at Arlington National Cemetary is really moving.  I also think that every Human Being should be required to go to the Holocaust Museum.  It is vital that we realize there is true evil, how we didn't recognize it, and how to fight it.  I also really enjoyed the Ford Theater when I went with my DD.  It is really spooky and very historic - the museum is very well done.  We also enjoyed a great display of Norman Rockwell at the Smithsonian Art Museum.  The coolest part is most of these are free or very low cost things to do.

5. Sit ups-planks-lunges-squats…which do you hate the least?

          Probably squats, but I am always sore the next day.  I can't do sit-ups since my shoulder surgery and Planks are ridiculous - I have no core...lol.

6. What’s a small act of kindness you were shown that you’ve never forgotten?

          My entire group from work came to my Daddy's funeral when he past away.  The funeral was a bit of a drive from work about 45 min. but they all came - over 20.  I can't tell you how much that meant to me and most of them had never met my Daddy.  I was really devastated by his relatively quick death and it really made an impression on me.

I had always heard how people hate funerals and how they won't go but that day I learned an importatn life lesson.  The funeral is for the grieving and by going you are helping them grieve.  And that is a Very Important Thing.

7. Have you ever been a blood donor?

          Yes, I am "O" Positive, the Universal Donor so I try to give.

8. My Random Thought

Lace Top Stripe Socks

I started these when I wanted just a simple no-strenuous brain activity required knitting.  I really enjoy the Deborah Norville Serenity Sock Yarn in the "Chili" colorway.  It is 50% merino, 25% nylon, and 25% bamboo.  It is a warm sock like I have discovered using other bamboo sock yarns but the higher nylon content makes it not too slippery or splitty and clings to the foot, etc. well. 

I made these for me using the 2 Circular method with 1.5 Addi Turbos and 58 st for the foot (I have a narrow foot) and 60 for the heel and leg.  I used a simple Fleegle heel (I think I have this memorized now! yeah!) and topped it with a simple 6 row lace pattern that I reversed from the Socks A La Carte book.  I used Jeny's Surprising Stretchy Bind-off. 

I liked this colorway better on the skein than made up but I get a lot of compliments on the colorway so maybe it's just me.  Overall, a fun knit and a good fitting sock.

2012 1st Hodgepodge Post

It’s a new year, and what better way to begin anew than with a fresh set of Hodgepodge questions?! Thanks, Joyce, for hosting!

1. What are three words you would use to describe your 2011?

Exciting!   I got a new grandson and he's practically perfect in every way!

Celebratory!   My DS graduated from Oklahoma State University with a bachelor's in Business Management

Travelocity!   My DH and I went on our 1st cruise ever with one of his cousins and wife and had a fantastic time.

2. Do you like shrimp? What’s your favorite way to have it prepared?

     I LOVE fried shrimp but really I like shrimp nearly everyway except with fettuccini alfredo.

3. Is your house de-Christmased? If so when did you tackle that job? If not, when will the decorations come down?

     Normally, I like to get it put away by New Year's Day or the day after but we have been sick     and I will probably get it done this week.

4. Do you like to watch scary movies?

     No! In the words of a friend, I do not consider being scared out of my wits as entertainment. My  DSIL used to trick me into seeing them. I do like a good suspense movie though.

5. Ice skating~sledding~skiing~snowboarding~of the four listed which wintertime activity do you most enjoy?

           I really like to Snow-blade. It's like skiing but with much shorter skis. I have only done it a few times but love the sensation of speed and wind. The last time I went over Christmas last year, I got a defective snowblade on one foot - not a good thing. Fortunately, they had some really nice looking snow rescue guys...

6. Did you have a childhood hideout? Describe it.

     I hated going outside, unless we were going swimming but my mom used to force me to go outside (she did it for my own good...). I used to make a fort in our shed or near it and pretty much cart everything from my room out there...lol.

7. What’s a place or space that motivates you?

     I really like my sewing room when I get it all organized and sometimes even organizing it is a lot of fun.

8. My Random Thought

     Today, my DH turns 50. We have a new family member who is 5.5 months. We have 2 great kids and a great SIL. We are so very lucky. Here is a pic of our new pride and joy on his 5-mo birthday. Mr. Bright Eyes.

KNOW Day Camp 2010

My local chapter of Knit at Night called KNOW (Knit at Night Out West) had its first annual Day Camp about a month ago. I know, I know, but better late than never...

We held it at my house and we packed in 31 great knitters and we all created a "Funky Sock Monkey". As you know, I had made Elliott after my trip to Sock Summit last year. Below are a ton of pictures of all the fun we had - I decided I wanted to post them all so everyone could see. I also received a beautiful potted Tulip and a gift certificate to a LYS as a "thank you gift" and a festive Easter Bunny container filled with Knitting Fuel - Chocolate!

We had lunch brought in and we had great goodie bags that included the yarn for 2 opposite color sock monkeys, the pattern, candy and chocolate, samples of lotion, 2 different sizes of project bags as well as 2 custom-made scratch-off cards. The scratch off were used to give out door prizes. We had 16 door prizes. Which was totally great odds for winning! We also had monkey stitch markers but they were given out at our last KNOW meeting since they just didn't arrive in the mail in time.

I am still working on my Sock Monkey that I started - he still needs 2 arms and his ears and eyes but he is going to make one of my nephews really happy on his birthday! A totally fun day and well worth all the cleaning! lol. I hope we have started a yearly tradition...

Elliott's Christmas Adventures!

Well, better late than never. Elliott got to do a lot of interesting things over the Christmas holidays. One weekend we drove over the Fredericksburg, TX to do a little Christmas shopping and boy is that a great place to do it. We were having that cold spell then so it was actually nippy here in Texas so we all had on jackets - except Elliott, he had fur of course... Here is Elliott and myself meeting Santa. I am not sure what Elliott told Santa he wanted, but I heard something about miniture sports car.

We got to see some fabulous lights in Johnson City, Texas (named for President Lyndon B Johnson's family) called Hill Country Christmas Lights. Elliott ooh'd and ahh'd.

In early December Elliott and I got on a plane for Calgary, AB. Now I have to say, I was really prepared. I got some Cuddl Duds (fancy long-johns for those of us who didn't know), layers of clothes, new knitted mittens, a wool baktus scarf, and a Noro hat and my coat but -22 degrees F is ri-donk-u-lous! Taking a breath while waiting for a taxi was literally painful.

The day we arrived, Edmonton, AB which is further north than Calgary set a record for the COLDEST PLACE ON THE PLANET!!! (I am sure they mean where people are silly enough to try to live). But as the saying goes - I put on my big girl pants and toughed it out. Elliott, the coward, shivered inside my Couch purse. Those Canadians are of hardy stock - here are some Carolers on a pedistrian mall. Do you notice that they have on matching crocheted hats? Love their scarves!



The good news about going to Calgary in the heart of the winter, was I got to stay at one of my favorite hotels - the Fairmont Palliser. It was built next to the Grand Central Railway station in Calgary to allow tourists to have an upscale hotel to stay at before journeying on by train to other locals in Canada. It is such a treat, an old world feel and they have their own line of teas, which I adore and it was so great to have room service in your beautiful room with tea service after donning 17 layers of clothes and giving up all pretense of feminity to brave that kind of cold and snow. Here is a picture of the Christmas tree in the beautiful lobby.
Here is Elliott trying to hide in the decorations of the stairway so he won't have to go outside again. Elliott is essentially a Southern Texas monkey and likes his sunshine and warm weather

On the knitting front, here is a picture of the Baktus scarf I knit for the trip. It is in a lovely tone-on-tone red that I could not pass up. It was on my Christmas list for 2008 and my DH bought it for me and I decided to try this lovely scarf pattern with it. It is sooo flattering and an easy-easy project. I used 2 balls Happy Feet sock yarn with size 3 needles (I think). You start at a small end of the triangle, knit until 1 ball is gone and then start the decreasing side of the triange with the 2nd ball. I did a KBF increase rather than a yarn-over since I didn't want the hole. I am definitely going to make another one of these, maybe with a bit of a lace pattern to it.

Braided Sealing Wax Mittens

Hey! I'm a designer! Here is my first design as a knitter. I have made this a free download on Ravelry. You can also download the .pdf below.

I wanted a pair of really warm Mittens to match a bright red coat I have. I had just gone on a trip in November to Ann Arbor, MI where I bought the perfect shade of tone-on-tone Malabrigo Twist in an awesome red with orange undertones to match my coat in a colorway called Sealing Wax. So even though I live in Katy, TX, near Houston, I had a trip to Calgary, AB, Canada planned for mid-December so I needed some warm mittens. I looked and looked for just the right pattern that used worsted weight yarn and had some kind of cabling. I couldn’t find anything that was just right. So I decided to design a pair of my own called the Braided Sealing Wax Mittens.

I have very long thin fingers and always need a women’s large glove but I had several others who wear a women’s large that have thicker hands and/or fingers try the Great size on and they fit very well. Wee fits a large child or youth or small woman’s hands, Middling fits most women and a small man’s hands, Great fits a large women’s hands or a men’s Middling hand. You could probably go up a needle size for a men’s large or use one size larger needle with instructions for the next smallest size down to have a less dense mitten.

I like a nice defined cable and a densely knit mitten to be extra warm. I used a braid that is 9 stitches wide for the cabling so you don’t have to worry about mirror-imaging. Using size 4 needles and framing the braid with 3 stitches of purl on each side really makes the braid pop. I also used a twisted ribbing that is slightly reminiscent of small braids themselves.


You can get a .pdf of the pattern here: download now. Please let me know if you download the pattern and and make them up. I would love to see your own Braided Sealing Wax Mittens!