Knitting Dragonflies

I've noticed that not only is knitting relaxing to me, but it must be relaxing to others who are simply "watching" or just present.I have knitting at lunch more than once and looked over to notice that those that are with me are nodding off. I thought maybe I was just boring them to death. But later one woman said, "it's so relaxing to go to lunch with you and watch you knit". I didn't realize that knitting was that powerful of a practice. Motion, rhythm, sound, repeat......Sleep

I have not gotten much knitting done lately. Just busy with other things. I always have my knitting at work, but have been teaching others lately, and find I can't knit and teach, I feel like a prairie dog, popping up and down. But my co- workers made me promise to finish the Puce scarf, they claim since I started it we have had record amount of snow and ice. So it is done, now no longer name Puce, but a more springy name of: Moss on the trail scarf. Now that it is done may spring begin!! Moss on the Trail Scarf pattern I used 5 balls of Ara From Dale of Norway , it is a thick/thin spun colorway of green It is called Herb Garden. Crocheted scarf pattern Yarn amt. approx 250 yd's Yarn type bulky Hook see yarn label for recommendation Chain for about 55 inches for myself, shorter or longer, to your liking Row 1 sc in 2nd chain from hook, *chain 1, skip 1 chain, sc in next chain* continue until at end, end with a sc in last stitch and then chain 3 and turn Row 2 sc in first stitch...

My girlfriend that I am teaching to knit and crochet has decided that I need to learn her passion. Hooping. I have not done anything with a hula hoop for??? I go to work one day and she presents me with a Hoop, my hoop, that she has made. This is not your childhood hula hoop, no, it is large and heavy and fun. I didn't expect to have so much fun relearning. I can only hoop with it around my waist right now. But she has taken me under her wing to learn the tricks of hooping, as I have her under mine concerning knitting. Check it out Hooping.org and you will see what I mean. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Shqhod6OC-k I think the girl in the black fishnet tights, has a yarn tassel top.....Hummmmm

Snowing again. In this city people have an idea of what winter is really suppose to be like, but only experience it about every 15-20 years. It lives in peoples memories and stories passed down. This Winter has been Bright, Icy, Cold and Snowy. Everything you would want in a winter. During one dog walk, with the cold air blowing and snowflakes dancing across my cheeks a flood of memories came back to me from my childhood. Icicles hanging from houses, snowmen, and snow angels, wet mittens and socks. A chance to get all of my hand knitted items out and wear them. Walking down the street in a Elizabeth Zimmerman inspired ski sweater that I have only worn twice. (really warm) So many winter memories, snow ball fights and forts, the dogs experience their first snow and romp and play. The sun is blinding, I have forgotten how bright it can be when there is snow, and the sky is a beautiful clear blue. A blue I want to knit with. I pick up my needles and yarn to knit somethin...

It's one of the weekends that we have no sun, but lots of ...well let me look out the window right now. Ok rain, no now sleet, ok snow now, and rain again. So it is a good weekend to stay in. The Dogs don't think so, Syd, My bad boy just chewed up a Nike Shox shoe, Baaaaad boy!! So I'm trying to catch up on some knitting, crocheting, and sewing, housecleaning etc... Consequently I am making a bigger mess than normal. HA This is a pic of my husband's sculpture covered with ice. Burrrrr stay warm... And keep knitting...

This is the quilt I am currently working on. I will post directions soon. It is a funny pattern, don't know the name of it. My girlfriend showed me how and then I lost touch with her. First, it starts with lots of squares of fabric all sewn together, then I have this odd square template that is marked into four parts, but at odd angles, we center this square on the four corner join and then mark and cut these squares, once we cut all of those squares we sew them together and it turns into a pinwheel. I will take pics of the whole process soon and give dimensions of the squares and the template. If anyone is familiar with this pattern, let me know. I have searched on the internet and not found anything. Ta Da.....Was I in the mood for spring? Wow now that I see the pictures, I have an excess of flowered prints.

When I first started knitting everyone was using acrylic, this was the acrylic of the 60's, it was Harvest Gold and Avocado Green with a little Burnt Orange thrown in for "pop". ugh... So our choices were acrylic or wool. Since acrylic was popular and bright and fun. We made granny squares, ponchos and afghans, and even HOTPANTS (but don't tell anyone). They are probably still around, even if it's in a landfill somewhere, because goodness knows those acrylics are indestructible. I continued knitting with these yarns until I discovered a Real Yarn Shop by accident, wandered in and ended up buying a nice assortment of wool/acrylic blend that the poor store clerk helped me pick out for a Fair Isle vest for my soon to be husband. This was a joy to knit with but a job to knit, I have never done any fair Isle since. (I don't think I ever saw him wear it, but we are still together). After my acrylic/wool project I was hungary to see what other non acrylic fibers...

My Etsy pick for the month is Luminosities. She has a fun variety of things. Jewelry, magnets (with an edge) and pet collar charms. There is a good range of prices, so you can buy seriously or for fun. She makes one of a kind items. Contact her and she will custom make. I like that she merges the spiritual side with her creative side. My favorites (translate to My Wish list) are: The Water Element magnet , this is actually a watercolor painting inside! Siren of the Sea Mermaid Everywhere Charm, take the magic of mermaids with you everywhere you go! Blue Sky Topaz and Aquamarine Earrings Sterling silver and genuine stones. Would look good to dress up with or just jeans. Fall Splendor Made with Carnelian and smoky quartz, This necklace is so fun and I love the rich colors. Check her out at: http://blog.myspace.com/wolfwitch or http://luminosities.blogspot.com/ Flickr: http://www.flickr.com/photos/luminosities/

Yes I'm frogging again. It's Sunday, rainy and windy. The snow and ice are melting. I got out my Handpainted yarn and after deciding to convert it into a hoodie, I cast on. Well after about several inches I could see my gauge was off. So ripit, ripit, ripit...Now I have cast back on and am trying to get back to where I was. I am planning on making it one piece from the bottom to under the arms. I want a zipper for a closure, and that's about all of the planning I've done right now. I have an abundance of mother's to be that I know, so I am planning several, blankets of all kinds, more on that later.

I don't know why, but when someone approaches me with a request to make a specific pattern for a gift, it is always harder for me to knit. I feel like it should not be, but it is. Seems like I have to make myself do it. Often not getting done in time. Is it the loss of control, or creativity? I am suppose to be making this pattern for a baby gift. And cannot get my mind wrapped around this task. There I just called it a "task". It bothers me that I feel this way. It is a very pretty pattern, nice yarn. But I already find myself thinking "maybe I'll change the yarn, and the gauge, and the dimensions of the blanket. Hummmmm..... So needless to say I went to buy the yarn today and couldn't make myself. I instead started dreaming of other yarns to use, tweaking the pattern a little. And actually started thinking, well the person who requested it, doesn't knit, maybe they will not even notice if I change it. Was that my evil twin talking?

I am off today. They are sending the kids home from school early. We are in a Winter storm watch and it is snowing like crazy out there. Our town has about 4 snowplows, so when it snows here it is an emergency. No one knows how to drive, we don't even own a snow shovel. We just "broom" our snow away.   That tells you how much snow we usually get. It is so fun when we do get it. Our first winter down here, we thought everyone was crazy, a few flurries and a panic sets in, but it didn't take us long to realize why. If no one clears the roads, it is very hard to get anywhere. So it turns into a big holiday for most everyone. With all meetings, churches, schools, etc...shutting down as soon as it starts snowing. Unfortunately I have a job at a hospital, and have to get there. I have been there before when it snowed and ended up "stuck" at work, (we can't leave until our replacement gets there). After a few years, I learned when leaving for work du...

Well just stitching around before I leave for work, and I whipped up this winter wonderland bag. To tote my knitting and some reading.... Also working on a little crochet bag to carry with me while I walk the dogs. I never have any free hands. I started making the little bag at The Yarnpath . But it is so pretty, I can't stand to put any poo in it. So I am going to make that a little makeup bag. It makes me feel girly so I think makeup would be good. I think I will add the orangey rust colored yarn at the top? Since I ended that sentence in a ? I don't think I'm sure about that now that I am looking at the pic's. I will add the pattern when I get done, super easy and fast. More later, off to work.... I'm still thinking quilts and fabric....

I have been accused of perfectionism. That may be true. I think the search for what to do with my Handpainted Yarn is over. I am planning on making a "hoodie" and using the Elizabeth Zimmerman books to figure out how. I would like to add a zipper and even pockets. We will see what it amounts to....sometimes I have to remind myself, "It's just yarn".

Ok I have been working on the Bridesmaid wrap sleeves, I have them both done. I switched back to the body, and it's not making me happy. As my husband knows, when I say that it means we are repainting the wall (example LOL). So I am frogging the body. It is done in a K1, P1 ribbing on #11 needles, arms are one in SS on #8's. They don't look good together, and the ribbing is already stretching too much, (body knitted side to side). So I am trying to decide, make it but change the pattern in the body? I was looking at a bird stitch, which I saw in a magazine but cannot find online. or........make it into a hoodie, I think if I do the later I will just knit it on the fly. 

I was tagged by Lady Rose of Enchanted Crafts for this meme to share 7 random (or weird) facts about me. 1. I am always trying to get "organized", or maybe I just enjoy the thought of it. 2. I"m in my blue period right now. (color wise) 3. Wanted to be a cartoonist 4. Have 5 tattoos with plans to a Crafty one (knitting, quilting) 5. I love to iron, it's relaxing for me, OK, I already have enough people with laundry in case I run out. 6. I want to quit my job and run a boarding kennel, well for all animals, not just dogs. 7. The pets or "roommates" I have had include, iguana, snakes, rabbits, guinea pigs, hamsters, hermit crabs, various lizards, fish OMG lots of fish, gerbils, birds, squirrell, and of course many dogs and cats, Oops almost forgot my husband that puts up with the noise and all that goes with it. 1. Lynnh at Colorjoy 2. Paula at The Quilter 3. Jo at Blissed out Knitting 4. Knitted Gems on Etsy 5. Bware shop on Etsy 6. MelindaMilkshake at Ets...

Even the still wind has a voice....

Update on the crochet scarf in progress..... I like the look of the stitches. Especially since they travel the length of the scarf. It doesn't look so much like crochet. The popular opinion has been "why did you pick that color"? I'll see how wide it gets with 5 skeins. Here is a picture of my husband with the lion Earflap hat. I added a sc row around the hat of black. I think that was what was missing. Check it out... You can see the color change in this picture. Of course it looks fab with the orange coat.   Here is my Scrappy Shawl, It's good to chase off the winter cold and the winter blues. It measures 6 ft along each edge. You can make it as big as you desire. I used an assortment of yarn and colors from my stash, I even mixed the types of yarn all up ( cotton, wool etc..)  Scrappy (Chase the Winter Blues Away) Shawl Pattern Size: As big or small as you desire Needles:(Knit in the round) Big or small, I used #8, dp needles and then circul...

I finished the Earflap hat from the Lion Pattern . Excuse the colors, I took the picture in my kitchen which I painted granny smith apple green. Pretty but everyone tends to look a bit jaundiced. Steve wore it today!! It was about 28 out and sunny. I am trying to decide if I need to add a crochet row around the entire edge, maybe in a chocolate brown fuzzy yarn. I used two strands held together of Moda Dea Tweedle Dee Cinnamon Twist Tweedle Dee is a tweed yarn with a shaded color effect. One color melts into the next. The color blend it very nice, I like the way it blends very subtly. I like it so well I think I have finally found the yarn I would like to knit that Pinwheel Sweater out of. 80% Acrylic, 16% Wool, 4% Rayon Net wt. 100g, 3.52oz 142m, 155yds I will take another picture outside so you can see a true idea of the color. I tossed the idea of the tassel out. If I make one for myself I will add it. I have finally found what I will knit with the Pyramid swe...