Knitting Dragonflies

My husband is retired now, and in the middle of painting the walls of the bedroom. He says he is going to remodel the whole inside of the house. *yay*  So far at only days into retirement he is working at a breakneck pace like he is at work. I told him he will have to slow down and enjoy himself. I picked out and bought the paint for the bedroom so long ago, (about 3 years minimum) I had forgotten what color it was. I called from work and he said he had started painting. So it was a pleasant surprise when I got home and discovered I still liked the paint color we had picked out. Now I think I will make curtains for the bed room. Paint is called silver grey and it is actually a warm grey, looks like it has a purple undertone to it in real life. Our bedroom had been lavender, maybe you can see the color at the far end of the photo past the bottom of his legs, back wall. Ugh, it was a paint color that I thought I would like but when it got on the walls, ick, I never liked it. Tre...

Wishing you Joy and Peace at the Holidays and throughout the New Year May your knitting be out of this world this year!  Got excited with my new camera. *grin* Happy Knitting! Taken in my backyard Christmas Eve, clear beautiful (and cold) night! Happy Holidays from Evansville Indiana. Pattern from Emfy's crochet (Helen Free), she has a selection of free crochet patterns. The tree, and the bling….I enjoyed making it so much I’m making a pink one now and bought some yarn for a white one. Check out these Ravelry people that have created one.

This season many of us will be on the road traveling. If you are like me, when packing I always have to have my knitting, and plan out what project(s) I’m taking with me. I always seem to forget something! My most forgotten item is a yarn needle, I have made one from many items and even just a piece of scotch tape on the end of the yarn, (shoe string like) to get me though. I love this site and use it often, no matter what area you are traveling though, plug in some cities and it will bring up the yarn shops, and reviews of them!  Lets you see the hours, and even has a “open right now” option, in case your confused about local time. Truly a life saver! Knitmap.com – Fun to use, even if you don’t have a yarn emergency, sometimes you just need to go squish some yarn while visiting family. My travel (must have) items for knitting, I like everything to fit in a zip lock bag I like to make a copy of the pattern and put it in a sleeve protector, also have a pencil to make notes on...

I’ve been knitting ornaments. Here are a few I’ve gotten done. I had planned on knitting one for everyone I work with, but that would be around 20+ ornaments, after knitting around 6 I decided I was not up to that!  Maybe some baking, of course it is already the 20th of Dec. Oops! Below are two stocking ornaments from the same pattern. Lion Brand Christmas Stocking, I knitted several in the first version with the green tree, and then decided to try a white tree. Free Pattern from Lion Brand Yarns pattern here Pattern is fairly easy, knitted flat and shaped then sewn together. and tree sewn in duplicate stitch. Below pattern knitted flat and then ready for duplicate stitch and sewing up. I also knitted some mitten patterns. Pattern also knitted flat and then sewn up on the sides. Pattern from Lion brand yarns pattern link here.  Turn out cute and fast, I’m knitting more of these, but don’t have photos yet. Happy Knitting!! Happy Knitting, do you have a favorite knitte...

I saw this little stocking ornament on the front of a Joann's ad and fell in love with it. After finding the pattern online I decided to knit it. Stocking ornament pattern here . I had a hard time finding some red and green yarn, everyone had sold out, I finally located some. Whew…. This pattern would be good for a beginning knitter also. the pattern is knitted flat, and the tree is done in duplicate stitch. I added the little bell on the top. Yarn used: White is Yarn Bee Boucle Traditions Brushed, The green yarn has a little tinsel like thread running  through it, I thought it would be perfect for the tree, Green Yarn is I Love This Yarn in Jelly Bean Sparkle, the Red is Lion Brand Jiffy which is a slightly fuzzy yarn color is True Red. I located all of these yarns at my local Hobby Lobby store. I had not used any of these before and am really pleased with the results. First photo is sock cuff and body, after dividing the foot into 3rds, and knitting for several rows on the...

I saw this wee Nativity Set on a great blog RunningJackKnits, it is amazing. All of the patterns for the characters are on her blog , knit a wee Nativity set, Mary, Joseph, a donkey, dove and of course baby Jesus in a manger. Even if you are not going to knit it, go take a look at the patterns, the dove is thirty stitches. Here is another Nativity scene to knit, this one with the full set of characters! Love it! Wow! Very nice knitted Nativity scene pattern, entire  here , from women’s weekly. Includes the 3 wise men and their gifts. Love the little sheep also, I would have to make several of those! Get crazy, if it looks like too much, try one character a year! This set of Holy character will go down in history of your family!! The Crèche of the Poor The paper crèche has a special place in the Nativity tradition. It was, at one time, the crèche of the poor. When, in 1782, Joseph II, Austrian emperor, placed a ban on crèches, the nativity set moved from churches, palace...

My husbands birthday is coming up and he loves German Chocolate Cake, I usually make the recipe from the German Chocolate Baking Chocolate bar, but decided this year to be adventurous. The below recipe is pretty much the same with a few changes. The cake turned out the best that I’ve made in over 30 years, so I will be making this recipe again.I don’t have any idea how many calories/fat is in this, and don’t want to know. Really in the mood to turn the oven on this morning, forgot we turned off the furnace several days ago during a warmer period, and woke up to 27 degree weather and couldn’t figure out why we were all cold. *grin* Original recipe makes 1 - 3 layer 9 inch cake Cake 1/2 cup water 4 (1 oz.) squares German Sweet chocolate 1 cup butter, softened to room temp 2 cups brown sugar 4 egg yolks 1 t vanilla extract 1 cup buttermilk 2 1/2 cups of cake flour or regular flour with 1 T cornstarch added for ea. cup 1/3 t baking soda 7 egg whites (use the whites from the frosting ...

If you don’t have one, well or someone you know may need one. Dad, Mom, kids, and even the dog. Knit or crochet I’ll include my favorite links to the patterns, (free). Fast to get off of your needles and onto their heads. I have to wear one at work if I’m working Christmas, which I am this year. It is fun and festive! This free pattern includes sizes for everyone in your family, a knitted pattern with the fur like edging I think this is a total winner! Free Knitted Santa hat pattern for the whole family from Lion Brand Yarns here. Knitted Santa Mitten pattern here for above photo ,  If you crochet this one is my pick: available in adult through child, It is made from chenille yarn and fun fur for the trim, also available are the mitten and scarf patterns.  Free crochet Santa hat pattern link for the whole family here. Also from Lion Brand Yarns. Mitten pattern here ; and Santa scarf here If you missed my favorite knit and crochet ornaments I’ll include those links, for...

Love the above selection, from Lion Brand Yarn, Crochet stocking, hat and mitten ornament pattern, FREE I love this crochet snowman ornament fro RoxyCraft ! From  Priscilla Hewitt a cute little crochet chenille bear ornament! Free Knitting Stocking and Mitten Ornaments! Thanks Lion Brand. What kind of Christmas patterns are you looking for? Let me know!

  This little ornament just makes me go Awwwww so cute! From Lion brand patterns, a crochet ginerbread man. I love these little crochet light blub garlands, or you can make them individually and this would be a great stashbuster. Thanks to SugarNCream patterns I really like this crochet 3D light blub ornament!! Thank you Cute Crochet Chat for giving us the free pattern!!   Want to make a pair of these to hang on the tree or a package, easy!! go here for easy crochet ornament mittens. Get Merry and Get your hooks and yarn out!!

I have been in awe of all of the cute free little knitted ornament patterns I’ve found online, see previous posts. Free knitted Christmas ornament patterns: here , here , and here . Along with a link list of Free Knitted and Crochet Stocking patterns . Not to ignore the crochet lovers among us! I’ve got some sweet little crochet patterns. Thank you EnfysMe for the “must have” tree pattern. So sweet I can’t pass it up! I’m off today to get some yarn, and little beads, or I’ve seen lots of mini ornaments to put on this! And thanks to  CrochetUncut, the crochet lovers are not left out of the mini sweater ornament craze. She also shows how to make the adorable little hanger. Thanks to Suzie’s Yarn Stuff, a pattern for a crochet ice skate ornament with paperclips From Planet M Files a super cute pine cone ornament pattern! I want to try this out of some sparkly yarn. Look around her blog, she has lots of other fab crochet patterns. More soon…..get your yarn stash out and yo...

I think a tree that is all knitted or crochet ornaments would be so cute! See previous posts with more patterns here and here A cute little knitted stocking pattern that holds a Christmas Balm for you . From  Natural Suburbia.  Simply Notable.com (sorry) This little knitted tree sock ornament is the pattern that started my frenzy. From Lion Brand Yarn. Also from Lion Brand Yarns, sweet little knitted package ornament pattern. Another version of little knitted sweater ornament patterns from Red Heart! Yes I still have more to come….

We have gotten our tree out, and when I start decorating it, I love running across the handmade ornaments, especially the knitted and crocheted ones. I’ve been searching for some Christmas pattern ornaments online and have found so many cute ones! These are so cute! They would be nice on packages also, Pattern from Red Heart Yarns, Knitted Mittens Christmas Ornaments. From Berroco, these lovely little sweater ornaments! I would love to have an entire tree of these, they would be great to use up little bits of yarn also. Little knitted sweater Christmas Tree ornament pattern here. It has the pattern marked as easy. (well I’m not sure about that?) I want to try one and see. From Natural Suburbia a nice little knitted snowman ornament pattern ! More Christmas Ornaments on the way!! See previous post for more patterns here Happy Knitting…

Yes, I quit my 2nd job, a full time and part time job was just too much. I found I was giving up the things that I love to do. All of my waking time consisted of eating and working. Ugh…So after a few breakdowns, I decided, well really, just had to quit. So now, time for knitting and spinning, and I have a list of things I want to do. I feel like I have so much time with only one job. *snort*, a lesson is learned with everything. Maybe this was to make me appreciate the job I have, and my friends and family. (and knitting) so I have many knitting books, and yarn (bought with extra money) and I’m ready to get going. Until later, fondle some yarn, spin some fiber or just hug a loved one, (yes pets count) Take care, and knitting content to follow soon…… Until then Look at these cute, fast ornaments to make! Love these cute little Christmas Stockings (free pattern)   Pattern here , these are so freaking adorable! I love them! I would make them in red with white laces! Mor...