Knitting Dragonflies

I’ve become a casting on fool. While at my Dad’s house, I cast on the LaLa Shawl by Laura Linneman (free pattern) with the yarn I had at hand which was a multicolor yarn by Paton's Lace. I wasn’t sure if I would like the color changes, but I turned out to really like the look of it and the yarn. I’m still working on my Dummy Clap Shawl , I just keep knitting, and thinking it is not long enough, I am knitting it in a fingering weight and it is never ending. I’m trying to decide if I should just cast off and be done with it. *grin* Love the pattern, but it is a little to mindless, after a bit, if I had made it with worsted weight (I believe it calls for that) I would be done by now. My Dad lives 4 hours away from me, so I had picked up a skein of Paton Lace from JoAnn’s, not being close to any real yarn stores, It is described by Paton's as a Soft lace weight with a beautiful halo. Beautiful range of gently shifting colors. The fiber content is 80% acrylic (I know, this made

I’ve had to travel to my Dad’s house due to some of his health issues. Thanks to everyone that has expressed concern, he doesn’t have internet access and am sorry if I’ve not gotten back to you. I’ll be traveling back and forth in the days to come, just wish I could knit in the car, I could get so much done! Was at my Dad’s house and he looked out the windows and we saw this beautiful sunset. Had to try and capture it. Of course this is about 30 snaps in, love digital cameras! I don’t know about you but I love to listen to knitting podcasts! Especially since my car cd/radio is broken! My favorite’s right now are Knitmore Girls , Stash and Burn , and a new one I heard about Jane and Jen KnitFunny (I really enjoy listening to these girls!) Of course there is Cast On (my classic). Please let me know if there are some that you listen to and enjoy, I have lots of driving time to fill! Now on to knitting. Over the years I’ve discovered I like to have 3 types of projects going (at leas

It is so disappointing to pick out a knitting pattern, agonize over the yarn choice. And then complete the sometimes long process of swatching for gauge. Only to discover that you are so confused by the pattern that you give up. I’m sure this has happened to many of us for many reasons. Skill level of the knitter, and skill level of the pattern author, may be the foremost. Pattern writing is not easy, nor is understanding patterns. On the knitters side of things, I’ve found a good resource to help understand what the pattern is telling us to do, take a look at Dummies.com Understanding Knitting Patterns and Techniques. It covers abbreviations and knitting terms, common phrases and how to follow written stitch patterns, and also charts. This and your local yarn store, (along with Ravelry, I like to look there and see if everyone that is knitting the pattern is having any trouble or it is just me), will help you discover your way. Don’t forget to Google and print out the errata page

Finished up my Christmas trees, have a pink one and a white one. Pattern is from Helen Free, it is a fun and fast pattern. I would recommend it. White Christmas Tree, no ornaments yet, I’ll pick those out next year. I used snowflake buttons and some sparkly glass beads for this tree. I’ve been listening to Stash and Burn podcast while driving back and forth to my Dad’s house, which is about a 4 hour drive one way. I’m getting inspired to get knitting and am going to keep track of the yardage of yarn I knit up this year. *grin* see the KnitMeter.com , on my side bar, this tool is available for crochet, spinning and knitting, you can add it to your ravelry page and any blogs. Have fun and keep track of how much you knit with me this year! Now that I’m done with the holiday projects, I’m ready to start working on my Zuma tunic from Wendy Bernard’s Custom Knits 2 book. I’ve gotten to just below the arms, and I’m ready to get going on it again. Zuma tunic is a top down knit in the

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. Tree ab

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 it