The Joy of Giving.....

Thank you a friend to knit with, I needed that reminder to just calm down and enjoy the season. I am stressed about gifts, stressed about packing, stressed about making my flight at 8am Sunday morning with a NorEaster scheduled to pummel us through the night. But I really should remember : Peace, Love and Joy!

And this made me remember Karate night. My girls LOVE to give gifts! And they enjoy giving candy. Like we all need more candy at Christmas (ha ha ha). Karate night, the girls brought a gift bag for their Sensei and a bag for his assistant Corrinne. They adore Corrinne. Well, I snuck into the bag a $10 bill (no biggie) BUT she just lit up with delight. Her smile, cheer and thankfulness was worth much more than that ten dollar bill. So I would like to add to Peace, Love and Joy.......Giving. Giving feels soooo good, definately better than receiving.

So I am going to take all these warm and fuzzy feelings on the plane to the UK. I am going to miss you all (as my in-laws still don't have internet access) and will catch up when I return in 2 weeks.

Happy Holidays and a Happy New Year to all!

Cast-on Two Cuffs on One Magic Loop - Tutorial

I have been away from documentation for a long time so I am not confident in my writing abilities, but let me give this a whirl.

1) Get your Yarn and Needles Ready! I like to use a 40 inch circular needle, although a slightly shorter needle (such as 32") works as well.

2) Cast on all your stitches for the first sock (mitt, sleeve etc) on one needle. Let's call this Needle A.

3) Pushing those stitches back off the needle you will count exactly half of those stitches. Then pull the loop through the halfway point. Now you have half of the stitches on each needle. This is where you would join in the round if you were only knitting one sock. Let's now cast on the second set of stitches.

4) Cast on only half the stitches for the second sock onto Needle A.

5) Slip (as if to purl) those stitches from Needle A to Needle B .

6) Now your leading strand is at the back of Needle B (rather than at the tip). Continue to cast on the second half of your stitches on Needle A.

Here is One stitch cast on Needle A.

Here are 5 stitches cast on.

Here are all stitches cast on, half on each needle.

7) Join in the round, remembering not to twist your stitches. At this point, you can refer to more information on Magic Loop knitting. There is a You Tube by Knit Witch you can refer to as well.

8) Remember to swap leading yarn when you reach the second sock. Otherwise you will attach the 2 socks together, or learn how to tink. I've done it, I know.

I hope this is a useful tool. All comments are welcome.

Fetching Gifts

I really enjoyed making the Fetching Fingerless Gloves. They go so quickly and I have a few knit gifts to give. If only I had time to "make just one more". lol I just feel that every woman on my list must have a pair of these, but alas, I have run out of time. [please excuse the blurry photo, as I am in a hurry this week]

Pair on the left for Sister-in-law, Black pair for Mother-in-law, and bobled cuff for Ballet teacher.

Patterns: Fetching by Cheryl Niamath, And Bobbles from Kyla pattern by Monika Steinbauer.

Yarn: Green - Rowan Cashsoft DK, Black - Rowan recycled unknown

Needles: US6 Harmony Wood 40" Magic loop.

Ooooouch!

I have spent all morning chopping the one inch thick ice on the walkway and driveway with the hopes to get the car out. I got about 1/4 of the walkway done when my hands started cramping up. So I quit that and started the drive. I have 1/2 the turn around and 2 small tire paths cleared and my hands are really hurting now. The sun is so low this time of year that there is constant moving shadow from the house next door on the drive. And it is an upgrade from the garage to the top. Now, if I could only get to the top, then it is clear enough to park the car there overnight. But the lower part is so solid frozen I can't even put a dent in it. OK, now that I have resigned my self to being house bound today,,,,my hands are almost too cramped to type, I don't think I'll be able to work a pair of needles. LOL, is this what they call "murphy's law"?
Now where is that warm tea! :-)

Blue Tweed Cardigan Done

I LOVE this sweater. Came out just right. Cozy, snuggly, warm and layerable. Just need to figure out how to tack down the bottom of the zipper. There is a heavy plastic on the zip and I can't get a needle through it. And I'm afraid to break a needle on the machine trying...but I will try later anyway. Just had to get this photographed ASAP. I think this will be a FAV and will be worn and worn and worn. It is already slated as the sweater of the trip to the UK coming up.

Pattern: Used ideas from various patterns, but basically "winged" it.

Yarn: Rowan Yarkshire Tweed Chunky (bought 8 balls but only used 6)

Needles: US11 for body and US9 for cuffs and collar. (Denise interchangeables)

Construction: Top Down Raglan to fit.

For the Zipper installation I referred to this tutorial. But the "key" is to wash, block and baste together the two halves before placing and pinning the zipper for installation.

Toasty Warm Winter Socks

For Catherine:

These whipped up real quickly. I love the striping. It is a lovely yarn.

Pattern: Toe Up Socks by Iris Schreier (received pattern upon yarn purchase)

Yarn: Artyarns Handpaint Stripes

100% Luxury Merino Wool (wonderfully soft)

Needles: 40" circular US 5 Harmony wood needles.

Construction: Worked toe up, one sock at a time.
Ribbing is k2xp1 (36st around)

First sock toe was started with 8 stitches around, I round this too pointy and used 12 stitches on the second sock. Much better.

Even on the internet it can be a "Small World afterall"

I was searching for tutorials on the net for sewing in a zipper on a knitted sweater. I stumbled here, which then made me curious to learn more about this blog. So I went to the home page: Getting Stitched on the Farm, and saw that she is having a book launch. So of course I want a chance to win some yarn, and sent off an e-mail. Then as I read more I found that she grew up in Northern NJ (as did I) and now resides in MA (as do I). Pretty cool Eh? Oops the "Eh" is a left over from my time in Canada :-).

Go on over and check out the book launch. The book is Kristin Knits.

Photo sharing time...

I love this log cabin quilt. I made this well before my twins were born. But because I hand stitch my quilts it takes a long time. I used to love the cold winters in Ottawa Canada (I lived there for 4 years before my girls were born) only to sit in the evenings with a quilt draped over me. My Honey and I would watch a film while I hand stitched the quilt. Next I had children and then I found knitting ... the rest is history. Well, I have decided that this quilt is going on the bed, pin basted and all!

And speaking of beds....my twin girls can sometimes be so very different! Catherine likes (or so she says) her bed a mess, but Sarah loves to "set up" her bed every morning. Pooh Bear, Pup and all. Too sweet, I love them!