Since my sister, whom is my #1 reader(maybe) is getting bored not having a new post to read, I thought I would post this tonight. I did finish knitting this at the beginning of December, however I don't think that I have looked at it since. My mom had to put on the crochet border because I have no idea how to crochet. I did however wear it today. It was the perfect weather for my perfect pie shawl. It is out of Weekend Knitting.

I can't say that I loved making this. I don't know, I guess I wanted it (and me) to look just like the girl in the picture. Hmmmm. Wrong color, maybe wrong gauge, and wrong girl. I used a yarn from my stash, that I thought had the right gauge, but it seems to look different.

The other thing is that I hate working with mohair. It totally sheds, and I really HATE that! I will definitely only be wearing this with jeans.
Well, my house is still in shambles from the Christmas tornado, and I am off to finish the sleeve on my slouchy cardigan. And that's a whole different story!

Every year I make the children sweaters to wear for our Christmas Cards, except for last year, as you recall I had a big problem. This was this years sweater, however not this picture. The boys sweaters came out of the book The Ultimate Knitter's Guide and is the "Sailor" The sizing is huge. My boys were happy with them because they are like sweatshirts. For me, the jury is still out. I think I would have been happy to do one size down for both of them. Libby's sweater is out of EZ knitting in the round, seamless yoke sweater. Both sweaters were made in Classic Elite Renaissance. I love this yarn. The cards finally went in the mail yesterday. Note to self: Order 200 next year. I had to cut people I did not want to, and I hated that!

The Christmas Jammie's are a huge success. For them and me. I do love seeing my kids in their Jammie's all "cozied" up!

These too are another joyful thing. I needed to make 100 of these super quick, super good. Snap pretzels, Hershey kisses, bake at 170 for 4-6 minutes. When removed from the oven, add m&m. SO yum!

Needle pointers BEWARE. These amazing stockings were stitched by my lovely sister, Michelle. She made each of my children one, and I can honestly say that they will take your breath away. She is so unbelievably talented. The detail is unbelievable...the time and effort astonishing. I can't even begin to explain what these mean to me and how I treasure them. I always say that if my house was on fire, I am grabbing the children first and these stockings second! Everything else could be replaced.

Each one is embroidered inside with her name and the year that they were given them.
ahh!

Each one fits their personality perfectly. Andrews is everything sports right down to the hometown hat. And the golf clubs, how fitting. The tree is amazing with lots of beaded ornaments.

Libby's is everything beads. This one must have at least 1000 beads. The packages tied up in beautiful bows......OH!! Check out Santa's coat and that teddy bear!

Charlies might be my favorite although it would be so hard to choose. Charlie and snowmen, they just seem to go together. This snowman even has a knitted scarf, hat and gloves(yes, there is a knit stitch in needle point!)as does the penquin!

I can't tell you how many different stitches she used. I may have to post additional photos later because the intricate work is unbelievable.
I am so blessed to have a sister like this, and my children are so lucky! These stockings will be cherished FOREVER.

There were a few things today that made me very happy......the first being the tooth fairy finally showed up last night for Libby. Wow, she lost her tooth last Monday, and that darn tooth fairy just wouldn't come! Must have got the wires crossed with Santa Claus. Martha had those tooth bears on her show years ago. All 3 children have one and will definitely be a special keepsake.

The second being waking up to this sweet picture in our bedroom that was drawn by Libby. She changes photos almost daily, and for some reason I just loved this with the tree and the package pillows (I made 12 years ago!)

I also found out that my Meathead Hat was chosen for the Larissa upcoming book. Wow, there were so many great ones I was truly ecstatic!
Also, spending the afternoon at the ballet with Libby and my mother in law watching the Nutcracker. It was Libby's first experience and a very special afternoon. I was also able to start on the hubby's Christmas stocking stuffer............will show pictures after Christmas as he LOVES to read this blog!

his

hers

Teacher gifts are always one of the hardest gifts for me to buy. I am never quite sure what to get them. I am pretty happy with this years choice. The two male teachers are getting fingerless gloves.....so easy.....can whip those up in about 1 night. 2 pairs with 1 skein of cascade 220 superwash.
For the female teachers, I "peared" a bath mitt with APPLE soap. I first saw the bath mitt on Sara+h's blog. Super easy, super quick. 1 skein of sugar'n and cream gets almost 3 mitts! Also super cheap! It was the apple soap that cost me! I found that at my favorite boutique in town, Rustic Roots.Off to check the inventory of my holiday shopping!

As I was knitting early this morning I saw the silhouette of my knitting hands.....I quickly called for the photographer!
Will post pictures of the gifts later in the week.

Repeat after me, I am a knitter, I am a knitter.......... but sometimes I just feel the urge to SEW! I know I can do both, but I am just not that great at sewing. I can make the occational window treatment, Halloween costume, or jammies, but have me put in a sleeve? No Way... to scared of that! But every Christmas, I make the kids matching/coordinating Christmas pants. There is something about seeing them under the tree, all matchy, that makes me SEW happy! This year I also decided to make mommy and daddy (me and hubby) matching ones as well. I have always looked at the Hannah Anderson catalog and loved the matching Christmas families, and when I spotted this fabric at the fabric store, I knew I had to match too! I bought matching tops at Old Navy, but they didn't have the same ones in "grown up" sizes.
We will just have to do without, I mean, find something else. I am too excited to wake up on Christmas morning as one big matching goofy family!

My hubby, Mr. friend, is celebrating a birthday today. I made this scarf last April right in front of his very eyes, and he never knew it! Yep, I guess because I always have knitting in my hands he never even asks what I am working on. Some may be annoyed, but I think it is pretty great....to be able to work on something for him, and he will still be surprised when he receives it!!! This yarn is some of the yummiest yarn that I have ever worked with. It took 3 balls of Charmed by Classic Elite. 85% Cashmere, 15% Mohair. It is also a Classic Elite pattern, and was really easy. Since I found the yarn to be so great, I knew that I had to make something for myself out of it. My project is taking 10 balls! That is fair, isn't it?? Sure hope this keeps the birthday boy warm all winter long.

My sister lent me her needles, and in the bag she had this cute "property of" label! Although it may take me a while sometimes to pay back my small loans (I promise I forget), did she really think that I wouldn't return her needles????
However, I love this idea! You know when you lend your needles out to friends at knitting, and nobody can really remember whose needles they are?? If you carried around a few of these, it would be really great! You may just be on to something Shell! By the way, they are on the way back to your home!!! Thanks for the loan!:)

I am feeling a bit panicked looking at the calendar and realizing that there are only 25 days left until Christmas! I haven't even begun my Christmas shopping! I do have a couple of knit gifts completed, but many more in the wings. Ahhhh!!! However, I did manage to get my meathead hats completed for the knit along. They took 1 1/2 hours to whip up. I had many ideas for the embellishments, but this is what I settled on.



You can check out the others on flickr. They are really adorable and very creative!
My wonderful mother is in town, and she helped with the crochet border of my pie wrap. I really should learn to crochet, but for some reason I have NO interest. As soon as I get pictures I will post those.
We will be busy sewing the childrens Christmas jammies today so that I can get those checked off the list!

We are heading out to my sisters home for Thanksgiving, and with a 7 hour drive, I can really get a lot of knitting in. Especially with the 3 children confined to their seats!!

Hmmm, there is this. I know it doesn't look like much, but it will be the sweater I put on in the a.m. over my jammies........or the sweater I throw on while I am eating all of my ice in the dead of winter! The yarn is Classic Elite Charmed. 85% cashmere, 15% mohair..........feels great, and will replace the grey cashmere sweater, with the holes, that I wear every morning!


Then there is this. This is also an easy knit. Good for the car. I purchased this from Sarah, at Knot Another Hat this summer. I should have made this sweater a while ago, because now little Hannah is at least a month old and I still haven't given her a baby gift! I should really get this done.

Then there is this. I started this last summer. I really don't like it, but that is only because of my yarn choice. I used something from my stash that has angora in it, and I hate the shedding! I should just frog it, but the other side of me HAS to finish it. Just something about frogging I don't like, but should......I just wonder if maybe it will be cute over a jean jacket. Hmmmm. Well, I think I will throw all in the car.....who knows, the 7 hour trip may take 10 with all of the traffic around NYC. (yay!)

And this is one of the things that I am most thankful for. Little hands that made this little drawing............Happy Thanksgiving to you!

our hometown hats


I had every intention to do the hello yarn,"we call them pirates hat" for my oldest, however he had ideas on how he wanted his hat. Definitely pirates, long, like his brothers, and he wanted it to have a "fun" top. So........this is what we came up with. They both love them, and I thought they turned out pretty cute. I have a friend that wants the "we call them pirates hat" so I think I will eventually make that one.


These two hats took only 2 balls of cascade 220 superwash.

After reading Scouts meme a couple of days ago, I couldn't stop thinking about her. I had tears in my eyes, and am deeply saddened that she doesn't have her mother to share in her life anymore. Scouts mother sounds a lot like my mother. My mother has so much style in everything she does. She has knit since I was a baby, and her old Vogue Knitting Magazines are some of my prized possessions. I know that everyday with my mother in my life is a gift.

So, for scout:
1. How and when did you learn to knit? Who taught you?

Of course, you guessed it, my mother taught me to knit. It was in the 80's when I was in college at the University of Kentucky. My family spent Christmas in Jupiter Florida. I had a 3 week break. My sisters and father went back north, and my mother and I were left alone. (yay!) I had watched my mother knit for years, and didn't show much interest in knitting myself. Why knit when you have an expert that will knit for you? However, since Florida was having unusually cold weather, and I couldn't "lay-out" I asked my mom to teach me to knit. We made a trip to the local yarn store in West Palm Beach. (I remember that the woman who owned the yarn shop smoked, and all of the yarn smelled of smoke. Can you even imagine that today?)
We bought red, black and white wool yarn, and I started my first garment. A striped sweater. Yup, jump right in and never look back. We sat in our jammies everyday until the afternoon,watching movies and knitting. It was so great, and such a special time I will never forget. It is perfect having someone sitting next to you that can help you with all of the mistakes. And, when I boarded that plane back to Lexington, I was wearing my new hand knit sweater!

2. How has this craft impacted your life?

Wow, it has been my life, truly. I have knit for a boyfriend, my husband (although not much, he is too hot in sweaters), babies, children and friends. I have knit while doing everything, all of the usual and even lots of "unusual" things. I don't know what I would be doing without it. I think that my children just think that the needles are an extention of my fingers. I have my knitting with me at all times, and never leave the house without it. And, I have been like this for almost 20 years!!!!!!!!!!! The deep bond that my mother and I share from this is amazing........

3. Pick at least one person to talk about who you have met through the knit world and why you are thankful to have met them.

Hmmmm, I really don't have anyone to talk about except my mother. She has been the one that I turn to for everything........on knitting and in life. Years ago when I was knitting it was like we were the only two. We would wait for months for the new vogue knitting magazines to come in the mail. It was nothing like today with all of the books, stores and resources we have. I have been reading knitting blogs for a while now, and I guess I can say that I am thankful for knitting blogs and the people behind them. They remind me that I am not alone in my addiction. But, of course what I am most thankful for are my times with my mother. She lives in Florida now, but we still get together daily over the phone with our knitting and coffee.

Pretty scary: I can't seem to part with these. They are my early 90's vogue knitting sweaters.........first attempt at intarsia. "the world and "the universe" I promise, I don't wear them!

This is the Fall/Winter '67 Voque Knitting for 75c and this is my favorite picture from when I was young of my mother and I.

finished object:miracle leaf motif skirt

o.k., I have to say that I didn't think that I would like this on as much as I do. I thought it would be too tight and not fit well. It wasn't great until it was blocked, and I must say I do love it............I will probably wear it a little more casual, with boots and a jacket, but it is nice to know that it could be "dressed up". This did not take me long at all.....maybe 2 weeks. My photographer is just very busy. :)

Here is a close up of the bottom of the skirt. There is a small mistake in the pattern. They fail to tell you to do the 4 rows of garter stitch. I also did this in the round as to not have a seam up the side.

Here is the skinny:
Miracle Leaf Motif Skirt
Miracle by Classic Elite
7 hanks for size S in color 3385 on size US 6 needles

meet ivy

We celebrated a 7th birthday yesterday, and there to help was ivy (the name was prompted by his older brother). He woke up to the little guy and it was a welcome surprise to the usual birthday fairy balloons! He enjoyed breakfast with him (I did NOT plan his coordinating jammies) :) and was either carried or slithered throughout our home for most of the day.


This was such a great, quick project. It truly took about 2 days of barely working on it. I made his body about 46 inches long before beginning the head. I definately think this project should be kept in the car and worked on while waiting at lights, carpool lines, traffic, or even driving. Just teasing honey! (I have been known to knit and drive, very dangerous.) However, I do think this is a great gift for any little boy.

Here's the skinny:
1 skein cascade 220 color #9461, lime
1 skein cascade 220 color #9805, ruby
Toys to Knit by Tracy Chapman

Doesn't every little boy need a snake? A knit snake that is. We have another birthday coming up. Our youngest will turn 7 on the 12th. Of course, on his list, is a monkey like his sisters. AHHHH, I don't think I can make another one. So,I went off to the lys for yarn for this snake. I think he is pretty darn cute, and my bet is he will too!

It was a 4 day long celebration. But hey, I guess the apple doesn't fall far from the tree. (My Birthdays are always a week long celebration). This is the 3rd homemade cake that marked her 9th birthday. She loves anything homemade. I of course told her I would buy her a cake from MY favorite bakery, but her favorite bakery is right here! I also told her I would buy her chicken nuggets (BIG treat since we never eat fast food) for her party. No, she wanted me to make chicken on a stick from barefoot contessa. I also was unsure what she wanted to give her friends for party favors. She wanted me to MAKE headbands. Now this little girl does appreciate the things in this world that are made by hand. I do believe she is off on the right foot!!!

Meet Frankie

My daughter turned 9 today (oh my gosh). She LOVES monkeys. She was so thrilled with this little guy! I found the pattern on Monday and immediately wanted to begin. Since my lys was closed, I had to use yarn from my stash! I HATE using my stash yarn. I am definately the type that wants to use what the pattern calls for and/or buy new yarn. I don't know, knitting with yarn I have already knit with to me is just not much fun. Most of the time I was thinking "this is going to be the ugliest monkey ever! However, I am pretty pleased with the result. Especially after her reaction. I did run out of yarn on Wednesday and had to have my sweet sister overnight yarn from her stash to me! Thanks a million, shell!

This is what the "birthday girl" woke up to

and this was "frankie" yesterday at 4pm. Ahhhh! I was just so happy to have gotten it made on time. Now I am off for a weekend long birthday celebration!

ahhhh..........sweet november! Have you ever seen the movie? It is truly one of my favorites, staring Keanu Reeves, and Charlize Theron. It takes place in one of my favorite spots.......San Francisco. "Sara Deever" (Charlize Theron) is this carefree, bubbly, eccentric woman who shares her heart and her apartment with a man she feels she needs to change. She loves life, and nothing seems to upset her. "Sara" is a knitter who always seems to be wearing something she made. This is what inspired me to make this wrap and these fingerless gloves a few years ago. "Sara" is wearing both in almost every scene. This movie was on T.V. not too long ago. I saw the rating. 1 STAR! What? I LOVE THIS MOVIE! I even OWN this movie! See it for yourself, but be sure to grab the box of tissues. and.........happy sweet november.

Isn't he adorable!! This morning I decided to wait for my film to be developed....I'll just browse through Barnes and Noble with a coffee. Well, which section do you think I end up in? Of course, knitting books! Just sipping away, I stumble across the CUTEST book of hand knit animals. Low and behold there is a monkey in it. Well my daughter has a Birthday coming up. When? you might say? Friday November 3rd! Hmmmmm...... Yes it is worth a try! These are the kind of compulsive behaviors that drive my mother crazy.............Off to knit!!!!!!

Don't you just hate mistakes! It is one thing when you make the mistake yourself and quite another when someone else makes it. The pattern fails to tell you to do 4 rows of garter at the very beginning. Yeah, I know, I could have picked up and knit the four rows after, but I did not want the seam. So, out it came. And to tell you the truth, I think I am happy the mistake was made. After thinking about it, I decided to do it in the round so that I wouldn't have the seem up the side. So now I am just knitting, mindless, mindless knitting. I guess I will forgive the mistake.........hey, I might even thank her.

Well... I finally decided to finish the toe of my sock yesterday afternoon. I did start the skirt, but got frustrated because there is a mistake at the beginning of the pattern. They fail to tell you to do 4 rows of garter stitch! Anyhow, it was a good thing, because I LOVE THESE SOCKS! I could hardly wait to put them on and wear them, which I did to our weekly Sunday night dinner with the inlaws.



This is my husbands idea of an "action shot" Good job honey!


Two more just because I think they are so great poping out of the top of these great boots. I saw these boots a couple of years ago in the VOGUE Knitting Holiday 2004, and was on a total quest to find them. I did, and can't tell you how much I love them too! I know mom, all of that knitting and I have them hiding under the boot. But remember I always know "what lies beneath"!