Happy Holidays and Happy New Year!

I had not intended on taking such a long hiatus.  Shortly after Thanksgiving I fell ill.  I thought it was, perhaps, something I ate, but when my family remained healthy I realized I caught some type of bug.  Shortly after that bug, I contracted another bug – this time I am convinced the kids brought it home to share with me. When I began to feel better I had to shift it into high gear.  Shopping, decorating, cleaning, cooking and gift wrapping all had to be done and I only had 10 days to do it in.  I was a crazed woman on a mission.  I was so afraid that I wouldn’t get it all done!  I do work best under pressure but the deadline was fast approaching for my comfort level (next year, I swear, I will be better prepared).  I will also admit I did not go all out on the decorating, not just because of the fast approaching holiday but because of Schultz, the puppy.  I was a little afraid (actually, a lot afraid) of what he would get into and what could possibly hurt him (everything goes in the mouth - just like a baby).  So, I did keep it to a minimum.  He, thankfully, did very well and only had to be told NO a few times.

Can you believe he's almost 4 mths. old?  He's gotten so big!

  

I was also successful getting all of my gifted socks completed and mailed out on-time.  I was pleased that my visit to the post office took all of 13 minutes (that, I think, is a record) and everyone received their packages on time.  

I do hope you all had a Very Merry Holiday!

Ellison Bay Shawl - designed by Paul Emons-Fuessle

 

This year I’m starting the new year a little differently, I am participating in a Knit-A-Long with Paula Emons-Fuessle of Knitting Pipeline (knittingpipeline.com or you can find her group on Ravelry).  The project is the sweet Ellison Bay Shawl designed by Paula herself.   You can find the pattern and yarn (Chickadee) at Quince & Co. (Quinceandco.com).  Also, I have created a customized “After This Row Project Sheet” just for the Ellison Bay KAL and you can download it for free at www.afterthisrow.com.  Why don’t you join me in knitting this beautiful shawl.

My yarn from Quince & Co. arrived today and I’ve attached a photo of how it was packaged.  So sweet, right?  The color I chose is Egret, it is so creamy.  I purposely chose a neutral color as I have a feeling my daughter will be borrowing it.  It is very lovely and I’m anxious to work with it.

I have a list of things I want to do in the coming year, as I’m sure you do too.  What will be your first project of the New Year? Will it be to finish your WIP’s  or will it be something you’ve been longing to do?  My usual new year’s resolution is to finish all of the projects that are currently sitting on needles.  This year will be no exception. I have 4 items to complete, all in varying stages, and I’m still happy to be working on them.  I have the next 2 weeks off and I plan to be in my chair doing a lot of knitting. 

After This Row has a group on Ravelry, please stop by and join us.  I think perhaps we could have a knit-a-long too; maybe we could try a stash busting project (my friend Kassandra’s idea). Leave a comment on what you’d like to do.

and Happy Knitting!

Joyce

The Holidays Are Here!

Happy Thanksgiving Knitting Friends,


I keep saying this but I can't believe the holidays are here already.  I know they’re on the calendar but it just doesn’t feel like it.  The weather is still fairly decent – tomorrow (Thanksgiving) is supposed to get up to 60°.  (I’m not complaining mind you, I prefer warm over cold any day.  Anyway, I’m sure the holiday feeling will grab me soon.) I feel very fortunate that I am not hosting Thanksgiving this year.  I was requested to bring lasagna and taffy apple salad.  Better still, I only had to make the “gravy” for the lasagna my husband handles the rest of that dish. I’d say I got off easy wouldn’t you? Love that!

How many of you are planning on braving the shopping centers on Black Friday? Actually, I thought I heard some stores will be open Thanksgiving night – I hope you all have a great time and find lots of spectacular deals.  I usually sit Black Friday out, I did it a few times when my kids were smaller but I didn’t find it all that enjoyable. I instead will be putting Christmas decorations up. 

Completed Projects

I wish I could say that I finished everything I had on the needles but I can’t.  I did finish the socks; they are much cuter than I originally thought so I will give them as a gift after all. That’s it, that’s the only thing I finished. Better than nothing I suppose.


On My Needles

The Spaghetti sweater is coming along; I am much further than I was before.  Doesn’t it look great? It is so much fun to knit.  There is one mistake in it (I was watching TV) – I debated on whether to leave it in or rip it out – I chose to leave it in – way too much unknitting.  It’s not very noticeable; I’m hoping that remains the case after I block it. I was hoping to be done with this project before Christmas but it’s not looking good.

See that little knot?

I began another pair of socks using Ty Dy Socks.  I again like the colors better in the skein than I do knitted.  And another thing… A KNOT in my yarn, in the middle of a skein – this kind of thing really upsets me especially when the item is to be a gift! Not to mention I like my socks to match exactly, or as close as I can get them, a knot completely throws off the colorway!  I could frog these and start again but I’m quite far so there’s no sense in that. So, I’m still left with making another pair before Christmas.  

The Adagio Shawl is still waiting to be finished as well.  I really need to get a move on!

Purchases

I picked up Holiday Issues from Interweave, Knit Simple and Vogue.  I have just briefly gone through them.  Knit Simple has quite a few things I’d like to make: an Eyelet Keyhole Shawl (pg. 29), and a cabled afghan and textured pillow shams (pgs. 40 &41).  Interweave also has a few pillow shams I’d like to make, beautiful stockings and a really cute Snowflake Cowl (on the cover). Vogue has featured a number of beautiful hats, a cute little evening bag and a very pretty sweater by Wilma Peers. All things to add to my “Want to Make List”.

Knitting Tips and Tricks I use:

I use plastic bread closures to keep my yarn ends tidy.

 

I wish you all a blessed Thanksgiving Day!

Joyce

November 1st

Hi Knitting Friends,

 

First and foremost, please know that my thoughts and prayers go out to all of you who are feeling the devastation of “Sandy”.  We have family in New Jersey and the damage is so incomprehensible.  A number of our family and friends have homes “down the shore” that are no longer.  Fortunately they are all safe and accounted for.  We do have one aunt who is vacationing in Italy and will return to a home that is underwater.  There are no words to describe the sorrow in my heart for those who have to deal with the cleanup and devastation of this catastrophe.

New Jersey is where we spent our summer vacation this year – down on the boardwalk with family and friends.  To think that it no longer exists is heartbreaking. My children rode the rollercoaster down at Seaside Heights with their cousins…  My husband spent his childhood on the boardwalk with his family and friends.  He loves telling my children the stories of the things they did and the trouble they got into.  I am thankful that my children walked along that boardwalk with him and had a glimpse into his childhood memories.

I hope everyone had a Happy Halloween.  It’s almost uneventful for me now, I only have one who goes Trick or Treating – it’s a little sad.  I made the majority of the kid’s costumes. I am not by any means a great seamstress but if you didn’t look too closely I did an okay job – nothing ever fell apart anyway.  I just don’t know where the time went – it didn’t seem to go that fast…

Break time for him and me.

I know it’s been a little bit since my last post but I gotta tell you, I’m pooped! This puppy has kept me so busy.  He still sleeps quite a bit but when he’s sleeping I’m doing all of my normal household chores so that I can pay attention to him when he’s awake.  I’m constantly making sure he’s not getting into things he’s not supposed to.  Potty training is slow going – once I think he’s got the hang of it, I'm proved wrong.  He knows he gets a treat when he does his business outside but he is still drawn to my carpet. 
Why is that?

  

 

I have hardly any knitting 

done and here it is November 1^st.   
  
Here are progress pictures of my socks and my spaghetti sweater – not so impressive huh?

 

  

  

 Oh, one more thing did happen, I celebrated another birthday. You guessed it - 29 again.  I asked for a knitting chair for my room - a girl needs to have her own knitting chair in her room.  (Actually, the kids (my boys) monopolize the family room television and they manage to find the stupidest (pardon the language but that is how I feel) things to watch and I just can’t sit through it).  We shopped around and finally found my perfect chair.  I look at it longingly every time I see it, I haven’t had much opportunity to sit or knit in it.

Still shiny & new from little use.

Stay safe and happy knitting!

Joyce

P.S. Majorie bought the watermelon yarn from Abi Grasso (knitpurlgurl) Her etsy site is: http://www.etsy.com/shop/knitpurlgurl - She custom dyes the yarn to order - typically 3 weeks +/-.

A New Addition

Hi,

Meet Schultz, a German Shepherd pup, the newest addition to my family (Born September 1st and now 7 weeks old).
 

Warm feet are nicer than cold grass.

We brought him home Saturday afternoon.  He is the cutest and we have all become very attached to him.  

Even though I've explained to the kids that he's still very young they are very disappointed that he sleeps so much. After about an hour of play time and a little business he's pooped!  They have no idea of what's yet to come...  

He hasn't ventured too far on his own around the house but he did happen to find me in the dining room knitting and he was very interested in the yarn that was traveling from my lap to the basket on the floor.  Needless to say, not a whole lot of knitting got done. How long do you think he'll be interested in that?  Oh my, what have I done?  I am so used to knitting anywhere in the house and setting it down wherever I might be.

OMG! He's so cute!

I guess you all know what I'll be doing during the next couple of weeks - wish me luck.

Happy Knitting!

Joyce

Middle of October – Already!

I haven’t even put my fall decorations up yet – Halloween is around the corner. Time is going way too fast.  How many more days ‘til Christmas?   I’m not sure I’m going to be ready, what am I doing with my time?  Surely I’m using it wisely…. Oh gosh, where’s my list?

 

I’ve been knitting as often as I can.  I actually finished a few things. 

My socks are finished – I think they turned out really cute.   I like the colors and the way they striped.  

Have a look at my friend Marjorie’s socks…  They are absolutely adorable!  I love the yarn and I love the picot edge.  I’m going to have to make myself a pair in that yarn. I did forget to ask her what yarn she used and where she purchased it.  I’ll ask her to post the information in the comments section just in case you were wondering too.  So cute Marjorie!

 

I also finished my Medallion Edged Shrug.  Well, I finished knitting it, it still needs to be blocked (something else to add to that pile).   The color in the picture is not the true color - It is really much more of a fuchsia color. I’m afraid I won’t be wearing it this year, the weather has already turned cold and I think it’s more of a warm weather garment.

Purchases

Last week while visiting Elgin Knit Works (my LYS) I bought myself an early birthday present.   A new set of Nova Interchangeable Needles by Knitter’s Pride!  I love them!  The Set includes 9 knitting needle tips, sizes 4-11 (US), 4 cables: 24, 32 (2) and 40 inches.  The kit also includes a set of markers, end caps, keys and case.  I have been wanting a new set of interchangeables for years.  I still have my old set of Boye needles and I still use them but these just seem to help me knit faster.

Currently in the Works

Another pair of socks.  This pair was planned for one of my Aunt’s but I’m not crazy about the color way.  The yarn is Trekking (XXL) and it’s a very nice sock yarn to knit but I think the yarn is prettier in the skein than in the sock.  Does that happen to you?  So, I’m not sure who will receive these in the end…

I’m working on a sweater called 

Spaghetti – it’s a free pattern on 

Ravelry by Tibisay.  It’s a lovely 

sweater with lots of pattern.  It has been 

a ton of fun to knit.  I’ve had a few false starts, one was my error – the other the pattern but now I think it’s all been 

worked out.  I have plans on it being 

a gift but it’s too early to say for sure.   

This is a top down sweater and the top down sweater project sheets have

been very useful for this garment.  The pattern is charted, it has a lot of twisted stitches and I need to increase to 386 stitches.  I’ve marked the rows that need to be increased and the repeat rows.  No guessing, just knitting – so EASY.

While rummaging through my knitting bags looking for a tape measure I found another project that I started last winter.  It’s called the Adagio Shawl; I found this pattern on http://www.freevintageknitting.com/  It’s a nice site with a lot of great patterns.  I’m not sure the reason I put it down but I’m glad I stumbled upon it so I can get that finished too – I know I intended  it to be a gift.  This is an easy pattern to work – an 11 row repeat.  I will resume knitting on row 3 – you guessed it – I used the Scarves, Shawls and Shawlettes project sheet and my last row completed was row 2.

A big thank you to Marjorie for letting me use her pictures for my blog, I really appreciate it.

Happy Knitting!

p.s. If you have pictures of your knitted items please send them to me at Joyce@afterthisrow.com .  I would love to share them on my blog.