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 +/-.