Judy~ Finally a Couple of Finishes!

Despite working in the yarn nonstop and a weekend of GK babysitting, I have a couple of finished projects to share: a sun hat for Stella and a cowl.

This pattern appealed to me because it's adjustable. I added the felt flower and a little charm that I found at Rainy Day Knits in Gig Harbor. The yarn is Cascade Sunseeker and has a bit of sparkle that doesn't show up in the photo.

I first saw this cowl pattern on Dee's blog and finally tried it. For some reason I found it a bit challenging but would make it again in a heart beat!

For some reason it looks blue but is really a silvery gray in Knit Pick's Galileo.  I had quite a bit of yarn left, but used more than one skein. You can check my blog to see what's happening outside: the sun's been shining and the yard work waits.

Judy~ I Can Still Embroider!

For the past few weeks I've been working on a mystery sock which was the focus of a KAL sponsored by the Knitters Brewing Company. It was one of the more difficult patterns I've ever attempted and the source of quite a bit of frogging.  However, I kept at it and one sock is DONE! (The sock is actually gray, not beige.)

It was supposed to be the "canvas" for embroidery, but I just couldn't bear to put any kind of stitching on the cables.  The heel on this sock was really unique as well; it's created by a series of yarn overs that are then decreased.  One of these days I'll start on sock #2.

Judy~ Oops, It's Wednesday, Isn't It?

Yesterday flew by without my having an extra time to do a post. It's been a bit crazy here.
On Sunday we spent much of the day helping a friend who just had rotor cuff surgery on her right shoulder, and I was able to get some knitting projects finished in time for several August birthdays.

This is en route to the Midwest for the GD that is turning 8.  How she got to be that old so quickly is a mystery!

The pattern for this gave me fits, but it's done and ready to wrap up for the Little Miss who turns 2 tomorrow! She loves dogs, and I just couldn't resist the button.

The next time I make this bag, I will use bigger needles, but it is supposed to stretch, and hopefully it will. (It's for a friend.)

August is a month full of celebrations in our family, with birthdays, anniversaries happening weekly! Nope, it's never boring in August (or any other month either)!  Hope your week is going well.  (If you care to check out our new car, it's on my blog.)

Judy Knitting in Idaho

We spent a few days in Idaho this past week where I did a little bit of knitting.  If you're curious about what else we did, check my blog.  Happy August! This summer is going by at warp speed.

Have a great week!

Judy~Home Again with Finishes and a Future Needlewoman

We've been back home from our family reunion in CA almost a week and have just about caught up on everything that didn't get done while we were gone. We had a wonderful time, and since I wasn't allowed in the kitchen, several knitting projects were finished!!!

I'm not telling when I started these, but the pattern is Patina and the yarn is Lorna's Laces in the color Shorewood (my high school but our color was red and gray). I love the pattern so much I've already started another pair. Maybe I'll finish sooner, but don't hold your breath!

I also finished a prayer shawl for our niece, figuring she could use it as a cover-up while nursing Ben, even though it's too hot to wear it now. I also wanted her to know she was in my thoughts the whole time I was knitting it. Hopefully knowing how much people care will help ease her pain in losing little Alex.

This is one of my favorite photos from our time away.  Sophia and I had some stitching time together, using another Hoop-a-Loops kit.  She didn't  finish it, but we'll work on it again the next time we're together. She's getting quite good with the needle and has the straight stitch mastered!  If you know a child who wants to learn to embroider, check out these kits. They are great.

Judy~No Access

We are just about to leave for the airport and taking this with us!  (Along with the wearer plus others)  We will not have computer access so don't expect another post from me until the end of the month.  Have a good week or two!

Judy~ A Finish and Some Meanderings

Heartwarmer is off the needles, blocked and has its buttons! I had to start a new ball of yarn for the last two rows but will have plenty left to make a matching hat and then some.  Actually, this pattern would also work (without the buttons) for a shawlette for  grownups! (like me or you?)

On my needles is another Prayer Shawl for a woman in our breast cancer support group who's having a really tough time right now. She needs lots of prayers, too.

Mostly I've been working on Lady Kina for my second Camp Loopy project and kind of kicking myself for committing to that.  Oh well, live and learn.

In case you didn't see this on my blog, last Friday morning I found something quite amazing on our front porch, a recently expired, perfectly preserved dragonfly.  Many times we've watched them flitting about our garden, but never had we seen one close enough to admire its beauty in such detail.

Aren't those wings wonderful?  It was also a great reminder to take time to look around to not miss the splendor of each and every moment.  We are so glad that we took a photo when we did because a couple of days later the wings popped up vertically, making it much harder to see the detail.  Those wings made me realize how stylized dragonflies are on most craft projects, but it would be difficult, or at least very time consuming, to capture all the details, wouldn't it?  Have a great week!

Judy~Yikes, It's Tuesday Again!

Where'd this past week go?  Someone has put the clock on fast forward, right?  Last week  we sorted lots of choir music and did our usual Tuesday-Thursday things along with a bit of gardening and, "Bam," it's Tuesday again, and we're expecting company from Virgina! But my needles have  been busy, too,  with three projects underway.  First, there's  Heartwarmer in Cascade 220 which is a heathered lavender. Can you guess who it's for?

Mere inspired me to try Kiribati, and what do you know?  There was some stash yarn just perfect for it. Oops!  Next time you'll see the right side, but at least you have an idea of the color.

When we were in Newport, OR, recently at a yarn shop, my eyes fell upon Stephen West's Clockwork shawl/scarf pattern.  It's made with fingering yarn and perfect for a plain and multi. It's also quite fun, at least so far. ( It's much bigger now!)

And the other thing I did last week was to repot this violet. Hopefully it will survive that process.  A piece of the pot broke off when I picked it up, making repotting no choice.

So that's about it for another week except on Friday night we saw "Porgy and Bess" which was very well done, and then on Sunday went to see Max and Stella.  And here it is Tuesday again.  Have a great week, and I'll comment on your posts after our guests leave, I promise.

Judy~Done in a Hurry!

Our quilt group's latest joint project is an applique quilt. Are you surprised that I chose cats? Since I don't enjoy that kind of stitching much, I chose the iron-on method and will embroider by hand around the little critters.

This has already been delivered. It's mostly knit in Funky Fur which is a bit of a challenge to work with.

As you can see, Stella loves purple! (Or at least Mommy does.)

Have a happy week!

Judy~Not Much to Show

This little cap is all finished and has been mailed off to a friend in Illinois. I was pleasantly surprised with the yarn-created design in a wool and cotton blend called Sweetness. I'm also just about done with a furry sweater for Stella, but it has a bajillion ends that need to be hidden and buttons that need to be sewn on before any photos are taken. Next week maybe?

For me this is the time of year that it's hard to stay inside and stitch. The garden beckons along with the realization that our sunny weather doesn't stick around very long.  We have our last choir rehearsal this week with a big piece to sing on Sunday.  After that we'll have a free evening until the end of August at least.  Have a good week!

Judy~No Longer MIA

Between wonderful weather that caused the garden to scream for attention and a trip to the Midwest, I've been missing from Blogland.  Traveling did give me some time with the knitting needles, however.  Because we were seeing our niece in person, I was highly motivated to finish these Raggedy Ann booties for her baby's expected August arrival. (Other travel photos on my blog.)

This past weekend on Friday we were in Anacortes  to see friends, so we aso visited Ana-Cross Stitch, a fun needlecraft shop where this guy was sitting outside. (Don't worry, it isn't Dick!)

Of course, I bought some yarn and also finished a project.

Hope to finish this baby hat this week. The yarn is a cotton and wool mix.

The stitch on the cowl is called bamboo stitch. It's easy and looks nice on both sides!  The garden is still out of control, but I hope to find some stitching time along with lots of weeding.  Have a fabulous week! It's great to be back!

Judy ~ What a Week!

Wow, what an exciting weekend here!  Our whole city (state?) is celebrating the Seahawks' win.  That coupled with an all day choir workshop on Saturday left little stitching time.  But  I did have plenty of yarn to finish some booties to go with Stella's hat and mittens.  There was even a fair bit left!

For the first time in quite a while I got out my sewing machine to make something new, a little hat for Stella. The kit was from the Purl Bee  and contained everything I needed including matching thread.   Sure hope it still fits her as I purchased the kit when she was still tiny!  Ginger looks mighty interested, doesn't she?

So, off to volunteer.  Catch you later!  Have a good week.