Some Flitting

Just returned from Knitting Night at The Little Red Mitten in St. Thomas. Had a very fun evening with cake and wine available. Joan, the owner, had a birthday so we had to celebrate.

The scarf being made for Jumbo was put on him last Wednesday. There are several pictures in the shop but I couldn't find anything online. Lots of articles online to tell you about Jumbo and his importance to St. Thomas

Working some nights on one project and then another the next night so not getting anything finished. Still need the part to download the pictures anyway.

Interested in knitting needles at all times and found a cute video on the Skacel site for Addi Needles. Take a moment to check it out.

Winter has officially started as our Super wore long pants today. Just because it was zero celceus and windy and he had to put the Christmas Lights up was reason enough for him to do so. Not cold enough for a hat yet though. Overall the weather has been great to date. No snow in November, a very light dusting when we got up December 1st, couple of days of rain and the Zero today. Don't mind this at all.

Heard from my Son on Wednesday. He called to say how much he appreciated his new hat. Was only -27 and he is in the South of Nunavit so an improvement from where he was before. I am not sure if it is Whale Cove or Arivat he is at but it is south of Rankin Inlet (where the Governor General ate a seal heart and Pelly Bay where he was recently). Not the South I would like to head for!

Enjoy life.

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Knitting Away

Had some lovely items to show but Son was home this weekend and now that he has left, discovered that I have a camera but no memory sticks for it. At this point I am ready to buy myself a camera and memory sticks and hide them (the hiding part would be extremely easy).

Finished another item in the yellow of his hat so wanted to show the lovely yarn. If you scroll down,it is M240, Prarie Goldenrod, in the left hand column.

Had started one shawl for Danny and now working hard on the replacement one in a pattern that I find easier to knit. Finished the third chart and it is working up quickly. Very impressed with the charts.

I very much enjoy charts and, if the finished project is worth it, I will chart my own. That is what I was doing with Danny's first shawl but the knitting and charting were not coming together and it didn't look like the picture for a few rows. Decided to leave it for now but have another project that is a written pattern that I am going to chart as I go along. Found it through a Yahoo Group that I am a member of and saw the picture on the original Danish site. A member of the Yahoo Group very nicely worked the translation for the written instructions so I am working from that. The pattern is called "Anne" and it is working up nicely. Have 38 rows knit and charted.

Now to work on some items for Christmas that may or may not get done. Have some things bought so these are just add-ons but would like to get some done.

Enjoy life.

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Hat and Hat

Dave -- the superintendent at the building I work -- got his Birthday Hat. He is turning 50 so it had to be red. And I thought it should be something very appropriate for at work. Now new owner's won't have to try and remember his name when they see him outside shovelling show in the dark evening hours.


As you can tell, he quite enjoys it and takes great delight in it. So nice to make something for someone who so obviously delights in it. The colour, the glow in the dark, the fit -- all got his approval. I thought the very top could have been 1/4" longer to move everything down a bit more and cover all of his ears but he was delighted.



Son got a wool hat for this latest trip to the North. Lovely yellow and orange but the pictures are on a different memory card that I can't find just now. So two hats completed, 20 rows at the centre of the new shawl and some work on a Christmas Gift so doing very well with the knitting this week.

Seems I have been out and about quite a bit this week and had a Board Meeting one evening, swimming three times and I have seen my grand-niece twice so have been busy. Just after 8 tonight and out tomorrow night so think I'll head to bed now and get some knitting done. Thank goodness I can knit lying down. And even have a football game on TV tonight. The evening is good!

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Danny's Shawl - Update

Shawl has been put aside and will be given a new designation sometime in the future. Ran into a section that I didn't like how it was looking and haven't had time to change it and really, really need to be working on it.

So did the easiest thing possible -- started a new shawl. Have been admiring a pattern for several months and decided it would go perfect for her. So, Thursday night I went online, purchased and downloaded the pattern named Girasole. And started knitting. Don't have too much done as yet as Son needs a hat (more about that later). The pattern is easy to read, the chart is extremely clear and in big type. Looking forward to working on it.

Two weeks ago Son was working on the north shore of Canada in a place that used to be called Pelly Bay. With wind chill, the temperature was -40 Celcius. Very, very cold. And he went with no handknits from a Mother who knits. I felt so very bad that I bought him a ball of yarn Friday night and have been busy making a hat. At the very boring part of plain ribbing but it is getting done. Hopefully will add a picture later even if it is not modelled. Lovely yellow and orange colour. He has bought a new coat -- black down that comes down over his hips instead of a bomber jacket. For some reason he thinks it will be much better. I certainly hope so!

While he was Up North, my Sis was at Key West, Florida. Slightly different temperature and views. Next week he is near Edmonton and then 2 weeks in the Far North again. Great experience for him.

Now, better get back to his hat then the shawl which is my big reward.

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Halloween Knitting

Had a delightful weekend.

Started Friday with taken a Board Member from the Condo where I work to Len's Mills so she could buy some yarn. Always a nice start to any day. Especially since I didn't spend any money, had lunch bought for me, and did something nice for someone else. She will be making 6 or 8 sweaters this fall -- 2 children and the rest are for adults. Does much more knitting than I am just now!

Worked my afternoon which went well with no problems and visits from some that come down for the Friday coffee hour. The ladies are very nice and some are knitters and/or quilters so lots to talk about.

Went to Little Red Mitten that evening by myself as Bev was busy. That is when I bought some yarn which hopefully will be used up by Christmas.

Not real tired so headed for Brampton to the youngest. Trip was steady traffic but no slow downs or stops before I get off. Must admit it was nice to get there though and pretty well head straight to bed.

Went to Mandy's hockey game. Had one weird goal that should never have happened but she played especially well in the third period. Her team lost but mainly because they didn't score any goals and were hardly ever having good chances. Do enjoy seeing her the grandchildren's games.

She had better things to do so didn't join Jess and I on our yarn crawl. Went down to Mississauga to Linda's Craftique where I had never been before. Was nice to see the shop and had some yarns I hadn't seen before. Had a table where 4 could sit easily to knit and chat. (Makes me appreciate the Little Red Mitten even more as they have one room dedicated for groups and classes. Get 15 in easily.) Found some lovely graded blue shaded yarn for socks for Jess as that is what she really wanted to do this weekend -- start socks for herself.

Then up to Streetsville (a small town in the middle of Mississauga) as any yarn crawl has to include good food. Went to The Robinson Bray House and had a lovely meal and scones, of course.

Just across the street and around the corner is Ruti's Needlebed Shop where we checked out the sale and regular priced yarn. For some reason, Jess not too interested in the quilt material -- yet. The other project she was interested in was a circular baby shawl and I spotted some King Cole "Soft As Silk" yarn which I love for baby shawls but which has been discontinued. It was a lovely aqua colour and has the sheen from silk and is machine washable. She got to take the whole bag home but I get any she doesn't use. (Maybe by that time I will have cleared out some of the yarn that I have now. Just don't be foolish enough to hold your breath!)

Got her started on both projects and must say she did amazing. Not a lot of repeat questions, learned to look at her knitting and learn what she had to do next. Made some mistakes but identified them quickly and was able to correct them by herself for the main part. Was very impressed by how much she did learn without any frustration. She is doing two socks on two circulars from the toe up and using very small needles. She learned the magic loop method for the baby shawl so she doesn't have to have two circulars. She knows two types of increase and the difference in appearance. Likes quick results so the socks will require a lot of dedication but with the two projects she should be able to keep interested in both. I think she is going to be a very good knitter and one who goes beyond the very basics.

That evening she got to hand out goodies for most of the evening while Mandy and her friend went out. Mandy had a great pirate costume. The weekend before Mandy and Jess had carved pumpkins and I wish I had my camera. They had some great ones including one with a puck halfway in for an eye.

Sunday Alex came home from visiting the girlfriend at her University for a party. From the sounds of it he had a great time. Was quite tired out for his hockey game which they also lost. Such a different game from the Rep teams he used to play on! But it is the level and commitment he wanted to make so glad to see him enjoying himself.

Drove home right after in heavy but steady traffic. By that point I really needed my own bed! Should have been energized by all the wool and knitting on the weekend but haven't done much myself. Have started my own index of the yarn I have and getting a better idea of what can go and what I want to keep. Now just have to get it out of the front room before the Son comes home!

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