another rabitto! It is a boy!

I got a call from my son tonight and looks like the baby is a boy.. forget all that pink Sublime and cute girly patterns... I am knitting all boy from now on...

rabitto is so soft and fuzzy...

here is another one done today--addictive little Lion Brand blanket buddy rabbits! This time the head is done correctly- not flat..

I started the Lace Paneled Baby Blanket free on Ravelry in yellow sidar Click yarn. Only have 5 rows done but love the pattern but not so sure about the yarn.

bunny buddy

http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/bunny-blanket-buddy---knit

maybe bunny needs a face? This bunny blanket was knit because it reminded me of my daughter. She used to carry around Fisher Price ones that had silky edge on it which was rubbed on her face while she sucked some fingers. Multiples of these were on hand in case they needed cleaning or got lost.

Speaking of my daughter...

I had a wonderful weekend with her in Albany .What fun we had going to a wine tasting event , shopping and just hanging out together. She has grown up so much since those bunny blanket days. No mother could be prouder or love her more! ( hi , Liz!)

This bunny is a very modified ( messed up) version of the free Lion Brand pattern that is supposed to be easy? My bunny head came out flat instead of being able to stuff it.

telephone tester/ hearing loss and phones.

A few years back I was at a Hearing Loss convention in Orlando . I was speaking with a representative from a phone company and signed up to be a phone tester. Every year I get a new set of phones so my collection of phones is getting larger!

These two came in the mail last week. My task is to try them out and then decide which one I want to keep. This time around the survey form took about 10 minutes so not much work involved besides setting them up and figuring them out. My phone expertise is becoming exceptional and even the bathrooms have phones..

They know I use hearing aids but when attempting to use both of these it was impossible. .grrrrrr- they are not hearing aid compatible so can't hear the dial tone over the annoying interference hummmmm buzzzz......caused by my hearing aids. s

I did choose to keep the VTech because I discovered that the speaker phone is loud and clear so I can use this phone in that mode.

It is is ironic that I am a tester..I depend on reading lips and visual cues so phones make me nervous.No phone is ever perfect for me because some voices just don't register in my brain . The noise is heard but brain can't decipher what is being said especially with deep male voices and accents.

Recently this helpful and free site was discovered:

http://www.hamiltoncaptel.com/.

Using any phone and computer I can read what is being said by the other person. I use it to call doctors, business or other calls that may not be clear . You still hear on the phone but can use the captions if you are missing sections. You can even print the conversation.

The annoying part of this like my cap tel phone ( I no long use because the screen is not as big and clear like this http://www.hamiltoncaptel.com/ is that there is a delay in waiting to read what the person is saying. I have become a speed reader after all the reading of closed captions on TV but the person/computer who types needs a few seconds so a delay.

Hot pink mitts

not blocked yet..label says hand wash but never blocked rabbit ?

When at St John's on the knitting cruise this hot pink angora from Fleece Aridest caught my eye. I thought they would make adorable lacy mitts for Christmas presents. This yarn has 20% nylon with the angora so my thinking was that it would have some give to it but not really.!I started several mitt patterns but was not happy with the results so went back to my old standby.Because my yarn was a different gauge the pattern was major modified using 40 to cast on and the ribbing was increased. Pray the second one ends up matching this one!I have not used dpn's in awhile and had trouble with all these ladders showing up in the mitt even though stitches were moved around and were tugged at between dpn's. Maybe I tugged too much? These are going to Liz.

Wendy Johnson's fingerless mitts ( free ravelry pattern if you don't have her book)http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/fingerless-mitts-2

Fleece Artist Angora is ......
Oh so soft and warm but not fun to knit or frog . All that fuzzy bunny stuff sticks together

Scrunchable Black scarf done

Someone forgot to close the computer!
Misty Baby Alpaca - very soft and hairy!
Scrunchable Scarf
my feline assistant loves alpaca!

This Scrunchable Scarf was handed over to my son yesterday. This is a no- brainer- very easy pattern that looks impressive !.

happy halloween

Wed on the way to knitting this red tailed hawk was devouring some unfortunate critter. Good thing Stinky is an indoor cat!

I ( slightly)miss being on school on days like today. Halloween was one of my favorite days to dress up and have fun with the kids .Pumpkins and Halloween theme were tied in math and reading lessons so kids ( and teacher) were motivated . All the candy corn and goodies added to the festivities. Instead -DH and I went to Walmart to get stocked up for the month like a couple of old farts. DH mentioned that it was slightly depressing seeing all the old people there (of course- he didn't mean us ). All the employees were in costumes and at the local restaurant where we stopped to eat.

Knitting is finishing the black scarf my son has asked for the last year. I had started an Irish Hiking Scarf several times this year but each time I ripped it out because of width or yarn . Last week I got half the scarf done in some Knit Picks Peruvian wool but it became work and not fun so it was sent to UFO pile. Maybe it was the pattern with cables using black yarn making it hard to see work? This week some Misty black baby alpaca was found in stash so another scarf started. Ravelry had an easy pattern where all I do is *K2 P1* and it is looking perfect for a male. This one is half done and working up much faster. My son never asks for anything and is the sweetest kid a mom could ask for so don't know why this has taken me so long ? Pictures will be posted to celebrate completion!

Next on the needles will be some fingerless mitts using the angora yarn purchased in St John's at Cricket Cove Yarn Shop.

small baby stuff with my feline assistant

These were done last two nights while watching tv. They are practice ones because they turned out very tiny and with a messy button loop. I love to knit but hate to sew( especially buttons) but they are so damn cute - .

The pattern does not suggest how to make button holes so a crochet chain was used. The results look crappy so last night I found a group just for these on Ravelry with suggestions and visual links to make button loops.

The whole pattern is similar to an EZ pattern where the designer assumes the knitter knows more than I do.
Stinky helping me take photos...rearranging stuff..

This hat is the Umbilical Hat from Stitch N Bitch book to match the BSJ. It too came out rather small.But maybe newborn babies are that small? I have not been close to one in( 27) years.

sorry .....Photos are not in correct order but bet you can figure them out.. Every time I drag on my computer freezes up. There must be an easier way. oh is there a way to download several pictures at same time from my computer/disk. I hold the control button down and highlight them but that is not working so have to do each one individually...

Can you believe schools were delayed/closed here today . First it was an early ice that put power out in several places( not us ) but now several inches of snow expected so they stayed closed. brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr

How I spent my Friday night!

Stayed up till 1 am to finish this Plymouth Top Down Jacket. I have not steam blocked it yet and still looks adorable. What a fun little project! It took less that one skein for Encore Worsted. I may have enough left to use on Saartjes booties http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/saartjes-bootees . This delightful pattern will be used many times in future.

early Christmas present

yes- The new Addi Click interchangeable set is pre -ordered...Thank you- Sue!!! I am on the second list so don't know when they will arrive but hopefully around the holidays. Each LYS only gets 10 at first and then don't know what happens after that so I may have a very long wait. I love my Knit Picks but curious to try these out. For some reason -I never have enough needles . Maybe it has something to do with UFO"S?

It is Friday already. Where did this week go?

DH spent the whole week getting rid of the tons of leaves in our yard. Me- I don't know what I have been doing except picking up and doing wash. brrrr it is too cold outside for me ( 30-40's)Yesterday was a bus trip to Westchester Dinner theater to see the Producers. Of course, I knit the whole way on trip. I am making another hat to match the BSJ. The Norwegian Baby one looks huge!

Finally- the Top Down Baby Jacket - Encore Worsted 1354 was started. I have one skein of yellow for newborn size and hope it is enough. My generous blog pal Sue from NJ sent me this pattern . It is easy and looks adorable so far. It knits quickly using the Encore Worsted. After doing much lace this is a joy to see such quick progress.

speaking of Sue from NJ ...She told me about this new set from Addi.( bad, bad influence hahahaha)

w0w some projects are done!

Here is the Slow Bee shawl . I stopped at clue 4 and did a different bind off. It ended up slightly weird shaped but still pretty. Major issue occurred with cat getting hold of it and making a big hole. I sewed it up somehow is not too noticeable.


My knitting friends in St. John's (Canada) after shopping at wonderful Cricket Cove Shop (notice the polka dot bags full of Fleece Artist yarns) I am on the right top of moose with dark sunglasses.
Peggy's Cove was the prettiest place we visited on the cruise!

my very modified Slow Bee Mystery shawl - DH says it looks like a Batman cape! this needs to be blocked again because too many points.
EZ's BSJ done... The shoulder seams may need to be redone to make it looser about baby's neck . It looks small to me but maybe can do it after a baby tries it on.

This was practice Norwegian baby Hat( search Ravelry) another is being made to match the BSJ

back from the Cruise.

I am back from the cruise after having a fun week filled with shopping, knitting friends and sight seeing. Our group made 6 yarn shop adventures with the Cricket Cove in St John's and Windsor Button of Boston getting lots of my money. While my room mates spent their money on drinks and the spa - mine went exclusively on addictive Fleece Artist, Malabrigo and Sublime and several other gorgeous yarns. I can't afford or need to go to another yarn shop for next 5 years!
Tomorrow I will post more details and photos. Right now Stinky and Molly need my attention for next few hours. The Boy is still away golfing at a college reunion in Florida so I must put away (hide) these purchases before he gets here.

another knitting cruise

BSJ half way done

Stinky has found a new spot to sleep. If my laptop is not closed -I find him passed out on it.

Maybe the keyboard is warmest place in the 60 degree house these days. Maybe he just wants me to stop knitting this shawl and give him attention? The computer to read and enlarge the charts for Slow Bee Mystery shawl.

Still getting ready to leave Sunday for the New England /Canada knitting cruise. After this post my next task is to get the knitting bag packed and along with all ( some) of those clothes piled on my suitcase. I have been knitting like mad woman on slow bee mystery shawl to have it for the cruise but don't think it will be done . I have 2 more rows of chart 4 and then 8 rows for border and then casting off. Each row takes me up to an hour along with doing purl so that is another 10-12 hours of knitting where I have total concentration and no distractions.
When I can't concentrate I turn to the baby blanket which I had major frogging to do yesterday - not so mindless at all if not paying attention.
My 2nd Baby Surprise jacket was started : If you decide to make it ; the Ravelry forum / group dedicated to this helps mucho!! Without the DVD or this group it would be very difficult to decipher EZ pattern.

Mexican Hat Sweater
Pattern
Baby Surprise Jacket by Elizabeth Zimmermann

Size
6 - 12 mos.


Needle
US 6 / 4.0 mm
Yarn
Schoeller + Stahl Limbo Mexiko Color

3 skeins = 405.0 yards (370.3m)
Colorway
2529

About this pattern
Baby Surprise Jacket
by Elizabeth Zimmermann
from The Opinionated Knitter

My next post will include knitting cruise fun . The yarn shops at Boston and Halifax are on my to-do list.What could be more fun than traveling with your knitting friends and sharing adventures with another 75 fiber addicts . Oh and being able to travel when they have the cheapest rates. ..My life is wonderful with knitting, good friends ,being retired and most important a supportive, loving family.

introducing my new grandchild

due April 12- sex unknown yet!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!I am so excited..

Stinky still loves lace

Yesterday after the knitting photos were taken Stinky snuck up to snuggle on my lace...what a funny cat! Stinky keeps me entertained.

If you want to make cute and cheap sock blockers go to: http://simpleknitsjo.blogspot.com/ She is so creative and resourceful!

I went to the mall yesterday because DH had to go to Dicks for something for golf . At Border's they had the new Mason Dixon book which looks real interesting. With book in hand I headed towards the cashier but stopped suddenly as the complete price of 29.99 was noticed..! Trying to practice my new economic saving restraint the book was placed back on the shelf. When it is reduced somewhere or with next Border's coupon this book is on top of my list. But the full price will not be paid.. Now if I can continue to have this self control; we will see.

What's being knitted?

This is the slow Bee Mystery Shawl extracted from ufo pile
Beads and 7 charts going on at the same time make this challenging. Half of clue 4 is completed with 6 more clues to go. Really not sure if I will get this done in near future but will plug along. But honestly -not putting my heart into it;not even frogging for some mistakes. Seriously thinking of making it shorter than it is because the posted photos show this huge shawl that I would never wear. Right now it is about the same size of the Forest Canopy unblocked but not sure if this silk will block as big as the Knit Picks Gloss.
This is one skein of my sister's hand -dyed yarn that we call Woodstock.
This blanket will is for my future grandchild.It is cool how the basket weave pattern changes the colors.

This week these two projects have shared my attention. One is mindless but can get boring while the other is extreme opposite. Just wish I would get something finished!