Sparkle Socks

I am back to work and keeping busy but I should have the toe done on Jade's "Sparkle socks" tonight. Like most 3 year old girls she loves things the sparkle. She even took the yarn home before I knit the socks so that her parents had to steal it back to me.

A second Pair

The felted mittens seemed so wooly and warm I did a quick second pair for my grandson. It has been extra warm here but the weatherman is saying snow in a few days. I am also working on sparkly socks for my granddaughter. She loves things that flash and shimmer. Been keeping busy and thinking that there is probably another rescue dog out there what would not mind being spoiled and hugged. My kids keep telling me I am better off if I have something around to spoil.

Sad News

I have been off the computer. I lost Napoleon. He was my buddy and companion and will be sorely missed. I will be back later.

Keeping my Hands busy

It remains touch and go with my dog and so I found the need to keep my hands busy. I am thinking it would be better if I were not off on vacation. Oh well, this is something over which I have no control. Anyway this is yesterday and this morning's offerings. They kept me busy counting away and I will finally have a pair of warm mittens big enough for my long fingers thanks to Ann, my kind partner at Knit kit. Hope you like how they turned out. Oh, it is another Lucy bag not an Anne bag. This is the taller version

The last two mice

Here are the lady and gentleman mouse. I guess the cook will have to serve them dinner. Napoleon is still at the hospital and I am on vacation so will see what else I get done.

Mouse #1 the cook

One mouse is done and two to go. Napoleon has been quite ill so I have been busy and not getting online. But here is the mouse that went to my neighbor for her birthday. More as things get more settled down

knit-Kit

See what wonderful things my secret partner sent me in the Knit-Kit swap. It came at a good time to help lift my spirits and the colors of the yarn are perfect to go with my winter coat. It won't be long before that is every day wear. Thanks again, you did a great job and this will go with me when I fly to Texas.

I hope my partner gets a partner as great as I did.

Knit kit

I have been slow getting to my blog but that doesn't mean I haven't been busy. My wonderful exchange pal in the international scarf exchange sent me a knitting magazine from England. My neighbor immediately fell in love with some mice and begged to have me make them for her for Christmas. You guessed it. I have little mice parts filling my knitting tote. I will put a picture on when the parts are sown together. I usually don't knit things like this but my neighbor has been a wonderful friend so I gritted my teeth and found out it isn't bad at all. Meanwhile I managed to sign up for a swap and didn't know that I had. That's not a bad thing. I really like swaps and have been busy getting together to send a knit kit to Uruguary. I had a bit of a problem because the person I sent to has a blog but it is in Spanish. I am Spanish illiterate. I put a page of her blog in www.bable-fish.com and think I have some of the things she likes. I hope so. Meanwhile here is what I put in her kit. Due to a possible problem in communication, I am sending two patterns and she can pick the one that she likes the best to make. She will always have the other one to do at a later time, knitting needles, beads if she chooses the one with beads, a bead stringer, Chocolate and fruit candy, flavored coffee and a tube of moisturing hand lotion. The yarn is from Italy and from what I can figure out her favorite color is blue so I went with one that would work up like a denim. Hope I guessed correctly and she enjoys it. Now, back to those mice!

BEFORE & AFTER

I am going to be gone for a part of November and so am working on getting together some things for my secret pal so I can send them before I go. I don't want her to think I forgot her and it may be a dry spell after that. Here is the bag I made for her on both before and after pictures. I always like felting. It is like magic. Everything shrinks down and comes together. If only it didn't take those honking big needles. I really prefer the small ones when it comes to my hands and fingers. I joined a mitten swap and signing in has been nothing but frustration. I am on the list. The hostess agrees with the email I have. When I try to sign in it says my email is not on the data base. Spam email isn't there either. Another one of those problems we techno challenged face. Oh, to my Germany pal. I forgot to tell you I finished the book and it was very enjoyable reading. I like to work on old houses to it really hit the target and it certainly came at the right time for home repairs. Thanks again and again.

Yarn Run

Did a yarn run today with a couple of good friends and fellow yarn addicts. Actually, I didn't buy much yarn.....GOOD FOR ME. I did find a bunch of new pattern books...Not so good. Now I will be out finding yarn to fit the pattern anyway. I also found a shawl pin to go on a bag I am knitting my secret pal over at secret pal 9 and a nice mitten pattern that would give some choices to my pal at KSKS. That is a little chancy because I signed up and got the congratulations but I don't seem to be able to log in so will have to see what happens on that one. I have written the hostess. I probably missed some step along the way. Oh, and of course what is a yarn run without something chocolate. How about that giant homemade peanut butter cup. A good finish for a long and productive day. Check the yarn in the corner. My granddaugher will love socks with sparkle. Yikes! Another thing to try and get done before Christmas.

ksks Questionaire

The Questionnaire:

What are your favorite colors? Lavendars, Purples, pinks Mauve sage greens almost anything.

Are you a new mitt knitter? How long have you been knitting mittens?
I have been knitting mittens on and off for about 35-40 years. Some years off and some years on.

Do you prefer solid or multicolored yarn? I like either. I think the key factor is the pattern

What fibers do you prefer in mitten yarn? Something warm so natural wool or alpaca. I live in a cold state.

Where do you usually knit mittens? Sitting in a big recliner in the livingroom

How do you usually carry/store small projects? I have a tote that folds out that I take around with my smaller projects

What are your favorite mitten patterns? I like classic cable mitten and I have been doing some mittens with beads this year. I also like some of the figerless mittens or gauntlet style

What are your favorite mitten knitting techniques? I prefer to do them on a double pointed needles

What new techniques would you like to try? I have never felted mittens and this they would be really nice and warm.

What are your favorite needles for knitting mittens? I don't have a favorite need for mittens. I have been using quite a few bamboo needles lately as they seem to be kinder to my hands. I use all size needles because it varieds as to the pattern and style

What are some of your favorite yarns? Wool, alpaca, wool/silk mix

What yarn do you totally covet? Cashmere

Any pattern you would love to make if money and time were no object? White Cashmere with pearl like beads in a pewter or paastel color.

Favorite kind of needles (brand, materials, straights or circs, etc)? I like different needles for different projects. right now I would say I have been using a lot of bamboo.

If you were a specific kind of yarn, which brand and kind of yarn would you be? Something wool Probably hand spun because it would vary in texture.

Do you have a favorite candy or mail-able snack? I like almost any kind of candy and love to try new and unusual things

What’s your favorite animal? Dog

Would you prefer super warm mittens or something more like fingerless mitts?I have a use for both.

If you were a color what color would you be? This is hard. Some days I would be a sunny yellow, others a dramatic red or purple and every tells me what I am is a calm green.


What is your most inspiring image, flower, or object in nature? A snow flake


Do you have a wishlist?

Anything else you’d like to share with the group today?

I am hoping that putting this on my blog is correct. I got I am in but can't find my name or any other items. Thanks

Just a note

My secret pal got her gifts and it seems she is very happy with them. That makes me happy too. I always am excited to have made a good guess. Not much going on tonight. I had to have Napoleon to the Dr to have surgery on a root tooth. After I talked about his flossing...I should know better. No decay, no problems but he managed to break a tooth off at the root. It was very large and health. So large the vet said I should take it home because it was a whopper. Vet added that he couldn't believe the torque it would have taken to make that happen. Meanwhile Napoleon is laying in the doorway of the room snoring after getting a pain pill. When I picked him up he was still a bit groggy and worked around like he was drunk making noises like a hippo through that big muzzle. No wonder they call his particular muzzle rhino mouth. Guess I will get a cup of tea, have a tad of gift chocolate and do a bit of quick knitting on a felted bag I am making for my secret pals next gift parcel.