Honest! I have been busy!

After a brief hiatus I am back to work on the Sweet Mary Jane Cardi. I just finished the left front...with only 17 rows in that section it went fairly quickly. I love the way this project is turning out ~ but I really MUST get a ball winder! I hate having to wind by hand and that is one of the reasons I put this project aside, because I have to wind the last 2 hanks of yarn before I can go much further. (Did you read that Santa? I want a ball winder for Christmas, please!)

I HAVE to get some photos of the other things I have finished. I made the Short 'n Sweet from the S 'n B book The Happy Hooker. I made 2 versions ~ the one directly from the pattern for my daughter and I made a longer version with long sleeves for myself. I've also finished a very basic knit pullover in fall colors (made from yarn left over from an afghan). AND I'm working on a crochet raglan-style cardigan ~ I'm designing it as I go. I've even managed to knit 3 pair of mittens for charity along with matching hats. See??? I have been busy! =)

And I finally hung the patriotic quilt that my son got after he was injured in Iraq. It's a beautiful piece of work - and if I weren't so quilt lingo impaired I could tell you what pattern it is. But alas, I am a knitter and crocheter, not a quilter. ;)
















Here is a photo of the quilt - sorry for the quality....cell phones don't take the greatest pictures. The other photo is a close up of the stitching, all done with a patriotic variegated thread, very cool!

Confessions of an addict

Okay, time to come clean....I am an addict. I just can't pass by a cute pattern without wanting, no absolutely NEEDING to make it. Don't look at me like that, you know exactly what I mean. lol

Didn't I just say yesterday that I'm working on reducing my stash??!! So what did I go and do this morning while I was out running errands??? Um, {sheepishly trying to hide some new yarn behind my back} um welllllllll, see it's like this....I just HAVE to make this gorgeous Lush Lace Pullover from Lion Brand. What could I do? I need to make it, for my good health. It's the only way to keep the shortness of breath, the palpitations, and the obsessive dreams about yarn at bay! It's not my fault, really!! It's a beautiful sweater and I am going to use same color ~ it's one of my favorite colors of Wool Ease.

Sigh...maybe these companies should refrain from coming out with cute patterns until I get caught up. What a marvelous idea!!!!

Working on minimizing stash

Most people who know me are aware that I do a lot of knitting and crocheting for charity. I'm always buying yarn or someone is giving me large amounts of it for the items I make for the local charity that I work with. (I'm an Area Voluteer for Warming Families and will get something installed in the sidebar as soon as I can.)

With winter coming on I've been concentrating on cold weather items to help keep those heads and hands warm. Many of the families we give to are either homeless or are below poverty level income. One of my favorite patterns for easy mittens is Bev's they work up pretty quickly and are a great way to use up some of that stash. She has a lot of really great patterns and this is one of my favorite hat patterns. Of course I use my knitting machine to make hats and I can usually get 3 done in an afternoon. That's an excellent way to get lots of nice warm hats made in a short amount of time. Hats are ALWAYS needed!

There is a local business that has been doing a knit along during their lunch hour and they called this afternoon to make arrangements to drop off the scarves they have made. They are donating 30 scarves!!! Amazing!!! I had the privilege and opportunity to speak to a sweet woman who had received an afghan that I took in and she had tears in her eyes as she told me that it makes her feel loved. It was all I could do to maintain my composure. =)

I've just worked up a new pattern for a baby blanket this weekend and will be posting it soon. I've called it Kisses and Hugs.