I found a great Cascade yarns pattern, the Mock Cable Watch Cap. It calls for Eco Cloud, but I'm using Berroco's Ultra Alpaca. The yarn makes this relaxed-fit hat soft and slouchy (but not too much of a rasta slouch) and I really like the mock cable design. I'll be making many more of these hats.
The pattern for this was inspired by the huge loopy cowls that can be found at the GAP. My home-made GAP-tastic cowl is even better in a Kermit the Frog green, soft Berroco Comfort Chunky yarn and fingerless mitts that I made up to match.
That's my Santa Baby making an appearance for the kids at a lock-in at the Tae Kwon Do Academy. They all went nuts when he walked into the room with his bell and bag full of toys. I'm nuts for him too!
This is Molly's first Christmas so I needed to get a holiday picture of her to make my annual ornament. She was so naughty on our trip to see Santa. She piddled on his lap and while I had my back to her, she raced across the room and jumped up on the table where I was paying. So cute but such a bad baby boxer!
I found the perfect shade of purple to knit up a pair of arm warmers/mitts to go with a hand spun and dyed hat I made a couple years ago in my spinning class. The pattern is Toast in 100% baby alpaca that's oh so soft and hazy.
What Up, Dog?
Molly struts her stuff in this Irish Fisherdog and Friend ensemble that I knit from two skeins of Encore Chunky (75% acrylic/25% wool) from the book, Knitting for Dogs. It seems to bring out her inner super star.
I've been on a Plymouth Yarn kick lately. It's an affordable, practical, easy to care for yarn that doesn't "split" like other acrylic blends. I just finished a second Kimono and cast on a third for Christmas gifts.
Inspired by the sample on the shop hop at Wildflower Knits in Manhattan. It's the perfect lounging sweater to go with pajama bottoms on chilly winter days. Easily knit over a sick weekend from Encore Colorspun (75% acrylic/25% wool) that's simple to care for and just as cozy as an afghan.
Mom and I went to Texas over the weekend to visit family and spend a day shopping in Canton at the First Monday flea market with Molly in tow. She's great around crowds but it was warm and she got tired so I purchased a shopping basket that's very popular at these events. She loves it and I joke that I don't need to carry around a tiny dog when I have such a well behaved baby boxer.
Mom asked me to knit her another pair of socks. She has small feet so this way she can get them to fit and she likes to wear them as bed socks. For this pair, I knit them from Cascade Fixation (cotton/elastic) that makes them fit snug and warm.
Only three local shops to cover today starting with some catch up time with my friend, Tracie at Odd Balls Yarn shop. The new Knit Noro book and sample ruffled knee high socks has me really inspired. Then there's more baby yarn from Heritage Hut and Twist. My yarn hop Hobo Bag is complete and I now have so many projects to keep me busy this winter...bring it!
Each shop in the yarn hop gives participants a ball of yarn to combine to make a project. Last year it was a linen stitch scarf and this year a scrappy crochet or knit bag (pictured). There's a passport book that each shop will stamp and prizes to be drawn from all 12 shops. I'm working on my bag right now.
The best part of constructing a sock to me is when I turn the heel and pick up the stitches to start the gusset. This is where the fun action takes place and the ball gets rolling.
My cousin's wife, Michelle, brought me a gift that was left in a rental house, this 1953 Singer Sew Handy Model 2 sewing machine complete with an owner's manual. I've been coveting these at flea markets for years. It's a real machine - not a toy. In true 50's verbage it reads, "Using this machine you will learn the basic principals of machine sewing, first making your dolly's clothes and perhaps small gift articles; then your own play clothes, shorts, pinafores, skirts, and clothes for little sister." How sweet.
Molly had a big adventurous weekend at my annual family reunion in Osage Hills Park outside of Bartlesville, OK. She got to learn how to be a dog by playing in the creek and going for long hikes in the woods. Poor little thing was flat out dog tired when it came to sitting by the campfire at night curling up in my lap in a deep sleep.
That's my little gremlin, little Miss Molly at 4 months old. She's just about house broke, leash trained and my constant companion for errands in the Jeep and long walks around the neighborhood. And she's working on growing into those ears.
Today is the first day of fall. It's about time our weather cools down so that I can ride my bicycle to work after a summer of 52 days of at least 100 degree temperatures. Talk about being robbed of summer, bike rides, tops off of the Jeep and golf...it was just too hot to enjoy much of anything outdoors.
