Woe is me!

I've been MIA for so long. I have been down with a bad back since the 18th. Bummer. I took the tax prep class in spite of my pain and lack of mobility. I didn't pass the test. Boo-hoo. I was in so much pain that I just couldn't concentrate. I probably should have just dropped out ot the class and tried again next year. But I'm too stubborn.
Anyway, while I have been out of commmision, I did get a little bit of knitting done. I finished what I call my 'clown' socks. They are, of course, fraternal, I wasn't in the mood to make the stripes match. Lion Brand magic stripe in the color called 'denims'.
I also finished a pair of CIC socks. I came up with my own design on these. It is sort of a peerie design. Unfortunately, I didn't write it down. I am please with them. I still need to block them. I made them from Cascade 220. I don't have the labels handy. That is just shadow on the one on the right. they are a nice light fawn color with a bright pink cuff and design.

And I am working on a pair of Cascading Leaves, a Jeanie Townsend pattern, in a soft dark sage color of Prognostic yarn. I am going to re-inforce the heels since this isn't really sock yarn. I was just desparate for a soft green color and LYS didn't have any sock yarn in that color.

I have started another pair of CIC socks to knit while I read my e-mail. If I get so that I can stand long enough, I have preemie blankets to get done for Lubbock and hats to finish for Parkland. speaking of Parkland Memorial Hosp. in Dallas TX, DH and I wathched a special on MSNBC about that hospital. Oh my, they are a wonderful place. I am just blown away with the volume of babies that they deliver! The day of the taping for that program they had 55 babies born, if memory serves. They have 16000 babies delivered there every year!!! I came away from watching that program with a new commitment to help with baby hats and blankets. The Knitting for Children yahoo group supports this hospital and that is where I came into contact with them. Between Knitting for Children and Children in Common, I have plenty to keep my knitting needles and sewing machine/serger busy all the time.
I have been up in this chair as long as my back and hip will allow, so I'm calling it quits for now.
Except to say that I am joining Marguerite (Stitches of Violet) in taking off some weight. I have to re-lose some of the pound that I lost over the last summer, plus some.
Gotta move,
DJ

ZigZag Scarf Finis!!!!!!

Well, I did it!!! I zigged and I zagged and I finished the Multi-directional Zig Zag Scarf from Iris' book. Yippee!!! Now to get the pic and data up on the Multidirectional yahoo site so that I can get my free patterns. I am hoping that I have enought yarn left to make the ZigZag Hat, I have most of the 3rd ball left. I also get the Magic Chevron Scarf pattern, whoo-hoo. I am going to have to trade DH in for a rich man so I can buy lots more Artyarn yarns. LOL
I had so much fun doing this pattern. I thought that I would never get it, but once I did it really was easy and kept my interest right to the end. That is what I'm finding to be true with all of Iris' patterns, I have a little trouble getting started because I have focus problems, but they are really easy, but so intrigueing. This process is just a real kick.
Gotta go post and get my new patterns.
DJ

ZigZag Scarf progress pic

I have 26 inches knitted on my ZigZag. This is done in Iris Schrier's multdirectional technique. Iris has a 'support group' on the web (Yahoo groups)for this technique and her books, Modular Knits being the most recent of those. I want to put a link on my blog, but just haven't gotten to it, yet.
I am using Artyarns Supermerino in colorway 102, which I would describe as fall colours, shades of olive and shades of goldish orange. Much prettier than it sounds and definitely better than this pic. The best that I could get today, no flash on my camera. I love this tech. It took me a while to 'catch on', but once it takes in my little brain it is so easy to just knit and knit and knit.
I am trying to get it done in time to get the free Magic Chevrons Scarf pattern. The deadline is looming. Dec. 15th!
A word about the Artyarn Supermerino, lovely yarn. Great to work with and has a terrific drape, so soft and smooth. Artyarns.com is a great site to see all the yarns that Iris produces. Yummy stuff. I really need to figure out this 'link' stuff again. I did it once but that was a long time ago and my little brain is going to need re-training on how to do it.
Well, gotta go post to the group and then get to my knitting.
DJ

November's Knitt'n pics

Well, I finally got some pics to upload! I have tried several times and had problems each time. I'm thrilled to be able to get them up at last.




Here is a pic of my new wig stand with a hat for Stand up for Kids that I did in LB Color Waves and Bernat SuperValue. Not a great pic. no flash on the camera.


I made 50 of these cute little sewn hats for Parkland Memorial Hosp. in Dallas, TX. Easy and fast!! This is my rendition of Gail Bables sewn baby hat pattern. Thanks, Gail. What would we do without talented and generous people in the knitting and sewing world? !!!!

Below:
My knitted baby hats for Parkland, also done in November. I used Bernat Supersaver for these little cuties. Size 9 us needles and 48 sts. About 3 inches of 1x1 ribbing and 3 and 1/2 inches of stockinette st. then decrease down to about 8 sts and finish. Quick and easy. I use 2 circs, always. If I ever had to go back to doing these on straight needles, I just wouldn't make very many.
The booties were made with some clearance bin yarn and some Bernat Supersaver. I just cast on and uneven number of stitches, anywhere from 27 to 35 stitches. Knit between 8 and 12 rows, knitting every row. then I switch to stockinette st. and keeping the center 3 sts. in st. st , I do a decrease on each side of the center 3 sts until I have anywhere from 17 to 21 sts left on the needle. I knit one more row each of knit and purl and then I do a 1x1 ribbing for 8 to 12 rows. then just bind off and sew up. There are a lot of patterns that are similar on the internet, a bootie pattern search would probably turn up tons of them.

Ugh! I can't seem to get the formatting to work right on this post, tonight. My pics don't want to stay where I put them in the text. Sorry that it makes reading it a little wonky.

I started a pair of small CIC socks a little while ago. I have the ribbing done and am just starting the cuff. I think I will try to do some 'peerie' designs. I don't really know how to spell that, but I will post a pic if Blogger lets me when I get some done. If, I get some done that is. I've never done it before, so this will be a little test of my understanding of the technique. Hope, Hope!
I want to spend the weekend working on my Multidirectional Zigzag scarf in Artyarn from Iris Schrieir. I want the free pattern that she is offering for the chevron scarf, I hope that I can get this done before the deadline, its looming inthe near future. Gotta knit, gotta knit, gotta knit!
DJ

Wiggen' Out

I finally got a wig stand for displaying my hats to take pics of them. I have to go to Goodwill and get a cheap wig now for her. Hmmmmm, what shall I call her.I have to think about that, but she 'has' to have a name. lol
I will try to get some pics up on Sunday evening if we don't have company. DD2 will be over early afternoon, but we don't have any other plans after that. So, maybe I can get some pics uploaded then.
I promised Marnie on the K4C list that I would write up some of my chemo patterns and post them. EEEw, that was probably a week ago. I need to get going on that. Maybe early next week. I hope to get some yarn over the weekend to knit up some samples for pics to accompany the patterns.
Well, not much doing here, I have been knitting on a multidirectional zigzag scarf. Had to frog a couple of times on that. I think that I know what I did wrong now, but I think I will let it age for a few days before I try to pick up where I left off. I have just about completed the gusset decreases on a pair CIC socks. I'm trying to get all my WHWB booties sewn up and I'm sorting out all my charity knitting from Nov. so I can report it on the K4C list and get it all in the mail.
I hear my crochet hook calling my name,
DJ