Back in the Swing

It has been a couple difficult weeks in my household so I have been lax in posting my efforts. But, as Christmas approaches and illnesses have diminished, I can once again begin with my blog and keeping up on events and knitting progress. I don't have photos to share but I will describe what I have accomplished (or set aside) and set a few goals for the coming weeks.

Just as many Americans are doing now, I have been in the midst of Christmas preparation. Handmade items are being completed and wrapped to give as gifts. The crocheted afghan for my daughter's boyfriend has been tabled because I have to make it fit such a large person. He is 6'3" so I had planned on making it 54 x 72. I made 4 squares of a modified log cabin pattern and then put them together-2 on each side- with alternating rows of 2 colors. Then I started to frame that whole section in a 3rd color. But time is running out so Justin will get an IOU for a afghan and a store bought blanket until I can get that one finished.

I found myself infected again with another illness, possibly flu, so I got behind on the Advent Scarf KAL from the Ravelry group. But in the last few days I have almost caught up and should have it finished tonight. I'll wash and block it for wrapping for a Christmas gift. The daily quotes that came with the patterns will be bound to go along with the scarf. I hate to speak ill of anyone but I have to say that I am disappointed with the pattern for this KAL. There were several days of patterns that  were written wrong or had to be modified to fit stitch count. I would have thought that the test knitters would have picked up on the mistakes. If this was a free pattern, I wouldn't say anything but I paid for it and some people even purchased yarn from the shop to knit it. It seemed like the pattern instructions and recommendations just weren't right for this pattern and many of the people in the group found they had to change things like recommended needle size and yarn requirements. But, even so, the scarf is pretty and I think my mother will enjoy it.

I am on the 2nd sock of the short sock pattern that I have been making for my youngest daughter. Originally I have intended to make it toe up with an afterthought heel, but time constraints for Christmas were not condusive to so many new techniques at once. So I went back to the tried and true top down, and gusset pattern. I'll work on learning the afterthought heel when time allows.

There are just a few rows to go for the hats that I had started some time ago. Then 2 more gifts will be completed. All the dishcloths have been completed and gifts given to co-workers. I ended up with a callous on my index finger from knitting with the cotton. I really didn't enjoy knitting with cotton so I won't do such a large project again.

Another event last week really affected our family and left a bit of a hole. My oldest daughter who was about 16 weeks pregnant suffered a miscarriage on December 10. It is really amazing how quickly a child becomes an intregal part of your family and all future plans include the expected addition. We have had to rethink and replan to adjust for the changes. Life does go on but this baby will always be remembered. She will in my heart be my first granddaughter.

As the final days for Christmas are counted down, so many things still need to be done. Baking, gift wrapping, house cleaning, etc. But as always the time with family is the most important part of the holiday. I love the joy the kids all share with opening gifts. The best Christmas is when the paper flies!! If I don't have the opportunity to get back to my blog before Christmas, I want to wish everyone a safe and happy day. Keep those who have experienced such tragedies in your thoughts this holiday season.

God Bless!!

It's Monday again!

Another week has passed and I have been so focused on work, and the items that I am knitting, that I have not taken the time to add to my blog. But work is not caught up and I did complete some things over the weekend.

The 24 dishcloths that I knit have now be added to the soap that I molded into pink hearts, with the candy cane mouse and the beaded candy cane ornament (kits from Oriental Trading Co). I will add a few pieces of candy and thats the gift for office people.

I also finished 4 of my Christmas Washclothes that I started earlier in the week. Those are gifts for my direct co-workers along with items from Bath and Body Works.

I still have to catch up with the advent scarf. I had trouble with the stitch count on day 6 and haven't started back up. There was an error posting so I will give it a try again.  Today is day 10 so I have a good bit to do.

I have worked some of the modified log cabin afghan. I'm almost done on the 2nd square with 4 more to go. I hope I'm able to finish before Christmas. Still have the hats, fingerless gloves and the short socks to finish. As usual, I have bitten off more than I can chew. I read on Rav where a person posted that having the deadline of Christmas for gift making ruined her knitting mojo for months afterward. The truth is that the people I give handmade gifts to do not really appreciate the time, effort and money that goes into making them, but I really love sharing. So I think I should resolve to either make fewer items or start earlier in the year!

Here's to a wonderful week of knitting!!
Happy Knitting all!

I'm Back!!

I have to apologize for my extended absence from my blog. We had a trip over the Thanksgiving weekend to Atlanta Georgia for a celebration of my husband's grandmother's 100th birthday.
Here's a pic of this incredible woman:

From our house, it is a 13 hour drive. We rented a bigger vehicle so the grandkids and our  daughters were with us and drove through the night on 11/21. We had a wonderful time visiting with family and sharing the incredible occasion, but I also came down with a cold. Most people wouldn't have the problems with a cold as I do (I suffer from lung disease) but my cold became a 10 day ordeal. Traveling probably didn't help. So though I had planned to return to work on 11/29, I didn't until 12/3 so work is a little behind as well.

But tho I was ill, it didn't stop me from knitting!! I finished 24 dishcloths to give as gifts to the folks who work near me:

I have also started the advent scarf---3 times now. The patterns are wonderful, I just can't seem to find the yarn I would like to use. First was in a sport weight Hobby Lobby yarn that was soft but just didn't have enough body. Then I used a superwash/nylon sock weight but it wasn't soft enough. Now I'm using  Knit Picks stroll in the Frosting handpainted colorway. Here's what I have done so far:

I also am working a pair of socks in a the Knit Picks Felici yarn (self striping) in a toe up, afterthought heel pattern on 2 circular needles for a short sock. The whole process is new to me because I always do top down, long top,  gussett socks on DPN's. It's a Christmas gift for my youngest daughter.

I also have a pair of socks on the needle, the 2nd square top hat, a simple pair of fingerless mitts, and a modified crocheted log cabin pattern afghan. All have to be finished for Christmas! I am nothing if not ambicious!!. I also was hoping to have the time to make a couple monsters for my grandsons as gifts too but I'll wait until I have the rest of my projects completed before I try.

So that is my update for today. Thanks for you patience with me.

Happy Knitting!!