some knitting and crocheting

Hi everyone--it isn't that I have lost interest in blogging--life has just been very very busy this year. with weddings, graduations, showers, open houses, doctors, etc. What more can I say. DH is going the 22 of this month for testing of his heart function to see if he is a candidate for an implanted defibrillator and pace maker--let's all keep our fingers crossed. I had 2 grandkids graduate high school this year--so hard to believe. Where has the time gone. And DH's grandson is getting married the 26th of this month. Going to try to post more often, but with all that is going on--no promises.

I have made about 16 of the necklaces in the pic above. They are truly instant gratification knitting and are lots of fun. They can be found in the 101 Designers One Skein Wonders book. Ravelry link.

The afghan is a wedding gift for Dave's grandson and the bride to be. Ravelry link I made it with leftover acrylic yarns. Please don't moan--it will get a lot of use and many washings I am sure--so acrylic is the way to go.

So until the next time--Happy Knitting!!

A Coupla Finished Objects

The Socks are a modification of the 56 stitch 56 row socks from Chic Knits which can be found here. The yarn is Knit Picks Essential in Tucson Multi Colorway.

The afghan is finally finished in time for Joe Joe's second Christmas All my grandchildren have one of these-there fore this is the 10th one I have made. The yarn is Caron Perfect Match--the color is Country Basket Ombre. The border is Red Heart Supersaver in Country Blue. The pattern can be purchased here.

I still have one Lucy bag to finish--like ten more rows and the handles and felting. That will leave me 2 more Lucy Bags to line and Christmas knitting will be done. I would like to do more, but am calling it quits. Hope to knit a coupla sweaters for me after the new year. Happy Knitting.

Taking time To Breathe

Hi all. Long time no blog. Hubby was in the hospital again last week. He had an infection in his blood. He went in Late Tuesday night--I guess it was really Early Wed. morning. But they have determined the bug and what will kill it so he is home and able to take oral antibioitics instead of IV ones. I am grateful for the small things. And the big things. His cardiac status is good for now. I had my 17 year old grandaughter the night he went in. Took her to a drama camp at Hiram College that she had been invited to attend. Dave and I got to go to her final performace--it was a vaudeville show. All the kids were great in it. She played Gracie Allen ya know with George Burns. Unless you are older like me you might not remember them. She, of course, was great.

Well, now I will tell you about the above bag. It is the Everlasting Bagstopper from Knitty. I made it for the Bag a Month group that I belong to on Ravelry. It is made from Sugar and Cream dark beige cotton. Very quick knit. Designed to use as a shopping bag, but makes a great beach bag. Happy Knitting!!

Joe Joe's Afghan

Here is pic of the afghan that was promised. Coming right along. just a little less than 25% done.

Meet The Prima Donna

Out of 10 grandchildren I have 2 grandaughters--this is the youngest She is 5 going on 35. She took a magazine to the hairdressers to show them how she wanted her hair cut. And she would much rather shop for shoes and clothes than play outside. Now I don't know about your daughters--but when my daughters were 5, they didn't really care about their hair or what they wore--they just wanted to play outside. These are some new clothes she got on Wed. The dress and shrug are for her graduation from preschool. She really is a sweetie.

I am taking a sabbatical from knitting for a few weeks. My right shoulder has been bothering me for about a month and a half, and since I am a right handed thrower I am giving it a rest. It is constant movement for my shoulder, and I am already noticing a difference after only 3 days. So hopefully if I lay off the knitting for a few weeks it will heal.

Now don't fret--I have switched to crochet and am working on an afghan for the newest grandbaby. All of my other 9 grandchildren have received this afghan. I will post pics at a future date. Also have a finished pair of socks to show ya but haven't taken a pic yet. so Happy knitting to all.

Loop Stitch Booties

These are really adorable in person. I crocheted these for a friend's daughter, who is needless to say, having a girl. Made from an oop of print pattern in the original Spinnerin Book "Wee Moderns." Made with Bernat Baby fingering weight yarn color pink rose.

Just a quick health update for family readers. I have had a cold for a week now--and it is worse today than the day I got it--so I am going to Dr. this afternoon. Dave had a Dr, appt. also-so even though I don'[t feel like it-I will be driving myself. I hate to take antibioitics--but I venture to guess that I will be taking them. This will be the 5th time I have had to call off in 3 months--so I could be put into procedure--Since until last Nov. I almost never call off maybe they will be lenient. We shall see. If Dr. could have seen me this morning I probably would have worked--cuz that's what I do. Happy Knitting to all.

Towel Toppers

And last but not least--I crocheted a coupla towel toppers. I cut dishtowels in half and zigzag the edges so they don't fray then use a pattern of my own to make the toppers and add buttons to hang where you want. It is great to not use the towels that dry the dishes to dry your hands.

Christmas

Well--I am not the greatest photographer in the world--but here it is--the Christmas tree. If you look closely--or click to enlarge the pic--you will see a hand crocheted tree skirt under the tree--crocheted by me--and a little knitting in the backround. Merry Christmas to all.

Finished Poncho

The poncho is done. Even with everything that is going on here it was done in one week from start to finish. Not bad. And by the way--my user name at ravelry is luvtoknit

New WIP

I guess this is 1/2 a post--no pics ::snort:: Well I decided to take a break from knitting. Took car in for service and when picking it up saw a friend we have that works part time at the dealership. Had on a poncho I had madefor myself and she loved it--sooooooo--I am making her one. It is crocheted. It is listed on the crochet pattern central site (Poncho 1972) Sorry to lazy to put in the link--easy enough to find. I am making it out of woolease worsted wt. Rose Heather. Mine is out of Blush Heather. She picked the color. I love to crochet also--so this will be a nice quick project. It really is much faster than knitting--but I do love to knit and love the end result and the intricate things you can do with knitting. Knitting also uses much less yarn. Keeping really busy as usual. Decided to do some real needlework today instead of just reading about it on blogs. You just don't get much knitting done reading everyone elses blogs. Well happy knitting and crocheting to all.

Crocheted Baby Sweater

Well if she sees it she sees it, but I doubt since she is back in college that she will even have time to view the blog. I just finished the baby sweater and hat and here it is. I am done making baby things for a while!!!!!!! Happy knitting and crocheting to all.

Loop Stitch Booties

These are another pair of loop stitch booties. I have been making these for almost 30 years and everyone I know who has a baby gets at least one pair. They will be added to shower gift for my daughter on Oct. 7. I have finished crocheted baby sweater and started the hat. Pics will be posted after the shower as she hasn't seen these. She knows what the loop stitch booties look like and expects them. ::snort:: Looks like I may get done what I wanted to before vacation. YYYYYYYYYYYEeeeeeeeeeeeeesssssssssss!!!!!

Loop Stitch Booties

The pattern for these loop stitch booties is found in a very old book calle "Wee Moderns" by Spinnerin I believe it was published in the 50's or 60's I have been making these for over 30 years. They are adorable to give as shower gifts. They are made with baby fingering yarn and a size 1 crochet hook. Everybody loves them.

Christening Gown

This is the info on the christening gown I posted below. The pattern is in a book by Leisure Arts called Christening Layettes By C. Strohmeyer. It calls for yarn. I used Baroque bedspread weight cotton and I used a steel crochet hook size 1 to get guage. I lined the skirt with satin. I did not line the top as I figured they would wear a onesie on the baby under it. Of course used satin ribbon and pearl buttons. The booklet was published in 1992. Very busy dayl Made and got ready to mail invites to my daughters baby shower. It is being given by my mom, her stepmom and I (I call her the other mother) and her 2 sisters. My exes wife and I are fortunate to be friends. She is due at the end of Oct. Shower is at beginning of Oct. such fun!!!! have a great day!!!!

Poncho

This is a pic of a poncho I crocheted for a dear friend of mine. It is an old pattern from the 70's. The pattern shows it made with fringe. This pic looks blue, but it is really a sage green--the color of our old desoto. She kept begging for a poncho so I made it for her for Christmas. Happy knitting and crocheting.

Indian Head Afghan

I have made three of these afghans. One for my son when he was in high school that he wore out, and one when he graduated from Pennsylvania School of Culinary arts. I also made one for my Dad. My Mom gave me the one I made my Dad after he passed on. It is done in afghan stitch with cross stitch. It really didn't take as long as you might think. Crocheting and knitting are really just a couple of the passions in my life and I am grateful I have been blessed with the ability to do them well.

Christening Gown

I have crocheted 3 of these. All three of my daughters have one. It is from an older Leisure arts Book--will have to hunt up the one. It was designed to be made with yarn, but I went with the guage and came up with a hook and Cotton to meet the guage. It is really beautiful. I do a lot of both knitting and crocheting--love them both. I know this is supposed to be a knitting blog but you will see a lot of both on this blog. Well you all have a great day--unless you've made other plans