Really BIG mistake

I've spent most of this week running between my kids' schools and activities so my knitting time has been severely limited. As a result, I just finished the sock I started last weekend. This was based on an Ann Norling pattern called "Play on Ribs". I've tried this pattern once before and I ended up with a child-sized pair of socks while attempted a women's medium sock. This time I sought to remedy that so I bumped the needle size from the suggested 1 or 2 to a 3. I also added two more repeats of the pattern. The result was a HUGE sock. The heel came way up the back of my leg and the toe of the sock folded back over about 1 1/2 inches... before stretching. Keep in mind that I do NOT have small feet (I wear an 8 or 8 1/2 women's shoe). Because the yarn is so bright I doubt many men would come near them. So, I have two choices before me... 1. tear this sock out and start over or 2. find a gay man with really big feet. For this weekend I'll set this aside and do something different.

Aack! The holidays are upon us.

Where does the time go? It seems like just yesterday that I packed away my elastic waist-band holiday pants. I'm thinking this year the holiday chores will be delegated and the girls will be in charge of Christmas cards. Decorating will be kept at a tasteful level, not another Griswald Christmas.
I still have lots of knitting to finish (and in some cases start) in order to make the holiday mailing dates.
Why is it that men are so much more difficult than women when it comes to gifts? I didn't come across any good masculine garage sale plunder this past summer. Most of the males I know do not wear stocking caps, knit gloves, etc. Once again they are getting homemade candy and baked goods.
I'm going to start making craisins today out of the huge box of cranberries from my parents' farm. Zoe gave me a yummy recipe for cranberry scones. The scones are made with oatmeal, soy milk and honey. With her permission I'll post the recipe.
Well, I need to work on laundry, drive one of my daughters to school and try to locate those elastic waist band pants.

The "Big Project" that killed crochet for me.

I've had people ask me before if I crochet as well as knit. I emphatically answer that I don't crochet. This three piece set is why. After many mistakes, countless ripping out and doing entire sections over and over again I had created an entirely new language... most of which is unsuitable and not be repeated. Anyway, I based the sleeves and yoke of this on a Christening gown that my friend, Vida, and her mother had made for Amber. For the life of me, I couldn't figure out how they made the pineapples on the skirt of Amber's gown. That part of my gown was torn apart so many times that the yarn finally unraveled and had to be thrown away. Eventually I gave up on the pineapples and made crosses instead. When it was done I reveled in the glory of my pattern-less first big (not granny squares) attempt at crocheting. I proudly marched into the Home Arts Pavilian at the Puyallup Fair Grounds with the set and regally laid it on the entry table for the little old ladies to catalog and admire. Beulah and Ethel May (not their real names) hardly even glanced at it except to stick my entry tag on it. Then one of them unceremoniously tossed it into a pile with other items. When the fair opened we all went down to see the judging results. After searching through the rows of display cases Brian located my Christening Gown set. It had garnered a red ribbon and second place. Such accolades should have made me happy; however, the blue ribbon went to a Christening Gown set with those stupid pineapples on the skirt. I ask you, what do pineapples have to do with Christening or religion anyway? I don't even think they had those at the last supper.
Sheesh.

Back in business

Well, it's been a few months since I've listed anything on eBay, but the vacation is over. The ubiquitous piles of stuff must go, especially from the garage. There is frost on the ground and the van windows will require scraping. This is just the motivation I need to clear an inside parking space. Who knows, maybe I'll even part with some of my yarn stash... just kidding.

Weekend At The Coast!

I just returned from a relaxing weekend in Grayland. Brian stayed home with the girls. My sister, Jackie, was down there too for a craft fair at the Tokeland Hotel. It rained most of the weekend so I just sat and knitted while visiting with everyone.
Spending an afternoon and evening with Grammie Helen and Grandpa Porgy was nice, but I had to end the visit 30 minutes into the Lawrence Welk marathon. A girl can only endure so much fun!


I finished the Flower Basket Shawl (see above), knitted and felted a purse and started some socks. The socks have some pretty wild colors (see pictures). . The yarn for the socks is "Dancing" from Knit Picks (www.knitpicks.com) . I absolutely LOVE working with this yarn and it has elastic in it so that the socks stay up even after they have been washed.

Anyway, back to the weekend. Jackie kicked butt at the craft show. She sold lots of stuff. My Dad gave me a HUGE box of fresh cranberries. I'm going to dehydrate some into craisins instead of freezing them all. My Mom has been painting a lot of pictures and she's getting pretty good. And my brother, David, even showed up for dinner on Friday night. But unlike old times, we didn't fight at the table.

It's good to be home, but getting away was awesome!