Happy Halloween!

On Sunday night we carved our pumpkin. Owen was a bit concerned.
I was proud of our pumpkin until the downstairs neighbors put their four pumpkins out. Over achievers (you can tell which is ours I'm sure). Next year I'll knit a pumpkin. That'll show them!
And here is Owen the pirate. Argh!
Yo ho ho! Nothing like a little Captain Morgan in your sippy cup to go with your cheerios !

(just kidding of course)

At Rhinebeck

Owen and his Dad sport their handknit sweaters while enjoying the Llama and Alpaca parade.
I visited my Longwool buddies.
The group. Bia (on right) taught me to knit and I, in turn, taught my mom and sister to knit (on left). The guys just enjoy the benefits of knowing knitters.
My loot!

What was I thinking??

Friday night, anticipating some nice car knitting time on Saturday, but having no appropriate car projects, I cast on for the hoodie pullover with the Cascade 220 I had in my stash.


Now I was fully aware when I started that I had six skeins (bought at different times) of 2 different dye lots, 2912 and 2914. I couldn't discern any real difference and planned to alternate skeins per row if necessary. Fine. The first skein I grabbed to start with was 2912. I don't know what made me recheck all six skeins, but I was confronted with this.

HOW DID THAT HAPPEN? It appears I had 2 each of 2912, 2914, and 2238. The 2238 even has an older label and definitely does not match the other two (it is more bluish). Ack! Luckily I was able to get another 2914 after a quick run to Webs this morning (where I purchased all the other skeins). Phew. Still, what was I thinking? How could I not have checked? My only defense is that I bought the yarn the first time in May 2004 and wasn't very experienced yet. But still, sheesh.

And what was I thinking when I broke the promise to myself that I wouldn't knit any more surprise Christmas presents for my husband or knit socks for his big feet? Well, I love the guy and love to surprise him. But, if the socks aren't finished by Christmas, that is okay. It's the thought that counts, right? Someday I'll tell the story of the scarf that was finished Christmas Eve morning while he was in the shower or the all-night stocking event.
Anyway, I'm very proud of myself that I figured out short row heels for this pair as all my previous socks were done with heel flaps.



Finally, I'll be at the Rhinebeck Sheep and Wool on Sunday so see you there!

A couple quickies

This week has been the week of little projects that I have been meaning to do for a while.
First I made a hat to match the mittens I made a few months ago.

Pattern: Ann Budd's basic hat pattern
Yarn: "Jennifer" Two Sheep yarn.
Needles: size 8

Then I made matching thumbless mittens for Owen's red heart hat.


Pattern: my own (it was easy once I got the sizing right)
Yarn: Encore Bulky in dark red
Needles: 10.5

Scarf!

Look what I deemed long enough yesterday!

Pattern: garter stitch chevron, approx 8 x 70 inches
Yarn: Cloverleaf Farms 100% worsted wool (bought at Rhinebeck S&W last year)
Needles: size 8


Also, I just have to share this photo of Owen wearing his squirrel sweater that Ms. Bestitched made for him last year (thanks again!).