I Think I Am In A Rut

Yes, I am fairly sure I am in a rut. The nice thing about the rut I am in, is that it is a rut of fairly quick, and frequent FO's. I am officially in a Glove Rut... through no 'real' fault of my own. Other than I made the first pair of fingertip-less gloves for Matt for Christmas. Then Rick, mentioned that they would be really nice for him, as where his computer is situated in his office (the cold office that I am knitting him a wool cardigan for), is right where the cool air comes shooting out of the ceiling vent down onto his hands. So OK, I can see his point and will start him a pair of fingertip-less gloves to prevent any further stiffening of joints he insists is part of the aging process. So for Christmas for Rich I started a pair of regular full finger gloves, as his hands are always cold in the winter, and he lives further north than we do. I told him they should be done by the time he needed to return to school. As it turns out, the gloves were W A Y too big for any male hand in my immediate household, but alas Dad come to visit for the holidays fit in them wonderfully, so they became his. So Rich then says, I would really like a hat. Quick as a wink I knit up said hat, and at that Josh wants to know if I am going to knit him something. When I ask what, he says, "I think I would really like a pair of those fingertip-less gloves or knucks (as they are sometimes called)".

As the story goes... I am almost finished with Josh's first knuck, when we stop to visit Rich, and I explain that I have forgotten to bring his hat, but will sent it... he exclaims (as he is already wearing a crocheted hat) "...a hat, no, no, I need gloves!!" What is a knitting Mom to do?

Moral of the story is, Men are no different than women, once they see something that one guy has, they want something the same or at least remotely similar - they too are slaves to the lemming mentality. Since Matt got something hand knit from Cheryl, obviously she needs to knit something of equal or greater value/size for me, and oh by the way, I should be next on the list. It really only becomes a problem when they all want the same sort of thing in a plain no nonsense pattern and knit in either BLACK OR GREY!!!!!

Without further ado... Josh's Knucks Rich's plain black gloves are on the needles as I write, and will be followed by Rick's. Then, maybe just then, I can finish Rick's Cardigan (before it gets too warm again), and THEN FOR SURE... I can start knitting for me again... :) won't that be a happy day?

Bless my friends who take pity on me and knit socks for me. They are truly good friends. BTW, anyone else who would be so inclined to knit a pair of women's med/euro size 39 socks in any yarn will be included in that dear friend list too. Yes, I want more hand knit socks, I just seemed to have planted myself into a family of men who like hand knit items - and - I do LOVE MY MEN!!! :)

First FO's of 2008

Here they are folks, the first official Finishes of 2008!!!


First there is Rich's Hat/Cap. This was the hat that was originally suppose to be one of those caps with the skull and cross bones (my big chance to try 2 color knitting), until he changed his mind. I might add here, that change came "after" having spent all kinds of time at the LYS trying to find yarn that would wash and wear well, and be warm and came in the color that he originally asked for (navy blue). So back to the LYS I went and poof, the cost of the yarn miraculously increased by $15 since I upgraded him to Sublime extra fine merino DK... a mother's love.

So I took the pattern for the Skull cap and changed it to 2x2 rib and still included the inside ear band (I now know how to do a 3needle bind off without binding off), I also adjusted how the decreases were done, and voi la!!!
Next we have Dad's gloves (which were suppose to be Rich's except they turned out way to big for any hands in my immediate household), so they are going to Pa.
He had just the right size hands for these, and promised that he would wear them. Which is particularly good, since he has Raynaud's Disease, which means his finger tips get very cold, very quickly. Oh, and by the way, he lives in Northeastern PA.


That is all for now. More later, must go to bed now, so I can get up at a reasonable hour to go to dinner at a friend's house. She is so very graciously going to watch the Girls when Rick and I go to CA with Matt at the end of the month. :)

Santa Collection (in part)

So, as promised, here are some pics of my Santa Collection. I have been collecting for about 20yrs now. I have not included pics of all the ornaments that are Santas, as this year they did not make it out.
Since it took me so long to get everything out and about, I will be very slow to put it all away.
Enjoy

Hope you enjoyed this little stroll through my collection.

Surfacing Again....

Yes, yes, I know - it has been forever and a day. The promised pics didn't show up, the updates didn't arrive, and I have been among the Missing In Action.
Alas, I think I am back - kind of, sort of, more or less. It has been a long couple months for me, but I am hoping I have broken the surface and plan to stay on the surface.
So, without much further ado - here are some long waited for update and finish off pics:

First with many apologies to Leslie - my absolutely awesome SP11 here is the pic of my reveal package. A really awesome "della Q" zipper bag (perfect for the storage of my Addi Turbo Circs); Some incredible shell stitch markers (the brown items in the little zip bag near the top); a bottle each of Eucalan and Soak; the coolest little zip mesh pouch (perfect for DPN storage) and a couple really pretty green glass bead stitch markers.She was a real sweetheart, and has wonderful taste. She took this all on in the midst of a move and did just fine. Her life seems as hectic as mine, and I hope to continue to keep in touch.

Next we have Rachael's Wabenschal - I really like the pattern, and the baby alpaca was great to work with. There are some changes I will make next time I try this one - and yes, there will be a next time.

Next in the gift category we have Nessa's Mini Monkey Socks made of Lorna's Laces (1 skein I might add). I even had some left over. At least now I know it is possible,and am looking forward to the day when I can start buying yarn again. Yep I have voluntarily put myself on a "use from stash only" regime - unless of course it is a specific color request for which I have NONE of.

...and last, but certainly not least.... taaaahhhh daaahhhh..... Matt's German Flag Fingerless (or should I say fingertipless) Gloves. I think he liked them, since he recieved them on Christmas evening and by the time he left on the afternoon of the 1st they were looking well worn and loved. Not bad for a hand made gift for a 15yr old boy.

Stay tuned for my next post that will show pics of my current Santa Collection. It is one of those things I am quite proud of, and thoroughly enjoy adding to it, or having it added to. This year saw 3 new additions.

I promise I will try to post much more regularly. I am trying also to limit my computer time, so as to have more knitting time. We shall see.