Kaibashiras..........pretty socks?

I think they're really special.......I so like wearing this pair, and left them on today after photographing them.

I knitted them last summer, when I didn't have internet picture-posting access, and have forgotten to post them until now.

They're one of my very favorite pairs of socks. I can remember some people saying at the time that they were difficult to knit, but I remember not having that problem.
I believe that the pattern that I followed is here . The yarn I used was Trekking in colorway 107. I received it in a trade with ChristinaKnits. My notes tell me that I started this pair on July 18th, 2008, and finished them on July 30th, 2008. I used the Magic Loop method, with a size 2.25mm (US 1) circular needle , in the 32 inch length, from KnitPicks. I never try to match up the color bands on the two separate socks, as I love the individual look of each.

While I'm here, let me mention the giveaway that is going on over at HawthorneThreads. A wonderful purse pattern with all needed to make it, or bundles of fat quarters ! I found out about it through Dee's blog and found that when you register, you get 10 extra entries if you blog about the giveaway............well, YEAH ! We all want to find good fabric sites, right?

Quickie Sunday Post !

I crocheted this scarf this week, enjoying the process thoroughly.

My dear friend, Wanda, gave me the yarn last year along with a pattern for an Entrelac scarf. I started the Entrelac scarf, and it was a fascinating pattern to work, looking beautiful done in this variegated yarn, but the scarf wasn't reversible. I like for a scarf to be able to twist and turn without worrying about a 'backside' showing, so I reluctantly ripped out that pattern and put the yarn aside. I picked it up the other day after looking at ripple patterns, and, once I tried it with this design, I knew I had a hit.

I think the colors are just beautiful together........I'm thrilled with the finished results. I have one 50 gram skein left, so I may try to work it into a hat to match the scarf.

UPDATED Tuesday evening ! I've been knitting socks again !

I apologize that these pictures are not of the quality that I used to take in the old days of my sock-knitting, but I am so tickled to have these finished that I wanted to go ahead and get them posted.

It's been awhile since I finished any socks, and these were not as fun as ones that have an interesting design. It's the second pair that I've made for hubby, finishing his first pair immediately after his first stroke. He was fairly polite then, and accepted them and agreed to wear them whenever I told him he needed special socks for some occasion. But in the last six months, since his more recent strokes, he's shown a new interest, and kept asking when I was going to finish the second pair !

He really likes the color combination on these, as he is quite conservative. I like contrasting heels and toes, myself; it's a favorite feature on some of my own socks. The tan yarn was a gift of a partial skein, from a friend in Oklahoma (on Etsy), and I ran short at the end and had to make the second sock 2 rows shorter than the first (on paper........but it measures the same, so I may have mismarked my sheet). The toes are quite square, because he complained of tightness when I tapered the first pair like I do when I make socks for me. He's happy, though, so I'm satisfied.

The great thing is that now I can pick a fun design to try again !

Quilting-wise, I have most of the interior of the zigzag quilt machine-quilted, and need to decide upon a border quilting design.

Hubby and I enjoy seeing the changing leaves on our daily walks......

...he took quite a few photos a couple of days ago, so I'll share our walk with you.

This tree is right beside my driveway, behind our trailer.......it is the most glorious yellow.....a Maple tree, I think.

These other shots are from the little lane that leads up to our short street. It is just so beautiful, and smells so good........like wet foliage, and bark, and burning leaves, and......Tennessee ! The more beautiful shots included us, and I didn't want to expose you to our old faces........but you get the idea.

UPDATE: 9:00 P.M.

Oh, I'm tired........my back feels like it's breaking......and I'm happy ! Praise the LORD !

I just finished machine-quilting the border of the zigzag quilt. I did it in what turned out to be a plaid design...accidentally, mind you, but a happy accident. I still prefer the look of hand quilting, as it seems to be "in the quilt", rather than "on top of the quilt" (that's what machine-quilting reminds me of with that constant line of thread showing, rather than leaving the blank space between stitches like hand-quilting).

But I'm liking these ones that I'm getting done ! I think they are very nice.........the HodgePodge is on hubby's bed most every night, and by day it gives the room such a happy glow.

The Arctic Wrap/Stole is finished........

...in fact, it may be OVER-finished. I'm not sure that I'm going to leave this fringe on it. It's too skimpy, and I don't have a lot of yarn left to 'beef it up' ! I absolutely love the 'heft' of this wrap, though ! It's heavy enough to stay in place without having to be constantly adjusted, and it's very warm ! This is Cascade Pima/Tencel......seven 50 gram skeins, approximately.

Check my earlier posts on this wrap if you would like a link to the free pattern (it was written as an afghan/throw pattern).

EDIT : I've doubled the number of fringe points, having had to mix some dark green in in the place of the burgundy in some of the places, and I'm pretty satisfied now. I LOVE THIS THING ~ I may have to make another one ! I'm hooked !

Arctic Wrap, continued, DAY 2

I quilted for a bit today, and then switched to knitting on my Arctic Wrap. The first light green skein gave me 10 inches of wrap, and I have 7 full skeins to use......varied colors.......so, hopefully, I can get atleast a 60 inch wrap. I probably wouldn't want it any longer than that.........we'll see when we get that far !

I don't know how good it's going to look with these colors all knitted together into stripes. I have 2 full skeins of the light green, and 2 full skeins of a green just a couple of shades darker. Then there are single skeins of rust, burgundy, and teal. I also have a half skein of my darkest green (really a medium shade) that I used for the lace nightie. I've just switched to the burgundy skein, saving just a few yards of the light green incase I want to add fringe at the ends. I plan to knit half as many rows with this skein, since I only have one of it, and will mirror it and the other colors in the second half of the wrap. Next comes the second shade of green, then rust, then teal, then medium green for the very center. Maybe.......sounds tacky, huh ? I'll take it one color at a time and see how it looks as I go.

My width is measuring around 16 inches, unblocked, and this yarn is so very soft.

"Be My Dishcloth"

I shouldn't even post this yet, because later today I'll have a nice dry finished cloth to photograph, but I JUST COULDN'T WAIT ! So here's a photo of it while it's being blocked (very important step for photos !)

I loved this when I ran across the pattern, and when I ran across some yarn to make it from (in that wonderful boxful from Dody!), I just had to give it a try. So Pretty !

The cool thing is that, although it's a charted pattern, she gives you LINE BY LINE instructions, so that you don't have to try to keep your place on the chart. LOVED IT !Here's the finished photo ! Turns out that this yarn is WOOL, not cotton, so I can't use it in dishwater or it will FELT ! Darn it,........I'll have to put a hanging loop, and just enjoy its beauty !

Kaylee Socks (original pattern by Momma Monkey)

I was very sorry to hear that the knitter known as 'Momma Monkey' had died after battling a long illness. I know nearly nothing of this person, except for the fact that she freely shared some of the prettiest sock patterns of her own design that I have run across on the internet.
I believe that there was atleast one memorial-type knitalong going on in the Ravelry forums, and have seen people mention that her site is down. The only pattern of hers that I have knit is the Kaylee socks. I do have that pattern copied to my computer, and I also devised a chart to go along with the pattern. I would be happy to share this pattern with anyone who requests it (and supplies me with their email address). If you'd rather not leave your email address in my comments section (understandably), contact me on Flickr.........I'm known as ...dotty... there, too.
You can see my chart below........
For details on the pair above, that I knitted, check this link on my flickr page......http://www.flickr.com/photos/dottycam/1339913194/in/set-72157594397200980/

CORRECTION -- EDIT

I have been advised that Gina's family is attempting to restore access to her patterns and does not want anyone else to be providing them. So sorry, but I must revoke my offer to share.

16 inches of Drop-Stitch Scarf

I have to say........I'm likin' it !

Easy Drop-Stitch Scarf

I ran across a shot of a scarf made using this pattern, on Flickr, and after following the link for it, I thought I'd try it out to see how difficult it was. Not difficult at all..........but slow, what with all the dropping of yarnovers and knitting into thread-size yarn on bigger needles.....( I'm using size 5 needles with lace-weight yarn).

But, I've been knitting on the JayWalkers during rest periods from quilting Cadence's quilt, and the points are so keen on the size 1 sock needles that they've found their way into a hole in the tip of my finger........MADE YOU SQUENCH !...........ouch ! So, being the desparately-seeking-craftiness person that I am, I had to look for something to knit that wouldn't HURT !

The color is not quite as bright a blue as it photographed outside..........it's the bluejeans colorway from KnitPicks in their laceweight merino...........I got it in my trade with Dustina for the Elvis sock bag..........(that, and a whole boxful of goodies, let me tell you !)

Anyway, I just want a little fluffy scarf to tuck into a neckline without causing 'bulkiness'..........I don't know if I'll stick with this far enough to finish it or not...........I still have visions of the feather and fan patterns racing through my head !

A Country Girl goes bloggin'

Yep........I've finally peeked into the world of blogging and decided to TRY and take the plunge.

Seeing as how I've been 'at it' for a couple of hours and don't have much to show for it yet, this might not be the best use of my time ! But, since when did I EVER make good use of my time???

Let's get into some fun here, though,...........okay?



I'd just love to share some of my knitting.........

and some of my quilting...........

and eventually, I'll try to share some patterns, tips, and tricks of the 'trades'.

Do come back and check in with me once in a while, won't you ?

See ya soon !