Sunday, July 30, 2017

YOP Week #5

Finally, I was able to upload pictures...not sure what the problem was before but all is good now.  I sent 'feedback' and within seconds it was working....magic!
I have a finish this week............my Christmas Eve cast on socks worked on size 2.75 mm DPNs (my standard size as I tend to knit tightly).  The yarn is West Yorkshire Spinner's 75% wool, 25% nylon signature 4-ply.  It has 35% Bluefaced Leicester in it and I love this yarn!  I was able to get it through Deramore's.  They have not been blocked yet but they are done.  I'm in no rush...with the temps here it will be quite awhile before I will be wearing any wool socks! LOL!  I used Susan B. Anderson's free pattern "How I Make My Socks" on Ravelry.  The only thing I changed was instead of the Kitchner toe I did a rounded toe.  This is my go to pattern for most of my socks.
Remember my poor little bird last week where I evidently did not understand the WT (wrap and turn) like I thought I did?  Well, my next socks were going to be toe-up as I have wanted to learn new techniques this year.  I had a free pattern on Ravelry by Wendy Johnson (?) and started out with those but once again there was a WT and/or German Short Row which I thought I knew but evidently not so "when the student is ready the teacher will appear".  I looked on You Tube for a tutorial and lo and behold up came Very Pink with a class for toe up socks including German Short Rows.  I had come full circle since Very Pink is the tutorial I  used to learn to knit socks in the very beginning!
So, I just started the class...it cost $8 and she is such a great teacher with her videos.  Hopefully, I will have a bit more to show you next week.  So far I have learned the provisional cast on though...that's more than I knew last week! LOL!  This pattern calls for DK or Sport  weight yarn so I am not using my Paton's Kroy Sock Yarn.....yet. 
 I basically finished my Kitty Blanket as I ran out of the yellow so it will be for a table or the back of a chair.  I still need to put an edging around it and weave in ends.  I will be trying Becki's edging that she showed on hers last week.  Thanks, Becki!  I love how yours turned out!  
Here's  a close up of the 'kitties'...............
I did get some work done on Ms. Frosty....the pumpkin cross stitch I've been doing......most of the dark orange thread on the right hand side was from this week.............
I'm hoping to gather my Mother Bear project materials this week and get working on that for charity, the pumpkin is for me and the socks and then I need to work on a gift......
Oh, I almost forgot my Christmas in July Gift List...........so in addition to YOP here are the gifts I will be making for Christmas..........

C H R I S T M A S    G I F T    L I S T

On Maker's Haven podcast Amber mentioned the following little poem for a guide to buying for your children which she wanted to utilize this year as she and her family are trying to simplify their life....I shared it with my daughter and will try to use it for the grands also..........
"Something they want, something they need, something to wear and something to read"....and Amber from Maker's Haven added "and something homemade".  I love it!  In this vein, I have decided to make Christmas Eve boxes.  Here's an example from Pinterest..........if you search on Christmas Eve Boxes for Kids on Pinterest there are all sorts of them............there are adult ones too.......

I am hoping to make these for the 3 grands and it will include a pair of pajamas (hopefully handmade), hot chocolate mix, a Christmas movie, some homemade Christmas cookies, their annual ornament, a book and a homemade I Spy quilt with instructions for the I Spy game to play with it.
As for "the rest of the gang"....there is the Frida Kahlo basket with some Frida Kahlo stitch markers and stationary, my sons will probably all get hats and fingerless mitts and the family canines with get homemade treats and the family felines will get little crocheted mice filled with catnip.  That's all for now but it is plenty to keep me busy from now until the holidays! LOL!  Watch this space!
Happy Trails!!!








12 comments:

  1. Hi Sam!!! :)) I LOVE that kitty blanket! I saw Becki's too, you guys are amazing. I wish I had it in me to crochet, but it's a mental block or something lol...the socks look fantastic too. I wish I was at the stage of learning new skills, but I'm happy when my stockinette stitch looks even at this point. The pumpkin looks great!

    I love that idea of the gift boxes for Christmas. And kudos for you for not forgetting the fur kids (fur grands??) ;) xxx

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    1. LOL! Yes, I have my 4 (2 dogs and 2 cats) and then I have a grand dog and a grand cat I make for. Thank you for your compliments...I'm a better crocheter than knitter but I am trying to become a better knitter...slowly but surely.

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  2. I love that Christmas Eve box idea. Is this in addition to their Christmas presents? Ornament shopping is something I've always wanted to do w/the girls; I kept forgetting of course. I have a memory or two of my grandmother taking my brother and I downtown to MACYS to see the windows and to pick out an ornament for our tree. Your cursive is lovely! My grandmother calls it script which I thought was interesting.
    Thank you about my new 'do. I'm anal about my hair and research what I'm in the mood for, making sure I have pics for each side. I sometimes may work on one project for the day or at least half a day before switching. Saturday was my knitting day although Friday I had worked on my shawl. You will like Pioneer Girl shawl.

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    1. No, that will be their Christmas present. They get so much on Christmas morning I thought it would be nice for them to have something to open on Christmas Eve. When my children were little I would let them open one present on Christmas Eve as they were so excited for the big day!
      When I was young I lived in Chicago and my Mother would take me to look at the windows at Marshall Field's department store....no ornament though! LOL! Thank you for complimenting my handwriting. It used to be a lot better before I got Arthur Itis!

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  3. Your socks turned out great and I love your idea of learning new techniques, looking forward to seeing your socks and I'm sure you'll master w+t in no time at all. Your idea of the Christmas Boxes is fantastic and I can't wait to see them come together.

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  4. It's about time I learned some new knitting tricks....not sure what I was waiting for but stepping outside my comfort zone is a good thing...either grow or die! LOL! I hope I can accomplish all that for Christmas but at least I'm getting and early start.

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  5. What a great post! I don't know what to comment on first. Love the socks and that kitty blanket is SO cute. Ambers poem is perfect. I think I'm going to copy that and try it myself. The kids always get so much anyway. The Christmas Eve box is a wonderful idea too. You have SO many neat things happening and being made. I can't imagine how fun it would be to sit with you one day and just "make". I always look forward to your posts to see what you've accomplished that day. You put me to shame my friend. But I did get our office desk cleaned off this morning and made a trip to Walmart and the gas station AND got my car washed! It was filth because of the tree sap dripping on it at the lake. Have a lovely day my friend.
    Blessings,
    Betsy

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    1. Oh! That would be fun.....maybe we can Skype some day. We used to have video conferences all over the world when I was working. WOuldn't it be wonderful if we could do the same thing for our crafting? I'm going to look into it! I do not put you to shame as if you saw my house and yard you would not say that! LOL! Cleaning off my desk is on my list today. Look at all you got done....Walmart is one and done with me....I'm toast after that trip alone! LOL! I just like to give back and inspire the way I get inspiration from so many of you. It's just so fun with all my 'crafty' friends! Hugs to you!

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  6. I often turn to the Very Pink videos - she explains things well! My you are so industrious with your Christmas lists and knitting. I am impressed.
    It is going to be high temps here all week so I think my new wool socks will be waiting for winter before they get showcased. I had trouble with pictures this week too. Great minds and all that. Have a great week.

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    1. She is so wonderful and I would not be knitting today if it wasn't for her! IT finally cooled off here and we're in the 80's and not humid...now that's my kind of Summer weather but it's still too hot for wool socks...to wear but not to make! LOL!

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  7. Sandra, I love your finished Christmas Eve cast on socks. And your Kitty Cats are adorable. The white ones really pop! I can't quite read the projects on your Christmas Gifts journal page, but I love how you decorated that page. It inspires me to be more creative. And what a great idea a Christmas Eve box is - with the poem as a guide for what to put in it. You're getting my wheels to turning again! And now I'm going to check out Very Pink and see what she can teach ME! :)

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  8. Oh my, where to start? The kitty blanket and the socks are gorgeous, well done on getting them finished - or as good as. Well done on mastering the provisional cast on. I saw the Grocery girls did a tutorial for this on there Craftsy show this week - I have a feeling they may have also done wt - the cast on one seemed very good, I just need to try it now.

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