Review of my 2010 Goals...

OK, it's time to check last years goals. Mainly because I want to set some new ones. Let's see how I did...

1. Finish the Coral Sweater!! Really all I need to do is attach the sleeves!!

Yes, the sleeves are now attached.

 

2. Explore all that Ravelry has to offer. I joined, but have not done more than that!

 I need to keep this one for 2011. I joined, 1/2 way linked my blog, added a few projects, joined a few groups, found 2 friends, and have so much more to learn.

3. Make something to felt.Check:)

4. Try ordering yarn on-line. The prices seem to be great. I want to find out if the colors will be close and the service will be fast.Check, favorite on-line store of the yearn is www.knitpicks.com

5. Visit more local yarn shops.  Yes   www.yarngarage.com, www.3kittensneedlearts.com, www.borialisyarn.com

6. Attend a knitting event this spring. I took my 6 year old to the Shepherds Festival on a very cold day!

7. Make a knitting basket. This one may be the felting project I am looking for.

Does a knitting bag count? Yes! See felted item above.

8. Teach someone how to knit. Yes, I taught my friend Blanch how to knit.

9. Find a nice yarn for knitting dish cloths.  Yes, I found corn yarn.

10. Knit a sweater for me! (I already have the pattern picked out.) I started one...this will have to be continued on the 2011 list;)

OK, now to plan for the rest of 2011....

One more Scarf for my Fabulous Husband

Remember this scarf? Yup, it's the one I knit for my fabulous husband...and now it is gone. We are sure that it is not in our house or car. So, we suspect he lost it at work. We can only hope someone who really needs it is enjoying it!  

So the missing scarf leads to my husband having no scarf and high temperatures of 8 degrees! Yes, a high of 8. Which means that in the morning we are starting out at -8, or so. And a great need for a scarf.

I had been saving this yummy Yukon yarn by Plymouth Yarn, which is 35% Mohair, 35% Wool, and 30% Acrylic, for a scarf for me. If we had :"touch-o-vision" you could feel how rich and soft and thick this yarn really is.

 

  

When I bought this yarn I also bought 2 ribbons of silk. I was thinking about how great weaving these into the camel colored scarf would be. At first I tried weaving the ribbon in a vertical pattern following the natural rows from my knit/purl pattern. It was difficult to see the ribbon in this direction. So, I decided to try a pattern at each end of the scarf.

 A great thing about this yarn, and being creative with the silk ribbons is that you can try something, undo it, and then try something else until you get the look you want. 

In the end I took the ribbons out so my husband can go back to being warm. He loved the creativity of the ribbons, but did not think they enhanced his manly appearance:)

A Pair of Felt Clogs for me! Part 2

I just realized we got from Part 1 to Part 2 quickly. Next time I think I will take a few more pictures!!

Here they are...almost ready for felting! I have finished the pink tops and attached the second sole.

Then I secured all the ends...

And now they are awaiting my sisters washing machine for felting.

 

Why am I going to my sisters house for this event?  Well, because I have a front loading washer and have not had good luck felting in it! She has a great big, really old, washing machine that works really well for felting. And I get to catch up with what is happening in her world:)

Happy Birthday to My Favorite Knitter!

Happy Birthday to you!

Happy Birthday to you!

Happy Birthday dear MOM!

Happy Birthday to you!

What a great 1960's photo!! 

We have both changed so much over the last 40 years!

Thanks for teaching me how to knit! 

Thanks for being the always available phone helper. What a gift to describe knitting techniques over the phone!

Looking forward to many more projects!

I love you!

A Pair of Felt Clogs for me! Part 1

The girls boots (yes I will share the pre and post felting pictures once I figure out where they are!) look so comfy, I decided to make a pair of clogs for myself. Especially since I feel like I live in a snow globe! Really, is it supposed to snow EVERY day in winter?

First I selected my yarn and carefully wound the balls from the skeins. See how nice they look....

 Then along comes...Stella....apparently she had a blast while I was not in the living room....

...Because this is what I picked up off the floor when I returned to the living room!

 So, then I did this...some of the yarn was so twisted. It was easier to cut and then join (see a previous post about joining wool yarn)

 And then it was time to begin. Here is the first of my 4 soles. Each clog has a double sole so they will last a really long time.

 

And all of that took a really long time. Now on the the rest of the clogs!

I hope to be wearing them soon.

Now that's relaxing!!

My husband and I like to get away at least once a year without the kids.  So, months ago we made arrangements for each of our fabulous 5 to have a place to be for this past weekend. We usually wait until the last minute to make our accommodation arrangements to see what kind of a deal we can get:)

This weekend we struck gold. We found a lovely B&B in Red Wing, Minnesota called the Candlelight Inn. We found many B&B websites, but one stood out in our search for a great deal.They are running an awesome winter special with highly discounted rates on all of their beautiful rooms. We were in the Rose Garden room.

And what does this have to do with knitting? Well, actually two things.

First, imagine yourself in front of this fireplace with a new skein of yarn, needles ready to go, and a great pattern in front of you. Add a chilly winter day and a glass of wine:) I started on a prayer shawl for a family member and was able to get a lot done. Also, I had my husband, a great dinner and a romantic evening.

Second, I learned about Latvian mittens. At breakfast the topic of knitting came up (I'm getting good at sneaking this in just about any conversation) and Lynette, the Inn Keeper,  wanted to show me a project she is working on. She showed me a Latvian mitten she has almost completed. It was absolutely gorgeous, and so detailed. It looked like she used size 0 or 1 double pointed needles. The pattern was intricate and beautiful. I didn't know about Latvian mittens or the history behind them. The mittens mean much more than just a way to keep hands warm. I found a Latvian mitten pattern book and a link to a review ...

Latvian Mitten Pattern book 

Knitting a pair of Latvian mittens looks like a great thing to put on my Knitting Goals for 2011.

Thanks again to Zig and Lynette at the Candlelight Inn for a refreshing weekend. And did I mention the scrumptious 3 course breakfasts each morning? So much to be grateful for:)

Like Mother Like Daughter

I am so proud of Daughter #1. She has worked hard and completed a sweater for herself!

She used yarn from our stash. It originally came from a friend of my mothers. It went from a storage box to a favorite garment!