Bloggers are the best people...

I want to thank everyone who left suggestions about blocking the "Coronet" hats. I really appreciate the extra input. It is so nice to be able to bounce ideas around with other knitters. I just posted it a picture of some gorgeous mittens that Cheryl made for my mitten tree at work. She is a wonderful and generous knitter....Always taking time for others. Check out her blog if you have a chance. I had a customer bring in 8 pairs of mittens that her Mom has donated . My mitten tree is starting to fill up. I am so pleased and it has been a fun project. I have about six hats too. I made a scarf for my son in law that I posted below. It matches a hat I made him for Christmas. The yarn is Bernat "Denim style". I think is a nice color choice for a man. I still am fighting my bout of bronchitis. I took the last of the antibiotics today. But, I still feel pretty miserable. If I can just get through the next few days at work. I casted on a pair of "Fuzzy Feet" tonight. I have worn a hole in my pair from last year. They are the most warm and toasty slippers. That's it for tonight...Time to medicate myself with some cough medicine.

Cheryl's Mittens/

Men's scarf 

Update

I have been down most of the week with bronchitis and a sinus infection. I won't complain too much..... Because it is the first time I have been sick in almost three years. I quit smoking almost three years ago. I always had chronic bronchitis every time I caught a cold. Earlier in the week I went with my Mom for her cataract surgery. She came through with flying colors. It is amazing how far they have come with that surgery. I finished my Mom's "Coronet" hat. I will post pictures later in the weekend. Have any of you blocked a hat before? I think it needs blocking to keep the brim looking nice. I was thinking of buying a wig head and putting the cap on, then spraying with a water bottle to shape it. Any advice in this area is welcome. I had sent out some RAOK's last week. They arrived safe and sound to their destinations. I also started a scarf for my son in law, it is a simple but nice looking pattern. Hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving!

Of Mice and Men...

As you can see from the picture below, I have furiously been knitting catnip mice. All the family and friends cats will be receiving these little fellas. What a great way to use up scraps and they were fun to make. What a blast I had making the "Best Friend's Doll". This is going to be a present for my niece Lacey. I made the doll blonde and blue eyed, just like her. Of course, being a hairstylist, I had to make the hair plenty long. I think she is just adorable and want to make another one. I finished my "Chinchilla Chemo Cap". I forgot to take a picture before I mailed it off. What a lovely and soft cap this yarn makes. I would recommend it for anyone making chemo caps. I have also started another "Coronet" for my Mom for Christmas. I am in very good shape for Christmas this year. I just need to think of some unique ways to wrap up my knitted goods. If you have a suggestion...Please feel free to comment. I also wanted to tell you about a new skill, that makes life much easier. If you like cables , you have to try "Cabling without a needle". Here is a link to the site I used. It is very easy and saves so much time when making cables. I love cable work. I think it adds such richness to a piece. I like watching all the twists and turns come to life. I have been at my sister's church all afternoon and evening. They are having a big craft fair tomorrow. I was helping to organize the "Toy Room". I am so tired that I am making all kinds of spelling errors. Time to sign off for now. Have a great weekend everyone.

Best Friend's Doll/

Mice 

Trip to the Charlotte's Web

Hello out there...I feel as if I have not posted in forever. Today I made a trip to Charlotte's Web in Exeter. I love this yarn store. They have so much to choose from. I posted some pictures of what I purchased. I need to make a few chemo caps for two different ladies. I am going to make one in the Mission Falls cotton and the other in the Berroco Chinchilla. The cream colored Lamb's Pride is for another Coronet Hat for my Mom. I also purchased some sock yarn for the "Retro Rib" socks in the new Interweave Knits. They did not have a good selection of solid yarn. I really wanted something totally solid. But, this has some small flecks of color.I still think it will make an interesting pair of socks. I bought the pattern "Chains in the Sky" by Moosely Mitts. I can't find a link to show you right now. The men's hat is for my Hat and Mitten tree at work. I had a few customers bring in a couple of hats and mittens. I am hoping as the holiday season kicks in I will be receiving many donations. In other knitting new...I have been trying to be careful and not overknit. My wrists are getting better since I stopped mass producing mittens. I am working on the "Best Friend's doll from The Summer 2002 issue of Interweave Knits. She is just adorable. I am going to put some hair on her this evening. Hope to post a picture in a few days. She will be a gift for Lacey who is seven years old. I think she will just love her. Have a great weekend everyone!

Men's Hat

Socks

/Chemo caps 

Are you tired of seeing mittens yet?

Here is yet another pair of mittens for my "Mitten Tree". This pair of mittens is from Weekend Knitting. They are a bulky pair made with two strands of worsted weight yarn. It is a nice pattern and great way to use up odds and end skeins. My wrists have been throbbing for the last two days. I think it is all the knitting with double pointed needles. I tend to hold tighter on the needles. I have been thinking of investing in 2 size four and 2 size six circulars. That way I can get away from the double points. I am going to rest my wrists a few more days. I can't afford to have my wrist act up when I cut hair for a living. It is a hairdressers worst fear. I bought Mostly Mittens on Ebay last night. It is a great book with some very interesting techniques. I had checked it out of the library the other week. Maybe after the holidays, I can play around with some of the patterns. I had also checked out "Weekend Knitting" from the library. Most of the books at my library are out of date. The selection leaves something to be desired. I am waiting for an interlibrary loan for the book "Magnificent Mittens". I would like to look through it before I purchase a copy. I guess that is all the news for now. Wish me luck with my wrists.

Bulky mittens 

Hats and mittens

Still working on my mittens and hats for the Mitten Tree. The blue set is the Coronet hat from Knitty. What a great pattern that is. I love the look of the cable wrapping around the band. The other pair of mitten is made with some old Bartlett yarn I had been given. I have quite a bit of this Bartlett. I am hoping to have some success with felting some swatches. I just received my new Interweave Knits. There are several projects I like from this issue. The "Nordic mittens" are great, as well as the "Retro-Rib Socks". I also think the "Pine Cone" Scarf is very nice. It is definitely my favorite knitting magazine out there. I have been working on a second "Butterfly Throw". They are Christmas presents so I hate to post a picture of them till later. For the second one I am using some Homespun and leftover Patons "Divine". It is a nice combination and very soft. I am not a fan of Homespun from Lionbrand. But, it seems fine knitting on size 17 needles. Last, but not least. Miss Peaches is very happy with her new bed. I have it on a table near the window. She curls up and watches the birds at the feeders. I imagine it is very warm and toasty.

Mittens/

Coronet Hat and mittens