Potholders and Colour Work

After seeing all the wonderful Potholders Swapped last year on Ravelry.
I decided to take the plunge and toss my name in the hat.
Crocheting is not my forte having very limited experience and being self-taught.
But I admit, I am enjoying making these very much. Am using Thaki Cotton Classic and Elan Sonata, and believe working with the abundance of colours available make the process even more enjoyable.
I have 4 completed out of the 5 required. It will be such fun to see what will be received. Part of the fun has been seeing all the incredible holders being hooked.




I have also recently completed my first Stranded Colour-Work. This is a gift for Meg's B-Day later this month.
This project was a challenge at first but persevered and am mighty pleased with the results.

Gifts for Liam

It has been pure enjoyment to hand-knit a few items for a new baby.
Can't make enough of these baby booties, such a fun pattern to work.

Pattern:Blue Steps
Needles: Size 1
Yarn: Lornas Laces Shepherd Sock
Colorway: Forest




Pattern: Master Charles Ear Flap Hat
Needles:Size 8
Yarn: Debbie Bliss Rialto held double.

Great pattern, great price, and quick project.

I Want to Be a Mermaid

While on Holiday last month, I revisited Weeki Wachee, one of those old, tatty, endearing, Florida Tourist Venues.



I have a great fondness for Weeki Wachee, for when last visited was 7 or 8 years old and fascinated by the lure of the "mermaids".

Having been one of those fortunate kids to grow up in the 60's and 70's with a backyard pool, my sisters and I practiced our Weeki Wachee somersaults relentlessly.

At my best I could achieve 10 rotations. I was 9.....



...I still want to be a mermaid.

A Dozen Dishclothes

Yes, I am knitting, just haven't felt like blogging.
Since these have been given to the recipient will post a wee bit about them.

I have never been a fan of handknitted dishclothes, disliked the wet noodle feel.
Prefer heft and scrub-ability when washing and wiping.
I searched all the databases looking for a pattern which would obtain the hand feel I was after.

Loved the Linoleum Dishcloth immediately. Quickly fell in like with the BallBand Dishcloth.

Decided to try both but downsized to a size 5 needle.
This created the feel I was looking for. Yes!

Other cloths were worked with stitch patterns from Harmony Guide Knit and Purl, always with a garter stitch border.


Pattern Source: Mason Dixon Knitting, Harmony Guide Knit/Purl Stitch Guide
Yarn: Peaches-Cream, Sugar-Cream, Lion Cotton
Needles: Crystal Palace Bamboo 5
For: Friend Jill

Take this and Add 17 more inches!

It has been snowing for 4 days.




We shoveled the drive twice this am, just to get to the office.




Thank goodness it waited until after the annual New Year's Day Shopping Trip to hit.

Hiding the "Stash"

Looks like an ordinary shoebox...but is it?


Oh my, is that possibly ....gulp....YARN!
Look at all that squishy, colorful, yarnyness.



I'll admit it.
I can not pass up a good deal and WEBS is fueling my addiction.

They had closeout pricing on all this Araucania Bulky and it begged to be worked up into hats for the nieces Christmas presents.

Don't all the girls you know want big, slouchy, tam style hats this season?

Though, I distinctly remember saying, I wasn't going to make knitted gifts this year.

After swearing Wendy to a blood sister pack to assist in the stashing , she whisked it home, swifted it into nice little cakes, and returned it in disguise.

You have to get fairly inventive regarding hiding your newest stash...when you live with a skinflint!

Ella

This is Ella, she is a Fawn Doberman Pinscher puppy and she belongs to Junie and Will.

They have opted for the humane treatment and are not getting her ears docked.



She is the most gangly, coltish puppy I have ever seen. She doesn't seem to understand that she will someday soon be 60 or so pounds and will not be able to curl up on Junie's lap.

Am not sure who will be the most disappointed....Ella or Junie?

Junie requested a photo shoot today so Ella photo could be proudly displayed next to Pearl at the shoppe.

Will had worn her out early in the day, so we only got very sleepy puppy photos.