Cabled Beret

I have long been a fan of Debbie Bliss, her patterns and her yarn.
So I was happy to find the 1st edition of her magazine at my LYS this fall.
A few patterns were chosen immediately for gifting, with the 1st pattern worked the "Cabled Beret".

When I first began knitting I had old fashioned ideas about cables. It conjured up old pilly, scratchy ski sweaters and the 1960's, I don't know...I didn't like them, I believed I would never knit anything with a cable.

I have since seen the error of my thinking.
I love fat, juicy, squishy cables! They are fun to do and do not give that old fashioned look I dread at all.

I can not share photos of the completed Beret for it will be a Christmas Gift.
The colour of this yarn is really a deep plum colour, and is a alpaca silk merino blend. It is just really scrumptious. I hope the recipient will be as pleased as I am.

Snow Rollers

I have shut down the shoppe for the 1st winter season in 14 years, but have been helping Dan out at the office. Last Friday I decided I needed a day at home, for I have been fighting the 2nd cold of the season.
The day started out great not too cold, but cold enough to feel good about curling up in my chair.

It started to lightly snow as I trudged out to feed the cats. (yes, I now have a mama cat and two baby kittens, more on that later) .

It continued to snow all morning, it snowed all afternoon.

Everytime Dan called I told him how much it was snowing, he continued to pooh-pooh my weather comments. It was not snowing in Berrien.
At 300pm I went out with my trusty yardstick and we had gotten 8" of snow! By nightfall it was 10"!

Saturday morning it started to warm up and then the winds started to howl.
I have lived in this area all my life and I have never seen what happened next.

"Snow Rollers" !

The wind was blowing so hard that the 10" of snow was being rolled up in cylinders.

We had hundreds of these all over the yard.
It was difficult to photograph but it was the most unusual thing I have ever seen.
They only lasted til Sunday morning, when we began to get rain. Crazy...I'm just sayin'

I promise a holiday knitting post tomorrow. I am very behind again this year. I am blaming it on being sick for 3 months.

Class at Red Purl

December 8th, 6p-8pm and December 14th, 1p-3p.
I will be teaching a class on how to take an ordinary Christmas bulb and turn it into an extraordinary "beaded knitted ornament" !

This is a fast project and is perfect for your left over fingering weight yarn.
This class will also teach knitting in the round with 2 circular needles and my favorite technique for beading.
You will have plenty of time to make several before the holidays.
What a great gift idea.
I know several people who will be receiving them.
Come join us at Red Purl on the 8th and 14th.

Thanksgiving

We had a very quiet and small gathering this year for Thanksgiving. I guess that is what happens when the kids get older and have other priorities.
My oldest sister's family didn't make it again this year. Mallory was with her boyfriends family eating at a Cracker Barrel in Kentucky. (don't get me started). And Drewsey left us after a token hour to spend the day with his girlfriend!!

I was thankful Connor, Em and Gracie were there.
The girls and I entertained ourselves taking photos of their wonderful shoes. We do love our shoes!
Con took advantage and slept most of the day, no Drewsey to play video games and or/guitar with. I don't think he was interested in the shoe photo shoot.

We did have a wonderful dinner and a great time with all that were there, my sister and her husband were gracious hosts.

two pretty brown haired girls.

Why I love the Internet and Why I Need a Laptop

Ok, here's the deal.

I knit. I love to knit.

When you are knitting you are first creating something, most of the time for someone else.

My niece Mallory taught me the basics, knit and purl, I must admit I got the knit right off, but I think she had to teach me purl at least 10 times before it stuck.

Then I took a few classes which increased my confidence and taught me how to read "Greek" a.k.a knitting patterns and terms.

Being self employed I don't have a lot of time to run to my local LYS. Though Amy at Red Purl is brilliant with her "working women" hours.

Enter the Internet....if you are stuck on a knitting term and the graphic isn't enough, more than likely you will find a video on YouTube showing you how to do it!

Even better...you can e-mail a designer of a pattern to ask a question.

I did this for the 1st time though I hated to impose.

While working the Aran Isle Slippers I just could not get how to decrease and keep the seed stitch true. I knew it had to be simple, I just could not see it. (it was so, so obvious).

I bit the bullet and emailed Jennifer Lang the designer of these wonderful slippers, and she was so kind to answer me promptly and set me straight on the obvious answer. Thank you Jennifer.

Now I would not do this often, can you only imagine as a designer getting tons of emails asking questions? I can see how this could snowball!
But, I sure appreciated Jennifer's help, she was so kind.

This is why I love the Internet!

And why I need a Laptop with wireless high speed, so in the middle of the night during a knitting marathon I can log on and get the answer if I need it.

Aran Isle Slippers

Aran Isle Slippers in the Holiday Interweave Knits Magazine.

I am thinking perfect for Christmas giving.
I am thinking I want a pair for myself.
Second thought....I don't like my feet to be hot.
Gift Giving it will be.

Emileigh's Runway Debut!

Emileigh wearing Deanna Ansara’s Avante Garde garment

My niece Emileigh was in her 1st runway show this past weekend.
She modeled for 5 Designers of the House of Moda.
The Designers are all student designers of Western Michigan University.
The show was far from amateur, these designers put countless hours and effort into not only their designs, but the overall look of the show.

Emileigh received first hand knowledge of what goes into a fashion show, lots of hurry up and wait, and then pure chaos!

Great Job Em!

She had a great time and I know she enjoyed all the designers she worked with.