Two Hats to Wrap

I finished the hats for my in-laws.

While knitting the hat for my mother-in-law, I became concerned that I wouldn't have enough yarn to complete all the pattern repeats.  I decided to cut things short and make a tam instead of a stocking cap.  I think it turned out very nice.  The ribbing draws in quite a bit, which will keep the cap snug around the ears, while the top is loose so as to not produce hat hair.

This pattern had several elements that I had not tried before.  The Bavarian cast on is a long-tail variation that is very stretchy.  I'll have to remember to use it on socks sometime.  The elongated stitch was another element that was new.  I like how it looks, but it was bit difficult to knit on 4.5 mm needles and worsted weight yarn.  My fingers were hurting after a few rounds of this.  I'll try to incorporate it into something using a lighter weight yarn and see if it is easier to execute.

The hat I made for my father-in-law is a basic socking cap.  It was a very fast night.  Ed tried it on for size.  I think he's going to want one himself.

That concludes the gift knitting I was planning for Christmas.  I haven't made much progress on the Custom Fit cardi, so it probably won't debut at Christmas.  I have a 4 rows to go to finish Faith.  It will probably play the role of understudy.

This year has been an unusual year for me.  Because of my time off work, I have been able to accomplish all of my Christmas preparations scheduled to date.  The house is decorated.  Christmas cards have been sent.  Christmas Eve meal is planned. Most presents are acquired.  The only thing left not started is the baking.  The kids asked that I wait until they get home from school for that.  Blake finished up his semester yesterday.  Kristin came home last evening.  Trisha is expected home tomorrow.  It feels a bit strange not to feel frantic at this point, but I am not complaining.  I'm loving it!

After the New Year, I will return to work.  The paperwork still needs to be done, but I will be starting as a consultant for a state agency either on January 4 or 11.  I'm hoping for the latter date just to give me another week to be lazy at home.  I need to start adjusting my body clock back to a working person's schedule.

Another Christmas Project

Last week Donna Druchunas had a free pattern give-away.  It was for her Mermaids in Juneau hat.  I promptly downloaded it and saved it to my library.  Yesterday, I cast on to make it as a Christmas gift for my mother-in-law.

 

That pattern has a couple techniques that I have never used before.  

First, the cast on is a Bavarian cast on.  It is a variation of the long-tail cast on that creates a nub for each pair of stitches.  It is very stretchy.  I like how it looks on the edge of the hat.  It took a little practice to get my hands to alternate motions in order to create the nub.

Second, the body of the hat has an elongated stitch.  The trickiest part of that stitch is making sure the tension is consistent with the other elongated stitches.

This is a fast knit and should be done this weekend.

Cutest Little Things

The euchre club I am in does a dinner and ornament exchange in December instead of playing cards.  Hunting around Ravelry yesterday I came across this pattern:  Mini Socks.   Digging through the stash I found some red, white, green and yellow yarn that are perfect for mini socks.  The red and white one was the first sock, which took about an hour.  The red and green sock took a little longer since it was more fiddly because of the striping.  I need to now hunt down patterns for mini hats, mittens and sweaters.

One Off The Christmas List

The thrummed mittens for Trisha are finished.  Overall I am happy with the results.  

I will admit that are not exactly the same size.  The left mitten (the one knit second) is slightly smaller than the right mitten.  I think my knitting was a bit tighter.  There was a month in between them.  I think my knitting on the first mitten was looser because I was suffering from a sore thumb at the time. It may have affected how I carried the yarn on my left hand since I knit Continental.  Another possible theory is that I paid more attention to drawing the yarn tighter around the thrums on the second mitt.   I think the morale is to knit them together if I do any more thrummed mittens.

The Custom Fit cardi is a step closer to being done.  I finished both sleeves and blocked them.  It is now ready for seaming.  It has been a while since I've seamed anything, so I am feeling a bit intimidated right now. 

I am very pleased with how drapey the fabric has turned out.  It will be a great sweater for layering over a blouse or top.  Things are looking good for having this done by Christmas.

The Custom Fit cardi is being knit out of Silky Wool.  I bought 20 skeins of the red at Stitches South last year.  This cardi is going to use about 8 of them.  Yesterday while patronizing my LYS for Small Business Saturday I picked up two more skeins of Silky Wool in another colorway.  It says Pale Jade, but it looks more gray to me than green.  I think I'll make a loose-fitting pullover with the remaining red and add a few stripes with the pale jade.  I'll have to find a suitable pattern; maybe something I could whip up on my knitting machine.

Trifecta

The weekend was a total bust.  My son's high school was in the state tournament, but lost on Saturday in the quarter-final round.  Ohio State didn't have their hearts nor heads in the game and also lost on Saturday.  The Bengals made it a trifecta.

The football game on Sunday night was too frustrating for any good knitting.  Sensing a loss, the third for the weekend I'd have to endure, I went upstairs to read.  I picked up on Monday evening while my husband watched the episode of the Walking Dead he missed because of the Sunday night football.

The shoulder shaping is underway.  I had to wind a new ball of yarn for the one sleeve.  Serious doubts are running through my head about making it to the end with the small ball left for the second sleeve.  I'll probably wind another ball today for insurance purposes.

After the sweater is done, I'll get back to a couple Christmas gifts; finishing the thrummed mittens for Trisha and making a pair of socks for Blake.

Knit Picks had a great yarn sale.  I picked up these goodies.

The next big project is Blake's college blanket.  He picked out the red and blue yarn from a Knit Picks catalog.  He wants a Gradient Blanket.  The designer used Knit Picks Brava, which I ordered.  When the package came, it just didn't look like enough for a blanket.  I then checked the dimensions and realized it is just a throw size.  I may order more yarn and make the blanket a little bit bigger.

While I was photographing the yarn, I noticed my Christmas cacti are blooming.  These plants came from my mom's house.  They always bloomed beautifully for her.  I was worried that they wouldn't like the move, but they seem to have adapted well.

Unemployed

My temporary retirement has begun.  I officially signed out of work on November 13.  Superstitious people would have picked a different day, since it was a Friday the 13th.  But I'm not superstitious.

The first week of my unemployment was spent sorting through the books and papers I brought home from the office.  I also hosted my euchre club.  It still only feels like a vacation.  It hasn't fully hit me yet.  I find myself occasionally wondering what is going on in the office or thinking about what needs to be done on the projects I left.  Then I catch myself and remind myself that it doesn't concern me any longer.

My projects now are of the fiber kind.  I'm nearing completion of the sleeves of the Custom Fit cardi.  I should get them finished tonight while watching a Bengals football game.  After I finish this I need to complete the thrummed mittens for Trisha and make a pair of socks for Blake.

One of the items in my dining room that I haven't yet figured out what to do with is this picture.

This is a crayon drawing of my great-grandmother.  She was born Louise Martin.  She married a man named Joseph Wessell.  My middle name is Louise, named after her.  One of my sisters has the drawing of her husband.  Since I am named after her, my sister thought I would like the drawing of her.  The picture is well over 120 years old and very fragile.  It has no frame.  I need to find a frame for this and figure out a good place to hang it where it won't get direct sunlight or high humidity.

This week is Thanksgiving.  The girls will be coming home for the weekend.  I bought the turkey and some of the ingredients for the side dishes.  I'll need to sit down and write out the game plan.

But now it is back to knitting.

Fighting Raynaud's

My middle child has a condition called Reynaud's Syndrome.  It is a circulatory problem where the hands and feet suffer restricted blood flow when they get cold.  Trisha's finger turn white and then purple as the blood flow decreases.  It can be painful.  She has noticed that she has difficulty holding her pen to take notes in class if the lecture hall is cold.  Her case isn't severe so the only treatment is to try to stay as warm as possible.  To that end, I decided she needed a pair of thrummed mittens.

The black yarn is from the stash given to me from my sister's friend.  I think it is Lamb's Pride, but I am not positive.  It is worsted weight and woolen spun.  The roving came from another sister.  It is your basic, cream wool.  It still has a lot of lanolin on it so it will help keep Trisha's hands soft and warm.

Wandering Moon is finished and is blocking.  It will make a nice scarf with my winter coat.

Here's a closeup of the detail.  The cable edging doesn't show up very nice in this photo.  Now that the weather is turning colder, I'll get a lot of use out of this.

Rhinebeck Goodies

Things are wrapping up at work.  The first big wave of people to depart due to the voluntary early retirement signed out yesterday.  Rumor has it 250 left.  I met with a group at a local establishment for a celebration.  I have 10 more working days before I'm no longer there.  Yesterday I started to feel a bit of sadness knowing that I will never see a lot of these people again.  But in all honesty, it was a small bit.  I have the contact information for those I want to maintain a relationship with.

One question that kept coming up was "What are your plans?"  My plans are to enjoy the holidays and look for a new job in January.  I have plenty of projects around the house to do.  My fear is that I won't want to go back to work.

Speaking of projects, I am making headway on Wandering Moon.  I am in Clue 3 with about 20 more rows to go.  Clue 4 looks fast compared to Clue 3.  I should have this done by the end of next weekend.

Last time I mentioned that I went to Rhinebeck with a couple of my sisters.  I didn't mention, however, the goodies I bought.  I actually restrained myself.  In fact, I think I held back a little too much. What I didn't buy, but am now wishing I had, was a skein of sock yarn in brilliant autumn colors.  The beautiful fall color we are enjoying this year has made me crave oranges, reds, yellows and browns.  Any, I digress.  Here are the treasures I came home with:

Two books, one newly released and the other not-so-newly released.

I couldn't pass up this skein of cashmere cobweb-weight yarn.  It is going to become a lovely shawl someday.  It is in a beautiful blush color.

A bag of washed Lincoln locks.  It is 0.6 pounds.  I need to figure out how to comb or card it.  I don't have either tools, so I need to get some.  I looked online and am now suffering a bit of sticker shock.  I didn't realize how expensive wool combs and hand-carders were.  And I wasn't ready to see how expensive drum carder are!!

Although this doesn't qualify as a purchase, I did come home from Rhinebeck with a little more progress on my Custom Fit cardi.  I decided to work the sleeves together to increase the chances of getting this project done.  Once Wandering Moon is off the needles, I'll get back to this.  The goal is to wear it at Christmas.

Adventures

My car and I have spent far too much time together lately.  In the past couple weeks I think I've put over 2000 miles on it.  It's probably tired.  I know I am.

Kristin had an interview at Marquette University back on October 12.  Ed and I drove her to Milwaukee on Sunday.  After we checked into our hotel we drove into town.  Milwaukee has a nice waterfront district with shops and restaurants.  We strolled around and ate dinner by the river.

While Kristin was at her interview, Ed and I explored.  We walked around campus and then headed toward Lake Michigan.  We found a park with a lighthouse.   Unfortunately, the lighthouse was closed.  

We then drove through the Whitefish Bay area.  After eating lunch and killing time at a shopping mall, we picked up Kristin and then made the long journey back to Ohio.  We rolled into home about 2:00 am Tuesday morning.

A little over 48 hours later I was on the road again.  This time I journeyed east to New Jersey.

Back in the spring two of my sisters and I decided we wanted to experience the New York Sheep and Wool Festival.  My oldest sister lives in New Jersey.   Her house became the meeting point for me and my sister from Virginia.

On Friday the three of us ventured up to the Hudson River valley.  Our first stop was Poughkeepsie, New York, to stroll the Walkway Across the Hudson.  The Walkway is a retired railroad bridge that spans the Hudson River.  It is over one mile from end to end.  The view was spectacular from the bridge.

On the east side of the bridge we found a cute place for lunch called Lola's.  We couldn't decide if we liked our sandwiches or the side salads better.  All the food was yummy!!

After lunch we walked back across the bridge to the car.  It was absolutely beautiful in every direction.

Once back in the car we crossed the Mid-Hudson Bridge and drove north to Hyde Park.  We walked around the grounds of FDR's home.  We came across this sculpture and wandered what was the significance of it.  A passing Park employee told us that FDR had commissioned an artist to make a sculpture.  Instead of making it out of bronze as FDR had asked, the artist made it out of concrete.  FDR declared it as the ugliest naked woman he had ever seen and never did anything further with it.  It now sits along the treeline, away from the paths that connect the Visitors' Center, Presidential Library and former FDR home.

From FDR's home we drove into Rhinebeck.  We walked around town and then headed to Bard College.  My sister wanted to show my other sister and I where her son had gone to college.  Bard is a small liberal arts college along the eastern shore of the Hudson River.  The main section of the campus includes a formal garden that overlooks the river valley.

On Saturday we spent the day at the festival.

The festival was much larger than I expected.  We got there at 9:00 when the gates opened and left shortly before 5:00, when the show was supposed to end for the day.  There were so many vendors and breeders!!  At the end of the day our feet hurt from all the walking.   I restrained myself from buying too much.  I left with two books, a bag of Lincoln roving and a spool of cobweb-weight cashmere yarn.

After checking out of the hotel on Sunday, we drove back to the Bard College area to visit a park called Poet's Walk.  A trail lead down the hill toward the Hudson.  Again, the scenery did not disappoint.

On the walk back up the hill to the car, it started snowing.  That was where our adventure ended.  We got back in the car and headed south to New Jersey. 

Autumn Projects

 This time of year always inspires me to make things.  Last weekend I made a batch of apple butter.

Six pounds of apples cooking away in apple cider.

Then run through the food mill after the apples are soft.

Back in the pot to reduce after adding sugar and spices.

Finally, canning in half-pint jars.  All I can say is "Yum!!"

Apples aren't the only autumn favorite.  There is also pumpkin.  This morning Blake and I made pumpkin pancakes.  We drizzled a little glaze on them.   The recipe made enough for us to have through the week for breakfast.

I finished Ed's socks and gave them to him for our anniversary.  After I finished them, Blake tried them on for size.  Other than the pointy toe, he loved them and asked for a pair.  I'll have to try to get them done for Christmas for him.

The Custom Fit cardi is moving along.  The back and right front are done.  The left front is nearly finished.  To make sure I do the sleeves the same I am going to knit them at the same time.  I had hoped to get this finished by my trip to Rhinebeck, but it won't happen.  I'll just have to go to Rhinebeck next year.

As you may have noticed, I have trouble being project-monogamous. Yesterday I cast on for the Wandering Moon Knit-Along by Michelle Hunter (aka Knit Purl Hunter).  I love the yarn.  HiKoo is so soft!  This looks to be a fun project. Stay tuned for updates.

Season of Changes

Summer will be officially over soon.  The school routine is back and I'm starting to think about the future. There are a lot of changes coming soon.  It is appropriate that it will soon be autumn, the season the most dramatic changes.  We've taken Blake on a few college visits.  Now we need to get working on his applications.  Kristin has several dental school interviews lined up.  Trisha has started her clinicals.  Ed has done some goose hunting and will be off to Chattanooga for another Ironman triathlon.  I'm working on several projects and trying not to focus too hard on how many days I have left to work.  (Eight weeks from this past Friday for those who are counting.)

Trisha's lab coat has been tailored.  I shortened the sleeves and the hem as much as possible.  I think it turned out well.

The other morning when I was leaving for work I noticed this beautiful cloud.  It made me think of wool roving.  I had to fight the urge to call off for the day and pull out my spinning wheel.

I finished the Java socks.  These are getting tucked away now to give to Trisha for Christmas.

My "take-along" project is now a pair of socks for Ed.  I'm trying the afterthought heel technique.  We'll see how they turn out.  I hope to gift these for our anniversary in a couple weeks.

I also would love to have the Custom Fit sweater done by mid-October.  A couple of my sisters and I are planning on going to Rhinebeck.  I would love to have this sweater to wear there.  At the rate I knit, though, I doubt I'll have it finished.

Decision Made

I didn't mean to be away so long.  Honestly, I don't know where the time has gone.

As I mentioned in my last post, I had a big decision to make.  I decided to take the retirement offer.  I will be leaving my job sometime in November.  The plan is to take the holidays off and then find a job in January.  I feel very good about my decision. In fact, I don't have a single ounce of angst. A friend tells me I should be at least a little worried, but I don't agree.  Ed and I put a lot of thought into this decision.  It is the right thing to do.

The week before having to make the decision, we took a vacation to Florida.  It was very relaxing.  The mornings were spent on the balcony reading a book and drinking tea.

In the evenings we went out for dinner and then explored a little of Orlando.  We didn't go into any of the theme parks, but we did visit Downtown Disney (terribly under-construction!!!), Universal's shopping district in front of the park and Disney's Boardwalk.  It is a tradition to spend an evening walking around the lake at Disney's Boardwalk and then watching the Epcot fireworks.  It was a beautiful evening with dramatic clouds.

After coming back home, it was "Back to School" time.  The girls headed back to their colleges and Blake got ready for his senior year of high school.

Here's Trisha in her lab coat.  She will begin clinical rotations this year.  I have a bit of hemming to do on her lab coat.  Believe it or not, this is an extra-small!

Here is Blake's last "First Day of School" picture.  This is bittersweet.  It is a great picture of him, but I'm sad to see my baby grow up.  The smile on his face is genuine.  He was very excited to head back to school.  He loves his classes and is going to have a great year.

Kristin sent me a "Last First Day" picture.  She is a senior in college and will be wrapping up her undergraduate work this year.  She is in the process of applying to dental schools.  So far two of the 7 she applied to have asked her to come for interviews. She's hoping for at least three more interviews.  We're keeping our fingers crossed.

Many of my weekends are still spent traveling to Cincinnati to visit my mom.  She is in a nursing home now and is showing a few signs of dementia.  Her personality is volatile and I never know what attitude I will encounter when I visit.  Some visits are emotionally difficult while others are very pleasant.  No matter how she is I still treasure every minute I have with her.

The weather for the past week or so has been in a very tropical pattern.  The days are hot and humid with thunderstorms popping up late in the day.  Below is a cloud with a rainbow coming out of the bottom that I saw while coming back from Cincinnati last weekend.  This picture doesn't do it justice, but the rainbow was very vibrant.

On the craft front I'm trying to finish up a couple UFOs.  The first is the Jenny's Faith shawl.  I just recently realized that I am using the wrong size crochet hook.  It will end up being smaller than planned,  more like a neck scarf than a shawl.  I was wondering why I wasn't using up the yarn as fast as I thought.  The pattern called for two skeins but I'm still on my first.  Then I reread the directions and discovered my mistake.  After I block it out a little it should be fine.

I'm also trying to get these socks finished.  These will get set aside to give as a Christmas gift.

I'm not sure what I'll pick up after these are finished.  There are so many UFOs still hanging around.  But there are also so many fun projects to start.  Time will tell.