Busy week of Greats and a not-so great events

Now that this sign is no longer needed (for the most part) for one of my 'kids'....

I'll bring you up to date on how 'varied' the week turned out.

Indiana shopping found a wee bit of cotton! Both Joann's there and Hobby Lobby had some of the colors I've been looking for.

I've been asked where I find the large skeins of cotton. Hobby Lobby had these kinds of 'kits' in stock. I've been looking for pink, purple, black and brown solid colors. Found 'em!

A 5 year old is no longer 5, now he's 6 with his birthday pancakes.

Once the papers were finally finished..and turned in...the 'games' began. First it was Guitar hero before X-box... (keep in mind, no sleep for 3 days.)

A BBQ in the afternoon with fellow graduates...

Reception in the Law School Library for family and friends in the evening...

Worthy opponents for warm ups and teaching the parentals what really went on for 3 years...

Before off to the tournament...to round out the day.

After a few short hours of sleep, next up brought on THEE ceremony... before....

the Momma kiss...(NO occasion is complete without it!)

And after! Only missing one sibling...(darn 'family friendly' employers that won't remember that family events need all parts of the FAMILY!) We missed you kiddo! Oldest kiddlet, get your pens and pencils out. Your next turn is coming up shortly! (Just don't remind me that you're moving away soon.)

I then had the chance to go to the outlet store of the Bernat/Paton's factory in Listowel. Here's what I picked up. Check out those cones in the back! They're not in the stores yet, but watch out for them! They're a DK weight yarn called Baby Jacquard! (can't remember right now if they'll be Bernat or Patons. but yummy!) They're made for baby type projects and will make jacquard patterns like so many of the sock yarns! It's all acrylic so that means easy wash up for Mommies. And soooooooooo soft! Outlet shopping is fantastic for mill ends deals and bunches on cones! I love the longer length so I don't have to put multiple skeins together!

On the way out of the Graduation festivities, baby girl hadn't been feeling so well...and a couple of days later ended up in the hospital back in Boston. While we KNOW she wasn't looking for attention, she certainly got some. For the next few days, she was having some 'interesting' conversations with her sister and myself, compliments to the iv injectables aka known as pain meds. She's home and back to work now, thankfully. But while she was in the beginning stages of her own little 'adventure away from home' I couldn't keep my head from being 'Mom' also known as momma worry time. Better known to my kids as Mom's freakin' out.

I knit these three little darlings out of the mill ends I'd just picked up while on the way home as I got a text message stating she'd just been given morphine as the flight attendants said it was time to turn off the cell phones. I highly recommend that not every parent experience that event. After all, you're not allowed to tell the pilot to 'punch it' to get you home faster to be able to check on your kid. But it does speed up your knitting when you can't get more details about the 'mass' found in a CT Scan. (update...it's been treated and is no longer a scare. But...I do need more hair dye I tell you).



3 hats on one 4 1/2 hour flight. Yep...that's some fast knitting I tell you. The one on the left is the regular Umbilical Chord hat pattern as written from the original Stitch 'n Bitch book. The middle one was knit with the remainder of the same skein as the left one, but with only 56 stitches cast on. Same for the one on the right. These three have been mailed off for an AC4C project to benefit the Cooper University Hospital in New Jersey.

I finished the Chocolate Chip Kitchen set during the Graduation week. These will match up with the Chocolate Chip Sack Sock I'd finished prior to the Graduation trip. Notice how the striping is so different with the different numbers of cast on stitches. All these things were from the single 12 oz skein of Bernat Handicrafter Cotton skein! Count 'em...Sack Sock, Kitchen Hanging Hand Towel, Dishcloths in large and small and a Tribble. All were knitted with the Simply Striped Pattern series found over <<<<<<---there! Goggle for Abigail's Tribble pattern.

After returning home, my local Joann's had these treasures in store for me. (Yep, just for me...only me..har har har....) Go fast and see if your store has them in stock. Out of the 3 Joann's near me, only one of them carried these huge skeins.The set on the left are cotton, and on the right are acrylic in Sport/DK weight. They're all in the "Baby" label, but the cotton is the same gauge as the regular worsted weight cottons. I think the "baby" title is more for the color groupings rather than the weight of the fibers.

I used the Chiffon Prints of the Bernat Baby Sport to knit up another Just My Size Basketweave Preemie Blanket as written in the patterns over <<<<<-------there. I found it to be very light weight and really soft. The final size ended up 19" wide and 21" in length using this DK weight yarn. The skein is on the top right hand side of the stack up above. For charity knitting it's good stuff for a great price! I'm guessing I could get 3 of those blankets out of the single skein. I used 81g/2.75 oz of the skein, which if I have my math correctly figured out comes to 259 yards of yarn. Yep, I'll use it again. The end of this month will be the annual Stitches from the Heart Tea in my local neighborhood, so I need a few things for the preemies to take with me. This will be the beginning of that knitting.

Before I'd left for Indiana, one of the two local Michael's had these new Confectionery Colors by Lily in stock. When I was at the outlet store, it confirmed my suspicions. Lily Cotton, Bernat Handicrafter cotton and those one pound bags of mill ends that I've picked up at AC Moore stores, are all made in the Spinrite Factory up in Listowel! So, I was right with the Pink Stripes set when I said they were identical! Ahhhhhh..thank the grocery stores for teaching me to read labels. I do recommend if you're ever up there, to stop in and visit. You will be on overload...all kinds of Paton's and Bernat's and mill ends..and and and..well....what are you waiting for? I have to get back to Birthday knitting for 3 more kids and my dad's vest is still staring at me. I think it's perfecting that 'evil eye' stare!

Happy knitting! (wonder if the son has woken up yet?)

Happy Mother's Day!

Only thing better, would be to have all 4 of them here at home with me! And to be with my Mom as well!

FINISHED!

Soooooooo very close!

Seems like only yesterday....I was taking this kid to his first day of Kindergarten. (He swears he also thinks better with his bat...)

Right now, as I type this, he's taking his last final exam. Hopefully, ever! Only he's really got the 'mother of all exams' coming up...called 'The Bar.' This picture was taken last night. After I.FINALLY.GOT.HERE.

For all of you parents, soon to be parents, have been parents, never will be parents, know someone who is a parent, have parents, have to live with parents...Stop what you're doing RIGHT NOW...and go get your cell phone, and program in the 1-800 phone number to your own state's DMV office. RIGHT.NOW.

Trust me, You might need it when you really don't have time to HAVE to need it. Take me for example. I'm full of learn from my mistakes kinda stories. The last time I can totally prove that I had my driver's license? Going through the security check at LAX. The next time I can totally prove that I don't have it? Trying to rent the car at IND airport to drive down for Graduation last night.

Perfect timing. HUH? What do you do when you have over an hour's drive, your son is supposed to be studying for his exam, finish his final papers and you can't find the blasted driver's license? You text message your daughters who are still at work in California to give you the phone number to the DMV office, call them 10 minutes before they're closed, oh, which also happens to be 50 minutes after their typist goes home, so they can tell you that TOMORROW they'll fax a copy of your driver's license to the state you're in so you can rent the car you're supposed to pick up 2 hours ago. Because you just spent the better part of 3 hours dumping out your suitcases, your purse, your knitting bags, and your computer bag panicking when you remember the last time you had the license was to get ON the plane.

Go ahead. I'll wait. It's THAT important.

Now, I'll also send my hugs and love to the very sweet DMV manager in Sacramento who took pity on my tearful Mommy phone call saying...I'm at the airport car parking lot, standing outside, I can't wait outside over night to get the information faxed here. I have to drive down to my son's apartment tonight for his Graduation! Now what am I supposed to do? Bless her heart and all she did to override the system and get me in a car to his apartment! Only to find him sitting here, at the desk....playing online checkers!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ULG.

Didn't your sister JUST tell me that you needed someone in the apartment tonight to make sure you were working? He says...yea, I'm just playing a game of checkers and I'm about to win. Get to work son! I will, I will. Are you ready for your test? Uh, no. I'm working on my paper. How far are you? Well, I just started.

Hence, you'll understand why at the grocery store I saw this card...and was ohhhhhhhhhhh so tempted to get it for him....

Yea....I about died, right there in the middle of the aisle cracking up at midnight. They must have thought I'd really lost my bonkers. After all I'd been through the past 6 1/2 hours, it really hit the funny bone last night.

When I got back, after cooking him some pork chops, I stayed up until 4:30am typing for him. (Hey, it's a Mom thing, my Mom used to stay up typing for me....and it's been awhile since I've helped type out 'homework' for the kids!)

I think I'm going to go back to sleep while I can. After all....Hobby Lobby is down the way and it's BEGGING me to go! But so is my Dad's vest. I thought since Mom and Dad can't be here in person with us, (don't think about that too much, or the water works will start all over again!) it would be fun to mail it from here. So, I guess I really need to get it finished? Might be a good idea. [Insert the BEST NEWS of the WEEK? Dad told Mom , "I"M HUNGRY!" and he's starting to put weight back on!] Soon as I get a hold of the daughter to add to my 'I swear, if my head wasn't attached to my neck this week, I'd have forgotten this, too' list to add another 3 more things I forgot to pack. I hope she's got presence of mind to bring tissues. It hit me packing to leave for this trip, the kid isn't coming back to California. He's going onto Boston later this summer.

I did take his card 'hostage' from my parents that just arrived here until he's finished handing in everything and crossed his 'I's and dotted his T's'...should have seen his eyes get really big when I snatched it out of his hands. Are you serious Mom? Yep..get to work! (hey, it's the last time I can pull a 'homework' punishment on him!)

If it weren't for all the yarn in my house, I think it would really echo quite loudly. The daughter is moving this summer to Syracuse, too. Heaven help me. I'm not ready to grow up that much, yet.

But, I guess it could be worse.....

At least I wasn't bit again by fire ants this week...that was last week...and I'm telling you..they suck!

And I still haven't found my glasses, yet. Wonder if they're out playing with my driver's license this week?

OY!

Christmas Lace Sack Sock

Christmas Lace Sack Sock
© Cathy Waldie, April 11, 2008

9.8 oz or larger cotton worsted yarn
(US) 7 (4.5mm) 16" circular needle
(US) 6 (4.0mm) double point needlesStitch Marker
Size large: 30" in length
Small (shown) 20" in length

K= Knit
P=Purl
Sts=sts
K2Tog=Knit two together
Sl 1 = Slip one stitch
PSSO=Pass Slipped Stitch Over
YO=Yarn Over
Kfb=Knit into the front and the back of the same stitch
C/O=Cast On
B/O=Bind Off
* *=repeat directions between *’s

Rolled Edge Bottom:
Using the circular needle, Cast on 90 stitches. Join stitches but do not twist, place stitch marker at beginning of round and Knit 10 rounds.Bottom Eyelet Round:
*YO, Sl 1, K2Tog, PSSO* and repeat around. (60 sts)

Sack body:
Knit one round.
Begin Pattern:
Round 1: *K3, K2 tog, YO * repeat around
Round 2: Knit around
Round 3: *K3, YO, Sl 1, K1, PSSO* repeat around
Round 4: Knit around
Repeat rounds (1-4) until the sack sock reaches 17 " for the small size and 27" for the large size, measured from the eyelet round.

Knit one more round.

Top Eyelet Rounds:
Row 1: *YO, K2Tog* around
Row 2: *K1, Kfb* around (90 sts)

Top Rolled Edge:
Knit 5 round and Bind off in knit.

Using 2 of the double point needles, make two 3 stitch I-chords; one 43" in length, a second one 36" of length.

Thread the 36" length through the bottom eyelet row and tie in front so that there is a small opening at the bottom of the sack.

Using the longer I-chord, thread it through the top eyelet rows with the ends hanging out at the front (to be tied later). Pull up 2 small loops in the back of the sack sock. You're going to tie these loops into a single hanging loop opening at the bottom.

Tie one loop over the other. Fill and reuse those grocery store bags!

Don't forget to round out your kitchen set with a Christmas Lace Dishcloth and and a Christmas Lace Kitchen Hanging Hand Towel.

Christmas Lace Kitchen Hanging Hand Towel

Christmas Lace Kitchen Hanging Hand Towel
© Cathy Waldie, April 20, 2008

100% worsted weight cotton
(US) 7 (4.5mm) Needles
Button to fit buttonhole
K= Knit
P=Purl
Sts=sts
K2Tog=Knit two together
Sl 1 = Slip one stitch
PSSO=Pass Slipped Stitch Over
YO=Yarn Over
Kfb=Knit into the front and the back of the same stitch
C/O=Cast On
B/O=Bind Off
* *=repeat directions between *’s

C/O 59 stitches

1-6) Knit across for bottom border (slipping the first stitch of each row)

7) K3, *K4, YO, Sl 1, K1, PSSO, * 8 times, K4, end K3

8 and even rows) K3, P52, K3

9) K3, *K4, K2tog, YO, * 8 times, K4, end K3

11-78) repeat rows (7 – 10) for 17 more pattern repeats for a total of 18 pattern repeats.

79-82) Knit across

Begin decreases for the Towel Top.
83) Sl 1, K7, *(Sl 1, K2tog, PSSO), K7* 4 times, end, (Sl 1, K2tog, PSSO) K8. (49 sts.)

84, 86, 88, 90, 92, 94) Knit (slipping the first stitch)

85) Sl 1, K6, *(Sl 1, K2tog, PSSO), K5* 4 times, last 10 sts: Sl 1, K2tog, PSSO), K7 (39 sts.)

87) Sl 1, K5, *(Sl 1, K2tog, PSSO), K3* 4 times, last 9 sts: (SL1 K2tog, PSSO), K6. (29 sts.)

89) Sl 1, K4, *(Sl 1, K2tog, PSSO), K1* 4 times, last 8 sts: (Sl 1, K2 tog, PSSO), K5. (19 sts)

91) Sl 1, K2, (K2tog) 3 times, K1, (K2tog) 3 times, K3 (13 sts.)

93) (K2tog) 3 times, K1, (K2tog) 3 times. (7 sts.)

Tab Section of Towel Top
95) Knit, slipping the first stitch

96) Sl 1, K1, P3, K2.

97-111) repeat rows (96 and 97) of the tab section.

112) Knit, slipping the first stitch

113) Sl 1, K1, P3, K2

114-127) repeat rows (113 and 114) of the tab section

128) Sl 1, K1, Bind off center 3 sts, K to end (4 sts) (creates buttonhole)

129) Sl 1, Kfb next st, Kfb next st, K1 (6 sts)

130) K2 tog, K2tog, K2tog

131) Knit 1, K2tog, pass first stitch over. Pull tail through last stitch. Weave in ends, wet/spray/steam block. Sew button into center stitches on tab decrease row #95.

More stripes, more sack socks, less stash...

Over the weekend, with the help of some veryyyyyyyyyyyyy nearly 6 year old hands, I pulled 28+ pounds of yarn from the stash to send onto my new knitting friends back home. Since I seem to be in the land of cotton lately, not to mention I really should be finishing up Dad's vest, I thought they'd have the current time to devote to the baby acrylic, blends and wool skeins that seem to be sitting in the 'I wonder if she'll ever get around to me' pile. I'd much rather they get used up faster than I seem to be able to get to them. So...after an 'expertly packed by almost 6 year old hands' set of boxes, they've been FedEx'd off to the ladies back home along with 3 baby sweater sets.

Next, I finished up the 'chocolate chip sack sock' made in the same Simply Striped Sack sock pattern as the pink and blue sets. (patterns over <------ there). Ahhhhhhh the collection is growing!

Here's another look at making the double loop into a single loop to hang it with...

Some more random pictures from the sack sock...

And I'm nearly finished with the towel to go with it. I think this yarn was really made for 60 stitches in the round on (US)7 (4.5mm) needles. Maybe even down to 56-58 stitches. The color stripe pattern is nearly perfect for it. Although, it seems fairly even going vertical on the towel. I prefer the sack sock for it.

I got a shot of all the pink striped pieces together, but it's not the 'money shot' I thought it would be. But...they're all 'lined' up. (ha ha)

And last but not least..I finished the rest of the orange Christmas Lace set! And the patterns are ready to go up! I'll post those in a moment one at a time. Keep in mind, that the Christmas Lace Dishcloth pattern is already over (<-----) there in the list of Wishing I was Knitting at the Lake Patterns. And even tho' it's got that 'Christmas' label in the title, as you saw with the brown one I did for my daughter last December, you can do this in ANY color you fancy. It's a great lace pattern and I'd love to find just the right color for my Mom's kitchen..or her sisters..or..or...hmmmmmmmmm I need to find some more large skeins of cotton here!

Yet, I still haven't located the silly spot I laid my glasses down in.....mmmm.....hope I can find them faster than my car keys that were packed into my daughter's dorm boxes in 2003 that we just found a few months ago...

I'm pretty sure I have S*O*S...

I know, I still have the armbands and neck band to finish for my Dad's vest....but it's wool..and it was like 90*F here today, and going to be 95*F tomorrow and 98*F on Sunday. And I posted the sack sock pattern this week..and still have to post the orange one yet...and I have more ideas...and...I misplaced my glasses 2 weekends ago...and since several groups have been discussing having SOS lately...I must confess...I have it too! Shinny Object Syndrome! Oh, come on, you already knew that huh?

So, of course last night I knit up 2 Bloomington Hooiser Dishcloths, because next week is GRADUATION WEEK! And the son's friends..well..they just NEED one each. Well..they might not know it yet..but I said so...I'm the Mom and I can say so!

Then, this morning while I was working on this next sack sock...I noticed how the colors pooled at the 90 stitches area of the bottom edge, but after the decreasing eyelet section...it went right into stripes! How cool is that? I'm just the same Simply Striped Sack Sock pattern right over there <----- as I did with the pink and blue ones, but this striping pattern was a surprise to me! So, then I thought I better start looking for my glasses again.

But I came across a box of 6 baby blankets that SHOULD have been mailed out to NMCRS oh wayyyyyyy back in oh, say....2005, early 2006....and when I went to get them all labeled and boxed up I thought I should add them to my Raverly projects. After all...these were knitted for charity and should have their showing off time with the long gone Red Heart TLC Lustre yarn that I really, really miss! In order from the left side, we have for your viewing pleasure:

Rainbow Feather and Fan Baby Blanket in Pink TLC Lustre, NMCRS Basketweave Blanket, ver. 2 in Natural TLC Lustre, Diamonds from Fiber Trends leaflet by Beverly Galeskas (oh such talent from the one and only felted oven mitts designer!) in Med Blue TLC Lustre, Ruffled Ridges from the same Fiber Trends leaflet in Yellow TLC Lustre, Puffy basketweave Blanket in Mint TLC Lustre, and last but not least, the Ladder stitch from Ann Norling (another of my favorite pattern designers!) using Red Heart Baby Sport in pink and double stranded.

While I was adding them to the Ravelry 'files' I was knitting away on the sack sock. This colorway is called Chocolate OMB....but I think it reminds me of the colors when making chocolate chip cookies. It's a great pattern all that knitting in the round while you're reading and waiting for pictures to upload...and it now looks like this:

I'd say it's about 40% finished up the tube....I'm still surprised with the striping..it's nearly perfect! Which makes me want to keep on working on this, and then noticed that it was too late to take the baby blanket to be shipped.

And the vest still hasn't been touched..nor have my glasses been found yet. SOS? yaaaaaaaa...I think so...but..it's all knitting..right?

Simply Striped Dishcloth

Simply Striped Dishcloth
© Cathy Waldie, April 22, 2008

100% worsted weight cotton (Bernat Handicrafter Cotton Stripes)
(US) 7 (4.5mm) Needles
Size small (large), 8” square (8.75” square)
Gauge: 15sts/24 rows=4”/10cm

C/O= Cast On
K=Knit
P=Purl
Sl=Slip
Sts= stitches
B/O=Bind Off

C/O 32 (38) stitches

1-6: Knit across for bottom border (slipping the first stitch of each row)

7: Knit across

8: K3, P26 (32), K3

9-44: (9-50) repeat rows [7-8] 18 (21) more times for a total of 19 (22) pattern repeats for body of dishcloth

45-51: (51-57) Knit across for top border

52: (58) B/O in P

Add it to a Simply Striped Sack Sock, a Simply Striped Kitchen Hanging Hand Towel and a Tribble and you have a great set for your next gift, or better yet, your own Kitchen!

Simply Striped Kitchen Hanging Hand Towel

Simply Striped Kitchen Hanging Hand Towel
© Cathy Waldie, April 20, 2008

100% worsted weight cotton (Bernat Handicrafter Cotton Stripes)
(US) 7 (4.5mm) Needles
Button to fit buttonhole

C/O= Cast On
K=Knit
P=Purl
K2tog=Knit two together
Sl=Slip
PSSO=Pass Slipped Stitch Over
Sts= stitches

C/O 59 stitches
1-6) Knit across for bottom border (slipping the first stitch of each row)

7) Knit across

8) K5, P49, K5

9-78) repeat rows 7&8 for 35 more pattern repeats for a total of 36 pattern repeats.

79-82) Knit across

Begin decreases for the Towel Top.
83) Sl 1, K7, *(Sl 1, K2tog, PSSO), K7* 4 times, end, (Sl 1, K2tog, PSSO) K8. (49 sts.)

84, 86, 88, 90, 92, 94) Knit (slipping the first stitch)

85) Sl 1, K6, *(Sl 1, K2tog, PSSO), K5* 4 times, last 10 sts: Sl 1, K2tog, PSSO), K7 (39 sts.)

87) Sl 1, K5, *(Sl 1, K2tog, PSSO), K3* 4 times, last 9 sts: (SL1 K2tog, PSSO), K6. (29 sts.)

89) Sl 1, K4, *(Sl 1, K2tog, PSSO), K1* 4 times, last 8 sts: (Sl 1, K2 tog, PSSO), K5. (19 sts)

91) Sl 1, K2, (K2tog) 3 times, K1, (K2tog) 3 times, K3 (13 sts.)

93) (K2tog) 3 times, K1, (K2tog) 3 times. (7 sts.)

Tab Section of Towel Top
95) Knit, slipping the first stitch

96) Sl 1, K1, P3, K2.

97-111) repeat rows 96 and 97 of the tab section.

112) Knit, slipping the first stitch

113) Sl 1, K1, P3, K2

114-127) repeat rows 113 and 114 of the tab section

128) Sl 1, K1, Bind off center 3 sts, K to end (4 sts) (creates buttonhole)

129) Sl 1, Kfb next st, Kfb next st, K1 (6 sts)

130) K2 tog, K2tog, K2tog

131) Knit 1, K2tog, pass first stitch over. Pull tail through last stitch. Weave in ends, wet/spray/steam block. Sew button into center stitches on tab decrease row #93.

Add the Simply Striped Kitchen Hanging Hand Towel to a Simply Striped Sack Sock and a Simply Striped Dishcloth and don't forger to throw in a Tribble to complete your set!

More stripy things!

If you're going to knit up a sack sock with that Bernat Handicrafter Cotton Stripes, don't you want to add a towel and dishcloth, not to mention a tribble? I did! Now, check out what I discovered along the knitty way....

=+

One skein of the Bernat Handicrafter Cotton Stripes will give you one large Simply Striped Sack Sock plus one Simply Striped Kitchen Hanging Hand Towel, and one Small sized Simply Striped Dishcloth with just a very wee bit left over. Roughly 4 yards. Not too much breathing room is there?

=

If you use one skein of Lily Sugar 'n Cream cotton you can get one Large Sized Simply Striped Dishcloth and one Tribble with ~16 yards left over.

Now, if you put these both side by side, if you didn't know which size was knitted out of which 'brand', would you be able to tell the difference?

Patterns coming up shortly as I post them separately...but for the rest of today....I'll be working on another sack sock...out of Bernat's Handicrafter Naturals in Chocolate omb. Hey..I have 4 kids you know..they all have separate places to live..gotta treat them all the same here!