The twice knit hat

Sorry I haven't been around blog land very much at all these days . My only excuse is sheer and utter laziness . I have been knitting though and have even completed a project or two . You might remember this hat from my last post .

You'll notice that it is very close to being finished . In fact I was almost at the crown decreases . This is the same pattern Basia that I had finished just recently . I was at Timmie's having a coffee with Shirley and I had mentioned to her how long this hat seemed to be taking to knit . I felt like forever since I had cast on . Shirley was looking at it and asked if I was knitting the same pattern because it sure looked different . Sure enough when I got home and checked the pattern I quickly realized that I was merely skipping 4 rows of the pattern . I assumed that I had the pattern committed to memory , so other than checking for the number of stitches to cast on I went ahead and knit it . Ah hubris !  Rather than try and figure out the crown decreases on my 'new' pattern I just ripped it out and started  again , the right way this time .

I gave it to my friend Valerie at lunch last week . She was so very happy with it , especially since she had just bought herself a gorgeous white parka . The hat suits her , I love it on her .

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This little snuggly was finished just in time for a baby shower I attended . I fell in love with this pattern as soon as I saw it on ravelry . I am disappointed in my yarn choice . Looking for softness and washabilty I used some Sirdar Snuggly that I had in my stash . While it is super soft the blankie part feels unsubstantial . In hindsight I wish I had used my favourite acrylic/wool blend of Berroco Vintage . The wool content adds enough substance without losing the washability aspect . However the mom to be loved it , so all's well that ends well . There is another baby due this year in my circle of friends so I might just try again with Berroco this time .

Next time I will update you on more knits in progress and perhaps even on a book that I am enjoying so much that I almost don't want it to end . Till then , have a wonderful week !

PS - Forgive the kind of weird dots appear periodically in this post . Don't know what I did but I cannot for the life of me get rid of them . I know it has something to do with alignment , but this brain just can't figure out where I went wrong , lol .

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2016 week one

The last month of 2015 just flew by it seems . Like everyone in blog land I was busy getting ready for the festivities , so much so that blogging got lost in all the hustle and bustle . We had a beautiful Christmas spent with family and visits by and to friends . That time just flew by too and now we already have one week done in the new year . I like the calm after the storm of the holidays . I find that it is a time for reflection . Having come though a really difficult 2015 my hopes and intentions for 2016 are simple , live each day fully and focus on the positive and let go the negative . Trite but true , life IS too short .

Lately I have been cursed with a case of startitis . Currently I am working on socks and a hat for my friend Valerie . I have more than a couple of other knits that are languishing in the knitting basket . Hopefully that can be remedied soon and I will get more of them off the needles .

I have also been trying to get back in shape by watching my calories and walking more . Watching the calories is the most difficult of the two as we still have cookies and sweets left from Christmas , even with sharing them with family and friends . The lesson for next Christmas is to cut down on the baking .

Well that's it for today , better get cracking on my supper . I am having Jessey and Stella over so that mom and dad can have a date night . Early tomorrow Jessey has a hockey game and Stella has dance class . I'm hoping that they will both go to bed early so I can get my beauty sleep , lol .

Wishing you all the best for 2016 and have a wonderful weekend !

Hat weather

November has been unusually mild and sunny this year . That is until last week when the temperatures dropped and we even had a bit of snow that stayed around for a couple of days . Needing a break from knitting the Burton Bear Cowl ( I really , really dislike the pattern , but that's another post ) I started on and finished another of the Top This! hats as requested by Jessey , a monkey for my little monkey .

I think he likes it !

Thanks to the frosty and windy mornings I quickly cast on a hat for ME . Now normally I am like the proverbial shoemakers children who always go barefoot , I love making hats for family , friends and newborns for the local hospital , but for me , well maybe later when all the others are done . I found the perfect pattern for me , Basia by Hanna Maciejewska .It was quick , easy but not boring and makes a very warm and cozy hat . I love it !

 

Now that the hats are out of my system for now, I can get back to regularly scheduled knitting . That being the shrugs for Stella and Charlie as well as the Burton Bear Cowls (sigh ) . Stella's shrug is well underway , in fact I am hoping to have it completed by Dec 6th ,if I can find some buttons for it between now and then . Finding buttons is always a challenge . 

 

Wishing all my American friends and family a very Happy Thanksgiving ! Till next time , have a great weekend !

Home again

Mike and I went for getaway week at the end of October and came back just in time for Amanda's wedding on November 7 th . The week away did us both a world of good . We went to Cayo Santa Maria in Cuba , our time there was wonderful , beautiful hot weather , long walks on the beach and nothing to do but relax . We couldn't have asked for more ...

Amanda had a beautiful day for her wedding , she looked beautiful and so very happy . Don't they make a handsome couple !? I don't think you could meet a nicer and more suited couple than those two .

They were married by Matthews' mother who is a minister . She 's performed the weddings for each of her four sons , Matthew being the last one to tie the knot . It was a wonderful evening and we feel blessed to have been included in their special day . We wish them a lifetime of nothing but happiness !

Life has been a little more mundane since . I have been unpacking , doing laundry and just generally getting back into routine . We've attended a couple of Jesseys hockey games , we had an absolute blast cheering for him and the team . I'm not a hockey mom , but am definitely a hockey Omi . I am hoping to be able to go to most of his games .

I didn't do very much knitting while I was away , it was much too hot . Since coming home I did finish the Go Habs Go socks , making a pair each for Jessey and Mason .

The socks will go in the gift box for Christmas . I had trouble sleeping last night so I got up early to start another of the Top This ! hats .This time a monkey for Jessey . I have at least four more knits lined up that need to be done before Christmas . I am waiting for a delivery from Loveknitting.com for the yarn to knit Stella and Charlie each a shrug to wear with their Christmas dresses . No pressure , right . I have the yarn to knit them each a Burton Bear Cowl . At least one will get done this week if all goes as planned . They are knit with 9mm needles so it shouldn't take more than an evening or two right ?

Anyhow that 's it for today . Thank you for coming by and I wish you a good week ahead . Till next time ...



Promise me

This is Amanda's wedding shawl ready for the big day November 7th . It has been a work in progress since mid August . I had knit a few other things while doing this, just to keep my sanity.The stocking stitch part was easy peasy , but the lace and beads were challenging . I am so happy that it is finished , it will be wrapped and gifted to Amanda this weekend .  For once I wasn't rushing to meet a deadline.

Have a wonderful weekend , till next time ...

A bump in the road

I have been away from this blog for a little over a year . Late last year life threw me a curve with a breast cancer diagnosis .  I was very fortunate that it was early stage but had spread to my lymph nodes meant that I would have to have surgery , chemo and radiation . Everything went well and I finished treatment mid June of this year . At my last follow up with my oncologists I was told that I am now cancer free . Without the support of my family and friends this would have been much worse . I had some rough patches but am finally feeling more like myself . There are still low days here and there , but who doesn't have those , and more days of counting my blessings and enjoying each day . 

There has been knitting not that you'd know it by looking at my ravelry page . Many were completed and gifted before I thought to take a photo . I blame it on chemo brain , lol . I will try and update it soon . What I'm working on now ....

Jesseys' socks in the Go Habs Go colour way from Biscotte & Cie 
 

A Gaptastic cowl for My friend Yvonne . And last but not least a wedding shawl for Amanda who will be tying the knot with her sweetie Matthew on November 7th . I have 5 rows left plus the cast off to do .

I hope to give it to Amanda next weekend . I also finished a quartet of hats for my grandkids . I fell in love with these hats after seeing them knit up at my local yarn shop . They are kits by DMC called TopThis ! I mean who could resist !? 

 That's it for today , off to work on the wedding shawl while it is still daylight . Have a wonderful week !
 
 

Well hello June !

How did you get here so fast ! It must be because of this ...


Working hard in the garden

Swingin' good time



See Omi , I can make pancakes ...


 

Then of course there was some of this too ...

Spring socks finally finished !

Recently my stepmom Linde fell and broke her shoulder . She's having a rough time of it so I thought a warm  hug was in order . Because she lives too far away to give it in person , I'm knitting one for her , filled with good thoughts and good wishes for her recovery .


In progress , some one needs hugs



By special request , new socks for Jessey
 

 There were also adventures with Mason in where he learns  how much fun it is to catch frogs and just how cool it is to hold a real snake . He also learned that Omi doesn't share his enthusiasm for snakes  . Wouldn't you know that Omi forgot her camera at home , so you'll just have to imagine that adventure .

That about wraps up the month of May . Bring on June and summer !