Okay, girls (and guys), get those needles and hooks flying, there's only.....

Oh, I'm so busy!!!!!!

How busy? I made a template to keep track of my projects!

Holiday Planner
2008

Recipiant Gift Idea Final Gift

Rather simple, it actually is much more colorful and creative than shown here, but this is the main idea.

I have about 40 days to finish my projects and get them wrapped.....should have started sooner!

I have one gift completely done except for boxing and wrapping (and dh does that very well) and I have a hat to finish and then that makes a three piece set done. I have two scarves started and three more to do! So I just guess I won't be blogging much more for a while!

Happy Holidays....nope not from me.....I believe in Jesus Christ.....so it's Merry Christmas!

Oh, it has been forever.......

I only have one thing to say, I have a sixteen year old daughter now and I have a sixteen year old daughter now! LOL!


Actually, she has a driver's license now


and a car,


so I'm not running as much,
I do find myself praying

alot more!



I have been busy knitting and actually crocheting too! I have a dear friend at church, Sarah, who is going to be a first-time grandma, and she is giving a shower in Dec for the baby that is due in Feb.

In the beginning.......



And now.........





I also have been doing some dishcloths. Laura is wanting to take a trip to NYC with the school chorus, and she is selling them as a fundraiser.




I have a cabled scarf, fingerless glove and almost a ear-flapped hat done. (The white blurry picture is out of the book of a which the pattern came!)







I made a hat

for Laura for a

Roaring 20's 'Clue mystery party'

and a shrug cover-up for her Homecoming Dance








(the white one is the picture on the front page of the book I bought with the pattern.)

I still have lots to do, so this won't be a long blog!

I'm making a dark brown cable scarf and will probably make a hat to go with it for my father-in-law. (i'm making a dark maroon one just like it for my brother-in-law).



I made a scarf on the same pattern, with a smaller needle for my mother-in-law. I love the colors of this! Have the scarf done, but have to still do the hat! This is a free pattern you can find here.(The last two pictures are from the internet pattern page.)




As I mentioned above, my daughter is raising money for a trip to NYC, so I'm going to donate a baby blanket for a raffle to earn some money. The yellow one is the one I'm making and the pink one is the picture from the book with the pattern.




Boy, as I downloaded all this, I realized I've been VERY busy!


I also found this on you-tube:

I couldn't help myself.....

Okay, it's been quite awhile.....well, it's been awhile since I added books to my knitting/crochet library and I just couldn't help myself!
I hate the name of these books, but the patterns are easy to follow--probably because they are slanted toward a younger group, and I have several nieces and nephews that would love some of these!

And I have that second sock syndrome....the first one gets done and the second one dies on the needles.........well, this book should take care of that!

So today I head to the LYS (local yarn store) to pick out some yarn for 'Christmas presents'....yes you saw that here and it's not even June yet.......

So, I'm off................(ueah, yeah, in more ways than one!)

I've just got to do these...........

These would even be cute in a pink for a girl!

Materials

Main Colour- Black (MC)
Sole Colour- White (SC)
Toe Colour- White (TC)
Laces and Circle- Pink

One pair sizes 4 and 5 straight needles (or size to obtain gauge for smaller siz), and 1 pair size 5 and 6 straight needles (or size to obtain gauge for larger size)
Other Supplies: large-eye yarn needle; row counter (optional)

To Begin
With smaller needles and SC cast on 26 stitches and knit 1 row.
Row 1: k1, yf, k11, [yf, k1] twice, yf, k11, yf, k1.
Row 2, 4, 6, 8, 10: knit (when you reach the yf knit in the back of the stitch).
Row 3: k2, yf, k11, yf, k2, yf, k3, yf, k11, yf, k2.
Row 5: k3, yf, k11, [yf, k4] twice, yf, k11, yf, k3.
Row 7: k4, yf, k11, yf, k5, yf, k6, yf, k11, yf, k4
Row 9: k5, yf, k11, [yf, k7] twice, yf, k11, yf, k5.

Next
Change to larger needles, using MC and TC following the chart.

Chart Key: Blue: Toe Colour

Row 11: k19, row 1 of chart, k19
Row 12: p19, row 2 of chart, p19
Row 13: k20, row 3 of chart, k20
Row 14: p20, row 4 of chart, p20
Row 15: k20, row 5 of chart, k20
Row 16: p21, row 6 of chart, p21
Row 17: k21, row 7 of chart, k21
Row 18: p22, row 8 of chart, p22
Shape Instep
Using MC.

Row 1: k 29, SKP, turn.
Row 2: sl 1, p 7, p 2 tog, turn.
Row 3: sl 1, k7, SKP, turn.
Rows 4 –13: repeat rows 2 and 3 five times.
Row 14: repeat row 2.
Row 15: sl 1, k7, SKP, knit to the end of the row.
Row 16: p 21, p 2 tog, purl to the end of the row (35 stitches).

Side 1:

Row 1: k14 (place remaining stitches on stitch marker)
Row 2: Purl
Row 3: k11, k2tog, k2
Row 4: Purl
Row 5: Knit
Row 6: Purl
Row 7: k11, k2tog, k2
Row 8: Purl
Row 9: Knit
Row 10: Purl
Row 11: k11, k2tog, k2
Row 12: knit
Row 13: knit

Bind Off

Tongue:
Place 7 Stitches from the Stitch marker onto the needle.

St st for 12 rows.
Bind Off.

Side 2:

Row 1: knit
Row 2: Purl
Row 3: k2, k2tog, k11
Row 4: Purl
Row 5: Knit
Row 6: Purl
Row 7: k2, k2tog, k11
Row 8: Purl
Row 9: Knit
Row 10: Purl
Row 11: k2, k2tog, k11
Row 12: Knit
Row 13: Knit

Bind Off

Laces:
Using a colour that you wish.

CO 3 stitches.

I-Cord for 15 inches… or amount desired.

Circle:
Follow this pattern or make your own to the desired size.

CO 4 stitches.
1: Knit
2: K1, Inc 1, K1, Inc 1, K1
3. Knit
4. K1, Inc 1, K2, Inc 1, K1
5. Knit
6. K1, K2tog, K2, K2tog, K1
7. Knit
8. K1, K2tog, K1, K2tog, K1
9. Knit

Bind Off


Finishing:
Sew bottom seam of booties and back seam.

Sew Circle on Left hand side of Bootie.

Lace up the Converse.


I hope you can understand this... please note that I made this pattern off the top of my head while looking at the bootie I made. So it may not all be exactly the same as the one I made.

Have fun knitting.

**I didn't know exactly what the 'yf' stood for....so I found it here (
http://www.hintsandthings.co.uk/workshop/knit2.htm) and include these instruction to help anyone that might also need this information.

**YARN FRONT (yf)

This is used when the yarn is already at the front of the work but would normally be taken to the back before performing the next stitch. e.g. if a Purl stitch has just been done and the next stitch is to be knitted. By leaving the yarn at the front but knitting the next stitch a loop or hole will be made.


I copied this off a thread that didn't have the picture(http://www.craftster.org/forum/index.php?topic=14033.msg185557#msg185557). I take NO credit for this. I got the link off of Raverlry and put the two together to make it as one!

Love it!

My struggle with weight continues.....

Why oh why do I loose weight and then 'find' it again!!!

Well, I refused to quit! Daddy always said you don't fail until you quit!

I found this pattern and think I'll make it! Maybe it will hide some of those returning bulges!

Susan Esser’s Midnight Express Vest, a free pattern from Sue and Ample-Knitters



--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ample-lister and designer Susan Esser was kind enough to provide one of her great patterns for free download from Ample-Knitters. The “Midnight Express Vest” is worked from side to side in heavy worsted on fairly large needles. It’s a quick knit with no seams, and is easy to size up or down.

Check out Sue’s website, She Knits.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------

Picture below shows vest laid out flat before working I-cord edging (which also joins the shoulders).



I'll need to learn the I-cord 'attached' to the garment. But I found this on YouTube.





Here are two completed versions of this vest:





Download free pattern for the “Midnight Express Vest” in PDF format.

You’ll need Adobe’s free Acrobat Reader, which can be downloaded at Adobe.com)


I'll had to finish a couple of projects I have on my needles first!

The Last Knit....

I don't think I posted this before, but if I did....it's worth watching again.




What do I have on my needles?

I'm doing an afghan and another Baby Surprise Blanket and need to do a shawl....all gifts that need to be done soon!

So if you don't hear from me for awhile....you'll know why!

What's next..........

Hey, there's a video!

And an article!

Even a note from Paula Deen!

And nothing says cornbread like a good seasoned skillet! (It's been said that some women would rather give up a husband than a good seasoned skillet!)

Which came first....the chicken or the egg.......

Moulton Alabama....Chicken and Egg Festival....be there or be Square!!!!!

Sorry if you missed it....here.....relive some of it with me..........

Hubby and Adam (daughters boyfriend)in race to eat Chicken Wings...and the winner is.......

dear hubby.....I'm so proud?!?

Fancy Chickens


The kids....are they smiling???

Does that chicken have a guitar?

Laura during Guitar Hero contest

Adam during guitar hero contest

It was a great day!

Anybody close to Huntsville, AL (North Alabama)...?

I dragged two teenagers to this last year. We were some of the first ones to arrive, and the kids didn't want to leave. They learned history and were entertained also. It's like the people in the grave come to life and tell you about their life.....it's way cool....of coarse I love genealogy, but even the teens LOVED it. It's free and you can't listen to all of them. Way cool way to spend a Sunday afternoon!



Annual Huntsville Pilgrimage Maple Hill Cemetery Stroll May 4th 2008
203 Maple Hill Drive
Maple Hill Cemetery
Huntsville, Alabama 35801


Website: www.huntsvillepilgrimage.org/
Make plans now to join us for the Pilgrimage's Annual Historic Maple Hill Cemetery Stroll on Sunday, May 4, 2008 from 2:00 to 4:30 pm. Established in 1818 when the city of Huntsville purchased two acres of land from Leroy Pope, Maple Hill Cemetery now extends almost 100 acres and houses the graves of many historic and political figures. More than 350 grave markers have been restored to date thanks to proceeds from the annual Pilgrimage Home Tour and the generous donations of community and school groups and individuals. More than 65 costumed characters will "come alive" to represent notables from the past during the annual Maple Hill Cemetery Stroll. This event is free to the public. Donations welcome. For further information please visit our website or you may contact the Pilgrimage Headquarters at: 256-533-9460
More than 200 years of history will come alive for the Annual Maple Hill Cemetery Stroll. Costumed volunteers will share the stories of over 65 notables, both famous and infamous, who shaped the future of Huntsville and Alabama. Included are five Alabama Governors, soldiers from past wars, artist, poet and writer Maria Howard Weeden, the notorious madam, Molly Teal and Tallulah Bankhead visiting her parent's graves.

Maple Hill was deeded to the city in 1822 and is one the largest cemeteries in Alabama, with almost 80,000 people buried within its grounds. The history of Maple Hill is also the history of the southeast during America's southern and westward expansion. Governors, bricklayers, paupers, the famous and the infamous are all buried within its borders. Years of damage from pollution, vandalism and neglect necessitated the need for an organization that helps ensure the preservation of this historical landmark.

Maple Hill Cemetery has a history written in headstones and monuments. Proceeds from the historic homes tour are used to restore the cemetery's grounds and grave markers.

School children enjoy their annual tour of the grounds where they learn much about the history of the South from descriptions of the characters buried there - dating from the Revolutionary, 1812, Spanish American, and Civil War eras. These children have also helped raise money to restore damaged grave markers.
Features
Admission – Free
Children Welcome
Children's Activities
Donations Accepted
Free Parking
Group Rate Available
Handicap Accessible
Motorcoach Parking
Public Restrooms

Horseshoe Cable Afghan

This is my new project. It's rated 'Advanced beginner', and I think I am past that. I want to get it done fast, so may not be 'blogging' for awhile. I have a friend that had to have her leg apputated due to complications to diabetes, and I thought this would be nice to throw over her lap when someone comes to visit.

I have diabetes, and I think this has hit me hard along with my family. I know she is a strong woman, and will learn to adjust.

My first Baby Surprise Jacket

Everything you have heard about this Elizabeth Zimmerman creation is true. I couldn't see how this was going to be a jacket until the very end. I still need to add the buttons. I will donate this to the kids room for our 'Angel Food' ministry at Church. I added a row of single crochet in white around the edge. I almost forgot how to crochet!

This was fun and I think the first of many!

I know....but I'll slow down!!!

A Knitting Glossary-Elizabeth Zimmerman and her daughter!
Do you know they do cabling without cable needles! I'd be scared half-to-death!!!



Knit Socks!
by Betsy McCarthy
This has to be one of the simplest books for knitting socks in the world (and God knows I need simple--and all the help I can get)!

Let's see, what else did I have on my list...............

..................................................................just kidding!!!!!