Sock Knitting & Tasha Update

I don't think I've mentioned it here on my blog, but anyone who knows me through the e-mail lists I'm on knows what a sock-a-holic I am! :o) I can't help it - I just have to knit socks! Until about July or August 2008, I wasn't even slightly interested. I don't know what changed, but one day I just decided to give it a go and before long I had made myself a pair of socks! :o)

Here's a pic of them:

They fit rather well, but I've learned a few things since then - for example, I didn't knit the legs long enough before starting the short-row heel, I should have done mini gussets because they pull across the instep and I should have used a tighter gauge. I still wear my first socks because, like I said, they fit well and there's nothing quite like the feeling of your own hand-knit socks on your feet! AAAAHHHH!!! :o)
I know they're not identical (more like fraternal) twins, but as far as I'm concerned they're still a pair and they have the same colors in them, so I wear them! Besides, if anyone gets close enough to my feet to notice, well, then they're just too close! LOL :o)

So Much can happen in a year and a half!

(Warning! VERY Long post.)

I can hardly believe it's been so long since my last post to this blog! A year and a half, to be exact! WOW! SOOO Much has happened since I posted the mitten pattern that I hardly know where to begin, but I'll try to give a synopsis of what's happened between then and now.

Okay, shortly after my last post, one of my older brothers found out he had pancreatic cancer. He was very optimistic about the whole thing, but this is a cancer that never loses the battle. In the meantime, my next-younger brother and his wife of 17 years decided to get a divorce - that's a Very Long story that I won't bore you with! Suffice it to say that they just couldn't live with each other any longer without constantly fighting and my brother didn't want to continue on that way. Then (almost exactly a year ago, now), my brother with the cancer passed away. He lived in upstate New York and was wanting to come here to Florida for Thanksgiving - he never got here. My parents were devastated and that was compounded by the fact that they weren't well enough to make it to NY for his funeral. While all this is going on, Mom starts having respiratory problems and has to be rushed to the hospital every six or eight weeks - you could almost set your calendar by it.

Panda Man's Paw Warmers

I know that most folks in the Northern Hemisphere aren't thinking about Winter now that Spring is here and Summer is rapidly approaching, but this would be a good time to start making some small items to set aside for next Winter!

Then there are those who will soon be starting their Winter, so this pattern will be posted right on time for them!

Either way, this is a very warm and easy mitten that I designed about two years ago. Because they're mostly garter stitch, they work up rather quickly also and we all like quick, easy and mindless knitting, don't we? Of course we do! :o)

These can be made in many sizes simply by changing the yarn and needles to get different gauges - without changing the pattern at all! I LOVE patterns like that and I thoroughly enjoy creating them, too! :o) And so, without further ado, I give you my Paw Warmers pattern! :o)

Long Time, No Post

Hi There! No, I haven't disappeared nor have I been assimilated by the BORG (thankfully!) - just been busy knitting for charity and spinning my own yarn!! Yes, since my last post I've learned to spin on spindles and my Ashford Kiwi spinning wheel! I Love It! :o) There's still a Lot I need to learn, but the more I do it the better I get! If you're a spinner, check out the Paradise Fibers link on the right (just under my profile) for some great deals on wool! Even if you don't spin, they have some great deals on yarns and supplies, too! :o)

Elizabeth Zimmermann's Baby Surprise Jacket in Stockinette Stitch

After testing my notes by making another of these wonderful little sweaters, I found that a few things needed some editing. I wanted to be sure everything was as accurate as possible so that nobody would have any trouble following along! :o) Now that I'm sure these Notes are correct, I feel more confident in sharing them with all of you! I hope you Enjoy making this and PLEASE consider making one for a charity of your choice! :o)

Specifics of sweater shown in photo:
Finished Chest Measurement - 19½" (buttoned)
Length - 11½" from shoulder seam to bottom of waistband
Gauge - 5 sts & 6½ rows per inch
Yarn used - Worsted Weight; about 5 ozs (143 g), 282 yds (258 m)